Mid-Island Times (9/20/24) by Litmor Publishing

SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN

OYSTER FESTIVAL TO RETURN

The East Coast’s largest waterfront festival will return this fall to the streets of Oyster Bay. Supervisor Joseph Saladino, his colleagues on the Town Board and organizers and sponsors of the 41st Oyster Festival announced the return of the iconic seaside festival this October 19th and 20th. Supervisor Saladino, together with Councilwoman Michele Johnson, Councilwoman Vicki Walsh, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver Jeff Pravato; Oyster Festival partner the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce President Ryan Schlotter and Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President Tracey Edwards made the announcement along the waterfront at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park.

Rain

Garden

volunteers needed

The Town of Oyster Bay is seeking volunteers to help plant and maintain the Town of Oyster Bay’s Rain Gardens, which are a critical element of the Town’s pollution prevention strategy. During the Rain Garden Work Party scheduled for Saturday, September 28, volunteers are needed to assist with weeding, raking, pruning, mulching, and transplanting existing rain gardens, while learning about the environmental benefits these structures offer. The event will be held from 9am to 12pm at the

Western Waterfront in Oyster Bay.

“A rain garden is a collection of native plants placed in a small depression to temporarily hold rain water runoff from roofs, driveways, patios, or See page 10

A piece of Hicksville history returns home

More than 60 years after Hicksville Volunteer Fire Department’s fire engine was decommissioned, the vintage truck has returned home. In August, the Hicksville Fire Department was made aware of the once in a lifetime opportunity to bring the antique apparatus back to Hicksville. This unit that once proudly served the Hicksville community was thought to be lost to the salvage yard, but it has now been resurrected.

The fire truck, a 1948 Seagrave Pumper, recently returned home thanks to Cross Island Towing, and the members of Emergency Company 5 are working on a plan to restore it. Company Historian and former Chief Karl Schweitzer, was excited at the prospect that the department can restore this historical apparatus.

According to Schweitzer, this truck responded at a critical point in the growth of the Hicksville Community. In December of 1947, the Hicksville Fire Department approved the construc-

See page 11

The 1948 Seagrove Pumper has returned home more than 60 years after it was decommissioned.

Bus trip to Wind Creek Casino

Catholic Daughters of the Americas will be hosting a bus trip to Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem, PA, on Tuesday, September 24.

Cost of $55 per person includes the driver’s tip. Give back: $35 slot play.

Please arrive at 8:30 a.m. Return will be approximately 8:30 p.m.

Parking at 999 So. Oyster Bay Road (dead end).

For reservations, please call Barbara at (516) 935-5576. Please make checks payable to “CDA”.

A Night at the Races

Catholic Daughters Court Queen of Angels Hicksville will present “A Night at the Races” on Saturday, October 12, at “Angel Stables” at 103 Grumman Road West, Bethpage (handicapped accessible)

Doors open at 6:30; races begin at 7:00.

Cost: $20 per person

Dinner includes a box supper of

chicken, potato salad, roll, dessert, iced tea and snacks.

For reservations please call Karen at (516) 937-5527. Table reservations accepted.

Note: Reservations are required by October 9.

All proceeds from this evening will be donated to local charities.

Levittown Community Council to meet

The Levittown Community Council will hold its General Meeting on Tuesday, September 23, at 7 p.m.

Local organization representatives have been invited to kick off the meeting and share with the community events and activities that they have planned for the coming year. Invitees include The Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers, The Levittown Library, The

Chamber of Commerce, St. Bernards (celebrating their 75th anniversary this year!), Levittown Kiwanis and VFW Post 9592, just to name a few!

This meeting will take place at the Levittown Library, Bluegrass Lane Levittown starting at 7:00 p.m., in Meeting Rooms 1 and 2

Refreshments will be served!

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Hicksville students celebrate

Patriot Day

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Students at Old Country Road Elementary School in Hicksville recognized Patriot Day on Sept. 11 by wearing red, white and blue to show their appreciation for their heroes.

Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Hicksville schools welcome new faculty

prices.

On Aug. 21 and 27, Hicksville Public Schools welcomed 20 new faculty members for the 2024-25 school year for two days of learning and training before beginning their careers with the district.

bove the inflation rate but compani

The orientation days gave the newest members of the Hicksville family the time to learn about the district’s policies and procedures, as well as to become better acquainted with their school buildings.

All new teachers will continue learning and collaborating throughout the year by participating in monthly New Teacher Workshops.

The district welcomed the following staff members:

• Annie Ankele – SPED Probationary (HHS)

• Ryan Costanza – Math Leave Replacement (HHS)

• Victoria Cusumano – Music Probationary (East Street/Woodland)

• Joanna Diamond – Behaviorist (Districtwide)

• Katie Donovan – SPED Probationary (HMS)

• Isabella Epstein – Bilingual Leave Replacement (East Street)

• Claudia Finkle – 6th Grade Teacher (HMS)

• Madison Garraff – Elementary Music Probationary (Elementary)

• Jesse Karlewicz – Technology Probationary (HHS)

• Erin Kelly-Harris – Elementary Probationary (Lee Avenue)

• Guilia Laraia – Library Leave Replacement (Old Country Road)

• Linda Neptune – Library

Probationary (Burns Avenue)

• Brigid Olson – SPED Probationary (Lee Avenue)

• Gabrielle Pucci – SPED Probationary (Burns Avenue)

• Andrea Rivera – Spanish Probationary (HMS/HHS)

• Laura Sandu – Italian Leave Replacement (HHS)

• Ricky Scarabino – SPED Probationary (HHS)

• Nicole Siegel – Math Leave Replacement (HHS)

• Sara Sowdrya – Speech Probationary (Dutch Lane)

• Christina Valenti – Speech Probationary (Fork Lane)

the impact to other areas of your M

BREAKING NEWS

ATTN: MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES

The impacts to Medicare Beneficiaries will begin in January 2025 based on the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act. If you are a Medicare Beneficiary, you need to understand these changes. The intent of the healthcare portion of the Act is to provide affordable treatments and financial relief to millions of people. BUT - How will this impact you and your coverage?

The healthcare changes Primary focus is on lowering prescription drug costs for those individuals utilizing high cost medications, expanding Medicare subsidies and making other healthcare improvements.

These changes will impact Medicare Beneficiaries in various ways. The law brings several positive changes.

Four key areas of impact include:

• Medicare’s empowerment to negotiate with drug companies to lower prices.

• Drug companies won’t be prevented from raising Medicare prices above the inflation rate but companies who do this will have to pay Medicare a rebate.

These changes will impact Medicare Beneficiaries in various ways. The law brings several positive changes.

• A new cap on Medicare Beneficiaries annual cost for drugs. (Cap $2,000)

• $35 monthly cap on insulin cost-sharing.

While these show the current positive changes, there is uncertainty on the impact to other areas of your Medicare health plans. Will:

Four key areas of impact include:

• My Premiums rise?

• My Co-Payments increase?

Medicare’s empowerment to negotiate with drug companies to lower prices.

• All my current medications still be covered?

• This impact the development of new medications?

Drug companies won’t be prevented from raising Medicare prices above the inflation rate but companies who do this will have to pay Medicare a rebate.

As you can see there will be both positive and negative effects. So now more than ever, it’s importantto review your current plan to eliminate surprises in the future.

A new cap on Medicare Beneficiaries annual cost for drugs. (Cap $2,000)

STAY TUNED FOR PLAN CHANGES BEING ANNOUNCED OCTOBER 1, 2024

$35 monthly cap on insulin cost-sharing.

While these show the current positive changes, there is uncertainty on the impact to other areas of your Medicare health plans. Will:

My Premiums rise?

My Co-Payments Increase?

Hicksville Public Schools welcomed 20 new faculty members for the start of the 2024–25 school year. Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Town plans

fall f itness classes

The Town of Oyster Bay will be holding registration for its popular Co-Ed Fitness Classes which are held at the Hicksville Athletic Center. Classes run for 10 weeks and are offered to individuals 18 years of age or older.

“The Town’s popular fall co-ed recreational programs provide a great outlet for our residents to exercise and stay in shape while making new friends,” said Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh. “These fun classes offer an opportunity to stay physically active, creating an optimal environment for fitness and forging new friendships!”

This fall, residents can participate in a variety of fitness classes that will be held at the Hicksville Athletic Center:

• Yoga: Residents can choose their session from the following: Saturdays (beginning October 5 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.), Sundays (beginning September 29) from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Tuesdays (beginning October 1) from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursdays (beginning October 3) from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

• Zumba: Mondays (beginning September 30) from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. or Wednesdays (beginning October 2) from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Registration is now available online at oysterbaytown.com/sports. Residents must upload proof of residency (tax or utility bill) and a valid identification card such as a driver’s license. Non-residents may register at a slightly higher fee. Mats will not be provided, patrons must bring their own mats to yoga and Pilates. The schedule is subject to change. If a session is cancelled, make-up day(s) will be attempted. For more information, or to inquire about special holiday scheduling, please call (516) 797-7945 or

Syosset Library celebrates summer of great reading

Syosset Library’s 15th annual Adult Summer Reading Club wrapped up in August with a party and a live, virtual visit by author and Long Island resident Ellen Meister, whose ninth and newest novel, “Divorce Towers,” was released September 1. Ms. Meister started her career as a copywriter and published her first book in 2006. Since then, she has appeared on National Public Radio, was selected for the prestigious Indie Next List by the American Booksellers Association, and has received a television series option from Home Box Office. Her nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, Newsday, Wall Street Journal Blog, Huffington Post, and other venues. She also teaches creative writing and editing and provides a wide range of editorial services.

This year, 208 residents joined the Adult Summer Reading Club. They submitted 1,250 tickets documenting the books they read. Participants who read at least five titles won a free book. At the wrap-up party, 18 door prizes (many of which were copies of Ms. Meister’s works) and 80 general prizes were awarded. Over the course of the summer, an additional 20 prizes were distributed. Altogether, more than 118 prizes were awarded.

Party in August.

Our team is eager to give you the kind of eye-catching smile that creates all the confidence you need to pursue your goals and make your dreams a reality.

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Emergency Dentistry, Nitrous Oxide, IV Sedation & much more

Forty-nine local businesses and five publishers helped make possible this year’s adult summer reading program. For their support, on behalf of the Syosset Library, the Readers’ Services Department would like to thank the following local businesses for their generous donations: Bagel Boss, Beltrami: A Men’s Store, Blue Jean Baby, Butera’s Restaurant, Center Coffee Shop, Chris & Tony’s Family Style Italian Restaurant & Catering, Dakotah Salon & Spa, Denny’s, Dirty Taco and Tequila, Erika Cole Salon, Fingers, Faces & Toes, Frantoni’s Pizzeria & Ristorante, GoGo Nail & Spa, Greenfield’s ShopRite, H Nail Bar, Hilltop Kitchen & Bar, Iavarone Brothers, It’s Greek to Me Restaurant, Iziks & Steve Barbershop, Jennifer Ann Cosmetics, Jerrie Shop, John Michael Salon, Kenny’s Men’s & Boy’s Wear, Kokonut Face and Body,

Madison’s Niche, Mario’s Pizzeria, Max & Gino’s All-American Clothing Co., Meyer’s Farm Stand, Mixology Clothing Company, MR’TIQUE, Ms’tique, Naot Footwear, New Country Delicatessen, On Parade Diner, One Small Step Children’s Footwear, Pasta-eria Italian Kitchen, Press 195, Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices & Ice Cream - Syosset Location, Ray Leventhal Clothing, Restore Hyper Wellness, Roast Sandwich House, Robbins Nail Spa, Salon Entourage, Salute Ristorante & Bar, Syosset Seafood, Tenjin Japanese Restaurant, Topspin Tennis, Trader Joe’s, Woodbury Sports.

The Library also thanks the following publishers for their generous book donations: Hachette Book Group, Kensington Books Publishing, Macmillan Publishers, Simon and Schuster Publishing Company, W.W. Norton & Company.

The Library is also grateful to author Ellen Meister for joining the 2024 Adult Summer Reading Club Wrap-Up Party to discuss the writer’s life and the writing of her newest book, “Divorce Towers.”

Long Island author Ellen Meister spoke about her new book, “Divorce Towers,” at Syosset Library’s Adult Summer Reading Club Wrap-Up

Photo by Hy Goldberg.

This Week at the Syosset Public Library

Sunday, September 22, at 1:00 p.m.

Concert: Radio Flashback (IN-PERSON)

Performer: Radio Flashback.

Relive classic 70s and 80s music with this 4-member tribute band. You will be transported in a time of bellbottom jeans, lava lamps, hot pants, pet rocks and platform shoes. Enjoy the music of the Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Little River Band. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.

Monday, September 23, at 2:00 p.m.

Medicare Updates & Information (IN-PERSON)

Be ready and informed of Medicare changes and available options! This program is designed for existing and new Medicare members. Presenter will discuss: Supplemental Insurance Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plans, Medicare Savings Programs, NYS EPIC Drug Coverage, and more! Bring your ques -

tions! Presenter, Barry Klitsberg, a certified and experienced counselor from the Nassau County Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP).

Tuesday, September 24, at 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon Book

Discussion (IN-PERSON)

Join Kaye Spurrell, Readers’ Services Librarian, for a special Banned Book Discussion of the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel, Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History, by Art Spiegelman. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before the discussion. No registration.

Tuesday, September 24, from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Shed the Meds (IN-PERSON)

Safely dispose of unwanted and expired medication. This will help keep potentially dangerous pharma -

ceuticals out of the hands of children and protect our groundwater and waterways.

Accepted items are: prescription patches, prescription medications, prescription ointments, over the counter medications, vitamins, sample medications and medications for pets.

Non-accepted items are: needles, sharps, aerosol cans, thermometers, ointments (liquid or lotion), hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, biohazardous waste and medication from businesses. Sponsored by Nassau County Legislator, Arnold Drucker and made possible by the Nassau County Police Department 2nd Precinct.

Thursday, September 26, at 2:00 p.m.

The Iconic Barbra Streisand (IN-PERSON)

Presenter: Marc Courtade, retired arts director

One of the most commercially and critically successful entertainers in

modern entertainment history and the best-selling female recording artist of all time, Barbra Streisand has reached iconic status. A Brooklyn native, she has accomplished every goal she set for herself. This presentation will discuss her extraordinary career and her life. No registration is needed.

Friday, September 27, at 10:00 a.m.

Simply Stronger with Balance (VIRTUAL) Instructor: Mindy Vasta

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

Upcoming Events at the Jericho Public Library

Friday, September 20

10:00 a.m.: The Ultimate Brain Teaser Stations Experience - Get ready to spice up your Fridays with a brain workout bonanza! Challenge your mind with puzzles, games, and endless fun!

2:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Great Performers with Marc Courtade: The Poetic Julie Christie British actress Julie Christie rose to fame in the 1960s as an iconic symbol of the Swinging Sixties. Her early success led to numerous awards, but she later retreated from stardom to focus on political activism. Christie is admired for her intelligence, glamour, and notable acting skills, making her a respected figure in the film industry.

4:00 p.m.: Craft Corner (K to Grade 3) Join our teen volunteers when they help you to make a craft.

4:00 p.m.: Teens: Community Service Event: Craft Corner Earn 1 hour of Community Service credit as you help younger children make a fun craft!

Saturday, September 21

10:30 a.m.: Saturday Storytime (Ages 4–8) Bring your child for a morning program of stories. Caregivers must stay in the library during this program.

11:00 a.m.: In-Person Cooking Demonstration: Apples, Pumpkins and More with Mary Maguire

The autumn kitchen aromas are so inviting. Certain family recipes are untouchable classics. However, if

you're in the mood for some culinary adventure, we can provide you with recipes and tastings that might just kickstart a new family tradition. The only way to find out is by signing up and joining us! We’ll be sampling: Maple Mini Brie Bites, Apple Morning Glory Muffins, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato and Mango Casserole, and Pumpkin Cheesecake Crepes. Cost: $3.00 per person (Nonrefundable)

Monday, September 23

2:00 p.m.: HYBRID: Art LectureHermitage Museum with Mary Maguire - Join us on a virtual stroll through the grand corridors of St. Petersburg's gem, The Hermitage Museum. Although we can't appreciate its treasures up close for now, this digital tour becomes even more special. The galleries are home to two magnificent Leonardo pieces, thirteen Rembrandts, eleven works by Rubens, and an abundance of Impressionist art. Many of these masterpieces may be new to you, but there's a good chance they'll soon earn a place in your heart.

Tuesday, September 24

9:30 a.m.: IN-PERSON:

Adult Walking Club (Weather Permitting)All levels, all abilities are welcome. Join us for a 45 minute walk around the neighborhood. It’s an opportunity to get some exercise, meet new people, spend time with a friend and enjoy some conversation.

11:00 a.m.: VIRTUAL: Guided

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

2:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: From The Jazz Singer to A Star Is Born: A History of the Movie Musical with Brian Rose - Movies with singing and dancing became popular musicals in America. Over nine decades, musicals evolved to include various performances and formats. This presentation explores the history with over thirty excerpts featuring artists like Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and the Beatles.

2:30 p.m.: IN-PERSON: News Currents with Elinor Haber - Join Elinor to participate in an informal exchange about topics of the daythe international, national and local scene. We’ll focus on trends that affect us now and in the future. Bring your thoughts, issues and a friend to join in the discussion.

Wednesday, September 25

4:00 p.m.: After School

Adventures in Art: Selfie Sculpture (Grades 1–6)Explore the painted self-portraits of artists like Rembrandt and Frida Kahlo, then discover the life-size 3D portraits of Venezuelan American sculptor Marisol. Create your own selfie sculpture inspired by what you’ve learned.

Thursday, September 26

2:00 p.m.: HYBRID: Sargent and Fashion with Professor Thomas Germano - Sargent and Fashion exhibition showcases John Singer Sargent's art and its connection to fashion during the Gilded Age. The display features portraits and costumes from the era, including attire worn by his sitters. Sargent was renowned for his portraits but also excelled in landscape, murals, and watercolors. Professor Thomas Germano will discuss the recent Sargent exhibitions at MFA, Boston, and Tate Britain in a visual lecture. 4:00 p.m.: Sun, Moon, and Stars with the Whaling Museum (Grades 1–5) - Celebrate the Equinox by learning about how sailors used the stars to find their way around the world. Explore authentic navigational tools from our collections and create a light-up lantern.

7:00 p.m.: HYBRID: Unsung Heroes: Jewish Women - Numerous Jewish women have paved the way for future generations. Delve into the achievements of various Jewish women who dedicated their efforts to improving the lives of others. Discover the impact of labor leader Rose Schneiderman, public health innovator Lillian Wald, and others!

Friday, September 27

10:00 a.m.: The Ultimate Brain Teaser Stations Experience Get ready to spice up your Fridays with a brain workout bonanza! Challenge your mind with puzzles, games, and endless fun! No registration required!

Levittown goes red, white and blue for Patriot Day

Students throughout the Levittown School District donned red, white and blue clothing to mark Patriot Day on Sept. 11.

Each year, schools across the district unite to mark the significant day. From elementary schoolers to high schoolers, students make their pride for their country shown. In classrooms, students learned about and discussed the heroes

who put their lives on the line on Sept. 11, 2001, including firefighters, police officers and community members who stepped up to help others during their time of need. Levittown Schools will continue to acknowledge the sacrifices made and the courageous acts that defined this day 23 years ago.

Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Autism Awareness Event at Bethpage Park

The Town of Oyster Bay invites residents to participate in the Town of Oyster Bay’s 16th Annual Autism Awareness Event, being held this year at Bethpage Community Park on Saturday, September 28. The event benefits Advantage Care Health Center’s Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities, one of the leading treatment and outpatient assessment programs for people with autism spectrum disorders.

“Autism can present itself in a wide variety of ways, typically characterized

by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as unique strengths and differences,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated. “It is estimated that the condition affects 1 in every 36 children in the United States, and early diagnosis leads to an increased ability to help through intervention services.”

This year’s Autism Awareness event features a walk, skating, fun activities, crafts, face painting, DJ/ dancing, refreshments and anti-bully-

ing information. Registration for the event begins at 10 a.m., with the walk commencing at 11 a.m. The registration fee is $10 for individuals and $25 for families. All registrants will receive entrance to the post-walk tailgate party with refreshments and free T-shirts while supplies last.

Town Councilman Lou Imbroto added, “We are pleased to once again host this event to benefit the Fay J. Linder Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, which offers the highest quality, state-of-the-art clinical services

Attention students!

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

to people with Autism Spectrum disorders. From hosting social skill development groups to assisting with medicine management and educating community organizations, Advantage Care Health Center does truly outstanding work in our Town.”

For more information, contact the Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department, Recreation Division, at (516) 797-7945 or visit www.advantagecaredtc.org to register or donate online.

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!

In classrooms, students completed activities about the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001.

Abbey Lane Elementary School students made sure to mark the significant day.

At East Broadway Elementary School, students had patriotic pride on display for Patriot Day on Sept. 11.

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NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT- COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, AS SUCCESSORIN-INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES I TRUST 2006HE7, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006HE7, Plaintiff, AGAINST

MELANIE ARTOGLOU AKA

MELANIE A. ARTOGLOU AKA

MELANIE ARNAIZ, et al.

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on September 26, 2019.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM premises known as 364 Central Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Bethpage, in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 46, Block 113 and Lot 474.

NASSAU COUNTY FORECLOSURE NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

can go so far...

Approximate amount of judgment $1,172,822.52 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #012141/2014.

Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLP - Attorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Isaac Perkin, if living, or if either or all be dead, their wives, husbands, heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributes, executors, administrators, assignees, lienors and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said Isaac Perkin, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and the respective husbands, wives, widow or widowers of them, if any, all of whose names are unknown to plaintiff; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 11, 2017, and Amended December 22, 2021, and Amended November 1, 2023, and Amended January 26, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 16, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 29 Oak Drive, Plainview, NY 11803. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in Hicksville, in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section: 12 Block 58 Lot: 1. Approximate amount of judgment $292,499.63 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 008053/2014. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held "Rain or Shine." Jerome Scharoff, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 4304792 Dated: August 8, 2024 For

Advertise your services in our Guide or Service Directory and be seen in these five newspapers: Subscribe to our newspaper by calling 516-294-8900, or visit issuu.com and search for Litmor Publishing to find digital editions of each issue.

NASSAU COUNTY

FORECLOSURE NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME

COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee, for New Century Home Equity Loan Trust 2005-1, Plaintiff AGAINST Jasbir Singh; Balvinderjit Bains a/k/a Balvinderjit K. Bains a/k/a Balvinderjit Kaur Bains; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 3, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 22, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 48 Robin Lane, Plainview, NY 11803. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Plainview, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 13 Block 56 Lot 4. Approximate amount of judgment $626,898.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 001045/2017. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held "Rain or Shine." George Esernio, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 4304792 Dated: August 28, 2024

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Notice of Formation of Maxcom LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/2023. 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 Incorp Services Inc: One Commerce Plaza - 99 Washington Ave, Suite 805-A, Albany, NY 12210. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Too much junk in your house?

Rain Garden volunteers needed

From page 1

lawns. They have numerous environmental benefits, such as filtering pollutants, reducing flooding, and providing food and habitats to wildlife,” Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh said. “However, they must be maintained regularly to ensure healthy soil, healthy plants, and a healthy community, which is why we’re seeking volunteers to assist with our existing rain gardens at the Western Waterfront in Oyster Bay.”

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Notice of Formation of TNT Roadside Services LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/02/2023. 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 Northwest Registered Agent LLC: 418 Broadway, STE N, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Volunteers are needed at the Rain Garden Work Party on Saturday, September 28, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Western Waterfront in Oyster Bay, located at 1 West End Ave, Oyster Bay. The event will be held in partnership with Friends of the Bay and The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District, as these groups collaborated with the Town of Oyster Bay to design and construct the gardens. All volunteers must bring gloves, and community service hours will be offered to participants.

“From helping to capture runoff so it does not pollute our waterways to preventing the breeding of mosquitoes, rain gardens have a tremendously positive impact on our environment and water quality. We hope to see you on September 28th at the Western Waterfront to help maintain these gardens,” Councilwoman Walsh concluded.

For more information on the Rain Garden Pollution Prevention Initiative or Rain Garden Work Party, please call the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Environmental Resources at (516) 677-5730 or email environmental@oysterbay-ny.gov.

Are you a professional? Our

information.

A piece of Hicksville history returns home

From page 1

tion of a new Seagrave from their plant in Columbus, Ohio. The pumper started production on March 22, 1948, and was completed on October 28, 1948, according to the painter’s log. This engine was a Seagrave Model 66 that had sealed beam warning lights on each corner of the windshield. It was capable for pumping 750 gallons of water per minute and was equipped with a set of wood extension ladders and 500 feet of cotton jacketed hose. On November 16, 1948, following the Underwriter’s test, the Hicksville Fire District accepted the delivery of the 1948 Seagrave.

In 1960, Hicksville's most disastrous fire caused more than $300,000 in damage, but not before more than 20 volunteer firefighters were overcome by smoke, about half of whom required hospital treatment. The fire started in the Kantor Brothers tire, recapping part of the building and swept through the Joyce Charm School, Olga’s Specialty Shop, and the Blackman & Klein Plumbing Store. The fire swept through the building located at Broadway and Nicholi Street. As a result of the fire, the Seagrave was pumped at very high pressure for an extended amount of time and the truck was rendered unrepairable. The records at Seagrave and the Hicksville Fire District indicated that

the rig was sold to Vergennes, Vermont on October 23, 1962, and serviced the Saulisbury Volunteer Fire Department in Vermont until the 1990s. A private collector has had possession of the unit since the 1990s.

Former Hicksville Fire Chief Patrick McGeough alerted Schweitzer of a posting on a historical apparatus website. Within just a few days, the Officers of Company 5 received a Facebook message from Andrew Rittner Jr. in Salisbury, Connecticut. Andrew asked if the department was “interested in a chance to bring the truck home to the Hicksville community.” The truck was sold to the Saulsbury Volunteer Fire Department in 1980 and remained there until it was sold to a private collector, Andrew Rittner Sr, in the late 1980s. The truck was last run in 2004 and parked in the barn for restoration that was never begun. The current owner’s son sold his home and has no room for it at his new house.

The 1948 Seagrave is back in Hicksville and now the work begins. The department has a dedicated group of members that will oversee restoring the apparatus, and it is lucky enough to have members with a great depth of mechanical experience and others who are just willing to get their hands dirty. A Restoration Committee has

The pumper in 1952 with Arthur Asakan

been set up under the direction of Captain Niemzcyk including Schweitzer and ex-Chief Rich Diaz, ex-Captain Jeff Scelzi and several others.

“We’re going to spend the next couple years raising money to get it refurbished. We’ve already started acquiring a few parts,” Diaz said. “What we’re hoping is that it will coincide with the 100th anniversary of our Company in 2028, and then we’ll display it and use it

for parades and historical events.”

“I think it is a great idea to preserve the history of the fire service,” said Lieutenant Bodnar. “To find a truck like that intact is not very common. A lot of older fire trucks are sold off when they are retired, but many times the upkeep is just too much and they end up either being sold for scrap, sitting outside and rusting away or becoming unrealized

See page 16

or visit FlushingBank.com.

Hicksville Gregory Museum’s “Old Time Social” overcame weather

Overcast skies and rain couldn’t stop the enjoyment of all who attended the Hicksville Gregory Museum’s “Old Time Social” on Saturday, September 7,. The museum was festooned with red, white and blue bunting and hosted the Banjo Rascals who played toe tapping music in support of the theme of the event. The museum grounds sported tents and old fashion games like Checkers, Corn Hole and even Jenga were set up for all to enjoy. Guest enjoyed food and drink and took chances on baskets made from donated items

including an iPad, shopping spree at Shop&Stop and sushi dinner and bottles of wine to name a few.

“I want to thank all those who attended our “Old Time Social” today,” said Richard Althaus, President of the Board of Trustee of the Hicksville Gregory Museum. “Today would not have been possible without the help of our Friends Group and the volunteers who work tireless to get donations of food and items for our baskets, set-up the event today and so much more.”

Special thank you to our refresh-

ment and basket raffle donors including Dunkin Donuts, Corinne Glanzman. Fuel Café, Jersey Mike’s SubsHicksville, Pickle Me Pete and Stew Leonard’s East Meadow, Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Hicksville Boys & Girls Club, Hicksville Sweet Shop, Pam’s Jamz, Joan D’Auria of LMK Holding Corp and Stop&Shop.

“This event supports our work to educate our citizens about the history of Hicksville and the beauty of earth sciences in our world.” said Mr. Althaus “It is our hope to make this event an annu-

al happening and we hope to increase our attendance and support from the community next year.”

The Hicksville Gregory Museum is located in the former Heitz Place Courthouse in Hicksville, NY; this museum provides essential educational opportunities about the history of Hicksville and the beauty of earth sciences through a collection of butterflies, fossils, minerals and rocks. For more information visit the Hicksville Gregory Museum’s Facebook page.

Refreshment table being set up by Trustee Janet Bergholts

Friends Committee Chair Donna Rivera- Downey setting up the refreshment table.

Kelsey Downey, volunteer and Donna Rivera-Downey, Friends Committee Chair setting up Baskets to be raffled off.

Pictured in front of the Hicksville Gregory Museum is NYS Senator Steve Rhoads and Richard Althaus, President of the Trustees of the Hicksville Gregory Museum Museum festooned with patriotic bunting and hosting the Banjo Rascals

September 20, 2024

Native People’s Day on Oct. 14 and Native American Heritage Month in November Spark Interest in Indigenous Tourism

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

More and more people are finding comfort and wisdom in ancient ways and showing new respect and appreciation for indigenous culture and heritage, especially what they can teach us today about living sustainably and harmony with nature and each other.

“The interest in Indigenous culture and history has been on the rise for a number of years,” states Elena Junes, Director of Program Operations for Road Scholar, and a member of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. “It is consistent with the rise in eco/sustainable and cultural tourism. Worldwide, although Indigenous peoples make up less than 5% of the total human population, traditional indigenous territories encompass between 22-25% of the world’s land surface, and they coincide with areas that hold 80-90% of the planet’s biodiversity. As travelers seek out new places to visit that are in line with sustainable/experiential tourism, they will find that they are often traveling to traditional indigenous areas. As Road Scholar visits these places, we will always do our best to provide responsible, beneficial experiences with the local communities.

And there are more and more opportunities to embark on this journey of discovery as (colonial) governments are showing new sense of responsibility in making restitution, providing the resources for economic development – infrastructure development and marketing - to enable tribal communities preserve what is left of the heritage and culture.

Canada, which has made the most ambitious “Truth and Reconciliation” campaign with its indigenous com-

munities, has excellent programs to link travelers to experiences. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is a national non-profit Indigenous tourism industry organization established in 2015, tasked with growing and promoting the Indigenous tourism industry across the country. Inspired by a vision for a thriving Indigenous tourism economy sharing authentic, memorable and enriching experiences, ITAC develops relationships with groups and regions with similar mandates to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Indigenous tourism businesses in a respectful protocol. (For information, visit www.destinationindigenous.ca)

“Sharing our stories and our history on cultural homeland is an integral part of the experience,” said Clyde Mansell, Tasmanian palawa

Aboriginal Elder and founder of wukalina Walk, which is part of Discover Aboriginal Experiences Australia. “It also allows us to increase employment, involve our young people and contribute to our self-determination, by creating more opportunities for the palawa community.

“We’ve had comments over the years where guests have said it’s changed their lives and their whole thinking about how they should relate to Aboriginal people,” Mansell added.

Here are just a sampling of the plethora of indigenous experiences available to travelers around the world:

Road Scholar Integrates Immersive Indigenous Experiences into Cultural Programs

Road Scholar, which provides

immersive, educational travel programs for seniors, has incorporated immersive indigenous cultural experiences in many of its programs.

“As an educational organization, Road Scholar strives to provide impactful experiences.... We choose to visit Indigenous communities and hear about their history and culture from the people who have the lived experience. Whenever possible, we include meals and activities with local community members as a way to encourage dialogue and enhance cultural discourse. When we visit archaeological sites, we include the voices of descendant communities as part of the educational content we provide. We recognize these sites not as “ruins” but as deeply personal and sacred spaces to the people whose ancestors resided there,” said Elena Junes, Director of Program Operations.

Here is a collection of programs with Native American themes, but this is just a sampling:

In Oklahoma, Road Scholars visit Tahlequah, the capitol of the Cherokee Nation, for a presentation by a Cherokee artist, Traci Rabbit.

In New Mexico, visit the campus of the Institute of American Indian Arts, a congressionally chartered college for Native students, where a student shows Road Scholars around campus. They also take in a presentation by Louie Hena, from Tesuque Pueblo, and a traditional meal with his family.

In Wisconsin, visit Wisconsin Point Indian Burial Ground with a local tribal historian and environmental scientists who gives a presentation on the history and culture of the area.

In Louisiana, visit the Chitimacha Museum to learn about the first inhab-

Continued on next page

The Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota, the first state to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day, this year on October 14.

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Native People’s Day on Oct. 14 and Native American Heritage Month in November Spark Interest in Indigenous Tourism

Continued from previous page

itants of the region through the study of artifacts and find out about the efforts to preserve their tribal language.

In British Columbia, participants visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler to learn from an Indigenous educator about First Nations history, customs, and traditions through dance, storytelling and artifacts.

In Mexico, Road Scholars stop in a traditional village to get to know the traditions and lifestyle of the Mazahua indigenous people and learn how the women’s clothing helps them maintain their identity.

In Guatemala, participants ferry to Santiago La Laguna village to delve into the way of life of the indigenous community on the shores of Lake Atitlan.

In New Zealand, participants visit Te Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, to learn how young Maori train in the traditional Maori arts and crafts, and experience a hangi, the traditional Maori method of cooking food in the ground, accompanied by a Maori cultural performance that includes the “Haka” war dance.

Road Scholar www.roadscholar.org

Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day Where It was First Named a State Holiday: South Dakota

With Indigenous People’s Day fast approaching on Monday, October 14, there’s no better destination to honor and celebrate the holiday than in South Dakota, home to the third-largest Native American population in the US across nine Tribal Nations and the first state to officially replace Columbus Day with Native Americans’ Day as a state holiday in 1990.

One of the most profound monuments in South Dakota is Crazy Horse Memorial which, it is amazing to learn, is

BY CHARLYN FARGO

Here’s happy news for coffee drinkers: Up to three cups a day may be beneficial for your heart. But there’s a catch -- if you’re adding sugar and cream, coffee’s benefits may be canceled out.

A recent study on middle-aged coffee drinkers without existing heart issues found that drinking up to three cups per day was associated with a lower risk for stroke or death over the next decade, along with better heart structure and function. Researchers at the Heart and Vascular Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, looked at a large,

still being carved by the third generation of its original sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, and will soon be the largest mountain sculpture in the world (30x larger than neighboring Mount Rushmore). It was here that the first Native Americans’ Day celebration was held nearly 35 years ago. There is also a superb Museum of Native Americans of North and the studio/home of the sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski. (Crazy Horse Memorial, 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD, 605-6734681, crazyhorsememorial.org.)

Access + Education: Travel South Dakota’s Great 8 for Native American Culture is an incredible itinerary to follow for indigenous tourism, with significant places including: Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village, South Dakota›s only active archaeological site, and one of the most important in the Great Plains region according to the U.S. Department of the Interior; and Bear Butte State Park, Black Elk Peak and Sica Hollow State Park, all sacred sites to Native Americans. Other itineraries include the Native American Attraction Trail, and the Native American National and State Scenic Byway Powwows: While Powwows are available to find and attend throughout the state throughout the year, Rapid City is home to one of North America’s largest and premier Native American events, the Black Hills Powwow every October is where thousands of spectators engage with artisans, artists, championship singers and dancers, the He Sapa Win pageant

Tour Companies:

Tatanka Rez Tours, based on the Pine Ridge Reservation, is the only Native American-owned tour company in South Dakota. Various tour packages give in-depth background on the Ogala Lakota Oyate tribe and provides an experience on the reservation that only those who live there can offer.

Black Hills Adventure tours teamed

up with Tatanka Rez Tours to provide this nine-hour interactive cultural experience, where you listen to traditional stories and songs performed by Tatanka Rez Tours owners Guss, and Tianna and visit the Cultural Art Space, the Pine Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Thunder Valley, Pine Ridge, and the Red Cloud Indian School. Also, a Black Hills Monument Package departs Rapid City at 8:30am, travels to Mount Rushmore where guests can hike around the monument then to Crazy Horse Memorial, finishing with exploring Custer State Park to see wildlife close up.

South Dakota’s Guide to Tribal Nations: Oceti Sakowin Homelands, a joint effort between the South Dakota Department of Tourism and South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, is a great resource featuring a map of tribal lands, brief history of each tribe, visitor etiquette suggestion, and educational opportunities.

TIME Names wukalina Walk in Tasmania, Australia to 2024 World’s Greatest Places List wukalina Walk, a member of Discover Aboriginal Experiences, has been named one of TIME’s 2024 World’s Greatest Places, an exclusive list of 100 extraordinary destinations to explore, stayand visit produced by its editors and correspondents around the world.

wukalina Walk is a multi-award winning Indigenous/palawa-owned tourism experience. Led by Aboriginal guides, the walk offers a rare window into Tasmania/ lutruwita’s Aboriginal culture. For the first two nights, hikers sleep at the architecturally designed standing camp, krakani lumi (resting place), in domed-ceiling huts designed to reflect the shape of the palawa shelters that once lined the east coast of Tasmania/lutruwita. The third night is spent in a beautifully repurposed and restored lightkeeper’s cottage at the most northern end of larapuna (Bay of Fires).

More Discover Aboriginal Experiences:

Discover Aboriginal Experiences is a flagship suite of some 200 Australian Aboriginal-guided experiences from 48 businesses around Australia. Travelers learn about and connect with the diverse histories, cultures and languages of Aboriginal peoples, which date back more than 65,000 years. Here is a sampling:

Jarramali Rock Art Tours explores a 20,000-year-old outback museum of rock art. The ‘Magnificent Gallery,’ in Quinkan Country near Laura, Far North Queensland, has been recognized by UNESCO as one of the 10 most significant rock-art sites in the world. Jarramali Rock Art Tours showcases the Quinkan rock art within the so-called ‘Magnificent Gallery’.

Kakadu National Park, in Kakadu, Northern Territory, is a World heritage-listed home to Aboriginal peoples for more than 65,000 years. It is about half the size of Switzerland and a habitat for approximately a third of all bird species in Australia. Travelers can experience the park at night with an indigenous guide on a new Stargazing Boat tour, which intertwines the ancient wisdom of Bininj knowledge with classical constellations. Alternatively, spend time with the local Indigenous community on the new Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp tour.

Wula Gura Nyinda’s 3 day World Heritage Walking Tour at Shark Bay, Western Australia, is a new walking tour of two national parks located in the Shark Bay World Heritage area – Francois Peron National Park and Dirk Hartog Island. Discover Aboriginal Experiences, discoveraboriginalexperiences.com

observational study. The researchers examined data from the UK Biobank, which recruited 500,000 people ages 40 to 69 from across the United Kingdom. The average age was 56, and 56% were women.

Here’s the bottom line -- regular coffee consumption is safe, as even high daily intake was not associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality after a follow-up of 10 to 15 years.

I admit I love a good cup of coffee in the morning to start my day. If you’re like me and drop liquid creamer into your cup, try to wean yourself off the creamer. Start measuring how much creamer you use, try using a little less, and eventually

you’ll find you may prefer the bolder taste of your coffee.

In this study, most of the coffee drinkers (55%) drank instant coffee, followed by filtered/ground (23%), decaffeinated (20%) or other types (2%). Risk for stroke or heart failure didn’t significantly differ for different types of coffee drinkers.

What about drinking more than three cups a day? Researchers found heavy coffee drinkers also had more favorable cardiac findings and similar rates of stroke compared with nondrinkers. Additional benefit wasn’t seen from drinking more

Continued on page 6

The unofficial rules of being in a book club

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

It helps to know the “rules” of being a newcomer in a book club. By trial and error, I’ve found out that each group has its ways of doing things. Some book clubs have a moderator and that person guides the discussion - asks questions, moves from one person to another and helps keep the discussion on the subject at hand.

Other book clubs utilize their own members to take turns being the moderator and someone else gives a short summary of the author’s life and accomplishments. I’ve gone to a third type of book club where people show up at the appointed time and just start talking about what they liked and didn’t like about the book. It’s a rather impromptu way of doing things but it works.

I say that there are rules of being in a book club and if you are a newcomer to the group it helps to know them right away. I mention “rules” in a tongue in cheek type of way because there are no official rules but if you think about it, most groups have their rules and regulations and if you want your inclusion in the group to be a smooth and easy one, it helps to know what they are.

No shouting out. No crosstalk. Stay on topic because usually we meet for an hour, no more than that. No heated discussions about who is right or wrong in their opinions of the book or the author. Occasionally people can go off track and mention a side story but the speaker should be quick and to the point.

In the seven years since I’ve been retired, I’ve had the chance to attend different book club meetings. Each group is a bit different and each has its own personality. The “rules” can make it informal and chatty or on the other hand, the rules they abide by may be a bit more formal.

I’m still going to different places seeing which book clubs I like the best. The beauty of book clubs is you can go when you want and skip it if you have another commitment. And the advantage of being retired is I can set my own schedule and pace.

It turns out that book club meetings are held in various places - at senior centers, in the meeting rooms of public libraries, in people’s homes and I’ve even attended a couple of meetings sitting outdoors on the grass under a canopy of green leaves.

One thing I’ve noticed is that people who attend book clubs all tend to be bookworms. That’s a generalization, I know, but if there is a generalization to be had, it’s about book lovers, bookworms, and the men and women who enjoy going to book clubs.

When you stop and think about it, some bookworms like reading books and talking about them the next day at work or with their friends and relatives. They don’t feel compelled to go to a book club to discuss that particular book but everyone is different. I have to say there is a certain camaraderie in being in a circle of book lovers all discussing the most recent book we have read.

I’ve seen the joy and delight come into their eyes when they cite a certain passage from the book or recount the way a certain character responded in a particular situation. And whether the ending of the book worked or fell flat. We could spend a half hour alone debating about how the book ended. Was it good? Satisfying? Was it a cliffhanger? A disappointment? Kept us wanting a sequel to the book? Enjoyed reading that author so much that we get our hands on everything else that person wrote, that’s how good s/he was.

I’ve been guilty of getting carried away with the merits of a good or bad ending. I’ve engaged in some good debates with my fellow book club friends about endings that started out friendly then maybe got a little heated so we agreed to disagree on the subject.

A case in point is “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. Some people were disappointed with the ending of the book. Some endings are a little too neat and pat and don’t realistically represent what choices the character would have made.

Another example is “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. Usually I like reading Atwood’s books but in this case the ending was so weak that I, the reader, wondered what ended up happening. It was a great book except for the ending.

Discussions abound about “Moby Dick,” the classic book by Herman Melville, and whether or not Capt. Ahab was right or wrong to order the Pequod steered into dangerous circumstances. These fellow book club members are a friendly bunch who by all accounts

appear to be outgoing but my guess is that if it came down to curling up on their couch with a good book and having a cup of coffee at hand or going out to dinner or a party, they would choose reading the good book. I could be wrong about that - maybe they would go out socializing then stay up late burning the midnight oil reading a good book. Who knows?

As a kid my sisters would kid me and call me a bookworm and I wore that nickname as a badge of honor. Many of my friends and classmates were bookworms, also, so I was in good company. We could have heady discussions about “Love Story” - Erich Segal’s book came out in 1970 when I was in high school in Rockville Centre. That’s the book that says, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Most of the books we read at today’s book clubs are more modern. Usually they are on the bestsellers’ list and are in demand at libraries and bookstores. I’m looking forward to the next book club meeting and am now reading the assigned book. It’s a real page turner!

BY TOM MARGENAU

Foreign Pensions and Social Security

I’ve commented many times before that Social Security is a global phenomenon. Almost every country on the planet has a Social Security system in place for its citizens. (And many countries had social insurance plans long before we got around to implementing our program in 1935.)

In our global economy, it is not uncommon for people to have lived and worked in two or more countries, and thus potentially qualify for Social Security benefits from different countries. How a foreign pension may interact with U.S. Social Security benefits is the subject of today’s column.

Q: I have lived and worked in the United States for the past 15 years. But I was born in Great Britain and worked there for about 30 years before moving to the states. I am 67 years old and about to retire. I get a British Social Security pension and just applied for my American Social Security benefits. Before I did so, the estimates the Social Security Administration mailed me said I would get about $900 per month. But when I filed my claim, I learned I would only get about $450. A Social Security Administration phone rep I talked to said this is because I was double-dipping, and the law didn’t allow me to do this. I think this is totally unfair. I paid into both social insurance systems and think I should get full benefits from both programs. I plan to appeal. Can you help me?

A: You can appeal if you want. But you are not going to win your case. The SSA phone rep misled you by using the term “double-dipping.” That is not why your U.S. Social Security benefit will be reduced. It will be reduced because, without the reduction, you would be getting an unintended windfall in retirement benefits. And the law that applies to you is called the “windfall elimination provision,” or WEP.

To understand the reasoning behind the law, I’ve got to explain something about our Social Security retirement system. There are social goals that have been built into that system since the program began in 1935. One of those goals is to help raise the standard of living for poorer people when they retire. And the way that is done is with a retirement benefit formula skewed in their favor. That formula gives poorer people a better deal -- or more specifically, a higher rate of return -- than is paid to wealthier people. When I am talking about a “rate of return,” I am talking about comparing their Social Security benefit to their average preretirement income.

This formula can best be expressed in terms of percentages. A poor person could potentially get a Social Security benefit that represents up to 90% of his or her average preretirement wage. A well-to-do person will get significantly less -- maybe

in the 25% range. The rich person is still going to get a much higher Social Security benefit, because 25% of his or her income is way more than 90% of the poor person’s income. But still, the poor person gets a better deal out of Social Security.

The return rate payable to the average person, a typical middle-class worker, is in the 40% range: He or she can expect to get a Social Security retirement check that represents about 40% of his or her preretirement income.

Now, let’s discuss the “windfall” that you are getting. All Social Security retirement benefits are based on a 35-year base of earnings. You said you worked in this country for only 15 years. That means there are 20 years of “zero” earnings on your Social Security record. The SSA’s computers thought you were poor because of all those zero earning years. So they initially gave you a preretirement estimate intended for a poor person, with something close to the 90% return rate.

Those computers didn’t know that you are not really poor. They didn’t know that you spent all those years working in another country and earning a retirement pension from that country. But once you actually filed for benefits and told the Social Security people that you spent all those years working in England and earning a British retirement pension, they then used the windfall elimination provision formula to refigure your benefit.

In other words, that $900 monthly benefit rate you were quoted in the letters was based on the 90% rate of return. But again, you are not poor. You are a middle-class person and should get the same rate of return that all middle-class people in this country get. So that $450 monthly benefit you will receive was based on the WEP formula that gives you the same 40% return rate that all average Americans get.

Q: I am a Canadian citizen who moved to the United States in 2010. About two years ago, I married a woman who is a U.S. citizen. We are both age 66. She just filed for her Social Security and will get $2,800 per month. My Canadian Social Security pension is $3,200 per month. Am I able to claim husband’s benefits on my wife’s U.S. Social Security record? When my wife filed for her Social Security, the representative she talked to said no. But I know of other Canadians living here who do get spousal benefits from Social Security.

A: Obviously, I don’t know all the facts about your case. So there may be something I am missing. But based on what you told me, the Social Security agent misinformed you. You should be able to collect $1,400 per month in husband’s benefits on your wife’s Social Security record.

Having said that, I will make this point. I think our Social Security laws on this issue are wrong and need to be changed. I’ll use some examples to explain why.

Bill is a U.S. citizen who spent his life

paying into Social Security and now collects $2,600 per month in retirement benefits. His wife, Ann, gets her own Social Security check amounting to $1,800 per month. Bill can’t get any husband’s benefits on Ann’s Social Security record because his own retirement benefit offsets any spousal benefits. And for that matter, Ann can’t get any of Bill’s Social Security (at least before he dies) because her retirement benefit offsets any spousal benefits she would be due.

Continued on next page

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Lowering rates will not change the housing market

Those pundits believe that lowering rates will stimulate the housing market. This may only be true for those who have the financial wherewithal with the necessary income, credit, and debt/income to secure a mortgage and be able to purchase. This won’t make a huge difference for the mass majority as prices, although not increasing by double digits, are still rising due to the lack of inventory and current purchaser demand. For prices to decrease, demand would also need to slow down sufficiently enough to cause this to occur along with major increases in inventory.

By the time you read this column, Jerome Powell will have reduced Fed Funds rates by either 25 or maybe as much as 50 basis points. The U.S. government will be the biggest beneficiary of the lower rates as the interest on our National Debt of 35.3 trillion will be lower. However, we will still pay at least 1 trillion dollars in interest yearly if not more. I believe the number one reason for lower rates was to decrease the cost of that debt. The side benefit will allow a few more people to afford their home purchase.

Government figures show that inflation has been trending lower as prices are too. Energy prices contracted 3.2% in August, led by crude oil down 6.2% and natural gas down 4.1%. Nonenergy prices eased 1.9%. Food prices fell by 2.3%. Raw materials gained by 1.8%. However, some consumers may not agree with those figures and still feel the pinch of monthly costs in their pocketbooks. Those with high credit card debt are enduring the greatest impact as their costs aren’t going down, but are increasing. I have seen interest rates on credit card rates as high as 36% APR. In 2013 the average interest

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

rate on credit cards was 12.3%. So the doubling plus of rates today has a monumental impact on consumers. For those adding to their debt every month, purchasing a home is becoming an unreachable dream. To add insult to injury, those who have student debt combined with their credit debt will potentially never experience the prospect of buying their first home.

Interest rates were increased over the last 2 years, inflation slowly came down. Decreasing interest rates in turn may cause consumers to see the beneficial lowering of consumer prices as a good time to buy, and have the opposite effect by increasing inflation once again. Moreover, if the Fed continues to increase the money supply, or does any bailouts for banks or consumers going forward, as it has previously done, it will exacerbate increased inflation.

Jerome Powell is walking a very narrow tightrope and must not only choose his words carefully, but his actions could have a major effect on our economic outcome. Our economy has recovered faster and better than any other country. Accessing and viewing the macroeconomics it all looks excellent on the surface. But when you break it down via microeconomics and see the types of jobs that are being created, wages and salaries paid, personal and national debt, and layoffs that have and are occurring, things don’t look as rosy as they appear. One cannot judge everything by those making huge sums of money; but by the average middle-class American, whose

SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU

Continued from previous page

There is something called the “government pension offset” law that usually prevents someone who is getting a non-Social Security retirement pension from getting Social Security dependent benefits from a spouse. But for some reason that I can’t explain, there is a loophole in that offset law for foreign pensions. You are going to be able to get your Canadian retirement pension and a full dependent husband’s benefit from the U.S. Social Security system. So go ahead and jump through that

big loophole. But I just don’t think it’s right.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon. com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.

buying power has been diluted drastically by inflation over the last 10 years. Viewing the stock market isn’t necessarily the barometer of how everyone is doing today. If our inflation were 2% per year, then prices would double every 35 years; which lately hasn’t been the case as prices have increased dramatically over the last 4 years.

Unfortunately, those earning the U.S. standard minimum wage of $7.25 per hour will never become homeowners. Even in states where the minimum wage is as high as $17 per hour in Washington D.C. and $16 per hour in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester, the rest of the State is $15 per hour, which will never be sufficient to buy a home. Unless those earning hourly wages, have a second or even a third job and can save a substantial amount of money to make a huge downpayment; or someone gifting them the money, many families and individuals will not be able to purchase a home.

I don’t have an exact solution, but one must take certain calculated risks to become a business owner or at least have a side hustle to sock away money for your future purchase. Even today higher education doesn’t necessarily guarantee earning a sufficient living to buy a home unless you specialize in a field that pays an above-average income. However, student debt may hang over you for a lifetime, again not guaranteeing you the opportunity to buy. If you have an entrepreneurial mindset, taking certain risks to earn more money, might be the path to pursue. However, research and educate

yourself on what you want to pursue and have enough money to fund your passion and then go for it.

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

Groceries Got You Groaning? Here’s How to Save Without Starving

BY MARY HUNT

If your grocery bill feels more like a mortgage payment these days, you’re not imagining it. Even though inflation’s been slowing, grocery prices have climbed about 21% over the past few years. Unlike that fancy latte, groceries aren’t optional. But while we can’t control the prices, we can outsmart them with a few clever strategies.

REMEMBER THE COUPONS

Ah, the glory days of paper coupons! Back then, we were all about the huntclip-sort routine, saving those precious cents wherever possible. Now retired, Teri Gault and “The Grocery Game “ were game changers, helping us save 30% or more every week. But things have gone digital now -- no more Sunday papers, just apps and in-store scanning. While it’s more streamlined, it can feel like you’re playing a game of high-tech hide-and-seek.

Don’t worry, though, because Kiersten Torok is a new coupon queen on the scene. She started couponing in high school after her parents lost their jobs in 2008, and when the pandemic hit, she doubled down on her skills. Now, she’s sharing her secrets on social media, making paperless couponing accessible to everyone. Check out her tips at Torok Coupon Hunter to start saving like a pro. If you’re into tech, apps like Flipp let you browse coupons from all major grocery stores, and Ibotta offers cashback. It’s like having a digital wallet that pays you just for shopping.

BUDGET LIKE A BOSS

One of the best ways to control your grocery spending is to make a budget --

and stick to it. Start by taking a good look at what you’re currently spending. Those crumpled receipts? They’re goldmines of information. If you don’t have them, your bank statements will do. Add up your average spending and set a goal, whether it’s to shave off $20 a week or just to avoid hitting triple digits every time.

But a budget isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about being mindful of what you’re buying. Before heading out, do a quick inventory of your pantry and fridge. Apps like YNAB (You Need a Budget) recommend a full sweep so you know what you’ve got and don’t end up with a sixth jar of pickles you didn’t need. Planning meals around what you already have saves money and cuts down on food waste -- a win for your wallet and the planet.

PLAN YOUR MEALS, NOT JUST YOUR DAY

Speaking of meal planning, this isn’t just a strategy for fitness buffs or aspiring chefs. It’s a lifesaver for anyone looking to save a buck or two (or 20). Start by writing down what you plan to cook for the week or month. Get specific! Don’t just list “dinner.” Write “spaghetti with marinara, side salad.” This way, you’re shopping with purpose, not just wandering aimlessly down the pasta aisle.

And remember to plan for the unexpected. The grocery store can be a minefield of temptations -- chocolate-covered almonds, anyone? Allow yourself some wiggle room for treats or those spontaneous cravings. Make it a line item in your budget so you don’t feel guilty when you reach for that artisanal cheese.

Meal-planning apps like AnyList or Mealime can help streamline this process. They allow you to create grocery

lists based on your meal plans, reducing the chances you’ll forget something (and have to make a pricey second trip).

SHOP SMART, NOT HARD

If you’re prone to impulse buys -- guilty as charged -- consider shopping online and opting for curbside pickup. When you’re not wandering through the aisles, it’s much harder to fall victim to the lure of endcap displays or those “buy one, get one” deals on things you don’t need.

Plus, if you shop at multiple stores to catch the best deals, ordering online can save you both time and money. Compare prices, fill your cart and pick up everything in one go without the hassle of bouncing between locations.

For families, get everyone involved in the shopping process. Make it a game for the kids! Have them help scan coupons, pick produce or compare prices. It’s a great way to teach them about budgeting early on and makes grocery shopping a family affair.

GO BIG OR GO HOME

Buying in bulk isn’t just for big families or doomsday preppers. It’s a great way to save money, especially if you split the cost with friends or family. Not everything is a good bulk buy -- nobody needs a gallon of mustard -- but nonperishables like pasta, rice or canned goods can be wise choices.

And for perishables, consider splitting purchases with a neighbor or friend. If you both love strawberries but can’t finish a giant carton before they go bad, share the love (and the cost).

Food-sharing apps like Olio and Too Good to Go connect people in the community to share surplus food or buy surplus groceries from local businesses at a discount. It’s a win-win: You save money

Heart-healthy Coffee

and help reduce food waste.

A FINAL THOUGHT

Groceries are a necessary evil, but they don’t have to drain your wallet. You can take the sting out of that weekly grocery run with a little strategy -- think digital coupons, smart budgeting, meal planning and bulk buying. So go forth and conquer the aisles, fellow savvy shoppers. For more info, resources and links, meet me at EverydayCheapskate.com/ groceryapps.

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.”

Continued from page 2

than three cups.

Just what is there about coffee that’s beneficial when coffee and caffeine are often considered to be bad for the heart

because people associate them with palpitations and high blood pressure?

Coffee is chock-full of substances that may help guard against conditions like dementia and heart disease. Coffee contains antioxidants and other active substances that may reduce internal inflammation and protect against disease.

So, skip the mocha or the latte. Enjoy your coffee in moderation as part of an overall heart-healthy dietary pattern with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy products that is also low in sodium, saturated fat and added sugars.

Q and A

Q: What is a refined grain?

A: Refining grain strips away the fibrous bran and nutrient-rich germ, leaving only the starchy endosperm. Without the fiber, the remaining carbohydrates are rapidly digested and absorbed, which

can cause spikes in blood sugar. White flour and the many products made from it, including white bread, desserts, pastries, many cereals and crackers, white rice and rice flour are examples of refined grain foods. Whole grains include barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, farro, freekeh, oats, quinoa, spelt, wheatberries and minimally processed products made from these and other grains.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the current president of the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRD.

We are looking for writers to compose articles on local topics, opinions, reviews, worthy places to visit on Long Island, & even fiction to be featured in our Discovery magazine section. E-mail submissions: editor@gcnews.com

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

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BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of September 22-28, 2024

Scientific discovery is a funny thing. Sometimes it occurs quite accidentally, sometimes after a conscious search. A perfect example of the latter is the discovery of the planet Neptune.

Astronomers stumbled upon Neptune only after the planet Uranus -- which William Herschel had found 65 years earlier -- was determined to exhibit some weird orbital behavior. Specifically, Uranus wasn’t keeping precisely to the path that astronomers had computed.

A young English astronomer named John Couch Adams calculated that this odd behavior could be explained if there was another planet beyond tugging gravitationally on it. He even figured out where this new planet might be found; unfortunately, no one in England ever bothered to look for it.

Meanwhile, across the English Channel, the Frenchman Urbain Le Verrier was making his own calculations. Again, no one seemed to care, but Le Verrier didn’t let that stop him. He took them to the German astronomer Johann Gottfried, who aimed his telescope skyward and found the new planet -- on his very first night of searching! That was in 1846, and ever since, few beginning stargazers have even looked for this distant world, let alone found it. It’s a challenge, no doubt about it, but

STARGAZERS

Desperately Seeing Neptune

now’s as good a time as any to search because this week Neptune reaches its opposition point when it not only lies at its nearest to Earth -- about 2.69 billion miles -- but also shines at its brightest.

Finding Neptune among the faint stars of Aquarius isn’t easy, however, and since this distant world is invisible to the unaided eye, you’ll need to use “star-hopping” techniques, as well as have a dark rural sky, binoculars and lots of patience, to spot it.

If you’re up for the challenge, the best way to locate it right now is to find Saturn, the brightest starlike object low in the southeastern sky just after dark. With binoculars, “walk” about two and a half fields of view to the lower left of Saturn and see if you can find the star pattern shown in the accompanying graphic. For a more detailed finder chart for the planet, visit theskylive. com and click on “Neptune” in the “Highlights” section.

I know, the stars there are very faint, but that’s where Neptune happens to lie right now. To quote engineer Scotty on “Star Trek”: “Aah caahhn’t chehnge the laws of physics!”

With binoculars you might spot Neptune as a faint bluish “star,” but a small telescope aimed in this direction will show a tiny bluish-green disk that distinguishes it from neighboring stars.

If you’re not sure you’ve found it, sketch the area, being careful to mark every star in its exact position. Then,

a week or two later, check this same celestial region and see which of these faint objects has changed its position. That’s Neptune!

Once you find it, keep this fact in mind: ever since Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006, Neptune has been known as the farthest planet from the sun.

And, as challenging as Neptune might be to locate, there’s something really special about seeing with our own eyes the most distant planet of our solar system!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

I, Robot Vacuum

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

At 1 a.m. on a Sunday, I woke up to hear the new robot vacuum vacuuming. The next night I heard it whirring around again at 1 a.m., then Tuesday it was the same thing.

“What the heck is going on with that thing?” asked my husband as we heard the vacuum banging on our bedroom door to get in.

“Obviously, it wants to clean in here,” I said, half asleep.

“Yes, I understand that,” he said. “But why does it want to clean in here at one in the morning?”

“I dunno. Maybe it prefers to clean by moonlight?”

I decided that either my vacuum was possessed, or I fed it after midnight and it turned into a Gremlin. I opened the bedroom door, and the vacuum rushed in to deal with what it thought was a late-night dog hair emergency. I hit the

“off” button, and the vacuum let out two beeps to let me know how disappointed it was not to be allowed to take care of our fictitious cleaning crisis.

The fact that it was even turning itself on at all was a surprise to me. I hadn’t realized the vacuum could actually be set to run itself. But when I Googled this phenomenon the next day, I found out that if I had actually read the manual, I would have learned the robot vacuum could not only run itself when I’m not home but also let me know when it was done. It wouldn’t, however, feed or walk the dog, make dinner or pick up my dry cleaning, so honestly, I’m not really sure why I was bothering with it at all.

But anyway, the only way to set the vacuum up to do vacuum things was to download a vacuum app, which would let me control all the vacuum settings. If I didn’t do this, it defaulted to its factory settings, which made it deep-clean our

floors at 1 a.m., for some reason.

After I downloaded the app, I set the vacuum to clean at 10 a.m. each day but not to notify me when it was done, when it encountered a foreign object in its way, or when it couldn’t finish the job because it had fallen off a cliff (the vacuum’s words, not mine). There were myriad notifications I could opt to get if I so opted, but I didn’t because, really, I had better things to do than be at the beck and call of my robotic vacuum all day.

Confident that I was now fully robot vacuum-literate and would no longer be bothered by late-night cleanings or egregious notifications, I went on with my life.

But then one day while I was at lunch, my phone pinged, and when I looked at it, I saw that I had an urgent notification, so I clicked on it.

It was my robot vacuum.

It wanted me to know that it was its

birthday.

I was floored. I had not seen this particular notification in the settings, which meant it was either factory-programmed to let me know this information, or it was just taking it upon itself to tell me.

Realizing this was something I only had to worry about once a year, I decided to let this one go and focus on the more important issue:

If I got the vacuum cleaner a birthday cake and it left crumbs on the floor, would it be too much to ask it to clean up after itself?

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.

LOST IN SUBURBIA

Neptune, the most distant planet in the Milk Way, is visible with binoculars.

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

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BECOME A GARDEN CITY PD CROSSING GUARD

The Garden City Police Department is currently seeking

Part-time Crossing Guards for assignments throughout Garden City

All interested candidates meeting the qualifications for a GCPD Crossing Guard may obtain an application by going to the link below or by visiting the Garden City Police Department at 349 Stewart Avenue, Garden City. Qualifications are:

• Discourage children from behaving unsafely near traffic, such as darting into the street without looking or crossing against a traffic signal. A guard can encourage safe behavior by all pedestrians at the school crossing.

• Use existing gaps in traffic to help students cross safely. When the natural traffic flow does not allow enough time for children to safely cross a street, a guard may need to create gaps by stopping traffic temporarily. The guard stops traffic with hand signals or a STOP paddle, then verbally directs children to cross the street. A guard is always the first person in the street and the last person out of the street.

• Alert motorists that pedestrians are in the process of using the school crossing.

• Observe and report any incidents or conditions that present a potential safety hazard to the school children or the guard.

• Candidates must be able to withstand inclement weather and meet minimum medical and physical requirements.

• Candidates must have a High School diploma or G.E.D.

** Starting salary for this position is $44.50 per diem.

Go to https://gardencitypolice.net/school-crossing-guards scroll to the bottom and click on the link for the Crossing Guard Application. All interested candidates meeting the above-stated criteria may also obtain an application at the Garden City Police Department.

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Gooey waffles for breakfast or dessert

Kentucky ‘Nanner Foster Waffles

Nonstick cooking spray

2 cups all-purpose flour

1⁄4 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

Topping:

1⁄4 cup butter

1⁄4 cup brown sugar, packed

1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1) Preheat a waffle iron, and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 170 F.

2) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3) In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and milk. Add the butter, vanilla, and cinnamon, and whisk.

4) Add the wet mixture to the dry, and whisk until there are no lumps.

5) Scoop 1⁄2 cup batter onto the waffle iron, close the lid, and let cook until golden brown and crispy. Repeat until all the batter is gone.

6) Put the waffles on a sheet pan and place in preheated oven.

Waffles can be enjoyed any time of the day. While traditionally breakfast fare, waffles can be a sweet or savory dessert as well.

When waffles are paired with the flavors of a traditional Banana Foster dessert, they can be a decadent breakfast or impressive evening treat. Enjoy this recipe for “Kentucky ‘Nanners Foster Waffles” from “Lord Honey Traditional Southern Recipes with a Country Bling Twist” (Pelican Publishing) by Chef Jason Smith. Serves 4 to 6

1 1⁄2 cups milk, any variety 1⁄2 cup butter, melted and cooled

2 teaspoons vanilla 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 bananas, sliced thick

3 teaspoons bourbon Favorite vanilla ice cream

7) To make the topping, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stir to combine, and cook for about 1 minute.

8) Add the sliced bananas and cook for a few seconds. Add the bourbon (or apple juice, instead), and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often with a light hand so the bananas do not break up.

9) Meanwhile, place 1 to 2 waffles on a plate and top with a scoop of ice cream. Once banana sauce has thickened, spoon over ice cream and waffles. Repeat with remaining waffles.

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Bethpage musicians earn NYSSMA All-State honors

Three talented student-musicians from Bethpage High School have been recognized for their exceptional skills by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) and selected for the prestigious 2024 All-State Conference. This recognition is a significant achievement, as only the top student-musicians from across New York State are chosen to participate.

Samantha Harold, Wrunpat Hattakitkosol and Ava Mirabelli have earned this distinction after excelling at the NYSSMA Solo Festival last spring, where their performances were evaluated by NYSSMA Certified AllState adjudicators. Their hard work and dedication to their craft have paid off with these honors: Mirabelli has been selected to perform with the treble choir, Hattakitkosol will showcase her talents as a violinist with the string orchestra and Harold has been named a percussion alternate, ready to step in if needed.

The students will perform in person this December at the renowned Eastman Theater at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. The event will bring together the most gifted student musicians from across the state, offering them a unique opportunity to collaborate and perform at a high level.

To be selected for the All-State Conference is no small feat. In addition to being recommended by their music teachers, each student had to prepare a level VI All-State solo, the most challenging level in the NYSSMA repertoire. The process is highly competitive, making this recognition even more noteworthy.

Bethpage High School students Samantha Harold, Wrunpat Hattakitkosol and Ava Mirabelli have been recognized by the New York State School Music Association as an All-State participants and alternate.

From left to right: Director of Fine and Performing Arts Brent Chiarello, Ava Mirabelli, Principal Nicholas Jantz, music teacher Kristen Warnokowski (standing), Samantha Harold (seated), music teacher Michelle Kovacs (standing), Wrunpat Hattakitkosol (seated), and music teacher Dr. Eric Kay.

Photo courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

A piece of Hicksville history returns home

From page 11

dreams of restoration, like this one was. It is a great motivational tool for recruitment and retention when our members can come together to preserve this old truck and restore it as close to its original working order as possible.”

The truck is now in storage. As a truck that is over 60 years old, it needs some tender loving care. While there is limited rust, the truck needs a full restoration, and the members are excited at the prospect of coming together to bring new life into a bygone era of fire apparatus. Schweitzer said he has already received several calls from historians, restoration experts and everyday people willing to lend their time and talent.

Schweitzer said the ultimate goal with the truck is to restore it to its former glory and use it in training exercises and parades, at car shows and at department fundraising events. It must be restored first, and Schweitzer said the department’s members are examining ways to raise the money to restore the vehicle.

The funds may be costly; well above a pancake breakfast or a raffle ticket or two. That’s why the department is asking for history buffs, collectors and people interested in seeing this truck come back to life. The cost to fully restore

this truck can be upwards of $30,000 or $40,000, Schweitzer said.

“We are looking at planning fundraisers and will accept donations from the public too.,” Schweitzer said. “All donations will be tax deductible. People can just make checks out to Hicksville Volunteer Fire Department and write in the memo line that it is to help pay for the “Emergency Company 5, Seagrave Fire Truck’s Restoration.”

Schweitzer is not the only member of the department who is excited the truck is back home; other department members are just as thrilled. This truck will be the result of the blood, sweat and tears of so many people. Schweitzer said that, depending on how quickly the department can secure the funding needed to fully restore the truck, the process could take between three and four years.

“It’s a labor of love,” Schweitzer said. “It’s going to take a long time and a lot of work and bring a new sense of togetherness that will certainly bring the various generations together and save a piece of timeless history.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to collect funds to restore the pumper. To donate go to https://www.gofundme. com/f/support-the-restoration-ofhicksvilles-1948-fire-truck?qid=2a49f079 869a2bfef13fe7ec0c8306bf

Free “Last Summer Blast” concert in Farmingdale

The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that the Lords of 52nd Street will perform a ‘Last Summer Blast’ concert at Ellsworth W. Allen Park in Farmingdale on Saturday, September 21, at 7 p.m. This free concert will offer residents one last chance to enjoy some free musical entertainment before the fall season officially arrives. The Lords of 52nd Street features the legends of The Billy Joel Band, including Liberty DeVitto, and Russell Javors.

Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “The members of the Lords of

Bethpage High School hosts college fair

Students at Bethpage High School visit the over sixty booths at the annual college fair, collecting brochures, meeting with representatives, and learning about the various schools in attendance.

Bethpage High School recently held its annual “mini” college fair—though with 63 college representatives in attendance, it was anything but mini! Seniors had the chance to collect brochures, ask important questions, and explore a wide vari-

Photo courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

ety of schools as they start planning for the future. This event provided a valuable opportunity for students to connect directly with college reps and gain insights into the application process. Here’s to all the exciting paths ahead!

Dutch Lane kicks off year with pep rally

52nd Street are legends of rock n’ roll and put on an amazing performance each time out, recreating the amazing sounds of rock legend Billy Joel, whose hits they were originally part of. The Town is proud to present this free concert to residents.”

Residents are invited to bring chairs or blankets for seating, which begins after 4 p.m. This outdoor event is being held weather permitting – visit facebook.com/townofoysterbay or call (516) 797-7925 for all up-to-date information.

Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call our main office today 294-8900 for more information.

Dutch Lane Elementary School in Hicksville kicked off the new school year with a pep rally on Sept. 13. The student body and staff gathered in the gym for the afternoon event to set the tone for a successful school year ahead.

Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Levittown Football opening event

Hempstead Town Councilman Dennis Dunne attended the Levittown Pride Hall Football Team Opening Day on September 7, at MacLaren Stadium in Levittown.

Car show returns to TOBAY Beach on September 22

Long Island’s largest and most premier car show experience returns to TOBAY Beach on Sunday, September 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Car Show Long Island” features hundreds of automobiles, trucks, military vehicles, and emergency service vehicles. A live concert performed by Vinyl Revival will take place during the day, followed by trophy presentations. The event is free for spectators. Free shuttle bus service will now also be offered to all Car Show Long Island spectators with convenient pickup and drop-off located at Jones Beach Field 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Supervisor Saladino stated, “Whether you’re a proud classic car owner or you want to see the latest and greatest automobiles in the world, Car Show Long Island is the place to be! With a diverse range of vehicles showcased, car enthusiasts will have the opportunity to admire and interact with some of the most impressive cars around. This free family-fun event is a perfect way to spend the day, all with the beautiful backdrop of TOBAY Beach. Spectators can check out cool cars, vendors, exhibits and enjoy live music while surrounded by Long

Island’s best classic, muscle, antique and exotic cars.”

Car Show Long Island’s 2024 TOBAY Beach Spring Classic features some of the hottest and most classic cars in the tri-state region. While enjoying live music performed by Vinyl Revival and great eats from the Food Truck Corral presented by Eagle Chevy Performance, thousands of spectators are expected throughout the day to get up close and personal with Long Island’s best classic, muscle, antique and exotic cars. Trophies will be awarded in each class, and children will have a say when deeming which rides are their favorites in the Kids’ Choice Award. Car Show Long Island’s 2024 TOBAY Beach Spring Classic is being presented by: Optimum, Signarama of Huntington and Whitey’s Tire Services of Brooklyn.

Classic Car enthusiasts and spectators can also grab a bite to eat from the food truck corral, and can also check out numerous vendors and displays. A rain date of September 29 has been arranged. For more information, visit www.carshowli.com, call (516) 797-4121 or e-mail carshowli@oysterbay-ny.gov.

Registration for Town athletic programs

The Town of Oyster Bay is holding registration for its Fall Athletic Programs for basketball, badminton, and volleyball. The programs begin on Sunday, September 29, Hicksville Athletic Center. All athletic programs run for 10 weeks, are co-ed, and open to individuals 18 and over.

“The Town’s athletic programs offer a great opportunity for residents to take to the court, improve their skills, and make new friends,” said Town Councilman Lou Imbroto. “We have various sessions scheduled for each sport, giving residents several opportunities to have fun while staying active.”

Basketball pickup games will be held on Thursdays from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturdays from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., beginning on September 29, 2024. The basketball program is 10-weeks long and costs $25 for residents and $40 for non-residents.

Badminton will feature two sessions for registrants to choose from. Classes start Sunday, September 29. Session 1 takes place Tuesdays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:05 p.m., Fridays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:05 p.m., and Sundays from 6:10 p.m. to 8:10 p.m. Session 2 takes place Tuesdays from 10:15 p.m. to

11:35 p.m., Fridays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., and Sundays from 8:20 p.m. to 10:20 p.m. The badminton program is 10-weeks long and costs $75 for residents and $100 for non-residents.

Volleyball will be split into two sessions. The first session will be held on Mondays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:05 p.m., Wednesdays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:05 p.m., and Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The second session will take place on Mondays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., Wednesdays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:20 p.m. to 10:20 p.m.. The volleyball program is 10-weeks long, costs $75 for residents and $100 for non-residents, and is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 30th.

Registration is available by visiting oysterbaytown.com/sports. You must upload proof of residency (tax or utility bill) and a valid identification card such as a driver’s license. Proof of residency is required for resident discount. The schedule is subject to change – if a session is cancelled, make-up day(s) will be attempted. For more information, or to inquire about special holiday scheduling, please call (516) 797-7945 or email tobparks@oysterbay-ny.gov

Food drive to support local veterans

The Town of Oyster Bay urges residents to support local veterans by donating to a Veteran Food Collection Drive in support of disadvantaged hometown heroes. From October 1 to October 31, residents are invited to dropoff non-perishable food items at collection boxes located in Town Hall South in Massapequa (977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa) and Town Hall North in Oyster Bay (54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay).

Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “Donating to a veteran food collection drive helps provide essential support to those who have bravely

Attention students!

served our nation but now face food insecurity. Your contribution ensures that veterans and their families receive the nutrition they need to thrive and recover from challenging circumstances. By giving back, you honor their sacrifices and make a meaningful difference in their lives.”

Drop-off locations are open from 9am to 4:45 p.m. weekdays. This Veteran Food Collection Drive is hosted in partnership with AMVEST Post 88 in Massapequa. For more information, please call (516) 624-6380 or email ealter@oysterbay-ny.gov.

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Earlier this year you sent me to Washington to try to fix things. So I am working with anyone of goodwill, regardless of party, to bring common sense solutions to secure the border, reinstate the SALT deduction, bring federal money back to Long Island and help heal the divide in Congress. If you send me back to Congress I will continue to fight for bipartisan common sense solutions.

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There Must Be A Reason...

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