Mid-Island Times (12/6/19)

SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN

SOARING EAGLES DAY

Students at John F. Kennedy Middle School celebrated Soaring Eagles Day to promote the power of making good choices and the importance of good character. See page 19

Plainview resident retires from a lifelong work helping others

BY GARY SIMEONE

After 23 years of service, Plainview resident Hillary Rutter is retiring from what she calls a lifelong passion of helping others. On January 10, 2020, she will retire from her post as director of the Adelphi University NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline

& Support Program. The program runs the oldest breast cancer hotline in the country, and provides counseling, support groups, educational programs, community outreach and advocacy to thousands of New Yorkers.

“When I came to this program in 1996, it was a much smaller program,” said Rut-

ter. “Through the years it has really grown and we have so many more volunteers on board who are responding to the needs of the breast cancer community.”

As a director of the program, she is responsible for duties such as supervising

See page 18

More contaminated soil found in Bethpage Community Park

BY GARY SIMEONE

Leftover contamination from the former Northrop Grumman site continues to plague residents in the Bethpage community. Recent findings from exploratory testing by the State DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) in May have uncovered additional contamination in the soil beneath Bethpage Community Park. The site is near a ball field that has been closed since 2002 and is targeted for cleanup by Northrop Grumman, with oversight by the State DEC.

In a Town of Oyster Bay meeting that was held earlier this year at the site, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino expressed his frustration at the delayed cleanup efforts.

“Since becoming Town Supervisor, I have made the cleanup of underground issues in this community a top priority,” said Saladino at the time. “This dormant property is finally ready for a new chapter. We are thrilled that remediation efforts are getting underway so that we can return this field to the residents of Bethpage with the assurance of safety for our community.”

Testing in May discovered volatile organic compounds, including a carcinogenic solvent known as TCE (trichloroetylene) at 15 times the target cleanup goals set by the state. The discovery was made in the extreme eastern corner of the

park right outside of the ball field.

Erica Ringewald, DEC director of media relations, said that the contamination is located over a pit where Grumman once dumped solvent-soaked rags and steel drums. It is believed to be located 36 to 50 feet below ground in a narrow two to eight-foot thick interval.

“We did do a full and detailed investigation prior to this finding and to clarify there is no new groundwater hotspot that has been identified,” said Ringewald. “It’s not unusual for us in the course of a remediation of this scope to find some isolated areas that were not previously characterized.'”

The park was closed to the public in 2002 when testing found elevated levels of contamination inside the soil. Sections of the park were eventually reopened after followup testing, and in 2006, the park underwent a significant remediation project. The ball field area remained closed, however, after contamination was found to spread far underground and the cleanup effort required was deemed as exorbitant.

Northrop Grumman submitted a revised delineation work plan for DEC review and approval on November 15. The company expects to start an in-situ thermal remedy next spring to rectify the situation. While this treatment is occurring, Grumman is required

See page 18

New Year’s Eve at the Knights of Columbus

The Joseph Barry Knights of Columbus will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Party on Tuesday, December 31 at 8 p.m. at its headquarters at 45 Heitz Place, Hicksville. Doors open 7:30 p.m.

$35 per person - $70 per couple. Checks may be made payable to: Joseph Barry Knights of Columbus by December 15. There will be a DJ, open bar, chicken

cordon bleu, mashed potatoes, vegetables, dessert and coffee.

Bring your own snacks and noisemakers. Casual attire. Raffles.

Reservations are required. Absolutely no money will be accepted at the door. The event is limited to 170 people. Tables hold 10 people.

Call Brian 516-457-6190

Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call our Garden City office at 516-294-8900 for more information.

Play basketball, volleyball and badminton at Town program

The Town of Oyster Bay will offer Co-Ed Recreational Programs for basketball, badminton and volleyball beginning the first week of January 2020 at the Hicksville Athletic Center. Registration for these programs will be open beginning December 1 at the Hicksville Athletic Center, located at 167 Broadway in Hicksville.

“The Town’s winter recreational programs have consistently proven to be one of the most popular programs the Town offers each year. All of these recreational programs are open to residents ages 18 and older, and serve as a great opportunity to make new friends and stay in shape during the winter doldrums,” said Town Councilman Thomas Hand. “These recreational programs are a great way to have fun and stay active throughout the cold and dreary months of the winter season. I encourage residents to take advantage of these fantastic Town programs.”

The Co-Ed Badminton program will feature three sessions available for registrants to choose from: Tuesdays from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Fridays from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sundays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Badminton program is 10 weeks long and costs $75 for residents

and $100 for non-residents.

The Co-Ed Basketball program will feature three sessions available to choose from: Thursdays from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The Basketball program is also 10 weeks long and costs $25 for residents and $40 for non-residents.

The Co-Ed Volleyball program will begin in early January and will be split into two different divisions: competitive and novice. Competitive sessions will be held on Mondays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., Wednesdays from 8:45 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sessions for the novice division will take place on Mondays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., Wednesdays from 10:15 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The volleyball program is 10 weeks long, and costs residents $75 and $100 for non-residents.

Proof of residency is required for the resident discount. Additionally, schedule is subject to change. For further information, including special holiday scheduling, please contact the Town of Oyster Bay Hicksville Athletic Center at (516) 797-4125 ext. 2 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com.

Kindergarten registration in Levittown schools

If you have a child/children residing in the Levittown Public Schools born on or before December 1, 2015, they will be eligible for kindergarten for the 20202021 school year.

Please contact Arlene Mege at 516434-7058, Central Registration, at Levittown Memorial Education Center to place your name on the list to receive a kindergarten package for registration. All packages will be mailed out at the beginning of January in 2020. For more information, please visit the district’s website at levittownschools.com.

Musical performances planned for local libraries

Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community and Youth Services will be offering free musical performances during the month of December 2019 at local libraries throughout the Town to kick-off the 2019-2020 Distinguished Artists Concert Series, which will continue to run monthly through May 2020.

“The Town’s Distinguished Artists Concert Series has proven to be one of our most popular and enduring programs, as residents flock from all across the Town to see the free musical and dance performances scheduled each month for the enjoyment of our residents,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “I invite residents to take advantage of these wonderful performances offered by the Town for free at local libraries.”

Upcoming performances for December 2019 include:

• Copperline – A Tribute to the Music of James Taylor on

Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the Syosset Public Library (tickets required for performances at Syosset Public Library as space is limited, tickets available at the library beginning on November 19, 2019, for more information call 516921-7161.)

• Sugar & Spice Soul Band – A Soulful Tribute to Motown and R&B on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. in the Farmingdale Public Library.

• Four Hand Band – One Hundred Years of Women’s Voices on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. in the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library.

The Distinguished Artists Concert Series is sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts (CAPA) Division of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community & Youth Services. For further information, please call (516) 7977900 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com.

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Members of Division Avenue High School’s PosiDiv Club delivered care packages to breast cancer patients at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Photos courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools

Members of Division Avenue High School’s PosiDiv Club in the Levittown Public Schools recently spread love and care while visiting St. Joseph’s Hospital. The students made care packages throughout the month of October for breast cancer patients and brought the packages to the hospital to be distributed.

The staff at the hospital gave out 25 bags to the patients and dropped

off 20 more to the infusion center. The patients were very happy to receive the bags. While the students were visiting the hospital, they participated in a tour of the different units and engaged in conversations with doctors, nurses and radiologists. As a way to thank them, students were offered different volunteer opportunities for the future.

Fundraiser held for NYPD cop battling 9/11 related cancer

Scott and Kristen Johnston with their seven daughters.

BY GARY SIMEONE

Nearly 1,000 people showed up to Mr. Beerys bar in Bethpage this past Sunday to participate in a fundraiser for a NYPD sergeant battling a 9/11-related cancer. The event was entitled, ‘Battle For Brutis’ and it was held in honor of Levittown resident Scott ‘Brutis’ Johnston, a  22-year veteran of the NYPD and 30-year member of the Levittown Fire Department and Rebels Drill team. All of the proceeds from the event were donated to Scott’s family to help with his hospice care and treatment. The fundraiser took place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a raffle, BBQ and drink specials were all included.

Shannon Giudice, Johnston’s sisterin-law, said that the event was planned in early November after news spread that Scott’s condition had taken a turn for the worse.

“He has been battling metastatic melanoma cancer for over two years now,” said Giudice. “So many people showed up for this event including members of the fire department, police department and community members to support him in his struggle. He is truly a larger than life figure in this community. He is the type of person that you meet once and you can never forget him.”

Scott, 50, is married to his high school sweetheart, Kristin, and the couple have 7 daughters, who were all on hand to help support their dad in his battle against the disease. His daughters are Olivia, 24, Hannah, 22, Kaeley, 20, Amelia, 19 and the triplets, Molly, Rebecca and Natalie,

who are all 18 years of age. All of the girls graduated from Island Trees High School, as did their father.

Johnston grew up in Levittown and joined the NYPD in 1996. He originally was part of the Queens South Task Force and then part of the Strategic Response Group, which is the NYPD’s rapid response team. He eventually worked his way up the ranks to the position of sergeant, a top-tier position in the NYPD. He was also a longtime member in the Levittown Fire Department, serving as captain of the department and part of the Rebels Drill Team.

Kaeley said it felt good to see so many people come together inside and outside of the bar to help support her father during such a difficult time period.

“Every day really is a fight for all of us,” said Kaeley, who attends The Citadel Military college in South Carolina. “One day he looks like he’s doing great, and then there are days where he can’t do much at all. It’s tough to watch him in this condition. It is so great to see so many people come out to support him during his struggle.”

Johnston’s wife, Kristin, has helped setup an online GoFundMe account to help support her husband. More than $10,000 has been raised thus far to help Scott with his treatment and his hospice care needs. The account can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/scott-johnston-fundraiser.

A fundraiser was also held for Johnston  last summer at the Bethpage Fire Department.

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Building a Rizzi City at Gardiner's Avenue School

Gardiners Avenue fourth-graders in Jennifer O’Connell’s class explored their creativity and the world of pop art during art class on Nov. 7. Art teacher Rachel Herbert taught the students about popular American pop artist James Rizzi, and showed the class his vibrant works of city life. The class was split into five groups and using a large piece of paper, each created their own Rizzi-inspired

skyscraper which could be found in one of Rizzi’s many city artworks. The students colored, created faces and cut out colorful shapes which were glued to the paper to give their skyscraper some character. The collaborative project allowed students to showcase their teamwork skills as they learned about a new artistic style.

Photos courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools

art

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Gardiners Avenue fourth-graders Ciara Kilcullen, Kayla Liu-Teodoro, Nikka Paletta and Gianna Paese worked together on their

project.

Fourth-grader Logan Maurer worked on his group’s skyscraper, inspired by American pop artist James Rizzi.

Gardiners Avenue fourth-graders Victoria Paez (left), Nicolette Widmer (middle) and Robert Ostolaza cut out and glued colorful construction paper to their skyscraper.

TOB to present free “Holiday on Ice” show

The Town of Oyster Bay will present the Annual “Holiday on Ice” Show at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 21 at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center located in Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Avenue.  Admission to the show is free.  Students from the Town’s Ice Skating Program will perform an enchanting, holiday-themed skating exhibition and the evening includes an exhibition hockey game between the Elves and the Reindeer, which are two teams comprised of players from the Town of Oyster Bay Youth Ice Hockey program.  Santa Claus is scheduled to visit with children and take photographs after the show.

“This special holiday performance is an annual tradition for many families and children across the Town,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino.  “The show provides an opportunity for participants in the Town’s ice skating program to showcase the hard work they’ve put into training all year.  Join us on December 21st, as the performance is sure to dazzle all those in attendance!”

In the spirit of “the season of giving,” attendees are asked to bring two non-perishable food items for donation

to Island Harvest, an organization committed to ending hunger on Long Island.  Attendees are also welcome to bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation to the United States Marines Toys for Tots Collection Drive which benefits local children throughout the community.

“Holiday on Ice” performance attendees will also be offered an opportunity to take part in the Holiday Mail for Heroes program, which offers residents the opportunity to fill out free holiday greeting cards, available in the lobby, for delivery to troops in the United States Armed Forces stationed in the homeland and around the globe.

Due to the “Holiday on Ice” show, the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center’s regularly scheduled public skating sessions slated for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., will be cancelled on December 21.  However, the Town’s two outdoor rinks, located at Marjorie R. Post Community Park in Massapequa and at Syosset-Woodbury Park will be open for visitors.  Please visit www.oysterbaytown.com for more information or call (516) 433-RINK (7465).

Choosing kindness at Hicksville Middle School

Health classes at Hicksville Middle School celebrated World Kindness Day on Nov. 13 with a special activity to visually demonstrate their commitment to kindness. Every student in the school created a special hand to be displayed on a large board in the hallway that reads “Choose Kindness.” Those students not taking health class on Nov. 13 made their hand in their home base periods. The paper hands

contain thoughtful messages, showing that every student at Hicksville Middle School understands what it means to be kind.

Discussions were also held centering on kindness and upstanding behavior. While kindness was the theme of the day, students were reminded that kindness is a mindset they should carry with them every day.

of the

George Frideric Handel

A Beloved Long Island Tradition!

THE ORCHESTRA AT SHELTER ROCK

Stephen Michael Smith, Conductor

THE UUCSR CHOIR with Professional Soloists

Meagan Brus, soprano

Michael St. Peter, tenor Blythe Gaissert-Levitt, mezzo Brace Negron, bass baritone

Sunday, December 8, 2019

1:30 pm

$8 / Under 18 Free

Come sing along, or just listen

Musical scores provided at no charge

Ample, free parking | Fully handicapped accessible

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock

Human. Kind.

48 Shelter Rock Rd Manhasset, NY 11030 uucsr.org | 516.627 6560

Students in Anthony Tussie’s health class at Hicksville Middle School placed paper hands containing thoughtful messages onto a large board for World Kindness Day. Every student in the school is contributing a ‘kind hand’ to this effort.

A Hicksville Middle School student places a hand containing the handwritten message “Be kind to yourself,” one of many important thoughts shared by the students on World Kindness Day.

Photos courtesy

Hicksville School District

Hicksville schools, Kiwanis join to provide Thanksgiving meals

Charles Montana Jr. and Razvan Constantinescu are pictured flanking (left to right) Superintendent Mrs. Marianne Litzman, Director of PPS Claire Hochheiser, and Board President Phil Heckler as they delivered turkeys to the Administration Building for holding in the large freezer until delivery to local families.

From October 22, 2019 through November 15, students in all nine Hicksville Public School buildings collected food for donation for the Thanksgiving holiday. In the elementary buildings, the initiative was coordinated by the school nurses. In the middle school, the Student Government, under the leadership Janice Fitzgerald and Jennifer Presti, collected the food. And at the high school, the International Outreach Club, under the leadership of Michael Rodway and Russell Garcia and the Helping Hands Club, led by Elizabeth Ryan and Christina Abate,

collected the food donations.

The Kiwanis Foundation provided turkeys for 28 families. On Friday, November 22, the Kiwanis members, Charles Montana, Jr. and Razvan Constantinescu, delivered the turkeys to the Administration Building.

The Hicksville School District buildings and grounds men delivered the boxes of food and turkeys to the families on Monday, November 25, 2019. This joint project between the Hicksville School District and the Kiwanis Foundation has been an annual event for over 25 years.

Gift wrapping for charity

The Glen Cove-Hicksville-Syosset Chapter of the Mercy League will be holding its annual Christmas holiday gift wrapping program.

From Thursday, December 12 to Tuesday, December 24 bring your gifts to Broadway Commons Mall to have them expertly wrapped by Mercy League volunteers. Proceeds of the wrapping service will support enrichment activities and equipment at Mercy

Medical Center.

The service will be available from  10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Christmas Eve til 4 p.m.). Prices will range from $2 to $5 depending on size of package and options chosen. Oversized packages will be priced accordingly. A large selection of gift wrap, decorative bags, ribbons and bows will be available.

For more information, please contact Pat at 681-6690 or Anna at 390-0200.

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Enter our “World’s Most Beautiful Grandchildren” contest! Just send in your grandchildren’s photos and a brief description of the child (or children) along with your name and address to editor@gcnews.com

Plainview-Old Bethpage takes a ‘byte’ out of robotics

Members of the Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School Robotics Team, F.I.R.S.T Team 353 POBots, showing off their award-winning robot to attendees of Engineering Awareness Night.

Recently, the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District’s John F. Kennedy High School held their 12th annual Engineering Awareness Night for hundreds of students, parents and community members. The event was hosted by the school’s robotics team, the POBots, to provide attendees the opportunity to learn about the importance of engineering and technology and display the various advanced resources available to students at Plainview-

Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School.

“Our children are getting ready to enter an economy that is being driven by technological innovation,” said Dr. Lorna Lewis, superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District. “Our District makes it a priority to provide students with hands-on experiences that our STREAM-related clubs and organizations cater to.”

Attendees participated in activ -

ities that require creative problem-solving skills such as designing and building. Students of all ages throughout the District had the chance to view an award-winning championship robot in action, and the opportunity to test drive robots built by the POBots. Students made circuits with play dough and learned about all of the aspects of F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Technology), including the logic behind coding.

Engineering Awareness Night provides an opportunity to show students how they can get more involved in the school’s STREAM programs.  Engineering Awareness Night is held as a celebration of the ongoing initiative of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District to reinforce critical areas of study to encourage the development of creative thinking skills and incite a passion for the sciences in young students.

Plainview-Old Bethpage students building their own unique STREAM invention.

Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School POBots members showing younger students and parents their innovative creations.

Future Plainview-Old Bethpage STREAM scholars in training at the 12th annual Engineering Awareness Night.

Favorite Places to Go Where the Holiday Spirit Glows Brightest

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE

GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM

The best thing about Christmas is that the festivities that brighten and warm all the days of the holiday season go on from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. And the best part is you don’t have to wait for Christmas week – the holiday spirit happen happens throughout December.

Christmas in the Capital

Here are some of the best, can’tmiss ways to experience the holidays in Washington DC::

The National Christmas Tree, one of DC’s iconic holiday traditions, lives in President’s Park on the White House Ellipse, surrounded by trees decorated with handmade ornaments from 56 U.S. states and territories. Each night throughout the holiday season there are musical performances. The display is free to visit and open from 10 am – 10 pm while the National Christmas Tree is lit each day from 4:30-10 pm, from Dec. 5, when the lighting ceremony takes place.

Visit the Smithsonian National Zoo during ZooLights,

Favorite Places to Go Where the Holiday Spirit Glows Brightest

Continued from page D1

when the zoo is illuminated with more than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LEDs,  animated light installations, live music and various animals on display. ZooLights runs Nov. 29 – Jan. 1 (closed Dec. 24, 25 & 31).

Enchant Christmas is a light maze, billed as the biggest in the world, that is in DC for the first time at Nationals Park from Nov. 22 – Dec. 29. Throughout the holiday season there are ice skating trails and a large holiday market offering products from more than 60 vendors, including local businesses and international brands. (Use promo code “VISITDC” to get 10% off when you buy tickets.)

Downtown Holiday Marke t: Located at 8th and F Streets NW, the market holds down the area in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. At night, its bright lights bring Penn Quarter to life, providing a holiday spark to the neighborhood, but you can shop during the day too. (Open daily 12-8 pm, Nov. 22 – Dec. 23).

Georgetown GLOW exhibition of light-art, a stroll through DC’s most historic neighborhood  has proven to be such a hit that it’s now a monthlong celebration (Dec. 6 – Jan. 5, 5-10 pm). Afterwards, wander through a winter wonderland at The Washington Harbour, one of the district’s favor-

ite places to ice skate.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon : A  George Washingtoninspired Christmas  awaits at the Founding Father’s Mount Vernon estate, Nov. 29 – Dec. 31. Walk through Washington’s home and visit Aladdin the camel, which pays homage to Washington’s 1787 Christmas in which he paid 18 shillings to entertain guests with a camel. See  Mount Vernon by candlelight (Nov. 29 & 30, Dec. 6-7, 13-14 and 22) between 5-8 p.m., when you can enjoy a character-guided tour, 18th century dancing and fireside caroling.

The  U.S. Botanic Garden  gets decked out for this annual exhibit. This year’s display focuses on gardens from Hawaii to Maine, including iconic spots like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Franklin Park Conservatory and Huntsville Botanical Garden. Inside the Conservatory are the garden’s collection of DC’s iconic landmarks and a showcase of poinsettias.  Season’s Greenings is open from Nov. 28 – Jan. 5 (10 am – 5 pm), and stays open until 8 pm, with holiday concerts on select Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

A magnificent tree decks the Great Hall of the  Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building each December, visited from the First Street SE entrance between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm (the Jefferson Building is closed Sundays and on Christmas). (Check the guide to visiting the largest library in the world so you can properly explore.)

Visit National Harbor, a shopping, dining and amusement park-like landmark located just 20 minutes south of DC (reached by public transportation). Step inside the Gaylord National Resort for ICE! (Nov. 15 – Dec. 30), an indoor winter wonderland featuring two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures, ice slides, a live carving area and a retelling of Dr. Seuss›  How the Grinch Stole Christmas. While at National Harbor, view the tree from atop the Capital Wheel, shop for gifts at the Tanger Outlets and experience weekend events like holiday markets, performances and movie screenings.

Beautiful lights, seasonal food and holiday-themed attractions and characters make up this annual Christmas event at Six Flags America, on weekends and select days from Nov. 23 – Jan. 1.

Located in the Brookland neighborhood, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Roman Catholic church in North America, dresses up with more than 50 Christmas trees, over 65,000 lights, halls decked with 500-plus poinsettias and two manger scenes. (Free and open to the public daily from 7 am – 6 pm)

Visit https://washington.org for more details and ideas.

15th Annual Vintage

Christmas in Portsmouth, NH

Now in its 15th year, Vintage Christmas, taking place throughout

December, transforms Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which  National Geographic/Travel  described as “possibly the greatest small town in the USA,” into a picture-postcard winter wonderland.

Those who visit Portsmouth during the holiday season discover an intimate streetscape framed by 19th century storefronts, boutiques and sidewalk cafes. The city’s reputation as a “foodies’” haven is upheld by chef-owned restaurants on more than every corner. The thriving craft beer and local music scene banish all suggestions of “staid New England” without losing the charm. And sales tax-free shopping offers delights for every age and taste.

For 2019 Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth includes:

The Music Hall, a historic theater dating from 1878 on Chestnut Street, presents “Annie” from November 27 to December 22, with Sally Struthers reprising her Broadway tour reprisal of Miss Hannigan. Juston McKinney: Last Laugh 2019 on Dec. 27, 28 & 29, looks back at “the year that was” with one of the region’s most “popular stand-up comics. New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 31.

Strawbery Banke Museum: 40th Annual Candlelight Stroll on December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22, showcases 300+ years of daily life and holiday festivities around the theme “A Tradition for Every Family” in the historic waterfront neighborhood and living history museum of Puddle Dock. Saturdays 5-9 pm. Sundays 4-8 pm. Adult $25; child (5-17) $10, Family (2 adults/2 kids) $60. Children under 5 and Military families, free.

Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond, Strawbery Banke’s seasonal outdoor ice skating rink, open daily 9 am to 9 pm, also hosts costumed Victorian skaters evoking Currier & Ives during each of the December evenings of Candlelight Stroll.

Vintage Christmas Trolley . This free trolley, courtesy of the City of Portsmouth, shuttles visitors on a 15-minute loop throughout the festively decorated downtown, from hotels and parking garages to the key events and shopping areas on weekends, December 7-22, 1:30-10:30 pm.

For more information, visit VintageChristmasNH.org; Discover Portsmouth, PortsmouthHistory.org, 603-436-8433.

Christmas in Newport, RI Newport, Rhode Island, the Gilded Age’s favorite summer resort, is always

enchanting, but never more so than at the winter holidays, when, it seems, the entire town is one big festival. A sampling of “Christmas in Newport” (now in its 49th year) and winter festivities include:

Holiday Lantern Tours : Hear the history of early American holiday traditions on an evening walk and learn how Newporters did, or did not, observe the holidays. Tours depart from the Museum of Newport History and Shop (Nov. 22 – Dec. 28, Fridays and Saturdays at 4 p.m.)

Christmas at the Newport Mansions: The glitter of gold and the sparkle of silver dazzle as you tour three magnificent mansions decked out in yuletide finery. Music, tours and spectacular decorations highlight celebrations at The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House – each of which will have Gingerbread Mansion replicas on display. Special events include “Holiday Evenings at the Newport Mansions” and “Santa Sundays.” (Nov. 23 – Jan. 1)

Christmas at Blithewold: Enjoy elaborate holiday decorations around every corner of this historic early 19th century estate in Bristol. (Nov. 29 – Jan. 1)

Holiday Market at Gurney’s : Features a curated selection of travel, lifestyle and fashion finds. (Nov. 29 –Dec. 20, Friday – Sunday).

Dickens Holiday Dinner

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Train : Immerse yourself in the classic tale of humbuggery, ghosts and redemption with this interactive retelling of “A Christmas Carol” by the Marley Bridges Theatre Company. Experience a dining journey along the Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad in a custom-designed theater car featuring special tables for two all

facing center stage. (Nov. 30 – Dec. 21, Saturdays)

A Rough Point Holiday: Experience the holiday traditions and winter caretaking practices at Doris Duke’s Rough Point with various rooms of the mansion museum both spruced up for the Christmas holiday and cloaked in their winter coverings. 30-minute guided

WRITER’S CORNER

tours offered throughout the day. (Dec. 7 – 28, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m) 48th Annual Christmas in Newport Candlelight Tour of Historical Private Homes: Experience the rare opportunity to tour private homes of note in Newport. (No children 10 or under and no high heels. Dec. 28)  See page D5

As I see it: On the Hofstra basketball season

BY LOU THEODORE

Here is part of what I wrote last year at the start of the Hofstra Men’s 2018-19 basketball season. “The 10/28 Newsday headlines blared away “Hofstra Targets NCAA: Wright-Foreman key to making March Madness.” Here is what appeared this year in the 11/2/19 Newsday headlines, “Hunger Pains: Pemberton, Pride Wants to Earn Spot in NCAA Tourney!” Now I ask you: What team doesn’t want to make the Tourney? In any event, the problems that existed last year still remain. What problems remain? The same four I raised earlier, as detailed below.

1. How many teams that made the Sweet 16 play zone defense? If you answered hardly any, you’d be right. And, there is a reason why the better teams do NOT play zone defense. Accept it – nothing can replace the intensity of an in-your-face man-to-man defense. NOTHING!!!

2. I keep repeating this after each season. You are inviting trouble when you commit to a 7-man rotation, with 5 players rotating around 4 positions. A successful team needs season-tested players not only when players are in foul trouble but also at tournament time when confronting either a 3-game/3-day

or 4-game/4-day schedule. Hopefully, this will not occur again this season.

3. Coach Mikalich and his staff have done a superb job in recruiting – when it comes to offensive players. But, defense is as important as offense, right? Anything been done about it? Time will tell.

4. The object every season for any club in a mid-major conference is to win their tournament, NOT their conference. How does a team do this? I discuss this very topic in the upcoming 2nd edition of my “Basketball Coaching 101” book . . . or, simply talk to Coach Timmy Cluess of Iona.

On to this year. Buie, Pemberton, Ray and Coburn are back. So is Truehart, although currently sidelined. The new additions include guard Silverio (Omar) and center Kante (Isaac). The starting five appear (at this time) to be guards Buie, Pemberton, Ray, and Coburn with Kante at center. Subs appear to be the aforementioned Silverio, Shutte (Ken) and (perhaps) freshman Burgess (Caleb). This year’s analysis? I love Coburn as a player – he was my type of player when I was coaching. But, Buie is the key. It will be his defense that will hopefully carry the team to the CAA Championship AND an invitation to the Big Dance. This will really be an

exciting year if this comes to pass. And, they have a reasonable shot to make it happen.

Here’s more: the club is off to a decent start. So far, so good. The team’s record at the time of the preparation of this article (12/1) is 4-3 that includes an embarrassing loss to San Jose St. and a dramatic come from behind 20-point victory against UCLA.

Here is my usual pitch on why everyone, particularly seniors, should consider attending Hofstra games this season. Attending these games for me still remains the best sports buy in the New York Metropolitan area; it’s even cheaper than going to the movies. There is ample free parking, easy access in and out of the Mack Sports Complex, the concession stands are not a rip-off ($3.50 for a dog, $3.00 for a soda, etc.), and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Did I mention that its $6 for seniors and children, and the whole exciting atmosphere is conducive to family attendance? Many home games last year turned out to be thrillers. Share it this year with someone you care about.

GO PRIDE!

Note: The TheodoreNewsletter will begin a new feature starting this month (see below). The new feature will pro-

vide either three offensive or three defensive basketball suggestions that will appear in the upcoming 2nd edition of Basketball Coaching 101, and replace the weekly basketball suggestions that have appeared on Facebook’s “Basketball Coaching 101.”

This month’s Basketball Coaching 101 offensive hints:

1. Run back at near full speed after a turn of possession (or turnover) to play defense.

2. Never play zone defense. There are some exceptions, detailed in (3).

3. Consider playing zone defense only if one of your star offensive players is a weak defender or if one of your star offensive players is in foul trouble or if you intend to use only 5, 6 or 7 players, i.e., the person (substitute) players are weak. Massimino used this strategy during Villanova’s championship run in 1985.

You want more? Tough. You’ll have to wait until next month for 3 offensive suggestions.

Visit the author at: www. theodorenewsletter.com or Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

Christmas in Newport: The Breakers decked out for the holidays.

Women Who Say They Are Not Getting Enough From Social Security

BY TOM MARGENAU

Just out of curiosity, I wanted to find out what the most common questions readers have been asking lately were. I was pretty sure I knew, and a quick check of my emails from the past month verified what I thought. By far, the most questions came from women who think they should be getting higher benefits on a husband’s account. Here are some examples.

Q: I am 86. I took my Social Security at age 62. I get $1,230 per month. My husband is 95. He waited until he was 70 to start his Social Security. He gets $3,020. I know a wife gets half of her husband’s benefits. Half of his is $1,510. So, by my calculations, I should be getting $280 in spousal benefits to take me up to that $1,510 level. We went to our Social Security office, and they told us he has to be dead before I can get any of this Social Security. You said in your columns that a wife gets half. So how do I let the Social Security people know they are wrong?

A: They are not wrong. And in my column, I’ve said maybe a thousand times over the years that a wife gets half of her husband’s Social Security IF she waits until her full retirement age to claim benefits. You didn’t do that. You took reduced retirement benefits at 62 and a similar reduction carries over to any wife’s benefits you might be due on your husband’s account. At 62, the spousal rate is about 35%.

And it’s not 35% of your husband’s age-70 rate; it’s 35% of his age-65 rate (65 was his full retirement age). I’m guessing that rate is about $2,300 per month. And 35% of that is about $805. Your own $1,230 benefit is way more than that. So you aren’t due anything on your husband’s account.

You aren’t due anything now. But when he dies, you will get widows benefits. A widow over full retirement age gets 100% of whatever the husband was getting at the time of death, including any extra benefits he got for waiting until age 70 to start his Social Security. So, when your husband dies, you will keep getting your $1,230 retirement check, and you will get an extra $1,790 to take your total benefits up to his current $3,020 rate.

Readers should note the ages of the people who sent me this first question. I am constantly amazed by the number of emails I get from very old readers, people who have been getting benefits for decades, who still question the amount of benefits they are getting. I often wonder: Have they been stewing over this perceived injustice for all these years? Or did something they read just recently prompt them to write to me? Well, this next question shows there are some people in the first category.

Q: I am 82 years old. I’ve been upset about this for almost 20 years now. I took my own Social Security at 62. I was getting about $800 per month. Then, when I turned 65, they switched me to widows benefits on my deceased husband’s record. I started getting about $1,400. (Of course, over the years, that has grown as the cost of living increases. I now get about $1,900.) But here is what has always bothered me. What happened to my own benefits? I worked hard all my life. And, poof!. That money just went away when they switched me to a widows check!

A: Well, I hope this makes you feel a little better. Your own benefits didn’t go “poof!” What actually happened back when you turned 65 is that they kept paying you your own $800 benefit, and they started giving you an extra $600 in widows benefits to take you up to your husband’s $1,400 level. And both benefits kept growing over the years. You said you are getting $1,900 now. I’m guessing about $1,200 of that is your own retirement money and the remainder is your widows benefit.

And here is a recent email in a similar vein. This is from a widow who understands how the combined payments work, but she’s still upset.

Q: I am 68. Before my 71-year-old husband died recently, I was getting $2,328 per month, and he was getting $2,649. After he died, I started getting $2,649 in widows benefits. The Social Security people told me this is actually my $2,328 check and $321 on his record. But come on! Get real! This is all just bookkeeping malarkey. In other words, if I never worked a day in my life, I still would be getting that $2,649 widows check. So I’m really not getting my own Social Security. I’m just getting a widows check. And my money is gone! I think if the system really was fair, I should get both my own $2,328 retirement check and $2,649 in widows benefits.

A: I understand where you are coming from. But let me make a couple of points. First of all, whether you believe it or not, $2,328 of your current $2649 benefit really is coming off of your own Social Security account. At least, that’s the way it is set up on the Social Security Administration books. It’s not “malarkey.” It’s really happening.

Still, I know this doesn’t appease you because the bottom line is that you are still getting a total benefit of $2,649 (your husband’s rate), and it just feels like a widows benefit to you.

Secondly, I must address your idea that you should be getting both benefits -- your own full retirement check and a full widows benefit -- at the same time. At first glance, this maybe seems fair, and a lot of people might agree with you.

But think of it this way: If you can get two full benefits, then any married person should be able to get two benefits. For example, if Warren Buffett’s wife died, should he get his own Social Security check and a widowers check on his wife’s account? Or, take my neighbor. He’s a retired executive with a fairly substantial Social Security check. If his wife dies, should he be able to get a widowers benefit on top of his already maximum retirement check?

I could get into a long discussion

about the financial dependency clause that is the root of eligibility for spousal benefits from Social Security. But I hope you see my point. If the system had been paying all of these extra spousal benefits over the years -- essentially double benefits to everyone -- it would have gone belly up a long time ago.

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

COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM

6 Things You Should Never Plug Into a Power Strip

BY MARY HUNT

Whether you live in a house, apartment, condo, mobile home or dorm room, having enough electrical outlets to handle all of the accessories, appliances and tools you need can be a challenge. And that’s when knowing how to safely use a power strip sure comes in handy.

While one of these devices can offer a reasonable solution for too few outlets, it’s a mistake to rely on power strips too much. Or to use them incorrectly. For safety’s sake, never plug these items into a power strip.

HAIRDRESSING APPLIANCES

You need ‘em hot and ready to go, which makes a power strip on the bathroom counter pretty much a godsend when you have only one outlet. Here’s the problem with that: Hairdryers, curling wands and flat irons are required to produce heat, which means they pull large amounts of amperage to get them good and hot. Plugging them into a power strip is just asking for trouble. These types of hairdressing appliances must be plugged directly into a wall outlet -preferably one with a ground-fault circuit interrupter breaker to avoid danger should those tools accidentally be exposed to water.

REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER

These appliances pull too much current for a power strip because they are continuously cycling on and off. That will quickly overload a power strip. These items need to be plugged directly into a wall outlet dedicated solely to that appliance. If you plug other appliances into that same outlet, provided it’s a duplex, you run the risk of tripping a breaker.

COFFEE MAKER

It seems pretty lightweight to heat up water, right? Not so fast. Most coffee makers need a good deal of amperage to turn gloriously roasted coffee beans into a hot beverage -- more than a power strip can guarantee to deliver. Make sure you plug the machine directly into a wall outlet.

TOASTER

Here’s the clue: It has exposed wires inside those slots that heat up to become red-hot. It takes a lot of current to fire up those wires, which can easily overload a power strip. So, no, do not plug your toaster into an extension cord or power strip. Ditto for your toaster oven.

SLOW COOKER

I agree this is counterintuitive;

wouldn’t you think a slow cooker uses microscopic bits of power? In this case, it’s not the amount of amperage but the length of time requiring continuous power. A power strip cannot guarantee to deliver that kind of energy. Plug the slow cooker safely into a wall outlet before you set it and forget it.

ANOTHER POWER STRIP

Power strips do not play well together. While it might seem smart to plug one power strip into another as a way of multiplying the number of outlets available, it’s really dumb -- super dangerous and violates every fire safety code out there.

QUICK CHECKLIST OF DO’S AND DON’TS

Power strips are fine in moderation as long as you observe proper power strip safety. The folks at Kolb Electric offer us this handy do’s and don’ts checklist so we can know when and how to use a power strip safely:

“Do. Only use light-load appliances on power strips. This can include computers, lamps, clocks, etc.

“Do. Ensure that you purchase power strips with an internal circuit breaker. This is a very important safe-

ty measure that is designed to prevent property loss and risks of fire!

“Do. Use power strips sparingly. They aren’t designed to maintain a load for extended periods of time, and can overheat quickly if used too frequently.

“Don’t. Ever plug a power strip into another power strip (colloquially referred to as ‘daisy chaining’). Doing this is a great way to short out appliances, or drastically increase the risk of an electrical mishap.

“Don’t. Use power strips in moist or potentially moist areas. No kitchens, no utility rooms, and definitely no basements.

“Don’t. Continue to use a power strip if it feels hot. That isn’t supposed to happen!

“Never. Cover, staple, tack or nail a power strip to anything. Covering can smother the strip, and provide ample flammable material in the event of failure, and stapling can harm the cords, making room for dangerous situations.”

Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProof Living, a personal finance member website and the author of the book DebtProof Living, Revell 2014.

COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM

Favorite Places to Go Where the Holiday Spirit Glows Brightest

C ontinued from page D3

Festive Igloo Pop-Ups at Gurney’s Newport Resort: Features heated multi-sensory igloos overlooking Narragansett Bay, each with its own theme including Santa’s Workshop, Winter Wonderland, Cozy Log Cabin, Roaring 20s, Harry Potter, Tropical Summer, Northern Lights, Astrology and Après Ski, complete with activities and cocktail pairings. Proceeds will go to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Rhode Island. (Nov. 22 – Feb. 29)

Gurney’s Newport Resort Skating Rink: Opens for the season with outdoor skating on the North Lawn overlooking the Newport Harbor Lighthouse, The Point and the Newport Bridge. Open seven days a week. (Nov. 26 – March 1)

Goat Hikes at Simmons Farm: Spend an afternoon on a two-hour hike led by Farmer Karla and her crew of adventurous, fun-loving goats. Each participant gets their own goat to walk on a leash. The afternoon finishes with hot chocolate made with the milk from the farm. (Nov. 24 – Jan. 1)

See more holiday and winter events in Newport and plan a visit att DiscoverNewport.org, 800-326-6030, 401849-8048.

Holidays

in the Brandywine Valley

Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley  is one of the most picturesque and historic places especially during the holiday season From Christmastime exhibits at  du Pont family estates  to the dancing fountains at Longwood Gardens. Here are highlights:

A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens,  is magical with 500,000 lights gracing 150 trees throughout the outdoor Gardens, a four-acre Conservatory with holiday sing-alongs accompanied by a 10,010 pipe Aeolian organ – the largest organ ever constructed in a residential setting. At the Open Air Theatre, fountains dance day and night to holiday classics. Delight in Longwood’s outdoor train display as it travels past miniature Longwood landmarks illuminated for the holiday season. In the Meadow Garden,

stroll through a 140-ft tunnel of light in the winter landscape, and discover a grove of glowing architectural orbs that pulse and change to the rhythm of holiday music. Grab a hot chocolate and cozy up to one of the many fire pits. A Longwood Christmas runs November 22, 2019– January 5, 2020 (including Christmas Day). Admission to the Christmas display is by Timed Admission Ticket, with tickets purchased in advance for a specific date and time. (Tickets and reservations at  longwoodgardens.org.)

Yuletide at Winterthur : From November 23 through January 5, you can experience one of the Brandywine Valley’s  most memorable attractions . Henry du Pont’s mansion is transformed into a magical holiday spectacle, with food, music, exhibits, an exquisite 18-room dollhouse mansion, and an Enchanted Woods children’s garden. Reservations are recommended for the Yuletide exhibits, and the last chance to see Winterthur’s Costuming THE CROWN (showcasing costumes from

Netflix’s Emmy winning series) before it closes on January 5.

Nemours Estate : Starting November 17, you can  experience holidays in traditional du Pont style as you tour the 1907 mansion  and gardens that Alfred du Pont built

See page D6

Favorite Places to Go Where the Holiday Spirit Glows Brightest

from page D5

for his wife Alicia. See original decorations (including a 19 th  century German crèche), twinkling lights, and bright colored ornaments.

Holidays at Hagley at  Hagley Museum  takes you back to 1803 as you visit the du Pont ancestral home Eleutherian Mills, decorated in vintage holiday charm. There’s also a “Christmas Trees Past and Present” exhibit.

Brandywine Christmas at the  Brandywine River Museum  of Art, renowned for its collection from three generations of Wyeth family artists, during the holiday season showcases the region’s most impressive model train display, which includes nearly 2,000 feet of track. Throughout the season, festive trees and crafts, live musical performances, and imaginative “Critter” ornaments made by local volunteers. There’s also a Polar Express Pajama Party, breakfast with the trains, and more special events. (www.brandywinemuseum.org)

Holiday Light Express :  throughout December you can take a 45-minute ride in 100-year old (heated!) coaches and experience thousands of holiday lights twinkling as you pass decorated homes along the route.

A Christmas Carol : Delaware Theater Company’s  adaptation of the Dickens classic has a twist: performed with just five actors bring Charles Dickens’ beloved characters to life using props, puppets, bold physicality and the imagination of the audience. Opening night is December 7, so make this a cultural must-see on your holiday road trip.

For more information, trip planning help and accommodations, visit www. visitwilmingtonde.com , 800-489-6664.

Visit Christmas City, USA: Bethlehem, PA

Experience the magic of the Christmas City: Bethlehem, in Lehigh Valley, PA boasts one of the top-ranked holiday markets in the world, now celebrating its 27th season.  Christkindlmarkt  (weekends, Nov. 22 – Dec. 22) offers visitors wares from 100 vendors, musical performances, and glass blowing demonstrations.

Along Main Street, browse the  Christmas Huts on Main (weekends, Nov. 22 – Dec. 22), a shopping experience inspired by a German Weihnachtsmarkt, complete with charming wooden huts lining the streets offering holiday gifts. Browse the  Moravian Book Shop, the oldest continuously operating bookstore in the country.

Join Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites for a variety of tours including Christmas City Stroll, which takes you on a walking excursion through the city’s National Historic Landmark District. Led by a guide in period dress, this tour will give you a peek into what Moravian life was like in the 1700s.

To get a great view of the famous star atop South Mountain, get tickets for the Bethlehem by Night bus tour. On this tour, participants will learn why the north side of the city dons white lights and the SouthSide dresses up in colored lights. (Reserve in advance.)

One of the most distinctive holiday traditions is the Bethlehem’s Live Advent Calendar. Thought to be the only one of its kind in the country,

visitors can join locals in this activity nightly, Dec. 1 – 23, at 5:30 p.m. Crowds gather outside the  Goundie House at 501 Main Street. A selected visitor knocks on the door and the group is greeted by representatives from local businesses offering a surprise for all to enjoy. Nightly surprises could include musical performances, a story, or a tasty treat.

As you wander along Main Street, enjoy the music. Trombone choirs stroll the sidewalks playing holiday tunes, a nod to the city’s Moravian heritage.

For a special view of the city’s historic district, take a horse-drawn holiday carriage ride, hosted by the Bethlehem Carriage Company.

A free Christmas City Trolley is offered Fridays-Sundays, Nov. 15 – Dec. 22. The trolley runs every 20-30 minutes, shuttling between the Historic District and the SouthSide Arts District.

More information at discoverlehighvalley.com, info@DiscoverLehighValley. com Opens in New Window 610-882-9200, 800-MEET-HERE.

Victorian Christmas in Cape May

Share a special holiday tradition with friends and family on a festive tour of Victorian Cape May during Christmas Candlelight House Tours, presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). Every year since 1974, a large selection of Victorian inns, homes, churches and hotels open their doors and welcome visitors to share the warmth and hospitality of the season during these popular, self-guided, walking tours. You will be welcomed inside with holiday hospitality and cheer. Enjoy Christmas carols by candlelight, strolling musi-

cians along the historic streets of Cape May and beautiful holiday decorations. Walk from site to site, stopping at hospitality centers for warm beverages and holiday treats during your travels. Free heated shuttles make limited stops along some routes. The three Christmas Candlelight House Tours of the 2019 holiday season are held on Saturdays, Dec. 7, 14 and 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (tickets should be purchased in advance). The festivities begin Friday, Nov. 22 and continue through Jan. 1, 2020.

For information about MAC’s yearround schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404 or 800275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at www. capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508 or visit www.capemaychamber.com. For information about historic accommodations, contact Cape May Historic Accommodations at www.capemaylodging.com

Next: More Favorite Holiday Places

© 2019 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

Christmas carolers at Longwood Gardens in the Brandywine Region © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com

A Victorian Christmas awaits in Cape May, NJ. C ontinued

REAL ESTATE WATCH

Thinking about upgrading and renovating your home?

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

So now you have made a conscious decision not to move, but to stay in place. However, the look of your place is less than stellar and a bit worn and you have thoughts of renewing the look and feel of your home. The first thing you should contemplate and give serious thought to is what will your budget be? What will the total cost be, based on your budget and will you be able to do all that really needs to be done in adding to the value and creating an enjoyable environment, while still living there? Another thought would be determining how long you will be staying in your home, 1, 2,3 4, 5 years or more or will you be living there for the rest of your life?

So do you totally renovate and upgrade or just do basic replacements of appliances, boiler, hot water heater, reface your kitchen cabinets, re-glaze your bathtub; which can really look amazing without replacing it, but which is a messy job and while at the same time, do I replace the tiles on the walls? How are your floors, tiles and carpeting, still looking great or pretty dreary and old and out of fashion? Are your windows energy efficient and when was the last time you checked the condition of your roof?

My suggestion is to do it right or don’t do it at all! Homeowners should hire a referred and qualified and licensed architect to redesign the interior and possibly the exterior. Many times it will be more economical than upgrading to a larger home or if very lucky, finding one that is already renovated to your particular tastes and satisfying your specific “needs and wants.” Most of the time it is like finding a “needle in a haystack” searching out and finding a place that you and your family will

be completely happy and ecstatic with.

I have seen and sold some amazing homes that were in such gorgeous condition; but they just didn’t match and satisfy the needs and desires of the purchasers. Some like chocolate, some vanilla and some butter pecan and it surely does keep the economy chugging along. Ownership always creates buying opportunities when re-constructing one’s home as opposed to those that rent, that don’t spend any money on the landlord’s properties, and why should they?

That’s why ownership really provides most of the benefits and pays in the long run in building a family’s wealth!

As we grow older, one must make sure that your renovation and design includes an ergonomic concept which can and will make moving around easier. Keeping in mind to create an environment with the least amount of bending and reaching as possible and even your furniture and counter tops, cabinets and storage areas should be the most comfortable and easy on your body and posture. Always remember that gut renovating kitchens and bathrooms can be costly, but those two rooms are the most significant in your home for resale and will provide you years of benefits, enjoyment and satisfaction, while increasing the market value of your home.

Always keep in mind the local and even the county zoning laws when renovating, try not to cut corners; because in the end whatever is not compliant by the code, permits not filed, Certificate of Occupancies not granted

can and will come back to bite you in the pocketbook. I have experienced numerous situations whereby either the owner or the contractor failed to file for the necessary permits or never closed out the permits to receive the final Certificates of Occupancies (CO’s). Making sure that the F.A.R. (floor to area ratio) is adhered to will reduce the hassles in the long run when putting your home on the market for sale. I have seen numerous situations whereby things were constructed without following many code and zoning rules and regulations and it showed up on the title. The municipalities have been cracking down and fining homeowners and even commercial establishments for code violations for illegally installing a 2nd kitchen in the basement or building over the required property lines without leaving setbacks and proper side yards. This will cause a lot of stress later on when a purchaser has his or her title search done and then those illegal items smack you the owner in the pocketbook. You will then either hire an expediter or lawyer (who will generally hire an expediter) to file the necessary paperwork to legalize or finalize the CO’s or whatever was done without proper permits. This doesn’t guarantee that the local jurisdiction will always approve what was done previously. There are two, two family homes that I know of that cannot be occupied in western Queens that have no CO’s for the past 13 years and may never get them. The tremendous loss for the owner and possible lawsuits can be earth shattering just because the left hand didn’t know what the

right hand was doing and then it was too late. I have another incident that I am working on whereby getting the CO’s has been nothing but challenging, but we are almost done, but we are selling the home in as is condition. So once you have a budget the next most important thing is to make sure you follow and adhere to all the local zoning and building laws so you won’t end up losing money and sleep!

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 or concerns.

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MARKETPLACE

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TURN YOUR TREASURES INTO CASH!

Come to Consign/Stay to Shop!

109 Eleventh Street, Garden City 516-746-8900

Antiques-FurnitureJewelry-SilverMirrors-Lamps-ArtworkChinaCrystal-Collectibles Tuesday-Friday 10-4 Saturday 12-4

(10% Sr. Discount Tues) All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society Email: store@atstewartexchange.org

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INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN

Looking to sell items from your home?

Consider doing an Online Auction!

Online Auctions reach more interested buyers than tag sales and can often sell for more than what you would make at an estate or tag sale.

Invited Estate Sales by Tracy Jordan can do both! You can sell your items online reaching potential buyers locally or globally as well as hosting a private sale from your home! Let us guide you on what items to put in auction including furniture, housewares, decorative items, jewelry, collectibles, coins, artwork and anything else you may no longer want or need. Our services can help you to maximize your selling experience whether you are selling 1 item or 500 items. 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.

Estate and Tag Sales Online Auctions Cleanout and Moving Services

Home Staging Services Appraisals

Contact for more info: info@invitedsales.com or Call: 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. www.invitedsales.com

MARKETPLACE

ENTERTAINMENT 3pc TV

CENTER cabinet w/ doors & 2 glass/mirror/China storage side pcs. Great Condition.

VINTAGE COUNTRY FRENCH

white girls bedroom 8 pieces dresser, corner desk w/chair, night table, 2 cabinets w/ bookcase hutches, headboard. Contact Dora: 516-459-5902

WANTED TO BUY

LOOKING TO BUY!

Oriental items, clothing, art, old & modern furniture, estates, jewelry, silver, glassware, dishes, old photos, coins & stamps, flatware, comic books, action figures. Call George 718-386-1104 or 917-775-3048

TAG SALE

GARDEN CITY MOVING SALE

Saturday, December 7 9am to 3pm 10 First Street Furniture, Home Decor, Household & More MOVING !! ALL MUST GO !!!

INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN TAG SALE - GARDEN CITY

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 9:30 a.m. 81 Second St. Dining Room, rugs, leather couches, TONS of tools and equipment, bunk beds, garage, bike rack, mission Stickley type furniture, records, electronics and stereo equipment. Visit www.invitedsales.com for pictures & details!!

CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900

PETS

PET SERVICES

A GARDEN CITY ANIMAL

LOVER doesn’t want to leave your precious pooch or fantastic feline alone all day. I’m reliable, dependable and will walk and feed your pet while you work or travel. Please call Cheryl at 516-971-3242

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

DONATE YOUR CAR to Wheels For Wishes, benefitting Make-a-Wish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible. Call 631317-2014 Today!

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

APARTMENT FOR RENT

APARTMENT FOR RENT WESTERN NASSAU COUNTY

Beautiful ground floor, one bedroom apartment available in Central Western Nassau County. Private entrance, full kitchen, full bath, central air, private parking, very close to Mineola LIRR. $1,550 plus utilities. Non-smokers, no pets. Background checks required. Call: 516-844-0130

OUT OF TOWN REAL ESTATE

CUTCHOGUE

SUMMER RENTAL

Month of July $12,000 House on water with dock. LR / Den, EIK, DR, 4BRs, 3 Baths, CAC.

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REAL ESTATE WANTED

HOMES

WANTED

GARDEN CITY

Young G.C. couple looking for a home to purchase in Garden City Pre-approved

Close at your convenience. NO BROKERS PLEASE Call or Text: 516-729-2359

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ATTORNEY

STEPHANIE A.

D’ANGELO, ESQ.

Elder Law, Wills & Trusts

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

COMPUTERS

COMPUTER ISSUES? FREE DIAGNOSIS by GEEKS ON SITE! Virus removal, data recovery! 24/7 Emergency Service, in home repair/on line solutions. $20 off any service! 844-892-3990

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Call BOB 516-741-2154

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Joe Barbato 516-775-1199

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EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for a free in home consultation: 888-657-9488

LAMPS FIXED $65

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

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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Call John anytime: 516-901-9398 (Cell) 516-483-3669 (Office)

MICHELANGELO PAINTING & WALLPAPER

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CLEANING

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CLEANING SERVICES

Available to clean Homes, Offices, Apartments, etc. Excellent LOCAL references. Contact Erika or Dunia 516-808-2940

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 1-800-943-0838

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

CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900

Most of us can remember our mothers telling us breakfast is the most important meal of day. And Mom was right; it’s not a meal we want to skip. It literally “breaks the fast” and kick-starts our metabolism, helping burn calories throughout the day.

Breakfast also provides energy to get things done and focus. Studies have linked eating breakfast to good health, better memory, lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) and lower risk for diabetes, heart disease and being overweight.

Skipping that morning meal can throw off your body’s rhythm of fasting and eating. (Hence, intermittent fasting may not be such a good idea after all.) When we get up in the morning, our blood sugar tends to be low; eating breakfast brings it up to normal levels.

However, just over half of Americans eat breakfast daily, even though 8 in 10 Americans agree it’s the most important meal of the day, according to a survey

by

The Importance of Breakfast

Quaker Oats. Can breakfast really help you lose weight? Some studies say yes. Researchers have found that on average, people who eat breakfast are thinner that those who don’t, perhaps because eating protein and fiber in the morning keeps the appetite in check. Studies show that most people who lose weight and keep the weight off eat breakfast every day.

We know that breakfast helps kids do better in school, and schools have responded by providing breakfast to students. Students who don’t eat breakfast have a harder time focusing, are more tired and don’t do as well on schoolwork. If you have a child who doesn’t like eating in the morning at home, pack something for the ride to school or in between classes. In our home, the solution was a smoothie that my daughter could drink on the ride to school.

So how can you make breakfast a daily habit? Think outside the box for your morning meal.

BY CHARLYN FARGO

The Quaker survey found that nearly half of consumers prefer savory flavors for breakfast. So ditch the not-so-healthy doughnut for a vegetable frittata or an egg omelet in a cup that can be popped in the microwave. You can also add a sliced hard-boiled egg to avocado toast or spread a bagel with peanut or almond butter.

Try for a mix of foods that have carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats and fiber: Greek yogurt with granola and berries, smoothies or a make-ahead option of overnight oats, whole grain cereal with lowfat milk or a whole-grain protein bar.

Q and A

Q: How many fruits and vegetables should you eat daily?

A: Most of us don’t get enough. The recommendation from the United States Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate is to fill half your plate at breakfast, lunch and dinner with fruits and vegetables -- the more colorful, the better. A goal to aim for is nine; incorporate four servings of fruit per day

and five servings of vegetables per day.

RECIPE

Here’s an overnight oat recipe to try for breakfast from Hy-Vee’s Balance magazine. It can be made ahead in your slow cooker and then warmed up as needed.

OVERNIGHT COCONUT-CHAI MULTIGRAIN CEREAL

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/2 cups water

2 cups light coconut milk

1/2 cup steel cut oats

1/4 cup wheat berries

1/4 cup quinoa flakes or quick-cooking oats

1/4 cup pearled barley

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Toppings: pomegranate seeds, blueberries, raspberries, toasted coconut, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, chia or flax seed.

Spray a 1 1/2-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray. Combine water, coconut milk, oats, wheat berries, quinoa flakes, barley, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and allspice in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with desired toppings. Serves 8 (1/2 cup each).

Per serving: 220 calories; 4 grams protein; 23 grams carbohydrates; 13 grams fat; 0 grams cholesterol; 3 grams fiber; 3 grams sugar (0 grams added); 80 milligrams sodium.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian at Hy-Vee in Springfield, Illinois, and the media representative for the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRD. To find out more about Charlyn Fargo and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com

From Burgers to Black Beans: How to Wrangle a Kid Gone Meatless ENERGY EXPRESS

It can happen in the best of homes. You think you’ve done everything right as a parent -- good schools, restricted screen time, all-cotton underwear -- and then one day at dinner, your world explodes.

Your kid goes veggie. She stops eating meat. “I’ve decided on a plant-based diet,” little Lindsey explains, turning her nose, knife and fork up at the beautiful burger on her plate. “How can you eat somebody’s mother?”

Some version of this drama plays out every day in homes across America as more young people become aware of the face on the plate and how it relates to the planet they live on.

I hope we can blame schools, but however it happens, kids eating green is trending up, and meatloaf-loving parents need help, strategies, patience and sometimes pharmaceuticals.

Step one? Don’t panic. There are experts to advise you, and one of them is Lisa Barley of Vegetarian Times, a great resource for 100 things to do with chickpeas.

“Your child’s new diet doesn’t have to make your life more difficult,” she explains in calming, reasonable tones. There are ways to be supportive, less stressed. Here are some of them, along with my own embellishments:

DON’T WORRY. Your kids health won’t suffer if they’re following a well-planned veggie diet, say the authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. They can get all the vitamins and minerals they need to be healthy and strong, but it requires some study.

LISTEN UP. Ask your kids to share the reasons they’re giving up meat, Lisa suggests. Keep an open mind. If they’ve gone on YouTube and seen the horrible things that happen to cows and chickens in the name of factory farming, take a look yourself. Sit down over a plate of edamame and talk it over. More important than talking is listening to your child -- listening without judging. “Think of it as an opportunity to get to know their values and worldview,” Barley writes.

BY MARILYNN PRESTON

ASSIGN HOMEWORK. Lisa

wants you to get your kids involved in whatever eating changes they want to make. Have your newbie vegetarian “make a list of nutritious snacks and meals and draft a shopping list, “ she says in a state of mind some parents will regard as delusional.

Another strategy: Go over the vegetarian food pyramid together so all involved can see what a well-balanced diet looks like. In case your vegetarian food pyramid has gone missing, you can always find it again at http://www. vegetariannutrition.org/6icvn/ food-pyramid.pdf.

BE A STUDENT. When a child goes veggie, it’s smart to have a couple of reliable resources you can turn to with your questions and concerns. But beware! There is a lot of confusing, conflicting and corporately designed nutrition information online. Barley recommends parents check in with two nonprofits I’ve trusted and admired for years: Oldways Vegetarian Network and Physicians Committee for Responsible

Medicine. Going to your family doctor with nutrition questions is usually fruitless.

SET GROUND RULES. Rule No. 1: “Make it clear that junk food vegetarianism won’t fly,” Barley says. Eating real food should be the focus, not bags of chips and cookies that are vegan and packed with sugar. If you need help with meal planning and prep, ask your child to pitch in. (Why do I hear you laughing?)

And keep the drama over food choices to a minimum. Declare the dining table a no-war zone of peace. Nothing puts a bigger chill in the air than a heated discussion about tortured and stressed industrial chickens ... while half the family is chewing on them.

COOK AND EAT TOGETHER. I’ve saved the best for last. It’s also the most idealistic, but so what? Help create a world where everyone respects everyone else’s food choices. Start in your own kitchen. Focus on foods you can all eat together, like make-yourown tacos with different fillings or pasta with one meat sauce, one

veggie sauce. DIY pizza is good, too.

The crucial thing is your attitude. A kid’s choosing to go meatless isn’t the end of the world. It’s an introduction to a world you might want to join yourself someday.

As one mother told Barley, “There are many bad choices that a child can make in this world, and being a vegetarian is definitely not one of them.”

ENERGY EXPRESS-O! KINDNESS COUNTS

“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, the whole world would be vegetarian.” -- Linda McCartney

Marilynn Preston is the author of “Energy Express,” America’s longest-running healthy lifestyle column. Her new Amazon best-seller, “All Is Well: The Art {and Science} of Personal Well-Being,” is available now on Amazon and elsewhere. Visit Creators Publishing at creators.com/ books/all-is-well to learn more. For more on personal well-being, visit www.MarilynnPreston.com.

NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court

Nassau County US BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE OF THE IGLOO SERIES III TRUST, Plaintiff, -againstVIJAY DADLANI; PRAVEENA DADLANI; LANCASTER MORTGAGE BANKERS; KAVITA DADLANI, Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated, October 18, 2007 and entered with the Nassau County Clerk on October 25, 2007, as amended by an Order duly dated March 13, 2018 and entered with the Nassau County Clerk on March 19, 2018, Lisa Siano, Esq., the Appointed Referee, will sell the premises known as 3165 Dorset Lane, Levittown, New York 117565 a/k/a 3165 Dorset Lane, Hempstead, New York 11756 at public auction at Supreme Court of Nassau County, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York 11501, Calendar Control Part, on December 17, 2019 at 11:30 A.M. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York known as Section: 51; Block: 261; Lot: 8 will be sold subject to the provisions of filed Judgment, Index No. 011816/2006. The approximate amount of judgment is $416,333.25 plus interest and costs.

FRIEDMAN VARTOLO LLP

85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. MIT 5855

4X 11/15,22,29,12/06

NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Nassau County

BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, vs.

KEITH P. HICKEY A/K/A

KEITH HICKEY, BARBARA A. FALKENBACK A/K/A

BARBARA HICKEY, et al., Defendants

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on October 4, 2019, I, Victor Levin, Esq, the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on December 17, 2019 at the Calendar Control Part (CCP) Courtroom, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, County of Nassau, State of New York, at 11:30 A.M., the premises described as follows: 15 Crown Street Hicksville, NY 11801

SBL No.: 12-299-24

ALL THAT TRACT OF PARCEL OF LAND Situate in Hicksville, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 602807/2018 in the amount of $467,583.26 plus interest and costs.

Todd Z. Marks, Esq. Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Plaintiff’s Attorney 500 Bausch & Lomb Rochester, New York 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072

MIT 5857

4X 11/15,22,29,12/06

NOTICE OF SALE

Supreme Court Nassau County FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff against GINA M. FLORIO, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 24, 2017.

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction in the Calendar Control Part (CCP) Courtroom of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. on the 7th day of January, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. premises described as follows: All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Hicksville, Town of Oyster Bay, County of

LEGAL NOTICES

Nassau and State of New York. Said premises known as 11 Belfry Lane, Hicksville, N.Y. 11801.

(Section: 45, Block: 380, Lot: 12). Approximate amount of lien $ 204,905.81 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 6143-16.

Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee. Stern & Eisenberg, PC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff Woodbridge Corporate Plaza 485 B Route 1 South – Suite 330 Iselin, NJ 08830 (732) 582-6344

*For sale information, please visit, www.auction,com or call 800-280-2832*

MIT 5858

4X 12/06,13,20,27

NOTICE OF SALE

Supreme Court

Nassau County U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, successor in interest to LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee for Lehman XS Trust Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-2, Plaintiff AGAINST

Ana D. Salmeron, et al, Defendant

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated 5/31/2019 and entered on 6/3/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Courtroom of the Supreme Court Mineola, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 07, 2020 at 11:30 AM premises known as 72 East Avenue, Hicksville, NY 11801. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 45, BLOCK: 64, LOT: 244. Approximate amount of judgment is $552,770.84 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 004593/2016.

Kathleen Wright, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISS

WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706

MIT 5859 4X 12/06,13,20,27

NOTICE OF SALE

Supreme Court

Nassau County

U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST, Plaintiff against JENNY YUN A/K/A JENNY KANG, et al Defendants

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered December 17, 2016, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at CCP (Calendar Control Part) at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York 11501 on January 7, 2020 at 11:30 AM. Premises known as 10 California Street, Hicksville, NY 11801. Sec 11 Block 292 Lot 53 and 54. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Hicksville, not an Incorporated Village, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $377,675.82 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 08-005529. Mark McKew, Esq., Referee Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 1400 Old Country Road, Suite C103, Westbury, NY 11590

Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s). VERJN115 MIT 5860 4X 12/06,13,20,27

NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Nassau County

VALLEY NATIONAL BANK, Plaintiff -againstRONDA LEWIS, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of

Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated October 23, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at (CCP) Calendar Control Part Court Room of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr., Mineola, NY on January 7, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. premises situate, lying and being at Hicksville, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of Blue Grass Lane, distant 248.32 feet westerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the southerly side of Blue Grass Lane with the westerly side of Center Lane; being a plot 100.00 feet by 60.00 feet by 100 feet by 60 feet. Section: 51 Block: 105 Lot: 15 Said premises known as 56 BLUEGRASS LANE, LEVITTOWN, NY Approximate amount of lien $335,444.80 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 004184/2016.

GEORGE ESERNIO, ESQ., Referee KRISS & FEUERSTEIN LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 360 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10017 MIT 5861

4X 12/06,13,20,27

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF SIGHTHOUND SOUND LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on August 1st, 2019. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY is designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 240 Brookville Road, Glen Head, NY 11545. Purpose: Audio/ Visual Arts.

BN 7435

6X 11/08,15,22,29,12/06,13

Levittown student-athletes sign on to college teams

Division Avenue seniors Hailey Thomas (front left) and Emily Gillis signed their national letter of intent. Pictured from left: lacrosse coach Sean Donnellan, basketball coach Steve Kissane, physical education chairperson Sean Smith, basketball coach Steve Robins and Principal John Coscia.

Division Avenue senior Emily Gillis (right) will play basketball at Gardner Webb University and senior Hailey Thomas will play lacrosse at the New York Institute of Technology.

Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics J. Keith Snyder, soccer coach Jamie San Filippo, student-athletes Connor Maurer, Shannon Kilian and Timothy Weber and Principal Joseph Sheehan during the athletic signing ceremony.

MacArthur High School student-athletes Connor Maurer, Shannon Kilian and Timothy Weber committed to play college athletics.

Five seniors from both Division Avenue High School and General Douglas MacArthur high schools in the Levittown Public Schools recently made their college commitments to play their sport of choice at the collegiate level. Surrounded by coaches, building administrators and loved ones, the students proudly dressed in their future school colors and attire to mark the occasion.

Division Avenue student-athletes

Emily Gillis and Hailey Thomas committed to play basketball and lacrosse, respectively. Gillis will attend Gardner Webb University while Thomas will attend the New York Institute of Technology. MacArthur High School seniors Connor Maurer, Shannon Kilian and Timothy Weber also committed to college athletics. Maurer will join the soccer team at Stanford University while both Kilian and Weber will attend Stony Brook University. Kilian will play soccer and Weber will join the track team.

Photos courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools

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With current events, announcements, restaurant reviews, puzzles, and much more, there’s always something for everybody to enjoy!

Staying afloat at Central Boulevard

CBS third-grade students Victoria Lazaridis, Sophia Scotto and Madison Schmelter were full of anticipation waiting to see how many pennies their homemade boats could hold during a STEM lab lesson on Nov. 26.

Third-grade students from Central Boulevard Elementary School in the Bethpage School District conducted an experiment on buoyancy in the school’s STEM lab on Nov. 26.

As part of the lesson, students were challenged to create a boat at home to test in the lab. Surface area, volume and mass all had to be considered when designing and building their creations. Several experiments were conducted to test the buoyancy

Suraya Shariff (left) and Logan Walters (right) tested their homemade boats for buoyancy as part of a STEM lesson at CBS on Nov. 26.

and strength of the homemade boats. Students used pennies to add weight and excitedly waited for their boats to either stay afloat or sink. The interactive activity allowed stu -

dents to create, learn and use experimental strategies to come to a conclusion.

Suraya Shariff (right) looked on as classmate Claire Shin (left) tested the buoyancy of her homemade on Nov. 26 in the CBS STEM lab.

Jake Giunta showed off his Bethpage pride with his homemade boat during a STEM lesson at Central Boulevard on Nov. 26.

Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District

Bethpage promotes career readiness through BOCES partnership

Members of the Bethpage School District community gathered at the Nov. 26 Board of Education meeting to discuss the importance of career readiness and hear from Bethpage students partaking in BOCES vocational programs. Students in grades 11 and 12 are able to spend half their day at Bethpage High School and the other half at one of three vocational centers: Barry Tech, Long Island High School for the Arts, or Gerald R. Claps Career & Technical Center.

Thomas Kenny, director of guidance for grades K-12, spoke on the importance of career readiness at every level and students’ capability of choosing their career path based on individual interests and abilities. “The goal is to find students an umbrella or cluster of career interests and skills,” said Kenny.

Nationally, 77% of high school students are thinking about their careers but only 17% cite their high school experiences as factors on career thinking. BHS has seen an increase in students participating in vocational programs each year since 2015 and believes in promoting awareness at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

BOCES programs are all taught by individuals who have worked or specialized in their specified coursework. Whether they choose to pursue a career in their vocational program area or not, the work habits, responsible behaviors and decision-making skills students learn will prepare them for the workforce.

Current high school students were in attendance to speak on their experience in various BOCES vocational programs. They were: Melissa Diers, Long Island School for the Arts; Alex Dupre and Ciara McGlynn, veterinary science; George Hambrock,

physical therapy aide; Bridget Michie, nurse assisting; and Ramon Polanco, exercise science and personal training,

Each of them stressed how prepared they feel for their careers thanks to the BOCES programs, reiterating how valuable it is to be able to learn in a workforce-like environment outside school halls. “BOCES is a great way to really get out there and see what you want to do,” said Alex Dupre.

As a testament to the BOCES program and the success which students can attain, BHS Class of 2014 graduate Nick Panella spoke on his experience. Now an NYPD officer in Queens, Panella completed the criminal justice and political science BOCES program during his junior and senior years. He credits BOCES with his success and ability to find a career he could excel in.

Mike Spence, assistant superintendent for instruction, further

stressed the impact on students who choose to invest in their futures by participating in BOCES programs.

“They gave something a shot because they were intrigued by it, and that has altered who they will now become and where they’re going to go,” said Spence. “I think that’s a powerful thing about this. These programs can change how they look at their lives and future.”

Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District

BHS students in BOCES programs, pictured with Director of Guidance for grades K-12 Thomas Kenny (left), Superintendent Dave Schneider (center) and Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Mike Spence (right), spoke about their experiences at the Nov. 26 BOE meeting.

BHS and BOCES alumni Nick Panella, pictured here with Superintendent Dave Schneider (left), spoke to attendees of the Nov. 26 board meeting about his experience in the BOCES program and how it led to his current position as an NYPD officer.

BHS student Melissa Diers spoke about her experience at the Long Island High School for the Arts at the board meeting on Nov. 26.

TOB recognizes League of Women's Voters on anniversary

Supervisor Saladino and the Town Board commended the representatives from League of Women Voters of East Nassau (from left to right) Mimi Hirsch of Plainview, Dr. Anne Bailey Watters of Oyster Bay, Judy Sonfield of Cove Neck, and Barbara Josepher of Syosset for their tireless advocacy work, and congratulated them on this amazing milestone.

More contaminated soil

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to complete the additional delineation sampling for the areas outside of the thermal treatment zone. Treatment will extend to this new area if it is determined necessary by the DEC

The Town of Oyster Bay recently recognized representatives from the League of Women’s Voters of East Nassau for the centennial year of the League of Women Voters of New York State.

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving American women the right to vote was officially passed on August 26, 1920.

As a result of this, the League of Women Voters was formed to help women take a larger role in public affairs after they won the right to vote Seneca Falls is considered the birthplace of the women’s right movement, and some of its greatest leaders from Susan B. Anthony to Matilda Joslyn Gage and Elizabeth Cady Stanton did their pioneering work in the Empire State.

This incredible organization is celebrating several important milestones in this it’s centennial year, and are continuing the proud legacy of the women of New York playing an important role in societal change.

found in Bethpage Community Park

“The work that they do will not slow down the long-awaited cleanup efforts that are going on at the ballfields,” said Ringewald. “They’ll have to continue that work while they’re investigating this narrow area of contamination and then they'll have to propose a remedy

for that which will very likely be an extension of the existing system.”

Saladino said that contamination at the site dates back 70 years, and that he will not let Northrop Grumman off the hook in their responsibility to cleanup the mess that they  have made.

“These new findings are good news in a respect because now we can force the Navy and Northrop Grumman to remediate the entire site instead of just one particular area,” said Saladino.

Plainview resident retires from a lifelong work helping others

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the staff, overseeing the many facets of services and gathering the necessary funding to keep the program afloat.

“That is one of the biggest challenges we face, gathering the funding to run the program,” said Rutter. “The funding that we receive from outside sources allows us to provide outreach at community health fairs, host volunteer trainings, offer support groups and individual counseling and refer women to free or low-cost mammography screenings.”

She said that minority women in underserved communities throughout the state and Long Island are less likely to go for mammographys, less likely to do screenings and are usually seen in the more advanced stages of the disease.

Before joining the program, Rutter worked as a social worker in the Plain-

view Hospital. As a social worker, she used to refer patients to the program when it was still in its infancy. Now the Adelphi program will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.

In her 23 years of service, she has helped develop collaborative peerto-peer support services for patients at hospitals including Northwell, St Francis, Winthrop and Mercy Medical Center and helped establish the first support group in the U.S. for men with breast cancer. Working with the National Breast Cancer Coalition, she and her staff met with federal, state and local legislators to promote breast cancer causes. Through their efforts the National Center for Disease Control Breast and Cervical Treatment Act and state level legislation was enacted, which enables uninsured or underinsured women to receive medical treat-

ment once diagnosed.

Even though she has helped raise more than $15 million in grants and funds for the Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program in her years of service, she said her greatest achievement was the establishment of newer and more innovative programs.

“My greatest professional achievement was, with the help of my team of staff, volunteers and student interns, developing and implementing so many programs to help women and men with breast cancer and their families, and knowing that we help them get through one of their most difficult challenges with dignity and compassion,” said Rutter.

Adelphi University President Dr. Christine Riordan said about Hillary’s retirement, ““Hillary’s passion and excellence in her work has

enriched lives, enlightened communities, improved approaches to care and brought renown to Adelphi.”

As far as future plans, she plans to travel with her husband and spend more time with her two children and grandchild. She also is considering the possibility of relocating to the southern half of the country.

She said that the program will be in good hands with the new director and the group of dedicated volunteers.

“I am confident this incredible team, with incoming director Reyna Machado, who will lead the organization, will do an amazing job.”

To fond out more information about the Adelphi Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program , visit their website at https://breast-cancer.adelphi.edu

John F. Kennedy Middle School celebrates Soaring Eagles Day

John F. Kennedy Middle School in the Bethpage Union Free School District celebrated Soaring Eagles Day recently. The day centered around two inspiring assemblies, “Socializing without Social Media” by Scott Baker and “Healthy Decisions: Do One Thing Different” by Steve Pinto. The message of the day was dedicated to the importance of possessing good character and the power of making good choices.

Soaring Eagles Day concluded with a pep rally, during which each sports team displayed the special cause that they had brought awareness to during their season. JFK students also surprised and honored their school nurses as “Unsung Heroes” during the pep rally, presenting them with hearts with messages on them from the entire school.

Photos courtesy of Bethpage Union Free School District

The girls soccer team raised awareness for breast cancer research and celebrated their efforts during Soaring Eagles Day.

Santa's mailboxes arrive in town offices

The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that children can send their ‘holiday wish list’ directly to Old St. Nick at the North Pole through a special network of Santa’s Mailboxes which arrived in Town facilities from the North Pole.  Mailboxes will accept letters now through Monday, December 16.

The Town of Oyster Bay will forward letters to Santa at the North Pole.  Letters received by Monday, December 16 with a legible name and return address will be answered by Santa before the holiday.  No postage is necessary.

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Students surprised their school nurses with messages of thanks and flowers to celebrate them as “Unsung Heroes.”

Breakfast with Santa

On Saturday, December 7, the Hicksville Boys and Girls Club will be hosting a Breakfast With Santa!

Colorful red mailboxes will be accessible daily during regular business hours at the following locations:

• Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay

• Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa

• Hicksville Athletic Center, 167 S. Broadway, Hicksville

• Ice Skating Center, 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage

For more information about Santa’s Mailboxes, please call (516) 624-6380 weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. or visit the www.oysterbaytown.com.

The breakfast will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 130 Jerusalem Avenue in Hicksville. (Corner of Jerusalem Ave. & Old

Country Rd.)

There will be breakfast, beverages, gifts and time for pictures with Santa. We will be asking for a $5 donation per person to subsidize programs provided by our Club. Registration must be done in advance at the Club (by 12/04) at 79 W. Old Country Rd. in Hicksville. For further info., call 822-KIDS.

Call us at 294-8900 to place an ad in our classifieds. We’ll help you be seen by thousands of local readers!

JFK students were

smiles during the Soaring Eagles Day pep rally.