The spirit of unity and diversity shone brightly at Floral Park Memorial High School during this year’s International "Knight", an event that brought together students, families, and community members for an unforgettable evening of cultural exploration on Thursday, March 6th. See page 12.
Floral Park's mayor, Kevin Fitzgerald, Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo, and Trustee Frank Chiara are all running unopposed in the village election slated for Tuesday, March 18th.
Voting will take place between the hours of noon and 9 pm. Registered voters in election district one will cast ballots at the Reliance Firehouse. Those in districts two and three will go to the village pool, and those in
district four will go to the Atlantic Avenue firehouse.
The following statements were supplied by the candidates:
Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
Kevin M. Fitzgerald was born and raised in Brooklyn NY where he attended Xaverian High School. He then went on to Pace Univer-
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Franklin Ave., Suite 208 Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris, Publisher
BY RIKKI MASSAND
In a February 27 interview with the Floral Park Villager, Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo discussed her follow-up on concerns about the local law regarding feral cats, which was approved last November.The law prohibited the feeding of stray or feral animals in the Village of Floral Park.
Deputy Mayor Pombonyo and Village Trustee Frank Chiara met with a handful of residents, including Jeff Carstens, on January 14th. The deputy mayor has also had extensive phone calls with a number of residents who expressed interest in the matter. As part of her update at the February 4th Board of Trustees’ meeting, she headlined a section, “Neighborhood Animals and Local Law updates.” One of the notes indicated the real impacts to quality of life in Floral Park, which is the feeding of any animals outside without supervision, or leaving food scattered around.
The deputy mayor stated the village’s concern that people are “not getting what they asked for” once food is kept outside for a cat or another domesticated animal. Problems can range from attracting rodents or mice to larger, more destructive animals or thousands of insects.
“This is not for isolating cats, and there are a few reasons for it. People have asked about the local law and
though many of them understand why it exists and they might live in neighborhoods where there are stray cats, they have observations. One lady I spoke with, who said she’s seen stray cats fed outdoors, explained that the cats often run off because racoons come to take over the dish. Then when she watched for longer, an opossum came to take over the dish,” Dr. Pombonyo said. She also shared experiences within her neighborhood. “I’ve seen and heard about people trying, with good intentions, to feed birds outside or even rabbits – but by leaving food outside you are unintentionally feeding other animals. The other animals might not be as wanted in your backyard, neighborhood or places where little children are playing – so really the village’s focus has to be broader and it is not just telling people not to feed feral cats, it goes way beyond that. We evaluated how people could take care of animals outside, and how you do it – including with cats – it really requires supervised feedings and removing containers and food once they’re not there.”
The deputy mayor is hoping for a situation where residents who are very passionate about animal welfare and humane treatment can come together for an informational and educational effort, and synergize the community and its multiple
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sity where he graduated in with a B.B.A in Operations Management. Kevin and his wife Jennifer have been homeowners in the North End for over 25 years. Jennifer is a former President of the Wednesday Mother’s Club and former Treasurer of the OLV Home School Association. They have two children, Caitlin who is pursuing her PhD at the University of Notre Dame and James who currently a senior at St Bonaventure. Kevin is an Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase.
Kevin and his family continue to be active members of the Our Lady of Victory Parish where he has served on a number of committees including the Children’s Liturgy committee. In addition, he also served has a coach in the Floral Park Screaming Eagles Roller Hockey league as well as the Floral Park Little League. Prior to his appointment as Village Trustee in April 2011, Kevin was the Secretary of the North End Civic Association since 2007 and had been a member of the Village’s Grievance Board since 2008 while serving as its chairman from 2009 to 2011. Additionally, he spoke at many public hearings with regards to the MTA’s original 3rd track plan.
Prior to being elected Mayor in 2021, Kevin was first being appointed
to the Board of Trustees in 2011 and then elected for 5 consecutive terms as Trustee. During those 10 years, Kevin served as the Fire Commissioner, the Library Commissioner, the Pool and Recreation Commissioner, liaison to the Police Department, liaison to the building Department, liaison to 4 Village Studios (as well as continuing to serve as an occasional host), and liaison to both the North End and the Hillcrest Civic Association. Additionally, besides serving as a liaison to all of the Departments within the Village, Kevin was also the Chairman of the Belmont Task force since 2015.
As Mayor, he and his fellow Board of Trustees along with the Village Administration have initiated projects such as the refurbishment of the multi-purpose rink, new sidewalk area around Rec Center, new entrance (which is fully handicap accessible) to the Library, worked with NYRA to install berm and move fence further away from residents, received grants for various Police equipment, for the first time submitted for the NYS Downtown Revitalization and NY Forward grant, entered into a contract with Johnson Controls to replace existing equipment (e.g. new LED lights in Rec Center, solar panels on DPW roof, etc.) to realize energy efficient savings, obtained various grants
for drainage projects and many other projects that have ensured our residents are provided governmental services at the lowest cost possible.
In running for re-election for Mayor, Kevin has stated that “he is excited about the opportunity to run for Mayor and to continue to serve our neighbors.”
He is confident that his 14 years of experience as a Trustee/Mayor and over 30 years of experience in the private sector have prepared him well and make him an excellent candidate for Mayor. As there have many been in the challenges in the past, he is confident that drawing on those experiences, his breath of knowledge along with an eagerness for continuous improvement will help him and the rest of the Village Board serve the Village and its residents well. He continues to be excited about the future of Floral Park and working towards continuing to ensure that our community continues to be a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Deputy Mayor/Trustee Dr. Lynn Pombonyo is encouraging all Village residents to go to the polls, remind friends and be a voice in the Village of Floral Park's Board of Trustees election on Tuesday, March 18th, noon to 9pm. On the ballot, you will see three very familiar names from our current Vil-
lage team, including Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald, Trustee Lynn Pombonyo and Trustee Frank Chiara who are running for re-election. (Note, the position of Deputy Mayor is an annual appointment by the Mayor, approved by the Board of Trustees.)
Lynn's decades-long love of the Village continues to grow. It began when Lynn first learned about her family's history, when her great-grandparents and grandparents' entire generation settled in the North End, where she joyfully visited. That VFP love continued through 2004 when Lynn made Floral Park her own home and proudly became the Assistant Superintendent of the Floral Park-Bellerose School District and, in 2005, your Superintendent of Schools, the ultimate honor for her.
Village government followed Lynn's FPBSD days, and she was again honored when she became a Village Trustee in 2014. Since then, Lynn has been appointed to positions as the Commissioner of or Liaison to every Village Department. She has also been the longtime liaison to the Conservation Society/Centennial Gardens, CREW (the Coalition of Resources for Education and Wellness), the Floral Park and Covert Avenue Chambers of Commerce, and the Hillcrest Civic Association.
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Floral Park has long been admired as a Village of Volunteers. It's who we are. For decades, service to children and teens has been at the heart of Lynn's life, personally and professionally. She is a member of the Hance Family Foundation's Board of Directors, the Scholarship Chairperson of the Floral Park Lions Club (which awards scholarships to our PreK-12 school graduates), and a member of the Employment Services Committee of AHRC Nassau. Lynn, Kevin and Frank enthusiastically participate in Girl Scout and Boy Scout programs and ceremonies, the Floral Park Historical Society, AARP, and many of our school activities.
Working for our Board of Education and with our Village Board of Trustees has given Lynn eighteen years of valuable Board experience in our Village. Lynn's experience in both roles has included advocating for Floral Park at Belmont Park and MTA/LIRR public hearings. In recent years, Lynn has been blessed to work with Kevin, Frank, Trustees Jennifer Stewart and Michael Longobardi, our Village staff and community to bring new, committed, hometown Police Officers into our Department; ensure that our Police and Fire Departments have ongoing, mean-
ingful training and planned schedules of equipment and vehicle replacement; engage in extensive Department of Public Works roadwork and drainage improvements (with innovative utility cost sharing); commit to a Tree City USA program of tree planting and care; collaborate with the Building Department to balance planning for future Village development and enforcing important Building Code standards; make significant all-purpose rink improvements at the park; celebrate three years of honors as the Best of Nassau County Public Gardens and Park for our Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary; support our Library's ongoing expansion of exciting programs and resources for youth and adults, while celebrating four years of awards as the Best of Nassau County Public Library; and develop the Village's NY Forward funding application for the revitalization of Jericho Turnpike's business district, with a presentation to the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.
Seizing the future, our Village Board will use the collective wisdom that continues to evolve as we face greater challenges and pursue promising opportunities. Kevin, Lynn, Frank, Jennifer and Michael are committed to working with an expert Village staff, engaged community members, and valuable partners in
county, state and federal government to create Floral Park's future in a strategic, meaningful and caring manner. Most important are the Village Board's advocacy for our children, families, businesses and our quality of life, well-being and safety; carefully planned residential and business beautification and redevelopment that enhance our Village; the continuing pursuit of governmental and other funding to support infrastructure projects, revitalization and new development; fiscal planning that is strategic and reasonable; a new Village website for enhanced, user-friendly communication; and all that makes the Village of Floral Park a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Lynn is one of a successful team of incumbents seeking re-election. Please consider all that your Village team has accomplished together and offers for the future, and re-elect Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald, Trustee Lynn Pombonyo and Trustee Frank Chiara on Tuesday, March 18th.
Thank you, Floral Park!
Trustee Frank Chiara
Frank is happy to call the Village of Floral Park home for over 25 years. He spent his childhood in Brooklyn and, upon marrying his wife, Venetia, moved to Queens. After being blessed with their triplet boys, Giuseppe, Michael,
and Nicholas, the family moved to the Village of Floral Park. Frank said that he was looking for a community akin to how he grew up in Brooklyn: family, friends, and community-oriented. The Village of Floral Park was a perfect fit. The Village welcomed the Chiaras who quickly became involved in many local activities.
Professionally, Frank has a notable background with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He has built a distinguished career in law enforcement, started out working with the FBI, and currently serves as the Chief Detective Investigator at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. He manages a squad of 40 skilled criminal investigators with a tenure of over 4 decades. His extensive experience in public service has equipped him with a deep understanding of government operations and the importance of accountability and responsiveness to the community.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Frank has actively contributed to the Village of Floral Park community as a Trustee on the Village Board for eight years. He holds several significant responsibilities, including serving as Commissioner of the Floral Park Fire
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BY SHANE PAROUSE
One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹
Individuals have four choices with the 401(k) account they accrued at a previous employer.2
Choice 1: Leave It with Your Previous Employer
You may choose to do nothing and leave your account in your previous employer’s 401(k) plan. However, if your account balance is under a certain amount, be aware that your ex-employer may elect to distribute the funds to you.
There may be reasons to keep your 401(k) with your previous employer — such as investments that are low-cost or have limited availability outside of the plan. Other reasons are to maintain certain creditor protections that are unique to qualified retirement plans or to retain the ability to borrow from it if the plan allows for such loans to ex-employees.3
The primary downside is that indi-
viduals can become disconnected from the old account and pay less attention to the ongoing management of its investments.
Choice 2: Transfer to Your New Employer’s 401(k) Plan
Provided your current employer’s 401(k) accepts the transfer of assets from a pre-existing 401(k), you may want to consider moving these assets to your new plan.
The primary benefits to transferring are the convenience of consolidating your assets, retaining their strong creditor protections, and keeping them accessible via the plan’s loan feature. If the new plan has a competitive investment menu, many individuals prefer to transfer their account and make a full break with their former employer.
Choice 3: Roll Over Assets to a Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
Another choice is to roll assets over into a new or existing traditional IRA. It’s possible that a traditional IRA may provide some investment choices that may not exist in your new 401(k) plan.4
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or Flippers, here is a Canvas for your Dream Home! Location, Location, Location, nestled in the Desirable Westend of Floral Park Village. This 3 Bedroom/2 Bath house is situated on a 75x100 property with a Two Car Garage and Long Driveway. Featuring Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Eat-in-Kitchen with Gas Cooking and Mudroom on the First Floor. Second Floor has Three Bedrooms and Full Bathroom. Attic has 2 rooms for Storage space. Full Unfinished Basement with Utilities, Bathroom Plumbing, Oil Heating and Egress to the Backyard. Selling “As Is”. Floral Park Village amenities: Private Police; Private Sanitation;Award Winning Library; Recreation Center with Olympic Size Pool/Pickleball/Tennis/Volleyball/Basketball Courts/Baseball Fields/Tiny Tot Park. Easy Access to LIRR 4 blocks away with a 35-minute commute to Penn Station or the new Grand Central Terminal, Shopping, Restaurants, Highways, School District #22 FPBS. Don’t miss this Potential to build a Dream Home as a property like this doesn’t come to market often! Offered Price at $875,000. Please call Marie Grant at 516-524-2781 for a private showing.
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Department and the Library. Frank is a former Commissioner of the Police Department, the Recreational and Pools Department, and the Building Department, showcasing his versatility and commitment to local government.
His passion for youth development is evident in his volunteer efforts, particularly as a former coach for boys’ soccer in the Floral Park Indians Soccer League, where Venetia played a key role on the Board of Directors. Frank also coached in Little League Baseball and Basketball and participated in numerous Youth Council events. Currently, he serves on CREW (Coalition for Resources for Education and Wellness), which advocates for local adults and youth, illustrating his dedication to fostering a positive environment for all in the community.
Frank engages in various community initiatives, serving on committees such as the Beautification Committee, New Residents Committees, Ethics Board, and the Belmont Park advisory board. He is a liaison/member of the West End Civic Association and regularly attends meetings of the other civics associations, demonstrating his commitment
to fostering community collaboration.
Frank and his family are active parishioners at Our Lady of Victory Church, where he is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Venetia serves as a volunteer EMT and a firefighter with the Floral Park Fire Department, underscoring the family’s dedication to public service.
As he gears up for the upcoming election on March 18, 2025, Frank is eager to gain the support of residents to continue his role as Village Trustee. He emphasizes, “It is an honor to serve this wonderful community, collaborating with Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald, Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo, fellow Trustee Mihael Longobardi & Jenifer Stewart. This team, along with our Village staff and the so many dedicated volunteers work together making the Village of Floral Park a wonderful place to live and raise a family.” With the opportunity to continue his service, he pledges to remain committed to enhancing the welfare of all residents in the village.
Frank is asking for your support to extend the privilege of Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald, Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo and Trustee Frank J Chiara the opportunity to continue their service to the Village of Floral Park Community.
Do you have a service to advertise? Call 294-8900 for rates and information.
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The drawback to this approach may be less creditor protection and the loss of access to these funds via a 401(k) loan feature.
Remember, don’t feel rushed into making a decision. You have time to consider your choices and may want to seek professional guidance to answer any questions you may have.
Choice 4: Cash out the account
The last choice is to simply cash out of the account. However, if you choose to cash out, you may be required to pay ordinary income tax on the balance plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you are under age 59½. In addition, employers may hold onto 20% of your account balance to prepay the taxes you’ll owe.
Think carefully before deciding to cash out a retirement plan. Aside from the costs of the early withdrawal penalty, there’s an additional opportunity cost in taking money out of an account that could potentially grow on a tax-deferred basis. For example, taking $10,000 out of a 401(k) instead of rolling over into an account earning an average of 8% in tax-deferred earnings could leave
you $100,000 short after 30 years.5
1. In most circumstances, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plan in the year you turn 73. Withdrawals from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plans are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.
2. FINRA.org, 2024
3. A 401(k) loan not paid is deemed a distribution, subject to income taxes and a 10% tax penalty if the account owner is under 59½. If the account owner switches jobs or gets laid off, any outstanding 401(k) loan balance becomes due by the time the person files his or her federal tax return.
4. In most circumstances, once you reach age 73, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from a Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Withdrawals from Traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. You may continue to con-
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Long Live You and Long Live Long Island™ At Catholic Health,
Many ways to access great doctors? We have that. Simple mobile app? We have that, too. Convenient locations for primary, specialty, and urgent care? Absolutely. On Long Island, you have options in health care. But at Catholic Health, we'd like to remind you to choose you first – because we did, too.
A health system is more than a doctor. In our case, it’s 320+ locations with the exact same high standard of care. It’s integrated medical teams that achieve the best patient outcomes. It’s leading the charge in medical discoveries. It’s the lowest mortality rates in the nation. It’s being named #1 for quality care in the U.S. Our health system has the best doctors, and the best doctors are just the beginning.
health starts with a
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
This year’s travel talk by Pauline Frommer at the New York Travel Show was a homage to her father, the legendary Arthur Frommer who single-handedly inspired generations of travelers not born into family fortune to experience the world, with his guidebooks, then radio and TV shows, starting with the iconic “Europe on $5 a Day”. His philosophy, mission and love of travel that infuse the Frommer guides have remained. He passed away in November.
At her talk, titled “Travel Lessons I’ve Learned From My Father That Will Make Your Next Vacation Less Expensive and More Meaningful,” she said, “He believed money should be used smartly. He believed travel could be a life-changing activity.”
Quoting Arthur, she said, “We cannot permit ourselves to live stunted, stay- at-home lives. We need to travel if we are to enjoy the fullness of life… contact with new and the different is how we grow and develop. That may be possible in other ways than travel, but there is something about experiencing the world that cannot be duplicated… Nothing has the lasting impact of being there.”
Frommer devoted his life to guiding people how to travel inexpensively and how to have meaningful vacations, that shift who you are as a person in important
In 1957, when Arthur set out on his mission to inspire Americans to travel abroad, Americans were rich compared to rest of world - Europe was in rubble while Americans had dollars.
Arthur Frommer and Pauline Frommer appear together giving their forecast and tips for travel at the New York Travel Show in 2015. Pauline has gone on to continue her father’s legacy; the travel icon who launched millions on journeys of discovery, passed away in November © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
“Now we are in the same position - currently the Euro is almost equal to the $1: $1.02 to 1e (in 2016 it was $1.36 to 1e. The Japanese yen has never been this weak, 156 yen to $1; the dollar is worth 1.44 Canadian and the Mexican peso is at 20.78. It has never been so good.”
On the other hand many travel companies are using AI to raise prices surgically, depending upon your prior buying habits - what Joe Biden’s Federal Trade Commission called “surveillance pricing.”
Have you had the experience of searching for an airfare, finding one, but going off to think about it for awhile, only to return and find the fare $50 higher? “That’s because you are being watched; the amount of surveillance is insane.”
Frommer’s antidote? “When searching for travel goods and services, be private - hide your identity. For example, subscribe to a VPN (virtual private network) to hide who you are; clear your cache and cookies. Use a different computer.
The best search engines for airfares, she recommends. are Momondo (Kayak) and Skyscanner.
But, she adds, “Then you don’t buy on them. There are so many issues in air travel, if you buy from a third party [like an OTA, an online travel agent], you are last in line if something goes wrong. Search on the website, then buy from the airline.”
There are also days that are best to purchase air fares: Frommer recommends purchasing an airfare on Sunday can yield 6% savings on
domestic fare, 17% savings on international.
Also, “buy 1-3 months out for domestic travel (for a 25% savings), 18-29 days out for international (for a 10% savings). Last year, it was 4 months out, but she acknowledges, “it takes courage to book so close.”
You get the best fares if you start your trip on a Thursday or Saturday (16% savings over flying on a Sunday). “Sunday is the most expensive day to start a trip.”
Also, given the “chaos in the sky” with the doubling of cancellations in 2024, she recommends, “fly before 3 pm, or up the risk of being cancelled or delayed by 50%.” If you fly after 9 pm, your risk of being delayed or cancelled goes up by 57%. Fly after 9 pm and your risk of being delayed or cancelled goes up 57%
To get the best rate for a hotel, Frommer suggests booking threeplus months in advance for resorts, but just one week before in business-travel cities.
“Always get a reservation you can cancel.”
Vacation home rentals, such as through airbnb.com may not be cheaper than hotels because of housekeeping fees and taxes (unless you are a family or couples traveling together), but typically afford more space, the convenience of kitchen and laundry, and are typically in neighborhoods so you get to connect with local people.
Looking for added value in accommodations? Consider hostels: “There are wonderful hostels all around the world, where you get private rooms, private bathrooms for much less than a hotel. There usually is a common March 14, 2025
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area, a place where you can cook your own meal, do your laundry.” “Typically there are also opportunities to meet and socialize with other travelers, as I found in Quito, Ecuador, where I was invited to a communal dinner.
To find a tour, Frommer recommends: travelstride.com and tourradar.com, which are marketplace sites for tours. You put in dates and where you want to go and then can compare prices, highlights, what is offered.
Travel insurance is recommended when you are taking a long-distance, expensive tour and want protection against cancellation (but read the fine print); but what you may well want when traveling abroad is medical insurance, covering evacuation if necessary. (Medicare isn’t applicable abroad.)
You can search for the policy that works best for your purpose at: Squaremouth.com insuremytrip.com travelinsurance.com
“Put in details and it generates a list. Inevitably the best is not the most expensive but in the middle cost range. No travel insurance company is always the best.” Also, she advises, “Never buy insurance through the travel provider.”
Every year, the Frommers offer their recommendations for where to go in the coming year. The hallmarks of the list have become finding the less crowded destinations worth a visit. (See the full article frommers.com/bestplaces2025)
Crete in Greece: it is one of the least crowded of the Greek islands because it is the largest- twice size of Rhode Island, while most travelers go to Mykonos or Santorini. “Santorini got 3 million visitors in 2024 – it was so hairy on the roads, the government asked the Santorini citizens to stay off the roads at certain hours
BY CHARLYN FARGO
because of the traffic jams with tour buses.” But Crete is the land of “Zorba the Greek”. “It is the most Greek of Greek islands, once part of the Venetian Empire, it looks like Venice and has incredible ancient ruins from when it was the center of the Minoan civilization – think Minator and Labyrinth.”
Looking to do an African safari? A safari in Zambia, famous for Victoria Falls , one of tallest in world, is as much as 25% less costly than Tanzania or Kenya. “They have all the animals - giraffes, elephants, hippos, lions - and also have a progressive system where the rangers who stop poaching are women. It is also one of the safest countries in Africa. Support them.”
Greenland is top of mind lately. “Bizarrely, Greenland just expanded its airport, so for the first time, can accommodate large jets. For the first time, you can go to this ice-covered nation direct from New York in the time it takes to go to Iceland. 80% of Greenland is covered by ice – you can do heli-skiing, snowshoeing, glacier cruises, see polar bears. “Go before it’s too crowded. It’s a great adventure destination.”
The Caribbean country of Barbuda (part of Antigua and Barbuda) is an undeveloped, beautiful, pristine island (because it never had a big airport) that made the news 40 years ago when Princess Diana visited thinking she could escape the paparazzi. ..Barbuda is finally getting an international airport and Robert De Niro is building a resort on Barbuda, she said. “See it while it is in its more pristine state.”
Bath and Hampshire, England are “going crazy” this year over the 250th birthday of novelist Jane Austin (“Pride and Prejudice”, “Sense & Sensibility”) – there are Empire-style costumes you can rent, special exhibits. Bath also has one of England’s most important
Roman ruins.
Tucson, Arizona is turning 250 years old this year, as well, and mounting celebrations all year long. Also, Tucson is the only city in the United States that is part of the Dark Sky program. On the edge of the city, Saguaro National Park, there is a free observatory you can go at night to look at stars with astronomers. Tucson is also the place for foodies, with a 4000-year old culinary tradition. “The United Nations named it the only culinary UNESCO World Heritage site in the US. There are all kinds of food celebrations for the 250th
“My father said, ‘Don’t just go to dead sites.’ If I had never traveled, I would never have understood that all people, no matter how exotic their appearance, have basically the same concerns, the same desires. Don’t just go to see things, but meet people.”
To meet people when you travel:
The International Greeter Association connects you to people who love their home communities and give free tours. You can go to Tokyo and find a greeter to take you around Tokyo for a day, teach you how to use subway, show you a neighborhood, free.”
Find other free tours led by locals through the International Greeter Association, a worldwide nonprofit organization offering private free walks with locals through some 400 cities in 60 countries. https://internationalgreeter.org). Also, GetYourGuide.com.
Airbnb/experiences provides links to little companies with people with experiences to share. Frommer related taking her 15-year old daughter on a tour of Paris consignment stores with a fashion expert. “We have been to Paris many times but saw things never had.”
TravelingSpoon.com and EatWith. com link travelers to culinary experiences with local people, the best local cooks
Ultra-processed foods seem to be the new thing to avoid, but in reality, the label may not correctly classify some foods.
This system of categorizing food as unprocessed, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods and ultra-processed foods came from a group of Brazilian researchers. They designed a system to categorize foods according to the degree of processing they undergo.
The problem is, processing seems to be a bad thing, right? Not really. Even oil, butter, vinegar, sugar and salt have to be processed, so they’re labeled “processed culinary ingredients.” Those categorized as processed foods include cheese, fresh breads, canned or frozen vegetables and fruits, canned fish, smoked or cured meats, bacon, salted nuts, beer and wine.
Many would argue that some of those foods (especially beer, wine, bread and cheese) aren’t really all that bad. Many times, processing is used mainly for preservation.
Then we have the ultra-processed category. This group includes soft drinks, packaged snacks, frozen or packaged foods, and even plant-based meat, dairy and protein powders. (Yep, almond milk and Impossible burgers fall into this category).
The researchers found that a group of 20 adults consumed more calories from a diet high in ultra-processed foods versus unprocessed foods when allowed to eat as much as they wanted. (My personal thought is that 20 adults are hardly enough to call it a study.)
It’s thought that somehow ultra-processed foods don’t fit into “clean” eating,
in different communities, home cooks. Frommer described such an experience with an “Italian nona,” whose grandson translated as she prepared the meal in her kitchen. “We all gathered for a meal. It cost as much as a high end restaurant, but it was our most memorable meal in Italy that time.”
Travelers are increasingly concerned about sustainability and traveling responsibly, so the benefits of their visit (providing economic foundation to sustain people living in their community, maintaining culture and heritage and sites) do not outweigh the negatives of overtourism.
Tour operators, like Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel.com) are taking this into account in designing itineraries so they are more hub-and-spoke and less travel by bus or airline; several, like G Adventures (gadventures.com) are conscious to purchase local products and hire locals, as well as contribute a portion of the tour price to benefit the community; Seacology (seacology.org), takes you to places threatened by ocean rise then donate money back to community.
“At its best, travel should challenge our preconceptions and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding,” Frommer said.
Her father, Arthur Frommer, “changed this industry in powerful ways, democratized travel. He was one of the first to say average people should travel, not just the wealthy, elite. Travel afforded the opportunity to expand your life, expand your mind, and do it in a way that pushes the cause of world peace. He truly believed that when we get to know other countries, wonder at the beauty of them, we won’t attack or invade, and our hearts will break when things go wrong there.”
© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com
but in reality, it may be a flawed perception -- and one that isn’t practical. There are many days I can’t make every meal from scratch, and rely on processed foods, such as cereal for breakfast, instant brown rice with a stir-fry or frozen roasted vegetables as a side dish. A scoop of protein powder added to a smoothie can be healthy for an older adult needing to increase their protein.
The bottom line is we need a better system to classify food rather than how processed it is -- or isn’t. It’s the nutritional value of a food -- and how it’s included in a meal pattern -- that matters.
Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the current president of the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
“Top of the mornin’ to you!” That’s what my nephew Paul said to all of the relatives in my house as St. Patrick’s Day was drawing closer. Paul was 5 years old and he didn’t know what it meant but it sounded good. One day I asked him where he’d heard that expression and he told me that his kindergarten teacher had read the kids at school a book about St. Patrick and the holiday on March 17.
Paul and his young classmates learned that “top of the mornin’” is a typical Irish greeting. A friendly one, it’s something you might say to greet someone in a lighthearted way. It’s not really how people in Ireland speak to each other these days but it’s one of those sayings that has stuck.
They also discovered that St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and St. Brigid is the female patron saint. The color green is associated with St. Patrick because Ireland’s nickname is the “Emerald Isle” and because there is a green stripe in the Irish flag.
The shamrock is a popular Irish symbol but it isn’t the symbol of Ireland. As early as the medieval period, the harp had represented the nation. By 1534 King Henry VIII was using the harp on coins. Later, the harp was used on Irish flags and Irish coats of arms. When Ireland became an independent country in 1921, it adopted the harp as the national symbol.
St. Patrick was born in the year 387 AD in Britain. His birth name was Maewyn Succat. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest, but he wasn’t very religious growing up.
When he was 16 years old Patrick was attacked and kidnapped by Irish pirates who had broken into his family’s villa. Sold into slavery in Ireland, Patrick
used the next few years to renew his religious faith.
He wrote in his Confession, “After I arrived in Ireland, I tended sheep every day, and I prayed frequently during the day.” After six years Patrick heard a voice telling him to return home. He escaped and walked 200 miles to a port where he found a ship preparing to leave for England.
“I said I needed to set sail with them, but the captain was not at all pleased. He replied unpleasantly and angrily: ‘Don’t you dare try to come with us.’” The captain changed his mind, however.
“I began to pray while I was going; and before I even finished the prayer, I heard one of them shout aloud at me: ‘Come quickly - those men are calling you!’ I turned back right away, and they began to say to me: ‘Come - we’ll trust you. Prove you’re our friend in any way you wish.’”
Eventually Patrick made it back home to Britain, became a cleric in continental Europe and then headed back to Ireland as a missionary. He preached the Gospel and he took the name “Patricius” aka “Patrick.” The name “Patrick” means “father of his people.”
Once Patrick arrived in Slane, Ireland, on March 25, 433, he worked as a missionary among the Celtic pagans mostly in the remote parts of Ireland where Christianity had never been preached.
Paul was excited about St. Patrick’s Day because when he, his parents and sister, Lucy, 7, visited my place I was in the kitchen with a large mixing bowl in front of me starting to make some Irish soda bread. I was also finalizing the menu for our holiday meal.
Corned beef brisket and cabbage plus boiled potatoes, carrots, onions, pepper corns, one bay leaf and water all in one
large pot is good and I knew that it was easy to make. My mother gave me a recipe for corned beef and cabbage and she’d gotten it from her mother years before. Cooking it on low and stirring the ingredients occasionally, I knew it would take a few hours for it to finish cooking.
Boiling it on the stovetop is the most popular way to cook corned beef but it can be baked instead. I prefer to boil it in liquid because it helps ensure this tougher cut of meat is tender. Not only is a plate of corned beef and cabbage delicious but the next day a corned beef sandwich makes a great lunch.
Pointing out the potted shamrock plant I had on the kitchen counter, Paul recognized it and said his teacher had also shown them some shamrocks. “It’s all part of St. Patrick’s Day and I’m glad the holiday is almost here,” Paul said enthusiastically.
His mother and I told Paul and Lucy that this year’s 264th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on March 17. Irish native Michael A. Benn is the grand marshal.
Born in Limerick City in 1948, Michael Benn attended the Christian Brothers School before emigrating to the U.S. with his family in 1962. A U.S. Army veteran, Benn then worked in the
construction industry, spending time in Local 30 I.U.O.E. Operating Engineers and Local 608 Carpenters Union before he retired.
Michael Benn is the longtime chairman of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee in the Rockaways.
Ireland has plenty of folklore but it’s believed that we Americans came up with the idea that green makes you invisible to leprechauns. According to the tradition, if you are not wearing green and therefore visible to the leprechauns, a leprechaun may come along and play some tricks on you.
They’d heard that leprechauns must tell the truth but only if you look the leprechaun in the eye. Few people know that if caught and asked, the leprechaun can grant three wishes.
Paul and Lucy didn’t want any leprechauns chasing them so I distracted them by giving the kids some green hats and necklaces I had for St. Patrick’s Day and they paraded around in my house saying “Top of the mornin’” and singing “When Irish eyes are smiling.” It sure was fun having the kids around for the holiday.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to one and all!!
BY JEFF RUGG
Q: After two years of trying to grow a vegetable garden, I am almost ready to give up. You know -- three strikes and you are out. I have been doing some reading and am now more confused than ever, but it appears that the soil is the problem. The garden is in full sun, and I use a drip hose to keep it watered. There are so many things I could buy and add to the soil. What do you think?
A: You are right; there are a lot of products out there that may or may not be useful. Some are unnecessary or even harmful. A soil test may help. Talk to your local university extension office to see where
they recommend you send a sample.
In the meantime, remember, as I say in my book: Soil is not dirt. Plants need four things to grow: air, sunlight, water and soil. Dirt is unwanted debris. Soil is a combination of air, water, chemicals, minerals, living organisms and organic matter arranged in a stable structure. Soil is partly solid, partly liquid and partly air. The ideal Goldilocks “thrive range” soil depends on what you are trying to grow. An ideal soil for a cactus is different from an ideal soil for a waterlily. The cactus soil will have a very high pore space volume and low water retention. The waterlily soil will have all of the pores filled with water.
The ideal garden soil for most vegetables and many annual flowers is about 50% solid material (45% mineral and 5% organic matter), up to 1% living organisms and the rest pore space. The pores will vary in water and air content depending on rain and irrigation. How often do plants use water? The answer is pretty much all the time. Chemicals in the soil move into the plant with the water. Water evaporating off the leaves cools the plant and helps move the chemicals around in the plant. The reason we don’t have to water plants constantly is that the soil acts like a sponge. Like a damp sponge, soil holds water in the small pores and allows air circulation
in the large pores.
Most suburban and urban topsoils are too thin and too compacted. Imagine a small sponge being squeezed: It will not hold much water or air. Plants that are growing in these kinds of soils are often growing in the survive range and not the thrive range of good soil conditions. They will grow some and produce some fruit but not at the level they would if the soil were better. It is hard to give the plants the proper amount of water if the soil sponge isn’t big enough to hold water and the pores that should be filled with air are filled with water, drowning the roots.
Continued on page 5
BY TOM MARGENAU
Before I begin today’s column, which questions some of President Donald Trump’s planned staff reductions at the Social Security Administration, let me confess that at the end of the column, I point out that I might be dead wrong! So, let’s begin.
Imagine that you owned a successful business that was gaining 10,000 new customers each day, with all the market projections saying that trend would continue for many more years. Would you be hiring new staff and opening new outlets to keep up with the demand? Or would you be cutting back on employees, reducing office hours and closing facilities?
If you were in the private sector, I guarantee you would be doing the former. But in the wacky world of government funding and operations, the latter is the norm.
Take as an example my former employer: the Social Security Administration. In each of the last 10 years, around 10,000 people a day have been retiring and signing up for Social Security benefits. That is expected to continue for another dozen years or more. In other words, SSA workloads are booming!
What has been our government leader’s response to that? Budget cutbacks and staffing cuts. During Trump’s first term, he ordered a 15% across-the-board cut in government staffing, including the SSA. And now, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency are mandating another huge reduction in staff.
If you think that these cuts are merely reversing all the growth in government that happened during years when Democrats were in power, well, you are simply wrong. Let’s use the SSA as an example. Throughout the 2000s, no matter which political party was in power, the agency’s operating budget dropped by about 20% while workloads continued to increase dramatically.
And if you also think that the SSA, just like any other government agency, has a bloated administrative budget that could stand some trimming, well, think again. Out of every dollar collected in Social Security taxes, less than one penny goes toward running the agency that maintains earnings records for almost every worker in this country and pays monthly benefits to about 69 million Americans. I think it would be darn near impossible to find one single successful business in the private sector that works with a 1% overhead.
When I started working for the SSA in the early 1970s, I was one of about 82,000 relatively happy and proud employees working for one of the best-run agencies in all of government. The SSA consistently won awards for public service and administrative responsibility. I liked the phrase one of my co-workers always used: “The SSA is an honorable institution engaged in a noble public purpose.”
Local Social Security offices were well-
run, clean and efficient. I worked in several of those offices in small towns and medium-sized cities across the country. They were pleasant places to work and pleasant places to visit. I enjoyed the time I had to sit down with the people who came in who were filing for any of the various kinds of Social Security benefits. I was able to take the time to not only explain all the (often complicated) Social Security rules that applied to them but also to simply chat and ask them how their day was going. I always kept in the back of my mind that even though this was just an everyday job for me, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the customer. I tried -- and maybe more importantly, I was given the opportunity -- to make sure it was as pleasant as possible.
Unfortunately, now it’s a different world and a different SSA. Those 82,000 employees I worked with in the ‘70s and ‘80s have been trimmed down to about 60,000. The Trump/Musk cuts are planned to reduce SSA staffing to 50,000. Of course, the catchphrase for staff reductions is “work smarter, not harder.” Well, catchphrases can only go so far.
With reduced staff and resources, it’s all about numbers, efficiency and time management. Walking in off the street to visit a pleasant local Social Security office to maybe ask some Social Security questions and possibly file for benefits while having a little chat with a happy employee has become a pipe dream. Now you must call the SSA’s toll-free number and wait on hold for a long time (some readers have told me for two hours or more) to make an appointment. Then, you will probably wait weeks or even a month or more for that appointment. And sadly, the SSA rep you finally get to talk to has neither the training nor the time that I had and probably does not have the esprit de corps that I had either.
(Let me quickly note here that you, as a potential SSA customer, can “work smarter, not harder” by using the agency’s website to conduct much of your Social Security business.)
Other SSA workloads are also suffering. For example, the disability story is a pretty bleak tale. It takes the SSA six to eight months to process a claim for disability benefits. About 65% of those first-time claims are denied, meaning hundreds of thousands of people appeal their claims to a Social Security judge. The average wait time for that hearing is about 15 months. Those numbers keep getting worse as the SSA’s budget and workforce are continually reduced.
Having said all that, let me now reverse course. Maybe I’m wrong! Maybe these are just the musings of an old codger (I’m 75) pining for the “good old days” that just aren’t anymore. Maybe Trump and Musk are not out to do permanent damage to the SSA. Maybe, as a recent agency press release pointed out, they are merely shifting resources from administrative
positions to field office positions. Maybe a leaner and more targeted workforce is the way to go. Who knows -- maybe artificial intelligence bots will do a better job of consoling an old woman who just lost her husband of 50 years while helping her file for widow’s benefits than I ever did.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. But gosh, I sure do miss those good old days!
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
Indian purchasers and investors, who are laser focused on their customary practices and principles, will rely heavily on Vastu Shastra for their decision making. This ancient practice is the counterpart of Feng Shui. It is an ancient Hindu architectural science basing the direction of the home and position and arrangement and placement of the rooms and make sure that is a positive energy flow. Indian purchasers will emphasize and highlight the exact direction the home faces. Those that face north, east and northeast are most favorable in the search for that most desirable home. Principles of Vastu take into account the sun’s rays, earth movement and geomagnetic forces, with fire, water, earth and sky as important elements. Design and construction of buildings are based on Vastu so that harmony is created where people who live and work.
Consultations are considered with an astrologer to pick an optimum propitious purchase and closing and movein dates and times based on zodiac signs is a typical practice. This is accomplished with the family involved in every step of the decision making process due to the collectivist nature of Indian culture. The extended family e.g., parents, siblings and sometimes even in-laws plays a major role when homes are visited to come to a final decision when buying.
Many Indian purchasers search out homes that will have a dedicated room to perform their religious ceremony. Once their closing takes place they will bless the space and eliminate any negative vibes. This will enable the family to practice their rituals knowing that the space has a positive karma environment. The “puja room” becomes
Continued from page 3
Just about every type of soil can be improved with just one product: organic matter. As mentioned above, it doesn’t take much organic matter to make a difference. Sandy soils that drain too fast because they have too many large pores are
an extremely significant and consequential room designed in their home for their special services being performed.
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
A multitude of homes in India are constructed in the configuration of a rectangle or square with an open courtyard in the middle, that is open to the sky. Kitchens face southeast with the viewpoint and conviction that the gods rule in the east. Winds come from the northeast, so doors and windows should be structured accordingly. A pie-shaped lot with the front yard at the tip and the backyard at the larger portion of the lot would be attractive to an Indian buyer because the lot is likened to the shape of a cow, with the tip as its head. The cow is sacred to Indians.
Most Indian buyers have it all figured out in advance and know what they are searching for in a home. They have already done their homework, the neighborhood and the school they want their children to attend. They can also be very aggressive in their negotiations, and when their offer is accepted, they may think they have overpaid and want to counter or want something more in return. This may appear to be a bit of an over reach, but one must learn about those idiosyncrasies and be able to handle their concerns with “kid gloves” to get to the final closing. it’s just their normal nature to negotiate, like everyone seems to do in today’s’ market. They feel better if they get something more in return. Sometimes paying for the cleaning or extra work that needs to be done can often appease the buyer.
The following is what matters most
to Home Buyers in India:-
• Location of the Property
• Price of the Property
• Negotiation or Discount at the time of buying
• Rate of interest of Home loans
• Semi furnished or Raw House
• No seepage in the House
• Presentation of the Property
• Builder Reputation and delivered projects track record
• Most Important Property Dealer or Broker involved in the deal.
Be patient with Indian buyers because, sometimes it may be challenging to connect with them in the beginning. They may not always return phone calls in an expeditious manner; but being patient will be to your benefit. Sometimes one will need to follow up with them multiple times. Some Indians feel they are important to their job or position in business, so they will not always interrupt their work day by returning an agent’s phone call. Remember, patience is a virtue and practicing this and by providing the required effort, being disciplined, a “never give up attitude.” Providing the necessary time to build rapport leading to a strong relationships, a solid bond and a long lasting connection that will be created, benefiting you with future referrals, lucrative earnings, success and a great sense of satisfaction, P.S. Last week, I was remiss in not wishing all our clients an enjoyable, healthy, happy Ramadan
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 footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, solar panels, Geo-thermal 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 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
helped because the organic matter adds a lot of spongelike small pores and nutrients that are lacking. Compacted soils benefit from being loosened up with the compost. Soils lacking in nutrients benefit as the compost breaks down into nutrients plants can use. High pH soils benefit as the compost is most often acidic. Compost and organic matter come
in several different kinds of bags and in bulk. When I am trying to improve soil, I like using several different kinds and mixing them all together to get the biggest benefits from each one. Cover the existing soil with at least 2 inches of compost and mix it into the top 6-8 inches of soil. In the long run, don’t rototill the soil, as that hurts more than it helps.
For a lot more information on garden soil, check out the videos in “Chapter 2 Plants and the Environment” on the Greener View YouTube channel. Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@ greenerview.com. T.
COPYRIGHT 2025 JEFF RUGG DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
BY MARY HUNT
Little things mean a lot -- like the two words “batteries included.” Just knowing they’re in there somewhere means less hassle and one less thing to buy. But face it. The initial powering-up of a battery-operated device is a minor concern. It’s the cost of keeping it going for years to come that should be considered.
The commercials are compelling, but can they be trusted? Does a copper top really make a difference? Is Energizer the heavy artillery of battery power? Is heavy-duty superior to alkaline? Are elcheapo, generic batteries evidence that you get what you pay for? Is heavy-duty superior to alkaline?
ALKALINE VERSUS HEAVY-DUTY
Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports Magazine, concluded hat when it comes to single-use batteries, the alkaline and lithium varieties are by far the best performers. Even the most expensive heavy-duty battery cannot compete with the cheapest alkaline or lithium.
So, the conclusion is clear: Buy alka-
line, which is cheaper than lithium, and buy according to price, not by brand. Go for the store or generic brands, and when you find them on sale, stock up.
Retailers such as Costco, Target and Walmart don’t own their own battery factories. They contract with the biggies such as Rayovac, Eveready and Duracell. Private-label batteries are typically the exact same product as the national brands; only the label and the price are different.
Alkaline batteries have a life of about five years. However, they lose power slightly when not in use. That is why you should always look for the latest “best if used by” date code.
STORING BATTERIES
It’s not exactly a myth that storing batteries in the refrigerator will preserve their energy, but it’s close. Tests indicate chilled batteries have only a slight, if any, increase in life expectancy over batteries stored at room temperature -- no more than 10%.
RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
Even the best rechargeable NiCad bat-
teries do not perform as long on a single charge as the same number of single-use alkaline. However, for power-hungry items such as CD players, games and other items that get lots of use, rechargeables make a lot of sense because they can be recharged hundreds of times.
Rechargeable NiCads are not recommended for low-drain devices or passive applications such as smoke detectors and alarm clocks.
Rechargeable alkaline batteries, which are less expensive than NiCads, lose significant capacity with each recharge and have a life expectancy of only about 25 recharges.
Safety tip: Experts say we should install fresh batteries in smoke detectors and security systems every six months. But don’t throw the old batteries out. They likely have lots of life remaining, especially if they are alkaline, and will work well in your remote control, pager, toys and flashlights.
All batteries should be recycled to keep them out of the landfills. Home Depot stores have collection bins. Or check with
your county government about other collection facilities in your area.
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 MARY HUNT
Next to your rent or mortgage payment, food is probably your biggest expense. Don’t believe me? For the next 30 days, track every nickel you spend to feed your face, then tell me it doesn’t add up to one boatload of cash-ola.
Every dollar you don’t spend on food is a dollar you get to keep for something else -- like knocking down that student loan or padding your savings account. That dollar has already been taxed, and you don’t have to wait for it to appear in some future paycheck. It’s yours, right here, right now.
So how do you keep more of those dollars in your pocket? Here’s a snappy collection of grocery-shopping tricks that may not be new but have surely been forgotten by most of us.
1. DON’T SHOP HUNGRY
One study found that hungry shoppers spend up to 60% more -- and not just on food. You’d be better off grabbing a donut from the bakery section to curb your hunger before you shop. Just don’t forget to pay for it!
2. SHOP WITH A LIST
Stick to it as much as humanly possible, but be flexible enough to swap items if a better deal pops up.
3. PLAN YOUR LIST BASED ON SALES
Check your store’s weekly ad (flyer or website) and build your meal plan around what’s on sale.
4. GO FOR THE LOSS LEADERS
These are the deeply discounted items designed to lure you into the store. When they’re that cheap, stock up!
5. TIME YOUR TRIP WISELY
Avoid shopping at the beginning of the month and right before holidays. Stores tend to raise prices when they know the crowds -- especially seniors and other who get monthly checks -- are coming.
6. KNOW YOUR PRICES
Keep a written record of the regular price per unit for items you buy most often. That way, you’ll know whether a sale is actually a bargain or just clever marketing.
7. BUY IN SEASON
Fruits and veggies are at their best quality -- and lowest price -- when they’re in season.
8. SHOP WITH CASH
Bring only what you’ve budgeted for this trip. If you stumble across a fabulous bargain and don’t have enough, you can always go back. Shopping with cash keeps you from overspending -- studies show that when you use plastic, you spend 30% more. That’s a financial leak worth plugging!
9. TRACK YOUR SPENDING AS YOU SHOP
Use your phone or a pocket calculator to keep a running total of what’s in your cart. No surprises at checkout!
10. STICK TO TWO OR THREE STORES
Rotating between your cheapest local stores lets you grab different loss leaders and real bargains.
11. SHOP AT LARGER STORES
Bigger stores often have lower prices thanks to volume discounts.
12. FIND A BAKERY OUTLET
These discount stores can have amazing deals -- if you have the willpower to
resist impulse buys.
13. CHECK OUT SALVAGE STORES
Dented cans and mislabels can mean major savings. Just inspect items carefully.
14. BUY IN BULK (BUT NOT TOO MUCH)
If you can’t use it before it goes bad, it’s not a bargain.
15. DON’T OVERFILL YOUR STORAGE
A year’s worth of toilet paper is great -- if you have the space for it.
16. DO THE MATH ON COUPONS
A sale price without a coupon is often cheaper than the regular price with one.
17. BE SELECTIVE WITH COUPONS AND SALES
Only buy it if you actually need it, not just because it’s on sale.
18. ALWAYS CHECK EXPIRATION DATES
Grab the freshest option whenever possible.
19. CONSIDER STORE BRANDS
Most of the time, they’re identical to the name brands -- just with a lower price tag.
20. SHOP SOLO
Distractions (kids, spouses, friends) can cost you.
21. MAKE FRIENDS IN THE STORE
Your regular presence could mean early markdowns from the produce, bakery or meat department.
22. LOOK HIGH AND LOW
Expensive brands are placed at eye level on purpose. Check the top and bottom shelves for better deals.
23. SKIP NONFOOD ITEMS AT THE GROCERY STORE
Cleaning supplies, paper goods and greeting cards are usually cheaper elsewhere.
24. AVOID INDIVIDUAL-SIZE PACKAGES
Buy the bigger size and divide portions at home.
25. AVOID CONVENIENCE FOODS
Pre-cut fruit, shredded cheese and premixed seasoning blends cost way more than their whole counterparts.
26. WAIT FOR SALES
A national brand on sale is usually cheaper than a store brand at regular price.
27. LEARN YOUR STORE’S SALE CYCLES
Most grocery stores operate on a 12week sale cycle. If you notice a pattern, buy enough during the sale to last until the next one.
FINAL THOUGHT
Stick to these tips, eat out less, and I promise you’ll see big savings in no time. Your grocery bill might just shrink faster than a cheap T-shirt in hot water!
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 March 16-22, 2025
You may recall marveling at the Red Planet Mars when I wrote about it in December. It reached its closest to Earth in mid-January when it lay only 60 million miles from us and shone as a bright orange “star” in the night sky.
If you’ve been paying attention to this planet over the past few months, you will have noticed that it has become noticeably fainter. And if you’ve been watching it with a small telescope, you have certainly noticed that the planet now appears 30% smaller. These differences have occurred because Mars and Earth have separated considerably as they’ve orbited the sun. Today Mars is nearly twice as far from Earth as it was in January, and about three times fainter.
The one similarity to its appearance back then is that it still appears in the direction of the stars of Gemini, the twins, and now forms a fairly tight triangle with “twin stars” Castor and Pollux high overhead after dark. Keep an eye on Mars over the next few weeks and you’ll notice how it appears to drift eastward among these stars, the result of its orbital motion and that of the Earth.
To get an even better idea of how Mars moves among the stars, you can sketch its position, or even take a photograph of the area, from week to week.
Simply fix your gaze (or that of your camera) on the “twin stars” of Gemini, and you’ll be able to record the movement of Mars very clearly over time.
By mid-April, the Red Planet will have left the stars of Gemini and will enter the constellation of Cancer, and will appear nearly three times fainter and, with a telescope, some 27% smaller than it does this week.
Keep watch longer and you’ll see that by May, Mars will pass quite close to the Beehive star cluster at the center of the constellation Cancer. You can spot this cluster as a faint smudge of light on any clear, dark springtime night if you’re far from city lights and have no moonlight. But on the evening of May 4, Mars will appear just to the north of the Beehive, and this should be a great time to view both with a small, low-powered telescope. Even with bright moonlight that week, a telescope will reveal the stars of the cluster.
The show doesn’t just occur on that night, however. As Mars orbits the sun, we can see its movement against the more distant stars if we’re patient. On the evenings of May 3, 4 and 5, it will appear to drift by the cluster. Even through binoculars, Mars’ tiny orange disk will produce a lovely sight against the dozens of shimmering stars that form the Beehive.
This of course is an optical illusion caused by the two appearing along the same line of sight. In reality, the Beehive is 577 lightyears (about 3,394 trillion miles) away, while Mars will then be some 26 million times closer (“only” about 137 million miles from us).
BY TRACY BECKERMAN
Back in my early days of suburbia, I received one or two catalogs in the mail, and that was about it. However, catalogs, I soon learned, are like rabbits: They tend to multiply if left unattended. At first I looked forward to the occasional Pottery Barn and WilliamsSonoma catalogs. Not that I was buying, because we were young and house poor. But like a man with a girly magazine, I liked to look at the pictures and dream about what I didn’t have at home. Soon enough, though, more catalogs started pouring in. Initially it was just home decor-themed catalogs, which made sense since I had a home. But then I started getting catalogs for obscure things I had absolutely no possible interest in, such as hunting gear, Amish clothing and pet diapers for elderly, incontinent dogs. Somehow I had gotten
Spend some time under the stars this spring and enjoy watching this remarkable journey of Mars! Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
Mars becomes noticeably fainter as it orbits away from the Earth.
on the mailing list for everything from surgical scrubs to Harley-Davidson clothes, which would be great if I was a doctor who rode a cool hog, rather than a stay-at-home mom who drives a lame-o SUV. Sure, the catalogs were pretty and colorful and inviting, and made me almost want to call right in and order a plain and simple Amish lady’s bonnet. But the catalogs had started crowding out my regular mail and soon reached such a volume that the mailman simply left them stacked next to the post. I was afraid the neighbors were going to think I had some kind of catalog addiction, do an intervention and enroll me in a mail-order 12-step program. The day I received a catalog for the Avocado of the Month Club, I decided the time had come to cut off the catalogs cold turkey. I had no choice. I don’t even really like guacamole.
Now, I knew I got a lot of catalogs, but since they never came all at once, I really had no idea how many there were. For a month I collected all my catalogs and piled them up in a heap in my kitchen. By the time I reached 50, I figured I could either wallpaper my family room with them or take some action. Getting catalogs, it seemed, was easy. Stopping getting catalogs ... not so much. From my monster pile o’ catalogs, I went through each one and wrote down their mailing address. Then I typed a lovely, gracious cease-anddesist-or-I-will-sue-you-and-the-Amishbuggy-you-rode-in-on letter. I printed out 50 copies, cut out my mailing label on each catalog, stuck it to the letter, then mailed them all out.
Warily, I watched the mail get delivered each day. As the mailman staggered under the weight of my catalogs, I
began to wonder if my letters had ended up in some catalog slush pile. I thought it pretty ironic that in trying to end the junk mail, I may have ended up becoming junk mail myself.
Then, slowly but surely, I noticed a definite decrease in the number of catalogs I was receiving. Day by day, the pile got smaller and smaller, until one afternoon, I opened up the mailbox and found only bills. Smiling with smug satisfaction, I went in the house and logged onto my email. I had 30 incoming messages.
They were all online catalogs.
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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Makes 6 servings
St. Patrick’s Day is known for revelry. A festive atmosphere prevails each March 17, and people from all walks of life and genealogical backgrounds take part in festivities that have become celebrations of Irish culture.
8 cups lamb or beef stock; divided
1 cup pearl barley
3 lb. lamb shoulder, cubed
Salt, to taste
Cuisine is a big part of Irish culture, even if it’s not the first thing people think of when pondering the Emerald Isle. This St. Patrick’s Day, cel-
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons oil
1⁄2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
4 stalks of celery, washed, trimmed and chopped
2 large yellow onions, peeled and chopped
1) In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, bring 3 cups of stock to a boil; add barley. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer for 20 minutes. Set aside.
2) Meanwhile, pat the meat dry with paper towels. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven. Brown the meat on all sides over medium-high heat. Using a slotted spoon, remove the meat from the pot. Sprinkle flour over the meat, shaking off any excess; set aside.
3) Add the celery, onions, gar-
ebrants can bring a touch of Irish cuisine to their celebrations by preparing the following recipe for “Irish Guinness Stew with Lamb” courtesy of Lines+Angles.
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 large carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
12 fluid ounces Guinness stout
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 bunch fresh thyme
1 bunch fresh rosemary
3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 teaspoons cornstarch
4 teaspoons water
lic and carrots to the pot and saute until onions are soft and translucent. Add Guinness and deglaze the pot, scraping up all the caramelized bits on the bottom and sides of the pan.
4) Chop the leaves of the parsley, reserving the stems. Tie the parsley stems and several sprigs of thyme and rosemary into a bundle; drop the bundle into the pot. Chop the remaining thyme and rosemary; set chopped herbs aside.
5) Return the meat to the pot. Add the potatoes, barley and enough stock to cover the meat
and vegetables. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to very low and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until meat is fork tender. Stir occasionally, adding remaining stock as necessary.
6) Check seasoning; adjust to taste. Stir in chopped parsley, thyme and rosemary. Mix cornstarch in water and stir. Add to stew, stirring to incorporate. Cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until stew thickens. Ladle into bowls. Serve with crusty bread and of course more Guinness if desired.
If you haven’t tried Chewy.com yet for your pet food and supply purchases, this is a great time to check them out. Last Hope is part of their rescue program. For each new customer that makes a purchase, Last Hope will receive a $20 donation. Go to Last Hope’s Chewy page at https://www.chewy. com/g/last-hope-animal-rescue_b100553681 for info on Last Hope and to shop for items and necessities on the shelter’s wish list.
From page 1
volunteer-led and service organizations for the greater good. “Within these organizations and community groups we might find more people who would like to engage in activities that will help the people trying to protect cats – that collective effort would help achieve protections and better care for animals,” she said.
Dr. Pombonyo was clear that any local laws should address issues “accurately and in its entirety.”
“We want to be careful and constructive; what animals are we talking about and what procedures are we talking about? We won’t state not to feed all animals outside but we have to tell them how to do it – we’ve heard exterminators tell us people can not leave food outside unattended, and especially overnight,” she noted.
One of the issues raised to the Village Board a few months back was the worry of current cat owners in Floral Park, if their cat might be targeted by municipal or Animal Control authorities. The governing body will be reviewing protocols for feral cats, based on the impacts these animals have in the community. “Are the cats doing damage, are they destroying property or are they attacking another cat or a small dog? We can’t control whether or not people will call the Town of Hempstead shelter, but our FP Village Police have certainly not had any issues that have related to cats here. Once in a while we have a matter with unleashed dogs and it’s taken care of – but the cats have never been a problem until recently, when it was a very unique property maintenance and animal cruelty problem. As that came up (in 2024) we needed to make sure our Village Code addressed and covered that uniqueness,” she said.
The village is intent on identifying the problems and community impacts and then designing code, “if we choose to and if the Board feels we need to,” Dr. Pombonyo advised.
Residents outline objections
One local resident, Jeffrey Carstens, said he objected to a lack of public outreach and therefore, no input before the new local law was approved.
“There was no other public notification aside from what’s legally required by the village leadership to notify folks of the change (amendment) to law, or a newly proposed law – and then ultimately their enactment of the law was an easy unanimous vote by the board, because nobody was at the board meeting/public hearing,” he told the Villager.
Like two dozen other members of the public, Carstens participated via Zoom at the Board’s first meeting in December 2024. There, the trustees heard from cat enthusiasts including Claudia Kessler, a retired attorney who runs a non-profit cat rescue group. Carstens was happy
she spoke up because Kessler, though she does not live in the village, has organized with her friends to perform cat rescue work in Floral Park. According to Carstens, “she is well aware of the rescue process and some of the legal aspects.” Her comments provided the kind of input Carstens said the Board of Trustees should have sought, from an experienced person/organization, before it considered the feral cats law it adopted.
Carsten said the new law penalizes “people that would otherwise feed feral cats.”
One of the chief concerns he and other residents brought up is that the attempt to control hoarding situations through a local law was in conflict with protections from animal abuse charges. Carstens believes this step could have been taken without a local law specifically addressing outdoor and feral cats.
“The issue is they don’t want to make it a crime, but it becomes criminal because the State of New York has laws on the books to prevent cruelty to animals and hoarding is oftentimes animal cruelty. They don’t want to arrest somebody for that. They just want to have the opportunity or the obligation of the right to enter someone’s home and inspect someone’s house or to limit this from happening…. The hoarding situation that took place last summer was resolved because the homeowner was cooperative – they (the village government) ended up resolving peacefully. Nobody was arrested in the household. All the cats were taken care of,” Carstens said, and he inferred this house was sold and will likely be demolished due to its extremely unsanitary conditions.
Some of the points he raised for community awareness and education include two “ground rules” for feeding cats in the backyard or neighborhood:
1. If someone puts water and food out, pick it up by the time bugs arrive so it doesn’t attract racoons and opossums and doesn’t trap bugs particularly in the center top. And people must clean up the area.
2. Don’t feed cats on someone else’s property without their permission. “You shouldn’t walk down someone’s driveway. You don’t put food at the curb or along their front yard,” he noted. “If you are going to do that, ask for permission so they don’t get annoyed when you put the cat food there.”
Carstens wonders if the Village Board has a willingness “to chip everybody’s cat in the village of Floral Park, everybody’s house cat so that all the cats are chipped.” He says this is one way to ensure, if someone’s cat (pet) gets away they can be scanned and easily be identified.
Many rescue organizations follow the program of TNR - Trap-Neuter-Return. According to Carstens, with the issues at the village level, animal allies
are wondering how to eliminate the return component. “We don’t want to have the cat put back into the neighborhood, where it’s gonna have to fend for itself for food and water,” he noted.
The program he and other cat advocates call for, to be instituted by the Village, would be to “Trap-Identify (when possible–Spay/Neuter-Adopt.” He suggested that the village help animal advocates like himself by developing a flow chart for residents to use as a model.
“If you see a cat this is what you look for - chipped or not, spayed or neutered - and if it belongs to someone or not. If not, then get the cat adopted, so it doesn’t have to live on the streets, get attacked or even be poisoned. The goal here should be to have zero outside cats,” he shared.
“Dr. Pombonyo is a cat person, and we believe they are favorably inclined to do something but they haven’t done it yet. We asked for the flowchart to be put out by the village, which we were preparing and reviewing to have it make total sense,” Carstens said.
Mr. Carstens wants the Village officials to agree on putting together a “Homeless Cats Task Force” that reports to the village. As with liaison roles, one of the trustees would be responsible for attending meetings and keeping notes about the task force. Carstens said that would become a regular, recurring item, with monthly activities reported from the Village Board, shared with the community. He said the task force group should be initiated and have a dedicated website or page on the village website, plus its own social media capabilities.
“This task force could be a blend of people that raise funds – involving volunteers and paid staff, people that are on village payroll. While nobody wants to add payroll to the village or expenses, necessarily, or more costs for the village budget, but we don’t think it’s a lot of money. Maybe the right step is to hire a part-time person that is able to coordinate a group of volunteers,” he said.
It appears Dr. Pombonyo and
Carstens would agree that it’s important for people who volunteer to be properly trained. Cartstens suggested that cat rescue groups are experienced at doing this type of training. He advised, “There’s technique to the rescue folks’ approach; each one a little different than the other one. People need to understand how to do it. Rescue people all have different nuances to perform in a fragmented business. Everybody is overwhelmed with rescue calls and then the vet appointments and related expenses,” Carstens shared.
The people concerned about the ‘Feral Cats law’ and the Floral Park village trustees, including Mayor Fitzgerald, have the common goal of educating the public about the perils of feeding animals (especially cats) outside. The message that permeates all this discussion, from both the perspective of the deputy mayor and those that approached the governing body three months ago, is “We can do better as a community.”
“We all want the village to be known as animal friendly, as well as considerate of neighbors. We don’t want cats to be homeless or not cared for, poisoned or attacked by people and other animals….Outdoors, many kittens die before reaching maturity - mom can’t eat enough to sustain the life of kittens, and health issues arise too fast,” Carstens told the Villager.
The difference lies with the chance to repeal the local law and tailor it to address the property maintenance code violations (which a house in question last summer led residents to complain to the Board).
Definitions in the Local Law are also grounds for confusion which the cat advocates want to see addressed. Carstens shared, “A stray and feral cat are completely different. A stray cat would have been dumped by somebody – it’s already been socialized, neutered/ spayed, and can be a pet but it doesn’t have a home. Don’t go near any feral cats! And we have to combat the way people will confuse all three of these if they’re lumped together in the law.”
From page 6
tribute to a Traditional IRA past age 70½ as long as you meet the earned-income requirement.
5. This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It is not representative of any specific investment or combination of investments.
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal
advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright FMG Suite.
Bangladesh was celebrated with food and family.
The spirit of unity and diversity shone brightly at FPM during this year’s International "Knight", an event that brought together students, families, and community members for an unforgettable evening of cultural exploration. Hosted by the World Language Department, this annual celebration continues to highlight the rich tapestry of traditions and stories that make our school community so special. It was held on Thursday, March 6, at Floral Park Memorial and it was an event to remember!
The first hour of the event transformed the school's gymnasium into a global marketplace, with cultural food displays, engaging activities, and interactive exhibits representing 18 different countries, including Italy, Bangladesh, India, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Malta, Norway, Estonia, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, China, the Philippines, Jamaica, Colombia, Peru, Haiti, Ireland, and Lebanon.
Guests eagerly traveled from table to table, sampling authentic dishes, learning about cultural traditions, and participating in interactive activities. Whether savoring homemade Irish soda bread, discovering the art of Chinese calligraphy, or taking selfies at the Filipino photobooth, attendees immersed themselves in the world’s vibrant cultures. The event also featured raffle baskets generously donated by local businesses, further strengthening the connection between FPM and our supportive community.
As the second hour began, excitement filled the air as everyone gathered in the auditorium for a series of breathtaking cultural performances. The display was enhanced by a stunning balloon arrangement donated by Gemar Balloons in Italy, a custom banner from Christine Kozak,
Continued on page 14
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Continued from page 12
and flyers provided by Ray-Block.
The talented emcees—seniors, Gia Scarapicchia, Samantha Sarro, and Maggie King—kept the energy high as they introduced a spectacular lineup of acts that transported the audience across the globe. This year’s theme, "One World, Many Stories", was a testament to the idea that despite different backgrounds, we are all connected by the power of storytelling and tradition.
Among the many standout acts, “Il Bel Paese” took audiences on a grand tour of Italy’s most iconic landmarks, led by students in the AP Italian class.
The mesmerizing “Pandanggo sa Ilaw” (Dance of Lights) performance by Elijah Garrett Abaya and Madison Guitonez captured the elegance of traditional Filipino dance, showcasing graceful movements that mimic flickering candlelight.
Fiona So wowed the crowd with her skilled Chinese yo-yo demonstration, tracing the ancient roots of this thrilling art form back to the Ming dynasty.
“The Spirit of Punjab,” performed by Parbleen Kaur, Gurleen Kaur, Ramya Sharma, Aanya Kapoor, and Harseerat Kaur, brought the infectious energy of Bhangra and Giddha to the stage, celebrating Punjabi culture through lively dance and music.
Yuri Montas delivered a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Chopin’s “ Nocturne in C# Minor ” , reminding us of the profound influence of Polish and French classical music.
Charlie Turner’s delightful performance of “Ma Bella Bimba” transported the audience to the cobblestone streets of Italy with its lilting waltz tempo and traditional folk melodies.
Seerat Kaur and Mannraj Singh energized the audience with their modern take on Bhangra, blending traditional drumming with contemporary beats.
Mayra and Farrin Islam brought the beauty of Bangladesh to life through their expressive dance to “Reshmi Churi”, a song celebrating romance and tradition.
Mannraj Singh, Sahijbir Singh, and Supreet Singh demonstrated the powerful art of Gatka, an ancient Sikh martial art that has evolved into an awe-inspiring performance tradition.
Finally, “The Celtic Lasses”— performed by Raya Lahey, Victoria Ambrose, Cara Lopez, and Beth Selfridge—showcased the rhythmic precision and grace of Irish Step Dancing, captivating the audience with their high-energy reels.
International "Knight" was not just a school event—it was a community-wide collaboration. Tables were sponsored by parents, teachers, and local community members, making the night a true celebration of the cultures that make up the FPM family. Media students captured the event through interviews and photography, ensuring the memories of the night will be preserved for years to come.
A special thank you goes out to the FPM administration, central office leadership, and Board of Education members who attended and showed their support. Another huge shoutout goes to the Floral Park Memorial PTSA who contributed greatly to the success of the evening! This event would not have been possible without the dedication of our World Language Department, whose hard work and passion brought this incredible night to life.
