SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVIT TOWN
BREAKING NEW GROUND ASPCA seizes nine sick puppies from van in Hicksville
Golden shovels and hard hats were given to the District’s leaders as they officially broke ground on the new aquatic center.
On December 12, Hicksville Public School District broke ground to begin construction on its new Aquatic Center located at Hicksville High School. The project is part of the 2017 Bond Vote that will allow the District to cre-
ate 21st century programs and facilities. The Aquatic Center will add instructional opportunities and extracurricular activities for our students and connect the school to our community by offering open swim times for senior citizen resi-
dents. The Center will be comprised of a 6-lane, 25-meter indoor swimming pool, locker facilities for student-athletes, and a lobby for guests. Additional parking and traffic flow improvements will be made to facilitate accessibility.
Meeting on Hicksville downtown
The Nassau County Department of Public Works has scheduled a public meeting for Monday, January 6 to hear recommendations for traffic and pedestrian safety improvements within the Hicksville downtown area. The public will have an opportunity to comment and ask questions.
The meeting will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hicksville Community Center, 28 West Carl Street, Hicksville.
BY GARY SIMEONE
An undercover investigation led to the seizure of nine puppies from a cargo van parked in the back of the Shake A Paw pet store in Hicksville on Wednesday. The investigation is part of an ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) sweep into the pipeline of sick animals being transported from out of state for sale on Long Island. All of the puppies rescued were deemed sick by an onsite veterinarian and in need of immediate medical attention.
Gary Rogers, Nassau County SPCA Board president, said his organization had gotten wind of the operation and found out the deliveries were going to take place at 12 noon on Wednesday at that particular location.
“We had developed intelligence about the operation that the deliveries were going to take place at this site at that particular time,” said Rogers. “We also have other locations out there that are currently under surveillance. These animals are being shipped to Nassau County on a regular basis.” Rogers added that the pet store was not part of the investigation and that no action would be taken against them.
All of the puppies that were taken from the van have tested positive for one or more contagious diseases and are currently in isolation in a nearby animal hospital. Rogers said that the cramped conditions the puppies were left in and the long distances they’re being driven take a toll on their health.
"They’re traveling in these cargo vans for long distances and being stored in close proximity four to five dogs a crate so sickness can easily spread," said Rogers. The puppies that were rescued were multiple breeds, including Maltese Yorkie, a Golden Retriever and a Labrador.
Officials from the SPCA said that there were dozens of other animals stored inside of the van that had been probably been exposed to illness. The animals were en route to be sold to other pet stores in the area.
“At this point in time, we are waiting to see what transpires with the investigation before making a decision on what to do with the animals,” said Rogers.
He said that he knows it’s the holiday season and a lot of people are buying pets as gifts, but that people should be smart and take the animals to a veterinarian before purchasing them.
“We don’t want to see any sad faces, so people should take the animals to the vet before buying them to make sure they’re in good health.”
To donate to the medical care for the puppies currently housed in isolation, visit the Nassau County SPCA site nassaucountyspca.org
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. Get results!
Santa shares pancakes with Hicksville youth
New York State Senator Anna Kaplan with children from the Hicksville Boys and Girls Club at the club’s annual Breakfast with Santa
On Saturday morning, December 7, the Hicksville Boys and Girls Club hosted its annual Breakfast with Santa. Over forty young people and their families were treated to a pancake breakfast that had a very special visitor. Young people, ranging in age from a few months to over ten years, were all anxiously awaiting the arrival of the “Jolly Old Soul”. Shortly after the pancake breakfast and their project, the sound of sleigh bells rang through the room and everything stopped. There he was.... Santa himself!
All of the children had the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they would like for Christmas while
parents took pictures of their children. It was a wonderful way to start off the holiday season.
The Boys and Girls Club would especially like to thank the congregation of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church for allowing the use of the room, and also its heartfelt thanks to 7/11 South Broadway for underwriting the cost of the event. The Club would also like to extend its thanks to the Hicksville IHOP for donating the pancake batter. Also in attendance were Assemblyman Mike Montesano, County Legislators Rose Walker, Laura Schaefer and Arnold Drucker.
Hicksville Community Parent Center has great free offerings
Hicksville children and their parents enjoy a recent cupcake decorating workshop at the Parent Center.
Are you a Hicksville parent looking for a great community resource that’s FREE?
Parents, please join us at the Hicksville Community Parent Center to spend quality time with your child(ren) while participating in a wide variety of fun and educational activities. There’s Mom and Me, Arts & Crafts, Fun with Music, seasonal festivities and more. Children ages 2 years and up are invited when accompanied by a parent. The Center is located in Hicksville
Public School’s District office, 200 Division Avenue, Hicksville (516)733-2379, and is open Tuesdays from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.–5:15 p.m.; Wednesdays from 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; and Thursdays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.–5:15 p.m.
To view a schedule of the Center’s calendar, please visit the school district’s website: https://www.hicksvillepublicschools.org/programs/parent_center
Free musical performances at libraries in January
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that its Department of Community and Youth Services will be offering free musical performances during the month of January 2020 at local libraries throughout the Town. This is a continuation of 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 four wonderful performances offered by the Town for free at local libraries throughout the month of January.”
Upcoming performances for January 2020 include:
• Sheri Miller – Honoring
Women’s Voices in Music on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 2 p.m. in the Hicksville Public Library.
• Bay Big Band – Pop Goes the Bay Big Band on Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library.
• Just 60’s - The Stories…The Songs! on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. in the Massapequa Public Library.
• The History of Rock & Roll – A Trip Down Memory Lane Featuring the Music of the 50s, 60s, and 70s on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hicksville 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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Levittown Chamber tree lighting lights up the night
Nasty weather predictions moved the Levittown Chamber of Commerce Holiday Tree Lighting indoors for only the second time in more than 20 years of holding the celebration. And the event went off with hardly a noticeable flaw.
Accommodations by the Levittown Public Library made the event possible and enjoyable to all who performed and all who attended.
“The library staff was amazing in making provisions for our performers and in providing performance space and room for the audience on the main floor of the library,” says Louise Cassano, co-chairperson of the tree lighting event. “Library Director Trina Reed and her staff made everyone feel comfortable and were amazingly hospitable despite a huge disruption of the library’s normal services,” continued Cassano. The library’s community room on the lower level is currently under construction; part of a major remodeling project.
The Town of Hempstead Parks Department had the park manicured and the tree decorated days ahead of the schedule event working with Tree Lighting Committee Co-Chair Tom DiIorio. More than 3,600 bulbs lit up the 25-foot tree located in Veterans Memorial Park on Shelter Lane and Hempstead Turnpike.
Performers, mostly young students from Levittown and Island Trees schools, and local music groups and dance studios, and their directors made last minute adjustments to performances they had been planning for months and, Cassano says, showed extreme professionalism.
The event was emceed by Brimstone and the crew of Grindhouse Radio and refreshments were provided by Starbucks in Levittown and the Levittown Library. For the first time, this year, a food truck - Mama’s Cuban Kitchen – was on hand providing dinner selections for attendees.
Santa and his friends, Frosty and Rudolph, arrived aboard a Levittown Fire Department fire truck and, after meeting and greeting the crowd indoors, despite the rain, paraded outside to lead the countdown to lighting the tree.
Performers included Northside School’s 5th Grade Holiday Singers and Instrumental Group under the direction of teachers Isabella McClancy and Christopher Rispoli; Xtreme Rhythm Dance Academy directed by Jessica Taylor; Secret BBQ Band; 5-6-7-8 Dance Studio directed by Jennifer Gass; Holiday Cheer Kidz of Neighborhood Entertainment Arts and Theater under the direction of teacher Watson Miller; and St. Bernard’s Singers led by MaryJane Witte.
Casino trip planned
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas of Hicksville will be hosting a bus trip to the Wind Creek Bethlehem casino (formerly Sands) on Tuesday, January 28.
The cost will be $43 per person, which includes the driver’s tip. There will be a $35 give back for slots play.
Please arrive at 8:30 a.m. Return will
be approximately 8:30 p.m.
Parking: # 999 So. Oyster Bay Road (on the street in the dead end)
Reservations: Call Barbara at (516) 935-5576
Please make checks payable to “CDA”.
The first to pay is the first on the bus, etc.
Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti joined Santa and his friends in helping to light the tree.
The Levittown Fire Department provided transportation for Santa, Frosty and Rudolph, who lit the tree.
The Grinch (aka Andy Kuzma) traveled from Whoville to join the festivities.
Wisdom Lane staff takes on Novembeard challenge
Members of the Wisdom Lane Middle School community in the Levittown Public Schools gave back throughout the month of November with a friendly “Novembeard” competition among the staff. Fifteen staff members, including Principal John Avena and Assistant Principal Craig Arvelo-Shaw, participated in the monthlong fundraiser to try to raise awareness and money for a cause or a charity close to each of their hearts.
As the staff grew their beards during the month, students and faculty were encouraged to cast their votes for the “greatest beard” by donating their spare change in the school cafeteria. Charity organizations and causes that were represented by staff participants included the ALS Association, Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Wounded Warriors Project, Wisdom Lane Food Pantry and many more. Bill Darmstadt, teacher’s aide, was crowned the winner at the end of the month for his beard. Together, the school donated more than $400 to his charity of choice, Wings As Eagles Ministries. The Wings as Eagles Ministries provides relief for the Lakota children on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. This includes shelter, food and support groups for troubled teens. In addition, the ministries’ outreach programs try to prevent teen suicide to those with no hope.
Building administrators and staff member from Wisdom Lane Middle School grew out their beards during the month of November for their Novembeard fundraiser.
Photo courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools
Registration for 2nd NSPC Health Science Competition Opens
Registration for the second Neurological Surgery P.C. Health Science Competition (NSPC HSC), a program of the Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL), is now open at www.cstl.org/nspc. Last year the competition drew teams from 38 Long Island high schools and 50 prize winners shared $80,000 in score-based awards.
Created to foster interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs, applications for the 2020 competition must be received by no later than 12:00 p.m. (EST) on April 30, 2020.
A$25 non-refundable registration fee per team applies to all entries. The NSPC HSC is available exclusively to Nassau and Suffolk County high school student teams, the competition’s finals will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
Health and science careers are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that healthcare related occupations are expected to generate 2.3 million new jobs through 2024, representing faster employment growth than any other industry.
“As leaders in the medical
profession,” notes Michael H. Brisman, M.D., an attending neurosurgeon and chief executive officer of Neurological Surgery, P.C. (NSPC), “we must focus on inspiring and motivating young people to take interest in STEM education and pursue careers in health and science. This is especially important with the high demand for healthcare and medical science positions, locally and nationally.”
Student teams will be judged in one of five categories: Behavioral Sciences; Biology –Medicine/Health; Biology – Microbiology/Genetics; Health Related Biochemistry/Biophysics, and Bioengineering and Computational Biology. The five first place winners in last year’s competi-
Last year, Michael H. Brisman, M.D., CEO, Neurological Surgery, P.C. (NSPC), at right, received an award from Kevin Sanders, Center for Science, Teaching & Learning (CSTL), acknowledging NSPC’s sponsorship of the nation’s first competition for high school students to focus on STEM/health science. The 2019 competition finals were held at LIU/Post in Greenvale.
tion were: Feyi Rufai of Roslyn High School in the “Behavioral Sciences” category, Alessi Demir of Manhasset High School in the “Biology – Medicine/ Health” category, Michael Lawes of Elmont Memorial High School in the “Biology Microbiology/Genetics” category, Jason Sitt of Lynbrook Senior High School in the “Health Related Biochemistry & Biophysics” category, and Christopher Lu of John L. Miller Great Neck North High School in the “Bioengineering and Computational Biology” category. Each winner received a $5,500 prize. The exact breakdown of prizes can be found at www.cstl.org/nspc/hscprizes/.
“The young people who
were part of the first competition,” observes Dr. Brisman, “were brilliant and inspiring. Their understanding of medicine and health-related subjects was impressive. These students are exactly what we need to address the high demand to STEM, health science, and healthcarerelated jobs here on Long Island and across the nation. The first NSPC Health Science Competition exceeded our goals in terms of the number of schools and students who competed. I believe the 2020 competition will further motivate both those who participate and others, who observed these innovative young people, to pursue their interest and careers in healthcare and related sciences.”
For more information about the NSPC Health Science Competition (NSPC HSC), competition rules, and deadlines, please visit www.cstl.org/nspc or call (516) 764-0045
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Levittown's Home for the Holidays winners announced
Each year, volunteers, along with family and friends, scout local regions in the area defined by the Levittown and Island Trees school districts searching for beautifully decorated homes they consider their favorites. The volunteers choose one as their top draw and those homes are recognized by the Levittown Community Council as Levittown’s best.
This year in the northwest area of Levittown, the winner was Ralph Votta of Horn Lane in Levittown. Bright white snowflakes and festive red and green lights adorn the carefully outlined home lighting up all of the neighborhood.
In the southwest section, the Club Lane home of Larry Stevens took top
honors. Stevens, along with his sons, Bill and John, are the decorators. Larry says he started this Christmas tradition 25 years ago with two soldiers and a Santa and has added to the display each year since.
Travel down Tailor Lane in Levittown and you’ll see a blowup sign asking Santa to stop along with friendly blow up signs of the holiday including a lamppost, a snowman, reindeer and an eager, not-so-little puppy ready to greet visitors. The home is that of the northeast region’s winner - the Foley family.
In the southeast region, honors went to the Flynn Family of Parker Avenue in Plainedge. White lights and red ribbons frame the outline of the house in
holiday brilliance. In 2014, the home was also selected as the first place winner in this region. Homes are not eligible to be selected again for five years after being named.
Winners will be introduced and recognized at the Levittown Community Council’s WinterFest held this year on February 8 at Levittown Hall. Each winner receives a check and a free one-year membership in the Levittown Community Council.
Judges for this year’s event included
Mary Kay
and Pat Patane in the southwest; Helene Heras in the northeast; and, Carol Klein and Diane Pedroza in the southeast section.
The Levittown Community Council, was established in 1998 as a spinoff of Levittown’s 50th anniversary celebration the year prior. The Home for the Holidays contest was an anniversary event that has been carried forward since then by the Council.
The Flynn family home on Parker Avenue in Plainedge
The home of Ralph Votta on Horn Lane in Levittown
The Foley family home on Tailor Lane in Levittown
The Stevens family home on Club Lane
Ginny Isola and Pat McNerney in northwest section;
Ross
Philadelphia Offers Treasure Trove of History, Heritage, Culture
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
Philadelphia is a jewel box of unique and spectacular, even life-enhancing attractions, a treasure trove of history, heritage, culture that glitters particularly during the holidays. The holiday splendor is eye-catching and warms the heart, but any visitor still has to make time to experience first-hand at least some of these iconic places. I manage to bookend my holiday merrymaking with a mix of art (Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia Magic Gardens) with history (Independence Hall) with heritage (National Museum of American Jewish History) with science and enlightenment (Philly is the hometown of one of our most enlightened inventors, Ben Franklin, and so I end this visit with the Franklin Institute.
Barnes Collection
We spare no time once we drop our luggage at The Roost East Market, park the car in the garage, but grab an Uber to race over to The Barnes Foundation. The Barnes Collection is one of the world’s greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modernist paintings, with especially rich holdings in
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Philadelphia Offers Treasure Trove of History, Heritage, Culture
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Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso. Assembled by Dr. Albert C. Barnes between 1912 and 1951, the collection also includes important examples of African art, Native American pottery and jewelry, Pennsylvania German furniture, American avant-garde painting, and wrought-iron metalwork. In fact, we are told, Dr. Barnes has the greatest collection of Renoir anywhere – 181 of them acquired by Dr. Barnes between 1921 and 1942 that you actually see (as opposed to museums that keep most of their collections in storage). Plus 69 by Paul Cézanne; 59 by Henri Matisse; 46 by Pablo Picasso; 21 by Chaim Soutine; 18 by Henri Rousseau and the list goes on and on, as you walk from gallery to gallery to gallery.
The building complex is new, but the gallery rooms re-create the rooms and how Dr. Barnes displayed his art, intentionally juxtaposing masterworks by Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso next to ordinary household objects – a door hinge, a spatula, a yarn spinner; a French medieval sculpture displayed with a Navajo textile; African folk art with Modigliani and Cubists. Dr. Barnes called these dense groupings of objects from different cultures, time periods and media his “ensembles.” He meticulously crafted the ensembles to draw out visu al similarities – even the source of inspiration. He meant them as teaching tools, essential to the educational program Dr. Barnes developed in the 1920s.
“He believed you could as likely learn
about how to do surgery wandering through a hospital as art wandering through a gallery – you have to be taught how to see, what to look for,” a docent explains. “He wanted people to appreciate how culture influences art.”
She adds, “He wasn’t an artist himself.”
In fact, she relates, 10 years ago, Central
High School (Dr. Barnes grew up in a working class family in Philadelphia), came across his school books. “He got A’s in everything but art.”
At the Barnes, you experience these masterworks in the most intimate manner, as if visiting a home (albeit a mansion). We are exceptionally lucky to visit when the museum is not at all crowded (actually we are there until closing) – I even get to have some of the art completely to myself. It is very comfortable to view – many of the rooms (and they seem to go on forever, one after another) are small and there is seating in each one, with guides to the artwork at hand. But you should try to take a docent tour. At one point, the docent pulls up a photo of Henry Matisse, sitting on the very bench and gazing at his own painting in that very room.
In every room, you are astonished to see art that is amazingly familiar –because they are so famous: Georges Seurat’s “Models” (the basis for “Sunday in the Park with George”); Vincent van Gogh’s “The Postman”; Paul Cezanne’s “The Card Players”; Edouard Manet “Laundry”; Pablo Picasso “Acrobat and Young Harlequin”, and a plethora of Renoirs – so many, you get a sugar high. Every gallery takes your breath away, and for that moment, the art, the masterpiece, is yours.
And then there are the surprises –the art and artists you “meet” for the
first time. I fall in love with a Van Gogh country scene I have never seen before. There is a wonderful painting of Dr. Albert Barnes (1872-1951) by Giorgio de Chirico (1926), which makes you wonder more about who he was to have assembled such an astonishing collection. Dr. Barnes was born and raised in working-class Philadelphia, earned a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and went on to study chemistry in Germany. After starting his own business and making a fortune in pharmaceuticals, he began collecting art.
“Dr. Barnes believed that art had the power to improve minds and transform lives,” the notes read. “In 1922, he established the Barnes Foundation as a school for learning how to see and appreciate art. He had a gallery built in Merion, a suburb of Philadelphia, to house his growing collection. He held classes in the gallery so that students could learn directly from the artworks.”
In 2012, the collection was moved to Philadelphia, to a building designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architecture. The collection gallery replicates the original gallery building in Merion.
The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130, 215-278-7000, www.barnesfoundation.org.
Choosing a uniquely different New Year’s resolution!
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
New Year’s Eve is upon us and it’s the perfect time for getting together with friends and relatives and making some new memories.
In talking with several friends of mine about their New Year’s Eve memories, my friend, Joey, recalled a prank he pulled years ago when he was a kid.
Joey says, “My best New Year’s Eve was that of 1999. I was nine years old at the time and I worked together with my dad to pull off what I considered the greatest prank in history. A few minutes before midnight I synced up a wrist watch with the countdown on TV. My dad pointed me in the direction of the breaker which was in our garage and showed me the lever to pull which would cut all power to the house.
“Now I don’t know if you remember the hype but the year 2000 was supposed to destroy all of our computers and technology sending us back to the Stone Age.
“So as the moment grew closer, I watched the seconds tick by on my wrist watch. It soon became apparent that I wouldn’t need it since I heard all of my relatives inside counting down 10, 9 , 8 … 2, 1! I pulled the lever at the perfect time and everything went dark. The first thing I heard was my aunt shouting, ‘Oh, my God, it hit! Y2K hit!!’
“I was only going to leave the power off for 10 seconds or so but the lever was stuck and I couldn’t get it back up for about two minutes, during which the whole time I heard my family freaking out. Then eventually they all
looked outside and started to wonder why our neighbors still had power. Thinking back I really wish we would have recorded this, I probably could have won some big bucks for having the funniest video!”
Last year on New Year’s Eve my family and I were invited to a New Year’s Eve party at my brother, Peter’s, house and several other relatives also attended the party. The younger kids were allowed to stay up until 10 p.m. so they grabbed their party hats and blowers and were definitely in the New Year’s Eve spirit.
In chatting with my nephew, Luke, who was eight then, I asked him what New Year’s Eve was all about. Smiling, he said that it was one big party, that’s why all of the relatives were over.
I tried defining it, tried summarizing it which is hard and tried explaining why the adults always end up singing “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year’s Eve and what the words mean which was even harder to do.
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne? …”
It’s an 18th-century Scottish ballad and basically the speaker is asking whether old friends should be forgotten, as a way of stating that obviously one should not forget one’s old friends. It seems a bit old fashioned but I told Luke that it has been a popular song to sing on New Year’s Eve. It’s tradition after all.
I told Luke a few of my New Year’s resolutions - to eat in a healthier way, to
lose some weight and to listen to other people better - and I asked him what he wanted to commit to do.
After he asked what the word “resolution” meant I explained that it means to “decide firmly on a course of action.” Luke got that then he said that he wanted to think about his options for a few minutes so he went off to get a soda.
I figured that he would get sidetracked after getting his soda but then again Luke does take things seriously. A half hour later he came up to me and said that he has a good idea. “For your New Year’s resolution?” I asked.
Nodding, he said that his New Year’s resolution was to be more patient which I thought was pretty nice because it showed me that he had really given it some thought. We got off the serious subject of making New Year’s resolutions and had fun partying with everyone else.
In terms of resolutions for the New Year, I was speaking with my cousin, Elaina, and her husband, Matt, and they said that they want to rent an RV and take their young kids camping out West next summer.
They added that the kids are old enough now, at eight, 10 and 12, to appreciate a trip like that. They want their first stop to be Mount Rushmore in South Dakota to see the faces of the four presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln - etched in stone.
Jerry, Jr., was so excited about seeing that monument and checking out the interactive exhibits inside the museum that he was counting the days
Who Ushers In the New Year First - And Last?
If you want to be among the first to welcome the New Year, your best bet is to head to Kiritimati, or Christmas Island. Located in the Indian Ocean, Kiritimati is the world’s largest coral atoll and is the first inhabited landmass west of the International Date Line.
The first major city to celebrate the New Year is Auckland, New Zealand. Because New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, it is summertime and their celebrations include outdoor concerts and, as with most other major cities, a stunning fireworks display.
And if you happen to be wondering about who is the last to ring in the New Year worldwide, those who live in Honolulu, Hawaii, in Adak, Alaska, in Papeete, Tahiti, and in Pago Pago, Samoa are the last.
In 1904 a New Year’s Eve party was held in New York’s Times Square to commemorate the opening of the New York Times headquarters. Today nearly 1 million people converge on the city’s center to watch the infamous New Year’s Eve Ball drop down Times Square’s 77-foot flag pole.
It starts its decent at 1 minute until midnight and, when it has dropped, two tons of confetti are released on the crowd below. The confetti includes messages from people around the work that talk about their hopes, their dreams and their goals that have been left on the New Year’s Eve Wishing Wall at the Times Square Information Center. If you aren’t able to join the revelers, leave a message online and you can watch your message swirl around with all those in Times Square on New Year’s Eve!
until they were going to leave for their trip. Matt had been to Mount Rushmore as a child but Elaina and her three children have never seen it.
They want to continue on to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, to Sedona, Arizona, and to Santa Fe, New Mexico. They want to see the red rocks and canyons of Sedona, check out the hiking trails and swim in Oak Creek, and go kayaking down the Verde River. In Santa Fe, they want to hit all of the tourist attractions plus go camping.
Usually they vacation much closer to home so making this New Year’s resolution to do something different is something they are really looking forward to.
My friend, Scott, said that his New Year’s resolution is for him and his wife to get on a plane and visit their daughter and her family in the Seattle area.
“It’s been too long since we’ve gotten together at their place so I am going to make it happen,” Scott said. “Usually they fly to Long Island to see the relatives but for a change I want to see them in their own home.”
My friend, Cathie, always says that it’s a happy New Year if she can take in an animal that needs a loving home. She doesn’t care if it’s a cat or a dog. Cathie tries to place animals in their forever homes whenever she can and over the course of 30 years or so she has really made a difference.
She knows that there are many more out there but Cathie has an extroverted personality and in that nice way of hers she has persuaded many prospective pet parents to take in the “new additions” to their families.
Then Cathie teaches them how to take care of their new pets if they need any advice or tips. She follows up in the weeks and months ahead to be sure that everyone is happy.
As was the case with many of the people I spoke with about their New Year’s resolutions, I have decided that I want to be more adventurous. I want to travel more, meet new people and increasingly open my heart and my mind to new experiences.
I want to rescue a cat and a dog and show them what a safe and stable home is. I want to play fetch with the dog, and yes, with the cat, too! I want to give them special names, names that are memorable and suiting their personalities.
Like my brother, Gregory, I want to spend more time walking and hiking in 2020. I am someone who reads and writes a lot so I enjoy every chance I have to go outdoors and be surrounded by nature.
When walking I don’t need a pedom-
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Working Women, Stay-At-Home Moms And Social Security
BY TOM MARGENAU
Sometimes I will write what I think is the most harmless and innocuous column about a Social Security issue -- and then all hell breaks loose! It happened again recently. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column in which I explained that a workingwoman will generally be paid her own Social Security benefit first. Only after that will they will look to her husband’s record to see if she can get any additional benefits. Well, that triggered a whole host of emails, some of them quite angry. Here is an example.
Q: I can’t believe how Social Security discriminates against women like me who were forced to work in order to maintain a certain standard of living. It’s a travesty that these lazy women who never worked a day in their lives and who got to stay home and let their husbands take care of them get essentially the same benefits that I do. I know a lady from our church who never worked a day in her life, and she gets Social Security from her husband -- and I get squat! What’s wrong with this picture?
A: Wow! There is some anger there -- on a whole lot of levels. I’m not even going to touch your sentiments about stay-at-home wives and mothers. I’ll let someone more versed in women’s issues deal with that. But I will discuss your concerns about Social Security. And I think the best way I can do that is to once again share this story about my mom and the lady who lived next door to us.
I grew up in a small town where you could find rich folks in big houses living very near to poor folks occupying much more modest dwellings. And that was true of our neighborhood. My dad was a janitor struggling to make ends meet. My mother had to work to help pay the rent and keep enough groceries on the table to feed me and my three siblings.
Just behind our house and across the alley was a big home owned by the vice president of a local bank. His wife, even though she had a degree in journalism, never worked outside the home once the first of an eventual brood of six children came along.
My brothers and sister and I got along famously with the children of the banker and his wife. We were always playing games, shooting baskets or just hanging out. On the other hand, our parents rarely spoke. I guess the economic and educational gulf between them was just too great to foster any kind of meaningful relationship.
And that gulf only widened later in life between my mom and the neighbor lady after both of their husbands died. Sadly, most of the friction and resentment came from my mom’s side of the alley. And much of it had to do with Social Security.
Because my mom had worked most of her life, she received her own Social Security retirement benefit. The widows rate she was due on my dad’s Social Security account was only slightly higher than her own, so she did get a small bump in her monthly checks from my dad’s side of the Social Security ledger.
Across the alley, the neighbor lady received no benefits on her own Social Security account, but she did get a rather substantial widows benefit from her deceased banker husband. It was more than my mother received from her combined accounts.
And this peeved my mother to no end. Sadly, she lived the rest of her life bearing deep resentment -- partly to her neighbor and partly to the Social Security system that allowed what she perceived to be this injustice to happen. I can still hear her griping: “THAT WOMAN never worked a day in her life. And there she is in that big house, getting more money each month from the government than me, a woman who worked hard all her life just trying to make ends meet!”
After I started working for the Social Security Administration, my mom carried on with her rants about the supposedly broken system and asked me “to do something about it.”
Of course, there was absolutely nothing that a brand new SSA employee could do about this situation. Besides, the laws that govern the payment of Social Security benefits are written by Congress, not by bureaucrats. Still, I tried to mollify my mom by discussing the rationale behind the rules with her. I explained that Social Security was not set up to work like regular pension programs. It always was (and still is today) a social insurance program intended to accomplish larger goals for society.
I used to ask my mom: “If you think things are unfair, what do you think we should do about it? Should we take widows benefits away from our neighbor because you don’t think she deserves them?” My mother might get a nasty little gleam in her eye with that thought. But she always eventually admitted that the neighbor was due her widows benefits.
My mom would counter with this: “I think I should get my own full Social Security benefit AND my own full widows benefit. After all, I worked and paid for my Social Security, and Dad worked and paid for his Social Security!” On the surface, it seems like a valid point. In fact, I’ve heard thousands of workingwomen make the same argument to me over the years.
But here is the flip side of that coin: If working women can get their own retirement benefits and full spousal benefits, shouldn’t working men be offered the same? In other words, every single
working person in this country would get his or her own Social Security benefit, and at the same time, everyone would also get a spousal benefit from his or her husband or wife.
Let’s be realistic. The system was never set up to do that. And it never could do that. Where in the world would the money come from to essentially pay double benefits to everyone in the country?
The truth is Social Security spousal and survivor benefits have always
been classified as “dependents” benefits. They are meant to be paid to a lower-earning (or nonearning) spouse who was financially dependent on the higher-income spouse. They were never meant to be paid to everyone as some kind of add-on marital bonus to their own Social Security account.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM
GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....
Philadelphia Offers Treasure Trove of History, Heritage, Culture
Continued from page D2
From here, we go to a family gathering at the mega-popular Zahav Restaurant (the Uber driver can’t believe we are getting in there since lines are usually around the block), an award-winning restaurant which elevates Israeli cuisine to gourmet status. The small plates menu is designed for diners to sample the variety of cultural influences on Israeli cuisine, from Eastern Europe to North Africa, from Persia to the Mediterranean. “Creamy, nutty hummuses, sizzling skewers of meat grilled over hardwood charcoal, and laffa breadar, the soul of Zahav, baked to order in a wood-fired Taboon.” (237 Saint James Place, 215-625-8800, zahavrestaurant.com).
I spend the next day immersing myself in the sights and sounds of Philadelphia’s holiday activities (see: Holiday Happenings Give Visitors to Philadelphia Even More to Enjoy)
Independence Hall
I’m out of The Roost East Market apartment hotel at 8:30 am for a delightful 15 minute walk down Market Street to the Independence Hall Visitor Center to get a timed ticket for a tour of Independence Hall. They start distributing tickets at 8:30 am and I get a ticket for the first tour, 9:20 am (the ticket is free; you can pay $1 for advance reservations online, www.nps.gov/inde/ planyourvisit/independencehalltickets. htm). That gives me enough time to watch a short film in the Visitor Center and visit the “Great Essentials” exhibit of original printed copies of the three founding documents signed here at Independence Hall: the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and Constitution. Another interesting artifact: the Syng inkstand, believed to
be the silver inkstand in which the 56 Founding Fathers dipped their quills to “mutually pledge their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor” in the cause of independence.
We gather in a room and learn that we have come from throughout the United States and the world.
“Government as we recognize it, was invented inside Independence Hall,” the Ranger tells us.
The building, in Georgian style architecture which manifested symmetry and order, is on the original site; the foundation was laid in 1732, the year George Washington was born.
The founders, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, would have called the building the Pennsylvania State House. All three branches of colonial government were housed here.
“Delegates representing 13 diverse colonies, speaking with a variety of accents, met here, who would have been more familiar with London than Philadelphia. What united them was how disturbed they were how the King and Parliament was treating the colonists. It was the end of the French & Indian War (The Seven Years War), which gave the British victory and control over most of North America, but the Crown imposed new taxes to pay for the war.
We are ushered into a room that would have served as Pennsylvania’s highest court.
“The Magna Carta spelled out the rights of British citizens – no man above law; trial by jury of peers; attorneys would be gathered at one table and colonists could gather and watch the trial. Colonists inherited numerous rights.” But grievances grew – taxation without representation – and the colonists saw their rights being whittled away by the British crown.
We enter the very room where the Continental Congress brought together delegates from 13 free and independent states. “We don’t know for sure but we think they were probably seated by geographic area.” As they gathered to consider their grievances with the crown, shots were fired at Lexington and at Concord, “the shots heard ‘round the world.” The War for Independence officially began.
July 8 1776, the bell in the steeple announced the first reading of Independence. (You can see the Liberty Bell with its famous crack now housed in its own pavilion.)
The visit, coming at such an auspicious time in American history, is like going back to ground zero of the founding:
At the start, colonists were deeply divided. The delegates met for a year before Thomas Jefferson penned the words, “All men are created equal endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”
“That was one of the most profound and inspiring statements in human history. That government derives just power from the consent of the governed,” he said.
The War for Independence lasted eight years - France and Spain aided; the Dutch provided financial support. But the War for Independence also was a civil war that divided communities and even families. Ben Franklin’s own son, Sir William, was the Royal Governor of New Jersey, and remained a loyalist. He left America for England. (You can also visit the marvelous Ben Franklin Museum, housed below where his house would have been.)
The powerful words, “All men created equal” presented a paradox, even to the Founding Fathers, many of whom were slave owners from states where the economy derived from slavery. Despite Abigail Adams’ exhortation to husband John Adams to “Remember the ladies,” women’s rights were not even a consideration. “The Declaration is a document of promise,” the Ranger reflects. “Lincoln mentioned the Declaration of Independence in his Gettysburg Address; suffragettes Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton; Frederick Douglass & Martin Luther King Jr. all drew on the Declaration. We are exhausted from becoming independent, but work had just begun.”
The Articles of Confederation which set up the United States’ first government “was more like treaty of 13 independent countries, with 13 armies, 13 currencies. In less than four months, it was replaced with a central government under the Constitution.”
We see the chair used by George Washington, which has carved into it a rising sun. James Madison and
After visiting the exhibition at the National Museum of American Jewish History devoted to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, take a selfie with “Notorious RBG” herself © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Philadelphia Offers Treasure Trove of History, Heritage, Culture
C ontinued from page D5
Alexander Hamilton argued and debated over making of three co-equal branches of government; they compromised over representation of large and small states; compromised over the power and function of the presidency.
“George Washington called it the ‘miracle in Philadelphia.’ But they knew they could not predict the future. So the Constitution was designed to change, with provision to amend it.”
Plan your visit, get itinerary suggestions at Independence National Historic Park, 215-965-2305, www.nps.gov/inde/ planyourvisit/index.htm
The tour takes about a half-hour, and I am trying to pack a lot into one day. I decide to forgo a tour of Congress Hall and the Libertay Bell to race over to the National Museum of American Jewish History because I spot a banner showcasing the special exhibit, “Notorious RBG” which is only on view through Jan. 12. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is one of my heroes.
Notorious RBG at NMAJH
“Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” at the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) is the first-ever museum retrospective of the Supreme Court Justice-turned-pop-culture-icon. The special exhibition traces a career that traveled from trailblazer to pop-culture icon, exploring the roots of her precedent-setting role on the nation’s highest court, as well as her varied roles as a student, life partner, mother, change-making lawyer, judge, and women’s rights pioneer.
Even though I had seen the excellent “Notorious RBG” documentary and the superb “On the Basis of Sex” film (written by her nephew) which formed the
basis of the exhibit (photos, home movies), there was still so much to learn, and the artifacts, and explanations.
The second woman—and the first Jewish woman—to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg acquired the “Notorious RBG” moniker after a series of fiery, record-breaking dissents she gave from the Supreme Court bench in 2013 around the Voting Rights Act. Then-NYU law student Shana Knizhnik was inspired to create the Notorious RBG tumblr, referencing rap star Notorious B.I.G. (In homage to Notorious B.I.G., the exhibition section titles are inspired by his lyrics.)
Based on the New York Times bestselling book of the same name by Knizhnik and Irin Carmon, the visually rich and entertaining exhibition explores RBG’s legacy through archival photographs and documents, historical artifacts, contemporary art, media stations, and gallery interactives. It presents not only the Justice’s writings, opinions, and interviews, but also the whimsical yet powerful world of Notorious RBG memes, fan art, and parody – from a cartoon action figure named Wrath Hover Ginsbot to renderings of the Justice’s likeness on t-shirts, nail decals, and even as tattoos. (Clearly, Justice Ginsburg has always had a sense of humor, which was at the essence of her long-time relationship with her husband, Marty).
NMAJH’s location on Independence Mall provides an ideal backdrop for exploring Justice Ginsburg’s story and the circumstances that brought her to the Court. It places the Justice’s story at the very location where the United States was founded and the US Constitution established the Supreme Court. In fact, just diagonally across from NMAJH is the National Constitution
GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR.... GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....
Center, (constitutioncenter.org).
Established in 1976, the National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience, going back 360 years.
NMAJH, a Smithsonian Affiliate, was originally founded by the members of historic Congregation Mikveh Israel, which was established in 1740 and known as the “Synagogue of the American Revolution”.
NMAJH , 101 South Independence Mall East at the corner of Fifth and Market Streets, www.NMAJH.org 215.923.3811.
Next: More Philadelphia Treasures: Magic Gardens, Franklin Institute
A Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package includes overnight free parking and perks, and is bookable
at Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website, visitphilly.com, 800-537-7676 where you can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages.
© 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
Visitors to The Barnes Collection see the “ensembles” that Dr. Barnes created to inspire the viewer to look at art differently © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Choosing a uniquely different New Year’s resolution!
C ontinued from page D3
eter or any way to measure my steps. I just want to walk and walk and inhale the beauty of the world around me. I want to enjoy the four seasons and when there is an especially perfect day weather wise, I want to appreciate it for what it is and not take it for granted. With my nieces and nephews, I want to use this time in my life to encourage and support them. I want to tell them to work hard in school, to be themselves and to reach for the brass ring as far as their hopes, aspirations and goals are concerned.
I have 17 nieces and nephews, each one with different personalities and different talents and it is my goal to always
recognize their interests. One niece of mine who is nine years old enjoys performing on stage in her school plays. She can be quite the ham but she likes performing so much that I can possibly see a future actress there.
Another niece enjoys reading and telling stories, and she has got some imagination. She’s very creative when she makes up her stories. One nephew of mine is a big surfer in the summertime. He likes catching the perfect waves and riding them for as long as he can.
Sometimes when we sit around telling family stories and comparing notes I see a certain resemblance in them. In my nephews I see the habits of my father and grandfathers. In my nieces
I occasionally see certain characteristics of my mother and grandmothers - a smile, a tilt of the head, a smirk or a certain sense of humor that comes out when I least expect it.
Another New Year’s resolution that I have for 2020 is to tell the stories of my parents and grandparents, to tell my great big extended family things they may not know about their relatives. I want to pass down information and anecdotes for the younger kids, for the younger generation to know.
After I tell them these family stories I want to write down as much as I can. I will be as concise as possible but I will do my best to make their personalities come out. My ancestors certainly had their quirks and their flairs. As far as I
am concerned, making my family history come alive is key.
For 2020 I wish you happiness, health and prosperity! Happy New Year, everyone!
REAL ESTATE WATCH
Are you looking to upgrade or downsize?
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
Just as a side note, the letter that was mailed in to me back in early November by a subscriber, was accidentally shredded and I would appreciate it if you could resend it in to me at my office address located at the end of my column.
Are you in a situation whereby you are not sure whether or not to upgrade and purchase a larger home in a better location for your growing family or then again, staying and enlarging your current domicile and add as many of your “wish list” “bells and whistles” as you always wanted?
You obviously must weigh the pros and cons in considering this very important decision. Have you been searching for a new home and due to the historically low housing inventory, choices being slim and limited in what you are looking for in a “dream home”? Is the S.A.L.T. tax another issue in your decision making, because you want or would like to pay as close to the ten thousand dollar maximum deduction as possible or is this not a factor?
Are you looking for a move-in, mint and diamond condition new home or will you consider a fixer-upper that has more space than you currently have and/or a more desirable location? Which will be easier to do, to keep looking and hope that something will pop up during the winter months when there is much less competition from other anxious and hungry purchasers searching for a similar property?
These maybe challenges, but they can be minimized and solved if only you
have a carefully laid out plan; as I always say, “if you fail to plan, then you may plan to fail.”
You need to look at the expense of moving as opposed to staying in your current home, figuring out your budget to renovate and upgrade your current home. Will you want to or can you stay in your home in one area and be comfortable enough, while you start and finish the renovation in the other section; and then stay in the finished area while you do the other half?
pay off in the long run. If you have younger children you probably will be staying in the home for at least twenty years or more, since people move after their children finish college, unless student debt keeps them in place.
Moving would seem the easiest way to go, only if “all the stars lined up in a row” and the timing (luck) was perfect and you could find that elusive home that meets almost all your requirements.
But the sixty four thousand dollar question is when will that happen? I always advise my clientele to figure out what’s most crucial on their “needs list” and realize and go through what they are willing to trade-off, that maybe can be added at a later time once they move in. Sometimes it’s also, “champagne tastes and beer pockets.”
One must have the available money as well as first and foremost, the letter from your lender that you are qualified to purchase and at what price point. Maybe you can calculate how you might stretch your budget just a bit to secure the home you really need and want, anticipating the additional expense will
Those that secure higher paying jobs would have the opportunity to move out sooner and either rent (which I absolutely don’t recommend), but figure out every angle to ascertain what you would need to do to have your children become a homeowners). Some banks are allowing the rollover of student debt into a fixed mortgage for thirty years! However, I would be very sure of your career position and path before considering that move.
Downsizing comes about when the expense and responsibilities are way to great to consider staying any longer, especially if your home is larger than is necessary at the present time.
Cutting costs is always a good idea; but for those who are healthy and can afford to stay in place and don’t mind the chores and upkeep; then staying put in familiar surroundings is a positive reinforcement and sometimes keeps you in a healthier physical and mental state of mind. We are creatures of comfort and familiarity and don’t necessarily like change. It all depends on so many variables and it comes down also to, “whatever floats your boat.” Today, many are living much longer, have part time jobs or are still
running their businesses and continue to reside on Long Island, which also is contributing to the lack of housing inventory. Although more individuals and families are exiting New York than are relocating here; those that can afford to stay, I believe, have a lifestyle that is quite complete, beneficial and of excellent value, with the world class Jones Beach and others, outstanding parks, entertainment, shopping, restaurants, wineries, and of course, the Big Apple NYC!
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.
Wordsmiths Wanted
The “Writer’s Corner” column in our Discovery section is open to submissions from writers of articles on local topics, as well as opinions, reviews, personal experiences, humor, worthy places to visit on Long Island, and even fiction. E-mail submissions: editor@gcnews.com
• Attach article and any photos (1MB), along with your name and contact info.
• Articles must be between 1,500 - 3,000 words. • The writer will receive a stipend of $25.⁰⁰ for each accepted article.
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What’s
Dear Carrie: I’d like to set up an educational fund for my new grandchild. I understand the tax benefits of a 529 account but am also interested in gifting appreciated stock. What are your thoughts? -- A Reader
Dear Reader: Congratulations on your new grandchild! I also applaud your generosity. What a fortunate child to have such a supportive family.
You’re also wise to weigh your options. A gift of appreciated stock can be a great way to fund education. On the other hand, as you mention, a 529 account has several advantages, but it only accepts cash, not stock or other assets.
As is so often the case, the devil is in the details. Regardless of whether it’s you or your grandchild who ultimately sells the appreciated stock, that person may be hit with a tax bill that can include federal capital gains tax and, potentially, net investment income tax and state taxes.
New rules under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 mean that gifting appreciated stock to a minor is far less attractive than in the past. In a nutshell, assets owned or sold under a child or grandchild’s name can be hit with tax rates faster and higher than assets sold by a parent or grandparent.
As a Grandparent, You Have a Few Ways to Gift the Stock
1. You can gift the stock in kind and have it sold under the grandchild’s name. This used to be a common strategy under old tax rules. As we’ll discuss below, it’s not as effective as it used to be.
2. You can sell the stock and gift the after-tax proceeds to your grandchild. This can make sense if you would pay lower taxes on the sale than your grandchild would. New tax rules can result in a child or grandchild’s tax liability being higher than that of a grandparent.
3. You can make a gift of the stock to your grandchild at your death. This takes advantage of a step up in basis, which means paying no taxes on any appreciation on the stock. In this way, you can make a larger gift, but the downside is you won’t be around to see it.
A big part of your decision, therefore, will be based on the difference in the total tax burden for you versus your grandchild in selling the stock. In addition, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of placing college funds in a custodial account versus a 529. Let’s take a closer look.
A Few Tax Basics for the Grandparent
When people sell stock in a taxable account, they may have to
BY CARRIE SCHWAB-POMERANTZ
pay capital gains taxes on any appreciation from the sale. Whoever owns the stock is also subject to income taxes from dividends paid out when holding the investment.
The capital gains tax rate is based on how long the stock has been held. Appreciation on stock held for one year or less is taxed at ordinary income tax rates where the highest federal tax rate is 37% (2019).
Long-term capital gains (LTCG), on the other hand, are taxed on the appreciation of stocks that had been held for more than one year and sold. Federal LTCG rates vary from zero to 20% based on income.
(When you gift property, your grandchild assumes your holding period. So, your grandchild doesn’t need to wait another 12 months to sell the stock to be eligible for LTCG rates.)
Note that single individuals with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) more than $200,000 and married filers with a MAGI over $250,000 will also owe an additional net investment income tax (NIIT) -- sometimes called the Medicare surtax -- of 3.8% on top of LTCGs.
What You Need to Know About the New “Kiddie Tax” Laws Kiddie taxes are special tax rules on investment and other earned income of minors. A main goal of gifting appreciated stock to someone like a grandchild or child is to shift the taxable appreciation of that asset from a presumably higher tax rate (yours) to a lower tax rate (your grandchild’s). In the past, this strategy worked great. You could pay less in taxes to Uncle Sam, and your child would get a bigger gift -- a win-win.
All of that changed, however, with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. Under this legislation, a minor child’s investment income over a certain limit ($2,200 for 2019) is taxed at the trust tax rates rather than the child’s or parent’s tax rate. LTCG rates increase to the highest rate (20%) for a child/grandchild after just $12,950. The 3.8% NIIT is added on top of this for a total of 23.8%.
Just for the sake of comparison, in order for you to hit this 23.8% LTCG tax rate, you would need to make over $434,550 as a single filer or over $488,850 as a married couple filing jointly. So it’s quite possible that the 23.8% rate could apply to your grandchild selling the stock while a lower 15% LTCG rate could apply to you. Or your LTCG rate could be 20%, and your grandchild’s LTCG rate could be 15%.
In Any Case, the Main Take-
away Is That the New Kiddie Tax Threshold Makes Gifting Appreciated Stock to Your Grandchild Less Attractive Than in the Past Understandably, the new rules have caused some consternation for a number of families, and there have been several legislative proposals to roll back or modify the kiddie tax rules. We’ll have to wait and see what ultimately happens, but for now the 2017 legislation holds.
Don’t forget about state taxes and other potential liabilities. The strategy of gifting rapidly appreciating property removes the future appreciation of this property from your estate and allows you to make the gift when tax values are relatively low.
While the current (2019) federal top marginal tax rate on LTCGs is 23.8%, taxpayers also have to pay state and local income taxes on their capital gains income. The state tax rate can vary from zero percent in states such as Florida and Nevada that don’t levy an individual income tax to as high as 13.3% in California. So where you and your grandchild live may be another variable to consider.
Also, ask your tax and financial advisor about other taxes that could come into the picture including gift taxes, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) or increased taxation on Social Security benefits. Another consideration is that your gift could impact your Medicare premiums, since they are based on your income from the prior year.
With a Custodial Account, Your Gift Might Not Be Used for Education
If you decide to gift your grandchild the stock (as opposed to cash), you’ll likely place it in a custodial account. Using a Uniform Gift to Minors Account (UGMA) or Uniform Trust to Minors Account (UTMA) gives you control over the assets but only until the age of majority (usually 18 to 21, depending on the state).
At that point, though, you have to understand that your grandchild has full rights to spend the money any way he or she wishes. In other words, your grandchild might decide to use the money for a car, not college, and you have to be comfortable with that possibility.
Is a 529 Plan a Good Option?
Now let’s look at a 529 plan. I’ve written about 529 plans extensively in the past, and I believe they provide a great tax-advantaged way to fund an education. In fact, they are the most popular education savings plan for savvy families for good reason. But as I mentioned above, 529 plans can
only accept cash.
Still, the proceeds of the stock sale could ultimately be used to fund a 529. A grandparent- or parent-owned 529 has lots of pros including the following:
-- Provides for more control over the gift to ensure that it’s is used for education.
-- Can be more advantageous if applying for need-based financial aid in the future.
-- May be eligible for a state tax deduction.
-- Offers tax-free growth on qualified distributions.
That said, remember that 529 accounts are specifically designed for education costs. If you want your grandchild to be able to use the funds for something else, a 529 account may not be the best choice. Withdrawals from a 529 that are considered nonqualified are subject to ordinary income taxes and a 10% penalty.
Your Gift Can Combine the Best of Both Approaches
Rather than an either/or decision, you could open both a 529 plan and a custodial account, possibly funding different accounts in different years. In the future, a UGMA/UTMA could be used to cover expenses for your grandchild not covered by the 529 (like clothes, a car, summer camp or flights home from school).
Gifting As Part of an Inheritance Could Allow for a Bigger Gift
Taking a completely different tact, you should understand that a gift of the appreciated stock at your death results in a step up in the cost basis, potentially greatly reducing the tax liability. This can
be an option, especially for older grandparents closer to the end of their retirement who might be able to make a larger gift of the appreciated stock as part of their estate.
Next Steps
As you can see, finding the best way to fund a grandchild’s education can be complicated business. There are lots of moving parts, so it’s important to consider all your options before making a decision. Most of us will do well to work out the specifics with a tax advisor and financial planner. These experts can help you refine strategies such as the timing of the gift and tactically combining a 529 plan with a custodial account. Who knows -- you may be able to give more to your grandchild than you think!
Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, Certified Financial Planner, is president of the Charles Schwab Foundation and author of “The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After Fifty.” Read more at http:// schwab.com/book. You can email Carrie at askcarrie@schwab.com. The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice. To find out more about Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com.
COPYRIGHT 2019 CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. INC. (MEMBER SIPC) DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS. COM (#1119-9DLK)
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 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
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
LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court
Nassau County NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff, -againstBEATRIZ E. ACOSTA AKA BEATRIZ ACOSTA; MIDLAND FUNDING LLC; CARLOS ACOSTA,
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated, February 5, 2019 and entered with the Nassau County Clerk on February 13, 2019, Anthony F. Altimari, Esq., the Appointed Referee, will sell the premises known as 14 Lily Lane, Levittown, New York 11756 at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York 11501, Calendar Control Part (CCP), on January 14, 2020 at 11:30 A.M. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in Levittown, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York known as Section: 45; Block: 201; Lot: 6 will be sold subject to the provisions of filed Judgment, Index No. 17-002691. The approximate amount of judgment is $441,323.72 plus interest and costs.
Index No. 17-002691.
FRIEDMAN VARTOLO LLP
85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff.
MIT 5862
4X 12/13,20,27, 01/03
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 14, 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. VERJN115
Dan Blumenthal, Esq., Referee Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 1400 Old Country Road, Suite C103, Westbury, NY 11590
Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s). MIT 5864 4X 12/13,20,27,01/03
SUPPLEMENTAL
SUMMONS WITH NOTICE Supreme Court Nassau County CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, -againstGREGORY KIRKHAM, and, if he be living and if he be dead, the respective heirs-atlaw, next-of-kin, distributes, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or inheritance, lien or otherwise any right, title or interest in or to the real property described in the complaint, THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE and UNITED STATES OF AMERICAINTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, YANG HOU and RUI WONG, Defendants Index No. 602015/2019
To the above named defendants: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the plaintiff’s attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) or within (60) days after service of this summons if it is the United States of America; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. To the above-named defendants. The foregoing summons is served upon you pur-
suant to an order signed by the HON. THOMAS A. ADAMS,J.S.C. dated the 9th day of October 2019. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing supplemental summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable Thomas A. Adams, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, NASSAU County, dated the 8th day of October, 2019 and duly entered in the office of the Clerk of the County of NASSAU, State of New York. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT The object of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $109,600.00 and interest, recorded in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on March 24, 1998 in Book 18473, Page 843, which mortgage was assigned to CitiMortgage, Inc. by assignment of mortgage dated August 1, 2000, which was recorded in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on September 1, 2000 in Book 20506, Page 224, covering premises known as 98 MILLER RD, HICKSVILLE, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK 11801 (SECTION 12, BLOCK 174 AND LOTS 413 AND 414). The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above. The Plaintiff also seeks a deficiency judgment against the Defendant, GREGORY KIRKHAM, for any debt secured by said Mortgage which is not satisfied by the proceeds of the sale of said premises, unless discharged in
bankruptcy. Premises lying and being at Hicksville, town of Oyster Bay. BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the northerly side of Twin Lawns Avenue and the westerly side of Miller Road; being a plot 10 feet by 64.33 feet by 30.65 feet by9 7.26 feet by 100 feet by 70 feet.
SECTION 12, BLOCK 174 AND LOTS 413 AND 414
Dated: Roslyn Heights, New York
______________, 2019
DAVID A. GALLO & ASSOCIATES LLP
By: Rosemarie A. Klie
Attorneys for Plaintiff 99 Powerhouse Road, 1st Floor Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 (516) 583-5330 MIT 5865
4X 12/20,27,01/03,10
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court
Nassau County GREEN TREE SERVICING LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST MARIO KOT, et al., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated April 02, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Calendar Control Part (CCP) Courtroom of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, on January 14, 2020 at 11:30AM, premises known as 669 BROADWAY, BETHPAGE, NY 11714. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay,County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION 46, BLOCK 587, LOT 58. Approximate amount of judgment $429,689.87 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment for Index# 001361/2014.
GERARD DEGREGORIS, JR., ESQ., Referee
Gross Polowy, LLC
Attorney for Plaintiff 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221
BN 7441
4X 12/13,20,27,01/03
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court Nassau County
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
Plaintiff AGAINST RAJESHWARI SINGH, ET AL.,
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated November 02, 2017 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Calendar Control Part (CCP) Courtroom of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, on January 14, 2020 at 11:30AM, premises known as 4336 HICKSVILLE ROAD, BETHPAGE, NY 11714. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION 52, BLOCK 310, LOT 43. Approximate amount of judgment $459,790.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment for Index# 9094-15.
RICHARD H. RUBIN, ESQ., Referee
Gross Polowy, LLC
Attorney for Plaintiff 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221
BN 7442
4X 12/13,20,27,01/03
NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Nassau County NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY, Plaintiff, vs. JOELINE T. ORTIZMARESCO A/K/A JOSELINE ORTIZ-MARESCO A/K/A JOELINE ORTIZ-ROSSOL, AS EXECUTRIX OF THE ESTATE OF JUDITH ORTIZ, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated November 13, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the CCP (Calendar Control Part Courtroom) in the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 21, 2020 at 11:30 a.m., premises known as 1 Central Boulevard, Bethpage, NY. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 46, Block K and Lot 728.
LEGAL NOTICES
Approximate amount of judgment is $569,491.17 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 5897/2016. Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq., Referee Pincus Law Group, PLLC, 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, New York 11556, Attorneys for Plaintiff BN 7443 4X 12/20,27,01/03,10
NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Nassau County
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR CARLSBAD FUNDING MORTGAGE TRUST, Plaintiff, Against AFSHAN MALIK A/K/A AFSHAN G. MALIK, Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 8/6/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, in the CCP (Calendar Control Part) Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, on 1/21/2020 at 11:30 am, premises known as 548 Adele Place, Bethpage, NY 11714 and described as follows: ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Plainview, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York designated on the tax maps of the Nassau County Treasurer as Section 46 Block 487 Lot 10 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $428,265.32 plus interest and costs. The premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 08404/2015.
If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index No.: 08404/2015.
Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee. Leopold & Associates, PLLC, 80 Business Park Drive, Suite 110, Armonk, NY 10504
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff
Dated: 12/3/19
PB BN 7444 4X 12/20,27,01/03,10
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court Nassau County U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY 1, 2006, GSAMP TRUST 2006-HE3, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006HE3, Plaintiff against MARY MURRAY A/K/A MARY C. MURRAY, Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on September 16, 2019.
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 28th 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 Bethpage, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York. Said premises known as 273 North 4th Street, Bethpage, N.Y. 11714.
(Section: 46, Block: 78, Lot: 53). Approximate amount of lien $ 424,971.27 plus interest and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 3901-15.
Joseph J. Ra, Esq., Referee. McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 145 Huguenot Street – Suite 210 New Rochelle, New York 10801 (914) 636-8900
BN 7445 4X 12/27,01/03,10,17
Building bots at East Broadway
As part of their unit on energy, East Broadway Elementary School fourth-graders in the Levittown Public Schools engaged in a Doodle SnowBot STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) project on Dec. 11. The fourthgrade classes gathered in the school’s cafeteria where they were placed in small groups. While working together, each group was challenged to design a Doodle SnowBot that could draw while skating around a large sheet of paper.
The energy project required students to communicate, collaborate and problem solve as they built their creations. Using a plastic cup, markers, glue, duct tape, a mini fan/motor and a battery holder, the goal was to design a device that would transfer
energy from electricity into the energy of motion. Students first brainstormed their design ideas and drew their thoughts in their project packets. They then worked together to put their ideas in motion. While using their motor, the fourth-graders tried different ways to get their SnowBot to draw circles on the paper. With every trial run, they made adjustments to their designs. Fourth-grade teachers and Levittown Science Director Kevin McDermott walked around to assist the students.
“My favorite part was building the SnowBot. It was really fun,” said fourth-grader Kaitlin Lynch. “I learned that you have to listen to other people and be open to trying their ideas.”
together to adjust
Fourth-graders Vinny Ferrara (left) and Frankie Harris tested out their SnowBot.
Ashlyn Boder, Kiersten Cantwell, Emma Healy and Siena Wells with their SnowBot.
Fourth-graders Caden Triolo (right) and Eliana Hong worked
their markers on their SnowBot.
East Broadway fourth graders Anthony Gallo, Hazel Miller and Michael Casabianca designed their SnowBot to draw circles.
Levittown Science Director Kevin McDermott (left) helped East Broadway students with their SnowBot projects.
Photos courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools
Hicksville MS welcomes meteorologist Rich Hoffman
Weather – it’s a love-hate relationship. We have an insatiable need to know: Should I take an umbrella? Gas up the snow blower? Buy fresh milk & eggs? Break out the sunscreen or go to Plan B for the family BBQ? And what about our local meteorologists? The folks who rise in the middle of the night to study maps and computer models to formulate the latest predictions – what is it like to be the one we all rely on to accurately forecast the weather?
On Tuesday, December 10, eighthgrade earth science and science research students in Hicksville Middle School learned what life is like for meteorologists from one of the best: Rich Hoffman from News 12, Long Island. In a very informative presentation, Mr. Hoffman
shared what goes into developing the daily, weekly and long range forecast on the busy News 12 set. Students learned about the history of weather in our area. For example, did you know that we experience every type of weather here on LI, from tornadoes and hurricanes to nor’easters and blizzards? Did you know that, on average, we get more snow on LI now than we did in the 1960s? Or how important math, science and technology are to successful forecasting?
Mr. Hoffman, one of News 12’s meteorologists since 2002 and an adjunct professor at Farmingdale State College since 2005, showed the students a weather balloon used for determining conditions in our upper atmosphere and
At the December 10 assembly, Hicksville Middle School Principal Ms. Mara Jorisch presented Mr. Hoffman with a T-shirt designed by one of the middle school students.
examples of the importance of using doppler radar to predict the severity of storms. He piqued everyone’s interest when he held up the make-up compact he uses to make his face look “normal” on camera under the bright studio lights and addressed his clothing considerations so as not to interfere with his appearance on the green screen. He explained that sometimes it takes just a few blue or green threads in his tie to render parts of it invisible (and a total distraction for TV viewers) when he is standing in front of the green screen weather map.
Meteorologist Hoffman surprised the students by including them in a broadcast on December 10. A cheer went up in the auditorium when the eighth-grad-
ers saw a satellite view of their school and heard their names mentioned on TV as he showed the video clip of that morning’s News 12 weather broadcast. Readers can view the video clip by accessing the District’s Twitter feed: @ HicksvillePS.
Also attending the meteorologist’s presentation was a team of Video-Tech students from Hicksville High School who taped the assembly. After answering questions and concluding his presentation to the eighth-graders, Mr. Hoffman spent time with the VideoTech students speaking about how the field of communications has changed over the past decade and what it is like to work in a television news room.
News 12’s meteorologist Rich Hoffman presented a comprehensive weather forecasting program to Hicksville Middle School Earth Science and Science Research eighth-graders on December 10 in the middle school auditorium.
Hicksville High School students in Mr. Adam Clive’s (far left) Video-Tech class spent time asking questions of meteorologist Rich Hoffman (center) after his presentation.
