Jericho-Syosset News Journal (5/3/24)

RALLY FOR THE HOSTAGES Perlman, Vartanov

On April 7, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads rallied with Run for Their Lives and over 1,000 Long Islanders at the Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center in Plainview calling for the safe and immediate return of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 terror attacks. The rally marked exactly 6 months since the October 7th attack and was a powerful testament to the enduring bonds of solidarity and support that transcend geographical boundaries, as the participants stood in unwavering support of the hostages and their loved ones.

Arrest made in larcenies

Nassau County Police have arrested a Bellport man for allegedly committing multiple larcenies at local retailers between June 2022 and August 2023.

According to detectives, Emmitt Smith, 43, was responsible for the following larcenies:

August 5, 2023 at 10:42 a.m.Macy’s, 1095 Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream

August 4, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. -

Ulta Beauty, 5252 Sunrise Highway, Massapequa

July 31, 2023 at 8:02 p.m. - Home Depot, 101 Green Acres Road, W. Valley Stream

July 28, 2023 at 7:55 p.m.Dick’s Sporting Goods, 1188 Sunrise Mall, Massapequa

July 15, 2023 at 1:00 a.m. - Target, 2003 Broadway Mall, Hicksville

See page 23

seek second term on BOE

BY GEORGE HABER

Throughout his first term on the Jericho School Board Board of Trustees, Sam Perlman has been a persistent skeptic of the District’s policies, procedures, and occasionally, personnel.

“My motivation has always been to make the District’s actions as transparent and rational as they can be ,” said Perlman, a former hedge fund manager who is a CPA and BS in Finance from the Wharton School.

“Too often,” he said in an interview with the News Journal, “the School Board has become a rubber stamp for policies and recommendations from the Administration or the Board's advisors. There’s very little questioning or discussion from Board members. I don’t think that's the kind of oversight the Jericho community expects and deserves from its School Board.”

Jennifer Vartanov, a principal in a national merchant services com-

pany, often sides with Perlman in questioning Administration policies.

“I see my role as being one of representing parents and residents, and of course the students, who may not follow all the developments in the District, but who are very concerned about them.”

In her first term as a Board trustee, Vartanov said, “I led initiatives to implement major security upgrades and I worked to establish a residency recertification process to uphold the integrity of the District.”

Addressing his critics, Perlman said, “Some District personnel, and even Board members, have vigorously objected to my occasional opposition to their positions or perspectives.

“But constructive criticism is not simply negativity for its own sake. With three children attending Jericho schools,  I see myself, on occasion, as being a member of what the British call 'the loyal opposition’ ”

The School Board election is on Tuesday, May 21.

Chamber SpringFest

The Plainview Old Bethpage Chamber’s 4th Annual SpringFest event, planned for Sunday, May 5, promises to be its most exciting yet. In addition to an attractive array of vendors, a mechanical bull, toxic meltdown survivor game and axe throwing will amp up the excitement for older kids and adults. In addition, there will be a mobile bar featuring frozen Cinco de Mayo favorites.

Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. enjoy some of SpringFest’s most popular

attractions including the Pickle Ball Tournament and Children’s Face Painting. In keeping with the bigger and better theme, a “Foodie Fest” will feature a diverse array of vendors to satisfy all appetites.

Admission is free and parking is available at the POB Community Park up the road on Washington Avenue with free shuttle bus service to and from the JCC. Raindate for SpringFest will be May 19.

Middle School assembly on making good choices Registration open for Adult Tennis Program

Registration is open for the Town of Oyster Bay’s Adult Tennis Program. Offering both Women’s and Co-ed lessons, the program provides a fantastic opportunity for residents to hone their tennis skills under the guidance of expert instructors. Lessons are open to adults over the age of 18 and take place at Haypath Park in Old Bethpage.

“These tennis programs offer a fantastic opportunity for our community to engage in physical activity, learn new skills, and enjoy the camaraderie of playing tennis together. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your techniques, these lessons, led by expert instructors, promise an enriching experience for all participants. I encourage residents to seize this opportunity to stay active and connect with others in our town,” Town Councilman Tom Hand said.

15, 22 & 29), maintaining the consistent timing for both beginner and intermediate lessons.

Women’s classes are also separated into 3 sessions. Session 1 will meet on Tuesdays (May 21 & 28; June 4 & 11) and Wednesdays (May 22 & 29; June 5 & 12). On Tuesdays, beginner lessons with D1 college coach Ros will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by double strategies intermediate lessons from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Wednesdays will feature beginner lessons from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and intermediate lessons from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., both led by D1 college coach Ros. Session 2 follows a similar pattern, with classes meeting on Tuesdays (June 25; July 2, 9 & 16) and Wednesdays (June 26; July 3, 10 & 17), offering beginner and intermediate lessons on both days at the same times. In Session 3, classes convene on Tuesdays (August 6, 13, 20 & 27) and Wednesdays (August 7, 14, 21 & 28), maintaining the same schedule and instruction as the previous sessions.

Classes are 4 weeks long, meeting once a week Haypath Park in Old Bethpage. Fees are $100 per resident and $125 per non-resident. Registration takes place online at: www.oysterbaytown.com/portal.

Hicksville Middle School students recently enjoyed a special assembly with Youth motivational speaker and professional athlete Chris Poulos. By demonstrating his bicycle stunts, Poulos kept the students engaged while sharing key points of his presentation focused on core values, perseverance, character development and making healthy choices.

The Co-ed Lessons are structured into three sessions. In Session 1, participants can choose between classes held on Tuesdays (May 21, 28; June 4 & 11) or Thursdays (May 23 & 30; June 6 & 13), with beginner lessons running from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by intermediate lessons from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Session 2 continues on Thursdays (June 27; July 11, 18 & 25) with the same schedule of beginner and intermediate lessons. Finally, Session 3 takes place on Thursdays (August 8,

Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Get rid of your unwanted items by placing an ad for them in our Classifieds! We have reasonable rates, and you’ll have prompt results! Call our Garden City office at 294-8900 for rates and other info.

For more information, please call (516) 797-7943 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com.

Upcoming Event at the Jericho Public Library

Monday, May 6

2 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Profiles with Dr. William Thierfelder: Tennessee Williams - Tennessee Williams, along with Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller, is considered among the three foremost playwrights of 20th-century American drama. After years of obscurity, at age 33 he became famous with the success of  “The Glass Menagerie,” which closely reflected his own unhappy family background. It was the first of his successes, including  “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Sweet Bird of Youth” and  “The Night of the Iguana”. Later he attempted a new style

that didn’t appeal as widely to audiences. Much of Williams’ most acclaimed work has been adapted for the cinema. He also wrote short stories, poetry, essays and a volume of memoirs.

Register for all events at https:// www.jericholibrary.org/events/month Non-residents may register beginning 2 weeks before each program.

The Jericho Public Library building will be closed for construction from April 22–May 13. (Dates are subject to change.) Virtual programs and services will continue. Library staff are available to assist you. Call 516-935-6790 or visit www.jericholibrary.org and select ‘Live Librarian Chat.’

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Levittown FD Installation Dinner Town seeks nominations to honor veterans

On March 23, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads recognized the devoted members of the Levittown Fire Department reaching milestone anniversaries at the Department’s installation dinner. Senator Rhoads congratulated Joel Bearman, Robert Halpin, John Terrillion, and Mark McGovern on completing 50 years of service as well as thanked Chief Michael Herold for completing a successful term of office. Senator Rhoads also offered his best wishes to incoming Chief James Behrens.

The Town of Oyster Bay is accepting nominations in order to honor veterans at the Town’s ‘Salute to America’ Celebration scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at TOBAY Beach. Residents are invited to nominate extraordinary individuals who have made a positive difference in our veteran communities.

“The Town of Oyster Bay’s ‘Salute to America’ Celebration provides the ideal backdrop to recognize veterans and individuals who continue to actively serve in the community and advocate for issues and concerns relative to veterans. The Town is proud to recognize and honor amazing individuals who have helped to shape our communities for the better through their continuing advocacy and exemplary community service each year,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “I hope residents will consider submitting a nomination of an individual who deserves special recognition for their continued efforts on behalf of the veteran’s community. I look forward to recognizing the efforts of outstanding individuals who have impacted the lives of our veterans in an

extraordinary way yet again this year.”

Nominations are being accepted in three different categories of recognition: Veterans Volunteer of the Year (awarded to a veteran), Friend of Veterans Volunteer of the Year (awarded to a non-veteran), and Lifetime Achievement Award (awarded to a veteran or a non-veteran).  All entries must include a supporting narrative describing the nominee’s on-going veterans related activities, and all nominees must be Town residents. All nominations must be postmarked no later than Monday, June 3, 2024.

Winners will be recognized as part of a special program during the ‘Salute to America’ Celebration, a patriotic evening of top-flight musical talent and fireworks, which serves as a thank you to all of our veterans and active military for protecting the freedoms we enjoy each and every day as Americans.

To submit a nomination for the Veterans Awards, please visit www. oysterbaytown.com, email kfileccia@ oysterbay-ny.gov or call (516) 797-7925 for an application.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12

COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF WINE OR PROSECCO FOR MOM

Call early for reservations

HOLIDAY FAMILY DINNERS

$32/Person (3-HOUR PACKAGE)

Coffee • Tea • Soda

Mixed Green Salad/Caesar Salad

Antipasto/Tomato & Mozzarella

Assorted Pinwheels

One Large Calzone per Table (with side of sauce)

Unlimited Pizza with Toppings

Chamber plans Memorial Day, upcoming events

BY RIKKI MASSAND

On the evening of Thursday, April 18, members of the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce convened at the Gus Scutari Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6394 hall on Queens Street, for their monthly general meeting.

Among the attendees were volunteers from the VFW Post, including Frank Urso, a “founding father” of the Chamber since its revival in 1998 and a real estate professional affiliated with Homes by Mara. Urso, alongside fellow veterans Joe Grehan and Jay Caputo of Syosset, and John Kenary of Oyster Bay, donned navy blue shirts representing the hosting VFW Post 6394.

During the meeting, VFW members outlined their preparations for the upcoming Syosset Memorial Day Parade, an event they proudly sponsor. Despite being entirely volunteer-driven, the coordination required for the parade, including organizing local fire departments, Syosset High School and middle school bands, and other participating groups, is extensive.

The Syosset Woodbury Chamber is among the local organizations that march in the annual parade, which steps off at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day and concludes with an official remembrance ceremony at the corner of Underhill Blvd and Jackson Ave, “remembering all the veterans who passed away serving the United States.”

Following the parade, the public is treated to complimentary food and refreshments, funded through sponsorships. Chamber members expressed interest in supporting both the parade and the VFW. Grehan encouraged businesses and individuals to contribute not only as sponsors but also by sharing information about community involvement in the parade.

support our military veterans – whenever we hear about the needs of veterans from medical care to mental health and social services, we try to provide them with the right tools and connect them with the right people to help them,” he noted.

“We do all that we can here to get Syosset and Woodbury kids into programs and scholarships to benefit them. Reviews of the scholarship start with us at the local level, then the district and New York State level, and they can go all the way up to the national round if the essays – for the high school-level, if they win the national VFWs event it is a $50,000 scholarship,” Caputo said.

Tami Racaniello, representing Wellness Unicorn and the chair of the Street Fair Committee, encouraged community members to volunteer for the upcoming Syosset Street Fair on September 29th. Despite weather-related challenges in 2023, Racaniello expressed optimism for this year’s event, which promises a diverse array of vendors, food stalls, and entertainment.

Alan Goldberg, President of Water Solutions of Long Island and a longstanding Chamber member, emphasized the importance of sponsorship for the Street Fair, emphasizing the benefits for both businesses and the local community.

$35.00/Person - Add a Pasta Course

$40.00/Person- Add a Chicken/Eggplant Entreé

+$24.00/Person - Beer / Wine Package

+$34.00/Person - Open Bar Package

is a $5 cake cutting fee. All gratuity on party packages must be paid in cash.

Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce President Russell P. Green welcomed the three dozen attendees at the April 18 meeting, and he took time on behalf of the Chamber’s Board of Directors to thank the veterans who have served the United States. Green highlighted the VFW’s longstanding contributions to community events such as the Syosset Street Fair and the Holiday Tree Lighting Spectacular.

Jay Caputo, past commander and current adjutant of Syosset’s VFW Post 6394, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting military veterans. He spoke about initiatives like the local scholarship program, including the “Patriot Pen” for middle school students and “The Voice of Democracy” for high school students, aimed at providing educational opportunities for youth in Syosset and Woodbury.

“Our jobs and our mission is to help

“As soon as a sponsor joins their logo will appear on our website and we will receive (and promote) additional business information. We want to give a lot of value to all our Street Fair sponsors so we encourage your participation soon – everything is being done for months leading up to the Street Fair and promotions, with print materials and social media posts, are about you (businesses) as our supporters and sponsors. Our sponsorship options and payment methods are available now on the Chamber’s website, SyossetChamber.com,” Goldberg said.

Chamber President Green said the planning and sponsorships for the Street Fair are off to a good start, as the real estate anchor sponsor this year will be SRG Residential LLC, based on Syosset’s Jackson Avenue. Syosset Auto Leasing signed on for another anchor sponsorship in mid-April, and the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview has signed on as a Street Fair Platinum-level sponsor. A new Chamber member, Coldwell Banker realtor Valerie Rosenblatt, has registered as a silver-level Street Fair sponsor. Two bronze-level Street Fair sponsors were also announced on April 18 – Coldwell Banker and G2 Training on Jackson Avenue. Green thanked the companies for stepping up for the Street Fair.

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NYPD Jazz Band brings music to Hicksville students

Students at Old Country Road Elementary School in Hicksville danced and clapped along with songs performed by the NYPD Jazz Band, Musical Outreach Program.

East Street Elementary and Old Country Road Elementary Schools in Hicksville were recently honored with a visit from the New York Police Department’s Jazz Band, Musical Outreach Program.

The Jazz Band was formed in 2005, a funky subset of the 100-member police marching band for members who wanted to play other kinds of music. The ensemble, comprised of members from the ranks of the NYPD’s police band, delighted students, and staff with a lively performance of jazz, rock and other music genres.

The NYPD Jazz Band, known for their musical talents and dedication to community outreach, brought a unique blend of entertainment and education to the school. Their performance not only showcased their musical talents but also provided an opportunity for students to learn about the rich history and cultural significance of jazz music.

“We were thrilled to have had the NYPD Jazz Band visit,” said Joe Messana, East Street Elementary School Principal. “Their performance was entertaining and educational.”

Photos courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Hicksville students at East Street Elementary School enjoyed a recent visit from the NYPD Jazz Band, Musical Outreach Program.

Columbiettes Spring Raf f le Auction

The Joseph Barry Columbiettes will be sponsoring a Spring Raffle on Sunday, May 19, at the Joseph Barry Knights of Columbus hall (45 Heitz Place, Hicksville).  Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and the raffles for gift baskets will begin at 1 o’clock.  Tickets are $12 per person and include coffee, tea and snacks.

Proceeds from this and other Columbiettes fundraisers go toward assisting charities including our local parishes, veterans’ organizations, food pantries and other worthy causes in the community.

For additional information, please call Susan at 516-680-8487 or email suesarandis@gmail.com

Stamp Out Hunger food drive on

Saturday, May 11

Island Harvest Food Bank, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), and the United States Postal Service (USPS) are again joining forces in hosting the annual Stamp Out Hunger® food drive, the nation’s largest single-day food collection campaign on Saturday. May 11. Long Island residents are encouraged to leave food donations by their mailbox for their letter carrier to collect before their regular mail delivery. All food collected in Nassau and Suffolk counties will help Island Harvest provide much-needed food support to more than 300,000 Long Islanders who face hunger and food insecurity, including more than 90,000 children.

“Contributing to Stamp Out Hunger is simple,” says Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “Just leave nonperishable food items in a bag next to your mailbox before the regularly scheduled mail delivery on Saturday, May 11. Your USPS letter carrier will do the rest to make sure it gets onto the tables of our Long Islander neighbors in need.”

Nonperishable food items needed include canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices, and shelf-stable milk (please, no food or juices in glass containers). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and disposable diapers are gratefully accepted. All donations collected will help replenish Island Harvest’s network of food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs in communities throughout Long Island.

“Even if it’s a can of soup or a box of cereal, every donation, no matter the size, will help countless Long Islanders who may be struggling to put food on their tables,” explains Ms. Shubin Dresner, who noted that the food bank distributed 15 million pounds of food in 2022, a 42% increase over 2019 (pre-pandemic levels). “We are counting on the generosity of our neighbors who can

spare a little extra to help make this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive one of the most successful.”

Since its inception in 1993, Stamp Out Hunger has collected more than 1.75 billion pounds of food in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to help address the issue of hunger in America.

“The National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 6000 and the United States Postal Service are excited to once again partner with Island Harvest for this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food collection,” said Tom Siesto, executive vice president, NALC Branch 6000. “The members of Branch 6000 and the employees of the United States Postal Service often see firsthand the widespread issue of food insecurity on Long Island and are thrilled to take part in this very important campaign and give back to the local communities that they serve.”

“Our letter carriers stand ready to Stamp Out Hunger on Long Island. We are thrilled to be working with Island Harvest Food Bank and the National Association of Letter Carriers to join the mission and ensure every resident has access to a meal,” said the Postal Service’s district manager, John Tortorice.

This year’s Stamp Out Hunger collection campaign on Long Island is generously supported by presenting sponsor National Grid, lead sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co., and major sponsors Allstate, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Dime Community Bank, Empire Automotive Group, Nonna’s Garden, Rheem ProPartner, and Stop & Shop, and supporting partners College Hunks Moving, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Amazon, and Steel Equities.

All donations to Stamp Out Hunger are tax-deductible because all the food collected benefits Island Harvest, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Hicksville Board of Education highlights student achievements

Board of Education President Annette Beiner, parent Sadhana Bothra, Hicksville student Siddh Agarwal and Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton. Missing from photo: Jack Beaudette.

At the April 16 board of education meeting, Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton highlighted several Hicksville High School students for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Hicksville School Community. Student recognitions included this year’s National Merit Scholarship finalists, a dedicated student who puts others first, the school’s Science Olympiad Team and vocational students who manage the Comet Shop.

Siddh Agarwal and Jack Beaudette were recognized as finalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Competition. To be considered for this rigorous competition for National Merit Scholarships, these students met specific standards and fulfilled several requirements. As part of the application, each student wrote an essay and gave information about extracurricular activities, leadership positions, and honors or awards they received. Over 1.5

million students took the PSAT in 2022 and were tested on their Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing Skills, and entered the National Merit Program. Only 1% of the students moved on to become finalists in this extremely intense competition. Jack will be attending the University of Chicago in the fall and Siddh is undecided at this time.

Harshal Mehta has demonstrated extraordinary compassion and initiative by organizing a fundraising activity aimed at collecting food and non-perishable items for the district’s future district food pantry. His dedication reflects the values the district strives to instill in all students. Additionally, he is a dedicated member of the Boy Scouts and is currently planning his Eagle Scout project. Harshal plans on creating a communication board and an outdoor library at Lee Ave Elementary School.

The achievements of this year’s High

Hicksville Board of Education Secretary Linda Imbriale, Assistant Director of Special Education and PPS Vicki Montalvo, vocational students Michael Buonomo, Ryan Medrano, Aditya Saha, Executive Director of Special Education and PPS Inna Mishiev, Assistant Director of Special Education and PPS Chris Herman, Assistant Director of Special Education and PPS Bryan Offermann, Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton Superintendent. (Front row) vocational student Samin Kibria. Missing from photo: Mutayyab Ahmad, Amanda Cruz and Lauren Sissons.

School’s Science Olympiad team were also recognized. Science Olympiad is a club where students compete in 23 scientific events, including answering questions about astronomy, coding a robot, identifying trees, designing an experiment, or building a working wooden plane. This past season marked a significant milestone for the team by participating in more than three competitions for the first time. The team secured impressive top ten placements at the University of Georgia Satellite Invitational and the Boyceville Satellite. Additionally, the A team celebrated a monumental victory at the Mount Academy Invitational, marking the first-ever competition win in the team’s history. At the regional competition, Hicksville achieved its highest in-person placement and score in four years, with the A team securing third place overall out of 38 teams and earning qualification for the State Tournament for the eighteenth consecutive year. The B and C teams also placed eighth and twelfth respectively.

For the past five years, vocational students enrolled in the high school’s ungraded program have managed the daily opera-

tions of the Comet Shop. The Comet Shop offers a selection of Hicksville merchandise and snacks to students and staff.  This practical engagement is integral to their transition planning, as they engage in diverse roles across the school community, including establishments such as On the Border, Applebee’s, Ace Hardware, and Shoprite. The revenue generated through the Comet Shop recently funded a travel training and transition goal excursion to Orlando. This excursion, the culmination of years of preparation, involved familiarizing themselves with navigating urban environments, utilizing public transportation, and adhering to travel protocols including airport procedures. The trip provided invaluable exposure to potential career pathways and a structured itinerary of educational activities. The Hicksville School community extends congratulations and praise to the vocational students for the successful fulfillment of their IEP goals and objectives and expresses gratitude to the supportive staff whose guidance has transcended conventional classroom settings, enriching the students’ learning experiences within realworld contexts.

Parent Jitendra Mehta, Hicksville Board of Education Vice President Sunita Manjrekar, Hicksville Family Partnership Specialist Maritza Quintero, student Harshal Mehta, parent Minal Mehta and Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton.

Hicksville

Hicksville Board of Education Vice President Sunita Manjrekar, Science Olympiad Advisor Chelsea Quaranta, student members of the Science Olympiad team Kailash Thayavally, Birinder Bachhal, Nikki Kamath, Bilal Mahmood, Patrick LaBarca, Science Olympiad Advisor Stephen McSweeney and Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton.

Registration open for GAP summer program

The Group Activities Program (GAP) will run a Summer Program from July 1 through August 9 at Marjorie Post Community Park in Massapequa and Syosset-Woodbury Community Park. The Summer Day Camp program will run daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be open to developmentally disabled children and young adults ages 5–21.

“Our Group Activities Program Summer Day Camp is one of the finest programs of its kind in the nation and our activities specialists take great pride in fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere at the day camp,” Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “We’re focused on group interaction, and as part of the summer camp, participants will be able to take part in activities such as swimming,

arts and crafts, sports, music, and playground time. I encourage residents to take this opportunity to register now and take advantage of this great program.”

This GAP Summer Day Camp provides a unique social-recreational experience for developmentally disabled town residents in a well-supervised setting over the course of six weeks. The GAP Program is administered through the Handicapped Services Division of the Town’s Department of Community and Youth Services. The focus of the GAP program is group interaction.

The 6-week program costs $250 per child registered. To register for summer camp, please contact the GAP Office at (516) 797-7947.

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Also attending were Levittown Kiwanians Gary and Linda Crozier, Phyllis Camillone, and Pat Carney; Levittown School Board member Michael Pappas; Principal John Avena; Assistant Principal Craig Arvelo-Shaw; and Nassau County Legislators Tom McKevitt and John Ferretti.

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray congratulated Wisdom Lane Middle School students Nicholas Buckley, Brody Kearney, Tobi Kim, Elizabeth Livoti and Jahan Uddin

Levittown Kiwanis Club.

Generals Nation supports Autism Acceptance Month

Autism Acceptance Month is a schoolwide celebration at General Douglas MacArthur High School, marked by paper chains hanging in every hall.

General Douglas MacArthur High School in the Levittown School District has long been a leader in the celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, and this year was no different. The month serves as an important reminder that every day, the Generals nation stands as one.

Autism acceptance is celebrated daily in MacArthur, as students in the ABA program regularly interact with their peers throughout the building. In the Coffee Club, students make their way to classrooms to deliver morning goodies including breakfast items – a program that has become

popular throughout Levittown schools.

MacArthur hosts the Challenger basketball game, an annual success that brings together students in the ABA programs at MacArthur and the neighboring Jonas E. Salk Middle School. In the afterschool Social Club, students come together to enjoy relaxing games.

ABA students also join regular classes such as digital media, home economics, business, art and chorus, working closely with their peers and the classes’ respective teachers. Additionally, ABA students are heard during the morning announcements throughout April.

A variety of experiences both inside

Students in the ABA program acquire life skills through a variety of experiences. On April 18, Matthew Jerabek helped prepare banana pudding.

and outside the school building help equip ABA students with life and vocational skills. With teachers including Rachel Breslow, Cindy Kalb and Dianne Sciulla, students make their way to local stores and institutions for “consumer days,” including Target, Five Below and the Levittown Public Library, where they excitedly step up to complete various tasks. Student Brandon Lane recalled having fun during a recent visit to his favorite location, CVS. The students also make regular visits to Levittown Memorial Education Center to practice custodial skills.

“Throughout the program, we focus on both academic and life skills that help prepare students for adulthood,” special education teacher Desiree Mendoza said. “Every experience helps them acclimate to real-life skills.”

Speaking of MacArthur’s ABA teachers, principal Joseph Sheehan remarked, “They’re the best of the best.”

“They’re the reason this program is as successful as it is,” added special education chairperson Stephanie Addona.

Lifeguard jobs available at town pools, beaches

The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that it has lifeguard employment opportunities at Town Pools and Beaches throughout the Town. Opportunities for this summer once again include a competitive starting salary of up to $18 per hour for all lifeguards, as well as openings for 15-year olds at community pools.

“From having the opportunity to work at one of the Town’s fantastic summer facilities and building confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills, to making new friends and helping others, working as a lifeguard is one of the best summer jobs around,” Town Supervisor Joseph

Saladino said. “Our lifeguards provide an invaluable service in protecting our residents and have helped save countless lives in both pool and ocean waters. We encourage you to take the first step in making this summer your best one yet by applying to be a Town of Oyster Bay lifeguard today.”

The Town is accepting lifeguard applications from candidates who possess Nassau Lifeguard Certification and a current CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer. Additionally, the Town is offering Red Cross Lifeguard Training and Nassau County Certification courses for residents who are not certified, but would

like to be. Upon successful completion of these two courses, residents will be eligible for employment as a lifeguard with the Town of Oyster Bay and the Town will then pay all fees for both courses. There are also many future opportunities for advancement, including as Water Safety Instructors, Swim Team Coaches, Swim Lesson Teachers, Head Lifeguards, Lifeguard Instructors and Lifeguard Managerial positions.

“The Town of Oyster Bay is making it easier than ever to become a lifeguard. We’re offering all the certification and training courses you need to apply, covering the fees of these

courses for successful candidates, welcoming 15-year olds to our lifeguard ranks at Town community pools, and offering competitive pay in recognition of the life-saving work they do,” added Supervisor Saladino.

Town lifeguards are hired for the summer season, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Positions are available at all Town pools and beaches. For all inquiries about lifeguard employment and classes, please call 516-797-4131 or email aquatics@oysterbay-ny.gov.

NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF MEETING FOR BUDGET VOTE, CAPITAL RESERVE PROPOSITIONS AND ELECTION FOR THE JERICHO UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE JERICHO PUBLIC LIBRARY MAY 21, 2024 OF JERICHO UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE is hereby given to the qualified voters of Jericho Union Free School District, Nassau County, New York, that the annual budget and election vote meeting of said school district will be held in the Gymnasium of Jericho High School, Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, New York, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 between 6:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M.

NOTICE is hereby given that the public hearing on the proposed budget of the school district will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in the Little Theatre of Jericho High School, Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, New York, at 7:00 P.M.

NOTICE is given that a copy of the statements of the amount of money required for the ensuing year for school purposes and library purposes may be obtained by any qualified voter in the District at each schoolhouse and at the Office of the District Clerk, between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. on each day other than Saturday, Sunday or holiday during the fourteen days immediately preceding such Budget Election Voting.

Voting will be held for the following purposes:

1.    To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2024 and expiring June 30, 2027.

2.    To vote upon the appropriation of funds to meet the estimated expenditures of the District for school purposes for the school year beginning July 1, 2024 and authorize the levy of necessary taxes therefore; said matter to be presented on the voting machines as Proposition No. 1.

3.    To vote upon the expenditure from the Capital Reserve Fund known as ”Facilities Improvement Program V – Jericho Public Schools”. Said matter to be presented as Proposition No. 2 as follows:

SHALL the Board of Education be authorized to expend a sum not to exceed $4,448,603 from the capital reserve fund established on May 17, 2022 for the purpose of completing capital improvements as follows: district-wide bathroom upgrades; district-wide plumbing and pump upgrades; auditorium reconstruction at Jackson Elementary School; districtwide ceiling and lighting upgrades; district-wide building energy management systems upgrades; district-wide asphalt and paving upgrades; district-wide security upgrades; district-wide exterior door upgrades; all of the above to include all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus, and incidental costs associated therewith. Candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education may be nominated only by petition directed to the District Clerk signed by thirty-five (35) qualified voters, stating the name and residence of each candidate, who must have been a resident of the District for at least one year prior to election. Sample form of petition may be obtained from the District Clerk. Pursuant to a proposition heretofore adopted by the voters of this District, vacancies upon the Board of Education shall not be considered separate, specific offices, and nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board of Education for which the candidate is nominated. Each petition shall be filed with the District Clerk on or before April 22, 2024 between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.   NOTICE is given that the Annual Election of the Jericho Public Library will be held in the Gymnasium of the Jericho High School on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 between 6:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. for the following purposes:

1.    To elect one (1) member of the Board of Trustees for a full term of five (5) years commencing July 1, 2024 and expiring June 30, 2029.

2.    To vote upon the appropriation of funds to meet the estimated expenditures of the Public Library purposes for the school year beginning July 1, 2024 and authorize the levy of necessary taxes therefore, said matter to be presented on the voting machines as Proposition No. 3.

Candidates for the office of Library Trustee may be nominated only by petitions directed to the District Clerk, signed by at least thirty-five (35) qualified voters, stating residence of each signed and the name and residence of each candidate.  Each petition shall be filed with the District Clerk on or before April 22, 2024 between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.  The name of the last incumbent shall not be set forth on the petition for the Library Trustee.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that only persons who are qualified voters as of May 21, 2024 shall be permitted to vote at the election to be held on May 21, 2024 on matters affecting the School District and the Jericho Public Library, as herein above set forth. A qualified voter is defined as follows: A citizen of the United States, who is eighteen (18) years of age or over, and has been a resident of the District for thirty (30) days or more next preceding the meeting on which he/she offers to vote. Persons disqualified from voting under provisions of Section 5-106 of the Election Law are not eligible to vote in school district elections.

The School District may require all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election to provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-c.  Such form may include a driver’s license, a non-driver identification card, a utility bill or a voter registration card. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address.

EARLY MAIL AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS-Application for an early mail or absentee ballot may be made at the Office of the District Clerk. Such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the day of the vote, if the ballot is mailed to the voter, or by the day before the day of the vote, if the ballot is delivered personally to the voter. A list of all persons to whom early mail and absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the Office of the District Clerk during regular business hours.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 PM on May 21, 2024.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Jericho Union Free School District, may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk in person, by mail to District Clerk, Jericho Union Free School District, 99 Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, New York, 11753, by email to DistrictClerk@jerichoschools.org, or fax sent to (516) 203-3602. In such request, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application by mail, fax or email. A military voter must return the original military ballot application by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at the address above. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on April 25, 2024. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the Office of the District Clerk at 99 Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, New York, 11753. Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before 5:00 PM on May 21, 2024

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Jill Citron, President

Divya Balachandar, Vice President

Jennifer Vartanov

Samuel Perlman

Christopher Foresto

May 3, 2024

Supporting Long Island’s small businesses

National Small Business Week is April 28–May 4.

Just because a business is small doesn’t mean it isn’t important. The small businesses on our island are 50% of our economy. These businesses are part of the fabric of our communities. They’re vital. We’ve been proudly supporting our small businesses since 2014 with cost-saving programs and services. Show your support, too, by shopping locally during Small Business Week (and all year long). It’s no small thing to let them know they matter.

Our Business First Program offers many ways to help Long Island’s small businesses, including:

• Free energy assessments

• Rebates for energy-saving improvements

• Incentives for renovating commercial spaces in struggling business districts

• Bill credits for occupying vacant downtown spaces

• Grants for outdoor beautification in downtown areas

• Business Solutions Center hotline (800-966-4818)

• Business planning and customized solutions

Time-Traveling through Strasbourg in France’s Alsace-Lorraine

Staying over in the historic city of Strasbourg in France’s AlsaceLorraine region, means that you can go out in the early morning, before the daytrippers crowd the streets, and soak in the atmosphere.

I walk through Tanners Row, which in this early morning hour, is peaceful. A guy on a bike rides through, a reminder that this is still a neighborhood, a community.

I go to explore Strasbourg’s Les Ponts Couverts and the Vauban Dam, located a short distance from each other.

Les Ponts Couverts (covered bridges) are three bridges spanning the River Ill, dominated by three imposing square towers, vestiges of the 13th-century city walls. A bit further, there’s a fourth tower nicknamed “the executioner’s tower.”

While I fruitlessly look for covered bridges, I finally realize that they were replaced in 1865 by these stone bridges without a roof (so not covered),where I am standing. As I observe the beautiful views from the bridge, a fellow tells me you can walk on the Panoramic Terrace on top of the Vauban Dam – in fact, the views from there are spectacular.

A short walk from the bridge is the Vauban Dam. “The Great Lock” was built between 1686 and 1700 based on plans of Louix XIV’s military engineer, Vauban. Built with 13 arches, it was constructed so that they could flood part of the city to

detail where to find the highlights. The Museum of Fine Arts presents a fascinating overview of European painting up to 1870. Located on the first floor of the Palais Rohan, the museum offers a tour through the centuries and schools: Italian and Flemish Primitives (Giotto, Memling); Renaissance and Mannerism (Botticelli, Raphael, Veronese, Lucas de Leyde, El Greco); Baroque, Naturalism and Classicism in the 17th and 18th centuries (Rubens, Vouet, Zurbarán,  La Belle Strasbourgeoise de Largillière, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Goya); 19th century (Delacroix, Chassériau, Corot, Courbet).

defend against an enemy attack. It is fascinating to walk through – some sculptures just hanging about gathering cobwebs - but most marvelous is a rooftop terrace, laid out in 1965, which you can walk over for a spectacular panoramic view of the old city.

From here, you can see the fingers of the River Ill coming together below you. (Pro tip: though amazing to see in the morning light, you are looking into the sun – the reflections on the water are amazing – but check it out in the late afternoon.)

Palais Rohan

One of the many jewels of Strasbourg is the Palais Rohan. Constructed between 1732 and 1742 from blueprints by Robert deCotte, First Architect to the King, it was built for Cardinal Armand-Gaston de Rohan-Soubise, Prince-Bishop

of Strasbourg, modeled after Paris’ grand mansions.

Following the French Revolution, the palace became the Emperor’s royal residence, and after 1870, a museum. Today, the Palais Rohan houses three stellar museums: the Archeological Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Fine Arts Museum – just walking through the palace to the various rooms where the exhibits are displayed is a phenomenal experience.

(I have to rush through in the couple of hours before I need to get to the Regent Petit France Hotel where we are getting picked up for the European Waterways canal cruise aboard the Panache. It would have been better to have four hours.)

The art and artifacts are gorgeously presented in an exquisite palace. Definitely follow the helpful “My First Visit...” brochures which

Among the highlights is La Belle Strasbourgeoise, from 1703, a portrait of a woman from one of Strasbourg’s important families in the time of Louis XIV with her imposing two-cornered hat in black lace, painted by one of the best portrait painters of the time, Nicolas de Largilliere. Though the woman has never been identified, the painting has become a symbol of the museum, much as the Mona Lisa is to Le Louvre.

Museum of Decorative Arts is set in the historical apartments –so you visit the chambers of the King and the Bishop-Prince, with exceptional examples of “the princely style of life under the monarchy.” It continues into the wing of the old stables with a tour of rooms housing decorative arts collections tracing the diversity and development of applied arts in Strasbourg from 1681 to 1870 - world-famous Hannong ceramics, furnishings, sculpture and

on next page

GOING PLACES, NEAR

& FAR....

Time-Traveling through Strasbourg in France’s Alsace-Lorraine

Continued from previous page

paintings, timepieces, metalwork, silver and goldsmith art, and a selection of mechanical toys from the Tomi Ungerer Foundation.

The most intriguing section is the Chamber of the Bishops – the suite of rooms forming the King’s apartments. Originally, there would have been portraits of bishops but in 1793, the paintings were burned by revolutionaries who replaced them with allegorical figures of the Civic Virtues, which is what we see today. One of the paintings dates from the First French Empire and displays the monogram of Napoleon I and the Empress Josephine.

Among the notable occupants of the King’s bedchamber were Louix XV, himself, who stayed here in October 1744, and the Daughines Marie-Josephe de Saxe in 1747 and Marie-Antoinette in 1770. The wood paneling is among the masterpieces of the French Rocaille style. Elaborately stylized shell-like, rocklike, and scroll motifs, Rocaille is one of the more prominent aspects of the Rococo style of architecture and decoration that developed in France during the reign of King Louis XV (1715–74).

Here, there is a disorienting melding of the old with the new: You go through the Royal Suite - bedchamber, Assembly Room which have been complemented with anachronistic modern art displays.

Seeing my interest, the guide directs me to a room with clockworks – the cock clock originates from the first astronomical clock dating from the 14th century of the Strasbourg Cathedral; in the center of the room are parts of the second astronomical clock designed in the 16th century by mathematician Conrad Dasypodius.

I visit a room that originally was the Prince-Bishops’ bedchamber, but when it was refurbished in the Imperial peri-

Louis XV is said to have slept in this bedchamber during his visit to Strasbourg in 1744 and Marie -Antoinette in 1770 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

od, the bedchamber became Emperor Napoleon’s Morning room and the antechamber of the Prince-Bishop became a small dining room. The decoration was damaged during bombing in 1944.

The entire Palais Rohan is an exhibit of decorative arts – it was built by Armand Gaston, Prince de Rohan Soubise, Bishop of Strasbourg from 17041713 who initiated the work. He wanted a building in the style of the Chateau at Versailles and commissioned plans from the King’s chief architect, Robert de Cotte. Construction, decoration and furnishing lasted from 1732-1742.

Archaeological Museum , the oldest of Strasbourg’s museums, was founded in the 18th century. It is fabulous. Housed in the basement of the Palais Rohan, the diversity and wide chronological range of the artifacts on display make it one of the most important archaeological museums in France.

The Archeological Museum has fascinating exhibits that date back, remarkably, from 600,000 BC through the early Middle Ages (800 A.D.) You get

insights into the daily life of Paleolithic hunters and the first neolithic farmers, Bronze Age and Iron Age burials, the everyday life of Gallo-Romans, and jewelry and weapons unearthed from Frankish and Atamanic graves.

Among the highlights: A chariot for traveling through the world of the dead, taken from tombs of Celtic princes from the Iron Age (750BC-050 BC). And you can see the oldest tool in Eastern France – a chopper made of rock used for slicing or scraping, that was found at Achenheim and dated about 600,000 B.C. There is also a funeral headstone of a Gallo-Roman farming couple wearing their everyday clothes, that dates from the late 3rd Century A.D.

Palais Rohan, 2 place du Chateau Strasbourg, +33 (0) 3 68 98 50 00, www. musees.strasbourg.eu.

Musée Historique de la Ville de Strasbourg

After returning from the canal cruise aboard the Panache and before taking the afternoon train back to Paris,

Using the Right Lawn Weedkiller

BY: JEFF RUGG

Q: I wanted my landscaper to use a weed and feed type of fertilizer on my lawn for several kinds of weeds. He said that it wasn’t a good idea as it could kill my trees and shrubs. He wants to use a spray liquid weedkiller, but I am afraid that it will drift onto my flower beds. We are at an impasse. What do you think of these two methods?

A: I have several thoughts. First, you are both right. Herbicides are designed to kill plants. There are differences between grasses and nongrasses that can be exploited to allow weedkillers to

work and not harm the grass. However, the chemicals that work on nongrasses work on all plants that are not grass. Herbicides that are for lawn weeds are often overused. They are sometimes used when there aren’t even weeds to treat. They are often used incorrectly and at the wrong time, especially by homeowners who have no training. Lawn care professionals are often required to take tests and be licensed, so in theory, they should apply the chemicals properly.

Before buying any herbicide, read the directions on the label to see if you can use, store and dispose of the pack-

I find my way down this really colorful street off Cathedral Square (that’s saying something in Strasbourg) to the Historical Museum of the City of Strasbourg. It is also not to be missed (and try to see early in your visit).

You wouldn’t believe that the museum, founded in 1920, is housed in what was the Grande Boucherie (the city’s slaughterhouse) built 1587-1588; it was renovated and reopened in 2013.

Entering the Musée Historique de la Ville de Strasbourg is like entering a time machine that transports you to exciting, dramatic periods of France’s history: Gutenberg’s printing press and the rise of a printing/publishing industry in Strasbourg, and what that meant. The French Revolution. The 1870 Commune Revolt. World War I. The Nazi Occupation and resistance. The museum offers an engaging tour lets you discover nine centuries of Strasbourg’s existence through 1700 works on display –paintings, artifacts, possessions - and interactive and digital devices.

I don’t even remember how many hours I spent here – the displays are really captivating.

(Information and portal to collections: https://en.musees.strasbourg. eu/museums)

More information at https://www. strasbourg.info and https://www.visitstrasbourg.fr

Next: Stepping into the Storybook that is Colmar

See more photos: https://goingplacesfarandnear.com/time-travelingthrough-strasbourg-in-frances-alsacelorraine/

© 2024 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com

aging properly. If not, then don’t buy it. Read the label each time you use the product to be sure you are applying it properly, at the right rate, at the right time and safely. The right time to apply the weedkilling component may not be the right time to apply the fertilizer component on some lawns.

Tree and shrub roots grow away from the trunk several times farther than the branches. If the weed and feed label says to not apply it within the tree root zone, then don’t do it. Most plant roots grow in

Continued on page 5

Ken Jeong tells college graduates: “find your passion”

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

Someone who graduated from both college and medical school is Ken Jeong. He has given a few commencement addresses and has lots of advice for those newly graduated students. Now working as a stand-up comedian and an actor, Jeong has an interesting background.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 13, 1969, Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong is the son of South Korean immigrant parents D.K. and Young Jeong. He and his family moved to North Carolina at age four and was raised in Greensboro, N.C.

Jeong attended Walter Hines Page High School, where he was elected to the student council and played violin in the school orchestra. He graduated in 1986 at the age of 16 and later went on to receive Greensboro’s Youth of the Year award for his achievements.

Ken Jeong began pursuing acting while a sophomore at Duke University. He briefly considered majoring in drama while continuing his pre-med coursework. He graduated from Duke in 1990 and obtained his M.D. at the UNC at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in 1995. The summer before attending medical school, he took theater classes at the University of California-Los Angeles.

While doing his residency in internal medicine in New Orleans, Jeong moonlighted as a comedian. He always loved theater and comedy so being in the entertainment business was what he felt drawn to. Some people encouraged Jeong to pursue comedy especially NBC president Brandon Tartikoff and Improv comedy club founder Budd Friedman, but Jeong was still deciding whether comedy or medicine should be his full-time job.

Moving to Los Angeles in 1998, Jeong practiced medicine for seven years as an internal medicine physician at the Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center. After a long day at the

office, Jeong says he would take to the stage and perform comedy routines as a way to blow off some steam.

He has said that many doctors have golf as a hobby but he wasn’t interested in playing golf. He was always interested in comedy. He kept his hobby a secret, never letting on to his patients that he was funny. It was important to be serious as a doctor so he focused on that. In the end, however, being a fulltime doctor didn’t make him happy so in time he changed careers.

Doing stand-up at The Improv and the Laugh Factory comedy clubs led to several TV appearances, including NBC’s “The Office,” FOX’s “MADtv,” HBO’s “Entourage” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

In 2002, Jeong appeared on Comedy Central’s “Comic Groove.” Jeong was also on “Kims of Comedy.”

In 2007 Jeong made his film debut in Judd Apatow’s “Knocked Up” as Dr. Kuni and that was his breakout performance. From that point forward he was able to transition from medicine into a full-time career in the entertainment industry. Jeong gave up practicing medicine 17 years ago and chose to be an actor. Although Jeong no longer works as a physician, he maintains his medical license in California and has assisted with medical emergencies during performances and on-set.

Ken Jeong met his future wife, Tran Ho, in 2002 at a singles mixer for doctors. They were both working as doctors at the same Los Angeles hospital. Tran, who is Vietnamese-American, was working in family medicine and he was in internal medicine with a focus on adults. There was a doctors’ night out, a happy hour at a bar for the single doctors in their late 20s and early 30s, and Jeong and Tran Ho started talking.

They clicked and Jeong liked the fact that Tran made him laugh. He says that she has a good sense of humor and that they bonded over their love of comedy.

“You don’t meet a lot of people in

medicine, much less date them, who like that, but we had that in common,” Jeong said. The couple married in September 2004 and their twin daughters, Alexa and Zooey, were born in 2007. They have different personalities and Zooey in particular loves comedy. Jeong and his family live in Calabasas, Calif.

Jeong credits his wife for pushing him to pursue a career in acting full time. After a few minor roles throughout the early 2000s, his career changed dramatically after being in “Knocked Up.”

“I was happy just being the doctor from ‘’Knocked Up,’ much less what happened after. ‘The Hangover’ changed my life from black-and-white to Technicolor. I had filmed ‘Knocked Up’ during a vacation week. My wife was like a good college coach telling the star player it was time to go pro. She knew I had the secret ambition to want to act full time I just didn’t know if I could do this full time. It was really my wife’s confidence in me that encouraged me to do this as a full-time job. I owe my whole career to her.”

Ken Jeong told the graduates of

UNC Greensboro in May 2019 at the Greensboro Coliseum, “I encourage you, good times and bad, keep moving, keep finding your passion. I honestly say to every single soul in this coliseum: If I can do this, and if I can do what I want, so can you. You have the light and the future and the universe ahead of you.”

Ken Jeong has also told graduates:

“I honestly have one simple message, and it’s something that you guys already know. The only thing I have to offer in life is my passion.

“I think that’s the only thing that keeps me going, is passion in life, is passion in what I do professionally.

“I’m looking at every single student here. Find your passion. And if you’ve found your passion, as you graduate, let that evolve.

“If you forget anything I say right now… Find your passion …

“Never give up, never close the door on your life, always persist. People ask me all the time, what is your key to success? Is it talent? No. Is it luck? No. Is it even being smart? No, the key to success is persistence.”

A GREENER VIEW

Using the Right Lawn Weedkiller

the top foot of soil where they can get water and air. Tree and shrub roots are intermingled with lawn grass roots. If the herbicide can contact the weed roots, it can contact the tree and shrub roots.

The herbicides used in weed and feed products will damage trees and shrubs when they contact the roots. If the trees are big, the damage may not be much, but it can accumulate over time as more product is applied.

How many weeds are in the lawn? Why are there weeds in the lawn? Lawn grasses are incredible. They are basically bonsai. Unmowed lawn grasses will grow to about 2 feet tall, but we mow them to 2 inches tall. Then we walk and run all over them, compacting the soil. Unmowed grass has enough leaves to grow a large, deep root system. Mowed grass has a small root system that has a hard time gathering water and nutrients. Grass grows best in full sun, but we plant it under trees and in the shade of buildings. Many weed species can

grow in shade, in compacted soil, without much water and few nutrients.

If your lawn area has a hard time growing grass, then maybe it is better to switch to other plants that don’t need to use weed and feed products. If there are only a few weeds, then why treat the whole lawn area to a weed and feed when a spot spray on the individual weeds would work? Of course, the spray needs to be applied following the label directions, including how much wind there is so that it doesn’t drift away from the intended target.

Read the label of all herbicides to see if there is more than one ingredient. Some products have one hebicide to kill plants quickly and another ingredient that prevents new plants from growing for six months. Will that latter ingredient harm the plant roots over a longer time frame?

Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@greenerview.com.

COPYRIGHT 2024 JEFF RUGG DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS

Public Employees Are NOT Being Cheated by Offsets

BY TOM MARGENAU

A month or so ago, I wrote a column about people who mistakenly think they are being cheated by the Social Security Administration out of benefits they believe they are due.

But one group I didn’t mention in that column are the biggest complainers of all: public employees such as teachers and police officers in certain states, many of whom don’t even pay into Social Security in the first place. (The rules about which public employees pay into Social Security can change from one state to another.) Some gripe that they are being cheated out of spousal benefits on a husband’s or wife’s Social Security account. Others complain that any Social Security benefits they earn from a side job are reduced unfairly.

Their complaints center around two laws. One is called the “government pension offset,” or GPO. The other is called the “windfall elimination provision,” or WEP. Before I explain what these rules are all about, I’ve got to give some background.

When Social Security laws were enacted in the 1930s, Congress felt that they could not force a federal pension plan (Social Security) on state and local governments. So they gave them the option of joining Social Security or not. Most did. But some did not. And still today, about 10% of all workers, mostly in state and local jobs in the public sector, are not covered by Social Security. (Those are the teachers and police officers -- along with other state and local employees -- I mentioned earlier.)

Also, federal government employees were initially not covered by Social Security because they had their own pension system in place before Social Security came along. All federal employees hired since 1983 pay into Social Security. However, there are still some old feds out there (hired before 1983) who are not in Social Security.

Folks who spend the bulk of their careers in jobs not covered by Social Security are potentially subject to a couple of offsets that impact either their own Social Security benefit (based on Social Security-covered work they did outside of their regular job) or any benefits they potentially might be due from their spouse’s Social Security record. There always has been a great deal of confusion and an awful lot of misinformation about those offsets.

As I mentioned above, one offset is the WEP. This is the one that impacts your own Social Security benefit. The other is the GPO, and it reduces any spousal benefits you might be due.

The key to understanding WEP is to realize that the word “social” in Social Security means something. Unlike private and other public sector pension plans, there are social goals built into the Social Security program. One of those goals is to raise the standard of living of lower-income workers in retirement. This is accomplished through a benefit formula that is designed to give lower paid work-

ers a better deal than their more highly paid counterparts. Very low-paid workers could get a Social Security benefit that represents up to 90% of their earnings. This percentage is known as a “replacement rate.” People with average incomes (the middle class) generally get a 40% replacement rate. Higher income people get a rate around 30%.

The problem is that people who spend the bulk of their working lives not paying into Social Security are automatically treated as low-income people by the Social Security Administration’s computers. That’s because there are “zeros” on their Social Security earnings record for every year they spent in their non-Social Security job. SSA’s records won’t show they were actually working at the other job and earning another pension. Instead, their Social Security earnings record simply shows gaps in their work history. So when figuring their Social Security retirement benefit, SSA’s computers automatically use the formula intended to compensate a lower-income person.

But teachers, police officers, firefighters and other government employees generally can be classified as people with average incomes, so they should get the same Social Security replacement rate paid to all middle-class workers. That’s why a modified formula is used to refigure their benefits and give them the proper -- and fair -- replacement rate. If you’re an employee affected by this law, that modified formula takes you from the 90% (poor person’s) replacement rate to the 40% (middle-class person’s) replacement rate, thus usually reducing estimated benefits by about half.

Most career teachers and government employees generally have just barely over the qualifying 40 quarters (10 years) of Social Security-covered work. But if you have 30 or more years of “substantial” Social Security earnings, the windfall provision won’t apply, and your benefit will not be reduced. If you have between 20 and 29 years of substantial earnings, your Social Security benefit will be only partially reduced. A chart giving a year-by-year breakdown of what the government considers substantial earnings is in my book, “Social Security: Simple and Smart.”

The other rule that so many people misunderstand is the GPO. In a nutshell, that law says that an amount equal to twothirds of a non-Social Security-covered pension must be deducted from any Social Security dependent’s benefits a person might be due. In effect, the law prevents most folks who work at jobs not covered by Social Security from collecting benefits as a wife, widow, husband or widower from a spouse’s Social Security record.

What these people don’t realize is that the government pension offset law simply treats them in the same way that all other working people have always been treated. For example, if a woman who worked at a job that was covered by Social Security gets a Social Security retirement pension,

that pension has always offset any spousal benefits she might have been due. Before the GPO law went into effect, people getting a non-Social Security pension were the only working people in this country who could get their own retirement pension AND a full dependent’s benefit from Social Security.

And the GPO law actually gives these people a bit of a break. Social Security retirement pensions offset spousal benefits dollar for dollar. But a non-Social Security retirement pension causes only a three-

Continued on next page

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Staying in touch is the answer to future profitability

Long Island is still on “FIRE” with a multitude of cash purchasers as well as those that have commitment letters from their lenders. However “cash is still king” and still rules in the world of real estate transactions.

I received $35,000 over the asking price on a property in Levittown last week, which actually “shocked” the Trustee of the Estate. I had sold the owner’s previous home 10 years ago, but she had recently passed away. But I had stayed in touch over the years.

One of the most crucial and critical thing that I have learned, absorbed and practiced over 42+ years, was to “stay in Touch” with current and past clients. I learned this while performing this most important facet in growing my previous business of landscape design, licensed and certified and professional lawn-tree and shrub applicator, and our irrigation and carpet cleaning divisions. It is just as significant and far reaching today as it was 30+ years ago.

Your current and past clients referrals are truly the life-blood of every successful business and without this simple task of keeping and staying in touch; one will never scale one’s business to attain its “optimum lucrative and profitable level.” Yes, it does take a “1 minute manager” a book written by Kenneth H. Blanchard written in 1982, and still very current today; in order to accomplish this feat. But it can be learned and adapted with specific conditioning through one’s concerted efforts, disciplined actions and the sacrifice of a commodity that is irretrievable, unrecoverable and you can not create it, your valuable time! By understanding these 6 concepts from my pending copyrighted S.A.C.E.D.S.© formula can assist in scaling your business to potentially earn a $100,000 the very first year.

What many in the real estate industry still don’t do sufficiently is to “stay

in touch” and follow up on a regular basis, with their current and especially their past clients. When is the last time to you called your past clients? It is as simple as making short and concise videos to say hello, email or video text, snail mail or a short notes.

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

Maybe deliver a bag of bagels for your Jewish clients after the holidays. Providing an inspirational book for Kwanza to your black clients. Celebrating “Diwali” (also known as Deepavali), celebrating the “Festival of Lights” with a sweet treat or food or small gift for your Indian past clients. Lastly, Ramadan began this year on March 10th and finished on April 10th and was 1 month of fasting, celebrated by the Muslim community. A small gift or some sweets on Eid, the day after Ramadan finishes would be appropriate, again staying in touch with your clients. In 2025, it begins on February 28 and ends on Saturday, March 29 at sundown, so you should add it to your calendar.

Back in February, the Long Island Board of Realtors held an event for the Lunar New Year, celebrating the Year of the Dragon at New Fun Restaurant in Great Neck. The Village of Great Neck Plaza also celebrated the holiday, with another event that our Mayor Ted Rosen hosted with all the participants. Being involved in these types of events goes a long way, in showing your clients that “nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care and know.” By participating in these celebrations it provides the evidence and proof that all your clients and their cultures are important to you. This will form a strong bond between you and your current, past and future clients.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU

Continued from previous page for-two offset. In other words, for each $3 you get in a teacher’s or other noncovered pension, you lose only $2 from Social Security spousal benefits.

Due to the space constraints of my column, this has been a very simplified explanation of some very complicated laws. To learn more about the WEP and GPO, I have an entire chapter devoted to these provisions in my guidebook.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom

It is extremely important to notate the holiday dates in one’s calendar for the varied cultures that you have previously completed transactions with. If you haven’t stayed present with your past clientele, maybe it’s time to re-establish some rapport and build back those most crucial and critical relationships. Your business doesn’t stop after you were paid at the closing of the transaction. It actually continues into the future by creating advocates and communicating and staying in touch for your most valuable and cherished referrals. This will enable you to grow, enhance and scale your business to greater profitability.

Hoping you and your Family, Friends, and Business associates have a Healthier, Safer, Happier and more Lucrative 2024!

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 42+ of 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 gladly provide you with 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, HOA, Condo or Coop.

He will also deliver to you “free” regular updates of what is currently

available, under contract (pending), 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 with no obligations” or “strings attached” a 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market again, without any “obligations” or “strings” attached whatsoever! call Philip A. Raices @ our Global ”find me/follow me” Mobile: 1-(888) 355-1385 or email him: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate. Com

Browse and search for your “Next Place to Call Home” our updated and newly revised site: https://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com

Want his monthly Real Estate/ Business newsletter and bi-monthly “American LifeStyle” magazine delivered to you absolutely “FREE” W/O any Obligations or “Strings attached?” Email or text your full name, email and mobile to be included on his list of 129,000+ satisfied subscribers locally, domestically and internationally.

Check out My New Digital Business Card. My question to you is, are you still using your old 1900’s passé paper business card? Do you still have a rotary dial phone? Of course not! So, get on board in 2024 with cutting-edge revolutionary and transformational technology that will assist you in propelling your business and profits to the next level. Save my information by clicking on the link below, click “Add to Contacts, then click create, then “DONE, then “DONE” again. https://WWW. onetapconnect.com/turnkeyrealestatephilraices

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 2024 CREATORS.COM

BY: MARY HUNT

7 Clever Ways to Build a Cash Stash

While a lot of us believe we’re saving money when we buy things on sale, it’s not true unless we actually save the difference between the regular price and the sale price. That could be stopping at the bank on the way home from the store and actually depositing the amount of money we didn’t spend in a savings account -- or some other equally effective method to really, truly save money!

When you buy things on sale, you aren’t really saving money, you’re just spending less than you might have. Hopefully, today’s selection of great reader tips will give you a few new ways to save money that you’ve not thought of before.

BUCK BANK. Every $1 bill is marked with a letter to the left of George Washington. I save bills that have either of my initials on them. I put away over $300 in $1 bills over the past year, and I used it as my spending money when I visited relatives in California recently. Thanks to my stash, I enjoyed my visit without using my credit card, and it was so satisfying! -- Elsie B., Ohio

FIVE SPOT. I save all $5 bills because there are fewer of them than $1 bills, but they add up to more money. I learned that from my friend, who saved $2,000 for a Florida vacation by hiding her $5 bills. -- Donna, Wisconsin

CHANGE JUG. My husband and I

have a 5-gallon plastic water bottle in the bedroom. Every night, we empty our pockets into the jug. It is now one-quarter full. About four months ago, we emptied the full jug and took it to the bank. To our surprise, we had $2,134.42. We were able to pay down one of our credit cards with the money. With our next full jug, we are planning a vacation. We won’t need to empty our savings account for our getaway! -- Barbara V., New Jersey

MULTI-TASKER. I save all my change. After it accumulates, I count and roll it in the evenings when I watch TV. I could take it to the bank and put it through their change-counting machine, but the bank would get a percentage of it. This way, I’m doing something useful while watching TV, and I get to turn it in for cash when I need it. -- E., Ohio

GROCERY ROUTINE. My husband and I always shop for groceries with the sale flyer and coupons (both paper and digital). We rarely purchase items that aren’t on sale or don’t have a coupon for a discount. After each shopping trip, I

BY CHARLYN FARGO

With our health, it’s the little decisions that make a big difference over time.

A new study finds that the little decision of choosing olive, canola or corn oil over butter or margarine can help prevent chronic disease.

The study, published in the BMC Med on April 15, 2021, followed more than 521,000 participants, ages 50-71 years, from the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. Researchers tracked

collect the register tapes and clip them together. At the end of each month, I add up my total savings from sales and coupons, which are listed on every receipt. Then I

write a check for that amount and deposit it into our savings account. By writing a check once a month, you can really see the savings you earn from grocery sales and coupons. If you just put the savings from each trip in your pocket, it gets wasted on unnecessary things. -- Elaine K., email

CHECKING CUSHION. In my checkbook, instead of deducting or adding the exact amount of each transaction, I round up or round down. If a transaction was a debt of $13.06, I deduct $14. Because I use my checking account so much, this adds up quickly. I have managed to save hundreds of dollars this way. I keep a periodic running total of the actual amount in a separate area of my register. Currently, I have about a $350 cushion in my checking account because of this. -- Jannaya, email

Cooking Oils Versus Butter

cooking oil and fat consumption using a validated food frequency questionnaire and tracked mortality.

Over 16 years, 129,328 deaths were documented. Intakes of butter and margarine were associated with higher total mortality, while intakes of canola and olive oil were related to lower total mortality. Butter consumption was positively associated with cancer mortality.

The researchers found substituting corn oil, canola oil or olive oil for equal amounts of butter and margarine was related to lower all-cause mortality and mortality from certain causes, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, respiratory disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

It’s amazing that a simple switch from solid fats to liquid can make such a difference. It’s a seemingly small step to saute a chicken breast or roast vegetables in oil instead of butter.

Make those small changes and your heart will thank you.

Q and A

Q: When it comes to gardening,

CREATE A HABIT. I know a habit is something you do without much thought. Saving money by setting up automatic transfers from my checking account to my savings has truly become a wonderful new habit. Once I set it up at my bank, I felt the “loss” from my checking account but only for a few weeks. Then it’s like I forgot about it! It’s so easy because there are no deposit slips to fill out, branches to visit or cash withdrawals required. I can just check my balance online from time to time and watch my money stash (emergency fund) grow. -- Suzanne, Tennessee

Thanks to all my readers who share their best ideas for saving time and money. By following their basic steps, you’ll be able to put money into an emergency fund for when you need it.

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 2024 CREATORS.COM

spring is the season for those cool-loving crops like lettuce, spinach, carrots and radishes. But what can you do with radishes, and are they good for you?

A: Radishes come in quite the variety: spicy to mild, small to long, round to straight, red to white to multicolored. A half-cup of sliced, raw radishes contains around 10 calories, 2 grams carbohydrates and 1 gram fiber. While radishes do not contain much protein, fat or sodium, they do have vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, potassium and calcium. Radishes store best in the refrigerator for one to two weeks, but they don’t freeze well due to their high-water content, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Try pickling them, or just slicing, dicing, shredding and eating. You can also saute them. (See recipe below.)

RECIPE

Have you ever tasted a cooked radish?

Here’s a recipe to try from the University of Illinois Extension. It’s a quick, easy, healthy side dish to celebrate spring’s flavors.

SAUTEED RADISHES

Servings: 4

1 tablespoon olive, corn or canola oil

1 to 2 bunches radishes (about 1 pound with tops), trimmed and each cut into quarters or halves if small

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped Heat oil in nonstick 12-inch skillet over low-medium heat. Add radishes, salt and pepper to skillet. Cook 14-15 minutes or until radishes are fork-tender and lightly browned. Remove skillet from heat. Toss radishes with dill, and transfer to serving bowl.

Per serving: 45 calories; 1 gram protein; 4 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fat; 2 grams dietary fiber.

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. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRD. .

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of May 5-12, 2024

Over my nearly 50-year astronomy career, I’ve read more than a few books on the subject. If you asked me to name my favorite, you might be surprised to learn it isn’t even an astronomy book but rather an inspirational and romantic autobiography by the late Leslie Peltier, amateur astronomer extraordinaire.

Peltier’s charming book “Starlight Nights” recounts passionately his love for stargazing and how, as a wide-eyed child one spring, he read about -- and met -- his very first star.

“According to the descriptive text,” he writes, “Vega, at that very hour in the month of May, would be rising in the northeastern sky. I took the open book outside, walked around to the east side of the house, glanced once more at the diagram by the light that came through the east window of the kitchen, looked up toward the northeast and there, just above the plum tree blooming by the well, was Vega. And there she had been all the springtimes of my life, circling around the pole with her five attendant stars, fairly begging for attention, and I had never seen her.

“Now I knew a star!”

What a marvelous experience for anyone, young or old, to learn their first star, but Peltier’s lyrical writing makes it even more magical. And if you’ve never met Vega, this would be a great week to do so. The star is again making its appearance over the northeastern horizon after dark, just as it did for young Peltier so many decades ago.

Meeting a star, though, is just the beginning. Getting to know it can be even more fun. Vega, for example, is the brightest star in the small constellation Lyra (the harp) and is also the brightest of the three outlining the huge summertime asterism known as the Summer Triangle.

STARGAZERS

The Return of Vega

You may notice Vega seems to twinkle more than other stars. That’s because when a star hangs low in the sky, its light must pass through six times more of the Earth’s turbulent atmosphere than it does when it shines high overhead.

Vega has more than twice the size and mass -- and produces about 40 times the power -- of our sun. As a result, we expect it will exhaust its fuel in only onetenth of the time, making its predicted life span only about one billion years.

Another interesting fact about Vega is that it someday will replace Polaris as our North Star. This happens because our planet wobbles like a spinning top over about 25,800 years. The result is that, between

A.D. 13,000 and 14,000, Vega will move to within only six degrees of the north celestial pole.

When you see Vega, you’ll be looking in the direction that our sun and solar system are racing at about 12 miles per second. Don’t lose sleep over this, though; there’s no chance of a collision. Vega lies about 25 light-years from us (some 150 trillion miles), so it would take us nearly 4,000 centuries to travel that distance.

I hope you’ll follow Peltier’s lead this spring and get out to meet the amazing star Vega!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

LOST IN SUBURBIA

That’s the Way the Ball Bounces

BY: TRACY BECKERMAN

“I saw you throwing the ball for the dog outside this morning,” I said to my husband. He was making himself some eggs while the dog lay panting on the floor.

“I did!” he said enthusiastically.

“You used the wrong ball,” I said, walking past him to pet the panting dog.

“What do you mean?”

“You threw the green ball that has the treats inside,” I said. “You’re supposed to throw the yellow ball with no treats.”

“What are you, the Fetch Police?” he said as he flipped his omelet.

“No, but when you use the green ball, the treats inside get dirt and dog drool all over them.”

He shook his head at me. “I don’t understand. Don’t the treats get

dog drool all over them when the dog eats them?”

“Yes. But this is dirty dog drool.”

“Is there such a thing as clean dog drool?” he asked.

“I’m serious.”

“I’m not going to stop using the green ball,” he said defiantly. “It has a better bounce than the yellow ball, and he likes to catch it on the bounce.”

I glared at him.

“BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO WASH IT, AND IT RUINS THE TREATS INSIDE!” I bellowed. I stormed out of the room, then stopped, turned and yelled over my shoulder, “AND THEY’RE ORGANIC!”

I shouldn’t belittle the importance of this topic. The dog’s favorite toy is the green rubber ball with the treats inside. When he pushes it across the floor with his nose, the treats will come

out of a hole on each end. According to the dog toy people, this is supposed to be very intellectually stimulating for dogs, which would mean at least one-third of the family was being intellectually stimulated while the other two-thirds were fighting over dog balls.

The problem was, when my husband threw the green ball outside, it would get filthy and the treats inside would also get filthy. Then he’d wash the ball, and the treats inside would then be filthy and wet, and they wouldn’t come out when the dog pushed his ball across the floor. Then I’d have to fish out the dirty, wet treats from a little hole in the ball with my pinky finger and be really annoyed because, clearly, this is the most pressing issue on the planet right now.

I stewed in the other room for a while but then realized it would be best if we

tried to be adults and worked out our ball issues.

“Honey, I’m sorry I barked at you about the dog balls,” I said as I came back in the room. “It’s stupid. And really, I’m just thankful that, with everything that’s going on in the world, we have each other.”

“And I’m thankful for you, too,” he said, then kissed me. “The dog has a lot to be thankful for, too.”

“Why’s that?” I said.

He smiled. “At least he has two balls.”

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 2024 CREATORS.COM

Vega will appear over the northeastern horizon after dark.

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Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with food Chicken Flautas

Cinco de Mayo is a relatively insignificant holiday on the Mexican calendar. However, among Americans, Cinco de Mayo has become an opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture and cuisine. Each year on May 5, many Cinco de Mayo celebrants toast with their favorite agave-based beverage (typically tequila) and dine on Mexican specialties. Visiting a Mexican restaurant may be a large part of Cinco de Mayo festivities. Those who want to keep the party closer to home can bring the tastes of Mexico right to their kitchens. “Chicken Flautas” are a light meal or snack that make ideal finger foods. In this recipe, courtesy of “The Complete Mexican, South American & Caribbean Cookbook” (Metro Books) by Jane Milton, Jenni Fleetwood and Marina Filippelli, common ingredients are turned into a crispy, fried delight.

Makes 12

2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 onion

2 garlic cloves

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3 1⁄2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

1. Start by making the salsa. Mix the tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro, onion, and chiles in a bowl. Season with salt to taste and set aside.

2. Put the chicken breasts in a large pan, add water to cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it cool a little. Using two forks, shred the chicken into small pieces. Set it aside.

3. Chop the onion finely and crush the garlic. Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and garlic and fry over a low heat for about 5 minutes, or

12 corn tortillas, freshly made or a few days old Oil for frying

Salt and ground pepper

For the salsa:

3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

until the onion has softened but not colored. Add the shredded chicken, with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well, remove from the heat, and stir in the feta.

4. Before they can be rolled, soften the tortillas by steaming three or four at a time on a plate over boiling water for a few moments, until they are pliable. Alternatively, wrap them in microwave-safe film and then heat them in a microwave oven on full power for about 30 seconds.

5. Place a spoonful of the chicken filling on one of the tortillas and roll tightly to make a neat cylinder. Secure with a toothpick, immediately cover

Juice of 1⁄2 lime

Small bunch of cilantro, chopped

1⁄2 small onion, finely chopped

3 fresh fresno chiles or similar fresh green chiles, seeded and chopped

the roll with plastic wrap to prevent the tortilla fry drying out and splitting. Fill and roll the remaining tortillas in the same way.

6. Pour oil into a frying pan to a depth of 1 inch. Heat it until a small cube of bread, added to the oil, rises to the surface and bubbles at the edges before turning golden. Remove the toothpicks, then add the flautas to the pan, a few at a time.

7. Fry the flautas for 2 to 3 minutes until golden, turning frequently. Drain on paper towels and serve at once, with the salsa.

Registration open for GAP summer program

The Group Activities Program (GAP) will run a Summer Program from July 1 through August 9 at Marjorie Post Community Park in Massapequa and Syosset-Woodbury Community Park. The Summer Day Camp program will run daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be open to developmentally disabled children and young adults ages 5–21.

“Our Group Activities Program Summer Day Camp is one of the finest programs of its kind in the nation and our activities specialists take great

pride in fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere at the day camp,” Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “We’re focused on group interaction, and as part of the summer camp, participants will be able to take part in activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, sports, music, and playground time. I encourage residents to take this opportunity to register now and take advantage of this great program.”

This GAP Summer Day Camp pro-

vides a unique social-recreational experience for developmentally disabled town residents in a well-supervised setting over the course of six weeks. The GAP Program is administered through the Handicapped Services Division of the Town’s Department of Community and Youth Services. The focus of the GAP program is group interaction. The 6-week program costs $250 per child registered. To register for summer camp, please contact the GAP Office at (516) 797-7947.

Faith Lutheran to present free Broadway song concert

BY RIKKI MASSAND

On Saturday May 11 at 7 pm, Faith Lutheran Church of Syosset at 231 Jackson Avenue welcomes all to attend a free concert - “Travis & Friends”with a complimentary wine and cheese reception. While attendance, seating and refreshments are all free of charge, donations to the church will be gratefully accepted.

Faith Lutheran Church’s Music Director Travis Bloom, an acclaimed professional pianist, will join classical vocalist Nicoletta Berry to entertain the May 11th audience.

In his position as music director Travis Bloom provides music for Faith Lutheran’s weekly worship services. He directs the church’s adult choir and assists Pastor Rebecca Lund Sheridan with weekly liturgy.

Several times every year, Bloom presents the congregation, Syosset, Jericho and Woodbury neighbors, and the general public with themed “Travis & Friends” musical performances. Recently his program was titled, “A Night at the Opera.” Faith Lutheran Church also hosted Bloom’s productions of “With a Song in My Heart”, “Broadway’s Greatest Hits” and “An American Songbook Afternoon.” Information and his bio are

available on TravisRBloom.com

Pastor Sheridan, a native of Nebraska who moved to Syosset with her husband five years ago, said adding Nicoletta Berry’s talents to the concert will present the audience with a “brilliant and youthful soprano act to breathe life into a delightful evening of familiar Broadway tunes at the church.”

Berry recently made her debut at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan as the soprano soloist for the Cecilia Chorus of New York in Beethoven’s “Christ on the Mount of Olives.”

She will make her debut at Opera Saratoga in June 2024 as Despina in Mozart Cosí fan tutte. Previously Berry performed at Juilliard Opera, the New York Festival of Song, Aspen Opera Theatre, Caramoor Music Festival and at recital venues across New York City.

“Faith Lutheran is committed to sharing the power of music and community with a wider audience. We believe this concert event will be a delightful and entertaining experience for the entire community,” Pastor Sheridan noted.

In an interview, she shared the goal of consistently holding special community-building events at Faith Lutheran Church.

“Offering Broadway concerts to the Syosset Woodbury community is one way we can give back; providing neighbors who may not be able to travel into the city an unforgettable opportunity and supporting amazing musical talent,” Sheridan explained. For more information visit FaithSyosset.org or call 516-921-3330.

“Art in the Park” Craft Sale

The Town of Oyster Bay invites residents to the Town’s “Art in the Park” Craft Sale on Saturday, May 18, from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park & Beach in Oyster Bay (rain date Sunday, May 19). Local artists will sell hand-crafted goods, jewelry, ceramics, photography, books, greeting cards and more. A live musical performance will take place, featuring Vinyl Revival, along with family-friendly activities and offerings from local food trucks. Admission is free.

“We are excited to host ‘Art in the Park’ and connect residents with local artists and artisans. Featuring hand-crafted goods, ceramics, watercolors, glass, jewelry, wood, leather, sculpture, and other beautiful items designed by local vendors, the event will offer something special for everyone and pro-

LEGAL NOTICES

vides the perfect opportunity to purchase a handmade gift while supporting our small businesses,” said Town Clerk LaMarca.

“Art in the Park° is coordinated by the Town’s Department of Community & Youth Services, Cultural and Performing Arts Division and sponsored by: Extreme Auto Body, Steel Equities, Gold Coast Studios, Action Auto Wreckers, Complete Basement Systems, The Gucciardo Law Firm, Webster Bank, Orchard Estate of Woodbury, Moe’s Southwest Grill and News 12 Long Island.

Artist applications are available now and can be obtained by emailing capa@ osyetrbay-ny.gov.  For additional information, visit at www.oysterbaytown. com/capa or call (516) 797-7925.

Town plans Veterans Appreciation Celebration

Veterans and active United States military personnel are invited to the Town of Oyster Bay’s Armed Forces Appreciation Day Celebration slated for Friday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, located at 7800 Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury.  This free event, open to Town of Oyster Bay veterans and active duty personnel, will include a BBQ and entertainment by the singing group American Bombshells.

“The Town of Oyster Bay is committed to serving veterans and ensuring they have access to important benefits in which they are entitled to,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “This is an important way of thanking our brave hometown heroes for protect-

ing the freedoms we enjoy each and every day as Americans.”

President Harry S. Truman established Armed Forces Appreciation Day in 1950 as a day to pay special tribute to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

The Town’s celebration includes a patriotic musical salute to our hometown heroes, including a special performance by the “American Bombshells,” and a free barbeque.

To accommodate as many hometown heroes as possible, veterans and active military personnel are invited to bring one guest.  There is no charge to attend and a rain date is scheduled for Friday, May 24. To RSVP, please call the Town of Oyster Bay at (516) 797-4121.

Multiple larcenies

From page 1

June 25, 2022 at 5:43 p.m.Kohl’s, 5300 Sunrise Highway, Massapequa

Smith had been previously

arrested a total of 46 times (15 felony srrests, 31 misdemeanor srrests). He was charged with six counts of Grand Larceny 4th degree and four counts of Petit Larceny.

Chamber Plans

From page 4

Five percent of sponsorships’ revenues for the Street Fair will be donated to the two designated charities. One charity is the Children’s Orchestra Society, which holds its rehearsals at the Community Church of Syosset. The other is the Tempo Group Counseling Services – a community-based drug and substance abuse counseling agency specializing in education, prevention and treatment of substance use disorders and mental health issues.

“We have been offering services to the community in our three Nassau County locations – one on Willis Avenue in Syosset, as well as Merrick and Five Towns/Woodmere. We joined the Syosset Woodbury Chamber in 2023 and are thankful to be selected as one of the designated charities this year,” Wolff said.

At the meeting, Goldberg announced the Chamber’s

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NASSAU

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND

SOCIETY FSB D/B/A

CHRISTIANA TRUST AS TRUSTEE FOR PNPMS TRUST II, Plaintiff, Against

THEOCHARIS PHILIPPOU

A/K/A THEOCHARRIS

PHILIPPOU A/K/A HARRIS

PHILIPPOU A/K/A HARRY

PHILIPPOU A/K/A

THEOCHAIRUS PHILIPPOU, ET AL, Defendant(s)

NOTICE OF SALE

plans for joint networking events, opportunities for businesses to host events. He discussed a first-of-its-kind breakfast networking event planned for new Chamber members at the corporate headquarters of Total Fire Protection in Woodbury, which was held the following Monday, April 22. Additionally, Green announced the Women in Business networking subgroup’s spring event, scheduled for May 22nd at SpiceHub on Jackson Avenue, promising a range of engaging activities for female entrepreneurs.

Constance Korol provided updates on the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce meeting and highlighted the growing success of Syosset Woodbury’s Women in Business networking initiatives. She also announced Colleen Duffy as the guest speaker for the upcoming event, focusing on strategies for business growth and development.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 09/12/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 5/30/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2 Prose Street, Hicksville, New York 11801, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Hicksville, Town Of Oyster Bay, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 11 Block 309 Lot 33 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $578,855.97 plus interest and costs.  The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 1488/2015

If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Lisa B. Singer, Esq., Referee. THE FRANK LAW FIRM P.C., 333 GLEN HEAD ROAD, SUITE 145, OLD BROOKVILLE, NY  11545

Dated: 4/3/2024    File Number: 00047    CA

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 1, 2006, GSAMP TRUST 2006-HE3, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE3, Plaintiff, Against

MARY MURRAY A/K/A MARY C. MURRAY, ET AL. Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 09/16/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 5/20/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 273 North 4th Street, Bethpage, New York 11714, And Described As Follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Bethpage, Town Of Oyster Bay, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 46 Block 78 Lot 53

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $424,971.27 plus interest and costs.  The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 3901/2015

Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee.

If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 3/7/24   File Number: 17-301460   SH

UNDER THE MAY 1, PASS-THROUGH

Friday, May 3, 2024

entered auction, on Court located 5/20/2024 at Bethpage, New buildings and Bethpage, New York. be sold Foreclosure and are other Referee will rain or Avenue, Suite

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

BETHPAGE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

ELENA BECKER District Clerk

Administration Building

Cherry and Stewart Avenues

Bethpage, New York 11714

Library adds hydroponic garden to list of services

Levittown Public Library is introducing an indoor hydroponic garden to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit. This new addition supports the library’s continuing sustainability mission. The garden was launched on March 4 and currently resides in the Teen Room. It will move throughout the building, accompanied by signage to allow patrons of all ages to learn about the farmstand firsthand.

Hydroponic gardening, a popular development in the field of controlled environment agriculture, is a method of growing plants without soil. Instead, water, light, and nutrients are funneled through a self-contained unit that allows multiple plants to grow at once. This type of gardening can be done indoors, regardless of weather conditions, and with a significantly smaller footprint; Experts estimate that hydroponic farms use up to 90% less water than traditional farms.

The hydroponic garden is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Pollination Project and additional funding through the Levittown Library Foundation. The grant was awarded to Christina Reed, a student at Stony Brook University studying economics and sustainability. Ms. Reed is an intern and point person for

the project, handling the garden’s startup and leading instructional sessions for Library staff and patrons.

Ms. Reed estimates most of the plants will grow in six week cycles. The garden’s first harvest of butter and romaine lettuce, cilantro, parsley, and spinach were donated to the food pantry at Saint Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church. Future crops will also be used for educational programs that will be open to the public, including cooking and baking programs and STEM events for children. The farmstand will make good on its name, as the Library also intends to open it up for the public to help themselves to the latest yield. Further donations will go to those in need.

Access to fresh food is a luxury for many Long Islanders, as a recent report from the New York State Department of Health finds that more than 1 in 5 Long Islanders worry about having enough money to afford nutritious meals. Nearly a quarter of Nassau County residents (21.1%) report food insecurity. Levittown Public Library hopes their garden will help close this gap.

For additional information, visit the Levittown Public Library website at www.levittownpl.org.

Are you a professional?

Our Professional Guide is sure to bring results. Call 294-8900 for rates and information.

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The Levittown Public Library has introduced an indoor hydroponic garden as part of its continuing sustainability mission.

Make The Right Move

Gold Award Recipient, Top 15% of Agents Nationwide in 2023* President’s Circle Award Recipient, Top 16% of Agents Nationwide in 2022* The

Agent in Syosset Office, 2021** Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR) YPN