Floral Park Villager (5/2/25)

THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY

SEWANHAKA HONORS

Sewanhaka High School students were honored at the Board of Education meeting held on April 24th. See page 11.

New assistant principal

named for Prestige Academy

Covert Ave. Chamber hears updates on Belmont Park

BY RIKKI MASSAND

The Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce held its recent dinner meeting on Tuesday, April 22, at Trinity Restaurant on Jericho Turnpike. Chamber members, along with Floral Park Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo, welcomed Robert Hines, manager of community affairs for the New York Racing Association (NYRA). Hines provided updates on the renovation and redesign of Belmont Park.

Long Island and a source of new fulltime jobs.

Hines told Chamber members that NYRA’s operations—including racing, breeding farms, and affiliated local businesses—generate approximately $1 billion annually for New York State.

“I think New York State sees this [Belmont] as a redevelopment opportunity…. About six years ago NYRA decided that it was important to consolidate our racing downstate as a next step, and that meant redevelopment for Belmont Park. We’ve had a broad coalition of civic leaders, business owners, labor unions and more and we successfully lobbied for a $455 million loan from New York State which we’re now using to redevelop the grandstand. Our design team is Populus which specializes in sports and entertainment venues, and AECOM Tishman is our construction management firm,” Hines explained.

The Sewanhaka Central High School District is pleased to announce that Erin McKeon, who has served as the interim assistant principal of the Prestige Academy at Sewanhaka High School since October, has been appointed as assistant principal, effective April 24.

Ms. McKeon has more than 14 years of experience in education, beginning her

career as a special education teacher’s assistant at Floral Park Memorial High School in 2011. She has an impressive history of work in the district as a special

Hines has been visiting community groups across eastern Long Island to share news about economic development opportunities and NYRA’s long-term vision to “strengthen and consolidate” horse racing downstate. Once the new Belmont Park opens, Aqueduct Racetrack in South Queens will no longer host winter racing. NYRA, a not-for-profit franchise of New York State, manages thoroughbred racing at Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Aqueduct. Although New York State owns all three properties, NYRA is responsible for their operation. The redevelopment of Belmont is part of a larger investment in economic revitalization and infrastructure.

A key point of Hines’ presentation was the reimagined grandstand, which aims to offer an enhanced spectator experience. He explained that Belmont Park will feature numerous amenities and dining options, positioning it as an economic engine for

Capital improvements to Belmont Park will include a Grandstand Tunnel, upgraded barns, a new dormitory, pedestrian and vehicle tunnels, and improved drainage and irrigation systems.

“The old Grandstand is 1.2 million square feet; because horse racing, attendance and gambling has changed so much, we don’t need that much space. The new Grandstand will be around one-third of that at

Stephanie Larkin

“Sea of Whispers” ~ Melanie Murphy, Novelist Community Spotlight

James Green & Francis Brandt

“A Great, Grand, Mother’s Day” …Celebrating Mothers of the Greatest Generation

The Antique Road Test

Walter Gosden

“The Phantom Corsair” ~ Meredith Jaffe, Historical Enthusiast Uncorked

Rex Whicker

“Nashville Music & Wine” ~ The Music of Celeste Krenz & Bill Feehely

9:30 PM Wes Houston Presents… Wes Houston

Chelsea Takami ~ Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist

New assistant principal named for Prestige Academy

From page 1

education teacher, site supervisor for the extended school year program, chairperson of special education and chairperson of the district’s Committee on Special Education. During her time as the Prestige Academy’s interim assistant principal, Ms. McKeon led and supervised the daily operations of the program, while also overseeing the Academic Learning Center. Additionally, Ms. McKeon has started to apply restorative practices to cultivate a positive and supportive learning atmosphere. Her strong instructional skills and experience working with non-traditional students enables Ms. McKeon to be extremely successful.

Ms. McKeon earned a bachelor’s in economics from the University at Albany, a master’s in education in inclusive secondary special education/social studies from Hofstra University, and an advanced certificate in education leadership and administration from the College of Saint Rose CITE Cohort.

Erin McKeon has been appointed as assistant principal of the Prestige Academy at Sewanhaka High School, effective April 24

Volunteers wanted for

Centennial Gardens Weedout

May 3 will be an important day for Centennial Gardens. The monthly Weedout will start at 9 a.m. All volunteers will meet at the entrance gate on Floral Parkway. Everyone interested in keeping nature alive is invited to join the group as they help keep the gardens functioning. This is also a positive and productive way for students who need volunteer hours.

All Weedout events occur on the first Saturday of each month through November. Also on May 3, there will be an Eagle Scout project Bake Sale from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 35 Verbena Ave, FP. This bake sale is for the benefit of the gardens. This Eagle Scout Project will restore the Butterfly Gardens and cre-

ate a critical habitat for Monarch Butterflies and pollinators and also serve as an educational space for children and visitors. One in three mouthfuls of food that we eat comes to us because the monarchs and other pollinators help to keep producing vegetables and fruits. Milkweed is the plant of choice for the butterflies. The caterpillars feed and grow on the milkweed plants. With the use of pesticides, climate change and loss of habitats the butterflies are deminishing in numbers.

Projects like this will help nature rejuvenate itself and keep our daily food supply progressing positively. More information about the project can be found at the gardens bulletin board and with the gardens gatekeepers.

Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Sewanhaka’s art department exhibits “Engaged!”

Sewanhaka Central High School District’s student-artists displayed their work at the “ENGAGED!” exhibit, held at Elmont Memorial Library from April 2–29.

Twenty-four students—each carefully selected by their respective art teachers – were chosen to display their artwork in the districtwide exhibit. From students’ first lessons in the Elements of Art in seventh grade to the complex compositions of AP Studio Art, Sewanhaka’s students engage with techniques, ideas and the world around them. The theme of the exhibit celebrated being engaged, deeply involved, committed and passionately connected.

The student-artists on display in “ENGAGED!” are: Giselle Farquharson, Derrick Henry, Shuaib Satar and Ashley Singh from Elmont Memorial High School; Ryder DeLeon, Madelyn DeRose, Olivia Elliott and Ashley Yang from Floral Park Memorial High School; Penelope DeStefano, Madison Kelly, Mia Montana, Elena Moryl and Kaitlyn Zitarosa from H. Frank Carey High School; Melanie Cepeda, Annhad Kaur, Isabella Kerwin, Nicholas Melo, Michelina Ragusa from New Hyde Park Memorial High School; and Jace Bozeman, Jennifer Hernandez Martinez, Kate Rojas Quispe, Saleen Ramsaran, Vanisha Sookwah and Jade Trask from Sewanhaka High School.

Sewanhaka Central High School District’s student-artists displayed their work at the “ENGAGED!” exhibit, held at Elmont Memorial Library from April 2–29.

Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Dr. Levon Nikoyan, DDS FORWARD ORAL SURGERY

Your Teenager and Wisdom Teeth: A Garden City Parent & Oral Surgeon’s Guide

Hello Garden City neighbors!

As a fellow resident of our wonderful village and a proud parent with two children right here at Garden City High School, I know firsthand the busy lives of our teenagers and the countless milestones we navigate alongside them – from sports and school events to thinking about the future.

Beyond being a local parent deeply invested in our community, I’m also a Board-Certified Oral Surgeon Combining these perspectives, one topic I see frequently, both professionally and as a dad/mom in town, is wisdom teeth

Like navigating driver’s permits or prepping for exams, understanding wisdom teeth is another important step during these formative high school years. Because I care deeply about the health and well-being of our community’s young people – our kids, our students – I wanted to share some straightforward insights.

Think of this as a chat between neighbors. This Q&A is designed to answer your common questions in simple terms, helping you understand why an early consultation with an oral surgeon about wisdom teeth isn't just routine, but a smart, proactive step for your teenager's longterm health and comfort. Let's clear up some common questions!

Q1: First off, what exactly are wisdom teeth?

A: Wisdom teeth are the very last set of molars to come in, usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties (hence the name – supposedly when a little “wisdom” arrives!). They are located way in the back of the mouth, behind the second molars. Think of them as the “third molars.”

Q2: Why do wisdom teeth seem to cause so many problems?

A: It often comes down to space. Our jaws have generally evolved to be smaller than our ancestors’, meaning there’s often not enough room for these final four teeth to erupt properly. This can lead to sev-

eral issues:

* Impaction: The teeth get stuck under the gums or bone, or only partially break through.

* Angled Growth: They might grow sideways, tilted, or towards/away from other teeth.

* Cleaning Difficulty: Even if they come in straight, their position way back in the mouth makes them hard to brush and floss effectively, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Q3: My teenager isn’t complaining about any pain. Why should we see an oral surgeon now?

A: That’s a great question! The key is proactive planning versus reactive treatment. Waiting until pain starts often means a problem like infection, crowding, or damage to adjacent teeth has already begun. An early consultation allows us to:

* Assess Development: We can take special X-rays (like a panoramic X-ray) to see exactly where the wisdom teeth are, how they are developing, and predict if they are likely to cause future problems based on their position and the available space.

* Easier Evaluation: Evaluating wisdom teeth when the roots are not fully formed can often give us the clearest picture of potential issues.

* Plan Ahead: If removal looks necessary, planning it during a time that works best for your teen’s schedule (like summer break) is much better than dealing with an emergency situation during exams or a busy school year.

Q4: When is the best time for this first consultation?

A: While it varies, a good time for an initial evaluation is typically during the mid-teenage years, often between ages 15 and 17. At this stage, the wisdom teeth are developed enough to see their path, but the roots are often not fully formed, which can be advantageous if removal is eventually needed. Your general dentist might also recommend a visit based on routine X-rays. 248-62 Jericho

Website: www.forwardos.com

Phone: (516) 775-2222

Covert Ave. Chamber hears updates on Belmont Park

From page 1

300,000 sq. feet,” he said.

Hines also described modern amenities planned for the venue, including video monitors throughout, premium and club seating, and diverse food and beverage options. He encouraged residents to visit Saratoga Springs this June for the Belmont Stakes, which is expected to return to Long Island in 2027.

Another design goal is to “put the park back in Belmont Park.” Hines emphasized making the facility greener, more accessible, and conducive to passive recreation.

Chamber members asked about the future of Aqueduct Racetrack once the Belmont project is completed, likely in the third quarter of 2026. Zef Noci, owner of Zef’s Pizza Firetruck, inquired about the 110-acre Aqueduct property near JFK Airport and Resorts World Casino. Hines responded that the State of New York will determine its future use.

He added that NYRA employees from Aqueduct will be reassigned to Belmont Park, with an expected increase in both full- and part-time jobs.

Covert Avenue Chamber President Renee Jorglewich expressed hope that local businesses would receive advertising opportunities to reach the customers Belmont Park will attract once it reopens.

Floral Park has 21 streets that either border Belmont Park or dead-end at its property—from Floral Park-Bellerose School and Poppy Place to Plain-

New York Racing Association manager of community affairs Robert Hines provided updates on the renovation of Belmont Park.

field Avenue just north of Hempstead Turnpike. Deputy Mayor Pombonyo addressed the village’s continued policy of keeping roads adjacent to Belmont Park closed for safety and traffic control.

“People ask all the time about the Mayfair Gate, which is at a dead end, which can be opened by the Village of Floral Park to allow movement between Belmont and the street. We really only open that on Belmont Stakes race day (not in 2025, as the race remains upstate

See page 6

The Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce met on April 22nd at Trinity restaurant.

Photo by Rikki Massand

Photo by Rikki Massand

27 Covert Ave, Floral Park, NY 11001 (516)326-7400

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Covert Ave. Chamber hears updates on Belmont Park

in Saratoga). We learned really early on after the opening of UBS Arena, how bad it would be to keep the gate open with the mobs trying to climb over the fence there. It took half our police department to direct folks to go back around the other side because we can’t have all the cars parked up to the Mayfair dead end – and part of the reason we are beyond that concern is that NYRA built secondary fences. Now, if you want to exit from Belmont Park that way you’d scale the large ‘cyclone’ fence and then get to the Mayfair Gate. People would not go over both. We also got wonderful fencing up behind the dead ends on Hazel Place, Crocus Avenue and around on the south side of Belmont Park there’s new fencing. The village was given the opportunity to contribute and pick out

what the fencing would look like since it faces people’s backyards – that covers a lot of streets that need to be protected and not interact directly with the Belmont environment,” she explained.

The deputy mayor credited NYRA for respecting the boundaries in residential areas, and she said the organization welcomes Floral Park and other local residents to Belmont.

“They’re very cooperative and serve as great partners for us. We have a NYRA Community Board with people from various communities that surround the park, and our Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald and Trustee Frank Chiara, who lives in the west end of the village, is our Board’s second member. The group meets regularly to exchange ideas and provide each other with information,” Dr. Pombonyo noted.

From page 4

Robert Hines, manager of community affairs for the New York Racing Association (NYRA) gives a presentation at the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce, as Floral Park Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo listens.

Photo by Rikki Massand

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

Children's Museum offers enrichment for young children

Long Island Children's Museum (LICM) continues its role as a vital developmental resource for young children with its popular Little Learners Art Lab program. As a cornerstone of early childhood development in the community, LICM designs experiences that foster critical thinking, creativity and social growth during these formative years.

Each week, children are introduced to artists, techniques and genres through hands-on materials, artmaking and real-world inspiration. The Museum's curriculum helps young minds build critical thinking skills, expand vocabulary and support imagination through play, creation and exploration.

The weekly program provides exceptional educational value at a price point accessible to all families. Each Little Learners Art Lab class is $4 with Museum admission ($3 for Museum members). Tickets are required for each child participating.

The program is thoughtfully designed to build socialization skills in little ones while also creating meaningful connection opportunities for the "big kids" accompanying them. Parents, grandparents and caregivers benefit from social interaction with other grown-ups, too!

"Little Learners Art Lab was designed to stimulate imaginations and instill a love of art making in our youngest visitors,” explains LICM Director of Education Ashley Niver. LICM’s Early Childhood programs incorporate visual and performing arts elements in recognition of the importance of early exposure to the arts for young children’s development. “Weekly sessions are designed to maximize the developmental value to children while keeping costs low for parents and caregivers.

Themes change weekly, offering new experiences for the young learned. Upcoming classes feature a diverse lineup of themed activities, including "Out of this World" space exploration, nature-inspired "May Flowers" with Claude Monet influences, and "Under the Sea" creations using recycled materials.

Weekly Themes

May 1 - Out of this World!

To promote the remaining days of the Moon to Mars traveling exhibit, students and families will explore texture in this moon-themed activity!

May 8 - Great Big Book of Everything!

Create an exploration journal for all your crafts and adventures.

May 15 - May Flowers

Come create and collage with flowers

inspired by Claude Monet's work.

May 22 - Art in Bloom

Students will paint a terracotta pot, plant a seed, and watch their creations bloom over the next few weeks!

May 29 - Crystallized Creations

Come experiment with us to see what happens when we add salt to our works of art.

June 5 - Auto Artistry

Explore texture and patterns while painting with various types of wheels. Students will also design their own miniature car!

June 12 - Dots of Expression: Fun with Pointillism

Come explore the techniques used in expressionism art!

June 19 - Picture Perfect Frames

Children will create abstract self-portraits that reflect who they are, and then design a unique frame to display their art.

June 26 - Under the Sea

Students will explore texture by making an octopus bubble wrap print. Students will also be using recycled materials to design and create their own

jellyfish or other sea creatures.

Little Learners Art Lab provides families with high-quality early childhood education at a fraction of the cost of private art classes or specialized preschool programs. The program's affordability ensures that all children in the community have access to enriching artistic experiences that contribute to cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Parents seeking quality, affordable early childhood enrichment can register their children for the popular Little Learners Art Lab, held every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to Noon at the Long Island Children's Museum.

Museum admission: $18 for adults and children over 1 year old, $16 for seniors, FREE to Museum members and children under 1 year old. Additional fees for theater and special programs may apply. For additional information, contact 516-224-5800.

Hours: (September-June) Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and most school holidays.

Get Results!

Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call our Garden City office at 294-8900 for more information.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

May 2, 2025

Best Camping Resorts, Destinations for 2025

BY KAREN RUBIN

TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

Camping in all its forms – tenting, glamping, RVing, advanturing – will be extremely popular this year and campground operators across North America are preparing. Here is where to find the best camping resorts: Campspot Awards Showcase North America’s Best Camping Destinations for 2025 Campspot, a leading North America campground booking platform, announced the winners of its  2025 Campspot Awards, recognizing its top campgrounds across the United States and Canada.

Among the 2025 winners are several standouts:

#1 Top Campground in the U.S.: Verde Ranch RV Resort, Camp Verde, AZ: This Arizonabased resort offers striking red rock landscapes and easy access to nearby trails and the Verde River.

#1 Top Campground in Canada: Tsawaak RV Resort, Tofino, BC: Set amongst the beaches, rainforest and islands off the tip of the Esowista Peninsula, Tsawaak is a premier coastal destination, with activities such as whale watching, beachcombing, and kayaking.

#1 Top Glamping Campground: Broad River Campground, Mooresboro, NC combines glamping accommodations with lush forest views and scenic outdoor exploration nestled in North Carolina’s Foothills region.

#1 Top Unique Campground: True West Campground Stables and Mercantile, Jamestown, TN: Campers can step back in

Personal favorite: Herkimer Diamond Mines KOA in upstate New York near the Erie Canalway (marking 200th anniversary this year), has themed cabins like mine, with its own dinosaur dig and one with an actual planetarium, as well as the opportunity to mine for “diamonds” (quartz crystals). A family enjoys a campfire after a day of activity that may well include a cruise on the Erie Canal. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

time with horse trails and boarding, a western mercantile, and old-time charm designed to make you feel like you’re part of a western frontier town.

#1 Top Hidden Gem: The Cove Pub Campground, Inverness, FL: A true hidden gem, this Florida campground offers a relaxing retreat nestled among towering trees, with pub-style dining and peaceful waterside camping for an ‘old Florida’ getaway.

#1 Top for Families: Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park CampResort: Golden Valley, Bostic, NC: Spanning over 600 acres, this familyfriendly park offers an exciting range of amenities, including water slides, laser tag, and mini golf,  themed events and fun activities.

15

Adventures

at Spacious Skies Campgrounds

Spacious Skies Campgrounds, a fast-growing owner and operator of RV campgrounds with RV, tent, cabin and glamping sites across 15 locations from Maine to Georgia, offers its list of 20 different experiences and where to find them:

Stay rural, play urban. Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks in Savannah, Ga. and Spacious Skies Minute Man near Boston are especially appealing to travelers who want to explore the attractions of a big city by day and sit around a campfire beneath dark skies by night. Spacious Skies Minute Man is a short drive from downtown Boston and its history-focused attractions like The Freedom Trail, Boston Harbor Cruises and museums.

GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR

With Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks as home base, campers can easily access attractions such as Tybee Island and Georgia Coastal Colonial Gardens, and hop on the Old Town Trolley from the campground to visit Historic Savannah.

Dark Skies Gazing: While all of Spacious Skies campgrounds keep exterior lighting to a minimum to enjoy dark night skies, two of the best places for serious stargazing are Spacious Skies Balsam Woods in central Maine, and Spacious Skies French Pond. Also, each month, the campgrounds stage skythemed events, like May’s “Galactic Guardians.”

Hike to a fishing hole: Campgrounds that feature stocked on-site fishing ponds include Belle Ridge in Monterey, Tenn.; Peach Haven in Gaffney, S.C.; Hidden Creek in Marion, N.C.; Seven Maples in Hancock, N.H; Bear Den in Spruce Pine, N.C., Sandy Run in Fayetteville, N.C..; Woodland Hills in Austerlitz, N.Y.; and French Pond in Henniker, N.H.

Play pickleball in several locations including Spacious Skies Country Oaks in Dorothy, N.J., Seven Maples in Hancock, N.H., Hidden Creek in Marion, N.C. and Woodland Hills in Austerlitz, N.Y.

Paddle with your pals. Several campgrounds feature boat launches and rent kayaks and other paddle craft. These include Spacious Skies Seven Maples in Hancock, N.H., French Pond in Henniker, N.H and Woodland Hills in Austerlitz, N.Y. At Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks in Savannah, Ga., guests can paddle the Ogeechee River.

Seek out quirky local festivals and events. Many communities near

Continued on next page

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Best Camping Resorts, Destinations for 2025

Continued from previous page

Spacious Skies campgrounds stage fun and often quirky festivals throughout the year. For example, near Spacious Skies Balsam Woods in Abbot, Maine, whoop it up at the annual Whoopie Pie Festival in June. At Spacious Skies Country Oaks in Dorothy, N.J, there’s the annual Doo Dah Parade, featuring string bands, marching bands, floats and pageant winners. The event benefits the local Basset Hound Rescue.

Sample local brew . Several campgrounds are close to local breweries including Paradox Brewery near Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks, North Hudson, N.Y.; and Tuckahoe Brewing Company near Spacious Skies Country Oaks, Dorothy, N.J.

Take a daytime road trip. From Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views in Luray. Va., witness stunning vistas along Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains and explore the themed Cultural Heritage Trails.

Power through Maine forestland on an ATV. There are more than 1,000 miles of trails just a short distance from Spacious Skies Balsam Woods in Central Maine. The campground offers easy access to the trails with campsite-to-trail ATV parking, an ATV wash station and onsite gas pump.

Mine for not-so-rare gems. Most campgrounds in the collection have gem-mining stations.

Give parks some love. Most Spacious Skies Campgrounds are near local, state or national parks. Campers at Spacious Skies Bear Den, Spruce Pine, N.C. can experience panoramic views from the top of Mount Mitchell, highest mountain peak in the Appalachians. Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views in Luray, Va. is right in the backyard of Shenandoah National Park, with more than 200,000 acres of wildlife-rich forestland dotted with waterfalls and hiking trails.

Fall in love with waterfalls. Near Spacious Skies Belle Ridge in Monterey, Tenn., hike an on-site trail to Bridal Falls as well as explore four massive waterfalls in nearby Burgess Falls State Park, including one that plunges more than 130 feet into a gorge. The spectacular Blue Ridge Falls is located near Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks in North Hudson, N.Y., and Linville Falls, the most-photographed waterfall in North Carolina, is located near Spacious Skies Bear Den in Spruce Pine, N.C.

Play a round. Miniature golf courses are available onsite at Spacious Skies Peach Haven, Gaffney, S.C.; Adirondack Peaks,n North Hudson, N.Y. Find fullsize golf courses near campgrounds including Spacious Skies Belle Ridge in Monterey, Tenn., near the Cumberland Cove Golf Course, and Spacious Skies

Seven Maples in Hancock, N.H., near the Shattuck Golf Course.

Go for a slide. Spacious Skies Hidden Creek, Marion, NC has a Jr. Olympic pool and giant water slide; Seven Maples, Hancock, N.H., has a huge water slide.

Dive deep into local history Most campgrounds are close to historic attractions. For example, campers at Spacious Skies Belle Ridge in Monterey, Tenn. can explore sites along the Civil War Trail; Fort Frederica National Monument is near Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks, Savannah, Ga.; Fort Ticonderoga is near Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks in North Hudson, N.Y.

is reopening its Cavendish campground, formerly known as Cavendish KOA Holiday, as a Jellystone Park location. Attractions at the new Jellystone Park location will include a swimming pool, jumping pillow and petting zoo as well as RC track where guests can race their own remote-controlled cars and trucks or rent ones on-site. The park also has walking and biking trails and a large playground.

Lake Charles, Louisiana: Four Points RV Resorts recently acquired LeBleu Lakes RV Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and will convert it to a Jellystone Park Camp-Resort after completing several major

and the Averasboro Civil War Battlefield is near Sandy Run in Fayetteville, N.C.

For more information, visit www. spaciousskiescampgrounds.com

Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts Expand Across North America, Add Attractions

Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts continues to expand across the U.S. and Canada, offering families both new locations as well as more attractions and more ways to stay at existing locations.

Several new Jellystone Park CampResorts have come online in recent years while existing locations have continued to add more and more attractions like water slides, multilevel splashgrounds, floating obstacle courses, snowless tubing, and mini golf, Hershenson said.

With more than 75 franchised locations, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts operates in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences. This year, new Jellystone Park locations are opening in the following locations:

Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada: Maritime Fun Group, which owns and operates leading family amusement parks and attractions in New Brunswick and on Prince Edward Island,

Park location features a huge water zone with two pools, multiple water slides, a lazy river, a splashground, and hot tubs. Luxury cabins, spacious RV sites, and a full schedule of activities make the Camp-Resort near Sand Hollow State Park and Zion National Park a new family favorite.

For more information, visit www. jellystonepark.com

Don’t Just Adventure, AdVANture in a Campervan Don’t just go for an adventure, try adVANturing in a fully-equipped campervan which, give you the freedom and flexibility of camping virtually anywhere parking is allowed.

Moterra campervans are fullyequipped with full kitchen (stove, sink and fridge), porta-potty toilet, thermostat heater and solar-powered electric system and water supply which give you the flexibility of camping virtually anywhere, even “wild camping.”

You can also take advantage of their concierge service and pre-planned itineraries, which are all-inclusive packages with a day-by-day personalized itinerary, pre-booked campgrounds, organized activities, and a dedicated Trip Expert and 24-hour helpline if you encounter any difficulty. Moterra also allows for one-way rentals and are pet and baby friendly.

Moterra’s has locations near airports in Jackson Hole, Wyo, Whitefish, MT, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Portland, Maine, for adventures in Northern New England and Eastern Canada.

improvements. Attractions at the new location will include a swimming pool, water slides, splashground, jumping pillows, and floating obstacle course. The park expects to open May 21 with 200 campsites and will eventually grow to more than 350 sites.

Watts Bar Lake, Tennessee: This Jellystone Park location just south of Knoxville opened in February and by summer will offer two pools, a large splashground with water slides and an outdoor movie theater. Families can meet the Yogi Bear characters, take wagon rides, play laser tag, and experience gem mining. Luxury glamping cabins and premium RV sites are set among the hills and woods overlooking the lake.

Last year, two other campgrounds joined the Jellystone Park: Cochran, Georgia: Less than an hour south of Macon, this picturesque Jellystone Park location is set among tall trees and boasts a lake and pool, comfortable cabins, and shaded RV sites. Family activities, interactions with the Yogi Bear characters, hiking trails, Wi-Fi and a dog park make for fun family vacations in a relaxing outdoor environment.

Zion, Utah: The state’s first Jellystone

Moterra Camper Vans, 2950 West Big Trail Drive, Jackson, Wyoming, 307-2007220, info@gomoterra.com, gomoterra. com

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

Tsawaak RV Resort in Tofino, BC won Campspot’s award as Canada’s #1 campground (photo: Campspot).

Those Gen Zers bring back hobbies from long ago

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

I’ve heard the saying that old things become new again and it’s true in that Gen Zers are doing things their grandparents used to do. It strikes me as amusing because with the generation gap I thought the younger kids wanted to be cool so you would think that things the older generations did or still do today wouldn’t be as appealing to them.

A case in point is crocheting which has become popular among many Gen Zers. I remember my mother and grandmothers sitting in their living rooms with their Ben Franklin reading glasses crocheting years ago and while I admired their handiwork - scarves, sweaters, doilies, etc. - it struck me as old-fashioned at the time. They liked to crochet so of course I didn’t say a word about it but never in my wildest dreams dd I think it would come back in style.

Some of the Gen Zers have gotten into letter writing and I was happily surprised to see that they are rediscovering libraries. On a similar note, they are reading and joining book clubs online, in person and at different places such as cafes, bars and bookstores. That’s not usually where my 50+ friends and I meet for book clubs but I give them credit for thinking out of the box.

Generation Z is the group that comes after Millennials and before Generation Alpha. Born between 1997 and 2012, this group has its own unique characteristics. This is the first generation known to browse the internet and the “Z” in the name stands for “zoomer.”

One characteristic of Gen Zers is their ease with technology. They were

born into a world of technological innovation - unlike the Baby Boomers and Gen Xers who came before them. For the most part information was immediately accessible and social media seemed to be all around them.

It’s not unusual for Gen Zers to work, shop, date and making friends online. They use technology to plan their trips. All of this is very different from their elders which makes for a generation gap sometimes but they are comfortable using the various digital tools.

This generation is a tech-savvy one and by and large they are independent thinkers who have goals and ambition. They also want to find jobs with flexible schedules - and they like remote work when it comes to joining the work place. Maintaining a work-life balance is very important.

Many Gen Zers are practical people and nostalgic people which explains why in so many cases they have taken up hobbies that we would have undertaken 40 and 50 years ago. Crocheting, knitting and embroidery have become popular hobbies and pastimes with them.

They’re still growing up but they know what they want in terms of jobs, their families and politics. These generalizations aren’t an exact science but still, many of the generalizations hold true. The Greatest Generation answered the call from their country to fight in World War II.

The Silent Generation was intent on persevering because they had grown up during the Great Depression, lived through World War II and fought in the Korean conflict which ran from 1950 -

1953.

Baby Boomers are a hard-working group of people who want to be rewarded for a positive performance. An independent group, they want financial stability and the ability to enjoy their retirement years.

My friend, Danny, and his family have been gardening and growing their own fruits and vegetables for years. Danny moved to Long Island from Virginia after getting married and he showed Suzy, his wife, what he had learned from his parents when they had a garden in their back yard.

When their two kids came along and got old enough to help out, they also started checking their “veggie garden” for the ripe carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans Danny and Suzy were growing.

They would place them in baskets and happily hand them to their parents. Rinsing and preparing them for dinner, they would all be happy that some of the food on their table had been home grown. In time Danny and Suzy added eggplant and that was a big hit among the grownups but not so much with the kids.

When they moved into their house Danny and Suzy discovered some goodsized raspberry and blackberry bushes in their back yard and that produced berries every summer. The raspberries and blackberries were delicious - perfect as snacks or for adding to smoothies in the summer.

When their daughter, Mandy, was eight, she would pull the carrots from the ground, shake off the dirt and stack them up. She liked the vivid orange of

the carrots and would tell her mom and dad she couldn’t wait to have them on her dinner plate.

Their son, Sam, who was six at the time, liked picking the berries off the bushes and placing them in his basket. As he worked, Sam would go as quickly as he could from branch to branch and eventually from berry bush to berry bush.

Every so often he would stop to sample them, however. If they were sweet Sam would break out into a great, big smile but if they were tart, he would frown.

Danny, Suzy, a friend and I met for dinner recently and the subject of gardening came up. We all laughed picturing young Mandy and Sam going around the garden looking for treasures they could pick.

Suzy said her kids are grown now and as Gen Zers they have some typical Gen Z interests - fads and hobbies that used to be popular that have returned. Sam likes to do jigsaw puzzles and Mandy likes to crochet and do needlepoint. Both like to go antiquing.

Suzy added that Mandy had crocheted her a really nice sweater so she was glad these hobbies and pastimes are back in style.

Danny and Suzy mentioned that Mandy and Sam have their own houses now complete with vegetable gardens and when grandchildren come along maybe they will pick the berries from the bushes and pull the carrots from the earth.

“That would be perfect,” Danny said. “That would really bring us full circle.”

Tips to make Mother’s Day extra special

Mother’s Day is celebrated each May and marks a perfect opportunity to show Mom how much she’s loved and appreciated. Mother’s Day has been celebrated for more than 100 years, and in that time mothers have grown accustomed to certain staples of the holiday. A bouquet of fresh flowers, Sunday brunch at a local restaurant and some gifts from a partner and the children have become standards each Mother’s Day.

While Mother’s Day standards may never lose their appeal, families looking to make this year’s celebration a little more unique can consider these ideas.

• Whip up (or order in) some baked goods. If Mom is the family baker, surprise her this year with some homemade baked goods. An aroma of freshly baked goodies around the house

can set a welcoming tone for the day, particularly if the treats are prepared in the morning before Mom wakes up. Partners and children whose baking skills leave a little to be desired can get some freshly baked treats from a local bakery and have them waiting for Mom when she wakes up.

• Take to the road. Another way to make Mother’s Day extra special is to make the celebration a weekend affair. A weekend getaway can be a welcome breath of fresh air for mothers and serve as a great opportunity for the family to unwind and celebrate Mom away from everything that reminds her of the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A getaway can be an especially ideal surprise for mothers whose children are full grown. Invite adult kids along and make their attendance a surprise for Mom.

• Book a unique experience. Experiential gifts have been wildly popular in recent years, so why not incorporate this trend into Mother’s Day celebrations? Book a tour of a local vineyard or winery, take Mom to a live theater performance, or take her out for a day on the water, complete with brunch and a champagne toast. Such memorable experiences won’t soon be forgotten and can provide an exciting alternative to previous Mother’s Day celebrations.

• Ensure Mom doesn’t lift a finger. A truly special Mother’s Day will give Mom a day off. Partners and kids can team up to take care of everything from the moment Mom wakes up until she returns to bed at night. Serve breakfast in bed, order in some lunch and then take Mom out for a nice meal at a local restaurant. In between meals, let Mom relax any way she sees fit, wheth-

er that’s curling up with a good book, dusting off her paint brush and engaging in some artistic endeavors and/or squeezing in a rare midday nap. Mom will undoubtedly appreciate a full day off, which might just make for the best gift of all.

Mother’s Day is the ideal time to offer Mom a unique experience that shows her how much she’s loved and appreciated. TF255880

BY TOM MARGENAU

There has been a lot of talk over the years about Social Security being a “Ponzi scheme.” I have addressed this issue many times before, so I don’t want to bore my regular readers with another long dissertation. But since a certain billionaire friend of President Donald Trump brought it up yet again, I will make three quick observations.

One: Social Security is not now and never has been an investment scheme. It is a social insurance program. (After all, the word “social” in Social Security means something!) In addition to providing retired and disabled workers, widows, widowers and the minor children of a worker who has died with a basic and stable income, it was established to achieve larger goals for our country as a whole. For example, one of those goals is to raise the standard of living of lower-income workers in retirement. This is accomplished with a weighted benefit formula that gives them a higher “replacement rate” (when comparing their average income with their Social Security retirement benefit) than their more well-to-do fellow taxpayers can expect.

Two: Many emailers tell me how Social Security started out with thousands of taxpayers for each Social Security beneficiary; and how we now suddenly find ourselves at a 3-1 ratio; and how the entire scam will implode when we reach a 2--1 ratio. That’s a classic Ponzi scheme scenario, they say.

Well, obviously in the very earliest days of the program (the early 1940s), there were many more workers than Social Security beneficiaries. It was more like a 40-1 ratio. But as more and more people quickly qualified for benefits, the taxpayer-to-beneficiary ratio rapidly went down, and by about 1970, it had matured to the 3-1 ratio we have been at for 50 years now. As the baby boomers retire, we are indeed heading towards a 2-1 ratio. But with some modest adjustments to benefits and/or tax rates, the system can continue to operate quite well at such a worker-to-beneficiary ratio. If you want to read more about Social Security financing and review some realistic reform proposals, spend 15 bucks and get my book, “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” You can get it online from Amazon or at a Barnes and Noble store.

Three: Ponzi schemes, by their very definition, have short lifespans. Social Security has been around for 90 years now. (I always wonder when skeptics will finally accept the fact that the program is here to stay!)

And since I mentioned Trump’s billionaire friend, Elon Musk, let me make these quick comments about his Department of Government Efficiency. For me, it’s a case of deja vu. Back in the 1980s, then-President Ronald Reagan appointed J. Peter Grace (the Musk of his day) to

Ponzi Schmonzi

head up a commission to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. Or to “drain the swamp,” as Reagan famously said. Here is just one person’s view of that swamp drainage.

At the time, I was heading up an SSA office with a multimillion-dollar budget that wrote and produced all of the hundreds of pamphlets and fact sheets made available to the public to explain the Social Security rules that affect them. The Grace Commission people spent more than a month with me and my staff going over every facet of our operation. When they were done, here is a summary of their findings. 1) Unscrew every other fluorescent tube in the ceiling lights. 2) Use discarded paper from wastebaskets for scratch pads. 3) Turn off the hot water faucets in the bathrooms. That was it. Those were their recommendations to “eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.” (And I’m not making this up.)

Speaking of Musk, here is a recent email I got from a reader.

Q: Thank God for Elon Musk. The more government bureaucrats he can get rid of, the better our country will be. Bureaucrats are just leaches who waste our time enforcing nonsensical rules. They need to be purged from our society.

A: I’ve written past columns about Trump’s and Musk’s attempts to reduce staffing at the Social Security Administration, so I’m not going to go over that again today. But I would like to comment on your disdain for government workers. It’s too bad that “bureaucrat” has become a dirty word that conjures up images of laziness and inefficiency. I’d like you to think about the whole idea of rules and why we have them and why we need people to carry out those rules. I’ll use what I know best -- the Social Security Administration -- as an example.

I recall many years ago, when I still worked for the SSA, taking a claim from a woman who was filing for benefits as a divorced wife on her ex-husband’s account. The law says to get such benefits, you must have been married for at least 10 years. What the law actually says is that your marriage must have reached its 10th anniversary before the divorce becomes final.

Well, in this woman’s case, her divorce decree was signed just two days before their 10th anniversary. So, I had to tell her that her claim was going to be turned down. She appealed to me (as I’m sure I would have done if I was in her shoes) that she was just two days, a measly 48 hours, shy of the 10-year rule.

My heart sided with her. After all, there really was no difference between a 10-year marriage and a nine year and 363 day-marriage. But as a government agent, a bureaucrat if you will, I had to carry out the law. And that law said you must be married 10 years. The law didn’t say “about 10 years” or “sort of close to 10

years.” It said 10 years. Suppose I had the power to tell the lady with the nine year and 363-day marriage that we’d let it slide and allow her to get divorced wife’s benefits. What about the next woman who comes in and is just one

week shy of the 10-year rule? Do we let her get benefits, too? How about somebody who is a month shy? Do you see my point? The law draws a line somewhere. And a government bureaucrat’s job is to carry

Continued on next page

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ESTATE WATCH

Real estate performance in Quarter 1, and some perspective

Real Estate will be affected as prices rise for consumer staples, goods and services. Consumers may not truly understand that as companies raise their prices to stay in the black and continue to be profitable, we will pay the price of those increased costs. Essentially, we will be paying for those tariffs and not the countries that we have levied them against. This will eventually cause real estate inventory to rise as most pull back to costs of ownership and will jump back on the fence and wait and see what happens

The purpose of these tariffs is to bring back and repatriate jobs and businesses back to the U.S., but that will never occur en masse. However, the billions that have been gained will be offset by the greater losses due to reduced purchases by consumers, a decrease in sales taxes received local and nationally and less discretionary spending. The pressure on increased consumer costs will have a detrimental effect on our economy. About half of our annual imports, 1.3 trillion come from China, Canada and Mexico. (Go to usfunds.com for a greater explanation of the impact of the tariffs on our imports). Only those foreign corporations that will benefit from bringing their businesses here to avoid the tariffs and be competitive will consider doing so. The number one reason we outsource our manufacturing is the cost of labor as we cannot compete with the wages in the 3rd world countries. If we tried to, manufacturing businesses would not survive and there would be no benefit in attempting to go into business if the risks and costs made no sense in the brain and cents in the pocketbook. As noted in last week’s column our average wage is $30 per hour and theirs is $7 per hour and even less in some countries. Could AI bring

manufacturing back to the U.S.? It all depends on the way it is done to create a profitable enterprise.

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

If you do your research, you will surmise that tariffs accounted for 50-90% of our federal revenue from 17981913. Since the 1930s, we have moved from tariffs to free trade; as the local and federal income tax system was created and has become the prime method of funding our government. Over the last 70 years, our tariffs have contributed to less than 2% of federal revenue. With the advent of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its successor, the World Trade Organization (WTO) have dramatically lowered global tariffs. Prior to the current tariffs, 70% of imports have been duty free. In 2024, for example, U.S. Customs and Border Protection received $77 Billion in tariffs, just 1.57% of total government income. We were the major player in manufacturing almost everything back then. As our economy grew, wages increased, other 3rd world countries also grew, but not at our pace, and their wages were considerably lower as was their standard of living.

The U.S. consumer is the largest purchaser of goods and services globally. We should have tariffs on those countries, like China; who controls their currency and has outlawed Bitcoin, making their goods less expensive and creates greater demand. Competition is healthy, but when it is unfair and fixed to undercut us, causing our national and international debt and trade deficits to continue to soar, as we buy more goods and services than

SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU

out that law precisely as it’s written. It’s not the employee’s job to interpret the law the way he or she thinks it should be interpreted.

In addition to accusations of inefficiency, lots of times, bureaucrats get lambasted for being too rigid and too narrowly focused on carrying out the rules and regulations of the organization they work for. But what a chaotic country we’d have if this weren’t so.

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

we sell overseas. Last year we had a $1.2 Trillion trade deficit! We are at a pivotal and uncertain juncture in time that we may not be able to turn back from and/ or repair.

Those countries, especially China, can export and dump their cheap goods here, as they are now doing with their electric cars world-wide. My idea is to balance our tariffs and by reducing our local and federal income taxes proportionately. Putting more money back into the pockets of our dwindling middle class, will boost and scale our excellent economy to higher levels, providing increased sales and income taxes to our local and federal government. However, taxing our most crucial and critical trading partners, Canada and Mexico, is a mistake and a huge error in judgment by our President. Neither country is benefitting as it’s just a tit for tat back and forth increases in tariffs by those countries and will provide no winner in the long run; but the consumer will be the biggest loser! Tariffs just don’t work the way we are carrying them out. Come back next week for Part 3.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 43+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant designations:

National Association of Realtors Graduate Realtors Institute (what I consider a Master’s degree in real estate).

Certified International Property Specialist - expert in consulting and completing international transactions.

National Association of Realtors Green designation: eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geothermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).

He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.

He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to:

https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search at your leisure on your own. However, for a “FREE” no obligation/ no strings attached 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com

You can now search at your leisure for properties at: WWW.Li-RealEstate.com bit.ly/4bXWVu6 (facebook.com) bit.ly/4inVqaR (X.com) bit.ly/4bVSwrs (linkedIn) bit.ly/4inVK9z (Instagram) bit.ly/4bQH14x (YouTube)

You Need a Freedom Account

BY MARY HUNT

If I asked you to deduct your monthly expenses from your monthly income, I have a feeling you’d look pretty good on paper. The mystery for many people is why they can’t get through a month without using a credit card to cover unexpected expenses, such as a prescription for a sick child, a quarterly insurance premium or a wedding shower gift.

Your predictable, fixed monthly bills are not the problem. Somehow, the rent and utilities get paid, and the family gets fed. The problem is the accumulation of nonmonthly expenses. Some are easily predictable; others are not.

Here’s the problem: Every day, we are wearing out our cars, the kids are growing out of their shoes, we’re using up our prepaid insurance, and we’re inching closer to the holidays and vacation. But we manage our money as if none of those things is ever going to happen. And when they do, we collapse into a pitiful heap and bemoan the fact that, once again, we’ve been broadsided by an emergency -- another financial crisis!

The solution for this problem is to establish what I call a “freedom account” that forces you to anticipate unexpected, irregular and intermittent expenses and finance your own emergencies.

STEP NO. 1: DETERMINE I RREGULAR EXPENSES

Using your check registers for the past 12 months, your credit card statements, your tax return or, if all else fails, your memory, make a list of expenses you’ve

BY CHARLYN FARGO

Consider a plant-forward diet to help reduce your risk of breast cancer. That’s the finding from a new French research study, presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.

For the study, more than 65,000 French female participants (average age 53) completed nutritional questionnaires in 1993 and again in 2005.

The women were classified as following either a mostly animal-based diet or a diet that’s mostly plant-based. Researchers found that those who consumed a healthy, primarily plant-based diet saw their risk for developing any type of breast cancer drop by an average of 14%.

What’s interesting about this study is that breast cancer risk fell only among women whose diets included significant amounts of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, vegetable oils, tea and coffee -- even if red meat and poultry occasionally were part of their plates.

had over the last year that you did not pay on a monthly basis. It might be insurance, property taxes, Little League fees, gifts, clothing, vacation, Christmas, car repairs, sports, hobbies, etc.

Come up with an annual figure (estimate if you don’t know), and then divide by 12 so you arrive at a figure that represents one-twelfth of the total annual expense.

For example:

Auto maintenance: $900/12 = $75

Auto insurance: $540/12 = $45

Christmas: $800/12 = $66

Property taxes: $600/12 = $50

Vacation: $720/12 = $60

Clothing: $600/12 = $50

Total: $346

STEP NO. 2: OPEN ANOTHER CHECKING ACCOUNT

It’s easiest if you open this at your current bank or credit union. Order checks for this new account, and have them personalized, including a line that says “freedom account.” You need two active checking accounts for this to work. Your regular checking account will continue to accommodate your monthly expenses and deposits.

STEP NO. 3: AUTHORIZE AN AUTOMATIC DEPOSIT

At the time you open this account, request an automatic deposit or money transfer authorization form. Fill it out, instructing the bank to transfer the monthly total of your irregular expenses (in our example, it is $346) from your regular checking account into your freedom account every month on the same day.

STEP NO. 4: GET A NOTEBOOK

Any three-ring binder will do. Fill it with paper. Prepare one page per subaccount you’ve chosen. Fill in the title of the subaccounts that you established in Step No. 1. Enter the amount to be deposited into that subaccount each month in the upper righthand corner. Prepare five columns for each subaccount: “date,” “description,” “in,” “out” and “balance.”

STEP NO. 5: MANAGE YOUR FREEDOM ACCOUNT

You now have a new regular monthly expense; in this case, it is $346. This is going to feel weird in the beginning. The truth is you are managing your money in a new way that puts you in control and reduces your dependence on credit.

Each month when that automatic money transfer happens, go to your freedom account notebook and enter the deposits on each page so you always know how much you have in each subaccount.

At times, you will be tempted to think of this new account as a savings account or investment holding tank. This is not a savings account. It’s a management account from which you are going to pay your irregular expenses using the checkbook you got when you opened it.

You may be tempted to skip funding your savings or emergency fund in favor of your freedom account. Do not do that. Scrimp wherever you must to free up funds for your freedom account every month while continuing to grow your savings.

Your new freedom account will give

NUTRITION NEWS

Plants and Breast Cancer

But there were no protective benefits seen among older women whose primarily plant-based diet had a heavy reliance on fruit juices, refined grains, sugar-sweetened beverages and desserts. That type of diet, although plant-based, raised breast cancer risk by about 20%.

What we eat matters, whether it’s plant-forward or not, and in particular, how much fiber is included in your diet. Researchers explained that the high fiber content of the healthier plant-based diet helped lower cancer risk due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Q and A

Q: What are some of the health benefits of flaxseed?

A: Flaxseed is high in dietary fiber (helpful in preventing constipation) and contains the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (considered a healthy fat that helps reduce cholesterol and prevent hardening of the arteries). Flaxseed also contains phytoestrogen compounds called lignans that may be health-promoting. Additionally, flaxseed may have an-

new meaning to the term “ebb and flow.” It will accumulate big balances and then drop to hardly anything. But that’s the way it’s supposed to work. It is strictly a financial management tool that is going to make you feel confident and very grown up.

Don’t be hesitant to establish lots of subaccounts, even if you are unable to fund all of them in the beginning. It’s OK to have pages with zero balances for now, so dream big. Design with the future in mind!

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

ti-inflammatory properties. Mix it in your oatmeal, add it to a smoothie or sprinkle over yogurt.

RECIPE

Temperatures have been turned up over most of the country, and that means we’re looking for recipes that don’t heat up the kitchen. Here’s a salad from Ellie Krieger’s “The Food You Crave.” It’s a good source of fiber, vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K. The sweetness from the carrots is balanced by the tart apples, yogurt and cider vinegar.

CARROT, GREEN APPLE AND MINT SALAD

Servings: 4

1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt or 1/4 cup plain Greek-style nonfat yogurt

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

1 pound carrots, peeled and trimmed

1 Granny Smith apple, cored

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint Salt to taste

If using regular yogurt, place the yogurt in a strainer lined with a paper towel. Set the strainer over a bowl and let the yogurt drain and thicken for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together the drained or Greek-style-yogurt and mayonnaise until smooth. Whisk in the lemon juice, vinegar and honey. In a food processor, first grate the carrots and then the apple. Transfer them to a large serving bowl and stir to combine. Pour the dressing over the carrot mixture and toss to coat. Roughly chop the mint and add it to the salad. Season with salt. This salad will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 3 days. Serves 4. Serving size: 1/2 cup.

Per serving: 130 calories; 2 grams protein; 19 grams carbohydrate; 6 grams fat (1 gram saturated); 3 milligrams cholesterol; 134 milligrams sodium.

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 DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of May 4-10, 2025

OK, I admit I may not remember where my car is parked, but I sure recall my grade school planetarium field trips like they just occurred. These were some of the highlights of my youth, and they played a huge role in my decadeslong career as a planetarium astronomer.

It was great fun seeing the stars and constellations projected onto the overhead dome while the lecturer pointed them out and told stories about those visible that night. Equally enjoyable -- at least for me -- was to race outdoors after dinner to check them all out in the real night sky!

One of my favorite star groupings of springtime was the Big Dipper. This group of seven stars is part of a larger constellation known as Ursa Major, the Great Bear, but tracing a bear is not for impatient stargazers. From my backyard, I could always count on the Dipper to be hovering over my house to the north. But what I learned from the planetarium was how to use the Dipper to find other stars in the sky.

Of course, its “pointer stars” direct us to Polaris and other stars, something I’ve written about recently. But I remember one planetarium show when the astronomer showed even more. He traced the curving arc of the Dipper’s handle away from its bowl and demonstrated how to find two even brighter stars.

STARGAZERS

Follow the Arc to Arcturus ...

I remember he said, “Just follow this arc toward Arcturus ... then speed on to Spica.” Well, that was pretty cool, and that evening, I was able to do exactly that. Equally fun, though, was learning a bit about each of these two stars.

Yellowish-orange Arcturus is the fourth-brightest star in all the heavens and lies only about 37 lightyears from us. It’s an immense star -- a red giant, we call it -- about 25 times larger, and about 170 times more radiant, than our sun.

Arcturus was one of the first stars ever to receive a proper name. In ancient times, it was known as the “Watcher” or the “Guardian”; Arab stargazers knew it by two names, which translate as “the Lance-Bearer” and “the Keeper of Heaven.” Today, we use a name that comes from the ancient Greek word Arktouros, meaning “Bear Guard”; quite appropriate since it never strays from the great celestial bear.

Nearby, bluish-white Spica is estimated to lie about 250 lightyears from Earth, but it’s not just a single star. The light we see from Spica comes from the combined light of two stars that orbit one another every four days. Together they produce about 12,100 times more luminosity than the sun.

Spica was an important star in ancient days too. Around 3,200 B.C., the temple at Thebes was oriented to Spica and, in the second century B.C., Hipparchus used the star to discover the wobble of the Earth’s axis (known

as precession).

If you’re not sure you’ve found Spica, the waxing gibbous moon will help on May 10, when it will appear nearby.

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

“What’s in the bag?” I asked my mother as she got into the car. She had just come out of the hair salon and apparently had been talked into buying some hair products.

“New shampoo,” she said with some excitement. “My old shampoo was terrible. It really dried out my hair.”

“What brand were you using?” I asked. She thought for a moment. She seemed unable to come up with the name.

“Um ... Freaken shampoo,” she finally said.

I snorted. I knew she meant a different shampoo but had mangled the name. My mother was notorious for this, but she denied it vehemently, so I decided to have a little fun with her.

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

The Dipper, Arcturus and Spica will appear higher in the sky each evening for the next few months and will offer a beautiful sight all spring and summer.

Once you locate the Big Dipper in the sky, it can be used to find the stars Arcturus and Spica.

LOST IN SUBURBIA

A Shampoo by Any Other Name

“So that freakin’ shampoo dried out your hair?” I asked her.

“Yes,” she said.

“Did you try using some freakin’ conditioner?” I asked.

“Yes, but it’s too heavy,” she said. “It weighs down my hair.”

“You know, Mom,” I said, smiling, “if the freakin’ shampoo you’re using dries out your hair, you can try another freakin’ shampoo. Maybe some other freakin’ shampoo would work better for you. There’s a whole line of freakin’ shampoos out there you can get.”

“That’s true,” she said.

“And you might want to try some freakin’ conditioner too,” I suggested.

“Just ‘cause one freakin’ conditioner doesn’t work for you, doesn’t mean there isn’t some other freakin’ conditioner that would help your hair.”

“I do use a Freaken hair gel, that

is pretty good,” said my mother. “I don’t like the Freaken mousse, but the Freaken gel gives my hair lots of body.”

“What about the freakin’ hairspray?” I asked.

“I don’t really like the smell,” she responded.

“But all the freakin’ products have the same freakin’ smell,” I said. “The freakin’ hairspray smells like the freakin’ shampoo.”

“Really?” she said. “I like the smell of the Freaken shampoo.”

I laughed out loud.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“This whole freakin’ conversation!” I shouted. She stared at me as though I’d lost my mind.

“We’re just talking about shampoo,” she said.

“Freakin’ shampoo,” I clarified.

“Right,” she said.

“Freakin’ shampoo and freakin’ conditioner and freakin’ hair gel and freakin’ hair spray.”

“Yeah?” ...

“There is no FREAKEN shampoo,” I said. “You combined John FRIEDA and REDKEN to make Freaken!”

I saw understanding creep across her face and I cracked up. She looked at me and raised one eyebrow.

“You know what, Tray?” she said.

“What, Mom?”

“You’re a freakin’ pain in the neck.”

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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Whip up a quick pasta salad with ingredients fresh from the garden

Pasta Salad with Broad Beans, Tomatoes, Peppers, and Herbs

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Fresh produce is refreshing and delicious. Whether it’s recently plucked fruits or freshly harvested vegetables, these foods boast a flavor and nutritional profile unlike any other.

1 lb. farfalle pasta

4 vine tomatoes, diced

8 ounces broad beans

1 yellow pepper, diced

Comfort foods might reign supreme during colder winter months, but come spring and summer, lighter fare can be just what people need to maintain their energy and avoid feeling sluggish on warm days and nights. This

2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 sprig chopped thyme

1) Cook the farfalle in a large saucepan of salted, boiling water until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes.

2) Drain and refresh immediately in iced water.

3) Once cool, drain again and toss in a large mixing

recipe for “Pasta Salad with Broad Beans, Tomatoes, Peppers, and Herbs” courtesy of Lines+Angles offers a midday energy boost that can lighten your culinary load in the months to come.

1 small bunch chives, snipped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Freshly ground black peppercorns

Salt

bowl with the vegetables and chopped herbs.

4) Add the olive oil, lemon juice and seasoning, tossing again thoroughly before serving.

Last Hope Part of the Chewy.com Rescue Program

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.

Sewanhaka BOE salutes student groups, staff, community

Sewanhaka High School students Arianna Flores, Arianna Rosa, Win Hla, Shilan Simsek and Jade Gomez are pictured with administrators and board members at the board of education meeting on April 24.

At the Board of Education meeting on April 24, Sewanhaka Central High School District proudly honored several students, staff and community members for their recent accomplishments.

During the Superintendent’s Advisory Report at the start of the meeting, student representatives provided highlights and information about district events that have recently taken place, including the Sewanhaka Inter-District Model UN Conference and the Breaking Borders Conference. On April 5, more than 300 district Model UN delegates participated in the annual SIDMUN conference, held at Elmont Memorial High School. Secretary Generals Madison Gale from Elmont Memorial, Julia Kim from New Hyde Park and Stella Travlos from H. Frank Carey spoke about the successful districtwide Model UN programs and shared what the club means to them. Following, Elmont Memorial student Amira Elrington-Edwards discussed the multi-school confer -

ence, held on April 11 as part of the Breaking Borders Organization. This event, hosted by the Talk Club at Elmont Memorial, focused on accessibility being the key to inclusivity and promoted student conversations.

Following the Superintendent’s Advisory Report, the awards and commendations of staff and students began. Elmont Memorial High School teacher and Key Club adviser Patricia Justin was recognized as a New York State District Key of Honor recipient. This is the highest distinction presented by the NYS District Key Club and is granted to an individual who has made a lifelong impact to Key Club and students. Ms. Justin was nominated for the award by her Key Club students.

H. Frank Carey High School senior Natalie Osorio (not in attendance) was honored for her recognition as a News 12 Scholar-Athlete Award recipient. Osorio is an All-County distance runner and was a member of the record-breaking 4x800 relay team. She received a $1,000 scholar -

The district’s robotics team members Ainsley Cunningham, Zarif Abrar, Shohom Chakraborty, Ian Tallani, Ethan Lin and Miles Lucatorto are pictured with administrators and board members at the board of education meeting on April 24.

ship.

Five members of the Family Career and Community Leaders of America, advised by Daisy Amaris, from Sewanhaka High School were recognized for earning Gold status in STAR events (Students Taking Action for Recognition) at the annual New York State Leadership Conference. They competed against over 200 students statewide, showcasing their college and career readiness skills in Family and Consumer Science. The honored students are Arianna Flores, Jade Gomez, Win Hla, Arianna Rosa and Shilan Simsek. They have been invited to represent New York State at the National Conference in Orlando, Fla.

The district’s Robotics Team, under the supervision of Jack Chen, was honored for their incredibly successful competition season. The team earned the Inspire Award at the Long Island Regional FIRST Tech Challenge Championship. They advanced to the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston, traveling during spring recess.

They finished 16th in their division, which included 64 teams. The team members are Zarif Abrar, Shohom Chakraborty, Ainsley Cunningham, Yashvi Gupta, Miles Lucatorto, Ethan Lin and Ian Tallani.

The student recognitions concluded with the incredible achievement of the Floral Park Memorial High School boys varsity basketball team, who are 2025 Nassau County Class A Champions. The team was led by coaches Sean Boyle and Matt Kelly. Additionally, Superintendent of Schools Regina Agrusa commended the selfless and heroic acts of three Floral Park community members, who assisted referee Joe Gaskin at the basketball championship game in March as he suffered a cardiac arrest. Monica Lally, Darlene Sica and Tiffany Vargas were given Certificates of Recognition in thanks of their bravery and kindness.

The Floral Park Memorial High School boys varsity basketball team is pictured with school administrators, coaches and board members at the board of education meeting on April 24.

Tiffany Vargas, Monica Lally and Darlene Sica are pictured with Floral Park Memorial High School administrators, board members and Superintendent Regina Agrusa at the board of education meeting on April 24.

Photos courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District