Football players tackle leadership
Town's 9/11 Memorial set for Point Lookout
attend and join in the moving ceremony that, for the past two decades, has served as a place of remembrance, reflection, and healing.
Sewanhaka Central High School District’s varsity football players participated in the final session of the Football Leadership Academy on Aug. 27.
Sewanhaka Central High School District’s varsity football players geared up for the upcoming season not just through on-field practices, but also by participating in a comprehensive, multi-part Football Leadership Academy. The program, led by Lamar Lee of Limitless Learning, aimed to help build leadership qualities and skills and ensure student-athletes understand the broader responsibilities of being an interscholastic athlete.
Each of the five buildings had three individual sessions with Mr.
Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
Lee, discussing the heightened expectations for high profile student-athletes and the importance of building an inclusive and positive team culture.
During the culminating event on Aug. 27, all five teams gathered to engage in the final activities and meaningful conversations. After discussing what it means to belong and personal identity, the players were asked to write down five identifying words that describe who they are. Mr. Lee presented another challenge: asking the players to follow his instructions,
with their eyes closed, to fold and tear a piece of paper. While some papers resembled each other, others looked completely different, showing that everyone is unique and follows directions differently. The session concluded with a discussion on the importance of language on and off the field, and how it can both bring people together or divide.
Sewanhaka CHSD is the first district on Long Island to participate in this Football Leadership Academy.
Twenty-four years ago, many residents came to Town Park Point Lookout to confirm with their eyes what their televisions and radios were reporting about what had just taken place in New York City on September 11, 2001. From the beach along the Atlantic Ocean, they stood in disbelief as they saw smoke billowing from the site where the once-majestic Twin Towers once stood, the result of horrific terrorist attacks carried out against the United States of America.
On Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 7:30 AM, from that same beach at Town Park Point Lookout, Supervisor John Ferretti and the Hempstead Town Board –along with area fire departments, esteemed members of clergy, and other patriotic participants – will hold Long Island’s largest 9/11 Memorial Ceremony to remember the many victims from that day, those who have passed from various 9/11-related illnesses, and support those families who continue to suffer from the unimaginable loss of family, friends, and loved ones. All residents are invited to
“Nearly a quarter century has gone by since that tragic day, but the passage of time will never truly heal the deep wounds and profound loss felt by the families of the victims of September 11, 2001,” said Supervisor Ferretti. “We invite all residents to join us on September 11, 2025 to remember and pay tribute to the fallen.”
The beachside 9/11 memorial incorporates replica steel Twin Towers, and a remembrance wall on which residents can write messages in honor of their loved ones. Following the memorial service, attendees are invited to cast carnations – donated by ReWorld and Stop and Shop of West Hempstead – into the waters of the Atlantic in memory of the ones they lost.
Attendees will be welcomed to Point Lookout by patriotic American flag arches provided courtesy of the Levittown, Franklin Square and Munson, Wood-
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Community Yard Sale
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will be holding a Community Yard Sale on Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Space at the sale is open to the com-
munity. Spaces: $25, table rental: $5. Please contact 718-347-0278 for more information.
The church is located at 246-55 87th Avenue, Bellerose.
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Holy Trinity Lutheran Church plans centennial events
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Bellerose has plans for several events to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
• October 5 from 2 – 4 p.m.: Bowling Event and Meet and Greet at Bowl 360 New Hyde Park.
• November 14 at 7 p.m.: Movie Night (free admission, food and drinks for sale) at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
• December 7 at 6 p.m.: International Potluck and Trivia Night at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
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For further info contact Carl Denaro 516-361-0544 Rick Guidal 516-353-3006 G
Find Your Connection to Jewish Community
Garden City Jewish Center is an inclusive, warm, and welcoming Reform congregation. Membership is open to all Jews, those interested in becoming Jewish, dual-faith families, singles, and students.
• Sundays-only Religious School begins September 7th
• Rosh HaShanah services: September 22nd and 23rd
• Yom Kippur services: October 1st and 2nd
• High Holiday children’s services 168 Nassau Boulevard, Garden City NY 11530 www.gardencityjewishcenter.org email: info@gardencityjewishcenter.org
GCJC is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Historical Society to host talk on costume jewelry
On Sunday, September 14, the Floral Park Historical Society will present “The Sparkle of the Century: American Costume Jewelry in the 20th Century.”
Join Karen Reiter, a lifelong collector of vintage jewelry, as she shares how vintage jewelry is now considered “collectible art." Pieces from Trifari, Haskell, Hobe, Coro and Carnegie are sought after by collectors.
Costume jewelry gave everyday women a piece of Hollywood sparkle. As collectors and fashion enthusiasts continue to cherish those designers, the sparkle of the century lives on, preserving the artistry and innovation of American costume jewelry.
The event will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 14, at the Floral Park Recreation Pool Bldg., Stewart St., Floral Park. It is free and open to the public. For more information please go to www.floralparkhistorical.org
Happy 65th anniversary
BY NICHOLAS M. ZACCHEA
2025 marked the 65th year of wedded bliss for Jack and Ella McConville, long time residents of Our Lady of Victory Parish in the Village of Floral Park.
Jack, Ella, their son Richard, and more than 65 invited guests, recently celebrated Jack and Ella’s 65th wedding anniversary at a noontime luncheon in Floral Park’s very popular Swing the Teapot on Verbena Avenue. The guests were treated to selections from among Swing the Teapot’s traditional Irish-fare including the Irish Breakfast, the always delightful fish and chips and home-style Shepherd’s Pie.
Father Fusco, Pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish, said Grace and imparted God’s blessings to the couple. Father Fusco joined with the guests in giving thanks for the wonderful years Jack and Ella have shared, praying that they will continue to grow in love and faith.
Neighbor and long time friend Neil Doherty closed off the luncheon with a very warm and heartfelt speech about
the couple as the celebrants sipped coffee and of course tea, while enjoying Jack and Ella’s anniversary cake. NMZ
Ella and Jack McConville at Swing the Teapot
Juliana necklace and earrings
9/11 Memorial at Point Lookout
From page 1
mere, Island Park, Point Lookout-Lido, and Baldwin fire departments. The color guard will be provided by the Rockville Centre Fire Department, led by bagpiper Bobby Hughes of the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums.
The Gregorian Consortium from Kellenberg Memorial High School, which has been a longtime participant in the ceremony, will return for this year’s event. Remarks will offered by Rev. Michael Duffy, Rector at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, and Senior Rabbi Elie Weinstock of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach on Long Island.
The Keynote Speaker of this year’s event will be Bellmore resident and retired FDNY Chief Steve Marsar, a 9/11 first responder who has dedicated a large part of his career to providing mental health and traumatic stress counseling to firefighters across New York State, many of them men and women who responded to Ground Zero 24 years ago.
Supervisor Ferretti and the Hempstead Town Board will also recognize the efforts of Long Island residents who worked at Rikers Island on September 11, 2001. Often referred to as the “forgotten heroes of 9/11,” Supervisor Ferretti will detail the incredible acts of
heroism and bravery exhibited by these corrections officers on September 11th and in the weeks and months following the attacks.
Closing out the ceremony will be Rev. Dr. Eric C. Mallette of the Greater Second Baptist Church in Freeport, who has offered powerful and inspirational remarks for many years at this event.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests will be invited to cast white carnations into the Atlantic Ocean, write messages on the Remembrance Wall, followed by post-event visit to the town’s adjacent 9/11 Memorial Park.
The park features an elevated memorial walkway with the names of the victims of the terrorist attacks (including those who have died in recent years) memorialized in granite on the edifice of a pedestrian bridge. The Town will provide paper and pencils so residents can conduct “name rubbings” of their beloved friends and family members. The memorial also includes a 30-foottall beam from the north tower of the World Trade Center, and a giant memorial table inscribed with Walt Whitman’s “On the Beach at Night.”
“The Town of Hempstead will never forget the victims of September 11, 2001,” concluded Supervisor Ferretti. “Our township is committed to hosting this event on the beaches of Point Lookout every year."
Uncorked
Rex Whicker
“Thorn & A Rose” ~ Rex Pairs Pet Peeves with Favorite Wines
Wes Houston Presents…
Wes Houston
“The Stick-Tet Power Trio” ~ Featuring Steve Adelson on the Chapman Stick
The Author Corner
Stephanie Larkin
“Nobody Move! (Without Reading This)” ~ Robert Esposito, Professional Mover
FPFD: Red Alert
Larry King
“Cancer Risk to Firefighters” ~ Michael Schumann, Fairfield Firefighter Assoc. 9:30 PM
Davidson & Co.
Larry Davidson
“The Long Run” ~ An FDNY Firefighter’s Bus Accident Survival Story
The Floral Park Centennial Gardens provide habitat and food sources for monarch butterflies.
BY DOUG CIOFFI, FPCS VOLUNTEER, BIRD LECTURER, AND PHOTOGRAPHER
A sign at the garden explains its registration at www.monarch.org
Monarch butterflies embark on a marvelous migratory phenomenon. They travel between1200 and 2800 mlles from the northeast United States, and southeast Canada to the mountain forests in central Mexico, where they find the right climate conditions to hibernate from the beginning of November to mid-March. Milkweed is the only plant on which monarchs will lay their eggs and the only source of food for baby caterpillars. worldwildlife.org is an excellent source of information.
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Monarch caterpillars eat milkweed, a plant toxic to most animals. The toxins are stored in the adult butterfly’s body and makes it foul-tasting to pred-
ators. The butterfly evolves from the caterpillar. The caterpillar eats the milkweed. After the butterfly becomes a Monarch Butterfly it feeds on the nectar from various wildflowers, this
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CHAMPIONS
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Dance Center of Garden City
MUSICAL THEATRE
For The Past Four Years Our Musical Theatre Department Has Won “The Best Performing Arts Studio” Award For Broadway Bound. During Our Regular Season September Through June We Offer Two Classes On Fridays Consisting Of Singing, Acting And Dancing.
BROADWAY BOUND’S REGISTRATION FOR FALL CLASSES
Three Large Dance Rooms
All Air-conditioned With Bathrooms, Cubbys And Floating Floors REGISTRATION DATES
September 5 & 6 10am - 5pm
WE OPEN FOR CLASSES
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2025
The monarchs are here!
Monarch butterflies migrate from Mexico to the United States and Canada.
Continued from page 6
helps pollinate flowers.
The migration of the Monarch Butterfly from Canada and the United States to Mexico is amazing. They know the correct direction even though they have never made the journey before. A single Monarch can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles. For further information about this “wonder of nature” see the National Wildlife Federation site at nwf.org.
A few facts about the milkweed plant. Milkweed is the plant that Monarch Butterflies can’t live without. It is a low maintenance native wildflower that also helps bees and moths. The Monarch lays its eggs on the plant. Milkweed needs full sun and well-drained soil, they grow tall and need space for its’ root system. There are various types of milkweed, they are hardy and do not need extra care or attention to thrive, grow and increase in size.
Floral Park Centennial Gardens are a wonderful habitat, food source, and stop over for this beautiful but endangered species!
Volunteers are always needed at the Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary in Floral Park. On the first Saturday of each month a
The Centennial Gardens include milkweed plants for the monarchs.
Volunteers are always needed. Come help on the first Saturday of each month!
group will gather to help maintain the gardens and also learn about nature. The group meets on Floral Parkway at the main gate. 9 a.m. is the start of the days adventure. All ages are welcome, bring whatever garden equipment you have and enjoy a great experience. Volunteers who would like to take care of a specific garden can email fpcentennial@gmail. com and share their interest.
September 5, 2025
Plan a Fall Getaway Around Peak Leaf-Peeping
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
With Labor Day in the rear view window, it’s time to look forward to a fall getaway. But if leaf-peeping is a priority, timing and advance planning are critical considering the relatively short time of peak color in any particular destination.
New York State has one of the longest and most colorful foliage seasons in the country. The change in color from the bright greens of summer to the brilliant hues of fall historically begins high in the Adirondack and Catskill mountains in early September and spreads out and down across the hills and valleys of the state, ending with peak foliage on Long Island and in New York City in mid-November. It takes about two weeks for the color to complete its cycle in any area, with peak brilliance lasting three to four days in any one spot.
To help travelers plan a fall getaway, the state’s tourism office, I LOVE NY, provides weekly fall foliage reports beginning September 12, with updates issued every Wednesday throughout the season. The interactive foliage map on the I LOVE NY website tracks weekly changes and progression and offers recommended viewing locations, examples of peak foliage in designated areas. You can also find information about popular local and regional attractions and activities across the state from apple and pumpkin picking to haunted Halloween activities, hiking, craft beverage trails and Path Through History Weekend special events at www.iloveny.com/ fall. (An excellent roundup is at: Fall Foliage:When and Where to Go in New York State, www.iloveny.com/thingsto-do/fall/foliage-report.)
Reports and the interactive foliage
Hiking to Castle Rock in the Adirondacks. To capture the peak foliage color, timing and advance planning are key. New York State offers foliage reports and an interactive map © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
map are available at www.iloveny. com/foliage, or toll-free at 800-CALLNYS (800-225-5697).
For more information on tourism in New York or to plan a New York State getaway, visit www.iloveny.com
Leaf-peeping in the Finger Lakes
There’s no better place to experience vibrant foliage, crisp air and rolling vineyards than the Finger Lakes. Nestled on the shore of Canandaigua Lake, The Lake House on Canandaigua is the ideal home base for a fall getaway. From peak grape harvest season to pumpkin picking, cider tasting and breathtaking lake views, the resort offers a memorable autumn escape. Take a scenic foliage cruise; hike the trails at Grimes Glen Park offers trails lined with waterfalls and forests ablaze in fall hues, perfect for a peaceful autumn hike; explore the region’s farms, wineries and breweries that showcase the season’s bounty, and savor autumn-inspired dishes and local flavors at the resort’s Rose
Tavern, Sand Bar and Library Bar. In the evening, enjoy an evening under the stars with complimentary s’mores beside a fire pit
At the resort’s Willowbrook Spa, relax in the spa garden surrounded by native plants in peak autumn color, enjoy cozy barrel saunas overlooking the brook and indulge in restorative treatments blending herbal remedies with modern wellness techniques.
The Lake House is offering up to 20% off luxurious lakefront accommodations this fall. (More details: https:// lakehousecanandaigua.com/packages/lakeside-fall-escape/)
The Lake House, 770 S. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-394-7800, 800-228-2801, lakehousecanandaigua. com
Nature as Therapy in the Adirondacks
Lake Placid in the Adirondacks boasts one of the longest fall foliage seasons in the country, thanks to its diverse elevations and microclimates. (Aim for the days that
see dips into the mid-30s to low-40s – a sweet spot for kickstarting that vibrant color change.)
Explore more than 2,000 miles of nearby hiking trails, including: High Falls Gorge, dubbed the Adirondacks’ most breathtaking 30-minute walk; Whiteface Landing for tranquil lake views; Catamount Mountain, featuring twin summits and panoramic foliage vistas; and Whiteface Mountain, with multiple trailheads designed for ambitious hikers. (Use the Adirondack Fall Foliage Meter for up-to-the-minute reports on where leaves are prettiest—this insider resource helps you target the exact best spots each day.)
There’s so much to do in fall in and around Lake Placid:
For the ultimate view, take the elevator to the top of the 120-meter ski jump (26 stories) at the Olympic Jumping Complex for athlete-level panoramic views without any hiking.
Bike the new Adirondack Rail Trail (25 miles open, bike rentals in Lake Placid) through golden tamarack groves and brewery stops; climb the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge’s 23 restored towers for panoramic treetop views; or ride the 1.4-mile Mt. Van Hoevenberg Cliffside Coaster (America’s longest alpine coaster) parallel to the historic Olympic bobsled track.
Festival calendar: Time your visit for the Flaming Leaves Festival (Oct. 11-12) combining ski jumping competitions with peak foliage, or the Adirondack Harvest Festival (Sept. 20) celebrating local agriculture with food trucks, live music, and farm activities.
Whiteface Lodge, a MICHELIN
One Key and AAA Four-Diamondrated all-suite resort tucked into the woodlands of Lake Placid, combines rustic luxury with the restorative rhythms of the outdoors. Think: forest
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Plan a Fall Getaway Around Peak Leaf-Peeping
bathing beneath golden canopies, stone massages inspired by nearby rivers, and private lean-tos warmed by firelight.
Named a Top 100 Spa by Spas of America, The Spa at Whiteface Lodge translates the region’s natural serenity into sensory treatments such as Ausable River Stone Massage, which uses heated basalt stones and Swedish techniques to melt away tension, named after the nearby Ausable River; and the Great Outdoors Facial, which harnesses antioxidants and botanical extracts to rejuvenate skin exposed to the elements.
Whiteface Lodge’s Stay More, Play More package includes a $150 resort credit toward spa services and dining when travelers stay 3+ nights (with the credit increasing at the five night mark).
Whiteface Lodge, 7 Whiteface Inn Lane, Lake Placid, NY 12946,518-523-0505 www. thewhitefacelodge.com
Another ideal place to make your Lake Placid home base is High Peaks Resort. Its location on Mirror Lake provides walking access to family-friendly nature trails (Cobble Hill, Peninsula) that locals use to avoid crowds at higher elevations. High Peaks Resort offers a Mountains & Maple Package (from $172.89) that includes authentic maple syrup, maple cotton candy, maple popcorn, and two resort mugs. (High Peaks Resort, 2384 Saranac Avenue, Lake Placid, NY 12946, 800-755-5598, www.highpeaksresort.com)
Lower Hudson Craft Beverage Trail
Lower Hudson Valley region’s leaf peeping hot spots can be paired with nearby Westchester Craft Beverage Trail locations.
The Westchester Craft Beverage Trail is a free, mobile, web-based passport that will lead you to great experiences and delicious drinks as well as some appealing special offers. Sign up at the website- there’s no cost and no app to download. Earn points when you check in at participating merchants, and use them to claim a spe-
cial reward. More information: https:// www.visitwestchesterny.com/things-todo/dining/craft-beverages/trail/ Sign Up for Vermont’s Weekly Fall Foliage Report
Vermont is world renowned for its fall foliage. Vermont fall colors usually start in early to mid-September in the higher elevations and in the northern part of the state, moving into the valleys and southern parts of Vermont as September turns to October. The Vermont Tourism foliage report tracks the progression and provides itineraries, events, attractions, and more ways to experience the season. (Subscribe: https://vermontvacation. com/vermont-seasons/fall/fall-foliage-report/)
Plan a scenic drive along a river to see the foliage reflecting off the water and drive over a mountain pass connecting historic downtowns. Scenic Vermont Byways and toll roads open to expansive mountain vistas painted in fall colors. Apple orchards, pumpkin picking, scenic chairlift rides, corn mazes, farm or creemee stands, and historic downtowns round out a day touring around the Green Mountains. (https://vermontvacation. com/things-to-do/trip-ideas-itineraries/ scenic-drives/)
Make Topnotch Resort, Stowe, Your Base
Make your leaf-peeping a real getaway with a stay at Topnotch Resort, in Stowe, for the ultimate foliage experience: the Stowe-liage Foliage Package (from $279) includes a $100 nightly resort credit, essentially paying for your meals while enjoying Mt. Mansfield views from the heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi. (Travel dates through Sept. 30 and Oct. 14-Nov. 30).
Other tips to enhance your getaway: Book spa treatments during peak afternoon hours when trails are most crowded. Play tennis or pickleball on Topnotch’s outdoor courts which affords a stunning fall foliage backdrop. Take the flat, paved 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path from behind Topnotch for unobstructed
mountain views without traffic. Festival timing: Plan a stay around the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival (Oct. 8-10) for peak color plus local artisans, or catch the quirky Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival (Sept. 26) for family fun. Book midweek for best rates and fewer tourists on popular activities like guided brewery tours and scenic boat charters.
Topnotch Resort, Stowe, Vt., 800-4518686, www.topnotchresort.com
Spacious Skies Campgrounds Provide Home Base for Exploring Fall Festivals Throughout the East BERNARDSVILLE, N.J. – With 15 locations throughout the East, Spacious Skies Campgrounds are located within an easy drive of an array of fall festivals, from celebrations of fall harvest to books, films, arts, brews and history.
Fall festival fans can experience the progression of fall color from north to south along the Spacious Skies Campgrounds Fall Color Trail with many festivals coinciding with peak color in each location. For example, the Salem Haunted Happenings Festival, with events highlighting the town’s famous connections to witches, coincides with the peak fall color of the maple, birch, ash and oak trees that surround Spacious Skies Minute Man in Littleton, Mass. And the Savannah Film Festival beginning Oct. 25 coincides with the peak color of the majestic oak trees at Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks.
Among the fall festivals near Spacious Skies Campgrounds:
Spacious Skies Walnut Grove, Alfred, Maine and Spacious Skies Balsam Woods, Abbott, Maine: Fall Foliage Festival, October 11-12. Boothbay’s Railway Village Museum has been staging a Fall Foliage Festival with art, food, music and train rides for 56 years.
Spacious Skies French Pond, Henniker, N.H. and Spacious Skies Seven Maples, Hancock, N.H.: New Hampshire Book Festival, Oct. 3-4. The annual New Hampshire Book Festival
brings more than 50 nationally recognized authors together to celebrate literacy with panels, interviews and books signings.
Spacious Skies Minute Man, Littleton, Mass.: Salem Haunted Happenings Festival, Oct. 1-31. This annual festival takes place in New England’s most notorious witch-centric location, Salem, Mass. Included are a grand parade, artists, costume balls, haunted houses, live music and theatrical presentations.
Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks, North Hudson, N.Y. and Spacious Skies Woodland Hills, Austerlitz, NY: New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, Oct. 18-19. Fiber arts fans will want to check out The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, a two-day celebration featuring sheep shows, workshops, kids’ activities and more.
Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views, Luray, Va.: Blue Ridge Folklife Festival, Oct. 25. Marking its 52nd anniversary this year, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival features musicians, moonshiners, craftspeople, cooks, motorheads, mule jumpers, horse pullers, coon dog racers, antique tractor buffs and old-time gamers for a celebration of the rich heritage and traditions of the region
Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks, Savannah, GA: Savannah Film Festival, Oct. 25 – Nov. 1. Marking its 25th year, this festival at the Savannah College of Art and Design attracts 50,000 to see the work of emerging student filmmakers while well-known directors, actors and producers come to accept awards and discuss their craft.
Many of the Spacious Skies Campgrounds offer alternative accommodations for travelers who don’t own RVs, including cabins, yurts, tent sites and at select locations, retro trailers. To learn more, visit www. spaciousskiescampgrounds.com.
© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com.
BY LOU THEODORE
On Saratoga: Down Memory Lane
My initial thought for this month’s article was to write about a place that was once a very big part of my life, and a place that I just recently returned from. The place? Can you guess? Read on as I relive some of my earlier experiences at this special place.
• John’s Farm. It is now the late 1950s in Astoria, Queens. George Connolly, the Sunday day shift bartender of Killeen’s Tavern (I would own it during 1961-3)home of the legendary Killeen’s Tavern basketball team, for which I served as coach – decided to take a host of patrons for a 4-day weekend vacation at John’s Farm, located somewhere in the Catskills. Fun times. The second or third year finds the vacationing crew making a 2½ hour drive north for a day at the races. Enter Saratoga Springs and its accompanying racetrack. The saga begins with an annual visit to the track from this time forth (less one year for Covid). I assume this has got to be a record .
• Holiday Inn. After the first visit to Saratoga, three members of the group (including your favorite author) continue the tradition with one week summer vacations at Saratoga. The price tag for the first visit to the HI: $19.95 per day. Enter great restaurants.
• The Wishing Well. W2 was located 3 miles north of Saratoga on Route 9. It was the most expensive restaurant in town. It was owned by Bob and Benda Lee, and the bartender was 6’8” Peter. The piano bar player was Paula, who had to be at least a century old. I loved the lamb chops with their tomatoes and cornbread. The place was always mobbed during those early years.
• DeGregory’s. This was a bar located due southeast of Route 9 in town.
The band featured Vince DeGregory (the owner’s son) on the sax, who also served as jockey Angel Cordero’s agent. The place was jumping every night and the place was infested with jockeys, agents, owners, and trainers. One night, I tried to dance (the Theodore Shuffle) on the bar and nearly killed myself. And yes, I was not sober --- I drank in those days. Wild times. Who said you can’t have fun in a college (Skidmore) town?
• Green Mountain Racetrack. An evening visit to GMR, located in Pownall, VT, was another highlight during that period. I still remember crossing the tracks prior to entering the track. The place was a real dump, but I loved the place. There was racing for not only horses, but also trotters and dogs.
• Grand Union Motel. We “graduated” to the GUM when the rate at the HI started approaching $300/night. We loved this place with a beautiful swimming pool and something less than pleasant owners (a brother and sister). The place went to pot soon after they sold the motel several years later.
• Depe Dene. Located on Lake George 30 miles north of SS. Now married with three kids, this motel served as our summer residence for 3 years. It was lots of fun, particularly for the kids, but there was the 30 mile drive to the races.
• Hinsdale, New Hampshire. It is here where my group really got introduced to off-track betting. In addition to dog racing, this facility provided – for the first time – betting at nearly every pari-mutual track in the U.S. You would hear the words “it is now post time” approximately every 15 seconds. We also came to love this place as our interest in SS racing started to wane. It was initially two racing days here and three at SS.
• Albany. It is now a new century. We soon moved our early stay from
Hinsdale to the OTB facility in Albany, followed by checkout, followed by a day at SS, followed by the trip home – effectively eliminating a stay at SS. Evenings continued to be spent in SS because of the great restaurants.
• Pennell’s. When you talk great restaurants in SS, Pennel’s heads my list. The kids and grandkids also love Solevo’s Kitchen and Osteria Danny. Pennell’s (a family restaurant since 1922), owned by Bruce Cerone (from the Mama Leone family in NYC) was always jumping. A great bar complimented a great restaurant. In addition to their salad, my two favorite dishes are the meatballs and the strip steak. You really can’t go wrong here; it is the Four Seasons restaurant of SS.
• The Triangle. The Triangle Diner – owned by Pat and Laura Diggins - is located 500 feet north of town on Route 9. The place is small and dated, parking is always a problem, there are flies outdoors, and you usually have to wait for a table. But trust me, it is worth it. All the breakfast and lunch items are great. Make it a point to stop by this joint.
• The Gideon Putman Hotel. Located on 2200 breathtaking, beautiful acres in the heart of the Saratoga Spa State Park (a National Historic landmark, referred to by some of the Jewel of Saratoga), it has become our three-day vacation spot at the end of the meet in late August / early September. I don’t care for the place; it needs some major renovations. But Mary likes it. The kids love it. And, the grandkids really love it. However, I have to admit that it has a classic country-setting charm, even though it is only about a mile from the track, casino, and center of town. It features a beautiful pool, tennis courts, a golf course, a putting green, trails for hiking, and a massive number of exquisite trees.
But that was then. There is no question that Saratoga has become NYRA’s (New York Racing Association) premiere race meet. But here’s more. It features senseless 30+ minutes between races, shocking calls (and non-calls by stewards that deserve investigation), disseminated cards, cancelled races, small fields, a race run at the wrong distance (how is this possible?) and horses breaking down (and dying). According to NYRA it’s the in-place to be. However, it’s also the in-place to get gouged. I attended the races in late August this year and got treated to a $10 entrance fee, a $25 grandstand seat, a $20 parking fee, a $9 program, and some truly outrageous prices on food, drinks, souvenirs, etc. Naturally, the local businesses have adopted NYRA policies: $400 a night room accommodation (with no maid service the previous year), dinner prices that are something to behold, drinks, etc. There was a good crowd that race day but many of the grandstand seats were not occupied. Thank you, NYRA! Obviously, the locals chose to stand in tight quarters, packed together, rather than being bilked. Meanwhile, the state officials who support NYRA and the thoroughbred industry look the other way. When my crowd thinks of NYRA the words corrupt and (in particular) incompetence resonate.
Despite it all, Saratoga is still worth a one-day visit during the racing season. Time permitted, take a walk through the original racetrack grandstand that is still a fire trap and consider a brief drive through the beautiful Skidmore College campus
Visit the author at: www. theodorenewsletter.com and / or Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook
Over 50 Fair coming September 14th
The 16th Annual Over 50 Fair is returning to the Hilton Long Island/ Huntington on Sunday, September 14, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., promising a day of discovery and connection for Baby Boomers, seniors, and younger attendees alike.
Conceived by East Hills resident Barbara Kaplan, the fair is “Overflowing with Opportunities for Age 50+”. Kaplan, who also coordinates the annual All Kids Fair, emphasizes that this event is far from a “typical senior fair.” She states that guests can “learn, interact, and discover new businesses and organizations that can benefit their lives”. The event brings together over 80 exhibitors and offers more than 20 classes covering a diverse range of topics, including health and wellness, travel, education, financial planning, and more.
New and Notable Offerings
This year’s fair will feature several new attractions and a dynamic lineup of activities. Attendees can take enjoy an art lesson with One River School of Art + Design and receive free hearing screenings from HearingLife. MTN Matchmaking will also be sponsoring a dedicated singles lounge for guests to relax and socialize.
Music lovers will enjoy a live acoustic music showcase throughout the day, presented by Carrie Creative Concepts. The lineup of performers is as follows:
• Gotcha Covered Duo featuring David Lamm and Danielle Gatto - Together, they play the best of Soft & Classic Rock of the 60’s to 2000’s.
• Dawn Banks – Dawn, a singer-songwriter, invites you on her journey through sweet, sexy, and soulful compositions, enhanced by her sultry
vocals, blues harp, and acoustic guitar.
• Dan and Vickie Duo - During their performance, you will hear soulful vocals & high energy music from the 70’s through today’s artists, including great duets and songs we all know and love.
• Tyler Gianchetta - Tyler has strong vocals and a unique instrument, known as the dulcimer. He will take you back to the 90’s and 2000’s rock era.
• Nicholas Morales – Nicholas has been playing guitar for 44 years. He performs classic rock, pop, and blues favorites from the 50’s to 90’s. Enriching Classes and Wellness Activities
The schedule of classes is a major highlight, with a special appearance by best-selling author Ellen Meister. She will be discussing her new novel, Joyride, and sharing her insights on the
joys and challenges of writing after age 50. Other classes will cover a variety of topics, including:
• Scrabble strategies with Samuel Kaplan, a Top-50 NASPA (North American Scrabble Players Association) Player.
• Brain health with Marie Biggiani of AARP Long Island.
• Treatment for spinal disc herniations with Dr. Joseph Mills of West Hills Chiropractic Pain Center.
• An exploration of the “Adventures of a Psychic Medium” with Joe Giaquinto.
Additionally, attendees can receive free mini-energy scans, chair massages, stretches, aura readings, and legal consultations.
Continued on page 5
What Was I Doing in Poland for the Social Security Adminis-
BY TOM MARGENAU
I was chatting with a new neighbor who recently moved into a house down the street from us. It turns out he was born in Warsaw, Poland, but moved to the United States with his family way back in the 1960s. He was surprised to learn that I had a small connection to his home country. It involved a trip I took to Poland for the Social Security Administration in 1994. He found it fascinating. I’ve shared this story with readers in the past. However, it’s been a long time, and since it is interesting, I thought I’d share it again.
First, I’ll explain how the trip came about in the first place. In early 1994, I was working at the SSA’s headquarters in Baltimore. I was the chief editor of all of the publications the agency produced for the public. In that role, I was asked to deliver a presentation to a group of visiting Social Security officials from Poland.
Let me pause right here to talk about that a bit. What were Polish Social Security representatives doing in the United States? As I’ve explained many times in my column, the concept of social insurance, or Social Security, as we call it, is certainly not unique to the United States. Almost every country on the planet has a social insurance system in place for its citizens. And many of those countries, especially in Europe, had such programs long before we ever got around to setting up our Social Security system in 1935. In fact, the first Polish Social Security laws were established in 1927.
And all these social insurance systems around the world are remarkably similar. They almost always provide benefits for retirees, for people with disabilities, and for the survivors of a worker who has died. And it is not uncommon for Social Security officials from around the world to get together to exchange ideas and to share common concerns and challenges, and to discuss possible solutions to those issues.
So anyway, that’s what Polish Social Security officials were doing at the SSA headquarters back in 1994. I was talking to them about the kinds of pamphlets and fact sheets that we produced and distributed to the American public to help our citizens understand the various Social Security programs in the United States.
When lunchtime rolled around, I got to chatting with one of the Polish visitors. On a whim, I asked him if he’d like to take a drive to see the “Little Poland” neighborhood of Baltimore. There is a much more well-known “Little Italy” part of the city that is near the famous Inner Harbor and is very popular with tourists. The almost unknown (except to locals) Little Poland is just a few blocks away from that area. I really didn’t know the Little Poland neighborhood at all. But I figured we’d just drive around to see what we would find. So off we went. The first place that caught our eye was a small neighborhood meat market. We went in.
The butcher and my Polish Social Security official (his name was Jan) were talking to each other in Polish. After a minute or two, they were hugging each other and crying. It was very emotional. Jan explained to me that it turned out both of them came from the same small town in Poland -- and they had so many memories to share. (I mean, how serendipitous was that?)
Well, the butcher closed up the shop and got in my car with me and Jan and took us on a tour of the Little Poland area. We stopped at a couple of homes, a Polish church and a few other small businesses. Most memorably, we ended up at the neighborhood meeting place -- a Polish bar. Jan and all his newfound friends started doing some serious drinking of Polish vodka!
Jan was having a really good time. I kept telling him that we had to get back to the Social Security headquarters complex and to our meetings. But Jan and his friends just kept on drinking and talking (all in Polish) and hugging each other. Eventually, about 3 p.m. or so, I finally talked a rather tipsy Jan into going back to work.
When we got there, I was pulled aside by some of my superiors and chewed out. “Where the heck were you? “ they asked. “Do you know who you were with?” I had just assumed Jan was some mid-level management type like me. But it turns out he was the head of the entire Polish Social Security system and a top official in the Polish government. And I brought him back to the conference drunk!!
Long story short, for a while, I thought I was going to be in some serious trouble. But a few months later, the SSA got an invitation from the Polish government to send a representative to Poland to conduct training. Because of my friendship with Jan, they specifically asked for me. So my trip to Poland came about because I took a guy out drinking in Baltimore!
Anyway, a few months later I was in a small town outside of Warsaw at a Zaklad Ubezpieczen Spolecznych training facility. ZUS is the name of their Social Security agency. I was there to teach their public affairs officials about how we promoted our Social Security system to American citizens. This was new stuff to ZUS staff because Poland was just coming out from under decades of Soviet domination. They had to teach Polish citizens how their recently revamped social insurance system would work.
I have so many stories I could tell you about that experience. But I’m running out of space. So let me share just this one.
The Polish currency is the zloty. I was there at a time of hyperinflation in the Polish economy. For example, a 100,000 zloty note was worth about $5. So, I was walking around Poland with millions of zlotys in my wallet! It was so strange to go out for a meal and pay half a million zlotys!
And I learned something very inter-
esting about the Polish Social Security system. Like here, Polish senior citizens got their Social Security benefits once a month. But because at the time, the Polish banking system was essentially non-existent, Polish seniors didn’t get checks. They got cash. So once each month, Polish mail carriers, with armed guards accompanying them, would walk around cities and towns throughout Poland with literally trillions of zloty notes in their mailbags. They would knock on doors and hand seniors their ZUS benefits in cash! I’m sure
Continued on next page
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
The Pros and Cons of 1031 Deferred Tax Exchanges
I hope everyone had an enjoyable and fun Labor Day weekend with family and friends!
For many Long Island real estate investors, the 1031 exchange has become one of the most effective ways to grow wealth, preserve capital, and reposition portfolios without the immediate bite of capital gains taxes. Under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, investors can defer taxes on the sale of investment property by reinvesting the proceeds into another “like-kind” property.
Given the strength of the Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens markets—and the desire of many local landlords to diversify into other property types or even out-of-state opportunities— understanding the pros and cons of 1031 exchanges is more important than ever.
Pros for Long Island Investors
1. Tax Deferral = More Buying Power
Selling a rental in Great Neck, Garden City, or Huntington could trigger hefty capital gains taxes. With a 1031 exchange, you keep more of your proceeds working for you, which can mean upgrading to a larger apartment building, commercial strip center, or even multiple rental properties. Most important, if you do not need to sell your home to have the cash to purchase (with or without any financing) the next one; or if there are substantial capital gains after considering all your allowable deductions, then your home can be considered an investment property after two years of renting it out, having verifiable records of your rental income. Then it qualifies as a candidate to be considered as a1031 deferred tax exchange
2. Opportunity to Diversify
Long Island investors often start with single-family rentals or small multifamily homes. A 1031 exchange lets you
SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU
Continued from previous page that today, all these decades later, the Polish economy is back to normal and Polish seniors probably get their ZUS benefits via direct deposit just as we get Social Security benefits in our country.
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
transition into higheryield investments, such as medical office space, retail centers, or vacation rental markets in other parts of the country—all without a current tax hit.
3. Estate Planning Advantage
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
Many families in Nassau and Suffolk hold properties for decades. With a 1031 exchange, heirs typically receive a step-up in basis at inheritance, which can erase deferred taxes and allow families to pass on real estate wealth tax-efficiently.
4. Geographic Flexibility
Given Long Island’s high property taxes and limited housing stock, some investors are cashing out of local properties and exchanging into markets with stronger cash flow, such as Florida, North Carolina, or Texas. The 1031 makes this transition smoother.
Cons for Long Island Investors
1. Tight Deadlines
Long Island’s low inventory makes finding a replacement property within the IRS’s 45-day window challenging. Missing the 180-day closing deadline means losing the exchange and facing a big tax bill.
2. High Acquisition Costs Locally Prices in areas like the North Shore or the Hamptons can make it difficult to find a property of equal or greater value. Some investors feel forced to “buy up” into higher-value properties, taking on more debt than planned.
3. Cash is Locked Up
If you want to free up some proceeds—for retirement, tuition, or other expenses—any amount taken out of the exchange becomes taxable. For investors looking for both liquidity and tax savings, this can be restrictive.
4. Risk of Rushed Decisions
With limited time and inventory, some investors end up overpaying just to complete the exchange. This can undermine the very benefits of the strategy.
5. Deferral, Not Elimination
A 1031 postpones taxes, it doesn’t erase them—unless you hold until death. If you eventually sell a property outside the exchange or laws change, you could face significant taxes.
The Bottom Line
For Long Island investors, a 1031 exchange can be a powerful way to reposition a portfolio—whether moving from residential rentals in Queens into commercial property in Nassau, trading a single high-maintenance property for several smaller ones, or shifting wealth into out-of-state markets.
But the rules are strict, deadlines are unforgiving, and the costs of mistakes can be high. Anyone considering a 1031 exchange should work closely with a qualified intermediary, tax advisor, and a local real estate professional who understands both the Long Island market and the IRS regulations.
Handled wisely, a 1031 exchange can be a cornerstone of long-term wealth building. Handled poorly, it can become an expensive misstep.
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 43+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant designations:
National Association of Realtors Graduate Realtors Institute (what I consider a Master’s degree in real estate).
Certified International Property Specialist - expert in consulting and completing international transactions.
National Association of Realtors Green designation: eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geothermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).
He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.
He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to:
https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search at your leisure on your own. However, for a “FREE” no obligation/ no strings attached 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com
You can now search at your leisure for properties at:
WWW.Li-RealEstate.com
bit.ly/4bXWVu6 (facebook.com)
bit.ly/4inVqaR (X.com) bit.ly/4bVSwrs (linkedIn) bit.ly/4inVK9z (Instagram)
Over 50 Fair coming September 14th
Continued from page 3
Supporting the Community
The fair is also partnering with Agape Meals for Kids, a local organization that provides meals to food-insecure children on Long Island. Guests are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable, single-serve food items or money. Those who donate will receive raffle tickets for a chance to win exciting prizes.
The Over 50 Fair has consistently received positive feedback and was even voted “Best of Nassau County” for the
“Best Annual Event/Festival – Live or Virtual” category for the last 10 years.
Ticket Information
Admission is $5 if purchased in advance at www.Over50Fair.com.
Online ticket purchases include a special door prize raffle entry at the expo. Tickets will be available at the door for $7, with free admission for Veterans with ID. Tickets include all classes, exhibits, singles lounge, musical performances, hearing screenings, and more.
The 16th Annual Over 50 Fair is made possible through the generous support of this year’s sponsors: Acupuncture
Wellness Services, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone LLP, East Neck and Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, Aetna, AARP Long Island, Suffolk County Ombudsman Investment Program / Family Service League, The Bristal, Men on the Move, Schneps Long Island, The Garden City News, Herald Community Newspapers, 106.1 BLI/ WBAB, and 516Ads.com/631Ads.com. For more information, visit www. Over50Fair.com or call Barbara Kaplan at 516-621-1446.
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of September 7-13, 2025
As the greens of summer gradually give way to the reds and browns of autumn, the night sky is undergoing its own seasonal changes. In the eastern sky at dusk, the autumn stars prepare to take center stage, while the springtime stars slip silently off to the west.
One of the most recognizable springtime star groupings descending in the west is the Big Dipper. If you’ve managed to miss it during this spring and summer, you can still catch it low in the northwestern sky.
If you’ve been reading my column for a while, you know that the shape of its bowl is outlined by four equally bright stars, and its bent handle is formed by three more. It’s quite handy, too, as its two “pointer” stars -- those that are farthest from the handle -direct one’s gaze right toward Polaris (aka, the North Star).
This “star-hopping” technique is possible not only from the Dipper’s two pointer stars but also from those making up its handle. Follow them away from the bowl, and you’ll soon find yourself looking at the bright star Arcturus.
Arcturus is one of my favorite stars of springtime. Not only is it the fourth brightest star in the heavens, it’s also the most brilliant north of the celestial equator, and it’s the main star of the
BY TRACY BECKERMAN
There was a time when I was a world-class sleeper. I would go to bed at midnight and wouldn’t emerge from my darkened cave until noon the next day. Alarms couldn’t wake me up. Firetrucks couldn’t wake me up. If there were an Olympic event for sleeping, I would have won the gold. I am sleep woman. Hear me snore.
That was all, of course, before I became a mom. Once the kids arrived, so did the sleepless nights. There were years of sick nights, nightmares, monsters in the closets, monsters under the beds, and the really skinny monsters that lurked in the air conditioning vents. After 10 years of this, I became an extremely light sleeper. If someone scratched their nose in the next room, I was up.
The good news was, eventually the monsters all disappeared, and the kids started sleeping through the night.
STARGAZERS
Farewell to the Stars of Spring
constellation Bootes, the Herdsman.
This star is a red giant about 25 times larger, and about 170 times more luminous, than our sun, and lies about 217 trillion miles, or 37 lightyears, from us. This means that the beautiful yellow-orange light entering our eyes tonight left that star in 1988.
Finding a herdsman among these stars is an impossible task, but seeing the outline of a kite isn’t too tough. Arcturus marks its base where a tail streams nicely off the lower left edge. Or, if the night is particularly warm, you might imagine it as an ice cream cone lying on its side, with Arcturus at its pointy base and a single scoop outlined by the stars on its upper right.
Just above Arcturus and Bootes on these late summer nights, you’ll find a delicate little star grouping known as Corona Borealis, the northern crown. In Greek mythology, Corona Borealis represents the jeweled crown, or wreath, worn by Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete, when she wed Bacchus. Another story suggests that its stars represent a braid of golden twine. To me, however, it represents a second dip of ice cream that fell off the cone!
Corona Borealis is one of the smallest constellations in the heavens; in fact, it ranks 72nd out of 88 constellations, and its brightest star -- Alphecca -- isn’t terribly bright at all, fainter than even the north star.
Once you spot the Big Dipper in the night sky, it’s easy to direct your gaze toward the bright star Arcturus.
There was one star in Corona Borealis that made the news recently. You may recall that I’ve written about a star in this grouping called T Corona Borealis, or the “Blaze Star” as it’s also known, that was expected to brighten significantly as a nova and change the appearance of this constellation for a
Rip Van Doesn’t Sleep a Winkle
Then they left the house altogether.
The bad news was, after too many years of sleepus interruptus, I had become a terrible sleeper.
“How’d you sleep?” asked my well-rested husband one morning.
Not so great,” I said.
“How come?”
“I woke up when you sighed at 3 a.m., and then I was up until 5.”
“When I sighed?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes. You sigh in your sleep. It woke me up.”
“Are you kidding me? My sigh woke you up? I sigh that loud?”
“No. But I heard it,” I complaind. “And then I couldn’t get back to sleep.”
He shook his head. It was beginning to dawn on him that he was married to a sleep freak. It wasn’t just the noises though. If he rolled over in the bed, I woke up. If he pulled up the covers, I woke up. If he breathed, I woke up. He
was actually a pretty considerate bed partner. Unfortunately, I had the sleep patterns of a fruit fly.
Since he was stuck with me, though, he volunteered some suggestions to help me with my sleeping issues.
“Warm milk?”
“I’m lactose intolerant?” I countered.
“Keep a pad of paper next to the bed?”
“I tried that,” I responded. “I wrote for an hour.”
“Boring book?”
“I found it interesting and read all night.”
He threw up his arms. “Sorry, honey. I’ll try to blink quietly tonight.”
Finally, I consulted the sleep experts and learned that I was in a bad sleep habit. They said what I needed was a few nights of uninterrupted sleep to retrain my brain. I thought I probably needed a few years of uninterrupted sleep to retrain my brain. But I decided to take some steps to see if maybe I
few days. If you’ve been watching and think you’ve missed it, don’t despair. We’re all still waiting!
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
could turn my sleep issues around.
That night, I covered my eyes with a sleep mask, covered my head with a pillow, closed all the blinds and snuggled into bed. But at 3 a.m., I jerked awake to the sound of a buzzsaw nearby. It was so loud, it sounded like it was in the bedroom. And then I realized it was ...
“Hey.” I poked my husband. “You woke me up with your snoring.”
“No, I didn’t,” he said.
“Then what was it?”
“Snoring.”
“But you just said you weren’t snoring,” I replied.
“I wasn’t,” he said. “You were.”
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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Celebrate Hispanic heritage with food
Mixed Tostadas
National Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual, month-long celebration that begins on September 15 and lasts through October 15. The month recognizes the culture, history and contributions of American citizens who can trace their lineages to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
There are many ways to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, including by enjoying culturally
Oil, for shallow frying
relevant foods. There’s no shortage of great recipes to enjoy during Hispanic Heritage Month, including this one for “Mixed Tostadas” from “The Complete Mexican, South American & Caribbean Cookbook” (Metro Books) by Jane Milton, Jenni Fleetwood and Marina Filippelli. Tostadas are like edible plates that can support many ingredients, as long as they aren’t too juicy.
Makes 14
14 freshly prepared unbaked corn tortillas
1 cup mashed red kidney or pinto beans
1 iceberg lettuce, shredded Olive oil and vinegar dressing (optional)
2 cooked chicken breast portions, skinned and thinly sliced
8 ounces guacamole
1 cup coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese Pickled jalapeño chiles, seeded and sliced, to taste
1) Heat the oil in a shallow frying pan and fry the corn tortillas, one by one, until golden brown on both sides and crisp but not hard.
2) Spread each tortilla with a layer of mashed pinto or kidney beans. Put
a layer of shredded lettuce (which can either be left plain or lightly tossed with a little dressing) over the beans.
3) Arrange chicken slices on top of the lettuce. Carefully spread over a layer of the guacamole and
finally sprinkle over the grated cheese.
4) Arrange the mixed tostadas on a large platter and serve immediately, while still warm. Use your hands to eat tostadas, as they are extremely messy.
Variations: Instead of chicken, try using shredded pork, ground beef or turkey, or sliced chorizo. For a more authentic taste, use queso fresco or feta cheese instead of cheddar.
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