Hospital earns nursing award
Plainview Hospital has earned the coveted Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which recognizes excellence in nursing. This is the first time Plainview Hospital has been recognized with a Magnet designation and the 10th Northwell Health hospital to do so.
The Magnet Recognition Program spotlights health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Developed by ANCC, Magnet is the leading source of successful nursing practices and strategies worldwide. Only 586 hospitals worldwide have achieved Magnet® status for nursing excellence since the program’s inception in 1983.
“Our nursing staff is known for upholding the highest standards of nursing,” said Marianna Vazquez, RN, MS, NE-BC, chief nursing officer at Plainview and Syosset Hospitals. “With this accomplishment, our community is assured high quality compassionate care by our talented and dedicated nurses.”
The 204-bed hospital employs 302 nurses and has 1,200 employees.
“This Magnet designation represents consistent, high-quality care by a dedicated, professional, extraordinary staff,” said Michael Fener, executive director at Plainview and Syosset hospitals. “The designation demonstrates the staff’s professionalism and dedication to our patients and their families. Congratulations to the entire team on this well-deserved award.”
H ARVEST F AIR
The Robbins Lane PTA held a Fall Harvest Sale last week to raise funds to support student programs at Robbins Lane Elementary School. Students along with their parents were invited to the school to shop together for various fall specialty items including mums, pumpkins, hay bales and gourds. See page 17.
The Plainview Water District (PWD) successfully hosted its fifth annual Pharmaceutical Take Back Day and collected more than 300 pounds of unwanted or expired medications. These medications will now be disposed of properly in order to prevent them from making it into the community’s solesource aquifer for drinking water. This District has now collected and properly disposed of more than 1,400 pounds of medications since it began this annual event five years ago.
“We are pleased to offer this opportunity to POB residents for the past five years,” said PWD Chairman Marc Laykind. “The turn out that we see each year shows that there is a need for a service like this in our community. The District is proud and looks forward to continuing to serve and work with residents to come together and protect our shared environment and water supply.”
When someone improperly disposes of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away in the garbage, there is a likelihood that the medications’ contents will ultimately make their way into the community water ways and water supply. If there is an elevated presence of toxins from pharmaceuticals in the groundwater, the District will have no choice but to invest in expensive treatment systems so the contaminants can be removed before they reach customers’ homes.
“Each year, the Plainview-Old Bethpage community continues to join us in participating in our annual Pharmaceutical Takeback Day to help us protect our water source,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “The District is grateful for the continued community-wide involvement and support, as this event would not be successful without it. We thank all of those who participated this year, for helping us protect our environment and water ways with the proper disposal of these medications.”
This year’s Pharmaceutical Take Back Day was once again held in partnership with the Nassau County Police Department. This anonymous, contactless drive-thru event included social distancing and safety protocols which helped the District bolster participation. The event was held at the PWD headquarters at 10 Manetto Hill Road on Saturday,
Bethpage students unite for Choose Kindness Day
Bethpage students from Charles Campagne Elementary School celebrated Choose Kindness Day on Oct. 27. Students wore special shirts, courtesy of the school’s PTA, to mark the occasion and participated in activities throughout the day.
Classes helped create a rock gar -
den outside of the school. Students and staff decorated rocks and put their own guiding words for the school year on them. They then placed their rocks in the garden. Students also enjoyed pumpkin picking at school.
Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District
We
from
Bethpage students
Charles Campagne Elementary School dressed in matching shirts for Choose Kindness Day and contributed to the school’s rock garden.
Charles Campagne students placed their rocks in the school’s rock garden.
Students at Charles Campagne Elementary School picked pumpkins on Choose Kindness Day.
Parkway Community Church visits Levittown Museum
The Parishioners of Parkway Community Church, on Stewart Ave in Hicksville, visited the Levittown Historical Society Museum on Friday, November 4 .Bob Koenig, vice president of the Historical Society, as well as a member of the church, gave the group a tour. Pastors Aric and Ellen Balk and the Church group enjoyed learning of the history of the community during this 75th anniversary of the suburban town. The Levittown Museum is located at 150 Abbey Lane in Levittown. Hours are 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.
Model Train Show to benefit RR museum
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that Trainville Hobby Depot will host a Model Train Show on Saturday, November 19, and Sunday, November 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hicksville Community Center, located at 28 West Carl Street in Hicksville. The Model Train Show includes operating model layouts coordinated by Trainville Hobby Depot. Donations are being accepted at the exhibit to support the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum.
“We are pleased to partner with Trainville Hobby Depot, who coordinates or participates in many hobby
shows that benefit the fundraising efforts of a sponsoring organization,” said Town Clerk Richard LaMarca. “Assisting groups that not only bring a fun and educational experience to residents of all ages, but also help preserve our history in understanding the railroad’s role in our heritage, is a great cause.”
Admission in to the exhibit is $5.00, children ages 4-11 years are $3.00 and entry for children under the age of 4 is free. For further information, please visit www.trainville.com or call (516) 433-4444.
Tough competition at Jericho MS Spelling Bee
Jericho Middle School held its annual spelling bee on October 28. This was the toughest competition in recent memory. In the end, the winner was eighth grader Helen Wang and the runner up was seventh grader Benjamin Shahaf.
Sixth grader participants were Isabella Cirenza, Tong Xi Zhou, Amy Qian, Elsie Smith, Rehan Habib, EvelynYeji Kyung, Julia Martelli, Ethan Dizon , Arber Rrapo, Cameron Karim, and Chloe Ayub.
Seventh graders were Rachel Oh, Matthew Boothe, Ryan Tang, Annabelle Rand, Benjamin Shahaf, Srinivasa Polisetty, Abbie Cheng, Aiden Chang, Vanshi Rangwala, Bareera Haque, Patrick Kim, and Henry Qui.
Eighth graders were Tiffany Jiang, Jacob Barzideh, Charles s Park, Partha Manikarnika, Jennifer Pyo, Hayden Miu, Helen Wang, Shila Huang, Ara Woo, Chloe Hu, Dhriti Pylla, and Isabelle Deon.
Winner Helen Wang concentrates before she spells her winning word.
English teachers Rosemary Scalera congratulate Helen Wang and Benjamin Shahaf.
Bethpage student-artist earns spot in calendar competition
Sophomore Gianna Fernandez (second from left) from Bethpage High School will have her artwork featured in the 2023 Cornell Cooperative Extension Nassau Gardening Calendar and Guide. Pictured with her art teacher Christopher DeStefano (left), Director of Fine and Performing Arts Alyssa White (second from right) and Bethpage High School Assistant Principal Kevin Healy (right).
Bethpage High School sophomore Gianna Fernandez was recently selected as one of 12 student-artists to have their artwork published in the 2023 Cornell Cooperative Extension Nassau Gardening Calendar and Guide. She submitted a naturethemed acrylic painting last year as a ninth grader in Christopher DeStefano’s class into the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s annual Student Art Competition.
Photo courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District
The competition was open to Nassau County students in grades K–12 and all submissions were judged by professional artists. As one of the selected student-artists, Fernandez is invited to attend a reception which will be held on Nov. 2. Her winning artwork will be on display, along with all the others who were chosen for the calendar. Fernandez will receive a certificate and a complimentary calendar at the special event.
IT’S AN HONOR TO SERVE THOSE WHO SERVED
Each year on Veterans Day, our communities pay special tribute to those who served in the armed forces. Their fierce camaraderie is contagious and their experiences inspiring. The Bristal salutes the many men and women among our ranks who dedicated themselves to the cause of freedom. Our thanks should be felt and heard, especially at this time of year.
Recent Real Estate Sales in Syosset and Jericho
165 Forest Drive, Jericho
4 bedrooms, 3 full baths Sold on 11/07/2022
$1,336,500
4 bedrooms, 2 full baths Sold on: 11/07/2022
Sold price: $910,000
9 Ava Drive, Syosset
3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath Sold on 10/31/2022
Sold price: $949,000 Type: Single family Schools: Syosset
4 Andover Drive, Syosset
3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath Sold on 11/07/2022
Sold price: $880,000
Type: Single family Schools: Jericho
Type: Single family Schools: Syosset
RANKED #1 OUT OF 107 FOR QUALITY
#The BestOutcomes
Source: 2022 Vizient Quality and Accountability Ranking. Ranked #1 out of 107 participating comprehensive academic medical centers
Scan to see why NYU Langone is #1
Bethpage Hall of Fame welcomes eight new members
After a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bethpage Educational Foundation brought back its Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner on Oct. 22. The Bethpage Hall of Fame recognizes the accomplishments of alumni and staff. Bethpage central and building administrators, board mem-
bers, faculty, community members, alumni and loved ones gathered in the Bethpage High School gymnasium for the special event to honor eight new Hall of Fame inductees.
Bethpage High School senior Gabriella Conte performed the National Anthem at the start of the ceremony
and Superintendent of Schools David Schneider welcomed the distinguished guests. Retired Bethpage
Superintendent
Terrence Clark, and Board of Education President and Bethpage Educational Foundation
Eight individuals were inducted into the Bethpage Hall of Fame on Oct. 22.
Central and building administrators from the Bethpage Union Free School District showed their support at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner.
2022 Bethpage Hall of Fame inductee Sal Greco (middle) and his family at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner.
Bethpage Superintendent of Schools David Schneider (left) congratulated retired Bethpage Superintendent of Schools Terrence Clark for being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Bethpage Superintendent of Schools David Schneider opened the ceremony by welcoming everyone to the special event.
2022 Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Philip Coniglio spoke highly about his time as a student in Bethpage.
Bethpage Hall of Fame welcomes eight new members
Members of the Bethpage High School National Honor Society volunteered at the Bethpage Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner.
board member James McGlynn spoke to the crowd about the significance of the evening and how the Bethpage Educational Foundation provides meaningful assistance to the educational program in the Bethpage Schools. Kevin Fullerton, principal at John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Nicholas Jantz, principal at Bethpage High School, shared how the foundation’s support has enhanced student learning in their buildings.
During the induction portion of the ceremony, Mr. Clark invited each Hall of Fame inductee to the podium to receive their Eagle trophy and to speak about their memorable experiences in Bethpage. They spoke about how honored they were to earn a place in the Hall of Fame and expressed how special Bethpage was to them. The following eight inductees were honored throughout the evening:
• Anne Marie Marrone Caliendo
– Bethpage High School, Class of 1989
• Terrence Clark –Superintendent of Schools/Social Studies Teacher, Retired
• Dr. Philip Coniglio – Bethpage High School, Class of 1992
• Sal Greco – Bethpage High School, Class of 1956
• Anna Israelton – Board of Education Trustee
• Lt. Colonel Michael McCaffery
– Bethpage High School, Class of 1984
• Cary Rosoff – Bethpage High School, Class of 1973
• Elizabeth Skrypek – Bethpage High School, Class of 1972
All attendees enjoyed a delicious dinner which was served by Bethpage High School’s national honor society members. To close out the evening, a raffle was held where attendees received great prizes.
Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District
This Week at the Syosset Public Library
Sunday, November 13, at 1:00 p.m.
Show Stopping Hits with Mary Sollitto (IN PERSON)
Mary Sollitto, singer and pianist, along with Jim Kanellos on saxophone, will entertain you with the greatest love songs ever recorded, swing, doowop, disco, rock and roll and more. Registration needed. To register, go to syossetlibrary.org.
Monday, November 14, at 2:00 p.m.
Jack Ruby: Mobster, Madman Or Patriot? (VIRTUAL)
Presenter: Barry Bradford, Organization of American Historians distinguished lecturer
The gunman who murdered Lee Harvey Oswald was a strange man whose role in history is controversial and complex. Was he a Mafia hit man sent to silence a co-conspirator? Was he a hotheaded patriot out to avenge a killing? Or was he a mentally ill braggart who acted out of some twisted logic? This fast paced and fascinating session will show you the truth as revealed in the facts of Ruby’s life and death. No registration needed. For Zoom link, go to syossetlibrary.org.
Tuesday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Evening Book Discussion: “Crying In H Mart”
by Michelle Zauner (VIRTUAL)
Join Donna Burger, Readers’ Services Librarian for a discussion of the memoir “Crying In H Mart” by Michelle Zauner. No registration needed. For Zoom link, go to syossetlibrary. org.
Thursday, November 17, at 2:00 p.m.
Not Exactly James Bond, But… (HYBRID)
Presenter: Linda Maria Frank, author of the Annie Tillery Mystery series and retired teacherof forensic science
The story of women’s contributions for America's war efforts are some of the most interesting stories in the world of espionage. Women have acted as spies since Biblical times. This lecture deals with women of the Culper Spy Ring, George Washington’s secret service (the first in America), Civil War agents, WWI spies, the formation of WWII’s OSS, and the Cold War. No registration needed for in-person or virtual. For Zoom link, go to syossetlibrary.org.
Friday, November 18, at 2:00 p.m. Friday Movie at the Library (IN PERSON)
Join us for an afternoon movie at the library. Check our website for the movie that will be shown. Go to syossetlibrary.org.
Sign Up & Save
With current events, editorials, restaurant reviews, puzzles, and more, there’s always something in our newspapers for everyone to enjoy!
Ordering a weekly subscription right to your doorstep will also save you more money than buying an individual paper.
Water district collects 300 lbs of medications
PWD Commissioners Marc Laykind and Amanda Field at Pharmaceutical Take Back Day 2022
From page 1
October 22.
“Protecting our shared environment from these potentially harmful substances requires a collective community effort,” said PWD Commissioner Amanda Field. “For the past five years, the POB community has continued to show up to participate in the proper disposal of these substances. We continue to surpass the previous year’s collection totals and are thrilled to continue to offer this event annually. Thank you to all that came out to participate!”
Syosset Cyclones are softball champs
What an amazing 2022 year for our Syosset Softball team! These girls won 50 out of their 60 games, they won the spring and fall championships along with three tournament championships, finished runner-up in the summer and runner-up in the Williamsport Tournament. This was their first full year together, and we can’t wait to see what they will accomplish next.
College Notes
The University of Rhode Island celebrated more than 4,000 of its newest alumni during the University’s 136th Commencement on May 20-22. The following local students received degrees:
Bryan Lane Matusow of Syosset
Joy Chanhee Woo of Syosset
Rachel L Baer of Old Bethpage
Alyssa Marie Inglese of Plainview n
The following students have been named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2022 semester at Washington University in St. Louis:
Jericho
Luke Blair is enrolled in the university’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Dylan Levy is enrolled in the university’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Peter Ochalek is enrolled in the university’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Plainview
Briana Garil graduated in May from the university’s Olin Business School.
Sophia Marlin is enrolled in the university’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
Zach Meyer graduated in May from the university’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Jared Phillips is enrolled in the university’s Olin Business School.
Syosset
Jonah Brody graduated in May from the university’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Sam Kanterman is enrolled in the university’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Faith Liang is enrolled in the university’s College of Arts & Sciences.
n
More than 900 students received degrees from New York Institute of Technology as spring graduates of the Class of 2022 including:
Suyog Sanklecha from Jericho, who studied management and received a Master of Business Admin degree.
Charon Hu from Syosset, who studied architecture and received a Bachelor of Architecture degree.
Joshua Collet from Woodbury, who studied life sciences and received a Bachelor of Science degree.
Sayyada Dewji from Syosset, who studied life sciences and received a Bachelor of Science degree.
Thomas Goldrick from Syosset, who studied life sciences and received a Bachelor of Science degree.
Santiago Granda Alvera from Syosset, who studied Engineering Management and received a Bachelor of Science degree.
James Goldrick from Syosset, who studied physical therapy and received a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
Michelle Canarick from Woodbury, who studied physician assistant studies and received a Master of Science degree.
Stephanie Coundouris from Syosset, who studied bioengineering and received a Master of Science degree.
Robert Doxey from Syosset, who studied computer science and received a Master of Science degree.
Samiha Gaffa from Syosset, who studied computer science and received a Master of Science degree.
n
Ryan Rahman of Jericho was named the recipient of CRC Press - First Year
Prize in Chemistry at Hamilton College’s annual Convocation ceremony on August 24. Rahman, a sophomore, is a graduate of Jericho High School.
Members of the administration welcomed students and new faculty and academic achievement prizes were awarded to students at the ceremony officially marking the beginning of Hamilton’s 211th academic year.
The CRC Press - First-Year Prize in Chemistry donated by CRC Press is awarded to a rising sophomore who has demonstrated excellence in chemistry.
n Ashley Wulff of Hicksville is on the 2022 softball team at SUNY New Paltz.
The Hawks are coming off their winningest season in program history, collecting 27 wins while earning their first ever semifinal appearance in the SUNYAC Tournament. The team is primed to build off their 2022 run and with the addition of their incoming class will bolster their depth and chances at the program’s first ever conference title entering next season.
November 11, 2022
Cruising on the Galapagos Legend: San Cristobal Island
KAREN RUBIN, DAVE E. LEIBERMAN, LAINI MIRANDA, ERIC LEIBERMAN & SARAH FALTER
TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
We have our longest, and roughest, sail over the second night of this three-night, four-day cruise aboard the 100-passenger Galapagos Legend. Our guide, naturalist Alejandro, tells us to keep doors closed so they don’t slam. Actually, it feels more like being rocked in a cradle during the night. (While the weather is temperate year round and the Galapagos is visited throughout the year, in this, the dry season, is when the seas tend to be rockier. In any case, we’ve prepared by taking a motion sickness pill and not drinking any alcoholwell, Karen abstained.)
We sail to Punta Pitt and Pitt Islet off San Cristobal Island, the easternmost island, closest to South America’s coast (600 miles away), the oldest island and oldest settlement in the Galapagos. Here we first have a marvelous, two-hour hike to the high point of a steep, eroded tuff cone. Here is the only opportunity to see all three booby species in the same place: the red-footed booby perched on small trees, the Nazcas which nest on the ground near the cliff edge and the blue-footed boobies inland. Frigatebirds fly around and the views are stunning. Notably, we see how hardy vegetation takes hold in such a volcanic barren land – saltbush, spiny shrubs, Palo Santo trees, cacti, and, because it is the dry season, we get to see stunning carpets of red Vesuvius.
While the blue-footed booby lays
up to three eggs and can get enough fish to feed two to three chicks, the red-footed booby only lays one egg, because it takes half day to fish so it can only feed one chick. It nests in large colonies, laying one chalky blue egg in a stick nest, which is incubated by both adults for 44–46 days. The nest is usually in a tree or bush and only rarely on the ground. It may be three months before the young first fly and five months before they make extensive flights. Red-footed booby pairs may remain together over several seasons. They perform elaborate greeting rituals, including harsh squawks and the male’s display of his blue throat, also including short dances. (See: www.santacruzgalapagoscruise.com/boobies-in-the-galapagos)
While it seems that most of the time, the animals we see ignore us, as we walk the trail, a blue-footed booby (adolescent?) seems curious enough
Snorkeling at Punta Pitt, San Cristobal Island, Galapagos on the third day of the Galapagos Legend cruise © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com
to just stand in the middle of the trail as we take photos, study us, and wait until we came back.
At the high-point in the walk, there is a stunning view and the most color. And for sure, Karen spots a red-footed booby flying back with a branch and watches as it maneuvers the branch to make a nest. We soon come upon another nest where the parent is feeding her chick.
We see a marine iguana nest. Our guide, naturalist Billy, says it’s a mystery why it lays its eggs so far from the ocean, and how the hatchling, without any parental help (because the parents don’t stick around), knows instinctively how to get to the ocean. He suggests the baby iguana can feel the vibration of the ocean waves; Karen has the hunch that the baby can smell the salt since we have learned that land iguana have glands which remove the salt from their blood and, as we have seen, expel
PLACES NEAR AND FAR
the collected salt in forceful nose excretions which look like snorting or sneezing. (Karen says, “Hey, we’ve been in the Galapagos like five days, I have my two cents!)
Coming back down to the beach, we get to snorkel again, and this proves to be the most sensational experience of all – the sea lions actually play with us in the water. One uses a rock like a ball, tossing it up and grabbing it in its mouth, and when it drops into the sand, digs it out with its snout and plays some more. Sarah finds a sea turtle that we get to swim with.
In the afternoon, we sail to a different part of San Cristobal, Cerro Brujo, where there is an exquisite white-sand beach just loaded with sea lions. Our visit begins with a dinghy ride to explore the gorgeous rock formations and see the iconic scene of Kicker Rock through an opening.
We spend a relaxed afternoon on Cerro Brujo, which was one of the first sites visited by Darwin. The coral sand beach is so beautiful, we spend only a little time swimming or snorkeling because just walking (or jogging) along the beach is so special. The scenery is dramatic – the white sand, black lava, aquamarine water, the sweep of the horizon, the iconic Kicker Rock framed on the horizon, and the Galapagos Legend anchored.
There are black iguana, black crabs and bright-red crabs climbing the black lava rocks, some of us spot the last baby sea turtle trot from its nest into the ocean, and we get to watch a mother sea turtle making
Continued on next page
GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....
Cruising on the Galapagos Legend: San Cristobal Island
Continued from previous page
her way back into the sea. Walking to the far end of the lagoon to Sapho Bay (Puerto Grande), we look out for blacknecked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels and white-cheeked pintails. And apparently, there are legends of buried treasure at Puerto Grande.
Laini sketches the sea lions from a distance of a few feet; Sarah is transfixed by a mother sea lion and pup, David and Eric run to the end of the lagoon.
It is a feeling of complete contentment that continues on during an Ice Cream Festival on board the Galapagos Legend, while sitting in the hot tub, and looking back as Kicker Rock fades into the distance, glowing a golden brown in the setting sun.
The next morning, we sail around to the Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the main town of San Cristobal and the capital of the Galapagos province and the second most populated after Puerto Ayero on Santa Cruz.
For our final excursion, we are taken by bus up to the highlands to visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, a giant tortoise breeding center, established by the Galapagos National Park in 2003. We get to observe giant tortoises living in a semi-natural habitat, and learn about their origin, evolution, and threats from introduced animals. The reserve is one of four in the Galapagos dedicated to restoring the populations of tortoise, ultimately to return them to the wild.
Being a port town, a provincial capital city and having an international airport, San Cristobal is also a gateway for invasive, sometimes aggressive, species – like the black fly which came in 1990 and proved dangerous for humans and farm animals.
The town is just a short walk to the
airport where Eric, Sarah and Karen fly on to our next destination, Quito, en route to Cuzco, Peru, and the four-day/ three-night Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu. It will be the grand finale to Eric and Sarah’s six-month odyssey.
The Galapagos Legend cruise is perfect for this bucket-list experience – the ideal mix of soft adventure, the wonder, thrill and delight of exploring and encountering truly unique sights, all in comfort, and sharing together.
Go Galapagos offers a selection of itineraries that basically cover the major islands - four 4 day/3 night itineraries (East, South, North, West) which can be combined to make longer itineraries.
The itineraries are wonderfully organized so that your days are filled and fulfilling with exploring, hiking, snorkeling, discovering, adventuring, each place so different and distinct in terms of wildlife and geology, and then time on board to enjoy truly sensational meals either in the comfortable Lonesome George dining room, or alfresco; relax in the hot tub (how fun to have an ice cream festival while soaking in the hot tub), pool or fit-
A GREENER VIEW
Close encounters with sea lions is one of the delights of our visit to Punta Pitt, San Cristobal Island, Galapagos on the third day of the Galapagos Legend cruise © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
ness room, or hang out in the charming lounge where you are likely to see Attenborough’s “Galapagos” series running or play board games that are on hand. They also have kayaks available for rent. (Another advantage of the East itinerary is that it let us start off with a few days on Santa Cruz island and the charming town of Puerto Ayora before meeting up at Baltra Airport for the cruise.)
The ship, with 52 ocean-view, air-conditioned cabins is large enough to feel very comfortable and have all the amenities you would want on a luxury cruise, but small enough to feel intimate.
There’s a reason they say Galapagos is a trip of a lifetime – the total experience is a constant wow, especially when shared with loved ones and have the memory to share with the next generation so is ideal for a family, especially multi-generational. That’s what this is about – a chain of life and living. (But note: you need to be mobile enough to get on/off the dinghy from the boat, onto the shore, and hike, so seize the opportunity and don’t put this bucket-list trip off). The Galapagos is also
Saving Plants Over the Winter
BY JEFF RUGG
Question: My geraniums grew really well this summer and I have some pretty ones that I want to keep for next year. How do I go about doing this? I heard that they can be dug up and hung upside down for the winter.
Answer: There are several kinds of geraniums, including some that are perennials that survive without coming indoors, but I assume you mean the Zonal Geranium that has a slightly two-toned leaf and a big cluster of flowers on the end of a stalk. These plants grow in a dry and warm Mediterranean climate. They can’t survive being frozen, but they can survive months of dry, cool weather
without much water.
You can use any of the following methods to save geraniums and other potted plants for next spring. In their natural habitat, there is no one running around pulling them out of the ground and hanging them upside-down for the dormant season, but if you want to do that, you can. If they are planted in the ground, dig them up before they get a frost and shake the soil off the roots. Hang them in a dry location where the temperature will remain in the 40s or low 50s. It might be necessary to soak the roots for an hour or so once a month to prevent them from completely drying and dying. All the leaves will die, but the stem should remain plump and not
an ideal honeymoon for a couple who loves adventure but wants the luxury and romance of a cruise for their special journey starting out life together.
Just how special a Galapagos cruise is can be appreciated by the multiple milestone birthdays celebrated each night. (Indeed, Paul, a video game animator who was taking his third consecutive cruise aboard the Galapagos Legend, said he got tired of waiting for friends to join him, so just two days after celebrating his 40th birthday, he flew to the Galapagos on his own.)
Galápagos is wonder-full to visit any time of the year. Because of the Islands’ location on the Equator, the air and water temperatures remain relatively stable all year long. During peak seasons (mid-June through early September, and mid-December through mid-January), it is particularly important to make your travel arrangements well in advance.
Go Galapagos, an alliance of Kleintours and Gala Tours, is a cruise and tour operator with more than 34 years of experience, offering excellent price/quality value for 3, 4, 7 and -night inclusive cruises (two guaranteed weekly departures), You can also combine the cruise with land packages in the Galapagos, in Ecuador, and in Peru.
In addition to the Galapagos Legend, Go Galapagos also has two yacht-style ships, Coral I and Coral II (https://www. Go Galapagos.com/coral-yachts/).
Go Galapagos by Kleintours, Av. Eloy Alfaro N° 34-111 & Catalina Aldaz. 170515, Quito – Ecuador, Ph: (593) 22267000 / (593) 2 – 2267080, USA: 1-888 50 KLEIN, www.GoGalapagos.com, www.Go Galapagos.com/galapagos-legend/, https://www.Go Galapagos.com/ request-a-quote-2/
See more photos: https://goingplacesfarandnear.com/cruising-on-the-galapagos-legend-san-cristobal-island/
© 2022 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com
shriveled up. Next March, repot them and cut off any dead stems. If the stems are too long, go ahead and cut them back in the spring.
If you have a sunny window or a greenhouse, geraniums can be left in the pot and grown all winter long as a houseplant. They do prefer more than 10 hours of daylight each day, and 12 is even better. In areas with short days during winter, you may need to supplement with grow lights to get them to bloom. Or you can just let them slow down their growth and go partially dormant for the winter. Be careful to not overwater them. They are succulents that don’t need a lot of water.
Continued on page 5
Crossword Answers
BY LOU THEODORE
This one may be primarily for those readers who refer to themselves as “Greek” or “Greek-American.”
Greeks first started to immigrate to the United State4s in large numbers soon after 1900. The main characteristics of these travelers were their high character, belief in God (most are Greek Orthodox), and their industriousness. My parents fit that description. They successfully managed to pass their traits onto their children…and I believe it applies to me. Today, the children and grandchildren (and great grandchildren?) of the immigrants are our leaders in business, industry, education, and government. The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) reported 13 years ago that Greek Americans rank 2nd in per capita wealth and first in earned doctorates. Truly a success story that all Americans can be proud of.
My parents emigrated from the Peloponnese region of Greece. It is a legendary place, especially from an historical perspective. This is the peninsula where ancient Sparta was located. Paris of Troy escaped here when he and Helen eloped. The Peloponnese is also where some of the most memorable of Greece’s locations can be found, including ancient Olympia, the site of the original Olympic games, and many others.
On to the main theme of this article. It’s been three years since I penned my fifth article on the OHI Day. This is a special day in Greek history as it regards Greece’s heroic involvement in WWII.
My ancestors have a long history of battling and suffering with evil elements and opponents. Unfortunately, history repeated itself in 1939. The 83rd anniversary of the resistance of fascist forces by the Greek Armed Forces was recently celebrated several days ago on October 28. The day came and went without a whimper here in the United States. OHI (an emphatic no in Greek!) was Prime Minister Metaxas’s response
On Ohi Day
to Hitler’s order to peacefully surrender. What followed Metaxas’s response was 219 days of fierce battles. That in turn was followed by intense guerrilla warfare that resulted in a brutal occupation that included executions, sufferings, famine, and severe inflation; 10% of the population died. The rest is now history for some people and all Greeks.
Here are comments from two of the major players immediately following this war.
Winston Churchill: “The word heroism, I’m afraid, does not reflect in the least the Hellenes’ acts of self-sacrifice that were the defining factors of the victorious ending of all the nations’ common struggle during the 2nd WW for human freedom and dignity. If it were not for the bravery of the Hellenes and their courageous hearts, the ending of the 2nd WW would not have been clear.”
Franklin Roosevelt: “When the entire world had lost all hope, the Hellenic people dared to doubt the German monster’s invincibility, fighting back with the proud spirit of freedom. The heroic struggle of the Hellenic people against the German hurricane filled the American hearts with enthusiasm and won their sympathy.”
I dug this from my OHI files – a 11/21/1940 Newsday article.
“In a smashing drive at dawn, Grecian mountain fighters stormed the Italian defenses outside Koritza, drove the fascists back into the town and took over the new line from which they fired into the town…Despite desperate Italian efforts to stem the Grecian advances by flying in fresh reinforcements, Greek shock troops reportedly smashed through the Italian lines on the southern front, making another wide hole near Metyoni…Military observers here are of the opinion that if the present Greek progress continues, the Albanian port of Santa Quaranti itself will be threatened.”
Another reminder of the special day was a paper submitted by our 13-year-
old grandson, three years ago, for his English class. It was titled VACHOS 1,5. Vachos is a small essentially deserted town build on a rocky terrain halfway up a mountain with no apparent means of sustenance itself. Vachos is located in Mani – the middle member of the Peloponnese peninsula – surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the south, the Ionean Sea on the west, and the Aegean Sea on the east, ...Here was a part of Elias’s passage… “We had started our journey in Athens, and we were now in Mani, the region of the Peloponnese my great grandfather emigrated from… Excited and curious, my whole family had all been waiting for this part of the trip. As we drove into the hills, the sea disappeared. A sign ‘VACHOS 1,5’ told us to turn right and drive 1.5 kilometers to Vachos…It amazed me that my ancestors left this town for more opportunities in America, but a basketball hoop had traveled in the opposite direction…Nestled into a steep hills, the house was made of stone, most of it still intact, with a dilapidated clay
roof. Trees obscured the view of the house so we walked down the hill to see it from another angle. Long, prickly brush scratched against my legs as I surveyed the place my Spartan family had lived in a century before…We wandered into the town cemetery, where we were greeted by marble stones with engravings, vibrant flowers, and food and drinks placed on graves. I share blood with all of these people…”
I talk to Elias nearly every night. He keeps asking me about revisiting Greece. Unfortunately, that kind of travel is no longer in the works for me. But we can always dream. Now a senior, I can’t wait for a follow-up paper, perhaps as a senior project.
Finally, I want the readers to know that as a first-generation GreekAmerican, I never forget the value of growing up in a country – The U S of A – whose economy is based on capitalism and is both democratic and free.
Visit the author at: www.theodorenewsletter.com
BY TOM MARGENAU
I really get upset when readers tell me that they talked to a Social Security Administration employee hoping to get an understanding of some confusing Social Security rule and the only reply they got was this: “It’s the law.” In my opinion, that’s a bad answer. People should be given a reason why a particular Social Security law exists in the first place.
I’ve always prided myself on not just knowing Social Security rules and regulations, but on being able to explain the reasoning behind the laws, many of which some people (even SSA employees) find confusing and perplexing. That’s why, while I still worked for the SSA, I used to conduct a training session for employees I simply called “Rationale.” And in that class, I provided the rationale behind rules and laws that were sometimes difficult to understand. (And judging by the number of “It’s the law” responses that readers tell me they get from SSA employees, maybe somebody at the agency needs to pick up where I left off when I retired 18 years ago!)
Having bragged about my understanding of the rationale behind the rules, I must admit there have always been some laws I’ve never been able to understand myself, and I’ll discuss them in today’s column.
No. 1: Why doesn’t a wife share in the bonus her husband earns for starting his benefits after full retirement age? I really don’t know.
A retiree can earn a little bonus in his Social Security checks if he delays starting his Social Security benefits until after his full retirement age. He gets an extra two-thirds of 1% added to his retirement check for each month he waits -- up to age 70. (There is no bonus paid for months beyond age 70.) Depending on what your full retirement age is, that can be anywhere from a 24% to a 32% bonus for a retiree.
But if that guy has a wife eligible for benefits on his record, her spousal rate is based on his full retirement age benefit, not his augmented delayed retirement benefit. That’s the bad news. The good news is that if he dies, the widow’s benefit is based on his higher delayed retirement rate. In other words, a wife doesn’t share in these delayed retirement credits, but a widow does. And again, I can’t explain why.
Also, a note of clarification. I referred to a husband getting retirement benefits and a wife getting spousal benefits on his record. I did that because 95% of the time, that’s the way these rules play out. And that’s because, for a variety of reasons discussed many times in this column, the husband has a higher Social Security benefit than the wife. But if you happen to be part of a house-
Rules I Can’t Explain
hold where the wife makes more money than the husband, then just turn the genders around in my above discussion of the rules.
No. 2: Why is there a six-month waiting period before Social Security disability benefits can be paid? I really don’t know.
The law says that if you file for Social Security disability benefits and your claim is approved, no benefits can be paid for the first six months. Well, actually, the law says that no benefits can be paid for the first five full calendar months of a disability. So, unless you just happened to have become disabled on the first day of the month, you end up waiting for six months before your Social Security checks start. (There are a couple of severe medical conditions where the waiting period is waived.)
Let’s give an example of how this plays out. Bob has a heart attack on March 15. He files for Social Security disability in April, and on June 25, his claim is approved. He gets an “award letter” telling him that he became disabled for Social Security purposes on March 15. The letter also tells him that he will get his first Social Security check after five full calendar months have elapsed. So, the first disability check he is due will be for the month of September, payable in October. (Social Security checks always come one month behind.)
Why does Bob have to wait until October to get his first disability check if he became disabled in March? I’m really not sure.
I checked the SSA website for information about this. It says the six-month waiting period is intended to make sure that the condition is not a short-term disability. (By law, Social Security disability benefits are only paid for longterm disabilities.) But that doesn’t quite make sense to me. The medical review process for disability claims is quite extensive. That’s why it takes several months to process disability claims. And part of that process is to root out short-term disabilities. In other words, once a claim is approved, it’s already been decided that the person has a longterm disability. So why wait another six months?
No. 3: Why is there an earnings penalty if you’re under full retirement age? I really don’t know.
When Social Security began in the 1930s, the law said you had to be retired to get “retirement” benefits. So, if you were a senior citizen who was working and had any kind of income, you couldn’t get Social Security. Over the years, Congress gradually eased that restriction. At first, they said if you were over 72 and working, you could get Social Security checks. Then they lowered that to 70. And then in the 1990s, they lowered it to full retirement age. So, if you are over your FRA and working,
you can get Social Security checks, no matter how much money you make.
But they kept the penalty in place for Social Security recipients under FRA. The law says for every $2 you earn over a yearly threshold ($19,560 in 2022), $1 must be taken out of your Social Security checks.
So why the penalty for people under full retirement age? My guess is it’s supposed to be an incentive to keep seniors from filing for benefits until they reach full retirement age, but I’m really not
sure. If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets.
COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Better to renovate and expand than to move?
Rates have risen again this past week topping 7% on fixed 30-year mortgages, and consumers who were contemplating moving are now thinking twice. Especially those that have much lower interest rates are now deciding on staying where they are or possibly moving to lower-priced states. Most important depending on where you are currently residing, realizing that the prices of homes going to your next destination are more than the proceeds that you might receive on the sale of your current home, some anxiety and fear set in. Considering taking on another mortgage with considerably higher rates and purchasing at the very top of the market have some rethinking their course of action. This might be a major deterrent in moving especially if you need a mortgage with the highest rates in 20 years since April 2002 and gas at that time was $1.37 per gallon. As we all are experiencing how so many cruciala things have increased and have become so much more costly since then.
But if you are making an outright purchase in cash, then you might begin to have a bit of an edge over those financing as “cash is king” as an advantage in this ever-changing and challenging market. The savings on not having to pay those higher rates will save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest. Faster closings can occur without a bank involved.
However, planning on renovating your current home to accommodate
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
your growing family or just lifestyle changes can be a solution that can be a better way to go. If you need more room and have the lot size to accomplish this or if you can add or expand with a second floor and build up and out to add more square footage, then these are possibilities to consider. Also, as the population ages, one can surely make one’s home more handicap accessible by enabling wheelchairs to go under tables, and stair lifts installed to gain access to a second floor. Making access easier, having a primary bedroom and bathroom constructed on the first floor. There will be trade-offs on whether or not you can continue to stay in your home, while construction is taking place and whether there is enough space to live in. Depending on the style, splits and high ranches many times can enable you to stay while upgrading one area of the home and live in the other section, as my daughter and son-in-law are currently doing during their renovation process.
higher price or could also refinance and be able to take out more money than you could have otherwise, before your expansion; for investment, business purposes or anything else you desire without any tax consequences as it is a loan and not considered income. But you must be very prudent and think pragmatically when considering refinancing and not to over-leverage yourself financially; because you are obviously obligated to pay the lender back.
The lack of inventory has caused many to continue to rethink what they should do whether staying and renovating and/or increasing their living area or moving away from their current state to those locations where lower prices are beginning to exist making better deals. Whatever you decide to do, take enough time to cross your t’s and dot your i’s to come to your best solution.
Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) and in 2022 has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly construction. 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 https://WWW. TurnKeyRealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” `15 minute consultation, as well as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached. He can also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and our Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.
Sacrifices can be made when visualizing the big picture and finally seeing the end results. You will also add appreciation to your home over the long run. If and when rates subside and come down to what you feel makes sense for you and your family, you could then potentially sell at a
A GREENER VIEW
Continue to Donate to the Ukrainian Crisis and save a life or 2: https://usaforiom.org/iomsukraine-response/
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a
Saving Plants Over the Winter
Continued from page 2
If you don’t have a place to grow the geranium as a houseplant, just bring it indoors and don’t water it. Store it in the same location as you would the uprooted plants, in dry, cool conditions. Check on them occasionally and add a little water to the soil now and then to keep them barely alive. Next spring, cut the dead stuff off and begin watering and place them in a sunny window.
Another method involves more work but can get you more plants. Cut the top four to six inches off each branch. Discard any flower stalks, even if they are
just buds. Take off all the leaves on the bottom two or three inches of the stem. Dip the cutting into rooting hormone powder or liquid, available from garden centers. Place the stem in sand or perlite and add water. A whole tray of them can be made from recycled plastic containers. Put them in a sunny window, but not in the sun, or under a fluorescent light. It will take a month or two for them tobegin rooting. Then they can be potted up, or you can wait until spring. Be sure to keep them watered. A little diluted fertilizer can be used after they are rooted. The bottom half of the plant that the cuttings came from can be saved as in the
About to hit a milestone?
other methods, or it can be thrown out.
Some other potted plants from the garden can be saved in the same ways. The common dracaena spike plant that is used in the center of a pot can be saved using all the geranium methods. Large angel wing or dragon wing begonias, Boston fern, ivy, croton, dieffenbachia and other houseplants that were in containers during the summer can be used as houseplants during the winter.
Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@ greenerview.com.
COPYRIGHT 2022 JEFF RUGG
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS
Share your life accomplishments with your neighbors! Put your engagement, wedding, or baby announcement in the paper, (and it's free of charge for subscribers!) Email editor@gcnews.com
You can email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your request or ideas, suggestions or interview you for a specific topic and a Q & A for a future column with your name, email and cell number. He will email or call you back and respond to your request ASAP as long as he has your complete name, cell, email and/or full home or business address. Again, for a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, he can also be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions and concerns in selling, investing, purchasing, or leasing residential or commercial property.
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of November 13-19, 2022
Whenever I spot the constellation Taurus, the bull, rising in the east after dark, I know that winter can’t be far behind.
Stargazers with a vivid imagination might be able to trace the stars of Taurus into the outline of a bull’s head and long horns, with the bright star Aldebaran marking its fiery red eye. And this week, the Red Planet Mars shines brilliantly between the tips of the bull’s horns!
Aldebaran, along with the bright stars Antares, Regulus and Fomalhaut, was one of the four “Royal Stars” of ancient Persia. Surrounding Aldebaran, we can easily notice a V-shaped grouping of stars known to astronomers as the Hyades.
In the lore of the ancients -- from Greece to China -- the Hyades has been associated with wet and stormy weather, and its name is said to come from an archaic Greek word meaning “to rain.”
Only about 153 light years away, the Hyades forms the nearest open star cluster to Earth and may be only about 625 million years old. Though it appears that Aldebaran is part of this cluster, this star lies less than half that distance from us.
The Winter Stars are Coming!
Riding on the back of Taurus appears a tiny grouping of stars that many people misidentify as the Little Dipper; in reality, it’s a cluster known as the Seven Sisters, so named because, on a clear dark night, stargazers with excellent vision can see seven stars within it -- though most can see only six.
Astronomers know it as the Pleiades; the name is believed to derive from the Greek word meaning “to sail,” because when ancient stargazers saw the Pleiades rise just before the sun, it was a sign of the opening of the navigational season in the Mediterranean world.
In Greek mythology, the stars represented the half-sisters of the Hyades who were saved by Zeus from Orion’s pursuit by transforming them into a group of celestial doves. Aratus gave us their stars’ names in a poem from the third century B.C.:
“...These the seven names they bear: / Alcyone and Merope, Celaeno, / Taygeta, and Sterope, Electra, / And queenly Maia, small alike and faint, / But by the will of Zeus illustrious all / At morn and evening, since he makes them mark / Summer and winter, harvesting and seed-time...”
The most famous reference to the Pleiades in English literature, however, occurs in the opening passages of Tennyson’s prophetic “Locksley Hall”:
“Many a night I saw the Pleiads, /
rising thro’ the mellow shade, / Glitter like a swarm of fireflies / tangled in a silver braid.”
Astronomers calculate that the Pleiades cluster lies about 444 light years away and believe that it’s about 100 million years old -- a veritable cosmic youngster.
If you live in an area with bright artificial lights, you may be unable to see the Pleiades easily, but you can almost always spot its faint glow by casting your gaze slightly to the side of
the cluster.
If you’ve never seen this magnificent star grouping shimmering in the east after dark, get out this week to do so. It truly is one of the most exquisite sights in all the heavens -- and a true harbinger of the upcoming winter season.
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.
COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM
God Save Our Scale
BY TRACY BECKERMAN
I’ve had a love-hate relationship with my scale for as long as I can remember -- mostly hate -- and so, when we packed up the house to move, I decided to simplify my life and see if I could live scalefree for a while. I’d been told that it’s much healthier to gauge your weight by how your clothes fit rather than by how much you weigh. However, I’m pretty sure it was a skinny person who said that.
Still, as someone who has been scale-obsessed in the past, I thought it made sense to ditch my scale. This was a good plan, in theory, until I realized all my jeans had spandex in them and wouldn’t divulge my true size until I either sat and split them or I got reported to the ASPCSJ (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Skinny Jeans). The truth all came out when I went for a doctor appointment and they made me weigh in, at which point I told the doctor her scale was broken, or possibly possessed, but certainly not
accurate and I was going to report her to the ASPCPD (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to People in Denial).
Eventually I accepted the truth and although I generally eat healthy, I decided to cut back on my intake of leftover Halloween candy and give up cheese fries. I went back to the gym, dropped a few pounds, and my skinny jeans breathed a sigh of relief. All was well again in the world.
But then we entered that dangerous diet season known as The Holidays. Knowing that I had a propensity to gain weight during this time, I thought it made sense to suck it up and buy a scale again so I could make sure that I didn’t pack on the pounds one chocolate turkey at a time. Between the time I had bought my last scale and now, however, it seemed that scales had gotten a major upgrade. These new smart scales not only told you your weight, but they could also measure your body mass index and bone density, as well as
vacuum your rugs and pick up your dry cleaning. Many of them could also talk to you, tell you your weight and then berate you for the last Snickers bar you consumed. You could also program them to berate you in an English accent if you prefer your weight-shaming with a British flair.
Since I was not all that eager to be fat-harassed by a duchess, and I didn’t need to know the fat percentage of my earlobes on a regular basis, I decided to just go with the cheap model that didn’t talk or multitask or co-function as a valet, a coffee maker or a doula. But apparently, the old adage “You get what you pay for” was coined specifically for bathroom scales because no sooner did I set it up and step on it than it freaked out and told me I weighed as much as an NFL linebacker. Although I knew I had put on a bit of weight, I was confident that I hadn’t gained so much that I could get my own personal ZIP code. I nudged the scale across the floor with my toe and then got back on. This
Riding on the back of Taurus appears a tiny grouping of stars that many people misidentify as the Little Dipper; in reality, it’s a cluster known as the Seven Sisters, so named because, on a clear dark night, stargazers with excellent vision can see seven stars within it
time around it told me I had dropped 80 pounds and weighed as much as a Yorkipoo. Much as I would have liked to weigh as little as a Yorkipoo, I suspected this weight wasn’t right either and nudged the scale to yet another location across the floor. When I stepped on, the number again skyrocketed and I nearly had a stroke until I realized my dog had his paw on the back of the scale, just to be funny.
I moved the dog and nudged the scale once more. This time it didn’t say I was too heavy or too light. This time the scale said I weighed 0.
I could work with that.
Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online! You can visit her at www. tracybeckerman.com.
COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS
LOST IN SUBURBIA
ONE CALL TO 516-294-8900
AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN 11 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. CALL TODAY FOR OUR VERY LOW RATES. www.gcnews.com
Garden City News • Mid Island Times • Bethpage Newsgram
Syosset Advance • Jericho News Journal
Williston Times - Mineola Edition
New Hyde Park Herald Courier • Manhasset Times
Roslyn Times • Port Washington Times • Great Neck News
DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED ADS IS TUESDAY AT 1:00PM.
2 EASY WAYS TO PLACE ADS:
1) Directly on website: gcnews.com & click on “Classified Order”
2) Email Nancy@gcnews.com
Please include your name, daytime phone number, address and ad copy.
Visa and MasterCard Accepted
EMPLOYMENT
WANTED
CLERICAL POSITION PT / FT Elevator Consultant Co in Williston Park. Candidate must be computer literate, job duties not limited to filing, data entry, scheduling. Starting pay based on experience. Send resume to: ciglesias@triboroconsulting.com
WANTED
COMPANION WANTED for young adult. Carle Place/Mineola location. Flexible hours. Must drive / have car / NYS driver’s license. Please call: 516-747-7377
EMPLOYMENT
HELP WANTED
FORMER BIG FOUR/SIX ACCOUNTANT
Stay at home mom looking to make extra spending money? Flexible schedule, limited deadlines, work from home. 18-20 hours per week. CPA not required. Call 516-522-0499
Email: kathleen@kscprofessional.com
GARDEN CITY CPA
seeks accounting student to work part time all year round. Days, nights or weekends, flexible hours, approximately 8-12 hours per week.
Student will learn how to keep books and records for small businesses, prepare financial statements and payroll, business and personal income tax returns and assist on certified audits. Knowledge of Excel and Word required, Quickbooks a plus. Reply to gardencitycpa@yahoo.com
P/T-F/T POSITION AVAILABLE
In Girl’s Clothing, Retail / Wholesale Operation. Flexible Hours, Greenvale Location. Call 516-482-1125
RECEPTIONIST FULL TIME NEEDED
For Port Washington Animal Hospital. Including Saturdays. Please call for interview/more info: 516-883-2005
TELEMARKETERS
Lead Generation. No Experience Necessary! $16/hour Plus Commission! 25 Hours/Week, 10am-4pm. Nice Work Environment! In Office Only / Not Remote. Garden City, NY Call Rick: 516-456-7492
• Maintain assigned accounts while developing
• Provide accounts with information on products and services
• Track sales activity with CRM
• Attend meetings to expand network
• Experience in sales required.
• Must be able to work fast and think on your toes.
• Transportation to
•
•
•
EMPLOYMENT
ADVENTURES IN LEARNING SEEKS PART-TIME TEACHERS
Adventures in Learning, the highly successful after-school academic and enrichment program for Manhasset and Great Neck students (Grades Kindergarten-6), seeks part-time teachers who have either a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Education for the 2022-2023 academic year. Teachers are needed with backgrounds in Reading, Math, Science, English as a New Language (ENL) and more.
For many years, Adventures has served hundreds of local children, making a difference in the lives of young people who would otherwise be without assistance during a critical time in their development.
For further detailed job information, please email diana@adventures-in-learning.org or call 516-365-7131.
EMPLOYMENT
HELP WANTED
UP TO $21.09 NYC, $20.22 LI, $15.20 UPSTATE NY!
If you need care from your relative, friend/neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. 347-713-3553
VET/TECH KENNEL ASSISTANT needed. All shifts available. Duties include helping doctors with appointments/treatments. Cleaning cages/offices/ equipment. Must like animals, be reliable, dependable & work well with others.
Please call to schedule interview.
Port Washington Animal Hospital: 516-883-2005
SITUATION WANTED
AIDE/CARE GIVER: Caring, Efficient, Reliable. Available FT Live In nights & weekends to care for your sick or elderly loved one. Cooking, tidy up, personal grooming, administer medications. 15years experience. References available. Fully Vaccinated. Please Call 516-448-0502
MATURE LADY SEEKS employment as CNA. Home health aide, very reliable, hard working, willing to do background checks, 15 yrs nursing home experience. Please call 516-410-1892, 917-244-3714 or 516-688-9251.
EMPLOYMENT
CAREER TRAINING
COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) Computer with internet is required.
TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING
Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-5436440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) Computer with internet is required.
MARKETPLACE
A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP 516-746-8900 Antiques-FurnitureJewelry-Silver-MirrorsLamps-Artwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4 Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org Items to Consign? Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society Like us on Facebook & Instagram
EMPLOYMENT
SITUATION WANTED
Money Matters
Practical and common-sense advice to help you:
• Negotiate lower bills (cell, cable, taxes, insurance, etc.)
• Earn more interest
• Understand investing and crypto concepts
• Save more for retirement
• Benefit from loyalty and reward programs
• Spend wisely i.e. get more for less
Call 516.684.9800 for a FREE 30-minute consultation. No obligation.
MARKETPLACE
INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information.
Visit us at www.invitedsales. com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!
AUCTIONS
COOL OLD STUFF IN GLEN COVE VINTAGE SHOP. WINNER OF BEST OF NASSAU COUNTY 2021. GREAT PRICED items for Boat and Home. See ALL online: Wilsonsdrydock.com. For info/ appt Please call 516-662-2821
MARKETPLACE
WANTED TO BUY
LOOKING TO BUY!
Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture. Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104
TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTS ALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com
TAG SALE
GARDEN CITY INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN Wednesday, November 16, 2022 9:30 a.m.
4 Kensington Court Garden City, NY 11530 Public sale selling furniture, books, household, glassware, clothes, linens, artwork, collectibles, rugs and more... Visit www.invitedsales.com for pictures & details!!
AUTOMOTIVE
AUTOS WANTED
***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS
$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277
DONATE YOUR CAR TO BREAST CANCER RECOVERY! Tax Deduction Receipt Given Upon Pick-Up, Free Towing. 501C Charity. 631-988-9043 breastcancerresearchrecovery.org
AUTOMOTIVE
AUTOS WANTED
DRIVE OUT BREAST CANCER:
Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup 24hr response Tax deduction Easy to do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755
WHEELS FOR WISHES benefitting Make-A-Wish Northeast New York. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever! Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100% Tax Deductible. Minimal To No Human Contact. Call: 877-798-9474
Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. www.wheelsforwishes.org
SERVICES
ARE YOU BEHIND
10K OR MORE on your taxes? Stop wage and bank levies, liens and audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, and resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-5361 (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)
JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from!!
Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
ACE PAVING & MASONRY Free Estimates. Budget friendly solutions. If you’re looking for any masonry service, be it a driveway installation, chimney repair, asphalt, or concrete work, foundation and basement repair. Trust our team to handle it for you. With more than 45 years of combined experience, we promise you impressive results. We guarantee we’ll beat any like for like quote, so you can enjoy budget-friendly services when you hire us. www.acepavingandmasonry.com Call: 516-814-1511
AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS FALL DRAIN OUTS Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636
SERVICES
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
CHIMNEY KING ENT. INC.
FREE ESTIMATES
Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist.
FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK
516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600 Since 1982 chimneykinginc.com
DON’T PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIR AGAIN!
American Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE / $100 OFF POPULAR PLANS. 833-398-0526
FOAM INSULATION SOLUTION
Update your home insulation for FREE! Save Money on your energy costs.
Certified Partner of National Grid
Ask about the Total Home Care Program Rebates Call 917-870-7373
HANDYMAN
Careful & Reliable
Serving GARDEN CITY and surrounding area since 2003
Repairs & Installations of all types Carpentry, Moldings, Lighting and More 35-yr Nassau Resident References Lic#170101
Phone/Text Friendly Frank: 516-238-2112 Email: Frankcav@optonline.net
MADE IN THE SHADE
CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS
Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies
Top Brands at Discount Prices! Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli.com 516-426-2890
MASONRY
All types of stonework Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps. Free Estimates
Fully Licensed & Insured #H2219010000
Boceski Masonry Louie 516-850-4886
PAULIE THE ROOFER STOPPING LEAKS IS MY SPECIALTY!
Slate & Tile Specialists
All types of Roofing Local References
Licensed & Insured 516-621-3869
SERVICES
HEALTH SERVICES
FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC
Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion
Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement
PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams
Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications 516-248-9323
www.familycareconnections.com
901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530
PAINTING & PAPERHANGING
MICHELANGELO
PAINTING & WALLPAPER
Interior, Exterior, Plaster / Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499
SERVICES
PARTY HELP
LADIES & GENTLEMEN
RELAX & ENJOY
Your Next Party! Catering and Experienced Professional Services for Assisting with Preparation, Serving and Clean Up Before, During and After Your Party Bartenders Available. Call Kate at 516-248-1545
SERVICES
A & J MOVING & STORAGE:
Established 1971. Long Island and New York State specialists. Residential, Commercial, Piano & Organ experts. Boxes available. Free estimates. www.ajmoving.com
516-741-2657
114 Jericho Tpk, Mineola NY DOT# 10405
DISH TV
$64.99 for 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo expires 1/21/23 Call 1-866-595-6967
LEAK REPAIRS
Plumbing Repairs
Bathrooms, Showers, Kitchens 24 HOUR SERVICE
Call 516-668-5624
MAGNUM SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC.
Serving Garden City for 40 years.
Let Magnum Upgrade Your Existing Security System.
Burglar & Fire Alarms Cellular Radio 3G Upgrades
Remote Access Call: 516-486-5484
PASSION FOR SENIORS
Certified HHA’s, Companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care available. Also Nassau Locations. Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Call 718-850-3400
Last Hope is Part of the Chewy.com Rescue Program
If you haven’t tried Chewy. com yet for your pet food and supply purchases, this is a great time to check them out. Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation is now part of their rescue program. For each new customer that makes a purchase, Last Hope will receive a $20 donation. Click on the ad below or go directly to the Last Hope page at https://www. chewy.com/rp/5941
Division Avenue marching band enjoys successful season
Conference held in Mineola on Oct. 22. They finished the season undefeated in the Small School 3 category and placed first in the New York State Field Band Conference at Syracuse University on Thursday, October 30.
The
Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools
Professional Services Guide
Levittown Council announces Halloween Horror House winners
Second place winner: 106 Hickory Lane
Responses to Levittown Community Council’s Halloween Horror House Contest brought out numerous spectators at the winners’ homes this Halloween season. The following winners were selected: First place went to 3654 Mallard Road in Levittown, the home of Joseph and Roseann Castro.
Joe is the mastermind behind “Mallard Manor” having made many of the props by himself. He worked endlessly on the digging corpse, lantern skeleton and the tree limbs making up the archway for the swinging pumpkin named “Lil’ Nester.” Homemade tombstones and a gate surround the lawn. The display first began five years ago with a few tombstones and has evolved over the past few years into what it is today – an exciting exhibit for the community and a joy for
Joe and Roseann in seeing people’s reaction and excitement as they view the display.
The home of Gerard Ragan at 106 Hickory Lane, Levittown brought in a great second place win. A new resident to Levittown, Gerard, who bought his home in January of 2022, decided that he wanted to go “big” for Halloween. His fiancé, Stephanie, and their two children, Jess and Gianna, enjoyed decorating and love it when passersby stop at the house and clearly appreciate the display. Gerard, a photographer, believes that Halloween is all about kids and having fun and wishes everyone a happy Halloween and he and Stephanie look forward to seeing the spectators.
Photos and videos of both houses can be seen on Levittown Community Council’s
Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/LevittownCommunityCouncilInc/, but the Council’s president, Pat Patane, who along with the Council’s secretary, Mary Kay Ross, visit the houses to speak to the residents and take photos, believe the best way to appreciate all of the work that’s gone into decorating these homes is to see them by driving by and, perhaps, making it a family outing. The Halloween Horror House Contest is an annual competition hosted by the Council.
Nominations for the best decorated homes were requested by the Levittown Community Council and the community was asked to vote for their favorite. Those receiving the most votes were selected winners.
The Levittown Community Council, was established in 1998 as a spinoff of Levittown’s 50th anniversary celebration the year prior. New members are always appreciated and welcomed.
Upcoming Events at the Jericho Public Library
Friday, November 11
10:30 a.m.: IN-PERSON: Jump for Joy (Ages 18 Months to 5 Years) - Come to this lively program of music and activities for you and your child.
Saturday, November 12
9:00 a.m.: TEENS: Practice SAT/ACT with The Princeton Review - Register with The Princeton Review to take either a practice ACT or SAT online. After the test, you’ll receive a comprehensive score report detailing your strengths and weaknesses.
11:00 a.m.: IN-PERSON: Cooking Demonstration: Winter Fruits & Vegetables - We will explore the benefits of cooking and eating winter fruits and vegetables! Andrea will cook them into tasty samples for you to taste. Andrea is a clinical nutritionist and private health chef. Cost: $3.00 per person (Non-refundable) Register online or at the Circulation Desk by November 7.
2:00 p.m: TEENS: Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure in the Sky - A magical item of great power has been stolen by Sky Pirates. Will you be able to reclaim it before it falls into the wrong hands? Get a chance to experience the greatest role playing game. Choose a character and take to the skies in this thrilling adventure. The Dungeon Master will guide you on your quest for the adventure of a lifetime.
Sunday, November 13
2:00 p.m: IN-PERSON: Our Band presents LANDSCAPES - Our Band’s award-winning songs draw from the classics to Gershwin and Tin Pan Alley to Appalachia, Eastern Europe and even the spine-tingling harmonies of the Everly Brothers and the craft of Burt Bacharach. Sasha Papernik and Justin Poindexter are thrilled to present a program of their new repertoire as well as music that inspires them, all served with wit, virtuosity and close harmony.
Tickets are required and available to ALL. Two tickets per person. Non-ticket holders will be seated as space allows.
This program is co-sponsored by the Jericho Public Library and the Town of Oyster Bay Distinguished Artists Concert Series.
Monday, November 14
7:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Elementary Science: Moon Phases (Pre-K to Grade 2) - Become a scientist as you conduct experiments with just a few common household materials. This month, learn about the phases of the moon!
Tuesday, November 15
3:30 p.m.: Evergreen Earth Team (EET) Endangered Species (Grades 4–6)Learn how to distinguish between the terms threatened, endangered and extinct and
understand why so many animal populations are disappearing.
7:00 p.m.: Board of Trustees Meeting - The public is invited to attend the monthly Jericho Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting.
7:00 p.m.: Book Discussion: “Miss Daisy is Crazy” by Dan Gutman (Grades 3–4) - Pick up a copy of the book in the Children’s Room and read it prior to the program. Bring a device to play Kahoot!
7:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Talk About Books with Fran Cohen: “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks - Three stories, three time frames all connected by the greatest racehorse in American history. A sweeping historical fiction of spirit, obsession and injustice. Listeners are welcome!
Wednesday, November 16
11:00 a.m.: Sensory Storytime (Ages 2 to 5 Years) - This is a special program designed for children who may need extra sensory support. It combines traditional storytime components with sensory elements to enhance the experience.
2:00 p.m: IN-PERSON: Movie: “I’ll Find You” - Drama/Music/RomanceA Catholic opera singer and a Jewish violin virtuoso dream of performing together at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York City, but the German invasion of Poland tears them apart. Starring Adelaide Clemens, Leo Suter, and Stephen Dorff. Unrated. 1 hour,
56 minutes.
7:00 p.m.: Marionette Storytime (Grades 3 to 5) - At this special storytime you will learn to make a marionette to keep as a friend.
Thursday, November 17
3:30 p.m.: Native Americans (Grades 2 to 5) - Take a journey back in time when the Native Americans inhabited the land. See artifacts of the Matinecock Indians whose villages were on Long Island.
7:00 p.m.: Pajama Storytime (Ages 3 Years to K) - Children will enjoy 1/2 hour of stories and make a craft.
Friday, November 18
2:00 p.m: HYBRID: Great Performers with Marc Courtade - David Niven: The Moon’s A Balloon - David Niven was a British actor known for his wit, class, elegance and humor. His acting career spanned 50 years, was interrupted during World War II to serve in the British Army. Niven’s career resurged in the late 1950s when he won an Academy Award as Best Actor for “Separate Tables.” He became even more popular, appearing in big budget war and action films, as well as suave comedies, including several “Pink Panther” films. Niven also had success as a writer, including his well known autobiography “The Moon’s a Balloon.”
First place winner: 3654 Mallard Road
Fall Harvest Sale at Robbins Lane School
Found just the right one!
The Robbins Lane PTA held a Fall Harvest Sale last week to raise funds to support student programs at Robbins Lane Elementary School. Students along with their parents were invited to the school to shop together for various fall specialty items including mums, pumpkins, hay bales and
gourds. Proceeds from the sale help to support an already diverse menu of PTA sponsored student and family activities. Students from all grade levels enjoyed the opportunity to share this wonderful fall tradition with a special family member and their classmates.
Beautiful flowers.
Fall smiles.
NASSAU COUNTY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals
TOWN HALL, AUDREY AVENUE, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK 11771-1592 - TELEPHONE: (516) 6246232 – FAX: (516) 624-6149
RITA BYRNE, Chairwoman – LOIS SCHMITT, Vice Chairwoman – LEWIS J. YEVOLI KATHLEEN MULLIGAN –REBECCA M. ALESIA –ANDREW MONTELEONE – LISA CICCOLELLA
PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on NOVEMBER 17, 2022, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:
BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
APPEAL NO. 04-282 - AMENDMENT
SYOSSET
KIRK & CHRISTINE ZEINER: (A) Amend Decision of Zoning Board of Appeals, dated July 1, 2004 in order to Amend the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants to indicate a change in occupancy while still maintaining a PARENT/CHILD relationship. (B) Extend the Special Use Permit to maintain an existing second kitchen in a one-family dwelling for use as a Parent/Child residence.
N/s/o Southwood Cir., 50 ft. E/o Bruce St., a/k/a 139 Southwood Circle, Syosset, NY
APPEAL NO. 01-47 - AMENDMENT
SYOSSET
DINA EVANGELISTA: (A) Amend Decision of Zoning Board of Appeals, dated January 18, 2001 in order to Amend the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants to indicate a change in occupancy while still maintaining a Parent/Child relationship. (B) Extend the Special Use Permit to maintain an existing second kitchen in a one-family dwelling for use as a Parent/Child residence.
S/s/o Bluebird Dr., 80 ft. W/o Arbor Rd., a/k/a 50 Bluebird Drive, Syosset, NY
APPEAL NO. 22-285 SYOSSET
ANDREW RUBENSTEIN: Variance to erect 10 ft. high gate exceeding maximum height than permitted by Ordinance.
W/s/o Split Rock Rd., NW/o Belvedere Drive, a/k/a 365 Split Rock Rd., Syosset, NY
NOVEMBER 7, 2022 BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK
Town collects DVDs for soldiers, hospitals
The Town of Oyster Bay has announced a partnership with Massapequa-based “Big Hy for Heroes” in an effort to collect DVDs for those deployed and serving overseas in the United States Armed Forces as well as movies for children’s hospitals. Donations will be accepted November 1 through November 30 and then delivered to chaplains, commanding officers, sergeant majors and sergeants around the globe to distribute to troops and arrange movie nights this holiday season.
Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “The Town of Oyster Bay is proud to partner with Big Hy for Heroes for our 5th Annual DVD Collection Drive and send thousands of DVDs to troops serving around the globe as well as to children receiving care in local hospitals. Help support these brave men, women and children by donating DVDs.”
The Big Hy for Heroes organization was founded in 2002 by Massapequa resident
and WWII veteran Hyman Strachman who, along with his son Arthur Strachman, personally began sending DVDs to U.S. troops overseas. Over the years, Big Hy for Heroes has shipped hundreds of thousands of DVDs all around the world, and continues to do so today. Exciting, suspenseful, comedy and classic DVDs are among the most requested by the troops for movie nights. Children’s movies are needed for local hospitals. Residents can donate DVDs at any of the following locations:
• Town Hall North – 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay
• Town Hall South – 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa
Additionally, letters of gratitude to soldiers and holiday cards for children are also welcome. For more information on the DVD Collection Drive for U.S. Troops and local Children’s Hospitals, please call (516) 624-6380.
An annual subscription to one of our papers costs less than buying a copy each week. Call 516-294-8900 to subscribe!
Soldiers with some of the donated DVDs.
Levittown students learn about safety from firefighters
The Levittown Fire Department visited Abbey Lane Elementary School on Oct. 11 to teach students about fire safety.
Students in the Levittown Public School District have been receiving fire safety tips and training from Levittown Fire Department volunteers during special visits at multiple schools.
Firefighters have been teaching elementary students and sixth graders about how to avoid and prevent fires in their homes, and the best practices if there is a fire. During an assembly, the trained professionals discussed how those in their home during a fire should crawl low to the floor to avoid smoke inhalation and how to “stop, drop and roll” if clothing catches on fire. The students then went outside to visit the department’s fleet of trucks and ambulances, including a fully extended ladder truck reaching high into the sky. Students were excited to learn about the different tools firefighters are equipped with to help save lives.
At Northside Elementary School on Oct. 13, students learned about the tools used by firefighters, including the “Jaws of Life.”
Students’ heads craned toward the sky as they saw the fully extended ladder from one of the department’s rescue trucks.
Photos courtesy of Levittown Public Schools
Barbara Bucovetsky Sells Homes!
There Must Be A Reason...
“Barbara ... What can I say! You are the best. From the very first meeting you made us feel comfortable and relaxed. You told us not to worry and that you would take care of everything, and you sure did! We had been in our house for 45 years and you helped make this experience stress free.”
— Susan & Alan R.
“Barbara is a one-of-a-kind professional who really knows her stuff! She is thoroughly versed in the market and knows everyone there is to know to assist in the process. She is 100% accessible, always available to answer questions no matter how small. She goes above and beyond.”
— Jennifer A. & Sharon S.
“Barbara ... It is evident this is more than a job for you. My dear friend told me that you are the only real estate agent she would deal with. I now know why!”
— Ethel L.
