Syosset Advance (8/4/23)

New car chargers installed at POB Public Library

Enrollment “bubble” seen in two Syosset elementary schools

BY RIKKI MASSAND

The Syosset Central School District Board of Education’s special meeting, on Tuesday July 25th focused on potential upgrades to the district’s aging facilities. But the trends in school district enrollment are an integral part of the discussions involving the future of all ten Syosset school buildings, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Rogers expressed the need for flexibility to accommodate higher enrollment. Recent statistics have shown uneven

growth among the district’s elementary schools.

The trends for Syosset CSD enrollment are currently noted as “Secondary Growth, Elementary Bubble.” A chart reflecting district enrollment since 2019 outlined the elementary-level bubble, but it is projected to subside with a move of the high enrollment bubble through the middle school-level, eventually reaching the high school.

In discussing the district facili-

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Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) joined with the leaders of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library on Wednesday, July 26 to celebrate the grand opening of the facility’s newly installed electric vehicle chargers. The completion of this new public amenity comes at a time when Nassau County residents and drivers across America are embracing electric vehicles at a greater rate than ever before.

“Electric cars are an essential component of ongoing efforts to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and combat climate change, and charging stations like the one at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library are key to supporting the increased daily reliance upon

See page 11

Superintendent outlines school facilities needs

BY RIKKI MASSAND

The Syosset Central School District Board of Education held a special meeting on Tuesday July 25 to initiate another round of discussions on the state of district facilities, following a board tour of the facilities on Thursday July 13.

Early in the 2022-2023 school year the Board of Education members toured comparable school district facilities including pools, gymnasiums, cafeterias and auditoriums in the nearby Jericho and Hicksville

school districts, and then held a workshop discussion in January this year to frame some goals for facilities.

A presentation by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Rogers to start the July 25 meeting highlighted considerations of the aging schools infrastructure. Most of the district’s school buildings were constructed during the 1950s. At the June meeting of the Syosset Board of Education the district administration reviewed the school buildings conditions survey

See page 11

Leaders of the Plainview - Old Bethpage Library, along with Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker (D-Plainview) cut the ribbon on the library's new electric vehicle chargers.

Library Board Chairperson Marilyn Leibowitz and Library Director Maryann Ferro with Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker (center).

Two arrested for cooking oil thefts

Avoid penaltiespay tax bill by August 10

Town of Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato reminds residents that the Second Half of the 2023 General Tax Levy is due on July 1, but can be paid without penalty through August 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,”

are reminded to bring the entire tax bill. There are also outdoor walkup windows, and drop boxes have been installed at both locations for residents to make payments when the Tax Office is closed.

Residents who prefer to mail in their payments should send them to the Office of the Receiver of Taxes, 74 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, N.Y. 11771-1539. Please make your

Nassau County Police arrested two New Jersey men on Friday, July 28th for allegedly stealing cooking oil from a Woodbury restaurant. Police say that the pair are responsible for similar thefts from at least ten other locations in the county since May.

According to police, at 3:44 a.m., Second Precinct officers responded to the rear parking lot of Ben’s Kosher Deli located on Jericho Turnpike for a larceny that had just occurred. Upon police arrival, a male employee told police he observed on a security camera that two male subjects exited

Anthony Davis

This Week at the Syosset Public Library

Friday, August 4, 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

Monday, August 7, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Nassau County Property Tax Exemption Workshop (IN-PERSON)

Equipped with specially configured computers linked to the county's database, the Nassau County Department of Assessment staff will process tax exemption applications on-site. For further information, contact the Nassau County Department of Exemptions Division at (516) 5711500.

No appointment needed. First come, first served basis. Applicants

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should arrive no later than 2:30 p.m. to the workshop. For questions on this program, please call Nassau County Department of Assessment, not the library.

Thursday, August 10, at 12:00 p.m.

#AskALibrarian (ON TWITTER)

Join librarians from Syosset Library and around the world on Twitter for #AskALibrarian to receive reading suggestions based on your requests. Must have a Twitter account to participate. Read a great book? Need a read-alike? Looking for your next book club choice? Use #AskALibrarian in your tweet.

Friday, August 11, 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.

On Sunday, May 21, Our Lady of Mercy Academy’s Lady Mustangs defeated Kennedy Catholic, 13-12, in the Girls Lacrosse State CHSAA Class A Championship game at Manhattan College. Congratulations!

Therapy dogs are a hit at summer program

Plainedge Board of Education Vice President Raymond Paris visited the Extended School Year Program where he spent time with the students and two therapy dogs! Jake and Ralphy, from Therapy Dogs of Long Island, are specially trained to help alleviate stress and anxiety. Students enjoyed petting and interacting with the friendly dogs and loved how calm they were. The visit from @therapydogsli was a part of the program’s ongoing effort to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for its students while promoting mental health and wellness.

Events for readers at Syosset Public Library

Tuesday, August 1, at 2 p.m.

Title Swap Tuesdays

Excited to hear about our favorite books? Join the Readers’ Services librarians for a fun, lively in-person presentation of all the books we can’t stop talking about. Leave with a list of great reads. No registration.

Tuesday, August 22, at 2 p.m.

Afternoon Book Discussion

Join Lisa Hollander, Readers’ Services Librarian, for an in-person discussion of the novel “Ask Again, Yes”

by Mary Beth Keane. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before the program. No registration.

The Library is located at 225 South Oyster Bay Road, Syosset. For more information please call 516-921-7161 ext 239 or email: Readersservices@syossetlibrary.org

*All events are wheelchair accessible.

**Books will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before each program

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Jericho School District debuts summer music program

The Jericho School District debuted a Summer Music Program this year, under the direction of Curriculum Associate for Fine and Performing Arts Ruth Breidenbach, and it was a great success. Rising 5th and 6th graders par-

ticipated in 18 sessions this summer in which they continued developing skills and techniques in band, orchestra, and chorus. The program concluded with a performance for family and friends.

Many high school students helped each day and volunteered their time at the summer program.

The trombones keep tempo.

This student enjoyed the French horn as he played along with the band ensemble, led by Evangeline Bellon.

Working on her skills during a lesson with Mr. Lee. The chorus, led by Beth Owens, works on their music.

Photos by Denise Nash

New water treatment facility removes contaminants

Upcoming Events at the Jericho Public Library

Friday, August 4

4:00 p.m.: Science Camp (Grades 3–5) - Come to this program to learn how science is involved in all aspects of our lives such as food and the human body. Each class involves a hands-on activity that demonstrates the science at play.

Monday, August 7

10:30 a.m.: Adventures in Keyboarding (Grades K–2) - Begin a lifelong appreciation of music and how to play an instrument. No prior experience is necessary.

and 1800.

Tuesday, August 8

7:00 p.m.: Teens: Embroidery Workshop - Fall in love with embroidery! This easy to learn craft begins a lifetime of creativity and fun. Participants will learn how to set up a project on an embroidery hoop as well as how to stitch. Afterwards, take home your project and supplies to continue learning.

Wednesday, August 9

The Plainview Water District (PWD) recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the newly completed, state-of-theart treatment facility that was specifically designed to remove emerging contaminants 1,4-dioxane, PFOA and PFOS from the community’s drinking water. Plant No. 2, located on Donna Drive, represents a $4.2 million investment into the community’s drinking water infrastructure that is capable of producing up to two million gallons of high-quality drinking water each and every day. The Plainview Water District is viewed as a leader in water treatment and has successfully put more Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) systems in place than any other water supplier on Long Island.

“This ceremony marks yet another major milestone for the Plainview Water District and our mission to continue delivering high-quality water to the POB community,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “This facility was operational in record time, well before the new water quality regulations went into effect, and that was only made possible by the dedication of the hard work by our staff and engineering team. With its permanent, yearround capabilities, this facility will bolster our ability to continue providing water that meets and exceeds all water quality standards.”

The facility was initially designed to repurpose treatment equipment previously purchased to complete the temporary treatment system installed in 2020. In August 2020, the New York State Health Department finalized regulations establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for emerging compounds 1,4-dioxane, PFOA and PFOS. Construction began in November 2021 to redevelop the temporary treatment plant into a year-round facility to treat for these contaminants. This ensured the District remained ahead of the regulatory timelines for emerging contam-

inants established by the New York State Department of Health, without the need for an extension to remain in compliance.

“This plant was strategically transformed from a temporary facility to a permanent facility to create a long-standing plant that will produce billions of gallons of the highest-quality drinking water over the next couple of decades,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “By continuing to invest in our infrastructure, we are investing in our community for generations to come. The District has put in tremendous effort and resources to create this facility and being able to see the astonishing outcome has truly been remarkable.”

The treatment technology required to remove 1,4-dioxane is called the Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). This treatment system works by adding a small amount of an oxidant into the water—in this case hydrogen peroxide—that passes through an ultraviolet light reactor destroying the 1,4-dioxane molecules. From there, the water then travels through Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration—industrial-sized carbon filters—so any remaining detections of the oxidant as well as other volatile organic compounds can be removed before water goes through the rest of the treatment and delivery process. This treatment duo, which is also effective at removing PFOA and PFOS, is the only method approved by state and local health departments to remove 1,4-dioxane.

“It was a noteworthy experience to be able to take part in the celebrations for this facility, particularly after getting to witness the PWD’s staff and engineer’s great efforts over the past seven months,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “Seeing just part of the hard-work and time that went into the creation and execution of this project was remarkable. We thank all those who had a hand in developing this great facility for our community.”

2:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Profiles with Dr. William Thierfelder: Founding Writers, Part 1: The GentlemenThis presentation focuses on seven of America’s earliest writers, men whose work helped to forge opinions and establish how the world — and ourselves — saw the colonies and the fledgling nation. John Smith, William Bradford, Edward Taylor, Jonathan Edwards, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine and Phillip Freneau represent the broad range of literature written between 1600

5:00 p.m.: Teens: Zentangle: Learn the Basics - Bring out your inner artist with Zentangle! In the first session of this 2 part program, you will learn the basics of Zentangle and practice drawing “tangles.” In the second session, you will use what you learned to create a Zentangle masterpiece! Classes will be taught by a certified Zentangle teacher.

Thursday, August 10

10:30 a.m.: Songs for Baby's Day (Ages Birth to 30 Months) - Come and enjoy this literacy building, fun and educational musical storytime.

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Plainview Water District Commissioners Andrew Bader, Marc Laykind and Michael Chad with PWD staff at Plant 2 ribbon cutting.

Enrollment “bubble” seen in elementary schools

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ties’ conditions Dr. Rogers noted that addressing the growth in enrollment as it moves up to the two middle schools and Syosset High School will create a particular challenge for the administration and board over the next several years.

Dr. Rogers said J. Irving Baylis Elementary, South Grove Elementary, and Robbins Lane Elementary are projected to remain constant in enrollment levels, but there are two elementary schools that experienced recent growth where the trend continues to indicate a surge: Berry Hill and Walt Whitman elementary schools.

“Both are projected to have a bubble and then see it subside but I think we need to plan for the possibility that the bubble doesn’t subside. That is certainly front of mind for me,” he noted.

Though Dr. Rogers said there is no guarantee, the elementary schools within Syosset CSD that are projected to lose some of their present enrollment levels are Village Elementary and A.P. Willits Elementary. He was firm that there wouldn’t be a plan to decommission

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any space that the school district could eventually need.

While presenting a bar graph on school district enrollment to the board, the superintendent brought up the question “How well have our district enrollment projections held up so far?”

Dr. Rogers noted that for three elementary school buildings projections have been “dead on” – but in the other four elementary schools, the projections outlined before were more aggressive to indicate levels of growth beyond what has materialized in them.

“The caveat on all of this is that we’re halfway through the summer, and summer is where we typically see the most enrollment change as summer is when families want to move, not during a school year. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the numbers inch up a little over the next month. I do think the numbers are indicative that we are either on or below projections for enrollment,” Dr. Rogers said.

Because most families tend to not move during their children’s secondary (high school) years, the projected enrollments for Syosset High are not as volatile as the lower grades are.

Considerations for further examination of Syosset CSD’s enrollment were outlined within Dr. Rogers’ presentation to the board on July 25. He explained three factors as the accuracy of enrollment projections, continued trends for remote work which have led many to move to Long Island, as well as additional residential construction projects taking place within the school district’s boundaries.

“I do think the environment is different now with remote work trends and those trends are also evolving, so I think we’ll have to stay attentive to that evolution. Certainly it is hard to drive around Syosset and not notice that there’s still a lot of residential construction going on. We’d be wise if we are going through a period of doing construction on our school buildings, that we add enough capacity so that we’re not worried that we might run out of capacity at some point in the future (due to an increase in enrollment),” Dr. Rogers said.

Back in June the Syosset Board of Education reviewed facilities and physical plant upgrades that would accommodate a higher enrollment. Those measures included replacements of por-

table classroom or educational activity rooms; an additional classroom for South Woods Middle School; enrollment growth management for Berry Hill and Walt Whitman Elementary Schools and more.

“During the board’s tours we did talk about the enrollment challenge that we’re going to see, particularly at the high school, the limitations that we have on the space allocated for student athletics. The building has constraints on the Robotics program because of the size of the space it’s in. Although we did renovate much of the science classroom space at our secondary level in the last facilities bond project we did not get to all of them so there’s certainly more work to be done there. The idea of co-locating mental health and support services for students is something a lot of school districts are doing, and we’ve just finalized our partnership with Northwell Health to support our mental health services for students. With them we’re thinking about some of the best practices they have observed in other school districts that are already partnering with them,” Superintendent Rogers said.

Town opens new pickleball courts

The Town of Oyster Bay recently completed construction on pickleball courts at Centre Island Beach in Bayville.

“This fun sport has become a favorite among our residents and we’re pleased to add new pickleball courts throughout the Town,” said Councilman Steve Labriola. “Pickleball is a great recreational activity for all ages and playing surfaces have been in popular demand. These new courts at Centre Island Beach in have the added benefit of a beautiful view, as they are situated along the backdrop of the harbor.”

Pickleball combines the elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong, and has become a favorite in many communities. The game is played with a wooden paddle and lightweight plastic ball and can include two, three or four players. The dimensions and layout closely resemble a badminton court, which is considerably smaller than a tennis court.

“Pickleball is a very fun, social and healthy activity for the whole family and these new courts are a welcome addition to the community. So, grab your sneakers and paddle, and get ready to play one of the world’s

Town Clerk Rich LaMarca, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilwoman Vicki Walsh and Councilman Steve Labriola at the new pickleball courts.

From

performed by architectural consultants to the district at H2M Architects + Engineers of Melville.

“The board asked the architects to come back with a prioritization list of the projects as obviously not all of the work that will eventually need to be done has to be completed immediately. They (H2M) are working on that and I anticipate having that ready for the board at the regularly-scheduled August 28 board meeting,” Dr. Rogers noted.

Timeline for referendum presented

The district goals for facilities includes safety for students and staff as the top priority, with a plan to ensure facilities are “adequately sized and appropriate for the instruction we envision.” Superintendent Rogers noted that Syosset CSD has approximately 1 million square feet under district management, so the board’s tours over the course of about a year have not examined every bit of facilities.

With the identifications of buildings’ needs being presented and now put in priority order by H2M Architects + Engineers, Superintendent Rogers shared a potential timeline to lead the district up to a new referendum vote on bonding for facilities upgrades. The process will include several public meetings and presentations and regular board meetings ahead of the referendum.

“The goal would be to put together presentations that we can begin sharing with the public generally as the board begins to identify its priorities and finalize the scope of work. Because of the size of this with some smaller projects, the school district can declare itself a ‘Type II Lead Agency’ for state environmental review (SEQRA) with less environmental reviews necessary – the smaller projects are less impactful. But several of the projects under consideration including conversion of portables into something more permanent would undoubtedly exceed the size, so for that

we’d have to do Type I NYS-mandated environmental reviews and it would take time,” Dr. Rogers said.

Ultimately the time in between the Board of Education arriving at a final scope of work for a facilities bond referendum and the community’s vote would be 45 days at minimum. The district would organize extensive public engagement about the referendum projects with community members, parents and district staff during that 45-day or longer period leading up to the special vote.

Enrollment a key to facilities planning

Dr. Rogers said Syosset CSD is trying to manage some of its enrollment growth by converting a large storage space at the high school into a usable classroom. He said the district will be able to “go plus-1 on classrooms this summer, and while one won’t be enough it is certainly a start.”

Another example of upgrades needed was for the district’s portable (trailer-style) accessory spaces and how the portables are aging and in need of replacement.

“They have not reached the end of their useful life to us but we want to plan ahead for what their successors will be and have a thoughtful transition from the current space to the future space – in many cases there will need to be some overlap. We want the buildings and structures of the district to support the learning the children are doing, recognizing that the learning is changing and evolving over time,” he said.

Adjustments necessitated by Syosset schools’ enrollment trends and the modern uses of learning spaces, plus hopes to enhance social environments such as cafeterias and a student courtyard, set up a basis for investments to come, according to Superintendent Rogers. He said that many of the issues are common in other buildings.

“A lot of the challenges that exist in our school buildings exist in a similar way in other buildings. If you see the same, non-structural cracked wall in one building, the tour did not cover

New car chargers at POB Public Library

each crack in all 10 school buildings since you don’t need to go see the other — we know cracked walls need to be fixed,” he said.

The Walt Whitman and Berry Hill Elementary Schools were noted as “tight from an enrollment perspective” as Dr. Rogers said there will be additional space needed at each. Additionally there are problems with ADA accessibility due to the topography of Berry Hill Elementary’s campus.

The Family and Consumer Science classrooms at both Syosset High School and South Woods Middle School were examined, as were gymnasiums and locker rooms, bathrooms, technology and robotics classrooms, the auxiliary gym at South Woods and student courtyard at SHS, among others at the main Syosset CSD campus. Dr. Rogers said the constraints on gymnasium space at SHS were discussed during the board’s tour, and the student courtyard is in need of attention.

Safety & learning environment

At H.B. Thompson Middle School the board reviewed the security vestibule, electrical upgrades, canopies, the track and field area and various sitework performed. HBT Middle School’s security vestibule was noted as too small and in need of expansion. Dr. Rogers told the board, “we think the function of the building could be improved by making the vestibule a more welcoming way for visitors to come to the building while also making it more safe to have a larger space in between the doors.”

The technology classrooms have had to accommodate growing enrollment, as has the robotics classroom. With much of the work on bathrooms completed within the Phase II districtwide facilities upgrades, there is still more work to be done to address aging bathrooms at the schools.

“The locker rooms and bathrooms are essentially in the same conditions they have been in for many decades,” he shared.

Most of Syosset’s school facilities were originally built in the 1950s and

are all approaching the 70-year mark simultaneously. To compound facilities issues, the superintendent explained that Syosset CSD went through a period where bare minimum investments in facilities were occurring, so recent Boards of Education have needed to invest in facilities that were overlooked in prior years.

Dr. Rogers reported that many school districts are now co-locating the mental health and social services supports for students in a single location. The bullet point included for Syosset High School facilities noted this as a “guidance center” and during the tour, the board discussed this concept for the school.

Another of the facilities’ goals discussed in the January workshop meeting noted “anticipation and planning for facilities to support future growth and innovation.”

Across all the Syosset district’s school buildings, expanding and renovating cafeterias and kitchen spaces to better serve as 21st Century in-school settings were outlined.

“They are built from another time when they weren’t a priority and obviously they serve as a socialization space. There’s an opportunity to prepare food on-site as opposed to bringing the food in from our secondary schools, which will be an advantage if it’s possible to do,” Dr. Rogers told the Board of Education.

The final discussion point was investing in district facilities “as an asset to be improved, rather than overhead to be minimized.”

Coinciding with a discussion item brought up during the board’s June and July 6 meetings, the school board toured the bus egress (exit) area at Syosset High School during the July 13 facilities tour.

From page 1

these zero-emissions vehicles,” Legislator Drucker said. “I applaud Library Board Chairperson Marilyn Leibowitz and Library Director Maryann Ferro for

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bringing this environmentally friendly project to fruition.”

Photos courtesy of the Office of Legislator Arnold W. Drucker

August 4, 2023

Walking Tours, Dining Experiences Reveal

Vancouver’s Revived Indigenous Heritage

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

Vancouver’s Stanley Park is much like Central Park in New York or Golden Gate Park in San Francisco – an incredibly vast (1001acre) green oasis in a metropolis. It is absolutely stunning, on a point that juts into the Burrard Inlet and English Bay, with scenic views of water, mountains, sky, the natural West Coast rainforest, and the Park’s famous Seawall.. You can ride a miniature train, rent bikes, go to the Teahouse, take a ride on a horsedrawn carriage, visit the Vancouver Aquarium (65,000 animals, 120 world-class exhibits), walk the many marvelous trails and paths. Most of the manmade structures present in the park– like the lighthousewere built between 1911 and 1937 by then superintendent W.S. Rawlings. Additional attractions, such as a polar bear exhibit, aquarium, and a miniature train, were added in the post-war period.

But the tranquility of Stanley Park belies its history. The park occupies land that had been used by indigenous peoples for thousands of years –it was one of the most important salmon fisheries in the region and was rich in other resources, including beaver and lumber. British colonizers came in force to British Columbia during the 1858 Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, and extract other resources including lumber. The British then set up military fortifications at Hallelujah Point to guard the entrance to Vancouver

harbor (there is still a Navy outpost and the city’s marina).

In 1886, the city incorporated the land and turned it into Vancouver’s first park. It was named for Lord Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, a British politician who had recently been appointed Canada’s Governor General. Lord Stanley (better known today for hockey’s Stanley Cup) became the first Governor General to visit Vancouver when he came in 1888 to officially open the park.

And that is what brings me together with Patrick, an indigenous guide from Talaysay Tours, who leads me and a woman with her two daughters on a “Spoken Treasures” walking tour of the park.

Patrick says that Indigenous peoples have occupied this area for

8,000 years and there is still a 4,000year old shell midden within the park. Where Lord Stanley gave his speech was an indigenous burial ground.

Indigenous people who had already been pushed out of their villages in the north had migrated here to the point they outnumbered the settlers, so there was a campaign to force them out or decimate the population. Smallpox was intentionally spread, Patrick says.

The park – in fact all of Vancouver - is on “unceded land” – Canada never signed a treaty to acquire it, which means that under Crown and Canadian law, the land is still illegally occupied.

There is a marker at Hallelujah Point that describes this place as a thriving settlement which for sev-

eral millennia was inhabited by the Coast Salish people. From the 1860s, Europeans, Chinese and others built houses and lived along the shoreline. After Stanley Park opened in 1888, the Chinese, who were brought in as laborers and built the park road and the yacht club, were the first to be removed; others lived here until evicted in 1931, with the last person leaving in 1957.

Hallelujah Point was taken over as a military fortification to protect Vancouver Harbor and the Canadian Navy still has a small outpost. Patrick says that this was the site of a battlefield with war canoes and was a burial site.

Beaver Lake, one of the park’s major attractions and a place of urban tranquility, “was a sacred site where they brought in beavers,” Patrick said.

Patrick brings us to a grouping of nine Totem Poles, set near Brockton Point and the Brockton Point Lighthouse – considered British Columbia’s most visited tourist attraction.

The collection started at Lumberman’s Arch in the 1920s when the Park Board bought four totems from Vancouver Island’s Alert Bay. More purchased totems came from Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) and the BC central coast Rivers Inlet, to celebrate the 1936 Golden Jubilee. In the mid 1960s, the totem poles were moved to Brockton Point. Several of the poles are re-creations, replicas or replacements.

Each has a story: The Ga’akstalas

Continued on next page

Totem poles at Brockton Point in Stanley Park are the most visited attraction in British Columbia, but few visitors realize they tell the personal stories of First Nations families © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Vancouver’s Revived Indigenous Heritage

Continued from previous page

was carved by Wayne Alfred and Beau Dick in 1991 based on a design by Russell Smith. “We wanted this pole to be a beacon of strength of our young people and show respect for our elders. It is to all our people who have made contributions to our culture,” Beau Dick wrote.

The Chief Skedans Mortuary Pole was carved by Bill Reid with assistant Werner True in 1964 to replace an older version that was raised in the Haida village of Skidegate about 1870, to honor the Raven Chief.

Patrick isn’t exactly happy with the totem poles being here, which he considers appropriation (exploitation? a balm to soothe a guilty conscience?) rather than a way of raising awareness, respect and honor for indigenous heritage.

A totem pole, he explains, was like legal title to property, marking the land as yours, and would be carved with symbols that basically tell the story of that family.

Only one of the totem poles is legitimately where it should be, he says: the Rose Cole Yelton Memorial Pole of the Squamish Nation, raised in 2009, to honor Yelton, her family and all those who lived in Stanley Park. It was erected in front of the home site where the Cole family lived until 1935. She was the last surviving resident of the Brockton community when she passed away in 2002.

“The Totem was the British Columbia Indians coat of arms,” a bronze plaque reads, using language that might be considered inappropriate today. “They were not idols, nor were they worshipped. Each carving on each pole has a meaning.

Such skills, though, had to be resurrected because the government criminalized indigenous art, language and culture, with the intention of eradicating indigenous culture and assimilating the people into Christian society. Because art – the shapes, line and symbols – took the place of written language, the practi-

cal effect was cultural genocide.

“Art was criminalized – it is hard to relearn it, but people found other ways to preserve their art,” Patrick tells us. For example, people would make bentwood boxes but weren’t allowed to give them away (that would be considered an illegal potlatch), but could sell them.

“For 100 years, indigenous people were forced into residential schools,” Patrick says. “Oral history made it easy to eradicate. Potlatch, language was criminalized, but people practiced in secret. We have to relearn history.” These house poles, he says, tell the story of that family.

Founded in 2002, Talaysay Tours is owned and operated by Candace and Larry Campo, Shíshálh (Sechelt) and Sḵwx wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation members. “Our goal is to support culture revitalization, education and reclamation.”

Talaysay Tours, 334 Skawshen Rd, West Vancouver, V7P 3T1, info@talaysay.com, Toll Free 1 (800) 605-4643, 1 (604) 628-8555,www. talaysay.com.

Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro

From Stanley Park, I take an Uber across a bridge to a neighborhood that reminds me of going to Brooklyn from Manhattan.

Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro is (so far) the only indigenous restaurant in Vancouver (though Inez Cook, the owner, has just opened a second location at the international departure terminal at Vancouver International Airport).

“It was always a dream,” she tells me – not just to have a restaurant, but to revive and share indigenous culture.

Inez says that like so many of her generation, she was not raised with native heritage.

She shows me a children’s book, “Sixties Scoop,” she has written which describes how she is Nuxalk, born in Bella Coola, BC, but was taken away when she was one year old and adopted by a Caucasian family in Vancouver.

“I am part of what’s called Sixties Scoop, when the government took native

kids and adopted them out to non-native families. Our native status was given up and we were supposed to grow up without our culture, without our heritage,” she writes. The “Sixties Scoop” began in the 1950s and lasted until the 1980s.

As an adult, she went to find her native roots and discovered she had a younger sister who was also given up for adoption.

That has made her all the more purposeful in showcasing her heritage with pride. (Inez also serves on the board of the Aboriginal Tourism British Columbia.)

Cook was raised with the foods of her adoptive mother’s family who were Dutch Mennonite, so when she decided to open an indigenous restaurant, she needed to research native ingredients and First Nations cooking techniques.

“I wanted the restaurant to showcase food from the land and sea that the Indigenous people had traditionally hunted, harvested and eaten – everything from fiddlehead ferns to bison and sock-eye salmon,” she told the BBC. “I wanted to incorporate their traditional methods too: how they smoked food or preserved it over the long winters. I did a lot of asking and learning, then began to improvise.” (https://www.bbc. com/travel/article/20210317-the-restaurateur-who-overcame-canadas-sixties-scoop)

“The Olympics was coming. I dove in.” She opened Salmon n’ Bannock in 2010 to offer native cuisine with a modern twist.

Her team is indigenous, the menu based on what’s in season and available. She would ask them, “What’s your favorite dish?” and bring modern inspiration.

Some of the more interesting items on the menu this evening: pemmican mousse with bannock crackers; game sausage (this evening it is elk and huckleberry which is sensational); bison bone marrow served with sage rub and bannock crostini; bison pot roast with mash; smoked sablefish on Haudenosaunee corn polento,. I have

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

Sometimes You Need a Microscope to Get to the Truth

BY MARY HUNT

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I am a fine print junkie -- but I could see that happening.

This fascination I have with the fine print is not some weird quirk I’ve had from birth or even a learned behavior that I pursued. It’s the result of getting burned just one too many times because of what lurks in the fine print -- on credit card applications, sales flyers, even the label on a popular laundry detergent.

One of my most irritating lessons in small print had to do with the terms and

conditions on a credit card application. Who could even read that? Talk about fine print. I signed the thing acknowledging that I’d read all of it, sent it in, got approved and used the account.

Now, mind you, this was back when we were working our way out of a horrible pit of debt. There was a reason for this particular account because it was a “fixed rate credit card,” not one of those variable interest rate deals. Fixed rate as in the interest rate will not change, right? It doesn’t take a genius to know what that means. And then it happened.

The company sent a letter informing that the interest rate on this account was changing. Going up, not down! What? In a flash I was on the phone with customer service only to be informed that fixed rates are always tied to an index. Should the index change, the fixed rate changes right along with it. Really? The agent read me the text of the application I’d signed and even emailed a copy. I swear this feature was disclosed in 2 pt. type -- that’s the teeniest of tiny.

Continued on page 5

the Fish n’ Rice” - wild sockeye with Anishinaabe wild rice.

She will take a native ingredient like soapberries or kelp, or a traditional recipe, and turn it into something new.

Her twist on pemmican, a staple for her ancestors, is an example. The traditional way of serving pemmican was as a mixture of dried meat and berries, which were buried to provide food on a journey. Instead, here the pemmican is made of bison meat, smoked, dried and ground before blending it with cream cheese and sage-infused berries.

Cook worked for airlines for 33 years which enabled her to experience other cultures around the world including returning to Vancouver in time to open her second 2nd location, at Vancouver airport.

“I’ve lived all over the world- I wanted to take people on a journey to experience the culture of land...Food and culture bring people together,”

For Inez, the restaurant is a chance to show indigenous culture and real people in a contemporary setting, rather than as displays in a museum or separated on a reserve. “We could be your doctor, lawyer, your neighbor,”

It’s an intimate bistro setting – only about eight tables (24 guests) – but its reputation is going global. Time, Elle Magazine have raved and on this evening, seven media people from France have arrived, and Inez greets them in French.

Salmon n’ Bannock Address: 1128 W Broadway #7, Vancouver, BC, 604568-8971, salmon.n.bannock@gmail.com, www.salmonandbannock.net

Indigenous Tourism BC offers travel ideas, things to do, places to go, places to stay, and suggested itineraries and a trip planning app (https://www.indigenousbc.com/)

Next: Trail to Discover British Columbia’s Indigenous Heritage Goes Through Whistler-Blackcomb

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

Crossword Answers

It’s cleaning and decluttering time

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

I’ve worked with several different supervisors during my career and some were sticklers for being organized and others, not so much. One woman in my office in particular, named Lauren, stands out in my mind as being a stickler.

One of my jobs was stocking the supply closet and keeping track of the ink, toner, mouse pads, reams of paper, etc. I thought I did a pretty good job of keeping things organized and accessible. When we needed something I could put my hand right on the item. Lauren, on the other hand, thought the supply closet could be tidier. Once a month whether it needed it or not Lauren would call me over to help straighten out the supply closet.

The first time Lauren called me I wondered what she needed. Looking around the huge closet I saw order and precision. The items were all lined up where they should be and they were visible, too, so when I entered the closet I could see what I needed - I could put my hand right on it.

Lauren thought that things could be improved, however. Astonished at first, I went with the flow to see what Lauren had in mind. She said that closet needed some organizing and I was surprised because I didn’t see any clutter at all. In two minutes’ time Lauren had reached here and there and pulled out quite a few old items that could be discarded. Pulling over a trash receptacle, we placed the items in and left that closet looking super organized. Lauren beamed with pride and although I wondered what all the fuss was about, I had to admit the closet looked better than it had in a while.

My sister, Michelle, reminds me of Lauren in that she is a real neatnik. My siblings and I laugh and say she never

has to declutter her house because she’s super organized. She doesn’t let unnecessary things pile up. If Michelle buys a new blouse, an old one is removed. The same goes for sweaters, outfits, shoes, etc. She piles bags full of items that can be given to charity and Michelle lines them up near her front door to put in her car the next time she goes out.

Michelle is so organized that she keeps her DVDs alphabetized in her closet. When we feel like watching “Jumanji,” for example, one of us simply opens her closet and goes to “J” to put our hand on the DVD.

If it’s a board game, we know how to look for “Trivial Pursuit,” “Rummikub,” “Cranium,” “Pictionary” or “Do You Really Know Your Family?” We start at “A” and proceed from there.

They are alphabetical. It speeds things up, no doubt about it, but that’s not how I store my board games. It’s pretty much random in and random out. Sometimes, I admit, I’ll put my favorite game of the moment on top of the stack so I can reach in and get it quickly. In my mind that’s efficient but to Michelle, that’s not good enough. It’s out of order.

We admire Michelle’s tenacity and ability to keep things so tidy and decluttered that people comment upon entering her house. I enjoy watching them enter Michelle’s house for the first time so I make sure I’m there to see it. Whether it’s on Christmas Day or for a birthday party the guests enter, look around and say, “Wow!” They admire her roaring fireplace in wintertime, they admire her shiny cabinets and countertops plus her shelves of nick-nacks have few a few special pieces on display so those shelves look spacious.

If you ask me, Michelle’s house and closets look like something out of a magazine. Any room in her house could be photographed for “House Beautiful”

Magazine and I’m proud of Michelle for that.

Over the years I’ve tried to take lessons from Michelle about being organized so the clutter doesn’t pile up but I have to admit that my organizing skills and sorting through skills haven’t improved. She seems to have gotten the organizing gene while that one passed me right by. If I’m in a rush the mail starts to pile up because I’m heading out the door to meet a friend for dinner or go to a good movie. There is junk mail to be shredded and there are magazines that should be read - or may be read some day when I get around to it.

Michelle is the type who takes her mail inside and reads through it right away. If she happens to go out to dinner or to a party and misses reading her mail one afternoon, she will read it first thing the next morning. Keeping what she needs and tossing the rest, Michelle is the epitome of efficiency in motion.

My brother, Greg, and I are similar in that we tend to let papers and things accumulate but we stay on top of the important things. And if you ask us

where something is, we can pull it right out. Need a map of New York State? It’s right here. We pride ourselves on that skill but Michelle just shakes her head and says, “This place needs to be decluttered. It’s got to be better organized!”

Anyone who is downsizing knows that decluttering is part of the process. Whether the person is a senior who is moving to a smaller home or it’s an empty nester situation sorting through not only the homeowner’s things but also the possessions of the young adults who have moved out to marry or to explore the world, decluttering is a must.

I’ve mentioned closets a few times because when it comes to decluttering, the living room and dining room can be tidy and spacious but the closets - those out of sight places, the “catch all” places - are often the worst. Decluttering means sorting through everything and although decluttering involves work, the end result is worth it - everything looks beautiful!

What’s in the back of your closet?

Yes, Rich People Should Get Social Security

BY TOM MARGENAU

I get lots of emails from readers expressing sentiments similar to what these guys recently sent me: “Why should rich people get Social Security? I think it’s just morally wrong that wealthy people should be able to collect a Social Security check!” Here is another example: “Why all the fuss about Social Security going broke? We could save the system forever if we just take rich people off the program!”

I always respond to these people by making the following points. Social Security isn’t now, and never has been, a welfare program. One of the basic tenets of Social Security is that if you work and pay taxes for a required amount of time, you are going to get a Social Security benefit someday. And you get that benefit if you are poor or if you are rich. In other words, if you pay into the system, you’re going to get something out of the system. It’s as simple as that.

Or to put that yet another way. Social Security has never been means-tested. And if we ever were to do that, by decreeing that certain people are too wealthy to get Social Security, then you start turning Social Security into a welfare program. And I think that is a slippery slope we do not want to descend.

But if we were to do the unthinkable and means-test the program, especially as part of some package of reforms intended to “save Social Security,” then where do you draw the line? I mean, how rich is too rich to get Social Security? When I ask this question of guys like those who sent me the emails I included above, they will usually quickly say something like: “Billionaires shouldn’t get Social Security!”

Well, if you are doing that as part of a plan to keep Social Security solvent for future generations, it’s a totally worthless gesture. According to a Google search I did, the U.S. is home to about 770 billionaires. So, knocking 770 people off the program, out of the hundreds of millions of current and future beneficiaries, is absolutely meaningless.

And if you want them off the program because you think it is “morally wrong,” then I can only repeat the point I made earlier. These folks worked and paid Social Security taxes just like everyone else, so they should be able to get Social Security benefits just like everyone else.

And speaking of what rich people pay into the system, let me make some points about a related issue. Many people think that one of the Social Security reforms should be a plan to make rich people pay more into the system.

For the entire 86-year history of the program, there has been a cap on the wages subject to Social Security tax. That cap has certainly inched its way up over the years, from $3,000 in 1937 to $160,200 today. But some say the cap

should be raised rather steeply, or even eliminated.

But here is what people don’t realize when they float such ideas. Social Security benefits are tied to a person’s taxable wages. In other words, the more you pay into the program, the more you are going to get out of the program. So, if you sharply increase the wage base for wealthier people, you are concurrently going to sharply increase the benefits these wealthy people will someday get in return. And so, a lot of the extra money you think you are pumping into the Social Security pipeline as part of a reform package will simply pour out of the other end of the pipe in future benefits for the well-to-do.

In other words, if you dramatically raise or even eliminate the wage cap to help “save Social Security,” what you’d have to do is place a cap on the benefits paid out of the system to wealthier people to make that kind of reform work. And that would be a hard thing to pull off politically.

And before I wrap up my discussion of wealthy people and Social Security, there is one final point I need to make. Earlier, I said that Social Security is not a welfare program. But having said that, I must point out that there actually are certain “social welfare” characteristics that have been an intrinsic part of Social Security’s makeup from the very beginning. After all, the word “social” isn’t included in the name of the program just because it alliteratively looks good next to the word “security.”

To put that another way, there always have been social goals for American society built into the DNA of Social Security. And one of those goals is to raise the standard of living in retirement for lower-income people.

So how does Social Security achieve that goal? With a benefit formula that is skewed to give lower-income people a better deal out of the system than that offered to wealthier folks. That doesn’t mean that low-income people get higher benefits than better-off people do. Warren Buffett, for example, certainly gets a significantly higher Social Security benefit than the maid who cleans his mansion will get someday when she retires. But as a percentage of what they kicked into the system (in the form of Social Security taxes), that maid will get a much better “rate of return” than Buffett gets.

I don’t have the space here today to get into the intricacies of the Social Security benefit formula, but that maid could potentially end up with a benefit that represents 90% of her pre-retirement income. On the other hand, Warren Buffett’s Social Security benefit might only be about 30% of his Social Security taxable income (and only a teeny-tiny fraction of his actual income).

And in case you’re wondering, the Social Security benefit formula is set up so that most of us (in other words, peo-

ple with average incomes) end up with a Social Security benefit that is about 42% of our pre-retirement income.

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-Un-

derstand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers on page 2

The challenges and pitfalls for first time purchasers

You’re a first time purchaser and are excited about pursuing your “American Dream” of homeownership. You are ready to begin searching for your next place to call home. But have you done your homework? The first most crucial step is to go to a lender to see what amount of a mortgage that you will qualify for. Email or bring with you your most recent tax returns, W-2’s or 1099s (if self employed) and have them do a complete credit profile. After the process is completed, you will receive the most important piece of paper, your commitment letter with no conditions except subject to an appraisal of the property. This would be the most prudent path to take as our inventory is historically low and those buyers that procrastinate are either not ready to “go to war” with the other competition of buyers or are losing deals. There are those who are getting outbid on homes, where emotion and need are combining to make the winning bids sometimes way above the asking price. My advice is not to succumb to getting too emotional in your search and purchasing and not let your common sense and critical thinking go by the wayside. If it makes sense in the brain, it will make sense in your pocketbook!

In many cases affordability is being sacrificed and people are stretching their financial capabilities to a point where there could be a major risk factor that might come into play in the future. One should look at their job and/or business and make sure that their income will continue to be consistent, so as not to have to worry about not being able to pay and then may need to do a short sale, where the value

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

of the home becomes less than the mortgage or worse go into foreclosure. Those who are most in jeopardy are the ones that are putting down less than 10%. It will take several years for inventory to become more normalized to reach 6-7 months. Also, most important is guessing if and when interest rates will moderate lower. If home values were to decrease sufficiently enough due to a pull back in demand in the future there would be no equity build up and if there were a loss of income, then there might be problems paying the lender.

The first 9 years are mainly interest payments on your mortgage, so there is very little equity buildup. Even if rates were to go substantially lower, refinancing may not make a lot of sense as you would have to determine how many years it would take to break even with the lower interest rate to pay back the initial cost of refinancing. But also consider that you would be starting all over and the next 9 years of your new mortgage would be mostly interest payments once again. No one has a crystal ball or can predict what may or may not happen in the future.

My professional opinion is to always buy within your financial comfort zone and don’t go overboard and get emotionally involved in purchasing, especially if this is your first or even move up purchase. Whether it is a single or multi-family, townhome, condo, coop, do you due diligence and stay grounded when searching. If you have children

or plan to have them, buy the best school district that your budget allows you too; even if you may have to travel further to work, assuming you have to commute to an office. If you work from home then you will have more flexibility in choosing a town. Hire a broker that has many years of knowledge who will educate and guide you through the sometimes tumultuous, complicated and stressful process and not try to sell you the favorite flavor of the month. Consultative selling provides a stronger methodology as a broker must do as much listening as possible and ask the necessary and required questions to be able to assist you your journey to find your next place to call home. He or she must also be caring enough to address your specific “needs and wants” and stay focused on the end game of finding that special first or move up home. Make sure you hire a qualified, licensed and insured home inspector as well as a qualified real estate attorney. There are a multitude of variables, problems and issues that will always come into play that will need to be strategized and solved to finally get to the closing table. Stress can be a real critical issue, so do your best to keep your emotions in check. Use your common sense when making your purchase and stay within your budget and what you are qualified for financially. Better to be safe than sorry.

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 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 in 2022 has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly construction. He will provide you with “free” regular updates of sold and new homes in your town via the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (MLSLI) or go to https://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” `15 minute consultation, as well as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached. He can also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and our Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.

You can email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your request or ideas, suggestions or interview you for a specific topic and a Q & A for a future column with your name, email and cell number. He will email or call you back and respond to your request ASAP as long as he has your complete name, cell, email and/or full home or business address. Again, for a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, he can also be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions and concerns in selling, investing, purchasing, or leasing residential or commercial property.

Sometimes You Need a Microscope to Get to the Truth

Continued from page 2

Thankfully, my fine print surprises of late have been minor (I’ve learned the hard way) compared to a few trusting souls burned years ago during a New York City construction boom. It seems that these folks bought new Manhattan apartments before construction even began, subject to the detailed blueprints they reviewed and accepted. In writing. Legally.

Months later, they walked into their dream homes only to be met with rooms that are significantly smaller and ceilings that are lower than what is called out on the plans. And appliances that are not the brand names agreed to. What happened?

They failed to read the fine print that

says, “square footage is approximate” and “appliances will be of similar quality.” Who would have thought that a room that clearly shows on the plans as being 11 feet, 2 inches by 12 feet, 8 inches would turn out to be an approximation?

OK, so my laundry detergent isn’t exactly a million-dollar-apartment, but wouldn’t any reasonable person be safe to assume that if the container declares “96 loads,” one could expect to have enough detergent to last for 8 months if one does 3 loads of laundry per week?

Here, let me do the math: 3 loads times 4 weeks equals 12 loads a month; 96 divided by 12 equals 8. Right? Now I wouldn’t quibble over a couple of weeks give or take. But when I ran out in less than half that time -- even though I’m careful to

measure -- I figured that something’s not right! I decided to investigate.

Sure enough, right there on the back in very small print, the manufacturer discloses that “96 loads” refers to small loads -- the lowest line marked “1” on the measuring cup, not the line marked “3,” which I use and I bet everyone else who measures does, too.

Look, I have an extra-capacity machine. Why on earth would I run small loads? What I thought was a bargain turned out to be very expensive detergent. I was burned by the fine print.

I’ll admit that my angst over laundry detergent is nothing compared to getting burned on a real estate deal. And it just goes to prove once again that whether it’s laundry detergent, credit card appli-

cations or a fancy NYC apartment, what the big print giveth, the fine print taketh away.

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 “Debt-Proof Living.”

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave

Chicken Little Was Right: The August Sky Is Falling!

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of Aug. 6-12, 2023

Few sights are as thrilling as the fiery spectacle known as a falling star, also called a shooting star or meteor. Astronomers cannot predict exactly when or where a meteor will appear, but each year during mid-August, skywatchers head away from the city lights to view one of the year’s most reliable displays: the Perseid meteor shower.

This year will be no exception; the shower’s peak is expected to occur during the night of Saturday, Aug. 12, and the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 13, but stargazers will surely spot a few meteors from this shower for a week or so before and after this date.

While they may appear quite stunning, meteors are not all that uncommon. Our region of space is littered with dusty particles called “meteoroids,” most no larger than a sand grain. As one falls into our upper atmosphere at more than 100,000 miles per hour, it disintegrates in a quick, but dramatic, burst of light. A conscientious observer can typically see three or four random (or “sporadic”) meteors every hour falling from various directions on any clear night.

There are times when our chances of seeing meteors improve, however,

and mid-August is one of them. That’s because our planet will be carrying us on our annual journey through the swarm of dusty debris expelled by the slowly disintegrating comet SwiftTuttle.

After watching for a while, you’ll notice that these meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, but if you trace their paths backward, you’ll discover that the meteors coming from the Perseid swarm appear to radiate from one location in the sky. This point is called the shower’s “radiant” and is often named for the constellation in front of which it appears.

This is why the August shower is known as the Perseids: Its radiant lies in the direction of the constellation Perseus, now in the northeast. Any meteors that radiate from elsewhere are sporadic meteors -- random flecks of dust not part of the Swift-Tuttle swarm. So why do astronomers always suggest that you will see more meteors before dawn? It’s quite simple, really. The phenomenon is similar to a car encountering a swarm of bugs on the highway. Since our car is moving into this swarm, our windshield receives the brunt of the impacts, while the side and back windows hardly get any. So it is with meteor showers. Our best view often comes when we’re peering in the direction of our orbital motion, and

that comes before dawn. This August, the waning crescent moon will appear in the early morning sky, but its light won’t be much of a hindrance.

For the best view, you might like to camp in the mountains, deserts or countryside, or set up on side rural roads away from traffic. No special equipment is required either; all you need to enjoy the sky show is your eyes, but binocu-

The Bird Is the Word

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

I have often written about my mishaps and unfortunate interactions with suburban flora and fauna. In addition to my encounters with poison ivy and other nasty weeds, I have come up against grouchy uber-woodchucks, manic squirrels and psycho wild turkeys, to name a few. Although I have taken it all in stride, my husband thinks I have an unusually high rate of unpleasant nature issues for one suburban mom. I am quick to point out that since he works in the city, he doesn’t really have as much of an opportunity as I do for run-ins with wildlife ... at least the four-legged kind.

Personally, though, I think he is jealous. I have a much more exciting life than he does.

Sometimes, however, I think you get what you wish for, and recently, my husband won the award for the foulest

encounter of the week.

It was a beautiful, sunny summer morning. My husband emerged from the subway with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step. After a cleansing rain the night before, the city glistened as the sun bounced off the skyscrapers and dried up the last few puddles that lingered in the street. He stopped to let a street vendor pass and caught a whiff of the sausage grilling on board, beckoning him to indulge in a spicy, hot breakfast to go.

As he stood on that street corner smelling the sausage, feeling the slight breeze on his face and watching the sun dance on the rainwater, he suddenly noticed a large flock of pigeons soar overhead.

Then he heard a splat. And another splat. And another. Five splats in all. It took him a moment to realize that the splats had landed very close to him. So close, in fact, that they were on him: one

on his shirt and four on his pants. Five pigeon splats all over his work clothes ... a half-hour before he was to give a major presentation.

The street vendor stopped pushing his cart and looked my husband up and down.

“That’s unfortunate,” he said.

“You think?” responded my husband. He stood staring at the multiple bird offenses on his clothing. This was not the first time he had been a victim of a pigeon hit-and-run, but it was certainly the biggest attack he had ever suffered. The issue, however, was not so much whether five pigeon poop hits constituted a world record, but how fast my husband could get cleaned up before his big meeting.

The vendor grabbed a wad of napkins and passed them to my husband, who did the best he could to remove the pigeon poop from his clothing.

“You know,” said the vendor. “They

lars could be fun to check out long trails left behind by any exploding fireballs. Be sure to take a lawn chair or sleeping bag and a blanket or hot chocolate to keep warm -- yes, even in the summer -- as you gaze skyward.

Follow

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

say it’s good luck to have a bird poop on you.”

“Really?” said my husband wryly.

So, it looks like you have five times the good luck.” The street vendor smiled encouragingly at my husband. My husband looked at his watch.

“What if the bird poops all over you 30 minutes before you have a major work presentation?” asked my husband as he futilely tried to eradicate the pigeon damage.

The vendor grinned. “Then it’s really good luck for the dry cleaners.”

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

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS

Dennis Mammana at facebook/dennismammana.

What do bugs on a windshield and falling stars have in common? They both appear more plentiful when you’re moving toward them.

EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED

ASSISTANT

Seeking local lady in Great Neck vicinity or close by for help with daily activities. Food shopping, medical appointments and other errands.

P/T Flexible Days / Hours. Call 516-829-0542

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Full-Time Marketing / Sales Support / Administrative Office Position in Floral Park NY Office. Seeking an energetic, professional, reliable person with excellent organizational, communication, and telephone skills. Must be able to multitask and interact with both staff and customers and utilize excellent follow-up skills. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. Annual starting salary 50-55k with benefits and 401k. Please send your resume to: slupo@s3mps.com

EMPLOYMENT

SITUATION WANTED

CERTIFIED CARE GIVER

Available. Caring, compassionate, patient, reliable, attentive Caregiver with 11 yrs experience working with Dementia /Alzehimers bed bound ALS patients. Experience in private homes as well as nursing homes. I am very passionate and professional about my job. I look forward to working with you and your family.

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CERTIFIED NURSE’S AIDE

25-30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

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ELDER CARE Experienced woman seeks position to care for the elderly live in or live out. Certified HHA. CPR experience.

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EMPLOYMENT SITUATION

WANTED

ELDER CARE: AIDE/COMPANION with 25 years experience available to care for sick or elderly. Days, nights, weekends. Own car. Excellent references. Fully Vaccinated. Call 516-474-7738

HOME HEALTH AIDE/COMPANION.

Gentle. Optimistic. Experienced with many medical conditions and kinds of people. Families have told me I created a lovely environment, more than they could have hoped for.

Please call Grace 917-499-9520

CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900

EMPLOYMENT

MARKETPLACE

A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE

CONSIGNMENT SHOP

516-746-8900

Antiques-FurnitureJewelry-Silver-MirrorsLamps-Artwork

Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit....

Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City

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

Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org

Items to Consign?

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

All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society

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AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

DRIVE OUT BREAST CANCER:

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

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

OFFICE SPACE

GARDEN CITY

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE

SPACE FOR SUBLET IN LAW FIRM SUITE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

CONDO/CO-OP FOR SALE

CONDOMINIUM FOR SALE GARDEN CITY

1 Bedroom, 1.5 Bath Condominium for sale. Located in Garden City at Wyndham East. Unit comes with 2 parking spaces.

Asking $700,000. Call 516-524-3336

OPEN HOUSE

GARDEN CITY STUNNER!

58 Kenwood Rd

EMPLOYMENT

CAREER TRAINING

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

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

TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DIRECTV

New 2-Year Price Guarantee.

The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/ mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888534-6918

HEARING AIDS!! High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45day money back guarantee!

855-598-5898

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOVENAS/PRAYERS

OH MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER OF MOUNT CARMEL, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.

Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother.

Oh Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power.

Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).

Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (say three times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen.

Advertise in our newspaper!

If you own a business or have a service to provide, we’ll create professional advertisements to promote it and help you be seen by thousands of local readers!

Call 1-516-294-8900 to inquire!

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

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

Autographed Collectors Baseball Items. Golf balls and useful power tools like new! Best offer. Call 516-514-6026

WANTED TO BUY

LOOKING TO BUY!

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

Immediate Cash Paid

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

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS

$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h.

DMV ID#1303199

Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277

1305 Franklin Ave, Third Floor Suite

3 to 4 windowed offices and 2 to 3 Admin Asst. workstations available.

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

Available August 1st

Contact Michael Sparacino: michael.sparacino@brosnanlaw.com

VACATION RENTAL

FALL ON THE NORTH FORK!

Simply the Best!

Cutchogue Waterfront Cottage for rent! Sleeps 6. All new furnishings. Large peaceful property on Haywater Creek with dock. Perfect for Kayaking, fishing or just relaxing by the fire pit. Minutes from wineries, beaches, restaurants, shopping and farm stands. Weeks available in September, October, November. Price reduced to $300/nt.

Please call 516-551-1905

www.beebewaterfrontcottage.com

MATTITUCK

2 Bayfront Homes For Rent

One 3 BR, 2 BTH, One 2 BR House. Available the weeks of June 24th-July 1st and August 26-September 2nd. 3 BR House

$2050-per week. 2 BR House $1850-per week. IDEAL FAMILY VACATION. Call 631-298-8433

OPEN HOUSE: Saturday August 5 and Sunday August 6 11:00 am 2:00 pm

Welcome home to this beautifully renovated Colonial situated in the heart of the Mott section of town.

This 4-bedroom, 2-full bath and 2-half bath home situated on a 61’x100’ lot features top of the line appliances, hardwood floors, 9 ft. ceiling basement, blue stone patio with built in gas BBQ that is conveniently close to schools, parks, town and LIRR.

Offered at $1,850,000

For Sale by Owner

To schedule an appointment

Call/Text 516-305-0895

SERVICES

ARE YOU BEHIND 10K OR MORE on your taxes? Stop wage and bank levies, liens and audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, and resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-5361

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

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING

We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship

Thousands of frames to choose from!!

Over 30 years in business!

92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495

ATTORNEY

STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ.

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

www.dangelolawassociates. com

SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

MASONRY

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

Free Estimates

Fully Licensed & Insured

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Boceski Masonry

Louie 516-850-4886

PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!

Slate & Tile Specialists

All types of Roofing

Local References

Licensed & Insured

516-621-3869

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

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

HEALTH SERVICES

FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC

Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager

Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion

Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement

PRI / Screens / Mini Mental

Status Exams

Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications 516-248-9323

www.familycareconnections.com

901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530

PAINTING & PAPERHANGING

MICHELANGELO PAINTING & WALLPAPER

Interior, Exterior, Plaster / Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499

LAND FOR SALE

Residential in Manorville, NY $365,000 3 acres on LIE route 495 East exit 69 Freeman lane. Eastport schools and farms. Leave message after viewing property with name phone number and address 631-581-9443

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SERVICES

PARTY HELP

LADIES & GENTLEMEN RELAX & ENJOY

Your Next Party!

Catering and Experienced

Professional Services for Assisting with Preparation, Serving and Clean Up Before, During and After Your Party

Bartenders Available.

Call Kate at 516-248-1545

CLEANING

CLEANING AVAILABLE

EXPERIENCED POLISH HOUSE CLEANER

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

Call or text 516-589-5640

SERVICES

DISH TV

$64.99 for 190 Channels + $14.95

High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply.

Promo expires 1/31/24

Call 1-866-595-6967

SERVICES SERVICES

LEAK REPAIRS

Plumbing Repairs

Bathrooms, Showers, Kitchens

24 HOUR SERVICE

Call 516-668-5624

MAGNUM SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC.

Serving Garden City for 40 years.

Let Magnum Upgrade Your Existing Security System.

Burglar & Fire Alarms

Cellular Radio 3G Upgrades

Remote Access

Call: 516-486-5484

PASSION FOR SENIORS

Certified HHA’s, Companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care

available. Also Nassau Locations. Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care.

Call 718-850-3400

Are you a professional?

Hazardous material, homeowners’ cleanup days

The Town of Oyster Bay's S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) and Homeowners Cleanup Days for the summer months have been scheduled on weekends in July and August. Residents can drop off materials at the Old Bethpage Solid Waste Disposal Complex, located at 101 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road in Old Bethpage.

S.T.O.P. Program - Saturday, August 12, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Collects various hazardous materials, including: asbestos material (double bagged); automobile batteries; automobile tires (with or without rims); brake and transmission fluids; drain and oven cleaners; fire extinguishers; fares; fluorescent bulbs; gaso-

line; pesticides and insecticides; oil-based and latex paint; outdoor gas grill propane tanks; photo chemicals; rechargeable and button batteries; small aerosol cans; smoke detectors; solvents; spot removers; thermostats; waste motor oil and antifreeze; and wood preservatives.

“Improperly disposing of products such as waste oil, oven cleaner or paint thinner could contaminate your water supply,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “Anything poured on the ground or put into cesspools, storm drains, or recharge systems can work its way down to the aquifer or our waterways.”

Homeowners Cleanup Days -

Saturday, July 22 & August 19, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Collects non-hazardous waste only, including: air conditioners; all e-waste; campers; boats and boat trailers (proof of ownership required - oil, gas, other fluids and batteries removed); clean, broken concrete; large metal items; propane tanks and propane torches; tires; and yard waste.

“Many of our residents take the opportunity to clean out their yards in the summer months and may have large amounts of non-hazardous debris to dispose,” said Town Councilman Tom Hand. “Residents can bring items such as used tires, fence posts, clean broken concrete or yard waste to our Homeowners Cleanup.”

Free Paper Shredding ServicesSaturday, July 22 & August 19, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Provides residents an opportunity to destroy unwanted documents in a safe and secure manner. Residents only, no businesses, can bring up to four bankers’ boxes of paper to the shredding program.

The Town’s S.T.O.P. and Homeowners programs are open to residents within the Town’s Solid Waste Disposal District. Proof of residency is required. For more information, including a full list of what is accepted at these programs, visit www.oysterbaytown.com/cleanup or call (516) 677-5848.

Levittown high schoolers travel to college campuses

A group of students from Division Avenue and General Douglas MacArthur high schools in the Levittown Public School District took a trip to several local colleges and universities from July 24–26.

Students entering 10th to 12th grades who took the trip alongside volunteer chaperones were excited to get a taste of their future educational endeavors. Their first stop was the University of Connecticut, followed by visits to Northeastern University, Stonehill College, Boston University, Bryant University and the University of Rhode Island, with a surprise final stop at Yale University. Adding more fun to the trip, the group also attended a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park and went on a tour of Boston. Each campus tour was an unforgettable experience for students as they experienced the opportunities that may soon be in store for them beyond high school.

Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Let your voice be heard!

Is there an issue in your community you want to discuss? Want to respond to something you saw in our paper? Then write a letter to our editor and bring it to everyone’s attention! Send your letter to editor@gcnews.com and we’ll publish it for you!

Each visit was an exciting opportunity, including the stop at Bryant University.

While in Boston to visit Boston University, the group took a guided tour of the area.

Levittown students visited the University of Connecticut during the College Campus Tour from July 24–26.

Levittown students get a Jumpstart on the school year

Elementary English language learners are engaged in hands-on activities while strengthening vital skills in Levittown’s four-week ENL Summer Jumpstart Program held at Levittown Memorial Education Center.

Seventy-seven students entering first through fifth grades are enrolled in this year’s Jumpstart program, the highest in the program’s 23-year history. Students have fun in the summer weather with outdoor games that emphasize teamwork, collaboration, and socialization while they bridge the gap between their previous academic year and the year ahead. Along with the physical education component, students’ language development is strengthened through academic enrichment in STEAM subjects and literacy. The program also incorporates the required summer reading books.

Summer Jumpstart continues to evolve as well, with transportation recently offered in order to further support students and their families.

Students worked together in groups on various activities focusing on STEAM subjects and literacy.

Students strengthened their language development while bridging the gap between school years.

English language learners in the Levittown Public School District participated in fun and engaging activities in the ENL Summer Jumpstart Program.

Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Dr. Robert R. Dillon (Bob), of Walden and Plainview, passed peacefully on July 28, 2023, after experiencing medical complications following spinal surgery. He grew up in Bayside, Queens with his parents Marie and Martin, who predeceased him, and his 4 brothers (Matthew, Terrance, Dennis and Kevin) and sister, Maureen. Although drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of Loyola High School in NYC, he opted to pursue a career in education through St. John’s University in Queens. There he obtained his Doctorate in Education.

During his more than 45-year career in education, he served as Superintendent of four school districts, East Meadow UFSD, Sugar Loaf UFSD, Abbott Union UFSD and Eastport UFSD. He was the driving force that led to the successful merger of Eastport and South Manor UFSD.

Dr. Dillon was dedicated to foster-

ing the next generation of school leaders and mentored many seeking their administrative certifications while teaching at St. John’s University, SUNY at New Paltz, St. John Fisher University and Dowling College.

Since 2015, he has led Nassau BOCES, a cooperative of the 56 school districts in Nassau County, leaving a legacy that will impact the students of Nassau County for decades. Whether navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing for increased mental health student support, or innovating numerous programs, he has revitalized, transformed and enhanced educational opportunities for all students.

He served on many advisory boards and councils, including the Long Island Power Authority, SCOPE Education Services and SUNY Old Westbury’s School of Education.

He is survived by his childhood sweetheart Patricia Maureen (Patty), Son Christopher and his wife Jessica, grandchildren Kylie and Brendan, Daughters Deirdre and Caitlin, brothers and sister and their respective families. He loved golf, camping, and fishing and was an avid NY Giants fan. He was dedicated to his family, and wanted to make sure everyone was happy and well provided for. He was incredibly generous, kind and hard-working. His family would like to thank NYU Langone Hospital and all of the staff for their unwavering support and care.

Visitation was held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home. A funeral mass was celebrated on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at The Cathedral of St. Agnes . Interment followed at Queen of Peace Cemetery on Jericho Turnpike in Old Westbury.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation.

Legislator recognizes golf outing honoree

Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (D – Woodbury) recognized Joe Mauceri for his steadfast support of the Michael Magro Foundation on Thursday, July 15.

During the organization’s annual golf outing at the Cold Spring Country Club in Huntington, Legislator Lafazan presented Mauceri, owner of NSE Windows, with a Nassau County Legislature Citation in honor of his ongoing efforts to better the lives of

children with cancer, pediatric cancer survivors, and their families, as well as other chronic pediatric illnesses.

“As a society, we stand tallest when we kneel down to help a child – and that is what the Michael Magro Foundation is all about,” Legislator Lafazan said. “It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of this event and congratulate Joe Mauceri for his steadfast commitment to the well-being of our youth.”

Dr. Robert R. Dillon

Dr. Robert R. Dillon

Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (D – Woodbury, right) with Joe Mauceri.

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed 1,869 new initiates from 78 universities during April 2023.

Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

Hayley Goldsmith of Plainview - Elon University

Dayana Romero of Levittown - Long Island University Post

Emily Leary of Levittown - Long Island University Post

Hailey Calabrese of Levittown - Long Island University Post

Shayla Kaim of Hicksville - Long Island University Post

Christopher Rimaldi of PlainviewLong Island University Post

Julia Warshauer of JerichoVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Elma Purisic of Syosset - Long Island University Post

The University of Georgia recognized more than 7,000 candidates for graduation in the Class of 2023 Commencement exercises. Local graduates included:

Madison Kade Siegel of Woodbury, was a candidate for a AB Communication Studies.

Jacob Lawrence Katz of Syosset, was a candidate for a BBA Finance and BBA Management Information Systems. n

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Gabriella Belloli of Syosset at Fordham University

Rebecca Trinin of Syosset at The University of Texas at Austin

n

As part of New York Institute of Technology’s 62nd annual commencement, the School of Architecture and Design recognized outstanding members of the Class of 2023, including Federica Moreschetti of Jericho. Moreschetti received the Interior Design Faculty Award.

n New York Institute of Technology

School of Architecture and Design has inducted members of the Class of 2023 into the Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society in Architecture and Allied Arts, including Julia Andor of Bethpage. n

Yoav Gabbay of Syosset was one of 62 SUNY Oneonta students who, along with the Sport and Exercise Sciences department, partnered with Special Olympics to host a regional track and field event at Oneonta High School on Sunday, May 7. The event allowed area individ-

College Notes

uals who have varying intellectual and adaptive disabilities, including clients at local organizations Springbrook and Pathfinder Village, to showcase their athletic ability in a competitive setting.

Gabbay was a volunteer, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in psychology at SUNY Oneonta.

n

Kristina Calamia of Bethpage earned a place on Furman University’s Dean’s List for the 2023 spring semester. Furman’s Dean’s List is composed of fulltime undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.4 or higher on a four-point system. Calamia’s parents and/or guardians are Lynda Calamia and Christopher Calamia.

n

On May 18, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) recognized 16 students from the Class of 2023 at an endof-year awards ceremony. The following local students were among those honored:

George Shehata from Levittown, who received the AOF - Donna Jones Moritsugu Memorial Award (Spouse Award).

Kimberly Fasciglione from Hicksville, who received the Distinguished Service Award and NYSOMS Award.

n

On May 18, New York Institute of Technology’s nursing students from the Class of 2023, including Angad Sudan from Plainview, were welcomed into the profession with a pinning ceremony. Nursing school pinning ceremonies are a rite of passage celebrating the completion of students’ training as they graduate and go on to pursue careers as RNs.

n

Sol Horn of Hicksville, successfully completed and received their certification from Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship Executives-InTraining Program as a graduate student at Alvernia University.

n

Joseph Horowitz of Plainview, a member of the Class of 2024 majoring in environmental engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), was a member of a student team that recently completed an intense research project titled Charting Perspectives of Gene Modification for Pest Control.

n

Dani Cherkis of Syosset was recently recognized with a gold-level leadership milestone through SUNY Oneonta’s LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program.

Cherkis is studying early chld/childhood ed (B–6) at SUNY Oneonta.

n

The State University of New York at Potsdam recognized the Class of 2023 during the College’s 203rd Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 20. During Commencement, SUNY

Potsdam honors students who have either earned their degree or are eligible to graduate during that calendar year.

Local graduates include:

Kathleen Avery of Levittown, who is set to graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and English creative writing

Danielle DeMarco of Hicksville, who is set to graduate with distinction with a Master of Music degree in music education (K–12)

Christopher Kim of Hicksville, who is set to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in music education

Steven Rodriguez of Hicksville, who is set to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in music education

Yongxiang Cai of Jericho, who is set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science.

n

On May 15, New York Institute of Technology’s Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program held its annual White Coat Ceremony. The event celebrated members of the Class of 2023, including these local students:

Susan Abramovich from Old Bethpage

Javeria Jawaid from Bethpage

Naveera Qureshi from Syosset

White coat ceremonies are a rite of passage celebrating the completion of students’ training as they graduate and pursue careers as PAs. In marking the transition into professional life, the event centers around the symbolic awarding of a new long white coat, which replaces the short student white coat worn to class and clerkships.

The honor roll lists for Graceland University’s 2023 spring term have been announced, and Bora Apak of Plainview has been named to the President’s List.

Graceland University students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average are named to the President’s List.

Emma Gorman, a Lasell University student from Plainview, participated in the institution’s annual RUNWAY shows last month.

Gorman was a designer who presented original work at the RUNWAY undergraduate show. n

Purchase College announced that more than 1,200 students were named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and taken a minimum of 12 credits.

Bethpage

Isabella Benkhallouk, Emma Bordt, Anastasia Castelli of Bethpage, Michael Iannucci, Liam O’Connor, Gabriella Shamah

Hicksville

Jamie Colwell, Ahona Dias

Levittown

Benjamin Goldfeder, Amelia Llewellyn

Old Bethpage

Sam Saltzman

Syosset

June Finkelstein

Woodbury

Skylar Hertz, Nicholas Massimo n

Rochester Institute of Technology conferred degrees on the following local residents during academic ceremonies in May:

Plainview

Sarah Morgenthal received a degree in ASL-English interpretation (BS)

Corin Lund received a degree in ASL-English interpretation (BS)

Jake Shulroff received a degree in mechanical engineering (BS)

Sarah Morgenthal received a degree in ASL-English interpretation (BS)

Corin Lund received a degree in ASL-English interpretation (BS)

Jake Shulroff received a degree in mechanical engineering (BS)

Syosset

Vicky Zheng received a degree in electrical engineering (BS and MS)

Abo Huang received a degree in illustration (BFA) n

The University of Hartford is pleased to announce the students who have been named to the Dean’s List for spring 2023.

Samantha Kleinfeld of Plainview

Dylan Renart of Levittown

Grace Mittleman of Syosset n

Connor DeKenipp of Levittown has been named to the Champlain College Dean’s List for the Spring 2023 semester.

Students on the Dean’s List have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during the semester. DeKenipp is currently pursuing the game design major. n

Anthony Pandolfi of Hicksville was named to the Dean’s List at Anderson University for the spring semester, 2023. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must maintain a 3.5 grade point average or higher for the semester. n

Vanessa Paglino of Bethpage and Madison Calandro of Levittown were named to the Dean’s List at Coastal Carolina University for the Spring 2023 semester.

Students who make the Dean’s List have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher (3.25 for freshmen) for the semester

Make the Right Move

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