Floral Park Village (4/4/25) by Litmor Publishing

THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY

SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR

Local women honored by town as Pathfinders

The Town of Hempstead presented Pathfinder Awards to several local women in honor of Women's History Month on March 20th at Hempstead Town Hall.

Jackie Hance of Floral Park offered the keynote speech at the event. Hance founded the Hance Family Foundation in memory of her three daughters — Emma, Alyson, and Katie — who were tragically killed in a 2009 car accident on the Taconic State Parkway. The organization has grown from a local movement to an international initiative with its projects that include Beautiful Me, Raising a Beautiful Child, and Empower Me, focused of empowering women and girls beyond education and enhancing self-esteem, healthy relationship skills, positive body awareness, and more.

Rosaleen Shea of Bellerose was also honored as a Pathfinder during the event. She currently serving as the Village administrator clerk-Treasurer of Stewart Manor. Aside from working as a dedicated public servant, Rosaleen dedicates her free time to a number of local civic associations. She is an active member of the Leadership Foundation of Floral Park-Bellerose, served as President of the PTA of Floral Park-Bellerose, Treasurer of the NYS Federation of Women’s Clubs, and much more.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin presented the Town of Hempstead Pathfinder Award to Jackie Hance of Floral Park, who offered the keynote speech during the Town’s Women’s History Month event on March 20, 2025, at Hempstead Town Hall.

Students’ creative talents celebrated at Board meeting

Sewanhaka Central High School District honored the recent artistic and poetry achievements of several students at the board of education meeting on March 25.

Elmont Memorial High School sev-

enth grader Breanna Abrams, a member of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council, provided the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Report. Student Ambassadors have been assisting with sharing successes and events throughout the

district at each board meeting. Three students were commended for receiving awards in the New York State PTA Reflections program. The 2024–2025 Reflections theme was “Accepting Imperfection.” Students reflect on the theme and create original works of art in the categories of Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual

Arts. H. Frank Carey High School students Jonathan Barcia and Anne Gaudiosi (not in attendance) each received an Award of Merit. Barcia’s entry was in the photography category, while Gaudiosi’s was in literature. Sewanhaka High School student Victoria Hunte (not in attendance) received an Award of Excellence in visual arts, and her entry has

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin (second left), Councilman Tom Muscarella (right) and Town Clerk Kate Murray (left) presented the Town of Hempstead Pathfinder Award to Rosaleen Shea of Bellerose

Attention high school seniors

The Floral Park Junior Woman’s Club will be offering awards with scholarships to students who have displayed outstanding dedication to community service throughout their high school experience. These awards are given to honor the memory of three former members of the Floral Park Junior Woman’s Club who volunteered in the commu-

nity. Applications can be found at the Floral Park Public Library and Floral Park Memorial High School Guidance Office. Please fill out an application with a short essay about your community service experience and return it by Thursday, April 24, 2025. See application for additional details.

OLV Rosary Altar Society Spring Fair

OLV Rosary Altar Society Spring Fair will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will include great vendors; free bike tune up, blessing of bikes, bake

Students’ creative talents celebrated at Board meeting

sale, raffles, refreshments. Anyone interested in being a vendor at the event, please email janiceolv@ gmail.com

Do you have a ser vice to adver tise?

Our Service Directory is sure to bring results. Call 516-294-8900 for rates and information.

From page 1

advanced to the national level.

Following the NYS PTA Reflections acknowledgements, four districtwide students were recognized for competing at the regional semifinals of Poetry Out Loud, a poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve public speaking skills, help build confidence and teach about literary history

and contemporary life. Following the school-level competitions, these four students were chosen to represent the district at the Nassau County competition, held at Walt Whitman Birthplace Association on Feb. 27. The regional semifinal competitors are Liam Cavanagh and Fatima Naysa from New Hyde Park Memorial High School, and Shristhi Singh and Lance Thompson from Sewanhaka High School.

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If you would like to post an obituary for a loved one, simply send a short biography of them with (if desired) their photo, details of their funeral/visitation services, and/or any donation requests to editor@gcnews.com, or call our office at 516294-8900 to inquire.

There is no charge for obituaries.

Sewanhaka High School students Lance Thompson and Shristhi Singh are pictured with (from left) Principal John Kenny, Superintendent Regina Agrusa and Board Trustee Tiffany Capers at the board of education meeting on March 25.

Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Woman's Club has successful Gift Card Bingo event

The Floral Park Woman's Club recently held a very successful Wine and Gift Card Bingo. Profits from the evenings event will go towards local schalorships and charities endorsed by GFWC International. Its success was due to the combined generousity of members and local merchants for providing prizes.

The Woman's Club would like to thank the following establishments for their donations of gift cards and raffle baskets:

Cara Mia, Lee's Drugs, Levine's, Floral Park Diner, Gyro Village, Raindew, Jamenson's, Olivetti, Tulip Bagel, Swing the Tea Pot, Carvel, Friendly Nail Spa and Garden Nail Spa.

Floral Park Woman's Cub

and Operation Smile

The Floral Park Woman's Club along with GFWC International are proud supporters of Operation Smile.

Operation Smile provides surgery for children in underdeveloped areas who are born with cleft palates.

This year the Floral Park Woman's Club sent Operation Smile $200 worth of toiletries and toys. Club members also sewed drawstring bags to hold these items. The Club hopes these items will give some comfort to the children undergoing surgery

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FPFD: Red Alert

Larry King, AEMT & Firefighter Leigh Tyrrel “Floral Park Fire Explorer Post 129 ” ~ For Volunteers Aged 14-17

The Author Corner Stephanie Larkin

Co-Authors & Influencers Jade Dee & Wilnona Marie ~ “And I Thought” Series

Uncorked

Rex Whicker

“MAGA: Make America Grape Again” ~ Rex Discusses American-Made Wines

Wes Houston Presents… Wes Houston

“Sushi Savant” ~ 5-Piece Rock Band Led By Three Eclectic Songwriters

FPPD: Behind The Badge

Lt. Will Doherty

“Surviving An Active Shooter” ~ Sgt. Dean Mayo & P.O. Robert Hayes

Floral Park Village Board Of Trustees' Reports

March 19,2025 Board Meeting

Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald

Village Election

First and foremost, I’d like to thank the voters of Floral Park for re-electing me, Trustee Pombonyo, and Trustee Chiara. I look forward to continuing the work we’ve done over the past couple of years and to keeping Floral Park a great place to live. We all enjoy this job immensely, especially seeing all the positive changes that have occurred throughout the years.

Department of Public Works

I would also like to thank Superintendent Ginnane for all his work on the Cedar-Hickory project, as well as overseeing the work National Grid is doing. I’d like to thank the residents of Cedar Place and Hickory Street for their patience. Hopefully, we are at the tail end of the project and will have a nice new road with good drainage in a couple of weeks.

New York Forward Application

Lastly, thank you, Deputy Mayor Pombonyo and Superintendent Marcus, for the work on the New York Forward

application. Even though we have not won in the last few years, it does not mean we will stop trying. There is a learning curve each time we submit the application, and small positives—such as including resident comments—can help inform future changes, even if they are not directly related to the award.

Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo

Thank You, Floral Park

I want to say thank you to all of the voters who went to the polls in Tuesday’s re-election of Mayor Fitzgerald, Trustee Chiara and me. It will be an honor to continue working for all of you in our Village, and working with Trustees Jennifer Stewart and Mike Longobardi, our hard-working Village staff, and our committed residents and businesses.

Police Department

Tonight we congratulate Police Officer Ryan Paroulek who was just sworn in to our Department. Officer Paroulek is filling the position held by Sergeant Michael Tangredi who was promoted earlier this month.

Officer Paroulek, a Floral Park

resident, comes to us following a ten year career as a Police Officer, first in the New York State Park Police, then the Larchmont Police Department in Westchester County. During his time there, Officer Paroulek completed his required Police Academy training as well as training in specific weapons use, radar enforcement, DWI detection, crisis intervention and others. In Larchmont, Officer Paroulek received several service and merit awards. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice/ Sociology. We wish Officer Paroulek success in his new position in our FPPD. Our FPPD directed patrols continue to focus on standing/parking violations in the cross-hatched emergency zones that enable first responders to do so quickly and safely. This is especially critical for our firetrucks that must negotiate tight corners onto and off Tulip Avenue and other nearby intersections. Blocking the box and blocking intersection enforcement is also a priority. As the spring weather happily returns and motorists are out and about, FPPD is enforcing the vehicle and traffic laws that will ensure a safe and reasonable flow of traffic (uninter-

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

rupted by those breaking the law).

And, as our business district parking lots become more crowded with vehicles, FPPD will be strictly enforcing parking limits. These limits are in place to ensure that shoppers, restaurant customers and others doing business in the Village will have available parking. Those motorists who exceed the parking limits are taking away the parking spaces and opportunities needed by others to do business in our Village.

Business owners are asked to remind their customers and clients of the nearby parking regulations to avoid FPPD summonses.

NY Forward Downtown Revitalization Funding Program

For the past several years, the Village has applied for New York State funding to revitalize and enhance business districts in our Village. As we’ve previously reported, in October 2024, we applied for $4.5 million for the revitalization and enhancement of sections of the Jericho Turnpike business district and thoroughfares connecting it to the Floral Park LIRR Station (such as See page 8

Packages

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25 pc. Shrimp Cocktail

Antipasto Platter

Assorted Cheese Platter

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Meat Lasagna • Stuffed Shells

Baked Ziti • Eggplant Parmigiana

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Garden Salad

Caesar Salad

Mesclun Salad

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String Beans • Roasted Potatoes

String Beans & Potatoes • Mixed Veggies

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Boneless Leg of Lamb Roast • Cooled & Sliced Boneless Turkey Breast

Sweet Slice Ham with Our Homemade Glaze • Eye Round Roast Beef

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Shrimp Cocktail Large Antipasto Platter

Large Assorted Cheese Platter

Choose 1 (Full Tray)

Meat

Baked

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Large Garden Salad

Large Caesar Salad

Large Mesclun Salad

Choose 1 (Full Tray)

String Beans • Roasted Potatoes

String Beans & Potatoes • Mixed Veggies

Choose 1 (Served with Gravy)

Boneless Leg of Lamb Roast • Cooled & Sliced Boneless Turkey Breast

Sweet Slice Ham with Our Homemade Glaze • Eye Round Roast Beef

CATERING

On Tuesday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Jameson’s Bar & Grill the Rotary Club of Floral ParkBellerose held its monthly meeting. Two new members were inducted into the club: Teresa Reid and James Reid. They are a mother and son residential sales team with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the largest privately held residential real estate brokerages in the US. We welcome these fabulous individuals into our Rotary family!

In addition, our guest speaker and prospective member, Bill Atria, shared his interesting career and decades of experience in the food service industry. Early in life he discovered he had a passion for food kitchens which evolved into his ownership of four House of Pancakes restaurants, and three Wingstop chicken restaurants. His talk was inspiring not only because of his passion but also his expedition of creativity, efficiency and excellence. Next month, Tuesday, April 8, at 6:30, our guest speaker is Lonnie Sherman, founder of General Needs, a Veterans Service organization. We will be assisting

THI S WEEK AT ROTARY

his organization on May 17, stuffing duffle bags with clothing and essentials for homeless Long Island Veterans as part of “Rotary Day of Service.” This annual event will involve hundreds of Rotary Clubs doing multitudes of different projects across the country and globally.

On this day we had planned to present many donated bicycles to the Backstretch people at the Belmont Racetrack. However cold weather has pushed this “bike ready”, renovation project into May/June. Encouragingly we are getting considerable interest from our local Scouting America Troops. More to come!

If any of these service oriented activities strike a cord, please consider joining Rotary and becoming part of our fellowship and action to help others. We meet for dinner at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Jameson’s. And/ or…. volunteer to help us, and students, package 10,000 meals for the hungry at Floral Park Memorial HS 3:00–5:00, Friday, May 2. We could use your help. For details and sign-up, kindly call Rich at 516-413-9129.

Our New Party Room Is Here!

Host your next event at the Knights of Columbus’ newly renovated party room! It’s the perfect place for:

Birthdays • Bridal & Baby Showers • Anniversaries

Graduations • Corporate Events • Fundraisers and More!

Floral Park K of C is open for all the NCAA Men’s/Women’s Final Four Games!

Fri, 4/4 @ 7 p.m. - Women’s (Texas v. S. Carolina & UCONN v. UCLA) Sat, 4/5 (Opening at 5 p.m.) - Men’s (Florida v. Auburn & Houston v. Duke) Sun, 4/6 @ 2 p.m. - Women’s Championship Mon, 4/7 @ 7 p.m. - Men’s Championship

Come down and enjoy the games and a cold beer!

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 33 S. Tyson Ave, Floral Park, NY

For more details or to book our party room, text Carl Denaro at (516) 361-0544

The Rotary Club heard a presentation by Bill Atria about his experiences in the food service industry.

Richard Burgess, Teresa Reid, James Reid & Beth Kramer

The Rotary Club of Floral Park - Bellerose. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 8.

Floral Park Village Board Of Trustees' Reports

South Tyson and Tulip Avenues). Our application was well-received by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council (LIREDC), the judging body, and we were invited to present our vision and proposed projects to that Council in November.

This week, the Governor announced that the 2024 NY Forward grant was awarded to the Village of Farmingdale. Recently completed in Farmingdale were the Sterling Green apartments on Route 109, a seventy-one unit complex with one hundred percent affordable housing. This project meets the Governor’s goal to increase residential housing in New York.

We are proud of the fact that Mayor Fitzgerald, Village Administrator Bambrick, Building Superintendent Marcus and I were invited to present our NY Forward vision and proposed projects to the LIREDC, and we will soon begin our 2025 application process with great passion and determination.

Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses

The Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce is planning their March meeting on Tuesday, the 25th, 7:00 PM at Trinity Restaurant on Jericho Turnpike. The featured speaker will be Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips who will share important information and helpful tips regarding why it’s great to be a small business in Nassau County. For meeting registration and membership, visit: covertavenuechamber.org.

The Floral Park Chamber of Commerce next meets for dinner and networking on Thursday, April 3rd, 6:00 PM at the Villa d’Este Restaurant on Jericho Turnpike. For meeting registration and membership, visit: floralparkchamber.org.

So now, let’s SPRING into action and SHOP AND DINE LOCAL here in Floral Park and Stewart Manor.

Conservation Society (FPCS)

“A Walk on the Garden Path” is an eloquent feature story coauthored by FPCS long-time Volunteers extraordinaire Ann Gribbins, Rich Burgess, and Frank D’Amico. Published on page two of the March 7th issue of the Floral Park Villager newspaper, it tells the fascinating story of the half mile brick path, and blossoming trees, bushes and flowers located outside of our Floral Park Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary. This path is “a place of relaxation and beauty for many.”

Ann, Rich and Frank go on to write, “Along the path are trees and organized gardens. Eighty trees and twenty gardens can easily be counted. During the winter, the trees and gardens have been resting. Take a deep breath, soon the buds, the flowers and the leaves will be

appearing. The gardens are newer than the trees. It is easy to see that the trees range in age from new to decades old. This article is in appreciation for all the giving people who planted the trees and gardens. It is also a thank you to all who continue to care for every planting and blade of grass.”

The Floral Park Parks Department and FPCS joyfully announce the 2025 opening of the Gardens on Tuesday, April 1st. The Gardens hours will be noon to 5:00 PM, seven days a week, through the month of November.

Trustee Frank Chiara

I would like to thank everyone for their support in my re-election. It is an honor and privilege to serve this wonderful community. We have a great team of hardworking and dedicated Village staff, wonderful volunteers, as well as my fellow Board Members, Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald, Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo, and fellow Trustees Jennifer Stewart and Michael Longobardi. Together in partnership we all work together to keep our Village a vibrant place to live. Thank you for allowing me to continue my service to our community. I remain committed to our mission of keeping the Village of Floral Park a great place to live and raise a family.

Congratulations to Mayor Fitzgerald and Deputy Mayor Pombonyo on their successful re-election and looking forward to our continued work together.

Floral Park Library

At the March 12th Annual Election Meeting of the Friends of the Floral Park Library a new Friends Board of Directors was ushered in for the first time in over seven years. Based on the show of attendees’ hands, the votes were strongly in favor of the slate of nominees.

Also, in great favor was attendees’ gratitude for the many contributions of the outgoing Board including: fundraising, lawn sales, raffles, special events, the opening of the Library’s Book Nook, and the ongoing support of and for the library.

The library would like to extend a big Thank You to the outgoing President Maria Tetro; Vice President Mary Ann Pugliese; Treasurer Terry Meagan; Recording Secretary Maryann Pugliese; and Corresponding Anne Marie Santangelo.

The Friends of the Floral Park Library’s new Board of Directors feature: President Terry Paterno; 1st Vice President Kathy Sweeney; 2nd Vice President James MacDonald; Fundraising Kerry Cormican; Treasurer Christine Conway; Recording Secretary Stephanie Fattorini; and Correspondence Secretary/Social Media Annie Pollack.

tion, public and private sector experience to their respective roles, and have previously worked together on a number of community and charitable initiatives.

page 4 See page 9

The new Board members bring diverse community, corporate, educa-

Everyone at the Library is excited to see what the new team has planned!

If you’d like to become a Floral Park Library Friend, you can download an application from the library website at www.floralparklibrary.org, or stop in during normal business hours.

The Floral Park Library Urban Explorers are having their next outing on May28th. It will be a coach bus tour of Harlem. The day will start at the library with the first stop in Harlem at the historic Apollo Theater. Lunch will be at the famous homestyle southern cuisine, Amy Ruth’s. The last stop will be at the Hamilton Grange, the country estate built by our founding Father in uptown Manhattan. The trip should end around 5:30 pm. Cost and details of the trip can be found on the Library website or at the reference desk.

Fire Department

Our Volunteer Fire Department responded to the following number of calls:

Active Company – 23 calls

Alert Company – 23 calls

Reliance Company – 23 calls

Hook and Ladder – 23 calls

Rescue Company – 23 calls and 3 ambulance calls

NYU Langone – 80 ambulance calls

They responded to 4 mutual aid calls, assisting our neighboring communities. Total calls for the month of February were 100.

Trustee Jennifer Stewart

I would like to start this evening by congratulating my colleagues Mayor Fitzgerald, Deputy Mayor Pombonyo, and Trustee Chiara on their re-election. It truly is an honor to be on this board with all of you. I look forward to continuing to work together to keep Floral Park a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Four Village Studio

On the upcoming on-air schedule is Wes Houston Presents Fred Raimondo, Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist; Community Spotlight with Stephanie Larkin, highlighting the Girl Scout Troop 1239 Gold Award Candidates; and FPFD: Red Alert own Larry King (AEMT), featuring James P. Spear, Director of Professional Mariner Training at SUNY Maritime College.

Department of Public Works

All DPW crews and departments spend their days cleaning and maintaining our beautiful Village. Recently, the DPW completed the following tasks:

potholes were filled on the Northside, crews sealed cracks on older paved roads to extend their lifespan, all roads were swept, and Village vehicles are continuously being repaired and maintained at the DPW Garage. Speed limit signs were installed on 85th Avenue, Depan Avenue, and North Tyson Avenue, and storm basins were cleaned in the Hillcrest section.

Additionally, 118 tons of household waste, 15 tons of paper, and 8 tons of comingled plastics have been collected.

DPW Superintendent Kevin Ginnane met with National Grid engineers on Tuesday morning at Cedar Place. National Grid will begin work on relocating an old gas main and upgrading to a new one, including installing new house services for 17 homes. They are confident the work can be completed within two weeks, at which point we can complete the drainage and restoration project. All residents have been notified of this work.

Verizon is currently looking for a location for a cell tower, and there is a possibility that they may lease Village property.

Cultural Arts Committee

I’d like to remind everyone about a new concert we’re planning, the High School/College Band Showcase, scheduled for Friday, July 25th. If anyone of high school or college age is interested in performing, please reach out to me at JStewart@FPVillage.org. We hope to showcase a variety of talent this summer!

MTA

As many of you know, the LIRR/ MTA is installing a Signal Hut and retaining wall along their right of way on Atlantic Avenue. They have indicated that work will take place daily from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, with some overnight work. We have been assured that we will receive prior notification if overnight work is required. We will make every effort to disseminate this information as quickly as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about this work, please contact Ms. Ana Garcia, Assistant Director of Government and Community Relations for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the LIRR. Ms. Garcia can be reached at (718) 558-7322 or via email at ana.garcia@mtahq.org. If you do reach out to the MTA/LIRR, please also let me know at jstewart@FPVillage.org so we can track residents’ concerns.

I would also like to congratulate newly appointed Police Officer Paroulek. I wish Officer Paroulek a long and safe career. We are confident you will be a valuable addition to our amazing Police Department.

Finally, while the FPM Boys Varsity season did not end the way we all

Floral Park Village Board Of Trustees' Reports

wanted, congratulations to them on an outstanding season, ending as Nassau County Champions!

Trustee Michael Longobardi

Congratulations to my fellow board members, Mayor Fitzgerald, Deputy Mayor Pombonyo, and Trustee Chiara on their re-election for another term. It is an honor to serve with them. I look forward to continuing this great team and working with them for the benefit of our amazing Village.

Building Department

The various projects around town

continue with no major announcements or changes. One Carnation Avenue is on target to be completed shortly and will open in late Spring. The restaurant on Covert Avenue is also expected to be completed in the spring. There are no meetings scheduled for the proposed large-scale mixed-use development project at 144-162 Jericho Turnpike, formerly Stella’s Restaurant. Dates will be announced when the meetings are scheduled. The project for 50 Carnation Avenue, Storage Post, has submitted a zoning application to expand their storage buildings. This case will be heard at the April 10th zoning meeting.

Spring arrives tomorrow! A reminder to all residents and businesses that you are responsible for keeping your

properties and adjacent sidewalks clear of weeds and debris. As you plan your Spring and Summer improvements, please call the Building Department to discuss any code issues as well as required permits for any improvements you are planning.

Pool and Recreation

Preparations continue on the ballfields for the April 12th opening day. A reminder to all coaches that the fields are not available for practice during this time. We had a very productive Pool Committee meeting last week, and I would like to thank the Committee for all their hard work and input. This year’s pool booklet is being developed, and we hope to have it available soon.

A reminder to everyone that this is the time of year to renew or apply for leisure passes. They are required for Tiny Town, basketball, tennis, pickleball, and other activities.

Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)

The next meeting will be Monday, March 24, 2025, at Hempstead Town Hall, One Washington Street, Hempstead. If you want to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You can also visit the Village website, which has the links under the TVASNAC noise complaint contact information page on our homepage.

Museum Hopping and Shopping in Hanoi, Vietnam

BY GERI BAIN FOR TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

Hanoi is the last stop on a 16day journey through Vietnam and Cambodia with my 30-year-old daughter. We built our itinerary around a one-week AmaWaterways Mekong River cruise (AmaWaterways. com) which began with a pre-cruise stay in Ho Chi Minh City and finished with a post-cruise stay in Hanoi. Here are highlights of Hanoi:

We check into our hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, happy we decided to spend three days here before flying back to the U.S. The hotel’s Heritage Wing, where we are staying, completed a full renovation last year, maintaining its luxurious French Colonial feel. We are thrilled to find that our Metropole Suite is actually comprised of three rooms—a living room with comfy chairs and a couch that is a sofa-bed, a parlor/ office and a master bedroom with a king-size bed, plus two oversized bathrooms with Toto smart toilets and two balconies with great city views. The hotel’s central location allows us to walk to everything we want to do and has a lovely pool and spa for recharging (www.sofitellegend-metropole-hanoi.com).

More importantly, the hotel’s rich history, decor, art collection and permanent “Path of History” exhibit create a kind of live-in history museum where we can relax and still feel immersed in the city. The hotel served as the official guest house for government guests and delegations under Ho Chi Minh. Walking through the hotel’s “Path of History” hall, we see that its list of past guests reads like a Who’s Who of the 20th and

21st century, from writers Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene to U.S. presidents. Photos of more recent political conclaves hosted here include a 2019 meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.

In addition to the actual history exhibit, over the course of our stay, we take in the entire hotel as we would an art museum, studying the sculptures and scenes of contemporary and historic Hanoi that decorate the stairwells, lounges, and other public spaces of the hotel.

A tour of the hotel’s historic bomb shelter, free to hotel guests, turns out to be a much broader lesson in history. Our guide shows us photos of visiting diplomats and other hotel guests huddled in the small underground space during the Vietnam War (known as the American War in Vietnam); sometimes they were roused to retreat to the shelter

multiple times a night. We also see heart-wrenching photos of the effects of the war on the city, its surroundings and its people. Especially haunting is standing in the shelter and listening to the song “Where are you now, my son?” by Joan Baez, putting words to her experience when she emerged to witness the devastation caused by bombings.

We come to the Hoa Lo Prison expecting to learn about the American POWs held here during the Vietnam War, most famously John McCain. Facetiously called the “Hanoi Hilton” for the torture and harsh treatment that McCain and other American soldiers received here, the small area of displays and videos of happy Christmas moments and proclamations of how well they were treated is startling.

But that exhibit is only a smidgen of the museum. Its main message is

the cruelty of French colonial days. We learn that the prison was built by the French Colonial government in 1896 for political prisoners. We see a portable guillotine, torture instruments and a life-size recreation of a room lined by prisoners shackled side-by-side on long concrete slabs. The museum is mainly dedicated to the horrific treatment of the Vietnamese at the hands of the French, to the heroes who lived and died here, and to the communist education and revolutionary fervor that fomented here, making the Hoa Lo Museum a proud Vietnamese heritage site.

As we walk through the grand Gate of the Temple of Literature, we are amazed to realize that we are entering a university that was founded in 1070. The school was first open to members of the Royal families and later to exceptional students of other social classes. It stopped serving as a university in 1779, but it has never veered from its purpose to honor, worship and provide a place to learn the wisdom of Chinese philosopher Confucius. Students and their parents still come here to burn incense, make offerings and pray for success before important exams. We see people waiting their turn to touch a statue of a crane standing on the back of a turtle. We’re told that rubbing the belly of the crane and the head of the turtle bring good luck, and not just on exams. Never wanting to pass up a chance for positive energy, we respectfully take our turns as well.

Throughout our travels in Vietnam and Cambodia, we’ve come to appreciate how much architecture in this region is imbued with symbolic meaning. A great example is One Pillar Pagoda which dates back to 1048. The pagoda, which sits on a sinApril 4, 2025

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The Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius, is still a pilgrimage site in Hanoi, Vietnam © Geri Bain.

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Museum Hopping and Shopping in Hanoi, Vietnam

Continued from previous page

gle pillar on a small lake, is designed to give form to a lotus flower like the one in a legendary dream by an 11th-century heirless emperor. He dreamt that the Buddhist goddess of mercy sat in a lotus flower on a lake and handed him an infant son. When he did indeed have a son, he had this pagoda built in gratitude. We observe a number of women placing offerings of flowers, fruit, wine, and trios of incense sticks in front of a shrine to the goddess of mercy to pray that they too will have a child.

From what we’d read and seen on this trip, Ho Chi Minh--“Bac (uncle) Ho” as he is affectionately called—was a beloved selfless leader. Interestingly, he had stated in his will that he wanted to be cremated with his ashes buried in three regions of the country. But in 1969 when he died, his followers embalmed his body and built the grand mausoleum we are visiting today. We pass through security to enter the grounds of the Presidential Palace where the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located. We wonder why there are no lines to enter and file past his glass coffin where people come to pay their respects and we learn that the mausoleum is closed for its annual maintenance.

Nevertheless, we’re impressed by the grandeur of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which was inspired by and resembles Lenin’s Tomb, but with Vietnamese flourishes, and we sense the reverence it inspires. The setting is also impressive. The Mausoleum is across a large plaza/parade ground from the National Assembly and down the green

BY CHARLYN FARGO

A few healthy lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your blood pressure numbers, according to a study of 14,000 Chinese individuals. Researchers followed the individuals for up to 10 years and found that those who made healthy changes in their lifestyle had a significantly lower risk of death.

Just what are those healthy lifestyle factors to adopt? Being at the right weight, not smoking, eating a healthy diet, working out daily and getting enough sleep.

Participants who were overweight, smoked, had poor dietary habits, were sedentary and had poor sleep habits didn’t see a reduction in mortality rates even if they were taking blood pressure medication.

Those who took blood pressure medication and improved their lifestyle had the lowest risk of death from any cause, including heart attack, stroke and cancer.

To make a difference, the researchers

we see the imposing Presidential Palace, built by the French during Hanoi’s colonial days. Uncle Ho declined to live there as he said it was too grand for a man of the people. Instead, a traditional stilted house was built for him on the grounds of the Palace.

I had just read “Bronze Drum” by Phong Nguyen, a historical novel about the Trung Sisters who led a women’s uprising to overthrow the Han Chinese in 40 A.D., so I am excited when my daughter points out an exhibit devoted to them at the Vietnam National Museum of History. The sisters had used bronze drums to inspire and communicate with their warriors, and we admire an array of drums with intricate carvings.

The museum is divided into two buildings. The main building takes us from the first humans through the end of the Nguyen Dynasty in 1945 and is a great consolidation of the history we’ve been learning throughout our journey. The second building takes us from 1858 and the struggle against the French colonial government to the present.

As we admire the sculptures and artifacts of the many ethnic groups and cultures throughout Vietnam’s history, we get a sense of the depth and diversity of its people today. A constant theme is the nation’s long history of fighting to maintain and develop their own unique civilization and pushing back invaders.

At the Vietnamese Women’s Museum we see detailed exhibits that cover women’s roles in family life, heroic women in history, and both ethnic and high women’s fashion. It’s among the best small museum’s we’ve seen; it’s well organized, well-labeled with short

videos, and there’s an excellent audio tour.

Its mix of architectural styles, parks and shopping make Hanoi a great walking city. One minute, we are on a wide tree-shaded boulevard lined by elegant turn-of-the-century French buildings, the next we are in a twisting medieval alley in the Old Quarter, where many streets still have the names of ancient trades. Some, like Hang Gai (Silk Street), still reflect their current shops. The huge, buzzing Dong Xuan Market sells everything imaginable, but the goods seem oriented to locals and don’t match what we saw in Ho Chi Minh City for style or price.

We head to the elegant shopping streets and dip into some luxury brand shops expecting bargains, but prices seem higher than back home. We decide the best values are found in the artisan shops. We are especially drawn to the wonderful hand-made lacquerware at Hanoia, a small boutique near our hotel, and Tired City, which sells prints, bags and t-shirts featuring the art of over 200 local artists who receive 10% of every sale.

We take a coffee break at quirky “Train Street”, timing our visit for a train passage. This narrow ancient street is lined by small eateries with barely enough space for the train to zip through and it is fun to watch as we sip our new favorite drinks—hot or cold Vietnamese coffee made with condensed milk.

Our anchor as we explore Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake, just a few blocks from our hotel. Every evening, we join locals for a stroll around the lake. One

Lowering Your Blood Pressure

found you need at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week (30 minutes per weekday), 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night and to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and lean dairy.

That’s the same findings that a study by the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute found earlier. Researchers studied 810 men and women with mild hypertension or prehypertension who were not taking medication to control their blood pressure. Participants were divided into three groups -- two behavioral intervention groups counseled and given goals for weight loss, physical activity and sodium and alcohol intake. One of those groups also received guidance on the DASH diet, an eating plan boosting fruits and vegetables and limiting salt. The third was a control group.

Goals included a 15-pound weight loss, 3 hours per week of moderate physical activity, daily sodium intakes of no more than 2,300 milligrams and limits of one alcoholic drink per day for women and

night, we cross the pretty red Rising Sun (Huc) Bridge, where young couples pose for photos with the city lights as a backdrop. The bridge leads to the Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain), which sits in the middle of the lake. We pay the small admission fee and enjoy tranquil views of the city reflected in the lake. Inside, carvings depict Vietnamese history, folklore and Confucian literature. From its start, this temple has honored both warriors and scholars, and stands as a symbol of Vietnamese resilience and pride.

We leave Hanoi wishing we could stay longer. Another deep-tissue spa treatment. More time to relax in one of the ubiquitous cafes. More time to take in the vibes of this vibrant capital and to explore the history and legends of this fascinating and welcoming country.

Travel

Tips

Many museums and sites close for lunch so check hours in advance. Also check for special shows and exhibitions; the Mother Goddess exhibition had specific but limited show times that we learned about too late.

Get the required visa at Vietnam’s website, evisa.gov.vn, where the fee is $25 (if you use a visa service it costs something like $197) and at Cambodia’s website (evisa.gov.kh), where the fee is $30, but give yourself enough time to get the confirmation.

two per day for men. Those following the DASH diet aimed to eat 9-12 servings of fruits and vegetables per day and 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy products and to keep their total fat to no more than 25% of total daily calories. To keep track, participants kept food diaries, counted calories and sodium intakes and recorded their physical activity.

Both behavioral intervention groups significantly reduced their weight, fat intake and sodium intake. And the DASH group increased their fruit, vegetable, dairy, fiber and mineral intakes.

The results of this study were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. While about 37% of the participants had high blood pressure at the study’s start, by the end that fell to 32% in the control group, 24% in the intervention group without DASH and 22% in the group following DASH.

The bottom line? Your lifestyle matters when it comes to controlling your blood pressure. Eat healthy, exercise regularly.

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.

Crossword Answers

A large cup of coffee: nice & hot or frozen?

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

I’d say that for as long as I can remember I have been an avid coffee drinker because it seems that way but that’s not exactly true. When I was in high school my mother said my sisters and I weren’t allowed to drink coffee because it wasn’t good for kids. We would see her enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee each morning and we were curious.

In high school at St. Agnes in Rockville Centre I’d occasionally see my teachers on their break time drinking a cup of coffee and they looked forward to it and enjoyed it.

By the time I was a senior in high school my mother relented because I was almost 18 years old and when she said okay, I could try some coffee and see how I liked it, I was off and running. Since then drinking coffee has been one of life’s daily pleasures, a chance to meet friends and relatives at a coffee shop, and these days I feel picking up a frozen coffee is a treat I can get at a drive-thru or inside the shop where I can sit and relax for a while.

I’ve been lucky in that the caffeine in coffee really doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t keep me awake at night even after I’ve had some coffee or a frozen coffee. Some friends of mine limit their coffee drinking to the mornings and certainly no later than 2 p.m. because it affects them.

I’ve attended weddings with friends and relatives and sometimes over a nice slice of wedding cake we’ll enjoy a cup of coffee. The next day some people have said they were awake late into the night. I’ve told my friends occasionally to lay off the coffee because the caffeine impacts them but no one has ever told me that.

Caffeine hits some people but others, not so much. The really sensitive people even get affected by decaffeinated coffee which contains a little bit of caffeine. Laughing when my friend, Anna, said she didn’t get any shut-eye, I said sorry and began to commiserate with her because being sleepy during the day isn’t fun.

A frozen coffee is a decadent treat that’s for sure but I watch the calories and try to limit the sugar that’s in a cup by asking the server to leave out the sugar. It’s not as tasty but it still hits the spot when a friend and I feel like treating ourselves and spending some time catching up with each other to share the latest news. I’ve also gotten in the habit of choosing a sugar-free syrup - and there are lots of flavors to choose from.

On a really good “health conscious” day I will skip the whipped cream and opt for skim milk rather than whole milk. To me it tastes similar and I elim-

inate some calories.

My friend, Peg, started using a drip process to make coffee during our senior year in high school and one day after school she showed me how to do it. It sounds the way it is so Peg added water to a filter containing coffee grounds then allowed the water to drip through the filter into a coffee cup.

During college I found my coffee routine then after graduating while on an internship I found a kinship with fellow coffee lovers then onto full-time permanent jobs in NYC. In time specialty coffee shops became popular and frozen coffee drinks were more appealing to me than plain coffee.

My parents used a percolator and that’s a handy machine when making 8-12 cups of coffee. An electric coffee percolator is a kettle that has two chambers: a lower chamber for the water and an upper area with a basket or filter to hold the ground coffee beans.

When the water heats it goes through a vertical tube that passes over the coffee grounds before dripping back to the bottom of the pot. Percolator coffee is brewed multiple times so every time the flavored water drips down, it’s passed once again through those grounds and it creates a great cup of coffee. It smells delicious as it’s percolating.

As a young adult drinking coffee, my friends and I would experiment with whatever method of brewing coffee was being talked about. Drip coffee, percolated coffee and using a French press were all discussed in various newspapers and one weekend when my Aunt Laura was staying overnight at my house she showed my friend, Marie, and me how to use a French press. The machine looks complicated but once we got used to it, it was easy.

Explaining that we had to boil a kettle of water, Aunt Laura then added the coffee grounds to the pot. She poured the hot water over the coffee and said the coffee has to steep she said so we let the coffee brew for 4 minutes. She strained the coffee and pressed the plunger down, pushing the coffee grounds to the bottom of the press. When it was ready she poured five cups of coffee and said it’s as simple as that.

When we were making brunch for relatives the coffee turned out great. We got lots of compliments on the coffee and the food we served. It takes a few minutes longer to prepare when using a French press so patience is a must but it was worth the extra time.

Eventually Keurig machines arrived and people started using them. Those single serve K-pods are handy when I’m in a rush to be somewhere and I can make the coffee stronger or lighter depending on what buttons I press: strong or mild strength, 4 ozs. or 8 ozs., etc.

My friend, Scott, and I like to debate the merits of lattes vs. cappuccinos. On cold winter days I’ll drink hot lattes and he prefers cappuccinos so we discuss the pros and cons. A latte has more steamed milk than espresso so it results in a creamier, milder coffee flavor. Cappuccino has equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foamed milk which creates a more layered appearance and a stronger coffee taste.

When the barista makes a hot latte and adds a design on top of my hot latte, I’m always impressed by that art. Hearts, stars, swirls and ghosts atop a cup of joe all make me smile. I should be used to it after all this time but I still like it.

I recently came across a short description of coffeehouses by Australia native Hengtee Lim called “The Haunting of Kuromame Kissaten.” He writes:

“The door to the coffeehouse is always locked. People who try to pull or push on it find it unwilling to budge. But for the curious, the ones who see the lights and smell the coffee and refuse to give up, the door will sometimes open.

They knock - once, twice, and then once more - and the door is said to creak open upon the echo of the third knock.”

At 5 a.m. some of my friends are anxious to enter their favorite specialty coffee shop. I ask what the rush is but they say it’s morning now so the sooner the better. I laugh because that does, indeed, seem a bit early to me.

Social Security Fraud Allegations Clarified

BY TOM MARGENAU

There is so much misinformation about the Social Security program and the conduct of the Social Security Administration that I simply cannot keep up with it. I feel bad because I’d like to write my normal columns in which I help my readers understand the intricacies of the program so that they can make the right choices when they file for Social Security benefits. But because of all the misinformation out there right now, I just feel compelled to respond. Besides, more than a few readers have asked me to help them sort through all the craziness.

Today I’m going to address two recent allegations of supposed fraud or malfeasance. One involves alleged direct deposit fraud. The other involves incorrect payments to Social Security beneficiaries. As you will see, in both instances, the allegations have been blown way out of proportion.

Let’s start with the direct deposit issue. I want you to read the following statements and tell me which one you think is true.

“Government officials report there is $100 million in Social Security direct deposit fraud each year.”

“Government officials report Social Security direct deposit fraud is at a low rate of only one-sixteenth of 1%.”

Both statements are correct, because they both say the same thing. In other words, yes, there was $100 million in Social Security direct deposit fraud last year. But that represents only 0.00625% of Social Security’s $1.6 trillion annual payments to beneficiaries, almost all of which are made through direct deposit.

You would think that government officials would be patting themselves on the back for having such a tiny amount of fraud in the direct deposit processes, but not in today’s world of Department of Government Efficiency oversight. The acting commissioner of Social Security, a DOGE disciple, citing the “$100 million” fact is claiming there are big problems with the Social Security Administration’s current policies for requiring people to identify themselves when calling the agency’s 800 number or using its online services when doing any kind of business with the agency. Beginning at the end of March, he will be requiring most people who want to file a claim for benefits or conduct most other businesses with the agency (such as changing their direct deposit account) to go into their local Social Security office and provide proof of identification in person.

Even though $100 million is a tiny fraction of Social Security’s overall budget, it’s still $100 million. Steps should be taken to fix the problem, but these are too drastic. It would be as if your car had issues and needed a simple tune-up, but instead, you replaced the entire engine.

The second recent accusation of fraud

involves an alleged $9 billion in incorrect payments to Social Security beneficiaries. Once again, I will have you read two statements.

“Officials report $9 billion in incorrect Social Security payments made last year.”

“Officials report less than 1% of Social Security payments are made incorrectly.”

Once again, both statements are correct. More than 99% of the time, Social Security benefits are sent to the right person and in the right amount. But because the Social Security budget is so huge (it makes up about one-fourth of all federal spending), even a less than 1% error rate involves a lot of money.

And of course, $9 billion is a lot of money. (I’m reminded of former Republican Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen’s quote about the federal budget: “A billion here and a billion there and pretty soon we’re talking about real money.”)

But here is the deal about those $9 billion in incorrect payments each year. Most of it is not the result of bureaucratic incompetence. Rather, most of the incorrect payments happen because beneficiaries fail to report important information to the Social Security Administration which affects the amount of their monthly benefits.

And most of that is the result of one antiquated law -- the “retirement earnings penalty.” This is the law that puts a limit on the amount of money a Social Security beneficiary under full retirement age can earn. The rules are complex, but here they are in a nutshell. “For every two dollars you earn over an annual limit ($23,400 in 2025), one dollar must be withheld from your annual benefits.” Sounds simple, right? Believe me, it’s not. Here is a typical example of how that law plays out and why it leads to so many incorrect payments.

Bob files for Social Security at age 62 in early 2025. He is working part-time but says he will make less than $23,400. So the SSA starts paying him regularly. Then halfway through the year, Bob starts working overtime and now expects he will make about $30,000. After a few months, he finally tells the SSA about this. So now he has been paid incorrectly. He is charged with an overpayment and his future benefits are adjusted. But then Bob gets laid off and now his anticipated earnings are back to less than $23,400. So once again, Bob has been paid incorrectly and his benefits are adjusted a second time. Then at the beginning of 2026, Bob calls the SSA and says, “Oh, I forget to tell you that I got hired back around the holidays and I ended up making $31,000 in 2024.” So once again, Bob has been paid incorrectly and for a third time, his benefits are corrected.

And guess what? There are millions of “Bobs” out there being incorrectly paid every single year. If Congress would simply repeal the “retirement earnings penalty” law, a big chunk of the $9 billion in annual incorrect Social Security benefits

would be eliminated.

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 oth-

er 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.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Will higher ed, entrepreneurial spirit be a steppingstone to homeownership?

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

Seeking higher education, whether a 2 year Associates Degree, a 4 year BA or BS Degree, or even a Masters or PHD, could lead to greater opportunities that would not normally be available without that valuable piece of paper. A society is stronger and more successful when a family structure is solid and complete. But what we are experiencing today is a divergence from what is truly needed. It does start and begin with how the parents guide, teach and bring up their children, while simultaneously; the teachers and the school system will also come into play. Having the proper mentors will always be tantamount in the educational growth of an individual as well as who the children hangout with too. This should be somewhat of a seamless process; but it is easier said than done. The bi-product of a quality school district is higher and more stable real estate prices. There is a direct correlation between towns having higher home prices and appreciation and the statistically stronger scoring schools. A 5% improvement in test scores will translate into a 2.5% increase in values. See https://www. newhomesource.com. In a study in Sept 4, 2024 article by Julie Taylor from https://www/Realtor.com, the average price of a home in an above average school district was 78.6% higher, according to GreatSchools.com than schools in a surrounding county or lower priced locations.

If you are lucky and fortunate and born with the ability to be creative, have natural talents and ideas that most do not, will potentially enable you

to be successful without any more than a high school or college education. Although this is not the norm, college may or may not be a necessity for everyone, especially with today’s’ exorbitant costs. Succumbing to student debt for the foreseeable future may not be in the cards for many going forward. This unfortunately has been a detriment to homeownership. I believe college is no longer a guarantee for a better job, as there are many educated unemployed people with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Today, the bare minimum requirement for many companies is earning a Master’s Degree to get your foot in the door to compete for a higher paying position in corporate America.

ing prices will be and the greater appreciation over the long run. Moreover, those school districts can attract more qualified personnel through better pay and benefits.

I remember when I went to school the majority of teachers lived locally within my community. Today, housing prices have forced most new teachers to have to live in areas farther away from where they teach, where prices of homes, condos, coops are more affordable whether buying or leasing. Our future will be defined and determined by how educated and/or entrepreneurial our workforce is and will be a major component in who will be a homeowner.

$200. https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics

Unfortunately, due to looming, exorbitant and the overwhelming burden of student and credit card debt; and unless ideas leading to solutions are created, the GenZs, GenX and even Millennials may never experience the joy and satisfaction of that “white picket” fence or the future wealth building benefits of homeownership.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate,l = located at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck.

BY JEFF RUGG

Q: A gardener friend moved and left me with several bags of ingredients for making potting soil. I have never made potting soil before. What proportions should I use? Do these ingredients go bad at some point?

A: First, I want to make a slight distinction between potting soil and potting mix. When you use the word soil, it implies that one of the ingredients will be soil either from the garden or dug up from somewhere else. So, potting soil includes some dirt.

Potting mix, on the other hand, doesn’t include any soil. It is a much lighter weight mix that is designed to allow for good water drainage and good air circulation in some kind of container.

When you are trying to make better garden soil, you may add some of the ingredients that we would use in a potting

Twenty plus years ago, both my daughter and son, had only earned under graduate degrees. Fast forward to today, both would have needed a minimum of a Master’s Degree to be considered entrance into their very ambitious professions. Competition is fierce and even having a PHD, may soon be the standard to secure a higher paying position. However, today, opting or dropping out of college and becoming an entrepreneur can start with just one single idea as some notable individuals have had. The bottom line, the higher scoring school districts, generally the better the education; and as mentioned, the stronger the hous-

AI is also coming into the picture and will be a determining and defining factor in one’s advancement or possible detriment to those job seekers, who might have much less choices due to further automation and jobs being replaced. Moreover, as baby boomers pass, there could be less purchasers of homes, condos and coops, resulting in monumental price declines. Exorbitant high personal (student loans of 1.77 Trillion and credit card debt of 1.2 Trillion) and the 37 trillion national debt continues to grow daily, and Real Estate taxes increasing, squeezing and looming over everyone in the U.S. The average student loan debt per borrower is $38,883. Today, the average student loan interest rate is 6.53%. The average student loan payment is over

For a free 15-minute consultation, value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com and you can search properties at your leisure and convenience at: https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com

bit.ly/4bXWVu6 (facebook.com) bit.ly/4inVqaR (X.com) bit.ly/4bVSwrs (linkedIn) bit.ly/4inVK9z (Instagram) bit.ly/4bQH14x (YouTube)

mix, but other potting mix ingredients don’t work in the garden. The ingredients of a potting mix can be changed to match the type of plant you are trying to grow. For example, a cactus will get a different mix than a hibiscus.

Most of the bagged soil mixes at the garden center are going to have peat moss as the main ingredient. It holds water very well and still allows some water to drain away, letting air into the mix. However, some people think that peat bogs are being destroyed and that peat moss should not be used in soil mixes.

The often-recommended substitute for peat moss is coconut coir, also known as coconut peat. Like peat moss, it holds some water and allows the rest to drain. It is created from coconut husks that are left over from coconut oil and coconut water production. Coconuts are grown in many countries. Both palm oil trees and

coconut palm trees are planted in areas that are destroying tropical jungles that are the habitat for orangutans. So, coconut coir may not be the best solution for potting mixes.

Pine bark fines are small pieces of pine bark less than 1/2-inch in size. They can be bought in bags or, in some areas, in bulk. Small amounts of other kinds of bark or larger pieces can also be used. Pine bark fines are a good renewable ingredient that hold water, allow drainage and help lower the pH of the mix so it is good for citrus, blueberries and azaleas.

The next most common ingredient is mature compost. You can make your own or buy it in bags. If you buy it, try to get several bags from different companies. You will find the quality varies considerably. A lot of the nutrients in the potting mix come from the compost.

Perlite and vermiculite are varieties

of volcanic material that hold water and open soils for good water drainage. Vermiculite looks like small mica fragments, and it stays in place when mixed in. Perlite looks like white sand, but it is so light that it often floats to the surface of the flowerpot and washes over the pot when watered heavily or during a rain.

Fertilizers can be added according to the label directions. Slow-release fertilizer can last the whole summer for annuals. Like I said, different plants grow best in different soil mixes. Some like really good drainage; some like a low pH; some like a lot of organic matter; and some like lots of fertilizer. The proportions you use will depend on what kinds of plants you use. One common mix you will hear about is the 5-1-1 mix. Usually, when you see such a designation, you will think N-P-K

Continued on next page

Broke?

BY MARY HUNT

How’s your health? Not your physical fitness, but your financial well-being. For most of us, how much we earn tells us how we’re “feeling” financially. But your income is only one part of the equation. How much of your income do you actually keep?

Not very much, I’ll bet. Your income is low, you say; you’ve got bills to pay. Rents are sky-high; grocery costs are through the roof. Who can possibly save?

My answer: You can. Yes, you can save money!

COME ON; JUST DO IT

Want to save $1,000, $3,000, $5,000 or more? I’ll help you get there. Every day, my mission is to encourage you in myriad ways to spend less and save more. I know that you can do this! So, let’s get started.

PICK A GOAL

Saying you want to save a million bucks is admirable, but let’s face it: That is not reasonable. To reach a goal, you need to make it specific, realistic and measurable, something like, “I’m going to save $500 within the next five months by transferring $25 every Friday to my savings account.” Much better.

Most experts agree you need an emergency stash equal to at least three months’ income -- your net take-home pay. Does that seem impossible? For now, why not set your goal as the amount of one paycheck? That’s an amount just about everyone can scrape together with enough determination. When you’ve done that, try for two paychecks and then four. Soon, you really will reach that three-months’ goal.

NEED SOME MOTIVATION?

Get visual and hang up a picture of the item or event you’re saving for. If you’d just like to have some money in the bank, make a calendar to post on the fridge,

and check off all your savings deposits. (You’ll be amazed at how great you’ll feel writing those down.)

JUMP IN

If you’re going to commit to the program, this is the most important thing to know: Pay yourself first. Before you pay your bills every week, before you buy groceries and gas and clothes for the kids, you’ve got to put something into your savings account. Even if the amount is sometimes less than you were hoping to save, set it aside anyway. As long as you’re headed in the right direction, even the baby steps count.

WATCH IT GROW

Don’t just stash the cash under your mattress! Open a savings account where it will be safe, and you can watch it grow.

But more importantly, it will be safe from you! And as you add regular deposits, you’ll see it grow.

Here are five things you can start doing today to save money:

NO. 1: SELL OUT

Go through every cupboard, closet and drawer. If you aren’t using it regularly,

get rid of it on eBay or have the mother of all yard sales.

NO. 2: GIVE IT UP

If you’re going to take this seriously, you’ve got to say goodbye to that little vice (fancy coffee drinks, cigarettes, candy bars, bottled water). It can really add up; saving $5 a day gives you $1,825 a year.

NO. 3: THINK TWICE

I came close to paying full price -$100 -- for a replacement charger for my phone. But the thought of spending that much money gave me a rash and sent me to eBay. In no time, I bagged a regular charger plus one for the car for less than $10 with shipping. Need something for one-time use? Borrow it from a friend or neighbor (and encourage them to do the same).

NO. 4: CUT THE CARDS

You use plastic to pay for stuff because it’s convenient. So, stop using it. It shouldn’t be so convenient to spend your money. Curb all those impulsive purchases. That’s a lot of money you can free up for savings.

NO. 5: BANK THE RAISE

The next time you get a raise (or bonus), save at least half. Let’s say that raise improves your monthly take-home pay by $200. If you save half and do that for the next 10 years, that money you didn’t miss (because you never saw it) will grow into $12,000, and that’s not taking into account any interest you might earn along the way.

Here’s the thing about saving: At first, it’s going to feel like a hardship (like dieting, all you can think about is what you can’t have). During my worst years, when I was spending with reckless abandon and racking up debt, I would have told you with all sincerity that we didn’t have enough money to save.

But once I jumped into saving (just a few dollars at first), something amazing

happened: I began to feel a new sense of self-worth, dignity and calm. The more I saved, the better it felt. The better I felt, the more I wanted to do it again and again. And again. This will happen to you, too.

And as you watch your balance grow, prepare for a surprise: Saving will become addictive. Try it. Save money. See if it doesn’t become habit-forming. 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.”

(nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). In this instance, it is 5 parts pine bark fines, 1 part perlite and 1 part peat moss. It is a

good mix for citrus

and many other types of plants.

One last word: All of the ingredients discussed here can be very dusty. They can cause lung problems if breathed in. Some of the ingredients can harbor fungi and fungi spores that can also cause

lung problems. Wearing a mask when mixing or planting potting mixes is wise. Goggles for the eyes may also be a good idea. Wash your hands after mixing these ingredients, especially compost.

Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@

STARGAZERS

Smallest Full Moon of the Year

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of April 6-12, 2025

Make plans now to step outside just before sunset on Saturday, April 12. If you do, and if the sky is clear, you’ll be able to watch the beautiful full moon rising over the eastern horizon.

Now you may say that it looks close enough to touch, but much of what you’ll see that night isn’t real. It’s an optical trick known as the “moon illusion” that our brains play on us to make the moon appear larger than it really is.

Many of us learned the moon’s distance while we were in grade school, and some of us still remember it: about 240,000 miles from Earth. The key word in this sentence, however, is “about,” because the moon doesn’t remain at a constant distance.

That’s because the moon orbits our planet not along a circular path but rather along an elliptical path -- sort of a squashed circle. And this means that, over its monthly journey, the moon swings closer and farther by about 25,000 miles. So that distance many of us remember is close to its average distance of 238,855 miles.

Fortunately, the moon’s distance doesn’t vary much more because that would mean that its gravitational pull would also be more variable. Without a relatively constant gravitational attraction from our celestial neighbor, our ocean tides might never have made it possible for life to emerge from the seas eons ago, and we certainly would not be around to ponder this issue!

As large as the April 12 full moon may appear, it will lie near apogee -- its farthest point from the Earth. At a distance of some 252,264 miles, this full moon will be the farthest (and the smallest) of the entire year, despite what your eyes and brain may tell you!

Nearly seven months later, on Nov. 5, the full moon

will occur while near its “perigee” -- its closest point to Earth. At this time the moon will lie only 221,726 miles from us and will appear as the largest full moon of 2025. At these times you will hear it referred to as a “super moon,” even though there’s really nothing “super” about it.

It’s not difficult to measure how much the moon’s size appears to change because of its varying distance.

the Earth.

Of course, casual stargazers don’t need to know the moon’s exact distance, but astronomers who study the moon, as well as scientists and engineers who send spacecraft there, certainly do. So to get the most precise measurements, they bounce powerful laser beams off reflectors that were placed on the lunar surface decades ago by Apollo astronauts and can measure

If you have a camera with a telephoto lens that can capture a closeup shot of the moon, take a picture on April 12 and another on Nov. 5, using the same gear and settings. When you put those two images side by side, you’ll see just how little the moon’s apparent size has changed as a result of its varying distance from

The Eyebrows Have It

the moon’s distance to an accuracy of less than 1 inch!

All we need to do is go outdoors on April 12 and enjoy the view!

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

As I perused the latest fashion magazine, I noticed something about the models.

They all had big eyebrows. Big, perfect eyebrows. Big, sculpted, perfectly groomed and arched eyebrows. And I did not.

Not that I’m comparing myself to a model, because that would be impossible on just so many levels. I could not make myself 6 feet tall, 115 pounds and willowy without a body transplant. But I could have fabulous brows. Apparently, all I needed to achieve uber-eyebrows was a kit.

“This eyebrow kit has a dark wax to define and shape your brows, along with a setting powder,” said the eyebrow lady at the eyebrow salon. “There is also a brush to create an arch for your brows and another to help fill them in. You also get a stencil to get the perfect

shape and a lighter pencil to go under your brows to help highlight the arch. And there is a trimmer to help with the unruly eyebrow hairs that can’t be tamed.”

I looked at the array of tools and counted. All total, there were seven items needed to achieve the perfect eyebrow. That was more than all the other products I used on my whole body every day. Still, I was curious to see what I would look like with fabulous brows, so I jumped in the beauty brow chair and let her work her eyebrow magic on me. When she was done, I actually looked like a supermodel ... from the eyebrows up.

I was so excited I bought the kit for a gazillion dollars and ran home to give it a try. I scrubbed off my perfect, professionally shaped eyebrows and followed the at-home directions.

It took me an hour, and when I was done they looked amazing. ...

If I wanted to look like Jack Nicholson.

I recognized the problem: The arch was too high, making me look like someone surprised me, all the time. I added some more color under my arch. It was an improvement.

Now I looked like Eugene Levy. Thinking it might help, I extended the brow line in both directions. Now I looked like my Great Uncle Hy, who had eyebrows so big and thick, they looked like they could reach out and shake your hand. His eyebrows were so legendary, we actually called him Great Uncle Hybrows.

At this point I was pretty sure the Jack Nicholson-Eugene Levy-Old Jewish Man look was A) not the eyebrow trend I’d seen in the magazines, B) would probably scare small children and C) actually made me look like a schnauzer.

I decided to wash the whole thing off

and try again.

This time I pointed the stencil down and filled it in a little darker. Now I looked like a villain from a Disney movie. The dog took one look at me and ran out of the room. I’m convinced he thought I was Cruella de Vil.

After my fourth try, I decided I did not have the talent, money or time to continue this endeavor. So I did the one thing I knew would give me great eyebrows like the magazine models.

I cut them out of the magazine and taped them to my face.

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.

LOST IN SUBURBIA

On April 12, stargazers can observe a full moon at its farthest distance away from Earth.

ONE CALL TO 516-294-8900 AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN 6 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. CALL TODAY

Garden City News • Mid Island Times Bethpage Newsgram • Syosset Advance Jericho News Journal • Floral Park Villager

DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED ADS IS TUESDAY AT 1:00PM.

2 EASY WAYS TO PLACE ADS:

1) Directly on website: gcnews.com & click on “Classified Order”

2) Email Nancy@gcnews.com

Please include your name, daytime phone number, address and ad copy.

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Enjoy a bite of a lemony treat Lemon

Bars

Makes 12 bars

Adjusting diet is a necessity for someone with food allergies, intolerances or a condition like irritable bowel syndrome. Although an individual may understand the need to avoid certain foods, it can be difficult

For the crust

1⁄2 cup (1 stick) very cold

unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for greasing the pan

1 3⁄4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour

For the filling:

4 large eggs

1 1⁄4 cups sugar

3 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour

Grated zest of 2 lemons

To make the crust:

1) Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter.

2) In a blender, combine the flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt and pulse 10 times in 1-second bursts.

3) Add the butter and coconut oil. Pulse 4 to 5 times more, in 1-second bursts, until the mixture resembles sand.

4) Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press the crust into the bottom and

to pass up on foods when so many people around you are enjoying them, especially when they are tasty desserts. Fortunately for lemon bar lovers, this recipe for “Lemon Bars” from “The Complete IBS Diet Plan” (Rockridge Press)

2⁄3 cup powdered sugar

1⁄4 cup cornstarch

1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt

4 tablespoons very cold coconut oil, cut into pieces

2⁄3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1⁄3 cup unsweetened plain rice milk

Pinch sea salt

slightly up on the sides.

5) Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until just brown.

To make the filling:

6) While the crust bakes, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and flour. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, rice milk, and salt. Pour the mixture into the warm crust.

7. Bake for about 20 minutes until the filling is set.

8. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate before cutting into bars and serving.

Love to write?

We’re looking for writers in our community to compose articles 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

Swinging Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies at LICM

Get ready to jazz things up at the Long Island Children’s Museum this April in celebration of National Jazz Month! From toe-tapping performances to cool crafts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

On Sunday, April 13, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Jazz at Lincoln Center is bringing its Webop Family Jazz Party’s “Swingin’ Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies” to the LICM Theater! Get ready to hear classic nursery rhymes and lullabies like “Old McDonald,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Wheels on the Bus” with a jazzy twist! Led by talented musicians and educators, little ones will be introduced to the magic of jazz while singing, dancing, and joining in on the fun. This family-friendly performance is sure to inspire future jazz lovers, so be sure to bring the whole crew for a toe-tapping, finger-snapping good time!

“I’m delighted that Museum visitors will have the chance to enjoy the

talented Jazz at Lincoln Center musicians again and experience the exciting Webop program,” says LICM President Erika Floreska. “I have wonderful memories of my own children taking part in Webop performances, and now I have the privilege of bringing that same experience to LICM families.”

Webop performances are aimed at infants to eight-year-old children. Floreska spoke about the connection children have to the improvisational elements of jazz introduced in the Family Jazz Party performances. “The idea of creating something in the moment is the basis of play; it’s something kids do every day and something that the Museum celebrates as the most important learning tool.”

This concert, aligned with the Jazz at Lincoln Center residency at the Tilles Center, is the penultimate performance of the Museum’s Musical Explorers Series for the season. Musical Explor-

ers! performances are sponsored by Roni Kohen-Lemle and Robert Lemle. The Jazz at Lincoln Center performances on April 13 are priced at $5 with Museum admission ($4 for Museum members) and $10 for theater-only tickets. Tickets are available at the Museum Box Office or online at www.licm.org/ theater.

During National Jazz Month, kids can get even more creative at the Museum’s All That Jazz workshop, offered weekdays throughout the month. Though jazz is often associated with brass and string instruments, the genre wouldn’t be what it is without percussion. Come make your own tambourine and don’t miss a beat! Visitors can create their take-home tambourines on

Tuesday through Friday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. (April 1-4, April 8-11, and April 22-25), as well as Tuesday, April 29, and Wednesday, April 30. This is a dropin program and is free with Museum admission.

All activities will be held at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Museum admission: $18 for adults and children over 1 year old, $16 for seniors, FREE to museum members and children under 12 months old. For additional information, contact 516-224-5800. Hours: September to June: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July -August: Open Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Do you have Grandchildren?

Send in your grandchildren’s photos and enter our “World’s Most Beautiful Grandchildren” contest. Just send a photo and a brief description of the child (or children) along with your name and address to: editor@gcnews.com

Francis Faustino, MD, MBA, FAAFP Chairman, Department of Family Medicine, NYU Langone

Tpke.

Registration, Journal Ads & Raffle prizes can be purchased by going to www.rotacareny.org

Questions: RotaCare.Events@gmail.com

YEARS OF TURNING

For 25 years, we’ve transformed uncertainty into unwavering assurance, creating sophisticated spaces where care and comfort naturally intertwine. Because the best decisions often begin with ‘I’m not sure.’

When Expertise Meets Compassion – Confidence Follows

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

Welcome to The Floral Park Villager, where your story is our story!

Over the next few weeks we will be mailing free copies of our new newspaper to all of the homes in the zip code so you can see what we’re excited about! If this is your first time seeing the paper, welcome! Copies are also available at drop points around town. In addition, you can find us online at www.fpvillager.com

What You Can Expect:

Local Focus: Unlike other papers, we concentrate solely on Floral Park and Bellerose. Our pages will be filled with news that matters to you and your neighbors.

Community Contributions: We want to hear from you! Share your sports updates, event announcements, club news, scouting adventures, and personal milestones like weddings and graduations. Your stories are the heartbeat of our publication.

Comprehensive Coverage: Stay informed about village and school board meetings, ensuring you’re up-to-date with the decisions that impact our community.

Letters to the Editor: We value your voice. Share your opinions, ideas, and feedback. Your letters will help shape the dialogue in our community.

Get Involved:

We encourage you to submit your items for publication to editor@gcnews.com. Whether it’s a story, a photo, or an announcement, your contributions will help us build a newspaper that truly reflects the spirit of Floral Park and Bellerose.

How to Subscribe

If you would like to get convenient home delivery of the paper through the mail, please use this QR code or go to our website at www.fpvillager.com

Advertising:

Our Advertising Account Executive, Peter Camp, is a long-time member of the Floral Park community. For information about advertising, you can reach him at 917-861-4627 or pcamp@gcnews.com.