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DECEMBER 2015

CELEBRATING CHANUKAH

ACE'S WINES: SERVICE FROM THE HEART

REINDEER CUTIES REVEL IN THE COMING OF CHRISTMAS

NEWS

Your NewsMag

December 2015 | Vol.3 №3

MetroPCS Builds Digital Hub on Merrick Avenue M

etroPCS is installing a digital network station at a Merrick Avenue storefront to increase its LTE wireless coverage as it provides better communications capability for 911 emergency responders. The equipment facility, at 24 Merrick Avenue, has also been installed with a new power generator on the roof, to prevent a blackout scenario for customers and emergency responders in the event of a power outage. The facility will not serve as a retail outlet for MetroPCS phones. The permit granting the construction of the new digital hub dates to September 17, 2014, but construction only commenced recently. The permit called for installation of a Digital Antenna System (DAS) hub, but in an email to Your NewsMag, a media representative

from T-Mobile, parent of MetroPCS, said MetroPCS was “installing some network hub equipment on the site that does not include antennas or radios, but is important to providing LTE service to Metro customers and meeting the public safety and 911 emergency needs of the community.” When asked if the space will be a retail facility as well, and be staffed as such, he said he could not comment on staffing, but inferred it would not be a retail outlet. The storefront windows are darkened, preventing anyone from witnessing the construction within. A town official, who requested anonymity, said that while there may be no current law or ordinance to prevent blockage of a storefront window for law enforcement reasons, if the space is not being used for public use, the

windows could remain darkened, for security purposes.

RECENT HISTORY

MetroPCS fell under scrutiny several years ago when it began installing digital boxes on telephone poles in locations around Merrick. The boxes were substitutions for cell towers, which became focal points for lo-

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cal groups opposed to building them. Local civic groups and public officials also challenged MetroPCS’s right to install the boxes in light of their perceived health hazards to the community. The Town of Hempstead then amended its laws to curtail the installation of such digital boxes in the neighborhoods.

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Rinku Goel, owner of Merrick Wines and Liquors at 26 Merrick Avenue, next to 24 Merrick Avenue, said he had not been told by construction workers or MetroPCS company officials that there would be health issues involved with operation of the DAS hub. But, he continued, “Some customers have come in voicing concern over health issues of being next to this hub, yes.” Both a foot massage merchant and a Chinese take-out restaurant next to the not-quite-completed hub said they, too, had not been notified by workers or MetroPCS of any health-related issues concerning the hub. The property at 24 Merrick Avenue is owned by Spy Realty Corp. of Circle Drive in Roslyn Heights, which did not have a working phone number.

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№3 Vol.3 | December 2015

Your NewsMag

Fundraising for the Children

itMixx Fitness Studio in Bellmore held a fundraiser for children with special needs last month, and raised upwards of $3000 in raffles by noon. It hopes to hold another raffle in February. The monies raised were going directly to the development of Sensory Beans, a children’s gym that will be specifically fitted to accommodate children with special needs, and offer plenty of exercise fun and a place they can call their own. Several Bellmore-Merrick merchants donated special items such as store and restaurant cards, coffees, candies, liqueurs,

Exercising to raise funds mugs and cups, jewelry, bric-abrac , purses, pillows and much more included Piccolo’s Ristoran-

te, Lemon Tree, Left Coast, Dime Savings Bank, Bagel Boss, Panera, CM Smiles, Dunkin’ Donuts, Margarita’s Cafe and more. Angela Connelly, who has a special needs child, told Your NewsMag that such a gym for special needs children to go to is very important because “after school is out for the holidays, or for summer, the children need some place to go for occupational, speech or physical therapy,” and the gym is working toward providing those services. Www.sensorybeans.org notes the gym will be a place for kids to go to make friends and play.

Raffles from local merchants Sensory Beans is the creation of Merrick resident and mom Rachel Raslow, who has an autistic child. She says in literature

that the gym will be dedicated to bringing children of all abilities a sensory gym where they can use functional play on specialized equipment that will foster both socialization and their play skills. The new gym will be based solely on donations, and a goal of $75,000 is being aimed to proceed in finding space for the gym and purchasing specialized equipment for it. For information on Sensory Beans call Raslow at 308-1462, or visit the website at www. sensorybeans.org.

North Merrick Library Kicks Off Its 50th-Year Celebration!

50th ANNIVERSARY: Pictured at the original North Merrick Public Library storefront are, in no order, William A Pezzulo, NMPL board president; Marion H. Schurade, vice-president; Barbara Behrens and Richard C. Smith, trustees; Ann Santino and Pat Maruso, Friends of the North Merrick Library; Tom Witt, director, Jerus owner Kenny Lee; Merrick chamber President Margaret Biegelman; and state, county and town officials.

he North Merrick Public Library has kicked off a series of events celebrating its 50 years of service to the North Merrick community. The first event, on the occasion of the library’s first opening 50 years ago, drew public officials, staffers and others to Jerus Cleaners/Tailor Shop at 1148 Merrick Avenue, in the Pat’s Farms strip mall, location of the very first North Merrick library. The 50th anniversary spans three years, from the first vote taken by North Merrick residents on November 21, 1964, to establish the library; to open-

ing the first library storefront at 1148 Merrick Avenue on December 5, 1965; to opening the library in Meadowbrook School on October 3, 1966. The library has now celebrated several important dates this year as acknowledgement of their historical significance, with the largest celebration next October 3, concerning the present building’s opening 50 years ago on Meadowbrook Road. Two other dates were also celebrated as well: November 23, 2014, the 50th anniversary of the decision to form the Friends of the North Merrick

Public Library group; and January 28, of this year, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the library’s provisional charter. William Pezzulo, president of the North Merrick Public Library Board of Trustees, told Your NewsMag during the gathering at the original location, “This is the location where the very first North Merrick library opened.” He called this celebration “only the kickoff of what’s coming in the months ahead,” as the library celebrates 50 years of dedicated service to the community. When asked about the impact of the digital age upon the library, whether the library could be reduced to a storefront size once more, he said the library conducted a survey recently and found that the main reason residents come to the library “is because of the books.” Marion Schurade, North Merrick Public Library vice-president, noted that the first installation of the library into the storefront at 1148 Merrick Avenue “was so exciting then.” She recalls having to pay when going to the Merrick library, because North Merrick wasn’t considered part of Merrick li-

brary’s outreach. “But,” she said, the new library “did its job.” Library Board of Trustee Richard Smith said it took three years to develop the library, and “it was important that this library be put into” the community. He called the library a “sanctuary” where children often spend a significant amount of time, for the diversity of things they can learn about and the ways in which they can to be informed, through books, the internet, song and video. State Senator Michael Venditto remarked his child now attends “Mommy and Me” classes at his town’s library, pointing out once more the significance of libraries in the cultural development of young children, in reading them books that are cultural markers in their development. North Merrick Public Library Director Tom Witt told Your NewsMag in an earlier interview that the library does in fact act as a cultural center (which Venditto alluded to), by promoting interpersonal interactions throughout one’s life. A child first learns socialization in a library, Witt said. “They come to know the bigger world of in-

teraction at a library, interacting at playtime and getting to know about other children and about books, which are all about getting to know their culture and society.” He said he used to watch a mother come and read the same book to her little child all the time. When he asked her why she didn’t just purchase the book at a book store, she answered that it was important her child learn where he can go to get the book if he wants to read it. Margaret Biegelman, president of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, said that “On behalf of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, it is an honor to be part of the library’s 50th anniversary celebration,” calling it a “much loved and significant part of the community.” “I was very surprised to learn this space was the original North Merrick library,” said Ken Lee, owner of Jerus Cleaners. As a big supporter of libraries, he said he is proud his establishment is linked to the development of the North Merrick Public Library, as it celebrates 50 years. - DOUGLAS FINLAY

December 2015 | Vol.3 №3

Your NewsMag

The Joy of Holiday Spirit is Everywhere!

☞ TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS: PAGES 2-8 MetroPCS builds digital hub on Merrick Avenue; raising funds for the children; North Merrick Public Library kicks off 50th Anniversary celebrations; The Cake Gallery bakes gingerbread cakes for VIPS; Merrick Kiwanis Club holds annual pancake breakfast; Bellmore and Merrick celebrate Christmas and Chanukah

PROFILE: PAGE 10 Ace’s Wines and Spirits: Service from the Heart Ace’s Wines and Spirits in Merrick has a fabled history, which includes customer service

HOLIDAY CONCERT: PAGE 11 Brotherhood Thanksgiving Concert Fills Hall with Song The annual Brotherhood Holiday Concert included new faces from Merrick Middle School’s Word of Mouth, and Grand Avenue Middle School’s Grand Voices

PHOTOGRAPHY: PAGE 20 For Merrick photographer, the technique is often the subject Merrrick photographer Steven Friedman’s photographs dazzle, as much from their subjects as what they are printed on

ALSO: Chanukah and Christmas reflections; schools look for donations, as they help the needy; Douglas Smestad Scholarship donations are welcome

WHO’S WHO AT YOUR NEWSMAG Advertising and Publishing Jill Bromberg

Editing & Reporting Doug Finlay

Contributing Online

Erin Donohue

Fr. Mark Genzsler Rabbi Shimon Kramer Rita and Richard Gilley Sanford Sardo

he holiday season began with the fabulous Brotherhood Council Festival of Music featuring musical groups from schools, temples and churches gathering together to entertain in a wonderful spirit-lifting concert. The audience showed its appreciation with applauds and standing ovations. Richard Gilley led the entire audience to sing loudly and proudly “We Gather Together,” followed by “Let There Be Peace On Earth” and “America the Beautiful.” It was truly wonderful. I am typically more of a listener, but I was so moved by the entire presentation that I could not resist singing. Photos inside, as well as of the talented Calhoun Concert Choir on the front cover, and more on Facebook along with videos help tell the full story of this glorious event. I encourage you to attend the concert in the future, as there is nothing like seeing it live. Put it on your must-see list for next year. You will start the Holiday season feeling energized and proud to live in our communities and proud to be an American. Chanukah and Christmas celebrations are in full swing. The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Merrick Chamber of Commerce held their annual spectacular holiday events. Your NewsMag was front-and-center taking photographs to include in this issue and even more on Facebook for your enjoyment. If you were there, look and you may see yourself or friends and family. There are so many family friendly holiday outings in and around town. The Chabad Center for Jewish Life lit up the night at its annual menorah lighting in Merrick, which drew its largest crowd ever. Children and adults shared in the experience of lighting the menorah together and indulging in jelly donuts and potato latkes, while dancing and celebrating in style. If you are looking for more traditional Christmas celebrations, check out the Christmas Candle Lighting evenings at the Old Bethpage Restoration this weekend.

Did you know that the North Merrick Public Library began in a storefront on Merrick Avenue, and has kicked off a series of events celebrating 50 years serving the community? The library has progressed over the years, from searching for books by index cards that I remember - to using computers and media centers, where you can borrow and download music and videos. There are all kinds of learning opportunities, including classes and lectures appealing to all ages, in your public library. The history of the Merricks continues to reveal itself in special ways. Ace’s Wines & Spirits, one of the longest standing businesses in Merrick, features a history rich in the early development of community service. Meanwhile, we all enjoy living in a town with shops and services at our disposal, and the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce reminds us to shop local. The money we spend here stays here! This is how we keep our community strong, vibrant and a place our kids want to come home to. Your NewsMag is delivered to every home in the Bellmores and Merricks free of charge because you live here and are residents in the communities. Advertising support pays for Your NewsMag, so please support participating businesses by shopping locally. If you know something that is newsworthy, please let us know. If your business is having an anniversary or someone in your family is celebrating a special occasion, we want to know. After all, your news is our news. Please join us on Facebook and visit www.YourNewsMag.com for updates throughout the month. On behalf of my family and the staff at Your NewsMag, I wish you all a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year! JILL BROMBERG Publisher Jill@YourNewsMag.com 516-633-8590

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December 2015 | Vol.3 №3

Ace’s Wine and Spirits: Service Straight from the Heart

oe Pascual, owner of Ace’s Wines and Spirits at 1811 Merrick Avenue, is a man of community, and continuity. He comes from a long historical pedigree dating back to 1946 – though some might insist 1925. Not his bloodline, however, but his store! “My dad and I purchased this store in 1991 from Dan LaForte,” Pascual remarked to Your NewsMag recently during a visit to his store, as customers came in, searched for wines or other libations, purchased them and left. Pascual greeted each one as they came in, assisting them to one corner of the store or the other – a hallmark of good customer service. But who did LaFort purchase the store from? “He purchased it from Anthony Nieli,” continued Pascual, “also known as ‘Ace’.“ It’s here the history of Ace’s Wines and Spirits takes a refreshing front-and-center seat. In an email to Your NewsMag

from Fr. Bruce Nieli, “My father, Anthony ‘Ace’ Nieli, founded Ace’s Liquor Store in 1946 after he returned from World War II serving in the Army Air Corps (my mother Vivian served in the Marines!). The ‘Ace’ comes from his athletic prowess as a sportsman at Southside High School in Rockville Centre, before Mepham was built. ” He said that ‘Ace’ set up the liquor store at its present location – only half the size it is now, using as a logo the Ace of Hearts, with the slogan: Service Straight from the Heart.” The historical revelation continued. “My grandfather, Melchiore “Michael” Nieli, founded M. Nieli Hardware Store in 1925, a small storefront ‘mom and pop’ store, later adding “and Son” when Anthony joined in. The hardware store provided the shovel for the groundbreaking of the brand new Cure of Ars Catholic Church.

“My father’s uncle, Sam Sirico,” Fr. Nieli continued, “founded the first barber shop in Merrick. Such notables as Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey would frequent the hardware store. The actor Ed Begley and the jazz artists Jimmy and Marian McPartland were personal friends of my father.” It is in this context of unwavering community service that we place Pascual. Over the last several years Pascual has donated to numerous organizations in the Merricks all year ‘round, to help them raise funds for important projects that raffle off his donations, or present them as door prizes. “These organizations are part of the community,” he said of his generosity. Among the countless groups he has donated to include the North Merrick Little League, Chabad Center for Jewish Life, Ladies Auxiliary, Forever9 - The Robbie Levine Foundation, Thomas Reynolds Foundation, Saint John Lutheran Church,

Merrick Kiwanis Club, North Merrick Library, Chatterton School PTA, Jewel Quinn Society … and the list continues. “I give to those who need,” he maintained, because they have given back to him. Pascual’s 2280 square-foot facility now needs a facelift, he says. He looks to build an additional 1000 square feet as a second floor. His architect is now designing the space to be atop the front part of the building. He said he needs to build more space because, when he moved to the building, he eliminated the storage space in the back, and made the entire 2280 square feet total retail space. “Now,” he says, “suppliers send product regularly and prices change,” so it is difficult to store the new product at one price while continuing to sell existing product at another price. “The more volume of supplies I get, the better the prices are for my customers,” he said. So he’s always

ordering. He just needs more space to put it. In February he will go to the Town of Hempstead Board of Appeals to ask for a parking variance on the additional 1000 feet of space. A distinctive feature of the store is its ability to engrave images or words onto bottles or glasses that turn them into keepsakes, a clear holiday gift idea. “We have an engraving machine on premises that engraves images such as hearts, names, dates or sayings onto any bottle or any size glass, including wine glasses or even shot glasses,” Pascual said. Ace’s Wines and Spirits has also been the location of two film shoots. “Louis CK has shot a scene from his sitcom in this store,” Pascual noted. The store was also included in a scene from the 2014 TV series “Bridge and Tunnel.” Joe Pacual wishes everyone a happy and healthy Holiday season! - DOUGLAS FINLAY

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HOLIDAY CONCERT

№3 Vol.3 | December 2015

Brotherhood Thanksgiving Concert Filled the Hall with Holiday Song By Richard and Rita Gilley

n air of harmony and anticipation filled the Calhoun High School auditorium last month, dispelling any dissonant news of the day, as glorious voices young and old provided inspiring songs during the annual Brotherhood Thanksgiving concert. The themes of peace and gratitude were expressed during opening remarks that welcomed the Senior Citizen Coalition, and the Merrick Avenue Middle School and Grand Avenue Middle School choirs in their first-ever appearances to the Brotherhood Thanksgiving Concert. The Invocation, by Fran Guercio, continued the theme of peace and harmony among men. Temple Beth Am Choir, combining with the Beit Shalom Seventh Day Adventist choir of Manhasset and directed by Dan Rosenfeld, commenced the concert in song with Handel’s “Thanks be to Thee,” and continued with a rousing “Hallelujah.” The audience loved it.

The MAMS’ Word Of Mouth singers, under Dana Brandwein’s dynamic direction, sang “Save The World” and “Don’t You Worry Child.” The audience, with well over 100 in attendance, broke into cheers and applause - and a standing ovation! Sagacious remarks about the days of Merrick gone by were interpolated among groups by the always ebullient Brotherhood Council Co-President Larry Garfinkel. Adding a secular sense of optimism to the show, the Merrick Chorale, under Director Richard Gilley Sr., performed “Oh’ What a Beautiful Mornin’ ” and other songs from Oklahoma. Emily Knobowski offered comedic touches to the ballad “I Can’t Say No.” Spontaneous applause broke out the moment she finished the tune. The Cure of Ars Youth Choir, directed by Sean Cotty, offered a moment of ethereal beauty as the group sang Mendelssohn’s soaring trio [CONT. ON PAGE 12]

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HOLIDAY CONCERT

December 2015 | Vol.3 №3

Brotherhood Thanksgiving Concert Filled the Hall with Holiday Song [CONT. FROM PAGE 11]

“Lift Thine Eyes”(from Elijah). Scintillating sounds of bells by the Merrick Ringers from Sacred Heart Church were led by Carol Ng. Their rendition of the Shaker tune “Simple Gifts” reverberated acoustically throughout the room. The Grand Voices of GAMS, directed with energy by Amanda Cantwell, offered a lyrical rendition of “At Last,” a favorite that evoked memories of yesteryear for many. How sweet it was when the audience responded with cheers, applause and another standing ovation. Sacred Heart Choir, along with Director Patricia Ryan’s solo, dedicated the inspiring song “Stand By Me” to the recent victims of terrorism in France.

Finally, the moment the audience had waited for: the finale, with Choral Director Sanford Sardo’s impressive Calhoun Choir. We knew we were in store for a treasured treat. The performance of the spiritual “Ride the Chariot,” with its upbeat tempo, was a fitting song to the day’s vocal offerings. The concert choir sang this favorite song with zest and effervescent joy. Another standing ovation was heard and the choir was great.

The choir ended on a slightly offbeat, if modern, note, singing the rock song “Stairway to Heaven” and swaying in unison to the ending stanzas, all to the glee of the younger crowd in the audience.

The concert wrapped with the announcement that monies collected that day would be given to Island Harvest to help with hunger relief on Long Island. Before leaving, the entire au-

dience joined in with “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” Cantor Dan Rosenfeld offered a timely benediction. Rita Gilley is Co-President of the Brotherhood Council, and Richard Gilley is a board member.

How GAMS and MAMS Choirs Made the Billing

by Sanford Sardo

hen I began my teaching career in the Bellmore-Merrick CHSD in 1993, I was what is called a “split teacher”. Until the late 1990s, I began my day at Calhoun High School and ended it at what was then called Grand Avenue Junior High School. One of the things that I remember from those first few years was how different teaching middle school is compared to teaching high school. So I greatly appreciate the important events that occurred in Bellmore-Merrick in 2002, when Merrick Avenue Middle School welcomed Dana Brandwein as its choral director, and then in 2007, when

Grand Avenue Middle School welcomed Amanda Cantwell as its choral director. Under Ms. Brandwein’s and Ms. Cantwell’s leadership, I have watched the two middle school choral programs flourish beyond my imagination. Anyone who has been lucky enough to attend a concert at either middle school has witnessed firsthand the contagious excitement for music that these two music teachers pass onto their students. The young singers, in turn, pass that energy and excitement along to the audience, with their incredible musical performances. As wonderful as the choruses at both schools are, the shining jewels of the middle school cho-

ral programs are the extra-curricular ensembles, Merrick Avenue’s Word of Mouth and Grand Avenue’s Grand Voices. These young singers rehearse outside of the school day to perfect their sound, and perfect it they do! Both groups performed for the first time at this past November’s Merrick Thanksgiving Festival of Music at Calhoun High School. Their addition to the already stellar program of choral and bell choirs from throughout the Merrick community raised the concert a whole new level. One of the first things I notice when watching Word of Mouth and Grand Voices perform is how their larger-than-life stage presence translates to a mature,

balanced, energized vocal sound. The two ensembles don’t sound like middle school singers; the performances that they give are simply jaw-dropping. They are clearly enjoying the act of performing for an audience, and one can’t help but enjoy watching them. It is for precisely these reasons that I recommended them to the Merrick Brotherhood Council to be invited to participate in this year’s concert. As the newest member of the council, I’d like to thank both groups for sharing their amazing vocal talents with the audience. We were thrilled to have you join us, and you were absolutely deserving of the standing ovations that you received.

For years, I have said that Ms. Brandwein and Ms. Cantwell, with their amazing preparation at the middle school level, makes what we do at Calhoun so much easier. And as I am halfway through my 23rd year as a teacher in the wonderful Bellmore-Merrick community, I can not thank them enough for their daily contributions to the students of our district. If you have never had an opportunity to hear Merrick Avenue’s Word of Mouth or Grand Avenue’s Grand Voices, or any of the middle school choruses, you really have been missing out. Make it a point to see them perform today!

№3 Vol.3 | December 2015

Your NewsMag

As the Holiday Season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and on those who have helped us shape our business. We value our relationship with you and look forward to working with you in the year to come.

We wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with Peace and Prosperity Over 100 Homes CI/Uc 2015 Over $56 Million Volume Cl/Uc 2015 Over $17 Million Presently Listed For Sale #1 Team Merrick Office 5 Years in a Row! And a huge «Thank You» to my team of professionals for an amazing 2015 You exceed the expectations of our clients and customers every day! The Louise Pitlake «POWER TEAM»; Your Trusted Advisor For All Things Real Estate! Award Winning Results From An Award Winning Team! We Can Do The Same For You! Call «The Power Team» today And Make Your Move!

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№3 Vol.3 | December 2015

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Christmas Candlelight Evenings at Old Bethpage Restoration

andlelight Evenings will be held at Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Thursday-Sunday, December 17, 18, 19 and 20, from 5-to-9:30 p.m. “I invite all residents to attend the Candlelight Evenings at Old Bethpage Village Restoration and experience an old-fashioned holiday celebration complete with 19th Century holiday decorations, entertainment, and much more,” said County Executive Edward P. Mangano. Candlelight Evenings at OBVR offer a Hallmark card setting of flickering candles inside the Village’s historic homes, along with 19th Century holiday decorations and entertainment, all set within the confines of a rural valley setting. Among the forms of 19th Century

entertainment offered will be music, including a brass quartet and fiddlers playing popular seasonal tunes as well as performers by local schools and organizations, a traditional 1866 decorated Christmas Tree, stories of Christmases past; contra-dancing, and a traditional bonfire. Please note that Old Bethpage Village will be closed during the day from December 17 through the 20 and will open at 5 p.m. for the Candlelight Evenings and Holiday Craft Show event. Additionally, December 20 is the last day OBVR will be open for the season and will re-open in April. For more information call 572-0200, or visit the website at: www.nassaucountyny.gov/parks.

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Pam, 9/28/15 Sean and I just finished spending our first weekend working in our new home, and I couldn’t help but think of you as we shared this much anticipated moment. You definitely helped make this stressful process enjoyable and were there for us 24/7, including holidays! Without your consistent patience and expertise I don’t think we would have ever opened the door to the next chapter of our lives - literally! Century 21 is extremely fortunate to have someone genuine like you. Sean and I really do appreciate all your hard work and dedication to what you do. We can’t wait to pass your name along to our family and friends. Marisa and Sean

CHANUKAH

Your NewsMag

by Rabbi Shimon Kramer

December 2015 | Vol.3 №3

What’s the Big Deal About Chanukah?

e just finished celebrating Chanukah, and you might be wondering, what is the big deal? Sure, the candles, gifts and indulging in deliciously unhealthy fried foods such as donuts and potato latkas are loads of fun, but why the need for public menorahs on Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway? Is it really necessary to make Chanukah parades, go out in car menorahs and make public menorah lightings? We know the story: More than 2000 years ago, a small group of determined Jews fought and won a miraculous victory against the bigger, mightier Greek army, who had sought to eradicate Judaism. When they came back to the vandalized temple, they found only one small jar of oil, enough for just one day, which

Children and adults alike enjoy lighting the Menorah in Merrick miraculously lasted for eight days! Every year since then, we kindle a Menorah for eight days to remember the kindness G-d showed in that time. But the menorah also reminds us that in the battle over darkness and evil, light always wins. It’s up to us to ignite a spark, kindle a flame, and that is what banishes the darkness. Throughout history, numerous forces of darkness have

come and gone, but those who share light have always prevailed. While the world today is filled with plenty of darkness and horror, the message of Chanukah is that sharing light ensures we don’t succumb to it. When we brighten the life of a friend, colleague or family member, we light a candle. When we each light candles, those flames join together to warm and brighten

d i a p e r p f l Gu . s d r a C h Cas

our homes, neighborhood and the entire city. That’s why we make a big deal about Chanukah in Merrick and Bellmore, and why you see the menorahs and Chanukah displays all over the place. The menorah should trigger us to think of someone who could do with some extra warmth and cheer.

Personally, Chanukah takes on additional meaning, as it was the first holiday we celebrated with the Jewish community in Merrick, even before we opened the Chabad Center here. It set the tone for how we would go about our mission of reaching out to everyone in these beautiful towns with warmth, love, tolerance and acceptance. Like the menorah, let us brighten Merrick-Bellmore, one candle of love at a time. Rabbi Kramer is rabbi of Chabad Center for Jewish Life of Bellmore, Merrick and Wantagh.

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№3 Vol.3 | December 2015

ELYSE WHITON Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

Your NewsMag

Wishing you a beautiful Holiday Season and a New Year of Peace and Joy. As always, we thank you for your support.

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CHRISTMAS

№3 Vol.3 | December 2015

by Fr. Mark Genszler

Your NewsMag

Christmas Celebrates the Emanu-El

write this during Advent, a time of preparation for the Feast of the Incarnation, known to our English-speaking culture as Christmas! Advent is a time of preparation, practicing the disciplines of patience and prayer: individuals and religious communities participate in increased charitable giving or acts of self-examination, mercy and forgiveness, practices we share with the Jewish and Muslim traditions at other times of the year. The early church set the observance of Advent during the month of December: the whole earth, itself – at least in the northern hemisphere – waits for the coming lengthening of days after the winter solstice. For Christians in the fourth century as now, this period of waiting and preparation points to one of the central proclamations of our faith: the

ineffable mystery of God -all-compassionate and beyond language – becomes very fleshand-blood. Human. Like us, among us, for us. To borrow a word from our Jewish cousins and understand it in a particular Christian way: Christmas is the season we observe Emanu-El, God-with-us. Advent first makes room for this contemplation. The Christmas season begins on December 25 and lasts 12 days. Meanwhile, amid the consumerism of our culture, we are called to sit still. To ‘prepare the way of the Lord’. One of the primary texts of Advent comes from the Gospel of Luke, where an aged man named Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, by the way!) bursts into song after a long period of silent waiting: “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall

break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” This ‘dawn from on high’ is Jesus, and this coming is a mystery Christians explore year ‘round. At December 25 -- even as we sing ‘Silent Night’ -- we mark the fact that the mystery of the cosmos and

the mystery of human existence overlap and intermingle in a very specific person. Yet, in the second century, St. Irenaeus said that Christmas shows that the glory of God is nothing less than humankind fully alive. This prompts good questions for Christians about how we live with our neighbors near and far, guiding our feet into the way of peace. How shall we be fully alive when my sister is in poverty? How shall we be fully alive when my brother is fleeing violence in his own country and there is no room at the inn here? Christmas understood as the feast of the Incarnation – God among and with us and in us – needs to prompt these questions and actions, or it risks drowning in our own sentimentality. And, the light does dawn. Hope becomes incarnate in

flesh in the world today: yours and mine. At St Francis Church, we are trying to understand this in terms of a vegetable garden that feeds the hungry and restores the earth, a playtime school that welcomes all sorts of energetic 3 and 4 year-olds, and a sustainable building project that will attempt to live carbon-lightly on this good earth. More on these things in the spring! Come join us for Christmas! Meanwhile, our parish’s warm wishes to you: may fellowship, useful action and love be yours. And may our feet be guided together into the way of peace. The Rev Mark Genszler is priestin-charge at St Francis Episcopal Church in North Bellmore, known to long-time residents as St Mark’s Episcopal Church.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Your NewsMag

December 2015 | Vol.3 №3

Merrick Photographer’s Technique a Matter of Subject

is photographs hang at the Maritime Museum in Great Neck, in several Long Island homes, in a local restaurant, at a local gallery on Merrick Road, and his photos sell at the Fire Island Lighthouse. He has won numerous awards, he gives scholarship money away, and he thinks Merrick is the best place he has ever lived - so far. And for photographer Steve Friedman, who also teaches photography, at 70 years old the best may still be to come. He shoots landscapes, cityscapes, rooftops, flowers, geometric structures, ordinary things we all witness and see every day. In a way, he is our photographer, who captures the moments with a camera we see and know, and which we experience in our daily lives. Yet, he sees them differently, viewing the same world around us in many different perspec-

spectives, searching for that one angle that could breathe the clearest truth about it – at that moment. That’s when he will press down on the shutter. “He has a unique interpretation of his subject,” remarked Jay Suh, proprietor of Neo Art and Frame Gallery on Merrick Road in Bellmore. Consigning his photographs, Suh says Friedman’s work is both “surreal and whimsical” in its presentation.

BLACK-PLUS

tives. “I teach my students that when they come upon a subject, look at it. And then, step to the right of it, and then to the left, and then back and then closer, and then from a lower height.” It adds up to studying the subject from several per-

And this is only the formality of taking the photograph. What he does with it afterward, to make the subject “pop” out, has become the matter of his life’s work. “I call it black-plus, in which either the subject is in color, or a surrounding object is in color, which leads to the subject so there is no mistaking what it is,” he told Your NewsMag recently

at his studio. It is not duo-tone, but one simple stark color in a mélange of black-and-white shapes and angles that leads us right to what we anticipate as the subject. Yes, we anticipate the subject, as a Friedman photograph has movement, and we search for its meaning. His iconic Brooklyn Bridge scene is not an average bridge shot, indeed. Taken from the streets below the bridge, we see the bridge, but we see the tenements also, and the trees. The building is bathed in muted color, the bridge glowering tall in black-and-white overshadowing the building structure, so there is no mistaking what we have come to look for in this photograph: the beauty and singular prowess of the Brooklyn Bridge. Calling himself a graphic artist, he talks readily of his early work as a photographer in shooting products. Growing up

in Williamsburg, and then moving to Queens, he studied at Brooklyn College and Hunter College, and eventually found his way to Madison Avenue. He worked for Cooper Tools, Disston Tools and even The Lighthouse for the Blind. “I photographed a lot of housewares and hardware,” he laughed, in which those photos appeared in catalogs, brochures and all manner of pro-

motional material. He also owned a photography shop at Holiday Park Shopping Center when he first lived in Merrick, during the 1970s. →

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№3 Vol.3 | December 2015

PHOTOGRAPHY

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Jane Clifford Lic. Real Estate Salesperson

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He shoots using a Nikon D750, and also walks around the neighborhood with an Olympia Stylus 1, taking photographs of subjects of interest. Equally important to the overall effect of a photograph is the material the image is placed on. He will use metallics and metallic papers if he feels it can further help the subject to “pop” out, he said. “I will also use matte to promote flatness of color, and a semigloss to bring out the colors more.” Enter Anchor Down restaurant on Bayberry Avenue in Merrick and to your right, as you pass through the vestibule, you will see a photo of opening week of the restaurant. It is a Friedman photograph. The sky is dark with blackened

uncertainty, but the colors of the restaurant and immediate surroundings pop out vividly. The photo is on metal, where no frame is needed and the colors on metal bring out the brilliance of the restaurant, the subject, nullifying any uncertainty of the dark sky. “He’s a local photographer, and his photographs are real,” remarked proprietor and chef Steve Rosenbluth, who also hangs three other Friedman photographs in the restaurant. For information on Steve Friedman photographs, you can call his studio at 379-7912, visit his website at photosbysmf.com, or email to him at steve@ photosbysmf.com. - DOUGLAS FINLAY

12 Smith Street, Merrick

Wishing all my Family, Clients and Friends a wonderful Holiday and a Happy Healthy New Year!

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SCHOOLS

Donations Sought for Ambassador Program’s Day of Service

he Ambassador Program, a Central High School District-wide student-led think tank, has organized an upcoming day of service to be completed in conjunction with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday in January. Each grade is assigned specific items that will be collected, organized, packaged and donated to local shelters and other social services. The community is encouraged to donate as well. Grade 7: marble notebooks, pencils Grade 8: folders, crayons Grade 9: winter hats Grade 10: gloves

Created in March Grade 11: children’s 2014, student ambassapajamas dors from all four disGrade 12: adult patrict high schools and jamas two middle schools join On Thursday and together throughout the Friday, January 14 and school year to address 15, students will utiissues impacting the lize their physical edu- Brainstorming about student body and surcation class time to the upcoming day of rounding community. package donated items service event. They work closely with into drawstring bags. teachers and administrators to “This will give us the opportunity achieve district-wide goals, thus for those who wish to volunteer to fostering the One Voice, One Mescome in on [the following] Saturday sage initiative. and travel to these organizations to Photo courtesy of Bellmore-Merrick distribute the items,” said Social StudCentral High School District ies Chairperson Robyn Einbinder.

Birch Students Help Interfaith Nutrition Network

n the Merrick School District, Birch Elementary School students, faculty and administration donated nonperishable food to Interfaith Nutrition Network this holiday season.

Members of the Students Against Destructive Decisions club collected food from classes and packaged the donations in decorated boxes with handmade holiday greeting cards.

The INN is a not-for-profit organization that addresses the issue of hunger and homelessness on Long Island. They provide food, shelter, housing and supportive services to those in need.

December 2015 | Vol.3 №3

Celebration of Life to Memorialize Doug Smestad

oug Smestad, the beloved Calhoun High School teacher who died early in the school year, will be remembered at a Celebration of Life event on Tuesday, December 22, at 6:30 p.m. Calhoun will host the event in the auditorium, where students and staff will share memories and video testimonials of this well-respected and revered man. “He affected every student he taught in a positive way,” said student Lauren LaMagna. A $10 donation will be collected at the door, which will benefit the Doug Smestad Scholarship. All residents are invited to attend this memorial, and to donate to the fund. Calhoun teachers and best friends of Doug Smestad memorialized him in the October issue of Your NewsMag, which can also be found at www. yournewsmag.com/2015/10/24/ in-memoriam-to-calhoun-teacher-douglas-smestad/

№3 Vol.3 | December 2015

Your NewsMag

«Making Clients For Life» Celebrating 20 Years Of Serving The Community In All Their Real Estate Needs

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