Port Washington 2021_12_03

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Friday, December 3, 2021

Vol. 6, No. 49

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HOCHUL PREPARES RYDER RETAINED FOR OMICRON VARIANT T AS COMMISH

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Suozzi joins crowded race for governor

B I R T H D AY G I R L

Congressman says he’s running as a ‘common sense’ Democrat

BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) announced on Monday that he will run for governor in 2022 as a “common sense Democrat.”

Suozzi said he wants to reduce crime and property taxes throughout the state along with protecting the environment and combating climate change.

Suozzi, 59, cited his government experience in a video announcing his candidacy for governor.

“Everything I’ve done in my career has prepared me for this particular job at this particular time,” Suozzi said.

Suozzi noted the increase of crime in New York and said enforcing gun laws and empowering judges to keep “violent criminals off the streets” will be some of his top public safety priorities.

The congressman also said he has an ability to work with other

elected officials regardless of political affiliation. ”I believe that the answer to New York’s problems will not be solved by moving radically to the left or to the right,” Suozzi said.

“We need to move forward. I will work with anyone to solve problems on behalf of the people I serve, as I always have.”

Before being elected to Congress in 2013, Suozzi was Nassau County executive from 2002 to 2009. He also served as Glen Cove’s mayor for four terms, beginning in 1994. In 2006, Suozzi lost the Democratic nomination for governor to former Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

The $3 million in funds for Suozzi’s congressional campaign can be used toward his campaign for governor.

Suozzi, who has a background as a CPA and attorney, said his county executive tenure and exContinued on Page 43

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA

Zoey, one of the dogs from North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington, celebrated her birthday with her new family last week.

No one injured following basement fire: officials

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

ment Chief Brian Waterson.

Officials were notified of the fire at 38 Middle Neck A fire occurred in the base- Road at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. ment of a Port Washington 24, he said. Fire departments home last week, according to responded within minutes, and Port Washington Fire Depart- firefighters located the source

of the flames in the basement of the two-story home.

Waterson said the fire was extinguished within 30 minutes, and a search revealed that no one was home at the Continued on Page 13

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2 dead, 1 critical after NHP crash Women ages 39, 71 killed in car wreck

BY B R A N D ON DUFFY

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MANHASSET SCHOOL DISTRICT

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced ways for school districts throughout Long Island to combat cyberattacks at the Manhasset Secondary School last week.

Money coming to fight cyberware attacks

An auto crash in North New Hyde Park on Sunday morning left two women dead and one man in critical condition, police said.

Near the intersection of Marcus Avenue and Union Turnpike, police said, they responded to a single-car accident at 6:50 a.m. Authorities said they saw a 2009 Toyota Corolla overturned against a pole.

Two female passengers, ages 39 and 71, were ejected

from the vehicle and suffered serious trauma, according to police. They were both pronounced dead on the scene by a medic, authorities said.

The driver, a 41-year-old man, was transported to the hospital where he was in critical condition, police said.

At the time, Marcus Avenue was closed in both directions between New Hyde Park Road and Tryon Court.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing. Police have not released the identities of those involved in the accident.

Schumer touts infrastructure bill funds in Manhasset

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that recently passed legislation includes money to help school districts across Long Island prevent cyberattacks.

During a news conference at the Manhasset Secondary School last week, Schumer said the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill authorizes $1 billion for cybersecurity aid to state and local governments over the next four years. A quarter of the funds, Schumer noted, are dedicated to vulnerable areas such as Long Island.

“This work costs a ton of money, and it is a relatively new expense that no district should have to foot alone,” Schumer said. “This problem of cyberattacks, hackers and the ransomware they traffic is nails on the

chalkboard for our schools, but today, we come with news of relief to the tune of $1 billion dollars in federal funds that’s not only needed, but long overdue.”

The legislation will also fund the establishment of a new office to develop a strategy to combat cyberattacks and enhance the response to larger-scale hacks.

The Manhasset school district was a victim of a cyberattack when hackers posted sensitive information to the dark web during a September ransomware attack that left the district without Wi-Fi for days.

“The infusion of federal money will assist school districts like ours, so that we may maintain our focus on educating our students,” Manhasset’s acting superintendent of schools, Gaurav Passi, said.

Files posted on the dark web included documentation of disciplinary actions, general

staff information and financial records. Also posted online were files containing Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, passports, student grades and home addresses. In a previous email, the district committed to providing complimentary credit monitoring for affected individuals.

Several weeks ago, Passi said the district has sought an outside vendor, through its insurance company, to complete the data mining process so it can review the files the hackers obtained.

Individuals whose information was obtained by the hackers during the September ransomware attack will be notified by the district, according to Passi.

“The intrusion into our network was deep, the files stolen were voluminous, and some files contain sensitive information regarding certain students Continued on Page 42

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LAKEVILLE ESTATES CIVIC ASSOCIATION

The intersection of Union Turnpike eastbound and New Hyde Park Road northbound.

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Hochul prepares for omicron variant Executive order permits hospitals to limit nonessential procedures as precaution

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

Though the North Shore continues to near full vaccination rates, concerns about the new omicron variant of the coronavirus resulted in Gov. Kathy Hochul signing an executive order for hospitals in preparation for cases.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the agency will continue to monitor the variant’s spread throughout the world. No cases of the variant have been reported in the United States as of Wednesday, but it has been found in 20 countries, health officials have reported.

“CDC is continuously monitoring variants and the U.S. variant surveillance system has reliably detected new variants in this country,” the agency said.

“We expect Omicron to be identified quickly, if it emerges in the U.S.” Hochul issued an executive order last week that permits the state’s Department of Health to limit “non-essential, non-urgent

PHOTO COURTESY OF NYU-LANGONE

Concerns surrounding the omicron variant of the coronavirus resulted in Gov. Kathy Hochul signing an executive order to prepare hospitals for a potential spread.

procedures for in-hospitals or systems with limited capacity to protect access to critical health care services.” Limited capacity is defined as less than 10 percent of staffed bed capacity unless otherwise determined by the Department of Health.

The new protocols, Hochul said, will go into effect on Friday and will be reassessed on Jan. 15, dependent on new COVID-19 data from the Department of Health. The executive order, she said, will also help the state acquire more supplies to combat the virus, if needed.

“We continue to see warning signs of spikes this upcoming winter, and while the new omicron variant has yet to be detected in New York State, it’s coming,” Hochul said last week.

“The vaccine remains one of our greatest weapons in fighting the pandemic, and I encourage every New Yorker to get vaccinated, and get the booster if you’re fully vaccinated.”

As of Wednesday, 74.8 percent of Nassau County was fully vaccinated, according to figures from the state’s Department of

Health. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Nassau County has had 225,634 cases of the virus as of Tuesday and 5,149 virus-related deaths, according to the figures.

Statistics also showed that two ZIP codes on the North Shore were fully vaccinated as of Wednesday. Roslyn’s 11576 ZIP code and Great Neck’s 11020 ZIP code led the way in vaccination efforts with 100 percent inoculation rates. The 11020 ZIP code consists primarily of the Village of Lake Success and University Gardens. Some of this area is also made up of Great Neck South Middle and High School, North Shore Hebrew Academy and the Fresh Meadow Country Club.

The 11042 ZIP code of New Hyde Park continues to have the lowest rate at 24.3 percent of people vaccinated, according to statistics. That area, however, consists primarily of businesses south of Northern State Parkway and along Marcus Avenue.

The next lowest vaccination rate on the North Shore is the Continued on Page 43

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110 WALT WHITMAN ROAD, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11746. 631.549.7401. © 2021 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

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The Port Washington Times, Friday, December 3, 2021

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COVID beats Isles, games canceled Outbreak among players leads to shuttering of UBS Arena; team says protocols followed

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

Less than a week after taking the ice for the first time at their new home, UBS Arena in Belmont, the New York Islanders were forced to postpone several games due to a coronavirus outbreak within the team.

NHL officials announced on Saturday that upward of eight players entered the league’s COVID protocol and that the team’s games through at least Tuesday would be postponed. League officials said they are analyzing the Islanders’ regular season schedule to decide when the postponed matches would be rescheduled.

The Islanders had been scheduled to play the New York Rangers on Sunday and the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.

Aside from the coronavirus temporarily pausing its season, the team played its first 13 games of the regular season on the road so the final touches could be put on its new home before the home opener on Nov. 20.

Islanders general manager

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

An outbreak of the coronavirus caused the New York Islanders to postpone a pair of regular season games, according to NHL officials.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

Blakeman to retain Ryder as top cop County exec elect praises police commish in announcement after crime focus in campaign

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ Nassau County Executiveelect Bruce Blakeman announced last week that Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder will remain in his role once his administration officially takes over in January.

Blakeman, who addressed crime rates throughout the county during his campaign, praised Ryder for the work he has done since being appointed by the current county executive, Democrat Laura Curran, in 2018. Blakeman, a Republican, defeated Curran in November.

Ryder, who was initially the acting commissioner under Curran’s predecessor, Edward Mangano, has been a member of the department since 1986, serving in a variety of roles and implementing programs aimed at prioritizing the safety of officers and the public.

“Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Patrick Ryder will lead the police force under my new administration,” Blakeman said in a statement.

forward,” Ryder said at a news conference. “My conversations with the new county executiveelect has already raised the bar.

He wants more out of us working together as a team and I will do that with all of our newly appointed positions here.”

Earlier this year, Ryder announced that major crime in areas with Nassau County Police Department presence decreased by more than 20 percent since last year. Since 2011, Ryder said, major crime in Nassau County has decreased by 36 percent. A decade ago, Nassau saw 7,191 reports of major crime compared with 4,983 last year, Ryder said.

Despite Nassau County being ranked the safest county in America for the second consecutive year, according to U.S. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRUCE BLAKEMAN News & World Report, Blakeman said in a Newsday event in October that the publication Nassau County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman said Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder only took the “spoonfed” statiswill continue to serve in that role under his administration. tics from the county and said “He shares my vision for intel- are endangering public safety department before police re- they were not reflective of what ligence-led policing and un- statewide. Together, we’ll tackle form, we got better after po- really happened over the past derstands the need for reform crime and protect your family.” lice reform, and we’re going to year, due to the pandemic.

Continued on Page 51 of New York State laws that “We were a great police continue to get better as we go

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Famed Holocaust exhibition opens in Nassau Senior leaders of The Simon Wiesenthal Center together with communal and political leaders at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County formally opened of the “Courage to Remember” exhibit, a new and critical tool to increase Holocaust education and combat antisemitism and hate in Nassau County schools and beyond.

“Courage to Remember” is Simon Wiesenthal Center’s 40-panel traveling exhibition on the Nazi Holocaust, which has been seen on six continents by millions of people and continues to be displayed in cities across the United States and across the globe.

“Today when Holocaust Denial is rampant and Memory itself is under assault it is critical that we deliver the lessons of the Holocaust to young people wherever they are,” stated Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean & Director of Social Action Agenda, Simon Wiesenthal Center.

The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County teaches the history of the Holocaust and its lessons through education and community outreach. We educate about the dangers of antisemitism, racism, bullying, and all manifestations of intolerance. We promote resistance to prejudice and advocate respect for every human being.

The museum presents a detailed and comprehensive chronicle of the Holocaust in six galleries, using multimedia displays, photographs, artifacts, archival footage, and testimonies from local survivors and liberators.

“The Simon Wiesenthal Center and HTMC have a long and powerful relationship that has brought the necessary tools to the front lines of fighting antiSemitism and increasing necessary Holocaust education,” said Michael Cohen, eastern director, Simon Wiesenthal Center. “I am so proud to be here today to see us add another critical component to Nassau County’s assets toward forwarding those objectives.”

HMTC is honored to be a home for the “Courage to Remember” exhibition and looks to share its content throughout Long Island, both in our building

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER

(l to r) Michael Cohen, Eastern Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; NYS Senator John E. Brooks; NYS Assemblywoman Gina L. Sillitti; Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean & Director of Social Action Agenda, Simon Wiesenthal Center; Andrea Bolender, Acting Executive Director, Chair of the Board, Holocaust Museum and Tolerance Center of Nassau County; NYS Senator Anna Kaplan; Glen Cove City Council Member Marsha Silverman; NYS Assemblyman Charles Lavine. and through partnerships with schools and community organizations. As the exhibition also emphasizes, we must have the courage to remember and study this disturbing and troubling history, for only informed, understanding and morally committed individuals can prevent such persecution from happening again, said Andrea Bolender, Acting Executive Director of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.

Quotes from dignitaries who Attended the Grand Opening, Nov. 22 State Assemblywoman Gina L. Sillitti: “We have seen Nazi symbols and Jewish stars being co-opted by those who preach hate, as well as those that don’t understand the true meaning be-

hind these symbols. It is critical that Holocaust education, remembrance, and discussion continue and is strengthened and the Courage to Remember exhibit does just that. Thankfully we have organizations such as the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center and the Simon Wiesenthal Center taking the lead.”

State Senator Anna M. Kaplan: “At a time when disinformation is exploding, and anti-Semitism is on the rise, it’s never been more important to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to the next generation, to ensure that we aren’t doomed to repeat this devastating chapter of our history. With the opening of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s ‘Courage to Remember’ exhibition at the Holocaust Museum & Tolerance Center of

Nassau County, we’re giving parents and educators more tools to help our kids learn about the Holocaust and providing even greater educational opportunities to ensure our community never forgets.

I’m so grateful to the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the HMTC for bringing this vitally important exhibition to our community, and I urge every parent and teacher to bring their kids to see it.”

State Assemblymember Charles Lavine: “We must never cease in our efforts to attack hatred through education which is why I so proudly lend my voice in support of this wonderful new traveling exhibit. Education is our best tool to fight continuing senseless acts of hate against not just Jews, but any religion or way of life.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Temple Beth Sholom families give back On a beautiful fall morning on Tuesday, Oct. 19, North Shore Garden Center delivered their annual order of pumpkins to the lawn of Temple Beth Sholom’s Early Childhood Center in Roslyn Heights.

This year, the children in the preschool had extra help picking their pumpkins. For the first time ever, grown-ups were invited to come and pick pumpkins with their children in an event dubbed “Parents and Pumpkins.”

The weather was perfect for this outdoor event to bring together children and families who attend the Early Childhood Center.

“COVID-19 has changed the way that our school community interacts and intersects. All of our events this

year have purposely been planned to take place outdoors to help everyone feel comfortable and safe, “ said Early Childhood Director Jen Schiffer.

Parents in the school are eager to make connections and to find alternative ways to gather with and without their children. The “Parents and Pumpkins” event organized by the school, and supported by the Parents Association, accomplished just that. Parents were invited at different times throughout the school day to pick a pumpkin, do a craft and to have a keepsake picture taken with their child.

Understanding that not all parents have flexible schedules, the event was not limited to parents only. The invitation included “special others.”

One little girl remarked, “My daddy is a grown-up, and he’s special…Isn’t that AMAZING!” The children were so excited to share their friends and teachers with their grown-ups. Older siblings, grandparents, even aunts and uncles came out to participate.

The energy in the air was one of gratitude and freedom. The pandemic has limited the number of in-person gatherings the school has had over the past eighteen months. “Parents and Pumpkins” was a reminder that there are creative ways to invite parents back to school on a more regular basis.

Since the beginning of the school year, all events for Early Childhood Center families have been held outdoors, and parents have come out in

record numbers. From an evening celebration on Sukkot held in the Temple Beth Sholom sukkah, to meetups in the park, parents are happy to dress for any weather just for the opportunity to be together.

By popular demand, Temple Beth Sholom just added additional dates into December to its outdoor music class schedule for infants and toddlers. An outdoor candle lighting ceremony and celebration is planned for Hanukkah where families will gather in the temple parking lot for an evening concert. “We watch the weather closely these days, and hope for the best. We’ve been lucky so far. I hope we have more days like today because today was magical,” said Schiffer.

Mercy Hospital breaks ground on new center Long Islanders will soon benefit from Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital’s new Ambulatory and Family Care Center. The modern facility, located on the hospital campus, will provide expanded services to the community, including primary care, cardiology, endocrinology and more.

“Mercy Hospital has a long history of providing families access to quality health care,” said Mercy President Peter Scaminaci. “Our Ambulatory and Family Care Center will further enhance the quality, compassionate care we offer while maintaining a strong connection to the world-class health care experts and services across Catholic Health.”

The project is being supported, in

part, by a $1.3 million grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

The state-of-the-art 16,000-square-foot medical office building will serve as the home of Mercy’s women’s and children’s services, which are currently located inside the hospital.

Since its founding more than 100 years ago, Mercy Hospital has provided the community much-needed family care services. With more than 1,000 births annually, Mercy is recognized for its leadership in caring for women and their babies before, during and after delivery.

The hospital recently expanded its telehealth services by offering maternalfetal medicine care to high-risk expect-

ant mothers of the Family Care Center.

Thanks to a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, Mercy has increased health care access and offers virtual services to expectant mothers who are diagnosed with diabetes, chronic hypertension, and/or pre-eclampsia; in addition to mothers who need genetic counseling.

Expectant mothers receiving MFM services for the aforementioned conditions will receive Bluetooth-enabled devices, including a tablet with a camera, a glucometer to measure sugar levels, a blood pressure cuff, a pulse oximeter to measure oxygen levels and a scale.

Additionally, Mercy’s Family Care Center recently expanded its pediat-

Nassau Pops’ holiday return The Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Louis Panacciulli, is pleased to announce the return to Chaminade High School in Mineola for its annual Christmas Concert. The event will be held on Sunday, December 12, 2021 at

3:00 p.m in the school’s auditorium.

All attendees must be masked.

“Chaminade High School and the village of Mineola are both very special to The Nassau Pops,” said Maestro Panacciulli. “We were saddened to cancel last

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NASSAU POPS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

year’s concert due to the pandemic, but are thrilled to bring live music back to our audience that has supported us for so many years.”

The orchestra will be joined by vocalists Jack and Ann Cassin and the St. Aiden’s Angel Choir.

Thanks to a generous financial commitment by Jovia Financial Credit Union, admission is free. However, the donation of an unwrapped toy benefitting Toys for Tots is requested.

The Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1984 by Managing Director Dawn Manuel and Music Director Louis Panacciulli. The orchestra performs a full summer concert series in many of the parks in Nassau County featuring light classical favorites, and music from Broadway, television, and film.

Based in the Village of Mineola, the orchestra has performed with many prestigious entertainers and maintains affiliations with Nassau Community College and the Mineola Choral Society with seasonal performances at Chaminade High School.

ric care services. The center is home to Catholic Health Physician Partners pediatric specialists, which includes allergy/ immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology and pulmonology.

Catholic Health’s team is dedicated to offering outstanding medical treatment for every child in a skilled and nurturing environment. Board-certified physicians in multiple pediatric subspecialties are experienced in advanced medicine required to address each child’s specific health care needs.

More information about Mercy Hospital’s Family Care Center may be obtained by calling (516) 62-MERCY (63729).

Lions Club to sell trees for Chistmas The New Hyde Park Lions Club will once again be selling live Christmas Trees! Come support this volunteer organization across the street from Village Hall (corner of Jericho Turnpike and New Hyde Park Road) Trees will be available evenings and weekends starting Nov. 27 for as long as they last.

Boy Scouts from Troop 298 will be off-loading trees on Friday November 26 and volunteering in the lot with the Lions.

Money raised goes to Scholarships for local high school seniors.

Lee Anne Pallisco New Hyde Park For the latest news, visit us at www.theislandnow.com

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PORT WASHINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

A basement fire in Port Washington last week left no one injured, according to Port Washington Fire Department Chief Brian Waterson.

No one injured following basement fire: officials Continued from Page 1 time and no injuries to officials who responded were reported.

The fire was reportedly traced to contents in the basement that were stored close to the heating unit. Officials, in a Facebook post, reminded residents that no items should be stored anywhere near a heating unit.

Waterson said the Port Washing-

ton Fire Department was aided at the scene by the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department and the Roslyn Highlands Fire Department. The Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company, the Albertson Fire Company and the Glenwood Fire Company were on standby to tend to any other alarms in the Port Washington fire district, officials said.

You can access us in print and online Local stories, sports & entertainment All at your fingertips

www.theislandnow.com

13

14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

Opinion

OUR VIEWS

Culture wars come to G.N. high school

A

handful of parents attended the recent Great Neck school board meeting to protest how issues regarding race were being taught in district classrooms.

No, the protest did not mention the teaching that Columbus discovered the New World – even though Native Americans had been living here for more than 10,000 years.

Nor were there discussions about the role of slavery in what is now the United States starting in 1619 and the treatment of Blacks through the Jim Crow era and continuing to this day.

Nor was there mention of the discrimination faced by Chinese, Jewish, Hispanic, Irish and Italian immigrants – to name a few.

Rather the residents’ complaint was based on screenshots from a PowerPoint presentation allegedly featured in an 11th grade English class that claimed “racism in America is no better today than it was 200 years ago” and referred to “white guilt.”

The slides were included inan article on the website for Parents Defending Education, a national grassroots organization “working to reclaim our schools from activists promoting harmful agendas.”

“Through network and coalition building, investigative reporting, litigation, and engagement on local, state, and national policies, we are fighting indoctrination in the classroom – and for the restoration of a healthy, non-political education for our kids,” the site continues before displaying a map with the heading “Welcome to IndoctriNation.”

The Parents Defending Education website said the PowerPoint presentation allegedly made by an

English class teacher was “steeped in the tenets of critical race theory and makes sweeping generalizations about white people.”

Welcome to the culture wars, classroom version.

Let’s be clear: Discrimination against any group should never be accepted – whether we are talking about Black, brown or white people. Racism is racism.

Have some white people been made to feel personally targeted in efforts to address racism in this country? No doubt. Greater care should be given in not blaming all whites for the sins of some whites, past or present.

But are whites really the biggest victims of racism? President Donald Trump actually thought so and found a large audience who agreed with him.

But this is nonsense, which in many cases is intended to counter efforts for criminal justice reforms, voting rights and other civil rights advances.

A large clue about the intent of Parents Defending Education comes in the claim that the teacher’s PowerPoint is steeped in the “tenets of critical race theory” – an academic term that has been weaponized for political reasons.

Critical race theory is actually the study at the post-graduate level of how racism is embedded in laws, regulations, rules and procedures that lead to differential outcomes by race.

Yet more evidence of this theory was offered in the defense of three white men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed Black man in Georgia. Lawyers for the defendants cited citizen arrest laws that date back to 1863 and were written to aid the return of runaway slaves to justify the killing.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA LLC

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Editorial Cartoon

Two prosecutors declined to charge the three men, one of whom has been criminally charged for her failure. The three men were only prosecuted after video surfaced of the murder 10 weeks later.

In the face of national outrage, Georgia’s elected officials, both Republicans and Democrats, acknowledged the inherent bias in Georgia’s laws and voted to overturn them.

And a jury of one Black and 11 white citizens found the three men guilty of murder – an outcome that was shocking to many who have watched how Blacks are treated by the criminal justice system.

But many Republicans have appropriated the term critical race theory to mean something very different – to claim that all white people are being unfairly admonished for being oppressors while classifying all Black people as hopelessly oppressed victims. And that this is taking place in our nation’s classrooms.

There were several other problems with the Parents Defending Education presentation.

The Great Neck High School English teacher is not identified by name. The source of the complaint was attributed to “parents,” none

of whom were identified and presumably none of whom attended the class. And the alleged presentation was made in a single classroom by a single teacher.

Is this going to become the new norm? Are we going to start investigating what every teacher says in every classroom and, without proof or naming names, protest at school board meetings?

District Superintendent Teresa Prendergast said the district has been aware of excerpts of the PowerPoint presentation circulated through social media but said state law prohibits the district from commenting on personnel matters.

She then offered a standard for the Great Neck school district that we applaud.

“The district is actively reviewing these materials and will work collaboratively with our teachers and administrators to ensure information is presented in a viewpointneutral matter that stimulates critical thinking and reasoning skills,” Prendergast said. “We remain committed to reviewing and addressing issues that may not align with our educational mission, while also providing support in a safe learning environment to all of our stakeholders.”

REPORTERS Robert Pelaez, Brandon Duffy COLUMNIST Karen Rubin ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Stacy Shaughnessy, Melissa Spitalnick, Wendy Kates, Linda Robinson, Steven Schoenfarber ART DIRECTOR Jewell Davis

But a look at the website suggests that fairness is not what Parents Defending Education is looking for.

The website prominently states that the Great Neck teacher’s PowerPoint presentation “asks students to take a pledge to work ‘relentlessly’ in the ‘lifelong process’ of ‘antiracism.’’’

And exactly why is this wrong?

At a time when antisemitic and anti-Chinese attacks are on the rise what is wrong with a call for selfreflection to avoid intentional or unintentional acts of prejudice?

Does Parents Defending Education think that racism doesn’t exist or will be overcome anytime soon?

The website also highlights a slide allegedly presented by the English class teacher stating that racism is “systemic, as old as America itself, no better than it was 200 years ago and changing and evolving in more subtle or sinister ways.”

We disagree that racism is no better than it was 200 years ago, although we do think it is worse than 10 years ago. But does Parents Defending Education disagree that racism is as old as America?

Continued on Page 45

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

15

ON THE RIGHT

Nassau’s 2021 political winners and losers

H

ere’s my take on the political winners and losers in this year’s game of Long Island politics.

Winners: Judi Bosworth: North Hempstead’s 37th supervisor served with distinction for four terms. She proved that one can govern effectively and civilly at one and the same time. Bosworth maintained the township’s triple A financial rating —a major accomplishment for a New York municipality.

Tom Suozzi: The congressman has had a good year. He successfully pushed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to include in the Build Better Back legislation restoration of the state and local tax deductions known as SALT. If the inclusion survives in the Senate version of the bill, New Yorkers will be able to deduct up to $80,000 of their state income taxes and property taxes from their Federal Income Tax returns. Suozzi turned down New York City Mayor-Elect Eric

Adams’ offer to be first deputy mayor in his administration.

And he now is a viable Democratic gubernatorial candidate who could win the primary in 2022.

Kathleen Rice: The congresswoman had the guts to vote against a key plank in Biden’s Build Back Act that would have allowed Medicare to negotiate for prices of prescription drugs.

She correctly justified her vote when she stated that she will not support portions of the legislation “that are not fiscally responsible….” Rice and three other Democrats joined Republicans on the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee to kill the provision.

Jennifer DeSena: A registered Democrat, DeSena shocked the political establishment by running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines and actually beating Democrat Wayne Wink, Jr. for North Hempstead supervisor. Hopefully, DeSena, the executive direc-

GEORGE J. MARLIN On The Right tor of the nonprofit Manhasset Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse, emulates her predecessor Judi Bosworth and runs a civil and fiscally prudent administration.

Bruce Blakeman: The sempiternal candidate for high public office finally won one.

Sadly, Blakeman was elected county executive despite Newsday’s prescient warning that he is “not prepared to take on the

challenge of leading Nassau County.” Don’t be surprised if Blakeman, like his GOP predecessors (Tom Gulotta and Ed Mangano), runs the county’s finances into the ground.

Great Neck Republicans: The GOP turned the deep blue Great Neck peninsula purple.

Republicans will now have representatives from that area on the town board and the county Legislature.

Losers Laura Curran: During Curran’s four years in office as Nassau County executive, she built a decent record. Under her leadership, the county incurred operating surpluses for the first time in years. Her mistake: An election year $375 homeowner rebate gimmick. Also, the leaders of her political party were in hibernation during the election. Losing to Bruce Blakeman, one of Nassau’s leading political hacks, is a major embarrassment.

Ed Mangano: The former

county executive, a convicted felon, awaits sentencing. Word is he is seating tables at a Long Island restaurant. That could be good training for a cafeteria job in a federal penitentiary.

Rob Walker: The former first deputy county executive, a convicted felon, awaits sentencing. Perhaps he and Mangano will find themselves, once again, working side by side. But this time in a federal penitentiary cafeteria.

Jay Jacobs: Nassau County’s leader took quite a hit on election day. He failed to energize the Democratic base and his party experienced its worst drubbing at the polls in decades.

Wayne Wink, Jr.: After easily winning two terms as North Hempstead’s town clerk, Wink was the first Democrat to lose the town supervisor election in over 30 years. What had to be painful: Out of 44,636 votes cast, Wink lost to DeSena by only 789 votes. My guess: Wink is not happy with Jay Jacobs.

A LOOK ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

What to do when you’re driven to distraction

T

his Thanksgiving season our family marked a new milestone: our son did all the driving to this year’s family dinner in Philadelphia and back.

This was a huge departure for us. (And, yes, an arrival as well.) I still drive everywhere when I need to, but it was clear our son had much more energy — and interest, to be frank — in doing this driving. And so the car keys were passed to a new generation — at least, for one week.

We were also trying to make things easier on his father, my husband, who had recently recovered from a nonCOVID cold so we asked him: “Dad,” said our son, “Which would be less stressful for you — sitting next to me in the front and navigating or letting Mom do that and you relax in the back?”

“You think that letting your mother navigate would be relaxing for me?” They both laughed.

“You don’t want me to navigate?” I asked, a little miffed.

“Sweetheart, aren’t you the one who famously said,

‘The sun’s in the wrong place’ as your excuse for getting us hopelessly lost on our honeymoon?”

“Well, it was! How was I to know that heading for the coast of England meant going east, not south?”

“I rest my case.”

“Whatever,” I said. So I made a big fuss about settling myself — for the first time since childhood — into the back seat of a car for a journey.

“I’ll need my tote bag.”

That’s where I keep snacks.

And my phone charger. And my sweater. “And can you pull your seat up any farther?”

I barked at my life’s partner, newly dubbed Navigator. “There’s no legroom back here! Who do they think will be sitting here? Children?”

My husband obliged, but I could swear I heard him chortling. “What’s so funny?” I demanded to know.

“Nothing, dear.”

“Well, knock off treating me like a child or I’ll start kicking the back of your seat,” I warned him.

He inched up a little more.

“Are you really okay back

JUDY EPSTEIN

A Look on the Lighter Side there, Mom? I don’t want you miserable for the whole trip.”

“I’m really fine, sweetie, now that I can stretch my legs a bit. I never realized how scrunched-up people are back here.”

I looked around at my new environment.

“Or how boring it is!”

Suddenly, something dawned on me. “I never realized before, but there really is nothing to do back here besides bother your sibling.”

I had always looked down on people whom I assumed were spoiling their kids, giv-

ing them screens in the backseat to watch something on.

But now I envied those kids.

Our car had no such systems.

I had books, but I can’t read anything longer than street names in a moving car without getting dizzy, so instead I was driven to listening to podcasts on my phone.

Until the battery died and I had to recharge. At this point, there was nothing to do but pay attention to traffic.

“Look out!” I warned my son, the driver. He swerved.

When he recovered, he asked, “What am I looking out for, Mom?” “There’s a truck.”

“There’s a zillion trucks.

What’s your point?”

“It’s in the lane on our right and might move into us at any moment.”

“Mom, I’ve been keeping an eye on that truck for the past half hour. Wouldn’t you like to take a nap?”

“I can’t in all this traffic.”

There were so many threats to our health and safety. Stop-and-go drivers ahead, people weaving in traffic, gravel shooting up on to

our windshield from nowhere, not to mention the aforementioned trucks.

“And remember that things tend to fly off pickup trucks that are incompetently tarped,” I warned him.

“I’m aware, Mom. Isn’t there something you usually take when you travel to keep you from worrying so much?”

“That’s for plane trips,” I answered.

He’s right, I hate flying and usually make sure to get a prescription for Valium or the equivalent before I fly anywhere.

Come to think of it, I could consider this as something like a plane trip — except that I’m right in the cockpit with the pilot, who just a few short years ago I was teaching to fly!

I wonder if pilots ever let their parents into their cockpits?

Finally my phone was recharged and I could listen to reruns of NPR’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me!” for the rest of the trip.

Maybe next year I’ll get myself one of those backseat video screens.

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

THE BACK ROAD

Kyle Rittenhouse and Mother Teresa

T

he congressional practice of issuing gold medals began during the American Revolution. In fact, the Second Continental Congress made General George Washington and the officers and soldiers under his command, the first recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of the liberation of Boston from British occupation.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene just introduced a bill to award Kyle Rittenhouse the Congressional Gold Medal for “protecting the community of Kenosha, Wis., during a Black Lives Matter riot on August 25, 2020.”

The Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can award an individual or institution to express national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. In keeping with the spirit of this honor, Greene noted

that “Kyle Rittenhouse deserves to be remembered as a hero who defended his community, protected businesses and acted lawfully in the face of lawlessness.”

Although honorees were historically individuals, in 1989 the American Red Cross became the first organization to be honored with a Gold Medal, “in recognition of its unselfish and humanitarian service to the people of the United States.”

Other notable honorees have included the Wright Brothers for “their achievements in demonstrating to the world the potential of aerial navigation.” Simon Wiesenthal was honored for “his dedicated action in bringing to justice Nazi war criminals who had gone into hiding at the end of World War Two.” Other honorees include: Ulysses S. Grant, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, Bobby Ken-

ANDREW MALEKOFF The Back Road

nedy and Mother Teresa.

In August 2020 Greene’s Gold Medal hopeful travelled from Illinois to Kenosha, Wisconsin during a time of civil unrest that followed the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, by a white police officer.

Rittenhouse, then 17, stated that his aim was to protect a car

dealership from looting and arson and to provide medical assistance. As we are now well aware, during a street confrontation he fired a lightweight semi-automatic rifle that killed two people and seriously wounded a third.

More than a year later Rittenhouse stood trial, took the stand in his own defense and made the case that the shootings were in self-defense. Video evidence helped to solidify his argument. On Nov. 19 a jury agreed and found him not guilty on all charges.

Although he was legally acquitted, there continues to be widespread debate about whether he played any role in contributing to the circumstances in which the shootings occurred.

The United States Mint designs the Congressional Gold Medals, which vary in appearance to reflect the unique con-

tributions of each honoree. The medals are not a meant to be used as a clothing accessory, but rather they are designed for personal or public display.

When Congressional Gold Medals were awarded to the police officers who protected the U.S. Capitol against the insurgency of January 6, 2021, four were issued for display: one for the Capitol Police, one for the D.C. police, one for display in the Smithsonian Institution and another to be displayed inside the Capitol building along with a plaque honoring all law enforcement agencies who contributed to deterring the terrorists on that fateful day.

Rep. Greene voted against awarding Gold Medals to the police officers, but rather for elevating Kyle Rittenhouse to a place in history aside Mother Teresa.

Well, bless her heart.

E A R T H M AT T E R S

Make your holiday gifts green for us, planet

I

f you live in my world, your e-mail box is full every morning with reports of newly published research on the hazards of exposure to chemicals found in everyday consumer goods and the radiation emitted by wireless devices or the environmental impact of our fossil-fuel-driven and throwaway society. Unfortunately, many common chemical exposures are unavoidable as they are found in our air and water, but some can easily be avoided by making informed choices. As the holidays approach and gift giving is top of mind, here are some things to think about.

Buying gifts for children or grandchildren gives us great pleasure, but we need to be especially careful not to inadvertently purchase a toy or electronic device that can be harmful to their health.

Some toys, such as children’s imported metal jewelry or painted toys, can contain cadmium or lead and the ubiquitous plastic toys lining store shelves often contain chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenols, PVC and other plasticizing chemicals that have been linked to serious illnesses but not yet taken off the market by government regulators. Avoiding these toys is especially important for very young children who mouth their toys.

Discarded plastic toys, along with the plethora of other singleuse plastics used for holiday gath-

erings, eventually find their way into our oceans, where they are hazardous for aquatic species.

Floating plastic garbage patches, some hundreds of miles in diameter, now populate our oceans and are growing every day. There are many ocean protection organizations that have “adoption” programs for endangered species that are appealing to older kids who love whales and dolphins. At the right age, a gift of environmental protection and awareness can be priceless.

We also have to keep in mind that the main feedstocks for plastics are fossil fuels and the companies that manufacture plastic items are highly polluting industries. Communities surrounding plastic manufacturing plants are known as “sacrifice zones” because they put local residents at risk of serious health problems related to contaminated air and water.

And, while not pleasant to think about, tens of thousands of young children in poor nations around the world work in dangerous mines, extracting rare minerals that are essential for most electronics, or sifting through massive garbage heaps to find and sell for pennies those same mineral components from discarded electronics.

Electronic gifts are hard to beat for popularity, but there are even more dark clouds hanging over them. In August, the U.S.

PATTI WOOD Earth Matters

District Court in Washington, D.C., ordered the Federal Communications Commission to re-examine its human exposure guidelines for radio-frequency radiation (the type of radiation emitted from wireless devices), this time taking into account recent studies proving that biological harm is occurring in humans at levels far below current safety guidelines. The court specifically mentioned potential harm to children as a major concern. The Environmental Working Group recently released a peer-reviewed study recommending that children’s exposure to RF radiation overall be 200 to 400 times lower than the current outdated exposure limits set by the FCC. Every wireless device gives off some amount of RF radiation, but items such as wireless virtualreality headsets emit high levels of

radiation directly into the heads of children. Other wireless “wearables” and smart phones held against the head are in the same category. While advertising for these devices is enticing and peerpressure is great, the bottom line is that wireless anything should give parents pause. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to harm from RF radiation and should avoid both “near field” (close proximity) and prolonged exposure.

Clothing is also a popular gift at holiday time, but winter clothing that is weather-resistant, such as jackets, ski wear and snow boots, usually contain one or more of more than 6,000 per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS. You’ve probably heard the news stories linking PFAS chemicals with a host of human health concerns, including endocrine disruption and cancer.

Known as “forever” chemicals because their propensity for persisting in the environment long after their useful life, these chemicals have been unleashed on our environment and now contaminate practically every corner of the world. Especially concerning is their presence in public water supplies.

Another clothing concern at holiday time are all those warm and fuzzy synthetic (plastic) fleece coats, sweatshirts, hats, gloves and scarves. No one thinks about these

items releasing billions of plastic micro-fibers into our waters when we throw them in the washing machine. Yes, they are comfy and relatively cheap, but the cumulative cost to our environment is enormous.

So what to do this holiday season when it comes to gifts for the ones you love?

The good news is there are plenty of gifts you can choose for your friends and family that pose no risk either to them or our environment.

Environmentally friendly gifts include craft projects, a special book of family recipes, puzzles and books, magazine subscriptions, tickets to concerts and exhibitions, and memberships in museums and gyms.

Yoga, meditation, dance and cooking classes are all great gifts, as are music lessons or tickets to a lecture series. A piece of beautifully framed original art or an enlargement of a family photograph or a child’s special drawing make great and lasting gifts. One of my favorite gifts for kids is a large skein or spool of white cotton or wool. Hours of fun result in making the largest spider web you have ever seen! And it can be reused over and over.

Good resources to look up online for “green” gifts are: Bas Bleu, Etsy, Green America, Plan Toys, Hearth Song and Hanna Andersson.

Happy holidays!

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

17

VIEW POINT

2 minutes to midnight for our democracy

I

n a recent column on Nassau County and North Hempstead elections, I misstated: apparently there is resentment and reaction against the so-called boogeyman of Critical Race Theory.

In Florida, a slave state, in addition to banning teaching of Critical Race Theory, they have made it illegal for teachers to teach anything but the “JudeoChristian foundation” of American values.

Set aside for a moment who would want to work in that kind of environment where you can be sued by any parent who imagines some slight at something a teacher said. Set aside the First Amendment or why there is tenure to protect teachers’ ability to teach.

Now think for a moment how there has been a big push for Holocaust education in public schools, in order to teach the larger issue of tolerance as an antidote to the bigotry and cruelty that made the Holocaust possible (Texas has said you can’t teach about the Holocaust unless you also teach an opposing view of the Holocaust. Really?). How there has been a big push for anti-bullying education in face of youngsters driven to suicide, and even how the federal government is looking to rein

in Facebook for the role it plays.

(Trumpers want the freedom to continue to push hate speech and violence, but want to curb anything that would promote tolerance as “liberal” or “socialist” propaganda.)

This is the ultimate cancel culture: Rome and Greece were neither Judeo nor Christian. Also their democracies only lasted less than 250 years. The United States is 245 years from 1776.

Indeed, undermining public education, free thought and free expression, taking over school boards by right-wing extremists who want to inject White Christo Nationalist (fascist) order, is one element of a broad, multipronged assault on democracy.

It did not start with the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and did not end there either.

And now think: Who the hell would want to become a public school teacher in such an environment? Clearly, only right-wing extremists who think they have permission to advance their religious dogma in violation of the separation of church and state (Evolution is clearly next on the hit list). And that is the point of this campaign of intimidation: to coerce those who stand for democracy, tolerance, free thought and free and fair elections to resign or not pursue

KAREN RUBIN View Point

teaching or elected office.

It’s two minutes to midnight for democracy in America.

Trump is the figurehead – a useful idiot first by Putin and now by the White Christo Nationalists – mainly because his ignorance, sociopathy, cruelty made him the perfect tool to overturn the norms to lead the charge because he would do what no one else who appreciated the Constitution and had any sense of shame or humanity would do. He brought the neoNazis out of the shadows and into the mainstream. They even unabashedly run for office.

Trump pointed the way for using violence and intimidation as a political weapon; for purging government (even civil service) of anyone who did not show loy-

alty first to Trump instead of the Constitution and protect the nation against enemies foreign and domestic; for overturning the essence of American democracy to render justice “without fear or favor” and using the Department of Justice for his own purpose, ultimately enlisting the Justice Department to try to overturn the 2020 election and, for the first time in American history, undermine the peaceful transition of power. Trying to emulate what happened in Myanmar and Belarus (as his Gen. Michael Flynn, who he pardoned, urged), Trump decapitated the U.S. military and installed loyalists who he expected would heed his call to use martial law.

He installed Louis DeJoy to undermine the U.S. Post Office and literally sabotage delivery of absentee ballots (then challenge the count of those that came in late).

Trump had systematically (with “Moscow Mitch” McConnell’s brutal efficiency) reshaped the courts, right up to creating a radically right-wing supermajority on the Supreme Court, which he expected would rubber stamp whatever he did.

Trump used coercion, extortion and I’ll bet a bit of blackmail to try to pressure state legislators in Michigan and election

officials in Georgia (“just find me 11,780 votes” – violating election law) and Arizona to de-certify Biden’s win in order to deny Biden the 280 electoral votes needed, throw the election back to the House, where Republicans control more states and could declare Trump the winner despite Biden’s getting 8 million more votes.

It just didn’t work in 2020 as Jeffrey Clark, Michael Flynn and Roger Stone (mastermind of blocking the Florida recount to hand the 2000 election to Bush) had planned, unfortunately for them, because of the few election officials who, despite voting for Trump, took to heart their legal obligation to the Constitution. Can’t have that again.

The coup didn’t end with Trump finally being removed from the White House. Now he has brought the gang back together – Steve Bannon, the dirty trickster Stone, his righthand henchman Mark Meadows, Flynn – to methodically put together the elements first for Republicans to take back the House and Senate (and castrate Biden’s presidency) in 2022 (and end any investigations into his wrongdoing and that of his enablers).

Continued on Page 45

ALL THINGS POLITICAL

Major challenges await new county exec

A

s part of the recent red wave sweeping the 2021 Long Island elections, Town of Hempstead Councilman Bruce Blakeman won his bid for Nassau county executive, defeating the incumbent, Laura Curran. While Blakeman’s campaign focused primarily on property assessment, low taxes and keeping Nassau crime-free, there are several other critical issues that need to be addressed. Here are some that should be on his radar: Clean up Nassau’s Waterfront• Every time it rains the waterways in and around Nassau County are inundated with sewage. Not only do the beaches become so polluted they can’t be used, the sewage is the cause of increasingly harmful algal blooms that have negative impacts on humans, marine and freshwater environments, and coastal economies. This problem

gets worse every year and can no longer be ignored.

Going Green• Every county building should be part of a Nassau-wide energy performance contract (EPC). Not only would a countywide EPC save taxpayers money on energy costs, it could become a model of energy efficiency for the rest of the state.• The rooftops of every county building should have solar panels installed.• The auto fleet of Nassau County, which includes the Police Department, should move to fully electric vehicles.

Fast Track Federal Rent Relief Funds• Towns have been exceptionally slow dispensing Federal Rent Relief Funds. As county executive, Blakeman has an opportunity to show leadership and spearhead an initiative to help Nassau’s three towns fast track rent relief. The current process to help struggling residents is woefully inadequate.

ADAM HABER All Things Political Develop the HUB• The Nassau County HUB, which includes the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, is a dead zone. The Coliseum became useless the day the new UBS Arena opened in Elmont. What eventually populates the site should be something that attracts Millennials to live, work and play there. RXR, the master developer, is scheduled to break ground in March

2022, with 500 apartment units and 800,000 square feet of office, biotech and experiential retail. It would be prudent for Blakeman to champion the development ASAP and work with the Town of Hempstead, which is in charge of zoning the HUB, to fast track all permitting.

Improve Nassau County Parks• Eisenhower Park is actually larger than Central Park, but when was the last time you thought about it as a destination to spend the day with your family? Blakeman should bring in a master developer to create a comprehensive plan to improve this aging facility. A world class park would increase tourism and help local businesses thrive.

Fight COVID-19• Blakeman has publicly stated he’s vaccinated, but believes vaccination is a personal choice. While that plays well politically to his conservative base, it ignores CDC

guidelines, and the federal government mandate that all federal employees have to be vaccinated.

Blakeman should comply with these guidelines and make it clear that all county employees need to be vaccinated.• The Omicron variant will be here soon. Due to Covid fatigue, local hospitals are experiencing significant staff shortages. Masks and vaccines remain the best ways to protect ourselves, stop the spread, and support our healthcare heroes. If we don’t enforce these methods, we are destined to go back to our hospitals being overwhelmed.

Bruce Blakeman will be sworn in as Nassau County executive in just a few short weeks and will have a full plate for the next four years. After losing several earlier political campaigns, including runs for Congress and the U.S. Senate, he has a lot to prove. Our community is depending on him.

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

OUR TOWN

The artist, the muse and the work of art

T

he word “music” is derived from the word muse, referring to the nine muses of Greek mythology who were deities that gave artists inspiration to create. The Nassau Museum of Art’s current exhibit, “Songs Without Words: The Art of Music,” focuses on how the muse of music has inspired artists. Paintings by William Sydney Mount, Edouard Vuillard, Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, Jasper Johns, and David Hockney were on display along with a variety of behind-thescenes photographs of famous singers like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday.

It is appealing to ponder what muse moves the artist.

“Life Lessons” by Martin Scors-

ese was a part of a trilogy in the film “New York Stories.” “Life Lessons” was about a worldrenowned artist Lionel Dobie (Nick Nolte) who needed his muse to perform his master works. Actually, Scorsese shows how Lionel Dobie devoured a variety of muses, including music (“Like a Rolling Stone” played at a deafening volume), his beautiful girlfriend Paulette (Rosanna Arquette), alcohol, the pressure of an upcoming gallery show that he was not ready for and his need for fame and fortune.

Now that’s a lot of inspiration to be had. Scorsese focused on the way Dobie slowly created one huge canvas that was 6 feet high and 20 feet long and how

This painting by William Sydney Mount entitled “In Tune” is a lovely example of how music inspired artwork

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

the canvas slowly morphed into a bizarre, anguished, beautiful image of what looked to be the Brooklyn Bridge.

Scorsese’s love of music was used inspirationally in that film, but many artists use music as their muse. Jean Michel Basquiat had over 3,000 LP records in his collection and used his musical heroes, such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, as characters in many canvases.

The literary giants are the best at dealing with music as muse. Marcel Proust goes into exquisite detail in describing a single phrase of music by his fictitious composer Vinteuil’s “Sonata for Piano and Violin.” He writes pages of glorious description of that phrase in pursuit of that ephemeral satisfaction that only music (and Madeline cookies) can provide. Another literary giant who used music

as muse was Jean Paul Sartre in his novel “Nausea.” The griefstricken and confused protagonist, Antoine Roquentin, would sit in a café and tell the waitress to play the song “Some of These Days” repeatedly. This song, made famous by Sophie Tucker, is about the loss of a lover and the effort one goes through to get over the loss.

Nathaniel Hawthorne used the symbol of a flute-playing faun as inspiration in his novel “The Marble Faun”. Hawthorne lived in Rome for a year and often went to the Capitoline Museum where he began noticing the sculpture “The Faun of Praxiteles.” Fauns are a part of Roman and Greek mythology and represent the god of rustic music with their reed pipes and dancing.

The inspirational power of music is used by Kenneth Grahame in his children’s book “Wind in the Willows.” Chapter Seven is entitled “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” and is about Pan, the god of the wild, who helped save the young otter Portly. That chapter inspired Van Morrison to write a song about it and Pink Floyd named their first album with that name.

The story of the Greek god Pan is of interest for us at this point. Pan was a sexually active young god who lived in the woods and gave chase to wood nymphs. One day he spied a

beautiful wood nymph who escaped his grasp by turning into a reed. He quickly gathered up seven of the reeds of different lengths tied them up and promptly started playing by blowing into them.

Music can sooth the savage beast and it can also inspire the savage artist. To paint, to write, to create anything at all requires inspiration and support. Lionel Dobie, Marcel Proust, Jean-Michel Basquiat, William Sydney Mount, Edouard Vuillard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and even Rat and Mole in “Wind in the Willows” were supported by the muse of music.

I think the image of the great, anguished, insane bridge that was created by Lionel Dobie in “Life Lessons” is of relevance.

To me it implies that for an artist to create a great work of art he had better be supported with considerable love and patience and attention from all sides and every which way. Part of the inspiration will be derived from the soothing or energizing presence of music. But there had better be more than a happy tune to get the artist over that river of pain and doubt and ugliness and confusion that we call creativity.

So, if you like art or music or happen to be struggling to find some inspiration, whistle your way down to the Nassau County Museum of Art and enjoy the show.

READERS WRITE

Visit Long Island site for racial equality

A

s a 50-year resident of Great Neck whose kids attended our public schools, I appreciated Robert Pelaez’s excellent reporting on the controversy over the

district’s racism teachings at the recent school board meeting.

According to the account, the objections raised by some attendees at the meeting centered on a proposed “presentation by

ERASE Racism, a Long Islandbased group aimed at promoting racial equality”.

I encourage readers interested in this issue to check out the website of this organization

(https://www.eraseracismny.org) which I wholeheartedly support.

Its effective advocacy and action make our communities more just, equitable, inclusive, and humane. Its founder/direc-

tor, Elaine Gross (no relation) has been honored locally and nationally for this humanitarian work.

Ronald Gross Great Neck

The passing of Michael D’Innocenzo

L

ike thousands of other Hofstra University alum, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Michael D’Innocenzo.

Professor D’Innocenzo, “Mike,” made a positive impact on thousands of college students over the course of his distinguished career. I am fortunate to

count myself among those positively impacted.

As a Hofstra University alum and history major, Class of 85’, I was not only a student in several of Mike’s classes but was his teammate on the History department’s intramural volleyball team and was one of many student volunteers on his 1984

campaign bid for the House of Representatives.

Professor D’Innocenzo’s passion for history, social justice, civic-mindedness, and civil discourse had a profound influence on my life.

As a high school social studies teacher, I strive to impart these values to the students I

am fortunate to teach. Mike’s appreciation for both the blessings and shortcomings of our democracy, as well as the importance of being an engaged citizen, striving to make a positive difference in the life of others, were lessons he instilled in his students through words and actions.

Consequently, Professor Michael D’Innocenzo’s legacy as a professor, writer, activist, and citizen is far reaching and profound.

Carolyn Faggoni Bellmore Letters Continued on Page 37

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Lakeville Civic to host Christmas tree lighting The Lakeville Civic Association invites all to join them for a Christmas tree lighting Date: Saturday, Dec. 11.

Time: 4:30pm

Location: Old Dairy Barn, 938 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park New Hyde Park Memorial Choir will sing carols 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm A special appearance by Santa

Lakeville Civic drive aids hungry, veterans The Lakeville Civic Association had a very successful Veterans Drive on Saturday, Nov. 13. The association received approximately 500 lbs of food that we donated to the East Meadow Veterans Pantry.

The association also received $1,065

which we distributed to various Veterans charities — $400 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, $300 to the Wounded Warrior veteran Firefighters Nassau County and $365 to the Town of North Hempstead Veterans drive.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA December 3, 2021

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING

TUNE IN FOR HOLIDAY CONCERT There’s nothing like a holiday TV special for unforgettable songs and memories — and the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus is celebrating the season by dusting off the songbook for concerts brimming with yuletide classics.

Featuring legendary musical favorites from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” and more, LIGMC’s “Home for the Holiday Special” concerts are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10 at Saint Francis Episcopal Church, 1692 Bellmore Ave., North Bellmore, and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 12 Prospect St., Huntington.

Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase at the door or online at www. ligmc.org.

“There’s no getting around the fact that the last few years have been very challenging for so many people.

However, such during turbulent times, traditions have been a source of great comfort,” Bradley Meek, president of the LIGMC Board of Directors, said. “That is why the iconic holiday specials we’ve enjoyed throughout the years resonated so deeply with our members and provided the spark of inspiration for choosing the songs we look forward to performing.”

The 16-member LIGMC returned to the concert stage on Oct. 23 with the standingroom-only “Be Our Guest! A Magical Disney Cabaret” at Sayville VFW Post 433, marking the group’s first live performance since February 2020. LIGMC will continue to observe Centers for Disease Control guidelines for indoor gatherings during performances.

“Since resuming our rehearsals in September, it has been an absolute joy to work with such a dedicated and enthusiastic group of returning members and new singers,” LIGMC Artistic Director Jeanette Cooper said. “We hope you’ll be able to join us and ‘tune in’ for what promises to be a very special series of performances!”

The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus is celebrating the season by dusting off the songbook for their upcoming “Home for the Holiday Special” concerts.

22 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Clark Garden wins award in national contest North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board have announced that Clark Botanic Garden was an honorable mention in the All-America Selections 2021 Landscape Design Challenge in the 10,000 to 100,000 visitors per year category.

All-America Selections is an independent non-profit organization that tests new, never-before-sold varieties.

After a full season of anonymous trialing by volunteer horticulture professionals, only the top garden performers

are given the AAS Winner award designation for their superior performance.

“I was so pleased to learn that AllAmerica Selections has once again recognized the natural beauty that is on full display at Clark Botanic Garden in their Landscape Design Challenge,” said Bosworth. “This is a testament to our incredible Parks Department team and the wonderful staff working at Clark Botanic Garden. Their passion for and dedication to Clark Botanic Garden is what makes this special park

“The AAS program at Clark Botanic Garden helps to educate our community about the wonderful variety of plants you can use in your home landscape. These grand displays are a wonderful form of entertainment where visitors can find an exciting yet peaceful space at Clark Botanic Garden for all to explore and enjoy,” said Bonnie Klein, town horticulturist.

Clark Botanic Garden is an AAS Display Garden, providing the public with an opportunity to view the newest AAS Winners (annuals) in an attractive well-maintained setting. The network of nearly 200 dedicated AAS gardens includes 55 locations that have served for 25 years or longer.

Founded in 1969, Clark Botanic Garden is a 12-acre living museum and education facility for all ages. Collections at the garden include native spring wildflowers, conifers, roses, perennials, daylilies, wetland plants, rock garden plants, herbs and over a dozen collections of particular plant families.

Clark Botanic Garden is located at 193 I.U. Willets Road in Albertson.

a true hidden gem worth visiting here in the Town of North Hempstead.”

This year’s theme of the AAS Landscape Design Challenge was “Diversity in the Garden.” AAS provided the gardens with winning seeds from the last five years. Gardens not only had to create and execute a design based on this year’s theme but were also encouraged to generate publicity via social media and “real life” social events. Gardens were divided into three categories based on the number of visitors per year: Category I: fewer than 10,000 visitors per yearCategory II: 10,000 – 100,000 visitors per yearCategory III: Over 100,000 visitors per year Town horticulturist Bonnie Klein directed Clark Botanic Garden’s participation in the All-America Selections 2021 Landscape Design Challenge.

This year a formal Victorian oval including All-America Selections Winners were grown and designed by Clark staff. The planting area holds a diverse array of plant materials, traditional in a botanic garden.

From My Home to Yours.

Wishing You A Happy Holiday Season

Biagia “Gina” D’Amico Licensed Real Estate Salesperson O 516.365.2252 M 646.773.2301 biagia.damico@elliman.com

elliman.com © 2021 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

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guide to

Parties, Dining

&

a blank nk slate media special section • december 3, 2021 20 021

24 GUIDE TO HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFTS • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

Decorative holiday symbols add to seasonal celebrations Advent wreath

D

ecorating homes and other spaces is a major component of the holiday season. Holiday decorations often reflect celebrants’ religious beliefs, and the following are some traditional holiday decor symbols for people of various faiths.

Christmas tree

Christian or secular Christmas symbol Few things evoke thoughts of Christmastime quite like a towering evergreen parked front and center in a home’s picture window. Christmas trees are believed to date back to sixteenth century Germany. The custom ultimately arrived in America when the country welcomed an influx of German immigrants. It is widely believed that various non-Christian cultures may

have used evergreen plants indoors in celebration of the winter solstice, which suggests Christmas trees may pre-date Christian symbolism.

Menorah

Jewish Chanukah symbol Menorahs are seven-armed candelabras used in Jewish religious worship. To mark the Chanukah celebration, a special nine-armed hanukkiah is displayed for eight days and nights. A candle is lit each day to commemorate the miracle of oil lasting in the rededicated Temple after the Maccabees’ successful uprising against the Syrian Greeks. The menorah typically is placed in a highly visible spot, such as the front window of a home or in a high-traffic living space.

Christian Christmas symbol The Advent wreath is used by various Christian denominations and draws attention to the weeks preceding Christmas. A new candle is lit on the wreath each Sunday at mass to prepare the faithful to receive the Lord Jesus.

Kinara and Mishumaa Saba

Kwanzaa cultural symbol The Kinara (candle holder) and the Mishumaa Samba (the seven candles) are symbolic of Kwanzaa.

The candles and holder represent the Seven Principles, or the minimum set of values by which African people are urged to live.

Baby New Year

Secular symbol Baby New Year is a popular promotional symbol used to commemorate the dawn of a new year.

The baby represents rebirth and may be traced back to the ancient Greeks or

Egyptians. Historians say the Greeks believed that their god of wine, Dionysus, was reborn on New Year’s Day as the spirit of fertility. While people may not decorate with Baby New Year figurines, they do participate in “First Baby” competitions, which celebrate those infants born in the opening moments of a new year.

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Christian Christmas symbol It’s customary for nativity scenes to be included in Christmas decor schemes.

The nativity depicts the birth of Christ and typically includes a manger, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, various animals, an angel, and the three visiting Magi.

The infant Jesus also is included, though some people prefer to wait until the after the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve to place Jesus in the manger. Live nativity scenes also are commonplace around Christmas.

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first live nativity scene in 1223.

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A Blank Slate Media Special Section • December 3, 2021

26 LIVING 50 PLUS • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

Saving strategies as retirement draws near

P

rofessionals on the cusp of retirement are often excited about what lies ahead. Some prospective retirees may look forward to traveling once they no longer have to go to work each day, while others may plan to return to school.

Regardless of how adults envision spending their retirement, they’re going to need money when they’re no longer being paid by their employers.

As retirement nears, some professionals may be concerned that they haven’t saved enough. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer in regard to how much money people will need in retirement. People who are worried they haven’t saved enough can try various strategies to build up their account balances before they officially call it a career.

Take advantage of catch-up contributions.

Adults who are 50 or older are eligible to take advantage of catch-up contributions. These are designed to help people over 50 contribute more to certain retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA, than statutory limits would otherwise allow.

There are limits that govern the amount of money people can designate as catch-up contributions, but taking advantage of this perk can help people save more as retirement draws closer.

Consider relocating. A recent study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that

housing costs accounted for 49 percent of seniors’ spending. Professionals nearing retirement who live in areas traditionally associated with a high cost of living can begin to rethink their long-term housing strategy. Relocating to an area with a lower cost of living is one option, while those who prefer to remain in their current town or city can consider downsizing to a smaller home to reduce their property taxes and monthly utility bills.

Continue investing. Conventional wisdom suggests moving away from investing in stocks the closer you get to retirement. Though that’s a sound strategy, professionals who are trying to build their retirement savings in the final years before retiring could be missing out on significant growth by abandoning stocks entirely. Speak with a financial advisor about stock-based investments and your risk tolerance. Maintaining a diversified portfolio with a little risk can be a great way to grow your savings as retirement draws near.

Professionals approaching retirement may be dealing with a mix of excitement and anxiety, particularly if they’re concerned about their retirement savings. Various strategies can help quell such anxiety and make it easier for professionals over 50 to build their savings as retirement nears.

What to know before claiming Social Security benefits

H

ardworking adults spend years striving to achieve their professional goals. Along the way, planning for retirement is a way to ensure all that hard work pays off when the time comes to call it a career.

In the United States, men and women nearing retirement age may be thinking about when they should begin collecting their Social Security retirement benefits. Social Security is a social insurance program instituted by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935. The program consists of retirement, disability and survivor benefits, and workers in the United States contribute to Social Security each week.

The decision about when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is one all those who have contributed to the program must eventually make. In recognition of the difficulty of that decision, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers the following tips to people wondering when they should begin collecting their Social Security benefits.

Confirm your full retirement age. Full

retirement age refers to the age at which people can begin collecting their full benefits.

Depending on the year you were born, you can begin collecting your full benefit at age 66 or 67.

Claiming your benefit before you reach full retirement age will lead to a permanent decrease in your monthly benefits. Conversely, claiming after you reach full retirement age will lead to a permanent increase in your monthly benefits. Since the stakes are so considerable, it’s vital for adults to confirm their full retirement age before they claim their benefits.

Delay claiming if you can. The CFPB notes that you can expect to get an additional 5 to 8 percent in monthly benefits for every year you wait to claim your Social Security benefits after age 62, maxing out at age 70. If you can afford to do so, wait to claim your full benefit until age 70, as doing so can translate to a benefit that’s 32 percent higher than it would have been had you claimed your benefit at age 62.

Budget for retirement. Short- and long-term budgeting for retirement can help you assess

how much money you will need to cover your expenses when you stop working. This step can help you understand how much a reduced or increased Social Security benefit will affect your bottom line in retirement.

Continue working. Remaining in the workforce full-time or even part-time can have a considerable impact on the size of your Social Security benefit. The CFPB notes that continuing to work for one or two additional years can replace low- or no-income earnings from your earnings record, thereby increasing your benefit.

Consider the long-term needs of your spouse.

Surviving spouses receive the higher of the two spouses’ benefits. So it makes sense for the higher earning spouse to wait to collect his or her benefit until he or she reaches full retirement age.

The decision about when to collect your Social Security benefit is complex. Discussing your options with your spouse and financial advisor can help you make the most informed decision.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021 • LIVING 50 PLUS

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28 LIVING 50 PLUS • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

How to build friendships in your golden years

M

aking friends as a child or even as a parent to school-aged children is relatively easy. Classrooms and school functions facilitate the building of friendships. Even as one gets older and enters the workforce, it’s not uncommon for people to become friends with their coworkers.

As people near retirement age, their situations may have changed considerably.

Children have moved out, careers are coming to an end and friendships may be hard to maintain due to people relocating or traveling. Older adults may aspire to make new friends, but they may not know how.

According to Irene S Levine, Ph.D., The Friendship Doctor and contributor to Psychology Today, it is not unique for seniors to want to make new friends. Age can be a barrier because there are stereotypes that pigeonhole people of certain ages. But Levine notes that state of mind and physical ability is not directly tied

to chronological age. Making friends is possible at any age. These guidelines can help along the way.

Explore online connections. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Gerontology found seniors (even those in their 80s) who stay connected with friends and family using social media report feeling less lonely and better overall. Connected seniors also demonstrated higher executive reasoning skills. There are plenty of ways to meet new people online by joining social media groups that cater to your interests. In person meetings in particular cities or regions of the country also can make for great ways to make new friends. Exercise caution when meeting people in person after contacting them online. Bring another person along, whether it’s a spouse or an adult child, to ensure that you are safe.

Volunteer your time. One way to meet new people is to get involved with causes or

activities you love. This serves the double benefit of getting you outside and active and puts you in touch with people who share your passions and interests.

Attend alumni events. If you have an interest getting in touch with someone from your past and reconnecting, make the time to attend school reunions and other alumni activities. It can be fun to reconnect with friends from high school or college.

Join a gym. The local gym isn’t just a great place to get physically fit. Group exercise classes also can be ideal places to meet other people who enjoy working out. Strike up a conversation with another class participant you see on a regular basis. Once you develop a rapport, schedule lunch dates so your friendship grows outside of the gym.

Making friends is not just for the young. Men and women over 50 also can find ways to build new friendships.

Did you know?

L

eisure activities may be widely viewed as fun ways to fill up free time, but the benefits of leisure activities extend beyond beating boredom. A 2011 analysis published in the journal BBA Molecular Basis of Disease found that leisure activities have a positive impact on cognitive function and dementia. The analysis, conducted by researchers with the Aging Research Center in Stockholm who examined various studies regarding the relationship between certain activities and cognitive function, defined leisure activity as the voluntary use of free time for activities outside the home. After retirement, leisure time constitutes a large part of many retirees’ lives, and finding ways to fill that time is more beneficial than merely avoiding boredom. The

researchers behind the study concluded that the existing research is insufficient to draw any firm conclusions regarding the effects of certain types of leisure activities on the risk for dementia and cognitive decline, though they did note that multi-domain cognitive training has the potential to improve cognitive function in healthy older adults and slow decline in affected individuals. A multi-domain approach to cognitive training involves memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and map reading, among other activities. Aging adults who embrace activities that require the use of such skills may find that they’re not only finding stimulating ways to fill their free time, but increasing their chances of long-term cognitive health as well.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021 • LIVING 50 PLUS

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30 LIVING 50 PLUS • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

How often to see the doctor R How seniors can approach exercise

E

xercise is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. By making exercise part of their day-today routines, people of all ages, including men and women over the age of 65, can greatly improve their overall health.

The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that seniors should aspire to be as active as possible.

Exercise is a great way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine and has been linked to reduced risk for diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Though adults with chronic illnesses may be hesitant to exercise, the AAFP notes that it’s possible for men and women who have been diagnosed with such conditions to exercise safely. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that regular physical activity is one of the most important things seniors can do for their health and can potentially prevent many health problems associated with aging.

Frequency of exercise Seniors, particularly those who have not exercised much in the past, may not know how much exercise they need to reap the full rewards of physical activity. Though it’s best to discuss exercise with a physician prior to beginning a new regimen, various public health agencies advise seniors to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic exercise each week. Brisk walking is one example of moderate aerobic exercise. Seniors who want to sweat a little more when exercising can replace moderate aerobic exercise

with one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous exercise, such as jogging, each week.

Is strength training safe for seniors?

The CDC advises seniors to incorporate muscle-strengthening activities into their weekly fitness routines twice per week. Lifting waits, working with resistance bands, heavy gardening, and even some forms of yoga qualify as muscle-strengthening activities.

Exercises that use your body weight for resistance, such as sit-ups and push-ups, also can help build strength. Always speak with a physician before beginning a muscle-strengthening exercise regimen and, if possible, work with a personal trainer, especially if you’re a novice.

When to stop a workout It’s imperative that seniors recognize when to stop working out.

Exercising more than is recommended by your doctor can increase the risk of illness or injury.

In addition, stop exercising if any of the following symptoms appear: • Dizziness or shortness of breath • Chest pain or pressure • Swollen joints • Nausea • Tightness in muscles or joints • Pain anywhere in the body • Throbbing or burning sensations Exercise can help seniors stay healthy and feel more energetic throughout the day. Before beginning a new regimen, seniors should discuss physical activity with their physicians.

outine health checkups are a key part of staying healthy.

Older adults may feel like they’re always visiting one doctor or another. But what is an acceptable frequency for doctor appointments?

The answer isn’t always so cut and dry, and many health professionals have mixed feelings even among themselves over the magic number.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults over the age of 65 visit the doctor more than twice as often as 18- to 44-yearolds. According to Paul Takahashi,

a physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., adults should see their primary care physicians at least once a year to make sure diseases are being properly managed and to stay current on preventative screenings.

Visiting the doctor more frequently does not necessarily add up to better health, and it actually can do the opposite. Dr. Peter Abadir, an associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says frequent visits to health facilties where sick people congregate puts one at a higher risk of illness or infection.

Visiting the doctor only when necessary is one way to avoid risky exposure.

Doctor visit frequency is not a onesize-fits-all answer. A yearly physical or checkup is a given, even for people who are healthy. People with a family history of certain conditions, like sleep disorders, cancer, high blood pressure, and other

conditions, may need to see a doctor more frequently than those with no such histories. In addition, patients may need referrals to certain specialists who work together to provide an overall health plan. That can increase the number of appointments and shorten the intervals between them. Johnson Memorial Health offers some statistics.

• People visit the doctor four times a year on average.

• Studies show that poor or uninsured people prolong the time between doctor’s visits.

• Individuals with high blood pressure may need to see the doctor four times a year to ensure medications are working properly.

• Patients on dialysis see the doctor several times a week.

Dr. Jennifer Caudle, a family physician and assistant professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ, says too often people visit the doctor only when they are really sick. That works to their disadvantage because the appointment will focus only on treating the illness instead of addressing other preventative care and screenings. Balance is necessary in regard to health care.

Patients can work together with their doctors to develop screening schedules that are customized to their particular profiles. These schedules can be modified as health history information changes or as patients age. Doctors can dial back or increase health visits as needed.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021 • LIVING 50 PLUS

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32 LIVING 50 PLUS • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

6 tips

for seniors to travel safely

O

ne of the perks of getting older is having more time to devote to recreation and traveling.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are roughly 52 million people who are age 65 or older in the United States. With a $1.6 trillion total net worth, seniors spend more on groceries,

pharmaceutical items and travel and leisure than any other demographic.

Age does not have to restrict one’s ability to travel, and with age comes experience and more opportunities to enjoy travel. Before taking off for parts unknown, men and women over 50 can take steps to ensure their excursions are as safe as they are memorable.

1. Consider risk. The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 taught the world that situations can change rapidly. Before booking any travel, weigh the risks and the benefits of a trip.

Determine if COVID-19 is spreading where you live or at your destination. Older adults have a higher risk for severe illness caused by the virus. Until you are vaccinated, it may be best to wait to travel.

2. Use senior-friendly services. Seek out travel services that offer the best perks for older adults. Many travel providers no longer offer senior discounts, but they may offer other benefits, such as early boarding or assistance with traveling from gates to baggage areas.

3. Get travel insurance.

According to Liz Dahl, cofounder of Boomer Travel Patrol, a website featuring expert advice geared toward the Baby Boomer demographic, travel insurance can be essential for older travelers. Older travelers may be more at risk of falling or getting sick and some may need extra medication if travel is interrupted or delayed. Travel insurance can provide extra coverage for a relatively low price if something goes wrong.

4. Don’t advertise your absence. It may be tempting to upload photos of your beachside vacation to social media as you are immersed in paradise.

Unfortunately, seniors tend to be targets for thieves because they are seen as vulnerable. Don’t make the job easier by advertising you are away from home. In addition, have a neighbor periodically pick up your mail and set lights on timers to give the impression you are home even when you’re not.

5. Share your itinerary. Keep loved ones apprised of your general travel itinerary, especially if you are traveling solo, recommends AARP. Keep a mobile phone on you at all times.

6. Pack copies of important documents. In the event paperwork is lost while traveling, request copies of prescriptions and/or statements of medical conditions from each physician and medical treatment center so you have a second set. Keep copies of your passport, driver’s license, insurance cards, travel tickets, and other documents as well.

Seniors have the ability to travel much more than other age groups. Make the experience enjoyable by focusing on safety.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021 • GUIDE TO HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & GIFTS

How to host a safe and enjoyable holiday office party

M

any people look forward to annual celebrations with coworkers during the holiday season. The holiday office party is customary at many businesses, but those traditions were largely shelved in 2020.

COVID-19 had a direct impact on office parties, with the majority of employers opting out due to community-wide gathering restrictions. This holiday season, thanks to the successful rollout of vaccinations for people age 12 and up, social gatherings are once again increasing in frequency. However, that doesn’t mean caution should be thrown to the wind. Safety should be priority number one as businesses return to the tradition of hosting office parties this holiday season.

Take the party outside

Weather varies across the country during the holiday season. But if concerns of congregating in tight spaces still prevail, especially with new variants of COVID-19 driving up infection rates, it may be safer to

socialize outdoors. Heaters and fire pits can warm up spaces if the weather is chilly.

Opt for individually plated or prepackaged foods Prevent the spread of germs and safely address the myriad food allergies employees may have by serving individually packaged meals. Similarly, suggest that well-meaning employees refrain from annual Christmas cookie or fudge exchanges this year.

Limit alcohol

Set parameters for how much alcohol is served, perhaps setting a drink limit for each employee. Alcohol can loosen inhibitions, which may make people engage in risky behaviors that can make them vulnerable to the virus and other threats to their health.

Provide transportation options

If the office party will include alcoholic beverages, develop a plan for getting attendees home safely afterwards. This may include hiring a ridesharing or

cab company, or financing rides in a town car. In addition, ensure employees who do not feel comfortable leaving a venue alone at night can get home safely. Pair up employees who can carpool together. Allow employees to expense ride services.

Carefully consider location

Think about how location may play into overall safety risk. If there are plenty of bars or clubs nearby, then employees may indulge before or after the company party and their employer could be held responsible for their actions.

Employers also must be cognizant of the neighborhood in which the event is held. Does it have a high crime rate? Is it far from public transportation? Is it desolate after certain times? Let safety be a driving force when choosing a location for the party.

Holiday office parties are returning to holiday season social schedules, and there are many ways to make them safe and enjoyable.

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Gifts to excite the family athlete this holiday season Home gym equipment can make for a great gift this holiday season. challenges posed by nature or difficult competitive terrains.

Noise-canceling headphones or earbuds: Many athletes relish their workouts not only as opportunities to zero in on their fitness goals, but also as chances to block out distractions and clear their heads for an hour or two each day. Noisecancelling headphones or earbuds effectively block out external noises, allowing athletes to direct all of their focus on their workouts and training sessions.

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oliday shoppers know that few things can match the joy of finding the perfect gift for a loved one. Whether that loved one is a tiny tot who can’t wait to unwrap this year’s must-have toy or an adult hoping to find the latest gadget under the tree on Christmas morning, the thrill of giving a great gift is part of what makes the holiday season so enjoyable.

Friends and family members may fall into certain categories, and that can make holiday shopping a little easier. For example, loved ones who can’t wait to sit down with a good book would no doubt appreciate a new e-reader or the latest bestseller. When it comes to gifting the family athlete, the following ideas can provide the inspiration shoppers need to put a smile on the face of fitness-minded friends and family members .

Weighted vest: Weighted vests have gained popularity in recent years. Available from a variety of manufacturers and for athletes of varying skill levels, weighted vests can be ideal for athletes who want to burn more calories and build strength during their workouts. This can be an especially useful gift for endurance athletes who want their training sessions to mimic the

Energy drinks: Though it might not seem like the most exciting gift to unwrap on Christmas morning, energy drinks are vital to many fitness enthusiasts’ athletic endeavors. For example, endurance athletes may appreciate a tub of Osmo Active Hydration Performance Drink Mix, which contains an optimal ratio of sucrose, glucose and electrolytes, helping athletes improve their endurance and power while reducing instances of cramping and fatigue. Energy drinks make for a perfect stocking stuffer.

Home gym equipment: Pandemicrelated gym closures turned athletes into their own personal trainers, and some may not want to return to local fitness facilities even now that they’ve safely reopened. Home gym equipment can help athletes continue to build their own private home gyms, making items like kettle bells, dumbbells, weight benches, and resistance bands great items to put under the tree this holiday season.

It’s never been easier to shop for the family athlete during the holiday season. A heightened focus on fitness ensures there’s something for every type of athlete on your holiday shopping list.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

Trees

37

READERS WRITE

Brackett will keep water safe

N

of the largest capital improvement plan in our history to address emerging contaminants. We must re-elect Brackett to ensure the five-year plan is implemented with no disruptions or delays.

David has delivered clean safe drinking water 365 days a year to our residents and prioritizes transparency and community collaboration on drinking water protection. As a CPA Brackett always has his eye on saving taxpayers dollars. In fact, he was instrumental in the district receiving an $18 million

grant this past year.

We can idly sit back, worrying about our water, or we can use our power and vote for someone with experience and knowledge about how to keep our water safe and clean. What will you do Dec. 14?

I hope you will join me at the Polish Hall and vote for experience- David Brackett.

See you at the polls!

Cindy Witkow Port Washington

Flowers of color, a kingdom of color repeated effortlessly, though not ours to keep.

I often hold the vision, sleeping and awake, even in sleep loving them.

othing is more important than our water. We drink it straight, make coffee and tea, and use ice cubes in our favorite beverages. We use it to wash our face, brush our teeth and bathe. Ensuring our most important resource is safe and clean must be a top priority.

David Brackett has been working to protect our water since 1991. We are fortunate to have a Commissioner with such vast knowledge and experience.

Our district is currently in the midst

The roamer who in youth looked up and swung from boughs, imagining I’m a plane or helicopter, with the leaves rustling back and forth like breath shimmering around the edges.

I was another leaf, exchanging ions.

Brackett for water commish

Friends —

How long have I known these trees, with colors and without, through how many summers and winters?

You belong in a forest, or the broad open field with plenty of room to soak up the sun.

How it feels when they greet you going out the door.

Their beauty is a comfort that soothes, their shadow an easy path carries me back to the old forest.

I have known these trees a very long time, and I’m glad they are here.

Stephen Cipot Garden City Park

O

n Tues., Dec. 14, there will be a contested election for Garden City Park Water/ Fire commissioner. We urge you to vote for Alan Cooper, who has the experience and leadership we need to restore fiscal integrity to our community.

Alan has spent the past 40 years of his life in public service. He joined the Garden City Park Fire Department in 1981 and quickly rose to the rank of captain. He became an Emergency Medical Technician at the age of 18, and later a New York State Certified and Nationally Registered Paramedic.

Alan holds a Ph.D. in psychology and an MBA in management from Adelphi University.

In 1993 he was elected Garden City Park Water/Fire Commissioner and served four terms.

During his tenure on the Board of Commissioners, he played a significant role in revamping our fire equipment, replacing virtually the entire fleet of outdated emergency vehicles, including two new state-of-the-art ambulances, and rebuilding Fire Headquarters, which was originally built in 1921.

He has been praised for being an exceptional commissioner, balancing the needs of our community with fiscal responsibility, and was cited for his exceptional fiscal practices by the New York State comptroller. He is currently the captain of Engine Co. 4 and is supported by chiefs, officers, and members of the Garden City Park Fire Department.

While Water/Fire Commissioner, Dr. Cooper led the effort to overhaul the water distribution infrastructure, replacing outdated pump equipment and water mains throughout the district.

Additionally, he approved the construction of a new water purification station to avoid the need to chlorinate our water supply (which unfortunately is now done). With all this investment, his fiscal management was outstanding, and in his first year on the board, he reduced our water tax rate.

When he left office in 2007, Dr. Cooper served for five years on the New Hyde Park/ Garden City Park School Board. In 2008 he was appointed to the Town of North Hempstead Housing Authority, where he currently serves as commissioner, overseeing five housing

developments across the town.

Professionally, Dr. Cooper is currently the associate dean of the Willumstad School of Business at Adelphi University and the owner of a management consulting firm.

Prior to this, he was the Chief People and Performance Officer at White Plains Hospital in Westchester. He spent the first two decades of his career with the North Shore – LIJ Health System (now Northwell Health) as vice president for Learning and Innovation.

Again, we urge you to vote for Alan Cooper on Tues., Dec. 14, between the hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Garden City Park Water District, 333 Marcus Ave. Garden City Park. For details on Alan’s platform and taxpayer concerns, visit www.VoteCooper2021.com.

Salju Thomas Augustine Carnevale Robert Mirabile Robert Magas Chief 2019, Chief 1990, 2017 Chief 2014, 2015 Chief 1991, 1992 GCPFD Co.1 GCPFD Co.2 GCPFD Co.3 GCPFD Co. 4

Remembering Understated GOP victories Professor Mike I D’Innocenzo

I

was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Professor Michael D’Innocenzo. It was truly an honor as a student at Hofstra University in the early 1970’s to have Mike as a professor in courses on American and New York history.

He had a love for learning and teaching that has remained with me through the decades. Reading his columns was a pleasure despite our political differences.

Robert Spitalnick Great Neck

am a registered Republican and am also an oldster, who greatly loves the America that I was born into and lived my long life in.

That doesn’t mean that I favor the racism, or any other kind of ethnic prejudice that prevailed in this country, years ago. The America that I love so much allows people to succeed in life, based on the efforts that people make for themselves, to succeed.

For a number of reasons, Republicans and Conservatives won monumental victories in the Nov. 2 elections just held, but my local newspaper, the left-leaning Port Washington Times, insists on distorting those victories. The front-page headline in the Nov. 19 issue of the paper reads, “Blakeman, DeSena victorious after tally”, but it should read, at the least, “Blakeman, DeSena still victorious after tally.”

The title of the continuing article on Page 43 of the issue should also read, at the least, “Blakeman, DeSena still victorious after absentees.” And the outrageous caption that appears under the picture of Bruce Blakeman on Page 43, “Despite Laura Curran receiving a majority of absentee votes, Bruce Blakeman won the race for county executive, according to final ballot counts,” should simply read, “Final ballot counts confirm that Bruce Blakeman won the race for county executive”.

“Despite Laura Curran receiving a majority of absentee votes”?

What the hell does that mean?

There was only one election held this month and it was held earlier this month on the second. The count of absentee ballots does not constitute a separate election from the Nov. 2 elec-

tion. There are no winners or losers of absentee ballots.

The Port Washington Times, Newsday and The New York Times, are all still searching for the reasons to account for the monumental Republican/ Conservative election victories of Nov. 2.

So far, they primarily blame the Democratic/Liberal monumental losses on the lethargy of registered Democratic voters to go to the polls and vote.

Perhaps, one day, they will be honest enough to admit that rejection of the left-leaning, radical path offered by the Biden/Harris government in Washington, was the primary cause. Let’s see if the midterm elections next year, don’t confirm what I’ve just said.

Joel Katz Port Washington

38 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

READERS WRITE

A tribute for Michael D’Innocenzo

T

here are many words or characterizations that I could think of to describe Michael: pedagogue, activist, friend, historian, unwavering warrior for democracy. Yet, as I write these words, tears come to my eyes.

All are too generic and none truly capture the way in which the universe will suffer a loss from Michael’s passing.

In one of our recent correspondences, Michael referenced the expression: “May you live in interesting times.”

Surely known to be an ironic curse, Michael challenged me to use this as a poetry topic, something I certainly in-

tend to try.

I met Michael through the pages of these Blank Slate papers, as I started writing opinion pieces prior to the 2016 election. Michael was a true believer in the power of civic discourse, the written word, and the free interchange of ideas through platforms such as the kind that Steven Blank has provided for in our communities.

Indeed, I met Michael during “interesting times.”

In my eyes, Michael was a super-human being who gave so much of his energy and intellect to those who he owed nothing. I have fond memories of at-

tending the Presidential debate events at Hofstra, and other events such as his honorary lecture at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck.

During these “interesting times” in our society, Michael provided comfort through his courageous defense of democracy and activism, his perseverance and passionate pursuit of all things leading to a more just and liberal society, and, as many who have known him have experienced, his unique sense of humor and joke-telling.

While Michael may have been a professor for more than 60 years, he was truly a pedagogue everywhere he

went. His de facto class roster was our entire community and all who met him.

One more time, I would like to say: “Thank you, Michael. You enriched my life and empowered me in ways that will last a lifetime.

While I hope you are off somewhere, ‘Out of Left Field,’ debating with the greatest minds of the past, and spontaneously telling jokes, all who have met you will pay it forward through our fierce courage, kindness, and defense of democracy. Your epistolary pal, Diana.”

Diana Poulos-Lutz Mineola

Tamari best contender for GN parking commish

V

anessa Tamari is running for Park District commissioner and is the best candidate for the job.

Vanessa is the real deal. She has earned the distinction of “The best mom in the world.” (To me that’s the highest compliment one can give and it doesn’t have to be reserved for one person) She’s also the best type of friend you could ever hope to have. Throughout the moew than seven years that I’ve had the honor of knowing Vanessa and her family, she’s spent three of four hours of each day working to make our community better, often in ways that aren’t part of any formal position or leadership

role (though she’s held many of those as well). She is a tireless advocate for kids—not just her own, but for all of the kids in our community.

The role of a Park District commissioner is to serve as a steward of our shared treasure — Great Neck’s unparalleled parks and facilities, activities and programming — and to always strive to better use the district’s resources to meet the needs and wants of as many of our residents as possible. Over the past few years I’ve had a front row seat to watching her decision-making process on matters affecting her kids, my kids, and many of our kids in the many PTO

leadership positions she has so selflessly taken on. In her PTO roles, her decisions and actions on any particular issue are not swayed by the individual or specific needs of her sons, but by what she believes will best serve the entire student population. Vanessa takes a common sense, facts-first, rational, and kindhearted approach to every interaction she has in person or online—assets that will serve our community well.

And here’s the kicker — when it comes to politics, our views probably couldn’t be further apart. And in this sadly divided world/country/state/ county/town that we live in, our po-

litical views have never ONCE been the subject of any type argument, debate, conflict, or from what I recall, ever been the topic of conversation. I bring this up because Vanessa is driven not by political ideology, but by a passion for making her community better. And it’s critical to keep in mind that the Park District commissioner is not a political position.

I encourage you to support the Vanessa Tamari for Great Neck Park District Commissioner campaign and vote for her on Dec, 14!

Matthew Ruzz Great Neck

Mayor should bow out of Tower Ford proposal

D

ear Village of Thomaston: Please accept this as a formal request for the recusal of Mayor Steven Weinberg from all matters relating to the evaluation and consideration for landmark status of the building structure on the property located at 124 South Middle Neck Rd., Great Neck, NY,and the adjournment of the upcoming meetings and/or hearings with regard to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

As detailed in the pending Amended Petition filed against the Village of Thomaston (and property owner) relating to the enactment of Local Law 3-2021 and the related application to demolish the existing structure and replace it with a modern five-story, 75unit apartment building, there remain very serious allegations relating to, among other things, the mayor’s abuse of power, undue influence, lack of disclosure and close involvement with the property owner/developer to advance the project.

As you know, the application — which the mayor supported — called

for the destruction of the very building that is the subject of the commission’s evaluation. The litigation is pending, and the Village has not substantively responded to these grave allegations.

Moreover, as reflected in the upcoming Village meeting schedule and documents recently produced in response to FOIL requests, the mayor continues to dedicate a substantial amount of resources to the project and any revisions.

Notably, the mayor’s recent appointment of two commission members (one of whom was designated to be the chair to replace without explanation a longstanding chairperson who served in that capacity for years) are individuals who have worked with the mayor and do not appear to have qualifications relating to architecture and/or historical preservation. These appointments occurred in closed session on Aug. 16, 2021, after the mayor directed the public to “leave the room.”

At no point did the mayor solicit applications from Village residents who have requisite experience and creden-

tials to serve on the commission. Despite many requests and concerns from the public since August 2021 for in-person hearings on the application and to start the landmark review process, the mayor failed to conduct a single public hearing, conducted all meetings via Zoom webinars with no opportunity for the public to speak, and waited until only after the developer withdrew its application and requested a resolution of the landmark issue to start the landmark review process.

Now that the developer has requested landmark review, the mayor appears to be steamrolling the process over the holidays so that it could be completed by Jan. 4, 2022, including drafting resolutions before even knowing how the commission will elect to proceed and its timeline for doing so.

Once again, there is the appearance that the mayor is acting at the behest of the developer and not in the best interest of the Village and its residents, and the public remains very concerned about the appearance of conflict of interest, undue influence and abuse of

power by the mayor.

In summary, we respectfully request the recusal of Mayor Weinberg from all matters relating to the evaluation and consideration of landmark status relating to the property and an adjournment of all upcoming meetings and/or hearings with regard to the commission, namely the meeting scheduled for Nov. 30, the “Special Meeting” of the Board of Trustees scheduled for Dec. 1 and the proposed public meeting of the commission scheduled for Jan. 4. Instead, there should be a public hearing to discuss the credentials and qualifications of all members of the commission to ensure a fair, just, and transparent process.

No actions should be taken until that occurs.

Thank you for your anticipated immediate attention and response.

Respectfully submitted, Village of Thomaston Residents Wendy and Aaron Halpern Alka and Anish Jain Olivia and David Pinsley Nancy Sherman

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

39

READERS WRITE

There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch

P

resident Biden, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, House Speaker Pelosi, along with their respective Democratic House and Senate caucus members claim that both the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure and $1.75 trillion Build Back America bills are

fully paid for. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the first bill would add $228 billion and the second bill $367 billion to our $29 trillion and growing national debt over the next 10 years.

If they are so confident of this financing scheme, let them

all put up their respective future pensions, 401Ks, stocks, bonds, jewelry, automobiles, mortgaged homes and property assets and Social Security as collateral. Place all of these assets in a blind trust on behalf of taxpayers. This can serve as a small down payment to cover

the inevitable multibillion-dollar shortfall in anticipated revenues to pay for both bills over coming years. Ask their spouses or significant others to do the same.

Biden, Schumer, Pelosi and company remind me of J. Wellington Wimpy, who famously

said “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” Tuesday may never come for taxpayers who have to pay for all the goodies promised by them within their lifetime.

Larry Penner Great Neck

G.N. school board calls for civility, respect

D

ear Great Neck Community, Whether your family is new to Great Neck, or lived here for generations, Great Neck is our home. For over 200 years, Great Neck has been home for students of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, socioeconomic strata, religions, and genders. Families choose Great Neck primarily for the consistently outstanding educational opportunities which have historically been offered here by previous generations who made Great Neck their home.

Our hope remains that schools will continue to feel for students and staff like extensions

of home: places to feel safe, respected, creative, and valued.

When there are instances that this does not occur, the Board of Education has policies in place for implementation by the Superintendent of Schools and administration to rectify matters which arise. The Board’s role as effective stewards relies both on overview of the administration and on feedback from the schools’ community. As individual concerns are raised, the Board directs the administration to investigate each allegation made and to follow up, as appropriate. Please know that it is our promise to oversee, listen and be responsive to concerns you may

have, even if the response is not as immediate or the solution exactly what you had desired.

For Great Neck to remain a home which ensures the wellbeing of students and staff and the appropriate use of public resources, conduct and decorum befitting our wonderful community and prominent schools is vitally important. Particularly in an era when public opinions are passionately and sharply divided on a host of issues — including curriculum — we must model civility even as views with which we disagree are expressed. We request that all members of the community continue to treat the administration, staff and one an-

other with the respect that we, too, have always extended to the public.

The Board’s next public action meeting is scheduled in-person on Dec. 15 at 7:30 pm at Great Neck North High School (note location change). The meeting will also be broadcast on YouTube, with a recording available on the GNPS website: www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/domain/27. It is our hope that those who attend in person or view our meetings realize that our behavior must serve as a model for that of our children and others.

The Board of Education remains honored to live and volunteer in a community which

places such a high value on education, and thank all the staff, families, students, and community involved in the effort. We are dedicated to ensuring that the bountiful opportunities of Great Neck and America, which we celebrate at Thanksgiving, may continue for all Great Neck’s children and families.

Sincerely, Rebecca Sassouni, President Donna Peirez, Vice President Barbara Berkowitz, Trustee Jeff Shi, Trustee Grant Toch, Trustee Great Neck Public Schools Board of Education

Great Neck needs Grace for parks commish

W

hile this headline is subject to much interpretation with all of the growing conflict in our community, I write it as an endorsement of Grace McGirr for Park commissioner. Grace is a lifelong resident of Great Neck with tremendous knowledge of Great Neck and our park district and a genuine desire to help the community whenever she feels qualified to offer assistance.

I had the pleasure of being co-president of the EM Baker PTO with Grace. She worked tirelessly to make sure events

ran smoothly and to make sure new events were a success. She worked patiently and persistently with two principals (one retired during our term) to create Baker’s first World’s Fair during the school’s International Week.

She saw it through from idea to finished product and every step in between, be it calendaring, recruiting parent volunteers or buying “passports” for each child. She did the same with a family reading night.

She was also an impartial judge, able to do a cost benefit analysis to determine

which events were worth keeping and which, despite having been lovingly nurtured, were not. I also always admired how she knew everyone’s name, be they teacher, paraprofessional or janitor and took the time to get to know them. I’ve seen her in action and I know Grace to be an impressive leader and a no-nonsense person who gets things done.

During our years at Baker, with construction projects getting started, Grace would also speak up regarding trees that shouldn’t be taken down or a large boulder that the

children liked to climb that should be preserved. Grace couldn’t save all the trees, but she pays attention to details and nature. It makes perfect sense that Grace would want to next help the community by becoming a park commissioner.

Grace grew up here and is raising her family here. She and her family use the park district facilities — classes at Great Neck House, Camp Parkwood, movies and concerts at Steppingstone and other parks, Parkwood Pool, ice skating, tennis lessons, and more. She knows the park

district from A-Z, or in terms of parks from Allenwood to Wyngate.

Please note that I am not speaking ill of any other candidate. I know and like some of the other candidates. But Grace’s ties to Great Neck and the park district are as strong as the roots of the trees that remain in the Baker yard. At this time, for this position, Great Neck needs Grace. I encourage you to vote Grace McGirr for Great Neck Park commissioner.

Amy Nelkin-Kase Great Neck

For the latest news, visit us at w w w.theislandnow.com LETTERS POLICY Letters should be typed or neatly handwritten, and those longer than 750 words may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters must include the writer’s name and phone number for verification. Anonymously sent letters will not be printed. Letters must be received by Monday noon to appear in the next week’s paper. All letters become the property of Blank Slate Media LLC and may be republished in any format. Letters can be e-mailed to news@theislandnow.com or mailed to Blank Slate Media, 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577.

40 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

Business&RealEstate

Outlook for real estate uncertain Are you still renting? If so ask yourself why. Is it because you want to be as flexible as possible and not beholden to a mortgage?

Is it because you want to be able to move in a short period of time without having to sell anything?

Have you invested the difference between your current rent and a mortgage and all the expenses inherent in ownership into another asset to increase your wealth or is it in cash (which is truly “trash” as per Ray Dalio founder/CEO hedge fund of Bridgewater Associates, decreasing your wealth daily)?

The actual value of cash or what is called our “ fiat currency“ has been reduced with the radical increase in our current inflation and the unfortunate and absolute necessity and non-transparency of the Fed. When one adds to the equation the price of energy and food, your real inflation number would be more accurate. If the truth were to be told (which currently it is not), it would send shock waves throughout our economy and purchasing would be drastically reduced (and hoarding might take place as it was with a simple commodity of toilet paper in 2020).

A different psychology and fear would come about and would also play a role in reduced spending. As inflation continues, your

Managed IT

dollar’s value and purchasing power goes down, as it is now, then the dollar you have in cash now in 2021 will be worth much less in 2022, by more than 15 percent.

Everything looks very rosy in the current real estate market as spending is way up, mostly because sales slowed and halted for a portion of 2020, but money flowed from the Fed to a huge portion of the population and people were paid not to work. Most didn’t have to pay rent and still don’t (although some could more than afford to), so everyone saved a lot of dollars.

Now so many are now spending it and with the supply-chain disruption, limited supply and high demand, prices have escalated, too; but fortunately people are still spending for now.

My professional opinion about inflation is that it will not come down until the supply chain is rectified (more dock workers and truckers need to come back into the market to perform their jobs) and demand for products and durables is reduced as dollars are spread out and move to hospitality, vacations, air travel and other services. Somewhere in the future maybe towards the end of 2022 into 2023, inflation may slow down.

But the continued printing of money (10-plus trillion and counting) and the purchasing of bonds

VoIP Phones

Cyber Security

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

by the Fed (because no one else is) will continue to acerbate the dilution of our currency and its purchasing power. Interest rates, being as low as they are, have been a beneficial boon to homeowners, investors, and businesses as a short term Band-Aid fix (not a permanent fix) but extremely bad for the future of our economy.

Debt keeps piling up day in and day out as we are spending considerably more than we are taking in from income tax receivables and other methods. If you look at our current and near term financial environment, we have been digging a huge debt hole for over 50 years and are at the precipice of a potential cataclysmic situation.

However, depending on how many

Cyber Compliance

Ban-Aid fixes the Fed comes up with, it’s only a matter of time before we will all really have to deal with the consequences of the monetary policies of the current and past, which for now are not being dealt with properly.

The infrastructure bill is a necessary evil to not only fix our deteriorating roads, bridges, tunnels and high speed “mothballed” rails, but at the same time to create more higher paying jobs. This in turn will add dollars to our economy, but unfortunately on the flip side will again add to our national debt.

This should have been addressed many years ago, but we kept kicking the ball down the road. We spent $2.5 trillion on a war over 20 years and that was a waste of money and lives and could have been utilized to repair and upgrade our infrastructure. (But oil and money was the reason, not democracy as the public was told). Unfortunately, I do not have a solution that most would like to hear, because it would be very painful to most. It reminds me of the old adage when working out, “no pain, no gain.”

But to me that is the only answer as we need to cut back slowly but surely.

As inflation continues, and when and if interest rates increase, the cost of building homes will absolutely increase as they currently

have (due to supply chain issues) even under our low historical rates.

Demand will cool off as the cost of ownership increases beyond the budgets of the “everyday purchaser” and this in turn will continue to cause builders to slow and in some cases stop constructing homes which will stop adding inventory.

However, as more sellers enter the market trying to sell and we eventually get to the six to seven month “normal market inventory” and beyond, prices will normalize and potentially decrease.

Since families and people need to live somewhere, rental prices will increase due to fewer people purchasing and more becoming enters; basic supply and demand economics. However, expensive states like NY, CT, NJ, CA and others will continue to see the exodus of the population (although those who can afford to continue to live there will stay) but adding to other states, e.g. NC, SC, Fla, Tx and other states where the cost of living is considerably less and where rentals will be more advantageous, not only to the renters but also to the investors and landlords.

How will real estate taxes and representation be handled in those states that continue to lose their families? As those expensive states continually increase the costs of living will only add insult to injury, further reducing the number of people who can no longer afford or want to live for their mortgages, real estate, state and local taxes.

Also, another variable, global warming, will affect and add to the mix where people live. Could there be a reverse flow back away from those states most affected as temperatures rise?

There are way too many variables in the mix to even guess with any certainty where we are going, but the word “pain” has to be considered as part of the equation, in order to make things come down to Earth once again, or maybe not; and then we will look back and say could have, should have, but didn’t!

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 of 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). For a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, a value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.

Com

The Port Washington Times, Friday, December 3, 2021

PW

41

Recent Real Estate Sales in

Port Washington

38 Dunes Lane, Port Washington

17 Beachway Street, Port Washington

6 bd, 4 ba, Sold On: 10/12/21, Sold Price: $1,250,000 Type: Multi-Family, Schools: Port Washington

4 bd, 2 ba, 3,100 sqft, Sold On: 10/6/21, Sold Price: $1,360,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Port Washington

17 Alden Lane, Port Washington

41 Plymouth Road, Port Washington

3 bd, 2 ba, Sold On: 10/6/21, Sold Price: $971,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Port Washington

3 bd, 2 ba, Sold On: 10/6/21, Sold Price: $950,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Port Washington

Editor’s note: Homes shown here were recently sold in Port Washington by a variety of real estate agencies. This information about the home and the photos were obtained through the Zillow.com. The homes are presented solely based on the fact that they were recently sold in Port Washington and are believed by Blank Slate Media to be of interest to our readers.

SEND US A NEWS TIP! WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT NEWS IN OUR COMMUNITY. LET US KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON! THEISLANDNOW.COM/SUBMIT-NEWS WWW.THEISLANDNOW.COM

42 The Port Washington Times, Friday, December 3, 2021

PW

Money coming to fight cyberattacks Continued from Page 2 or staff,” Passi wrote in a previous email to the district. “We share your outrage about this invasion of privacy.”

Cybersecurity experts said the district’s ransomware attack is not an isolated incident, as universities and school districts have become targets for extortion.

“What we’re actually noticing in research is that there is a business cycle starting to emerge with this,” said Scott Jeffreys, associate professor of computer science at Hofstra University. “Right now is a very hot time for cybercriminals to be launching these kinds of spear phishing attacks against organizations.”

The attack against Manhasset was

one of several that have affected school districts on the North Shore over the past few years. In August 2019, Mineola School District Superintendent Michael Nagler said the district was the victim of a cyberattack, but no sensitive data was compromised.

Nagler said that a malware attack did not compromise the system that hosted “sensitive information.” It was a Windows-based virus and was not able to compromise Apple computers, Nagler said.

The “ransomware” encrypted all data on the network and locked all employees out and in order to get back in the district would have to pay a ransom. Nagler said the district did not entertain paying

ransom.

In December 2020, the North Shore Hebrew Academy’s website was the victim of a hack that featured antisemitic images, messages and songs.

Screenshots of the website were then posted with antisemitic messages with slurs above a notification that the website was under construction. In the website’s “About Us” tab, there were pictures of Nazi soldiers holding up swastikas and referring to the school as the “North Shore Concentration Camp.”

The tab also featured a profile on Adolf Hitler and outlined “field trips” the students would take to Auschwitz. The post said that students would have to “walk into an SS office and declare them-

selves as Jews,” and listed the deadline for the application as “January 1945.”

State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills), who attended the news conference last week, praised Schumer for helping fund efforts by school districts and local governments to combat cyberattacks and said the legislation will be effective.

“Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure bill that Senator Schumer fought for, and was just signed into law by President Biden, we’re now going to have a national strategy to combat cyberattacks to prevent them from happening in the first place, and we will have the resources we need to help victims recover from attacks,” Kaplan said.

“Our Long Island schools need grade-A help from the feds to fend off these looming threats and cyberattacks – now, they’ll get it,” Schumer said.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO START RECEIVING YOUR COPY OF THE PORT WASHINGTON TIMES @ WWW.THEISLANDNOW.COM

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

WILLIAM J ALLSBROOK Jr.

“William “William, liam you were always my hero hero. I wanted to be just like you, but I didn't play football or basketball like 'The Will', just didn't have your touch. I enjoyed watching you and was always proud to be your brother. Never does a day go by that I do not think of you. What would it be like to be able to call you. I have told my daughters about you letting me drive Mom and Dad’s new car around Tarboro although I was only 14 years old. October 2, 1970, Daddy’s birthday and the day that changed my life. You were my hero before Nam and you are still and one day I hope to walk with you again. I Love you. Mike”

Help us find a photo for every name on The Wall Each name on The Wall represents a family who was forever changed by their loss.

Help us find photos for the Wall of Faces to ensure that those who sacrificed all in Vietnam are never forgotten.

Vist www.VVMF.org/Faces to learn more

The Port Washington Times, Friday, December 3, 2021

PW

43

Suozzi joins crowded race for governor Continued from Page 1 perience balancing budgets for Nassau makes him an ideal candidate for those concerned about the state’s financial state.

“I turned around and managed a county that had a budget larger than 11 states and was on the brink of bankruptcy,” he said.

In the House, Suozzi is a member of the Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax writing committee and the vice chair of the Problems Solvers Caucus. Suozzi has also been an advocate of increasing the cap on the federal tax deduction for state and local taxes, known as the SALT cap.

Two weeks ago, House Democrats passed the Build Back Better act, a $1.75 trillion spending package, including easing limits on SALT, which was capped at $10,000 under legislation signed by former President Donald Trump.

Suozzi was previously approached

by New York City Mayor-elect and fellow Democrat Eric Adams to serve as deputy mayor. Suozzi, who endorsed and campaigned for Adams during his Democratic primary run, said on Saturday that he will still “do everything I can to help my friend Mayor-elect @ericadamsfornyc & the people of NYC succeed.”

The list of Democratic candidates for governor includes Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was lieutenant governor and

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CONGRESSMAN’S OFFICE

U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (left), shown with President Joe Biden, announced he will run for governor of New York on Monday.

stepped in after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August, Attorney General Letitia James,and others.

“The governor of New York is one of the biggest jobs in the nation, wielding a $200 billion budget and massive responsibility to improve the lives of over 19 million residents,” Suozzi said. “I have the track record, common sense approach and bold new vision to get it done. I can do it, because I have done it.”

With Suozzi now eyeing the governor’s seat, his seat in the 3rd Congressional District, which includes most of the North Shore, will be up for grabs. One candidate who was already in the running to challenge him is Melanie D’Arrigo, who lost to Suozzi in the 2020 Democratic primary.

D’Arrigo, a Port Washington resident and community and health care advocate, said she is ready to advocate for working people throughout the district on the state and federal level.

“My opponent just announced that he is no longer running for this seat, and that means this race has just become one of our best chances to elect another progressive to Congress who will center the needs of working people,” D’Arrigo said in a statement. “We are ready to fight for universal healthcare, bold action on climate, voting rights and real relief for our communities – and we will win.”

COVID beats Islanders, games canceled Continued from Page 4 Lou Lamoriello cited the team’s adherence to health and safety protocols to NHL.com. He said people throughout the organization have adapted to the unconventional start to the season to the best of their ability.

“Our coaching staff has done that, we’ve asked our players to do that, and I think they’ve done a tremendous job over these set of circumstances, starting off with being on the road, coming back and having one practice going into a new facility and then being hit with the COVID,” Lamoriello told NHL. com on Saturday. “You can say it’s unfortunate, but I don’t want to say frustrations can get in the way. Certainly everyone is human, but right now all

we can do is take a step back and use these three days and get prepared for our next practice and our next game.”

If players and staff test negative through Tuesday, officials said, the team could resume practicing as early as Wednesday.

Forwards Kieffer Bellows, Ross Johnston and Anders Lee, along with defensemen Zdeno Chara, Andy Greene, and Adam Pelech were already in the COVID protocol during the Islanders’ 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last Friday. Forward Casey Cizikas entered the COVID protocol on Saturday following the loss, officials announced.

Before the announcement, the Islanders had lost eight consecutive

games, being outscored 32-7 over that span. Aside from the loss to Pittsburgh on Friday night, the team lost each of the previous seven games by at least three goals. After losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs for the second consecutive year, the Islanders sat at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division with a 5-10-2 record.

Head coach Barry Trotz told NHL. com that having players enter the COVID protocol is another challenge the team has to rise above this season.

“We’re in a real tough division,” Trotz told NHL.com. “Obviously, we want to do well in this rink. Our fans want us [to do well], they’re excited about that, and we get hit with COVID, we get hit with injuries, those type of

Hochul prepares for new variant Continued from Page 3 78.7 percent in the 11024 ZIP code of the Great Neck peninsula, which includes the Village of Kings Point. The next lowest one is also in Great Neck, with the 11023 ZIP code at an 83.5 percent rate, according to the figures. This area incorporates parts of the villages of Great Neck and Saddle Rock, along

with Great Neck Gardens and Harbor Hills.

The statistics also show vaccination rates of 97.4 percent in Port Washington, 95.5 percent in Albertson, 94.6 percent in New Hyde Park’s 11040 ZIP code, 94.5 percent in Great Neck’s 11021 ZIP code, 94 percent in Roslyn Heights, 92.6 percent in Williston Park,

92.5 percent in Mineola, 89.2 percent in Manhasset and 84.6 percent in Floral Park.

In total, the 13 North Shore ZIP codes average a 93.9 percent vaccination rate. Without the 24.3 percent figure in the 11042 ZIP code, the average for the remaining 12 ZIP codes increases to 99.7 percent.

things. Very untimely, but that’s life.”

Though the Islanders have yet to secure their first win at UBS Arena, nicknamed “the Stable,” the excitement among the team and the fans was palpable during the opening games.

“It absolutely blew me away,” Islanders forward Mathew Barzal told ESPN. “I walked right in, saw the gym, saw the eating area, and I couldn’t wait to see more. The entire facility and rink and how it was set up was so high-end. … We’re a really lucky group.”

“It really won’t be our home rink for a while,” Trotz told NBC Sports.

“It’s like a neutral-site game for the first month. But we’re thrilled that we’re getting into a new rink. It’s great for the fans and it’s great for the franchise.”

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★ Algebra ★ Core Curriculum NYS Licensed ★ Geometry Grades 7-12 ★ Algebra 2 + Trig ★ Pre-Calc ★ AP Calculus

ENGLISH • ACT • SAT al Reading ic it r C ★ Also ONLINE ★ Writing Tutoring ★ Grammar ★ Essays

LYNNE: 516-625-3314 TUTOR ▼

SPANISH TUTOR Making a Difference…

HIGH SCHOOL…COLLEGE SPANISH GRAMMAR/LITERATURE

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS ▼

College Arts Admissions

College Counseling in the Visual and Performing Arts Dance • Musical Theatre & Drama • Film • Instrumental & Vocal Music • Audio Recording & Production • Theatre Technology & Production • Visual & Graphic Arts RESUME • ESSAYS • REPERTOIRE LISTS

PLACE YOUR AD ▼

Advertising on this page is only open to N.Y.S. licensed professionals.

Call 516-307-1045 and let us begin listing you in our Professional Guide and Professional Services pages.

ing effect on teaching – either intentionally or unintentionally. The second is that it is out of date.

Anyone hear about the internet, Facebook and other social media?

Unless a parent is controlling a child’s use of cellphones, tablets and desktop computers – or their friends’ – there is not much that can be done to control the daily flow of information, disinformation and even any sexually explicit content they receive.

What today’s students – and parents – really need is media literacy on how to separate fact from fiction.

We are all subjected every day to a torrent of misinformation and disinformation promulgated by everyone from foreign governments to political parties trying to divide us as well as people just trying to scam a quick buck.

What’s needed is education in how to evaluate information – its sources and their credibility.

We also need to prevent school districts from becoming political battlegrounds where board members are harassed and the education of our children is undermined.

That now appears to be an assignment we all need to accept.

2 minutes to midnight for democracy in U.S.

Call/Text 516-509-8174

CollegeArtsAdmissions@gmail.com www.CollegeArtsAdmissions.com

Culture wars come to Great Neck school

VIEW POINT

William Cullen, M.A., NYS Permanent Certification 7-12

Michele Zimmerman 516-353-6255

OUR VIEWS

Continued from Page 14 We also disagree with the comment attributed on the site to the English class teacher that all white people harbor “significant fragility when discussing race; some common manifestations of this fragility are: defensiveness or anger, emotional withdrawal, guilt & tears.”

But we certainly believe that a significant number do.

The website also points out that the English class reading list includes as “current reading” both Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo.

Kendi has written that racism was the central force in American history. DiAngelo has written how progressive white people cause racial harm.

You may agree with them or disagree with them – hopefully after reading their books. But is it so wrong for 11th-graders to read the books and decide for themselves?

Or do we want to allow political activists from the left or right to decide for us?

Banning books is a very old concept and in some cases, such as how explicit sex is presented, it may have a place.

But there are two problems with banning books. In most cases, it creates a chill-

NORM: 516-625-3314

45

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/ THEISLANDNOW AND TWITTER: @THEISLANDNOW

Continued from Page 17 And his tactic of using the Big Lie is supported by candidates from Congress to state houses to local elections and school boards who use it to as an excuse to execute laws and policies to suppress the vote, gerrymander maps that keep Republicans in control even with fewer voters, and even set aside the results of an election and pick their preferred winner to stay in office and keep power despite being a minority party undermining popular policies.

And they are starting now, targeting key states (they only need three), to replace their secretary of state, election clerks, inspectors, poll watchers with those who unabashedly declare their support for the Big Lie — that gets them Trump’s endorsement — so they are in place for 2022 and 2024.

The opportunism the Republicans see is evident in how not a single one (not even the few remaining “rational” Republicans: Cheney. Kinzinger, Romney, Collins or Murkowski) has

voted for the Voting Rights legislation that has come out of the House. Many criticize the Democrats for failing to address what is happening to democracy with the urgency of an existential threat.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, among others, is raising the alarm: “It is no exaggeration to say that we are at a crisis moment in our democracy and we do not have long to act. If Congress does not take action — and SOON — Republicans in a number of states that have passed anti-democratic legislation will get away with undermining American democracy. There will simply not be enough time to undo the damage they have caused “The ONLY way we are going to save our democracy for this and future generations is if Democrats in the Senate have the courage to use their majority to make that happen. And that means voting to set aside the filibuster for voting rights legislation and pass a bill that ensures all citizens in this country have the ability to vote.”

46 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼ ANTIQUES

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

CARPENTRY

$$ Top Cash Paid $$

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• 1 Pc.or entire estates • Premium prices paid for Tiffany, Damaged Quality Pieces Meissen Porcelain, Bronzes, Marble, etc. also

wanted

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CARS WANTED

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• • • •

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• Kitchen Installations • Furniture Assembly • Finish Carpentry • Minor Electrical & Plumbing

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ISA

• New Construction & Conversions • Dormers • Extensions • Mason Work • Stone • Kitchens • Windows • Siding • Decks • Porticos • Baths • Basements • Carpentry Work

đ GARAGE FLOORS đ LAUNDRY ROOMS đ PATIOS đ WALKWAYS đ RECREATION ROOMS đ BASEMENTS đ SERVICE AREAS đ OFFICES đ SCHOOLS đ SHOWROOMS đ RESTROOMS đ PRODUCTION AREAS đ VETERINARY CLINICS

CONCRETE COATINGS

• We Remove Or Demo Anything & Everything • Entire contents of home and/or office • We clean it up and take it away

AMBIANCE

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Kitchens • Bathrooms Clean-Ups • Attics Basements Flood/Fire

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ALL SIZE DUMPSTERS Same Day Service, Fully Insured Bob Cat Service

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

47

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼ LAWN SPRINKLERS

LAMPS FIXED $ 65

• Fall Drain Outs • Backflow Device Tests • Free Estimates • Installation • Service/Repairs

Joe Barbato (516) 775-1199 ROOFING

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ROOFING

516-983-0860

631-496-9711

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WINDOW TREATMENTS

N.Y.D.O.T.#10405

MOVING & STORAGE INC.

Long Island and New York State Specialists

• Residential • Commercial • Piano & Organ Experts • Boxes Available FREE ESTIMATES www.ajmoving.com

516-741-2657

LIC: #H2219010000

PAINTING, POWERWASHING

• Slate Roof Repairs • Shingle Roof Repair • Copper Flashing Replacements • Caulking/Roof Maintenance • Silicone Coatings • Snow Guards/Roof Ventilation

ADVERTISE WITH US

MOVING

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Mineola, NY 11501

PAINTING

PAINTING & WALLPAPER est. 1978

Interior and Exterior • Plaster/Spackle Light Carpentry • Decorative Moldings Power Washing 516-385-3132 New Hyde Park

www.MpaintingCo.com

516-328-7499 Licensed & Insured

TREE SERVICE

OLD VILLAGE TREE SERVICE 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE Owner Operated Since 1989 Licensed & Insured

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*CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS TOP BRANDS AT DISCOUNT PRICES* WE BRING THE SHOWROOM TO YOU FREE CONSULTATION

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631-385-7975

WINDOW REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS

516-426-2890

Outdated Hardware • Skylights •Andersen Sashes • New Storm Windows • Wood Windows • Chain/Rope Repairs • Falling Windows • Fogged Panes • Mechanical Repairs • Wood Repairs

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

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Lic. # H080600000 Nassau

nassau

48 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

COMMUNITY CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here call:516.307.1045

▼ EMPLOYMENT To Place Your Ad Call Phone:

516.307.1045 x 218

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED

Fax:

516.307.1046

e-mail:

DFlynn@theislandnow.com

In Person:

22 Planting Field Road Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

We’re Open:

Mon–Thurs: 9am-5:30pm Fri: 9am-6pm

Deadlines

Monday 2:00pm: Classified Advertising Tuesday 1:00pm: Legal Notices/ Name Changes Friday 5:00pm Buyers’s Guide Error Responsibility All ads placed by telephone are read back for verification of copy context.

In the event of an error of Blank Slate Media LLC we are not responsible for the first incorrect insertion. We assume no responsiblity for an error in and beyond the cost of the ad.

Cancellation Policy Ads must be cancelled the Monday before the first Thursday publication. All cancellations must be received in writing by fax at: 516.307.1046 Any verbal cancellations must be approved by a supervisor. There are no refunds on cancelled advertising. An advertising credit only will be issued.

• Great Neck News • Williston Times • New Hyde Park Herald Courier • Manhasset Times • Roslyn Times • Port Washington Times • Garden City News • Bethpage Newsgram • Jericho Syosset News Journal • Mid Island Times • Syosset Advance

MOBIL AUTO SERVICE

AUTO MECHANIC (Nassau)

$1000.00 HIRING BONUS Experience in General Repairs Inspection License & Diagnostic is a plus

Excellent Pay Call (516) 661-8471

!"#$%&"'()"*%+,#-./-(0,1234,) NASSAU COUNTY NEEDS CERTIFIED HHA’S, COMPANIONS AND HOMEMAKERS. ★★★ HIRING IMMEDIATELY★★★ “A Special thank you to all the Nurse Aides and all who Save Lives.”

• Competitive Pay Rate • Flexible Scheduling • All Shifts & Locations available

718-850-3400

HELP WANTED CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANT Cherry Valley Club Garden City Is seeking a seasoned construction knowledgeable individual to act as Owners’ Representative for multiple building related projects at the club.

Candidate should be personable and adept at construction trade coordination and project management. Flexible Per-diem employment engagement expected. Send resumes to : carneyj2@verizon.net FORMER BIG FOUR/SIX Accountant Stay at home mom looking to make extra spending money?

Flexible schedule, limited deadlines, work from home. 18-20 hours per week. CPA not required. Call 516-522-0499 Email: kathleen@ kscprofessional.com FRONT DESK ADMIN. Busy Real Estate Office Computer and Organizational Skills Required. Flexible 20 hrs/week IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY Resume/Call for Appointment 516-248-9494 LYNEER STAFFING SOLUTIONS Hiring Mail Sorters, Data Entry $15.00, Forklifts $17.50, Mystery Shoppers Ages 21-25 $20.00. 860 Long Island Ave., Deer Park NY 11729 631-586-4699

Office Assistant / Receptionist / Clerical Seeking candidate for general office duties.

• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel & Computer Skills • Must have good customer service skills • Will train • Mon-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm • Competitive salary and medical, pension benefits • Williston Park location

516-877-9228 Ask for Peter Scalzo

RECEPTIONIST needed for P/T eves & weekends. Will train. Also VET/TECH KENNEL ASST. Duties include helping doctors with appointments/treatments. Cleaning cages/offices/equipment. Must like animals, be reliable, dependable & work well with others. Pay negotiable for both positions. Please call to schedule interview. Port Washington Animal Hospital: 516-883-2005 TAX PREPARER PART TIME Franklin Square Experience needed Retirees welcome.

Call 516-358-9455 Fax resume 516-358-9483 Email: ed@loturco.com

EMPLOYMENT

SITUATION WANTED

Office Assistant / Clerical

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

Call 516-775-6171

• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel & Computer Skills • Must have good customer service skills • Will train • Mon-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm • Competitive salary and medical, pension benefits • Williston Park location

HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDER with over 15 years of experience, I am skilled in facilitating the needs of those with any type of physical or mental disability as well as end of life care. Able to perform all house hold duties and tasks necessary for in home personal care. Professional and compassionate care to help maximize the comfort of you or your loved ones in their own home.

Call 516-602-7178

Seeking Candidate with Experience with Health & Welfare Benefits & Medical Claims.

516-877-9228 Ask for Peter Scalzo

Office Assistant Needed P/T, all office duties including billing & accounts payable. Knowledge of QuickBooks a PLUS. Flexible Days/Hrs. Please contact Lynn at:LEckstein@fabricresourcesintl. com

SITUATION WANTED

Certified HHA

• Experienced • Excellent references.

We will provide you the best caregivers in America.

Filipino men and women.

Kind, loving and caring at this very difficult time.

Call Gertrude

347–444–0960 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. Please call 516-383-7150 CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDE FULL TIME 25 years experience, light housekeeping, shopping, activities, appointments etc. Valid driver’s license. Excellent references and fully vaccinated. Please call 516-236-1711

I am a 26 year old professional male, currently working and going to school for my masters. I am looking to rent a furnished room, studio or one bedroom apartment in Nassau County.

I am responsible, respectful and clean.

Please contact Jon at 917 885-3201 or email me at

genie91234@yahoo.com if you are looking for a good tenant.

HOME HEALTH AIDE / ELDER CARE Loving reliable woman seeking FT position nights/weekends to take care of your loved one. Experienced with ALS, dementia, diabetes, etc. Great referenceshighly recommended. Licensed driver.

Call 646-575-8217

LIST YOUR ITEMS FOR SALE HERE CALL 516.307.1045

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

Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

ANNOUNCEMENTS ATTENTION MEDICARE RECIPIENTS! Open Enrollment for Medicare health plans is here! Call our licensed insurance agents for an affordable quote for your needed coverage. Call for a no obligation free quote now! 844-808-9374 (TTY:711) GET DIRECTV ! ONLY $69.99/ month. 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies on Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package). PLUS Stream on UP to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost.

Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

MARKETPLACE A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP 516-746-8900 Antiques-FurnitureJewelry-Silver-Mirrors-LampsArtwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4 Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org Items to Consign? Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange. org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society Like us on Facebook & Instagram

MARKETPLACE INVITED ESTATE SALES

BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week!

Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property!

Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www.invitedsales.com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

FURNITURE FOR SALE GARDEN CITY Brand new furniture: Raymour & Flanigan Couch6’ (grey) 2 Custom Made Arm Chairs (floral design) Best Offer Call: 516-248-0105

AUCTIONS Cool Old Stuff in Glen Cove Vintage Shop. WINNER OF BEST OF NASSAU COUNTY 2021.

GREAT PRICED items for Boat and Home. See ALL online: Wilsonsdrydock.com. For info/ appt Please call 516-662-2821

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

Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104 TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTSALL OBJECTS OF ARTJEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

JUNK CARS BOUGHT Auto Wrecking Frank & Sons

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Butcher’s Cut Top Sirloins (5 oz.)

Filet Mignon Burgers (5.3 oz.)

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Individual Scalloped Potatoes (3.8 oz.)

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*Savings shown over aggregated single item base price. Standard S&H applies. ©2021 Omaha Steaks, Inc. Exp. 12/31/21

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

▼ EMPLOYMENT, SERVICES, HOME IMPROVEMENT

49

“Excellence is our Hallmark” Apex Therapeutic Services was founded in 2002 and have been providing first class service to our clients throughout the tri-state area for almost 20 years.

WE PROVIDE

NOW HIRING for RN, CNA, Housekeepers and Companion Services

• • • • • • • • •

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• Hospitals • Long Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facilities • Homecare • Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinics • School Districts • Municipalities

1010 Northern Blvd., Suite 424 Great Neck, NY 11021 • 516-472-7002 Email: info@apexcare.net COMPUTERS

AUTOMOTIVE

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AUTOS WANTED ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV 10#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VANCARS 516-297-2277

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

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

APARTMENT FOR RENT GARDEN CITY BORDER APARTMENTS NO BROKER FEE. Huge, bright 1Br, 1 bath apt. $1685 +electric. Gated parking. Laundry room, air conditioning, hardwood floors, LIRR. www.gcbapts.com Voice or text: 516-524-6965

REAL ESTATE WANTED

HOUSE WANTED TO RENT SUMMER 2022 RENTAL WANTED HOUSE OR APARTMENT Retired Garden City couple looking for summer rental in Garden City, Rockville Centre, W. Hempstead or surrounding areas. July, August and September. Please call Martha: 516-697-6694

SERVICES

SERVICES

ATTORNEY

FAMILY RECOVERY SERVICES I am a long time resident of Garden City and understand the complexities of ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH. I am available to GUIDE families find the MOST COST EFFECTIVE & COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN for a loved one. I will Bridge the Gap between a Family ravaged by Alcoholism, Drug Addiction and/or Mental Health AND Life Long Recovery.

HELP IS HERE NOW! Please call me for a confidential consultation.

954-540-8441 Kim Koslow, LMHC, MCAP, CTT Licensed Psychotherapist Motivational Interventionist Reliable Resource“It was in my heart to help a little because I was helped much”Kahill Gibran

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

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from!! Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495

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Pay for your ads online:

LIST YOUR SERVICES HERE: 516.307. 1045

classifieds.theislandnow.com

Didi Hutt, Esq. Specializing in personal injury litigation including car accidents, slip/trip and all injuries, construction accident cases and medical malpractice. Call 212-323-7443 or email dh@huttlawpc.com

COMPUTERS

AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS FALL DRAIN OUTS Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199 CHIMNEY KING ENT. INC. FREE ESTIMATES Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist. FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK 516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600 Since 1982 chimneykinginc.com Eliminate gutter cleaning forever!

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Offer expires December 31st 2021. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages

by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

51

Blakeman to retain Ryder as top cop !"#$$%&%'($ !"#$%&'&($)#$*&'&+,-#)*

Continued from Page 6 Blakeman also said his experience working on homeland security programs as a Port Authority board member qualified him to combat crime. He has been a critic of bail reform laws in the state, implemented in 2020, that eliminated cashless bail for most nonviolent crimes and misdemeanors.

Nassau County spends $1,148 per capita on police and fire protection while the national median is $359, according to a U.S. News & World report this year. Public safety professionals account for 1.26 percent of the county’s population, compared with the national median of 0.70 percent.

Blakeman, during the news conference last week, said he will retain some leaders of county departments from the Curran administration and emphasized his stance of politics not being a factor in his decision to do so.

“Politics has no place when it comes to safety and security decisions,” Blakeman said. “Therefore, I

have determined that some personnel in the current administration will remain and others will not.”

Blakeman said Nassau County Sheriff James Dzuernda and Health Commissioner Lawrence Eisenstein will both retain their roles under his administration. Blakeman said he and Dzuernda have been discussing reorganization of the department.

“He is an experienced and knowledgeable expert on corrections,” Blakeman said. “I want him to completely focus on the jail and all of its component parts.”

Blakeman touted Eisenstein’s work throughout the coronavirus pandemic when announcing his retention.

“Coming through a horrific period of profound challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein demonstrated a calm, determined and proactive leadership of the Health Department,” Blakeman said.

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FUNANCE FOR KIDS

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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED

Brad Zupp's "FUNance For Kids" entertained Berry Hill Elementary students while teaching them valuable lessons about money and personal finance. The assembly made a normally difficult topic of personal finance enjoyable for students from kindergarten though fifth grade. Berry Hill students learned

■

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and the Town Board are once again welcoming the LI Blues, as well as three other hockey teams, to the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center in Bethpage for the 6th Annual LI Blues Winter Classic. This special event showcases hockey players with special needs enjoying a game they love. The public is welcome to attend and admission is FREE. Faceoff for the first of four games is at 3:30 p.m. The fourth and final game is expected to conclude at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center is located at 1001 Stewart Avenue, adjacent to Bethpage Community Park.

"The LI Blues is an inspiring hockey program in which children and young adults with developmental disabilities play ice hockey in an accommodating setting," Supervisor Venditto said.

"It is a terrific program that brings all the fun of playing ice hockecial needs. Three other teams, the East e ey to athletes with special w Jersey Dare Devils and the New York Coast Jumbos, the New pa ating and the Town Board and I welcome Raptors will be participating wn n of Oyster Bay. We also invite our resithese teams to the Town event and cheer these players on. Their dents to come to this e attion to the sport is very uplifting." commitment and dedication izzation is pleased to again be partnering "The LI Blues organization with the Town of Oysterr Bay to present the LI Blues Winter Classic," Michael Russo of LII Blues Special Hockey said. "We are very hich adapts the game of hockey to make proud of our program wh which pe ecial needs. The LI Blues Winter Classic it fun for players with special o that program and we are thrilled to is an outstanding piece of e-art Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Cenhave it at the state-of-the-art

$1

Friday, February 5, 2016

Vol. 92, No. 26

$1

Friday, January 29, 2016

Vol. 76, No. 5

oted that the LI Blues Winter Classic is Supervisor Venditto no noted ec cial events held at the Town of Oyster just one of the many special he Supervisor said, "This fabulous facilBay Ice Skating Center. Th The ny hockey and skating organizations, n ity is the home to many Th hroughout the year, there are champiincluding the LI Blues. Throughout ey y games, special programs such as the onship high school hockey Ho ockey for Free and the Town's Annual New York Rangers Try Hockey n addition there is the Town's highly Holiday on Ice Show. In program and other special events. The acclaimed youth hockey p ry y proud of this facility, which so many Town Board and I are very kating sessions, and all of us are happy k residents enjoy at public skating

BY RIKKI N. MASSAND Easter ess Winter Classic in the Town of Oyster to have the LIwith Winter Blues meetings held before a collaborative There will be two “workshop” Committee signaling its steps bout the LI Blues Winter Classic and For more information ab about Garden City’s new StreetScapeof Trustees began discussing the Board on posand built spirit. Late last year wn of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center, w other programs at the Town corridors the village’s business Night to further invigorate eb bsite at www.oysterbaytown.com, or pleaseFriday visit the Town's website another summer of well-attended that businesses itive momentum from concerns some as address Promenades, as well

University PAGE 6 MLK Day at Cathedral PAGE 30 ■ Parent

CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

Meetings set for Seventh Street, business hub improvements

$1 Friday, January

Vol. 76, No. 5

29, 2016

Friday, January 29, 2016

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53

COMMUNITY NEWS

Northwell Health Urgent Care earns award Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care has been honored by the Healthcare Association of New York State with a Pinnacle Award for Quality and Patient Safety. Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care was recognized for its Implementation of an Antibiotic Stewardship Program Across a Large-scale Ur-

gent Care Network.

Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care began an antibiotic stewardship program in 2019 to monitor and improve the way antibiotics are prescribed by doctors and taken by patients.

Within the first year of the program, the network’s 54 urgent care sites had shown a 21

percent drop in antibiotic use, equating to 167,000 fewer antibiotic prescriptions.

The stewardship program effectively safeguards patients from antibiotic resistance, side effects and medical costs.

“An antibiotic stewardship is really about getting the right medication to the right patient

at the right time for the right diagnosis” said Dr. Neal Shipley, medical director at Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care.

“At Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, our commitment to patient safety and clinical quality helped drive this change in culture across our entire network.”

The Pinnacle Award for Quality and Patient Safety, recognizes successful quality improvement and innovative patient safety initiatives in four categories based on organization size and type. Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care is the first of four winners to be announced.

Temple Beth Sholom families give back At Temple Beth Sholom Early Childhood Center in Roslyn Heights this year, the school’s annual Mitzvah Week Food Drive became a family affair.

On Tuesday, Nov. 16, parents and caregivers were invited to join their child outdoors for a box decorating event.

This event was conceived after preschool director, Jen Schiffer, received feedback from parents that they were looking for more ways to connect with other families in the school community in a fun and safe way.

Because the school’s COVID policies this year prevent parents from entering the school building, all events previously held inside the building have either been postponed or taken off the calendar, for now.

Schiffer shared, “Now is not the time to let our guard down.

We are always evaluating our current policies, and are hopeful that sometime in the future we will be able to welcome our amazing families into our school once again.”

On the heels of a successful outdoor pumpkin picking event held in October, Schiffer wanted to find another way to bring parents back to the school, especially before the weather turns colder.

At the end of the Food Drive each year, the preschool children traditionally help package the food for delivery to the Lend A Hand Project in

Commack. Schiffer thought, why not make the boxes filled with food donations look festive for delivery?

With the support of the Early Childhood Center teachers, each grade level of two, three, and four year old children came up with their own plan for decorating the boxes, and parents were only happy to help.

Glue, markers, stickers and

other craft items were used to decorate the boxes. Not only were the children excited to have their grown-ups to help, but the parents were also excited to connect with one another.

The final result was colorful and happy.

Because COVID has changed the way the school’s daily drop-off and pick-up happens, parents are missing the

Parents and caregivers join their children to decorate boxes for food donations.

face time with one another that existed before the pandemic.

The Mitzvah Week Food Drive, always held the week before Thanksgiving, aims to teach Jewish preschool children about the conscious act of doing something for someone else.

Values such as empathy and kindness are encouraged, as children learn about vulnerable populations on Long Island who will benefit from their food donations This community-wide act of kindness is a hands-on approach to helping children understand the true meaning of giving and doing for others.

By making the Food Drive a family initiative only added value to the important message the teachers were hoping to share with their little learners.

“The children not only see how their actions benefit others; they are able to feel it too.

It is the feeling we want them to remember and to pay forward in their daily lives. This is the true spirit of giving,” said Schiffer.

Northwell’s Constellation Gala raises over $3M More than $3 million was raised at Northwell Health’s annual Constellation Gala, held virtually on Nov. 9. The event celebrates philanthropic support as the driving force of innovations throughout Northwell Health that are transforming health care around the country.

Hosted by Colin Jost, cohead writer of “Saturday Night Live,” this year’s Constellation Gala featured special performances from the company of the Tony and Grammy Awardwinning musical, “Dear Evan Hansen,” and the Northwell Health Nurse Choir.

Attendees included New York City leaders from various

industries and philanthropists and volunteer leaders who support Northwell’s Manhattan care sites.

Proceeds from the Constellation Gala will provide greater access to high-quality care by helping to advance innovative services and programs across Manhattan including at Lenox Hill Hospital; Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital (MEETH); and Lenox Health Greenwich Village.

“The momentum and energy of Northwell’s presence in Manhattan is palpable,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health.

“With more than 90 care facilities across the city, we are

providing greater access to high-quality, convenient health care closer to the communities where people live.”

Serving Manhattan for more than 160 years, iconic Lenox Hill Hospital has been a cornerstone in the community.

It offers world-class inpatient and surgical care at one of the most sophisticated hospitals in New York City, as well as seamless, convenient access to care at MEETH, Lenox Health Greenwich Village and nearby outpatient practices.

“The last two years through a pandemic have been so challenging for everyone, but Northwell came through stronger than ever and fulfilled its

commitment to the community,” said Paul Guenther, chair of Northwell’s Western Regional Executive Council. “We never lost sight that it’s about making the lives of people better, and through the support of our donors, we can continue advancing our vision for quality care and innovation that makes a difference for our patients.”

Outpacing the Impossible campaign has raised more than $895 million The event supported Northwell’s Outpacing the Impossible campaign, a $1 billion comprehensive fundraising effort to fuel innovation to advance health care and support Northwell’s promise to the people it

serves.

The campaign — which was publicly launched in October 2018 and to date, has raised more than $895 million — supports capital projects, improves hospitals and clinical programs, advances research and funds endowment for teaching and research initiatives.

Leading sponsors of the Constellation Gala included Ellen & Daniel M. Crown, Laura & Michael G. Fisch, Diane & Paul B. Guenther, Beth & Peter Hammack, Phyllis & William L. Mack, Iris & Michael Smith, Donald Zucker & Barbara Hrbek Zucker, Margaret M. Crotty & Rory Riggs and Tara & Roy J. Zuckerberg.

54 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 3, 2021

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For a list of all locations in the tri-state area, visit: THEBRISTAL.COM

AN ENGEL BURMAN COMMUNITY

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Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies.

Equal Housing Opportunity.

The Port Washington Times, Friday, December 3, 2021

PW

55

COMMUNITY NEWS

MakeX Robotics Competition deemed a success MakeX is a robotics competition platform that promotes multidisciplinary learning within the fields of science and technology. It aims at building a world where STEAM education is highly appreciated and young people are passionate about innovation by engaging them in exciting Robotics Competitions, STEAM Carnivals, and other activities.

“2021 MakeX Robotics Competition North American Open” was successfully held on Nov 21st, 2021, at Clinton G. Martin Park in Nassau County .This competition was hosted by Youth Coding Innovation Club (ycic.club), and cohosted by CAANH (Chinese American Association of North Hempstead) and New York Life Insurance (Partner Lily Wang), with sponsors from Michigan Youth Empowerment Foundation, The Big Hope (Dallas, Texas), and BOC insurance brokerage.

Due to the concern of COVID19, all spectators and parents were asked to reserve a timeslot online, so the total number of persons inside the building can be limited. This allowed for a safer competition environment where social distancing and face masks were worn.

The competition included two levels, Starter (ages 7 to 13 years old) and Challenge (ages 12 to 18). The theme of MakeX Starter in 2021 is “Smart Transportation”, and the theme of Challenge is “Master of Intelligent Manufacturing”.

The competition is divided into two parts: an automatic control phase and a manual control phase. Competitors used Makeblock parts comprised of gears, sensors, wheels and other parts to design and build their own robot.

Each team programmed their robot to complete designated tasks with the best team earning the highest score. More than 30 students from the greater New York area participated in this year’s MakeX competition.

It is particularly worth mentioning that a large number of girls participated in the competition with several all-girl teams achieving great results.

After a day of intense competition, in the end two league teams in each level won

the championship. The Starter level champions are NeverGonnaGiveYouUp (coach Chuyu Liu, players Eric Liu, Jason Lu) and TBPrime (coach Chang Duan, players Tony Xu, Ben Duan), while the Challenge-level champion teams are The Innovators (coach David Huang, players Samuel Huang, Ariel Huang, Eason Chiu, Griffin Chiu, Aaron Chu) and TriTech (coach Hong Chen, players Bianca Chu, Yeewan Melody Chen, Lily Huang).

Each winning team now qualifies to represent the United States in the 2022 MakeX Robotics Challenge Global Finals and has also been invited to the World Youth Robotics Invitational. Congratulations to them for their great achievement.

David Peng, head of YCIC (competition organizer), said that allowing children to be exposed to STEAM training and competitions from an early age can develop their intellectual potential, improve their handson ability, enhance creative thinking, exercise their ability to deal with setbacks, and drive teamwork to help solve problems.

The robot itself is a complex system that combines computer software programming, electronic components, and mechanical components. The robotics competition

requires teammates to cooperate in order to identify and propose solutions to the problems. Through teamwork, the members are gaining valuable communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Peng knows that the knowledge gained by these competitors will help lay out the foundation in their future endeavors. There is a world of possibilities in STEAM ranging from artificial intelligence to the Internet of Things and the hope is that through these activities, we can cultivate the children’s interests and abilities in these aspects from an early age and prepare them to become leaders in the technological world of tomorrow.

Lily Wang, Partner at the co-organizer, New York Life Insurance, reviewed her experience of accompanying her daughter to participate in robotics competitions.

As a representative of New York Life, which has a century-old foundation, she is very happy to support this high-level youth robot competition and wish the children a smooth competition.

David Chiang, Director of the co-organizer Chinese American Association of North Hempstead, encouraged participating students to focus on participation, not

be afraid of setbacks, and look to the future.

Peter An, director of CCLI, said that he has always dreamed of being a scientist and hopes that the children can open their minds and prepare for the future.

State Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti came to congratulate and presented the certificates to all the participating students.

She said that this is the first time she has watched a robotics competition on the spot.

Technology represents the future, and youth science and technology education is future-oriented education. It is great to see more and more teenagers actively participating in science and technology activities including robots.

Andy Wang, the chief referee of the competition, also a guest referee for the MakeX Spark global online tournament in 2020, said that robotics activities are one of the few activities that can cultivate allaround capabilities and are future-oriented.

He was very happy to see more and more girls involved in STEM and especially robotics activities. He was also delighted to see many of the girls actively participate as volunteer referees as well.

Many parent spectators were very excited to inquire about the details of this competition and hope to have the opportunity for their children to participate in the future. There are a number of Indian and Hispanic parents who hope to introduce and expand this in their own communities.

After five months of planning, under the difficult environment of COVID19, YCIC turned the MakeX Robotics Competition North American Open from an idea into a reality.

Through a lot of hard work, preparation and dedication, MakeX North American Open committee members David Peng, Andy Wang, Sue Huang, and Carol Chen as well as a number of volunteers were able to deliver a successful event not for themselves, but for the number of excited competitors.

It is expected that in 2022, more communities and different ethnic groups will participate together to jointly promote the vigorous development of the MakeX robot competition in the United States.

Town to host ‘Shed the Meds’ drop-off event Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board, in partnership with Nassau County and the Nassau County Police Department, will be hosting a “Shed the Meds” pharmaceutical drop-off event on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Michael J. Tully Park, 1801 Evergreen Ave. in New Hyde Park from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“These events are designed to keep potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals out of the hands of our children and help protect our environment,” said Supervisor Judi Bosworth. “Pharmaceuticals that are improperly disposed of can end up in

our landfills and drinking water. This is an opportunity for our residents to dispose of their pharmaceuticals in a safe manner.”

Accepted items will include prescriptions, prescription patches, prescription medications, prescription ointments, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, sample medications, and medications for pets.

Needles, sharps, aerosol cans, thermometers, ointments (liquid or lotion), hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, biohazardous waste, and medication from businesses will not be accepted.

For more information on this event, please call 311 or (516) 8696311.

56 The Port Washington Times, Friday, December 3, 2021

PW

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