Syosset Advance (2/21/25)

Valentines presented to Hometown Heroes

On behalf of school children across the Town of Oyster Bay, Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined Councilman Tom Hand, Councilman Steve Labriola, and Councilman Andrew Monteleone to present thousands of ‘Valentine’s for Veterans’ to representatives from AMVETS Post 88 in Massapequa and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 82, to be distributed to various Veterans organizations, as well as to the VA Hospital. These special valentines were handmade by students from numerous school districts throughout the Town as an expression of appreciation and gratitude for our Hometown Heroes, and to recognize that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

VFW presents Public Servant Awards

At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Gus Scutari VFW Post 6394 on February 12, several Public Servant Awards were presented.  Police Communications Operator Michael Spae, Nassau County Police Dept. Communications Bureau received the award in the Dispatcher category; Police Officer Thomas Pitts, Nassau County Police Dept., Second Precinct received the award in the Law Enforcement category; and Honorary Fire Chief George Wulforst, Syosset Volunteer Fire Dept., received the award in the Firefighter category.

Police Communications Operator Michael Spae has been employed by the Nassau County Police Department for almost 43 years and has served virtually every community within Nassau County, providing vital communications with all precinct patrol units. This award is not based on one specific event, as many awards for valor are, but rather for the entirety of the good work performed by an individual of the course of a career.  PCO Spae has met, and surpassed that benchmark.  In the words of his See page 8

Joe Grehan, post Quartermaster; Mitch Furman, post Commander; Police Officer Thomas Pitts, Nassau County Police Dept., Second Precinct; Jay Caputo, post Adjutant.

This Week at the Syosset Public Library Blood drive at Syosset Fire Department

Friday, February 21, at 10:00 a.m.

Simply Stronger with Balance (VIRTUAL)

Instructor: Mindy Vasta

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

Friday, February 21, at 2:00 p.m.

Friday Movie at the Library (IN-PERSON)

Join us for an afternoon movie at the library. Check our website for the movie that will be shown. Go to syossetlibrary.org.

Sunday, February 23, at 1:00 p.m.

Concert: From Broadway to Barbra: A Musical Journey (IN-PERSON)

Performer: Rhonda Kay & The Backstage Trio

This concert blends the magic of well-known and beloved Broadway songs from musicals including “My Fair Lady”, “Music Man”, “Les Miserables”, “Cabaret”, “Funny Girl”, “Wicked” and more. In addition, some iconic songs including “People”, “The Way We Were”, and “Don’t Rain on My Parade”. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.

Tuesday, February 25, at 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon Book Discussion

(IN-PERSON)

Join Lisa Hollander, Readers’ services Librarian, for a discussion of the New York Times bestselling novel “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano. No registration needed.

Thursday, February 27, at 2:00 p.m.

The Career of Jack Nicholson (IN-PERSON) Presenter, Marc Courtade, retired arts director

Jack Nicholson’s career spanned over 50 years. He played a wide range of starring and supporting roles. He is one of films most highly regarded actors winning three Academy Awards from a record 12 nominations. This talk will showcase many of his memorable por trayals, several of which are now con sidered iconic. No registration needed.

Friday, February 28, from 10:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Driver’s Safety Class (IN-PERSON)

For drivers of all ages. Completion entitles you to a NYS insurance discount and to a point reduction. In-person reg istration ONLY. Fee: $33, check payable to “Empire Safety Council” Includes a 30-minute break for lunch.

Friday, February 28, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Sy-Con Presents:

Retro Gaming Night (IN-PERSON)

Join us for an evening of retro arcade and board games hosted by LI-Retro Gaming and Game Master Games! There’s sure to be something for every one to enjoy

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.

Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker is once again joining forces with the New York Blood Center to host a blood drive from 1 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Syosset Fire Department Headquarters, 50 Cold Spring Road, Syosset, N.Y. 11791.

Eligible donors must have an ID with a signature or a photo, weigh at least 110 pounds, have had no tattoos in the last 12 months and be ages 16–75 years of age (16-year-old donors must have parental consent. Donors over age 76 must bring a doctor’s note). O-negative and B-negative donors are especially needed in addition to all other blood types.

“After attracting 50 donors to our year-ending Plainview-Old Bethpage blood drive, I entered 2025 with a grate-

Leader Drucker said. “I am proud to be once again working with the New York Blood Center and the Syosset Fire Department on these life-saving efforts, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life – whether you are a routine donor, haven’t given blood in a while, or are a first-time donor.”

Appointments are preferred but not required; walk-ins will be taken as capacity permits. Limited appointments to make double red cell donations are available. Call 1-800-93-BLOOD (25663) or visit https://donate.nybc.org/donor/ schedules/drive_schedule/321708 to make an appointment.

For more information, contact Deputy Minority Leader Drucker’s office at 516-571-6216 or adrucker@nas-

Advertise in our papers!

If you own a business or have a service to provide, we’ll create professional ads to promote it and help you be seen by thousands of local readers! Call 1-516-294-8900 to inquire!

Transforming

O u r t e a m i s e a g e r t

t h e c o n f i d e n c e y

g e n c y D e n t i s t r y ,

N i t r o u s O x i d e , I V S e d a t i o n & m u c h m o r e

Residents renew wedding vows at Valentines Day ceremony

Vow Renewal ceremony held at Town

Members of the Town Board of the Town of Oyster Bay celebrated with more than 60 couples at a special Vow Renewal Ceremony held on Valentine’s Day at Town Hall. Co-sponsored by Raynham Hall Museum, the event featured a reading of America’s First Valentine, which was written on February 14, 1779 in Oyster Bay. The event also included a distribution of roses courtesy of 1-800-Flowers, which is headquartered in the Town, and cookies from

1-800-Flowers’ Cheryl’s cookie brand.

“Valentine’s Day is such a special day for couples and we are thrilled that so many residents chose to spend their holiday with us at this heartwarming ceremony at Town Hall,” said Supervisor Saladino. “We welcomed a record number of couples to reaffirm their commitment to being together forever.”

The Valentine’s Day vow renewal ceremony featured residents married four

years, to those married over 70 years, from all communities throughout the Town.

Supervisor Saladino and Town Clerk LaMarca presided over the vow renewals and ring pledge, and a Raynham Hall representative reenacted the reading of America’s first Valentine.

The story of America’s first Valentine is a proud piece of Oyster Bay history which dates back to the time of the Revolutionary War, as British troops occupied Long Island

homes. During the height of the American Revolutionary War, love improbably blossomed between Lt. Col Simcoe and a young patriot named Sally Townsend as the Townsend property served as a headquarters for a regiment of 300 British troops. Lt. Col. Simcoe presented Sally with a poem he wrote asking her to be his Valentine, and his famous poem, entitled ‘Will You Be My Valentine,’ became the first documented written Valentine in America.

Councilwoman Laura Walsh, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca, Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Andrew Monteleone and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato celebrated with nearly 140 residents at the Valentine’s Day

Hall.

New York State Empire Award

On January 15, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads presented the prestigious New York State Empire Award to the truly deserving Don Patane. Don is a shining example of dedication and commitment, serving as a Past President of the Levittown Chamber of Commerce and currently on the Board of Directors. Don's remarkable leadership extends to his roles on the Board of Directors for YES Community Counseling Center and the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, Don continues to serve his community as a member of American Legion Post 1711 in Levittown. Don's unwavering dedication to his clients at Main Street Financial and the Levittown community is a testament to his exceptional character, making him an exemplary recipient of this esteemed award.

IN MEMORIAM

Warren Church

Warren Church, a Syosset resident for more than 40 years, passed away on February 13, 2025 at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, Joan Church and daughter, Lindsay Church.

Warren served four years with the United States Air Force Air Police before joining the Nassau County Police Department, retiring in 2000 after more than 30 wonderful years “on the job.” In retirement, Warren was an active member of the community, beautifying his neighborhood's entrance islands and holding positions in the Cerro Wire Coalition, SyossetWoodbury Rotary Club and the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce; he was the Chamber's 2005 Community Service Person of the Year and 2011 Outstanding Civic Member. Warren was a proud member of American Legion

Students

Warren Church

Post 175 and served as Commander for four years. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Warren's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

celebrate the Year of the Snake

Have you lost someone?

If you would like to post an obituary for a loved one, simply send a short biography of them with (if desired) their photo, details of their funeral/visitation services, and/or any donation requests to editor@gcnews.com, or call our office at 516-294-8900 to inquire.

First graders at Old Country Road Elementary School in Hicksville celebrated this year’s Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake, with a parade around the school. The students also enjoyed making hats, masks and lanterns to celebrate the occasion. After their parade, the school’s student council and Site-Based students presented an informational assembly in the school’s gymnasium about the origins of Lunar New Year and information about the Year of the Snake.To close out the assembly, OCR students performed a reader’s theater play called "Ting's Chinese New Year Surprise.”

Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Reading becomes dining experience at Abbey Lane School

Students throughout Abbey Lane Elementary School in the Levittown School District enjoyed a restaurant experience as they entered the library to find a menu of books with a wide range of tastes on Dec. 10.

Organized by librarians Jenn Bruce and Sheila Ganassa, the library was transformed to a space for dining complete with dining place mats that featured pictures of enticing new reads. Students experienced that books, just like food, match the different tastes of each individual reader. They read through each

books’ initial pages and skimmed the illustrations to see if it met their interests. In makeshift menus, they recorded the title and author of their selections and marked whether they would continue reading and why. At each table, groups facilitated engaging discussions about each story. As each grade got a taste of the many age-appropriate stories in front of them, they learned that entering a new literary adventure is as easy as ordering their favorite dish at a restaurant.

Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Altamirano and Aiden Herrera filled out makeshift menus with their thoughts on the books they viewed.

Sarah Grace Foundation announces 5K, Night of Magic

The Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer, Inc. ended the last year strong and begins 2025 with several initiatives to continue its mission.

The successful Holiday Extravaganza raffle and multiple toy drives allowed the Foundation to distribute holiday financial aid and toys to more than 400 children. Also during the holiday season, students from the Queens College Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance, and the Parsons School of Design, made pajamas, nightgowns and flannel shirts benefitting the Sarah Grace Foundation and the children with cancer it serves. December also saw the Foundation receiving an additional grant of $5,000 from Nassau Bar Foundation – WE CARE to support the Chemo Duck program.

January concluded with a clothing drive in partnership with the Hicksville High School J-Birds robotics team. The foundation collected clothing, shoes, handbags, winter accessories, towels, household linens stuffed animals and more.

This spring, the Foundation is again hosting its Hugs for Sarah Virtual 5K. Participants can run, walk or bike to complete the 5K by May 31, and do it alone or with others. Registration takes place online only and closes May 3. Race bibs will be emailed following registration. All participants receive a Hugs For Sarah medal, which will be shipped in June.

The registration fee is $40 and there is a $5 discount for those who sign up by April 1 by using code EARLYREG.

Sign up online at https://thesarah -

gracefoundation.org/shop-donate.

Photos can be shared on social media with the tag #HugsForSarah5K.

The second annual Evening of Magic will take place on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho. Join magician and mentalist Gary Ferrar for a performance full of unexpected moments and unique effects. The hilarious performance will include audience interaction.

Tickets are $125 and include dinner, beer, wine, soda, coffee, dessert and the show. There will also be raffles and a 50/50 drawing. Advance ticket purchase is required online at www. thesarahgracefoundation.org.

“Every year, over 4,000 children die from cancer,” said Matt Weippert, Executive Director of the Foundation. “Roughly 46 children are diagnosed every day — and 1 in 5 of them will

not survive. We are all too familiar with their struggle, and we continue to do all we can to improve their quality of life.” “This is the Sarah Grace Foundation's largest fundraising event of the year,” Weippert said, Sarah was a fan of magic shows and during her illness always displayed an infectious smile and encouraged laughter around her. What better way to raise funds crucial to the children we serve while honoring Sarah’s memory.”

For more information on The Sarah Grace Foundation, please call (516) 433-9745 or visit the Foundation’s website at www. TheSarahGraceFoundation.org. Donations or requests for information may be sent to the Foundation at 17 E. Old Country Road, Unit B, PMB 202, Hicksville, NY 11801.

Logan Ward, Dante Coronado and Ryan Grady were excited for the literary dining experience.

Melanie

Jacob Abarca Gallo and Ethan Ocampo showed their favorite picks from the restaurant-style “book tasting” found in the library on Dec. 10.

NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NASSAU

WILMINGTON SAINGS FUND SOCIETY FSB D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST AS TRUSTEE FOR PNPMS TRUST II, Plaintiff, Against

THEOCHARIS PHILIPPOU A/K/A THEOCHARRIS

PHILIPPOU A/K/A HARRIS

PHILIPPOU A/K/A HARRY PHILIPPOU, et al, Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 09/11/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 3/6/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2 Prose Street, Hicksville, New York 11801, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Hicksville, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 11 Block 309 Lot 33

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $578,855.97 plus interest and costs.  The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 1488/2015

Lisa B. Singer, Esq., Referee. THE FRANK LAW FIRM P.C., 333 GLEN HEAD ROAD, SUITE 145, OLD BROOKVILLE, NY  11545

Dated:  1/14/2025  File Number: 00047   MB

VFW presents Public Servant Awards

From page 1

Commanding Officer, Bureau Director Karen Brohm, PCO

Spae is the consummate professional, who is well respected by his peers and supervisors.

He mentors and teaches his co-workers, and his consistently calm tone of voice and demeanor are always able to effectively manage even the most stressful situation.  PCO

Spae has received numerous

Operator of the Month awards over his more than four-decade career.  In his off-duty time, PCO Spae has volunteered with the Nassau County Auxiliary Police since 1976.

Police Officer Thomas Pitts has been employed by the Nassau County Police Department since 2020.  Prior to that he was a member of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing.  During that time, he was deployed several

times, including two overseas assignments.  He is an active officer with numerous arrests and self-generated activity.  He is highly respected by his peers and supervisors.  Additionally, he is a member of the Department’s Honor Guard and an active member of the Nassau Police Veterans Association.

Honorary Chief George Wulforst has been a volunteer with the Syosset Fire Department for over 50 years.  During

this extensive time frame, he has consistently responded to numerous alarms and accidents.  He was selected as the department’s Fireman of the Year in 1974 and received the John Cardinal Award for superior citizenship in 2017.  He, as one of the most senior members of the department, is always there to guide the new members and officers.

Mitch Furman, post Commander; Joe Grehan, post Quartermaster; Police Communications Operator Michael Spae; Jay Caputo, post Adjutant.

Mitch Furman, post Commander; Joe Grehan, post Quartermaster; Honorary Fire Chief George Wulforst, Syosset Volunteer Fire Dept.; Jay Caputo, post Adjutant.

Upcoming Events at the Jericho Public Library

Thursday, February 20

11:00 a.m.: Joshy K Magic (Grades K–5)

(Children in K - 2nd grade must be with a parent/guardian) This amplified show brings music, dancing, & head morphing illusion full of fun surprises and audience participation! Come enjoy an extra FUN theatrical performance and experience a true feeling of magic!

7:30 p.m.: Dream Interpretations with Maria D’Andrea Maria will help you discover the meaning of your dreams and symbols. Discover how dreams help you in your life and how you can work with them to create a better life. You will also learn how to remember your dreams with accuracy, clarity, and ease. Empower yourself by understanding the meaning of dream symbols. Bring your own dreams and Maria will help you discover what they mean.

Friday, February 21

4:00 p.m.: Climate Champions: Where Does Our Water Come From? (Grades 3–6)

Learn about our amazing aquifers, make a mini-aquifer and learn how to protect and conserve our groundwater.

Saturday, February 22

10:30 a.m.: Itty Bitty Bookworms (Ages Birth to 30 months)

Join us for this interactive program of rhymes, songs, stories, and more!

10:30 a.m.: Introduction to Cybersecurity for Seniors

The purpose of this course is to learn the basics of personal cyber security. You will be able to recognize common

methods and types of scams that online hackers use on individuals such as phishing emails and social engineering. This course will also include recommendations to help improve your overall cyber security experience. By the end of this lesson you’ll be equipped to identify common scam attempts.

12:30 p.m.: Teen Advisory Board Meeting

Do you want to get involved and help with planning future Teen programs and book purchases here at the Jericho Library? Join our Teen Advisory Board! We will meet once per month to talk about these things and more.

Sunday, February 23

2:00 p.m.: HYBRID: Nassau County Historical Society: Mosette Broderick: “McKim, Mead and White and the Creation of an Imagined American Aristocracy”

As Americans assembled money in the late 1800s, a need to appear grander accompanied the wealth, leading to the transference of European grandeur to the United States. The architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White designed for this new “American Aristocracy” mansions on Long Island, New York City, Newport, and beyond. Among their iconic local commissions were Harbor Hill in Roslyn and the Garden City Hotel. Our speaker, Mosette Broderick, is a professor of Art History at New York University where she teaches courses in architecture and urbanism. She is the author of “Triumvirate: McKim, Mead & White: Art, Architecture, Scandal, and Class in America’s Gilded Age and Fifth Avenue: History of America’s Street of

Shed the Meds event at Syosset Library

Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker and the Nassau County Police Department 2nd Precinct will be hosting a “ Shed the Meds ” event at the Syosset Public Library on Tuesday, March 11, from 5–7:30 p.m.

Residents are invited to drop off unwanted or expired pharmaceutical waste including: prescription medications, prescription patches, over the counter medications, vitamins,

sample medications, and pet medications.

Not accepted: needles, sharps, aerosol cans, thermometers, ointments, hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, biohazardous waste, and medications from businesses.

For any questions please contact the 2nd Precinct at 516-573-6200 or the office of Legislator Drucker at 516-571-6216

See what's happening at your library!

From classes to lectures and concerts to movie screenings, there's never a dull day at your local library! Check this paper each week for fun and informative all-ages activities, all for free or cheap!

Dreams” (2024). Refreshments will follow the in-person program at the library.

Monday, February 24

7:00 p.m.: Book Discussion: “Corduroy” by Don Freeman (Grades 1 & 2)

Come to this book discussion to talk about “Corduroy” by Don Freeman. After registering, pick up a copy of the book to read and be prepared to talk about it with your peers.

Tuesday, February 25

11:00 a.m.: Virtual: Guided Meditation for Self-Healing with Patricia Anderson

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

2:30 p.m.: News Currents with Elinor Haber

Join Elinor to participate in an informal exchange about topics of the day— the international, national and local scene. We’ll focus on trends that affect us now and in the future. Bring your thoughts, issues and a friend to join in the discussion.

Wednesday, February 26

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!

7:00 p.m.: Amazing Octopus Craft (Grades K through 3)

Make a strange and wonderful creature craft that can tag along with you everywhere!

Thursday, February 27

4:00 p.m.: Afterschool Adventures

in Art: Paint to Music (Grades 1–6)

Celebrate Black History Month by exploring how music inspired the paintings of famous African American artists like Romare Bearden, Alma Thomas, & Sam Gilliam. Then paint to music to create your own art.

7:30 p.m.: Teens: Video Game Tournament: Super Smash Bros Ultimate Mario? Link? Pikachu? Why not all of them! Test your mettle and battle your friends to determine who is the true champion in Super Smash Bros Ultimate!

Friday, February 28

2:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: From Mary Pickford to Meryl Streep: Hollywood’s Star System and How It Works with Brian Rose

For more than a century, Hollywood has relied on star power as the most reliable way to draw an audience. From the early days of silent movies, when Mary Pickford was able to command $10,000 a week to modern times, when actors like Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks are guaranteed $20 million (or more) a picture, the film studios have recognized the crucial role stars played at the box office. This presentation will look at the history of movie stardom -how originally film actors weren’t even identified by name, how Mary Pickford became “America’s Sweetheart” and the first real film star, how the Hollywood studios manufactured stars like Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and Lana Turner during its Golden Age, how the star system changed once television came on the scene, and how actors like Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, and Denzel Washington ushered in a new definition of stardom during the last few decades.

Events for Readers at the

Syosset Public Library

The following March 2025 Readers' Services events will be held at the Syosset Public Library

Tuesday, March 11, at 11 a.m.

Morning Mystery Book Discussion

Join Sonia Grgas, Reference Librarian, at the library for a Morning Mystery Book Discussion of the novel “ Finlay Donovan Is Killing It ” by Elle Cosimano. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before the discussion. No registration.

Tuesday, March 25, at 2 p.m.

SPL’s 2025 Long Island Reads

Book Discussion

Join Evelyn Hershkowitz, Readers’ Services Librarian, for an in-person discussion of the 2025 Long Island Reads selection, “ On Fire Island ” by Jane L. Rosen. 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 information please call 516-921-7161 ext 239 or email: Readersservices@syossetlibrary.org

*All events are wheelchair accessible

Six Days Cycling Idaho Trails with Discovery Bicycle Tours

TRAVEL

BY KAREN RUBIN

FEATURES SYNDICATE

GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

It’s pitch black as we make our way 1.66 miles through the first tunnel of the Route of the Hiawatha, except for the light on our bike. Water drips down from the ceiling, the surface is muddy and slippery, adrenalin pumping. It is hugely thrilling.

This is just the first (and the most dramatic) of the 9 tunnels and 7 trestles we go through over the course of 14 miles down, then back through again for 14 miles up. It is also the longest – a full 1.66 miles in total darkness! but each tunnel, each trestle is exciting. You can immediately appreciate why the Route of the Hiawatha is one of Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame rail trails.

The experience is but one of many highlights of Discovery Bicycle Tours’ six-day Idaho Trails trip, during which we will do the 111-mile long Centennial Trail, starting in Spokane Washington to Coeur d’Alene; tackle the remarkable Route of the Hiawatha Trail; and the 73-mile long Trail of the Coeur D’Alenes where we immerse in tribal land, history and culture. Along the way, we will also have interesting experiences such as touring a silver mine in the company of a miner and a museum preserving the heritage of the Coeur d’Alene people.

As we gather together for our first orientation meeting with our guides, I take note that just about every one of our group of 13 riders has taken not just one, two but several trips with Discovery Bicycle Tours.

This is my fourth, and I consistently find Discovery’s whole approach to bike touring ideal –

Biking through the pitch black, 1.66-mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel the first of nine tunnels, seven trestles on the 14-mile long Route of the Hiawatha, a highlight of Discovery Bicycle Tours’ six-day Idaho Trails trip © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com

summed up in the phrases “Ride your ride” followed by “This is your vacation!”– and how they make that happen. There are two guides (they take turns driving the van that shuttles our stuff, sets up our snackstops, and is there if anyone needs assistance; while the other cycles along, bringing up the rear), but most importantly, we bike at our own pace. This is because we have our own Ride with GPS App, customized by Scott Cone (the company’s owner, he calls himself Adventure Consultant) for each itinerary; they even provide a phone holder on our bike.

The accommodations, restaurant choices and food are the perfect mix of charming reflections of the places we tour, and luxury (as much com-

fort as you would ever want without going over the top), adding immeasurably to the tour. The bikes (five of us use their hybrid, eight others take advantage of the availability of e-bikes at no extra cost) and equipment provided are top notch, and it bears noting that I consistently find Discovery offers excellent value-for-money.

Our guides, Susie Iventosch and Calista Phillips, are fantastic – really knowledgeable, supportive, encouraging, accurate (I appreciate having a realistic view of what the day’s ride will be), and flexible when necessary (like when we all vote not to ride during a downpour but shuttle the first 11 miles of the day’s route).

The trips are designed for maximum enjoyment of the ride – we are

GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR

shuttled when it makes sense to or from the ride, and given options of longer or shorter routes each day. And the routes they choose, as well as the added activities (a lecture one evening, the silver mine tour another day, a visit to a museum another) add dimension. I also appreciate the advance preparation – documents, itinerary – and care they provide before the trip.

Day 1: Setting Out on the Centennial Trail, 36 Miles

Our first morning starts with an early meet-up at the Hilton Garden Inn close to Spokane Airport, for introductions and orientation, and we are shuttled to Sontag Park, the start of the Centennial Trail, where we are fitted to our bikes, get the Ride with GPS app going, and set out on a really beautiful ride. Suzie notes that this first day will be the most challenging of the tour.

We start pedaling along the Washington portion of the Centennial Trail in the rocky canyons west of Spokane. The beginning of the trail is in the forest, and soon rises so that we have this gorgeous view of the Spokane River far below. And once you do the first hill, you feel you can do the second (which is the steepest of the day), then the third (the longest, but not as steep – a piece of cake).

We pass through Spokane’s urban Riverfront Park that I have so enjoyed visiting for the past three days, and end, 36 miles further down, just five miles before the Washington-Idaho state line, where we are picked up by the van and are taken to the charming Roosevelt Inn where we stay for two nights, in

Continued on next page

Six Days Cycling Idaho Trails with Discovery Bicycle Tours

Continued from previous page

Coeur D’Alene. (Our next day’s ride will bring us back to this same spot, so we can ride the five miles into Idaho.)

I adore the Roosevelt Inn - it is so much a part of Coeur d’Alene. Named for President Theodore Roosevelt who came through the area in 1903 on a campaign whistle stop, the building dates from 1905 when it was Coeur D’Alene’s first school, then became offices, and is now a most charming 14-room bnb. Each room is named for someone with a picture and bio, and provides plush robes and towels. The inn offers a hot tub and sauna (open 24 hours), and absolutely gorgeous gardens (life-size chess). There is a lovely parlor with gorgeous painted mural along the three walls, where there is a refrigerator guests can use; a constant supply of coffee, tea and hot chocolate; fruit and usually, something freshly baked. Each morning, we are served breakfast to order,

This first evening we enjoy dinner together at a pub-style restaurant (a celebratory drink is included).

DAY 2: 14 or 27 miles, Centennial Trail

After breakfast at The Roosevelt Inn on our second day, we shuttle to Lovely Falls Park, the headwaters of the Spokane River. The trail takes us along the majestic shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The ride today is 14 miles out and back to the endpoint of the Centennial Trail at Higgins Point, the endpoint of the Centennial Trail, mostly hugging the gorgeous shoreline of Lake Coeur d’Alene, until we come to one major hill up, then down – which means (if we are

BY CHARLYN FARGO

February is a big month for health: It’s both American Heart Month and National Cancer Prevention Month. And whether we’re talking about cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other chronic diseases, healthy eating applies to all.

When it comes to cancer, we know that foods high in antioxidants are key to helping reduce cancer risk. But what are they and where are they found?

Antioxidants are the antidote to oxidative stress, according to Karen Collins, nutrition adviser with the American Institute for Cancer Research. That oxidative stress occurs when highly reactive

biking back) we have an even steeper return.

We have the option to ride back in the van, but all of us choose to bike back to The Roosevelt, cycling at our own pace. It is early afternoon when we return, so we have plenty of time to enjoy exploring the charming shops and galleries of Coeur d’Alene (a hugely popular destination), swim in the lake or relax. I find a lovely hiking trail along the cliffs.

We are treated to a talk by historian Shauna Hillman give a delightful talk about the town of Wallace, Idaho and the Silver Valley Mine which we will be visiting (‘Murder, mining, prostitution, the mayor murdered his wife’s lover and got away with it, and was reelected twice!”) as we sit in the inn’s lovely garden – before heading out to have dinner on our own.

DAY 3: 15 or 28 miles, Route of the Hiawatha

After two delightful nights at the Roosevelt Inn in Coeur d’Alene, we pack up in preparation for moving our home base to a mountain resort in Kellogg for the remainder of trip. After breakfast, we shuttle 90 minutes east to the trailhead of the famous Route of the Hiawatha.

Biking the Route of The Hiawatha is an extraordinary experience in the annals of bike trails. Our guides, Suzie and Calista, prepare us extremely well for what we will do, that the first tunnel, the St. Paul Pass Tunnel, is the longest at 1.66 miles long, and is pitch black, damp and a constant 47 degrees. They have put lights on our bikes (you are not allowed to go on the trail with-

out a helmet and bike light).

After we excitedly take group photos at the entrance, we set out at our own pace, with the caveat that we have to start biking back up at 2:30 pm (note there is an hour time change from the start).

Biking through the St. Paul Pass Tunnel is a surreal experience – you can’t see what is above or on the side, only what is lit by the narrow beam where your light shines.

When you get out and ride the hardpacked gravel trail, it goes steadily down a 3% grade for 14 miles. The scenery is quite spectacular, especially when you look down at a thin pencil line and realize that is the trestle you will be riding across. It looks so small, so far away and far down. And then you are there, and it isn’t thin at all. The view from the trestle is spectacular, too.

The trestles are so high above where you imagine is the valley floor, you feel you are suspended.

It is 14 miles down on hard-packed gravel to where there is a picnic table where we have a box lunch we had ordered, before riding back up the same 14 miles. If you don’t want to ride back up, you can buy a ticket ($20) to take a shuttle bus. We all bike back. (Notably, there are several bathrooms along the way and water supplied.)

I must admit I am a bit nervous to ride continuously uphill for 14 miles but it actually isn’t bad at all, and there are all these opportunities to stop for the view, or read the interpretive signs that line the trail that tell the history of the Milwaukee Road Railroad. The view and the fresh air are exhilarating.

Antioxidant Power

molecules, known as free radicals, rise to unhealthy levels. When levels are high, they create cell damage that increases susceptibility to cancer and other chronic diseases.

Free radicals come from exposure to environmental hazards like pollution and secondhand smoke. The goal is not to eliminate them all. It’s the rising levels of free radicals that trigger our bodies to amp up our complex antioxidant system and turn on cancer-protective defenses. The health risk comes when the level of free radicals overwhelms antioxidant defenses.

Aren’t more antioxidants the answer?

Many believe that and take extra vitamins A, C and E (essential antioxidants). But it’s more than vitamins; antioxidants are found in phytochemicals too. Phytochemicals naturally occur in plant foods. Studies have shown links between eating more produce and lower cancer risk, but the number of antioxidants

The Hiawatha, considered one of the more successful rail-trail conversions in the United States, was named to the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s national Hall of Fame in 2010. It was developed from a railroad line, developed in the late 1800s, that went out of business in the 1980s.

One of the historic markers along the way tells of the Great Fire of 1910. One of the most devastating forest fires in American history, it burned 3 million acres of forest in northern Idaho and western Montana. The marker tells of heroic actions by the railroad employees who drove engines and box cars filled with people through the flames to the safety of the longer tunnels, saving 600 lives.

It feels soooo good when I come back through that last, longest (1.66 miles), darkest tunnel, being careful not to ride up on the person in front, or slipping in the muddy surface.

At the end, it is a work out that makes you feel so ecstatic, euphoric when you finish.

Feeling quite elated, we pile back into the van to shuttle to the Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, where we stay in gorgeous condo accommodations for three nights.

Discovery Bicycle Tours, 800-257-2226, www.discoverybicycletours.com

Next: Biking the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com.

reaching the body’s cells can depend on how much is lost is cooking and how well compounds are absorbed.

Here’s the bottom line for cancer prevention: Don’t just focus on antioxidants alone. Focus on balance, variety and moderation. Choose plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses (like dried beans and lentils) and nuts. Add variety by eating the rainbow -- dark green, deep orange, white, purple, yellow and red foods. It doesn’t matter if it’s fresh, frozen or canned -- they all provide benefit. Make these the biggest portion of your eating choices, and you’ll crave less processed food, processed sugar and processed meat.

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

Crossword Answers

All about milkshakes & movies

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

My cousin, Elaina, and I were poring over some old family albums recently and we had a good laugh over some silly photos of us as kids. We’re six months apart so we feel as close as sisters.

The two of us running around on the beach snapping towels at each other as 11-year-olds was captured on a camera by a relative and memorialized for all to see even 50 years later. We also saw us all dolled up in those serious pictures at the special events like Holy Communions, graduations and weddings.

Elaina had pulled the albums from a closet in her house and we were instantly brought back to sunny days on the beach near her home in Westchester County. Her father, my Uncle Douglas, had gotten a Sunfish and the three of us went out on it quite a few times. We sailed on the Long Island Sound under some glorious blue skies in July. Uncle Douglas steered the Sunfish and we watched as he did it.

Gripping the tiller, he would move it right or left and that would move the rudder. He also told us when to move about in the boat because shifting our body weight helped the boat maintain its balance. Keeping its balance was a good thing since none of us wanted to end up in the Sound when we were enjoying a nice boat ride and admiring the scenery all around us.

After returning to the shore we went for a swim in the pool at their club, got dressed and headed home for a delicious grilled dinner with corn on the cob. We relaxed for a while then I offered to make some milkshakes for the three of us. They liked that idea. Rummaging through the kitchen for their blender, I found it and placed it on the counter.

Pulling out a gallon of vanilla ice cream and a quart of milk, I followed the recipe for milkshakes that I knew by heart. My mom had shown me how to make them. I placed 5 scoops of vanilla ice cream in the blender and added milk. The basic rule of thumb, I

reminded myself, is for every 3 scoops of ice cream, I need 1 cup of milk.

Plugging the blender into the wall outlet, I ran it on low and watched it slowly become a smooth mixture. If it seemed a bit thick, I added a little more milk. In time the ingredients blended into a great big perfect-looking milkshake and I was pleased.

Pulling some tall, clear glasses from the cabinet, I poured the three milkshakes we wanted on that hot summer’s day. Topping each of them off with a swirl of whipped cream, some colorful sprinkles and a cherry, I popped a straw into each glass. Elaina and Uncle Douglas thanked me for my industriousness - which made me laugh - and we toasted healthy living and bright, sunny days then enjoyed our drinks. Spending time with Elaina at her house, my house or traveling together was always fun.

Some friends and I got together recently to watch “80 for Brady” on Netflix because we heard it is a pretty funny film and sure enough, it is. The movie, which came out last year, stars Sally Field, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Jane Fonda as the ensemble actresses and Tom Brady stars in the show. He’s also one of the producers. We had some good laughs out of it.

The basic plot is four friends get together to see the New England Patriots play in the Super Bowl in Houston. How they got the Super Bowl tickets is a bit of a mystery.

While there these four friends are intent on meeting NFL quarterback and superstar Tom Brady. In one of the movie’s memorable moments they end up performing a dance number with Billy Porter outside the stadium’s gate.

It turns out the movie is inspired by the true story of five best friends and New England Patriots fans who take a life-changing trip to the Super Bowl in 2017 to see Tom Brady against the Alanta Falcons. Chaos ensues as they navigate the crowds and the wilds of the biggest sporting event in the country.

On a Sally Field kick, my friends

and I then checked out “Places in the Heart,” a movie made in 1984 that stars Sally Field and is memorable in a number of ways.

Sally Field plays the role of Edna Spalding, a sheriff’s widow who learns from the banker that times are hard during the Great Depression and she should sell her farm in Texas and maybe board her kids with somebody else. She refuses.

She is determined to keep the 30-acre farm and keep her kids although she has no idea how she can make everything work. She needs to plant a crop and she’s not sure whether cotton or something else will work.

It’s a serious story with a great cast: Lindsay Crouse, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, John Malkovich and Danny Glover, all of whom work well opposite Sally Field’s character.

Sally Field won an Academy Award for Best Actress in “Places in the Heart” in 1985 and the movie was nominated

for an Oscar for Best Picture. It was well deserved because Field portrayed the grit and the faith in her steadfast belief that they would survive during tough times, that both her family and her farm would go on.

I’ve always liked Sally Field and I couldn’t help but think back to “Gidget” and “The Flying Nun.” “Gidget” came out in 1965 when I was 10 and “The Flying Nun” in 1967. It was always funny to see that nun take off toward the sky and being that my sisters and I had nuns teaching us at St. Agnes Elementary School in Rockville Centre it was especially funny.

Sally Field played the role of Sister Bertrille on the show. She later said it wasn’t her most favorite role but it helped introduce her to audiences around the world.

Now on TV we’ve got Morris Chestnut playing “Watson” and Kathy Bates playing “Matlock.” It’s a whole different world.

Most Beautiful Grandchild

Miles Whalen Jaquay, shown here at 13 months old is the grandchild of Patricia Clements Jaquay

BY TOM MARGENAU

First, an apology: I don’t think there will be anything about Social Security in today’s column. But after 28 years of writing these weekly articles (that would be more than 1,450 columns about Social Security), I hope you’ll indulge me around this Valentine’s Day as I spend one column sharing a couple funny stories from the early days of my 50-yearand-counting marriage to my valentine: Becky Margenau.

We met in 1973 when I left my hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to begin my first posting with the Social Security Administration at their newly opened branch office in Litchfield, Illinois. One of my first jobs was to verify Medicare numbers for a clerk in the local hospital’s billing department. That clerk was Becky Bachstein, who called me daily to verify numbers for hospital patients on Medicare. Eventually, Becky’s matchmaking boss invited me out to the hospital to meet Becky. Long story short: A few months later, we were married!

Not long afterward, I transferred to a Social Security office in Chicago. Becky and I found an apartment in the leafy suburb of Oak Park, former home to such luminaries as Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway. Becky got a job in the billing office of West Suburban Hospital, right on the dividing line between Oak Park and Chicago. And after a while, she moved from the billing department to a maternity ward. (Did I mention she was pregnant?) And the delivery of our son, Mike, in March 1976 makes for an interesting story.

After about three hours in a labor ward, Becky was finally wheeled into the delivery room. I went along. And back then, it was still kind of an experiment to have the father in the delivery room. We were in for a bit of a surprise when we got there. West Suburban was a teaching hospital, and the delivery room was actually a small amphitheater. The seats were filled with about 20 or 25 student doctors and nurses. I don’t want to get too graphic here, but imagine poor Becky, her legs up in stirrups, with a small crowd staring down at her!

Becky’s doctor was a very short, thin woman. That becomes important because the delivery was getting difficult. The doctor had to use forceps to try to deliver the baby. But being so small and slight, she simply didn’t have the physical strength to bring the baby out! We noticed concerned looks. We saw doctors and nurses huddling and talking. Then one of the nurses ran out of the room! What was going on?

We soon learned she was sent to get a “relief doctor.” This doctor turned out to be a huge woman who spoke with a heavy German accent. When she stormed into the room, she looked around and almost barked at me, saying, “Who are you?”

Stories With My Valentine

When I timidly explained I was the father, she ordered me out of the room. I will always remember her loud Germanic command: “You vill get out ov here!”

Of course, now I was really scared. Becky later said she wasn’t worried. She just wanted things to be over with! I remember walking down the hall after leaving the delivery room when a nurse came running for me and said, “Come on back, you have a son!”

Becky told me later that the big doctor just used her heft and muscles to yank little baby Mike out. (There’s probably a more delicate way of putting that.) And poor Mike was born with a pretty ugly and not too delicate dent in his head from the use of the forceps by the Teutonic practitioner who must have skipped the “bedside manner” class in medical school!

Anyway, just a few weeks later, we’d be back in a hospital with little baby Mike -- but this time in Billings, Montana. And therein lies another story.

In the months leading up to Mike’s birth, I had been trying to get myself transferred out of messy Chicago. I was essentially willing to go anywhere. And I ended up getting sent to Billings, Montana!

Mike was just two weeks old when we left Chicago. He traveled across the country in a blanket-lined chicken box in the back seat of my old Pontiac. I had picked up the box from a local grocery store before we left. The box said it had once held a dozen frozen chickens. (This was long before baby car seats were common or required.)

After a bit of a scary wintertime ride in our old car across the frozen plains of Minnesota and South Dakota, we pulled into Billings, Montana, on a Saturday afternoon. We checked into a pleasant mom and pop motel in a residential area. That evening, our first night in Billings and our first night in this motel, and one of our first nights a thousand miles from grandmas (who knew something about parenting), Mike started to cry and wouldn’t stop. He cried and cried. And it got louder and louder, or so it seemed, what with the thin walls of a motel room. Nothing we did -- from rocking him to feeding him to singing to him -- quieted him down. Eleven p.m. -- Mike was crying. Midnight -- Mike was crying. One a.m. -- more crying! What could we do?

We called our mothers back in the Midwest and woke them up. But of course, they were of little help being a thousand miles away. So at about 1:30 in the morning, we finally decided to head for a hospital.

When we got there, the emergency room waiting area was full of drunks and gunshot victims and other assorted Saturday night maladies. There is a chance that time and my imagination might be playing tricks on me, but I even think

there was a guy with an arrow sticking out of his arm! Remember: We were in the Wild West!

We went to the receptionist and explained our dilemma. She tried to talk us into going back home, telling us we would have to wait around for hours to

see a doctor. We told her we were desperate, didn’t have a home and would be willing to wait.

Reluctantly, she started filling out registration and insurance papers. This

Continued on next page

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

REAL ESTATE WATCH

Consider retiring locally, domestically or internationally

Are you consider retiring and relocating locally, domestically or internationally? Here are the ten towns in America where you can still buy an affordable (and great) vacation home.

Is it possible that you and/or your significant other may have loftier ideas and sights with cultural benefits in mind by entertaining the thought of going abroad to another exotic or varied destination? You have a multitude of choices to ponder, locally, domestically and internationally, so plan your strategies and consider your options.

You may be searching for a single family home, condo, townhome, or gated community. The possibilities and choices are endless. However, as they say, “the devil is in the details.”

The planning and strategizing will take a lot of concerted effort, perseverance, a little bit of your passion, and the sacrifice of your, unrecoverable, can’t grow anymore and impossible to recover valuable time! But then again, all we have is time, right? Well, if you don’t start, when will you? Starting now will lead you to the potential finish line, sooner than later, don’t you agree?

It may be more simple and seamless to stay local or even in another state like North or South Carolina, Georgia, even Texas (no state income taxes), or maybe even in Illinois, which is growing by leaps and bounds. The prices are assuredly lower than our local region with considerably lower taxes and the lifestyle could be more amenable to what you may be searching for; anything is possible.

However, be aware of residing near an ocean or body of water with respect

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

to knowing in advance what your real estate insurance will set your back. Florida and any other state that has either flood zones or proximity near water, as some of my Florida friends homeowner’s insurance have succumbed to, that you are aware of the costs, especially those hidden ones, that are in all the fine print, that insurance companies don’t necessarily want you to be aware of. As they say “Caveat Emptor” buyer beware! Shopping around for your insurance will be your most prudent and smart path to pursue to potentially and hopefully in saving money.

stantial amount of money; unless you are paying cash from the proceeds of your current sale of your home.

footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, solar panels, Geo-thermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).

Maybe you have discussions with your children about staying near them as you age to have them as a backup in case of any issues, emergencies or health problems. That is one of the many benefits of living near them besides seeing your grandchildren more regularly, even babysitting; as many don’t have that wonderful experience but maybe once a year. Here is a link to consider searching other locations around the U.S. to find the top 5 places to purchase a vacation or retirement home at extremely reasonable prices : bit.ly/4hA7mGd

However, renting might be more economical, as age might come into play and buying might not be in your best financial interests. However, it is another possible option. This will enable you to not have to layout a sub-

SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU

was before computers were commonplace, so she was using a manual typewriter. I sat at her desk, holding baby Mike in my arms, while she typed away and Mike cried away.

But all of a sudden, little baby Mike squirmed and got a funny look on his face. And then he threw up. And not just little dribble-y baby puke. No, this was a serious case of projectile vomit! It went all over the receptionist’s desk, her clothes, her typewriter, etc. She was in shock. Becky and I were in shock. Who knows, maybe little Mikey was in shock.

The woman jumped up crying, “Oh my God, follow me!” And so we ran behind her as she scrambled to find medical help. We went right into an examining room where a doctor rushed in and checked Mike over. And guess what his prognosis was? A serious disease? A life-threatening illness? Nope. The doctor said, “He’s got a cold!” He told us it was

a bad cold, pretty severe for a 2-week-old baby, but it was still just a cold. We were sure relieved. We thought our young son was suffering from some strange disease, and he turned out to have a bad case of the sniffles!

Anyway, those are just two stories from a 50-year marriage full of stories. I guess someday I’ll have to write a book that’s about my life with my Valentine, Becky, and not about boring old Social Security!

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 2025 CREATORS.COM

Lastly, going internationally can be an amazing and mindblowing experience, especially since you may have vacationed in some exotic, incredible, magnificent, and marvelous destinations, but never gave any thoughts about purchasing a vacation or retirement home there. Well now it’s an idea that should be contemplated and thought about as to the potential possibilities in pursuing. I researched for several hours and found the most fantastic site to provide you further information, details and even a “FREE” report that will guide and educate you to making a more pragmatic and logical decision as to where to consider moving abroad. Here is a link that will surely assist and help you: bit.ly/40U1sbD

Good luck and my best wishes for a continued enjoyable and healthy, happy and lucrative life and finding the most beneficial and fun destination for your next place to call a vacation or retirement home!

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 43+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant designations: (What I consider a Master’s degree in real estate) expert in consulting and completing international transactions, eco-friendly low carbon

He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.

He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to: https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” no obligation 15 minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com

You can now search at your leisure for properties at: WWW.Li-RealEstate. com

Continued from previous page

Living With Less May Be the Best Way to Live

BY MARY HUNT

Recently, I’ve been on yet another of my seemingly never-ending quests to pare down and clean out. I got this surge of energy after reading how Graham Hill is living with less. A lot less.

Hill, a self-made young millionaire who decided he really didn’t need lots of stuff, wrote about it in the New York Times. He lives in a 420-square-foot studio apartment. His bed folds down from the wall. He admits to owning just six dress shirts. His dish cupboard holds his complete set made up of 10 shallow bowls that he uses for salads and main dishes. When people come over for dinner, he pulls out his extendable dining room table. He owns 10% of the books he once did.

Things were not always this compact for Hill. In the late ‘90s, he bought a giant house, paid for with cash he amassed from a start-up sale. And that house became packed up to his eyeballs with electronics, cars, appliances and gadgets.

I find Hill’s story incredibly interesting, if not motivating. I don’t know if my husband and I could take things down to 420 square feet of living space (although we

do have an adorable camper van with 60 square feet of living space in which we test our limits on a regular basis), but I know that I have too much stuff. And as long as I have places to stash stuff, it seems stuff multiplies all on its own. Crazy how that happens.

Back to my cleaning out. I came across an original Little People doll, by the creator of the now famous Cabbage Patch dolls of the 1980s. I’d tossed him into the “give away bag” because he was not exactly in pristine condition, nor could I locate his Birth Certificate of Authenticity. Several days later, out of curiosity, I decided to search his kind on eBay.

Duane Sebastian, with his goofy face and creator’s signature on his back side, came out of that bag and onto an eBay auction so fast it made his wobbly head spin. The opening bid was $.99 and in no time, he sold for $387.50! You could have knocked me over with a feather.

That was enough to get me to list my vintage accordion, more dolls, collector plates, figurines and a load of elderly electronics. Not that I’m counting or anything, but I’m well on my way to racking up

$1,000 from this paring down thing. And I’m not stopping anytime soon. I figure it’s a win-win because I’m turning stuff I don’t want into cash -- and it appears there are plenty of buyers quite happy to help me do it.

Hill’s words ring loudly in my ears these days: Choose to buy less. Seems pretty simple, but I admit to the struggle. It’s so easy to get carried away in the face of a good deal. After all, if one is a bargain, two or three should just improve the deal, right?

Consider this before you answer too quickly: In 2019, there were 47,863 self-storage facilities in the United States, up from 45,547 facilities in the previous year -- more than 2.2 billion rentable square feet of space (78 square miles), boasting $22.6 billion in annual revenues. The way I see it, if you have to rent storage space because your stuff will not fit into your home, you probably have too much stuff. Stop buying so much stuff. Before you make the decision to buy something, ask yourself if you don’t already have something that will do just as well. Or if you won’t use it often, is this something you

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

could rent or borrow?

Sure, the shoes are adorable, but isn’t your closet already bursting at the seams? Pare down, cut back. You’ll simplify your life and have more money.

I could not possibly say it any better than Hill, whose success in this area of living with less I find so refreshing: “Intuitively, we know that the best stuff in life isn’t stuff at all, and that relationships, experiences and meaningful work are the staples of a happy life.”

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 2025 CREATORS.COM

Simple Tricks to Make Your Stuff Last Longer

BY MARY HUNT

Being wasteful is easy, especially when everything seems to be so plentiful and simple to replenish. Just order more. Or run to the store, right?

Sure, we love to buy things on sale, but that’s not the only way -- or the best way -- to cut costs. Discovering simple ways to make things last longer is the surefire way to save time and money.

BLUE DAWN

My favorite degreaser and all-around amazing product, Blue Dawn, typically comes super concentrated. Read the label. It says it right there: “concentrated.”

Here’s a great tip: Don’t use Blue Dawn straight out of its container. Dilute it. I’ve used the same sturdy recycled glass decanter (an old wine bottle) for more than 10 years now. It has no lid, cap or cork, which makes it super easy to dispense. I keep the jug of Blue Dawn on a shelf in my laundry room. It’s out of sight, and not that easy to grab mindlessly. When the decanter needs a refill, I eyeball 5 parts water to 1 part Blue Dawn.

TOILET PAPER

It’s human nature to be super wasteful when it appears that we have things like toilet paper, paper towels and other paper goods in abundance. But discover you have what’s left on the roll to last until you can get to the store and watch how clever you and the family can be to make it last.

The way to be that careful all the time is to create an appearance of scarcity ... on purpose. Don’t fill the bathroom cabinet with five rolls of extra toilet paper. Make it one. Then store the rest in a place that’s not exactly convenient -- perhaps in the basement or under a bed.

Even the kids will get a sense that they need to go easy when it appears you’re about to run out. Repeat this trick with other things that seem to disappear overnight. Surprisingly, even the person creating this sense of scarcity will naturally be more careful. Out of sight, out of mind. It works like a charm.

TOOTHPASTE

Once you’ve squeezed out as much toothpaste as you can, don’t throw that tube in the trash. Instead, carefully cut the tube open with a pair of scissors, and you’ll have enough for several more brushings.

RAZORS

Carefully dry the razor blade after each use (use a towel, or better yet, hit it with a blast or two from a hairdryer), and it will remain sharp twice as long.

SHOWER GEL

Apply shower gel to a washcloth or loofah instead of pouring it out into your hand, and it will last many times longer. Just a small squirt will produce endless lather. That’s all it takes. You’ll end up using way more than necessary.

LIPSTICK

When you get to the bottom of a tube,

use a lip brush or a cotton swab to get at the remaining lipstick. You won’t believe how much product remains even when you think you’ve reached the end.

LIQUID HAND SOAP

Purchase a foaming hand soap dispenser and turn any liquid hand soap into foaming hand soap. You’ll be amazed at how far you and the family can stretch one bottle of soap.

LAUNDRY DETERGENT

If you use the “dump” method of adding laundry detergent to the washing machine, I can nearly guarantee you’re using too much! Get out the owner manual to see what is recommended. Measure carefully. Every time. Unless you have super hard water, chances are good you can use even less and still get great results, especially if you have a front-loader, which uses very little water.

CLOTHING

As a general rule, turn clothing inside out before laundering. It’s a simple way to prevent pilling. And zip those zippers! The teeth on a zipper can act as a tiny chainsaw through the agitation and tumbling activity, boring holes in t-shirts and gnawing the heck out of fabric. You might not notice it the first or second laundering, but over time open zippers will shorten the life of everything you launder with them.

SHOES

Clean dirt and remove salt stains from shoes and boots as soon as you notice

them to avoid any permanent damage. Hint: Olive oil is the best way to remove those winter salt stains from leather shoes and boots. Pour a bit on a soft, clean cloth, then rub it into those stains using a circular motion.

CANDLES

Put candles in the freezer for a couple of hours before you use them. Surprisingly, perhaps, this causes the wax to burn slower and more evenly without affecting the scent, if any.

REFRIGERATOR

If you are at all interested in making your refrigerator last longer (repair bills are horrible -- the early death of an appliance even worse), vacuum the condenser coil in your refrigerator every three months (once a month if you have pets). Check the owner manual to discover where that coil is and how to reach it.

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 2025 CREATORS.COM

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of February 23 - March 1, 2025

Planetary Parade After Sunset

During one of my recent night sky tours, a curious young lady asked if I was excited about the planets lining up this week. My answer was a succinct “no.”

I’m pretty sure that caught her off guard. I mean, who could not be excited by such a rare and significant celestial event, especially someone who studies the heavens for a living?

I explained that the planets have been in “a line” across the sky every night for the past 5 billion years. That “line,” or arc, is called the ecliptic, and it defines the geometric plane of our solar system. It is roughly along this path that the planets, sun and moon all appear to move. If ever you see a planet not on that arc, call me! Immediately!

No, what interests me more is that we can see all the planets together in the same part of the sky. It occurs for the same reason that all cars in an auto race appear to bunch up on one side of the track from time to time before spreading out once again. By late spring, only Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will lie in our evening sky; the remaining planets will appear only in the early morning sky -- but still along the same arc.

This week, however, we have a chance to see all the planets of our solar system shortly after sunset. Venus, Mars and Jupiter shine brightly in our sky and are hard to miss, and the Earth ... well, it’s pretty hard to miss as well!

To see Mercury and Saturn you must have a very low horizon with a clear sky to the west because they’re tough to spot in the glow of sunset. In fact, you may need binoculars to find them at all.

These two worlds will change their relative positions over only a few days. Early in the week, look for Saturn just above and to the left of brighter Mercury. On Feb. 24, the two will lie nearest each other in the

sky and almost parallel to the horizon. Of course, this is an illusion only, since Mercury lies only 112 million miles from us while Saturn is nearly a billion miles away. After that, Saturn will drop farther below Mercury and within a few days will become invisible against the glow of sunset.

Uranus and Neptune are the farthest and faintest planets and, as such, require a telescope to see at all. Only if you know where to aim it and have patience sorting through the starlike points of light in your field of view will you be able to identify these distant worlds, but it’s certainly worth the effort.

By the Feb. 28, the thin crescent moon will appear between Mercury and Saturn, something that binoculars will be needed to see. But after that, the moon will continue along its monthly orbit around the Earth and will move eastward along the ecliptic. Look for it to pass by Venus on March 1, Jupiter on March 5 and 6, and Mars on March 8.

I wish you clear skies for a fun week of planet gazing.

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

This week, all the planets in our solar system will be visible in the same part of the sky shortly after sunset.

LOST IN SUBURBIA

All Lined Up

and Nowhere to Go

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

It was one of those days where everything was taking a ridiculously long time. There was a line at the dry cleaners. A line at the supermarket. A line at the gas station. I was starting to think that everyone in the world had the same to-do list that I did; they were just one to-do ahead of me the whole day.

I finally made it to the last place on my list. I needed to pick up a couple of things at the department store. As I walked in, I was thrilled to see that, for the first time all day, I was in a store that was mostly empty. I found what I needed in about five minutes flat, then I headed toward the checkout counter.

I was surprised to see that there were a couple of people waiting in line to check out, because there didn’t really seem to be that many people in the

store. But since the whole day had been one long waiting game, I figured this was just par for the course. As I got in line behind two ladies waiting ahead of me, I started checking messages on my cellphone to pass the time.

After a while, I realized I had been waiting in line for an unusually long time. I am typically not the most patient person, but this was excessive even by a normal patient person’s standards.

Looking at my watch, I realized 10 minutes had passed since I’d gotten in line. I peered around the people ahead of me and noticed that some other customers were finishing at the cash registers, but for some reason the line I was on did not seem to be moving.

I started tapping my foot and making huffy noises. Then I looked around for a store employee to complain to.

Just when I thought my head would

explode, I saw someone and waved her over.

“Are you waiting to check out?” she asked me cheerily.

“Yes!” I shouted in frustration.

“Well, the checkout line is over there,” she said, gesturing to another line I hadn’t noticed directly behind the checkout counter.

“What line am I in?” I asked.

“YOU,” she said, “are standing in line behind mannequins.”

“Huh?” I said dumbly. At first I didn’t quite understand what she was saying. But then I looked closely at the heads of the two ladies standing in front of me and slowly realized their hair was made of plastic and they had no faces. My line wasn’t moving because I wasn’t IN a line. I was standing behind a clothing display next to the checkout area.

I walked around the mannequins

and looked them up and down, just to convince myself that I really was that stupid. It was clear who the real dummy was.

“Oh boy. I am such an idiot,” I moaned to the store employee.

“It’s OK,” she said with a laugh. “This actually happens a lot.”

“Really?” I said with some annoyance. “Then why don’t you move the mannequins farther away from the checkout area?”

She grinned. “Because it’s really funny.”

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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Biscotti are a dunkable delicacy

Semolina and Almond Biscotti

Cookies are a treat any time of the day, and many find biscotti particularly appealing. These crunchy cookies are equally at home with a morning cup of coffee as they are with an evening mug of hot cocoa.

Biscotti are hard, crunchy, Italian cookies that are baked twice. In fact, their name comes from the Latin “bis,” meaning “twice,” and “coctus,” meaning “cooked.” Although they can be enjoyed on their own, their dry, crunchy nature makes them hold up well when dunked into a beverage. Biscotti were even once commonly dipped into red wine.

Though they might seem complicated, biscotti generally are easy to make. Try this recipe for “Semolina and Almond Biscotti” from “Butter, Flour, Sugar, Joy” (Sourcebooks) by Danielle Kartes.

Yields 12 to 16 cookies

1 cup sugar

1⁄2 cup melted butter

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pinch salt

23⁄4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sliced almonds

1⁄2 cup semolina flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Optional: 10 ounces dark chocolate to melt for dipping

1) Preheat oven to 325° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2) In a stand mixer, cream the sugar, butter and eggs until light and creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes.

3) Add the vanilla and salt. Mix to incorporate.

4) Add the all-purpose flour, almonds, semolina flour, and baking powder. Mix until well combined, but don’t overmix.

5) Turn the dough out onto

the prepared baking sheet. Pat gently to form one long loaf of dough roughly 14 to 16 inches long and 5 to 6 inches wide. Bake 30 minutes.

6) Remove the loaf from the oven and allow to cool 5 to 6 minutes before using a long knife to cut the loaf gently into 12 to 16 cookies.

7) Lay each cookie on its side and bake another 20 minutes, flipping the cookies midway through.

Love to write?

8) Cool completely to achieve that signature crunch. The centers will be a bit soft if eaten warm. These are perfect for dunking in coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Optional: Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second bursts and gently dip half of each biscotti into it lengthwise. Flip the biscotti chocolate-side-up onto a sheet tray and allow the chocolate to set.

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JFK Masquers present “Into the Woods, Jr.”

The JFK Masquers Guild at John F. Kennedy Middle School in the Bethpage Union Free School District captivated audiences with their remarkable production of “Into the Woods Jr.”, held from Jan.30–Feb. 1. Under the masterful direction of Ms. Jacqueline Rorke, the talented cast and crew brought this beloved musical to life, leaving the audience spellbound with their dynamic performances and heartfelt storytelling.

Featuring vocal direction by Ms. Kayleigh Duca, the students showcased their impressive musical talents, delivering powerful solos and harmonious ensemble numbers that resonated throughout the auditorium. The stage crew, skillfully coordinated by Ms. Annette Tekverk, ensured seamless transitions and visually stunning scenes, enhancing the magical atmosphere of the production.

The show highlighted the hard work, dedication and creativity of the entire cast and crew. From the whimsical costumes and intricate set designs to the students’ passionate portrayals of iconic fairy tale characters, every detail reflected the commitment to excellence that defines the JFK Masquers Guild.

February 21, 2025

The JFK Masquers Guild at JFK Middle School captivated audiences with their remarkable production of “Into the Woods Jr.”

Photo courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

Bethpage BOE showcases fine, performing arts

On Feb. 11, the Bethpage Union Free School District Board of Education meeting was held at Charles Campagne Elementary School, where attendees were treated to a special presentation highlighting the district’s outstanding fine and performing arts program.

On Feb. 11, the Bethpage Union Free School District Board of Education meeting was held at Charles Campagne Elementary School, where attendees were treated to a special presentation highlighting the district’s outstanding fine and performing arts program.

Mr. Brent Chiarello, director of fine and performing arts and Ms. Julianne Inghilterra, principal of Charles Campagne School, led the presentation, showcasing the district’s commitment to arts education.

In the fine arts program, student artwork is prominently displayed at all concerts, celebrating their creativity. This year, 27 students had artwork featured in the prestigious All-County Art Exhibition, and the district will introduce an Art Honor Society next year. The exceptional ceramics program, led by Ms. Cardo, includes a popular ceramics club that allows students to explore their artistic talents through hands-on experiences.

The music department also had a

remarkable year, with more than 60 students district-wide selected to perform in the All-County Music Festival and two music students achieving the honor of participating in the All-State Festival. The marching band performed at all football games, as well as the Newsday Marching Band Festival, and will participate in both the St. Patrick’s Day and Memorial Day parades. Students took enriching music trips to see “Once Upon a Mattress” on Broadway and visit the New York Philharmonic, while middle school students experienced jazz at The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook. The jazz band also entered three competitions. The Tri-M Music Honor Society recently held its induction ceremony and Bethpage alumni returned to perform alongside current students during the holiday concert. The highly anticipated spring music concerts are just around the corner.

The district’s drama program continues to thrive, with the Masquer’s Guild recently performing “Into the Woods” at

The string orchestra delivered two beautiful performances, featuring students on violin, cello and bass.

JFK Middle School. Upcoming productions include “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Bethpage High School and “The Lion King Jr.”, a co-production involving all three elementary schools. These productions provide students with valuable opportunities to develop their performance skills, collaborate with peers and showcase their talents on stage.

Ms. Inghilterra spoke passionately about the importance of fostering creativity and self-expression at the elementary level. She emphasized that early exposure to music and the arts nurtures problem-solving skills and personal growth. Students at Charles Campagne Elementary School participate in weekly art and music classes, and the school offers an innovative art maker space during recess as an alternative to sports. Additionally, the elementary schools regularly host cultural arts assemblies, with recent events including “StoryFaces” and “Let’s Go to China.”

The evening concluded with remark-

able student performances that demonstrated the depth of artistic talent at Charles Campagne Elementary School. The string orchestra delivered two beautiful performances, featuring students on violin, cello and bass. A slideshow showcased stunning artwork created by CCS students. Members of the CCS Chrome Lab Club, led by Ms. Kayleigh Duca, presented original musical compositions created using Google Chrome Music Lab. This club, the largest at CCS, provides third grade students with hands-on opportunities to explore music. Three students shared their projects, in which they composed songs representing emotions and designed corresponding album covers. The project aimed to enhance emotional awareness and encourage self-expression through music. The evening concluded with a breathtaking vocal performance by All-County vocalists Madison Furey, Ava Lora and Sofia Ryan, under the direction of Ms. Duca.

The evening concluded with a breathtaking vocal performance by All-County vocalists Madison Furey, Ava Lora and Sofia Ryan, under the direction of Ms. Duca.

Mr. Brent Chiarello, director of fine and performing arts, led a presentation showcasing the district’s commitment to arts education.

Members of the CCS Chrome Lab Club, led by Ms. Kayleigh Duca, presented original musical compositions created using Google Chrome Music Lab.

Photos courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

The Seasons at East Northport condominiums are the perfect choice for those 55 and better who want to downsize without sacrificing luxury or comfort. Pre-construction pricing starting at $705,000, low real-estate taxes starting at $9,515, and multiple floor plans combined with a maintenance-free lifestyle make The Seasons an ideal choice. Discover the excitement of a fresh new start while staying close to the people and places you love.

4 POB students recognized for artwork

Four Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District students were recognized in the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) Youth Art Month Flag Design Contest. Their designs—inspired by this year’s theme, Healing Through Color—were selected among 2,440 submissions from across New York state.

Stratford Road Elementary School fourth grader Towako Sato and Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School sixth grader Keira Xia received honorable mentions, while Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School junior Chloe Wang and Plainview-Old Bethpage

Middle School sixth grader Kaitlyn Chen earned special recognition for their outstanding designs.

“This recognition is a testament to the creativity, enthusiasm, and talent of our student-artists as well as the nurturing role our art teachers have played in their development,” said Coordinator of Art Dr. Ben Wiley. “Congratulations to Towako, Kaitlyn, Chloe, and Keira. They created beautiful pieces of art, and the recognition is certainly well deserved.” The District is appreciative of the encouragement of art teachers Ms. Beinlich, Mr. Poplawski, and Ms. Weinstein for their support on this special project.

Town offers free boating safety seminars

The Town of Oyster Bay will be offer free Boating Safety Seminars at Community Centers across the Town. These essential courses, taught by the Town's Department of Public Safety Bay Constable Unit, will cover critical topics, including safe vessel operation, state regulations, and the responsibilities of boat ownership and operation. As of January 1, 2025, all motorized vessel operators in New York State, regardless of age, will be required to possess a valid

boating safety certificate.

Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “Boating is a cherished activity in our Town, and safety must always come first. These seminars are an excellent way for residents to stay informed, comply with state law, and ensure that everyone can enjoy our waterways safely. I encourage all residents, young and old, to take advantage of this free program and join us in making our waters safer for all.”

Course Details:

• Oyster Bay Community Center – Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• Marjorie Post Park Community Center in Massapequa

– Tuesday, March 18, 2025, and Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 6 p.m.

– 10 p.m. (participants must attend both nights).

Participants must be at least 10 years old to register. While the seminars are

free, advance registration is required. In New York State, individuals aged 18 and older must pay a $10 fee for a permanent boating safety certificate issued by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. There is no fee for participants under 18. Completing an approved boating safety course is mandatory to obtain the certificate. For more information or to register for a course, please call (516) 677-5350.

Keira Xia’s winning flag design.

Kaitlyn Chen’s winning flag design.

Towako Sato’s winning flag design.

Chloe Wang’s winning flag design.

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