Christmas in July at Malibu Beach
It's Christmas in July! Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin (center) partnered with the USMC Toys for Tots and Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti (center right) to host a massive water gun fight at Malibu Beach Camp.
Celebrating Christmas in July, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Legislator John Ferretti, and United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots today delivered early Christmas presents to the young campers of Malibu Beach Camp by hosting a massive fun-filled water gun fight and giveaway. As National Water Gun Fight Day recently
passed, Clavin and the Hempstead Town Board added a splash of excitement to the dog days of summer, helping the youngsters beat the heat. The event featured a playful water gun competition between the youngsters, with Team Town of Hempstead taking on Team Nassau County.
“Events like these are a great way to have some fun, beat the
heat, and create life-long memories for our young residents,” said Supervisor Clavin. “Celebrating Christmas in July by having a giant water gun fight is a fun way to celebrate the season, it’s like a summer twist on a snowball fight.”
“I’m proud to have partnered with the United States Marine
See page 11
11530 • Meg Norris, Publisher
Village Board mulls Tyson Avenue café plan
BY RIKKI MASSAND
The Village of Floral Park Board of Trustees held a public hearing on Tuesday, July 15, to review an application for a new café proposed at 22 South Tyson Avenue. The café would operate daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering beverages, premade food, and baked goods, and would require a special use permit for its location in the B-2 zone.
Property owner Parminder Kataria of Kataria Builders— who also owns the adjacent property at 24 South Tyson Avenue—submitted the application through his business, JSK22 Management LLC.
Kataria outlined plans for an open-service curbside window and noted he has applied for a liquor license through the New York State Liquor Authority.
“This was an existing dentist office for about 10 years, and we want to pursue the change in use to create a cafe offering takeout plus a seating area. Since I own the nextdoor property, I see foot traffic there all the time, so I’d like to be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The road (S. Tyson Avenue) services people going to
and from the LIRR and those coming down from Jericho Turnpike – people are going to work in the mornings and then coming back home, so it’s always packed. People would be able to come to the takeout window, pick up their order and go,” Kataria told the village trustees.
The plans submitted include seating for up to 20 patrons, but current zoning only permits three seats. Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald clarified that additional seating would require a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Kataria acknowledged the regulation and said he is prepared to follow proper procedures. Menu offerings would include tea, coffee, juices, snacks, ice cream, and possibly alcoholic beverages, pending approvals. The café would not include a kitchen or live cooking—only toasting and reheating items such as sandwiches and pastries.
Kataria’s architect, Edward C. Hicks, said, “Inside will have seating and chairs to bring a more residential feel and fit the character. We’re to blend into the community and not be an eyesore, and we
See page 6
Community Television Serving
“Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” parade
The Floral Park Fire Department will be holding its inaugural “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade” on Satur day, September 20. Come out and show your Irish pride
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Volunteers appreciated at Centennial Gardens
On Saturday, August 2, the monthly weed out returns to Centennial Gardens. Everyone is invited to join the group, learn about gardening and appreciate the beauty of this unusual place . People who come leave with positive memories and frequently return to relax and enjoy nature.
All the gardens are cared for by volunteers. School groups come, scout troops help, students who need to meet volunteer requirements spend their time helping. The outside gardens are readily accessible to volunteers and they can arrange their own hours to help maintain those gardens. Inside the gate helpers can come everyday day from noon to 5 p.m. to care for their garden.
When that is not convenient arrangements may be made for other times to help. All interested volunteers must sign up to care for a specific garden. Twenty-five years ago there were trees and overgrown weeds, plants and clutter in the area. Today there are beautiful gardens, thriving trees, and numer-
The Weedout volunteers at Centennial Gardens.
ous different birds to see and enjoy.
On Saturday, August 2, at 9 a.m. volunteers are welcome to join others at the entrance to Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary in Floral Park on Floral Parkway . You will help keep this wonderful park looking as beautiful and welcoming as it is for all to enjoy.
Do you have a service to advertise? Our Service Directory is sure to bring results. Call 294-8900 for rates and information.
1 Floral Blvd., Floral Park, NY 11002
Phone: 516.326.1150 ~ Email: 4VS@4VS.org
FP student earns internship at civil rights org
BY GARY SIMEONE
Jaelynn Perkins, a soon to be freshman at Sewanhaka High School, was awarded a prestigious internship over the summer helping a well known civil rights organization. She was one of eight high school students chosen from across Long Island to participate in the “Student Leaders for Equity” Internship program.
As part of her internship for the ERASE Racism summer internship program, Perkins had to submit a resume as part of the application process.
April Francis Taylor, acting president of ERASE Racism (Syosset), said that fifty-six students from Long Island school districts applied for the internship and that only eight were selected for the program.
“This is a paid internship that lasts six weeks throughout the summer, and each applicant works hard to stand out from the rest,” said Taylor. “Jaelynn, who is entering her ninth grade year, happens to be one of our youngest appli-
cants to make the cut at fourteen years old.”
The summer internship runs from June 30 to August 5. Each week the students are introduced to a different topic regarding racism in their communities.
“Our main goal is to have these young interns learn about the different types of equities that impact Long Island,” said Taylor. “They each cover different topics including racism in communities and schools, justice systems, health and equality and criminal justice reform.”
There is a different guest speaker each week who comes and speaks to the students. The interns work alongside a Stony Brook University professor, who helps guide them through the different types of learning processes and weekly sessions.
Perkins’ research project is focused on updating the bylaws and codes of conduct in the high school sports arena.
“I’ve been working closely with my school superintendent, Nicole Allen, and the Floral Park school board on this research project all summer,” said
Perkins. “My main focus is to update some of these outdated rules and bylaws at the high school sports level.”
Perkins, who plays both basketball and track, said that an incident in a 8th grade basketball game spurred her to take on her research project.
“There was an incident in a game where I was going for a rebound and the ref said I pulled a girls hair on the blockout. I was given an in-game tech and suspended for the next three games. I thought the whole punishment was very unfair and completely overboard.”
The incident happened to be against a white player from Carey High School in the Franklin Square school district.
“I’ve worked diligently on my research project and plan to give a PowerPoint presentation to students at my school regarding the penalty system and punishments in high school sports,” said Perkins. “After speaking with the school superintendent and school board regarding the issue, the plan is to have the rules and bylaws updated by the end of my freshman year in 2026.”
Jaelynn Perkins
Floral Park takes two more, improves to 4-0
BY THOMAS MANSFIELD
The Floral Park Pirates competed again this week at home, winning both against Mineola and Williston Park.
On Wednesday, the Pirates had a dominant win against the Mineola Swim Team and swept the season series. One group of cousins in particular stood out on Wednesday, as the five Fox and Laffey girls all took home at least one first place in the meet.
“I love the Pirates Swim Team because being with my friends at the pool all day is so much fun,” said Claire Fox.
The following Monday, the penultimate meet of the year took place at home, where the Pirates celebrated their fourth win of the season against the Williston Park Pirahanas. This competition brought the Pirates to 4-0 on the season going into their last meet of the season.
The key performances came from the Pirates’ 9-through-12-year-old divison, who only lost 4 events throughout the whole meet. One 12-year-old, Anthony Bonagura, competed in the 50 yard Breaststroke and
won the event for the first time this season with some help from a fellow Pirate.
“My friend on the team, Connor, helped me improve my stroke at practice,” said Bonagura. “I am so happy that I won today!”
The last meet of the season will take place on Wednesday against the Stewart Manor Swim Team, a bittersweet feeling for some swimmers. Although the Pirates look towards an undefeated record, the end of the season means that summer vacation will soon end, as well.
Peyton Laffey says, “Being the first people at the pool every morning and practicing with my friends is the best part of the summer, so I am sad that the season is ending.”
Before the season ends, however, the Awards Ceremony will be held next Thursday morning at the last practice of the season. Swimmers from all divisions will receive awards for excelling in the four different strokes, as well as the Most Improved Award, the Most Valuable Swimmer, and more.
A beautiful day for a swim meet at the pool.
Proud Pirate cousins Conor and Matthew O’Donohue.
Getting ready for the meet.
The Laffey and Fox cousins, who took home 13 first place ribbons combined.
Siblings Maggie and Anthony Bonagura, who both competed in the Breastroke Individual.
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Village Board mulls Tyson Avenue café plan
From page 1
won’t be looking like a Dunkin Donuts or a Starbucks on S. Tyson Avenue,” he said.
He emphasized that the storefront would avoid bright signage and glass-metal combinations, instead opting for plantings and a subdued, welcoming aesthetic.
Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo praised the design and asked whether there would be outdoor seating or sidewalk congestion. Kataria responded that patrons would primarily sit inside, depending on approval for additional seating.
Pombonyo also raised concerns about parking availability. Kataria said his construction business next door has operated for six years without major issues, and nearby streets and metered lots generally accommodate customers.
Trustee Frank Chiara inquired about on-site management and how long customers would be allowed to remain. Kataria said a manager would be present daily and that he intended to create a comfortable space for reading, laptop
use, and casual dining, with no time limit on patrons.
“We will have a manager there each day and I also have the business next door. The cafe will have space for people to read books and tabletop spaces for students or anyone else to work on a laptop, cool off with a drink or snack, and spend time. I want customers to feel comfortable at the establishment so they can stay as long as they want to,” Mr. Kataria told the board.
A key concern raised by the Board involved garbage disposal. Trustees urged the applicant to ensure a covered trash storage area and suggested adding a trash can near the takeout window. Kataria said a lidded outdoor container would be used.
Only one member of the public commented on the application during the hearing. Former Floral Park mayor Kevin Greene, who owns the building at 20 South Tyson Avenue. Greene expressed concern about pest control, citing past problems with rats and other vermin behind the property due to poor maintenance.
“I’m all about the businesses here
being supported and being able to continue in the community. I am a little concerned about what I’m hearing and my biggest concern is the garbage. In the backyard (of the cafe location) I have seen a lot of rats and other vermin, as it was not maintained by the prior owner. I am so concerned with them having garbage stored outside, but with employees they will just place the trash in cans. I know in the past the village has recommended some form of refrigeration and I don’t know if that can apply here. It sounds like the types of food for the cafe would just be bakery stuff, though the end result of it if it’s sitting in a trash bin for a few days would be some pests and vermin – maybe opossum or raccoons – that would open cans and rip the trash bags apart. I don’t want to see the pests going to my backyard, and I am sure some of the neighbors who have kids don’t want that either. I’d just ask for a little more focus on the garbage there,” Greene said.
Mayor Fitzgerald supported the suggestion and asked Kataria to consider installing a refrigerated trash storage
area in the basement, which Kataria confirmed was possible.
“The basement is unfinished, it’s wide-open and has access to the front sidewalk so the garbage can be taken out directly from there. But to answer the neighbor who spoke, I have been in business next door for quite some time and I have never once seen anything like rodents – my property is treated once every season and we make sure of that,” he said.
Before closing the hearing, Mayor Fitzgerald reiterated that approval of the café would be limited to three seats unless a variance is granted.
“If this was approved, and if you were to open. you can only have three seats – and if it were to open with more than seats we (the village) can and will pull the permit and the business would be shut down. In order to go beyond the three seats you have to go before our Zoning Board for a variance, or the permit can and will get pulled,” he said.
The Board’s final decision on the application is pending.
Local groups team up to collect sports equipment
Hut, hut, donate! Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin recently joined with dozens of football players and enthusiasts from all over Nassau County to announce a collection drive for the upcoming football season this fall. Teaming up with local football groups such as the Garden City Thunder and the Southern State Seminoles, this collection drive encourages residents from all over Long Island to donate used football equipment that will be refurbished and donated to communities in need. The announcement was made at MacLaren Stadium in Levittown – a popular and well-used football field in Hempstead Town – where town and county officials accepted the inaugural donation from the Garden City Thunder and Southern State Seminoles. Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti was also in attendance, looking to expand the donation drive throughout Nassau County.
“The importance of organized recreation and teamplay is never lost on us in the Town of Hempstead, and we are proud to team up with local football enthusiasts to help young football players who need of some equipment upgrades,” said Clavin. “A young athlete should never be limited by equipment costs, and this program will make football a more accessible sport for our youth.”
Collection boxes are stationed throughout the Town of Hempstead. Residents can drop off used football equipment at each of the donation locations. The equip-
ment will be collected and refurbished before being donated to local football organizations. Donation locations are as follows:
• Hempstead Town Hall – 1 Washington St., Hempstead
• Echo Park Pool – 399 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead
• Newbridge Road Park – 2600 Newbridge Rd., Bellmore
• Cherry Valley Ball Fields – 98 Cherry Valley Avenue, West Hempstead
• Levittown Hall – 201 Levittown Parkway, Hicksville
The football collection drive began as a goodwill effort that was started by Peter Hamilton, a middle school football player for the Garden City Thunder. After seeing Peter’s admirable success running the program locally, Supervisor Clavin reached out to help expand the program’s reach, which will continue through the start of the football season in September.
“This is what I love about our local sports organizations – they bring communities together and teach invaluable lessons in teamwork, discipline, and perseverance,” said Ferretti. “This donation drive ensures every child has the opportunity to play and grow, both on and off the field.”
“This is a communal effort for the future generation of athletes,” said Clavin. “We look forward to collecting tons of football gear and equipping young athletes to ensure a safe, successful season of football.”
Hut, hut, donate! Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin (right) announced the start of a football equipment collection drive throughout the Town of Hempstead. Teaming up with the Garden City Thunder and the Southern State Seminoles, local officials announced the details of the drive, which will collect, refurbish, and donate the equipment to local youth athletes who cannot afford necessary gear for the upcoming football season.
High school students perform “Once on This Island”
Central High School District students performed in “Once on This Island.”
For the past three years, the Sewanhaka Central High School District has proudly partnered with the local theater company, Plaza Theatrical, to present a summer performance. Students from all five schools auditioned in June and jumped straight into rehearsals for the production of “Once on This Island,” held from July 17–18 at the Elmont Memorial Library Theatre.
“Once on This Island” is a coming-ofage, one-act stage musical based on “My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl” by Rosa Guy, a Caribbean-set retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale “The Little Mermaid.”
“The students absolutely enjoy the camaraderie and a chance to be perform in a state-of-the-art facility such as the Elmont Theatre,” Superintendent of Schools Regina Agrusa said. “This is an incredible opportunity for our student actors, and I appreciate the partnership and collaboration.”
This fall, the district will once again partner with Plaza Theatrical to bring a middle school performance of “The Lion King Jr.” to the stage.
Photos courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
Students from all five of the
The Sewanhaka Central High School District partnered with Plaza Theatrical to produce “Once on This Island.”
district’s schools auditioned for parts.
Sewanhaka
Boat Bike Tours’ Netherlands Islandhopping: Discovering Living History in Enkhuizen
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE
GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
On Day 8 of our Boat Bike Tours’ Islandhopping Netherlands tour, we wake up in Enkhuizen, back where we started. We have breakfast and have to disembark by 9:30 am but we are able to leave our luggage on board for a couple of hours, giving me time to explore a bit before I need to take the train back to Amsterdam and the Schiphol Airport.I really appreciate this bit of time since I hadn’t a chance to explore Enkhuizen when we first arrived (I recommend coming a day before the ship sails so you have more time), so enjoy wandering around this morning.
I find myself at the Zuiden Kerk (church) – magnificent yet simple and unpretentious, awesome yet approachable; ancient yet modern, the painted wooden ceiling shaped like the upside down bottom of a boat. It is Sunday morning and people are gathering for service as the organmeister plays Pacobel.
I find my way to the Zuiderzee Museum, an open-air living history museum village that re-creates daily life around the Zuiderzee before the sea was turned into a lake - the Ijsselmeer where we have just sailed – when the dam was built in 1932. You stroll the cobble streets and explore 140 historic buildings collected from places in the former Zuiderzee region.
The outdoor museum was opened by Queen Beatrix in 1983 as an extension of the indoor Zuiderzeemuseum, which opened in 1950 (the indoor museum doesn’t open until noon so I have to miss it). Most of the buildings
Plan to spend at least 2-4 hours at the Zuiderzee Museum, an openair living history museum village in Enkhuizen that re-creates daily life around the Zuiderzee before the sea was turned into a lake © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
are authentic while others are reconstructed replicas of actual buildings. A complete village, you can wander around and visit a windmill, lime kilns, fish-smoking house, steam laundry, drugstore, pharmacy, basketmaker, blacksmith, cheese warehouse, school (where wooden shoes are lined up outside the classroom), even a hairdresser, and visit the working post office. The harbor is a replica of its layout on Marken. From April to November you can see life in the village of Urk as it was in 1905, meet residents and watch traditional activities, like old games and building clog boats, and demonstrations of crafts such as rope-making, cooperage, basket making and herring being smoked.
The Indoor Museum, “a treasure house of the Zuiderzee,” which opened in 1950, consists of a string of 17th century buildings (original and
replicated), some of which were used by the Dutch East India Company. Here, various collections are presented with a modern approach: you can cive into a ‘Sea of Stories’ and experience life on the former Zuiderzee in this interactive exhibition. A popular attraction is the ‘Schepenhal’ (ship’s hall), which allows visitors a closeup view of historic ships. The indoor museum also displays artifacts from the Zuiderzee cultural past, including paintings, furniture and traditional local costumes (‘klederdracht’). (Unfortunately, it opens at noon and I did not have the time to visit.)
Both ‘indoor’ and ‘outdoor’ museums have several restaurants located in National Heritage sites, like the Hindeloopen Pub, the Amsterdam House and the Pepper House on the Wierdijk.
22E (56E for a family); plan to spend 2-4 hours at the outdoor museum.
GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR
[Note: if you are combining the boat bike tour with a stay in Amsterdam, you may want to get the Iamsterdam city card, which includes admission to the Zuiderzee Museum, https:// www.iamsterdam.com/en/whats-on/ calendar/museums-and-galleries/ museums/zuiderzee-museum]
Zuiderzee Museum, Wierdijk 12-22, 1601 LA Enkhuizen, https://www. zuiderzeemuseum.nl/.
Getting to Enkhuizen
I am relieved to see how amazingly easy it is to get to the embarkation point in Enkhuizen from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (especially since I arrived by plane on the same day as the boat departed): just walk down to the train (every 15 minutes) to the Central Station, a quick switch to the train to Enkhuizen ((every half hour) for the hour-long, comfortable and scenic ride. The trick is to “check in” with a credit/debit card, or purchase a ticket (14-16E) before you go through to the train by tapping on a pole (a conductor will double check on the train), then when you depart the train, tap it on the pole again, and the correct amount is debited. (If you don’t pre-purchase, the conductor can charge you an extra 50E; I did forget but the conductor was extremely kind in helping me buy the ticket online.) Then it’s just a five minute walk from the train station to the ship. You can purchase tickets in the vending machines at the stations or online on https://www.ns.nl/en/ journeyplanner#/. This website can also be used to check the timetable. Getting back to the airport is equally easy – we are asked to leave the ship by 9:30 am (but I am able to
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GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....
Boat Bike Tours’ Netherlands Islandhopping: Discovering Living History in Enkhuizen
Continued from previous page
store my luggage there, so I could visit the city until 11).I time my touring to get back to the ship, pick up my stuff to get the 11:39 am train to Central Station in Amsterdam, then a quick switch to the train to Schiphol with more than the three-hours before my flight at 7:05 pm.
Boat Bike Tours
This was my second trip with Boat Bike Tours (I had the best time on their Bruges-Amsterdam boat-bike-tour – utter perfection with the biking, the barge boat, the sights along the way; be sure to plan to spend at least a day in Bruges before the bike tour).
Boat Bike Tours, which is based in Amsterdam, got its start when Channel Cruises Holland, a barge tour operator founded in 1977, added biking to its itineraries in response to guests asking for traditional Dutch activities. The new cruise-and-cycle concept was so successful that it was spun off as its own brand in the mid-1990s. Between 2000 and 2020, the company added more itineraries and ships. Last year, Boat Bike Tours merged with Islandhopping, a Croatiabased operator which also specializes in cruise-and-cycle travel (I loved the boat-bike trip in Greece that I took with Islandhopping). Together, the merged company, while operating under their own names, offers more than 70 itineraries in 15 countries, and has opened a North American sales office in Fairfield, Connecticut.
“With half of our guests coming from North America now, it makes sense to have an office here,” said Jana Tvedt, Director of Sales, North America for Boat Bike Tours. “We’re available when needed and familiar with what Americans and Canadians are looking for in destinations, experiences and ships. And we’re always happy to work with travel advisors, groups and charters.”
Each season, the company leases some 50 ships including barges, motor
yachts and sailing ships, ranging in category from comfortable to superior. Biking styles include guided for casual riders and independent (self-guided) for seasoned cyclists, with touring bikes, e-bikes and mountain bikes available depending on the destination.
The big news is that Boat Bike Tours will be offering a newly built ship for 2026, Magnifique X, an all-suite ship accommodating 32 passengers, giving the company a new deluxe, superior category. In addition to the bigger cabin, the itinerary is also enhanced with upgraded amenities, support van, included lunches, more inclusions for sightseeing. The itinerary goes from Amsterdam to Paris with one night hotel stay in Amsterdam, then biking to Bruges, then a motorcoach transfer to Paris where there is a hotel stay. (Bookings are open.)
Itineraries range from five to 15 days, with most being eight days, and cater to a variety of budgets and interests, from historic cities and landmarks to picturesque natural landscapes and the world’s best wines.
The Boat Bike Tours concept is to enable guests to connect with local people, culture and nature, while traveling by smaller boat and by bike also takes guests beyond tourist hotspots and minimizes environmental impacts. (We noted that our sailing ship, Leafde fan Fryslân,
used biodiesel.)
People in period dress bring to life the village of Urk as it was in 1905, in the Zuiderzee Museum, an open-air living history museum village in Enkhuizen that re-creates daily life around the Zuiderzee before the sea was turned into a lake © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com
Among its most popular itineraries for North American travelers:
Amsterdam to Bruges: Cruise and ride through the Dutch countryside of Zeeland and western Flanders in
the town centers of Split and Dubrovnik, and experience the culture and nature of more sparsely populated islands like Brač, Hvar, Korčula, Lastovo, Mljet and Šipan. E-bikes help with hilly and mountainous terrain.
Cochem to Metz: Follow the Moselle River through Germany, France and Luxembourg, passing endless vineyards and stopping to taste local wines. See enchanting old cities like Cochem and Bernkastel, the once-imperial Roman Trier, the stunning waterfalls of Saarburg, the Gothic cathedral of Metz and welcoming villages in between.
The merger of the company means that clients of either one can take advantage of a 3% loyalty discount when booking. Meanwhile, bike tours prove superb choices for solo travelers, and each departure offers at least one cabin with a reduced single supplement.
One of Boat Bike Tours’ most popular tours starts in Bruges and goes to Amsterdam © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Belgium. Tour world-famous cities such as Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, as well as picturesque villages, a Dutch cheese farm, the windmills of Kinderdijk and the magnificent natural landscape along the Schelde River.
Split to Dubrovnik: Hop from island to island in the South Dalmatia region of Croatia by boat and e-bike. See
Eating For Diabetes
BY CHARLYN FARGO
Dairy often gets a bad rap. Some think it causes bloating or gas. Others think it’s inflammatory. The truth is dairy can be part of a healthy diet. The Dietary Guidelines recommend three servings of dairy a day.
But now Italian researchers have discovered that eating certain animal products -- including dairy -- could reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Researchers, led by Dr. Annalisa Giosue of the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery at the University of Naples
Federico II in Naples, Italy, reviewed existing meta-analyses into the links between animal products and diabetes. The scientists browsed four databases -- Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Embase -- to uncover suitable studies that compare how different animal products could lead to or prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes.
The team found 175 studies of animal products and Type 2 diabetes. Their findings were presented at the recent annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Stockholm, Sweden.
Researchers found that drinking 7 ounces of milk per day was associated with a 10% reduction in diabetes risk and 7 ounces of total dairy was associated with a 5% reduction. Low-fat dairy was associated with a 3% reduction. Eating 7 ounces of yogurt was associated with a 6% reduction. Eating 1 ounce of cheese and 7 ounces of full-fat dairy had no effect on the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
The researchers found a 30% increase in risk with the consumption of 7 ounces of processed meat per day and a 22% increase in risk with the consumption of 7
Continued on page 5
For more information, call 203-8141249 or visit https://www.boatbiketours. com/
© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com
It’s fun reconnecting with old friends
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
I am big on high school reunions and college reunions. It’s fun to get together after 40 years or whatever the time has been and celebrate with a dinner and dancing at a restaurant or catering hall.
I’m also big on keeping in contact with the close friends I had in high school and college. After graduating we kept in touch for a while then lost touch for a few years since we were in different states.
My landing place two months after graduating was Fairfield University in Connecticut. One friend went to SUNY Oneonta and another went to Marist College in Poughkeepsie. Keeping track of all my friends was hard when I was getting immersed in freshmen orientation and attending classes at a new school.
During the Christmas break that first year some of us got together but I was also busy catching up with my relatives on Long Island and in Brooklyn. Still, over the years, we were able to get back in touch thanks to parents or the siblings of our friends.
Someone would run into someone we knew at the supermarket, at the beach or at church and say, “How’s Claire?” or something to that effect and so the reconnecting would begin.
My older sister, Michelle, is great about running into people in public, recognizing them as my old high school friends and saying hi. Michelle was just three years ahead of me at St. Agnes Cathedral High School in Rockville Centre so she knew many of the freshmen when she was a senior - and she certainly knew many of the classmates I had been fast friends with. Michelle is great remembering faces and names.
My mother also was good about passing along messages. She would run into the parent of one of my high school friends and say, “How’s Terry?” or something like that. That parent would relay the message and sure enough, in time we would reconnect.
Now with Facebook and other social
media the communications process is much improved. We can “friend” old friends on Facebook or send them a private message with our phone number and email address. Thanks to today’s social media, things often happen at lightning speed unlike 30 years ago when the “I’ll relay a message to Claire” method was common.
I like comparing it to the horse and buggy vs. cars but suffice it to say that messages would be passed on and eventually we would speak again by phone, text or email.
I had a hard time tracking down my friend, Patsy, who graduated from Long Island University-C.W. Post College with a Bachelor of Arts in the fine arts which included painting, drawing and sculpture. She then went to California because she likes the Golden State so much.
Through mutual friends I heard that Patsy was teaching Art to middle school students. Patsy only returned to the east coast every so often and we always seemed to miss seeing each other. We were like two ships in the night. The good news is Patsy did attend our 40th high school reunion so we connected there.
Many of my classmates headed out and engaged in some interesting careers. My friend Susie married, settled in the San Diego area and started her own advertising company. Another classmate went on to medical school and works as a physician in the Cayman Islands. Another classmate got his degree in marine biology and founded a marine construction business in the Bahamas.
Suffice it to say that I knew many of the students in my high school but I didn’t realize where all of my classmates were headed. I certainly didn’t realize all of the talent we had in that graduating class but from going to reunions and looking at our social media pages I’ve learned about so many of their accomplishments and contributions to society. It’s nice to see.
My friend, Gail, and I were chatting
recently and I told her how much fun it was working on the school newspaper. She was the editor and I was the associate editor so we got to collaborate on ideas for stories, themes, layouts and designs often.
I also mentioned how great it was that at the beginning of the school year she told a few of us girls that her dad would show us how to do layouts for the newspaper. We got together a few times on a Saturday that fall in Gail’s basement in Rockville Centre and her father showed us specifics.
He was the advertising manager for The NY Times his whole career so he had picked up a lot about the newspaper business along the way. As Gail said many times, “He had the newspaper business in his blood.”
Sure we had a moderator for the high school newspaper who gave us some tips but Gail’s father gave us lots of pointers and we were eager learners. We measured everything, laid it out on a large table, discussed headlines, inches, picas, etc. That was great. This was years before desktop publishing
software became available to the general public.
I’ve used that information so often over the years working in corporate public relations. Even though much of today’s info is done on the computer, we still have to know how a story will fit on the page - and how to create a beautiful design.
Adding photos or graphic elements adds a nice touch to the page and can help break up blocks of text.
My friend, Lynn, told her mom that a few of us were going to our junior prom in high school and she offered to give us some dance lessons. We thought that was a nice idea so I remember six of us getting together and learning some cool dance moves.
At first we laughed at ourselves because we didn’t feel like smooth dancers but eventually we got what Lynn’s mom was teaching us. By the time prom night arrived, we were much more sophisticated.
Whether it is in person or long distance by computer, it’s always fun to reconnect.
Social Security Disability Benefits and Incentives to Work
BY TOM MARGENAU
Q: I am 57 years old and getting Social Security disability benefits. I understand I can work and make $23,000 and still keep my disability checks. Is this true?
A: No, it’s not true. The dollar figure you cite applies to retirees who are under their full retirement age and working. They can work and earn up to $23,400 and still get all their retirement checks. So now let me explain some things to you about working while on Social Security disability.
The only reason you are getting disability benefits in the first place is that you have been deemed to be unable to work. Or to put that another way, you are not getting Social Security disability just because you have a physical or mental impairment. You are getting those benefits because that impairment keeps you from working. In other words, the inability to work is the key to your eligibility for disability benefits. So, on the one hand, you normally shouldn’t be working at all.
On the other hand, there are all kinds of work incentives built into the disability program that allow you to try working while still collecting your disability checks -- at least for a while.
Those incentive provisions fill up about a 100-page book that the Social Security Administration produces. So, there is no way I can explain all of them to you in this column. But I can summarize the main provisions.
As a general rule, you can work for up to nine months, making as much money as you can and still keep getting your benefits. However, after those nine months, if you are still working and if you are making more than about $1,600 per month, there is a pretty good chance your disability checks will stop. If you want more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov and under the “Publications” link, look for the pamphlet called “Working While Disabled -- How We Can Help.” It is an abbreviated version of the book I mentioned earlier.
Q: I have a 55-year-old son. He has had cerebral palsy since childhood, but he has managed to work off and on over the years. In fact, he worked enough that he got the required credits to qualify for disability benefits when his condition worsened and he had to stop working. But after a few years on disability, the Social Security people kept telling him there were special provisions in the law that allowed him to work and get disability checks. In fact, he was eventually making upwards of $15,000 per year. And now he has just received a letter today from Social Security stopping his disability benefits and telling him he’s been overpaid $32,000 and that he has to pay that back. How can they encourage him to go back to work and then turn around and tell him he’s no longer eligible for benefits and ask for
their money back?
A: I really feel sorry for you and your son and the problems he is now going through. Earlier, I mentioned that 100page booklet that explains the work incentives built into the disability program. That book is just the tip of the iceberg. All of these return-to-work provisions are just so darn convoluted and complicated.
I think those complications reflect a conundrum our society faces. On the one hand, we want to provide disability benefits to people who are truly disabled. On the other, we want to encourage them to work and become financially self-sufficient so they don’t have to rely on the government dole. And then sadly, those two goals can end up competing and causing problems. Your son is now facing the result of that competition.
What you and your son need to do right away is to deal with the alleged overpayment. My “Social Security: Simple and Smart” book, available from Amazon, has an entire chapter devoted to how to handle an overpayment. You really need to read that chapter. For now, I can tell you that your priority should be to file an appeal of the alleged overpayment. That involves calling the SSA at 800-772-1213 and filling out a form called a “Request for Reconsideration.” That will start the ball rolling in getting them to review your son’s case. As I said, these work incentive provisions are just so darn complicated that maybe another set of eyes reviewing your son’s case will come up with a different conclusion.
Q: I’m on Social Security disability. How do I get a ticket to work?
A: The “Ticket to Work” program is just one of the many work incentive provisions built into the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs. And to be honest, I don’t fully understand how it works. But if you simply Google “Ticket to Work,” you will find a ton of information. I copied the following from the Social Security Administration website:
“Ticket to Work connects you with free employment services to help you decide if working is right for you, prepare for work, find a job or maintain success while you are working. If you choose to participate, you will receive services such as career counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and job placement and training from authorized Ticket to Work service providers, such as Employment Networks (EN) or your State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency. The service provider you choose will serve as an important part of your “employment team” that will help you on your journey to financial independence. For more information, call the Ticket to Work hotline at 866-968-7842.”
Q: I’m on disability. If I win the lottery, can I keep my disability check?
A: Well, I guess winning the lottery is one way of avoiding all the hassles of trying to work while on disability. The answer to your question depends on the kind
of disability benefit that you are getting. If you are getting Social Security disability benefits, you could win a million dollars in the lottery and you’d still keep getting your disability checks. But if you are on SSI, which is a welfare program, and you win the lottery, your SSI payments would stop almost immediately.
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
Owning a home today isn’t just about the mortgage, taxes and insurance. There are other additional variables that come into play that adds to the ongoing cost of homeownership. Some may not take this into consideration when purchasing. Items like weekly and monthly maintenance, exterior services to maintain the outside of one’s home. These can be handled by the homeowner, assuming they have time. However, there are those bills that you do not have total control over, such as electricity, heating and water.
Homeowners look at their utility bills and wonder why they are so high. The problem is twofold. Many do not conserve efficiently. Lights left on in rooms, CAC on a lower than necessary temperature, especially when no one is home. Most modern thermostats can be controlled by your cell phone and can be setup to go on 15-30 minutes before you arrive home.
Over watering your lawn and taking showers longer than necessary can really increase your bill. You can try a Marine shower for guys, where you wet down, shut water off, then soap up and then rinse. However, this might not work so well with the ladies, especially if they have long hair, but if not it’s worth a try. Lowering the temperature on your hot water tank to 120 degrees will save some on your bill whether you have a gas or electric hot water heater.
Utilizing the proper technology, today, especially with LED lighting can be a real savings by minimizing and reducing your electric bills. Replacing old appliances with energy star rated ones will also contribute to your savings.
Having the most efficient air conditioning, quieter split-units will reduce your electric bill. Reducing the sunlight through windows by lowering shades and closing drapes during the hot summer days, will enable your units to work more efficiently and
Lowering your utility bills
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
keep your home cooler. Having a setback cellular controlled thermostat for summer and winter is one method of conservation. PSEG has a program whereby they will increase your thermostat during the summer for more savings.
For a noticeable savings during winter months try lowering your thermostat a few degrees per day to get used to a lower temperature. However, making sure the north side of your home, which is the coldest, is warm enough so existing pipes won’t freeze. You can purchase 24Volt wiring that you can wrap around outside faucets or exposed pipes so they do not freeze during winter months. If doing a renovation, you can add this wiring to any piping inside any walls facing north.
they provided me ones for my business at no cost. Determine if your attic or basement crawl spaces have adequate insulation. Fiberglass batts provide the optimum protection in those areas. However, foam or cellulose can be blown into exterior walls for maximum insulation. You should see a reduction in your heating bill next winter. Shop around to price whatever you plan to consider doing.
Due to the Big Beautiful Bill that was passed, this will be the last year by 12/31/25, that you can take advantage of 30% Federal 25D credits for installing solar panels, solar roofing tiles, solar water heaters, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, and home battery storage.
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:
Your local utility company, PSEG on Long Island has had programs that provide more efficient replacements for specific older inefficient AC’s, dehumidifiers, and other appliances. They will also provide at no charge new Google Nest setback thermostats which will save you money on heating and CAC costs. Call them to ask about any of their available programs.
You are able to increase or decrease your home’s interior temperature directly from your cell phone. When not in a room, is there any need to continue leaving your lights on? I do not think so. Make sure you replace your incandescent bulbs with LED type bulbs. They will provide you the same lighting at reduced costs. Call your local utility to see if they will provide you replacements for free. They sometimes offer free efficiency surveys of your home. They have programs to provide you new energy star AC’s, dehumidifiers and other older appliances that waste energy. Previously,
Utility costs keep going up regularly as costs for producing the energy increases. The Clean Energy programs and tax incentives to industries for creating lower cost electricity have also been eliminated. This is the year to look at your home to see where your energy wasters are and make a concerted effort to make changes and take advantage of whatever tax savings there are while also reducing your carbon footprint, to save money and our planet.
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
https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search at your leisure on your own. However, for a “FREE” no obligation/ no strings attached 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com
You can now search at your leisure for properties at:
WWW.Li-RealEstate.com
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How to Cook Your Way Out of These Common Kitchen Mistakes
BY: MARY HUNT
It happened again; I suffered a kitchen disaster. Boy, do I hate when that happens! This time, I ruined an entire pot of pasta because I got busy and was not paying attention. By the time I realized, the pasta had cooked beyond al dente all the way to al mushe. I could barely make out the pasta shape!
It killed me to dump the whole thing and start over, but there was no way to undo that disaster -- it was that far gone! Thankfully, that’s not true for every cooking mistake. Here is a list you’re going to want to keep handy just in case.
STICKY PASTA
When the pasta is not totally mush but all stuck together as if by glue, drain and cool immediately. Then return the pasta to a saute pan, add a tablespoon of olive oil and toss while reheating. That should take care of the stickiness, while no one is the wiser.
TOO MUCH SALT
It’s a common cooking mistake. If you’ve added far too much salt to a sauce or soup and you have enough ingredients, double the recipe or make more by half. Then mix it in with the salty batch a bit at a time until you’ve reached your desired flavor. Another trick is to add a bit more unsalted water to the mix, provided this will not also dilute the flavor.
BURNT TOAST
Don’t toss it until you’ve tried this neat trick: Use your cheese grater to quickly scrape off the burned layer. Works like magic! Other options: Scrape
off the worst, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and present as crostini or use for croutons.
STALE ROLLS
Wet your fingers and generously flick some water on the rolls. Then wrap in foil and heat in a 250 F oven for 10 minutes.
UNDERCOOKED CAKE
The first sign of a cake that’s not done is that sinkhole in the middle. Once cooled, you cannot rebake it. But don’t worry; this is not a hopeless kitchen disaster. Break the cooled cake into pieces (even those parts that are undercooked) and layer them with whipped cream and fresh fruit to make dessert parfaits or one large trifle. Perfect!
OVERCOOKED VEGETABLES
If you’ve overcooked broccoli, asparagus or similar vegetables, don’t despair. Tweak your menu a bit to include creamed vegetable soup. Puree the vegetables in the blender, pour in a bit of heavy cream, check the seasoning and
add salt and pepper as needed. There! Cooking mistake averted.
OVER-CHARRED BEEF
You can totally spin this disaster by rubbing the beef with a mixture of garlic, ground black pepper and chili powder, presenting it as “blackened.”
Or switch things up! Cut away the over-charred portions, then slice that charred beef for stir-fry, fajitas or salad.
BURNT PUDDING, CUSTARD, SOUP
Even the most seasoned chefs have been known to burn a custard or two. If you notice that the bottom layer of custard or cream-based soup has turned dark, stop stirring immediately. You don’t want to incorporate any of the burned bottom into the unburnt portions. Pour the remaining custard, pudding or cream into a new pan, making sure you don’t scrape up any of the part that’s scorched at the bottom, then keep cooking.
There are several techniques you can try to thicken the sauce. Work some flour into small amounts of butter. Bring the sauce to boil and drop the flour-but-
Eating For Diabetes
ounces of red meat per day. Eating white meat of chicken was associated with a 4% increase in risk (per 3.5 ounces daily consumption) while eating fish and eggs had no effect on developing Type 2 diabetes. Here’s the bottom line: All foods can fit into a healthy eating plan -- dairy included and even small amounts of pro-
cessed and red meats. Eating healthy to prevent the risk of Type 2 diabetes is just one of many things you can take control of, along with exercise, reducing stress and maintaining good sleep habits.
Q and A
Q: Does coffee really have antioxidants?
A: Coffee actually may be one of the
main sources of compounds with antioxidant activity for many people, as much if not more than fruits and vegetables, according to a study published in the October 2014 issue of Journal of Nutritional Science. Coffee is higher in these compounds than green tea. In fact, upwards of 1,000 compounds with antioxidant activity have been identified in unprocessed coffee beans, and even more de-
ter balls in one at a time while stirring, until the sauce is your desired thickness. Cornstarch is usually a good thickener, provided you have mixed it with cold water first. Add it to the boiling liquid a little at a time while stirring. Some cooks use dried potato flakes as an emergency thickene
LIMP GREENS
Give those greens a lovely bath in a big bowl of very, very cold water and a few ice cubes. Let this sit for 10 minutes or so. Next, gently lift the greens out of the cold water, wrap them in a damp tea towel and stick them in the refrigerator. If they’re not completely over the hill, they crisp up nicely and look equally fresh and lovely.
OVERRIPE FRUIT
When it’s too far gone for even fruit salad, get out the blender to make smoothies. Prefer dessert? Add a little agave, sugar or maple syrup for a great ice cream topping.
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
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
THIN SAUCES
velop during roasting.
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of August 3-9, 2025
Let’s try a demonstration that we all enjoyed in elementary school.
Close one eye, hold out your thumb at arm’s length, and align it with an object on the other side of the room. Without moving your thumb, blink your eyes back and forth slowly, and you’ll notice that your thumb seems to shift relative to the more distant background.
Now bring your thumb closer to your eyes and try again. What kind of shift do you see this time?
The apparent shift of your thumb’s position against the background is called “parallax.” Because your brain knows the separation of your eyes (the “baseline” of a triangle formed by your eyes and any object), it can estimate an object’s distance pretty accurately.
Anyone with binocular vision (two functioning eyes) uses this technique constantly to navigate our everyday world. It’s what keeps you from tripping over the cat or driving into the car ahead of you.
But what about the stars? Might this same technique work to measure their distances? Of course, the best way to answer that question is to try it, but I’ll save you some time. You can blink your eyes at a star until you pass out; you’ll see no shift in its position. The fact is, the stars are just too far away.
What if we could use a baseline that
Measuring the Cosmos
is longer than the spacing between our eyes? Suppose, for example, we put two telescopes on opposite sides of the Earth and again measured the position of a star? Would that make a difference?
Again, the short answer is no, not even for the nearest of stars.
OK, what if our baseline were even longer: say, the diameter of the Earth’s orbit around the sun? If we could observe a star’s position in August, for example, when the Earth is on one side of the sun, and then observe the same star six months later when we’re on the opposite side of the sun, we’d have a baseline of some 186 million miles.
Well, that question was first asked by Greek thinkers two millennia ago, and, despite their best efforts, no one ever noticed a bit of parallax. Nope, the first time this was ever done was in 1838, when Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel (17841846) used a telescope at the Konigsberg Observatory in East Prussia to measure the position of the faint star 61 Cygni relative to the more distant background stars. Six months later -- when the Earth was on the opposite side of its orbit -- he made the same measurement.
That he detected any shift at all is quite remarkable, since it was only two hundred-thousandths of a degree -- about the width a pizza in San Diego would appear if seen from New York City!
Since Bessel’s day, technology has improved even more, and we now have
Astronomers use parallax to measure a star’s distance from the Earth.
parallax measurements (and, therefore, direct distance measurements) for more than a billion stars!
The next time you show your child or grandchild how to blink their eyes while viewing their thumb, remember, it’s not
Kiss and Make Up
BY TRACY BECKERMAN
I was in mid-eyelash when I heard a knock on the door.
“Can I use the bathroom?” my husband asked through the door.
“No.” I replied.
“No?”
“No.”
“Why?” he wondered aloud.
“I’m putting on my mascara, and I’m mid-eyelash. You can’t interrupt me in the middle of the process.”
“Why?”
“It’ll mess the whole thing up. The mascara will dry, and then when I try to put on the second coat, my eyelashes will clump. Then I’ll have to take it all off and start over.”
“Clumping is bad?” he asked.
“Yes. Very bad.”
“I don’t understand,” he said.
Of course he didn’t understand. He’s
a guy. He has no idea how complex this whole getting-ready process is. I knew that if I was going to get any support on this, I was going to have to womansplain this to him in terms he could understand.
“It’s like when you’re blowing glass. You have this window while the glass is hot and melty, and you can shape it however you want. But if you stop in the middle, it’ll harden and you can’t shape it anymore,” I explained.
“What does that have to do with eyelashes?”
“You have to work in the window,” I replied.
I could see we weren’t making progress. Mascara was not in his wheelhouse of knowledge, and clearly, neither was blowing glass. I thought I’d try a different tack.
“OK, it’s like when you blow dry your hair,” I continued.
“I don’t blow dry my hair,” he said.
“Yes, but if you did, you would know that you can’t do it when it’s soaking wet, but it can’t be completely dry either. It has to be damp. That’s the window.”
“The window thing again?” he repeated.
“Yeah.”
“I still don’t get it,” he admitted. I sighed. I realized I was going to have to get down on his level to get through.
“OK, it’s like when you shave. Your face has to be wet so you don’t cut yourself. But if you stop and then go back to it, your face will be dry, so you have to wet it all over again, right? That’s your window of shaving.”
“Right.”
“So you get it now?” I asked him.
“Yes, I get it. Can I use the bathroom now?”
just a childish game. It’s one of the fundamental techniques that astronomers use to measure the cosmos!
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
“No. Now I have to blow dry my hair,” I told him.
He started to leave to use the downstairs bathroom but then turned back to me.
“It’s very complicated to be a woman, isn’t it?” he said.
“Yes, it is.”
“I know how to make it easier,” he said.
“How?”
“I can throw your mascara and blow dryer out the window.”
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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CUSTODIAL POSITION
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NOVENAS/PRAYERS
NOVENA TO THE BLESSED MOTHER
Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. Oh, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.
Oh Star of the Sea, help me herein and show me here you are my Mother.
Oh Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power.
Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).
Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (say three times). Amen.
This prayer is never known to fail and is to be said for 3 consecutive days.
In Gratitude (M.T.F.)
OH BLESSED MOTHER OF THE SON OF GOD; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.
Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother.
Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity.
Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).
Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (say three times).
Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. (MAK)
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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PINELAWN MEMORIAL PARK
Selling one grave with two burial plots in the sold-out and highly sought after Garden of Remembrance section of Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale, NY. Call 516-375-6883 or email: loisgold123@icloud.com
INVITED SALES
BY TRACY JORDAN
Transform your space, maximize your value: Are you looking to add value to your property and enhance its appeal? Look no further! At Invited Sales, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet your needs: Personal Property Appraisals and Evaluations: Get expert insights into the true value of your personal property. Estate and Tag Sales: Simplify the process of selling estate items with our professional online and in-person tag sale services. Home Updates: From carpet removal to one-day floor refinishing and contractor services, we handle it all to refresh your home effortlessly.
Staging Services: Elevate your space with our curated selection of furniture, accessories, lighting, and decorative items for a stunning transformation. Explore our captivating before and after photos showcasing homes where we’ve added significant value, making them stand out in the market: Visit: InvitedSales.com today to discover how we can help you achieve your property goals!
Please Call: 516-279-6378
Or Text Tracy Jordan: 516-567-2960
MARKETPLACE
ROW ROW ROW
your own
CONCEPT2 ERG with rails. Gently used. Great condition. Great workout!
$850 firm Call: 516-747-4415
WANTED TO BUY
LOOKING TO BUY!
Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Sports Cards, Pokemon Cards, Comics and Art. Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048
TAG SALE
TAG SALE GARDEN CITY
Saturday, August 2 9:30am 2:00pm 337 Brompton Rd S Garden City, NY 11530
Contents of house Stickley Dining Room Set Quality items Patio Set, Garage Items and Much More!!
GARAGE SALE
PATIO SALE BETHPAGE
Sunday 8/3/2025
11:00 am to 5:00 pm (No Early Birds) 14 Manchester Drive Bethpage, NY
Something for Everyone! Electronics, Furniture, Kitchen & General items. ALL MUST GO!
AUTOMOTIVE
AUTOS WANTED
***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS
$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277
GET A BREAK ON YOUR TAXES! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind today at 1-855484-3467
GOT AN UNWANTED
CAR??? Your car donation to Patriotic Hearts helps veterans find work or start their own business. Fast free pick. Running or not! Call 24/7: 1-833441-4496
WE BUY 8,000 CARS A WEEK
Sell your old, busted or junk car with no hoops, haggles or headaches. Sell your car to Peddle. Easy three step process. Instant offer. Free pickup. Fast payment. Call 1-855-403-3374
REAL ESTATE FOR RENT
APARTMENT FOR RENT
APARTMENT FOR RENT
Beautiful ground floor, 1 Bedroom apartment. Kitchen, Dishwasher, Full Bath, French doors, Central Air, Driveway.
5 minutes to Garden City LIRR
$2,200/month includes all Non-smokers, no pets Call: 516-619-6171
HOMES FOR RENT
FRANKLIN SQUARE HOME FOR RENT
4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. No Pets. Available 9/15. Send your name & phone info to: Dinogogas@gmail.com
SERVICES
AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE?
You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-880-7679
BARNES GALLERY
Custom Picture Framing Two Nassau Blvd Garden City, NY 516-538-4503
Tuesday-Saturday 10-5
CONSUMER CELLULAR the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682
SERVICES
JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING
We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship
Thousands of frames to choose from!!
Over 30 years in business! 9 2 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495
SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS! Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277
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
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS SYSTEM TURN ONS Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199
BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-807-0159
SERVICES
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER? Leaf Home
Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728
MADE IN THE SHADE CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS
Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies
Top Brands at Discount Prices! Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli. com
516-426-2890
MASONRY
All types of stonework Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps. Free Estimates
Fully Licensed & Insured
#H2219010000
Boceski Masonry
Louie 516-850-4886
PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!
Slate & Tile Specialists
All types of Roofing Local References
Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869
PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5 year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-5161160 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.
PREPARE FOR POWER
OUTAGES with Briggs & StrattonPowerProtect(TM) standby generators the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496
SAFE STEP
North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub.
Comprehensive Lifetime warranty. Top of the line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step: 1-855-916-5473
SERVICES
HEALTH SERVICES
FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC
Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager
Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion
Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement
PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams
Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications
516-248-9323 www.familycareconnections.com
901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530
LI’S ACUPUNCTURE
Hicksville Acupunctuirst 30+ years of expert care for a wide range of conditions. Major Insurances Accepted. Senior discount available. CALL NOW 516-806-5538 Visit Us: acupliang.com
PAINTING & PAPERHANGING
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR
PAINTING
Plastering, Taping, Sheetrock
Skim Cutting, Old Wood Refinish, Staining, Wallpaper Removal & Hanging, Paint Removal, Power Washing, Wood Replacement JOHN MIGLIACCIO
Licensed & Insured
#80422100000
Call John anytime: 516-901-9398 (Cell) 516-483-3669 (Office)
SERVICES
PAINTING & PAPERHANGING
PROFESSIONAL PAINTER
Interior/Exterior Repairs, Spackles, Wallpaper, Mouldings & More!
Clean & Dependable
Free Estimates
Licensed & Insured #H0106110000
CALL SAL TODAY! 516-343-2152
SERVICES
AFFORDABLE TV & INTER-
NET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833-323-0160
PEST CONTROL: PROTECT
YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!
Blueberry Lemon Cornmeal Cobbler
Blueberries are out in full force when the weather warms. Blueberries are delicious freshly picked, and can be topped with some light cream for a refreshing dessert. Blueberries also are equally at home baked in muffins, breads and cobblers.
The following recipe for “Blueberry Lemon Cornmeal Cobbler” courtesy of “Vegan Cooking for Beginners!” with recipes curated by Publications International, Ltd., pairs the tang of lemon with the sweetness of blueberry for the perfect treat. It’s great for dessert or even served for brunch. Makes 8 to 10 servings
3 tablespoons boiling water
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
5 cups fresh blueberries
1⁄2 cup plus 1⁄3 cup sugar, divided
3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1⁄2 tablespoons finely grated lemon peel, divided
1) Preheat oven to 375 ° F. Spray 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine boiling water and flaxseed in small bowl. Let stand until cool.
2) Combine blueberries, 1⁄3 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, cornstarch, and 1⁄2 tablespoon lemon peel in large bowl; toss to coat. Spoon into
1⁄2 cup plain unsweetened soymilk or almond milk
2⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
1⁄4 cup fine-ground cornmeal
prepared pan.
3) Combine soymilk and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice in small bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Combine flour, cornmeal, remaining 1⁄2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon peel, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; mix well. Add soymilk mixture, coconut oil and flaxseed mixture;
1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 cup coconut oil, melted
stir until just combined. Drop topping by 2 tablespoons into mounds over blueberry mixture.
4) Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is bubbly and topping is golden brown. Let stand 30 minutes before serving.
Welcome to The Floral Park Villager, where your story is our
story!
Over the next few weeks we will be mailing free copies of our new newspaper to all of the homes in the zip code so you can see what we’re excited about! If this is your first time seeing the paper, welcome! Copies are also available at drop points around town. In addition, you can find us online at www.fpvillager.com
What You Can Expect:
Local Focus: Unlike other papers, we concentrate solely on Floral Park and Bellerose. Our pages will be filled with news that matters to you and your neighbors.
Community Contributions: We want to hear from you! Share your sports updates, event announcements, club news, scouting adventures, and personal milestones like weddings and graduations. Your stories are the heartbeat of our publication.
Comprehensive Coverage: Stay informed about village and school board meetings, ensuring you’re up-to-date with the decisions that impact our community.
Letters to the Editor: We value your voice. Share your opinions, ideas, and feedback. Your letters will help shape the dialogue in our community.
Get Involved:
We encourage you to submit your items for publication to editor@gcnews.com. Whether it’s a story, a photo, or an announcement, your contributions will help us build a newspaper that truly reflects the spirit of Floral Park and Bellerose.
How to Subscribe
If you would like to get convenient home delivery of the paper through the mail, please use this QR code or go to our website at www.fpvillager.com
Advertising:
Our Advertising Account Executive, Peter Camp, is a long-time member of the Floral Park community. For information about advertising, you can reach him at 917-861-4627 or pcamp@gcnews.com.
'Unbox a Saurus for Us!' at LI Children's Museum
Interactive dinosaur-themed "scientific” comedy for all ages
"Unbox" a prehistoric adventure this summer at the Long Island Children's Museum, where its newest original production, Unbox a Saurus for Us! is entertaining kids of all ages.
This interactive theatrical experience invites visitors to join eccentric paleontologist Dr. Patricia Osiris (a.k.a. “Dr. Patti”) as she attempts to reveal a never-before-seen dinosaur specimen— if only she can figure out how to open the crate it’s locked in. Along the way, young audience members become key players in solving problems, sparking laughter and exploring the world of dinosaurs in a lighthearted “scientific” comedy that blends imagination and learning.
Written by co-directors Austin Costello and Lisa Rudin, Unbox a Saurus for Us! was developed as a complement to the Museum’s popular summer exhibit, “Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed,” in residence through August 31. The show expands the exhibit experience by bringing paleontology to life on stage through humor and audience participation.
“This production is a joyful extension of the Museum’s summer programming,” says LICM Theater Artistic Director and production co-writer Lisa Rudin. “It captures the curiosity kids naturally have about dinosaurs and turns it into a hilarious and educational stage adventure. Dr. Patti is part scientist, part storyteller—and fully unpredictable.”
Can YOU help Dr. Patti unbox a dinosaur? A
The Museum regularly creates theatrical productions that complement its featured exhibits.
Frederick, based on the book by Eric Carle’s mentor, Leo Lionni, was presented in conjunction with"Very Eric Carle:
A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit, a play-and-learn exhibit inspired by the beloved children's book author and illustrator's classic works.
During The Pigeon Comes to Long Island! A Mo Willems Exhibit, the LICM Theater presented two shows written
by the acclaimed author: Elephant and Piggie's "We are in a Play!" and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! The Mo Willems exhibit invited visitors to step into activities pulled directly from the pages of his books, engaging with familiar characters, including the best friend duo Elephant and Piggie.
Unbox a Saurus for Us! marks an exciting first for the LICM Theater— extending the performance beyond the theater space into the gallery itself. The newly discovered dinosaur and its handler will do a “pre-show” in the gallery itself, interacting with the kids.
Performance Dates:
Wednesdays, August 6, 20 and 27 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, August 9 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sundays, August 3 and 24 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Fee: $5 with Museum admission, $4 for LICM members, $10 theater-only tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the Museum Box Office or online at www. licm.org/theater.
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.
Summer Hours: (July-August) Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas in July at Malibu Beach Camp
From page 1
Corps Toys for Tots to help provide the water guns for this year’s fight. Helping these campers have a blast and build friendships brings back memories for me,” said Legislator Ferretti. “I look forward to leading Team Nassau County to victory over Team Hempstead!”
The first Christmas in July celebration took place at a summer camp much
like the Malibu Beach Camp, 84 years ago, in 1933. Originally, it was meant to bring extra holiday spirit to the campers and provide a break from the summer heat. Since then, Christmas in July has become a tradition and is seen as a way to spread goodwill and generosity by encouraging acts of kindness often practiced during the holiday season.
In the spirit of the holidays, Toys for Tots generously donated hundreds of
water guns to the campers to celebrate the day with. For over 76 years, Toys for Tots has been an outstanding organization dedicated to making children smile. Supervisor Clavin and the Town of Hempstead expressed gratitude for their contribution and ongoing commitment to giving back to the community.
“While we’re all here to have a great time with some friendly competition, let’s remember to play safely and
responsibly to ensure everyone enjoys the day to the fullest,” said Supervisor Clavin. “Thank you once again to Legislator John Ferretti and especially the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Not only are they heroes for our country, but they’re also heroes for our community. I look forward to our continued partnership during the Holiday Season.”
