Hundreds of children attend pool safety seminar
The Town of Oyster Bay joined with officials from Catholic Health to host a pool and summer safety seminar.
The Town of Oyster Bay joined with Catholic Health to host a Pool and Summer Safety Seminar at Marjorie Post Community Park recently. In recent years, fatal drownings for children under the age of 15 has increased by 12 percent, with drowning remaining the leading cause of death
among children ages 1 to 4 years old. Additionally, children under the age of 5 make up nearly 80 percent of all nonfatal drowning injuries each year.
“We all know that summer is time for fun in the sun and cooling off in the pool. However, that fun comes with a great deal of responsibility. That’s why
we hosted this Summer Safety Day in the Town of Oyster Bay,” said Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “We thank St. Joseph Hospital and Catholic Health for partnering with us to host this important program and bringing pool safety awareness to hundreds of youngsters.”
BHS freshman celebrated for robotics project
Bethpage High School recently celebrated the outstanding achievements of freshman research student Partap Sidhu. This year, Sidhu’s project in Science Research 1 was titled “Revolutionizing Waste Management: A Machine Learning and Computer Vision Enabled Robot Arm for Efficient Garbage Recycling.” Through this innovative project, Sidhu developed a cost-effective robotic arm for just $273, significantly more affordable than other market alternatives.
Sidhu addressed the pressing issue of waste management in his project description: “By 2050, it is estimated that 33 billion tons of plastic waste will exist on Earth, overshadowing the Empire State Building by 105,000 times. Since 1960, the recycling rate has increased by less than 7%, while discarded waste has surged by over 811%. When materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal are not recycled, they end up in landfills, occupying space and contributing to environmental pollution. Last year, the United States had only a 30% recycling rate, highlighting
the urgent need for intervention. Current recycling methods, such as manual sorting, are inaccurate, and robotic systems are often unaffordable. This project aims to address this escalating problem by designing and developing a cost-efficient robotic arm that can sort and recycle garbage using machine learning and computer vision.”
Using the meta-operating system ROS Noetic and Move!t, Sidhu built and trained his robotic arm, achieving a remarkable 98% accuracy in garbage sorting.
Sidhu’s journey began last year at JFK Middle School, where he created an animatronic hand using C++ and Python, which laid the foundation for his current project and taught him valuable 3D modeling skills.
Earlier this year, Sidhu won first place in the Robotics and Intelligent Machines category at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair (NYSSEF), earning a bid to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles this past
See page 11
Lazy Days of Summer event
planned for July 13th
The Levittown Community Council's 27th Annual Lazy Days of Summer event is planned for Saturday, July 13th from 11:30 am to 3 pm at the East Village Green Park, Jerusalem Ave., Levittown.
The event will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, relay races, crafts and
games. Admission is free, but attendees are asked to bring non-perishable canned goods and toiletries, to be collected for those in need.
For more information please contact Louise Cassano at 516-735-5901 or email levittowncouncil@yahoo.com
Hicksville Water Dist.:
Conserve during hot summer
Summer has begun, and the Hicksville Water District (HWD) has issued a reminder to residents that they play a crucial role in helping their community conserve water during these next few months. Water use rises exponentially from June through September in comparison to the rest of the year. While there are a variety of reasons one might use more water over the summer, the biggest reason for this increase, by far, is lawn watering.
“We encourage water conservation all year, but there is no more important time to conserve than during the summer,” said HWD Chairman Karl Schweitzer. “Every one of us contributes to our community’s water use, which also means that we can all make a difference when we conserve. Luckily, just making a few small changes in our habits can have a tremendous impact on your water use, and we hope our residents join us in implementing these techniques this summer.”
The best way to conserve water during the summer is by replacing their standard irrigation timer with a smart irrigation controller. These devices use Wi-Fi signals to connect to local weather forecasts and other rain sensing technology to determine exactly how much water your lawn needs at any moment of time without overwatering. While the water savings they provide ultimately result in smart controllers paying for themselves in a year or two, the HWD is offering rebates of up to $150 to residents who make the switch.
Residents should be sure to follow Nassau County’s Odd/Even Lawn Watering Schedule, which indicates that homes and businesses with odd-numbered addresses may only water on odd-numbered days. Homes and busi-
nesses with even-numbered addresses, as well as those without street numbers, may only water on even-numbered calendar days. Additionally, all watering is prohibited from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., as these are peak evaporation times.
This year, the HWD has created a map to break the District into varying irrigation zones. This optional coordination will prevent the District’s infrastructure from becoming overwhelmed during peak times, as it can grow strained if too many irrigation systems are running at the same time. Residents should note that following this map is not mandatory and its guidelines are meant to ensure that water pressure remains stable in homes and local fire hydrants throughout the spring and summer. These zones do not apply to residents who manually irrigate their lawns: only those who can set timers on their automatic irrigation systems.
The HWD asks that residents coordi nate their water times with the zone in which their property lies:
• Zone 1 Southwest: 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. –West of Jerusalem Ave and south of Old Country Road
• Zone 2 Northeast: 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. – East of Broadway and north of Old Country Road
• Zone 3 Northwest: 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. - West of Broadway and north of Old Country Road
• Zone 4 Southeast: 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. – East of Jerusalem Ave and south of Old Country Road
For more tips on how you can conserve water this summer, visit www.hicksvillewater.org/conserva tion-and-education.
To apply for the District’s Smart Controller Rebate Program, visit www. hicksvillewater.org/forms-and-policies.
Fireworks arrest after homes ignite
Nassau County Police arrested a Levittown man on July 4 for allegedly providing fireworks which caused a house fire.
According to police, Karamjit Singh, 33, of Levittown, supplied an 11-year-old juvenile with fireworks and instructed the child to ignite it. Police say the firework malfunctioned and caused a detached shed, within the yard, to ignite which became engulfed in flames. The fire then spread to the Singh ’ s dwelling and a neighboring home. Wantagh Fire Department responded and extinguished the fires. Singh ’ s home also housed a tenant on the sec -
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Syosset FD blood drive draws 30 donors
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D –Plainview) thanked blood donors at a drive held at Syosset Fire Department on Friday, June 28.
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) thanked the more than 30 donors who took part in his office’s Friday, June 28, blood drive at the Syosset Fire Department.
Paired with the platelet donors who rolled up their sleeves, the blood drive yielded contributions that will help to save nearly 100 lives. Each donor received a pair of New York Mets tickets and a Mets t-shirt as a token of appreci-
ation.
“I am so grateful to each and every person who came down to the fire department to give the gift of life and do their part to address our region’s ongoing blood shortage emergency,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker said. “We thank the Syosset Fire Department, New York Blood Center and the Mets for being such outstanding partners in this crucial endeavor for District 16’s communities.”
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This Week at the Syosset Public Library
Friday, July 12, at 11:00 a.m.
Judy’s Italian Cucina: Bakery Style Italian Cookie Class (IN-PERSON)
Instructor: Judy Boshnack
Join us in our Italian cucina and learn the tips and tricks to making bakery-style Italian cookies. These tasty buttery delights melt in your mouth and are as beautiful as they are scrumptious. Cookie samples will be served after the lesson and you will go home with dough to bake more cookies at home. Fee: $5, Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.
Friday, July 12, at 2:00 p.m.
Friday Movie at the Library (IN-PERSON)
Join us for an afternoon movie at the library. Check our website for the movie that will be shown. Go to syossetlibrary.org.
Thursday, July 18, at 2:00 p.m.
Botticelli (IN-PERSON)
Presenter: Jay Schuck, independent art curator and art historian
Explore the life and work of the Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli with art historian Jay Schuck. Artwork to be examined include the “ Primavera, ” “ Birth of Venus, ” “ Mystical Nativity, ” and more. No registration needed.
Thursday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Rachel Harrison!
Author Visit and BYOB (VIRTUAL)
Grab your favorite beverage and zoom in to “meet” Rachel Harrison author of “ Black Sheep, ” “ Such Sharp Teeth, ” and “ Cackle. ” Registration required. Register at syossetlibrary. org.
Friday, July 19, at 10:15 a.m.
Learn the Technique of Quilling (IN-PERSON)
Instructor: Kelly Schulte-Smith
Create a beautiful unique work of art using paper, yes paper! There are several options to choose from. You will be shaping and manipulating color paper to create a one of a kind art piece. All materials are provided to complete your project. Fee: $5. Registration required. Register at syossetlibrary.org.
Friday, July 19, at 4:00 p.m.
Concert: A Musical Journey with Debra Toscano (IN-PERSON)
Performer: Debra Toscano, singer and actress
Join us for this late afternoon concert where Debra will sing all genres of music including songs from the Great American Songbook, 1920s up to today’s music. It ’ s a fun-filled hour of music and stories about the songs. No registration needed.
“Movies by Moonlight”
in town parks this summer
The Town of Oyster Bay will be hosting free “Movies by Moonlight” in local parks on Thursday evenings this summer, beginning July 11 and concluding on August 8. 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 parks, along with character meet and greets, inflatables, games, and more.”
Seating and pre-movie activities will begin at 6:00 p.m. including character meet and greets at select movies, inflatables 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.
Summer Movies:
Thursday, July 18
Ellsworth W. Allen Town Park, Farmingdale - Movie: “ Migration ” Thursday, July 25
Plainview - Old Bethpage Community Park, Plainview - Movie: “ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem ” Thursday, August 1
Harry Tappen Beach, Glenwood Landing - Movie: “ Trolls Band Together ” Thursday, August 8
Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, Woodbury - Movie: “ Scoob! ”
Major upgrades complete at town golf course
Town Clerk Richard LaMarca, Tax Receiver Jeffrey Pravato, Town Supervisor Joe Saladino and ouncilman Lou Imbroto demonstrate the improvements at the Town of Oyster Bay golf course.
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced the completion of a $5 million upgrade at the Hon. Joseph Colby Golf Course in Woodbury. Improvements include new tee boxes on all 18 holes along with a new irrigation system for the entire course.
“We’re delivering a great experience for all golfers at our course and these improvements will certainly enhance their playing experience,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “Make your reservation, enjoy the beautiful course and spend the day in the Town of Oyster Bay.”
The Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course is situated on 121 acres of Long Island’s coveted Gold Coast. It is a challenging 18-hole, par 70, championship golf course that features meticulously manicured greens complete with cascading waterfalls, narrow fairways, water holes, sand and grass bunkers, as well as a putting green. Completing the scene is a turn-of-thecentury mansion that offers a state-ofthe-art catering venue that sits majestically in the heart of our beautiful golf course. The ambience of this onetime Gold Coast estate is rich with elegance and hospitality, but updated with modern amenities. People can enjoy a round of golf as well as the incredible setting while dining outdoors course side or hosting a private event.
Visitors are welcome to utilize the Lucas Golf Center at the Oyster Bay
Driving Range and Pro Shop, under the management of PGA Director of Golf Bob Miller, which offers a full range of golf services. Instruction is available for all levels of golfing ability, beginner through advanced. Golfers can inquire about private lessons, group lessons and clinics at the practice range and on the course. The Pro Shop is stocked with brand name merchandise for all your golfing needs. For more information on instruction, driving range hours and the Pro Shop, please visit www. LucasGolfCenter.com or call (516) 3643600 to speak to a PGA professional. Applications for membership to the Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course are available and are processed at the golf course Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Membership is valid until the winter weather arrives. Prospective members must provide the following proofs of residency: Photo Identification (Driver’s License, DMV Photo ID or Passport); and Car Registration, Tax Bill or Utility Bill. Non-resident memberships are also available for an additional fee.
To reserve a tee time, please visit http://oysterbaytown.com/golf or call (516)677-5980. A $5 fee per player is applied at time of reservation. Daily senior citizens discounts are offered, along free golf for military and veterans on Veterans Day.
SUNDAY, JULY 14TH 6:00PM-9:00PM
THE HARRY CHAPIN BAND — AND — WILL SING FOR FOOD
Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items as a donation to Long Island Cares.
EISENHOWER PARK LAKESIDE THEATRE
Before the event, be sure to check out Nassau’s top-notch Restaurants, Golf Courses, Beaches and Shopping. Nassau is back and open for business!
National Night Out to be held August 6
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D –Plainview) will be joining forces with the Nassau County Police Second Precinct at the Mid Island Y JCC on August 6.
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) is once again joining forces with the Mid Island Y JCC, the Nassau County Police Department’s Second Precinct and an array of community stakeholders to celebrate National Night Out at the Mid Island Y JCC from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6.
Held in thousands of communities each year on the first Tuesday in August, National Night Out is an initiative that seeks to promote “police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.”
fle prizes donated by local businesses, demonstrations, ice cream, popcorn and cotton candy, a bouncy castle, and much more.
“For the last 41 years, National Night Out events have been instrumental in building rapport between law enforcement agencies and the community members they work so tirelessly to serve and protect each and every day,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker said. “Here in Nassau County, we have worked diligently to create what I believe is the finest police force in the nation, and I encourage everyone to join with us at the Mid Island Y JCC — either as a guest or a sponsor — for this wonderful community tradition.”
The event is scheduled to feature dozens of vendors, including the Nassau County Police Department’s Second Precinct and an array of local community partners in business, education, and healthcare. Family-friendly activities from National Night Out include giveaways from local businesses and community groups, refreshments, raf-
Anyone interested in becoming a vendor or a sponsor for this year’s National Night Out can contact Deputy Minority Leader Drucker’s office at 516-571-6216 or adrucker@nassaucountyny.gov for additional information.
Archive photo courtesy office of Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker.
Hicksville Boys & Girls Club 2024 scholarship winners
J. Single Jr. (Board president), Hannah
The Hicksville Boys & Girls Club’s 2024 scholarship winners are Hannah Mathew and Oscar Duran Pena. Hannah has been volunteering her time at the Hicksville Boys & Girls Club for a few years now and will be attending Baruch College this fall. Oscar has been an involved member of our club since he was in middle school and will be
attending Nassau Community College this fall. Oscar’s scholarship was provided through a generous donation to the club from one of our Board members Randi Ross and her husband Steve. The club would like to congratulate our two winners and wish them success in their continuing educational endeavors.
Oyster Bay walking tours highlight history
Residents interested in local history are invited to embark on a journey through time with a guided walking tour of historic Oyster Bay, where echoes of the past meet footsteps in the present. Raynham Hall Museum, located at 30 West Main Street in the hamlet of Oyster Bay, offers a twohour, historic walk through Oyster Bay, spanning 1.5 miles.
“This fun and educational tour takes you to multiple historic sites, bringing participants back to our Town’s colonial roots and its role in America’s formative years,” said Oyster Bay Town Clerk Richard LaMarca. “From the spiritual Fort Hill Cemetery to the waterfront that once bustled with oyster harvesting and pirates, these tours offer a rich tapestry of tales, including those of notable figures like George Washington’s spy, Robert
Townsend, and Theodore Roosevelt. Whether you’re a history buff or simply seeking a picturesque walk, Oyster Bay’s Historic Walking Tour is a delightful blend of education and leisure.”
Historic Walking Tours are offered Saturday, July 20, September 14, October 5 and October 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. from Raynham Hall Museum, 30 West Main Street, Oyster Bay. Tours are offered for $25 ($20 for museum members) through Raynham Hall. The Historic Walking Tour through Oyster Bay was developed with the help of Margo Arceri, Culper Spy Ring historian and Three Village Historical Society Tri-Spy Tours founder.
For more information, visit https:// www.threevillagehistoricalsociety. org/tri-spy-tours
Avoid penalties: Town taxes due by Aug. 12
The Town of Oyster Bay reminds residents that the Second Half of the 2024 General Tax Levy is due on July 1st, but can be paid without penalty through August 12.
“New York State Law allows my office to provide taxpayers with a 40-day penalty free period from the date the tax is due during which payment may be made without penalty,” Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato explained. “After the 40 days, State Law requires a one percent penalty be added for each month the tax remains unpaid. So make your payment before August 12th and don’t delay, and you will ensure you aren’t paying more out of pocket than you need to.”
The Tax Office is open at both Town Hall North, 74 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, and Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. to assist residents and accept payments with a check, cash or credit card. On August 9 and 12, both offices will be open from 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. When paying in person, residents are reminded to bring
the entire tax bill. There are also outdoor walkup windows, and drop boxes have been installed at both locations for residents to make payments when the Tax Office is closed.
Residents who prefer to mail in their payments should send them to the Office of the Receiver of Taxes, 74 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, N.Y. 11771-1539. Please make your check payable to Jeffrey P. Pravato, Receiver of Taxes and indicate your property’s Section, Block and Lot and telephone number on the check.
Tax payments may also be made online through a link on the Town website, www.oysterbaytown.com. Residents may view tax bills, print out a hard copy, or pay taxes with an ACH check payment for a fee of $1.75, or by credit card (for a much higher fee, charged by credit card companies). The Town of Oyster Bay receives no portion of this fee.
Residents may contact the Tax Office with any questions about their tax bill at 516-624-6400 or by emailing receiveroftaxes@oysterbay-ny.gov.
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Harry J. Single Jr. (Board president), Randi Ross (Board member), Oscar Duran Pena and Thomas Bruno (executive director).
Randi Ross (Board member), Harry
Mathew and Thomas Bruno (executive director).
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Division Avenue High School Class of 2024 crosses the stage
Graduates showed their pride in reaching a momentous milestone.
More than a decade of lessons, achievements and connections were represented in a single unforgettable moment as the Division Avenue High School Class of 2024 crossed the stage and became graduates at the Hofstra University David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on June 22.
Cheers rang out from the bleachers as seniors processed toward their seats to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance” performed by the string orchestra under the direction of Mark Martufi. Jessica Bhandal led the Pledge of Allegiance before senior members of the concert choir performed the national anthem under the direction of Alison Sellars.
Division Avenue Principal John Coscia reminded graduates that their perseverance is made possible by their strong unity. “Each of you has the ability to lift each other up without expecting anything in return, which is the
Division Avenue High School seniors proudly processed toward their seats in the Hofstra University David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on June 22 for their commencement ceremony.
hallmark of outstanding character and leadership.”
Superintendent of Schools Todd Winch urged the Class of 2024 to look ahead with ambition. “Now, armed with knowledge, experience and resilience, you stand at the dawn of a new day filled with the promise and excitement of an unscored future.”
Mr. Winch individually recognized graduates who will serve in various branches of the Unites States Armed Forces. Each received a flag originally hung in a Division classroom.
Salutatorian Ceyda Nazli congratulated her peers on a prideful accomplishment. “Functions are not always linear, and neither is problem-solving,” she said. “That’s why if you want to make your life less tiring, you need to give yourself grace along the way. Remember that you aren’t supposed to be anything you were told you are – you
Graduates entering the United States Armed Forces received recognition.
should just be.”
Seniors in the string orchestra joined their peers for a performance of “Cincopations” by Richard Meyer. Valedictorian Syeda Nowroz addressed her peers and related their diverse experiences to the virtual world in the video game, “Minecraft.”
“Despite the main objective of the game being to reach the end, players are given full freedom to do what they please,” she said. “Minecraft is more similar to our high school paths than you might think… Each person carves their own path, and just because you aren’t doing what that Science Olympian is doing, or what that football star is doing, doesn’t mean that you’re any farther from the path to success.”
Class of 2024 President Carly Perez reflected on her many experiences throughout her years in Levittown Schools. This year, Carly and her peers
visited Summit Lane Elementary School, where she had a memorable experience speaking with a younger student who asked about her own graduation year. “We sat there and did the math and came up with the year 2034,” she said. “I told her to enjoy the memories with the people around you, because one day the moments you shared with classmates will just be distant memories. The pure innocence of this little girl excited for the future reminded me of myself.”
Graduates viewed a collection of snapshots gathered in a commemorative video. Board of Education First Vice President Peggy Marenghi commended the Class of 2024 on their impressive accolades and accomplishments. Seniors pridefully turned their tassels marking them graduates, and each were called forward to receive their diploma on stage.
The Class of 2024 threw their caps into the air upon being named graduates.
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Senior members of the concert choir joined their peers for a performance.
Photos courtesy Levittown School District
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LEGAL NOTICES
ANNUAL NEWS RELEASE - PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
Bethpage Union Free School District today announced a free and reduced price meal policy for Bethpage area school children. Local school officials have adopted the following family eligibility criteria to assist them in determining eligibility: 2024-2025 INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS OR FREE MILK
*Students in New York State that are approved for reduced price meals will receive breakfast and lunch meals and snacks served through the Afterschool Snack Program at no charge.
SNAP/TANF/FDPIR Households: Households that currently include children who receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but who are not found during the Direct Certification Matching Process (DCMP), or households that currently receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) must complete an Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk, listing the child’s name, a valid SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR case number and the signature of an adult household member. Eligibility for free meal benefits based on participation in SNAP, TANF or FDPIR is extended to all children in the household. When known to the School Food Authority, households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free meals based on their participation in the SNAP, TANF or the FDPIR programs. No application is necessary if the household was notified by the SFA their children have been directly certified. If the household is not sure if their children have been directly certified, the household should contact the school.
Other Source Categorical Eligibility: When known to the School Food Authority, households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals based on the individual child’s designation as Other Source Categorically Eligible, as defined by law. Children are determined Other Source Categorically Eligible if they are Homeless, Migrant, Runaway, a foster child, or Enrolled in Head Start or an eligible pre-kindergarten program.
Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court, are eligible for free meals. Any foster child in the household is eligible for free meals regardless of income. A separate application for a foster child is no longer necessary. Foster children may also be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits for other children. Including children in foster care as household members may help other children in the household qualify for benefits. If non-foster children in a foster family are not eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits, an eligible foster child will still receive free benefits
If children or households receive benefits under Assistance Programs or Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs and are not listed on the notice of eligibility and are not notified by the School Food Authority of their free meal benefits, the parent or guardian should contact the school or should submit an income application.
Other Households: Households with income the same or below the amounts listed above for family size may be eligible for and are urged to apply for free and/or reduced price meals (or free milk). They may do so by completing the Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk sent home with the letter to parents. One application for all children in the household should be submitted. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school.
Applications may be submitted any time during the school year to the Assistant Superintendent for Business. Please contact Scott Harrington at 516-644-4030 with any questions regarding the application process.
Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the School Food Authority if they choose to decline the free meal benefits. Households may apply for benefits at any time throughout the school year. Children of parents or guardians who become unemployed or experience a financial hardship mid-year may become eligible for free and reduced price meals or free milk at any point during the school year.
Children in households receiving Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits may be eligible for free or reduced price meals through the application process.
For up to 30 operating days into the new school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first) an individual child’s free or reduced price eligibility status from the previous year will continue within the same School Food Authority. When the carryover period ends, unless the household is notified that their children are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, the children’s meals must be claimed at the paid rate. Though encouraged to do so, the School Food Authority is not required to send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility.
The information provided on the application will be confidential and will be used for determining eligibility. The names and eligibility status of participants may also be used for the allocation of funds to federal education programs such as Title I and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), State health or State education programs, provided the State agency or local education agency administers the programs, and for federal, State or local means-tested nutrition programs with eligibility standards comparable to the NSLP. Eligibility information may also be released to programs authorized under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) or the Child Nutrition Act (CNA). The release of information to any program or entity not specifically authorized by the NSLA will require a written consent statement from the parent or guardian.
The School Food Authority does, however, have the right to verify at any time during the school year the information on the application. If a parent does not give the school this information, the child/children will no longer be able to receive free or reduced price meals (free milk).
Under the provisions of the policy, the designated official will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the designated official, he/she may make a request either orally or in writing for a hearing to appeal the decision. Mr. David Schneider, Superintendent of Schools, whose address is Bethpage UFSD, 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage NY, 11714 has been designated as the Hearing Official. Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy. However, prior to initiating the hearing procedure, the parent or School Food Authority may request a conference to provide an opportunity for the parent and official to discuss the situation, present information, and obtain an explanation of the data submitted in the application or the decisions rendered. The request for a conference shall not in any way prejudice or diminish the right to a fair hearing.
Only complete applications can be approved. This includes complete and accurate information regarding: the SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR case number; the names of all household members; on an income application, the last four digits of the social security number of the person who signs the form or an indication that the adult does not have one, and the amount and source of income received by each household member. In addition, the parent or guardian must sign the application form, certifying the information is true and correct.
In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability or limited English proficiency.
Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
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BHS freshman celebrated for robotics project
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May. You can view Sidhu’s ISEF entry, including a video presentation, here.
To support the cost of his project, Sidhu received the Southeast Asian American Women’s Alliance (SAAWA) mini research grant of $200. He also won first place at the SAAWA 9th Grade Fair and received the Humanity in Science Award.
Additionally, Sidhu earned Best in Category at the Long Island Science Congress JR Division in April, which qualified him to compete at the state level in the STANYS New York State Science Congress 2024, where he earned Honors distinction.
“It is remarkable what Partap has been able to achieve already as a freshman in the research program; this is the first time in school history that a freshman has made it to the International Science and Engineering Fair”, said Ms. Nicole Dulaney, Bethpage High School Science Research and AP Research teacher. “Most freshmen use their first year to develop the skills needed to be successful, such as writing a well-developed research plan and research paper, but Partap demonstrated early on that he has extraordinary talent.”
Bethpage High School principal, Mr. Nicholas Jantz, Mr. Chris Pollatos, head of the Science Research program, Ms. Nicole Dulaney, Science Research and AP Research Teacher, and Bethpage High School freshman, Partap Sidhu, with his research project "Revolutionizing Waste Management: A Machine Learning and Computer Vision Enabled Robot Arm for Efficient Garbage Recycling." Photos courtesy of Bethpage UFSD
The Bethpage High School Research program serves students from grades 9-12. Students start with Science Research 1, a prerequisite for Science Research 2, 3, and 4. The program is affiliated with SUNY Albany’s Science Research in the High School (UHS) program, allowing students to earn up to 12 college credits during their junior and senior years. In Science Research
1, students learn to engage in the research process, develop skills in reading and annotating scholarly articles, organizing and analyzing data, writing research papers, creating research posters, and delivering oral presentations. They design and implement an original research project in the second half of
the year and can compete in regional science fairs. Students in Science Research 2–4 design original projects throughout the school year and compete in local, regional, and national fairs, culminating in presentations at the annual Bethpage High School Science Research Symposium.
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Father’s Day celebrated with snacks and gifts at Abbey Lane
The Abbey Lane Elementary School community celebrated Father’s Day on June 13 in various ways, including a picnic under the shade.
Kindergartners in Mrs. Trapani’s class invited their fathers to join in a sunny picnic. Pairs of dads and kids enjoyed lunch and snacks while sat on blankets in the school’s back field. Students also prepared crafts with their personal handprints to gift to their fathers. Furthermore, classes from each grade shopped in the PTA’s Father’s Day sale, filled with goodies for students to purchase. As with all sales established by the Abbey Lane PTA, students get experience being mindful of their budget and adding the prices of their desired gifts.
Photos courtesy Levittown Public Schools
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION
Notice of Formation of Ronrico LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/15/2024.
Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Ron: 257 Maple St, Massapequa pk, NY, 11762. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
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Notice of Formation of Coach T - Sports & Wellness Partner, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/10/2024.
Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Tarek Ali: 91 S. Herman Ave. Bthethpage, NY 11714. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
At the PTA’s Father’s Day sale, students purchased gifts for their loved one.
Dads and kids enjoyed a picnic in the shade.
Kindergartners at Abbey Lane Elementary School were joined by their dads for a Father’s Day celebration on June 13.
California Pacific Highway Roadtrip: Cambria is Enchanting Base to Visit Hearst’s ‘Enchanted
BY KAREN RUBIN
It’s a dark night when we pull into our hotel in Cambria, on California’s famous (and fragile) Pacific Highway 1, so it isn’t until I awake in the morning to a moist mist rising after a rain, that I realize what is just across the road from the picturesque Moonstone Beach and a magnificent boardwalk that extends 1½ miles over the fragile seagrass, the ocean crashing against the rocky shore just beyond where a few seals are resting, the sun making a gorgeous sparkling light, Cambria is an outstanding base to experience not only its own charms, but to explore Hearst Castle, San Simeon, the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, and even driving north on the Pacific Highway, to Ragged Point, just at the southern end of Big Sur where you can get those dramatic sheer-cliff/crashing waves against the rocky shore views.
Castle Inn which I found on hotels.com, is a delightful motel that is absolutely perfect for our purpose –the room is spacious and has a beachy (ocean) feel; the motel serves coffee, scones, apples, muffins, oatmeal for breakfast. Later, we will take advantage of its pool and hot tub under the stars, and is so close by to all the things we want to explore – especially having the Moonstone Beach and boardwalk just across the road. (6620 Moonstone Beach Dr, Cambria, CA 93428, 805-927-8605, castle-inn-cambria.hotelsone.com)
We grab coffee and muffins and immediately head out to Hearst Castle just eight minutes up the coastal road
The dining room at Hearst Castle, with its opulent medieval art and Italian banners, is distinguished by the ketchup and mustard bottles that point directly to who William Randolph Hearst was and what his “Enchanted Hill” meant to him © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
from Cambria in San Simeon.
We have to be at the Hearst Castle’s visitor center by 8:40 am for our pre-booked 9 am Grand Rooms tour the most popular of a selection of tours you can take (others include “Hearst and Hollywood” “Designing the Dream” “Art of San Simeon,” “Julia Morgan”, “Cottages & Kitchen tour” “Upstairs Suites Tour”, also accessible tours and private tours.)
We get our wristbands and go to “gate” for the bus that takes guests up to the mansion along the long winding road – just as William Randolph Hearst intended his visitors to experience his “Enchanted Hill.”
The tour starts immediately on the bus, with an excellent narration giving the background – history, architecture, biography – and pointing out
the sights along the way, accompanied by music of the 1930s and 1940s.
Hearst Castle is so much more than a magnificent mansion home (one of the most spectacular in the world), even more than an architectural jewel and a breathtaking art collection. It is the story of a fascinating man (love him or hate him or something in between, you still have to give the man credit for what he accomplished) who you come to know because everything about Hearst Castle is so personal to him. It is the story of an age – the coming of age of America, the coming of age of Hollywood and ascendancy of American culture. Everything you see is mind-blowing and breath-taking. And this mansion, which has come to be known as Hearst Castle, is his personal artistic creation – the archi-
Hill’
tecture and the art collection.
The tour is extremely well organized – it manages to be efficient and yet personal (I’m betting the earlier you can visit the better) - you feel as so many of Hearst’s guests must have felt the first time they were invited.
You realize that even if you think you know who Hearst was (and so many imagine Hearst to be the character of “Citizen Kane” but he is only a piece of that fictional character, and Marion Davies, his companion, was a smart, savvy and accomplished woman and quite a fine actress, not at all like the character of Kane’s), you come away with newfound respect and interest – in fact, as compelling a real-life story as the fictional Citizen Kane. (“Citizen Kane” screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz was one of Hearst’s guests here.)
You also come to learn – and admire - Hearst’s architect for his castle: Julia Morgan was one of the first female engineering majors at the University of California, Berkeley, the first woman to pass the entrance exam in architecture and graduate the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris – the preeminent architectural school of the timeand was the first licensed woman architect in California. (In 2014, Morgan was posthumously awarded the American Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal in recognition of her pioneering career and dynamic buildings, the first woman to be awarded the medal in its 107-year history, https://pioneeringwomen.bwaf.org/ julia-morgan/)
Even though you are walking through the mansion with a tour
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group, you actually feel like you were one of Hearst’s guests arriving for the weekend – the home is set out as it would have been – most remarkably, in the grand dining room (it may well have inspired Harry Potter’s Hogwarts dining room, and interestingly, the banners on display refer to an Italian horserace), there are bottles of ketchup and mustard because Hearst himself, for all the spectacular grandeur of the art and architecture, wanted a homey feel to his country home.
The art is breathtaking – Hearst collected the pieces himself, and drawing from his European travels with his mother when he was 10 years old, are predominantly Gothic and medieval – a lot of religious art which Hearst appreciated for the art, not the religious significance, the guide tells me.
In 1935 his collections were valued at more than $20 million (in the height of the Great Depression!), but then he fell into near bankruptcy, and at the age of 75, and had to sell off two-thirds of his collection, estimated at $15 million, at “fire sale” prices. (Marion Davies, by then extremely wealthy in her own right with movies and real estate investments in places like Palm Springs, lent him $1 million so he could keep Hearst Castle; when she died, her estate was worth $8 million; when he died, she gave the Hearst Company shares he left her back to his family and they promptly kicked her out and refused to let her come to his funeral.)
You can easily picture who Hearst, Davies and Morgan were, and the glorious celebrity life they lived because there are home movies, photos!. It is thrilling to sit in Hearst’s own theater and watch Charlie Chaplin mug for the camera. (Definitely take advantage of the outstanding 40-minute documentary about Hearst’s life in the five-story theater before or after the tour.)
In 1919 when he inherited the estate, William Hearst, then 56 years old, hired architect Julia Morgan telling her, ““Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something.”
For the next 28 years, the project that we know as Hearst Castle became his life’s work, his creation and hers
and unbelievably, was never actually finished, even though the mansion and villas now comprise 165 rooms atop the 1600 ft. high summit of a hill. Hearst, they say, was never as happy as when he was on his “Enchanted Hill.”
From the bus, we look out over the vast lands where Hearst had assembled exotic animals from around the world, ultimately creating the largest private zoo in America. Though most of the animals were removed by 1937 (when Hearst was near bankrupt during the Great Depression), some that remain are descendents of the original herds, like the Oudads, and get still have 200 head of cattle on the ranch.
Hearst was inspired to build his castle and collect art when he took the grand tour of Europe when he was 10 with his mother. And his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. a philanthropist and advocate for women, introduced him to Julia Morgan. Phoebe began a lifelong interest in Morgan’s career when the two women’s paths crossed in Paris. The films and photos you get to see of Morgan, presiding over the dynamiting to level the summit and build the road, reviewing plans with Hearst, are fascinating.
Our guide, Gregory Anderson, tells us that Hearst Castle was Morgan’s 503rd of 700 projects – including Great Theater, Berkeley; Fairmont Hotel (opened within a year after the San Francisco earthquake 1906); El Campinino - and was
one of the few architects who knew how to work with steel reinforced concrete (important for earthquakes).
We stop in front of the first villa, Casa del Sol, “medium sized” at 3600 sq ft., built for a sunset view, Bob and Delores Hope honeymooned here; Edward Hubble, who originated the Big Bang Theory, stayed here; Actor Cary Grant requested a different room every time stayed (came 40 times)
We come to the 2500 sq. ft Casa del Mar cottage, where David Niven (“The Pink Panther) and Winston Churchill stayed (in 1929). Up until 1976, this was the villa that Hearst family members would stay. (William had five sons between 1904-1918, and there are some 70 descendents today and the family - the 20th wealthiest in the US - now when they come, they stay at the Senator’s House which the Hearst company still owns).
The most spellbinding features of the estate are the two pools – the Neptune Pool which has Grecian feel, is actually the third incarnation: 104 feet long, 58 feet wide and 95 feet wide at the alcove. It is 3.5 feet deep at the west end, 10 feet at the drains, and holds 345,000 gallons of water. Other notable aspects of the Neptune Pool include the oil-burning heating system, the Vermont marble that lines the basin, gutters, and alcove, and four Italian relief sculptures on the sides of the colonnades.
The indoor Roman Pool is a tiled indoor pool decorated with eight stat-
ues of Roman gods, goddesses and heroes. The pool appears to be styled after an ancient Roman bath such as the Baths of Caracalla in Rome c. 21117 CE.
Be sure to make time to see the “Building the Dream” biopic in the 5 story theater (plays every 45 minutes) about William Randolph Hearst’s childhood, his travels to Europe, construction of the castle estate, and his architectural collaboration with Morgan. “They built castle but also created legacy.”
Hearst Castle, which first opened for tours in 1958 and gets 600,000-700,000 tourists/year (in the 1980s, its heyday, a million tourists would come each year), is now a California state park.
There are no individual visits to Hearst Castle – you must register for a tour. Ticket prices start at $30/ adults, $15 children (5-12). (https:// hearstcastle.org/tour-hearst-castle/ daily-tours/). Reserve tickets online up to 60 days in advance; Reserve online (https://www.reservecalifornia.com/ Web/Activities/HearstCastleTours. aspx)
Every year from the end of November through the end of December, Hearst Castle offers a “Holiday Twilight Tour” to experience the estate as Hearst’s guests enjoyed it during the 1920s and 1930s during the Christmas season. Hearst Castle, 750 Hearst Castle Road, San Simeon, CA 93452-9741, 800444-4445 (8 am-6 pm PT), hearstcastle. org.
More visitor information: visitcambriaca.com.
Next: Cambria is Great Base for Pacific Highway Roadtrip
© 2024 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com
Aynvaul Micronation thrives on LI under residents’ noses!
BY GARY BENNETT
A little-known micronation, Aynvaul, has been flying under the radar on Long Island for nearly two decades. Founded in February 2006 by a then-middle schooler who drew its original flag in art class, Aynvaul has defied the odds and outlived its counterpart, “Independent Long Island”, which was formally dissolved in 2019. The brainchild of a young fourth generation Irish-American student, Aynvaul has continued to thrive, despite its obscure nature, evolving into a dream more meaningful. But what is a micronation?
Micronationalism is the movement of creating small, independent countries or nations that are not recognized by the international community. These new country projects, often referred to as micronations, can take many forms, from online virtual nations to bands of people to physical territories with their own governments and populations. Many micronations are created as a hobby, social gatherings, or just for entertainment purposes, while others may be founded with the goal of gaining actual international recognition. Some micronations have even attracted international attention and have been featured in various media outlets and documentaries such as Molossia and Sealand.
Despite its secretive nature, Aynvaul has managed to cultivate a community of around 100 individuals of varying affiliation with the micronation or its Irish-American heritage, making it difficult to gather information about
BY CHARLYN FARGO
If there’s a new villain in town, it’s sugar. That’s because a little goes a long way, but too much has been found to cause health problems.
Research shows a diet chronically high in sugar can contribute to obesity and blood sugar spikes. It can also result in a higher risk of heart attack and stroke due to sugar’s negative effects on blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes and fatty liver disease, according to the American Heart Association. It’s important to look on food labels for added sugars versus natural sugars. Natural sugars are found in milk (as lactose) and fruits (as fructose). Natural sugars are absorbed into the blood more slowly because the body has to break down the fiber first, which prevents a spike in blood sugar. So, while a medium banana has 14 grams of natural sugar, it also has 4 grams of fiber (and other nutrients such as potassium, protein, vitamin A, iron and phosphorus).
its inner workings for an outsider. Operating as an open association with no formal membership requirements or strict rules, Aynvaul’s community members are free to adopt and drop the identity at will. The micronation’s culture is deeply rooted in traditional Long Island Irish-American customs and traditions, with a strong emphasis on preserving the Irish language and reintroducing it into everyday life. While there is widespread support for language revitalization, debates about implementation and timeline persist among members. Despite these challenges, Aynvaul’s unique blend of creativity, community, and cultural heritage has allowed it to thrive under the radar for nearly two decades.
Aynvaul’s flag can be spotted in various places around Long Island - proudly displayed on private home walls, waving above market stalls at vendor events, fluttering from lawn poles on residential lawns, tucked away in back seats of cars, and flying high as a porch flag. If you ever find yourself exploring Long Island’s scenic communities or bustling towns like Garden City or Massapequa, keep an eye out for this striking flag featuring a bright gold sunburst on a dark green background with a bold red stripe running across it - it just might be waving proudly in someone’s yard!
When I interviewed him, Aynvaul’s founder and monarch, Gordon III, shared his vision for the micronation. “For us [Aynvauls], it’s about building a community to create a common identity for us to fall back to,” he said. “We
are Irish-Americans sure, but what exactly does that mean? We are often generations removed from our ancestors in Ireland and we have our own traditions and customs separate from your run-of-the-mill American “yank”. We are something all of our own, and that’s okay - take pride in our uniqueness - it keeps life interesting!”
He also addressed growing division between Irish-Americans and their Irish cousins, “In Ireland, people take issue with ‘Irish-Americans’, there is a feeling that Irish-Americans are trying to police them [the Irish of Ireland] on what it means to be Irish which creates issue or worse are “plastic” pretenders.” Further in the interview he was asked why he chose micronationalism over simply promoting cultural heritage through a cultural movement, he replied: “A cultural movement has to start somewhere - if the community wants it - it will take off eventually - but that is up to each individual to decide; anyone who wants to adopt our identity is welcome to so long as they want to learn the language and adopt the old culture as well. I’ll even hook you up with flags to fly.” When asked what sets Aynvaul apart from other micronations, Gordon said: “Well... most micronations... will try to make a big spin when they first start... but we didn’t make a big show when first starting up - for the first six years we just kept to ourselves while others like say Casidio Tallini... went to the news about his Independent Long Island.”
In another interview session with Gordon we touched on the topic of
Added Versus Natural Sugars
Added sugars include any sugar- or calorie-laden sweetener that is added to foods or beverages (such as cereal, soda, ketchup, sports drinks, candy and even some yogurts) during processing or preparation. The confusing thing is that added sugars can be manufactured, like high fructose corn syrup, or they can come from natural sources, like honey, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, sugar beets, concentrated fruit or cane sugar. The bottom line is they are still used as an added sugar, despite coming from natural sources.
How much added sugar is OK to consume? The American Heart Association’s new dietary guidelines recommend no added sugars for toddlers under the age of 2. For children over the age of 2 and women, the recommendation is a maximum of six teaspoons (25 grams), or under 100 calories per day from sugar. For men, the recommendation is nine teaspoons (36 grams), or up to 150 calories per day. Most American adults consume an average of 77 grams of sugar per day (adding up to
language preservation. When asked if anyone can consider themselves an Aynvaul without being Irish-American themselves, he replied: “Yes, so long as they aren’t appropriating it but seriously want to rekindle their Irish roots or even adopt new ones... they are fellow Aynvauls in my book.” When I asked why learn a dying language like Irish Gaelic? He explained: “Because our language is dying... As Padraic Pearse, an Irish teacher and political activist, was inclined to say, ‘A people without their language is a people without their soul.’ It’s not like we are in Ireland - that language is what actually makes us a sort of Irish and not just “plastic pretenders”... it is our duty as Irish-Americans to learn it.” He also emphasized that having a community cant language is advantageous.
Aynvaul’s unique approach to preserving Irish heritage and language has set it apart from other micronations. Its commitment to revitalizing local Irish language and culture has created a sense of community among its members and has given them a shared identity that transcends traditional notions of nationality. Whether you’re an IrishAmerican looking to reconnect with your roots or simply curious about this intriguing phenomenon, Aynvaul offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of micronationalism. So next time you’re strolling through Long Island’s hamlets or bustling towns like Garden City or Massapequa, keep an eye out for that distinctive flag flying high or low - it might just be flown by someone worth greeting in Irish.
over 60 pounds a year).
How do you know how much sugar is in food? Look on the labels. New labeling laws require added sugars to be printed on labels. The label lists total sugars, which includes sugars naturally present in food and added sugars. A line under “total sugars” lists how much added sugar is in the product and the percentage of added sugars based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
I’ve found a good way to cut back on added sugars (think cakes, cookies, pies and jam) is to substitute fruit, especially frozen fruit, for cravings. Freeze a handful of grapes or cut-up pineapple. Choose fruit spreads over jams. Use half the sugar a recipe calls for in baked goods (you’re not likely to even notice a difference). You can also try using some of the newer artificial sweeteners such as monkfruit, Sola, stevia, Swerve, Truvia and allulose.
As with salt, we can train our taste buds to crave less sugar over time.
Q and A
Q: Now that school is just around the corner, how can I get my kids to
take healthier lunches to school?
A: Try to get kids invested in choosing lunch options by making a game out of meal planning. Have your kids pick fruits and vegetables by color and focus on a different color each week, or challenge them to find a fruit or vegetable in the store that they’ve never tried before. Have them choose a protein, fruit, vegetable and whole grain to include each day with their carton of milk. While a sandwich works, mixing it up keeps lunches interesting. Let them choose between string cheese, a carton of yogurt, apple slices with peanut butter, almonds, grapes, baby carrots, sliced bell peppers and hummus; the possibilities are endless. Keeping lunches cold in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack is important. Pack as much as you can the night before to take the stress out of busy school mornings.
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.
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Will Extra Earnings Increase a Social Security Check? Maybe.
BY TOM MARGENAU
When I talk to various groups and organizations about Social Security, my PowerPoint presentation includes a slide with a bar graph that shows the most common sources of income for elderly Americans. As you might guess, the longest bar on the graph is Social Security. About 85% of seniors get a Social Security check. Other bars on the graph represent various income sources such as “Retirement benefits other than Social Security,” “Veteran’s benefits,” “Asset income,” etc.
But today, I want to talk about another bar on that graph. That bar represents “Earnings from work.” As I’ve updated that graph over the years, I’ve watched that bar grow longer and longer. When I first started using that slide, earned income was just a tiny little blip. Only about 5% of seniors were working. But today, it’s about 35% and still climbing. In other words, more and more older Americans are working.
I haven’t bothered to search for data to explain why that is happening. But I can make two guesses. One: More and more seniors need to work to supplement their Social Security check. And two: Many seniors are just more inclined to work until later in life. I can back up that latter assertion with anecdotal evidence from my 32-year career with the Social Security Administration. When I started working there in 1973, most seniors started their Social Security benefits at age 62. By the time I retired in 2005, many older folks were waiting until their full retirement age to file. And today, almost 20 years after my retirement, I can tell from my emails that waiting until 70 to file for Social Security benefits is more and more common.
But no matter when you start your benefits, seniors who continue to work after their Social Security checks start rolling in usually have two questions for me. And they go something like this: “I’m 74 years old and just went back to work. Do I still have to pay Social Security taxes even though I’m already getting Social Security benefits? And if yes, will my current earnings increase my Social Security benefit?”
The answer to the first question is “Yes.” All people who work at jobs that are covered by Social Security (and almost all jobs are) must have payroll taxes deducted from their paychecks -- whether they are 16 years old or 116 years old.
The answer to the second question is “Maybe.” To understand whether the earnings you have and the taxes you pay after you start getting Social Security will increase your benefits, you have to understand how Social Security retirement benefits are figured in the first place.
Simply stated, your Social Security retirement benefit is based on your average monthly income, indexed for inflation, using a 35-year base of earnings. So, when
you initially filed for benefits, the Social Security Administration looked at your entire earnings history. Then, they adjusted each year of earnings for inflation. The inflation adjustment factor depends on your year of birth and varies from one year to the next.
Here is just one example. Let’s take a guy who was born in 1949. And let’s say that he made $7,000 in 1970. When figuring his Social Security benefit, the SSA multiplied that $7,000 by an inflation adjustment factor of 6.58. In other words, instead of $7,000, they actually used $46,060 as his 1970 earnings when figuring his Social Security benefit. (There are different inflation factors for each year of earnings.)
After the SSA indexes each year of earnings for inflation, they pull out your highest 35 years and add them up. Then they divide the total by 420 -- that’s the number of months in 35 years -- to get your average monthly inflation-adjusted income. Your Social Security benefit is a percentage of that amount. The percentage used depends on a variety of factors too complex to explain here. But for the purposes of this fact sheet, we don’t need to know the precise percentage. Suffice it to say that for most people, their Social Security retirement benefit represents roughly 40% of their average inflation-adjusted monthly income.
So, when you are working and paying Social Security taxes after you start receiving Social Security benefits, those additional taxes you are paying will increase your monthly Social Security check IF your current earnings increase your average monthly income. In other words, if your current annual income is higher than the lowest inflation-adjusted year of earnings used in your most recent Social Security computation, the SSA will drop out that low year, add in the new higher year, recalculate your average monthly income, and then refigure your Social Security benefit.
Here is a quick example of what I mean. Let’s go back to that guy who made $7,000 in 1970 and say that was the lowest year in his current Social Security computation. And let’s further say that he is now working and made $35,000 last year. You might assume that because $35,000 is much higher than $7,000, he should get an increase in his Social Security checks. But remember, the SSA didn’t use $7,000 in his benefit calculation. They used the inflation-adjusted amount of $46,060. Because his current earnings of $35,000 are lower than the low year of $46,060 used in his Social Security retirement computation, the additional earnings do NOT increase his average monthly income, so his Social Security benefit will not go up.
On the other hand, had his current earnings been $70,000, for example, that would increase his benefit. The SSA would replace his low year of $46,060 with the new higher year of $70,000, recompute
his average monthly wage and refigure his benefit.
Now let’s say you are in a situation like that. You’re working, you’ve had a good year of earnings and you are pretty sure it should increase your Social Security check. So, what do you have to
do to make that happen? The answer is: nothing.
The SSA has a software program that automatically tracks the earnings of working Social Security beneficiaries
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CROSSWORD PUZZLE
How has the Nassau County real estate market been doing?
Year over year the real estate market has done fairly well considering the average selling price, which as of June 2024 was $1,042,353. The average median selling price was $801,000; which means half of the homes sold above and half sold below the median sale price. The average original listing price was $1,053,617. The median original listing price was $799,000. We had 2.6 months of residential inventory as of June 2024 (the number of months it would take to sell all the listed available homes). Comparing year over year, active residential inventory as of June 2024 was up a slight 0.57%. The absorption time was down 21.63%. However, contracts were off 16.02% and the number of closed sales was up 7.57 percent. The number of residential units was at a high of 1284 units in May 2024 and a low of 707 units in November 2023. In June 2023 the number of available units was 1141 compared with 1121 units in June 2024.
The number of condos and coops varies depending on what month you are looking at. In July 2023 the number of available units was 181 and fluctuated from a low of 117 in December 2023 to a high of 214 in May 2024 of condos and coops units. The number of available units usually increases in January and escalates through May during the selling season. However, as of June inventory of both classes of condos and coops increased consistently in 2024 except in March where it was down 1.80%. For most of 2023, inventory was down as buyers gobbled up what they could, and absorption time varied from 3.3 months in July 2023 to a low of 1.8 months in March 2024. As of June 2024, the absorption rate was 2.7 months. There were 122 contracts in July 2023 with a low of 105 in December 2023 and then increased. As of June 2024 where there were 161 contracts. There is a direct correlation with the time of year, the number of units available, and the number of contracts. Last winter was milder than normal with less than 6 inches of snow, which allowed more
Continued from previous page
and refigures their benefits to see if any increase is due. It generally happens between May and October of each year.
In other words, if you are getting Social Security benefits, and if you are working, and if your latest earnings increase your average monthly wage and thus
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
buyers to purchase and sellers to sell. Historically normal inventory has been 6-7 months; so we are still way below the typical and ordinary threshold. When the market imploded in 2008, we had an oversupply of 11 months and prices were severely impacted due to the reduced demand. To stimulate the economy the Fed funds rate (the overnight rate at which banks lend to each other) was reduced to 0.25% until 2015, when the rate began increasing. Currently, mortgage rates for the top tier of borrowers having 750+ credit scores can be secured in the low 6% range.
the sidelines and becomes less relevant as a potential bidding war can occur. Demand fluctuates depending on the time of the year. There are still more purchasers than available homes. In my 42+ years in the real estate industry, I have never experienced the craziness of the market today on Long Island. Cycles occur where prices go up when there is inadequate supply and then level off and come down based on excessive inventory beyond what would be considered normal. It’s basic supply-demand economics.
are the top 4 foreclosure states in 2024. There was a 7% increase in bank repossessions from the previous quarter but a notable 20% decline compared to a year ago.
There is talk about a potential rate cut in September as layoffs increase and job creation has slowed. However, the jury is out as to whether or not this will occur. If it does, then the last quarter of 2024 might be an excellent time to consider selling and purchasing.
Prices are still strong due to the severe shortage of homes. There is still quite a lot of money out there, especially from those paying outright for their purchase, searching for their next place to call home and investment properties. If it makes sense in the brain it will make cents in one’s pocketbook. Regardless of the interest rates, it’s an amazing time for those who need or want to sell, downsize, or upgrade and cash in and take the money and run to the bank. I have noticed sellers, who have accumulated a lot of appreciation and are financing their next purchase, are utilizing much larger down payment; or if downsizing, paying cash for their purchase. So the higher interest rates aren’t a major concern in those situations. My most recent contract has my buyers putting down almost 50% for their purchase.
Pricing your home to entice more consumers to consider visiting your place is critical in getting the highest price within a quicker time frame. It starts with attracting as many eyeballs as possible on the internet and local weekly papers. Pricing at or slightly below the market will create a stronger feeding frenzy. Once emotion sets in price sometimes can be pushed to
However, the pandemic has caused the normal averages and statistics to be thrown out the window. The normal market had been drastically altered as people exited large cities to get as far away from people and Covid-19 as possible. This created a demand that was not typical. More people began permanently working at home as companies shut down between March 2020 and June 10, 2020. The fashion in which real estate was purchased also changed as more needed office space at home and it became a crucial facet of decision-making. Slowly the working environment morphed into a hybrid atmosphere as some had to go back to work several days a week, as my daughter experienced.
Until the supply of homes becomes more normalized, which could take 5-10 years, my professional opinion is that only a huge surge in foreclosures, much higher rates, or a long-contracted catastrophic event will slow this market. However, current foreclosures did increase in the first quarter of 2024; 32,878 in March a drop of less than 1% from the previous month and a 10% decline from 2023 as per ATTOM, a property data provider. Foreclosure starts increased nationwide by 2%, spiking in New Hampshire, Illinois, and Florida. However, Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida
SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU
your Social Security benefit, you generally will see that increase by October of the following year. For example, you would get an increase for your 2023 earnings by October 2024. The SSA sends you a notice indicating the increase in your monthly benefit, which is retroactive to January of the year you get the notice.
If you don’t get an increase, that
means your earnings were simply not high enough to raise your average monthly income and thus your Social Security benefit.
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
Philip A. Raices is the owner/ Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 42+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) and has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geo-thermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).
He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.
He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” no obligation 15 minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289.
Save his My New Electronic signature/Bio/Reviews to save to your contacts: https://onetapconnect.com/ turnkeyrealestate-philraices
Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon. com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
BY MARY HUNT
Of all my pet peeves (yes, I do have more than a few), I put laundry stains right up at the top of the list. That’s why I was so interested to read today’s first great reader tip. Blueberry stains are one of the most challenging. But who knew they could also be one of the easiest to remove?
BLUEBERRY STAINS
My family eats a lot of blueberries and gets the juice on their clothes. I keep a spray bottle of water and vinegar mixture by my clothes washer. Whenever a blueberry stain shows up, I spray the mixture on it and the stain turns pink. I throw it in the washer with the other clothes, and it comes out perfectly. -- Kristen, Washington FREEZING PIZZA
The best way to store leftover pizza is to freeze it. Then when you want a piece, just pop it in the oven. It is almost as good as the day you bought it, and it’s not dried out. I buy the two-pizza specials on delivery pizza and freeze one. -- Anonymous, email
MARY SAYS: Reheating in the oven reigns supreme. It’s the best way to
BY MARY HUNT
Late fees, punitive interest rates, over-limit fees, loading up your credit report with negative information -- it’s enough to make you scream!
It’s not that your creditors are doing anything illegal. You just didn’t understand the power you gave them when you accepted that credit card (it was buried in the fine print). And now it seems like they’re staying up nights looking for new ways to stick it to you. If you’ve just about had enough, maybe it’s time for you to turn the tables and get back at them.
PAY EARLY
Nearly 30% of a credit card company’s profits are derived from fees -- annual fees, late fees and over-limit fees. You’d think they would be pretty satisfied with all that interest you send them each
EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE
No More Laundry Stain Blues
achieve that perfect combination of a crispy crust and melty cheese that we all crave. Follow these simple steps to reheat your pizza to perfection: Preheat your oven to around 350 F (175 C). Place the frozen pizza directly on the oven rack or a baking sheet. Bake the pizza for approximately 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it to make sure it is heating evenly and doesn’t burn. Remove the pizza from the oven when it is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly. -- MH
PUPPY STAINS
Our daughter gave us a puppy. Of course, there were accidents on the rug. My daughter told me to blot the spot with a paper towel, sprinkle one-fourth inch of baking soda on the spot and let it dry for about 24 hours. Then I just vacuum up the dried baking soda. It works great!
-- Marie S., Indiana FLUFF
AS YOU DRY
When I dry comforters, sheets, blankets or anything that just wads up in the dryer, I also throw in a tennis ball. It separates the sheets, blankets, etc. It only costs a few bucks for three cheap balls. The kicker is they last forever, and your linens dry much faster, saving electricity. -- Patricia M., email
SINGLE CUP OF OJ
I make orange juice from concentrate, but sometimes I end up throwing half of it away because I don’t drink it fast enough. While visiting my friend, I noticed she would make a glass of orange or grape juice by scooping out a spoonful of frozen concentrate from the container in the freezer, putting it in a glass the size of the drink that she wanted, adding water and stirring. I thought this was a great technique! -- Diana M., email ANTS BEGONE
To get rid of those annoying little kitchen ants, lay out dryer fabric sheets. Put them behind your canisters, appliances and even bathroom sinks. The ants will quickly disappear. -- Melissa, Tennessee RECORD THAT NUMBER
I pay my bills online. At first, when I got the confirmation numbers, I was writing them down on scraps of paper near my computer and losing them. So now I always have my checkbook register handy, and when I deduct the amount in it, I write the confirmation number in the transaction description line. My computer is much neater now, too. -- Nancy P., email
How to Stick It to Your Creditors
month. But no. They want more. The days when issuers allowed 10 or 15 days for a payment to arrive after a due date before charging a fee are long gone. Now those fees kick in if you’re even five minutes late, and they can range from $20 to $39 per occurrence*.
Get back at your credit card company by making a decision right now to never pay another dime in late fees. Be quick with your payment. Send it in the preprinted envelope that came with your statement (or pay online). Don’t enclose a note, use a paper clip, decorate with stickers or do anything that will pull it out of the fast track and into the slow line known as manual processing.
STAY BELOW
Your credit card account most likely has a credit limit. But running up a balance that is anywhere near that limit is
deadly for your credit score. The rule of thumb is that you should never be using more than 30% of your credit limit. For example, if your limit is $1,000, you should never have a balance of more than $300 at any time during the billing cycle. Zero balance is even better!
Get back at your card company by creating a wide margin between your balance and your limit.
STOP USING
Your card companies are playing the odds. They know the more you use your cards, the better their chances that you’ll go nuts and rack up a big load of debt. When your balance becomes greater than the amount you can pay off in a single month, they’ve got you. They’re doing all they can to encourage that to happen.
Get back at your company by not adding new purchases to your burgeoning load of debt. You’ll do yourself a favor and get back at them at the same time.
OPEN EYES
All your creditors know what’s in your credit report. They read it regularly. You should too. Part of your agreement with them is that they can check up on you whenever they like to see how you are handling your financial affairs.
Get back at your creditors by staying ahead of them. Manage your credit report by reading it regularly. If you don’t understand what it says, ask. And if you see something on there that you know to be untrue, dispute. But don’t stop there. If your creditors are punishing you for things on your credit report that were not
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
true, don’t sit back passively. Get it fixed, then confront them. Don’t back off until they reverse the action.
PAY OFF
Probably nothing will benefit you more than bringing your balances to $0. It’s like getting a tax-free raise because you get to keep all that money you’ve been sending each month to your creditors.
Go ahead and stick it to your creditors by refusing to send them one more penny in interest.
*As of recent updates, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has set specific limits on late fees. For example, the maximum allowable late fee for the first violation is typically capped around $30, and subsequent violations within six billing cycles may be capped around $41. These amounts are subject to periodic adjustments for inflation.
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
STARGAZERS
Find the Apollo Lunar Landing Sites
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of July 14-20, 2024
It was 55 years ago this month that humans first set foot on the moon. I’d been excited about this since I saw in our local newspaper a closeup photo of the lunar crater named Alphonsus, captured by the approaching robotic Ranger 9 spacecraft in 1965.
I peered at the moon -- and the crater Alphonsus -- as often as I could through my small backyard telescope, and I even had a board game called “Melvin the Moon Man” that was my absolute favorite! But none of this could compare to events I hoped would one day become reality.
And then, on the evening of July 20, 1969, it finally happened. Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong became the first human to step onto the powdery lunar surface, followed soon after by lunar module pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.
I remember it vividly. I had just completed a cross-country drive with a friend and arrived home only minutes before the historic moment. How exciting it was to watch it on TV as the words “live from the moon” appeared across the screen.
NASA had been preparing for this moment for nearly a decade -- first with the Mercury spacecraft that carried one astronaut to learn if humans could function well in space. Then came the
Gemini program, which teamed two astronauts to test out rendezvous and docking maneuvers.
Finally came the Apollo program, which flew three astronauts to test the equipment and procedures necessary to make a lunar landing and safe return to Earth.
After the Apollo 11 flight, five other missions landed on the moon. Apollo 13, of course, suffered an oxygen tank explosion while the astronauts were 200,000 miles from home and never landed on the moon. The astronauts made it home safely, but not before enduring some remarkable tests of human bravery and engineering.
This terrifying story was told dramatically in Ron Howard’s 1995 award-winning film “Apollo 13.” If you’ve never seen it, drop everything and watch it. It will leave you breathless!
Decades have passed since those inspiring years of lunar exploration. Unfortunately, we no longer have the technology to return humans to the moon -- it’s coming soon, I hope -- but there’s still a way to relive those exciting Apollo missions. All we need to do is break out the binoculars or a small telescope on the next clear night and have a look at our nearest cosmic neighbor.
There we can find the places where each of the Apollo missions landed. Of course, we can’t see the actual landing sites or the landers, rovers or flags left behind -- these are much too small for
even the largest of telescopes to see from Earth -- but we can see the areas where astronauts have visited.
This is a good week to do this project. The moon is now in its waxing gibbous phase and will be full on the night of July 20. You can use the accompanying image to check out each of the landing
areas as the moon rises in the east just after sunset.
And if you happen to spot Melvin cavorting on the lunar surface, give him a smile and wave for me!
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. .
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
Turn Your Wheel and Cough
BY TRACY BECKERMAN
I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t really know much about cars. So when my car started making a funny noise, I had no idea what it could be. I knew this noise wasn’t its regular noise. The regular noise usually sounded like “vroomvroom,” but this new noise sounded a little like “cough-cough.” Although I wasn’t very car-savvy, I was a mom, and being a mom, I was pretty sure I knew what the problem was.
“The car has a cold,” I told my husband.
“Excuse me?” he replied from his place on the couch where he usually sat when I told him something was broken and was going to cost us a lot of money to fix.
“It has a cold,” I said. “It seems very low-energy, and it has a cough.”
“Cars don’t get colds,” he said.
“Well, its symptoms are very flu-
like,” I argued. The car reminded me a little of my husband when he got a “man cold.” It was coughing and sluggish and needy. The only difference was, the car didn’t look up its symptoms on WebMD.
“Cars don’t get colds,” he repeated more slowly, as though saying it slower would make me agree with him faster.
“OK, so maybe not a cold,” I said reluctantly. “Then it’s probably, um ... the carburetor!”
He shook his head. I knew he thought I had no idea what I was talking about because, to be honest, I did have a history of having no idea what I was talking about. In these instances, I would guess it was something I knew the name of, like a carburetor, so it would seem like I did, in fact, know what I was talking about, although it was highly unlikely that I did.
“Do you even know what a carburetor does?” he asked.
Yes,” I said enthusiastically. “It
berates the car.”
He raised an eyebrow dubiously.
“What about the transmission?” he asked.
“It transmits things,” I said. “That is its mission.”
He shook his head and looked at the dog for support. The dog wisely stayed out of it.
“You know nothing about cars,” he said. “Just admit it.”
“I do so,” I argued.
“OK, let’s try something easier. Where does the washer fluid go?
“On the windshield.”
“No. I mean, where does it come from?”
“The store,” I said emphatically.
“Where do you put it in the car?”
“In the backseat until the gas station attendant can pour it in.”
He exhaled deeply. “... And where does he pour it into?
“The car,” I replied.
He got up from the couch and banged his head against the wall.
“Forget I asked ... anything. Ever. About cars,” he said. I shrugged. I could understand his frustration. We’d had similar conversations about women’s shoes.
“OK,” I said. “Well, I guess I’ll make an appointment with the mechanic to figure out what’s wrong and get it fixed.”
“You don’t need to do that,” he replied.
“Why not?” I said.
He picked up his laptop.
“I’ll just look up the symptoms on CarMD.”
Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online! You can visit her at www. tracybeckerman.com.
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
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Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me 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 succour me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power.
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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.
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We’re looking for writers in our community to compose articles 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. Love to write?
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
Savory crêpes are the star of this lasagna
Lasagne di
Crespelle (Crepe Lasagna)
Lasagna is the perfect dish to feed a crowd. It can feature everything from cheeses to meats to vegetables, and often the leftovers taste even better than the meal on the first day.
Lasagna typically is made with long sheets of pasta, but “Lasagne di Crespelle” from “Nick Stellino’s Family Kitchen” (G.P Putnam’s Sons) utilizes thin crêpes as the pasta in this dish. Also, a mix of both meat and béchamel sauces create a depth of flavor that can be a welcome surprise.
Serves 6 generously.
2 recipes Savory Crêpes (see below)
6 cups meat sauce
3 cups béchamel sauce
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Prepare the crêpes, meat sauce and béchamel sauce. Fold the nutmeg into the béchamel sauce.
3. Lightly grease a lasagna pan with olive oil, and pour in 1 cup of the meat sauce. Top with
Savory Crêpes
Makes 14 to 16, 8-inch crêpes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cold water
1. Measure flour, 3⁄4 cup water, milk, eggs, butter, and salt into a blender or mixing bowl. Blend or whisk until smooth. Refrigerate, covered, for 15 to 30 minutes.
2. When ready to cook the crêpes, add the remaining cold water to thin the batter to the consistency of heavy cream.
3. Heat a very seasoned skillet or a 10-inch nonstick fry pan over medium-high heat and
1⁄8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
a layer of crêpes and spread with a thin layer of the béchamel sauce (about 1⁄4 cup), then sprinkle with grated cheese and top with another layer of crêpes and a thin layer of meat sauce. Repeat layering to the top of the pan, making plenty
1⁄2 cup cold milk
2 eggs
of layers; keep each layer thin. 4. Finish with a layer of crêpes and béchamel sauce, and sprinkle with the grated cheese and parsley. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until light brown and bubbly. Let rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
add a few drops of olive oil.
4. Lift the pan from the heat and ladle about 1⁄4 cup of the batter into the center. Quickly tilt the pan in all directions so the batter forms a thin, lacy pancake. Cook the crêpe for 30 to 40 seconds, until the edges curl and brown slightly. Flip the crêpe with a flexible heat-resistant spatula or nimble fingers, and cook the other side for about 15 seconds, until
spotted with brown and dry. Remove from the pan.
5. Stack the cooked crêpes on top of each other to keep them warm.
If the batter becomes thick toward the bottom of the bowl and the cooked crêpes do not have tiny lacy bubbles around the outside rim, add a teaspoon of water to the batter, mix, and continue cooking.
St. Ignatius Loyola Church will be hosting a bus trip to Wind Creek Casino in
Casino bus trip
Please arrive at 8:30 a.m. Return will be at approximately 8:30 p.m. The cost of $55 per person includes the driver’s tip and a give-back of $35 slots play.
Parking: # 999 So. Oyster Bay Road (dead end).
For reservations, please call Barbara at (516) 935-5576 or Karen at (516) 9375527. Please make checks payable to “St. Ignatius Church”.
Attention students!
Graduated from school? Have an outstanding GPA? Made the honor roll or Dean’s List? Scored an internship or study abroad opportunity? We invite you to send details of any of these things and more, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be seen in our paper!
POB hosts alumna talk on fashion studies
POBJFK High School's fashion classes had the privilege of hosting Ellyn Park, an alumna currently studying fashion design at Drexel University, for a special guest presentation on June 4. The event was organized by Rosemarie Elder, the school's esteemed fashion teacher.
Ellyn Park, who graduated from JFK High School and excelled in Mrs. Elder's fashion class, returned to share her impressive college portfolio with current students. She showcased her innovative designs and discussed her enriching internship experience in Korea.
The students were captivated by Ellyn's journey from JFK High School to Drexel University and her exploration of international fashion design. Her visit provided valuable insights into the world of fashion design and inspired aspiring designers in the classroom.
"We are thrilled to have Ellyn return to JFK High School and share her experiences and achievements with our students," Elder said. "Her journey is a testament to the dedication and creativity that we nurture in our fashion program. We hope her story motivates our students to pursue their passions and strive for excellence in their future endeavors."
Alumna Ellyn Park visited with Fashion 1 and 2 students at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School to share her portfolio and experiences at Drexel University.
Photo courtesy of Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District
Electric circuit reliability work begins in Levittown
PSEG Long Island has announced that it is improving the reliability of the energy grid in Levittown by doing work in this area. The storm hardening work on this distribution circuit is part of many system improvements included in the “Power On” program.
“We are working hard to reduce the number of outages that occur during severe weather by strengthening the electric lines that directly power homes and businesses,” said Peggy Keane, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of Construction and Operations Services. “This Power On infrastructure improvement project in Levittown is part of PSEG Long Island’s ongoing, multi-year effort to continue to improve electric reliability for customers.”
The work began in early June and is expected to last for approximately seven months. PSEG Long Island’s licensed and approved contractors will work along distribution lines in Levittown. To ensure traffic moves safely, PSEG Long Island will provide cones, flaggers and signage at the worksites, as needed. Local officials will also be notified in advance regarding any potential traffic concerns.
The storm-hardening improvements include:
Stronger poles: PSEG Long Island will replace some existing utility poles with stronger, more durable poles that are capable of withstanding winds up to 135 mph. The new poles will be approximately the same height as the existing poles, have a stronger base and will be placed no more than 5 feet from the current pole locations.
PSEG Long Island will actively coordinate the removal of old poles with other utilities and municipalities.
Narrow profiles: To help wires deflect falling limbs instead of catching them, PSEG Long Island will be installing shorter cross arms atop some poles.
Stronger wire: Current wire will be replaced with more resilient and durable wire.
Upgrading: PSEG Long Island will upgrade or replace worn equipment as necessary.
Crews will be working on the following streets in Levittown:
Dogwood Lane between Newbridge Road and Wolcott Road
Private rear property along Old Farm Road between Dogwood Lane and Bittersweet Lane
Rear property along Bittersweet Lane
Rear property along Butternut Lane between Bittersweet Lane and Bucket Lane
Rear property along Eagle Lane between Bucket Lane and Jerusalem Avenue
Jerusalem Avenue between Mallard Road and Hempstead Turnpike
Hempstead Turnpike between Jerusalem Avenue and Grassy Lane
Rear property along Grassy Lane between Hempstead Turnpike and Bucket Lane
Jerusalem Avenue between Meridian Road and Heather Lane
Rear property between Old Farm Road and Azalea Road
Rear property between Azalea Road and
PSEG Long Island crews perform storm hardening work as part of the company’s multi-year effort to strengthen the grid.
Periwinkle Road
Rear properties along Carnation Road, Ivy Lane, Primrose Lane, Hyacinth Road, Buttercup Lane and Poppy Lane
Rear property along Periwinkle Road between Poppy Lane and Peony Road
Rear properties along Mistletoe Lane, Gardenia Lane, Bluebell Lane, Lily Lane and Tulip Lane
Power On, a program that started in the spring of 2020, continues the work now
that the FEMA program has concluded. Since the launch of Power On, more than 352 miles of the most vulnerable distribution mainline and branch line circuits on Long Island and in the Rockaways have been storm hardened with stronger poles, thicker wire and other modern equipment. Power On focuses on mainline circuits, the backbone of the distribution system. The main lines feed the many branch lines that power the homes and businesses in individual communities.
Town offers special marriage license weekend
To increase convenience for residents, Oyster Bay Town Clerk Richard LaMarca will host a special Marriage License Weekend on Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Oyster Bay Town Halls North and South. During this weekend event, residents will have the opportunity to obtain their New York State marriage licenses.
Marriage License Weekend for our residents,” said Town Clerk Richard LaMarca.
“We understand that life’s busy schedules can make it challenging to obtain a marriage license during regular business hours. This weekend event is designed to provide greater flexibility and convenience for couples preparing for their big day.”
The Marriage License Weekend
3:00 p.m. Appointments are available at Town Hall North (54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY) and Town Hall South (977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa, NY). To ensure efficient service and minimal wait times, appointments are mandatory. To make an appointment in Oyster Bay, please call 516-624-6335. To make an appointment in Massapequa, please call 516-797-7966.
The fee for a marriage license is $40. Once the license is issued, the ceremo-
ny may be performed anywhere in the state. A marriage license is good for sixty (60) days, beginning twenty-four hours (24) after the license is issued. For more information about the required documents and eligibility criteria for obtaining a New York State marriage license, please visit oysterbaytown.com or contact the Town Clerk’s office at 516-624-6333.
“I’m
saving about $1,800 a year in energy costs with LED lighting.”*
—Guy Brogna, All Music Inc, Plainview
Meet Guy. He’s a local small business owner, rock bassist, and fan of LEDs. It didn’t hurt that he got $5,900 in rebates to replace his store’s old lighting with energy-efficient fixtures.* He says his store and his guitars look great in the new LED glow. And, with the monthly energy cost savings, he couldn’t be happier.
psegliny.com/businessrebates
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