SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN
VETERAN HONORED
Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin (second left), Councilman Dennis Dunne (right) and Town Clerk Kate Murray (left) presented the Town of Hempstead Veterans Service Award to Frank Marcinek, commander of the Levittown American Legion Post 1711, for his dedicated volunteerism on behalf of his fellow veterans. Frank, a veteran of the United States Air Force, has worked tirelessly to ensure that his fellow veterans receive the proper recognition. He has designed many stunning statues, murals and other memorials at the American Legion and at Veterans Park in Levittown.
Levittown Board of Ed elects officers
During the Levittown Public Schools’ annual Board of Education reorganization meeting on July 6, returning board members Dillon Cain, Jennifer Messina and Michael Pappas were sworn in for another term, along with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tonie McDonald. Due to the pandemic, the meeting was streamed online for the public to listen. Peggy
Marenghi was reelected as board president, Christina Lang was elected as board vice president and Messina was appointed as board secretary for the 2020-21 school year.
BY GARY SIMEONE
Michael Fener, executive director of Syosset and Plainview Hospitals, was a panelist on a recent online forum entitled ‘COVID-19 and Your Community.’ He, along with Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker and his assistant Crystal Berger, helped to answer people’s queries about new hospital regulations during the pandemic.
Fener said that the current situations at both hospitals are very different compared to how they were during the height of the pandemic in March and April.
“At Syosset, we have not had any COVID patients in months and we are currently not admitting COVID patients,” said Fener. “We are allowing patients back in now for nonCOVID surgeries and every patient must undergo a nasal swab to ensure they are not positive for the disease.”
He said that Plainview Hospital, which at one time had 160 COVID patients and a quarter of them in the ICU, is typically seeing only one or two patients on a weekly basis.
Drucker, who served as a moderator on the forum, asked the hospital director about the reliability of antibody tests and the level of immunity from coronavirus for people who had developed antibodies.
“I am not a physician so I can’t tell you how long antibodies last or if they’re effective in preventing a second bout of COVID,” said Fener. “The thing with this disease is that it’s novel to the human population, so there is a lot people don’t know about it and are still in the process of learning.”
Another question was in regards to the demographic of the face of the disease and how it has been shifting to a younger population.
“In other states, there has been a significant rise of coronavirus cases in young people. Do you see that demographic changing in our community?” asked Drucker.
Fener said that he has not seen a rise in cases in the younger population at either hospital.
“When we were in the midst of the pandemic a few months ago, we were seeing sick people across the entire age spectrum, so in regards to that, not much has changed,” said Fener.
Another question was regarding the hospital’s treatment of the disease and if there have been any recent breakthroughs in how people are treated.
“There have been a lot of studies with medications like hydroxychloroquine and Remdesivir to treat the virus, and studies have either panned out or they’ve been discredited. All of this is still retrospective data because unfortunately, there is still a lot we don’t know about the disease process.”
The hospital’s ability to treat people if there is a second wave of the virus was a topic brought up in the forum.
Fener said both Syosset and Plainview have excess capacity available and that plans were made to treat people if there was a resurgence in cases.
“Both hospitals have doubled their capacity to handle an influx of patients as was mandated by our governor. Northwell Health also has a mobile tent that can be deployed to the hospitals if there is an overflow.”
Care packages for sick kids
outside Cohen’s Children’s Hospital, from left, are: Danielle Young, Special Events and Donation Coordinator for Cohen’s Children’s Hospital’s Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy program; Legislator Lafazan; Home Depot Community Relations representative Mike Gallo; Jayson Drucker, Syosset Home Depot store manager; Carolyn Quinn, RN and Executive Director of Cohen’s Children’s Hospital; Margaret Duffy, RN, Ph.D and Associate Executive Director, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer; Erin Tuttle, Child Life Specialist, Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy; and Faye Brick-Hochheiser, Manager, Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy. Photo provided by the Office of Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan
Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (Woodbury) collaborated with Home Depot to deliver more than 500 care packages to the young patients at Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park on Monday, June 29.
“It was our honor to partner with Cohen Children's Hospital and supply them with more than 500 Kids Workshop kits,” Home Depot Community Relations representative Mike Gallo said. “The brave kids being treated will be able to enjoy using their creativity to build various projects including a soccer game,
recycling truck, American eagle and many others. We are happy to bring a little joy to their day during such stressful moments.”
“Through their generous contribution, Home Depot is providing these courageous young people with healthy outlets for stimulating their minds and rejuvenating their spirits as they embark upon the road to recovery,” Legislator Lafazan said. “It’s always a pleasure to partner with Home Depot and Cohen Children’s Medical Center to support efforts that bring smiles to so many faces.”
Are you a professional?
Our Professional Guide is sure to bring results. Call 516-294-8900 for rates and information.
Let’s thank the essential local businesses that kept our community going, and welcome back the returning shops and restaurants we love and rely on, with our support Together, we can re-energize Long Island.
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Pressed Cleaners, Merrick AR Workshop , Port Washington
Blacksmith’s Breads , Long Beach Amity Harbor Sports , Amityville
Noble Savage Brewing Company, Glen Cove My Home Favorites , Westbury
Baymen ask Town to make fishery health a
BY RIKKI MASSAND
The first public comments delivered in-person at an Oyster Bay Town Board meeting since the spread of the COVID19 pandemic in March was by two resident baymen who asked the Town Board to make the health and sustainability of local waters a high priority.
After written comments submitted beforehand were noted by Town Clerk Richard LaMarca, two Oyster Bay’s longtime baymen, Doug Rogers and Joe Fink of Laurel Place in Bayville, spoke on behalf of others in their industry who have made an living in the harbor for many years, continuing to work in open water during the pandemic’s shutdowns of local commerce.
Doug Rogers has been a bayman in Oyster Bay for nearly 30 years. Both men said the seeding programs for bringing back the shellfish to the north shore Oyster Bay -- with appropriate references to the namesake -- should be prioritized, shelling programs should be restored and studies should be funded.
They stated that as the Town of Oyster Bay became more involved with the shellfish seeding program since 2017, the waters off the Bay here actually produced less shellfish and “it should be the opposite.”
“The more help the Town gives us,
the better the seed program should be.
There are no more baymen here in the place called Oyster Bay as they’re all working in the Long Island Sound, scratching to make a living. “I know government can be slow sometimes but there has never been a Bay Management Plan for Oyster Bay, and the studies the Town has paid for have stated that the Bay is in decline; there’s less shellfish now than there was five, 10 or 15 years ago,” Rogers noted during public comments. Previous totals of 4 million oysters and 2 million clams ‘shelled’ in Oyster Bay were noted as rapidly in-decline.
Doug Rogers spoke about the Town of East Hampton’s successful seeding program where the municipal government spends about $1.5 million per year “mostly grant money they pursue each year” on their hatchery and seed program, looking at that as the gold standard for town-local industry collaboration. Rogers says East Hampton invests this with zero input from its baymen.
“The stonewalls and roadblocks in front of baymen in Oyster Bay seem like you’ll want some giant company coming in and doing the same things that ruined the public shellfishing side in the harbor…. The Town of Oyster Bay is a special place where the Baymen’s Association has run the seeding pro-
gram for the last 25 years with pretty much zero help from the Town. In the last two years the Town has helped a lot and we’ve built a good shellfish hatchery that we hope can expand. But for a town named Oyster Bay to have probably the worst seed program of any town that has a seed program is a little bit shameful in the Association’s eyes, plus you have the bagging of the Baymen who have been there since day one,” Rogers said.
The two locals took issue with a recent RFP the Town put out, “designed in the wrong way” according to Rogers. He says the Town sent letters to 15 shellfishing industry companies operating outside Oyster Bay and he and no other Baymen’s Association folks received the same letter.
Fink stood against the RFP stating “the Town seeks operators with substantial financial capability and experience in aquaculture,” noting that this might disqualify many hardworking bay shellfish industry workers -- local people -- where a large company may take a stranglehold of the harbor’s ‘local market.’ Rogers added that the RFP asks for new licensing of lands in the bay that are currently leased out, and he submitted questions to the Town on this in June with no response given to him as of Monday, June 13.
“I would think you (the Town Board) would want to make economic development pitches to your local residents first and foremost,” Rogers said, “not some companies operating in the South Shore or in Virginia or in Connecticut. Don’t invite some guys in commercial shellfish operations in coastal Connecticut to lease in my harbor which I have paid taxes for over the last 30 years and with the time I have put into this harbor and our seed program here,” Rogers explained at the July 14 meeting.
The Baymen’s Association had a plan for 10 million seed clams growing in the hatchery in 2020 but right now, with some impacts from COVID19 shutdowns, 2.5 million are growing. They looked for a backup plan due to circumstances to get closer to the 10 million total. Rogers told the Town Board the Oyster Bay seeding program should eventually become New York State’s best model to follow, and not lagging behind those in the Town of Islip, Town of Hempstead and Town of East Hampton, “which have huge seed programs.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, Rogers continued “it is a mistake to be without a Bay Management Plan to address the land leased out for 100 years, without
See page 4
Residents welcomed back for Town meeting
BY RIKKI MASSAND
The Town of Oyster Bay meeting held Tuesday, July 14 at Town Hall at 54 Audrey Avenue signified the first local government meeting since March 10 with the public participating in-person, in real time, following several weeks of progress in Long Island’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
While New York State regulations extended suspension of general rules for the Open Public Meetings Law through August 5, Tuesday’s meeting saw limited public capacity at Town Hall. Members of the public were legally permitted inside for the Town Board’s July meeting, with face masks and social distancing measures strictly adhered to.
“I speak for my colleagues on this Board to say it’s feeling much better now to see people healthy and area hospitals back to normal operations, while of course our thoughts and prayers remain with all those who have lost
their lives and loved ones in dealing with this very difficult COVID-19 pandemic situation. We (the Board) felt it was important to welcome our public back into Town Hall while ensuring social distancing protocols which we put into place, as well as a long list of protections for employees, the public and all involved. To ensure social distance spacing and your safety, this room is limited to 35 people at a time -we ask if there is a need for others waiting outside to come in, we ask that you please give up your spot once you’ve finished your business for the day….As we continue to face the uncertainties posted by COVID-19 so many of us share the same sentiment that we’ll never take for granted the simple joys of gathering together and the true privileges we have as Americans to hold meetings and participate in the open government process, as we’re very happy to do that,”
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino commented.
He noted that all Town Board meetings continue to be live streamed online and archived for viewing at a later date. Over 90 participants viewed the Board’s July 14 meeting online in real time.
“Even from home the public has the opportunity to be heard on matters before the Town Board at its meeting and during public comments, for a period of 10 days following each meeting by submitting comments in writing. Those comments form part of the public record and will be considered before any decisions are rendered, especially as it relates to hearings and so forth,” Saladino noted.
Rev. Dr. Marjorie Nunes, the pastor of Hicksville’s United Methodist Church, led all attendees and viewers in an opening prayer for the July 14, 2020 Town Board meeting, as Supervisor Saladino commented on the “Power of Prayer” in getting us through daily life during the pandemic. In her message Tuesday, she noted that through Almighty God “authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted and judgement is decreed.”
She spoke about one scripture in the Bible’s Old Testament, relating it to COVID-19 pandemic regulations: “To all those who are questioning wearing of face masks -- there is a scripture where God told the king when the king was disobeying, ‘To Obey is Better than to Sacrifice; Obedience is Better than Sacrifice.’ So today we take that word for ourselves and we must obey our wise leadership for these protocols and we do not have to sacrifice any more -- God does not need us to sacrifice, and for all those (essential and frontline healthcare workers and first responders) sacrificing their lives daily for us, the rest of us must continue to do our part. Wear masks, practice physical distancing. Listen to our leaders and
our Supervisor and please stay safe,” Reverend Dr. Nunes said.
Supervisor Saladino thanked Dr. Nunes for a rousing opening prayer, and he noted that her leadership in the greater Hicksville community and with Church outreach “has truly done God’s work but your work goes so far beyond your Church….We look up to you for everything you do, guiding us in the best of times and most importantly in these difficult times.”
“We know by following the teachings of all our religions we can come together to do a better job, have more respect for one another and to appreciate each and every individual -- and of course in appreciation of the greatest gift given to us by God, and that is the gift of Life and Love,” Supervisor Saladino said.
Rev. Nunes offered the following prayer, “Today we turn to you in the midst of the COVID-19 virus pandemic and racial conflicts and pain that continues to afflict our nation because we trust you, God, we trust you because you listen to our prayers and because you act in our lives and our history for our own welfare….. Today I pray for our Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino and for the various levels of city and local officials and in particular for those assembled at the Town Board meeting this day, and for Nassau County leaders. You have gathered your assembled leaders here so that this assembly may not simply be an arena of legislative work but also a beacon of hope, truth and justice, unity and community for the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County and State of New York. Gracious and Loving God, may you always bless the United States of America.”
Baymen ask Town to make fishery health a priority
From page 3
trying to enhance the public side, and the Baymen’s Association would like a Management Plan first for the whole Bay -- let’s not lease half of the harbor and then come up with a Management Plan as that seems backward to us. I know the Town of Oyster Bay has been very eager to do some of the studies again that Cashin Associates had done in the past and we appreciate that, but when the Association asked for Town support (financially) for the project we were told it’s not a Town project but a Nassau County project. We are hoping the Town will kick in to see what is actually happening in the harbor,” Rogers told the Board.
He added that the current RFP as written for lessee’s to the harbor should be “put on hold” redesigned and later re-released after stakeholders have pro-
vided input to the Town. The current RFP was to run until the end of July, leaving only two more weeks for proposals.
Rogers says the current lease RFP “is set up like you’re doing a land deal on-land where as the laws on the water is all completely different -- the workmans’ compensation stipulation does not work on the water as it is entirely different for claims under MARITIME LAW,” he explains.
Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said the Town and the Baymen’s Association has worked well together in the last three years, since he took over for indicted and now deceased former Supervisor John Venditto in early 2017.
“We are very proud of the partnership and what we have been doing. We don’t have to talk about showing plans as the commitment was built. We are not talking about what we might do;
it’s operational. So we do want to grow that and we, including Councilwoman Michele Johnson who has been the best advocate for the baymen and industry in the 367 year existence of the Town, would like to sit down and discuss these issues with all of you right away. We want to hear about ways in which we can make this better and open it up to far more entities, and do it the right way. We want to make sure everyone has an opportunity. Now that you bring this up, I have questions and the planning always gets better the more you listen,” Saladino said Tuesday.
Councilman Louis Imbroto told Doug Rogers the Board appreciated his dedication, time and efforts on the Bay strategizing “and how professional you always are.”
“In the few years (since 2017) I have served on this Board, we noticed the change in tone and positive rela-
tionships dealing with the Baymen’s Association. I know that it has gotten better and I hope it only keeps getting better,” he said.
Councilwoman Michele Johnson, a longtime advocate for the Baymen’s Association and shellfish programs in her time on the Town Board, called for Deputy Town Commissioner of Environmental Resources George Baptista, Jr. to participate in a meeting with her, Town Supervisor Saladino and Town administrative and legal staff. Supervisor Saladino asked for the meeting to be held immediately following Tuesday’s Town Board meeting and noted that he had several questions.
The Town Board conference room was set as the initial gathering place for this discussion during public comments raised July 14 to carry over into. No timeline was set for a decision in the RFP scheduling or its possible revision.
The Town of Oyster Bay's July 14 meeting had a small live audience and was also livestreamed.
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS CREATE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITIES
The dedication, compassion, and strength that The Bristal team displays daily is evident – especially to those who choose to call The Bristal home, as well as their families. The happiness and well-being of residents means everything to us, so their heartfelt appreciation is both powerful and motivating. We’re proud to share their sentiments for the outstanding individuals who make The Bristal such a special place.
On behalf of my mother and our family - thank you. You chose to be caring, to bring a smile with you every day, to try to get a laugh out of the residents and to make them comfortable. Whatever your role has been in the community, we thank you for continuing to keep their home a safe place to ride out this terrible pandemic. Stay safe!
– Caroline P. (family
member)
For a list of all locations in the tri-state area, visit: THEBRISTAL.COM
AN ENGEL BURMAN COMMUNITY
WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO HOME? Come to St. Thomas Aquinas College
A special message from STAC’s new President, Kenneth Daly, a student-centric academic and business leader, who took office on July 1st, 2020, succeeding Dr. Margaret Fitzpatrick, S.C., Ed.D., who retired after completing 25 years of exceptional leadership at the College.
“As the new President of St. Thomas Aquinas College, I commit to providing you with a very supportive and caring environment to help you navigate these challenging times.
• We have a dedicated team of faculty who will mentor you every step of the way.
• We have a beautiful, safe, and vibrant campus environment.
• We have student activities, clubs, and sports programs to ensure you feel welcome and engaged.
• We have access to New York City, international travel, internships, and community service to enhance your learning experience.
• We have a proud history of caring for students like you—and an exciting future whereby, together, we will overcome the challenges we face and develop you into our leaders of tomorrow—leaders with a genuine sense of purpose.
I encourage you to consider St. Thomas Aquinas College and I hope to see you on campus in the new semester so we can prepare you for the future.”
Please
PRESIDENT, KENNETH D. DALY
For John Elliott, sailing is living. He’s been on the water for most of his 90-plus years. In all three theaters during World War 2, as a merchant seaman, and for the last 70 years sailing out of the Rockaway Point Yacht Club.
But recently John was so fatigued and short of breath, he could only walk a few steps. His aortic valve was failing. His daughter, a nurse, told John about a valve replacement procedure called TAVR. She took him to NYU Winthrop Hospital, part of NYU Langone Health. With some of the country’s highest quality TAVR programs on Long Island and in Manhattan, NYU Langone Health is a leader in this procedure. They replaced John’s valve through an artery in his leg. In no time at all, he was back to sailing off Breezy Point. If you suffer from aortic stenosis, you may be a candidate for TAVR. To learn more, call 1-866-WINTHROP or visit nyuwinthrop.org.
The Hawks have left the nest!
On June 25, the day that would have been the Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School (POBJFKHS) Senior Prom, the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District held a unique graduation ceremony to celebrate the Class of 2020. Despite many traditional end-of-year festivities being cancelled due to the pandemic, administrators were determined to honor students that finished their high school careers under extraordinary circumstances.
“Due to COVID-19, our traditional commencement ceremony would
have been nearly impossible for the Class of 2020 to participate in safely,” said Dr. Mary O’Meara, superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District. “However, it was very important to the District and the community that these incredible students be honored in some way. Their positivity and perseverance throughout this pandemic have inspired us all.”
Seniors arrived at POBJFKHS in decorated cars and school spirit apparel. Over 250 graduating seniors paraded in their vehicles past the District’s four elementary schools.
POBJFKHS Principal James Murray dressed as the POB Hawk mascot and greeting students and families from an antique fire truck courtesy of the Plainview Fire Department.
The streets were full of community members cheering on the graduates - from families of seniors, to underclassmen, to teachers and administrators. Young families were seen camping out on their front lawns with ice pops in hand, and many older community members sat on their stoops, or outside the assisted living facilities, cheering the graduates on throughout their nine-mile route. Spectators were instructed to practice social distancing on the sidewalk as they watched the parade.
The Plainview Fire Department,
NCPD 2nd Precinct and the POBJFKHS PTA helped with the organization of the event, maintaining the safety of all involved, and helped with providing novelty vehicles - including an antique fire truck. The PTA created balloon pillars, a beautiful float and a send-off sign at the end. Several businesses donated their time and services, as well as custodians, security, administrators, teachers, and even spouses of District employees, in a collective effort to ensure the event ran smoothly.
POBJFKHS seniors and their families fill the parking lot at John F. Kennedy High School before starting the parade together.
One of the multiple ‘Class of 2020’ banners on the side of a school bus in honor of the graduating seniors.
The Class of 2020, socially distanced.
Levittown appoints new assistant director of special education
The Levittown Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Milton Josephs as assistant director of special education. Josephs previously served as the assistant principal at Abbey Lane and East Broadway elementary schools since 2018. Prior to joining the Levittown Public Schools, he was an assistant principal in the New York City Department of Education for two years.
Originally from the United Kingdom, he now lives in Port Washington. Josephs received his undergraduate degree in business studies and human resources from the University of North London and his master’s degree in elementary and special education from Queens College. In addition, he holds an administration certificate from Stony Brook University.
“I started my educational career as a Special Education Teacher in the NYCDOE,” said Josephs. “Having spent some 16 years as both a teacher and assistant principal, I am really excited to begin this new chapter in my career – going back to my special education roots. I am particularly keen to do what I can to support some of our most vulnerable students and their families to help ensure ‘Success for Every Student.’”
in the Levittown Public Schools.
East Broadway School welcomes new principal
Jordan Margolis, the Levittown Public Schools’ assistant director of special education, was named the new principal of East Broadway Elementary School. He replaces former East Broadway Principal Jeanmarie Wink, who retired at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.
Mr. Margolis, a resident of Babylon, has served as the district’s assistant director of special education since 2015. He showcased his exceptional leadership abilities in this role as he maintained special education programs and services, chaired the social-emotional learning curriculum committee, developed and supported crisis intervention
protocols throughout the district, and more. Prior to his assistant director position, Mr. Margolis was a school social worker at Jonas E. Salk Middle School where he supported students and their families, along with staff through various programs, services, SEL and character education initiatives.
He began his career as a lecturer at Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand, where he taught English to freshmen and held tutoring classes. His work continued in New York, where he served as a school-based social worker at the Children’s Aid Society, P.S. 208 and 185. This was followed by a position as a school/clinic based social worker at the Interfaith Medical Center Child and Adolescent Clinic in Brooklyn.
Mr. Margolis attended Loyola University in Maryland, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and history, with a minor in secondary education. He continued his education at the Hunter School of Social Work and then LIU Post, where he earned his Master of Social Work degree with a Clinical Specialization and a Certificate in Educational Leadership, respectively. Mr. Margolis is a licensed social worker and holds certifications in School District Leader/School Building Leader, permanent school social work and Seminar in Field Instruction.
“It’s an honor to be in this position and I am looking forward to supporting the students, families and staff at East Broadway Elementary,” he said. “I have a great respect for the role of Principal and will do my best to set up our students for success, both academically and emotionally.”
Men’s Summer Softball Night League
Registration is currently ongoing for the Town of Oyster Bay’s Men’s Summer Softball Night League, with games scheduled to begin in August 2020. Games will be held at four parks throughout the Town with a season consisting of 20 regular season games, with 2 games played per night, once a week. Residents and non-residents alike are welcome to sign up for the softball league.
“The Town’s Men’s Summer Softball Night League is a fun and competitive softball league that provides a great opportunity for both residents and non-residents to enjoy their love of the game, and appreciate some of our wonderful Town parks and facilities,” said Town Councilman Tom Hand. “So get your team together, and take advantage of one of the Town’s most popular programs!”
Games will begin in August 2020 and will be held at 4 different locations:
• Theodore Roosevelt Park, located on West Avenue in Oyster Bay
• John J. Burns Park, located at 4990 Merrick Road in Massapequa
• Ellsworth Allen Park, located at 45 Motor Avenue in Farmingdale
• Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park, located at 175 Washington Avenue in Plainview Registration is currently ongoing but will close on Friday, July 17, 2020. The Men’s Summer Softball Night League features 20 regular season games (two games per night once a week), with a fee for registration of $700 per team. Only a check or money order will be accepted, made payable to “Town of Oyster Bay.” Teams interested in more information or looking to receive a registration packet should contact the Town of Oyster Bay’s Parks Department, Recreation Division, at (516) 797-4125, x. 4
Milton Josephs was named assistant director of special education
Photo courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools
Jordan Margolis, new principal of East Broadway Elementary School
Photo courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools
GRUMMAN'S HAZARDOUS WASTE HAS CONTAMINATED THE BETHPAGE AREA FOR DECADES
The contaminant plume continues to grow. Numerous toxic substances have been detected in the water, soil and soil vapor.
This Week at the Syosset Public Library
Friday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Allergies: All You Need to Know
Presenter: Idil D. Ezhuthachan, M.D., Northwell Health
No registration needed. Get zoom meeting link at: https:// www.syossetlibrary.org/ live-streaming
Friday, July 17 from 2 to 3 p.m.
Genealogy for the Enthusiastic Amateur
Presenters: Reference Department Librarians
Get in-depth information about a wide variety of research sources and databases featuring live demonstrations of many and the opportunity to interact with the presenters. Get Zoom meeting link at: https://www.syossetlibrary. org/live-streaming
Tuesday, July 21 at 3 p.m.
Film Discussion Series
Presenter: Readers’ Services Librarian
Check the virtual calendar for the film choice. View the film at your leisure instantly
on Hoopla or use your favorite method. Get Zoom meeting link at: https://www.syossetlibrary.org/live-streaming
Tuesday, July 21 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Grady Hendrix
Virtual Author Visit and BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage)
Grab your favorite summer beverage and zoom in for a fun evening of Q&A with Grady Hendrix, author of “A Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, ” “ My Best Friend's Exorcism” and other fun books that mix up the horror genre. No registration needed. Get Zoom meeting link at: https://www.syossetlibrary.org/live-streaming
Thursday, July 22 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Dinner & Dessert: Chicken Francese & Apple Brownies
Presenter: The Baking Coach
Need something new to cook for dinner and dessert? Want an activity to do with the kids? Chicken francese and apple
Our Service Directory is sure to bring results. Call 294-8900 for rates and information
LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE
Notice of formation of JCP MEDIACORP LLC, a domestic LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on MAY 5TH, 2020.. Office location: NASSAU. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 1884 Muttontown road, Muttontown, NY 11791. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
SYO 4361
NOTICE OF FORMATION
Notice of formation of Make Some Waves LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on June 15, 2020. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY is designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 30 Irving Dr. Woodbury NY 11797. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
JNJ 7943
6X 07/17,24,31,08/07,14,21
brownies may be the solution. Registration is required and is limited. Once you register you will receive a Zoom link and ingredient list. Register at: https://www.syossetlibrary. org/live-streaming or send an email to splprograms@syossetlibrary.org
Friday, July 24 at 1 to 2 p.m.
From Milton Berle to David Letterman:
A History of TV Comedy Presenter, Brian Rose, professor of communications, Fordham University
From the earliest days of TV, making people laugh was one of the central goals of TV programmers. Successful radio format like the sitcom and the comedy/variety show moved to TV in the late 1940s, joined a few years later by the late night comedy talk show. For the next 7 decades, these three formats dominated the airwaves. This presentation will survey the extraordinary landscape of American TV comedy and its changes. No registration needed. Get Zoom meeting link at: https://www.syossetlibrary. org/live-streaming
Tuesday, July 28 at 3 p.m.
Virtual Afternoon Author
Visit with Caitlin Mullen Suspense novelist Caitlin Mullen will join the Readers’ Services staff for an afternoon author visit to discuss the writing of her debut novel “Please See Us,” an edge-ofyour-seat psychological thriller published in March 2020. No
registration needed. Get Zoom meeting link at: https://www. syossetlibrary.org/live-streaming
Tuesday, July 29 from 2 to 3 p.m.
Interactive Game Play for Adults - Virtual
Join the Seniors of Syosset (SOS) in a fun and engaging program geared toward seniors, but all are welcome. Registration is required. Register at: https://www.syossetlibrary.org/live-streaming or send an email to splprograms@syossetlibrary.org. You will receive a Zoom link and password once you have registered.
Wednesday, July 29 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Samantha Downing Virtual Author Visit & BYOB
(Bring Your Own Beverage)
Grab your favorite summer beverage and zoom in for a fun evening of Q&A with Samantha Downing, author of twisty thrillers such as “My Lovely Wife” and “He Started It.” No registration needed. Get Zoom meeting link at: https://www. syossetlibrary.org/live-streaming
Thursday, July 30 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Funny Girl: The History Behind the Beloved Musical
Presenter: John Kenrick, entertainment historian
How much of this popular musical biography is true? The answers may surprise you as John Kenrick explains how the real Nick Arnstein interfered in the creation of a show that made Barbra Streisand a star. No registration needed. Get Zoom meeting link at: https:// www.syossetlibrary.org/ live-streaming
Friday, July 31 from 12 to 1 p.m.
Virtual Author “Lunch” with Deanna Raybourne It’s lunchtime! Grab your meal and zoom in to “meet” author Deanna Raybourne, author of the historical mysteries series “Silent in the Grave” and the Veronica Speedwell series. Deanna will be on hand to chat about her books, the Victorian era and engage you in a Q&A. No registration needed. Get Zoom meeting link at: https://www.syossetlibrary. org/live-streaming
Tuesday, July 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. Interactive Game Play for Adults - Virtual Join the Seniors of Syosset (SOS) in a fun and engaging program geared toward seniors, but all are welcome. Registration is required. Register at: https://www.syossetlibrary.org/live-streaming or send an email to splprograms@syossetlibrary.org. You will receive a Zoom link and password once you have registered.
Upcoming Virtual Events at the Jericho Public Library
Monday, July 20
4:00 p.m.: Flex & Tone w/ Mindy Vasta
7:00 p.m.: Fit & Fabulous w/Linda Ray
7:00 p.m.: Teen Kahoot- Out of This World Trivia
Tuesday, July 21
10:30 a.m.: Storytime w/ Miss Liz
11:00 a.m.: Guided Meditation for Self Healing w/ Patricia Anderson
7:00 p.m.: Talk About Books w/Fran Cohen: This Tender
Land by William Krueger
Wednesday, July 22
10:30 a.m.: Summer Steam Camp: Musical Storytelling w/ Music Play Patrol
1:00 p.m.: Water Color Demonstration w/Chuck Van Horn
7:30 p.m.: Teen & Adults Removing the Barriers to Success
Thursday, July 23
2:00 p.m.: Teen Computer Animation
5:30 p.m.: Yoga w/Joe
7:00 p.m.: Pajama Storytime (For children ages 3-kindergarten
Friday, July 24
3:00 p.m.: Prestino Magic Series
Saturday, July 25
11:30 p.m.: Table Top Adventures: Quick & Easy Caribbean Cooking w/Lucy Van Horn
For all events, go to www. jerichopubliclibrary.org/ events/month to register.
Staycation! Long Island Offers So Much to Explore
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE
GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
Long Island entering Phase 4 in the COVID-19 recovery means that museums, gardens, attractions, even shopping malls, are open again with health protocols that include limited capacity (many requiring timed ticketing), social distancing, hand-sanitizing and mandatory mask-wearing. This is an ideal time for Long Islanders to discover our own bounty.
Staycation! Create your own itinerary. Here are some ideas:
Cradle of Aviation Museum is Sensational Destination on Staycation Itinerary
We tend to think of the Wright Brothers and their flight on a beach at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, but Long Island was really the birthplace of the aviation industry. So many firsts, as I observed going through the Cradle of Aviation Museum: the first woman pilot, the first Bleriot monoplane (what??), first woman to pilot an aircraft and first woman to build an aircraft (Dr. Bessica Raiche of Mineola) and of course, first Charles Lindberg’s nonstop flight between New York and Paris that departed from Roosevelt Field, right outside (the twin of his Spirit of St. Louis, used in the Jimmy Stewart movie, is on display), not to mention the Apollo 11’s Lunar Lander. We also see a photo montage of native Long Island astronauts including Mary Cleave who graduated Great Neck North High School.
Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the end of WWII with a look
The world-class Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale, Long Island offers inspiring exhibits that explain the beginning of aviation to the future of space travel in the place where it happened, set in a spacious, comfortable air-conditioned facility. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
back at the aircraft and the people that made a difference in ending the war including such fighter planes as the P-47 and Grumman’s Avenger, Hellcat, and Wildcat (very impressed with the women WASP pilots).
A special treat this summer is the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the F-14 Tomcat, one of the most iconic Navy fighters ever built on Long Island, which was featured prominently in the movie, “Top Gun.”
The environment is especially marvelous during this COVID-summer – spacious rooms, delightfully air-conditioned, with demarcations for six-feet separation and capacity limited to 700 (you should pre-book your tickets online). This is a great year for a family to purchase an unlimited membership ticket ($125 for a family of four), and come frequently. There is so much to see and absorb, you are always
seeing and learning new things.
The Cradle of Aviation Museum & Education Center is home to over 75 planes and spacecraft representing over 100 years of aviation history. (Museum Row, Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City, 516-572-4111, www.cradleofaviation.org)
pacity and using signage and staff monitoring to make sure distancing is observed, and has instituted a new cleaning regimen as well as health screening for staff and volunteers.
The Museum’s 145 acres of fields, woods, ponds, formal gardens and nature trails (known as the William Cullen Bryant Preserve) have remained open to the public– including its outdoor sculpture garden with a collection of 40 pieces by 24 sculptors, created from 1913 to 2018.
Nassau County Museum of Art, One Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor, is open Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (62 and above) and $5 for students and children (4 to12); buy timed tickets online at nassaumuseum.org, 516-484-9338.
More highlights:
Museum Row also includes the Long Island Children’s Museum, the Nassau County Frefighter’s Museum, and when it reopens the Nunley Carousel, which dates from 1912.
Nassau County Museum of Art Reopens With New Exhibit
The Nassau Museum re-opened with a new exhibition, “Blue” that includes work by Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Helen Frankenthaler, Yves Klein and other major artists. A new timed ticketing and touch-free entry system along with safety protocols ensure the safety and comfort of visitors. The Museum is limiting ca-
Long Island Aquarium has made changes to its operation for the safety of guests, staff and animals (Touch Tanks, animal feeding, encounters, Shark Dives have been suspended). In lieu of a Sea Lion Show, there is a Sea Lion feed and training session, with social distancing in the stands. Guests can walk through the Aquarium, enjoying the indoor habitats but the bulk of time is spent at the outdoor habitats. Outdoor dining is open. Operating at a reduced capacity, visitors must pre-pay and reserve a time slot (https://www.longislandaquarium.com/purchase-tickets/ pricing/) (431 East Main Street, Riverhead NY 11901, 631-208-9200, ext 426, www.longislandaquarium.com).
Old Westbury Gardens, the former estate of John S. and Margarita
Continued on next page
Staycation! Long Island Offers So Much to Explore
Grace Phipps, is one of the most recognizable of all Gold Coast properties. Its centerpiece is Westbury House, a Charles II-style mansion where the Phipps family lived for 50 years (featured in 25 films including “North by Northwest” and “Love Story”). The 160-acre property features renowned gardens, woods, ponds and lakes. Advance-reservations tickets are required to tour the palatial home, walk the grounds and enjoy a window on Long Island’s Gilded Age. (71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury, 516-333-0048, info@ oldwestburygardens.org, www.oldwestburygardens.org).
Sands Point Preserve’s Great Lawn, Rose Garden, Woodland Playground, forest trails, and pond area are open but
its three castle-like mansions (Hempstead House, Castle Gould and Falaise built by Harry S. Guggenheim), Welcome Center and dog run remain closed. Restrooms are available. The number of cars are limited. Contactless payment at Gatehouse ($15/per car, free for members (127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, http://sandspointpreserveconservancy.org/)
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park was the home of William Robertson Coe from 1913 to 1955. Coe was interested in rare plants and developed the 409 acre estate into an arboretum with 160 acres of garden and plants. In celebration of the centennial anniversary of the completion of the Buffalo Mural in Coe Hall, Planting Fields Foundation is presenting an exhibition on the work of Robert Winthrop Chanler (1872-
1930), The Electrifying Art and Spaces of Robert Winthrop Chanler. One-hour tours are limited to 5 people, all from the same family or group. Request your tour time online. (395 Planting Fields Road Jericho Turnpike, Oyster Bay, NY 11771, 516-922-9200, plantingfields.org)
The Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium is on the 43-acre estate that was the home of William Kissam Vanderbilt II, great grandson of Commodore Cornelius. The museum has reopened the first floor of the Hall of Fishes; the Habitat and Stoll Wing animal dioramas; and the natural-history and cultural-artifact galleries on the first floor of the Memorial Wing but living quarters and the Reichert Planetarium remain closed at this time. A limited number of visitors are being accommodated on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 11 am
to 6 pm. Admission is $14 per car. (80 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY 11721, 631-854-5579, www.vanderbiltmuseum. org, info@vanderbiltmuseum.org).
For more Long Island attractions ideas and information on “travel confidently”, visit discoverlongisland.com.
© 2020 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
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
In grammar school and high school I would try to duck and hide whenever a teacher was asking a student to volunteer to step up to the front of the class to solve a mathematical problem or to read an essay they had written.
I didn’t like having the spotlight on me so I would avoid volunteering whenever I could.
When I worked a full-time job in Manhattan and commuted on the L.I.R.R., my days were long and it was hard to find time to do the chores around the house and the errands I needed to do.
My career was important and so was helping out various family members. When my parents reached their golden years I spent as much time with them as possible playing games, sharing meals and driving to Baldwin and Freeport, down by the water, down by the boats.
When people at church asked me to volunteer I usually declined because I was busy, busy, busy. I knew that taking on another job wasn’t realistic - and I didn’t want to give that new job short shrift. I wanted to devote my time and energy to doing it, whether it was coordinating a bake sale or walking my friend’s dog.
Half measures wouldn’t turn out very well so I got used to saying “no” when asked to volunteer. My New Year’s resolution two years ago was to be open, available and willing to say “yes” when asked to do something. That was my #1 priority because previously I felt badly about usually saying “no” to someone’s request.
It wasn’t really my personality to say
“no” but with the time constraints that I had going on, reality took precedence.
When more time opened up in my schedule I decided that I would reverse my automatic “no” answer. I would be ready, willing and able to take on that volunteer commitment.
I would be Ms. Sunshine, smiling brightly in the face of my requestor and cheerfully saying “yes.”
The first time it happened I surprised myself. I wondered if someone else was speaking when I heard that “yes” being uttered. A woman in my monthly book club had asked me if I wanted to lead a meeting on a book that we’d recently read.
It was one of my favorites and I had read it cover to cover at least twice so I automatically said “yes.” I couldn’t think of a good reason to say no - since I really enjoyed being in that group and other people had volunteered. I said yes and had a few weeks to prepare for the upcoming topic.
The book club presentation was just a one-hour meeting so I took the plunge and it worked out great. Everyone had comments to make about the book which made for an interesting discussion.
I realize that some people have the opposite problem. They say “yes” to a job or a volunteer position and it’s totally unrealistic. They mean to say, “No, sorry, I can’t do that right now” but somehow the word “yes” automatically comes out.
Those people have to work hard at saying “no” when most times the word “yes” is their response.
The thing is, “no” is not a bad word. If doing that job that someone has just
asked you to do won’t work - for whatever reason - saying “no” is perfectly ok.
When “the person in charge” asks me to take on a task I don’t think that I’m the only person who feels like they are put on the spot - or under a spotlight. It’s easy to say “yes” automatically but there could be schedule conflicts so I stop to think for a moment.
Is the request is doable? Will that job fit into my schedule and even more importantly, can I do it well? Can I make a meaningful contribution to someone else or to a group and will I still have the time I need to take care of my other responsibilities?
It’s easy to say “no” to a job that I wouldn’t be good at. Can I show a group of eight-year-old kids how to draw someone’s portrait? Not a chance - they are asking the wrong person since drawing, sketching and painting just aren’t my thing.
Can I make a beautiful piece of furniture from some wood? No way. That’s just not up my alley but I know other useful things. I can read some children’s stories to pediatric patients, mentor a student and drive someone in my neighborhood to a doctor’s appointment.
When I find out that my neighbor has just returned from a hospital stay, I can call and ask if she needs any food, supplies or errands to be run.
I’ve met people I never would have met otherwise, expanded my skill sets and helped some senior citizens who needed a helping hand.
I’m going to keep saying “yes” to requests whenever people ask me to assist because I’ve got the ability and the willingness to do whatever is asked. I know I’m capable and know that I will
be assisting other people.
Volunteering for a good cause can inspire others to volunteer.
Saying “no” might be more comfortable, but saying “yes” can lead you to discover new things - new people, new places, new jobs and so on. Trying something new can help us in ways we may not even think of.
My automatic response has switched from “no” to “yes” when I am approached these days. Now I just have to fit all of my commitments into my schedule and that takes some juggling. If a friend runs into me in town and asks if I want to have lunch or a cup of coffee, I say “yes” and off we go.
When it comes right down to it, saying “yes” or “no” to a request is important. I take a minute to pat myself on the back because when I’ve said “yes” and helped other people, doing so has brought some unexpected pleasures. And life’s surprises, for sure, are a good thing.
BY JEFF RUGG
Picking and Planting the Right Shade Tree
Q: I have just moved into my newly built house and would like to plant some shade trees near the house to help shade it during the summer. The back of the house faces west and takes a beating from the sun. If you would, please provide advice on the species of tree and the most advantageous planting location. I would like for the tree to be fast-growing and not produce a lot of fruit or nuts, which would cause problems with clogged eaves and yard cleanup.
A: We all want trees that grow fast, never create problems and do not take any work, but we also want them to be alive. Even silk plants would need to be dusted once in a while.
Most fast-growing trees have short lives and are not too sturdy. They lose more twigs and other debris and have more insect and disease
problems than longer-living trees. Fortunately, many trees are fast-growing while they are young.
Slow-growing trees grow less than 1 foot per year, while medium-growing trees grow between 1 and 2 feet. Fast-growers grow trunks and branches at a rate of over 2 feet per year.
You can easily learn how quickly a deciduous tree grows.
The section of branch that has leaves growing on it grew this season. That piece of branch will usually be a slightly different color, and the bark will have a different texture than the older section of branch it is attached to. At the joint between the two colors, you can usually find a cluster of scars ringing the branch. These scars are left from the scales that covered the bud at the end of the branch over the winter. The tree may have a large bud on the end of the branch, or it may develop one later in the fall.
Next, follow the branch back a bit farther, and look for
another color change and another set of scars. There may also be side branches growing at each set of scars. These develop from side buds on the ends of the branch.
This structure of side branches, scars and differences in bark color and texture shows how fast that particular tree has been growing. A tree in a nursery that was dug up while it was dormant may not have a very long new branch this season, but it will be a match to how many roots are left in the root ball.
Many long-lived shade trees, like oaks, maples, ash and linden, will grow rapidly while young, but as they age, they develop so many side branches that they begin to fill in and stop growing so fast in height.
Evergreen trees have the same growth patterns, but the needles stay on the trees for several years before falling off.
When someone asks me what kind of tree they should grow in their yard, I usually say, “Plant what no one else in the neighborhood has.” That way, your tree will have less of a chance of getting some disease later on. A brand-new neighborhood may not have many trees yet, so it will be hard to prevent others from copying your choice. Ask several of your local nursery people what their top 10 bestselling trees are, and then ask them which one they would have in their own yard.
All deciduous trees are going to lose their leaves each fall. Evergreen trees will lose their needles in the fall or spring, depending on the variety. Few large shade trees are available in seedless forms. There are seedless ash, ginkgo and honey locust trees.
Plant any of the trees at least 15 feet from the house. Plan ahead for backyard activity areas, such as patios, decks or play areas. It would be good to get an entire backyard landscape plan so the tree can go in the best position.
This is the best time of year to look at the shade tree’s future location. Decide which part of the house you want to be shaded, and go outside between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on any summer day. Determine which direction the sun is coming from
by looking at your shadow. You will be able to get a range of tree locations by seeing where the shadow points at the part of the house you want to be shaded.
Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@greenerview.com. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 JEFF RUGG
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BY TOM MARGENAU
Mixing Apples, Oranges and Kumquats
Q: In a recent column, you said that someone’s Social Security check might go down if they are still working while getting Social Security checks. You must be talking about taxes, because my husband is 69 and still working, and he gets an increase every year in his benefits. So, can you please clarify things for us?
A: You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You are mixing an apple with an orange.” Well, in your case, you are mixing an apple and an orange and a kumquat!
In this situation, the kumquat is the taxation of Social Security benefits. And in the prior column you mentioned, I was not discussing that issue. In fact, I rarely get into the topic of the taxes you pay on your Social Security benefits. Why? Because, frankly, I don’t feel comfortable discussing it. As a retired Social Security guy, I know all about the payment of Social Security benefits, and that is what I write about. But the taxation of those benefits is handled by the Internal Revenue Service, not the Social Security Administration. So, when people need to know about the taxes they might pay on their Social Security benefits, I send them to the IRS or to a good local tax advisor.
Let’s get back to that apple and orange. The apple is the penalty that applies to Social Security beneficiaries under full retirement age if they are working and earning over a prescribed limit. The orange is the increase in benefits that might occur for people (usually folks over their full retirement age) who continue to work after they start getting Social Security.
OK, let’s peel that earnings penalty apple first. Once you are over your full retirement age, you can make as much money as you want and still get all of your Social Security benefits. But if you are under full retirement age, you lose $1 in benefits for each $2 you make over an earnings threshold that goes up slightly every year. Currently, that threshold is $18,240.
Here is a quick example: Fred is 63 and getting Social Security. He takes a part-time job that will pay him $25,000 in 2020. That is $6,760 over the $18,240 earnings penalty limit. Half of that, or $3,380, must be withheld from his 2020 Social Security checks. Let’s say his normal monthly benefit is $2,000 per month. The Social Security Administration will hold back one of his checks and $1,380 from another check in order to recover the $3,380 that he is not due.
That’s a very simple explanation of the earnings penalty process. As I explained in a recent column, this provision of the law is usually a mess to administer because people rarely know
exactly how much money they are going to make. So, the SSA starts withholding benefits based on whatever estimates you initially provide. But as your income changes and the estimated yearly income changes, the withholding amounts change, and you either get overpaid or underpaid. So, this “apple” of a law usually ends up being all mushy -- maybe more like applesauce!
And now let’s get to the orange. You said your husband is 69, still working and gets an increase every year in his benefits. That’s quite a sweet orange, isn’t it? Here is what makes it sweet.
Your husband’s initial Social Security retirement benefit calculation was figured on his average monthly wage using his highest 35 years of inflation-indexed earnings as a base. If he works after he starts getting Social Security, those earnings he has and the taxes he pays will bump up his monthly benefit if the extra earnings increase his overall average monthly wage. In other words, they will add in his new year of earnings, drop out the lowest of the 35 years used in his original computation, and refigure his benefit.
There are a couple of very important points I need to make about this process. First, it is automatic. You don’t have to apply for it. The SSA has a computer program that annually refigures benefits for all working Social Security beneficiaries. Those who are due increases usually get them by the middle of the following year. In other words, if you are a Social Security beneficiary who worked in 2020 and who made enough to raise your average monthly wage, you will see your benefits go up around June of 2021 (with the increase paid retroactively to January 2021).
But the other important point I need to make about this process is that not everyone gets an increase. In fact, I’d guess most working beneficiaries don’t. Remember, I said that you only get an increase in benefits if the extra earnings you have increase the average monthly wage upon which your Social Security benefit is based. Or, to put that another way, you get an increase in benefits if the earnings you have now are higher than the lowest year of inflation-adjusted earnings used in your original benefit formula.
Here is an example: Let’s say 67-year-old Hank made $20,000 in 2019. He thinks he should get an increase in his benefits because he was making only about $10,000 per year in 1984, which he figures must be the lowest of the 35-year base of earnings used in his original Social Security computation. But Hank needs to remember that those past earnings were indexed for inflation. In other words, when the SSA figured his original benefit, they didn’t use the $10,000 he actually made. They multiplied that by
an indexing factor of probably around 4. That means they used $40,000 instead of $10,000 as his 1984 wages. So, $40,000 (not $10,000) is his lowest year of earnings. The $20,000 that Hank made in 2019 is way less than that. So those new earnings he had will not increase his overall average monthly wage and thus will not increase his monthly Social Security check.
On the other hand, if Hank had made $50,000 in 2019, that would have been higher than the lowest year in his original benefit formula, and it would
have resulted in a small increase in his monthly Social Security check.
“Small increase” is a key phrase here. Although the amount of the increase depends entirely on your current earnings and your past earnings history, usually a year of good earnings might bump up your monthly Social Security check by $10 or $20.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM
Answers on previous page
LIs clutter and the thought of moving overwhelming?
ately, you have had thoughts of finally moving and have a basic plan as to where you would end up.
Some may already have a second home, which makes it so much easier as an end game of relocating.
You have a wide smile on your face just thinking about it, finally to begin enjoying your retirement and the fun activities and things that you haven’t been able to do or accomplish and now look forward to.
But as many don’t necessarily have a second home to retire to and just thinking further about this monumental undertaking your smile suddenly changes to a more concerned and worried look about the process and the decisions that must be made. For some, the frown turns into a little bit of a panic attack worrying about everything that needs to be done.
The reality of this major move sets in and you begin looking around your home as to what has to be done to prepare your home for sale. Now I suggest you first take a step back, try to calm down, and begin thinking about what you need to do, one step at a time.
However, the clutter may be overwhelming and you want to pull your hair out, but again frustration sets in. Again, calm down, relax, and get your paper and pen out and begin taking inventory of what you own and have accumulated over the years. First off, begin to note what do you really need to take with you and what can be either
given away to your local charities, family or friends or given away for a tax deduction or just thrown away.
BY MARY HUNT
Today, we celebrate cucumbers, which will soon be in the peak of their season and dirt-cheap! When prepared well, cucumbers are not only delicious but also packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Besides these two health benefits, they also promote hydration, may lower blood sugar, are low in calories and are easy to add to your diet.
Home gardeners would do well to plan for a big harvest because cucumbers, like zucchini, have a way of multiplying beyond expectations -- and then producing even more. Farmers markets are always evident in this truth, where I recently saw a full box for just $5.
One thing to know about cucumbers: When grown in extremely hot temperatures, the cucumber skin can get bitter. You can deal with this by either removing the skin prior to slicing or soaking
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
Are there clothes that you will not need to take with you if you are going to a climate that would make them unnecessary? Am I going to purchase new furniture in my new home? Do I need a professional tag sale company or can I get away with just doing a garage sale? Do I need a certified professional to determine the value of my furniture and possessions?
As you take notes and catalog what you are keeping and what you are not and all the decisions that will need to be made about your move your frustrations and concerns should be reduced and a clearer picture will begin to slowly become apparent.
Your initial move into your home was probably very exciting many years ago and I am sure there might have been a few bouts of concerns but hopefully few frustrations. Now that you have lived in your home 10, 20, or even 30 or more years I am quite sure there are many, many more items to deal with, and the sheer accumulation of stuff and decisions maybe a lot more challenging and complicated.
Take an hour or two every day or every other day and begin reducing
your clutter by at least throwing out what you know you will not take with you. This would be an excellent first step as you are formulating your list(s). It may appear like an overwhelming task to undertake and so much to do, but doing a little bit at a time will make the process and end result very satisfying.
It should be a family responsibility and obligation to work together to get things done; although that in itself sometimes may not have everyone on board for various reasons. However, everyone should chip in to help and all should be responsible for providing a helping hand. Now, if you don’t have the motivation and don’t want to do anything, or don’t have any help and you have the budget you can always rely on outside services to do whatever you want to be done to make your preparation to move smoother.
My suggestion is to take as much time as needed maybe 6-12 months in advance of selling. Then take it one day at a time as you are creating your “plan to move list” and it should make your job much less stressful, simplified, and organized. Most important and crucial is dealing with the current Covid-19 pandemic during your planning, so here are 3 sites that will assist you:
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the cukes in salt water to remove the bitterness.
Personally, I love cucumbers so much that I would be happy eating them in a salad, as pickles, in a sandwich or just straight-up with a sprinkle of salt -and I mean every day of my life.
Today, I have one recipe for you that may take you back to your childhood. It does for me because this is the way my grandmother made cucumber salad.
MY GRANDMOTHER’S
CUCUMBER SALAD
4 cups sliced cucumbers
1 to 2 tablespoons sea salt
1 sweet white onion
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Place the sliced cucumbers in a colander in the sink, and salt generously. Mix gently with your hands so that all of the slices are covered with salt. Let
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Good luck and remember take your time and keep a level head and as my dad always told me, “don’t sweat the small stuff, for almost everything in life is the “small stuff.”
P.S. Lastly, start looking at your home as a buyer and determine lowcost fixes you can do to prepare your home for sale as well as those things that might cost you more in your final sale price if you don’t make those repairs.
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S). Just email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your ideas and suggestions on future columns with your name, email, and cell number and he will call or email you back. For a consultation, he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions or concerns.
stand for 30 minutes. Rinse very well, and pat the cucumber slices dry in a towel.
In the meantime, in a large bowl, mix the remaining ingredients -- onion, sour cream, sugar and apple cider vinegar. Add the prepared cucumbers, stirring to cover completely. Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving.
If you are worried that your cucumbers may be a little bitter, but you do not want to peel all of that nutritious skin away, place the sliced cucumbers in a colander in the sink, and sprinkle with salt as directed in the recipe.
The salt will not only remove any bitterness from the skin but also leech water from the cucumbers to keep your salad from getting all watery.
I drained nearly 1/2 cup of liquid from the five cucumbers I used to make my last batch!
If you have lots of pickles left over after making this yummy salad, I also
have an easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles recipe that you can read and print out by going to https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/pickles. You can also access a printable copy of My Grandmother’s Cucumber Salad at this same website.
Would you like more information? Go to EverydayCheapskate.com for links and resources for recommended products and services in this column. Mary invites questions, comments and tips at EverydayCheapskate.com, “Ask Mary.”
This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually.
Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a lifestyle blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.”
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM
July 17,
CLASSIFIEDS ...a sure way to get results.
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AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN 11 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. CALL TODAY FOR OUR VERY LOW RATES. www.gcnews.com
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EMPLOYMENT
HELP WANTED
JOB OPPORTUNITY:
$18.50 P/H NYC $16 P/H LI
$13.50 P/H UPSTATE NYH. CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate! Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care. Phone: 347-713-3553
About to have a milestone? Send us news about your engagement, wedding, new baby, or school accomplishments for a chance to be in our paper! Call the G.C. office at 294-8900 for more information.
F/T Experienced Medical Receptionist
needed for vascular surgical practice in Glen Cove.
Duties include but not limited to answering phones, scheduling and confirming appointments, obtaining authorizations and referrals, processing claims, setting up/cleaning exam rooms.
Monday-Friday
Please Email resume to: gfvitalemd@optonline.net
EMPLOYMENT
HELP WANTED
PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE
FLORAL PARK
RECEPTIONIST P/T
Seeking a mature, experienced individual with good phone & communication skills, work ethic & adaptability. Computer & prior Medical-Tech experience helpful. Email resume: EVADUPPS@GMAIL.COM PHONE: 516-488-1414
Place an ad for anything you need in our Classifieds section! Call 294-8900 for rates and info.
EMPLOYMENT
SITUATION WANTED
C.N.A. AVAILABLE
Are you looking for a CNA that is very loving and reliable to take care of your loved one?
I have experience in nursing homes, can work full time & part time weekends 6 hr/12hr shifts. Call 631-336-6544 or 917-244-3714
CAREGIVER
Experienced Caregiver is seeking a live in or live out position. Able to care for patients with various illnesses and will help with daily living activities and household tasks. Excellent references. Please Call: 516-754-5742 or 914-802-8102
CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH
AIDE FULL OR PART TIME 25 years experience, light housekeeping, shopping, activities, appointments, etc. valid driver’s license. Excellent references. Live in or out. Please call 516236-1711
EXPERIENCED NURSES
AIDE/ COMPANION My references are excellent and verifiable. I am also a careful, reliable person to be with at this difficult time. Call Grace 917-499-9520.
EMPLOYMENT
CAREER TRAINING
COMPUTER & IT TRAINING program! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)
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)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BOY SCOUT COMPENSATION FUND Anyone that was inappropriately touched by a Scout leader deserves justice and financial compensation! Victims may be eligible for a significant cash settlement. Time to file is limited. Call Now! 844587-2494
GET DIRECTV! ONLY $35/ month. 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies on Demand (w /SELECT All Included Package). PLUS Stream on UP to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918
Recently Diagnosed w/Lung Cancer or Mesothelioma? Exposed to Asbestos Pre-1080 at Work or Navy? You may be entitled to a significant cash award! Smoking history ok! 888-912-3150
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADOPTION
ADOPTION
Family oriented single woman looking to welcome a child into her life. Any ethnicity welcome, expenses paid. Please call 347-470-5228 or my attorney 800-582-3678
EVENTS
COVID-19
Coronavirus testing is available by appointment in our Floral Park facility Mon., Wed. Thurs. at Floral Park MD across from Lady of Victory Church in the village square. Please call (516)488-1414
• Experienced
• Excellent references.
We will provide you the best caregivers in America.
Filipino men and women. Kind,loving and caring at this very difficult time. Call Gertrude
create professional advertisements to promote it
help you be seen by thousands of local readers! Call 1-516-294-8900 to inquire!
CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900
MARKETPLACE
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 Our Website tgchs.org Our Online Store stores.myresaleweb.com/ at-stewart-exchange Items to Consign?
Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society
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!
SOLID CHERRY FURNITURE
End Tables & Matching Coffee Table. 60yrs old. Very Good Condition.
Best Offer Call: 516-352-5040
MARKETPLACE
WANTED TO BUY
FREON WANTED: WE PAY
CA$H for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-361-0601 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com
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
PETS
PET SERVICES
A GARDEN CITY ANIMAL
LOVER doesn’t want to leave your precious pooch or fantastic feline alone all day. I’m reliable, dependable and will walk and feed your pet while you work or travel. Please call Cheryl at 516-971-3242
AUTOMOTIVE
***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 516-297-2277
AUTOS WANTED
AUTO BUYERS! We visit you. Highest cash paid. Or donate, tax deduct + cash. DMV#1303199. Please call Luke 516-VAN-CARS OR 516-297-2277
REAL ESTATE FOR RENT
APARTMENT FOR RENT
GLEN HEAD PROMENADE
2 BR Apt or 1BR w/Office/Den Near all. Post Office, LIE, LIRR, North Shore Univ Hosp. North Shore School District and NYCOM, NYIT, CW Post College. Great for single business person or retiree. Lovely country setting on 2nd flr. Excellent cond. Legal and lease required. Rent $2,400/mo + required 1/2 mo. sec. dep. Includes 1 full bath & kitchen w/dw, stainless steel kit sink. New appliances. Granite counter tops. Laundry in apartment. Fully carpeted. Wi-fi /Internet access. Great view. Electric hoist installed. A/C. Heat incld. (Elec not incld) Priv. Ent. 1 car gar.w/shared storage space. Snow removal in winter. Non-smoker, no pets. No yard use/area for outdoor grill. Avail 8/1/2020 to see and/or move in. Please call or text 516-660-6228 OFFICE SPACE
GARDEN CITY PRIME 7th STREET LOCATION
2 second floor windowed offices available. 285 sq ft 2 room suite overlooking 7th St., asking $1225 and 150 sq ft 1 room office, asking $725. Rent includes everything. Call Owner 516-510-9452.
VACATION RENTAL
BEAUTIFUL HAMPTON
BAYS WATERFRONT PROPERTY. Available immediately. Entire house or just 3BR apt. for rent for monthly/ yearly rental. Own private boat dock. Please call: 347-386-2051
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND
Best selection of full /partial week rentals. Call for FREE color Brochure. Holiday Real Estate, Inc. 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com. $50 discount new rentals. Code: “WelcomeBack” (Expires 2020-09-01)
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
HOMES
SOUTHOLD FOR SALE BY OWNER
2 Story, 4-5 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths, Large EIK, Porch and Beautiful Inground Pool. Walk to town. Boat Ramp at end of street. $824 ,000. NO BROKERS Call: 631-987-7807
SERVICES
EXTERMINATING SERVICES
Esquire Exterminating Svcs.
*Mosquito Control Programs
*Wood Destroying Insect Treatments
*Rodent Control
*General Pest Control
Residential, Commercial, Industrial Free Estimates No Obligation Family Owned/Operated Call: 516-499-0676 or 646-533-6500.
JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING
We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship
Thousands of frames to choose from!!
Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495
SERVICES
ATTORNEY
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
AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS
SPRING TURN ONS
Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199
CLASSIFIEDS Call
SERVICES
CLEANFELLAS
PRESSURE WASHING
Residential & Commercial Servicing:
Nassau, Suffolk & Queens Homes, Concrete, Decks, Fences, Patio Furniture
Replace Paver Sand & Reseal Gutter Cleaning
Call/Text for free estimate: 516-316-1190 cleanfellas@hotmail.com cleanfellasinc.com licensed/insured.
HANDYMAN
Careful & Reliable
Covid-19 Conscious and Safe Serving GARDEN CITY and surrounding area since 2003
Repairs & Installations of all types
Carpentry, Moldings, Lighting and More
35-yr Nassau Resident References
Phone/Text Friendly Frank: 516-238-2112
Email: Frankcav@optonline.net
HANDYMAN
Careful & Reliable
Covid-19 Conscious and Safe Serving GARDEN CITY and surrounding area since 2003
Repairs & Installations of all types Carpentry, Moldings, Lighting and More 35-yr Nassau Resident References
Phone/Text Friendly Frank: 516-238-2112
Email: Frankcav@optonline.net
SERVICES
JOVEL DELUXE
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Interior & Exterior Renovations
Interior & Exterior Painting
Door & Window Installation
Retaining Walls, Patios, Driveways, Deck Staining Pressure Washing Free Estimates
www.joveldeluxe.com 631-926-3773
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
PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!
Slate & Tile Specialists
All types of Roofing Local References Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869
SERVICES
STAY IN YOUR HOME LON-
GEr with an American Standard Walk In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-844-286-6771or visit www.walkintubquote.com / newyork 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.drannmariedangelo.com 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530
PAINTING & PAPERHANGING
MICHELANGELO
PAINTING & WALLPAPER
Interior, Exterior, Plaster / Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499
INSTRUCTION
BASEBALL LESSONS
Former GC Varsity player All League selection and current D1 College Baseball Player Can teach fundamentals of hitting, fielding and pitching. Flexible schedule $30/hour Call or Text: 516-761-8184
SERVICES
A & J MOVING & STORAGE:
Established 1971. Long Island and New York State specialists. Residential, Commercial, Piano & Organ experts. Boxes available. Free estimates. www. ajmoving .com 516-741-2657 114 Jericho Tpk, Mineola NYDOT# 10405
DISH TV $59.99 for 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-800-609-9405
Congratulations to the HBT and SWMS Class of 2020
SWMS students are all smiles in a brightly-decorated car as they celebrate the completion of middle school.
On June 15, H.B. Thompson and South Woods Middle School eighth grade students officially became Syosset High School students. During moving up events unlike any other held in years past, students received their certificates and bid farewell to the middle schools.
In events planned with a focus on safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, students and families celebrated the culmination of three years spent at the middle school level and looked with excitement towards their future at Syosset High School.
Cars lined up in front of the schools, many decorated with balloons, graduation banners and congratulatory hand-written messages. Building administrators greeted students and presented them with certificates and awards. Faculty and staff lined the parking lots to applaud, congratulate and bid farewell to their beloved students. Celebratory music played and a joyous atmosphere was enjoyed by all during the events that will surely be remembered for a lifetime.
messages
A proud HBT student waves before he receives his certificate.
A SWMS student thanks the school as he prepares to receive his certificate.
Balloons adorned the SWMS school building exterior, as well as the many cars that paraded through the parking lot.
An HBT family smiles and waves during the car parade.
Teachers applaud as a family drives by displaying
of gratitude to the school.
Photos courtesy of the Syosset School District
For the safety of our staff and customers, you must wear a mask to and from the tables. Thank you for your cooperation
Reservations are not being taken at this time... First come first served
For curbside pickup just call (516) 294-6565 and place your order. Let us know the make and model car you are in, the license plate number, and we’ll deliver right to your car!
