Syosset Advance (9/29/23)

40th OYSTER FESTIVAL Jackson named Blue Ribbon School

George A Jackson Elementary School was designated an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School for 2023 by U. S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Jackson is one of 353 schools in the nation, one of 22 schools from New York, and one of only three on Long Island to be recognized in 2023.

Officials from the Town of Oyster Bay met with organizers of the 40th Oyster Festival to sample some oysters and announce the return of the festival. Supervisor Saladino, together with Councilwoman Vicki Walsh, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver Jeff Pravato; Oyster Festival Co-Producer Harlan Friedman, Oyster Bay/East Norwich Rotary President Monica Rubin and Las Vegas Sands Representative former Governor David Patterson, made the announcement along the waterfront with the help of a friendly pirate.

“Put Bullying on Ice”

In recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month, the Town of Oyster Bay will be holding a “Put Bullying on Ice” Awareness Day. The event will take place at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center in Bethpage on

Saturday, October 7, from 2:45 p.m. — 5:45 p.m.p during the public skate session. Free admission and skate rentals are offered for all students and families who reside in the Town of Oyster Bay. The concessionaire at the Ice Skating Center will

offer a 25% discount for all purchases.

For more information about this “Put Bullying on Ice” Awareness Day, please contact the Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department at (516) 797-4121.

“On behalf of the teachers and staff, we are humbled by this recognition and appreciative of the support we continue to receive from our school community. This award is for all of us to be proud of,” said Jackson Principal Alex Rivera. “There are a lot of thanks to pass around starting with our Board of Education. They support each of the schools in ensuring that we have all we need to provide the very best education for our students. Thank you to our Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Grishman,

who encourages and supports us in making magic happen in our classrooms every day. Thank you to our Central Administration and fellow district administrators for providing us with the resources needed to foster creativity and excitement in all our programs. A very big thank you to our amazing teachers and school staff who work hard each day to provide an education that is second to none.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Every year, the U. S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels.

Jackson Elementary School

Jericho musicians receive All-State recognition

Syosset School Board to meet

The Syosset Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, in the South Woods Middle School auditori-

um, 99 Pell Lane Syosset.

The meeting will also be livestreamed on the district’s website, www.syossetschools.org

Volunteers needed for Oyster Bay Harbor cleanup

The Town of Oyster Bay invites residents to participate in an Oyster Bay Harbor Cleanup, scheduled for Saturday, September 30, at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay near the gazebo. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Bay, this event offers volunteers — individuals, families, companies, and organizations — an opportunity to give back to the environment by removing litter and debris from the shoreline. Certificates are available upon request for students seeking to fulfill volunteer requirements.

“This is a great opportunity to roll up your sleeves, give back to Mother Earth, and have fun while learning more about our local marine life and environment,” said Supervisor Saladino. “I hope to see you at the Oyster Bay Harbor Cleanup.”

Avenue in Oyster Bay. Additional cleanup locations include Stehli Beach in Bayville and Centre Island Beach in Bayville; however, all volunteers should check in at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. Typically, in years past, harbor and beach clean-up events have resulted in 40,000 lbs of debris being collected by volunteers and town workers. Councilman Labriola stated, “Each year, countless amounts of paper, food, plastics, and other trash are discarded on beaches or dumped overboard from recreational and commercial vessels. Allowing this litter to remain on our shorelines will only lead to increasingly worse damage for the environment. We thank you in advance for participating in this event.”

Jericho High School recently announced the 2023 New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) All-State Musicians. Kaitlyn Choi will represent the district in the Symphony Orchestra playing oboe and Ellie Yu will play flute in the Symphonic Band this December at the NYSSMA Winter Conference All-State Concerts.

Selected as alternates are Sua Choi, Jacob Park, Lisa Jin for orchestra, Naomi Tan for Mixed Chorus and Catherine Li for Band.

“Music directors Evangeline Bellon, Michael Lee and Ron Verderber share their pride along with the entire music department and community as we congratulate the students on this prestigious accomplishment,” said Ruth Breidenbach, curriculum associate for fine and performing arts.

“We thank the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Grishman for recognizing the importance of music education and for this distinguished achievement.”

Volunteers are invited to participate in the cleanup, which will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The central meeting place will be Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park launching ramps and waterfront gazebo off of Larrabee

Individuals and groups interested in registering for this environmental cleanup should contact the Town’s Department of Environmental Resources at (516) 677-5943 or visit www. oysterbaytown.com/volunteer.

Friends of Syosset Library plan book sale

Find books for children and teens on a multitude of subjects— fiction, non-fiction, art, cooking, crafts, and more—all at low cost at the Friends of the Syosset Public Library book sale. Sale dates are Saturday, October 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, October 15, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Donations of hard and soft cover books for children and teens are welcome and may be accepted for sale.

Donation dates are Thursday, October 12, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday, October 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations may be dropped off at the front entrance of the library only on the donation dates and times noted. All items must be clean and in good condition. Books only—no CDS, DVDs,

talking books, or any other formats. No text books or magazines; test prep review books are eligible.

Would you like to volunteer to help sort or sell items? If so, the Friends would love to hear from you. Contact Judy Davidson (friendsofsyossetpubliclibrary@gmail.com), or leave your name and contact information at the library (516-921-7161) to pass on to the Friends.

The Friends is a not-for-profit volunteer group of residents, formed in March 2005, dedicated to furthering community awareness of the functions, resources, services, and needs of the library. The book sale is the Friends’ major fund-raising event of the year.

Back row (left to right):Chorus teacher Ron Verderber, Naomi Tan, Kaitlyn Choi, Jacob Park, and Orchestra Director Michael Lee.

Front row (left to right): Band Director Evangeline Bellon, Sua Choi, Elli Yu, Catherine Li, Lisa Jin, and Ruth Breidenbach, curriculum associate for fine and performing arts.

Car show rescheduled for October 1

Due to heavy rain last weekend, Long Island’s largest and most premier car show experience has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at TOBAY Beach.

“Car Show Long Island” features hundreds of automobiles, trucks, military vehicles, and emergency service vehicles. A live concert performed by Vinyl Revival will take place during the day,

Dance studio celebrates 25th anniversary

cle, antique and exotic cars.”

Car Show Long Island’s 2023 TOBAY Beach Fall Classic features some of the hottest and most classic cars in the tristate region. While enjoying live music performed by Vinyl Revival and great eats from more than 15 food trucks, thousands of spectators are expected throughout the day to get up close and personal with Long Island’s best

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray attended the 25th anniversary of 5678 Dance, located on Wantagh Avenue in Levittown, on September 9. Also attending were Nassau County Legislators Tom McKevitt and John Ferretti, and New York

Are

Our Professional Guide is sure to bring results. Call 294-8900 for rates and information.

This Week at the Syosset Public Library

Friday, September 29, at 10:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Driver’s Safety Course (IN-PERSON)

For drivers of all ages. Completion entitles you to a NYS insurance discount and to a point reduction. Bring your NYS driver’s license and a pen. In-person registration ONLY. Fee: $30, check payable to “Empire Safety Council” Includes a 30-minute break for lunch. Registration required.

Saturday, September 30, at from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Calligraphy for the Moon Festival (IN-PERSON)

Have your name written in Chinese characters, and use a traditional Chinese brush to write Chinese characters with help from instructors Shan He and Sharon Wu. All ages. Co-sponsored with the New York Chinese Opera Society. First come, first served.

Saturday, September 30, at 3:00 p.m.

The Songs of Harry Warren: That’s Amore (IN-PERSON)

Presenter: Bob Spiotto

Harry Warren contributed over 800 songs to the wonderful world of American music including hits such as I Only Have Eyes for You, Lullaby of Broadway and Serenade in Blue. Join Bob as he delights you with songs and some great stories about Harry Warren and show biz. Registration required. To register, go to syossetlibrary.org.

Tuesday, October 3, at 2:00 p.m.

Title Swap Tuesdays (IN-PERSON)

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 needed.

Tuesday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m. Learn How to Do Government Contracting (VIRTUAL)

Presenter: Nelson Ortiz, director of Apex Accelerator at LaGuardia Community College. Sponsored by SCORE

This workshop will help businesses understand all the steps necessary to become a responsible and responsive vendor to the Federal, New York State and New York City governments. The workshop will provide businesses with an overview of how to get registered to do business with the government, how to get certified with all levels of government, and how to find government contracting

opportunities. No registration needed. For Zoom link, go to syossetlibrary.org.

Thursday, October 5, at 12:00 p.m.

#AskALibrarian (ON X, formerly known as Twitter)

Join librarians from Syosset Library and around the world on X (formerly known as Twitter) for #AskALibrarian to receive reading suggestions based on your requests. Must have an X account to participate. Read a great book? Need a readalike? Looking for your next book club choice? Use #AskALibrarian in your post.

Thursday, October 5, at 2:00 p.m. Police and the Constitution, Part 1 (IN-PERSON)

Presenter: James Coll, adjunct professor of American and Constitutional history, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University, and retired NYPD detective Throughout American history, our legal system has struggled to maintain a delicate balance between two sometimes-opposing objectives: the preservation of individual liberty and the obligation to ensure public safety. Highlighting circumstances and Supreme Court decisions, this discussion will illustrate how Founding-era ideals have been applied to the evolving powers and limitations of the police in modern society. No registration needed.

Friday, October 6, at 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Brushstrokes of Brilliance: A Van Gogh-Inspired Acrylic Painting Workshop (IN-PERSON)

Presenter: Madhumita Sen Embark on a Van Gogh-inspired art workshop, exploring his vibrant acrylic paintings. Learn the techniques, from brushstrokes to color theory in this class. Create your own masterpiece guided by an experienced instructor. Experience the transformative power of art, capturing Van Gogh's essence on canvas board. $5 Fee. Registration required. To register, go to syossetlibrary.org.

Friday, October 6, 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.

The Syosset Public Library is located at 225 South Oyster Bay Road. For more information please go to www.syossetlibrary.org

Do you have a ser vice to adver tise?

Our Service Directory is sure to bring results. Call 516-294-8900 for rates and information.

Valid at all Holiday Farms locations. Expires 11/30/23. Offer not to be combined with any other offer including senior discount. Code 9920

Scan this QR code with iPhone camera or QR code reader to join our text club

Upcoming Events at the Jericho Public Library

Saturday, September 30

9:30 a.m.: IN-PERSON: Two Day Book Sale - Come to the library for our book sale of discarded books and other items. In case of inclement weather, it will be in the Meeting Room. Items must be paid for in cash.

10:30 a.m.: Stay & Play (Ages birth to Preschool) Join us for playtime with toys and activities while getting a chance to talk to other parents. No registration necessary for this program.

Sunday, October 1

12:30 p.m.: IN-PERSON: Two Day Book Sale - Come to the library for our book sale of discarded books and other items. Items must be paid for in cash.

Thursday, October 5

1:00 p.m.: HYBRID: The Passionate Reader with Mary Hirdt: “They’re Going to Love You” by Meg Howrey“They’re Going to Love You” is a gripping novel with psychological precision and a

Dutch Lane kicks off year with pep rally

masterfully revealed secret at its heart. It asks what it takes to be an artist in America and the price of forgiveness, of ambition and of love. Listeners are welcome!

Friday, October 6

10:00 a.m.: IN-PERSON: Free Health Screening: St. Francis Hospital Community Outreach Program - The St. Francis Hospital Bus will be in our front parking lot offering free health screenings. The screenings include a brief cardiac history, blood pressure, a simple blood test for cholesterol and diabetes screenings. They will offer appropriate education and referrals as needed for those attending. Flu shots will be available. No appointment necessary, but you MUST be 18 years of age or older.

10:30 a.m.: 1,2,3 Full S.T.E.A.M Ahead (18 Months–5 Years) - This preschool STEAM program includes music movement, fine and gross motor development and storytelling followed by a craft!

Dutch Lane Elementary School in Hicksville kicked off the new school year with a pep rally on Sept. 15. The student body and staff gathered in the gym for the afternoon event to set the tone for a successful school year ahead.

Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Notice of Formation of PreciousView Windows and Doors. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-08-24.

Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Li Chan: 28 Center Drive Syosset NY

LEGAL NOTICES

One ad can go so far...

Grand opening for fire protection business

BY RIKKI MASSAND

An impressive list of officials and community leaders were on hand on September 20th to welcome Total Fire Protection Inc., which has set up its corporate headquarters at 111 Crossways Park Drive West in Woodbury. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman headlined at the ribbon-cutting.

Total Fire Protection relocated to its new home after outgrowing its New York City campus, choosing to move from Brooklyn to Woodbury over options in New Jersey.

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Town of Oyster Bay   Zoning Board of Appeals

TOWN HALL, AUDREY AVENUE, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK  11771-1592  -  TELEPHONE:  (516) 624-

6232 – FAX:  (516) 624-6149

RITA BYRNE, Chairwoman  –  LOIS SCHMITT, Vice Chairwoman   –  LEWIS J. YEVOLI

KATHLEEN MULLIGAN –REBECCA M. ALESIA –ANDREW MONTELEONE – LISA CICCOLELLA

PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on OCTOBER 4, 2023, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 23-270 SYOSSET

PUNEET PARASHER:  (A) Variance to construct roof-over entry exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance.  (B) Variance to allow existing air conditioning unit having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.

S/s/o Circle Dr., 281.44 ft. W/o Lincrest St., a/k/a 24 Circle Drive, Syosset, NY

SEC.  12 BLK.  367 LOT  34                             ZONE  R1-7

APPEAL NO. 23-299 SYOSSET

MUKHTAR KUATBEKOV:  (A) Variance to construct rear deck having less rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.  (B) Variance to allow existing swimming pool waterfall having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.  (C) Variance to allow existing in-ground swimming pool, pool filter and heater having less front yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.

S/s/o Parkway Dr., 80.46 ft. E/o S. Oyster Bay Rd., a/k/a 3 Parkway Drive, Syosset, NY

SEC.  12 BLK.  350 LOT  19

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TOWN

facility.

Nassau County’s Chief Fire Marshal Michael F. Uttaro said the brothers and team members of the company worked hard to consolidate many aspects of the fire protection industry within their business departments and operations.

“Nassau County is very excited that Total Fire Protection is locating their international headquarters in this community, which is important since they bring us over 200 jobs and will be creating economic prosperity for the area,” Blakeman said.

He added, “Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and I are very excited and proud they chose the Town and Nassau County to locate their business, and it will be great for everybody. We worked in partnership with the Town, the Nassau County IDA (Industrial Development Agency) and the local chambers of commerce to make sure we provide a business-friendly environment.”

Brothers Joseph Capone and Robert Catalano are the chief executives of Total Fire Protection (TFP) which specializes in commercial and industrial fire safety, prevention and protection.

In 2021, Total Fire Protection received assistance from the IDA, and works within a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program for its purchase of the former warehouse in Woodbury. The IDA helped Total Fire Protection consolidate its Brooklyn headquarters and satellite office in Bellmore into the Woodbury project.

The acquisition and renovation project was reported to top $6.15 million while fully transforming building’s 31,250-square feet. An upbeat and dynamic color scheme of bright red with deep blue and comfortable seating abounds at the new business. Co-workers have an open-floor plan, recreational activities and options for seating and collaborative group work throughout the

“Oftentimes there are firms that do more for fire sprinkler systems or fire suppression equipment, even ductwork. But these guys do it all, and they’re trying to perfect their craft in all the fields of fire protection so when a new business or property owner needs to install fire protection and systems in a building in line with county fire codes, they are able to assist from the initial design phase and fire alarms/sprinklers plan. Then if there is a kitchen the system for that with a hood over grills/open flames, and multiple fire extinguishers and down to installation of AEDs (automated external defibrillators) on the premises and providing training. The company is really offering something the County and the region has not seen before, giving folks a one-stop shop for fire and emergency protection,” Uttaro explained.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Town Board member Vickie Walsh, Town Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato and Town Clerk Richard LaMarca represented the town at the grand opening.

“My colleagues and I in the Town of Oyster Bay government share enormous pride to be here for this dedication ceremony and a wonderful corporation, which we welcome with open arms. We are very pro-business and I want to mention County Executive Blakeman as he does a phenomenal job, as we see so many businesses and startups coming to Nassau County and in the Town of Oyster Bay," Supervisor Saladino explained.

Fire Marshal Uttaro said County Executive Blakeman and his staff have offered great support for their unit. He commented that the Fire Inspection office will be putting about 12 new fire marshals to work soon, “to help augment what we have already.”

“We not only handle fire inspections but we cover haz-

Grand opening for fire protection business

ardous materials (HAZMAT) response and fire investigations. More and more we’re helping to support our county’s local fire departments with services including the use of drone footage/photos, command and accountability and communications,” Uttaro explained.

Immediately after cutting the ribbon in front of their facility, Robert Catalano said it was a blessing to have the many Nassau County and Town of Oyster Bay officials at the Woodbury location to get a tour of what the company does, and learn who their workforce is.

“We thank everyone for supporting us in the move to Long Island and to continue the next phase of growing our business and partnerships here. We have felt like a part of this community for a very long time before today but it’s a moment and staple of why we chose to be here and to show how our community supports us. With our 200 employees coming here – and we plan to hire a lot more for this big building – we are supporting Nassau County, the Fire Marshals’ office and local businesses with everything we do as we provide our services and keep facilities here in compliance with code and safety,” he said.

Tom Scotto, principal of Spector Companies, project architecture and design firm for the 111 Crossways Park Drive renovation, discussed putting the Total Fire Protection stamp and ambiance on and outside the building. He offered the inside view of reimagining the former warehouse which also previously housed the Long Island News 12 studios.

“With Joe Capone’s vision we created this as a state-of-theart corporate headquarters. It is a home base for employees, a place they can bring clients and showcase the work they do. The theme here was for a place where everybody can come together in a warm, fun and open environment. Making it bright and inviting was a big part of the project…that aspect really represents the company itself. When you see things like this where people are here on a weekday morn-

ing and enjoying their work, you know you did your job,” he said.

Nassau County Legislator

Arnold Drucker presented the Capone brothers with a County Legislature Proclamation to honor the company on opening its business headquarters in eastern central Nassau.

Burt Capone is Joseph Capone and Robert Catalano’s father. He was very excited to see a great turnout at the grand opening on September 20.

“I could not be more happy, more surprised or more grateful and elated about what my children have accomplished. This was all them. I am just a papa now, following in my children’s footsteps – my claim to fame is being Joseph and Robert’s dad. I thank everyone involved for this overwhelming show of community and governmental support we’ve received. The people here are dynamite!” he noted.

The Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce was eager to help organize the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. President Russell P. Green and Board members Danielle Delgrosso; Treasurer Alan I. Goldberg; Tami Racaniello; Erica McKeon, Pastor Rebecca Sheridan and Ben Indiviglia. Chamber members in attendance included former Board Secretary Amanda Johnson, Bruce Weller, Susan and Alan NG, Michael F. Rossiter, Ken Greenblatt and John Paterson. T

To celebrate the milestone, the Chamber plans to welcome its members for a special “Pizza Party 200” and networking event on Columbus Day Monday, October 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Phil’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, 265 Jericho Turnpike.

This week Chamber President Green announced that the 2023 Syosset Street Fair, originally scheduled for September 23 (the weekend after Total Fire Protection’s grand opening) will now be held on Sunday November 12, at the intersection of Cold Spring Road and Jackson Avenue, just north of the Syosset LIRR station. Visit SyossetChamber. com for details on all upcoming Syosset Woodbury chamber and member events.

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Town of Oyster Bay   Zoning Board of Appeals

TOWN HALL, AUDREY AVENUE, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK  11771-1592  -  TELEPHONE:  (516) 6246232 – FAX:  (516) 624-6149

RITA BYRNE, Chairwoman  –  LOIS SCHMITT, Vice Chairwoman   –  LEWIS J. YEVOLI

KATHLEEN MULLIGAN –REBECCA M. ALESIA –ANDREW MONTELEONE – LISA CICCOLELLA

PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on OCTOBER 4, 2023, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 23-454 JERICHO

ANKUR AHLUWALIA:  (A) Variance to construct two story addition having less side yard setback and aggregate side yards than permitted by Ordinance; also encroachment of eaves and gutters.  (B) Variance to construct two story addition, portico and 6.32 ft. by 4 ft. addition to existing deck exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance.  (C) Variance to construct two story addition, second floor addition and 6.32 ft. by 4 ft. addition to existing deck exceeding maximum gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance.

S/s/o Craig St., 156.29 ft. E/o Richmond Ave., a/k/a 29 Craig Street, Jericho, NY SEC.  11 BLK.  431 LOT  34 ZONE  R1-10

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK

September 29, 2023

New Brunswick Roadtrip: Mesmerizing Hopewell Rocks

BY KAREN RUBIN WITH DAVE E. LEIBERMAN, LAINI MIRANDA & ERIC LEIBERMAN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE WWW.GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

What does it mean that the Bay of Fundy “has the highest tides in the world?” Until you actually walk on the ocean floor one hour, then scurry back to kayak through openings in the sea stacks which have turned into sea caves the next, it is hard to wrap your head around.

And no place demonstrates the drama, the power of what it means to have the “highest tides in the world” as at Hopewell Rocks, the stellar attraction of New Brunswick, Canada.

We have been traveling along the Bay of Fundy Coastal Road, starting in St. Andrews, where the incoming tide nipped at our feet; we had to dash off Ministers Island before the sand bridge was submerged; we saw the force of the tide at the Reversing Falls in St. John, boats laying on the ocean floor until the tide returns in Alma; and at Cape Enrage, experienced once again how a rocky beach where we had just been walking, seemingly moments later, was totally submerged. Now at Hopewell Rocks, we see more intensely, what “highest tide in the world” means.

Depending on where you are on the Bay, the water level difference between low and high tide can be anywhere from 35 to 56 feet (equivalent to a five-storey building). Compare this to the most parts of world, where the average tidal water differential is 6-8 feet. In Hopewell Rocks, the tidal

change is 46 to 56 feet, depending upon the season, moon phase, sun and stars, even asteroids, and stormy weather.

There are two high tides and two low tides every day in the Bay of Fundy with a tide change every six hours and 12 minutes. It doesn’t come in like a tsunami, but flows in, rising one foot every five minutes which is faster than you realize. Consider this: A six-foot person standing on the beach with the water just up to the edge of their toes will be completely under water 30 minutes later.

The amount of water – 160 million tons - that comes into the Bay of Fundy for one tide change is enough to fill the Grand Canyon twice. With two tide changes each day, that is

enough water coming into the bay each day to fill the Grand Canyon four times.

Or consider this: the amount of water that comes into the Bay of Fundy for each tide change is equal to what flows over Niagara Falls in one year and nine months.

With this in mind, we know we have to arrive at Hopewell Rocks by 8:50 am, a 35 minute drive from Alma, in order to have time to literally walk on the ocean floor amid the famous “Flowerpot Rocks” – enormous free-standing rock formations or sea stacks that have trees growing on top - and walk through the openings that have been carved out, before the tide comes in. (“Ripley’s Believe It Or Not dubbed them the

Flowerpot Rocks,” Neil Hodge at New Brunswick Tourism, who organized our itinerary, said.)

We meet Johnathan, our guide for an interpretive tour, who takes us for a brief visit in the Interpretive Center which explains the geologic phenomenon, but only briefly before we go down to the ocean floor. We will only have access until 11:15 am.

The first view, from the top of the staircase is dramatic – you see these famous Flowerpot Rocks and sea cliffs, with the people looking so tiny. The beach extends for almost 2 miles.

“The Bay of Fundy is an anomaly – a series of coincidences that have added up to create our miracle,” Johnathan tells us. “The Bay is the perfect length, width, size and shape for this to work, and a perfect storm in the last Ice Age. The glacier formed rock and when it melted, 160 billion tons of salt glacier filled the Bay and over time, pushed the rocks together (conglomerate).

The shape and length of the Bay (the Bay extends 200 miles) is like a bathtub – the water in the bay doesn’t have enough time to level out with the ocean – the only place to move is up. Other places have a slack tide – when the highest and lowest tide stops. [We saw this in St. John, at the Reversing Falls, where the slack tide would last 20 minutes] Here, there is never slack – a micro second at the highest point when the tide pushes back against the ocean.” Here at Hopewell Rocks, the average tidal change is 46.2 ft, going as high as 56 ft.

You can walk on the beach 3 hours before low tide and three hours after

Continued on next page

Lovers Arch, the most famous and popular formation at Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick’s most popular attraction © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear. com

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

New Brunswick Roadtrip: Mesmerizing Hopewell Rocks

Continued from previous page

(tourists think they can only cross at one time). The tide flows in at the rate one foot per minute, horizontally, one foot per 4-7 minutes vertically.

The interesting shapes of the sea stacks are because they consist of compacted sedimentary conglomerate that erodes at different rates. “What is inside the conglomerate weighs more than on right than on the left,” which is why it can collapse.

The daily ebb and flow, rush and crush of all this water carves the sea stacks and many seem to precariously balance, likely to collapse within only a matter of a decade or two. Imagine that. These rock formations have been carved over millennia and may be at the end of their exostence. In fact, we see the crumbling, the cliff face collapse – areas are sectioned off. Geology is an ongoing process, and it isn’t necessarily slow motion over millennia, millions or billions of years, but in a moment.

There are barricades around areas where there have been rockfalls, and we see numerous examples of boulders that have fallen into crevices, and precariously balanced boulders.

Many of these formations have names related to their shape – Elephant (since it split in two, Ella and Phant), Bear, ET, Jay Leno, Dinosaur, Motherin-Law.

The most popular – and famous – formation is Lovers Arch, named because the two formations lean next to each other and if one falls, so does the other; they are only still standing now because of this co-dependency. “It’s the most romantic spot,” Johnathan says, adding that there is at least one proposal a week here, and sometimes weddings.

The beach extends 2.4 km, depending on the tide. We see Tide Sweepers at cut off points, who begin to herd people back off the beach as the tide begins to roll in. There is actually an emergency tower for those who find themselves trapped.

We walk through Castle Cove where there are four caves, Diamond Rock, and come to a skinny Sentinel Rock, which Johnathan tells us, may fall in the next 20 years or perhaps 200 years.

These rock formations are not even that old (at least when we compare to the 350 million year old fossils we found just down the road at Cape Enrage.

Hopewell Rocks were formed from glacial action 6000-10,000 years ago. And it seems that even on a daily basis, they are eroded just a little bit more. Johnathan says that some believe this park will last 2000 years, but some of the formations may be gone in just 20, like Sentinel Rock.

Johnathan points out rockweed growing on the rocks – you can eat the bulbs (seed pockets – delicious!). The bladder wrack (seaweed), yields aloe which is the most marvelous moisturizer, with 200 times more collagen than many commercial skin products (we try it).

We see peregrine falcons nesting in the rock faces.

The water is notably brown (not blue) because the motion of the 160 million tons of water, mixing with silt from the mud flats. “The water is brown here but 20 km away, in Moncton, it is blue because of shellfish that filter the soil. You won’t find shells here.

But the nutrient-rich mud flats produce another amazing sight: Hopewell Rocks is on the flight path of sandpiper birds migrating from the Arctic to South America for winter - hundreds of thousands of sandpipers, 35% of the world’s population– stop to feed in the Bay of Fundy for three weeks in late August/early September each year. The huge mud flat that extends for miles teams with billions of microscopic mud shrimp. The sandpipers feast and double their body weight, then fly 72 hours direct to South America without stopping. “We are heavy into conservation, sustainability so we don’t want kids or anybody to walk in the mudflats, killing

the microscopic mudshrimp, the food source for the birds. A size 10 shoe, if they walk on mudflat, imprint would kill 10,000 mudshrimp.”

Speaking of food, we rush back to the cafeteria in the Visitors Center to get something for lunch (you can take a shuttle or walk the 15 minutes) before racing over to get to our two-hour sea kayaking tour with Baymount Adventures by 11:50 am, to get outfitted, get oriented, and get to the sea kayaks on the rock beach (everything is very time dependent) for “The Highest Tidal Paddling Experiences on Earth.”

It is the most amazing experience to paddle right up to the giant “flowerpot” rocks, sea cliffs, twisting and turning through small tunnels and narrow passageways in these amazing rock formations which we had just walked around on the ocean floor.

Our guides are concerned about the strong winds today, but as we paddle, a fog picks up over Nova Scotia which dampens the wind, so we have a wonderfully calm time on the water, but we still have to paddle vigorously to get back onto the shore.

A really marvelous adventure, a highlight of our New Brunswick roadtrip, especially pairing the kayaking with the walk on the ocean floor.

Baymount Adventures, 131 Discovery Rd, Hopewell Cape New Brunswick  E4H 4Z5, (506) 734-2660, info@baymountadventures.com, https://www.baymountadventures.com/

In the 1950s, Hopewell Rocks was a diner and a campground; it was turned into a provincial park in 1996.

Hopewell Rocks is the most famous attraction in New Brunswick, which before COVID, drew 380,000 visitors a year [this year 350,000 are expected] from around the world. There are especially large groups of fans in Japan.

“A Japanese textbook has a whole unit on the Bay of Fundy and photo of Lovers Arch. Visitors say it was a ”lifelong dream” to come.

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

Clever Readers Share Their Best Time- and Money-Saving Tips

BY MARY HUNT

My email inbox, much like yours, I’m sure, is often brimming with spam, ads and all kinds of other delete-worthy messages. But I dare not do a big global delete to empty it out because I would miss all your super fun, amazingly helpful and otherwise downright fun tips and tricks. Today, I’m sharing.

I enjoy baking, but don’t like measuring sticky ingredients like shortening or peanut butter. Now I spray the measuring cup with a nonstick cooking spray and the sticky ingredient slides right out.

I no longer have to spend time scraping the measuring cup or spoon. -- Joyce R.

When traveling, pack an unused dryer sheet, especially if you’re traveling to a dry, desert-like area. A few swipes with the dryer sheet will eliminate static from garments and equipment. -- S.M.M.

I save the small bottles of shampoo lotion and other toiletry items from hotels. When I have a big batch of them, I drop them off at any VFW location or women’s shelter. They can always use them.

-- Cathy T.

If you want to make smooth, clear iced

Hopewell Rocks is designed to be a self-guided park but there are helpful Interpretive staff throughout the grounds to answer questions. And the Interpretive Center provides an excellent orientation.

Hopewell Rocks park admission is valid for two consecutive days to ensure you have the flexibility to see both high and low tides. Sturdy footwear is recommended for exploring the trails and shoreline (they provide places to rinse your shoes/boots). Be sure to check the tide times prior to your visit to see when it will be safe to explore the ocean floor.

Hopewell Rocks, 131 Chemin Discovery, Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick, 1-877-734-3429, https://www. nbparks.ca/en/parks/33/hopewellrocks-provincial-park

When we leave Hopewell Rocks we drive 45 minutes to Moncton, a small city that’s the gateway to Northern New Brunswick (it also has the airport), where we stay at the Delta Hotel Beausejour (750 Main Street, 506-8544344).

Moncton has a load of great restaurants. We have the best time at the Pump House Brewpub & Restaurant (5 Orange Ln, Moncton, NB E1C 4L6, Canada, +1 506-855-2337, pumphousebrewpub.ca).

Moncton is the end of our Bay of Fundy coastal adventure. Next up: Miramichi, gateway to northern New Brunswick.

Travel planning assistance from Tourism New Brunswick, 800-5610123, www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca.

Next: New Brunswick Roadtrip: Miramichi and Metepenagiag

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

Crossword Answers

tea that isn’t bitter, just add a pinch of baking soda to the water while brewing. I use an iced tea maker, so I add the baking soda with the ice. It turns out fabulous without affecting the taste in any way. I prefer sweet tea, but this will work with unsweetened tea, too. -- Sheryl R.

I have a great way to get rid of those pesky ants that dare to come into my home. I go out to my herb garden, pick a few sprigs of mint and drop them on the floor in areas where the ants congregate. By morning the ants are gone. This is

Continued on page 5

The crisp air around us is a sure sign of Autumn

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

With the transition from summer to fall, it’s suddenly time to pull out the long-sleeved shirts and sweaters to wear on the cool days that have snuck up on us. Each year I think I will become a summer-loving gal but as each autumn arrives, I am reminded once again why fall is the very best season. Here are some of the things I like about autumn:

Cooking With Fresh Vegetables

Last year I was talking with my friend, Artie, who lives in western Connecticut and he said that despite the cooler fall weather, he was spending some time taking care of his outdoor vegetables. Weatherwise, autumn in New England can carry many surprises - year to year there may be cool nights or warm ones. Artie said he’d extended his summer garden into fall because each night when he watched the weather forecast, the nights were still tolerable. He was happy to let the sun nourish his vegetable garden each day - nature did her thing. When cooler nights were forecast by the meteorologist, Artie covered the vegetables with cotton towels since he’d heard that cotton is much better than plastic tarps. When he saw that his turnips and carrots were ready to be harvested, Artie would pull them from the Earth and carry them inside. His wife, Bonnie, was happy to get them. Rinsing them in the sink under cold water, she chopped them up and added them to pots of soups and stews. Even the carrots’ green leaves could be chopped up and used. Artie has a green thumb - he loves taking care of his vegetable garden and his whole family enjoys the fresh greens and vegetables he grows. Last November temperatures were still in the 70s at times in Connecticut. Although neighbors kidded him that he was still holding onto summer, both Artie and Bonnie were happy with their backyard garden.

That Amusing Fall Cleaning

I was doing my semi-annual housecleaning last fall including clearing out closets and cupboards - a chore I don’t relish but it’s got to be done. It’s a rather mundane chore but I was taken by surprise when my cat, tuxedo-colored Bette Davis, surprised me with her antics. Pulling out an inflatable bed for extra guests, I plugged it into the wall outlet and blew it up to make sure it was working. It had been stored in its box for more than a year and blowing it up fully was the only way to check it. I did this in the guest room then returned to pulling clothes and sweaters from my walk-in closet. When I went to the guest room 10 minutes later I saw Bette Davis taking some flying leaps from the floor onto the inflatable bed - essentially she was using it as a trampoline. Laughing out loud, I asked Bette what she was doing but naturally she didn’t respond, she just kept having a great time playing. Going back to my chore at hand I straightened up the walk-in closet and made piles of clothing for charity. Peeking my head into the guest room, I saw that Bette had burrowed under the blanket I’d placed on top of the bed to protect it from her. With her head sticking out of the blanket and one arm draped off the edge of the bed, she looked snuggly comfortable. By the time I finished my chore of the day I saw that Bette was lying flat on her back, relaxing after playing on her new-found toy. Nudging her off the inflatable bed, I deflated it and put it back in its box. I kept laughing to myself thinking that cleaning out the closets had never been as amusing as it was on that day.

Delicious Pies in Autumn

While taking my niece and nephew for a walk early one autumn morning last year, Sammy, who was 4, noticed all the acorns that had fallen from the trees. Bending over to pick up one, I watched as he examined it closely.

Sammy said he wanted to bake an acorn pie because he thought about all of the fruit and berries that fall from trees and bushes, thinking of cherry pie, blueberry pie, etc. Just thinking about baking an acorn pie in the oven, I laughed long and hard and so did Isabella, my 5-year-old niece. After composing myself I said we couldn’t possibly do it because people don’t bake or eat acorn pies. Surprised, Sammy asked why not. Containing my laughter, I explained that certain fruits and berries can be eaten but others can’t. Frowning a bit, Sammy looked discouraged so right away I said we could all bake a fruit pie - which one would he like? As we strolled along, Sammy said he would like to eat a cherry pie and Isabella said she would be adventurous and try some blueberry pie. She’d never eaten it before. Noting that her parents occasionally like to eat blueberry pie, she said maybe it would taste good. I said it is good and it rates high on my list of favorite flavors of pies. Pumpkin pie also is high on my list and autumn is the time of year to have it. Getting one

from the supermarket, I’d cut a slice and enjoy it with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee. Sammy and Isabella looked at me and I said on that day we would go home and they could help me bake a cherry pie. I had the ingredients in the house and they helped as we rolled out the dough for the crust, carefully mixed and poured the filling and baked it in the oven until it was golden brown. We let our pie cool for a few minutes then dug in. It was scrumptious! Isabella said she was too full to make a blueberry pie now as she puffed out her cheeks. We all had a good laugh and a great day.

A Special Rule for Widows and Widowers

BY TOM MARGENAU

Here is a special message to all Social Security representatives reading this column. You are right when you tell customers that as a general rule, they cannot file for reduced benefits on one record and later switch to full benefits on another record. But if you are talking to a widow or widower, that rule does not apply.

I’ve heard from four readers in the past couple weeks -- three widows and one widower -- who were all told they must choose to take benefits on one record or another. And once they make that choice, they can’t change. And that’s absolutely wrong. Widows and widowers have the option of taking reduced benefits on one record and later switching to higher benefits on another record. And the number of readers telling me they’ve been misinformed about this issue (the four people I heard from this week is just the tip of the iceberg) tells me this isn’t a few isolated incidents involving a few uninformed Social Security Administration reps. Something must be missing in the SSA’s training sessions because I’ve heard from hundreds of widows and widowers over the years who have been misled on this topic

Before I explain this “widow(er)s option,” let me clarify the statement I made at the beginning of this column. The one where I said that as a general rule, people can’t file for reduced benefits on one record and later switch to full benefits on another record. Actually, a version of this happens quite a lot. So let me explain what I am talking about with examples.

Let’s say Wilma is 62 and her husband Fred is also 62. Wilma wants to take her smallish Social Security benefit now, but Fred wants to wait until he is 67 to file for his much larger benefit. Wilma can take reduced retirement benefits now. And then when Fred turns 67 and files for his Social Security, Wilma can file for spousal benefits on his record. But the reduction she took in her own Social Security will carry over to her spousal benefits. In other words, she won’t get full spousal benefits. She’ll get a reduced rate.

But now let me turn the example around a bit. Let’s once again say that Wilma is 62, but this time we’ll say that Fred is 68 and already getting his own higher retirement benefit. In this case, Wilma cannot take reduced retirement benefits on her own record now and later switch to higher full spousal benefits on Fred’s record. By the same token, she cannot take reduced spousal benefits on Fred’s account now and later switch to full benefits on her own record.

So what’s the difference in the two examples. In the second one, Fred is already getting Social Security when Wilma wants to file for benefits. And there is a rule that says when you file for one benefit, you must file for all other benefits you are due at the same time. In the first example, when Wilma turned 62, Fred wasn’t yet getting benefits so at that time,

there were no other benefits (i.e., spousal benefits) for Wilma to file for. That’s why, later on, when Fred files for his Social Security, Wilma can then file for extra spousal benefits on his record.

It’s that “you must file for all other benefits you are due at the same time” rule that does not apply to widows and widowers.

Let’s go back to Wilma, who is turning 62. And this time, we’ll say that Fred is dead. In other words, Wilma is a widow. If Wilma went to some Social Security offices and talked to the uninformed SSA reps I mentioned earlier, she would have been told something like this. “Wilma, because of the rule that says you must file for any and all benefits you are due, you must file for your own reduced retirement benefit now, and you must file for any extra reduced widow’s benefits you are due at the same time.”

But to repeat: That “you must file for any and all benefits you are due at the same time” rule does not apply to widows and widowers.

Once again, let’s go back to Wilma. Let’s say her own full retirement age benefit is $1,800 per month and that Fred’s full retirement age benefit is $3,000 per month. Wilma might want to consider filing for reduced retirement benefits at age 62. She’d get about 70% of $1,800 or $1,260 per month. Then once she reaches her full retirement age, she could switch to 100% widow’s benefits, or $3,000 per month. (There are no “delayed retirement credits” paid on a widow’s benefit, so there would be no advantage to waiting past her full retirement age to collect widow’s benefits.)

Now let’s turn things around a bit and say that Wilma’s own benefit is close to Fred’s. For example, we can say that her full retirement age benefit is $2,800 per month and that Fred’s FRA benefit was $3,000 per month. In this case, Wilma might want to start out with reduced widow’s benefits. At 62, she’d get about 82% of Fred’s FRA benefit, or about $2,460 per month. Wilma could collect those benefits until she reaches her full retirement age, at which point she could switch to 100% of her FRA benefit, or $2,800 per month.

Or if she could live on her reduced widow’s benefit a little longer, she could wait until age 70 and get roughly a 30% “delayed retirement credit” added to her monthly benefits. That means she’d get $3,640 per month starting at age 70.

Of course, Wilma isn’t forced to employ this “widow’s option.” Go back to the example where her own FRA benefit was $1,800 and her widow’s FRA benefit was $3,000. She could choose to forgo this “widow’s option” stuff and simply file for widow’s benefits now. In other words, at age 62, she’d be due about 82% of $3,000, or $2,460 per month. And that would be her benefit for good, except for future cost-ofliving increases.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the

answers. One is called “Social Security -Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100

Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon. com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers on page 2

Tiny houses might be the answer to affordability

Many of us want a home, whether a large spacious one or an average sized one of 1800 sq. or a medium size of 2273 ft. as was the case in 2021 according to Realtor.com But what was affordable and reasonably priced years ago, is now beyond the reach of a majority of purchasers, due to interest rates, higher prices, as well as the continued increases in monthly costs. According to Yahoo Finance (from research by Redfin) in a June 6th article, there were only 4 U.S. cities where it was more economical to buy than to rent, which are Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Houston. More than 50% of the homes in those specific markets were more affordable to buy than to rent. I have said this in a previous column that NYS as well as well as other states are losing their young populations and families. Not much has been accomplished in alleviating and solving this issue to keep them in place.

However, I have seen a trend that has been developing over the last number of years throughout the U.S. They are called low-priced tiny houses and have been gaining huge popularity. It is designed to maximize functionality and minimize space requirements, offering a minimalist and sustainable living solution. Tiny houses have gained traction in recent years due to their affordability, mobility, and eco-friendly nature. They can range from 100 to as much as 500 sq. ft. They generally can have the amenities that a much larger home would have, just downsized. This trend started to increase during the implosion of the market back in 2007-2008 as people were losing their jobs and their homes were foreclosed

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

on. The affordable alternative to a traditional home was a tiny house. They were cost-efficient, low carbon footprint, and the savings on utilities were dramatic. This enabled many to simplify their lives, even going as far as living off the grid and downsizing, leading to a less stressful, minimalist lifestyle. Prices can range as little as $15,000, for the smallest house, if you’re salvaging materials and your DIY skills come into play, up to $100,000, for a home that has most of the extras. Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is the nation’s leading builder of tiny houses. The cost is extremely low and doable for most, compared to a typical contractor-built median-sized home of 2,383 sq. ft, where the median price was $383,500 in 2022. Assuming credit is good and are gainfully employed, a tiny house could be the answer to becoming a homeowner. Once constructed, a tiny house can be placed on a trailer and brought to any location where the zoning permits these types of homes. As so many have been leaving larger more costly cities, especially NYS, this could potentially ease the exodus of those that would consider ownership of a tiny house. Possible changes in zoning within certain locations, allowing sub-dividing a typical lot that would allow a tiny house would help in easing the current housing crisis. Sufficient research in finding the land, at additional cost to place it upon, will be necessary. Going out into Suffolk County or Upstate NY

should enable you to find available land. However, if you are 1 or 2 people this can work well. But if you have a larger family a tiny house most likely will not necessarily provide the required space. The word is sacrifice in what you are willing to do, to determine whether this will properly work for you.

If and when Governor Hochul has a plan put into effect to offer low-cost housing will be available for rent or sale, it still might be a more expensive way to go. It is obvious that you will need to be a minimalist when downsizing to a tiny house. This effectively will eliminate all your current clutter and live a more carefree affordable lifestyle. Your real estate taxes should be considerably lower too, based on the value of both house and land. You will also have to search for a mortgage broker and/or lender that will allow financing for your tiny house (we can assist you in your search). Pursuing this path could help in building your wealth as opposed to continuing to rent. You must determine all your monthly costs in renting compared to purchasing a tiny house. Not everyone will want to adapt to this type of living environment, but renting is a guarantee that will only decrease your wealth monthly, while you are handing it over to your landlord as well as all the other benefits that he/she is gaining.

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

Clever Readers Share Their Best Time- and Money-Saving Tips

Continued from page 2

safe for pets, too. Since I already have the mint growing in my yard, it can’t get any cheaper than free! --

Linda J.

We are re-roofing our house, and we didn’t want to pay the cost of having the old shingles hauled away. We have an area in our yard that we plan to landscape with decorative white rocks and we decided to recycle the old shingles by laying them down under the rocks to prevent weeds from growing up through them. --

Bonnie L.

I burned Pam in my favorite stainless steel frying pan. Thankfully, I was able to remove it with Bar Keepers Friend. I made a paste of Bar Keepers Friend and water and rubbed it all over the pan. I let it sit overnight and then scrubbed it with

a nylon brush. It took two applications, but now my pan is sparkling clean again.

-- Tena F.

My white ceramic cooktop stove is a pain to keep clean. It shows every bit of burned-on grease. I discovered that if I spray it with plain white vinegar and then sprinkle with baking soda, it dissolves all but the most stubborn stains. I keep my baking soda in a leftover spice jar with a shaker top for easy application. It bubbles when it contacts the vinegar, and it also provides a little scouring action for those spots that still need a little scrubbing.

-- Frieda

After my mother-in-law passed away and all her mail was forwarded to us, I couldn’t get a life insurance company to stop sending their literature. I kept returning their mail, unopened and marked

with “refused,” “not at this address” and “deceased.” The company just kept sending the offers. Finally, I opened one and filled it out in my mother-in-law’s name. I requested a very large policy for her. Address? Heaven! That was the last we heard from them. --

Kyra M

I found that Book Mooch (www.bookmooch.com) is a great book swap service that doesn’t charge a fee. All you do is pay to ship your book to the person requesting it. You get points for posting and sending books and you can elect to ship only within the U.S. Aside from postage costs, all of this is totally free. I’ve belonged for a couple of years now and love this service.

-- Jennifer N.

Every time I take a shower, I use my towel to wipe down the shower walls and doors. I have not had to clean my show-

er for at least a year now, and I never get soap scum buildup. The only thing I have to clean is the shower door track.

-- Mary S.

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “DebtProof Living.”

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of Oct. 1-7, 2023

When did you last see an eclipse of the sun? Seems like ages, doesn’t it?

The last one visible from North America occurred six years ago -- on Aug. 21, 2017. If you missed it, you’ll have another chance on Saturday, Oct. 14, and you’ll not want to miss this one.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon in its orbit around the Earth slips between our planet and the sun and blocks a portion of our star from view. And, as you might expect, it occurs during the daytime!

On that day, viewers throughout much of North America will watch as the moon’s silhouette appears to take an increasingly larger bite out of the sun’s disk. How it appears, however, depends on where you’re located -- and the weather, of course!

Most of us will see a partial eclipse. In this type of eclipse, the moon blocks only part of the sun’s disk from view. At maximum eclipse, we can expect to see the sun as a thin or thick crescent. Those along the Atlantic coastline will see the smallest bite taken out of the sun’s disk, but those who view from farther to the west and southwest will see a greater eclipse.

And sky watchers who live along a narrow swath stretching from Oregon to Texas -- or who are willing to travel to this path -- will enjoy an even rarer sight: an annular eclipse.

This occurs only when the moon appears slightly smaller than normal and the sun appears slightly larger than normal, and the moon occults only the central portion of the sun’s disk, producing a weird ring of sunlight: an “annulus.” The closer to the center of this path you are, known as the “centerline,” the more symmetrical this “ring of fire” will appear.

To learn how the eclipse will appear from your

Ring of Fire Eclipse!

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

“I think we should talk about the elephant in the room,” said my husband.

“What are you talking about?” I asked innocently.

“The elephant... on the couch,” he said.

I glanced over at the couch. Propped up in the corner was our new throw pillow. It was taupe and white and complemented the couch beautifully. It also happened to have elephants all over it.

“What about it?”

“Why do we have a pillow with elephants all over it?” he said.

I walked over to the couch and fluffed the pillow. All the elephants perked up nicely, as linen elephants are apt to do when you fluff them.

“I thought it was cute and the room needed a little touch of something interesting.”

“And we think elephants are interesting?” he said.

“Yes, we do,” I said.

location, visit timeanddate.com, then hover your cursor over “Sun, Moon & Space” at the top. A drop-down menu will appear, and you can click on “October 14 Annular Solar Eclipse.” Then just enter your location, and you’ll see the exact times of the show and a simulated view of how it’ll appear in your sky.

Viewing the eclipse directly is not difficult but requires strict attention to protecting your eyes. Improper viewing techniques can cause serious eye damage or permanent blindness. Looking at the sun without a proper solar filter -- even for an instant -- can cause permanent eye damage or blindness.

You must never view the sun with the naked eye, sunglasses, double thickness of darkened film, smoked glass or other homemade filters. Only certi-

fied solar filters reduce visible and invisible radiation enough to be safe; these are necessary during both the partial and annular phases of this eclipse.

To learn more about proper solar viewing filters, visit the American Astronomical Society (eclipse.aas. org) and click on “Eye Safety”; or to find safe solar filters and viewers, click on “Resources.” Be sure to order these soon, however, since they will sell out quickly as eclipse day approaches.

Next week, I’ll offer some additional tips on safe viewing and even how to photograph the sky show, so stay tuned!

Like and follow Dennis Mammana at facebook/ dennismammana.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

The Elephant in the Room

When I saw this pillow show up in my Pinterest feed, it was love at first elephant. It’s not that I have an elephant obsession or anything, but this particular pillow called to me. It was the perfect color for the room, and I thought the elephants added a nice whimsical touch. Apparently though, my husband felt otherwise, and it was possible we were headed for an elephant-sized showdown.

“It’s not this one elephant pillow that concerns me,” he said. “I’m afraid this could be the beginning of a trend. Today elephant pillows in the living room. Tomorrow penguin quilts in the bedroom. Soon we’ll have zebra print wallpaper covering the bathroom and a llama in the backyard. Then it’s just a matter of time before the town comes after us because we aren’t zoned for a drive-thru safari in our neighborhood.”

“I didn’t think one elephant pillow was a big deal,” I replied.

“I just don’t see what you like about it so much,” he said. “Maybe it’s a guy

thing, but I just don’t get the elephants.”

“They’re gentle-looking and aesthetic,” I said. “And, also, they make me feel skinny.”

“What?”

“Well, you know, if I’m having a bad day, I can look over at the elephant pillow and think, ‘At least I’m not as big as an elephant.’”

He looked at me blankly.

I realized I needed to find a way to convince my husband it was in our best interest to keep the elephant pillow. Clearly, trying to convince him that the pillow was an appealing addition to our living room was not the answer. Nor would he buy into the fact that having an elephant pillow would help raise awareness for the plight of elephants with an abundance of chin hair (yes, that is a thing, and something that I can personally relate to). I also didn’t think it would help to point out that the pillow was just the right size to smother someone who didn’t like the pillow as much as I did.

Not that I would ever think that. Then I had a jolt of inspiration.

“You know,” I said. “This elephant pillow is the perfect size and just the right amount of support for a really good couch nap.”

My husband eyed the elephant pillow suspiciously. He looked at me. He looked back at the pillow. Then he slid across the couch, fluffed the pillow, swung his legs up on the couch and lay his head down on the pillow.

“You know what? You’re right,” he said. “This IS a great nap pillow!”

“Great!” I said, “Now let’s talk about the emu salt and pepper shakers I just got.”

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

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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!

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Looking for mature local woman willing to work evenings 3pm-8pm one or two nights per week.

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If interested please contact: 516-616-1601

THE PROACTIVE TECHNOLOGY GROUP LLC (GREENVALE, NY) is looking for IT Recruiter. Bachelor’s degree in Arts or Science (foreign degree is acceptable). 12 months experience as IT Recruiter.

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SITUATION WANTED

A HOME HEALTH CARE AIDE Irish trained woman with 10 years experience and excellent checkable references available. Honest and reliable. Licensed driver with own transportation.

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ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS!

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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!

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

GARAGE SALE

GARAGE SALE

October 7, 2023

9am to 4pm

11 Loretta Lane Hicksville, NY

Household items, books, fabric, small furniture and more.

YARD SALE

Garden City

Sat Sept 30th

149 Euston Rd. Garden City, NY

No Rain Date

Kitchenware, Outdoor Tableware, Hardware items, Wall artwork, Small furniture pieces, King /Full size headboards, + new items never used: Holiday themed.

CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900

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CER:

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REAL ESTATE FOR RENT APARTMENT FOR RENT

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Near LIRR, all.

C. Muccini, LRES, Douglas Elliman RE: 516-606-2086

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SERVICES

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

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS

FALL DRAIN OUTS

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Service/Repairs

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ARBORVITAE 6-foot

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Serving GARDEN CITY and surrounding area since 2003

Repairs & Installations of all types

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FROM

10%

Catholic Daughters show appreciation to military

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas will be holding a special “Thank You Project” in support of members of the military who currently serve the country.

On September 30 and October 1 after

all Masses at St. Ignatius Loyola church, the CDA will host tables at the priests' garage where you can write a quick note of support. The CDA will supply paper, cards, pens and markers. You may also

drop off notes you have already prepared.

You may also drop off your cards at any time in the box located in the church or mail or drop them to the rectory office (St. Ignatius Loyola, 129 Broadway, Hicksville NY 11801). Please mark them

“Catholic Daughters Thank You Project” Cards must be received by October 22.

Suggestions and other important guidelines:

• Address your card to “Dear

Friend” or “Dear Service Member”

• Be positive! Write a note of encouragement or tell them of your hobbies or what life is like in your town.

• You do not need to sign your full name or provide an address.

• Please refrain from political statements or inappropriate topics or lengthy religions discussions.

• Please do not be holiday specific as cards will be sent throughout the year.

D’Angelo

Stephanie A. D’Angelo, Esq. Your

John E. Lavelle Law Firm P.C.

Five Levittown musicians selected for All-State Ensemble

Music for Inclusion event supports autism education

The First Annual Music For Inclusion event will take place on Saturday, October 14, from 2–6 p.m. at VFW Post 9592, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown.

The event will feature live music, beer, food, vendors and raffles. It will include a special sensory friendly area inside.

Hear performances by the Rob

Coffin Band, DJ Frank Neal, The Pilot Program, Paul Horak, Craig Rotolo and the Cashinistas. There will also be appearances by Chase from Paw Patrol, Cha Cha Beauty Bar freebies and a Theodore Bearkins book signing.

Proceeds will support autism education in elementary schools by benefitting Families For Inclusion.

Pride Football, Cheering holds opening day

Five talented musicians from Division Avenue and General Douglas MacArthur high schools were recently selected as participants and alternates in the 2023 NYSSMA All-State Performing Ensemble.

MacArthur student and French horn player Roberto Oquendo will be a participant in the Symphonic Band, while Division student Allison Cha will play the viola in the Symphonic Orchestra. MacArthur students Daniel Lee, Jacob Yousha

and Nicholas Stallone were selected as alternates. This remarkable accomplishment represents each students’ dedication and perseverance in their musical studies. This prestigious honor was earned under the guidance of music educators Lisa Levenberg and Joseph Romano at MacArthur and Mark Martufi at Division. The NYSSMA All-State Performing Ensembles will take place in Rochester from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

Division Avenue High School student Allison Cha was selected to play viola in the NYSSMA All-State Ensemble Symphonic Orchestra.

(At front) General Douglas MacArthur High School students Nicholas Stallone, Robert Oquendo, Daniel Lee and Jacob Yousha were selected as participants and alternates in the NYSSMA All-State Ensembles. They were joined by chorus director Lisa Levenberg and band director Joseph Romano. Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray attended the Levittown Pride Football and Cheer Opening Day on September 9 at MacLaren Field in Levittown.

The cheerleaders show their routine.

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