FP-Bellerose kids participate in self-esteem workshops
Floral Park-Bellerose School fourth graders participated in their final sessions of Beautiful Me and Confidence Club on March 18.
Floral Park-Bellerose School fourth graders strengthened their confidence and self-esteem through the Beautiful Me and Confidence Club programs. Developed by the Hance Family
Photo courtesy of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District
Foundation, these programs offer a series of workshops designed to foster self-awareness, build confidence and promote a sense of empowerment. Over the course of three ses-
sions, students explored topics such as conflict resolution, kindness, self-advocacy and the importance of both giving and receiving compliments.
Town car show to return to Point Lookout
The unmistakable rumble of classic engines will once again echo along the South Shore as Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti invites residents and visitors to the return of the Spring Dust-Off Car Show at Town Park Point Lookout on Sunday, May 3 (rain date: Sunday, May 17). Widely recognized as Long Island’s largest car show, the annual event transforms the waterfront park into a showcase of craftsmanship, nostalgia, and automotive innovation.
Car enthusiasts and families alike can expect a packed day featuring hundreds of vehicles competing for top honors, from vintage classics and custom builds to modern muscle cars and motorcycles. The celebration also includes live entertainment, a popular touch-a-truck experience, a kids’ zone, movie cars, a beer garden, and dozens of vendors offering food, merchandise, and automotive accessories.
This year’s show will also feature appearances from some of the most recognizable names in the automotive and entertainment world, including custom car builder Dave Kindig, television personality
Kev Dogg, automotive entrepreneur Richard Rawlings, and professional wrestling icon Bill Goldberg.
“The Spring Dust-Off has grown into one of the most anticipated traditions on our Town calendar,” said Supervisor Ferretti. “It’s a chance for car enthusiasts to show off their pride and joy while giving families a great reason to spend the day together along our beautiful shoreline.”
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Town Park Point Lookout (1300 Lido Blvd., Point Lookout). Gates open at 7 a.m. for registered vehicles. All makes and models are welcome, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, slingshots, trikes, and specialty vehicles.
Vehicle pre-registration is $25 and $30 the day of the event. Participants can sign up in advance by visiting townofhempsteadevents. com.
“With incredible cars, special guests, and the energy of thousands of visitors gathering in one place, the Spring Dust-Off captures the spirit of the car community,” Ferretti added. “It’s a great way to kick off the season here in the Town of Hempstead.”
Fifth graders celebrate Women’s History Month
History Month projects displayed in the hallway.
Photos courtesy of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District
John Lewis Childs School fifth graders celebrated Women’s History Month by researching an inspirational woman from history, exploring her life, accomplishments and legacy. Each class completed a different hands-on project to bring their learning to life.
Students showcased their research through a variety of creative formats, including designing a paper plate that illustrated their chosen figure and her achievements; creating a one-pager
featuring quotations, symbolic illustrations and descriptive words that captured her personality; or designing a mini-museum display that included a character illustration along with information about her childhood, challenges she faced and interesting facts.
Among the influential women researched included Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, Anne Frank, Helen Keller, Eleanor Roosevelt and Sacagawea.
Weedout at Centennial Gardens
BY ANN GRIBBINS, FPCS VOLUNTEER
Come on Saturday, April 4th, at 9 a.m. to the main entrance of the Gardens for a time of learning, helping and enjoying the Centennial Gardens living nature. Saturdays weed out manager, Rich Burgess, will guide all to the gardens that are in most need of help. The time spent will include evaluating the gardens in need, giving them a spring cleaning, planting as necessary and enhancing the beauty of the gardens worked on. The groups that help are enthusiastic, energetic and follow instructions without hesitation. They are people of all ages, some in need of community service and some to learn
and experience the nature of the area. This is a monthly meeting on the first Saturday at 9 a.m. and everyone will meet at the main entrance. All are encouraged to wear gardening clothing and bring gardening tools, if you have them. Frequently new volunteers will return in future months, Rich makes the weed out a welcoming experience and it will continue until the Gardens close in November. This volunteer group has been meeting for over ten years, proving that it is a sucessful endeavor and supported by many. Frequently groups attend from the local High Schools. This is a positive way to begin the gardening experience. A proof of Community Service can be provided upon request.
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John Lewis Childs School fifth graders are pictured with their Women’s
Sewanhaka art reception honors student artists
On March 12, the Sewanhaka Central High School District proudly hosted its 22nd annual Gallery@77 reception, celebrating 25 exceptional student artists from across the district.
Each art educator selected one outstanding student work to be featured in this year’s exhibition, showcasing the creativity and talent of these young artists. The event brought together students, teachers, district administrators and families to honor the students’ dedication and artistic achievements.
The selected students will have their artwork exhibited in the district’s central administration building for the next year. Congratulations to Leilah Gonzalez, Sophie Lissade, Camila Santander, Royce Stephens and Isabella Thelusma from Elmont Memorial High School; Emilia Cuzco Angamarca, Rowan DeJean, Lucille Lynch, Maxxine Pena and Samantha Verrelli from Floral Park Memorial High School; Alyza Barzola, Penelope DeStefano, Madison Ottavio–Echeverria, Marcela Flores and Julie Rivera from H. Frank Carey High School; Jamie Portillo Carrero, Ava Chiang, Kiera Coope and Emily Oh from New Hyde Park Memorial High School; and Kiana Arcillas, Abdullah Asif, Mikaela John, Aarna Khanna, Max Leon and Jade Trask from Sewanhaka High School.
CAPOGNA ORTHODONTICS
Student artists from across the district were honored at the 22nd annual Gallery@77 on March 12.
“Congratulations to all of the participating artists. Their creativity, effort and vision are truly inspiring,” District Coordinator of Visual and Media Arts Cassandra Papajohn-Shaw said. “This exhibition highlights the incredible talent of our students and reflects the dedication of the Sewanhaka Central High School District’s art educators in fostering a strong and vibrant visual arts program.”
Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
Sewanhaka Mathletes participate in District Math Tournament
Sewanhaka Central High School District’s Junior High and Senior High Mathletes recently competed in the annual District Math Tournament, hosted at Sewanhaka High School.
Senior High Mathletes participated in a Nassau County–led tournament featuring problem sets from the league. Each school competed in a team-based contest, working together to solve 10 challenging questions within 40 minutes. After an impressive display of mathematical skill, New Hyde Park Memorial High School earned first place with a perfect score of 10 correct answers, followed by Sewanhaka High School in second place and H. Frank Carey High School in third place.
Junior High Mathletes took part in a two-round competition. In the first round, students competed in teams representing their own schools. In the second round, participants were placed into mixed teams, giving them the opportunity to collaborate with peers from other schools. The students on the winning collaborative team included: Khorshed Alam, Prasis Gajurel, Seerat Kaur and Olivia Samaroo from Floral Park Memorial High School; Dan Jablonski from H. Frank Carey High School; Darien Fundo, Jayden Jiang and Aarav Maini from New Hyde Park
Continued on page 8
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Centennial Gardens volunteers grow native plants
BY ANN GRIBBINS, FPCS VOLUNTEER
F.P. Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary volunteers grow Native Plants Ann Gribbins FPCS volunteer Can you picture this ? At one time the Hempstead Plains, ranging from the Queens County border to the Suffolk County border and from Jericho Turnpike to Hempstead Turnpike ,was 40,000 acres of flowers, trees, birds and insects. With urbanization development on these lands only a few acres of the Hempstead Plains still exist. That name, many believe, comes from a Dutch person named Hempstead who was involved with the early settlement of the area. The Dutch purchased the land from local Native Americans around 1644. This land is considered an outwash of glacial sediment.
As time progressed Mitchell Field, where Charles Lindbergh flew to Europe, was developed. The Nassau Coliseum, Nassau Community College, and Roosevelt Field also developed. In 1917 Mitchell Air Force Base began decades of development. Levittown developed after World War ll on the Hempstead Plains. A result of all of this was the loss of the beautiful, tranquil plains for the flowers, trees, birds and insects to live. 99.9 % of the Hempstead Plains was lost.
Merrick Bay where there is fishing. The area is also home for many goats and sheep. The Town of Hempstead maintains a herd of Nigerian dwarf goats. These goats have a keeper, sleep on shelves, and must have a high surrounding fence to keep them in their habitat since they have a reputation for escaping. The goats are intelligent, friendly, small, and ecologically sensitive . They eat the grasses, weeds and brush overgrowth and earn their keep. All of this helps the Preserve maintain a tranquil respite for visitors. The park is open year round. At the one hundred and fifty five foot top can be seen NYC and the Tower at Jones Beach.
The Hempstead Plains Interpretive Center, nineteen acres of land, located in garden City on NCC campus is a learning place for students interested in environmental studies.
In 2001 the Friends of the Hempstead Plains was established. Betsy Gulotta, a biology professor at NCC, would bring her students to the remaining plains by the college where they would learn about nature. This group, friends of the Hempstead Plains, and a nearby group, the Francis Purcell Preserve in Uniondale, joined together. The preserve in Uniondale was one of the largest remaining untouched areas of the Hempstead Plains. It had 66 acres of grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands providing fresh water for inhabitants to survive. They would join together to support the population of endangered plants that were disappearing rapidly along with species of birds, butterflies and insects.
Levy Park and Preserve , dedicated on October10, 2000, is in Merrick. The park is exit M9E on The Meadowbrook Parkway. Norman Levy was a Merrick resident, activist, and senator. The park originally was a landfill. the Town of Hempstead converted it to a park costing fifteen million dollars. Fulfilling the NYS requirements would have cost fifty-seven million dollars. There is a windmill on the northern part of the park that circulates water to two man made ponds that provide fresh water for the wildlife. The park has three miles of hiking and jogging trails, and an area to launch kayaks. The preserve is on the
A positive result of all of this has been the awareness of local residents who can help the ecologic impact of urbanization with small gardens, that added together, can provide habitats for birds, butterflies, bees and the pollinators needed to keep food growing for human consumption. Commercial areas, schoolyards, corporate landscapes and other institutions are beginning to provide habitats for the displaced birds, bees, insects and butterflies.
Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary volunteers have created several areas with Native Plants growing and helping the environment. Volunteer Jim Abbott has a Native Plant Garden, as does Don Haug. Chris Deeks Garden has Native Planting and, at the bottom of Crabapple Path, Milkweed is flourishing. See what native plants you can find when you visit Centennial Gardens.
What can property owners do to help the environment? Some homeowners have converted their lawns to native plants. Some are using the tree growing areas in front of their property for plantings. Every native plant that is planted is helpful to the environment.
One native plant, the milkweed, is where caterpillars become butterflies. The blackeye susan, aster, lupine, and purple coneflowers are a few flowering native plants. Trees such as White Oak, Sugar Maple, Red Oak, and Pitch Pine are some native trees on Long Island.
Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary is open everyday from April first until mid November from noon to five p.m. Visitors are welcome, there is no fee to enter and enjoy this peaceful area of nature.
Sewanhaka Mathletes participate in District Math Tournament
Continued from page 4
Memorial High School; and Ayaan Ali from Sewanhaka High School.
“The atmosphere was electric, filled with energy and enthusiasm as students connected with their peers in a friendly yet competitive setting,” District Coordinator of Mathematics Marcella
Fini-Jackman said. “Advisers played a crucial role in facilitating the event, providing support, offering pizza before the contest and distributing personalized pencils as a special keepsake. Their dedication and efforts truly made this a memorable, math-filled afternoon.”
Photos courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
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FP-Bellerose School hosts Glow Run fundraiser
Park-Bellerose School fifth graders participated in the Glow Run on March 11.
Floral Park-Bellerose School recently hosted a Glow Run as the culminating event of its Boosterthon fundraiser. The high-energy indoor experience transformed the gymnasium into a vibrant, glowing track, creating a fun and memorable atmosphere for students.
Participants from all grade levels
took part, helping raise funds through the Boosterthon program. Thanks to the incredible support of the community, the school surpassed its original goal, raising more than $41,000 to benefit school assemblies and initiatives. The event was organized and led by the school’s PTA.
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Photo courtesy of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District
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Women Power the Rise of Going-Solo-But-Not-Alone Travel
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
Tour operators are responding to the surge in popularity of solo travel, the majority being women, with dedicated itineraries, programming and waived solo supplements that remove some of the traditional barriers of traveling on one’s own.
“Solo travel doesn’t have to mean traveling alone,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of United States Tour Operators Association. “Rather than navigating a destination entirely on their own, solo travelers can join guided tours that let them connect not only with the places they visit, but also with like-minded explorers.”
The result is opening the world of travel experiences. Here is a sampling of tours tailored to solo travelers:
G Adventures’ Solo-ish Adventures have reimagined solo group travel by placing community at the core with front-loaded itineraries to encourage quick connection. All of G Adventures’ Solo-ish Adventures are led by female guides and include a “Me Day” for independent exploration. The trips are designed for solo travelers aged 18 and up – 68 percent of whom are female. There is an emphasis on providing security and safety to alleviate any concern about traveling solo, such as complimentary arrival transfer to the first hotel and discounted My Own Room option. Examples: Solo-ish Cambodia tour (10 days, from $1,349 pp). Solo-ish Sicily (8-days, $1784); Solo-ish Ecuador (7 days, $1049) as well as programs in Bali, Morocco, India, Belize, Morocco, Costa Rica, Mexico, Vietnam, Jordan, Guatemala, Egypt, Turkey, Nepal, Uzbekistan. “Where’s your heart calling you?’ (https://www.gadventures.com/solotravel-tours/, 877 982 6201, https://
Taj Mahal, Agra. Several tour companies including G Adventures, Goway and Road Scholar cater to travelers wanting to explore India solo but not alone © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
www.gadventures.com/)
Goway recently launched itineraries designed specifically for women traveling solo. All trips are tailored for female travelers and the price includes a private room. The Secrets of India: A Women’s Journey traces northern India’s heritage from Delhi to Agra (12 days, from $6,785 pp, goway.com).
EF Go Ahead Tours offers curated trips for solo travelers that include a private room at no added cost, time to explore independently, as well as group activities designed to maximize bonding between travelers. Among the offerings: Ireland for Solo Travelers, a whirlwind cultural immersion (from $3,409, goaheadtours.com).
For solo travelers seeking value and less crowds, Globus offers Escap es itineraries with off-season savings and no single supplement on most of its departure dates. For example, an eight-day Swiss Escape to Zurich, Neuchatel, Lake Geneva, Lucerne and Lugano (2026 departure dates October-
December, from $1,799, globusjourneys.com).
Abercombie & Kent offers 50% on single supplements for select 2026 journeys. Among them: nineday Glorious Gardens of England and Chelsea Flower Show journey featuring the five-day extravaganza, English castles and estates including an exclusive tour of Blenheim Palace, where you tour areas typically closed to the public. (Departs May 13, 2026, $19,193, abercrombiekent.com)
See more USTOA member tours for solo travelers at ustoa.com/blog/ national-plan-a-solo-vacation-day.
More than 70 percent of passengers on Wild Frontiers’ small group tours are solo adventurers. Not only will Wild Frontiers match a solo traveler to share a room (to avoid paying a supplement), but periodically the company reduces or waives the supplement. A discount up to 100% of the supplement is presently running through March on select tours. Examples:
Guatemala: Tikal & Beyond, 16 days from $4,478; Mongolia: Nomads Of The Steppe, 10 days from $3954; Tanzania: Safari, Serengeti & Maasai Heartlands, 10 days from $5,499; Oman Desert Adventure: Wahiba Sands & Empty Quarter, 12 days from $5,451; Viva Colombia, 12 days from $5,375. Also: Georgia and Armenia, experience the Silk Road in China, or travel to the other end of the trade route to Turkey (wildfrontierstravel.com, info@wildfrontiers.co.uk).
Road Scholar has created a special collection of learning adventures for solo travelers. Many of the programs are dedicated to solo travelers, while others have specific dates for solos. Go Solo programs include: Explore Delhi, Agra & More Highlights of India, 12 days, from $3,899; new 8-day The Splendor of Nepal, from $2,299; new 13-day Classic Tuscany and the Treasures of Florence, from $6,999; new 18-day The Best of Central Europe, from $8,799; new 9-day A Taste of Costa Rica, from $2,849; Go Solo: new 10-day Independent Buenos Aires, from $ 2,499; new 17-day Best of Bhutan, from $7,199; new 15-day Exploration of Egypt & Jordan, from $8,399; new 9-day Peru’s Sacred Valley, Lima & Machu Picchu, from $3,349. Road Scholar, roadscholar.org, 800-454-5768, https://www.roadscholar.org/collections/solo-only/
For 2026, Tauck is removing the biggest obstacle to solo travel – the dreaded “single supplement” -on 250 European river cruise departures (including its new Bordeaux, Paris, & The Seine, sailing aboard the newly launched ms Serene) and reducing the supplement by up to $600 on dozens of land journeys worldwide (tauck.com).
© 2026 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com
BY MARY HUNT
If you speak English in your home, your kids are not likely to come out speaking Italian. Kids learn through observation and imitation. And they don’t miss a thing. Children are shaped from the very beginning of life by the way their parents live. They are ever-attentive witnesses of grown-up behaviors. They take their cues from what they see and hear.
Want your kids to grow up with healthy attitudes about money? Start living the way you want them to become. Let your kids regularly catch you in the act of living financially responsible lives and you’ll be on your way to raising financially responsible kids.
Recently, I ran across an article titled “10 Ways Warren Buffett’s Frugal Habits Can Save You Money.” No. 9 on the list? “He uses cash, not credit.” While most of us these days prefer the convenience of a credit card for everyday purchases, Buffett uses hard cash. You should, too. For kids and adults alike, cash is real; plastic is just a standin for the real thing. It’s human nature to be more casual, even reckless, with
Careful! The Kids Are Watching
plastic -- more cautious when having to peel off $20 bills to pay the tab.
Cash might sound old-school, but relying less on your credit card can stop you from spending money you don’t have. And looking like Warren Buffet isn’t a bad thing.
You really cannot start too early modeling healthy money attitudes for your kids. Here are 20 ways you can start right now to raise financially responsible kids even if still toddlers:
1. Let them observe that you have money and you take good care of it.
2. Let them see you use money as an ordinary and normal part of life.
3. Make sure they catch you being generous with others and sharing what you have.
4. Tell your kids stories about the ways you have made do with what you have, choosing rather to save, not spend.
5. Allow them to see you deposit money in the bank.
6. Let them see the way you pay for groceries with cash.
7. Teach them that money is important in our lives because we can exchange it for things we need and want.
8. Talk about money as casually as you talk about other things like sports and laundry.
9. Use coins to teach your preschoolers to count. It’s effective and acknowledges their curiosity about money.
10. Talk about the different shapes and colors of items in the store. It gives little ones something to do instead of wanting everything they see.
11. While a passenger in the grocery cart, allow your little one to hold the coupons or the list. Talk about finding the best value.
12. Say, “We don’t choose to spend our money that way” more often than you say, “We can’t afford it.”
13. Remember preschoolers are listening and learning from everything they see you do and hear you say.
14. Use coins to teach the different denominations. Three- and 4-year-olds can learn to put all the pennies into one cup, the nickels into another and so on.
15. Visit the library and park with your preschooler more often than the market or mall.
16. Give rewards of hugs and praise, not money. Creating the expectation of cash payment at every turn is a habit you’ll regret in adolescence.
NUTRITION NEWS
Diet and Cancer
BY CHARLYN FARGO
By 2040, there will be 29.5 million new cancer cases each year in the United States, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The good news? There’s still time to prevent many of these cases by adopting healthy lifestyle patterns.
While cancer prevention is still being researched, we know chances of developing cancer can be affected by the lifestyle choices you make. New research shows as many as one-third of all cancer deaths are linked to diet and physical activity. Besides quitting smoking and protecting your skin from damaging UV rays, some of the most important things to do to help reduce your cancer risk are eating right and being physically active on a regular basis throughout life. Can a healthy lifestyle prevent cancer or its recurrence?
In a study of 1,340 patients with high-
risk breast cancer, strongest adherence to American Cancer Society and American Institute of Cancer Research prevention recommendations was associated with a 37% reduced hazard of breast cancer recurrence and a 58% reduced hazard of mortality. The study was published May 2023 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
These findings suggest that education and implementation strategies to help patients adhere to cancer prevention recommendations throughout the cancer care continuum may be warranted in breast cancer in this study -- and for other cancers as well. The bottom line is it’s never too late to start eating healthy.
Here are the recommendations the study used to help reduce cancer risk.
-- Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables which are linked with a lower risk of certain cancers. Fill half your plate each meal with a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
-- Eat fewer foods that are highly processed and low in nutrients. Filling up on foods with added sugars and saturated fats leaves little room for nutrient-dense, cancer-preventive foods. Choose fewer sugar-sweetened beverages. You can still enjoy the foods you love, but the foods you eat should consist mostly of whole grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and lean protein foods.
-- Focus on plant proteins. Beans and lentils are nutritious and affordable sources of protein and dietary fiber. Research links high intakes of red, processed and charred meat with increased cancer risk, so eat these sparingly.
-- Limit alcohol. Evidence suggests all types of alcoholic drinks may increase your risk of breast, colorectal and other forms of cancer. If you’re of legal drinking age and choose to drink, limit alcoholic beverages to one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men on days that alcohol is
17. Monitor television time and opt for noncommercial viewing and DVDs/ blu-rays when possible.
18. Let preschoolers participate in household chores to enjoy the security of belonging, not to get paid.
19. Intervene between advertisers and your kids. Preschoolers can’t always tell when the television show ends and the ad begins.
20. Make sure your children grow up knowing that all good things are a blessing from God.
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 2026 CREATORS.COM
consumed.
-- Engage in physical activity for 30 minutes a day for a total of 150 minutes a week.
-- Maintain a healthy body weight.
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 her on Twitter @NutritionRD. . COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM
An Easter Sunday filled with delightful treats
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
Right before the annual Easter egg hunt in town my kids always look so excited. Last year Tina, 7, Sheila, 5, and Freddy, 4, pulled their best clothes from the closet and put them on without having to be told. They wanted to surprise us, they said later, and when they came downstairs into the living room they all looked great.
The kids had spruced up and gotten ready before we headed out for the Easter egg hunt and my husband, Nick, and I certainly were pleased.
They knew the holiday weekend would be a special one. We had relatives coming over for a festive dinner and my three kids were sure to tell their aunts, uncles and cousins all about seeing the Easter bunny the day before.
We’d taken them to the community center for the annual Easter egg hunt and when we got out of the car they ran a few steps ahead of us to see the other children. Hearing a trumpeter playing as they and lots of other kids approached, I knew my kids were wondering what was up with this year’s Easter egg hunt. They’d heard that Mr. Walsh, a basketball coach at school, had volunteered to be the emcee for the day so they looked for him, excited for it to start.
That morning Sheila had said she wanted to see pink snow as they went about the Easter egg hunt and Freddy had said he wanted blue snow but both kids said they’d take snow cones since it wasn’t likely that there’d be snow on the ground at Easter. They knew I often did a little magic with colorful fruit syrup on the snow cones I often made but from all appearances the three kids were focused and ready for the Easter egg hunt.
Outside behind the community center was a large grassy area where Mr. Walsh and his daughter, Belle, had placed colorful eggs under bushes, behind flowerpots and even on top of the spigot for the watering hose.
Everything was set for the Easter egg hunt and the sky above was a beautiful blue.
Asking everyone to grab a chair and listen up, Mr. Walsh said he would blow his whistle and start the Easter egg hunt in a few minutes but first he wanted to tell them about a short story he had heard about in preparation for the event.
One thing was unusual, Mr. Walsh said, and he thought the children should know ahead of time is the garden in the grassy area didn’t look like it usually did. Carrots sprouted from the ground when you least expected it, the leaves on the maple and oak trees were growing jellybean leaves and the grass itself was turning to candy.
It wasn’t natural grass and it wasn’t artificial turf either. People had never seen anything like it and they were even more surprised when out of nowhere, the eggs began rolling this way and that. All on their own.
The 25 kids who had shown up for the Easter egg hunt were shocked at all of the things Mr. Walsh had described but he said it was just a fiction story. Now they were ready to begin their very real Easter egg hunt. The coach blew his whistle and they headed outdoors ready to search for chocolate eggs, little toys and gifts to put in their baskets.
I saw a 6-foot tall Easter bunny walking around and pointing the kids in the right direction for some treats. Every so often he’d high five them as they passed and he danced to the music playing on large speakers.
The youngsters spent 30 minutes skimper-scampering about and Freddy said later he was happy to find some goodies inside a hanging planter. Sheila mentioned that when she lifted the side of a welcome mat by the porch door, she was pleased to find an envelope with a gift card for her favorite fast food place. She was all smiles about that.
Tina accidentally came across a pretty flower box along a fence and tucked
inside was a cute girl’s bracelet sealed in cellophane to protect it from the elements. Opening it carefully, Tina put it on and kept searching for surprises.
Freddy added that he thought he saw something high up inside the net of a basketball hoop so he asked the Easter bunny to lift him up so he could grab it - a red toy train. He continued on and in just a few minutes he found a green plastic egg. When he pried it apart, the egg was chock full of brightly colored M&M candies.
Most children - and I know my kids for sure - liked the fresh air, open spaces and the thrill of running around looking for hidden prizes.
After their exploits had proven to be fruitful, after they had searched high and low for the hidden treats, all of the kids seemed to be happily tuckered out. They had some snacks and wished everyone in their path a Happy Easter. Saying goodbye to the other kids and Mr. Walsh, my family and I returned to the car happy and content.
Back home, Tina, Sheila and Freddy hung up their clothes and I told them to prepare for the next day, Easter Sunday.
We would go to church and have a great family dinner then afterwards they’d be able to open their Easter baskets and dig in.
The thought of playing with all those little toys and eating all that Easter candy was appealing to my kids and when our company arrived, their cousins couldn’t agree more.
My two youngest kids had forgotten all about their colorful snow cones because they’d filled up on their Easter dinner and dessert. Soon it would be time to say goodbye to our guests and my kids would climb into their beds happy with how the holiday had gone. They’d dream of little marshmallowy chicks and a delicious holiday dinner then drift off to sleep.
This is fiction. Happy Easter, Happy Passover and Happy Spring to all!
Get Results This Spring!
Raising the Cap on Taxable Income Has Drawbacks
BY TOM MARGENAU
I have probably written 100 columns about possible Social Security reforms. Well here comes column number 101!
What is prompting my discussion of the issue this time is that a certain reform proposal has been getting a lot of press lately. It is probably the most popular and most supported of all potential Social Security reforms. But there is one big drawback to the proposal that very few people ever mention. Today I will explain it.
I am talking about the recommendation to eliminate the wage base -- the amount of earnings subject to Social Security taxes. Or at least be dramatically increased.
Since the Social Security program began in 1935, the law has set a limit on the amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax. In 1935, the wage base was $3,000. It has gradually increased over the years. For many years now, that increase has been automatic based on growth in the national average wage index. The current (2026) wage base is $184,500.
What that means is that a rich guy like Elon Musk pays the same amount into Social Security as his plumber does. (Of course, that’s assuming Elon’s plumber is a very successful one!) But you get my point. Anyone making more than $184,500 per year pays the same amount in Social Security taxes. So whether you make $190,000 per year, $1.9 million, or even $1.9 billion, you pay the same Social Security taxes.
That is why millions of Americans, and many policy planners, pundits and newspaper editorial writers, support an increase to the wage base. Or again, even the total elimination of the wage base.
But there is another side to this proposal that I have seen very few people write about. And here it is. Social Security benefit payments are directly tied to the amount of earnings on which you pay Social Security taxes. Simply put: the more you pay into the system, the more you are going to get out of the system.
In other words, if rich people pay taxes on their very high incomes, they are going to eventually get Social Security benefits based on those very high incomes. What that means is that much of the extra income from the higher taxes they pay will be offset by the extra Social Security benefits they will receive someday.
The current maximum Social Security retirement benefit is $4,152 per month -- meaning that someone who has paid taxes on maximum earnings all their life will get a monthly Social Security check of $4,152. I haven’t seen any analysis of how eliminating the wage base would affect future Social Security benefits. Still, I can see how, someday, with no limit on taxable earnings, rich people could be getting Social Security checks in the $20,000 to $30,000 per month range!
To stop that from happening, and to make this popular reform proposal work,
what you would probably have to do is greatly increase, or even eliminate the taxable wage base, while at the same time setting a limit on the amount of benefits payable.
In other words, we’d be telling rich people this: “You are going to pay a lot more in Social Security taxes, but you’re not going to get very much more in Social Security benefits.”
I’ve heard from many readers over the years who support this proposal. And their arguments usually have an unspoken message along the lines of “Those rich people can afford it.” Or “It’s time that rich people pay their fair share.” But let me remind you that the current wage base is $184,500. Many of you may think of people making that kind of money as “rich.” But I’m sure a whole lot of people reading this column make that kind of money every year. And I’ll bet most of them think of themselves as “comfortable” or maybe “upper middle class.” But they don’t think of themselves as rich.
The point I am making in this column is that just as there are two sides to every coin, there are two sides to every Social Security reform proposal. In fact, here are some other possible reforms to Social Security. And I will give both sides of the coin for each of them.
Proposal: Raise the Retirement Age to 70 by 2060
One side of the coin: People are living longer, healthier lives, and with enough lead time, they can plan for the delay in receiving their benefits.
The other side: Would you really want to work until you are 70? Employers will face higher health care costs for older workers.
Proposal: Reduce COLAs Paid to Social Security Beneficiaries by Half a Percentage Point
One side of the coin: Economists believe the current formula overstates inflation for seniors.
The other side: COLA reductions are cumulative. The longer you live, the more you will suffer financially.
Proposal: Reduce Benefits by 5% for All Future Retirees
One side of the coin: All retirees should share responsibility for shoring up Social Security.
The other side: Lower-income beneficiaries could not afford the reduction.
Proposal: Means Test the Program Lowering Benefits to Wealthy People
One side of the coin: Ensures that Social Security is paid only to those who need it most.
The other side: Would turn Social Security into a welfare program.
Proposal: Raise Social Security Payroll Tax by Half a Percentage Point
One side of the coin: The tax has not been increased in more than 40 years.
The other side: An extra tax burden would discourage savings and investment.
Proposal: Make Folks Pay Income
Tax on all Social Security Benefits (currently, only a portion is taxed)
One side of the coin: All other pensions are fully taxed.
The other side: It would affect middle-income taxpayers the most.
Proposal: Require All State/Local Government Workers Pay Into Social Security
One side of the coin: All working Americans should pay for Social Security.
The other side: It would jeopardize many well-run government employee pension plans.
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.
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What happens to your home when your power goes out for days?
When the lights go out, most homeowners think in terms of inconvenience: no TV, no internet, maybe some spoiled food. But when a power outage stretches from hours into days, the reality becomes far more serious. Your home itself — its systems, structure, and safety — begins to change in ways many people don’t fully understand until it’s too late.
Extended outages don’t just interrupt your lifestyle. They quietly stresstest your home.
The First 6–12 Hours: The Illusion of Stability
At first, everything seems manageable. Natural light fills your rooms, and if the weather is mild, indoor temperatures don’t shift dramatically. Refrigerators and freezers keep food cold — for a while.
But behind the scenes, your home has already begun transitioning into a different state.
• Refrigerators start warming after about 4 hours if unopened
• Freezers begin thawing within 24–48 hours
• Sump pumps stop working immediately
• HVAC systems shut down entirely
If your home relies on electric well pumps for water, you may lose running water almost instantly. For many suburban and rural homeowners, this is the first real disruption.
12–24
Hours: Temperature and Moisture Take Over
As the outage continues, your home begins losing its ability to regulate itself.
In winter, heat escapes steadily. In summer, heat and humidity creep in. Modern homes are designed to be sealed environments — but without power, they can’t maintain balance.
This is when moisture becomes the hidden threat.
• Humidity rises indoors, especially in basements
• Condensation can form on windows and walls
• Mold spores — always present — begin to activate
If your basement has a history of dampness, this is when problems accelerate. Without a working sump pump, groundwater intrusion becomes a real possibility, especially after heavy rain.
24–48
Hours: Systems Begin to Fail
After a full day without power, your home starts experiencing systemic stress.
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
Food and Air Quality:
Refrigerated food is now unsafe. As it spoils, it releases odors and bacteria that affect indoor air quality.
Security Concerns:
No power often means:
• Alarm systems are down
• Exterior lighting is gone
• Garage doors may be inoperable
Homes become more vulnerable— not just to the elements, but to opportunistic crime.
2–3 Days: Structural and Environmental Impact
At this stage, your home is no longer functioning as designed.
In Winter:
• Indoor temperatures can drop dangerously low
• Drywall can crack due to temperature fluctuations
• Pipes are at high risk of freezing and bursting
In Summer:
• Heat buildup can warp wood flooring and cabinetry
• High humidity can damage insulation and drywall
• Mold growth can begin within 24–72 hours in damp areas
Once mold takes hold, remediation becomes expensive and time-consuming— often not fully covered by insurance.
3–5 Days: Damage Becomes Expensive
By now, the impact shifts from inconvenience to financial consequence.
• Burst pipes can flood entire rooms
• Basement flooding can ruin furnaces, water heaters, and electrical panels
• Mold colonies can spread behind walls
• Appliances may suffer damage from power surges when electricity returns
One of the most overlooked risks happens when the power comes back on.
A sudden surge can damage:
• HVAC systems
• Refrigerators and electronics
• Smart home systems
Without surge protection, homeowners often face a second wave of damage after the outage ends.
The
Plumbing Risks: In colder months, unheated pipes can begin to freeze. Once temperatures drop below freezing for extended periods, pressure builds insde pipes — setting the stage for bursting.
Hidden
Danger:
What You Don’t See
The most costly problems are often invisible at first.
• Moisture trapped behind walls
• Insulation that has absorbed
water
• Electrical wiring compromised by dampness
• Minor cracks that become major structural issues over time
Weeks later, homeowners may notice musty smells, peeling paint, or unexplained health symptoms — all tied back to those few days without power.
Insurance Reality: What’s Covered — and What’s Not
Many homeowners assume their insurance will cover everything. That’s not always the case.
Typically:
• Sudden pipe bursts may be covered
• Gradual mold growth often is not
• Flooding from sump pump failure may require a rider
• Food spoilage may have limited coverage
This gap between expectation and reality is where many homeowners get caught off guard.
How Homeowners Are Protecting Themselves
The increase in severe weather and grid strain has pushed more homeowners to rethink preparedness.
Here’s what proactive homeowners are doing:
1. Installing Backup Power
Whole-house generators or portable generators can keep critical systems running — especially heating, refrigeration, and sump pumps.
2. Adding Battery Backup Systems Battery backups for sump pumps and essential circuits provide a critical buffer during outages.
3. Upgrading Surge Protection
Whole-home surge protectors help prevent damage when power is restored.
4. Improving Insulation and Sealing
Better insulation slows temperature loss and reduces moisture buildup.
5. Smart Monitoring Systems
Even without full power, some systems can alert homeowners to temperature drops, water leaks, or rising humidity.
A New Way to Think About Your Home
Most people think of their home as a static structure — walls, roof, foundation. But in reality, it’s a dynamic system that depends on power to function properly.
Electricity isn’t just a convenience. It’s what allows your home to:
• Regulate temperature
• Control moisture
• Protect plumbing
• Maintain air quality
• Safeguard your investment
When the power goes out for days, your home doesn’t just pause — it begins to deteriorate in ways that can quickly become costly.
The Bottom Line
The next time a storm is forecast or the grid is strained, it’s worth asking a simple question:
How long could my home truly function without power?
Because the answer isn’t measured in comfort — it’s measured in risk.
And in today’s world of more frequent extreme weather and aging infrastructure, preparing your home for outages isn’t just smart.
It’s becoming essential.
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 43+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant designations:
National Association of Realtors Graduate Realtors Institute (what I consider a Master’s degree in real estate). Certified International Property Specialist - expert in consulting and completing international transactions.
National Association of Realtors Green designation: eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geothermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).
He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.
He will provide you with “free” regulaHe will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to: https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search at your leisure on your own. However, for a “FREE” no obligation/ no strings attached 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com
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
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Antique & Vintage Items
Jewelry-Crystal-Silver Furniture-Mirrors-Tabletop Artwork-Lamps Consign, Shop or Visit the Yellow House 109 Eleventh Street Garden City 516-746-8900
Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed to 6pm) Saturday 12-4 (entrance & parking in back) Consignments by appointment atstewartexchange@tgchs.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society
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ITEMS FOR SALE
GARDEN CITY
Artificial Christmas Tree
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Lladros
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Donate your car running or not. Support Patriotic Hearts for our Veterans and their Families! Free, fast pickup. May be tax deductible. Se habla Espanol. Call now: 844-415-1229
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Custom Picture Framing Two Nassau Blvd Garden City, NY 516-538-4503
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We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from!!
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ATTORNEY
STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ. Elder Law, Wills & Trusts Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122 www.dangelolawassociates. com
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Homemade Protein Bars with Peanut Butter and Hemp Protein
Protein bars are a convenient energy booster that’s easy to carry. That portability makes protein bars a go-to for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy activities like hiking that burn lots of calories. Though it’s easy to pick up a protein bar at the store, it’s also possible to make your own at home. Anyone interested in doing so can try their hands at this recipe for “Homemade Protein Bars With Peanut Butter and Hemp Protein” courtesy of Lines+Angles. Makes 8 bars
13 ounces peanut butter, no added sugar, divided
2 1⁄2 ounces pure maple syrup
3 ounces almond flour
3 ounces coconut oil
6 ounces chopped dark chocolate, at least 70 percent cocoa, divided
3 ounces hemp seeds
1 pinch salt
1) Grease and line the base and sides of an 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2) In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together 1 cup with the maple syrup and almond flour until well combined. Transfer to the baking dish, evenly pressing it across the base. Cover and chill until needed.
3) Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1/2 cup peanut butter, coconut oil, half the chocolate, hemp seeds, and salt in a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl
over a half-filled saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth.
4) Remove from the heat and pour the mixture over the chilled base. (Keep the water simmering.)
5) Place the remaining chocolate in a clean bowl. Set it over
the simmering water, stirring until melted.
6) Drizzle the melted chocolate over the topping in the tin. Cover and chill until set, about 4 hours.
7) When ready to serve, cut into slices and turn out.
Two Nassau Blvd Garden City, N.Y. 516-538-4503 www.barnesgalleryframing.com barnesgallery@yahoo.com
Boosting
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Prepare for the Spring Market
Spring is the busiest time for real estate.
Follow these steps to get your home in pristine showing condition!
Get Organized
Get organized now! Sort through your closets, attic, basement and garage to determine what you want to keep and what to give away and sell. Boxing up items will make your space look larger and neater for showings. You also can rent a storage facility while your home is on the market.
Clear Away the Clutter
If you visit model homes or open houses of homes that have been staged, you’ll never see a stack of unread magazines, children’s artwork loosely hanging on the refrigerator, or a cluster of unpaid bills on a table. While everyone has clutter, buyers want to see a fantasy version of your house, in which they can envision living. While your home is on the market you’ll need to keep it as neat as possible. One way to make that easier is to reduce the amount of clutter you have on your shelves and surfaces. Put away items that are regularly on your kitchen counters and pack away the family photos.
Improve Your Home
While you don’t necessarily want to do a major, expensive renovation project before you sell, you can make minor repairs and improvements that will make your home look fresher to buyers. Try things such as replacing the caulk and grout in your bathroom, updating old or rusted ceiling fans and light fixtures, and changing switch plates, doorknobs and other hardware for a clean and neat appearance. Consider painting your front door, trim and walls that need it.
Research Your Market
If you plan to buy another home, an important decision to make is whether to sell your home first or make an offer on a new home before putting yours on the market. Your Signature Premier real estate agent can help you evaluate how fast homes are selling in your market and help you estimate how long it will take you to find a home. This decision also depends on your financing, so you may want to consult with a lender to see how you can finance the transition from one home to another if you choose not to sell your home first.
