The Mid-Island Times (6/16/23)

PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN

M EMORIAL D AY P ARADE

New principal to take over POB High School

BY GARY SIMEONE

Dr. Heather Dvorak, will take over as the new principal at Plainview-Old Bethpage JKF High School, succeeding James Murray, who has spent over twenty years in the district. Dr Dvorak will begin her new role as school principal on June 26.

Dr Dvorak said she is extremely excited to assume the new role and is looking forward to ingratiating herself in the community and school district.

Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D - Plainview) joined with local veterans, residents, and his colleagues in government at Plainview’s Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29 to pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives while serving in America’s armed forces.

'Movies by Moonlight' in Town Parks

The Town of Oyster Bay will present free ‘Movies by Moonlight’ in local parks on Thursday evenings this summer, beginning July 6th and concluding on August 10th. Residents are welcome to bring blankets and chairs when attending these family-friendly movies.

“Residents and families looking for a fun night need look no further than their backyards this summer as the Town is ready with a summer to remember,” said Supervisor Saladino. “We’re thrilled to once again show family-friendly films at our local parks, along with char-

acter meet and greets, inflatables, free popcorn, food trucks, games, and more. Join us at these pop-up movie nights and sit back, relax and enjoy the show.”

Seating and pre-movie activities will begin at 6:00 p.m. including character

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“I have always been drawn to education, and I have always loved mentoring,” Dr. Dvorak said. “In the secondary level, so much of what the students are learning will shape their first steps into adulthood. I look forward to helping Plainview’s students take those first steps.”

Dr Dvorak, comes Plainview-Okd Bethpage from Mineola High School, where she served as the Assistant Principal for the past seven years.

Before that she worked as an ELA instructor in the New York City school system.

“I was teaching ELA in a lot of the newer schools in the city at the middle and high school level, which I found to be a very rewarding experience,” said Dvorak. “It was part of the Teach for America nonprofit organization, that was a big part of the New York City Department of Education.”

Dr Dvorak, who lives in Commack, said that she became interested in education while attending

Hartford University.

“I did a-lot of tutoring on campus between my classes and on weekends, and I ended up becoming interested in the education field.”

She received her BS in English from Hartford University and recently received her doctorate in Educational Policy & Leadership from Hofstra University.

Dvorak said she will try and follow in the footsteps of Murray, who was a beloved principal in the school district for twenty-plus years.l

“I’ve met with him and he took me under his wing, helping me to learn about the community and the pride they take in their academic programs and achievements.”

She said that her main focus as school principal, will be to enhance the educational, sports programs and clubs that make Plainview a special community.

“I know that there are so many clubs and different student activi-

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Dr. Heather Dvorak

Syosset students honored in PTA Ref lections program

Syosset High School student

Maxwell Greene and A.P. Willits Elementary student Minka Van Berkel are being recognized by the National PTA for their submissions to the annual Reflections student art program.

SHS student Maxwell Greene received an Award of Excellence in Music Composition for his piece “ Song of the Travelers. ” This is Max’s second year as a finalist in the PTA Reflections program.

A.P. Willits second grader Minka Van Berkel was awarded the Outstanding Interpretation Award in the Literature category for her story “The Girl Who Was Loud Even Though She Didn’t Speak.” Only seven students nationally were honored with this award.

More than 300,000 students in pre-K through grade 12 from across the country submitted creative interpretations of the theme “ Show Your Voice ” as part of the 2022–2023 Reflections program. The long-running National PTA program

Town blood drive planned for June 27

With hospitals facing a nationwide blood shortage, the Town of Oyster Bay invites residents to attend a Blood Collection Drive on Tuesday, June 27, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hicksville Athletic Center, located at 167 S. Broadway in Hicksville.

Town Councilman Steve Labriola stated, “Blood supplies are critically needed for local hospitals to meet the demand and continue saving lives. Please consider participating in this blood drive to help bolster our blood banks and ensure as many people as possible can be helped. Together, we can give the gift of life though a simple blood donation.”

Appointments are preferred for the Town’s blood drive. To qualify as a donor, a person must be between the ages of 17 and 75 years old (16 with parental permission and 76 or older with a doctor’s note), weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donat-

encourages students to explore their thoughts, feelings and ideas through dance, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. The awards honor creative interpretations of the theme.

ed blood within the last 56 days. Anyone who received a tattoo within the past 12 months is ineligible to donate. It is recommended that donors eat well (low fat) and drink fluids in the days before the blood srive. Additionally, all donors will receive a voucher for a free Blizzard at Dairy Queen.

Councilman Labriola added, “It’s quick, easy, and safe to donate a single pint of blood which can save up to three lives. Donating blood at the Hicksville Athletic Center, is an incredible way for all of us to pitch in and give back, to help ease the burden of our Healthcare Heroes as they continue to provide lifesaving efforts.”

For additional information regarding the Town’s blood drive, contact the Town’s Public Information Office at (516) 624-6380. To make an appointment to donate at this blood drive, sign up today at https://bit. ly/3LpKRF5

MacArthur senior wins district attorney’s award

A junior at General Douglas MacArthur High School in the Levittown Public School District recently received a prestigious honor from the Nassau County district attorney.

MacArthur junior Edward Muro is the recipient of the District Attorney’s SHIELD — Service, Honesty, Integrity, Excellence, Leadership and Duty —

Award. This honor is offered to high school juniors who, beyond academic achievement, have shown strength of character and commitment to bring positive change in their school and community. The Levittown District congratulates Edward on this outstanding recognition.

SHS student Maxwell Greene and A.P. Willits student Minka Van Berkel with their PTA certificates.

Photo credit: Syosset Central School District

General Douglas MacArthur High School junior Edward Muro is a recipient of the Nassau County District Attorney’s SHIELD Award. Photo courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Syosset Fire District 108th Annual Installation

The Syosset Fire District honored its outgoing ex-chief, Dr. Peter Silver, during its recent 108th Annual Inspection and Installation Dinner. It also welcomed Syosset Junior Firefighter Kyra Kozey as the first female president of the Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association.

Syosset Junior Firefighter Kyra Kozey (center left) was honored by Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino as the first female president of the Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino (center) honors Syosset Fire Department outgoing Ex-Chief Dr. Peter Silver (third from right).

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Gardiner’s Avenue students represented at art exhibition

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Gardiners Avenue Elementary School students G. Rinaldi, Nicolette Sabbagh and Gabriel Kilduff were selected to present their artwork during the All-County Art Exhibition. Photo courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Three students from Gardiners Avenue Elementary School in the Levittown Public School District were selected to present their artwork alongside students from throughout Nassau County during a recent exhibition.

Gardiners Avenue students G. Rinaldi, Nicolette Sabbagh and Gabriel Kilduff used

their artistic skills to express themselves through drawings. The artwork included impressive interpretations of real-life scenes and a self-portrait by Nicolette, which was also painted. Their work was presented during the 19th annual AllCounty Art Exhibition, hosted by the Art Supervisors Association in Long Beach.

East Broadway students ready for a bright future

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East Broadway Elementary School second grade students Ayham Aldhefri, Hannah Auffret, Cole Selvaggi, Grace Souffront and Jack Luisi are prepared for the future thanks to a fun class assignment. They completed their first resumes which featured their proudest achievements. Photo courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

John F. Kennedy HS names top students

Cooper Davis and Sophia Gu are the Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the 2022-2023 school year.

Cooper is graduating with a 102.82 weighted GPA. He served as president of the Mathletes and as vice president of the Science Honor Society. He is a Wharton School Moneyball Academy Winner and took part in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Cooper is a member of the Teens as Leaders Club and took part in the Chinese Cultural Exchange Program and the US Department of Energy National Science Bowl. Cooper is headed to Cornell University in the fall and will study statistics and data science.

Sophia Gu is graduating with a 102.59 weighted GPA. She has served

as an officer for her school’s Science Olympiad team and is a research gold medalist in the 2022 Long Island Math Fair. Sophia is a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a silver medalist in the National French Contest. Sophia also took part in the Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists at Boston University. She is attending Carnegie Mellon University in the fall, majoring in mathematics.

“These students have worked so hard throughout their academic careers and have exceeded in their studies in remarkable ways,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary O’Meara. “Congratulations Cooper and Sophia; I look forward to seeing what you accomplish during your college studies.”

Registration open for Town ice hockey program

Registration for the Town of Oyster Bay’s Summer Youth Ice Hockey Program is still underway and open to boys and girls ages 8U–16U. The 10-week program includes instructional technique work and features a unique “Pond Hockey” format. Clinics spanning 10 weeks in duration will also be available for registration, including all girls’ clinics, 6U clinics, adult learn to play clinics and advanced travel clinics. Programs will begin on July 9, 2023.

“The fun and instructional Summer Hockey Program will help youngsters learn the correct fundamentals of ice

hockey at our state-of-the-art ice rink at Bethpage Community Park,” said Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Lou Imbroto. “Instructors will teach proper techniques of skating, stickhandling and shooting during the 10-week program.”

Registration is available online at www.oysterbaytown.com/portal. All participants must provide their own equipment, and should have some skating ability. For more information, call the rink at (516) 433-7465, x 8234 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com/hockey.

Valid at all Holiday Farms locations. Expires 7/31/23. Offer not to be combined with any other offer including senior discount. Code 9920

Cooper Davis Sophia Gu

33 Levittown athletes sign to college sports teams

Thirty-three athletes across Division Avenue High School and General Douglas MacArthur High School in the Levittown Public School District signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at a variety of colleges and universities on May 15.

Athletes gathered with family members and coaches at their respective schools to mark the occasion. The signing of the letters indicates the students’ readiness to compete at the next level of their educational journey after they graduate.

Nine Division Avenue athletes include:

• Sydney Martins – cheer, Coastal Carolina University

• Dylan O’Connor – lacrosse, Misericordia University

• Sofia Rella – cheer, LIU Post

• Danielle Kennedy – cheer, LIU Post

• Elizabeth Catania – cheer, LIU Post

• Aron Lugo – swim, Hartwick College

• Michaela Bridgwood – softball, SUNY New Paltz

• Katherine Campbell – lacrosse, SUNY Old Westbury

• Erica DeJesus – bowling, Adelphi University

Twenty-four MacArthur athletes include:

• Rocco Hogan – lacrosse, Molloy University

• Ashley Maniscalco – lacrosse, SUNY Old Westbury

• Tyler Mormando – soccer, Utica University

• Joseph Thatcher – baseball, St. Joseph’s University

• Lauren Dean – cheer, LIU Post

• Tyler Behr – soccer, Marywood University

• Joviana Bennett – volleyball, John Jay College

• Paul Calvo – lacrosse, Molloy University

• Bailey Rothman – cheer, LIU Post

• Kimberly LoFaso – cheer, Widener University

• Taylor Brunn – softball, Ithaca College

• Paul Lichter – wrestling, St. John Fisher University

• Daniel DeLuca – lacrosse, Hartwick College

• Angelo Mansilla-Ramos – cheer, St. John’s University

• Patrick Cheswick – lacrosse, Belmont Abbey College

• Julia Marrazzo – soccer, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

• Hailey Feiler – softball, Bentley University

• Ryan Tam – baseball, Farmingdale State College

• Jack Longobucco – track, Adelphi University

• Gianni Nino – soccer, Farmingdale State College

• Dylan Vargas – volleyball, St. Joseph’s University

• Nicholas Milan – football, SUNY Maritime College

• Ben Velasquez – football, SUNY Maritime College

• Evan Paladino – baseball, Herkimer College

BHS hosts annual Research Symposium

Bethpage High School hosted its 13th annual Research Symposium on June 6. The special event was open to students and families throughout the Bethpage Union Free School District and shined a positive light on all the science achievements that are taking place throughout the Bethpage Union Free School District.

The Research Symposium kicked off in the Bethpage High School auditorium where junior and senior science research students presented their impressive projects. Each was followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience. After the presentations, the event continued in the high school gymnasium where posters were on display from students in Advanced Placement Research and Research 1-3.

“The Science Research Symposium was an amazing success and truly showed the wide array of projects students can engage in while participating in our research program,” said AP science research teacher Nicole Dulaney. “Students have the opportunity to design a project based on concepts that interest them ranging from

machine learning, to testing water quality, to analyzing statistics related to Major League Baseball. I am very hopeful for the future as our program will be expanding by 50% next year.”

Engineering students, along with Bethpage robotics teams from the elementary through high school level, were also in attendance and set up their own stations in the gymnasium to showcase the great work that they have been doing this year. Attendees enjoyed pizza and refreshments as they walked around and explored the projects.

“Mrs. Dulaney did a sensational job coordinating the Bethpage Symposium for the Bethpage community to come see our students showcase their STEM talents,” said Director of Science Chris Pollatos. “I am so amazed and proud of all the hard work the students (which ranged from Grade 4 through Grade 12) performed this year. Special thanks go out to all the staff at Bethpage who helped make this night such a special event!”

From left: Bethpage High School research students Joy Kim, Sofia Maciel-Seidman and Riya Saha presented their project which earned them a spot at this year’s Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

The Bethpage Argonauts attended Bethpage High School’s 13th annual Science Research Symposium on June 6.

Bethpage freshmen Matthew Tusa (right) and Aryaan Khalfan (left) with their research project.

Bethpage AP Research student Ellie Park (middle right) in front of her research poster with teachers and administrators. From left: Director of Technology Andrew Choi, Director of Science Chris Pollatos, AP Research teachers Kristen Garvey and Nicole Dulaney, physics and engineering teacher Tess Strauch and Director of Mathematics John Titolo.

Members of the Central Boulevard Robotics club attended the Research Symposium.

Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District

LEGAL NOTICES

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY FSB

NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME

'Movies by Moonlight' in Town Parks

NOTICE OF SALE

D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST AS TRUSTEE FOR PNPMS TRUST

II, Plaintiff, vs. THEOCHARIS PHILIPPOU A/K/A

THEOCHARRIS PHILIPPOU

A/K/A HARRIS PHILIPPOU

A/K/A HARRY PHILIPPOU

A/K/A THEOCHAIRUS

PHILIPPOU, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 12, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2 Prose Street, Hicksville, NY 11801 All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 11, Block 309 and Lot 33. Approximate amount of judgment is $578,855.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 1488/2015. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. Lisa Singer,

Esq., Referee The Frank

Law Firm P.C., 333 Glen Head Road, Suite 145, Old Brookville, New York 11545,

for Plaintiff

COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST RICHARD GREIG, JANE DOE A/K/A STACEY GRIEG, Defendant(s)   Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 26, 2018, 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 July 11, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 54 SOUTH 1ST STREET, BETHPAGE, NY 11714. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Bethpage, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 46, Block 5, Lot 46-48. Approximate amount of judgment $407,811.10 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #003518/2016. 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". Robert G. Litt, Esq., Referee   Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221   18007130 76196

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME

COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

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meet and greets at select movies, inflatables, free popcorn, food trucks and games. All movies begin at sundown and are subject to change. They will be held weather permitting. For additional information, please call (516) 797-7925 or visit the Town’s website at www.oysterbaytown.com.

Harry Tappen Beach, Glenwood Landing

Thursday, July 13 Tangled

*performance by Rapunzel Marjorie R. Post Community Park, Massapequa

Thursday, July 20

The Princess And The Frog

Attorneys

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION

Too much junk in your house? Place an ad for it in our classifieds section! Call 516.294.8900 for more details. One ad can go so far... Advertise your services in our Professional Guide or Service Directory today and be seen in these five newspapers: Call 516-294-8900 today to learn more!

Notice of Formation of Michelle's Pet Care. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-05-29. 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

Ditech Financial LLC f/k/a Green Tree Servicing LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Michael B. Mendonez, Jr. a/k/a Michael B. Mendonez, Gracia T. Mendonez a/k/a Grace T. Mendonez, et al., Defendant(s)   Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 17, 2017, 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 July 19, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 11 Berry Hill Lane, Bethpage, NY 11714.  All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 49, BLOCK: 267, LOT: 7.  Approximate amount of judgment $410,614.09 plus interest and costs.  Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #005296/2014. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov/Admin/oca.shtml) 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". John G. Marks, Esq., Referee   Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706   01045133-F00 76532

Programming is made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including Extreme Auto Body, Steel Equities, Gold Coast Studios, Action Auto Wreckers, Complete Basement Systems, The Gucciardo Law Firm, Webster Bank, Northwell Health Plainview and Syosset Hospitals, Long Island Speech, Royal Events Princess Parties, News 12 Long Island, KJOY98.3, 103.1MAXFM, 104.7FM WHLI and Friends of the Community Service Department.

Summer Movies:

Thursday, July 6

Lilo & Stitch

*performance by Bayou Princess Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, Woodbury

Thursday, July 27 Toy Story Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park & Beach, Oyster Bay

Thursday, August 3

Minions The Rise Of Gru Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park, Plainview

Thursday, August 10 Moana

*performance by Wayfinder Princess Ellsworth W. Allen Park, Farmingdale

Bethpage Board of Education Meetings

The Bethpage Board of Education will hold an agenda meeting on Tuesday, June 20th at 7:30 PM at the Administration Building Conference Room.

The Board's regular month-

ly meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 27th at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building District Conference Room. The Administration Building is located at 10 Cherry Ave., Bethpage.

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High School student’s art on display at Grand Central Station

BY GARY SIMEONE

Hundreds of thousands of people per day are getting a view of the sunrise in Massapequa during their daily commute to work. The beautiful view became possible thanks to Massapequa High School senior, Sofia Panagoulias, who won the Grand Central Madison Student Art Contest. Her artwork is featured on seven by seventeen foot giant screens inside Grand Central Station until the end of the summer.

Panagoulias entered the art contest last November, which was open to all high school art students on Long Island. The contest was part of the MTA’s bid to have a Long Island theme inside of the newly renovated Grand Central Station.

She said that she initially took a photo of the sunrise inside the Massapequa Preserve, and digitally recreated the image on her iPad.

“It is my daily ritual to walk with my dog inside the preserve, and take a picture of the sunrise with my cellphone each morning,” said Panagoulias. “There was one morning that was particularly beautiful and I decided to send that photo into the contest.”

She said she digitally enhanced the picture on the procreate app on her iPad and sent the file to the MTA’s contest page on their website.

She received a response in December that she had won the contest and her artwork would be displayed on four giant screens inside the Station on a twenty-four hour digital rotation.

“I was so excited when I found out that my artwork would be featured on such a grand scale. It Will be shown on three giant screens along with other students pieces on a continuous fifteen minute loop. One of the screens will also show my name, my school and the title of my piece, which is called Sunrise over Massapequa.”

Panagoulias, who works as a spin instructor at Spin City Massapequa, said she has received several calls and texts from coworkers and clients saying they’ve seen her artwork during their daily commute.

The precocious high school student, said she has been interested in art since she was in elementary school.

“I used to enter Art Reflection contests in elementary school and in the

New principal

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ties at the High School, and my goal is to add additional spaces and places to give students their own voice.”

Murray said that he has a lot of faith in the new incoming principal, and his advice is to make strong connections with both students and staff.

““I have no doubt she’s going to be successful,” said Murray. “Dr Dvorak understands the community, and she understands the importance of being a good listener, being reflective and getting the input of all of your stakeholders. Once she spends the time building those relationships she will be able to make changes and put her stamp on the school.”

middle school I always wanted to take the most challenging art classes. In High School, one of my pieces was featured in a gallery at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington.”

Panagoulias, who graduated from high school this past Friday was recently accepted into Adelphi University’s Art Education program.

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Sofia Panagoulias

BHS students explore future at career fair

Bethpage High School students in grades 10–12 explored possible career paths during the school’s Career Fair on May 19. Facilitated by high school business teachers Barbara Malerba, Taylor Kugler and Nancy Simpson, this was the second year of the fair which featured more than 45 professionals from a variety of different career fields. This included Bethpage High School alumni who returned to speak with current students about their jobs.

Bethpage High School business students helped set up the event which was held in the school’s gymnasium. Tables were stationed around the gymnasium and many professionals brought in their own signs, merchandise, equipment and more to help give the high

schoolers a better understanding of what they do for a living. The day also featured special break-out sessions with different professionals. Students signed up in advance through Google Forms to attend the sessions based on their interests.

The high schoolers were able to explore a wide range of career fields from communications, business, healthcare and more. The Bethpage Union Free School District thanks all the community members and Bethpage alumni who participated in the Career Fair. It was a great way for the students pinpoint their interests and to consider career opportunities that they might not have before.

Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District

Bethpage High School sophomores, juniors and seniors spoke with different professionals during the school’s Career Fair.

Environmental scientist and Bethpage High School alumnae Francesca Conte (right) was greeted by her sister, high school senior Graziella Conte (left), during the Bethpage High School Career Fair.

Bethpage High School business students helped set up the Career Fair on May 19.

JJ Parkway Elementary School celebrates Cereal Box Domino Day

The students and staff at Judy Jacobs Parkway Elementary School teamed up to fight hunger for their second-annual cereal box “Domino Day” celebration on May 25. Together they gathered hundreds of boxes of cereal and organized them into an enormous chain of dominos that snaked throughout the building.

Once the chain of dominos was toppled, the boxes were then donated to the Rudman Food Pantry at the Mid-Island Y JCC. The event highlights the domino effect of giving back to the community. It was organized through the Judy Jacobs Parkway PTA.

“This is a heartwarming initiative to teach students about the importance of kindness, community service and giving back,” said JJP Principal Joanna Clampitt. “This project has been a tremendous success, and we could not be prouder of our students and staff for their involvement.”

The event is intended to highlight the “domino effect” of kindness and community service.

The boxes will go to a local food pantry.

Students set up donated boxes of cereal for Judy Jacobs Parkway Elementary School for their second-annual Domino Day.

Hundreds of cereal boxes were collected for this special event.

June 16, 2023

The World is Your Oyster: Summer Vacations with Pizzazz

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

Bucket List Summer Adventures

For those who want to ditch the tame in favor of a series of thrilling experiences you can complete on your summer break, here are trips with pizzazz for you.

Central Utah Backcountry Cycling: Central Utah has one of the largest stretches of true backcountry left in the nation. Escape Adventures’ six-day cycling tour goes eastward through contrasting desert scenery and high alpine forests along Utah Highway 12 (one of America’s most scenic highways) to Capitol Reef National Park. (https://escapeadventures.com/ tour/utah-escalante-and-capitol-reefnational-park-road-bike-tour/)

Yellowstone Ranch Getaway: Get away and give back during a stay at the historic O.T.O. Dude Ranch on the edge of Yellowstone National Park. Montana’s first dude ranch offers classic adventures like hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing, archery, sport shooting and more, as well as locally inspired cuisine and cozy cabins. Proceeds from every stay go to preservation efforts at the National Register of Historic Places-listed ranch. (https://trueranchcollection. com/yellowstone-pop-up/)

Galapagos, Andes + Amazon: Discover the enchanting Galapagos Islands at Scalesia Galapagos Lodge, explore the Amazon Rainforest at Sacha Lodge and experience the Ecuadorian Andes at Hacienda Piman, all in a 15-day tour. Learn about endemic flora and fauna, hike near active volcanoes, paddle tannin-rich blackwater creeks

and explore the highlands of the Andes. (https://www.sachalodge. com/programs/#galapagos-programs)

Wine + Bike Piedmont: The Langa and Monferrato regions of Piedmont are in one of the most important wine production areas in Italy and received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. Tourissimo’s Piedmont Barolo cycling tour takes you into the heart of these regions, over rolling hills covered with vineyards and past ancient castles and hidden hilltop hamlets. (https://www. tourissimo.travel/piedmont-wineregion-cycling-tour)

North Cascades Traverse: A new five-day trip from Wildland Trekking combines iconic North Cascades National Park backpacking and a stay at a remote lodge with no road access on Washington’s Lake Chelan. Backpack over alpine passes and through pristine wilderness to the lodge, then hike to views of the Stehekin Valley before returning to civilization by boat. (https:// wildlandtrekking.com/trips/stehekin-

lodge-backpacking-trip/)

Patagonia Fjords Cruise: Book a nine-day voyage through Chilean Patagonia with Adventure Life and set sail among stunning fjords, islands, glaciers, peaks and wildlife. Visit Puerto Cisnes, San Rafael Bay and Glacier, the Gulf of Penas, the isolated village of Puerto Eden, the Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego and the Beagle Channel, ending in Ushuaia, Argentina. (https://www.adventurelife.com/patagonia/cruises/17283/ patagonia-chilean-fjords)

National Parks RV

Trip:  Blacksford rents fully stocked Mercedes-Benz Sprinter overland adventure vehicles from Winnebago with an all-inclusive pricing model that includes unlimited miles, bedding, kitchen and bath supplies, a free annual pass to the national parks, 24-hour roadside assistance and no generator fees. (https://www. blacksford.com/)

Yellowstone Family Rafting and Riding:  This three-day whitewater rafting and horseback-

riding package from Flying Pig Adventures offers families the opportunity to experience the Yellowstone National Park area like never before. The thrill of witnessing one of nature’s most iconic environments, tackling rough terrain on horseback and running class III rapids cannot be found anywhere else. (https://www.flyingpigrafting. com/3-day-yellowstone-adventure)

Looking for more adventure? Check out the itineraries in the U.S. from REI Adventure Travel (rei. com, 800-622-2236) and G Adventures (gadventures.com, 888-800-4100).

Biking Holidays

Biking trips are my favorite for the combination of experiences they offer: seeing destinations close-hand, most often off-the-beaten track out of busy urban areas; at a pace where you see a lot and do a lot but slow enough to really see and do; where there is a physical and emotional satisfaction having pedaled the distance.

Continued on next page

Bike the scenic Bruges-Amsterdam route and stay on a boat, with Boat Bike Tours © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The World is Your Oyster: Summer Vacations with Pizzazz

Continued from previous page

Operators today offer guided tours (ideal for solo travelers) as well as self-guided (where they give you the route, the inns or hotels, and ferry your luggage point to point but you are on your own) all over the world. And don’t be deterred by concern for the distance or the hills – many operators offer e-bikes as an option.

Boat Bike Tours, based in Amsterdam, (we took their Bruges-Amsterdam tour last summer) offers a selection of itineraries in Holland, but also the region, and in addition to boat-bike trips, have sail-bike trips, and cities and nature tours (US tel.203-814-1249 info@boatbiketours.com, www.boatbiketours.com).

Discovery Bicycle Tours (we took their Maine Coastal trip, and this year their Quebec Eastern Townships) has a long list of cycling vacations in the United States (Idaho Trails tour is one of its most popular), Canada, Europe, Vietnam, Cambodia, New Zealand & Chile (tours@discoverybicycletours.com, 800257-2226, discoverybicycletours.com).

Wilderness Voyageurs (traveled with them on their Mickelson Trail & The Badlands Bike Tour in South Dakota; they’ve introduced tours on New York’s own Empire State Trail bike tour as well as Olympic Peninsula bike tour in Washington State), plus New Mexico, , bike@wilderness-voyageurs.com, 724.329.1000, 800.272.4141, wilderness-voyageurs.com)

BikeTours.com specializes in European itineraries, including guided, self-guided, and boat-and-bike tours, with excellent value. BikeTours.com is showcasing six 6 and 7-night self-guided bike tours showcasing Europe’s most beautiful vineyards and wine-growing regions. They have also introduced a new series of day trips. (biketours.com, 833-216-0635)

DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. is appealing to scholars, curious explorers and lifelong learners on these three bike trips, with every mile imbued with history. Not only do the landscapes of  Scotland,  Normandy, and the  Cotswolds feel frozen-in-time, but each place played a part in shaping the world as we know it—through theaters of war, royal revolutions, ruins of the Roman Empire, and powerful clans and castles. Duvine has an expansive catalog of up-scale bike tours (888 396 5383, duvine.com)

Butterfield & Robinson has always been known for high-end, elegant biking trips. Itineraries include Burgundy Wine Country Biking; Piemonte Wine Country Biking; Chile Wine Country Biking; Vienna to Budapest Wine Country biking; Spanish Wine Country; Tuscany wine Country (seeing a pattern?) (866.551.9090, www.butterfield.com)

Backroads was founded in 1979 by Tom Hale and has been a leading innovator in active and adventure travel

BY CHARLYN FARGO

every since. Active adventures highlight the special character of each destination. The company offers Biking, Walking & Hiking and Multi-Adventure Tours; Active Ocean & River Cruises, Active Safari, Active Culinary and Snow Adventures; and Dolce Tempo trips for travel at a more relaxed pace. Also Private Trips and Family Trips designed for three distinct age groups: Families with Teens & Kids (best for ages 9+), Families with Older Teens & 20s and Families with Young Adults (backroads.com, 800-462-2848)

Trek Travel is more for hard-core, offering mountain, off-road, gravel trips (Girona, Swiss Alps, Tuscany, Vermont), Ride Camps, and even experience the Women’s Tour de France with VIP race viewings and access to one of the best women’s professional teams, Trek-Segafredo, and get to ride on the route New 3 & 4-day bike tours in places such as San Diego, Santa Barbara and Vermont. Also, self-guided and trips with e-bike (Croatia, Mallorca Island,Glacier) (trektravel. com, 866-464-8735)

On the WaterCruising is fun but we prefer cruising with a twist: small ship, river cruises, barges, canal boats, houseboat experiences.

European Waterways, a luxury hotel barge cruising company, offers an immersive and all-inclusive “gentle voyage of discovery” focusing upon the culture, history, fine wine, and gourmet cuisine of the cruise regions in nine countries. With a 6-to-20-person capacity and 1:2 crew ratio, European Waterways cruises inland waterways that are inaccessible to larger vessels. This fascinating network of smaller canals allows for flexibility, spontaneity, and ample opportunity to hop off and explore the beautiful surroundings via bicycle or on foot, plus daily, chauffeured excursions “off the beaten track” to a wide variety of attractions and activities, from wine tastings to private tours of stately homes. 877-879-8808 in the U.S., 1-877-574-3404 in Canada, or visit www.europeanwaterways.com

UnCruise Adventures operates boutique yachts and small boats carrying 22-86 guests on voyages in Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Coastal Washington, Galápagos, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, and Colombia. (uncruise.com, 888-642-6745).

You also can’t beat Lindblad Expeditions for expeditionary-style cruising and soft-adventure trips, famous for pioneering Galapagos and Antarctica, Georgia and the Falklands, on its specially designed ships, National Geographic Orion, and National Geographic islander II. (expeditions.com, 888-667-2830).

For the most perfect family cruise/travel/adventure experience we have had, set your compass to the Galapagos. Go Galapagos is a cruise and tour operator offering excellent price/quality value for 3, 4, 7 and -night

Nitrate Confusion

If you’re confused about consuming nitrates, you’re not alone.

Many studies suggest that nitrates benefit cardiovascular health; other studies suggest they may increase cancer risk.

Nitrates are naturally present in many leafy greens, such as arugula and other vegetables; meats, especially processed meats; and drinking water, and they have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risks. However, previous research linked nitrates to increased risk of some cancers.

Researchers conducted an analysis of studies inves-

tigating the benefits and risks of dietary nitrates. That study was published recently in Trends in Food Science and Technology.

First a little history. In 1976, two studies showed that nitrates can form N-nitrosamines, which are highly carcinogenic in lab animals and linked to cancer in humans. Based on those studies and others, guidelines were given to limit nitrate intake from foods such as processed meats.

However, other research suggests that vegetables high in nitrates may protect against cardiovascular disease. A 2016 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association looked at dietary nitrate and cardiovascular disease

Continued on page 5

inclusive cruises (two guaranteed weekly departures), You can also combine the cruise with land packages in the Galapagos, in Ecuador, and in Peru. In addition to the 100-passsenger Galapagos Legend, Go Galapagos also has two yacht-style ships, Coral I and Coral II. (www.GoGalapagos.com, 888 50 KLEIN).

Want to skipper your own yacht, or charter a boat with a captain and crew? Dream Yacht Worldwide, a pioneer in making sailing and sea travel accessible employs more than 600 people in 31 countries and operates in 50 destinations worldwide, with a fleet of more than 900 monohulls and catamarans. Dream Yacht Charter offers one of the most diverse fleets of sailing, yacht and boats, If offers skippered and crewed charters (dreamyachtcharter.com)

Another really special cruise experience is sailing on one of the historic vessels of the Maine Windjammer fleet that sail the Penobscot Bay. Each is distinctive (and on a few occasions during the season (Windjammer Gam - June 12, Great Schooner Race- July 7, Camden Windjammer Festival - Sept 1-2, and WoodenBoat SailIn - Sept 12, they gather together in scenes that evoke the Great Age of Sail. Each vessel and each cruise is different (many are themed). (info@sailmainecoast. com, www.sailmainecoast.com, 800-807-9463.)

Enjoy cruising at your own pace, exploring the iconic (and calm) Erie Canal, captaining your way through locks, docks, and under lift bridges. Erie Canal Adventures, out of Macedon, NY, provides completely equipped Lockmasters set up like a floating houseboat with bedroom, bath/shower, fully equipped galley kitchen, remarkably easy to operate. (www. ErieCanalAdventures.com, 315-986-3011)

Skyscanner Savings Generator

Global travel site Skyscanner has launched the new and expanded summer edition of its  Savings Generator tool (https://www.skyscanner.com/tipsand-inspiration/best-time-to-book-savings-generator) to help travelers save big this summer.

Here are tips:

Put your desired route into the Savings Generator to see if it’s available

Travel the last week of the school summer holidays (instead of the first) and save 31%

To save big this summer, travel on a Sunday (most of the time)!

To let Skyscanner’s algorithm find the cheapest deal, just type in ‘Everywhere’ with your travel dates.

© 2023 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com

Crossword Answers

Celebrating Father’s Day with some awesome dads

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

Father’s Day is on June 18 and it is a great day to thank all those dads out there for their love, support and guidance. One father I think of is country music singer and songwriter John Rich who is one half of the top country duo Big & Rich.

Rich knows all about being a dad. He dated his future wife, Joan, for five years before they got married in December 2008. The former Joan Bush was a model who ran a Houston modeling agency. Together they have three sons, Cash was born in 2010, Colt was born in 2011 and Luca, born in 2014. John Rich has said that he named his first son after singer Johnny Cash, someone he admired and whose music influenced him as a musician.

A Texas native, John Daniel Rich was born in Amarillo on January 7, 1974. His father, Jim, was a Baptist preacher, “the fire and brimstone kinda guy,” according to John Rich, and his mother, Judy, was a homemaker. He has two sisters, Joy and Jamie Rich. The family moved to Tennessee, where his mother grew up, and Rich graduated from Dickson County Senior High School in Dickson, Tenn., in 1992. As a boy Rich played gospel music in church and his father encouraged his musical ability.

Rich moved to Nashville where he worked as a singer at Opryland USA. He wanted to be a professional team roper in rodeos but that was not to be. While in Nashville in 1992 Rich joined a country music group called “Texasee” that was later renamed Lonestar, a group that became the multi-platinum selling country act. Rich was the bass guitarist and the co-lead singer.

One of the band’s singles, “Heartbroke Every Day,” featured John Rich’s lead vocals. Rich also co-wrote two of the

band’s singles: “Come Cryin’ to Me” and “Say When,” the former being a #1 single for the group. In January 1998, Rich left Lonestar and became a solo artist with BNA Records.

In 2002 Rich partnered with “Big Kenny” Alphin to form Big & Rich, a ground-breaking country duo. They released three studio albums over six years getting 10 Top 40 singles. “Lost in This Moment” in 2007 became a #1 hit. Rich is also a three-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, writing over 14 Top Ten hits for artists.

John Rich’s first example of what a father is came about one Christmas when his father wrapped up the wellworn acoustic guitar he had used, put it in a big box with a bow on top and gave it to John as a gift. Rich was six years old but when he was five, Jim Rich was preaching and playing gospel music on his acoustic guitar and the dad handed his son a plastic toy guitar so he could be a part of the group.

Within months Jim Rich realized that young John was playing really well. In fact, Jim Rich reported John was playing everything he played. He had a real knack for music and Jim realized that John would end up being a much better guitar playing than he was. It was John’s innate talent that stood out to Jim Rich.

That Christmas gift made a lasting impression on John. He had seen his dad playing that guitar all his life so when Jim gave it to John, it meant a lot. John said it changed the direction of his life - just a few years later he started his major-label career with that guitar. John Rich has often said publicly why his father’s actions impacted him so much and these days how he can influence his own three children.

A celebrity for several years now, Rich has said he has always played

country music because he loves it. The way he explains it is, “If you took everything that I’ve accumulated away from me, you’d still find me in a country bar somewhere, singing for tips with a guitar until two o’clock in the morning.”

About the creative process of songwriting, Rich has said, “There’s a lot of different ways to approach songwriting depending on the job at hand. When I’m writing with and for another artist, I go into their mind and their world voyeuristically into what they’re trying to do, and I try to add to it. If I’m writing for myself, then it’s coming straight out of your chest. I think that any professional writer will tell you that they pull from different palettes depending on what the job is at hand.”

On the subject of fatherhood Rich has said, “Being a dad is the most important thing I’ll ever be. I’ve done a lot of big things in my life, but they all pale in comparison to being a father. I take more pride in watching my sons hit a tee-ball than I do singing for a sold-out crowd.”

Other celebrities have talked about

what being a dad means - and about what their father meant to them:

Singer/songwriter George Strait, Sr. has said about his son, George Strait Jr. and daughter, Jenifer Strait: “Daddies don’t just love their children every now and then, it’s a love without end.”

Baseball player Harmon Killebrew said: “My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, ‘You’re tearing up the grass.’ ‘We’re not raising grass,’ Dad would reply. ‘We’re raising boys.’”

Actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said about his daughter, Ava: “I realized being a father is the greatest job I have ever had and the greatest job I will ever have.”

Novelist Umberto Eco said about his son, Stefano, and daughter, Carlotta: “I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.”

I wish all the dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day!

My ‘Ivory Tower’ Is in the Basement of a Suburban Split-Level

BY TOM MARGENAU

I got an interesting email (actually, it was more like a rant) from a guy who was upset about an encounter he had with the Social Security Administration. It went on for a couple pages. I’m used to rants. After all, you just can’t please everyone all the time. But here is the part of his missive that intrigued me. He said, “How does it feel sitting there in your ivory tower with all the trappings of power serving as a mouthpiece for the Biden administration? Why should I believe anything you say? After all, you’re paid to mislead people about the workings of the corrupt Social Security system!”

I normally wouldn’t bore readers of this column with the wild accusations of a crazy person. But I bring it up only because more than a few readers think I work for the Social Security Administration and that I am some kind of spokesperson for the agency. I am not. And I certainly am not a “mouthpiece for the Biden administration.”

The person who sent me this email, along with more than a few other readers, believe that I have an office in an ivory tower somewhere in Washington, D.C.; that I get my daily marching orders either directly from the president or certainly from the head of the Social Security Administration; and that I’m paid handsomely to mislead people into falling for the failed policies of a doomed social program.

Let me paint a more realistic picture for you. I’m a frumpy, old, retired government employee, eking out an existence on a modest civil service pension, living with my wife of almost 50 years in a split-level home in Colorado. My “ivory tower” office is a desk in our basement. The “trappings of power” that surround me include grandkids’ toys and a 35-year-old couch permanently sticky and stained by the spills of both my kids and now my grandkids.

It is true that I once was a spokesperson for the Social Security Administration. I worked for the SSA for 32 years, and for part of that time, I served as the agency’s deputy press officer. But I retired about 18 years ago.

I started writing this column 26 years ago while I still worked for the SSA in San Diego. I no longer was in the agency’s press office when I wrote the column and I never had to get official clearance for any column I wrote while I still worked for the government. Despite that fact, I guess you could say that while I was still working for the SSA, this column was a quasi-official mouthpiece for the organization. At least I certainly dared not write anything that was against agency policy or that would upset my bosses!

But that all changed the day I retired in 2005. From that point on, I was no longer a spokesperson (some might ar-

gue an “apologist’) for the Social Security system or the agency that runs the program. Instead, I was just a retired old goat who knew a lot about the inner workings of Social Security and who was eager to share his knowledge with the readers of this column.

And I can tell you that I breathed a huge sigh of relief on the day I retired. Not only because I wouldn’t have to fight Southern California’s nightmarish traffic to get to work each day (that’s part of the reason I eventually moved to Colorado), but because I was now free to “tell it like it is” -- to explain Social Security rules without having to worry about any “spin” that the SSA’s political leaders might want to put on the program. And because I would be able to freely criticize the agency or its employees when I thought they were doing something wrong.

I’ve done both many times over the past 18 years. Yet some people still want to believe that I am some kind of paid “flack” for the government. As an example, let me explain what led to the diatribe that began this column.

The irate guy wrote to ask me some questions about filing for Supplemental Security Income disability benefits. (To remind some of my readers, SSI is a federal welfare program that SSA runs for the government. It is NOT a Social Security benefit. It’s an entirely separate program.) Anyway, he apparently had gone to his local Social Security office to file for SSI benefits. He was angry because the person he talked to simply told him he wasn’t eligible and sent him on his way.

I wrote back to tell him that my hunch was the SSA representative was right. SSI has very specific and rigid rules about income and asset eligibility requirements. (Those rules vary from state to state, so I can’t just list them here.) If you have even one dollar more than the rules allow, you’re simply not eligible for benefits. That reaffirmation of the SSA rep’s denial of his claim is what set him off. Part of his missive to me made statements like, “I know you guys are paid to turn down as many people as you can for benefits.”

There are two main points this guy failed to understand. One I didn’t make clear in my first answer to the guy. The other I did.

Point one is that the SSA’s employees are NOT paid to deny Social Security or SSI benefits to anyone. They are paid to carry out the rules and laws of both programs. In fact, they have an incentive to take as many claims for benefits as possible. Staffing levels in local Social Security offices are determined, in part, by how many Social Security and SSI claims they process each day. So, generally speaking, the only time they are not going to take a claim for benefits is when the person clearly isn’t eligible for such benefits. In other words, why

waste their time and the customer’s time when the outcome (a denied claim) is not in doubt?

Having said that, the second point I made to this guy (the one he missed probably because he was blinded by the rage he then directed at me in his follow-up “ivory tower” email) is a point I make all the time in this column: You have every right to file for any kind of benefit for which you think you are eligible. So, if a Social Security rep says that you aren’t eligible for Social Security or SSI, you can -- and should if you really believe you are due benefits -- insist on filing. That way you will get a formal (and legal) decision, as opposed

to simply someone’s opinion.

And now if you’ll excuse me, my wife is asking me to come down out of my ivory tower to take out the garbage!

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. .

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers on page 2

The handling of the pandemic monies and its aftermath

Looking back to 2020, earning income to pay your mortgages and other expenses from your rental properties during the pandemic was a challenge for pretty much everyone. There was a ban on tenant evictions and late fees and tenants weren’t required to pay any rent. There was also mortgage assistance for landlords who had lost their tenant income so as to be able to pay their mortgages via the federal Corona Virus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and its successor, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA). In addition, there were EIDL (economic injury disaster loans) for self-employed individuals, as well as PPP Loans (Paycheck Protection Plan) assistance monies for employees, were also available. Many of these loans became grants and didn’t have to be paid back. Unfortunately, there were those that were not able to take advantage of the programs, either because they either didn’t apply, didn’t fill out the applications properly, or the available money was exhausted. As reported by Bloomberg Financial, CNBC, and NBC News, there were 80 billion dollars stolen out of the 800 billion from the PPP program, and in addition, 90-400 billion were stolen from the unemployment relief program, (there is no accountability to know the exact amounts taken) at least half from international scammers. Lastly, another 80 billion are believed to have been pilfered from the EIDL program. There was nobody watching the money as if the “fox was guarding the hen house” and no checks and balances were initiated as our tax money went out the window!

Those landlords and tenants that received assistance monies enabled them to stay afloat. The law also

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

put a stay on foreclosures on all federally backed mortgage loans e.g. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on multi-family properties starting from March 18, 2020, for a period of 60 days, and provided 180 days of forbearance for borrowers who were directly affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The federal mortgage and relief programs were initially supposed to end on December 31, 2020; but President Biden extended the foreclosure moratorium for federally guaranteed mortgages through June 30, 2021. Borrowers who entered forbearance on or before June 30, 2020, would receive up to 6 months of additional mortgage payment forbearance in 3-month increments. Probably due to the high costs of mortgages and related expenses, States like New York and California and some local governments had also issued orders related to mortgage forbearance and foreclosure prohibitions in relation to the Corona Virus; but the details and degree of relief available varied greatly depending on the state and municipality.

We hadn’t experienced an event such as this since the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918, so we really weren’t as prepared as we could have been. Our previous President was advised as early as December 2019, by Peter Navaro, his economic international advisor, that there was a virus in Wuhan, China causing severe sickness and deaths. This information was circulated via the National Security Council widely around the White House and federal

agencies. By late January, alarm bells were ringing, but the situation was downplayed. By March, as the Pandemic came and grew like a Tsunami, people were getting sick and dying. Our economy began faulting and was becoming severely affected by supply chain shortages, due to the shutdown of China and most other economies as well as other major disruptions, and we were told not to go to work. However, the programs that were fast-tracked were successful in that they were able to keep our economy and a majority of our citizens above water. The real dilemma was that an excessive amount of money was put out into the market. But if more checks and balances were initially thought-out and planned there could have been less money stolen and more available for those who desperately needed it. Inflation became the overriding issue and was the result of the excessive outlay of money that was mostly digitally sent out to banks to keep them solvent as well as a portion that was actually printed.

The lowest interest rates on record became a windfall for those able to borrow at such reduced costs that inflation began to occur with all the spending that was occurring with the limited supplies. It was a basic supply-demand economics situation; low supply and high demand equaled higher prices and the inflation that goes along with it. My professional opinion is that rates should have been increased slowly as far back as 2021, when the Fed Chair, Jerome Powell first noticed inflation began rearing its’ ugly head, saying it was transitional and would eventually

Nitrate Confusion

Continued from page 2

and concluded that the cardiovascular protective effect of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may be attributed in part to its high nitrate content, mostly from leafy green vegetables and root vegetables. Researchers wrote, “The high fruits and vegetable diet may offer the cardiovascular benefits of enhanced nitric oxide production while conferring protection from formation of N-nitrosamines.” They added that the high levels of nitrate in drinking water or dietary supplements are of more concern because of possible isolated ingestion without the protective dietary components found in a complex vegetable matrix.

More recently, a team of researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia reviewed studies investigating the health benefits and disadvantages of dietary nitrates. They concluded that evidence is insufficient to say that nitrates in food and water are carcinogenic and more studies are needed. Nitric oxide plays a key role in the body, including blood pressure regulation and heart health.

Here’s the bottom line: As part of a balanced diet, naturally occurring nitrates in fruits and vegetables have healthful cardiovascular effects because they open up blood vessels and act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. That may inhibit the formation of harmful N-nitrosamines which are associated

subside; and we know the end of that story. Although there was a shortterm lull in real estate from March 2020 through the end of May 2020, it came back like a roaring lion afterward, due to the historic low interest rates and the demand backup, benefiting all those who were qualified to purchase. In turn, this fueled the immense increase in prices of 42% since the beginning of the Pandemic through today and caused the lowest inventory levels on record that are still occurring.

Hopefully when (not if) the next Pandemic occurs we will have learned quite a lot and be more prepared and pragmatic with more solid and formulated “makes sense” plans to be able to solve the issues and problems that will confront our economy and assist in helping our citizens. But you know what they say, “History usually repeats itself” and I surely hope not, next time around.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 years of 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) as well as the new “Green Industry” Certification for eco-friendly construction and upgrades. For a “FREE” 15-minute consultation, value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com or via https:// WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com Just email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your ideas or suggestions on future columns with your name, email, and cell number and he will call or email you back

with cancer.

Eat your fruits and veggies and drink plenty of water, and don’t worry about the nitrates they contain. The total package of fruits and vegetables offers protection for your heart. And that outweighs any negative concerns about N-nitrosamines. The association between nitrate consumption and human cancer isn’t definitive. When it comes to processed meats, choose lower sodium varieties and eat them less often. Nitrates used to preserve processed meats, once exposed to high heat, turn into nitrosamines, which can be harmful to the body.

Q and A

Q: What is jicama and how can I prepare it?

A: Jicama is a white, fibrous root vegetable, native to Mexico, scientifically known as Pachyrhizus erosus. It has a mild sweet taste and crunchy texture, similar to an apple. It can be sliced and eaten raw (like apples or carrots) or added to cabbage in coleslaw and salads. It can also be added to soups and stir-fry meals. A cup of raw jicama has only 49 calories, 12 grams of carbohydrates and 6.4 grams of fiber, and it is a good source of vitamin C.

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

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of June 18-24, 2023

Long ago, when I was in grade school, I counted the days until the start of summer. There was always something exciting to me about that time of year. Perhaps it was that I would have no homework to do for nearly three months or that daylight would be longer so I could play outdoors later in the evenings.

Whatever the reason, summer has always been special to me. Back then I lived on the U.S. East Coast, where a hot summer day might occasionally reach 90 degrees F with a dripping wet 80% relative humidity. Today I live in the deserts of Southern California, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 110 degrees F. And, yes, the dry heat here is much more pleasant!

With the first day of summer coming this week, I’m absolutely giddy with delight! The moment it begins -- known to astronomers as the summer solstice -- occurs this year at 10:58 a.m. EDT (7:58 a.m. PDT) on June 21.

The summer solstice marks the time when the sun reaches its northernmost position over our planet and takes its longest path across the daytime sky. Depending on your latitude, the sun can remain in your daytime sky for 15 hours or more -- plenty of time to heat our air to summertime temperatures.You might ask, if the sun spends the most time in

The Summer Solstice

our sky around the solstice, why isn’t that day the hottest of the year? And that’s a legitimate question. The answer is more intuitive than you might imagine. It’s simply because our atmosphere doesn’t respond to temperature variations instantly.

Imagine placing a pot of cool water on a hot burner; you know that it won’t heat up instantly and you make allowances for that when cooking. The same is true of our atmosphere, so the hottest days in the Northern Hemisphere typically occur not around the solstice, but in late July or August.

We owe all this seasonal stuff to the fact that our planet’s equator is tipped by about 23.4 degrees to the plane of its orbit around the sun. This means that, during this time of year, the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, causing the sun’s rays to shine down on us more directly. Six months -- and half an orbit -- later, our planet’s tilt aims the Northern Hemisphere away from the sun and the solar rays impact us at a shallower angle.

The summer solstice marks the end of the sun’s northerly climb in the midday sky, and the beginning of our star’s midday descent once again. The term “solstice” comes from two Latin words: “sol” (meaning “sun”) and “sistere” (meaning “to stand still”). And, if you were to watch the midday sun for an entire year, you’d see it stop its annual climb.

This time has been celebrated by cul-

LOST IN

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

“Would do you think this is?” my husband asked me, pointing to his elbow.

“That’s your elbow,” I stated matter-of-factly.

“No, these red spots,” he responded.

“Those are red spots,” I replied.

He sighed. “I know they’re red spots. What do you think they’re from?”

I took a closer look at the constellation of red bumps on his forearm just below his elbow.

“I’m certainly no expert,” I drawled, “but based on my firsthand experience of having lived in the suburbs for 25 years, and, having experienced the same exact phenomenon that you are now suffering from, I can say with 99% confidence that those... are mosquito bites.”

I went back to prepping dinner, another thing at which I was certainly no expert at after 25 years but was willing to keep trying so as not to let my

tures throughout the ages. Even today, farmers appreciate it as a time when they’re busy harvesting those tasty summer fruits and veggies we all love.

So, even though I no longer have my summers off, nor do I get to play outside

later in the evenings, I still get excited about the arrival of summer!

Follow Dennis Mammana at facebook/ dennismammana.

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Though the sun spends the longest time in the sky on the day of the summer solstice, that is not the hottest day of the year.

SUBURBIA Seeing Spots

family down with anything less than the perfectly marinated steak that my husband would overcook on the grill.

My husband scratched at his red spots and insisted that I take another look.

“I think it’s something other than mosquito bites,” he declared. “I only had a few yesterday and now I have more today. They’re multiplying!”

“Well, you grilled last night, and you grilled the night before that. The mosquitoes had two opportunities to bite you.” I waved him away, but I knew what was coming next.

“I disagree,” he said. “I think I might have come into contact with a poisonous plant, or gotten bit by something worse, or maybe I’m having an allergic reaction to something and it’s starting as hives but is going to become systemic and make me really sick.”

He paused. I knew he wasn’t done.

“I’m going to go look it up on the Web doctor.”

Boom.

Now, I’d been down this Web doctor road before. Every time my husband got a Man Cold, he would insist that he’d actually come down with some exotic plague or disease based on the diagnosis by the Web doctor. In every instance, it would turn out that my husband did not, in fact, have Arctic Seal Poisoning or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever but did just have a cold, although a Man Cold was certainly severe enough to kill him, or at least me for having to put up with him.

This being the case, I was pretty sure when he compared his red spots with those on the Web doctor, he would discover that he had not been bitten by some aggressive suburban mosquitoes but rather had somehow come into contact with the poison of an Amazonian dart frog or was showing the first signs of leprosy.

Of course, we had neither been to the Amazon nor had we fraternized with

anyone with leprosy, so it was highly unlikely that he was suffering from either of those and more likely that he’d just been dinner for a couple of hungry mosquitoes.

Still, I thought as his wife I should validate his concerns and not be too quick to dismiss a medical system based on an algorithm designed by computer nerds rather than real doctors.

“Hey, honey, before you check the Web doctor, would you light the grill? The steaks are almost ready to go on.”

“Sure,” he replied.

“And also put some of this on before you go outside,” I said handing him the bug spray. “It protects against mosquitoes and poison dart frogs.”

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

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EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED

ACCOUNTING CLERK needed for Garden City Law Firm. Responsibilities include Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Vendor Set-up and Maintenance, Payments & 1099’s, Data Entry, Preparation of Electronic Legal Billing, Deposits, and Bank Statement Reconciliations. Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook required. Accounting experience with strong organizational and problem-solving skills a must. F/T or P/T. Salary is commensurate with experience. Interested Applicant to send resume to the email gayle_ thomas@mhms-law.com.

UP TO $20.70 NYC, $20.00 LI, $16.20 UPSTATE NY!

If you need care from your relative, friend/neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. 347-713-3553

EMPLOYMENT

SITUATION WANTED

AIDE/CARE GIVER: Available for work in East Hampton and surrounding area.

Caring, Efficient, Reliable. Available FT Live In nights & weekends to care for your sick or elderly loved one. Cooking, personal grooming, administer medications. 15 years experience.

References available. Fully Vaccinated. Please Call 631-830-9016

EUROPEAN HOME HEALTH

AIDE

with 20 years experience and nursing background available for full time senior care. Will aid with cooking, light cleaning, medications, take to doctors appointments, grocery shopping, other errands, etc. For more information please contact:

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EMPLOYMENT CAREER

TRAINING

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details!

(844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) Computer with internet is required.

TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING

Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-5436440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) Computer with internet is required.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DIRECTV

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NOVENAS/PRAYERS

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.)

MARKETPLACE

A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP

516-746-8900

Antiques-FurnitureJewelry-Silver-MirorsLamps-Artwork

Come to Consign & Stay to Shop

Visit.... Our Shop

109 Eleventh St. Garden City

Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6)

Saturday 12-4

Shop Our Online Store

ATStewartExchange.org

Items to Consign?

Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange. org

All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society

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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, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week!

Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www.invitedsales. com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

MARKETPLACE

PRIVATE ESTATE SALE BY APPOINTMENT

Solid Wood Dining set

Natuzzi Leather Couch, Sofa, Chairs, Large Walnut Coffee Table, Ethan Allen Queen Walnut Bed & Twin Captains Bed, Mahogany Desk, Hitchcock Chairs, Paintings, Signed Prints (Art) Futon Couch, Collectibles, Treadmill, Bike. Call/Text 516 413-6699

WANTED TO BUY

LOOKING TO BUY!

Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture.

Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104

TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTS ALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com

GARAGE SALE

MOVING SALE GARDEN CITY

Friday 6/23 & Saturday 6/24 9am to 3pm Rain or Shine 123 Lee Rd Garden City, NY

All kinds of household items. Furniture, tools, holiday decorations, glassware, sporting goods. So many items!

PETS

PETS FOR SALE FREE

GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPIES TO FOREVER HOMES!

1 Male, 1 Female.

Excellent temperament!

House trained and very good trainable natures. Perfect for families with children and other pets!

I will not re-home to just anyone. Please email me first at: staceymcclelland8@gmail. com and text 312-270-0850.

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTO FOR SALE

2004 LEXUS ES330

For Sale Original Owner

Low Mileage: 71,150

Runs really well; nice interior; Heated leather seats

Some minor body damage. Clean Title $6300

Call: 516-770-8229

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS

$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277

DRIVE OUT BREAST CANCER:

Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup 24hr response Tax deduction Easy to do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

OFFICE SPACE

GARDEN CITY PROFESSIONAL OFFICE

SPACE FOR SUBLET IN LAW FIRM SUITE

1305 Franklin Ave, Third Floor Suite 3 to 4 windowed offices and 2 to 3 Admin Asst. workstations available.

Shared reception area and kitchenette, use of conference rooms and copier included. Walk to LIRR Mineola station, courts, government buildings and GC downtown. Ideal for attorneys, accountants, insurance agents.

Available July 1st

Contact Michael Sparacino: michael.sparacino@brosnanlaw.com

WILLISTON PARK PROFESSIONAL OFFICE

Space for rent. Partially furnished-2 Exec. offices. Reception area, Main floor, Private parking. $2900-p/m. Call Tony 516-248-4080

VACATION RENTAL

HAMPTON BAYS RENTAL

4 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 Bathrooms

Private Bay Beach

South of the highway, close to beach, shopping and restaurants.

Available July and August

No group rentals

Please contact: 516-426-2247 for details

MATTITUCK

2 Bayfront Homes For Rent

One 3 BR, 2 BTH, One 2 BR Cottage. Available the weeks of June 24th-July 1st and August 26-September 2nd. House $2050-per week. Cottage $1850per week. IDEAL FAMILY VACATION.

Call 631-298-8433

WINDHAM, NY

VACATION RENTAL

Windham Ridge Club

3/4 bedroom condo overlooking Windham mountain

Send e-mail for photos to: mum4le@optonline.net

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

HOMES FOR SALE FOR SALE BY OWNER GARDEN CITY

Great location

Sunny 3 bedroom, 2 bath

RANCH with great yard.

Vaulted Family Room & fireplace

Eat in Kitchen with high end appliances

Large Living Room, Dining Room with slider to paver patio. Spacious, white Finished Recreation Room with Office.

Driveway fits 4 cars.

Alarm, Sprinklers. $1,159,000

Low Taxes. No Brokers. Call 516 279-9019

SERVICES

ARE YOU BEHIND 10K OR MORE on your taxes? Stop wage and bank levies, liens and audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, and resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-536

(Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING

We can frame anything!

Quality Care & Workmanship

Thousands of frames to choose from!!

Over 30 years in business!

92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495

ATTORNEY

STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ.

Elder Law, Wills & Trusts

Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122

www.dangelolawassociates. com

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

High School Principal

The Monticello CSD is seeking forward thinking and dynamic School Building Principal who can lead MCSD’s highly engaged faculty, staff, parents, students, and community. The successful candidate will have a vision of educational excellence, be highly motivated, and demonstrates an ability to impact student learning.

Starting Salary: $150,000

NYS SDA/SAS/SBL Certification Required plus 2 yrs. of previous administrative leadership and 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred.

Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

Assistant

Secondary Principal

The successful candidate should possess:

Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp. as a classroom teacher preferred.

Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

Assistant Elementary Principal

The successful candidate should possess:

Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred.

Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

113456

as ONE DAY! Affordable prices No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636

CHIMNEY KING ENT. INC.

FREE ESTIMATES

Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist.

FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK

516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600

Since 1982

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HANDYMAN

Careful & Reliable

Serving GARDEN CITY and surrounding area since 2003 Repairs & Installations of all types

Carpentry, Moldings, Lighting and More

35-yr Nassau Resident References

Lic#170101

Phone/Text Friendly

Frank: 516-238-2112

Email: Frankcav@optonline. net

MADE IN THE SHADE

CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS

Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies

Top Brands at Discount Prices!

Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli. com

516-426-2890

MASONRY

All types of stonework

Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps.

Free Estimates

Fully Licensed & Insured

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PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!

Slate & Tile Specialists

All types of Roofing

Local References

Licensed & Insured

516-621-3869

ROOFS, GUTTERS, CARPENTRY, BATHROOMS, KITCHENS, NEW BASEMENT ENTRANCES, EXTENSIONS, MASONRY, FLOORS, WATERPROOFING, DRAINS, LEAKS, STOOPS, DECKS, DRIVEWAYS, DEMOLITION, RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ARIS CONSTRUCTION 10% Discount w/ad. Call 516-406-1842

www.ArisLI.com

SERVICES

HEALTH SERVICES

FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC

Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager

Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion

Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement

PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams

Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications

516-248-9323

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901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530

PAINTING & PAPERHANGING

MICHELANGELO

PAINTING & WALLPAPER

Interior, Exterior, Plaster / Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing.

Call: 516-328-7499

SERVICES PARTY HELP

LADIES & GENTLEMEN

RELAX & ENJOY

Your Next Party!

Catering and Experienced

Professional Services for Assisting with Preparation, Serving and Clean Up

Before, During and After Your Party Bartenders Available.

Call Kate at 516-248-1545

CLEANING

CLEANING AVAILABLE

EXPERIENCED POLISH

HOUSE CLEANER

Good references, ability. Very honest, reliable, responsible and hard working. Own transportation. English speaking. Flexible days and hours. Reasonable rates. I will do a good job.

Call or text 516-589-5640

SERVICES

SERVICES

DISH TV

$64.99 for 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply.

Promo expires 1/31/24

Call 1-866-595-6967

LEAK REPAIRS

Plumbing Repairs

Bathrooms, Showers, Kitchens 24 HOUR SERVICE

Call 516-668-5624

MAGNUM SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC.

Serving Garden City for 40 years.

Let Magnum Upgrade Your Existing Security System. Burglar & Fire Alarms

Cellular Radio 3G Upgrades Remote Access

Call: 516-486-5484

PASSION FOR SENIORS

Certified HHA’s, Companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care available. Also Nassau Locations. Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Call 718-850-3400

This Week at the Syosset Public Library

Friday, June 16, from 10:15 am – 4:15 p.m.

Driver’s Safety Course (IN PERSON)

For drivers of all ages. Completion entitles you to a NYS insurance discount and to a point reduction. In-person registration ONLY.

Fee: $30, check payable to “Empire Safety Council” Includes a 30-minute break for lunch.

Thursday, June 22at 12:00 p.m.

#AskALibrarian (ON TWITTER)

Join librarians from Syosset Library and around the world on Twitter for #AskALibrarian to receive reading suggestions based on your requests. Must have a

Twitter account to participate. Read a great book? Need a read-alike? Looking for your next book club choice? Use #AskALibrarian in your tweet.

Thursday, June 22, at 2:00 p.m.

Leonard Bernstein: “Communicate the Unknowable” (HYBRID)

Presenter: John Kenrick, entertainment historian

How did a middle-class kid from Lawrence, Massachusetts become America's great classical superstar, conducting the NY Philharmonic, inventing young people's concerts, and composing Broadway hits like “Candide” and “West Side Story”? The lecturer pulls back the curtain on the

dazzling career and tempestuous private life of a musician who made serious music accessible to all. No registration needed for in-person or Zoom. For Zoom link, go to syossetlibrary.org.

Thursday, June 22, at 7:00 p.m.

How to Make a Charcuterie Board with the Charcuterie Queen (IN-PERSON)

Presenter: Corrina Cafarelli

This class will teach you how to create the perfect themed cheese and charcuterie board from start to finish, all the tips and tricks for arranging, styling, and pairings. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.

Friday, June 23, at 2:00 p.m.

Neil Diamond – Music Icon (IN-PERSON)

Presenter: Richard Knox, retired teacher

Few American songwriters and vocalists have contributed more to the world of popular music over the last half-century than Neil Diamond. Ten of his songs have reached the #1 position on the Billboard charts with 28 others reaching top ten status. He has sold over 130 million records. During this program we will have an opportunity to watch videos of some of Neil’s most memorable numbers as we revisit his career from his early years growing up in Brooklyn through his many concert and television appearances. No registration needed.

Professional Services Guide

HHS students participate in LI Youth Summit

Hicksville High School Introduction to Social Science Research students

Ava Middleton and Aanya Rawal were recently named winners in the Long Island Youth Summit.

Additionally, Sadaf Farid Ahmad, Adiyat Hussain, Shreya Jacob and Kylie McLaughlin were named finalists for this year’s event. All the students are taught under the guidance of Dr. Stephanie Piscitelli.

The Long Island Youth Summit is a year-round educational program that is a partnership between the Northwell Health, St. Joseph’s College, Vision Long Island, National Grid and a number of other public and private organizations.

To become finalists, students must submit original projects to the Summit’s Selection Committee and be selected to participate based on the quality of their projects.

The purpose of the Summit is to engage young people as early as possible in thinking about and solving the problems related to local and regional social, economic, and environmental issues. The Summit aims at developing research, creative, and social skills of high school students by allowing them to work collaboratively with leaders in business, government, and non-profit sectors. The Summit also aims to bring together talented students of diverse backgrounds from different school districts across Long Island and to give these students an opportunity to work together in collaborative, solution-oriented teams.

Photos courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

We’re looking for writers in our community to compose ar ticles on local topics, opinions, reviews, worthy places to visit on Long Island, and even pieces of fiction. We aim to feature at least one new article and writer each week in our Discovery magazine section.

Email submissions: editor@gcnews.com

• Attach article and any photos (1MB), along with your name and contact info.

• Articles must be between 1,500 - 3,000 words. • Each writer will be reimbursed a stipend of $25.⁰⁰

Director of Vision Long Island Eric Alexander, Hicksville Social Studies Teacher Dr. Stephanie Piscitelli, Hicksville students Shreya Jacob, Kylie McLaughlin, Aanya Rawal, Adiyat Hussain and Sadaf Farid Ahmad, president of CVP Training LLC, and LIYS Steering Committee Co-Chair Dr. Nathalia Rogers, Hicksville Supervisor of Social Studies and Home and Careers Bryan Sarandrea. Not pictured: Ava Middleton.

Left to right: Director of Vision Long Island Eric Alexander, Hicksville student Aanya Rawal and President of CVP Training LLC and LIYS Steering Committee Co-Chair Dr. Nathalia Rogers. Not pictured: Ava Middleton.

Consistently Long Island’s safest, most awarded hospital is St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center®

Because when you put humanity first, the honors are sure to follow.

The best medicine is rooted in something more than high science. It’s a culture that reveres your humanity as much as your physiology. And you can find it at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center®, Long Island’s most awarded hospital. So, if you need high-quality, compassionate care, you can have the utmost confidence in trusting us for your care.

(866) MY-LI-DOC | StFrancisAwards.org