Mid-Island Times (11/26/21)

SERVING PLAINVIEW,

HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN

Catholic Daughters collect clothing for ACLD

Author pays visit to Levittown Schools

BY GARY SIMEONE

Students from Wisdom Lane and Jonas Salk Middle Schools received a nice surprise late last month, as children fiction’s author Rob Buyea paid a visit to the schools. The visit was part of the school district’s Summer Reading Extravaganza program.

“During the summer months, incoming sixth through eighth graders read a different set of books as part

of this summer reading program,” said Kerin Slattery, director of English in the district. “This summer they read a book by Mr. Buyea called ‘Because of Mr. Terupt.’ ”

The author held an assembly with each grade level and spoke to the students about their shared reading experiences and how they might relate to characters in the book.

Slattery said that each year, the students read a new series of books by a different author.

“We’ve been rotating three different books over the last few years that the district purchased with their own money, and they are good books that are engaging to middle school students. It also gives us as teachers a formative assessment of where students are with their reading skills early in the school year.”

The two other books that are part of the rotating schedule include ”Pay it Forward” by

See page 8

At a collection of used clothing and other items, Catholic Daughters Court #1690 of St. Bernard’s Parish collected 210 bags of materials weighing in at 4,840 pounds.

The items collected included clothing, shoes, handbags, sheets, belts, towels, coats, bathing suits, cover ups and baseball hats. The destination of the collection is an affiliate of ACLD (Adults and Children With Learning Disabilities) program called ReWearAble.

The event was chaired by Susan Maher and Louise Cassano. “This was a great collection for a very worthy cause” said Maher.

“ReWearAble is an organization that is unique and serves its population in a number of ways through employment and repurposing materials that helps support other worthy causes,” commented Cassano.

ReWearAble is a recycling and job creation program committed to helping people with developmental disabilities pursue enviable lives through employment. Employees of ReWearAble conduct the in-house sorting ensuring everything collected is prepared for reuse or repurposing. ReWearable accepts clothing in any condition and of all types and sizes. For more information or to schedule a pickup by ReWearAble, call 516-822-2099 or email info@rewearable.org.

See page 8

Town offers winter athletic programs

The Town of Oyster Bay invites residents to take part in Winter Athletic Programs for basketball, badminton, volleyball, pilates, yoga, and fitness classes beginning on January 2 at the Town of Oyster Bay Hicksville Athletic Center. All athletic programs are co-ed and open to individuals 18 and over.

“The Town’s renowned athletic programs at the Hicksville Athletic Center offer a great opportunity for residents to take to the courts, improve their skills and make new friends,” said Town Councilman Steve Labriola. “These recreational activities are a great way to have fun and stay active, and are an affordable way to stay in shape while having a good time.”

Basketball will be held on Thursdays from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturdays from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., beginning on January 2nd, 2022. The Basketball program is 10-weeks long and costs $25 for residents and $40 for non-residents. Registration is at the Hicksville Athletic Center (167 Broadway,

See page 8

Members of Catholic Daughters Court of St. Bernard’s Parish in Levittown with Fr. Ralph Sommer, pastor and members of the ReWearAble team filled a truck with materials for recycling and repurposing.

Upcoming events at the Jericho Public Library

Wednesday, December 1

5:00 p.m.: IN PERSON - Teens: Cards for Hospitalized Children

Create cards to spread some cheer and earn 1 hour of community service credit. Cards will be sent to the Little Saint Nick Foundation and distributed to local hospitals.

Thursday, December 2

1:00 p.m.: IN PERSON & VIRTUAL - The Passionate Reader with Mary Hirdt: Infinite Country by Patricia Engel - Listeners are welcome! Moving their family to what they believe will be a safer but temporary home in Houston, two young parents are forced to choose between an undocumented status in America and returning to the violence of war-torn Bogotá.

Monday, December 6

2:00 p.m.:  A Virtual Look at Media with Brian Rose: America’s Favorite Holiday Movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” - Voted the most inspirational movie ever made by the American Film Institute, Frank Capra’s “It’s a

Wonderful Life” has been a beloved Christmas classic for many generations. Yet when the film was released in 1946, it was a box-office flop – until it was rediscovered in the 1970s. This talk will discuss the fascinating story of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Tuesday, December 7

11:00 a.m.: VIRTUAL - Guided Meditation for Self-Healing with Patricia Anderson - Join Patricia Anderson to meditate and bring harmony and balance into your life with the art of Jin Shin Jyutsu.

2:00 p.m.:  IN PERSON & VIRTUAL - Those CSI Shows, Fact or Fiction For Forensic Science Fans with Linda M. Frank

This program will look at crime investigation in the real world and on TV.  This program is a must for fans of the popular crime solving genre!

Masks are required in the library. Register for all events at https:// www.jericholibrary.org/events/month except when otherwise noted.

Craft fair, vendors market

The St. Bernard's Catholic Daughters Court #1690 will be hosting a Craft Fair/Vendor’s Market on Saturday, November 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Quality crafts by local artisans and national brands merchandise will be available for purchase with more than

60 vendors scheduled. Raffles and a 50/50 will add to the festivities along with light fare available for purchase. The fair will be held in the St. Bernard’s School Gym, 3100 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown. Admission is free.

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This Week at the Syosset Public Library

Wednesday, December 1 at 1:30 p.m.

Simply Fit (IN-PERSON)

Instructor: Marilyn Bunger

A class especially suited for the older adult that combines the basics of strength training and stretching. You will need light hand weights for the class. Nine classes. Fee $36 due at the time of registration. Class has limited openings. Masks required. Register in person or at www.syossetlibrary.org.

Thursday, December 2 at 11:00 a.m.

Qi Gong (IN-PERSON)

Instructor: Jenny Lu

Each class includes gentle stretching, guided breathing, energy meditation, and mindful movements to improve balance, strength and immune function. Ten classes. Fee $40 due at the time of registration. Class has limited openings. Masks required. Register in person or at www.syossetlibrary.org.

Thursday, December 2 at 2:00 p.m.

The Other Amendments – Part 3 (IN-PERSON)

Presenter: James Coll, adjunct professor of American & Constitutional history at Nassau Community College and Hofstra University and a retired NYPD detective

Ask the average American about the amendments to the U.S. Constitution and they will no doubt discuss the first ten, known collectively as the Bill of

Rights. We will discuss some of the other amendments that, in spite of providing structural and fundamental changes, have received far less attention. Attendance at the other sessions is not needed for this lecture.

Thursday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m.

#TRENDING NaNoWriMo Wrap Up

Author Visit (VIRTUAL)

Join us as we welcome Nekesa Afia, author of “Dead Dead Girls,” a Harlem Renaissance mystery, which began as a National Novel Writers Month project. No registration is needed. For Zoom link, go to www.syossetlibrary.org/ events/calendar

Friday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m.

Suffragettes in Corselettes: The Evolution of Underwear & the 19th Amendment (VIRTUAL) Presenters: Ehris Urban & Velya Jancz-Urban, The Grounded Goodwife. For centuries, women have allowed themselves to be squeezed, twisted and squished to conform to desired shapes. This history of underwear reveals a lot about women’s changing roles in society. The 1910s saw an end to the hourglass figure with a tiny waist. Women were finally able to breathe and move more freely. Did the demise of tightlacing women help gain the right to vote in 1920? Underwear matters. For Zoom link, go to www.syossetlibrary. org/events/calendar

Bowlers needed

The Mercy League Ladies Bowling Team (non-money) is looking for a few good bowlers to play on Fridays at 9:45 a.m. at Syosset AMF Lanes, 11 Eileen Way, Syosset.

$15 per week for three games, which also includes an end of season luncheon. Come out and have some fun. For details, please call Dolores Sartor at 516-931-4106.

Toys for Tots Drive

Assemblyman Michael Montesano (R,C,I,LBT-Glen Head) will be collecting new and unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots from now until Dec.15. All donations can be dropped off at Montesano’s district office at 111 W. Old Country Road, Suites 202, Hicksville, NY 11801, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Every child deserves a bit of cheer this holiday season,” said Montesano. “I am pleased to once again be partnering with the United States Marine Corps Reserve for the Toys for Tots program. I hope that we can bring a lot of joy this year to children in need and their families.”

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4-mile run to feed Long Island’s hungry

Pictured here as they announce plans for the March 13th Neil Chadderton Memorial EisnerAmper 4 Mile Run to Feed Long Island’s Hungry are (left to right) LI Cares Community Development Coordinator Karen Sullivan, Neil Tipograph of EisnerAmper, Tom Hall of EisenerAmper, Neil’s widow Jean Chadderton, GLIRC Executive Director Katie Pearlman and GLIRC President Mike Polansky.

Runners and walkers from all over Long Island are cordially invited to sign up for the Neil Chadderton Memorial EisnerAmper 4 Mile Run to Feed Long Island’s Hungry.  It will be held at Eisenhower Park on Sunday morning, March 13, 2022.

The Run will be conducted in the memory of Neil Chadderton, a longtime stalwart of the Greater Long Island Running Club and the North Country Road Warriors, who was taken from us far too soon on September 6 of this year at the age of 59, just weeks before he would have celebrated his 60th birthday by participating the GLIRC 6 Hour 60th Birthday Run.

The charitable beneficiary of the Run is Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Food Bank. The Run will help benefit the hungry and food insecure of Long Island and work towards the Long Island Cares vision of a “Hunger

Free Long Island.”

The generous event sponsor EisnerAmper is one of the premier tax and business advisory firms in the U.S., with more than 2,000 employees and over 200 partners around the world. The firm combines responsiveness with a longrange perspective; to help clients meet the pressing issues they face today, and position them for success tomorrow.

Registration for this great 4 Mile Run will be opening shortly at www. glirc.org.   Save the date and make plans now to join us at Eisenhower Park on March 13th to enjoy a nice 4-mile run honoring the memory of our good buddy Neil Chadderton, and to help LI Cares work towards a Hunger Free Long Island!

For more information, contact Greater Long Island Running Club

Executive Director Katie Pearlman at (516) 349-7646 or katie@glirc.org.

Making “Cards for Cops” at Central Blvd School

PWD holds drug Take Back Day

During the month of November, students at Central Boulevard Elementary School in Bethpage took part in Beyond the Badge’s program: Cards for Cops. Beyond the Badge is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness of suicide and mental health within law enforcement.

As part of this month’s Thoughtful Thursday, students in Barbara Cataldi’s second grade class colored their own cards and wrote an encouraging message to police officers on Nov. 18.

The Plainview Water District (PWD) successfully hosted its fourth annual Pharmaceutical Take Back Day and collected over 320 pounds of unwanted or expired medications. These medications will now be disposed of properly in order to prevent them from making it into the community’s sole-source aquifer for drinking water. This District has now collected and properly disposed of more than 1,100 pounds of medications since it began this annual event four years ago.

“Each year, we are so pleased to offer this opportunity to our residents as the turn out clearly represents a need for this type of service,” said PWD Chairman Marc Laykind. “The District’s Preserving Plainview initiative is important and we

are so proud of the embrace it has had within the community. We look forward to continuing the offering of this event every year that provides so much benefit to our environment and water supply.”

When someone improperly disposes of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away in the garbage, there is a likelihood that the medications’ contents will ultimately make their way into the community waterways and water supply. If there is an elevated presence of toxins from pharmaceuticals in the groundwater, the District will have no choice but to invest in expensive treatment systems so the contaminants can be removed before

they reach customers’ homes.

“The response from the PlainviewOld Bethpage community has been tremendous by the amount of pharmaceuticals disposed of this year,” said PWD Commissioner Amanda Field. “We continue to surpass the previous years’ collections totals and that is very encouraging that more and more residents see the importance of their proper disposal. Thank you to all those who took time out of their day to participate!”

This year’s Pharmaceutical Take Back Day was once again held in partnership with the Nassau County Police Department. This anonymous, contactless drive-thru event included social distancing and safety protocols which

helped the District bolster participation. The event was held at the PWD headquarters at 10 Manetto Hill Road on Saturday, October 23.

“Protecting our water source from any potential harmful substances is something that requires a community-wide effort and one that this community has time and time again embraced,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “Our environment and our waterways are in better shape due to those who participated this year and we look forward to seeing them and more of their neighbors next year.”

Largest “Cruise-Thru” Toys for Tots collection drive

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Tom Hand announced that the Town’s massive “Cruise-Thru” Toys for Tots Collection Drive will take place at John Burns Park in Massapequa on Saturday, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain date is Sunday, December 5).  In partnership with the United States Marine Corps, the Town is collecting toys to help families impacted by the COVID-19 economic crisis and those less fortunate throughout the community during the upcoming holiday season. In addition to the Cruise-Thru, collection boxes are located at Town facilities through December 14.

Supervisor Saladino said, “The Toys for Tots Drive has long been a huge success under the leadership of the U.S. Marine Corps, especially here in the Town of Oyster Bay, as just last year we smashed the previous year’s record in our toy drive collection. I encourage all of our residents who are able to donate to this amazing cause, as the Toys for Tots Drive helps ensure that disadvantaged children within our community do not have to go the holiday season without something to bring them happiness.”

The Cruise Thru Holiday Toy Drive will provide residents an excellent way to contribute directly to the cause and

help bring a smile to a child’s face this holiday season. Additionally, the event will feature an appearance by Santa Claus, and a drop box where kids can drop their letters to Santa off at. Letters dropped off with a legible name and return address will be answered by Santa before the holiday.

“Toys for Tots sends a message of hope to less fortunate children who otherwise wouldn’t be receiving presents this holiday season. I urge residents, who can, to donate new unwrapped toys to any of our drop-off locations,” said Councilman Tom Hand. “By making a donation, you can help ease the financial burden of families hardest hit by

the effects of the coronavirus this holiday season.”

Toys for Tots Collection Boxes are located at the following locations:

• Oyster Bay Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay;

• Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa;

• Ice Skating Center at Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage.

For more information, please contact Councilman Tom Hand at (516) 624-6309; or visit www.oysterbaytown.com.

Students in Barbara Cataldi’s second grade class at Central Boulevard Elementary School in Bethpage created Cards for Cops as part of Thoughtful Thursday on Nov. 18.

Photo courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District

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Levittown seniors sign letters of intent

Seniors at Division Avenue High School and General Douglas MacArthur High School in the Levittown Public School District signed letters of intent on Nov. 15, pledging to continue their athletic careers at a variety of colleges and universities.

From Division Avenue, Juliana

Stanley will play women’s lacrosse for the University of Richmond; Jordyn Pasqueralli will play softball for Adelphi University; Michael Knapp will play baseball for Molloy College; Alyssa Weinberg will play softball for Fairfield University and Maggie McCabe will play women’s lacrosse for Eastern Michigan

University.

From MacArthur, Matthew Papach will play lacrosse for Wingate University; Giavanna Stamatelo will play lacrosse for Davenport University; twins Hailey and Madison Hnis will play soccer for the University of Albany; Fiona Kilian will play soccer for

Xavier University; twins Cian and Luca Runyan will play lacrosse for Adelphi University; John Rebaudo IV will play lacrosse for Seton Hill University and Killian Foy will wrestle for the University of Pittsburgh.

Photos

of Levittown Public Schools

MacArthur senior Matthew Papach will play lacrosse for Wingate University.

Division Avenue senior Maggie McCabe will play women’s lacrosse for Eastern Michigan University.

MacArthur senior Fiona Kilian will play soccer for Xavier University.

Division Avenue senior Michael Knapp will play baseball for Molloy College.

MacArthur seniors and sisters Madison and Hailey Hnis will play soccer for the University of Albany.

MacArthur senior Giavanna Stamatelo will play lacrosse for Davenport University.

Division Avenue senior Jordyn Pasqueralli will play softball for Adelphi University.

Division Avenue senior Julianna Stanley will play lacrosse for the University of Richmond.

Division Avenue senior Alyssa Weinberg will play softball for Fairfield University.

courtesy

Levittown seniors sign letters of intent

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MacArthur seniors and brothers Cian and Luca Runyan will play lacrosse for Adelphi University.

MacArthur senior Killian Foy will wrestle for the University of Pittsburgh.

MacArthur senior John Rebaudo IV will play lacrosse for Seton Hill University.

Author pays visit to Levittown Schools

From page 1

Catherine Ryan Hyde and “Restart” by Gordon Korman.

In Buyea’s book, ”Because of Mr. Terupt” there are seven different middle school students who are in Mr. Terupt’s class.

“All of these students in the book have different personalities, backgrounds and abilities,” said Slattery. “What happens is that a horrible tragedy occurs to the teacher, and these diverse group of students learn to come together and work collaboratively with one another.”

As part of the reading program, students from Salk and Wisdom Lane are entered into a raffle to have lunch and one-on-one time with the author.

Slattery said sixty students, thirty from each building are chosen to have an interface with the author in the school’s library and are also given Dairy Queen for lunch.

“It’s give them a chance to ask the author more in-depth questions about the book that they wouldn’t be able to in the assembly.”

Catholic Daughters collect clothing for ACLD

From page 1

ReWearAble was created by Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD), a leading Long Island based not-for-profit agency. ACLD is devoted to supporting the pursuit of an enviable life for children and adults with autism, learning and other developmental disabilities. Catholic Daughters is one of the oldest and largest volunteer organizations of Catholic women in the Americas. It strives to embrace the principle of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and the advancement of human rights and human dignity for all. For information on Catholic Daughters, go to https://catholicdaughters.org/. To learn more about the St. Bernard’s Court of CDA, contact Sue Maher at susan.maher3@verizon.net or Susan Stalzer at susiegirl2868@aol.com.

Town offers winter athletic center programs

From page 1

Hicksville) on December 7, December 8, and December 9 between the hours of 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m..

Badminton will feature two sessions available for registrants to choose from. The first session consists of Tuesdays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:05 p.m., Fridays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:05 p.m., and Sundays from 6:10 p.m. to 8:10 p.m.. Session 2 consists of Tuesdays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., Fridays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., and Sundays from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.. The Badminton program is 10 weeks long and costs $75 for residents and $100 for non-residents, with the program scheduled to begin on January 4th, 2022. Registration is at the Hicksville Athletic Center (167 Broadway, Hicksville) on December 7 from 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. and on December 8 & December 9 between the hours of 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m..

Volleyball will be split into two different sessions. The first session will be held on Mondays from 8:45 p.m. to

10:05 p.m.; Wednesdays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:05 p.m.; and Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. The second session will take place on Mondays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., Wednesdays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:20 p.m. to 10:20 p.m.. The volleyball program is 10-weeks long, costs residents $75 and $100 for non-residents, and is scheduled to begin on January 3rd, 2022. Registration is at the Hicksville Athletic Center (167 Broadway, Hicksville) on December 7 from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and on December 8 & December 9 between the hours of 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m..

Yoga will be held on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (held at the TOB Ice Skating Center in Bethpage), Tuesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., beginning on January 3, 2022. Each session is 10 weeks long, and costs $60 for residents and $70 for non-residents. Attendees must bring their own yoga

mats. Registration is at the Hicksville Athletic Center (167 Broadway, Hicksville) on December 7, December 8, and December 9 between the hours of 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m..

Pilates (Tone & Sculpt Beginner/ Intermediate) will be held on Mondays from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. beginning on January 3, 2022. Attendees must bring their own 1/2 to 1 inch thick mat and water. The pilates program is 10 weeks long, and costs residents $60 and $70 for non-residents. Registration is at the Hicksville Athletic Center (167 Broadway, Hicksville) on December 7, December 8, and December 9 between the hours of 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m..

Proof of residency is required for the resident discount.  The schedule is subject to change. If a session is cancelled, make-up day(s) will be attempted. For more information, or to inquire about special holiday scheduling, call  (516) 797-7945 or email tobparks@oysterbay-ny.gov

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Fitness Classes will include Ballroom Dancing, Cardio Kickboxing, and Zumba. Ballroom dancing will be held on Saturdays, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. beginning on January 8, 2022. Cardio Kickboxing will be held on Thursdays, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. beginning on January 6, 2022. Zumba will be held on Mondays from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., beginning on January 3, 2022. Each session is 10 weeks long, and costs $60 for residents and $70 for non-residents. Registration is at the Hicksville Athletic Center (167 Broadway, Hicksville) on December 7, December 8, and December 9 between the hours of 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m..

Students from Wisdom Lane Middle School received a special visit from author Rob Buyea on Oct. 25.

Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Seniors hold Halloween party

Ribbon cutting

Hempstead Town Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr. (left) and Town Clerk Kate Murray (second left) attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for Dollar Fair, located on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, on October 22, 2021. Also attending were owners Issac Mareus, Wesline Charles and Bregardy Antenor; Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti; and New York State Assemblyman John Mikulin.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin greeted seniors during the Levittown Senior Center’s Halloween Party on October 22.

Gift of Travel: Put a Bow Around Wanderlust

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

The gift of travel is the gift of life-enhancing even life-changing experience, lifelong memories, connection with family, friends and new friends. There are lots of ways to give the gift of travel:

Gift of Travel Experiences:

Gift experiences that come to mind include pre-arranging special experiences:

Arrange a cooking class for a couple going to Paris (cooknwithclass. com)

A hot-air balloon experience over Cappadocia, Turkey (see tripadvisor. com)

Visit to museum exhibit (some now require pre-purchased tickets), attractions, like the recently opened world premiere of  Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, through March 6, 2022 (https:// bocamuseum.org/art/machu-picchuand-golden-empires-peru).

Organize a spa/wellness visit (SpaFinder.com)

Set up a walking tour (Context Travel, contexttravel.com) or a local guide (https://www.toursbylocals. com/find_guide)

Book a rock climbing experience (Gunks of the Mohonk Preserve, High Xposure Adventures, high-xposure. com; Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School, acadiamountainguides.com)

Prearrange a food tour (Private Street Food Tour by motorbike with local students, Saigon Back Alley Tours, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).

Schedule a sea kayak nature tour in Van Damme State Park, Mendocino, (www.kayakmendocino.

Gift of Travel: Give experiences, like a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia, Turkey © Eric Leiberman/goingplacesfarandnear.com

com); Bar Harbor, Maine (National Park Sea Kayak Tours, https://acadiakayak.com) or Albania.

Tripadvisor.com and viator.com are excellent sources for finding and booking visits to local attractions, sightseeing.

Arrange a bike ride (Blazing Saddles, San Francisco, blazingsaddles.com) or in Budapest.

Pre-arrange special zoo and theme park experiences like Wild Encounters at the Bronx Zoo and Animal Encounters at Busch Gardens Tampa including Keeper for a Day tours, Australia Insider Tour and Gorilla Insider Tour (https://buschgardens.com/tampa/ tours/).  Book a Dolphin Encounter at Clearwater Marine Aquarium,

home to “Winter” of “Dolphin Tale” fame (SeaWinter.com, 727-441-1790).

Get tickets to iconic holiday experiences like the Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker (30 performances from Nov. 27-Dec. 26, washingtonballet.org); George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker by New York City Ballet, November 26–January 2 (www.nycballet.com/the-nutcracker/tickets, 212-496-0600; or the Philadelphia Ballet, at the Academy of Music Dec. 10-31, https://philadelphiaballet. org/2021-2022-season/nutcracker/0 Can’t get to the wine tastings in Sonoma and Napa? You can still join their wine clubs and ship wine selections, for example, Imagery Wine (www.imagerywinery.com/store) and its sister winery Benziger (ben-

ziger.com).  Find more on sonomawine.com and napavintners.com.

Arrange for a private chef to prepare a special meal in your home in New York City (Chef Omakase, 646-612-7790, info@chefomakase.com, www.chefomakase.com).

Memberships Have Benefits

These days, with capacity restrictions and advance-purchase ticketing requirements at major museums, zoos, preserves, conservancies, sites, attractions, ski areas, and organizations think about gifting pre-purchased tickets or better yet, memberships or season passes.

Not able to visit? Many of the great museums and iconic institutions of the world offer some of the most interesting, innovative and creative items in their gift shops and you can support their mission by shopping online or through catalogs (check out holiday specials, discounts).

For example: the Smithsonian Institution (si.edu),which just introduced Galactic gifts from its new  FUTURES exhibition in the Arts & Industries Building, (https://aib. si.edu/futures/, Smithsonianstore. com).

Members of the American Museum of Natural History enjoy free admission, special access with limited-capacity Member hours, exclusive previews of new exhibitions and galleries, and more. Get $20 off when you use promo code MEM21. (www.amnh.org,  https://shop.amnh. org/featured/holiday-gift-ideas).

Membership at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art brings free entry for members and one to four guests, private access to exhibitions outside of public hours and discounts on dining and store November 26, 2021

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GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Gift of Travel: Put a Bow Around Wanderlust

Continued from previous page

purchases (www.metmuseum.org).

Wildlife Conservation Society members get free admission to Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and Prospect Park Zoo; other memberships add in the NY Aquarium, free parking and other special benefits like guest passes (https://bronxzoo.com/ shop/catalogs/memberships). You can also purchase gift certificates for Wild Encounters - in-person and virtual behind-the-scenes look at the Bronx Zoo and Bronx Zoo gift ticket vouchers $39.95/adult, $29.95/child.

You can also consider purchasing gift memberships in organizations like Sierra Club (they produce a catalog of trips, sierraclub.org); Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (railstotrails.org), Parks & Trail NY (ptny.org), National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA. org); The Nature Conservancy (nature. org); National Trust for Historic Preservation (savingplaces.org) which offers  Great Experiences & Tours, (nationaltrusttours.com); and its sister organization Historic Hotels of America, with some of most interesting and iconic hotels (www.historichotels.org).

Zoos, aquariums and special attractions are fantastic to shop at, especially for kids: The Palm Beach Zoo (www.palmbeachzoo.org), for example, has eco-friendly items. There are also Adopt-an-Animal programs. The Bronx Zoo has similar programs and an online

store (www.bronxzoostore.com). And you don’t have to visit the Kennedy Space Center, to get space-related items (www.thespaceshop.com), though visiting offers incomparable experiences.

National Wildlife Federation has a whole catalog of gifts you can buy (30% off with promo code 938800, but you can also make a donation to a particular cause that is symbolized by a stuffed animal or some other acknowledgement: Holiday Gift Guide (https:// www.shopnwf.org/collections/shopspecialty-shops-holiday-gift-guide). You can give the “gift of nature” and sponsor a forest with Trees for Wildlife program (https://www.shopnwf.org/category/ Shop-Cards-and-Gifts-Tree-Gifts-Treesfor-Wildlife).

Similarly, World Wildlife Federation has a great selection of gifts that support the organization’s conservation efforts: Gifts.worldwidlife.org/ gift-center/gifts/.

Stocking Stuffers, Gift Cards, Travel Gear

Hotels, resorts, tour companies even cruise companies offer gift cards (great stocking stuffers) which can be used to pay toward stays or amenities and experiences.

Xanterra Travel Collection, for the first time, is offering Xanterra Travel Collection Gift Cards redeemable across all its properties and brands for accommodations, tours, experiences, and retail purchases (Xanterra.com/ GiftCard).

You can purchase actual tickets or gift certificates for Broadway theater at broadway.com. Gift certificates can be redeemed for tickets to any Broadway or Off-Broadway show currently playing in New York City. (www.broadway.com/ gift-certificates)

SpaFinder has gift certificates for resorts, hotels, wellness centers and day spas (www.spafinder.com/bestof/resorts-and-hotel-spas), as well as gift cards can be used to buy gift sets (spafinder.com).

Skiers, snowboarders will really appreciate lift tickets (get discounted rates at liftopia.com; also EpicPass. com, IKONPass.com, Ski New York’s Ski3 pass, iskiny.com) or pre-paid lessons and rentals. Or if you feel really ambitious, purchase the season pass.

Then you get into clothes, jackets and specialized gear and equipment for every interest imaginable. Among our favorites (especially when you catch sales and closeouts):

REI member co-op (www.rei. com/s/gifts-for-travelers); (Patagonia. com); Eastern Mountain Sports, 888-463-6367, ems.com;   LL Bean, 888-610-2326, llbean.com; Sun & Ski , 866-786-3869, sunandski.com; Tennis Express , TennisExpress. com; Bass Pro Shops, www.basspro. com. And of course, luggage (ebags. com; Luggageonline.com).

As for travel wardrobe, Red Thread makes clothes ideal for travel – comfortable, lightweight, airy, versatile,

Fall-Blooming Rhododendron

packs well (pants, the essential black dress, jackets etc), specifically to your measurements from your cell phone using 3D technology, delivered within two weeks. I loved the RedThread resort pants with a Saint Tropez stylish flare, and comes with a lifetime guarantee if I need the pants re-sized to fit. (redthreadcollection.com, hi@redthreadcollection. com 800-710-0835).

For stocking stuffers there’s no better than actual socks, so crucial for walking tours, hiking, biking, skiing, and packing, like Darn Tough (www.darntough. com) and Bombas (which come with a promise to donate a pair for every pair purchased, https://bombas.com/).

Cameras and photography gear (memory cards, backpacks, lenses) are big on the wish list for travelers, with size and functionality among the key criteria. What’s in demand are the new smaller, lighter mirrorless cameras have as much functionality as the larger, heavier digital SLRs and use interchangeable lenses. Take advantage of sales to purchase slightly outdated models that have great reviewsB&H consistently has best inventory, prices, and holiday specials, plus excellent customer service, delivery and return policies, www.bhphotovideo.com, 800606-6969,  212-444-6615).

© 2021 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved.

BY JEFF RUGG

Q: I have many native and hybrid rhododendrons. One of my hybrids is now blooming and covered in buds. The flowers are much smaller than usual, and this past spring it had hardly any blooms. Never have I seen this plant bloom at this time of year. Not complaining. Just confused.

A: Your rhododendron is more confused than you are and will probably be complaining soon as the weather gets colder and not warmer. Plants have different levels of auxins (hormones) that are in balance with one another and ebb and flow over time. As some auxins build up and others go down, the flower buds go dormant. In the spring, the process reverses, and the buds are released from dormancy. Some auxins build up or break down with fluctuations in temperature, water in the soil and other environmental changes that may fool a plant into thinking spring has arrived.

Plants in northern climates are supposed to go dormant in the fall, survive

the cold and then break dormancy as the weather warms up in spring. Some species and some individual plants are occasionally fooled by stress caused by drought, root damage or insect damage. These plants come out of their dormancy prematurely or in the wrong season because of a mix-up in the ratios of their auxins.

Rhododendrons and magnolias are two species that commonly have plants that have some flowers blooming in the late summer or fall instead of the normal spring timing. Some plants do this because of genetic changes and can become new varieties, such as the reblooming lilacs sold by Proven Winners in their Bloomerang series.

If the normal spring-flowering buds are used up in the summer, the plant may grow new ones by fall and bloom somewhat normally in the spring, but your plant is blooming so late that only the flower buds that didn’t bloom will be able to bloom next spring. I don’t know what triggered your plant to bloom, but if there was something that you think could have

stressed the plant for a while that caused it to break dormancy, let me know.

Q: I have a 2-by-20-foot vegetable garden plot that only gets about five hours of direct sunlight each day. I plant lettuce, radishes, beets, carrots and a few tomatoes that usually ripen in late September. I do rotate these crops. Will I have a problem if I continue doing this but do not rotate other crops in this garden? What can you suggest that would be beneficial for this situation?

A: It is hard to rotate crops to reduce the spread of insect and disease problems when the garden is small. Also, if you don’t want the produce from the other kinds of vegetable plants, why plant them?

I think the best choice for your garden would be the addition of compost. Using different kinds each spring or every other year will help create a healthy soil full of nutrients. Don’t use manure-based compost because the root vegetables could be contaminated. Keep an eye on the root vegetables, as soil pests for one will be pests for all and soil pests tend to persist

from year to year. If a problem develops, then it may be necessary to remove some soil in that area. Continue rotating as best you can, and I think your garden will be fine.

Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@ greenerview.com.

COPYRIGHT 2021 JEFF RUGG DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS

BY THOMAS BRENNAN

I was in the eighth grade and an announced afternoon Tea Dance was my introduction into the subtleties of how one should conduct the niceties of social intercourse. This was a voluntary, after-school affair, and the boys who attended meandered in our spacious auditorium at one end of the basketball court near the seating area, while as usual in parochial school practice, the girls were assembled directly opposite on the far side of the court. The polished wood basketball court and the ample space which surrounded it seemed to the boys as formidable an obstacle in its crossing as the Gobi desert did to an exhausted camel caravan. Ahead of us, we saw the empty space as an intimidating arid plain.

Until this very moment, even as the theme for this affair was to introduce us to a boy-meets-girl dance forum, the Brothers and the Sisters had waged a relentless and ultimately successful campaign to keep these eighth grade boys and girls apart. In the schoolyard, a high three-tiered chain link fence separated the girls from the boys. However, the thinness of the fence belied the ever-vigilant enforcement of the unstated yet completely understood rules of separation that assured that for the eight years we attended St. Teresa’s, there would be absolutely no interaction between the two groups whatsoever.

After school, the basketball courts on the boys’ side would be crowded with anxious looking boys waiting on the sidelines to play the winners of a previous game. Each game was played with a fierce determination to win with much the same fervor as a competitive stickball game with the decided advantage that basketball was not played on the street where passing cars could interfere with the flow of the game. Schoolyard three-man basketball games had begun to take the place of stickball as our game of choice.

The few courts on the girls’ side of the schoolyard were empty, but none of the boys would dare to venture into that “no man’s land” to pick up a game. The price would be too high. It was an accepted fact of life that punishment from a Brother, who spotted the serious infraction as he walked across that space to get to “the Brothers’ House” from the school, would be physical, and it would be meted out with a forceful vigor on the spot.

I do not recall ever having a single conversation with a girl from St. Teresa’s during the school term in my entire parochial school life. The restrictions imposed by the system itself would assure that there would never be any opportunity for even a chance meeting to occur. Yet in our early years on

The Tea Dance – Part I

Butler Place where I lived, and where the rules of the street prevailed, the girls who often played games with us did not come from Saint Teresa’s; they were considered neighborhood friends.

The wonderful music of that era began the dancing part of the event, which at this affair began with a fast tempo requiring a dancing skill I found intimidating. Learning how to dance with some degree of confidence had shot up to the highly competitive top tier of my crowded hit parade list of things I had to learn to gain entry into the dating world and all that went with it. Items on the very top of my list kept burgeoning to accommodate new challenges that popped up with an unwelcomed familiarity. That ever growing list, and my inability to deal with even one of them, grew insatiably like a mental obstacle course feeding my gnawing anxiety.

As far as I was concerned, everything that was still ahead of me felt daunting with no options I could think of at my disposal that might lead to my developing any sense of confidence.

Someone must have actually been in charge of the affair, so after watching the girls enthusiastically dance the Lindy among themselves with their flared dresses spinning widely in their wake, the boys pretended in their newly-acquired posture of casual indifference, to have absolutely no interest in even being there. But then, to save the day, a decision was made that maybe we ought to go with a slow song in the hope of getting the boys to dare to cross the great divide. This new cadence immediately signaled the vigilant nun patrol to ratchet up their attention to a more heightened level of alertness.

It was a universally accepted axiom in my world that no one was better at guard duty than a nun. They viewed their role on the dance floor like the Medieval Ages did a church: as providers of sanctuary. In their self-imposed obligation to protect the girls from entangling alliances, they readily maintained their protective instincts otherwise maintained by a Grizzly Bear for a new-born cub: on guard against intruders from the first moment they enter a room. Their instincts in such matters clearly trumped the theme of the afternoon tea dance, which was after all, was to get the boys and girls together.

Each of us assembled on the opposite sides of the great divide was well aware of the conflict in that delicate balance.

From a nun’s perspective, the lilting sounds of The Platters implied the threat of the lure of warm embraces that might overtake the Victorian atmosphere of the Tea Dance that these nuns had taken so much effort to establish as the norm. The nuns were more on

the side of Barry Fitzgerald’s character in the movie “The Quiet Man” who at some point in the beautiful film wryly observed with a pronounced “tsk” to the alluring Maureen O’Hara, whom he suspected was shifting too close in the carriage to John Wayne, “The proprieties must be observed.” Nuns were very big on proprieties.

Here was opportunity for the dreaded “occasion of sin” to enter in unannounced. In parochial school lore, the nuns recognized that the girls just might be vulnerable to a temptation that often came with the type of stealth that these naïve young ladies, without the benefit of the nuns’ vigilant protection, may be unable to identify, much less their being aware of the need to be protected from –the soft luring embrace of a slow dance that just might lead to other things.

I noticed that the Brothers had absolutely nothing to do with this operation. They still held their ground. Within this auditorium, the schoolyard fence could no longer be a physical deterrent, but the nuns were quick to marshal other forces which included their physically imposing a roomy space between each boy and girl as they danced. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see them equipped with their ever-present clickers, clicking intently while pointing to an indiscretion like a referee in a basketball game signaling a foul with a whistle. The fences might be gone but the nuns were not giving up on their protective shield quite yet.

In my immature state of latent development, I felt that almost any female who would allow me to hold on to her, clasping her waist to a slow song like “Earth Angel” was a welcoming, fullfledged “occasion of sin” which exotic boundary was well beyond the grasp of the more temperate, “near occasion of sin.”

By dribs and drabs, the boys had slinked back to the seating area, and I had flapped down one of the thin wooden slat seats where I sat down and brooded with my books in my lap. I looked around at my classmates with a coy searching glance and realized that I was essentially by myself. There was no one from my immediate area of the parish at the dance, in fact there was no one else from my side of Washington Avenue in sight, and the boys kept the pecking order of who they hung out with when they went home after school for their company here at the dance. They had their security blanket. My successful strategy of remaining incognito for eight years was now working against me.

I wanted more than anything else to be in one of the conversations with my anxious looking classmates who, like me, brazenly, as one of the nuns might describe it, now peered over at the girls with our minds set in the culling process mode. Which one to choose?

Check back next week for Part II of “The Tea Dance”

How a Social Security Benefit Is Figured -- For

BY TOM MARGENAU

There are some columns I could repeat over and over again -- because I’m asked the same questions over and over again. One of the most common questions I’m asked is this: “How is my Social Security benefit figured?” I’ve answered this question many times in past columns, and I’m going to do it again today.

This answer will be in two parts. The first part will provide a relatively simple explanation of the process. It is for those people (probably the majority of my readers) who want a general idea of how their benefit will be figured. They just don’t need or want to know all the nitty-gritty details. The second part of the answer will be for those who want to know it all and want to become experts in the Social Security benefit computation formula.

So, let’s start simple. In a nutshell, a Social Security retirement benefit is a percentage of your average monthly income using your highest 35 years of inflation-adjusted earnings.

When you file for retirement benefits, the Social Security Administration will look at your earnings history and pull out your highest 35 years. They don’t have to be consecutive. If you don’t have 35 years of earnings, the SSA must plug in an annual salary of “zero” for every year you did not work, until the 35-year base is reached.

However, before they add up those “high 35,” they index each year of past earnings for inflation. And this is where the formula gets just a little messy. That’s because there is a different adjustment factor for each year of earnings, AND each year’s adjustment factor is different based on your year of birth.

Here is a quick example. If you were born in 1955 and earned $32,400 in 1982, they would multiply those earnings by an inflation adjustment factor of 3.31, meaning they would actually use $107,244 as your 1982 earnings. But if you were born in 1956 and earned that same $32,400 in 1982, they would use an inflation factor of 3.35, resulting in $108,540 as the 1982 earnings used in your Social Security computation.

You can find a complete breakdown of those inflation adjustment factors for each year of birth (for folks nearing retirement age) at the Social Security Administration’s website: www.socialsecurity.gov.

The next step in the retirement computation formula is to add up your highest 35 years of inflation-adjusted earnings. Then, you divide by 420 -- that’s the number of months in 35 years -- to get your average inflation-adjusted monthly income.

The final step brings us to the “social” part of Social Security. The percentage of your average monthly income that comes back to you in the form of a Social Security benefit depends on your

income. Simply put, the lower your average wage, the higher percentage rate of return you get. Once again, the actual formula is messy and varies depending on your year of birth. As an example, here is the formula for someone born in 1955. You take the first $885 of your average monthly income and multiply it by 90%. You take the next $4,451 of your average monthly income and multiply that by 32%. And you take any remainder and multiply it by 15%.

You can find a complete breakdown of those computation “bend points” at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Believe it or not, that was the simple explanation for those who just want a basic idea of how your Social Security retirement benefit will be figured. To summarize, it is a percentage of your average monthly income using your highest 35 years of inflation-adjusted earnings. If this were a college course, it might be called Social Security Benefit Computation 101.

But now I’m going to offer the advanced course for those of you who want to become experts.

I’ll start by introducing this term: the “primary insurance amount,” or PIA. The PIA is your basic retirement benefit upon which all future calculations will be based. The “raw PIA” is actually calculated at age 62. In other words, when the SSA pulls out your highest 35 years of earnings, they only use earnings up to age 62. Then that raw PIA gets “cooked,” or increased, to take into account any earnings you had after age 62 and to include any cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that were authorized for Social Security benefits after the year you reached age 62.

But it gets a little tricky when SSA does the recomputation for any earnings you have after age 62. If you worked full time until age 66, for example, you would normally assume that those earnings between age 62 and 66 would definitely increase your PIA. After all, you figure, they are some of your highest earning years, so they will become part of that “high 35.”

But not necessarily. And here is why. For reasons I can’t take the time to explain in this short column, earnings after age 60 are not indexed for inflation. They get calculated at current dollar value only. So, if your “raw PIA” was based on a full 35-year history of high inflation-adjusted earnings, your current earnings may not be high enough to become part of your “high 35,” so they won’t increase your benefit. Or they possibly might bump up the PIA, but not by much.

In fact, I hear from readers all the time who tell me that they are confused because the benefit estimate they are getting from the SSA now (at age 66, let’s say) is not much more than the estimate they got back at age 62. Their current benefit estimate includes the COLA increases, but

Beginners and for Experts

either little or no bump for their post-62 earnings. The reason why is that lack of inflation indexing after age 60.

As you can see, the Social Security retirement benefit formula is pretty messy. And if you don’t want to be an expert, I say, “don’t worry about it.” Just let the SSA do it for you. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov, and click on the “Retirement Estimator” icon on the homepage. It will walk you through the process

of finding out what your Social Security benefit will be.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has a book with all the answers. It’s called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart.” You can find the book at www.creators.com/books. Or look for it on Amazon or other book outlets COPYRIGHT 2021

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

The Process of a Sale From Start to Finish

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

There are a number of professionals who we have to work with to coordinate our sales, from the attorneys, home inspectors, contractors mortgage brokers, and sometimes managements and co-op boards as well as our sellers and purchasers. Every once in a blue moon a structural engineer to check out the integrity of walls and foundations in a home. The coordination between the parties is tantamount and crucial, especially during the current times, to make sure the transaction heads in the right direction in an efficient and expeditious fashion so the end result will be a positive one. With the assistance of the selling and listing agents and with the seller and buyer coming to an agreed and accepted price, (submitting the accepted offer with a lender’s letter or proof of funds if paying outright for the purchase) would be the initial first step in the process of creating a sale. The next step would be a deal sheet between the parties, showing all the parties to the sale, buyers, sellers, agents and attorneys, terms to the agreement (sale price, how much of a mortgage, total out of pocket by the buyer, what is included in the sale and the approximate on or about closing date. “On or about” closing dates are more flexible than a “on or before” date, which is a “time of essence” where the closing must take place on or before a specific date. This form will be emailed to the seller’s attorney as well as to all the other parties, so if any mistakes are apparent, they can be corrected by having more people review the document. When needed, seller(s) should discuss additional time that they might need to stay in the home after closing, due to unforeseen circumstances in moving to their next home. This will need to be written into the contract. Also, the attorneys will always go over the contracts as the terms and conditions and language must be agreeable to both of them.

However, prior to signing a contract, the buyer should perform an

inspection to make sure what they are purchasing has no major defects, as no one likes surprises, and additional expenses especially after closing (unless the purchaser(s) knows he/she is buying in “as is condition”).

First the contract is signed by the buyer(s), and then sent over to the seller(s) by purchaser’s attorney for the seller(s) to sign. Once the contract is fully executed, then the buyer(s) must provide their mortgage person a copy of their contract, so the process of applying for their mortgage begins. Assuming the buyer(s) have provided all their personal information from the beginning to get their pre-approval, so there are no conditions then their appraisal can be done on the home. Appraisals under the current environment will be scheduled in 1-2 weeks. The appraiser will complete his appraisal and then send it over to the bank to further the approval process. Usually most contracts are signed with a 45-60 day window for the final written mortgage approval. However, there are times when a delay by the bank or additional paperwork might be asked for from the buyer, and an extension of time will be required and is asked for by the buyer’s attorney.

man, allowed to rent, etc.) co-ops are an excellent alternative, as long as their financials are strong, with enough money in their reserve fund, good working capital to pay the monthly bills and maintenance that is somewhat comparable to other similar units and increases have been minimal over the last number of years.

Once management goes over the application, it then sends it over to the board to again, go over the package with a “fine tooth comb.” Then, management will call to schedule an appointment for the prospective purchaser’s in person interview. Lately, I see more boards considering or doing a Zoom interview is much more efficient, safer and more flexible in performing the interview for all involved parties.

is involved then a CD (closing document) must be kept by both agents for their records for 3 years as per the Department of State rules. Obviously, the process from start to finish is a very involved and with parts, so it is important to have everyone on the same page throughout the transaction, so the sale will be as efficient as possible with the least amount of stress.

When you’re not having turkey -- or thinking about fixing it -- here’s an easy recipe for those busy days that provides a good source of vitamin D and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. It’s from Hy-Vee Seasons magazine.

HONEY-WALNUT CRUSTED

SALMON AND BROCCOLINI

Nonstick cooking spray

4 (4-6 ounce) skinless salmon fillet portions

Fine sea salt

Black pepper

If it is a co-op sale, then management sometimes will ask for a copy of the contract to verify the sale. Once that is done a copy of the co-op sale package is provided to the purchaser(s) while the mortgage is being facilitated, and the process of filling it out begins. Although, it can be a challenge to some to provide all the required information that a co-op asks for on the application, it will provide a very clear picture of the financial capability of the buyer(s). Unless one has the money to purchase a condo, (no board approval) which can be around $100,000-$150,000 more for similar space, (but more luxury, guaranteed indoor parking, door-

Once the buyer passes the board then a closing can be scheduled, after the bank says that the sale is “clear to close.” Both attorneys, the bank attorney, title company will work on a closing date and will convey this to buyer, seller and agents involved in the transaction. Agents must send in their bills for services rendered with both their personal and corporate license numbers to the seller’s attorney. Also a final walk through of the property is done to make sure everything is in order, utilities are functioning and the home is in the same condition as when the buyer’s last visited it when there was an agreed and accepted price. No one likes surprises at the closing as that should be the time when everyone is satisfied and happy. However, if there are any major issues, then money is held in escrow until those issues are satisfied, but the closing will still occur.

The day of the closing all the paperwork is completed and if a cash sale then a copy of the contract is needed for the agents records, with all the NYS agency, lead (as applicable) and Covid disclosures. However, if a mortgage

Dinner Recipe For Busy Days

1 cup chopped walnuts

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons honey

2 1/2 tablespoons canola oil, divided 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme

8 ounces broccolini spears, trimmed

1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Preheat oven to 425 F. Lightly spray a large, rimmed pan with cooking spray. Pat salmon dry with paper towels. Place salmon in center of pan. Tuck under thin

edges of salmon, if necessary. Lightly sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper. Combine walnuts, mustard, honey, 1 tablespoon oil and 1/2 teaspoon thyme in a small bowl. Spread mixture on top of salmon. Toss broccolini and bell pepper pieces with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. Spread vegetables around salmon in pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in 425-degree oven until salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 F and vegetables are crisp-tender. Garnish with additional thyme if desired. Serves 4.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.). He will provide you with “free” regular updates of sold and new homes in your town via the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (MLSLI) or go to http:// WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” `15 minute consultation, as well as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached. He can also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and our Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.

You can email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your request or ideas, suggestions or interview you for a specific topic and a Q & A for a future column with your name, email and cell number. He will email or call you back and respond to your request ASAP as long as he has your complete name, cell, email and/or full home or business address. Again, for a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, he can also be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions and concerns in selling, investing, purchasing, or leasing residential or commercial property.

Per serving: 580 calories; 30 grams protein; 18 grams carbohydrates; 44 grams fat (6 grams saturated); 60 milligrams cholesterol; 4 grams fiber; 12 grams sugar (9 grams added); 210 milligrams sodium.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Illinois. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRD.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

Somehow or other, I managed to get to the age of 56 never having made a Thanksgiving turkey. I have always been the guest at Thanksgiving, never the host, which was good news for me and for the people who didn’t have to attend Thanksgiving dinner at my home and ingest turkey that was so dried out you could put it in a pipe and smoke it, or so undercooked it could still gobble.

The truth is I’m not a great cook. Sure, I have my collection of things I make pretty well, and my family doesn’t know any better, so they think it’s good. As no one is complaining and I haven’t poisoned anyone yet, I’m fine with just being an OK cook. I know there are a lot of people who like to cook and like to try exotic recipes and cook every dish in the Julia Child cookbook. But given the choice between learning how to debone a duck and make a demi-glace and mak-

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of November 21-27, 2021

With the holiday gift-giving season barreling toward us like an out-of-control sleigh, we will soon be hearing and seeing ads to have a star named after someone special.

Now I have nothing against the free enterprise system. But I, like P.T. Barnum, have come to learn that no matter how ridiculous a product people will line up to buy it if it’s marketed properly. Remember the pet rock?

So, if rocks, why not stars? Why not take a person’s hard-earned money, write their name in a book and hand them a star chart and certificate? Well, that’s just what a handful of companies are doing, and at least one has been investigated by a state attorney general’s office.

Quite frankly, I think that having a star named after me would be a pretty cool novelty gift, but that’s really all it is. Where I take issue is that people often believe that this will buy them immortality -- that future astronomers will utter their name while studying “their” star. (“My, isn’t Otis scintillating tonight!)

Sorry, folks, it just ain’t so. Let me explain why.

On a clear, dark night, only a couple thousand stars are visible to the unaided eye. Of those, only a few hundred are endowed with proper names, most of which come from ancient stargaz-

ing a reservation at a restaurant, I’d opt for the Olive Garden every time. That said, for my first Thanksgiving, I decided to take the plunge and actually make a real turkey from a real recipe. However, since I have never done this before, I thought I should probably, at least, take a couple of practice passes at this turkey thing just to make sure no one at my dinner table would end up in the emergency room.

For my first turkey, I decided I needed a sure thing to get my confidence up. So, I made a meatloaf out of ground turkey and sculpted it into the shape of a turkey. It didn’t really hold its shape and ended up looking more like a frog than a turkey, but it was delicious, and no one fought over the drumstick.

For my second turkey, I bought a store-cooked turkey and reheated it. This worked out really well. My family was very impressed until I told them I didn’t actually make it and they laughed at me until I threw stuffing at them.

All the Right Turkeys Star Names

The third turkey never made it to the table. I actually cooked this one and it seemed like it was going to be perfect. It looked good. It smelled great! It must have smelled great to the dog, too, because I left it on the counter to cool while I picked up the kids from school and the dog ate the whole thing. He said it was delicious.

They always say the fourth time is the charm (I know you’ve heard it is the third time, but I figure the meatloaf turkey didn’t really count), so I expected that turkey number four was gonna be “da bomb.” This is a pretty good description of what happened when I dropped it taking it out of the oven and it exploded all over the kitchen floor. The dog enjoyed this turkey, too.

I was running out of time and on turkey number five, which, coincidentally, was the same number of hours I had it in the oven before I realized I had set the temperature but never turned the oven on. After leaving the turkey out,

STARGAZERS

ers of the Mediterranean: the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and others. The rest -- visible only to large telescopes -- are designated by numbers or celestial coordinates that astronomers list in thick star catalogues.

Take, for example, the brightest star twinkling low in the northeastern sky a few hours after dark. Various catalogues list it as HD34029, HR1708 and Alpha Aurigae, but since it’s the sixth brightest star in the sky, it also carries a proper name: Capella. The name means “she-goat,” a perfectly legitimate name for the brightest star in the constellation of Auriga, a charioteer who carries a goat. Names of other bright stars have similarly interesting origins and histories.

Now if you’d still like to “buy” a star for someone this holiday season, you certainly won’t hurt my feelings. You should have little trouble finding companies on any Internet search engine, but please be aware that most of the stars they’re “selling” are much too faint to see with the unaided eye. In fact, some may not even exist at all. Nearly three decades ago, I failed to find a friend’s “star” with both a 21-inch telescope and a camera. It just wasn’t there. And then I discovered upon closer examination that the “star” for which the person spent $50 was actually a dot of ink laid down on the star chart by some unscrupulous salesperson! Star names are fascinating, and they tell us much about the cultures who

uncooked, for five hours, I was pretty sure I would end up serving turkey a la food poisoning for dinner, so I tossed it.

As I contemplated my five failed turkeys, our future Thanksgiving guests called.

“Hi,” said my brother. “All ready for Thanksgiving?”

“Absolutely,” I said.

“What are we having?” he asked.

“That depends,” I said

“On what?” he wondered.

I looked at the garbage can stuffed with turkey.

“What are you bringing?”

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

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created them. To learn more about the stars’ actual names, you might check out the book of Richard Hinckley Allen titled “Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning.” And for an even more in-depth and fascinating look at the subject, look into the classic three-volume tome known as “Burnham’s Celestial Handbook.”

When it comes right down to it, books like that would make a more useful gift for the stargazer in your family!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

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EMPLOYMENT

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FORMER BIG FOUR/SIX ACCOUNTANT

Stay at home mom looking to make extra spending money?

Flexible schedule, limited deadlines, work from home. 18-20 hours per week. CPA not required. Call 516-522-0499

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FRONT DESK ADMIN.

Busy Real Estate Office Computer and Organizational Skills Required. Flexible 20 hrs/week

IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY Resume/Call for Appointment 516-248-9494

LYNEER STAFFING SOLUTIONS Hiring Mail Sorters, Data Entry $15.00, Forklifts $17.50, Mystery Shoppers Ages 21-25 $20.00. 860 Long Island Ave., Deer Park NY 11729 631586-4699

OFFICE ASSISTANT NEEDED

P/T, all office duties including billing & accounts payable. Knowledge of QuickBooks a PLUS. Flexible Days/ Hrs.

Please contact Lynn at: LEckstein@fabricresourcesintl. com

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HELP WANTED

RECEPTIONIST needed for P/T eves & weekends. Will train.

Also VET / TECH KENNEL ASST.

Duties include helping doctors with appointments/treatments. Cleaning cages/offices/ equipment. Must like animals, be reliable, dependable & work well with others. Pay negotiable for both positions. Please call to schedule interview.

Port Washington Animal Hospital: 516-883-2005

TAX PREPARER PART TIME

Franklin Square Experience needed Retirees welcome. Call 516-358-9455 Fax resume 516-358-9483

Email: ed@loturco.com

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A HOME HEALTH CARE

AIDE Irish trained woman with 10 years experience and excellent checkable references available. Honest and reliable. Licensed driver with own transportation. Please call 516-383-7150

HOME HEALTH AIDE / ELDER CARE

Loving reliable woman seeking FT position nights/weekends to take care of your loved one. Experienced with ALS, dementia, diabetes, etc. Great references highly recommended. Licensed driver. Call 646-575-8217

HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

with over 15 years of experience, I am skilled in facilitating the needs of those with any type of physical or mental disability as well as end of life care. Able to perform all house hold duties and tasks necessary for in home personal care. Professional and compassionate care to help maximize the comfort of you or your loved ones in their own home.

Call 516-602-7178

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PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

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Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

ATTENTION MEDICARE RECIPIENTS! Open Enrollment for Medicare health plans is here! Call our licensed insurance agents for an affordable quote for your needed coverage. Call for a no obligation free quote now! 844-808-9374 (TTY:711)

GET DIRECTV! ONLY $69.99 /month. 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies on Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package). PLUS Stream on UP to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

MARKETPLACE

A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP

516-746-8900

Antiques-Furniture-Jewelry-Silver-Mirrors-LampsArtwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4

Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org

Items to Consign?

Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society Like us on Facebook & Instagram

INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www.invitedsales. com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

AUCTIONS

COOL OLD STUFF IN GLEN COVE VINTAGE SHOP WINNER OF BEST OF NASSAU COUNTY 2021. GREAT PRICED items for Boat and Home. See ALL online: Wilsonsdrydock.com. For info/ appt Please call 516-662-2821

CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900

MARKETPLACE

WANTED TO BUY

FREON WANTED: We pay

$$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

LOOKING TO BUY!

Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture. Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104

TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENT S ALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC.

Please call 718-598-3045 or 516270-2128

www.antiqueassets.com

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS

$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV 10#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516297-2277

DRIVE OUT BREAST CANCER:

Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup 24hr response Tax deduction Easy to do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755 REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

APARTMENT FOR RENT

GARDEN CITY BORDER APARTMENTS

NO BROKER FEE. Huge, bright 1Br, 1 bath apt. $1685 +electric. Gated parking. Laundry room, air conditioning, hardwood floors, LIRR. www.gcbapts.com Voice or text: 516-524-6965

REAL ESTATE WANTED

HOUSE WANTED TO RENT

I am a 26 year old professional male, currently working and going to school for my masters. I am looking to rent a furnished room, studio or one bedroom apartment in Nassau County. I am responsible, respectful and clean. Please contact Jon at 917 885-3201 or email me at genie91234@yahoo.com if you are looking for a good tenant.

SUMMER 2022 RENTAL WANTED HOUSE OR APARTMENT

Retired Garden City couple looking for summer rental in Garden City, Rockville Centre, W. Hempstead or surrounding areas.

July, August and September. Please call Martha: 516-697-6694

SERVICES

BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99 /mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! CALL 888-508-5313

Dr. Marlene Levy (PhD,LCSW,DAAPM) Virtual and Outdoor CLINICAL HYPNOSIS & PSYCHOTHERAPY. Call 516-944-3885

SERVICES

FAMILY RECOVERY SERVICES

I am a long time resident of Garden City and understand the complexities of ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH.

I am available to GUIDE families find the MOST COST EFFECTIVE & COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN for a loved one.

I will Bridge the Gap between a Family ravaged by Alcoholism, Drug Addiction and/or Mental Health AND Life Long Recovery.

HELP IS HERE NOW!

Please call me for a confidential consultation. 954-5408441

Kim Koslow, LMHC, MCAP, CTT

Licensed Psychotherapist Motivational Interventionist Reliable Resource

“It was in my heart to help a little because I was helped much” Kahill Gibran

FITNESS/MASSAGE

Virtual workout available via Zoom. One on One Rehabilitation in the comfort of your home.

Following COVID-19 Safety Practices.

Contact: 917-612-0460 Andersongourdet@gmail.com

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING

We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from!!

Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495

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WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED HHA, LPN, Nurse’s Aide, Childcare, Housekeeping & Day Workers. No Fees to Employers. Call Evons Services 516-505-5510

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STEPHANIE A.

D’ANGELO, ESQ.

Elder Law, Wills & Trusts Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122 www.dangelolawassociates.com

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Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199

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Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist. FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK 516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600 Since 1982 chimneykinginc.com

ELIMINATE GUTTER

CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-763-2379

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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

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All types of stonework Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps.

Free Estimates

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PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!

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All types of Roofing

Local References

Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869

THE GENERAC PWRcell

a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194

WIREMAN/CABLEMAN

Flat TVs mounted, Phone, TVs & Computer wiring installed & serviced, camera & stereos, HDTV Antennas FREE TV www.davewireman.com

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631-667-WIRE (9473) or TEXT 516-353-1118

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HEALTH SERVICES

FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC

Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC

Doctor of Nursing Practice

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Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications 516-248-9323 www.familycareconnections. com

901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530

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Interior, Exterior, Plaster / Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499

TUTORING

BROWN U. PHD

VIRTUAL TUTORING in Math and Latin. 20+ years tutoring/teaching experience, including at Brown. Call/Text 347-683-7961 for more information

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Port Tutoring

Academic success

Test Prep/All subjects/ All Grades/All Levels. Individual and Small Group Tutoring. 516-767-1342 info@portturtoring.com

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

LEAK REPAIRS

Plumbing Repairs

Bathrooms, Showers, Kitchens

24 HOUR SERVICE

Call 516-668-5624

PASSION FOR SENIORS

Certified HHAs, companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care available. Also Nassau locations. Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Call 718-850-3400

Celebrate a popular chocolate dessert

It is hard to determine who created the brownie, but dessert devotees no doubt appreciation that individual’s now beloved creation.

Brownies are one of North America’s favorite baked treats. They actually are classified as a bar cookie rather than a cake, and the dessert earned its name from the deep, brown color of its main ingredient.

There have been many variations on the brownie through the years, and the lively debate whether crunchy end pieces or chewy middle slices are preferred continues. There may be less debate about how flavorful it can be to mix cheesecake with brownies, which is just what happens in this recipe for “Marbled Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies” from “Chocolate” (Love Food), by the editors of Parragon Books, Ltd.

Marled Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

Makes 12

3⁄4 cup unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 cup superfine sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup all-purpose flour

Cheesecake mix

1 cup ricotta cheese

3 tablespoons superfine sugar

1 egg beaten

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease an 11 x 7-inch cake pan and line with parchment paper.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, remove from the heat, and stir in the unsweetened cocoa and the sugar. Beat in the eggs, then add the flour, and stir to mix evenly. Pour into the prepared pan.

For the cheesecake mix, beat together the ricotta, sugar and egg, then drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture over the chocolate mixture. Use a metal spatula to swirl the two mixtures tightly together.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until just firm to the touch. Cool in the pan, then cut into bars or squares.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS...

Each week Litmor Publications publishes the ads of providers in our Classifieds, Professional Guide and Service Directory. A 6 week agreement brings your specialty or service to the attention of the community in a public service format.

LET US BEGIN LISTING YOU IN OUR NEXT ISSUE. For More Information and Rates Call Nancy 516.294.8900 Email: Nancy@gcnews.com Include name, daytime phone number, address and email.

Deadline for Professional Guide or Service Directory is Monday, 12 Noon. Deadline for Classified is Tuesday, 1pm Advertising in the Professional Guide is only open to N.Y.S. Licensed Professionals.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID

Bethpage Union Free School District

Bethpage, New York 11714

BID # 010-2122

District Printing Bid

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE sealed bids will be received by the Board of Education of the Bethpage Union Free School District, Town of Oyster Bay, Bethpage, New York. BID # 0102122 for District Printing Bid. Bids will be publicly opened and read on the 13th day of December, 2021 at 11:00AM in the Administration Building, 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage, New York.

The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids which in its discretion are not in the best interest of the school district, and to waive any informality as to non-material errors or omissions in the submissions. Bid specifications and all applicable terms and conditions forms are available for pick-up on any weekday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Business Office, located in the Central Administration Building, at 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage, New York.

By Order of the Board of Education

Bethpage Union Free School District Administration Building 10 Cherry Avenue Bethpage, New York 11714

BN 7517

1X 11/26

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 DECEMBER 2, 2021, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 21-546

SYOSSET

YUJIN KIM: (A) Variance

LEGAL NOTICES

to reconstruct new dwelling with front roof over porch and rear deck having less rear yard setback and side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance; also encroachment of eaves and gutters. (B) Variance to reconstruct new dwelling with front roof over porch, rear deck and detached garage exceeding maximum gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance

N/s/o Lewis Ln., 207.07 ft. W/o Dorothy Dr., a/k/a 62 Lewis Lane, Syosset, NY

APPEAL NO. 21-547

SYOSSET

TOM WALSH: (A) Variance to allow existing 12.3 ft. by 8.3 ft. shed having less side yard setback and rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.

(B) Variance to allow existing 12.3 ft. by 10.4 ft. shed exceeding maximum height than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to allow existing screened in porch and sheds exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance.

(D) Variance to allow existing air conditioning unit having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (E)

Variance to allow existing driveway having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.

S/s/o Candy Ln., 155 ft. W/o Southwood Cir., a/k/a 100 Candy Lane, Syosset, NY

APPEAL NO. 21-548

SYOSSET

HAI YIN CHEN: (A) Variance to allow existing roofed-over front porch having less average front yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing shed having less side yard setback and rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to allow existing 6 ft. high fence exceeding maximum height across front yard than permitted by Ordinance.

S/s/o Morris Dr., 182. Ft. W/o Birchwood Park Dr., a/k/a 51 Morris Drive, Syosset, NY

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK

SYO 4406

1X 11/26

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 DECEMBER 2, 2021, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 21-518

JERICHO

JP OPTIONEE LLC: (A) Variance for the reduction of off-street parking spaces. Reduction of spaces to 371 when 793 parking spaces are required. (B) Variance for the reduction of off-street loading spaces. Reduction of spaces to 1 when 3 loading spaces are required. (C) Variance to install off-street parking spaces having less setback from newly established property line than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to install one-way vehicular traffic access (parking area North of the proposed hotel). (E) Variance to construct hotel on sub-divided lot exceeding maximum height than permitted by Ordinance. (F) Variance to allow existing buildings on sub-divided lot exceeding maximum building coverage and gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance. (G) Variance to allow existing off-street parking spaces having less setback from newly established property line than permitted by Ordinance. (H) Variance to allow existing office buildings having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.

NE/ cor. of Jericho Tpke. & N. Marginal Rd., a/k/a 2 Jericho Plaza, Jericho, NY

SEC. 11 BLK. 355

LOTS 31 & 32

ZONES GB & OB

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK

JNJ 7973

1X 11/26

College Notes

Brendan Muller of Levittown was among the 34 students who volunteered as part of SUNY Oneonta’s Community Clean-Up Day through the college’s Center for Social Responsibility and Community (CSRC) on Oct. 24.

Muller is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in history at SUNY Oneonta. n

SUNY Oneonta’s student team earned a silver medal at this year’s International Genetically Engineered Machine Giant Jamboree (iGEM) for their project, “SNflaPs.”

In this multidisciplinary competition, team members work together to create a solution to an everyday problem using the tools of synthetic biology.

SUNY Oneonta’s team worked to produce a field-deployable genetic testing system that can be used to support informed breeding on small dairy farms. Team members included the following local students: Joseph Liszovics of Plainview - Bachelor of Science in computer science/criminal justice

Helen Sanchez of Old Bethpage - Bachelor of Science in biochemistry

Liam Buchanan of Levittown - Bachelor of Science in biology n Congratulations to Brianna Gregory ‘22, of Levittown, a senior in the forensic science program at Ceder Crest College, who was awarded the Peter De Forest Research Award at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists held recently in Newport, RI. A panel of forensic science experts selected Gregory’s presentation as the most outstanding presentation given at the conference by an undergraduate. n

Kelli Heffer of Bethpage is one of more than 230 student-athletes who competed for the Flying Dutchmen during the fall 2021 semester. Heffer, a graduate of Plainedge High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science in exercise science at The Valley.

Heffer was a member of the volleyball team.

The LVC volleyball team finished its season with a 10-11 overall record, including a conference win over Alvernia.

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HOLIDAY FAMILY DINNERS

Available Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 - Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 for lunch and dinner • Take out only

PACKAGE #1 $50 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas • Choice of a dozen buffalo wings or spinach artichoke dip • 2L Bottle of Soda

PACKAGE #2 $60 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas •Penne ala vodka

• Choice of a dozen buffalo wings or Spinach artichoke dip • 2L bottle of soda

PACKAGE #3 $70 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas • Penne ala vodka

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HOLIDAY CATERING MEALS

Available Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 - Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 for lunch and dinner • Take out only

PACKAGE #1 $80 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas • 1/2 tray chicken parmigiana

• Complimentary Bottle of Cabernet or Pinot Grigio

PACKAGE #2 $115 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas • 1/2 tray Caesar salad

• 1/2 tray chicken parmigiana • Complimentary Bottle of Cabernet or Pinot Grigio

PACKAGE #3 $145 Plus Tax

• (1) 18” regular pizzas • 1/2 tray Caesar salad

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• Complimentary Bottle of Cabernet or Pinot Grigio

*Toppings available for additional cost; may not be combined with any other coupon, discount, offer or Groupon; prices do not include tax or gratuity; available for take out only; no substitutions.*