Mid-Island Times (8/14/20)

SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN

RESEEDING THE BAY

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino announces the introduction of over 20,000 oyster seedlings into Oyster Bay Harbor in honor of National Oyster Day on August 5.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Lou Imbroto, Councilwoman Vicki Walsh, Town Clerk Richard LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato celebrated National Oyster Day in Oyster Bay Harbor by transferring over 20,000 oyster seedlings from the Town’s shellfish hatchery into the FLUPSY (Floating UPwelling SYstem) located at Theodore Roosevelt Park Marina. The Town’s hatchery, opened last fall, was launched with the

goal of populating Oyster Bay Harbor with 2 million additional clams and oysters. These efforts generate both economic benefits for the shellfish industry and environmental benefits that include improved water quality as each shellfish filters gallons of water per day.

“Oyster Bay Harbor has long been considered one of the crown jewels of Oyster Bay, and we’ve done more than ever before to improve its water quality,” said Supervisor Saladino. “From our

rigorous seeding program to the great work being done at our new shellfish hatchery, we are continuing to improve the water quality in our bay while delivering economic benefits to the shellfish industry.”

The Town and local baymens association currently maintain a FLUPSY (Floating UPwelling SYstem) in the harbor to grow clams and established “grow-out” areas to allow the clams to mature

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State senators call for ouster of PSEG executives

BY RIKKI MASSAND

For the third time in five days immediately following Tropical Storm Isaias’s damage to the region, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of Long Island residents, facilities and businesses, New York State Sen. James Gaughran (D-5th district) said he was disgusted by PSEG-Long Island and LIPA’s “total failure that endangered our most vulnerable residents.”

In a statement released Sunday, August 9, the State Senator who has a Syosset office at 485 Underhill Boulevard, suite 102 in proximity to the Syosset LIRR and downtown Jackson Avenue, commented that Public Service Electric & Gas (PSEG) Long Island and LIPA’s failed leadership “is unforgivable.” He demands prompt change at the utilities, starting at the top of their organizations.

“Mr. Eichhorn, President of PSEG-LI, and Mr. Falcone, CEO of LIPA, must be terminated immediately. The events of the past week have made clear: PSEG-LI has failed Long Islanders. Half a million Long Islanders were left in the dark without communication from PSEG, including seniors and medically vulnerable persons. Many still remain without power and without answers. LIPA, the oversight authority to PSEG-LI, has been asleep at the wheel and failed in its oversight of PSEG-LI, leaving Long Islanders to suffer for their inaction,” Sen. Gaughran said.

On Friday, August 7 Sen. Gaughran stood on the lawn of Woodbury Gardens, a 214-unit senior living center at 1900 Fox Hill Drive Woodbury, to meet with senior residents in the community “who have been left in the dark since Tuesday’s storm, unable to even reach PSEG by phone.” Staff members explained concerns from residents and their families as some seniors at the facility rely on power for their oxygen and CPAP breathing devices.

Two days later Sen. Gaughran sent out letters to Public Service Enterprise Group, parent company of PSEG-LI, and to Ralph Suozzi, former mayor of Glen Cove and current village administrator for Garden City who is the chairman of the Long Island Power Authority. Ralph Suozzi is also the cousin of U. S. Congressman Tom Suozzi (former Nassau County Executive) who represents Syosset and New York’s 3rd Congressional District.

In his letter to Suozzi and the LIPA Board this week, Gaughran

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‘Share a Moment’ graduation gown initiative

Legislator Lafazan and Samantha Smith of Syosset outside the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building on July 28.

Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (Woodbury) is teaming up with Syosset High School rising junior Samantha Smith in her growing campaign to ensure that students whose families are struggling with financial difficulties can enjoy the full graduation experience.

Through her “Share a Moment” initiative, Smith is gathering gently used graduation gowns, which are then washed and matched to students in need based on their school colors. The idea came to her following her middle school graduation and her shock at how many of her classmates simply threw away the gowns, which can cost up to $100.

“I knew there were - and are - a lot of people all over the country who don’t have enough money to buy food or clothes, never mind a graduation gown. I started thinking of ways I could do something to help,” she said. “The need to take action became clear to me earlier this year as I witnessed the 2020 graduates’ concerns about not being able to attend a graduation ceremony. I forged that now more than ever, people would be able to empathize with those who aren’t able to attend their graduation ceremony any year simply because they can’t afford the gown.”

Legislator Lafazan, who is collaborat-

ing with Smith to host a permanent collection site in the lobby of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building in Mineola, joins Syosset community partners at the Andrew Howard Dry Cleaners, Philly Pretzel Factory and Minuteman Press of Syosset as supporters of Smith’s efforts. She also gathered gowns following Syosset High School’s recent commencement ceremony.

“The hardships caused by the COVID19 pandemic are being felt in aspects of life that many people may previously have taken for granted,” Legislator Lafazan said. “Time and again, community members like Samantha have risen to the occasion and led with a truly unifying and inspiring spirit of compassion. I am proud to support Samantha Smith and her ongoing efforts to make graduation dreams come true through the Share a Moment campaign.”

For additional information, updates and additional temporary Share A Moment community drop-off locations, follow Smith on Facebook and Instagram. Interested donors can also contact Rena Thomas at Legislator Lafazan’s office at 516-571-6218 or rthomas@nassaucountyny.gov with questions.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Email: Editor@GCNews.com

Enshrine protections under law

To the Editor:

On Monday, August 3, I voted in favor of an amendment to Nassau County’s Human Rights Law which ensures that Nassau County residents are protected from discrimination based on certain visible characteristics or traits, such as “natural hair texture” and “protective hairstyles.”

This is a good piece of legislation, and I am glad it was adopted unanimously. However, I cannot help but feel that the action we took was incomplete.

During the debate on this measure, I urged the Majority to finally act upon my proposal to further amend the Human Rights Law and make it unambiguously clear that transgender and gender non-conforming Nassau residents are protected.

Nearly a decade ago, my predecessor Judy Jacobs first carried this legislation; since that time, state legislation has been enacted to mandate equal treatment under the law for transgender New Yorkers.

Despite numerous opportunities, the Legislature persists in its inaction. Majority lawmakers have used the passage of state legislation as part of their argument against updating the human rights law locally. The actions of this Legislature reveal this to be an unjust double standard.

Consider the fact that Section 292 of the New York State Human Rights Law was amended last year to prohibit discrimination by expanding the definition of race to include "traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists. Yet, we acted on August 3 to amend our human rights law to address

similar discrimination.

Furthermore, it is an established practice of this Legislature to make certain protections explicit under County law, notwithstanding the existence of similar protections under state or federal law.

Why was the bill we approved on August 3, worthwhile and honorable as it is, held to a different standard by this Legislature than one for transgender people?

The challenges faced by transgender Nassau County and New York residents have not abated. Transgender people experience elevated levels of poverty, housing discrimination, workplace bias and a risk of suicide and mental health challenges as compared to the general population. They are also frequently the target of fatal violence.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, advocates tracked no fewer than 27 violent deaths of transgender or gender non-conforming Americans in 2019. Many were Black transgender women. At least 21 transgender people have been killed in America this year alone. It is painfully clear now in 2020 that gender identity and racial equity are inseparable.

I believe that enshrining Countylevel protections stemming from gender identity in our Human Rights Law is not only morally and legally correct, but consistent with the practices of this Legislature.

Our transgender community is under attack as we speak, and we have a duty to stand with them - just as we seek to do with other marginalized groups. It is literally the least we can do.

Arnold W. Drucker Nassau County Legislator, 16th Legislative District Plainview

Getting married?

Email editor@gcnews.com to put your engagement or wedding announcement in this paper.

Photo credit: Office of Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan

Woodbury Stretch Studio pivots with pandemic

BY RIKKI MASSAND

With gym and studio-style fitness centers in New York State remaining closed during the pandemic, more people are pursuing their own outdoor and at-home exercise regimens. Local business Stretch Lab aims to help exercisers with their pliability and movement with stretching sessions.

Stretch Lab, located at 8285 Jericho Turnpike in the Woodbury Common shopping center just east of Woodbury Road, was permitted to open under the category of “Personal Services” in Stage 3 opening  in late June. The studio opened on July 1, as the business owner Chris Tucker and his team decided on playing it safe and preparing with an extra few days,....from the dash to close doors, as most businesses did, in the second week of March.

One-on -one “flex” appointments are held in the Woodbury studio but only after the customer has been pre screened using a temperature gun and has answered COVID-19 exposure survey questions.

“Massage is going on (opened studios) now and physical therapy continues, so StretchLab is open again now and we just need to take precautions of having masks on at all times and the use of PPE, as well as our appointment and

check-in system outside of the studio. Once we opened back up July 1 things started slowly as we only allowed in one member (patron) at a time. People can text us when they arrive outside, and we have set up a front-desk style check in there with tables and chairs. We have to take people’s temperatures and if it is less than 100 degrees they are permitted to come in,” Tucker says.

Many community members and North Shore residents come to StretchLab for therapeutic benefits of getting the joints and ligaments worked out while they remain laying on a “stretch bench” -- and the stretch generally can serve as a complimentary piece to workouts and fitness regiments. People in the community and those new to the community can seek a service in Woodbury with the resumption of in-person assisted stretches, or if they are preferring to stay home, a virtual class/instruction option.

The three and a half month break from mid-March through June left many locals with potentially over 100 days “since their last stretch, since it’s the last time we would have done a stretch on them,” according to Tucker.

Prior to the pandemic shutdown, in just over six months of operations in Woodbury this StretchLab location

drew over 275 active members. At present the number of people actively coming in for appointments has dropped significantly and people are freezing their memberships, as some are not comfortable returning to locations where activities and personal services take place.

When the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce and Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan welcomed StretchLab of Woodbury to the community at an October  2019 ribbon-cutting ceremony, its owner and Huntington resident Tucker described his interests in moving back home and becoming his own boss. He believes with StretchLab he found a business model and location that aligned with his interests and goals. Before embarking on a two-decade career in Silicon Valley, Tucker graduated from Cold Spring Harbor High School and then attended Fairfield University in downstate Connecticut.

“Our main demographic is adults 50 to 70 years old, and 60% are male. These may be people at the highest risk for complications from COVID-19, and the males are usually in worse shape than females from getting it. The people in worse shape are generally more nervous about the pandemic, and we get a substantial amount of people who

aren’t ready to come back in. Anyone with pre-existing medical conditions is probably not going to come into any such studio right now...then you have some people who choose to not come in because we require them to wear a mask,” he said.

Screenings and Masking Up

A prescreened flexologist wearing a mask will be able to see individuals and family members coming in for appointments together. For example on Friday, July 24 a husband-and-wife pair took turns in flex sessions -- they were the only two customers in the Woodbury studio at the time of their appointment, and the flexologists had them utilize different “benches” which are cushioned and thoroughly cleaned surfaces. Disinfecting takes place between every appointment and all guests wear masks. At a maximum, with the large space between benches and the total of 10, a staggered approach for appointments could only see three members in flex sessions during any period of the day.

“From a 1:1 assisted stretch standpoint, I would think we may max out at five benches ever being used simultaneously. The business model meant for the studio to accommodate 10 patrons

Continued on page 16

At PSEG Long Island, our commitment to providing the best customer service is more powerful than ever. With our Mobile App, MyAlerts, and Alexa, you’re never more than a text, tap, or voice command away from having your questions answered quickly, and safely, right from your own home.

See all the ways to connect with us at

A small world!

In 2012, Dr. Marc Herman, former president of the Syosset Board of Education, handed Beverly Chen her diploma from Syosset High School. This year, Beverly has become one of Dr. Herman’s residents at the Department of Dental Medicine, North Shore University Hospital - Long Island Jewish Medical Center! It’s a small world!

Free ‘Do Not Knock’ stickers from Town

The Town of Oyster Bay is offering free ‘Do Not Knock’ stickers to residents to deter door-to-door solicitors. Residents can obtain a free, waterproof, vinyl ‘No Soliciting’ sticker through the Town Clerk’s Office.

Town Clerk Richard LaMarca stated, “Now more than ever, our Town residents wish to remain unbothered at home by the potential nuisance of doorto-door peddlers. My office offers free ‘No Soliciting’ stickers to homeowners as a way to set clear boundaries with anyone approaching your home looking to do unwanted business.  Contact us today for a free sticker.”

Town Clerk LaMarca further cautioned residents to remember a few simple guidelines to help avoid any potential pitfalls of being taken in by a fasttalking peddler or solicitor. Residents are advised to check for a current Townissued photo identification badge prior to doing any business with a door-to-

door peddler. Photo ID issued by the Town Clerk’s Office is a good form of protection because it is issued only after an in-depth background check of the individual has been made and full disclosure of the nature of their business is provided.

While nonprofit organizations are not required by law to have permits, Town Clerk LaMarca has urged these organizations to inform his office about when and where their members will be soliciting, with the information then forwarded to the local police precinct, along with the solicitor’s names. This provides residents with another way of checking any official status a solicitor may have.

To obtain a free, waterproof, vinyl ‘No Soliciting’ sticker, please call (516) 624-6333, and visit the www.oysterbaytown.com for further information on services offered by the Oyster Bay Town Clerk.

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

State senators call for ouster of PSEG executives

From page 1

lambasted LIPA for its failure to ensure PSEG properly prepared and planned for Tropical Storm Isaias. He said PSEG’s failure to plan and failure to perform are intractably linked to a failure in oversight by the executive leadership at LIPA.

“It is clear that PSEG failed the public with its storm response. As the oversight authority of PSEG, LIPA management has clearly failed the public too. LIPA’s main responsibility is to oversee PSEG and ensure that PSEG is prepared for storms and natural disasters. To that end, the events that have unfolded over the past six days have made clear LIPA has not done its job. PSEG’s communications system has proven dangerously inadequate, and PSEG executives’ public statements have only compounded the spread of false information regarding the restoration of power, information that is critical for vulnerable populations including seniors and the medically fragile,” the local state senator, who previously served as a Huntington Town Councilmember, said.

Sen. Gaughran also addressed a letter to Ralph Izzo, chairman of PSEGLong Island’s parent company, Public Service Enterprise Group headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, as the utility expanded to Long Island service following Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. In his letter to the PSEG conglomerate head Sen. Gaughran wrote that while many supplemental utilities workers were brought into the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tri state region to restore power faster, including workers who came down from Maine, Vermont and Nova Scotia, the message being given to local families, seniors and medically vulnerable persons was dismissive and gave little to no insight on restoring the power at their homes:

“At-risk individuals are told by PSEG-LI representatives to go to a hotel or stay with family members ‘that might have power’-- while hardworking crews from across the country are working 16-hour shifts around the clock

Care with Sincerity, Safety and Smile…

to restore power to Long Island, executive leadership at PSEG-LI has been asleep at the wheel. I am astonished at just how wholly unprepared PSEG-LI leadership was for this storm.”

“PSEG-LI executives failed to properly plan for it and continually communicate false information to customers while tens of thousands of Long Islanders remain without power. Worse yet, each day such communications from the executive leadership only show their inability to properly assess the damage and restore power across Long Island. They must be held accountable for this debacle,” Gaughran stated.

More local officials were actively seeking solutions to the challenges the most dependent, “trapped” residents of the area may have faced.

On Wednesday, August 5 Sen. Gaughran led a press conference with his counterpart, State Sen. Kevin Thomas (D - 6th district), who represents central Nassau and municipalities including Garden City, Levittown, Hicksville, Wantagh and Bethpage. Joining them to view storm damage and speak about PSEG-LI’s “failed response” were fellow New York State Senators John E. Brooks, Todd Kaminsky and Anna Kaplan.

On Sunday, Sen. Thomas tweeted “This is the sixth night where thousands of families once again have no power here on Long Island. Residents of Long Island deserve to be reimbursed for this -- Stay tuned!”

On August 6, on his website Sen. Thomas noted that over 100,000 Nassau County residents including 35,000 in the Town of Hempstead had no power at home due to Isaias, according to PSEGLI data.

“This complete failure of PSEG-LI’s communication systems, especially amid a pandemic, is unacceptable. In response to this crisis, my Long Island Senate colleagues and I are calling for an investigation into PSEG-LI, Verizon Wireless, and LIPA’s handling and lack of preparedness for this storm, because Long Islanders deserve better

“We treat you and your family, just like our family”

than this,” Sen. Thomas explained in a Tropical Storm Isaias Recovery Update.

Syosset native and SHS Class of 2012 alum, former school board trustee and current Nassau County Legislator representing the 18th Legislative District Joshua A. Lafazan said on Friday, August 7 that his office has reported hundreds of outages to the utilities and was working ‘around the clock’ within the district, “to offer assistance of all kinds to residents in need of urgent help.”

Lafazan calls PSEG’s preparations for and response to Isaias and servicing local power needs “quite frankly unacceptable.”

“As a member of the County Legislature I will publicly press for both answers and accountability at our scheduled hearing on (Friday) August

17th…. What has transpired during a tropical storm here could have been far worse for a stronger hurricanePSEG was clearly not prepared. As your legislator I will not accept anything less than a comprehensive review and assurances of future safeguards,” Legislator Lafazan noted.

He added that many Syosset, Jericho and Plainview local residents were already “facing tenuous circumstances while navigating COVID.” The Legislator’s office informed community members that they will continue to work with and provide resources during the power loss emergency, in case homebound seniors had a need for food or the disabled or impaired needed any form of assistance without the power on. His staff can be reached at 516-571-6218 or JLafazan@NassauCountyNY.gov .

Reseeding the Bay

From page 1

prior to final seeding.  Additionally, the Town of Oyster Bay purchases two million seed clams annually for placement in the bay.  Once successful, the Town will expand its clam and oyster seeding operation from the hatchery to the south shore where the Town already works in partnership with other municipalities, the DEC, Cornell Cooperative, Stonybrook University and the New York Department of State to improve

water quality in the Great South Bay. “The environmental initiatives we take on today will preserve the quality, resiliency, and natural beauty of our local waterways for generations to come,” said Councilman Imbroto. “Protecting our natural assets is a top priority and by restoring and reseeding our shellfish populations, we not only strengthen the local economy, but also ensure we are working to keep our waters clean.”

This Week at the Syosset Public Library

Friday, August 14 at 2 p.m.–3 p.m.

Your Ancestry: Fill in the Blanks

Presenters: Reference 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 presenters. No registration required. Join us via Zoom from the link on the Virtual Calendar - www. syossetlibrary.org

Tuesday, August 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Are You Still Afraid of the Dark? with D.J. MacHale

AYAOTD resonate with us so much? Why do we love creepypastas, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and do we still love to be scared? Live Q&A will be available through the chat function. Join us via Zoom from the link on the Virtual Calendar - www.syossetlibrary. org

Thursday, August 20, at 1 p.m.

The Great American Songbook –Part 2

Presenter: Richard Knox

1300 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 205, New Hyde Park, NY11040

Phone: 516-205-6133 (24/7) / 516-806-2223 (9am-5pm)

Fax: 516-888-501-0635

www.surrogatefamilycare.com info@surrogatefamilycare.com

D.J. MacHale, show runner for the original Are You Afraid of the Dark? stops by this virtual campfire to talk about our childhood fears! Why did

Continuation of a 10-part series about the most enduring American songs of the early to mid-20th century. Attend as many sessions as you wish. No registration required. Join us via Zoom from the link on the Virtual Calendar - www. syossetlibrary.org

Do you have a service to advertise?

Our Service Directory is sure to bring results. Call 294-8900 for rates and information.

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 nyulangone.org/tavr.

Legislator hosts students for virtual government internships

BY RIKKI MASSAND

A three-day “Virtual Government Internship Program” running August 3 through 5 was organized and hosted by Nassau County Legislator and Syosset’s own Joshua A. Lafazan. He welcomed the 125 teenage interns, including many who attend Jericho High School, Syosset High and Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK Memorial High, into a virtual summer program and learning opportunity. Three weekdays sessions held over Zoom from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. offered career and educational insights and expertise on life in the political arena from prominent elected officials including New York State Comptroller

Tom DiNapoli and U.S. Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, in addition to the student ensemble’s daily ‘Lessons from Legislator Lafazan’ portion of the internship program.

Lafazan is one of New York State’s most prominent young faces in politics, starting with his election to the Syosset Board of Education in his senior year at Syosset High School (Class of 2012) with a role he held for five years prior to his successful first run for County Legislator in District 18, winning in the November 2017 election and re-elected in November 2019. After attending Nassau Community College and earning substantial base college

Two Hicksville residents promoted in National Guard

The New York Army National Guard has announced the promotion of two Hicksville residents in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Uzair Mahmood, who is assigned to the 107th Military Police Company, received a promotion to the rank of private first class on July 18.

Osvaldo Gonzalez, who is assigned to the Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, received a promo-

tion to the rank of private first class on July 19.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified Soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber Citizen Soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

credits, he earned his bachelor’s degree at Cornell University followed by a master’s of Education (M.Ed) at Harvard University, all during his time as a Syosset school board trustee.

Chase Serota, a Jericho High School alum and current senior at the University of Pennsylvania, has worked as the director of the Legislator Lafazan Internship Program for each of the past two summers, and he organized 75 students for daily assignments based out of Lafazan’s Plainview campaign office in July and August 2019. Five internship coordinators also served alongside Serota on the Internship Program’s managing staff this summer.

“One year later, and even despite the COVID-19 pandemic, not only is this program still thriving but it has only grown and adapted. This shows that despite all that’s going on the world, young people are more engaged and motivated to participate in the political process than ever before, and that even a pandemic won’t stop us. Despite the pandemic, the program has grown from 75 interns last year to over 125 this summer. This unique program is genuinely about empowering the next generation and proving to them that young people can make a difference when we’re adequately prepared,” Serota explained.

Students worked in virtual breakout sessions and subgroups to deliver speeches and present research which they were tasked with by Leg. Lafazan about today’s “hot button political topics” ranging from the 2020 Presidential Election and the removal of historical statues and monuments and symbols of the Confederacy nationwide, to DACA and that state of healthcare in America.

The ‘afternoons on Zoom’ program format allowed for Lafazan to energize

the students, as he generally does at events around Syosset. His “Lessons of the Day” covered topics including the state of veteran’s affairs on Long Island, the fight against opioid addiction, or the importance of advocating for the most vulnerable members of our society.

Due to Tropical Storm Isaias on Tuesday, August 4, some technical difficulties interrupted local students’ connections and checkered some parts of the program. But the group of over a hundred students heard from Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Congresswoman Rice, State Comptroller DiNapoli as well as Congressman Tom Suozzi, State Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, New York State Assemblywoman Taylor Darling and others.

Interns had to draft potential pieces of legislation based upon their researching particular subjects and existing policy. One possible outcome of this internship is for Legislator Lafazan to form the basis of new legislation he’d present before the County Legislature from the students’ research and various contributions with this program.

In an email to the Advance and News-Journal on Monday August 10, Legislator Lafazan commented on the virtual experience offered this summer:

"Organizing the internship program has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my entire life. Watching these kids grow within the program -- developing their confidence, finding their voice, and going out into the community to speak up for issues they care about -- has meant the world to me. I'm so proud to work with such outstanding young leaders."

Virtual event offered by Syosset Public Library

Title Swap Tuesday: Celebrating Banned Books Week

Tuesday, September 29, at 3 PM

Join the Readers’ Services Librarians on Zoom for a special title swap celebrating the 38th anniversary of Banned Books Week (September 27–October 3). Join us as we present our favorite banned and challenged books. Leave with a list of great reads! Free. No registration required. Join us via Zoom from the link on the Virtual Calendar - www.syossetlibrary. org

Congresswoman Kathleen Rice (upper row, second from right) video chats with student interns.

Luxury & Location

The Madison Home†

Clubhouse Pool†

Fitness Center†

A bittersweet farewell for Division Avenue’s Class of 2020

Members of Division Avenue High School’s Class of 2020 turned the page on their high school careers on July 28. Despite the national pandemic, the seniors were celebrated during one of the school’s five abbreviated commencement ceremonies on the Levittown Memorial Field. The small, intimate ceremonies allowed for the graduates to be properly honored for their four years of hard work. Each senior was accompanied by at least one family member and were seated six feet apart from their fellow peers to adhere to New York State’s social distancing regulations.

To beat the summer heat, the ceremonies were held under a large tent on the field. Proud central and building administrators, board of education members and Division Avenue staff members were present for the special day. Assistant Principal Jaclyn

Guidice opened the ceremony by welcoming graduates, families and distinguished guests. Salutatorian Jacqueline Testamark performed the national anthem, which was followed by a welcome address from Principal John Coscia. He encouraged the graduates to dream big and to make an impact, just as the late Division Avenue teacher Michael Verdi did.

“Mr. Verdi is no longer with us in body, but he is in spirit and he will be with us forever and louder than before,” said Mr. Coscia. “The dark times we faced together this year will never win… as we bid you farewell, my wish for you is that you dare to be as great as Mr. Verdi.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tonie McDonald approached the podium to acknowledge the handful of graduates who would be pursuing a military

career. She also shared a special gift with the Class of 2020. A rock garden with two trees, located on the side of Levittown Memorial Education Center, was created to commemorate this year’s graduates from Division Avenue High School and MacArthur High School. Each Division Avenue graduate received a rock with their name on it. The rocks would be placed under a tree in the garden to represent the special class.

Following her remarks, the graduates heard from Testamark who gave her salutatorian address, Valedictorian Emily Fuchs and Class President Nataly Rodriguez. The students reflected on their time at Division Avenue High School and provided words of encouragement for their fellow peers.

“Although the future is unknown, it is still in our hands,” Fuchs told her

fellow peers. “It is up to you to decide how you react to the unexpected events of daily life.”

Afterwards, Board President Peggy Marenghi was invited up to the podium to confer the diplomas. Each graduate walked across the platform at the front of the stage as Mr. Coscia, Dr. McDonald and board of education members applauded them. They received a diploma case and were encouraged to watch the virtual commencement ceremony which will be posted on the district website on July 30.

At the conclusion of each ceremony, the students exited the field and walked to the rock garden. Each graduate placed their rock in the new garden, leaving their imprint on the Levittown Public Schools forever.

Photos courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools

Left to right: Class President Nataly Rodriguez, valedictorian Emily Fuchs and salutatorian Jacqueline Testamark spoke at Division Avenue High School’s commencement ceremonies.

Left to right: Division Avenue graduates Gabriella Donovan, Richard Gladitz and Casey Dwyer.

Salutatorian Jacqueline Testamark performed the national anthem.

Valedictorian Emily Fuchs proudly walked across the platform to graduate.

Graduate Leah Draluck (right) walked across the platform as her name was called.

Division Avenue Principal John Coscia addressed the Class of 2020.

Division Avenue High School graduates Kenneth Gonzalez (left) and Elias Escobar.

Graduate Stefano Esposito (right) was applauded by Principal John Coscia, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tonie McDonald and board of education members.

Division Avenue graduate Shannon Hetzel placed her rock in the rock garden.

Board President Peggy Marenghi conferred the diplomas to Division Avenue’s Class of 2020.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Public Notice is hereby given that separate sealed bids for Canopy and Interior Reconstruction project will be received until 11:00 AM prevailing time on September 4, 2020 at the Administrative Offices at the BETHPAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY, located at 47 Powell Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud.

The work shall be as follows: CONTRACT #1–GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

SED # 28-05-21-03-6-011-011INTERIOR RECONSTRUCTION

SED# 28-05-21-03-6-011-010CANOPY RECONSTRUCTION (REBID)

Complete digital sets of the Contract documents may be obtained online (with a free user account) as a download for a nonrefundable fee of Forty Nine Dollars ($49.00) at the following website www.jagplanroom.com under ‘public projects’ beginning on August 14, 2020. Optionally, in lieu of digital copies, hard copies may be obtained directly from Island Digital Reprographics 200 Broadhollow Road Suite One Farmingdale New York 11735 (631-753-3000) upon a deposit of ONE HUNDRED ($100.00 Dollars for each complete set. Checks for deposits shall be made payable to the Bethpage Public Library

All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered plan holders via email and will be available at the above referenced websites. Any bidder requiring documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer and pay for all packaging and shipping costs. Plan

holders who have obtained hard copies of the bid documents will need to make the determination if hard copies of the addenda are required for their use, and coordinate directly with the printer for hard copies of addenda to be issued. There will be no charge for registered plan holders to obtain hard copies of the bid addenda. The bid deposit shall be refunded to each Bidder only if the plans and specifications are returned, in good condition, with no handwritten notations thereon within (30) calendar days after the bid opening date. All deposits shall be forfeited to the Library after the (30) days have elapsed.

ANY PERSON OR CORPORATION WHO FAILS TO SUBMIT A BID SHALL FORFEIT THEIR HARD COPY PLAN DEPOSIT IN ITS ENTIRETY.

Each Bidder must deposit, with their sealed bid, security in an amount not less than 10% of the base bid and all Alternate Bids in the proper form subject to the conditions set forth in the Instructions to Bidders (Page 3).

Attention of the Bidders is specifically directed to the minimum wage rates to be paid under the contract, as well as to other provisions set forth in the bidding documents.

A PRE-BID WALK THRU IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 28, 2020 @ 9:30 A.M. Bidder will also be required to show, to the satisfaction of the Bethpage Public Library that they are carrying Workers’ Compensation Insurance as required by law and all other Insurance in amounts not less than that specified under the General Conditions.

Performance Bonds and Labor/

LEGAL NOTICES

Material Bonds, as called for in the General Conditions are a requirement of each contract.

The Bethpage Public Library reserves the right to reject any or all bids submitted, to waive any informality or irregularity in any bid, and/ or to accept any bid in whole or in part and/ or to award or not award the contract, if in the opinion of the Bethpage Public Library the best interest of the LIBRARY will thereby be served. This invitation is an offer to receive bids for a contract. The successful Bidder will be required to execute a formal contract in the form contained in the Contract Documents.

All bids received after the time stated in the Notice to Bidders will not be considered and will be returned unopened to the bidder. The bidder assumes the risk of any delay in the mail or in the handling of the mail by employees of the LIBRARY. Whether sent by mail or by means of personal delivery, the bidder assumes responsibility for having its bid deposited on time at the place specified. Each Bidder shall agree to hold their bid price for (45) days after the formal bid opening.

Per Article 8, Section 220 of the New York State Labor Law, every contractor and sub-contractor shall submit to the LIBRARY within (30) days after issuance of its first payroll, and every (30) days thereafter, a transcript of the original payroll record, as provided by this article, subscribed and affirmed as true under penalties of perjury. The LIBRARY shall be required to receive and maintain such payroll records. The original payrolls or transcripts shall be preserved for (5) years from the completion of the work on the project.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting uncertainty with regard to (a) when the Owner’s building will be open to the public during 2020, (b) what restrictions, if any, will be applicable to construction activities in the Owner’s facilities due to State, Federal or Local orders, laws, regulations or rules related to the COVID-19 pandemic (including but not limited to social distancing, cleaning and disinfection requirements) and (c) the duration of any restrictions imposed on construction activities, the Owner may modify the construction schedule set forth in the Contract/Bid Documents. By submitting a bid, the Bidder acknowledges and agrees that there shall be no additional compensation paid for schedule modifications caused directly or indirectly by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bidder further acknowledges and agrees that the sole remedy for any schedule modifications or delays caused directly or indirectly by the COVID-19 pandemic shall be an extension of time, if warranted.

BY ORDER OF:

Board of Trustees

Bethpage Public Library Administration Offices 47 Powell Avenue Bethpage, NY 11714

Lisa Dobra Librarian in Charge BN 7481 1X 08/14

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 pro-

cess. 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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on AUGUST 20, 2020, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 20-304

JERICHO

SHIBU NAIR: (A) Variance to construct side one story addition having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance; also encroachment of eaves and gutters. (B) Variance to construct side one story addition, rear one story addition and rear deck exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance.

W/s/o St. Lawrence Pl., 280 ft. N/o Steuben Dr., a/k/a 15 St. Lawrence Place, Jericho, NY

AUGUST 10, 2020 BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK

JNJ 7945 1X 08/14

Upcoming Virtual Events at the Jericho Public Library

Saturday, August 15

11:30 a.m.: Table Top Adventures: Heading to Spain for Tapas with Lucy Van Horn: Join Lucy in her kitchen for a virtual cooking demo. She will show us how to make and enjoy these Spanish inspired small plates. Lucy will put together her personal Sangria recipe just for us! The recipes may be downloaded closer to the program

Monday, August 17

2:00 p.m.: Profiles: Windows to Nature with Dr. William Thierfelder: Dr. William Thierfelder, a docent at the museum of Natural History, details how the dioramas at the museum were made & allow viewers to enter a world filled with wonder spanning the globe.

7:00 p.m.: Fit & Fabulous with Linda Ray: Join Linda for this evening exercise class designed to get you Fit & look Fabulous!

Tuesday, August 18

10:30 a.m.: Storytime with Ms. Liz: Ages 2–5

11:00 a.m.: Guided Meditation for Self Healing with Patricia Anderson: Join Pat for one or all of the meditation sessions to bring harmony and balance into your life.

7:00 p.m.: Talk About Books w/

Fran Cohen: “The Tenth Muse” by Catherine Chung: Join Fran as she discusses this puzzle box of a book, an aspiring mathematician’s studies take her deep into her personal history and uncovers her identity.

Wednesday, August 19

11:00 a.m.: Princess & Dragon Royal Tea Party: “Learn How to Behave at a Tea Party”  by following the rules in the book by Madelyn Rosenberg. So Polly, put the kettle on and let’s all have tea!

2:00 p.m.: Art Lecture: Diego Rivera’s Pan American Unity, 1940 with Professor Thomas Germano: The mural, ten panels arranged in five sections, relate to Rivera’s firmly held belief that multicultural artistic expression will form into a unified cultural entity regardless of individual points of origin. Join Professor Thomas Germano when he presents this visual art lecture.

7:30 p.m.: Teen & Adult Removing the Barriers to Success: Join life coach Eileen Der Aris and learn to recognize the obstacles and “get out of your own way” for a more fulfilling life.

Thursday, August 20

10:00 a.m.: Chair Yoga with Jolie Bosnjak: This practice is for all levels... including those nursing an injury or coping with a chronic problem. The

results will surprise you!

1:00 p.m.: End of Summer Book Title Exchange with Lisa Jones, JPL Librarian: Join us when Lisa moderates this virtual program of books you've read over the summer. Tell us the titles you loved or loathed!  This could be a fun way to choose your next read. Lisa will have her own list of titles to share.

5:30 p.m.: Yoga w/Joe: Join Joe for this yoga class geared for all levels and reduce the stress in your life while keeping fit! Joe Cilmi is a certified Iyengar Hatha Yoga instructor.

7:00 p.m.: Pajama Storytime with Miss Kim: Ages 3–Kindergarten

Friday, August 21

2:00 p.m.: Great Performers:

Marlene Dietrich with March Courtade: Marlene Dietrich was a magnetic movie star, singer and a symbol of glamour and sex for more than half a century, Dietrich was unique and this talk will examine this seductive star. ucas changed the movies!

4:00 p.m.: End of Summer Reading Program: A Family Show with the Ben Anna Band: Kids and parents alike will go bananas for this high energy musical duo that will have everyone singing and dancing in the virtual aisles as we celebrate the end of the Summer Reading program “Imagine Your Story.”

For all events, go to www. jerichopubliclibrary.org /events/month to register

Get Results!

Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call 294-8900 or visit us online www.gcnews.com to request information & rates

Litmor Publishing's Community Newspapers

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray assisted Nicholas Godosis and Amanda Ferretti of Levittown as they visited Town Hall to obtain a marriage license on July 27.

Hempstead Town Councilman Dennis Dunne (third left) and Town Clerk Kate Murray (right) recently unveiled a new sign to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Levittown Lions Club. Also attending were Levittown Lions Club President Peggy Diorio and members Tom Diorio, Les Romel and Donald Patane.

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.

Woodbury Stretch Studio pivots with pandemic

Continued from page 3

at once, now only able to accommodate 5 or less is exactly what is wrong with retail right now,” Tucker said.

He defines the stretch business and personal service as closely in line with therapeutic massages and physical contact of a massage. The biggest difference is the fully-clothed nature of a stretch session versus a massage which is usually on the flesh and some level of disrobement is needed. Tucker noted that flexologists come into close proximity with the patrons being stretched, but what keeps there from being an ease in spread and transmission of coronavirus or any other germs and virus is the superior protection of a properly-worn facemasks. Nobody sweats from getting a stretch, and because benches are rotated and cleaned so easily there are not metals and other surfaces that would cause concern for the virus to live on in-between stretch sessions.

“Nurses, doctors and healthcare workers wearing their masks, and fitted well, have proved this -- as long as you’re wearing the mask you will be fine. People can sweat when the stretch happens but it is not comparable to any workouts or exercises, though it’s possible a mask can add discomfort. We just have to make this requirement as it’s the only safe choice for everyone,” Tucker said.

The good thing is that unlike fitness centers (gyms) in the area, StretchLab is able to continue making a return on its investment of the commercial rent.

The studio has 10 cushioned stretch benches or tables, each less than 30 inches off the ground, and much physical distancing could take place inside though just one appointment is being booked per time slot at present. Another factor that will come into play for StretchLab and all small businesses that welcome in local customers would be the surge in Syosset/Woodbury area home sales that the real estate sector has seen, as Tucker, like many in the neighborhood, noted “nobody wants to raise a family in condensed areas of New York City now.”

Business Model Adjustments

As a small business owner, an unforeseen circumstance when the StretchLab

studio doors closed in March was the attrition of the staff. Tucker says for varying pandemic-spurred reasons he’s lost half of his team through the last four months.

“I saw part-time staff people leave due to going on unemployment and their other jobs -- maybe as a personal trainer, and perhaps those jobs went away and they stayed on unemployment because neither job was now paying them. In some other cases we had people with other jobs they could do, such as nurses who were on staff here who had opportunities with their other jobs. Basically, now we have to ramp up our operations and our staff size again but we are not able to bring back a lot of our former employees. We have to balance the supply and demand of the service -- we can’t back too many of our members in-studio if we are not equipped with staff to serve them. That becomes a dance of providing the services requested and working on schedules for people coming in,” Tucker explains.

Tucker says not all the impacts of COVID-19 are negative and there is a degree of restoration and more consciousness of taking care of one’s body as many people stopped commuting into Manhattan for work (if they work remotely or worse, lost their job). Tucker says the variations of impacts and corresponding tangents in local residents’ lives takes on a different tune with each person coming in for a stretch: it’s a mixed bag.

“For some, the pandemic allowed for more balance in their life with spending more time at home. Other people have taken up more exercise and become more physically active, increased jogging or bicycling is evident. Still others have been sitting on the couch during the pandemic and physically they’re not doing anything. People are in one camp or another,” he said.

One of Tucker’s go-to pitches to people, just as a man in the wellness-centric lifestyle, is to ask “what is your wellness cocktail -- what do you do to make yourself feel better?”

“StretchLab is the holistic place and all-natural option to turn to. I just can’t stand most doctors as what they know is to prescribe, continue in medical and pharmaceutical industries, and to medicate, and provide for surgery. People

feel like they should ask their doctors whether or not they can come in for a stretch but they should realize a stretch is the most natural thing you can do with your body. We’re trying to be a voice and find the conditions people can easily address with stretching such as their lower back pain or sciatica -- all we are doing is moving their body for them and teaching them ‘do-it-yourself’ for stretches and form-rolls. We want to enable people to stretch themselves, form-roll and feel really good, and now StretchLab techniques are applicable to everyone and not just the wealthy with time set aside,” Tucker said.

Weekends were typically the busiest time for personal services businesses including StretchLab, the Waxing the City and Amazing Lash Studio in the Woodbury Common plaza and more establishments in the Syosset/ Woodbury vicinity. But Tucker says the paradigm shift seems clear that weekends aren’t prime time for such commerce, or people are still remaining at home or the summer months mean an extended time out the area on weekends in particular. From several angles, timing and scheduling has been altered.

“With people at home more, they will break up their day and come in here during weekdays and now our weekends aren’t busy. It’s crazy.

The weekend used to be a time when we would need the most flexologists (staff) and all the preparations to go with that. But we are not getting many requests for weekend stretches. People also have budgets to spend on their own and their families’ fitness and wellness and right now, people aren’t spending that money they were. I believe that as time moves forward we will see people spending that portion they budget and on their need for feeling amazing and getting healthier or to recover from their workouts. That was perhaps ‘frozen’ like a gym membership as people exercised on their own,” he explains.

The StretchLab brand is part of Xponential Fitness LLC, which includes well-known fitness franchise studios (boutique fitness brands) Club Pilates, Pure Barre, CycleBar, Row House and AKT Dance. Because of the brands within the corporate umbrella, StretchLab was at times “bucketed” to being akin to a fitness center. Group instruction

never took place within the studio setting, or otherwise, as the flexologist works 1:1 with clients. Tucker is in contact with several other Syosset Woodbury Chamber members who operate gyms and he noted their unique position from both public health and marketplace standpoints.

“The biggest problem with group fitness is their interior spaces with the powerful HVAC systems. If people in there are sweating the system will suck the virus up into the ducts and HVAC, unless they have a hepa filter installed, and then it recirculates the virus back into the air where people work out or move through,” he explains.

‘Flexibility’ within Xponential Fitness brands continues to evolve during and (hopefully) post-pandemic as the availability of virtual services, to provide wellness regimens and more to people from the convenience of their homes, has been worked on with added technology, and Tucker mentions the possibility of creating a hybrid, all-virtual stretch class led by a flexologist during the fall or winter. This would be a new revenue stream that the brands will be exploring, with “preparedness” for each subset of personal services or wellness category being the underlying goal and necessity.

Tucker says with the return of in-studio stretches virtual programs shall still continue. The limitations of the 10 to 20-mile radius from the Woodbury Common location evaporate with online delivery of StretchLab’s instruction, but the location has remained a valuable asset.

“More people living close by to our studio would prefer the in-person session with the flexologist as it feels amazing, compared to the virtual stretch instruction as they would have to do it by themself. The amazing thing about virtual stretching instruction is that we would not have to have only people in the area participating; they could be in China, in Japan, in Madagascar, in Hawaii, anywhere, and my market would explode to be able to service anybody,” he said. The same opportunities exist for any StretchLab and Xponential Fitness brand owners who are entrepreneurial and work closely with their corporate partners on this virtual effort.

Driveable Getaways: Hiking the Hudson River School Art Trail in the Great Northern Catskills

BY KAREN RUBIN

FEATURES SYNDICATE

My getaway exploring the Hudson River School Art Trail in the Great Northern Catskills of New York starts at the trailhead to Kaaterskill Falls, where you get an amazing view of Kaaterskill Clove (HRSAT Site #4). You gaze out over the gorge where mountain peaks seem to thread together and compare the scene today to the way it is depicted by Hudson River School artist Asher B. Durand’s 1866 painting. It’s a short walk along 23A (watch out for cars on the winding narrow road) to the trailhead for one of my favorite hikes, Kaaterskill Falls (HRSAT Site #5), a stunning scene that looks remarkably just as depicted in an 1835 painting by Thomas Cole, known as the father of the Hudson River School. “It is the voice of the landscape for it strikes its own chords, and rocks and mountains re-echo in rich unison,” Cole (who was also a poet and essayist) wrote.

The Kaaterskill Falls were a favorite subject of many of the Hudson River School painters and for me, is the quintessential combination of stunning scenery plus the physical pleasure of the hike – half-mile up to the base of the double-falls, then another half-mile to the top.

The two-tiered Kaaterskill Falls, 175 and 85 feet, is the highest in New York State and was described by James Fenimore Cooper in “The Pioneers” which Thomas Cole,

The view from Sunset Rock, one of 8 sites along the Hudson River School Art Trail in the mid-Hudson Valley region, is very much as Thomas Cole saw it in the 1820s © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

a friend of Cooper’s illustrated.

There is a small trail through the woods to the very top of the falls. Signs admonish hikers that climbing the ledges beside Kaaterskill Falls is extremely dangerous and has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. But the falls are not flowing when I come, so I get to walk on the ledges, giving me a really nervous view straight down and beyond, to the Valley and letting me look at the carved initials and graffiti from the 1920s and 30s, some even from the 1800s.  You feel a sense of kindred spirit with those who have passed through and passed on. You feel the

height and the proximity to the drop off, and it makes your heart flutter. HRSAT Hikes in North-South Campground

For my second day, after an amazing breakfast at the Fairlawn Inn, I head to NorthSouth Campground, where there are several of the Hudson River School of Art Trail hikes (as well as many other hiking trails) – the lake itself depicted in paintings such as Thomas Cole’s “Lake with Dead Trees,” 1825 (HRSAT Site #6).

The Escarpment Trail to Sunset Rock (HRSAT Trail Site #7) begins along the well-marked blue trail that

mostly wraps around the ledges, with the amazing views that so enthralled the artists of the Hudson River Valley. Close to the beginning is a fairly interesting scramble, then the trail winds through the woods along side fabulous rock formations before coming out again to the ledges. You reach Artists Rock at about a halfmile. Continuing on, you look for the yellow trail marker to Sunset Rock and from there, to Newman’s Point. You can either reverse and come back on the Escarpment Trail, or make a loop, coming down the Mary’s Glen trail, passing Ashley’s Falls.

Back at the North-South Lake, you can follow around the shoreline to see the same views that inspired Hudson River School paintings. You can also take the trail to the site of the Catskill Mountain House (HRSAT Site #8), one of the earliest tourist hotels. The majestic hotel, which was opened in 1823 and accommodated 400 guests a night (Presidents Arthur and Grant were among those who stayed here), burned down in 1963 but the view that attracted visitors still remains as one of the most magnificent panoramas in the region, and can be compared to Frederic Church’s “Above the Clouds at Sunrise” (1849). The campground is open May through October; 518-5895058 or call DEC Regional Office year-round at 518-357-2234, www.greatnortherncatskills. com/outdoors/northsouth-lake-campground.

Continued on next page

Driveable Getaways: Hiking the Hudson River School Art Trail in

the Great Northern

Catskills

The Hudson River School Art Trail also features Olana, the magnificent and whimsical mansion home of artist Frederick Edwin Church. At this writing, the entrancing mansion was not yet reopened to visits, but the 250acre grounds and the first-ever legally protected “viewshed” to the Hudson River are open (5720 Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-828-0135,  olana.org.)

Also, you can walk the grounds Thomas Cole Historic Site (the home has yet to be reopened, but is marvelous to visit, especially Cole’s studio). (218 Spring Street, Catskill, NY 12414, 518-943-7465, www.thomasscole.org)

Get maps, directions and background on the Hudson River School Art Trail at www.hudsonriverschool. org/hudsonriverschoolarttrail.

Also, walk on the  Hudson River Skywalk along the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to find incredible river views; explore the Mountain Top Arboretum, 178 acres of trails, wetlands, gardens, and native plants in Tannersville; in Athens, rent a kayak or paddleboard at  Screaming Eagle Outdoor Adventures, or explore the Athens Riverfront Park on the Hudson and look for the  Hudson-Athens Lighthouse (the sister lighthouse to Stepping Stones Lighthouse, Kings Point).

Places to stay include:

In Hunter, the  Fairlawn Inn where we have stayed, oozes charm (7872 Main St. Hunter, NY 12442, 518263-5025, www.fairlawninn.com)

Just outside of Catskill,  A Tiny House Resort offers 10 tiny houses perched over the Catskill Creek (2754 CR 23B South Cairo, NY 12484, 518622-2626, www.atinyhouseresort.com)

In Coxsackie, Gather Greene is a glamping destination offering 17 wooden glamping cabins on 100 acres of rolling hills and fields, each equipped with air conditioning and heating, full bathrooms and minifridge (176 Levitt Road Coxsackie, 262-448-3683, www.gathergreene.com).

More information from Greene

County Tourism, 800-355 CATS, 518-943-3223, discovergreene.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

There’s a place between Lake Como and Sea Girt, N.J., called Spring Lake that for several years I considered to be a home away from my real home in Rockville Centre. It’s a small beach resort town and the place we stayed at, the Monmouth Hotel, stood proudly in Spring Lake for decades.

Almost every summer between the ages of eight and 16 I would vacation there with my Uncle Douglas and my cousin Elaina. They would take me because Elaina and I are the same age and she’s an only child so it worked out great.

They lived in White Plains but would drive to Rockville Centre, visit with my family for a couple of hours then we would drive to Spring Lake which was basically a two-hour drive or a little less than that if the traffic was good. They liked to vacation in August and my immediate family and I vacationed in July so the timing was perfect.

Uncle Douglas, Elaina and I would spend two weeks at the Monmouth Hotel. Once Uncle Douglas pulled his sports car up to the Monmouth Hotel we would get out, check into our hotel rooms and unpack our bathing suits, shorts sets, etc.

I knew that the two weeks ahead would be exciting. Elaina is the more extroverted of the two of us and she would get talking to almost everyone we encountered. A day with Elaina was always filled with unexpected adventures.

Uncle Douglas, Elaina and I spent most of our time at the Monmouth Hotel but we’d drive into the town of Spring Lake, too. Uncle Douglas would point

out the pretty Victorian homes and we kids would say, “Let’s live there!”

Spring Lake has got plenty of shopping yet has a small town feel about it. Sometimes Uncle Douglas took us out to lunch or dinner at a restaurant in Spring Lake. He’d encourage us to try new foods and expand our horizons. This was a challenge for me since I knew what I enjoyed eating and that was pretty much it.

On Sunday mornings we’d go to Mass at St. Catharine’s Church in Spring Lake. That beautiful church, built in 1901, is a great example of Classical Revival architecture. I remember sitting in the pews looking all around especially at the stained glass windows high up.

As adults Elaina and I compared notes about hanging out in Spring Lake and we remember getting summertime ice cream cones, drinking root beer floats on the porch of the ice cream shop and watching the sun set as Uncle Douglas drove us all back to the hotel.

We’d stop in at the local book store and browse for a while but we were usually focused on the outdoor activities since it was summer.

Elaina and I both liked being able to go out the front door of the Monmouth Hotel, cross Ocean Avenue and take a dip in the Atlantic. We didn’t have to take much with us – just beach towels, sandals, suntan lotion, and our rafts or floats and we were all set. We’d go swimming then grab our floats and either float when the water was calm or we’d try to ride the waves even though we knew we had floats not surf boards.

I agreed that swimming was fun but I also liked walking on the beach and collecting sea shells. Sometimes Elaina

and I would end up jogging on the beach and once we set off we’d see who would reach a certain marker first.

Once, to keep us busy, Uncle Douglas entered Elaina and me in a shuffleboard tournament on a Sunday morning at the Monmouth Hotel. Afterwards he was surprised to see me carrying the first prize trophy. Smiling broadly, I held it up proudly for him to see. I guess I was so relaxed playing shuffleboard that I just happened to slide the puck into the right spaces.

In our leisure time we played croquet on the large front lawn of the hotel but shuffleboard was more up my alley.

We remember walking down to the ocean and running into a woman Elaina knew from White Plains. She lived in Westchester County and was the editor of a prominent Manhattan women’s magazine. We were surprised to see her complete with her makeup on, with jewelry and with lots of bangles on her bathing cap. Elaina introduced me as her cousin and said her dad was in the dining room figuring out lunch plans.

The Monmouth Hotel, the first hotel in Spring Lake, was built in 1875 on Atlantic beachfront property. In 1900 a fire destroyed the place but it reopened in 1903 and lasted until 1975 when the building was razed to make way for housing.

Sitting on 7.2 acres of land, the Monmouth Hotel had a total of 275 bedrooms on four floors, dining room seating for 1,000 guests, two large parlors overlooking the ocean, a pool and tennis courts.

During the 1950s and 60s people went to Spring Lake from the New York City and Philadelphia areas for vacation. My uncle preferred the Monmouth Hotel

but there were a few grand old hotels to choose from. Each one had its own style.

The Essex & Sussex Hotel was close by and so was the Warren Hotel but we called ourselves “the Monmouth Hotel girls.” It was the 1960s and we had a ball there.

Occasionally my mom would send me mail at the Monmouth Hotel. It got so comfortable for us, like a home away from home.

Uncle Douglas’ parents had gone to the Monmouth Hotel 30 or 40 years prior and liked it. It was a nice getaway from Brooklyn in the summer.

I disliked hearing the news that the Monmouth Hotel was going to be demolished but I realized that times change. People just weren’t going there anymore.

A few months ago my sisters and I drove to Spring Lake and it was just as I remembered. The only exception, of course, was the Monmouth Hotel was no longer there. Oh, what great memories I have!

Focusing on a Tax Refund? Do Some Tax Planning Instead

BY CARRIE SCHWAB-POMERANTZ

Dear Carrie: When I did my taxes this year, I wound up owing a lot to the IRS. A friend at work mentioned they got a huge tax refund. How can I get a refund next year? -- A Reader

Dear Reader: The end of tax season always brings a host of questions from readers. Mostly they boil down to “How can I pay less in taxes?” or “How can I get a bigger refund?” Many readers don’t realize that these are two very different questions. Let’s explain the difference and then talk about a few steps you can take to minimize your overall tax bill, keeping more money in your pocket.

Tax Refunds and Tax Rates

I’ve discussed before why getting a big tax refund isn’t the best thing, but I want to remind readers that a refund doesn’t mean you’re paying less in taxes. A tax refund simply means that you gave the government a zero-interest loan the prior year. The bigger your refund, the more money you lent.

In the same way, having to pay taxes when filing doesn’t mean you’re paying more in taxes. It just means you had less withheld than you owed during the prior year.

What’s more important is your effective tax rate, or the total amount of tax you pay divided by your taxable income. This percentage should be your main focus, not whether you got a refund or owed additional taxes.

Check Your Withholding

To make sure you’re not overpaying or underpaying, check to see if you have the right amount of taxes being withheld from your income via the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. You can also make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS if you don’t have taxes withheld from your income.

It’s important not to under-withhold by too big of a margin, as that can trigger a penalty. Be sure to account for bonuses, investment income and other income sources like rental income to ensure that you are withholding the right amount.

Understand Deductions

Recent tax-law changes increased the standard deduction ($12,400 for single taxpayers and $24,800 for married filing jointly in 2020), reducing the number of people who will itemize deductions like mortgage interest. As a result, it’s more important than ever to take advantage of every tax strategy, including contributing to tax-advantaged accounts when you can.

Maximize Contributions to Tax-Advantaged Savings Accounts

One surefire way to reduce your tax

bill is to take advantage of tax-advantaged accounts. Tax-deductible contributions to traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) accounts can reduce your taxable income dollar for dollar.

Roth contributions don’t provide a tax deduction upfront but still provide tax-deferred growth and the potential for taxfree earnings for qualified distributions after age 59 1/2.

If you have access to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you get the advantage of 100% deductible contributions, tax deferral and tax-free distributions for qualified health care expenses now or any time in the future. Saving and investing in an HSA can be a great tax move.

Don’t forget, at the end of the calendar year, individuals 50 and older can make extra “catch-up” contributions of $1,000 to an IRA and $6,500 to 401(k)/403(b)/457(b) plans. Individuals 55 and older can make catch-up contributions to an HSA of $1,000/year.

Other tax-advantaged accounts like 529 college savings plans and flexible savings accounts can help you save on taxes while saving for other goals. Get (Tax) Credits

Another important step is to take advantage of tax credits. Tax credits are more valuable than tax deductions because deductions only reduce the amount of your income that is subject to tax, but credits are a dollar-for-dollar offset against tax liabilities.

There are tax credits available to all types of taxpayers covering a wide range of expenses and situations. Some of these credits may not apply or may be phased out based on your filing status or income, but it’s worth your time to do some research. Here’s a list of just a handful of important (but often overlooked!) tax credits:

-- Earned Income Tax Credit: a tax break for lower-income families with children. The average amount of EITC received nationwide was about $2,500 in 2019.

-- Child and Dependent Care Credit: up to $3,000 for each qualifying child or dependent, or $6,000 for two or more.

-- Retirement Saver’s Credit: up to $2,000 in government “matching funds” in the form of a saver’s credit to help low earners save more in a 401(k), 529 ABLE or IRA.

-- American Opportunity Credit (AOTC) and Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC): These credits help with the cost of higher education. The AOTC is up to $2,500 per eligible student, and the LLC is up to $2,000 per tax return. You can claim

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

both AOTC and LLC credits on the same return but not for the same student or the same qualified expenses.

-- Premium Tax Credit (Affordable Care Act): If you purchase health insurance through one of the exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act, you may qualify for this tax credit to lower the cost of health insurance.

Tax Strategies

Besides the benefits of tax-advantaged accounts and deductions and credits discussed above, the following strategies may help lower the amount of taxes you pay:

-- Bunching deductions: Certain deductions like charitable contributions and medical expenses are allowable if you are able to itemize them. By bunching deductions in a particular year, rather than paying for them over multiple years, you may be able to increase your likelihood of being able to itemize these costs and lower your taxes.

-- Tax-loss harvesting: If you have investments that have lost money in taxable accounts, you may be able to use those losses to offset capital gains. In addition, if you have any losses remaining, you can deduct up to $3,000 of the loss to offset ordinary income each year. Any remaining

losses can be carried forward into future years.

-- Gifting: Gifting appreciated stock or income-producing assets to charities or individuals in a lower tax bracket may save you on taxes and allow you to gift more.

As good as a tax refund may feel in the moment, that’s not a sign that you paid less overall. Instead of focusing on a refund, take the time to do some planning, and be sure to make the most of tax-advantaged accounts as well as deductions and credits. Talk with a tax advisor for more specific advice and details on any of these topics. You’ll be glad you did.

Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, Certified Financial Planner, is president of the Charles Schwab Foundation and author of “The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After Fifty.” Read more at http://schwab. com/book. You can email Carrie at askcarrie@schwab.com. The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice.

COPYRIGHT 2020 CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC. MEMBER SIPC. DIST BY CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC. (#0720-02AH)

Benefits for Spouses and Widows Are Sometimes Controversial

BY TOM MARGENAU

I’m going to start out today’s column by answering a question from a reader about her potential eligibility for benefits from one of her prior husbands’ Social Security accounts. I am going to follow that up with typical comments I always get from other readers who are critical of these kinds of benefits.

Q: I have worked most of my life, but I had severe medical problems and ended up going on Social Security disability when I was 58. I just turned 62, and I’ve been told that I can now file for benefits from my second husband. We are divorced, but we were married for over 25 years. He brags that he gets the maximum Social Security benefit. So, can I get half of his and my disability benefit at the same time? And FYI, my first husband died at the age of 35, and we were married for only eight years, so I am sure I’m not due anything on his record because that was so long ago.

A: Believe it or not, it is much more likely that you might be due benefits from your first husband’s Social Security record than your second husband’s.

There are two reasons for that. First, a widows benefit pays more money than what you would be due as a divorced wife of a living ex-husband. And second, even though your first husband died a long time ago, his past earnings are indexed for inflation. So, I’m guessing your widows benefit will be much higher than you think.

At age 62, you would not be due half of your second husband’s Social Security. It would be more like one-third of it. You said he claims to be getting the maximum benefits. There really is no set maximum benefit. But let’s say he is getting $2,800 per month. One-third of that is about $925. You cannot get that $925 amount in addition to your own disability benefit. You can only get the benefit that pays the higher rate. And I’m guessing you are getting a lot more than $925 in disability benefits. So, that means you are not due anything from husband No. 2’s Social Security record.

But husband No. 1 might be a different story. At age 62, you’d be due about 82% of whatever his indexed-for-inflation benefit might be. If that is more than you are getting now in disability benefits, you could make the switch. Or you could choose to wait until you are 66 years old, at which point you could switch to 100% of what would have been his full retirement benefit -- again, adjusted to today’s dollars.

The only way you can find out what you are potentially due from your first husband or your second husband is to call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.

And now here is the controversy. I frequently hear from readers who criticize the fact that women like this are eligible for any spousal benefits at all. And

surprisingly, these criticisms almost always come from other women.

Here is a typical comment: “I don’t think a woman should be able to get widows benefits from a guy who died a long time ago and to whom she was only married for a short time. My husband and I were married for 40 years before he died. I deserve to get his Social Security. But I don’t think that a woman who has gone through several husbands should be able to pick and choose which benefits she gets!”

I usually try to see both sides of the story. For example, on the one hand, I sort of understand where this criticism comes from. Consider the case of the woman who sent in the question I answered above. She was married to her first husband for just eight years. And he died about 30 years ago. Yet there is a pretty good possibility that she now might be due widows benefits on his record.

Can she really be considered his “widow”? Well, the law says she can. But I wonder if the folks who wrote these laws really had women like her in mind.

On the other hand, you could make the case that this guy (her first husband) worked and paid Social Security taxes and that she was married to him when he died, so she should be due widows benefits on his account -- no matter how much time has passed.

And then, if these critics had their way, where would they draw the line? Would you have to be married 20 years to qualify for widows benefits? Or maybe 30 years? And should the law say the death must have occurred in the past five years in order to pay benefits to his widow?

The point I am making is that it is easy to criticize existing Social Security laws. But when you do so, I think you should come up with a workable alternative that will be fair and satisfactory to the majority of Americans.

Now I’ll get back to the woman who sent the email that started this column. You will recall that she was divorced from her second husband following a 25-year marriage. As I told her, she would be due benefits on his record but only if they paid more money than she was already getting on her own Social Security account.

And that led me to think of this email I recently got from another woman. In part, she said this: “I don’t see how the government can be justified in giving Social Security spousal benefits to divorced women. If you divorce the guy, you divorce him totally. You are no longer his spouse. And that means you should not get spousal benefits on his Social Security record. And don’t even get me started on benefits for so-called divorced widows. If you are divorced from someone, how can you be his widow?”

Personally, I think a divorced woman deserves to get some of her ex-husband’s Social Security benefits. Believe me, I

hear from plenty of women who tell me sad stories. For example, a 60-year-old woman recently told me that she and her husband were married for 40 years. As he pushed his early 60s, he started flirting with a younger woman and eventually dumped his wife of four decades for the sweet young thing. In my opinion, the former wife deserves something from her ex-husband’s Social Security for all the years she spent cooking his meals and washing his dirty underwear and putting up with all his shenanigans!

But I do wonder if maybe benefits to divorcees should be prorated based on

how long the marriage lasted. Perhaps a woman who was married 30 or more years could get full benefits, whereas a woman who was married for only 10 or 20 years should get a reduced rate? I don’t know. I’m just thinking out loud. And let me end by repeating this thought: It’s always easy to criticize Social Security laws. But it is quite difficult to create laws that most Americans (and not just you) will think are fair.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. . COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM

How will the pandemic affect our currency?

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

The current Covid-19 pandemic started with the first diagnosed case in Washington State on January 20, 2020, and confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So we are approaching almost 7 months that we are in the ever-increasing pandemic with higher infection rates in a multitude of other states outside of New York State, especially those in the Carolina’s Georgia, Florida, Texas, and California.

I am not sure how we can more effectively monitor and control those people coming in; and at the same time maintain our extremely low infection rate of less than 1% that Gov. Cuomo and the public have diligently and successfully mastered enabling our economy to begin re-opening back in May. Although the authorities pulled over 320 cars by our tunnels the other week, it’s a start but how many 1000’s of cars were not stopped allowing those that might be infected especially those that are asymptomatic and don’t know even know it.

Only time will tell over the next month or two how this will affect our local population. As of this writing, over 30 million still unemployed, while Congress cannot seem to agree on a non-partisan plan to provide the much-needed monies to keep those above water who can least afford to be out of work. The $600 additional monies that were previously (now expired) provided those that are not working is one of the sticking points especially with those in Congress that say is the motivation to not go back to work (I have spoken to countless individuals and I believe the majority would rather go back to work).

Moreover, monies to continue to fund small businesses, restaurants and the U.S. Post Office are other areas of disagreement causing a stalemate. The real dilemma is that Washington

should have (and didn’t) set up a coordinated and organized national testing and tracing program as well as a PPE (personal protection equipment) distribution system. The necessary guidance and setting an example for the public wasn’t initiated when more people would have realized how life-saving wearing masks would have been, no matter how uncomfortable to assist in keeping people from infecting others and potential deaths!

around for 10+ years and what effect they will have on our current monetary system going forward in relation to Real Estate and business. There continues to be a growing divide between the haves and the have nots and how our fiat currency could potentially be greatly affected in the future. Fiat currencies do not last forever!

Some say it is their constitutional right to wear or not to wear a mask; but at the same time is it your right to cause others to get sick and potentially die? I do not think so! Our ignorant population who really could care less is the main reason for the critical increase in infections that are occurring all around the U.S. It’s very ironic that we have laws against drinking and driving, speeding and others that obviously were enacted to protect the public’s health and well being right? So how many more people have to die until Washington enacts an executive order to be adhered to with the assistance of our governors and local mayors so we really can make a concerted dent in Covid-19? I know, it’s politics and it’s not about improving the health of our population. Eventually, some well-tested vaccines will be produced and will hopefully be 90+% effective to protecting the public as long as people feel safe and comfortable in agreeing to be inoculated.

The point of the previous information is to bring attention and understand where we are in this pandemic and the instability of our economy and what is happening behind the scenes.

Various forms of alternative cryptocurrencies and bitcoins have been

While we have all these unemployed people, restaurants closed or partially open and barely making it, as well as other highly impacted businesses teetering on possible bankruptcy, keeping them above water, becomes tantamount to the survival of our economy and our currency as we know it. The real crucial issue is the government must continue to print trillions of more dollars for a 2nd stimulus package and how it could dilute our currency; potentially causing a hyperinflationary situation thereby decreasing its’ value.

Compared to the downturn in 2008, the FED has printed twice as much currency and may end up 3+ times as much to buoy the money markets and our economy. So now our national debt as of 7/31/20 is an unimaginable 26.5 trillion dollars. However, for now, the cost of borrowing is extremely low but If one-day rates increase, the cost of our borrowing would be catastrophically higher. it would mean one would need more dollars to buy a particular commodity, including real estate. However, currently, due to extremely low inventory and historically low-interest rates and demand is strong and prices still increasing, the silver lining is that our national real estate market is doing well.

What has come into play the last number of years is the bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. It is not very elementary and complicated to try to explain these

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

new electronic currencies here. But, something has been changing with respect to how industries are getting into and starting to use these currencies in their businesses. Some believe it is a fantasy currency and will not replace our current currency and will eventually go away. However, many banks and major investment houses and other large companies have a stake in this new industry. As of August 2020, the most expensive cryptocurrencies worldwide were Bitcoin, Maker, Ethereum, and Bitcoin Cash. Bitcoin continued to outpace other currencies, with one coin valued at 11,278 U.S. dollars (but almost reached $18,000 in 2017). The second most expensive virtual currency, Maker, could be purchased for 601 U.S. dollars. Come back next week for part 2 for the cryptocurrency being used to purchase real estate in the U.S.

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.). 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 WWW.Li-REalEstate. Com as well as a “free” value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any “strings” attached. He can also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality or Our Seller’s or Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling or Purchasing your Home. Just email or snail mail(regular mail) him with your request with your name, email and cell number and he will send it out ASAP. For a consultation, he can be reached by Cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate. Com to answer any of your questions, concerns or column suggestions.

How to Childproof a Forbidden Door, Plus More Great Reader Tips

BY MARY HUNT

CREATE A TIGHT JAM

My 2-year-old grandson opened an outside entry door with a lever-type handle and went outside while I was in the bathroom! I live in an apartment and am not allowed to install a chain or other hardware on the door. I searched for a portable lock and found several kinds -- all about $15 to $25.

I finally found a suggestion of closing a folded washcloth in the opening between the door and doorjamb. That

effectively jams the door without harming it. Opening the door requires the strength of an adult to pull the cloth out. I’m so thankful to find this tip because it didn’t cost me a thing and it really works to keep a child from opening a forbidden door. -- Barbara STACKED GRILLED CHEESE

We like to include pickle slices in ours. We typically use the presliced Vlasic Stackers dill pickles. Timing is important with these. You really don’t want to heat the pickle itself, so you need to pull the sandwich apart right

after it comes off the griddle, before the cheese-glue “sets,” to insert the pickle slice. An alternative is to incorporate a slice or two of deli ham next to one of the bread slices so that this quick action isn’t needed. -- John RETIRED BUT NOT FINISHED YET

As a dusting/cleaning rag, I have found nothing beats a good old-fashioned cotton diaper. I buy two dozen very clean (they’ll never be that white again!) “retired” diapers from a local diaper service. They last an incredibly long time, and I feel good about giving

the diapers a second life and keeping them out of the landfill. -- Stacie

What a great idea. As I looked into this, I found that mechanics, contractors and all kinds of service people buy up retired diapers just about as fast as they become available for purchase. I suggest you search “diaper service” in your local area, and then give that company a call.

Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a lifestyle blog, and the author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.” COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM

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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

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

LAMPS FIXED $65

In home service. Handy Howard. 646-996-7628

LITO CONSTRUCTION

Retaining Walls, Concrete Work, Brick Work, Foundations, Sidewalks, Bathrooms, Floor Tiles, Stoops, Blacktop Retouching, Blacktop Painting. Demolition. Licensed & Insured.

Call 516-376-9365 or 516-435-7007

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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

SERVICES

PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!

Slate & Tile Specialists

All types of Roofing Local References

Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869

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

TUTORING

REMOTE LEARNING and IN-PERSON ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TUTOR

available. Common Core Certified Elementary School teacher who has years of experience teaching various grade levels ranging from K-6 and Special Education. References and resume upon request. Please email: heatherwLnd@yahoo.com

SERVICES

CLEANING

DAVE’S HOME/APT CLEANING SERVICE

We help make your life easier! Cleaning, Bed Changing, Ovens, Carpets/Wood Floors, Packing / Unpacking, Window Washing, Basements, Laundry, Airport Pick up/Drop Off 347-344-9660 davescleaningservice@gmail. com

SERVICES

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