Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino recently met with AJ Retaleato and his parents Anthony & Michelle and recognized AJ's efforts to beautify Captain Kathy Mazza Memorial Park in Farmingdale. Supervisor Saladino commended AJ and his parents for their extraordinary efforts.
BY RIKKI MASSAND
Local businesses and organizations looking to rebound from spring pandemic shutdowns can find a helping pair of hands and also further their community ties by turning to a cohort of Syosset High School stu-
dents, 16 to 18-year-olds looking to learn the ropes of business in a free summer and fall internship program.
SHS Business Education teacher Matthew Fiasconaro, who runs a small business with his brother, Brewer’s Crackers, has received inquiries from 165
SHS upperclassmen/women about this summer’s program. The students signed up on Mr. Fiasconaro’s Google Classroom site for the internship program, as “they’re looking for some type of opportunity.” This represents a surge
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The Jericho Syosset News Journal is published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Periodical Postage paid at Hicksville, N.Y. 11801Telephone 931-0012 - USPS 3467-68 Postmaster: Send Address Change to: The Syosset Jericho News Journal, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris Publisher
BY GARY SIMEONE
Area restaurants offering limited indoor service was just a small part of the state’s Phase 3 reopening plan on Wednesday. Other businesses that were allowed to reopen included nail salons, spas, massage parlors and tanning salons.
Town of Oyster Bay officials, including Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Lou Imbroto and County Legislator Rose Walker, were on hand at Patrizia’s of Hicksville to celebrate the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
“We are so pleased to celebrate the return of indoor dining for those who would rather eat inside an establishment and especially those restaurants who may not be able to accommodate for outdoor dining,” said Saladino. “It is our turn as patrons to do what we have to do to support local restaurants. After all, the success of our local businesses benefits us all.”
Imbroto added that the reopening of indoor seating at restaurants brings back a sense of normalcy to businesses and customers whose life has been altered by the pandemic.
“Dining at local restaurants helps revive our economy, puts people back to work and gets us back to a sense of normalcy which many are longing for,” said Imbroto. “The success of our local restaurants directly correlates with the vitality with our neighborhoods and we’re all pleased to support them.”
Tony Luisi, a manager at Patriz-
ia’s, said that the restaurant has been getting a good response from customers after the allowance of indoor seating on Wednesday.
“We have certainly prepared ourselves and taken all of the necessary precautions to reopen indoors,” said Luisi. “Tables inside have been at 50% capacity since reopening a few days ago and we’ve opened a tent outside to accommodate our customers.”
He said that some of the precautions the restaurant has taken are that all employees are subject to temperature checks before entering the restaurant and they have to wear masks and gloves at all times while servicing customers.
“We’ve made sure all dining tables are six feet apart from one another and customers must wear a mask at all times except when they’re eating,” said Luisi.
The Orient restaurant in Bethpage is another area restaurant that is bringing back limited indoor seating as part of the reopening plan.
Tommy Tan, owner of The Orient, said that his restaurant will officially allow for indoor seating after July 4th because of recent renovations.
“We officially shut our doors to customers on March 22nd, and in that time we had some renovations done like repainting the dining room and replacing the ceiling,” said Tan. “We are only offering takeout at this point but we’re looking forward to seeing all of customers after the holiday weekend.”
BY RIKKI MASSAND
After serving as a Syosset Central School District Board of Education trustee for the last seven years, longtime resident Susan Parker decided to not run for another term this spring. The results of the mail-in June 2020 school district election saw two of her colleagues on the board, Carol Cheng and Anna Levitan, earn re-election to another three years. In addition Susan Falkove will round out the Board of Education for the 2020-21 school year. Falkove will be sworn in at the Syosset district’s annual reorganization meeting in early July, and plans have yet to be announced if the meeting will take place over Zoom.
During the Board’s Zoom meeting last week, Trustee Parker was joined by her two sons and husband Mitch for festivities and fond memories of her time serving the district -- extending almost 25 years prior to her first term as a school board trustee. She thanked her fellow trustees for expressing their sentiments and the time she has spent collaborating with them on the board of education. Parker soon congratulated Anna and Carol on their reelection to the board.
School Board Trustee Andrew Feldman led the round of commendations for Parker by her colleagues on Syosset’s board of education. He says she was generous with her time and sharing her knowledge of the district and school operations with him when he was first elected to the school board in 2015.
“Susan was very knowledgeable about the schools for many years as she held what seems like every PTA leadership position at some point. Susan was also very knowledgeable about board procedures. Even after her election to the school board, she still somehow found time to serve on the Nassau County PTA Council so basically she has selflessly and tirelessly served our community for close to 30 years,” Feldman said, thanking her husband Mitch for supporting Susan in her service to the school board and district.
“Susan has had such a positive impact on our community and I know she will continue to do so because she just can’t help it! Susan has set a great example for and many others. You will be missed so much my friend -- don’t be a stranger and best of luck to you!” Feldman said at the school board’s Zoom meeting June 17.
Board Trustee Anna Levitan was just re-elected to her second term on the board of education and she too draws inspiration from Parker’s involvement in Syosset Central School District. Levitan shared the memories of her very first school board meeting after being elected as a trustee in 2017, and sitting next to Parker and observing the way she prepared and had materials
ready to discuss.
“I remember thinking to myself that Trustee Parker must be very important, she was in a top position. Sure enough Susan has been very committed, true to her passion and true to all the kids, and always articulate. In addition to all her selfless service over the years, Susan is an incredible mom and she talks about her sons all the time. I hope you get to spend some more time with the family and thank you for many years of continuously helping the district,” Levitan said.
Trustee Rob Gershon thanked Parker in an executive session the board held, but he was compelled to reiterate how much he appreciates all the great work and collaborations she has committed herself to in the district for many years. “You have just been an invaluable member of our school board. We will just miss you so much, although we will all still be seeing you in Syosset. You have been such a great friend to all of us and you have gone well beyond the call of duty to the community, both on the board and before with your work on the PTA. If any future board members can do half of the work Susan has been a part of that would serve as tremendous commitments to the community. We thank you Susan,” Gershon said.
Board Trustee Carol Cheng commented that Parker has always been a genuine, caring and a considerate colleague, “selflessly sharing your resources with parents, the administration and the board.”
“It’s hard to believe tonight is your last Board of Ed. meeting as a trustee
but I know your family is happy to have you back! We truly appreciate your exceptional service and dedication to our children and community -- best of luck!” Cheng said.
School Board President Tracy Frankel commented on how much Syosset Central School District has been helped by Parker’s service on the board.
“This is a tough one for me as I have adored having you with us as my friend, which will continue, but as a school board trustee you have been just tremendous. I want to thank you as since 2013 this board has really benefited from you being on it, and the community benefited too as they’d already known you and your dedication to Syosset/ Woodbury for so many years with your activities and achievements on the PTA. Here as a board member you have never
sat still and you’ve always had something to offer.”
“You have always expressed an opinion, and even when you knew your opinion might be in the minority you understood that that opinion would still be representative of a portion of our community...you made sure that our community was heard and you never had a fear with that, that was always impressive and it’s a lesson I think we all have learned from you,” Frankel said to Parker during the Zoom meeting.
She added that Parker is an incredible friend and is someone “I have relied on to bat down ideas and to collaborate with.” Frankel said she hopes Parker continues her contributions to the wellness of Syosset, “in whatever fashion you choose.”
Nassau County Police arrested two men on Friday, June 26 for allegedly robbing two male victims on Levittown Parkway.
According to police, the two male victims, ages 19 and 20, were in front of 151 Levittown Parkway when they were approached by two men who were known to them. The two male subjects allegedly began threatening the victims. The threats escalated and both subjects began punching and kicking the victims. During the scuffle, a victim’s cell phone fell on the ground. One of the subjects allegedly picked up the phone and fled Northbound towards Blueberry Lane. Police say the
other subject entered the Long Island Deli and threatened an employee if he told the police what happened before fleeing towards Blueberry Lane as well.
Nassau County Police arrested Jonathan Ramirez, 22, and Nikolaos Safetis, 21. Both victims suffered significant pain to their heads and face but refused medical attention.
Jonathan Ramirez has been charged with two counts of Robbery 2nd Degree and Coercion 3rd Degree. Nikolaos Safetis has been charged with two counts of Robbery 2nd Degree and Petit Larceny.
The Jericho Public Library will be reopening on Monday, July 6 for limited services.
• Masks are mandatory
• Maximum 25 patrons at a time in building
• Grab & Go-- browse & checkout only
• Park in the back lot & enter through Rear entrance only
• Curbside pickup is still available
• All programs are still virtual
• Hotspots, Rokus, and some Museum passes are available
• Items borrowed while the building was closed are now due by July 6 without accruing fines
• Due to the quarantine period, returned items will show as checked out on your account for several days
• No fines will accrue during the quarantine period
• For 24/7 access, go to jericholibrary.org for online materials, streaming & library services
There will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, July 7, at 8:00 p.m. in public at South Woods Middle School, 99 Pell Lane, Syosset, unless the existing Executive Order is extended to hold the meeting by videoconference. The Board will hold its Reorganizational and Monthly meeting.
The public may offer comment or questions by emailing the Board of
Education at districtclerk@syossetschools.org by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 3, 2020. Comments and questions may be addressed by the Board of Education and/or Administration at the July 7, 2020 Board of Education Meeting.
The public can join the meeting via livestream broadcast on the District website www.syossetschools.org
BY SABRINA GUO
With the recent outbreak of coronavirus, maintaining a community of mentors and role models and learning as a student has been somewhat challenging. Thankfully, with some help from Syosset High School teacher Mrs. Sophia Bae, I recently had the privilege of participating in a virtual conference with US Representative Grace Meng as part of a classroom event, which provided an incredible opportunity for us to glean wisdom and grow.
As a young and driven Asian American girl myself, seeing Congresswoman Meng speak was incredibly inspiring and motivational. Being a youth in this generation, I still hear many stereotypes about how Asians are quiet and too timid to voice their opinions. Throughout the video conference, my admiration grew as I heard about Congresswoman Meng’s dedication to serve her district by working in government, where there is a pressing need for diverse opinions. Meng, who is the daughter of Chinese immigrants who came to Queens in the 70s, initially felt out of place in that “America,” but as she grew up, she realized her differences were actually her strengths. Now, as a legislator, she is grateful for who she is because that is what allows her to bring something
new to the table. Being both Asian and a woman has brought obstacles, but her commitment to break the glass ceiling in an area where so few people like her exist is a testament to what America can be.
“Now I try to, as an American, take ownership of who I am,” Meng said. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to weigh in when people are not talking about issues broadly enough or not including enough people when we’re talking about different issues.
Meng’s journey in life, both personally and professionally, also led to her being an advocate and a voice for those who are underrepresented, and reinforced in her the importance of solidarity and unity amongst people who are often unheard. She provided insight on her experience growing up in America and what it’s like to be a local elected official in Congress today, especially emphasizing the importance of being open and listening to others. For example, because of one student’s emphatic letter, Meng worked many years on the women’s rights issue of Menstrual Equity, meeting many young people and advocates from all across the country. While she had never thought of the issue before, by listening and caring about her constituents, Meng helped collectively mobilize tangible change, and now women who go to New York
City shelters are able to get these products for free. It was extremely encouraging to learn even student voices really can reach those in charge, especially as we aspire to help those around us.
Reflecting on how recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted her as a lawmaker, Meng again acknowledged the importance of thoughtful and gracious listening. Pivotally, the role of communal knowledge in listening enables us to come together and support each other in ways that are impossible for one person alone.
“We realized that the government didn’t have all the answers and that the government could not react fast enough to help people,” Meng said. “And so, as someone who represented a local district, I learned to be a better listener, a better multi-tasker.”
The current surge of outrage over systemic racial inequality has also highlighted the importance of solidarity, unity, and opening ourselves up to others’ perspectives. Meng recalls how, during the beginning of the pandemic, a rise in anti-Asian racism came about.
“And I remember that some of the first people to stand up and to speak out against it were not just Asians, but were my black colleagues, were students from different college campuses, and national groups like the NAACP.”
Divided, we are few, but together, in solidarity and unity, we have the power to change our communities. By demonstrating support and building and strengthening inter-communal trust, Congresswoman Meng encour-
aged us that change is possible. Finding commonality and living a life in active pursuit of justice, which includes contemplating our personal responsibilities and compassionately listening to others, not only increases her credibility as a public servant, but allows us all to navigate life in a healthy way.
It was such a privilege to share virtual space with Congresswoman Grace Meng. In our brief time together, I felt empowered to never be afraid of expressing my own opinion, nor to falter if my voice isn’t as powerful in the beginning. It is extremely pertinent for youth to be exposed to role models like Congresswoman Meng. She is the epitome of a mild-mannered yet determined leader, an ambitious Asian-American woman who works to push for compassion, equality, and justice. Meng’s description of her younger self reminded me of my own experience, and knowing Congresswoman Meng’s journey and respected position today pushes me to express and develop my own stance on current affairs, and to make sure I put my ideas and thoughts into action. While it seems frustrating or overwhelming to engage in the political process, Congresswoman Meng is a wonderful role model, and enabled us to see the critical role youth have in hoping and acting for a better future. Change can be slow, and while we might not see immediate results, it’s important to remember that even as children and students, it’s also the future generations we ourselves are fighting for.
The federal and state governments have mandated that all school districts implement a breakfast program for students.
Based on a survey of Jericho School District sent to parents of children currently enrolled in K-5 in the Cantiague, Seaman, and Jackson Elementary Schools, the district is requesting an exemption from the breakfast program for these schools for the 2020-2021 school
year. The results of the survey indicate that more than 80 percent of those responding would not use the program. If any parents have questions or concerns regarding the request for the one year exemption, please contact Assistant Superintendent for Business Mr. Victor P. Manuel, 203-3600 extension 3214, or Director of Food Service Tracy Gilet, extension 3258.
Members of
In observance of New York State guidelines, Bethpage High School held five graduation ceremonies on June 27 for the Class of 2020. Before each of the intimate ceremonies, students were given special Bethpage face masks and gathered with classmates after months of distance learning.
Following the procession of students, staff and administrators onto the school’s football field, each ceremony began with the national anthem, sung by one of five talented students. They were Joseph Colavolpe, Katelyn Harold, Bridget Pheifer, Alexa Rolleri and Maria Sandoval.
A few distinguished members of the Class of 2020 spoke to their classmates over the course of the day’s events. Salutatorian Rahul Busri, valedictorian Jessica Kneller, Senior Class President
Adina Rahman and Student Council President Bryan Hanley each delivered speeches, acknowledging the commitment and hard work every member of their class exhibited throughout all four years of high school.
Superintendent of Schools David Schneider delivered a welcoming speech, noting how the senior class continued to thrive and accomplish their goals, despite the unique form this school year took.
“I want to say thank you to the class of 2020 for your commitment to excellence,” said Schneider. “Your achievements in academics, the fine and performing arts and athletics have showcased your school and the community and made us all very proud.”
Principal Nicholas Jantz then approached the podium to address the
graduates, noting the many ways the Class of 2020 has always been dedicated and motivated group of students.
“I want to thank you, the Class of 2020, for all of your contributions to Bethpage High School,” said Mr. Jantz. “Wherever you are going next year, please remember to bring not only the knowledge that you learned here, but more importantly the lessons, morals and experiences that have made you into the people you are here today.”
Following his speech, Mr. Jantz was joined on staged by Schneider, Board of Education President Michael J. Kelly and Assistant Principals Ralph Tocco and Kevin Healy for the presentation of diplomas. Each student was called by name and walked across the stage to rounds of applause from their fellow classmates and families.
The 2020 version of the annual Heart & Sole 5K charitable fundraising race, hosted and organized by Northwell Health Syosset and Plainview Hospitals, will be an entirely-virtual participation event due to the COVID19 pandemic. This summer marks the 17th year of the local fundraiser, which has traditionally been held on the third or fourth Sunday in July, starting and finishing at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School.
This year, the virtual ‘race’ maintains physical distances between runners and has no spectators, and there is not a risk of a crowd gathered to run together at once. The 5K officially kicks off the week of Sunday, July 19, and runners have between the 18th and 25th to complete their run and post their times.
Runners can go online to register for the 5K at https://runsignup.com/ Race/NY/AnyCityAnyState/theheartsole5krunwalk
Their printable bibs and race shirts will be mailed to them.
Christine Patti, community relations manager for Syosset/Plainview Hospital, informed the Syosset Advance, Mid-Island Times and Jericho NewsJournal that Northwell’s race organizers will be encouraging all runners to upload their race times online and
share photos on social media, wearing their shirts and bibs with Heart & Sole 5K event hashtags.
Children under 12 will have the opportunity to participate in a Virtual Fun Run and all participating children will receive medals, she added.
Proceeds of this year’s race will be used for the Northwell Health Deborah Tascone RN Caregiver Center at Plainview Hospital.
Typically each year the Heart & Sole 5K recognizes an honoree, and in 2019 joint honors were presented for the Syosset and Plainview Volunteer Fire Departments. The 2018 Heart & Sole 5K honoree was Rick Lewis, chief executive officer of the Mid-Island Y/ JCC in Plainview.
This year celebrating the contributions of an honoree posed a challenge, and Patti explains that since the event won’t take place as it customarily does in the community, “we (Northwell) decided to hold off until next year when we can do this in person.”
Law firm Wagner, Doman, Leto & DiLeo, P.C. is the Silver-level sponsor of the 5K while the race’s Gold sponsor for 2020 is Kravet, Inc., a Bethpagebased fabrics and home furnishing company.
Dr. Ava Kamenshchik’s practice, Always Orthodontics at 99 Cold Spring
Road, suite 101, is among the Heart & Sole 5K’s Community Sponsors this year. She offered the following comment on sponsoring the race:
“Now, more than ever, we are committed to supporting our local communities of Syosset and Plainview, and most importantly the two hospitals, Northwell programming and the heroes that give all their ‘Heart and Sole.’ Thank you to all of the Northwell Healthcare Heros!”
For the second consecutive year the Bronze-level sponsor of Northwell Health’s Heart & Sole 5K is Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce board member and 21-year resident of Syosset Mr. Russell Green, president of his firm RPG Wealth Management, Inc. at 6800 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 120 West.
Green has supported his home community throughout, including gold-level sponsorship and a great setup with raffles and prizes at the September 15, 2019 Syosset Street Fair organized and hosted by the Chamber. He is on a mission to show support to members of the area’s healthcare community as well as to his fellow local business people, encouraging others to get involved.
“Last year, RPG Wealth Management was a proud bronze sponsor of the Heart and Sole 5k run
on behalf of the Plainview/Syosset Hospital group, thanks to the amazing efforts of Christine Patti reaching out to business leaders on their behalf. When Christine contacted me last week about sponsoring this year’s virtual run on behalf of the Deborah Tascone Caregiver Center, I felt it was important to send the message that business is still alive and well in our community. That is why, while I had the option of lessening my commitment or opting out totally, I chose to continue to be a bronze sponsor for this event.”
“These trying times will eventually pass, but frontline organizations like Syosset and Plainview Hospital need to know now that our business community is still here to support them,” Green told the Advance via email.
“As our Bronze sponsor RPG Wealth Management will have the logo and website link noted on all pre and post-race emails as well as the event website; RPG will be featured on the Hospital’s Community Instagram page,” Patti noted.
She thanked Russell Green and fellow Chamber members and area businesses on June 19 and stated “in times like these, we remember how important it is to support one another and keep moving forward.”
Congratulations to Hicksville High Middle School students who are moving up to the high school. The school recently conducted an outdoor ceremony to allow students to receive their middle school diplomas from Principal Mara Jorisch with their families on hand.
The ceremony was held in a safe manner that allowed students to walk by teachers, administrators and support staff members who applauded, cheered them and offered words of encouragement and good luck. After they received their middle school diplomas, the graduating eighth graders could have their photo taken by the school sign as a memento.
“The modified commencement was a wonderful way to recognize our amazing Hicksville Middle School Class of 2020 and to show them that they will
always have a special place in our hearts,” Jorisch said.
The on-site experience was complemented by a virtual ceremony that included prerecorded messages to the graduates from Superintendent of Schools Marianne Litzman, Principal Jorisch, Board of Education member Linda Imbriale, PTSA President Linda Smith, Student Council President Jack Beaudette and National Junior Honor Society President Patrick LaBarca.
Assistant Principal Todd Wallace announced the eighth grade award winners.
Each graduate also received a special Hicksville Middle School string bag and a commemorative copy of the ceremony program to cherish their three years of hard work at the middle school.
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced Long Island’s first-ever Drive-In Concert Series for the summer of 2020. All concerts are free, open to residents only and begin at 8pm in the parking lot at TOBAY Beach. Concert goers will experience a wide variety of genres that range from country to rock, providing free family-fun entertainment for all music lovers. Residents are invited to bring a cooler and the entire family.
Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “The best things in life are free, especially when it comes to the Town of Oyster Bay’s free summer concert series. You and the family can enjoy the ocean breeze and sounds of rock, country, Motown and more without spending a dime. Bring your family and friends, a cooler to TOBAY Beach and
join us at these drive-in concerts all summer long.”
Drive-In Summer Concert Series
Calendar:
Tuesday, July 7
Simply Diamond - The Ultimate Neil Diamond Tribute featuring Brian LeBlanc
Thursday, July 9
Dr. K's Motown Revue - America's #1 Authentic Motown Revue Band
Saturday, July 11
Shades of Bublé - A Three-Man Tribute To Michael Bublé
Tuesday, July 14
The Doobie Others - Tribute to The Doobie Brothers
Thursday, July 16
Disco Unlimited - The hottest disco
Tuesday, July 7 from 1–2 p.m.
Songs of Inspiration
Presenters: Richard Knox
That beautiful and uplifting lyric from Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” has resonated with audiences for half a century since it was first composed in 1970. In difficult times both past and present songs such as “You Raise Me Up”, “The Impossible Dream”, “Over the Rainbow”, and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” have lifted our spirits and soothed our souls, often in ways that spoken words cannot. During this program we will have an opportunity to watch outstanding vocalists such as Audra McDonald, Josh Groban, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Barbra Streisand perform these
and several other memorable numbers that will prove to be both nostalgic and inspiring.
Get Zoom meeting link at: https:// www.syossetlibrary.org/live-streaming.
Tuesday, July 7 from 3–4:30 p.m.
Title Swap Tuesdays: The Best of the Best: Our Favorite Books of All Time Edition
Excited to hear about our favorite books? Join the Readers’ Services Department for fun, lively, genre-specific presentations of all the books we can’t stop talking about. Leave with a list of great reads! No registration needed.
Get Zoom meeting link at: https:// www.syossetlibrary.org/live-streaming
show and dance band on the East Coast
Saturday, July 18
Big Eyed Phish - The Dave Matthews Tribute Band
Tuesday, July 21
Mike DelGuidice & Big ShotCelebrating the Music of Billy Joel and More
Thursday, July 23
Petty Rumours - A Tribute to Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks
Saturday, July 25
Freebird - The Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band
Tuesday, July 28
Decadia - 80s and Beyond
Thursday, July 30
Southbound - Rock'n Party Country Band Playing the Hits of Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown, Kenny Chesney & More!
Saturday, August 1
The Rocket Man Show - Tribute to Elton John
Tuesday, August 4
The New York Bee Gees Tribute Show - All of the Classic 70s Disco Hits from Stayin’ Alive to Night Fever
Thursday, August 6
Last Child - Aerosmith Tribute Band
Saturday, August 8
Let’s Hang On - Americas #1 Frankie Valli Tribute Band
Vehicles will be admitted to the parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 7 p.m. the day of the event. For the safety of all residents, concertgoers must remain in their cars. Portable restroom facilities will be on-site. Attendees are asked to consider donating a nonperishable food item upon arrive at the venue. All donations will benefit Island Harvest Food Bank Performances are subject to change and will be held weather permitting. For additional information, please call (516) 797-7925 or visit the Town’s website at: www.oysterbaytown.com.
Monday, July 6
11:00 a.m.: Kids Yoga - Virtual 4:00 p.m.: Flex & Tone w/Mindy Vasta
7:00 p.m.: Virtual Fit & Fabulous w/ Linda Ray
Tuesday, July 7
10:30 a.m.: Storytime with Miss Liz - Virtual
11:00 a.m.: Virtual Guided Meditation for Self Healing w/Patricia Anderson
1:00 p.m.: Hoopla Book Club with Lisa Jones - Virtual
Wednesday, July 8
11:00 a.m.: Virtual Musical Storytime with Adam King
11:15 a.m.: The Gift of Time, Kindness Exchange and Memory Jars - Virtual
2:00 p.m.: Art Lecture: VIDA AMERICANA: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art with Professor Thomas Germano
Thursday, July 9
5:30 p.m.: Yoga Workshop with Joe 2:00 p.m.: Pajama Storytime (Ages 3–Kindergarten) - Virtual 5:30 p.m.: Yoga w/Joe
Friday, July 10
3:00 p.m.: Prestino Magic Series
For all events, go to www.jerichopubliclibrary.org /events/month to register
From page 1
in the number of Syosset students ready to participate, as a year ago about 30 sought summer internships through the high school. But with summer jobs at any variety of shops, restaurants and other venues including as camp counselors and lifeguards likely not on the table for a generation of students in Syosset, those now entering 11th or 12th grade, the chance to help a local business while gaining valuable pre-college career experience has surmounted options of hanging out at the park or at a friend’s house and spending (COVID-19 restricted) days at the beach.
Fiasconaro has work-based learning certification and this Syosset High School internship program is approved and certified by the New York State Education Department, run by the district.
There is academic credit and validity to this program to assure any participating businesses and professionals that there is a structure to work with. A Syosset student must complete a minimum of 60 hours of work experience in the duration of the program.
“We have a lot of students for opportunities to learn and engage in what they may want to do for a career, They may think they know a field and parents or other family members can encourage a particular field, and when the student ‘jumps’ and gets the experience of actually being part of a law office or an accounting practice, their perception can quickly change. Depending on the type of law and case work, they may not be at the courts all the time. Depending on the specific type of accounting of for example forensic accounting they may do an audit at a corporation’s location -- these are not always in-office jobs. There are lessons in learning the amount of hours that go into the functions of a profession or any operations ‘behind-the-scenes” of what gets achieved,” Fiasconaro said.
He participated in the June 18 monthly meeting (on Zoom) of the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, and this was seen as the best option to utilize and inform the community of the many ways Syosset High students are ready to contribute to their businesses.
“Syosset/Woodbury is an awesome area and a lot of our parents have business-savvy. But I felt that the relationship between our school district and local businesses has been lacking so we had an opportunity here to bring those together,” Fiasconaro said.
One preceding initiative was in 2019, for the school year that just completed, organizing at Syosset High School the Syosset Business Advisory Board and pitching participation in the group to Chamber membership and directors.
“If Chamber members would like to join us, we as a school would like to hear what we can be doing better to prepare today’s high school students for
the world of work and their careers. A bunch of Chamber members are actually on our Business Advisory Board and we held two meetings during the school year (pre-pandemic shutdown). Otherwise we would have rounded out the school year with one more meeting. Many members of the Chamber have participated and helped the school and its students in different ways this year, preparing for business competitions and internships -- some even came in to speak to our students. Other Chamber members provided us with field trip opportunities to their workplaces,” Fiasconaro explained.
Due to circumstances surrounding the Phased Reopenings of businesses mandated by Gov. Cuomo , the State and County Health Departments, Fiasconaro is not going to promote “in-person, in-office” internship experiences. The experience would definitely still count as Syosset High School credit in full but students would be the ones to find these in-person internships on their own and then complete registration for it with the district. “If we’re not holding summer school and it is not deemed safe for the students to continue to gather in a school environment, we are not promoting them to go out and work in a workplace as part of the school experience,”
Fiasconaro is promoting either a virtual internship that can take place with students delivering completion of tasks and projects for a business without doing so in a physical location. He said this is a popular option for realtors in the Syosset and Woodbury area, as “students have really good marketing skills in regards to use and consistency of social media.”
He has at least five real estate companies interested in having interns help with marketing and other parts of their online promotions. Fiasconaro has many students seeking out opportunities as well, telling them to call local businesses to offer their services for free with the structured internship for school credit. “They ask if there is anything a student can perform virtually to help a business out while gaining internship experience -- if they can find them that is the best opportunity at this moment,” he noted.
One participating sponsor of “virtual” interns this summer is 2012 Syosset High School graduate, former school board trustee and current Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan, who last year successfully hosted 75 students as interns -- some as young as 12 years old -in his Plainview campaign office. During the school year a number of students were placed with Lafazan, as the proud alum and Ivy Leaguer too (after earning Cornell and Harvard degrees) reached out to his Syosset High contacts and Fiasconaro back in January.
A third option for the SHS program would be doing a “virtual mock internship” over summer. This involves students completing work-based activities
that Mr. Fiasconaro coordinated with other work-based learning instructors across New York State.
“This would be basically the work for a fictitious company in the discipline the student would want to learn about and pursue, done in the manner of an internship. It can be from a doctor’s office, accounting firm or marketing firms and others -- we will present them with activities related to that. New York State Education has given schools the authority to approve this as long as the student completes the same 60 hours they would in a normal internship,” Fiasconaro explains.
Summer arrives as the ideal opportunity to complete experience and contributions to a company with an internship, as he said both students and parents recognize the committed nature of the fall and spring period in Syosset and focus needed for the rigorous and engaging SHS curriculum and after school activities. The opportunity is not limited to the days before Labor Day and the start of the 2020-’21 year, however.
Time-wise, internships are flexible and could begin right away and continue for the course of a month, or they can start later this summer and carry on into the fall --- Syosset High School has a summer/fall semester mix available for the completion of the minimum 60 hours.
The internship carries half-a-credit at SHS with a grade on their transcript.
“Having the record of an internship completed on their Syosset High transcript means that when a college looks at it, admissions counselors can ask them questions about what they did and what they learned, and consider, that wow, the student also had time to complete an internship while at a competitive school,” Fiasconaro noted.
Many students may devote more time to doing the internships and potentially, some will stay with the companies they intern for and get a leg up as a ground-level employee who is already trained in the ways and functionality of that particular business.
“This program not only allows students to learn about business but it develops the future workforce of our region. These are kids that will be the future of work -- a lot of the kids will stay on Long Island, not everyone will wind up working in Manhattan or moving to other locations, Eventually there is experience to be gained that comes back into the community,” Fiasconaro explains. The father of three children, all under 9
years old, the Syosset business ed. teacher is well-positioned to impart his own business knowledge to students.
Brewer’s Crackers can be found on grocery store shelves across Long Island, as the company began selling products here in February of 2019. Fiasconaro’s older brother previously worked as a chef in Suffolk County. When Matt’s brother moved to the Boston area in 2017, he began in the cracker business and Brewer’s Crackers began a supplier relationship working with Whole Foods. Now their brand is sold in local stores including the Iavarone Bros. market which has locations in Woodbury, New Hyde Park, Wantagh and Maspeth, Queens.
With a feature article on Brewer’s Crackers published in the Syosset Advance on August 2019, Matt Fiasconaro says the integration of his business management perspective with teaching high school students strengthens his career, as he gets to practice what he preaches:
“In starting this new business I’ve had to create things like financial statements and cash-flow statements and work out manufacturing costs. Making production runs, surplus and demand and balancing money in the bank are all things I’m able to talk to students about. I speak with them about developing their career and searching for the right opportunities and initiatives to be a part of,” Fiasconaro said.
He adds that businesses have social responsibility and good business citizenship within Syosset/Woodbury, and this internship program is a way to give back by giving local students a unique chance. In turn, this program can serve as the ultimate win-win.
“Working for a local company will offer great experience, and there’s the opportunity for the company to develop a pipeline and groom its own future employee. Regardless this program helps to put a kid on the right path into a career, and that is why I love what I do,” he said.
Companies and entrepreneurs can reach Matt Fiasconaro directly to provide information on the experience an intern can participate in; call 516-3645718 or email Matt at his Syosset school district email address, mfiasconaro@ syossetschools.org.
”We’d take it from there, I will match businesses up with a student and them and the student can work out a schedule,” he said.
On June 17, Charles Champagne
held a drive-in moving up ceremony, where Principal Erin DiFiglia spoke from the roof of the building to students and families.
The Bethpage School District held four unique moving up ceremonies for each of their three elementary schools and one middle school.
Kramer Lane Elementary School held a drive-in moving up ceremony for fifth-grade students and families on June 17. Each car had a specified parking space and arrived decorated to show their Kramer Lane spirit. Families remained in their vehicles throughout the ceremony, which was projected through a speaker system and also broadcasted through FM radio. The ceremony included speeches from Principal Kerri McCarthy, President of Student Council and fifth-grade student Elizabeth Hoffner and fifth-grade teachers. Awards were presented to the fifth-grade
class and to culminate the event, students and their families drove around the main circle to be presented their moving up certificates.
Also, on June 17, Central Boulevard Elementary School held a hybrid moving up ceremony, with a virtual component as well as an in-person car parade. Students and families were sent a link to a virtual ceremony, which announced special awards and recognitions for students. Families were then instructed to drive through the school’s main parking lot at a specified time. Each fifth-grade student was individually recognized by a variety of faculty and staff members, who excitedly cheered each child’s name as they arrived. Students also collected a
moving up packet, complete with a certificate of achievement and their yearbooks.
Rounding out the events on June 17, Charles Campagne Elementary School held a drive-in moving up ceremony for fifth-grade students, complete with a DJ and decorations provided by the school’s PTA. Principal Erin DiFiglia led the ceremony from the roof of the school building, as families arrived in their decorated vehicles. Following the ceremony, students drove through the front of the building where they were able to pick up their yearbooks and take a photo with Mrs. DiFiglia and their fifth-grade teachers.
At the middle school level, John
F. Kennedy Middle School recognized their eighth-graders moving on to high school level with a virtual awards ceremony followed by a car parade on June 18. The ceremony included student performances, faculty speeches and a photo montage. After the ceremony, the entire eighth-grade class was invited to participate in a car parade at the school. Students received their year books and diplomas, and had a photo taken with Principal Kevin Fullerton. Over 70 staff members were present at the parade, dressed in Bethpage’s blue and gold with homemade signs, eager to congratulate the students on their accomplishments.
BY KAREN RUBIN
If you want to see how America came to be, travel along the Erie Canal. A marvel of engineering when it was opened in 1825, the canal, which spans 353-miles from Albany to Buffalo, creating a water highway for commerce from the Midwest through New York City to the rest of the world, remains a dazzling achievement. But it was also the artery and an engine for invention, innovation, economic development, and ultimately social and political movements. It is marvelous to bike the Erie Canalway (Parks & Trails NY does an annual 8-day, 400-mile Cycle the Erie supported camping trip and several bike tour companies offer inn-to-inn bike trips), but to really get the sense of it, float along the canal, tying up at the small towns and major cities that the canal birthed.
A few years ago, I had that opportunity, and in this time when people are shunning cruising because of the coronavirus pandemic but embracing RVs, renting your own self-skippered, specially-designed Lockmaster canal boat offers the best of those worlds.
The company has made accommodations for COVID-19 – sanitizing the compartments so that there is a tape over them until the passengers arrive; cooking utensils and “hard goods” are taken off after each trip, sanitized and provided to guests in a sanitized tote on arrival.
The orientation is still done on the
Erie Canal Adventures rents Lockmaster canalboats that let you cruise the Erie Canal, New York State © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com.
water – the guide wears mask and gloves – to take you through one of the canal locks (thrilling), but the orientation that would have been done in the cabin is now offered by video.
Bikes are still provided but they are taken off te boat after each cruise, sanitized and replaced for each trip.
This part of New York State is already in Phase 4 – meaning that there is indoor and outdoor dining (with social distancing), many of the museums and attractions have reopened like the George Eastman Museum and the Strong Museum (with limits on capacity). In the var-
ious canal towns, you won’t have any trouble finding groceries or restaurants. And New York State has been successful containing the spread of illness and turning from the worst infection rate to the lowest in the country.
I am at the helm of a 41-foot canal boat, a boat so enchanting and lovely, it turns heads and evokes waves, smiles and snapped photos as it chugs pleasantly along at a top speed of 6 mph.
From this vantage point, I can appreciate what a marvel of engineering, of grit and ingenuity the Erie
Canal was, the vital role it played in the United States’ emergence as an Industrial giant in the 19th century and a dominant economic power in the 20th century.
There is no place in the United States like the Erie Canal, and no experience like having your own self-skippered canal boat - our floating home for the week - and a bicycle with which to explore the towns that were literally birthed by the canal. And to a New York City kid, seeing this bucolic countryside is a revelation. (“This is New Yawk!”)
There are 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, all of them in the west, and we come upon the eastern-most one on our first day, at Fairport.
We have been instructed on the etiquette of using the radio to ask the lock tender to lift a bridge or open a lock. Some are covered by operators handling multiple bridges, so you might be told to standby and wait for the operator to get back to the bridge. (take note of the hours of operation – westward from Macedon toward Buffalo, the locks are open 7 am to 10 pm; eastward to Lake Oneida in Syracuse (the boats do not go all the way to Albany), the lifts operate 7 am to 7 pm).
Setting off on our first morning, I have rarely felt that exhilarating sense of being so fancy free - to not have a set itinerary or schedule or even know where I am going, but to have the power and ability just go where your curiosity leads.
The star attraction - and the
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major character - in this travel epic is the Erie Canal, itself. The historic markers we come upon as we explore the canaltowns are like chapters in the story, and as our trip unfolds, our appreciation of what the canal was, what it represented, and the impact it had, grows.
All 11 Lockmasters in Erie Canal Adventures’ fleet sail from Macedon, near Rochester, NY, and with enough time, you can cruise some 200 miles from Buffalo to Lake Oneida in Syracuse along the canal. Besides sailing along the Erie Canal (as far as , you can also sail on other waterways, taking spurs south to the Finger Lakes, or north up
the Oswego canal to Lake Ontario. Erie Canal Adventures, 315-9863011, www.eriecanaladventures.com
© 2020 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com, www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-
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BY CARRIE SCHWAB-POMERANTZ
Dear Readers: Recently, I did my first ever Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA). I was really excited about it, and not just because my kids are Redditors who constantly seek and give advice on the channel. I wanted to have a real-time discussion with people about something that’s weighing heavily on everyone’s minds: how to manage your personal finances during times of crisis.
I had a lively two-hour chat with the Redditors and answered about 40 questions on topics ranging from what to do with stimulus money to advice for new investors to suggestions for recent grads entering the job market during turbulent times to whether I prefer burgers or burritos. It was so much fun, and I hope I offered some actionable advice and helped calm a few fears.
I want to extend that conversation to my “Ask Carrie” readers, too, so here are some questions I didn’t get a chance to answer during the live event. Curious about what else people were asking. You can check out the full Reddit AMA conversation here.
1) “What would be the best place to park my emergency money? I was thinking of splitting it between a money market fund and a high-yield savings account. I need high liquidity, although I won’t need the money for 2-3 years when I plan to purchase a second-hand car. What are your thoughts?”
You actually have two issues here: where to put your emergency fund and how to save for a short-term goal. While they may seem similar on the surface, you really should look at each pot of money differently.
An emergency fund needs to be
safe, available immediately and only used if you’re in a jam -- like a job loss or health issue. Ideally, it should be enough to cover three to six months’ essential expenses and kept in a separate account, preferably an interest-bearing checking account, a high-yield savings account or a money market fund. Once it’s there, don’t touch it until you absolutely need it.
When saving for a goal like a car, it depends on your time frame. Any money you’ll need in three to five years shouldn’t be in the stock market, so you’ll want to be conservative here, too. But you have a few more options. A high-yield savings account or money market account is one choice. You might also consider CDs or a short-term bond fund, which would give you increased liquidity and possibly a bit more of a return -- with a little more risk if rates increase, and interest rates are pretty low across the board right now.
But no matter where you put this money, the most important thing is to keep the two pots separate. Then you can relax knowing you’re likely covered in case of the unexpected -- and you can look forward to buying that car when the time is right.
2) “Where should a couple in their mid-30s with two young children and a higher than average mortgage put any extra income? We’re looking to invest any savings into something more lucrative for our future.”
Before we get into investing possibilities, let’s talk a bit about your mortgage. Since you say it’s higher than average, you might consider using some of your extra money to pay it down more quickly. Or you may do well by refinancing since interest rates are at historic lows. That could save you on interest and help free up more money every month, which you could then in-
vest for your future. Consider how long you plan to stay in the house and the refi costs.
As for investing opportunities, before you do anything else, both of you should make retirement a top priority by contributing to a 401(k) or IRA. (Be sure to contribute enough to a 401(k) to capture the maximum employer match.) If you have that covered, you might look into your eligibility for a health savings account (HSA), which is a tax-advantaged way to save and invest for health care costs today and tomorrow.
Then there’s the kids’ educations. You could set up a 529 account for each and make regular contributions to get a jump on college. All of these opportunities combine potential growth with tax advantages -- great for the present and the future.
3) “My job is considered essential so I’m still working and able to pay my bills. Because I have fewer expenses right now, I actually have some money saved for the first time. How should I go about investing it for the future? I’ve always been a paycheck-to-paycheck guy and don’t have anything saved for retirement (I’m 31). Not sure how to go about it after the stock markets have crashed.”
I’m glad you mentioned retirement because that’s exactly where you should begin. If your company offers a 401(k), start contributing at least enough to get any company match. A 401(k) is an easy way to start investing and makes saving and investing automatic. At your age, I’d target saving at least 15% (including employer match) and avoid being too conservative with your investments. You have time on your side.
With the money you’ve saved, I’d make sure you have an emergency fund to cover three to six months of neces-
sary expenses (see question No. 1) before focusing more on retirement saving above any match. If you don’t have a 401(k), I’d recommend opening an individual retirement account (IRA) and setting up regular monthly payments to it from your paycheck.
You can do this through a bank or brokerage company. You’ll have to choose your own investments, but fortunately, many broad-based mutual funds and exchange-traded funds give you a simple, low-cost way to begin investing in stocks, bonds and other asset classes. There are plenty of reliable websites that give details on funds, including performance and fees, and let you comparison shop.
And don’t be too focused on the current stock market. Successful investing is about staying in it for the long term. At your age, retirement is a long way off, so you likely have plenty of time to ride out market ups and downs. In fact, when you’re trying to “buy low, sell high,” it can be better to invest after a market decline. But the most important thing is to get started.
I hope to do more Q&As in the future. Let me know what’s on your mind!
Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, Certified Financial Planner, is president of the Charles Schwab Foundation and author of “The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After Fifty.” Read more at http:// schwab.com/book. You can email Carrie at askcarrie@schwab.com.
The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC. MEMBER SIPC. DIST BY CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC. (#0620-0FVE)
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
I’ve been indoors a lot more recently and one of the places I’ve discovered is my happy place in the kitchen doing some baking. I grew up baking with the women in my family - with my mother and grandmothers. Not all at the same time of course but for different occasions or even on days when we looked for something exciting to do. We liked rolling up our sleeves and creating something that later on everyone would enjoy. During this summertime season my family and I pulled out our favorite recipe for cinnamon rolls and went to work early in the morning when the birds were singing and before the day got too hot. We pre-heated the oven, mixed the ingredients in a bowl and rolled it into a rectangle on a floured cutting board. We poured on cinnamon, rolled it up like a jelly roll, sliced it into 12 pieces then baked on a cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes. The sleepyheads in my family enjoyed some cinnamon rolls for breakfast and later on we all had them for dessert.
Willis Haviland Carrier invented the first electrical air conditioning unit in 1902. An engineer, in 1915 he founded Carrier Corp. which specialized in the manufacture and distribution of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Willis Carrier was born on November 26, 1876, in Angola, N.Y, the son of Duane Williams Carrier and Elizabeth Haviland. He studied at Cornell University, graduating in 1901 with a BSE degree.
In Buffalo, N.Y., on July 17, 1902, in response to an air quality problem experienced at the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing & Publishing Company of Brooklyn, Willis Carrier submitted drawings for what’s the world’s first modern air conditioning system. The 1902 installation marked the birth of air conditioning because of the addition of humidity control, which led to the recognition by authorities in the field that A/C must perform four basic functions: control temperature, control humidity, control air circulation and ventilation, and clean the air. (wikipedia.org)
After several more years of refinement and field testing, on January 2, 1906, Carrier, the “father of air conditioning,” was granted U.S. Patent 808,897 for an Apparatus for Treating Air, the world’s first spray-type air conditioning equipment. It was designed to humidify or dehumidify air, heating water for the first function and cooling it for the second.
Carrier died in New York City in 1950. At the time of his death he had received more than 80 patents over 50
years in the field of air conditioning and was given many awards. A widower, Willis Carrier and his wives who predeceased him are buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, N.Y. Carrier had one child, Howard Carter Willis.
It was June 1969 when Tommy James and the Shondells released “Crystal Blue Persuasion” as a single. The flip side of the record was titled, “I’m Alive.” A year prior the album called “Crimson & Clover” had it listed but it was a big hit as a single in 1969.
In a 1985 interview in “Hitch” magazine, Tommy James explained how he got the title of the song. “I took the title from the Book of Revelations in the Bible, reading about the New Jerusalem,” he said. “The words jumped out at me, and they’re not together; they’re spread out over three or four verses. But it seemed to go together, it’s my favorite of all my songs and one of our most requested.” The song became one of the biggest hits for the group, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart for three weeks behind Zager and Evans’s single “In the Year 2525.” Some of the words from “Crystal Blue Persuasion” go:
“Look over yonder
What do you see?
The sun is a’rising
Most definitely
A new day is coming, ooh, ooh
People are changing
Ain’t it beautiful, ooh, ooh
Crystal blue persuasion …”
The group also released “Draggin’ the Line,” “I Think We’re Alone Now” and more.
Tommy James was born Thomas Jackson on April 20, 1947, in Dayton, Ohio. He was introduced to music at age three, when he was given a ukulele by his grandfather. An attractive child, he was working as a model at age four and he liked performing. By age nine he had moved to the next step in music, taking up the guitar, and by 1958, when he was 11, Tommy James began playing the electric guitar. In 1960, with his family now living in Niles, Michigan, 13-year-old James and four friends from junior high school - Larry Coverdale on guitar, Larry Wright on bass, Craig Villeneuve on piano and Jim Payne on drums - got together to play at dances and parties. This was the original lineup of the Shondells. They were good and eventually got noticed.
This singer, songwriter and collab-
orator also wrote an autobiography called “Me, The Mob and The Music.” (allmusic.com) Tommy James and his wife, Lynda, live in Wisconsin.
What a Sight - A Blonde Squirrel
It seems so unusual but a blonde-colored squirrel was seen in the summer in Enfield, Ct. My friend, Pat, was visiting friends and relatives in Enfield, which is just south of the Massachusetts state border, recently and as she pulled up to the boat launch at the Connecticut River she parked her car. Looking around at the pretty scenery, Pat noticed that there was no wind so the river water was calm. Looking around some more, she spotted a blonde squirrel. It was slowly walking along the grass at the base of a big, old tree. Surprised, Pat turned to reach for her camera but by the time she was ready to take its photo the blonde squirrel had scurried up the tree and disappeared.
A typical squirrel is gray all over. A blonde squirrel means that it has a less-than-normal amount of melanin, a pigment derivative of the amino acid tyrosine. Pat likes animals and wildlife so seeing that rare blonde squirrel was a real treat for her.
As I sit in front of my air conditioning listening to the Shondells and eating my cinnamon rolls, life is good.
BY TOM MARGENAU
As regular readers of this column know, every once in a while, I try to squeeze as many questions and answers as I can into one column. And several weeks ago, I did just that. But I knew ahead of time it would cause problems. Why? Because there can be so many “ifs ands or buts” associated with Social Security’s rules. And when I try to keep my answers short and sweet ... well, they may be short, but they are not always so sweet. I simply cannot cover all the variables that may pop up, and I can’t explain all the nuances to any given Social Security situation.
So, even though I broke a record by answering 16 questions in one column, the 16 answers I gave probably led to 160 more questions from confused readers. And here are some of them.
Q: In a recent column, you said that people could continue to get increases in their Social Security checks after age 70. But I thought the delayed retirement bonus you get for working beyond your full retirement age ends when you turn 70. So, what gives?
A: You are right about this “bonus” stuff. They are called delayed retirement credits, or DRCs. And you get a DRC equal to two-thirds of 1% for each month you delay filing for Social Security benefits after your full retirement age. That comes out to a 32% bonus if you wait until 70 to sign up for Social Security. And after 70, there are no more DRCs.
But I was talking about something else. There are more than a few seniors out there who continue working well beyond age 70. And depending on how much money they are making, those extra earnings added to their Social Security account could increase their monthly Social Security check. For example, I have a friend who is a doctor, and he is still practicing medicine even though he is 90 years old. And every year, he gets a little boost in his Social Security checks because of all the money he is still pumping into the system.
Q: A woman wrote to ask you if she could take benefits on her husband’s record first and then later switch to her own. You said she could not do that. But I beg to differ. Because I did just that when I signed up for Social Security several years ago.
A: I didn’t have the space in that prior column to explain there used to be a loophole in the law that allowed people to file for spousal benefits first and delay taking their own until a later date, usually at age 70, to get the delayed retirement credits referred to in the prior answer. That loophole closed on Jan. 2, 2020. You were lucky and turned 66 prior to that point so you jumped through the loophole. But everyone turning 66 after
Jan. 2, 2020, can’t do that. They must file for their own Social Security benefits first before they can consider filing for any extra benefits on a spouse’s record.
Q: In a recent column, you said the $255 Social Security death benefit is only paid to a surviving spouse. But that is wrong. When my mother died, she was already a widow, and I collected the $255 death benefit.
A: Your mom must have died a long time ago, because it was way back in the 1980s that they changed the law. Before then, the death benefit could be paid to any one of a whole list of approved family members or estate executors. But as a part of a package of cost-cutting Social Security reforms passed in 1983, they limited the payment of the measly little death benefit to a “spouse who was living with the deceased at the time of death.” It also could be paid to a minor child who is eligible for benefits on the deceased’s account.
Q: You recently said that someone who inherited a large amount of money would not lose their Supplemental Security Income. But I know that is wrong because my nephew, who has been disabled since birth and gets SSI, recently inherited $100,000 from his mother’s estate, and he lost his SSI check. Please retract your prior answer.
A: I don’t have to retract anything. But I do have to clarify that we are talking about two different programs. In that prior column, I told someone who was getting Social Security benefits that the inheritance he got would have no affect on his monthly Social Security checks. I went on to explain that Social Security is not welfare, so he could inherit a million dollars, and he’d still keep getting his benefits.
But your nephew is getting Supplemental Security Income. And unlike Social Security, SSI is a welfare program that pays a monthly stipend to poor people. But now that your nephew got that $100,000, he is no longer poor, so he no longer qualifies for any SSI (welfare) payments.
I’ve pointed out a thousand times in this column that many people confuse SSI with Social Security. They think they are the same thing. In fact, many people think SSI stands for “Social Security Income.” It does not. Supplemental Security Income and Social Security and two entirely separate programs with entirely different sets of rules and regulations.
Q: For a variety of reasons too complicated to explain here, I retired 10 years ago, when I was 52. I just turned 62 and filed for my Social Security. I have fibromyalgia and wanted to apply for disability, too, but I was told I couldn’t. Yet in a recent column, you told a guy with
heart problems who was about to turn 62 that he should file for both Social Security retirement and disability at the same time. So, did my Social Security office cheat me?
A: No, they didn’t cheat you. To get disability benefits, the law says you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five out of the last 10 years. It sounds like you haven’t worked and
paid taxes in any of the last 10 years. So, you simply are not eligible for Social Security disability benefits. But you still can get your retirement checks because that program doesn’t have the “five out of the last 10” rule.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM
Answers on previous page
By the time you read this column we Realtors will hopefully be legally allowed to be out in force once again showing homes, condos, co-ops, and commercial properties with proper guidance and social distancing, with their masks and hand sanitizers in use as the “new norm. I also see the onslaught of willing and able purchasers and sellers being aware of their positions in being properly prepared by using the same precautions, staying as safe as possible to avoid any uptick in Covid-19 infections.
During the shutdown of any onsite real estate showings and only virtual tours or live open houses being allowed, the majority of buyers have been actively going online to view what is available and to possibly determine which ones they will put offers on once they have a physical viewing.
Inventory is currently at a 30 year low and finding your first time or dream home has had its challenges, especially since most are not purchasing based on virtual tours or videos. Those that are ready to pull the trigger are lining up at the starting line.
I predict that inventory will potentially decrease further since I am not sure what the mindset of sellers will be to put their homes on the market and have buyers come in to take a look. Until they see neighbors selling, then that might trigger the motivation to begin the process of de-cluttering, painting, fix-ups, etc, unless they have prepared while being at home.
I have conversed with many buyers
BY MARY HUNT
Sometimes, it’s the most unusual thing that turns out to be the magical solution for a household problem. Things like a hairdryer, a bottle of essential oil or a tube of toothpaste.
Dear Mary: We had a very bad, dark-pink 7-foot stain in our white fiberglass whirlpool bathtub from previous antifreeze winterizing. I’d tried many things to remove the awful stain, including baking soda, soft scrub, bleach, scrubbing bubbles and mildew stain remover.
I was about to give up and live with the ugly pink stain when I tried nongel toothpaste. It came off 100%! The tub is beautiful and sparkles again. I don’t know if anyone else might have this issue or a similar one, but I wanted to share this one with you. -- Gail
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
and there are those that have a lot of furniture and are searching for that home that they can fit it into or those that had bought new furniture before the pandemic and also want to find a home for their possessions. The problem is finding an adequate home with good “bones” that has a great location, decent schools, (if you have children), within your price point (assuming your budget hasn’t been affected by the pandemic) as your pre-requisite is challenging enough and now, in addition locating one that will work with your furniture.
Many times it is a very difficult decision, so I would advise that if all those parameters are non-negotiable, then my advice is to measure all your furniture’s height, width, and depth as I have seen a few do every once in a while and be prepared well in advance of going out (just like having the all critical lender’s letter in your possession). However, children (if you have any) are always more important than furniture, but there are situations where people treat their furniture like it is their children and will never give them up. I totally understand and I get it, but in this low inventory market, with what I believe will be a rush to a grab home, condo and coop, especially by those who will be exiting New York City, Brooklyn, Queens and other areas where people live in close prox-
imity together, time will be of the essence in finding your home and getting into contract. Many companies have come to the conclusion that employees and business owners in the tech and social media field no longer need to travel and be in an office space to work from and have become somewhat comfortable working from home. My daughter, her husband (consulting for a hedge fund) and my daughter-inlaw are prime examples of individuals working within major companies who have been told to work from home through the balance of 2020. There will be much greater competition from the limited supply of property so those that have cherished furniture and possessions that are adamant about finding that somewhat spacious and perfect home, my suggestion is to think twice about what is really crucial. Sit down a make a list of what is most important to you and your family. if you could see selling your current furniture as a tradeoff then visualize shopping for either new dining room or living room furniture, then just do it! I have seen those that have passed up great homes that I felt met the majority of my buyers’ “must-have” requirements, but, yes, the furniture wouldn’t fit exactly where they wanted it! I sympathize with them, but what’s worse, some come back and ask if the home, condo or coop were still available and most of the time the sad answer, was no! So
Dear Gail: Wow, that’s amazing! Thanks for letting us know. For readers running for the toothpaste to treat their own similarly stubborn stains, let me caution to always test in an inconspicuous place to make sure you will not be making an already difficult situation even worse. That’s just a good idea. And, as always, I’d love to hear from anyone for whom this tip saves the day.
Dear Mary: I am the lucky recipient of a beautiful wood pub table. It has wax stuck to it from people blowing out candles on it. How do I fix this without scraping it with a knife? Thank you. -- Kathy
Dear Kathy: Try hitting it with the heat from a hairdryer set to low, and hold it there until you can gently peel the candle wax away with your fingers. Once removed, use a soft cloth to buff the area. Wax is good for furniture fin-
that is why I want buyers and sometimes sellers, who might be downsizing to think twice about their furniture to see if that is something that would prevent them from passing up a home that they truly fell in love with! However, there is a small minority that has plenty of choices because their checkbooks and qualifications are such that they can pick and choose the home that fits everything they need and want. With interest rates at 50-year lows, inventory still being very low and probably going lower and competition just might be heating up, will you let your furniture get between you and the home that you spent months or luckily even a short period of time in finding? Will it be easier to find a home for your furniture or finding furniture for a home that you love? The bottom line, the choice is always yours.
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 (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S). Just email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your ideas and suggestions on future columns with your name, email, and cell number and he will call or email you back. For a consultation, he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions or concerns
ishes, so that should help it look even more beautiful!
Dear Mary: We’ve been putting money in a 529 plan for our daughter’s college education for the past several years. She recently told us she wants to attend beauty school instead. Now that the surprise has worn off, we’re concerned about penalties when we withdraw the money. How much will we lose, and is there any way to avoid it? -- Rebecca
Dear Rebecca: I’ve got great news for you! That 529 plan money can be used at any accredited trade or vocational school -- not only colleges and universities -- to pay for tuition, room, board, fees, books and supplies. If you have more in the account than the total cost of the vocational training and related costs, you can withdraw the balance. Federal law imposes a 10% penalty
on earnings for nonqualified distributions. This means that you will get back 100% of your principal and 90% of your earnings.
Another option is to change the beneficiary to another child or qualifying family member to keep the account going and avoid (or at least delay) taking nonqualified withdrawals if your daughter’s education doesn’t require those funds. Your particular fund may have additional provisions, so be sure to check with the fund manager.
You can learn more about 529 college savings plans at https://www.savingforcollege.com.
Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a lifestyle blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”
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Are you looking for a CNA that is very loving and reliable to take care of your loved one? I have experience in nursing homes, can work full time & part time weekends 6 hr/12hr shifts. Call 631-336-6544 or 917-244-3714
Caring, respectful and reliable CAREGIVER AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY. 15+ yrs experience. Able to care for patients with various illnesses. Prepare meals and do light housekeeping. Flexible working arrangement. Excellent references. Please call Mary 516-689-4770
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AIDE/ COMPANION My references are excellent and verifiable. I am also a careful, reliable person to be with at this difficult time. Call Grace 917-499-9520.
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Excellent references, properly screened. Elder Care, Companion, Child Care at your home during this difficult time we are in. Serving New York State for over 23 years. Live in or live out. P/T or F/T, NO FEES charged to the employer. Evons Services 516-505-5510 CAREER TRAINING
COMPUTER & IT TRAINING program! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)
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BOY SCOUT COMPENSATION FUND Anyone that was inappropriately touched by a Scout leader deserves justice and financial compensation! Victims may be eligible for a significant cash settlement. Time to file is limited. Call Now! 844587-2494
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LUNG CANCER? And Age 60+? You and your family may be entitled to significant cash award. No risk. No money out of pocket. For information call 877-225-4813.
COVID-19
Coronavirus testing is available by appointment in our Floral Park facility Mon., Wed. Thurs. at Floral Park MD across from Lady of Victory Church in the village square. Please call (516)488-1414
for
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Filipino men and women. Kind,loving and caring at this very difficult time. Call Gertrude
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• BUTCHER- Experienced or willing to train For More Info:Call Christina @ Pellegrini Meats: 516-775-8666
AIDE Contact Pinky 347-445-9034 SEEKING EMPLOYMENT Night work/weekends I am available Thursday-Monday during this current situation. 20 Years Experience Own Transportation E commerce person needed for an established marketing and sales company wanting to get their licensed national brands into the world of online selling. Including placements on existing web sites, creating DTC products and entrance into the market place. Knowledge and use of all available social media to enhance our new area to grow our business. Located in Port Washington,NY. Local candidates have the chance to work on LI and avoid the trip to NYC. Email resume to specialsales@gocontinuum.com or fax 516 626 2985.No calls please
HOLY SAINT JUDE
Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful and intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Please help me in my present and urgent petition. (Here describe the nature of your personal need) In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude, pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. This Novena should be said for nine consecutive days. After reciting the Novena, pray 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Mary’s and 3 Glory Be. Publication must also be promised. M.H.
NOVENA TO ST. CLAIRE: Ask St. Claire for 3 favors; 1 business and 2 impossible, say 9 Hail Mary’s for 9 days with lighted candles. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish on the 9th day. “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored and glorified today and everyday”. Request will be granted no matter how impossible it seems. Publication must be promised. M.H.
NOVENA TO ST. JUDE
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved, and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. Say prayer 9 times a day. By the eighth day, your prayer will be answered as mine was. Publication must be promised. Thank You St. Jude. M.H.
PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (Never known to fail). Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine of Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin assist me in this necessity. Oh Star of the Sea help me and show herein you are my Mother. Oh Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth I beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succor me this necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh show me herein you are my Mother. Oh Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to Thee (three times). Oh Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (three times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. This prayer must be said for three days and after three days your request will be granted. The prayer must be published. Grateful thanks.
M.H.
A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP
516-746-8900
Antiques-FurnitureJewelry-SilverMirrors-Lamps-Artwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Our Website tgchs.org Our Online Store stores.myresaleweb.com/ at-stewart-exchange Items to Consign? Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society
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TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTS ALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com
A GARDEN CITY ANIMAL LOVER doesn’t want to leave your precious pooch or fantastic feline alone all day. I’m reliable, dependable and will walk and feed your pet while you work or travel. Please call Cheryl at 516-971-3242
***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS
FOR RENT
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Apartment. NO BROKER FEE. Huge, bright 1BR, 1 bath apt. $1635 +electric. Gated parking. Laundry rm, air cond, Hardwood floors. Near LIRR. www. gcbapts.com voice or text: 516524-6965
WILLISTON PARK
Beautiful renovated 2 BR, Heat included. Near all. Asking $2200 Rummel R/E Call Mary Ann for appt. 516-606-3790
OUT OF TOWN REAL ESTATE
SARATOGA RACETRACK RENTAL
Fully furnished, 2 bedroom, 2 bath Townhouse
INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information.
Visit us at www.invitedsales. com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!
$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV 10#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516297-2277
AUTO BUYERS! We visit you. Highest cash paid. Or donate, tax deduct + cash. DMV#1303199. Please call Luke 516-VAN-CARS OR 516-297-2277
Located one mile from track. Central AC, Washer/Dryer, Furnished Patio, Parking. Pristine condition $11,500 for track meet 7/15 through 9/7/2020 Weekly rental available at $2K/week Pictures available upon request. Call: 516-413-4405
OFFICE SPACE
GARDEN CITY
PRIME 7th STREET LOCATION
2 second floor windowed offices available. 285 sq ft 2 room suite overlooking 7th St., asking $1225 and 150 sq ft 1 room office, asking $725. Rent includes everything. Call Owner 516-510-9452.
FREON WANTED: WE PAY CA$H for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-361-0601 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com
Beautiful Hampton Bays Waterfront Property. Available immediately. Entire house or just 3BR apt. for rent for monthly/ yearly rental. Own private boat dock. Please call: 347-386-2051
MATTITUCK 2BR and 3BR Bayfront Houses. Beautiful sandy beach. Ideal for swimming and boating. Close to vinyards and shopping. $1650 and $1850 weekly. Please call 631-298-8433
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND
Best selection of full/partial week rentals. Call for FREE color Brochure. Holiday Real Estate, Inc. 1-800-6382102
Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com. $50 discount new rentals. Code: “WelcomeBack” (Expires 2020-09-01)
SOUTHOLD
FOR SALE BY OWNER
2 Story, 4-5 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths, Large EIK, Porch and Beautiful Inground Pool. Walk to town. Boat Ramp at end of street.
$849,000. NO BROKERS Call: 631-987-7807
SERVICES
EXTERMINATING SERVICES
Esquire Exterminating Svcs.
*Mosquito Control Programs
*Wood Destroying Insect Treatments
*Rodent Control
*General Pest Control
Residential, Commercial, Industrial Free Estimates No Obligation Family Owned/Operated Call: 516-499-0676 or 646-533-6500.
JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING
We can frame anything!
Quality Care & Workmanship
Thousands of frames to choose from!!
Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495
STEPHANIE A.
D’ANGELO, ESQ.
Elder Law, Wills & Trusts
Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122 www.dangelolawassociates.com
AQUATEC
LAWN SPRINKLERS
SPRING TURN ONS
Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199
CLEANFELLAS
PRESSURE WASHING
Residential & Commercial Servicing: Nassau, Suffolk & Queens Homes, Concrete, Decks, Fences, Patio Furniture
Replace Paver Sand & Reseal Gutter Cleaning Call/Text for free estimate: 516-316-1190 cleanfellas@hotmail.com cleanfellasinc.com licensed/insured.
MADE IN THE SHADE CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS
Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies
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All types of stonework
Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps. Free Estimates
Fully Licensed & Insured #H2219010000
Boceski Masonry Louie 516-850-4886
PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!
Slate & Tile Specialists All types of Roofing Local References Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869
FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC
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PMHCNS-BC
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Advanced Practice Nurse Care
Manager
Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion
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Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications
516-248-9323
www.drannmariedangelo.com
901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530
PAINTING & PAPERHANGING
MICHELANGELO
PAINTING & WALLPAPER
Interior, Exterior, Plaster / Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499
BASEBALL LESSONS
Former GC Varsity player
All League selection and current
D1 College Baseball Player Can teach fundamentals of hitting, fielding and pitching. Flexible schedule
$30/hour Call or Text: 516-761-8184
GARDEN CITY
WINDOW CLEANING
HOME WINDOW CLEANING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR SERVICE BY OWNER
Fully Insured /25 yrs experience
516-764-5686
631-220-1851
SERVICES
A & J MOVING & STORAGE:
Established 1971. Long Island and New York State specialists. Residential, Commercial, Piano & Organ experts. Boxes available. Free estimates. www. ajmoving .com 516-741-2657 114 Jericho Tpk, Mineola NYDOT# 10405
DISH TV
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Congratulations to Hicksville High School senior Sejal Gupta for being named Class of 2020 valedictorian and to Alaha Nasari for being named Class of 2020 salutatorian.
In addition to being named valedictorian, Sejal has also been named a National Merit Commended Scholar and earlier this year was named a Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Semifinalist and a Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) Finalist for her project to develop an algorithm for detecting walking patterns in patients with injuries to lower extremities. She also won first place at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair and won a gold medal at the Al Kalfus Math Fair for her research.
Early on, Sejal realized her passion for STEM and has taken her interest to the highest of levels. In the eighth grade, Sejal founded a program called the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Cafe to cultivate young children’s interest in technology and enterprise. She has spent 20 Sundays each of the last five years teaching students in grades kindergarten to eight about topics such as programming, breadboarding, prototyping and startup environment and continued teaching remotely through the pandemic quarantine. With over 1,000 hours dedicated to the Cafe, Sejal was named a Coca Cola Scholarship semifinalist for her volunteer work and leadership.
Sejal has participated in multiple internships in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, including one that earned her a Presidential Service Silver Medal.
At Hicksville High School, Sejal has
her time in the community. She has tutored at the Kumon Math and Reading Center for the last three years and also attained an internship at Hicksville Pediatrics clinic, learning about medical procedures while interacting with young patients and their families. She also volunteered for Nassau County Family Court, providing families with information and resources to help them through domestic issues. As a junior, Alaha co-founded the elementary-aged science education program Inspire Science in Youth, which she has taught at the Hicksville Public Library the last two years.
As a research assistant for a biology professor at Adelphi University last summer, Alaha had the unique opportunity to co-author a research paper that was presented at an annual conference for the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. She also completed a Saturday Academy program at New York University in dentistry and medicine during the first half of the school year.
communities in Afghanistan. Alaha has also created comfort baskets, organized collection drives and written and published content for the Breast Cancer Comfort Foundation, an organization she has volunteered with for the last four years.
“Being a student at Hicksville High School has been an intense, stimulating, and inspiring academic experience, but it has also been a deeply personal experience,” Alaha said. “I have developed so many relationships with brilliant, driven people and these interactions have truly allowed me to learn and grow. My active involvement and leadership within the school building has encouraged me to look at the world around me in a questioning, open-minded, and curious manner. This global perspective and desire to apply knowledge outside of the classroom setting is certainly one of the most valuable lessons I have learned from the intellectually focused community at Hicksville.”
Alaha will attend Harvard, where she will study history and science.
also served as secretary of the Science Olympiad team, the head of business for the robotics team and a delegate for Model United Nations. In the Science Olympiad competitions, she captured various medals in events such as Circuit Lab, Forensics and Protein Modeling.
Sejal is also a member of multiple honor societies and the president of the Math Honor Society. She is the president of the Hicksville Girls in Engineering and Mathematics program at the Hicksville Public Library, which aims to introduce middle school girls to STEM through a free summer camp. Sejal was also honored as a U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalist.
In addition to being the class salutatorian, Alaha is an AP Scholar with Distinction. Since her freshman year, Alaha has shown an interest in science and humanities and, as a result, has completed Advanced Placement courses in biology, chemistry and physics as well as all AP courses in history and social sciences. She believes her understanding of diverse cultures, backgrounds and people, combined with the knowledge of science, will make her an empathetic, culturally and medically competent physician in the future.
Alaha is also an avid and celebrated writer, taking part in multiple essay competitions through the years. In the ninth grade she was named a national finalist in the Voice of Democracy Essay Contest. She was also the recipient of the Uchida Memorial Award in the Japan Center at Stony Brook University’s Essay Competition and was recognized in the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying essay contest.
Her love for interacting with children has inspired Alaha to volunteer
At Hicksville High School, Alaha has been a leader among the student body. She served as an officer with the Ecology Club, Natural Helpers, and the National and Rho Kappa honor societies. She has organized multiple service activities including a school supply drive in support of impoverished
“Alaha’s warmth, perception, confidence, and tenacity to her social community is obvious to all,” said her guidance counselor Alice Hannon. “She is destined for success. Undoubtedly, she will do great things with her life while helping many, many others along the way.”
With current events, editorials, restaurant reviews, puzzles, and more, there’s always something in our newspapers for everyone to enjoy! Ordering a weekly subscription right to your doorstep will also save you more money than buying an individual paper.
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“We inked the contract of the selling and buying with her and that was the best decision we made. The process was quick and easy... in less than a month we had a buyer who loved our house as much as we did and in 6 weeks we were in contract. This has been quite a journey and we are glad Tamanna Jaggi was there each step of the way. – POOJA G.
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