Mid-Island Times (5/26/23)

SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN

LIFE JACKET DISTRIBUTION

Hicksville couple charged with Covid fraud

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced on May 18th that a couple from Hicksville has been charged with allegedly submitting fraudulent paperwork and obtaining more than $12,000 in rental assistance funds to which they were not entitled that were administered. The funds were part of a COVID relief program through the Town of Oyster Bay.

Michael Arbassio, 65, and Eileen Dantini, 61, were arraigned on charges of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a D felony) and six counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (an E felony). The defendants pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. If convicted of the top count, the defendants face up to 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison.

With the start of boating season upon us, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Tom Hand, Councilwoman Laura Maier and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato joined with the New York State Police Chiefs Association in distributing over 500 free lifejackets and safe boating guides to children, at John Burns Park in Massapequa on Saturday, May 13th. New York law requires that all children under 12 years of age wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, or III PFD while on board any vessel less than 65 feet in length (including canoes, kayaks, and rowboats) unless they are in a fully enclosed cabin.

Composting pilot program

Residents of Oyster Bay who are looking to protect the environment and interested in composting are invited to take part in a pilot program which will take place throughout the summer. Participants will test the use of a compost bin in their backyards, and will

be asked to complete weekly surveys. Participants will receive a discounted price for a compost bin.

The organic waste of Oyster Bay residents ends up in landfills — however, decomposing organic waste releases methane. Methane, both highly flammable and a

potent greenhouse gas, damages the environment and contributes to anthropogenic climate change.

In an effort to create a composting system in Oyster Bay, a group of high-school students aim to collect data on composting through

See page 12

“During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, renters across Nassau County struggled to make payments, and needed government intervention to ease their hardship and ensure they could make ends meet,” said DA Donnelly. “The defendants took advantage of these programs, allegedly stealing more than $12,000 in rental assistance funds by submitting fraudulent paperwork claiming the couple were in a landlord-tenant agreement.”

DA Donnelly said, according to the charges, Arbassio and his long-term girlfriend, Dantini, were tenants in a Hicksville home for approximately 10 years and paid monthly rent to a landlord.

It is alleged that on September 29, 2021, defendant Arbassio electronically submitted a Tenant Application to the Oyster Bay Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”), listing the Hicksville address, his email address, and cell phone number. ERAP used federal funds to assist residents of the Town of Oyster Bay who experienced pandemic-related housing difficulties. The program was administered on behalf of the Town of Oyster Bay by the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP).

Arbassio allegedly stated on the ERAP application submitted to LIHP that Dantini was his landlord and that he was in arrears in rent to her. The District Attorney said that Arbassio and Dantini also submitted addi-

See page 12

Plainview resident named “Woman of Distinction”

The Town of Oyster Bay recently honored ten “Women of Distinction” during a special ceremony.

The Town of Oyster Bay recently hosted a special ceremony to recognize exceptional women who have signifi cantly given back to the community. This year’s ceremony recognized 10 “Women of Distinction work throughout the Town of Oyster Bay. Among the honorees was Ronit Birns of Plainview.

Ronit Birns has been tirelessly rais ing money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society since 2002, when she was first diagnosed with multiple scle rosis. She has raised over $600,000 due to her efforts with each year and has served as a mentor to those recently diagnosed with this debilitat ing disease. She serves as a team lead er, helping to coordinate friends, loved ones and colleagues for this event every year, which helps change the world for those affected by MS.

About to hit a milestone?

Town offers

One-Stop Passport Weekend

To help residents looking to obtain new passports, Oyster Bay Town Clerk Richard LaMarca announced that his office will offer a special one-stop Passport Weekend on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both Town Hall North in Oyster Bay and Town Hall South in Massapequa.

“Residents looking to apply for a new passport are invited to visit Town Hall during Passport Weekend to receive assistance,” said Town Clerk LaMarca. “We can help you with organizing your documents, obtaining a photo and submitting the documents for approval.”

Requirements for applying for a passport include:

• One 2x2 color photograph with a clear view of the applicant’s face against a plain white or light colored background. Photos will also be available for $10 at both Town Halls North and South during Passport Weekend.

• Proof of U.S. Citizenship –Previously issued undamaged U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, Consular

Volunteer ambulance corps holds Installation Dinner

Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, Naturalization Certificate, or Certificate of Citizenship.

• Proof of Identity – Naturalization Certificate, Valid Driver’s License (cannot have been issued or renewed in the last six months), Current Government ID (city, state or federal), Current Military ID (military and dependents).

• This service does NOT apply to Adult Renewals unless your Passport is expired for 5+ years.

Town Clerk LaMarca has offices located at Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay and Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road in Massapequa. Passport appointments are available Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, and during this special Passport Weekend. For appointments in Oyster Bay, please call (516) 624-6324. For appointments in Massapequa, please call (516) 797-7964. For information on passport requirements and processing times, as well as instructions for passport renewals, visit www.travel.state.gov.

Looking for a Summer Program for your child with a learning difference?

Learn more about Winston Prep Long Island Summer Program that provide students with learning differences a unique, individualized learning environment to enhance their academic skills and foster independence.

Dates: June 30 - July 28, 2023

Contact: Tina Sarnicola, lisummerprogram@winstonprep.edu

For more information about Winston Prep schools and programs, visit winstonprep.edu.

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray (left) greeted Peter, Donna and Cody Ryan during the Wantagh-Levittown Volunteer Ambulance Corps 68th Annual Installation Dinner on May 5 at Westbury Manor. Also attending was New York State Senator Steve Rhoads.

Bethpage student wins third place in Town poster contest

BY GARY SIMEONE

Dhruvika Khanna, a fourthgrade student at Central Boulevard Elementary School, wanted to show her love of the oceans in Town of Oyster Bay poster contest. The talented young student impressed the judges so much that she won third place in the contest.

The contest, which was entitled “Our Town Our Environment,” was meant to raise awareness of pollution and its impact on our environment.

Khanna, who drew a picture of the oceans and various sea creatures in colored pencils, said she wanted to depict pollution’s effects on our overall environment.

“I think it’s so important to save and have clean oceans because it affects everyone from human beings down to the tiniest living creatures on Earth,” said Khanna.

The talented nine year-old spent two days thinking about her poster and coloring it in with colored pencils and a Sharpie magic marker.

“I’ve always been obsessed with the oceans and I love to draw, so I liked the idea of participating in a poster contest.

It was my first time doing so and I’m so happy that I placed in the contest.”

Her poster contained pictures of sea creatures, such as fish, turtles and whales, floating plastic waste and interesting facts about the ecosystem in the ocean.

“My message for people is to recycle plastic bottles, eat sustainably and use fewer plastic products overall,” said Khanna.

Dominique Siebert, principal of Central Boulevard, said Khanna is a very bright young lady and a budding artist.

“I’m very proud of her for being dedicated and accomplishing her goal,” said Siebert. “She is a role model for other students in our school, and I’m confident that she will make a positive impact on the environment in the not too distant future.”

As a result of placing third in the contest, Khanna was given a tree, which she planted in the school’s garden.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino visited the school earlier this month to take part in the tree planting ceremony.

Dhruvika Khanna (center) was recently presented a citation by Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino (right) for winning a town poster contest. Her poster shows ways to help protect the oceans.

POBots Robotics Team headed to championship

The Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School robotics team, POBots, is headed to the FIRST Robotics Championships in Houston, Texas, to compete against teams from across the world. The tournament runs from April 19 to April 22.

POBots were selected for this honor after stellar showings at regional competitions at Hofstra University and New York City, where the team earned a win-loss record of 7-3 and 8-2, respectively. The team also won the FIRST Sustainability Award at both competitions. The award honors teams that have developed and demonstrated sustainable programs to ensure the members operate as a cohesive unit, allowing them to proactively identify and manage risks and acquire assets to effectively deal with adversity and unex-

pected events. The team’s robot for 2023 is Murray, named after POBJFKHS’s beloved principal, James Murray, who is retiring this year.

POBots is competing against 620 other championship teams from across the world, including Canada, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Israel, Mexico and more. The team’s participation comes with a long and storied history at FIRST, where it has been competing each year since 1999!

“This achievement is just another wonderful milestone in the POBots’ more than 20-year history,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary O’Meara. “The ingenuity and teamwork these students have shown have taken them to the world stage, and our school community could not be prouder.”

The team’s pit crew at the 2023 New York City regionals.

POBJFKHS’s robotics team, POBots, at the FIRST Robotics Hofstra 2023 regionals.

The POBots 2023 drive team.

Swimming Camp, Photography Camp, Medical Boot Camp, and more!

Other athletic, academic, and enrichment programs available

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Hicksville - Jericho Rotary Club part of record-breaking Day of Service

On Saturday, May 20, the Hicksville - Jericho Rotary Club joined more than 50 Rotary Clubs, and over 500 Rotarians and community volunteers from Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk County on Saturday, May 20, in a new record-breaking "Rotary Day of Service."

The Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Club joined forces with the Floral Park - Bellerose Rotary Club to hold a Book Drive which collected new and gently used books for distribution by The Book Fairies, a not-for profit that sources and redistributes books to under-resourced communities on Long Island and in New York City.

“We were very excited to participate in the ‘ Rotary Day of Service ’” said Donna Rivera-Downey, president of the Hicksville -Jericho Rotary Club. "It was our goal to collect 1000 books and we exceed that number by more than 500 books. This was only possible because of the generosity of our friends and neighbors who brought their books to us.”

The two Rotary Clubs joined together to make the event a true

success. Throughout the day, community members brought their books to the Hicksville Fire Station #3 where, Rotarians and volunteers sorted the books into five categories: Baby Board Boards, Picture Books, Elementary Chapter Books, Young Adult and Adult Books. Once sorted, the books were boxed up and delivered to The Book Fairies Warehouse for further distribution.

“We want to thank all those who brought us books, the Hicksville Fire District for the use of the Fire Station #3 Pavilion, Staples in Hicksville and Levittown for the donations of packing boxes, the Hicksville Boys & Girls Club for their book donation and all the volunteers who came out to help us sort and pack.” said Donna Rivera-Downey.

The Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Club is the first Rotary Club of Hicksville and was founded in 1951. Rotary brings together a global network of community leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. It connects 1.2 million members from more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in almost

every country in the world. Its services improve lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.

The Hicksville-Jericho Rotary

Club meets on Thursdays at Frank’s Steak in Jericho. Visit Rotary.org for more information on how to join Rotary or contact Donna RiveraDowney at 516-532-4566.

HJRC Rotarian Elizabeth Goldfrank and Thomas Howell sorting a donation of books.

Dr. Jim Benston, HJRC Rotarian, accepting a donation of books.

HJRC Rotarian Robert Mancino packing up boxes.

Group photo of Rotarians and volunteers in front of boxes of books that were being sorted.

Hicksville Boys & Girls Club volunteers Nick Brueckel and Rachel Katz and Floral Park-Bellerose Rotarian Mary Cordaro packing up children’s books.

NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NASSAU

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS II INC. MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-AR8, V.

JEFFREY RAMAN, ET. AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 02, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS II INC.

MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-AR8 is the Plaintiff and JEFFREY RAMAN, ET AL. are the Defendant(s).  I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on June 13, 2023 at 3:00PM, premises known as 4041 JEAN AVENUE, BETHPAGE, NY 11714:  Section 0046, Block 00483-00, Lot 00021:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDING AND IMPROVEMENTS ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT BETHPAGE, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 008546/2015. Malachy Lyons, Jr., Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

(516)

NASSAU COUNTY BID NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE

BETHPAGE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT BETHPAGE, NEW YORK 11714

BID # 010-2324

Cases for Chromebooks

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that sealed bids will be received by the Board of Education of the Bethpage Union Free School District, Town of Oyster Bay, Bethpage, New York. BID # 010-2324 for Cases for Chromebooks. Bids will be publicly opened and read on June 13, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Administration Building, 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage, New York.

NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING, AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 1, 2006, GSAMP TRUST 2006-HE3, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE3 Plaintiff, Against

MARY MURRAY A/K/A MARY C. MURRAY

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 09/16/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 6/12/2023 at 2:30 pm, premises known as 273 North 4th Street, Bethpage, New York 11714, And Described As Follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Bethpage, Town Of Oyster Bay, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 46 Block 78 Lot 53

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $424,971.27 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 3901/2015

Bids must be (1) submitted to the Board of Education, Bethpage Union Free School District, on the bid form furnished by the District; (2) in accordance with the specifications in the bid solicitation; (3) enclosed in sealed envelope bearing (a) name and address of the bidder, (b) Chromebook Parts #010-2324, June 13, 2023, 11:00 AM and (4) delivered no later than 10:00 a.m. on June 13, 2023– Attention: Scott Harrington, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Bethpage Union Free School District, Administration Building, 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage, New York 11714.

The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids which in its discretion are not in the best interest of the school district, and to waive any informality as to non-material errors or omissions in the submissions. Bid specifications and all applicable terms and conditions may be obtained via email by contacting Sara Minieri at Sminieri@Bethpage.ws. Please contact the Bethpage Business Office with any questions regarding this bid at 516-6444030.

One ad can go so far...

By Order of the Board of Education

If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction.

Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee. McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573 Dated: 4/13/2023 File Number: 17-301460 LD

Bethpage Union Free School District Administration Building 10

Levittown Chamber Spotlight on Business

BY DONALD PATANE

The Levittown Chamber of Commerce would like to introduce one of our newest Board members, Isidro Garcia founder of Shark Investigations & Security, LLC. Shark Investigations & Security is located at 64 Division Avenue Suite 208 in Levittown. Garcia opened his business in 2008 after 21 years working as a detective with the NYPD and he has put his vast experience into acting as lead investigator with his company.

Garcia provides highly trained investigators and security professionals to offer clients comprehensive, cost-effective, and efficient protective and investigative services. As the owner, Garcia goes one step above by being personally involved in each case giving the client the attention and personal services they

Attention students!

Graduated from school? Have an outstanding GPA? Made the honor roll or Dean’s List? Scored an internship or study abroad opportunity?

deserve.

Garcia, along with his wife, Debbie, A Real Estate Broker / Owner of Royal Sapphire Realty has raised two children who went through the Levittown School System and became Division Avenue High School graduates. They recently became grandparents to a beautiful baby girl.

Garcia in his spare time enjoys going fishing, listening to music, and of spending time with his family.

Garcia will perform a free analysis of current security plans to members of the Levittown Chamber.

To join the chamber, visit levittownchamber.com or call 516-5208000.

For security or investigations, visit Garcia’s website at http://www. sharkinvestigations.com

Or contact Isidro Garcia at 516726-3123 or via email at igarcia@ sharkinvestigations.com

We invite you to send details of any of these things and more, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be seen in our paper!

Isidro Garcia, founder of Shark Investigations & Security.

NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NASSAU

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF SALE

NASSAU COUNTY

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON

SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY FSB

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON

SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY FSB

D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST AS

D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST AS TRUSTEE FOR PNPMS TRUST II, Plaintiff, vs. THEOCHARIS PHILIPPOU A/K/A

THEOCHARRIS PHILIPPOU

A/K/A HARRIS PHILIPPOU

TRUSTEE FOR PNPMS TRUST II, Plaintiff, vs THEOCHARIS PHILIPPOU A/K/A THEOCHARRIS PHILIPPOU

A/K/A HARRY PHILIPPOU

A/K/A HARRIS PHILIPPOU

A/K/A HARRY PHILIPPOU

A/K/A THEOCHAIRUS PHILIPPOU, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 12, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2 Prose Street, Hicksville, NY 11801 All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 11, Block 309 and Lot 33.

Approximate amount of judgment is $578,855.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 1488/2015. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, Court Appointed Referee cancel the sale. Lisa Singer, Esq., Referee The Frank Firm P.C., 333 Glen Head Road, Suite 145, Old Brookville, New York 11545, Attorneys Plaintiff

A/K/A THEOCHAIRUS PHILIPPOU, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 12, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2 Prose Street, Hicksville, NY 11801 All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 11, Block 309 and Lot 33. Approximate amount of judgment is $578,855.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 1488/2015. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, Court Appointed Referee cancel the sale. Lisa Singer, Esq., Referee The Frank Firm P.C., 333 Glen Head Road, Suite 145, Old Brookville, New York 11545, Attorneys Plaintiff

NJCC-NYS COMMUNITY RESTORATION FUND LLC, Plaintiff -against- THERESA KERMERSON A/K/A THERESA TOSCANO, DISCOVER BANK, SCHRODER & STROM LLP, JOHN DOE AND MARY DOE, SAID NAMES BEING FICTITIOUS, IT BEING THE INTENTION OF THE PLAINTIFF TO DESIGNATE ANY AND ALL OCCUPANTS, TENANTS, PERSONS OR CORPORATIONS, IN ANY, HAVING OR CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN OR LIEN UPON THE PREMISES BEING FORECLOSED HEREIN, Defendant(s). Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale entered on August 30, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Courthouse located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York on June 20, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. premises described as follows; 202 Roxton Road, Plainview, New York 11803; District: 19; Section: 12; Block: 565; Lot: 57

All Bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction. Said premises known as 202 Roxton Road, Plainview, NY 11803; Approximate amount of lien $562,023.91 plus interest, costs, fees, expenses and advances Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

Index Number 002693/2015

RICHARD L. FARLEY, ESQ., Referee

MENASHE AND LAPA LLP, ATTORNEY(S) FOR PLAINTIFF

400 RELLA BLVD., SUITE 190, SUFFERN, NY 10901

DATED: May 11, 2023

Name: FORMOSA23 LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 04/18/2023. Office location: Nassau Co. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and address SSNY shall mail a copy of process is c/o 132 Dupont Street, Plainview, NY 11803. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Notice of Formation of The Law Office of Ronald J. Ferraro, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2022-12-20. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Ronald J. Ferraro: 40 Westbury Avenue Plainview NY 11803. Purpose: Any lawful purpose

Hicksville couple charged with Covid fraud

From page 1

tional fraudulent paperwork including a fraudulent lease agreement between Dantini and Arbassio, a Rental Arrears Affidavit allegedly signed by Dantini as landlord, and other documents.

Between December 19, 2021, and January 19, 2022, Arbassio and Dantini allegedly received $12,800 in rental assistance funds through LIHP.

On April 4, 2022, Arbassio allegedly electronically submitted a second ERAP Tenant Application, providing the same information from the first application and stating that he was again in arrears to Dantini, including supplemen-

tal paperwork that was also allegedly fraudulent.

ERAP conducted a search of Nassau County property records upon receipt of the application and discovered another individual owned the Hicksville property, not Dantini. As a result, ERAP asked Arbassio to submit proof that Dantini rented the property to him, which he failed to provide. ERAP deemed Arbassio ineligible for additional rental relief funds in July 2022.

The Town of Oyster Bay and LIHP referred the case to NCDA in August 2022 after conducting an internal investigation and identifying the potentially fraudulent application.

Composting pilot program

From page 1

this pilot program. Participants with no composting experience are also welcome! Composting will be taught through comprehensive informational ses-

sions.

If interested, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/ eZB1tsKBpfLqbH129. For questions and concerns, please contact: tobcompost@gmail.com.

May 26, 2023

Day 3 on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: Town in the Clouds, Terraces of the Sun & Forever Young

BY KAREN RUBIN WITH ERIC LEIBERMAN AND

FALTER TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

On our third morning on the Inca Trail, we are wakened at 5 am to be packed up, have breakfast at 5:30 am and out by 6 am to begin what is generally considered the most relaxed day of the four-day trek, when our Alpaca Expeditions group will hike 6.2 miles mostly downhill, and visit two Incan sites, Phuyupatamarka (Town in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun), before reaching the campsite, where, we are told, a special activity awaits.

I’m still on a high from surviving Day 2 and the dual challenges of Dead Woman’s Pass and Runcuraccay Pass, so I feel I can handle anything (and not just on this hike).

It’s a foggy morning and before setting out, our guide Lizandro organizes all of us in a great circle with the porters and staff and guests (Giorgio calls us “family” and Lizandro calls us “team” and both are true in the way we have bonded) so we meet each other. We learn that the porters all come from one mountain village, that two are brothers, 62 and 68 years old, that one of the porters is a woman (very unusual, but Alpaca Expeditions has made an effort to recruit women).

Each of the trekkers introduce ourselves, as well, and I mention that today is my 71st birthday – mentioning it because I am pretty pleased with the achievement (and our guide, Giorgio, at one point guessed I was 55 - perhaps just being polite) – to

emphasize that they have made this experience of a lifetime possible for me.

We hike for 2 hours along what they call “Inca flat” (gradual inclines) and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk, we have the opportunity to see Salkantay, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and get glimpses of a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range through mist and clouds.

Towards the end of the Inca flats, we begin to make our way up to the last peak and our third pass, Phuyupatamarka (Temple Above the Clouds) at 12,073 ft. from where we have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. Down the valley,

we get our first view of Machu Picchu Mountain, but the famous “Lost City” itself is still hidden from view.

From Phuyupatamarka it´s a 3-hour walk down a flight of stone steps to our last campsite and the grand finale for this day, exploring the Incan site of Wiñaywayna (Forever Young).

On the descent, we stop in a small cave, the religious center, Lizandro uses this site, the Temple Above the Clouds, to discuss religious beliefs and practices at the time of the Inca.

This would have been one of the religious sites where pilgrims would be able to show their devotion and purify themselves before they reached Machu Picchu. It could have been a place of offerings, a ritual shower, of sacrifice (animals, Lizandro says, not

humans, which he says would happen only rarely).

At the time of the Inca and thousands of years before, the many different tribes were polytheists, worshipping many gods mostly associated with Nature. They believed that nature, man and the Pachamama (Mother Earth), lived in harmony and perpetual interrelationship.

“The Inca saw life as a circle, not a line, so life never ends. They believed life is reborn and when they were buried, they were placed in the fetal position pointing to the sun and mountains; rulers were mummified and their mummified remains taken and paraded around one day a year. Children didn’t inherit property – people were buried with their belongings (for the next life). Machu Picchu, a sacred place, would have taken more than a lifetime to build, but the Emperor Pachacuti believed though he wouldn’t enjoy it in this world, he would in the next.”

We have about 45 minutes of a steep downward hike before it levels off again.

We come to an Incan site, Intipata (Terraces of the Sun) that interestingly, overlooks our final campsite waaaay down the mountain. Lizandro points out what would have been a platform for sacrifice. “Not for human. That would be rare” indicating that it would take place only in extreme circumstances, like a famine. More typically, it was a llama that would be sacrificed. “The llama represents spiritual life and the black

Continued on next page

Wiñaywayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the trail after Machu Picchu © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

SARAH

Day 3 on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Continued from previous page

llama, a symbol of material life, would be sacrificed.”

At the end of our third day hikerelatively short and easy (it doesn’t feel like five hours!), we get into camp at 1 pm and Lizandro tells us to look forward to a special “activity”. This turns out to be a cooking class, where Chef Mario shows us how to cook a popular Peruvian dish, lomas latudo. We get chef’s hats and aprons and the platters of ingredients which we learn how to properly cut, dice, stir and sauté – before enjoying our handiwork for lunch.

Later in the afternoon, after time to relax, we walk a surprisingly short distance (less than 10 minutes) along a trail from our campsite to one of the most impressive Incan villages of all, Wiñaywayna, and (unlike when we go to Machu Picchu the next day) we have it almost to ourselves to explore.

Wiñaywayna is the most spectacular Inca site on the trail after Machu Picchu and the most popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu.

Wiñaywayna was discovered by a local archeologist in 1942 who was there to excavate a different site, Chamchabamba, and found it hidden under dense vegetation and cloud forest and amazingly, they found orchid flowers growing on the wall. Lizandro explains that Peru has 435 species orchids, but they mostly bloom early or at the end rainy season, but the ones found here bloom year round, which is why they named the site, Wiñaywayna - Forever Young - for the orchid.

We explore the site, climbing up and

down the steep stone steps, walking through the corridors, really getting into the architecture and engineering, the logistics, as if the people left only yesterday. You realize these ruins were buried under overgrowth for 400 years and can only marvel at what was involved in the archeological excavation so that we can appreciate it today.

Most of the Inca sites have yet to be uncovered and are still buried, and the ones that we do see have only been partially excavated. Indeed, only about 40 percent of Machu Picchu has been excavated.

We see what would have been a watch tower. There would have been guards with weapons at the ready to protect Machu Picchu – like sling shots (a rope of wool with a bag in the middle with rocks), arrows, lances, spears, hatchets – fine for use against another tribe, but fairly useless against the weapons the Spanish invaders wielded. The guard would have been able to recognize if someone coming was friend or foe by the colors and design of their clothes.

The temple here has three different architectural styles, which Lizandro says shows it was built by different generations and different engineers.

The terraces here at Wiñaywayna were Incan agricultural laboratories. “The Inca realized that elevations produced better potato and corn adapted to altitude.”

This site, along with the others, were purposely abandoned in 1538 with the Spanish conquest.

The first Spanish expedition, in 1532, had only 167. “They were invaders, not explorers. They came to destroy the cul-

ture, the civilization. They took gold and silver and brought disease,” Lizandro says.

He says that it is wrong to think of an Incan civilization, rather than an Incan ruler and ruling family of perhaps 20,000 that dominated a population that ranged in size from 10 to 20 million.

Machu Picchu and the other sites were built at the same time in the mid 1400s, over a period of about 60 years. Less than 100 years later, the population started decreasing.

“European diseases came even before the Spaniards came. Cortez brought disease to the Mayans, and the Mayans, trying to flee the Spaniards by going south, carried the diseases to Inca along the same network of roads the Inca used to conquer and unify its empire. The 12th Incan king, Huayna Cápac (it is believed) died in 1525 from smallpox and there was no king to follow.”

The Incan kingdom, weakened by civil war and not exactly supported by the masses they had subjugated for a century, abandoned this place to protect Machu Picchu, which was holy to them, like the Vatican. Machu Picchu was hidden amid the mountain peaks. To protect it from the Spanish invaders, the Inca destroyed the trails that led to Machu Picchu, and ultimately, abandoned Machu Picchu as well, making a last stand at Vilcabamba.

“The Inca weren’t the nicest to build such a civilization. For 100 years, they had to kill to control, so not all people were happy, so they didn’t help the Inca against the Spanish,” Lizandro says.

None of these grand projects were ever finished, which is more under-

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

Great Tips From My Great Readers!

BY MARY HUNT

With the cost of feeding a family so high, it’s no wonder that so many tips readers submit are geared to help us save money and time in the supermarket and kitchen -- with plenty more for all around the house and garage, too.

RETHINK CHEAP

My tip might seem like a contradiction to “cheapskate” but it has saved our family a fortune. Do not be too much of a cheapskate in the supermarket. Eating out, even at a fast-food restaurant, costs far more than food made at home. So paying an extra buck or two for your favorite bread, buying quality meat and cheese, and picking up a few treats in the supermarket will save you money if it means you won’t be tempted to eat out. The burgers I make at home cost less and are healthier than at the drive-thru. -- Margaret B., Australia

PERFECT MEATBALLS

When making many meatballs, a fast

and simple way is to shape the meat mixture into a log and then cut off slices. The slices roll easily into balls. Another option is to pat the meat into a square and cut it into cubes, which again easily roll into meatballs of uniform size. -- Kevin

P., New Jersey BACON

RINSE

Rinse bacon under cold water before frying. This reduces the amount the bacon shrinks by almost 50%. Why? I don’t have a clue, but it’s a fact. -- Sarah M.,

New York

even to Cascade. And a lot cheaper, too.

-- Judy B-D., email WD-T

I use WD-40 to clean dry-erase markings off my whiteboard. When I started doing this, I wrote to the company to ask if long-term use would harm the board. They didn’t really answer my question, but they did send me a free t-shirt. -- Larry E.,

Indiana

standable than if they were completed. We have as much time as we want to explore until darkness begins to fall because we can just stroll back to the campsite.

When we sit down to dinner, Chef Mario presents me with the most amazing birthday cake I have ever had in my life – completely decorated. It took him three hours to prepare it with the camping equipment he cooks with. I share the cake with Peter who timed his bucket-list Machu Picchu ascent for his 35th birthday the next morning.

Lizandro then asks us what time we would like to wake up in order to get to the check point to Machu Picchu before the other 200 trekkers who will be on line: “3 am? No? Then 3:01,” he says, noting that he has a 98% success rate in being first in line for the checkpoint when it opens at 5:30 am. The check point is only about 10 minutes walk from the campsite. Why so important to be first? Well, to get to the Sun Gate by sunrise, and before it gets jammed crammed with people, in order to get the best views and photos.

Tomorrow is the day we will reach our goal: Machu Picchu.

The permits to do the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu are limited to 500 a day for all the trekking companies (which includes 200 for trekkers and 300 for porters and staff) and get booked up months in advance.

More information: Alpaca Expeditions, USA Phone: (202)-550-8534, info@alpacaexpeditions.com, https:// www.alpacaexpeditions.com/

Check with the US State Department to get the latest information on travel to Peru (https://travel.state.gov/ content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-CountryInformation-Pages/Peru.html).

Next: Day 4 on the Inca TrailMachu Picchu!

© 2023 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com

Crossword Answers

RESTORE THE ZIP

To make a zipper slide up and down more smoothly, rub a candle over the teeth. --

Bea T., Wisconsin STORE BRAND

Recently, a popular women’s magazine recommended Walmart’s store brand of automatic dishwasher powder detergent as the best buy for the buck. I tried it and loved it. I was a big Cascade fan but find this particular store brand to be superior

NO GHOSTS

I treat my whiteboard with liquid car wax applied with a soft cloth. This keeps the markers from “ghosting.” -- Thomas

P., email CHEAP SHAMPOO

Purchase a large bottle of cheap shampoo and use as a pre-treatment for the laundry. It is especially good for the collar ring, as shampoo is formulated to remove body dirt and oil. --

Helen Bryant, Massachusetts

Continued on page 5

BY LOU THEODORE

Many of the younger set in my reading audience are now fast approaching crunch time regarding employment. In effect, it’s job time.

Over the years, my students have often asked for advice on employment and careers. My response to them centers on four questions:

1. What are you looking for?

2. What is the company looking for?

3. What about the interview?

4. What is needed to succeed?

Each of these questions are briefly addressed below, with more extensive information provided for (3).

Regarding (1), only you can answer this question. The applicant / student should know something about what he/ she wants for the job. Quite frankly, I find it difficult for anyone to really expect a youngster to know what they really want regarding a job or career.

Here are a few tips on what might help you land the job (2&3)… perhaps of your dreams.

1. It is important to prepare an impressive and up-to-date resume that truly reflects you. Put your best foot forward, and don’t lie. Exaggerate? Be careful. Shield the truth? Perhaps, but definitely don’t lie.

2. Prepare for the interview by researching the company. Check them out on their website or review an annual report. This will enable you to ask informed questions during the interview.

3. Attire is important, so dress appropriately.

4. The interview does not begin when you meet the interviewer; it begins earlier at the front door.

5. Turn your cellphone off and avoid texting and phone conversations earlier while in a waiting room.

6. If you are shown into a room to meet the interviewer, wait for the interviewer to tell you where to sit. Remain standing until the interviewer sits. Don’t plop your feet on the interviewer’s desk and start picking your nose or ear(s).

7. Stand up to greet anyone you subsequently meet and shake hands confidently.

8. During the interview, sit on the edge of the chair and lean forward slightly to let the interviewer know you are attentive.

9. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and shake hands before leaving.

10. During the interview meal, generally follow the interviewer’s lead. Place your napkin in your lap and begin eating when the interviewer does.

11. Start with the utensils on the outside and work your way in toward the plate.

12. Order something familiar that is neat as opposed to messy.

13. Taste the food before seasoning.

14. Keep on the same eating pace with your interviewer.

15. Do not mix food on your plate into a pile of hash.

16. Do not order alcohol if your interviewer does not.

17. Be extra courteous to the waiter and busboy.

As the old saying goes, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression,” so make the most of it. Prepare and rehearse for the interview. I also believe it is appropriate to either send the recruiter a thank you letter or follow with a call or e-mail the following day.

Well, what about (4). Over the years, I had the privilege of maintaining close social and professional ties with many of my successful graduates in our profession. In thinking about what character traits likely contributed to their success, I found the following to be the most common.

1. Communication abilities.

2. Appearance.

3. Self-awareness.

4. Self-regulation.

5. Self-motivation.

6. Empathy.

7. Social Skills.

8. Creative leaders have an ability to innovate and “think outside the box.”

9. Self-depreciation.

10. Action-oriented is most important; leaders are doers and have an ability to make things happen, even when the odds are stacked against them.

Interestingly, I have found that technical ability (or the equivalent) and GPA (Grade Point Average) correlate weakly with successful leaders.

I close with a tale that appeared in a number of my earlier publications, one authored by a former student, Anthony J. Buonicore. The moral of the tale may register with a few of the readers concerned with their future.

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia. Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get shelter for the night.

“Could you possibly give us a room here?” the man asked. The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, explained that there were three conventions in town.

“All of our rooms are taken,” the clerk said. “But I can’t send a nice couple like you into the rain at one o’clock in the morning. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It’s not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night.”

When the couple declined, the young man pressed on. “Don’t worry about

me; I’ll make out just fine,” the clerk told them. So, the couple agreed.

As he paid the bill the next morning, the elderly man said to the clerk; “You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the country.” The clerk looked at them and smiled. As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional.

Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the old man. It recalled the stormy night and enclosed a round-trip ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay them a visit.

The old man met him at a corner in New York City. He then pointed to a great new building, a palace of reddish

stone, with turrets, and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky. “That,” said the old man, “is the hotel I have just built for you to manage.” “You must be joking,” the clerk said. “I can assure you I am not,” said the old man.

The old man’s name was William Waldorf-Astoria, and the magnificent structure he built was the WaldorfAstoria hotel. The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt. The clerk never foresaw the turn of events that would lead him to become the man¬ager of one of the world’s most glamorous hotels.

Visit the author at: www. theodorenewsletter.com and Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

BY TOM MARGENAU

Conventional wisdom has it that to get the most out of your Social Security, you should wait as long as possible to start your benefits. That’s good advice for some, but not for all. There are a variety of reasons why you might want to take your benefits at 62 (the earliest you can start your Social Security) or some other point before you reach your full retirement age. Today’s questions come from people like that.

Q: My wife and I are both approaching age 62. We are inundated with advice to wait until 70 to start our Social Security. But frankly, I don’t think I’ll live that long. I’ve already had some serious heart problems. And both my parents and other close family members died in their 60s, so I didn’t inherit the best of genes. Thankfully, my wife doesn’t have those problems. Also, she had a good job and will get a Social Security benefit that is slightly more than mine. Can you think of any downsides if I take my Social Security at 62? How about my wife?

A: As I always point out to my readers, I am not a financial planner, so you might want to consult one. But from my perspective, I can’t think of any downsides to starting your benefits at 62.

In fact, I did the same thing -- for some of the same reasons that you face. (My dad died at age 47, and none of my many uncles made it to age 65.) Fortunately, I beat the odds as I’m now 73. But I still don’t regret starting my benefits at age 62. I’ve been getting monthly Social Security checks for 11 years now. Had I waited until 70, I’d be getting a higher monthly benefit, but I’d only be in year three of getting Social Security. Had I waited until 70, it would have taken me a long time to make up for the benefits I would have received between 62 and 70. So again, I’m happy.

One normal downside to a guy getting reduced benefits before his full retirement age is that the reduction would carry over to any widow’s benefits his wife might be due after he dies. But in your case, that’s not an issue because you said your wife’s Social Security is already more than yours, meaning she wouldn’t be due any widow’s benefits no matter when you started your retirement checks.

Speaking of your wife, if she doesn’t have your health issues, she might want to consider waiting until her full retirement age to start her own benefits.

Q: I am about to turn 70 and plan to start my Social Security then. My wife is almost 62. She is going to get a much smaller Social Security benefit than I will because she was a homemaker for much of our marriage. We were thinking of having her file for her benefits at 62. But someone told us that if she takes reduced benefits

Social Security for Younger Retirees

on her own record, she will get a big reduction in her widow’s benefits someday (assuming I die before she does). Is this true?

A: No, it is not true. If she takes reduced retirement benefits on her own account, that reduction DOES NOT carry over to her widow’s benefit. Her widow’s benefit will be based on one thing only: her age when you die and when she starts her widow’s benefits. Assuming she is over her full retirement age when that happens, her own reduced retirement benefit will be supplemented up to 100% of what you were getting at the time of death.

And FYI: assuming her own benefit is much smaller than yours, that benefit will be supplemented with some spousal benefits on your record. That supplement will be based on your full retirement age benefit, not your augmented age 70 rate. And just like her retirement benefit will be reduced, so too will her spousal benefits. But after you die, it’s a different story. Her widow’s rate will be based on your age 70 benefit, not your FRA benefit. And again, assuming she is over her own FRA when you die, there will be no reduction in that widow’s benefit.

Q: In a recent column, you gave an example of a guy who was 67 on April 7. And that’s when he wanted his benefits to start. You said that the first check he would be due is the April check, which would be paid in May. Well, I just signed up for my Social Security to start at age 62. I am 62 on June 12. But a letter I got from Social Security said my first check would be the July check, payable in August. What’s going on?

A: There is one little glitch to starting benefits at age 62. There is a law that says you must be 62 for an entire calendar month before you can get your first Social Security check. July is the first month you are 62 for the whole month, so that’s the first check you are due, payable in August.

Q: I am 53 and my wife is 50. We have had a very successful business and have made enough lucrative investments so that we have been able to sell the business and retire. But now we are a bit concerned about our future Social Security benefits. We could start another business, and pay ourselves a salary, just so that we continue to pay into Social Security until our mid-60s. But we are not sure if we will be compensated enough in potential Social Security benefits to offset all the Social Security taxes we will pay. Can you help?

A: You really need to talk to a financial planner about this -- not me. And frankly, I’m surprised you are even thinking about Social Security. If you could afford to retire comfortably in your early 50s, it seems to me that fu-

ture Social Security benefits wouldn’t be much of a concern for you. But since you brought it up, I’ll give you some food for thought.

Your Social Security benefit will be based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If you remain retired, you will be missing out on about 15 years of what would normally be some of your highest years of income. And this will have an obvious adverse impact on your future Social Security benefits.

To find out how much of an impact, you should use the retirement calculators at the Social Security Administration website: www.socialsecurity.gov. Just click on the “Plan for retirement”

link on the homepage and follow the instructions. You can use their retirement estimators and plug in various future earnings scenarios to come up with different estimates of your eventual retirement benefits.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers on page 2

Real Estate designations and their importance in hiring a broker

I hope every mother had an enjoyable, fun, and relaxing Mother’s Day and was pampered as they should be every day; for without them, the world wouldn’t exist.

Many consumers and homeowners have always asked me what my designations mean and what the benefits are for them when considering hiring me. My first designation was a G.R.I. which I earned almost 20 years ago, which is the Graduate of the Realtor Institute (a version of a Real Estate MBA), online link: GRIdesignation (go to the online column to be able to click on the link and learn about the classes). It encompasses 90 hours of continuing education (8 modules) beyond a Brokers or salesperson’s license and the course allows you up to 5 years to complete. It encompasses advanced financing, negotiating, statistics, technology, legal and regulatory issues, current laws, procedures, professional standards, market knowledge, handling sellers and buyers, the sales process, Business skills, prospecting, MLS, systems and tools, and much more. This designation provides you with what is needed and necessary to be miles ahead of those who do not seek the required education to scale their businesses. Median income was $61,000 compared to $31,000 of a non-designee in a study in 2012, the last time a study was done by The National Association of Realtors; and is most likely higher in 2022, but there are no stats to go by. The knowledge, expertise, and professionalism that is learned go far beyond what the typical Broker, Associate Broker, or salesperson currently knows and understands.

The C.I.P.S. (Certified International Property Specialist) online link: CIPSdesignation (go to the online column to be able to click on the link and learn about the classes) is the next extremely important and crucial designation that a Realtor should consid-

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

er undertaking to gain a wide spectrum of knowledge about various cultures and their specific and varied customs. Having comprehensive knowledge about major cultures, e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Moslem, Spanish, and others provides the groundwork to enable one to easily assimilate and handle those families and individuals that have specific customs and mannerisms. Some cultures kiss each cheek; others will hug or shake hands. Women are handled much differently and not knowing the custom when meeting, could cause an embarrassment and a loss of a very valuable client and potential sale. Many years ago, I recorded our instructor, David Lauster, (who was the head person at the Dept of State, who constructed, upgraded, bought, and sold our U.S. Embassies around the Globe), who conveyed a story about a Chinese couple, who were relocating to Florida to manage a Marriot Hotel. The story is 7 minutes long and you can watch and listen here, by typing the link into your browser and get ready to laugh hysterically as I did: https://www.facebook.com/ philipraices/posts/10209707280620143 .

To earn your C.I.P.S. designation, one must complete 2 core courses and 3 elective courses and submit your designation application demonstrating 100 points of international experience. All courses are available online or in person and are valid for 3 years. Courses completed more than 3 years prior to the submission of your application must be retaken to receive credit towards the education requirement for the designation, online link: CIPSdesignation (go to the online column to be able to click on the link and learn about the classes).

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

Continued from page 2

PHOTO THANKS

When my children have a birthday party, I take a picture of my child with a gift and the child who gave the gift. Instead of writing out thank you cards, I have the child write his or her thanks on the back of the picture. Memories for all! --

Tracy L., West Virginia LEFTOVER

INVENTORY

A great way to avoid cleaning out the dreaded leftovers in the refrigerator is to keep a leftover inventory. Attach a dry erase board on the front of your fridge, and each time you put a leftover in the fridge write it down. Include the date it went in. Then, when you use that leftover,

mark it off your list. You’ll save time and money.

-- Sheila Bowker, Alabama

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “DebtProof Living.”

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

The “Green” designation, link: Greendesignation (go to the online column to be able to click on the link and learn about the classes) is offered by the National Association of Realtors. This prepares you to gain a vast knowledge of energy efficiency and sustainability about low carbon footprint construction, solar heating and electricity savings, geothermal heating and air conditioning, the new cutting-edge 3D-printed foundations, and much more. My son, Matt is a Lead Certified Project Mgr in NYC and practices all these types of construction with buildings that are labeled Platinum, Gold, or Silver by adhering to very strict and comprehensive building codes and regulations. The economic savings are substantial and the reduced impact on our environment now and in the future. All states and cities will adopt these stricter codes for all building construction in the future. Our environment dictates what needs to be considered and makes it a necessity to have the least effect and stress on our globe. Earning the GRI, CIPS, and GREEN designations will go a very long way in enabling Realtors to acquire and achieve greater knowledge and be on top of their game for the future of construction and our fragile environment so we will leave the next generation as prepared as possible in dealing with the ever-changing weather, increasing temperatures and the serious effect on humans, animals, and vegetation. Lastly, earning your C.I.P.S. designation and learning how to properly address and deal with the various cultures and their habits, when selling, investing, purchasing, renting, and leasing residential and commercial properties will be a valuable asset in

your toolbox.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 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.) and in 2022 has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly construction. 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 https://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.

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of May 28 -- June 3, 2023

At the beginning of June, the planet Mars will make a beautiful pass in front of the Beehive star cluster, and if you’ve got a small, low-powered telescope, you’ll have a front-row seat.

You can see this cluster fairly well on a clear, dark night, far from city lights -especially when it reaches its highest in the early evening sky in April. This week after dark, however, the Beehive appears low in the west, among the faint stars of the zodiacal constellation Cancer.

Because its light must pass through a relatively thick column of atmosphere to reach our eyes this week, it might not be visible to the unaided eye, even from areas without light pollution.

There is another way to find it right now, however. That’s by looking for the planet Mars, which now appears rather faintly just above and to the left of the brilliant planet Venus. In fact, on the evening of May 31, Mars will appear just to the west of the Beehive, and this should be a good night to view both with a small telescope. Even with bright moonlight this week, a telescope will show the stars of the cluster.

The show’s not over on that night, though. As Mars orbits the sun, we can see its movement against the more distant stars if we’re patient. On the eve-

Mars Visits the Beehive

nings of June 1, 2 and 3, it will appear to cross the cluster. Even through binoculars, Mars’ tiny orange disk will produce a lovely sight against the dozens of shimmering stars that form the Beehive.

This, of course, is an optical illusion caused by the two appearing along the same line of sight. In reality, the Beehive is 577 light-years distant (about 3,394 trillion miles) while Mars is now some 18 million times closer (“only” about 187 million miles from us).

The Beehive cluster (aka the Praesepe) has been known to stargazers since at least the time of the Greek writer Aratos in 260 B.C. In 130 B.C., Hipparchus included it in his star catalog and called it “Little Cloud” or “Cloudy Star.” And the second century A.D. astronomer Claudius Ptolemy described it in his famous book “Almagest” as “The Nebulous Mass in the Breast (of Cancer)”.

Early sky watchers used this star cluster to forecast the weather. The ancient philosophers Aratos and Pliny both wrote that, when they could see the cluster, the skies would be fair, but when they couldn’t, a violent storm must be on its way. Today, we know their technique works fairly well when the Beehive is high overhead because high cirrus clouds which often precede a storm can easily blot this cluster from view while leaving the rest of the sky

seemingly unaffected.

Though ancient stargazers used the Beehive to help predict weather, they didn’t know its true nature. That understanding didn’t come until the early 17th century when astronomers aimed the newly invented telescope in its direction. Today, even inexpensive binoculars show the Beehive as a beau-

IN SUBURBIA Breaking the Bank

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

I’d always had a good relationship with my bank machine. I gave it checks; it gave me money; it seemed like everyone got something out of the arrangement. But one day I stopped off to make my weekly deposit, slid my checks in as usual and waited. Instead of the usual clicking noise, I heard something that sounded suspiciously like paper being... chewed.

“Hey, what are you doing in there?” I squinted at the machine.

The ATM stopped chewing, and then belched out my checks. They were crumpled and slightly torn.

“Unable to deposit checks at this time,” said the message on the screen. My ATM card came shooting out of the machine.

I wasn’t sure if I had done something to offend it or if the machine was just having a bad day. I held my hand up to my mouth and checked my breath.

Then I reinserted my card. After punching in my code, I tried to load my mangled checks. This time it accepted one, but not the other. I heard the chewing sound again and then my check and my card both came flying out.

“OK, look!” I said angrily. “There’s no need to be nasty about this. If you don’t want to accept the check, fine. But you don’t have to spit it at me.”

The ATM made a grinding noise. I was pretty sure it was giving me a raspberry.

I gave up trying to deposit the last check and reinserted my card to get some cash. There was a lot of whirring and cha-chunking, and then my card came back out.

“Unable to give cash at this time,” said the message on the screen.

“WHAT?!” I demanded. In frustration, I punched all the buttons at once and then banged on the screen.

The ATM went blank. A moment later a new message came up.

“Out of Service.”

Suddenly I was nervous. I thought maybe I had done something to really mess up the ATM. It was one thing to antagonize the thing. It was another to commit ATM-icide.

I drew in my breath and walked into the actual bank.

“Excuse me,” I announced. “I think I killed the ATM machine.”

The tellers all looked up at me.

“It might not actually be dead. But it’s definitely in a coma,” I said uneasily. It was completely possible that at that moment, a teller was stepping on one of those emergency silent police alert buttons and any second a SWAT team was going to bust in and arrest me, which would really stink because then I’d have a police record and I’d also be late for my afternoon appointment with a chocolate doughnut.

I stood there awkwardly, waiting for someone to either deposit my check or take me into custody.

tiful family of many faint stars.

This famous cluster is always worth checking out, but with Mars passing in front of it next week it becomes a perfect opportunity!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

Finally, the bank manager approached. He smiled patiently at me.

“How can I help you?” he asked.

“I was trying to deposit some checks and the ATM went belly up,” I said. He nodded, took my mangled check, brought it to the teller and then returned to me with my receipt.

“You’re all set, Mrs. Beckerman,” he assured me.

I looked around at all the tellers still staring at me.

“I bet you’re hoping I’ll just leave now, right?” I said.

“Actually,” he grinned, “I’m banking on it.”

Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online! You can visit her at www. tracybeckerman.com.

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Even a small, low-powered telescope should be enough to spot Mars crossing in front of the Beehive cluster low in the west.

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NOVENA TO THE BLESSED MOTHER

Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. Oh, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.

Oh Star of the Sea, help me herein and show me here you are my Mother.

Oh Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power.

Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).

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This prayer is never known to fail and is to be said for 3 consecutive days.

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Sales Representatives guide families through the process of making informed decisions for cemetery at-need and pre-need planning services. Catholic Cemeteries offers excellent compensation for motivated individuals which includes a base salary (not a draw) plus commissions and incentives. Benefits include medical, dental, paid vacation, sick days and 403B.

Sales Representatives interact with families, funeral directors, and other personnel/departments. This is a performance based prospecting position all within the cemetery grounds. We do not visit customers at home.

Experience:

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Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in person, on the telephone and online

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Ability to work and make decisions under pressure and tight deadlines. Proficient in the use of computers and technology

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INVITED ESTATE SALES

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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 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information.

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Professional Services for Assisting with Preparation, Serving and Clean Up Before, During and After Your Party Bartenders Available. Call Kate at 516-248-1545

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LANDSCAPE DESIGN & MASONRY WORK. Sprinkler systems, plantings, flowers and mulch.

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MAGNUM SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC.

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Certified HHA’s, Companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care available. Also Nassau Locations. Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Call 718-850-3400

Last

Hope Animal Rescue is Part of the Chewy.com Rescue Program

If you haven’t tried Chewy.com yet for your pet food and supply purchases, this is a great time to check them out. Last Hope Animal Rescue is part of their rescue program. For each new customer that makes a purchase, Last Hope will receive a $20 donation. Visit the Last Hope page on Chewy directly at https://www.chewy.com/rp/5941

Add flavor to your next fiesta

Shrimp Quesadilla

Is shrimp on the menu tonight? Maybe it should be. Coming in at just around seven calories per medium-size shrimp, this crustacean is low in calories and high in lean protein and is one of only a few dishes that provides the beneficial antioxidants selenium and astaxanthin, according to The American Shrimp Company. The majority of North American shrimp is harvested from the Gulf of Mexico, ensuring fresh catches for the U.S. and Canada. Around 244 million pounds of shrimp are produced each year.

An abundance of shrimp means the opportunities for

Serves 6

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion, sliced

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion and red bell pepper in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, and peppers are soft, around 6 to 8 minutes.

2. Stir salt, cumin and chili

delicious meals are endless. For something with a lot of flavor and crowd appeal, try this recipe for a shrimp quesadilla courtesy of Eastern Fish

Company. Plump shrimp are nestled between tortillas and seasoned with familiar Latin flavors, ideal for a fast meal any time.

1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (optional)

1 lime, juiced

1 teaspoon vegetable oil, or as needed

6 large flour tortillas

3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

powder into onion and bell peppers.

3. Stir shrimp into mix and cook until shrimp are opaque and no longer pink in the center, 3 to 5 minutes.

4. Remove skillet from heat; stir jalapeño pepper and lime juice into shrimp mixture.

5. Heat a skillet over medium heat and brush with about 1 teaspoon vegetable oil.

6. Place a tortilla in the hot oil. Spoon about 1⁄6 shrimp filling and 1⁄2 cup Mexican cheese blend on one side of tortilla. Fold tortilla in half.

7. Cook until bottom of tortilla is lightly browned, about 5 minutes; flip and cook other side until lightly browned. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.

Town announces Bike Safety Poster Contest

The Town of Oyster Bay has announced the return of the Town’s Bike Safety Poster Contest, held throughout National Bicycle Safety Month. The poster contest is open to all 5th grade students in the Town of Oyster Bay.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our children, and many residents have shared their concerns about bicycle safety as drivers and youngsters alike are often unsure of safe biking practices,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “This poster contest was launched to begin

increasing awareness of bike safety guidelines in our community, especially as we celebrate National Bike Month this May and spend more time in the outdoors as summer approaches.”

To enter the contest, students must digitally design or draw a picture that illustrates safe bike riding. The poster should include simple language about New York State Guidelines for bike safety, which are available online at https://tinyurl.com/ bikesafeny. The top three winning posters will be unveiled to the public during an offi-

cial meeting of the Oyster Bay Town Board, and featured in a town-wide newsletter. Entries will also be displayed in a “Digital Art Exhibit” on the Town of Oyster Bay’s website.

“This program not only helps fifth graders become more educated on the serious issue of bike safety, it also helps them learn more about Town government and be recognized in their hometowns,” said Councilwoman Maier. “Last year’s contest entries were extremely creative and informative, and I look forward to seeing

this year’s designs. We encourage all fifth graders to participate!”

Submissions should be made on 18” x 24” size poster paper and emailed to postercontest@oysterbay-ny.gov. In their submission email, students are asked to please attach a high-resolution photo of their poster as a PDF, JPEG, OR PNG file, as well as a completed entry form, which is available online at oysterbaytown.com/bikesafety. The submission deadline is Wednesday, May 31.

Professional Services Guide

Do you have a service to advertise? Our Service Directory is sure to bring results. Call 1-516-294-8900 for rates and information.

Wisdom Lane Middle School clubs offer enriching experiences

The Esports Club is a new addition to Wisdom Lane Middle School and has many members who look forward to each meeting.

New clubs offered at Wisdom Lane Middle School in the Levittown Public School District have been providing enriching and exciting experiences for interested students.

The Knit Wits, the Esports Club and the Fishing Club were introduced this school year, and many students involved have already had an abundance of rewarding experiences. For example, seventh graders in the Knitting Club, who call themselves the Knit Wits, have learned how to cast on, knit, cast off and

purl after only a handful of meetings. The Knit Wits work side by side to create works of art while also casually bonding. Club adviser Leslie Maynard recently invited club members to join a video call with an international group of knitters.

Accompanying the new to the state-of-the-art gaming room at Wisdom Lane is the Esports Club. The Esports Club is a great opportunity for students who are not necessarily interested in traditional athletics, but who want to be part of a

team and learn new skills. The club is inclusive for anyone who wants to join and has led to friendships and a sense of belonging. Through different games on the room’s televisions and modern gaming consoles, students work together to overcome obstacles and learn from letdowns. During meetings of the Fishing

Club, students discuss local species and habitats of fish and techniques for fishing. During regular trips, club members fish together, learning competency in all aspects of fishing such as lure and bait selection. Like the other clubs, the Fishing Club has created strong bonds and lifelong memories.

The Knit Wits are always proud of their latest creations.

The Wisdom Lane Knit Wits have become proficient in knitting techniques in their club.

The Fishing Club takes regular trips to fish together.

Bethpage students become butterfly experts

Bethpage third graders from Kramer Lane Elementary School kicked off the beginning of their butterfly unit with naturalists from Nassau BOCES on May 8. The butterfly program, which was led by naturalists Bette Bass and Karel Banks, helped the students learn about the different parts of moths and butterflies, the lifecycle of a butterfly, butterfly migration and more.

Through educational resources such as large pictures, puppets, goggles and fun butterfly and moth costumes, the students were able to better understand these insects. At the conclusion of the visit, the third graders learned a new song to the tune “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” called “Head, Thorax, Abdomen.” This helped them memorize the parts of a butterfly. They then went outside for a fun game which taught them the differences between a safe and unsafe environment for butterflies.

Each third grade class will soon be able to watch a butterfly come to life as they will be receiving painted lady butterflies to observe and study in their classrooms.

Love to write?

We’re looking for writers in our community to compose ar ticles on local topics, opinions, reviews, worthy places to visit on Long Island, and even pieces of fiction. We aim to feature at least one new article and writer each week in our Discovery magazine section.

Email submissions: editor@gcnews.com

• Attach article and any photos (1MB), along with your name and contact info.

• Articles must be between 1,500 - 3,000 words. • Each writer will be reimbursed a stipend of $25.⁰⁰

Nassau BOCES naturalist Bette Bass (middle) led students through a fun educational game outside Kramer Lane Elementary School.

Kramer Lane third graders took turns wearing goggles which helped them view the world like a butterfly.

Kramer Lane third graders observed the differences between a butterfly and a moth

Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District

Greek mythology comes to life at JFK Middle School

Monica Klein’s social studies classes participated in the 15th annual Zeus Retires Debates on May 8.

Bethpage sixth graders from John F. Kennedy Middle School in Monica Klein’s social studies classes transformed into Greek gods and goddesses during their 15th annual Zeus Retires Debates on May 8. Family members were invited into the classroom for the special event.

Ms. Klein’s 85-year-old father, Ben Morselli, played the role of the Greek god Zeus, king of all gods. Mr. Morselli has proudly played the role every year since the event’s inception 15 years ago.

Zeus is retiring from Mount Olympus and not naming his successor. Each student served as a god or goddess and delivered a speech by memorization to persuade Zeus of their abilities to lead Mount Olympus. They expressed their positive traits and a quote that directly related to them.

The sixth graders worked hard for weeks researching the strengths and weaknesses of their god/goddess. Following their speeches, the debates were held. With Zeus carefully listen-

ing, the gods and goddesses asked each other hard-hitting questions to help prove to Zeus that the others would not make a strong leader. This required the students to turn their weaknesses into strengths to defend themselves during the debates.

At the conclusion of the event, Zeus crowned the next god or goddess to lead Mount Olympus. These students received a gold lightning bolt trophy and the opportunity to sit in Zeus’ throne (a comfortable chair) until the school year

ends. Congratulations to the following winners in Ms. Klein’s classes:

• Period 2: Charlie Majewski (Gaia)

• Period 3: Christian Tararache (Dionysus)

• Period 5: Ophelia Georgatos (Nike)

• Period 6: Joseph Woodworth (Nike)

• Period 9: Meadow Mauz (Medusa)

Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District

Sixth grader Johnny Russo (left) played the role of Poseidon and tried convincing Zeus (right) that he was the best fit to lead Mount Olympus.

Ben Morselli played the role of Zeus (left) and was tasked with crowning the next leader of Mount Olympus.

Zeus (Ben Morselli) presented Gaia (Charlie Majewski) with a lightning bolt trophy as the winner in period 2.