On April 7, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads threw out the first pitch at the Plainview Challenger Baseball Opening Day. Senator Rhoads, left, offered his special thanks to all the players, coaches, and volunteers of the Plainview Challenger Baseball program for reminding us of the true spirit of the game and wished them a successful season.
Long Island’s largest and most premier car show experience returns to TOBAY Beach on Sunday, April 28, 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 That 70’s Band
will take place during the day, followed by trophy presentations. The event is free for spectators.
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The Town of Oyster Bay is moving forward with a major sand replenishment project at TOBAY Beach in Massapequa. In recent weeks, nearly two million cubic yards of sand along with critical dunes were washed away — thereby exposing the pavilion foundation and the retaining wall which is the last line of protection from a total washout of New York State-owned Ocean Parkway.
“We know just how much TOBAY Beach means to our residents, which is why Town crews will begin rebuilding TOBAY Beach by trucking in yards of clean sand just in time for summer,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Warm, sunny days are just around the corner and we’ll have the beach open in time for you to soak up the sun, swim in the ocean and enjoy summer.”
Supervisor Saladino has requested emergency assistance from United States Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Congressman Andrew Garbarino and Governor Kathy Hochul, to begin planning for a long-term solution. The Town would like officials in all levels of government to pressure the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a long-term
solution that hardens the shoreline with additional sand, shields the primary nesting areas of protected species known as piping plover, defends the mainland and continues to provide the public access . While winter storms are partially to blame for the problems, Town engineers believe a change in longshore currents contributed to the crisis and that such transformation is the result of dredged materials placed at West Gilgo Beach in the Town of Babylon.
Supervisor Saladino stated, “I know the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has the expertise to resolve this matter and I implore their immediate assistance. A long-term action plan must be implemented, along with the proper funding to achieve the goals of hardening the shoreline with additional sand, protecting the mainland and continuing to provide the public access our residents expect and deserve. The Town of Oyster Bay suffered enough during Superstorm Sandy and we must resolve this matter now.”
Despite no financial assistance from the State and Federal governments, the Town has spent millions of dollars rebuilding the beach and stabi-
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the
Jericho mega shelter promoted by members of the administration and School Board. There was tremendous concern surrounding our District’s leadership, particularly its lack of candor, and I ran on a platform of transparency, accountability, and independence. Jericho voters overwhelmingly supported my commitment to restore the public’s confidence in the work of our School Board and repair the fracture in our community.
Over the past three years I delivered on those promises and our school district has thrived, growing more cohesive and more successful as a result. I prioritized open communication and consequently, myriad new ideas, concepts and programs were developed. The Jericho School District and all its constituents are certainly better off, and more united, today than they were three years ago.
The District’s success during my first term is unquestioned as we: i) saw two of our schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools and the District maintain its stellar ranking and reputation; ii) managed a 0% tax levy increase in 2 of my 3 years without any negative impact on programs; iii) introduced residency recertification to address the issue of non-resident students; iv) conducted a comprehensive third-party evaluation of our buildings’ security and funded multiple improvements; v) transitioned to an outside vendor for our lunch program and added morning and after school food options; vi) invested significantly in our academic and athletic facilities including science labs, technology rooms and a turf field; vii) adopted new District goals, delineating a shared vision for the next decade; viii) introduced a more reasonable DEI policy, stressing “a sense of belonging” while REJECTING any proposed mission of
creating “agents of social change”; and ix) grew the HS guidance department, reducing advisor caseload by 15% allowing more personal and frequent support for students.
In no way do I take sole credit for these achievements and actions; I am one of five trustees, and the hard work is executed by the District’s outstanding team of teachers and administrators. However, the past three years have clearly witnessed a renewed energy in our District driven by an expectation of communication and accountability.
There is always more work to be done. Curricula are constantly evolving, facilities need regular improvement, and financial discipline requires consistent monitoring. In addition, our commitment to open dialogue requires vigilant attention against infringement — e.g., an aborted attempt last year by some to introduce a policy restricting topics raised by community members at public meetings, and an unsuccessful attempt by the District’s attorney to shout down a parent at our April 11 Board meeting. Being a school Board member is a difficult job; tough decisions are required, and everyone cannot always agree. Consensus is comfortable, but optimal solutions are the product of lively debate. I recognize that my personal style might not suit everyone’s tastes. I am direct and maybe sometimes blunt; I don’t sugarcoat the bad news or exuberantly celebrate the good; I am thorough and persistent. Some will use that as an excuse to disparage me and attack my character; others will fabricate stories or perpetuate lies to push their own personal agendas. Unlike them, my only agenda remains the continued success of the Jericho School District.
I urge community members to evaluate my qualifications and my record over the past three years and vote on May 21 to Re-Elect Samuel Perlman. Follow on IG @samperlmanjerichoboe.
Sam Perlman, Jericho School Board TrusteeThe Town of Oyster Bay is calling on residents to ‘Spring into Action’ to support veterans by donating to a collection drive in support of the Northport VA. From April 15 to May 15, residents are invited to donate toiletries and new clothing.
“From hosting veteran appreciation events to recognizing their service with Hometown Heroes Banners in our parks, the Town of Oyster Bay is committed to honoring veterans for their service to our nation,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “Please join this mission to help bring the comforts of home to veterans living at the Northport VA Hospital by making a donation to our collection drive.”
Most needed items include toiletries (toothbrushes/toothpaste, denture adhesive, hairbrushes/combs, unscented deodorant, body wash, unscented lotion, nail clippers/files, and shampoo/ conditioner), men’s/women’s clothing
(assorted sizes of underwear/briefs, sweatshirts, sweatpants with no drawstring, long-sleeve t-shirts, slippers and flip flops sized L, XL).
“When I learned that the Northport VA has a ‘Wish List’ of items their veterans desperately need, I knew residents would generously spring into action to help ensure these needs are met,” said Town Clerk Richard LaMarca. “I thank the residents of our wonderful Town in advance for their generosity and support of our veterans.”
The Town’s Collection Drive will run for 30 days beginning April 15. Collection Bins will be available on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Town Hall North (54 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay) and Town Hall South (977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa).
For more information, please call (516) 624-6380 or email ealter@oysterbay-ny.gov.
Our Professional Guide is sure to bring results. Call 516-294-8900 for rates and information.
The Plainview Old Bethpage Chamber’s 4th Annual SpringFest event, planned for Sunday, May 5, promises to be its most exciting yet. In addition to an attractive array of vendors, a mechanical bull, toxic meltdown survivor game and axe throwing will amp up the excitement for older kids and adults. In addition, there will be a mobile bar featuring frozen Cinco de Mayo favorites.
Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. enjoy some of SpringFest’s most popular attractions including the Pickle Ball Tournament and Children’s Face Painting, which will return to the grounds of the JCC. In keeping with the bigger and better theme, a “Foodie Fest” will feature a diverse array of vendors to satisfy all appetites.
Chamber President David Weinstein is grateful to CEO Rick Lewis and the JCC staff for contributing to the success of this major event and to all the event
sponsors. “An event of this magnitude could not be possible without the support of our many sponsors, including Platinum Sponsor SRG Residential and Gold Sponsor, Law Office of Andrew M. Lamkin, PC and the many other sponsors who return each year to be part of the fun,” he said.
One of Plainview-Old Bethpage’s largest community events, SpringFest attracts hundreds and hundreds of visitors to a safe and easily navigated location. Admission is free and parking is available at the POB Community Park up the road on Washington Avenue with free shuttle bus service to and from the JCC.
Be sure to visit the chamber booth for tempting raffle prizes. All proceeds benefit the chamber’s current charity partner, Ariella’s NY Friendship Circle. Raindate for SpringFest will be May 19.
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An international organization that provides health care and other social services to orphaned children overseas has opened its New York office in Hicksville.
The organization, Al-Ayn Social Care Foundation, serves orphans in Iraq, Afghanistan and Ghana. Since its founding in 2006 it has served more than 170,000 children in the three countries.
The children range from infants to teenagers.
Al-Ayn’s U.S. office is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. Its world headquarters are in Iraq. It also maintains offices throughout Europe that act as fund-raisers for the group ’ s work.
The organization has established centers throughout Iraq that serve as focal points for provision of educational, vocational and health care services.
In its latest annual report, CEO Ali Hassanali said “serving orphaned children is not something you choose to do. It chooses you. To be a light in
the life of a child...is a gift reserved for those who have been chosen to receive it.”
People interested to learn more about the organization and its work should contact Al-Ayn at info@ alayninternational.org.
On March 22, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads attended the Optimum Robotics 2024 FIRST Long Island Regional Competition and met with robotics teams in his district competing in the competition. Senator Rhoads offered special thanks to Optimum for sponsoring the Hicksville High School Robotics J-Birds, Plainview-Old Bethpage High School POBots, Bethpage High School Bethpage Regal Eagles, and Seaford High School Mechanized Mafia.
BY GARY SIMEONE
On Thursday, April 11th, student artists from Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School, and ten other area school districts, showcased their art at the 10th annual National Honor Society’s 6x6 Collaborative Exhibit at the Heckscher Museum of Art. The special themed installation was titled, ‘Home’ and featured 6x6 colorful boxes placed on top of one another in unique arrangements.
Rosemary Elder, Art teacher and NAHS advisor at POBJFK, was one of the founders of the annual event. Her main purpose was have students in the National Art Honor Society work together and to collaborate on their artwork.
“We had founded this project with our school board members and the cooperation of the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington,” said Elder. “Each year we have different theme which correlates with ongoing exhibits at the Museum. It is truly a very rewarding experience for all of our students in the NAHS.”
Elder said she provided her art students with 6x6 pieces of wood, which were eventually turned into boxes that they could create their artwork on. The students were very creative in
their process, drawing colored portraits of peoples faces, city scenes and beach views in their artwork.
Elder said the exhibition originally contained two school districts but has grown to over ten districts in the past ten years.
“Each year the collaborative art exhibition has grown with many other high schools across Long Island becoming involved, such as Half Hollow Hills, Cold Spring Harbor, Syosset, and Massapequa school districts,” said elder. “With dedicated art teachers and National Art Honor Society advisors from participating schools, the student experience has expanded into the remarkable exhibit it is today.”
This year, thanks to the generosity of sponsors across Long Island, the show was able to honor all students with certificates of participation, present awards of excellence, and highlight a “best in show” piece.
Cali Yu, a NAHS student from Plainview-JFK, was one of those honored, with her portrait of a girl in red dress walking in a black and white city street.
The special anniversary exhibit was held at the Heckscher Museum of Art from April 10th to 14th.
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Senator Steve Rhoads and Andrea Nordquist, president of Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14, stand in the middle of Senator Rhoads’ office overflowing with boxes and bags of professional clothing for veterans.
From March 1 through April 1, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads and Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14, a local organization dedicated to supporting and honoring our military service members and their families, held a professional clothing drive to support young veterans in New York looking to start their professional careers. Thanks to Andrea and her teams’ collective efforts along with the unwavering support of our generous community, a whopping 1,661 items were collected to help these veterans succeed in their job interviews and professional settings. State Senator Steve Rhoads and Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14 are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of these young veterans and helping them transition into civilian life with confidence and success.
Special thanks to Verity Van Lines for donating the collection boxes, the Seaford Public Library, Bellmore Memorial Library, Wantagh Public Library, and the Levittown Public Library for serving as collection sites, and all the Kiwanis Clubs part of the Long Island South Central Division that made this drive a resounding success.
Senator Rhoads said, “When we began this drive, I said we were going to make it a “March to remember our military heroes” and I am
The Town of Oyster Bay invites volunteers to join the upcoming Rain Garden Work Party at Theodore Roosevelt Park, to help maintain the Town’s raingardens which help prevent stormwater pollution. The event will take place at the Western Waterfront at Theodore Roosevelt Park in Oyster Bay on Saturday, May 4, and volunteers are encouraged to bring their own work gloves for the occasion.
“We welcome all those interested in native plant gardening to come join our spring Rain Garden Work Party. Participants will learn about rain gardens’ ecological impact while helping to maintain them,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “We will work alongside volunteers and our environmental partners to weed, rake, prune, plant and mulch while learning about the environmental benefits these structures provide. This family-friendly program welcomes participants of all ages, particularly those seeking to fulfill community service hours.”
Rain gardens were installed at Theodore Roosevelt Park in Oyster Bay in partnership with Friends of the Bay and the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District. These gardens effectively filter stormwater runoff before it reaches local waterways. Rain
gardens also help alleviate problems associated with flooding and drainage, recharge the ground water supply, provide habitat and food for wildlife and enhance the beauty of local communities.
“A rain garden is a collection of native plants placed in a small depression designed to slowly absorb rain water runoff. They have numerous environmental benefits, such as filtering pollutants, reducing flooding, and providing food and habitats to wildlife,” added Councilwoman Vicki Walsh. “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.”
Volunteers are invited to gather at the Western Waterfront, 1 West End Avenue in Oyster Bay, on Saturday, May 4. The Rain Garden Work Party will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants should bring work gloves, and community service hours are offered to participants. For more information, contact the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Environmental Resources at (516) 677-5943 or visit oysterbaytown. com/environmental.
proud to say we did just that. It was heartwarming to see the support and appreciation from residents in my district — rich with a history of military service men and women — truly value and appreciate the sacrifices made by our heroes. Thank you to everyone in the community who donated clothing for our professional clothing drive; your generosity underscores the fact that our veterans deserve all the recognition and support we can give, not only on Veterans Day or Memorial Day, but each and every day.”
As a group of mothers who have sons and daughters who are currently serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces, the Military Blue Star Mothers understand the importance of providing resources and support to those who have bravely served our country.
Andrea Nordquist, president of Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14, said, “I am truly blown away by the generosity of Senator Rhoads and his constituents for veterans in need. We collected so many wonderful items that we are going to be able to bring to them and help change their lives. I cannot thank Senator Rhoads, his staff, and all the people in his district and everyone who helped to support this most worthy cause.”
The Town of Oyster Bay invites local artists and artisans to display and sell their hand-crafted goods at a special day of “Art in the Park.” Applications are now available for the event which will be held on Saturday, May 18, at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park & Beach in Oyster Bay.
“Art in the Park offers local artists and artisans an amazing opportunity to showcase their best work for the public and gain local notoriety,” said Town Councilman Steve Labriola. “Art in the Park is certain to attract hundreds of families and seniors as the event also features live music, food trucks and activities for kids.”
Participants must be 18 or older, and
display and sell only their original pieces. No commercial or mass-produced items are permitted. Artists must supply their own 10x10 canopy and additional items required for their space. Additional details and associated costs are provided on the application, available on the Town’s website.
Art in the Park is run by the Town’s Department of Community & Youth Services, Cultural and Performing Arts Division. The event focuses on hand-crafted goods, including ceramics, watercolors, glass, jewelry, wood, leather, sculpture and more. Artist applications available on the Town’s website at www.oysterbaytown.com/capa or by calling (516) 797-7932.
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The National Art Honor Society ’ s 6x6 Collaborative Exhibit returned to the Hecksher Museum for its milestone 10th year from April 11–14, showcasing the artistic talents of Long Island ’ s student artists. This annual event, conceived by Rosemarie Elder of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School and Jeanie Ritter of Harborfields High School, has become a cornerstone of artistic collaboration and celebration.
The NAHS 6x6 Collaborative Project began in 2014 with a vision to Connect, Collaborate, and Create. Co-founders Elder and Ritter, along with Allyson Uttendorfer of Half Hollow Hills High School East, initiated the project to foster artistic enrichment and community among students and teachers within the fine
arts. Partnering with the Heckscher Museum of Art, the project has grown exponentially, with the museum providing inspiration, exhibition space, and support for participating schools.
This year ’ s exhibition, themed "home," brings together 11 school districts from Nassau and Suffolk counties. Students ’ artwork from this year and the past decade will be on display, highlighting the evolution of creativity and collaboration over the years.
“
We are thrilled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the NAHS 6x6 Collaborative Exhibit, ” said Rosemarie Elder. “ It ’ s incredible to see how this project has grown and evolved, thanks to the dedication of our students, teachers, and community partners. ”
The Levittown Chamber of Commerce welcomed new members from the Northeast College of Health Services.
BY TARA CASSANO, LEVITTOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCEThe Levittown Chamber of Commerce welcomed new members John LaFalce and Daryon Ray from the Northeast College of Health Sciences –Long Island Branch Campus. The degree programs at Northeast College of Health Sciences are diverse in curriculum and subject area with key qualities — all are centered on their mission of uncompromising academic excellence, leadership and professional best practices. Fully accredited by The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE),
Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the New York State Education Department of the University of the State of New York, Northeast College of Health Services – Long Island Camus is located at 70 Division Avenue in Levittown. For information on the college please call 516-796-3696.
The Levittown Chamber of Commerce meets every third Wednesday of the month, alternating between lunch and dinner meetings for busy professional. Call 516-520-8000 or visit levittownchamber.com for information on meetings and events.
Students in Susan Corcoran’s class created cards thanking first responders on April 18.
Central Boulevard Elementary School in Bethpage hosted its Thoughtful Thursday event on April 18, where students in Susan Corcoran’s class crafted cards to express gratitude to local first responders. This initiative aims to honor the dedication of firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who serve the community.
Students will distribute the cards during the school’s Law Enforcement and First Responders Appreciation Parade and Breakfast on May 17. The
Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District
event will include approximately 40 attendees, comprised of immediate family members of students or staff who are first responders.
The highlight of the Law Enforcement and First Responders Appreciation event will be a parade around the school, where first responders will be accompanied by their student or staff member. A breakfast hosted by the PTA and Student Council will follow, fostering a sense of unity within the school community.
The Town of Oyster Bay is accepting nominations in order to honor veterans at the Town’s ‘Salute to America’ Celebration scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at TOBAY Beach. Residents are invited to nominate extraordinary individuals who have made a positive difference in our veteran communities.
“The Town of Oyster Bay’s ‘Salute to America’ Celebration provides the ideal backdrop to recognize veterans and individuals who continue to actively serve in the community and advocate for issues and concerns relative to vet-
erans. The Town is proud to recognize and honor amazing individuals who have helped to shape our communities for the better through their continuing advocacy and exemplary community service each year,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “I hope residents will consider submitting a nomination of an individual who deserves special recognition for their continued efforts on behalf of the veteran’s community. I look forward to recognizing the efforts of outstanding individuals who have impacted the lives of our veterans in an extraordinary way yet again this year.”
Nominations are being accepted in three different categories of recognition: Veterans Volunteer of the Year (awarded to a veteran), Friend of Veterans Volunteer of the Year (awarded to a non-veteran), and Lifetime Achievement Award (awarded to a veteran or a non-veteran). All entries must include a supporting narrative describing the nominee’s on-going veterans related activities, and all nominees must be Town residents. All nominations must be postmarked no later than Monday, June 3, 2024. Winners will be recognized as part of
a special program during the ‘Salute to America’ Celebration, a patriotic evening of top-flight musical talent and fireworks, which serves as a thank you to all of our veterans and active military for protecting the freedoms we enjoy each and every day as Americans. To submit a nomination for the Veterans Awards, please visit www. oysterbaytown.com, email kfileccia@ oysterbay-ny.gov or call (516) 797-7925 for an application.
If you own a business or have a service to provide, we’ll create professional ads to promote it and help you be seen by thousands of local readers! Call 1-516-294-8900 to inquire!
Friday, April 26, at 2:00 p.m.
Friday Movie at the Library (IN-PERSON)
Join us for an afternoon movie at the library. Check our website for the movie that will be shown. Go to syossetlibrary.org.
Sunday, April 28, at 1:00 p.m.
Broadway Showstoppers (IN-PERSON)
Performers: Tiger Fried Productions
Enjoy this musical revue featuring highlights from some of the most popular shows ever produced. Enjoy songs from such beloved Broadway shows as “Pippin,” “South Pacific,” “My Fair Lady,” “Carousel,” “Sound of Music,” “Damn Yankees” and “Phantom of the Opera” and so many more. The songs are sung by extraordinary actors that have starred in leading roles throughout LI. Registration required. Register at syossetlibrary.org.
Tuesday, April 30, at 2:00 p.m.
Afternoon Book Discussion (IN-PERSON)
Join Kaye Spurrell, Readers’ Services Librarian for an in-person discussion of the New York Times bestselling novel, “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab. No registration needed.
Thursday, May 2, at 2:00 p.m.
The Doris Day Story (IN-PERSON)
Presenter: Sal St. George, pop culture historian
Celebrate Doris Day as a big band singer, actress, comedian, animal activ-
ist, entrepreneur, and TV personality. Although Doris passed away in 2019 at the age of 97, she continues to charm and delight her audiences through her many old-time radio appearances, 650 musical recordings, numerous TV shows, and starring roles in 39 movies during a career that spans nearly five decades. No registration needed.
Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m.
Signs from Beyond (IN-PERSON)
Presenter: Maria D’Andrea
MSD, D.D., DRH
Can loved ones who have passed send us signs that they are with us in spirit? Maria will help us learn to tune into signs and will explore the idea of symbols and what they mean. Common ones are butterflies, birds and coins. She will also discuss loved ones appearing in dreams. No registration needed.
Friday, May 3, at 1:00 p.m.
Skillet Shrimp Fajitas Demonstration & Tasting (IN-PERSON)
Presenter: Chef Rob Scott
Watch Chef Rob prepare skillet shrimp fajitas made with homemade fajita seasoning and bell peppers and onions. This is a meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes. Served with traditional toppings and for an appetizer, Chef Rob will make a turkey taco dip served with crispy tortilla chips. Fee: $5. Registration required. Please make sure that you can attend both sessions before registering. Register at syossetlibrary. org.
The Town of Oyster Bay has openings available for tennis assistants in the Youth Tennis Program, held this summer at local Town parks. Those interested must be 16 years of age or older to apply.
“This fun summer job is ideal for a tennis-loving community teen 16 or older looking to build their resume,” said Town Councilman Lou Imbroto. “Town tennis assistants have a lot of fun while receiving hands-on experience and making a difference in the lives of others.”
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D –Plainview) snapped a shot with Spider-Man and Moana.
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D –Plainview) joined the Syosset-Woodbury community at the Town of Oyster Bay’s Spring Festival on Saturday, April 20. The free event featured an array of family-friendly attractions including inflatables, games, refreshments, a petting zoo, photo opportunities with
famous characters, food truck vendors and more.
“I am so glad that the sun came out and made it such a perfect afternoon for families to enjoy a spring festival,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker said. “It was a pleasure encountering so many people from our community at this great family event.”
Tennis assistants must be 16 or older and have at least 1–2 years of experience participating on a tennis team. Tennis assistants must be available for the duration of the program, which runs Mondays through Thursdays, July 1 through August 15, between the hours of 3:45 p.m. and 8 p.m.
For more information, prospective applicants should contact Town of Oyster Bay Recreation Division, at (516) 797-7945.
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Friday, May 10, at 1:30 p.m. Book-to-Film Discussion
Read the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winning book, “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker then see how it is interpreted and adapted for the screen. A short discussion will follow the film. Led by Donna Burger, Readers’ Services Librarian. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before the discussion. Rated PG-13. No registration.
Tuesday, May 21, at 2 p.m.
Libby for Beginners
Join the Readers’ Services staff for a demonstration of Libby, followed by one-on-one instruction with a librarian on how to use Libby on your smart devices, laptop, or Kindle. No longer just an app, Libby is now available through your web browser. Libby is easy to use for library eBooks and audiobooks
and includes exciting features, such as Qello for online concerts, access to magazines, Kanopy for movies, and The Great Courses. Free to use with a valid Syosset Public Library card. No registration.
Tuesday, May 28, at 2 p.m. Afternoon Book Discussion
Join Lisa Hollander, Readers’ Services Librarian, for an in-person discussion of the New York Times bestselling novel “Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before the program. No registration.
The Syosset Public Library is located at 225 South Oyster Bay Road, Syosset.
*All events are wheelchair accessible
**Books will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before each program.
Members of Jericho’s VEX robotics team 11753A, Nylock Nuts, shared their enthusiasm for robotics to a full theater of 130 parents and students on April 9at Jericho Public Library. The program was geared towards children ages 8–14 to encourage robotics engagement at a young age and to teach parents how they can build a competitive robotics team.
On March 24, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads had the pleasure of joining the St. Pius X RC Parish Knights of Columbus for their Pancake Breakfast in Plainview. The Pancake Breakfast was not just a breakfast; it was a fun experience that brought people together, strengthened community bonds, deepened faith connections, and spread joy and positivity to everyone who attended.
The Nylock Nuts team members, eighth graders Rayan Hasan, Liam Lin, Milo Lin, Vihaan Malik, Ian Tam, and seventh grader Felix Xiong, spoke about the value of learning robotics not only for engineering design knowledge, but for developing broader lifelong skills, such as working in a team to build leadership capacity and strategic thinking. The team’s passion for robotics, under the guidance of volunteer parent coach Joe Lin, led them to further explore applications of robotics in real life at Columbia University’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab.
To build a robotics team, the boys spoke about the different team member roles needed and what characteristics make students successful for those roles. VEX robotics benefits students of multiple interests and abilities and there is a role for all types of learners. For example, the Driver must be able to make quick decisions during a match to maneuver the robot out of precarious
situations during competition. CADers are the ones who design the robot so it’s a creative role. The CADers use online programs to build the robot using 3D parts. Builders are in charge of assembling the robot so Builders must pay meticulous attention to details and persevere in the face of challenges. Coders on the team must write and use computer programming language to move the robot. The Engineering Notebook Manager needs an exquisite grasp of the engineering design process to be able to organize and document the team’s learning over time. Throughout their year-long journey as a VEX robotics team, the engineering design process played a vital role in the development of team Nylock Nuts’ evolution of 6 different prototypes of their robot, teaching the boys the value of iterative design.
Engaging their young library audience, the Nylock Nuts invited children to join them on stage to drive the robots. A great experience of learning and fun was had by all who attended the Jericho Public library event.
Team Nylock Nuts is a parent-led, parent-run team since Jericho school district does not offer a VEX robotics program. The Nylock Nuts will be competing in the upcoming 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship, the largest robotics competition in the world!
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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 That 70’s Band 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 May 4 has been arranged. For more information, visit www.carshowli.com, call (516) 797-4121 or e-mail carshowli@oysterbay-ny.gov.
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lizing dunes against erosion. A critical public access point to the shoreline, TOBAY Beach is located in the middle of Jones Beach Island, a barrier island off the south shore of Long Island. The beach suffered a direct hit from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and serves as a critical asset toward protecting the mainland, its property and population. Recent erosion of the beach and dunes threaten
not only the recreation at the beach, but also poses a risk of flooding to Ocean Parkway as well as homes and infrastructure on the mainland.
To accommodate summer beachgoers, the Town will extend lifeguard coverage and swimming boundaries. In recent years, the Saladino administration has improved restrooms, upgraded the spray park, and installed a new playground and new bulkhead at the marina.
NASSAU COUNTY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals
TOWN HALL, AUDREY AVENUE, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK 11771-1592
TELEPHONE: (516) 624-6232 – FAX: (516) 624-6149
RITA BYRNE, Chairwoman – LOIS SCHMITT, Vice Chairwoman – LEWIS J. YEVOLI
KATHLEEN MULLIGAN –REBECCA M. ALESIA –ANDREW MONTELEONE – LISA CICCOLELLA
PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on MAY 2, 2024, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:
BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
APPEAL NO. 24-117 SYOSSET
ABRAHAM FINKLER: (A) Variance to allow existing dwelling exceeding maximum building coverage, gross floor area, having less average front yard setback, side yard setback and aggregate side yards than permitted by Ordinance; also encroachment of eaves and gutters. (B) Variance to allow existing egress well having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to allow existing driveway having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to allow parking in the required front yard.
W/s/o Jackson Ave., 100.04 ft. S/o Dorcas Ave., a/k/a 300 Jackson Avenue, Syosset, NY
APRIL 22, 2024
BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
TOWN OF OYSTER
BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK
NASSAU COUNTY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals
TOWN HALL, AUDREY AVENUE, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK 11771-1592
TELEPHONE: (516) 624-6232 – FAX: (516) 624-6149
RITA BYRNE, Chairwoman – LOIS SCHMITT, Vice Chairwoman – LEWIS J. YEVOLI
KATHLEEN MULLIGAN –REBECCA M. ALESIA –ANDREW MONTELEONE – LISA CICCOLELLA
PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on MAY 2, 2024, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:
BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
APPEAL NO. 24-86 JERICHO
STEWART ARONOWITZ: (A) Variance to allow existing driveway having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing air conditioning unit exceeding maximum side yard encroachment than permitted by Ordinance.
E/s/o Friendly Ln., 207.50 ft. N/o Falcon St., a/k/a 34 Friendly Lane, Jericho, NY
APRIL 22, 2024
BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK
The Town of Oyster Bay's Second Half of the 2023–2024 School Tax Levy is due on April 1, but can be paid without penalty through May 10.
“New York State Law allows my office to provide taxpayers with a 40-day penalty free period from the date the tax is due during which payment may be made without penalty,” Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato explained. “After the 40 days, State Law requires a one percent penalty be added for each month the tax remains unpaid. So, make your payment before May 10th and don’t delay, and you will ensure you aren’t paying more out of pocket than you need to.”
The Tax Office is open in both Town Hall North, 74 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, and Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. to assist residents and accept payments with a check, cash or credit card*. On May 9 and 10, both offices will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. When paying in person, residents are reminded to bring the entire tax bill. There are also outdoor walkup windows, and drop boxes have been installed at both locations for residents to make payments when the Tax Office is closed.
Residents who prefer to mail in their payments, should send them to the Office of the Receiver of Taxes, 74 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, N.Y. 117711539. Please make your check payable to Jeffrey P. Pravato, Receiver of Taxes, and indicate your property’s Section, Block and Lot and telephone number on the check.
Tax payments may also be made online through a link on our Town website, www. oysterbaytown.com. Residents may view tax bills, print out a hard copy, or pay taxes with an ACH check payment for a fee of $1.75, or by credit card for a much higher fee* charged by the credit card companies.
*The Town of Oyster Bay receives no portion of this fee.
Residents may contact the Tax Office with any questions about their tax bill at (516) 6246400 or email receiveroftaxes@ oysterbay-ny.gov.
April 26, 2024
I’ve come to Strasbourg, France, for a European Waterways canal cruise through the Alsace Lorraine on its luxury hotel barge, Panache. It is my practice now when connecting with a cruise or bike tour, to arrive at least a day early, especially when I have the opportunity to overnight in such a charming historic city as Strasbourg and experience it in the morning and evening light in the peace and calm without the daytrippers, and have the time to really explore, discover and immerse in its cultural riches.
The TGV train ride, less than two hours from Paris, was absolutely gorgeous. (Less than two hours from Paris, you go Charles de Gaulle Airport into the Gare de Nord in Paris, then take an easy 15 minute walk to Gare L’Est - glad I pre-purchased my train ticket and reserved seat on raileurope.com). It is surprising to see how soon out of the bustling metropolis you are in pastoral countryside. We whisk passed solar arrays, wind turbines, cows in pasture, and see traditional villages at the far end of fields. It’s cinematic.
And I still get into Strasbourg in the afternoon with plenty of time to explore.
There is much to experience in Strasbourg and I will actually have part of four days here. We will be picked up in Strasbourg on the first afternoon and taken to Krafft to board the barge hotel, Panache, and actually cruise back into Strasbourg on its first full day when we will have a walking tour and overnight on the canal. I will have much of a full day again at the end of the cruise, when we are delivered back
Strasbourg’s picturesque Le Petit France is a UNESCO Heritage Site © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
to Strasbourg from Niderviller before I take the train to Paris. I do a calculation and decide on my only full day in Strasbourg, after exploring the old city in the early morning, to hop on the train for a 45-minute ride to see Colmar, and still get to enjoy Strasbourg’s beauty at night.
I must say I am clever about seeing Strasbourg, beginning with choosing a charming boutique hotel, the Hannong, which I find on hotels.com, right in the historic district and walking distance from the train station, so walking distance to everything I want to see, even walking back late at night. I am able to book a room ideal for a single person (it’s as big as a walk-in closet but has everything I need) for a very attractive rate. The pleasant stay, hospitable staff, and location add immeasurably to the way I experience Strasbourg and make the best of my time. (Hotel Hannong, 15, Rue du 22 Novembre,67000 Strasbourg, +33 03 88 32 16 22, hotel-hannong.com).
It’s just a couple of blocks to where Le Petit France begins, and I wander the narrow cobblestone streets, over bridges over the River Ill, where every turn reveals a picturesque scene of quaint quays and colorfully timbered structures from the Middle Ages, reflected in the blue water. The River Ill, which divides into five arms, is what spurred the construction of mills and the installation of tanneries centuries ago.
So charming and tranquil today, even with the crowds of tourists in midday, Le Petit France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in its day would have been the stinkiest, filthiest, poorest part of town, inhabited by tanners, fishermen, and animals, but as you get closer and closer to fabulous Cathedral, the residences become nicer and fancier and is where the wealthiest merchants and officials would have lived.
I come upon Place Gutenberg with a striking monument creat-
ed by David d’Angers (1788-1856), erected in 1840. It commemorates that the German inventor Johannes Gutenberg developed moveable type that revolutionized access to the Bible, news, information, books, and even the law to the masses, while living in Strasbourg from 1430-1440, spawning an entire printing and publishing industry based in Strasbourg. The bronze statue stands on a granite base with four fascinating bronze relief panels that commemorate that Gutenberg came upon his idea for moveable type inspired by how a wine press worked, and how his invention influenced every corner of the globe.
In this plaza, there is also an oldtimey carousel that is a delight in the day, enchanting at night.
When I get to St. Thomas Church, I come upon an outdoor Punch & Judy puppet show, which traces back to Commedia dell’arte tradition in Italy in the 1660s.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg dominates the city,, in fact the entire region since it can be seen from great distances. The Cathedral Square is a vibrant hub of musicians, vendors, and is ringed with some of the most important sites in the city – reminiscent of St. Marks Square in Venice. I will visit multiple times, and in the course of my visit, experience most of the important sites around the Cathedral. The streets that radiate from it are also full of colorful activity.
Construction of the Cathedral started in 1015, but came into its own as a monumental Gothic structure in the 1260s because of Erwin von Steinbach who designed the Cathedral to be the most modern
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building of its time in the whole of the Holy Roman Empire. It is still one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in the world. The hundreds of statues that decorate the Cathedral are magnificent.
Finally finished in 1439, the Cathedral, built of pink sandstone from the Vosges, features a 142-meter-tall bell tower, making it the tallest medieval building in Europe.
It is an imposing structure inside, as well, with 12th and 14th century Romanesque stained glass windows in mesmerizing geometric patterns. You can climb the 332 steps to the top of the bell tower for a spectacular view and explore an 11th century crypt below the main cathedral.
On Saturday night, I stroll out of the hotel to Cathedral Square for the 10-minute Illuminations de la Cathedrale de Strasbourg, a free laser light show which begins nightly at 10 pm and runs continuously until midnight (in July and August). I find the neon colors jarring, but I love when the white fluttering strobe light gives the Cathedral a ghostly quality.
Just across the square from The Cathedral is the Musee de l’Oeuvre Notre Dame, an absolute must-see, where you walk through seven centuries of art in Strasbourg and the Upper Rhine. Its medieval and Renaissance collections show why Strasbourg is considered one of the most important artistic centers of the Germanic Empire from the 13th to 16th centuries.
During the 13th century, the construction of Strasbourg Cathedral produced some of the most exceptional sculptures of the medieval world. Many of them –such as The Church and the Synagogue statues on the south portal, and the
Strasbourg, France’s Notre-Dame Cathedral,
west façade’s Tempter and the Wise and Foolish Virgins, the Virtues Crushing the Vices, and the Prophets - were removed from the edifice in the early 20th century to protect them from bad weather and pollution, and replaced by sandstone replicas. But here you see the original sculptures that decorated the Cathedral. To see them so close, life-sized, so you can really appreciate the artistry in a way you simply can’t by gazing up at the Cathedral, is astounding.
In one grand room, I focus on the two sculptures known as “The Church and The Synagogue,” which I would not have known to look for just walking about the Cathedral.
So much is embodied in these two statues: Positioned on either side of the south transept portal, the statutes of The Church and The Synagogue “each personify a covenant binding God to his people: the New Covenant of the Christian Gospel and the Old Covenant of the Jewish Torah, respectively,” the notes say.
Now that I know where to look,
later I go out to see the figures at the Cathedral.
Besides the statuary, there are incredible paintings, triptychs and religious art – some of the most magnificent in the world - as you walk from room to room, floor to floor.
I follow an interior staircase all the way down, and come to an interior courtyard in which tombstones rescued from a Jewish cemetery are displayed respectfully. The notes say that in 1349, Jews were expelled from Strasbourg because of Black Plague.
I climb the staircase to an attic room, where the innovations in architecture and engineering are explained. You also see some of the original architectural drawings of the Cathedral – the oldest architectural drawings of their type – as well as a video.
The museum is housed within La Maison de L’Oeuvre Notre-Dame, which has been the home of the Foundation of the Oeuvre Notre-Dame (the body responsible for administering work on the Cathedral) since the Middle Ages.
Rails to Trails Conservancy, the nation’s largest trail, walking and biking advocacy organization, is calling on people across the country to get outside on trails this spring to celebrate the many ways that trails and connected trail networks bring joy and impact to people’s lives. Central to the organization’s call to action is Celebrate Trails Day, hosted on April 27, 2024, with hundreds of events nationwide to inspire more people to make trails, walking and biking part of their everyday lives.
“Celebrate Trails Day is an opportunity to experience and share the joy and impact of trails. The nation’s 41,000+ miles of multiuse trails on the ground nationwide lay the foundation for 150+ trail networks in development— giving us all plenty of places to get
outside. These spaces bring incredible value to our everyday lives, contributing to the well-being of people, places and the planet,” said Brandi Horton, RTC’s vice president of communications. It is RTC’s ultimate goal to link the 150+ trail networks that currently exist into a Great American Trail, spanning 3,800 miles across the continent. (Explore the nation’s 41,000+ miles of multiuse trails using TrailLink™, RTC’s free trailguide website and app.)
Around the country, Rails to Trails partners are planning group rides, nature walks, family-friendly festivals, volunteer cleanups and other community events for Celebrate Trails Day. Explore these events and find more inspiration for your day on the trail, including ideas to help you
The building is actually two: a Gothic house with its crow-stepped gable (1347) and a Renaissance wing with a scroll gable (1582). Just walking through is an experience.
Fondation de l’Oeuvre Notre-Dame (Our Holy Lady Work Foundation) was established in 1224 (!!) to improve the administration of donations and legacies for the construction of Strasbourg Cathedral. Every since construction ended, the Foundation has been in charge of restoration and conservation of the monument, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.
Plan on spending several hours wandering around this museum (I actually did it twice).
Musee de L’Oeuvre Notre-Dame/ Aarts Du Moyen Age, 3 place duChateau, Strasbourg.
From here, I walk across the square to see the Church and Synagogue portal, before walking back across Cathedral Square to the fabulous Palais Rohan.
What is so interesting (and fun) about Strasbourg is how the historic city seamlessly integrates – and respects - what is ancient and what is modern: the virtual reality in the Musee de L’Oeuvre Notre Dame, the neon laser lights that bathe The Cathedral for the nightly show, the modern art in Cathedral Square, the really modern art exhibit incorporated into the 18th century Royal Chambers of the Palais Rohan’s Decorative Arts Museum, the light rail that rings the Old City along cobblestone streets.
So much to see, experience and appreciate. My exploration continues.
More information at https://www. strasbourg.info and https://www.visitstrasbourg.fr,
Next: Time Traveling Through Strasbourg
See more photos: https://goingplacesfarandnear.com/discovering-strasbourg-frances-cultural-riches/
© 2024 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com
design your own trail adventure and our virtual event series where we host conversations with partners about the ways trails contribute to big issues in our lives.
Let Rails to Trails Conservancy know you’re planning to participate in Celebrate Trails Day on April 27, 2024, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a prize pack, https://secure. railstotrails.org/site/SSurvey.
Find creative ideas for getting outside , visit RTC’s Celebrate Trails Day website ( https://www. railstotrails.org/celebrate-trails/ ), follow #CelebrateTrails on social media for updates and connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Crossword Answers
Who can ever forget “The Golden Girls” TV show which came out on NBC TV in September 1985. The show became an instant hit and most people I knew tuned in every Saturday night to see the latest episode. “The Golden Girls” starred Estelle Getty as Sophia, Rue McClanahan as Blanche, Betty White as Rose, and Beatrice Arthur as Dorothy as the ensemble cast. Each woman had her own personality and each woman had her own strengths and quirks as an actress.
The basic plot was the four women shared a house in Florida and went about their daily lives. Every so often a problem would arise that needed discussing so they would gather around the kitchen table to discuss it.
This often happened late at night and many times while eating cheesecake or some other dessert. One of the other girls then told a story from her own life which somehow related to the problem. Rose, however, would tell a nonsensical story that had nothing to do with the situation so the others would be confused. Rose had her St. Olaf stories. Not to be outdone, Sophia told outrageous, made-up stories. Sophia always had her Sicily stories. The women would talk about family problems, dating problems or whatever was on their minds.
The show went on for seven seasons and each of these half-hour episodes was videotaped in front of a live studio audience. The network was considering ideas for a comedy series about older women living together in a house in Florida and that was a different concept. Each of the four major characters had had success in prior roles so it was a strong ensemble.
The part of Sophia Petrillo was the first of the four roles to be cast. Estelle Getty auditioned and won the role as the feisty mother of character Dorothy Zbornak due to the great reviews she got in her off-Broadway role reprisal for the 1984 Los Angeles run of “Torch
Song Trilogy.” Casting director Judith Weiner had seen “Torch Song Trilogy” where Getty played the role of Ma Beckoff and thought she was terrific in it.
When asked about read-throughs of the script for “The Golden Girls,” writer and producer Marc Cherry later said that usually, “if the joke was a good one, the women found a way to make it work the very first time they read it. You have a lot of table reads where the actors will mess it up because they don’t understand what the characters are doing, or they misinterpret. But the women were so uniformly brilliant at nailing it the first time ... we basically knew that if the women didn’t get it right the first time, the joke needed to be replaced.”
Last year “Variety” ranked “The Golden Girls” #18 on its list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time. I doubt some of the young millennials or Gen Zers remember the show but that’s an example of the generation gap which is another story altogether.
Some seniors who are 55+ say they are living their best years now that they’re older because the kids are raised and if they have jobs, they are inching closer and closer to retirement. I remember when my grandparents worked and took care of the family then enjoyed a quiet retirement when they were over 65. My grandmothers would rock in their wooden rocking chairs as they told me family stories and about things that happened years ago. Nowadays, however, many seniors are so active. It’s nothing for people I know to announce that they’re taking a long cruise or traveling on land through Europe.
The bottom line is you know you’re hitting the golden years when you start seeing descriptions of senior discounts at restaurants, fast food places and even for Broadway show tickets. I looked online about these particular discounts and found this rather amusing writeup:
“These Broadway ticket discounts are aimed at the ‘blue-haired’ retired crowd from Long Island and New Jersey because these retired folks and senior citizens are available to fill up the Wednesday matinee shows that would normally be light on people since locals are usually at work and tourists aren’t around as much midweek.”
My friends know I like to pepper people with questions so over the years I’ve asked many retirees and soon-tobe retirees what they plan on doing in their retirement years.
Here are some of the answers I get: My friend, Dan, was presented with a brand-new digital camera at his retirement party and he plans on taking photos of flowers, trees and the landscape and submitting them to magazines. He knows that breaking into a magazine as a freelance photographer is hard but he is determined to try.
My friend, Pam, volunteers once a week at an animal shelter and she brings gently used blankets and towels that she’s collected from her neighbors
to drop off. While at the animal shelter Pam spends time visiting dogs and cats and she has told me that they love the companionship. She can walk the dogs and hold the cats in the kennels. They like being petted and spoken to softly. Pam knows that she is just visiting and while she’d like to take home a dog or cat that she has fallen in love with, she and her husband already have a dog named Buster at home.
When speaking with my friend, Gary, he expects to retire from a job this year and his dream has been to open a restaurant. Gary has always had a knack for making delicious meals so he and another person will cook. He’s going to start small, get his bearings and assuming all goes well he will expand. Gary wants to hire local people to be full-time employees. As a small business owner Gary wants to use his business smarts to order inventory efficiently, advertise, etc. With some hard work and his culinary talent, I bet Gary will succeed.
Q: I am sick and tired of all these people who bring their parents over here from foreign countries and then immediately put them on their Social Security account. No wonder Social Security is going broke! I personally know two couples in my neighborhood who get Social Security. They brought their parents up from Mexico and now they are mooching monthly checks off of the Social Security system and bankrupting it. You can’t tell me this isn’t an outrage!
A: It might be an outrage if it were true. But it’s not. Either you are lying about these two couples you “personally know,” or you’ve picked up on some xenophobic neighborhood gossip and fallen for another in the long line of urban myths about Social Security.
I’ll use you as an example. Let’s say you are getting Social Security checks, you have parents living overseas and you bring them here to live with you. And let’s say you want them to get dependent parents’ benefits on your Social Security account. Do you know what you would have to do first?
Die! Yes, that right, you would have to die. Social Security benefits to dependent parents can only be paid on the account of a Social Security taxpayer who has died.
So unless one or both members of the couples in your neighborhood are dead, it simply can’t be true.
But let’s get back to you. Let’s say you conveniently died just so that your parents could get Social Security benefits on your record. It’s not quite that simple. They would have to jump through several other eligibility hoops before the government checks would start rolling in. For one, they would have to prove that you were supporting them before you died. So unless you were sending half your paycheck to your parents before you died to pay their rent and buy their groceries, they simply couldn’t qualify for benefits on your record.
And just to put things in perspective, in the whole country, there are only about 2,000 people getting monthly Social Security checks as a parent on a deceased adult child’s Social Security record. That’s 2,000 people out of about 66 million Social Security beneficiaries. So even those people legally getting parents’ benefits aren’t exactly bankrupting the system!
As long as I’m discussing Social Security benefits and noncitizens, let me clear up some other myths.
The most prevalent myth has to do with undocumented workers, or illegal aliens, as some people refer to them. That myth would have you believe that these folks somehow qualify for Social Security benefits and thus are ripping off the system and the U.S. taxpayer. That is absolutely untrue. In fact, just the opposite is the case: Social Security actuaries point
out that undocumented workers (the ones working “above the table” with illegally obtained Social Security numbers) pump many millions of dollars into the Social Security trust funds every year and never collect a dime in benefits.
Another myth has to do with Social Security benefits being sent overseas. This is a half-truth: It is true that many millions of dollars in Social Security benefits are sent to people in other countries every year. (Out of Social Security’s trillion-dollar budget, that is just a tiny trickle.)
Most of that trickle is going to U.S. citizens who have moved overseas after retirement. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can get your Social Security benefits sent to just about any country in the world. There are a few exceptions -- places such as Cuba and North Korea and most of those “stan” countries that make up the former Soviet Union (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, etc.).
But what about Social Security benefits to noncitizens overseas? Before I get to that, let me back up a bit. Some may wonder why noncitizens get Social Security benefits in the first place. Well, if you have lived in this country legally, and if you have worked and paid taxes in this country, and assuming you meet all the eligibility requirements, you can qualify for Social Security benefits just like anyone else.
There are many thousands of U.S. citizens who collect Social Security benefits from other countries because they worked and paid into the Social Security programs in those countries. As I always like to point out to my readers, social insurance programs like our Social Security system are a universal phenomenon. Almost every country on the planet has a Social Security system in place for its citizens. And because we live in a global economy where it is not uncommon for people from one country to live and work in another country, many millions of people around the world collect Social Security benefits from other countries.
Anyway, back to non-U.S. citizens getting Social Security benefits. If you are a noncitizen living here legally and you are getting a Social Security benefit that you have worked and paid for, you will get that benefit as long as you continue living in the United States.
But if you move overseas, the rules get a little trickier and messier than they do for U.S. citizens who leave the country. So messy, in fact, that those rules fill a 30plus page pamphlet that explains them:
“Your Payments While You are Outside the United States.” In a nutshell, if you are a noncitizen getting your own retirement benefits, there is a halfway decent chance you will be able to get those benefits sent to many other countries. But if you are a noncitizen getting dependent or survivor benefits from a spouse, your chances of getting those benefits shipped overseas grows slimmer and slimmer.
If you have a Social Security question,
Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100
Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon. com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
The housing dilemma is still with us here on Long Island. When checking around the U.S. inventory has increased in certain areas, but for the majority of locations and states, we are still way below the normal inventory level of 6-7 months. We are currently still historically deficient in approximately 6 million homes as we need 2 million new homes per year. The greatest demand is occurring from the millennials who are at their peak homebuying age, Gen Z and Gen X are also entering their next stage and are coming on board by either starting and/or growing a family or leaving the rental market to enter into the purchasing zone to become owners.
Homeownership is still on their radar as the most safest and beneficial way to be able to create and build their future wealth. I believe they are no different than their parents were when they began their homeownership journey back in the 1940s-1970s. However, the obvious change is that we baby boomers are not moving as they did years ago. Some of us prefer to age in place. Others can attribute the stagnation to the increase in interest rates. Moreover, the other factor is that so many of us either had refinanced 2 plus years ago and prefer not to take on a higher rate that might be 2-3 times greater in cost. Lastly, some may not have enough equity to pay cash, so it’s a bit of a dichotomy.
Downsizing may be another issue as inventory is still at historic lows; some may want to rent and then there are those that while considering downsizing, will prefer to still own. Depending on your age you may need and want to discuss this with your children and have them be on the deed of anything you purchase.
If you have investments in real estate, stocks, bonds, and even businesses and other financial assets for estate purposes; you should always seek the assistance of a professional CPA, CFP, or Eldercare Attorney;
when it comes to taxes or financial planning, especially when it comes to your Will, Healthcare Proxy and Power of Attorney. Lastly, keep in mind there is a 5-year lookback from when you filed your Medicaid application, so be prudent and be aware and smart in your planning.
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
Five states, Kansas, Washington, Nebraska, Utah, and Missouri have averaged less than 1 month of inventory since the beginning of 2022. Housing stock in the U.S. fell from 2,194,184 units in May 2012 to 629,904 in January 2022; a net decrease of over 1,500,000.
However, as rates increased 11 times, and an increase in home construction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. housing inventory was finally showing signs of growing after many years of decreasing. From January 2022-October 2022, housing inventory increased from 629, 904 to 1,173,927. This was a promising situation for buyers, hoping that prices would come down.
Increases occurred in the following states: at the top was Mesa, Az. at 87.9% to San Diego, Ca up 29.1%, Florida up 45.8%, Louisiana, up 28%, Alabama, up 27%, Arkansas up 27.2%, Mississippi up 28%, Texas up22.8%, North Carolina up 17.8%. The high-interest rates and highest prices in over 50 years are the culprits for the major increases As these increases continue those holding out and waiting just might continue to see prices moderating further, allowing more to enter the market to purchase. AS long as demand stays stronger than normal, inventory will presumably take many years in getting back to a normal state.
Inventory decreased during the same time in the following states: NY -7.3%, NJ -9.1%, CT -7.6%, Mass -7%, Denver down 32%, Illinois, -9.8%, NJ
-9.1%, Idaho -9.1%, and Rhode Island -7.8%
However, in contrast, 8 states have averaged more than 2 months supply, including expensive states like New York, New Jersey, and Hawaii. Within the Metro areas, the locations with the lowest levels of housing included the hot markets of Denver, Colorado, Seattle, Washington and San Jose, California. These statistics were derived from in-depth research from: https://WWW. InspectionSupportNetwork.com
However, housing inventory has been increasing since 2023, due to the higher interest rates and lower-than-normal sales as many sit on the sidelines waiting for lower rates, decreased prices, as well as greater choices.
Decisions to move out west and some states down south may be your solution to lowering your costs, especially if you are considering cashing out in Long Island and NYC. Whatever you decide do your homework and due diligence before making your move.
I want to wish everyone a Healthy and Happy Passover Holiday.
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 42+ of years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) and has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geo-thermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).
He will gladly provide you with a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things
to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home, HOA, Condo or Coop.
He will also deliver to you “free” regular updates of what is currently available, under contract (pending), sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to https://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE with no obligations” or “strings attached” a 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market again, without any “obligations” or “strings” attached whatsoever! call Philip A. Raices @ our Global ”find me/follow me” Mobile: 1-(888) 355-1385 or email him: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate. Com
Browse and search for your “Next Place to Call Home” our updated and newly revised site: https://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com
Want his monthly Real Estate/ Business newsletter and bi-monthly “American LifeStyle” magazine delivered to you absolutely “FREE” W/O any Obligations or “Strings attached?” Email or text your full name, email and mobile to be included on his list of 129,000+ satisfied subscribers locally, domestically and internationally.
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Millennials, born between 1981 and ‘96, represent the largest, most educated and culturally diverse generation in American history. This demographic cohort holds significant sway over the future trajectory of the U.S. economy through their financial choices, which are being made within a progressively intricate financial environment. That’s the academic definition. Here’s mine: Millennials are financially jinxed, suffering from recession fatigue, attitudes of entitlement and a lack of financial education, but time is on their side.
Dear Cheapskate: My son graduated from college three years ago. He has a job, but he is struggling financially with student loans and credit card debt -- and still living at home. I know with smarter choices he could pull himself out of this. He has asked his father and me for help. We want to be good parents and provide for him. At the same time, we also think that since he’s an adult, he must start caring for himself. Is there any compromise? -- Debbie, Illinois
Dear Debbie: I have two grown sons, so I can relate. Since your son has asked for help, this might also be the perfect time to teach. Don’t just give him a handout. Help him set up a budget. Like so many people, it’s possible he has never learned how to manage a paycheck! That is the most basic first lesson in practical per-
sonal finances. Because he has come to you asking for help, he may also be open to receiving your guidance. He needs to be accountable but not in a child/parent way.
Think of this as more of a client/counselor relationship. In the same way he would have to create and submit a business plan to get a business loan, have him create a personal finance plan for how he intends to use the money you lend to him, how he intends to manage his income each month, and how he plans to pay you back.
It’s time for your son to get real about his money, and this could be the perfect opportunity you need to teach him valuable lessons.
Not sure how or where to start? Pick up a copy of my book “7 Money Rules for Life: How to Take Control of Your Financial Future.” It’ll teach him everything he needs to know to manage his income now and for the rest of his life.
Dear Cheapskate: I’m looking for a new job. My current employer offers great benefits and even pays for my health insurance. Since I know this probably won’t be the case at a new company, I’m worried any new out-of-pocket payments I’ll have may offset a salary increase. How do I include these sorts of things when coming up with salary requirements? -Dan, California
Dear Dan: Most employees would be shocked to see what their benefit pack-
ages are worth in dollars and cents. If you have a good employee compensation package that includes health, vision and dental insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, consider that to be worth at least 30% of your gross income.
Before you leave your current position, do your homework. You know what your paid vacation and sick leave are worth. Get three quotes for health insurance that are similar to the coverage you have now. Come up with an annual dollar figure that reflects your current benefit package.
Seeing in black and white what your current benefits are worth will be a valuable exercise whether you make the change or not.
Dear Cheapskate: Recently I received an inheritance from a distant relative. I’d like to use it to pay off my car loan. I have about eight payments to go, and the thought of not having that monthly bill is really appealing. But then my dad said I wouldn’t save anything and that there are better ways to spend the money. Is he right? -- Sandy, Arizona
Dear Sandy: It all depends on how your car loan is structured. If it is a simple interest loan (typical), each month you pay interest on the outstanding balance. You will avoid eight months of interest if you pay it off early. Even if you have a loan where you agreed to pay a set amount of interest (not likely), you won’t save any money, but there’s still a big emotional
payoff for early payment. There’s just nothing like a $0 balance!
Here’s an idea: Use the windfall to pay off the balance. Then commit to keep making those eight car payments, but make them to yourself. In eight months, you will have restored the windfall, saved some interest and have a paid-for car, too.
Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “DebtProof Living.”
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
BY CHARLYN FARGOI’ve given several presentations lately on “food as medicine” -- meaning, eating for health. We all know the statistics. More than 74% of adults in the U.S. are obese or overweight. Another 1.6% are underweight. Both can negatively affect your health.
People who are underweight have a higher risk of malnutrition, decreased immune function and anemia. Those who are overweight have an increased risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and sleep disorders.
This spring -- as you tackle spring cleaning -- do a spring assessment on what you’re eating. Are you cooking at
home? Do you include a vegetable and fruit at each meal? Are you eating from all the food groups -- whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meat and low-fat dairy -- to get all the nutrients you need? It’s a great season to make a commitment to healthier eating to feel better, look better and be healthier.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
No. 1: Eat whole foods. Rather than fixing something from a box, plan your meals with lean protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. That’s where the nutrients are. And those nutrients, vitamins and minerals will provide energy throughout the day and help you maintain a healthy weight. Choose less of the processed foods like deli or sausage meat, cookies, crackers and box mixes (which can be high in sodium).
No. 2: Start slow. Take your favorite lasagna recipe and swap half the pasta for zucchini ribbons, or add finely chopped carrots to your spaghetti sauce. Mix half mashed cauliflower with mashed potatoes. Try a whole-grain version of your favorite pasta. Try replacing potato chips
at lunch with crunchy baby carrot sticks.
No. 3: One of the best changes you can make for healthier eating is to cut back on your salt and sugar. The Dietary Guidelines recommend no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, about the amount in 1 teaspoon of salt. But it’s the salt shaker that adds up the sodium for most people. It’s also in hidden sources like chips, pickles, bacon, sausage, deli meats and condiments such as soy sauce. As for added sugars, the recommendation is less than 10% of total calories.
No. 4: Add healthy fats. Saturated fats such as butter can increase cholesterol. Instead, choose monounsaturated fats such as olive, peanut or canola oil. Saute your chicken or fish in olive oil instead of butter. Omega-3 fats, found in avocados, nuts, salmon, tuna, sardines, flax seed and chia, are heart-healthy.
No. 5: Switch to whole grains. Choose brown rice over white, or try quinoa. Add barley to a soup. Start your day with oatmeal.
These are all great starts to a healthier you, and the end result will be a healthy weight for you.
Q: Can changing your diet really slow brain aging?
A: Research shows it can -- by as much as 7 1/2 years. The foods that make a difference include broccoli, fatty fish, avocados, beans, eggs, dark chocolate, walnuts, berries and coffee. In fact, more fruits and vegetables of all types are helpful. The Cleveland Clinic recommends adding apples, tomatoes and onions to your diet, along with barley, brown rice, chia, flaxseed, tea and turmeric. Think whole foods, foods rich in fiber, antioxidants and omega-3s. Choose less added sugars, saturated fat and foods with refined flour. If you’re still not sure, stick with a healthy eating pattern based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate.
Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the current president of the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRD. .
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
Week of April 28 - May 4, 2024
Stand outdoors on a clear, dark night, and before long, you’re almost sure to see a star zip across the sky.
You may know it as a “shooting” star or “falling” star; some may even say they saw a comet. But these phenomena are none of the above. Astronomers know they are meteors.
So what’s the difference? I’m glad you asked, because I was going to tell you anyway!
While they may look like falling stars, they are about as different from stars as one can get. Stars, you may recall, are massive globes of hot gases not unlike sun trillions of miles away.
Meteors, however, are specks of dust -- most are smaller than a grain of sand -- pulled in from our solar system by the Earth’s gravitation. When one of these hits our upper atmosphere at tens of miles per second, it ignites and causes the nearby atmospheric gases to glow. It’s this fiery demise that we see as a meteor.
Comets, on the other hand, are huge chunks of dirty ice that whirl around the sun over periods of years, decades or centuries. They don’t go whipping across our sky, but they do lose dusty material as they round the sun, and some of this material can fall to Earth
in the form of meteors many years after the comet’s visit.
Some of us “ol’-timers” may remember seeing the most famous of all comets -- Halley’s Comet -- back in 1986. It wasn’t particularly bright during that visit, but it will be when it returns in 2061.
Now if you don’t want to wait 37 years to see Halley on its next pass, you can see fragments it left behind on previous orbits during the Eta Aquarid meteor shower in early May.
Stargazers have watched the Eta Aquarids since about 74 B.C., but the shower wasn’t officially “discovered” until Lt. Col. George Lyon Tupman recorded it in 1870.
To view the shower, head away from city lights to where the sky is dark and clear. Under ideal conditions, stargazers may see a meteor every minute or two. It’s best to view it during the hours just before dawn. At that time the waning crescent moon will lie very low in the eastern sky, so its light won’t diminish this year’s show.
While you’ll see meteors all around the sky, those from this shower will appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius. To determine if a meteor is part of the meteoric swarm left behind by Halley’s Comet, trace its path backward. If its path intersects the middle of Aquarius low in the east-southeastern
sky before dawn, the meteor almost certainly originated from Halley’s Comet. If its path appears not to intersect Aquarius, the meteor is called a “sporadic” meteor; in other words, it’s just a random speck of dust that we coincidentally scooped up around the same time.
As with all meteor showers, you will need nothing except your eyes, a lawn
chair or sleeping bag, and some warm clothing. You may wish to have binoculars handy, however, to check out any persistent smoke trails left behind by some of the brightest meteors.
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.
COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
Stargazers’ expected view during the upcoming Eta Aquarid meteor shower in May
My husband listened quietly to his work associates on a Zoom call, and then suddenly, he burst out laughing.
“HAHAHAHA!!”” he bellowed across our living room. I looked over at the windows to make sure they hadn’t been shattered by the sonic boom of his laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I asked him when he got off the call.
“Oh, nothing,” he said. I gave him the side eye. My husband and I had been working from home together intermittently since the pandemic, and yes, we were still married ... barely. There was definitely a strain on our relationship, and it wasn’t all the togetherness that was to blame. It was the laughter. Well, his laughter ... when he’s on a Zoom call.
When he’s alone with me, he has a normal laugh. But when he’s on a Zoom
call, his laugh suddenly gets thunderously loud, like he’s trying to make sure the people on the call who live a thousand miles away can hear him guffaw, even if they have their sound turned off. Imagine if a jackhammer and a foghorn had a child. That would be his Zoom laugh.
The problem isn’t merely that it’s loud. It’s also really sudden. It can be emitted so abruptly that it not only scares me, it scares the dog. When I hear it, I jump out of my chair. When the dog hears it, he tucks his tail between his legs and runs into another room, convinced an elephant stampede is about to come through our living room. It’s somewhat disconcerting to know that if in fact an elephant stampede was to come through our living room, the dog would not stay to protect me. Apparently when it comes to loud laughter or elephant stampedes, it’s every man, woman and dog for
themselves.
My husband used to be a loud phone laugher, but that would happen infrequently since he wasn’t much of a phone guy. But now that he was spending nearly eight hours a day on video calls, the issue had escalated. There was an average of a dozen loud laughs a day, and I thought it was just a matter of time before the neighbors reported us for violating the local noise ordinance and we would have a noise control officer show up at our door and cite us for breaking the sound barrier. When he arrived, he might also wonder if the cause of the noise was an elephant stampede going through our living room, and then he would cite us for not having a variance to house large, wild, African animals as well.
Wanting to save myself and the dog, and also not wanting to worry about going to jail, although it would probably be quieter there, I thought it was time to
take some action.
“Honey,” I said, sitting him down. “I need to talk to you about your laugh.”
“What about my laugh?” he said.
“When you are on a Zoom call, you laugh really, really loudly, and it scares the dog.”
“It scares the dog?”
“Yes. Do you think you can tone it down a bit?”
“You want me to laugh softer?” he said, scowling.
“Yes. Just on the Zoom calls,” I said. He thought for a minute.
“OK,” he said finally. “I can do that. But now let’s talk about your snoring.”
Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online! You can visit her at www. tracybeckerman.com.
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Although many desserts make for a sweet ending to delicious meals, there’s something so inviting about a moist and tender cobbler to add that yum factor. Cobbler consists of a fruit filling covered in a biscuit batter of sorts. When baked,
Servings: 9
5 peaches, peeled, cored and sliced (about 4 cups)
3⁄4 cup granulated sugar
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
For the batter:
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
3⁄4 cup milk
Ground cinnamon
1) Add the sliced peaches, sugar and salt to a saucepan and stir to combine. If using canned peaches, skip steps 1 and 2 and follow the directions starting at step 3.
2) Cook on medium heat for just a few minutes, until the sugar is dissolved and helps
the ingredients blend together to form a spoonable treat that is tender but with the right amount of bite.
Enjoy this recipe for “Peach Cobbler” courtesy of Taste Better From Scratch and contributor Lauren Allen.
to bring out juices from the peaches. Remove from heat and set aside.
3) Preheat oven to 350° F. Slice butter into pieces and add to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Place the pan in the oven while it preheats, to allow the butter to melt. Once melted, remove the pan from the oven.
4) In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk, just until combined. Pour the mixture into the pan, over the melted butter and smooth it into an even layer.
5) Spoon the peaches and juice (or canned peaches, if using) over the batter. Sprinkle cinnamon generously over the top.
6) Bake at 350° F for about 38 to 40 minutes. Serve warm, with a scoop of ice cream, if desired.
The Joseph Barry Columbiettes will be sponsoring a Spring Raffle on Sunday, May 19, at the Joseph Barry Knights of Columbus hall (45 Heitz Place, Hicksville). Doors open at
12:30 p.m. and the raffles for gift baskets will begin at 1 o’clock. Tickets are $12 per person and include coffee, tea and snacks.
Proceeds from this and other
Columbiettes fundraisers go toward assisting charities including our local parishes, veterans’ organizations, food pantries and other worthy causes in the community.
See what's happening at your library!
From classes to lectures and concerts to movie screenings, there's never a dull day at your local library!
Check this paper each week for fun and informative all-ages activities, all for free or cheap!
For additional information, please call Susan at 516-680-8487 or email suesarandis@gmail.com
Students at Northside Elementary School established a “Grow Your Awareness” wall to mark Autism Awareness Month.
It’s Autism Awareness Month throughout Levittown Public Schools, when the entire community celebrates its inclusivity and diversity. At Northside Elementary School, that message of acceptance is clear to see thanks to a special project created by students.
With their physical education teachers, students in kindergarten through fifth grade participated in discussions
Public Schools
surrounding autism and other neurodivergent conditions. Following the conversation, each student filled a puzzle piece or butterfly with the attributes that make them unique and special. Throughout the halls, classroom doors have also been decorated under the same theme. Additionally, every Tuesday, the Northside community dresses in blue to mark Autism Awareness Month.
The Wisdom Lane Middle School seventh grade girls basketball team enjoyed an undefeated season.
The seventh grade girls basketball team at Wisdom Lane Middle School in the Levittown Public School District made school history by playing an undefeated season.
The team put forth fierce competition and tough teamwork to win their 11 games against rival schools. Their strong team spirit was clear to see on the court as the team’s 12 players showed close coordination and camara-
derie. Players Payton Maletta, Sophia Lovece and Hailey Vecchio expressed their pride in their successful season, while adding that it was not always an easy task. In their final game, they were down in the fourth quarter before making a last-minute comeback.
“We made sure to keep each other in check,” Maletta said. “Consistency is key.”
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that it has lifeguard employment opportunities at Town Pools and Beaches throughout the Town. Opportunities for this summer once again include a competitive starting salary of up to $18 per hour for all lifeguards, as well as openings for 15-year olds at community pools.
“From having the opportunity to
work at one of the Town’s fantastic summer facilities and building confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills, to making new friends and helping others, working as a lifeguard is one of the best summer jobs around,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “Our lifeguards provide an invaluable service in protecting our residents and have helped
save countless lives in both pool and ocean waters. We encourage you to take the first step in making this summer your best one yet by applying to be a Town of Oyster Bay lifeguard today.”
The Town is accepting lifeguard applications from candidates who possess Nassau Lifeguard Certification and a current CPR/ AED for the Professional Rescuer. Additionally, the Town is offering Red Cross Lifeguard Training and Nassau County Certification courses for residents who are not certified, but would like to be. Upon successful completion of these two courses, residents will be eligible for employment as a lifeguard with the Town of Oyster Bay and the Town will then pay all fees for both courses. There are also many future opportunities for advancement, including as Water Safety Instructors,
Swim Team Coaches, Swim Lesson Teachers, Head Lifeguards, Lifeguard Instructors and Lifeguard Managerial positions.
“The Town of Oyster Bay is making it easier than ever to become a lifeguard. We’re offering all the certification and training courses you need to apply, covering the fees of these courses for successful candidates, welcoming 15-year olds to our lifeguard ranks at Town community pools, and offering competitive pay in recognition of the life-saving work they do,” added Supervisor Saladino. Town lifeguards are hired for the summer season, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Positions are available at all Town pools and beaches. For all inquiries about lifeguard employment and classes, please call 516-797-4131 or email aquatics@oysterbay-ny.gov.
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (DPlainview) with staff from NuHealth.
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D - Plainview) partnered with NuHealth and the Breast Imaging Center at Nassau University Medical Center to bring the breast cancer screening van to the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library on Thursday, April 18. During the event, women who pre-registered through Deputy Minority Leader Drucker’s office received free mammograms, breast exams, and self-examination instructions from a medical professional.
“Early detection is so critical in the fight against breast cancer, and I am committed to bringing these potentially life-saving screening resources directly to our community whenever we can,”
Deputy Minority Leader Drucker said.
“This event could not have happened without the help of Plainview-Old Bethpage Library Director Maryann Ferro and Cultural Program Specialist Andrea Vaglio, and all the outstanding staff from Nassau University Medical Center. I thank them all for their service to the residents of District 16!”
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D –Plainview) with a donoar at the blood drive held on April 13 at Plainview OldBethpage Public Library
Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) hosted a blood drive he hosted at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library in partnership with the New York Blood Center on Saturday, April 13.
“Every donation goes a long way toward ensuring that we have ample
blood supplies on hand to address any medical emergency that may occur in our lives,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker said. “I thank the New York Blood Center, the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library team and everyone who rolled up their sleeves for helping us make a difference in our community.”
The Town of Oyster Bay ’ s Distinguished Artists Concert Series will continue this spring with free performances at local libraries throughout the Town.
“The Distinguished Artists Concert Series provides free musical and dance programs for the enjoyment of our resi-
dents,” said Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh. “I encourage residents to take advantage of these wonderful performances offered by the Town for free at local libraries.”
Scheduled performances for April and May include:
• Gene Casey & The Lone
Sharks on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library – Performing rockabilly, twang & Johnny Cash-style country music.
• Bay Big Band on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Hicksville Public Library – an 18-piece big band playing greatest hits.
The Distinguished Artists Concert Series is sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts (CAPA) Division of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community & Youth Services. For the full concert schedule and further information, please call (516) 797-7925 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com/CAPA.
Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato joined Rabbi Chanan Krivisky and his wife Aliza of MiYaD of Jericho, to proclaim April 19th as “Education and Sharing Day” in the Town of Oyster Bay, in recognition of the 122nd birthday of Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson who was considered to be one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century.
“Rabbi Mendel Schneerson dedicated his life to education and advocated for a greater emphasis of human rights, justice and morality in the education system,” said Supervisor Saladino. “I can’t think of a more fitting way to honor him than to proclaim this day ‘Education and Sharing Day’ here in the Town, and encourage classroom instruction to include morality and ethics.”
Supervisor Saladino and Receiver Pravato presented Rabbi Krivisky and his wife with this proclamation and thanked them for their incredible efforts and for their spiritual and religious contributions which they provide, every day.
Seventh and eighth grade students at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School were recently treated to a special performance that spotlighted the life of Anne Frank. The one-woman show—A story of Perseverance Hope & Love — starring Sheryl Faye, imparted valuable lessons to the students about antisemitism, World War II and the horrific treatment of Jewish people by Nazi Germany during that period.
The play was based on the famed Diary of a Young Girl and recounts Anne Frank’s experience hiding in the Netherlands after its occupation by the Nazis, her later arrest by the Nazi Germany secret police, and death in a concentration camp. Throughout, Faye expressed Anne Frank’s hopes, dreams and desires as a young girl growing up during difficult times. Undeterred by her family’s situation, she continued to dream of postwar life, although her tragic death just two months before the conclusion of the war left her dreams unrealized.
The play is part of a series by Faye, who depicts various important historical women, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Sally Ride, Abigail Adams and Amelia Earhart among many others. Her depiction of Anne Frank served as a valuable lesson for students on perseverance in the face of hate.
Students at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School were treated to a special, one-woman play about the life of Anne Frank. The performance is one of a series about famous historical women by actor Sheryl Faye.
