Floral Park Villager (1/31/25)

THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY

SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR

Third graders in top 10 in national vocab competiton

Floral Park-Bellerose School third graders in the S.P.A.R.K. program placed sixth in the nation in the WordMasters Challenge. Photo courtesy of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District

Floral Park-Bellerose School third graders in the district’s gifted and talented program, S.P.A.R.K., participated in and achieved Highest Honors in the 38th annual WordMasters Challenge. This national vocabulary competition involves approximately 125,000 students annually.

The 12 students, led by S.P.A.R.K. teacher Claudia Cerrone-Campoli, studied 25 words to prepare for the first meet. They learned the definitions, part of speech, synonyms and antonyms of these words. Following weeks of preparation, the students independently took a 20-question challenge in

the form of analogies.

Floral Park-Bellerose’s S.P.A.R.K. students scored an impressive 163 points out of a possible 200, placing sixth in the nation in the Blue Division.

The next meet, which will introduce the students to 25 new words, will take place before February break.

A Taste of Floral Park returns February 6th

BY RIKKI MASSAND

The team at the nonprofit Floral Park Chamber of Commerce, led by its new Board of Directors’ President Shane Parouse and Vice President Christos Vassiliou, will present “A Taste of Floral Park” featuring the cuisine of four of the premier restaurants in the community, at the upcoming Chamber gathering on Thursday, February 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at United Methodist Church (35 Verbena Avenue). The cost is $35 per attendee.

Registration for this special networking night and ‘foodie fun’ is available online, at FloralParkChamber.org/events or by emailing info@floralparkchamber.org

Vassiliou is the co-owner of Floral Park Diner at 142 Tulip Avenue. Chris and his business partners are celebrating their restaurant’s 10th anniversary, having begun operations in 2015. The Diner’s fresh fare

will be featured in this year’s culinary event, along with a handful of their neighbors on Tulip – Uptown Taco, Gyro Village and J. Fallon’s Tap Room.

In a January 24th interview with The Villager, Mr. Vassiliou explained the concept he had to mix things up a little for the monthly gathering of the Chamber of Commerce.

“We picked four restaurants and each of them will be providing a couple of trays of food, so attendees can get a taste of their cuisine. The concept celebrates their membership and participation with our Chamber and community and everyone gets a chance to see what they have – and the rotation of venues hosting us (such the UMC church next week, or a local bank) can accommodate the catering operations,” he shared.

Generally the Floral Park Cham-

See page 2

Floral Park Chamber Vice President Christos Vassiliou, owner of Floral Park Diner on Tulip Avenue

A Taste of Floral Park returns February 6th

From page 1

ber meets for a dinner gathering, where locals, business owners and members of the Village Board of Trustees can sit down and get to know one another over a delicious meal and drinks. Over the last four months of 2024, the Chamber’s meeting locations shifted all the way around Jericho Turnpike from BC Bistro fusion in September to Trinity Irish tavern in October, Stella Ristorante in November and Nancy’s Restaurant for the Holiday party on December 18th. To start this year the chamber gathered at Crabtree’s Restaurant on January 9th. Vassiliou says this model “gathering around, sitting and talking with each other and networking over dinner” works well for the Floral Park Chamber.

The February 6th meeting will break from the typical second Thursday night of the month, and it will be held at the UMC to offer plenty of space for the setup, with Chamber news and updates and announcements.

The “taste” of local fare idea might be continued each time a non-restaurant is set to host a monthly chamber meeting; it would give the Chamber a chance to regularly highlight more local food businesses during the year. And, the “tastes” could eventually spin off into a larger-scale public event, with participating Chamber restaurants and potentially more eateries and food caterers from the western end of Nassau County as vendors/featured participants. One of the venues that would be explored is the local treasure – Centennial Gardens – for a weekend afternoon ‘foodie’ event. While the idea remains in a concept stage, the local business group is eager to do all it can to highlight Floral Park on a larger scale and to a broad audience.

Vice President Vassiliou expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Chamber’s board that they have consistency from the local municipal government, as Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo and Trustee Michael Longobardi are

Two of the Tulip Avenue restaurants participating in this year's "A Taste of Floral Park" Chamber of Commerce event on February 6th are Floral Park Diner, owned by Chamber Vice President Christos Vassiliou (left) and J. Fallon's Tap Room owned by Jason DiCarlo

mainstays for the monthly dinnertime networking.

“Our elected leaders are eager to join us at each meeting and share the news and information about everything happening in the village – especially with planning/zoning, construction and other initiatives. We thank them for always sharing knowledge of what’s going on in Floral Park, and the Chamber always enjoys the great food from local restaurants at our meetings,” he added.

Four days before Super Bowl 59 the community is invited to attend A Taste of Floral Park and try out several dishes from the participating restaurants, as the restaurant’s owners and catering staff will coordinate to make sure none of the selections are duplicated. The variety is built-in with the types of dishes served at Uptown Taco, J. Fallon’s, Gyro Village and the Diner, but Vassiliou has led the efforts. He is excited about the camaraderie developed with the fellow businesses along

Tulip Avenue and in Chamber member connections.

Mr. Vassiliou started Floral Park Diner in 2015 with his two business partners, Nakis Loizou and Angelo Galimanis. He is excited to reach the 10-year mark and step up to serve as the Chamber’s vice president in 2025. Most of all, he believes in the hometown support of fellow local businesses, Floral Park residents and their families. He is especially thankful that the village’s restaurant scene – including the Diner – is thriving once again after the pandemic.

“All the neighborhood folks come in, we meet many locals here – the Diner serves as an anchor on Tulip Avenue. From Mondays to Fridays we see the customers are mostly our Floral Park people but on weekends the place is packed as we draw so many people from other towns and NYC. People want to get out and here on Tulip Avenue we have many popular spots, and it’s growing –but the local residents here are always very supportive,” Chris explained.

(right).

Two members of the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Vice President Christos Vassiliou who owns Floral Park Diner (left) and Don Licata, regional manager of Furniture Pro Corp. (right) met inside the diner on January 24th. Both are Village of Floral Park residents.

Floral Park Junior Woman’s Club meeting

The Flora Park Junior Woman ’ s Club will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, February 6, at 7 p.m. at the Floral Park Recreation Center.

Who We Are

We are active, community spirited women of all ages, interests and backgrounds. We are your friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances. We are wives, mothers and single women, professionals, educators and business owners who donate our time and talents to the betterment of our children, neighbors, the community and our world.

What We Do

We meet on the first Thursday of the month to conduct the busi -

ness of the Club at the Floral Park Recreation Center.

Our meetings consist of a special monthly program, discussions of upcoming events, any immediate needs of the Floral Park community and how we can be of assistance.

We give away over $3,000 in scholarships annually to local students. We sponsor special community events such as a Spring & Fall Craft Fair and the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

Junior Clubs are a critical part of The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC.org). The GFWC is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.

Let your voice be heard!

Is there an issue in your community you want to discuss? Want to respond to something you saw in our paper?

Then write a letter to our editor and bring it to everyone’s attention!

Send your letter to editor@gcnews.com and we’ll publish it for you!

Town offers safe boating classes

Boating season may be several months away, but with a New York State law now in effect that requires all operators to be certified in safe boating, Supervisor Don Clavin and the Hempstead Town Board are offering safe boating classes starting in February. As boating is one of Hempstead Town’s most enjoyable pastimes, Supervisor Clavin and Town Board colleagues want to ensure that all residents remain safe and prepared while setting sail.

The first course of 2025 — for ages 10–18 years — will be held in two sessions: Saturday, February 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Department of Conservation and Waterways (1401 Lido Boulevard, Point Lookout). Participants must attend both sessions to receive their boating safety certificate. The classes are led by the Town’s Bay Constables.

“Teaching the next generation how to operate a boat is a rite of passage for many Long Island fam -

ilies, and we in America’s largest township want to ensure that local mariners practice safe boating,” said Supervisor Clavin. “Learning at a young age will give future seafarers greater experience and knowledge of their watercraft and the local waterways, creating a safer environment for everyone. We encourage all young residents to sign up for the Town’s upcoming safe boating course.”

The New York State law governing these new boating safety requirements is known as Brianna’s Law, named after 11-year-old Long Island resident Brianna Lieneck, who was killed in a boating accident in 2005. Additional safe boating courses for youth and adults will be announced in the near future. To register for an upcoming Boater Safety Class, please call the Bay Constables at (516) 897-4100. Residents who are already certified but cannot locate their card can obtain new documentation at https://www.ilostmycard. com/records?state_cd=NY&cert_ type=Boating

JLCS fifth graders research famous explorers

Fifth graders at John Lewis Childs School recently completed projects on historical explorers, which involved creating a virtual book based around their explorer, crafting a homemade exploration artifact, and even dressing up as their assigned explorer.

As part of their recent social studies unit, John Lewis Childs School fifth graders researched and completed projects on European explorers.

The students were each assigned an explorer — including Ferdinand

Magellan, Jacques Cartier, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci, among others — and worked with a partner to research important events and information, such as how and why they set off on their explora-

The children were assigned to learn about explorers and make presentations about them.

The project encouraged collaboration among the students.

tion. The pairs shared the information they learned by creating a book on the Book Creator app. They also created an artifact that represented their explorer, such as a map, ship or compass.

On Jan. 17, the two fifth grade classes

hosted a gallery, inviting their peers to view their projects and ask questions. Students were encouraged to dress up as their explorer, as well.

Henry Hudson was represented.

THE HOME SELLING PROCESS

The home selling process can be scary at first. Your Signature Premier Properties agent will help you with selling your home every step of the way. When it comes to selling your home, you’re in safe hands with us!

1. Your Home Stands Out with Less Competition. Generally during winter months fewer homes are on the market because many people wait until spring to list their homes. It can be a wise decision to take advantage of less competition, thereby setting the stage for your home to stand out.

2. Winter Brings Motivated Buyers Who Are Anxious to Close. Though winter may not bring as many buyers, those that are looking tend to want a quick closing. These people are serious buyers interested in purchasing a home and purchasing it quickly.

3. Your Home May Show Better. One key to attracting a buyer for your home is to create an atmosphere where they can imagine themselves living in it. Winter is a perfect time to show off the cozy, warm, and inviting qualities your home possesses.

4.Using The Winter Season To Your Advantage. Creatively decorate to appeal to the senses. A fresh wreath provides beauty and a lovely scent. Use lighting inside and out to give your home an inviting feeling. Consider some well-placed scented flameless candles on timers.

FOUR VILLAGE STUDIO

4 V S ~ Optimum Ch.18 & Fios Ch.28

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd & THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6th

Technically Speaking

7:30 PM

9:00 PM

9:30 PM

Stephanie Larkin

"Enjoying Your XBox" ~ 1st Place Award Winner From The 2014 Festival

The Antique Road Test ~ "2024 Award Winner"

Walter Gosden

“Cars In Song: Motor Car Sheet Music” ~ 2nd Place – Historical Documentary

Wes Houston Presents… ~ "2024 Award Winner"

Wes Houston

“James O’Malley, Singer-Songwriter” ~ 2nd Place – Music & Performance

Community Spotlight ~ "2024 Award Winner"

James Green & Francis Brandt

“A Great, Grand, Mother’s Day” ~ 2nd Place – Profile Talk Show

Davidson & Co.

Larry Davidson

"Overcoming Obstacles" ~ 1st Place Award Winner From The 2015 Festival

1 Floral Blvd., Floral Park, NY 11002

Phone: 516.326.1150 ~ Email: 4VS@4VS.org

Floral Park Schools pre-K interest survey

The Floral Park-Bellerose School District has announced the 5th year of implementation of a full-day pre-K program. The program is available only to children that are residents of the Floral Park-Bellerose School District who will turn four years of age prior to December 1, 2025. Please note, as per NYS Education Law, a lottery will be conducted. Further information regarding the lottery will be shared after the close of the survey.

• The curriculum follows the NYS Pre-Kindergarten Standards.

• The program is free to residents.

• Before or after school care IS available for a fee.

• Families are responsible for transportation.

• The program follows the school calendar.

• Seats for the program are not school specific.

• Times will vary based on school hours.

The district hopes to accommodate all eligible students, however, seats are limited and a placement is not guaranteed. The survey will be available starting February 1, 2025. Please go on the district website www.fpbsd.org or scan the QR code below to complete the survey. The survey must be received by 4 pm on Friday, March 21st.

Hillcrest Civic Association to meet February 27th

The Hillcrest Civic Association will hold its next meeting on Thursday, February 27, at the Floral Park Recreation Center. The Village trustees and the Floral Park Police Department will speak about issues affecting the Village. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

A civic organization is a voluntary group of residents who come together to improve and maintain the quality of life in a community, while educating

the residents on local issues. It acts as a liaison between the community and the Village Board. If you haven't joined the Hillcrest Civic Association for the upcoming year, please consider doing so. A mailing will be sent shortly to all houses in the Hillcrest area. Members receive Hillcrest newsletters. Membership dues provide for civic events and scholarships to local students.

WHAT DOES ‘HEALTH SYSTEM’ EVEN MEAN? IT MEANS A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR HEALTH.

A health system is more than a doctor. In our case, it’s 320+ locations with the exact same high standard of care. It’s integrated medical teams that achieve the best patient outcomes. It’s leading the charge in medical discoveries. It’s the lowest mortality rates in the nation. It’s being named #1 for quality care in the U.S. Our health system has the best doctors, and the best doctors are just the beginning.

health starts with a better

Landmark Anne Frank The Exhibition in NYC Personalizes Holocaust As Never Before

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

It is surreal, extraordinarily intimate, overwhelmingly emotional to find yourself standing in Anne Frank’s tiny room exactly as she had lived in it, in secret hiding for two years, just before she was taken away by Nazis to the concentration camp where she died just a few months before she would have been saved.

There are the photos she clipped from newspapers to put on her wall, to preserve some connection to a normal life, her life before the Nazis took over Germany, then invaded the Netherlands, where her family had sought refuge. You see the plaid-cloth covered diary she began to write the day she received it, on her 13th birthday, who she sometimes wrote to as “Dear Kitty” and treated as her closest friend and confidant, revealing things her father later admitted he never knew about his daughter despite being close and living in such constant proximity.

As you stand in this space, the tiny bedroom where she sat at this desk to write, you hear her words, “When I write, I can shake off my cares, my sorrow... my spirits soar.... But will I ever be able to write something great? Will I ever be able to be a journalist or writer? Oh, I hope so.” And then, “Writing allows me to record everything – thoughts, ideals, fantasies.”

This is the remarkable Anne Frank The Exhibition, opening at the Center for Jewish History in New York City on January 27, coin-

Standing in Anne Frank’s tiny room in The Annex where she and her family hid from the Nazis for two years, personalizes the Holocaust. This immersion into a full-scale re-creation of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is part of a landmark “Anne Frank The Exhibition,” now on view at the Center for Jewish History in New York City © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com.

ciding with International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp where one million Jews were exterminated.

For the first time, visitors outside of Amsterdam will be able to experience the Anne Frank House, one of the most visited historical sites in Europe, but in a very different way: whereas in Amsterdam, the rooms are empty as they were after the Nazis left it, here, visitors are immersed in a full-scale re-creation of the complete Annex, furnished as it would have been when Anne and her family and four other Jews spent two years hiding to evade Nazi capture.

You see the pictures clipped from newspapers she put on her wall – a semblance of normalcy of a teenager. You hear her words from her diary as you walk through those rooms.

But there is another important difference: before and after you roam through this meticulously re-created Annex, you are immersed in her life and the lives of millions of others as you see the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, how the Holocaust was set into motion and what it was like to live with such terror– giving a broader context and meaning to Anne Frank’s story, resonating with chilling effect today.

Created in partnership between the Anne Frank House and the Center

GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR

for Jewish History, this astonishing, Anne Frank: The Exhibition kicks off the Center‘s 25th anniversary season.

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Anne Frank House on this landmark exhibition,” said Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History. “As we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in January, Anne Frank’s story becomes more urgent than ever. In a time of rising antisemitism, her diary serves as both a warning and a call to action, reminding us of the devastating impact of hatred. This exhibition challenges us to confront these dangers head-on and honor the memory of those lost in the Holocaust.”

“When students learn to identify hate, learn to confront with empathy, critical thinking, they will champion justice and equality,” Ronald Leopold, the director of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, said at the press preview. “An exhibition like this serves as powerful reminder of the importance of confronting hate through education and understanding.

“Anne Frank’s story is known to many but what you will experience at this exhibition goes beyond her tragic fate. The exhibition hopefully will also offer a deeper, multifaceted view of who Anne Frank was- not just a victim of the Holocaust, but just a girl, a teenager, a writer, and an enduring symbol of resilience and strength.”

The Anne Frank House was established in 1957 in cooperation with Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, as an independent nonprofit January 31, 2025

Continued on next page

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Landmark Anne Frank The Exhibition in NYC Personalizes Holocaust As Never Before

organization entrusted with the preservation of the Annex and bringing Anne’s life story to world audiences in order to serve as a place for teaching and learning about the Holocaust. Each year, the Anne Frank House, welcomes 1.2 million visitors, but many are turned away (you have to reserve tickets weeks, even months in advance), and requires visitors to come to Amsterdam.

“This exhibition is not just about the past,” Leopold said at a press preview. “It is important to learn about the past, but more important to learn from the past. That is the educational mission Anne’s father, the only one of the 8 Jews in hiding at the Annex who survived, gave us when Anne Frank House opened to the public in 1960.”

Leopold held up two photos, side by side. One is easily recognizable: Anne Frank. Next to her on the page is a photo a boy no one has heard of. He was born June 12, 1929, the same day as Anne, lived one block from where she lived, a 3 minute walk. Their paths might have crossed - we don’t know. We know everything about this little girl, Anne Frank, we think, but there is no one in the world today who knows anything about this young boy except for his name, David Spanyeur, his date of birth, address and when and where he was murdered, on February 12, 1943 in Auschwitz.”

“If we bring Anne Frank to New York, and we go to remember her on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we also bring, David Spanyeur to New York, and remember him, as we will remember 1.5 million Jewish children’s lives cut short by human beings for the single reason they were Jewish. This is the message we try to bring, that goes beyond Anne Frank.”

Philanthropic support has made it possible for the Anne Frank House to subsidize visits for students from New York City public schools and all Title 1 public schools throughout the United States. A special curriculum has been created for distribution to 500,000 children, and there is a 28-minute film at the center that is geared to school children.

So far, tens of thousands of already purchased tickets in advance of the opening; 150 schools have already scheduled visits from as far as California.

A Normal Teenager

There is so much that is astonishing about this exhibit – certainly being able to stand in this exact, full-scale re-creation of Anne Frank’s secret hiding place furnished as if they had just left, before the Nazis stripped everything out. Indeed, that is how you experience The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, totally empty. (The people from Anne Frank House in Amsterdam remarked how strange it was to see the rooms they know so well as empty, now furnished. “But we have the original diary, you have a facsimile!”) Also, it is what the exhibit is wrapped around with –the context surrounding Anne Frank’s experience and the experience of the 6 million Jews, including 1.5 million children exterminated in the Holocaust.

The exhibit features some 100 artifacts – some rarely if ever viewed in public - including an extraordinary exhibit of the family’s personal effects from their comfortable life in Frankfurt where Otto was a banker, before the Nazis and the Holocaust – even their china, a wooden desk from 1796, and Anne’s first photo album (1929-1942). You see family photos and photos of a normal life, a playful child with a fetching smile. There is even a video of a wedding couple leaving their apartment building that happened to capture Anne peering out from a second-story window.

This exhibit wraps Anne Frank’s personal story with context: the rise of Hitler, democratically elected Chancellor, and the Nazi domination of Germany, the invasion of the Netherlands, France and Belgium, and the implementation of the Final Solution - systemic genocide of Jews, known as the Holocaust.

We walk through the bookcase, and are in the hiding place in the Annex.

Throughout the exhibit, you have an audio guide that you can activate, but here, in the hiding place, is where what you hear is most affecting – not just the description of the place and what their

lives were like for the two years they hid away, but Anne’s own words from her diary.

“When I write, I can shake off my cares, my sorrow... my spirits soar.... But will I ever be able to write something great? Will I ever be able to be a journalist or writer? Oh, I hope so.” And then, “Writing allows me to record everything – thoughts, ideals, fantasies.”

In the next part of the exhibit, you see how the Holocaust unfolded - photos of Jews pulled from their homes, crowded into the streets and loaded onto cattle cars, deported to labor, concentration and death camps. You see soldiers shooting masses of Jews in pits dug by the victims themselves.

This room has a glass floor over a map of Europe with red flags denoting where the death camps and places of genocide were and hear names recited. As you come to the end, most affecting of all, is a projection of the 1935 photo of Anne Frank in her kindergarten class of 32 students, of whom 15 were Jews, which you saw in the first gallery. As you hear their names ticked off, one by one these adorable, innocent faces are disappeared from the photo and you hear their age when their lives were snuffed out: 12, 13, 14, 15. Only 5 of the 15 survived – by going into hiding or escaping. Anne was 15.

The next part follows Otto’s improbable journey from the camp when it was liberated in January 1945. Otto was the only one to survive of the eight who hid in the Annex, though he had yet to learn the fate of his family. All of his worldly possession fit into a tiny canvas bag the size of a book.

You actually see a video of Miep Gies, one of the Dutch citizens who hid and protected the Franks in the Annex (she lived to 100 years old), relating how she went into it after the Nazis ransacked it and found Anne’s diary and notebooks, keeping them safe because she knew how important her writing was to her. She re-creates how she reached into her desk and presented Otto with Anne’s volumes.

In an interview, Otto related that at first it was difficult for him to read

Waste Not

BY CHARLYN FARGO

With the cost of food rising, it’s more important than ever to waste less of the food we purchase. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as much as 40% of our food supply ends up in the trash or compost bin. More than a third of that stems from wasteful kitchen habits, says the USDA.

We all are guilty of buying food that

just hangs out in our refrigerator and we end up throwing it away: overripe bananas, broccoli stems, moldy cheese, even milk sometimes. Or maybe it ends up there because we purchased too much or didn’t end up eating the leftovers like we planned. It takes up space in landfills, not to mention the money we threw away. The average American (myself included) ends up spending $1,300 a year on food that ends up in the trash.

the diary because of his grief, but when he started reading, he couldn’t stop. To honor her wishes of becoming a published writer, he set out to find a publisher – you see his letters and the replies from editors.

You see the first edition of “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl” which includes a forward by Eleanor Roosevelt – which has been translated into 70 languages, selling 35 million copies, and made into a play and movie (winning Shelly Winter’s an Oscar for her performance as Auguste van Pels).

The exhibition is designed for children (ages 10 and older) and adults. All general admission tickets include the exhibition audio guide. Plan to spend two hours.

Educational visits to the exhibition, as well as Individual and Family ticket purchases, can be scheduled by visiting AnneFrankExhibit.org.

Anne Frank The Exhibition is a limited engagement, scheduled to close on April 30, 2025. For a list of upcoming programs, visit https://www.cjh.org/. Genealogy, Holocaust Records at the Center

The Center for Jewish History also has Geneology Research Center, with genealogists on hand who can help you trace your family’s history, has formed a new-multiyear partnership with Ancestry® to open the Ancestry Research & Reflection Room, a new space and initiative to collect, preserve and share family histories of Jewish communities worldwide. These records can be searched for free at a newly opened Ancestry Research & Reflection Room at the center.

Center for Jewish History 15 West 16th Street, New York, 212.294.8301, cjh. org, info@cjh.org.

© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com

The good news is we can make a change by adopting a few simple habits in the kitchen.

No. 1: Freeze overripe bananas or use them in banana bread or a smoothie along with leftover berries.

No. 2: Toss leftover spaghetti or macaroni noodles into a soup. Repurpose meatballs into a sandwich.

Continued on page 5

February: Celebrating Black History Month

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

With February being Black History Month, I am citing Zora Neale Hurston for her creativity as a writer and her impact on society. Hurston was born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama. She was one of eight children born to John and Lucy Ann Potts Hurston. Her father, a Baptist preacher and sharecropper, later became a carpenter. Her mother was a schoolteacher.

When she was three, the Hurston family moved to Eatonville, Florida. Hurston often called Eatonville “home” because she was so young when she moved there. Sometimes she claimed it as her birthplace. A few years later, her father was elected as mayor of the town in 1897.

As an adult, Hurston often used Eatonville as a setting in her stories because it was a small town, a place where African Americans could live as they wanted. Eatonville is considered to be the first all-black community in the U.S. it was incorporated in 1887.

In 1901, some northern schoolteachers visited Eatonville and gave Hurston several books that opened her mind to literature. She was grateful for being given this exposure to various types of literature.

Hurston lived the rest of her childhood in Eatonville and described the experience of growing up there in her 1928 essay, “How It Feels To Be Colored Me.” In honor of Zora Neale Huston, Eatonville holds an annual “Zora! Festival.”

In 1928, Hurston graduated from Barnard College in NYC with a degree in anthropology where she trained under pioneering scientist Franz Boas. With Boas’ help, she got a fellowship that allowed her to return to Florida to collect folklore that would later be incorporated into her novels “Mules and Men” and “Tell My Horse.”

Hurston wrote short stories, journalistic, cinematic and nonfiction work. She collaborated with Langston Hughes on the 1931 play “Mule Bone.” Hurston’s work was unique in that it combined literature with anthropology, incorporating indigenous dialects to tell stories of people in the Caribbean and rural Florida.

Hurston’s work is important because it provides an important voice for African American women of her day. An author, anthropologist and folklorist/ storyteller, Hurston’s work is important because it provides an important voice for African American women who lived at that time. Many people remember Hurston as the author of “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” a novel published in 1937.

In 1942, when her autobiography, “Dust Tracks on a Road,” was published,

Hurston received the fame that had escaped her for so long. That year, she was profiled in Who’s Who in America, Current Biography and Twentieth Century Authors.

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” went out of print a few years after its publication and Hurston was a relatively unknown writer by readers for nearly 30 years. She died in Miami in 1960. It was author Alice Walker who rediscovered Zora Neale Hurston’s works. Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia, a rural farming town, in 1944. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1965 and several years later she returned to the South. Alice Walker is famous for becoming the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1982 for her novel “The Color Purple.”

It was a few years after Hurston’s death that Walker read “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” She read and reread her novels and felt that Hurston had an important voice in American literature, especially women’s American literature. Walker’s feeling was that she felt as if she knew Zora Neale Hurston personally.

In fact of Hurston’s novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” Alice Walker has said that “it speaks to me as no novel, past or present, has ever done.”

Determined to research Zora Neale Hurston’s life and work, in 1973 she traveled to Eatonville, where Hurston was raised, and briefly posed as the author’s niece to scout for information. She searched for Hurston’s unmarked grave and found it in a cemetery in Fort Pierce, Florida. She also spoke to many people along the way who had known Hurston.

Walker had been prompted to look into Hurston’s life while she was conducting research for her own short story and came across Hurston’s folk stories.

Alice Walker has said that she found Zora Neale Hurston’s embrace of black culture and language to be an inspiration. “I realized that unless I came out with everything I had supporting her, there was every chance that she would slip back into obscurity,” Walker said.

In the essay “In Search of Zora Neale

Hurston” which was first published in “Ms.” magazine in 1975 and later titled “Looking for Zora,” Alice Walker explored Eatonville, which had such an impact on Hurston, and came to understand how the town had influenced Hurston’s works.

Zora Neale Hurston’s ethnographic research made her a pioneer writer of “folk fiction” about African Americans in the South.

Hurston described the town and also the characters based on so many of the people she had known - her classmates, shops owners, church members, etc. Having been influenced by a tradition of storytelling and expressive, colorful speech with plenty of descriptions, Zora Neale Hurston lets that language come to life in her stories.

Alice Walker has said that Zora Neale Hurston and other great African American women writers helped pave

the way for authors and poets who came after them such as Toni Morrison, Paule Marshall, Gloria Naylor, Toni Cade Bambara, Ntozake Shange, Audre Lorde and herself.

Hurston believed that authentic characters were created by weaving information she gathered into her fiction. She believed that her mission was to capture the true voices and experiences of the people she was writing about.

A commemorative stamp was created in Hurston’s honor.

Of writing, Hurston has said, “The force of somewhere in space which commands you to write in the first place, gives you no choice. You take up the pen when you are told and write what is commanded.”

Zora Neale Hurston has noted, “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.”

BY TOM MARGENAU

Answering Questions From Widows

I hope there is nothing in the air that is causing old goats like me to keel over. For some reason, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from widows lately. Here are some of them.

Q: I am 90 years old and getting widow’s benefits from my first husband who died a long time ago. I also have my own Social Security, but I’m not getting it because my widow’s benefits pay more. I married another man about two years ago. He is 83. His Social Security is smaller than even my own Social Security. Assuming I die before he does, I want him to be able to get widower’s benefits on my account. Do I have to switch to my own so he’ll get mine when I die?

A: No, you don’t have to do that. In fact, it is likely that you are already getting your own benefits, at least on the Social Security Administration’s books. That’s because they usually pay your own benefit first and then supplement with any additional widow’s benefits you are due. For example, let’s say your own benefit is $2,000 per month and your widow’s rate is $3,800 per month. You are getting a monthly check of $3,800, but on the SSA books, you are getting $2,000 from your account and $1,800 from your deceased husband’s account.

Q: I am 70 years old, and I am working part time. But throughout our 40-year marriage, I was a stay-athome mom for much of the time. My husband, who was a lawyer, died four years ago. I get widow’s benefits and not my own. But every year, I get a letter telling me my own retirement benefit went up. But my check never increases. Can you explain this?

A: As I said in the prior answer, I’m sure that on the SSA’s books, you are getting your own small Social Security benefit that is supplemented with higher widow’s benefits. So as you work, your own benefit gradually increases every year. But it will probably never reach the point where it exceeds your widow’s rate, and that’s why nothing changes.

Here’s an example. Let’s say your own Social Security retirement benefit is $800 per month and your widow’s benefit is $3,400 per month. So on the SSA’s books, you are getting your own $800, and you are getting $2,600 in widow’s benefits to take you up to his $3,400 level.

And now let’s say your earnings increase your own retirement benefit to $830 per month. That means on paper, your widow’s supplement goes down to $2,570 because you are still due a total of $3,400 per month.

Q: My husband and I are both in our late 70s. We were both real estate agents most of our lives. I’m still in the business. Because of poor health, my husband isn’t. My Social Security is $2,990. He gets $2,540. If he dies,

what will I get in widow’s benefits?

A: I’m sorry, but you won’t get anything -- other than the small one-time death benefit of $255. When you are potentially due two benefits, you only get the one that pays the higher rate, unless you are due your own benefit, in which case you get that one supplemented up to the higher benefit. Your own benefit is more than your potential widow’s benefit. So that’s all you’ll get.

On the other hand, if you should die first, he would get $450 in widower’s benefits to take his $2,540 retirement rate up to your $2,990 level.

Q: My husband and I both took our Social Security at 62. We are now in our 80s. My husband’s benefit is much higher than mine. If he dies first, will I start getting what he was getting at the time of death?

A: In your situation, you’ll actually get a little bit more. Because your husband took benefits at 62, that means he is getting a reduced retirement benefit that equals 75% of his full retirement age rate. But there is a law that says a woman of your age is guaranteed a widow’s rate of 82% of her husband’s full rate. So you’ll get that extra 7% added to your widow’s benefits after he dies.

Q: I am about to turn 62. I’m thinking of retiring. My husband died 10 years ago, and I never remarried. I called Social Security, and they said I must now choose between his benefit or my own, and that once I make that choice, I’m locked out of the other benefit. But your book says something about a “widow’s option.”

A: What you were told by the Social Security rep is absolutely wrong. Let me make this very clear: Widows and widowers have the option of taking reduced benefits on one record and later switching to higher benefits on another record.

This would actually seem to contradict a rule I’ve mentioned many times in this column, the “deemed filing rule.” That rule says that when you are filing for one Social Security benefit, you are automatically filing for any and all other benefits you are due. It almost always comes into play for spousal benefits where the other spouse is still living. In other words, if your husband were still alive, you could not file for spousal benefits on his record at age 62 and later switch to higher benefits on your own account.

But that rule goes out the window for widows and widowers. You could file for reduced retirement benefits now and then at full retirement age, switch to full widow’s benefits. Or, depending on the amounts involved, it might be to your advantage to file for reduced widow’s benefits now and at full retirement age, switch to 100% of your own benefit. Or you could even wait until 70 and at that age, switch to 130% of your retirement benefit.

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.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

The value of Realtor designations when buying, selling

When a homeowner or purchaser is seriously contemplating selling or buying, the last thing on their mind is the designations an agent has earned. The main reason is that 99.9% of consumers know very little, if anything, about the meaning and ramifications of the most crucial and critical benefits of Realtor designations. Moreover, there are major components of effort, discipline, and sacrifice of a Broker’s valuable time in earning those higher prestigious designations. Lastly, consumers may not truly know, realize, or understand the amount of dedication and perseverance required to take those courses to stay current with the ever-changing real estate field. We constantly and consistently need to achieve and gain the advanced, priceless, and invaluable education necessary for those looking to hire a true top-producing Realtor.

I think there are times when those in the top 10% are taken for granted for their passion in their business. We must be disciplined daily, make concerted efforts, and be constantly active and responsible to our clientele. This is an absolute requirement without any option. It is demanded of us in the upper echelon of Realtors to provide “top-notch service, before, during, and after the sale” to stay at peak performance in our profession and career.

For example, there are approximately 7.2 million individuals in real estate globally. However, only a few million can designate and call themselves Realtors who belong to an organized association like an MLS. Of those approximately 7.2 million in real estate, only 4,190 have a Certified International Property Specialist designation (CIPS), of which I am included

Continued from page 2

No. 3: Organize your refrigerator and freezer by “first in, first out” dates. Put the oldest foods in front where you’re more likely to grab them and the newer ones toward the back.

No. 4: Keep a running list of what’s in your freezer either on your computer or on a dry-erase board. Date and label each package so you know what’s in each package.

No. 5: You can freeze hard cheeses such as Parmesan, and you can freeze yogurt, milk and even whipped cream into ice cube trays to pop into a smoothie or hot cocoa. Bread can be frozen as well; just

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

and was established in 1953. We can provide all clients with expert guidance in consulting and transacting business within the U.S. and its 50 states, dealing with all the varied cultures and customs, and internationally. We have been recognized as a Realtor who has taken, trained, and passed the necessary six courses, each a full 8-hour day, including contract law, project management, ethical sourcing, and supplier relationship management. This prestigious accomplishment has elevated those with the designation to higher and superior stature in advanced education, adding to our expansive knowledge beyond 99.9% of all agents worldwide. One earns 100 continuing education credits. One must pass the final exam with at least a grade of 80. There is another designation that I attained back in 2004 called The Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI), which I believe is what I call my master’s degree in Real Estate. There are 15 required courses, of which one has a choice of 5 elective courses, each a full day of comprehensive and advanced curriculums. This puts us in a very esteemed and exclusive group. This education provides advanced training in business skills, risk management, ethics, professional practice, real estate technology, marketing, and negotiations. Also included are proper ways of dealing with clients openly and transparently, disclosing all the required information, all the proper and required forms, learning to be a superior and advanced listener, learn-

ing the proper questions to ask sellers, investors, purchasers, renters, and leasees of residential and commercial properties, inspections, construction, and many other pertinent details that are needed to be a truly professional Realtor. When you pass the final exam with at least a 75, you will achieve this designation and receive 60 continuing education credits.

There is one more designation that I hold dear to my heart, especially having to deal with the severe climate change that is occurring all around the globe, especially here in the U.S. with the insane and destructive, costly wildfires that have devasted California and that are still present and occurring. It is the National Association of Realtors “Green” designation. It is a 2-day curriculum of 8 hours each day with 16 continuing education credits. The curriculum included sustainable building practices, marketing, and rating systems such as LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, which my son has attained and earned that specific designation as a Lead Certified Project Manager in NYC for Google.) IFGIVCT (ifgict.org) and Energy Star are other parts of the Green course structure that one must engage in. One needs to pass the final exam with at least an 80.

So when hiring a Broker, Associate Broker, or salesperson, it would be prudent to ascertain their level of education and earned designations in the real estate sector. This will determine if they have the necessary credentials, knowledge, and expertise via their edu-

NUTRITION NEWS

Waste Not

thaw it in the same package you froze it in.

No. 6: Store your herbs, celery and asparagus cut-end down in a glass of water in the refrigerator to keep them crisp and last longer.

No. 7: Before your citrus goes bad, juice it, then add it to a marinade or salad dressing or freeze it.

No. 8: Homemade vegetable soup is a great way to use up those extra bits and pieces of vegetables in the crisper: broccoli (stems too), cauliflower (leaves too) and corn, wilted kale and spinach, leftover winter squash, wrinkly carrots, potatoes -- all can be added.

No. 9: If you prefer roasting your veggies, cut them in equal parts, drizzle with

olive oil and balsamic vinegar and your favorite spices, and place on a parchment-covered cookie sheet in a 450 F oven for 20 minutes. Roasting brings out the flavors.

No. 10: Plan your menus before you go to the grocery store. That way you’ll buy what you need rather than making impulse purchases.

Q and A

Q: Is it a good idea to use a salt substitute instead of salt?

A: Compared with regular salt intake, using a salt substitute was associated with better outcomes for stroke prevention and quality-adjusted life years gained, according to a new data from the Salt Substitute

cation to promote and market your most valuable asset, your home, townhouse, condo, or coop, that the typical homeowner has locally and throughout the U.S.

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

and Stroke Study. The study, published in the journal Circulation, looked at more than 20,000 adults living in rural China who had had a prior stroke. The rate of stroke was 14% lower with use of a salt substitute in the cohort of adults who had a prior stroke or uncontrolled high blood pressure. That’s pretty convincing. At least some of the time, it might be wise to switch to a salt substitute.

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. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

Clearing Up the Confusion Around Date Labels on Packaged Foods

BY MARY HUNT

No doubt, you’ve noticed that some food products come with dates and codes printed on them. And who isn’t noticing this more now as food costs are skyrocketing?

Do those codes and dates mean the item must be consumed by that date or just sold by that date?

What about canned or packaged goods that show only a date like “2.01.25”? Does that mean you could end up in the emergency room if you consume it a month later in March?

And then there are other food products that don’t seem to have any date at all -- at least we sure can’t find any reference to one. Confusing, isn’t it?

While most food processors date and code their products and decide what their codes mean, it is the Food and Drug Administration that mandates dating, which is surprisingly limited.

Under federal law, only infant formula and baby food are required to have product dating. Everything else is voluntary on the part of food manufacturers and processors.

Meat, poultry and egg products fall under the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and dates may be voluntarily created as long as they are truthful and not misleading.

Phrases like “Best Before,” “Better if Used Before” or “Best if Used By” tell you how long the product will retain its best flavor and highest quality. You will find these phrases on products such as baked goods, cereals, snacks and some canned

BY JEFF RUGG

For the past two weeks, I have been writing about the All-America Selections winners. The AAS program trials the plants at test gardens all over the country, and judges rate the plants all during the growing season. The Green Thumb Awards program winners have been announced, so let us talk about them today. Winners of the 2025 Green ThumbAwards were chosen by two groups. There are People’s Choice Awards voted on by the public and Professional Choice Awards voted on by horticulture experts at the National Garden Bureau. I am a member of the NGB, but I did not vote this year. There are six categories and one winner in each.

The winning products were selected based on their uniqueness, technological innovation, ability to solve a gardening problem or provide a gardening opportunity, and potential appeal to gardeners. The awards are sponsored by the National Garden Bureau, a nonprofit organization that exists to educate and inspire

foods. The food is still safe to eat after this date but may have changed somewhat in taste or texture.

Perplexed? Unsure? Open it! Give it the smell test and a good visual test. I can attest to the fact that a can of nonfat evaporated milk that is three years past its

“Best By” date will not smell sour. But it may be golden in color (think school bus) and curiously separated, leaving liquid on top and chunky solids beneath. Get the picture? “Expiration,” “Use By” or “Use Before” are phrases that appear on yogurt, eggs and other foods that require refrigeration. Other dating terms are guidelines, but these usually mean what they say. If you haven’t used the product by this date, toss it out.

“Guaranteed fresh.” This date is often used for perishable baked goods. Beyond this date, freshness is no longer guaranteed, although the product may still be edible and easily refreshed with a few minutes in a hot oven.

Some products bear a “pack date,” in-

home gardeners.

dicating when it was packaged, although this date is often encrypted so that only manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers can read it.

The “Sell By” date is usually found on highly perishable foods such as meat, milk and bread. This date guides store clerks who handle the rotation of shelf stock so they know which item to sell first. This date is determined to allow time for the product to be stored and used at home. The product is still safe and wholesome past this date if handled properly until spoilage is evident -- when it looks more like a science fair project than tonight’s dinner.

For example, milk will usually be good for at least a week beyond its “Sell By” date if properly refrigerated. Meat that has reached its “Sell By” date should be either consumed or frozen within 24 hours.

The pack date on some products, such as eggs, is shown by a 3-digit Julian date (001 through 365) found on the short side

of the carton. Jan. 1 is number 001, and Dec. 31 is number 365, ignoring leap year. Eggs are safe to be consumed four to five weeks beyond that date, as long as

A GREENER VIEW

Green Thumb Awards

Let’s start with the houseplant category since the same plant was picked by both sets of judges. Prismacolor Orange you Gorgeous is a Proven Winner brand climbing philodendron that has leaves with citrus-inspired colors. The 10-inchlong triangular leaves emerge a mottled bright orange color then slowly fade to a marbled gold and green. Leaf petioles, midribs and margins remain orange. I grow the Prismacolor Sun Red, and it is incredible. The leaves of these philodendrons start one color and fade into green after a few weeks. When the plant is actively growing, there are several colors of leaves on the plants. They are easy to grow in normal indoor conditions; just be careful to not give them too much light, which can burn the new leaves.

In the annuals category, the public chose Calibrachoa Abstract Lemon Cherry. As the name suggests, the flowers are splashed in both red and yellow. Calibrachoas are short-lived evergreen perennials related to petunias native to dry areas in South America. They make great

they are kept refrigerated.

The point in all of this is that the fresher your food, the better it is. And for the most part, processors want to assure customers that their products will remain at peak quality for certain periods of time because they want to keep your business -- and having a good reputation for freshness goes a long way toward making that happen.

Here’s the bottom line: Use your common sense. Practice diligence when purchasing, storing and using up food. And never stop looking for reasonable ways to make food last longer and stretch further.

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.”

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

plants in containers and hanging baskets.

The professionals chose Cosmos Sea Shells Red in the annuals category. Each tubular petal surrounding the daisy-shaped flower head is light pink on the outside and dark pink on the inside. They make a great cut flower.

The public chose the Butterfly Bush Little Rockstars Red as their perennial winner. The flowers last all season. The plants are hardy in zones 5-9. The pros picked Hellebore JWLS Endless because the white flowers are held above the leaves and are pointed upward instead of the typical hellebore flower growing under the leaves. It blooms before just about any other plant in the garden, and it is also hardy in zones 5-9.

The public chose Broccoli Purple Magic F1, which is the first purple broccoli in the world, as their vegetable winner. In addition to the normal healthiness of broccoli, it is also high in anthocyanin. The pros chose the Basil Everleaf Lemon. It gets its name from the bright lemon flavor and the fact that it takes up to two months longer to bloom than regular basil.

You can’t go wrong choosing a hydrangea in the shrub category. The public liked the Hydrangea FlowerFull Smooth because it has two to three times more flowers that are borne on sturdy stems that don’t flop over. The pros picked the only seedless, sterile, noninvasive burning bush (Euonymus alatus) on the market. This is a game-changing plant as it allows people to have the red fall color without the plant becoming invasive. Both sets of judges chose the same item in the gardening tool category. Crescent Too Circular Positive planters are made with UBQ(tm), a climate-positive material upcycled from landfill waste. With TruDrop Flex Self-Watering Containers and Emma Planters, these products promote a circular economy, promoting sustainable consumption while minimizing waste. To find out more about these winners, go to the National Garden Bureau website at ngb.org and click on the New Plants tab. Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@ greenerview.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 JEFF RUGG

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of February 2-8, 2025

I hope you got a chance to see the moon nuzzled up to Venus on Feb. 1, and perhaps even checked out the pair through binoculars. Now, with the moon gone from the scene, it’s a great opportunity to check out Venus with a small telescope.

My first view of Venus through a scope came some 60 years ago. I was just a young teen and had received a telescope for Christmas. I was so excited I could barely sleep, so one morning before dawn I stumbled out of bed and took it out to the backyard. There in the eastern sky shone a brilliant “star” I had never seen before.

Upon aiming the scope toward this celestial beacon and focusing the optics, I was stunned. In my eyepiece appeared a white glowing orb shaped like a crescent. I recall rubbing my eyes and searching the sky while saying to myself, “What’s going on? I don’t see the moon anywhere! What am I looking at?”

It took a few weeks before I realized I had been viewing the planet Venus!

I now wonder if Galileo had the same reaction when seeing Venus for the first time with his telescope. He was the first to note that this planet displayed phases

The Changing Face of Venus

like the moon. He also realized that this meant Venus must orbit the sun -- not the Earth, as Aristotle and the Catholic Church at the time insisted.

It was quite a revolutionary discovery by Galileo and, on a smaller, more personal level, by me. It’s a sight I’ll never forget, and I still love to aim a telescope toward this beautiful planet.

Right now is a great time to do so. Venus is rounding the sun in our direction. Over the next month or so, as sunlight falls more onto its back side than the front, the planet will show a thinner and thinner crescent.

Not only that, but Venus will also appear to grow as it approaches the Earth. Check out the attached illustration, and you’ll see what I mean.

On Feb. 2, Venus will lie some 47.2 million miles from us and will show a thick crescent. By the 23rd the crescent will have thinned noticeably, and the planet will be only about 34.3 million miles away.

After this, the planet will drop lower in the dusk sky and will become quite difficult to see against the glow of dusk. But if you could see it during March, it will lie well under 30 million miles away, with a crescent that appears razor thin.

Over the next couple of weeks, it will pass nearly in front of the sun and

emerge on the other side. This means that instead of setting after the sun, it will set before it -- and will also rise before it in the morning.

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

There are a lot of things my husband does well. Shopping, however, is not his forte. This I learned after I sent him to the drugstore to get me some Anbesol for my canker sore, and he came home with Anusol, a product for hemorrhoids.

“It was an honest mistake,” he admitted.

“Yes, I can see how you might have been confused,” I said. “One product goes in your mouth, the other goes on your ...”

“I get the point,” he interrupted. In his defense, I have to admit I spend a lot more time in the drugstore and grocery store than he does, and therefore I’m much more familiar with the names and uses of all the products out there than he is. And, in all fairness, there are things that he knows that I am clueless about. Whereas he is fluent in hardware-ese, I can’t tell the difference between a wrench and a pair of pliers. I know if I were set loose in Home Depot

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

By late March and early April, you should begin to see its brilliant glow in the dawn sky. If you’d like to have a look at that time, you’ll enjoy the same marvelous view I got some six decades ago.

LOST IN SUBURBIA

Shopping With the Supermarket King

with instructions to buy some caulk, I’d probably wander aimlessly for hours until I was found curled up in the fetal position, mumbling to myself in the drywall aisle.

Of course, I think it’s great that he even offers to go out and get some of these things when we need them. But much as I appreciate the help, when he offers, I have to pause, wondering what will actually be in the bag when he returns from the shopping trip.

“Give me a very detailed list,” he said one night, “and I’ll get exactly what you want.”

“I don’t make lists,” I explained. “I just know what we need, and I get it. It’s the same every week.”

“If you want me to get the right stuff, write it down.”

So I did. I wrote down everything I could think of in what brand and what size and what color, and it took so long that I realized I could probably have gone to the supermarket and back twice in the time it took me to make a husband-proof shopping list.

Still, I reminded myself that I appreciate the help, and with fingers and toes crossed, I sent him off on his shopping adventure.

“Enjoy your free time,” he told me on his way out. “Go take a bubble bath.”

A half-hour went by. Then an hour. There were five things on the list.

Then the phone rang. I got out of the tub.

“OK, I think I have everything,” he said. “One question. I found the detergent, but there are, like, seven different kinds,” he said a little less confidently. “Do you want regular, Fresh Air, Free and Clear, Rainshower, Linen or Morning Bloom?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Fresh Air, I guess.”

“OK,” he said before hanging up.

I got back in the tub. The phone rang. I got out of the tub.

“You said you want the 64-ounce size, but if you get two 32-ounce sizes, the second one is half off.”

“That’s fine,” I said OK,” he said before hanging up.

I got back in the tub. The phone rang. I got out of the tub.

“I have another question,” he said. “Aaauuugghhhhh,” I yelled as I dripped bubbles on the floor. “I don’t care! Just get whatever you want.”

Half an hour later, he walked in the door.

“I got everything you wrote down and some things that weren’t on the list,” he said with a sly smile. I groaned, thinking about the 10 boxes of Mallomars that were probably in the bag.

From behind his back, he handed me some fashion magazines and a bouquet of flowers.

I gave him a hug and smiled sheepishly. “So ... do you need anything at the hardware store tomorrow?”

Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online! You can visit her at www. tracybeckerman.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

Now is a great time to view Venus as it rounds the sun in Earth’s direction.

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LEGAL ASSISTANT P/T

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Call Sharon 347-739-7717

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WE BUY HOUSES FOR CASH AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670

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INVITED SALES BY TRACY

JORDAN

Transform your space, maximize your value: Are you looking to add value to your property and enhance its appeal? Look no further!

At Invited Sales, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet your needs: Personal Property Appraisals and Evaluations: Get expert insights into the true value of your personal property.

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Or Text Tracy Jordan: 516-567-2960

AUTOMOTIVE

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ATTORNEY

STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ.

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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HEALTH SERVICES

FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC

Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager

Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion

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Adult Psychiatrist & Nutritionist

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A multilingual practice

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Plastering, Taping, Sheetrock

Skim Cutting, Old Wood Refinish, Staining, Wallpaper Removal & Hanging, Paint Removal, Power Washing, Wood Replacement

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PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-866-448-8311 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Last Hope Part of the Chewy.com Rescue Program

If you haven’t tried Chewy.com yet for your pet food and supply purchases, this is a great time to check them out. Last Hope is now part of their rescue program. For each new customer that makes a purchase, Last Hope will receive a $20 donation. Click on the ad below or go directly to the Last Hope page at https://www.chewy. com/rp/5941

Graduated from school? Have an outstanding GPA? Made the honor roll or Dean’s List? Scored an internship or study abroad opportunity? We invite you to send details of any of these things and more, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be seen in our paper!

CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900

Confront the common cold with this beloved seasonal staple

Chicken Barley Soup with Vegetables

Everyone knows there’s no cure for the common cold. Though colds can strike at any time, cold season tends to occur when the weather cools down and people spend more time indoors. Inside viruses can circulate and spread more easily, thus leading to elevated rates of infection.

Though there might be no cure for the common cold, that does not mean people are helpless against it. Many people have their own remedies to help them manage and potentially shorten the duration of a cold, and chicken soup features prominently in those antidotes. Whether cold season is kicking into high gear or people are confronting the common cold at other times of year, they can incorporate this recipe for “Chicken Barley Soup with Vegetables courtesy of Lines+Angles into their cold remedy routines.

Makes 6 servings

8 cups chicken stock

4 cups water

1 teaspoon marjoram

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 medium onion, sliced

1 cup carrots, sliced

2 cups cooked chicken breasts, diced

1 russet potato, peeled and cubed

1 cup broccoli, chopped

1⁄2 cup barley

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

1) In a large pot, combine chicken stock, water, marjoram, rosemary, and parsley. Simmer for 15 minutes.

2) Add onion, carrots, cooked

chicken, potato, broccoli, and barley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat for 35 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve.

February events at the Floral Park Library

“Without Valentine’s Day, February would be, well…January.”

– Jim Gaffigan

May you find love in a good book this month (and elsewhere, too!).

Book Clubs

The legacy Friends of the Library Book Club book lovers meets Monday, February 3rd at 10:15 am, and Daniel Mason’s “North Woods” is the discussion topic for the February 13, 7:00 p.m. Evening Edition Book Club. For romantics, “It Ends with Us” will be shown in the Community Room on February 10 at 1:00 p.m.

AARP Tax Prep

It’s THAT time again! AARP Tax Prep session begin February 4, and continue weekly through April 8.  Registration — by appointment only — for Floral Park residents only begins January 27; all others February 3. Why are love and taxes in the same month?

Taxes and Money

In keeping with the tax  — and money —

theme, Nassau County Receiver of Taxes

Jeanine Driscoll hosts tax grievance night at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, and the New York State Comptroller’s office presents a program on unclaimed funds.

Programs for Adults

Rounding out Adult programs, Carol Leitner offers Plant Food Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle. Marina Horan and Doug Cioffi lead a talk about birding, and show Doug’s award winning bird photographs taken at Floral Park’s Centennial Gardens. Hybrid Chair Yoga with Micheline continues Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m.

Urban Explorers Go to the Library

A private tour of the New York City Public Library is on tap for February’s Floral Park Library Urban Explorers outing.

Programs for Teens

For Teens, February brings Spy Game (Unleash your Inner Secret Agent), a Vacation Mini-comic book event, and a P[arty] Art program.

Programs for Kids

There’s a four-day Winter vacation Mini-art Camp for the younger set, an author visit, and a winter break cooking fun session  (pre-K – 1st grade) with Chef Julie. And, the “regulars” are here, too:  Play Hooray, A Time for Kids Baby Start and Family Pre-School Hour; Craft with the Pom Pom Queen (grades 3 – 5); Tiny Tots Storytime, and more cooking fun with Chefs of d’Future.

Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting

Our 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.

Library Board Meeting

The Library Board of Trustees meets at February 19 at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Tech Help

One-to-one tech help with Joe for tab-

Attention students!

lets, 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.

Library 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 Monday, February 17, for President’s Day.

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

Graduated from school? Have an outstanding GPA? Made the honor roll or Dean’s List? Scored an internship or study abroad opportunity? We invite you to send details of any of these things and more, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be seen in our paper!

Urban Explorers visit Cathedral of the Incarnation

January 31,

The Floral Park Urban Explorers enjoyed a trip to the nearby Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City on January 23.

The Cathedral of the Incarnation.

The group enjoyed lunch at Leo’s Tavern in Garden City.

The Urban Explorers off on another great adventure!

On

the Floral Park Urban Explorers group from the Floral Park Public Library traveled to nearby Garden City to tour the Cathedral of the Incarnation. The tour was followed by lunch at Leo's Tavern on Seventh Street.