The things you love doing are more than just passions. They’re what make you “you.” This is why for 25 years at The Bristal, our expert team members dedicate their time, attention, and energy to creating personalized experiences that ensure each resident continues being the unique person they are. See for yourself. Explore all of our locations in the tri-state area. thebristal.com
Friday, October 10, at 10:00
a.m.
Simply Stronger with Balance (VIRTUAL)
Instructor: Mindy Vasta
Handheld weights, resistance bands and balls will help improve strength, flexibility, and coordination. Includes a balance segment to enhance posture, core strength, and proper alignment of muscle groups. Exercises can be performed sitting or standing. Equipment recommended but not required. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org. The Zoom link will be sent out once you register.
Monday, October 13, 1:30 –4:30 p.m.
Card & Board Games (IN-PERSON)
Bring a game to play with your friends for the afternoon. Play canasta, Mah Jongg (must have table covering), or a board
NASSAU COUNTY NOTICE OF MEETING
SYOSSET CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
NOTICE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT MONTHLY MEETING
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
There will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m. in South Woods Middle School, 99 Pell Lane, Syosset, New York. At that time, the Board of Education will determine whether to go into Executive Session. If there is a need for an Executive Session, the Board will vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matters regarding collective bargaining negotiations, school security, the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person and to obtain legal advice regarding proposed, pending or current litigation. If no Executive Session is needed, the Board will recess until the public portion of the Monthly Board of Education Meeting at 8:00 p.m. at South Woods Middle School, 99 Pell Lane, Syosset, New York.
The Syosset Board of Education and Administration welcome you to observe the Board of Education Meeting in person or via livestream broadcast on the District website: www. syossetschools.org
Dated: October 9, 2025 Syosset, NY
game. Rooms with be set up with tables and chairs. You will need to bring your own game. No registration needed.
Tuesday, October 14, at 2:00 p.m.
Title Swap Tuesdays (IN-PERSON)
Excited to hear about our favorite books? Join the Readers’ Services librarians for a fun, lively in-person presentation of all the books we can’t stop talking about. Leave with a list of great reads. No registration needed.
Tuesday, October 14, at 7:00
p.m.
Tuesday Trivia Nights! (Salute in Plainview)
Join us at Salute in the Plainview Shopping Center and get ready to put your wits to the test and your drinks to the side (for just a second) – it’s bar trivia night! Your chance to flex your knowledge, compete with friends, and win epic bragging rights. Whether you’re a pop culture guru, a sports fanatic, or just here for the fun, there’s something for everyone. Grab your team, grab a drink, and let the trivia games begin. Registration needed. Register at
syossetlibrary.org. Event will take place at 397A South Oyster Bay Road, Plainview, NY 11803.
Thursday, October 16, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Seniors of Syosset (IN-PERSON)
Funded through New York State Office for the Aging, Seniors of Syosset is a Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community program (NNORC-SOS). The program will offer social work support, community health nursing, and subsidized transportation to local medical appointments, free bus transportation for shopping, as well as other activities and services. Whether you are a senior in need of support, someone who wants to volunteer helping the community, or just someone who wants to learn more, we hope you will drop-in and get involved!
*Please note this program is funded by New York State Office for the Aging and to serve Syosset residents only. The ongoing services listed above are only available to residents ages 60+ of Syosset proper. For those living in the surrounding area, NNORC-
SOS staff can provide referrals to other resources to address your needs.
Thursday, October 16, at 2:00 p.m.
Burns & Allen: An Affectionate Remembrance (IN-PERSON)
Presenter: Sal St. George, pop culture historian Beloved straight man George Burns and his ditzy but adorable wife Gracie Allen began in vaudeville and effortlessly moved into radio, movies and TV. Rare footage of Gracie as a very proficient singer and dancer is included in this laugh-filled presentation. No reservations needed.
Thursday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m.
Writing Workshop: How to Write a Strong Character Introduction (VIRTUAL)
Presenter: Erin Coughlin, award-nominated writer and producer and author of “Pop and Fizz’s Double Feature Movie Night Guide”
In this writing workshop, we’ll explore how you can introduce your characters to your readers/audience in a memorable and unique way!
Learn how to use your character's introduction to both hook, entertain and reveal more to your audience. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org.
Friday, October 17, at 10:00 a.m.
Simply Stronger with Balance (VIRTUAL)
Instructor: Mindy Vasta
Handheld weights, resistance bands and balls will help improve strength, flexibility, and coordination. Includes a balance segment to enhance posture, core strength, and proper alignment of muscle groups. Exercises can be performed sitting or standing. Equipment recommended but not required. Registration needed. Register at syossetlibrary.org. The Zoom link will be sent out once you register.
Friday, October 17, 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.
From page 1
Western Waterfront, located at 1 West End Ave, Oyster Bay (Larrabee entrance of TR Park, to the left). This event will be held in partnership with Friends of the Bay and The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District. All volunteers should bring gloves,
and community service hours will be offered to participants. As an added bonus, participants can learn how to apply for the new Long Island Garden Rewards program, which offers up to a $500 reimbursement for installing rain gardens and incorporating native plants on your property.
“From helping to capture
runoff so it does not pollute our waterways to preventing the breeding of mosquitoes, rain gardens have a tremendously positive impact on our environment and water quality. We hope to see you on October 11th at the Western Waterfront to help maintain these gardens,” added Town Clerk Rich LaMarca.
For more information on the Rain Garden Pollution Prevention Initiative or Rain Garden Work Party, please call the Town of Oyster Bay ’ s Department of Environmental Resources at (516) 677-5730 or email environmental@oysterbay-ny.gov
From page 1
In addition to delicious food vendors, various merchandise exhibits, amusement rides and a waterfront family fun zone, this year’s Oyster Festival will once again take part in the Town’s shell recycling program, through which the Town
collects shells from local partners to strengthen the marine ecosystem. Anyone interested in volunteering to take part in the shellfish recycling efforts during Oyster Fest can contact the Town’s Department of Environmental Resources at (516) 677-5752 or email Envi-
ronmental@oysterbay-ny.gov.
The Oyster Festival is the East Coast’s largest waterfront festival and attracts up to 200,000 people from all over the tristate area to Oyster Bay hamlet for this iconic event. This year’s event is presented by Catholic Health and pow-
ered by optimum and Sands. For more information on this year’s Oyster Fest, taking place on the streets of Oyster Bay and throughout Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, visit www.theoysterfest.org.
Francis Hospital & Heart Center… nationally ranked in 7 adult specialties
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No other hospital on Long Island has been nationally ranked for Heart & Vascular as often as St. Francis—now 18 times by U.S. News.
chsli.org/st-francis-hospital
October 10, 2025
BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM
One of the most heavenly experiences in Ninh Binh, Vietnam, is to visit Tam Coc (three caves), a peaceful valley set amid karst hills. Here, we are rowed along a gentle river between paddy fields and through the trio of caves on a traditional wooden boat where the oarsperson paddles using her legs and feet. It is inexplicable how the oarsmen (most are women) are able to maneuver.
The endpoint of this thrilling and gorgeously scenic water route is a Tran Dynasty temple where Saint Quy Minh Dai Vuong, an earth and water deity, and his wife are worshipped. It is mind-blowing to realize the temple was first constructed 1000 years ago during the Dinh dynasty.“The Temple contains four stone pillars, each of which is a piece of art that our forefathers left behind for posterity, but which remain a mystery, with clever, artistically carved patterned borders. The spirits were known to the ancients as Long (dragon), Ly (Qilin, a unicorn, part dragon, part horse), Quy (turtle) and Phuong (phoenix) – indeed, the four sacred animals we had seen during the Water Puppet cultural show in Hanoi.
This is our third morning on Discovery Bicycle Tours’ 12-day Vietnam cultural tour, and after a fabulous breakfast at the Emeralda Ninh Binh Resort, we travel by bus through the picturesque countryside. It will also be our first day biking in Vietnam.
After lunch at a local restaurant,
We continue biking and stop at a cemetery – one of many we see in these rice paddies. Phong tells us it is common for the families to build a tomb for their ancestors within their allotment.
Driving on the highway, we stop at one of several modern rest stops which also house handicraft shops employing people with disabilities. This one employs some 500 people and specializes in really fine embroidery (others specialize in painting, sculpture, lacquerware and other crafts)
We watch how they embroider these magnificent scenes that match a photo. The manager tells us it can take 2 ½ months to make one smaller embroidery, 4 months for medium sized and 8 months for large; 65% of the price goes to worker.
we pick up our bikes and set out on our first bike ride.
We cycle among the rice paddies and our guide, Nguyen Hong Phong, stops to explain the rice culture that has been so fundamental to Vietnam for 4000 years.We stop along our route to visit a community cemetery for war soldiers..
After pedaling through several villages set amid a landscape of magnificent limestone peaks, we reach Hoa Lu, the capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1009 during the first two imperial dynasties of Vietnam: the Đinh founded by Đinh Tiên Hoàng, and the Early Lê founded by Lê Đại Hành. When the Lê dynasty ended, in 1010, Lý Công U n, the
founder of the Lý dynasty, transferred the capital to Th ng Long (now Hanoi) about 60 miles away, and Hoa L became known as the “ancient capital.”
Here, we visit two temples - one dedicated to Emperor Dinh and the other in memory of Emperor Le –both with exquisite wood carvings.
At the entrance is the “stone dragon bed,’ where the king would have gotten off his elephant transport, walked the central path through the archway into the temple, while the mandarins entered through the sides.
In a feudal society, when a king passes away, they build several mausoleums so people don’t know where his actual body is buried – those that buried him are killed to keep the secret.
We stay for a second glorious night at the magnificent Emeralda Resort, sprawling like its own village with a palace-like entrance, outdoor and indoor pools, kids club, restaurants, and rooms the size of apartments. I get in a swim before enjoying a fabulous dinner together at the restaurant.
The next morning, we head to Bai Tu Long Bay for an overnight cruise on the Dragon Legend.
Discovery Bicycle Tours, 2520 W. Woodstock Rd., Woodstock, VT 05091, 800-257-2226, 802- 457-3553, info@discoverybicycletours.com, www.discoverybicycletours.com
Next: Dragon Legend Cruise on Bai Tu Long Bay
© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com.
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of October 12-18, 2025
After a long, hot summer, these beautiful and cool October evenings are just made for stargazing!
Midway up in the northeastern sky after dark at this time of year lies the constellation of Cassiopeia. Seeing an ancient Ethiopian queen there will challenge your imagination, but finding five stars that outline the letter “W” on its side (or the number “3”) will be a cinch.
Just below lies the constellation Perseus, home of the annual Perseid meteor shower. This region of the sky represents the rescuer of Andromeda, Cassiopeia’s daughter, from the great sea monster Cetus. Again, you’ll find that trying to outline this brave fellow among the stars will tax your creativity, so just look for a couple of strings of stars like those that appear in the accompanying illustration.
Deep within this star grouping lies one of the prettiest sights in the heavens: the Double Cluster of Perseus. If your sky is clear and dark, you might be able to spot this celestial gem as a faint fuzzy patch of light with your unaided eyes. If you’re unable to find it right away, try a “star hopping” technique to help you out.
First, find the “W” of Cassiopeia. Simply trace its two nearly vertical stars and extend that line downward about twice that distance. Still have trouble seeing it? Maybe another astronomical trick will help. Don’t look directly at it but rather slightly off to
the side. Surprisingly, this averted vision technique allows us to see extremely faint objects in the heavens. Prehistoric stargazers had pristine skies and almost certainly spotted this object, but had no idea what they were seeing. It wasn’t until around 150 B.C. that stargazers officially catalogued it. The ancient Greek scientists Hipparchus and Ptolemy wrote about the
sight but referred to it only as a “nebula” or “cloudy spot,” one of the half dozen or so they knew at the time. Aim a small telescope toward this region, and you’re in for a treat the ancients couldn’t even imagine. The cloudy spot seen by the eye will explode into a stunning view of hundreds of sparkling stars that are clumped into two separate clusters. Astronomers today know this Double Cluster as “h and chi Persei,” as well as by the catalogue numbers NGC 869 and NGC 884. The easternmost of the pair (NGC 884) is slightly larger but contains fewer stars -- about 150 or so -- while NGC 869 is physically smaller but contains about 200 stars.
The pair lies some 7,000 lightyears from us; this means that the light you see with your eye, binoculars or telescope began its journey in our direction long before the ancient Egyptians began building the pyramids!
Though they appear quite close to one another, the clusters a few hundred lightyears apart and linked by the all-pervasive force of gravity. For decades, astronomers have examined their chemical and physical properties and have learned that these stars are relatively young -- most likely less than 13 million years old.
Whether you’re viewing with binoculars, a small telescope or just the unaided eye, the Double Cluster offers quite a sight on these pleasant autumn evenings!
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. . COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
BY MARY HUNT
At the time, it seemed like a good idea. But going for the minimum payment option “just this one time” turned out to be the worst mistake of my life. The day I opened that door and walked through it, I altered the course of my life.
I reasoned that I didn’t have enough money to pay the credit card balances in full, so what was I supposed to do (oh, hear me whine)? I’d catch up next month and pay everything down to $0 before my husband found out. All I needed was a little breathing room.
And with that, I made a 180-degree turn and headed down the road to financial devastation.
What was an option the first time I made only the minimum payments soon became my only choice. I deceived myself into believing even though I didn’t have enough money to pay for things now, somehow I’d have enough to pay for them later. I believed that banks and department stores wouldn’t lend me this much money if they didn’t know that I could afford it -- and wasn’t that a nice surprise. It took 12 years to ruin my life, putting me in danger of losing my marriage, my family and my home. The only thing that
stopped me was that I ran out of credit.
With both of us unemployed and having just received notice that our home was scheduled to go into foreclosure, I arrived at the end of myself.
Owing more than $100,000 on all of my handy credit accounts -- and all of them in default -- there was no more credit. No more options. I was out of hope with nowhere to turn. It was in the darkness of fear and despair that I realized what I’d done to myself, my husband and my family. Through my remorse and pain, I turned to God and made this promise: I would pay back all of the debt no matter how long it took or what I had to do, if I could only keep my family and my home.
For the next 10 years, I did exactly that. I never worked so hard in my life. Overnight I turned into a cheapskate -- frugal beyond the legal limit, I’m sure. I worked every kind of job I could get my hands on. I developed a payback plan. I became a giver and a saver even while deeply in debt. After 10 years and $88,000 repaid, I was restless. This was taking too long. So, as just another way to raise funds, I decided to try my hand at writing a subscription newsletter with the goal to help others do what we were doing. That was in 1992. It wasn’t an overnight success,
but almost. And in the process, I developed a passion to learn all I could about personal money management.
Here’s an example: My very first step was to make a vow that I would only buy groceries that I could pay for with cash (no checkbook, no plastic allowed). Wow, that was like throwing a bucket of cold water in my face. I had a new awareness of what things really cost. I had to keep track of what I was putting in my grocery cart. The next step came quickly: I had to find a way to spend less to buy what we needed so I could walk out with cash in my pocket.
Finding ways to do that put a big smile on my face and gave me the confidence and the desire to take another step. And another and another.
It took 13 years to pay back a whopping credit card debt of more than $100,000 (an amount that would be closer to $300,000 in 2022 dollars), but we did it -- one cost-cutting hack or tip at a time. For years now we have been completely debt-free. What joy and financial freedom we now enjoy! Debt-free truly is the way to be.
Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and re-
sources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book “DebtProof Living.”
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
BY CLAIRE LYNCH
Columbus Day is on October 13 and we remember Christopher Columbus’ vision and perseverance as he explored new worlds. Born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451, Columbus was an explorer and navigator who made four Spanish-based voyages across the Atlantic Ocean.
Christopher Columbus’ father was a shop owner in a small seaport town of Genoa on the Mediterranean Sea and Columbus’ three brothers worked in the shop. They were wool weavers and the family assumed that Christopher would also work in the shop. He had different ideas, however. He longed to go out on the sea and explore new lands.
Looking out at the water each day, Columbus dreamed of finding another route to the West which would allow them to resume their trade with the East. At this point in time Genoa’s trade with the East was blocked because the Ottoman Turks had captured Constantinople one year after Columbus was born. Genoa’s economy suffered because of religious differences that caused the blockade. Columbus watched the trade ships that passed through his town each day carrying exotic goods from the East like silk, tea, cotton and gold.
The members of the European aristocracy found it hard to afford their shipments of peppercorn and clove, however. By the 1400s, when navigational equipment had improved to the point that long-distance sailing became possible, the kings and queens set out to change the balance of world trade by funding spice-hunting missions of their own.
For years Christopher Columbus felt the sea calling him and he studied books and maps to prepare for his time on the open seas.
Records indicate that as a boy Columbus’ only formal education was in a monastery where he learned mathematics and Latin but there aren’t many details about that. Most of the books at that time were written in Latin. Later,
he took it upon himself to study astronomy, geography, navigation and cartography.
Columbus didn’t want to just read about the world in books, he wanted to explore the world up close and personally. He learned about navigation from working on different ships and working with other sailors.
He was especially interested in westward voyages. Columbus had learned of the legendary Atlantic Ocean voyages and sailors’ various reports of land to the west of the Madeira Islands and the Azores.
Acquiring books and maps, Columbus studied Marco Polo’s location for Japan - 1,500 miles east of China - but that was incorrect. He also accepted Ptolemy’s underestimation of the circumference of the Earth and the overestimation of the size of the combined continents of Europe and Asia which stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
Due to these incorrect assumptions Columbus believed that Japan was about 3,000 miles to the west of Portugal which was a distance that could be sailed in the vessels of the time. His idea was further supported by the suggestions of mathematician and cosmographer Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli of
Though Columbus was wrong about the number of degrees of longitude that separated Europe from the Far East and about the distance that each degree represented, he took advantage of the trade winds and that was a primary reason why he and his crews successfully navigated the Atlantic Ocean.
Christopher Columbus enlisted the support of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain for his voyage to the new land. They negotiated a contract with him which they never expected him to cash in on because they thought that his voyage would not be successful.
Columbus initially lobbied Portugal’s King John II, but he refused Columbus’ request because he thought it would take much longer than Christopher Columbus did. Columbus then lobbied at the Spanish court for seven years and was turned down by Queen Isabella.
Columbus also sent his brother Bartholomew to the court of Henry VII of England to ask if the English Crown would sponsor his expedition but he was captured by pirates along the way and he arrived too late. France wouldn’t fund Columbus’ voyages, either.
Eventually King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain changed their minds and agreed to fund Columbus’
voyages and Columbus bargained with them over what he was to receive from the expeditions.
The negotiation resulted in a document which became known as the Capitulations of Santa Fe. Some of the major perks included power: he was to be named Admiral of the Ocean Sea and governor of all lands he discovered - and money - he was to get 10 percent of whatever he found.
Three ships were bought by Columbus for his historic voyage. He also hired the crews and made sure that such provisions as food and drink were on board. Tools were a necessity so Columbus checked all that. He and his crews also brought the barrels, crates and boxes needed to bring trade goods back to Spain.
On August 3, 1492, a half hour before sunrise, they set sail from the little town of Palos in the southwest corner of Spain. The boats were the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Christopher Columbus, the captain, sailed on the Santa Maria which was the largest of the three ships. They sailed west for 72 days.
On October 12, a lookout on the Pinta named Rodrigo de Triana, spotted land at about 2 a.m. and he immediately alerted the rest of the crew with a shout. At last the Pinta touched the shore of an island. Columbus thought he had reached the Indies. He named the island San Salvador which is an island in the Bahamas that’s southeast of Florida. They had reached the Americas under the sponsorship of the Spanish kingdom of Castile.
By sailing west Columbus thought he could reach the east, to India, China and Japan. He didn’t realize that the huge continents of North and South America lay to the west - between Europe and Asia.
Recognizing Columbus’ enormous discovery, the second Monday in October is a federal holiday.
Happy Columbus Day to all!
BY CHARLYN FARGO
Most of us know we probably need to cut back on the added sugars we consume, but how do you do that when you have a craving for something sweet?
These days, the average American eats an estimated 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day. A study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health states that added sugar consumption worldwide is at a “pandemic” stage. Research shows a clear association between eating too much table sugar and higher risk for tooth decay, Type 2 diabe-
tes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
An answer for some has been to use more artificial sweeteners. The Food and Drug Administration has declared all sweeteners on the market to be safe; however, they have been under scrutiny by other groups. Consumers have turned to more natural sugars, such as honey, maple syrup, molasses and coconut sugar. The truth is that sugar is sugar, whether it comes from sugar cane or a tree, and as sugar, it is high in calories.
Should you try other sweeteners?
Stevia is a well-known natural sweeten-
er, derived from the leaves of the stevia plant. It has no calories and no nutritional value but is sometimes blended with sugar alcohols, like erythritol. Monk fruit extract is another zero-calorie natural sweetener. The best sweetener is the one you enjoy eating. But like sugar, have them in moderation.
How can you tame a sweet tooth?
It’s best to try for moderation rather than cutting out sugar completely. Aim for cutting back to six teaspoons a day
BY TOM MARGENAU
In the 1960s, Bob Dylan released an album called “The Times, They Are a-Changin’.” I seriously doubt that the troubadour was thinking about Social Security when he wrote those ballads. But I can tell you that the times sure are a-changin’ at the Social Security Administration. And time will tell if those changes are for the good.
I’ve heard from more than a few friends who still work for the SSA. And most of them report that morale is at an all-time low. The agency’s new commissioner, appointed by President Donald Trump, is really shaking things up. I was initially inclined to sympathize with my friends, and I planned to write a column critical of the changes. But upon further reflection, I’ve decided to withhold judgment. I’m going to wait and see how things play out.
More about the changes in a minute. But first, let me point out that during my 32-year career with the SSA, I went through probably 10 different changes in leadership at the top. And I can tell you that each new commissioner comes in saying that he or she is going to shake things up and make things better. And I guess that’s really no surprise. After all, espousing change is just the nature of leadership. Everybody who comes to power, whether it’s the president of the United States or the president of the local Chamber of Commerce or the Commissioner of Social Security, says he or she is going to do things differently (and supposedly better) than the old leaders.
But Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano is really shaking things up. For example, a lot of former administrative people have been moved into frontline positions, mostly being put on the phones taking claims and answering questions from members of the public who call the agency’s toll-free number (800-772-1213).
I’m guessing many readers of this column would say, “That’s good. We need fewer bureaucrats and more frontline people.” And that may be true. But I’ll just give you the other side of the coin by discussing a department within the Social Security Administration that I am most familiar with. It is the Office of Communications. It essentially did what its name implies -- it “communicated” Social Security messages to the public. For example, it created and produced about a hundred different publications that are provided free of charge to the American people that explain all the various Social Security programs. Another department within the Office of Communications answered the hundreds and hundreds of letters and emails from the public that came into the agency’s headquarters every day. Another branch provided liaison services with members of Congress.
Anyway, the Office of Communications, which formerly had over 200 employees, is now down to about 20. Everyone else has either been furloughed or is now on telephone duty. I guess we’ll just have to find out if and how those publications will get produced and if those letters and emails will get answered.
And I’m guessing Commissioner Bisignano thinks Artificial Intelligence (AI) might be the answer. And maybe he’s right. I simply don’t know enough about the new technology to have a strong opinion one way or the other. But I will share this. Occasionally, I will do a Google search on a specific Social Security topic. And as those of you who do routine
Google searches know, the first answer that always comes up is an AI answer. And so far, I have been impressed by the AI answers I get on Social Security matters. They have always been accurate.
So now, having briefly discussed just a few of the changes happening at the Social Security Administration, I’m going to spend the rest of this column waxing nostalgic about the “good old days.”
I spent a good bit of my early SSA career as what the agency called a “field representative.” While the major SSA workforce sat at desks all day and took claims from people who came into a local Social Security office, field reps went out to remote locations and set up shop for a day, usually in a senior center or some other public building in these far-flung towns.
For example, in the late 1970s, I was the field representative in the Everett, Washington Social Security office. Our service area was interesting and varied. It ran from islands in the Puget Sound to little hamlets in the Cascade Mountains.
Once a week, I would get on a ferry just outside of Everett and take a trip over to Whidbey Island. There, I would go to the senior center in Langley and open up my little mini-Social Security office. I would spend the day helping young people get Social Security cards and helping old people file for Social Security benefits. After spending 5 or 6 hours there, I would head back to the ferry with my briefcase stuffed with filled-out applications and forms.
Then the next day, I would drive up to a little Cascade mountain hamlet called Skykomish, Washington, and start the process all over again. A couple days later, I’d be off to another island (Camano Island).
A few years later, I found myself as the field representative in the Social Security office in Boise, Idaho. Boise’s service area was huge -- a big chunk of south and central Idaho. So there, I found myself taking overnight trips to distant locales. For example, I would leave Boise on a Tuesday morning, drive north a hundred miles or so and set up shop for the rest of the morning in Cascade, Idaho. After taking care of the local townsfolk there, I would continue driving north for about 3 hours or so to the resort town of McCall, Idaho, with a majestic mountain setting right on an alpine lake, The next morning, I would set up my little mini-Social Security office in a senior center.
And as a field representative, I even made “house calls,” going to the homes of people who were housebound but needed help with Social Security matters.
All these memories bring a smile to my face. I think of my time as a field representative as the “good old days” of Social Security. The service we provided was phenomenal! The Social Security Administration was always winning awards for superior customer service.
But that was then, and this is now. Today, with the internet and cell phones and artificial intelligence, I guess it makes no economic sense to be running around from hamlet to hamlet and house to house. But it’s also too bad. We’ve lost a way of doing Social Security business that I think was something special.
Still, having waxed nostalgic, I’m crossing my fingers that a new Social Security Administration, with fewer administrative people, more frontline personnel, and help and an-
swers from AI “bots,” will win public service awards in the future.
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. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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The courts in NYS, under certain circumstances, are required to appoint a fiduciary (guardian, receiver, executor, etc.) to handle the sale of real estate. The individual or attorney is required under Part 36 of the NYS Court system based on constraints and procedural rules that govern in choosing and selecting real estate professionals to be approved. However, there is no New York State law that universally requires a lawyer to use a “Part 36” real estate broker/agent” (or any particular broker) in every case involving indigent individuals, nursing home residents, or decedents’ estates. It generally occurs when a court is appointed and gets involved in handling the process.
• Part 36 of the Rules of the Chief Judge governs “Appointments by the Court” (e.g. guardians, receivers, counsel, appraisers, property managers, real estate brokers) when a court is involved in appointing someone to manage or dispose of property.
• When a fiduciary is appointed under Part 36, the fiduciary (or the court) must comply with certain rules about retention of professionals (e.g. attorneys, real estate brokers) and oversight.
• The explanatory note to Part 36 indicates that Part 36 generally applies to appointments compensated by private parties—and may not apply in the same way to appointments compensated from public funds.
Thus, in scenarios where the court is supervising the sale of property through a court-appointed fiduciary, the lawyer or fiduciary may be constrained by Part 36 rules in selecting and approving a real estate broker. Basically means that a Broker must be chosen from the Part 36 data base of Brokers.
When a Part 36 fiduciary (e.g. a guardian, receiver, or executor under court supervision) seeks to retain a real estate broker (or other professional), that broker is considered a “Part 36 appointee” and is subject to the rules in Part 36.
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for women and nine teaspoons for men, or about 10% of total calories, as recommended by the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines. Make swaps little by little rather than adopting an all-or-nothing mentality with sugar.
The bottom line? Over time, try to limit consumption of added sugars. Practice
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
Some relevant constraints include:
• The court must evaluate the qualifications of candidates for such appointments.
• There are rules about disqualification, compensation, reporting, and oversight of appointees under Part 36. New York Courts
• The rules aim to guard against abuses — e.g. “lucrative designations of secondary appointments” — by requiring judicial oversight and limits.
• In short: in court-supervised matters, a lawyer (or fiduciary) cannot simply pick any real estate broker; they must adhere to the procedural rules set out in Part 36 (if it applies). But that is not the same as a general obligation that in all real estate transactions involving indigent persons or nursing home residents, a lawyer must use a Part 36 broker.
of a
• If a private individual (or private attorney) handles the sale of a real property not under court supervision or without a Part 36 appointment, those Part 36 provisions typically wouldn’t apply.
• If the lawyer is not acting as a court-appointed fiduciary, but as counsel for a private party, the lawyer’s professional obligations would derive from general real estate law, fiduciary duties, and ethics rather than Part 36.
• Part 36 does not always apply when fiduciaries are compensated from public funds, or in certain categories of appointment.
• Indigent & nursing home individuals: Being indigent or being in a nursing home does not, by itself, trigger Part 36. Only when the court appoints someone (guardian, receiver, etc.) to manage or dispose of property under judicial supervision (and where Part 36 is applicable) would the Part
mindfulness when you eat a piece of candy or cake. Rather than having sugar daily, save it for a special occasion. Substitute fruit for that cookie, and over time, cravings will lessen.
Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the current president of the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
36 rules about retention of real estate brokers come into play.
• Deceased persons: For an estate, if the executor or administrator is handling real property, absent court supervision or a Part 36 appointment, the executor’s duty is to manage the estate under the Surrogate’s Court laws and fiduciary obligations, not under Part 36. If the court appoints a receiver or sells property under supervision, then Part 36 might apply to the selection of professionals.
So the bottom line is: there is no sweeping statutory requirement in New York that a lawyer must use a “Part 36 broker” in all such circumstances. But yes, in certain court-appointed fiduciary contexts under Part36, the selection of real estate brokers is governed by Part36 rules.
This is a somewhat complicated issue and can cause stress, worries and misunderstandings if you if you do not have any knowledge or are not well versed. Since I am not an attorney and cannot offer legal advice, I suggest speaking with yours. Most important, it is those individuals who have no will, trust or even the newly approved (Dec. 2024) A Transfer on Death (TOD) deed that allows real estate to be transferred to the heirs without going through the Probate process. These documents are critically important. Some 65% of those who owned real estate in 2024 didn’t have a Will.
So a word to the wise, get off your butt and do something today. If you need any non-legal advice or if you do not have an attorney, feel free to call me anytime for a referral.
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 43+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant designations:
National Association of Realtors Graduate Realtors Institute (what I consider a Master’s degree in real estate).
Certified International Property Specialist - expert in consulting and completing international transactions. National Association of Realtors Green designation: eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geothermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).
He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.
He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to:
https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search at your leisure on your own. However, for a “FREE” no obligation/ no strings attached 15-minute consultation, 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 call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com
You can now search at your leisure for properties at: WWW.Li-RealEstate.com
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Many occasions call for cake as a centerpiece dessert. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or holiday celebration, having a go-to cake recipe on hand can ensure that guests get a slice of dessert that truly treats their palates. The good news is that homemade cake is easier than you would think to whip up.
“Classic White Cake with Tuxedo Frosting” from “Butter, Flour, Sugar, Joy” (Sourcebooks) by Jane Kartes is a traditional cake recipe with plenty of wow factor. The tuxedo frosting is a blend of vanilla and chocolate and affords home bakers the opportunity to customize their flavors.
Yield: 1 cake
2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
5 egg whites
Tuxedo frosting
3⁄4 cup sour cream
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1⁄2 cup salted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
1) Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and flour, or spray, a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer. Mix or whisk to combine.
2 ) Add the egg whites, sour cream, melted butter, oil, milk or buttermilk, and vanilla, then mix until combined. Do not overmix.
3 ) Pour the batter into the
3 to 4 cups confectioners’ sugar (Start with three, see how you like it, and add more if you like it sweeter)
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon heavy cream, if needed
prepared cake pan. Bake 28 to 32 minutes.
4 ) For the tuxedo frosting, cream the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt. Add the confectioners’ sugar. Mix to combine.
5 ) Remove half the frosting to a separate bowl and add the cocoa powder to it. Mix to combine, then add the cream if your chocolate frosting feels too thick. Now you have two different frostings, one
vanilla and one chocolate.
6 ) Frost the cake in the pan or turn the cake out onto a large serving board or platter. Make large dollops of frosting, alternating between chocolate and vanilla. Gently swirl the frostings together using a butter knife. Once you’ve reached the marble pattern of your dreams, serve and enjoy!
Friday, October 10
10:30 a.m.: Giggles and Grooves with Rebecca (Ages 1–5) - Join Ms. Rebecca from Giggles and Grooves for a morning of singing, dancing, and playing! In this class, children will listen to the guitar and explore different instruments, movement toys, puppets, parachute and bubbles. Let’s make music together!
4:00 p.m.: Craft Corner (Grades K–3) - Children will make a fun craft with the help of our teen volunteers.
Saturday, October 11
11:00 a.m.: Fall Harvest Feast Cooking Demonstration with Mary Maguire - Come and embrace all the wonderful flavors Fall has to offer. We start with Nostalgic Date-nut Bread with Cream Cheese, and then move on to a beautiful Roasted Plum and Goat Cheese Salad. This is followed by Chicken Meatballs, bathed in an outrageous Cranberry Sauce Extraordinaire. We finish with Luscious Pumpkin Delight Bars. Then we will sit down, eat and give thanks for the plentiful harvest October always offers. $5.00 per person, non-refundable.
Sunday, October 12
2:00 p.m.: Bob Spiotto Presents: Bob’s Broadway Musical Mix TapeJoin Bob Spiotto and Peter A. Pece for a fascinating musical journey highlighting some of the greatest hits, as well as many specialty numbers from classic Broadway musicals from the 1960’s and 1970’s!
Tickets are required. Jericho cardholders may pick up 2 tickets per person immediately. Non-residents may pick up 2 tickets per person beginning two weeks before the performance. Nonticket holders will be seated as space allows.
Monday, October 13
10:30 a.m.: Sensational Playtime (Ages 18 Months to 3 Years) - This is a play-based program for Early Childhood designed with occupational therapy objectives in mind. It will focus on developmental motor and social skills to foster the emerging skills for this age group.
2:00 p.m.: Virtual Profiles: The Haunted History of Halloween with Dr. Thierfelder and Co-hosted with
the Hicksville Public Library - Every October 31st, kids go door to door shouting “trick or treat,” but few know this tradition dates back thousands of years. Originating in ancient Ireland, harvest festivals used treats to ward off spirits. Though later reshaped by Christianity as All Saints Day, Halloween’s eerie roots and legends still live on. The Haunted History of Halloween uncovers the chilling origins of this spooky night.
6:00 p.m.: Paint Night with Madhumita Sen - Join us for a funfilled Halloween-themed acrylic painting workshop where creativity meets the charm of fall nights! In this session, we’ll capture the eerie beauty of glowing jack-o’-lanterns, swirling autumn leaves, fluttering bats, and a haunting full moon, all under a crisp twilight sky. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned painter, this step-by-step workshop will guide you through creating your very own spooky masterpiece. Perfect to add a festive touch to your Halloween decor! All materials will be provided.
Tuesday, October 14
9:30 a.m.: Adult Walking Club (Weather Permitting) - All levels, all abilities are welcome. Join us for a 45 minute walk around the neighborhood. It’s an opportunity to get some exercise, meet new people, spend time with a friend and enjoy some conversation. Meet us in front of the library. Participants must wear sneakers and bring a bottle of water.
10:30 a.m.: Mandarin Bilingual Story Time (Ages 18 Months - 5 Years) - Join us for a 30-minute program that consists of nursery rhymes, puppets, songs, stories, and movements in English and Mandarin Chinese. Does not require a Mandarin background.
11:00 a.m.: VIRTUAL: Guided Meditation for Self-Healing with Patricia Anderson - Join Pat for one or all of the meditation sessions to bring harmony and balance into your life. Learn the beautiful practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu to help your body heal and keep you relaxed.
2:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: “PSYCHO”Analysis: A Look Inside Hitchcock’s Horror Masterpiece with Brian Rose - Alfred Hitchcock called Psycho “a big joke” and was shocked when audiences took it seriously. But his offhand remark belies the film’s signifi-
cance. Made without big stars, budgets, or glamorous sets, Psycho became a groundbreaking study of fear and anxiety that still shocks today. Its influence spans decades of horror, thrillers, and serious art across all mediums. This lecture will explore how Hitchcock created this cultural milestone and why it continues to haunt us.
7:00 p.m.: Bond with Your Teen: Pumpkin Decorating! - Looking for a fun and creative way to connect with your teen this fall? Join us for a relaxed evening of pumpkin decorating, laughter, and quality time--no carving required! We’ll provide the pumpkins, paints, and supplies--just bring your creativity and a sense of fun. Perfect for all skill levels, and a great way to make seasonal memories together.
Wednesday, October 15
10:30 a.m.: Tuney Tots Music and Movement (Ages 18 to 36 Months)Join us for this high energy music & movement program using lots of colorful props with little ones favorite tunes while learning about colors, numbers, shapes, body awareness, and more!
6:30 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Creative Writing with Sandy Kassimir - Do you like to write but don't know where to begin? You can write on any topic and genre. It can be a short story, poetry, fairy tale, a reflective memoir, fiction or non-fiction. There are no limitations. Through both writing and reading we hope you will be inspired.
7:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Lucile Ball: A Living History Portrayal presented by Leslie Goddard and Cohosted with the Hicksville Public Library - In the 1950s, comedienne Lucille Ball captured the hearts of television audiences across the nation. Her wacky hijinks and fearless enthusiasm kept audiences laughing. Offscreen, she and her real-life husband Desi Arnaz launched their own television studio and pioneered new technologies. But what does it mean when an onscreen legend clashes with her offscreen reality? In this historical portrayal, historian and actress Leslie Goddard brings Lucy to life, paying tribute to both true comic legend and the real woman behind the myth. If you've never seen Leslie Goddard perform, you won't want to miss this amazingly entertaining historical portrayal of the legend-
ary Lucille Ball!
Thursday, October 16
10:00 a.m.: Stepping Stones to Milestones (Ages 18–28 Months)Come join Miss Renee and Miss Amy for an adventure in Language, Learning and FUN! Creative activities will focus on helping your child as they venture down the path toward age appropriate milestones.
11:00 a.m.: Stepping Stones to Milestones (Ages 29-47 Months) - Come join Miss Renee, a literary specialist, and Miss Amy, a former speech and language pathologist, for an adventure in Language, Learning and FUN! Creative activities will focus on helping your child as they venture down the path toward age appropriate milestones.
4:00 p.m.: Fall Friends Sunset Canvas (Grades 2 - 6) - With some specials tricks, everyone will be able to create a beautiful fall canvas using paper and paint!
7:00 p.m.: Teens: Intro to Pencil Shading - In this hands-on session, you will learn the fundamentals of pencil shading techniques to create depth, texture, and realistic drawing. Step-bystep guidance will be provided, and all skill levels are welcome. Participants will complete a small piece of art by the end of the session.
Friday, October 17
2:00 p.m.: VIRTUAL : Great Performers: Anti-Hero Dustin Hoffman - Dustin Hoffman is an actor known for his intense and versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable characters. Since his star making performance in “The Graduate” in 1967, Hoffman remains an artist who examines and considers every minute element of his work in order to create the most moving, human, and believable character possible. It is this perfectionism that has led to a career of stunning variety and nearly unparalleled achievement.
4:00 p.m.: Adventures in Keyboarding (Grades K–2) - Ms. Regina is here to unlock your child’s inner musician! Allow them to explore their musical talents in a fun and relaxed setting. They’ll gain real keyboard skills to ignite their creativity and confidence.
Five Reasons to Hire Tamanna Jaggi
• Local Expertise, Global Reach
• 10+ Years of Experience
• Leverages Innovative Technologies
• Access to Cutting Edge Marketing
• Unrivaled Market Knowledge
Here Is What My Customers Have To Say
“Tamanna is a super best realtor in the market. She works very closely with her clients. Not pushing at all to make rush decision. She will look for your best interest. Very calm and polite. There are 100+ good things can be mentioned about Tamanna. In Summary, you will not regret working with her. Thank you so much Tamanna for helping me in my real estate needs.” – Ranveer S.
Tamanna Jaggi
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson O 516.921.2262 | M 516.468.8294
tamanna.jaggi@elliman.com
Gold Award Recipient, Top 15% of Agents Nationwide in 2023 and 2024 * President’s Circle Award Recipient, Top 16% of Agents Nationwide in 2022 * The NYC Journal’s Top 50 Under 50, 2022 ² #2 Agent in Syosset O ce, 2021** Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR) YPN Top 20 Under 40, 2019 ¹
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