Manhasset Press 1/25/23 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

In Online OverDrive: Digital Doorway Breaks Library Lending Records

Nassau Library System 24th in the world for ebook

AMANDA OLSEN

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

The Nassau Library System announced that the Nassau Digital Doorway digital book consortium reached a record-breaking 1.9 million digital book checkouts in 2022. For the Nassau Library System, this milestone illustrates the continued growth and importance of library lending of ebooks, audiobooks and other digital media as well as the library’s success in serving all members of the community. The Nassau Library System is ranked 24 of 129 public library systems worldwide. It was also fourth in New York among libraries that surpassed one million checkouts last calendar year.

Nassau Digital Doorway member libraries have been providing readers 24/7 access to ebooks and audiobooks for several years through the award-winning Libby app, the library reading app created by OverDrive. The large collection serves readers of all ages and interests, and usage has grown every year. There are thousands of ebooks and audiobooks, hand-selected by the library system, available for reading. Readers can explore the collection through catalog guides, subjects, featured titles, and curated lists.

Libby allows borrowers to read across devices, because their loans, notes, bookmarks and reading progress are synched. Once a title is selected, patrons can download ebooks and audiobooks for offline reading, or stream them to save space. One of Libby’s

best features is audiobooks, which can be played in your car through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or a Bluetooth connection. The app can adjust an ebook’s font size, book layout and lighting; add bookmarks; create notes and highlights; and define words.

“We are thrilled at the continued success of Nassau Digital Doorway and the role it has played in ensuring that our patrons continue to have access to a wide selection of reading material for both pleasure and educational purposes,” said Grace Palmisano, resources and discovery manager at the Nassau Library System.

The highest-circulating title Nassau Digital Doorway readers borrowed in 2022 was The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. The top-circulating genre, thrillers, represents the most popular in a vast catalog that also includes mystery, romance, children/ young adult and more.

Maggie Gough, director of the Manhasset Library, was thrilled to hear of the system’s milestone.

“It is amazing. I mean, I can remember going various milestones (from when the program started). Michael Ray, who is now the director over at Gold Coast, he was with NLS and first set up our ebook account., We were so excited when we reached a thousand, and then we had 10,000 and then we had our first million number. It was just fantastic.”

The library offers more than just the Libby app; there is also a large collection of

magazines. “It (gives an) advantage to people who want it to be able to …take them traveling with them or get back to them at any time. I tend to have my subscriptions even in both forms. I get my Atlantic online and I get also you know sent mail for the house. I like having both; sometimes I scan it quickly online and I go back and really read it when I have a physical copy.” Reading digitally has been on the rise for some time. According to the Pew research center, 30 percent of adults say they have read an ebook in 2020. The pandemic seems to have accelerated this already significant trend. In 2021, ebook revenue in the United States reached 1.1 billion U.S. dollars. This figure does not include sales from independent authors. Three newspapers in Alabama recently announced they were going over to a digital-only format, with their print editions ceasing production at the end of February. One of the papers, The Birmingham News, has been in print since the late 1800s.

Still, the explosion in digital resources has not dampened enthusiasm for physical books. Just 9 percent of Americans said

loans

The top five ebook titles borrowed through Nassau Digital Doorway’s digital collection in 2022:

1. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

3. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

4. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

5. The Maid by Nita Prose

The top five audiobook titles borrowed through Nassau Digital Doorway’s digital collection in 2022:

1. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

3. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

5. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

they only read books in digital formats and did not read any print books. Gough said this trend plays out among the Manhasset Library’s readership as well. “We find especially among our teens, our children, forget about it. They’re all reading hardcover books. more and more (teens) want a hardcopy in hand, especially when they’re reading for their own entertainment, or they’re reading for themselves.” Adults, too, are consuming physical media, especially

It is amazing. I mean, I can remember going various milestones (from when the program started).., We were so excited when we reached a thousand, and then we had 10,000 and then we had our first million number. it was just fantastic.”

—Maggie Gough, Manhasset Library Director

A Casino For Nassau?

A proposal to remake the Hub draws mixed reactions

JANET BURNS

Local officials and community leaders are starting to weigh in on a proposed redevelopment of Nassau’s Hub in Uniondale that would bring a casino, hotel, and other high-end amenities to the area.

In early January, the Las Vegas Sands company announced its plans to turn roughly 80 acres at the current site of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum into a gambling and entertainment complex.

According to the company, its proposal represents a “multi-billion-dollar flagship hospitality, entertainment and casino project,” featuring such tourist draws as “celebrity chef restaurants, experiential events and venues and flexible meeting and convention space, including ballrooms ... high-quality casino gaming, which is planned to represent less than ten percent of the project’s total square footage, a luxurious day spa, swimming pool and health club, and a variety of other entertainment programming.”

Las Vegas Sands said it will work with RXR Realty, which owns a large piece of property across from the Coliseum, to create a plan that “maximizes economic opportunity, helps to build stronger communities, and protects the quality of life for all Long Islanders.”

Previous plans to revamp the area known as the Hub in Uniondale haven’t taken hold, including a plan promoted by RXR as recently as fall 2022 to create “a new vibrant, walkable, mixed-use downtown in the heart of Nassau County.”

Scott Rechler, CEO and chairman of RXR, said in an early January press release, “The plan envisioned by [Las Vegas] Sands is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create the kind of world-renowned entertainment and hospitality destination that has been sought after by Long Islanders.”

Sands’ portfolio of properties includes Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, and Sands Macao in Macao SAR, China, through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd.

The new proposal follows legal filings seeking approval of three downstate casino licenses in New York, which the state has said it won’t approve or otherwise rule on until late this year at the earliest.

As the news site Patch reported, it’s unclear what would happen to the Coliseum under the new plan, which was rebranded several years ago as NYCB Live, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

As NBC New York reported recently, former New York Governor David Paterson has been hired by Las Vegas Sands to “help lobby the community ... [and has] touted the 12,000 construction jobs and the 5,000 permanent jobs that the project could create.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has effectively endorsed the latest plan for the site proposed by Las Vegas Sands and RXR.

“There has to be significantly more revenue than what’s being generated there now,” Blakeman told press on January 12. “You also have to take into consideration the fact that is the Coliseum viable? As it currently exists, I don’t think it is.”

Built in 1972, the Coliseum was home to the New York Islanders hockey team for several decades, and is now home to NBA G-League’s Long Island Nets and the New York Riptide lacrosse team. As amNewYork reported this month, Riptide signed a multiyear lease agreement to remain at Nassau Coliseum this past November.

Some local residents have already spoken out against the proposed casino at the site. On January 14, the group Nostrand Gardens Civic Assocation held a small protest at the Hub.

Group member Pearl Jacobs told ABC7 New York that the plan represents “a traffic nightmare, and a pollution and environmental nightmare.” The group also expressed

concerns that the development would bring a rise in crime to the area.

A Change.org petition, posted by the Say No to the Casino Civic Association, has also been started to oppose the casino’s creation, arguing that the move would “change the character of Nassau County and the surrounding neighborhoods.”

The Las Vegas Sands company has reportedly already secured agreements to take over the lease of the 72-acre Coliseum/ Hub complex.

A still-live website promoting a previous plan by RXR to develop the site, found at NassauHub.com, described the developer’s most recent vision as a “robust ecosystem ... comprised of office uses with a focus on life sciences and R&D, innovative residential housing, engaging entertainment and retail complementary to the Coliseum, open green spaces, walkable streets with multi-modal connectivity and public amenities, turning the Nassau Hub into a place where people can live, work, play and innovate.”

In September, RXR received a 60-day extension from Nassau County on a $1 million payment that was part of its agreement to redevelop the property.

According to Long Island Business News, RXR entered into an escrow agreement with the Town of Hempstead in April 2021 so that FP CLark, the town’s planning

consultant, could work on the project’s environmental review.

A spokesman for RXR told Long Island Business News at the time, “We’ve submitted everything with the town, the town’s been reviewing and now we’re just waiting for the town to act.”

On January 12, Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams of Freeport took a measured stance in a statement to press.

“As this process unfolds during the next several months, it is imperative for Sands Resorts to conduct extensive community outreach and then incorporate the feedback they receive into their proposal,” Abrahams said.

“Engaging directly with residents and stakeholders like Hofstra University, Nassau Community College, the Town and Village of Hempstead, local fire departments, school districts, civic associations, chambers of commerce and others is a necessary first step for addressing concerns and identifying opportunities.”

Abrahams continued, “I’ve heard from many residents that oppose the casino aspect, and although I agree with that sentiment based on past casino projects, it’s important to listen to everyone so we can move forward together with all perspectives in mind.”

An artist’s rendering of a planned concert hall at the current site of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. (Submitted photo)

An artist’s rendering of a previous plan for redevelopment of the Nassau Hub area by RXR. (Via NassauHub.com)

A recent aerial view of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum site. (Via Wikimedia Commons)

An artist’s rendering of the hotel, casino, and entertainment complex at the current site of the Nassau Hub and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Introducing 16 South Drive Plandome

Built in 1913 this lovely Center Hall Colonial sits on an amazing 90 ft. x 227 ft. lot, with plenty of room for a pool. This true Plandome house, is full of character and charm and awaiting its new owner to bring it back to its full glory. The first floor offers a gracious entry with curved staircase to both 2nd and 3rd floors. The first floor offers a formal living room with fireplace, formal dining room, office, family room, eat-in kitchen and bath. The 2nd floor has a very large primary with full bath and walk-in closet, 2 bedrooms with full bath and additional ensuite bedroom, plus 2 bonus bedrooms on the 3rd floor. Offered at $2,599,000.

Patricia Gahan Moroney

Real

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Gold Circle of Excellence

New Development Specialist 516.627.4440, c.516.313.8966

patriciamoroney@danielgale.com

LIBRARY from page 3

large type books.

Gough said that across the board, “we have not seen a decrease in our physical book collection.” However, it seems the big publishing houses are less and less comfortable with large runs of hardcover books, which are better suited to library lending. “Publishing companies seem to be offering less and less. We’re seeing runs that are done in paperback. Of course, they circulate less, (and) we have to buy more copies because they fall apart.”

The digital doorway also offers audiobooks, which can be wonderful for reluctant readers and children. Gough said she recommends audiobooks for long trips and multitasking, but not for dense non-fiction. “Not for Henry Kissinger. wouldn’t recommend that. It’s very hard to follow Milton Friedman or any of the big economists or something. But a good story is absolutely wonderful in audiobooks, I think.”

An interesting digital offering at Manhasset Library is their online library of artifacts. The library houses an extensive collection of local objects and ephemera dating back to the first

colonizers. These items are now available for viewing from any device, which has been a boon to researchers and scholars worldwide. “the digital world has been fantastic for libraries. We digitized our history collection here. That was one of the first grants that I got…and I took that money and I started the digitization project of all the materials we had, which includes (items) from the Revolutionary War on little pamphlets and books of the dead. (There were) diaries and school books from the early 1800s and things that we had from Civil War registries. we (decided we) could digitize this and share this with scholars.”

Residents of Nassau County just need a valid library card to access digital books from Nassau Digital Doorway’s OverDrivepowered digital collection (Nassau County residents can look up their home library at www.nassaulibrary.org/librarycard). Readers can use any major device, including Apple, Android, Chromebook and Kindle. Download the Libby app or visit nassau.overdrive.com to get started borrowing e-books and audiobooks anytime, anywhere.

Thinking of Making a Move in 2023?

Whether Buying or Selling, We Can Successfully Navigate the Current Market

Gale Keenan

Associate Real Estate Broker

Manhasset & Port Washington O ces c.516.353.8800 galekeenan@danielgale.com

Laura Dunphy

Real Estate Salesperson

Manhasset O ce c.516.443.3238 lauradunphy@danielgale.com

WHO YOU WORK WITH MATTERS

Plandome

Morning Movies With The North Shore Child And Family Guidance Center

On Saturday, February 11 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center will be showing family-friendly fare at Manhasset Cinemas at 430 Plandome Road in Manhasset. Viewers can choose between The Amazing Maurice, 80 for Brady, and Minions. Advance tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. At-the-door pricing is $30 for adults and $20 for children. All tickets include bagels, drinks and popcorn. A popcorn sponsorship is available for $350 that includes logo at registration, on the website, popcorn bags and social media, plus complimentary tickets for two adults and two children. Register at northshoreguidance.com/morning-movies. Call (516)626-1971 X309 or email mespichan@northshoreguidance.org.

—Submitted by North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center

First-Half Of General Taxes Due Friday, Feb. 10

Town of North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman reminds residents that the last day to pay the 2023 General Taxes–first-half bill without a penalty is Friday, Feb. 10. First-half of the 2023 General Tax payments must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before Feb. 10 to avoid penalty.

Online tax payment information is shown on the reverse side of your bill. Online payments may be made by check (ACH) or credit card at: northhempsteadny.gov/tax-payments. A $1.75 processing fee for online check payments will apply. If paying with an online check through your bank, please schedule the payment prior to the deadline and be sure to include your account number (located in the upper right-hand corner of the tax bill), bill number and/or your section, block and lot. A $3.95 fee applies for debit card transactions.

The online credit card payment processing fee is 2.30% of the tax amount

per transaction. New York General Municipal Law requires people paying their property taxes by credit card to also pay the fees associated with the payment transaction. The Town receives no portion of the service fee – that fee is retained by the payment processing vendors. Accepted credit cards are American Express, Mastercard, Discover, or Visa.

When paying in person, you may pay your bill at 200 Plandome Rd., Manhasset, NY 11030, during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (The office is not open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). The Tax Office will be open until 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10.

Please bring your entire bill with you when paying in person. For more information or if you have additional questions, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

LEGALS

BOOK REVIEW

Tom, Vivien, Ez---And Poetry

Review Of: The Waste Land: A Biography of A Poem,

JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

Ez Po and Possum

Have picked all the blossom, Let all the others Run back to their mothers

---Ezra Pound, 1935

As we noted in a recent issue, the year 2022 was a good one for longtime Long Island resident Mario Puzo, author of The Godfather It turned out well also for T.S. Eliot. His signature poem, “The Waste Land” declared that April is the cruelest month. It was published in October 1922 and so that month, 100 years later, saw a spate of activity, with three new biographies published on the man, those by Robert

Crawford, Lyndall Gordon, and Matthew Hollis’ study of how the poem came to be written, edited, published, and received by the critics.

Hollis’ work takes on a familiar story. There is Eliot’s 100-page manuscript, Ezra Pound’s cesarean operation, Vivien Eliot’s concise additions, the bold vision of Horace Liveright, a small time New York publisher and John Quinn, a Manhattan attorney who arranged to have the poem as the winner of Dial magazine’s annual $2,000 award as the top poetic effort in America.

Pound was il miglior fabbro (“the better craftsman”) of the editing process, eliminating the first section, pruning it down to the “April is the cruelest month” to its “Shanti, shanti, shanti” ending.

Vivien Haigh-Wood, Eliot’s long-suffering first wife, provided critical editing herself. Vivien, who thought the entire London literary scene was full of pretentious snobs applied her own scalpel. For instance:

No ma’am you needed look so old fashioned at me

By Matthew Hollis

Was changed to: If you don’t like it, you can get on with it

While the lines: It’s that medicine I took in order to bring it off

Was tightened up to: It’s them pills I took to bring it off

This volume, however, is the story of the century’s most fruitful literary friendship. Ezra Pound was the great mover and shaker of the modernist era. The two men had much in common. Pound was a classicist who lost a teaching job at Hamilton College in Ohio. An only child doted on by his middle-class parents, Pound set sail for Italy. He self-published his first volume of verse. With volume in hand, he landed in London, determined to capture that literary capitol.

Eliot, the youngest of a large and distinguished New England family, was raised in St. Louis where his father operated a successful brick manufacturing firm. His

see REVIEW on page 4A

A Biography of A Poem

prolonged education took him to England for studies at Oxford. Conrad Aiken, another aspiring poet and Eliot’s classmate at Harvard, set up the fateful meeting between Pound and Eliot. The two clicked. More important, Eliot had a draft of “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” in his baggage. Pound was bowled over, convinced that he had discovered genius. The wheels were in motion.

Pound managed to get “Prufrock” published in Poetry, the leading “little magazine” of its day. Pound gave up the life of an academic for poetry. Eliot, on track for a professorship at Harvard, incredibly enough, did the same. How to keep the man in London? After three months of courtship, Eliot married Vivien Haigh-Wood, a flirtatious woman with a history of poor health. What an epic misalliance that was. Still, the two toughed it out for 17 years of marriage. From that tumult, and the bleak house of postwar Europe thrown in, came “The Waste Land.”

Eliot and Pound were soulmates concerning the craft of poetry. In time, their interests would diverge. Eliot was a fragile man who feared the wrath of God. Pound was part of a mistaken 19th- and early 20th- century view that art and beauty might yet save the world. Hollis gets to the point:

As Pound grew more waspish, Eliot grew more wounded. Economic injustice is what ruins lives and isolates people (Pound). It is a lack of religious engagement that prevents a cohesive society (Eliot). A Christian faith will eradicate the need for inequality (Eliot). A Christian church enforces inequality (Pound).

Such was the beginning of a rupture between the two, one that lasted for nearly a quarter of a century before old

age and a sense of mortality brought the two poets together.

Hollis’ biography is thorough, scholarly, and readable. A poet himself, the author can dissect what Eliot called “the music of poetry” in both men’s verse.

Liveright’s faith in the poem was admirable, so, too, was Quinn’s maneuvering to have the verse win the Dial monetary prize.

Mostly, this is the story of two expatriates destined to bring English verse

into a new century. Both too, were the prophetic artists of out time. Both understood what August 1914 signified. Pound, more than Eliot, seemed devastated over this world and his own failure in trying to save it. By the 1960s, Pound stopped writing, retiring into the world of silence. That helped him keep to his bearings. Eliot’s Christian faith, plus his happy second marriage, was the man’s own road to sanity. Eliot was prolific in all ways. He also accepted that His kingdom is not of this earth.

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Learn more: OPEN HOUSE Sunday, February 12, 2023, 12-2 p.m.

Hofstra Physical Education Center RSVP at Hofstra.edu/camp

T. S. Eliot Ezra Pound Vivien Haigh-Wood

Local Internet Provider Files Petition Against Verizon

hard to bring broadband competition that the market has been demanding for so many years.”

Optical Communications Group Inc., a company that provides Internet across Long Island, New York City and New Jersey, has filed a petition against Verizon New York for allegedly acting intentionally and/or negligently in handling OCG’s rightful and legal contract to lease Verizon’s utility poles and underground conduits, which are accessed through manholes.

“Here we have another classic David vs. Goliath story,” said Frank Kanter, the administrative director of the Fire Internet Coalition. “At FIC, we support any endeavor that promotes timely and rigorous broadband competition that is controlled by the free market and economic conditions. This nonsense between OCG and Verizon is a clear product of ineffective or weak laws, rules and regulations. Ratepayers subject to Big Telecom are the ones who suffer. FIC stands behind OCG, and will continue to support this local business that is working

According to a document from the Fair Communications Commission (FCC) titled “A National Broadband Plan For Our Future,” which was released in 2010, Congress, from 1978, first directed the FCC to ensure that the rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments by cable television systems are just and reasonable. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the definition of pole attachments to include attachments by providers of telecommunications service, and granted both cable systems and telecommunications carriers an affirmative right of nondiscriminatory access to any pole, duct, conduit, or right-ofway owned or controlled by a utility. In 2010, the FCC revised the pole attachment rules to lower the costs of telecommunications, cable, and broadband deployment and to promote competition.

OCG is alleging that Verizon, on numerous occasions, illegally occupied OCG’s paid-for-space on the utility poles and underground facilities and used OCG’s cables without permission. OCG also alleges that for years Verizon has overcharged and

mishandled bills that were paid, resulting in an overcharge of over $260,000. And now, despite trying to work with Verizon, OCG alleges that Verizon has declared that they will terminate OCG as a licensee of Verizon’s conduits.

This would devastate OCG’s business a press release from the Fair Internet Coalition stated. This action would also hurt the customers relying on OCG’s services and decrease competition outside of Verizon and Optimum.

To fight back, Jesse C. Morris, of Coyle & Morris LLP, is representing OCG. Morris explained that a petition against Verizon has been filed within the New York State Public Service Commission, a New York State agency that regulates telecommunication.

“In a lot of areas on Long Island, the telecom or internet service is either on cable tv or it’s on old copper lines or it’s just poor,” said Brad Ickes, the president of OCG. “There’s a great deal of people, especially with COVID, who are working from home and more and more people are using those particular older networks, and those networks really can’t handle it so this way everyone’s Internet is slow, doesn’t work and a lot of people have an issue from working

from home because of the poor internet service.”

Ickes explained that as OCG deployed out through Suffolk to provide connectivity to various companies and entities, they realized that there were many areas with poor internet service.

“I was at one time a New York City police officer in the Bronx and I worked for their tech unit designing fiber for the police department,” Ickes said. “So as I was building out into Long Island, I would go and speak to the fire houses about their service, some of them were so bad they had to use cell phones to run ambulance calls. So there’s a number of fire houses out in Suffolk County especially that we brought fiber in and connected the different locations together and gave them high speed internet so that... their ambulances can function and it gives better service to those people who live out in more remote areas or even regular areas.”

Ickes said that OCG has plans to expand service out into Nassau once it finishes its deployment into Suffolk.

Anton Media Group reached out to Verizon, but did not receive a response.

For more information on this case, visit fairinternetcoalition.org.

The Santos Scandal, One Month In

A range of revelations continues to drop as life goes

Karl V. Anton, Jr., Publisher, Anton Community Newspapers, 1984-2000

Publishers of Glen Cove/Oyster Bay Record Pilot

Great Neck Record

Manhasset Press

Recent Highlights:

on JANET BURNS

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

Roughly a month after U.S. Representative George Anthony Devolder Santos (R, NY-03) made an international splash as the subject of numerous investigative reports, not a whole lot has changed (at least on paper) as a result.

Nevertheless, trickles and streams of new facts or opinions about freshman Rep. Santos have persisted from media outlets and fellow electeds, adding up to a sizable river of information about the 34-year-old congressman. Even for those in media, or in politics, it’s a lot to keep track of.

As such, Anton Media Group will be providing regular roundups of news about our local congressional rep for the foreseeable future, whether about Santos’ past or his closely watched present.

• Rep. Santos has been appointed by the House Republican Steering Committee to two House panels in the U.S. Congress: the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

• On January 17, the group Concerned Citizens of NY-03 held a press conference with Bronx Democrat Ritchie Torres calling on the Federal Election Commission to start an investigation into Santos’ campaign finances.

• Patch.com followed up on previous reporting about Santos’ unregistered and/or failed nonprofit for animals, and revealed that multiple veterans accuse Santos of pocketing $3000 in 2017 that had been crowdfunded with the intent of saving the life of one of the veterans’ service dogs.

• On January 15, House Oversight Committee Chairman James

Comer, a fellow Republican, told CNN, “It’s not up to me or any other member of Congress to determine whether he can be kicked out for lying. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress.”

• On January 18, numerous news outlets and social media accounts shared photos and one video that are supposedly from Santos’ younger years in

Finding Warmth This Winter COLUMNS

Brazil, in which a young person who closely resembles Santos appears in drag costume as ‘Kitara Ravache.’ On January 19, Santos denied that he has ever performed as a drag queen, and called the story “the most recent obsession from the media.”

• The listed district office for Rep. Santos is now open, according to Gothamist. The sign outside still identifies former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D, NY-03), and a sole employee was observed inside “scrolling on their phone.”

• On January 11, leaders of the Nassau County Republican Party, including chairman Joseph G. Cairo and fellow Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, called for Santos’ resignation. Later that day, NY Reps. Nick LaLota, Nick Langworthy and Brandon Williams, as well as South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, joined the call for Santos to resign. Santos has repeatedly said that he will not.

Nassau Illustrated News

Port Washington News

Syosset-Jericho Tribune

The Nassau Observer

The Roslyn News

Editor and Publisher

Angela Susan Anton

President Frank A. Virga

Vice President of Operations Iris Picone

Director of Sales Administration Shari Egnasko

Editors

Janet Burns, Jennifer Corr, Lauren Feldman, Christy Hinko, Amanda Olsen, Julie Prisco, Joe Scotchie Advertising Sales

Ally Deane, Mary Mallon, Sal Massa, Maria Pruyn, Jeryl Sletteland

Director of Circulation Joy DiDonato

Director of Production Robin Carter

Creative Director Alex Nuñez

Art Director

Catherine Bongiorno

Senior Page Designer Donna Duffy

Page Designer Christina Dieguez

How do we stay warm in the winter? Comedian Milton Berle, of blessed memory, used to quip that his wife was going to need a new fur coat. Jerry Seinfeld routinely suggests retiring to his parents’ condo in Boca. Yet, we know that the real protection from the raw elements in nature is provided by the Almighty.

Here are several of my own suggestions to hearten the soul, warm the spirit and celebrate the beauty of the season.

1. Pray with fervor!

2. Bake fresh challah.

3. Take a steamy shower or bath multiple times a week.

4. Listen to relaxing music to find inner peace.

5. Drink lots of piping hot chicken soup - the Jewish Penicillin!

6. Increase your metabolism by running to do a good deed.

7. Perform acts of kindness. Warning: May be contagious.

8. Speak loving words to others

RABBI MOSHE WEISBLUM

and watch as it warms their hearts.

10. Tell a great story or joke to perk someone up.

11. Make a blessing over a toasted bagel or hot cocoa.

12. Paint a beautiful scene from nature using vibrant colors.

13. Brighten the world with your smile.

Weathering the storm is nothing new to the Jewish people. As

Mark Twain, the legendary writer, pointed out, our history is packed with examples of overcoming environmental challenges. The famous SADS syndrome - Spirit, Attitude, Determination and Survival keeps us alive and moving forward despite the climate.

Interestingly, our spiritual life is compared to water, which, like falling snow, descends from on high, then trickles down to earth. Likewise, the snow showers that occur during these months can be opportunities for spiritual osmosis, if only we let our Heavenly Creator’s divine teachings touch our souls.

Let’s abide by the proverb which states, “If your life is not as you will it, adjust your will to your life!” After all, true joy comes from within, and we have the power to form our own happiness. The biblical King Solomon tells us “To everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Yes, there will be intense, chilly

weather ahead, but there will also be forthcoming periods of sun and renewal – and that is certainly something to be glad about.

In Deuteronomy (26:11) we are instructed to “Rejoice in all the good that G-d has given [us].” And yet another proverb reminds us how important a good attitude is to our health: “A merry heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” The Talmud tells us that there are three elements that can restore a person’s spirit: beautiful sounds, sights and scents. So, if you are feeling down, imagine the crackling of golden logs in a fireplace or the aroma of fresh kugel floating through your home. Think about the purity of pristine snow or the way that delicate icicles act as prisms of sunlight.

It is my hope that you’ll internalize these insights this winter season, and allow them to both fuel your spiritual life and warm your soul.

Director of Business Administration Linda Baccoli

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Rep. George Santos’ Twitter profile image.

Are You Ready for Human Composting? COLUMNS

Sometimes, the garbage in my kitchen pail really stinks.

Most of the time, it’s because somebody threw a food item into the pail a few days ago and now it is rotting away. It’s plain and simple. Old, rotting food stinks after a few days, especially during hot weather. We spend hundreds of dollars every year on garbage bags to camou age the odor from rotting food. I don’t believe there is a law against tossing garbage directly into the outside garbage pails without a bag, but no one does that. Even garbage bags, from time to time, break, causing a mess inside the pail. Ignore the garbage, and it will eventually begin to stink.

Long Islanders with large properties sometimes create compost piles to store food scraps and lawn trimmings, allowing Mother Nature to break them down naturally. e process takes a few months, but eventually, composters are rewarded with nutrient-rich soil for use in their gardens. Of course, composting piles are often accompanied by a speci c o ending odor. Most of us, with meager 75 x

100 properties, want to keep our neighbors happy. Composting is usually not an option.

Recently, New York became the sixth state nationally to legalize human composting after death. e process actually has a name, “terramation,” but is also referred to as “Natural Organic Reduction.” Washington State became the rst to allow human composting in 2019, followed by Vermont, Oregon, Colorado, and California.

To set the record straight, you can’t just dump Uncle Leo into your composting bin with apple cores, egg shells, and lawn trimmings. e process

of human composting is quite involved. Recompose, a green funeral home that operates out of Seattle, Washington, o ers human composting as an option, along with traditional funeral services and cremation. According to Recompose founder Katrina Spade, “ e body is placed in a reusable vessel along with plant materials such as wood chips, alfalfa, and straw.” e vessel is then stored at a unique facility to allow the microbes and bacteria to break down the body over a month or so.

When all is said and done, the entire process takes about 120 days as the material needs to be “cured” for another two to six weeks. e result is about a cubic yard of what is described as “soil amendment.” Human composting produces about three times as much material as a bag of potting soil, which you can buy from any nursery. at’s plenty of a composted Uncle Leo to spread around his favorite tomato plants. e cost for human composting is about $7,000, which includes pickup and composting. It’s more expensive than cremation but less

than a full funeral.

When you think about it, returning a deceased loved one to the soil is not that di erent than when we traditionally bury our dead, except it takes up less space. It may be better because a toxic substance like formaldehyde doesn’t replace your body uids. Cremation is how I want to go, mostly because I’m claustrophobic.

But human composting? at’s a little too out there for me. I already hate bugs. e thought of being con ned in a box for two months surrounded by wood chips and alfalfa with no air conditioning sounds more like Hell than Heaven.

I get it. We are running out of

space to bury people, especially downstate and here on Long Island. I also understand how energy-ine cient cremation is, requiring much energy to heat an oven above 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit. At least with cremation, your family gets a lovely vase with ashes they can put in the living room. Human composting might be more environmentally friendly, but the last thing I need to leave my loved ones is a lasting odor. ey get enough of that from me when I’m alive.

Besides, I’m already doing my part for the environment by recycling and separating paper from glass. Now they want my body, too?

Originally from Scotland, border collies were made to be their person’s right hand, taking commands and unleashing their hyperfocus on keeping sheep in line. They quite literally can run all day, and their ability to focus and infer meaning from our words is unparalleled.

That intensity is both a blessing and a curse. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “these dogs need a job” in reference to certain breeds, and in this case, it’s the literal truth. If a border collie doesn’t have a consistent outlet for both their physical and mental energy, they will find one, and you won’t like it. Like any bored dog, they may destroy something or they may exhibit anxiety, OCD, and other mental issues.

My dog thinks her job is fetching tennis balls because when she was a puppy, we used fetch as the primary way of burning off her energy. We throw them up into the trees with a chucker and she has to try and figure out where it will fall. By all means, if you and your dog like agility or flyball, get involved. If you want to try canine freestyle (a kind of synchronized pairs dancing with the dog), go for it.

The job doesn’t always have to be active, either. Mental stimulation is just as critical. Another of my dog’s jobs is hitting a mark. I can say “over here” or “over there” and point and she will sit on that spot. In fact, teaching her tricks has been a really special way for us to interact. She knows all the basics, but she will also heel, stay close, find my kids, round up the chickens, go to a particular room and put her nose in the circle of two hands with fingers and thumbs together. We also do a lot of obedience work off-leash. It goes a long way towards keeping her safe when we’re out in public. Just like you, your dog needs space. Every dog can benefit from a yard with a sturdy, solid fence, but for the border collie, it is essential. This is not a breed for an apartment or even a small yard. That’s not to say that you can’t have a border collie in a small space, but it will be exhausting for you and unfair to the dog. You will most likely not be able to walk them often enough, fast enough, or long enough to keep them out of trouble. A dog park might work, but not all dogs are suited to these shared spaces.

Border Collies are not gregarious like a lab or golden. They do not like a great deal of intense stimulation and may shut down or lash out if pushed too far. They can be shy of strangers and need a great deal of careful socialization throughout

their lives. If you are the type of person who enjoys throwing loud parties with lots of guests or if you frequently have new people coming to your home, this might not be the breed for you.

However, if you enjoy canoeing, camping, or if you have a farm or large acreage with lots of room to run, the border collie might be the perfect companion for you. We have taken our dog camping in the canoe in the Adirondacks multiple times. She loves being outside with her people. When we can’t go someplace that remote we take her to the beach or hiking on state or county land. She also loves running in our yard.

One of the best

traits of this breed is their desire to please. It goes a long way towards making training and general living together easier. For some dogs, combining this with some food motivation is all you need to get your dog focused on you and what you are asking for.

Border Collies can be great companions, but you need to be realistic with yourself. Do you have everything this very demanding breed needs in order to be living up to their potential? Can you commit the time and energy it takes to keep them tired? A tired dog is a content dog. You have to wear them out to keep them sane, or you’ll be the one going crazy.

Kipper, my red tri-color border collie. (Photo by Amanda Olsen)

Leaves Are Supposed To Fall, People Aren’t

BY ALLISON SIMMS specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Falls may not be at the top of our minds as we consider health goals for the new year, but the probability it may happen to someone you know is high—especially if that person is an older adult. As the CDC has found, roughly 25 percent of individuals 65 or older experience a fall each year.

While falls are common, so is the tendency to underreport them to a clinician. Less than half of all people who have had a fall ever let their doctor know. There’s often a sense of shame around taking a tumble, but losing your balance or having a fall is nothing to be embarrassed about. All of us need help sometimes. As common as they are, falls should be taken seriously.

As I tell our patients and their families, “Leaves are supposed to fall. People aren’t.”

Taking preventative measures and getting help quickly if a fall does occur can make a world of difference.

In my role as associate director of rehabilitation services at VNS Health, my colleagues and I see this firsthand when we visit patients in their homes following a fall. As home-based clinicians, we work closely with them to address their concerns and create a plan of care where they can recover and prevent future falls.

With that in mind, here are some simple tips for preventing and—if need be—recovering from a fall:

• Home, safe home: Most falls occur in a patient’s home. So, the very first thing we do when visiting a new patient is assess the safety of their home environment. This means ensuring that the home is clear of obstruction and screened for fall risks, like loose cords or throw rugs that might slip underfoot.

• The proper fit: If someone has lost weight during the pandemic but is still wearing the same-size clothes as before, they could be at greater risk of tripping over those clothes and falling. A pair of shoes that are too big or too tight can pose a similar risk—so make sure you are wearing comfortable clothing in the right size, with a fit that helps you feel and stay secure.

• Sleep tight: Adjust your sleep positions to minimize fall risk at night. Patients who sleep on the edge of the bed are more likely to fall out of bed than those who sleep in the middle.

• Keep moving: Keep yourself as active as possible—it can help reduce falls. Staying physically active doesn’t have to mean

Keep yourself as active as possible to help reduce falls.

going to the gym. It could be as simple as walking to the mailbox every day or boosting circulation and flexibility by stretching your feet and ankles while you’re watching your favorite TV show.

• Monitor medications: Closely monitor yourself when taking medications that may cause dizziness or lower blood pressure, for they can increase the chances of a fall happening.

• When coming back after a fall, don’t give up! Recovering from the physical and emotional trauma of a fall can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that physical therapists, occupational therapists,

speech-language pathologists, and many other clinicians are here to help you regain function and find a way to move towards a healthy future. Staying motivated is half the challenge. Fortunately, your care team and loved ones will be by your side cheering you on—ready to help when you have setbacks, and to congratulate you when you finally reach your destination.

Visit www.vnshealth.org/home-care/rehabilitation-therapy for more information about VNS Health’s Rehabilitation Services, which include physical therapy, speech pathology and occupational therapy. VNS Health is formerly known as Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY).

—Allison Simms is the associate director of rehabilitation services at VNS Health

Golden Tones Entertainment Group Seeking New Members

Oyster Bay Town’s ‘Golden Tones Entertainment Group’ is seeking new members. This chorus is a social group open to town residents over the age of 60 who have an interest in singing, dancing, or entertaining. Anyone 60 and older is welcome to join; a great singing voice is not required to participate in this social group.

Meetings will be held every Friday, beginning on Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. at the North Massapequa Community Center (214 North Albany Avenue, North Massapequa). There are two planned shows in the upcoming year, scheduled to be performed at the North Massapequa Community Center.

Senior citizens interested in joining the Golden Tones of TOBAY Entertainment Group should call 516-797-7916 for more information.

Most falls occur in a patient’s home. Photos courtesy of VNS Health

Allison Simms, associate director of rehabilitation services at VNS Health.

NYSOFA Shares Resource Guide For

Drivers

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) encourages older drivers and their families to utilize several resources that can help avoid safety risks behind the wheel, including NYSOFA’s guide Are You Concerned about an Older Driver?

“There are many factors affecting driver safety for older adults. But age alone is not a predictor of risk,” said NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen. “In fact, research shows that older adults, as a group, successfully adjust for age-related changes that otherwise affect safe-driving practices.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drivers aged 55 and older are involved in fewer crashes than other groups. However, they are also more likely to be killed or injured in traffic crashes due to conditions like fragile bones, prescription medication use, visual impairments, and chronic medical issues that often accompany the aging process.

“There are several factors that can lead to unsafe driving conditions for older adults, including medical issues that increase susceptibility to injury, as well as impairment caused by prescription medication,” Olsen said. “Many resources are available to help individuals adapt to these new realities in their lives or find alternatives to driving,

when necessary.”

Caregivers are a vital set of eyes and ears as well as a trusted source for family conversations or interventions that can resolve unsafe driving situations. If you are a caregiver or a concerned family member, please see NYSOFA’s guide Are You Concerned about an Older Driver? It offers background about

safety risks, how to assess these risks, conversation starters for helping a loved one accept or cope with changes in their driving status, adaptive vehicle equipment, educational resources and more.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe on the roads is one of our top priorities,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, commissioner of the

Department of Motor Vehicles and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. “Getting older does not mean you have to stop driving, but you do need to be aware of anything that might impact your safety and the safety of others and take action. We are happy to partner with the Office for the Aging to help raise awareness of this important topic.”

In 2015, NYSOFA and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee launched the Safe Driving Tips for Older New Yorkers website to promote older driver safety. The site encourages online and in-person safety training and car safety check programs; provides information to help older drivers understand options for roadway safety; and offers a user-friendly guide about preventing adverse drug interactions that can affect one’s ability to drive.

Other Resources

• Offices for the Aging and their community partners are also a resource to help older drivers, including safety assistance or alternative transportation options. To reach local assistance, call the NY Connects helpline at 1-800-342-9871.

• The American Occupational Therapy

Existing

Association (AOTA) also brings attention to a different aspect of older driver safety, including tips on anticipating changes that can affect driving, family conversations, screening and evaluations, and interventions that can empower older drivers and help them remain engaged in their communities. Visit www.aota.org to learn more about the association.

• The Department of Motor Vehicles’ Older Driver Resources webpage (www.dmv. ny.gov/older-driver/older-driver-resources) provides information about driving skills and programs, health tips, license FAQs, vehicle safety tips, and more.

• CarFit (www.car-fit.org) is an educational program that provides older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles ‘fit’ them, as well as information and materials on community-specific resources.

About the New York State Office for the Aging

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) continuously works to help the state’s 4.6 million older adults be as independent as possible for as long as possible through advocacy, development and delivery of person-centered, consumer-oriented, and cost-effective policies, programs, and services that support and empower older adults and their families, in partnership with the network of public and private organizations that serve them. Stay connected—visit the NYSOFA Facebook page; follow @NYSAGING on Twitter and NYSAging on Instagram; or visit aging.ny.gov.

—New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA)

Leaving A Legacy

When approaching or in retirement, it’s very common to have a desire to leave something behind. While legacy planning is often thought of in financial terms, it can include so much more.

For retirees looking to leave a legacy, options abound. Some people may choose to share their skills and knowledge with others, either through teaching or writing. Others may opt for financial support, whether through direct giving or by setting up a trust or foundation. And still others may choose to build something tangible that will benefit future generations, such as a park or community center.

Sharing skills and knowledge

One of the most valuable things anyone can offer is their skills and experience. Retirees may choose to pass their knowledge on by leading formal classes or workshops, or informally through mentoring or coaching. Whatever the method, it’s a way to share knowledge and experience and help others reach their potential.

Writing it down

Another way to leave a legacy is through writing. The writing could be in the form of a memoir, autobiography, or even just a simple letter to be passed on to future generations. Whatever the format, it’s a way retirees can share their lives and experiences with others.

Financial support

For some retirees, leaving a financial legacy is important. This can be done in several ways, such as setting up a trust or foundation or making direct gifts to family members or charities. Permanent life insurance, like universal or whole life insurance, is an easy way to leave a financial legacy for family or even to an organization that was important to them.

Building something

Another way to leave a legacy is to build something that will benefit future generations. This could be a physical structure like a park or community center or something less tangible like a scholarship fund.

Sharing their time

Retirees have wisdom and experience to offer, and one of the best ways to pass it on it is by sharing their time. This could be volunteering with an organization, or simply spending time with family and friends.

A lasting legacy

Retirees hoping to leave a lasting legacy should consider all of their options and choose the one (or ones) that best suits their goals, values, and abilities. Whether they decide to teach, build, write, or donate, it’s important to do what feels right. What matters most is that they take the time to consider what they want their legacy to be and how best to achieve it.

—Northwestern

Mutual

Legacy caption goes here.

Many retirees see retirement as a time to travel and see new places.

Eight Things Retirees Should Know

Retirement can be a time to slow down, relax, and enjoy life, but it can also come with its fair share of challenges. For anyone embarking on their retirement journey, here are eight financial and lifestyle considerations to keep in mind:

1. Budget

Retirees will want to have a good idea of all their retirement finances, including both their yearly and monthly budgets. This can help them make informed decisions about their spending and figure out how much they can afford on things like travel, new hobbies, and other activities.

2. Money

Many retirees worry about whether they are making the most of their retirement savings. Retirees may want to consult a financial advisor to help sort out this information and provide guidance on how to make the most of one’s money. From tax-efficient withdrawal strategies and a plan to weather market volatility, financial advisors can help turn a lifetime of savings into guaranteed income retirees don’t have to worry about.

3. Downsizing options

For some retirees, downsizing is a great way to simplify their life (and save money). Understanding what the options are for relocating to a smaller home can help retirees make an informed decision about what is best for them. It can help to get in touch with a real estate agent and discuss what options are available.

4. Travel plans

Many retirees see retirement as a time to travel and see new places. For retirees who want to prioritize travel, it can help to plan ahead and research different travel options.

Advance planning can allow retirees to keep an eye out for the best deals and make the most of their time.

5. Plan your free time

Retirement can be a great time to pursue new hobbies and interests. Some retirees may want to volunteer, take up a new sport, or join social clubs. Having a rough plan for how they want to spend their time can help retirees make the most of their retirement.

6. Social circle

For some people, retirement can be a time to reconnect with old friends and family. Others may find that their social circle changes as they meet new people. Understanding how they prefer to socialize can help retirees make conscious decisions and plan for their retirement years.

7. Retirement hustle

Some retirees find that they want to stay active and busy in retirement by starting a small business or working part-time. A job or small business can also provide a source of supplemental income. Retirees who choose to have a retirement hustle will also want to consider how to set up their business and whether they prefer to live close to work.

8. Estate plan

Retirement can be a good time to review one’s estate plan and make sure that it is upto-date. This can include things like wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents, and updating beneficiaries for any permanent life insurance policies, like universal life insurance and whole life insurance. Talking to an attorney about these matters can help retirees ensure that their wishes are carried out.

—Northwestern Mutual

Free Support Group For Grandparents Of Autistic Kids

When a child faces a mental health challenge, the entire family is impacted. But while people may sympathize with parents and siblings, they often forget that grandparents also struggle with feelings of sadness and helplessness.

That’s why North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center (the Guidance Center) runs a free support group just for grandparents whose grandchildren are on the autism spectrum: GASAK, for Grandparent Advocates Supporting Autistic Kids.

GASAK’s mission is to support, inform and advocate for grandparents with autistic grandchildren. At meetings held on the last Thursday of each month, GASAK participants network and share information on issues critical to families impacted by autism. New members are welcome to join at any time.

While the program isn’t new, it recently returned to in-person meetings at the Guidance Center’s Marks Family Right from the Start 0-3+ Center in Manhasset after being virtual since the start of the pandemic.

While there are many programs for parents of autistic children, few if any address the specific issues that come up for grandparents, said Dr. Sue Cohen, director of clinical services at Right from the Start.

“Sometimes the parents are overwhelmed dealing with their children’s needs,” Cohen said. “At GASAK meetings, grandparents can share their own concerns with their peers.”

One GASAK member said, “A lot of times your friends can’t relate to what you’re going through, but when you walk into

the GASAK group, you feel comfortable instantly. Nobody judges you.”

The program occasionally features guest speakers, including education lawyers, social workers, special education advocates and others.

“When a grandparent leaves a meeting,”

said Cohen, “they walk away with information that can make a huge difference in the lives of their children and grandchildren.”

But the camaraderie members experience is perhaps the most important benefit of the group. Case in point: one grandmother who has two autistic grandsons who were nonverbal until they were three years old. When one of them said “Mom” for the first time, the GASAK group celebrated her good news.

“There is such compassion among members,” Cohen said. “And by sharing our worries as well as our joyful moments, we give new members hope.”

In addition, the Guidance Center provides a variety of therapeutic services for children on the autism spectrum, as well as their parents and other family members. They also provide testing for preschool-age children to young adults.

To learn more about the GASAK group and the testing services, contact Cohen at 516-484-3174 or email scohen@ northshorechildguidance.

For more information about the Guidance Center, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org or call (516) 626-1971.

—North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center supplied/Adobe stock by liderina

New York Ranks Among Top States To Retire

Affordability is the key determining factor for adults 55 and older

Caring.com, a leading senior care referral service and the nation’s top site for senior care review, announced the Best and Worst Places for Senior Living in 2022. The list is based on Caring.com’s annual Senior Living Report, which relies on in-depth expert analysis and survey findings from 1,000 Americans over the age of 55 to develop a comprehensive set of ranking criteria based on 46 key metrics. All 50 states and 300 cities in the U.S. were graded across five categories, including affordability, healthcare, senior living and housing, transportation, and quality of life.

According to the study, Vermont earned the best overall score and ranks first in the healthcare category. Minnesota, Maine, Nebraska, and South Dakota are among the top five states for retired Americans. New York is the 6th best place for seniors but ranks number one for senior living, transportation, and quality of life. Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Massachusetts also made the top 10.

In comparison, California ranks as the worst overall state and least affordable. Similarly, Florida, Arizona, Mississippi, and Louisiana are also among the five worst states for retirees. Texas and Georgia are number six and number seven from the bottom and receive the lowest scores for transportation.

“Our research shows that affordability is a top priority for seniors and adults approaching retirement,” said Jim Rosenthal, CEO of Caring.com. “While many people associate good weather and sunshine with the best places for retirement, our 2022 Senior Living Report offers a broader perspective on a range of factors that impact the wellbeing of seniors. We’ve compiled this guide to help seniors and their families identify places that address the needs and socio-economic conditions of older populations, particularly as they transition to retirement and consider making a move to a new area of our nation.”

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau

shows that the senior population is fast-growing, and almost 20 percent of Americans will be 65 or older by 2023. This year’s Senior Living Report focuses on identifying places that offer the most affordable lifestyles and opportunities for older adults. Affordability makes up 33 percent of the final score and this category measures the cost of housing and job availability for seniors. West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Indiana are among the most affordable states for seniors to retire.

After affordability, the quality and availability of healthcare is the next largest factor that Caring.com’s panel of experts and survey respondents evaluated to determine the suitability of a given area for seniors. Additional categories like transportation focus on access to public or private transportation services, and quality of life includes the availability of neighborhood amenities like museums, libraries, parks and fresh markets. The senior living and housing

category is based on several metrics, including the percentage of multifamily homes and houses with no steps at entrances. The unique methodology analyzes a total of 46 metrics across all five categories.

The 2022 report also highlights the best and worst cities for seniors to live. Hartford, Pittsburgh, Burlington, Portland and Minneapolis are listed among the best cities. In contrast, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palm Beach, Alamo, Brookhaven and Murrieta were ranked as the worst places for retirement.

Top 10 Best States for Senior Living in 2022

1st – Vermont

2nd – Minnesota

3rd – Maine

4th – Nebraska

5th – South Dakota

6th – New York

7th – Iowa

8th – Wisconsin

9th – North Dakota

10th – Massachusetts

Top 10 Worst States for Senior Living in 2022

50th – California

49th – Florida

48th – Arizona

47th – Mississippi

46th – Louisiana

45th – Texas

44th – Georgia 43rd – Nevada

42nd – Alabama

41st – New Jersey

Top 10 Best Cities for Senior Living in 2022

1st - Hartford, CT

2nd - Pittsburgh, PA

3rd - Burlington, VT

4th - Portland, OR

5th - Minneapolis, MN

6th - Madison, WI

7th - Lancaster, PA

8th - Wilmington, DE

9th - Wisconsin Rapids, WI

10th - Boston, MA

Top 10 Worst Cities for Senior Living in 2022

302nd - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

301st - Palm Beach, FL

300th - Alamo, CA

299th - Brookhaven, NY

298th - Murrieta, CA

297th - Bakersfield, CA

296th - Carlsbad , CA

295th - Port St. Lucie, FL

294th - Newport Beach, CA

293rd - Torrance, CA

With millions of website visitors, Caring. com is a leading senior living referral service and the nation’s top site for senior care reviews. Founded in 2007, Caring’s mission is to help as many seniors and their caregivers as possible through empathetic, expert guidance. Applying cutting-edge technology to this humane mission, Caring provides relevant senior care information and support, as well as comprehensive senior living and senior care directories for the United States, including more than 350,000 consumer reviews. Through a tollfree referral line (877-630-3480), Caring’s trustworthy, nationwide team of family advisors help seniors and their families research and connect to the most appropriate services and support for their specific situations. Visit www.caring.com for more information about the organization and its free services for seniors and their families.

—Caring.com

The things you love doing are more than just passions. They’re what make you “you.” This is why at The Bristal, our expert team members dedicate their time, attention, and energy to creating customized social activities that ensure each resident continues being the unique person they are. And, in the process, create the one-of-a-kind community we are, too.

See for yourself. Explore all of our locations in the tri-state area.

thebristal.com

Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care

Licensed by the State Department of Health. Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies. Equal Housing Opportunity.

HOMES

Recently Sold

This beautiful ranch built from the ground up in 2010 by renowned architect Brian Shore at 1083 Wolver Hollow Rd. in Upper Brookville sold on Dec. 22 for $1,550,000. This home boasts soaring ceilings with tons of natural light through oversized windows with multiple skylights throughout the property. The home is 4,000 square-feet and has meticulous detail throughout. It has a perfect layout design for indoor outdoor living. The home features three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is situated on more than two acres of land and has a second floor ready for expansion. The home has a central vacuum system, an inground sprinkler syster and is completely handicapped accessible. The home is on flat ground and has tons of yard space with a beautiful in-ground heated pool.

HOME & DESIGN

As Mortgage Rates Rise, So Does Popularity Of Home Buying Abroad

As a global real estate industry expert, Esther Muller knows which markets are hot right now, and she said that Israel is one such market.

“The housing market has turned in extreme directions in the past few years, which has left prospective homeowners feeling more hopeless as time goes on,” Muller said. “While it may seem near impossible to find a great home for a decent price in the United States, that’s not the case in other places abroad.”

More people are discovering a much better experience in other markets, such as Israel, she added. How exactly are they finding these kinds of opportunities? Only with an expert like Muller.

This home that is situated in the Village of Upper Brookville at 15 Centre View Dr., just off Mill River Rd. sold on Dec. 6 for $2,050,000. It sits on more than two acres that are private, secluded level land. This home has an impressive grand entrance with 22-foot ceilings. It has a contemporary design and an open-concept floor plan. The floors are Brazilian granite. The home has three fireplaces, six bedrooms and eight bathrooms. The recent updates to this home include a new kitchen with breakfast seating and panoramic views. New utilities and features include WiFi-controlled heat, air conditioning, hardwood floors, a blue stone balcony, a sunken great room and formal tea, living and dining rooms. The first floor has a master bedroom en suite wing with a spiral staircase to a loft and study area balcony. The lower level includes laundry, a sunken great room lounge, a library, media room, full eat-in-kitchen and a dining area. The entry to the resort-like grounds includes an in-ground pool with a waterfall and a hot tub. There are two electric awnings, an outdoor kitchen, a renovated tennis court, a garden and a half-basketball court. Taxes are $27,432 and the homeowner’s fee is $1,500 per year.

Muller’s main mission is to connect people looking to buy property with a solid place to be able to do that: Israel. She is striving to make the process smooth for people interested in buying property in Israel, where it’s financially viable to do so.

“It’s the best investment and legacy for our children,” she said.

Muller is passionate about helping her clients find the right fit.

“As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, I have

always strived to make the world a better place to live,” Muller said. “My business vision is to advise you on how to achieve your mission to find a perfect home in a safe and solid investment.”

Muller is a global real estate industry expert with more than 30 years of experience in the real estate market. As an owner, broker, investor, author and coach, Muller has established herself as a trusted authority in the industry. She has authored two books: Tips from the Tops and Success is the Destination. Her current mission is making the home-buying process in Israel smooth for her clients.

Visit www.esthermuller.com for more information.

Homes shown here represent closed sales, sold by a variety of agencies and are selected for their interest to readers by the Anton Media Group editor. Except where noted, data and photos are provided courtesy of Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, Inc. and Zillow.

Nachlaot is a courtyard neighbordhood in Jerusalem.

Go Take A Hike

Dog owners are welcome to bring their four-legged friends to the Sands Point Preserve, provided the dogs are kept on a leash at all times. This is a strictly enforced law in the Village of Sands Point, and there are no exceptions as the safety and well-being of all visitors, including adults, children, and animals, are of paramount importance. Dogs are not permitted on the beach at any time. There are miles of trails for you and

your pooch to explore.

The fenced-in dog run—also known as Charlie’s Run—offers two large spaces for pups to romp and socialize. One area is designated for small dogs (less than 25 pounds), and the other is accessible for all dogs. Dogs must be accompanied by their owners at all times.

Visit www.sandspointpreserveconservancy.org for trail maps, hours and admission.

Loretta Lynn, a Great Pyrenees puppy from New Hyde Park, is looking smartly prepared in her hiking goggles in front of Castle Gould. Photo by Christy Hinko

JENNIFER CORR

jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

Beginning on Jan. 6, Long Islanders had their chance to escape reality by stepping into the Vanderbilt Museum and Reichert Planetarium in East Northport. With Feb. 3 and 5 being the last days “Mesmerica” will be shown, Long Island Weekly caught up with the musical artist behind the show, James Hood.

First, what is “Mesmerica?”

According to its website, it is a “visual music journey that brings the mesmerizing music of Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood together with visually-hypnotic, 3D animated art curated from artists around the world, creating an immersive experience designed to transcend time, relax, soothe, and stimulate your mind and senses.”

One of the instruments Hood plays is the hand pan, and the music in “Mesmerica” is constructed around that instrument. Hood said he is fascinated by the instrument’s ability to fill a room with a relaxing energy.

“The music goes well with the intention of the show, which is to give people an experience of peace within themselves without ascribing it to any meaning besides what we do as humans, to lose track of time when we’re enjoying ourselves,” Hood said.

The “Mesmerica” show started in

“Mesmerica” will be playing on Long Island for two more nights.

2019, and was playing in about 27 planetariums when the pandemic started. Hood said the show went dark for two years, and began showing again in October.

“‘Mesmerica,’ the word is a play on words between the old fashioned word for mesmerized, and obviously America,” Hood, of Los Angeles said. “My mission is to give people an opportunity to experience the spaciousness that’s inside their mind that people who can meditate say is so wonderful, that feeling.”

And, Hood explained, planetariums are the perfect spaces for these shows, because with high definition, three-dimensional images coming his way, he finds he can sit still for a long time without a single thought entering his mind. Hood first became interested in planetariums when he attended shows there and was inspired by the endless possibilities of the dome.

“We are transcendent beings that lose track of time whenever we’re enjoying ourselves,” Hood said. “And we’ll sit and watch a sunset without saying anything for a long time and in some ways, this is an experience a bit like that, to just be overwhelmed with

the visual and musical program that you actually give the meaning to.”

There’s flexibility in this show, as each audience member can personalize their experience with it.

“It meets you wherever you are,” Hood said. “But it doesn’t give you a narrative to lock your logical mind onto... But it does feel like you’re going on a journey and you’re making it up as you go along in a lot of ways. But you only go as far as you want. So in some ways, you are the star... because everyone’s going to meet it differently.”

About Hood’s artistry

Hood was formerly a rock drummer in London. He played for various groups, including The Pretenders. But then, Hood decided to hang up his drum sticks and become a composer. “It was a great idea, but not the easiest thing to do when you don’t know how to play any instrument other than the drums,” Hood said. “I knew percussion and rhythm, but I had a head full of music. The computer came along to enable me to create composition, because I was able to make a lot of mistakes and learn.”

Hood moved to the United Stated after the millennium, feeling that America would be the right place for Hood’s next step in his musical journey.

“As it turns out, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do anywhere else,” Hood said.

To get $12 tickets for “Mesmerica” at the Vanderbilt Museum and Reichert Planetarium, visit tickets. mesmerica.com.

Artist James Hood created the music for the “Mesmerica” show, partnering with artists all around the world for visuals.

(Photos courtesy James Hood)

HOROSCOPES

By Holiday Mathis

By Holiday Mathis

By Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). What people call an invention is so often more of a reinvention -- the old thing with a twist. is week, an inventive mood prevails. You’ll look around for a problem to solve, a need to ll or interesting elements to combine in a novel way. You won’t have to look very far to nd it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re drawn to powerful people who have earned their place just as you have. Even so, don’t underplay luck’s role. e headwinds and tailwinds of life can lift or thwart. is week brings reminders to respect the ckle hand of fate and help those around you who do not currently nd themselves in her favor.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Usually, you try to give information on a need-toknow basis and answer only when asked. is week, just say it. e world needs your take. And don’t worry about being original either. “Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens, we have to keep going back and beginning all over again.” -- Andre Gide

CANCER (June 22-July 22). People tend to love along certain grooves and styles they learned early in life. With awareness, these patterns can be optimized or changed. You’re more aware of relationship dynamics this week. You’ll notice new things about the way you love and are loved, and the information will be applied to improvements.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). e adage suggests it’s not what you know but who you know that matters. Neither will make a di erence this week. No amount of “knowing” -- who, what, how or otherwise -- will improve the situation. Most solutions, improvements and successful actions will have to do with feeling, giving and simply being.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Do not be dissuaded by your loved one’s discomfort. To discomfort loved ones is as much a duty as the duty to comfort your loved ones. It weakens a person to live with only softness. One of the great bene ts of honest relationships is that we are strengthened and improved inside them.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your choices can be surprising even to you. It’s like one part of you has to live with decisions made by another part of you. is week, the phenomenon will inspire a feeling that you’d like to get to know yourself a little better. “Nothing we do is inevitable, but everything we do is irreversible.” -- Joy Williams

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re not trying to intimidate anyone and yet your very presence can strike a note of fear in those who want you to like, hire or approve of them in any way. e question is, do you want people to be themselves around you, or would you prefer them to reach a bit to be the person they think you want?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Even though people have unusual qualities or things about them that are not ideal, you readily make room in your heart for the many facets of others. Self-acceptance isn’t as easy for you at times. Try to let yourself be who you naturally are. Don’t change the very things that make you stand out as an original.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). ere’s a particular pattern of yours you’ve noticed -- not exactly an unhealthy habit, but it’s not helping. Your reason to quit will be obvious and unavoidable. You can see two distinctly di erent futures before you -- the one where you continue and the one where you change.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You don’t have to be reminded the accumulation of material items can make life cumbersome. It’s not that the old stu has to go, nor do you need to refrain from getting anything new, rather there’s a sense that some of these possessions no longer represent or delight you. You’ll maximize by minimizing.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). No one knows what you can do, not even you, not yet. People will want to de ne you, and you may feel like you’re being asked to come up with the de nition, but don’t. With a de nition comes a limit. By saying what you are, you say what you aren’t. Instead, throw yourself into the work and your actions will form you.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

Your cosmic birthday gift is the sense that unseen forces are in your corner. You can’t go wrong with the kind of full support you have this year, so don’t waste the feeling by playing it safe. Invest in the upgrades and improvements you feel drawn to. Your most favored risks will be social, creative and loving. More highlights: a chance meeting that turns into a lucrative arrangement, an excellent and inventive use of resources and the unexpected good fortune that graces your family.

the

WORD FIND

After the HSC

In April 1989,

between an all-male team and an all-female team, playing the same hands simultaneously at the two sites, ended in a narrow victory for the men.

The event, the brainchild of former New York Times bridge columnist Alan Truscott, established many records, including the longest continuous match (2,352 deals) and the most players participating in a match (more than 1,000). It also

raised more than $15,000 for charity.

This deal, played by R. Jay Becker (no relation to this writer) in New York, contributed to a strong comeback by the men after they had fallen behind. Becker reached four hearts as shown. East won the opening diamond lead and shifted to a trump. Declarer won and smoothly led the spade three, which rode to East’s ten. The defense was now helpless.

In practice, East returned a diamond to dummy’s king. Becker then drew the last trump and led another spade to East’s king, endplaying her. Whether she returned a diamond or a club, declarer had the remainder.

If instead East had cashed the king of spades before returning a diamond, declarer would simply ruff a spade, draw the last trump, cross to the eight of hearts and ruff another spade to establish a discard for his losing club.

The only chance for the defense is for West to put up the spade ace at trick three and shift to a club, playing for East to have both black kings. This is not unreasonable, since if South has the club king, he already has at least 10 tricks, while at the same time he is hardly likely to lead a low spade from his hand if he holds the king.

The same contract was defeated when the deal was played in Paris, so the men gained 10 IMPS.

Weekly Sudoku Puzzle

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

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Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, familial status, age, marital status, sexual orientation or disability in connection with the rental, sale or financing of real estate. Nassau also prohibits source of income discrimination. Anton Community Newspapers does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination, call Long Island Housing Services’ Discrimination Complaint Line at 800660-6920. (Long Island Housing Services is the Fair Housing Agency of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.)

ty Katz, as well as GNWPCD Superintendent Christopher Murphy, has helped oversee some of the most significant technological advancements in GNWPCD history. One of the most recent of the District’s trailblaz-

of Manhasset. The GNWPCD’s mission is to protect human health, our bays and the environment.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District

Our Culture, Our History, Our Identity: Culture & History Student Artwork

Acknowledge Our History (AOH) is holding an art exhibition displaying the winning works from AOH’s 2022 Students Art Competition -“Our Culture, Our History, Our Identity”- at the Great Neck Library from Jan. 21 to Feb. 10.

AOH received works of all types. From painting to photography, watercolor to digital art, contestants from all over the world captured ideas that represent their culture, history, and identity. Works that will be displayed at the exhibition include self-portraits, drawings of historical architecture, other objects—cherry blossoms, animals, folklores—symbolizing cultural elements in our daily life.

The theme, integrating culture, history, and identity, facilitated conversation between competitors and those around them. By learning about their culture from parents, neighbors, and mentors, they created artworks reflective of their own identity and the identity of those around them.

Twenty winning works were chosen.

Congratulations: Alex Bai, Alexander Zhang, Alicia Morales, Bohan Jin, Chendan

Zhao, Claire D’ Ambrosio, Henry Yi, Isabella Zhou, Jia Xu, Loretta Liu, Mingshi Liu, Nicolette Polena, Peilin Lü, Roselyn Ho, Sophia Liu, Steve Han, Suyeon Ryu, Zhenran He, Zhiying Liang and Zhiyue Li.

Special Thanks to Manhasset High School for supporting AOH’s Art Exhibition Efforts. More on Acknowledge Our History: Acknowledge Our History is a highschool-led initiative for AAPI history (Asian-American and Pacific Islander). With 14 school-based chapters across New York, AOH promotes vital Asian American narratives in the classroom and engages with the community by hosting and participating in seminars, rallies, and competitions. Local representatives such as Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti, Senator John Liu, Senator Anna Kaplan, have helped to support AOH’s mission—empowerment through education.

For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org —Submitted by the Great Neck Public Library

Dr. Arthur O. Pellicane

Dr. Arthur O. Pellicane, 93, passed away on November 19, 2022. He was born on November 10, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, to Nancy and John Pellicane. He graduated from St. John’s College and attended medical school in Rome, Italy, earning his medical degree in 1958 and later becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology. He was in private practice from 1961-1994 in Queens, New York, and served as the Director of Ophthalmology at Flushing Hospital Medical Center from 1977-1994, while residing in Manhasset, New York. In addition, he introduced the intra-ocular lens implant to Flushing Hospital in 1976. He was instrumental in acquiring a Phacoemulsi cation unit in 1988. Both of these procedures revolutionized the ability to perform cataract surgery on an outpatient basis.

Dr. Pellicane was a long-time member of the Christian Ophthalmology Society, where he served as the Secretary and Publisher of the newsletter. He also did medical missionary work at the Lighthouse for Christ in Mombasa, Kenya.

Dr. Pellicane traveled extensively with his family. His favorite city to visit was Florence, Italy, where he would drop back into speaking Italian with ease. He would spend time with his children sailing, ice skating, engaging in projects around the house, and teaching each of them how to drive. He was an avid reader and taught himself art restoration, restoring dozens of oil paintings over the years.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn, to whom he was married 61 years, as well as their four children; Paul, John, Cindy, and James, their spouses, and ve grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service was held at The Settlement at Powhatan Creek Clubhouse, 4000 River Moor, Williamsburg, VA 23188 on December 3. Nelsen Funeral home handled the funeral arrangements.

1931 - 2023

Margaret Dorothea Matthews, 91, of Greenwich, CT, passed away peacefully at King Street Rehab in Rye Brook, NY on January 7, 2023. A ectionately known as “Dotty,” she was the devoted wife of the late Arthur Matthews (“Artie”) for 67+ years.

Born on June 21, 1931 in Brooklyn, NY, Dotty was the youngest child of the late Mary Ann Leslie Deacy, a Scottish immigrant, and James Deacy, an Irish immigrant. She grew up on Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens. Dotty attended Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School. Upon graduating in 1949 at the top of her class, she went on to become a secretary at Shearman & Sterling, a multinational law rm headquartered in New York City.

In New York City, Dotty met Artie, and they married in 1953. The couple was blessed with four children. As a homemaker raising her children in Rosedale, Queens, Dotty simultaneously pursued her college education. Attending classes part-time for seven years, she earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Queens College.

The couple later relocated to Manhasset where Dotty continued her education, earning a paralegal certi cate. She was employed with the Manhasset law rm, Fletcher, Dunne & Sibel for approximately 12 years.

Dotty will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, kindness, and creativity. She had a love for learning, and a passion for music and the arts. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crocheting, was an avid reader and theatergoer, and traveled widely. Dotty was also a supporter of many charities, chief among them St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Dotty is survived by four children and their families: Dolly (Michael Freeburg), Marianne (Jay Anderson), Mark, and Jeannie (Brian Ensor). She also leaves behind her four beloved grandchildren: Eric, Dexter, James and Audrey.

Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Jerry Landsberg, left, was unanimously elected by fellow Commissioners Patty Katz and Steve Reiter to serve as District Chairman throughout 2023. (Contributed photo)

Some winning works from AOH’s 2022 Students Art Competition on display at the Great Neck Public Library. (Contributed photos)

2022 WAS RECORD BREAKING

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Two Manhasset Seniors Recognized As 2023 Regeneron Scholars

Two seniors from Manhasset Secondary School were named 2023 scholars in the prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science. Benjamin Punzalan and Allen Qian are among 300 students to be recognized in the science and math competition for their extraordinary research projects.

Punzalan was selected for his project “Crosstalk Between Alzheimer’s Disease and SARS-CoV-2 Infection is Mitigated by Ginkgolides A and B in HTB-11 and U937 Cell Models,” while Qian was selected for his project “Artemisinin and Artesunate Mitigate Cytotoxic Effects Caused by Recombinant Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2.” They were chosen from nearly 2,000 entrants from 627 high schools across 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and four other countries.

According to Society for Science, scholars are selected based on their “outstanding

research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations.”

Punzalan and Qian will continue in the competition with the hopes of being named one of 40 student finalists who will participate in final judging. Finalists are expected to be announced on Jan. 24. If selected, they will display their work to the public, meet with notable scientists and compete for awards, including the top award of $250,000, this March.

The Manhasset Public Schools congratulates both students on this outstanding achievement and wishes them the best of luck as they continue in the competition.

—Submitted by Manhasset Public Schools

Manhasset Students Attend Special Olympics And Unified Sports Summit

Six Manhasset Secondary School students from the school’s Special Olympics Unified Sports Club/Team attended the New York State Special Olympics and Unified Sports Summit on Jan. 13 at Plainedge High School. The students were accompanied by their club adviser Melissa Slobin and Unified Sports basketball coach Gerard Fay.

The event included presentations, along with group discussions and activities on the Special Olympics movement. Students also learned how to lead school-wide campaigns on inclusion and social acceptance for all people. It was a fun and informative day for all.

—Submitted by Manhasset Public Schools

Principal Story Time at Shelter Rock

Manhasset senior Allen Qian was selected as a scholar in the 2023 Regeneron Science Talent Search. (Photo by Manhasset Public Schools)

Manhasset senior Benjamin Punzalan was selected as a scholar in the 2023 Regeneron Science Talent Search. (Photo by Manhasset Public Schools)

Principal Roder from Shelter Rock Elementary School enjoyed a special “read aloud” with Mr. Santivasci and Mrs. McCready’s fourth grade class - sponsored through the Tower’s Silent Auction. Principal Roder read from a student’s favorite book, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. A lively discussion followed wherein students shared their takeaways from the story. (Photo by Manhasset Public Schools)

Students from Manhasset’s Special Olympics Unified Sports Club/Team attended the New York State Special Olympics and Unified Sports Summit at Plainedge High School with adviser Melissa Slobin (second from right) and Unified Sports basketball coach Gerard Fay (right). (Photo by Manhasset Public Schools)

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Congressman Santos Is A Town Issue

I am beside myself with worry and disappointment after the January 12, 2023, Town of North Hempstead Board meeting. During the public comment portion of the meeting many residents rose to express their concerns about our new scandal-plagued Representative George Santos. ese residents are rightly concerned about the Town’s ability to e ectively advocate on their behalf to the federal government now with Mr. Santos as our Representative in Congress. I was shocked and disturbed by Supervisor DeSena and Councilman Adhami’s attempts to sti e residents’ concerns by limiting their remarks to “Town business”. I am here to tell you that Congressman Santos is very much a matter of concern for the Town, despite what they may want you to believe.

e Town of North Hempstead is situated entirely within New York’s 3rd Congressional District, and Mr. Santos is our one and only elected o cial in the U.S. House of Representatives. Our state, county, city, town, and village o cials rely heavily on our congressperson for help on a whole host of critically important issues, such as securing federal funds for schools, road repairs and maintenance, environmental clean-ups, and disaster relief, to name a few. Residents often require assistance from their congressperson to navigate our complex federal bureaucracy,

like Veterans’ A airs, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, and many other federal agencies. Unfortunately, even before taking o ce Mr. Santos lost all faith and trust from the very constituents and elected o cials he is supposed to represent.

For anyone who might still be seeking assistance from Mr. Santos, I am afraid they may not get it. Many constituent calls are going unanswered, and the voicemail is

often full. Mr. Santos has been running away from the press, and may soon be running from the Nassau County DA, the Queens County DA, the NYS Attorney General, the Eastern District of New York, the Federal Election Commission, and the House Ethics Committee. With all this chaos surrounding him, how can he possibly nd the time to give our residents the attention they deserve, or build the trust and skills it takes to deliver

LEGAL NOTICES

MANHASSET

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION., AS TRUSTEE FOR ZUNI MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-OA1 MORTGAGE LOAN PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-OA1, Plaintiffagainst - NANCY BATTAGLIA-MICKLES, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on February 3, 2017. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 21st day of February, 2023 at 2:30 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying

and being in the Incorporated Village of Plandome Heights, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 2 Shore Road, Manhasset, NY 11030.

(Section: 3, Block: 171, Lot: 312)

Approximate amount of lien $903,742.38 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 004468/2008.

Ralph Madalena, Esq., Referee.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832

Dated: December 20, 2022

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent

closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

2-8-1; 1-25-18-2023-4T#237306-MAN

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 21st, 2023, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 16th, 2023 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property. Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section

5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code.

Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucountyny. gov/526/County-Treasurer

Should the Treasurer determine that an in-person auction shall be held, same will commence on the 21st day of February 2023 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.

A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at:

https://www.nassaucoun tyny.gov/527/AnnualTax-Lien-Sale

A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 08th, 2023.

Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audio-tape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715. Dated: January 25, 2023

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork

TERMS OF SALE

Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and

results for them?

Mr. Santos, please spare yourself and the rest of us any further embarrassment, do the right thing and resign immediately. We need someone in Congress who will truly represent us, ght e ectively for us on the issues, continue to deliver federal grants for ongoing projects, and secure funding for the future of the 3rd Congressional District.

— Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte

https://northhempsteadny.gov/townboardlive.

subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.

However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same.

Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corpora-

tion(FDIC) receivership.

The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed. The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk.

The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per

BZAdept@northhempsteadny.gov.

https://northhempsteadny.gov/bzs.

Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte (District 6). (Via Town of North Hempstead website)

Town of North Hempstead Town Board addressing residents concerned about George Santos. (Image from the Town of North Hempstead Jan. 12 Board Meeting Livestream)

Temple Judea Hosts “Meet The Author Night”

The Brotherhood of Temple Judea recently held via Zoom a “Meet the Author Night” program. Brotherhood President Stanley Goldklang introduced the guest speaker, author Dan Grunfeld, whose book, By the Grace of the Game, was recently published. Grunfeld gave a fascinating description of his family’s participation in basketball as well as their experiences during the Holocaust. Grunfeld’s father Ernie Grunfeld, a Knick favorite for many years, was the only NBA player (and later team executive) whose family endured the Holocaust. The book touchingly describes that connection and Ernie’s journey.

The elder Grunfeld arrived as an immigrant with his parents as they escaped the ravages of Nazism. He soon became enamored with the game of basketball and practiced on the outdoor courts of Queens before honing his basketball talent as a teenager in various gymnasiums. He went on to become a college star and eventually a professional player. Ernie Grunfeld also won an Olympic gold medal and achieved success as an NBA player and executive that his family could never have imagined when they set out for America.

As the guest speaker at the Temple Judea Brotherhood meeting, Dan Grunfeld enthralled the group with his family’s unlikely

story and the success of his father. Dan, who was also once a basketball standout at Stanford University, told an unbelievably exciting story and answered many questions from his highly attentive audience.

Many exciting programs and activities are planned year-round at Temple Judea that would appeal to a wide variety of interests.

Temple Judea, a Reform synagogue, welcomes new members and is located at 333 Searingtown Road, Manhasset, NY 11030, off exit 36N on the LIE. For more information, call (516) 621-8049 or online at www. temple-judea.com

—Submitted by Temple Judea

LEGAL NOTICESLEGAL NOTICES

cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale.

Furthermore, as to the bidding, 1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in

the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.

2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.

3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.

4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.

Dated: January 25, 2023

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 2-1; 1-25-2023-2T-#237560MAN

Virtual Caregiver’s Book Club

The Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will be presenting the Virtual Caregiver Book Club starting Feb. 1 from 12 - 1 p.m. For six weeks, we will be reading and discussing On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s, by Greg O’Brien. Our group facilitator will be Linda Martinez, LCSW-R, an advanced social worker in gerontology with NYU Langone Geriatric Medicine Associates — Mineola.

The book is about living with Alzheimer’s and not dying with it. Greg, an award-winning investigative reporter, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. He wanted to write about his journey with the disease. “My book is a blueprint of strategies, faith and humor; a day-to-day focus on living with Alzheimer’s, not dying of it; a hope that all is not lost when it appears to be,” said Greg O’Brien in an interview with The Washington Post

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss caregiver challenges and coping

skills, relating what they read to their own experiences.

“Our book club is an emotional outlet for caregivers to share with others that understand their situation,” said Joanna Rekas, Care Services Manager at the Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Chapter.

Participants will be mailed a free copy of On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s, by Greg O’Brien.

To register for the virtual book club, contact: Joanna Rekas at jrekas@alz.org or (800) 272.3900. To learn more about the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, visit alz.org/longisland or call the 24/7 Helpline at (800)272.3900.

—Submitted by the Alzhiemer’s Association

OBITUARY

Brian M. Callahan, 78, Manhasset Brian M. Callahan (March 18, 1944 – December 4, 2022) of Hollywood, Florida, a Vietnam War Veteran and Purple Heart recipient, passed away at age 78. Brian grew up in Manhasset, New York, graduated from Saint Mary’s High School and attended C.W. Post College before enlisting in the U.S. Army at age 20. Brian will be laid to rest with military funeral honors beside his deceased wife, W. Diane DeNicola, at Arlington National Cemetery. Brian is survived by his stepchildren Michael, Steve and Donna; his grandchildren Adele, Brandon, Dylan, Caitlyn, and Peter; and his siblings Patricia, Kieran, Noel and Dennis.

Dan Grunfeld. (Photo by Temple Judea)

Mineola Choral Society Celebrates 75th Anniversary

With an upcoming performance and a new director, members reflect on the power of singing together

JANET BURNS

After 75 years, the Mineola Choral Society is stronger than ever, and is kicking off 2023 with a lineup of pieces that will offer audiences “an iteration of joy,” according to their new musical director.

Founded in 1947 by Elwood R. Schwan, then-chairman of the Music Department at Mineola High School, the Mineola Choral Society (MCS) brings together around 80 singers from over 30 Long Island communities, including New Hyde Park, East Williston, Mineola, Garden City, Baldwin, Freeport, Roslyn, Great Neck, and Port Washington.

For their 75th season, the chorus now has another Mineola High School staff member at the helm: MCS Music Director and Conductor Meg Messina, Ed.D., head of the choral program at Mineola High.

In a phone interview with Nassau Illustrated News, Messina expressed plenty of joy for her new role with the group. Her relationship with MCS began in 2007 when she became choral director at Mineola High, where students who intend to pursue music after high school receive a “generous” scholarship each year courtesy of MCS’ Peter J. Haller Vocal Music Excellence Award. The choir’s previous director, Thomas W. Jones, would also bring Messina in sometimes as an extra singer and “ringer,” she said, or would call on her as a substitute conductor when needed.

“This choir has a great legacy of community engagement and singing,” Messina said. While many community choirs don’t stick around for decades, MCS has been able to thanks to its dedicated board and singers, Messina said. “I’m very honored to be chosen to do it.”

For their February 5 Winter Concert, the group will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria. along with works by John Rutter, Giovanni Battista Martini, George Matheson, John

David, and Rev. J.K. Alwood. The event will also feature a special a capella performance by the Mineola High School Chorus.

Regarding the musical selections, Messina explained, “Following the pandemic, there was a time where my students and I wanted to process sadness, and that came out in our music. This [MCS] concert feels like a return to joy, and a return to community. So it’s really a wonderful, upbeat program, I think. It does spend one minute processing the turmoil of the past few years, but mostly feels like an interation of joy.”

During COVID times, Messina noted, her high school singers were thrown for a loop, as the risk of infection effectively prohibited practicing or performing as a

group. “We were used to the choir room being the safest place in the building, where you find people who know and accept you, and then suddenly it was ground zero.”

Even today, she said, “There are moments when singing feels slightly defiant, but we’re getting it done.”

Messina also repeatedly praised the group of singers she works with at MCS, and the importance of keeping choral singing alive.

“Except for the accompanists, we’re all amateurs,” Messina said of the group, which consists of singers with a 60-year age span from all walks of life and a range cultures. “Our only reason to be together is to make music, and I think that is the most pure and beautiful reason.”

Messina, who grew up in Nassau County and has spent her adult life in Mineola and New Hyde Park, admitted that she “wasn’t a choir person” in high school. Rather, she headed off to the University of Delaware to study piano, but overheard a choral rehearsal of Vivaldi’s Gloria one night and found herself staying, hidden away in the theatre, for the whole thing.

“It was a life-changing experience,” Messina said. “To get this job, and to choose Gloria for our first performance together, feels quite full circle.”

Other Mineola Choral Society members echoed the same level of enthusiasm and appreciation for the art form, and for MCS, to Nassau Illustrated

Mineola Choral Society president Karen Zalewski commented by email, “We started our season with our new director, Dr. Meg Messina and our amazing accompanist, Karen Faust Baer, who provide years of experience and musical excellence. Meg brings fresh energy and high choral standards to our chorus.”

“It’s a bonus that she is connected with the Nassau music community and brings a network of new local singers,” Zalewski added. “We’re all looking forward to performing Vivaldi’s Gloria with a ten-piece orchestra, along with a few other pieces that the audience is sure to enjoy.”

“an incredible journey all the way.”

When she first “showed up,” Diane Graf said, the group had about 25 members and performed with only a piano accompanist. Today, close to 80 members come from all over Long Island to practice each week, and the growing group performs a variety of musicial selections backed up by a ten-piece orchestra.

When the nearby Waldorf Choral Society “unfortunately” had to close down, noted George Graf, a lot of their members joined MCS. “We had the same kind of repertoire that they enjoyed: masterpieces, like Bach, Handel, Mozart, Vivaldi.”

“It’s just a joy to sing in that kind of environment, and to see the audience enjoy it so much. The response has been phenomenal,” he said.

His wife added, “It’s been a learning experience for all of us, and most of all us, I guess.”

“We’ve spent a lot of time trying to keep choral music alive,” Diane Graf said. “We’d like to keep it going as long as possible, and work very hard at it.”

The group’s Winter Concert will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at Corpus Christi RC Church in Mineola.

George and Diane Graf of East Williston, who have been part of the choir for 36 and 40 years, respectively, said it’s been

The Mineola Choral Society in full glory at a prior year’s concert. (Courtesy of the Mineola Choral Society)

The Mineola Choral Society has been a local staple for over 75 years. (Credit: Karen Zalewski)