Mid-Island Times (4/12/24)

SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN

Hicksville Gardens Civic Assn. Six chemical drums found under Bethpage Park

On March 21, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads spoke with members of the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association about the latest legislative updates in Albany, including the State budget, Governor Hochul’s $20 billion electric bus mandate, and more. He thanked the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association for welcoming him at their meeting and reaffirmed his commitment to always being accessible and transparent for his constituents.

Arrest for stealing police car

A Valley Stream man was arrested on Thursday, April 4, after he allegedly stole a police car and injured officers.

BY GARY SIMEONE

Earlier this month an excavation team unearthed six 55-gallon drums at the Bethpage Community Park. The large drums, which were buried seven-feet beneath the grounds surface, contained petroleum hydrocarbons including a mix of solvents such as benzene, toluene and xylene. A mix of chlorinated solvents was also discovered inside the drums.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor, Joseph Saladino, said the six drums were discovered during Northrop Grummans ongoing remediation efforts to eradicate contamination inside the park.

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and retained an environmental engineer.

“It was a three-step process upon discovering that the drums were there in that location, testing the drums to see what was contained inside them and subsequently leaning on New York State to be more proactive and in-depth with their cleanup efforts,” said Saladino. “Despite our demands and Grumman knowing of the extent of pollution at the park, they continue to drag their feet and use a haphazard approach to dealing with this environmental nightmare.”

According to police, Corrow ran onto Hempstead Turnpike and attempted to steal a

According to Nassau County Police, Nicholas Corrow, 34, burglarized a residence on Loring Road and attempted to steal a car which was parked outside of the home, but was unsuccessful. Police say Corrow damaged a vehicle outside the home before fleeing south on Loring Rd. toward Hempstead Tpke.

motorist’s vehicle who was stopped in traffic but a Nassau County Police officer arrived on scene and intervened. 911 advised that Corrow had just approached numerous people while brandishing a knife, demanding that they hand over the keys.

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“In what Grumman calls their highest level of cleanup, which involves heating and vacuuming the soil, they discovered upon drilling down one of the wells, these six fifty-five gallon drums encased in a coffin like concrete vault,” said Saladino. “Upon discovering the drums, all work operations were ceased at the site.”

The first step the Town of Oyster Bay took after hearing the news, was to contact the Nassau County Fire Marshal to ensure there were no safety concerns or pollution in the air.

The Town also immediately notified the New York State

On a positive note, the supervisor said the Town’s quick call to action helped to convince New York State Governor, Kathy Hochul and the DEC to move in quicker manner in regards to the cleanup efforts and to force Grumman’s hand to pay further compensation in the process.

A DEC spokesperson said the state organization will use geophysical technology such as ground-penetrating radar and subsurface drilling and sampling to determine the full extent of the contamination.

“As of right now the discovery of these six drums presents no immediate threat to public health and safety at the site,” said the spokesperson.

POB students honored by Royal Family

BHS guitarist shares talent in Albany

Richman has been honored with the Diana Legacy Award by the British royal family for her exceptional nonprofit work. One of only 20 individuals worldwide and one of merely three from the United States, Hailey’s recognition was a testament to her dedication to the community. The award was created in memory of the late Princess of Wales and presented in London by Princess Diana’s two sons, Prince William and Harry.

Hailey was selected as a recipient for the Diana Legacy Award for her work founding and managing the nonprofit KidCaregivers, which aims to support child caregivers of loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Her initiatives include the creation of an online support group for children to connect and share their experiences and orchestration of puzzle-solving sessions which pair experienced volunteers with people suffering from Alzheimer’s. With a team of more than 2,000 student vol-

unteers worldwide, Hailey has managed to distribute more than 136,000 jigsaw puzzles to over 5,000 care homes, reaching more than 500,000 people with Alzheimer’s. She has also raised over $60,000 for research into the disease.

The Diana Legacy Award is issued every other year by the Diana Award charity organization, which seeks to identify young people aged 9 to 25 engaged in humanitarian work. The organization’s overall mission is to empower young people seeking to change the world.

“Hailey has put a tremendous amount of effort into her nonprofit work for a cause that is clearly dear to her heart,” said Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School Principal Dr. Heather Dvorak. “This special and extremely rare award is recognition of just how much of an impact she has made. She has made both our high school and broader Plainview-Old Bethpage community proud. Congratulations Hailey!”

Bethpage High School senior Matthew Schneider received a certificate of recognition from New York State Sen. Steve Rhoads, following his recent performance at the 51st annual Joseph R. Sugar NYSSMA Day in Albany. He and his fellow musicians from the NYSSMA All-State Instrumental Jazz Ensemble performed at South Gallery Concourse of the Empire State Plaza and at a reception for state legislators, members of their staff, parents and New York State School Music Association members. Matthew, who plays guitar, was also selected to the NYSSMA All-State Music Festival in December and recently starred in Bethpage High School’s musical production of “Catch Me If You Can.” Photo courtesy of the Bethpage School District

Bethpage schools recognized for music education

The Bethpage Union Free School District has been recognized for its commitment to music education with a Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation. Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement to provide music access and education to all students. This is the fifth year the district has been honored with this designation.

Bethpage UFSD was selected among 975 school districts nationwide. To qualify for the designation, the district answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Free musical performances planned for local libraries

The Town of Oyster Bay ’ s Distinguished Artists Concert Series will continue this spring with free performances at local libraries throughout the Town.

“The Distinguished Artists Concert Series provides free musical and dance programs for the enjoyment of our residents,” said Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh. “I encourage residents to take advantage of these wonderful performances offered by the Town for free at local libraries.”

Scheduled performances for April and May include:

• Gemini Journey on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Massapequa Public Library –Celebrating the art of the dance form in music.

• Phil Costa & the Something Special Swing Band on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library –Performing nostalgic jazz swing music.

• The Hambones on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library – Performing rock, country,

rhythm and blues, folk and more. All welcome/free tickets required, tickets available at library on April 2nd. For more information call POB Library (516) 938-0077.

• Squeaky Clean Band on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Hicksville Public Library –Performing songs familiar to those who enjoy 1960s-era AM radio.

• Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library – Performing rockabilly, twang & Johnny Cash-style country music.

• Bay Big Band on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Hicksville Public Library – an 18-piece big band playing greatest hits. The Distinguished Artists Concert Series is sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts (CAPA) Division of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community & Youth Services. For the full concert schedule and further information, please call (516) 797-7925 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com/ CAPA.

Model Train Show planned for April 13

The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that Trainville Hobby Depot will host a Model Train Show on Saturday, April 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Levittown Hall, located at 201 Levittown Parkway in Hicksville. The Model Train Show includes operating model layouts coordinated by Trainville Hobby Depot. Charitable donations are being accepted at the exhibit to support the Nassau County Police Explorers Program.

“We’re proud to partner with Trainville Hobby Depot to offer this model train show while raising charitable funds for the Nassau County Police Explorers,” said Town Councilwoman Laura Maier. “Assisting groups that not only bring a fun and educational

experience to residents of all ages, but also help preserve our history in understanding the railroad’s role in our heritage, is a great cause.”

The Model Train Show includes operating model layouts from area clubs in several different scales coordinated by Trainville Hobby Depot. Parents may bring a secure step stool of their own for children to stand on. For everyone’s safety, standing on chairs is not permitted.

Admission in to the exhibit is $7.00, children ages 4–11 years are $4.00 and entry for children under the age of 4 is free.  For further information, please visit www.trainville.com or call (516) 433-4444.

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.

Levittown Community Council plans Earth Day Cleanup

Getting ready to clean up the town, Levittown Community Council invites individuals and groups to celebrate Earth Day by volunteering to participate in a community event, one which they’ve hosted for more than a dozen years. The event takes place on Saturday, April 20, from 1 to 4 p.m.. The rain date is Sunday, April 21.

Volunteers gather at Veterans Park on Hempstead Turnpike and Shelter Lane (in front of the Levittown Public Library) at 1 p.m. to sign in. All participants under the age of 14 will require an adult chaperone and adult supervision is required for all groups.

The event involves bringing together local residents and school and community groups to groom local parks and public areas. Students in an Honor Society, religious education programs, Key Clubs, scouts, sports teams or anyone needing community service credits are welcome to participate. Certificates for hours worked will be provided at the end of the event or when participants leave. Certificates are

given when volunteers report back to the Council at Veterans Memorial Park.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own rakes, picks, shovels, spades, clippers and brooms, but may borrow equipment provided by the Town of Hempstead. All borrowed equipment must be returned to Community Council volunteers at Veterans Memorial Park by 4 p.m.

The Council will provide individual volunteers groups with local parks and community areas to be cleaned. Groups may join with another group, if they choose to do that.

Participating community groups may choose an area for their group to clean, but must notify the Council no later than April 5 about which area they are interested in cleaning. Personal property is not eligible. The Council can provide locations of areas that are eligible for cleanup. To receive such information, please contact us at our e-mail address.

The Council can be reached by email at levittowncouncil@yahoo.com.

Free Family Fun Spring Festival

The Town of Oyster Bay will be holding its Spring Festival on Saturday, April 20, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at SyossetWoodbury Community Park, located on Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury.

The Spring Festival will once again feature free activities such as inflatables, games, refreshments, a petting zoo, multiple photo opportunities and so much more!  Additionally, food truck vendors will be on-site with specialties available for purchase.

“This free family-fun Spring Festival brings together local families for games, bounce houses and a petting zoo. There’s no better way to enjoy a beautiful day at our park while celebrating the arrival of spring with a full afternoon of family-friendly activities and attractions,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino.

The Town of Oyster Bay extends a special thanks to the following event spon-

sors: Extreme Auto Body, Action Auto Wreckers, The Gucciardo Law Firm, Complete Basement Systems of Long Island, Steel Equities, Gold Coast Studios, School of Rock of Syosset and Oyster Bay, Starkie Brothers Garden Showplace, Busto’s Martial Arts of Plainview, Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care of Plainview, Soccer Stars, Orchard Estate of Woodbury, Champions Martial Arts of Syosset, The Camp Connection, No Limit Ninja of Farmingdale, Webster Bank, Hicks Nurseries, New York Life Insurance Company, Moe's Southwest Grill, Royal Events Princess Parties, and News 12 Long Island.

For more information on the Town of Oyster Bay Free Family Fun Spring Festival, please call the Department of Community and Youth Services at (516) 797-7925 or visit www.oysterbaytown. com/capa

Hicksville Historical Society hears guest speaker

The Hicksville Historical Society held its General Meeting on April 2, at the Hicksville Public Library. During the meeting, the guest speaker was Mark Thomas, who is a collector of historical postcards, Hicksville maps and other items related to the Hicksville community.

In the beginning of the meeting, the President of Hicksville Historical Society, Richard Althaus, welcomed the attendees and asked Recording Secretary Michael Christodoulou to read the minutes of the previous meeting and Treasurer Janet Bergholtz to present the Society’s financial report.

Next, Mark Thomas, a lifelong resident of Hicksville, presented a well-or-

ganized program. Thomas guided everyone in taking a step back into the first half of the 20th century and encouraged the attendees to see Hicksville as they did 100 years ago, through historical postcards, advertisements, and maps. The program was very informative and many questions were asked by the attending members and friends of the society.

In addition to the guest speaker, an additional three people presented interesting materials pertaining to the Hicksville community. Mark Kalen and Richard Kalen presented materials from their years attending Hicksville Public Schools and expressed their gratitude to the teachers who were teach-

ing at that time. One of the teachers was Mr. Richard Evers, who served the Hicksville Historical Society as its second President.

George Psillos presented materials from his father’s business as co-owner of the “Broadway Diner”, located at that time approximately on the other side of the road from the “Empire Diner”.

The Hicksville Historical Society has been led by several presidents over the years: Valarie Pakaluk, Richard Evers, Richard Althaus, Carolyn Kelly, Irmgard Tuechler, Robert Koenig, Michael Christodoulou, Derek Stadler, and Denward W. Collins, Jr., The Board of Trustees of Hicksville Historical Society serving currently is as fol-

lows: President: Richard Althaus, Vice President: Robert Kaminek, Recording Secretary: Michael Christodoulou, Corresponding Secretary: Jean Kaminek, Treasurer: Janet Bergholtz, Publicity Chairperson: Robert Koenig, Trustees: Denward W. Collins, Jr., David Morrison, Hannelore Stadler.

At the end of the meeting, the President of Hicksville Historical Society Richard Althaus thanked the speakers Mark Thomas, Mark Kalen, Richard Kalen, and George Psillos for their presentations. The President also thanked all attendees for coming to the meeting and showing their enthusiasm for the program and their gratitude and their happiness living in Hicksville.

Guest speaker Mark Thomas with officers of the Hicksville Historical Society.

Two young persons with interest in community history.

Guest speaker Mark Thomas.

Members of the Hicksville Historical Society were very interested in the talk given by Mark Thomas.

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POB Robotics Team dominates in regional competition

The Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School robotics team, POBots, had a strong showing at the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition held at Hofstra University this past March. The team ranked 3rd out of 49 competing teams and earned the Regional Winners Award. The recognition qualifies the team to compete at the National

FIRST Championships this spring in Houston, Texas, where they will compete against hundreds of other robotics teams from around the country.

This is the second consecutive year in which the POBots have qualified for the FIRST Championships. Earlier in March, the team competed at the FIRST Hudson Valley Regional Competition, and had a similarly

dominant showing, going undefeated in 10 challenge contests, and ranking 1st out of 48 competitors. In addition to the Regional Winners Award, the POBots also earned the Creativity Award, which recognizes teams that have come up with and designed unique features to their competition strategies.

These prestigious victories are

the latest in a long series of wins since the POBots began taking part at FIRST, where it has been competing each year for 25 years!

“Congratulations to our POBots, once again!” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary O’Meara. “This is just the latest victory for this illustrious team, and we wish them the best of luck in Houston!”

The POB Robotics Team.

The POBots drive team with their winning robot.

The POBots pit crew at the FIRST regionals, where they have been competing for the past 25 years.

Arrest for stealing police car

From page 1

Police say Corrow as combative and refused to comply with the officer’s commands, so an officer deployed his Taser, but it was ineffective.

According to police, Corrow then entered the patrol vehicle, took possession and started driving, while dragging the officer over 20 feet. They say Corrow continued driving westbound on Hempstead Turnpike before crashing into another vehicle at the intersection of North Bellmore Road.

Three occupants were transported to a local area hospital with injuries. The police officer was transported to a local area hospital for treatment.

The defendant fled from the accident on foot before being apprehended by police.

Corrow was charged with burglary, two counts robbery 2nd degree, three counts of rob-

bery 1st degree, criminal mischief 3rd degree, criminal mischief 2nd degree, three counts menacing 2nd degree, three counts criminal possession of a weapon 3rd degree, grand larceny 4th degree, grand larceny 2nd degree, four counts assault 2nd degree, and reckless endangerment.

LEGAL NOTICES

The Bethpage Union Free School District is in the process of conducting a survey of parents of registered incoming kindergarten students for September 2024, and current students in kindergarten through fourth grade who attend the Bethpage elementary schools. This survey is to determine if there is any interest in a school breakfast program. If lack of interest is determined, an exemption to participate in this program will be requested by the Bethpage Union Free School District to the New York State Education Department.

Those parents who have concerns regarding the survey or the breakfast program, please contact Mr. Scott M. Harrington, Assistant Superintendent for Business at 516-644-4030.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES I LLC, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007AQ2, Plaintiff AGAINST ROXANA VILLANUEVA, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 2, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 23, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 7 MORRIS ROAD, BETHPAGE, NY 11714. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in Plainedge, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 49, Block 244, Lot 19. Approximate amount of judgment $530,334.74 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001466/2017. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held "Rain or Shine". Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 16003434 79695

Too much junk in your house?

516.294.8900 for more details.

LEGAL NOTICES

NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-FXD2, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007FXD2, V.

STACI WEINSHEIMER, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 22, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-FXD2, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007FXD2 is the Plaintiff and STACI WEINSHEIMER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s).  I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the BROOKHAVEN TOWN HALL, 1 INDEPENDENCE HILL, FARMINGVILLE, NY 11738, on April 22, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 16 DEER DR, SOUND BEACH, NY 11789:  District 0200, Section 013.00, Block 09.00, Lot 019.000:  ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED SITUATE LYING AND BEING IN THE VILLAGE OF MILLER PLACE, TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 607219/2015. Robert Frampton, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing.

*LOCATION OF SALE

NASSAU COUNTY FORECLOSURE NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee, for New Century Home Equity Loan Trust 2005-1, Plaintiff AGAINST Jasbir Singh; et al., Defendant(s)  Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 3, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 23, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 48 Robin Lane, Plainview, NY 11803.  All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Plainview, in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 13 Block 56 Lot 4.  Approximate amount of judgment $626,898.71 plus interest and costs.  Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 001045/2017. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the

Nicholas Corrow

it in our section! 516-294-8900 details.

COUNTY NOTICE

Friday, April 12, 2024

SUPREME OF NASSAU National Trust Indenture Trustee, Home Equity Plaintiff Singh; et al.,  Pursuant to a Foreclosure and June 3, 2019 Referee will at the the Nassau Court at 100 Drive, Mineola, 23, 2024 at known as 48 Plainview, NY certain plot land, with the improvements lying and being Town of of Nassau, Section 13  Approximate interest and be sold of filed 001045/2017. conducted COVID-19 Public Foreclosed by the District. Auctions will be George Referee LOGS f/k/a Shapiro, Attorney(s) Mile Rochester, (877) 43011, 2024 much junk house?

LEGAL NOTICES

April 12, 2024

European Waterways Alsace-Lorraine Canal Cruise:

3 Musketeers Intrigue in Saverne, Lalique in Lutzelbourg

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

Day 4 Waltenheim-sur-Zorn to Saverne

On this fourth day of European Waterways’ seven-day canal cruise through France’s Alsace-Lorraine, Panache cruises to the enchanting town of Saverne, which boasts a history that dates back 2,000 years to GalloRoman times. We will moor right in the town at the foot of the Château de Rohan, a palace built for a Cardinal that is so grand, it is known as the “Versailles of Alsace.”

Captain Brian tells me that I can bike up to lock 32 and the boat should be there around 2 pm. I do my calculation: Locks 42-41 are 4 km apart; locks 37-36 are 4 km (we will be there around lunchtime) while it will take the boat four hours to get to 37.

The biking on the towpath alongside the canal takes me passed some of the prettiest pastoral scenes on the route (especially between locks 39 to 37, from Lupstein to Dettwiller). I think I get in 20 miles riding all the way to Saverne and doubling back to lock 36 to get back on the boat for lunch.

Lunch features French beans with aioli; crayfish with risotto – superb. The white wine is Sancerre La Ferriere 2021 (coincidentally, the book I am reading that day mentioned the same wine!) and the red wine-Sancerre La Louisonne (2016), a Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley.

We continue our onboard discovery of French cheeses with BrillatSavarin, a soft-ripened triple cream cow’s milk cheese; Mimolette, a cow’s milk cheese, is a French version of

European Waterways’ Panache cruises on the Marne-Rhin Canal through Saverne, passed the formidable Chateau Rohan on the way to Lutzelbourg © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Edam with a distinctive orange color that was developed for King XIV in the 18th C.

At 3:30 pm, Captain Brian takes us on a delightful walking tour of Saverne, pointing out exquisite architecture – and here, I really appreciate the difference between wandering around and having someone who can point out the interesting details.

We come to a statue of the city’s emblem, the Unicorn, just in front of the Chateau Rohan,

Here, Brian attempts to relay in abbreviated form the “Mystery of Necklace,” This was a colossal scandal involving “the most expensive necklace of the Middle Ages, most beautiful, with the biggest diamonds in the world” that in today’s money would have been worth $15 million, helped bring down Marie Antoinette for her perceived excess and lead, ulti-

mately, to her execution in the French Revolution. At the heart of the scandal was Cardinal de Rohan who built this opulent palace. (The true events are even more dramatic than Alexandre Dumas’ “Three Musketeers”.)

We walk to a 14th century cloister (now the tourism office), a stunning example of Gothic architecture with a garden where medicinal herbs were cultivated; it is ringed by a portico and impressive 17th century frescoes which tell of a trial.

We walk to the Hotel de Ville – the city hall – a stunning historic building, manifests the mix of culture: a Germanic balcony and a French balcony.

It is adjacent to the oldest and most ornate building still standing, Taverne Katz. Built in 1605 by Henri Katz, the Receiver General of the Bishopric, its beautiful façade of sculpted timber

is a superb example of the German Renaissance style. Today, it is a popular restaurant. (Taverne Katz, 80 Grand’Rue 67700 Saverne, +33 (0)3 88 71 16 56, https://www.tavernekatz. com/en/restaurant).

Befitting wealthy property, it is also very close to the Church Notre Dame, built in the 12-15th centuries, with Romanesque arch and a Gothic interior. Remarkably, the Chapel has the original 15th century stained glass; the rest has stained glass from the 19th century.

We walk next to the Château des Rohan, overlooking the Marne-Rhine Canal that we have been cruising. Historically the residence of the bishops of Strasbourg, it was rebuilt by Cardinal de Rohan in 1779 in neoclassical style with magnificent gardens and a 140-meter-long façade made of Vosges sandstone (like the NotreDame of Strasbourg).

The palace today houses the city museum. Founded in 1858, the museum exhibits art from the churches and castle of Saverne, a large archeological collection of Roman and Celtic artifacts from the excavation of the Marne-Rhine Canal, the collection of 20th century and ethnological art donated by Louise Weiss, and a fascinating exhibit about Weiss, a feminist, suffragist, journalist, politician and diplomat’ life and times.

I walk back to the boat just before 6 pm, arriving as a trio comes on board, to regale us with French (“C’est si bon”) and gypsy jazz. Fabulous.

The joy from the music carries over into dinner: trout with a tomato crumble; cod with tapioca and black garlic; a scrumptious dessert of straw-

Continued on next page

European Waterways Alsace-Lorraine Canal Cruise

Continued from previous page

berry with elderflower (that Chef Leo picked from his own garden that day). Every dish is so imaginative, distinctive, and magnificently presented.

The white wine is Grand Cru (meaning it has the best soil) Alsatian Reisling, House of August; the red a Grand Vin d’Alsace, Pino Noir (2012). The cheeses include a cousin to Brie; Abondance, a semi-firm cow’s milk cheese from HauteSavoie,; and Bleu de Gex, a creamy, semisoft blue cheese.

Day 5 Saverne to Lutzelbourg

Leaving Saverne, we go through the most dramatic and highest lock of all – it must be 30 feet high. I watch this feat, then hop off with the bike to ride along the Marne-Rhine Canal to Lutzelbourg.

I return to the boat, just in time to see Chef Leo give us a cooking demonstration of the passionfruit crème brulee he is making in response to Sue’s request. It is so much fun to watch his preparation –Captain Brian pitches in, too.

Lunch features asparagus and cream; beef with cheesy mash potatoes (vegetarian option salmon) and the passionfruit crème brulee (parfait!). The wines are an Alsatian Riesling, Lieu Dit Burg, and an Alsace Pinot Noir (2018), Famille Hugel.

After lunch, we are driven to the Lalique Museum

Lalique Museum

Situated in the picturesque village of Wingen-sur-Moder, Lalique Museum celebrates the work of the jewelry designer and glassmaker, Rene Lalique.

Lalique founded his workshop here in 1921. Throughout his lifetime, Lalique crafted jewelry, medals, perfume bottles, vases, chandeliers and glass, and we swoon seeing the collection of more than 650 of Lalique’s most stunning creations, which incorporate enamel, precious stones, and glass, gloriously displayed, with fascinating video projections and huge photographs to tell the story of the Lalique dynasty.

The hallmark of Rene Lalique’s jewelry design was its exquisite precision

and tiny detail in the insects, fauna, flowers– you can see the wind fluttering the flower petals, every feather on a bird, a hair comb in the Japanese style has a rising sun.

“All were his ideas, his designs. He designed every piece and could name to whom sold. Renee Lalique was a control freak – he never slept more than 3 hours.”

He was on the forefront of the Art Nouveau movement but was regarded as too modern, too eccentric for Catholic sensibility, she tells us. “Too modern for Cartier. But this became the fashion.” Rene Lalique drew his inspiration from Egypt, from Japan, from the Middle Ages, but gave these inspirations a totally new expression, his own stamp.

He became famous after winning a gold medal at the 1900 Exposition, a celebration of modernism in which electricity in Paris and the first subway were unveiled, attended by some 50 million visitors.

Rene was as brilliant a businessman as he was an artist, inventor and entrepreneur, pioneering branding, marketing, merchandising techniques. “Every perfumer demanded a new bottle, a special stopper.”

He created a joint advertising/marketing campaign with the perfumer, Molinar. “He created demand for the next collection, for perfume, then for toilet water.”

For the 1925 Exposition, he created a17-meter high glass fountain that looked

A GREENER VIEW

Gypsum

BY JEFF RUGG

Question: I recently moved to a new home, and I thought the lawn looked like it needed some help, so I went to the store for some gypsum. Where I used to live, gypsum was added to the lawns all the time. I was told that in my new region, no one adds gypsum, but some people add limestone. What are gypsum and limestone used for?

What can I do to make my lawn look better?

Answer: Gypsum is calcium sulfate, and limestone is calcium carbonate. There is a huge difference between the two and what they could do in your soil. Both break

down into their components. The calcium portion in each one could add calcium to the soil if it is deficient in calcium, which the majority of soils in North America are not deficient in. Have your soil tested to see if it is deficient before adding either one for the calcium.

In the presence of free hydrogen ions, the carbonate portion of limestone breaks down to carbon dioxide and water. Both leave the soil, and when the water, leaves it takes the hydrogen from the soil, causing the soil pH to increase. Limestone is used to raise pH in soils that have been found to be too acidic to grow a specific crop. Again, get a soil pH test before adding limestone.

like stone during the day but was lighted at night. .

After three generations of Lalique had led the company and with no heirs to inherit, Rene’s granddaughter, MarieClaude Lalique, sold the company in 1994 to the Pochet Group; it was acquired in 2008 by Arts et Fragrance, a Swiss group owned by Silvio Denz. (Marie-Claude Lalique died in 2003.)

The museum, which was conceived in 2000 and opened in 2011, is housed in an old glass factory that dates from 1750, producing flat glass for windows, that closed in 1868.

The delightful tour finishes with a marvelous video showing production in today’s factory. There is also a wonderful shop.

Musee Lalique, 40 rue du Hochberg, Wingen-sur-Moder, phone +33 3 88 89 08 14, https://www.musee-lalique.com/en/ Le Petite Pierre

From here, we drive to the hilltop town of La Petite Pierre where there is a 15th century castle. It is late in the afternoon (the setting sun makes for gorgeous colors), and the village looks absolutely vacant, abandoned – almost like a movie set. We walk the ramparts of the castle.

Back in Lutzelbourg, we drive up to the top of a rocky promontory, 322 meters high, that overlooks the Zorn valley, the town, the canal and the Panache to walk among the ruins of the Château du Lutzelbourg. Built by Pierre de Lutzelbourg in the 11th century, the cas-

tle was destroyed in 1523. The ruins we visit are more interesting that the intact structures - especially in the late afternoon light.

Dinner on the Panache starts with John Dory, a fish served like cerviche, with mint and horseradish in a “veil” gelatin and black lemon, Chef Leo shows us the dried black lemon he uses – it comes from Iran where it is dried for month and presents a smoky, lemon flavor. It is sensational. The entrée is a perfectly prepared lamb with truffle and cauliflower with amazing, rich flavors that burst (monkfish is the option for vegetarians)

The wines are a Beaune Premier Cru Basion, 2017 Domaine Chanson Chardonnay, and Gasies Margaux 2014 Bordeaux. The cheeses tonight include Tomme de Brebis, a Basque-style cheese half cow, half sheep milk; a Munster from Alsace and Bleu d’Auvergne. The dessert is a phenomenal blueberry tart with white chocolate mousse.

Chef Leo sits down to chat with us after the meal. The 28-year old is spending his first season on the barge hotel. “I’m always trying new stuff. On the barge, I am free to try. Every week I have new ‘guinea pigs.’ I always try to improve myself in the kitchen. It’s best to learn on my own.”

I think we really lucked out on this European Waterways barge hotel canal cruise.

The next morning, we wake to an atmospheric fog, and as the Panache cruises and I cycle away enroute to Niderviller where the cruise will end, we get a last view of the tops of the ruins of Chateau de Lutzelbourg.

European Waterways, 1-877-879-8808, www.europeanwaterways.com

Next: European Waterways Alsace-Lorraine Canal Cruise: A Boat Guillotine, Two Tunnels and a Chagall

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

Crossword Answers

The sulfate portion of the gypsum does not interact with the soil and so does not change the soil pH. Sulfates are used by plants to get the sulfur they need. Just like the pure calcium, most soils have enough sulfur, and it is rarely a limiting factor in plant growth.

Elemental sulfur added to soil to lower pH is combined with water and oxygen by bacteria to create sulfuric acid, which can lower soil pH. The two types of sulfur are not the same.

So, if the sulfate, carbonate and calcium are not beneficial, why add them to soil? In some western states, the soil has

Continued on page 5

Lovely pastoral landscapes along the bike path from Waltenheim-sur-Zorn to Saverne © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Celebrating this beautiful season of Spring

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

The calendar doesn’t have to tell me - when I hear the lobbing of a tennis ball back and forth on a neighbor’s court down the road I know it’s spring. When I smell the freshly cut grass of my lawn, I also know it’s spring. And when I uncover my grill and place some shish kebobs on it for dinner, I really know it’s spring. Here are some other things I like about spring.

Egg Salad Sandwiches

One sure sign of spring has arrived is when I start looking forward to eating some egg salad sandwiches. I never seem to think of them in the fall and winter months but once spring rolls around, egg salad sandwiches are on my mind. Homemade egg salad sandwiches are the best. After boiling several eggs and letting them cool, I add the mayonnaise plus some sprinkles of salt and pepper, some shredded onion and carrots, some paprika and I stir it all around. The shredded onion and carrot are optional but I think it gives my sandwiches a certain je ne sais quoi as the French people say. Scooping the egg salad onto two slices of rye bread, I add some pieces of green leafy lettuce. Occasionally I’ll toast the two slices of rye bread, add the egg salad and enjoy. My relatives and I often pack a picnic lunch on a spring day that is warm and sunny. Bringing along some iced tea, the chilled sandwiches and dessert, we head outside to enjoy the food, the company and the weather. The history of egg salad sandwiches? One of the earliest known printed recipes for egg salad sandwiches was published in the 1896 edition of The Boston CookingSchool Cook Book written by Fannie Farmer. That was a long time ago but at home, we always enjoy eating egg salad sandwiches.

Those Precious Baby Birds

My friend, Nancy, told me about showing her toddler son, Matt, a nest of baby sparrows. One day in late spring she was holding Matt when, looking out the window in their kitchen in northern Connecticut, she saw the baby spar-

rows. Holding up Matt, Nancy showed him how the mama sparrow was feeding her baby sparrows. The sparrows were all neatly tucked into her hanging basket off the back porch. The babies looked so small Nancy said and so fragile but still they seemed so animated. They couldn’t wait to be fed and they looked so comfortably at home in their nest. Matt was excited about seeing the baby sparrows being fed so every day before she started to prepare lunch for Matt and herself, she would pick him up and show him the birds’ activities. Nancy’s kitchen faced south so the nest seemed illuminated by the sunlight. Looking up information about sparrows, Nancy discovered that from the time the babies are born, the parent sparrows stay with them for five weeks to feed and protect them. When their kids learn to fly, adult sparrows leave the nest. To this day Matt still loves watching sparrows. He calls them a delight to behold because he is fascinated by nature. At age 30, Matt is all grown up now but some things stay the same. He is drawn to sparrows of all sizes, shapes and sounds but most of all he is drawn to the newborn sparrows who look up to their mothers for food. Late spring is a magical time filled with wonders and surprises.

Those Bow Tie Cookies

My friend, Brenda, and I got the idea to make some bow tie cookies. She’d made them the week before for her family and they were a big hit. We chose one rainy April day last year when I was watching my nephew, Timothy, 4, and my niece, Erin, 5. Staying indoors because of the weather was a good idea and a creative project with delicious results would be great. Brenda came over and Timmy and Erin helped me pull out the large mixing bowl, the spatula and spoons. Pulling out her instructions, Brenda told me we needed flour, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, vegetable oil, eggs, butter and powdered sugar for dusting. The honey to be drizzled was also optional. As we followed the directions step by step, I told the kids the bow tie cookies would turn out great.

Looking at me quizzically, Timmy said he had one question. He asked why they were called bow ties. He said he had worn a bow tie to his Aunt Debbie’s wedding a couple of weeks prior and it wasn’t any type of food. We laughed at that and I explained that when they emerge from the oven, they look just like bow ties. You don’t even have to use your imagination that much, they do indeed look a lot like bow ties.

Removing the trays of hot cookies from the oven, I let them cool for 20 minutes. When we tasted them, each person said they were delicious. “It’s too much deliciousness,” I said and Timmy tried to imitate me by saying the word “deliciousness” but it was too big a word for him so he stumbled over it and we all had a good laugh. I told them a bit of trivia - did they know the #1 rated cookie in the U.S. is the chocolate chip cookie but on that day we wanted to do something different - we wanted to make some bow tie cookies. Looking out the window in my living room,

Timmy and Erin saw that the tulips had sprouted and so did the daffodils. They both clapped their hands, excited to see the colorful flowers although it was still raining. Reminding them that “April showers bring May flowers,” we enjoyed eating some of the bow tie cookies and settled down on the living room couch to watch a movie.

Author Ruth Stout once said, “I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.”

How Many Stars for Social Security Service?

BY TOM MARGENAU

I’ve been writing this column for about 27 years. And more than a few times, I took my former agency, the Social Security Administration, to task for sometimes falling down on the job. That’s because I frequently hear from readers complaining about misinformation they received from Social Security representatives or about service issues -- mostly long wait times when they call the agency’s 800 number.

I sometimes wonder if this is the “squeaky wheel syndrome”: You have a car with four wheels and you only pay attention to the squeaky one, even though the other three are just fine. Likewise, when it comes to the service we get from any public-facing agency, I think people are much more likely to write and complain about bad service than they are to offer accolades praising good service. That’s just human nature, I guess.

But some emails I received recently bucked that trend. I’m going to share some snippets praising the SSA for good service. Here are three of them:

“I just got my first Social Security check. And I want you to know that the entire process went smoothly and like clockwork. My claim was processed in a matter of weeks and my check showed up in my bank account when they said it would. I couldn’t be happier!”

“I had some Social Security issues that I thought were complicated. But I called the 800 number and even though I waited on hold for about 20 minutes, the phone rep I eventually talked to was very helpful and answered all my questions. She was very thorough and professional.”

“I recently filed my Social Security claim online. The entire process was very simple and straightforward and I finished in less than an hour. It couldn’t possibly have been simpler.”

Those and other recent emails in a similar vein got me to thinking. Some long-time readers may remember a customer service survey I conducted several years ago. Back then, just as today, I was getting lots of emails from readers critical of SSA’s services or of the allegedly bad advice they were getting from the agency’s representatives. And I’d occasionally get an email with good things to say about the SSA. As I said, I guessed that I was more likely to hear gripes than accolades.

I decided to test my theory by surveying my readers. I got hundreds of responses. Long story short: The vast majority -- almost 90% -- of respondents said they were happy and satisfied with the service they got from SSA.

That was the good news for the SSA and its employees. But there was another side to that coin, according to the responses. The SSA’s front-line employees did routine work very well. And fortu-

nately, most of us have rather routine experiences with Social Security. We turn 62 or full retirement age and want to file for retirement benefits, and that’s that.

But if your Social Security situation is not quite routine, then, sadly, SSA reps sometimes fall down on the job. Those cases often involve situations where someone might be eligible for benefits on two different accounts. For example, if a woman wants to file for widow’s benefits, her options may not be fully explained to her. (Those options could include filing for reduced widow’s benefits first and then switching to higher retirement benefits at a later date. Or the other way around -- filing for reduced retirement benefits first and switching to full widow’s benefits at full retirement age.)

And I think a lot of this lack of expertise has to do with training. When I started working for the SSA in 1973, I went to a highly intensive three-month class that was taught by very skilled trainers -- front-line supervisory people who had been with the agency for decades and who had seen it all. And they passed all this knowledge on to us young neophytes -- comprehensive facts and information that carried us through our careers. But regrettably, that’s not the way things work anymore. Today, I’ve been told that new SSA hires get about six weeks of mostly online training. In my opinion, that’s just not the way to teach raw recruits about all the complicated Social Security rules and regulations.

Also, I will say this. When I worked for the SSA, we were totally focused on one-to-one customer service, usually conducted in a local Social Security office. But that has gone the way of full-service gas stations or doctors making house calls. It is all so 1900s. In the 21st century, the focus is on the internet and other forms of electronic communication. The SSA, like so much of the customer-service world, has opted to try to take care of people online instead of in person. From an efficiency standpoint, especially given the staffing cutbacks the agency has had to endure, that might make sense. But from the standpoint of someone trying to deal with the oftentimes complex Social Security rules and regulations, it can have its drawbacks.

Anyway, I don’t want to keep guessing at what I think is happening. So I’m going to take another survey of my readers. I’d like to know about your experiences with the Social Security Administration. And to keep things simple, let’s use a star system. Think of it like a Yelp or Google review. Give one star for poor service and five stars for good service -or two, three or four stars for something in between.

If you want, you can include a little commentary. Otherwise, just send me an email with between one and five stars. Send them to me at thomas.margenau@ comcast.net. I’ll publish the findings in

another column in the not-too-distant future.

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

Pros and cons of the new property disclosure law

For those Realtors, who have not yet signed up for the Property Condition Disclosure Statement presentation by our LIBOR attorney, then they should sign up ASAP! Most consumers and homeowners aren’t aware of the new revised and updated law which can greatly impact their sale and sale price. Lastly, some know about the new Property Condition Disclosure Statement Law that was enacted, (replacing the original 2002 law) recently passed in the NYS Legislature. Governor Hochul signed it into law on 9/22/23. It became effective on 3/20/24, and situations have been radically altered for Realtors, sellers, and buyers; but favoring buyers considerably more.

The old law said that if a seller did not fill out the 48 questionnaire form on the previous Property Condition Disclosure Statement, (as most attorneys told them not to), they would have to pay $500 at the closing. This didn’t protect them against future lawsuits by the purchaser due to defects in their home; especially since the disclosure wasn’t completed. What’s now changed is that if your home wasn’t in a fully executed contract, (e.g. signed by the purchaser and seller) by that latter date, then the new and updated law now obligated all sellers of residential properties in NYS to fill out the new 55 question form; 7 new questions were added concerning flood hazard issues.

Moreover, this was mandatory and had to be completed and provided to the seller or buyer’s attorney before emailing the contract. Although, there is some time spent by the seller to meticulously and carefully complete the PCDS; the bonus and icing on the cake enabled them to earn and keep the $500. The seller is no longer responsible for paying the additional monies at their closing. However, previously, not filling out the PCDS form was the only reason by law that a seller had to pay the $500 at the closing.

More importantly, most attorneys had advised their sellers, not to fill out the form, and pay the $500, so they wouldn’t open themselves up to potential lawsuits. Personally and profes-

Continued from page 2

a naturally high amount of sodium. These soils are sometimes called sodic soils, and they are often hard, poorly drained and easily compacted. Sodium attached to soil particles sticks the soil together, preventing pores that would allow air and water to penetrate the soil. Gypsum added to the soil breaks down, and the calcium binds to the sodium. If water is added and it can drain away, the calcium will remove the

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

sionally, I thought it was not the best approach for the seller if they were candid, upfront, and transparent with properly answering the PCDS. Furthermore, I also believe that most attorneys didn’t want to have to represent and deal with any after-thefact and subsequent lawsuits against their former clients related to those non-completed PCDS.

So hiring a home inspector might be your best, safest, and most prudent investment if your home is 20 years or older; to know and understand what issues there are in your home and fix and repair them, as well as decrease the opportunity for a purchaser in reducing their offer as well as avoiding any potential lawsuits in the future.

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).

What judge or jury would consider convicting a seller, if they had been truthful and forthright in their efforts to answer all the questions, paying the $500? More importantly, if a lawsuit were to commence, I would surmise that the buyer and his or her lawyer would have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the seller had purposely and intentionally hid facts about defects in and around their home. The bottom line is that the sellers are paid $500 per hour, as savings when filling out the mandatory and required form; which generally takes no more than 1 hour or less to complete.

However, there are 14 exceptions to the rule in certain specific situations and they are as follows:

∙Court transfer order by a probate court in dealing with the administration of a decedent’s estate.

∙Transfer under a writ of execution.

∙Transfer by a trustee in bankruptcy or debtor in possession.

∙A transfer as a result of exercising the power of eminent domain.

∙A transfer due to a decree for a specific performance contract or agreement by 2 or more persons.

However, since I have a certain limit of words in my weekly column, there are 9 additional exceptions to the new law, which you can ascertain and find at casetext.com under the N.Y.

Real Prop. Law § 463.

The new law protects the sometimes unwary purchaser from a few sellers who just might be hiding some serious issues or possibly might not even know what defects might be in their home.

sodium, allowing the soil particles to separate so the soil can breathe.

The description of sodic soils as hard, poorly drained and compacted also describes the clay soil many of us have in our yards. It would be great if we could just spread on gypsum and let it separate the soil for us. Unfortunately, if the clay soil doesn’t have sodium in it, the gypsum won’t be beneficial. If you have clay soil, sandy soil or just about any other “bad”

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soil, adding composted organic matter will make it a better soil.

Chemically, it is very hard to change soil structure or soil pH, but organic matter can do both. It is best if the organic matter is tilled into the soil, but even adding it on top will slowly provide benefits. Even a soil’s fertility is better with organic matter than with fertilizers.

If your lawn is not looking its best, take some pictures and cut a Rubik’s cube-

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.

sized block out of a couple of locations and take them to your local extension office. The master gardeners who maintain their help desk can give you the best local impartial advice you can get anywhere. E-mail

Top 5 Brilliant Hacks to Kickstart Your Vegetable Garden

BY: MARY HUNT

As you might imagine, I grew up with more than a few adults greeting me with, “Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” followed by a big smile or, more often, laughter. It was embarrassing, but probably not for the reason you assume. I didn’t know how to answer that question! I didn’t know what “contrary” meant, I didn’t have a garden, and I worried I was supposed to.

I did know to respect adults and speak politely when spoken to. But no one ever told me the right answer to the question I heard over and over again.

Today, I have good news and the best response: My seeds have germinated, sprouts are growing to seedlings, outdoor hardening has begun, and I anticipate full planting within weeks. Things are looking good for a successful harvest starting mid-summer.

Growing a garden that pumps out tasty vegetables doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are many simple ways to have a lush, bountiful garden without emptying your wallet. Whether it’s recycling stuff, mixing up your own soil boosters or scoring cheap seeds and starter plants, I’ve got you covered with a few of my best gardening hacks, tips and tricks to save cash while honing your gardening skills.

BORROW AND SHARE TOOLS

If you’re new to gardening, rather than pouring money into a bunch of gardening tools you’re not sure you’ll ever use again, let friends and neighbors know what you’re up to. Chances are good they’ll have items you can borrow. And don’t be surprised if you receive a few

gifts of tools others want to get rid of. It’s worth a shot and will keep your costs down to the bare minimum as you set out to see if gardening is an activity you enjoy and find success in. With some experience under your belt, you’ll be better positioned to decide the tools you need to own. And when that time comes? Shop garage sales, thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace.

FORGET SEEDLINGS

It’s tempting! Those pony packs and endless trays of seedling “starts” in the garden center are all planted, sprouted, thriving, adorable and ready to hit the ground. You could have your garden planted before dinner. And you’ll pay dearly if you choose to go that route. They’re not cheap! What’s better? DIY.

SEED-STARTING

It’s easy to grow your own starter seedlings. Walk away from the pony packs and head to the rack of seed packets. Look at all the choices. You’ll have to wait a bit to get your garden thriving, but I can tell you that nurturing plants from germination to maturity is such a rewarding experience. It allows you to witness the entire growth process firsthand.

Make sure you read the necessary information on the back of the seed packets. Don’t know your zone? Check this color-coded plant hardiness zone map of the United States at www.brecks.com/ zone_finder to find which hardiness zone you live in. At that site, you’ll be able to type in your ZIP code to find your exact zone.

You will need some seed-starting soil, but that’s all -- don’t buy starting kits or special containers. Get creative with what

you have at home. Egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, yogurt cups, paper coffee cups and fast-food containers can be repurposed into seed-starting containers. Just be sure to poke drainage holes in the bottom, then fill the containers with the soil.

GREENHOUSE FROM THE SALAD BAR

The next time you enjoy a salad bar lunch, don’t toss out the plastic clamshell container! Instead, give it a second life as a mini-greenhouse for spring seed-starting. After cleaning the container, add airflow by punching small holes in the top with the tip of scissors, a knife or an awl and hammer.

Fill the bottom half with potting mix or your preferred seed-starting soil, then plant your seeds according to seed packet instructions. Water lightly, close the lid, and place in a sunny spot. Watch as your seeds sprout in this cool little greenhouse, which traps warmth and moisture while letting in sunlight.

MOVING SEEDLINGS OUTDOORS

After the last frost in your area (garden.org/apps/frost-dates/) and two weeks before outdoor planting, gradually introduce your seedlings to weather conditions in their future garden home. Begin by placing them outside for a few hours in the afternoon shade, shielded from wind. Return them indoors before nighttime temperatures decrease.

Each day, extend their outdoor visit gradually and expose them to increasing amounts of direct sunlight. By the end of the two weeks, unless freezing temperatures are expected, the seedlings can remain outdoors in a sunny location until

NUTRITION NEWS

Food for Thought

you’re prepared to transplant them into the garden.

Known as “hardening,” this process removes the shock of climate change for these baby seedlings by introducing their eventual climate conditions gradually. This gives plants the best chance for maturity and your successful harvest.

MORE GARDENING HACKS

You can find 18 more of my favorite gardening hacks, tips and tricks at EverydayCheapskate.com/gardenhacks. Come visit; we can share stories!

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

BY CHARLYN FARGO

What we eat really makes a difference in how we feel and our quality of life.

Just this week, I came across three different studies looking at food and health, from the impact of omega-3s to strawberries to beet juice.

A study in Nature Communications found that people who had greater levels of omega-3 fatty acids -- specifically, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (doco-

sahexaenoic acid) -- had a 13% lower risk for all-cause mortality, as well as a lower risk for death due to cancer, cardiovascular disease and other causes combined, compared with those with lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, mackerel, herring, oysters, sardines, anchovies, flax and chia seeds, walnuts and soybeans. There are plenty to choose from.

A second study in the journal Nutrients found that adults with obesity and high low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol levels who had a serving of freezedried strawberry supplements every day for four weeks experienced reductions in serum insulin and insulin resistance, compared with controls. A serving of the freeze-dried strawberries was equal to 2.5 servings of fresh or frozen strawberries, if you prefer your strawberries that way. And then there’s beetroot juice. Re-

search has shown that beetroot juice could help combat inflammation and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, making the juice both heart- and gut-friendly. Beetroot juice also has antioxidants -- particularly betalains -- that could aid in preventing cancer, and it may also help athletes by improving their lung function, boosting their energy and workout stamina, and strengthening their muscle contractions. The new study was published in the May issue of Redox Biology and found that drinking beet juice was associated with a change in the bacteria in saliva, indicative of improved cardiovascular health. It also resulted in a lower number of bacteria that tend to promote inflammation.

I’m not advocating only drinking beet juice or just eating salmon or strawberries. All foods can fit into a healthy eating pattern. What’s important is that

your plate contains heart-healthy, immune-boosting foods such as these. We all need variety on our plates. If we fill our plate with foods high in nutrients, there won’t be room for the empty-calorie foods that don’t offer our bodies the nutrients we need for good health. It’s a choice we make every time we go through the drive-thru or sit down to a home-cooked meal. The studies should give us food for thought that every bite counts.

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..

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

Coming Soon to a Sky Near You... a New Star!

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of April 14-20, 2024

Last week, I wrote about the springtime constellation Corona Borealis, the northern crown, and encouraged you to go out to find it. I hope you’ve done so, because sometime this spring or summer it will get a new star. Well, not really a “new” star, but certainly one that few alive today have ever seen.

The star is called T Corona Borealis -- aka the “Blaze Star” -- and it will change the appearance of this constellation for a few days.

Such a new star appearing out of nowhere is not common, of course, but it does happen occasionally. Ancient sky watchers called such a phenomenon a “nova” -- a word that comes from the Latin “novus,” meaning new. As it turns out, however, a nova is anything but new.

Back when I was a kid first learning about all things celestial, astronomers defined a nova as a dying star. It had nearly exhausted its nuclear fuel before blasting into space much of its atmosphere and settling back into a small, degenerate stellar corpse known as a white dwarf. (I know this because I just checked one of my favorite childhood books from 1958 -- yes, I’ve kept them all!)

Today, however, we believe that a

nova originates from two stars orbiting one another. One is a tiny and dying white dwarf star and the other a red giant star with a bloated atmosphere. As hydrogen from the red giant is sucked in by the nearby white dwarf’s intense gravitational pull, it accumulates and heats up on the surface until it triggers a runaway thermonuclear explosion.

Such blasts can cause a star to become tens of thousands of times brighter for a short time, and if the star is near enough, it might just appear as a new star in our night sky.

Astronomers now know that some of these novae can explode more than once. T CrB (in astronomers’ shorthand) is just such a star and is classified as a “recurrent” nova. Its eruptions have been documented as far back as October 1217 by the abbot of the Ursberg Abbey in what is now known as Germany. Its last appearance came in 1946.

Stars like T CrB are rare; in our Milky Way galaxy of hundreds of billions of stars, we know of only about 10. So, if and when it erupts, just about every telescope on this planet and in space will be aimed in its direction. That’s because such novae are thought to eject into space elements critical to the formation of life, such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, and watching the process unfold with modern instrumentation has astronomers giddy with

excitement.

Those of us without powerful telescopes will not be left out of the excitement, however. T CrB may become as bright as the constellation’s main star Alphecca and easily visible to the unaided eye for a few days, before fading back into the darkness from which it came, building up explosive hydrogen

for its next eruption, possibly around the beginning of the 22nd century.

In the meantime, keep your eyes on Corona Borealis; I’d hate for you to miss this truly once-in-a-lifetime sight!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

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Who Turned Out the Lights?

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

When the time came to get new eyeglasses, I decided I was ready for an upgrade. The optician told me I could get transition lenses that would turn dark when I was in the sun, so instead of having a regular pair of eyeglasses and a second pair of prescription sunglasses, I’d have one pair that would do everything. If I could just get them to cook dinner, they’d be perfect.

They were wonderful in concept, but when they arrived and I took them out for a spin, I realized they didn’t just get dark, they got really, really dark, and they stayed that way for a good five minutes after I got back inside. This left me looking like a celebrity trying to avoid the paparazzi, an extremely tired lemur or Ray Charles. The biggest issue, though, was that whenever

I went inside, I was blind as a bat. This is actually a pretty strange comparison, considering bats are nocturnal and able to find their way around in the dark just fine. Unfortunately, I do not have any echolocation abilities like a bat to help guide me around dark corners. This meant I spent a lot of time walking into walls until the lenses faded.

Being a mother had somewhat prepped me for this experience, having had to stumble around in the dark for years, answering my kids’ calls for help dealing with monsters under the bed in the middle of the night. But back then, my vision had been sharp, and I acclimated pretty quickly to the light changes. These days, though, there was nothing sharp about me except an acute sense of smell, which does not serve one well when one has a dog with gas issues. But that’s another column.

In the meantime, I tried to decide if a few bumps on my forehead were worth the convenience of not having to switch glasses every time I went in and out throughout my day.

Wondering if there were perhaps a compromise, I stopped by the optician and asked if there was anything he could do to help with the issue before I ended up accidentally walking into a men’s room, getting locked in a meat freezer or trapped in an indoor snake enclosure.

“We can’t really speed up the time it takes for the lenses to go back to normal,” said the technician. “But you could take the glasses off when you enter a building for a few minutes until they readjust.”

“But I need the glasses to see,” I said.

“Yeah, I could see how that would be a problem,” he replied. “Get it? SEE how that would be a problem?” He laughed.

I shook my head. I needed an optician, but somehow I’d ended up with Jerry Seinfeld.

When I got home, I bumped into my front door and then greeted a coat I thought was my husband.

“Hey, honey, guess what?” I heard my husband say from another part of the room. “I decided to get transition lenses in my glasses, too. How do you like yours?”

“They’re great,” I said. “Just make sure you get the package that includes concussion insurance.”

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.

EMPLOYMENT

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NOVENA TO THE BLESSED MOTHER

Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. Oh, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.

Oh Star of the Sea, help me herein and show me here you are my Mother.

Oh Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power.

Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).

Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (say three times).

Amen. This prayer is never known to fail and is to be said for 3 consecutive days.

In Gratitude (M.T.F.)

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INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now!

Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, ad vertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week!

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Visit us at www.invitedsales. com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

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ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE PART-TIME

The Viscardi Center publishes a monthly print/digital newspaper and website that serves the New York City and Long Island disability community and is looking for an energetic, highly motivated sales representative.

Sell print and digital advertising, assist with growth and management of the subscription base. Be able to learn quickly, multi-task, and work effectively to meet deadlines. This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule; $25-$30/hr. + commission.

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FULL-TIME DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL (DSP)

Abilities, Inc. is looking for Direct Support Professionals to provide support services to successfully integrate individuals with developmental disabilities into their communities.

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Valid NYS Driver’s License required.

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“Shed the Meds”

The Town of Oyster Bay has announced a partnership with Drug Free Long Island and the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) to host a “Shed the Meds” Drug Take Back Day at Massapequa Park Village Hall on Saturday, April 20, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

“This Drug Take Back Day is a great opportunity to rid your medicine cabinet of old and unwanted prescription drugs,” said Town Supervisor Joseph

Saladino. “Through proper disposal of old medications, we can prevent them from contaminating the environment through improper disposal and also keep them out of the wrong hands and away from young people.”

In cooperation with Drug Free Long Island and the Nassau County Police Department, the Town and Village will host this event at Massapequa Park Village Hall, in the back parking lot. This program is anonymous. For those

who cannot attend this Drug Take Back Day, disposal containers are located at all Police Precincts throughout the county for safe deposit.

For those looking to turn in unused or expired medication, be sure to make sure of the following:

• If left in original container, please remove all personal information from label.

• Liquid medication will not be accepted

• Illicit substances are also not part of this initiative.

• Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and syringes will be accepted.

For more information about the “Shed the Meds” Drug Take Back Day, please call Drug Free Long Island at (516) 639-2386 or email info@drugfreeli. org

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Learn more at chsli.org/cancer or call us at (844) 86-CANCER.

Town honors HHS Marching Band for championship

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and his colleagues on the Town Board honored members of the Hicksville High School Marching Band, an incredibly dedicated and accomplished group of student musicians. The Marching Band won the New York State Field Band Conference Large School 2 Championship for the past three years and Supervisor Saladino congratulated them, their school representatives and their parents, presenting them with a citation as well as a beautiful sign which will be on display at their school.

State senator holds Mobile Office Hours

On March 23, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads was happy to bring his Mobile Office Hour tour across his Senate District to the Island Trees Public Library. Senator Rhoads would like to thank everyone who came out to meet with him and discuss their concerns. Senator Rhoads is committed to always being accessible for his constituents and has four more Mobile Office Hour events scheduled in the coming months. If any constituents would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Senator Rhoads during the upcoming Mobile Office Hours, please call Senator Rhoads’ District Office at 516-882-0630.

Town collects 1000 lbs of pet supplies

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino proudly partnered with Long Island Cares for their Annual Legislative Pet Food & Supply Drive, which took place throughout the month of March. The drive focused on collecting food and supplies for our residents’ pets through Baxter’s Pet Pantry, which supplies free pet food and supplies to pet-owning families in need.Town officials recognized residents for their generosity in donating over 1,000lbs of pet food and supplies, which as a result will keep pets at home with their loved ones, well-fed, and out of shelters. For more information about Long Island Cares, visit www.licares.com

BHS science students make a difference

Several science students from Bethpage High School were recognized for recent accomplishments, including receiving awards at regional science competitions as well as grant awards. They were congratulated by Director of Science Chris Pollatos, Assistant Principal Charly Hirsch-Beckman and science teacher Nicole Dulaney.

Bethpage High School students are making meaningful contributions to the scientific community. They have participated in several regional science fairs and also been awarded numerous grants.

Senior Zoe Chinda received an honorable mention award in the Microbiology category at the Long Island and Science Engineering Fair for her project, “Effects of Plasmid Copy Number and Size on Bacterial Host Cell Fitness.” Her research was conducted at Harvard Medical School during the summer of 2023.

Junior Yuvraj Singh earned third place in the Engineering and Technology category for the Long Island regional semifinal of the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. His project was “Modern Solutions for Propulsion Systems in Aerospace Engineering.”

Three students were awarded following their participation in the New York Science and Engineering Fair. Freshman Partap Sidhu received first place in the Robotics and Intelligent Machines category and earned a bid to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair in May for his project, “Revolutionizing Waste Management: A Machine Learning and Computer Vision Enabled Robot Arm for Efficient Garbage Recycling.”

Junior Devaanshi Kawatra received an Honorable Mention award in the Behavioral Science category for her project, “Continuous Administration of Kanamycin is Deleterious in a Drosophila melanogaster Model of Parkinson’s Disease.” Junior Lavleen Kaur received Honorable Mention in

OWN YOUR FUTURE OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, April 20, 2024

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the Microbiology category for her project, “Investigating the Antibacterial Properties of Herbal Medicines in E. coli using Nanosilver & Synergy.”

Bethpage science students were the recipients of three grant awards this year. The Southeast Asian American Womens Alliance Mini Research Grant Award went to Partap Sidhu and the sophomore team of Sarah Oh, Benjamin-Maciel Seidman and Aaryan Rupesh. Both projects were awarded $200. Partap’s research was “Revolutionizing Waste Management: A Machine Learning and Computer Vision Enabled Robot Arm for Efficient Garbage Recycling.” Sarah, Ben and Aaryan’s project was “Developing a Solar-powered Seawater Hydroponics System Monitored by an Arduino Salinity Sensor.”

HACH Equipment, in partnership with the Water Environment Federation, awarded two grants in the form of equipment loans to help students collect data for their research projects. Jessica Wojnicki received a HQd meter sensor for LDO and DR900 reagents and standards for nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and phosphate for her research, “The Effect of Distance from Route 25A on Water Quality. The team of Sarah Oh, Benjamin-Maciel Seidman and Aaryan Rupesh also received a HQd meter with sensors and standards for pH, electroconductivity and dissolved oxygen.

The team of Sarah Oh, BenjaminMaciel Seidman and Aaryan Rupesh also received $300 from the New York Institute of Technology’s Mini Research Grant Award program.

When you dream big, anything can happen.

From our intentionally small classes to the skills of our excellent faculty, everything we offer is geared to enrich your experience and prepare you to pursue your own big dream. With nearly 60 undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, education, and the arts and sciences, we provide a solid educational foundation so you have the confidence in your own abilities to succeed at whatever you choose to undertake — to own your future.

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STEP INTO AN EASIER WAY OF LIVING AT THE SEASONS

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