Floral Park Villager (2/21/25)

THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY

SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR

FPMHS students compete at Model UN conference

Floral Park Memorial High School’s Model United Nations team earned Outstanding Small Delegation and 10 individual awards at the Boston University Model United Nations Conference. Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Floral Park Memorial High School’s Model United Nations team competed at the 24th Boston University Model United Nations Conference in Massachusetts from Feb. 7–9.

Sewanhaka students attend leadership forum

Sewanhaka Central High School District Superintendent’s Advisory Council held its first districtwide meeting of the school year at a Leadership Forum, hosted at Elmont Public Library on Feb. 6.

The Superintendent’s Advisory Council is comprised of 60 students from all five school buildings who expressed an interest in participating, collaborating, and being a leader in both their own school building and districtwide. The students meet with Superintendent Regina Agrusa, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services Nichole Allen and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Richard Faccio to provide feedback, offer advice and share their hopes for the district’s future.

The forum began with an icebreaker activity to help the students get to know their peers from the other buildings. Each student had dot-stickers in their respective school color, and they were asked to meet new friends and swap stickers. By the end of the activity, the students had a colorful array of stickers on their folders.

Floral Park Memorial earned the title of Outstanding Small Delegation, and 10 students won individual awards.

Congratulations to the following students: Jasmine Chen, Best Delegate; Sahajibir Singh and

BosMUN, a three-day simulation of the United Nations hosted by Boston University for high school students, invites the delegates to delve into the world of international affairs, public speaking and diplomatic skills through policy debates in various committees.

Teddy Gonzalez, Distinguished Delegate; Chloe Lavaute and Sameer Rashwan, Distinguished Delegate; Emma Mathew, Diplomatic Commendation; Isabella Hamid, Diplomatic Commendation; Aishani Rampal, Diplomatic Commendation; Angelina Gallagher, Diplomatic Commendation; and Matthew Bakhsh, Diplomatic Commendation

District Psychiatrist Dr. Caryl Oris and Sewanhaka High School Psychologist Dr. Jason Teague led a discussion on cell phone use in schools and how that can affect students’ mental health, productivity and communication. The students participated in a group discussion regarding student views on possible cell phone policies and procedures.

Following the cellphone conversation, New Hyde Park Memorial High School student Darsh Mirchandani shared his plans for a District Political Action Committee. The entire Advisory Council then participated in the team activity, “What Would You Do?”

The Leadership Forum concluded with “Courageous Conversations,” led by Sewanhaka High School’s Social Studies Chairperson Dr. Nicholas Simone and English Chairperson Kathleen Crimmins. The Advisory Council students discussed the meanings of “courage” and “leadership,” sharing ways that they can be leaders in their school buildings by spreading kindness and setting a good example for others.

FP High School art, literary magazine receives recognition

Floral Park Memorial High School Trumpet members are pictured with adviser Diana Poulos-Lutz.

Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Floral Park Memorial High School’s art and literary magazine, the Trumpet, earned the highest rank of “First Class” in the National Council of English Teachers REALM program, which recognizes excellence in art and literary magazines produced by students. They were recognized for their 2024 edition, Trumpet: Mosaic of Journeys.

This achievement marks the first time that the Trumpet has received this top honor.  There were more than 400 entries nationwide, with 125 schools selected as REALM First Class recipients.

Hillcrest Civic Association to meet

The Hillcrest Civic Association will hold its next meeting on Thursday, February 27, at the Floral Park Recreation Center. The Village trustees and the Floral Park Police Department will speak about issues affecting the Village.

All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

A civic organization is a voluntary group of residents who come together to improve and maintain the quality of

life in a community, while educating the residents on local issues. It acts as a liaison between the community and the Village Board.

If you haven't joined the Hillcrest Civic Association for the upcoming year, please consider doing so. A mailing will be sent shortly to all houses in the Hillcrest area. Members receive Hillcrest newsletters. Membership dues provide for civic events and scholarships to local students.

Health and Fitness Fair 2025

On Saturday, February 22, Legacy Strength Gym will be hosting the Floral Park Health and Fitness Fair 2025. The event will take place at Legacy Strength Gym, 222 Jericho Turnpike, Floral Park.

Presentations by local experts will include:

• Building an unstoppable mindset

• Eating for fat loss to get your

best body this summer

• Techniques to build your metabolic engine and keep it revving

• Recovery techniques to destress and help you get more out of each day

• Admission fee $20 (or bring a friend free!)

Email legacystrengthgym@gmail. com to register.

FP Junior Woman’s Club plans Supermarket Bingo

The Floral Park Junior Woman's Club will hold a Supermarket Bingo event on Friday, April 4, to support its program of scholarships and social services.

The event will take place on Friday, April 4. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the first game starts at 7:30 p.m. It will take place at the American Legion Hall, 15 Elizabeth Street, Floral Park. The building is handicap accessible.

Cost of $15 includes two bingo cards,

coffee, dessert, and a a door prize raffle ticket. Additional bingo cards are available at two for $6 or 4 for $10. Winners will receive supermarket gift cards. There will also be raffle baskets and a 50/50 drawing.

Payments must be made with reservations. Please contact Kathy Kiss at 516-946-3369 or kklccj@hotmail.com by March 21 for reservations and more information.

4 V S ~ Optimum Ch.18 & Fios Ch.28

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24th & THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27th

Artists & Collectors

7:30 PM

8:00 PM

8:30 PM

9:00 PM

9:30 PM

The National Gallery of Art “Past is Present” ~ Exhibition Highlights from the Museum

Uncorked

Rex Whicker

“A Trip to Washington, D.C.” ~ Rex Pairs Wine with his Travel Experience

The Author Corner

Stephanie Larkin

Catherine Manett ~ Author of the “Run Away Home” Series of Novels

Wes Houston Presents…

Wes Houston Presents Pat Wictor ~ Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist

FPFD: Red Alert

Larry King, AEMT & Leigh Tyrrel, Firefighter

“Fire Insurance Investigations” ~ Bob Wisniewski, FDNY Fire Marshal (Ret.)

Valentines for Veterans

Hempstead Town Councilman Tom Muscarella and Town Clerk Kate Murray stopped by Floral Park-Bellerose School in Floral Park on February 10 to pick up Valentines for Veterans cards that were created by the students. The heartfelt artwork will be delivered to local veterans’ organizations. Also attending was Principal John DeKams.

1 Floral Blvd., Floral Park, NY 11002

Phone: 516.326.1150 ~ Email: 4VS@4VS.org

Glow-in-the-dark activities in JLCS’ Discovery Lab

The Discovery Lab at John Lewis Childs School transformed into a neon, glow-in-the-dark space during Glow Week, held from Feb. 10-14.

Students were encouraged to wear white or neon colors during their Discovery Lab lesson. With the lights shut off and the use of a black light, the students explored several stations with fluorescent-themed activities. The stu-

dents made shapes with Play-Doh, drew with highlighters, stacked cups, made Glow Stick structures, created images on Lite Brites, and designed with PlusPlus Blocks and Geoboards.

The Discovery Lab is led by teacher Janice Hyland.

The kids created a stacked cup sculpture. Students made art work that would glow under black light.

John Lewis Childs School fourth graders enjoyed glow-in-the-dark activities in the Discovery Lab on Feb. 14.

This group used glow sticks for their creation.

Love to write?

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

Email submissions: editor@gcnews.com

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

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

Photos courtesy of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District

Long Island Children’s Museum celebrates Carnival

Enjoy Music, Dance, Food and Floats

on March 8-9, 2025

Carnival is a vibrant holiday celebrated in countries around the world; each country’s festivities offer a unique glimpse of its culture, with lively music and dance, parades, face painting and delicious food uniting all of them. It’s a time for friends and families to come together and celebrate community spirit. The Carnival celebration at Long Island Children’s Museum is sponsored by NY State Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, District 22.

“Carnival is a celebration we’re eager to bring to our visitors,” says Aimee Terzulli, LICM Vice President for Programs & Visitor Experience. “The celebration ignites all the senses with vibrant music, dance and food.” Carnival is the second of three cul-

tural celebrations at the Museum this year. These events provide meaningful educational experiences and strengthen community bonds, Terzulli notes “They provide rich entry points to learning about the culture of many of our Long Island neighbors.”

In announcing her support of this event, Assemblymember Solages said, “As a proud Haitian-American and representative of a district with a vibrant Caribbean and Latin American community, I am honored to sponsor the Long Island Children’s Museum’s Carnival celebration. Carnival is more than just a festival. It is a reflection of our history, resilience, and cultural pride. It is a time for families to come together, share traditions, and celebrate the rich diversity that makes our community so special. I look forward to joining the

Long Island Children’s Museum in this joyous celebration of music, dance, and unity.”

During the festive weekend, visitors will enjoy a multi-sensory celebration, where they can:

• Experience a kaleidoscope of colors, music, dance and food!

• Decorate a parade float fit for a Carnival King & Queen.

• Sample the sweet and savory flavors of the holiday.

• Create Carnival-themed crafts to take home as souvenirs,

• Watch stunning dancers, towering stilt walkers and rhythmic drummers!

• Enjoy a celebration for all ages welcoming the changing of seasons.

Performances will take place each day at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. A Carnival King & Queen will be selected to lead

Museum-wide parades each day featuring floats made by visitors. All Carnival activities and performances are included with Museum admission.

The final cultural festival offered by LICM will be Holi: The Festival of Colors on Sunday, April 6 (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.).

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.

February events at the Floral Park Library

“Without Valentine’s Day, February would be, well…January.”

– Jim Gaffigan

May you find love in a good book this month (and elsewhere, too!).

Book Clubs

The legacy Friends of the Library Book Club book lovers meets Monday, February 3rd at 10:15 am, and Daniel Mason’s “North Woods” is the discussion topic for the February 13, 7:00 p.m. Evening Edition Book Club. For romantics, “It Ends with Us” will be shown in the Community Room on February 10 at 1:00 p.m.

AARP Tax Prep

It’s THAT time again! AARP Tax Prep session begin February 4, and continue weekly through April 8.  Registration — by appointment only — for Floral Park residents only begins January 27; all others February 3. Why are love and taxes in the same month?

Taxes and Money

In keeping with the tax  - and money - theme, Nassau County Receiver of

Taxes Jeanine Driscoll hosts tax grievance night at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, and the New York State Comptroller’s office presents a program on unclaimed funds.

Programs for Adults

Rounding out Adult programs, Carol Leitner offers Plant Food Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle. Marina Horan and Doug Cioffi lead a talk about birding, and show Doug’s award winning bird photographs taken at Floral Park’s Centennial Gardens. Hybrid Chair Yoga with Micheline continues Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m.

Urban Explorers Go to the Library

A private tour of the New York City Public Library is on tap for February’s Floral Park Library Urban Explorers outing.

Programs for Teens

For Teens, February brings Spy Game (Unleash your Inner Secret

Agent), a Vacation Mini-comic book event, and a P[arty] Art program.

Programs for Kids

There’s a four-day Winter vacation Mini-art Camp for the younger set, an author visit, and a winter break cooking fun session  (pre-K – 1st grade) with Chef Julie. And, the “regulars” are here, too:  Play Hooray, A Time for Kids Baby Start and Family Pre-School Hour; Craft with the Pom Pom Queen (grades 3 – 5); Tiny Tots Storytime, and more cooking fun with Chefs of d’Future.

Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting

Our Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting groups meet Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. No registration necessary; no formal instruction provided. New members always welcome.

Tech Help

One-to-one tech help with Joe for tablets, smartphones, laptops and Kindles

is available for our Floral Park patrons by appointment only (floralparktechhelp@gmail.com).

Book Nook

Call the Library (516 326-6330) to check days and times for the Book Nook. All sales of books, DVDs, etc. support the Friends of the Floral Park Library, a 501c3 organization.

Library Information

For more information on dates and times, events registration and program details, visit the library website, floralparklibrary.org, call 516 326-6330, or visit us at 17 Caroline Place. All events and programs are subject to change and/or cancellation. The Library is closed Monday, February 17, for President’s Day.

Follow us on Facebook (floralparklibrary), Twitter (@fplibrary17), or Instagram (fplibrary, 17, floralparkchildrens, fpplteens).

New York Institute of Technology congratulates the students who were named to the Dean’s Honor List for the fall 2024 semester, including the following Floral Park residents:

Alexander Guo

Shayne Martin

Lionel Narain

Cody Ortiz

Austin Reji

Meherin Shusoma

Isabelle Zachariah

n Susan Whitfield has been named to the Siena College Dean’s List for the Fall 2024 semester. Susan is from Floral Park.

To be named to the Dean’s List, a student’s grade point average for the semester must be between 3.5 and 3.89.

n Alexa Siino of Floral Park, New York, has earned the Master of Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University.

Siino is among more than 900 students who achieved their academic goals and graduated from VSU at the end of Fall Semester 2024.

n New York Institute of Technology congratulates the students who were named to the Presidential Honor List for the fall 2024 semester, including the following Floral Park residents:

Angelina Chacko

Christopher Fauty

Aaren Luna

Elijah Mullings

Sophia Orantes

Bhagmattie Sarendranauth

Arham Shahbaz

Arshdeep Singh

n

The following Floral Park students were named to the Dean’s List during the fall 2024 academic semester at Salve Regina University. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a semester grade point average of 3.6 for full-time students completing at least 12 graded credits, or a semester grade point average of 3.8 for part-time students completing at least six credits.

Zachary Gechlik

Isabella Taly

n There were 1,051 SUNY Cortland stu-

College Notes

dents who earned President’s List honors for the Fall 2024 semester. To qualify for the President’s List, students must earn a grade of A- or better in each of their classes while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.

Those honored include the following Floral Park students:

Chloe Edwards - Major: Early Childhood and Childhood Education B-6

Emma Kline - Major: Inclusive Childhood Education

Emily Mckie - Major: Early Childhood and Childhood Education B-6

Alanis Navas - Major: Early Childhood and Childhood Education B-6

n

There were 2,971 students recognized for academic excellence on the SUNY Cortland Dean’s List for the Fall 2024 semester. The Dean’s List is the highest ranking for undergraduate students in their respective academic areas of the university. Students must earn a minimum 3.3 grade point average for the semester to make the list.

Among those honored are the following Floral Park students:

Ryan Ambery - Major: Exercise Science

Emily Eckert - Major: Inclusive Education Childhood

Chloe Edwards - Major: Early Childhood and Childhood Education B-6

Alexis Kelly - Major: Inclusive Education Childhood

Emma Kline - Major: Inclusive Education Childhood

Danielle Krapf - Major: Early Childhood and Childhood Education B-6

Isabella Macdonald - Major: Criminology

Emily Mckie - Major: Early Childhood and Childhood Education B-6

Alanis Navas - Major: Early Childhood and Childhood Education B-6

Ryann Redmond - Major: Exercise Science

n

The University of Hartford is pleased to announce that 2,291 students have been named to the Dean’s List and President’s List for the fall 2024 semester.

The Dean’s List recognizes students achieving superior academic standing. The requirement, with some exceptions, is a grade point average of at least 3.0

and no grade below C.

The President’s List recognizes a select group of students reaching the highest level of academic standing. To be placed on the President’s List, students must maintain a GPA of at least a 3.75 and receive grades of C or better.

The following Floral Park students were honored:

Ethan Hallock - Dean’s List and President’s List

Erin Kenney - Dean’s List n

The University of Hartford recently honored Ethan Hallock of Floral Park who was named to the Dean’s List and President’s List.

The President’s List recognizes a select group of students reaching the highest level of academic standing. To be placed on the President’s List, students must maintain a GPA of at least a 3.75 and receive grades of C or better.

Alyssa Di Lorenzo of Floral Park was among the more than 10 students from New York Institute of Technology’s School of Health Professions who traveled to Costa Rica in January, where they shadowed healthcare workers in clinical and community settings.

n

The Dean’s List at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of full-time undergraduate students.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

Congratulations to the following Floral Park residents who are dedicated to their academic excellence. The UAlbany Fall 2024 Dean’s List scholars include:

Bhavi Shah, majoring in Human Biology

Kristen Hill, majoring in Political Science

n

The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that several area students have been named to its Fall 2024 Dean’s List. Among them are:

Lindsey O’Neill of Floral Park

Christopher Pellettieri of Bellerose Village

To be included on the Dean’s List,

full-time students must have completed 12 or more credits for letter grades which are GPA applicable during a semester and achieved at least a 3.30 quality point average. Part-time students qualify with the accumulation of 12 or more credits for letter grades which are GPA applicable earning at least a 3.30 quality point average.

n Ryan Galla, of Floral Park, was named to the University of Mississippi’s Fall 2024 Honor Roll lists.

Galla, in the B.B.A. in Finance program, was named to the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.754.00.

n Logan McCann, a member of the Class of 2026 from Floral Park, has been named to the Fall 2024 Dean’s List at Stonehill College. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must have a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher and must have successfully completed all courses for which they were registered.

n Hofstra University is proud to release the fall 2024 Provost’s List, which recognizes students who earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Students on the fall 2024 Provost’s List include the following local students. Edmund Conway of Floral Park. Jennifer Stepancic of Floral Park.

n

Hofstra University congratulates the students named to the fall 2024 Dean’s List for their outstanding academic achievements. Students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 during the semester to make the Dean’s List.

Floral Park students named to the fall 2024 Dean’s List are listed below.

David Aldorisio

Aleksei Armas

Jack Carella

Nora Cernjul

Mark Filoso

Noelle Lauletta

Aleeza Nasir

Brandon Ridge

Jake Urban

Kristen Weiss

Michael Wieber

Six Days Cycling Idaho Trails with Discovery Bicycle Tours

TRAVEL

BY KAREN RUBIN

FEATURES SYNDICATE

GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

It’s pitch black as we make our way 1.66 miles through the first tunnel of the Route of the Hiawatha, except for the light on our bike. Water drips down from the ceiling, the surface is muddy and slippery, adrenalin pumping. It is hugely thrilling.

This is just the first (and the most dramatic) of the 9 tunnels and 7 trestles we go through over the course of 14 miles down, then back through again for 14 miles up. It is also the longest – a full 1.66 miles in total darkness! but each tunnel, each trestle is exciting. You can immediately appreciate why the Route of the Hiawatha is one of Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame rail trails.

The experience is but one of many highlights of Discovery Bicycle Tours’ six-day Idaho Trails trip, during which we will do the 111-mile long Centennial Trail, starting in Spokane Washington to Coeur d’Alene; tackle the remarkable Route of the Hiawatha Trail; and the 73-mile long Trail of the Coeur D’Alenes where we immerse in tribal land, history and culture. Along the way, we will also have interesting experiences such as touring a silver mine in the company of a miner and a museum preserving the heritage of the Coeur d’Alene people.

As we gather together for our first orientation meeting with our guides, I take note that just about every one of our group of 13 riders has taken not just one, two but several trips with Discovery Bicycle Tours.

This is my fourth, and I consistently find Discovery’s whole approach to bike touring ideal –

Biking through the pitch black, 1.66-mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel the first of nine tunnels, seven trestles on the 14-mile long Route of the Hiawatha, a highlight of Discovery Bicycle Tours’ six-day Idaho Trails trip © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com

summed up in the phrases “Ride your ride” followed by “This is your vacation!”– and how they make that happen. There are two guides (they take turns driving the van that shuttles our stuff, sets up our snackstops, and is there if anyone needs assistance; while the other cycles along, bringing up the rear), but most importantly, we bike at our own pace. This is because we have our own Ride with GPS App, customized by Scott Cone (the company’s owner, he calls himself Adventure Consultant) for each itinerary; they even provide a phone holder on our bike.

The accommodations, restaurant choices and food are the perfect mix of charming reflections of the places we tour, and luxury (as much com-

fort as you would ever want without going over the top), adding immeasurably to the tour. The bikes (five of us use their hybrid, eight others take advantage of the availability of e-bikes at no extra cost) and equipment provided are top notch, and it bears noting that I consistently find Discovery offers excellent value-for-money.

Our guides, Susie Iventosch and Calista Phillips, are fantastic – really knowledgeable, supportive, encouraging, accurate (I appreciate having a realistic view of what the day’s ride will be), and flexible when necessary (like when we all vote not to ride during a downpour but shuttle the first 11 miles of the day’s route).

The trips are designed for maximum enjoyment of the ride – we are

GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR

shuttled when it makes sense to or from the ride, and given options of longer or shorter routes each day. And the routes they choose, as well as the added activities (a lecture one evening, the silver mine tour another day, a visit to a museum another) add dimension. I also appreciate the advance preparation – documents, itinerary – and care they provide before the trip.

Day 1: Setting Out on the Centennial Trail, 36 Miles

Our first morning starts with an early meet-up at the Hilton Garden Inn close to Spokane Airport, for introductions and orientation, and we are shuttled to Sontag Park, the start of the Centennial Trail, where we are fitted to our bikes, get the Ride with GPS app going, and set out on a really beautiful ride. Suzie notes that this first day will be the most challenging of the tour.

We start pedaling along the Washington portion of the Centennial Trail in the rocky canyons west of Spokane. The beginning of the trail is in the forest, and soon rises so that we have this gorgeous view of the Spokane River far below. And once you do the first hill, you feel you can do the second (which is the steepest of the day), then the third (the longest, but not as steep – a piece of cake).

We pass through Spokane’s urban Riverfront Park that I have so enjoyed visiting for the past three days, and end, 36 miles further down, just five miles before the Washington-Idaho state line, where we are picked up by the van and are taken to the charming Roosevelt Inn where we stay for two nights, in

Continued on next page

Six Days Cycling Idaho Trails with Discovery Bicycle Tours

Continued from previous page

Coeur D’Alene. (Our next day’s ride will bring us back to this same spot, so we can ride the five miles into Idaho.)

I adore the Roosevelt Inn - it is so much a part of Coeur d’Alene. Named for President Theodore Roosevelt who came through the area in 1903 on a campaign whistle stop, the building dates from 1905 when it was Coeur D’Alene’s first school, then became offices, and is now a most charming 14-room bnb. Each room is named for someone with a picture and bio, and provides plush robes and towels. The inn offers a hot tub and sauna (open 24 hours), and absolutely gorgeous gardens (life-size chess). There is a lovely parlor with gorgeous painted mural along the three walls, where there is a refrigerator guests can use; a constant supply of coffee, tea and hot chocolate; fruit and usually, something freshly baked. Each morning, we are served breakfast to order,

This first evening we enjoy dinner together at a pub-style restaurant (a celebratory drink is included).

DAY 2: 14 or 27 miles, Centennial Trail

After breakfast at The Roosevelt Inn on our second day, we shuttle to Lovely Falls Park, the headwaters of the Spokane River. The trail takes us along the majestic shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The ride today is 14 miles out and back to the endpoint of the Centennial Trail at Higgins Point, the endpoint of the Centennial Trail, mostly hugging the gorgeous shoreline of Lake Coeur d’Alene, until we come to one major hill up, then down – which means (if we are

BY CHARLYN FARGO

February is a big month for health: It’s both American Heart Month and National Cancer Prevention Month. And whether we’re talking about cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other chronic diseases, healthy eating applies to all.

When it comes to cancer, we know that foods high in antioxidants are key to helping reduce cancer risk. But what are they and where are they found?

Antioxidants are the antidote to oxidative stress, according to Karen Collins, nutrition adviser with the American Institute for Cancer Research. That oxidative stress occurs when highly reactive

biking back) we have an even steeper return.

We have the option to ride back in the van, but all of us choose to bike back to The Roosevelt, cycling at our own pace. It is early afternoon when we return, so we have plenty of time to enjoy exploring the charming shops and galleries of Coeur d’Alene (a hugely popular destination), swim in the lake or relax. I find a lovely hiking trail along the cliffs.

We are treated to a talk by historian Shauna Hillman give a delightful talk about the town of Wallace, Idaho and the Silver Valley Mine which we will be visiting (‘Murder, mining, prostitution, the mayor murdered his wife’s lover and got away with it, and was reelected twice!”) as we sit in the inn’s lovely garden – before heading out to have dinner on our own.

DAY 3: 15 or 28 miles, Route of the Hiawatha

After two delightful nights at the Roosevelt Inn in Coeur d’Alene, we pack up in preparation for moving our home base to a mountain resort in Kellogg for the remainder of trip. After breakfast, we shuttle 90 minutes east to the trailhead of the famous Route of the Hiawatha.

Biking the Route of The Hiawatha is an extraordinary experience in the annals of bike trails. Our guides, Suzie and Calista, prepare us extremely well for what we will do, that the first tunnel, the St. Paul Pass Tunnel, is the longest at 1.66 miles long, and is pitch black, damp and a constant 47 degrees. They have put lights on our bikes (you are not allowed to go on the trail with-

out a helmet and bike light).

After we excitedly take group photos at the entrance, we set out at our own pace, with the caveat that we have to start biking back up at 2:30 pm (note there is an hour time change from the start).

Biking through the St. Paul Pass Tunnel is a surreal experience – you can’t see what is above or on the side, only what is lit by the narrow beam where your light shines.

When you get out and ride the hardpacked gravel trail, it goes steadily down a 3% grade for 14 miles. The scenery is quite spectacular, especially when you look down at a thin pencil line and realize that is the trestle you will be riding across. It looks so small, so far away and far down. And then you are there, and it isn’t thin at all. The view from the trestle is spectacular, too.

The trestles are so high above where you imagine is the valley floor, you feel you are suspended.

It is 14 miles down on hard-packed gravel to where there is a picnic table where we have a box lunch we had ordered, before riding back up the same 14 miles. If you don’t want to ride back up, you can buy a ticket ($20) to take a shuttle bus. We all bike back. (Notably, there are several bathrooms along the way and water supplied.)

I must admit I am a bit nervous to ride continuously uphill for 14 miles but it actually isn’t bad at all, and there are all these opportunities to stop for the view, or read the interpretive signs that line the trail that tell the history of the Milwaukee Road Railroad. The view and the fresh air are exhilarating.

Antioxidant Power

molecules, known as free radicals, rise to unhealthy levels. When levels are high, they create cell damage that increases susceptibility to cancer and other chronic diseases.

Free radicals come from exposure to environmental hazards like pollution and secondhand smoke. The goal is not to eliminate them all. It’s the rising levels of free radicals that trigger our bodies to amp up our complex antioxidant system and turn on cancer-protective defenses. The health risk comes when the level of free radicals overwhelms antioxidant defenses.

Aren’t more antioxidants the answer?

Many believe that and take extra vitamins A, C and E (essential antioxidants). But it’s more than vitamins; antioxidants are found in phytochemicals too. Phytochemicals naturally occur in plant foods. Studies have shown links between eating more produce and lower cancer risk, but the number of antioxidants

The Hiawatha, considered one of the more successful rail-trail conversions in the United States, was named to the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s national Hall of Fame in 2010. It was developed from a railroad line, developed in the late 1800s, that went out of business in the 1980s.

One of the historic markers along the way tells of the Great Fire of 1910. One of the most devastating forest fires in American history, it burned 3 million acres of forest in northern Idaho and western Montana. The marker tells of heroic actions by the railroad employees who drove engines and box cars filled with people through the flames to the safety of the longer tunnels, saving 600 lives.

It feels soooo good when I come back through that last, longest (1.66 miles), darkest tunnel, being careful not to ride up on the person in front, or slipping in the muddy surface.

At the end, it is a work out that makes you feel so ecstatic, euphoric when you finish.

Feeling quite elated, we pile back into the van to shuttle to the Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, where we stay in gorgeous condo accommodations for three nights.

Discovery Bicycle Tours, 800-257-2226, www.discoverybicycletours.com

Next: Biking the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com.

reaching the body’s cells can depend on how much is lost is cooking and how well compounds are absorbed.

Here’s the bottom line for cancer prevention: Don’t just focus on antioxidants alone. Focus on balance, variety and moderation. Choose plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses (like dried beans and lentils) and nuts. Add variety by eating the rainbow -- dark green, deep orange, white, purple, yellow and red foods. It doesn’t matter if it’s fresh, frozen or canned -- they all provide benefit. Make these the biggest portion of your eating choices, and you’ll crave less processed food, processed sugar and processed meat.

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. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow

Crossword Answers

All about milkshakes & movies

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

My cousin, Elaina, and I were poring over some old family albums recently and we had a good laugh over some silly photos of us as kids. We’re six months apart so we feel as close as sisters.

The two of us running around on the beach snapping towels at each other as 11-year-olds was captured on a camera by a relative and memorialized for all to see even 50 years later. We also saw us all dolled up in those serious pictures at the special events like Holy Communions, graduations and weddings.

Elaina had pulled the albums from a closet in her house and we were instantly brought back to sunny days on the beach near her home in Westchester County. Her father, my Uncle Douglas, had gotten a Sunfish and the three of us went out on it quite a few times. We sailed on the Long Island Sound under some glorious blue skies in July. Uncle Douglas steered the Sunfish and we watched as he did it.

Gripping the tiller, he would move it right or left and that would move the rudder. He also told us when to move about in the boat because shifting our body weight helped the boat maintain its balance. Keeping its balance was a good thing since none of us wanted to end up in the Sound when we were enjoying a nice boat ride and admiring the scenery all around us.

After returning to the shore we went for a swim in the pool at their club, got dressed and headed home for a delicious grilled dinner with corn on the cob. We relaxed for a while then I offered to make some milkshakes for the three of us. They liked that idea. Rummaging through the kitchen for their blender, I found it and placed it on the counter.

Pulling out a gallon of vanilla ice cream and a quart of milk, I followed the recipe for milkshakes that I knew by heart. My mom had shown me how to make them. I placed 5 scoops of vanilla ice cream in the blender and added milk. The basic rule of thumb, I

reminded myself, is for every 3 scoops of ice cream, I need 1 cup of milk.

Plugging the blender into the wall outlet, I ran it on low and watched it slowly become a smooth mixture. If it seemed a bit thick, I added a little more milk. In time the ingredients blended into a great big perfect-looking milkshake and I was pleased.

Pulling some tall, clear glasses from the cabinet, I poured the three milkshakes we wanted on that hot summer’s day. Topping each of them off with a swirl of whipped cream, some colorful sprinkles and a cherry, I popped a straw into each glass. Elaina and Uncle Douglas thanked me for my industriousness - which made me laugh - and we toasted healthy living and bright, sunny days then enjoyed our drinks. Spending time with Elaina at her house, my house or traveling together was always fun.

Some friends and I got together recently to watch “80 for Brady” on Netflix because we heard it is a pretty funny film and sure enough, it is. The movie, which came out last year, stars Sally Field, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Jane Fonda as the ensemble actresses and Tom Brady stars in the show. He’s also one of the producers. We had some good laughs out of it.

The basic plot is four friends get together to see the New England Patriots play in the Super Bowl in Houston. How they got the Super Bowl tickets is a bit of a mystery.

While there these four friends are intent on meeting NFL quarterback and superstar Tom Brady. In one of the movie’s memorable moments they end up performing a dance number with Billy Porter outside the stadium’s gate.

It turns out the movie is inspired by the true story of five best friends and New England Patriots fans who take a life-changing trip to the Super Bowl in 2017 to see Tom Brady against the Alanta Falcons. Chaos ensues as they navigate the crowds and the wilds of the biggest sporting event in the country.

On a Sally Field kick, my friends

and I then checked out “Places in the Heart,” a movie made in 1984 that stars Sally Field and is memorable in a number of ways.

Sally Field plays the role of Edna Spalding, a sheriff’s widow who learns from the banker that times are hard during the Great Depression and she should sell her farm in Texas and maybe board her kids with somebody else. She refuses.

She is determined to keep the 30-acre farm and keep her kids although she has no idea how she can make everything work. She needs to plant a crop and she’s not sure whether cotton or something else will work.

It’s a serious story with a great cast: Lindsay Crouse, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, John Malkovich and Danny Glover, all of whom work well opposite Sally Field’s character.

Sally Field won an Academy Award for Best Actress in “Places in the Heart” in 1985 and the movie was nominated

for an Oscar for Best Picture. It was well deserved because Field portrayed the grit and the faith in her steadfast belief that they would survive during tough times, that both her family and her farm would go on.

I’ve always liked Sally Field and I couldn’t help but think back to “Gidget” and “The Flying Nun.” “Gidget” came out in 1965 when I was 10 and “The Flying Nun” in 1967. It was always funny to see that nun take off toward the sky and being that my sisters and I had nuns teaching us at St. Agnes Elementary School in Rockville Centre it was especially funny.

Sally Field played the role of Sister Bertrille on the show. She later said it wasn’t her most favorite role but it helped introduce her to audiences around the world.

Now on TV we’ve got Morris Chestnut playing “Watson” and Kathy Bates playing “Matlock.” It’s a whole different world.

Most Beautiful Grandchild

Miles Whalen Jaquay, shown here at 13 months old is the grandchild of Patricia Clements Jaquay

BY TOM MARGENAU

First, an apology: I don’t think there will be anything about Social Security in today’s column. But after 28 years of writing these weekly articles (that would be more than 1,450 columns about Social Security), I hope you’ll indulge me around this Valentine’s Day as I spend one column sharing a couple funny stories from the early days of my 50-yearand-counting marriage to my valentine: Becky Margenau.

We met in 1973 when I left my hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to begin my first posting with the Social Security Administration at their newly opened branch office in Litchfield, Illinois. One of my first jobs was to verify Medicare numbers for a clerk in the local hospital’s billing department. That clerk was Becky Bachstein, who called me daily to verify numbers for hospital patients on Medicare. Eventually, Becky’s matchmaking boss invited me out to the hospital to meet Becky. Long story short: A few months later, we were married!

Not long afterward, I transferred to a Social Security office in Chicago. Becky and I found an apartment in the leafy suburb of Oak Park, former home to such luminaries as Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway. Becky got a job in the billing office of West Suburban Hospital, right on the dividing line between Oak Park and Chicago. And after a while, she moved from the billing department to a maternity ward. (Did I mention she was pregnant?) And the delivery of our son, Mike, in March 1976 makes for an interesting story.

After about three hours in a labor ward, Becky was finally wheeled into the delivery room. I went along. And back then, it was still kind of an experiment to have the father in the delivery room. We were in for a bit of a surprise when we got there. West Suburban was a teaching hospital, and the delivery room was actually a small amphitheater. The seats were filled with about 20 or 25 student doctors and nurses. I don’t want to get too graphic here, but imagine poor Becky, her legs up in stirrups, with a small crowd staring down at her!

Becky’s doctor was a very short, thin woman. That becomes important because the delivery was getting difficult. The doctor had to use forceps to try to deliver the baby. But being so small and slight, she simply didn’t have the physical strength to bring the baby out! We noticed concerned looks. We saw doctors and nurses huddling and talking. Then one of the nurses ran out of the room! What was going on?

We soon learned she was sent to get a “relief doctor.” This doctor turned out to be a huge woman who spoke with a heavy German accent. When she stormed into the room, she looked around and almost barked at me, saying, “Who are you?”

Stories With My Valentine

When I timidly explained I was the father, she ordered me out of the room. I will always remember her loud Germanic command: “You vill get out ov here!”

Of course, now I was really scared. Becky later said she wasn’t worried. She just wanted things to be over with! I remember walking down the hall after leaving the delivery room when a nurse came running for me and said, “Come on back, you have a son!”

Becky told me later that the big doctor just used her heft and muscles to yank little baby Mike out. (There’s probably a more delicate way of putting that.) And poor Mike was born with a pretty ugly and not too delicate dent in his head from the use of the forceps by the Teutonic practitioner who must have skipped the “bedside manner” class in medical school!

Anyway, just a few weeks later, we’d be back in a hospital with little baby Mike -- but this time in Billings, Montana. And therein lies another story.

In the months leading up to Mike’s birth, I had been trying to get myself transferred out of messy Chicago. I was essentially willing to go anywhere. And I ended up getting sent to Billings, Montana!

Mike was just two weeks old when we left Chicago. He traveled across the country in a blanket-lined chicken box in the back seat of my old Pontiac. I had picked up the box from a local grocery store before we left. The box said it had once held a dozen frozen chickens. (This was long before baby car seats were common or required.)

After a bit of a scary wintertime ride in our old car across the frozen plains of Minnesota and South Dakota, we pulled into Billings, Montana, on a Saturday afternoon. We checked into a pleasant mom and pop motel in a residential area. That evening, our first night in Billings and our first night in this motel, and one of our first nights a thousand miles from grandmas (who knew something about parenting), Mike started to cry and wouldn’t stop. He cried and cried. And it got louder and louder, or so it seemed, what with the thin walls of a motel room. Nothing we did -- from rocking him to feeding him to singing to him -- quieted him down. Eleven p.m. -- Mike was crying. Midnight -- Mike was crying. One a.m. -- more crying! What could we do?

We called our mothers back in the Midwest and woke them up. But of course, they were of little help being a thousand miles away. So at about 1:30 in the morning, we finally decided to head for a hospital.

When we got there, the emergency room waiting area was full of drunks and gunshot victims and other assorted Saturday night maladies. There is a chance that time and my imagination might be playing tricks on me, but I even think

there was a guy with an arrow sticking out of his arm! Remember: We were in the Wild West!

We went to the receptionist and explained our dilemma. She tried to talk us into going back home, telling us we would have to wait around for hours to

see a doctor. We told her we were desperate, didn’t have a home and would be willing to wait.

Reluctantly, she started filling out registration and insurance papers. This

Continued on next page

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

REAL ESTATE WATCH

Consider retiring locally, domestically or internationally

Are you consider retiring and relocating locally, domestically or internationally? Here are the ten towns in America where you can still buy an affordable (and great) vacation home.

Is it possible that you and/or your significant other may have loftier ideas and sights with cultural benefits in mind by entertaining the thought of going abroad to another exotic or varied destination? You have a multitude of choices to ponder, locally, domestically and internationally, so plan your strategies and consider your options.

You may be searching for a single family home, condo, townhome, or gated community. The possibilities and choices are endless. However, as they say, “the devil is in the details.”

The planning and strategizing will take a lot of concerted effort, perseverance, a little bit of your passion, and the sacrifice of your, unrecoverable, can’t grow anymore and impossible to recover valuable time! But then again, all we have is time, right? Well, if you don’t start, when will you? Starting now will lead you to the potential finish line, sooner than later, don’t you agree?

It may be more simple and seamless to stay local or even in another state like North or South Carolina, Georgia, even Texas (no state income taxes), or maybe even in Illinois, which is growing by leaps and bounds. The prices are assuredly lower than our local region with considerably lower taxes and the lifestyle could be more amenable to what you may be searching for; anything is possible.

However, be aware of residing near an ocean or body of water with respect

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

to knowing in advance what your real estate insurance will set your back. Florida and any other state that has either flood zones or proximity near water, as some of my Florida friends homeowner’s insurance have succumbed to, that you are aware of the costs, especially those hidden ones, that are in all the fine print, that insurance companies don’t necessarily want you to be aware of. As they say “Caveat Emptor” buyer beware! Shopping around for your insurance will be your most prudent and smart path to pursue to potentially and hopefully in saving money.

stantial amount of money; unless you are paying cash from the proceeds of your current sale of your home.

footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, solar panels, Geo-thermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).

Maybe you have discussions with your children about staying near them as you age to have them as a backup in case of any issues, emergencies or health problems. That is one of the many benefits of living near them besides seeing your grandchildren more regularly, even babysitting; as many don’t have that wonderful experience but maybe once a year. Here is a link to consider searching other locations around the U.S. to find the top 5 places to purchase a vacation or retirement home at extremely reasonable prices : bit.ly/4hA7mGd

However, renting might be more economical, as age might come into play and buying might not be in your best financial interests. However, it is another possible option. This will enable you to not have to layout a sub-

SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU

was before computers were commonplace, so she was using a manual typewriter. I sat at her desk, holding baby Mike in my arms, while she typed away and Mike cried away.

But all of a sudden, little baby Mike squirmed and got a funny look on his face. And then he threw up. And not just little dribble-y baby puke. No, this was a serious case of projectile vomit! It went all over the receptionist’s desk, her clothes, her typewriter, etc. She was in shock. Becky and I were in shock. Who knows, maybe little Mikey was in shock.

The woman jumped up crying, “Oh my God, follow me!” And so we ran behind her as she scrambled to find medical help. We went right into an examining room where a doctor rushed in and checked Mike over. And guess what his prognosis was? A serious disease? A life-threatening illness? Nope. The doctor said, “He’s got a cold!” He told us it was

a bad cold, pretty severe for a 2-week-old baby, but it was still just a cold. We were sure relieved. We thought our young son was suffering from some strange disease, and he turned out to have a bad case of the sniffles!

Anyway, those are just two stories from a 50-year marriage full of stories. I guess someday I’ll have to write a book that’s about my life with my Valentine, Becky, and not about boring old Social Security!

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

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

Lastly, going internationally can be an amazing and mindblowing experience, especially since you may have vacationed in some exotic, incredible, magnificent, and marvelous destinations, but never gave any thoughts about purchasing a vacation or retirement home there. Well now it’s an idea that should be contemplated and thought about as to the potential possibilities in pursuing. I researched for several hours and found the most fantastic site to provide you further information, details and even a “FREE” report that will guide and educate you to making a more pragmatic and logical decision as to where to consider moving abroad. Here is a link that will surely assist and help you: bit.ly/40U1sbD

Good luck and my best wishes for a continued enjoyable and healthy, happy and lucrative life and finding the most beneficial and fun destination for your next place to call a vacation or retirement home!

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: (What I consider a Master’s degree in real estate) expert in consulting and completing international transactions, eco-friendly low carbon

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 on your own. For a “FREE” no obligation 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

Continued from previous page

Living With Less May Be the Best Way to Live

BY MARY HUNT

Recently, I’ve been on yet another of my seemingly never-ending quests to pare down and clean out. I got this surge of energy after reading how Graham Hill is living with less. A lot less.

Hill, a self-made young millionaire who decided he really didn’t need lots of stuff, wrote about it in the New York Times. He lives in a 420-square-foot studio apartment. His bed folds down from the wall. He admits to owning just six dress shirts. His dish cupboard holds his complete set made up of 10 shallow bowls that he uses for salads and main dishes. When people come over for dinner, he pulls out his extendable dining room table. He owns 10% of the books he once did.

Things were not always this compact for Hill. In the late ‘90s, he bought a giant house, paid for with cash he amassed from a start-up sale. And that house became packed up to his eyeballs with electronics, cars, appliances and gadgets.

I find Hill’s story incredibly interesting, if not motivating. I don’t know if my husband and I could take things down to 420 square feet of living space (although we

do have an adorable camper van with 60 square feet of living space in which we test our limits on a regular basis), but I know that I have too much stuff. And as long as I have places to stash stuff, it seems stuff multiplies all on its own. Crazy how that happens.

Back to my cleaning out. I came across an original Little People doll, by the creator of the now famous Cabbage Patch dolls of the 1980s. I’d tossed him into the “give away bag” because he was not exactly in pristine condition, nor could I locate his Birth Certificate of Authenticity. Several days later, out of curiosity, I decided to search his kind on eBay.

Duane Sebastian, with his goofy face and creator’s signature on his back side, came out of that bag and onto an eBay auction so fast it made his wobbly head spin. The opening bid was $.99 and in no time, he sold for $387.50! You could have knocked me over with a feather.

That was enough to get me to list my vintage accordion, more dolls, collector plates, figurines and a load of elderly electronics. Not that I’m counting or anything, but I’m well on my way to racking up

$1,000 from this paring down thing. And I’m not stopping anytime soon. I figure it’s a win-win because I’m turning stuff I don’t want into cash -- and it appears there are plenty of buyers quite happy to help me do it.

Hill’s words ring loudly in my ears these days: Choose to buy less. Seems pretty simple, but I admit to the struggle. It’s so easy to get carried away in the face of a good deal. After all, if one is a bargain, two or three should just improve the deal, right?

Consider this before you answer too quickly: In 2019, there were 47,863 self-storage facilities in the United States, up from 45,547 facilities in the previous year -- more than 2.2 billion rentable square feet of space (78 square miles), boasting $22.6 billion in annual revenues. The way I see it, if you have to rent storage space because your stuff will not fit into your home, you probably have too much stuff. Stop buying so much stuff. Before you make the decision to buy something, ask yourself if you don’t already have something that will do just as well. Or if you won’t use it often, is this something you

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

could rent or borrow?

Sure, the shoes are adorable, but isn’t your closet already bursting at the seams? Pare down, cut back. You’ll simplify your life and have more money.

I could not possibly say it any better than Hill, whose success in this area of living with less I find so refreshing: “Intuitively, we know that the best stuff in life isn’t stuff at all, and that relationships, experiences and meaningful work are the staples of a happy life.”

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.”

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

Simple Tricks to Make Your Stuff Last Longer

BY MARY HUNT

Being wasteful is easy, especially when everything seems to be so plentiful and simple to replenish. Just order more. Or run to the store, right?

Sure, we love to buy things on sale, but that’s not the only way -- or the best way -- to cut costs. Discovering simple ways to make things last longer is the surefire way to save time and money.

BLUE DAWN

My favorite degreaser and all-around amazing product, Blue Dawn, typically comes super concentrated. Read the label. It says it right there: “concentrated.”

Here’s a great tip: Don’t use Blue Dawn straight out of its container. Dilute it. I’ve used the same sturdy recycled glass decanter (an old wine bottle) for more than 10 years now. It has no lid, cap or cork, which makes it super easy to dispense. I keep the jug of Blue Dawn on a shelf in my laundry room. It’s out of sight, and not that easy to grab mindlessly. When the decanter needs a refill, I eyeball 5 parts water to 1 part Blue Dawn.

TOILET PAPER

It’s human nature to be super wasteful when it appears that we have things like toilet paper, paper towels and other paper goods in abundance. But discover you have what’s left on the roll to last until you can get to the store and watch how clever you and the family can be to make it last.

The way to be that careful all the time is to create an appearance of scarcity ... on purpose. Don’t fill the bathroom cabinet with five rolls of extra toilet paper. Make it one. Then store the rest in a place that’s not exactly convenient -- perhaps in the basement or under a bed.

Even the kids will get a sense that they need to go easy when it appears you’re about to run out. Repeat this trick with other things that seem to disappear overnight. Surprisingly, even the person creating this sense of scarcity will naturally be more careful. Out of sight, out of mind. It works like a charm.

TOOTHPASTE

Once you’ve squeezed out as much toothpaste as you can, don’t throw that tube in the trash. Instead, carefully cut the tube open with a pair of scissors, and you’ll have enough for several more brushings.

RAZORS

Carefully dry the razor blade after each use (use a towel, or better yet, hit it with a blast or two from a hairdryer), and it will remain sharp twice as long.

SHOWER GEL

Apply shower gel to a washcloth or loofah instead of pouring it out into your hand, and it will last many times longer. Just a small squirt will produce endless lather. That’s all it takes. You’ll end up using way more than necessary.

LIPSTICK

When you get to the bottom of a tube,

use a lip brush or a cotton swab to get at the remaining lipstick. You won’t believe how much product remains even when you think you’ve reached the end.

LIQUID HAND SOAP

Purchase a foaming hand soap dispenser and turn any liquid hand soap into foaming hand soap. You’ll be amazed at how far you and the family can stretch one bottle of soap.

LAUNDRY DETERGENT

If you use the “dump” method of adding laundry detergent to the washing machine, I can nearly guarantee you’re using too much! Get out the owner manual to see what is recommended. Measure carefully. Every time. Unless you have super hard water, chances are good you can use even less and still get great results, especially if you have a front-loader, which uses very little water.

CLOTHING

As a general rule, turn clothing inside out before laundering. It’s a simple way to prevent pilling. And zip those zippers! The teeth on a zipper can act as a tiny chainsaw through the agitation and tumbling activity, boring holes in t-shirts and gnawing the heck out of fabric. You might not notice it the first or second laundering, but over time open zippers will shorten the life of everything you launder with them.

SHOES

Clean dirt and remove salt stains from shoes and boots as soon as you notice

them to avoid any permanent damage. Hint: Olive oil is the best way to remove those winter salt stains from leather shoes and boots. Pour a bit on a soft, clean cloth, then rub it into those stains using a circular motion.

CANDLES

Put candles in the freezer for a couple of hours before you use them. Surprisingly, perhaps, this causes the wax to burn slower and more evenly without affecting the scent, if any.

REFRIGERATOR

If you are at all interested in making your refrigerator last longer (repair bills are horrible -- the early death of an appliance even worse), vacuum the condenser coil in your refrigerator every three months (once a month if you have pets). Check the owner manual to discover where that coil is and how to reach it.

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

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of February 23 - March 1, 2025

Planetary Parade After Sunset

During one of my recent night sky tours, a curious young lady asked if I was excited about the planets lining up this week. My answer was a succinct “no.”

I’m pretty sure that caught her off guard. I mean, who could not be excited by such a rare and significant celestial event, especially someone who studies the heavens for a living?

I explained that the planets have been in “a line” across the sky every night for the past 5 billion years. That “line,” or arc, is called the ecliptic, and it defines the geometric plane of our solar system. It is roughly along this path that the planets, sun and moon all appear to move. If ever you see a planet not on that arc, call me! Immediately!

No, what interests me more is that we can see all the planets together in the same part of the sky. It occurs for the same reason that all cars in an auto race appear to bunch up on one side of the track from time to time before spreading out once again. By late spring, only Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will lie in our evening sky; the remaining planets will appear only in the early morning sky -- but still along the same arc.

This week, however, we have a chance to see all the planets of our solar system shortly after sunset. Venus, Mars and Jupiter shine brightly in our sky and are hard to miss, and the Earth ... well, it’s pretty hard to miss as well!

To see Mercury and Saturn you must have a very low horizon with a clear sky to the west because they’re tough to spot in the glow of sunset. In fact, you may need binoculars to find them at all.

These two worlds will change their relative positions over only a few days. Early in the week, look for Saturn just above and to the left of brighter Mercury. On Feb. 24, the two will lie nearest each other in the

sky and almost parallel to the horizon. Of course, this is an illusion only, since Mercury lies only 112 million miles from us while Saturn is nearly a billion miles away. After that, Saturn will drop farther below Mercury and within a few days will become invisible against the glow of sunset.

Uranus and Neptune are the farthest and faintest planets and, as such, require a telescope to see at all. Only if you know where to aim it and have patience sorting through the starlike points of light in your field of view will you be able to identify these distant worlds, but it’s certainly worth the effort.

By the Feb. 28, the thin crescent moon will appear between Mercury and Saturn, something that binoculars will be needed to see. But after that, the moon will continue along its monthly orbit around the Earth and will move eastward along the ecliptic. Look for it to pass by Venus on March 1, Jupiter on March 5 and 6, and Mars on March 8.

I wish you clear skies for a fun week of planet gazing.

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

LOST IN SUBURBIA

All Lined Up

and Nowhere to Go

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

It was one of those days where everything was taking a ridiculously long time. There was a line at the dry cleaners. A line at the supermarket. A line at the gas station. I was starting to think that everyone in the world had the same to-do list that I did; they were just one to-do ahead of me the whole day.

I finally made it to the last place on my list. I needed to pick up a couple of things at the department store. As I walked in, I was thrilled to see that, for the first time all day, I was in a store that was mostly empty. I found what I needed in about five minutes flat, then I headed toward the checkout counter.

I was surprised to see that there were a couple of people waiting in line to check out, because there didn’t really seem to be that many people in the

store. But since the whole day had been one long waiting game, I figured this was just par for the course. As I got in line behind two ladies waiting ahead of me, I started checking messages on my cellphone to pass the time.

After a while, I realized I had been waiting in line for an unusually long time. I am typically not the most patient person, but this was excessive even by a normal patient person’s standards.

Looking at my watch, I realized 10 minutes had passed since I’d gotten in line. I peered around the people ahead of me and noticed that some other customers were finishing at the cash registers, but for some reason the line I was on did not seem to be moving.

I started tapping my foot and making huffy noises. Then I looked around for a store employee to complain to.

Just when I thought my head would

explode, I saw someone and waved her over.

“Are you waiting to check out?” she asked me cheerily.

“Yes!” I shouted in frustration.

“Well, the checkout line is over there,” she said, gesturing to another line I hadn’t noticed directly behind the checkout counter.

“What line am I in?” I asked.

“YOU,” she said, “are standing in line behind mannequins.”

“Huh?” I said dumbly. At first I didn’t quite understand what she was saying. But then I looked closely at the heads of the two ladies standing in front of me and slowly realized their hair was made of plastic and they had no faces. My line wasn’t moving because I wasn’t IN a line. I was standing behind a clothing display next to the checkout area.

I walked around the mannequins

and looked them up and down, just to convince myself that I really was that stupid. It was clear who the real dummy was.

“Oh boy. I am such an idiot,” I moaned to the store employee.

“It’s OK,” she said with a laugh. “This actually happens a lot.”

“Really?” I said with some annoyance. “Then why don’t you move the mannequins farther away from the checkout area?”

She grinned. “Because it’s really funny.”

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.

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This week, all the planets in our solar system will be visible in the same part of the sky shortly after sunset.

ONE CALL TO 516-294-8900 AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN 6 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. CALL TODAY FOR OUR VERY LOW RATES. www.gcnews.com

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.

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2) Email Nancy@gcnews.com

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

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EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

3 DAYS PER WEEK

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Email Resume to: GC.ASSIST.9@GMAIL.COM

LEGAL ASSISTANT

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PERSONAL ASSISTANT

Seeking personal assistant. Part Time Position. Various duties including driving to doctor appointments, shopping, misc errands.

Must be licensed driver and be able to furnish references upon request.

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MARKETPLACE

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At Invited Sales, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet your needs: Personal Property Appraisals and Evaluations: Get expert insights into the true value of your personal property.

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Biscotti are a dunkable delicacy

Semolina and Almond Biscotti

Cookies are a treat any time of the day, and many find biscotti particularly appealing. These crunchy cookies are equally at home with a morning cup of coffee as they are with an evening mug of hot cocoa.

Biscotti are hard, crunchy, Italian cookies that are baked twice. In fact, their name comes from the Latin “bis,” meaning “twice,” and “coctus,” meaning “cooked.” Although they can be enjoyed on their own, their dry, crunchy nature makes them hold up well when dunked into a beverage. Biscotti were even once commonly dipped into red wine.

Though they might seem complicated, biscotti generally are easy to make. Try this recipe for “Semolina and Almond Biscotti” from “Butter, Flour, Sugar, Joy” (Sourcebooks) by Danielle Kartes.

Yields 12 to 16 cookies

1 cup sugar

1⁄2 cup melted butter

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pinch salt

23⁄4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sliced almonds

1⁄2 cup semolina flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Optional: 10 ounces dark chocolate to melt for dipping

1) Preheat oven to 325° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2) In a stand mixer, cream the sugar, butter and eggs until light and creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes.

3) Add the vanilla and salt. Mix to incorporate.

4) Add the all-purpose flour, almonds, semolina flour, and baking powder. Mix until well combined, but don’t overmix.

5) Turn the dough out onto

the prepared baking sheet. Pat gently to form one long loaf of dough roughly 14 to 16 inches long and 5 to 6 inches wide. Bake 30 minutes.

6) Remove the loaf from the oven and allow to cool 5 to 6 minutes before using a long knife to cut the loaf gently into 12 to 16 cookies.

7) Lay each cookie on its side and bake another 20 minutes, flipping the cookies midway through.

Love to write?

8) Cool completely to achieve that signature crunch. The centers will be a bit soft if eaten warm. These are perfect for dunking in coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Optional: Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second bursts and gently dip half of each biscotti into it lengthwise. Flip the biscotti chocolate-side-up onto a sheet tray and allow the chocolate to set.

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

Sewanhaka District students attend leadership forum

Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

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.