Great Neck Record 2/28/24 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

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The Newly Renovated Parkville Branch Library Is Now Open

JULIE PRISCO

jprisco@antonmediagroup.com

In mid-February, the Great Neck Library Parkville Branch reopened after undergoing a major renovation. The Parkville Branch is located at 10 Campbell St., New Hyde Park, next to the Parkville School.

The Parkville Branch closed for renovations in early July 2023. While the branch was closed, the other Great Neck Public Libraries offered extra programming to accommodate the closed branch.

The Parkville Branch construction targeted and modified the interior design to maximize the space’s function and appeal. It now has a bright and colorful design, comfortable furniture and seating options, an updated scanning system and wireless printing.

“The Parkville Branch re-opening is a special occasion for New Hyde Park residents and everyone else who will use this beautifully redesigned space for learning, enrichment, and recreation,” said Rory Lancman, President of the Great Neck Library Board of Trustees. “The board of trustees is especially grateful to our Library staff, our team of architects and builders, and our community partners for their vision, cooperation, and commitment to seeing this very important project through to completion.”

On Thursday, Feb. 15, the Parkville Branch hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony where library staff members, elected officials, representatives from the Great Neck Public School District and library patrons gathered to celebrate. New York State Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Town Councilmember Christine Liu presented the library with citations to congratulate them on reopening.

“The ideas, hopes and visions for the branch and the community have been incorporated into a beautiful, bright, inspiring design,” said Denise Corcoran, Great Neck Library Director. “This renovation demonstrates the library’s commitment to being a cornerstone for connectivity, inspiration, culture, education and recreation. Thank you to the community for support-

Children’s Room filed with toys and fun seating options.

ing the renovation and for their patience during the whole process.”

While thanking the community for their patience with the renovation, Corcoran thanked the Great Neck Public School District. As the Parkville Branch is directly next to the Parkville School, the staff and students at the school endured months of construction noises and disturbances. But the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kenneth Bossert; Assistant Superintendent for Business, John O’Keefe; Director of Buildings and Grounds, Alfredo Cavallaro; Parkville School Principal, Michelle Bell and the Great Neck Board of Education showed immense support throughout the project.

“[The school district] worked with us tirelessly on challenges that came up. They were extremely responsive in helping resolve issues and I just want to thank them very much for their work,” said Corcoran.

Board of Education President Rebecca Sassouni shared a quote

from Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Stephen Breyer: “Libraries and schools are the nurseries of democracy.” She added, “It’s not a coincidence that the Great Neck Public Schools and the libraries share these spaces. That’s what it’s all about for families from across the peninsula to be able to utilize these spaces as patrons. It’s a joy.”

As mentioned by Councilmember Liu, the incredible library system Great Neck has is one of the many reasons families choose to settle down in Great Neck. “As a par-

ent who moved into the neighborhood over a decade ago, we always look for our libraries. When I drove around, I looked at the schools, and I looked at the libraries. I knew this was a good place to move into 12 years ago. So, thank you for all the services that you constantly provide. I heard outside after we cut the ribbon, the library staff said, ‘We’re back! We’re back!’ So, I’m so happy to be a part of this.”

Without expanding the building, Elizabeth Martin, FAIA, from MDA designgroup architects & planners,

did a fantastic job redesigning the branch to maximize the use of every inch of space. Additionally, Cameron Engineering and Jobco Incorporated provided support for the renovation.

“The Great Neck Library Parkville branch has long been a center in this community, and it was essentially an amazing library service that the Great Neck Library and its dedicated staff provides,” said Martin. “But the prior space did not match the high bar set by its library services. We could not make it bigger, so we aimed to make it better. Hillary Clinton often mentioned that it takes a village, and I think that really does perfectly describe the incredible teamwork of everyone here that made this dream come true.”

The renovated space has various seating options, including booths, window seats, and tables. There is a community room for programs, a quiet room for studying, shelves of adult books and media items for borrowing, and comfortable furniture all over for relaxing, reading and studying. There is also a bright and cheery children’s room with a large collection of books, toys, and seating options.

Visit the newly renovated Parkville Branch at 10 Campbell St., New Hyde Park. For more information about the library and what it has to offer, visit greatnecklibrary.org or call 516-466-8055

The Parkville Branch, located at 10 Campbell St. (Photos by Julie Prisco)

From the left: Town Councilmember Christine Liu, Town Supervisor

Jennifer DeSena, Assemblywoman

Gina Sillitti, President of the Great Neck Library Board of Trustees

Rory Lancman, Great Neck Library Board Treasurer Chayim Mahgerefteh and Great Neck Library Director Denise Corcoran.

Children’s Room bookshelves filled with picture books, graphic novels, young adult books and more.

Seating options in the main section of the Parkville Branch.

Don’t Miss Great Neck’s Funniest Night Of The Year

Laugh out loud with top comedians during Great Neck’s Comedy Night, hosted by Temple Beth-El and Temple Israel, at Temple Beth-El on Saturday, March 9.

Enjoy an open bar, delicious hors d’ouvres and decadent desserts, along with the hilarity of comedians Daniel Tirado, Alexandra McHale and Steven Scott.

Tirado has entertained in comedy specials on Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, Netflix and HBO. McHale has been a guest on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show and Comedy Central. Scott has cracked up audiences on major television networks, including NBC, CBS and Comedy Central, as well as on the show America’s Got Talent.

With Temple Beth-El’s own Stan Levine returning as master of ceremonies, the evening will surely offer nonstop laughter. The event will kick off with havdalah and cocktails at 7:30 p.m., followed by an 8:30 p.m. show time.

Lunar New Year Celebration At The Great Neck Social Center

North Hempstead Town Supervisor

Jennifer DeSena and Town Council Member

Christine Liu attended a Lunar New Year Celebration at the Great Neck Social Center on Feb. 8, where attendees experienced cultural performances and delectable

cuisines. In addition Supervisor DeSena and Council Member Liu presented Social Center member Caihong Li with a Proclamation of Recognition for her volunteerism and contributions to the center.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead.

Various ticket types, from individual seats to partial or fully reserved upfront tables are available. Prices begin at $65 for general admission. A reserved front table for eight including 100 raffle tickets costs $600. On event day, admission will cost $80 each, pending availability. Purchase tickets online at www.greatneckcomedy.com.

Temple Beth-El, the peninsula’s oldest synagogue, serving the community for more than 95 years, is located at 5 Old Mill Road in Great Neck. Learn more by visiting www. tbegreatneck.org, calling 516-487-0900 or emailing info@ tbegreatneck.org.

—Submitted by Temple Beth-El

Weight Management Medicine Lecture

The Great Neck Library is hosting a lecture, “Weight Management Medicine: All About Optimizing Health and Preventing/ Treating Chronic Disease” by Dr. William Berger. The lecture is on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library, 159 Bayview Ave., Great Neck, NY 11023.

Dr. William Berger will be giving a talk about the newsworthy subject of weight management. Learn about the definition of obesity and how it is affecting our society by being the cause of so many chronic diseases. He will discuss how the pillars of obesity and lifestyle medicine (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress reduction, avoidance of risky substances, and anti-obesity medications) can be utilized in an integrated fashion to help patients achieve a healthy weight.

Dr. Berger is the founder and medical director of Northeast Medical Practice. He earned his bachelor of science degree magna cum laude in Biology with University Honors. He then completed his MD degree with High Distinction in Basic, Translational, and Clinical Science Research at the Frank Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. Dr Berger completed his medical training in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Elmhurst). Prior to his medical training, Dr.

Berger served the State of CT as an environmental and food safety chemist. During this time, he also taught biology courses for nursing and PA students at Quinnipiac University. He has authored over 20 scientific peer- reviewed publications, including a Sigma Xi Society Paper of the Year. He believes in forging personal relationships with patients to accompany them on a longterm, sustainable path towards optimal health and wellness.

For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at 516-466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Library

South High Interact Club Spreads Love On Valentine’s Day

The Interact Club at South High School spread the love this Valentine’s Day by creating handmade cards for residents at the Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Great Neck. South High students and staff made 270 cards adorned with inspirational messages and drawings, as well as a poster to hang in the facility’s common room for residents to read. The Club’s initiative ensured that every resident at the facility received a kind, heartfelt message on Valentine’s Day. The Interact Club is the high school branch of Rotary International. The South High Interact Club is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Gold Coast-Lake Success and led by faculty advisor John Motchkavitz,

business and technology department head. Rotary representatives Fran Gordon and Sheila Harmon hand-delivered South High’s Valentine’s Day messages to Tyler Calabrese, director of recreation at the Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Great Neck.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

(Contributed

Daniel Tirado

Alexandra McHale

Steven Scott

Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Council Member Christine Liu presenting Caihong Li with a Proclamation of Recognition at the Great Neck Social Center’s Lunar New Year celebration. (Contributed photo)

Delivering the Valentine’ Day cards to the Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Great Neck. (Contributed photos)

Interact Club members with their Valentine’s Day Poster.

Dr. William Berger (Contributed photo)

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

To place an item in this space, send information at least two weeks before the event to editors@antonmediagroup.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28

Blood Drive at the Great Neck Library

1:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Great Neck Library, 159 Bayview Ave.) The New York Blood Center is having a Blood Drive at the Great Neck Library. Appointments are preferred; however, walk-ins will be welcome if space permits. Please remember to eat, drink, and bring your ID with your name and photo. For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at 516-466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org

FRIDAY, MARCH 1-SUNDAY, MARCH 3

Winter Movie Screenings

stead is hosting a defensive driving course for AARP members. Call 311 or visit northhempsteadny.gov for more information.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

Beatles Tribute Show

3 p.m. (Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave.) The Great Neck Park District is hosting programs for adults. Performer: Godfrey Townsend with Michael Also, Beatles tribute show. Visit gnparks.org for more information.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5

Blood Pressure Screening

12 p.m.-2 p.m. (Great Neck Library, Station Branch) Blood Pressure Screenings with St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center. Have your blood pressure checked by a clinical nurse, free of charge.

Town Board Meeting

Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 5 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. (Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave.) The Great Neck Park District presents: Once Upon a Thief (1965) San Francisco ex-con Eddie Pedak wants to go straight, but local cop Mike Vido, motivated by a personal vendetta, keeps harassing him while Eddie’s brother Walter wants Eddie for one last major heist. Visit gnparks.org for more information.

7 p.m. (Town Hall, 220 Plandome Rd., Manhasset) Town of North Hempstead town board meeting. Visit northhempsteadny.gov for more information.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

St. Francis Hospital Outreach Bus

10 a.m.-2 p.m. (“Yes We Can” Community Center, 141 Garden St., Westbury) The Town of North Hempstead presents the St. Francis Hospital Outreach Bus for free health screenings. The screenings include a brief cardiac history, blood pressure, simple blood test, diabetes screenings and more. Call 311 for more information.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

AARP Defensive Driving Course

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Clinton G. Martin Park, 1601 Marcus Ave.) The Town of North Hemp-

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6

Womanspace

1 p.m.-3 p.m. (Great Neck Social Center, 80 Grace Ave.) These seasoned ladies have gathered for a number of years, tuned in to what active folks think about. When this group hears about something on the local, state, national or global scene they select an expert from their various contacts to come talk about it.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8-SUNDAY, MARCH 10

Winter Movie Screenings

Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 5 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. (Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave.) The Great Neck Park District presents: Plane (2023 | R) A pilot finds himself caught in a war zone after he’s forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm. Visit gnparks.org for more information.

(Getty Images)

Nassau County Officials Rally To Oppose Cuts To Foundation Aid

Nassau County school districts faced with over $23 million in proposed cuts

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

On February 1, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads along with colleagues Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Senator Jack Martins, Senator Alexis Weik and Assembly Members Ari Brown and Brian Curran, called on Governor Hochul to reverse the devastating cuts to schools that were included in her budget proposal. The elimination of the save harmless provision and the changes in the inflation calculation for Foundation Aid, the state contribution to schools, mean that many school districts in Nassau County are impacted, including Port Washington, Great Neck, Manhasset, Roslyn, New Hyde Park, Mineola, Jericho, Oyster Bay and Locust Valley.

“The safety, success, and well-being of our students should always be a top priority. The Governor’s proposed changes in education funding would cut over $4 million in school aid - in just my Senate District alone. We must empower our teachers and students to be their best and chart our students on a course for a lifetime of success. As the budget process continues, I remain undeterred and ready to fight for our teachers, schools, and families to ensure our children get the quality education they deserve,” said Senator Steve Rhoads, SD 5.

“The Governor’s budget is yet another example of the complete disregard for our Nassau families and taxpayers. They are stripping millions of dollars from our Nassau school districts. My district alone is getting hit with more than $11 million in school aid cuts (see attached). Nassau taxpayers are tired of misplaced priorities from Albany’s OneParty Rule, and I will continue to fight to get Nassau school districts the funding they deserve, ” said Senator Patricia

Canzoneri-Fitpatrick, SD 9.

“Governor Hochul’s proposed education budget cuts are nothing less than an attack on New York’s suburban school districts, and she will deprive our schoolchildren of the resources they deserve. This means that millions of more dollars will be thrown onto the backs of our taxpayers. Enough is enough! The State has an absolute obligation to fund our schools. Today, we stand in solidarity with our schools, teachers, and especially parents and children in saying “No!”. Our first priority has always been and will remain our children and we are completely committed to fighting for them,” said Senator Jack Martins, SD 7.

“The Governor’s budget proposal shorts our education foundation aid by $420 million. Fifty-six schools on Long Island are being shorted by staggering amounts, leaving them with the uncertainty of how to maintain teachers and programs. The Governor and the Democrat majority need to make our schools, our students, teachers and programs a priority by reallocating our $2.4 billion tax dollars where it belongs,” said Senator Alexis Weik, SD 8th.

“There is a strong correlation between adequate funding and student achievement. Decreased funding could lead to lower academic performance and graduation rates, and will widen achievement gaps among student populations. Students from low-income backgrounds will certainly be disproportionately affected as they rely more heavily on school resources for academic support and enrichment opportunities. Additionally, these significant cuts will almost certainly lead to salary freezes, reduced benefits, and increased workloads for educators, which will affect morale and may also hinder teacher retention and recruitment efforts, exacerbating staffing shortages and further compromising the quality of education.

“The loss of 4.3 million in foundation aid in a single year

is devastating for our district, particularly since the cut comes without warning or preparation. No district can absorb that level of loss without cuts to programs, which ultimately affect our students, 30 percent of whom live below State poverty thresholds. We urge our State legislators to seek a reprieve so that we can maintain our student programs, particularly as we continue to recover from the pandemic,” said Dr. Jennifer Gallagher, Superintendent of the Long Beach City School District.

Senator Rhoads added, “As your State Senator, I understand how important public education is to the life of a community. I strongly oppose these cuts and will fight to ensure all schools get their fair share of education funding in this year’s state budget.”

Senate districts facing school aid cuts

Senate District 9

$11,158,221

Senate District 7

$5,202,205

Senate District 5

$4,366,601

Senate District 8

$17,305,533

—Submitted by the office of Senator Steve Rhoads with additional information by Amanda Olsen

How Foundation Aid Is Calculated Now

The Foundation Aid formula consists of five core pieces. A uniform per pupil amount (the Foundation Amount) is multiplied by a Pupil Needs Index and by a Regional Cost Index. That product is then offset by an amount to be raised from local revenue sources. The result is then multiplied by a weighted pupil count which provides some additional support on behalf of students with disabilities.

• Foundation Amount: This is a uniform per pupil amount for every district. The figure was derived from the average per pupil spending of districts deemed to be providing adequate education as determined by a “Successful School Model” using student performance on a collection of eight state assessments.

• Pupil Needs Index: This factor considers student poverty, measured using a combination of Census data from the year 2000 and a rolling three-year average of the percentage of kindergarten through grade six students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, plus counts of English Language Learners, and a measure of geographic sparsity (students per square mile).

• Regional Cost Index: To adjust aid to reflect variations in the cost

of providing education, this factor divides the state into nine regions and assigns all districts in each region an index value based on the compensation of workers in that region in occupations requiring education comparable to that of teachers, reflecting a consensus that the measure should not use factors which could be influenced by school district spending decisions.

• Expected Local Contribution: This factor determines an amount each district should be expected to raise from local revenues to support general education. It uses the more favorable of two options for every district; both adjust the expected amount based on district property wealth and resident incomes, so that poorer school districts are expected to contribute less and wealthier districts more.

• Weighted Pupil Count: Where some state aid formulas reimburse districts for a share of approved expenses, Foundation Aid allocates an amount per pupil. The pupil count gives extra weight for students who are receiving special education or who moved out of special education in the prior year.

—New York State Educational Conference Board

Senator Steve Rhoads speaking at the event (Office of Senator Steve Rhoads)

“I’m saving about $1,800 a year in energy costs with LED lighting.” *

—Guy Brogna, All Music Inc., Plainview

Meet Guy. He’s a local business owner, rock bassist, and fan of LEDs. It didn’t hurt that he got $5,900 in rebates to replace his store’s old lighting with energy-e cient fixtures.* He says his store and his guitars look great in the new LED glow. And, with the monthly energy cost savings, he couldn’t be happier. How can we help your small business save?

psegliny.com/BusinessRebates

*Rebates and

savings will di er with every energy

e ciency project.

TFaithful Fans Freeze At Islanders Watch Party

COLE McDONNELL

he Park at UBS Arena hosted a Stadium Series Watch Party for the New York Rangers vs New York Islanders game in Metlife Stadium. Islanders fans stuck it through frigid temperatures for an exciting game that ended with a controversial finish that let the fans down. The Islanders held a 5-3 lead late in the third period until Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad tied the game at five apiece with two powerplay goals. Artemi Panarin scored 10 seconds into overtime giving the Rangers the win. The goal was reviewed after Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson hit the net. It was ruled a goal because the puck slid in after Dobson and Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin knocked it around.

Although the game didn’t end how the fans at The Park wanted it to, UBS held a fun event for the Islanders faithful with plenty of different activities to participate in. Cornhole games were set up, and two big skating rinks where fans could skate around with the Islanders mascot, Nyisles. There were reserved igloos for families to stay warm during the game. The Big Cheesee food truck served its famous Giant Grilled Cheese sandwich. The Big Black Food Truck and the Rolling Video Games of Long Island Truck had Wii games for kids to play.

“It’s extremely special to the Islanders community and just Long Island in general, to get the team back here and hosting something where the community can come together and have fun like this, it’s a great time,” said Islanders fan Bill Swanson.

The Islanders staff was out in full force with multiple giveaways of merchandise including signed pictures, jerseys, and hats. They held Islanders-themed trivia and gave out tickets to a Jennifer Lopez concert taking place at the UBS Arena on Aug. 9.

Islanders legend Bob Nystrom was in attendance at The Park. He was meeting and greeting fans at the Islanders Swag Shack. Fans who waited in line were rewarded with Nystrom’s autograph. Later during an intermission, Nystrom stood in front of the crowd of fans and answered questions. He gave a thank you to the fans and all their support. “You Islander fans are just absolutely the best. You really do help the team win. So thank you to all of you.”

Nystrom scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime of the 1980 Finals which was the first in franchise history. That goal kickstarted a run of four straight championships for the Islanders. The Islanders

have been carrying on his legacy with the Bob Nystrom Award, given to the player who “best exemplifies leadership, hustle and dedication.”

“These guys that are playing out there today will remember this for as long as they live. Other teams have tried it and it’s worked out so well,” said Nystrom regarding the Stadium Series popularity. “It’s really great for the fans and it’s great for the players themselves.”

The Stadium Series is a series of games that the NHL plays in outdoor stadiums, along with the NHL Winter Classic and NHL Heritage Classic. There have been 15 games played during the Stadium Series

and eight of them rank in the top 20 of ice hockey attendance records. The two games held on February 17th and 18th broke attendance records for games in the Stadium Series. The Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils played at Metlife on the 17th with 70,328 in attendance but the Rangers-Islanders game broke that record the next day drawing 79,690 fans to watch the game.

“The Stadium Series is a great thing for the NHL. It definitely spreads national awareness and as a brand it gets the NHL a little bit more up there with its competition,” said Swanson.

The Rangers and Islanders met in the

first year of the Stadium Series on Jan. 29, 2014, where the Rangers won 2-1. The game saw rookie Brock Nelson score the first goal of the game for the Islanders. Nelson scored the first goal for the Islanders in the 2024 edition of the game as well. A threegoal first-period outburst from the Isles put them up 3-1 having fans in pure excitement at The Park. Anders Lee scored a powerplay goal a minute into the second period giving them a 4-1 cushion. Vincent Trocheck put two in for the Rangers later in the period giving them some life going into the final period.

Alexander Romanov put the Isles up by two goals less than two minutes into the third period. The Islanders, who have the worst penalty-kill percentage in the league at 70.7 percent allowed two more in the third allowing the Rangers to force overtime and ultimately steal one from the Islanders. This win for the Rangers marks their seventh consecutive win and keeps them in contention for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are on the outside looking in of the Wild Card standings with every game holding a lot of weight.

The fans received good news despite the losing effort by the team: the broadcast announced that the 2026 NHL All-Star Game will take place on Long Island at the UBS Arena. This will be the first time the All-Star Game will be played on the Island since 1983 when it was held at the Nassau Coliseum, the old home of the Islanders. The event is something Belmont will be looking forward to hosting.

Fans lled The Park for the Islanders-Rangers Stadium Series. (Photos by Cole McDonnell)

UBS Arena had two ice skating rinks for fans to enjoy during the game.

There’s still time to register for spring classes!

Give your student the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. Hofstra Youth Academy offers over 30 classes taught by New York State certified teachers and/or industry professionals in academics, fine and studio arts, enrichment, athletics, and video game development. Students in Pre-K through 12th grade benefit from Hofstra’s state-of-the-art facilities and our small class sizes allow for group and individual instruction.

Spring classes begin Saturday, March 2, 2024.

For more information or to register, visit ce.hofstra.edu/youth or contact us at 516-463-7400

Spending quality time in nature has always been one of my favorite pastimes. In days gone by, I often found myself on a blanket in the backyard, either reading or writing while enjoying the sounds of the breeze in the trees, the birds nearby, and the squirrels as they chattered to one another from opposing sides of my property. As many of you know, my husband and I frequently take walks in nature preserves on Long Island. Getting back to basics and finding peace in the silence is the perfect antidote for the craziness of Life.

As some of you also are aware, I forage from the wild. I follow several foragers, including the Appalachian Forager on Instagram and Yoga Girl Rachel Brathen on both Instagram and Facebook. Over the past few years, I have created a Yoga Girl-inspired syrup from fresh spruce tips, dandelion honey from flowers found in a rarely used field and violet syrup from violets in the woods. I made a household cleaner from white pine needles and vinegar, which took about three weeks to fully process. I collected and dried Mugwort from an open field and made a batch of incense. For a recent sinus infection, I used Mountain Mint buds that I collected and dried for a soothing cup of mint tea. It truly amazes me that nature has the power to heal in so many ways.

Hubby and I have been in the process of cleaning our home of several decades of collected items

A parental alliance is created when partners value and respect each other’s parenting decisions and the roles they choose to take on. This alliance is extremely important and not only has benefits for children in terms of their psychological functioning and development but benefits the parents as well. If parents can avoid frequent conflict, their children will fare better. Additionally, research has shown that by supporting one another in creating an alliance, parents experience less stress.

Take for example, hypothetical couple Kevin and Jenna who have a 17-year-old son named Scott and 12-year-old daughter Dawn. Kevin tends to be much more permissive in his parenting style, allowing the kids to do what they want when they want, and often doesn’t enforce rules, such as the

COLUMNS

The Long Island Forager

SEE YOU AROUND THE TOWN

Patty Servidio

over the years, which recently led him to inquire about the collection of paper plates that were lined across the dining room table. “What is all of this?” he asked as he picked up a chunk of chaga mushroom, sniffed it and put it down rather quickly.

I explained the benefits of chaga tea to him and further advised him that after carefully washing my “stash”, it needed to dry before I could ground it and use it for tea. While the large chunks can be used several times for multiple cups of chaga tea, it had been my ultimate plan to grind the turkey tail mushrooms that were drying beside the chaga, along with the chaga, and add the powder to coffee. As I might have previously mentioned in another article, chaga has been known to boost immunity and has been used to boost white blood cell production, the first line of defense against viruses and bacteria. Turkey

tail helps to boost the immune system and has even been used to treat certain types of cancer in ancient times.

Hubby pointed towards another container; a Tupperware filled with brownish jelly-like objects. “And these?” The jelly-like items that sat forlornly on the bottom of the plastic container were Amber Jelly Roll Fungi, a mushroom with a rubbery texture that is essentially tasteless but takes on the flavor of the dishes in which it cooks. This mushroom is available year-round and can be found after a good rain. I’ve used it in soups, omelets, and rice dishes. One of the foragers I follow noted that his children referred to the mushroom as “crunchy Jello”. It’s a very accurate description.

Other items that have been drying on the dining room table are Wood Ear mushrooms, which are similar in texture to Amber Jelly. These mushrooms have multiple benefits, which include cholesterol and blood sugar regulation, high fiber content for gut health, and high iron content for preventing anemia, to name a few. Wood or jelly ears are usually dried, as I explained to my husband, and saved for future use in dishes. We were lucky enough to find a tremendous cluster of them when our daughter and “son” took us hiking this weekend at the spot where they took their vows in October. The area was stunning and so serene that I literally felt my blood pressure drop at least ten points. My wood ear

Maintaining A Parental Alliance

LOVE LESSONS

Marisa T. Cohen, PhD

curfew. Recently, Scott has been trying to pit his parents against one another so that he can get his way. He asked for the keys to the car to go to a party and when Jenna said no, Scott said “But Dad always lets me do it!” Kevin, overhearing this exchange said, “Come on Jenna, it’s just one night out, let him have the keys.” Scott

harvest was the proverbial icing on the cake.

When Hubby realized that it was futile to prevent me from collecting these precious gifts from nature, he decided to join me. Just last week, we found a tree that had a tremendous chaga conk upon it. He rolled up his coat sleeves and collected a large amount, which was covered in Crystal Brain fungus. The clear, jelly-like fungi, which was not deemed edible, was also very sticky and left a residue on his hands. I muffled a giggle as he furiously wiped the jelly off his hands with sanitizer and a large napkin but was grateful that he joined in the hunt.

Foraging is a wonderful activity, but it requires a great deal of research and knowledge about what one collects. Many foragers have fallen ill or even died because they did not investigate nor identify their harvest properly. I have decided to forage only that which I know is edible, and that which will benefit us. As one forager wrote on his website, “While certain jelly mushrooms don’t look all that appealing, in the event of world collapse, they are the perfect food for survival.” I’m not expecting worldwide collapse, but I am learning a great deal about the benefits of those things that have worked for centuries to assist in the betterment and overall health of humans. Wintertime is a slow time to forage, but spring is around the corner. I wish you all a happy forage, should you choose to go a-hunting!

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

Publishers of

Glen Cove/Oyster Bay Record Pilot

Great Neck Record

Manhasset Press

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/CFO

Iris Picone

Director of Sales Administration

Shari Egnasko

Editors

Janet Burns, Jennifer Corr, Lauren Feldman, Christy Hinko, Amanda Olsen, Julie Prisco

Contributing Editor

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

Director of Business

Linda Baccoli

Director of Accounting

Darrie Dolan

For circulation inquiries,

Publication Office:

happily took the keys, leaving Jenna behind, who was now frustrated with both her son and Kevin. Not only was she worried about Scott leaving the house alone at night with the car but didn’t like how Kevin went against her in front of him.

A united front is important. Even if parents disagree when it comes to certain decisions, conversations should be had in private. By doing this, the parents can go over the situation, have time to share each of their viewpoints, process everything, and come to a consensus. For decisions that require more immediate action, such as with Scott who was heading out the front door, it is important for the parents to support one another in the moment and have a conversation after regarding their differing viewpoints. The goal of that

conversation would be for the two of them to come to an agreement as to how they will both set and enforce rules and responsibilities in the future.

When having discussions about parenting and creating an alliance, it is important to go over the many factors that can influence your parenting styles and values. For example, be sure to share with your partner how your family of origin affected how supported you felt as a child, and in turn how this has influenced you as an adult. Additionally, discuss the type of relationship you want to have with your children. For example, do you want them to see you as a friend, authority figure, or something in between? The more insight you can provide your partner with, the better able they will be to understand how you choose to make parenting decisions.

2024

Additional

Many everyday conveniences and innovations have roots in military development, showcasing the positive impact of military technologies on civilian life. GPS, initially developed for military navigation, is now integral to everyday activities such as driving and location-based services. The internet itself emerged from military research, transforming communication globally. Military advancements have also led to breakthroughs in medical technology, with developments like trauma care and prosthetics benefiting civilians. Materials like Kevlar, initially designed for military use, find applications in products such as body armor and high-performance sports gear. These examples illustrate how military innovation often yields widespread benefits for society at large. Here are 10 common things that originated in the military:

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Originally developed by the United States military for navigation and targeting purposes, GPS is now integrated into smartphones, cars, and numerous other

COLUMNS

Everyday Things With Military Origin LONG ISLAND

consumer devices.

Jeans

Denim pants, known as jeans, were first worn by sailors in the U.S. Navy in the 19th century. They have since become a staple of casual wear worldwide.

Microwave Oven

The microwave oven was developed during World War II by the Raytheon Corporation for radar technology. After the war, the technology was adapted for cooking purposes, revolutionizing home kitchens.

Duct Tape

Originally known as “duck tape” and used by the military during World War II for sealing ammunition cases, duct tape is now ubiquitous for household repairs and DIY projects.

Canned Food

Napoleon Bonaparte offered a cash prize for anyone who could invent a way to preserve food for

his army. This led to the development of canned food, which is now a pantry staple in households worldwide.

Aviator Sunglasses

Initially designed for pilots to protect their eyes from glare at high altitudes, aviator sunglasses are now a fashion accessory worn by people of all ages.

Jeep

The Jeep, originally developed for military use during World War II, has evolved into a popular civilian vehicle renowned for its off-road capabilities.

Cargo Pants

Cargo pants with multiple pockets were first designed for military use to allow soldiers to carry essential items. They are now commonly worn for their practicality and casual style.

Silicon Valley

The term “Silicon Valley” originated from the proliferation of semiconductor and technology companies in the region, which were initially contracted by the U.S. military for various projects.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality was initially developed for military training simulations. VR is now used in various industries, including gaming, healthcare and education.

Upcoming events

Saturday, March 2— Caps for Hope art memorial event honoring Glen Cove veterans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Glen Cove Public Library

Sunday, March 3— Cellphones For Soldiers ongoing collection at Floral Park Public Library, sponsored by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

Friday, March 8—Hooks For Heroes Winter Gala from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Buoy Bar in Point Lookout, ticketed

Saturday, March 9—St. Patrick’s Day Party at American Legion Elmont from 7 to 11 p.m., ticketed

Thursday, March 14— Employment Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (veteran admission at 9 a.m.) at Nassau Community College, Garden City

Wednesday, March 20—Rekindling Our Veteran Community conference at Adelphi University from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,

registration required

Sunday, March 31—Hometown Heroes Banner Program applications due for the Spring 2024 unveiling, sponsored by Franklin Square Civic Association

Wednesday, April 3— Operation Baby Shower for military families at UBS Arena in Elmont, by invitation only

Sunday, April 14, through April 20—Team Eva 7 Marathons

7 Days across Long Island

Saturday, April 27—Veterans Conference from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Farmingdale State College, sponsored by Long Island Blue Star Moms New York 6, registration required

Friday, May 10— General Needs charity gala from 6 to 10 p.m. at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck

Saturday, May 11—Big Apple Honor Flight accepting applications from veterans of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and now Cold War, for a day trip flight to Washington, D.C. for war era memorial visits

–Christy Hinko is a managing editor at Anton Media Group and a U.S. Navy veteran.

Curtis Waller Is Special Olympics New York Athlete Of The Month

Special Olympics New York and the New York Achieving a Better Life Experience Program (NY ABLE) are pleased to congratulate snowshoe athlete Curtis Waller from Farmingdale on being named the February 2024 Athlete of the Month.

Waller, age 65, has competed for the Free Lightning Snowshoe Club at both the local and state levels for eight years, earning numerous medals along the way.

“Curtis is always there for his teammates,” said his coach, Lori-Jean Farrell. “Whether they’re practicing or competing, he encourages them to do their best.”

To earn eligibility for Athlete of the Month, athletes must exhibit leadership in one or more of the following: Achievement in Sport, Sportsmanship (respect for coaches, officials, opponents, teammates), Character (playing by the rules, honesty, integrity), and Commitment to Improvement and Perseverance.

Athletes are considered for this honor based upon recommendations by Special Olympics New York staff, coaches, fans and the community. To recommend a Special Olympics New York athlete, visit www. specialolympicsNY.org.

About Special Olympics New York

Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 42,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with nearly 300 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without

disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally.

For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.

About NY ABLE

The New York Achieving a Better Life Experience Program (NY ABLE) allows Eligible Individuals with disabilities and their families to save for qualified disability related expenses, without limiting their ability to benefit from federal benefit programs such as SSI, SSDI and Medicaid. NY ABLE offers multiple investment options including a checking account and debit card option allowing individuals with disabilities to maintain their independence and have quick and easy access to their own money. Earnings on investments can grow tax-deferred and are tax-free if withdrawals are used for qualified disability expenses. For additional information about NY ABLE, or to open an account, please visit www.mynyable. org. Eligibility requirements, investment objectives, risks, expenses, and other important information about NY ABLE is available in the Disclosure Booklet and Participation Agreement.

—Submitted by Special Olympics New York

Curtis Waller (Photo by Special Olympics New York)

Nassau County Urban Forestry Academy Workshop Trainings

The Urban Forestry Academy training is designed to not only teach the fundamental principles of tree health care, but to also give people the tools to become advocates for trees in their communities. Weekly lectures and hands-on workshop trainings will be led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County staff, with assistance from Cornell University faculty, local arborists, and representatives from other government organizations. This is an 8-week hybrid program that will utilize virtual interactive lectures and in-person workshop trainings.

There is increasing awareness that urban and community trees provide many benefits to the environment, to human health and well-being, and affects the economic viability of communities. As communities and homeowners face the financial challenges of tree damage that results from storms, disease, and pest insects, advocating for the support of these urban trees can be difficult. The Urban Forestry Academy is an informal training program that provides education to arborists, landscape professionals, and members of the public interested in promoting urban trees within their communities. This training is designed to not only teach the fundamental principles of tree health care, but to also give people the tools to become advocates for trees in their communities. Weekly lectures and handson workshop trainings will be led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County staff, with assistance from Cornell University faculty, local arborists, and representatives from other government organizations.

Program Design:

The Urban Forestry Academy will be an 8-week hybrid program that will utilize virtual interactive lectures and in-person workshop trainings. The dates for the 2024 Urban Forestry Academy will be March 6th – April 27th. The virtual classes will be held once a week on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 in the evening and there will be a total of three in-person Saturday morning workshops from 9:00am - 11:00am.

The interactive lectures will cover a wide array of Urban Forestry topics, from the basic biology of trees to learning how to diagnose common tree problems. Lecture topics may vary depending on the interest of participants and relevance to current environments, but in general will align with the following syllabus:

Week 1: Benefits of an Urban Forest

Week 2: Tree Pruning and Tree Care

Week 3: Common Tree Problems

Week 4: Tree Identification

Week 5: Effect of Invasive Species on the Urban Forest

Week 6: Stewarding Trees for Success

Week 7: Site Assessment for Optimal Tree Health and Long-term success

Week 8: Community Projects and Grants Registration is available for individual sessions.

If you have any questions, please contact Chloe at cid7@ cornell.edu

—Submitted by the NYS Department of Conservation

Photo by Alex Nuñez

HOME & DESIGN

Junk In The Trunk

BY CHRISTY HINKO chinko@antonmediagroup.com

We are actually talking about junk, but not in the trunk. Although, the headline is catchy, right?

The kitchen junk drawer, a ubiquitous feature in homes across the globe, serves as a testament to the dynamic, somewhat chaotic nature of daily life. This unassuming storage space, often a drawer slightly askew, nestled among the kitchen cabinets and countertops, emerges over time as a catch-all of the miscellaneous things, the momentarily indispensable things, and the unclassifiable things.

At first glance, the contents of a kitchen junk drawer might seem haphazard—a mishmash of objects ranging from spare batteries and takeout menus to forgotten birthday candles and single earrings. There are rubber bands that have lost their elasticity, screws and nails waiting for a purpose, and an assortment of pens, half of which have long ceased to write. This assortment, this collection of odds and ends, speaks to the rhythm of daily existence, capturing snapshots of needs, wants, and unplanned moments.

What do the things in your junk drawer say about you?

The junk drawer is essentially a drawer with things that have true potential, one day. It holds the promise of utility and discovery; a treasure trove for the moment you need a twist tie, a flashlight during a power outage, or a screwdriver for a loose cabinet handle. It’s the first place to search when something small goes missing and often the last hope for finding what you thought was lost.

The kitchen junk drawer acts as a cultural artifact, a manifestation of the modern condition. It reflects our propensity to hold onto things “just in case,” revealing our optimism, our preparedness, and sometimes our procrastination. The junk drawer is a microcosm of our lives—messy, unexpected, but geniuinely resourceful.

In celebrating the kitchen junk drawer, we acknowledge the beauty in the mundane, the order in disorder. It reminds us that amidst the precision and planning of daily life, there’s always a little room for the unpredictable, the overlooked, and the perfectly imperfect.

Have a story about something in your own junk drawer? Send us an email (chinko@antonmediagroup.com) and we might use your story in an upcoming home improvement special section.

“Eventide” is a gracious six-bedroom carriage house-inspired estate at 119 Horseshoe Rd., high above Mill Neck Creek on 5.16 landscaped acres with 512 feet of waterfront. It sold on Jan. 11 for $7,750,000. It is oriented to sweeping western sunsets and water views. Impeccable millwork tailors light-filled rooms in this home. French doors open to lush landscaped gardens. On main floor offers sumptuous primary and guest suites. The home has a total of six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The living and dining rooms are elegant. The home has a chef’s kitchen and informal family and dining rooms. It has a library, a dedicated office/study and two multi-purpose loft studios. The home has a gym, a game room and an entertainment room. The veranda is covered and has a fireplace. The swimming pool is heated and the home has a three-bay garage.

This home at 59 Lake Ave. in Mill Neck is an example of modern elegance. It sold on Jan. 26 for $850,000. It is a recently updated three bedroom and four bathroom raised ranch that seamlessly blends contemporary style with timeless charm. This residence boasts smart features throughout, enabling convenient control of lighting, climate and security from a smartphone. Fitness is always at your fingertips with this home’s own gym. The primary suite offers a spa-like retreat, complemented by two additional versatile bedrooms. Located in close proximity to shops, transportation, and restaurants, this home provides the perfect balance of convenience and comfort.

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.

Creating A Root Cellar

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF

specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

The trend of creating a root cellar is experiencing a resurgence as homeowners embrace sustainable living, self-sufficiency, and a desire to connect with traditional practices. A root cellar is an underground storage space designed to preserve fruits, vegetables, and other perishables by maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels. Here’s a closer look at the reasons behind the renewed interest in this age-old concept.

1Preservation of harvest

Root cellars provide an effective means to extend the shelf life of garden produce. By mimicking the cool, dark, and humid conditions found underground, these cellars create an ideal environment

for storing root vegetables, apples, and other crops. Homeowners keen on preserving their harvest throughout the year find root cellars to be a sustainable solution.

2 Energy efficiency

Compared to modern refrigeration methods, root cellars are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. They require minimal electricity, relying on the natural coolness of the earth to regulate temperature. This not only reduces energy consumption but also contributes to lower utility bills, aligning with the growing interest in eco-conscious living.

3 Self-sufficiency and homesteading

The trend towards self-sufficiency and homesteading has spurred the revival of traditional practices like root cellaring. Homeowners interested in producing their

food, reducing dependence on supermarkets, and embracing a more sustainable lifestyle see root cellars as a key element of their homesteading efforts.

4 Resilience and emergency preparedness

Root cellars contribute to household resilience by providing a reliable storage solution in the face of unforeseen circumstances. In times of power outages, natural disasters, or other emergencies, having a root cellar stocked with preserved food can be a valuable asset, ensuring a stable food supply when access to grocery stores may be compromised.

5 Cultural heritage and tradition

For some, creating a root cellar is a nod to cultural heritage and the practices of earlier generations. Root cellars have been a staple in many cultures, offering a link to the past. The act of building and using a root cellar becomes a way of preserving and honoring traditional knowledge and techniques.

6 DIY and personalization

The trend embraces the do-it-yourself (DIY) spirit, allowing homeowners to customize their root cellars based on space, needs, and available resources. Building a root cellar can be a satisfying project, combining practicality with creativity. It encourages a hands-on approach to food preservation and storage.

7 Improved flavor and nutritional value

Storing produce in a root cellar often enhances its flavor and nutritional value.

Certain fruits and vegetables, when kept in optimal conditions, can continue to ripen and develop flavors, contributing to a more robust and satisfying culinary experience.

8 Waste reduction

Root cellars contribute to reducing food waste by allowing homeowners to store larger quantities of produce without the risk of spoilage. This aligns with a broader societal shift towards minimizing waste and utilizing resources more efficiently.

9 Temperature control for other uses

Beyond storing food, some homeowners are exploring the use of root cellars for temperature-controlled spaces like wine cellars or even small workshops. This versatility adds another layer of practicality to the trend.

10 Community sharing and bartering

The abundance of a well-maintained root cellar can extend beyond personal use. Homeowners may find themselves with surplus produce, leading to community sharing and bartering, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and cooperation among neighbors.

The trend of creating a root cellar reflects a broader shift towards sustainable living, resilience, and a reconnection with traditional practices. It combines practicality, environmental consciousness, and a desire for self-sufficiency, making it a compelling choice for homeowners seeking a holistic and sustainable approach to food storage.

Top Trends In Home Improvement

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Home improvement trends are continually evolving as homeowners seek innovative ways to enhance their living spaces.

Improving your home is a delightful blend of practicality and enjoyment. The tangible results of a renovated space offer daily practical benefits, enhancing functionality and comfort. Whether creating a stylish kitchen or a cozy reading nook, the process itself becomes a rewarding journey, filled with creative decisions and personal expression. Tackling home improvement projects fosters a sense of accomplishment, and the transformed spaces provide a backdrop for cherished memories. The joy of seeing your vision come to life, coupled with the improved functionality of your living environment, makes home improvement both a practical and fulfilling endeavor.

Here are some top trends in home improvement:

Outdoor Living Spaces

The concept of extending living spaces to the outdoors has gained significant popularity. Homeowners are investing in outdoor kitchens, cozy seating areas, and fire pits to create functional and aesthetically pleasing extensions of their homes.

Smart Home Technology

The integration of smart home technology continues to be a major trend. Homeowners are incorporating smart thermostats, lighting systems, security cameras, and voice-activated assistants for increased convenience, energy efficiency, and security.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly

With a growing emphasis on environmental consciousness, sustainable home improvement practices are on the rise. This includes energy-efficient appliances, solar panels, eco-friendly building materials, and water-saving fixtures.

Home Offices

The shift towards remote work has spurred the creation of dedicated home office spaces. Homeowners are converting spare rooms, nooks, or even closets into functional and aesthetically pleasing work-from-home environments.

Multi-Function

The desire for versatile living spaces has led to the creation of multi-functional rooms. For example, dining rooms that double as home offices or guest bedrooms equipped with fold-down desks, maximizing the utility of every square foot.

DIY Projects

Homeowners are increasingly taking on do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, fueled by online tutorials and a desire to personalize their spaces. From simple decor items to more complex renovations, DIY projects offer a sense of accomplishment and cost savings.

Be Bold

There’s a shift towards more expressive and bold design choices. Vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and unique textures are being incorporated into interiors through accent walls, furniture, and decor.

Biophilic Design

Integrating nature into home design is a growing trend known as biophilic design.

This involves incorporating natural elements like indoor plants, large windows, and natural materials to create a more harmonious and calming living environment.

Luxury Bathrooms

Bathrooms are becoming spaces for relaxation and luxury. Features like heated floors, high-end fixtures, smart mirrors, and spa-like showers are gaining popularity as homeowners invest in creating a serene escape within their homes.

Energy Efficiency

Upgrading to energy-efficient windows and doors is a practical trend. It not only enhances the home’s insulation but also contributes to energy savings and increased home value.

Statement Lighting

Unique and statement lighting fixtures are becoming focal points in interior

design. Pendant lights, chandeliers, and artistic fixtures are chosen not only for their functionality but also as eye-catching design elements.

Unconventional Spaces

Homeowners are exploring the renovation of unconventional spaces such as basements, attics, or unused garages. These areas are being transformed into functional living spaces, home gyms, or even rental units.

Health and Wellness

The importance of health and wellness is influencing home design. This includes air purifiers, ergonomic furniture, home gyms, and spaces that promote mental well-being, such as meditation corners.

As home improvement trends continue to evolve, the overarching themes of sustainability, functionality, and personalization remain at the forefront.

Reader Poll

How many books do you own?

The love of collecting books is a passionate pursuit that transcends mere possession. Each book becomes a cherished artifact, embodying a world of stories, knowledge, and emotions. Collectors revel in the tactile pleasure of turning pages and the aesthetic allure of a well-curated library. Every bookshelf tells a personal narrative, reflecting the collector’s diverse interests, intellectual journey, and cherished literary companions. Beyond the physical realm, book collecting is an ode to the written word that nurtures a lifelong romance with literature and the timeless treasures held within bound pages.

Chat with the editor about your book collection. Email Christy Hinko (chinko@ antonmediagroup.com) and check out Anton’s Design & Decor special section on March 13 for more about home libraries. —

Written by Christy Hinko

(Getty Images)

Assistive Home Improvement

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF

specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Assistive home improvement, focusing on features like wider doorways and zero-entry bathtubs, is a transformative trend that addresses accessibility concerns, enhances safety, and allows individuals with mobility challenges to maintain independence within their homes. This trend is a response to the evolving needs of an aging population and individuals with disabilities, fostering inclusive and adaptable living spaces.

Wider Doorways

Wider doorways are a crucial component of assistive home design. They provide greater accessibility for individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids. The standard width of doorways may present challenges for maneuvering larger equipment, and widening them eliminates barriers, promoting seamless movement throughout the home. This modification enhances the overall accessibility of the living space and fosters a more inclusive environment.

Zero-Entry Bathtubs

Zero-entry bathtubs, also known as walk-in or curbless showers, are a remarkable advancement in assistive home improvement. These bathtubs eliminate the need to step over a high threshold, reducing the risk of tripping or falling. The design allows for easy entry and exit, making bathing a safer and more accessible experience for individuals with limited mobility. These bathtubs often incorporate features such as built-in seating, handrails, and non-slip flooring, further enhancing safety.

Lever-Style Handles

Replacing traditional doorknobs and faucets with lever-style handles is a subtle yet impactful assistive modification. Lever handles are easier to grip and manipulate than traditional knobs, making them more accessible for individuals with arthritis, limited hand strength, or dexterity issues. This small adjustment contributes to the overall goal of creating a home that accommodates a diverse range of physical abilities.

Ramps and Pathways

Installing ramps and creating accessible pathways both indoors and outdoors ensures that individuals with mobility challenges can navigate their homes independently. Ramps provide an alternative to stairs, allowing wheelchair users or those with difficulty walking to move freely between different levels of the home. Accessible pathways in outdoor spaces, made of slip-resistant materials, accommodate various mobility aids and facilitate safe and convenient movement.

Smart Home Technology

The integration of smart home technology plays a significant role in assistive home improvement. Voice-activated assistants, automated lighting, and smart thermostats enhance convenience for individuals with mobility challenges. These technologies provide greater control over the home environment, allowing residents to make adjustments without physical effort. Smart home features contribute to a more accessible and comfortable living experience.

Adjustable Countertops and Cabinets

In the kitchen and bathroom, adjustable countertops and cabinets offer adaptability to individuals with varying heights and

mobility levels. These features can be lowered or raised to accommodate wheelchair users or those who may prefer to sit while performing tasks. The flexibility in design caters to the specific needs of residents, promoting independence in daily activities.

Motion-Activated Lighting

Motion-activated lighting is an assistive home improvement feature that enhances safety, especially during nighttime navigation. Sensors detect movement, automatically illuminating pathways and rooms. This technology eliminates the need for fumbling with light switches in the dark, reducing the risk of accidents and providing a sense of security for individuals with visual impairments or mobility challenges.

Non-Slip Flooring

Non-slip flooring is a critical safety feature in assistive home design. It minimizes the risk of slips and falls, particularly in areas prone to moisture such as bathrooms and kitchens. Various materials, including slip-resistant tiles and textured flooring, provide stability and support underfoot, promoting a secure living environment for individuals with mobility concerns.

Grab Bars and Handrails

Strategically placed grab bars and handrails are essential assistive elements in bathrooms, hallways, and stairwells. These fixtures offer additional support and stability, facilitating safer movement throughout the home. Reinforced handrails along staircases provide essential assistance for individuals with balance issues or difficulty ascending and descending stairs.

Universal Design Principles

The concept of universal design underpins many assistive home improvements. This approach seeks to create living spaces that are inherently accessible to people of all ages and abilities. By incorporating universal design principles, homes become more inclusive, adaptable, and responsive to the evolving needs of their occupants.

Assistive home improvement, including wider doorways and zero-entry bathtubs, reflects a positive shift towards creating homes that prioritize accessibility and inclusivity. These modifications empower individuals with mobility challenges to live independently, fostering a sense of autonomy and dignity within their living spaces. As the awareness of diverse needs continues to grow, the integration of assistive features in home design becomes an integral aspect of creating welcoming and accommodating living environments for everyone.

(Photos from Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Get Retro Art deco is back again in

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

The trend of retro bathroom design has made a stylish comeback, with homeowners and designers alike embracing the charm and nostalgia of bygone eras. This design approach draws inspiration from mid-20th-century aesthetics, encompassing various styles such as Art Deco, mid-century modern, and vintage looks. Here’s a closer look at the elements contributing to the resurgence of retro bathroom design.

1Nostalgia and Timeless Appeal

Retro bathroom design taps into a sense of nostalgia, offering a visual journey back in time. Homeowners are drawn to the timeless appeal of retro aesthetics, appreciating the enduring style and character that these designs bring to a space.

2 Colorful and Playful Tile Patterns

One hallmark of retro bathrooms is the use of vibrant and playful tile patterns. Bold colors, geometric shapes, and intricate patterns characterize this trend. Homeowners are incorporating colorful tiles, often in pastel shades or bold contrasts, to create visually striking and lively bathroom spaces.

3 Vintage Fixtures and Hardware

Retro bathrooms often showcase vintage fixtures and hardware, evoking the elegance of past decades. Clawfoot bathtubs, pedestal sinks, and classic chrome faucets are popular choices. Homeowners appreciate the durability and craftsmanship of these timeless pieces, which add an air of sophistication to the space.

4Pastel Palettes and Soft Hues

Soft pastel palettes, reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s, are key elements in retro bathroom design. Mint greens, powder blues, and blush pinks bring a gentle, soothing ambiance to the space. These colors, when combined with other retro elements, create a cohesive and visually pleasing aesthetic.

5Statement Wallpaper

Retro-inspired wallpaper featuring bold prints, botanical motifs, or intricate designs is making a comeback in bathrooms. Wallpaper adds a layer of personality and drama to the space, transforming it into a visually dynamic and inviting retreat.

6 Brass and Gold Accents

Metallic accents in brass and gold are integral to retro bathroom design. These finishes, whether in faucets, mirrors, or light fixtures, contribute a touch of glamour and sophistication. The warm tones

design

complement the overall vintage feel of the space.

7 Terrazzo and Patterned Flooring

Terrazzo flooring, with its unique speckled appearance, is a retro favorite that has returned to the design scene. Homeowners are also opting for patterned tiles in black and white or colorful combinations to create eye-catching and dynamic bathroom floors.

8 Freestanding Vanities with Rounded Edges

Retro bathroom design often features freestanding vanities with rounded edges, reflecting the softer lines prevalent in mid-century modern and vintage styles. These vanities, often made from wood or laminate materials, contribute to the overall authenticity of the retro aesthetic.

9 Sunken Bathtubs and Mosaic Accents

Sunken bathtubs, a classic feature of retro bathrooms, are making a comeback. These tubs are often accompanied by mosaic tile accents, adding a touch of luxury and visual interest. The meticulous craftsmanship of mosaic patterns adds a bespoke quality to the design.

10 Mid-Century Modern Furniture Pieces

Incorporating mid-century modern furniture pieces into the bathroom is another facet of the retro trend. Chairs, side tables, or even retro-inspired cabinets contribute to the overall ambiance, infusing the space with the iconic designs of the mid-20th century.

11Mixing Vintage and Contemporary Elements

A key aspect of the retro bathroom trend is the artful blending of vintage elements

with contemporary touches. Modern amenities, such as energy-efficient lighting or sleek hardware, can coexist harmoniously with retro aesthetics, creating a space that feels both nostalgic and up-to-date.

12 Sustainable and Upcycled Materials

With a growing emphasis on sustainability, some homeowners are incorporating upcycled or reclaimed materials into their retro bathroom designs. This approach not only adds character but also aligns with the eco-conscious mindset of many contemporary homeowners. The resurgence of retro bathroom design is a testament to the enduring allure of mid-century aesthetics. The trend seamlessly combines elements of nostalgia with modern sensibilities, offering homeowners a visually captivating and emotionally resonant approach to bathroom decor. Whether it’s the playful tile patterns, vintage fixtures, or pastel color palettes, retro bathrooms celebrate the timeless beauty of design elements from decades past.

ANTON MEDIA GROUP STAFF

In recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in pet ownership trends, with traditional pets like cats and dogs sharing the spotlight with a variety of smaller, more exotic animals. Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, bearded dragons, birds, geckos, and snakes have become increasingly popular, offering unique companionship and fascinating insights into the animal kingdom. Each of these pets brings its own set of joys, challenges, and responsibilities, catering to a wide range of pet owners, from the casual enthusiast to the dedicated animal lover.

Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are sociable, vocal creatures known for their gentle nature and expressive sounds. They require companionship, preferably of their own kind, to thrive. Unlike some

Hamsters

Trending Pets

Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, bearded dragons, birds, geckos and snakes...oh my

smaller pets, they enjoy being handled, making them excellent companions for both adults and responsible children. Their diet is hay-based, supplemented with fresh vegetables and vitamin C. They need a spacious cage and regular opportunities to exercise outside their enclosure to maintain physical and mental health.

Hamsters are nocturnal, solitary animals, often chosen as a child’s first pet due to their small size and relative ease of care. They’re known for their amusing antics and love of running on wheels, providing endless entertainment. However, their nocturnal nature means they’re best for those who can accommodate their nighttime activity. Hamsters require a secure, escape-proof enclosure and enjoy a variety of toys and tunnels for enrichment.

Rabbits

Rabbits are highly social animals that bond closely with their owners and can even be trained to use a litter box. They have a longer lifespan than many small pets, living up to 10 years or more, which makes them a long-term commitment. Rabbits require a diet rich in hay, fresh vegetables, and a small amount of pellets. They need a spacious indoor enclosure and plenty of time outside their cage to explore and exercise.

Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons are one of the most popular reptiles kept as pets, known for their docile temperament and expressive body language. They require a warm environment, with a well-maintained terrarium that includes a heat source and UVB lighting to mimic their natural habitat. Their diet is varied, including insects, vegetables, and fruits. Bearded dragons are relatively easy to handle, making them a great choice for those new to reptile keeping.

Birds

The world of pet birds is incredibly diverse, ranging from the small, cheerful budgie to the intelligent, sociable African grey parrot. Birds offer a unique form of companionship, often forming strong bonds with their owners and, in many cases, learning to mimic human speech. They require spacious cages, a diet tailored to their specific species, and, crucially, daily social interaction and stimulation to keep them happy and healthy.

Geckos

Geckos, particularly the leopard gecko, have become beloved pets for their ease of care and fascinating behavior. These nocturnal reptiles are known for their striking patterns and the unique ability to climb smooth surfaces. They require a relatively simple setup with a proper heat gradient and hiding spots. Their diet consists of insects, and with gentle handling, they can become quite tame, making them an excellent pet for beginners.

Snakes

Snakes are a more unconventional pet choice, appealing to

those fascinated by their serene and mysterious nature. Popular pet snakes include the corn snake and the ball python, both known for their docile demeanor and relatively simple care requirements. Snakes need a secure enclosure with appropriate heating and humidity. They are carnivorous, typically fed a diet of rodents, and while they don’t require daily interaction, regular handling can make them more accustomed to their owners.

Each of these trending pets offers a window into a different aspect of the animal world, enriching the lives of their owners with their unique qualities and care needs. Whether it’s the cuddly companionship of a guinea pig, the quiet observation of a bearded dragon’s habits, or the interactive antics of a parrot, these pets provide a fulfilling and engaging experience. Prospective pet owners should thoroughly research and consider the specific care requirements and lifespan of these animals to ensure they can commit to providing a loving, suitable home.

NYS Department Of Labor Encourages Employers To Pledge To Protect Youth Workers

The New York State Department of Labor announced a proactive initiative urging employers statewide to protect youth workers by taking the ‘Youth Worker Pledge’. Building upon Governor Hochul’s youth worker protection plan, this initiative marks the second phase of getting employers involved in protecting the well-being and rights of youth workers under 18. From 2021 to 2023, there has been an over 290 percent increase in child labor violations, as shown on NYSDOL’s Child Labor Case Data dashboard. The Youth Worker Pledge program pushes employers to educate themselves and their employees on child labor laws to prevent future violations.

“Safeguarding the rights and fostering the development of our youth workers isn’t just a responsibility; it’s an investment in the future of our workforce,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “When a business takes this pledge, they take meaningful steps towards creating a supportive environment, protecting our youth workers and building our future workforce.”

about labor rights and human trafficking concerning youth workers.

• Pledging not to engage minors in prohibited occupations or exploit their labor.

• Ensuring the safety and well-being of youth employees as integral members of the workforce and the community.

• Reporting any suspected violations to the Child Labor Task Force.

As part of this program, NYSDOL encourages employers in industries

such as hospitality, restaurants, fast food, manufacturing, food processing, construction, farming and landscaping to participate. The pledge supports compliance with labor laws and fosters a safe and supportive work environment. To participate, employers must complete an application where they attest to:

• Displaying essential labor law posters,

including the P888 Work Schedule for Minors and P887 Basic New York State Child Labor Laws, in accessible areas for all employees.

• Including links to the Child Labor Complaint Form, P882 Laws Governing the Employment of Minors, and related resources in employee communications or handbooks.

• Showing employees the Child Labor Law Hub’s webinar and videos focused on youth employment rights.

• Committing to educating themselves

Businesses such as Spectrum in Western NY, Emack and Bolio’s in the Capital Region and Walgreens in the Mid-Hudson region have already attested, with more to come.

Upon pledging, employers will receive a sticker to visibly demonstrate their commitment to educating and supporting youth workers’ rights.

However, it’s crucial to note that while participating, NYSDOL retains the right to inspect premises and investigate claims of labor law violations without limitation. NYSDOL remains dedicated to utilizing social media platforms to educate youth workers and their families about specific labor rights for those under 18, including a campaign on this initiative.

For more information on the Youth Worker Pledge Program, visit dol.ny.gov/ protectyouth.

—Submitted by NYS Department of Labor

LI Mayors To State: Increase Funding For Cities And Villages

The New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM), representing cities and villages across the Empire State, kicked off its statewide tour on Thursday at Rockville Centre, urging the Governor and the State Legislature to increase unrestricted aid to cities and villages for the first time in 15 years. The tour will also tout other key legislative priorities related to municipal infrastructure and community redevelopment.

of additional unrestricted state aid,” said Barbara J. Van Epps, NYCOM executive director. “Mayors share the same goals as our state leaders — to keep our communities safe and affordable — but we can’t do that on our own. We need an ongoing commitment from the state to be a partner in our efforts to break down the barriers to efficiency and community revitalization.”

The tour’s primary focus will be on the impact that Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding has on the state’s cities and villages. This funding, set at $715 million, has not increased in 15 years — directly affecting the ability of local governments to respond to the growing demands on public safety and other essential municipal services.

The kickoff event was hosted by Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray, who is the immediate past president of NYCOM. Mayors from across Nassau and Suffolk counties joined.

“As the collective voice for New York’s cities and villages, this tour will showcase and highlight the very real challenges our members deal with daily through the lack

“We’re thrilled to have kicked off this tour in Rockville Centre. I am eager to visit various parts of our state in order to drive home to our governor and the state legislature that increasing AIM funding is vitally important to our cities and villages, and ultimately our residents,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, who serves as NYCOM President. “Cities and villages, whether it’s a village like Rockville Centre or a city like Albany, deliver for our residents every day, and securing additional state aid will expand our efforts to enhance public safety and invest in our aging infrastructure.”

The tour continues to White Plains on Friday. Feb. 23. The tour will then resume in mid-March, visiting Buffalo and Syracuse before wrapping up in Albany.

—Submitted by NYCOM

Photo Getty Images

Applications Now Open For 2024 NYS Summer School Of The Arts

Students in Grades 8-12 Encouraged to Apply

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) program, State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today. Students throughout New York State, in grades 8-12, are encouraged to apply on the NYSSSA website where they can also learn more about the application process and the three programs offered this year in visual arts, media arts, and theatre. Applications along with respective materials are due by Friday, March 8, 2024 (theatre) and Friday, March 15, 2024 (visual arts and media arts).

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, “This transformative program empowers students and provides them with the opportunity to enhance their artistic talent under the guidance of professional artists. We are proud to offer this life-changing experience, which fosters critical thinking, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the arts for young people across this State.”

Commissioner Rosa said, “The New York State Summer School of the Arts program serves as a catalyst for personal growth and offers students a platform to explore their creativity and self-expression. Students emerge from this exceptional summer experience ready to thrive and contribute to the cultural richness of our society.”

Since the NYSSSA program was founded in 1970, more than 18,000 students have benefitted from its curriculum and training. Many talented high school students have had and will continue to have the opportunity to study with some of the professional artists in the visual and performing arts, giving students a unique opportunity to experience the rigors of their chosen arts field. Students are accepted into the schools through a competitive audition and portfolio review process conducted by the artistic staff. Tuition rates are maintained at a modest level and tuition assistance is available, giving every student who qualifies the opportunity to participate in the program.

The following is a schedule of the 2024 NYSSSA schools and locations:

The School of Media Arts will be held July 6-27, 2024, at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia. Under the direction of Ghen Zando-Dennis, a nationally known media educator and videographer, the program consists of a review of media fundamentals, instruction in new techniques and processes, instruction in aesthetics, and surveys of contemporary work, trends, and ideas. Students will be immersed in production work in 16 mm film, digital video, photography, and computer animation. In addition to the application form, students must submit an artist statement and portfolio

to be considered. More information can be found on the School of Media Arts web page.

The School of Theatre will be held July 6-27, 2024, at SUNY Fredonia. The program provides students with intensive instruction in acting, movement, improvisation, and voice, working side by side with nationally recognized faculty. Under the artistic direction of award-winning director Margaret Denithorne, daily classes include acting, improvisation, scene study, voice, and movement, along with guest artist workshops in stage combat, mask, Shakespeare, playwriting, tango, directing, and acting technique. In addition to the application form, students must submit a recorded audition to be considered. More information can be found on the School of Theatre web page.

The School of Visual Arts will be held July 6-27, 2024, at SUNY Fredonia. Directed by New York-based sculpture artist and educator Greg Lendeck, and visual artist and novelist Nicholas Rispoli, students will work in sculpture studies, mixed media, figure studies, printmaking, drawing and painting, landscape drawing and painting, and figure sculpture under the direction of noted exhibiting artists and educators. The program includes drawing and painting from live models, 3-dimensional installations, modeling life-size objects in clay, practice with printmaking techniques, and field trips. In addition to the application form, students must submit an artist statement and portfolio to be considered. More information can be found on the School of Visual Arts web page.

In addition to the in-residency programs for young artists, NYSSSA will once again offer the Empire State Arts Scholarship program, providing students with scholarships to attend summer arts programs in their own communities. Administered by the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Cultural Education, the funding will support the Empire State Summer Arts Scholarship Program’s goal of promoting access and equity to arts education by providing need-based grants to low-income students who want to pursue summer growth opportunities. This year $180,000 is available for students who meet application requirements. The scholarship application review process will be evaluated based on financial need. Scholarship applications are due by Friday, April 19, 2024. More information can be found on the Arts Scholarship Program web page.

NYSSSA and the Empire State Summer Arts Scholarship Program are part of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department. The Empire State Summer Arts Scholarship Program is open to middle and high school level students that apply to independent, community-based art programs and use the awarded scholarship to offset those costs. The Empire State Summer Arts Scholarship Program serves to foster and enhance the artistic abilities of the state’s most gifted young artists regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, or economic status. To learn more about NYSSSA In-Residency Programs and how to apply, visit the NYSSSA Website.

—Submitted by the New York State Department of Education

Dancers from a previous cohort

Practice with an emphasis on performance (Photos by the NYS Department of Education)

Long Beach Polar Bear Plunge 2024

The Annual Long Beach Polar Bear Plunge took place on Sunday, February 11. The Long Beach Polar Bears and thousands of others took the plunge to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. The event took place on Laurelton Boulevard, the beach and boardwalk. The Long Beach Polar Bears have raised over $736,000 this year for Make-A-Wish of Metro New York and Western New York. Donations are still being accepted. For more information, visit www. longbeachpolarbears.org

The Annual Super Bowl Splash is held in honor and loving memory of young Paulie Bradley, who passed away at the age of 4 before being able to receive his wish. Through their annual, community-driven Super Bowl Splash, the Long Beach Polar Bears have helped to make hundreds of heartfelt wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions come true. They have raised over $9 million since the first jump in 2000.

—Information compiled by Amanda Olsen

Both local residents and family members participated in this year’s plunge, including Stacy Player, Christina Dieguez, and sisters Lauren and Julie Van Yahres.

Pops Of LI Concert Marks Final Performance For Conductor

The Symphonic Pops of Long Island, an intergenerational orchestra of approximately 60 Long Island musicians, will perform on Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m. at Huntington High School, 188 Oakwood Road, Huntington, New York.

The diverse program featuring music with an “Outer Space” theme will include two well-known pieces written by John Williams: “The Empire Strikes Back” and “The Theme” from E.T. Other selections include “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” composed by Gustav Holst, Henry Mancini’s “Moon River,” and many more.

The Symphonic Pops will once again be joined in concert with the Huntington High School Strings. The Strings are playing under the baton of James Di Meglio.

Stephen Michael Smith, music director of the Symphonic Pops since 2011, noted “Our annual collaboration with the Huntington High School Strings is one of the highlights of our season. These young musicians are focused, serious, and talented. It is a joy to share the stage with them.”

Maestro Smith will be performing his final public concert with the Symphonic Pops.

He has conducted extensively in the United States and in Europe, including guest conducting appearances with Poland’s Wroclaw Philharmonic, the St. Petersburg Camerata in Russia, and the Czech

Republic’s Karlovy Vary Philharmonic.

In addition to the Symphonic Pops of Long Island, he currently serves as music director for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, and Connecticut’s Danbury Community Orchestra.

This concert is open to the public, and a suggested donation of $10 will be requested at the door for adults. The facility is handicapped accessible, and there is adequate free parking.

The Symphonic Pops of Long Island is a community-based volunteer orchestra. The orchestra provides Long Island with the opportunity to enjoy various genres of music at a reasonable price. It is funded by sponsorships, grants, and donations, and was established in 1979. In April 2019, the Symphonic Pops celebrated its 40th anniversary.

For further information, call (516) 4141831 or visit www.symphonicpopsli.org.

—Submitted by Symphonic Pops Long Island

(Photo by Julie Schatt)

Stephen Michael Smith

(Photo by Symphony Pops LI)

Senators, Island Harvest Pack Meals For Low Income Seniors

Long Islanders are increasingly impacted by high inflation rates and cost of living, making food insecurity a growing problem in New York State. NY State senators support organizations like Island Harvest who are working hard to end hunger on Long Island. Food insecurity is not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet one’s basic needs, and it is a growing problem across the state, with Long Island being one of the areas hit hardest in New York. According to the NYS Dept of Health, approximately 1 in 4 NYS adults indicated that they were always, usually, or sometimes worried or stressed about having enough money to buy nutritious meals in the past 12 months.

Long Island senators joined with volunteers and staff at Island Harvest recently to assemble boxes of 35-pound meal packages for seniors who are low income, utilizing food purchased by the State through Federal funds. The program is called the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and Island Harvest provides 4,000 of these packages a month to seniors across Long Island.

“Food insecurity is a pervasive problem across Long Island and I am so grateful to organizations like Island Harvest who dedicate time and extensive resources

towards combating this issue. Our seniors, in particular, are left behind when they often experience the most need. These meal packages will feed thousands of seniors this month alone and I am proud to have contributed in my own small way to the disbursement of these vital bundles,” said Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, NYS Senate District 9.

“Island Harvest has been a beacon of hope for Long Islanders facing food insecurity for over three decades now. The organization, led by President Randi Shubin Dresner and her dedicated team, has been tirelessly working towards their mission of ending hunger on Long Island. Their efforts have been nothing short of remarkable, making Island Harvest a tremendous resource for our entire region. I have seen firsthand the impact of their work, and I can attest to the fact that they are making a real difference in the lives of countless Long Islanders in need. Their efforts have not only provided essential resources to those in need, but have also brought our community together in the fight against hunger. I am proud to be a part of their mission and look forward to continuing to work with them towards a hunger-free Long Island,” said Senator Steve Rhoads, NYS Senate District 5.

—Submitted by New York State Senate

In the event of their death, many people wish to provide for the adequate care and feeding of their beloved dog, cat, bird or other pet. Here is an abridged version of New York’s statute authorizing a trust for your pet:

a. The intended use of the principal or income, of a trust for the care of a designated domestic or pet animal, may be enforced by an individual designated for that purpose in the trust instrument. Such trust shall terminate when no living animal is covered by the trust.

b. No portion of the principal or income may be converted to the use of the trustee or to any use other than for the benefit of a covered animal.

c. Upon termination, the trustee shall transfer the unexpended trust property as directed in the trust instrument or, if there are no such directions in the trust instrument, the property shall pass to the estate of the grantor.

d. A court may reduce the amount of property transferred if it determines that amount substantially exceeds the amount required for the intended use. The amount of the reduction, if any, passes as unexpended trust property pursuant to paragraph (c), above.

e. If no trustee is designated or no designated trustee is willing or able to serve, a court shall appoint a trustee and may make such other orders and determinations as are advisable to carry out the intent of the grantor and the purpose of this section.

If you are interested in setting up a trust for your beloved pet, please make an appointment to see us for a free consultation. Should you have no one to take care of your pet, try PetEstates.com, who will perform this service for you.

Senators Mario Mattera, Alexis Weik, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Dean Murray and representatives from Senator Anthony Palumbo and Steven Rhoads, join Randi Shubin Dresner, President & Chief Executive O cer of Island Harvest and hard-working volunteers to prepare meal packages for Long Island seniors. (Photo by New York State Senate)

HOROSCOPES By

Holiday Mathis

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have pleted the puzzle, there will be 19 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Relationships are invented as you go. is week, you’ll act without knowing which direction things will take. All you can control about it is where you’re coming from. You have love in your heart and you open it. It doesn’t always spill. Sometimes, it’s giving looks from the outside, like stillness. Sometimes, love is restraint.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). ere are many aspects to the week that will seem like a quiz, except the answer key is nowhere to be found. You won’t know what you got right until much later, when the correct answer bears fruit. So do what you can and take your guesses where you must. In time, tests get easier because you mind them less.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Learning about people is part of how you respect them. You nd out their preferences and tune into their rhythms. You observe the way they communicate and work. And you do it all without asking a lot of questions, which can make people uncomfortable and self-conscious. e rapport you create will be most excellent.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). e intricate dance of cause and e ect eludes immediate recognition, weaving its threads through the tapestry of time. You would not be in the place you’re at now had you not set something in motion years ago. And though this week echoes the harmonies of the past, you are also modulating the theme and dreaming a new dream.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). People project onto you what they want and need you to be to complete their own story. And while you might exist as a character in someone’s imagination, the real you has your own agenda to ful ll. It will, in places, overlap with what others want from you in interesting ways this week. You’re a genius at making relationships groove.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Commitment creates change. You’ll make a larger investment in someone. You’ll double down on a promise to yourself. You’ll dig deeper into the work. It’s the e ort itself that forms you. e more you put in, the better you can feel the edges shaping and strengthening you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You are fully aware that there are many possible approaches to the week. You could go longer or lighter with the work. You could do more, less, higher, deeper, lower or none. e point is, you are free. And what’s the point of freedom if not to exercise it? With whimsy, you avoid slipping into a rut. You’ll experiment to prove you can.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You laid down a few rules for yourself, and now it might not seem like much fun to follow them. It’s so much easier to adhere to your own directives when they’re easy and comfortable. Could you reduce the work of this in some way? A smaller ask could help you build a habit painlessly instead of setting yourself up for struggle.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). ey say, “You can’t take it with you,” and maybe that’s why people are so adamant about keeping what they have while they have it. You are feeling less materialistic. You’ll let go of certain attachments in the name of freedom and levity. Even so, you’ll appreciate what matters to others, and your respect in this regard will engender trust.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Even though you give love in the spirit of strength, the connections between people form in the soft, vulnerable places of the soul. ere’s no way to get closer that doesn’t involve emotional risk. You’ll put yourself and your feelings on the line this week, knowing that everything worth having takes courage to get -- love included.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You show up for your people in all kinds of ways -- with your presence, with your willingness to do what they’ve come to expect, and with the surprising way you go above and beyond. Taking initiative says the most. It’s also notable this week how people tend to go out of their way to be near you -- a huge compliment.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). If you know where the lines of territory are, you typically don’t bother crossing them because it’s just not worth it. e trouble is, most borders are invisible, disputable and negotiable. Encroachment is inevitable, but this also lends itself to communication and could ultimately bring people together. To share is divine.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

You’ll thrill to the boomeranging evidence that you’re a formidable presence in the lives of others. You’ll be trusted with authority, and you’ll make it count toward forwarding important aims and improving systems that a ect many. New people come into your life. You give without hesitation and love unbridled. More highlights: You’ll pick back up with an endeavor from long ago and have much better luck this time around. You’ll give an acceptance speech. You’ll see distant sunsets.

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND WORD FIND

Your beverage of choice

Solution: 19 Letters

WORD FIND

Aroma

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 19 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Your beverage of choice

Solution: 19 Letters

Black Blend Bloom Bohea Bold Brew Burned Busy Cafe Chai Common Crema

Dark Earl grey Empty Even Flaky Flush Froth Full Garden Grade Iced Kandy Keemun

Latte Leaf Light Lunch Make Neat Nibs Oolong Paklum Pekoe Puck Pungent Ragged

© 2024 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

Roast date Rose Seychelles Smoko Soft Tart Temi Thin Weak Wiry Woody Yunan

Solution: My local barista knows

Creators Syndicate

737 3rd Street • Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 • info@creators.com

Double-dummy problem

Date: 2/28/24

the A-Q of spades as before and take a trump finesse. Then cash your remaining spade or spades, lead a diamond to the king and ruff another club, reducing your hand to the A-K-J of trump and nine of diamonds. Lead a diamond to the ace, lead anything at all from dummy, and East’s Q-7-6 of trump succumb to your A-K-J.

3. If East discards a diamond on the ace of clubs, discard your nine of spades and take a trump finesse. Then return to dummy with a diamond and repeat the trump finesse. After you cash the A-K of trump, this becomes the position:

North

♠ 5 ♦ A

ace of clubs. Then:

1. If East ruffs, overruff, cash the ace of spades and lead the queen through West’s king. West must play the king of spades on this trick or the next one, whereupon you ruff in dummy and lead dummy’s remaining trump to the ten to score the rest of the tricks.

2. If East discards a spade on the ace of clubs, trump the ace, play

When you now play the four of hearts, West can discard the ten of clubs as dummy also discards a club, but when you next play the three of hearts, West is caught in a three-suit squeeze. No matter which suit he discards, the rest of the tricks are yours.

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.

Answer to last issue’s Crossword Puzzle

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku Puzzle

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Anton

LEGALGREAT NECK

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY

CUSTOMERS BANK, Plaintiff against ESTHER MIZRACHI, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s)

Stern Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered December 7, 2023, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 12, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 20 Cornell Drive, Great Neck a/k/a Lake Success, NY 11020. Sec 2 Block 28303

Lot 14. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Village of Lake Success, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $822,889.50 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to rovisions of filed udg ment Index No 606874/2021.

During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the 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. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. 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. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee File # NY202100000046-1 3-6; 2-28-21-14-2024-4T#245580-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU.

EMIGRANT BANK (FORMERLY KNOWN AS EMIGRANT SAVINGS BANK AND NEW YORK PRIVATE BANK TRUST), Plaintiff -against- BETH CRAMES SITZER, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on December 26, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North

Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 21, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.

ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lake Success, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York; known and designated as Section 2 Block 282-7 and Lot 7

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 21 WEST WOODS ROAD, LAKE SUCCESS, NY 11020

Premises will be sold subject to rovisions of filed udg ment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 14192/2012.

DONAL M. MAHONEY, ESQ., Referee

Terenzi Confusione P.C.

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 401 Franklin Avenue, Suite 304, Garden City, NY 11530 3-13-6; 2-28-21-2024-4T#245639-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

non rofit organi ation in Long Island is seeking sealed bids for sales and installation of security related enhancements. This is a New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services grant funded project. The project includes (i) installation of one or more: technology (such as CCTV, access control, alarms, sensors, X-ray machines, magnetometer) securit film doors locks, windows, bollards, booth, planters, barriers, lighting, fencing, privacy fencing, gates, (ii) training programs, and (iii) security personnel. Bids will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Thursday March 7th . Work is expected to commence as close as possile after the ids are finali ed and awarded. All interested vendors will be required to demonstrate preliminary qualifications and licensing for this work, acknowledge receipt of the proposal documents, and provide company name, business address, telephone, and email address, and primary contact name. Selection criteria will be based on knowledge of surveillance and security, adherence to projected work schedule, prior experience, references, and cost ecifications and id requirements can be obtained by contacting us at NY Grant160@Gmail.com 2-28-21-2024-1T-#245858GN

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NASSAU

INDEX #600770/2023

FILED 2/15/2024

SUPPLEMENTAL

SUMMONS GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC (FKA KONDAUR CAPITAL, LLC), Plaintiff, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF FREIDA O. BEAN a/k/a FREIDA O. JOHNSON; BE THEY LIVING, AND IF THEY BE DEAD, UPON THEIR RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING UNDER, BY OR THROUGH DEFENDANTS UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF FREIDA O. BEAN a/k/a FREIDA O. JOHNSON WHO MAY BE DECEASED, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT, JACQUELINE BROWN, JUDY BROWN-MULIGANO, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Defendants. You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon Plaintiff’s attorneys, an answer to the Complaint in this action within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the date of service, or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. In case of your failure to answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The basis of the venue designated is that a judgment in this action would affect the title to, or the possession, use or enjoyment of real property situated in the County of Nassau. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company ho filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the ans er ith the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

The following notice is intended only for those defendants who are the owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable

LEGAL NOTICES

upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security. YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT THIS SUMMONS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. The amount of the debt is $558,431.74, consisting of principal balance of $549,480.49, plus interest of $4,097.25, plus other fee charges of $4,854.00. There will be additional amounts due for title searches, attorneys’ fees, and miscellaneous charges. Because of interest and other charges that may vary from day to day, the amount due on the day you may pay may be greater. Hence if you pay the amount shown above, adjustment may be necessary after we receive the check, in which event we will inform you. The name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed: GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC (FKA Kondaur Capital, LLC). Unless you dispute the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, within thirty (30) days after your receipt hereof that the debt, or any portion thereof is disputed, we will obtain verification of the de t or a copy of any judgment against you representing the debt and a co of such verification or judgment will be mailed to you by the herein debt collector. Upon your written request within 30 days after receipt of this notice, the herein debt collector will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor if different from the current creditor. Note: Your time to respond to the Summons Complaint differs from your time to dispute the validity of the debt or to request the name and address of the original creditor. Although you have as few as 20 days to respond to the Summons Complaint, depending on the manner of service, you still have 30 days from receipt of this Summons to dispute the validity of the debt and to request the name and address of the original creditor. TO THE DEFENDANTS, the Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action. LAWRENCE and WALSH, P.C., 215 Hilton Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550. (516) 538-2400. File# 600770/2023

3-20-13-6; 2-28-2024-4T#245937-GN

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that a public hearing will be held as to the following matters:

Agency: Board of Trustees, Village of Great Neck Estates

Date: March 11, 2024

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Place: Village Hall, Atwater Plaza, 4 Gateway Drive, Great Neck Estates, New York Subject: Proposed contract with Vigilant Engine Hook Ladder Co., Inc. for

fire rotection and emergenc ambulance and medical service for the period January 1, 2024 through and including December 31, 2024.

Any person having a disability which would inhibit attendance at or participation in the hearing should notify the Village Clerk at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to facilitate such attendance and participation.

Al relevant documents may e ins ected at the office of the Village Clerk, 4 Gateway Drive, Great Neck Estates, New York, during regular business hours.

Dated: February 14, 2024 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Kathleen .L Santelli, Village Administrator

2-28-2024-1T-#245931-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

VILLAGE OF THOMASTON

100 EAST SHORE ROAD

GREAT NECK, NY 11023 (516) 482-3110

FAX (516) 504-3768

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that a public hearing will be held as to the following matter:

Agency: Board of Trustees

Date Time: March 11, 2024 at 7:30 PM

Place: Village Hall 100 E. Shore Road, Great Neck, NY 11023

Subject: Proposed 2024 Fire Protection and Ambulance Service Contract between Vigilant Engine Hook Ladder Company and the Village of Thomaston. At the said time and place, all interested persons may be heard with respect to the foregoing matter. Please review the Village website at www.villageofthomaston.org_meeting_ schedule, or call the Village Hall at (516) 482-3110 for updated meeting information. All relevant documents may be seen and examined on the Village website and at the Village Hall during regular business hours.

By Order of the Board of Trustees

Denise M. Knowland Village Administrator

Dated: February 12, 2024 2-28-2024-1T-#245926-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that a license, Number Pending, for Wine, Beer and Cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Wine, Beer and Cider at retail at a cafe/ restaurant, under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 4c Bond Street, Great Neck, NY 11021, Nassau County, for on-premises consumption. 3-6; 2-28-2024-2T-#245970GN

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NO-

TICE that a hearing will be held by the Town Board of the Town of North Hempstead at Town Hall, 220 Plandome

Road, Manhasset, New York, on the 12th day of March, 2024, at 10:00 A.M., to conduct a hearing pursuant to Section 28-39.5 of the Town Code in connection with the building located at 380 Northern Boulevard, Great eck e ork identified in the Land and Tax Map of the County of Nassau as Section 2, Block 85, Lot 14.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that all interested persons shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed resolution at the time and place advertised.

Dated: Manhasset, New York February 6, 2024

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD RAGINI SRIVASTAVA TOWN CLERK 2-28-2024-1T-#245087-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notice

Architectural Review Board PLEASE BE ADVISED that the Architectural Review Board of the Village of Kensington will hold a public hearing on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, at 7 p.m. at the Village Hall located at 2 Nassau Drive, Great Neck, NY to discuss the following applications:

ARLEIGH, BEROOKHIM also known as Section 2, Block 222, Lots 6-10 (39 NEW WINDOWS, NEW ROOF, GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENT).

BEVERLY RD., BEVERLY LLC. also known as Section 2, Block 223, Lots 6-10 (NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A STORY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE APPROXIMATELY SQ. FT.)

11 NORTH DR., KAVAKEB also known as Section 2, Block 351, Lot (NEW WINDOWS, SIDING, NEW PORTICO AND STOOP).

All persons will be heard at the time and place above stated. Copies of the application are available at the Village Hall for inspection during regular business hours of 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

Andrea Dennett, Chairperson Joyce Cheung, Co-Chairperson

Architectural Review Board

Dated: February 22, 2024 2-28-2024-1T-#246109-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Great Neck Plaza will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 7 P.M. at the Village Hall, Gussack Plaza, Great Neck, NY, regarding the application for the 50th Year Community Development Block Grant Program.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that all people interested with regard to the above will be given an op-

portunity to be heard at said public hearing.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OF GREAT NECK PLAZA

Ted M. Rosen, Mayor Patricia O’Byrne, Clerk-Treasurer 2-28-2024-1T-#245135-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the date, time and place for the annual Village election to be held in the Village of Great Neck Plaza is as follows:

Date: March 19, 2024

Time: 9 A.M. to 9 P.M.

Place: Village Hall, Gussack Plaza, Great Neck, N.Y.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the offices and terms to e filled at such election are (1) Mayor for a five ear term and (2) rustees for a five ear term The following candidates have been duly nominated in accordance with the provision of the Election Law:

Mayor: Ted M. Rosen, 5 Longview Place, Great Neck, N.Y.

Trustee: Pamela Marksheid, 35 Knightsbridge Road, Great Neck, N.Y.

Trustee: Michael DeLuccia, 1 Town House Place, Great Neck, N.Y.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

VILLAGE OF GREAT NECK PLAZA

Ted M. Rosen, Mayor Patricia O’Byrne, Village Clerk-Treasurer 2-28-2024-1T-#246138-GN

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF NOMINATIONS FOR VILLAGE ELECTION VILLAGE OF THOMASTON

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the general election of the Village of Thomaston will be held on March 19, 2024 at the Thomaston Village Hall, 100 East Shore Road, Thomaston, Great Neck, New York. Polls will open at noon, and remain open continuously thereafter until 9 p.m., at which time they will close. he offices and terms to e filled at such election are as follows:

Two (2) Trustees, for terms of two (2) years each

The following are the names and addresses of the persons who have been duly nominated in accordance with the provisions of the Election Law:

For Trustee (2 years): Aaron Halpern, 10 Brompton Road, Thomaston, NY

Jay Chagrin, 150 Schenck Avenue, Thomaston, NY BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DENISE KNOWLAND, Village Administrator

AVISO DE NOMINACIONES PARA LAS ELECCIONES

Continued on page

When the pandemic entered our world, my life changed drastically from an active theater and film producer who commuted from a suburb in Long Island to the excitement of Manhattan, to a stay-at-home empty-nester. In Manhattan, I had participated in groups such as the Dramatists Guild, N.Y. Women in Film and Television, and others where I engaged in business affairs and financing. Now tales of railroad and subway crime discouraged me from going into the city for the professional meetings I used to engage in. It became necessary to find new ways of entertaining myself. Because financing an independent film was not a top priority after COVID, I lost the verve I had to raise the money needed for my independent film.

Now, new acquaintances, an occasional writers circle, on-line exercises, and nature became my world in addition to my domestic duties. I read in the newspaper about the word “languishing” as a description of creative artists who somehow lost the will or inspiration to continue creating new works. I hoped it wouldn’t be too long before I became re-inspired. What gave me pleasure was discovering the fun of a new game of tiles, Rummikub, which was easier than Bridge, and lighter than Canasta,

SCHOOL NEWS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

ANOTHER LIFE

both of which seem to be the rage among retirees. Finding friends to play Rummikub was not always easy and the online version of it wasn’t as satisfying. My husband was unable to play because of a visual disability, so I felt sort of deprived of fun until the day I learned of a Rummikub session at a local Social Center for retirees. I actually had gone to this Center to find a group for my husband to socialize with, though he had no interest in enrichment classes or socializing. So I marched into Room #2 at the center where I found an adorable cherub with a cluster of white hair on her forehead, slapping the Rummikub tiles on a table with a woman I learned was her aide.

“Can I join you?” I asked. “Sure,” she answered and continued moving around the tiles furiously.

Within a short while, I learned that her name was Phoebe and she was 102 years old. And while playing the game, she had a habit of breaking into song as I love to do, with her huge repertoire of oldies, jazz standards and arias in French and Spanish, as well as obscure Noel Coward beauties. She even sang my mother’s favorite song, “God Bless America.” Oh, my, how quickly I fell in love with Phoebe. I learned she had been a professor of college teachers studying to teach Special

South High Wins 2024 Yale University Science Olympiad

A team from South High School won first place at the 2024 Yale University Science Olympiad on Feb. 10. Fifty-seven high school teams from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts traveled to the Yale campus to participate in the event, which featured 23 challenges in various science disciplines. The South High team placed in the top five for 17 out of 23 challenges, including first place in the Astronomy, Experimental Design, Flight, Geologic Mapping, Microbe Mission,

Robot Tour, and Tower challenges. South High’s winning team members are Bryan Cheng, Luke Huang, Alice Kim, Brandon Kim, Caden Li, Yida (Aiden) Pan, Lauren Siong Sin, Allen Vee, Erin Wong, Andy Wu, Maggie Wu, Taisheng (Tyson) Wu, Joyce Xu, Jixuan Zhang, and Laura Zhang. South High Science Olympiad faculty advisors are science teachers Nicole Spinelli and Dr. James Truglio.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

Ed, she wrote exquisitely, and had traveled for ten years with her husband to Africa when he worked as a photographer. In one of her essays she shared with me, I learned that she thought the most important things in life were music, writing, and collegiality.

Aha, so this was her secret formula to a full, long life! I can do that, I thought. I began to attend the center once or twice a week and joined Phoebe at a Wednesday morning singing group which became the highlight of my week. In my younger days I had been in musicals and imagined taking a singing class to find a repertoire of cabaret songs I could one day perform. And here was something wonderful that brought me together weekly, not only with Phoebe’s stirring, vigorous singing, but with a dozen more singers of diverse backgrounds who performed solos as well as chorus songs under the tutelage of a talented pianist, Mindy, who schlepped around a suitcase full of songbooks for us to choose songs from. I couldn’t believe how emotional I would become from watching so many different people performing solos in their native language as well as in accent-tinged English. Imagine a gentle, sweet Chinese woman performing “Danny Boy”? A swarthy Persian throwing his soul into what he translated to be a passionate

broken-hearted love song. And to end each session smiling at Phoebe as we sang, “God Bless America.”

How lucky I was to find such a thrilling life in the quiet suburbs. Thank you, Phoebe and Mindy and all the singers who bring their experiences and sentiments into the Great Neck Social Center. It’s a wonderful world.

—Submitted by Barbara Sutton Masry

LEGAL NOTICESLEGAL NOTICES

Continued from page 7

DE LA VILLA VILLAGE OF THOMASTON

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE SE DA AVISO de que las elecciones generales de Village of Thomaston se llevarán a cabo el 19 de marzo de 2024 en Thomaston Village Hall, 100 East Shore Road, Thomaston, New York. Las urnas se abrirán al mediodía y permanecerán abiertas de forma continua hasta el horario de cierre de las 9:00 p. m. Los cargos y mandatos por cubrir en dichas elecciones son los siguientes: Dos (2) Fideicomisarios, para mandatos de dos (2) años cada uno

Los siguientes son los nombres y las direcciones de las personas que han sido debidamente nominadas de acuerdo con las disposiciones de la Ley Electoral:

Para fideicomisarios (2 años): Aaron Halpern, 10 Brompton Road, Thomaston, NY Jay Chagrin, 150 Schenck Avenue, Thomaston, NY POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE FIDEICOMISARIOS

DENISE M. KNOWLAND, Administradora de la Villa 2-28-2024-1T-#246199-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of

the Inc. Village of Russell Gardens will hold its Public Regular Meeting on the 7th day of March 2024 at 8:00 P.M. at Village Hall, located at 6 Tain Drive, Great Neck, New York.

A Public Hearing will be held on this date on the proposal of Local Law 1-2024, to amend Russell Gardens Code Chapter 12 entitled “Building Construction”, Section § 12-13, Application Requirements. All people interested in this matter will be given an opportunity to be heard at said public hearing. Copies of the law described above are on file in the Clerk’s office and are available for inspection during regular village office hours. Please check the Village website for updates.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF RECEIPT

OF TAX ROLL AND WARRANT

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that the undersigned collector of taxes of the Inc. Village of Russell Gardens, in the County of Nassau, State of New York, has duly received the tax roll and warrant for collection of taxes within the Village of Russell Gardens for the Year 2024-2025, and that I will attend for the purpose of collecting taxes listed on the tax roll at Village Hall, 6 Tain Dr., Great Neck, New York 11021, from March 1, 2024 to April 1, 2024, during

regular business hours: Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. except legal holidays.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that taxes will be received without interest by the collector officer on or before April 1, 2024. On all taxes received after such date, there shall be added interest of Five percent for the month of April and one percent for each month thereafter until paid. No partial payments of taxes may be made.

Dated: 2/28/2024

By Order of the Board of Trustees Inc. Village of Russell Gardens

David M. Miller, Mayor

Danielle Pennise, Village Clerk Treasurer 2-28-2024-1T-#246203-GN

Barbara Masry and Phoebe Lazarus (Photo from Barbara Masry)

Town Officials Volunteer With Manhasset School District’s Million Meal Project Supervisor DeSena Visits Shelter Rock Elementary School

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte recently volunteered with the Manhasset School District’s Million Meal Project. The initiative was brought to the school district by Manhasset Middle School’s Student Government. On-hand were an additional 350 volunteers from Manhasset Middle School and Manhasset High School. Together, they packed over 40,000 meals for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity all over the world. Supervisor DeSena and Councilmember Dalimonte presented the leaders of this wonderful initiative with a Certificate of Recognition.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

Councilmember Dalimonte Attends Fine Arts Fair At Sands Point Preserve Valentine’s Day Vow Renewal

On Valentine’s Day, the Town of North Hempstead hosted its 15th Annual Valentine’s Day Vow Renewal Ceremony. North Hempstead Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava, Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board attended the event at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington.

The event allowed couples who wish to renew their vows or celebrate their milestone anniversaries to reaffirm their commitment.

Lunch and a champagne toast was served following the ceremony.

—Information from the Town of North Hempstead

Town of North Hempstead Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte recently attended the first-ever Fine Arts Fair at Hempstead House at the Sands Point Preserve on Saturday, Feb. 10. The event was a collaboration between the Sands Point Preserve and Ripple Creative that featured 24 talented, independent fine artists specializing in mediums including painting, sculpture, photography and multimedia. Councilmember Dalimonte presented Certificates of Recognition to the co-founders of Ripple Creative Erika Stehl, Amanda Khalil, and Stephanie Alongi.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

Happy couples that renewed their vows on Valentine’s Day. (Photo from the Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena’s Facebook)

Town of North Hempstead Board Members at the vow renewal. (Photo from Town Councilmember Christine Liu’s Facebook)

The Town of North Hempstead hosted its 15th Annual Vow Renewal Ceremony. (Photo from the Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena’s Facebook)

From the left: Key Club Advisors Angela Zambito & Samantha Lupa, Middle School Student Government Advisor Nancy Diaz, Council Member Mariann Dalimonte, 8th Grade Student Government member Soraye Takahashi, 11th grade student Kingston Takahashi, Director of Fine and Performing Arts and Coordinator of Secondary Clubs and Student Activities Dr. Joseph Owens, and Middle School Student Government Advisor Eric Shapiro.

Volunteers assembled at the Manhasset High School gymnasium in service to the Million Meal Project. (Contributed photos)

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena recently attended ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Read?’ at Shelter Rock Elementary School in Manhasset. Supervisor DeSena met with students, teachers and administrators, and the students in Mrs. Puccio’s third-grade class were treated to a reading of Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein. (Photo and information from the Town of North Hempstead)

Councilmember Dalimonte presenting Ripple Creative Co-Founders Amanda Khalil, Erika Stehl and Stephanie Alongi with Certificates of Recognition. (Contributed photos)

JBY JENNIFER CORR jcorr@antonnews.com

oe Gatto, known for the hidden camera comedy and reality show Impractical Jokers, has been touring the country and making people laugh with his tour, “Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy” for almost two years.

Impractical Jokers

Joe Gatto To Record Comedy Special At The Paramount Life after

“The show was always about us,” Gatto explained when asked if they ever angered members of the public during their pranks. “Making ourselves look like a fool. If we were getting people mad, we weren’t really doing our job… Sometimes we met people who weren’t in the mood for it that day. We filmed in New York City, sometimes there’s some attitude around it, but for the most part, it wasn’t that kind of show.”

“Especially the times that we’re in, people need to get out, forget the world that is around them right now... And have a good night surrounded by people who are just enjoying themselves,” Gatto said. “And I hear that from everybody that comes out. It’s been really nice to do that for people.”

Gatto will film a comedy special on March 8 at The Paramount in Huntington, his favorite venue in America and the first stop on his tour two years ago.

His last stop on the tour will be on March 24 in Redding, California.

Gatto explained that his routines mostly consist of storytelling and acting out scenarios.

“I haven’t done stand-up before this,” Gatto said. “When I performed live, it had always been with an ensemble, not myself.”

But, he enjoys telling the stories of his life, whether it was his times on Impractical Jokers, parenting, his rescue dogs and growing up in an Italian family on Staten Island.

“It’s all part of the show,” Gatto said.

At the end of 2021, Gatto announced on Instagram that he would be amicably leaving the Impractical Jokers after nine years to focus on his personal life.

Impractical Jokers, which premiered in 2011 on truTV, starred four “lifelong friends who compete to embarrass each other.” Gatto, James Murray, Brian Quinn and Sal Vulcano met while attending Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island. In 1999, Gatto, Murray and Vulcano formed a comedy group called the Tenderloins, with Quinn joining the group in 2006. They won a $100,000 grand prize on NBC’s It’s Your Show competition in 2007.

The premise of Impractical Jokers is like a game; each of them, wearing an earpiece, would follow directions from the other three who were watching from a hidden location in public. If they refused to say or do something or would laugh, they would get a “thumbs down,” and whoever had the most “thumbs down” at the end of the episode would be “punished,” often in the form of public humiliation.

As the show gained popularity, Gatto said there were times when they were recognized while out doing pranks.

“The problem would become, when we were engaging with someone, talking in a conversation in the middle of the park about whatever we were talking about, someone would come running over like ‘oh my God, Joe, can I get a selfie?’” Gatto said. “The people we were talking to, but didn’t know us, would be like, ‘Who are you?’ and I’d go, ‘I’m their dentist.’ You just have to try to deflect the best that you could.”

Since Gatto’s leave in 2021, Murray, Vulcano and Quinn have continued the show, which now often features guest stars like Bobby Moynihan and Post Malone.

Since then, life has been different but good, Gatto said.

“Still making the world laugh, which has always been my stride,” Gatto said. “I’ve been touring with my comedy show for about two years now, ‘Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy,’ and I’ve been touring the country. It’s been so much fun to get out in front of people and make them laugh.”

He also co-hosts the podcast Two Cool Moms with Steve Byrne, where they give maternal advice to listeners, and he wrote a children’s book called Where’s Bearry? based on the true events of his son losing his stuffed animal. The book will be released on Sept. 3.

Additionally, Gatto has been advocating for causes he believes in such as the “Adopt, Don’t Shop” movement through the non-profit Gatto Pups and Friends, which he and his wife, Bessy, formed in the fall of 2022 to rescue senior and unwanted dogs. A storefront for Gatto Pups & Friends opened in Glen Head the following year.

“They are the kindest things in the world,” Gatto said. “There’s just something about a rescue dog and the way they appreciate being helped and they give back too.”

For tickets to the March 8 show at The Paramount, visit cannoliproductions.com/tour/.

WHERE THE STARS ARE STALLERCENTER FOR THE

WHERE THE STARS ARE STALLERCENTER FOR THE ARTS

Patti LuPone/Broadway Wynton Marsalis/Jazz Itzhak Perlman/Classical Vic Dibitetto/Comedy Leslie Odom, Jr./Broadway

@ Follow @stallercenter

Joe Gatto.

(Photo credit: Jonathan Thorpe)

Patti LuPone/Broadway Wynton Marsalis/Jazz Itzhak Perlman/Classical Vic Dibitetto/Comedy Leslie Odom, Jr./Broadway

O 516.627.2800

M 917.224.1866

amy.liu@elliman.com

Your Luxury Real Estate Advisor

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— Evanthia R.

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— Kim C.