The Roslyn News 4/26/23 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

Thirteen Not A Curse: A No Tax Hike Budget

JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

It’s budget time again in Roslyn and East Hills, the area’s largest village, continues to set the pace.

Recently, the Village of East Hills Board of Trustees approved a $13,680,527 budget that marks the 13th year in a row that the village has delivered a budget that does not include a tax increase, something that Mayor Michael R. Koblenz calls “unprecedented” and “no doubt” sets a record for among the village’s surrounding municipalities.

The 2023-2024 budget follows predictable lines. The bulk of spending came from Government Support ($2,608,223), Public Safety ($2,603,000), and Employee Benefits ($2,950,369).

On the revenue side, up to $9 million is being raised by Real Property taxes. Other sources of revenue came from Licenses & Permits ($689,750), State Aid ($451,207), and Non-Property Tax Items ($334,325).

The mayor broke down the budget priorities, while thanking his fellow trustees for their continuing vigilance. And while Nassau County and the rest of New York State continues to lose people at an alarming rate, the mayor sees a bright future for East Hills.

“East Hills continues to be one of the most sought-after communities on Long Island,” the mayor claimed. “Our offspring and the next generation of children continue to move back into our community. It should be stressed that village taxes generally amount to only 16-17 percent of all taxes paid by our residents. Yet, even with our rather limited portion of all taxes paid, we shoulder the entire costs of sanitation, snow removal, paving our roads, security, the pool, the park, fees for Nassau County Police, administration for our programs and fire protection.”

The mayor also touted the usual service that village residents have grown accustomed to, including sanitation, security, road re-pavement, snow removal, beautification, tree trimming and replacement, administration of the Justice Court for traffic and code violations, creation of new legislation on zoning, building and administration of our village services, laws, regulations and services.

Other funding supplements the village’s crown jewel, The Park at East Hills. That includes tennis facilities, basketball courts, pickle ball courts, community lounge, swimming pool, Park Grille, Snow Mountain, nature trails, Dog Park, walking, jogging and biking paths, and sports playgrounds, plus such programs as the Fire Works Extravaganza, the Roslyn Little League and Challengers, Albertson Soccer League Challengers, Women’s Softball, Young Children’s Flag Football and outdoor concerts.

Another addition is the East Hills Social Committee which the mayor said will be featuring lecturers, painting and a new book club.

The end of the COVID crisis means the resumption of the New Residents’ Days, one that welcomes new residents through brunches that provide information, facts and an introduction to village services.

“We will continue to provide regularly ‘Messages from the Mayor’ which contain important information for the residents through emails,” Koblenz added. “The messages also inform our residents of

various weather concerns, and contain important information provided by the Nassau County Police Department relating to safety issues.”

On the safety front, the village will add Security Entrance Cameras to the budget.

“Safety remains our number one priority and the budget provides the means to achieve these important objectives,” the mayor added. “For the past couple of years, almost all incidences have involved unlocked cars with key fobs left in the vehicles. Our residents must stay alert and take the keys to their cars, leave the lights on at night, and call 911 if they see any suspicious activity.”

Road repaving projects are also part of the budget, plus the popular Instant Access Program, that includes “Meetings with the Mayor” on weekends, one designed to give added open access with face-to-face meetings with the mayor to discuss issues, ideas, and suggestions.

The budget will continue to “fully fund” the volunteer firefighters program, beautification programs and other

environmental programs as the annual Green Day, which encourages recycling, buying fuel-efficient vehicles, separating residents’ disposable items, and collecting these disposables.

“With our fiscal condition strong, our Village continues to be a trend-setter, and East Hills highly desirable, we will, through this zero percent increase in taxes, preserve the finest services, programs, events and facilities for East Hills,” the mayor concluded. “At the same time, we will protect the safety and well-being of our residents through our Security Department and our camera system. Through this budget and the close cooperation of the Board, we have implemented - for the Thirteenth Year in a Row - a zero increase in taxes in East Hills. It is an accomplishment we are proud of achieving. This is a challenge that was met head-on, even with necessary repairs and enhancements to the Park, equipment, rising health care costs, added fire and police protection costs, and increased compensation for our employees.”

A pleased Mayor Koblenz and the Village of East Hills Board of Trustees. (Photo courtesy Village of East Hills)

BOOK TALK

Roslyn Native Publishes First Novel

JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

Roslyn native Michael Matza has enjoyed a long and productive career in journalism. A veteran foreign affairs correspondent with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Matza is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Matza has now turned his writing talents to fiction. He has published a novel, Haiti, Love and Murder in the Season of Soup Joumou. The novel is being published in association with Fanlight Books and coincides with intense international interest in Haiti’s future.

The publisher describes the book thusly: “Set amid Haiti’s worst security crisis in a century – foreshadowing the assassination of President Jovenel Moise – the novel blends history, culture, religion, and superstition in a suspenseful story about a loyal friend chasing the truth about a grisly homicide, and the tender promise of a second-chance romance. It is a murder mystery, love story and literary look at a nation in crisis.”

Fanlight adds that the book, which readers have called “jolting” and “compelling,” presents a “de-stigmatizing, multi-faceted view of Haiti that goes well beyond its standard cliché as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.”

Early reviews are positive.

From Kirkus Reviews: “Matza writes with a keen eye for detail and a vivid sense of place … with authority about local ancient traditions and … strong, appealing characters. … A thriller that offers … escalating danger.”

From Haitian Times founder Garry Pierre-Pierre: “Journalists are often cautioned not to write novels. I’m glad that Matza, a conjurer of convincing details, did not heed the warning. A vivid reality of today’s Haiti, weaving historical and contextual tidbits to guide the reader.”

Matza said that the soup mentioned in the title is a signature cuisine of Haiti. In December 2021 it was awarded protected world-heritage status by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. He added that Haitians took ownership of the soup when they gained independence from France in 1804 and made it a symbol of their freedom. Now, wherever Haitians are in the world, at home or in the diaspora, they consume it every New Year’s Day, “tasting liberty in every spoonful.”

The novel is available on Amazon and at independent bookstores. A recent reading/ signing at a store near Philadelphia was very

well received.

For three decades, Matza covered metropolitan, national and international news for the Inquirer as bureau chief in the Middle East and in New England. He has reported from 34 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, including multiple assignments in Haiti. Matza’s articles have appeared in The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, The Los Angeles Times, Elle magazine and other national publications. He has been a commentator on NPR, a guest on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and a moderator at the annual convention of Investigative Reporters and Editors.

As the Inquirer’s Middle East bureau chief, Matza traveled the region for six years from a base in Jerusalem. He wrote about the Iraq War, Israel’s military withdrawals from Lebanon and Gaza, the Second Intifada, efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the region’s

customs and cultures.

As National Correspondent/New England bureau chief, Matza covered the abortion-clinic shootings in Boston, the Oklahoma City bombing, the crash of TWA Flight 800 and general news across the region and eastern Canada. Working for two years on projects about the Philadelphia Police Department, he co-authored two series about police manipulation of crime statistics and pervasive problems with the city’s Rape Investigation Unit. Both were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Other honors that Matza has received include: The Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting, The Roy W. Howard Award for Public Service Reporting, The James K. Batten Award for Coverage

of the Iraq War, The Silver Gavel Award of the American Bar Association, and The Heywood Broun Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Matza has also received a citation for the National Journalism Award, Ball State University. The citation reads:

“Remarkable investigative reporting and compelling, stylish writing are not mutually exclusive journalistic ideals. Michael Matza proved that with his series about a Massachusetts man on Florida’s death row. With meticulous concern for details and spell-binding style the series demonstrated the power of modern journalism to peel back the surface facts and expose the human drama beneath, the humanity behind the headlines.”

Matza grew up in Roslyn during the tumultuous 1960s and that decade, especially the traumatic year of 1968, left an inedible impression on him.

“We attended high school during the war in Vietnam and the ‘60s struggle for civil rights,” Matza said. “Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in April of our junior year. Two months later, Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down. Trying to make sense of disturbing violence was baked into our curriculum. And as it turned out, useful for my career in journalism.”

Roslyn native Michael Matza’s book Haiti, Love and Murder in the Season of Soup Joumou.

(Contributed photo)

Michael Matza on assignment in Haiti.

(Photo courtesy Michael Matza)

Jawas, Jedi, And Wookies Rejoice: Star Wars Day Is Here

501st Empire City Garrison adds a Galactic flavor to local events

For many people, May fourth is just another day on the calendar, but for fans of the Star Wars franchise, it is Star Wars day. A play on the saying “May the Force be with you,” May the fourth has long been a day for people to let their inner Jedi or storm trooper show.

Interestingly, the first recorded reference of the phrase being used was on May 4, 1979, the day after Margaret Thatcher was elected as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her political party, the Conservatives, placed a congratulatory advertisement in the London Evening News saying “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.”

These days, Star Wars fans have multiple storylines to follow and more merchandise than ever before. Star Wars day events are held in libraries and bars, with trivia, games and cosplay. There is even a Star Wars theme park called Galaxy’s Edge at each of the Disney resorts. There is also Star Wars celebration, a convention that takes place at the end of May, where many people dress as their favorite characters.

There are a few groups who take this even farther, and one of the most prominent is the 501st Legion. This organization, established in August 1997 by Albin Johnson and Tom Crews, has over 35,000 members worldwide. Each member must have an approved, screen-accurate, self-made costume that replicates the outfit of one of the “villains”. This started out as just stormtroopers, but now includes any morally dark character featured in the Star Wars universe.

On January 1, 2007, two hundred members of the Legion marched in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, with George Lucas himself as the grand marshal. Lucas and Johnson discussed the future of the rapidly growing Legion. This culminated in an informal partnership where Lucasfilm granted the Legion a limited use of their copyrighted characters, as long as members promised never to use their costumes for personal profit and represented the franchise in a positive and respectful manner.

Closer to home, Long Island is represented by the Empire City Garrison, and their commander is Chris Feehan. Feehan has been involved with the 501st for 15 years and

Members of the 501st in Amman, Jordan. (Photo by Chris Feehan)

has done nine different costumes over that time. A self-described sci-fi and movie geek, he first learned of the group after spotting them at a convention in the early 2000s. Over the course of about two years he put together his first costume, a stormtrooper. His costume was approved and he was able to join in 2008. He calls this one of the best decisions he’s ever made. “There’s makers all over the place that make the individual vacuform parts but it’s up to you to glue the pieces together. You get the associated parts like the boots, make a replica blaster, different parts of the helmet. You have to strap it together yourself with snaps and different elastic straps and things to fit it to your own body. It’s not a turnkey process that you just can get a costume and just wear it right out of the box.”

Part of the mission of the 501st is working with charities and non-profits. Feehan puts it this way: “we call ourselves bad guys who do good. Basically what the group does is not only help each other build your costumes and make them movie accurate, but it’s also to use them for good in the community. We use the costumes practically every weekend, charity walks, library visits, hospital visits,

things of that nature, and just try to use them for positive things in the community.”

One bonus to having screen accurate costumes is getting asked to be extras on some of the new content Disney Lucasfilm is creating. “They’ll reach out to us because they know we have 100 percent movie accurate costumes. We know how to put on the costume. We know how to walk around in the costume; we have experience. So they’ll tap us for that. And we have a very good relationship with Disney Lucasfilm because they know we’re not doing this for profit. We’re doing this for good in the community. They needed a gaggle of Stormtroopers for big scenes and instead of having to construct the costumes and hire 50 stunt people, they just had the local Garrison come down and bring 50 stormtroopers.”

For those interested in joining up, enrollment is open to anyone over the age of 18. The first step is to go online and browse the costume reference library, or CRL. Feehan recommends going for something recognizable, like a stormtrooper. At this point, it makes sense to contact your local garrison. For the Empire City, the website is 501ecg.com. Here you can connect with

people in the forums who will offer advice and assistance as needed. “A lot of our men and women will help people get started with their costumes and help with putting them together. I’ve helped a number of members within my group, you know, get their costumes started or get them finished to a level that they need to make them 100 percent will be accurate. Once you had all the parts together, you take some photos, you submit them for approval. When they get approved you’re eligible to attend and volunteer for any of the events that we have on our schedule.”

For obvious reasons, the coming weeks are among the busiest time for the Empire City Garrison. Not only is it Star Wars day, but May 6 is free comic book day. If an organization is planning to request some extra empire flavor for their May 4 celebration, Feehan recommends booking six to eight months in advance. “We actually have somewhere around 20 events scheduled either on May the fourth or on May the sixth. So that week is crazy for us. We do give a priority to the children’s hospitals. We’re actually doing two children’s hospitals in New York area this year. We’re doing Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park and we’re doing Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in New York City. So those usually get priority, but there are a couple of community events that some of the folks who do not (attend) the hospital events may do. And then of course on Free Comic Book Day, a lot of local comic book shops and some libraries have asked us. So unfortunately, there’s not enough folks to go around. We ask that folks try to get in their requests as far in advance as possible. We usually book up six to eight months in advance for the entire year.”

On a personal note, seeing the effect his costumed appearances had on children who were fighting to become well inspired him. Feehan credits his time with the 501st as helping him to land a second career in the non-profit sector. “It really helped invigorate my volunteerism and volunteer spirit. When I lost my job about four years ago I had kind of made a personal decision. I was at a point in my life where I was able to kind of pick and choose what I want to do next. I work for the cerebral palsy association of Nassau County, which for me is a dream job. Because now basically in my job and in my personal time, I’m doing stuff for other people and doing stuff that’s really rewarding.”

AMANDA

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

Members of the 501st and the Rebel Legion at Cohen Children’s Hospital.

(Photo by Vicki Lares)

JANET BURNS

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

The New York Islanders have been bringing their all into the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs after beating the Montreal Canadiens to clinch the playoff spot on April 12.

During the playoff-spot game, Brock Nelson scored twice to help the Islanders beat Canadiens 4-2.

Hudson Fasching and Anders Lee also scored for New York, and Ilya Sorokin made 16 saves to close out the regular season.

All told, the team managed a 19-9-4 run from Jan. 27 onwards, and didn’t secure their playoff spot until the final game of the regular season.

As of press time, the Islanders are more than through their first round of playoff games against the Carolina Hurricanes, with an outcome expected this week. The

New York Islanders Enter Islanders beat Canadiens to

Islanders lost their first two playoff games to the Hurricanes in Raleigh, then clinched their first 2023 playoff win against the North Caroline team during the Islanders’ first home game of the round.

Game 3 last Friday looked like a comeback, with Islanders taking home the win with a final score of 5-1.

During their third period, the team also managed to score the fastest burst of four goals in playoff history, according to ESPN, who called their streak in the sixteenth-to-eighteenth minutes of Period 3 a “record-setting outburst.”

During Sunday night’s game, however, the tables seemed to turn again at UBS Arena as the Hurricanes beat out the Islanders 5-2 on Sunday. As a result, the Hurricanes now lead the Islanders 3-1 in won playoff games for the first round.

Their next matchup happens Tuesday, April 25 (after our papers go to press, and before they hit most mailboxes), so, like all the other hockey fans in Nassau County, we’ve been on the edge of our seats to find

out whether the Islanders will keep clawing their way back in this first playoff round or head home to watch the rest of the Stanley Cup showdown.

The Islanders are in the postseason for the fourth time in the past five seasons, advancing to the third round of the playoffs in both 2020 and 2021 and the second round in 2019. The team missed the mark in 2022 to participate in the playoffs, but they’re not slowing down.

“I can’t tell you how hard last year was just not playing in those big games and those big moments,” said center Mathew Barzal in a statement. “We want to be in the spotlight and that’s what the playoffs is. We’re excited.”

“Coming into this year, there was a strong focus on having that goal of finding a way

in,” said defenseman Ryan Pulock.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re first or 16th you get a chance to fight for the Stanley Cup and I think it’s starting to set in here as we get closer by the day of just the excitement and the energy that you have in practice.”

The New York Islanders edged out the Montreal Canadiens for a playoff spot during their final regular-season game on April 12.

Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov during a morning team skate on Friday, April 21 at UBS Arena.

(Credit: New York Islanders via Twitter)

A shot of the new UBS Arena, the Islanders’ home stadium, at sunset. (Courtesy of UBS Arena)

Stanley Cup Playoffs score playoff spot

OBITUARY

Anthony Ralph Galdi

September 21, 1926 - April 11, 2023

Anthony Ralph Galdi of Ormond Beach, son of Ralph Galdi & Filomena Infante Galdi, husband of Helen L. Galdi, father of Deborah Ann Galdi and her husband Frank Virga, grandfather of Jennifer Anne Virga Bosch and husband Gerard Bosch and Michael Anthony Virga, great grandfather of Olivia Harper Bosch, Big brother to Millie Moroney of NJ and Rose Litrio of Texas and a favorite among his many nieces and nephews.

To secure their 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs spot, the Islanders outshot the Canadiens 4-2 in a home game on April 12. (Courtesy of the New York Islanders)

Tony was a proud Navy veteran and served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. He enjoyed a successful 45-year career with the Allstate Insurance Company and was an avid reader, writer, New York Times crossword fan and a competitive golf and tennis player who was loved by all who came to know him.

COLUMNS

HEADLINE: The Inaugural Column

I would like to open the first Long Island Veterans Bulletin column with a nod to the local veterans who have carried the torch for community newspaper editorials in the past, particularly by way of the editorial pages of Anton Media Group. I have always admired the message and the dedication to getting the message out on behalf of all fellow veterans.

Support and services specifically for veterans continue to get better, in my opinion, a vast difference from when I moved here to Long Island more than 20 years ago. While the needs of older veterans differ from younger veterans and men and women veterans are largely different, I can say, I feel that veterans on Long Island are being heard. We are making differences in our communities and are being acknowledged with credit to our disciplined and take-charge foundations that help us, especially modern war-era women veterans, move the needle forward on nearly everything that

JENNIFER CORR

jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

I love going to the Long Island Aquarium. I often go the week of my birthday, when you can get a free ticket. I’ve even gone in groups with my mom, grandma and best friend because we’re all birthday neighbors.

And with the Sunday of April 16 being gloomy and chilly, myself, my boyfriend AJ and his sister Amanda decided to take a day trip to Riverhead to see some amazing aquatic animals and mammals, and even butterflies. Heading there, we had Tropical Smoothie for breakfast, as well as some Burger King, so that we would remain sustained throughout the entire day. We were there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., entertained every minute of it.

We started our journey through the aquarium by, of course, petting the sting rays. And then we checked out the butterflies exhibit, which is situated in an indoor, luscious garden. You can find butterflies every where you turn, some grouping together to enjoy fruits on various plates throughout the garden. The butterfly that

L. I. VETERANS BULLETIN

Christy Hinko

we set our sights on.

If I had to put a team together of people who could get the job, any job, done, the first dozen would be veterans right here in Nassau County, and the majority of them would be a band of women veterans that I have had the privilege of working with on various projects in the past couple of decades.

A couple of years ago, I started a Facebook page, Long Island Veterans Bulletin, to aggregate

veteran events, services and information that are hyperlocal to the island. These things range from support groups, parades, fundraisers, available or changing services and offers which are specific and directly related to veterans. The virtual bulletin board is gaining momentum and is used to disseminate information, reaching more veterans and veteran supporters than ever before.

Long Island is home to one of the highest populations of veterans in the entire country, mostly thanks to the returning-from-war veterans of the older war eras. Sadly, this number will sharply decrease as our fellow veterans age, retire, relocate and ultimately pass away. That is why it is critical for veterans on Long Island to form stronger bonds, network and share their experiences. Check out Anton Media Group’s version of Long Island Veterans Bulletin in the upcoming months for a spotlight on local veterans, supportive organizations, issues and events.

A Day At The Aquarium

In upcoming columns, you can read about the amazing outreach being done by local organizations such as Rolling Thunder Chapter 6 of Long Island and its affiliates like Patriot Guard and Heroes Among Us, or the efforts of service organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion chapters faced with dwindling membership and financial struggles, or the incredible and quite literally, bootson-the-ground initiatives that organizations like Bravo Foxtrot United Veterans are establishing to combat homelessness among veterans right here in your own neighborhoods.

Follow Long Island Veterans Bulletin on Facebook (www. facebook.com/livetsbulletin) for regularly posted information from across both counties and occasionally from regional organizations which benefit Long Island veterans.

–Christy Hinko, managing editor at Anton Media Group and U.S. Navy veteran

Karl V. Anton, Jr., Publisher, Anton Community Newspapers, 1984-2000

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sticks out the most, and is the hardest to get a picture of, would have to be the iridescent blue morpho butterflies. They often travel in pairs and small groups. But once they land and close their wings, you wouldn’t know of their bright colors because the exterior of the wings are a brown, white and yellow pattern. I said to my boyfriend, “it’s like a metaphor that beauty comes from within.”

Besides the butterflies and my corny sayings, we also enjoyed a small exhibit of bugs from around the world that were preserved behind glass, as well as a live beehive that was situated behind glass.

After spending an hour in what looks like heaven, we crossed

the bridge that overlooks a huge pond of various fish, as well as a turtle tank, into where a lot of the exhibits are. We spent a few minutes at each tank, taking a close look at all the fish we could see and being encapsulated by the corals and sea anemones. We even saw some clown fish hanging out in sea anemones, which reminded us of the movie Finding Nemo.

The shark tank is always my favorite. It’s not often you can be face to face with a shark in a situation that wouldn’t be terrifying. Staring at them, you can see they’re amazing creatures.

Something I’ve never seen at the aquarium before, because I never went to look, was the octopus.

Though this one was small in size, he sure was smart. I saw a child put his hand to the tank, and the octopus then reached out to meet his hand behind the glass. I was blown away!

We took time to watch the classic sea lion show, which echoes the shows I’ve watched as a kid when the aquarium was called Atlantis Marine World, and we got to see trainers feed the otters.

We were fished out at the end of the day, and traveled seven minutes to this cute restaurant Funchos. I got one of my favorite foods of all time... nachos. While the nachos were good, I wish the cheese was a bit more melty. But still, I’ll be back.

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The octopus at Long Island Aquarium.

(Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Think back to your favorite memories. For me, it’s always been the family gatherings in my home, whether it’s in celebration of birthdays or holidays. The jokes we’ve shared, the heartfelt conversations, bonding over delicious meals, or bickering over boardgames - I’ve cherished these loving, joyful times with my family. Don’t we all wish for a long life filled with more of these experiences?

It’s not just about living a long life though. It’s about living a long AND good quality life. That means making sure that we have healthy, sound minds for our golden years.

Our minds are something we take for granted and too often, we don’t connect our future to the choices we make in the present. The foods we eat are a type of choice we make multiple times throughout a single day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks - these are all choices that build up day after day, and ultimately, they hold a lot of power in our lives. They determine our brain health now and for the future.

I want us to make choices that improve the longevity AND quality of our lives. Dementia and Alzheimer’s are all too common among seniors, and it’s time we

COLUMNS Your Future Brain Will Thank You!

dementia, among other things. They are also an excellent source of antioxidants.

3. Egg yolks are rich in choline, an important chemical in brain development. Studies show that eating eggs has no effect on the cholesterol levels of healthy adults and they might, in fact, help raise good cholesterol levels.

ALL ARROWS POINT BACK TO NUTRITION

fortify our minds and set them up for the best future.

Below are our Top 10 Dellonutritionals-approved brain foods. Make an active effort to implement them into your daily lives. Your future brain will thank you.

1. Avocados are full of good fats. They also contain vitamin K and folate, which help prevent blood clots in the brain and improve memory and concentration.

2. Leafy, green vegetables like spinach are filled with vitamins and minerals that help fight

4. Broccoli helps keep your memory sharp thanks to its high levels of vitamin K and choline.

5. Beans help stabilize blood sugar levels. Since the brain is dependent on blood sugar for fuel, beans are great at providing a steady stream of energy.

6. Eating a handful of walnuts a day has proven to help improve your cognitive health. Walnuts are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

7. Research suggests that certain spices like cinnamon, cumin, and cilantro can help preserve your memory.

8. Studies suggest that Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may help alleviate depression. If you don’t like fish, you can always take Omega-3 supplements instead, but make sure they are purified!

9. Dark chocolate has powerful

tration as well as stimulate the

production of hormones that improve mood. The darker the chocolate, the healthier, so go for at least 80% cocoa. You can also try adding cocoa powder in hot water for a chocolate treat!

10. Hydration is essential to keeping the brain working properly. Aim for 8 glasses of water per day, or more if you are exercising or spending time outdoors

Savor The Moment

Spring is finally here, and brighter days are upon us. It’s a perfect time for families to take advantage of the warm weather and get their kids outside and away from screens.

Smartphones, gaming systems and screens are everywhere. They are in our homes, bedrooms, offices, vehicles, pockets and purses. When your child is using a device, they are disengaging with something else. They often miss out on the fun and beauty that is happening all around them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), children ages 8-10 spend about 6 hours a day in front of a screen for entertainment, and half of that time is spent watching television. Those hours gradually increase among older youth.

Reducing screen time affords your child more opportunities to connect with family and friends. Feeling connections with others can help ward off symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety. It can also help improve

PARENTING PLUS

their physical and emotional well-being and strengthen family relationships.

How parents can better manage their child’s screen time

1. Ensure your child has at least 1-2 hours of physical activity each day. This can improve their mood and afford opportunities for creativity, collaboration and executive functioning.

Whether it’s taking a walk, riding a bike, playing a sport or

dancing to their favorite song, just make sure they are moving.

2. Adjust their screen time to no more than 1-2 hours per day and avoid use after dinner. If they are watching TV, make sure they sit far enough away from the set. Screens emit short-wavelength blue light that shines brightly and right in your face. This exposure impairs melatonin production and interferes with your ability to fall asleep as well as with the quality of your sleep once you do nod off.

3. Manage the environment by removing devices from your child’s room. TV sets can be placed in common family areas. Make sure to dedicate space for laptops and phones to be stored during tech breaks.

4. Encourage other types of social activities to promote fun and wellness. Arrange outdoor playdates, participate in chalk activities, rock painting, scavenger hunts, planting/gardening, or obstacles courses. You can

also play board games or allow your child the autonomy to create a game, inspiring them to design rules, learn to troubleshoot conflict which helps build their confidence and enhances their communication and interpersonal skills.

How parents can manage their own screen time

Parents should establish time in their own schedule¬ to join their child in having fun! Since parents are always modeling behaviors for their child here are some helpful tips to reduce their own screen usage.

1. Put your phone face down and place it out of reach when engaging in a conversation. When you commit to a conversation, focus all your energy on staying present in the moment. You will find that discussions are more enjoyable and effective when you immerse yourself in them.

2. Turn off or pause your notifications. Getting notified every time you hear a ping from a message dropping or an e-mail

possible. It causes havoc in the body.

Our daily choices matter, and our dietary choices hold so much power in our lives. It’s why I’m so passionate about nutrition and empowering people to make important and necessary changes in their diet. Here’s to eating better for our body and our brain!

Maria Dello, Nutritionist at Dello Nutritionals

arriving can cause you to become distracted and pull your attention away from spending time with your family or fully participating in an activity.

3. Replace screen time with productive activities around the house. Pick small decluttering projects somewhere in your home, like that messy drawer in your kitchen or the pile of papers on your desk and whip it into shape. Household clutter can make people depressed and overwhelmed, especially if you’re working from home. Remember the importance of being present and savor the moment!

Bio: Kathy Rivera, LCSW, is the Executive Director/CEO of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Long Island’s leading non-profit children’s mental health organization. To get help for your child or to support the Guidance Center’s life-saving work, call (516) 626-1971 or visit www. northshorechildguidance.org.

Nutritionist

Maria Dello

Kathy Rivera

John Fogerty’s Fave Baseball Players

BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO editorial@antonmediagroup.com

In the pantheon of baseball-related songs, John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” takes its place front and center with its nods to Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays and Ty Cobb, all who patrolled that part of the outfield. With spring training and Opening Day behind us, avowed baseball fan Fogerty is celebrating the new season by hitting the road. But what makes 2023 a year for the California native to be jazzed about is his having finally acquired the worldwide copyright to the Creedence Clearwater Revival catalog, a rich trove of material that produced 14 consecutive top 10 singles between 1969 and 1971 and five consecutive top 10 albums—with nearly all of the songs penned by Fogerty alone. And while the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer pointed out the battle for those intellectual rights dates back to CCR’s origins (“The ownership was handed over the second the contract was signed in early 1968,”) he’s finally at peace now that his ownership rights have been restored.

“It’s a big relief now and I just don’t have to worry about that now,” he said.

“It was wrong of course, but I’m in a celebratory mood for sure. I’m just happy that I’m still here and I get to share this with my fans and also with my family, which is such a large part of my musical journey at this point.”

And during all those decades while Fogerty battled for his songs behind the scenes, his love of baseball has been the lifelong joy that’s sustained him dating back to his childhood. Early memories include his pop talking about the Yankees and Babe Ruth when the CCR founding member was around three or four. And

with no major league baseball teams west of the Mississippi River, Fogerty’s early rooting interests were with the San Francisco Seals, a Pacific Coast League team that was home to all the DiMaggio brothers. Other hardball connections came from rooting for minor league outfits the Oakland Acorns (where Billy Martin got his start and Casey Stengel had a brief managing stint) and the Oakland Oaks (brother Jim was a batboy for them). But it would be Charlie Finley’s Oakland Athletics who Fogerty gave his allegiance to when the team moved to the Bay Area in 1969.

“The team that became mine was the Oakland A’s, but that happened slowly,” Fogerty recalled. “I watched the Giants and Dodgers, of course. But in the early ‘70s, the Oakland A’s, who were just down the road from where I lived, became very good and went to the World Series. During all of that, I just went with it. I went to the third World Series, I believe. There came a time, after all that success, where the team became pretty pedestrian and rather ordinary and they were having a rough time of it, like so many cities that I’ve gone to all over the country. Some people would call them the Oakland AAAs. I know when Billy Martin came to town, he was wearing out the arms of the pitchers. I then realized that these were my guys. I’m for the underdog and that sort of thing so it was at that moment that the Oakland A’s became my team.”

On this day, Fogerty’s favorite players weren’t automatically tied to the team whose uniforms former team owner Finley described as “Kelly green, wedding gown white and Fort Knox gold.”

John Fogerty will be appearing on April 28 at Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave., NYC. For more information, visit www.radiocity.com or call 866-858-0008

Lou Gehrig (New York Yankees)

“Lou Gehrig is at the top of the list. I read a book when I was in third grade called Lou Gehrig: Boy of the Sand Lots It might have been the first actual book that I read. This was an actual book at my school library that I checked out, took home and read three or four times. I now have a copy of it. He had just this amazing career with the Yankees.”

Reggie Jackson

(Kansas City/Oakland Athletics; Baltimore Orioles; New York Yankees; California Angels)

“Around the time “Centerfield” came out, someone asked me what my best moment would be in baseball if I was a player and I said I thought my favorite thing would be in a World Series game, where I’m on second base and Reggie Jackson is at the plate and hits a walk-off homerun to win the game. So I’m in the game, but I’m not the hero. That’s kind of who I am, that’s kind of my personality. My wife is always giving me the elbow to take credit for doing something. I’m not the guy doing it, I’m the guy who appreciates it.”

Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals; Philadelphia Phillies)

“Bryce Harper is someone that I’m really watching. When he first came up, I was toggling between him and Mike Trout. I was into Trout, because he was here in L.A. I didn’t know much about Bryce. But those two are both destined to open a new wing in the Hall of Fame. I’m really encouraged by both of those guys, because they’re kids still. You can say a whole lot of people. I’ll go with Bryce for now.”

John Fogerty

(Photo by Lee Cherry)

Recently Sold HOMES

HOME & DESIGN Safe Gates Help Save Lives

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of one and four years old, with an average of 11 fatal and 22 non-fatal drownings per day. The majority of the children that drown in swimming pools most commonly gain access to the pool area through a faulty fence or gate.

This sumptuous custom-built brick colonial situated on a little less than a half of an acre at 38 School St. in East Williston sold on April 4 for $2,300,000. With more than 4,600 square-feet of living space, this home offers six spacious bedrooms and four bathrooms including a primary bedroom with two walk-in closets and a resort-like ensuite. The home has custom moldings, gleaming rift and quartersawn white oak hardwood floors throughout. The chef’s eat-in-kitchen includes a Wolf 48-inch range with a double oven, a 48-inch SubZero refrigerator, two dishwashers and a sizeable center island with a serving pantry perfect for entertaining. The back of the home is flooded with natural light and allows for a perfect view of the oversized backyard. The home features a blend of formal and comfortable living space including a formal dining room, den, family room, and office with custom bookshelves. The home has a large walk-up attic and a basement with plenty of storage. There are two fireplaces and the home has fullhouse speaker system, a three-level dumbwaiter and a detached two-car garage with its own attic. The home has eight zones of gas heat, a four-zone central cooling system and in-ground sprinklers.

This lovely all brick split level home on a 9,200-square-foot lot at 2 Coleman Dr. in East Williston sold on March 10 for $993,600. This light, bright and airy home boasts an open floor plan, generously sized bedrooms, a living room with built-ins and a fireplace. It has a formal dining room, an eat-in-kitchen, and a primary bedroom ensuite with an updated bathroom and a walk-in closet. The lower level has a den with French doors leading to a patio, a powder room and an office that has potential to be a fourth bedroom. There is also access to a two-car garage. The home has 200 amps of electric, gas heating, central air conditioning and has hardwood floors throughout. The kitchen and bathroom need to be updated, but the home is freshly painted and has great bones. It is in close proximity to Northside Elementary School, shopping, dining, a park and the train station. This home is in the Wheatley School District.

Combined with constant child supervision and other layers of protection, physically checking your pool gate and maintaining your pool gate regularly to ensure it self-closes and self-latches at all times could help prevent drownings, yet only 30 percent of pool owners check the safety of their pool gate once a year. You should not be able to open a gate without activating the release mechanism, which should be out of the reach of toddlers, additionally, the gate should self-close and selflatch without assistance.

A few minutes is all it takes for pool owners to check that their pool fences and gates are in good working order. This simple routine done regularly could help save the life of a child.

Safety checklist for pool gates

• Gates should open outwards, away from the pool

• Latch release knob should be out of reach of toddlers under five years old (check local codes/standards for minimum requirements)

• Fence should be at a minimum height

• Gates must be self-closing and self-latching

• Fence perimeter should have

adequate distance from other climbable objects or structures

• Gate hinges are reliable, tension-adjustable, self-closing and rust-free

• Latch cannot be key-locked in the “open” position

• Latch cannot be opened using implements or force

• Latch must be adjustable horizontally and vertically to accommodate gate movement

• Maximum clearance from finished ground surface is no more than 4”

• Gate will latch from any position, including from resting on the latching mechanism

• Gate complies with all relevant Codes/Standards and legislation for pool safety

• Incorporate multiple layers of protection

It is critical to check your local pool codes for compliance, as local codes may vary. Visit www. us.ddtech.com and www.ndpa.org for more information on pool safety and compliance.

—D&D Technologies

Homes shown here represent closed sales, sold by a variety of agencies and are selected for their interest to readers by the Anton Media Group editor. Except where noted, data and photos are provided courtesy of Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, Inc. and Zillow.

Girls Inc. Of Long Island Receives $150,000 Grant

Girls Inc. of Long Island is excited to announce that it has received a $150,000 grant from Bank of America to help young girls break gender barriers and improve workforce equity on Long Island. The funding will help launch the new Bold Future Leaders (BFL) initiative, a weekly community program and summer leadership series that fosters bold, successful futures for high school girls (grades 9-12).

According to a recent survey by the Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA-LI), an advocacy organization that promotes economic development on Long Island, one-third of the 200 executives polled cited workforce challenges as a great concern. Through a focus on leadership development, economic literacy, and college and career preparedness, Girls Inc.’s BFL program aims to increase participants’ access and exposure to careers in historically male-dominated fields and close the gender gap in various industries, including STEM. Participants in the program will learn the importance of managing and taking steps toward self-reliance and success.

Girls Inc. of Long Island’s comprehensive and research-driven approach helps develop girls’ interpersonal relationships, leadership skills, essential life skills, and confidence, thus equipping girls to be our community’s next leaders and empowering them to be future change-makers on Long Island. BFL provides unique experiences for high school girls, including a private mock career fair that Girls Inc. hosted early this year. Participants came dressed for interviews, with their resumes, and networked with representatives from some of Long

Island’s biggest companies, such as Bank of America, Cox Media, and the NY Islanders.

“Girls need real-life exposure to unique and interesting careers that they wouldn’t normally have access to,” said Renee Flagler, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Long Island. “We’re excited and grateful to be partnering with Bank of America in their efforts to build a future generation of skilled, talented, and successful women.”

“Investing in women – from Bank of America employees to teens across Long Island – is vital for building a more equitable and sustainable future in the workplace,” said Marc Perez, President, Bank of America Long Island. “Supporting Girls Inc. of Long Island’s Bold Future

Leaders program will help cultivate the next generation of leaders by equipping young women with the skills and resources to achieve their professional dream.

In addition to BFL, Bank of America is partially funding Girls Inc. of Long Island’s first summer golf clinics for middle and high school girls. In the United States, some golf clubs still only allow men to become members. The discrimination that occurs in golf can create an unwelcoming environment for women interested in pursuing the sport, especially women of color. According to the Black Girls Golf Foundation, “African American women make up less than 1 percent of the golf industry workforce.” Despite the saturation of golf courses on

Long Island, these exclusive clubs remain largely inaccessible to girls and girls of color. During Girls Inc.’s two week-long summer golf clinics, participants will learn the ins and outs of golf – from the game itself to the surrounding industry and the world of women’s collegiate golf scholarships, dozens of which go unfilled due to the sport’s social and systemic barriers to entry.

With the generous support of Bank of America, the organization will continue to work to increase girls’ exposure to college and career opportunities, enabling them to have a pathway to success and Long Island employers to develop a new stream of future workers.

The Fresh Air Fund Is Looking For New Volunteer Host Families

Looking for volunteers on Long Island to host a New York City child

The Fresh Air Fund is looking for new volunteer families to host a New York City child, ages 8 to 14, for one week this summer with The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns program because a summer can last a lifetime. Enjoy the simple pleasures of summer when you host a Fresh Air child.

A Fresh Air visit to a volunteer host family is full of fun experiences like playing in the backyard, riding bicycles, swimming,

hiking, catching fireflies, gazing at the stars and making new friends. Volunteer host families live in small towns, suburban and rural communities along the East Coast. Every host family goes through a rigorous screening process including a home visit, background check, interview and reference check.

“Volunteer host families can create lifelong connections, gain new perspectives and make memories that will

last a lifetime. By volunteering as a host family on Long Island, New York, you will expand opportunities for New York City children living in underserved communities to help them learn, grow and thrive in the summer and beyond,” says Lisa Gitelson, The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer.

For more information about The Fresh Air Fund’s host volunteer program, please visit www.FreshAir.org/Host. Since its

founding in 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit youth development organization, has provided free life-changing summer experiences in the outdoors to more than 1.8 million children from New York City’s underserved communities. Young people also participate in yearround leadership, career exploration and educational programs.

—Submitted by Fresh Air Fund

Girls Inc. Bold Future Leaders participants pose with Bank of America representatives at their mock career fair in February. (Photo by Girls, Inc.)

AROUND LONG ISLAND

Vanderbilt Opens Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition

The Vanderbilt Museum recently debuted Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies, the first exhibition of outdoor sculpture at the historic summer estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II. The exhibit will run through April 2024.

Wendy Klemperer’s sculptures—a haunting assemblage of animal forms that span imaginary, endangered, familiar, and exotic species—celebrate natural history and the nonhuman world through evocative interactions with the surrounding environment. Using materials salvaged from scrapyards, she composes ecological narratives that respond to the history and collections of Suffolk County’s first public park and museum. Her brilliant use of gestural lines captures the spectator’s attention and invites museumgoers to reflect on the relationship between an interest in animal life and the incessant push of human industry.

Wrought Taxonomies is the inaugural exhibition in the Vanderbilt Museum’s outdoor sculpture program and the institution’s second exhibition of contemporary art focused on the relationship between culture and animals.

The Vanderbilt Museum occupies the former Gold Coast estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II, the great-grandson of Corneilius Vanderbilt and a pioneer of American motorsport. Located in Centerport on the north shore of Long Island, it is renowned for its extensive marine and natural history collections, Spanish revival architecture, and picturesque parklands. All sculptures are viewable with general admission to the Museum grounds. Educational programs and workshops associated with themes and content of Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies will be offered throughout the exhibition. A special thanks is due to the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, whose generous support made Wrought Taxonomies possible.

—Submitted by the Vanderbilt Museum

The Vanderbilt Museum Presents Astronomy Day Science Demos, Hands-on Projects, Telescope Viewing

The Vanderbilt Museum’s Reichert Planetarium will celebrate Astronomy Day 2023 on Saturday, April 29 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Astronomy Day at the Vanderbilt is part of an international celebration of educational programs designed to engage audiences in the awe-inspiring fields of Earth and space science. Daytime activities are free to all visitors who pay general admission. Evening observing is free.

Daytime program – 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This Vanderbilt STEM education event will include exciting science, take-home materials, and engaging discussion about science and society. Participants will create nebula spin art, investigate constellations, explore craters, and much more!

These fun activities introduce guests to the ongoing research happening at NASA in the fields of Earth science, planetary

science, and astrophysics. Astronomy educators will perform free Earth science and astronomy demonstrations for adults and children. Toolkits for these demonstrations were developed by the National Informal Science Education Network (NISE NET).

There will be several sessions during the day where members of the Astronomical Society of Long Island, an astronomy club based at the Planetarium, will be offering a brief overview of what you should consider before buying a telescope. After the talk, club members will be available to answer questions and to understand your specific interests, budget, and goals. Times for the sessions will be posted so you can plan to attend at your convenience.

Evening program – 8:00 to 10:00 pm

The Reichert Planetarium Astronomy Educators and the Astronomical Society of Long Island will set up telescopes

in the Rose Garden adjacent to the Planetarium. Visitors will have a chance to see close-up views of the Moon and other celestial highlights in the nighttime sky. Telescopes are available to visitors of all ages and will be free.

Astronomical Society of Long Island member Ed Anderson will conduct brief sky tours to show you what can be seen with your eyes alone and how binoculars can enhance this experience. If you have binoculars of any size, you are invited to bring them. There will be a limited number available for use during the session. Ed will show you the proper way to adjust binoculars and use them to enhance your enjoyment of the sky.

Note: All daytime planetarium show tickets include general admission (access to the exhibits in the Vanderbilt Mansion, Marine Museum, all grounds and gardens, and our Astronomy Day celebration).

Photo by Alex Nuñez

Gericroix (Pegasus), 2023.

(Photo by Vanderbilt Museum)

Red Fox, 2020. (Photo by Vanderbilt Museum)

Leader of the Pack, 2014.

(Photo by Vanderbilt Museum)

WE LOVE OUR PETS The Great Anton Media Group Fish Adventure

ften when people think of goldfish, they think of round fish bowls, carnivals and a low maintenance pet. And that’s what Jennifer Corr, an editor here at Anton Media Group, thought about goldfish too, until 2017 when her life turned upside down.

“It started with getting in a car to head to a Christian camp in Upstate New York as a camp counselor,” Corr said. “Another counselor was driving, and I looked down and saw a giant plastic bag of goldfish in a tote bag. The counselor planned to use them in a game for campers. I was worried for them, but the other counselor had assured me he had a tank ready for when we got upstate. Driving upstate on a hot summer day is hard enough for humans, but imagine being a goldfish stuck in a sealed plastic bag. Fish started floating to the top, lifeless, one by one.”

Once they all got to the camp, it was revealed there was no tank. All there was to use was some old containers.

“The other counselor told me to save the dead fish for the game too, so I started separating the fish by dead or alive in the containers inside the chapel,” Corr said.

“When the game was over, the counselor brought the live fish to me and told me they’re my responsibility now. And it was my duty to toss the dead fish in the dumpster. As the days went by, the fish died one by one, and on the last day, I was told I had to take the last fish home. I named him Hope.”

Hope had quite an excruciating ride home in a car with no heater, but he made it through. He went from a food container to a round fishbowl, to a five-gallon tank and eventually a 10-gallon tank.

“I didn’t want him to be lonely, so I got another one, but then Hope got sick and died,

The miraculous journey from tank to pond

so I had to buy another fish, and so on,” Corr said.

“This went on for seven years.”

But eventually, with a fish named Razorback, Corr decided not to buy another fish to end this fish dynasty.

But Razorback decided to live for four years.

“Being alone, besides having some tiny cory catfish and snails share the tank, Razorback grew huge,” Corr said.

“He also seemed too smart for his lifestyle, as he would get excited when he thought he

was going to be fed. So when I heard my fellow editor’s father had a koi pond, I thought I would ask if he would be willing to take it.”

“While the majority of the fish are koi, some are goldfish or a mix,” said Julie Prisco, an editor at Anton Media Group. “[My father Charles Prisco] started out with a small pond in his backyard with only a few koi fish. After learning more about how to maintain a healthy pond environment for koi, he expanded his pond. The new and improved pond is about 16 feet

wide, goes as deep as four feet, and is as shallow as 18 inches. The pond has two waterfalls, bubblers and a filtration system to keep the water clean. The pond has been running smoothly for six years now, with some six-year-old fish and a few four and five-year-old fish that were born in the pond.”

April 3 was moving day for Razorback. Corr, with the help of her father, put him in a travel container. Both were splashed in the process. And Corr set him down on the floor of the passenger seat.

“I was seven minutes away from work, exiting onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway, and while I was inside a tunnel, all of a sudden all the cars in front of me came to a screeching halt due to an accident up ahead,” Corr said. “That’s when I heard the splash.”

Corr looked down and saw the travel tank was on its side, and Razorback was flopping around. She put the travel tank on her lap, while navigating Nassau County traffic, and began emptying any water bottles she could find in her car. Luckily, due to her laziness in bringing things in at the end of the day, she had enough to sustain him.

After making a frenzied trip to Target, and then PetSmart, for treated fish water, he somehow survived and became the most popular guy at Anton Media Group that day. After the editorial meeting, Prisco brought Razorback to his new life.

Since that day, Prisco reports that Razorback is doing very well.

“Razorback is the newest addition to the pond and has blended in smoothly,” Prisco said. “He darted around the large pond in a frenzy for the first few days, becoming acclimated with the new space and new fish friends. After about a week, Razorback adjusted to the size and has mellowed out. [Charles] Prisco often spots him following the largest fishes closely, presumably learning their routines and the ways of the new pond.”

Razorback in Anton Media Group’s editorial office (Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Charles Prisco’s pond (Photo by Julie Prisco)

SPONSORED BY ORLIN & COHEN

Brendan O’Brien: Excelling In Baseball And Academics

BY JENNIFER CORR jcorr@antonnews.com

An excellent student and athlete, Brendan O’Brien, a junior at Oyster BayEast Norwich High School, was an obvious choice when the district was asked to highlight a great athlete. O’Brien was called up to play for the Varsity Boy’s Baseball team last year, and will continue to play for the team through next year. He is playing under Coach Jeffrey Schiereck.

“He’s a very large influence in our athletics across the board,” said Eric Bramoff, the director of phys ed, health and athletics at the Oyster BayEast Norwich Central School District. “He personifies the idea of student athlete. He takes his grades very seriously.

He is a model student in terms of behavior... He’s really a role model for not only the students of Oyster Bay, but he’s also a role model for his younger brother [a freshman on the varsity team] who is coming up through the ranks.”

O’Brien began playing baseball when he was around 5-years-old.

“I’ve always been a big Yankee fan,” O’Brien said. “It’s just something I’ve always had on my T.V. Baseball has just been something I’ve always been doing.”

And a successful career it’s been. The following are his stats:

-Batting average: .526

-Slugging percentage: .789

-RBIs: 6

-On-base percentage: .571

Pitching stats

-2.00 ERA

-1-0

-7 innings pitched

-4 strike outs

And in the future, O’Brien plans to play in college. “I really love it and I can’t see myself giving it up anytime soon,”

O’Brien said. He added that he is considering pursuing a business major.

But right now, O’Brien said his favorite subject is history. He said he has a 3.9 GPA.

“We’re hoping this is going to be one of our Ivy League baseball players,” said Bramoff.

“We are proud of him.”

Brendan O’Brien, a junior at Oyster Bay-East Norwich High School.

(Photos courtesy Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District Athletics)

IN MEMORIAM JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

Joe Pep: He Sure Did Make Us Proud

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

Joe Pepitone, the Brooklyn-born New York Yankee All Star, was the team’s link from its championship run in the early 1960s to its agonizing dry period in the mid-and-late 1960s to the rebuilding process that resulted in more titles in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Pepitone, who died last month at age 82, was born to be a Yankee. He was a lefty slugger from the sandlots of Brooklyn with a swing tailor-made for Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch. At Brooklyn’s Manual Training High School, Pepi was being touted as a possible $100,000 bonus baby signee. In the Fifties, New York public schools were already deep into their Blackboard Jungle phase. Zip guns were all the craze among feral youth. One day, one of Pepitone’s classmates was showing off his newly constructed piece. The boy actually stuck the gun in the 17-year-old Pepitone’s stomach---and pulled the trigger. The teenager survived. However, his value as a ballplayer went down markedly. He ended up signing with the Bombers for $20,000. Something else happened. Three days after the shooting, Pepitone’s father, then only 39, died of a heart attack.

Pepitone didn’t disappoint. After several years in the minors, the husky first baseman was ready for the big leagues. Pepitone played part time for the 1962 World Championship team. The Yankee front office thought so highly of Pepitone that they were willing to trade veteran first baseman Bill Skowron to the Los Angeles Dodgers to make room for Pepi.

It worked. Pepitone was popular with fans and teammates alike. He was productive too, belting 27 home runs, while driving in 89 runs in 1963 and 28 home runs and a career-high 100 runs batted in 1964. The Bombers kept winning, taking the American League flag in the 1962, 1963, and 1964, while snagging the 1962 World Series in a heart-stopping 1-0 seventh game win over the San Francisco Giants.

Pepitone at first, along with Bobby Richardson at second, Clete Boyer at third and Tony Kubek at shortstop formed the Yanks’ Million Dollar infield, a name inspired by the Million Dollar Movie highly popular among New York viewers in those pre-cable television days.

Pepitone was also part of a new breed of athletes that began to emerge in the

mid-1960s: Hipsters who sported long hair, while wearing expensive threads, questioning authority (including their coaches), and performing with a certain flair on the field. Pepitone was no Muhammad Ali or Joe Namath. He did make a name for himself by introducing blow driers into locker rooms. No greasy kid stuff---and no Brylcreem, either.

The man had a troubled life. After losing the 1964 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, Yankee management panicked, firing first year manager Yogi Berra, a short-sighted move that haunted the franchise for years. (When the Yanks did win the American flag in 1976, skipper Billy Martin had brought back Yogi as a bench coach.) Overnight, the Yankees grew old. Richardson, Kubek, and Whitey Ford retired. Boyer, Roger Maris, and Elston Howard were traded. After the 1966 season, Mickey Mantle was moved to first base. An unhappy Pepitone was transferred to centerfield. The man didn’t care for the moves, but he was the team’s most productive player in those nightmare years when it all seemed to be coming apart: The South Bronx neighborhood, New York City, and the country itself.

Pepitone was a good soldier. By 1969, the great Mantle had retired, itself a liberating experience. The Yanks could now begin anew. That year, Pepitone played with Bobby Murcer, Roy White and Thurman Munson, young stars who would lead the team to winning records in the early 1970s, themselves a prelude to the championship run of 1976 to 1981.

In 1969, Pepitone was traded to the Houston Astros for Curt Blefary, another lefty hitter who was also a native New Yorker. Blefary didn’t work out. But the trade set certain wheels in motion. Danny Cater was the Yanks’ first baseman in both 1970 and 1971. After a subpar ’71, Cater was traded to Boston for ace reliever Sparky Lyle. That was the pivotal deal that sent the Bombers on the path to late 1970s glory.

Pepitone played for Houston, the Chicago Cubs, and the Atlanta Braves before ending his career with a stint with the Yakult Atoms in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League.

In his 1975 mournful and brutally honest autobiography, Joe You Coulda Made Us Proud, the man recalled an exchange with his grandfather. The crusty old timer gave his grandson a five-dollar bill. “Congratulations,” the old man said (as best can recall). “Take this money, go to the butcher, buy some brains and put them in your head.”

What? This then-teenage reader thought. No shame in the Japan Leagues. Numerous major leagues have made that

same trek once their time in the American big leagues comes to an end. Alas, Pepitone spent less than a year in Japan.

Out of baseball, Pepitone struggled. He suffered several brush-ups with the law, being arrested for drug possession and even spending time at New York’s notorious Riker’s Island. A 2018 profile on Pepitone in New York magazine revealed a man still suffering emotional scars from that long-ago incident at Manual High School. Pepi recalled that a physician told him: “A fraction of an inch either way, you would have been dead.” “To this day, I don’t like talking about it, because it brings back really bad memories,” he told New York. “As I say, I was 17 years old.”

Joe Pepitone was a Yankee. And a proud one. Always popular, too. Yankee fans remained forever grateful for the way he carried the banner of Yankee pride in those dark days of the late 1960s. He later served as a Yankees’ coach. He received moving ovations at annual Old Timers Day events, themselves the final of rite of passage for any Yankee great.

It was the fans way of saying: Joe Pep, you always made us proud.

PSEG Long Island Reminds You To Call 811 Before You Start A Project

PSEG Long Island reminds customers, contractors and excavators that the law requires them to call 811 before digging to ensure underground pipelines, conduits, wires and cables are properly marked out.

Every digging project, even a small project like planting a tree or building a deck, requires a call to 811. It’s the law. The call is free and the mark-out service is free. The call must be made whether the job is being performed by a professional or a do-it-yourselfer. Striking an underground electrical line can cause serious injury and outages, and result in repair costs and fines.

“It’s spring once again, and people on Long Island and in the Rockaways are starting outdoor improvements to their homes and businesses. Calling 811 ahead of time helps protect underground utility lines and, more importantly, the safety of anyone digging,” said Michael Sullivan, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of Transmission and Distribution Operations. “Customers are getting the message. Last year there were more than 215,000 mark-out requests in our service area, and so far this year, there have been more than 44,000 requests to 811.”

According to Common Ground Alliance, a member-driven association of nearly 1,800 individuals and 250 member companies in every facet of the underground utility industry, 40% of active diggers in North America do not call 811 because they think their project is too shallow to require it. All digging projects require a call to 811.

A free call to 811 in the service area automatically connects the caller to the local New York one-call center, which collects information about digging projects. The onecall center then provides the information to the utility companies, which send representatives to mark the locations of nearby underground lines with flags, paint or both. Once lines have been properly marked and

confirmation from all of the utility owners is received, projects may proceed as long as caution is used around the marked areas.

Here’s important information to consider:

• Underground gas and electric lines are everywhere, even on private properties. These facilities can be easily damaged if dug into, with the potential to cause serious injuries. Digging into these lines can also disrupt vital utility services, resulting in costly delays, expensive repairs and environmental or property damage.

• Whether the job is a major home improvement project or something as simple as a fence or mailbox post, a call to 811 must be placed beforehand to determine where it’s safe to dig.

• Call 811 at least two business days before the commencement of each job to have underground pipes, wires and equipment located. Each facility owner must respond by providing the excavator with a positive confirmation indicating that marks are in place where utility lines are buried or that there are no existing facilities in the area of the proposed work. This service is free of charge.

• Be sure to wait until all of the utilities have responded. Don’t dig until lines have been marked or you have received confirmation that the area is clear of facilities.

• Property owners must maintain and respect the marks. Always hand dig within 2 feet of marked lines to find the existing facilities before using mechanized equipment.

• If gas lines are damaged or there is a gas smell when excavating, call 911 immediately from a safe area.

Calling before you dig is more than a good idea − it’s the law. Additional information, including a booklet on safe excavating practices and the protection of underground facilities, can be found on the PSEG Long Island website.

—Submitted by PSEGLI

PSEG Long Island Partners With Google For Energy Savings

PSEG Long Island has partnered with Google to provide customers the gift of energy savings. Customers can get a Google Nest Thermostat at a price 93% below retail value. The promotion runs from now into July.

With a smart thermostat, customers can create a heating and cooling schedule from their smart device that can help them remain comfortable and save money.

OFFER DETAILS: Now through July 10, 2023, customers can visit PSEG Long

Island’s Energy Efficiency Marketplace at www.psegliny.com/marketplace to get a Google Nest Thermostat ($129.99 retail value) for $9.99. The customer whose name is associated with the account must place the order. Please check your most recent electric bill. Each qualifying residential customer account is limited to one smart thermostat. The customer is responsible for all applicable sales tax and shipping charges.

—Submitted by PSEGLI

WORD FIND

HOROSCOPES By Holiday Mathis

HOROSCOPES

HOROSCOPES

By Holiday Mathis

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have pleted the puzzle, there will be 19 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

By Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re aware that people are constantly sending signals to the world about who they are, what they aspire to and where they’d like to t in. You’ll note how much of this comes through what a person chooses to wear and say, and you’ll make tweaks to your own style this week, too.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). ere’s a time and place for sharing your feelings. In some friend groups, family cultures and societies, it seems like there’s a ban on feelings. Finding the appropriate time and place to share will be key, though with the right people you’ll feel so unconditionally accepted that it will be unnecessary to manage emotions with such strictness.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You want to be around people you admire today. Tune into how you feel around them. In the early stages, it’s enough to think someone is wonderful, but it’s not worth continuing unless you also feel wonderful around them. It’s good to remind yourself that how you feel around someone is as important as how you feel about them.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). From bud to husk, every stage has its own kind of loveliness. You like the sort of things that don’t need much maintenance -- things that grow on their own and are beautiful in their natural state without a lot of interference from you. Usually, it’s a function of being well matched to the environment.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It would be silly to blame yourself for the negativity bias that’s physiological. Emphasizing the negative has kept humans alive for thousands of years. is week, you’ll counteract the tendency by building positive and lovely things up to a memorable level. If you make it a little weird, on purpose or on accident, it will be all the more unforgettable.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your needs are important. If you dare to pursue them, this week provides you with what’s required for their ful llment, so there’s no need to put it o any longer. Furthermore, the help available is worth paying for. e learning curve is steep. Experts can do it in a fraction of the time it would take you, and for a small price.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). e more you take on, the more you can do. No one becomes strong, fast or capable by pacing themselves perfectly. ings are too easy, you learn. ings are too hard, you learn. No one can control the ow of life, but you’ll become impressively adept at managing it well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). In matters of self-esteem, one size does not t all. Two people could enact the very same behavior with drastically di erent takeaways. Esteem is a matter of evaluation, and each person’s rating system is highly personal. is week, your self-esteem is on the rise, not necessarily because of what you do but because of how you view and value these actions.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re well aware of the precariousness of identifying too strongly with possessions. Anything that can be owned is likely to change hands, change value, require maintenance and deteriorate over time. It is possible to derive pleasure and joy from possessions as long as you accept their ephemeral nature as a given.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). People aren’t trying to get in the way of your work, and yet their very presence can di use or shift your focus and cause you to be far less productive. e best way to deal with distractions is to take measures to prevent them from happening in the rst place.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Because you are too close to your talent, routine and manner to see what it looks like from the outside, you tend to undervalue your contributions. Don’t be so hard on yourself. What you think of as mistakes, others embrace as part of your o beat style. You’re more e ective than you think.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). e natural world does not run according to justice, righteousness or deservedness. Rights are a human construct. And while it seems that certain dignities should be a birthright, there is no point in history that this has been the case for all. is you’ll take as a calling. You’ll work for equality.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

is solar year brings surges of pride and pleasure in achievements of all kinds. Even as you go for the ones that come with certi cates and remuneration, the wonder of intangible triumphs isn’t lost on you. In retrospect, your favorite accomplishments will be feats of the heart. You will often nd it easy to focus in on what you want, as it will often be in full bloom before you. More highlights: an inspired trade, a stellar connection pays o in an unusual way, and rich rewards for embodying the virtues of compassion, modesty and frugality.

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

A day at the zoo

Solution: 19 Letters

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 19 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

A day at the zoo

FROM KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, 300 W. 57th STREET, 41st FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. 236

CONTRACT BRIDGE — BY STEVE BECKER

FOR RELEASE THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023

CONTRACT BRIDGE

It’s all very logical

Solution:

By Steve Becker

you win with the nine. It is here that you make your bid for fame and glory. You lead the jack of diamonds, and when West covers with the queen, you let him hold the trick!

This unusual maneuver is not an act of charity on your part; rather, it is an avoidance play designed to prevent East from gaining the lead later with a club and playing a spade through your king. Nothing can be lost by allowing West to win the diamond jack with the queen, as you are merely exchanging your club loser for a diamond loser.

The great advantage of ducking West’s queen is that you can now try for a 3-3 club division without running the risk of East gaining the lead with a club.

king

diamonds. Your potential losers are two spades, a diamond and a club, but there’s a chance of escaping a spade loser if the clubs are divided 3-3 or, failing that, if East has the ace of spades.

Your best move at trick one is to duck the king of diamonds. You hope West will shift to a spade or a lead a low diamond, which you’d let run to your jack. Either of these plays would solve your problem immediately.

But West shifts to a trump, which

Regardless of what West does next, you are home. Let’s say he plays another diamond. You discard a club on the ace, cash the ace of trump and A-K of clubs and ruff a club. When the suit divides 3-3, you cross to dummy with a trump and discard a spade on the seven of clubs to make the contract.

Observe that if you fail to make the avoidance play, you go down one against correct defense. Observe also that even if the clubs fail to divide evenly, you can still get back to dummy with a trump to try leading a spade to the king as your last resort.

Weekly Sudoku Puzzle

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku Puzzle

Answer to last issue’s Crossword Puzzle

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

To place an item in this space, send information two weeks before the event to editors@antonmediagroup.com. ..................

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

Knitting One-One

From 1 to 1:30 p.m., the Bryant Library will host a knitting class. One of the Reference Librarians will teach you the basics of knitting: how to cast on, knit, purl, and will even help you “fix” some of those unruly stitches. Please bring your yarn and needles to the appointment. You must register in advance for this program. The library is at 2 Paper Mill Rd. Call 516-621-2240.

Film Noir Screening:

The Kiss of Death

From 1 to 2:30 p.m., the library will host a film screening of The Kiss of Death (1947). Lecture by Keith Crocker. Nick Bianco is caught during a botched jewelery heist. The prosecution offer him a more lenient sentence if he squeals on his accomplices but he doesn’t roll over on them. Three years into the sentence an event changes his mind. The library is at 2 Paper Mill Rd. Call 516-621-2240.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

Super Family Saturday: Arbor Day

An on-site family friendly event for children and their adult companions: At the Nassau County Museum of Art Manes Art and Education Center. There are two sessions: Session I: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Session II: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost is: $10 Members & children, $20 Non-member adults Enjoy a Family Tree Walk with horticultural interpreter Sharon Pesner followed by a family art-making. For inquiries about this program, please email artclasses@nassaumuseum.org.

Community Service Kindness Rocks

From 12 noon to 1 p.m., students grades 6 to 12 will gather at the library to decorate rocks with colorful designs and positive messages. You will earn one hour of community service for participating. The library is at 2 Paper Mill Rd. Call 516-621-2240.

MONDAY, MAY 1

Teen Take & Make Craft: Star Wars

For grades 6 t o 12. Celebrate May 4

by creating an R2D2 pencil holder. This take & make craft, not a pro gram. You can use the materials and instruc tions to complete the craft on your own time. We will notify you when the kits are ready for pickup. The library is at 2 Paper Mill Rd. Call 516-621-2240

Foundations of Investing

From 1 to 2 p.m., join licensed financial advisor Vincent Sama for a 30-minute educational seminar for people who want an overview of investing, including key terms and types of invest ments. Foundations of investing covers the basic features of bonds, stocks and packaged investments,

must register for the full session. Refunds and/or discounts will not be offered for missed classes. Checks can be made out to The Bryant Library with the class of your choice written on the notes line. The library is at 2 Paper Mill Rd. Call 516-621-2240.

North Shore Christian Women’s Club Luncheon

At 12:15 p.m., the Nassau North Shore Christian Women’s Club will hold a luncheon at the Jolly Fisherman, 25 Main St., Roslyn. Speakers will include Helen Weingarten, Jannon Smith, along with soloist Jan Dougherty. For reservations, call Jane Voss at 516-7420861 or Pat Pedley at 516-354-5385. Cost is $38.00.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

Tech One-on-One for Adults

From 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon, the library will host a computer desktop class. Do you need help with setting up Kanopy, Hoopla or Libby, or do you have questions. To register, please visit the website at www.bryantlibrary.org and click on programs or call the Reference Desk at 516-621-2240 ext. 241.

Douglas Pierce, Day School Director, Dies At 70

Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. Interment followed at Holy Rood Cemetery Westbury.

roslyn@antonmediagroup.com

Since 1943, Pierce Country Day School has been a Roslyn institution, providing summer camp fun for generations of local youth.

Earlier this month, on April 5, Doug Pierce, the longtime director at Pierce, died at age 70.

On Legacy.com., family members hailed Pierce as a “beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Brother-In-Law, Uncle, Cousin, Godfather, Friend and Big Chief.”

They added that Pierce passed away “unexpectedly but peacefully in his sleep.”

“Doug was not only the leader of our family, but a leader in camping and our community,” the tribute continued. “He served as president of more organizations than can be named here but was most

proud to be a founder of SCOPE to help as many children experience the magic of camp as possible. It gives us great comfort to know Doug’s legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of the countless lives he touched in our community.

A visitation was held on Tuesday April 18 and Wednesday April 19. The funeral mass was held on Thursday April 20 at St.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer a donation in Doug’s name to his favorite organization SCOPE: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/DougPierce.

Pierce’s impact on the Roslyn community was significant and large-reaching.

Pierce Country Day School was established in 1943 by Forrester Pierce Sr. Nearly three quarters of a century later the school remains under the proud ownership and guidance of third and fourth generation Pierce family members.

Douglas Pierce represented that tradition. Online reactions to his passing illustrated his contributions to the Roslyn community.

“I first met Doug in August of 1966 at LaSalle Military Academy, it was the start of a 57-year-old friendship. We were classmates, roomates, and teammates. Doug had

an award winning smile and the heart of a giant. My sincere condolences to Marie, their daughters, his family Greg, Tom, Debbie,and Forrester.”

----Joe Bruno

“Dear Marie, and girls and family. My heart is broken for your loss of beloved Doug. May God’s loving mercy comfort you all now and in the future. Prayers and hugs.”

----Love, Mary A. Ballon

“Dear Marie & Family, Don and I can’t express how so very sorry we are on hearing of Doug’s sudden passing. Doug was a wonderful husband as well as a great dad to his three beautiful daughters and the best grandfather to his grandkids. He was also a loving, kind and generous uncle to so many nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed by family and friends alike. We know that your hearts are broken and that we are keeping you and the family in our thoughts and prayers.”

---- Love, Don & Kathy

SCHOOL NEWS

EAST WILLISTON STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR STATE HISTORY DAY CONTEST

Seventh graders from Willets Road School in East Williston are making history as their triumph in the Long Island History Day competition earns them a coveted spot in the state contest.

The students chose a historical topic and conducted research, using libraries, archives and museums, oral history interviews, and visits to historic sites. Once they draw a conclusion about their topic, they are tasked with presenting their work in one of five ways: a paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary or a website. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places and Ideas.”

The New York State History Day Contest will take place on April 24 at SUNY Oneonta.

— Submitted by the East Williston School District

BRINGING LITERATURE TO LIFE

STUDENTS BLEND ART AND CONSERVATION AT BRONX ZOO

East Williston students in the AP and Advanced Portfolio Photography and Advanced Portfolio classes at The Wheatley School visited the Bronx Zoo where they explored the symbiotic relationship between art and wildlife conservation. Students worked in a classroom setting with instructors and animals as well as exploring exhibitions such as the butterfly garden accompanied by zoological experts. Getting behind-the-scenes access to photographs and drawing on-site allowed the students to discover the importance art plays in a zoo environment, not only for marketing but to ensure that animal habitats are true to nature. They also learned about jobs within the zoo and gained awareness and empathy towards the zoo’s efforts at wildlife conservation.

—Submitted by the East Williston School District

Students at North Side School in East Williston saw their favorite books come alive in front of their eyes during the school’s annual “Books Alive” event, a unique community show that helps foster excitement for reading.

Over 60 North Side School faculty and staff were recently joined by 40 parents for the performance in the North Side School auditorium.

The show featured six book readings, complete with a colorful cast in handmade costumes acting out the stories surrounded by a full set design. The show included musical accompaniment provided by a band featuring five North Side School teachers. The students were not only just audience members but played a part in the experience by serving as ushers, leading the Pledge of Allegiance and helping to create the artwork that decorated the auditorium.

“Books Alive” is an initiative that not only inspires a love of books, but also allows East Williston families to work together and create a special experience for their students to enjoy. “The books jump from the page to the stage to encourage a love of reading for all North Siders,” North Side speech pathologist Ms. Klein said. “The most important thing is to look around at the faces the day of the show on parents, staff and children, knowing that we have done something that will truly resonate with them for a long time to come.”

North Side School Principal Mr. Bloomgarden summed up the event by saying, “It is my favorite day of the year and showcases how well our parents and staff collaborate for the benefit of our students.”

Pictured here are students at North Side School in East Williston enjoying the event.

( Photos courtesy the East Williston School District)

Six East Williston students qualified for the upcoming New York State History Day Contest. L-R: Seventh-graders Yash Shah, Jack Basner, Jaiden George, Zachary Goldberg, Alex Yee-Chan and Logan Hamilton.

(Photos courtesy the East Williston School District)

After months of exhaustive research and presentations at the districtwide contest, 16 seventh-graders from East Williston’s Willets Road School were selected to present at the Long Island History Day Contest on March 26.

East Williston photography students visited the Bronx Zoo for a lesson in art and conservation. From left: Noah Gorlewski, Ariel Rosenberg, Rachel Blennau, Tina Lountzis, Emma Azevedo, Zoe Lahiji, and Isabella Lahiji. (Photos courtesy the East Williston School District)

Left to right, back row: Noah Gorlewski, Emma Azevedo, Isabella Lahiji, Ariel Rosenberg, Leona Semenov, Leah Varghese and Tiffany Yung. Front row: Rachel Blennau, Tina Lountzis and Zoe Lahiji.

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE CIVIL ENGINEER CENTER JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO LACKLAND TEXAS

Would you like to learn more about environmental cleanup projects at Former Roslyn Air National Guard Station (ANGS)?

If yes, then please contact Mr. David Farnsworth at: david.farnsworth@us.af.mil or call 1-866-725-7617 to get more information on participating in the startup of a Restoration Advisory Board, also known as a “RAB”

• What is a RAB?

o A RAB is a community group which meets to discuss and receive information on environmental restoration (cleanup) projects at Former Roslyn ANGS.

• What does a RAB do?

o A RAB facilitates and improves communication, outreach, and transparency between the former military base, the public, regulators, local governments, and interest groups for issues related to military cleanup activities. RABs o er a structured, focused, and interactive opportunity for community stakeholders to meaningfully participate in the cleanup process. A RAB enables local community members to receive from and exchange information with the Air Force and regulatory agencies managing environmental cleanup projects at Former Roslyn ANGS.

o RABs engage in and support the Department of Defense’s cleanup e orts by reviewing and commenting on cleanup documents and activities; serving as a liaison to and sharing cleanup information with the community; and providing a forum to exchange information about the schedule, type, and status of cleanup activities. RAB meetings allow RAB members and members of the community to receive updates and ask questions on the status of the environmental cleanup program at Former Roslyn ANGS.

o Though RABs are not a decision-making group, RABs do give local community members the opportunity to have their voices heard and provide a forum to provide valuable community insight to the Air Force and regulatory agencies.

• Are you interested in participating in Former Roslyn ANGS’s RAB?

o The Air Force is currently assessing whether there is enough community interest to reestablish a RAB at Former Roslyn ANGS.

o If you are interested in learning more about Former Roslyn ANGS’s environmental restoration projects and having the opportunity to give your input to base and regulatory agencies on their management of cleanup projects at Former Roslyn ANGS, either as a RAB member or by attending RAB meetings, then please contact:

Mr. David Farnsworth at: david.farnsworth@us.af.mil or call 1-866-725-7617 by Thursday, 15 June 2023

People With Disabilities Speak Up During Disabilities Awareness Month

Dressed in a blue baseball cap, blue sweatshirt and black pants, Angelo walked up to the podium in a large room at FREE’s Old Bethpage headquarters. Shouts of, “You got this,” “Miracle Boy” and “Go, Angelo” echoed through the room with around 50 people. A survivor of traumatic brain injury, Angelo read an emotional story he had written about his life, at a podium bearing with the word FREE, for Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, and the motto, “Reach high, achieve more.”

He talked about undergoing life-saving surgery after his mother signed papers allowing the operation, and going into a coma and waking three weeks later in another hospital.

“I was confused and very lost,” he said. “I had two needles in my right arm, one needle in my left arm, a trachea tube in my throat and a catheter. My mother came over and held my hand. I felt like a baby all over.”

He spoke at “Our Stories: Disability and TBI Awareness Month Celebration” on March 23 at FREE’s Old Bethpage headquarters. “TBI doesn’t define who I am,” Angelo said. “The only thing that defines me is A,N,G,E,L,O. That’s my first name.”

He was among nearly a dozen speakers with various disabilities who told their stories, giving a perspective on what it’s like to live with a disability and not be defined by it. Artwork by people with disabilities and a performance by FREE’s drum and bugle corps also showcased skills of people with disabilities.

“All of this is a way of telling your story. All of these pieces are a part of you,” said Jaime Crispin, who organized the event and leads FREE’s Speakers Bureau, comprising disabled people trained to speak to the public. “Each time you tell your own story, draw or create a collage or a painting or write a poem, you are telling a part of who you are.”

Sam, who helped train the drum corps who performed at the start of the event, said he loves working with this band of drummers.

“We have a great time learning a lot of stuff. It’s a dream come true to be working here and doing music,” said Sam. “I’m glad to be here, working with good people and great workers. I feel like I finally found my place.”

Inspiration Inc.

Sam like many others at the event talked about moments in their life that inspired them. In his case, that was seeing Rent on Broadway.

“I remember it like yesterday when my dad and I went to the theater and watched the show,” Sam said. “It was an incredible, life-changing event.”

He talked about the lyrics of “No day but

today,” which he said mean you should “live your life to the fullest. It really inspired me.” Although Jonathan Larson died before his musical reached Broadway, Sam said the music and lyrics of Rent continue to energize him and others today.

“It’s still inspiring people to do what I do,” Sam said. “Everybody has great stories. I’m very happy to be here.”

Change in the air

Ian, who has struggled with depression and addiction, talked about his efforts to turn his life around by modifying behaviors. “That dark time made me want to change my life. Without going through that, I would not be where I am today,” he said. “A lot of my friends were not positive influences. My friends then did not have my best interests in mind.”

He said he “changed my focus to myself” and turned to “hard work, therapy, positive thinking.” He focused on a healthy body and mind. “It was necessary for me to concentrate on exercise and getting physically fit,” Ian said.

Meanwhile, Bradley talked about being called into the principal’s office at the Elwin Institute, a school in Pennsylvania for people with learning disabilities.

“I said to myself, ‘Oh, my heavens, am I in trouble? Did I cheat on a test or say something I shouldn’t say?’” he said. “The principal said, ‘I have two things I need to discuss with you.’”

After he asked what they were, he was told he would find out only after he sat down.

“You won the principal’s award,” Bradley was told once he sat. “This is the first time that a person with disability or mental illness got that award here.”

After being named valedictorian, he wrote a speech designed to convey a message that

people with disabilities are important and valuable, even if some people bully and treat them badly.

His family -- including parents, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, and cousins – all attended graduation, where they got a surprise.

“I never told my parents that the valedictorian gets to lead the class in,” Bradley said. “My brother said, ‘Hey, mom, look.’ And mom starts to do what? Cry. Mom was very proud of me.”

He described some of the content of his speech, meant to inspire others with and without disabilities, in the face of obstacles. “One of the things I mentioned in my speech is no matter what people think of you, you’re the best,” he said.

Hope, help, healing

Others offered uplifting messages, such as Jimmy, who read “Hope after Head Injury” by Cristabelle Braden, a kind of rallying cry. “I will not stop living. I will stay strong,” he read. “I move forward.”

Rebeccah read “My voice, My life,” a poem she wrote calling for recognition and respect and injecting reality into misconceptions some have of people with disabilities.

“I do not need help thinking. What makes you think I don’t have an independent mind?” she asked. “I have dreams, I have wishes and opinions.”

Rebecca said, “I have a voice. It’s my voice” and “There is no normal,” but rather each person is an individual with their own way of being. “I look at it as no-one has a disability,” she said. “Accept everyone for who they are.”

Others read poetry, told stories and showed their artwork at this event designed to let people with disabilities be heard. Peter in a poem he wrote described “the people

we meet as they help us out of a hole so deep.”

“The world is a little brighter,” he said. “And my shoulders a lot lighter.”

Angelo, though, gave the most detailed account of how he recovered, after being told by doctors he would need occupational, physical and speech therapy to learn “everything all over again.”

He made progress that would eventually lead to his speech at this podium. “I began to learn how to walk, talk, use my brain all over again,” he continued.

He stayed in rehabilitation for a year and ten months, learning to walk and recovering after emerging from a coma. “It wasn’t easy,” he said, “but it wasn’t impossible either.”

Angelo talked about how, after suffering from a condition known as AVM or arterial vein malfunction, he values every day of his life.

“It was out of my control. They say it was there since I was born. I never had any symptoms,” he said. “Every day above ground is a plus.”

Speaking up

Crispin hopes to send members of FREE’s Speakers Bureau, that includes various people from this event, to speak to other audiences, spreading the word about the reality and need for respect for people with disabilities.

“We hope to go to colleges, schools, organizations and present regarding different topics,” Crispin said, “such as disability rights, disability awareness, want to bully and various other topics.”

Jonathan, a participant in FREE’s theater program, talked about how performance builds confidence.

He described participating in a drum competition in Williamsport, Penn. as a moment he still remembers. “It was the best experience of my life,” Friedlander said with a smile.

The event, at least briefly, led to treatment of the participants as celebrities amid a wave of congratulations. “Autographs will be given outside the room,” Angelo said before pizza was served.

“Can I have your autograph,” someone in the audience shouted. “Great job, Angelo!”

Ian, however, may have given the most inspirational speech, leaving audience members with a call to action, whether or not they have a disability.

“When faced with adversity, don’t be discouraged. Be more determined to keep going. You have purpose,” Ian said. “It doesn’t matter what other people think. What matters is what you think of yourself. If you have a dream, go for it. If you love something, do it. Don’t put limits on yourself.”

—Submitted by Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.

FREE’s drum and bugle corps brought down the house at “Our Stories: Disability and TBI Awareness Month Celebration” in late March. (Courtesy of FREE)

Maggie Keats

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