$1
Friday, July 13, 2018
Vol. 78, No. 28
New healthy living business comes to Jericho Turnpike
DANCING DAYS
BY RIKKI MASSAND
Syosset High School student Gabby Materas (center, kneeling) created a program to bring music and dance to a group of special needs students at Syosset High School. See page 10.
Syosset Girl Scout awarded highest honor for health project
Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently hosted its annual Gold Award ceremony at Adelphi University. During the event, more than 70 local Girl Scouts earned their Gold Awards, including Iram Lakhani of Syosset. The Gold Award program recognizes the power and dedication shared by an elite group of young women who earn the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve. She spent more than 80
hours over the past year planning, executing, and presenting the results of her project, which aimed to make the world a better place for others as well as herself. “These young women are among an exclusive group of leaders who have earned the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. I commend each and every one of them for the countless hours they have spent dedicat-
ed to their project—not only to empower and better themselves, but to make the world a better place,” said Rande Bynum, chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “Gold Award projects have positively impacted girls’ lives, their communities and the world for over one hundred years.” For her project, Iram wanted to address the issue of obesity See page 18
Syosset and Woodbury residents received ‘a dose’ of good news and advice on long-term well-being, thanks to a new health-conscious business opening last week. Kumar Bahal is the owner and CEO of new Syosset-based business Healthquest Vitamins (next to Marshall’s & HomeGoods in the Bagga Plaza, 565 Jericho Turnpike Suite 102). The store opened to the public Monday morning, June 25, and free trial samples of some vitamins are available for walk-in customers, as is an expert to consult. Bahal is a new member of the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, and he officially joined the Chamber of Commerce on May 16. The next night he attended the monthly networking meeting at NEFCU on Jackson Avenue, introducing his business to 50 fellow Chamber members. He explained his vision to open “a very high-end, condition-specific vitamin shop and consultation service” on Jericho Turnpike after his many years of building a loyal customer base on Long Island and in the greater metropolitan area, with orders currently shipped nationwide. “We’ll be a lot different than
chains like VitaminShoppe, Vitamin World or GNC -- we combine our efforts with your bloodwork and your genetic testing results. We help you understand your labs and then design a protocol based on your medical condition and family history. I also have a great network of doctors and specialists to work with. Our business is offering customers complete nutritional and integrative care, and I am carrying more professional brands and higher quality vitamins and supplements,” Bahal said at the Chamber’s May meeting. A ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration hosted by the Chamber is being planned for the coming months. Healthquest Vitamins is listed in the Syosset Woodbury Chamber’s directory as a company offering “holistic protocol using vitamins and supplements.” Bahal was previously employed by Phil’s Vitamin Center at 617 Jericho Turnpike, and now he will be a direct competitor to the longtime business in the community. His interactions with customers there and elsewhere, connected through consultations and referrals, have led him to be considered “a legend on Long Island.” In a June 7 See page 18
New principal at Our Lady of Mercy PAGE 3 Kiddie Academy celebrates graduation PAGE 4