The Rosary Altar Society of Our Lady of Victory held its annual Harvest Fair on Saturday, October 19. The large crowd enjoyed the beautiful weather while perusing items including gifts, jewelry, raffle prizes and plenty of great food. See page 8.
Fall events planned at FP Library
Warm Drive to Collect Clothing
In this season of giving and gratitude, the Floral Park Library is conducting a Warm Drive to benefit Ronald McDonald House. Donations of new scarves, mittens, gloves and caps are welcome. The Library extends warm wishes for a bountiful Thanksgiving to all
our patrons and presenters.
“Food for Fines” Month
In addition, November is also the “Food for Fines” exchange month. Patrons can receive up to a total of $5.00 in fine forgiveness when they bring non-perishable food item(s) to the Library. The donation bin is located next to the
Circulation Desk. Neighbors are also welcome to make a donation!
Cooking Programs
November is a food-tastic month (for obvious reasons) and also because “House” Chef Julie is cooking up a tasty Thanksgiving treat for families, while Chef
See page 12
FP Police to host Drug Takeback Day
Fall Fun Events Pack the Weekend
BY RIKKI MASSAND
Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo announced that the village will celebrate the Floral Park Police Department’s 100th anniversary throughout 2024. In September, she led the Board of Trustees in congratulating Police Benevolent Association President and FPPD Sgt. Matthew Viscusi, along with Commissioner Stephen G. McAllister.
“We are blessed to have a strong and caring police department and PBA who make and keep our homes and businesses safe and enjoyable,” she said.
At the Board of Trustees’ meeting held on Tuesday, October 15th the Board learned about a continuing investigation of a burglary of a home on Holland Avenue in the village’s North End. Local police officers and detectives are actively working with the Nassau County Detectives and the Crime Squad.
“The departments frequently coordinate on criminal activity and evidence – in this case including home video footage, video from neighbors and fingerprints. The investigation will be ongoing,” the deputy mayor said last week.
She also noted that the FPPD is focused on investigating construction fraud, a growing crime trend in Long Island and other parts of the country.
Residents are reminded that if you see someone or
See page 2
Free Sample
We'd like to introduce you to Floral Park's newest newspaper! Over the next few weeks we will be mailing free copies of our print edition to homes in town. We hope you like it!
To learn how to subscribe, or to contribute material, please see page 15
Floral Park Police to host Drug Takeback Day
From page 1
something suspicious and you are concerned, please call 911 or 516-326-6400 immediately.
Drug Take-back Day
On Saturday, October 26th from 10 am to 2 pm the Floral Park Police Department will participate in the nationwide effort to mark National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, set up in front of Police Headquarters next to Village Hall (One Floral Boulevard).
The Floral Park Lions Club will be joining the village and police in the event to distribute complimentary health and wellness items.
“Community service is another priority of the FPPD – residents are urged
to use this opportunity to properly dispose of any medications that have expired or are no longer needed. Simply bring them to our police department, in or out of the original containers, and drop them off in the Police Take-Back Day boxes,” Deputy Mayor Pombonyo noted.
Fairie Forest Festival
She provided news on other events taking place this coming weekend, starting with the much-anticipated Fairie Forest Festival at Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary from 1 to 4 pm on Saturday, October 26th.
“Fun for children and adults alike, you will be AMAZED at the tiny fairies in their tiny farming, fishing, baking, music, artist, leprechaun and Hallow-
Chamber VP honored as
Financial Advisor to Watch
Tony Sirianni (left), publisher of AdvisorHub financial services website, congratulates Shane Parouse, a principal at Shelter Rock Wealth Management.
Shane Parouse, vice president of the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce, was recently named a Financial Advisor to Watch by AdvisorHub magazine.
Shane is a principal and wealth management advisor at Shelter Rock Wealth Management, which has over $250MM assets under management from throughout the country.
een village settings and more! Check out the Floral Park Centennial Gardens and Village of Floral Park social media pages for details about Festival day and the loveliest of ‘Fairie photos.’
Volunteers are needed for the event, and anyone interested can contact Fairie Forest Festival creator Ann Moynagh at fpcentennial@gmail.com
Covert Avenue Treat Trail
On October 26th, the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce will also host a pre-Festival event with their annual “Treat Trail” between 11 am and 1 pm. Deputy Mayor Pombonyo explained the event details at last week’s Board meeting:
“Follow the blue pumpkins along the Covert Avenue store windows and come
get your allergy-free treats. Then when you complete the Treat Trail, it’s on to Centennial Gardens for some fun with the Fairies! Don’t you just love autumn in Floral Park?!” she said.
In other Village news, Trustee Frank Chiara announced that on Tuesday, October 29th at 7 pm the Floral Park Library will hold a program on the basics of the popular Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform ChatGPT. AI consultant Karen Quinones-Smith will provide hands-on instruction of the basics of ChatGPT, and will show participants how to log on and chat to get information and answers interactively. Participants are encouraged to bring their tablets or laptops to the library class.
OLV Rosary Altar Society to meet November 3rd
The next meeting of the Our Lady of Victory Rosary Altar Society will be Sunday, November 3, following the 9 am mass in Memorial Hall.
The society will be making advent
The 2024 Advisors to Watch Rankings List ranks advisors on the basis of 1) scale and quality of practice, 2) year over year growth, and 3) overall professionalism.
Shane spent ten years on Wall Street before becoming an advisor for over 20 years.
wreaths and collecting household and clothing items (new) for soldiers and veterans. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.
Natl. Merit semifinalist at FP High School
Floral Park Memorial High School senior Edward Shen has been selected as a semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Students enter the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Approximately 16,000 students qualify as semifinalists due to their high scores on the test. A semifinalist must fulfill several additional requirements and advance to the finalist level of the competition before being considered for a National Merit Scholarship.
Roadshow “FPHS Style”
The Floral Park Historical Society will hold its Antique Roadshow “FPHS Style“ on Sunday, November 10. Appraisals will be provided by Marion Rizzo of Syl-Lee Antiques. Bring your vintage treasurers and what-nots! No paintings or furniture, please! Limit one or two items.
The event will take place at 2 p.m. at the Floral Park Recreation Pool Building. The public is invited. No written appraisals will be provided.
Are you a professional?
Floral Park Memorial High School student Edward Shen is pictured with Principal Alicia Calabrese.
Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
Paper chains of positivity for Unity Day
John Lewis Childs School hallways were decorated with beautiful orange paper chains in honor of Unity Day, on Oct. 16.
Each student wrote messages of kindness or drew positive imagery on a piece of orange paper, which was then linked with their classmates’, creating a paper chain. Students were also encouraged to
wear orange to show support and send a message of anti-bullying.
Unity Day is an annual nationwide event dedicated to promoting kindness, acceptance and inclusion as part of National Bullying Prevention Month in October.
The students wrote messages of kindness on the chain's links.
John Lewis Childs School students displayed their orange paper chains for Unity Day on Oct. 16.
Unity Day promotes kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
School hallways were decorated with orange paper chains.
Photos courtesy of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District
FP women bring comfort to shelter pets
Members of the Floral Park Woman's Club with some of the dog beds made by members.
The combined efforts of the Floral Park Junior Woman's Club and the Floral Park Woman's Club are helping to make sheltered dogs a little more comfortable.
The ladies sew and stuff dog beds for animal shelters in the hope that the dog beds will not only give comfort but will
also relieve the stress of being in cages until the dogs find a loving home.
Both organizations meet at the FP Recreation Center. The JWC meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. and the WC meets the third Wednesday of the month at 12:30 p.m.
The dog beds are donated to local animal shelters to make the animals there more comfortable.
No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em
Commended students at Floral Park HS
Unlimited Re-bUys FoR the FiRst hoUR
Unlimited Re-bUys FoR the FiRst hoUR
Add ons AvAilAble At dooR And FiRst bReAk
Add ons AvAilAble At dooR And FiRst bReAk
33 S. Tyson Ave.
Floral Park Memorial High School seniors Ainsley Cunningham, Hannah Sanders and Fiona So have been recognized as Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Students enter the competition by
Registration includes food, soft drinks and drink ticket.
Registration includes food, soft drinks and drink ticket.
Limited Seats Available!
Limited Seats Available!
taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Approximately 34,000 high scorers are designated as Commended Students. Each student received a Letter of Commendation in honor of their academic success.
Hillcrest Civic Association meetings
Venmo@FPKnights-Youth Association to register or contact
The meetings take place at the Floral Park Recreation Center at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome. Saturday, November 9
732-485-2378 / 917-833-8191
Registration includes food, soft drinks and drink ticket. Limited Seats Available! Venmo@FPKnights-Youth Association to register or contact 732-485-2378 / 917-833-8191
Venmo@FPKnights-Youth Association to register or contact 732-485-2378 / 917-833-8191
The next meeting of the Hillcrest Civic Association was held on Thursday, October 24. In addition, to the Village trustee and a representative of the Floral Park Police Department, the association welcomed speaker Kevin Ginanne of the Floral Park Public Works Department.
The November meeting will be Thursday, November 21. It will be a joint meeting with the Northside Civic Association.
Proceeds will benefit our 12U Cooperstown teams.
Proceeds will benefit our 12U Cooperstown teams.
ATTENTION STUDENTS!
We invite you to send details of your academic achievements, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be featured in our paper! Submissions from students of all ages are welcome!
Floral Park Memorial High School’s Commended Students (from left), Hannah Sanders, Ainsley Cunningham and Fiona So, are pictured with Principal Alicia Calabrese.
Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
5K RUN/WALK
OctOber 26, 2024 @ 9:00 AM
FlOrAl PArk, NY
FOr MOre iNFO Or tO register scAN:
Portion of the proceeds to benefit the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund - New York Chapter
Our Lady of Victory holds Harvest Fair
Rosary Altar Society members at the raffle table
Mike Barry entertained the crowd with his music.
The Our Lady of Victory Rosary Altar Society's Harvest Fair drew a large crowd.
Members of the Rosary Altar Society
Many vendors were selling items that would make great gifts.
The Knights of Columbus made some great food.
The Rosary Altar Society of Our Lady of Victory held its annual Harvest Fair on Saturday, October 19. The large crowd enjoyed the beautiful weather while perusing items including gifts, jewelry, raffle prizes and plenty of great food.
1.Check Windows and Doors
This is one of the easiest ways to save on winter energy bills and keep your house from getting cold. Make sure there are not cracks, leaks or air coming through the window sills or door frames.
2.Clean Your Heating and Air Conditioning
Having your air conditioner and heater units cleaned twice a year — spring and fall- will help your family stay healthier and expand the life of your units. A professional cleaning is inexpensive and takes a very short amount of time.
3. Check Your Fireplace
Many people still use wood burning or gas fireplaces in the winter. Do a visual
inspection of your fireplace to make sure that it is in good working order. Give it a test run at some point in the fall, before it gets too cold, to make sure that it will be functioning in the winter.
4.Clean Your Water Heater
You can clean your water heater by simply draining it. Allow all of the water in the tank to come out. This will get rid of any buildup that is in the heater due to sediment and will help prevent it from building up during the winter.
5.Protect Your Hose
To keep your garden hose from freezing and cracking empty it completely and disconnect it from the spigot. Moving it inside is also a good idea to help prevent
your hose from freezing and getting destroyed.
6.Check Your Roof
When prepping maintaining your home it is important to start from the bottom up. Take a look at your roof, even from the ground, and see if there are any missing shingles or holes in the roof. Make sure your gutters are clear of leaves, sticks and debris.
7.Clean Out the Garage
Make sure that any unused gas in equipment is removed and stored properly. Allowing the gas to sit in the fuel tanks can cause sediment in the tank and can potentially ruin the equipment. Since it may be out of use for months, fall is a good time to do this.
Anne Frank House in NYC Headlines Culture Calendar
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
New York is one of the premier cultural capitals of the world and fall is when the culture calendar gets into gear. But here’s a heads-up: the blockbuster exhibit of the year - the opportunity to tour a full-scale re-creation of Anne Frank’s Annex as it stands in Amsterdam - opens January 27, 2025, and tickets are on sale now. Here are highlights of what’s ahead on the culture calendar:
Groundbreaking Full-Scale Re-Creation of Anne Frank’s Annex Amsterdam and New YorkThe Anne Frank House, one of the most visited historical sites in Europe, is presenting a pioneering experience: the opportunity to walk through an exact replica of Anne Frank’s hiding place where she wrote her famous diary.
Anne Frank The Exhibition opens in New York City on January 27, 2025. Considering that tickets to visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam book up months in advance, tickets for this exhibit are now available at AnneFrankExhibit.org.
This is the first time the Anne Frank House will present this opportunity for visitors outside of Amsterdam to be immersed in a full-scale recreation of the rooms where Anne Frank, her parents and sister, and four other Jews spent two years hiding to evade Nazi capture.
As a nonprofit organization helping to shape global understanding of the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance, including lessons on modern day antisemitism, racism, and discrimination, the Anne Frank House is entrusted with the preservation of the Annex where Anne Frank and her
De Boekenkast: bookcase in front of Secret Annex. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to actually tour a re-creation of Anne Frank’s hiding place, never before seen outside Amsterdam (credit: Anne Frank House)
family hid during World War II. This exhibition, presented in New York City in partnership with the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan, opens on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2025, to mark the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Anne Frank The Exhibition is a first-of-its-kind, full-scale recreation of the complete Annex, furnished as it would have been when Anne and her family were forced into hiding. Moving through the exhibition, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the context that shaped Anne’s life—from her early years in Frankfurt, Germany through the rise of the Nazi regime and the family’s 1934 move to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where Anne lived for ten years until her 1944 arrest and deportation to Westerbork, a large transit camp in the Netherlands, then to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a concentration camp and killing center in Nazioccupied Poland, and eventually to her
death at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany when she was 15 years old.
Designed for audiences who may not have the opportunity to visit the Netherlands, the new exhibition in New York City is anticipated to draw massive attendance for what will be among the most important presentations of Jewish historical content on view in the United States. Through the recreated Annex; exhibition galleries immersing visitors in place and history through video, sound, photography, and animation; and more than 100 original collection items from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Anne Frank The Exhibition will provide an opportunity to learn about Anne Frank not as a victim but through the multifaceted lens of her life—as a girl, a writer, and a symbol of resilience and strength. This is a story inspired by one of the most translated books in the world.
The New York City exhibition will
GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR
occupy over 7,500 square feet of gallery space in the heart of Union Square. This marks the first time dozens of artifacts will be seen in the United States—many have never been seen in public. Artifacts in the exhibition include:
• Anne Frank’s first photo album (1929-1942);
• Anne Frank’s typed and handwritten invitation to her friend for a film screening in he home (by 1942, anti-Jewish measures prohibited Jews from attending the cinema); and
• Handwritten verses by Anne Frank in her friends’ poetry albums
Anne Frank The Exhibition is a limited engagement, scheduled to close on April 30, 2025. Public programming and educational initiatives tied to the exhibition will be announced when the exhibition opens to the public.
Timed entry individual and family tickets are available at AnneFrankExhibit.org. The exhibition is designed for children (ages 10 and older) and adults. All general admission tickets include the exhibition audio guide. Visitors should plan to spend approximately one hour at the exhibition. Last entry is one hour before closing.
Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, N.Y. between 5th and 6th Avenues
Edges of Ailey at Whitney Museum of American Art
Edges of Ailey at the Whitney Museum of American Art through Febraury 9, 2025, is the first largescale museum exhibition to celebrate the life, dances, influences, and enduring legacy of visionary artist and choreographer Alvin Ailey. This dynamic showcase brings together visual art, live performance, music,
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GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....
Anne Frank House in NYC Headlines Culture Calendar
Continued from previous page
a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. Described as an “extravganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards, Edges of Ailey is the must-see event of the NYC fall/winter season. The landmark exhibition is on view only in New York City.
Presented at the Museum in multiple parts, Edges of Ailey consists of an immersive exhibition in the Museum’s 18,000 square-foot fifth-floor galleries that includes artworks by over 80 artists and never-before-seen archival materials. Artists featured in the exhibition include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Faith Ringgold, Alma Thomas, Jacob Lawrence, Kara Walker, and many others. A recent acquisition of Eldren Bailey and new works by Karon Davis, Jennifer Packer, Mickalene Thomas, and Lynette YiadomBoakye will be presented for the first time in honor of this landmark exhibition.
Edges of Ailey is part of a ‘Season of Ailey’ in New York City, which includes the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company›s annual engagement at New York City Center, December 4-January 5.
Also at the Whitney: Opening November 1, Shifting Landscapes explores how evolving political, ecological, and social issues motivate artists’ representations of the world around them. The 120 works by more than 80 artists—including Firelei Báez, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jane Dickson, Gordon Matta-Clark, Amalia Mesa-Bains, and Purvis Young—depict the effects of industrialization on the environment, grapple with the impact of geopolitical borders, and give shape to imagined spaces as a way of destabilizing the
concept of a “natural” world.
More information at whitney.org/ exhibitions
Inaugural Perelman Performing Arts Center NYC Icons of Culture Festival
This fall, the Perelman Performing Arts Center [PAC NYC] is staging its inaugural PAC NYC ICONS OF CULTURE FESTIVAL from Tuesday, October 29 – Saturday, November 2, 2024. The festival will bring audiences into the room with trailblazers in art, music, comedy, film, sports, and more to talk about pushing boundaries, making a mark, and elevating the everyday to the iconic. Icons to appear in conversation at the festival include Misty Copeland, The Dogist, Alex Edelman, Renée Fleming, Michael Imperioli, Baaba Maal, Philippe Petit, Questlove, Marcus Samuelsson, Kathleen Turner, Serena Williams, and Vanity Fair’s Little Gold Men Live! A calendar of events is available at www.pacnyc.org
Rich Calendar of Cultural Events
Art Deco City: New York Postcards from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection at Museum of the City of New York, East Harlem, through February 17, 2025: Featuring over 250 postcards alongside decorative arts, fashion, and architectural models, the exhibition highlights the role postcards played in popularizing Art Deco landmarks like the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center.
Make Way for Berthe Weill: Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-Garde at Grey Art Museum, Noho, Manhattan, through March 1, 2025: Berthe Weill, the first woman modern art dealer, championed artists like Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. This survey features around 110 works shown at her gallery in the early 20th century and highlights her work as a gallerist and advocate.
Pets and the City at The New-York
Historical Society, Manhattan, October 25, 2024—April 20, 2025: Featuring a diverse range of art, objects, memorabilia and media clips, this exhibition highlights pets’ lives in NYC, from early Indigenous cultures to today’s pampered companions. It also examines the growing pet population and addresses topics such as pet adoption and the importance of service animals. Also: From Paul Revere to Edward Hopper: Treasures from the Leonard L. Milberg Collection of American Prints, Drawings, and Watercolors, through October 27, 2024; Scenes of New York City: Selections from the Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld Collection, through October 27, 2024; Enchanting Imagination: The Objets d’Art of André Chervin and Carvin French Jewelers, through January 5, 2025
A Billion Dollar Dream: The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair on its 60th Anniversary at Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, November 3, 2024—March 9, 2025: A Billion Dollar Dream celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair by examining its legacy through social, political and environmental lenses. Featuring materials from the Queens Museum›s collection, the exhibition highlights the Fair›s promotion of progress and nationhood while reflecting contemporary issues, including civil rights and the women›s liberation movement.
Solid Gold at The Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, November 16, 2024—July 6, 2025: Solid Gold celebrates the allure of gold, presenting over 500 works that explore the color and material’s significance in art, fashion, film and design throughout history. Opening for the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversary, the exhibition features stunning pieces from renowned designers like Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, alongside gold-
Don’t Lose That Muscle Mass
BY CHARLYN FARGO
Ever heard of sarcopenia? It’s the gradual loss of muscle mass that can occur with aging. Some 15% of people over the age of 65 and 50% of people over 80 suffer from it.
But you or your loved ones don’t have to be included in that group.
Here’s what happens: As we lose muscle mass, we lose strength. If we lose too much, our legs and arms get weak, and we can’t hoist that suitcase into the overhead bin of an airplane or walk like we used to.
The key to keeping your muscles strong is to use those muscles -- and eat enough protein. The body’s ability to make muscle from protein decreases a bit
with aging, so increasing dietary protein -along with muscle building exercises -- can help maintain muscle mass and strength.
Paul Jacques, a professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and senior scientist on the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging’s Nutritional Epidemiology Team, and his colleagues found higher protein intake may translate to less frailty, disability, or physical dysfunction.
“We found that higher protein intake was associated with a 30 percent lower risk of losing functional integrity with time,” writes Jacques in Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter. “This is observational data, but it clearly demonstrates the potential importance of a high-
ground paintings, sculptures and jewelry by notable artists such as Alexander Calder and Bulgari.
Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, November 17, 2024—February 17, 2025: Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now examines how Black artists and cultural figures have engaged with ancient Egypt through art, literature and performance over nearly 150 years. Featuring 200 works, the exhibition explores themes like the creation of a unifying identity and the contributions of Black scholars. It also includes a dedicated gallery for performance art, featuring live performances on select days.
Lillie P. Bliss and the Birth of the Modern at The Museum of Modern Art, Manhattan, November 17, 2024— March 29, 2025: The Museum of Modern Art will host this exhibition in celebration of one of its founders and her crucial role in promoting modern art in the US. The exhibit marks 90 years since Bliss’s contributions to MoMA and will feature about 40 works. The exhibition will also display archival materials, highlighting her lasting impact on the museum and the acceptance of modern art in America. New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players Celebrates 50th Anniversary Season: New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP), America’s preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, announces a Golden Jubilee, celebrating its 50th anniversary season and honoring 150 years of the wit and wonder of Gilbert & Sullivan. The celebrated full company and orchestra will perform “Ruddigore” on Nov. 23 – 24, 2024; “The Pirates of Penzance” on Jan. 4 – 12, 2025; and “Iolanthe” on April 5-6, 2025 at the Gerald Lynch Theatre at John Jay College. Info and tickets at www. nygasp.org
The problem is many older adults have difficulty chewing meat (a good source of protein) due to teeth or denture problems. Older adults also produce less hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, which breaks down protein, another reason to consume additional protein later in life.
It’s best to include protein foods in every meal -- to spread protein intake out evenly throughout the day. Think about including non-meat sources of protein -- protein shakes or supplements, milk, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, beans, fish, eggs and soy.
The Recommended Daily Allowance
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BY CLAIRE LYNCH
My house is haunted. I didn’t know it beforehand, didn’t expect it and didn’t it want it to be but it was. My family and I bought the house hoping to fill it with kids, with friends and with happy gatherings not just on holidays but on any day of the week. We wanted to enjoy life and make lots of memories at 483 Pine Street but it wasn’t to be so. From the moment we moved in last autumn things took a turn for the worse. The first night I slept I was hoping for a sound, refreshing sleep but at 2 a.m. I was rudely awakened by a scream. Jumping up, I rubbed my eyes and saw a figure walking down the hallway. She was old, had an angular shape, wore a hat rakishly and she pulled a dark robe tightly around her as she walked. Sensing my glare, the old lady turned and stared at me. By the time I put on my shoes and chased after the witch, she was gone. Going downstairs, I checked all the doors to be sure they weren’t ajar and I checked all of the doorknobs. Each door was closed firmly and each doorknob was locked securely.
Approaching the kitchen door, I pulled the curtain aside and peered out into the night. It was dark with only a crescent moon above. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary but standing there at that hour I smelled the faint smell of a fireplace blazing down the street. Someone else was up then, some neighbor was either comfortably ensconced on their living room couch cozily reading a book or they, too, were sitting up, terrified of the witch.
Making a note to ask my neighbors once morning came, I climbed back upstairs and tried to get some shut-eye. It was hard to sleep soundly because I kept picturing the harsh face of the witch who seemed to think that I was the intruder because I was encroaching on her home territory.
Wondering how the witch got inside my house, I searched my brain to remember if I’d seen any articles about ghosts in the house when I did my research on 483 Pine Street. I didn’t remember seeing anything about ghosts taking up space or I wouldn’t have bought the house.
My husband and I wanted a peaceful place, a sanctuary for us and our two young kids, Ralphie, four, and Amy,
That House on Pine Street
two. Both slept soundly, I was glad for that, but the next morning over breakfast Ralphie asked what all the commotion was about. He didn’t use the word commotion, he said he’d been awakened by a scream then heard my footsteps as I walked down the hall.
Assuring Ralphie that everything was okay, I changed the subject and hoped for the best. I would call my realtor soon to see if anything unusual had happened at 483 Pine Street. Nothing had been disclosed. No, she said, before hanging up hurriedly. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Things were quiet for a few weeks but as Halloween approached, I felt a stirring in the house. All day long I felt unnerved. Sleep didn’t come easily but eventually I would drift off. I needed to be strong for the kids and to help prepare their Halloween costumes. Even though the nighttime noises told me something was amiss, I had to be calm and steady.
Once I heard a board being lifted and dropped in the attic. Another time there was a moan and a wail - those noises were out of place. What on earth was going on?
A few weeks later I heard what sounded like coins being dropped on the ceiling. Rat-ta-tata-tat. What was that? I heard someone with heavy boots walking along the hallways that had looked so polished and so appealing the day we’d toured the house as prospective buyers. Looking at my husband, I raised my eyebrows and wondered what had gone so wrong.
The last straw was one morning when I went outside and saw a tall ladder leaning against our house up toward the attic. Picturing the witch climbing in and out, up and down the ladder, I shrieked and almost fainted. My husband caught me and whispered, right there on the spot, that we would sell the house at 483 Pine Street and move to a house that really was a home, to a house that was indeed a sanctuary and a respite.
We wanted to be settled and relaxed long before the kids started school. We wanted to send each of them off to nursery school - and kindergarten when the time was right - to good schools in a town where we could live and breathe without the feel of a witch who liked to play tricks on us and keep us on the edge of our seats.
I say that because I didn’t think it was a Halloween trick. I thought we had entered someone else’s world. We were the intruders and she wouldn’t stand for it. She would make life so frightening and so uncomfortable that the four of us would go running. We’d call the movers once again and break out the boxes to pack all of our belongings. We’d had our duel with the witch and in the end, she had won. We wouldn’t stay but we believed that she would occupy the house for many more years ahead.
I wondered if our neighbors were still comfortably ensconced in their living room even after they saw the big moving van in front of our house seven months after we had moved in, set out the welcome mat, put the toys out in the back yard for the kids to play with, ran the sprinkler and started to tend the most beautiful garden on the block. I wonder how it suited them then. April is the cruelest month. So said T.S. Eliot and we had to agree. Goodbye and Happy Halloween! This is fiction.
BY TOM MARGENAU
In mid-October every year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its much-anticipated report on changes (usually increases) to the Consumer Price Index over the past 12 months. Why is this little esoteric government report -- actually called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers -- so popular? Because for the past 50 years, it’s the report that determines the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that Social Security beneficiaries will get the following year.
Because my column has a long lead time, what I am reporting here isn’t news to most of my readers. As I’m sure you already heard, all 68 million Social Security beneficiaries’ checks are going up 2.5% in 2025.
I always dread mentioning COLAs in this column because every single time I do, I am flooded with emails from readers complaining that the increase is not enough.
Yet here’s the rub: Many economists and social planners believe Social Security COLAs are too generous! (I’ve explained why in past columns, but don’t have the space to get into that argument today.) That’s why most discussions of long-range reform for Social Security include proposals to reduce cost-of-living increases.
But for now, that’s neither here nor there. Let’s get back to the 2025 Social Security COLA. Due to these increases, the average monthly retirement check will be $1,976 in 2025, a $49 increase from the 2024 level. The maximum Social Security check for a worker turning full retirement age in 2025 will be $4,018, compared to $3,822 in 2024. And please note that $4,018 is the maximum for someone turning full retirement age in 2025. That does not mean it is the maximum Social Security payment anyone can receive. There are millions of Social Security beneficiaries who get much more than that, primarily because they worked well past their FRA and/or delayed starting their benefits until age 70.
Here’s another important point about the COLA. Many readers have been asking me if they must file for Social Security benefits in 2024 to get the COLA that’s paid in January 2025. The answer is no. The COLA will be built into the benefit computation formula. So even if you don’t file for Social Security until next year, or some subsequent year, you’ll still get the 2.5% increase.
Although this is a Social Security column, I must mention the upcoming increase in the Medicare Part B premium, which is deducted from Social Security checks for most people. As I was writing this column, the 2025 basic Part B premium was not yet announced. But it is projected to be $185. That’s $5.20 more than the 2024 rate. And as has been the case
Social Security COLA for 2025
for 20 years now, wealthy people will pay more than the basic premium.
from his or her monthly benefits.
I don’t want to get into the complicated issue of Medicare premiums other than to make this quick point: Even though they are linked in the minds of most senior citizens, Social Security and Medicare are entirely separate programs, administered by entirely separate federal agencies, and they have entirely separate rules and regulations regarding their benefit and payment structures. For example, I already explained how Social Security COLAs are figured. The Part B Medicare premium increase has nothing to do with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index. Instead, by law, it must be set at a level that covers 25% of the cost of running the program. Taxpayers pick up the remaining 75%. (And again, wealthy people pay more than the 25% share.)
Another measuring stick called the “national wage index” is used to set increases to other provisions of the law that affect Social Security beneficiaries and taxpayers. Specifically, this includes increases in the amount of wages or self-employment income subject to Social Security tax, the amount of income needed to earn a “quarter of coverage” and the Social Security earnings penalty limits.
The Social Security taxable earnings base will go up from $168,600 in 2024 to $176,100 in 2025. In other words, people who earn more than $176,100 in 2025 will no longer have Social Security payroll taxes deducted from their paychecks once they hit that threshold. This has always been a very controversial provision of the law. (Bill Gates pays the same amount of Social Security tax as his plumber!) I think it’s a pretty good bet that any eventual Social Security reform package will include an increase in that wage base.
Most people need 40 Social Security work credits (sometimes called “quarters of coverage”) to be eligible for monthly benefit checks from the system. In 2024, people who were working earned one credit for each $1,730 in Social Security taxable income. But no one earns more than four credits per year. In other words, once you made $6,920, your Social Security record has been credited with the maximum four credits or quarters of coverage. In 2025, the one credit limit goes up to $1,810, meaning you will have to earn $7,240 this coming year before you get the maximum four credits assigned to your Social Security account.
People under their full retirement age who get Social Security retirement or survivor’s benefits but who are still working are subject to limits in the amount of money they can earn and still receive all their Social Security checks. That limit was $22,320 in 2024 and will be $23,400 in 2025. For every $2 a person earns over those limits, $1 is withheld
A couple other Social Security provisions are also impacted by inflationary increases. For example, people getting
Continued on next page
There is a higher earnings threshold in the year a person turns full retirement age that applies from the beginning of the year until the month the person reaches FRA. (The income penalty goes away once a person reaches that magic age.) That threshold goes up from $59,520 in 2024 to $62,160 in 2025.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Renovating a home can be challenging
Whether you have just purchased a home or decided to stay where you are, renovating or modernizing your home takes a lot of preparation. One must plan months, possibly hiring an architect, if you are going to expand the square footage of your home, create and get plans approved, hire qualified and insured contractors and so much more. Also, before your closing you should begin to set in motion a plan for your renovation, to minimize the stress and worries as you will be ahead of the game in getting the work started on a timely basis.
Deciding whether or not you will consider living in one part of your home while the other section is renovated will be a huge decision. Saving money by not renting elsewhere could be money to put into your modernization plan. Make sure if you are going to stay (my daughter did this) that the area is extremely well sealed off to keep all the dust and fine particles out of your section. You might want to consider storing all your furniture and whatever you will not need until after the work is completed.
It would help if you planned on a budget for what you are considering doing. If you want to cover yourself for the extras and unknowns, add a 10-15% cushion, to minimize surprises. This would be a very prudent decision to cover yourself while your project is proceeding.
Now you must begin interviewing potential architects or contractors to do the work. I suggest that you get a referral from someone who has had a successful experience and also check reviews online. Those reviews can provide insight into the “satisfaction factor” of those who have engaged them. Make sure whomever you hire that the company has more than adequate
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
insurance that covers the work completed but also provides you a certificate of insurance with you as an additional person of interest. Depending on the value of your home, you should consider asking your insurance broker, what amount your contractor should carry to cover you and your home while doing the work. This will cover you on their insurance (and not your policy) in the event of any damage that they may cause.
Another item to consider is if they have worker’s compensation insurance; so if they get hurt while working on your job. Also, if a lawsuit comes about due to their injuries, you are covered under the contractor’s insurance policy (certificate of insurance for the homeowner). Lawsuits are a common occurrence today, so better be safe than sorry.
Another consideration to contemplate is who will be purchasing your appliances and materials. A contractor can do this for you at an additional cost. However, there are companies, that for a member fee, you can scour their manufacturer’s books to order whatever you may need for your project. I joined a company many years ago to perform a large renovation on one of the homes. I calculated that we saved approximately 37% (bought below wholesale) including the membership fee. Today, with the cost of materials one must ascertain whether the membership is worth it in savings. This can be accomplished by asking someone knowledgeable at one of those buying services and breaking down the costs of all the appliances, and fixtures
Social Security COLA for 2025
Continued from previous page
disability benefits who try to work can generally continue getting those benefits as long as they are not working at a “substantial” level. In 2024, the law defined substantial work as any job paying $1,550 or more per month. In 2025, that substantial earnings level increases to $1,620 monthly.
Finally, the Supplemental Security Income basic federal payment level for one person goes up from $943 in 2024 to $967 in 2025. SSI is a federal welfare program administered by the Social Securi-
for the kitchen and bathrooms, living and dining rooms. You should know what those costs are in the big box or major appliance stores. You need to factor in the time both you and your significant other will take in searching through the books to locate what you need. The larger the job is, the greater the savings. Taking copious notes will be important in your search. Make sure whatever is agreed to with your contractor, is clearly and concisely stated item by item in your contract. This is most important so that you and he have and precise understanding of the work to be completed. You want to think about and solve problems as much in advance as possible. You surely do not want arguments to occur between you and your contractor. Another area to save money is whether you will be responsible for being the GC (general contractor) in hiring the plumber, electrician, or anyone else or will be letting your contractor do the hiring. Contractors normally receive some money from those who are hired to do the work. If you have the knowledge, expertise, and experience to perform the hiring, then this will add to your savings and handson approach.
Taking your time researching, reading, and learning, will allow you the opportunity to save money. The big box stores also provide free presentations on plumbing, electrical installations, and other projects to provide you with an excellent education in preparing you for the job. If you are not able to handle these types of projects, then it would be best to hire a licensed and insured professional. This will mini-
mize and eliminate headaches and all the stress of doing a major renovation.
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.
Save his My New Electronic signature/Bio/Reviews to save to your contacts: https://onetapconnect.com/ turnkeyrealestate-philraices
ty Administration, but it is not a Social Security benefit. It is paid for out of general revenues, not Social Security taxes. 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. .
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Teacher Gifts: Thoughtful Presents That Make a Lasting Impact
BY MARY HUNT
As a parent, I’ve gained insights over the years into what teachers truly appreciate as gifts, not just during the holiday season but at any time of the year. Instead of the typical “Teachers Have Class!” coffee mugs, let’s focus more on practical items that enhance the classroom experience.
Wanting to know how they really feel about gifts, I contacted teachers I know, asking them how they really feel about gifts from parents and students -- at Christmas and other times of the year too. Each one of these teachers politely hesitated. I could tell they didn’t want to come across as ungrateful. And without fail, once we broke the ice, the responses were very much the same.
Make no mistake -- teachers are very grateful for the kind thoughts and love behind all the stuff they get during the year. But the stuff itself? Not so much. In fact, most gifts become a problem for that teacher. What would you do with 27 random coffee mugs or 16 bottles of cologne or aftershave in difference scents of dubious origin?
This year you can make sure your gifts for teachers will be exactly what they really want. So listen up on these ideas for teacher gifts. And take notes. There may be a quiz.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Keep It Reasonable: Don’t spend a lot on a teacher’s gift. Parents who go overboard make teachers feel uneasy and awkward.
Volunteer: If you can’t afford a gift, don’t worry. Show your appreciation by volunteering in the classroom where and when that is an option. Teachers don’t
Continued from page 2
for protein is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram (or .36 grams per pound) for most Americans. That works out to about 58 grams for someone weighing 160 pounds or 68 grams for someone weighing 190 pounds.
The bottom line is to spread protein throughout your day and take that walk. Exercise and protein work hand-in-hand to build and preserve muscle.
Q and A
Q: I have a toddler, and I’m concerned he’s not getting all the nutrients he needs. What are the key things for him?
A: There are four key nutrients kids need that are essential to their overall health and development. Calcium plays a critical role in bone and tooth development. Milk, yogurt and cheese are
generally keep score. But they do remember and appreciate classroom volunteers. It’s Not Required: Participation in gift-giving should not be obligatory.
Fulfill a Wish: Check to see if your school displays teacher “wish lists.” Many do these days, and that can be very helpful.
Group Effort: Collaborate with other parents for group gifts or gift cards to show collective appreciation.
WHAT TEACHERS DON’T WANT
Knickknacks: I’m talking cute, goofy, endearing and/or musical bric-a-brac or tchotchkes -- anything meant to be displayed that collects dust. Imagine this: If a teacher has a class of 25 students and has taught now for 10 years, that’s a possible 250 of these things. Yep, it’s a problem.
Coffee Mugs: Every teacher has received dozens already. Even if yours is filled with hot chocolate mix or jellybeans, just no.
Food: This is tricky, and not all teachers were as adamant as some I spoke with. Generally, most teachers don’t want the temptation of so many sweets. They get plenty. Others were honest that homemade items leave them uneasy as to the contents, origin and preparation. Sadly, most will simply be tossed out.
Candles: If your teacher has been teaching for any time at all, they have more candles than you can imagine -- in every shape, color and scent. Cupboards -- or, more likely, garage sale tables -- full of candles.
Jewelry: Especially holiday-themed earrings, bracelets and so on. The teacher will feel obligated to wear it in the student’s presence just to be kind, but that’s about it.
Lotions and Potions: Again, a touchy subject. Lotions, creams, aftershave, cologne, perfume -- it’s all about personal preference, and unless you have some kind of inside track with the teacher’s true desires and personal preferences, skip it.
WHAT TEACHERS REALLY WANT
Gift Cards: Make that GIFT CARDS!! But not just any card. Amazon and Starbucks are the most desired -- and in any amount. Amazon or Starbucks cards combined with gift cards from lots of students will be much appreciated and used. Also mentioned: Nordstrom, Macy’s, Staples and Target.
Movie Tickets: The teachers I talked to all agreed that they love having a stash of movie tickets. It’s easy to purchase tickets for local theaters online, at Sam’s Club or directly from the theater. Also check Costco’s gift card racks. Lots of national chain theaters are pushing gift cards that include concessions and premium seating.
Things for the Classroom: Teachers often end up spending money out of their own pocket for supplies. They will be so happy if you help ease the load with a gift.
Consider games, books, puzzles, stickers, markers, Post-it notes, dry-erase markers, a ream of copy paper, colored pencils, crayons and so on. Make sure your gift matches the needs of the classroom. Any of these toys would be perfect for a preschool or kindergarten classroom.
MESSAGES OF LOVE AND THANKS
A handwritten note from you and/or your child is something teachers really appreciate. As you thank the teacher, be
Don’t Lose That Muscle Mass
top sources. Vitamin D works to build healthy and strong bones and supports the immune system. It’s in fish, egg yolks and cereals. Potassium keeps muscles and nerves healthy and promotes normal blood pressure. Bananas, spinach and peas are good sources. Fiber is another essential nutrient that nourishes the gut and helps with digestive health and with being regular. High-fiber foods include whole grains, avocados and strawberries.
RECIPE
When I need a quick meal, I often turn to my wok for inspiration. Here’s a recipe for a shrimp-asparagus stir-fry that gives a boost to your vegetable intake and gets a flavor boost from fresh ginger and basil. It’s from Cooking Light.
SHRIMP-ASPARAGUS STIR-FRY
Servings: 6
3 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 pound medium peeled, deveined raw shrimp
1 tablespoon minced, peeled fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups diagonally sliced fresh asparagus
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
3/4 cup unsalted chicken stock
4 cus cooked long-grain brown rice
Thinly sliced basil (optional)
Whisk together soy sauce, cornstarch and crushed red pepper in a small bowl until smooth; set aside. Heat a wok or 12inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and swirl to coat. Add shrimp, ginger and garlic; cook, stirring often, for about 3 minutes. Remove shrimp mixture and cover to keep warm. Return skillet (don’t wipe clean) to medium-high and add remaining oil. Add asparagus and onion; cook, stirring often,
specific. Teachers love to know they are making a positive difference in how your child’s future is being molded. A note can be a gift all on its own or a nice addition to any of the gifts above.
One last thing ...
I know of one teacher who has kept every note and letter from kids and parents over a very long teaching career. They are neatly preserved in a beautiful binder. He says this collection is one of his most treasured possessions and one that he goes back to and reads from often, now that he has retired. Keep that in mind if you are at a loss for how to express your family’s gratitude.
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.”
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until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add stock and soy sauce mixture; bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Stir in shrimp mixture and cook, stirring constantly for another minute. Spoon cooked rice into bowls and top with shrimp mixture. Garnish with basil, if desired. Serve immediately. Serves 6 (serving size: 2/3 cup rice and 2/3 cup shrimp mixture).
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 2024 CREATORS.COM
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of October 27November 2, 2024
Every year around this time, most of us in North America set our clocks back one hour from “daylight saving” to “standard” time. And I suspect that, unless they change automatically, many of us just let our car and microwave clocks stay the same time all year long!
Why we continue going through this archaic ritual is a mystery to me, but we do.
We can thank Benjamin Franklin for the idea he conceived in a 1784 essay, but it took more than a century before the U.S. adopted the idea. It was on March 19, 1918, that U.S. law established the Standard Time Act. This not only established time zones across the U.S. but created daylight saving time -- a concept still not accepted by all U.S. states and territories.
For those living where it’s used, remember to set your clock back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 3, and expect the sun to set one hour earlier that evening and rise one hour earlier the next morning. Stargazers who enjoy evening observing will be happy since the stars will appear sooner and we can get to bed at a reasonable hour.
During these early nights, we can see one of the most famous of all star groupings: Pegasus. In ancient Greek
BY TRACY BECKERMAN
For all the obsessing I’ve done about my body parts, the one area that has always escaped the harsh glare of my overcritical eye is my feet. Certainly they are not perfect feet, and Manolo Blahnik would never beat down my door to have me model his shoes. But as feet go, they are fairly unassuming; I would even go so far as to say cute. I certainly have the best feet in my family and, having seen pictures of celebrity feet, I can honestly say I actually have nicer feet than some Hollywood starlets. On the downside, they are half a size bigger than they were before I had kids. However, they are the ONLY part of me that’s not a full size bigger than before I had kids, so for that, I am grateful to them.
So, with all that good foot karma going on, it came as something of a shock to me when someone had the audacity to say something unflattering about my terrific tootsies.
STARGAZERS
Time for Baseball and Politics
mythology, Pegasus was the horse that Perseus flew to rescue Andromeda from a sea monster. You can spend your time searching for a flying horse in the sky if you’d like, but without some chemical assistance, you’ll find it quite challenging.
I always suggest to my stargazing guests to look instead for a nearly perfect square of four equally bright stars. Not coincidentally, this is known to astronomers as the Great Square of Pegasus, and it appears this month midway up in the eastern sky not long after dark.
If you have trouble finding it, look for the much more prominent “W” of Cassiopeia midway up in the northeast. In the attached illustration, you can see how to use its stars to create an arrow that will take you right to the large square.
Fans of our national pastime may instead prefer to see this square as a Great Celestial Baseball Diamond, especially with the 2024 World Series now underway. Highest in this square -- sorry, diamond -- lies a star marking home plate. Moving counterclockwise around the diamond, we encounter first, second and third bases. With some imagination, a creative stargazer may even spot the pitcher, catcher, shortstop, umpires, on-deck batter and base coaches along the way.
Yes, it takes a bit of imagination, but not as much as finding half of an upsidedown flying horse in the sky! For some,
a flying horse may be a reminder of the current political climate in the U.S., for if you recall, only the front half of the horse appears.
“Why only the front half? What happened to the rear end of the horse?” you may ask.
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com..
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Well, the ancient Greeks had an explanation that I believe more every day. They claimed that the back half of the horse fell to Earth and became -- and I quote -- “the current breed of politician.” Nothing ever seems to change!
LOST IN SUBURBIA
Putting
My Foot Down
“You have very, very flat feet,” said the podiatrist. “That’s why your feet hurt. You have no arch support.”
I wiggled my pretty painted red toes, pedicured to perfection just for this visit to the foot doctor. “They don’t look flat to me,” I protested.
She picked up a plastic model of a foot that was on the counter nearby and held it next to my foot. Her dummy foot had an arch. My real foot did not.
“You need orthotics. And these,” she said, holding up my flip-flops, “are going in the garbage.”
I gasped. No flip-flops? It was unthinkable. I loved flip-flops. I lived in flip-flops. I wore nothing but flip-flops from the first day of spring until the last day of fall. I had an entire shoe rack of color-coded flip-flops to go with every conceivable clothing combination. I even had high-heeled flip-flops. All hail the Queen of Flip-Flops.
“Maybe if I just got a good foot massage or some reflexology, they’d feel better,” I offered.
She shook her head, took my hand, looked me square in the eye and said, “You need orthotics, and you need a shoe that can hold an orthotic. Your flip-flop days are over. I’m sorry.”
As she left the room to get my orthotic mold, I glanced around and suddenly noticed a rack in the back filled with orthopedic shoes. I looked from my cute little flip-flops to these big clunky clodhoppers and realized my footwear options were about to take a very unattractive turn.
Now, clearly with the aforementioned love of flip-flops, it’s no surprise that I’ve never won any awards for my choice of footwear. I tend toward a more eclectic collection than your everyday heels, boots and sneakers. I have camouflage-colored clogs and black patent leather cowboy boots. My favorite sneakers are neon orange with green laces. High fashion, they’re not. But I love all my weird shoes, and even though my flat feet were killing me, I wasn’t willing to give up my shoes for a
closet full of clodhoppers.
That night I told my husband my tale of woe.
“I have flat feet,” I said
“I have flat feet too,” he echoed.
“The doctor says I have to wear orthotics.”
“I wear orthotics too,” he said
“And I’ll have to wear clodhoppers.”
“You don’t have to wear clodhoppers,” he assured me.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Now I know why I married you,” I told him.
“Because I’m a nice guy?”
“No,” I said. “Because we’re sole mates!”
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.
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The end of daylight saving time means an extra hour to view such constellations as the Great Square of Pegasus.
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the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682
GET DISH SATELLITE TV + INTERNET! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-7824069
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Don’t Accept the insurance company’s first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-888-454-4717. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider
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SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS! Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS
FALL DRAIN OUTS
Backflow Device Tests
Free Estimates
Installation Service/Repairs
Joe Barbato 516-775-1199
BEAUTIFUL BATH UP -
DATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-855-399-2076
MADE IN THE SHADE
CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS
Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies
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MASONRY
All types of stonework Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps.
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Fully Licensed & Insured #H2219010000
Boceski Masonry Louie 516-850-4886
PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!
Slate & Tile Specialists
All types of Roofing Local References
Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869
HEALTH SERVICES
FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC
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Doctor of Nursing Practice
Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion
Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement
PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams
Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications
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www.familycareconnections.com
901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530
Financial Analyst (Hampton Bays, NY) Eval current/historical financial data. Build/monitor interim cashflow model. Examine co. fncl statements. Perform fncl modeling/valutn of acqstn targets. Reqs: BS finc., bsns, or econ+ 2 yrs. exp fincl pln’g and anlys, fincl mgmt, accntng, or rltd disc. Prfcy Excel incl 2 yrs. exp crtng, maintng, & refing complex fincl mdls of invsmt & mgrl nature such as bdgts, dshbrds & oprtnl ops mdls. Prfcy w/ QckBooks Dsktp & Online. Exp w/ fincl trnsctnl cycles incl orgntn, due dlgnce, rprtng, & exectn; estbls rprtng & mngrial infstrcr folwng acqstn to achv goals frm acqstn mdl; B2C chnls incl exp Consumer Products indsty; genert’g btm up & top down frcsts to drive prfmnc & fincl results; rcnclng items, prprng bdgts & sprtng FP&A prcs. Sal: $85,301 to $90,000 yr. Res: Tortorella Service LLC, helpwanted@tortorella.com.
CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900
SERVICES
FREEDOMCARE. Let your loved ones care for you and get paid! Paid by Medicaid. Choose family or friends as your paid caregiver. Check your eligibility today! Call FreedomCare now! 1-855-385-7556
PAINTING & PAPERHANGING
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING
Plastering, Taping, Sheetrock Skim Cutting, Old Wood Refinish, Staining, Wallpaper Removal & Hanging, Paint Removal, Power Washing, Wood Replacement
JOHN MIGLIACCIO
Licensed & Insured #80422100000
Call John anytime: 516-901-9398 (Cell) 516-483-3669 (Office)
PARTY HELP
LADIES & GENTLEMEN RELAX & ENJOY
Your Next Party!
Catering and Experienced Professional Services for Assisting with Preparation, Serving and Clean Up Before, During and After Your Party
Bartenders Available. Call Kate at 516-248-1545
SERVICES
CLEANING
MARIA’S CLEANING SERVICE
Our excellent cleaning team will get your home or office spotless!
Available Monday thru Friday 7am to 6pm
Supplies provided if needed Own transportation
Excellent references provided CALL 516-849-2026
SERVICES
AFFORDABLE TV & INTER-
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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!
About to hit a milestone?
Share your life accomplishments with your neighbors! Put your engagement, wedding, or baby announcement in the paper. It's free of charge for subscribers! Email editor@gcnews.com
Spinach all rolled up with flavor
Spinach
Balls
Including more spinach in one’s diet can be a healthy decision. Spinach is rich in iron, potassium, magnesium, folate, and vitamins C, E and K. With that strong profile, spinach supports the heart, eyes, skin, and immune system. Spinach also can aid digestion and strengthen bones.
The good news is that spinach is a versatile ingredient and can be added to many dishes relatively easily. As an alternative to meat-based dishes, “Spinach Balls” serve up flavor in easy-to-portion style. Serve these with a dipping sauce as
1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach
3 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2⁄3 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1) Place the spinach box in the microwave for 2-3 minutes until defrosted. Set aside to cool.
2) In a large bowl mix together the cheese, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic powder.
3) Squeeze excess water out of the spinach. Place the spinach into the cheese mixture. Mix.
an appetizer, or place alongside pasta instead of meatballs. Enjoy this recipe courtesy of “It Just Happens to Be Gluten-Free” (Do Life Inspired Publishing) by Jen Fiore.
Makes about a dozen
1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1⁄4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
6 shakes Tabasco sauce (6 shakes more if you like it hotter!)
4) Add oil, eggs and Tabasco sauce.
5) Form into balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6) Bake at 375° F for 18 to 22 minutes.
7) Serve with garlic aioli.
Advertise in our papers!
If you own a business or have a service to provide, we’ll create professional advertisements to promote it and help you be seen by thousands of local readers! Call 1-516-294-8900 to inquire!
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS...
Each week,
Litmor Publications publishes the ads of providers in our Classifieds, Professional Guide and Service Directory. A 6-week agreement brings your specialty or service to the attention of the community in a public service format.
LET US BEGIN LISTING YOU IN OUR NEXT ISSUE.
For More Information and Rates, Call Nancy 516.294.8900
Email:
Nancy@gcnews.com
Include name, daytime phone number, address and email.
Deadline for Professional Guide or Service Directory is Monday, 12 Noon. Deadline for Classified is Tuesday, 1pm
Advertising in the Professional Guide is only open to N.Y.S. Licensed Professionals.
Share your accomplishments with our readership! Put your engagement, wedding, baby announcement, or more in our paper. It's free of charge for subscribers! Email editor@gcnews.com
November events at the Floral Park Library
Rob whips up his chocolate cranberry scones for the adults.
Book Bag Sale
On Saturday, November 30, the Friends of the Floral Park Library holds a Book Bag Sale in the lower level meeting room.
Programs for Adults
Adult programs also include: weekly Wednesdays Hybrid Chair Yoga; Parker Jewish Institute’s Navigating Dementia Together; Achieving Harmony: Practical Solutions for Reducing Parental Stress; Conscious Parenting; Can You Maximize Your Social Security Benefits
in Retirement. On a less serious note, Cathy Buckley creates a nature-themed Holiday craft.
English Language Learners
The Library is host to a four-week English Language Learners program under the tutelage of Vianna Calderon. Registration is open for the 10:00 am classes on November 16, 23, 30 and December 7. Contact the Adult Reference Desk at 516 326-6330 with any questions and for registration information.
Defensive Driving Class
Empire Safety Council’s six-hour defensive driving class is scheduled for Thursday, November 14. In person registration and payment of $35.00 is required in advance.
Little Gardeners
Ms. Rita’s Little Gardeners for ages 2.5 thru pre-school continues, and the little ones love getting their hands dirty. The series includes foraging in nature (on the library lawn), making a nature craft or other nature-inspired activity, along with a story and music.
P[ART]Y Art
P[ART]y Art keeps the pre-K thru first graders and second thru fifth graders busy with two drop-off sessions, along with Play Hooray, A Time For Kids Baby Start and Family Pre-school Hour, Funkytown Playground, and Sto-
rytime. The Pom Pom Queen offers a Thanksgiving craft, and Smile Starters Pediatric Dentists takes center chair for a Storytime session.
College Prep
Teens in 9th and 10th grades — and parents — can attend a College Prep session. For fun, there’s a Teen Drone Missions and Forensic Sketch Artist program, and an opportunity to participate in a Veterans Community Event.
Book Club
The Friends of the Library Book Club meets Monday, November 4, at 10:15 a.m. “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson is the selection of The Evening Edition Book Club’s Thursday, November 14, 7:00 p.m. meeting. Both groups meet in the main level Community Meeting Room.
Friends of the Library meeting
The regular meeting of the Friends of the Library is Wednesday, November 13, at 1:00 p.m. The Library Board of Trustees meets at 7:30 p.m. on the same day.
Made With Love Knitting and Crocheting
The Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting volunteers meet Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. They’re currently knitting up a storm of
winter scarves and mittens. The apparel is for sale, with all proceeds to benefit the Friends of the Floral Park Library. No registration necessary; no formal instruction provided. New members always welcome.
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.
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 Monday, November 11, in honor of Veterans’ Day, and November 28 in observance of Thanksgiving.
The Library invites you to follow it on Facebook (floralparklibrary), Twitter (@fplibrary17), or Instagram (fplibrary, 17, floralparkchildrens, fpplteens).
I stand with you, working across party lines for commonsense solutions –from strengthening our border, and reinstating the SALT deduction, to protecting our air and water, I’ll always reject extremism and work to find solutions that make a difference for you and your family.
MY PRIORITIES:
★ Secure the Border
★ Reinstate the SALT Deduction
★ Bringing Federal Dollars Back to Long Island
★ Help Heal the Divide in Congress
Floral Park-Bellerose School honors Unity Day
Floral Park-Bellerose School encouraged its students to be kind and promote anti-bullying by celebrating Unity Day on Oct. 16. Students and staff wore orange to promote the message of kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
To start the day, fifth and sixth grade Student Ambassadors created posters with phrases like “Team Kind,” “No Bullying” and “Be Kind.” Second graders then helped hang the posters around main lobby to remind students through-
out the day of the meaning of Unity Day.
Sixth graders in Caitlyn Pereira’s class celebrated Unity Day by speaking about what unity means and ways that they can unite to end bullying.
Unity Day is celebrated annually in October, which is National Bullying Prevention Month.
Floral Park-Bellerose School Student Ambassadors created posters for Unity Day, which were then hung up in the hallways by second grade students.
Floral Park-Bellerose School students were encouraged to wear orange to promote the message of kindness, acceptance and inclusion for Unity Day on Oct. 16.
Buddies helped create messages of kindness.
Even the youngest students were part of Unity Day.
Photos courtesy of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District
Columbus Day Tournament
Winners
On Monday, October 14 the 12U Floral Park Knights participated in the East Coast/ LI Boys of Summer Columbus Day Tournament and won the championship. The Knights went 5-0 during the tournament and won the championship game in walkoff fashion after a 10 run final inning. The final score was Knights 14 - LI Storm 13.
Over the next few weeks we will be mailing free copies of our new newspaper to all of the homes in the zip code so you can see what we’re excited about! If this is your first time seeing the paper, welcome! Copies are also available at drop points around town. In addition, you can find us online at www. fpvillager.com
What You Can Expect:
Local Focus: Unlike other papers, we concentrate solely on Floral Park and Bellerose. Our pages will be filled with news that matters to you and your neighbors.
Community Contributions: We want to hear from you! Share your sports updates, event announcements, club news, scouting adventures, and personal milestones like weddings and graduations. Your stories are the heartbeat of our publication. Comprehensive Coverage: Stay informed about village and school board meetings, ensuring you’re up-to-date with the decisions that impact our community.
Letters to the Editor: We value your voice. Share your opinions, ideas, and feedback. Your letters will help shape the dialogue in our community.
We encourage you to submit your items for publication to editor@gcnews.com. Whether it’s a story, a photo, or an announcement, your contributions will help us build a newspaper that truly reflects the spirit of Floral Park and Bellerose.
How to Subscribe
If you would like to get convenient home delivery of the paper through the mail, please use this QR code or go to our website at www.fpvillager.com
Advertising:
Our Advertising Account Executive, Peter Camp, is a longtime member of the Floral Park community. For information about advertising, you can reach him at 917-861-4627 or pcamp@gcnews.com.
