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7 - 13, 2024

HEART HEALTH MONTH Treatment Develop ments Mediterranean Diet

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PROFILES IN MEDICINE February is Heart Health Month!

Neighbors in the News: Local firefighter honored for service (See page 4) Calendar: Gold Coast Arts to host film screening (See page 8)

Ex-School Security Guard Faces Criminal Charges (See page 3)

Long Island Weekly: A New Yorker’s experience on reality show The Bachelor (See page 14)

CALL 516-403-5120 TO START A SUBSCRIPTION TODAY!

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz showing the arsenal of homemade bombs and ghost guns found in an Astoria apartment. (Photo from the Queens

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District Attorney Melinda Katz’s Facebook)

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School News: Local teens named Students of the Quarter (See page 10)

1010 Northern Boulevard, Suite 310 Great Neck, New York 11021

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NORTH ZONE

Washington D.C. isn’t working for us.

I will work day and night with both parties to deliver for the people to make living here more affordable, safer, and better. I delivered for this district before, and I will do it again by putting you ahead of partisanship. Let’s reject the nonsense and get back to work.

Gth N I T O V b. 3rd –11 EARs tLhY is Sat. Fe Start

CTION SPECIAL ELyE, Feb.

Tuesdath

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TOP STORY

Former Security Guard For Great Neck Public Schools Is Facing Criminal Charges JULIE PRISCO

I

jprisco@antonmediagroup.com

n late January, law enforcement officials reported that one of the Great Neck Public Schools (GNPS) contracted security guards was arrested and facing criminal charges. Former Great Neck Public School Security guard Angelo Hatziagelis, 51, and his brother Andrew, 39, were indicted on 130 counts of criminal possession of a variety of weapon-related charges.

According to a press release from Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, “an arsenal of improvised explosive devices and ghost guns, including assault rifles, was found inside an Astoria apartment [the brothers] shared with their mother and another brother. Instructions for making a variety of bombs, anarchist propaganda, and a ‘hit list,’ with ‘cops, judges, politicians, celebrities’ and ‘banker scum’ scrawled on it, were also found during a search of the home.”

On Monday, Jan. 22, the Great Neck Public School Superintendent Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D., notified the school community that the security guard was facing criminal charges. Angelo was assigned to JFK Elementary. Bossert wrote, “It is important to note that the charges pending against this individual are unrelated to children or anything associated with Great Neck Public Schools.”

Bossert informed the community that the Great Neck Public School district contracts most of its security personnel through Arrow Security. “We have reviewed all hiring practices and screening protocols with Arrow to make sure that all relevant actions were taken before this individual was placed within GNPS. We have confirmed that they were.”

In a statement to the community released on Tuesday, Jan. 30, Bossert once again assured the community that the security guard “has not been present at JFK or any district facility since his arrest, and he will not be permitted to return to school grounds for any reason moving forward.”

“During a press conference held by the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, we, along with members of the media and the public, learned about the severity of the charges,” wrote Bossert. “We share your concern regarding the gravity of these charges and extend our gratitude to law enforcement for their swift action in addressing this matter to ensure the safety of all.

The Queens District Attorney’s Office shared that “the defendants, both of 36th

officials executed a search warrant on the brothers’ residence, resulting in their arrests and the seizure of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), guns, ammunition, body armor, and more. Members of the NYPD Bomb Squad were called to the scene to respond and evacuate the building due to the discovery of the live IEDs. District Attorney Katz said, “The city is safer today. My Crime Strategies and Intelligence Bureau launches investigations every day so that we find illegal weapons, including guns and, in this case, explosive devices.

We cannot measure the number of lives that were saved, but we do know that these weapons will never hurt anyone.”

NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said the “charges underscore the harsh reality that our communities contain a small number of people who conceivably harbor Andrew Hatziagelis Angelo Hatziagelis evil intent. This cache of weapons–including explosives and untraceable, 3D-printed ghost (Photos from the Office of the Queens District Attorney) guns–had the potential to wreak horrendous carnage. Along with our NYPD investigators, I thank all of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their persistence in identifying, investigating, and holding fully accountable anyone who poses a risk to New Yorkers’ safety and well-being.”

The intensity of these charges has left members of the Great Neck community rattled. But the Great Neck School District and Superintendent Bossert assured the community that “the safety, health and welfare of all students, faculty, and staff are of paramount importance.”

“It is worth noting that this individual met all New York State requirements to hold an unarmed security guard license at the time of his arrest, including a required criminal background check and fingerprinting. We have conducted a careful review of all mandated protocols with our contracted service provider, Arrow Security, to ensure no steps were overlooked during the hiring process,” Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in the Astoria appartment. wrote Bossert. “Additionally, Arrow Security (Photo from the Office of the Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz) confirmed that this individual also underwent Avenue in Astoria, are awaiting arraignment one count of attempted criminal possession and passed a full background check by an inof a firearm, and three counts of unlawful on a 130-count indictment charging them dependent investigations firm, as well as drug possession of a pistol or revolver ammuniwith eight counts of criminal possession of testing prior to his placement within GNPS.” tion, and nine counts of unlawfully dealing a weapon in the first degree, nine counts of The Great Neck Public School District criminal possession of a weapon in the sec- with fireworks and dangerous fireworks.” will continue to work with Arrow Security to Before searching the Astoria apartment, ond degree, 47 counts of criminal possession review vetting protocols and insist upon a the Queens District Attorney shared that of a weapon in the third degree, six counts rigorous background check beyond what New based on prior intelligence, “members of the York State requires for any individual placed of criminal possession of a firearm, eight counts of reckless endangerment in the sec- Queens District Attorney’s Crime Strategies in any of the school buildings, shared Bossert. ond degree, 14 counts of criminal possession and Intelligence Bureau launched an inves“We take this matter very seriously and of a weapon in the fourth degree, six counts tigation into the purchase of firearm compo- will maintain close collaboration and coopnent parts, accessories, and the manufacture eration with law enforcement officials at all of criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree, 15 counts of make/transport/dispose/ of illegal ghost guns by the defendants. Mem- times,” wrote Bossert. bers of the NYPD were brought into the invesdeface weapons and dangerous weapons, The Queens District Attorney Katz shared tigation to assist in the collection of additional that “the defendants’ next court date is Feb. three counts of unlawful purchase of body data, and a search warrant was secured.” armor, one count of attempted criminal 15. If convicted, they each face up to 25 years On Wednesday, Jan. 17, law enforcement possession of a weapon in the third degree, in prison.”

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FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

NEIGHBORS IN THE NEWS

Gold Coast Arts Center Hosts Author Event At Great Neck Library

Great Neck Activists Join Jerusalem Great Neck Library is having an author event “Gold Coast Arts Center author Rally/Protest On 100th Day Of Joseph Berger: Elie Wiesel: Confronting the Silence”. Join us for a special conversation Captivity Of Israeli Hostages with author Joseph Berger moderated by

Great Neck activists, Drora and Dr. Paul Brody, President of the ZOA Long Island Chapter, and iconic activist, Rabbi Avi Weiss, Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Riverdale, joined hundreds of local residents of the Talpiot, Baka and Arnona neighborhoods of Jerusalem, on Jan. 14, 2024, to protest Hamas still holding Israeli

Auschwitz, become such a revered figure on the world stage, a bestselling author and moral compass for our era? And what is his legacy for the 21st century?

This event is free to attend but you must hostages for 100 days, including local Baka Regina Gil, Founder and Executive Director RSVP through the Gold Coast Arts’ website resident Hersh Goldberg Polin. Protesof the Gold Coast Arts Center on Sunday, at https://goldcoastarts.org/event/autors wore a tape above their hearts with Feb. 11, 2024 from thor-talk-joseph-bergthe number 100 written on it, as recently 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. er/. Books will be requested by Hersh’s mother Rachel, in a at the Great Neck brought to the event. viral videotaped message, to mark each day Main Library, 159 You may purchase an of the hostages’ captivity.

Bayview Ave., Great autographed copy of —Submitted by ZOA Long Island Chapter Neck, NY 11023. the book for $26. If Elie Wiesel, the you wish to pick up Nobel prize-winyour book in advance ning writer, was the at Gold Coast Arts, most influential call 516-829-2570 person to bring the and ask for Caroline world’s attention to or email caroline@ the enormity of the goldcoastarts.org.

Holocaust. His many For more informabooks and speeches tion, please contact Great bore witness to Nazi genocide and led to Neck Library his pre-eminent role at 516-466as a human rights 8055 or email Joseph Berger activist. adultprogram(Photo credit: Brenda Berger) In this new and fasming@greatcinating biography, Elie Wiesel: Confronting necklibrary.org. the Silence author Joseph Berger draws —Submitted by upon prodigious research and interviews the Great Neck with family, friends and scholars to answer Library the question: how did this modest man, a Hasidic Jewish student and survivor of

From the left: Great Neck activists, Drora and Dr. Paul Brody with Rabbi Avi Weiss.

(Photo Credit: RCA President, Rabbi Mark Dratch)

Manhasset Great Neck Camera Club

Assemblywoman Sillitti Honors Long Island Firefighter For His Selfless Service At Home And In Israel

Assemblywoman Gina L. Sillitti (D-Port Washington), joined by Assemblymember The Manhasset Great Neck Camera Club A “Meet and Greet” takes place between Sam Berger (D-Queens), recently presented will hold a meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, 6-6:30 p.m. Our meetings are open to all. a proclamation to local firefighter Schuyler 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the Manhasset Public We are a welcoming group of photograGordon for his bravery and selflessness in Library, located at 30 Onderdonk Ave., phers in an active club and can service to others.

Manhasset, NY 11030. This assist all classes and skill levels “I’m honored to recognize Schuyler meeting will feature of digital photographers, Gordon for his devoted service at home a “Competition from iPhone, Point & and abroad,” said Sillitti. “For nearly two Evening” where Shoot, Beginners, and skilled club members Advanced. Visit our web decades, Schuyler has volunteered to run will have their work site mgnccnet.wordpress. toward danger to protect our community.

Recently, he traveled to Israel to use his exjudged by master com/ which has links to pertise to help extinguish fires from the onphotographer Steve the “Color Wheel”, our slaughts of Hamas’ rocket attacks. In these Kessler who will also club newsletter, and a challenging times, people like Schuyler are provide instructive wealth of photography more important than ever, and his courage technical comments, information. For further and altruism serves as an example to us all.” as the photos are information, please email When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, shown on a large screen. Steve’s mgncc@optonline.net photographic interests have taken him on —Submitted by the Manhasset Gordon immediately started looking for shooting expeditions around the world.

Great Neck Camera Club opportunities to help and discovered the Emergency Volunteers Project (EVP). The not-for-profit program was established in 2007 to train and mobilize volunteers for Israel in an emergency or disaster. Within a week of applying to EVP, Gordon was on the job putting out fires and assisting Israeli first responders. He reports that he will readily deploy again if necessary, noted Sillitti. and do not miss any issues!

Gordon has been a member of the

DID YOU MOVE?

CALL US WITH YOUR NEW ADDRESS

516-403-5120

From the left: Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti, Schuyler Gordon and Assemblyman Sam Berger. (Contributed photo) Manhasset-Lakeville Volunteer Fire Department Company #3 for 19 years, formerly serving as a captain. He serves as a principal law clerk to Judge Wyatt Gibbons in the Queens County Supreme Court.

—Submitted by the office of Assemblywoman Gina L. Sillitti

ANTON MEDIA GROUP • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024

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FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

Congratulations!

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To the Top Leaders in our Great Neck Office Our talented agents have achieved remarkable successes and we congratulate them on their hard work and dedication.

1st Place Team Listing, Unit, and Production Leader

The Friedman Team

Jason Friedman c.516.236.6226

Jingwen (Susanna) Ding c.929.365.2185

Yifan (Felicia) Zhang c.917.667.1031

Jennifer Bollet c.516.754.8395

Sarah (Rudi) Friedman c.516.643.0630

Xiao Yan (Betty) Zhang c.516.551.0912

Leah Afriat c.516.592.2221

Hayley Gulotta c.516.466.4036

42B Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, NY | 516.466.4036 | danielgale.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

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Production Leaders

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Heidi Karagianis c.516.467.9440

Irene Sarraf c.516.633.7882

Sarit Elias c.516.445.7636

Unit Leaders

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Heidi Karagianis c.516.467.9440

Alin (Alain) Stangu c.646.479.5347

Milana Sadykova c.917.547.1555

Listing Leaders

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Heidi Karagianis c.516.467.9440

Alin (Alain) Stangu c.646.479.5347

Tsungmou (Richard) Hsieh c.347.762.7253

GOLD CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE Jason Friedman Sarah (Rudi) Friedman Heidi Karagianis Sarit Elias Tsungmou (Richard) Hsieh Milana Sadykova Yifan (Felicia) Zhang Doris Zilkha

Gold Circle of Excellence Nominees Jingwen (Susanna) Ding Deborah (Debbie) Kashanian Irene Sarraf

STERLING CIRCLE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

Jingwen (Susanna) Ding Orit Rosin-Ofir Irene Sarraf

SILVER CIRCLE OF ACHIEVEMENT Jennifer I Hui Lo Abraham (Abe) Kanfer Deborah (Debbie) Kashanian Alin (Alain) Stangu

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FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

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

SATURDAY, FEB. 10 Happy Lunar New Year

Q&A and Discussion to follow remarks. This program is intended for parents, but teens are welcome to attend as well. Visit greatnecklibrary.org for more information.

TUESDAY, FEB. 13

Defensive Driving 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Great Neck Library, Main Branch Community Room) Complete your Defensive Driving course with the Empire Safety Council. Register in person at the Main Library Circulation Desk. Please bring a $33 check or money order payable to “Empire Safety Council” to reserve your spot. Great Neck cardholders and residents have priority.

Please note that this is a 6-hour class with a 30-minute break for lunch. Visit greatnecklibrary.org for more information.

Gold Coast Arts Film Screening 7 p.m. (Manhasset Cinemas, 430 Plandome Rd., Manhasset) Holy Frit (Documentary, Art | 2023) In this three-year race against time, Tim Carey, a talented, yet unknown L.A. artist, bluffs his way into winning the commission to create the largest stainedglass window of its kind. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to make it. After a desperate search, he finds someone who might have the answer - a famous glass maestro, named, Narcissus Quagliata. Visit goldcoastarts.org for tickets.

MONDAY, FEB. 12

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

Transitioning to College 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. (Great Neck Library, Main Branch Community Room) This presentation will include a brief overview of the transition from high school to college or other post-secondary program and will help explain what to expect and look for when thinking about how a student with different learning, emotional, or mental health challenges might integrate into a college environment.

Annual Valentine’s Day Marriage Vow Renewal Ceremony 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Harbor Links Golf Course, 1 Fairway Dr., Port Washington) North Hempstead Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava, Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board are proud to host the 2024 Valentine’s Day Marriage Vow Renewal Ceremony.

Lunch and a champagne toast will be served following the ceremony at a cost of $18 per person. Reservations are required. For more

information, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.

FRIDAY, FEB. 16SUNDAY, FEB. 18

Movies at Great Neck House Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 6 p.m.

(Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave., Great Neck) The Holdovers (R | 2023) A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go.

Stars Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

REGISTER NOW

Saturday, May 4 Great Neck South High School’s 50th Reunion Register now for the Great Neck South High School Class of 1974 50th Reunion at the Inn at Great Neck. Visit www. gns50.org for detailed information and to register by mail, fax or credit card. Registration fee: $85.

Registration deadline: April 1.

(Getty Images)

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FULL RUN

1A

ELECTION COVERAGE

Finally: It’s Time For NY3 Special Election

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF

Following former District 3 Congressman George Santos’ expulsion from the U.S. House of Representatives, a special election will be held on Feb. 13 to fill the vacancy. Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (REP) and Former United States Representative Tom Suozzi (DEM) are running for the seat in Congress.

Tom Suozzi (DEM)

Mazi Melesa Pilip (REP)

The daughter of Orthodox Jewish parents, Mazi Melesa Pilip grew up in a rural village in Ethiopia.

At the age of 12, Pilip immigrated to Israel with her family and later entered the Israel Defense Force (IDF). Following her military service, Pilip earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Haifa and a master’s degree from Tel Aviv University.

After college, Pilip immigrated to the United States and settled in Great Neck, where she would commit herself to giving back to her community and neighbors. Pilip was elected as the candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties to Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip the Nassau County Legislature in 2021 and was (Photo from Legislator Mazi re-elected in 2023.

Melesa Pilip’s office) As a member of the County Legislature, Pilip has made the revitalization of the broader Great Neck community a top priority, along with investments in public safety, access to quality health care and combatting antisemitism.

Pilip and her husband, Adalbert, are the proud parents to their seven children.

Mazi Pilip’s Ten-Point Plan Deliver Real Tax Relief Mazi is the only candidate in the race for Congress who NEVER raised your taxes. In fact, Mazi froze taxes as Nassau County Legislator and will work to cut taxes for the middle class and restore the SALT deduction in Congress.

Fix Joe Biden’s Failing Economy Let’s face it, Joe Biden’s tax and spend policies have caused runaway inflation that’s hurting our families. Mazi will work to restrict spending, cut waste, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and create new jobs.

Secure the Border While Mazi’s opponent voted in lockstep with Joe Biden and the Squad to create the current migrant crisis, fund sanctuary cities, and even kicked ICE out of Nassau County, Mazi is focused on border security. She’ll work with ICE to curb illegal immigration and the drug trade that comes with it, while simplifying the legal immigration process.

Get Tough on Crime There’s nothing more important than protecting the safety of our families, and that means ensuring criminals are put behind bars where they belong. Mazi will work toward a full repeal of NY’s cashless bail law, which freed killers, rapists, and thugs from jail, and opposes criminals-first legislation like the Clean Slate Act. Stand with Law Enforcement Mazi has the endorsement of crime fighters in Nassau because she has a record of investing in police and ensuring they have the resources they need to fight crime. Unfortunately, Mazi’s opponent

chose to put politics over public safety when he refused to condemn the “Defund the Police” Movement.

Support Israel Supporting Israel is personal for Mazi, as she was a soldier in an IDF Paratrooper Brigade. Mazi knows Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East and will always stand with Israel as they fight terrorism.

Protect Suburban Neighborhoods Mazi led the charge to stop Governor Hochul’s Housing Plan that would flood residential streets with high-rise apartments. As Congresswoman, she’ll support local control of local communities and ensure suburban neighborhoods don’t turn into urban centers.

Combat Antisemitism & Hate Crimes Mazi will make it clear that hate has no home in our community, investing in safety patrols at houses of worship, expanding educational efforts amidst a disturbing rise in antisemitism, and increasing punishment for hate crimes.

Put Families First Mazi supports the rights of parents to make critical decisions for their children in areas such as education, faith, and family values.

Support Women’s Rights Mazi knows that abortion is a very personal choice and she would never do anything to limit women’s rights. Do not believe her opponent’s lies. She will not support a national abortion ban or funding cuts for reproductive rights and care.

—For more information, visit https:// maziforny.com/10-point-plan/

Trained as an attorney and CPA, Tom Suozzi began his life in public service when he was elected as mayor of the community he grew up in, Glen Cove, 30 years ago.

He served as mayor for eight years before being elected as Nassau County Executive in 2001. During his tenure, Nassau’s crime rate was reduced and he was credited for helping Nassau County avoid a fiscal disaster. He was also named New York State’s Environmentalist of the Year by the League of Conservative Voters.

In 2016, Suozzi was elected to Congress, where he focused on bipartisanship and served as the Vice Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. In that role, he helped Former Rep. Tom Suozzi negotiate the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which invested (Photo from Tom Suozzi’s office) billions of dollars to improve New York’s infrastructure.

As Congressman, Suozzi helped bring federal funds back to Nassau and Queens, specifically funding the Long Island Sound, Bethpage Water District and New York State’s federal COVID funds. He also helped pass legislation to lower the cost of insulin and other prescription drugs.

Suozzi and his wife Helene reside in Glen Cove. They have three children.

Tom Suozzi’s Ten-Point Plan

Lower the Cost of Living Among other things, Tom has helped pass landmark prescription drug legislation that capped out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries, capped the price of Insulin at $35 per month, and allowed Medicare to finally negotiate lower prescription drug prices with big pharma.

Address the Immigration Crisis In 2019, Tom helped to draft an immigration reform package with Long Island Congressman Peter King (R) that funded more border security, reduced out-migration from Central America, and created legal status for undocumented immigrants who have lived and worked in the US for years.

Protect the Environment As Nassau County Executive, Tom implemented a $150 million environmental program to preserve open space, improve parks, protect water quality, and clean up brownfields. In Congress, Tom helped increase funding for the Long Island Sound Geographic Program from $4 million in 2016 to $40 million in 2023, and secured tens of millions in additional funding to clean up the Navy-Grumman Bethpage Plume.

Improve Public Safety As Nassau County Executive, Tom oversaw the 12th largest police department in the country. During his tenure, the County had its lowest crime rate in decades and was ranked as the safest community in the nation with a population over 500,000.

Tom co-sponsored every major gun violence prevention bill when he was in Congress.

Stand Up for Reproductive Freedom Tom is committed to ensuring that abortion is safe, legal, and accessible. He has a 100 percent lifetime rating from Planned Parenthood and a 100 percent lifetime rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Support Israel and Ukraine Throughout his career, Tom has been dedicated to strengthening the US-Israel relationship, bolstering Israel’s security, and combating anti-Israel bias and antisemitism. Tom has also been inspired by the bravery of the Ukrainian people in the face of such trying circumstances.

He knows that now is not the time for the United States to turn our backs on Ukraine.

Never Forget the Vet Tom has worked to combat the dire mental health crisis afflicting our veterans by introducing the bipartisan Mental Health Services for All Veterans Act. He also voted to pass the Honoring our PACT Act, which improved health care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

Expand Affordable Health Care Tom was one of the key negotiators on the 2020 legislation that outlawed “surprise medical billing,” protecting Americans from crippling bills for care by out-of-network providers. He also helped pass landmark 2022 legislation that lowered prescription drug prices and extended premium tax credits.

Defend Democracy Tom was in the chamber of the House of Representatives on January 6, 2021. Tom has experienced firsthand what can happen when public figures undermine our democracy and knows that it is his responsibility to help protect our institutions.

Comprehensive Social Services for K-12 Students School buildings should have a multitiered support system that encompasses physical health, mental and emotional well-being, nutritional counseling, life and career readiness, and job skills training.

—These points have been edited for length.

Visit https://suozziforcongress2024.com/ tom-suozzis-10-point-plan/ for more detail.

2A FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

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Celebrate Black History Month JULIA RUSSO editors@antonmediagroup.com

E

very February, the United States celebrates Black History Month to pay tribute to the history and contributions of the Black community.

This monthlong celebration has been adapted over the course of the last century but it originated in 1915. In September of 1915, Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian, and Jesse E. Moorland, a prominent minister from Ohio, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). The ASNLH, known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), was an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievement by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. Woodson and Moorland believed that all Americans should understand the largely overlooked achievements of Black Americans, and subsequently sponsored a national “Negro History Week” in 1926. The ASALH chose the second week of February for this celebration due to it coinciding with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln, who was influential in the emancipation of slaves, and Frederick Douglass, a former slave and a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement. The ASALH’s celebration of “Negro History Week” inspired schools and communities around the U.S. to organize local celebrations and host performances and lectures.

By the late 1960s, the prevalence of this week-long celebration grew in popularity, especially on college campuses, as a result of the Civil Rights Movement. Then, in 1976, President Gerald Ford officially extended this celebration to Black History Month and called upon Americans to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Since 1976, each year the president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme. The Black History Month 2024 theme is “African Americans and the Arts,” which honors “the contributions of people of African descent to the arts as well as history.”

Here are Nassau County’s Black History Month Events:

• African American Museum of Nassau County Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (110 N. Franklin St., Hempstead) The mission of the African American Museum of Nassau County is to promote understanding and appreciation of African American culture, art and tradition through education, interpretation, exhibitions, collections and programs for the enrichment of the public;

The Long Island Black Artist Association will be exhibiting at Westbury Arts.

Back row: James Whitten, Frenal Mezalis,Willie Mack, David Wilson, Mary Rano and Galvin Bisserup. Front row: Kenneth Bradford, Marcia Odle-McNair, Clemente Etterick source Marcia Odle-McNair

with an emphasis on Long Island. The museum offers self-guided tours and tours with a guide. Reservation required. Visit jjpaamuseum.org for more information.

• African Americans & The Arts: A Black History Month Celebration Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. (Kennedy Memorial Park, 335 Greenwich St., Hempstead) Reflect and celebrate Black history and culture through spoken word performances, art demos, refreshments & more. Call 516-478-6286 to learn more.

• The History of Motown Records Thursday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. (Glen Cove Public Library, 4 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Cove) In celebration of Black History Month, music historian Gary Wenstrup will trace the musical journey of Motown Records. Using audio and video content, Mr. Wenstrup will discuss the timeless music of The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. Visit glencovelibrary.org to register for this virtual event.

feature a diverse range of artistic expressions, including paintings, photography, and more.

Come and immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere filled with the rich cultural heritage of the LIBAA artists. Engage in conversations with the creators themselves, learn about their inspirations, and gain a deeper understanding of their unique perspectives.

Whether you are an art enthusiast, a supporter of diversity and inclusion, or simply curious about the incredible talent in our community, this event is for you. Witness the power and beauty of Black creativity as we come together to celebrate our shared humanity.

Following the Opening Reception on February 11 from 2-4pm the exhibition will be on display at the Westbury Arts Gallery at 255 Schenck Avenue in Westbury, through March 22. Admission to the gallery is free.

Donations are always appreciated.

• First Female Self-Made Millionaire Friday, Feb. 8 at 12:00 p.m. (Port Washington Library, Lapham Meeting Room) Join Professor Ron Brown for this special program celebrating Black History Month. Delve into the inspiring story of Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire. Hear her incredible story and the roles she played in the social and political culture of the Harlem Renaissance. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Visit pwpl.org to register.

• From Sea Chanteys to Hip Hop Thursday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

(Whaling Museum and Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor) This Black History Month, we’re celebrating the remarkable contributions made by African American whalers to the music sailors sang at sea! Explore the rich traditions of West African music found in sea chanteys, jazz, and hip hop. Create your own sistrum - a traditional rattle using shells. Visit cshwhalingmuseum.org to register.

•The Long Island Black Artist Association The Long Island Black Artist Association (LIBAA), in collaboration with Westbury Arts, is proud to present an event that honors and showcases the remarkable talent within our community.

For over five decades, the Long Island Black Artist Association has been a platform for Black artists to express themselves, share their stories, and inspire others. This event will

• Pioneers of Food Science Friday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. (Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, 150 Bay Parkway Wantagh, NY 11793 ) For this year’s Black History Month, learn about the innovators in farming, agriculture, and food. From George Washington Carver’s amazing uses of peanuts to sustainable farming practices, you’ll leave with foodie fun facts galore. Visit jonesbeachenc.org to register.

Frenal Mezilas Wonder World • Westbury Arts’ 2024 Black History Month Celebration Saturday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. (Westbury High School, 1 Post Rd., Old Westbury, NY 11568) Westbury Arts’ Seventh Annual Black History Month Jubilee Celebration. Connecting the Community Through the Arts offers a rich tapestry of live performances in storytelling, dance, song, poetry, and cultural reflection.

The day’s events will be hosted by Mistress of Ceremonies Dr. Alicia Evans, Professor at The City College of New York, an award-winning Fiber Artist, a storyteller, and always a captivating speaker. The performance program will feature the Praise Dancers of Shiloh Baptist Church of Rockville Centre, Danse Xpressions, and the award-winning, nationally recognized Rhythm of the Knights-Uniondale High School Show Choir. Pat Jenkins Lewis, Westbury Arts Board Director, assisted by her daughter Angela Jenkins, organized this event, in collaboration with Westbury Arts. They are honored to once again lead the Black History Month commemoration and celebration.

This family-friendly event brings together the community and allows for sharing of information and history in an engaging and festive atmosphere. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

• Pure Joy with Paige Patterson Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. (Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington) Come get cozy with Paige Patterson this month as she presents her Valentine’s Day homage to Black History. She is a female crooner who pays tribute to people like Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson, The Drifters, Harry Belafonte, and Corrine Bailey Rae. Paige’s mission is to revive one’s memories of a bygone era and restore one’s faith in the power of music.

This is an Afternoon T.E.A. program for senior citizens. Visit landmarkonmainstreet. org to register.

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2024 Is The Time To Address Nassau’s Most Pressing Issues As we embark upon 2024 and a new term of the Nassau County Legislature, we do so at a truly evolutionary time.

During our organizational meeting on Jan. 8, we welcomed five new Legislators, as well as six new caucus leaders within our group of 19 elected representatives. As part of that transition, I have accepted Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton’s appointment to serve as the Legislature’s Alternate Deputy Minority Leader. I am humbled and gratified by the decision and excited for this opportunity to be of greater service to my colleagues and the residents of Nassau County and our region.

At a time of such profound change, there is value in pausing to review fundamentals of our legislative process, with the term of governing being key among them. Nassau’s Legislature operates in two-year cycles, and we have just started our 15th term. Any pending, unresolved legislative items from the prior term expired at the start of the year and must now be re-submitted as part of the new business before us.

Among the items that were not acted upon were important legislative initiatives that would confront the maternal mortality crisis, add Juneteenth to the County’s list of paid holidays, safeguard our cybersecurity, and protect consumers in the marketplace.

I plan to reintroduce these and other items, including the plan I discussed in a previous column for providing Project – Lifesaver technology to cognitively vulnerable, income-eligible individuals.

As our neighbors in Suffolk County continue to grapple with the fallout from the

LEGISLATIVE REPORT Siela A. Bynoe

crippling cyberattack that still reverberates through its daily operations, we are reminded that Nassau County is not immune from this ongoing threat, and I will be re-filing legislation to create an in-house cybersecurity team headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Cybersecurity. This individual and team would be directly accountable to the County Executive for protecting our systems from threats, maintaining the integrity of our IT infrastructure, bolstering resiliency and recovery strategies, and further augmenting the department’s expertise by retaining subject-expert consultants.

We are also tasked with confronting maternal mortality – a crisis which has an especially disparate impact upon Nassau

County’s communities of color. Recent data from the New York State Department of Health reveals the shocking fact that Nassau County’s Black infant mortality rate, recorded at 7.8 per 1,000 live births from 2018 to 2020, is in fact worse than the rates in Brooklyn (6.8), the Bronx (6.9), Manhattan (6.6) and Westchester (5.9) during the same period. I will resubmit legislation to establish a dedicated Nassau County task force consisting of department heads, medical experts and maternal health advocates who will be tasked with devising strategies for saving lives, preventing dangerous medical complications, and addressing the institutional healthcare disparities that have allowed this issue to persist for far too long.

Our work for the New Year must also include the re-evaluation of Nassau County’s approaches to protecting consumers from misinformation in the marketplace. Like many of you, I use non-cash forms of payment for many transactions. I enjoy the convenience of not carrying sums of cash with me, and I take comfort in negotiating transactions in the safest possible manner.

While New York State law allows vendors to charge consumers for using credit cards, they must do so within very defined parameters. One of my biggest frustrations emerges when I see a price posted for a product or service – and then being told I will be charged an additional 3- or 4-percent fee to use a credit card. The correct way to comply with the law is to post the higher credit card price – preferably alongside the cash price – but the law is commonly misapplied.

Faced with this landscape, I have

reintroduced legislation that would direct Nassau’s Department of Consumer Affairs to create, plan, and oversee regular educational outreach to merchants and consumers – through direct mail, digital means such as websites and social media, and PSAs – on state laws governing cash discount policies.

To aid Consumer Affairs in any necessary enforcement, a dedicated hotline and/or online portal for reporting possible violations would also be established.

My goal is to educate business owners so that they self-correct their practices accordingly, the law provides for a threemonth grace period during which time a business will be given five business days to cure violations. However, enforcement is an essential arm of any consumer protection strategy. If a violation is not cured during the five-day window, or a violation occurs after the three-month grace period, the business owner in question will be fined up to $500 for each violation.

I hope that this overview of my priorities for the initial stages of the new term underscores the important and diversified role of our Legislature in the daily lives of the people we are entrusted with serving. Your input is crucial for focusing and expanding the scope of our efforts, and I am looking forward to working with you to make Nassau County a more vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous place to live, work, and raise a family.

—Siela A. Bynoe, of Westbury, is the Alternate Deputy Minority Leader of the Nassau County Legislature. She has represented the Second Legislative District since 2014.

Consequences Of Feeding Deer In The Winter Now that white-tailed deer hunting seasons have ended throughout most of New York State, it may be tempting to begin feeding deer to “help” them through the winter. However, feeding deer during the winter or other times of the year is unnecessary, prohibited in New York, and can have very negative consequences for deer, your neighbors, and surrounding wildlife habitat.

During the winter, deer primarily rely on woody and evergreen vegetation (collectively known as woody browse) for their daily nutritional and metabolic needs. The digestive enzymes in a deer’s stomach change in the winter to better digest this browse. If deer are provided with unnatural food sources such as corn or hay after this change in diet has occurred it can result in deer becoming ill or even their death. Deer will attempt to utilize the unnatural food source, but can develop acidosis (i.e., grain overload disease) or enterotoxemia (i.e., Clostridium

(Photo by Ryunosuke Kikuno on Unsplash)

overgrowth) disease because they can’t digest the food properly. Both diseases occur acutely and can result in the rapid illness and death of deer in winter even though their stomachs are full.

Deer also congregate around food sources in winter which can increase the risk for disease transmission. For example, if a deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) visits an artificial

deer feeding site it will shed CWD prions in its saliva directly on the food, which can infect any other deer that feed from the same site. Congregations of deer around artificial feeding sites can also increase the risk for deer-vehicle collisions and deer related damage to landscape plantings, orchards, and tree farms. Inflated deer densities resulting from deer feeding can also exceed the carrying capacity of the surrounding habitat, resulting in wildlife habitat degradation.

Habitat improvement, especially the creation and promotion of early successional habitat, is the best way to ensure that deer and other species of wildlife have plenty to eat all year and avoids the negative consequences of deer feeding.

Anyone interested in improving wildlife habitat on their property can contact their regional DEC deer or wildlife habitat management biologist.

—Submitted by DEC

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Drive Electric Celebrates 50K EV Registrations A s of January 2, 2024, there are 51,131 registered electric vehicles on Long Island – more than any other region in the state.

To celebrate the milestone, about two dozen drivers paraded their vehicles in a 6.6-mile caravan from the Tesla supercharger station in Melville to the Long Island Welcome Center on the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills. EV owners from across the Island joined in the celebration.

The parade culminated at the Long Island Welcome Center where representatives from Drive Electric Long Island, PSEG Long Island, and LI Regional Clean Energy Hub, along with EV drivers and government and business leaders shared the latest figures on Long Island EV ownership, including the top brands purchased, communities with the most EV drivers, and incentives available this year.

Long Island is the top region for EV ownership in New York State with 51,131 EVs registered to Nassau and Suffolk drivers, up 44 precent from the 35,426 registered last year. In the past six months, 9.8 precent of the new vehicle registrations on Long Island were EVs, and in 25 Long Island communities, greater than 15 precent of new vehicle registrations in the past six months were EVs. The Long Island towns with the greatest number of electric vehicles are Hempstead, Oyster Bay, North Hempstead, Brookhaven, and Huntington. The communities with the greatest number of EVs in Nassau County are Syosset, New Hyde Park, Plainview, Port Washington, Manhasset, Hicksville and Roslyn, and in Suffolk County, Huntington Station, Huntington, and Melville.

The top EV brand on Long Island roads is Tesla, with 45 precent of all full electric and plug-in hybrid EVs and 71 precent of all full electric vehicles. The next most popular full electric brands are Ford and Hyundai. For plug-in-hybrid vehicles, the most popular brands on Long Island are Toyota, Jeep, Ford and BMW. At the event, Drive Electric Long Island recognized Tesla and Westbury Jeep as the top EV sellers on Long Island in 2023. Also recognized were the Long Island towns and cities with the greatest number of EVs which are Hempstead and Oyster Bay, the highest percent EV market share, which are North Hempstead and Shelter Island, and the fastest year-to year growth in market share -- Hempstead and Long Beach.

“Drive Electric Long Island has conducted more than a hundred electric vehicle educational events on Long Island to show members of the public the benefits and ease of owning an EV,” said Rosemary Mascali, Chair of the Drive Electric LI Education & Outreach Committee. “Our educational EV 101 events were held throughout Long Island at local libraries, EV Ride & Drive events and EV Showcases onsite at large employers, and at other public locations,” she added. “Long Island has several unique

The drivers of the vehicles for the EV parade.

Some of the participants’ cars getting ready for the car parade.

(Photo from Drive Electric)

characteristics that make it a great market for driving electric vehicles, including 82 precent single-family homes allowing for convenient and economical home charging.

In addition, being geographically compact, for most drivers, the average distance travelled is less than 50 miles per day, a range that is easily handled by today’s electric vehicles.”

“PSEG Long Island is pleased to partner with Drive Electric Long Island to celebrate Long Island having more than 50,000 registered EVs on Long Island,” said Paul DiBenedetto, PSEG Long Island Electric Vehicle Program Manager. “Through our multiple rebate programs, we are helping to increase EV adoption – a positive step toward sustainability and cleaner transportation in the region.”

PSEG Long Island’s EV Make Ready Program supports EV adoption by providing incentives for the infrastructure upgrades needed to power up charging stations across the Island – in apartment complexes, condominiums, co-ops, commercial businesses, and offices.

In addition, through PSEG Long Island’s Fleet Make Ready Program and Fleet Advisory Services, PSEG Long Island has incentives, resources, and tools for fleet operators to help them transition their

vehicles to electric. Starting in February 2024, PSEG Long Island will also be offering rebates of $200 or more for qualified residential ‘Level 2’ chargers and up to $300 for Disadvantaged Community (DAC) customers. More info is available at: psegliny.com/ saveenergyandmoney/greenenergy/ev “This exciting milestone demonstrates Long Island’s commitment to helping us reach New York State’s climate goal,” said Michael Fiorentino, Co-Director of the LI Regional Clean Energy Hub. “The key to success is ensuring that clean energy resources are available to all residents, regardless of where they live or how much money they make. The Long Island Clean Energy Hub is here to guide all residents in making their homes and communities more energy efficient while reducing our carbon footprint.”

Drive Electric Long Island is a coalition of Long Island organizations with the common goal of accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and EV charging infrastructure on Long Island.

“So many Long Islanders are switching to electric vehicles because they are fun to drive, are much more fuel efficient, they improve our air quality and reduce greenhouse emissions, and cut down on your commute by providing access to the LIE HOV Lane,”

said Beth Fiteni, Drive Electric Long Island Education and Outreach Coordinator.

Jacob Kraniak, creator of the LongislandEVs channel on YouTube and a Drive Electric Long Island volunteer, explained his decision to transition from a plug-in hybrid to a fully electric vehicle.

“I originally owned a Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid but bought my Tesla Model Y because of the advantages of a full electric vehicle,” said Kraniak, “The benefits include better performance and fuel economy, less harmful emissions, and significantly fewer parts to maintain over time. I always enjoyed driving my PHEV in electric mode and became frustrated whenever the noisy engine came on.”

The celebration concluded with a look to the future where Mascali shared that 2024 should be a great year for EVs on Long Island.

“Adoption has definitely been accelerating month-to-month across all communities on Long Island in response to better awareness of the advantages of EVs over gas cars, lower cost due to the many federal, state, utility and manufacturer incentives, expanding EV charging infrastructure, and greater availability of more EV models of all body styles and price points.”

—Submitted by Drive Electric Long Island

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Stop Playing Petty Political Games With County Resources For Nassau County, 2024 is a year of new beginnings – a fact that is immediately evident by the ascension of new legislative caucus leaders and a total of five new legislators. I was looking forward to a fresh start and greater bipartisan cooperation as we confront the County’s most important issues.

Unfortunately, our first meeting did not go as I hoped it would.

Amidst COVID-19, the federal government allotted funding to help local communities weather the pandemic and recover from the many challenges it created.

Nassau County received approximately $385 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and, as of Monday, Jan. 22, still had approximately $299 million left to allocate. By law, ARPA funding must be allocated by the end of this year and spent by the end of 2026 – otherwise, it will be clawed back by the federal government.

Some municipalities have used these resources to fund tax rebates to residents, launch medical bill forgiveness programs, and establish other initiatives that directly aid small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. On the other hand,

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has recently stressed two main ideas – moving more than $222 million into the County’s operating budget and using $10 million to help stage and promote a series of galas and other celebrations for the County’s 125th anniversary. By comparison, he proposed setting aside a relatively small portion of the funding - $15 million – to support various not-for-profit organizations and special districts that deliver ARPAapproved services.

Initially, the Minority Caucus

advocated for the inclusion of approximately $12 million for worthwhile agencies in our seven districts. When presented with the $15 million number for the entire county, our hope was to reach a compromise that increased the sum to $19 million, with an agreement to divide the funds equally at $1 million for each of the 19 districts. This approach would have allowed each legislator to assist in arranging for the distribution of resources to the most severely impacted programs and initiatives to help communities fully rebound from the pandemic. Ultimately, the Majority would not commit to an equitable distribution approach or even a small increase on the allocation.

Naturally, this was a disappointing outcome. However, recent events have made the absence of an equity agreement a real concern.

For the last several years, applications for grant funding in my district – including those for fire departments, public libraries, and more – seem to have been stonewalled by the Blakeman administration. During our ARPA negotiations, implications were made that my

district’s grant funding was indeed being held up. The reason? The administration did not approve of my comments in a recent column urging them to expedite the delivery of opioid settlement funds to agencies that deliver life-saving prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Specifically, by arguing that the administration’s approach is “badly out of touch with the needs of our constituents,” it was alleged that I engaged in so-called “personal attacks.”

By fast-tracking approval for $10 million in funding for 125th anniversary celebrations while opioid funding continued to languish on our ledger books, the administration made its priorities clear. Pointing that out is a policy critique, and I stand by my statement today. I am still dismayed that the County held back hundreds of millions of dollars in remaining ARPA and opioid settlement funds for as long as they did to bolster Nassau County’s reserves for the sake of impressing rating agencies and potentially generating interest on the funds.

In my opinion, by acquiescing to the administration’s wishes,

Presiding Officer Howard Kopel missed a relatively easy opportunity to start off his tenure in a goodfaith, bipartisan manner. Even after hearing directly from dozens of organizations that would have put these resources to such good use, the Majority rubber-stamped the administration’s plan and gave every indication that the County Executive’s office will have the final say on where this $15 million will be spent. While I hope they will be responsive to the will of the people and each district will receive a fair share, that outcome is now out of the control of the members of the Minority Caucus.

Yes, this was an incredibly disappointing start to the year, but it is just that – the start. I still have optimism that we will do a better job for the people of Nassau County in the months ahead, and that the County will use this oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to give these worthwhile organizations that serve our communities the resources they deserve.

—Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, the Nassau County Legislature’s Minority Leader. She was first elected to the Legislature in 2011.

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Who Is Responsible For Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC)?

There has been, rightfully, much discussion about the future of the only public hospital in Nassau County, Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC).

By virtue of its name, many people assume that NUMC is a Nassau County facility. In fact, it is not.

More than 20 years ago, New York State created a public benefit corporation called Nassau Health Care Corp. (NHCC) which in 1999 acquired ownership of the hospital (NUMC), the nursing home (A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility) and clinics from the County. NHCC has continually owned and operated them all ever since.

NHCC has reported operating losses totaling $694 million over the past 10 years, which, combined with prior losses, led the public benefit corporation to report a total net position of negative $1.15 billion in its latest official Consolidated Financial Statement (through December 31, 2022).

NHCC continues to lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year, while State and federal funding for the hospital continues to dwindle. Over the past six years, instead of boosting financial support for the struggling medical center, State and federal funding has declined from more than $189 million in 2017 to less than $92 million in 2022.

Clearly, the situation is unsustainable and I am concerned for the Nassau County residents who rely on NUMC for care. However, Nassau County is not responsible for the hospital’s management and has no authority whatsoever to make operational changes.

Responsibility for NUMC rests with the public benefit corporation and its board, along with New York State, which created NHCC and controls many billions of dollars in healthcare funding.

The County’s financial relationship with NUMC is limited to sharing the cost of health insurance benefits for NHCC retirees who used to work for the County and guaranteeing $100 million in debt for the hospital, which will be paid off by 2029. These liabilities currently amount to less than one percent (0.8 percent) of the County’s annual operating budget and will eventually disappear altogether.

The County also pays NHCC for specific services including medical care for individuals incarcerated at the Nassau County Correctional Center and for youths in the custody of the Nassau County Juvenile Detention Center, and for select health, medical and screening programs for the County.

In addition, the County rents space on the NUMC campus for the Medical Examiner’s Office and for the WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program. If the County ever needs to find new resources for these services and spaces, it will be disruptive but not difficult given the abundance of high-quality health care resources in the County.

The Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA), which was established by New York

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THE MEDICAID ASSET PROTECTION TRUST (MAPT) For those who don’t qualify for long-term care insurance or can’t afford it, the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (“MAPT”) can protect your assets from the high cost of long-term care in your home or in a facility.

The MAPT sets up two roadblocks that Medicaid cannot break through. First, you cannot be your own trustee. Usually, one or more of the adult children act as trustee.

Nassau Comptroller Elaine Phillips (Photo from the Office of the Nassau County Comptroller)

State in 2000 to oversee the County’s finances following the County’s financial distress in the late 1990s, placed NHCC under control period conditions in light of its “weakening financial outlook” in February 2020. Since then, NIFA has paid consultants roughly $1.8 million of Nassau County taxpayer dollars to evaluate the medical center, yet improvements to the hospital’s fiscal health have failed to materialize.

NIFA often cites the hospital’s financial troubles as a reason to keep the County in a control period , but their confusion about who is responsible for NUMC is just another baseless claim that NIFA uses to perpetuate the control period it imposed on the County in 2011.

For years, NIFA has approved the County’s Proposed Budgets and Multi-Year Financial Plans but used wildly pessimistic and speculative projections to justify continuation of the control period. Analysis by my office has demonstrated that they have been consistently wrong, demonstrating an enormous gap between NIFA negative projections and the County’s actual positive fiscal results dating back to 2019.

NIFA needs to turn its attention back to the hospital and the public benefit corporation that owns and operates it. NHCC must be held accountable for the hospital’s condition, and New York State leadership needs to figure out how to resolve the State’s multi-billion-dollar budget gaps without compromising the healthcare of Nassau’s most vulnerable residents.

Nassau Health Care Corp. and New York State have a moral and ethical obligation to ensure continuity of services to NUMC’s patients, 65 percent of whom are on Medicaid and Medicare, and 9 percent of whom are uninsured. It’s time for NHCC and the State to figure out how they are going to stop the financial hemorrhaging at the hospital while continuing to provide essential safety net services to Nassau County residents.

—Elaine Phillips, Nassau County Comptroller. She was first elected as Comptroller in 2021.

Secondly, you, as the creator of the MAPT, are entitled to the income only, not the principal. If you don’t have access to the principal (your home or other assets in the trust), then Medicaid doesn’t have access to the principal. The MAPT makes good sense for assets you’re not going to spend – like your home and investments you’re not using. As we often say, if you don’t need it to live on, then why not protect it for your family instead of losing it to pay for long-term care.

When you apply for Medicaid for nursing home care, if you’ve transferred any assets in the past five years, you are ineligible.

The full protection of the trust only takes place five years after you establish the trust. This is why you want to plan ahead.

Under new rules commencing April 1, 2024, you will also need to have the MAPT in place two and half years in advance to be eligible for care in your own home.

The MAPT does not affect your lifestyle. You still receive your pension, social security checks, minimum distributions on your retirement plans, interest and dividends. You have the exclusive right to use and enjoy your home. You keep all your property tax exemptions. You can sell your house, buy a new one, or invest the proceeds, which remain in the trust, still protected.

The MAPT is also flexible. You can change trustees and you can change who you leave it to.

Although the MAPT is an irrevocable trust, not only does it have the flexibility mentioned above, but in New York there is a mechanism to revoke an irrevocable trust. All that is required is for all parties, you and your children, to sign. We even have a workaround just in case one of the children refuses to sign.

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COLUMNS

There Would Be Few Birds Without Insects February is the time to start planning to include native plants in your yard. Native plants support insects that support most birds, especially hatchlings, so that’s the topic for this column. To help understand the importance of insects there are several YouTube programs, one of which is “Insects, what would we do without them?”

by Jared Dyer, the entomologist with Cornell Suffolk County Cooperative Extension. Rewild Long Island sponsored this Zoom program a few months ago and it is now posted on YouTube.

In the blurb to describe this program he wrote, “Insects are often categorized as ‘good’ or ’bad’ based on their interactions with humans, but is this thinking useful? Many of these insects around us are both beloved and feared, but they play an essential part in our ecosystem as pollinators, predators, recyclers and so much more.”

Dyer then goes on to explain how some insects speed decomposition in the water and on land. Then there are caterpillars which become food especially for hatchlings. One nesting Carolina chickadee will collect 400 caterpillars a day. They are soft and easily shoved down a young bird’s throat.

These are examples of recyclers.

Pollinators include the European honey bee but there are hundreds of native bees and

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ALL ABOUT BIRDS Peggy Maslow

North Shore Audubon Society

insects, many of which are ground nesting. He specifically mentions a few- small carpenter bees, squash bees, bumble bees and plasterer bees. But flies are also pollinators and he describes several.

Predator insects control pests such as aphids and are considered biocontrol agents that suppress other insect populations. This includes lady bugs, cicada killers and dragon flies. His last beneficial example are insects that produce useful products such as silkworms and others that are used to make dyes and shellac.

Serious insect pests such as hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA),

P r e s id e n t F rank A . V irga

Scarlet tanager

(photos by Peggy Maslow)

spotted lantern fly and emerald borer come from other continents.

HWA, native to East Asia, feeds by sucking sap from US hemlock and spruce trees. In its native range HWA is not a serious pest because it is managed by natural predators and host resistance.

Stinging insects and those such as ticks, which can cause severe medical problems, can be controlled by going outside with protective clothing.

Dyer talked about using sprays on your clothing but there is a company Milkweed flower called Insect Photo Getty Images Shield that sells clothing which will prevent insects from coming in contact

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with you. I use their clothing regularly. Go to insectshield.com.

If anyone needs guidance as to what native plants to purchase that will help beneficial insects to survive, I have a list that I developed using Douglas Tallamy’s research which can be found at NWF.org/ native plants. If you put in your zip code you then find plants listed in order of how many beneficial insects they support, oaks being the best since they support over 500 species of insects. If you want a printout of my native plant list, contact me at nsaudubonsociety@ gmail.com and I will email it to you. Also, I invite everyone to join a Zoom program sponsored by North Shore Audubon Society on February 27, 30 minutes of which will be me presenting a program on native plants. In order to register, which is required, go to northShoreAudubon.org/calendar.

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RABBI MOSHE WEISBLUM solidify their identities. Whether it be towards Jews or any other minority group, their hatred gives them the illusion of strength as they tear others down. What they don’t realize is that by poisoning their lives with animosity they’re actually undermining their own humanity. These individuals lose sight of common decency and instead engage in bigotry, even

if the minority they evangelize against have never offended them personally.

If only these misinformed zealots could replace their hatred with empathy, by imagining what it may be like to live as the victims they speak out against.

Eradicating this blind hatred and replacing vitriol with love is an essential movement that we all should be a part of. For if we don’t advocate for optimism, altruism and respect towards humankind, the hatred that the Jews are withstanding currently could spread to other minority groups and overtake the entire world. We must combat the ugliness we see pervading both in the United States and countries abroad and encourage our fellow citizens to unite in positive acts of acceptance and lovingkindness.

Let’s not allow the hate speech

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The Power Of Words When I graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2007, I was one of only a few Jews in that year’s matriculating class. The student speaker that day was not Jewish, but what she said was a credit to Jews everywhere. Growing up, she stated, she’d never met a Jewish person, yet she’d been raised to hate the people of that faith. When she finally left home to attend college, she met us few Jews on campus and discovered that we were nice people, and not at all like the perpetrated stereotype she had learned to detest as a child.

We’d do right to ask ourselves, why do certain individuals persist in hating and vilifying people that they don’t even know, who pose no real threat to them? In answer, the well-known scholar Umberto Eco suggests that human beings need enemies. Through their jealousy and paranoia, they elevate their own ego, and

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and acts that are currently trending to spread like a disease.

Instead let’s be the proponents of love and tolerance and by extension the cure that heals our ailing world.

Each of us has a piece of godliness in us and the potential to act with purity and kindness.

Leaning into those qualities would be transformative, not just to the individual accentuating these components in himself, but for the people he deigns to help.

Every day, we hear of abhorrent acts being committed, but we also hear tales of heroism and allegiance. Let’s tip the scales in that direction with actions and words so powerful that discrimination is eradicated once and for all. Let’s not only change the conversation but the whole current of global feeling, so that the whole world may unite as one entity under the umbrella of tolerance and liberty.

Who is ready to join me?

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ANTON MEDIA GROUP • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 11A

FULL RUN

JEN ABOUT TOWN

Karaoke And An Icy Beach

JENNIFER CORR jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

Welcome to another edition of Jen About Town!

In 2023, I authored a column about many activities I enjoyed doing in and around Long Island.

Well, I’m back again with some more local activities. As someone who works full-time and doesn’t have much time for travel, I enjoy taking day trips and trying new things.

On Friday, Jan. 19, a snowy and icy day, some friends from my high school invited me out to karaoke. I always knew about a place called KTVING Z, that was right up the road from me on Middle Country Road in Centereach. However, I never had the chance to check it out.

KTVING Z offers private karaoke rooms that can be rented by the hour.

A group of nine of us got to the small shopping center where KTVING Z is. The shopping center is also home to Sanshi Rice Noodle, which I’ve been meaning to try, and All Day Vapes.

We were shown our room, which had a large flat-screen television, a nice glass table, a couch and black lights. We also learned how to work the machine that added songs to the queue. The room included two microphones.

After enjoying some food and drinks available for purchase, we started taking turns on the mic singing songs, mostly from our childhood and high school years. It was fun reminiscing on the songs we grew up with. While we took turns with the mic, we all sang along to each of the songs.

The bay at Smith Point County Park frozen over. (Photos by Jennifer Corr) For 2 ½ hours, it cost each of us a little under $30.

I will say this wasn’t the most affordable outing. However, it’s a unique and fun experience and is a great idea for parties.

The host was telling us that there are some groups who stay until 4 a.m.

Later that weekend, on Sunday, Jan. 21, my boyfriend and I decided to stretch our legs at the beach, even though it was under 30 degrees that day.

We drove over to Smith Point County Park, and as we were on the bridge, enjoying the sight of the frozen bay, I accidentally ran over a bucket, and it got stuck under my car. I had to pull over, and my boyfriend got out to retrieve it.

“It’s cold out there,” he said when got back in the car.

As usual, when parking at Smith Point in the winter, you are greeted by very friendly deer. We parked, put on gloves and scarves, grabbed our warm Dunkin’ coffees and went out into the tundra.

Once we got to the closed and quiet Tiki Joe’s, which serves seafood, bar food, drinks and ice cream during the summer aside live music in front of the beach, we noticed that the stairs that lead down to the beach were closed off.

We chugged our now cold coffees and continued walking, looking for a trail to the beach, which we found. We were greeted by a woman who said “It’s cold out there.”

At the beach on a freezing day.

There were not as many people there as there were on New Year’s Day the last time we went, but there were some people who braved the cold. We continued down the shore and found the trail to the bay. We walked down the trail and were greeted by such a cool scene of frozen water.

We stayed there for about 20 minutes, taking photos and enjoying the sights, until I realized that I didn’t have much more time left until I got seriously cold, as my toes and legs started getting really cold.

We walked back and made it to the car, seeing a cute baby deer on the way, and got back in the car, sitting there and blasting the heat until we headed to enjoy the rest of our Sunday together.

My Companion I’ve always loved taking photos. The camera makes a perfect companion. It never complains about being tired, too hot or too cold. When it gets hungry, it just stops and waits for a change of battery.

When COVID hit and contact with other people was limited, my camera and I got extremely close. Although it wasn’t vaccinated and never wore a mask, I knew it would never make me sick as I was the camera’s only companion. Every day, we would hit the streets and walk miles together. We began by strolling the neighborhood, first in our familiar neighborhood. The camera introduced me to things I never noticed before and streets I had never walked on even though I have lived in the area for almost 40 years. The camera got me talking to people I would normally just pass by. Most importantly, the camera kept me from becoming a couch potato. It got me out and moving daily. I saw sunsets, clouds, rain, snow and other weather conditions I never gave a second thought to. The camera kept

me away from the refrigerator and from gaining those awful COVID pounds.

Eventually the camera and I got tired of the neighbor and ventured further, almost always by foot. We live across the street from Alley Pond Park and began exploring back trails where very few people venture.

Being on these trails was almost like being on vacation. Except for the distant sounds of cars passing on the close

by Grand Central and Cross Island Parkways, it was like being in the middle of a national park. There were birds and rabbits, ponds and lots and lots of mud puddles. And, although we got lost more often than not, we always found our way home.

Camera and I started increasing our outings and walked boardwalks in Long Beach, Jones Beach, Fire Island, Rockaway and Coney Island. We found nature reserves in Oceanside, Lido Beach,

Rockaway and Howard Beach. We found parks in Great Neck and in parts of Suffolk County, we never ventured to before.

Camera helped me learn to appreciate the areas close to my home.

Camera never gave up on me even when we returned home.

Camera shared her memory by allowing me to put our photographs on my computer, do some editing with Photoshop and then share them with friends on Facebook and Instagram.

Photography can be a relatively inexpensive hobby. An old point-andshoot, a cell phone or an expensive DSL all allow you to explore and discover. In bad weather, I tend to use an old Canon pointand-shoot that was recently gifted to me.

It fits compactly into my pocket and takes reasonably good pictures. The picture enclosed was taken today on my snow walk with this camera.

A camera is the best companion for

people who do not like to walk alone or be alone. It is also a great companion for anyone who, like me, at times can be very anti-social and not want to be with others and not want to be alone.

A camera is a great way to help pass a day.

—Submitted by Linda Silverman, from the Manhasset/Great Neck Camera Club

12A FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

HOMES

HOME & DESIGN

FULL RUN

Recently Sold

Heat Your Home Safely Space heaters are a top cause of home fires during winter

F

ire departments usually see an uptick in home fires during the winter, with nearly half of all home heating equipment fires occurring during the winter months, through February. Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure and poisonings also increase during these months.

“There is an increased risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning this time of year as residents use space heaters, portable heating sources, gas furnaces, and fireplaces to heat their homes,” said FASNY President Edward Tase, Jr. “We encourage New Yorkers to take proper precautions when they heat their homes.”

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), heating equipment is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires and the third leading cause of home fire deaths. Space heaters are the type of equipment most often involved in home heating equipment fires, accounting for more than two of every five fires (44 percent), as well as the vast majority of deaths and injuries in home fires caused by heating equipment.

Homeowners should keep space heaters a safe distance from combustible materials, such as curtains, bedding, and upholstered furniture. To prevent CO exposure and poisoning, avoid the indoor use of unvented gas-burning appliances, unvented gas or wood-burning stoves, and

unvented fireplaces.

Here are some home heating tips from FASNY and the NFPA: • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.

• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

• Never use your oven to heat your home.

• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

• Use the right kind of fuel specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.

• All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

—Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY)

This gated luxury waterfront compound at 357 Centre Island Rd. recently sold for $8,330,000. It was designed by renowned architects Austin Patterson Disston. Centre Island is a unique community surrounded by water. Entrance is only gained as you pass the police headquarters for Centre Island.

This is a direct waterfront estate with more than 200 feet of sandy beach. It was custom-built in 2005.

The morning tide on Centre Island is enchanting, seductive and sublime. The home is a fabulous shingle-style colonial home ideally situated on a knoll overlooking Oyster Bay and Cold Spring harbors.

This home has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, including a luxurious pool, spa, pool house and outdoor shower terminal at the tennis court pavilion.

This home exemplifies the pinnacle of Long Island, North Shore living. This beautiful custom-built residence has a picturesque, waterfront landscape located in the esteemed Eastover Community at 203 Centre Island Rd. on Centre Island and recently sold for $2,500,000.

This home offers panoramic vistas from nearly every room, balcony and terrace. It has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and is situated on more than three rolling acres at the water’s edge.

This expansive property is enhanced with luscious privacy plantings, manicured grounds and resort-style amenities including a pool pavilion, fenced

in half-basketball court and a covered, built-in Wolf grilling station with a sink and warming oven. Launch by kayak or paddle-board to enjoy fishing and exploring the backyard’s scenic

wetland/ natural habitat, with salt water streaming directly from the Long Island Sound.

Neighborhood association rights include private police surveillance and beach access.

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.

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2B FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • PROFILES IN MEDICINE

Women’s Health Care of Garden City Committed to Personalized Care

By John L. Gomes, MD

J

ohn L. Gomes, MD, founded Women’s Health Care of Garden City in 1995. It has remained an independent, private practice providing personalized obstetrical and gynecological services.

He employs the technical advances of conventional medicine with an integrative approach to navigate women through difficult pregnancies into the menopausal years. He treats a wide variety of OB/ GYN conditions and is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care.

All tests are conveniently done on the premises and a dedicated, compassionate staff is on call 24/7.

He is committed to excellence in patient communication, education and support as many patients come with anxiety associated with past experiences and future concerns.

Dr. Gomes received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University.

He is both Board Certified and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Women’s Health Care of Garden City is located at 1000 Franklin Avenue, Suite 200, Garden City.

Call 516-222-8883 or visit online at DrGomes.com 245550 M

PROFILES IN MEDICINE • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 3B

COVER STORY

Heart Healthy Snacks Choosing heart-healthy snacks is a delicious and nutritious way to support cardiovascular well-being.

Opting for nutrient-dense options that are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and heart-boosting nutrients can contribute to a healthier heart. Here are some of the healthiest snacks you can choose:

Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. These nutrients support heart health by reducing inflammation and improving cholesterol levels.

Berries

February Is Heart Health Month Make your heart healthier

Dark Chocolate

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF

specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

M

aintaining a healthy heart is essential for overall well-being, and adopting lifestyle changes can significantly contribute to cardiovascular health. Here are key practices and habits to make your heart healthier:

1

Balanced Diet

Embrace the Mediterranean Diet: Prioritize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Incorporate heart-healthy fats, such as olive oil and avocados, while limiting saturated and trans fats found in processed foods.

Reduce Sodium Intake: Lower salt consumption to promote healthy blood pressure levels. Opt for fresh herbs and spices for flavoring rather than relying on excessive salt.

2

Regular Exercise

Aerobic Exercises: Engage in activities like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling for at least 150 minutes per week. These exercises improve circulation, lower blood pressure, and contribute to weight management.

Strength Training: Include strength training exercises at least twice a week to build muscle, boost metabolism, and support overall cardiovascular health.

3

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Calorie Balance: Achieve and maintain a healthy weight through a balance of calorie intake and expenditure. Excess weight can strain the heart and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

4Quit Smoking

Immediate Benefits: Quitting

smoking has immediate positive effects on heart health. It lowers blood pressure, reduces carbon monoxide levels, and decreases the risk of heart disease.

Seek Support: Join smoking cessation programs or seek professional help to increase the chances of successfully quitting.

Alcohol 5Limit Consumption

Moderation is Key: If you consume alcohol, do so in moderation. For women, this means up to one drink per day, and for men, up to two drinks per day. Excessive alcohol intake can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease.

6

Manage Stress

Mind-Body Techniques: Practice stress-reducing activities such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or tai chi. These techniques can help lower stress hormones and promote overall mental well-being.

Prioritize Relaxation: Allocate time for hobbies, leisure activities, and adequate sleep to ensure a balanced and stress-free lifestyle.

Health 7Regular Check-ups

Monitor Blood Pressure: Regularly check and manage blood pressure levels. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease.

Cholesterol Monitoring: Keep track of cholesterol levels, including LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Manage cholesterol through diet, exercise, and medication if prescribed.

Blood Sugar Control: For those with diabetes, manage blood sugar

Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are packed with antioxidants, including anthocyanins and polyphenols. These compounds have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and help maintain healthy blood vessels.

Photo getty images

levels to reduce the risk of heart-related complications.

8Hydration

Adequate Water Intake: Stay well-hydrated by consuming an adequate amount of water. Proper hydration supports the cardiovascular system by maintaining blood volume and circulation.

9Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Dark chocolate, in moderation, is a delightful hearthealthy treat. It contains flavonoids that have been associated with improved heart health by enhancing blood flow and reducing blood pressure.

Greek Yogurt

High in protein and probiotics, Greek yogurt promotes heart health by supporting gut health and providing a satisfying snack. Choose plain, unsweetened varieties and add fresh fruits or nuts for extra flavor.

Oatmeal

A bowl of oatmeal is a fiber-rich snack that helps lower cholesterol levels and maintain steady blood sugar levels. Top it with berries or a sprinkle of nuts for added heart benefits.

Include Fatty Fish: Incorporate fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and trout in your diet. These are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which contribute to heart health by reducing inflammation and improving cholesterol levels.

Avocado

10

These young soybeans are a good source of plantbased protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Edamame makes for a satisfying and heart-healthy snack.

Social Connections

Build a Support System: Cultivate positive social connections. Strong social ties have been associated with better heart health. Share activities with friends and family to enhance emotional well-being.

11Regular Sleep Patterns

Prioritize Quality Sleep: Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night. Poor sleep patterns are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and other health issues.

Adopting these lifestyle changes collectively creates a comprehensive approach to heart health. It’s essential to consult with healthcare professionals before making significant changes, especially if you have existing health conditions. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can actively contribute to maintaining a healthier heart and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Avocado is a nutrient-dense fruit rich in monounsaturated fats, which are heart-healthy fats that can help lower bad cholesterol levels. Enjoy avocado slices on whole-grain toast or as a creamy dip.

Edamame

Salmon Jerky

For a savory and omega-3-rich snack, choose salmon jerky. It provides the heart-boosting benefits of fatty fish in a convenient and portable form.

Vegetable Sticks with Hummus

Crunchy vegetables like carrots, celery, and bell peppers paired with hummus make for a nutrient-packed and fiber-rich snack. Hummus adds protein and healthy fats to the mix.

Whole Grain Crackers with Cheese

Opt for whole grain crackers with a serving of low-fat cheese. The combination provides a balance of fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats.

Choosing these heart-healthy snacks not only satisfies your taste buds but also supports overall cardiovascular health. Incorporate a variety of these snacks into your daily routine to ensure a well-rounded and heart-friendly diet. As with any dietary changes, it’s advisable to consult with healthcare professionals, especially if you have specific dietary restrictions or health concerns.

—Anton Media Staff

4B FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • PROFILES IN MEDICINE

New Developments In Liver Treatments 2024 promises to be an exciting year for people with liver diseases

Fatty liver has new names and is now called either metabolic dysfunction steatotic associated liver disease (MASLD) or MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD). The MetALD category is divided into MASLD predominant and alcohol predominant depending upon how much alcohol a person drinks per week.

For example, four glasses of wine a week place someone in the alcohol predominant category.

New treatments are coming for fatty liver. Thyroid receptor hormone agonists are the leading contender for FDA approval. In completed clinical trials, these therapies have been shown to decrease the amount of hepatic fat and to decrease the amount of liver fibrosis, when measured non-invasively. These therapies appear to be quite safe and did not have any increased side effects when compared to placebo. Hopefully, these therapies will be approved for use sometime in 2024. The real question will be if and when they are approved, will insurance companies allow these therapies to be readily prescribed to patients

tolerated although they can cause gastrointestinal side effects and pancreatitis. These therapies are not readily available due to drug shortages. Hopefully, in the year to come, these shortages will abate and these therapies will become

more readily available. Just a word of caution as these therapies are so popular that already counterfeit drugs have been found in the US drug supply chain and the FDA. If using these products, make sure you are getting the real thing.

David Bernstein, MD, MACG, FAASLD, AGAF, FACP, is a professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the director of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Ambulatory Network-Long Island for NYU Langone Health.

MEDICAL NEWS William Bodeker Named Director

THE SPECIALIST

David Bernstein, MD

and for how long?

Several types of GLP-1 agonists that are approved for the treatment of diabetes and obesity have also shown promise in treating MASLD. These agents, which have become quite popular, lead to significant improvements in diabetes control and also to significant weight loss.

As weight loss is the mainstay of therapy for MASLD, it makes sense that these therapies should be effective in treating fatty liver. These medications are well

Good Samaritan University Hospital Director of Advanced Practice Professionals William Bodeker, FNP, has been named president of the Nurse Practitioner Association New York State (NPA).

As the lead advance practice professional at Good Samaritan, Bodeker and his team focus on the clinical needs of the hospital’s patients while providing a high level of care, compassion and comfort.

As president of the NPA, Bodeker will be responsible for supervising the business and other affairs of the organization in conjunction with their board.

Bodeker earned his degree through the Family Nurse Practitioner program at the

William Bodeker

University of Rochester. He began his nursing career as a clinical staff nurse in 2000 at the University of Rochester–Strong Memorial Hospital. There, he worked on a medical/surgical unit, the cardiothoracic ICU, and

the emergency department. He also worked part-time as a flight nurse/paramedic for Mercy Flight Central. This helicopter service provides EMS response and inter-facility transport.

In 2021, he was recruited to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, where he serves as the director of advanced practice professionals for the hospital’s nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Bodeker has a passion for quality and patient safety. He completed the Clinical Quality Fellowship Program sponsored by the United Hospital Fund and the Greater New York Hospital Association.

—Good Samaritan University

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PROFILES IN MEDICINE • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 5B

What does it take to get care at the best cancer center in the Northeast, right on Long Island?

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6B FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • PROFILES IN MEDICINE

NSPC Surgeon Michael Brisman Authors Brain Surgery Textbook

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new medical textbook authored by neurosurgeon Michael H. Brisman M.D., F.A.C.S., the CEO of NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery in Rockville Centre, has been published by Spinger Publishing Company. Entitled Put Down the Knife: A Fresh Look at Adult Brain Surgery, the book promotes the importance of minimally invasive surgical procedures and conservative treatment options.

According to the publisher, “This book explores adult brain surgery from a more conservative vantage point, highlighting potential errors in thought

NSPC Neurosurgeon Michael Brisman M.D., F.A.C.S.

related to decision-making and rationales for brain surgery as well as interpretation of the surgical literature.”

In addition, “focused chapters” provide a discussion of “less invasive and even non-invasive approaches for various conditions of the brain, including tumors, cysts, hematomas, pain and movement disorders and skull base disorders.”

Board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Brisman has been in practice on Long Island for more than

25 years. He is the co-medical director of Long Island Gamma Knife at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside and was the chief of neurosurgery and co-director of the Neuroscience Institute at NYU Winthrop Hospital (now NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island) in Mineola. In addition, Dr. Brisman has served as president of the Nassau County Medical Society and the New York State Neurosurgical Society.

Put Down the Knife may be ordered from several online booksellers, including Amazon.

—NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery

Change Your Diet—Change Your Life The simplicity and benefits of the Mediterranean diet

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF

specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

The Mediterranean diet has garnered global acclaim for its amazing health benefits, contributing to the longevity and well-being of those who adhere to its principles. Centered around the traditional dietary patterns of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, this diet is characterized by a rich variety of nutrient-dense foods that collectively promote a host of health advantages.

At the core of the Mediterranean diet are key ingredients that play a pivotal role in enhancing overall health.

Olive oil, a staple in this diet, is renowned for its monounsaturated fats, which contribute to heart health by reducing levels of LDL cholesterol and promoting the production of HDL cholesterol. The high content of antioxidants in olive oil further protects the body from oxidative stress, bolstering its defenses against chronic diseases.

Another essential component of the Mediterranean diet is an abundance of fruits and vegetables. These nutrient-packed foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, promoting optimal digestive health and fortifying the immune system.

The diverse array of colorful produce ensures a broad spectrum of antioxidants, protecting cells from damage and reducing inflammation—a key factor in the prevention of various diseases.

Fish and seafood, particularly fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, are crucial protein sources in the Mediterranean diet.

These varieties are abundant in omega-3 fatty acids, which play a vital role in cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The regular consumption of fish also provides essential nutrients such as iodine and selenium, contributing to thyroid function and supporting overall well-being.

Whole grains, such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat, are fundamental to the Mediterranean diet. These grains offer a sustained release of energy due to their complex carbohydrates, promoting stable blood sugar levels and sustained satiety. They provide a plethora of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, contributing to digestive health and reducing the risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes.

Nuts and seeds are another cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, delivering

a potent mix of healthy fats, protein, and essential nutrients.

Almonds, walnuts, and chia seeds, for example, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. Consuming these nutrient-dense snacks supports heart health, aids in weight management, and provides sustained energy throughout the day.

Dairy products in the Mediterranean diet are often represented by yogurt and cheese, particularly varieties like feta and goat cheese. These dairy options offer calcium, protein, and probiotics, contributing to bone health and promoting a healthy gut microbiome. The fermented nature of yogurt also enhances nutrient absorption and supports digestive well-being.

The inclusion of lean poultry and occasional consumption of red meat in moderation round out the protein sources in the Mediterranean diet. Lean meats provide essential amino acids necessary for muscle health and overall bodily functions.

Reducing red meat intake, while prioritizing lean alternatives, aligns with the diet’s emphasis on heart health and longevity.

The Mediterranean diet has been associated with cognitive

well-being. The omega-3 fatty acids from fish, antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil collectively contribute to brain health, potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.

Beyond the nutritional aspects, the Mediterranean diet embodies a holistic lifestyle approach. Shared meals with family and friends,

moderate physical activity, and a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients contribute to a sense of community and overall well-being. The benefits extend beyond the individual to encompass a broader cultural and social context, fostering a lifestyle that promotes both physical and mental health.

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FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • PROFILES IN MEDICINE

Vascular Surgeon Dr. Gerard Vitale

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Feds Heed Call To Declare ‘Emergency’ For Fire Island Area can now tap federal emergency funds to combat storm damage

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Fire Island Lighthouse Photo by Alex Nunez

the New York District to meet with affected community members and assess the damage wrought on the Island.”

The Army Corps has reached the decision to classify recent damage on Fire Island as an emergency and is pushing for additional designations across other Suffolk shorelines, inlets and beaches. He explained that to unlock emergency funds, a threshold of damage needs to be met.

While recent storms do not independently hit the threshold mark, an aggregation or a cumulative measurement of the storms would achieve the threshold reach required to access the federal help. He said recent storms have caused major dune and berm erosion on the eastern side of Fire Island, west of Shinnecock Inlet, west of Fire Island Inlet on Jones Beach Island, and in Montauk. USACE will now combine multiple storms on Fire Island to meet the threshold for ‘emergency’ and be able to tap federal funds for remediation.

—Complied by Amanda Olsen

SCAN FOR TICKETS

overnor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently announced a determination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that recent seasons’ extreme coastal storms provide eligibility under Public Law 84-99 for the process to assess, fund, and repair damaged Army Corps coastal projects on Fire Island in Suffolk County. The approval allows the Corps to begin an expedited evaluation of needed repairs on eastern Fire Island while the Corps continues to assess Governor Hochul’s formal request for the repair of three other coastal projects — West of Shinnecock Inlet, Fire Island Inlet and Shores Westerly, and Downtown Montauk — to protect public safety and mitigate the severity of potential damage wrought by future storms.

“Long Island’s iconic beaches are a treasured natural resource and I’m doing everything in my power to protect them for the next generation,” Governor Hochul said.

“New Yorkers are grateful for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers response to our request for support to address severe coastal erosion, along with the continued support of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. I am committed to working with the Army Corps to immediately begin repairs on eastern Fire Island and at other Army Corps projects that were damaged by recent storms.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “I am thrilled that the US Army Corps of Engineers will be starting this expedited process to address the extensive damages that the eastern Fire Island communities have recently experienced. I am committed to helping ensure this critical work begins as soon as possible, and I will also continue supporting Governor Hochul’s request for the repair of the three other coastal projects.

Restoring the South Shore of Long Island is one of my top priorities and I will keep fighting to help secure the federal assistance communities need.”

“Time is of the essence on Fire Island and immediate repairs are needed to minimize the risk to public safety, safeguard property and important infrastructure, and shield essential local government assets,” Schumer said. “I am grateful for the attention that USACE has historically given in response to major weather events impacting Long Island’s South Shore, and appreciate the recent efforts made by Colonel Young and

Get tickets now at LiveNation.com or the Box Office.

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Say It With Flowers: Floriography Coded messages lurk in your blooms

Meanings Of Herbs, Flowers And Other Plants

AMANDA OLSEN aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

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he language of flowers, or floriography, has been around for centuries throughout Europe and Asia. Its popularity skyrocketed in the Victorian era as a way of conveying feelings and meaning without violating the cultural mores of the time. There were printed dictionaries for flower meanings and people would have talking bouquets they exchanged. Both the flower itself and its color conveyed distinct intents, while presentation could also give the message a different connotation.

For example, calla lilies, a staple of bridal bouquets, symbolize beauty. Baby’s breath, another favorite, is for everlasting love.

Belladonna symbolizes silence (a nod to its narcotic qualities, perhaps?) and geraniums, stupidity. Ivy stands for fidelity, while lavender is for distrust.

One of the most important flowers in this code was the carnation. This flower, which as a group conveys Fascination, Female love and a Mother’s love, varies significantly by color. Red carnations mean alas for my poor heart, My heart aches, or deep love. White carnations are for innocence, pure love, or sweet love. Pink carnations mean I’ll never forget you. Striped carnations indicated refusal, and yellow mean disdain, disappointment, and rejection. Imagine the confusion brought on some of our modern multicolored bouquets.

Roses, unsurprisingly, have many meanings that vary with their color. Red roses symbolize love and desire, but the other colors also each have their own meaning. White roses are for purity, innocence, reverence, a new beginning, a fresh start. A deep, dark crimson rose stands for mourning, as its color is nearly black. Pink roses mean grace, happiness, gentleness. Yellow roses mean jealousy and infidelity. An orange rose conveys desire and enthusiasm. Lavender roses are for love at first sight, and a coral rose will symbolize friendship, modesty, sympathy.

Lilies, too, vary in meaning

(public domain from the New York Library on Unsplash)

‘Language of Flowers’ by Alphonse Mucha (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

based on their color, with meanings that range from white meaning purity to orange signifying hatred. Hyacinths also have a dizzying array of meanings, with the blue meaning constancy, purple meaning sorrow, yellow meaning jealousy and white, strangely, covering both prayers and loveliness.

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, how flowers were presented and in what condition was important. If the flowers were

given upside down, then the idea was the opposite of what was traditionally meant. How the ribbon was tied said something: Tied to the left, the flowers’ symbolism applied to the giver, whereas tied to the right, the sentiment was in reference to the recipient. And, of course, a wilted bouquet delivers an obvious message.

Be sure to buy organic, sustainably sourced cut flowers from reputable growers.

Abatina: Fickleness Acanthus: Fine art, Artifice Aloe: Affection, also Grief Amaryllis: Pride Anemone: Forsaken Angelica: Inspiration Apple blossom: Preference Arborvitae: Unchanging friendship Aster: Daintiness Baby’s breath: Everlasting love Bachelor’s button: Blessedness Basil: Good wishes Bay tree: Glory Begonia: Beware Belledonna: Silence Bittersweet: Truth Black-eyed Susan: Justice Bluebell: Humility Borage: Bluntness, Directness Butterfly weed: Let me go Calla lily: Beauty Camellia, pink: Longing for you Camellia, red: You’re a flame in my heart Camellia, white: You’re adorable Candytuft Indifference Carnation: Fascination, Female love, Mother’s love – Red carnation: Alas for my poor heart, My heart aches, Deep love – White carnation: Innocence, pure love, sweet love – Pink carnation: I’ll never forget you – Striped carnation: Refusal – Yellow carnation: Disdain, Disappointment, Rejection Chamomile: Patience in adversity Chives: Usefulness Chrysanthemum, red: I love you Chrysanthemum, yellow: Slighted love Chrysanthemum, white: Truth Clematis: Mental beauty Clematis, evergreen: Poverty Clover, white: Think of me Columbine: Foolishness, Folly - Columbine, purple: Resolution - Columbine, red: Anxious, Trembling Coreopsis: Always cheerful Coriander: Hidden worth/merit Crab blossom: Ill nature Crocus, spring: Cheerfulness,

Youthful gladness Cyclamen: Resignation, Diffidence, Goodbye Daffodil: Regard, Unequaled love Dahlia: Good taste Daisy: Innocence, Loyal love, I’ll never tell Daylily: Chinese emblem for mother Dill: Powerful against evil Edelweiss: Courage, Devotion Fennel: Flattery Fern: Magic, Fascination, Secret bonds of love Forget-me-not: True love memories, Do not forget me Gardenia: You’re lovely, Secret love Geranium: Folly, Stupidity Gladiolus: Flower of the Gladiators, Integrity, Strength, Victory Goldenrod: Encouragement, Good fortune Heliotrope: Eternal love, Devotion Hibiscus: Delicate beauty Holly: Defense, Domestic happiness Hollyhock: Ambition Honeysuckle: Bonds of love Hyacinth: Sport, Game, Play – Blue Hyacinth: Constancy – Purple Hyacinth: Sorrow – Yellow Hyacinth: Jealousy – White Hyacinth: Loveliness, Prayers for someone Hydrangea: Gratitude for being understood, Frigidity and heartlessness Hyssop: Sacrifice, Cleanliness Iris: Faith, Trust, Wisdom, Hope, Valor Ivy: Affection, Friendship, Fidelity Jasmine, white: Sweet love, Amiability Jasmine, yellow: Grace: Elegance Lady’s Slipper: Capricious beauty Larkspur: Open heart, Levity, Lightness, Fickleness (pink or simple varieties).

Lavender: Distrust Lemon balm: Sympathy Lilac: Joy of youth Lily (white): Virginity, Purity, Heavenly

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The Flower Business In Historical Nassau County ANTON MEDIA GROUP STAFF editors@antonmediagroup.com

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n the late 1800s, farmers and workers as well as business tycoons were busy founding many of the towns and villages that we know today across Nassau County. That includes Gilded Age horticulturist and seed-andbulb-seller John Lewis Childs, who brought with him a largescale flower and mail-order seed business, a busy new post office, and the name Floral Park. When Floral Park incoporated as a village in 1908, Childs even served as its first president. In addition, he contributed numerous road names and nearly two dozen structures to the village (many as part of his business ventures) that evoked a distinctly garden-like air, including the ivy-covered Childs Company Seed House.

For decades, Floral Park was the home of Childs’ booming business, which put out colorfully decorated seed catalogues to allow farmers and gardeners alike to examine drawings of different blooms (or fruits and veggies) and order seeds to be delivered right to their door.

The John Lewis Childs Seed House, which previously stood in Floral Park, as shown on a colorized postcard.

(Public domain)

Examples of the vibrant, hand-illustrated seed catalogues produced by John Lewis Childs’ flower and seed business.

(Public domain via Tenth Letter of the Alphabet)

Lily (yellow): Happy, Gay, Walking on air Lily (orange): Hatred Lily, tiger: Wealth, Pride Lily-of-the-valley: Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Humility Lotus Flower: Purity, Enlightenment, Selfregeneration, and Rebirth Magnolia: Nobility, Love of nature Marigold: Grief, Jealousy Marjoram: Joy, Happiness Mint: Virtue Morning glory: Affection Myrtle: Good luck, Love (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

in marriage Nasturtium: Patriotism, Conquest, Victory in Battle Oak: Strength Oregano: Substance Pansy: Thoughts Parsley: Festivity Peony: Bashful, Happy life, Shame Pine: Humility, Piety Poppy: Consolation Rhododendron: Danger, beware Rose, red: Love, I love you Rose, dark crimson: Mourning Rose, pink: Happiness Rose, white: Innocence, Heavenly, I’m worthy of you Rose, yellow: Jealousy, Decrease of love, Infidelity

Rosemary: Remembrance Rue: Grace, Clear vision Sage: Wisdom, Immortality Salvia, blue: I think of you Salvia, red: Forever mine Savory: Spice, Interest Snapdragon: Deception, Graciousness Sorrel: Affection Southernwood: Constancy, Jest Spearmint: Warmth of sentiment Speedwell: Feminine fidelity Sunflower, dwarf: Adoration Sunflower, tall: Haughtiness Sweet pea: Blissful pleasures, Goodbye, Thank you for a lovely time Sweet William: Gallantry

Sweet woodruff: Humility Tansy: Hostile thoughts, Declaring war Tarragon: Lasting interest Thyme: Courage, strength Tulip, red: Passion, Declaration of love Tulip, yellow: Sunshine in your smile Valerian: Readiness Violet: Watchfulness, Modesty, Faithfulness Willow: Sadness Yarrow: Everlasting love Zinnia: Thoughts of absent friends, Lasting affection —From the Farmer’s Almanac

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JENNIFER CORR & JULIE PRISCO jcorr@antonmediagroup.com jprisco@antonmediagroup.com

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alentine’s Day is on Wednesday, Feb. 14. It’s time to eat heart-shaped chocolates, gift beautiful flowers and spend time with loved ones. Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, either with your significant other, family or friends.

Below are some special Valentine’s Day events and deals in Nassau County.

.............

Dinner Date Deals

That’s Amore Valentine’s Day Dinner On Feb. 11, Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. or 8 p.m.-10 p.m. (Vico, 313 Main St., Farmingdale) Indulge in the romance of Vico’s That’s Amore Valentine’s Day 4-Course Dinner. Savor a delightful evening with your choice of appetizer, pasta, entree, and dessert. Join Vico for an unforgettable experience, complete with bottomless Wine or Aperol Spritz. $45 per person (plus tax). Call 516-875-8426 to make a reservation.

The Grinch Steals Valentine’s Day On Sunday, Feb. 11, the Grinch is back for a meet & greet while he steals hearts and treats. Enjoy a Valentine’s Daythemed buffet, DJ, dancing and a photo booth at The Milleridge Inn, 585 North Broadway in Jericho, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is $42.95 for adults and $32.95 for kids ages 2 to 12. Make a reservation by calling 516-931-2201.

Valentine’s Day Tasting Menu On Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. (Kissaki Sushi, 4111 Plandome Rd., Manhasset) Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special tasting menu for $75 per person(non-refundable deposit). Meal includes a meticulously crafted five-course tasting menu featuring Snow Crab, Ikura Uni Toro bowl, Matsutake Dashi soup, 9 piece Nigiri, Toro and Caviar handroll, and dessert. Call 516-464-4884 to reserve a spot.

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Valentine’s Day Activities

Get Married or Renew Vows with Elvis On Saturday, Feb. 10 from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Milleridge Inn, 585 North Broadway in Jericho, come to the Vegas-style chapel to get married and renew your vows with Elvis officiating. $150 will get you a ceremony, a $100 Milleridge gift card, and professional photos emailed to you. You must have your marriage license 24 hours beforehand to be legally married. Vow renewals also require a license. Call 516-931-2201 to make a reservation.

Photos Getty Images

Celebrating Love

Vow Renewal on Valentine’s Day Interested in renewing your vows on Valentine’s Day? Join Town of Oyster Bay Clerk Rich LaMarca and Supervisor Joseph Saladino for a special vow renewal ceremony at Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Ave. in Oyster Bay. There will also be light refreshments and a special Valentine’s Day presentation by Raynham Hall. This is a free event.

RSVP by Feb. 9 by calling 516-624-6380 Annual Valentine’s Day Marriage Vow Renewal Ceremony On Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Harbor Links Golf Course, 1 Fairway Dr., Port Washington) North Hempstead Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava, Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board are proud to host the 2024 Valentine’s Day Marriage Vow Renewal Ceremony. Lunch and a champagne toast will be served following the ceremony at a cost of $18 per person. Reservations are required. For more information, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.

Muse Paint Bar Muse Paint Bar in Garden City, 837

Franklin Ave., is hosting Valentine’s Day paint and sips all February. Create love-themed works of art with the help of an instructor, including “Couple’s Art,” that will be displayed on the wall together. Sign up for classes online, which start at $40, at www. musepaintbar.com/events/ long-island-paint-bar.

Pre Valentine’s Day Tango Class Enjoy a relaxing, romantic date night learning one of the world’s most passionate dances. This is an experience for newcomers and seasoned dancers, guided by the renown Sergio Segura, director of Strictly Tango NYC. Tickets are $100, and it includes a $50 voucher for more classes and chocolate, soft drinks and snacks. The class will take place Feb. 11 and Feb. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m.

The class is located at Pearl Studios, 500 8th Ave. on the third floor, room 304 in Manhattan.

Pinot’s Pallete Enjoy creating Valentine’s Day-themed works of art at Pinot’s Pallete, 2557 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, all

February. Classes start at $47. Book online at www.pinotspalette.com/eastmeadow/ events.

Valentine Skate Party On Saturday, Feb. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (United Skates, 1276 Hicksville Rd., Seaford) Fun-filled Valentine Skate Party at United Skates of America Roller Skating Center!

Get ready to lace up your skates and groove to the beat as we celebrate the season of love. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or a beginner, this event is perfect for everyone. The state-of-the-art roller skating rink will be transformed into a love-themed wonderland, complete with heart-shaped decorations and romantic tunes and fun character visit. During the event, you’ll have the chance to show off your skating skills, participate in games and contests, and win awesome prizes. Visit unitedskates.com to register.

.............

Celebrate Friendship

Galentine’s Blooms and Brunch On Sunday, Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Wild Flour Studio, 70 Covert Ave., Stewart Manor) Wild Flour Studio is excited to announce its monthly floral series called Blooms and Brunch is back for a Galentine’s Day themed class. The class will be curated and themed to celebrate our favorite Galentine’s. A yummy brunch and bubbly will be served.

During the floral workshop Jenn from Forget Me Knots will take you through the process of creating a custom floral arrangement just like a floral designer. Call Wild Flour Studio at 516-563-5759 to reserve a spot.

Galentine’s Day Paint and Sip On Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Bluebird Kitchen, 2405 Merrick Rd., Bellmore) Enjoy painting with drinks and a meal to celebrate Galentine’s Day. You can arrive early to purchase food and/or beverages separately. Reserve your sear at paintingwithatwist.com

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Single and Ready to Mingle

Valentine’s Day Single Mingle Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (Cancun Long Island, 206 W. Old Country Rd., Hicksville) Visit Cancun Long Island for a fantastic Valentine’s Day bash.

The first 75 folks who sign up get free admission. Night includes introductions, icebreaker games, prizes and a cash bar with food. Contact Jay from Weekenddating at 718-757-6933 or visit weekenddating.com to register.

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Leave No Trace – Hiking With Dogs Edition

f you’re bringing your canine companion along for the hike, make sure you are aware of how you both can produce as little of an impact as possible. While your dog may not be able to wear matching snowshoes, you can try to keep them to the side of the trail to avoid “paw post-holing.”

While this isn’t always easy to do, there are other ways to practice Leave No Trace with your dog that are more in your control. For example, bringing plastic bags to pack out your dog’s waste is a great way to prevent the spread of invasive species and protect the natural environment. Stay mindful of your impact and have a paw-some time outside!

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. The Principles can be applied anywhere — from remote wilderness areas, to local parks and even in your backyard. Each Principle covers a specific topic and provides detailed information to empower you to minimize your impacts.

Principle 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare When outdoor visitors plan ahead and prepare, it helps to accomplish trip goals safely and enjoyably while simultaneously minimizing damage to the land. Poor planning often results in a less enjoyable experience and damage to natural and cultural resources.

Bring everything you and your pup need to be safe and responsible, from water, poo bags and a leash for a day hike, or food, dog-specific first aid, and clothing for multi-day backcountry trips.

Principle 2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces The goal of travel outdoors is to move through natural areas while avoiding damage to the land, foliage, or waterways. Understanding how travel causes impacts is necessary to accomplish this goal. Travel damage occurs when surface vegetation or communities of organisms are trampled beyond recovery.

After traveling to an area, we can have a significant effect on where we decide to camp. The resulting barren area leads to soil erosion and the development of undesirable trails or trampled areas.

Keeping your dog on trail and in camp will minimize their impact on our shared wild spaces.

Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly The waste humans create while enjoying outdoor spaces can have severe impacts if

Photo Getty Images

Gavin on the North Hempstead Beach Park Trail Photo by Alex Nuñez

not disposed of properly. It is crucial to anticipate the types of waste you will need to dispose of and know the proper techniques for disposing of each type of waste in the area you are visiting. Leave No Trace encourages outdoor enthusiasts to consider the impacts they leave behind, which will undoubtedly affect other people, water, and wildlife.

Under no circumstances is it good practice to leave animal waste in the open.

It should either be bagged and removed or buried in a cathole at least 6 inches deep,

just like human waste.

home, before you go camping.

Principle 4: Leave What You Find The items we find in nature have a role to play, either in the ecosystem or the story of the landscape. Leaving what we find in place helps to preserve both. Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts, and other objects of interest as you find them.

It is a good practice to prevent your dog from eating anything they find in the woods.

Principle 6: Respect Wildlife Whenever you are in an outdoor space, you are in the natural habitat of many wild animals and should work to minimize your impact on them. Human impacts on wildlife can result in negative human-wildlife interactions, aggressive animals, a decline in the ecosystem’s health, and relocated or euthanized animals. All these impacts can be avoided if visitors respect wildlife on all outdoor trips.

Keep your dog on a leash when hiking, to keep both them and wildlife safe.

Principle 5: Minimize Campfire Impacts Once necessary for cooking and warmth, campfires are steeped in history and tradition. Some people would not think of camping without a campfire. Campfire building is also an essential skill for every camper. Yet, the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of fires and increasing demand for firewood. Moreover, wildfires continue to threaten outdoor spaces and are primarily caused by humans. We can minimize campfire impacts by keeping a few key things in mind.

Teach your dog to stay away from fires at

Principle 7: Be Considerate Of Others One of the most important components of outdoor ethics is to maintain courtesy toward others. It helps everyone enjoy their outdoor experience. Excessive noise, uncontrolled pets, and damaged surroundings detract from the natural appeal of the outdoors. Being considerate of others ensures everyone can enjoy nature no matter how they interact with it.

Walking on a leash will also help others feel safe when they encounter your pet.

—Compiled from the DEC and the American Hiking Society

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Jewish War Vet Celebrates 100 Years

ack Hayne was born on January 17, 1924. He was drafted into the army in May 1943. Prior to going into the service he worked on B26 aircraft wings at a Glenn L. Martin plant in Maryland.

He was selected to participate in the Army Specialized Training Program, which sent soldiers to colleges and universities while on active duty. When that program folded after six months, he was selected to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.

He had always wanted to go to college, but really never had the opportunity because he didn’t have the background.

He was elated and excited because he knew he was going to get an excellent education.

On July 17 1943, during WWII, he was a private stationed at Fort Totten in Bayside, NY, He decided to visit his mother and grandparents who were in a small Catskill mountain town called Mountaindale. In order to do this, he hitchhiked 120 miles to the town.

Hitchhiking during the war was easy as everyone was glad to give a free ride to the many soldiers in the service. His mother invited him to walk a mile into town to introduce him to one of the girls. Not wanting to disappoint Mom, he went along but with some trepidation. She took him to a store and, to his surprise, introduced him to a very busy

Jack Hayne as a cadet. gorgeous high school brunette named Pearl. When his mom decided to return to his grandparents, he told her that he wanted to stay and help Pearl and her family in the store. After that, anytime Jack got a weekend pass to visit he would visit Pearl.

In September 1943, after only 2-1/2 months, he proposed marriage. Pearl was wise enough to decline; they

would wait until the war ended.

Their marriage had to be postponed for four more years as West Point cadets were forbidden to have a horse, a mustache, a car or a wife. For the next four years she was his OAO (One And Only) at West Point. Jack’s graduation was June 07, 1949; They were married that day in the Cadet Chapel. They exited the Chapel through a tunnel of cadets holding their crossed swords above their heads. In the 1950s Pearl and Jack had 2 children, Nancy, who was born in Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas and Mitch, who was born in Fort Totten in New York City.

Jack spent 19 months in Korea as a combat platoon leader and Battery Commander. Jack was also stationed in Colorado and Germany where he retired from the Army.

His Commendations include Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct, American Campaign, WW 2 Service, National Defense, Korean Service with 7 battle stars and the UN medal.

Following his career in the Military Jack worked for two decades for Grumman.

A few days following his 100th birthday, he celebrated at the Mid Island JCC with Jewish War Veterans from Post 652 and Post 655.

—Submitted by JCC

Pictured are Post 655 Commander Bill Davidson, Past 655 Post Commander Jack Hayne, and Commander Gary Glick. (Photos by JCC)

Cody Chiuzan Of Feinstein Institutes Selected As Mentor For All Of Us Research Scholar Program Cody Chiuzan, an associate professor at the Feinstein Institutes of Medical Research, has been selected to be a mentor to an early-career researcher for the 2023-2024 National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) All of Us Research Scholar Program (RSP). The All of Us Research Scholar Program is an opportunity for health research professionals to be paired with early-career investigators, including those in high school, undergraduate and graduate/professional school. The scholars will have access to one of the largest, most diverse datasets for biomedical research that can help advance more tailored treatments and prevention guidelines. Being selected to participate as a mentor in RSP marks a commitment and achievement by Dr. Chiuzan to guide future health researchers.

“The Research Scholar Program is a great opportunity for students to learn directly from experienced researchers who

mentor them through the vast, diverse dataset,” said Dr. Rubin Baskir, Division Chief for Researcher Engagement, NIH All of Us Research Program. “All of Us is proud to support future researchers who can advance discoveries.”

The All of Us Research Program is a historic effort to collect and study health data from at least one million people living in the United States who reflect the diversity of the country and includes communities historically underrepresented in medical research.

To support future health researchers, NIH annually hosts the Research Scholar Program. The future of biomedical research is in the hands of early-career researchers and the program pairs them with mentors. Dr. Chiuzan will help student researchers learn how to conduct research utilizing the All of Us Data Browser or Researcher Workbench, guide them throughout the process, help design

a scientific poster, and nurture their scholarly interests. The program supports students from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce.

All of Us Research Scholars and Mentors are provided a stipend to participate in this eight-month program, which includes professional development opportunities, hands-on experience conducting health research, and the opportunity to participate in the All of Us Researchers Convention. The convention provides a platform for participants to present their research through poster presentations, engaging with researchers, students, and mentors from across the nation.

“The Research Scholars Program is a great opportunity for students at all levels with an interest in biomedical research to grow as researchers and as leaders, and to potentially impact the future of

healthcare,” said Brandy Thibodeaux, Project Lead, All of Us Research Scholar Program, Pyxis Partners. “Through this program, students will also have the opportunity to participate in professional development workshops and to network with mentors and other students. We’re so excited to see the amazing work that they’ll do both now and after they complete this program.”

The Feinstein Institutes—the research institutes of Northwell Health, New York’s largest health care provider—is home to 50 research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000 people raising the standard of medical innovation. We make breakthroughs in molecular medicine, genetics, cancer, brain research, mental health, autoimmunity and bioelectronic medicine.

—Submitted by the All of Us Research Scholar Program

ANTON MEDIA GROUP • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 19A

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G

Hochul Proposes Expansion In Hate Crimes Statute

overnor Kathy Hochul recently highlighted her groundbreaking State of the State proposal to expand the list of charges eligible to be prosecuted as hate crimes and announced grant funding to strengthen safety and security measures at nonprofit, community-based organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission.

“The rising tide of hate is abhorrent and unacceptable – and I’m committed to doing everything in my power to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “Since the despicable Hamas attacks of October 7, there has been a disturbing rise in hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers. In recent years we’ve seen hate-fueled violence targeting Black residents of Buffalo and disturbing harassment of AAPI and LGBTQ+ individuals on the streets of New York City.

We will never rest until all New Yorkers feel safe, regardless of who they are, who they love, or how they worship.”

Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State agenda includes proposed legislation to expand the list of offenses eligible for prosecution as hate crimes. Under current law, there are only 66 offenses that can be charged as hate crimes; legislative language included in the Executive Budget would increase that number to 97, including: making graffiti, arson, gang assault, first-degree rape, criminal possession of a weapon and sex trafficking.

Governor Hochul also announced additional funding for the Securing Communities Against Hate initiative, for a combined $60 million over FY24 and FY25. The Governor secured $25 million in last year’s budget, and is proposing boosting that funding to $35 million – a $10 million increase – in response to recent events. This record funding will allow eligible organizations to request up to $200,000 each for physical security and cybersecurity projects at their facilities.

Nonprofit organizations that have previously received security grants may also apply for new projects, including impact protection equipment that is now eligible for funding.

The announcement comes as hate, bias and antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents persist throughout New York and the nation.

Hate crimes adversely and disproportionately affect entire communities, not just the intended targets. While the number of hate crimes reported to police in the state represents a small fraction of total crime, these incidents traumatize and instill fear in the greater community. New York State tracks these incidents separately from other crimes so trends can be monitored, and steps can be taken to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Police departments and sheriffs’ offices reported 959 hate crimes to the State in 2022, the most reported in the past five years, and a 20 percent increase as compared to 2021.

Hate crime data reported by police agencies

to the State is available online. While last year’s statewide crime data is still being collected, New York City Police Department reported a 10 percent increase in hate crime incidents from 2022 to 2023 with such incidents more than doubling in the last quarter of the year, according to the agency’s Hate Crimes Dashboard.

The rising tide of hate is abhorrent and unacceptable – and I’m committed to doing everything in my power to keep New Yorkers safe.” said Governor Hochul.

Established in 2017, the state-funded Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant program seeks proposals for a maximum of $60 million in grants to strengthen security measures and prevent hate crimes against nonprofit community and civic centers, cultural museums, day care centers, and other nonprofit organizations that may be vulnerable because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission.

The funding, which is expected to support up to 300 projects, can be used to support exterior or interior security improvements, including but not limited to lighting, locks, alarms, panic buttons, fencing, barriers, access controls, shatter-resistant glass and

blast-resistant film, public address systems, strengthening cybersecurity, and impact protection enhancements. Funds can also cover costs associated with security training.

In July 2023, NY State Division of Criminal Justice (DCJS) awarded funding to 497 organizations statewide for 1,081 projects totaling $51,729,271, with $8,899,091 going toward 187 cybersecurity projects through the program. This year’s application process has been simplified and streamlined with single grants of up to $200,000 for each organization, as opposed to a maximum of $50,000 for each of four grants permitted for each organization last year.

The deadline for applications is noon on Friday, May 17. The Grants/Funding page of the DCJS website has information about eligibility requirements, instructions, guidelines and additional information.

Grant awards are expected to be announced this summer.

This record investment builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to combatting hate and preventing bias, including: • Launching last fall a new hotline (844-NO2-HATE) and online form to report hate and bias incidents.

• Creating the new Hate and Bias Prevention Unit, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Delgado. The unit oversees a rapid response initiative, which offers support to communities affected by hate or bias incidents and has established anti-bias councils in each region of the state.

• Convening the State’s inaugural Unity Summit, bringing together 500 representatives from community organizations, law enforcement, and faith groups for panel discussions and conversations about ways to work together to prevent hate.

• Deploying additional staff and funding to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, ensuring New York State Police are fully activated to protect against all potential terroristic threats.

• Taking on the threats posed by online hate, including calling on social media companies to improve moderation policies and increasing State Police resources to monitor online hate.

• Expanding the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services’ Threat Assessment and Management (TAM) teams to every college campus in New York.

Holocaust Claims Office Secured Over $183 Million For Victims And Beneficiaries 250 cultural objects settlements facilitated by DFS

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the New York State Department of Financial Services’ Holocaust Claims Processing Office, which assists Holocaust victims and their heirs recover stolen assets, has helped secure and return over $183 million in compensation to victims and their heirs for bank, insurance, and other material losses. Additionally, through this initiative, the Department of Financial Services has facilitated settlements involving over 250 cultural objects since its inception in 1997.

“With each passing year our living memory of the Holocaust may get further away, but it is imperative that we stand firm in our goal of dispelling antisemitism,” Governor Hochul said. “Hate has no home in New York – and my administration remains committed to uplifting Holocaust survivors and their families while continuing to honor the memory of the six million lives taken far too soon.”

Superintendent of Financial Services Adrienne A. Harris said, “At DFS, we are committed to honoring survivors and delivering justice to those who suffered through the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust. The Department will continue

A Study of a Priest Holding a Book (recto)

by Giacomo Cavedone. These drawings were returned to the heirs of Arthur Feldmann in 2021. (images from New York State Department of Financial Services)

working to return these invaluable cultural artifacts and facilitate the restitution of long-lost artworks for Holocaust victims and their families.”

The Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO) is a unit of the New York State Department of Financial Services. It was created to help Holocaust victims and their heirs recover assets deposited in banks; unpaid proceeds of insurance policies issued

by European insurers; and artworks that were lost, looted, or sold under duress. The HCPO does not charge claimants for its services.

Since its inception, the HCPO has responded to thousands of inquiries and received claims from all 50 U.S. states and 53 countries.

Under the direction of Superintendent Harris, HCPO has announced the resolution of Nazi Looted Art Claims for four paintings and ten 18th Century Chasubles from the Collection of Johann Bloch, completed the first joint recovery with the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and alongside the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK), returned three paintings to the heirs of Dr. Ismar Littmann. For more information, visit the HCPO website.

—From governorNY.gov

20A FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

WORD FIND

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This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direct always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you hav

By Holiday Holiday Mathis pleted the puzzle, there will be 26 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

By Holiday Mathis By Mathis

HOROSCOPES HOROSCOPES

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND Solution: 26 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 26 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Compass reading Solution: 26 Letters

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Even though someone’s success doesn’t technically pose a threat to your own, you can still feel some kind of way about it. Though it’s futile to compete when you’re not in a competition, it’s also unwise not to compete when you are. Much comes down to this: What’s the game, if there is one?

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The path to improvement often begins with doing one right thing that happens to be just a little harder than the usual route. One good move will lead to many other specific and correct actions, and soon, many things are better at once. Positive change is underway this week.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Uncertainty and awkwardness are part of the growing up that can happen at any age. Being out of your element is a little scary, but it’s also exciting because you know this is how you become who you want to be. You sense yourself getting stronger, smarter and better for moving forward with a brave heart.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Things change. People grow. Most things can be fixed, so have faith. There’s nothing to gain from letting despair get even one toe into your world. Regardless of how long something has been broken, every moment holds the potential for renewal. Embrace the opportunity for rebirth.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). This week, you’ll have the comforting overall sense that whatever you’re doing, it’s working for you. You’re somehow able to hold on to hope without clinging to expectation. The things you want don’t always happen, but your life is better because you aimed for them.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You feel deep gratitude for the specific ways someone contributes to your life, but you don’t always think it’s the right time to express your feelings, nor are you sure of the best way to do so. This week features opportunities that arise naturally and feel easy and creative. You’ll have just the right words to share your appreciation.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When events create pressure and anxiety, it’s often because you’re thinking you need to get results in a short period of time.

Extend the time period. Pretend that you, like the gods, have all the time in the world and something happens. Anxiety drops away, and you end up working without all that stress.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Strange things happen, and it’s not always a good idea to call attention to them in real time. Sometimes, the most graceful move is just to shrug your shoulders and move on. Realization and solutions may come later, and they may not. If you’re the one meant to solve a problem, eventually, you will.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your sophisticated mind can make room for conflicting ideas, and you’ll operate with grace in incredibly complex circumstances. The important thing is not to judge yourself as you go. Nothing is effectively assessed by itself. The larger context not only matters; sometimes, it’s everything.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

Does it fortify you to know that you elevate the group just by being your best self?

You won’t seek power, but it will be bestowed on you by those who need you to step up and lead. You’ll develop as a teacher, too, and help others discover their gifts. More highlights: Relationships become deeply bonded, affectionate and will create a lasting sense of emotional security. You’ll get in on the ground level of a venture. A formal event will be exciting to plan, and the execution legendary.

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

Analyzer Arrow Astronomical Attain Circular Cold Date Degrees Dials Find Float Grasp Gyroscope

Handy Sextant Signpost Help Small Improvised Liquid South Analyzer Handy Sextant Magnet Speedometer Arrow Help Signpost Map ImprovisedSteel Small Astronomical South Attain Liquid Markers Task Circular Magnet Speedometer North Tour Map Steel Cold Orbit Date Markers Trek Task Tour Degrees North Trusty Orient Dials Orbit Trek Wait Owns Orient Trusty Find Pole West Owns Wait Float West Grasp Pole Savvy Gyroscope

Savvy

FROM KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, 300 W. 57th STREET, 41st

Solution: Heading in the right direction Solution: Heading in the right direction

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Silence doesn’t lie or get its facts wrong. Silence wastes neither breath nor words. People read into silence more than they get out of it. There will be opportunities to let silence show you its power this week. “The talkative parrot is shut up in a cage. Other birds, without speech, fly freely about.”-- Saskya Pandita

© 2024 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Affections are not always returned in kind. It’s pretty common for someone to love much more, less or differently. Since appreciating someone who likes you back in a similar way and amount can be a rare thing in life, it’s something to celebrate. This week, you’ll revel in reciprocity.

Compass reading

© 2024 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Unusual tasks and roles are part of this week’s offering. You may benefit immensely from doing things you’re not great at, but make it easy on yourself by limiting the time and depth of your obligation. All in all, the best opportunities of the week will be a little strange. It’s fun to say yes when the ask is small in scope.

Syndicate FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY tors 10019 Creators Crea Syndica te

Date: 2/7/24 Date: 2/7/24 7 3 7 3 rd S t re e t • H e rmos a B e ach , C A 9 0 2 5 4 7 3 rd S t re (800) e t • H 708-7311 e rmos a B e ach , C A 9 0 2 5 4 CUSTOMER7 3SERVICE: EXT. 236 3 1 0 - 3 3 7 - 7 0 0 3 • inf o@ cre at ors .com 3 1 0 - 3 3 7 - 7 0 0 3 • inf o@ cre at ors .com CONTRACT BRIDGE — BY STEVE BECKER

By Steve Becker

CONTRACT BRIDGE

FOR RELEASE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

There’s a very good reason South dealer.

Neither side vulnerable.

NORTH ♠A93 ♥ K J 10 6 ♦J952 ♣A 4 WEST EAST ♠742 ♠J865 ♥8 2 ♥A 9 7 5 3 ♦K63 ♦84 ♣K J 8 7 5 ♣Q 2 SOUTH ♠ K Q 10 ♥Q 4 ♦ A Q 10 7 ♣ 10 9 6 3 The bidding: South West North East 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 1 NT Pass 3 NT Opening lead — seven of clubs.

Let’s say you’re in three notrump, and West leads a low club. How should you proceed?

Your first play from dummy is very important. Despite all you may have heard or learned that at notrump it is better to hold up an ace at least once when the enemy attacks your weakest suit, you should play the ace.

There is a very good reason for

taking the ace. Assuming that West has led his fourth-best club, East must have the king, queen or jack (because West would have led the king if he had four or five clubs headed by the K-Q-J). Winning the first trick is therefore sure to block the opposing clubs if West led from a five-card suit. If the clubs are divided 4-3, your first play makes no difference.

The play at trick two is also critical. Ordinarily, you would force out the ace of hearts rather than attempt a diamond finesse, but here you should reverse the usual procedure.

There is an excellent reason for tackling the diamonds first. If West has the ace of hearts and king of diamonds, the order of play is irrelevant because the contract is doomed. And if East has the king of diamonds, with or without the ace of hearts, the contract is in the bag whichever red suit is played first.

The only case that matters, therefore, is the one where West has the king of diamonds and East the ace of hearts. In that instance, playing diamonds first makes the contract, while playing hearts first loses the contract.

Tomorrow: Famous Hand. ©2024 King Features Syndicate Inc.

ANTON MEDIA GROUP • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 21A

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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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ANTON MEDIA GROUP • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024

CRIME & SAFETY

Arrest Made In Lake Success The Public Information Office reports on the arrest of three Newark, New Jersey men for a Burglary that occurred on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 at 2:50 a.m. in Lake Success.

According to police, Lake Success Officers responded to a residence located on Meadow Woods Road for an attempted burglary.

While enroute to the scene, a Lake Success RMP was involved in a collision with a blue 2021 BMW sedan that was fleeing the scene of the incident. After the collision, three subjects exited the car and fled on foot. A canvass was conducted with the assistance of the Nassau County Police Department which resulted in the three subjects being located and placed under arrest without further incident.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the three subjects had also attempted to commit a burglary at a residence located on Fox Lane immediately prior to the incident and a loaded Glock 19 that was modified to be fully automatic was located inside of the blue 2021 BMW. Defendants Jawaun Whitted, 22 of 20 Muhammad Ali Avenue, Furquan Ahmad, 20 of 35 Kent Street and Raquil Hayes, 21 of 45 Winans Avenue are all charged with two counts of Attempted Burglary 1st degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree. They were arraigned on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at First District Court, located at 99 Main St., Hempstead.

—Information from the Nassau County Police Department (pdnc.org)

Home Invasion In North Hills The Major Case Bureau reports the details of a Home Invasion that occurred on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 at 11:20 a.m. in North Hills.

According to Robbery Squad Detectives, three unknown male subjects dressed as utility workers wearing fluorescent jackets, pants, hard hats, gloves and face masks rang the doorbell of a Folie Court resident’s home claiming to check on a gas leak.

When the home’s caretaker, a male victim, 35, answered the door the subjects forced their way into the home brandishing a small black handgun. Once inside they located the homeowner, a female, 69, and

threw her to the ground and held her there.

The victims started screaming and the three male subjects exited the home and fled the scene towards Shelter Rock Road in an unknown direction with an undetermined amount of proceeds. There were no injuries reported. The investigation is ongoing.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding the above listed crime to please contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.

—Information from the Nassau County Police Department (pdnc.org)

Arrest For Criminal Possession Of A Weapon In Great Neck Nassau County Police Department Sixth Squad Detectives reported the arrest of a Great Neck man for Criminal Possession of a Weapon that occurred on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 at 3:18 p.m.

According to detectives, an investigation was being conducted regarding damaged property on Somerset Drive. While investigating, detectives responded to 37 Somerset Dr. Detectives knocked at the door and observed a male closing blinds in the windows and aggressively moving throughout the house. The subject then raised and aimed what appeared to be a black rifle at detectives. They immediately took positions of cover and concealment.

Police entered the residence and Mitchell Levy, 36, of 36 Somerset Dr. was arrested.

He was transported to an area hospital for evaluation.

A second male, 90, was also in the residence. He was not injured but was transported to an area hospital for evaluation.

A black pellet rifle was recovered from the residence.

Defendant Levy is charged with Menacing a Police Officer, two (2) Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, Petit Larceny, Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree and two (2) counts of Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree. He will be arraigned on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at First District Court, Hempstead.

The Nassau County Police Department Sixth Squad provided an update on the siuation on Jan. 21. The Sixth Squad reported the arrest of Mitchell Levy on Jan. 21, 2024 at 4:20 p.m. and charged with Menacing 3rd Degree. He has been additionally charged with Menacing 2nd Degree, Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree, Unlawful imprisonment 1st Degree and Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree for the above incident. He will be arraigned when medically practical.

—Information from the Nassau County Police Department (pdnc.org)

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FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

SCHOOL NEWS GREAT NECK TEENS NAMED STUDENT OF THE QUARTER BY NASSAU BOCES

Three students from the Great Neck UFSD were named Students of the Quarter at Nassau BOCES Barry Tech career and technical education high school. Elizabeth Mejia is attending Great Neck South High School; Hila Bakhshi is a student at John L. Miller-Great Neck North; and Hyunjun Chang is a Village School student. All three were honored for their grades, attendance, work ethic and preparedness.

Elizabeth is studying Horse Science and Management Skills; Hila is studying Animation and Digital Media Skills; and Hyunjun is studying Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration.

Students of the Quarter have taken the initiative on class projects and are role models for their fellow students, in both the classroom and the workplace.

About Nassau BOCES A vital regional resource, Nassau BOCES offers state-of-the-art programs for learners of all ages and abilities as well as cost-effective services for school districts and municipalities. We empower students to achieve their maximum potential in alternative, artistic,

outdoor, special education, virtual, and career and technical environments. We offer adult education and a variety of programs that are vital to improving the Long Island regional economy. In addition, our technology services form the backbone of many school districts’

Elizabeth Mejia (left) of Great Neck is congratulated on being named Barry Tech Student of the Quarter by (left to right) Assistant Principal Nafesa Khan and Acting Principal Dr. William Poll.

infrastructure. As the county’s educational leader in implementing the state’s reform efforts, we are helping to shape the future of education. To learn more, visit www. nassauboces.org and like us at www.facebook.com/nassauboces.

—Submitted by Nassau BOCES

Hila Bakhshi (center) of Great Neck is congratulated on being named Barry Tech Student of the Quarter by (left to right) Interim Assistant Principal Anastasia Kokonis and Acting Principal Dr. William Poll.

(Contributed photos)

Hyunjun Chang (center) of Great Neck is congratulated on being named Barry Tech Student of the Quarter by (left to right) Assistant Principal Daniel Cava and Acting Principal Dr. William Poll.

OPED

Long Island Kids Need Healthy School Meals For All Some perceive our communities as affluent. The reality is that many of our Hunger exists in every community. neighbors are struggling. Costs of living Many children in New York State, includ- have skyrocketed, and wages aren’t keeping ing in our own communities on Long up. Meanwhile, many on Long Island are Island, struggle to access the nutrition not considered “poor enough” to qualify for they need. Children who experience hun- help. A family of four earning just $56,000, ger have difficulty learning, have lower far from a living wage for a family here, is school attendance than their peers, and ineligible for free school meals through the are at greater risk of adverse mental and traditional application process. Even famphysical health outcomes. ilies who do qualify are often deterred by School meals can help safeguard social stigma and fear. This is especially true children from hunger and the associated in schools perceived as “wealthy”. effects, but only if we ensure all students In regions like ours, economic inequalihave access. ties within communities make it challengLast year’s state budget included a ing for schools to meet the strict eligibility historic expansion of free school meals. threshold to provide free school meals As a result, an estimated 1,100 additional for all, even though the need is still there.

New York schools, including around 180 In Great Neck UFSD for example, 1 in 4 on Long Island, are able to provide meals students are economically disadvantaged, at no cost to all of their students starting yet the district does not qualify to offer this school year. meals at no cost for all their students. In Still, an estimated 350,000 students other areas on Long Island, some schools, across 750 schools in New York remain but not all, within the same district, are ineligible for this vital support. Nearly half eligible to provide meals at no cost. You can of those left behind, more than 165,000 stu- have an elementary school qualify but not dents, are on Long Island. This is an unac- the middle school next door. This creates ceptable number. In Assembly District 16, confusion and an inequitable dynamic for nearly all of our schools were left behind. school districts, where children in the same

BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER GINA SILLITTI

neighborhood, or even the same household, may not have the same access to free school meals. It’s not right.

The only way to ensure equitable access to school meals is to close the gap, providing school breakfast and lunch at no cost to ALL of our state’s students, regardless of their zip code or household income. Eight other states, including our neighbors in Vermont and Massachusetts, have already made this a reality. New York should be next.

Recent data underscore the urgency of this policy, as child poverty and hunger have increased dramatically nationwide.

U.S. Census Bureau reports show child poverty rates doubled from 2021 to 2022 - the largest year-over-year increase on record.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported an increase in hunger nationwide, with 1 in 5 households with children struggling with food insecurity. In Assembly District 16 alone, Island Harvest Food Bank, and its network of member agencies, has distributed more than 300,000 pounds of food so far this year. To give you a sense of how much food that is, 300,000 pounds equates to approximately 240,000 meals. Hunger is a pervasive reality on Long Island regardless of zip code.

Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (Photo from Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti’s website | nyassembly.gov)

In this year’s state budget, we can and must do more to ensure that no student in our state attends school hungry. New York’s expansion of school meals was a significant step in the right direction, but we must finish the job. I call on Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the Legislature to prioritize healthy school meals for all New York kids.

ANTON MEDIA GROUP • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024

11

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FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

TOWN NEWS

‘International Day Of Education’ Donation Giveaway

N

orth Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena recently attended MTO Shahmaghsoudi’s donation giveaway event at the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center that coincided with the International Day of Education on Jan. 24. Supervisor DeSena both congratulated and thanked the organization for their incredible efforts in donating a total of 110 gift bags for students in our communities. Forty bags were donated to students at the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, and 70 bags were donated

to students at the “Yes We Can” Community Center. Supervisor DeSena presented the organization with a Proclamation of Recognition for their work.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena joined with members of the MTO Shahmaghsoudi organization to congratulate them on their recent donations to students throughout the greater North Hempstead community.

(Contributed photo)

Happy Lunar New Year On Saturday, Jan. 27, the Town of North Hempstead hosted its Lunar New Year celebration at Charles J. Fuschillo Park in Carle Place. Town Supervisor DeSena,the Town Board and town residents joined the cultural festivities to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Festivities included cultural performances, arts and crafts and refreshments. The Town of North Hempstead partnered with the Great Neck Chinese Association, Chinese American Association of North Hempstead, Herricks Chinese Association, the Herricks Korean Community, Chinese Center of Long Island, Inc., Manhasset Association of Chinese Americans, Sunny Chinese Center and Tidal Tea. —Information gathered by Julie Prisco

Performance of dragons (Photo from Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte’s Facebook)

Performing a traditional dance.

(Photo from Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte’s Facebook)

Town of North Hempstead Board Members with performers at the Lunar New Year celebration.

(Photo from Councilmember Christine Liu’s Facebook)

Community gathered to celebrate Lunar New Year. (Photo from Councilmember Christine Liu’s Facebook)

New York Chinese Chorus (Photo from Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte’s Facebook)

Assessment Grievance Workshop Reminder The Town of North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Mary Jo Collins is hosting the final Assessment Grievance Workshop.

During the month of January, the Nassau County Department of Assessment sends out a Notice of Tentative Assessment for your property. These values will be used to determine the 2025/2026 school tax bills and the 2026 General tax bills.

If you disagree with this tentative assessment, you may file a grievance with the Nassau County Assessment Review Commission.

The grievance can be filed from

January 2, 2024, through March 1, 2024.

At the seminar, there will be a presentation on understanding your assessed value, and the procedure to grieve. The Receiver of Taxes and members of her staff will be available to answer questions after the presentation.

The final workshop is on Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Hillside Public Library (155 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 311.

—Information from the Town of North Hempstead

ANTON MEDIA GROUP • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024

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ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

was not able to move on to the next phase of Graziadei’s journey.

“It was tough to put your life on hold hoping it will work out for you,” Dewgard said. “I don’t regret doing it and having that experience. I wish Joey nothing but the best and I’m also watching this season and I’m excited to see what happens. I think from

JENNIFER CORR

I

jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

t wasn’t too long ago that Chandler Dewgard, 24, a graphic designer from New York City, was scrolling on her Instagram Explore feed when she discovered an open call from the Bachelor Franchise for women looking for love.

At the time, Joey Graziadei, a Pennsylvania native who did a stint in Hawaii as a tennis coach, was heartbroken as a runner-up on Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette. However, he was given a second chance to find love after being selected as the next season’s Bachelor.

“I told my roommates, and they said ‘Chandler, you have to apply. He’s cute,’” Dewgard said. “So I applied on the website.”

Dewgard said the process was quick and brief, and before she knew it, she was in Los Angeles.

“It was very surreal,” Dewgard said. “I had actually just started a new job… I didn’t know what my job would say, but once I told them, they were extremely supportive of me.”

After packing, speaking with her family and getting on the flight, the feeling of actually going on the show set in.

“It’s something I never thought I’d be in, but I’m so excited to be a part of that experience and be a part of Joey’s journey,” Dewgard said.

Dewgard said once she landed in Los Angeles, she didn’t really know what to expect. Not being very familiar with the show, she tried to learn more on her phone after getting picked up from the airport.

“I was excited to meet all the girls and see who else was there,” Dewgard said.

Once Dewgard, after getting ready and dressed in a red gown, got to exit the limo and meet Joey finally, she greeted him with a legendary line referencing Friends: “I know your name is Joey, and my name is

LONG ISLAND WEEKLY

A New Yorker’s Journey On The Bachelor

(ABC)

meeting all the girls, I’m excited to see their journeys.”

Watching herself on television was something Dewgard had to get used to as well.

“It was weird, obviously watching yourself, and I cried at the end [of the episode], but it was fun,” Dewgard. “I was so anxious when I was there that night because I didn’t know what to expect, and watching it back, I think a lot of the times I saw myself it was later in the night when I had the conversations with some of the girls, and they calmed me down, Chandler Dewgard meets Joey Graziadei. (Images via ABC) and I think I was at the point of wanting to have fun and talk to everyone, so it wasn’t too Chandler, and I just wanted to let you know aspect of the show Dewgard had to get used bad seeing myself.”

I’ll be there for you.” to.

Dewgard said she was happy to get back Graziadei loved the greeting, as did “I sit behind a desk all day looking at a to her family and receive their support. And, viewers, as many fans were posting on X screen, so it was a very different environshe quickly went back to work.

(Twitter) their enthusiasm for the line. ment,” Dewgard explained. “I don’t know if Born and raised in Brooklyn, Dewgard “I didn’t really think about it at first once it was something I was able to adjust to as originally attended Syracuse University I had been cast,” Dewgard said, adding that quickly as the other girls, I think for me, I to study journalism, but she realized her the greeting was an idea of a friend of hers was very anxious… I will say a lot of the girls passion for graphic design while taking a who is also a fan of Friends. “He also was there I had spoken to… I wasn’t afraid to say design course.

Now, she’s a 2D graphic designer for a Friends fan, so I said ‘great, this worked I was anxious, but they were actually very Tarte Cosmetics. She previously worked as out.’” helpful to me.” an assistant graphic designer for Victoria’s Being on camera at the Bachelor Unfortunately, Dewgard did not receive Secret Pink.

Franchise’s famous mansion was another a rose during the Rose Ceremony, so she

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ANTON MEDIA GROUP • FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024

NORTH ZONE

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SPECIAL ELECTION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

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orn in Ethiopia, Mazi was evacuated to Israel as part of an Israeli/U.S. mission, which provided sanctuary to people like Mazi, who lived in fear of antisemitism. This experience gave her a passion to serve in an Israel Defense Forces Paratrooper Brigade. She legally immigrated to the U.S. in pursuit of the American Dream. Mazi and her husband now live in Great Neck where they are raising their 7 children.

In 2021, Mazi was elected to the Nassau County Legislature, where she added cops to the streets, held the line on property taxes, and stopped New York City from sending unvetted migrants to Nassau. Mazi is a national leader in the fight against antisemitism and Jew hatred.

As part of the Republican majority in Congress, Mazi Pilip will be the critical vote to stop the disastrous policies of Joe Biden, AOC and The Squad.

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3 Congressman Peter King

3 Councilwoman Vickie Paladino

3 County Executive Bruce Blakeman

3 Ambassador David Friedman

3 Supervisor Joe Saladino

3 Supervisor Don Clavin

Vote

SPECIAL ELECTION TUESDAY

FEB.13

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FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2024 • ANTON MEDIA GROUP

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