A Dizzying Array of Celebrity Groundhogs

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

Last year I had a real problem with Groundhog Day. The issue was that there were just too darn many celebrity groundhogs with differing predictions for the end of winter, and I didn’t know who to believe. Between world-renowned rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, lesser-known wonder woodchuck, Staten Island Chuck, and scores of others, the playing field was just way too crowded with clairvoyant groundhogs. I also wondered if, perhaps, Chuck, Phil and the rest of the superstar groundhogs could be trusted. Much as movie stars turn on the charm when the cameras are rolling, I wondered if the celebrity groundhogs might be less concerned with getting the change of seasons right and more interested in just striking a pretty pose for the cameras.

So, this year I decided to follow a different groundhog. This year I was betting on our groundhog. Suburban Stan, as we call him, lives under our deck, and like his celebrity brethren, he also takes a peek out from his lair around Groundhog Day. I wasn’t sure if he was really looking for his shadow like the other dudes, or if he was just checking to see if the evil family dog was still lurking around. But if he happened to see his shadow, or not, while looking around, the end result would be the same and I would have my prediction. I was fairly certain Stan would give us an unbiased reading, because unlike Phil and Chuck, he didn’t have a crowd to please or paparazzi to perform for. He also didn’t have his own security team, Twitter account or Facebook page, didn’t have his own reality show and had never hosted “SNL,” so all in all, I thought he was probably a pretty grounded groundhog.

As we got closer to Groundhog Day, though, I began to get nervous that Stan might sleep through the big event. Celebrity groundhogs have their own people to wake them up and make sure that they are camera-ready when the moment arrives, but Stan had no people. He didn’t even have a stunt double. What if Stan failed me? I’d have to rely on the actual calendar and The Weather Channel to tell me when spring would arrive.

Knowing he has a way with sleepy groundhogs, I considered phoning Bill Murray to see if he could stop by and rouse Stan at the right time. However, I was concerned that having Bill Murray come over to see him might give Stan a swelled head and then he would think he, too, was a celebrity groundhog, so I nixed that idea.

Then I had an epiphany. With so many celebrity groundhogs out there, was it possible that all groundhogs have the secret desire to be famous? Are they all just waiting to be discovered and hailed as the new Punxsutawney Phil, get their own movie with Bill Murray and refuse to answer when someone refers to them as a woodchuck?

I thought if this was true and Stan was a celeb groundhog wannabe, then there was really no problem.

When the time came for him to perform, I’d just roll out a red carpet and stand around with a camera.

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

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS

Employment

HELP WANTED

COUNTER HELP WANTED for the Snack Bar at the Parkwood Sports Complex Ice Skating Rink in Great Neck.

Experience preferred. Will train.

Please call 516-826-4540

Getting

Employment

HELP WANTED

LEGAL ASSISTANT Garden City Attorney Seeks Legal Assistant to work full time or part time. Excellent typing skills and accounting background a plus.

Reply to: LTJonesAtty@cs.com OR 516-747-1141

Employment

HELP WANTED

SEEKING LOCAL LADY for help with daily activities. Food shopping, medical appointments and other errands. P/T Flexible Days/Hours. Call 516-829-0542

TAX PREPARER

Garden City trusts and estates law firm seeks full-time professional to prepare individual, fiduciary income and private foundation tax returns and fiduciary accountings.

Experience preferred.

Recent college graduates (accounting majors) welcome. Competitive salary, employee benefits, including medical insurance, 401(k) with company match. Professionals interested in part-time/seasonal work are also encouraged to apply.

Reply to: michael.sparacino@brosnanlaw.com

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

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

SITUATION WANTED

A COMPANION HOME HEALTH AIDE & BABYSITTER

20 years experience in home care, nursing homes. Seeking a position to care for the sick/elderly. Male or female patients. Experience with Dementia, Alzheimers, Stroke. Babysitting services also available. References available. English speaking. Please call: 347-546-4133

Employment

SITUATION WANTED

HOME HEALTH AIDE with sunny personality seeks job in eldercare. 16+ years experience with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Stroke, Sundown Syndrome. Excellent references upon request.

Call Marcia 347-551-1720

CAREER TRAINING

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

(844) 947-0192

(M-F 8am-6pm ET)

Computer with internet is required.

TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING

Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months!

Call 855-543-6440

(M-F 8am-6pm ET)

Computer with internet is required.

Announcements

Get DIRECTV FOR $64.99 / month for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.). Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-534-6918

Marketplace

A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP

516-746-8900

Antiques-FurnitureJewelry-Silver-MirrorsLamps-Artwork

Come to Consign & Stay to Shop

Visit....

Our Shop

109 Eleventh St. Garden City

Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4

Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org

Items to Consign?

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

All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society

Like us on Facebook & Instagram

Marketplace

INVITED ESTATE SALES

BY TRACY JORDAN

is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www.invitedsales. com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

Auctions

COOL OLD STUFF IN GLEN COVE VINTAGE SHOP. WINNER OF BEST OF NASSAU COUNTY 2021. GREAT PRICED items for Boat & Home. See ALL online at Wilsonsdrydock.com.

118 Dayton St. Sea Cliff. Call 516-662-2821

Marketplace

WANTED TO BUY

LOOKING TO BUY!

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

Immediate Cash Paid

Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104

TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTS ALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC.

Please call 718-598-3045 or 516270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com

Automotive

AUTOS WANTED

***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS

$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU!

Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h.

DMV ID#1303199

Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS

516-297-2277

DRIVE OUT BREAST CAN-

CER:

Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup 24hr response Tax deduction

Easy to do!

Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

WHEELS FOR WISHES benefitting

Make-A-Wish

Northeast New York. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever! Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100% Tax Deductible. Minimal To No Human Contact. Call: 877-798-9474

Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. www.wheelsforwishes.org

Real Estate For Rent

VACATION RENTAL

ATLANTIS, BAHAMAS

TIME SHARE RENTAL Harborside

On the Atlantis Marina

July 8-15, 2023

Corner Premium 2BR, 2 BATH Unit, Bldg 7

Sleeps 8 7 nights, $4,100 Call: 516-742-3176

OCEAN BEACH

FIRE ISLAND RENTAL

5 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 Kitchen house that is just 6 houses from the beach w/all the amenities.

Weekly rentals available May-Sept $8,000/week

Monthly rentals availableMay, June, Sept $20,000/month Rental fee does not include cleaning, taxes & utilities Call 516-978-6842

Services

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING

We can frame anything!

Quality Care & Workmanship

Thousands of frames to choose from!!

Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495

ATTORNEY

STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ.

Elder Law, Wills & Trusts Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122 www.dangelolawassociates. com

Services

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

CHIMNEY KING ENT. INC. FREE ESTIMATES

Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist. FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK 516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600

Since 1982 chimneykinginc.com

DON’T PAY FOR COVERED

HOME REPAIR AGAIN! American Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE/$100 OFF POPULAR PLANS. 833-3980526

HANDYMAN

Careful & Reliable Serving GARDEN CITY and surrounding area since 2003 Repairs & Installations of all types Carpentry, Moldings, Lighting and More 35-yr Nassau Resident References Lic#170101 Phone/Text Friendly Frank: 516-238-2112

Email: Frankcav@optonline. net

Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies

Services

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

MASONRY

All types of stonework

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

Free Estimates

Fully Licensed & Insured

#H2219010000

Boceski Masonry

Louie 516-850-4886

ROOFS, GUTTERS, CARPENTRY, BATHROOMS, KITCHENS, NEW BASEMENT ENTRANCES, EXTENSIONS, MASONRY, FLOORS, WATERPROOFING, DRAINS, LEAKS, STOOPS, DECKS, DRIVEWAYS, DEMOLITION, RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ARIS CONSTRUCTION

10% Discount w/ad. Call 516-406-1842 www.ArisLI.com

HEALTH SERVICES

FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC

Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager

Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion

Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement

PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams

Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications

516-248-9323 www.familycareconnections.com

901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530

PAINTING & PAPERHANGING

MICHELANGELO

PAINTING & WALLPAPER Interior,

Call: 516-328-7499

SERVICES

PARTY HELP

LADIES & GENTLEMEN RELAX & ENJOY

Your Next Party!

Catering and Experienced Professional Services for Assisting with Preparation, Serving and Clean Up Before, During and After Your Party Bartenders Available. Call Kate at 516-248-1545

CLEANING

HOUSE CLEANING

Excellent service

Great References Reliable, Own transportation, English speaking. Call Selma 516-690-3550

SERVICES

A & J MOVING & STORAGE:

Established 1971. Long Island and New York State specialists. Residential, Commercial, Piano & Organ experts. Boxes available. Free estimates. www.ajmoving.com

516-741-2657

114 Jericho Tpk, Mineola NY DOT# 10405

SERVICES

SERVICES

LEAK REPAIRS

Plumbing Repairs

Bathrooms, Showers, Kitchens

24 HOUR SERVICE

Call 516-668-5624

MAGNUM SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC.

Serving Garden City for 40 years.

Let Magnum Upgrade Your Existing Security System.

Burglar & Fire Alarms

Cellular Radio 3G Upgrades

Remote Access

Call: 516-486-5484

PASSION FOR SENIORS

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