A field of 300 runners participated in this year's Heart & Sole 5K Run on July 18th. The event raised funds for Plainview Hospital. Above, 94 year old Bert Jablon of Syosset is presented with his award by Dr. Alan Mensch and Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh (R) See page 17 for more photos.
BY RIKKI MASSAND
After making it all the way to state-championship level competition in Owego, New York this week, the Syosset Baseball 10U Williamsport Braves team (Little Leaguers) finished the year as the Empire State’s fifth place team. This season is sure to go down as one of the most impactful ‘home runs’ for local youth baseball.
In its final game of the year on Monday, July 26, the 2021 Little League New York State Section 4 East champions, the Williamsport Braves, fell to New City (Rockland County) with a dramatic final inning and final at-bat. Down by a mammoth 11 to
4, the Braves rallied and put up five runs with momentum to tie the game. With two runners on base at second and third, with two outs and the winning run at the plate, the Braves had a few final swings to stay alive. It wasn’t to be this year, as New City’s team fielded a great play at shortstop and the final out was recorded.
The 2021 season for the local youths, players ages 8 to 10, very much marks a high point in the history of the Syosset Baseball Association.
Players on this year’s SBA 10U Williamsport Braves team, the 2021 NYS Little League Section 4 East
See page 10
The Town of Oyster Bay was the recent recipient of $16 million in Federal funds to assist renters facing economic hardships and housing insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, designed to help renters facing difficulty in paying their rent and utilities/home energy costs, is being administered by the Long Island Housing Partnership and the official submission period has now opened. Qualifying residents can submit an application now through August 20 by visiting www. oysterbaytown.com/rentalassistance and following the links.
Supervisor Saladino stated, “These Federal funds were granted to the Town of Oyster Bay to help residents recover from economic hardships created
by the pandemic and government shutdowns. This rental assistance program provides critical funding to prevent homelessness and ensure those experiencing financial hardship are able to recover and rebuild their lives while having a stable place to call home.”
The program is designed to assist Town residents with current and prospecSee page 10
Syosset Baseball Association's 10U Williamsport Braves, the 2021 NYS Little League Section 4 East champs were managed by Jason Roth, and its coaches were Victor Arahovitis and Alex Metaxas. Players include Hayden Ferdinand, Andrew Kil, Owen Metz, Vincent Roseo, Mason Mifsud, Michael Polidaro, Victor Arahovitis, Tyler Roth, Matthew Kahl, Carter Falconetti, Shyam Bhasin, Jason Schulz, Alex Metaxas, and Ryan Sutter.
Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently elected its Board of Directors Officers, Board of Directors Members-at-Large, and Board Development Committee for the 2021–2023 term during its 56th Annual Meeting. Alexandra “Allie” McCormick, of Jericho, was among those elected to serve as a member-at-large of the Board of Directors. The new board consists of lifelong Girl Scouts, community leaders, nonprofit and corporative executives, and many other board veterans. In her role, Ms. McCormick will assist in serving the mission to provide leadership, innovation, and constant support to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County.
“We are very grateful to have many of our past Board of Directors join us for another term, and welcome aboard sev-
eral new members who we believe will make wonderful additions,” said Randell M. Bynum, CEO of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “This outstanding group of professionals will be invaluable to our organization as we continue to improve the lives of Girl Scouts in Nassau County.”
Ms. McCormick has been a Girl Scout for nine years. Through the years, she has received her Bronze Award, Silver Award and is working on her Gold Award. Girl Scouts has dramatically impacted Ms. McCormick’s life for the better and truly shaped her into the person she is today. Within Girl Scouts, she has spent the last six years participating in the Media Girl Unit, leading to countless interviews and is a member of the GSNC Ceremonial Unit. Additionally, she is an undergardener in the Girl Scout Gardeners program, hosted at the Farm at Oyster Bay, where Girl Scouts learn about gardening and grow produce to be donated to food pantries.
Ms. McCormick was selected to participate in the recent GrubHub commercial during Girl Scout Cookie Season. Additionally, she was chosen to be an alternate delegate at the Girl Scout National Council Session. She serves on the Girl Leadership Committee and will be a member of it for the next two years.
Outside of Girl Scouts, Ms. McCormick is on a travel softball team, where she has been playing for eight years. She also plays four instruments (alto saxophone, keyboard, guitar, and ukelele) and is in five extracurricular clubs at school, including environmental, JMAC, Jericho United, VolunTeens, and Souper Heroes.
Is there an issue in your community you want to discuss? Want to respond to something you saw in our paper? Then write a letter to our editor and bring it to everyone’s attention! Send your letter to editor@gcnews.com and we’ll publish it for you!
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced an upcoming ‘Senior Citizen Day’ Event offered by the Department of Community and Youth Services (CYS) at Syosset-Woodbury Community Park. Line dancing, music, games and refreshments are just some of the activities seniors can enjoy at this new fun, free event that will take place on Thursday, August 19. Registration must be completed in advance for those who wish to attend.
“My administration has always put our seniors first and I am proud that we can host events for our senior residents to participate in these free activities, where they can enjoy the company of others, make new friends, and stay active and engaged,” Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said.
The following programs will be offered as part of 2021 Senior Day on August 19:
• Line Dancing with Fran10:00 a.m.
• Music with John Walters11:15 a.m.
• St. Francis Outreach Van10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
“Senior Day 2021 promises to be a popular new event here in the Town, and will offer our seniors a chance to experience all of the senior summer activities we have to offer, all in one convenient location, in a single day,” said Councilman Labriola. “I encourage all those interested in our programs to come out and enjoy a fun day of cards, games, rummikub, dancing, and refreshments.”
In addition to the recreational activities, St. Francis will have an Outreach Van on hand at the event from z 10 a.m.–2 p.m., offering seniors in attendance the chance to utilize their services. For more information on 2021 Senior Day, contact the Division of Senior Citizens Services at (516) 797-7916 or visit www.oysterbaytown. com.
Town Clerk Kate Murray (left) congratulated Amanda Perrelli of Bethpage and Sara Mastropaolo of Levittown during the Island Trees Middle School Moving Up Ceremony on June 18. Also attending were Amanda’s mother, Barbara; Sara’s mother, Gia; and New York State Assemblyman John Mikulin.
Town of Oyster Bay officials recently took to the waters on the Town’s north shore to highlight efforts at replenishing the oyster supply in Oyster Bay Harbor.
The Town received these mollusks as part of a national effort facilitated by the Pew Charitable Trusts and The Nature Conservancy, which purchases surplus product from local farmers to be transplanted into conservation management areas for environmental restoration efforts and not to be harvested. The planting of these bivalves represents only a portion of the total plantings expected to take place in the harbor through the SOAR (Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration) program this summer, culminating in a total of roughly 100,000 mature oysters.
“Oyster Bay Harbor is one of the crown jewels of our Town, and this great initiative helps to naturally clean our waters,
absorb wave action for shoreline stabilization, and filter local waterways while spawning additional shellfish,” said Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino.
“These oysters are fully grown and perfect for planting, so rather than discard them, we partner with these wonderful organizations through the SOAR program to continue our efforts in replenishing the supply in our waters.”
Councilwoman Michele Johnson added,
“Protecting our natural assets is critically important for the Town, and by restoring our shellfish populations, we ensure that we are helping to keep our waters clean.
The SOAR project helps tremendously in advancing those efforts and we thank the Pew Charitable Trusts and Nature Conservancy for all of their efforts in bringing this program to fruition in the Town of Oyster Bay.”
Nassau County Police have reported a serious vehicular crash in Syosset on Tuesday, July 6.
According to police, a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was traveling northbound on Cold Spring Road in the vicinity
of Renee Road before striking a tree.
The male operator, 64, suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The investigation is ongoing.
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilwoman Michele Johnson, Councilman Lou Imbroto, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato.
If you own a business or have a
advertisements to promote it and help you be
The Hicksville Water District Board and Administration were excited to host the 2021 Poster Contest winners and Chad Wyman, the Hicksville School District’s director of fine arts, during the awards ceremony on July 19.
The Hicksville Water District (HWD) recently held a pair of awards ceremonies to celebrate the 45 combined winners of the 2020 and 2021 water conservation poster contests. An annual tradition in the District, the poster contest is held for Hicksville students in grades 1 through 5. This poster contest allows students to learn about the importance of water conservation, as well as the necessity of protecting our sole-source aquifer. Water is our most precious natural resource, and this contest allows students to express their own creativity as well as inspiring them to begin conserving water ahead of the very usage-heavy summer irrigation season.
“The Hicksville Water District is proud of every student who entered the poster contests,” said HWD Chairman Karl Schweitzer. “Their artwork and message always surpass our expectations, which is a testament to their teachers for generating an incredible understanding of the importance of water conservation on Long Island. The future of our most precious resource is in good hands with students like these leading the way.”
The winners for the 2020 poster contest are as follows:
Grade 1
Radhika Prajapati - Burns Avenue School
Mehakdeep Singh - Dutch Lane School
Ryan Gonzales - East Street School
Vivian Wang - Fork Lane School
Mya Koylass - Lee Avenue School
Jashanjit Singh - Lee Avenue School
Alea Mersini - Old Country Road School
Grade 2
Ian Singh - Burns Avenue School
Jordan Peoples Moreira - Dutch Lane School
David Peoples Moreira - Dutch Lane School
Saanvi Patel - East Street School
Geovanny Sanchez - Fork Lane School
Ava Walia - Lee Avenue School
Jasleen Suniara - Woodland School
Grade 3
Aneesh Tippireddy - Burns Ave School
Ari Bousri - Dutch Lane School
Jay Pharma - Old Country Road School
Mason Persaud - Lee Ave School
Grade 4
Stephen Chu - Burns Ave School
Vincenza Guerra - Dutch Lane School
Amanpreet Ghotia - East Street School
Chloe Gan - Fork Lane School
Catalina Diaz - Lee Avenue School
Although COVID-19 restrictions forced them to wait a year to receive their awards, 2020 Poster Contest winners were no less excited to be honored by the Hicksville Water District.
Josiah George - Old Country Road School
Grade 5
Katie Chu - Burns Ave School
Jamie Thorsten - Dutch School
Kelsi Isufa - Old Country Road School
Isabella Carreras - Lee Ave School
Anishka Dass - East Street School
Addyson Peralta - Fork Lane School
The 2021 poster contest winners are as follows:
Grade 2
Judah Suzuki - East Street School
Zainab Iqbal - East Street School
Grade 3
Erik Porter - East Street School
Hamza Iqbal - East Street School
Saanvi Patel - East Street School
Rhea Dutt - East Street School
Alexander Amato - East Street School
Angelo Fotopoulos - East Street School
Daniela Mendez Sanchez - East Street School
Harry Papadopoulos - East Street School
Grade 4
Gurleen Kaur - East Street School
Isabelle Moran - East Street School
Evangelia Varthis - East Street School
Molly Reinhardt - East Street School
Grade 5
Abigail Vinoj - East Street School
“The creativity shown by these students was astounding, as was their understanding of the importance of water conservation” added Chairman Schweitzer. “Hicksville is in the midst of the peak irrigation season, so water conservation messaging is as important now as ever. It is so encouraging to see our future generations embrace this message while having fun doing so.”
The winners are determined after deliberation from the Board of Commissioners on creativity, design and overall message of water conservation. The awards ceremonies were both held in-person at the Hicksville Library Annex one week apart on June 12 and June 19, as the 2020 ceremony was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. All Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines were followed.
The 2020 Poster Contest Awards Ceremony and the winning posters can be viewed on the Hicksville Water District’s website at www.hicksvillewater.org/2020-hicksville-water-district-poster-contest-winners/. The 2021 Poster Contest Awards ceremony and the winning posters can be viewed at www.hicksvillewater.org/2021-hicksville-water-district-poster-contest-winners/.
Style, luxury, and ambiance awaits you in this resort style home on over 2 private acres of lushly landscaped and lit grounds in the heart of Muttontown. Includes heated gunite pool, and tennis court.
Recent Sales: 100 Woodhollow Court, Muttontown 35 Juniper Lane, Muttontown
Juniper Lane, Muttontown
Victor Lane, Woodbury
Aintree Road, Jericho
1 Fern Drive, Jericho
1 Gloria Drive, Woodbury 29 Woodbury Way, Syosset 380 Woodbury Road, Woodbury 30 Kristi Drive, Muttontown
Jericho teachers enjoy the outdoors during an in-service class focusing on making connections with oneself and others.
The Syosset Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 16 at 8 p.m. at South Woods Middle School, 99 Pell Lane, Syosset.
The public may observe the meeting via livestream broadcast at the district's website, www.syossetschools.org
Representatives from the Levittown Community Action Coalition (LCAC) virtually joined thousands of substance use and misuse prevention specialists and community coalition advocates from July 9–15, for CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s) 20th Annual Mid-Year Training Institute.
“Our coalition was honored to be part of CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute,” says Janet Lombardo, LCAC project coordinator. “During the week, we worked on building our skills and strategies to address substance misuse issues throughout the Levittown and Island Trees Communities. We also had the opportunity to network and share strategies with fellow coalition leaders, which sparked new substance misuse prevention ideas to incorporate into our community.”
LCAC is a Drug Free Communities grant recipient, which enabled it to send four students to CADCA this year. Youth coalition members participated in sessions that encouraged them to think critically about their roles as leaders in social change. Youth participants left the course with substance use and misuse prevention tools including a Logic Model, Community Assessment, Interventions and an Action Plan. Sofia Ferreiro, a student at Division Avenue and vice president of LCAC’s youth
coalition, Levittown Y.O.U.T.H. (Young Organizers United to Help), was selected to present during the youth session’s closing ceremonies. “LCAC is so proud of our youth for participating and having the desire to learn more about the ways they can influence positive change in their community,” said Evanthia Mamtsaderis, youth advisor – YES Community Counseling Center. This year’s CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute was originally scheduled to be held in Chicago, Illinois. Due to continuing safety precautions for the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was alternatively provided as an online training experience, centered around the theme of “Every Day CADCA Trains: Community Coalition Leaders.” More than 100 sessions were offered over five days of training for adults, youth, and international prevention advocates featuring a plethora of topics.
Mid-Year attendees also had the opportunity to open a dialogue with some of the nation’s top prevention leaders, who featured as speakers for the event.
LCAC has recently impacted the community by reducing underage drinking by 14%. It looks forward to utilizing the skills we learned through CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute to further these initiatives and further our impact.
Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray (third left) attended the 23rd Annual Lazy Days Event – Sail Into Lazy Days on July 10, at the East Village Green in Levittown.
The Bristal Assisted Living has been serving seniors and their families in the tri-state area since 2000, offering independent and assisted living, as well as state-of-the-art memory care programs. We are committed to helping residents remain independent, while providing peace of mind that expert care is available, if needed. Designed with seniors in mind, each of our communities feature exquisitely appointed apartments and beautiful common areas that are perfect for entertaining. On-site services and amenities include daily housekeeping, gourmet meals, a cinema, salon, plus so much more. Discover a vibrant community, countless social events with new friends, and a luxurious lifestyle that you will only find at The Bristal.
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined with Catholic Health and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to host the Empire State Ride Long Island, a one-day bike charity ride throughout the North Shore of the Town of Oyster Bay to raise funds to end cancer and fund clinical trials for new and emerging treatment options. The ride, which took place on Saturday, July 24, featured 3 different course lengths for riders of all ages and abilities. All course routes began at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, in Oyster Bay. As a result of this event, $100,000 was raised by riders who participated in this fantastic event.
Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (Woodbury) and New York State Senator Jim Gaughran will be teaming up with community partners to support the Youth and Family Counseling Agency of Oyster Bay-East Norwich by hosting a back-to-school clothing and supply drive to gather new and unused backpacks, sneakers, socks, school supplies, clothing (bottoms, tops, light jackets) and sweatshirts and sweat jackets.
Community groups which are par-
ticipating include: the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying (LICAB), the Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States; Long Island Laboring Against COVID-19 (LILAC); Girl Pride International; Students Combat Corona and Sunrise Syosset .
The drive will take place on Saturday, Aug. 7, between 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Youth and family Counseling Agency of Oyster Bay-East Norwich, 12 Irving Place, Oyster Bay.
Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray (left) assisted Julie Conboy-Russo and Lauren Russo of Levittown as they applied for their travel documents during Passport Day in Hempstead Town on July 10, 2021. Passport Day allows residents to apply for their passports on a convenient weekend date. For more information, please call the Office of the Town Clerk at (516) 812-3100 or visit hempsteadny. gov/passport-services.
To speak with a sales rep about the right advertising strategy for your business and budget, call 516.294.8900 today.
Creating customer awareness is key to nurturing your business’s success. With reliable distribution to more than 100,000 residents in our area, Litmor Publications and our associates are an advertising vehicle that delivers. Put our reach and reputation to work for your business with a strategic advertising plan that will help build your brand and bring more customers to your door.
Franklin Avenue | Suite 208 | Garden City NY 11530 516-294-8900 | email: rates@gcnews.com | www.gcnews.com
Lot #48 Stonehill, Muttontown
Gated Community Stone Hill, 0.64 Acres
With inventory historically low, there has never been a better time for homeowners to appreciate value from the sale of their home.
Ellen has a proven history of success and a reputation of honesty and integrity that spans over 25 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and professionalism to make each real estate transaction a seamless, pleasurable experience for her clients and customers.
From page 1
champs, included Hayden Ferdinand, Andrew Kil, Owen Metz, Vincent Roseo, Mason Mifsud, Michael Polidaro, Victor Arahovitis, Tyler Roth, Matthew Kahl, Carter Falconetti, Shyam Bhasin, Jason Schulz, Alex Metaxas, and Ryan Sutter.
In an interview, Syosset Baseball President Mitchell Lieberman described a turnaround of Syosset’s baseball program and the contributions of the organization’s coaches, parents and players which made 2021 a huge success. He and many others in Syosset believe the young athletes’ drive, teamwork, and spirit in pushing to the top of New York State competition on this year’s baseball club will serve as a catalyst to higher hopes for next season.
“The team won districts despite very tight competition, and after winning districts they swept through in the Sectional -- just incredible, with facing very good teams each round, but prevailing in Sectionals undefeated. One of the first games went into extra innings and the team won it on a walk-off hit! And I saw in the Sectionals how this team rooted for each other and rallied one another.,”
According to Lieberman, through decades there was no Syosset team to previously reach the State Finals.
“With the 10-year-olds it is really hard to know the team we would have and the competition they would face, and while SBA had its expectations tailored in putting the 10U team together. This has been a fairy tale run for them up to the States. For Syosset this has also generated terrific support and interest in our community. This is such a proud moment for our entire town and the whole community,” Lieberman explained.
Syosset Baseball Association board member and parent Kristin Roemer-Roseo had the following take on this year’s 10U team her son Vincent is a part of:
“To say I am proud of my son and his team is an understatement. As a baseball mom, I’ve always wanted my son to play the sport he loves, excel at it, all while having fun with his friends. This team’s enthusiasm and desire to win is infectious. They have worked hard and have never given up, which got them
where they were in Owego, at the New York State Little League Finals! I take pride in the SBA organization for creating such a great program for all of the kids in our community.”
Also among the parents who made the trip upstate was Luisa Mifsud, wife of George Mifsud, the co-owner of G2 Training. Their son Mason was on the team and G2 Training was a sponsor of another successful Syosset youth baseball squad.
“As a mother of one of the players I am beyond proud and excited for all these kids. The team worked hard and they excelled on-and-off the field, working together to achieve their goals,” Luisa Mifsud said.
SBA President Mitch Lieberman’s kids are ages 16, 13 and 7 this year, but his 13-year-old son played Little League two years ago with Mitch as the coach. This year he coached the SBA 12U team along with John Rossillo, and Mitch and his wife went up to Owego to support the team.
“Our managers did such a great job getting this team to play together and keeping the team motivated. These kids had such an amazing experience. After they won the districts I spoke with the team and told them they were moving on to face the best teams on Long Island. All their faces lit up, and it was so inspiring to see that after such a difficult past 15 months with COVID and the kids having restrictions for school and even playing baseball. At the beginning of our 2021 season they had to wear masks all of the time. It was a really tough ride, and for them to have an incredible finale to go to the States’ was phenomenal!” he said.
“There’s going to be tremendous demand. We have 24 volunteers on our board of directors and its their dedication, along with the 75 team coaches and volunteers. It takes a lot more than a village with so much volunteerism, but now we are seeing more people involved and interested with texts always coming in because of this exciting run. It’s great to see the hard work the organization has put in paying off within the community as our 10U team was out there fighting for a State title,” he said.
From page 1
tive rent, arrears for utilities and home energy costs, and other expenses related to housing such as rental security deposits. Both tenants and landlords may apply and both will be requested to participate. Assistance under this program could be provided for up to 12
months of payments, with an additional 3 months if necessary to ensure housing stability, and will cover arrears and costs accrued on or after March 13, 2020. For more details, visit www.oysterbaytown.com/rentalassistance, or call the Long Island Housing Partnership at (844) 260-7541.
5 bd, 3 ba
Sold On: 6/18/21
Sold Price: 1,350,000
Type: Single Family Schools: Syosset
73 Orange Drive, Jericho
4 bd, 3 ba, 3,466 sqft
Sold On: 6/23/21
Sold Price: $1,070,000
Type: Single Family Schools: Jericho
3 bd, 2 ba, 1,200 sqft
Sold On: 6/24/21
Sold Price: $685,000
Type: Single Family Schools: Syosset
289 Vista Drive, Jericho
3bd, 3 ba, 3,738 sqft
Sold On: 6/23/21
Sold Price: $950,000
Type: Condo Schools: Jericho
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
With interest in outdoor experiences at America’s iconic parks and landmarks at an all-time high, ExploreBetter.com is sharing tips to help set visitors up for a great experience. The travel planning tips are culled from the experience of ExploreBetter.com’s publisher, Delaware North, a longtime national park concessionaire and partner in the stewardship of many of the country’s cherished outdoor destinations.
“ExploreBetter.com is a lifestyle platform that can make extraordinary outdoor adventures more accessible to first-time and even experienced outdoor enthusiasts. As part of our mission, we want to help encourage and restore responsible and sustainable visitation to National Parks and other iconic destinations. We can do that by sharing our insider knowledge developed from years of working with these amazing places,” said Andy Grinsfelder, vice president of sales and marketing for Delaware North’s parks and resorts division. ExploreBetter.com editors offer these top tips for better outdoor and National Park experiences: Plan Your Route—With many National Parks, such as Yosemite, implementing new reservation systems, visitors must do their research before just showing up. A helpful resource is the National Parks “Plan Your Vacation Like A Park Ranger” program. When individual reservations are full, visitors should consider guided tours for access to the
parks (https://www.explorebetter. com/experiences/guided-tours/)
“If you’ve left planning to the last minute and reservations aren’t available, you can still enjoy a day in the park by participating in a group excursion,” says Grinsfelder. “Tour buses, such as Tenaya Lodge’s open-air Yosemite Tours, don’t operate under the reservation system for individual cars and are often more enjoyable because visitors don’t have to worry about navigating the roads and parking, plus you have access to an area expert through the guide.”
Time it Right —Arrive early to reap the benefits of more available parking and fewer crowds and explore on a weekday instead of a weekend. Consider visiting more
popular parks in the off-season, when parks are quieter and often equally stunning. With international visitation significantly down due to the pandemic, places like the Grand Canyon are anticipated to be less crowded in the coming months, creating an opportunity for U.S. travelers now.
Spend the Night—National Parks and outdoor destinations are often best appreciated when visitors can slow down and immerse themselves in the experience. “You don’t have to camp to be part of the outdoor experience,” says Grinsfelder.
“The Explorer Cabins in Yosemite and Yellowstone are great for families, provide plenty of privacy and have front door access to the forest and natural world.”
While Yellowstone, Yosemite and Niagara are phenomenal, there are hundreds of lesser-known parks with spectacular scenery, recreation and wildlife. For instance, Olympic National Park in the Pacific Northwest has a breathtaking setting that includes a temperate rainforest, tide pools and a hot spring.
Be Ready to Unplug— Given their remote locations and attractions, visitors should not expect cell phone service, so advance planning may be necessary. The National Park Service launched a mobile app in April which can be downloaded before arrival and used without cellular or Wi-Fi access for self-guided tours, trail maps and travelogues for over 400 National Parks. Most lodges in the National Parks offer Wi-Fi access, so visitors can stop in if their desperate to share photos from their explorations.
For more tips, tricks and insider information, visit www. ExploreBetter.com
Through a new partnership between the New York Power Authority, New York State Canal Corporation and Tentrr, the state is opening more hassle-free campsites alongside New York’s Canals this summer. As part of Governor Cuomo’s Reimagine the Canals initiative and the recently announced “On the Canals” excursions program, Tentrr created four fullyJuly 30, 2021
Continued on next page
outfitted campsites for visitors to reserve, most within a short distance of a free “On the Canals” excursion opportunity.
Each of the Canalside camping locations offers turnkey, outfitted camping facilities, allowing guests to camp in style amongst the Canals. Each site is fully equipped with all the amenities for comfortable camping including spacious canvas tents atop
a raised platform, queen size memory foam mattress, solar-powered showers, picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, set up in advance of arrival.
The campsites available this summer within 15 minutes of an “On the Canals” excursion include:
Yankee Hill Getaway (Amsterdam, Town of Florida) between the Adirondack and Catskills parks in the Mohawk Valley (3 sites available); Oak Island Vista (Waterloo) nestled between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes
along the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, offering easy access to the Finger Lakes Region (5 sites); Montezuma Canal View at Lock E-26 (Galen) gives access to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Northern Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (6 sites) and Palmyra-Macedon Getaway at Lock E-29 (Palmyra-Macedon) offers picturesque views (5 sites).
To book, go to https://www.tentrr. com/pages/new-york-canals.
In addition to these new camp-
sites, Camp Rockaway is managing a glamping site at Lock C-5 on the Champlain Canal in Schuylerville through September 8th.
Through the Reimagine the Canals initiative, Governor Cuomo and the New York Power Authority committed $300 million over five years to revitalize the Erie Canal corridor as a tourism and recreation destination while simultaneously boosting economic development and improving the resiliency of Canalside communities.
BY LAURIE MILLMAN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
One of the hottest places to be this summer is on Governor’s Island for the hot jazz of Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra, as they return for an encore of the immensely popular Jazz Age Lawn Party on August 14-15, 11am - 5pm.
The 15th annual festival is a multigenerational, friends and family affair where for a brief time you are transported back to the Roaring 20s. Attendees dress up to the nines in 1920s lawn party fashion - dapper linen suits, suspenders and straw hats; sequined and beaded flapper-style dresses, chandelier earrings and feathers in the hair, or lawn party styles with dropped waists and white satin ribbons. Many
BY JEFF RUGG
Q: Would it harm a tree if I built a simple tree house in it? It would be nothing elaborate: a deck, three walls and a roof. I was thinking of the nails that would have to be used to make firm steps for my grandchildren and for the support braces.
A: A few nails or bolts in a tree trunk will not harm the tree. The tree needs to be solid to begin with, or else the holes could allow insects and water to enter the trunk. The ladder going up to the tree can be attached to the house instead of the tree trunk to reduce the number of nails into the trunk.
A tree house can be built so it is around a tree trunk without actually being attached to the tree. The weight of the tree house doesn’t have to be entirely supported by the tree. Support posts can be used to prop up portions of the house or even the whole tree house.
A more serious problem to look out for are power lines, not just the ones running down the back yards but also the one to the house. The tree house would need to
bring an elegant picnic lunch complete with fine china, silver utensils, flowers in vases, and fluted wine glasses.
As Covid-19 restrictions are becoming more relaxed, this August Lawn Party may offer dance lessons and beach beauty contents. You will be entertained with 1920s-themed, live jazz, featuring returning performers such as “Queen Esther” and her jazz trio. Local vendors will be set up around the grounds to sell vintage clothes and jewelry, pastries, photography with period effects, craft alcohol and beer, and even food trucks if you decide not to bring your own picnic basket.
Tickets are still available and need to be purchased in advance through eventbrite.com from www.jazzagelawnparty.com or directly at https://www. eventbrite.com/o/jazz-age-lawn-party-18523813336.
The Governors Island ferry (https:// www.govisland.com/plan-your-visit/ ferry) runs from the Battery Maritime Building (10 South Street) and from Brooklyn (Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park). Roundtrip fares are $3/adult; free for seniors, children under 12, military; free on departures before noon on Saturday and Sunday.
Registration Opens for TD Five Boro Bike Tour, Aug. 22
Registration has just opened for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour taking place on its new date of Sunday, August 22, 2021, when 20,000 cyclists ride through New York City on 40 car-free miles (reduced from 32,000 in a normal year).
Bike rentals and lodging blocks with special discounted rates at select hotels are available for riders coming from out of town.
Standard registration is $112; VIP
be built carefully so that the power line is out of reach of the house itself and the occupants.
A great source of books, plans, tools, photos, ideas and special tree house attaching bolts is a really cool website at: https://store.beinatree.com/.
Q: Do you think it would be OK to cut a few low branches from a live oak at this time? We have several live oaks that are about 10 years old. The branches are about five to six inches in diameter at the trunk. The lowest ones are about five feet above the ground, which is too low to walk under. Please, advise. Any information about young live oaks you can share with me it is appreciated (and really needed!)
A: Live oaks and the other oaks are very long-lived. They eventually need a proper branching structure that is above the street, driveway or house. Out in the landscape, the branches can be a lot lower, but five feet is kind of low because the ends of the branches are going to be even lower.
If the tree is not pruned while it’s
young, large branches will have to be cut off, which will not be attractive for many years to come, and it can be unhealthy for the tree. These five-inch diameter branches should probably have been pruned off when they were only two inches in diameter. The tree would have already healed the cut by now.
After planting in your yard, an oak (and most other shade trees) should be looked at and probably pruned yearly for the first five years. After that, they should probably be pruned once every five years until they are 30 to 50 years old. The mature tree will be able to go many years without pruning.
Oaks and live oaks in particular should not be pruned during the growing season if possible. They can get a disease call oak wilt. It is a fungal disease spread by beetles and root grafts with infected trees.
The beetles spread the disease from red oaks to live oaks. The live oaks don’t produce the type of fungal growth necessary for the beetle to spread the disease, but once it is in the live oak tree, it is fatal.
The beetles feed on sap that comes
registration is $350. More information at www.bike.nyc/events/td-five-borobike-tour/faq-2021 or contact info@ bike.nyc. To register, go to https:// bikenewyork.enmotive.com/events/ register/2021-td-five-boro-bike-tour.
© 2021 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com, www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karenrubin & travelwritersmagazine.com/ TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar. wordpress.com & moralcompasstravel. info. Send comments or questions to FamTravLtr@aol.com. Tweet @ TravelFeatures. ‘Like’ us at facebook. com/NewsPhotoFeatures
from open wounds. If the sap is infected with the oak wilt fungus, the beetles can spread the disease. Pruning should be done when the insect is not available to spread the disease, which is normally the wintertime.
E-mail questions to Jeff Rugg at info@ greenerview.com. . Copyright 2021 Jeff Rugg, licensed to Creators Syndicate.
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
Some summertime memories stand out vividly in my mind. Taking the L.I.R.R. to and from Rockville Centre, my dad would work all day in New York City. Occasionally he would have days off in the summer, or entire vacation weeks and if we weren’t out of town on vacation he’d surprise us and say, “Let’s all go to our favorite deli and our favorite bakery. Today is a day to celebrate!” We’d look at each other and cheer wondering if the day was a special one or just a beautiful day to enjoy. We’d always think twice because my birthday is in the summer and so is my younger sister, Susan’s, so “birthday or not” the timing was always okay with us.
The three of us girls plus my mom and dad would get into our 1963 Chevrolet Impala while my three older brothers would be off working or doing whatever they had to do. Backing the car out of the garage, dad would head downtown and we would all chat excitedly while the car automatically seemed to know where to go. This was long before the idea of self-driving cars was ever talked about but still, it always struck me that our family car had a mind of its own.
Carrying the large paper bag full of our goodies outside, my dad would have us all pile back into the car. He would drive to the best bakery in town near the railroad station and we were always pleased about that. The five of us liked the crumb coffee cake so we’d either go for that or the still-warm-from-theoven apple turnovers. Mom would say let’s get an extra crumb cake for Mr. & Mrs. Jones, our older neighbors across the street who were great about having a huge Labor Day barbecue every year for the whole block and who each Halloween would invite us trick or treaters into their home for some homemade donuts and fresh apple cider. Either way the freshly-baked goods would hit the spot and we were happy customers. We were celebrating a summer day off with carefree abandon. We had passed our elementary school on the way to the deli but we didn’t give teachers or homework or anything school-related a second thought.
Driving to the park on the south side of Rockville Centre, Mill River at S. Park Avenue, we’d sit on a huge blanket and eat our sandwiches along with cups
I digress, however. Mom would give the deli clerk her hand-written list of our five orders and with all of us inside the delicatessen looking on expectantly, we would watch as one by one our sandwiches were wrapped and bagged for us. I always liked to order a turkey club sandwich, Susan would get a chicken sandwich and my older sister, Michelle, would get a Reuben sandwich. Both mom and dad liked shrimp salad sandwiches so that was the order of the day. Each sandwich came with a pickle and some potato chips on the side.
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of July 25-31, 2021
Nothing in the heavens says “summer” to Northern Hemisphere sky watchers quite like the constellation of Sagittarius. On late July and early August evenings, we can find this prominent star grouping low in our south-southeastern sky just after dark. Sagittarius, the Archer, is often depicted as a centaur: a half-man and half-horse creature, most likely because ancient Greek and Roman authors often confused Sagittarius with Centaurus, a constellation farther to the southwest. Interestingly, however, its origin may have come much earlier than this; the stellar figure seems to personify the Archer Nergal, a god of war who was inscribed on ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets. It’s even included as a “Horse’s Head” or “Horseman” in the 3,000-year-
of cold iced tea mom had just poured from a Thermos. As we watched the walkers walking past and the joggers out for some exercise we would talk about nothing in particular and about everything important to kids. We would be full after eating our sandwiches, naturally, so as much as we wanted to devour the dessert goodies, the crumb coffee cake or apple turnovers usually remained wrapped until we ate them after dinner.
Occasionally we’d see a lightning storm way off in the distance and whenever we saw those pitchforks in the summer sky, we kids would shriek with fear and amazement. This was around when I was nine, Susan was six and Michelle was 12. One afternoon while we were enjoying our family lunch Colin, a classmate of mine, was walking by and he stopped to visit. Surprised but happy to see us, Colin sat down and mom offered him a pastry.
Thinking he looked unusually pleased I said, “What’s new, Colin?”
“I just came from my best friend, Andy’s house,” Colin said, “because I just had to tell him that my cat, Sadie, gave birth to five kittens early this morning. Mom and dad heard something so they looked and sure enough Sadie had delivered one cute kitten and over a few hours four more came. They’re adorable!”
After they all arrived Colin’s parents placed them all in a basket. Colin said
he named the first one Smokey because it was gray and looked like a tiny ball of fur but his parents said they would have to find good homes for the other four kittens. His brother and sister wanted to keep a second one but they already had a dog, a terrier named Cody so his parents said no to that request.
Susan started jumping up and down asking mom and dad if we could take a kitten when it was ready to leave its mother and after mom and dad looked questioningly at each other mom said, “We’ll talk about it later tonight.”
Susan told me later she felt that was a good sign because if they’d immediately said no we wouldn’t have had a chance. The door was open as people say.
After sharing the good news Colin headed out and eventually we started packing up. Thankfully the storm never got too close to us so we were glad about that. If we’d had to run for the safety of our car we could have but we had a nice, leisurely lunch. The drive home went quickly, in the blink of an eye it seemed like, because we all talked animatedly about our little summertime picnic.
I can’t speak for everyone else but later that night I fell contentedly asleep after spending a summer day having an outdoors lunch with my family, running into Colin and hearing all about his brand-new kittens. I couldn’t wait to see them and hold one in my arms.
old zodiac of India, while the human part of the figure is depicted by a fan of lions’ tails owned by the wife of an Indian ruler.
Of course, you can search for a horseman or archer among the stars if you’d like, but if you’d prefer to save your sanity, forget about these ancient images and look instead for the outline of an old-fashioned teapot. Here you’ll find eight stars that trace its body, handle, lid and spout.
Near the teapot, we can even find stellar outlines of a sugar spoon and a slice of lemon formed by the southern constellation Corona Australis and the Southern Crown. You can even find a teacup outlined by the bottom half of Scorpius, the scorpion.
Stargazers with a moonless sky far from city lights will see a hazy cloud of “vapor” streaming upward from the tea-
Continued on page 6
BY TOM MARGENAU
This is going to be a column about the Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. In other words, it will NOT be a column about Social Security. Supplemental Security Income and Social Security are two entirely different government programs. They really have nothing to do with each other, other than the fact that they are both managed by the Social Security Administration.
I’m emphasizing the difference between the two programs because millions of people think SSI stands for Social Security Income. Every single day, I get emails from people who tell me they are getting SSI, when they really mean to say they are getting Social Security. So if you are one of those people, then please remember you are getting Social Security, not SSI.
But the reason I’m writing this column today is because of an email I got from someone whose son really is getting SSI. Here it is.
Q: My son, who is now 42, has been disabled since birth and is getting SSI. He started getting SSI when he was 18. I will be turning 62 and plan to file for my Social Security. I’ve been told my son might lose his SSI when I go on Social Security. Can you explain that? And by the way, in a past column, you referred to SSI as a welfare program. I beg to differ. I would never have filed for any kind of welfare benefits for my son. He is getting a supplemental Social Security check.
A: I will explain what will happen with your son’s SSI checks when you go on Social Security in a bit. But first, let me straighten out the benefits your son is currently getting.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase: “If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck -- it’s a duck.” Well, if a government program looks like a welfare program, runs like a welfare program and has rules like a welfare program -- it’s a welfare program. And believe me, SSI is a welfare program. To explain this further, let me give a quick history lesson.
For most of its history, our country did not have a national welfare system. Even though there was federal money involved, welfare programs were administered by states and sometimes even by cities and counties. And there were wildly different eligibility rules from one place to another. Someone might qualify for welfare benefits in one jurisdiction, but someone down the road in the next county in even poorer circumstances couldn’t get benefits.
And there were all kinds of stories of these local welfare offices being run like little fiefdoms. In other words, if you knew the right person, or maybe if you were the right religion, or had the right
color skin, or if you didn’t speak English with an accent, you were much more likely to qualify for a little help from the system.
Enter Richard Nixon, or more precisely, some higher ups in the Nixon Administration. In the early 1970s, they realized that something needed to be done about our nation’s welfare mess. Their solution was to standardize and federalize the system. They set up one national welfare program with one set of rules that would apply to everyone in the country. They called the program Supplemental Security Income and they gave it to the Social Security Administration to run because that agency had the right infrastructure and the right kind of experience to manage a federal benefits program. (And let me quickly add here that SSI is funded entirely by general government revenues, NOT by Social Security taxes.)
And I remember the very early days within the SSA when we took on the SSI program. And in those early days, some overly conscientious executives within the organization decided to not tell people that SSI was a welfare program. It was drummed into us that we were not to refer to SSI as welfare because that word has negative connotations. We were to tell people it was a “needsbased” program.
Personally, I never liked that directive. I thought we were just not being honest with the people who were filing for SSI benefits. I quickly discovered that many people had no idea what a “needs based” program is. But they all knew what welfare is. And once they understood they were getting welfare, they better understood the rules that went along with it.
For example, you can only get SSI if your income and assets are below certain limits. (Currently, you won’t qualify for SSI if you have more than about $800 per month in income and more than $2,000 in liquid assets.)
So anyway, SSI is a welfare program. You must be either over 65 and poor or under 65, disabled and poor to get benefits. Your son probably could not get SSI when he was young because your income would have prevented him from qualifying. But once he turned 18, your income no longer counted against him and that’s why he now gets SSI.
But like all other welfare programs, the rules require that your son file for any other benefits he might be due. So once you file for your Social Security retirement, your son is going to be eligible for what are known as “disabled adult child” benefits on your record. He will be due an amount equal to 50% of your full retirement rate, even though you will be getting reduced age 62 benefits.
So let’s say your FRA benefit is $2,800 per month. That means your son will start getting $1,400 monthly in DAC ben-
efits. And once those checks start rolling in, his SSI benefit, which I’m guessing is around $800 per month, is going to stop.
Or to help you understand that better. He’s getting $800 per month now in SSI benefits because he has no other income. But once he starts having $1,400 per month in income, there is no longer any need for the taxpayers to be supporting him with that $800 per month SSI (i.e., welfare) check.
One final note: Your son probably
gets free Medicaid coverage along with those SSI checks. There is a pretty good chance his Medicaid coverage will continue even after his SSI checks stop. Talk to your local SSI caseworker about this.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has a book with all the answers. It’s called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart.” You can find the book at www.creators.com/books. Or look for it on Amazon or other book outlets.
COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
Over the course of my real estate career of 40 years one hears many, many varied and interesting stories from the sad and tragic challenges and tumultuous and stressful situations of Certificates of Occupancy, title and survey problems and issues to the ecstatic, positive and wonderful “no problem” happy endings.
But today, most sales and transactions seem to come with some type of issues and glitches and at the last minute. However, I do blame the majority on human error due to non-caring, lack of knowledge and lackadaisical performances by people without proper planning and/or training and education leading to a delayed closing. The goal should have resulted in a positive outcome if the individuals from the agents, attorneys, banks, title companies, co-ops and sometimes even the buyers and sellers did more prioritizing and careful planning, the process would go more smoothly.
It comes down to working as a team, so the left hand knows and is aware of every step what the right hand is doing, so doesn’t that make sense? However, it may be one or more individuals that throw a monkey wrench into what was a smooth sale and now a stressful unhappy event. This is why the new law passed a few years ago in Nassau County that co-op managements and boards have 40 days to review their applicant’s board packages once received, to speed things up and to provide a scheduled interview, and either pass or fail that individual or couple. If not done within that time constraint the first time a warning would be issued by the County, the 2nd time there would be a $2000 fine and thereafter a similar fine. Suffolk County has had a law on their books for a multitude of years, whereby if an applicant(s) are turned down and denied by the co-op board for their purchase, then the board has a legal requirement to respond to the buyers within 45 days as to why they were not accepted.
Since the law has been in effect, I am quite sure more have got to the closing table celebrating their successful purchase; but without the law I believe it would be business as usual and less individuals and families would end being “happy campers.”
In Queens there are those co-op boards that actually disclose what verified and documented incomes are required to purchase a 1, 2 and 3 bedroom unit. Also, in their resolution they are allowed to set prices on a monthly basis. If a co-op has no resolution then setting prices or denying an applicant is what I believe anti-trust as per the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 against setting prices. If a buyer believes that they were turned down either due to discrimination or price fixing then a buyer’s attorney should be sending out a letter to the management and co-op board president. Also, when the price is lower than what the board would accept, maybe they should visit the specific unit to understand why it is selling for less, to be more informed. The buyer would most likely 99% of the time will be renovating, so then the market value would be comparable to others that are selling that are in similar condition.
there is much more legal protection and avenues for recourse if this were to happen. An individual’s and family’s financial situation, including income via tax returns, debt/income ratios and business and/or job status as well as a background checks should be the only variables used to judge whether or not those being reviewed are a sound and viable fit for the specific co-op. But I would venture to say there have been marked improvements and more positive outcomes in the purchasing process due to the passing of the co-op board process and review law. I am not making a generalization about all co-op boards but those discriminating for any reason outside of financial reasons are breaking the law. I am quite sure the majorities of boards use their due diligence in carefully reviewing prospective buyers and tenants and act accordingly by doing the right thing.
plexed and frustrated as the coop board wasn’t obligated to let him know why. It is now in the hands of his attorney. I believe the State and local legislatures should standardize the requirements that co-ops should have in place so all are treated equally and fairly. The necessary documentation for all buyers would still be required, but at least we as Realtors would know in advance what we needed to do searching for qualified purchasers reducing wasted time and money. Maybe Newsday should be holding some co-op board members feet to the fire too! Are you listening Newsday???
Another idea is to have a seller’s concession so the price that is shown after it closes is more related to the standard selling price in that particular development, but my professional opinion is my first idea is much better. To me it’s called transparency and making it easier for purchasers to know what is expected of them. However, some co-op boards have debt/income ratios less than 30% as added protection to make sure buyers are not overleveraged with debt, especially today with what and how the Covid-19 Pandemic has affected incomes. More co-ops should adopt a similar system so Realtors would be that much more educated as to what is necessary for a buyer to qualify. Making it more challenging and difficult for the agent in a way discriminates against us in earning a living. Being open and transparent by allowing us to do a better job in searching out qualified individuals in a team cooperation mindset, will save a lot of time, effort and aggravation for all involved parties.
Unfortunately, discrimination today still occurs in our world but at least
Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call our Garden City office at 294-8900 for more information.
But in the very near future I truly believe that the Nassau County Legislature should and will do the right thing too and pass a similar law as Suffolk County so within 45 days purchasers who are turned down will be provided a reason. Some co-op board members might disagree with that potential law, but if you are treating people fairly and basing their approval on financials then you have nothing to be concerned about unless you discriminate arbitrarily due to race, religion, national origin, gender, family status. If real estate Brokers and their salespersons were being scrutinized as Newsday’s 3 year investigation disclosed and 68+ Brokers and agents were caught steering buyers to other communities had their licenses suspended or revoked, so should some type of punishment or fines be levied against coop boards that don’t stay within the laws. I recently had one of my clients who wasn’t even allowed the opportunity to get a review and I was told that they shredded up his 1000+ pages of his application without returning it to him. He wasn’t provided any reason as he couldn’t fathom or understand and was extremely per-
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 39 years experience in the Real Estate industry and 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.). He will provide you with “free” regular updates of sold and new homes in your town via the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (MLSLI) or go to http://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” `15 minute consultation, as well as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached. He can also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and our Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.
You can email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your request or ideas, suggestions or interview you for a specific topic and a Q & A for a future column with your name, email and cell number. He will email or call you back and respond to your request ASAP as long as he has your complete name, cell, email and/or full home or business address. Again, for a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, he can also be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions and concerns in selling, investing, purchasing, or leasing residential or commercial property.
Give Your Business Card To Some Prospective Clients.... 50,000 of them.
BY CARRIE SCHWAB-POMERANTZ
Dear Carrie: I am trying to simplify my finances and have way too many accounts (savings, checking, brokerage, credit cards). What happens when you close an account? Is that bad to do? -- A Reader
Dear Reader: Decluttering is certainly a popular concept these days. So why not apply it to our finances? While we all start out thinking we’ll keep things simple, as time goes on, it’s not unusual to find ourselves with accounts we no longer need -- whether it’s a checking or savings account that lured us in with initial higher interest rates or that credit card with irresistible perks. So you’re wise to step back, review what you have and decide what’s no longer useful.
However, while there’s no real downside to closing a bank account, a credit card is another story. Here’s what I’d suggest.
How many bank accounts do you need? There’s no cut and dried recommendation. It really depends on your own situation.
-- If you’re single, having one checking account should be sufficient, especially if it has low fees and earns interest. Add to that a high-interest savings account and you should be set to go. I’d also set up an automatic transfer between the two to make saving that much easier.
-- Couples may want to add an account or two to take what I call a “yours, mine and ours” approach. In this case, you might have a household checking and savings account for mutual expenses and goals and separate checking and saving accounts for personal use.
-- For a special goal, such as a big trip or a down payment on a home, it may make sense to have a savings account specifically for that purpose. Seeing the balance grow in that dedicated account can be a real motivator.
-- The FDIC insures up to $250,000
Continued from page 3
pot’s spout. This is the Milky Way that seems to rise out of the southern horizon and stretch completely across the sky to the north.
The section of the Milky Way just above the teapot’s spout marks the direction of our galaxy’s center. Though no one can see its core directly because of all the gobs of interstellar material filling the nearly 26,000 light years
per depositor per bank. Therefore, if you have accounts with large balances, you might consider spreading your money across two or more banks. The FDIC’s Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator can help users get details about their specific situation.
Other than that, there’s no reason to have multiple checking and savings accounts. So when you review your accounts, compare fees, interest rates and any other benefits and decide which ones work best for you. Then simply transfer your balances to the accounts you want to keep and close the accounts you no longer need.
If you own a small business or are a sole proprietor, you should have a separate checking account to keep track of business expenses and make accounting easier come tax time. To simplify things, consider having your personal checking, savings and business checking accounts at the same bank. Many banks offer a free business checking account in conjunction with a personal account.
Consider Consolidating Your Investment Accounts With One Company
Brokerage accounts can be a little more complicated because you’re potentially talking about different types of accounts -- taxable brokerage accounts, tax-advantaged retirement accounts or special accounts for things like college savings.
-- Taxable Brokerage Accounts -Here again, it depends on your particular situation. If you’re single, having one brokerage account is the best way to keep on top of all your investments. If you’re part of a couple, you might again opt for three accounts: one brokerage account for each of you and one for joint investments.
-- Tax-Advantaged Retirement Accounts -- All retirement accounts are individual. Whether you’re single or married, an individual retirement ac-
count or 401(k) is in your name only. Ideally, you’ll have one of each. There’s also the possibility that you could have both traditional and Roth retirement accounts, so that could potentially double the number.
-- College Savings Accounts -- When saving for a child’s education, you might consider a 529 account or custodial account. If you have multiple children, best to have an account for each of them.
Having multiple brokerage accounts doesn’t have to be overly complicated. You can simplify by holding all your brokerage accounts at one financial institution. Not only will you have access to all the accounts in one place, you’ll also be able to see how they all work together, which will help you stay on top of your overall asset allocation and investments. If you currently have brokerage accounts at different companies and want to consolidate, contact the brokerage firm you want to work with; they can help you transfer your assets.
An exception would be your current 401(k), which is held by your employer. However, should you leave your job, you could roll that account into a rollover IRA at the brokerage firm where you have your other accounts, or possibly to your new 401(k). You’ll want to make sure you understand all the options available so you can make the best decision for your circumstances.
Here’s where you have to be careful. Closing credit cards could affect your credit score. That’s because of what the credit industry calls your credit utilization ratio. You get this ratio by dividing your total credit balance by your total available credit.
For instance, say you have $50,000 in available credit. If your credit balance were $10,000, your credit utilization ratio would be 20%. If you were to eliminate a card or two, bringing your available credit down to $25,000, your ratio would jump to 40%. And while there’s
that separate us from it, astronomers suspect that a supermassive black hole might lurk in this galactic core.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Milky Way is that it’s not uniform in brightness. It is, instead, mottled with dark rifts along its entire length. These are known to astronomers as giant molecular clouds: massive clouds of interstellar dust that stand in stark silhouette against the Milky Way’s brighter stellar band. It is within these GMCs
that massive star- and planet-forming regions exist, hidden from eyes not capable of seeing infrared radiation.
Scan binoculars along the Milky Way on a clear, dark night, and you’ll be impressed by all you can see. Not only will binoculars reveal countless stars invisible to the eye, but also dozens of deep-sky objects, or “faint fuzzies” as astronomers like to call them; these include star clusters and gaseous nebulae. All will appear as small, hazy smudges
Calling all College students!
no precise cutoff, in general, it’s a good idea to keep your ratio below 30%. A higher ratio can result in a lower credit score.
So first, look at all your cards. Which ones do you really use? What is each card costing you in terms of annual fees and interest rates? Try to narrow them down to the most useful and the least costly. Then decide how to manage them. The easiest way is to put unused cards aside and carry only the ones that suit your current needs.
However, you may want to judiciously close accounts with annual fees or high interest rates. If that will increase your utilization ratio, one solution is to raise the limit on the cards you keep before you close the ones you don’t need so your available credit remains consistent. Also, it’s best to hang on to the cards you’ve had the longest; a long credit history is considered a positive. Your credit history is about 15% of your credit score.
Think of It as ‘Kondo-izing’ Your Account Decluttering your accounts may not exactly spark the same sense of joy Marie Kondo describes when you clean out your closet, but in the long run, it can make your financial life easier to manage and give you a greater sense of security. And that’s certainly a good feeling.
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 2021 CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. INC. (MEMBER SIPC) DISTRBUTED BY CREATORS. COM (#0519-9BG9)
of light, but if you’ve got a small telescope, aim it in their direction for an even closer and more impressive look. I think you’ll agree that exploring this region of the heavens from a dark sky site can be a relaxing and wonderfully stellar way to spend the warm nights of summer!
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.
COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
Have an outstanding GPA, honor-roll, internship? Let us know about your transcending achievements then show your family, friends & neighbors!
E-mail your most prized achievements, along with your name and contact info to: Editor@GCnews.com
ONE CALL TO 516-294-8900
AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN 11 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. CALL TODAY FOR OUR VERY LOW RATES. www.gcnews.com
Garden City News
• Mid Island Times Bethpage Newsgram
• Syosset Advance • Jericho News Journal Williston Times - Mineola Edition
New Hyde Park Herald Courier • Manhasset Times Roslyn Times • Port Washington Times • Great Neck News
DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED ADS IS TUESDAY AT 1:00PM.
2 EASY WAYS TO PLACE ADS:
1) Directly on website: gcnews.com & click on “Classified Order”
2) Email Nancy@gcnews.com
Please include your name, daytime phone number, address and ad copy.
Visa and MasterCard Accepted
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
$18.50 NYC $17 LI $13.50 UPSTATE NY! If you need care from your relative, friend or neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA program. No Certificates needed. Phone: 347-713-3553
LONG BEACH NURSING & REHAB CENTER
Now hiring RN’s LPN’s and CNA’s. Friendly, professional, supportive organization. For more info please contact Samantha Lupo: 516-897-1000 Ext 2112 or slupo@cassenacare.com
HELP WANTED
MOTHER’S ASSISTANT NEEDED:
Looking for someone who is honest, caring, responsible and willing to learn about Diabetes in order to care for an 8yr old boy with Type 1 Diabetes. Primary responsibilities include picking up from school, doing homework, preparing light meals and doing errands as needed.
Hours are Monday thru Friday from 7:00am to 6:30pm with some flexibility. This person will have to be comfortable administering medicine and needs to be a driver.
Please call: 516-978-6842 for more information.
HELP WANTED
NOW HIRING!!! DRIVERS, BUS MONITORS & MECHANICS.
Bus terminal locations throughout Nassau & Suffolk Counties. Earn while you learn. FREE TRAINING to obtain CDL. Apply at: www.wetransport.com OR CALL 516-349-8200
Advertise in our newspaper!
If you own a business or have a service to provide, we’ll create professional advertisements to promote it and help you be seen by thousands of local readers! Call 1-516-294-8900
HELP WANTED
PERSONAL ASSISTANT/ MARKET RESEARCHER REQUIRES fluency in English AND Japanese, Bachelors degree/education or higher, minimum of 2 years of relevant course/project work and prior research experience in mental health and/or healthcare. $15 per hour (non-negotiable) 40+ hour per week (may include occasional evenings to communicate with associates in Asia/Japan)
Please contact by email if interested in position: taldad@mindfulurgentcare. com
SITUATION WANTED
COMPANION/CAREGIVER AVAILABLE FOR AFTERNOONS
Experienced Polish Woman is available for companionship with elderly.
Honest, kind, caring, friendly & patient.
Speaks English. Has own car. Call or text 516-589-5640
SITUATION WANTED
HOME HEALTH AIDE
AVAILABLE
Experienced in Elder Care
Excellent referrals
COVID Vaccinated
Call Pauline: 516-309-5453
CAREER TRAINING
COMPUTER & IT TRAINING
PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)
TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING
Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)
A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP
516-746-8900
Antiques-Furniture-Jewelry-Silver-Mirrors-LampsArtwork
Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Tues-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4
Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org
Items to Consign?
Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society
Like us on Facebook & Instagram
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! WANTED TO BUY
LOOKING TO BUY!
Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture. Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104
TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTS ALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com
AUTO FOR SALE
2009 HONDA CIVIC LX SEDAN.
4 DR, Silver, Automatic. Original owner. Great condition. Only $63,000 miles. $7500/O.B.O. Call 516-477-6060
AUTOS WANTED
***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS
$Highest$ 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
DRIVE OUT BREAST CANCER:
Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup 24hr response Tax deduction Easy to do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755
RENT
GARDEN CITY BORDER APARTMENT
Huge, bright 2Br, 2 bath apt. $2250 +electric. Gated parking. Laundry room, air conditioning, Dishwasher, Hardwood floors, LIRR. NO BROKER FEE www.gcbapts.com Voice or text: 516-524-6965
MATTITUCK - Charming 2BR cottage on Sandy Bay Beach. Ideal for family vacation. Available 8/28-9/4.
$1700 Owner 631-298-8433 or 516-4348430
GARDEN CITY House for sale: Fieldstone Mott. Midblock. 62x100. Beautiful sunroom, fireplace, wood floors. 2 large bedrooms, Dining room and living room. $799.00. Call 516-877-0395
GARDEN CITY HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER Central Section Colonial on numbered street Walking distance to town & LIRR 6 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Updated Kitchen Full Basement CAC, 2 Car Garage NO BROKERS PLEASE Private Showings: Call/Text 718-419-4603 Asking $1,574,000
BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99 /mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! CALL 888-508-5313
Dr. Marlene Levy (PhD,LCSW,DAAPM) Virtual and Outdoor CLINICAL HYPNOSIS & PSYCHOTHERAPY. Call 516-944-3885
FITNESS/MASSAGE
Virtual workout available via Zoom. One on One Rehabilitation in the comfort of your home.
Following COVID-19 Safety Practices.
Contact: 917-612-0460
Andersongourdet@gmail.com
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
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
AMBIANCE
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
*Handyman & Remodeling
*Kitchen Installations
*Furniture Assembly
*Finish Carpentry
*Minor Electrical & Plumbing
28 year GC Resident Lic & Ins H18E2170000 Call BOB 516-741-2154
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
AQUATEC
LAWN SPRINKLERS
SYSTEM TURN ONS
Backflow Device Tests
Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs
Joe Barbato 516-775-1199
CHIMNEY KING ENT. INC.
FREE ESTIMATES
Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist.
FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK 516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600 Since 1982 chimneykinginc.com
ELIMINATE GUTTER
CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-763-2379
FREE ESTIMATES
Extensions, Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Carpentry Work, Porticos, Siding, Dormers, Stone, New Construction & Conversions, Mason Work, Stone. Insured. Please Call 516-581-9146
MADE IN THE SHADE CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS
Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies
Top Brands at Discount Prices! Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli.com 516-426-2890
MASONRY
All types of stonework Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps. Free Estimates
Fully Licensed & Insured #H2219010000
Boceski Masonry
Louie 516-850-4886
NEVER PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIRS AGAIN!
Complete Care Home Warran ty COVERS ALL MAJOR SYS TEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF + 2 FREE MONTHS! 866-440-6501
PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!
Slate & Tile Specialists
All types of Roofing Local References
Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869
ROOF LEAKS REPAIRED
Slate Roof Repairs
Caulking/Roof Maintenance
Copper Flashing Replacements
Shingle Roof Repairs
Snow Guards/Roof Vents
Nassau Lic#H1859520000
B.C. Roofing Call 631-496-9711 (Office) or 516-983-0860 (Owner direct)
THE GENERAC PWRcell
a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194
HEALTH SERVICES
FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC
Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo
PMHCNS-BC Doctor of Nursing Practice Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager
Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion
Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement
PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams
Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications
516-248-9323 www.familycareconnections. com
901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530
PAINTING & PAPERHANGING
MICHELANGELO
PAINTING & WALLPAPER
Interior, Exterior, Plaster / Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing.
Call: 516-328-7499
TUTORING
ACT/SAT/GRE
TUTOR AVAILABLE
also middle/high school math and science.
I have 6 years’ experience teaching at top universities (Stanford, UPenn) and 10+ years’ experience tutoring middle school and high school math and science (GCUFSD). I help grow students’ confidence and teach the skills necessary for improvement and success.
Call Mike 516-780-4891
GARDEN CITY TUTORING
Garden City High School rising sophomore with two years of experience available to tutor grades K-8 in math, science and Italian. Tutoring rate is forty dollars an hour. Contact Jack at gardencitytutor@gmail.com for information and availability.
SUMMER TUTORING ON-LINE & F2F ALL MATH (Grade 4 thru-First Year College)
ACT, SAT, AP, GRE, ALL Placement Tests
Very Experienced in Public and Private Schools’ curriculum.
Summer SAT, ACT, Math Prep for the Fall Tests
“Fill in the Gaps from last year’s class” to prepare for the upcoming math classes this fall.
For more information, Call Richard 516-567-1512 or email: educationtimeincrgs@outlook. com
GARDEN CITY WINDOW CLEANING HOME WINDOW CLEANING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR SERVICE BY OWNER Fully Insured/25 yrs experience 516-764-5686 631-220-1851
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
$64.99 for 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo expires 7/21/21 Call 1-888-609-9405
LEAK REPAIRS Plumbing Repairs Bathrooms, Showers, Kitchens 24 HOUR SERVICE Call 516-668-5624
PASSION FOR SENIORS. CERTIFIED HHA’S, Companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care available. Also Nassau locations. Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Call 718-850-3400
Our Service Directory is sure
NEWS- but we need YOUR Help!
After a year and a half COVID hiatus, Last Hope will be resuming public fundraising events in August.
We have 3 summer events already scheduled, but our stockpile of gift cards & new items for prizes & raffle baskets has been depleted.
*The first event will be a Barkin’ Brunch at the Refuge in Melville on August 1.
*Then a SPAYghetti Dinner Fix-A-Feral Fundraiser at Levittown Hall August 13.
*And a Supermarket Bingo at Levittown Hall on September 24.
CAN YOU HELP by donating gift cards or new items that will can be either free-standing prizes or fit into raffle baskets?
*Bottles of Liquor & wine make fine prizes.
If you can donate, please bring these items to the Wantagh Adoption Center or call Terri at 631-332-6606 for more info. Thanks a Million!
There may be little time in the schedule to prepare homemade breakfasts and enjoy a leisurely morning meal on weekdays. But once the weekend arrives, home cooks can experiment with tasty treats that fill homes with decadent aromas and rouse late sleepers from their slumber.
French toast or pancakes may
be popular weekend breakfast options, but why not switch things up with another sticky and sweet option? “Sweet Sunday Rolls” from “The Contented Vegan” (Head of Zeus) by Peggy Brusseau are quick to prepare and perfect for a relaxing morning meal when time allows. Enjoy with tea or coffee.
Serves 4
1⁄2 cup desiccated (shredded) coconut
1⁄2 cup lightly packed soft light brown
sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 and 1⁄2 ounces all-purpose or wholewheat flour, plus extra for dusting your work surface
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 3⁄4 ounces coconut oil, plus a little extra for greasing the dish
5 ounces plant milk
2⁄3 cup raisins
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 ounces maple or barley malt syrup
Preheat the oven to 425 F, and grease an 111⁄4 inch round baking dish or similar ovenproof dish with a generous coating of coconut oil. Sprinkle the shredded coconut over the greased dish, jostling it a little to distribute evenly.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar over the coconut-coated baking dish.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Add the coconut oil and use a table knife to “cut” it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the plant milk and stir well, then knead to a firm dough using your hands. Lightly flour a work surface. Turn out the dough and shape it into a rough rectangle. Use a rolling pin (or simply press with your hands) to flatten it into a bigger rectangle of about 8
by 12 inches, with a thickness of about 5⁄8 inch. With the long edge closest to you, spread the raisins over the dough, leaving a gap of about 11⁄4 inches all around the edges. Lightly press the raisins into the dough. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar over the raisins, and drizzle with the olive oil and half of the syrup. Roll the dough into a log from the long edge, working away from you. Press firmly as you roll to ensure the filling is properly embedded. Check that the ends and the long edge are closed — if necessary, dampen those edges and press together to seal.
Using a serrated bread knife, cut the roll into slices about 11⁄4 inches thick. Lay the slices flat in the prepared baking dish, leaving a little room between each slice. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
While the rolls are baking, cut a piece of baking paper large enough to cover the baking dish. When the rolls are cooked, set the dish on a wire rack or trivet. Lay the baking paper over the dish and put a large plate or tray upside down on top of the paper, with the baking dish centered underneath. Using oven gloves, carefully lift the dish and plate, holding them firmly together as you turn them over.
Leave the baking dish upside down on the plate for 2 to 3 minutes, then carefully lift off. Collect and spread any coconut mixture left in the dish over the rolls, which are now upside down. Drizzle the remaining syrup over the rolls while they are still hot. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes before gently pulling them away from each other. Eat while still warm.
Monday, August 2
4:00 p.m.: Virtual Flex & Tone with Mindy Vasta - Put on some comfortable clothing and join Mindy for this exercise class while in the comfort and safety of your home.
7:00 p.m.: Virtual Fit & Fabulous with Linda Ray - Spend the evening exercising with Linda!
Tuesday, August 3
10:30 a.m.: Virtual Stories with Miss Liz (Ages 2–5) - This is a Mommy and Me program of stories, songs, rhymes, and fingerplays.
Wednesday, August 4
1:00 p.m.: Virtual Watercolor Demonstration with Chuck Van Horn
- Chuck will give descriptive instruction as he paints each week. There will be time for questions and critique of your work at the end of the demo
4:00 p.m.: Virtual: Mermaid Tales (Grades 1–5) - Uncover the myth of the mermaid! Explore legends from around the world and discover how merpeople were inspired. Design a mermaid inspired seashell necklace.
5:00 p.m.: Virtual Minecraft Mania for Teens - Physics - Join us on Zoom as we use Minecraft’s physics engine to explain velocity and gravitational force by launching objects with TNT!
Thursday, August 5
10:00 a.m.: Virtual Chair Yoga with Jolie Bosnjak - This class will
begin with a breath practice to calm the mind and meld with the poses. You will move from head to toe, using the chair as a prop for support. This practice is for all levels...including those nursing an injury or coping with a chronic problem. The results will surprise you!
1:00 p.m.: Virtual The Passionate Reader: “Every Drop of Blood” by Edward Achorn - Join Mary as she discusses “Every Drop of Blood: The Momentous Second Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln” by Edward Achorn. Visit Washington, D.C. on the eve of Abraham Lincoln’s historic second inaugural address.
5:30 p.m: Virtual Yoga with JoeJoe Cilmi is a certified Iyengar Hatha Yoga Instructor. Join him for this yoga
class geared for all levels and reduce the stress in your life while keeping fit!
Friday, August 6
3:00 p.m.: Virtual Summer Reading Get Together - What Are You Reading? - Join teen librarian Kim Simmons for this very informal Zoom meeting where we will share our thoughts on what everyone is reading over the summer. What are your favorite genres? Have an idea of what programs you might like to see us offer in the future? We want to hear what you have to say! It’s summer, so there’s no pressure, just a sharing of ideas.
For all events, go to www.jerichopubliclibrary.org/events/month to register.
PUBLIC NOTICE
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to law, a public hearing will be held before the Town Board, in the Hearing Room, Town Hall, East Building, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on the 17h day of August, 2021, at 10:00 o’clock a.m., prevailing time, or as soon thereafter as practicable, to consider the condemnation of real property known as N/E/C/ West Barclay Street & Wyckoff Street, Hicksville, New York (a/k/a 47 West Barclay Street), and designated as Section 11, Block 185, Lots 2 & 8 on the Land and Tax Map of Nassau County, and to determine the need and location of a commuter parking lot, a public use, prior to any acquisition of the aforementioned real property required for the project, which will provide open parking for commuting residents of the Town of Oyster Bay. All persons interested in the subject matter of said hearing shall have an opportunity to be heard in connection with the aforementioned hearing at the time and place designated herein.
IF YOU, THE PROPERTY OWNER(S), SUBSEQUENTLY WISH TO CHALLENGE CONDEMNATION OF THE AFORESAID PROPERTY VIA JUDICIAL REVIEW, YOU MAY DO SO ONLY ON THE BASIS OF ISSUES, FACTS, AND OBJECTIONS RAISED AT THE ABOVE REFERENCED HEARING.
TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF OYSTER BAY.
JOSEPH S. SALADINO, Supervisor.
RICHARD LAMARCA, Town Clerk.
Dated: July 13, 2021, Oyster Bay, New York.
MIT 5918
2X 07/30,08/06
NOTICE OF FORMATION
Lambert Gullo Elder Law, PLLC.
Art. of Org. filed with NYS DOS on 5/26/21. Cty: NASSAU. NYS DOS desig. as agent upon whom proc. may be served & shall mail: 4 SHERMAN PLACE, BETHPAGE, NY 11714. Purp: any lawful.
BN 7508
6X 07/02,09,16,23,30,08/06
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on AUGUST 5, 2021, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:
BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
APPEAL NO. 77-125AMENDMENT
SYOSSET
MARISA SILVER: Amend
Specific Plan as presented for Appeal No. 77-125 and granted by Decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals, dated May 5, 1977 and amended by Decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals, dated December 3, 2020, for the submittal of amended plans.
W/s/o Split Rock Rd., 841.29 ft. N/o Burtis Ln., a/k/a 35 Towl Gate Lane, Syosset, NY
APPEAL NO. 21-354
SYOSSET ARAJEET MULTANI: (A)
Variance to allow existing second kitchen in a one-family dwelling for use as a PARENT/ CHILD residence. (B) Variance for the expansion of PARENT/ CHILD residence. (C) Variance to construct second floor addition and allow existing front portico, side roof over and rear roof overs exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to allow existing front platform and steps to grade having less average front yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (E) Variance to allow existing side roof over and rear roof over having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (F) Variance to allow existing side roof over and to construct second floor addition having less aggregate side yards than permitted by Ordinance; also encroachment of eaves and gutters. (G) Variance to allow existing shed having less rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.
W/s/o Syosset Circle, 320 ft. N/o Linda Ln., a/k/a 66 Syosset Circle, Syosset, NY
APPEAL NO. 21-355
SYOSSET
MARIANNA MAZZAFERRO:
(A) Variance to allow existing one story addition having less average front yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow two (2) existing one story additions having less aggregate side yards than permitted by Ordinance.
E/s/o Florence Dr., 90 ft.
S/o Alexander Dr., a/k/a 74 Florence Drive, Syosset, NY
JULY 26, 2021
BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
TOWN OF OYSTER BAY,
OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK
SYO 4398
1X 07/30
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on AUGUST 5, 2021, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:
BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
APPEAL NO. 21-351
JERICHO
STACI ROGOVE: (A)
Variance to allow existing one story side addition and one story shed addition having less aggregate side yards and exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing outdoor kitchen with barbeque having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to allow existing generator having less side yard setback and exceeding maximum distance from dwelling than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to allow existing pool equipment having less front yard setback and side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (E) Variance to allow existing driveway having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.
E/s/o S. Sagamore Way, 512.54 ft. N/o Forsythia Ln., a/k/a 26 S. Sagamore Way, Jericho, NY
APPEAL NO. 21-352
JERICHO
SAVERIO STASI: (A)
Variance to allow existing front platform having less average front yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing outdoor kitchen having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to allow existing rear roof over exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to allow existing rear roof over and front and rear platform exceeding maximum gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance. (E) Variance to allow existing driveway having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.
S/s/o Craig St., 76.29 ft. E/o Richmond Ave., a/k/a 31 Craig Street, Jericho, NY
APPEAL NO. 21-353
JERICHO
KIMCO REALTY CORPORATION: (A)
Variance to install wall signs exceeding maximum number of wall signs on West side of building than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to install wall signs exceeding maximum height than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to install ground sign having less setback from property line and exceeding maximum area than permitted by Ordinance. E/s/o N. Broadway, 903.7 ft. N/o Village Dr., a/k/a 500 N. Broadway, Jericho, NY
JULY 26, 2021 BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK JNJ 7967 1X 07/30
A field of nearly 300 runners and walkers toed the starting line near the Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School on the morning of July 18th for the Heart & Sole 5 Kilometer Run, and when they crossed the finish line lots of local athletes were in the forefront.
The event was a joint effort by Plainview and Syosset Hopitals and the Greater Long Island Running Club, with the net proceeds dedicated to the Catherization Laboratory at Plainview Hospital.
The first woman overall was Lena Edelstein of Old Bethpage left hubby Jossi minding the kids while she sped to an 18:53 finish to score as the first woman overall. 45 year old Marc Sonnenberg of Plainview was the first Masters (age 40 plus) finisher with a time of 18:39.
Andrew Yacht of Plainview earned the 3rd place award in the special category of Northwell Health Physicians, and Judith Brenner of Plainview took second place honors among the Female Northwell Health Physicians.
Plainview runners Jeffrey Dicker and Robert Shimonski scored 2-3 in the Clydesdale 200 pound plus Weight Division.
A trio of Plainview youngsters –11 year old Emily Levy, 9 year old Noelle Karahalis and 7 year old Thea Karahalis scored 1-2-3 in the Female 12 and under age group, and 11 year old Gage Acord of Hicksville was the first place finisher in the Male 12 and under age group.
Kristen Willett of Hicksville and Sophie Goodman of Plainview finished second and thid in the Female 16 to 19 age group, and Robert Casal of Plainview took 3rd place honors in the Male 16-19 age group. Jordana Lewis and Jordan Schechter, both of
Plainview fininished 1st and 3rd among the Females in the 20-24 age group. Megan Fortunato of Bethpage earned third place honors in the Femal 35-39 age group.
Scott Solomon and Aaron Billig, both of Plainview, finished 1-2 in the Male 40-44 age group. Shari Klarfeld of Plainview scored 1st in the Female 40-44 age group, and Jennifer Weprin of Plainview earned 1st place in the Female 45-49 age group. Liz Flahavan of Hicksville scored second in the Female 55-59 age group, and Robert Taubenfeld of Plainview was the winner in the Male 55-59 age group. Plainview’s Tom Crane earned the second place award plaque in the Male 60-64 age group, and Jerry Cohen of Plainvuiew scored third in the Male 75-79 age group. Howard Sitomer of Plainview was the 2nd place finisher in the 80-84 age group.
Capping off the list of awards, 94 year old Bert Jablon of Syosset was the overall winner in the 90 plus age group.
Making the Run even more successful was the choice of the Emergency Departments of Plainview and Syosset Hospitals to be the honorees at this year’s Run – well deserved recognition of the dedicated service to the community provided by the staffs of these two Departments, both during the pandemic and generally.
Race organizers were thrilled to have a contingent of challenged athletes and guides from the new Long Island Chapter of Achilles International join us for this event, free of charge of course, and we hope that they enjoyed the Run as much as we enjoyed having them there!
Preceding the 5K main event was a 1/4 mile Fun Run on the Middle School track, enjoyed by about 35 youngsters.
Get your local paper delivered to your mailbox every week for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.
More local news: Learn about what’s going on in the Village and Schools.
• Elementary, Middle and High School Events
• School and local sports
• Police coverage
• Special features including interviews, special supplement sections, and much more.
To subscribe return the form below to: Subscription Department, Garden City News, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City NY 11530.
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that residents are reminded to bring chairs and coolers to the Summer Concert Series at TOBAY Beach, which got underway this week. In accordance with new CDC guidelines, the concerts will no longer be held in a drive-in fashion and residents can set up seating areas in the lot at TOBAY.
The ‘Movies by Moonlight’ series, held at local parks on five Wednesdays this summer, will also be hosted in a traditional manner, inviting residents and families to bring chairs, blankets and coolers to enjoy the show.
The 2021 summer concert and movie series will feature a wide variety of genres ranging from country to rock, providing free family fun for all music lovers, as well as family-friendly movie selections. Admission is open to Town residents beginning at 7 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, and residency will be verified upon admission. Most concerts begin at 8 p.m., and movies begin at dusk. 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.
Summer Concert Series:
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
CELEBRATE AMERICA
Featuring Fireworks By Grucci &
honoring first responders
ROCK THIS TOWN ORCHESTRA
The Ultimate and Only Brian Setzer Orchestra Tribute in the USA
Thursday, August 5, 2021
DR. K'S MOTOWN REVUE
America’s #1 Authentic Motown Revue Band
Saturday, August 7, 2021
The Ultimate Beatles Tribute STRAWBERRY FIELDS
Featuring Former Members of Broadway's Beatlemania
Tuesday, August 10, 2021 Long Island’s Own WONDEROUS STORIES
Wednesday, August 11, 2021 COMPLETELY UNCHAINED
The Ultimate Van Halen Tribute
Thursday, August 12, 2021 SHINING STAR TRIBUTE
The New York Area's number one Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute Band
Saturday, August 14, 2021 DECADIA
80's And Beyond
Summer Movies:
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
“Raya & The Last Dragon”
Ellsworth W. Allen Park, Farmingdale
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that it will partner with Team Boomer of the Boomer Esiason Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis to host a shoe collection drive. Residents are invited to donate any type of shoe in good condition at one of the following Drop-Off Locations: Town Hall North (54 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay), Town Hall South (977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa), the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center (1001 Stewart Ave, Bethpage), and the Hicksville Athletic Center (167 S. Broadway, Hicksville).
“The Boomer Esiason Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis is responsible for lifesaving work in our community. Not only does the organization fund some of the most talented scientists and researchers, who every day come closer to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis, but they also provide critical resources and services for individuals currently living with Cystic Fibrosis,” said Town Councilman Tom Hand. “All proceeds
from this shoe collection drive will go directly to the foundation as they work toward their mission of heightening awareness, education and quality of life for those affected by cystic fibrosis, while also providing financial support to research aimed at finding a cure.”
The Town’s Collection Drive will run from July 1 to August 1. DropOff Bins will be available on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Town Hall North (54 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay), Town Hall South (977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa), the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center (1001 Stewart Ave, Bethpage), and the Hicksville Athletic Center (167 S. Broadway, Hicksville).
For more about the Boomer Esiason Foundation and their amazing mission, residents can visit https://www.esiason.org/. If residents have specific questions about this collection drive, they may call the Town of Oyster Bay at (516) 624-6380.
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.
Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray (left) officiated the wedding of Justin Schmidt and Victoria Donnelly of Levittown on July 12, 2021 at Hempstead Town Hall. Residents interested in obtaining their marriage license and/or scheduling a wedding ceremony should call the Office of the Town Clerk at (516) 812-3014 or visit hempsteadny.gov/marriage.
