Jericho-Syosset News Journal (11/8/24)

State provides funds for new dog park

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and New York State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz with check for $100,000 to construct new dog park.

New York State will provide funds for a new dog park to be installed in Stillwell Park in Syosset. The Town of Oyster Bay is expected to take title for the property from the state soon.

During a recent ceremony, New York State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz joined with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Syosset High School Dog Res-

cue Club to announce that he has secured $100,000 in state funds for the Town of Oyster Bay to construct a new dog park at Stillwell Park. This grant will enable the community to provide a safe, clean, and fun environment for dogs and their owners, fostering a vibrant space for socialization and recreation.

Assemblyman Blumencranz stated, “I’m proud to secure

these funds for the design and construction of a new dog park in Syosset. This project will enhance the overall experience at Stillwell Park by adding designated areas for large and small dogs, ensuring an enjoyable experience for pets and their owners alike.”

“We are thrilled to receive these grant funds from Assemblyman Blumencranz,

See page 8

Syosset schools begin task of finding new mascot

BY RIKKI MASSAND

At the Syosset Central School District board meeting on November 4, Superintendent Dr. Thomas Rogers addressed the upcoming selection process for a new mascot, logo, and team name to replace the retired “Braves.” The change is in compliance with an April 2023 directive from the New York State Board of Regents, requiring all districts to cease using Indigenous mascots, logos, and team names by the end of this school year.

Dr. Rogers outlined a “community-driven process” for selecting the new mascot, emphasizing that while there is no state mandate to adopt a new mascot by spring 2025, it would be beneficial to choose one before making any permanent changes to school properties.

“Obviously that would make for an advantage if we can switch to a new mascot and that way, only make changes to our facilities once. We contemplate a process that works through the fall and winter and to assemble a committee that will essentially have two functions. The committee would come up with a set of ideas for what will constitute a mascot that reflects val-

ues of the community and which would possibly keep a logistical advantage – such as a mascot or logo being easy to recognize and not being consistent with another district’s mascot/logo/name. In previous meetings I have presented lists of things other districts have used to select a new name, but we would want the committee of our own residents to make these decisions for us and to lead the process for which members of our community can provide input,” Dr. Rogers explained.

The superintendent appointed Scott Stueber, Director of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation, and David Steinberg, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education, to lead the initiative. Over the next few months, the district will assemble a committee with two primary goals: to recommend mascot ideas that reflect community values and to avoid duplicating mascots from other districts.

Superintendent Rogers noted that Sewanhaka High School, at the time it took on the same task Syosset is doing, specifically kept the number unlimited for the amount of community members who could be part of the committee. When asked about See page 8

Commercial burglary in Levittown

A business in Levittown was burglarized on Tuesday, October 29, according to Nassau County Police.

Police say they responded at 12 am to Collectors Emporium, located at 2705 Hempstead Turnpike for a commercial burglary. Police say that three unknown subjects entered the business by breaking the rear door. According to police, an unknown amount of mer-

chandise had been removed from the store by the three subjects. The subjects fled the scene in an unknown direction.

The investigation is ongoing.

Detectives request if anyone has information regarding the above incident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.

Celebrating 65 years

New York State Senator Steve Rhoads joined House of Tires and Auto Repair in Levittown to celebrate an impressive 65th anniversary. Senator Rhoads expressed his heartfelt congratulations and appreciation for the hard work and dedication that have contributed to the business's enduring success.

Craft and vendor market at St. Bernard’s

St. Bernard's will be holding a Craft and Vendor Market on Saturday, November 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy shopping for:

• Christas decorations

• Sports memorabilia

• Jewelry

• Woodcrafts

• Books & paintings

• Candles

• Tumblers and resin art

• Wood lasered items

• Placemats and pillows

• Baked goods

• Jams and jellies

• Floral crafts

• Religious crafts

• Color Street nails

• Leather products

• License plate designs

• Journals and paper crafts

• Fresh cut wreaths

St. Bernard’s is located at 3100 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown.

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Board adopts resolution for bond project; public vote on Jan. 14

At its Oct. 28 business meeting, the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District’s Board of Education adopted a resolution to proceed with a community vote on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, on the financing of comprehensive capital improvements through a bond referendum.

“The proposed projects center on expanding building space for the steady increase in student enrollment the District has seen over the past several years, as well as making needed basic infrastructure upgrades throughout the District,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary O’Meara. “The proposed work aims to create larger instructional spaces, learning environments that support the comprehensive programs offered our students, air conditioning to cafeterias and gymnasiums in all seven school buildings, and infrastructure improvements outlined in the District’s building condition survey report.”

Residents will vote on two separate propositions. Proposition No. 1 includes a series of districtwide projects designed to address growing student enrollment and the need for additional instructional space in buildings that are currently used for instruction. Improvements also focus on critical infrastructure improvements at all buildings and optimizing the use of field space.

Specifically, approval of Proposition No. 1 would allow the District to increase instructional space by 25,000 square feet and increase the cafeteria capacity by 50% at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School as well as a 4,750 sq. ft. addition at Judy Jacobs-Parkway Elementary School with outdoor access to the bathroom from the field. This is in response to an 8.7% growth in student enrollment in the District since 2018,  and based on future enrollment trends.

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Special visitor at Jericho High School

Nassau County Police officer Yolanda Turner, a part of the Department of Community Affairs, recently visited Jericho High School.

Whether it’s daytime supervision, nursing/rehabilitation or help with activities of daily living, both our Social and Medical Model Adult Day Programs provide meaningful moments, guided activities and nutritious meals — all in a caring, supportive environment.

Upcoming Events at the Jericho Public Library

Friday, November 8

1:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Honoring Life’s Chapters: A Journey Through Legacy And End Of Life WisdomJoin us for a thought provoking presentation that explores the profound topics of legacy and end of life planning. Discover practical advice and heartfelt insights into end of life including palliative care and hospice, as we navigate the importance of honoring each chapter of life. This presentation promises to offer guidance and inspiration, whether you’re planning for yourself, or supporting a loved one. You will gain valuable wisdom to carry forward on this journey of life ...to the final days.

Saturday, November 9

10:30 a.m.: Jump for Joy (Ages 18 Months to 5 Years) - Join us for a lively program of music and group activities for you and your child.

1:00 p.m.: Sound Healing Workshop: A Journey Through Vibrations and Emotions with Laura Cerrano - Join Certified Sound Healer Laura Cerrano to enjoy a rich tapestry of sounds from Tibetan singing bowls, gentle rhythmic drumming, tuning forks, and various other instruments. Sound healing provides a unique and immersive experience that can help release tension and stress, allowing you to feel more balanced, harmonious and at peace.

Sunday, November 10

1:00 p.m.: Girl Powered Workshop: A Stem Program (Grades K–8) - Come join us for a Mars Rover design competition, maze navigation challenges, a ball-shooting competition, and robot tug-of-war.

Monday, November 11

7:30 p.m.: Teens: Financial Fitness for Teens with Young Engineers - This financial literacy program is designed to equip young minds with essential financial knowledge and skills. Through interactive activities, games, and realworld examples, teens will learn about money management, budgeting, saving, and spending wisely.

Tuesday, November 12

9:30 a.m.: Walking Club (Weather Permitting) - All levels, all abilities are welcome. Join us for a 45 minute

walk around the neighborhood. It’s an opportunity to get some exercise, meet new people, spend time with a friend and enjoy some conversation. Meet us in front of the library. Participants must wear sneakers and bring a bottle of water.

11:00 a.m.: VIRTUAL: Guided Meditation for Self-Healing with Patricia Anderson - Join Pat for one or all of the meditation sessions to bring harmony and balance into your life. Learn the beautiful practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu to help your body heal and keep you relaxed.

7:00 p.m.: STEMtastic (Grades 3 to 6) - Learn and have fun while exploring a hands-on STEM experience. Come and learn while having fun!

Wednesday, November 13

10:30 a.m.: Giggles and Grooves with Rebecca (Ages 1–5 Years) - Join Ms. Rebecca from Giggles and Grooves for a morning of singing, dancing, and playing! In this class, children will listen to the guitar and explore different instruments, movement toys, puppets, a parachute, and bubbles. Let’s make music together!

Friday, November 15

10:30 a.m.: Paint Workshop: Flight of Fantasy: Acrylic Painting of Dragonflies with Madhumita SenJoin our acrylic painting workshop and create stunning dragonfly art! Learn the techniques to paint these graceful creatures swirling through the sky and moving towards the light. All materials will be provided. Reserve your spot soon and experience the magic of creating this beautiful artwork. $3.00 per person. Non-refundable.

2:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Great Performers with Marc Courtade: Sally Field - Sally Field is a highly respected American actress who has worked in television, films and on stage for over fifty years. Beginning in television comedies in the 1960s, she left behind those perky roles, and established herself as a serious actress. Her most noted roles are strong-willed women trying to make better lives for herself and her family. She remains an actress of incredible skill and versatility, and a woman of abundant grace and dignity.

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Business owners honored by Chambers of Commerce

Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce Treasurer and Jovia Financial Credit Union Branch Manager Kenya Zachary (left) was honored by – Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview).

Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) attended the 39th Nassau Council of Chamber of Commerce Businesspersons of the Year and Legislative Breakfast on Friday, Oct. 25. As part of the festivities, he joined the Chamber in congratulating Plainview-Old

Bethpage Chamber of Commerce honoree Neal Schatt, owner of Plainview’s Family Bagels, and Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce Treasurer and Jovia Financial Credit Union Branch Manager Kenya Zachary, for being named Businesspersons of the Year for their respective Chambers of Commerce.

Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce honoree Neal Schatt, owner of Plainview’s Family Bagels, with Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview)

“Community leaders like Neal and Kenya do so much to strengthen the foundations of the business communities that they serve, and it was a pleasure to join our local Chambers of Commerce in celebrating their outstanding achievements,”

Deputy Minority Leader Drucker said. “They are tremendously worthy of this high honor, and I thank the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce for spotlighting them as part of this annual tradition.”

This Week at the Syosset Public Library

Friday, November 8, at 10:00 a.m.

Simply Stronger with Balance (VIRTUAL)

Instructor: Mindy Vasta. Handheld weights, resistance bands and balls will help improve strength, flexibility, and coordination. Includes a balance segment to enhance posture, core strength, and proper alignment of muscle groups. Exercises can be performed sitting or standing. Equipment recommended but not required. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.  The Zoom link will be sent out once you register.

Friday, November 8, at 2:00 p.m.

Friday Movie at the Library (IN-PERSON)

Join us for an afternoon movie at the library. Check our website for the movie

that will be shown. Go to syossetlibrary.org.

Tuesday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m.

Morning Mystery

Book Discussion (IN-PERSON)

Join Sonia Grgas, Reference Librarian, at the library for a Morning Mystery

Book Discussion of the bestselling novel  “Holmes, Marple & Poe” by James Patterson and Brian Sitts. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before the discussion. No registration needed.

Wednesday, November 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Mobile Office for Congressman Thomas Suozzi (IN-PERSON)

Come and meet with a member of Congressman Tom Suozzi’s staff who will

be able to assist you. They can help in obtaining a passport, resolving issues with Social Security, Medicare, VA benefits and more.

Thursday, November 14, at 2:00 p.m.

The Origins of Some Early Classic Rock & Roll Songs with Richard Knox (Virtual)

Presenter: Richard Knox, retired teacher

Join us for part 2 of this lecture. We're all familiar with many outstanding songs from the early days of Rock and Roll such as Elvis Presley’s  “Love Me Tender,” Jackie Wilson’s  “Night” and  “Where or When” by Dion and the Belmonts. What is less known and often little appreciated is that the melodies for those songs as well as many others recorded during the

Attention students!

Graduated from school? Have an outstanding GPA? Made the honor roll or Dean’s List? Scored an internship or study abroad opportunity?

50s and 60s were written decades or in some cases centuries earlier and have their roots in classical music, grand opera or Broadway shows. During this presentation we will have an opportunity to relive a dozen or so examples of songs in this category. No registration is needed.

Thursday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m.

Writing Workshop: How to Avoid Writing Traps with Erin Coughlin (VIRTUAL) Instructor: Erin Coughlin

Improve your writing by going over ways to avoid common mistakes, story traps, and cheats. Learn about effective writing tricks and literary devices and how to use them to keep your audience or readers invested in your writing. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.

We invite you to send details of any of these things and more, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be seen in our paper!

IT’S AN HONOR TO SERVE

THOSE WHO SERVED

Each year on Veterans Day, our communities pay special tribute to those who served in the armed forces. Their fierce camaraderie is contagious and their experiences inspiring.

The Bristal salutes the many men and women among our ranks who dedicated themselves to the cause of freedom. Our thanks should be felt and heard, especially at this time of year.

Scan the QR Code to learn more about our veteran discount & other available resources or visit: thebristal.com/saluting-veterans

New playground equipment in Syosset

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Town Clerk Rich LaMarca with new playground equipment.

The Town of Oyster Bay recently announced that several playgrounds throughout the Town have received enhancements and, in some cases, complete replacements.

“We are proud to announce that these new playgrounds are now open for our Town’s youngsters to safely enjoy for years to come,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “We are dedicated to providing safe and engaging spaces for

LEGAL NOTICES

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Notice of Formation of Jeung LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/10/2024. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Jeung LLC: 26 Patricia Ln Syosset, NY 11791. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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Free golf for veterans, active military on Nov. 11th

The Town of Oyster Bay will honor veterans and active duty military personnel for their service to our nation with a free day of golf at the Hon. Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course, located at 1 South Woods Road in Woodbury on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11.

“The brave men and women of our United States Armed

Forces put their lives on the line and sacrifice their time to protect our freedoms and democracy,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “This is an important way of saying ‘thank you’ and we’re pleased to be able to offer this free round of golf in recognition of Veterans Day as a small token of appreciation for all they’ve done and continue to do for our nation.”

To qualify for this Veterans Day offer, golfers must present proof of Town residency and either military identification or discharge papers (DD Form 214). For additional information, including to reserve a tee time, please visit www.oysterbaytown.com/golf.

Syosset schools begin task of finding new mascot

From page 1

families to get outside and play and enjoy the many wonderful local parks throughout our Town,” added Town Clerk Rich LaMarca.

New playgrounds and improvements are located at the following parklets in Syosset:

• Parklet S-4, Lewis Lane, Syosset

• Parklet S-15, W. Joyce Lane, Syosset

Dog Park

From page 8

which allows us to bring this much-needed amenity to Syosset,” said Supervisor Saladino. “The dog park will provide a dedicated space where residents and their pets can enjoy the outdoors and connect with our community.”

The dog park is expected to break ground in coordination with other improvements at Stillwell as the Town of Oyster Bay is expected to soon take title to the property from Nassau County. Community members will have opportunities to participate in the planning process and stay updated through public meetings and announcements.

the format of what Syosset’s meeting would involve, and as Board of Education member Lynn Abramson stated a concern, if “there could be too many cooks in the kitchen” and too many voices that would hinder the effectiveness and schedule for the committee. Abramson prefaced her question by noting that the “no limits” on committee size was “fantastic in concept” because she would not want the district to turn anyone who wants to be involved away.

Dr. Rogers said that the committee would be able to hold a hybrid format meeting – part in-person in the district, and part over Zoom, streaming or other connection – to allow a range of participation. The board members noted that Syosset alumni might not live in the community any more but would like to have their voices heard about the selection of a new mascot and team name.

“I share your (Abramson’s) worry that we might become an unwieldy committee and that might slow down our ability to move through this year, but we’re deciphering how to structure it. We are imagining a hybrid meeting where some people are participating or just observing online. Also, I am under the impression quite a few students would want to be involved in the committee, and we also would not want to turn

our students away,” the superintendent shared.

If the committee encounters obstacles, Dr. Rogers will update the board and seek guidance. He stressed that alumni and community members will be informed through district social media and email updates, with the goal of gathering broad input.

Dr. Rogers mentioned the high profile nature of the teams’ names and mascot change, and said anyone following Syosset CSD news over the past two years would probably be aware of the matter and the NYS regulation impacting the need for several districts to take action.

“If there’s anyone in the community that has been following this for a while or even in our extended community of alumni, they knew this day was coming and many have been attentive to it. The district will certainly use our own social media channels and we’ll ask alumni who are more closely connected with us to also share it in the networks they belong to. Hopefully we reach as many people as we possibly can,” Dr. Rogers said.

“They would all be able to make suggestions for the committee to consider first, then ultimately it would be having the community consider the proposals. But obviously if you have the community consider EVERY idea that comes along it might be difficult for us to move through the process. The committee’s responsibility

would be to ultimately narrow the choices to those that most closely meet the rubric that they devise – then, to ultimately put the choice back to the community so the community has the opportunity to share its input,” he explained.

The Syosset CSD administration has envisioned a process involving a public comment period on the viable options.

The initial phase includes collecting suggestions from residents, parents, and alumni, which the committee will then narrow down. The final mascot options will be presented to the community for feedback, with the aim of a public vote in spring 2025.

The day following this week’s board of education meeting, Syosset Central School District held Superintendent’s Conference Day on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5). Board President Carol Cheng announced that the school year calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year will be adopted at the next board meeting which takes place on Monday night, December 9th.

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Recent Real Estate Sales in Syosset and Jericho

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Horror House winners bring fun to the holiday

Selecting winners for the Levittown Community Council’s Halloween Horror House contest is a community event. The community is invited by the Council to select the homes they find most exciting and Council members tour the community to select winners.

The Zirpoli family, whose home had a theme which judges called “Under the Big Top”. Adam Zirpoli designed the display, which is titled “The CarnEvil at Quaker Lane”.  With help from his wife Michelle, sons Mason and Jackson and friends, Ralph and Steve, the home at 24 Quaker Lane, Levittown, was awarded first place in the Council’s Halloween Horror House contest.

Second place in this year’s went to the McDonagh family: Joe, Ginny and Anderson, who provided singing pumpkins, holographic illusions on the lawn and in the window and set it all to music presenting weekend nighttime shows from 7 to 10 p.m. at their home at 162 Southberry Lane,

Levittown. The family members say they love Halloween and five years ago started with simple decorations that have grown to what they have now in hopes that families could enjoy as much as they do.

Prompted by what they say is the beginning of a festive time of the year, is shared by the Escobar family, of 10 Dale Lane, Levittown.  Selected third place winners of the Council’s contest, Noe’, his wife, their children and, so they say, their two golden retriever dogs, love Halloween, which has always been a special holiday for them. Decorating their home and seeing the joy it sparks among the children in the neighborhood, is something they cherish and a special way to connect and celebrate with the community.

Levittown Community Council is a community organization established in 1994. Its mission is to maintain Levittown unity and pride and encourage a positive identity for the community.

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Third place winner was the Escobar family home on Dale Lane.

Second place went to the McDonagh family home on Southberry Lane.

The Zirpoli family home on Quaker Lane won first prize.

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Ikon Passholders Get New Benefits, Discounts, Expanded Access for Skiing and Riding at 58 Global Destinations

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

Ikon Pass skiers and riders have 58 global destinations across 5 continents, 11 countries 17 states, 4 Canadian provides across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, totaling 179,197 skiable acres and 7,263 trails to explore for the 2024/25 season. This is the seventh season that the Ikon Pass has been available and passholders have a slew of added benefits as Peak Perks, which and access to travel consultants to help plan and arrange that trip to discover some new, exotic, far away destination. Among the new features:

More Friends & Family Discounts: Ikon Pass holders now get two additional Friends & Family discounts, for a total of 12 for the 24/25 winter season. Each Friends & Family discount provides a minimum of 25% off the single day lift ticket price posted for the day the discount is used to ski or ride at an eligible Ikon Pass destination.

Unlock $200 CAD/Day on a Heli-Skiing Adventure: Ikon Pass elevates your powder pursuit with a credit of up to $1,400 CAD to spend on a CMH Heli-Skiing experience. Go day heli-skiing at CMH Purcell any time during the 24/25 winter season or stay at any other CMH destination during December 2024 or April 2025 and get $200 CAD each day of your trip. Choose from multiple ways to spend your credit. Ikon Pass holders also get early booking privileges on winter heli-skiing trips, which often sell out ahead of time. In the summer, Ikon Pass holders get exclusive

Recognized as both family and beginner friendly, Winter Park, Colorado, one of 58 resorts on the Ikon Pass, is offering Kids Ski Free and Rent Free deals this season © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

benefits on heli-hiking trips, (terms & conditions apply).

Exclusive Access to Travel Service: The Ikon Pass is designed so that it pays for itself after as few as five days of skiing, plus incentivizes passholders to take one long ski vacation and explore some further afield resort – across the country or on another continent. Many of the Ikon Pass resort participants report new skiers coming from long distance and abroad, while Americans can actually take advantage of resorts in the southern hemisphere – in Chile, New Zealand, Australia – to ski yearround.

Discount on Travel with Ikon Pass Travel: Ikon Pass Travel is an online travel planning service exclusively for members of the Ikon Pass

community that offers the ability to seamlessly explore and book all aspects of adventure across Ikon Pass destinations. Browse and compare airfare, hotels, and activities across Ikon Pass destinations to create a vacation package or be matched with an Ikon Pass Travel specialist. (Terms and conditions apply.)

24/25 IKON PASS PRICING: There are different levels of pass which offer different benefits, from unlimited access to a list of resorts, to a number of days. Ikon Pass starting at $1,249; Ikon Base Pass starting at $869; Ikon Session Pass starting at $259.

For all Ikon Pass products and pricing, visit  https://www.ikonpass. com/en/shop-passes

For more information visit www. ikonpass.com

GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR

Here’s a sampling of some of the improvements this season: Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in eastern North America, is making a $7 million investment in new energy efficient snow guns totaling 1,000 new pieces of equipment over the next two seasons.  Located in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, Killington Resort has earned its moniker “The Beast of the East” with four seasons of adventure spread across six peaks, plus Pico Mountain, which is its own self-contained ski in/ out resort that is particularly great for families and intermediate skiers. With the most expansive snowmaking and lift system in eastern North America, Killington offers more than 200 trails and 92 miles of diverse snow sports terrain, including a worldclass terrain park network and the longest season in the East. During the summer, Killington features a destination bike park with 30 miles of mountain biking trails, an 18-hole championship golf course, the familyfriendly Snowshed Adventure Center, plus 15 miles of hiking trails. Killington is locally and independently owned (www.killington.com).

Stratton Mountain, Vermont, one of the New England favorites, is in the midst of a multi-year project to enhance snowmaking, in order to take advantage of shorter windows to make snow. The improvement will be most noticeable for intermediate skiers – the trails will open sooner and stay open later in the season. Being part of Alterra Mountain Co. and the Ikon Pass program has been a boon to skiers who were already Stratton

Continued on next page

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Ikon Passholders Get New Benefits, Discounts, Expanded Access for Skiing and Riding at 58 Global Destinations

Continued from previous page

devotees: they get their warm-ups in Stratton, then go for a big ski vacation to Steamboat, while Stratton is getting lots of passholders from further-afield. In addition, Alterra has invested in capital projects including modernizing the Ursa Lift to improve operational efficiency and maximize uphill capacity.

Tremblant, located 1 ½ hour drive from Montreal, a 50-minute flight from New York City, means that a New Yorker can actually be skiing on the mountain in less time than it takes to drive up to Vermont. This season, Tremblant has a new shuttle connecting Montreal PierreElliott-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Tremblant, facilitating access and significantly reducing vehicular traffic. Tremblant offers the highest peak in the East and 305 hectares of skiing, 102 trails on four sides of the mountain. The Canadian resort has been part of Ikon since 2017 – and is just the sort of discovery that Ikon Pass holders can take advantage of – to enjoy its French Canadian ambiance and international feel. Everything walking distance. You take the gondola from the pedestrian village to the summit. The four-season resort village offers 13 hotels (1500 beds),25 restaurants, 4 bars. You can even ski in summer, on synthetic surface (new) aimed at introducing beginners. There is also hiking, and a Sound & Light show in the woods accessed by the chairlift.

Winter Park Resort, Colorado, is completing a $37 million snowmaking upgrade, doubling capacity and creating broader early-season snow coverage which will enable Winter Park to have one of the longest winter seasons in Colorado.

Recognized as both family and beginner friendly, Winter Park is offering Kids Ski Free and Rent Free - every kid

14 and younger signed up for a Winter Park Ski and Ride School lesson receives a  complementary lift ticket for the day (must book by Nov. 29, 2024), plus a  free ski or snowboard rental with a three-day adult gear rental package. Beginners take advantage of a new learn-to-ski guarantee where if by the end of your third lesson, you can’t ski the 10 green trails your fourth lesson is free. Back this season, 60-Minute Pro Tip lessons.

Less than 70 miles from Denver, Winter Park is accessible by the Winter Park Express Amtrak train from Denver Union Station direct to the ski resort on weekends during ski season. Flanked by the dramatic Continental Divide, Winter Park Resort receives some of the state’s most consistent snowfall across its 3000+ acres of world-class terrain and has been voted USA Today’s #1 Ski Resort in North America multiple years. During summer, the resort is home to renowned Trestle bike park, and has been nominated as Colorado’s Top Adventure Town. For more information, visit www.winterparkresort.com

Steamboat, Colorado, which celebrated its 60th anniversary two years ago, boasts a rich Western heritage in vibe, culture and ambiance. Located in the northwest corner of Colorado, its nearby Hayden Airport has direct service from 16 airports on six carriers (during ski season, less frequent service other times). Steamboat is Colorado’s second largest ski resort after Vail – the resort had a “serious” expansion in 2023, adding 650 acres of expert terrain in the popular “side country” accessed by a new Mahagony Ridge lift. Steamboat is paradise for intermediate skiers’ and its Sunshine Bowl is particularly popular with families. Last year, Steamboat opened a gondola from its base to the summit of the mountain with the most blue terrain and a dedicated learning area.

This season Taos Ski Valley skiers will benefit from nearly $1 Million in upgraded snowmaking, grooming, and lift maintenance, as well as a new ski and snowboard rental fleet. Also the Eis Haus ice skating rink will have evening ice skating for $25, including rentals.

Also, there are new Snowsports packages:

• The Blake Experience Ski Week Package for two: includes 5 half days of instruction (SundayFriday), 2 5-day lift tickets, 5 nights of accommodations at The Blake, 5-day demo rentals from Taos Sports, and a $30 credit for breakfast at 192 at The Blake each morning per person (from $2600);

• New Teen Ski Weeks, designed for teens and college students, providing 6-day lessons, during peak holidays Christmas, MLK week, President’s Day, and Spring Break.

• Children’s value three-day lesson packages that provide discounts over two-day packages, including

• Children’s First Timer package and Children’s Intermediate and Advanced package.

• Full-day, private lesson/mountain guide for up to four people, for a truly specialized and personalized Taos ski experience, $950, $50 for each additional person.

Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, is set for a massive expansion, nearly doubling existing terrain to 5,700 skiable acres when it is done (3,700 more skiable acres than the original). This is because the resort acquired neighboring wilderness that was set to be developed. The first part of the expansion will open this season: 300 new skiable acres and three lifts will open this season including the Keetley Express - a six-person chairlift with a bubble, connecting the new Deer Valley East Village to the existing Deer Valley terrain, dropping skiers off

Pumpkin Substitutes

BY JEFF RUGG

Q: I have a neighbor who says she gets a better “pumpkin” pie by using butternut squash. My squash vines grew a lot of fruit this year, and I was planning on storing some for the winter. I have had trouble getting pumpkins to grow in my garden, but the squash almost always produce a lot. If she is right, I may stop trying to grow pumpkins and just grow more squash. What do you think?

A: Your neighbor is right. Butternut and acorn squash do make good “pump-

kin” pies. All pumpkins and several squash varieties can be used in pies, but the best pie pumpkins are small, sweet pumpkins without the watery and stringy consistency of jack-o-lantern pumpkins. The typical commercially processed pumpkin found in canned pumpkin is a tan colored squash shaped like a football, not at all like an orange jack-o-lantern pumpkin. If you can’t find small pie pumpkins, you can use butternut and buttercup squash as an equal substitute for pumpkin in the recipe. Squash will be found at the grocery store for a longer time than pumpkins.

On the other hand, I don’t think you will be carving or decorating your butternut squash for Halloween. Many people save the seeds from their pumpkins, and I don’t think you will save the squash seeds for roasting.

Pumpkins and other squash are good sources of vitamins and are good to eat. They are a variety of winter squash like butternut and acorn squash. Winter squash are left on the vine until they are mature, have a hard rind and are usually baked for eating. Summer squash such as

near the bottom terminal of the Sultan Express chairlift on Bald Mountain. The additional two chairlifts, Hoodoo Express and Aurora, will service new beginner-level ski trails and provide return access to the new Deer Valley East Village. The 500 additional day-skier parking spots this winter season will create an alternative arrival option via U.S. Route 40, helping to reduce traffic throughout Park City. Next year, the plan is to open six more lifts including a 10-person gondola, and 700 more parking spots. But even with the expansion, we are assured, Deer Valley’s quaint, intimate, luxurious, European charm (and its ski-only policy) the so-called “Deer Valley Difference” that skiers have enjoyed since the resort opened in 1981, will be maintained.

More Highlights: Ikon Passholders also will benefit from new lifts at Sugarbush, Copper Mountain, Snowmass, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Alta Ski Area, Snowbird, The Highlands, Bear Mountain, Mammoth Mountain, Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, Niseko United, and Dolomiti Superski (celebrating its 50th anniversary with the replacement of 9 chairlifts and gondolas across Kronplatz, Alta Badia, Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi, Val di FassaCarezza, Arabba-Marmolada, 3 Cime and San Martino di Castrozza-Passo Rolle). Ikon Pass resorts that will have new and expanded terrain include Snowbasin, Mt. Norquay, Boyne Mountain Resort, Alta and Arai Snow Resort which is expanding its avalanche-controlled freeriding zones, checked daily for avalanche risks to ensure an off-piste experience all within the margins of safety.

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

Instinctively Navigating the Generation Gap

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

I have come to the conclusion that I am approaching this generation gap issue all wrong. Dealing with the misunderstandings and puzzled looks have shown me many times that the generation gap can be a sensitive subject and it suddenly dawned on me that if I think of one phrase, I will be able to handle generation gap instances in a much smoother way when they arise.

That phrase is “the sandwich generation.” It sounds unusual, I realize that, because usually the sandwich generation refers to those middle-aged people who are squeezed between the demands of caring for their children and their parents.

Technically, I’m not in this situation but when I think of the word “sandwich,” it very quickly reminds me that at parties and any time I’m speaking with someone older or someone younger, there are bound to be words, phrases and references they just don’t get.

I can mention “The Ed Sullivan Show” to one of my aunts or uncles and they immediately know what I’m talking about plus they start talking about some of the great guests Ed Sullivan featured on his show.

say “The Ed Sullivan Show” to my 30-something niece, Kathleen, and I will be met with a blank stare. What I’ve been reminding myself of recently is the old saying that goes, forewarned is forearmed. If I think of the sandwich generation, I can picture myself in the middle and my various other relatives on either side of that.

If I humorously bring up Walter Winchell to my 40-ish nephew, Patick, I really have to know that he won’t know what I’m talking about. So I can either talk off the top of my head or I can remember that Patrick wasn’t alive when President Kennedy was in

office and that yes, he probably read about things in history books but living through a certain time in history and reading about it in textbooks are two very different things.

On TV I hear people bring up Carnac the Magnificent on “The Tonight Show” in the 1960s and as a mystic Johnny Carson did a great job pretending that he could psychically divine unknown answers to unseen questions.

Instinctively I laughed when I saw Carson come out onto the stage wearing his Carnac costume and launch into his skit because who on earth can read minds? But Johnny Carson did a good job pretending he was psychic and the audience got a kick out of it. Carnac is not something I would mention today to either Kathleen or Patrick.

My friend, Artie, says that when we were kids, the only generation gap we came across was between our parents and us. If we were talking about The Beatles we were so excited about their various songs but the older generation kept saying they should cut their hair.

My friend, Jamie, is fond of saying, “A day without a case of the generation gap rearing its head is like a day without snow. It just isn’t as special.”

We always laugh when Jamie says that because she has a funny way of putting things but Jamie is 28 years old so when we’re talking casually and I mention the music of Bette Midler she inevitably asks, “Who’s that?”

We laugh even harder because my friends and I who are 50+ grew up with Bette Midler singing “The Rose,” “Wind Beneath My Wings” and her many other hits. All you have to do is say the word, “Beaches” and we think of the movie called “Beaches.” It came out in 1988. Bette Midler starred as CC Bloom.

My sister, Susan, and I were recalling the times that our parents had a way of doing things: one TV in the house and

that was in the living room for everyone to enjoy. Now it’s very different. Sometimes when I’m speaking with a Gen Xer I find that we are speaking the same language. But other times it feels as if we are on different planets because the words they use and the references they have show me - quite often - that we are definitely from different generations.

One thing I have to say is there are pros and cons to both the older and the younger generations. My younger friends and relatives have a different approach to life whether it’s with technology, trends in music and movies, and their views of society and the world.

My older friends and relatives always seem to offer me a very specific sense of history both in the U.S. and internationally. I’ve discovered that if I really listen to what they’re saying, they can be a treasure trove of information. We can be chatting for a short while and different examples of these things come up. What strikes me as glaringly different with the younger generation is their use of language. I have a pretty good

grasp of language but some of the words they use are not exactly how I would put things. Patrick will say he’s going to see “the fam” and while I can guess that he means seeing the family that one is pretty obvious. When he talks about “sus” I ask him to translate, please. If I hear it on TV I just go with it and hope that I can grasp the meaning of the word from the gist of the conversation.

In this case sus is a term meaning suspicious or something that it is giving the impression that it is questionable or dishonest. There’s a whole list of words and phrases the younger generations use that I’m not at all familiar with - and occasionally I have to look them up.

I know the various names the generations have been given: the Greatest Generation, the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Millennials, Generation X, Y and Z. It’s beginning to sound like the English alphabet - which it is because next we have the Greek alphabet, Generation Alpha then Beta who will be born between 2025-2039. Then it’s Generation Gamma. Good grief!

BY TOM MARGENAU

Politics, Elections and Social Security

Because the presidential and congressional elections are on everyone’s mind, more than a few people have sent me emails saying something like this: “I’m afraid that this upcoming election will lead to dramatic changes to Social Security. So even though I didn’t want to file for Social Security for a few more years, I’m going to do it now so that I am grandfathered into the current system and no president or Congress will pull the rug out from under me!” And then they ask me if I think that’s a good idea.

And here is my answer: NEVER make a decision about when to start your Social Security benefits based on politics. Instead, make that decision based on your financial situation, your anticipated longevity, your marital status and other personal considerations discussed often in this column.

Why not politics? Well, consider this. For 50 years now, people have been making the same point to me. In other words, as far back as the 1970s and 1980s, people were telling me: “I’m afraid so and so (insert your political villain here) will be elected and he will ruin Social Security as we know it.” And of course, that never happened. Social Security keeps chugging along no matter who is sitting in the Oval Office.

To be sure, Social Security has been reformed over the years, and changes have been made to the laws affecting a person’s eligibility for benefits. But if those changes were major, they were almost always phased in over a long time.

Case in point: In 1983, Congress raised the retirement age from 65 to 67. But they did not do so overnight. They phased in the age increase over a period of more than four decades. In fact, it won’t be until 2027 that people born in 1960 will finally reach their full retirement age of 67.

If somewhere in the near future Congress raises the retirement age again (and I will bet my next 10 Social Security checks that will happen), it won’t be people currently in their 60s who will be affected by the change. Rather, it will be our children, and more likely our grandchildren, who will have to wait until a greater age before they can retire with full Social Security benefits.

Many readers have also complained to me that with 10,000 baby boomers retiring every single day, the Social Security system has been heading towards a financial cliff, yet nobody seems to be doing anything about it.

Well, there is plenty of blame to go around. Liberals and Democrats deserve their share of the blame, because so often they tend to put their heads in the sand and say: “What Social Security problem?” They run on a platform that essentially says, “I won’t let those nasty Republicans mess around with your Social Security benefits!”

Some conservatives and Republicans

deserve praise for at least being willing to discuss Social Security reform. But then they also deserve their share of the blame because they frequently propose outlandish and totally unworkable solutions to the problem -- such as “privatizing” the system or eliminating the taxation of Social Security benefits, which would drain $48 billion annually from an already underfunded program.

You may remember this line from Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” when Cassius is trying to convince Brutus that Caesar was not chosen by the gods to rule Rome, but rather by the actions of citizens. Cassius says: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”

If I were the great bard today and I were writing a play about the lack of any progress on the Social Security reform front, I would say, “The fault, dear reader, is not in our politicians, but in ourselves.” In my humble opinion, the public deserves their share of the blame because they say they want reform, but they tend to vote otherwise.

For example, if I ran for Congress on a platform of increasing the Social Security retirement age to 68; slightly reducing future cost-of-living increases; and raising the Social Security payroll tax by just a quarter of 1% (three very viable solutions to Social Security’s long-range fiscal problems), my opponent would run attack ads claiming that “If you vote for Tom Margenau, he’s going to increase your taxes and cut your grandma’s Social Security checks at the same time!” And guess what? Gullible people would fall for that argument, and I would lose the election in a landslide.

Not that long ago, as part of the ongoing budget negotiations between then-President Barack Obama and the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives, the president bucked the pressure he felt from many members of his own party and proposed a reduction in future cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients as one way to trim government expenses.

You’d think that Republicans would have greeted that proposal with open arms. But what happened? Many of them immediately took to the airwaves and their Twitter accounts to blast the president for “trying to balance the budget on the backs of our poor, deserving senior citizens.” And that was the same thing Democrats said when the president proposed COLA reforms in the first place.

Do you see why Social Security reform can be so maddening and frustrating? Do you see why there is plenty of blame to go around for the lack of any meaningful changes? Do you see why Democrats should be ashamed of themselves? Do you see why Republicans should be ashamed of themselves? Do you see why the people and voters should be ashamed of themselves?

My guess is that everyone says they

want reform, but what they mean is they want reforms that impact the other guy. They don’t want their Social Security checks reduced or their grandma’s benefits cut, but they wouldn’t mind if that other less deserving guy’s benefits are reduced. And they don’t want their Social Security taxes raised or their children’s taxes raised, but they wouldn’t mind if that other guy’s payroll taxes are raised. So what to do? Here is my suggestion. Go to Amazon.com and buy my book, “So-

Continued on next page

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Student load debt will have major effect on home purchases

The 1.7 trillion+ student loan debt is increasing by the day. The long term effect of the 634.2 billion owed (as of 2/24) by Millennials and Gen X is and will have a profound effect in the purchase of “the American Dream” a home. It will become monumentally impossible over their lifetime, unless a situation arises to be able to pay down or pay off their loans. Downsizing to a condo or coop might be the only doable path that most will have to consider. Worst case scenario will be to sticking it out in a rental for a longer term or living with other family members (inter-generational living) to be able to squirrel away enough savings to make their purchase happen. 30.6% of the student loan debt is owed by those 25-34. 38.9% of the loan amount is owed by those who are 35-49 years old. 17.8% of the debt is owed by those 50-61. 6.4% is owed by those 62+. 6.3% is owed by those 24 and younger. See www.studentloanplanner.com for more details.

These situations will make it next to impossible to purchase for those financially overleveraged groups. Over the years it will have a dire effect on our economy as there eventually will be fewer buyers and more sellers. This will be a reverse of today’s local environment, where we still have fairly

SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU

Continued from previous page cial Security - Simple and Smart.” There is a chapter in that book that explains Social Security financing and offers very workable and realistic proposals for reform. And the next time a candidate runs on a platform including one or more of those reforms, give him or her your vote. If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

strong demand and lower than normal inventory. It may take 10-20 years for the change, but I believe it will eventually occur if ideas leading to solutions to remedy these issues don’t result in solving this looming long term problem. For some, the solution for making it affordable to purchase has been to engage in having several jobs. For those that can rely on family financial assistance, that has allowed them to be able to achieve the “American Dream” of homeownership. However, for the majority, it’s been a struggle and saving more money has been the ultimate goal. Hoping and praying for lower prices maybe a pipe dream until either demand subsides or inventory drastically increases of which I see neither occurring.

state that one might want or need to relocate to. It’s all about price and making a living as well as having a work-life balance in creating a happier environment. There was a recent study done surveying 2500 individuals across the U.S. about the real estate market and buying attitudes of GenZ, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers. This was a fairly comprehensive insight to how they felt and their intentions about purchasing. Here is the link that will provide you some solid introspection on what they think and feel. https://www. inmyarea.com/research/generation-zhomeownership-study

Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) and has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geo-thermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).

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

These challenging times will for the most part cause most families and individuals to be in a rental situation locally, whether it be with family or on their own. For those that are able to remote work from home, moving out of the area to more affordable locations will solve that issue. The cost of housing can vary drastically depending on what

The future may not look very clear to many, but where there is a will, there is a way. Hopefully government intervention and assistance with downpayments for 1st time buyer will lead the current and next generation of buyers a way to achieve the “American Dream” and begin creating their future long term wealth.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/ Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 42+ years experience in the Real

A GREENER VIEW

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

Pumpkin Substitutes

Continued from page 2

zucchini are picked off the vine while still green, have a soft rind and can be eaten raw or cooked. They do not store well and are eaten fresh.

Winter squash, such as pumpkins, can be stored at 50 degrees until next spring. For best storage, they should have a 3- or 4-inch piece of stem and should not have been exposed to a frost.

If you want to have a decorated pumpkin, but also save it for later eating, you can use tempera paint or markers to make your designs on the outside without cutting it open.

The rind is easily removed after boiling. Drain the pot and mash the pumpkin until it is soft; it can then be frozen. It will last for months. If you use fresh pump-

kin in a recipe for pumpkin bread or pie, you will taste the difference and may not want to go back to the canned stuff.

Small pumpkins can be eaten as a vegetable: steamed, boiled or battered and fried, just like other squash. They can also be sliced and eaten raw with dip as an appetizer. The University of Illinois Extension’s website www.urbanext.illinois.edu/pumpkins has information on how to select and cook fresh pumpkins. Besides the standard recipes for pumpkin nut bread and roasted pumpkin seeds, there are many other recipes, such as pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin-apple soup.

You can save the seeds for planting next year with all the vine crops. The only problem is that many of the crops you purchase as plants in the spring or

as seeds with named hybrid varieties will not come true from seed. In other words, the vines might have “kids” that don’t look like the parents in the crop produced next year. If the seeds or plants were labeled as hybrids, you may get good crops and you may not. If the crop was labeled as an heirloom, you will get crops next year that match this year’s crop if there were no other varieties nearby that could cross-pollinate your plants to produce the seeds you now have.

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

COPYRIGHT 2024 JEFF RUGG

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM

BY MARY HUNT

When All Else Fails, Cover It With Chocolate

As the story goes, the local inventor invited the town’s pastry makers to observe his latest invention: an automated pastry-making machine. To his dismay, the bakers deemed it unfit because it could not consistently turn out perfect pastries.

Not one to give up easily, the inventor took one of the chefs aside and asked, “What do YOU do when you make a mistake?”

“I cover it with chocolate,” he replied.

With that, the inventor went back to his workshop, made a few strategic changes to his machine and invited the testers to return. To his joy, the pastry makers were so impressed that each of them commissioned a machine for their bakery. Little did they know he programmed it so that when something went wrong, it sent a signal to simply cover it with chocolate.

The moral of our little story: It’s only a cooking mistake if you can’t come up with a clever way to cover the mistake.

For example, if your Thanksgiving stuffing turns out dry as dust, don’t toss it out. Drizzle chicken broth over it, cov-

BY CHARLYN FARGO

Every now and then I come across a research article that makes me say, “Wow.” Here’s one of those on the benefits of fiber for cancer patients -- and all of us.

Researchers found that every 5-gram increase in daily fiber was correlated with a 30% lower risk for cancer progression or death among patients with advanced melanoma. In addition, 82% of patients who reported both sufficient fiber intake and no probiotic use responded to immunotherapy compared with only 59% of patients who reported either insufficient fiber intake or probiotic use.

The study was conducted at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and published in the journal Science.

Even for those of us who are lucky enough not to have melanoma, fiber helps. The dietary pattern associated with the response to immunotherapy is the same diet recommended by the American Cancer Society and the American Institute for Cancer Research, according to lead researcher, Jennifer McQuade, M.D., assistant professor of melanoma medical oncology at MD Anderson. That recommended diet centers on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. And it’s the same diet recommended for secondary cancer prevention, prevention of cardiovascular disease, and health in general.

Here’s how it works: Fiber plays a key role in the health of our gut microbiome, which plays a key role in immunotherapy.

er with foil and allow it to sit for several minutes. It will become soft and moist, and no one will be the wiser.

When making homemade mashed potatoes, if you misjudge and add too much liquid, you can thicken by adding a small amount of uncooked instant potato flakes. Wait a few minutes before adding more if the mashed potatoes still seem too thin, because the thickening occurs upon standing.

Gravy too salty? Don’t fret! If it’s only a slightly salty problem, add a pinch of brown sugar or 1/3 teaspoon white vinegar to counter the saltiness. For a more serious situation, drop a peeled raw potato into the gravy and allow it to sit for a few minutes, stirring gently. The potato will absorb much of the salt, leaving the gravy much improved.

Burnt toast or bread? Use a fine grater or knife to scrape off the burnt bits. If it’s bread, butter it and toast it lightly under a broiler. No one will be the wiser.

Overcooked pasta or veggies? Toss them into an ice bath to stop further cooking, then saute them with butter, garlic and herbs for a “planned” texture.

Too spicy to handle? Add a bit of dairy -- like cream, yogurt or sour cream -- to mellow the heat. A spoonful of sugar or honey can also tone down the spice, as can some diced potatoes.

Cake won’t come out of the pan? Turn that stuck cake into a “trifle.” Layer broken bits with whipped cream, fruit or pudding, and present it like that was the plan all along.

Cookies spread too thin? Use a round cookie cutter to reshape them while they’re still warm. They’ll look like perfect rounds, and you can nibble on the scraps.

Sauce too thin? Whisk in a cornstarch slurry (1 part cornstarch, 2 parts cold water) or mash some soft butter with flour and stir it in -- instant fix without lumps.

Forgot to defrost the meat? Use the cold-water method to defrost (in a sealed bag, submerged in cold water). Or lean into it -- slice thin pieces off the still-frozen meat and cook directly. Think stir fry or fajitas!

Food too dry? Serve it with a sauce or gravy. Butter, broth or a quick bechamel can turn a dry dish into a rich delight.

NUTRITION NEWS

Fiber and Melanoma

Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial to assess how varying fiber intake affected the gut microbiome and immune response among 128 patients with advanced melanoma receiving treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. They looked at fecal microbiota profiles, dietary habits and commercially available probiotic supplements.

Patients who had higher consumption of dietary fiber fared the best. And those who had both sufficient fiber intake and didn’t use probiotics fared even better.

The bottom line? Boost your intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains for the healthiest diet. All that fiber really can make a difference.

Q and A

Q: What is Coenzyme Q10?

A: Coenzyme Q10 is a compound that plays a critical role in energy production within the cells of the body. It is synthesized in most tissues in humans and our bodies naturally produce it. Dietary sources include meat, fish, poultry, soybeans, nuts and whole grains. It functions as an antioxidant and may help with blood pressure and heart health. CoQ10 is a nonprescription dietary supplement. It is not a vitamin or mineral. It’s generally regarded as safe; however, it can produce side effects of nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite in doses over 200 milligrams per day. Like any supplement, it can also interfere with other medications. It’s always best to check with your doctor before taking any supplement.

RECIPE

As the temperature drops, we tend to

think of comfort foods. Here’s a healthier version of lasagna that includes a few hidden vegetables, lower-sodium marinara sauce and part-skim cheeses. It’s from Eating Well magazine.

FUSS-FREE LASAGNA

Servings: 9

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 pound cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

1 (11-ounce) package baby spinach

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella, divided

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 (25-ounce) jar low-sodium marinara sauce

6 sheets oven-ready lasagna noodles

1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch planks

Chopped fresh basil and/or parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Generously coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, garlic, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender and starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the pan and add half the spinach. Cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 3

Burnt the bottom of the pot? Don’t stir! Immediately transfer the top layer to another pot or pan, leaving the burnt part behind. Add a dash of smoked paprika and play it off as “smoky flavor.”

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

minutes. Add the remaining spinach by the handful and cook until it’s all wilted, about 2 minutes more. Press the spinach to the side of the pan, squeezing out as much water as possible, and cook until the water is evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. Mix egg, ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan in a medium bowl. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup each mozzarella and Parmesan in a small bowl. Spread 1 cup of the ricotta mixture over the noodles and top with the mushrooms. Spread the spinach over the mushrooms and top with another 1 cup sauce. Layer on the remaining 3 noodles, followed by the remaining ricotta mixture. Layer zucchini on top, shingling if necessary, and spread the remaining sauce over the zucchini. Top with the reserved mozzarella mixture. Bake the lasagna until bubbly and the cheese is beginning to brown, about 45 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with basil and/or parsley, if desired. Serves 9 (1 cup each).

Per serving: 362 calories; 20 grams protein; 36 grams carbohydrate; 16 grams fat (7grams saturated); 55 milligrams cholesterol; 7 grams total sugars (0 grams added); 3 grams fiber; 514 milligrams sodium.

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

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of November 10-16, 2024

Thankfully this summer wasn’t unusually hot here in the Southern California deserts, but I’m still glad for cooling temperatures. One can only take so many consecutive 100+ degree days before longing for fireplace weather!

Now that it’s arrived, it’s time for us to turn our attention skyward since the seasons change there too. Evening stargazers can see the autumn sky overhead just after dark, but if you’re willing to wait until midnight you’ll see a preview of the magnificent winter stars.

Most obvious in this sky isn’t even a star; it’s the giant planet Jupiter, outshining everything there with its creamy white color. Jupiter will be reaching its opposition point in early December, when it’ll lie closest to us and brightest in our sky.

The most prominent star grouping in that part of the sky is Orion. Sure, this constellation represents a great hunter, but you’ll have a much easier time tracing its seven brightest stars into an hourglass or bowtie. Brightest among its stars are bluish-white Rigel and orange Betelgeuse.

At the constellation’s center lie three equally bright stars in a nearly straight line; these represent the midsection of

STARGAZERS

Winter Sky Sneak Preview

the celestial hunter and form Orion’s “belt.” These stars are quite useful to help us find our way around the winter sky. If you follow them upward, they’ll point roughly to another orange star known as Aldebaran. This star marks the eye of Taurus, the bull, said to be staring angrily down at Orion.

Surrounding Aldebaran is a V-shaped cluster of stars known as the Hyades. In the lore of the ancients -from Greece to China -- the Hyades has been associated with wet and stormy weather; even its name is said to come from an archaic Greek word meaning “to rain.”

If you follow Orion’s three belt stars in the opposite direction (toward the east) you’ll arrive at Sirius. This dazzling white star represents a diamond in the collar of Orion’s large hunting dog Canis Major and is the brightest star visible in the nighttime sky of Earth.

Sirius is also one of the nearest stars to us, a “mere” 51 trillion miles away. Even as close as this star is, its light still requires 8.6 years to cross that distance. In other words, the light of Sirius we see tonight began its journey in March 2016. Want to see Sirius as it appears right now? You’ll have to wait for these photons to arrive sometime during August 2032!

Another nearby star, Procyon, appears not far to the north of Sirius.

Procyon is the brightest star of Orion’s smaller hunting dog Canis Minor, and it lies “only” 11.5 light-years away.

Farther to the north we can find two similar stars known as Castor and Pollux; these represent the heads of the twin brothers of Gemini. Follow them eastward this week and you’ll encounter a significantly brighter and reddish light: Mars.

Of course, if you prefer to turn in earlier than midnight, you’ll still be able to enjoy this brilliant sky during early evening hours; you’ll just need to be patient for a few more months!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. website at creators.com.

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That’s the Way the Ravioli

Rolls

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

“Hi! Would you like to try a delicious, gluten-free, dairy-free ravioli?” asked a woman standing behind a small table in the pasta section of the grocery store. The table was set with a dozen small cups that each contained one ravioli. She raised one of the cups and thrust it at me with a fork. The ravioli looked innocuous enough, and I had skipped lunch to go grocery shopping, so I was hungry. But I paused before accepting the offering. I had been on the receiving end of grocery store samples before, and they had typically never been a good experience.

“Sure,” I finally said, thinking it was just one ravioli; how bad could it be?

I took the cup and popped the ravioli in my mouth.

Two seconds into chewing I realized I had made a terrible mistake. The ravioli

tasted like a soggy sock. Not that I ever eaten a sock before but it’s what I imagined a sock would taste like. My dog, of course, loves socks, which often made me wonder, when I found him glomming on one that he stole from the laundry basket, if I was, in fact, missing out on something by not eating a sock. But since the dog also eats rocks and slugs, I don’t think he’s a very good barometer of things that taste good.

I looked around to see if there was a way I could extricate the ravioli from my mouth without calling attention to it and insulting the ravioli lady. There were napkins on the table. Next to the table, there was a small garbage can with the remains of the ravioli cups and some wadded-up napkins. I wondered how many of those wadded-up napkins contained the remains of other people’s ravioli who had come before me and decided, like me, that the ravioli tasted

like a soggy sock and was not something they wanted to ingest.

The ravioli lady looked at me expectantly.

She held up another cup and smiled. “Would you like another?”

I couldn’t answer because the ravioli was still in my mouth, and I realized I was going to have to do something drastic.

I swallowed it.

I immediately realized I should have spit it into a napkin and thrown it out instead, but I was concerned about hurting the ravioli lady’s feelings. I’m not sure why I was so worried about that. I was pretty sure she didn’t make the ravioli herself or hold stock in the ravioli. I assumed it was just her job for the day to hand out samples of ravioli and entice people to buy the product. But then again, maybe she volunteered for the job because she liked to make

people happy with free food. If that were the case, however, maybe I should let her know that she might make people happier if she gave out samples of chocolate instead.

The lady held out another cup of ravioli for me, clearly mistaking my grimace for pleasure.

“Would you like one more?” she repeated. “We have plenty.”

I shook my head as politely as I could.

“Thank you, no,” I said as I began to move away from the table. “I’m full.”

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

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This week will feature a preview of prominent winter stars.

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No-bake cookies make dessert a breeze

Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

Thanks to their portability and diverse flavor profiles, cookies remain a favorite treat to enjoy at home or bring to parties at others’ homes. Cookies also frequently are go-to offerings at bake sales and school functions.

Although cookies are relatively easy to make, people sometimes find the end products does not turn out as expected. No-bake cookies, including this recipe for “Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies” courtesy of “Live Well, Bake Cookies” (Rock Point) by Danielle Rye, are a perfect workaround for those who have previously had mixed results when baking cookies.

Makes 32 to 34 cookies

1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces

1 3⁄4 cups granulated sugar 1⁄2 cup whole milk

1) Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.

2) Place the unsalted butter, granulated sugar and milk in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, making sure to stir often until the butter is melted and the ingredients are well combined. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and allow to boil for 1 minute without stirring.

3) Remove from the heat, and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until fully combined.

3⁄4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 1⁄4 cups quick-cooking oats

Stir in the quick oats and mix until all the oats are coated with the mixture.

4) Using a 11⁄2-tablespoon cookie scoop, drop scoops of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets, and gently press them down to flatten them slightly. Allow to cool for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the cookies have firmed up. The cookies will continue to firm up the longer they cool.

5) Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

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Foundation supports officer fighting lymphoma

The Long Island Police Crisis Foundation recently presented a check in the amount of $2500 to assist Nassau County Police Officer Alexa Crimaudo in her battle against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Officer Crimaudo has been working at NCPD’s First Precinct for the past three years. Four months ago she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Sloan Kettering in Uniondale. She has just finished her third round and possibly down the road will need a blood transfusion.

According to the Nassau Police Benevolent Association, despite everything she is going through, she is refusing any special treatment at work and continues to fight through the effects of the chemo. Alexa comes to work and does her job without a complaint and offeres to help wherever needed. But she is incurring lots of costs not covered by insurance and definitely needs financial help, and that’s where the Police Crisis Foundation steps in.

The Foundation is financed through the Long Island Police Appreciation Run staged by the Greater Long Island Running Club each June, and the generous sponsorship provided by David Lerner Associates over the past three

Police Crisis Foundation President Mike Polansky and David Lerner Associates CEO Martin Walcoe present the $2500 check to Officer Crimaudo, while looking on with approval are (left to right) NCPD Officer O’Shea, Nassau Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Financial Secretary James Shanahan, Nassau PBA Sergeant-at-Arms Frank Arcuri, Nassau PBA Delegate Vincent Conlon, Nassau PBA Delegate Joseph Tufarelli, Nasaau PBA President Tommy Shevlin, Nassau PBA Trustee John Bilello, Nassau PBA Delegate Neal Krauszer, Greater Long Island Running Club President Alan Baisch, NCPD 7th Precinct Commanding Officer Inspector Alan Hirsch, NCPD 1st Precinct Commanding Officer Inspector Greg Stephanoff, and NCPD 1st Precinct Deputy Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Brett Markgraf.

decades.

David Lerner Associates CEO

Martin Walcoe was enthusiastic in his support for Officer Crimaudo and the Police Crisis Foundation general -

ly. “Our communities on Long Island are safer thanks to brave men and women like Officer Crimaudo, who dedicate their lives to protecting us,” he said. “This donation is a token of

our deep gratitude for her service and a way to stand with her in this fight. We are committed to supporting our local law enforcement, especially in times of need. ”

Wisdom Lane community raises breast cancer awareness

Lane Middle School students across all grades donned pink attire to raise breast cancer awareness on Oct. 25.

Students and staff at Wisdom Lane Middle School united to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer by donning pink on Oct. 25. Pink was seen in every classroom throughout the day as all grades and faculty took on the important cause. Raising breast cancer awareness was

the conclusion of Wisdom Lane’s Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 21–25. Through daily themes such as wearing a hat to “Put a Cap on Drugs” or wearing a jersey to “Team Up Against Drugs,” the week reinforced the importance of making healthy, positive choices as students navigate middle school.

Raising breast cancer awareness is an important annual cause for the Wisdom Lane community.

Students and staff joined the cause, which was the culmination of their Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 21–25.

Syosset Cyclones finish great year

The 14U Syosset Cyclones Softball team

The 14U Syosset Cyclones Softball team had a spectacular year! These girls played great games and it has been a special year.

They won three hot stove championships (spring, summer and fall), a Halloween tournament championship,

a tournament runner-up in spring and 3rd place in the pink classic tournament. The team is led by head coach Fernando DaSilva, Joel Liss and Seth Bloom. What a special group of girls and parents!

Successful food drive at JHS

Jericho High School students recently held a successful food drive that benefited local families.

Wisdom

Barbara Bucovetsky Sells Homes!

There

Must Be A Reason...

NOBODY SAYS IT BETTER THAN MY CLIENTS:

Barbara Bucovetsky Licensed Associate RE Broker barbara.bucovetsky@compass.com O: 516.517.4866 | M: 516.428.2016

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