The Garden City News (1/3/20)

CELEBRATING CHANUKAH

The Garden City Jewish Center celebrated Chanukah with its annual Latke and Dessert Party on the first night onf Chanukah. Almost 90 attendees enjoyed food and fun.

Trustees provide a sneak peek at capital projects, budget priorities for 2020

BY RIKKI N. MASSAND

A Board of Trustees’ work session on December 12th previewed priorities for the 2020-’21 Village of Garden City budget. Topics highlighted included resuming a vigorous street and road paving program; the continuing need for additional patron parking along the south side of the 7th Street shopping hub between Franklin Avenue and Hilton Avenue, plus address-

ing infrastructure upgrades for Garden City Fire Department Stations No. 2, in the West at Edgemere Road and Stewart Avenue, and No. 3 at St. James Street North and Clinton Road in the East.

The Board briefly mentioned notice of the coming year’s New York State Local Tax Cap maximum allowable levy of 1.78% compared to last year’s 2.0%, though the Village of Garden City raised the municipal tax levy 1.55% last

year. Trustee Daughney asked Village Treasurer Irene Woo for some concrete numbers on the village’s scheduled capital projects for (current) fiscal year 2019’20, “which are not yet done,” covering the period from June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020. Woo told the Board in a few weeks the Finance staff will meet with every village department head to listen to their updates on existing

See page 12

Board of Ed President Heineman to step down at end of term

BY RIKKI N. MASSAND

At the Central Property Owners’ Association meeting and holiday season gathering on Tuesday, December 10 at the Garden City Senior Center School Board President Angela Heineman updated neighbors on school district happenings and the schedule of Board of Education meetings and presentations, starting with the Tuesday, January 7 work session featuring the annual Student Achievement Report for the district. She commented on safety upgrades, the full-time security supervisor and new protocols in the district as well as the school bus stop safety initiative with the district coordinating with Garden City Police.

A week later on December 17, at the last Board of Education meeting of the year held at Stewart School, Heineman announced that she is not seeking re-election for 2020-’21 and beyond as she’s currently completing her 12th year as a board of education trustee.

“I will be finishing out my term which ends June 30, 2020. I decided not to seek re-election and I wanted to let the public know as you will hear about it as the electoral process in the Village plays out (starting with the Resident Electors’ meeting of her Central Property Owners’ Association and the other 3 POA’s all on Tuesday, January 21). In the meantime for the next six months it’s business as usual for me, the school board and our school district in putting the students first and our schools’ community first. Thank you,” she said, eliciting a round of applause from all administration, board members and parents present on December 17.

Heineman ascended to the volunteer position of school board president after serving as the GCUFSD board’s vice president under President Barbara Trapasso. In June of 2015, Trapasso submitted her resignation effective at the end of the school year (June 30). Angela Heineman was initially elected to be board president when the school board reorganized less than two weeks later. On July 8, 2015 a school board comprised of four trustees (after Trapasso resigned) re-organized for the 2015-’16 school year and elected Heineiman as the board president and Tom Pinou as vice president. Since then Heineman and Pinou have served in their respective board roles.

The CPOA recently submitted a press release which was

See page 6

From our mailbag

In this week’s letters to the editor column, a letter from writer George Salem raises many concerns over the Village of Garden City’s potential new debt load, especially as the village must finance some costs related to removing contaminants from the water supply, as well as potential costs for rehabilitating St. Paul’s. (In a bit of late news at Christmas, the Village received a $9 million grant to help pay for a $15 million water remediation project.)

Mr. Salem raises the alarming prospect that the village could lose its coveted AAA bond rating if a great deal more debt is incurred, which would additionally raise borrowing costs for the Village.

His letter is worth a read, and hopefully will spur discussion on the spend-

ing priorities of the Village.

Another letter, by writer Pam Rivera, discusses the risks 5G wireless technology, which is being rolled out nationally.

A quick Google search on the health risks of 5G technology shows that while most experts say there is nothing to fear, there are some who disagree. The electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell towers is “non-ionizing” which means that it is too weak to break chemical bonds and cause mutations, and is generally thought to be safe.

On the other hand, the World Health Organization has classified radio frequency radiation as “possibly carcinogenic”, but hard research is still lacking, so perhaps caution is warranted.

5G is coming to our neighborhoods

To the Editor:

Watching the Verizon trucks roaming around my neighborhood in the western section of town has me feeling terrified about the impending rollout of 5G wireless technology.

5G is being touted by the telecomm giants as being the next generation of wireless, where everything will be bigger, better and faster, but some scientists are saying it could be a global catastrophe in the making. The problem is 5G relies on small cells to be placed no more than 300 feet apart on everything from lampposts, traffic lights and trash cans in order to work properly to transmit data in real time and successfully navigate driverless cars. These small cells are being installed without public notice or consent, and transmit along EMFs (electro magnetic frequencies) of 1 -2 Hertz, the biological and environmental effects of which are still being learned about.

BAYMACK

The telecomm giants are railroading this technology into our neighborhoods, effectively making it easier for “big data” to monitor private citizens behavior for the benefit of corporate profits. Our increased exposure to EMFs over the last 20 years has already contributed to the uptick in biological diseases like cancer, endocrine disorders, psychiatric illness and memory loss conditions. It has also contributed to environmental damage, as evidenced by the gradual disappearance of our honeybees, insects and diminishing bird population.

I for one, do not care to be part of a bigger, better and faster world if it means a world of increasing sickness, disease and environmental destruction. Technology is already moving faster than our bodies and minds can keep up with, as evidenced by all the stress, anxiety and “busyness” we feel on a daily basis. My children both have smart phones, and the majority of my parenting time is spent monitoring and helping modulate their use of the phones, which have done little more than teach

them to value the wrong things in life and be perennially dissatisfied with how they look and what they have (and therefore nag their parents to spend more money). I’m not saying that technology is good or bad in and of itself, but the question I find myself pondering, is how can we redeem it for the greater good of humanity?

So as for the 5G rollout, what can we private citizens do about it? I feel the answer is to do what has always worked, which is to find our voices and engage in the political process. Chances are, most government officials are not aware of the possible biological/environmental consequences of 5G, so it’s up to us to get educated and educate them.

Write or go and visit local and state officials, from our own GC village government to our state senator Kevin Thomas, congresswoman Kathleen Rice and assemblyman Ed Ra, who have local offices here in town. Their doors are always open to hear the concerns of their constituents. To end with a quote from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Pam Rivera

Financial challenges to the Board

To the Editor:

On Dec. 12, I attended a Garden City Board of Trustees meeting, at which I heard some disturbing comments from some of our trustees. This letter is being written a few weeks after the meeting so as not to be buried by the busy holiday season.

As background, one of my primary concerns, over the last two years or so, has been the affordability of the enormous potential increase in the Village debt load as a result of the simultaneous costs of the “big two”: St Paul’s and our expenditures to improve the quality of our water supply. The source of funds

See page 14

Board asks state to modify changes to discovery laws

BY RIKKI N. MASSAND

In December the Village of Garden City Board of Trustees approved a resolution calling for modifications of New York’s new ‘Discovery Reform Law’ which took effect on January 1. The law overhauls rules governing the sharing of evidence with defense in criminal casesl.

Under the new laws, law enforcement and prosecutors must turn over all “discoverable” materials within 15 days of arraignment, although they can have an additional 30 days if the materials are voluminous or not easily obtainable.

In addition, suspects must be given a chance to review the materials prior to making a plea bargain agreement.

Trustee Brian Daughney asked to remove a draft resolution from the Board of Trustees’ consent calendar at the December 12 meeting, but within minutes an amendment was agreed to.

The resolution as-drafted for the Board’s last meeting stated, “expressing support for a delay beyond January 1, 2020 by NYS in the implementation of the recent ‘Discovery’ and other rules enacted to amend the State’s Criminal Procedure and Penal Law, including expediting the disclosure of evidence, and authorizing the Mayor to sign a

Petition seeking a delay in the implementation of the new requirements.”

The Board’s meeting agenda offered background on the resolution: “New York State recently enacted laws requiring expedited disclosure of evidence to defendants in criminal prosecutions, as well as changes to bail and other criminal law procedures. Many law enforcement and other agencies have expressed concern that local municipalities are not yet equipped to comply with the new rules, particularly the expedited disclosure requirements.”

Daughney said the State Legislature announced it would not be changing the date of effect from January 1 and the reform law would not be rescinded, commenting that he has issues “with some of the substantive parts of this.”

The Board spoke about the resolution and the State Law, with Trustee John Delany and Trustee Mark Hyer expressing discontent for this law.

According to a few trustees, this law has been substantively opposed at local levels. Citing the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) and its local connection, current NYCOM president (Village of Freeport) Mayor Robert Kennedy, the December 12 Board resolution noted a proposed petition to Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Legislature to delay the January

1, 2020 implementation of the changes, “pending further study,” and NYCOM requested local village mayors to sign the petition. The resolution would have shown support for that effort, but the village approved additional input.

Trustee Delany called the new law “ridiculous and bad.” He said the village should pass its resolution “so that at some point we show support for district attorneys across New York State and other legislators who ARE AGAINST THIS -- this is a bad, bad law and it will hurt any one of us who is a victim of a crime or any law abiding citizen. It only helps criminals.”

Delany said Garden City officials should pass a resolution in December showing support for the NYS Law to be changed. He asked Village Attorney Kenneth Gray to modify the resolution

to reflect that position.

“Instead of asking for a delay past January 1 this should state that we are asking that the State Discovery Law be withdrawn or substantially modified,” Delany said. But Gray advised that the Board’s resolution that night was in consideration of joining into Mayor Kennedy’s and NYCOM’s petition, “which would then be forwarded to New York State officials.” He advised that the village’s formal action could be to sign the petition and supplement it with further comments, possibly in a cover letter..

The Board’s resolution was amended during the December 12 meeting. Trustee Delany formally noted, and the trustees approved, a position for the

Gas station armed robbery

On December 30th at 9:30 PM, Garden City Police responded to the Mobil Gas Station on Franklin Avenue for a report of an armed robbery.

The clerk at the station reported that a man entered the store displaying a black handgun and ordered the clerk to give him all the money from the

cash register or he would be shot. The clerk complied by giving the robber an unknown amount of cash. The subject, described as a male black, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black mask and blue jeans, fled the scene on foot southbound on Franklin Avenue.

Monica Kiely

Or Mayer

Jayne McGratty

Roseanne

reNtaL

n Plumbing repairs

n Drain cleaning

n Heat repairs

n Installation of appliances

n Installation of toilets & sinks

n Water filtration systems

We pride ourselves on having the most professional and qualified plumbers in Nassau County. Neat clean and courteous.

THI S WEEK AT ROTARY

Mineola Mayor Strauss to Report at 2020 Kick-off Lunch Meeting

On Monday, January 13, noon, at the Garden City Hotel, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club will welcome Mayor Scott P. Strauss to kick off the Club’s 2020 season with a report on current happenings in the Incorporated Village of Mineola, our neighboring village abutting Garden City to the north.

Scott Strauss has served as Mayor of Mineola for the past 8 years.

Scott is employed by Northwell Health as their Assistant Vice President of Security. Northwell Health is comprised of 23 hospitals, over 70,000 employees and over 700 satellite locations servicing an area of 11 million people. They are the largest private employer in the state of New York. His responsibilities include the supervision of all investigations and the coordination of local, state and federal law enforcement entities with the Health System. He is also charged with the development, organization, planning, coordination and enforcement of all security programs as well as the mitigation of all major incidents within the Health System.

Scott is also a retired Detective from the Emergency Service Unit of the New York City Police Department. He has received numerous awards for his bravery and service including the N.Y.P.D.’s Medal for Valor. On September 11, 2001, Scott was part of a team that risked their lives to rescue two N.Y./N.J. Port Authority Police Officers trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center. The story of these Officers, and their amazing rescue, was made into a movie directed by Oliver Stone titled “World

Trade Center.” Scott received the N.Y.P.D.’s highest award, the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

In addition to being Mayor, Scott is also active in his community in other ways. He is a 38 year member of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department where he was a line officer as well as their Chief of Department. Scott is a two-time recipient of his fire company’s “Firefighter of the Year” award as well as the Town of Hempstead New York’s “Firefighter of the Year” award. He is also a member of many community based organizations as well as an Assistant Scoutmaster for the local Boy Scout Troop. Incidentally, Scott is an Eagle Scout (as are his two sons) and has been awarded the coveted National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award by the National Eagle Scout Association.

Scott is a member of many professional organizations such as the N.Y.P.D.’s Honor Legion, N.Y.S. Shields Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Firefighters Association of the State of New York, American Society for Industrial Security, the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety, N.Y.P.D. Shield program, as well as many others.

He was raised in Mineola, and continues to reside there with his wife Pat and sons Bryan and Christopher.

Please join Rotary for this first of a series of lunch and fellowship meetings open to the public throughout the 2020 season. Lunch meetings are held on 2nd and 4th Mondays interspersed with evening fellowship meetings.

To reserve for January 13, please call Joseph Packard, Club President at 516-279-1851.

Board of Ed President

Heineman to step down

From page 1

published December 20, 2019 in The Garden City News announcing Matthew Wakeham, a Central resident and the executive director of Garden City Friends of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) as its nominee to replace Heineman as school board trustee from its POA, for a term from 2020-’21 through 2022-’23.

Wakeham has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Pratt

Institute and a master’s degree in archaeology and preservation from Leicester University. He is also a senior member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) where he has chaired several standards development committees and is presently Chair for a Smart Grid Working Group, according to the CPOA. From 2016 through 2018 Wakeham was co-president of the Garden City Friends of Music.

Are you a professional?

The Board of Trustees and staff continue to work on numerous projects, including preparation of the 2020/21 Village budget, treatment at Village water wells, the stabilization plan for the former St. Paul’s School and other matters. I encourage you to attend Village Board of Trustees meetings; the schedule can be found on the Village’s website, www.gardencityny. net.

Grant to offfset cost of safeguarding village water

Garden City was awarded a grant of approximately $9 million to fund two of its Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) system projects, which have an estimated cost of $16.5 million. The Environmental Facilities Corporation awarded the grant money through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act and the Inter-municipal Water Infrastructure Grant Program to numerous Long Island municipalities to help offset the cost of projects that protect public health and improve water quality.

To assist with the cost of installing the systems to address emerging contaminants like 1,4-Dioxane, grants for

these projects will no longer be capped at $3 million but will now instead cover 60 percent of total capital project costs, the governor further announced.

To date, a total of $36 million in bonds have been authorized by the Board of Trustees to treat this issue. Since October, the Board of Trustees has authorized the purchase of remediation-related equipment to remove emerging contaminants from the water supply for Well Nos. 7 and 8, and 10 through 16. These approvals include the Trojanuflex Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) systems, Oxidant storage tanks, which are required for use with the system, along with water-shed UV reactor and control stations to house the systems.

Grievance Day hearing. Blood Drive

Long Island Blood Services will hold a blood drive at the Garden City Public Library on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the large meeting room on the lower level of the Library. Eligible donors must be between 16 and 75 years of age, with a minimum weight of 110 lbs., and no tattoos within the past 12 months. Sixteen year olds must have parental permission and donors age 76 and over must present a doctor’s note. All donors must have valid ID with signature or photo. Donors are encouraged to eat well (low fat) and drink fluids. For medical questions concerning blood donations, call

Change in Board meeting date

The Monday, February 24, 2020 Board of Trustees meeting has been changed to Tuesday, February 25, 2020. This date change is requested as this is the date of the Grievance Day hearing and the Board meeting is typically held on the same date as the

1-800-688-0900. Call the Library at 7428405 x210 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

Collection of trees & wreaths

A reminder to residents who have a natural Christmas tree or wreath to dispose of - please leave them at the curb on your regularly scheduled recycling collection day. They will be collected by the Department of Public Works beginning Thursday, January 2, 2020. Please assist the Village by removing tree stands, strands of electric lights and plastic bags from the discarded trees and cooperate with your neighbors by disposing of them only on the scheduled recycling collection days. In case it’s not picked up the day it was placed to the curb, it will be picked up the following day.

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Mayor Theresa Trouvé

Revoked license: After a traffic stop investigation on Franklin Avenue at 4th Street on December 24th, a 28 year old Roosevelt man was charged with driving with revoked license privileges and unlicensed operation.

Late gift “shopping”? On Christmas Day Garden City police responded to Walgreens for a report of a man stealing assorted cosmetic items valued at $65.

Underage DWI: On December 26th, after stopping a vehicle on Hamilton Place for allegedly speeding on Franklin Avenue, Garden City Police arrested an underaged driver, a 20 year old East Rockaway woman, for DWI, open alcoholic container and excessive speed.

Credit card fraud: Garden City Police investigated a report of unauthorized purchases against a resident’s credit card totaling $1,800.

Suspended license: On December 27th a vehicle traveling north on Clinch Avenue was observed by a Garden City Police officer allegedly passing two stop signs. Upon investigation, the driver, a 21 year old Uniondale man, was charged with driving with a sus-

pended license and passing two stop signs.

Multiple violations: As a result of a traffic stop investigation on Franklin Avenue and Cedar Place on December 27th, a 32 year old Queens woman was charged with driving with a suspended license, improper turn, suspended registration, and uninsured operation.

Missing wallet: Garden City Police investigated the theft of property from a locker at Healthtrax on December 27th.

Fleeing suspect: On December 28th a Garden City Police officer observed a vehicle traveling south on Clinton Road at a high rate of speed. When the officer activated his emergency lights and sirens, the driver allegedly fled the scene and eventually struck a parked vehicle on Huntington Road and Westbury Road. The driver exited his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Police located and apprehended the subject, a 21 year old Brooklyn man, on Emmet Place. He was charged with

an outstanding larceny warrant, unlicensed operation, excessive speed, unlawful fleeing from a police officer, leaving the scene of an accident, passing a stop sign, and unsafe turn.

Financial crime: On December 28th Garden City Police investigated a report of multiple unauthorized withdrawals from a resident’s money market account.

Check fraud: A Franklin Avenue business reports two checks placed in the mail were intercepted, altered, and rewritten to another party for a total loss of $9,400.

Police car crash: A police vehicle was westbound on Merillon Avenue on December 28th, responding to an emergency call with its emergency lights and sirens activated, when a vehicle traveling south on Rockaway Avenue allegedly passed a stop sign and struck the police vehicle. The police officer was transported to Winthrop Hospital with a leg injury. The driver of the other vehicle, a 43 year old California woman, was charged with passing a stop sign and

failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Suspended license: On December 29th a 27 year old North Babylon man was charged with driving on Cathedral Avenue with a suspended license, unregistered vehicle, and a license plate violation.

DWI arrest: On December 29th Garden City Police arrested a 21 year old Lynbrook man for allegedly driving on Franklin Avenue while DWI as well as unregistered operation and two unsafe lane usage violations.

Criminal mischief: Officers investigated a criminal mischief report at a Tullamore Road residence where someone damaged a string of Christmas lights on December 29th.

Domestic incident: On December 30th, as a result of a domestic incident investigation, Garden City Police arrested a 52 year old Garden City man for allegedly pushing another family member to the floor, resulting in the victim sustaining facial and head lacerations and contusions. He was charged with assault.

FOR SENIORS fyi

Chi Kung Exercise and Meditation Class Forming

Please join Andrea Albergo for chi kung, which is considered a beautiful, peaceful path for body, mind and spirit. Andrea will show how to create a peaceful body by combining movement, breathing and meditation. This class is geared for seniors or the beginner adult.

The six-week session will begin Thursday, January 16 and will be held at 1 p.m. at Garden City’s Senior Center. The price for the session is $48. To register this class, please visit the Office of Recreation and Parks at 108 Rockaway Avenue, or, if you have a password you can register online at www.gcreconline. gardencityny.net.

Upcoming Trips for Seniors

Here are Garden City Recreation and Parks’ trip list for seniors who are residents of the Inc. Village of Garden City. If you would like to register for any of our trips, please visit the Recreation and Parks Office at 108 Rockaway Avenue. Payment must accompany registrations.

Thursday, March 19

Trip to see “La Traviata” at the Metropolitan Opera

We will travel by coach bus, leaving St. Paul’s parking lot around 3:15 pm. When we arrive dinner will be on your own. There are many restaurants in the

neighborhood. Show time is at 7:30 pm and we will travel home when the opera is over.

The cost of each ticket will be $80, checks only made payable to Village of Garden City. Space is limited so please register early by visiting the Recreation and Parks Office at 108 Rockaway Avenue. PLEASE NOTE: THIS TRIP IS NOW FILLED.

Exercise for Seniors

Recreation and Parks is offering the following exercise classes for seniors at The Senior Center on Golf Club Lane. Classes are open to all seniors ages 60 and older who are residents of the Inc. Village of Garden City. Classes might be cancelled due to a special event or trip so please check the bulletin board at The Senior Center for updates.

MONDAYS

Exercise with Felicia at 10 a.m.

Chair Yoga with Connie at noon Tai Chi with Connie at 1 p.m.

TUESDAYS

Chair Dancing with Felicia at 2:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS

Exercise with Felicia at 10 a.m.

Chair Yoga with Connie at 11 a.m.

FRIDAY

Exercise with Felicia at 10 a.m.

Resistance Bands with Felicia at 10:45 a.m.

Meditation with Connie at noon Tai Chi with Connie at 1:00 p.m.

GC Retired Men’s Club News

Schedule of Events

Monday, January 6

Regular Meeting

Monday, January 13

Sandwiches

Monday, January 20

MLK Day, Closed About the G.C. Retired Men’s Club

Meetings are at the GC Senior Center — noon to 4pm — on Mondays and Thursdays. Lunch is served about twice a month. We welcome bridge, poker, cribbage, chess, backgammon and other card and non-card games. Poker players check with John Marino at 248-1770. For more information, call our membership chairman at 327-0226.

Board asks state to modify changes to discovery laws

From page 3

NYS law to be “amended or changed substantially.” That notice comes up in addition to signatures representing the Village of Garden City on the NYCOM petition. As Attorney Gray explained,

“the village is joining in the petition and also supplementing it.”

With Trustee Stephen Makrinos’ absent on December 12 the rest of the Board of Trustees voted unanimously, 7-0, for the resolution.

Getting Married?

email editor@gcnews.com to put your engagement, wedding, or baby announcement in the paper

The Stretch IRA Repeal

BY BOB MORGAN, JR.

As we ring in the new year, a few thoughts about the current state of legislative process, as reflected in a fairly obscure but significant change in the tax law. This change is the elimination of so-called “stretch” IRA’s.

Ok, before readers’ eyes start to glaze over, while the Congressional legislative process is not as high profile or dramatic as the one relating to impeachment, it actually is a window into the way laws are made that potentially can affect our lives.

A little bit of background here.

The recent $1.4 trillion appropriations bill signed by President Trump in December keeps the federal government open by authorizing spending for various agencies. Neither Mr. Trump nor congressional Democrats wanted to risk the political hit associated with a federal shutdown, especially as the impeachment process continues. The appropriations bill included many provisions reflecting political horsetrading between the parties and financing cherished projects, with not much regard for the effect of the legislation on budget deficits.

Since the appropriations bill was regarded as “must pass” legislation, lawmakers attempted to include in the bill non-budgetary proposals that had widespread support.

One of the measures that did end up included in the appropriations legislation was the SECURE Act, a mostly noncontroversial series of provisions encouraging increased participation in 401k and other retirement plans. For example, the SECURE Act encourages automatic enrollment in retirement plans, encourages plans to provide an annuity option, permits unrelated employers to join together to create a plan and eliminates the age limit to contribute to a traditional IRA. The bill also increases to age 72 the age in which IRA owners must begin to take taxable minimum distributions from their accounts.

Of course, like most legislation, there were some budgetary costs associated with implementing the SECURE Act and budget rules generally require that new legislation include offsetting revenue raisers to cover the budgetary costs.

Enter the sudden repeal of the stretch IRA.

IRAs include both traditional IRAs, in which pretax money are contributed to the account, with taxes paid on distribution and Roth IRA’s in which already taxed

income is contributed and distributions are generally tax free. Before the change to the law, the holder of a traditional IRA could leave the account to a non-spouse beneficiary, with the beneficiary only required to take taxable distributions over his or her life expectancy.

So, for example, if the beneficiary of a traditional IRA is a younger individual with a life expectancy of 50 years at the time of the IRA owner’s death, the distributions previously could be stretched out and thevbeneficiary was only required to take a relatively small distribution (1/50 of the account balance in the first year), with earnings on the undistributed account balance building up each year. Also, the relatively small required annual distribution would not generally cause the beneficiary’s income to be subject to much higher tax brackets.

Now, however, the stretch IRA is generally eliminated in the case of traditional IRA owners dying after December 31, 2019. The amount in the IRA must be distributed within 10 years, likely producing higher tax brackets and substantial increased taxation to the beneficiary, as well as much less income buildup. The principal exception is that the rule does not affect beneficiaries that are the owner’s spouse, less than 10 years younger than the owner or disabled or chronically ill individuals. A beneficiary who is a minor must take distributions within 10 years of reaching adulthood.

Is this change fair? In principle, it is not unreasonable. IRA accounts are supposed to provide funds for the owner’s retirement and are not necessarily intended to be estate planning vehicles whereby an individual can shelter income from taxation over many decades. On the other hand, the change, which has no grandfather clause, disrupts long term arrangements for transferring family wealth on a few days notice.

The problem with the stretch IRA repeal and many other changes in the tax law (the repeal of the state and local law tax deduction certainly comes to mind) intended to be revenue raisers is that they are suddenly inserted in legislation to balance the books without much thought about policy priorities or real world consequences. There just has to be a better way.

Trustees provide a sneak peek at capital projects, budget priorities

capital projects village-wide.

“Naturally some of our current projects will flow into fiscal year 2020-’21. Some projects slated for 2019-’20 have not yet begun and we still have projects from year 2018-’19 that are still being worked on,” she said.

For the village’s five-year Capital Plan established in 2018, according to Woo projects identified to begin in the 2020-’21 fiscal year that would total $10.1 million of budgeted funds.

“Projects discussed tonight for Edgemere Fire Station and addressing 7th Street parking are not included in that total, although road paving was anticipated to resume in the 2020-’21 fiscal year,” Woo noted.

Deputy Mayor Robert Bolebruch said the key next year and beyond is maintaining fiscal strength that Garden City has demonstrated and been acknowledged by Moody’s Investor Services, among other agencies. While he supports early stage planning for multiple village capital projects, Bolebruch commented on due diligence that this involves.

“We also have to look at how the increased principal plus interest payments of last fiscal year have increased this year. Because of the curve ball we have with the water supply and reme-

diation that would increase next year (starting in June). One proven aspect is the financial strength of our village. Our village has a Triple A bond rating and it has maintained financial strength to address any emergencies that have happened. We’ve had financial ability to deal with that, but we need to keep things in line. I am absolutely in support of doing many of the different projects but we will need to examine numbers and say where we were a year ago and where we would be this year.

Next we will study where we’d be once we spend funds on the water supply,” Bolebruch said. He added that percentages of the overall village budget need to be allocated efficiently, with scrutiny on interest and principal. Bolebruch advised that Irene Woo will provide department heads and trustees with specific numbers “once we get a clearer picture” of the water treatment-related costs.

Trustee Daughney said for GCFD Station No. 2 “we are all on board that it’s gotta get done” and funds should be allocated within the 2020-’21 capital budget. Deputy Mayor Robert Bolebruch thought a parallel exists in village considerations for budgets addressing the fire stations and “assessing the needs” at both Stations No. 2 and 3.

Mayor Theresa Trouvé commented on the November 15 and 22 presen-

tations to members of the Board and Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi by the consulting architects PKAD Architects & Design. She questioned if all eight village trustees have seen the design work for Station No. 2 but Trustee Daughney said he has not had the chance as of yet. Trustee Louis Minuto said he opened a computer file on it but didn’t meet with PKAD.

“Afterwards there were some questions left unresolved and we should pick up on that again with another presentation. As soon as everyone of us gets to see it we could schedule another meeting on it,” Trouvé said. Trustee John Delany suggested adding a Board work session for the Station No. 2 design, potentially for the Board’s January 9 meeting.

For road repairs and repaving Daughney says with DPW doing much over the past several years -- up to 17 miles of municipal streets and roads (not including county roads) -- the 20192020 fiscal year saw some scaling back in this area of village operations and budgeting. “By next year, maybe we need to get back to planning out a four to five miles per year project basis. It may be more than that if we include municipal parking lots,” he said.

side of Lot 7S abutting the fence of the LIRR tracks along that strip. We can look at a parking structure that would go up one floor and down one floor. The bottom line is if because of the success on 7th Street the village could provide additional parking I think the village can alleviate a lot of the issues our businesses are facing there and I think it can encourage more business there -- this idea should be looked at,” Deputy Mayor Bolebruch said.

Trustee John Delany said the Garden City Chamber of Commerce investigated costs of a parking structure, “and it would cost way more than $3 million.”

Mayor Trouvé said the village has made strides with more parking at areas across Franklin Avenue “and at convincing people that it is not that far too walk and it’s a wonderful, fabulous huge parking lot they can use.”

Trustee Louis Minuto commented that the valet idea has legitimacy in solving the crowded situations of 7S, and to a lesser extent, Lot 7N where dozens of parking permits and reserved spaces have been sold to local apartment residents.

Bolebruch said the allocations for the “road diet” changed for the Village of Garden City because “we had allocated so much work over the period of the last few years that Mr. DiFrancisco and his road crews (DPW) literally couldn’t catch up with what we authorized. To his and their credit they really performed much to catch up but I think the village can simply go back to the schedule we were allocating,” he said.

Valet Parking in Lot 7S?

“We could have the largest and nicest parking lot in the universe and people still won’t want to walk. But if we had a specific, municipal lot valet service that you drop your car at and valets take it to park and bring it back, that would be one solution,” he said. Trustee Daughney added that a valet in a busy lot would only increase the ability of people to park in one specific location, “because valet guys would park two and three cars deep” to allow more cars to circulate into the area.

The prospects of a parking structure, which some trustees would cost well over $3 million, remain grim as the Board received Trustee Brian Daughney’s suggestion for valet parking better last Thursday. Daughney emphatically said he would “look at valet parking options and costs long before he would vote to spend millions on a parking deck” for Village Lot 7S.

Deputy Mayor Bolebruch commented that in consideration of formulating the budget, with more patrons visiting shops and restaurants on the south side of 7th Street the need to address parking with funds in the next village budget is a priority.

“Lot 7S and even Lot 7N have a finite number of parking spaces. We are trying to address it with things we are doing like the permits for 7N, but this was talked about years ago and I think it is something to bring up for consideration -- we should look at the potential to add a parking structure in the south

Trustee Minuto says valets taking cars and walking to and from lots along Franklin “where there’s nothing but a sea of parking spaces as far as the eye can see” would help out drivers who arrive on 7th Street and skip potential dining or business there because there doesn’t appear to be anywhere to park.

DPW garage door project

At the Board’s December 12 meeting a project bid of $136,242 to Flushingbased United Steel Products, Inc. for the replacement of four garage doors at the GCFD headquarters (351 Stewart Avenue) as well as four garage doors at the DPW Village Yard at the Recreation & Parks Department building was approved by trustees, 7-0. Department of Public Works Superintendent Joseph DiFrancisco said funds for this come from multiple village budget accounts: $63,000 from DPW plus Fire Department account, $69,654 within its budget and an additional $3588 from the prior “Mechanic Shop Garage Door” capital project.

for rates and information.

for these costs is essentially three: issue bonds, and/or raise taxes on the residents, or, existing reserves . There is no way these items can be taken care of via annual budgeting, Even if St Paul’s spending is curtailed or slowed, the water spending must, for obvious reasons, be undertaken! And it may all begin to be felt in 2020, in our water bills and general taxes.

There is bit of good news for the Trustees. In late December, New York Gov. Cuomo proposed a huge amount of grants for municipalities in NY State, specifically for water contaminant removal projects. Garden City was listed for a $9 million grant to be used for $15 million of spending on two of our wells. While a handsome sum, it does not change, materially, GC’s fiscal challenges related to our water system, which include spending for equipment and annual maintenance. Further, the timing, and amounts, of receipt of these pledged grants is subject to political risk.

Importantly, I do not detect that the trustees have clear plans, presently, as to the timing, amounts and type of financing sources. I hope they come up with plans in the budget meetings in coming months. To be clear, the major burden of paying for the “Big Two” will fall on Garden City residents. Interest and principal on bonds will be manifested in amortized payments over the longer term, which are a budget expense item for the Village.

The GC Village bonded debt amount was given to me, by Treasurer Irene Woo, as roughly $53 million, currently. The combined cost of the “big two” could be as high as $200 million -- with half for water and half for ST. Paul’s. So as not to frighten everyone, $200

million will NOT be spent. The figure would probably be reduced by: slowing St Paul’s spending, and water expenditures could be cut by potential grants from government agencies. Lastly some payments could come from the operating budget.

So, even $100-plus million of spending could raise our bond issuing and tax burden on residents -- even if the costs could be spread over, say, 20 years. And all of this on top of $53 million currently outstanding. This to me is an astounding set of numbers, and the roots of my letter today. Another question I have is School Board debt, now about $ 26 mil. This not in the $53 million of Village debt, yet the school debt is “secured” by the same taxes levied on GC residents. There is also water district debt of $7 million. Thus, there is a combined total of the three debts of $86 mil. -before expenses for the Big-Two! Can GC afford more St. Paul’s debt? I doubt it. St Paul’s plans must be scrapped, or GC’S debt load would be back-breaking!

At the Dec 12 meeting I stood up and stated that the Big Two could severely damage our pristine AAA rating by the bond-rating agencies -- Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. The triple-A rating is not enjoyed by many municipalities. It is a major indicator of financial strength. The GC Chamber of Commerce, Trustees and others, point to this rating as one key reason to live here: sound finances. If lost, it would, in my humble, personal opinion be a blow to GC’s image as a great community, with few peers. And people considering moving into GC could get turned off from their interest in us -- especially if opposition from concerned residents create financial uncertainty. In addition some residents have recently expressed desires to leave GC owing to rising taxes. Some trustees have stated that a

planned recreation center at St Paul’s would be an attraction for prospective residents, I disagree with that thesis.

Ok, here are my punchlines:

The Garden City trustees do not seem to be terribly concerned about losing our cherished AAA, or a huge increase in taxes.

They strongly objected to my question at the meeting. One trustee, who I will not name, said “so what” if we lose the AAA? We have been as low as only single-A in the past. And further, another trustee said the cost to GC (interest-rate) of, say, AA-rated bonds is a very small difference from AAA. Other trustees chimed in essentially agreeing with the first trustee, and none of them suggested I was wrong!. Wrong to fear potentially doubling our bonded debt? Duh.

He, and they, are wrong! Not only do you suffer image damage, but crucially, it brings up my question of less-thanAAA quality of GC’s overall fiscal management. Further, the question arises of where do we go from here? To AA, A or what? It simply creates uncertainty among observers of our financial health. Our Rolls Royce image is no longer safe. I should add that there are more criteria, used by the rating agencies, than just the absolute size of present bonded debt. To rate a municipality requires

literally dozens of financial ratios. And rating is an art, not a science. Lots of judgement. So we cannot predict when and if, a new rating will be completed. And sometimes an agency will publish a warning of a potential rating reduction before an actual ratings cut. This may provide time for our management to get its financial house in order,

Conclusions:

Please understand, readers, I am not sounding an alarm of major financial chaos in GC’s future. Nor am I sure we will lose our AAA which has existed for 9 years. I am reminding our trustees that apathy, procrastination and business-as usual are out the window, and that we are at a crossroads between the good old days of “easy street”, and a huge new tomorrow that requires difficult decision-making by our leaders. Finally I believe that the residents of GC should be on board, and fully informed, periodically, of the plans and goals of the trustees. In recent years residents have been essentially kept in the dark about these matters. Knowing the plans allows residents to provide oversight, checks and balances and a voice in a democratic form of government. After all, residents are threatened with rising taxes and water bills.

George M. Salem

Local artists to be featured at GC Library exhibition

The Garden City Library walls will once again be graced with the fabulous pastel paintings of the art students of Arleen Rueth Urban, PSA, local Garden City Artist and instructor.

Rembrats 2020 is an annual exhibition of students’ works from Cluett Hall, the Garden City Community Club, and the private lessons taught in Arleen’s home. The show will run from Monday, January 6 through Saturday, February 29 in the lower level of the library.

Arleen is a professional portrait artist who paints from photographs for the convenience of her clients. She has shared her talent, techniques and creative skills with her students, which can readily be

recognized by viewing this juried show and exhibition of her students.

Her classes at Cluett Hall are open to all Garden City residents and will commence again on Friday, Feburary 21.

Her “Art Through Life” Class at the Community Club of Garden City is open to all club members and will begin on Thursday, March 5 at the Garden City Casino. For information on the Rembrats 2020 Show, art lessons, or commissioned portraiture, contact Arleen at 516 352 6798

It is the philosophy of the instructor, that if you have an interest, you have a hidden talent, and that “Art is the only entity in life that actually improves with age.”

“Captain Sean” by Arleen Rueth Urban PSA

“Pip” by Griffin Lord, winner of the HJR Award of Excellence

“Village by the Sea” by Ann Marie Carr, Award of Excellence

The Welcoming Club of Garden City

Happy Holidays from the Welcoming Club of Garden City!

Save the Date for our first ever couples Trivia Night!

A new and exciting couples event filled with great food, open bar and trivia competition. Mark your calendars, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Tickets go on sale 12/27!

Save the Date:

January 8, 2020 is Movie Night. The movie is TBD. Tickets go on sale December 11, 2019!

Upcoming Events

1/8/20: Movie Night

2/7/20: Trivia Night

4/25/20: Amazing Race

** Bowling Club** meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Herrill Lanes

Join a Group

Book Club

Enjoy a good book amongst good friends. Our book club meets on a monthly basis to discuss the page turner of choice. For upcoming book club events, please email WelcomingClubBookClub@gmail. com.

Craft Club

The craft club is a great way to meet with friends and practice your crafting skills. This club meets every few months and creates a seasonal project. If you are interested in joining, please email GCCraftClub@ gmail.com.

Supper Club

Bring your significant others out for this one!

This is a great way to make new friends as a couple. You will be paired up with 3-4 other couples to set up a rotation of dinner events. Host your new friends at a pot luck dinner or head out to try our local restaurants. Please email GCSupper@gmail.com for more information.

Bowling Club

Join us! No experience necessary! We are looking for new faces to join our Wednesday morning league. Occasional pacers are also welcome. Anyone interested, please contact Ellen Diller (Diller05@aol. com) Carol Santangelo (santa060@ yahoo.com) or Elizabeth Colantonio (mcdea@aol.com).

Bunko

Bunko is a simple dice game usually played in a group of 12. It is a great way to meet people and make new friends. The game is easy to learn and play. If you are interested, please contact WelcomingClubBunco@ gmail.com.

Toddler Activities

A great way for you and your little ones to make new friends. Activities include stroller walks each Tuesday around our beautiful neighborhood and a visit to the park. Stroller walks are on winter hiatus and will start up again in April 2020. Playgroups for parents and kids can also be arranged for your littles ones! Please email GCToddlerActivities@gmail. com for more information.

Ladies of the Bowling Club

Golf

Golf lessons at Cherry Valley Club are always a big hit! Golf pro Ed Kelly helps us GCWC ladies improve our golf game. If you are interested in reserving your spot for the spring 2020 session, email WelcomingClubGolf@gmail.com.

Tennis

Tennis lessons and group play at the Garden City Bubble! Please contact WelcomingClubTennis@gmail.

com to reserve a spot for the fall 2020.

Want to join the fun and make a difference? We invite you to join the club! For just $37 a year, you will have access to lots of great events and many fun members-only clubs and events. Complete the easy online membership form today at www.thegardencitywelcomingclub.org in the “Join” section of the website. While you are there, browse the site for lots of great information about the club.

The Bowling Club recently celebrated their Annual Bowling Luncheon at Pompei Restaurant. Thank You to Pompei Restaurant and to all involved that made this day so much fun!

Garden City Jewish Center celebrates Chanukah season

The Garden City Jewish Center Sisterhood and the Religious School spent much of December getting ready to celebrate Chanukah. Students in the school made menorah and dreidel decorations to hang in our stairway, and to eventually display in the Social Hall during the Chanukah Latke and Dessert Party! The children also decorated wooden dreidels with decals and played the game with chocolate money (gelt) during class parties.

The Sisterhood sponsored a very popular Chanukah cookie baking session, where children mixed together the ingredients, rolled out the shapes with cookie cutters, then decorated the delicious smelling results with fondant, icing, sprinkles and lots of sugary stuff.

A special mitzvah project was begun to gather small items such as puzzles, games, books and art supplies into shoebox-size gifts for children in local hospitals. This process will be finished in January when the holiday hoopla is over, and children confined to hospital beds could really use a morale boost.

The annual Latke and Dessert Party was held on the first night of Chanukah, which fell on December 22 this year. A crowd of almost 90 members and their friends and families gathered to enjoy the traditional potato pancakes, with applesauce and sour cream, jelly donuts (sufganiyot), and the not so traditional ice cream sundaes!

The highlight of the evening was when the children and adults were held spellbound as Rabbi Stephen Goodman read a funny story by candlelight (aided by an iPhone flashlight in recent years).

This year, the “GCJC Chanukah Band” helped the Rabbi lead the congregation in Chanukah songs, with enthusiasm and volume! We hope that all of our neighbors and friends have had a very happy and healthy holiday season and will continue to enjoy a wonderful new year!

The Garden City Jewish Center is a warm and friendly Reform congregation where everyone is welcome – Jews of all denominations, dual-faith families, singles and students. Please go to www.gardencityjewishcenter.org for more information!

Sweet cousins at the Chanukah party

Rabbis Stephen and Linda Henry Goodman

Wow! Look at the Chanukah menorah and dreidel decorations!

Sisters loved making Chanukah cookies

Brothers show off dreidels that they decorated

Yum. Latkes!

Lovely mom and daughter

A mom and dad demonstrated the technique for cookie shaping Shaping the dough was tricky

Rabbi Stephen Goodman reading to the audience of kids from 3 to 93…

Debut appearance of the GCJC Chanukah Band

Lighting the menorah (called a Chanukiah) that many members brought to the party

GC residents honored with NYS Commendation Award

Garden City resident Christine Scheppa is presented with the NYS Commendation Award by Senator Kevin Thomas. GC resident Colleen Ciullo was also honored, but was unable to attend the ceremony.

Garden City residents Christine Scheppa and Colleen Ciullo were recently presented with the New York State Commendation Award, a distinct honor given to individuals who have distinguished themselves through service to the community. Ms. Scheppa and Mrs. Ciullo were among 20 exceptional residents recognized by State Senator Kevin Thomas in a special ceremony at Nassau Community College on Friday, December 13.

Christine Scheppa, a registered nurse and Garden City resident, was recognized for her tireless advocacy on behalf of those suffering from traumatic brain injury and their caregivers. Ms. Scheppa knows first-hand the emotional and financial difficulties that caregivers face--her son Vincent suffered a brain injury in 2016, and has since required 24/7 care. Ms. Scheppa has used her experience to push for a change in state law that would help qualified family members provide nursing services to their loved ones and be reimbursed at a nursing rate. The Vincent Scheppa Bill, named for her son, passed the Senate

Garden City PTA News

Happy New Year! May your vision for 2020 be 20/20.

PTA at the BOE

Tuesday, 1/7 - Board of Education Work Session and Student Achievement Report in GCHS Library at 8:15 p.m. GCTA’s GC for a Cure

Get a running start on your New Year’s resolution!

Friday, 1/3 - GCTA’s GC for a Cure Registration Opens: www.gcforacure. com

GC Parent University Registration

This important community event offers free professional workshops for parents of pre-k to 12th grade students in Garden City School District.

Monday, 1/6 - Parent University Registration Opens: www.gardencitypu. com

Friday, 1/24 - Deadline for Registration

Thursday, 1/30 - GC Parent University at GCHS. Session I begins at 7:00 pm and Session II begins at 8:05 p.m.

Upcoming PTA Meetings

Monday, 1/13 - Joint Elementary PTA Meeting at Stratford at 7:15 pm

Thursday, 1/9 - High School Winter Concert (Bands) in GCHS Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, 1/10 - February ACT

Registration Deadline (Not Offered at GCHS)

Saturday, 1/11 - NMEA All-County Festival Concert Division I West at Tilles Center at 2:30 p.m.

Membership

Help us reach our goal of 100% membership! Visit gardencitypta.org and click on “Join the PTA”.

Let’s Connect @GardenCityPTA

Websites: www.gardencitypta.org www.gcsepta.org

To Get Real Time InformationTurn on Notifications

Facebook: Facebook.com/GardenCityPTA

Instagram: Instagram.com/GardenCityPTA

Twitter: Twitter.com/GardenCityPTA

Join the conversation and invite your friends.

Who We Are

last year, and is currently awaiting review by the Health Committee in the Assembly. Full passage of the bill would assist thousands of caregivers across New York State.

Colleen Ciullo was recognized for her dedication to bettering her community through civic engagement. She currently serves as vice president of legislation for the Garden City PTA, where she plays a key role in keeping the community informed of legislation and measures that impact the school community. Mrs. Ciullo’s work empowers Garden City residents to be active participants in the decision process and affect positive change in their community and beyond.

“I am proud to recognize Christine Scheppa and Colleen Ciullo for their dedication to helping others and serving the community,” said Senator Kevin Thomas. “They have made a measurable difference in the lives of others, and for that, I was honored to present them with the New York State Commendation Award.”

Tuesday, 1/14 - SEPTA General Membership Meeting & Empowering Parents Workshop, Part 3 at High School Library at 7:00 pm

Attention High School Parents

Friday, 1/3 - High School Jr & Sr Assemblies: Alumni Return Day (Students Only)

Monday, 1/6 - Mandatory Skit Night Meeting for 12th Grade Parents in GCHS Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.

Monday-Friday, 1/6–1/10Scoliosis Screening for GCHS Students at GCHS

Wednesday, 1/8 - High School World Language Honor Society Induction in GCHS Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.

Since 1945, the Garden City Parent Teacher Association has been dedicated to serving children and families in our community. Today’s Garden City PTA is a network of parents, teachers, administrators and community members devoted to the educational, social and emotional success of children. Our commitment to creating a collaborative environment where families and the school community can work together has and will continue to foster positive change in our schools and within our community. Together, we are a powerful voice for all our children, a relevant resource for our families and a strong advocate for public education.

You get a taste of what to expect in Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) as you enter the South Street neighborhood. The creator, Isaiah Zagar, who has lived in the neighborhood since moving there with January 3, 2020

Philadelphia Offers Treasure Trove of History, Heritage, Culture: Magic Gardens, Franklin Institute

BY KAREN RUBIN

TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

Philadelphia is a jewel box of unique and spectacular, even lifeenhancing attractions, a trove of national treasures of history, heritage, culture that glitters particularly during the holidays. The holiday splendor is eye-catching and warms the heart, but any visitor still has to make time to experience first-hand at least some of these iconic places. I manage to bookend my holiday merrymaking with a mix of art (Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia Magic Gardens) with history (Independence Hall) with heritage (National Museum of American Jewish History) with science and enlightenment (Philly is the hometown of one of our most enlightened inventors, Ben Franklin), and so I end this visit with the Franklin Institute and can’t wait to come back.

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

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twisted paths through layers and levels of Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens of mosaics © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Philadelphia Offers Treasure Trove of History, Heritage, Culture: Magic Gardens, Franklin Institute

Continued from page D1

his wife, Julia, in the late1960s when it was derelict and blighted, turned trash and broken walls into sparkling mosaic art. Otherwise forbidding narrow alleyways and whole sides of buildings twinkle with the pieces of broken mirrors and glass and humor (you can’t help but smile). But nothing prepares you for the awe you feel when you walk out of the two indoor galleries into the Magic Gardens.

Here is a riot of handmade tiles, bottles, bicycle wheels, mirrors, international folk art, recreated into walls, pathways, stairways, layers and levels. There is so much to explore and discover – not just visually, but emotionally. Woven into the art are Zagar’s profound, personal sayings, expressions, thoughts, feelings: “I build this sanctuary to be inhabited by my ideas and my

fantasies.” “Imagery which refuses to stabilize.” “The complexity of various problems. Rewind it.”

It’s called Magic Gardens even though there are no plants, flowers or trees. But you aren’t here long before you realize how it nonetheless is a living organic thing, where broken and discarded trash and objects considered valueless or past their useful life, get new life, purpose, meaning. And value.

The “magic” is how the objects are re-animated – an expression of creativity, infusion of imagination. ”The Garden” grows organically, as if living organism.

“It is one man’s vision, process, style,” Elisabeth Carter (Lis), a Magic Gardens guide, tells me. “He had assistants. Most of the smaller figurines and sculpture were made by Mexican folk artists and couple of local artists, especially the Aguilar family. Others helped

make some of the tiles – including First Lady Michelle Obama (there is a letter that she sent to the Gardens).

“It is still a work in progress – new pieces are added – plus it is outdoors, so weather (snow/ice) is factor. We have a full-time preservation team of thee who maintain, repair, and document new folk art.

“He’s interested in how things wear, fade, and change over time – things are constantly changing, new things added – like a breathing animal.

Zagar brings the art form of mosaic to a whole different dimension. “Zagar is known for mosaics. He uses things that others think are trash or have no value. He is inspired by the Hindu God Shiva – the god of destruction and transformation.”

Zagar, who is 80 years old now, studied art at the Pratt Institute, Lis says, “but painting wasn’t fulfilling. He Is bipolar; he used mosaics as mental health therapy. Small, broken pieces of tile people were throwing away, he found satisfying to build into something positive and beautiful.”

Lis points me to a small sculpture which is a self-portrait, depicting the artist with three arms.

There must be thousands and thousands of objects here. You first see what is in front of you as a whole, but then your eye goes to sections, narrower and narrower, until you spend time searching and discovering individual objects. And what you see, what you experience would always be different – with light, time of day, weather affecting the colors and textures.

You have to walk through at least twice: the first time is very sensory, overload. The second time, you can focus more. You walk through an alley of art, curved paths, you see things differently from every angle, every step. Like a Japanese Garden, you cannot see the whole thing at once, and you don’t know what to expect beyond. It’s a carnival of art, a riot of color, texture, shapes and subjects that dazzle the eye and the brain and stir the heart.

“Zagar has devoted himself to beautifying the South Street neighborhood since the late 1960s, when he moved to the area with his wife, Julia. The couple helped spur the revitalization of the area by renovating derelict buildings and adding colorful mosaics on both private and public walls. The Zagars, teamed with other artists and activists, transformed the neighborhood into a prosperous artistic haven and successfully led protests against the addition of a new highway that would have eliminated South Street. This period of artistic rebirth was coined the ‘South Street Renaissance.’ After the street was saved, Zagar continued creating mosaic murals, resulting in hundreds of public artworks over the next five decades.

“In 1991, Zagar started working on the vacant lots located near his studio at 1020 South Street. He first mosaicked the buildings on either side of the property, then spent years sculpting multi-layer walls out of found objects. In 2004, the Boston-based owner of the lots discovered Zagar’s installation and decided to sell the land,

calling for the work to be dismantled. Unwilling to witness the destruction of the now-beloved neighborhood art environment, the community rushed to support the artist. His creation, newly titled Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, quickly became incorporated as a nonprofit organization with the intention of preserving the artwork at the PMG site and throughout the South Street region. Zagar was then able to develop the site even further; excavating tunnels and grottos.”

Philadelphia Magic Gardens opened to the public in 2008, giving visitors the opportunity to participate in tours, art activities, hands-on interpretive experiences, workshops, concerts, exhibi-

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

tions, and more. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is open Wednesday-Monday, 11 am – 6 pm, closed Tuesdays. (1020 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, 215-733-0390, www.phillymagicgardens.org)

I continue my walk to the Franklin Institute, all the while coming upon the fantastic public art throughout the city – magnificent murals that decorate buildings, that reflect and speak to that particular neighborhood and inspire with their beauty and their message. No doubt a public art movement inspired by Isaiah Zagar.

There is also Philadelphia’s “Museum Without Walls” of sculptures and art work throughout the city (an

audio tour is available, www.museumwithoutwallsaudio.org, 215-399-9000).

Franklin Institute

As you enter Franklin Institute. beneath a giant moon there is a sensational lighted statue of America’s first scientist and Philadelphia’s Favorite Founding Father, Ben Franklin, who inspired the institute’s founding in 1824. During the course of a few hours, I travel to outer space in search of life; walk through a human heart; tangle in neurons of the human brain; visit one of the earliest steam engines; and try to unravel the mystery (to me, anyway) of electricity.

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe,” Carl Sagan said, the

WRITER’S CORNER

quote opening the movie in the Fels Planetarium, one of the first ever built, that dates from 1933.

Founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and premier centers of science education and development in the country.  Today, the Institute continues its dedication to public education and fostering a passion for science by offering new and exciting access to science and technology in ways that would dazzle and delight its namesake.

Everything about the Franklin Institute is designed to engage, immerse, interact.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message for all people

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

January 20 is a national holiday, a time to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal offices and schools will be closed and it is a good time to remember what Dr. King was all about.

The Atlanta, Ga., native was a minister, humanitarian, activist and leader of the Civil Rights Movement. On December 10, 1964, MLK received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for equality in the U.S. Michael King was born on January 15, 1929. His father would later change both of their names to Martin.

On September 20, 1944, King entered Morehouse College in Atlanta. He was 15 years old. After receiving his sociology degree from Morehouse College in 1948, King was awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pa. in 1951.

He later received his doctoral degree in theology from Boston University in June 1955.

At Crozer Theological Seminary King won the Plafker Award as the outstanding student of the graduating class, and the J. Lewis Crozer Fellowship as well. It was during his three years studying at Crozer Theological Seminary that King first heard about Mahatma Gandhi’s use of non-violence to persuade people to change.

A speech by Mordecai Johnson, then-president of Howard University, had a major impact on King. Johnson had just returned from India and had come back excited about stories of Mahatma Gandhi’s successful struggle for Indian independence.

Fascinated by Gandhi’s use of non-violent non-cooperation as a form of protest, the young theological student bought every book he could find about the Indian leader who had defeated the British Empire with passive resistance and a spinning wheel. As he read, he became convinced that Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence was “the only logical approach to the solution of the race prob-

lem in the U.S.”

In June 1953 Martin Luther King, Jr. married Coretta Scott at the Scott home near Marion, Alabama. Martin Luther King, Sr. performed the marriage ceremony.

M.L. King, Jr. then decided to return south to become the pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. There he made his first mark on the civil rights movement by mobilizing the black community during a 382-day boycott of the city’s bus lines. King overcame arrest and other violent harassment, including the bombing of his home.

A national hero and a civil-rights figure of growing importance, in 1957 King called together a number of black leaders and laid the groundwork for the organization now known as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. King was elected its president, and he soon began helping

Washington where he delivered one of the most passionate addresses of his career. Time magazine designated him as its Person of the Year for 1963. A few months later he was named the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. When he returned from Norway, where he had gone to accept the award, King took on new challenges.

In Selma, Ala., he led a voter registration campaign that ended in the Selma-toMontgomery Freedom March. King next brought his crusade to Chicago where he launched programs to rehabilitate the slums and provide housing.

Although he was trying to create a new coalition based on equal support for peace and civil rights, King’s beliefs about the Vietnam War caused issues. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) saw King’s shift of emphasis as “a serious tactical mis-

other communities organize their own protests against discrimination.

After finishing his first book and making a trip to India, King returned to the U.S. in 1960 to become the co-pastor, with his father, of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Three years later, King’s nonviolent tactics were put to their most severe test in Birmingham during a mass protest for fair hiring practices and the desegregation of department store facilities. King was arrested during the protest but it was this time that he wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

Later that year King was a principal speaker at the historic March on

take.” The Urban League warned that the “limited resources” of the civil rights movement would be spread too thin.

But King’s timing historically was right on point. Students, professors, intellectuals, clergymen and reformers rushed into the movement. Then King turned his attention to the domestic issue that he felt was directly related to the Vietnam struggle - poverty. He called for a guaranteed family income, he threatened national boycotts and he spoke about disrupting entire cities by nonviolent “camp-ins.”

With this in mind, Martin Luther King, Jr. began to plan a large march of the poor on Washington, D.C., envisioning a demonstration that would be huge

and have an impact.

King interrupted these plans to lend his support to the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike. He wanted to discourage violence and he wanted to focus national attention on the plight of the poor, unorganized workers of the city. The men were bargaining for basic union representation and long-overdue raises.

He never got to speak on the night of April 4, 1968. King had flown to Memphis International Airport the day before and while standing outside on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel with Jesse Jackson and Ralph Abernathy, an assassin named James Earl Ray shot King.

His death caused a wave of violence in major cities across the country. King’s legacy has lived on, however. In 1969, Coretta Scott King, his widow, organized the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change in Atlanta. (seattletimes.com)

As many people have said, Dr. King was willing to risk his life for what he believed in because he recognized that with injustice and inequality, there was no true freedom. He summoned his inner strength to apply maximum effort and each day he was determined to live out his dream.

About the civil rights movement Dr. King once said, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

What separated Martin Luther King, Jr. from those who came before him, and anyone who has come after him, was his ability to use passion to energize his dream but not to let it take away from his ability to stay focused and continue forging ahead. King knew that in order to achieve equality and civil rights for African-Americans and all Americans, he needed to be courageous and level-headed.

Empathy and a positive attitude were King’s most powerful weapons for fight-

See page D5

BY TOM MARGENAU

It has been my custom for most of the past 23 years to write a year-end column that summarizes the Social Security changes and updates scheduled to take place the following year.

Almost all Social Security beneficiaries are familiar with the most popular and publicized upcoming change: the increase in monthly benefit checks for 2020 due to the automated cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. In fact, Social Security recipients have probably already received a letter from the Social Security Administration telling them of the expected increase.

All Social Security checks are going up 1.6% in 2020. The COLA is based on something called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This is the official measuring stick SSA has used to determine COLAs for the past 46 years. If you want to learn more about this measure, check out the website of the folks who maintain it: the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You’ll find them at https://www.bls.gov.

I always dread mentioning COLAs in this column because every single time I do, I am flooded with emails from readers complaining that the increase is not enough. (Maybe not unexpectedly, not once in 23 years has anyone ever written to me to say that their COLA increase was too high!)

Yet here’s the rub: Many economists and social planners believe Social Security COLAs are too generous! (I’ve explained why in past columns, but I don’t have the space to get into that argument today.) That’s why most discussions of long-range reform for Social Security include proposals to reduce cost-of-living increases.

OK, back to the 2020 Social Security COLA. Due to these increases, the average monthly retirement check will be $1,503 in 2020, a $24 increase from the 2019 level. The maximum Social Security check for a worker retiring at age 66 next year will be $3,011, compared to $2,861 in 2019. And please note that $3,011 is the maximum for someone turning 66 next year. That does not mean it is the maximum Social Security payment anyone can receive. There are millions of Social Security beneficiaries who get much more than that, primarily because they work well past age 66 and/or delay starting their benefits until age 70.

Although this is a Social Security column, I must mention the upcoming increase in the Medicare Part B premium, which is deducted from Social Security checks for most people. In 2020, the basic Part B premium will be $144.60, a $9.10 increase from the 2019 rate. Some people will pay less than that because of the muddled mess involving the “hold harmless” provision of the law that essentially says an increase in the Part B premium cannot reduce the net amount of your monthly Social Security check. And wealthy people

Social Security Update for 2020

will pay more than the basic premium -- as much as $491.60 per month for the richest Americans.

I don’t want to get into this complicated issue of Medicare premiums other than to make this quick point. Even though they are linked in the minds of most senior citizens, Social Security and Medicare are entirely separate programs, administered by entirely separate federal agencies, and they have entirely separate rules and regulations regarding their benefit and payment structures. For example, I already explained how Social Security COLAs are figured. Part B Medicare premium increases have nothing to do with the consumer price index. Instead, they must be set at a level that covers 25% of the cost of running the program. (Taxpayers pick up the remaining 75%.)

Another measuring stick called the “national wage index” is used to set increases to other provisions of the law that affect Social Security beneficiaries and taxpayers. Specifically, this includes increases in the amount of wages or self-employment income subject to Social Security tax -- the amount of income needed to earn a “quarter of coverage” -- and the Social Security earnings penalty limits.

The Social Security taxable earnings base will go up from $132,900 this year to $137,700 in 2020. In other words, people who earn more than $137,700 next year will no longer have Social Security payroll taxes deducted from their paychecks once they hit that threshold. This has always been a very controversial provision of the law. (Bill Gates pays the same amount of Social Security tax as his plumber!) Normally, I would bet my next pension check that any eventual Social Security reform package will include a sharp increase in that wage base. But with the anti-tax Republicans controlling the Senate and the White House, I’m not so sure.

Most people need 40 Social Security work credits (sometimes called “quarters of coverage”) to be eligible for monthly benefit checks from the system. In 2019, people who were working earned one credit for each $1,360 in Social Security taxable income. But no one earns more than four credits per year. In other words, once you made $5,440, your Social Security record has been credited with the maximum four credits or quarters of coverage. Next year, the one credit limit goes up to $1,410, meaning you will have to earn $5,640 in 2020 before you get the maximum four credits assigned to your Social Security account.

People under age 66 who get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits but are still working are subject to limits in the amount of money they can earn and still receive all their Social Security checks. That limit was $17,640 this year and will be $18,240 in 2020. For every $2 a person earns over those limits, $1 is withheld from his or her monthly benefits.

There is a higher earnings threshold in the year a person turns 66 that applies from the beginning of the year until the month the person turns 66. (The income penalty goes away once a person reaches that full retirement age.) That threshold goes up from $46,920 in 2019 to $48,600 next year.

A couple of other Social Security provisions are also impacted by inflationary increases. For example, people getting disability benefits who try to work can generally continue getting those benefits as long as they are not working at a “substantial” level. In 2019, the law defined substantial work as any job paying $1,220

or more per month. Next year, that substantial earnings level increases to $1,260 monthly.

Finally, the Supplemental Security Income basic federal payment level for one person goes up from $771 this year to $783 in 2020. SSI is a federal welfare program administered by the SSA, but it is not a Social Security benefit. It is paid for out of general revenues, not Social Security taxes.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.

COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM

Martin Luther King, Jr.

C ontinued from page D3

ing to achieve equal rights for people who never had them. King followed through on what he said he would do, making him a man of his word and a hero to people around the world.

Maya Angelou, the famous poet who was born Marguerite Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, knew Dr. King.

Angelou remembered King as a “prince of peace.” She added, “He literally believed in peace.” There was work to be done in the area of civil rights but progress was being made.

Angelou was cooking food in her New York City apartment on the day that Dr. King was killed. It was her 40th birthday and some friends were coming over. Her friend, Dolly, arrived and broke the news that King had been shot in Memphis.

When the truth sank in, Angelou ran out of her apartment and, with her neighbors, walked to Harlem to mourn King’s death, according to her biography written by Donna Brown Agins.

“Life stopped for me for a few days,” Angelou said. “Just terrible. I couldn’t believe that this great man’s great dreams - great dreamer, this person who dared to love everybody - could be killed before he could realize his dream.”

Angelou, who died in 2014, didn’t celebrate her own birthday for years because it was a painful reminder of King’s death. But for over 30 years, she and King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, would meet, call or send each other flowers every April 4.

In 1960, after hearing Dr. King deliver a speech in Harlem, Angelou was inspired to join the civil rights movement. She and comedian Godfrey Cambridge staged the play “Cabaret for Freedom” and proceeds from the production went to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King helped organize and served as its first president.

She later became northern coordinator for the SCLC and two months into her tenure, Angelou met King during one of his visits to New York.

Angelou went on to become famous with her first memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” which was published the year after King’s death and with the encouragement of her friend the novelist James Baldwin.

In 1993, she became the first African American and first woman to read at a presidential inauguration, when she recited her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” for President Clinton’s first swearing-in. (latimes.com)

In “Rainbow in the Cloud,” a memoir published after her death, she wrote about Dr. King: “It is a great blessing to have lived in the time of Martin Luther King Jr., when forgiveness and generosity of spirit encouraged our citizenry to work for a better world for everybody.”

Representative Elijah Cummings, the

Congressman from Maryland, was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1951 and he died in October 2019 at the age of 68. At a young age a school counselor told him that he was a poor learner and should give up any dream he had of becoming a lawyer.

That only made Cummings more determined to learn. He became a lawyer and a judge, too.

He graduated with honors from the Baltimore City College high school in 1969. He then attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he served in the student government as sophomore class president, student government treasurer and later student government president. He became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Cummings graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1976, and was admitted to the bar in Maryland later that year. He practiced law for 19 years before first being elected to the House in the 1996 elections. He served Maryland’s 7th Congressional District for more than 20 years.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2019, Congressman Cummings released a statement to honor King’s legacy. Cummings said that King worked tirelessly to promote political, economic and social justice for all Americans.

“Dr. King engaged in the never-ending work of perfecting our Democracy, and he called upon our nation to offer far more opportunity and hope to all the Americans who - regardless of their racial background - were being disparaged and dismissed by our society,” Cummings wrote.

“Today, we must carry Dr. King’s vision forward and fight to expand voting rights. And on this day of remembrance and celebration, I urge all my fellow Americans to carry Dr. King’s dream in their hearts and work towards building a more fair, equal and just society.”

On this holiday we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all of the lessons he taught us.

Crossword Answers

GOING PLACES,

Brain circuits become a climbing gym in Franklin Institute © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

At Franklin Institute’s special exhibition, “Worst Case Scenario,” learn how to jump from a moving train car, pick a lock, escape from quicksand, survive an avalanche, and more in the 13 challenges that fill the Survival Gymnasium, which offers step by step instructions, expert advice, and the training to build the worstcase survival skills. (photo courtesy of Franklin Institute).

Philadelphia Offers Treasure Trove of History, Heritage, Culture

This is exemplified in the special exhibition on view through April 12, 2020, the world-premiere exhibition of “The Worst Case Scenario Survival Experience,” based on the best-selling survival handbook series. The exhibit showcases strategies of survival and elements of escape in the form of a handson, minds-on logical series of immersive challenges providing the essential instructions for surviving unexpected but possible real-life scenarios with countless moments of excitement and levity throughout.

Learn how to jump from a moving train car, pick a lock, escape from quicksand, survive an avalanche, and more in the thirteen challenges that fill the Survival Gymnasium, which offers step by step instructions, expert advice, and the training to build the worst-case survival skills.

Tools for extreme survival, includ-

Ben Franklin sitting beneath the moon makes for a dramatic entrance to the Franklin Institute © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com

ing counterintuitive uses for everyday items are on display, plus graphics that share how to identify anxiety and fear within the body and uncover how stress, physical exhaustion, and disorientation can make an activity, like surviving, more challenging.

Samuel Vaughan Merrick and William H. Keating founded The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts in 1824. The Franklin Institute science museum opened to the public on January 1, 1934, calling itself a “Wonderland of Science,” and was one of the first museums in the nation to offer a hands-on approach to learning about the physical world. It has been expanded over the years to contain more than 400,000 square feet of exhibit space, two auditoriums, and the Tuttleman IMAX Theater –becoming the most visited museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a top-five tourist destination in the City of Philadelphia, and one of the leading science centers in the country.

The Institute also operates the Fels Planetarium, the second oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. The Institute is home to the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, which was fully restored in 2010 and which is open free to the public. It is one of just a handful of national memorials in the custody of a private institution.

The new 53,000-square-foot Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion which opened in June 2014, houses a STEM education and conference center, a climate-controlled traveling exhibition gallery, and (an amazing) new permanent exhibit  Your Brain, in which visitors can explore neuroscience and their own senses.

Franklin Institute, 222 North 20th St., 215-448-1200, www.fi.edu

Staying at The Roost East Market apartment hotel really enabled us to be part of the city, most of what we wanted to see within walking distance. It’s not hyperbole to say the comfort of a fully-equipped, gorgeously furnished apartment meets luxury amenities of a boutique hotel.  All of the apartments feature full-size kitchens with cookware and utensils (I especially love not having to go out for breakfast) and king size beds. A third-floor is devoted to guest amenities including a well-equipped 24-hour fitness center, magnificent and comfortable lounge areas and library, a huge demo kitchen, a private screening room, an outside, 20-meter heated lap pool, barbecue area, landscaped terrace, community vegetable garden;

C ontinued from page D3

GOING PLACES, NEAR &

and bike-share program. There is also 24-hour front desk and concierge, security (you need your card to access the elevator and public areas); and direct access to a parking garage. They even arrange dog-walking and grocery delivery services. (The Roost East Market, 1199 Ludlow Street Philadelphia, PA 19107, 844-697-6678, https://myroost. com/philadelphia/east-market/).

Well, there are 7 more days as of the writing of this column to 2019! What a year and all its turmoil, tragedies and positive and happy times.

To start off the year, January 2, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple reported international sales of iPhones to China were down, which rocked international stock exchanges.

Nancy Pelosi is re-elected by Congress on January 3, a second time as Speaker of the House. On January 3, a docuseries on R. Kelly, R & B singer’s purported sexual abuse of women, premieres on Lifetime TV. Roger Feder wins a few amazing tennis tournaments. Golden State and Sacramento hit for (41) 3 pointers to set a new NBA record for three-pointers and Stephen Curry hits for pointers, (10) 3 pointers; but Golden State sneaks by Sacramento, to win 127-123.

Japan’s Emperor, Akihito with Empress Michiko abdicate his reign and gets permission to step down and allow his son to take over Japan as the oldest ruling monarchy, which hasn’t happened in 200 years.

President Trump announces the shutdown of our government and the border wall. On January 15, a witness in the El Chapo Guzman trial, claims former Mexican President Enrique Peña accepted a 100 million bribe from the drug cartel head.

British Prime Minister, Theresa May’s Brexit deal with the European Union, overwhelmingly fails with her UK Parliament with the greatest defeat in its democratic history. Unfortunately, due to this critical defeat, she resigned on May 24.

On Feb 3, Pope Francis arrives in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates on the first-ever papal excursion to the area. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders announce their runs for President. Swedish teenager, Greta Thunberg holds strikes to protest Global Warming takes place around the Globe and she continues her crusade throughout the year.

On March 21 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden announces a ban on military-style weapons, 6 days after the Christ Church terrorist attack. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada (the 2nd youngest

A  Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package  includes overnight free parking and perks, and is bookable at Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website, visitphilly.com, 800-537-7676 where you can explore things to do,

upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages.

© 2019 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com,  www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-

REAL ESTATE WATCH

A recap of the events of 2019

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

ever elected, and (whose father, Pierre Trudeau was also Prime Minister from, 1968–1979 and then again, 1979-1984) proposed a ban on single-use plastics by 2021.

On June 11, Comedian Jon Stewart addresses Congress in a very heated speech to Congress for the lack of funds to 1st responders into the 911 World Trade Tower tragedies and to extend benefits to them. June 15, Babe Ruth’s sports jersey sells for an unprecedented sum of 5.64 million dollars, the highest amount in the history of sports memorabilia.

and friends for a holiday party on December 21. He told me that he had bought the ½ acre plot of land 16 years ago for $6000, to build a brand new home, as I was falling off my chair due to the shock of what he had paid!

Even 16 years ago, there were very few communities on Long Island in an excellent school district (as his was), where one could pay that pittance of an amount of money, let alone for that size of land! I went on to have a discussion as to what his real estate taxes were and he responded $9200.

rubin & travelwritersmagazine.com/ TravelFeaturesSyndicate/ Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar. wordpress.com & moralcompasstravel. info. Send comments or questions to FamTravLtr@aol.com. Tweet @ TravelFeatures. ‘Like’ us at facebook. com/NewsPhotoFeatures

On October 15, Turkey launches airstrikes on Kurdish forces in Northern Syria after President Trump makes a decision to pull back our forces.

October 13, U.S. athlete, Simone Biles becomes the most decorated gymnast in history when she wins her record 25th medal on the balance beam at the world championships in Stuttgart, Germany. October 26, a raid by US Special Forces kills ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria.

On October 27, Tiger Woods scores a last-minute 3-stroke win over Hideki Matsuyama at the inaugural Zozo Championship at Accordia Golf and Country Club to tie Sam Snead’s record 82 PGA victories. Dec 11, climate activist Greta Thunberg is named Time magazine’s Person of the Year. December 12, England’s General Election, Boris Johnson’s won a landslide election as well as The National Party in Scotland. There were many, many other events of importance, but since this is supposed to be a Real Estate/Business column and my editor Steven Blank wants me to focus on that category, but I felt compelled to recap 2019 and maybe next week if it’s ok Steve? I will add more “standout events” of 2019 as we close this eventful year!

The relationship of land vs location

However, I just want to convey some information about the relationship between land values in Long Island compared to Hainesport, NJ, where my nephew, Ross Berkey resides, where I had traveled to visit him and his family

It blew me away, considering his colonial styled home is 3700 without a finished basement; which he is currently completing. It’s 4 bedrooms and 3 full and 2 ½ baths, huge family room, eat-in kitchen, large dining room, and an office space. What’s surprising, the current market value based on current comparable sales is approximately $625,000! OMG, when compared with a similar home on Long Island or around the North Shore’s Gold Coast, a comparable home with land that size would be at the lowest price point in a fair school district around $850,000 upwards of almost $2,000,000 and the killer is, the taxes would be from $15,000 to $35,000 per year.

This leads me to believe that the land in Hainesport, NJ, although more costly today than 16 years ago is not even close to what the cost would be for a ½ an acre here; which would go for anywhere from $600,000 to well over 1,500,000 depending on what town or village it might be located within. So my nephew’s home is more expensive than the land that it sits upon; whereby our land value here on Long Island is usually more expensive than the home it was built upon. Absolutely shocking, but then again, when you consider the main reason why, it’s the scarcity of available buildable land here compared with his town and many areas of New Jersey, as well as across the U.S., where construction is booming very well. So the correlation to buildable land is directly related to the availability of the housing inventory, which presently is at 5.4 months whereby

normal inventory is 6-7 months; as well as interest rates which are at a 50+ year low.

From my research, it’s still somewhat of a seller’s market below $1,200,000, if your real estate taxes aren’t above $10,000-20,000, (but slows as you approach $20,000 and above) due to our wonderful S.A.L.T. tax, (which effected all the Blue “wealthier States” whereby you can only deduct a maximum of $10,000 as an offset on your income taxes for primary residences only (not investment properties, which is unlimited). However, Supply and demand economics will always play a role in real estate, no matter what, as well as every other commodity; however, there might be an exception due to pollution in the case of real estate or some glitch, such as “tariffs” but for the most part it has generally worked throughout history.

However, something needs to be done in New York to seriously lower real estate taxes, maybe a V.A.T. tax like they have in some areas in Europe and Israel or a “Fair Tax”, which is a book written a while ago about how to change our system to make it fairer? Not sure it would suffice for the wealthy, but I would be agreeable to any solid, pragmatic and workable plan to keep more of our New Yorkers from becoming expatriates especially our millennial and Gen Z’s, who are leaving by droves or living in mom and dad’s home, until they have enough savings to exit one of the most expensive states in the U.S. If you’re wealthy how many more homes and properties do you really need, cars, jewelry, etc.; it’s conspicuous consumption to the nth degree, while our country is falling apart and behind! Anyone have any thoughts on this dilemma, please email or write and let me know what you think!

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute and also as a Certified International Property Specialist. He can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email, at: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate. Com to answer any of your questions or concerns.

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EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

A Foolproof Formula to Fix Your Money in 2020

According to a survey conducted by Offers.com, the top two New Year’s resolutions in the U.S. for 2019 came in almost tied, with exercise more/lose weight at 38% and save money at 37%. So, how did that work out for you? Is your financial picture better now than it was 12 months ago? Are you more fit and lean?

The reason I love New Year’s is it feels like a clean slate -- a fresh start. Whether you did great in 2019 or blew it altogether, I have good news. Today’s a new day -- a new year -- and a chance to start over or to do even better. We’ve been granted another opportunity. As for that saving money part, I have a great formula that’s been working for me and thousands of people I’ve led out of debt and into a lifestyle where they consistently live below their means.

Record your spending.

Sounds like a silly instruction, especially if you feel overwhelmed and under deposited. Nonetheless, if you begin keeping a written record of every expenditure, I can promise you a couple of things: No. 1: You’ll hesitate before making silly, impulsive purchases. No. 2: You’ll start taking back control once you see where all of your money goes.

Give back. I know. You’re broke. You have mountains of debt, and some idiot is suggesting you give money away. That’s right, and you can call me an idiot. Giving is a mysterious, miraculous activity that will transform your life when practiced. Giving is the antidote for that wretched trend toward excess and self-indulgence.

Pay yourself. Ideally you should pay yourself 10% right off the top of the amount of money

BY MARY HUNT

you see in your paycheck. If you can’t start with 10%, start with something. Even if it’s $1 a week, start saving. Even if you are heavily in debt, start saving. Saving money is a great attitude booster, so if you’re discouraged and down in the dumps, start saving money! Stop debting. I know that’s not a real word, but I wish it were! It means buying stuff on credit because you don’t have enough to pay cash. Just stop spending money you don’t have. You may need to part with some credit cards and even shed a few tears, but you can stop. No one can force you $1 further into debt.

Reduce expenses. If your income is less than your outgo, reduce the outgo. There’s no better way to make money than to cut expenses. The results are immediate, and the proceeds are tax-free. I would suggest from this moment

that you pledge to cut expenses any way you can and a little bit in every area. This way, you will see dramatic results with the least amount of discomfort. Reading this column religiously will keep you on track.

Rapidly repay debt. If you continue paying your creditors according to their payment schedule, you may never get out of perma-debt. Incurring no more new debt and prepaying principal is the key to rapid debt reduction. Sell assets. If you own things of value that are unnecessary in your life or could be replaced at a later date, selling them could ease your financial situation.

Seek solvency. Solvency means being content with the money you have. Solvency is that confident feeling of being prepared for any circumstance, of living with joy and peace -- of living

Mini Resolutions NUTRICIAN NEWS

BY CHARLYN FARGO

If your resolution in 2020 is to lose weight, try these six mini resolutions that will upgrade your health. Even write them on your calendar -- one for each week, to help remind you. Research has found it helps to break down resolutions into smaller action plans for success.

Make protein a part of every meal. Go beyond that steak for dinner. We need protein in the morning, too. Consuming a meal with protein makes us feel fuller and helps us eat fewer calories overall. Add a hard-boiled egg to your breakfast, powered peanut butter to your oatmeal or a cup of Greek yogurt or high-protein cereal to your fruit.

Add more plants to your meals. I’m not advocating a total vegetarian meal plan, but I do think all of us can benefit from a more plant-based diet, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and obesity. You can swap half the meat in your tacos with beans, add more veggies in your lasagna or go a step further and have meatless Mondays for a month.

Start your meals with a brothbased soup or salad. They can fill you up and help get more nutrients in your diet. Go easy on the dressing, nuts and cheese on the salad, and boost the carrots, cucumber and tomatoes.

Focus on fiber. We need 25

to 35 grams of fiber a day -- most of us get about half that. Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. Swap brown rice for white, eat the skin on a baked potato and choose whole-wheat bread. Start the month with adding two fruits and vegetables a day as snacks. Or add chia or flax to your oatmeal, cereal or yogurt.

Drink more water. Take a week to give up soda, tea, coffee or whatever sweetened beverage you typically drink. A glass of water before a meal also can help reduce hunger. Try packing a bottle of water with you wherever you go. Try new recipes, especially those that align with your goal of eating healthier. Most of us buy the same things at the grocery store and fix the same rotating 6-10 meals. Consider a vegetable or meal challenge for a month so you don’t eat the same food fixed the same way.

Q and A

Q: What is metabolic syndrome?

A: It’s a group of conditions rather than a single disease. These related health problems include too much belly fat, high triglycerides, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. When you have at least three of these issues, your chances for heart disease, stroke and diabetes are increased. To prevent

metabolic syndrome, lose weight, exercise and cut back on calories.

RECIPE

Here’s a new recipe to try from Cooking Light: Lower Sugar Sweet Potato Casserole. It has 5 fewer teaspoons of added sugar per serving than traditional versions.

LOWER SUGAR SWEET

POTATO CASSEROLE

3 pounds sweet potatoes (5 to 6 medium)

1/2 cup evaporated whole milk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 large eggs, separated Cooking spray

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Preheat oven to 350 F. Wrap potatoes individually in foil. Arrange on a baking sheet. Roast at 350 degrees until very tender, 60 to 75 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Peel potatoes; discard skins. Place potatoes in a large bowl; mash until smooth. Cool completely, about 20 minutes. Stir in milk, butter, vanilla, salt, pepper and egg yolks. Spread mixture

beneath your means.

There you go. A foolproof formula for 2020 that you can take to the bank.

So, what are you waiting for? There’s no time to waste.

Let’s go!

Would you like more information? Go to EverydayCheapskate. com for links and resources for recommended products and services in this column. Mary invites questions, comments, and tips at EverydayCheapskate.com, “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 lifestyle blog and the author of the book Debt-Proof Living.

COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS. COM

evenly in 2-quart glass baking dish coated with cooking spray. Whisk egg whites in a medium bowl until frothy. Stir in walnuts, oats, brown sugar and cardamom. Sprinkle evenly over sweet potato mixture. Bake at 350 F, uncovered, until top is toasted and edges are bubbling, 40 to 50 minutes. Serves 12 (serving size: about 1/2 cup).

Per serving: 220 calories; 5 grams protein; 31 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams sugars (2 grams added); 9 grams fat; 4 grams fiber; 327 milligrams sodium.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered

dietitian at Hy-Vee in Springfield, Illinois, and the media representative for the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRD. To find out more about Charlyn Fargo and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM

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CLEANING

News From the Children’s Room

The holiday decorations may be all put away all down, and the special holiday treats have all been eaten. This is the time to review the New Year’s resolutions we made and to think about what we want to do in this New Year! A couple of suggestions from your friendly Children’s Librarians –

• Read more!

• Come to the Library more!

• Take advantage of all of the programming at the Library!

• Read to your children more!

• Turn off the TV and enjoy a book! Most of all, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy, Healthy New Year!

Winter Spring Programs

*Winter/Spring 2020–Registration for Storytimes and Book Discussions begins on Tuesday, January 7 at 10:00 a.m. Non-residents can register beginning January 21 at 10:00 a.m. Required online registration with a Library Card for Storytimes and Special Programs is on Eventkeeper (www. gardencitypl.org) at 10:00 a.m. on the date stated. Book discussion registration is in the Children’s Room only. Registration on Eventkeeper is on an Individual basis. Please do not add any additional names in the comment box because they will not be added into the actual number of registrants.

*Priority will be given to Garden City Public Library cardholders. Nonresidents will be accommodated on a space available basis.

**MOMMY AND ME WITH PLAY HOORAY!

Now 4 separate opportunities to participate. EACH SESSION HAS A SEPARATE REGISTRATION DATE. This is a 45-minute program (10:30-11:15) for children ages 6-29 months (Born Sept. 2017-Aug. 2019) and an adult caregiver.

March 5 (Reg. begins Feb. 4), March 12 (Reg. begins Feb. 11), March 19 (Reg. begins Feb. 18), March 26 (Reg. begins Feb. 25).

BOOKS AND BABIES:

For ages 6 months-29 months. All sessions are 30 minutes (10:00–10:30 a.m.) and require a separate registration for each date.

April 20 (Reg. begins March 17), April 27 (Reg. begins March 24) May 4 (Reg. begins March 31).

*Please note: Storytime schedules are subject to change.

Storytimes

Register once for all 4 sessions. Except where noted, programs are 30 minutes. TODDLERS

For children ages 2½–3½ (Born Aug. 2016–Aug. 2017) and an adult caregiver. Choose one session:

Mondays at 11:30 a.m. (Feb. 3, 10, 24, March 2)

Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. (Feb. 4, 11, 25,

March 3)

LITTLE LISTENERS

For children ages 3–5, without adult. (Born Feb. 2015–Feb. 2017)

(Caregivers must remain in the Children’s Department during program).

Choose one session:

Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. (Feb. 4, 11, 25, March 3)

Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. (Feb. 5, 12, 26, March 11)

KINDERGARTEN/FIRST GRADE: LET’S IMAGINE.

A monthly program (stories, crafts, and more) for children currently enrolled in kindergarten or first grade. Programs are one hour, from 4 p.m.–5 p.m. Register once for all sessions. Program dates are Wed. Jan. 15, Feb. 12, March 25, April 22.

Book Discussions

Registration is in the Children’s Room only, starting Tuesday Jan. 7, at 10:00 a.m. All programs are one hour. A beverage and snack will be provided. Please advise a Children’s Librarian of any food allergies at registration!

CHAPTER CHAT

Tuesday, March 31, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

A book discussion for children in second grade. Come and discuss “The Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones” (A Cam Jansen book) by David Adler.

BOOK ENDS

Tuesday, April 28, 4 p.m.–5 p.m

A book discussion for children in Grades 3-5. . Come and discuss “Dewey Fairchild, Parent Problem Solver” by Lorri Horn.

***NEW PROGRAM- A CHAPTER OR TWO AT A TIME

A Librarian will read aloud a short chapter book, a chapter or 2 at a time. Participants can read along or just listen. (Book title to remain a mystery so no one reads ahead). Program will incorporate some writing and art. For children in third grade. This is a 3-session program, meeting from 4 p.m.–5 p.m. on Wednesdays April 29, May 6, May 13.

Winter/Spring Special Programs

**MONTHLY LEGO CLUB.

Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 10, April 7, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

For children in Grades K-5 only. Children accommodated on a space available basis.

BOOK BUDDIES.

Feb. 6, 13, 27, March 5, 12, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Have your child team up with a YA volunteer for help with homework or reading. No registration required.

ROBO EXPO

WITH GC FRIENDS OF STEM. Feb. 24, 7 p.m.–8 p.m.

Stop by to see local robotics teams display their robots and research.

**CREATE YOUR OWN STUFFED ANIMAL.

Feb. 29, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

For children ages 2½–5 (no kindergarten) and an adult, from Online registration begins Feb. 11.

**ART WITH SAMANTHA: March 7

Join Samantha Raiten for some fun art programs. Children ages 2½ -5 (no kindergarten) and an adult at 10 a.m.; for children in Grades K-2 at 11 a.m.; and for children in Grades 3-5 at 12 p.m. Online registration begins Tuesday, Feb. 25.

**STEM BUILDING PROJECT WITH SCIENCE TEACHER CHRIS BUCHMAN

March 16

This fun program is for children in Grades 2 and 3 only, and runs from 4:30-5:30. Required Online registration begins Tuesday, March 3.

**PRESCHOOL SPRING EGG HUNT

April 7, 10 a.m.–10:45 a.m.

For children ages 2½–5 (no kindergarten) and an adult caregiver. Online registration begins Tuesday, March 31. Children should bring their own baskets to collect eggs. Eggs must be returned at the end of the program.

**BABY START WITH A TIME FOR KIDS.

May 5, 10 a.m.

For children from birth-17 mos. and an adult caregiver. Online registration begins Tuesday, April 28.

**PRESCHOOL READINESS WITH A TIME FOR KIDS.

May 5

For children ages 18-29 mos., and an adult caregiver. Online registration begins Tuesday April 28.

**INTRO TO ROBOTICS

May 5, 12, 19, 3:30 p.m.–4:15 p.m.

For Grades 4 and 5. Online registration begins April 28. One registration for all 3 sessions.

THURSDAY NIGHTS

WITH MISS AMELIE

7 p.m.–7:45 p.m. (except where noted)

No registration required, except where noted.

Children accommodated on a firstcome, first-served basis.

Jan. 23

Stop by the Children’s Department and make a Winter Craft (Grades K-2)

Feb. 13

Join Miss Amelie and make a Valentine’s Day card (Grades K-5)

March 19

Trivia Night. Online registration required beginning March 10 (Grades 3-5).

April 30

Family Storytime (ages 3-6, and an

adult) 7–7:30 p.m.

TWEEN PROGRAMS (GRADES 4-7)

See separate flyer for additional details.

Tween Mondays, 7–8 p.m.

Jan. 27- *Game Night

Feb. 10- *(Open Mic Night)

March 2- *Cookie Decorating April 27- *Book Discussion- Raina Telgemeier’s “Smile” May 18-*Kahoot Trivia

Saturday April 4

Quidditch, 11 a.m. (No Rain Date)

Children’s Department Program Rules and Guidelines

• There are no storytimes when students do not have classes due to holidays, Parent-Teacher Conferences, etc.

• There must be at least 3 Registered children present for a storytime/book discussion to be conducted.

• Only age/grade appropriate children can be registered for and be admitted into a Children’s Program.

• Storytime schedules are subject to change based on staffing.

• We reserve the right to cancel a program if registration is 5 or less. Weather-Related Policies: Storytimes and programs will be cancelled under the following conditions:

• When schools are closed for the day due to inclement weather.

• When schools have a delayed opening, morning storytimes and programs are cancelled. Please call about afternoon and evening programs.

• When schools have early dismissal, afternoon and evening storytimes and programs are cancelled. Please call about morning programs.

• Cancelled programs and storytimes may not always be rescheduled.

• Please check the Library’s Website and Children’s Facebook Page for updates.

Late Arrival Policies:

• Please be prompt. If you are late for any Children’s Program, you risk losing your space for the day to a wait-listed patron who is present.

• If you are late for a pre-registered special program, you risk losing your space to a person/family on the waitlist. We give latecomers a 10-minute grace period before we give their slot to someone on the waitlist who is present. Librarian in Charge of the Program will make final decision.

• We are not always able to expand attendance to accommodate latecomers, once the slot has been filled.

**Funding for these programs has been provided by The Friends of the Garden City Public Library. Please check the Library website www.gardencitypl. org for upcoming events and registration dates.

It’s What’s Happening for Young Adults at the Library

For a second year, Young Adult Librarian Laura Giunta is serving on the Best Fiction for Young Adults (BFYA) Book List committee for the Young Adult Library Services Association (a division of the American Library Association) and is looking for teen volunteers ages 12-18 to provide feedback on recent young adult fiction. Eligible books are those published between November 1, 2019 and December 15, 2020 and aimed at teens aged 12-18. Volunteers will earn community service credit and will be assigned books to read throughout the year. If interested or for more information, please contact Young Adult Librarian Laura Giunta via email at laurag@gardencitypl.org or via phone at 516-742-8405 x242.

Tweens and Teens Free Little Library

Beginning in December, the Tweens and Teens Department has set up a Free Little Library. Books are free for patrons to take home. The Free Little Library will be up as books last. The Tweens and Teens Department will add new books to the Tweens and Teens Free Little Library as needed and as supplies last. Books target reading grade range from Grades from 6-12 and were published within the last year. Books have been donated by Young Adult Librarian Laura Giunta, which were given to her through her work on the American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults 2020 Committee this past year. For questions, please contact Young Adult Librarian Laura Giunta via email at laurag@gardencitypl.org or via phone at 516-742-8405 x242.

2020 Tweens and Teens Summer Reading Club Prizes

The Tweens and Teens Department and the Library’s Teen Advisory Board are already gearing up for the Tweens and Teens Summer Reading Club

in 2020! The Teen Advisory Board is asking for tweens and teens entering Grades 6-12 in Fall 2020 to write down suggestions for what they want to see for 2020’s Tweens and Teens Summer Reading Club Prizes! Tweens and teens can submit suggestions outside the Tweens and Teens Room and can also email their suggestions to Young Adult Library Laura Giunta at laurag@gardencitypl.org. From the suggestions, the Teen Advisory Board will determine 12 nominees for prizes, which tweens and teens can then vote on beginning in winter-spring 2020. The nominees with the top votes will be 2020’s Summer Reading Club Prizes!

Winter-Spring 2020 YA Programs

The Young Adult Department is gearing up for 2020! Information about tweens and teens Winter-Spring 2020 YA programs will be available by the end of December. Check online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) or look out for our flyers in the Young Adult Department at the Library to learn about 2020 events and programs for Grades 6-12.

Children’s LEGO Club –Tween and Teen Volunteers Needed! Earn volunteer hours by helping out with the Children’s Department’s LEGO Club. The LEGO Club is an hour program for children in Grades K-5 and meets monthly. Registration is required and begins Tuesday, January 7 online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl. org). Volunteers must be in Grades 6-12 and will be asked to help with set-up and clean-up before and after the program. Please note that there is limited availability to volunteer. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.

Volunteers can sign-up for the following Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.:

• Tuesday, January 14

• Tuesday, February 11

Views from the Bench

Garden City Public Library

Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 2 p.m.

Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco will present Views from the Bench, an informative program on the selection process for federal judges, cases and issues

litigated in federal court on Long Island, and the challenges facing our criminal justice system on Thursday, January 23 at 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend this interesting and informative program. No registration is required.

Library Board to meet

There will be a Regular Meeting of the Board of Library Trustees on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. at the Garden City Public Library in the small meeting room on the lower level.

• Tuesday, March 10

• Tuesday, April 7

ACT/SAT/PSAT Practice Exam with C2 Education

Join us on Saturday, January 11 at 10 a.m. at the Library for a practice exam with C2 Education. This program is for current high school students. Registrants can choose either the ACT, SAT, or PSAT to take. Register beginning Tuesday, December 31 at 10 a.m, online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). In order to receive your results, you must contact C2 Education at carle.place@c2educate.com or at 516217-6696. From there, you can arrange to meet with them to receive your results.

ACT/SAT Seminar with Steve Rossner of SAT/ACT Sense

The library will be hosting an ACT/ SAT Seminar with Steve Rossner of SAT/ACT Sense on Monday, January 13 at 7 p.m. This seminar will provide an overview of the differences between the two tests while helping parents assess which test their child is better suited for and is for current high school students and their parents/legal guardians. Register beginning Tuesday, December 31 at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org ). This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.

ACT/SAT Practice Exam with Curvebreakers

The Library will be hosting the final practice exam of the 2019-2020 school year on Saturday, January 25 at 10 a.m. with Curvebreakers. This program is for current high school students. Registrants can choose either the ACT or SAT to take. Register beginning Tuesday, January 7 at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www. gardencitypl.org ). Results will be emailed to participants. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library. The next practice exam will be held in Summer 2020.

Teen Crafternoon: Valentine’s Day Mason Jar Craft

Join us on Saturday, January 25 at 3 p.m. for a Teen Crafternoon! We’ll be decorating a mason jar for Valentine’s Day during this craft program. This program is for tweens and teen in Grades 6-12. Register beginning Tuesday, January 7 at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.

org). This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library.

Tween Night: Tween Game Night

The Children’s and Young Adult Departments will be hosting the first Tween Night of 2020 on Monday, January 27, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. The theme of the Tween Night will be Game Night. Snacks will be served and we will be playing board games as well as Mario Kart and Super Smash Brothers on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch. Registration is required and begins Tuesday, January 14 at 10 a.m. online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). This program is for tweens in Grades 4-7. This program has been funded by the Friends of the Garden City Public Library and is joint program with the Young Adult and Children’s Departments.

Mentors for First LEGO League Sixth Grade Robotics Team

If you are a high school student (Grades 9-12) in Fall 2019 with FLL Robotics experience interested in earning volunteer hours by mentoring the team, please contact Young Adult Librarian Laura Giunta via email at laurag@gardencitypl.org or via phone at 516-742-8405 x242 for questions.

VolunTeens

If you are looking to volunteer at the Library, volunteer hours are posted each month in the Tweens and Teens Department; tweens and teens in Grades 6-12 can register for volunteer hours on the last day of the month for the upcoming month online via Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org). Please note there is limited availability for volunteers and space can fill up quickly.

Volunteer Teen Reviewers Needed

Would you like to be a reviewer for the Library? Need community service hours? Then become a Volunteer Teen Reviewer! This program is for tweens and teens in Grades 6-12. Reviews will be used to update the Tweens and Teens Library Review Page (https:// www.gardencitypl.org/category/teenreviews/). Reviews can be submitted via our online submission form, which can be found here: https:// www.gardencitypl.org/submit-a-teenreview/. Reviews are subject to approval by the Young Adult Librarian. Please make sure to follow the guidelines for reviews in order for the review to count toward community service.

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!

Blood drive on Jan. 7 at Garden City Public Library

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Long Island Blood Services will hold a blood drive at the Garden City Public Library on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 2:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m. in the large meeting room on the lower level of the Library. Area hospitals are in need of local residents’ help. Each donation can help to save up to three lives.

Eligible donors must be between 16 and 75 years of age, with a minimum

weight of 110 lbs., and no tattoos within the past 12 months. Sixteen year olds must have parental permission and donors age 76 and over must present a doctor’s note. All donors must have valid ID with signature or photo. Donors are encouraged to eat well (low fat) and drink fluids. For medical questions concerning blood donations, call 1-800-688-0900. Call the Library at 7428405 x210 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

14th Annual Cozy Up with a

Good Book Adult Reading Club

Adult Winter Reading Club at the Garden City Public Library

It’s that time again! It’s hard to believe that it is the fourteenth year of “Cozy Up with a Good Book” Adult Winter Reading Club at the Garden City Public Library. You are invited to join the Fourteenth Annual Adult Winter Reading Club to be held from Tuesday, December 17 to Saturday, March 15, 2020. There are no meetings. You choose the books you want to read or listen to. You will fill out a review card for each book. You will then be entered into a final drawing at the “Cozy Up with a Good Book” Celebration Brunch (by

invitation only) to be held in the spring. Each participant must do a minimum of three reviews to be invited to the celebration brunch. The last day for reviews to be handed in is Saturday, March 15, 2020. The more review cards you fill out, the more chances you have to win!

Registration begins on Tuesday, December 17th at 9:30 a.m. and ends Saturday, January 25th 2020 and must be done in person. You must be an adult Garden City Library cardholder to join. So come in and register at the Reference Desk. And remember --- cozy up with a good book this winter!

Boost your immunity

Winter Nutrition Workshop

Garden City Public Library

Thursday, January 9, at 2 p.m.

Healthy eating during the winter months can be challenging, even after the holidays are over. Incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet is as important as ever to give your immune system the boost you need. Join the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Thursday, January 9 at 2 p.m. for this one hour workshop to learn healthy

eating tips to keep your immune system strong all season long. You will sample two different “energy bite snacks” and receive the recipes to make your own at home. Online registration on Eventkeeper (www.gardencitypl.org) for Garden City Library cardholders begins at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17. This program is sponsored by The Friends of the Garden City Public Library.

Eddie & Jean Costello’s Trash or Treasure Antiques Roadshow

Garden City Public Library

Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 2 p.m.

Online Registration Begins Tuesday, January 7 at 10 a.m.

Do you have something that is old, unusual and perhaps even bizarre?

Come find out on Sunday, January 26 at 2 p.m. at the Garden City Public Library. Learn how to identify today’s hottest antiques and collectibles. Eddie Costello will be guest appraiser and host. The first 40 people who register will have the opportunity to bring an item they would like to have appraised (no coins, currency, or stamps) and Eddie will provide an appraisal and rationale for the valuation. Eddie is a veteran appraiser with over 40 years of

experience. His crowd-pleasing appraisal events and entertaining demeanor always make for an informative and entertaining show.

Online registration begins Tuesday, January 7 at 10 a.m. for Garden City Library cardholders. You may register in person or register by calling the Reference Department at 516-742-8405 ext. 239. To be guaranteed an appraisal, you must sign-up for this program ahead of time. On the day of the program walkins are welcome; however, walk-ins will receive an appraisal after those who have signed up, if time permits. NonGarden City Library cardholders may call to register on Wednesday, January 22 if space is available.

The Young Princess Elizabeth: The Girl who Would be Queen

With Marilyn Carminio Garden City Public Library Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 2 p.m.

Every little girl longs to be a princess, but what is life really like for a young girl growing up first as Elizabeth of York and then as Princess Elizabeth, heir to the throne? Marilyn Carminio will discuss her childhood, her relationship with her sister Margaret, the effects of the abdication of her uncle, her

teenage years during a time of war and her coming of age as a married woman on Tuesday, January 14 at 2 p.m. at the Garden City Public Library. Learn what it is really like to live in a palace? How do parents raise an unspoiled princess? This richly detailed portrait is a peek into the heart of the young girl who would become Her Majesty the Queen. This program is open to all. No registration is required. Be

Adult Dance Performance Group

Our Dance Company’s Adult Performance Group will begin on Thursday, January 9th. Classes are held each Thursday in St. Paul’s Cluett Hall from 8 to 9 pm. Anyone who is interested in learning ballet, jazz, and hip hop can join this group. The group practices each week and learns choreographed routines that will be performed in our annual showcase.

This class will be taught by Felicia Lovaglio. The cost of this class will be $295. To register, please visit our office at 108 Rockaway Ave., or, if you have a password you can register online at www.gcreconline.gardencityny.net.

Pee-Wee Sports Sampler

(For Children ages 4 & 5 years old)

The Garden City Recreation Department will offer our poplar PeeWee Sports Sampler program this winter for children ages 4 & 5 who are Residents of the Inc. Village of Garden City. This six week program has been designed to provide an opportunity to try a wide variety of sports with basic instruction.

This program will take place in St. Paul’s Fieldhouse beginning the week of January 13 and each session will run for 55 minutes. Our Sampler will incorporate new skills and free play in a non-competitive atmosphere. A different sport will be offered each week. Classes will be held according to the following schedule:

Mondays 1:30 to 2:25 p.m.

Tuesdays 1:30 to 2:25 p.m.

Wednesdays 1:30 to 2:25 p.m.

The cost of this program is $100. To register for this program, please visit our office at 108 Rockaway Ave., or, if you have a password, you can register online at www.gcreconline. gardencityny.net.

Chi Kung Exercise and Meditation Class Forming

Please join Andrea Albergo for chi kung, which is considered a beautiful, peaceful path for body, mind and spirit. Andrea will show how to create a peaceful body by combining movement, breathing and meditation. This class is geared for seniors or the beginner adult. The 6-week session will begin Thursday, January 16 and will be

VILLAGE SPORTS

held at 1 p.m. at Garden City’s Senior Center. The price for the session is $48. To register this class, please visit the Office of Recreation and Parks at 108 Rockaway Avenue, or, if you have a password you can register online at www.gcreconline.gardencityny.net.

Youth Yoga Classes

Connie McKnight, our certified yoga instructor, has designed youth yoga classes for ages 6–18. Each class in our 10-week session is 55 minutes long. All classes will begin on Tuesday, January 14 and will be held in St. Paul’s Center. Any resident of the Inc. Village of Garden City in this age group is invited to join these relaxing classes. The cost of this 10 week session will be $105. The course schedule is as follows:

Ages 6 – 8 Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m.

Ages 9 – 12 Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m.

Ages 13 – 15 Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.

To register for any of these classes, please visit our office at 108 Rockaway Ave., or, if you have a password, you can register online at www.gcreconline. gardencityny.net.

“Crayola" Wild World Art Class for Grades K–5

Garden City Recreation and Parks is pleased to offer “Crayola” World of Design Art for grades K–5. The after school enrichment program incorporates different art techniques while your child uses their imagination for this session “Wild World”, studying animals from around the world.

Classes will be held on Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m. beginning January 13. Each class is one hour long and will be held in the St. Paul’s Center at 108 Rockaway Ave. The cost for this program will be $140, checks only, made payable to “Zoda, LLC”. Space is limited! To register for this program, please visit the Recreation and Parks Office at 108 Rockaway Ave.

Mad Science for Grades K to 5

Garden City Recreation and Parks is offering an afterschool program geared to children who are interested in science! Mad Science of Long Island is a company who provides a wonderful and fun learning experience while exploring different aspects of science. Each week of this 6-week session will cover a different topic such as “Under

Pressure”, “Chem-Mystery”, and “Super Structures”. Residents of the Village of Garden City entering grades K - 5 are invited to attend.

Classes will be held on Fridays from 4 to 5 p.m. beginning January 17. Each class is one hour long and will be held in the St. Paul’s Center at 108 Rockaway Ave. The cost for this program will be $140, checks only, made payable to “Mad Science of Long Island”. Space is limited! To register for this program, please visit the Recreation and Parks Office at 108 Rockaway Ave.

Interviews for Summer Jobs at the GC Pool –2020 Season

If you are interested in working at the G.C. Pool this summer please note the following:

You must be a high school senior or older or worked at the pool last season to interview for a summer position at the pool. Lifeguard, Pool Attendant and Office Staff are needed.

Appointments for interviews will be taken beginning Tuesday, December 3.

Please call the Recreation office at 516 465-4075 between 9am and 4pm to set up your interview.

Interviews will be conducted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the following days: Thursday, January 2 (from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Saturday, January 4 (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

As this is, for many new prospective employees, their first time interviewing for a job, please note the following:

• Come to the interview dressed appropriately.

• Items that will be discussed: Job availability, job description and duties, requirements of the job, past work experience. (Please note, babysitting, vol-

unteer work, yardwork and household chores as well as coaching and officiating are considered past work experience. Past work experience is not a requirement for the job.)

• Extracurricular and community activities such as: clubs, teams, scouts, school plays may be discussed during the interview.

• Pool Attendants must be willing to do maintenance and janitorial work as part of their work d

“Bricks 4 Kidz” Lego After School Program Begins

Garden City Recreation and Parks will offer two afterschool Lego programs beginning the week of January 8. Each hour-long class is an engaging experience for your child with a new project each week. These 6-week programs will be held in St. Paul’s Center (108 Rockaway Avenue). The offerings are as follows:

Wednesdays at 4 p.m.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Each week students will build motorized models of things that go! Your child can follow our step by step model plans to create their vehicle and then can customize it to their own specifications. Thursdays at 4 p.m.

Construction Craze!

Put your hard hat on and head over to our construction site. Join us for a 6-week session where students will make motorized models of construction tools. Kids will love playing with their creations!

The fee for either of these programs is $135, checks only made payable to Bricks 4 Kidz. To register, please visit the Recreation and Parks Office at 108 Rockaway Avenue.

IN MEMORIAM

Joseph Eugene Haffey

Joseph Eugene Haffey passed away peacefully with his best friend and beloved wife of 69 years, Regina (Hughes) at his side. Devoted father of Pat Clemency (Bill), Regina O’Connell (John Kilkenny), Anne, Joseph, Jr., and Bob (Caroline), he cherished his role as the patriarch of a family that also included eleven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and dozens of nieces and nephews. Also survived by his sister-in-law Angela D. Hughes and countless friends. A veteran of World War II, he was a role model to many who were guided by his example of a life well-lived in service to his family, country, and community.

A long-time resident of Baldwin and Garden City, he was born on March 3, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Charles and Mary (Sheehan) Haffey and predeceased by his six siblings and their spouses. He had an

extraordinary 42-year career in the telecommunications industry with New York Telephone, AT&T, and Western Electric and an equally remarkable 30-year retirement, filled with family celebrations, travel and volunteer work for St. Anne’s Parish, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and as Santa for many preschools and elementary schools. He will be missed, for his giant imprint on countless lives has left a hole in so many hearts.

Visitation took place Friday, December 27 at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home, Garden City. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 9:30am on Saturday, December 28 at St. Anne’s Church, Garden City. Burial followed at Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury.

In his memory, please share a story or joke with his family and friends, just has he always had a joke for us, for every occasion. We will always remember him with joy, love and laughter.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF MORR DASHING MERCH LLC.

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 10/24/2019. Office located in Nassau. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 233E Wheeler Ave Garden City NY, 11530. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

GC 1011

6X 11/29,12/06,13,20,27,01/03

NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Nassau County U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE CSFB MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005CF1, V. COLLEEN TRETTIEN; ET AL. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated January 19, 2017, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE CSFB MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-CF1 is the Plaintiff and COLLEEN TRETTIEN; ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the CALENDAR CONTROL PART (CCP), FIRST FLOOR, COURTROOM OF THE SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on January 28, 2020 at 11:30AM, premises known as 162 MEADOW ST, GARDEN CITY, NY 11530: Section 34, Block 546, Lot 32 & 39: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF GARDEN CITY, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 0000801/2015.

Marilyn Salzman, Esq.Referee. RAS Boriskin, LLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

GC 1017 4X 12/27,01/03,10,17

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of the General Municipal Law and Chapter 200 of the Code of the Incorporated Village of Garden City, New York notice is hereby given that the Board of Appeals of said Village will meet in the Village Hall at 351 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York on Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. to take action on the following matters:

1. APPEAL OF MATTHEW MELFORD & COURTNEY

FINNERTY for a variance of the provisions of Section 20015 and 200-46.C of the Village Code, so as to permit the erection of a 10 sq. ft. & 61 sq. ft. first floor additions with an 89 sq. ft. porch and 88 sq. ft. Porte-cochere in the front, and an 88 sq. ft. first floor rear addition, with a 1488 sq. ft. full second floor above (demolish existing 476 sq. ft. half story) , at the existing dwelling known as 4 LINDEN STREET (Map of Mineola Plaza, Block 23, Lots 47, R-6 district) the construction of which would;

A. cause the allowable building area of 1500 sq. ft. or 25.0% to be exceeded by 142 sq. ft. (1642 sq. ft. or 27.36%),

B. maintain the existing minimum 7.9’ setback where 8’ is required, and the existing aggregate of setbacks of 15.3’ where 18.0’ is required.

*Adjourned at the November meeting.

In accordance with a survey, specifications and photographs filed with the Building Department.

2. APPEAL OF MICHAEL J. & NICOLE V. ROMANO for a variance of the provisions of Section 200-52.H of the Village Code, to allow for the permitting of an additional split system A/C compressor (central A/C compressor variance granted 2016), installed while converting a 1,154 sq. ft. portion of an existing basement to habitable space, at the side of the existing dwelling known as, 14 HUDSON ROAD (Map of Nassau Havens, Block F Lot 40, R-6 district) the placement

LEGAL NOTICES

of which has; A. cause the required plot line setback for freestanding cooling equipment of 10.0’ to be reduced to no less than (8.0’). In accordance with a survey & photographs filed with the Building Department.

3. APPEAL OF PAUL J. BERNIERI for a variance of the provisions of Section 20052.A of the Village Code, to allow for the maintenance of (2 ) two previously installed A/C compressors at the side of the existing dwelling known as 154 HAMPTON ROAD (Map of Garden City Estates, Block 89 Lot 72, R-12 district), the placement which has;

A. reduced the required front yard setback for accessory structures of 50.0’ to no less than (30.4’) for the A/C compressors.

In accordance with a survey and photographs filed with the Building Department.

4. APPEAL OF DAVID & KERYN CONNOLLY for a variance of the provisions of Section 200-31 of the Village Code, to amend the existing building permit to allow for the construction of a 49 sq. ft. front portico (while constructing a 40 sq. ft. and a 67 sq. ft. open porch additions, with 107 sq. ft. second floor above, an 87 sq. ft. one story additions and 12 sq. ft. fireplace at the rear, and an 18 sq. ft. bay window at the side, a 140 sq. ft. open porch at the front), at the existing dwelling known as 151 HAMPTON ROAD (Map of Garden City Estates, Block 90 Lot 19, R-12 district) the granting of which would;

A. reduce the required front yard setback of 50.0’ to no less than (48.9’).

In accordance with a survey and photographs filed with the Building Department.

5. APPEAL OF MARY ELLEN DROGALIS for a variance of the provisions of Sections 200-45.4 and 200-52.H of the Village Code, to allow for the permitting of a previously installed split system A/C compressor and central A/C compressor at the side, and a generator at the rear of the existing dwelling known as, 73 WILLOW STREET (Map of Garden City East, Block 119 Lot 16, R-6 district) the placement of which has;

A. caused the required plot line setback for freestanding cooling equipment of 10.0’ to be reduced to no less than (1.2’) to the split unit and to no less than (2.3’) to the central unit;

B. caused a generator to not be co-located with freestanding cooling equipment.

In accordance with a survey and photographs filed with the Building Department.

6. APPEAL OF DEBORAH MCCALLUM for a variance of the provisions of Sections 200-15 and 200-31 of the Village Code, so as to permit the erection of a 150 sq. ft. front porch at the plot known as 110 JEFFERSON STREET (Map of Stewart Manor, Lot 100, Block 21, R-6 district) the construction of which would;

A. cause the allowable building area of 1,000 sq. ft. or 25% to be exceeded by 130 sq. ft. (1,130 sq. ft. or 28.8%)-

B. cause the required front yard setback of 30.0’ to be reduced to (25.2’) with respect to the porch-

In accordance with a survey and photographs filed with the Building Department.

7. APPEAL OF DOUGLAS & LAURA BELLARD for a variance of the provisions of Section 200-15 and 200-31, of the Village Code, to allow for the amendment of a previously approved building permit to include the addition of a 48 sq. ft. front portico, while erecting a 642 sq. ft. rear & 71 sq. ft. side first floor with a 914 sq. ft. second floor additions above (demolishing a 42 sq. ft. front vestibule and 56 sq. ft. second floor sun porch), at the existing dwelling known as 140 CHESTNUT STREET (Map of Garden City Lawns, Block J, Lot 28, R-6 District), the granting of which will;

A. cause the allowable building area of 1,875 sq. ft. or 25% to be exceeded by 45 sq. ft. (1,920 sq. ft. or 25.6%)-

B. reduce the required front

yard setback of 30.0’ to no less than (24.0’).

In accordance with a survey and photographs filed with the Building Department.

8. APPEAL OF STEWART FRANKLIN OWNERS CORP for a variance of the provisions of Sections 200-7 and 20026.A. (3) of the Village Code, so as to permit the use of an existing 1,610 sq. ft. first floor retail store, as the Garden City NY Media, at the address 223 Seventh Street in the building known as 223 SEVENTH STREET

(also known as 739 Franklin Avenue) (Map of Garden City East, Block 155, Lot 1, C-2 District);

In accordance with a survey and photographs filed with the Building Department.

END OF CASES

The Board may transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

DATED: January 22, 2020 Garden City, New York 11530 Karen Altman Village Clerk

The Incorporated Village of Garden City does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission to, access to, or participation in its programs, activities or public meetings, and has designated Karen M. Altman, Village Clerk, as Disability Compliance Coordinator. Persons with a disability who wish to attend a meeting should contact Karen M. Altman at least 24 hours in advance of meeting at: 351 Stewart Avenue Garden City, New York 11530 (516) 465-4051 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2020 GC 1018 1X 01/03

GC Trojans Basketball gets a split on holiday week

The Trojans continued their season of heavy road games with their first loss at Lynbrook HS and a bounce-back win at Roosevelt HS. Garden City (6-1) lost 52-49 on a buzzer-beater three-pointer by Lynbrook. Tied 49-49 with 2 seconds to go in regulation, a Lynbrook player managed to shake himself free and fire up a three which dropped as the buzzer sounded. The Trojans put a a valiant fight, but came up short. Junior Tommy Franz’ (17 pts) hot shooting kept GC in game. Luke Long (13 pts), Jack Downey (10 pts) and Brian Wood (5 pts) had Trojans in place to steal another road victory, but luck ran out for the team at end.

It was off to Roosevelt for Garden City, playing their sixth road game in an early 7-game season. Garden City came ready to play from the tip and beat Roosevelt H.S. 72-39. The Trojans were

too much to handle for the home team and offensively played really fast and loose. Luke Long (26 pts) got hot in the 3rd quarter, hitting 5 three-pointers and finishing with 19 in the quarter. Gavin Paskewitz (10 pts, 8 rebs), Tommy Franz (10 pts.) and Brian Wood (7 pts, 4 ass.) were match-up problems for Roosevelt defenders. The team looked fast and skilled.

Rounding out the scoring were Frankie Patrissi (6 pts), Aidan Long (5 pts, 5 rebs), Jack Downey (4pts, 5 rebs) Dylan Fu (2 pts) and Joey Wood(1 pt). Mike Deluca used great ball handling and vision to break Roosevelt’s press. Finally, a little home cooking for the road-tested Trojans Basketball team as they host Calhoun on Jan. 6 at 6:45. Come cheer on your 6-1 GC Trojans as they move into league play.

Gavin Paskewitz with the sweet stroke

Aidan Long going strong to hoop

Frankie Patrissi skys for two

Brian Wood attacking the rim.

Jack Downey breaking the press

Luke Long from deep.

GCHS Trojans JV Team

Nassau County High School Girls Soccer Awards Dinner

Front row: Maggie Connolly, Brook Zarou, Jessica Yoo, Aliva Gordon

The Nassau County Girls Soccer Coaches Association hosted it annual awards dinner at the Crest Hollow Country Club on December 2, 2019. The following players from Garden City High School earned awards:

All State

Mary Haggerty

All County Brook Zarou Kelly Brennan

Senior

Mary Haggerty All Class

Claire McGuire

Maggie Connolly

Renee Gollisz

All Conference

Aliva Gordon

Jessica Yoo

Scholar Athlete Award

Katherine Staub

Attention students!

Graduated from school? Have an outstanding GPA?

Made the honor roll or Dean’s List? Scored an internship or study abroad opportunity? We invite you to send details of any of these things and more, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be seen in our paper!

John Ellis Kordes

This is a rare photograph of the Garden City Fire Department at the beginning of the 20th Century. They are posing in front of the newly built third Garden City Hotel which opened in 1901. They are standing on what was Park Avenue which led from the railroad station to the hotel’s front door. The photographer is probably standing on a ladder judging by the angle of the photo and he is positioned on Seventh Street looking north. The rows of trees on either side date back to 1874 when the first hotel opened. The second opened in 1895 and burned down on September 7, 1899.

The fire department includes over forty men in this photo with the Garden City Company’s manager (and resident) George Hubbell standing in front with his hands together.

GC resident receives citation for work with NY Guard

Spc. Vincent Kudelycz of Garden City, recently received recognition from the New York Guard.

Kudelycz, while serving with the NY Guard Headquarters, received the New York Guard Commander’s Citation during recent unit training events.

Major General Raymond F. Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announced awards and individual recognitions for members of the New York Guard state defense force for their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of New York State’s Military Forces.

The New York Guard is a force of 500 uniformed volunteers, organized

as a military unit, who augment the New York National Guard during state emergencies. They provide administrative and logistics support to the National Guard. Members of the New York Guard have been involved in flood control efforts along the Lake Ontario shoreline this summer.

Unlike members of the New York National Guard, New York Guard members do not have a federal military role and do not deploy outside the state. New York Guard members usually train in a volunteer status and are only paid when they are placed on state duty during emergencies.

Get results!

Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call our Garden City office at 516-294-8900 for more information.

Top row, left to right: Mary Haggerty, Coach Mike Heedles, Asst. Coach Scott McAuley, Katherine Staub, Claire McGuire, Kelly Brennan, Renee Gollisz

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Sunday, January 5 | 1:30 – 3:00pm

3-bedroom, 3-bath.

7-bedroom, 6.5-bath.

#18. MLS# 3138429. $3,499,000.

Garden City Park, NY

2-bedroom, 1.5-bath. SD #18. MLS# 3185195. $549,000.

Sunday, January 5 | 2:00 – 4:00pm

50 Poplar St, Garden City, NY

4-bedroom, 3.55-bath. SD #18. MLS# P1364648. $1,100,000.

City, NY 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath. SD #18. MLS# 3168880. $649,000.

#18. MLS# 3110238. $3,950,000.

Garden City, NY

3-bedroom, 1.5-bath. SD #18. MLS# 3185789. $765,000.

Rene Blair

Ann Collins Chelsea Costello Patricia Costello

Claudia Galvin Manager

Annmarie Bommarito Jessica Brantuk Laura Carroll

Christine Cudahy Assistant Manager

Patricia Dickson Arthur Anderson

Alexandra Parisi Linda Mulrooney

Susan MacDonald Athena Menoudakos

Kathy Lucchesi

Eileen O’Hara

Brigid Marmorowski

Mary Lo Galbo Matthew Minardi

Diane Piscopo

Marilyn Frey

Floral Park, NY

5-bedroom, 3-bath.

SD #22. MLS# 3143759. $739,500.

Southampton, NY

4-bedroom, 3.5-bath. SD #6. MLS# 3068772. $1,595,000.

111 Cherry Valley Ave, Unit 321 Garden City, NY

2-bedroom, 2.5-bath.

SD #18. MLS# 3180158. $5,900.

100 Hilton Ave, Unit 801 Garden City, NY

3-bedroom, 3.5-bath.

SD #18. MLS# 3179594. $1,999,999.

Valley Stream, NY 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath. SD #14. MLS# 3174201. $799,000.

Old Westbury, NY 5-bedroom, 3-bath. SD #2. MLS# 3167503. $1,599,000.

111 Cherry Valley Ave, Unit 501

City, NY 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath.

#18. MLS# 3183952. $6,000/mo.

100 Hilton Ave, Unit PH1 Garden City, NY 3-bedroom, 3-bath.

#18. MLS# 3170675. $2,900,000.

Floral Park, NY. 3-bedroom, 2-bath. SD# 26. MLS# 3153138. $829,000.

Condos, Co-Ops & Rentals

Oyster Bay, NY 4-bedroom, 3-bath. SD #18. MLS# 3180067. $849,000.

Malverne, NY 5-bedroom, 3-bath. SD #12. MLS# 3138117. $898,000.

NY 1-bedroom, 1.5-bath. SD #10. MLS# 3185819.

Wyndham Resale Office

Patricia Costello, Patricia Dickson, Alfred Kohart, Mary Krener and Linda Mulrooney

111 Cherry Valley Ave, Unit 319 Garden City, NY 2-bedroom, 2-bath. SD #18. MLS# 3175138. $1,100,000. 111 Cherry Valley Ave, Unit M-21 Garden City, NY 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath SD #18. MLS# 3166796. $895,000.

#18.

3170706. $1,200,000.

Mineola,

Mineola,

Lauren Grima

Robert J. Krener

Lisa Heaney Fortune Heaney

Daureen Hausser

Susan Gillin

Alfred Kohart Mary Krener

Kathleen Higdon Meredith Krug

Kathleen Roberts Cecile Raoult

Julia Mastromauro Rosado

Jennifer Sullivan Scott Wallace Maureen Walsh Lagarde

Joseph Scianablo

Cheryl Trimboli

Lynn Puccio Brian Pryke

Peter Kerantzas

Jennifer Petersen

“We’ll secure hundreds of new listings this year. Yours could be one of them. Please consider speaking with one of our 900 sales professionals sooner rather than later. Why?

Pricing is not as obvious as it appears. Get an expert involved.

Planning in advance really make a difference. It’s vitally important to success.