Floral Park Villager (10/17/25) by Litmor Publishing

THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY

SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR

E DUCATORS H ONORED

Floral Park-Bellerose School Principal Lauren Quezada and John Lewis Childs School Principal Kristina Lynch, along with members of the Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lubrano, were honored at the October 9 Floral Park - Bellerose Board of Education meeting. See page 8

FP Chamber, officials track safety plans

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY RIKKI MASSAND

The Floral Park Chamber of Commerce held its latest monthly meeting at Trinity Restaurant & Bar on Jericho Turnpike on Thursday, October 9. During the meeting, Nassau County Legislator John J. Giuffrè (District 8) and Floral

Park Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo voiced support for traffic and pedestrian-safety initiatives the Chamber—led by President Shane Parouse and its board—has been pushing in local business districts.

Parouse recently met with Legislator Giuffrè at the Plainfield Avenue location where a pedestrian was killed in a motor

vehicle crash. As a result, Nassau County will conduct a traffic study to identify fixes for that corridor.

Parouse said state, county, and village representatives will work with the Chamber to improve safety in business districts “particularly for pedestrians and for anybody taking

See page 14

Schools audit shows strong finances; bus crash discussed

BY KASSARA MCELROY

At the October 9th meeting of the Floral Park - Bellerose Board of Education, Brian Peterson, partner at P.K.F. O’Connor Davies, presented the district’s audit for the year ending June 2025. The audit resulted in a “clean opinion on the financial statements.”

Peterson noted that “overall, the district is in good financial health.”

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lubrano provided updates on district operations and committees. He announced plans to consolidate the district’s subcommittees into a single Education Committee that will meet monthly. Agendas will be prepared in advance, and members can submit items for consideration. Lubrano emphasized that committee membership is meant to be inclusive and encouraged community members to reach out with questions or suggestions. Committee dates and times are available on the district website.

Lubrano also highlighted upcoming training sessions later this month, focused on science instruction and the i-Ready platform. These sessions will range from interpreting diagnostic results and the

effective use of learning stations.

On September 17, board members attended the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association Annual Resolutions Dinner, which brought together representatives from 42 districts and more than 140 school board members. Attendees reviewed and discussed amendments and resolutions that guide advocacy and set priorities at both the state and federal levels.

The board is also considering adding a second public comment period. The first would take place at the start of the meeting for questions, comments, and concerns on agenda items posted 24 hours in advance, while the second would be more open-ended. This proposal will be discussed at an upcoming workshop.

Question on transportation

During public comment, a community member raised a concern about transportation, asking, “I don’t understand how a driver was able to return to work and drive just one day after the accident.” She questioned how the investigation, which included a period of monitoring, could have been

See page 8

Floral Park HS Homecoming

Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti greeted members of the Floral Park Memorial High School Knights during the school’s Homecoming Parade on September 27.

Oktoberfest at

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will host Oktoberfest on October 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 246-55 87th Ave., Bellerose.

Enjoy brat, weiss, and knock wursts

with all the fixings; beer, soda; snacks. Raffles and more will be available. For more information and reservations, please call 718-347-0278

The Great Giveback at FP Library

The Floral Park Public Library is participating in The Great Giveback, a community service initiative of libraries throughout New York State.

The Floral Park Library is collecting

donations of new pajamas for children of the Ronald McDonald House.

A donation bin is located in the Library's lobby, and collections will be collected through October 31.

OLV Rosary Altar Society Harvest Fair

The Our Lady of Victory Rosary Altar Society will be holding its Harvest Fair on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be:

• Many excellent vendors

• Live music

• Barbecue food, baked goods

Covert

and an outdoor cafe

• A Costume Parade at noon, with special gifts from vendors

• An indoor Haunted Forest

• Raffle baskets

• Lots of fun!

Questions? Please email JaniceOLV123@gmail.com

Ave. Street Fair

Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti (fourth right), Councilman Tom Muscarella (right), and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll (left) greeted members of the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce during the Street Fair on October 4.

Floral Park

Junior Woman’s Club

The next meeting of the Floral Park Junior Woman’s Club will be held on Thursday, November 13, at the Floral Park Recreation Center at 7 p.m. There will be a. business meeting and then members will make dog beds to donate. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

FP School District seeks members for committees

The Floral Park-Bellerose School District is seeking members for district committees for the 2025–2026 school year. In joining a District Committee, the District appreciates your full participation at all committee meetings across the year to help shape the academic experience of our students. Your insights will contribute to maintaining a high standard of education that prepares our students for future success. To ensure the effectiveness and continuity of our committees, it's important that members are actively engaged. The District understands that schedules can be busy, but consistent participation is crucial for achieving our goals. Interested individuals should apply by October 22.

Scan the QR code for information on each committee and to fill out the 2025–2026 committee participation form.

in our papers!

Call 1-516-294-8900 to inquire!

Homecoming at Sewanhaka HS

Town Supervisor John

and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine

Councilman Tom

attended the Sewanhaka High School Homecoming Parade on October 4. Also attending was Nassau County Legislator John Giuffre.

Hempstead

Ferretti (third right),

Muscarella (left),

Driscoll (second right)

Knights of Columbus Floral Park Council Presents

FP-Bellerose Rotary: Neighbors helping neighbors

its

items for babies and distribute them to needy families.

Activities include: Fall Festivities, bounce house, inflatable slide, photo booth, face painting, carnival games, raffles, silent auction & more.

Music provided by RVC School of Rock

Kids wear your Halloween costumes to participate in our Halloween Parade!

Donations at the door

$20 donation for adult Children 12 and under are free

At its October 15th meeting the Floral Park - Bellerose Rotary Club hosted volunteers from Lutheran Social Services who collect donated items for babies and distribute them to needy families.

At its dinner gathering at Post & Union, the Floral Park - Bellerose Rotary Club heard a presentation by Diane Kelly and Linda Byrne, longtime local educators who now volunteer with Lutheran Social Services. The women thanked members for the flood of baby essentials donated for families across Nassau County. “The only way we get items for these layettes is because of people like you,” Diane said. “We get no money from the government… if we didn’t have groups like yours doing good work, we wouldn’t have anything.”

What Your Donations Become

Layette boxes for newborns (new clothing from newborn–24 months/2T) plus a big bag of blankets, diapers, wipes, baby wash, lotion, pacifiers, and small toys—everything new goes to a family with a brand-new baby.

Lightly used children’s clothing goes to food-pantry clients for their older kids.

Year-round help: Pantry families can receive diapers and wipes all year, not just at birth.

“Everything that you gave us tonight will be used… and it’s going right to families who have referrals proving they’re in need.”

How the Program Works

All recipients are referred by social workers or partner agencies, ensuring donations reach verified families in need.

Social workers usually pick up the

layettes and deliver them once the baby is born and home from the hospital. Families are also invited to enroll in the Franklin Square food pantry (operated out of a local Lutheran church), where they receive ongoing support.

Scale & Year-Round Support

Volunteers assemble 80–120 layettes every year for newborns in struggling households.

Beyond baby care, the team also provides school supplies each fall and toys at Christmas for pantry families’ children.

Community Craft & A Special Request

Floral Park’s library knitting/crochet group supplies beautiful handmade blankets, sweaters, and hats for babies—treasures that make each layette feel personal and dignified.

Yarn donations welcomed: “If you know people looking to get rid of yarn, I take yarn as well—it’s expensive, and it helps our knitters keep going.”

How You Can Keep the Help Flowing

Donate new baby items (newborn–2T clothing; blankets; diapers; wipes; baby wash/lotion; bottles; pacifiers; small toys).

Pass along lightly used children’s clothes for pantry families.

Share or donate baby-friendly yarn for volunteer knitters.

Easy drop-off: Hand items to Rich (the club liaison) and he’ll get them to Diane’s team.

Location: Programs operate via Lutheran Social Services at a Lutheran church in Franklin Square (pantry & seasonal drives).

Context: Families may receive addi-

October 15th meeting the Floral Park - Bellerose Rotary Club hosted volunteers from Lutheran Social Services who collect donated

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Made with Love group delivers blankets, baby hats

Floral Park Library’s Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting group continues to deliver handmade blankets, baby hats to various hospitals, care facilities, and support services organizations.

In addition to longtime partnerships with Cohen Children’s Medical Center, the annual St. Baldrick’s Day fundraiser, the group recently contributed 14

blankets to Forestdale, Inc. in Forest Hills through My Very Own Blanket (www.myveryownblanket.org).

The group also collects pop tops to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park.

The Made with Love group meets weekly on Mondays at 6:30 pm and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. New members are always welcome.

The Made With Love Knitting and Crocheting group delivers handmade blankets and baby hats to various facilities.

Pop tops for Ronald McDonald House

Some of the knit and crocheted baby hats made by the Made With Love group

STEWART MANOR COUNTRY CLUB

FP-B recognizes board, administrators

Members of the board of education with students from Floral Park-Bellerose School and John Lewis Childs School.

At the October 9 Board of Education meeting, the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District took time to celebrate School Board Recognition Week by acknowledging the dedication of its board members and recognized the leadership of its principals in honor of National Principals Month.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anthony Lubrano began the board appreciation by expressing, “What I have discovered about our Board of Education is that they value both tradition and innovation, are aspirational about educational outcomes, put kids and families first and foremost, and, just as important, they are good people who care.”

John Lewis Childs School Principal Kristina Lynch thanked the board for their continued dedication and support, sharing that students in grades 1-3 districtwide learned about the important role of a school board member. The students created handmade books as a heartfelt “thank you” to the board for their service and personally distributed them.

Following the board recognitions, Dr. Lubrano paid tribute to Mrs. Lynch and Floral Park-Bellerose School Principal Lauren Quezada for National Principals Month.

He presented the board with a certificate of special congressional recognition from Congressman Tom Suozzi.

“All of the good work the board approves is helped to be put into action by our building principals,” he said. “Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. Quezada lead by reflecting, collaborating, inspiring and giving it their all.”

FP-Bellerose Rotary

From page 4

tional help from programs like WIC (through age five), but many needs— especially after age five—are covered by community efforts like ours.

“Huge thanks to Liz, Rich, and the

completed

From page 1

Post & Union crew. Chicken Milanese, penne, cheeseburger made for community-dinner energy!” and every Rotarian and neighbor who made this night a win for local families.

The next District Safety Committee meeting is scheduled for November 19. The next board work session will take place Thursday October 23rd 2025, followed by a regular session scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025

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October 17, 2025

Cruising Bai Tu Long Bay on the Dragon Legend

BY KAREN RUBIN

TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

Soon after embarking the Dragon Legend for our overnight cruise of BaiTu Long Bay, we are captivated by the picturesque karst islands that dot from the water, a dreamy landscape evoking classical paintings.

It is our fourth day on Discovery Bicycle Tours’ Vietnam cultural tour, and we had set out from the magnificent Emeralda Resort in Ninh Binh for this enchanting cruise.

The drive along the modern highway offers wonderful scenes of the countryside and daily life, and the rest stop on the highway offers a fascinating demonstration in the technique for oyster pearl farming devised here: a method of cutting a membrane, treating the oyster with an anti-bacterial, then implanting a seed into the oyster to stimulate the oyster to produce a pearl. “Like IVF for the oyster.”

The Dragon Legend, one of the IndoChina Junk fleet, is a beautiful ship (my room is massive) We have all the comforts we could possibly want (except WiFi).

After lunch on the ship, we tender to Hon Co Island - one of the few (out of 4000 karst islands in the bay) where people are allowed to visit. We hike up stone stairs into the hidden Thien Canh Son Cave, then down to a beautiful sand beach. The tender takes us to a floating dock where we get into kayaks and paddle around another small karst island before returning to the ship for the sunset (at 5 pm) and cocktails.

Back on board the ship, we are invited to a cooking demonstration

while others go for massages.

The nighttime scene is gorgeous. Several boats anchor in the same cove – their lights, reflected in the water, as the sun sets makes for a stunning scene.

Dinner is marvelous, followed by a few entertainments – the GM does some card tricks - and we are invited to fish off the boat with a bamboo rod.

A few of us take up the invitation to fish off the boat using nothing but a bamboo pole and lure - a couple of squid are caught triggering squeals of delight.

A Floating Fishing Village

I get up early for the sunrise Tai Chi (so fun, except it is cloudy). After breakfast, we tender to Vung Vieng, a floating fishing village, which proves a true highlight of the cruise.

Located some 22 km from any town, Vung Vieng has been the floating home to as many as 80 families since the 19th century. The homes still have no electricity (a community center and the dock where we

board rowboats to visit the village, has solar power).

A sign on the dock relates that the Vung Vieng fishing village began as an anchorage to give boats a place to rest and avoid storms, but over time, some households began to settle here, increasing in number until nearly 80 in 2014.

We are rowed around the karst island in a traditional wooden rowboat to where the modest homes (not much bigger than a shack) are on wooden floats, sheltered by the rock formations on either side. Those of the village who are not rowing us are out fishing, so we see only a few people still at home - there are more dogs than people.

While there is a solar panel in the community building, there is little electricity – no hot water shower, only wood fire for cooking and heat. Barrels collect rainwater from the roofs for drinking. The villagers subsist on fish (halibut, snapper, mackerel, grouper, sea bass, tuna), and scuba divers gather scallops and oysters.

We also see an actual oyster farm and when we return to the floating dock we have another demonstration of the remarkable process of inserting a seed in an oyster to produce a pearl.

Back onboard the Dragon Legend, we have lunch as it cruises back to port. We depart the ship and drive to the airport in Hanoi to continue our Vietnam adventure in Hue, in central Vietnam.

We are headed to Hue, a city of 300,000, where we will spend two nights at the Pilgrimage Village, a gorgeous five-star resort surrounded by lush gardens, 10 minutes from the bustling downtown.

We have dinner on our own – and since the downtown is a distance from the hotel, the bus will take us and pick us up.

I am dazzled by Hue, a bustling, colorful, festive downtown, jampacked with people crowding the restaurants, the merchants hawking crafts on the streets.

And I really love our stay at the Pilgrimage Village, with its lush garden setting – especially swimming in one of the prettiest pools as darkness falls, and having breakfast in a lodge overlooking the water and gardens.

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

Next: Discovery Bicycle Tours’ Vietnam: Hue’s Citadel & the Challenge of Biking the Hai Van Pass

The Dragon Legend on Bai Tu Long Bay © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear. com

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of October 19-24, 2025

Just how far can we see on a clear, dark night? If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know that the stars overhead lie many trillions of miles away, but these make up only a tiny fraction of all those in our Milky Way galaxy.

Though our galaxy spans some 600,000 trillion miles (100,000 lightyears), our eyes can see only those stars within the nearest 1% of that diameter. But there is something in our autumn sky that is considerably more distant -far beyond the stars of our galaxy -- and we can see it with the unaided eye if we know just where to look.

Astronomers call it M31 or NGC224; most of us simply know it as the Great Andromeda Galaxy. M31 is a spiral galaxy similar in some respects to our own Milky Way, and it lies so far from us that its light has taken 2.5 million years to reach us. In other words, the faint wisps of light that enter our eyes tonight left that distant galaxy long before humans walked the face of the Earth!

It appears as a faint smudge in the direction of the constellation Andromeda, but to see it, you’d better have a clear sky without the effects of nearby city light pollution or moonlight. In addition, you must allow your eyes at least 30 minutes to become

See a Galaxy Far, Far Away

adapted to the darkness by not looking into any bright light.

If you still can’t see it, you may need to try another trick used nightly by astronomers. It’s called averted vision. Because the human eye is unable to register dim light near its center, gazing directly at such a faint celestial object can render it completely invisible. Look slightly off to its side, however, and the object will seem to pop into view.

After dark this week, M31 appears in the northeast, and there are three ways to use familiar stars and star groupings to direct your gaze to the right place. Use the accompanying illustration to help you find your way.

One technique is to look midway up in the northeastern sky for five stars that outline the sideways “W” of the constellation Cassiopeia. Take the uppermost three stars and imagine them to be an arrowhead, and follow it eastward a short distance until you see a faint smudge.

Another way to find it is to locate the four stars of the Great Square of Pegasus, then follow a line from the square’s southwesternmost corner to its northeasternmost corner and continue along that path about the same distance.

A third way is to begin at the star Mirach in Andromeda, and follow it upward just past the star Mu Andromedae.

The Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million lightyears away from Earth.

Long thought to be a nebulous cloud within the Milky Way, it was only during the early years of the 20th century that astronomers discovered it to be a galaxy unto itself, with hundreds of billions of stars, and one of perhaps a trillion or more such galaxies in the universe.

LOST IN SUBURBIA

Mouthing Off

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

When I went for oral surgery last winter, the doctor told me he could only do one half of my mouth that day or I wouldn’t be able to eat for two weeks. Considering it would soon be bathing suit season, I didn’t think that was necessarily a bad thing. But he convinced me otherwise and told me that if I was really gung ho to get it all done, I could come back in a month or so to finish the job. However, the problem with oral surgery is that after you’ve gone through it once, you realize it would take a team of wild horses to drag you in there to do it again.

But nine months later, when the teeth on the other side of my mouth got so sensitive that even eating spaghetti left me in pain, I decided I had to bite the periodontal bullet and go back in the chair.

Let me tell you, there’s nothing like having work done on your mouth to make you appreciate little everyday pains like childbirth and migraines.

Of course, the surgery itself was no big deal. The dentist gave me so much Novocaine that even my left nostril went numb. However, when it finally wore off eight hours later, and I stopped feeling like my lip was hanging down to my collarbone, and all the drool on my chin had dried up, the throb set in.

Contrary to popular belief, Tylenol does not dull the pain.

Advil does not dull the pain.

According to my father, the only thing that works is getting hit over the head by a two-by-four. It doesn’t lessen the pain in your mouth, but the pain in your head is a good distraction.

My husband was very supportive. He booked a flight to the other side of the country and went on a business trip

the day of my surgery. I don’t blame him. I didn’t really want to be around me either. He did, however, send me a lovely bouquet of roses and wishes for a speedy recovery, which translates to: by the time he returns from his trip.

At some point, I decided the only thing to do was go to sleep. My mouth had other plans. While my eyes said, “OK, we’re going to sleep now,” my mouth said, “Arggh, who can sleep with all this throbbing?” So, with an ice pack affixed to my jaw, I stayed up and watched the movies that are so bad you only feel OK about streaming them at 3 o’clock in the morning.

The next day, I not only had a golf ball on the side of my face but also some very attractive bags under my eyes to boot.

All this continued for several more days until I was convinced that a full set of dentures would be a more agree-

And it’s there for all to see on any clear dark night -- if you know just where to look!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

able alternative.

Finally, sick of sitting home with an ice pack on my face, I decided to do the one thing I knew would make me feel better.

Go shopping.

While I was waiting on the checkout line, a very pregnant woman with an infant and three small children got in line behind me.

The kids were all yelling and fighting with each other, and the mother looked completely fed up.

I realized then that my misery would be pretty much over in a week.

She still had 17 years to go.

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.

BY LOU THEODORE

Every now and then, I go back and review my files. “As I See It” was the title of a weekly column that was written for Litmor Publications in the 1900s. It was the forerunner of what has become my present-day articles that appear monthly in The Theodore Newsletter. “On the Stoop” was the second article I penned and appeared in 1991. I’ve resurrected the “Stoop” – with some token minor edits – for this month’s article. I hope you like it.

My friend, the writer Costas Anifantakis of Searingtown, had this to say about “the stoop”: “Using the word ‘stoop’ as a noun is probably unique to Old Gotham. The etymological derivative of the word is lost somewhere in the hustle and bustle of the city’s pubertal period. The brownstone exterior of eight to ten steps, known as the stoop, might have been adopted from the fact that a pedestrian had to do just that (stoop) to negotiate an upward and forward motion simultaneously, the essence of stair ascension. The stoop served and still serves a few functions - primarily, it is a simple architectural expedient providing access to an upper entrance to a building. It not only constitutes a convenient place to hang out but is also an excellent collecting point for the latest gossip. The stoop is a cosmos where one can observe the coiling and uncoiling of the street activity, and lastly, it constitutes an athletic playing field where kids, with the aid of a pink rubber ball (a Spaldeen), can play stoopball. Stoops come in a few shades of sandstone, varying in steepness and depth and although each has its own distinct character, they all have one thing in common: an unmatched view of the world flowing by endlessly.”

The stoop at 168 West 65th Street (between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway) served as both an observatory tower and conference boardroom for me and the guys on the south side of 65th Street during the late 1940’s. This area and the area due south and west were once classified by Mayor LaGuardia as New York City’s worst slum area. That area, just due north of Hell’s Kitchen, was leveled around 1950, to be replaced by what we now call Lincoln Center. Here is what I remember most of the view from our stoop at 168 West 65th Street.

• We lived at 170 West 65th Street, on the third floor, next door to the stoop. I had only a 10 to 12 foot walk from our tenement building to the stoop.

On the Stoop - Revisited

• Directly across the street on the north side of 65th Street was Commerce High School, essentially a non-technical school. It’s still there today.

• Further east diagonally and adjacent to Commerce H.S. was the Loews Theater, later to be converted to a CBS TV studio. It was here that Jackie Gleason’s 8 p.m. Saturday night shows were staged. The afternoon program featured a beautiful and slim singer named Rosemary Clooney.

• Due east near Broadway on our side of the block was Joe McGrath ‘s father’s bar. It was here that I would stand by the door and watch Buddy Young and Vic Raschi. At age 17, I moved inside and was introduced to a “7 and 7”, aka, Seagram’s Seven Crown and 7-up.

• Diagonally west across the street (on the northwest corner intersection of 65th and Amsterdam) was one of Con Edison’s generating plants.

• Around the corner, between 64th and 65th on the east side of Amsterdam was the Open Kitchen restaurant, one of New York’s premier eateries. It featured eleven stools along the counter and three small tables squeezed into a tight space at the end of the counter. Don’t ask about the bathroom. My father somehow managed to get us through the depression with this small establishment.

• Directly across the street from the Open Kitchen restaurant on the west side of Amsterdam was the Ederle Bros. meat and pork store. Sister Gertrude achieved fame when she became the first woman to swim the English Channel.

• Further south and west was the “black” neighborhood. This area housed a chicken market (I think it was Kosher) and Ripley’s clothing factory. The bulk of my father’s customers were Ripley employees.

• There was a tall gym teacher at Commerce High School that lunched daily at the Open Kitchen. A retired colonel, we all addressed him as Colonel Reutershan. One day, he announced to my father in a deep resonating voice: “George, the future is in chemical engineering. Send Louie to school to get a chemical engineering education.” That’s how and why I became a chemical engineer. I really had no say in the matter. My, have times changed.

• There was a sign on the front door entrance of the Con Edison generating plant that read: Show Your Pass. Every now and then, I would mischievously meander over there at night and cover the letter “P.” Would this be classified

as graffiti?

• The terrors of the neighborhood were the gang from 63rd Street. They roughed me up twice. The first time was really bad. They had asked for my money. I only had 5 cents, but had mistakenly told them I had 15 cents.

• The stoop’s tenement had been converted into single furnished room apartments. It housed veterans of Japanese Hawaiian descent who were attending a dental technician school on the G.I. Bill. I remember it as a scam for both the veterans and the school; despite this, I have nothing but positive memories of those guys. Almost to a person, they were kind, helpful and sincere people.

• It was through the same veterans that I was introduced to prostitution, dope, and gambling. I believe nearly all of them smoked weed. Prostitutes came and went at all hours. Blackjack and dice games occurred on occasions; horse betting was a daily ritual. Fortunately, I only got involved with gambling.

• We often pitched nickels or pennies to a wall or a crack in the sidewalk. One day, I won $80 – an unheard of sum in those days pitching quarters to line on the tarred street. This started what I then called my “gambling fund.”

• Stickball was played without gloves (some nearby players used gloves) with one sewer as home plate and the next sewer as second base. Broomsticks served as bats and a pink Spaldeen was the ball. Our team matured in my eighteenth year, and I believe we won all but one of our games that summer. There was at least $100 bet on each game and our team rarely could raise more than $25. I usually was the big contributor with $5. The rest of the money was put up by the owner of the stoop’s tenement; he turned a nifty profit that summer.

• Late one Saturday afternoon, the back door of the CBS studio opened and out came a group led by the Great One, none other than Jackie Gleason, and Phil Foster, Jackie’s guest that night. They were all stewed to the gills and wanted to play stickball for a couple of bucks. We couldn’t believe our good fortune. It was 6-0 after 2 innings when they retired to the studio.

• I fell in love with a girl named Patricia Pike; but as the old joke goes, she didn’t want to know that I existed. I still have that effect on people. -

• The block was predominately Puerto Rican; but my best friend was a Cuban named Gustavo Carrion. Gus was the janitor/superintendent of our

building. One of his responsibilities was feeding coal to the furnace in the basement. He picked up the nickname “Aqua Caliente” because everyone used to yell for more hot water during the winter months.

• During the Depression and World War II years, I would go to the restaurant and ask my father for a nickel to go to a movie. I could never quite figure out why some of the other kids couldn’t go because they didn’t have, or couldn’t get, a nickel. Saturday morning was a must for me because of the weekly serial. The one I remember most was “The Adventures of Naomi.” I fell in love with her, too.

• When it came time to level our block, my father’s lawyer couldn’t appear in court to arrange for the settlement from the city for the Open Kitchen restaurant. At my father’s request, I went in his place. The judge awarded my father $750. I started yelling and the judge threatened to throw me in jail. I remember shutting my’ mouth immediately since I was overcome with fear. Needless to say, the lawyer received a $250 fee, leaving my father with a measly $500 and without his near lifelong business.

It was an eerie feeling, when several decades later, I returned to my earlier home and found nothing but empty space and a newly paved sidewalk. The stoop had departed, never to- returnyet not to be forgotten. But times have changed: I now live in East Williston in a beautiful house, but it doesn’t have a stoop.

God Bless America.

Note: Interestingly, the address 170 West 65th Street was assigned to the theater that today houses Lincoln Center. In addition, I heard from Patricia Pike and a grandson.

Visit the author at: www. theodorenewsletter.com and / or Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

BY TOM MARGENAU

Winter aggravation and hassles or stress-free and happy

There are jobs that you should begin doing today. The most significant thing to consider now is turning on and checking your heating system. Do you have a contract with a service provider to either change your oil filter or air filter on your forced air gas system? This is crucial to the operating system to ensure there are no issues during the winter.

The second most important item to consider is cleaning and flushing out your gutters and leaders, especially if you haven’t done this in a while. As the fall progresses and leaves continue to fall into early December, you will have to do it several times until the process is completed. However, waiting may block the drain and overflow your gutters, which can lead to water going behind your soffits and coming inside your walls, causing mold.

The best way to keep your gutters clean permanently is to install leaf filters. I just had this completed last year and it was a godsend. I became tired of getting up on my ladder, the danger of falling, getting dirty, and wasting precious time. You can order them online and search for someone to install them. Go to your local online neighborhood community, where you will find a handyman to do it. I saved many thousands of dollars by doing it this way. I had an estimate provided by a major installer, including material (the same product that I found online) and labor, for over $5000! I was able to get it done for $350 (pre-tariffs). It might cost a bit more, but you’ll still save a bundle of cash!

Any exposed pipes/faucets on the outside will need to be shut off from the inside of your basement or wherever your valves are located. If you do not have any shut-off valves, then you can purchase 24V wire that can be wrapped around the faucet (as long as you have an outside outlet to plug into), so freezing will not occur. I learned the hard way 20 years ago when my faucet exploded while we were on vacation. My water bill was humongous, even though my neighbor called the water company, and they were able to shut off the water. Fortunately, I have a forced air heating system, so my home was kept warm while we were away, and no issues with interior pipes. Most importantly, if you are going

away for any length of time, keep your heat on at no lower than 55 degrees. If you have pipes in the walls on the north side of your home, it will always be the coldest part. Check to make sure that you are still using oil and that you have enough in your tank or on automatic delivery, so you do not run out!

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

The next thing to consider is to begin putting away your outdoor furniture, or, if there is no room, cover it for the winter. Did you clean your barbecue grill and detach your propane tank? If you have a snow blower, have you tried to start it (I did this the other day, while temperatures were still in the 70s)? Waiting until it is colder or worse, right after a snowfall, could be more challenging and a pain in the butt to start. It would be advisable to change the oil to a non-detergent straight 30W type and to replace the spark plug and air filter, if any. There are no oil filters on these engines compared to a car, which needs a detergent-type oil + filter to catch all metal particles and substances to clean the inside of your engine. Non-detergent oil flows and lubricates much more efficiently.

Rainfall has been almost nonexistent for many weeks. Unless you have an automatic sprinkler system (assuming it is still on) or haven’t done much watering, your lawn may have gone dormant or might have insect damage from chinch bugs or grubs due to a lack of proactive applications. If your lawn can be pulled up and you notice a “C” shaped insect, then you may have grubs. Although a little late, you may notice Chinch bugs by taking an open-ended can, pushing it into the ground right near the brown and green areas, and adding water. If you have them, they will be apparent when they float to the top of the water. You can Google photos of Grubs and chinch bugs. If you apply any materials, I suggest hiring a licensed and insured professional. If you are a do-it-yourself homeowner, always read the label instructions before using and applying any materials.

Fall is the best time to do thatch,

core aeration, and primary seeding. A mix of 30-50% tall fescues, hybrid ryes, and 20% blue grass will provide a great lawn next spring. Spread the seed at 1-3 lbs. per 1000 sq ft with a rotarytype spreader. You should add some topsoil dressing to minimize the loss of seed by birds and heavy rains. Apply fertilizer at one lb. of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. Again, follow the label instructions. You might also want to feed your shrubbery with a specific amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash. A soil test should be considered if you haven’t fertilized in many years. This link will provide excellent information to guide you: www.hgic.clemson.edu. Watering lightly 10-15 minutes every other day, as per local watering laws, will promote some germination within 7-14 days, depending on the weather and temperatures. Ryzomes and tillers via the root system will continue to expand and grow a thicker lawn up until the ground begins to freeze.

Cracks in the driveway that allow water to get in and freeze during the winter will cause damage. It’s a bit late, but if you can find any asphalt driveway sealer at your local or big box stores, you can fill in those cracks. I just did an area on my driveway with an asphalt patch 7 days ago, and it is now hard. You may want to call a local company to perform this task. You can Google driveway sealing companies and get a few estimates.

If you have sidewalks, I suggest that you check those slabs that might not be level and cause someone to trip and possibly break a leg, arm, or worse, a head injury. Fixing those issues now will save you headaches later on. Check if your insurance policy covers you, even if your local village or town owns it. However, generally, you are responsible for repairing them.

Saving time, money, and future aggravation by completing these chores will minimize headaches later on, allowing you to enjoy the fall, winter, and the holidays that will soon be here. If you snooze, you will Lose!

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

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Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.

Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother.

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.

Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).

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Savory stir-fry makes shrimp shine

Thai Shrimp with Roasted Chili Paste

Various dietary guidelines, including the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recommend eating seafood as part of a healthy diet. Many recommend adults eat around eight ounces of seafood per week. There are plenty of deli-

3 tablespoons roasted chili paste

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1⁄2 cup water or chicken stock

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1⁄2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1) In a small bowl, combine chili paste, fish sauce, water, sugar, and salt and stir well. Set aside.

2) Heat a wok or a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl to coat pan. Add garlic and toss well, until

cious seafood options to choose from, and shrimp tops the list of many people’s favorites. It’s versatile in many dishes, as shrimp can be boiled, baked, broiled and fried depending on the recipe. In this recipe for “Thai Shrimp with Roasted

Serves

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1⁄4 cup long thin strips red bell pepper (optional)

1 cup fresh basil or mint leaves (optional)

fragrant, about 30 seconds.

3) Add shrimp and spread into a single layer. Cook, until most of the edges turn pink, about 1 minute. Toss well.

4) Add chili paste mixture and toss well. Cook, tossing occasionally, until shrimp are cooked through and coated with a thin dark sauce, 1 to 2 minutes more.

5) Add red pepper and basil leaves, if using, and toss well. Transfer to a serving plate. Serve hot or warm.

Chili Paste” from “300 Best Stir-Fry Recipes” (Robert Rose) by Nancie McDermott, shrimp is enhanced by the flavors of Asian cuisine in a zesty stir-fry.

Game Night for Grownups at FP Library

The Floral Park Public Library held Game Night for Grownups on October 7.Patrons were able to bring their own games, play one of the Library’s, or one

of host Tom Lupo’s games. Three more game nights are on tap: October 21, November 4 and 18. Registration is open.

Floral Park Library patrons enjoyed Game Night for Grownups.

Gamers were able to bring their own games, use the Library's games, or play games brought by host Tom Lupo.

Players enjoyed socializing over their games.

Additional games nights are scheduled for October 21, November 4, and November 18.Registration is open.

The ladies were intent on their game.

Reviving Hope: A Breakthrough Approach to Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

"Several years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatments. I'm now in remission and blessed to still be here, but I was in so much pain. My feet and hands were constantly burning - a tingling sensation, almost like when your leg or arm falls asleep," shared Mary of Westbury.

Mary was suffering from Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN. While chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, they are not exactly discriminating in what they destroy. The smaller nerves, specifically those in your hands and feet, are some of the first to be harmed. Those suffering from peripheral neuropathy have described this pain as “burning,” “tingling,” “like walking on sharp rocks,” or like Mary explained, that fuzzy, tingling pain you experience during paresthesia (the technical term for when a limb “falls asleep”).

"Standing all day was not just a challenge, it caused me physical agony. Keeping up with my busy schedule - forget about it. I couldn't even go for walks on the beach." Mary, like so many others, was prescribed Gabapentin to help with the pain and told there was nothing anyone could do. In their words: “There is no treatment for neuropathy.”

Fortunately for Mary, where Western medicine fails, Westbury Acupuncture tends to

prove itself. Jae Won, National Board-Certified Acupuncturist, has been blending the time-tested science of acupuncture with modern, medical technology to design a real solution for peripheral neuropathy that doesn’t involve invasive surgeries or prescription medications with uncomfortable side effects.

These Renew Nerve Ⓡ protocols, specific to Westbury Acupuncture and its network of certified providers, actually treat neuropathy versus attempting to mask its symptoms.

"Acupuncture is incredible at restoring blood flow and stimulating damaged nerves. It’s been used for centuries to treat peripheral neuropathy and similar conditions” tells Jae Won. “We take our treatments a step further by integrating ATP Resonance BioTherapy Ⓡ , which targets specific nerves in the body using microcurrent. ATP Resonance BioTherapyⓇ is

akin to watering a plant. This treatment stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerves and provide them with the proper nutrients and energy they need to repair and recover.”

ATP Resonance BioTherapy Ⓡ was originally designed by NASA to speed up healing and recovery. “To have access to this kind of technology has been life changing for our patients” shares Sariah, one of the incredibly compassionate Patient Care Technicians at Westbury Acupuncture. “We even have people asking if they can take the equipment home, so we’re working on developing some at-home options for our less mobile patients.”

After only four weeks of treatment, Mary is already seeing incredible improvement. "I've taken the handicap placard off my rearview mirror and I'm finally back to walking on the beach. I can't wait to see how I feel at the end of my program! I used to think that

the neuropathy pain was just the price I have to pay for still being alive. Jae Won has really given me hope for a better life!"

Jae Won L.Ac and the staff at Westbury Acupuncture have a 90% success rate in reversing peripheral neuropathy, and not just that caused by chemotherapy. They also have tremendous success in treating diabetic neuropathy and neuropathy of undetermined origin, otherwise known as idiopathic neuropathy. “I watched my grandmother suffer with neuropathy during her final years and it broke my heart when she was told there was nothing they could do. This condition is one of the main reasons I went into medicine. Since then, I’ve been on a quest to help people truly thrive in their golden years.”

The number of treatments needed to allow the nerves to fully recover will vary from person to person and can only be determined after a comprehensive consultation and detailed neurological evaluation.

If you or someone you love is suffering from peripheral neuropathy, call (516) 500-8281 to schedule.

For new patients, an initial consultation is complimentary. Simply visit www.WestburyAcupuncture.com for more information and to take advantage of this offer.

Floral Park Chamber, officials track safety plans

From page 1

another form of transportation other than vehicles.”

“What happened on Plainfield was a reminder and exclamation point that we do not ever want a tragedy or accident to occur. We must do everything we can – there are places that don’t have crosswalks now, and beyond that other locations do not have pedestrian signals. We will continue the work on this, nonstop,” Parouse said.

When Deputy Mayor Pombonyo addressed village efforts, she outlined the overlapping jurisdictions that affect safety projects.

“In our village we have Floral Park (municipally-owned and controlled) streets, mainly our side/residential streets. Then we also have Jericho Turnpike which is a New York State roadway, so anything there for changes, traffic-wise, would have to gain approvals by the state. The same is true for the Nassau County-level, with County-owned roads we have such as Tulip Avenue, Plainfield Avenue, and Covert Avenue. If we discuss any addition of traffic lights or pedestrian signals and crossings, any crosswalks done on any of those four roads have to be done by the government entities/jurisdictions. The Village of Floral Park keeps up all the crosswalks on our village streets and about four months ago, we were visited by County Legislator Scott Strauss (who represents Floral Park until December 31st) and the head of Nassau County Public Works and his staff. We met outside at the corner of Plainfield Avenue and Tulip Avenue and we walked all the way down towards Jericho. The county has repainted those lines so that they are not drifting all over the place, but we walked the length of Tulip so that the officials could see what Shane is talking

about with a lack of pedestrian signals on those streets which the county must install. For some that we do have, they aren’t working properly,” she noted.

Another concern, Pombonyo said, is signal timing, including by Verbena Avenue near the LIRR and at Caroline Place that causes red-green “cascades,” backups, and “blocking the box.”

“They are not timed in a way that traffic can flow, as cars get stuck in the red light and the one ahead is a green, then they move up and it’s another red. That builds up the traffic, and it keeps vehicles lined up and blocking the boxes (at intersections) – that creates another problem. County DPW and the officials walked with us to examine all the problems, and when we covered Plainfield Avenue we observed some of the same things at the corner of Magnolia Avenue. The County Public Works has a list and they’ve started to work on plans. But everything is a big deal and an involved effort with the county as they have to do this in many, many places – their design teams need to come out so I don’t know how soon it could be done. But certainly the involvement of our Floral Park Chamber and of Shane Parouse is very important in pointing out some of the concerns and things that jeopardize safety on the streets. If our village could take care of things and if we had the funding, we would take care of them but legally we have limitations on what the village can do to make them safer, but our police are always out there,” Dr. Pombonyo explained.

She added that the village recently re-engineered school drop-off and pickup zones with the Floral Park Police Department (FPPD) to reduce congestion and prevent students from crossing between cars and buses.

Pombonyo also reported that FPPD is

Immediate past Chamber President, and newly-named 2025 Floral Park Businessperson of the Year, Realtor Marie O'Connor-Grant (left), current Floral Park Chamber President Shane Parouse (center) and the Chamber's 2024 Businessperson of the Year, Tania Lawes

stepping up “Blocking the Box” enforcement and is set to receive a **New York State grant** to add staffing for targeted patrols starting in October.

“As we head towards the holiday season, hopefully ‘Blocking the Box’ becomes less of a problem than it is now. The FPPD are out ticketing a lot at present, but we want to prevent this from happening and not just ticket people whenever it does,” Dr. Pombonyo shared.

After hearing this update, longtime Floral Park resident and social media/ marketing expert Mary Griffin DeSanza said she noticed two FPPD patrol cars in new spots checking for cars blocking the box, and she said it was the first time she’s observed them in those locations.

County financial status upgraded

At the meeting, Legislator Giuffrè touted U.S. News & World Report’s designation of Nassau County as the “#1 Safest County in America.” He said that from January 31 through March 31, 2025, the county recorded zero homicides among its 1.4 million residents.

Giuffrè said the county’s post-pandemic finances are “way into the black,” with a $800 million reserve. He highlighted a proposed zero-increase budget from County Executive Bruce Blakeman, seven bond-rating upgrades over three and a half years, the hiring of 300 additional police officers without raising taxes, and a “No Stress” fiscal rating from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Sales tax, 44% to 45% of county revenues—remains the largest revenue stream, he said. The recent Ryder Cup was projected to generate $160 million+ in regional economic impact, a portion of which will benefit Nassau through

sales tax receipts.

Giuffrè’s law office is on Covert Avenue in Stewart Manor and is a member of both the Floral Park and Covert Avenue chambers.

Stewart Manor resident Dr. James Lynch, a longtime friend of Giuffrè, greeted members and noted he is running against the legislator in November.

“While John is a very good friend and a great man, we disagree on things such as casinos, what’s good for the county and how things are done by county management. That’s why I am running,” Lynch said.

Chamber Notes

The Chamber welcomed Saj Singh, a Floral Park Memorial High School student participating in the Virtual Enterprise “mock startup” program. Singh, a classmate of Dmitri Vassiliou (son of Chamber Vice President Chris Vassiliou, owner of Floral Park Diner), asked to attend and “dressed to impress,” Parouse said.

Parouse also announced that Town of North Hempstead grant funding is helping cover Chamber operating costs, easing the burden on membership dues.

“We’re keeping membership renewals at the 2025 rate: no inflation,” he said.

Upcoming Events

Next dinner meeting: Thursday, November 6, 6 p.m., BC Bistro (attached to Buttercooky Bakery), 225 Jericho Turnpike. $40 per person.

Holiday Party: Thursday, December 11, 6 p.m., Nancy’s Fireside, 255-41 Jericho Turnpike, featuring entertainment and the famed Ugly Christmas Sweater contest.

Village Tree Lighting: Friday, December 5 at Memorial Park..

Village of Floral Park Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo (left), Chamber President Shane Parouse (second from right) welcomed Floral Park Memorial High School junior Sahijpir Singh, who is participating in the Virtual Enterprise Program. He was also greeted by one of his best friends' father, Chamber Vice President Chris Vassiliou (right).