Bethpage Newsgram (11/28/25) by Litmor Publishing

SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW

POB Volleyball team makes history

The Plainview Old Bethpage Girls’ Volleyball team made history this year, earning their first-ever Long Island Championship.

The Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School Girls’ Volleyball team made history on Thursday, November 13, with the team’s first-ever AAA Long Island Championship victory. The win followed a nail-biting, back-and-forth match against Connetquot.

The championship victory capped an already stel-

lar, undefeated 17-0 season, during which the POB Lady Hawks made history in another way, earning their second-consecutive county title against Massapequa earlier in the week.

“We put our minds to it, and we made it happen,” said senior captain Dylan Katz. “I’m so proud of everyone on this team.”

“These girls are so talented, and it has been an absolute highlight to help them meet their full potential,” said coach Brianne Knight. “They fought for it and made POB history!”

The Lady Hawks are headed to the New York State Championship in Glenns Fall the weekend of November 22.

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Toys for Tots Drive set for December 6

The Town of Oyster Bay's massive ‘Cruise-Thru’ Toys for Tots Collection Drive will take place at John Burns Park in Massapequa on Saturday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In partnership with the United States Marine Corps and Optimum, the Town is collecting toys to help families and those less fortunate throughout the community during the upcoming holiday season. In addition to the ‘Cruise-Thru’, collection boxes are located at Town facilities through December 13th.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said, “The Toys for Tots Drive has long been a huge success under the leadership of the U.S. Marine Corps, especially

here in the Town of Oyster Bay, as just last year we collected more than 40,000 toys for Long Island children. I encourage all of our residents who are able to donate to this amazing cause, as the Toys for Tots Drive helps ensure that disadvantaged children within our community do not have to go the holiday season without something to bring them happiness.”

The “Cruise Thru Holiday Toy Drive” will provide residents an excellent way to contribute directly to the cause and help bring a smile to a child’s face this holiday season. Additionally, the event will feature a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a holiday drop box where chil-

Ice rinks to open Nov. 28

The Town of Oyster Bay’s outdoor ice skating rinks at Marjorie R. Post and Syosset-Woodbury Community Parks will officially open for the season on Friday, November 28, and remain open through Sunday, March 1.

“Ice skating is a fun activity for families and residents of all ages to enjoy, especially during the holiday season. The Town’s outdoor ice rinks provide the perfect setting to take in the wonderful winter atmosphere,” said Town Councilman Andrew Monteleone.

Public Skating Sessions are available at both outdoor rinks on Friday, November 28, from 1 p.m.–3 p.m., 4 p.m.–

6 p.m. and 7 p.m.–9 p.m., Saturday, November 29, from 1 p.m.–3 p.m., 4 p.m.–6 p.m., and 7 p.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, November 30, from 1 p.m.–3 p.m. and 4 p.m.–6 p.m.

For residents wishing to take advantage of ice skating but do not wish to be outdoors, the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center is open year-round and is located at 1001 Stewart Ave. in Bethpage. Indoor skating is open to the public seven days a week, with special extended hours on most holidays and school breaks.

For information on schedules, fees and rink programs at all Town rinks, visit the Town’s website at www.oysterbaytown.com/ice.

Rotary Club collects pajamas for children in need

The Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Club in collaboration with the EJ’s PJ sand Ridgewood Savings Bank is holding a new pajama collection for children of all ages. The pajamas in newborn to adult sizes are being collected through December 5, 2025.

“I want to thank Ridgewood Savings Bank and one of their Branch Banking Officers for recognizing the usefulness oof this project.” said Robert Mancino, Rotary Club President. “He championed the request to have Ridgewood Savings Bank support the drive in all their branches. This expanded the reach of the drive to over 50 locations throughout Long Island.”

EJ’s PJs started with one mission in mind – to give pajamas to children and teens of all ages who need the items the most – and that mission has not changed since 2011 when Patricia Poggi and her sons started the drive.

Numerous donation sites have been set up in all the Ridgewood Savings Bank Branches in the metropolitan area and various businesses on Long Island. Below is a list of the locations in Nassau County:

• Ridgewood Savings Bank, 220 W. Old Country Road, Hicksville NY, 11801

• Ridgewood Savings Bank, 1125 Old Country Road, Plainview NY 11803

• Horseability, 223 Store Hill Rd., Old Westbury NY 11568

• AG Steakhouse, 1177 Corporate Dr., Westbury NY 11590

• Junkluggers, 12A Commercial St., Hicksville NY 11801

• Xtraire, 105 Bloomingdale Rd. Hicksville NY 11801

• R & R Dental, 754 South Broadway, Hicksville NY 11801

• Freeport Rec Center, 130 East Merrick Rd., Freeport NY 11520

• Hicksville Chiropractic, 161 Levittown Pkwy Hicksville NY 11801

• Hicksville Water District, 4 Dean St. Hicksville NY 11801

• Metro PT in Jericho, 312 North Broadway, Jericho NY 11753

• Patricia’s of Hicksville, 1040 South Broadway, Hicksville NY 11801

• Independent Order of Oddfellows Lodge #125, 226 East Meadow Ave., East Meadow NY 11554

For more information about the collection, please contact the Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Club at HicksvilleJerichoRotaaryClub@gmail. com .

For more information about EJ’s PJs, visit https://ejspjs.org/

Hicksville-Jericho Rotary is the first Rotary Club in Hicksville founded in 1951. Rotary brings together a global network of community leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. It connects 1.4 million members from more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a poliofree world.

The Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Club meets on Thursdays at Patricia’s of Hicksville. Visit Rotary.org for more information on how to join Rotary or contact Donna Rivera-Downey at 516-532-4566

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Pedestrian killed on Jerusalem Avenue

A pedestrian was killed on Jerusalem Avenue on Saturday, November 22, at 7:34 p.m. According to Nassau County Police, Orlando Yanes, age 45, of Hicksville, was crossing Jerusalem was attempting to cross the street in the vicinity of Gem Court when he was struck by a 2021 Toyota RAV4. He suffered severe trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The female operator of the vehicle remained on the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

Man killed on LIE service road

A 43-year-old Hicksville man was killed while walking on the north service road of the Long Island Expressway on Wednesday, November 19, at 6:06 a.m. in Jericho.

According to Nassau County Police, Robert Dwyer was was walking eastbound on the north service road of the Long Island Expressway in the vicinity of Open Street when he was struck

by a 2023 Mazda being operated by a 79-year-old male. He was then struck by a 2021 Alfa Romeo being operated by a 48-year-old male and a 2014 Mazda being operated by a 40-year-old female. Dwyer was pronounced at scene. All drivers remained at scene.

Polcie say the investigation is ongoing.

Legislator, libraries collect winter wear

Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D - Plainview) is joining forces with the Syosset and Jericho Libraries, as well as Syosset-based Always Orthodontics, to host his office’s fourth annual winter coat drive to benefit the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless.

Donors are invited to drop off new and gently used winter coats and winter accessories (gloves, hats, scarves, etc.) at the Syosset Public Library, 225 S. Oyster Bay Road, Syosset, N.Y. 11791; the Jericho Public Library, 1 Merry Lane, Jericho N.Y. 11753; and Always Orthodontics, 485 Underhill Blvd., Suite 306, Syosset, N.Y. 11791 during normal business hours from Tuesday, Dec. 2 to Monday, Dec. 22.

“Last winter, thanks to the tremendous generosity of District 16 residents,

we received hundreds of winter coats and other cold-weather essentials for deserving families throughout our region – and we are more committed than ever this holiday season to sharing warmth with our community - one coat at a time,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker said. “When you give, you’re donating more than just a coat or a pair of gloves – you’re extending a gesture of compassion and hope to the recipient, and I am thrilled to once again join forces with the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless and our outstanding team of sponsors for our fourth annual drive.” Anyone interested in supporting the coat drive can contact Deputy Minority Leader Drucker’s office at 516-571-6216 or adrucker@nassaucountyny.gov for details.

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Levittown Veterans Day Ceremony

Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti, Councilman Dennis Dunne, and Town Clerk Kate Murray – all of whom are residents of Levittown – greeted members of the Levittown American Legion Post 1711 and Levittown VFW Post 9592 during the Veterans Day ceremony on November 11, 2025 at Levittown Veterans Memorial Park. Also attending was Nassau County Legislator Tom McKevitt.

New assistant principal at Hicksville HS

Hicksville Public Schools has announced the appointment of Michael Marando as the new assistant principal of Hicksville High School.

Marando joins Hicksville with extensive experience in instructional leadership, professional learning and data-driven school improvement. He most recently served as an instructional coach at Francis Lewis High School, one of the largest high schools in New York City,

where he led professional development for more than 240 staff members and coached teachers across multiple departments.

Marando’s background includes significant leadership in promoting inclusive learning environments and designing Tier 1 social-emotional learning supports, co-facilitating family engagement circles, and leading audits that informed curriculum adjustments.

“What distinguishes Michael is his commitment to systems thinking, collaboration and empowering educators,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Theodore Fulton. “His strong instructional background and student-centered approach make him an excellent fit for Hicksville High School.”

Marando holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Wagner College and a Master of Science in special education and teaching from Long Island University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in education at Long Island University as well.

“I am honored to join the Hicksville community and excited to contribute to a school that prioritizes both excellence and belonging,” Marando said.

Michael Marando

Free musical performances at local libraries

The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that the Distinguished Artists Concert Series will continue throughout December with free performances at local libraries throughout the Town.

“The Distinguished Artists Concert Series provides free musical and dance programs for the enjoyment of our residents,” said Town Councilman Andrew Monteleone. “I encourage residents to take advantage of these wonderful performances offered by the Town for free at local libraries.”

Scheduled performances for December include:

• Vincent Roccaro & His Jazz Trio on Saturday, December 6, at 2:00 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library – Songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Bobby Darin, and more! Vincent is accompanied by some of the finest jazz musicians in the business!

• T-Bird & The Buzzards on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Syosset Public Library – A fun, acoustic trio playing favorite tunes from every genre and decade. Open to all. Free tickets required. Registration begins Nov. 12th. Visit: https://syosset.library-

calendar.com/events/month and select the date of the concert and register.

• The Long Island Choral Society on Saturday, December 13, at 4:00 p.m. at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library – Hanukkah and Christmas favorites, including selections from Handel’s Messiah, plus selections from movies and Broadway shows! Open to all. Free Tickets required. Tickets available at the library beginning December 1st. For more information, contact the library at (516) 938-0077.

• Quintessential Brass on Sunday, December 14, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hicksville Public Library –Quintessential Brass Quintet performs a wide variety of musical styles including brass quintet standards, classic transcriptions, jazz arrangements, popular music, and holiday favorites!

The Distinguished Artists Concert Series is sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts (CAPA) Division of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community & Youth Services. For the full concert schedule and further information, please call (516) 797-7900 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com/CAPA.

Syosset Library celebrates summer of great reading

Syosset Library’s 16th Annual Adult Summer Reading Club wrapped up with a party and a visit from the award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst. Ms. Durst is the author of more than 25 books for adults, teens, and children in several genres. The Stony Brook resident has received the American Library Association's Alex Award, the Libby Book Award for Best Fantasy, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, among others.

Another round of seasonal reading begins in January with the 2026 Adult Winter Reading Club.

publishers.

In-person registration begins Tuesday, January 6, at the second floor Readers’ Services Desk. The first 50 participants to register will receive a free book to get their winter reading started. Open to Syosset School District residents 18 years and older with a valid SPL library card.

Nearly 200 patrons registered for this year’s Adult Summer Reading Club, and they submitted 1,134 raffle tickets. Over the course of the summer, 153 prizes were awarded. In addition, all participants received a free book, courtesy of Kensington Books Publishing, and a coupon for another free book from the SPL Sale Display. At the wrap-up party, Ms. Durst spoke about her writing process and her 2025 release, The Enchanted Greenhouse. Refreshments were served, 20 door prizes were awarded, and another 104 general prizes were distributed throughout the night— many donated by local businesses and

For making all this possible, thanks go to Kensington Books Publishing and Sarah Beth Durst, as well as the following local businesses for their generous donations: Aire Beauty Bar, Athletic Movement Protocol (AMP), Bagel Boss, Barberry Nails Spa, Beltrami Men’s Clothing & Accessories, Brianna Gloria Salon, Butera’s Restaurant of Woodbury, Center Coffee Shop, Chris & Tony’s Family Style Italian Restaurant & Catering, COBS Bread, Denny’s, Eastern Breeze Nails & Spa, Erika Cole Salon by Raquel, Frantoni’s Pizzeria & Ristorante, Gloss New York Salon, GOGO Nail & Spa, The Granola Bar— Woodbury, Greenfield’s ShopRite, Hilltop Kitchen & Bar, Iavarone Brothers, It’s Greek to Me Restaurant, Jennifer Ann Cosmetics, Jerrie Shop, John Michael Salon, La Femme Dangereuse, Maddy Fine Jewelers, Madison’s Niche, Majestic Image Salon, Mario’s Pizzeria of Syosset, Max & Gino’s All-American Clothing Co., Meyer’s Farm Stand, Miko Sushi & Hibachi-Plainview, Mixology Clothing Company, MoCA Asian Bistro, Mr. Prestige, MR’TIQUE, Ms’tique, PASTAERIA Pizzeria & Ristorante, Phil’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, PrimaDona Cosmetics, Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices & Ice Cream—Syosset, Restore Hyper Wellness, Roast Sandwich House—Syosset, Sabeli Catering, Salon O, Syosset Seafood, Tenjin Japanese Restaurant, Tommy Flowers, Trader Joe’s, and Victoria’s Market.

Author Sarah Beth Durst spoke about writing and drew raffle winners at the Syosset Library Adult Summer Reading Club wrap-up party.

THERE REALLY IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

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At NYU Langone, we’re doing all we can to make sure our patients receive the best care during and after their hospital stay, so they can go home and stay home. Shorter hospital stays reduce your risk of infection, medication side effects, and complications. Plus, you can get back to the things you love most: your own bed, family dinners, and life as usual.

But getting you home is only half the story. Our low readmission rates mean you won’t have to come back days or weeks later for the same issue. Because when it comes to hospital stays, nobody wants a sequel. Just another reason we’re ranked #1 for quality care in the U.S.

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CBS students take engineering challenge

Fourth graders at Central Boulevard Elementary School welcomed parents and special guests to campus on Nov. 18 for an engaging "Build a Wigwam Engineering Challenge" that brought together STEM and social studies learning.

The hands-on event connected to the fourth-grade curriculum's focus on Native American history and culture. Students and their adult partners worked together to construct model wigwams using materials including popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, cardboard, colored paper, glue and tape.

To guide their designs, participants received information about traditional wigwam construction methods along with reference photos. This background knowledge helped students apply what they had learned in class while tackling the engineering challenge.

The activity encouraged both problem-solving and creativity, with each team developing their own unique approach to the task. The variety of methods and designs that emerged throughout the challenge showcased the students' ingenuity and understanding of the traditional structures.

The interdisciplinary event demonstrated how hands-on learning can bring classroom lessons to life while fostering collaboration between students and their families.

Toys for Tots

From page 1

dren can drop their letters to Santa off at. Letters dropped off with a legible name and return address will be answered by Santa before the holiday.

“Toys for Tots sends a message of hope to less fortunate children who otherwise wouldn’t be receiving presents this holiday season. I urge residents, who can, to donate new unwrapped toys to any of our drop-off locations,” said Councilman Tom Hand. “By making a donation, you can help ease the financial burden of our families in need this holiday season.”

Toys for Tots Collection Boxes are located at the following locations:

• Oyster Bay Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay;

• Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa;

• Ice Skating Center at Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage.

The Cruise Thru Toy Drive is made possible through the following sponsors: Whitey’s Tire Service of Brooklyn, Bola, Long Island Press, Nassau Coliseum, Adventureland, News 12, MSG Networks, Washville, WKJOY 98.3, WHLI 1100AM, 103. The Wolf, 94.3 The Shark, and Embassy Diner.

For more information, please call (516) 797-4121; or visit www.oysterbaytown.com.

Santa’s mailboxes in town

The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that children can send their holiday wish list directly to Old St. Nick at the North Pole through a special network of Santa’s Mailboxes will arrive in Town facilities from the North Pole on Friday, November 21. Mailboxes will accept letters through Monday, December 15.

The Town of Oyster Bay will forward letters to Santa at the North Pole. Letters received by Monday, December 15, with a legible name and return address will be answered by

offices

Santa before the holiday. No postage is necessary.

Colorful red mailboxes will be accessible during regular business hours (9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.) at the following locations:

• Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay

• Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa

• Ice Skating Center, 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage

For more information about Santa’s Mailboxes, call (516) 624-6380 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com

Photo courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

Wizarding World comes to Northside for PARP week

Northside Elementary School celebrated Pick a Readung Partner week with “The Wizarding World of Reading,” a week-long Harry Potter-themed celebration filled with magical activities that cultivated students’ love for reading.

Teachers were transformed into enchanted portraits, and students wore crazy hats for “Sorting Hat Day.”

The Northside Elementary School community in the Levittown School District entered a magical place from Nov. 17–21, as they celebrated a week of “Harry Potter” themed activities for PARP.

Dubbed “The Wizarding World of Reading” and organized by the PTA, PARP week kicked off with an assembly for kindergartners through second graders, where Magic Evan wowed students with a magic show. The magic also began with “Sorting Hat Day,” when students wore crazy hats and hairstyles. A day themed with potions had students wear green, purple and silver, and they cozied up with a good book on pajama day. “Defense Against the Dark Arts Day” had students wearing their wizarding robes with a flashlight in hand for reading alongside a book buddy. PARP week concluded with students showing their house pride by donning the colors of the Hogwarts houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. At home, students completed reading challenges to rack up as many minutes reading as they could.

Zorawar Singh was one of many students who posed in a “Have you seen this Wizard?” photo frame.

The week began with a magic show by

Green, purple and silver filled Northside’s hallways.

Magic Evan.

Photos courtesy Levittown Public Schools

November 28, 2025

Holiday Celebrations, Cultural Attractions Turn NYC Into Winter Wonderland

COMPILED BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

New York City’s holiday season festivities kick off with the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, heralding in a cornucopia of festive performances, winter exhibits, holiday light displays:

Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights, Select Nights, select evenings (Nov. 21-23, 28-30, Dec. 4-7, 11-14, 18-23, 26-31, Jan. 2-4). Holiday Lights is a walkthrough event where you journey through six immersive wildlife lantern trails featuring geographic-themed regions and the magical Forest of Color. More than 400 lanterns representing 100 animal and plant species; Freeze Zone; The Enchanted Sea; music and light performances, nightly ice-carving demonstrations, Wildlife Theater puppet adventures, s’mores roasting, bug carousel and holiday train,. Tickets required and must be reserved in advance; available online at BronxZoo.com/Holiday-Lights, info at bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights.

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show, thru-Jan. 11, Bedford Park, Bronx: For the 34th year, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is filled with 200 twinkling landmark replicas as model trains weave through iconic NYC scenes. Holiday Train Nights offer a magical after-dark experience.

Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, thru Jan. 4, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, now in its fifth year, features dazzling light installations, reimagined art, music and special attractions, highlighting the Garden’s winter beauty.

Holidays at Rockefeller Center, December: See the iconic Rockefel-

Santa’s arrival at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ushers in New York City’s holiday season © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

ler Center Christmas Tree; ice skate at The Rink at Rockefeller Center, and ride to the Top of the Rock observation deck for a 360-degree views and photo opportunities with Santa on select dates and times.

Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, thru Jan. 4: The beloved holiday tradition returns to the iconic Radio City Music Hall for its 100-year anniversary. One million people come each holiday season to experience its stunning costumes, joyful music, precise choreography and innovative performances. Multiple shows daily.

A Christmas Carol at PAC NYC: thru Dec. 28: An immersive, intimate staging crafted by Tony Award-winning playwright Jack Thorne and director Matthew Warchus.

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet, Nov. 28–Jan. 4: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at New York City Center,

Dec. 3–Jan. 4: Classic works from the Ailey repertory including Revelations

The Brooklyn Nutcracker Presented by the Brooklyn Ballet at The Theater at City Tech, Dec. 6–7 and 13–14 reimagines the classic ballet through the lens of Brooklyn’s diverse cultural tapestry, blending iconic characters with hip hop, pop and lock and bohemian flair.

ROB LAKE MAGIC with Special Guests The Muppets, thru Jan. 18: World-renowned illusionist Rob Lake brings his magic to Broadway, joined by Kermit the Frog and friends.

Holidays with the New York Philharmonic, Dec. 10–Dec. 20: Conductor Jane Glover leads the chorus of Music of the Baroque in Handel’s Messiah. Families enjoy Home Alone on screen as John Williams’s score is performed live; also family friendly Sounds of the Season matinees.

The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera, Dec. 11–Jan. 3: The Met’s abridged, English-language

family-friendly production by Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor. On Dec. 14 enjoy a free Holiday Open House before the performance with special family activities.

Festive Concerts at Carnegie Hall, December: Highlights include the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble performing Corelli and Vivaldi; the Princeton Nassoons; the Oratorio Society of New York’s 151st consecutive Messiah; the Christmas Night Opera Gala with stars Sondra Radvanovsky and Thomas Hampson and Concert of the Future: A Christmas Dream. Holiday Festivities at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Dec. 13–Dec. 31, Morningside Heights: Concerts include the Joy of Christmas featuring Bach’s Magnificat and the renowned New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

A Christmas Carol: The Manuscript, Nov. 25–Jan. 11: See Charles Dickens’s original manuscript in J. Pierpont Morgan’s Library.

Hudson Yards’ 6th annual “Shine Bright at Hudson Yards Presented by Wells Fargo” features 2 million twinkling lights, 115 miles of string lights, 725 trees, and iconic 32-foot hot air balloon, ten 11-foot-tall Toy Soldier and six free, pop-up performances.

Holiday Under the Stars and Broadway Under the Stars at The Shops at Columbus Circle: Be dazzled by 300,000 lights and 44 glowing stars, enjoy “Broadway Under the Stars,” free performances.

For all there is to do and see in New York City, visit nyctourism.com.

Celestial Guests Join the Winter Hexagon

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of November 30 - December 6, 2025

The brilliant moon illuminates our night sky again this week, reaching its full phase on Thursday, Dec. 4. All that extra light in the sky means that stargazers will see only the brightest of celestial objects over its glare. Fortunately, there will be plenty of them, but you’ll need to be patient.

Step outdoors around 9:30 or 10 p.m. and you’ll see rising in the east the most brilliant stars of the entire year. These are the stars of winter, making their early appearance in our late autumn sky.

We can connect these bright stars with imaginary lines to form one of the largest asterisms in all the heavens: the Winter Hexagon (or Winter Oval, if you prefer).

To trace it out, let’s start with Sirius, the brightest of all the nighttime stars, twinkling wildly just above the southeastern horizon. Sirius marks the ancient constellation of Canis Major, the great dog, but let’s not worry about that for now; Sirius will simply form the starting point of the Winter Hexagon.

From Sirius, follow a line toward the left until you encounter another fairly bright star. This is Procyon, part of Canis Minor, the little dog. Then continue leftward, but begin heading upward also. Here you’ll find two nearly equally bright stars known as Pollux and Castor, the main stars in Gemini, the twins. Above these two lies another really bright one: Capella in Auriga, the charioteer.

From Capella, slide downward and to the right until you come upon the reddish-orange star Aldebaran i n

Taurus. Dropping down even farther, you’ll find Rigel in Orion, the hunter. Finally, you’ll return to Sirius, where your journey began.

And inside the Hexagon -- a bit below its center -lies another bright star that marks the right shoulder of Orion, the hunter. This is the red supergiant star known as Betelgeuse.

All totaled, this easy asterism encompasses half of the 18 brightest stars visible to stargazers from the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere!

Now, before you got to Pollux, you encountered a dazzlingly bright “star” and must have wondered why it is not part of the Hexagon. That’s because it’s not a star, but a planet (Jupiter) and, as regular readers know, planets appear to move among the stars as they orbit the sun. Over the next few months, keep an eye on Jupiter’s position relative to Castor and Pollux, and you’ll see exactly what I mean. You can even make sketches or photograph the area to compare changes.

The moon also appears to drift among the stars as it orbits eastward around the Earth, and this week you’ll see it appearing to pass through the Hexagon. Every month, the moon makes one complete circuit eastward around our planet, and unlike planets, we can see its position change every night.

Watch for the full moon to enter the Winter Hexagon on the night of Dec. 4, when it appears about midway between the stars Aldebaran and Capella. The next night, though, you’ll notice that it has moved considerably eastward, and by Dec. 6 you’ll see it quite close to Castor, Pollux and Jupiter, before it leaves the Hexagon behind on the 7th.

LOST IN SUBURBIA

Getting

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

“What happened to your ankle?” asked my neighbor when he saw the orthopedic boot on my left foot.

“I tripped while I was in Pamplona running with the bulls,” I told him.

He raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

“Not really,” I admitted. “I was actually climbing Machu Pichu, and I fell over a llama.”

“Seriously?” he said. I nodded. Heck, I’d already been called a klutz. Why not a liar too?

In truth, I had not been running with the bulls or falling over llamas. I had simply been walking when I turned my foot in a hole in the pavement. Then I turned it again and again over several months until, eventually, I ended up in a walking boot which, of course, called a lot of attention to the fact that I had an injury. And naturally, when people see you injured, they want to know how it happened. Since the actual story wasn’t very dramatic, I felt compelled to come

Off on the Wrong Foot

up with something more interesting.

“I fell while I was heli-skiing in the Chilean Andes,” I told another person.

“Wow! I didn’t know you ski,” she said.

“I don’t,” I said. “That’s why I fell.”

And then there was this friend:

“What happened to your ankle?” she asked.

I was caving in Transylvania, and I tripped on a stalactite,” I replied.

“Don’t those hang from the ceiling of a cave?” she asked.

“Um. Yes,” I said. “I was ceiling walking. It’s a new sport.”

Sadly, I have a long history of injuring myself in stupid ways. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not the most graceful person on the planet to start with. When I was a kid, I once sprained my ankle standing still. I’m not exactly sure how that happened, but as I recall, I think I told everyone that I lost my balance while the planet was rotating.

Not surprisingly, I felt it was kind of embarrassing to trip on air. So this

time around, I decided to come up with a good story. People were used to me embellishing stories anyway. So what difference would it make if I said I hurt my ankle flipping a ninja in a mixed martial arts competition? Or getting slapped in the foot by a dorsal fin while tagging humpback whales? Or being chased by a dingo while bagging rattlesnakes in the Outback?

Were all these explanations a little over the top? Probably not, if I was Bear Grylls. But for a suburban mom whose idea of adventure is traveling without a backup roll of toilet paper, I could see why some people might find my excuses a little implausible.

Still, I, for one, found the whole thing immensely entertaining, and coming up with crazy explanations was a good way to pass the time while I was in physical therapy.

But then one day I was in the supermarket, and as I turned a corner to go up another aisle, I slipped on a broken egg on the floor, slid into a display of

soup cans and had one fly off the shelf and conk me in the head. Fortunately, my ankle was OK. But there was a knot on my forehead the size of Texas.

That night when my husband got home, he saw the bump on my forehead and shook his head.

“Oh jeez, honey. What happened now?”

“I slipped on a broken egg, slid across the floor and got whacked in the head by a flying can of tomato soup,” I explained.

He shook his head.

“Sorry, but you better come up with something else. No one is going to believe you.”

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

Winter Hexagon, also known as the Winter Oval, is one of the largest asterisms in the heavens.

Long Island and U.S. Housing Markets Enter a Major Reset

Low inventory, elevated mortgage rates, and affordability pressures are reshaping how sellers, buyers, and investors navigate the 2025 real estate landscape.

The Great Market Reset: What Sellers, Buyers, and Investors Must Understand in Today’s Housing Climate

For anyone trying to sell, buy, or invest in real estate today—on Long Island or anywhere across the United States—one truth rises above the noise: we are living through the most significant market reset in over a decade. The combination of elevated mortgage rates, historically tight inventory, and a widening affordability gap has reshaped the playing field for every participant in the market.

The post-pandemic boom has faded, but it has not been replaced by a traditional slowdown. Instead, we now have a market defined by contradictions: high prices paired with cautious buyers, low supply combined with softer demand, and investors searching for yield in an environment where borrowing costs eat into returns. Understanding this landscape is the key to navigating the next 12–18 months.

A Market That Won’t Move— Because Sellers Won’t Move

The most defining feature of today’s housing market is supply—or more accurately, the lack of it. Across the U.S., inventory remains far below historical norms. Long Island mirrors the national picture, with homeowner tenure growing longer and listing activity dropping.

Why is this happening? The answer is simple: mortgage rate lock-in.

Millions of homeowners refinanced into 2.5% to 4% mortgages between 2020 and 2022. Trading a 3% rate for a 6–7% rate increases a typical monthly payment by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This has paralyzed would-be sellers who might otherwise upgrade, downsize, or relocate.

On Long Island in particular— where property taxes are higher than the national average—the payment shock of today’s rates is even more pronounced. The result is a gridlock cycle:

• Homeowners stay put

• Listings stay scarce

• Buyers compete over fewer properties

• Prices remain surprisingly firm

Even now, with sales volume lower than past years, prices have not meaningfully corrected. This is the “new normal” until mortgage rates fall or a surge of new construction changes the balance—neither of which is happening quickly.

Affordability Hits a Breaking Point

While inventory remains constrained, affordability has deteriorated. This is the second major force shaping the 2025 market.

Home prices have not adjusted downward enough to offset the effect of higher borrowing costs. Wages, meanwhile, have not kept pace with the rising cost of ownership. Today’s buyers must contend with:

• Higher mortgage rates

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

• Higher insurance premiums

• Higher property taxes

• Higher maintenance costs

On Long Island, where housing costs were already among the highest in the nation, this affordability squeeze has pushed many first-time buyers either into smaller properties, different neighborhoods, or in some cases out of the region entirely.

Nationally, this trend looks similar. Many markets that saw double-digit appreciation during the pandemic continue to price out young families, pushing people toward more affordable Sun Belt or Midwestern locations. But even those markets have become more expensive relative to income.

The affordability problem is not cyclical anymore—it’s structural. And it will shape market behavior for years to come.

Buyers Are More Cautious —But Still Motivated

Despite affordability pressures, buyer demand has not disappeared. What has changed is buyer psychology.

Today’s purchasers are more selective, more hesitant, and require more justification for a property’s asking price. Gone are the days of unconditional offers and frantic bidding wars on every listing. Instead, buyers are demanding:

• Better condition

• Fair pricing

• Seller concessions

• Credits for repairs

• Rate buy downs

In the U.S. and on Long Island, the buyers who are most active fall into several groups:

1. Life-driven movers (marriage, divorce, new children, job relocation)

2. Financially stable families upgrading after years of pent-up demand

3. Individuals seeking multigenerational living arrangements

4. High-income earners leaving rental markets due to rising rents

These buyers are ready to act—but only when the property clearly earns its price tag.

Sellers Must Shift Their Strategies

For sellers, the takeaway is clear: this is no longer the 2021–2022 market. Buyers expect value, transparency, and preparation.

The smartest Long Island and U.S. sellers today are using tools such as:

• Pre inspections to reduce surprises

• Light repairs and cosmetic improvements (paint, floors, kitchens)

• Realistic pricing driven by recent comparable sales

• Offering rate buydowns or closing credits

• Professional staging and photography

Homes that hit the market in well-prepared condition and priced in line with local trends still move quickly—even with elevated rates. But overpriced, poorly maintained, or unprepared listings sit longer, forcing price reductions that ultimately hurt the seller more.

Investors Are Rewriting Their Playbooks

Investors face a different challenge. The era of cheap money is over—for now. Cash flow is harder to achieve, cap rates have not risen enough to offset rate increases, and insurance costs have surged, especially in coastal regions.

As a result, U.S. and Long Island investors are shifting toward:

• Value-add opportunities

• Distressed or off-market deals

• Probate and inherited properties

• Long-tenured owners looking to exit

• Properties needing cosmetic or structural upgrades

These are the opportunities where margins still exist.

Multifamily remains appealing, but not at any price. Single-family rentals still perform well, but investors are prioritizing markets and neighborhoods with stable demand and lower taxes. The essential mindset for investors now is caution combined with creativity.

When Will the Market Truly Reset?

There is widespread speculation about when mortgage rates will fall. Many buyers are waiting for 5% rates; many sellers are hoping for a return to the ultra-low rate world. Neither is likely in the near term.

Even if rates fall modestly, the supply side of the housing market is so tight that lower rates would likely unleash a wave of pent-up demand far greater

than the increase in inventory. This would push prices higher, not lower.

On Long Island especially, where geographic constraints limit new construction and zoning rules restrict density, supply is unlikely to rise quickly enough to rebalance the market.

The national market may see more building activity, especially in growing southern metros, but not enough to offset years of under-building.

Meaning: A major price correction is not on the horizon unless a major economic event triggers it.

The Bottom Line for Sellers, Buyers, and Investors

For Sellers

• Properly priced, move-in ready homes still sell quickly

• Overpricing guarantees longer time on market

• Pre-inspections and minor upgrades produce outsized returns

• Offering concessions may net more than large price cuts

For Buyers

• Competition is lower than during the boom years

• There is more negotiating room, especially on stale listings

• Getting creative with financing (rate buydowns, credits, ARMs) can restore affordability

• Patience and preparation are more valuable than speed

For Investors

• Cash flow must be analyzed conservatively

• Off-market and long-tenure owners provide the best opportunities

• Renovation-ready properties offer stronger returns than turnkey units

• Rising insurance and tax costs must be factored into underwriting

A Market Fueled by Decisions —Not Conditions

The 2025 housing market is not driven by panic, speculation, or frenzy. It’s driven by necessity, strategy, and realism. Unlike the boom or bust cycles of the past, today’s environment rewards those who understand the underlying forces shaping supply, demand, and affordability.

For Long Island and for the nation overall, the message is the same: this market belongs to the prepared—to the sellers who price wisely, the buyers who act decisively, and the investors who analyze thoughtfully.

Those who recognize the landscape for what it is—not what they wish it were—will find opportunity even in the most constrained environment. Moreover, if you are putting a large down payment, due to the above aver-

Continued on page 5

Why Did I Start Getting More Money from Social Security?

BY TOM MARGENAU

I got a letter recently from the Social Security Administration. It told me that my monthly Social Security benefit was going up by a few bucks each month. And why was that? As the letter explained, they finally got around to factoring in my 2024 earnings into my benefit calculation. Those additional earnings boosted my monthly Social Security check. The letter said I would be getting a one-time check to pay me back to January 2025 (when the increase for 2024 earnings goes into effect). My ongoing monthly benefit would be increased by the small amount my 2024 earnings earned me.

And just coincidentally, the same day I got that letter from the SSA, I also got an email from a reader asking me this question: “I’m 76 years old and just went back to work. Do I still have to pay Social Security taxes even though I’m already getting Social Security benefits? And if yes, will my current earnings increase my Social Security benefit?”

The answer to the first question is “Yes.” All people who work at jobs that are covered by Social Security (and almost all jobs are) must have payroll taxes deducted from their paychecks -whether they are 16 years old or 76 years old or 106 years old.

The answer to the second question is “Maybe.” To understand whether or not the earnings you have, and the taxes you pay, after you start getting Social Security, will increase your benefits, you have to understand how Social Security retirement benefits are figured in the first place.

Simply stated, your Social Security retirement benefit is based on your average monthly income, indexed for inflation, using a 35-year base of earnings. So, when you initially filed for benefits, the Social Security Administration looked at your entire earnings history. Then they adjusted each year of earnings for inflation. The inflation adjustment factor depends on your year of birth and varies from one year to the next.

Here is an example. Let’s take a guy who was born in 1949. Let’s say that he made $7,000 in 1970. When figuring his Social Security benefit, the SSA multiplied that $7,000 by an inflation adjustment factor of 6.58. In other words, instead of $7,000, they actually used $46,060 as his 1970 earnings when figuring his Social Security benefit. (There are different inflation factors for each year of earnings.)

After the SSA indexes each year of earnings for inflation, they pull out your highest 35 years and add them up. Then they divide the total by 420 -- that’s the number of months in 35 years -- to get your average monthly inflation-adjusted income. Your Social Security benefit is a percentage of that amount. The percentage used depends on a variety of factors to complex to explain here. But for this

column, we don’t need to know the precise percentage. Suffice it to say that for most people, their Social Security retirement benefit represents roughly 40% of their average inflation-adjusted monthly income.

When you are working and paying Social Security taxes after you start receiving Social Security benefits, those additional taxes you are paying will increase your monthly Social Security check IF your current earnings increase your average monthly income. Or to be more precise, if your current annual income is higher than the lowest inflation-adjusted year of earnings used in your most recent Social Security computation, the SSA will drop out that low year, add in the new, higher year, recalculate your average monthly income, and then refigure your Social Security benefit.

Here is a quick example of what I mean. Let’s go back to that guy who made $7,000 in 1970 and say that was the lowest year in his current Social Security computation. And let’s further say that he is now working and made $35,000 last year. You might assume that because $35,000 is much higher than $7,000, he should get an increase in his Social Security checks. But remember, the SSA didn’t use $7,000 in his benefit calculation. They used the inflation-adjusted amount of $46,060. Because his current earnings of $35,000 are lower than the low year of $46,060 used in his Social Security retirement computation, the additional earnings do NOT increase his average monthly income, so his Social Security benefit will not go up.

On the other hand, had his current earnings been $70,000, for example, that would increase his benefit. The SSA would replace his low year of $46,060 with the new higher year of $70,000, recompute his average monthly wage and refigure his benefit.

By the way, in my case, I really don’t make all that much money from the jobs I have (writing this column and doing an occasional paid speaking gig). But because I was a federal worker for most of my career, and at the time I worked, federal government employees did not pay into Social Security (they now do), my Social Security record is full of a bunch of years with zero earnings. So anything I make now is better than a “zero” year, and thus, I get a small increase in my benefits no matter how much money I make.

Anyway, if you’re working and you’ve had a good year of earnings and you are pretty sure it should increase your Social Security check, what do you have to do to make that happen? The answer is: nothing.

The SSA has a software program that automatically tracks the earnings of working Social Security beneficiaries and recalculates their benefits to see if any increase is due. It generally happens by October of each year.

In other words, if you are getting Social Security benefits, and if you are working, and if your latest earnings increase your average monthly wage and thus your Social Security benefit, you generally will see that increase by October of the following year. For example, you would get an increase for your 2024 earnings by October 2025. And as happened with me, the SSA sends you a notice indicating the increase in your monthly benefit, which is retroactive to January of the year you get the notice.

If you are working and you don’t get an increase, that means your earnings

were simply not high enough to raise your average monthly income and thus your Social Security benefit.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. .

REAL ESTATE WATCH

Long Island and U.S. Housing Markets Enter a Major Reset

Continued from page 3

age appreciation on your current home that is now in contract; you will have an increased mortgage rate, on your “next place to call home.” However, analyze your actual cost on your new home and you might be surprised that it might not be any more than your old mortgage, even if a bit more, due to the larger than normal down payment, it will be still be affordable under your current income.

Remember, there will be no U-Haul behind our hearses, so we take nothing with us but our soul and memories. So buy that dream home if the numbers work and don’t look back, while creating your future memories!

I want to wish everyone a Healthy, Happy, Enjoyable, Fun and Relaxing Thanksgiving with your Family and Friends!

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 43+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant designations:

National Association of Realtors Graduate Realtors Institute (what I consider a Master’s degree in real estate).

Certified International Property Specialist - expert in consulting and completing international transactions.

National Association of Realtors Green designation: eco-friendly low

carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geothermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).

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

He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to: https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search at your leisure on your own.

WRITER’S CORNER

However, for a “FREE” no obligation/ no strings attached 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com

Book clubs are definitely fun places to be

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

Some people attend the book club meetings every single month - they know everyone there and how things run - and I can tell they look forward to attending the meetings. Going there isn’t just a pastime, it’s a love of books. It’s a pleasant way to pass the time and each month the book club focuses on a different book.

One lady I know, Denise, has been going to my book club for six years, a lot longer than I have, and she said she’s rarely missed a meeting. I was surprised to hear that because inevitably things come up but I applaud her for that.

She’s diligent about reading the book to be discussed, whether or not the subject appeals to her, and she always seems to enjoy commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of the book. Denise always does her homework and she’s enthusiastic about each book being discussed during a given month.

Others skip the book club meeting if they don’t like the mere mention of the book to be discussed. My friend, Mark, is someone who picks and chooses which ones he will attend. He thinks nothing of skipping a meeting because the book choice isn’t his cup of tea and if he’s not into the topic he’s not into it.

On the other hand, I find that when I attend the book club meetings on a regular basis I get to know the people better. There’s something to be said for consistency and I never know who I will strike up conversations with. And what we will discuss. Some people arrive early to chat and some people stay late.

My friend, Amy, is a fan of British comedians and sit-coms and a few months back she mentioned reading one of Dawn French’s books. She said her book called A Tiny Bit Marvellous,

published in 2010, is a funny story about the Battle family which consists of Dad, the mom called Mo, and two teenagers, Dora, 17, who always seems to be in a constant fight with her mother, and Peter who likes being called Oscar Wilde, who is his hero.

Each chapter is told from the point of view of one character so the reader gets different perspectives. It’s a fun but wacky story about some modern families and it sounds like Dawn French’s voice.

I’m also big fan of The Vicar of Dibley which ran on TV from 1994-2020. French is the star of the show playing Geraldine Granger, a new vicar for the small English village of Dibley with plenty of eccentric villagers. She is the first woman vicar in the village and although she meets some resistance at first, she perseveres and wins over most people.

That led other people to start talking about Keeping Up Appearances which starred Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift. It ran on the BBC from 1990-1995 and later on PBS and was hilarious. On the show, Hyacinth is a snobbish housewife determined to climb the social ladder in spite of her family’s working-class connections and the constant puzzlement of her husband, Richard.

Several others in my book club had seen both The Vicar of Dibley and Keeping Up Appearances on TV so we couldn’t help but go off on a tangent and talk about how funny most of the episodes are.

On Keeping Up Appearances, Hyacinth Bucket - whose name she insists is pronounced “bouquet”always looks for chances to climb the social ladder although she’s between her sister Violet whose house has a swimming pool, a sauna and room for a

pony, and just above her working-class sisters Daisy and Rose.

Hyacinth is a perfectionist when it comes to entertaining but her neighbor, Elizabeth, finds that coffee with Hyacinth isn’t very relaxing. Hyacinth always wonders what her neighbors are doing. One day when Hyacinth was especially determined to find out, she climbed the fence between her house and the neighbors to see.

Another man in the group, John, likes Westerns so we got off on that subject. He’d read Monte Walsh, the book written by Jack Schaefer published in 1963, and liked it very much. He also mentioned the movie was on TV in 2003 and there are reruns.

I saw the movie on TV recently and John was right - that Western starring Tom Selleck was a good one. More people had seen the movie than had read the book so we had a good discussion about Westerns.

Selleck was well cast as an aging cowboy working a job in the Old West when cowboying is slowly being phased out at the end of the 19th century. Throughout the story there’s plenty of action: tragedy, romance, hard knocks and lots of fist fights.

One day the cowboys are sitting around saying their real names not their nicknames and Monte Walsh says his given name is Montelius. He dares them not to laugh but they have a good laugh anyway.

Fellow book club member Teri said she thought Tom Selleck was perfect for the role because he’s a lifelong rancher with a deep respect for the land. He has a way of connecting to the cowboy way of life - his performance as Monte Walsh is very realistic.

The recent book club meeting was an unusual one in that we started dis-

cussing one book then got onto British writers and TV shows then we ended up talking about Westerns. That’s the thing about book clubs - I never know what we will end up discussing even though the list says it’s one particular book. After our short diversion we got back to talking about books since it was a book club meeting after all.

Connecting with other people is what it’s all about otherwise reading a book could be a solitary hobby. You read a book, put it down without much discussion about it and start looking for another good book to read.

Whether you get your books at the public library, use your Kindle to read them or you, your friends and neighbors pass along books among each other it’s definitely fun.

Connecting via social media is okay but there’s nothing like going to meet a group of people at the public library, senior center or wherever book clubs meet. Different people show up for different meetings and you never really know who you will run into.

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SERVICES TUTORING

STRUGGLING WITH BIO? LET’S MAKE IT CLICK! From cell structure to ecosystems, I help students truly understand not just memorize. AP Honors

Regents: Biology Environmental Science Virtual or In-Person

Dr. Amanda Shore, University Professor ShoreThingBiology@gmail. com

CLEANING

CLEANER AVAILABLE Apartments, Houses, Offices

Monday Saturday Honest, Reliable, Own Car 20 years experience English speaking References available Free Estimates Call Claudia: 516-776-0021 SERVICES

AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833-323-0160

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Pack pecans into every cookie bite

Pecan Cream Cheese Cookies

It’s common to indulge in sweet treats a little more often once the holiday season arrives. Halloween kicks off people’s tendency to consume more desserts and candies, and Thanksgiving, and later Chanukah and Christmas, may round out the year on a sugary note. Desserts can be made a bit healthier with the right

1 cup pecan pieces

1⁄2 cup pecan meal

2 1⁄3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

ingredients. Nuts certainly can pack nutrition into each sweet bite.

This recipe for “Pecan Cream Cheese Cookies” feature pecans prominently. With only 4 grams of carbohydrates per serving, pecans fit into plant-based diets, a keto diet, a Mediterranean diet, and other healthy eating plans. One serv-

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt, set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream together the cream cheese and butter until well combined. Mix in the sugar and vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and gradually mix in the flour. Mix in the pecan pieces.

2) Roughly divide the dough in half. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap or parchment paper, forming the dough into a log about 2 inches wide. Wrap well and freeze until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.

3) When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 F.

ing of pecans contains 18 grams of unsaturated fat, including oleic acid, making them hearthealthy, according to the American Heart Association. Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of the American Pecan Promotion Board.

Yield: Around 24 cookies

1 1⁄4 cup sugar 1

tablespoons vanilla extract

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Unwrap one log and carefully roll the outside in the pecan meal, coating it well. Slice the log into 1⁄4-inch rounds and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

4) Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the middle is just set and the cookies are just starting to turn light brown on the edges. Cool the cookies on wire racks. Work in batches until all of the dough has been used. Store the cookies in an airtight container.

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Do You Have a Service To Advertise?

Litmor Publications publishes the ads of service providers in our Classifieds, Professional Guide and Service Directory.

A 6-week agreement brings your specialty or service to the attention of the community. Let us begin listing you in our next Issue. For More Info and Rates, Call Nancy 516.294.8900 Advertising in the Professional Guide is only open to N.Y.S. Licensed Professionals.

Weather expert brings science to life in Bethpage schools

Augeri demonstrated practical experiments showing how tornadoes and other weather patterns form when different air pressures collide.

Bethpage’s elementary school students recently had the exciting opportunity to learn about weather from a real meteorologist when Samantha Augeri visited Central Boulevard, Charles Campagne and Kramer Lane elementary schools with her educational program, “ Sam ’ s Weather School.”

Ms. Augeri, an Emmy Awardwinning meteorologist with over 20 years of experience, most recently with News 12, brought her passion for weather science directly to Bethpage’s youngest learners. Currently pursuing her master’s degree to become an earth science teacher, she tours local schools to share her love of meteorology and inspire students to see themselves as future scientists.

During her engaging presentation, Ms. Augeri introduced students to different types of weather phenomena, using an age-appropriate pop-up book to illustrate dramatic examples like tornadoes and hurricanes. The visual format helped make these powerful weather events accessible and exciting for young minds without being overwhelming.

The visit included hands-on learning experiences that brought weather science to life. Ms. Augeri demonstrated practical experiments showing how tornadoes and other weather patterns form when different air pressures collide. Students watched in wonder as these simplified models helped them understand complex atmospheric processes.

One of the highlights of the presentation was giving students the chance to step into the role of meteorologists themselves.

One of the highlights of the presentation was giving students the chance to step into the role of meteorologists themselves. Taking turns with a professional microphone in front of a green screen, the children experienced what it’s like to deliver a weather forecast.

Ms. Augeri also showcased various meteorological instruments, explaining how scientists measure rainfall, wind speed, and other weather conditions. This hands-on introduction to scientific tools helped students understand how weather forecasting actually works.

Making the lesson particularly relevant and timely, Ms. Augeri shared a satellite image of Hurricane Melissa, which had recently passed through

Jamaica. She explained how this storm system would affect local weather conditions on Long Island, helping students connect global weather events to their own experiences with wind and rain.

The interactive presentation was a resounding success, with students thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to learn from a professional meteorologist. By combining scientific knowledge with engaging demonstrations and hands-on activities, Ms. Augeri succeeded in making weather science both educational and entertaining for Bethpage’s elementary students.

Photos courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

Upcoming Events at the Jericho Public Library

Friday, November 28

4:00 p.m.: Craft Corner (Grades K–3) - Children will make a fun craft with the help of our teen volunteers.

Monday, December 1

4:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Flex and Tone with Mindy Vasta - This is a low impact strength training class. It utilizes weights, balls and bands. Exercises are performed in a safe and controlled manner (sitting and standing) to help increase bone mass, improve strength, promote proper alignment and enhance overall fitness.

7:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Fit and Feeling Great with Linda RayLook and feel better than you have in years as fitness specialist Linda Ray guides you through her unique techniques that will stretch you out

as you relax neck, shoulders and back tension, strengthen and create sleek muscles, improve balance and firm up abdominal muscles without potential for injury.

Tuesday, December 2

11:00 a.m.: VIRTUAL : Guided Meditation for Self-Healing with Patricia Anderson - Join Pat for one or all of the meditation sessions to bring harmony and balance into your life. Learn the beautiful practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu to help your body heal and keep you relaxed.

Wednesday, December 3

6:30 p.m.: VIRTUAL : Creative Writing with Sandy Kassimir - Do you like to write but don't know where to begin? You can write on any topic

and genre. It can be a short story, poetry, fairy tale, a reflective memoir, fiction or non-fiction. There are no limitations. Through both writing and reading we hope you will be inspired.

Thursday, November 4

10:00 a.m.: Stepping Stones to Milestones (Ages 18–28 Months)Come join Miss Renee and Miss Amy for an adventure in Language, Learning and FUN! Creative activities will focus on helping your child as they venture down the path toward age appropriate milestones.

10:00 a.m.: HYBRID: Chair Yoga with Jolie Bosnjak - Jolie, with extensive training in Yoga and Mindfulness, combines breath practice and yoga poses in her classes to promote mindfulness and alignment awareness.

The class includes props like weights, blocks, and straps, catering to all skill levels with modifications. Participants can expect to feel stronger and more balanced both physically and mentally after the session.

11:00 a.m.: Stepping Stones to Milestones (Ages 29–47 Months) - Come join Miss Renee, a literary specialist, and Miss Amy, a former speech and language pathologist, for an adventure in Language, Learning and FUN! Creative activities will focus on helping your child as they venture down the path toward age appropriate milestones.

Register for all events at https:// www.jericholibrary.org/events/month Non-residents may register beginning 2 weeks before each program.

Ms.

Barbara Bucovetsky Sells Homes!

There

Must Be A Reason...

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Barbara Bucovetsky Licensed Associate RE Broker barbara.bucovetsky@compass.com O: 516.517.4866 | M: 516.428.2016

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— Fran & Bob G.

“You were there for us whenever we had questions. Your response time was incredibly fast. If an issue arose, you called immediately and addressed it expeditiously. We never had to wait and wonder what to do. You were there for us and you genuinely cared. Thank you!”

— Marian and Ira E.