Floral Park Village (1/3/25) by Litmor Publishing

THE

GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY

SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR

A Bench for Readers

A bench was recently dedicated at the Floral Park-Bellerose School, in memory Margaret Merle, a treasured and much-loved early educator and administrator from FPBS. Margaret taught kindergarten for many years and supervised the Pre-K program since its inception. The bench was donated by the Jamie & Paige Malone Foundation. Jamie and Paige were former students of FPBS, who were read many wonderful stories at FPBS! It is adjacent to the Little Blue Library, donated by the Hance Foundation. Parents and children can be found enjoying books on Margaret’s bench everyday. Come read a book on Margaret’s bench! Nothing would make Margaret happier!

Town secures a legal victory against congestion pricing

The Town of Hempstead announced a significant legal victory in its battle against New York State’s proposed congestion pricing plan. A federal judge ruled on December 19th that the State's attempt to move the Town's lawsuit to federal court was inappropriate, allowing the case to proceed as originally filed in state court.

“New York State’s attempt to remand our lawsuit to federal court is nothing more than a stall tactic that attempts to run out the clock on 2024 and prohibit hard-working New Yorkers’ from publicly speaking out against this unconstitutional congestion pricing plan,” said Town Supervisor Donald Clavin. “While the Town of Hempstead is working through the holidays to fight back against this tax on Long Island commuters, ‘Governor Grinch’ and her cronies in the MTA are doing everything in their power to silence residents and ram through this legislation.”

During a press conference to announce the win, Clavin was joined by Councilmembers Dennis Dunne, Tom Muscarella, Laura Ryder, and members of the Town’s legal team as they reiterated their opposition to the congestion pricing plan. The Town alleges that the State adopted the policy through a flawed process that failed to comply with legal requirements, including not listing the proposal on the New York State Register and skipping the mandatory 45-day public comment period.

The congestion pricing plan, which had been suspended earlier this year amid bipartisan criticism, was revived shortly after the November election. Town officials speculated that the move might have been aimed at preempting any action by President-elect Donald Trump, who has publicly opposed the measure.

Clavin commented, “In all my years in public service, I have never seen a more blatant disregard for the voices of hard-working New Yorkers, nor a more concerted effort to ignore the rules and laws associated with the democratic process.”

The Town’s legal case centers on allegations that the State’s actions violate both procedural and constitutional laws. Hempstead officials vowed to keep up their legal efforts throughout the holidays, confident that their challenge will ultimately halt what they described as an unfair burden on Long Island commuters.

Updates From the Village of Floral Park

Important Update on Q110 Bus Line

This past week the MTA released its Queens Bus Network Redesign Proposed Final Plan. The Proposed Final Plan has substantially changed from the prior proposal, which would have had the Q110 bus traversing both Tulip Avenue and South Tyson Avenue and terminating at the Floral Park train station. The Final Plan does not have the Q110 entering the Village at all. We are appreciative of the MTA listening to our reasonable arguments as to why the proposal had a number of logistical issues and was not significantly beneficial to any of their customers or our residents.

I would like to thank all of our community members who either wrote letters or spoke at the public hearing (including Deputy Mayor Pombonyo, Village Administrator Bambrick, former Mayor Dominick Longobardi and County Legislator Scott Strauss) in Queens over the summer. I would especially like to thank Trustee Jen Stewart for her leadership and passion from start to finish when we first heard of the proposal in ensuring Floral Park would not be negatively affected by the proposal.

Kevin

M. Fitzgerald Mayor

Board Of Trustees’ Reports

December 17, 2024 Board Meeting

Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald

Four Village Studio- With respect to, Four Village Studio, I’ve had the opportunity to view the award show and some of the competitions are pretty amazing. Most amazing is the quality of work that comes out of 4VS and that is a testament to Jim Green dedication to his work.

Click here for more about the award show

New York State Bar AssociationToday I was notified by the New York State Bar Association that they will honor Village Justice Doug Hayden with the Outstanding Jurist Award. Read More

Holiday Greetings- Lastly, I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year. The next Board Meeting will not be for another 3 weeks on January 7th.

Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo Police Department

In the holiday spirit, our Floral Park Police Department wants us all to celebrate safely. But to keep us safe, everything from friendly reminders to summonses are sometimes necessary.

For your safety, FPPD is continuing to enforce “Block the Box” (blocking intersections) as much as they can, and

education is often the preferred way to correct illegal driving. However, our Officers have issued more than forty summonses for “Blocking the Box” in November and December, to date.

“Blocking the Sidewalk” with a car that doesn’t fit in the driveway is also illegal. Summonses will be issued when pedestrians, especially children walking to school or bus stops, may be forced to walk in the streets because of blocked sidewalks.

Finally, FPPD continues to remind us that they do not want to leave their orange Floral Park Police holiday cards on windshields for Double Parking or parking in Fire Zones. Please be courteous to others and alert for emergencies even when you’re doing quick, but possibly illegal, drop-offs and pick-ups.

Please read more and enjoy our delightful FPPD poetry on the Department’s Facebook page.

Conservation Society (FPCS)

Our award-winning, Best Park and Public Gardens of Nassau County, Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary lives up to its fame and glory every month of the year.

Ornithology expert, bird enthusiast and talented photographer Douglas Cioffe, collaborating with Floral Park Centennial Gardens Facebook page Creator, Ann Moynagh, both of whom are dedicated FPCS Volunteers, posted the following very interesting story and magnificent photos of our Gardens’ recent participation in a national event.

“On behalf of the National Audubon Society, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is held each year around this time. Two volunteers from the Queens CBC were given supervised access to the Gardens on Sunday morning, December 15th, so that the bird count could be conducted there. In total, 18 different species of birds were spotted or heard at the Gardens including: the Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Whitethroated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, and a small Falcon (specific species undetermined).” Please don’t miss this heartwarming story and photos on Ann’s Floral Park Centennial Gardens Facebook page.

The National Audubon Society’s CBC is taking place from December 14th to January 5th. The CBC is the longest running science bird project in the United States and one of two annual bird census events. The other is the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), taking place around the world and in our own Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary from Friday, February 14th to Monday, the 17th. Both Bird Count events yield valuable data about bird

populations, habitats and migration.

FPCS and the Village of Floral Park are honored to participate in worldwide research relating to the birds of our Gardens. Please join us at February’s GBBC and check out this Global Bird Count at birdcount.org Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses

Both the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce and the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce continue to celebrate the holidays in style. We thank both, and the Floral Park Junior Woman’s Club and the Villages of Floral Park and Stewart Manor for presenting this year’s sparkling Tree Lighting Ceremonies and Holiday Festivals. Adding to the merriment have been the Hillcrest Civic Association and their colorful Tree Lighting where Magnolia and Cisney Avenues meet, and the Recreation Center Tree Lighting, adding a bright glow to our Village Park after dark. What joy these holiday festivities and brightly shining lights bring to our families and children!

Special thanks go to all who help to make these Village events so memorable. First, our Villages’ Departments of Public Works. The large snowflakes shining in our business districts raise our holiday spirits, and DPW’s and the Parks Department’s significant preparation work and cleanup have made our celebrations festive. Thanks also to our tireless FPPD Officers who work 24/7, even on the holidays, to keep us safe. To our Fire Department who’s with us during celebrations and emergencies, we thank you. And let’s not forget to thank the staffs of our two Village Halls whose months long preparations make these events run smoothly.

So now, let’s shout out to one and all: Please shop, dine, and celebrate local!

Holiday Greetings!

May the holidays bring God’s blessings, joy and peace to all of our Floral Park families!

Trustee Frank Chiara

Floral Park Library

Here are some announcements for the upcoming holiday hours. The Floral Park Library will be closed on December 24th, Christmas Eve, and December 25th, Christmas Day. The library will be open from 9 AM to 5 PM on December 31st, New Years Eve and will be closed on January 1st, New Years Day.

Check the Library’s website at www. floralparklibrary.org for upcoming programs. Please remember that they fill up fast so register if you’re interested.

Fire Department

Both the Library Staff and the Floral Park Volunteer Fire Department would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a healthy and safe New Year. Holiday Wishes

And for myself and the entire Chiara

family, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and wishing everyone all the best for the upcoming year. May 2025 bring us all peace and happiness throughout the year.

Trustee Jennifer Stewart

End of Year DPW Report

The Highway Department cleaned 125 storm basins, they put down 215 tons of hot asphalt in 60 different locations throughout the Village resolving drainage and road repair issues, and they used 44 tons of asphalt for pot hole repair. A total of 13 roads were repaved in our Village and the Holland Avenue Municipal parking lot was reconstructed and paved.

In the Parks Department lawns were maintained, shrubs and flowers planted and maintained in 20 assorted parks and pocket parks within our Village including Library, Village Hall, and all three firehouses. Flowers and greenery were planted and are constantly maintained at all Village buildings.

In the Sanitation Department, 6,260 tons of household waste was collected in 2024, 900 Tons of bulk rubbish, 500 tons of yard waste, 750 tons of paper and cardboard, and 490 tons of commingled plastics and glass were collected.

In the Tree Department, 500 trees were trimmed, 20 tree emergency calls were responded to during the daytime and nighttime hours, and 50 diseased and dead trees had to be removed. This week, 100 trees have been scheduled for planting.

At Village Hall our Building Maintenance Department has painted the Village Hall bathrooms, installed new carpeting in the Village Hall Offices, and renovated 4 Village Studio. In the Library, new French doors have been installed in the reading room, as was new lighting, a new ceiling and the meeting room has been painted. Additionally, all buildings and offices have been cleaned daily.

Our incredibly talented Village Shop Mechanics performed maintenance and repairs on 100 Village vehicles including Sanitation Trucks, heavy equipment and Police vehicles.

Four Village Studio Four Village Studio garnered three “Nor’easters” at the 2024 “Alliance for Community Media, Northeast Regional Conference and Trade Show”. 4VS representatives were present to accept the acknowledgments at the ACM-NE awards ceremony held this year in Mystic, Connecticut. Eligible programs were mandated to have been produced and first-time cablecast during 2023, and are judged for recognition in a wide variety of categories at this highly competitive annual event. “The Antique Road Test”, from host/producer Walter Gosden, picked up a 2nd Place award for an episode entitled “Cars in Song: Motor See page 6

Hempstead Town plans

5th Annual Mulchfest

The holiday season may be wrapping up, but Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin says there’s plenty of fun to unwrap at the Town’s 5th Annual Mulchfest! This beloved event invites residents to bring their Christmas trees to Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow on Saturday, January 11, to have it shredded down into mulch for personal use. This eco-friendly program ensures that a family’s Christmas tree continues to embrace the season of giving by providing rich nutrients all year long. What’s more, the herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve will also be on the receiving end of some pine gifts, as excess mulch will be donated to the goats as a tasty snack.

“Mulchfest is back for the fifth year in a row and the goats at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve are bleating in excitement,” said Supervisor Clavin. “This holiday tradition sees scores of residents turning their Christmas trees into mulch with each year getting better and better.”

Residents can bring their Christmas trees to Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow on Saturday, January 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parks employees will properly dispose of the trees by shredding them down into mulch for residents to use at their convenience. Residents will also have the option to

forgo a bag of mulch and instead have it fed to eager Town goats. Broken down cardboard will also be accepted and recycled.

Mulch can be utilized for gardening purposes, soil moisture, and a preventative measure towards pesky weeds. The Town of Hempstead Mulchfest will be producing mulch from fresh and properly shredded Christmas Trees to supply residents with organic compost that will provide an ideal environment for gardening. In addition to providing the Town goats with something to munch on, the surplus mulch will be used towards various Town of Hempstead parks for future planting and landscaping plans.

Residents who cannot be in attendance for Mulchfest can drop off Christmas trees at the homeowner disposal area next to Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve at 1600 Merrick Rd., Merrick starting Monday, January 13, through Saturday, January 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The Town of Hempstead proudly stands for greener and environmentally friendly programs,” Clavin said. “Come on down to Vets Park to repurpose your Christmas Tree and receive a free bag of mulch in return. Don’t forget to stop by Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve and share some with the loveable goats!”

FPB School ushers in holidays with musical performances

Floral Park-Bellerose School band students performed holiday tunes for their classmates and teachers on Dec. 20. Photo courtesy of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District

To cap off the week before the holiday break in a festive way, Floral ParkBellerose School sixth grade band students performed throughout the building on Dec. 20.

The student-musicians performed “Jingle Bells,” “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,” “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel,” “Up on the

Housetop” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” led by band teacher Simon MacVicar.

The band began in the lobby and made their way throughout the building, treating their classmates and teachers to the joyful sounds of holiday tunes.

Holy Trinity Pageant: “The Fumbly Bumbly Angels”

On Sunday, December 22, the children of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church performed the Christmas pageant “The Fumbly Bumbly Angels.”

The angels announced the Good News.

FOUR VILLAGE STUDIO

4 V S ~ Optimum Ch.18 & Fios Ch.28 MONDAY, JANUARY 6th & THURSDAY, JANUARY 9th

The Author Corner

Stephanie Larkin

Roberta Samuels ~ Author of “Vanished” & “French Lessons”

Inspiring Stories

Bill Corbett, Jr.

“Tumbleweeds Foundation” ~ Co-Founders John Cavallo & Meagan Kinney

FPFD: Red Alert

Larry King, AEMT & Leigh Tyrrel, Firefighter

“Women In The Fire Service ” ~ Mary Ann Cuite, Toni Warren, & Donna Biglin

Community Spotlight

Incorporated Village of Bellerose

“Bellerose Village: A Centennial Celebration” ~ Resident Testimonials 9:45 PM

Artists & Collectors

National Gallery of Art

“Drawing In Silver & Gold: Leonardo to Jasper Johns”

1 Floral Blvd., Floral Park, NY 11002

Updates From the Village of Floral Park

From page 2

Car Sheet Music”. The program, which entered in the Historical Documentary category, explores the representation of automobiles in popular music from the early 20th century. Walter’s program has been a studio staple since 2011. Another 2nd Place accolade, in the Music & Performance category, was given to host/producer Wes Houston for his program “Wes Houston Presents…”. In the episode, singer-songwriter-guitarist James O’Malley performs a solo set of his original compositions. For nearly a quarter of a century, Wes has showcased hundreds of local and regional musicians at Four Village Studio. The final 2nd Place prize went to producers James Green & Francis Brandt for their contributions to an episode of “Community Spotlight” in the category Profile Talk Show. Entitled “A Great, Grand, Mother’s Day: Celebrating the Mothers of the Greatest Generation”, the program combines the efforts of two different generations of 4VS staff members. Uniquely bridging the studio’s 25-year history, the show combines interviews from the year 2000 with post-production work completed in 2023 to tell a heartwarming display about motherhood.

My family and I wish all residents a Merry Christmas and all wonderful things in 2025.

Trustee Michael Longobardi Building Department

The major projects in town continue to progress very well with no issues. Construction is ongoing at the apartment building at 1 Carnation Avenue, at the proposed restaurant at 99 Covert Avenue, the re-construction of 266 Jericho Turnpike, and at the Covert Avenue Fire property. Repairs and renovations continue at 212 Jericho Turnpike, the old Firestone building. There was a special use public hearing earlier this evening to discuss the application for a proposed auto body shop at the rear of the building. There are no further updates or meetings scheduled regarding the proposal for a large-scale mixed-use development project located at 144-162 Jericho Turnpike. Information will be shared and dates will be announced when the meetings are scheduled. The Building Department will be closed on Christmas and New Years Day, and will close at noon on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Pool and Recreation

The Recreation Center joined in the

holiday celebrations this past Friday with the annual recreation center tree lighting. It was a great night with music, entertainment, refreshments, snacks, and a visit from Santa. Thank you to Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt and the entire recreation center staff for all their hard work decorating the center and preparing for a festive evening.

Thank you to JJ Dance Studio and The Dance Place Singers for entertaining us and to all our residents who came out to help make it a fun evening.

There are seven days left to our great Holiday Season pool membership sale. Purchase a pool membership for 2025 at 2024 pricing. They make great stocking stuffers and gifts for family and friends in town. They are available at the pool building until December 23rd, Monday through Thursday 9 AM to 6:30 PM, and Fridays 9 AM to 4 PM.

Recreation Session II registration will start Wednesday, January 8th. Senior registration, for senior classes only, will be 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Registration for all classes will be 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Registration is open and ongoing after that. A current resident leisure pass or 2024 pool pass is required to register. Applications available at the pool building, shelter house, and online at village web site. Registration is now open for the 2025 Floral Park Little League Spring Baseball and Softball leagues. There is an early bird discount until December 25th, plus 4and 5-year-olds are free. For information and to register, please visit www. FloralParkLittleLeague.com.

Recreation Center holidays hours are 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)

There is no scheduled meeting in December. The next meeting will be on Monday, January 27, 2025 at the Hempstead Town Hall, One Washington Street, Hempstead. If you want to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You can also go to our Village website which has the links under the TVASNAC noise complaint contact information page on our home page.

My Family and I would like to wish all our residents and friends, as well as my fellow Board Members, and our amazing Village departments and administrative offices, a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a happy, healthy, and safe New Year.

January Events at the Floral Park Library

“The new year stands before us like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written…” – Melody Beattie

The Floral Park Public Library wishes all of its patrons, presenters, and neighbors a year full of good health and good reads!

Programs for Adults

Adult programs on the January calendar include: for tasting, Winter Soups and Breads with Chef Barbara. For planning, The Truth About Reverse Mortgages, and the Basics of Medicare. For fun, first time presenter Judith Caseley brings her love of mosaics to an Adult Intro to Mosaics program. For learning, the Empire Safety Council Defensive Driving program happens on January 16 (registration is open), and there’s two more sessions of English Language Learning with Vianna Calderon.

Hybrid Chair Yoga

Hybrid Chair Yoga with Micheline is back Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. for all of 2025.

Urban Explorers

The popular Floral Park Library Urban Explorers head to Astoria’s Museum of the Moving Image in the historic space of the former Astoria Studios.

Programs for Children and Teens

Teens can expect a P[ART]y Art program, and a “TBA” pop up for a January surprise.

The kiddos and their parents and caregivers can choose: Play Hooray, A Time for Kids Baby Start and Family Pre-School Hour; P[art]y Art programs for Pre-K thru 1st grade, and 2nd thru 5th grade; Crafts with the Pom Queen (grades 3–5); two Creatology Kidz programs (grades 2–5); StoryCraft (PreK –2); Building Fun for the grades 2 thru 5; and a three-session LI Chess Nuts program for those 2nd through 5th graders. And what would a month be without a Chef of d’Future session with Chef Julie (PreK–2)?

Book Club Meetings

The Friends of the Library Book Club meets Monday, January 6, at 10:15 a.m. On tap for the Evening Edition Book Club’s Thursday, January 9, 7:00 p.m. discussion is “The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann. Both groups meet in the main level Community Meeting Room.

Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting

The Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting groups meet Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. No registration necessary; no formal instruction provided. New members always welcome.

Board Meeting

The Library Board of Trustees meets at 7:30 p.m. on January 15.

Tech Support

One-to-one tech help with Joe for tablets, smartphones, laptops and Kindles is available for our Floral Park patrons by appointment only (floralparktechhelp@gmail.com).

Book Nook

Call the Library (516 326-6330) to check days and times for the Book Nook. All sales of books, DVDs, etc. support the Friends of the Floral Park Library, a 501c3 organization. The Friends have added handmade knit hats and mittens for sale this winter, too.

General information

For more information on dates and times, events registration and program details, visit the library website, floralparklibrary.org, call 516 326-6330, or visit us at 17 Caroline Place. All events and programs are subject to change and/or cancellation. The Library is closed on Wednesday, January 1, for New Year’s Day, and on Monday, January 20, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Follow the Library on Facebook (floralparklibrary), Twitter (@fplibrary17), or Instagram (fplibrary, 17, floralparkchildrens, fpplteens).

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Beyond the Biggies, New York State Has an Embarrassment of Riches When it Comes to Ski Areas

New York State has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to skiing. Besides the worldclass Olympic Regional Development Authority ski areas of Whiteface (and all the Olympic sports facilities in Lake Placid), Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks and Belleayre Mountain in the Catskills, there are some 50 other areas throughout the state – in fact, the most ski areas of any state.

There are ski destinations that are big, incredibly popular and iconic like Hunter Mountain (now part of Vail Resorts and the Epic Pass) and Windham Mountain Club (which offers a membership-style experience), to areas that provide a very intimate, classic experience with great affordability, ideal for families and beginners.

Hunter Mountain

Adds Two Lifts

Hunter Mountain, an iconic Catskills ski resort which opened 65 years ago and is now part of Vail Resorts (so one of the Epic Pass resorts), celebrated a major milestone with two new lifts: Broadway Express: a new high-speed, 6-person chair replaced the existing 4-person fixed-grip Broadway Lift and reduces wait times at one of the mountain’s most popular lifts while increasing uphill capacity by 55%; Otis Quad: the existing 4-person fixed-grip Broadway Lift replaced the 2-person fixed-grip E lift, increasing uphill capacity giving more time to learn

new skills and explore terrain.

Vail Resorts’ investment also added new state-of-the-art automated snowmaking systems on three classic and beloved trails, Belt Parkway, Clair’s Way, and Way Out, accelerating the resort’s ability to open terrain earlier in the season, disperse skier traffic, provide greater efficiency to rebuild snow bases later in the season and allow for better connection of Hunter North and Hunter West more directly and earlier in the season.

Hunter’s summit is at 3,200 ft, from a base of 1,600 ft, for a vertical of 1,600 feet. It offers 320 skiable acres and four terrain parks – 67 trails of which 25% are beginner, 30% are intermediate and 45% are advanced - accessed by 13 lifts. There

is also tubing.

Save up to 15% when you bundle lift tickets & lodging.Lodging spans the old-age charm of the Kaatskill Mountain Club & Spa to family-friendly slopeside condos (huntermtn.com, 518-263-4223)

Windham Mountain Club

Windham Mountain Club has reorganized as a membership club (actually returning to its roots) but is still open to the public – all skiers benefiting from minimal lift lines and uncrowded slopes because of the capacity limits on daily lift tickets and season passes. (The reorganized Windham Mountain Club also is continuing its longstanding partnership with the Adaptive Sports Foundation.)

Set amid 1,200 pristine alpine acres (so plenty of room to roam), Windham Mountain Club has continued to add improvements for the 24/25 season following last year’s transformative rebranding and investments, continuing to reimagine the mountain as a worldclass, year-round destination and New York’s premier public-private mountain resort and membership club.

This season there are more enhancements to snowmaking including automating two of their trails, “Why Not?” and “What’s Next?” with 47 new snow guns on the “Why Not?” trail and 18 rebuilt and refurbished fan guns on “Warmup”. The resort also upgraded their groomers with SNOWsat LiDAR technology.

Windham has a vertical rise of 1,600 to its summit at 3,100 ft. Its 54 trails and six terrain parks on 285 skiable acres range from 300 to 12,500 feet long, accessed by 11 lifts including a high-speed six-passenger, 3 high-speed quads, 1 triple, 1 double, 5 surface (97% snowmaking). But the best thing about Windham is that you really feel like it is a private club (which is how Windham began).

Windham Mountain Club members-only benefits include: use of a state-of-the-art fitness center and a Spa and Wellness facility; a dedicated adventure concierge for personalized outdoor experiences, including year-round guided hikes and memorable summer activities such as guided horseback riding, fly fishing, and a clay shooting range are available for members;

on next page

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

New York State Has an Embarrassment of Riches When it Comes to Ski Areas

Continued from previous page

and members-only dining options such as “Cin Cin!” which is an Italian Alpsinspired mid-mountain restaurant, and the Windham Grill.

Book a two-night stay at the Winwood Inn and receive a complimentary third night. Accommodations at the Winwood Inn and Condos also include access to reduced ticket rates, every day of the season (www.windhammountainclub. com/ski-and-stay-package, windhammountainclub.com)

More Catskill Gems

Thunder Ridge Ski Area is really geared for families – from the ease of access, ease of reserving lift tickets, rentals, lessons (book online, since walk-ins are only accommodated if the mountain has not reached capacity), serious snowmaking and night skiing. ThunderRidge offers private lessons from age 4, family private lessons, group lessons, Mommy/Daddy & Me, and race teams. Open Monday-Friday, 10 am -9 pm, Saturday, 9-9 pm, Sunday 9 am to 5 pm. just 60 minutes from NYC, you can even take Metro North (so hop on after work) and take advantage of free shuttle service to and from the Patterson train station, (137 Birch Hill Rd & Rte 22, Patterson, 845-878-4100, ThunderRidgeski.com.)

West Mountain, Queensbury: An ski and outdoor activities year-round community with a family-friendly atmosphere (“True to our roots since 1961!”), West Mountain offers an authentic upstate experience on the mountain. Nestled at the foot of the Adirondack , it is conveniently located off I-87. Familyowned and operated, West Mountain continues to evolve to meet the needs of families as well as skiing and riding loyalists and year-round outdoor enthusiasts. (westmountain.com)

Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Cortland, celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2024, has invested $1 million in ski area improvements

including new snowmaking equipment that enables the resort to cover the equivalent of 16.5 football fields with a foot of snow in a 24-hour period. They also upgraded the Chair 1 lift, trail lighting, and purchased new rental equipment. This season, Greek Peak made lift improvements and widened the Castor Connection trail for safer merging. The ski area installed new hand ticket scanners to complement its online purchasing portal (it is now cashless resort), so you can just head straight to the lift when arriving (greekpeak.net)

Holiday Mountain, Monticello

New owners have invested millions of dollars in renovations and upgrades including expanding snowmaking to trails that had not had snowmaking before, re-opening dormant trails, renovating and upgrading their chairlifts as well as updating the base lodge. This year, Holiday Mountain is benefitting from $5MM in improvements and upgrades: 3 new trails (one, Hackledam, is now the steepest in the Catskills) and a new race trail with Giant Slalom races and timing; updated learning center for “terrain-based learning;” and a newly rebuilt quad chair 2,700 feet long. They installed lights on the three new trails and replaced other lights to expand night skiing. They have also greatly enhanced the snow experience with improved snowmaking and grooming. They also installed thrree miles of fiberoptic cable, electrical upgrades and improved parking areas. (skiholidaymtn.com)

Plattekill Mountain opened a new intermediate new trail, “Whiskeys Way,” for a total of 41 ski trails. Snowmaking and grooming are improved with 13 new snowguns, 3,500 feet of new snowmaking pipe and a new winch cat for snow grooming. Plattekill has partnered with 37 mountains for free and discounted tickets with the purchase of Plattekill Mountain season pass which also includes “Platty Perks” for discounts at local businesses. Their

season pass includes new “Buddy Passes” for passholders to bring a friend on non-holiday Friday and Sunday for 50% off the friend’s ticket. Plattekill also installed new electric vehicle charging stations. (plattekill.com)

Adirondacks’

Uncrowded, Affordable Hidden Gems

One of the best-kept secrets in upstate New York is that the Adirondack Mountains have a handful of hidden gem ski resorts ideal for novice to expert skiers, including two ski areas that offer free skiing.

Oak Mountain, Speculator: This quaint ski area – popular with families since 1948 though a new discovery for us – offers 22 trails (snowmaking on 40%; longest run is 7,920 ft.), a 650-foot vertical from base (1,750 feet) to summit (2,400 feet), and four lifts (quad, two T-bars and a surface lift). Lift tickets to Oak Mountain are very reasonable. Full-day tickets are $44, four-hour tickets are $37, and two-hour tickets are only $30. (Capacity is limited, and lift tickets, rentals and lessons must be booked in advance online.) In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, Oak features four lanes of snow tubing and miles of snowshoeing trails that take you through a majestic forest. Oak Mountain is a three-season resort (518548-3606, www.oakmountainski.com)

Among the nearby lodges is Lorca ADK, recently renovated from a historic motel to accommodate stays yearround. Lorca ADK is a classic drivein lodge, reimagined as a self-check property for the contemporary traveler. Lorca ADK is about 20 minutes from Oak Mountain, and about 30 minutes from Gore Mountain Resort. (Lorca ADK, Sabael, NY, 518-300-3916, hello@ thelorca.com, thelorca.com/adk)

McCauley Mountain, Old Forge: A charming resort near the Adirondack wilderness. Get a great night’s sleep at the Adirondack Lodge Old Forge, stop by Keyes’ Pancake House for breakfast and Tony Harper’s Pizza and Clam

Strong Bones, Healthy Life

BY CHARLYN FARGO

My friend Joyce fell recently and broke her ankle. After surgery, she’s couchbound for a while as her ankle can’t bear weight. A similar thing happened to my friend Marybeth.

We all want healthy bones, and most of us know that healthy bones require adequate calcium. It’s true that dairy foods generally deliver the highest amounts of calcium per serving. But there are other foods to include in your diet as well, like tofu, bok choy, kale, broccoli and calcium-fortified orange juice.

Calcium as we age is just as important as calcium for our kids. It’s true that for most people the bone-building years end somewhere between age 25 and 30. After that peak is reached, bone mass is generally stable until age 50, when a steady decline begins, according to researchers at Tufts University in Boston. But there’s still plenty we can do to preserve our bones. Keeping active, eating a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting alcohol consumption are all ways to slow down bone loss and prevent osteoporosis.

All exercise is good for bone health,

Shack for lunch/dinner. (mccauleyny. com)

Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center

Saranac Lake: A welcoming community ski hill with night skiing and tubing, with half-day weekend ski passes available for $15. Kick off your boots at Traverse Lodge or Hotel Saranac, and enjoy dinner at nearby Bitters & Bones. (https://www.saranaclakeny.gov/)

Titus Mountain (Malone): A familyfriendly ski gem a short drive from Plattsburgh, Lake Placid, Watertown and Northern Vermont, with terrain for all levels. Check out the rustic cabins at Deer Valley Trails (and stay for dinner) and stop by The Pines Tap & Table for evening revelry. (www.titusmountain. com)

Ski Free at Two Bonus Ski Areas

Newcomb Ski Slope is an ultralocal and community-owned ski hill that offers free skiing. For the last 50 years, the Town of Newcomb has owned and operated this two-run ski slope, where generations have learned to ski. The hill also boasts a trail through the adjacent woods along its 200 vertical feet. At this low-elevation summit, skiers are treated to a view of the snowy High Peaks. (www.newcomb7.bar-z.com)

Indian Lake Ski Hill (https:// indianlakeadk.com/) also offers free skiing, with the local feel and charm of a community-owned establishment. The recreation area comprises a small hill, two ski trails, a t-bar lift and even ice skating. It is just down the road from Lorca Adirondacks at Indian Lake (thelorca.com/adk).

ISKINY online at www.iskiny.com is a hub for snow reports, openings, news and program information for ski mountains throughout New York State, including a map.

especially weight-bearing activity. New research finds that all types of physical activity (swimming, yoga, tai chi, dancing, walking) are beneficial. A study, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, found that a 12-minute regimen of 12 yoga poses designed to target common fracture sites (spine, hip and femur) increased participants’ bone density when practiced daily over a 10-year period.

Should you take a calcium supplement? If you don’t get enough calcium,

on page 5

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

What’s great about this season of Winter

The cold winter months are here and Long Island is transformed into a winter wonderland. I’ve given some thought as to what I like about this season - the season of bundling up in parkas and wearing the hats, gloves and scarves I pulled out just recently. What makes winter magical:

Cooking Pots of Beef Stew

I find cooking great, big pots of beef stew during the cold winter months is the perfect time to give my family something nourishing and tasty. The hot pots warm the kitchen and it smells great when the stew gets going on the stove. There’s no perfectly right or wrong way to make beef stew. Whatever works best for you and your family is fine. I usually make beef stew for my family the way my mother and grandmothers did before me. Browning the meat in the pot, I then add some water or beef broth and an array of vegetables. Potatoes, carrots, onions, peas and celery, all sliced or chopped, are good. I’ll often substitute green beans for the peas so I use whatever I happen to have on hand. I skip the garlic but some people like to add it. Bay leaves and thyme are also optional. Adding some black pepper, a dash of salt and a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, I keep the lid on the pot, let it simmer for hours and stir the stew every so often. To thicken the gravy, I add some flour and stir well. The perfect beef stew gravy should be thicker than soup and flavorful but it shouldn’t be so thick that it has to be eaten with a fork. I place a bowl of biscuits or corn bread on the table and people dig in. I’ve gotten many compliments over the years on my beef stew and I’m proud of that because it means I’ve provided a delicious meal, one that is hot on cold or snowy days and one that, as my grandma used to say, sticks to the ribs. It’s a filling meal and every time I dig into it, I’m reminded of just how tasty beef stew can be.

Watching the Grammy Awards

Each winter we get to see the Grammy Awards on TV and what I like about the show is they highlight those singers, songwriters and musicians who have been around a long time and those who are new on the scene. The Grammys on Feb. 4, 2024, featured Joni Mitchell singing her song, “Both Sides, Now” which came out in 1969 and seeing the Canadian native perform it live at the Grammys was fantastic. During the 2023 Grammys newcomer Madison Cunningham was surprised and delighted to win a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album titled “Revealer.” Cunningham was 26 years old when she won that award. Born in Escondido, Calif., Cunningham grew up in Costa Mesa with her four sisters. Her father was the pastor in a local church and as a child Madison Cunningham performed her music in church. Home schooled from kindergarten through 12th grade, Cunningham was playing guitar and writing songs at seven, experimenting with alternate guitar chords at 15. She planned on going to college but she met musician and producer Tyler Chester whom she credits with putting her on the path to a music career. Chester invited her to go to Los Angeles and start the hard work of writing songs, playing music and recording. He told her, “Just get up here and meet all my friends and all these people you should know.” Cunningham still lives in Los Angeles and in the music industry she’s a triple talent: a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Cunningham sees herself as a songwriter first, guitar player second and vocalist third but however she does it, she’s got some new and different songs. It’s nice seeing new artists on the stage and each winter I wonder what

surprises the Grammy Awards will bring. What’s great about the young singers and musicians is they represent a whole new generation in the world of music.

Ice Skating Adventures

Hunkering down for the cold winter months, I like hearing my friends’ stories about their childhood adventures. My friend, Kelly, recently told me about her visits to Crescent Lake. It’s in Enfield, Ct., which is where she grew up. That lake is in Hartford County which is about as far north in Connecticut as you can get. Kelly said her friend, Amy, had an aunt and uncle who had a house right on Crescent Lake. It was a beautiful house on Lake Drive overlooking the northern part of the lake. Amy’s mother would drive them plus whatever siblings were around on a given day to visit their relatives and the kids were allowed to ice skate on Crescent Lake during the winter months when

the ice was solid. A green flag would be posted meaning it’s safe to skate. The entire state of Connecticut gets cold in December and usually stays cold until early April. Then it takes a few weeks for the lake to thaw out. Kelly and Amy, who were 11 at the time, tied the laces on their ice skates and went skating around Crescent Lake. With all of their gliding and twirling Kelly, Amy and the siblings lost track of time. When it got too cool or they got tired of ice skating they headed back to the relatives’ house to drink some cups of hot chocolate topped with mini marshmallows. Amy’s Aunt Sally graciously set out a plate of chocolate chip cookies and they had a nice snack while chatting about their ice-skating adventures. They laughed when Amy said her brother Billy, 12, showed off by skating backwards - a feat she didn’t know he could do since no one had taught him that trick. By 5 p.m. Amy’s mom asked them to get in the car so they could head home and she could start cooking dinner. Kelly didn’t have a chance to go to Crescent Lake on day trips very often but she’s got some fantastic memories of her visits there.

The Social Security Fairness Act: A $200 Billion Boondoggle

BY TOM MARGENAU

Congress just passed a law that will give me (and millions of people like me) extra Social Security benefits that we simply do not deserve and haven’t earned.

To understand what is going on, here is a quick history lesson: The original Social Security Act included unintentional and overly generous benefits for government employees. These were benefits that no other Americans could get. About 50 years ago, a more responsible Congress recognized this and created two laws to correct this mistake. The Windfall Elimination Provision said that Social Security retirement benefits for government employees should be figured the same way as those for all other senior citizens. The Government Pension Offset law said that government pensions should offset any Social Security spousal benefits potentially due, just as Social Security retirement benefits have always offset those same spousal benefits.

But now, bowing to relentless pressure from government employee unions and advocacy groups, a more naive and vote-seeking Congress has repealed WEP and GPO. So once again, government retirees like me will get overly generous Social Security benefits that no other senior citizens in the country are eligible for. And by so doing, they have put a $200 billion hole in an already rapidly deflating Social Security budget balloon.

To explain why repealing WEP and GPO is a wrongheaded boondoggle, I will use myself as an example. But first, you need to know a basic tenet of Social Security: Benefits have always been skewed to give lower-paid workers a better deal than their more highly paid counterparts. Very low-paid workers could get a Social Security benefit that represents up to 90% of their preretirement earnings. This percentage is known as a “replacement rate.” People with average incomes (the middle class) generally get a 40% replacement rate.

So now back to me. I spent the bulk of my career working for the federal government. While working as a fed, I paid into the Civil Service Retirement System, not Social Security. (Things have changed since I was hired in the early 1970s; all federal employees hired after 1984 pay into Social Security.) But I also did pay into Social Security at a few jobs I had in high school and college and at other jobs I’ve had since I retired from federal government work. I have about 15 years of earnings that were covered by Social Security.

So when the Social Security computers looked at my record when I applied for Social Security benefits, they assumed I must be poor. After all, I had all those years with no earnings. That record didn’t show that I actually was working all that time for the government and earning a civil service retirement pension.

And because the Social Security system thought I was poor, it was pro-

grammed to give me that 90% poor person’s benefit rate. In other words, I would have been getting an undeserved windfall from Social Security. And that’s where the “Windfall Elimination Act” came in. It correctly recognized that I wasn’t poor, and it gave me the same 40% rate all other average income Americans get.

And it did the same for all other workers who spent the bulk of their careers in jobs not covered by Social Security. These are primarily teachers, police officers and firefighters in certain states. (Why those groups don’t pay into Social Security is the subject for another column.)

For the past half-century, union officials representing these groups have been pressuring Congress to eliminate WEP because they wrongly think the law cheats their members out of Social Security benefits they are due. And in each of those years, a bill to eliminate WEP has failed to get approved. But in this wacky political year, things were different. So even though almost all of you reading this column are getting the proper 40% Social Security benefit rate, Congress has now decided to eliminate WEP to give me (and all those other government employees like me) the 90% rate -- boosting our Social Security checks by a couple hundred extra bucks per month. What a sham and what a shame!

But it gets even worse. As I said, the other law that the misnamed “Fairness Act” eliminated is called the Government Pension Offset, or GPO.

To explain what is going on here, I will once again use myself as an example. Before the GPO law came into effect, I would have been able to get my government pension retirement check AND I would have been due a “dependent” husband’s benefit on my wife’s Social Security record. Why? Because of those Social Security computers that think I’m a poor old guy with just a small Social Security check. So I was deemed financially dependent on my wife and granted spousal benefits on her Social Security record. But the GPO law came along and recognized I worked for the government and get a civil service pension check. And just like a Social Security retirement check offsets any spousal benefits that might be due, my civil service pension check would also offset those potential dependent benefits.

But by eliminating GPO, Congress is giving me (and all those millions of other government pensioners) unintended benefits from our spouses. Think about that. Almost all of you reading this column cannot collect your own Social Security retirement check and at the same time, get some extra benefits from your spouse’s account. But now I and other government pensioners will do just that.

And so if you believe that repealing WEP and GPO makes sense, write your member of Congress and tell him or her you think the “Social Security Fairness Act” was a great idea. But if you don’t

think it’s fair, then write your member of Congress and say, “Shame on you! I thought you were supposed to be saving Social Security, not squandering its funds on greedy government retirees!”

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and

Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.

Have you seen the news reports lately about Florida? If not, stay tuned, and continue reading. It may be old news, but do you remember what happened in Surfside, Florida on June 24, 2021? I will let you know at the end of my column.

Besides New York and California, Florida appears to be losing its appeal for sun worshipers when retiring would flock to the “Sunshine State” due to its’ warm climate and sunny days. However, climate change, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods, have greatly impacted many coastal areas in the U.S. especially Florida. Those events have devastated the state in 2024.

Did you know that cyclones have hit the region and resulted in over 10,000 deaths, and most had resulted prior to the hurricane hunter flights in 1943?

More devastating is the total cumulative damage costs of over 300 billion dollars ( based on 2018 dollars). This is only based on damage from Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Ian in the 1992, 2017 and 2022 seasons respectively!

Just this year, Hurricane Milton came on shore in Siesta Key, Sarasota County, where it brought at least a 10 foot storm surge and ferocious winds and tornadoes that accompanied the storm. It destroyed and left in ruins Orlando, Tampa, Saint John andd throughout Hillsborough County. Even Palm Beach, Broward, St. Lucie and Brevard counties were hit badly and 100 tornado warnings were issued as Hurricane Milton hovered over the state.

More critical it tore off the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa bay Rays, Florida’s Major League baseball team. At that time 29% of the state had no power and 50,000 linemen from as far west as California travelled to assist in restoring the energy grid.

The damage from Hurricane Helene and Milton is calculated to be in the

Florida, are you kidding me?

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

billions; and the total cost is still being tallied. All these disasters are raising and in most cases doubling and tripling home and building owners costs. This will continue to be a burden for the majority of those living in the effected locations. Due to these catastrophic events it has caused an exodus out of Florida. Moreover, prices have been plummeting and this is mainly due to the overall excessive cost of homeowner insurance, increased common charges and assessments by the condo associations.

of the people moved due to worsening weather and climate change. Population declined in 17 states in 2021, according to a yearly report from the Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50 project. This was intensified by Covid-19 deaths and continued restrictions from immigration. More info here: https://www. worldpopulationview.com

ry. (en.m.wikipedia.org).

So plan ahead to ascertain and determine where you want to move to whether retiring or relocating as your decision will have either a positive or a devastating effect; so do your due diligence, homework and research and take your time.

I hope all my family, friends, business associates and current and future clients enjoyed a healthy, happy, fun, and relaxing Christmas and the best of the holiday season

Continued from page 2

it’s a good safety net. Be aware that your body can only absorb 500 milligrams at a time, so choose a supplement that stays under that level. There have been news articles that supplements can cause kidney stones. However, most of the kidney stone data comes from the 2006 Women’s Health Initiative trial where study participants were taking as much as 1,200 milligrams per day from supplements alone,

Most important, are the new inspection laws passed in 2022, covering all of Florida, whereby condo associations have 9 days, from the writing of my column, to submit inspection reports for their buildings and to collect additional money to pay for any needed and required repairs. Condo owners are reporting that new condo rules are resulting in magnifying and increasing fees and influencing shocking assessments! Moreover, the financial burden on retirees have been monumental and devasting, causing many to leave and others now considering selling and getting out. This is having a direct impact and effect on prices and sales, as inventory has been skyrocketing. I have several friends that had their insurance costs quadruple from $9500 to over $30,000 per year! Many insurance companies are exiting the state due to the humongous loses that they have been experiencing.

However, United Van Lines did a study this year. Prior to the hurricanes, employment was the number 1 reason in the last 3 years why people moved between states with a third citing and admiting it was the main reason. 32% moved due to wanting to be near family and was also due to the isolation caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic. The balance

In 2024 South Carolina, North Carolina and Wyoming were the top 3 states where people and families were flocking to. More information can be found here: https://www.movebuddha. com California had the greatest number of people and families moving out due to real estate taxes and the cost of housing.

However, this year, those that reside near a major or even a minor waterway, has experienced severe increases in homeowner’s insurance, as well as real estate taxes. The costs of housing and daily living are pushing people to leave Florida in droves, adding to increased inventory and prices being impacted. But people and families are still moving south due to lower cost housing in those previously noted states, lower real estate and State taxes, lower cost of living and warmer climates. However, Florida may never be the same.

Florida appears to have lost its shine for it has the 2nd largest population loss, followed by New York at number 3, Texas #4 and Illinois #5. California has the dubious position as #1 with the greatest loss in population this year.

The answer to the initial question of what happened in Surfside, Florida on June 24, 2021 at 1:22 a.m. was the unfortunate collapse of Champlain Towers, killing 98 people and to date was tied with the Knickerbocker Theatre collapse as the 3rd most deadliest, non-deliberate, tragic and devastating, structural engineering failure in U.S. histo-

Strong Bones, Healthy Life

far above the RDA of 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams for most adults.

The bottom line? Work in some exercise, grab a yogurt or roast some broccoli and track your calcium like you track your calories for your bones to be strong when you need them to be.

Q and A

Q: Are there any foods that can help ease headaches?

A: It’s well known that environmental

factors such as certain foods, noise, lighting, changes in sleeping patterns, alcohol use and exposure to strong smells or allergens can trigger headaches. Research finds that vitamins and minerals found in some foods may have a positive effect on headaches by preventing, stopping or soothing symptoms. Eating some foods regularly, such as fatty fish (salmon and tuna), leafy greens (broccoli, romaine, spinach) and nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts), may reduce how often you ex-

Philip A. Raices is the owner/ Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 42+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) and has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geo-thermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).

He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.

He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to: https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” no obligation 15 minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com

perience headaches. Other foods, including ginger, beans and legumes, plus proper hydration, may help soothe the pain once a headache has started.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the current president of the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Save Money Using What You Have On Hand

BY MARY HUNT

From pasta to vinegar, there are all kinds of things in your kitchen pantry that could save you all kinds of money -and frustration too! You’re going to wonder why you didn’t think of that!

CANDLELIGHTER

If you can’t light a candle without using a long lighter, grab a piece of dry spaghetti from your pantry. Strike a match and hold the flame under the spaghetti until it ignites, keeping the spaghetti so the end farthest from you is slightly downward. Once lit, extinguish the match and use the lit spaghetti to light the candle. -- Erin

BAG THE FAT

Removing fat from meat drippings before you make gravy is easy. Let the drippings cool a little, then pour into a zip-type bag. I use the quart size the most. Allow it to settle long enough for the fat to congeal, seal the bag and then snip off a very tiny corner. The good drippings will come out of the hole, but the fat won’t. Once all the good stuff is out, just toss the bag. -- Rosemary

FOGGY BATHROOM MIRROR

I have figured out a way to clean the

BY MARY HUNT

toothpaste splatters from the bathroom mirror. After someone gets out of the shower and the mirror is all fogged up, I grab an old rag and wipe down the mirror. The heat and steam from the shower softens those pesky little toothpaste splatters, and they wipe away with ease. Later, I use a solution of vinegar and water to make it shine. -- Valerie

FORK IT

My favorite kitchen tool is a large table fork. Some flatware styles are extra big and heavy, making the fork just right for stirring and mixing. It works better than a large spoon, and with the quick turn of the wrist, it even whips like a whisk. The fork fits in my flatware drawer, and I have found extra-large forks at thrift stores. -- Jo

DISCOUNTED BY A DENT

We bought a brand-new dishwasher that we found on Craigslist for only $230. It was a high-end, stainless steel model that retailed for $799. A delivery truck had dropped another dishwasher on top of it, denting the top. We inspected it and didn’t find any damage to the machine. We covered a hammer with a soft cloth and banged out the dent, but once

installed, the damage was unseen. We installed it ourselves and are still enjoying the savings. -- Ginger, email

VINEGAR CLEANER

Having children with sensitive skin, I’ve learned to disinfect my home without the use of harsh chemicals such as bleach or ammonia. Vinegar in a spray bottle is my cleaner: full strength for the bathroom, and diluted for windows, wood floor, linoleum and tile. I use it to clean my car windows, vinyl upholstery, door handles and vinyl mats. I use vinegar once a month to clean my coffee maker and once every six months to clean my hot tub and dishwasher. Mixed with baking soda, I clean my refrigerator, porcelain kitchen sinks and bathtub. -- Colleen DIY BROWN SUGAR

Brown sugar can be replaced with one cup of white sugar plus one to two tablespoons of molasses. Place both into a bowl and stir to mix using a fork. Hint: I find this to be so much better than commercial brown sugar, I’ve made a permanent switch. And I only make as much as needed at the time. No more brown sugar turning hard as a brick! -- Caleb

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “DebtProof Living.”

10 Essential Resources for Caregivers

Planning for an uncertain future can feel downright overwhelming -- like trying to pack for a trip without knowing the destination. Whether you’re making arrangements for elderly parents or figuring out your own plan, I am confident that the following books, websites and organizations will give you the kind of help, support and information you need.

BOOKS

“The Complete Eldercare Planner” by Joy Loverde. This is the most complete resource between two covers. Caring for aging parents, loved ones or other elders in your life can feel overwhelming, whether you’ve been thrust into the role unexpectedly or are thoughtfully planning your own future care. Now in its fourth edition, “The Complete Eldercare Planner” is here to guide you through the challenges of today’s caregiving landscape, offering practical tools and insights tailored to your unique situation.

“Long-Term Care: How to Plan and Pay for It” by Attorney Joseph L. Matthews, 14th Edition. This reader-friendly book offers straight-talking information on choosing and paying for care, as well as excellent information on Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance.

“They’re Your Parents, Too!: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy” by Francine Russo. Here’s a book that is indispensable for anyone who has sib-

lings and aging parents. Includes real-life stories and helpful family negotiation techniques, as well as practical advice on a wide range of topics, such as how to choose a gerontologist and a financial planner.

WEBSITES

Eldercare (ElderCare.gov) is a public service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services in their area. Just type in your zip code and the kind of information you’re looking for, or call (800) 677-1116.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org): Supporting the supporter is the role of an elder law attorney. You can find an elder or special-needs attorney in your area using the search function on this highly regarded, not-forprofit site.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA. org) is a nonprofit advocacy group that works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health and live independently. It also offers an excellent free booklet, “Use Your Home to Stay at Home,” that gives an overview of reverse mortgages in an easy-to-read format. Go to ncoa.org/article/use-yourhome-to-stay-at-home to get this free download.

Medicare.gov is the single best place to learn all about Medicare. Includes up-tothe-minute changes as well as help with

benefits eligibility and enrollment. Or call 800-MED-ICARE.

LongTermCare.gov is a clearinghouse for long-term care presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You’ll find a lot of good information here -- from how to assess your need to what to look for in long-term health insurance policies.

OTHER

Medicaid: To find specific details about your state program, search online with the name of your state plus the word “Medicaid.” For general information, go to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website at CMS.gov.

The Senior Health Insurance Program Volunteer counselors are available free of charge through this organization to assist Medicare beneficiaries and their

caregivers with Medicare, prescription drugs, long-term care and related issues. Go to ShipHelp.org, then click on “SHIP Locator” to find your state’s specific and very helpful information.

100 Years Ago This Month: Historical events from January 1925

The month of January has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in January 1925.

• Christiania, the capital city of Norway, is renamed “Oslo” on January 1.

• Violence plagues Italy on January 2 as part of the fallout of Benito Mussolini’s crackdown on opposition newspapers. Though King Victor Emmanuel III refuses to grant Mussolini the dictatorial powers the latter requested, he grants the Prime Minister tacit permission to respond to the violence how he sees fit.

• Nellie Tayloe Ross is inaugurated as the Governor of Wyoming on January 5, becoming the first woman elected to a gubernatorial office in United States history.

• Bhanupratap Deo is proclaimed as the new Raja of the princely state of Kanker within British India on January 8. The 3-year-old would rule until 1947, when the princely states are abolished as India gains its independence.

• The British submarine HMS L24 sinks in the English channel on January 10. The submarine had collided with the Royal Navy battleship HMS Resolution, killing all 43 men aboard the L24.

• Al Capone survives an assassination attempt made by the North Side Gang on January 12 in Chicago. Capone was conducting business inside a State Street restaurant when the rival gang riddled his car with bullets, prompting the mobster to order a bulletproof Cadillac.

• Joseph Stalin fires Leon Trotsky as Commissar for Military and Navy Affairs on January 15. A prominent critic of Stalin, Trotsky is eventually murdered at his home in Mexico City by a Stalinist agent in 1940.

• Huddie Ledbetter, better known as “Lead Belly,” is granted a full pardon by Texas governor Pat Morris Neff on January 16. The blues musician had served seven years of his prison sentence after being found guilty of killing a relative over a fight for a woman.

• “The Gentleman Bandit” Gerald Chapman is arrested in Muncie, Indiana on January 18. Chapman is apprehended thanks in part to informant Ben Hance, who is murdered in August in a killing that is believed to have been performed as retaliation for Chapman’s incarceration.

• Roy Olmstead, a lieutenant in the Seattle Police Department, is indicted by a federal grand jury on January 19. Olmstead is accused of smuggling alcohol into the country from Canada in violation of the Volstead Act.

• Curtis Welch, the only doctor in Nome, Alaska, sends an urgent message via radio telegram on January 22. The message alerts all major Alaskan towns of an impending outbreak of diphtheria, while a second message sent to the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C. highlights the desperate need for antitoxin. Roughly 300,000 units of antitoxin are discovered in Anchorage on January 26, temporarily containing the epidemic.

• Paul Newman is born in Shaker

LOST IN SUBURBIA

Taking the Plunge

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

When we got the last-minute invite to a Christmas party at someone’s house, I didn’t realize I had a problem until I was waiting for the elevator to take us up.

“Oh no! I don’t have a gift,” I said to my husband.

“What?” he replied.

“I don’t have a gift,” I repeated. “I don’t have a hostess gift. We’ve never been to this woman’s apartment before, and my mother always said you should never go to someone’s house for the first time without a gift. I need to go out and get a gift.”

He shook his head. “There’s no time. There will be a ton of people there. I’m sure she won’t notice.”

I frowned. This just would not do. I was brought up to be a polite member of society. I respected my elders, moved over in movie theaters and didn’t say anything when someone had spinach in their teeth. But now I was showing up at a party without a gift. Miss Manners would be appalled.

I looked around at the exquisitely decorated lobby, resplendent with a gold Christmas tree, twinkling lights, and bow-wrapped poinsettia plants dotting the floor, tables and ledges, and I had an idea. As the elevator chimed and the doors opened, I grabbed one of the poinsettia plants on the table beside me.

“Gift problem solved,” I said to my

husband and our friends as the elevator doors closed. My husband looked horrified. Our friends laughed.

And the hostess loved her gift.

At the end of the party, though, I asked her for the plant back so I could return it to the lobby. I wasn’t sure how good the building’s security was, and I didn’t want to spend Christmas in jail for grand poinsettia larceny.

Fast-forward one year.

“We got invited to the big holiday party again this year,” my husband told me.

“I guess she liked the stolen poinsettia,” I said.

“Yeah, well, this year you have time

to go out and buy a gift,” he said.

“What should I get?”

“I don’t know, honey,” he said. “You decide. Just make sure you pay for it this time.”

Although I had met the hostess last year, I had only spent about 10 minutes talking to her and didn’t really know her all that well. Also, the apartment had been so packed with people that I hadn’t really had a chance to get a sense of her decorating style or taste. I wondered, what does every single person need in their home?

So I bought her a plunger.

“You bought her a plunger?!?!” exclaimed my husband.

Heights, Ohio, on January 26. The son of Theresa Garth and sporting goods store owner Arthur Sigmund Newman, Sr., the younger Newman would grow up to become one of the world’s most recognizable movie stars and a devoted philanthropist.

• A riot breaks out in Berlin on January 27. Numerous injuries are reported as monarchists, communists and republicans clash during demonstrations held on the birthday of ex-kaiser Wilhelm II.

• On January 28, nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court Harlan Fiske Stone testifies before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Stone is eventually confirmed by a vote of 71 to 6.

• After nearly a year of fighting and 14,000 deaths, the Khost rebellion against King Amanullah Khan is ended in Afghanistan on January 30. The rebellion is ultimately unsuccessful, but many of the king’s reforms are delayed until 1928.

“It’s not just a plunger. It’s a Christmas plunger,” I said.

“What makes it a Christmas plunger?” he asked.

“I wrapped it in Christmas paper.”

“You can’t give her a plunger!” he said adamantly.

“Why not?” I replied. “I actually think it’s a very thoughtful gift.”

“Really? How so?”

“If she has as many people at the party this year as she did last time, she’ll definitely need it.”

Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,”

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3 ounces (about 3 slices) sliced and chopped barbecued brisket

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Out of This World Experiences come to LI Children's Museum

January kickstarts an exciting year of exploration at Long Island Children's Museum! This month, we are thrilled to host the second edition of our Musical Explorers! series in the LICM Theater, usher in the Year of the Snake, and explore a brand-new traveling exhibit.

LICM is adding one Bonus Monday to its public hours to provide families with more play time in January. The Museum will be open on Monday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Note, the Museum will be closed on Wednesday, January 1.)

January 2025 Calendar

Special Event - Lunar New Year

Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, January 26 from Noon to 4 p.m.

Join us in celebrating the Lunar New Year at LICM! Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the start of the new year of the lunisolar calendar and is celebrated all over the world. Come ring in the Year of the Snake as you enjoy a variety of dance and musical performances, view live artisan demonstrations and create themed, take-home crafts.

The Lunar New Year Festival is supported by the generosity of JP Morgan Chase & Co. in partnership with the Long Island Chinese American Association. Crafts are brought to you by Portledge School.

Ages: 3 and up. Free with Museum admission.

January in the LICM

Theater

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Let Freedom Swing: Louis Armstrong’s Great Migration Sunday, January 19 and Monday, January 20 at Noon and 2 p.m.

Join us in the LICM Theater for the second installment of “Musical Explorers!” a series of live music concerts designed especially for kids! Dive into a world of rhythm and melody showcasing a variety of musical styles from around the globe. The series will take young audiences on an exciting journey through sound, featuring legends, trailblazers and GRAMMY winners.

As part of our Musical Explorers! series, LICM is proud to present Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Let Freedom Swing: Louis Armstrong’s Great Migration. Louis Armstrong was one of the most important musicians in American history. Born in turn of the century New Orleans, his virtuosic trumpet style and unique singing voice brought joy to millions of people around the world.

As a young man, Armstrong left his home in New Orleans, changing the history of American music in the process. In this concert, we will learn about Louis Armstrong’s journey to Chicago and New York, and his rise to become

Explore the wonders of space through interactive displays and hands-on activities that bring the cosmos to life in Moon to Mars exhibit.

one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century.

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Let Freedom Swing brings outstanding performances to community audiences. Since 2013, Let Freedom Swing has reached over half a million people in over 3,500 concerts around the world.

The generosity of Musical Explorers’ funders, Roni Kohen-Lemle and Robert Lemle, allows us to offer these performances at a special rate.

Ages: 4 and up. Fee: $5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 Theater only.

Workshops

Thanks a Bunch

Tuesday - Friday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. (except January 20)

Acts of kindness come in all shapes and sizes and all deserve to be celebrated! Come celebrate National ‘Thank You’ Month with us by making a thank you card for someone special in your life. This is a drop-in program, free with admission. It takes approximately 10 minutes and is yours to keep. All ages. Free with museum admission.

Let’s Skate!

Saturday, January 4 from Noon to 2 p.m.

New York is one of the best places to enjoy outdoor and pond skating. Come make your own winter wonderland scene complete with a moving skater. This is a drop-in program, free with admission. It takes approximately 10 minutes and is yours to keep. Please note, this is the last weekend to enjoy our Snowflake Sock Skating exhibit!

Ages: 3 and up. Free with museum admission.

Splish Splash Animal Bath

Sunday, January 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Join us in the Hive Studio in the Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of LICM's animals. Join our Animal Educator to observe animal bath time. All ages. Free with museum admission.

Fit as a Fiddle Saturday, January 11 from Noon to 2 p.m.

Come celebrate Family Fit Lifestyle Month with us by making your own custom fitness game to get in tip top shape by having fun. This is a drop-in program, free with admission. It takes approximately 10 minutes and is yours to keep.

Ages: 3 and up. Free with museum admission.

Stuck on You

Sunday, January 12 from 1 to 3:00 p.m.

The modern sticker was invented in 1935 as a form of advertisement, but stickers are now a fun way to express yourself on everything from cars to water bottles. Come celebrate National Sticker Month with us by creating your own stickers to take home. This is a drop-in program, free with admission. It takes approximately 10 minutes and is yours to keep.

Ages: 3 and up. Free with museum admission.

STEM Explorers: Out of this World! Saturday, January 18 from Noon to 2 p.m.

Take a trip out of this world as the Green Teens explore space and the galaxy. Discover the secrets of the solar system and imagine what lies beyond our planet!

STEM Explorers, powered by Green Teens. This program is made possible with the support of National Grid.

Ages: 4 and up. Free with museum admission.

Let Freedom Ring with MLK! Monday, January 20 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

This month, the AdvoKids series focuses on Martin Luther King Jr and Civil Rights. During this workshop visitors will learn about MLK beyond his “I Have a Dream” speech and gain a better understanding of his impact on the Civil Rights Movement. Visitors will also participate in a gallery walk of images from the Civil Rights Movement. Visitors will then create a bell to ‘let freedom ring.’

Ages: 5 and up. Fee: $4 with museum admission ($3 LICM members).

Exhibits

Moon to Mars

Saturday, January 18 through Sunday, May 4, 2025

Blast off with Moon to Mars, in this new interactive STEAM exhibit that transports children to the out-of-thisworld experiences in space travel, coming to LICM. This touring exhibit was designed with support from NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems at Johnson Space Center. Young guests will be inspired by the current realities and future dreams for interplanetary travel while experiencing firsthand the diversity of talent and skills that a team requires to make space exploration a reality. Young explorers can experience walking in reduced gravity, design, build and launch their own rockets, and take the controls in the Orion Spacecraft and navigate new land in the Lunar Rover.

Opening Weekend Programs

Blast Off!

Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Launch into fun by making your own flying Orion spacecraft. Orion is a very special spacecraft that was built to carry astronauts into deep space missions farther than ever before. The hope is that someday it will take astronauts to Mars! This is a drop-in program, free with admission. It takes approximately 10 minutes and is yours to keep.

Ages: 3 and up. Free with museum admission.