LIONS CLUB CELEBRATED
Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti (2nd right) and Councilman Tom Muscarella (left) congratulated the Floral Park Lions Club on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary Celebration on September 6 at Floral Terrace.
Fall Finale Car Show
The Town of Hempstead is shifting into high gear for one of Long Island’s most anticipated autumn traditions: the 2025 Fall Finale Car Show, taking place at Town Park Point Lookout on Sunday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s event expands its classic lineup of cars and activities with brand new attractions and a hint of
Halloween season flair. Admission is free for spectators. Visitors can stroll through a dazzling showcase of muscle cars, imports, vintage rides, and custom builds. For the first time the show will feature a Tow Truck Show and slot car racing. Families can shop a lively craft fair, enjoy tasty food from a variety of vendors, snap photos
with iconic movie and television cars, including the original 1960s Batmobile, the Delorean time machine from “Back to the Future,” and Vin Diesel’s Dodge Charger from the “Fast and Furious” franchise.
The day also offers fans the chance to meet some of television’s most famous automotive
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Floral Park Village Board Reports
The following are reports from the Village of Floral Park's September 16th meeting:
Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
Belmont Park Community Advisory Board
This Thursday, September 18, is the next meeting of the Belmont Park Community Advisory Board, of which Trustee Chiara and I are both members. As you’ve probably noticed, there’s still a lot of work going on at Belmont. I’m hopeful we’ll receive some exciting updates on their progress, as well as confirmation on whether everything is still on track to open next fall.
Congratulations
On behalf of the Board, I’d like to extend our congratulations to our neighbors in South Floral Park, who will be celebrating their centennial this weekend. Thank you for being such great neighbors to our Village over the past 100 years.
Thank You
I’d also like to thank everyone who came out on Tuesday for the 9/11 ceremonies. It seems that, more residents take part in it each year, which is always heartening to see.
Village Events
Finally, we have a number of exciting events coming up in our Village over the next couple of weekends. This weekend is the Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade, followed by the
Covert Avenue Street Fair, Homecoming, and Liz’s Day next weekend.
Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo Police Department
The September 2nd and 3rd openings of our Floral Park schools were successful and exciting for all. Our SROs (School Resource Officers who are four of our FPPD Officers) have met with new school administrators including Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lubrano and his staff, and Floral Park-Bellerose School Principal Mrs. Lauren Quezada. The first District Safety Committee meeting followed with our Police and School Personnel sharing important guidelines, procedures and updates relating to student and staff safety. This valuable partnership and collaboration will continue throughout the school year.
In the area of Village safety, our Police are conducting targeted operations to enforce “blocking the box” prohibitions. Our data shows that 97 summonses for obstructing an intersection have been issued this year to date. The most summonses have been issued at the intersections of Tulip Avenue at Verbena Avenue and Tulip Avenue at Caroline Place. Every motorist is required to wait before entering an inter-
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October at the Floral Park Public Library
October, the season of pumpkin spice and everything (pumpkin) nice! And, the perfect time to “fall” into a good book! Or…
There’s a Taylor Swift listening party for Teens this month, along with a Spooky Halloween Lantern craft and several Halloween-themed programs.
For adults, there’s two more sessions in the Mah Jongg triple (pre-registration was required); an Intro to AI program; Medicare Made Clear; Game Nites for Grownups; Rock the Crock Fall Cooking with Chef Barbara; Shop! Cook! Enjoy! healthy eating; and Graveyard Genealogy.
The always artsy Cathy Buckley inaugurates a Beginning Watercolors class for Adults, and Tom Lynch offers a Training and Stargazing Event with the Library’s telescope.
The Gatsby celebration continues. The 1974 movie “The Great Gatsby” starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow airs as a Monday Matinee on October 6, and it wraps up with The Evening Edition Book Club on Thursday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m., where F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” takes center stage.
October finds the Floral Park Library Urban Explorers on bus trip to Chinatown and Little Italy. Registration for the October 29 date is ongoing at the Reference Desk.
The English Language Learner class meets weekly on Tuesday evenings. Registration is required.
Wednesday Chair Yoga is back in hybrid form every Wednesday at 10:15 a.m.
Learn about volunteer opportunities with Parker Jewish Institute’s Willing Hands… Helpful Hearts at the Wednesday, October 8, Library tabling event.
The first Monday of the month Morning Book Club meets on Monday, October 6.
For the ‘littles,’ there’s a three-ses-
sion Gardening with Miss Rita program; Build It (K – 3rd grade) with the Long Island Children’s Museum; Storylab for Kids (grades 3 – 5); Storycraft Halloween craft (pre-K – 2nd grade); and Storytime (ages 2 ½ - preschool).
Plus, the ‘regulars’ are on October’s kiddie calendar, too: Play Hooray; Baby Start and Family Pre-School with A Time for Kids; and a Pom Pom Queen craft for grades 3 – 5).
Family programs feature The Planetarium Guy and Taco Stuffed Shells with Chefs of d’Future.
The Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting groups meet Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.; no registration necessary. The Library Board meets on Wednesday, October 8, at 7:30 p.m. As always, the meeting is open to the public.
One-to-one tech help with Joe for tablets, smartphones, laptops, Kindles and general questions is available for our Floral Park patrons by appointment only (floralparktechhelp@gmail.com).
The Library is closed on Monday, October 13, for Columbus Day.
For more information on dates and times, events registration and program details, visit the library website, floralparklibrary.org, call 516 326-6330, or visit us at 17 Caroline Place. All events and programs are subject to change and/or cancellation.
The Friends of the Floral Park Library offer “Blind Date with a Book” gifts for sale for varying age groups. Check out their inventory at the Circulation Desk. Call the Library (516 326-6330) to check days and times for the Book Nook. All sales of books, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles, bookmarks and more support the Friends of the Floral Park Library, a 501c3 organization.
Follow the Library on Facebook (floralparklibrary), X (fplibrary17), or Instagram (fplibrary 17, floralparkchildrens, fpplteens).
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thank you
To the Editor:
Thank you, Grazie, Danke schon, Mercie, Arigato, Buiochs, Shukran, Ziexie, Todah, and from all of today’s existing languages, our neighbors and volunteers involved with the Walk for the Poor are grateful for your giving. Food, shelter, clothing are needed year round. Many people donate to notfor-proft [501] [3] [c] charities at the end of the year for their tax deducible contributions. Please remember SVDP when you make your “end of the year” contributions.
In addition to financial help your prayers are gratefully appreciated by all involved. Prayer is talking with God or an object of worship. It includes listening, praise, thanksgiving, petition ,
and personal thoughts of the needs of the prayer. Everyone appreciates being remembered in a positive way. Your prayers for the endeavors of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society are needed and appreciated.
The Walk for the Poor is a yearly reminder that it is not just the volunteers of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society ,but the entire community, that is involved with helping one another through difficult times.
Our Lady of Victory Parish Outreach accepts non-perishable food everyday. There is a container outside the Outreach building and one in the the entrance to the church, donations can be left at a time convenient for the giver.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
The OLV St. Vincent de Paul Society
Fall Finale Car Show
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personalities.
Car owners of all years, makes, and models, from classics to customs to motorcycles, trikes, slingshots, and trucks, are welcome to compete in the
show’s judged categories. Pre-registration is $25 and day-of registration is $30. Gates open for registered vehicles at 7 a.m..
For registration, sponsorship opportunities, or additional information, visit townofhempsteadevents.com.
Locally Owned & Operated
Proudly run by a Garden City resident who truly cares about the community.
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Short wait times, hassle-free prescription refills.
Trusted Advice
Speak directly with a pharmacist who will answer your questions and guide your health decisions.
Not a Chain Pharmacy
Unlike CVS and other big box stores, we’re independent and focused on quality over quotas.
European-Inspired Style
A pharmacy with a boutique feel, bringing a touch of European charm to Garden City.
Exclusive Skincare & Wellness
Access to premium skincare lines and health products commonly found in France.
OLV Rosary Altar Society Harvest Fair
The Our Lady of Victory Rosary Altar Society will be holding its Harvest Fair on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be:
• Many excellent vendors
• Live music
• Barbecue food, baked goods
and an outdoor cafe
• A Costume Parade at noon, with special gifts from vendors
• An indoor Haunted Forest
• Raffle baskets
• Lots of fun!
Questions? Please email JaniceOLV123@gmail.com
FP Lions Club to meet Oct. 1
The Floral Park Lions Club will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, October 1, at 12:30 p.m. at Crabtrees Restaurant, 226 Jericho Tpke, Floral Park.
The speaker at the meeting will be Dawn Frey, founder of the Road for a Cure.
Meet the members, learn about service in the community, and enjoy a delicious lunch.
Each attendee covers the cost of their own meal. Guests welcome!
For information, please email FloralParkLionsClub@gmail.com
FP Junior Woman’s Club to meet
The next meeting of the Floral Park Junior Woman’s Club will be held on Thursday, October 9, at 7 p.m. at the Floral Park Recreation Center.
The Club is a group of active, community spirited women of all ages, interests and backgrounds. They are your friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances. They are wives, mothers and single women, professionals, educators and business owners who donate their time and talents to the betterment of children, neighbors, the community and the world.
The Junior Woman’s Club meets on the second Thursday of the month to conduct the business of the Club at the Floral Park Recreation Center.
Meetings consist of a special monthly program, discussions of upcoming events, any immediate needs of the Floral Park community and how we can be of assistance.
The Club gives away over $3,000 in scholarships annually to local students. It sponsors special community events such as a Spring & Fall Craft Fair and the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Junior Clubs are a critical part of The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC.org). The GFWC is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.
Hillcrest Civic Assn. to meet
The first meeting of Hillcrest Civic Association of Floral Park will be held on Thursday, September 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Floral Park Recreation Center.
All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
The Village trustees and Floral Park Police Department will speak about issues affecting the Village.
Floral Park Village Board Reports
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section until there is space for his/her car on the other side of the intersection. Not doing so will, not only block pedestrians from crossing safely and prevent traffic stopped at the green light from moving, it will incur a sizable fine and points on one’s driver’s license. Our Police will be continuing this important targeted operation.
In the area of enforcement, our Police were engaged in 714 incidents in August. Of this number, 241 were traffic stops, 24 were traffic accidents, 68 were aided cases also involving our ambulance service and Rescue Company, 52 suspicious person reports, 29 citizens needing assistance, and 6 welfare checks.
Throughout the month of August, our Police issued 177 traffic summonses. Several of the most frequent violations included failure to stop at stop signs (26); disobeying traffic control devices (6); and illegal stopping/standing/parking on a highway, in this case, Jericho Turnpike (11).
Our FPPD will continue its focus on parking enforcement, and a total of 1154 summonses were issued in August. These included expired parking meter summonses (397); overnight street parking between 3 AM and 5 AM violations (254); parking over the four hour limit (72); and
parking under the LIRR trestle without a permit (47).
During August, our FPPD Detectives followed up on reported crimes requiring further investigation. These included incidents of identity theft (unauthorized use of private property or records), and domestic incidents and court order enforcement. Two arrests were made in August, yielding a total of 31 year to date.
Following two horrific homicides in Bellerose, Queens last week, our Detectives communicated with the NYPD Detectives to get updates on the criminal investigation and the apprehension of the suspect, who was arrested last Wednesday in Manhattan.
The August Motor Carrier Safety Detail focused attention on the intersections of Jericho Turnpike at Tulip Avenue and Jericho Turnpike at Plainfield Avenue, as those intersections are two of the Village’s most accident prone locations. The Detail completed twelve truck inspections and issued 47 moving violations. One driver was placed out of service for a licensing violation and four trucks were put out of service for brake and load securement violations. One truck was towed from the inspection site. The Detail will now focus on truck inspections at other accident prone locations in the Village.
The Library
Thanks to all who participated in this past Saturday’s sunny Lawn and Book Nook Sales. Our vendors displayed a variety of interesting items to sell to our generous customers who came to support our Friends of the Library. At the end of the day, both sales totaled $700, to be used by our dedicated Friends for special Library programs and materials.
October’s coming attractions for adults will include An Introduction to AI (Artificial Intelligence). This event is being presented especially for Seniors who want to learn more about this technology. AI will take place on Thursday, October 2nd from 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM.
Our teens will be celebrating Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” dropping in a few weeks. At our Library’s listening party, our teens will decorate CDs and enjoy snacks. This memorable event will take place in the first floor community room on Friday, October 3rd from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM.
And, registration is ongoing for FPPL’s Urban Explorers bus trip to Chinatown and Little Italy. The bus departs from the Library on October 29th. Call the Library at 516-326-6330 for the exciting details.
During the month of October, FPPL will be sponsoring a drive to support the Great Giveback. The Great Giveback is
an annual event during which libraries in Nassau and Suffolk Counties unite to “give back” to the communities that support them. This year, Floral Park Library is sponsoring a drive to support the Ronald McDonald House by accepting donations of new children’s pajamas for children undergoing treatment at area hospitals. A donation bin will be located in our FPPL lobby. The Great Giveback will run from October 1st to October 31st. More important details about this special cause to follow.
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
This Saturday, September 20th, at 10:00 AM, join our businesses, Chambers of Commerce and Village Board as we cut the ribbon to officially welcome The Paddock Public House on Tulip Avenue. Co-owners Bill Barry (of Uptown Taco on Tulip) and Liam McGreevy proudly opened this popular pub earlier this year. All the best to The Paddock!
The Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce is in full planning mode. On Tuesday, September 23rd at 7:00 PM, the Chamber will enjoy a dinner meeting at Shintaro Asian Bistro. Come and join us to finalize plans for the October 4th Street Fair.
This year’s Covert Avenue Street Fair
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OPEN HOUSE
Floral Park Village Board Reports
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(Saturday, October 4th, 11 AM to 5:00 PM) has it all: our beloved Covert Avenue businesses, a big variety of vendors, bargains, food truck rally, live music, DJs, Kids’ Funzone, craft fair, face painting, inflatables, raffles, and more, so come on down to Floral Park and Stewart Manor!
Our Floral Park Chamber of Commerce promises to have its next great turnout at its Thursday evening, October 9th meeting at 6:00 PM at Trinity Restaurant on Jericho Turnpike. Check out the details and come to network with us: floralparkchamber.org
Trustee Frank Chiara Department of Public Works
As mentioned in my previous report, some of our Village roads will be receiving much needed repairs. The Department of Public Works (DPW) has scheduled the repairs on the following dates and times:
Saturday, 9/20: Milling on Vandewater Avenue, Miller Place, and Beech Street. (Roads will remain open to local traffic during milling)
Tuesday, 9/23: Paving on Vandewater Avenue, Miller Place, and Beech Street. (Full road closures during paving)
Saturday, 9/27: Milling and Paving on Lowell Avenue between Emerson Avenue and Barwick Street. (Full road closure during milling and paving)
Tuesday, 9/30: Milling on Florence
Street, Remsen Lane, and Roger Place. (Roads will be open to local traffic)
Wednesday, 10/1: Milling on Cunningham Avenue and Iris Avenue between Carnation Avenue and Clarence Street. (Roads will remain open to local traffic during milling)
Thursday, 10/2: Paving on Florence Street, Remsen Lane, and Roger Place. (Full road closures during paving)
Friday, 10/3: Paving on Cunningham Avenue and Iris Avenue between Carnation Avenue and Clarence Street. (Full road closures during paving)
All schedules are subject to change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances
Some of the road work will be performed when school is not in session to avoid any disruption to service for our schools.
The Highway Department has been actively maintaining Village infrastructure. All roads have been swept, and crews collected electronic waste throughout the Village. In addition, 20 locations were seeded and topsoil was applied where tree stumps had previously been removed, helping to restore green space and improve curb appeal.
The Parks Department has continued its seasonal maintenance work across Village properties. All parks and building lawns were mowed and maintained, while
bushes were trimmed at both Village Hall and Heritage Park. Parks crews also addressed property maintenance violations by cutting overgrown grass at designated locations. Additionally, several broken sprinklers in the parks were repaired.
The Maintenance Department ensured all Village buildings were thoroughly cleaned. Crews also set up for the September 11th ceremony held on the Village Hall lawn, which was a beautiful and respectful tribute—thank you to all involved. The Fire Headquarters building was also cleaned as part of routine upkeep.
Sanitation crews collected a total of 50 tons of household waste, along with 10 tons of paper, 4 tons of plastics, and 15 tons of bulk rubbish.
Conservation Society
Recently, Ann Moynagh of the Conservation Society constructed a mini fairyland to the right of the garden entrance. It’s truly a special addition, enhancing the beauty of the gardens. This is just one more feature that demonstrates the dedication and hard work of volunteers like Ann, who help make the gardens a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. A heartfelt thank you to Ann and all of our volunteers for the time and effort they put into maintaining the gardens.
William Kelleher, a Life Boy Scout, is working toward his Eagle Scout rank. For his Eagle Scout project, he will be beautifying the garden and the Fountain of Remembrance at Centennial Gardens. To help fund his project, William will be hosting a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s on Sunday, September 21, 2025. The last seating will be at 9:30 AM. All are welcome to attend and support William in this worthwhile endeavor.
I wanted to remind everyone that the next weed-out event at Centennial Gardens will be on Saturday, October 6th, at 9:00 AM. Volunteers are always welcome!
4VS
This week on Four Village Studios, viewers can tune in for insightful local programming. At 9:00 PM, catch The South Floral Park Mayor’s Quarterly with the Honorable Nyakya T. Brown, featuring special guests SFPFD Chief Kevin Bellamy and Trustee Randy Jacques, who will provide “The Autumn Update” on key developments in the community. Immediately following, at 9:30 PM, tune in to The Floral Park Mayor’s Report with the Honorable Kevin M. Fitzgerald. This episode will feature an informative segment on “The Energy Performance Contract: An Overview”, offering a deeper understanding of the village’s energy efficiency initiatives.
For details on other programs, visit the 4VS website at www.4vs.org.
Trustee Jennifer Stewart
MTA/LIRR
The LIRR strike has been averted for now. A cooling-off period has begun, extending into 2026. For the latest updates, please visit the MTA’s website and social media pages.
Locally, work continues along Atlantic Avenue as the MTA/LIRR completes the final touches on the signal shed. Please use caution when traveling along Atlantic Avenue between Rose and Carnation Avenues, and expect closures when heavy machinery is in use.
Cultural Arts Committee
The Village is planning a fireworks extravaganza for June 20, 2026, at the Recreation Center. We’re excited to kick off the summer and celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday with a bang! Fire
Department
Our Village is proud to welcome volunteer Alexa Benvenuto to the ranks of our Fire Department volunteers. As you heard earlier this evening, we also approved 77 members for the 2024 Fire Service Award Program. We are incredibly proud of our Floral Park Fire Department.
In the past two weeks, I had two amazing opportunities as Fire Commissioner. First, I spent a few hours with the Floral Park Fire Department at the Nassau County Fire School in Bethpage. This fire academy is ranked among the top five in the nation, and it’s easy to see why. There are countless scenarios for firefighters to train on, including an LIRR train, a multistory building, cars, trucks, simulated houses, and even a two-level garden apartment complex—where I watched our brave men and women work tirelessly to extinguish a fire. That was just the first fire they put out.
The incredible men and women of the Floral Park Fire Department drive 45 minutes to fire school, work hard for about 3 hours, then drive the fire trucks back to Floral Park and clean the equipment. Altogether, they spend about 5 hours on a Monday evening training to be fully prepared to fight any type of fire in the Village. They are truly angels among us.
On that note, the Fire Department is extremely grateful to all residents who responded to their mailing in support of the FPFD. If you haven’t yet, please watch for the second mailing and be as generous as your means allow.
The second amazing opportunity I had this past week was to honor Firefighters Peter Bilardello and Paul Szymanski as they celebrated 50 years of service to the Floral Park Fire Department. My colleagues on the Board and I had the privilege of recognizing this incredible milestone over the weekend.
Both Paul and Peter are active members of Engine 3, located on Atlantic Avenue. Paul Szymanski followed in the footsteps of his uncle Stanley and his father
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From Despair to Hope: Conquering Peripheral Neuropathy with Westbury Acupuncture
“It’s as though I’m stepping from razor blade to razor blade.”
“It feels like my feet are under attack by fire ants.”
“Like I’m walking on wet paint with rolled up socks.”
And you’re in this kind of pain all the time.
“It’s relentless, keeping you up at night and preventing you from doing even the most mundane tasks. Things that I used to take for granted, like wearing shoes and going grocery shopping. Two of my three children were getting married last year and I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to attend their weddings,” shares Rose W. Rose was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in 2015, a degenerative condition affecting almost 5% of people over the age of 55.
“My doctor sat me down and said, ‘Rose I’m so sorry to tell you this, but you have peripheral neuropathy. I’m going to prescribe you gabapentin to manage the discomfort but overall, neuropathy is untreatable.’ My first thought was, ‘we can cure cancer but you can’t stop my feet from hurting?’ It felt like a cruel joke.”
While neuropathy can be caused by a number of things
including diabetes and chemotherapy, over 23% of neuropathy cases are classified as idiopathic. In layman's terms, the cause is unknown. This was the case with Rose. “Basically every question I had was met with an ‘I don’t know.’ It was depressing to say the least.”
Eventually, Rose was forced to quit her job because the numbness had started to set in and prevented her from driving.
Fortunately for Rose, she came across an article in the local newspaper featuring Jae Won Kim L.Ac and his innovative approach to treating peripheral neuropathy. “At first, I thought it had to be a sham. After so many specialists told me there was no hope, here was this acupuncturist in the
article claiming a 90% success rate in treating neuropathy! I just had to call, and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am that I did.”
Jae Won Kim, founder of Westbury Acupuncture, says that cases like Rose’s are incredibly common. “Almost all of my neuropathy patients have been told at one point or another that there is no hope. I like to think I specialize in offering hope.”
To quote the New York Times, “Chinese medicine proves itself where Western medicine fails.”
“Acupuncture has been treating complicated, chronic conditions like neuropathy for thousands of years,” shares Jae Won. “I start with a foundation based on this time-tested science and my clinical experience. I then
tailor treatments based on a number of factors including the severity of your neuropathy, how long you’ve had it, whether or not there are any underlying factors, things of that nature. It’s because of these personalized treatment programs that we’re seeing such incredible results!”
Four months after treatment, Rose is back at work and thriving. “Being back at work isn’t even the most exciting part,” exclaims “Not only was I able to attend my son’s wedding, but I could walk down the aisle! It was the most magical moment and I have Jae Won to thank for it. To think, I might’ve missed that.” Rose held back tears.
If you or someone you love is suffering with chronic pain that presents as burning, tingling, or ‘pins and needles,’ or you’ve recently been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy, it’s important to know that there are options.
There is hope. Call (516) 500-8281 to schedule an initial consultation or visit WestburyAcupuncture.com to read more incredible success stories.
Unexpected Delights in Hanoi on Discovery Bicycle Tours’ 12-Day Vietnam Trip
BY KAREN RUBIN
Discovery Bicycle Tours’ Biking Vietnam tour is designed along the best principles of travel: to explore, discover, learn, make connections, be experiential, meaningful and revelatory, and do it in a way that maximizes the benefit and minimizing the negative impacts of tourism.
Of the 12 days we spend in Vietnam, traveling from north, to central, to south (flying between regions), we bike on six of them. That might seem odd for a biking tour, but you don’t travel 30 hours to Vietnam and miss the important highlights, like Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum in Hanoi; taking a traditional row boat through the caves of Ninh Binh; cruising overnight on the Ha Long Bay; discovering the Citadel and Imperial City of Hue; walking the colorful markets and enjoying the nightlife of Hoi An; or touring the War Remnants Museum and the historic Ben Thanh Market of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) because you are obsessive about biking. We get to do all of these, and also bike through villages, stopping to learn about traditional crafts, and bike amid rice paddies to learn about Vietnam’s 4000-year old wet rice culture and ancestor worship.
Riding in the bus between destinations lets us see the countryside (and I have set myself a challenge to get photos of people working in the fields and four people riding a motor scooter); the way the homes are laid out; the ancestral tombs in the fields; the massive, new industrial parks under construction. You see progress
unfolding at the speed of the bus, all the more impressive when you realize what a young country Vietnam is having proclaimed independence in 1945 but only “reunified” in 1975.
The essence of this tour is about familiarizing us with the Vietnamese people (who, we learn, are a mosaic of 54 different tribes), the rich cultural heritage and today’s achievements in overcoming literally millennia of conflict, war, oppression, colonialism. When we bike, hike or walk, we barely have to think a question, let along ask it, before our guide, Nguyen Hong Phong, stops and answers. “This is normal for me, curious for you,” he tells us at the outset, as we sit for tea in the Apricot Hotel on our first afternoon. “When you are curious, just ask,” he adds.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary since the Fall of Saigon that so abruptly ended an interminable war (and reunification as an independent country).)
Still, the past is inescapable: in Hanoi when we visit Ho Chi Minh’s 1968 residence, built like a camouflaged bunker with escape tunnels and learn they moved his body regularly when he died in 1969; when we visit the John McCain Monument where the American hero’s plane went down and he was captured; when we see the bullet holes in the Citadel in Hue and are shown photos of fighting that took place on the very spot where we stand; and when we visit My Son, a sacred historic site outside of Saigon, and learn that the Vietnamese appealed to President
Nixon to stop bombing. I think Americans who visit Vietnam have an obligation to see what was done in our name, especially because it is so important to learn from history so not to make the same mistakes and not be duped by an administration determined to go to war for its own political agenda.
I frankly didn’t know how I would react coming to Vietnam – I am the generation that lived through the Vietnam War (known here as “The American War”), or how Americans would be received. My questions are soon answered - the Vietnamese warmly welcome us Americans (and French and Chinese and a list of nationalities that have oppressed Vietnam). Vietnam is nothing like what I expected – in a good way. It’s in this capacity that one of the important attributes of travel come to fore: we travelers are ambassadors, promoting mutual understanding and connection.
In Vietnam today, you can see the impact of peace, free markets, free enterprise have to achieve prosperity – a lesson to all those who are inciting conflict and war. You see the benefits of trade and globalization – a lesson for those who would disrupt and unravel alliances and build barriers instead of bridges.
Old Hanoi
Since our group is first meeting together at 1 pm for a walking tour, I have the morning to myself to explore. I walk across the street from our luxury hotel, The Apricot, to the park that rings the small, picturesque lake.
We are here during the monthSeptember 26, 2025
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GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....
Unexpected Delights in Hanoi on Discovery Bicycle Tours’ 12-Day Vietnam Trip
Continued from previous page
long Lunar New Year celebration, made even more festive because of the 50th anniversary of reunification – everywhere that is possible has decorations reminiscent of how we celebrate Christmas. People dress in their formal, traditional costumes and pose for photos taken by professional photographers. People travel on holiday. There is a festive atmosphere everywhere.
There are political symbols, posters, flags and such but no more than the giant advertising billboards and the Starbucks, KFCs, McDonalds, Burger Kings. I am flabbergasted at the proliferation of motorscooters and the paucity of bicycles. Crossing any street takes fortitude and a measure of fatalism, but where there are traffic signals, the systems are sophisticated and effective. Also, cell phones are ubiquitous.
I head into the Old Quarter, where I am intrigued at the “old propaganda posters” shops, the coffee shops (who knew Vietnam was such a major producer and exporter of coffee?), and massage parlors as common as nail salons at home.
At the Propaganda Poster Shop, I happen to see many postcards for Train Street which suggests it is an important site and inspires me to go in search of this place.
After getting lost (my WiFi isn’t working and I can’t figure out the map) and stopping numerous people to point me in the right direction, I look up and am drawn to colorful lanterns, walk up a staircase and find myself quite literally on the train tracks. Train Street!
People have set themselves at café tables and chairs and are even hanging out on the tracks taking photos. It is all the more amazing because it turns out it is just 5 minutes before the train is due (and I am so lucky because only a few trains come through a day). With 5 min-
utes to go, there is even a baby playing on the track!
I am standing alongside the track and a lady yells at me to sit down in one of the plastic chairs. As the train comes tearing through at what seems a very fast speed, it is so close that had I held out my hand, it would have been taken off. I reflexively suck in my breath and try to make myself as small as possible until it passes. Unbelievably thrilling.
I feel proud of myself for being able to find my way back to the hotel by 1 pm in time to meet our Discovery Bicycle group for our first activity together, a walking tour of the Old District. I have already been traveling with 8 of the group for Discovery Bicycle’s four-day Bike Cambodia pre-tour and now we meet the other 10.
Phong leads us to the St. John Cathedral, the oldest church in Hanoi. Built on the site of the biggest, most sacred Buddhist pagodas of the Ly-Tran Dynasties, the cathedral was constructed at the end of the 18th century of wood, then reconstructed with baked clay in 1884-1888. Phong tells us that Catholics are a minority; the biggest religion in Vietnam, he says, is “triple religion” –a mix of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism (ancestor worship).We will see evidence of this everywhere we go.
Phong volunteers that the Communist government “allows free religious worship and free press” (though I question what he means by “free press”), then adds that protest against the Communist Party is not allowed; nor is there an opposition candidate in elections. Vietnam has been a one-party government since 1954, but in 1986 introduced new freedom in commerce and open markets.
“We have more freedom than in China. They block media there, here they block the BBC but we can get CNN.” Whatever they block, he says, people get curious and have their ways
NUTRITION NEWS
of accessing.
“Society is improving for ordinary people,” he says. “Since 1988, we are living in peace. We feel more freedom, a peaceful country. We are now friends with Russia, Ukraine, the European Union. The USA is one of seven strongest friends. Peace is good for people, good for the country. [Tourists want to] come to a peaceful country.”
We walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter where the name of the street may well describe what enterprises take place there, established generations ago by the people who resettled in the city: Tin Street, Silver Street, Basket Street, Copper Street.
We return at 3 pm for an elaborate tea at the Apricot Hotel when we have our introduction and orientation to our 12-day tour (with biking!) with Phong as our lead guide. Indeed, we will go first thing the next morning to get sized for our rental bikes which we will use for five of the days (the driver and bike mechanic who travels will us will travel 2 ½ days to Hue, when we fly), and will pick up a different bike in Ho Chi Minh City (way too far to drive and return).
I realize that we have just enough time to see the 5:15 pm traditional Water Puppet Theater cultural show just across the street from the hotel, before we meet again to go to dinner.
Most of our group from the four-day Cambodia pre-tour are game and we actually purchase the last tickets for this immensely popular program. The show is a cultural treasure that utilizes this traditional art form, with musicians performing with traditional musical instruments and song, fables and folk stories enacted by these marvelous puppeteers (yes, the puppets are in a pool of water!).
Captions and notes about the theater and the scenes are flashed on the walls beside the stage. Vietnam water puppetry, I learn, was born from the
Mediterranean Diet for Weight Loss
BY CHARLYN FARGO
The Mediterranean diet may just be the most studied diet pattern we know. It consistently rates as a top diet in U.S. News and World Report’s annual review.
The Mediterranean diet, which is actually a meal pattern, was developed in the 1950s and 1960s when a few researchers noticed the significantly lower prevalence of heart disease in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. They attributed the low prevalence of heart disease to the overall lifestyle observed and particularly the pattern of foods eaten. Meals centered around vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, eggs, seafood and less red meat.
Over the past two decades, research has found the Mediterranean diet may
help manage diabetes, protect against memory loss and reduce the risk for developing certain cancers.
Now a just-released study finds that the Mediterranean diet pattern may help those who lose weight keep that weight off.
Called the MedWeight study, researchers found that adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle pattern was associated with favorable weight loss outcomes. The study was published in Science journal.
Researchers examined the relationship between lifestyle patterns and weight loss outcomes among those who kept their weight off and those who regained weight they lost. Some 470 adults were analyzed (62% were women) with a history of overweight or obesity and significant weight loss in the year prior to the study. Partic-
rice civilization in the Red River Delta, so agriculture is vividly depicted by the puppets - farmers and familiar images such as riding buffalo, plowing, harrowing, transplanting rice, slapping water, harvesting. (Later, when we bike among the rice paddies, we will see these exact scenes).
There are fire effects and of course water effects and amazing choreography – you actually cannot figure out how they coordinate so well (and underwater!) – and then the puppeteers appear for their curtain call, up to their waist in water.
The show finishes just in time for us to walk together to dinner in a charming restaurant in the Old District.
A note on the table about the apple cider makes us giggle: “Cider drinkers get more refreshment and excitement while still keeping their sanity. Especially suitable for women.”
Our lunches and dinners at restaurants are typically pre-ordered and served family style, with multiple courses so that we typically have chicken, beef, seafood, vegetable, rice, soup dishes, fruit – always with more than enough to satisfy even American appetites, and to get a really excellent idea of the cuisine.
We walk back to the Apricot Hotel through the night markets, brightly and colorfully lit.
Discovery Bicycle Tours, 2520 W. Woodstock Rd., Woodstock, VT 05091, 800-257-2226, 802- 457-3553, info@discoverybicycletours.com, www.discoverybicycletours.com.
Next: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ninh Binh Bird Sanctuary
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ipants were classified as maintainers or regainers and were asked to fill in a series of questionnaires on dietary intake and eating behaviors, physical activity and sleep. The participants were rated using a Mediterranean Lifestyle Index.
The study found that those who scored the highest in the Mediterranean Lifestyle Index had 28% higher odds for maintaining their weight loss.
The researchers added that even modest shifts toward healthier living may contribute to long-term weight loss.
Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the current president of the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
Book clubs have endless possibilities
Going to my book club meetings is often a breath of fresh air. I say that because I never know what types of discussions will come up or what comments people will make. People end up talking about all sorts of things - some on point and others not directly on the subject - but that’s okay.
Book clubs are good places for people to talk about whatever is on their mind - as long as they don’t go too far off course. At my last book club meeting we discussed a novel called Family Ties by Danielle Steel. The book, which came out in 2010, is a fiction story about Annie Ferguson, a successful Manhattan architect whose life is turned upside down when she suddenly becomes a mother to her young nephew and two nieces.
Annie has a boyfriend and a new apartment plus a great job so when she got the phone call that her sister and brother-in-law had died in a plane crash she was stunned. When the tragedy happened, Annie didn’t hesitate to take in her sister’s kids - a troubled teenager, a quiet middle child and a young baby.
The question she had was how would she manage everything? Lots of questions came up at my recent book club discussion.
The moderator of my book club at the public library kicked off the discussion by saying that in this book Danielle Steel presented a difficult situation. What would each one of us do? How would we pick up the pieces after such a tragedy in the family?
The one man in my group of about 25 people named Jack said he wondered how he’d handle a curveball like that. Life sure has its challenges but this was a tough one. Years ago he’d been named godfather of his niece by his sister and brother-in-law so at her baptism and on many other days he wondered what he would do if a similar situation came up.
Jack said he would rise to the occasion and take care of his niece but what exactly would that mean? He wasn’t married so there wasn’t another adult in the house to help handle things.
In the example posited in Family Ties, would Jack quit his job to care for such young children? Would he keep his job but set up a schedule to manage the events and routines of daily life? In Family Ties there’s a baby so the three kids weren’t ready to fly the nest, they would need lots of attention. You never really know until the situation is right in front of you, Jack said, and others agreed.
Usually the tone of the book club I attend is light and airy. Most of us have read so many books over the course of our lifetimes that we definitely have
our likes, dislikes and feel indifferent about other books. So when we look at the list for the upcoming calendar year, we smile, we frown or we shrug.
Fellow member Denise mentioned that sometimes good books are made into movies and although Danielle Steel’s novel Family Ties wasn’t, Once in a Lifetime was. That book was published in 1982 and the TV movie came out in 1994.
The fictional story is about NYCbased author Daphne Fields whose books are very popular around the world but people don’t know much about Daphne the person. She had a perfect life married to Jeffrey but tragedy strikes her family and things are forever changed.
Denise said the movie was a bit of a soap opera with all of its ups, downs and romantic twists. We laughed at the way Denise put it but she was right in saying that many times great movies do come from great novels.
Good examples are The Godfather which came out in 1972 - “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,”Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, Forrest Gump and Harry Potter. The list could go on and on but you get the idea. I like The Great Gatsby but everyone has their favorites.
Danielle Steel is one of many authors we chose to discuss at my book club recently. We have a range of mysteries, non-fiction books, historical romances and many other fiction books to talk about. And inevitably, as we discuss one book someone mentions another book that will pique others’ interest.
I mentioned Mary Higgins Clark who wrote so many good fiction stories. She started writing stories at her kitchen table at 5 a.m. - before getting her kids off to school and going to a full-time job writing radio scripts. Clark was widowed in 1964 so she wanted to sell some stories and eventually become the novelist she dreamed of being.
In 1975 Mary Higgins Clark’s suspense novel called Where Are the Children? hit bookstores and it became an instant hit. I mentioned that aside about Mary Higgins Clark then we
got back to discussing Danielle Steel’s Family Ties. We touched on so many of the other novels Steel has published since 1973 when her debut novel titled Going Home was published.
Some book club members prefer reading Danielle Steel and others prefer Mary Higgins Clark. I like reading both authors.
What’s great about book clubs is
they give book lovers the chance to get together in community-based buildings or in people’s homes to discuss books - old ones and the latest best-selling books. People usually recommend books and a list is compiled by the moderator for a calendar year at a time. My book club members and I are gathering ideas for 2026. Next year we will start jotting down good ideas to discuss in 2027.
All thoughts will be mentioned and eventually the list will be whittled down to 12 books. My book club at the public library meets even during the summer months. If people are away on vacation they just pick up again with the group in September or whenever they return home.
Whether people are retired or working, I think book clubs are great for getting out and meeting people you may know or haven’t met yet. I say trying new clubs is a breath of fresh air because sometimes you end up having fun when you least expect it.
Why Widows Can’t File for Benefits Online
BY TOM MARGENAU
Q: My husband died several months ago. I’m 64. I’m getting my own retirement benefits, and he was getting his own benefits. His Social Security check was more than mine, so I think I am due widow’s benefits. When I tried to file a claim online, I wasn’t allowed to. I was told I need to make an appointment to file a claim in person. What’s going on? Is the government so biased and backwards that they think a woman can’t use a computer to file for benefits? Can you explain this?
A: Yes, I can explain what’s going on. But first, I must comment on your assumptions about government bias. I am always surprised, and frankly a little disappointed, that people just automatically assume the worst about the services they get from the government in general, and in your case, the Social Security Administration in particular.
There is a very good reason why widows’ claims cannot be filed online. It has nothing to do with bias or backward thinking. It has everything to do with making sure you understand your options and make the best choice you can about when to start your widow’s benefits. And those options just can’t be explained to you by a computer. You need to talk to a human being and get the kind of help personalized to your own situation. (Perhaps advances in Artificial Intelligence will someday negate the need for a personal interview. But for now, you’ll need to talk to a real person.)
In your case, this person should explain that you would have two options. You could file for widow’s benefits now. But those benefits would be reduced because you have not reached your full retirement age. Or, if you think you could live on your own retirement benefit for a couple more years, then you could delay filing for widow’s benefits until your FRA and get a full unreduced widow’s benefit.
These options are open to you because something called the “deemed filing rule” doesn’t apply to widows. That rule generally says that when you file for one Social Security benefit, you are “deemed” to be filing for all other benefits you might be due at the same time. In other words, that rule would normally say that because you are already getting your own retirement benefits, as soon as your husband dies, you are deemed to (essentially forced to) file for widow’s benefits right away. But again, that rule does not apply to widows.
I will spend the rest of this column giving examples of the kinds of choices other widows might have when it comes to Social Security.
Mary is 61 years old when her husband dies. Although she is now retired, she has worked much of her life. Her own full retirement age benefit is projected to be $1,850. Her husband’s full rate is $2,000. Mary could file for reduced widow’s benefits. At age 61, she would be due roughly 77% of her husband’s benefit, or $1,540 per month. She could receive that until age 67,
when she could switch to 100% of her benefit, or $1,850. Or she could wait until age 70 to make the change, at which point she would get 128% of her retirement rate, or about $2,368.
And just to make it clear, Mary would have another option. If she waits until she is 62 years old, she could file for reduced retirement benefits first. She would get 70% of her $1,850 benefit, or $1,295. Then at age 67, she could switch to 100% widow’s benefits, or $2,000 monthly. (Unlike the retirement program, there is no bonus paid to widows if they delay filing beyond full retirement age.)
Here is another example. Many working women are still at their jobs into their 60s and even beyond. Let’s look at Ann. She is 64 and still working full-time. Her husband died several years ago. When he died, she filed for and received the little $255 one-time death benefit, but she wasn’t due any monthly widow’s benefits because she was still working. Let’s say her own full retirement benefit would be $2,200. Her husband’s full benefit would have been $2,500. Once Ann reaches age 67, her earnings no longer affect her Social Security eligibility. So, at that point, Ann should file for widow’s benefits. She would get $2,500 per month. Then, when she turns 70, she could switch to 128 percent of her retirement rate, or about $2,816.
All of these switching back and forth between benefit rules apply to women who become widows in their 60s or earlier. But the majority of women (and most of those reading this column) become widows later in life -- in their 70s, 80s and beyond. Women who become widows at those ages don’t have to worry about any of the options discussed today. When their husband dies, they will simply be switched to widow’s benefits on his record -- assuming he was getting higher benefits. Let’s look at more examples.
Lucia was 81 years old when her 84-year-old husband, Alfredo, died. He was getting $2,150 per month and she was getting $1,640. Now that Alfredo is gone, she will keep getting her own $1,640, and then she will get an additional $510 in widow’s benefits to take her up to Alfredo’s $2,150 level. Lucia would have to file a claim for widow’s benefits -- and she would have to do it via phone by calling SSA at 800-772-1213. Or if she prefers, she could call the same number and make an appointment to file a widow’s claim in person at her local Social Security office. By the way, Lucia would have to provide a certified copy of her marriage certificate as well as the death certificate as part of the application process.
Now let’s look at another 81-year-old widow -- Barbara. When her husband Frank died, she was automatically converted to widow’s benefits once she called SSA to report the death and supplied them with proof of death. Why is that? Because Barbara was getting only a dependent wife’s benefit on Frank’s account before he died. In other words, she didn’t have
her own Social Security account. Because she has no claim of her own, and because she would have already had to supply a marriage certificate when she first applied for spousal benefits many years ago, the SSA already has all the information they would need to know she is eligible for widow’s benefits, so they simply push a few buttons and the conversion from wife’s to widow’s benefits is complete.
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
Autocratic rule and its impact on real estate in China, Russia
Dear subscribers and readers of my column. I owe you an apology for not providing this information last week as promised, so please forgive me!
When examining global real estate markets, political systems play an outsized role in shaping property ownership, investment, and market behavior. In autocratic nations like China and Russia, real estate is not just an economic asset but also a tool for government control, political leverage, and wealth preservation. Both countries demonstrate how autocracy distorts market forces, limits private ownership rights, and ties property directly to state power.
China: Growth Engine Under State Control
1. No True Private Land Ownership
In China, land is ultimately owned by the state. Individuals and businesses only acquire long-term land-use rights — typically 70 years for residential properties. This arrangement leaves uncertainty about the renewal process and reinforces the government’s ultimate authority over real estate.
2. Real Estate as a Government Revenue Stream
Local governments rely heavily on land sales for funding, incentivizing aggressive development. This has produced large-scale urban expansion but also speculative excess, such as ghost cities and vast unused infrastructure.
3. State Intervention and Market Distortions
The Chinese state frequently intervenes in real estate, applying restrictions on purchases, mortgage lending, and pricing whenever the market overheats. Conversely, it pumps stimulus into the sector during downturns. The result is a market highly sensitive to policy shifts rather than consumer demand alone.
4. Current Conditions
In 2025, China faces a real estate slowdown, following crises involving major developers like Evergrande and Country Garden. Autocratic governance allows for massive state
interventions, including forced mergers and credit injections. Yet, the lack of transparency, weak legal protections, and reliance on state management undermine investor confidence.
Russia: Real Estate and Political Power
1. Property Rights with Caveats
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
Unlike China, Russia technically permits private land ownership. However, property rights remain insecure under an autocratic system. Businesses or individuals can see assets seized or invalidated if they lose favor with political elites.
2. Oligarchic Concentration of Wealth
Much of Russia’s luxury and commercial real estate is concentrated in the hands of oligarchs closely tied to the Kremlin. Property often functions as a reward for loyalty, a safe haven for wealth, or a tool of political leverage.
3. Foreign Investment Barriers
Sanctions, corruption, and weak rule of law discourage foreign investors. Real estate deals with foreign entities are subject to government approval and often blocked if politically inconvenient. The result is an insular, politically charged market.
4. Current Conditions
The war in Ukraine and ongoing Western sanctions have further suppressed demand, especially from abroad. Domestic markets continue to function, supported by government spending, but affordability erodes under inflation and a weakened ruble. Unlike China’s growth-focused strategy, Russia’s market is shaped more by geopolitics and elite patronage.
Similarities Between China and Russia
•Weak Legal Protections: Investors cannot rely on independent courts to safeguard property rights.
•State Dominance: The government uses real estate as an economic lever or
political tool.
•Distorted Market Forces: Prices, supply, and demand respond less to consumer behavior than to political agendas.
Key Differences
•China views real estate as a central economic growth engine, using policy levers to manage cycles of boom and slowdown.
•Russia treats real estate as a vehicle for elite wealth preservation and geopolitical maneuvering, rather than mass economic expansion.
Conclusion
Autocratic rule in both China and Russia ensures that real estate markets are less about free exchange and more about political and state control. For ordinary citizens, this means uncertainty over ownership rights, vulnerability to policy swings, and limited protection under the law. For investors, it means exposure to unpredictable risks dictated not by market logic, but by the will of the state.
In democracies, real estate tends to reflect consumer demand, supply constraints, and market fundamentals. In autocracies, however, property ownership and investment are inseparable from politics. China and Russia illustrate how autocratic governance transforms real estate from a traditional economic sector into an extension of state power.
Realizing the way China and Russia treat and control their real estate not through individual ownership but by government control; is this where we are heading in the U.S? If so this will only make the rich get richer, eliminate what we have left of the middle class and essentially create a larger segment of our population to become even poorer and be controlled by those who will have the power!
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)
EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE
7 Smart Reasons to Use Vinegar in Laundry
BY MARY HUNT
Using inexpensive distilled white vinegar in the laundry is smart because it will whiten, brighten, reduce odor and soften clothes without harsh chemicals.
IT’S CHEAP
Plain distilled white 5% vinegar runs around 3.5 cents per ounce in the typical supermarket when purchased by the gallon, and even cheaper when you can find it at the dollar store.
Name-brand liquid fabric softeners come in at about 10 cents per ounce -nearly three times the cost. As an alternative to liquid softeners, dryer sheets are a cheaper way to ruin your clothes and linens. On average, they’re about 5 cents per sheet.
IT’S COLORLESS
When buying vinegar to use in the laundry, choose distilled white vinegar with 5% acidity. It contains no synthetic color and no natural plant dyes that can stain clothes.
IT SOFTENS
Plain white distilled vinegar with 5% acidity is a natural fabric softener. The acid helps remove detergent and soil that is left clinging to fabric fibers, which is what allows clothes and linens to come out feeling soft and clean.
Commercial softeners work just the opposite. They are designed to coat fibers, leaving behind their scented residue, which can build up over time, rendering those items nonabsorbent, dingy
gray and anything but soft.
Adding 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse, on the other hand, will soften fabrics and leave no residue at all. Pour it into the washer reservoir marked for laundry softener. A light scent can be added, if you want, with a few drops of lavender oil. However, once dry, your laundry will not smell like vinegar.
IT IS SAFE TO USE
Distilled white vinegar is safe to use in both standard and high-efficiency washers. At 5% acidity, it is 95% water, which makes it mildly acidic.
Once added to the washer, food-grade vinegar becomes even more diluted when mixed with gallons of rinse water in the typical machine.
Vinegar in the laundry is not only safe in septic tanks but is also beneficial to that type of system and to the environment as well.
IT WHITENS AND BRIGHTENS
The acetic acid in distilled white vinegar will not harm washable fabrics because it is so mild but also strong enough to dissolve the alkalis left by soap and detergent.
Adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the final rinse will result in brighter, clearer colors. Add the distilled white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser, or add it manually at the beginning of the rinse cycle, if your washer gives you that option.
IT REDUCES ODOR
Wet towels left sitting in a hamper or forgotten in the washer can produce a
sour, moldy smell. To get rid of that problem and to get those towels smelling nice and fresh, do this:
Fill the washer with hot water. Add two cups of distilled white vinegar and run a complete wash cycle with no detergent. Run a second complete cycle with detergent added.
This works well for minor situations and small loads. For more serious situations, you’ll want to use this more aggressive treatment.
IT RELEASES LINT AND PET HAIR
Just 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle will help prevent lint and pet hair from clinging to clothes. The vinegar will help the fabric fibers relax and “release” the hair. For the same rea-
son, it helps get rid of the excessive lint if you accidentally wash something dark with something that produces lint, such as towels.
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
Secrets to No-Fail Tender, Juicy White Meat Chicken
BY MARY HUNT
They’re convenient and, we’re told, more healthy. But there are few things quite as boring or more difficult to prepare well than boneless skinless chicken breasts (BSCBs). Here’s the problem: Chicken skin helps keep the chicken moist, and the bones add flavor.
Remove both and what do you have? The potential for dry, tasteless, tough chicken. But not to worry. Here are two foolproof methods to prepare BSCBs so they come out tender every time -- provided you follow these instructions exactly.
POACHED
This will be the method of choice if you are preparing BSCBs for chicken salad or other recipes where you want perfectly prepared tender and moist pure white chicken. Place chicken breasts in a wide, shallow pan that has a lid, and add enough chicken broth (or a combination of chicken broth and water) to completely cover the chicken by an inch or so.
Over medium heat and without covering the pan, bring the liquid in the pan to a simmer. With a large spoon, move the chicken breasts around a bit to be sure each is completely surrounded by liquid.
When the liquid just begins to boil, cover the pan, and immediately turn off the heat. Allow the pan to stand undisturbed for 45 minutes. Do. Not. Peek.
Remove the chicken from the liquid (broth may be strained and frozen for future use).
Note: You can use this method for chicken with skin and bones, both of which should be removed and discarded at this point in the process.
The chicken will then be fully cooked and moist throughout. It may be used immediately or stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for about three days and used in any recipe -- shredded, cut in chunks or any way you desire.
SAUTEED
This method of cooking BSCBs will result
in beautifully cooked, flavorful meat that is lightly golden in color.
Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. You do not want them to be too thin -- simply uniform in thickness. Mix 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper with 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. Quickly dredge the chicken breasts in the flour so they are just lightly dusted with flour. Heat a saute pan that has a lid over medium-high heat. When it is quite hot, add 3 tablespoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons butter. Once melted, swirl the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Reduce heat to medium. Add the chicken
breasts. Cook for about one minute to help them get a little golden on one side -- not long enough to actually sear or saute, only to heat them. Carefully turn over each chicken breast.
Reduce heat to low. Apply the lid. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and walk away. Do not lift the lid; do not peek.
After 10 minutes, turn off the heat. Still, do not peek! Reset the timer for 10 minutes, and leave the chicken breasts in the pan. Again, do not lift the lid, and I repeat, do not peek. When the second 10 minutes are up, take the lid off and behold the wonder: soft, tender, juicy chicken breasts. Make sure there is no pink in the middle, especially if the breasts are thick. If you want to be absolutely sure your chicken is cooked well, use an instant-read thermometer to check (the chicken should be at least 165 F). Slice, serve and enjoy!
Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https:// www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of September 28October 4, 2025
One of my favorite times of year has arrived. The sweltering heat is behind us, and I can get out more frequently to explore our beautiful desert, as well as enjoy the beginning of the college and NFL football seasons, and the Major League Baseball playoffs.
And, of course, spend comfortable nights outdoors among the stars.
The evening sky at this time of year displays the best of both the summer and winter skies. The Milky Way continues to stream from northeast to southwest, while the eastern sky is beginning to fill with the “new” stars of autumn.
Saturn now shines at its brightest, rising over the eastern horizon shortly after sunset. It’s the brightest “star” in that direction, so it will be key to helping us find a couple of star groupings.
If you have a pretty dark sky, you’ll find just above Saturn a “circlet” of seven faint stars that’s pretty cool to see. This asterism is part of the constellation Pisces, the fishes, and represents the westernmost of the two fishes that supposedly are tied together by a rope.
Distances of the stars outlining the circlet range from about 45 lightyears to about 900 lightyears from Earth.
The Eastern Sky After Dark
That they all appear about the same brightness tells us that some of them must be remarkably huge and brilliant, while others are smaller and fainter.
Above and to the north of the circlet lie four equally bright stars that form an outline we know as the Great Square of Pegasus. It marks the abdomen of the constellation Pegasus, the flying horse of ancient Greek mythology.
Spotting a flying horse in the sky is not easy, at least not without chemical assistance, but the square itself is quite prominent. In fact, because of how it’s tilted, one can even see it as a diamond. And as one who is enjoying the MLB playoffs way too much, I see it as a baseball diamond!
Imagine looking down on a baseball diamond from above. Home plate would be represented by the star in the westernmost (top) corner. Following the stars counterclockwise around the diamond, we find stars that mark first base, second base and third base.
You can take it even further. Look between second and home plate. There you see the pitcher, perhaps talking with the pitching coach and catcher. Just above home plate stands the umpire, and to the right the on-deck batter and batting coach.
Way too many outfielders, though.
The point is that when looking into the starry heavens, we can find all
kinds of imagery, and that’s part of the fun. When I was a kid, my friends and I would lie outdoors at night and invent our own constellation figures and Latinized names. But you’ll have to buy me a beer or two to get me to reveal the silliness we came up with!
Try it yourself this week. You’ve got Saturn as a good starting point; find the circlet and the square, then see if
LOST IN SUBURBIA
Packing
It All In
BY TRACY BECKERMAN
“Are you leaving me?” asked my husband one night as he surveyed the contents of my closet, which were now on our bed.
“What? No!” I said. “Why would you think that?”
“Every single article of clothing you own is laid out on our bed,” he replied. “So I have to assume you are either leaving me. Or you have joined the armed services, and if that’s the case, I really don’t think you’ll have any need for your daisy cardigan or your checkered capris.”
I looked over the vast array of clothing spread out across the room, and I was impressed that he even noticed that I had all my clothing laid out on my bed. But I was even more impressed that he knew what capris were.
“I am not leaving you or joining the Navy SEALs or bugging out because of an impending zombie apocalypse,” I assured him. “I’m simply packing.”
“For what? A three-year mission to
Mars?”
I gave him a snarly look and said, “NO, wise guy -- for our vacation next week.”
And that is where I lost him. I saw his eyes glaze over and the blank look invade his face, and I knew his mind had moved onto something more understandable, like quantum physics.
To be fair, no one on the planet packs like I do. Take someone with OCD and who happens to love clothes, and throw in a very small carry on suitcase, and you will have me: the manic pre-packer.
The urge to start packing for vacation usually hits sometime between when I start planning the vacation and a week before we go. One day, I’m perfectly fine, and the next, I start scouting weather reports and pulling out clothes for every possible weather condition, including a lava explosion (although we have no plans to visit a volcano) or being stranded on a giant iceberg after it breaks away from its Antarctic shelf (also not planning to visit any polar
regions, but who knows, that’s what they said about the Titanic too).
Then there’s the question of appropriate footwear for a variety of walking conditions, including cobblestone streets, melting asphalt and the occasional primordial trail soup. Clearly it’s easy to see that one must be prepared for nearly every possible condition -casual, dressy, muddy, sunny, humid -- and fitting all that in a small carry-on suitcase had the definite possibility of giving me a stroke.
“Honey, this is crazy. You know ultimately you’re going to forget something, so just let all this go and pack the night before like I do,” he said willfully.
I harrumphed him and started my second thinning of the piles while he went down to watch something more interesting, like golf.
Finally, I was all packed and feeling confident that I had done the best packing job anyone had ever done, ever, except maybe the people on the International Space Station.
A week later, as we unpacked our
26, 2025
Both the Great Square of Pegasus and a circlet of stars above Saturn will be visible in the night sky this week.
you can create any other asterisms of your own.
OK, enough of this stargazing stuff. I think there’s a ballgame on TV!
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
bags into our charming hotel, my husband stopped and looked around. Then he turned his suitcase upside down. Nothing fell out.
“Problem?” I asked.
“Yeah, Kinda. I think I forgot to pack my underwear.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. But I think I know where it is,” I responded.
“You do?”
“Yes. It’s in the top drawer of your dresser,” I replied.
“You know, you’re crazy,” he said petulantly.
“Yes,” I said. “But at least I have my underwear.”
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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If help is needed call Barbara: 917-442-5760
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Oh Star of the Sea, help me herein and show me here you are my Mother.
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Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days, making your specific request after the initial lines.
Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. 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 succour 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).
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When request is granted, the novena must be published. (MAK)
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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.)
MARKETPLACE
Antique & Vintage Items
Jewelry-Crystal-Silver Furniture-Mirrors-Tabletop Artwork-Lamps Consign, Shop or Visit the Yellow House 109 Eleventh Street Garden City 516-746-8900
Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed to 6pm) Saturday 12-4 (entrance & parking in back)
Consignments by appointment atstewartexchange@tgchs.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society
BURIAL PLOTS
PINELAWN MEMORIAL PARK
Selling one grave with two burial plots in the highly sought after Garden of Remembrance section of Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale, NY.
Call: 516-326-1385 (leave message)
At Invited Sales, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet your needs: Personal Property Appraisals and Evaluations: Get expert insights into the true value of your personal property.
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REAL ESTATE FOR RENT
GREENPORT
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BARNES GALLERY
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D’ANGELO, ESQ.
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www.dangelolawassociates. com
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Mushrooms are the star of this meal
The weather is changing and soon it will be time to chase away chilly temperatures with hearty meals. Soup is a tasty way to warm up fast, and many soups are full of healthy and nutritious ingredients.
With their earthy, umami flavor, mushrooms sometimes are an afterthought instead of an ingredient to build meals around. But in the following recipe for “Cream of
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
8 cups chopped mushrooms (about 11⁄4 pounds)
2 celery stalks, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 leek, white part only, thin-
ly sliced (about 11⁄4 cups)
1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
5 cups chicken broth
1) Melt 6 tablespoons of the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the chopped mushrooms, celery and leek. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes.
2) Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, 3 to 4 minutes.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Mushroom Soup” from “The Culinary Institute of America Book of Soups” (Lebhar-Friedman Books) by The Culinary Institute of America, these humble fungi get to be the center of attention. Cremini, oyster and white mushrooms are equally at home in this recipe, or home cooks can experiment with a blend of mushrooms as they desire. Makes 8 servings
1 fresh thyme sprig
1 cup sliced mushrooms (about 21⁄2 ounces)
1 1⁄2 cups heavy cream, heated
Fresh lemon juice, to taste Salt, to taste
Freshly ground white pepper, to taste
3) Whisk in the broth gradually. Add the thyme sprig, bring to a simmer, and cook, 30 minutes.
4) Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a skillet. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
5) Remove the thyme and discard. Puree the soup, then strain through cheesecloth on a fine sieve. Return the soup to the soup pot and place over
low heat. Add the heavy cream and season with the lemon juice, salt and pepper. Heat the soup, but do not let it boil.
6) Serve in heated bowls, garnished with the cooked,
Floral Park Village Board Reports
John—both of whom served as Chiefs in Floral Park. Peter Bilardello also followed his father John, a past Chief of the FPFD. The family tradition continues, as Peter’s son, Pete, is also a current department member. Paul is a retired Nassau County Fire Marshal, and Peter is retired from Con Edison.
Their commitment to protecting our community is truly inspiring and deeply appreciated. Through countless emergencies and long nights, they have shown unmatched courage, dedication, and compassion. Their legacy stands as a shining example for generations of firefighters to come. We are forever grateful for all they have done to keep Floral Park safe.
Finally, we look forward to seeing all our residents at the Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade this Saturday, September 20th! Wear your favorite green and come out to celebrate. The parade will run from Carnation to Plainfield to Tulip Avenue, ending at Fire Headquarters. The Honorable Doug Hayden will serve as emcee, and the amazing Dominick Crisetelli—at over 100 years old—will be our Grand Marshal!
Trustee Michael Longobardi Building Department
Since our last meeting, here are a few updates on ongoing building projects
around town:
99 Covert Avenue (Proposed Restaurant): Construction is ongoing and expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Covert Avenue – Fire Property: Second-floor framing is in progress, with roof construction set to begin next. Completion is expected in Spring 2026.
50 Carnation Avenue (Storage Expansion): A zoning application has been submitted to expand the existing storage buildings. This case was heard at the April 10 Zoning Board meeting and the June 17, Board of Trustees Special Use hearing. The next step is a presentation to the Architectural Review Board; the date will be announced.
144–162 Jericho Turnpike (Proposed Mixed-Use Development): A formal application has been received for this largescale development (formerly Stella’s). Meeting dates will be announced once scheduled.
32 Orchid Subdivision & 116 Miller Avenue: Construction of two new homes at 32 Orchid and one at 116 Miller is expected to begin shortly.
212 Jericho Turnpike (Formerly Firestone): Renovations are ongoing. Upon completion, the property will feature three new storefronts, including a new auto repair shop.
in existing one- and two-family homes is required by the New York State Building Code. These devices are considered essential life safety equipment.
To receive a Certificate of Compliance for any interior work, the proper placement and successful testing of these alarms must be verified during the final inspection of the building permit.
Smoke alarms are required in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on each additional story of the dwelling, including basements and habitable attics. Carbon monoxide detectors must be installed outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including basements.
Pool and Recreation
Fall baseball, soccer, and Titans programs are currently running at the Recreation Center. Registration for the Screaming Eagles Hockey program is open until September 28. You can register online at fpsports.leagueapps.com. The season begins the week of October 5, 2025.
Registration for all fall programs is ongoing and takes place at the pool building.
funds for breast cancer research and the development of treatment. We hope to see everyone there to enjoy a great day and support this very worthwhile cause. Repairs and upgrades to the Fuller Street entrance will begin shortly. The fence will be replaced, and a new ADA-accessible ramp will be installed from the sidewalk into the park.
Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)
The next TVASNAC meeting will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025, at Town Hall, One Washington Street, Hempstead. If you wish to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You may also visit the Village website, where links to TVASNAC noise complaint resources can be found on the homepage under the TVASNAC contact information section.
Emergency Management Committee
Mayor Fitzgerald and I met recently with relevant Department Heads (Police, Fire, Public Works) to review procedures, discuss various scenarios, and evaluate response plans. I want to thank everyone for their time and expertise. We will next follow up with our Emergency Management Committee, on one of the most important committees in the Village—one that we hope we never need to activate. From page 6
Please note that the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
The Recreation Center will also host the annual Liz’s Day on Saturday, September 27, 2025, with a rain date of September 28. Liz’s Day is a Floral Park nonprofit organization dedicated to raising
Library program celebrates the 100th anniversary of “Gatsby”
There was a full house for the festive program. On the menu: deviled eggs, Waldorf salad, baked ham and pineapple upside down cake, all reminiscent of the era.
Enjoying a glass of bubbly to celebrate Gatsby’s 100th.
A couple of flappers enjoying some good cheer.
Enjoying the Gatsby themed event.
The meal included items reminiscent of the Gatsby era including: deviled eggs, Waldorf salad, baked ham and pineapple upside down cake.
Let your voice be heard!
Is there an issue in your community you want to discuss? Want to respond to something you saw in our paper? Then write a letter to our editor and bring it to everyone’s attention! Send your letter to editor@gcnews.com and we’ll publish it for you!
