Bethpage Newsgram (9/26/25)

SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW

BHS senior named

Natl. Merit Semifinalist

Bethpage High School senior Aaryan Rupesh has earned recognition as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, placing him among the top students in the nation.

The National Merit Scholarship Program, now in its 70th year, began in 1955 to honor scholastic achievement and encourage academic excellence. Students qualify for the program by taking the PSAT during their junior year. The highest scorers, which make up less

than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, are named Semifinalists.

As a Semifinalist, Aaryan now has the chance to advance to a Finalist standing by completing a detailed scholarship application. The process considers academic records, leadership roles, participation in school and community activities, and a recommendation from a high school official. About 7,500 Finalists will go on to earn Merit Scholarship awards next spring.

The Bethpage Newsgram is published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp.

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Plainview’s Phipps Lane Park was renamed in honor of Captain Omer Neutra during a ceremony on  Sunday, September 20. Omer, a former Plainview resident, was a member of the Israel Defense Forces who was murdered during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas terrorists.  Neutra was one of the 1,139 people killed during the attack and lost his life during a battle in the vicinity of Nir Oz, a small kibbutz located near Gaza in Southern Israel that was one of the communities most severely impacted by the Hamas terrorist invasion.

His senseless murder sent shockwaves of devastation throughout the world and the Plainview community where he grew up and established deep and lasting familial roots. As of today, Omer Neutra’s body was still being held hostage by Hamas terrorists, further

exacerbating the pain and suffering inflicted upon his family members and loved ones as they continue to grieve.

“Phipps Lane Park is where Omer played growing up, my own children played Little League baseball and basketball, and countless other families have made their own indelible memories,” Nassau County Legislator Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) said. “It was so uplifting to witness the spirit and sense of community that brought so many people out on this beautiful day in support of the Neutra family, but it was just as heart-wrenching to witness and hear the agony of Omer’s childhood friends along with his amazing parents, Ronen and Orna, and Omer’s brother, Daniel, who expressed their unimaginable loss in such an impactful way.”

Knifepoint robbery in Hicksville Park renamed in honor of murdered IDF soldier

The clerk of a convenience store in Hicksville was robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday, September 23, according to Nassau County Police.

According to detectives, an unknown male entered Bolla Market located at 620 Old Country Road at 12:32 a.m. and demanded money from an employee while displaying a knife. The man then fled from the scene in a silver colored 4 door sedan with approximately $300

in proceeds. There were no injuries reported.

The suspect is described as a male wearing a black ski mask, dark colored long sleeved shirt, blue jeans and red gloves.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding the above incident to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Aaryan Rupesh and Bethpage High School principal, Mr. Nicholas Jantz. Photos courtesy of Bethpage UFSD

BHS musicians selected for All State honors

Benjamin Maciel-Seidman, Grace Cho, Gyuree Kim and Kayla Cusumano have been chosen to participate in NYSSMA’s All-State Music Conference. They are pictured here with orchestra teacher Dr. Eric Kay, band teacher Ms. Kristen Warnokowski and Director of Fine and Performing Arts Mr. Brent Chiarello.

Bethpage High School has announced that four music students have earned the honor of participating in the NYSSMA All-State Music Conference in Rochester this December.

Senior Benjamin MacielSeidman was selected to perform with the All-State Symphonic Band on tenor saxophone. Grace Cho, Gyuree Kim and Kayla Cusumano were named as alternates.

The All-State Conference brings together New York’s top student musicians, who rehearse and perform under

Photo courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

the direction of professional guest conductors in ensembles such as band, chorus and orchestra. Only about 600 students from across the state are chosen each year.

Bethpage congratulates these students and extends appreciation to the dedicated music faculty, Director of Fine and Performing Arts Mr. Brent Chiarello, orchestra teacher Dr. Eric Kay, and band teacher Ms. Kristen Warnokowski, for guiding and inspiring them to achieve this distinction.

Are you a professional?

This Week at the Syosset Public Library

Friday, September 26, at 10:00 a.m.

Simply Stronger with Balance (VIRTUAL)

Instructor: Mindy Vasta

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

Sunday, September 28, at 1:00 p.m.

Concert: Come Together Band (IN-PERSON)

Come Together is a Long Island based cover band playing songs of the 60s and 70s. They specialize in high energy shows and singing along is recommended.  Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.

Monday, September 29, at 2:00 p.m.

Jane Austen’s “Sanditon”:

From Unfinished Swan Song to British Costume Drama (VIRTUAL)

Presenter: Claire Evans Commemorating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, join author, former UK resident, and Anglophile Claire Evans for a look at Austen’s final, unfinished manuscript and its path from family heirloom to a fully imagined costume drama, airing on American PBS. Learn about the real-life people and locations that informed Austen’s last work before her untimely death at age 41, as well as how the seeds of her ideas came to life on the small screen. For Zoom link, go to syossetlibrary.org.

Monday, September 29, at 7:00 p.m. Best Blooming Buds for Beneficials (IN-PERSON)

Presenter: Regina Dlugokencky. gardener and member of Xerces. Planting bulbs in the fall is a promise of beauty to our future selves. Choosing bulbs that offer maximum support to beneficial insects is easy and essential for our pollinator community. Learn which bulbs are better than others and how to plant a garden that will extend nectar and pollen resources through the spring. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.

Tuesday, September 30, at 2:00 p.m. Afternoon Book

Discussion (IN-PERSON)

Join Donna Burger, Readers’ Services Librarian, for an in-person discussion of the historical fiction novel, “Coronation Year” by Jennifer Robson. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk one month before the discussion. No registration needed.

Tuesday, September 30, 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Shed the Meds (IN-PERSON)

Safely dispose of unwanted and expired medication. This will help keep potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals out of the hands of children and protect our groundwater and waterways. Accepted items are: prescription patches, prescription medications, over the counter medications, vitamins, sample medications and medications for pets

Non-accepted items are: liquids, needles, sharps, aerosol cans, thermometers, ointments or lotions, hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, biohazardous waste, and medication from businesses.

Sponsored by Nassau County Legislator, Arnold Drucker and made possible by the Nassau County Police Department 2nd Precinct. Meds will not be accepted until 5:00 p.m.

Wednesdays, October 1, 15, 22 at 9:30 a.m.

Adult Walking Club (IN-PERSON)

Take a walk around the neighborhood (weather permitting). Enjoy some exercise, meet new people, and stay healthy. Wear sneakers, and bring a water bottle. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.

Friday, October 3, at 10:00 a.m. Simply Stronger with Balance (VIRTUAL)

Instructor: Mindy Vasta

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

Get rid of your unwanted items by placing an ad for them in our Classifieds! We have reasonable rates, and you’ll have prompt results! Call our Garden City office at 294-8900 for rates and other info.

SHS seniors honored as scholar artists

The Syosset Central School District has announced that three Syosset High School seniors have been recognized by the Long Island Arts Alliance (LIAA) for their outstanding artistic accomplishments in the 2025–2026 Scholar–Artist program.

Melody Chen (Visual Arts) and Ethen Hong (Theatre) have been named Scholar–Artists, and Grace Lu (Media Arts) has received an Award of Merit. These prestigious honors are awarded to just 40 student artists each year from across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, spanning five disciplines: Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance, and Media Arts.

“These students’ wide-ranging talents are a testament to the strength and depth of Syosset’s Fine and Performing Arts program. We are proud to celebrate Melody, Ethen, and Grace on this incredible achievement,” said Dr. Christopher Hale, coordinator of fine and performing arts for the Syosset Central School District.

Selections are made from a competitive pool of students nominated by public and private high schools across Long Island. The Scholar–Artist program is endorsed by the New York State School Music Association, the New York State Art Teachers Association, the Nassau and Suffolk chapters of the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education, and the Nassau and Suffolk Art Supervisors Associations.

Grace Lu, Ethen Hong, and Melody Chen.

HMS raises funds to fight childhood cancer

Hicksville Middle School, together with the wider school community, has united in support of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, setting a fundraising goal of $1,000 to benefit the organization.

To kick off the effort, faculty and staff across the district purchased special T-shirts to wear each Friday throughout September in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Students are also making a difference by selling silicone bracelets during lunch periods.

“This is an incredibly important cause because the Children’s Cancer Research Fund supports life-changing and lifesaving trials for children with cancer,” said Hicksville Middle School teacher Meg McElroy. “In addition, sadly, childhood cancer is not nearly as rare as we all want it to be or think that it is, and it’s important to spread awareness.”

Fundraising efforts will continue into October as the Hicksville School District community works together to reach its goal.

Free musical performances at local libraries

The Distinguished Artists Concert Series will return this October with free performances at local libraries throughout the Town of Oyster Bay.

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

Scheduled performances for October and November include:

Something Special Big Band on Sunday, October 5, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hicksville Public Library - “Swinging in the 21st Century!” One of the finest

nostalgia/jazz swing bands in the New York-Tri-State area. 18-piece ensemble.

4 Ways From Sunday on Sunday, October 12, at 2:00 p.m. at the Bethpage Public Library - A lively program of time-tested classic hits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Tom Pappas & The Gavrieli Trio on Saturday, October 18, at 2:00 p.m. at the Massapequa Public LibraryPerforming American standards and jazz.

Just Sixties on Sunday, November 2, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hicksville Public Library - A multi-media retrospective of the 1960s with sing-a-longs and trivia questions.

Gino Di Napoli on Sunday,

November 9, at 2:00 p.m. at the Bethpage Public Library - Gino sings “O Sole Mio,” “Quando, Quando, Quando,” “My Way,” and many, many more!

The Golden Tone Orchestra on Saturday, November 15, at 2:00 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library18 musicians who have been playing jazz and swing standards for more than six decades.

Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks on Sunday, November 16, at 1:00 p.m. at the Syosset Public Library - Local country, rockabilly legend Gene Casey and his musical entourage present a show of favorites and originals.

Open to all. Free tickets required.

Registration begins Oct. 22. Visit: https://syosset.librarycalendar.com/ events/month and select the date of the concert and register.

* Savannah Sky on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bethpage Public Library - Playing the best of classic country, western swing, folk-rock, and so much more!

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.

Car Show returns to TOBAY Beach on Oct. 5

Long Island’s largest and most premier car show experience returns to TOBAY Beach on Sunday, October 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  “Car Show Long Island” features hundreds of automobiles, trucks, military vehicles, and emergency service vehicles. A live concert performed by Vinyl Revival will take place during the day, followed by trophy presentations. The event is free for spectators.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “Whether you’re a proud classic car owner or

you want to see the latest and greatest automobiles in the world, Car Show Long Island is the place to be!  With a diverse range of vehicles showcased, car enthusiasts will have the opportunity to admire and interact with some of the most impressive cars around. This free family-fun event is a perfect way to spend the day, all with the beautiful backdrop of TOBAY Beach. Spectators can check out cool cars, vendors, exhibits and enjoy live music while surrounded by Long Island’s best classic, muscle, antique and exotic cars.”

Car Show Long Island’s 2025 TOBAY Beach Fall Classic features some of the hottest and most classic cars in the tristate region. While enjoying live music performed by Vinyl Revival and great eats from the Food Truck Corral presented by Eagle Chevy Performance, thousands of spectators are expected throughout the day to get up close and personal with Long Island’s best classic, muscle, antique and exotic cars. Trophies will be awarded in each class, and children will have a say when deeming which rides are their favorites

in the Kids’ Choice Award. Car Show Long Island’s 2025 TOBAY Beach Fall Classic is being presented by: Optimum, Signarama of Huntington and Whitey’s Tire Services of Brooklyn.

Classic Car enthusiasts and spectators can also grab a bite to eat from the food truck corral, and can also check out numerous vendors and displays. A rain date of Saturday, October 12, has been arranged. For more information, visit www.carshowli.com, call (516) 797-4121 or e-mail carshowli@oysterbay-ny.gov.

Hicksville Middle School staff proudly wore the T-shirts they purchased in support of Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Hicksville Fire Department holds 9/11 Memorial Services

The rain put a damper on the 9/11 services at the Hicksville Fire Department, and forced them inside the firehouse at Station 3. However, the ceremonies were still well attended.

Ex Chief Schweitzer opened up the ceremonies offering words of remembrance about that faithful September morning twenty-four years ago. “In an instant, our world changed in ways we could never have imagined, and while it is difficult to believe that this Thursday, twenty-four years will have passed, we come together to recognize and honor those lives lost and those who continue

to be impacted by that day, and by all the days that have followed.

The Department was joined by members of the families of Terrence Farrell and George Howard, members of the Department who were killed 24 years ago. The Department took a moment to recognize and thank all our first responders, police, fire, and emergency services as well as the military veterans for their service.

Gathering each year is our duty and our obligation as a department and a community to make it our responsibility to keep this day in our hearts and

Members of the Hicksville Fire Department at the 9/11 services.

prayers.

Following prayers from the Department Chaplin and Holy Family Pastor, Christopher Sullivan, Schweitzer read aloud twenty names representing those who once called Hicksville their home and were taken on that horrible day or the days, weeks, months, and years after due to the effects of the 9/11 attacks. He added that “though we can never erase the pain, or bring back those losses, we can honor their sacrifice by pledging our resolve to always remember them”.

Nancy Bueche

Mark Colaio

Stephen Colaio

Terence Connolly

Ex-Chief Terrence “Terry” Farrell

Scott Fusco

Honorary Chief George Howard

Gilbert Granados

Ronald Kerwin

William Leahy

Thomas McHale

William Minardi

Thomas Pedicini

Raymond Pfeifer

Steven Policino

Kenneth Rice III

Paul Tava

Brian Terrenzi

Walter Weaver

Arlene Zuzzolo

Just before the ceremonies were called to a close, Schweitzer asked everyone to take a few moments and reflect on the names attached to each of the 411 flags that have been placed on the lawn alongside the memorial. Each flag represents the innocent soul of a first responder that was killed while responding to assist in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, or in the days that followed.

This year, the department unveiled a new addition to their memorial — a “Survivor Tree”. This new addition is located in monument garden. The

Survivor Tree is a Callery pear tree that is part of the Seedling Program which was launched in partnership with Bartlett Tree Experts and John Bowne High School in Queen in 2010. The original pear tree was discovered severely damaged at Ground Zero, in the months following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The tree was rehabilitated and returned to the permanent memorial in 2010. Each year, seedlings from the original Survivor Tree are gifted to communities that have endured tragedy.

The tree serves as a powerful symbol of survival, resilience, and rebirth in the face of tragedy.

Other cities and communities that have received seedlings besides Hicksville, include:

Boston, MA (2013 – Boston Marathon bombing)

Joplin, MO (2015 – Tornado)

Orlando, FL (2016 – Pulse Nightclub shooting)

San Bernardino, CA (2016 – mass shooting)

Pittsburgh, PA (2019 – Tree of Life Synagogue shooting)

Las Vegas, NV (2017 – mass shooting that killed 58)

Uvalde, TX (2023 – Robb Elementary School shooting)

Waukesha, WI (2023 – Christmas parade incident)

Greece (wildfires that killed 102 and injured 172)

As these communities continue their journeys toward healing, Schweitzer added that “we in Hicksville stand in solidarity with them and others around the world”. It is our hope that the seedling program will inspire resilience and hope wherever they are planted.

Following the dismissal of the Department, those present lined up through the rain and laid a flower at the memorial, to say a prayer, or just reflect in their own way, just what this day meant to each one of them.

Saluting the fallen

Wreaths were laid at the Hicksville Fire Department memorial.

Constitution Day at JFK Middle School

In celebration of Constitution Day, members of Bethpage High School’s Civics Club visited John F. Kennedy Middle School to lead an interactive lesson on the U.S. Constitution and the three branches of government.

The high school students kicked off the day with a singalong of the classic “We the People” from “Schoolhouse Rock,” immediately engaging their younger peers. Using videos, slideshows and worksheets, the Civics Club walked the middle school students through the structure and responsibilities of each branch of government. The presentation not only sparked curiosity about the Constitution but also piqued interest in joining the high school Civics Club.

The Civics Club, advised

LEGAL NOTICES

NASSAU COUNTY FORECLOSURE NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY

OF Nassau, Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust 2017-1, Plaintiff, vs. Mirna Benitez, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 11, 2019 , an Order for Extension of Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale duly entered on November 27, 2019 and an Order for Extension of Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale duly entered on December 18, 2023, and an Order For Extension of Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale duly entered on July 17, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 141 West Avenue, Hicksville, NY 11801. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 45, Block 46 and Lot 289. Approximate amount of judgment is $907,661.64 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #005314/2015. Barton Slavin, Esq., Referee Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for Plaintiff

by social studies teacher Rob Fisher, participates in a variety of service-oriented projects throughout the year, from food and blood drives to honoring veterans through Wreaths Across America at Calverton National Cemetery. This marks the second year the group has brought Constitution Day programming to JFK Middle School.

Through these activities, students strengthen leadership skills, practice civic engagement and build lasting connections within the Bethpage community. Constitution Day itself, observed annually on Sept. 17, commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and serves as a reminder of the importance of passing on democratic values from one generation to the next.

To commemorate Constitution Day, members of Bethpage High School’s Civics Club visited JFK Middle School to lead an interactive lesson on the U.S. Constitution and the three branches of government.

Fall Toddler Sports Program

The Town of Oyster Bay’s Toddler Sports Program will return this fall, beginning October 7. This 6-week program offers sports classes at the Hicksville Athletic Center for children ages 3 and 4.

“The Town’s Toddler Sports Program is a fantastic way to teach your toddler the fundamentals of sports in a fun and social environment,” said Town Councilman Lou Imbroto. “This program is sure to be a hit with children and parents alike, as youngsters are

given the opportunity to learn the basics of various different sports such as tee-ball, flag football and more along with children their own age.”

The Toddler Sports Program begins October 7 and is 6 weeks in duration. Residents who sign their toddler up for the program must choose one class per week, per child. Classes will take place on: Tuesdays at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. at the Hicksville Athletic Center in Hicksville; and Thursdays at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. at the Hicksville

Athletic Center in Hicksville. Registration will take place online through the Parks Registration Portal available at oysterbaytown.com/sports on September 8 at 9:00 a.m. Space is limited — first come, first serve. Registration will close when the program reaches full capacity.

Each class is approximately 50 minutes. The cost of the program is $75 per child who is a Town resident, and $90 per child whose care giver is a Town resident but not the

child. The child’s birth certificate and a tax or utility bill will be required to validate age and proof of residency. A guardian must be present during the class. The child MUST be 3 years old by the start of the program. The last day to request a refund for this program will be October 17.

The Toddler Sports Program is run by the Town’s Parks Department, Recreation Division. For further information, please call (516) 797-7945.

Photo courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

Hicksville musicians selected for All State honors

The Hicksville Public Schools community celebrated the exceptional talent and dedication of its student-musicians at the Sept. 18 board of education meeting. Several students were recognized for their selection to the highly competitive NYSSMA All-State Festival, with three chosen to perform at the annual Winter Conference in Rochester, New York, this December.

Students selected for the All-State Festival include:

• Emma Dang, junior: AllState Orchestra (violin)

• Aerie Lim, junior: All-State Orchestra (violin)

• Lauren Mason, senior: AllState Orchestra (flute)

The district also acknowledged the following students who were named

Love to write?

All-State alternates, another significant accomplishment:

• Diella Chung, senior: AllState Orchestra (violin)

• Lauren Mason, senior: AllState Band (piccolo)

• Jillian Galea, junior: AllState Choir (soprano)

• Emma Dang, junior: AllState Jazz Band (piano)

• Kaylee Lin, junior: All-State Orchestra (cello)

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Theodore Fulton expressed his pride, stating, “These students have showcased immense talent and commitment, and we are so proud that they will represent Hicksville at the NYSSMA conference. We wish them a wonderful performance in December.”

We’re looking for writers in our community to compose ar ticles on local topics, opinions, reviews, worthy places to visit on Long Island, and even pieces of fiction. We aim to feature at least one new article and writer each week in our Discovery magazine section.

Email submissions: editor@gcnews.com

• Attach article and any photos (1MB), along with your name and contact info.

• Articles must be between 1,500 - 3,000 words. • Each writer will be reimbursed a stipend of $25.⁰⁰

Hicksville Public Schools honored All-State musicians and alternates during the Sept. 18 board of education meeting. Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Unexpected Delights in Hanoi on Discovery Bicycle Tours’ 12-Day Vietnam Trip

BY KAREN RUBIN

Discovery Bicycle Tours’ Biking Vietnam tour is designed along the best principles of travel: to explore, discover, learn, make connections, be experiential, meaningful and revelatory, and do it in a way that maximizes the benefit and minimizing the negative impacts of tourism.

Of the 12 days we spend in Vietnam, traveling from north, to central, to south (flying between regions), we bike on six of them. That might seem odd for a biking tour, but you don’t travel 30 hours to Vietnam and miss the important highlights, like Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum in Hanoi; taking a traditional row boat through the caves of Ninh Binh; cruising overnight on the Ha Long Bay; discovering the Citadel and Imperial City of Hue; walking the colorful markets and enjoying the nightlife of Hoi An; or touring the War Remnants Museum and the historic Ben Thanh Market of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) because you are obsessive about biking. We get to do all of these, and also bike through villages, stopping to learn about traditional crafts, and bike amid rice paddies to learn about Vietnam’s 4000-year old wet rice culture and ancestor worship.

Riding in the bus between destinations lets us see the countryside (and I have set myself a challenge to get photos of people working in the fields and four people riding a motor scooter); the way the homes are laid out; the ancestral tombs in the fields; the massive, new industrial parks under construction. You see progress

unfolding at the speed of the bus, all the more impressive when you realize what a young country Vietnam is having proclaimed independence in 1945 but only “reunified” in 1975.

The essence of this tour is about familiarizing us with the Vietnamese people (who, we learn, are a mosaic of 54 different tribes), the rich cultural heritage and today’s achievements in overcoming literally millennia of conflict, war, oppression, colonialism. When we bike, hike or walk, we barely have to think a question, let along ask it, before our guide, Nguyen Hong Phong, stops and answers. “This is normal for me, curious for you,” he tells us at the outset, as we sit for tea in the Apricot Hotel on our first afternoon. “When you are curious, just ask,” he adds.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary since the Fall of Saigon that so abruptly ended an interminable war (and reunification as an independent country).)

Still, the past is inescapable: in Hanoi when we visit Ho Chi Minh’s 1968 residence, built like a camouflaged bunker with escape tunnels and learn they moved his body regularly when he died in 1969; when we visit the John McCain Monument where the American hero’s plane went down and he was captured; when we see the bullet holes in the Citadel in Hue and are shown photos of fighting that took place on the very spot where we stand; and when we visit My Son, a sacred historic site outside of Saigon, and learn that the Vietnamese appealed to President

Nixon to stop bombing. I think Americans who visit Vietnam have an obligation to see what was done in our name, especially because it is so important to learn from history so not to make the same mistakes and not be duped by an administration determined to go to war for its own political agenda.

I frankly didn’t know how I would react coming to Vietnam – I am the generation that lived through the Vietnam War (known here as “The American War”), or how Americans would be received. My questions are soon answered - the Vietnamese warmly welcome us Americans (and French and Chinese and a list of nationalities that have oppressed Vietnam). Vietnam is nothing like what I expected – in a good way. It’s in this capacity that one of the important attributes of travel come to fore: we travelers are ambassadors, promoting mutual understanding and connection.

In Vietnam today, you can see the impact of peace, free markets, free enterprise have to achieve prosperity – a lesson to all those who are inciting conflict and war. You see the benefits of trade and globalization – a lesson for those who would disrupt and unravel alliances and build barriers instead of bridges.

Old Hanoi

Since our group is first meeting together at 1 pm for a walking tour, I have the morning to myself to explore. I walk across the street from our luxury hotel, The Apricot, to the park that rings the small, picturesque lake.

We are here during the monthSeptember 26, 2025

Continued on next page

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Unexpected Delights in Hanoi on Discovery Bicycle Tours’ 12-Day Vietnam Trip

Continued from previous page

long Lunar New Year celebration, made even more festive because of the 50th anniversary of reunification – everywhere that is possible has decorations reminiscent of how we celebrate Christmas. People dress in their formal, traditional costumes and pose for photos taken by professional photographers. People travel on holiday. There is a festive atmosphere everywhere.

There are political symbols, posters, flags and such but no more than the giant advertising billboards and the Starbucks, KFCs, McDonalds, Burger Kings. I am flabbergasted at the proliferation of motorscooters and the paucity of bicycles. Crossing any street takes fortitude and a measure of fatalism, but where there are traffic signals, the systems are sophisticated and effective. Also, cell phones are ubiquitous.

I head into the Old Quarter, where I am intrigued at the “old propaganda posters” shops, the coffee shops (who knew Vietnam was such a major producer and exporter of coffee?), and massage parlors as common as nail salons at home.

At the Propaganda Poster Shop, I happen to see many postcards for Train Street which suggests it is an important site and inspires me to go in search of this place.

After getting lost (my WiFi isn’t working and I can’t figure out the map) and stopping numerous people to point me in the right direction, I look up and am drawn to colorful lanterns, walk up a staircase and find myself quite literally on the train tracks. Train Street!

People have set themselves at café tables and chairs and are even hanging out on the tracks taking photos. It is all the more amazing because it turns out it is just 5 minutes before the train is due (and I am so lucky because only a few trains come through a day). With 5 min-

utes to go, there is even a baby playing on the track!

I am standing alongside the track and a lady yells at me to sit down in one of the plastic chairs. As the train comes tearing through at what seems a very fast speed, it is so close that had I held out my hand, it would have been taken off. I reflexively suck in my breath and try to make myself as small as possible until it passes. Unbelievably thrilling.

I feel proud of myself for being able to find my way back to the hotel by 1 pm in time to meet our Discovery Bicycle group for our first activity together, a walking tour of the Old District. I have already been traveling with 8 of the group for Discovery Bicycle’s four-day Bike Cambodia pre-tour and now we meet the other 10.

Phong leads us to the St. John Cathedral, the oldest church in Hanoi. Built on the site of the biggest, most sacred Buddhist pagodas of the Ly-Tran Dynasties, the cathedral was constructed at the end of the 18th century of wood, then reconstructed with baked clay in 1884-1888. Phong tells us that Catholics are a minority; the biggest religion in Vietnam, he says, is “triple religion” –a mix of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism (ancestor worship).We will see evidence of this everywhere we go.

Phong volunteers that the Communist government “allows free religious worship and free press” (though I question what he means by “free press”), then adds that protest against the Communist Party is not allowed; nor is there an opposition candidate in elections. Vietnam has been a one-party government since 1954, but in 1986 introduced new freedom in commerce and open markets.

“We have more freedom than in China. They block media there, here they block the BBC but we can get CNN.” Whatever they block, he says, people get curious and have their ways

NUTRITION NEWS

of accessing.

“Society is improving for ordinary people,” he says. “Since 1988, we are living in peace. We feel more freedom, a peaceful country. We are now friends with Russia, Ukraine, the European Union. The USA is one of seven strongest friends. Peace is good for people, good for the country. [Tourists want to] come to a peaceful country.”

We walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter where the name of the street may well describe what enterprises take place there, established generations ago by the people who resettled in the city: Tin Street, Silver Street, Basket Street, Copper Street.

We return at 3 pm for an elaborate tea at the Apricot Hotel when we have our introduction and orientation to our 12-day tour (with biking!) with Phong as our lead guide. Indeed, we will go first thing the next morning to get sized for our rental bikes which we will use for five of the days (the driver and bike mechanic who travels will us will travel 2 ½ days to Hue, when we fly), and will pick up a different bike in Ho Chi Minh City (way too far to drive and return).

I realize that we have just enough time to see the 5:15 pm traditional Water Puppet Theater cultural show just across the street from the hotel, before we meet again to go to dinner.

Most of our group from the four-day Cambodia pre-tour are game and we actually purchase the last tickets for this immensely popular program. The show is a cultural treasure that utilizes this traditional art form, with musicians performing with traditional musical instruments and song, fables and folk stories enacted by these marvelous puppeteers (yes, the puppets are in a pool of water!).

Captions and notes about the theater and the scenes are flashed on the walls beside the stage. Vietnam water puppetry, I learn, was born from the

Mediterranean Diet for Weight Loss

BY CHARLYN FARGO

The Mediterranean diet may just be the most studied diet pattern we know. It consistently rates as a top diet in U.S. News and World Report’s annual review.

The Mediterranean diet, which is actually a meal pattern, was developed in the 1950s and 1960s when a few researchers noticed the significantly lower prevalence of heart disease in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. They attributed the low prevalence of heart disease to the overall lifestyle observed and particularly the pattern of foods eaten. Meals centered around vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, eggs, seafood and less red meat.

Over the past two decades, research has found the Mediterranean diet may

help manage diabetes, protect against memory loss and reduce the risk for developing certain cancers.

Now a just-released study finds that the Mediterranean diet pattern may help those who lose weight keep that weight off.

Called the MedWeight study, researchers found that adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle pattern was associated with favorable weight loss outcomes. The study was published in Science journal.

Researchers examined the relationship between lifestyle patterns and weight loss outcomes among those who kept their weight off and those who regained weight they lost. Some 470 adults were analyzed (62% were women) with a history of overweight or obesity and significant weight loss in the year prior to the study. Partic-

rice civilization in the Red River Delta, so agriculture is vividly depicted by the puppets - farmers and familiar images such as riding buffalo, plowing, harrowing, transplanting rice, slapping water, harvesting. (Later, when we bike among the rice paddies, we will see these exact scenes).

There are fire effects and of course water effects and amazing choreography – you actually cannot figure out how they coordinate so well (and underwater!) – and then the puppeteers appear for their curtain call, up to their waist in water.

The show finishes just in time for us to walk together to dinner in a charming restaurant in the Old District.

A note on the table about the apple cider makes us giggle: “Cider drinkers get more refreshment and excitement while still keeping their sanity. Especially suitable for women.”

Our lunches and dinners at restaurants are typically pre-ordered and served family style, with multiple courses so that we typically have chicken, beef, seafood, vegetable, rice, soup dishes, fruit – always with more than enough to satisfy even American appetites, and to get a really excellent idea of the cuisine.

We walk back to the Apricot Hotel through the night markets, brightly and colorfully lit.

Discovery Bicycle Tours, 2520 W. Woodstock Rd., Woodstock, VT 05091, 800-257-2226, 802- 457-3553, info@discoverybicycletours.com, www.discoverybicycletours.com.

Next: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ninh Binh Bird Sanctuary

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ipants were classified as maintainers or regainers and were asked to fill in a series of questionnaires on dietary intake and eating behaviors, physical activity and sleep. The participants were rated using a Mediterranean Lifestyle Index.

The study found that those who scored the highest in the Mediterranean Lifestyle Index had 28% higher odds for maintaining their weight loss.

The researchers added that even modest shifts toward healthier living may contribute to long-term weight loss.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the current president of the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

Book clubs have endless possibilities

Going to my book club meetings is often a breath of fresh air. I say that because I never know what types of discussions will come up or what comments people will make. People end up talking about all sorts of things - some on point and others not directly on the subject - but that’s okay.

Book clubs are good places for people to talk about whatever is on their mind - as long as they don’t go too far off course. At my last book club meeting we discussed a novel called Family Ties by Danielle Steel. The book, which came out in 2010, is a fiction story about Annie Ferguson, a successful Manhattan architect whose life is turned upside down when she suddenly becomes a mother to her young nephew and two nieces.

Annie has a boyfriend and a new apartment plus a great job so when she got the phone call that her sister and brother-in-law had died in a plane crash she was stunned. When the tragedy happened, Annie didn’t hesitate to take in her sister’s kids - a troubled teenager, a quiet middle child and a young baby.

The question she had was how would she manage everything? Lots of questions came up at my recent book club discussion.

The moderator of my book club at the public library kicked off the discussion by saying that in this book Danielle Steel presented a difficult situation. What would each one of us do? How would we pick up the pieces after such a tragedy in the family?

The one man in my group of about 25 people named Jack said he wondered how he’d handle a curveball like that. Life sure has its challenges but this was a tough one. Years ago he’d been named godfather of his niece by his sister and brother-in-law so at her baptism and on many other days he wondered what he would do if a similar situation came up.

Jack said he would rise to the occasion and take care of his niece but what exactly would that mean? He wasn’t married so there wasn’t another adult in the house to help handle things.

In the example posited in Family Ties, would Jack quit his job to care for such young children? Would he keep his job but set up a schedule to manage the events and routines of daily life? In Family Ties there’s a baby so the three kids weren’t ready to fly the nest, they would need lots of attention. You never really know until the situation is right in front of you, Jack said, and others agreed.

Usually the tone of the book club I attend is light and airy. Most of us have read so many books over the course of our lifetimes that we definitely have

our likes, dislikes and feel indifferent about other books. So when we look at the list for the upcoming calendar year, we smile, we frown or we shrug.

Fellow member Denise mentioned that sometimes good books are made into movies and although Danielle Steel’s novel Family Ties wasn’t, Once in a Lifetime was. That book was published in 1982 and the TV movie came out in 1994.

The fictional story is about NYCbased author Daphne Fields whose books are very popular around the world but people don’t know much about Daphne the person. She had a perfect life married to Jeffrey but tragedy strikes her family and things are forever changed.

Denise said the movie was a bit of a soap opera with all of its ups, downs and romantic twists. We laughed at the way Denise put it but she was right in saying that many times great movies do come from great novels.

Good examples are The Godfather which came out in 1972 - “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,”Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, Forrest Gump and Harry Potter. The list could go on and on but you get the idea. I like The Great Gatsby but everyone has their favorites.

Danielle Steel is one of many authors we chose to discuss at my book club recently. We have a range of mysteries, non-fiction books, historical romances and many other fiction books to talk about. And inevitably, as we discuss one book someone mentions another book that will pique others’ interest.

I mentioned Mary Higgins Clark who wrote so many good fiction stories. She started writing stories at her kitchen table at 5 a.m. - before getting her kids off to school and going to a full-time job writing radio scripts. Clark was widowed in 1964 so she wanted to sell some stories and eventually become the novelist she dreamed of being.

In 1975 Mary Higgins Clark’s suspense novel called Where Are the Children? hit bookstores and it became an instant hit. I mentioned that aside about Mary Higgins Clark then we

got back to discussing Danielle Steel’s Family Ties. We touched on so many of the other novels Steel has published since 1973 when her debut novel titled Going Home was published.

Some book club members prefer reading Danielle Steel and others prefer Mary Higgins Clark. I like reading both authors.

What’s great about book clubs is

they give book lovers the chance to get together in community-based buildings or in people’s homes to discuss books - old ones and the latest best-selling books. People usually recommend books and a list is compiled by the moderator for a calendar year at a time. My book club members and I are gathering ideas for 2026. Next year we will start jotting down good ideas to discuss in 2027.

All thoughts will be mentioned and eventually the list will be whittled down to 12 books. My book club at the public library meets even during the summer months. If people are away on vacation they just pick up again with the group in September or whenever they return home.

Whether people are retired or working, I think book clubs are great for getting out and meeting people you may know or haven’t met yet. I say trying new clubs is a breath of fresh air because sometimes you end up having fun when you least expect it.

Why Widows Can’t File for Benefits Online

BY TOM MARGENAU

Q: My husband died several months ago. I’m 64. I’m getting my own retirement benefits, and he was getting his own benefits. His Social Security check was more than mine, so I think I am due widow’s benefits. When I tried to file a claim online, I wasn’t allowed to. I was told I need to make an appointment to file a claim in person. What’s going on? Is the government so biased and backwards that they think a woman can’t use a computer to file for benefits? Can you explain this?

A: Yes, I can explain what’s going on. But first, I must comment on your assumptions about government bias. I am always surprised, and frankly a little disappointed, that people just automatically assume the worst about the services they get from the government in general, and in your case, the Social Security Administration in particular.

There is a very good reason why widows’ claims cannot be filed online. It has nothing to do with bias or backward thinking. It has everything to do with making sure you understand your options and make the best choice you can about when to start your widow’s benefits. And those options just can’t be explained to you by a computer. You need to talk to a human being and get the kind of help personalized to your own situation. (Perhaps advances in Artificial Intelligence will someday negate the need for a personal interview. But for now, you’ll need to talk to a real person.)

In your case, this person should explain that you would have two options. You could file for widow’s benefits now. But those benefits would be reduced because you have not reached your full retirement age. Or, if you think you could live on your own retirement benefit for a couple more years, then you could delay filing for widow’s benefits until your FRA and get a full unreduced widow’s benefit.

These options are open to you because something called the “deemed filing rule” doesn’t apply to widows. That rule generally says that when you file for one Social Security benefit, you are “deemed” to be filing for all other benefits you might be due at the same time. In other words, that rule would normally say that because you are already getting your own retirement benefits, as soon as your husband dies, you are deemed to (essentially forced to) file for widow’s benefits right away. But again, that rule does not apply to widows.

I will spend the rest of this column giving examples of the kinds of choices other widows might have when it comes to Social Security.

Mary is 61 years old when her husband dies. Although she is now retired, she has worked much of her life. Her own full retirement age benefit is projected to be $1,850. Her husband’s full rate is $2,000. Mary could file for reduced widow’s benefits. At age 61, she would be due roughly 77% of her husband’s benefit, or $1,540 per month. She could receive that until age 67,

when she could switch to 100% of her benefit, or $1,850. Or she could wait until age 70 to make the change, at which point she would get 128% of her retirement rate, or about $2,368.

And just to make it clear, Mary would have another option. If she waits until she is 62 years old, she could file for reduced retirement benefits first. She would get 70% of her $1,850 benefit, or $1,295. Then at age 67, she could switch to 100% widow’s benefits, or $2,000 monthly. (Unlike the retirement program, there is no bonus paid to widows if they delay filing beyond full retirement age.)

Here is another example. Many working women are still at their jobs into their 60s and even beyond. Let’s look at Ann. She is 64 and still working full-time. Her husband died several years ago. When he died, she filed for and received the little $255 one-time death benefit, but she wasn’t due any monthly widow’s benefits because she was still working. Let’s say her own full retirement benefit would be $2,200. Her husband’s full benefit would have been $2,500. Once Ann reaches age 67, her earnings no longer affect her Social Security eligibility. So, at that point, Ann should file for widow’s benefits. She would get $2,500 per month. Then, when she turns 70, she could switch to 128 percent of her retirement rate, or about $2,816.

All of these switching back and forth between benefit rules apply to women who become widows in their 60s or earlier. But the majority of women (and most of those reading this column) become widows later in life -- in their 70s, 80s and beyond. Women who become widows at those ages don’t have to worry about any of the options discussed today. When their husband dies, they will simply be switched to widow’s benefits on his record -- assuming he was getting higher benefits. Let’s look at more examples.

Lucia was 81 years old when her 84-year-old husband, Alfredo, died. He was getting $2,150 per month and she was getting $1,640. Now that Alfredo is gone, she will keep getting her own $1,640, and then she will get an additional $510 in widow’s benefits to take her up to Alfredo’s $2,150 level. Lucia would have to file a claim for widow’s benefits -- and she would have to do it via phone by calling SSA at 800-772-1213. Or if she prefers, she could call the same number and make an appointment to file a widow’s claim in person at her local Social Security office. By the way, Lucia would have to provide a certified copy of her marriage certificate as well as the death certificate as part of the application process.

Now let’s look at another 81-year-old widow -- Barbara. When her husband Frank died, she was automatically converted to widow’s benefits once she called SSA to report the death and supplied them with proof of death. Why is that? Because Barbara was getting only a dependent wife’s benefit on Frank’s account before he died. In other words, she didn’t have

her own Social Security account. Because she has no claim of her own, and because she would have already had to supply a marriage certificate when she first applied for spousal benefits many years ago, the SSA already has all the information they would need to know she is eligible for widow’s benefits, so they simply push a few buttons and the conversion from wife’s to widow’s benefits is complete.

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

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

Autocratic rule and its impact on real estate in China, Russia

Dear subscribers and readers of my column. I owe you an apology for not providing this information last week as promised, so please forgive me!

When examining global real estate markets, political systems play an outsized role in shaping property ownership, investment, and market behavior. In autocratic nations like China and Russia, real estate is not just an economic asset but also a tool for government control, political leverage, and wealth preservation. Both countries demonstrate how autocracy distorts market forces, limits private ownership rights, and ties property directly to state power.

China: Growth Engine Under State Control

1. No True Private Land Ownership

In China, land is ultimately owned by the state. Individuals and businesses only acquire long-term land-use rights — typically 70 years for residential properties. This arrangement leaves uncertainty about the renewal process and reinforces the government’s ultimate authority over real estate.

2. Real Estate as a Government Revenue Stream

Local governments rely heavily on land sales for funding, incentivizing aggressive development. This has produced large-scale urban expansion but also speculative excess, such as ghost cities and vast unused infrastructure.

3. State Intervention and Market Distortions

The Chinese state frequently intervenes in real estate, applying restrictions on purchases, mortgage lending, and pricing whenever the market overheats. Conversely, it pumps stimulus into the sector during downturns. The result is a market highly sensitive to policy shifts rather than consumer demand alone.

4. Current Conditions

In 2025, China faces a real estate slowdown, following crises involving major developers like Evergrande and Country Garden. Autocratic governance allows for massive state

interventions, including forced mergers and credit injections. Yet, the lack of transparency, weak legal protections, and reliance on state management undermine investor confidence.

Russia: Real Estate and Political Power

1. Property Rights with Caveats

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

Unlike China, Russia technically permits private land ownership. However, property rights remain insecure under an autocratic system. Businesses or individuals can see assets seized or invalidated if they lose favor with political elites.

2. Oligarchic Concentration of Wealth

Much of Russia’s luxury and commercial real estate is concentrated in the hands of oligarchs closely tied to the Kremlin. Property often functions as a reward for loyalty, a safe haven for wealth, or a tool of political leverage.

3. Foreign Investment Barriers

Sanctions, corruption, and weak rule of law discourage foreign investors. Real estate deals with foreign entities are subject to government approval and often blocked if politically inconvenient. The result is an insular, politically charged market.

4. Current Conditions

The war in Ukraine and ongoing Western sanctions have further suppressed demand, especially from abroad. Domestic markets continue to function, supported by government spending, but affordability erodes under inflation and a weakened ruble. Unlike China’s growth-focused strategy, Russia’s market is shaped more by geopolitics and elite patronage.

Similarities Between China and Russia

•Weak Legal Protections: Investors cannot rely on independent courts to safeguard property rights.

•State Dominance: The government uses real estate as an economic lever or

political tool.

•Distorted Market Forces: Prices, supply, and demand respond less to consumer behavior than to political agendas.

Key Differences

•China views real estate as a central economic growth engine, using policy levers to manage cycles of boom and slowdown.

•Russia treats real estate as a vehicle for elite wealth preservation and geopolitical maneuvering, rather than mass economic expansion.

Conclusion

Autocratic rule in both China and Russia ensures that real estate markets are less about free exchange and more about political and state control. For ordinary citizens, this means uncertainty over ownership rights, vulnerability to policy swings, and limited protection under the law. For investors, it means exposure to unpredictable risks dictated not by market logic, but by the will of the state.

In democracies, real estate tends to reflect consumer demand, supply constraints, and market fundamentals. In autocracies, however, property ownership and investment are inseparable from politics. China and Russia illustrate how autocratic governance transforms real estate from a traditional economic sector into an extension of state power.

Realizing the way China and Russia treat and control their real estate not through individual ownership but by government control; is this where we are heading in the U.S? If so this will only make the rich get richer, eliminate what we have left of the middle class and essentially create a larger segment of our population to become even poorer and be controlled by those who will have the power!

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. 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

You can now search at your leisure for properties at:

WWW.Li-RealEstate.com

bit.ly/4bXWVu6 (facebook.com)

bit.ly/4inVqaR (X.com)

bit.ly/4bVSwrs (linkedIn)

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

7 Smart Reasons to Use Vinegar in Laundry

BY MARY HUNT

Using inexpensive distilled white vinegar in the laundry is smart because it will whiten, brighten, reduce odor and soften clothes without harsh chemicals.

IT’S CHEAP

Plain distilled white 5% vinegar runs around 3.5 cents per ounce in the typical supermarket when purchased by the gallon, and even cheaper when you can find it at the dollar store.

Name-brand liquid fabric softeners come in at about 10 cents per ounce -nearly three times the cost. As an alternative to liquid softeners, dryer sheets are a cheaper way to ruin your clothes and linens. On average, they’re about 5 cents per sheet.

IT’S COLORLESS

When buying vinegar to use in the laundry, choose distilled white vinegar with 5% acidity. It contains no synthetic color and no natural plant dyes that can stain clothes.

IT SOFTENS

Plain white distilled vinegar with 5% acidity is a natural fabric softener. The acid helps remove detergent and soil that is left clinging to fabric fibers, which is what allows clothes and linens to come out feeling soft and clean.

Commercial softeners work just the opposite. They are designed to coat fibers, leaving behind their scented residue, which can build up over time, rendering those items nonabsorbent, dingy

gray and anything but soft.

Adding 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse, on the other hand, will soften fabrics and leave no residue at all. Pour it into the washer reservoir marked for laundry softener. A light scent can be added, if you want, with a few drops of lavender oil. However, once dry, your laundry will not smell like vinegar.

IT IS SAFE TO USE

Distilled white vinegar is safe to use in both standard and high-efficiency washers. At 5% acidity, it is 95% water, which makes it mildly acidic.

Once added to the washer, food-grade vinegar becomes even more diluted when mixed with gallons of rinse water in the typical machine.

Vinegar in the laundry is not only safe in septic tanks but is also beneficial to that type of system and to the environment as well.

IT WHITENS AND BRIGHTENS

The acetic acid in distilled white vinegar will not harm washable fabrics because it is so mild but also strong enough to dissolve the alkalis left by soap and detergent.

Adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the final rinse will result in brighter, clearer colors. Add the distilled white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser, or add it manually at the beginning of the rinse cycle, if your washer gives you that option.

IT REDUCES ODOR

Wet towels left sitting in a hamper or forgotten in the washer can produce a

sour, moldy smell. To get rid of that problem and to get those towels smelling nice and fresh, do this:

Fill the washer with hot water. Add two cups of distilled white vinegar and run a complete wash cycle with no detergent. Run a second complete cycle with detergent added.

This works well for minor situations and small loads. For more serious situations, you’ll want to use this more aggressive treatment.

IT RELEASES LINT AND PET HAIR

Just 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle will help prevent lint and pet hair from clinging to clothes. The vinegar will help the fabric fibers relax and “release” the hair. For the same rea-

son, it helps get rid of the excessive lint if you accidentally wash something dark with something that produces lint, such as towels.

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “DebtProof Living.”

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

Secrets to No-Fail Tender, Juicy White Meat Chicken

BY MARY HUNT

They’re convenient and, we’re told, more healthy. But there are few things quite as boring or more difficult to prepare well than boneless skinless chicken breasts (BSCBs). Here’s the problem: Chicken skin helps keep the chicken moist, and the bones add flavor.

Remove both and what do you have? The potential for dry, tasteless, tough chicken. But not to worry. Here are two foolproof methods to prepare BSCBs so they come out tender every time -- provided you follow these instructions exactly.

POACHED

This will be the method of choice if you are preparing BSCBs for chicken salad or other recipes where you want perfectly prepared tender and moist pure white chicken. Place chicken breasts in a wide, shallow pan that has a lid, and add enough chicken broth (or a combination of chicken broth and water) to completely cover the chicken by an inch or so.

Over medium heat and without covering the pan, bring the liquid in the pan to a simmer. With a large spoon, move the chicken breasts around a bit to be sure each is completely surrounded by liquid.

When the liquid just begins to boil, cover the pan, and immediately turn off the heat. Allow the pan to stand undisturbed for 45 minutes. Do. Not. Peek.

Remove the chicken from the liquid (broth may be strained and frozen for future use).

Note: You can use this method for chicken with skin and bones, both of which should be removed and discarded at this point in the process.

The chicken will then be fully cooked and moist throughout. It may be used immediately or stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for about three days and used in any recipe -- shredded, cut in chunks or any way you desire.

SAUTEED

This method of cooking BSCBs will result

in beautifully cooked, flavorful meat that is lightly golden in color.

Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. You do not want them to be too thin -- simply uniform in thickness. Mix 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper with 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. Quickly dredge the chicken breasts in the flour so they are just lightly dusted with flour. Heat a saute pan that has a lid over medium-high heat. When it is quite hot, add 3 tablespoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons butter. Once melted, swirl the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Reduce heat to medium. Add the chicken

breasts. Cook for about one minute to help them get a little golden on one side -- not long enough to actually sear or saute, only to heat them. Carefully turn over each chicken breast.

Reduce heat to low. Apply the lid. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and walk away. Do not lift the lid; do not peek.

After 10 minutes, turn off the heat. Still, do not peek! Reset the timer for 10 minutes, and leave the chicken breasts in the pan. Again, do not lift the lid, and I repeat, do not peek. When the second 10 minutes are up, take the lid off and behold the wonder: soft, tender, juicy chicken breasts. Make sure there is no pink in the middle, especially if the breasts are thick. If you want to be absolutely sure your chicken is cooked well, use an instant-read thermometer to check (the chicken should be at least 165 F). Slice, serve and enjoy!

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https:// www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of September 28October 4, 2025

One of my favorite times of year has arrived. The sweltering heat is behind us, and I can get out more frequently to explore our beautiful desert, as well as enjoy the beginning of the college and NFL football seasons, and the Major League Baseball playoffs.

And, of course, spend comfortable nights outdoors among the stars.

The evening sky at this time of year displays the best of both the summer and winter skies. The Milky Way continues to stream from northeast to southwest, while the eastern sky is beginning to fill with the “new” stars of autumn.

Saturn now shines at its brightest, rising over the eastern horizon shortly after sunset. It’s the brightest “star” in that direction, so it will be key to helping us find a couple of star groupings.

If you have a pretty dark sky, you’ll find just above Saturn a “circlet” of seven faint stars that’s pretty cool to see. This asterism is part of the constellation Pisces, the fishes, and represents the westernmost of the two fishes that supposedly are tied together by a rope.

Distances of the stars outlining the circlet range from about 45 lightyears to about 900 lightyears from Earth.

The Eastern Sky After Dark

That they all appear about the same brightness tells us that some of them must be remarkably huge and brilliant, while others are smaller and fainter.

Above and to the north of the circlet lie four equally bright stars that form an outline we know as the Great Square of Pegasus. It marks the abdomen of the constellation Pegasus, the flying horse of ancient Greek mythology.

Spotting a flying horse in the sky is not easy, at least not without chemical assistance, but the square itself is quite prominent. In fact, because of how it’s tilted, one can even see it as a diamond. And as one who is enjoying the MLB playoffs way too much, I see it as a baseball diamond!

Imagine looking down on a baseball diamond from above. Home plate would be represented by the star in the westernmost (top) corner. Following the stars counterclockwise around the diamond, we find stars that mark first base, second base and third base.

You can take it even further. Look between second and home plate. There you see the pitcher, perhaps talking with the pitching coach and catcher. Just above home plate stands the umpire, and to the right the on-deck batter and batting coach.

Way too many outfielders, though.

The point is that when looking into the starry heavens, we can find all

kinds of imagery, and that’s part of the fun. When I was a kid, my friends and I would lie outdoors at night and invent our own constellation figures and Latinized names. But you’ll have to buy me a beer or two to get me to reveal the silliness we came up with!

Try it yourself this week. You’ve got Saturn as a good starting point; find the circlet and the square, then see if

LOST IN SUBURBIA

Packing

It All In

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

“Are you leaving me?” asked my husband one night as he surveyed the contents of my closet, which were now on our bed.

“What? No!” I said. “Why would you think that?”

“Every single article of clothing you own is laid out on our bed,” he replied. “So I have to assume you are either leaving me. Or you have joined the armed services, and if that’s the case, I really don’t think you’ll have any need for your daisy cardigan or your checkered capris.”

I looked over the vast array of clothing spread out across the room, and I was impressed that he even noticed that I had all my clothing laid out on my bed. But I was even more impressed that he knew what capris were.

“I am not leaving you or joining the Navy SEALs or bugging out because of an impending zombie apocalypse,” I assured him. “I’m simply packing.”

“For what? A three-year mission to

Mars?”

I gave him a snarly look and said, “NO, wise guy -- for our vacation next week.”

And that is where I lost him. I saw his eyes glaze over and the blank look invade his face, and I knew his mind had moved onto something more understandable, like quantum physics.

To be fair, no one on the planet packs like I do. Take someone with OCD and who happens to love clothes, and throw in a very small carry on suitcase, and you will have me: the manic pre-packer.

The urge to start packing for vacation usually hits sometime between when I start planning the vacation and a week before we go. One day, I’m perfectly fine, and the next, I start scouting weather reports and pulling out clothes for every possible weather condition, including a lava explosion (although we have no plans to visit a volcano) or being stranded on a giant iceberg after it breaks away from its Antarctic shelf (also not planning to visit any polar

regions, but who knows, that’s what they said about the Titanic too).

Then there’s the question of appropriate footwear for a variety of walking conditions, including cobblestone streets, melting asphalt and the occasional primordial trail soup. Clearly it’s easy to see that one must be prepared for nearly every possible condition -casual, dressy, muddy, sunny, humid -- and fitting all that in a small carry-on suitcase had the definite possibility of giving me a stroke.

“Honey, this is crazy. You know ultimately you’re going to forget something, so just let all this go and pack the night before like I do,” he said willfully.

I harrumphed him and started my second thinning of the piles while he went down to watch something more interesting, like golf.

Finally, I was all packed and feeling confident that I had done the best packing job anyone had ever done, ever, except maybe the people on the International Space Station.

A week later, as we unpacked our

26, 2025

Both the Great Square of Pegasus and a circlet of stars above Saturn will be visible in the night sky this week.

you can create any other asterisms of your own.

OK, enough of this stargazing stuff. I think there’s a ballgame on TV!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

bags into our charming hotel, my husband stopped and looked around. Then he turned his suitcase upside down. Nothing fell out.

“Problem?” I asked.

“Yeah, Kinda. I think I forgot to pack my underwear.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. But I think I know where it is,” I responded.

“You do?”

“Yes. It’s in the top drawer of your dresser,” I replied.

“You know, you’re crazy,” he said petulantly.

“Yes,” I said. “But at least I have my underwear.”

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.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

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Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days, making your specific request after the initial lines.

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Oh Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power.

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In Gratitude (M.T.F.)

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Antique & Vintage Items

Jewelry-Crystal-Silver Furniture-Mirrors-Tabletop Artwork-Lamps Consign, Shop or Visit the Yellow House 109 Eleventh Street Garden City 516-746-8900

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Mushrooms are the star of this meal

The weather is changing and soon it will be time to chase away chilly temperatures with hearty meals. Soup is a tasty way to warm up fast, and many soups are full of healthy and nutritious ingredients.

With their earthy, umami flavor, mushrooms sometimes are an afterthought instead of an ingredient to build meals around. But in the following recipe for “Cream of

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

8 cups chopped mushrooms (about 11⁄4 pounds)

2 celery stalks, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

1 leek, white part only, thin-

ly sliced (about 11⁄4 cups)

1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour

5 cups chicken broth

1) Melt 6 tablespoons of the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the chopped mushrooms, celery and leek. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes.

2) Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, 3 to 4 minutes.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Mushroom Soup” from “The Culinary Institute of America Book of Soups” (Lebhar-Friedman Books) by The Culinary Institute of America, these humble fungi get to be the center of attention. Cremini, oyster and white mushrooms are equally at home in this recipe, or home cooks can experiment with a blend of mushrooms as they desire. Makes 8 servings

1 fresh thyme sprig

1 cup sliced mushrooms (about 21⁄2 ounces)

1 1⁄2 cups heavy cream, heated

Fresh lemon juice, to taste Salt, to taste

Freshly ground white pepper, to taste

3) Whisk in the broth gradually. Add the thyme sprig, bring to a simmer, and cook, 30 minutes.

4) Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a skillet. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

5) Remove the thyme and discard. Puree the soup, then strain through cheesecloth on a fine sieve. Return the soup to the soup pot and place over

low heat. Add the heavy cream and season with the lemon juice, salt and pepper. Heat the soup, but do not let it boil.

6) Serve in heated bowls, garnished with the cooked,

New book vending machine installed at Gardiner’s Ave. School

\A special prize now awaits each student at Gardiners Avenue Elementary School in the Levittown School District after the unveiling of the book vending machine, part of the district’s literary theme of #BookLove.

Donated by the school’s PTA, the machine is populated by books that appeal to a range of ages and meet different reading skill levels. In class, teachers give out tickets to deserving students for one item from the machine. The tickets are collected by the school’s front desk security officer, who gives the student a coin in exchange.

Many students have had the exciting opportunity to utilize the vending machine, with many more to come. On Sept. 3, the second day of school, students gathered in the front lobby for a grand ribbon cutting, joined by district administrators and trustees and members of the Gardiners PTA. A mural painted by art teacher Alyssa Arndt which shows the school’s Mustang mascot and promotes the #BookLove theme also stands above the vending machine.

Cody showed off his selection.

Gardiners Avenue Elementary students Catalina Diaz and Cody Kiernan were excited to utilize the school’s new book vending machine.

Picking the perfect book was a hard choice for Catalina.

Teachers gathered at the machine’s grand opening on Sept. 3.

Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools