The Garden City News (11/21/25)

STATE CHAMPIONS

The Garden City High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team repeated as state champions with a thrilling victory over the Cornwall Central Dragons. Above, team captains Charlie Koester, Jack Costa, Dylan Fisher, Thomas Fargione, Jack Klein and Jacob Cooper hold the state championship plaque. See pages 50-51.

Garden City schools report academic gains

BY KASSARA MCELROY

This year’s Student Achievement Report, reviewed at the latest Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, November 12th, shows steady academic progress across the district, with gains in reading, writing, and math proficiency, strong

AP and Regents results, and improved performance among students with disabilities.

District-wide progress

The 94-slide Student Achievement Report presentation details student performance across every grade level. At the meeting,

administrators highlighted early literacy gains, noting improvements following the expansion of Universal Pre-K to eight classrooms. Elementary students performed above regional averages in ELA, math, and science, with teachers citing professional development,

See page 39

Changing of the guard in Rec Dept. as projects move ahead

BY RIKKI MASSAND

The Garden City Board of Trustees welcomed the village’s new Recreation & Parks Department head, Matthew Nordt, at the Thursday, November 6th meeting. Trustees learned that Nordt and Assistant Superintendent of Recreation & Parks Andy Hill have already formed a strong working partnership as they briefed the board on ongoing upgrades to village recreation facilities.

Mayor Ed Finneran noted that Nordt rose to the top of a rigorous

EAB

hiring process, with the village considering candidates “from up and down the East Coast” to bring fresh expertise to the department.

“We searched for some real talent that could lift us up and bring new eyes,” he said.

Pool slide replacement, kiddie pool Trustee Jessica Tai shifted the conversation to progress at the Garden City Pool, beginning with the removal of the well-loved slide to make way for its replacement, scheduled for installation well ahead of the 2026 summer season.

See page 39

gets deep dive on water infrastructure

BY RIKKI MASSAND

Garden City’s Water and Sewer Department, led by Superintendent Stanley Carey, has made steady progress on multiple fronts over the last 11 months. Carey visited the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) on Wednesday, November 12th, to share updates on major municipal projects affecting the village’s water supply system.

He began by noting the completion of the AOP (advanced oxidation process) treatment project at village water well No. 9 this past May. The installation, which is now in place at all Garden City well sites, uses AOP, granular activated carbon (GAC), and air strippers to meet New York State’s strict drinking-water standard of 1 part per billion for the emerging

See page 41

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving arrives each year with the same simple invitation: pause, breathe, and share a meal with the people who make our lives meaningful. It’s a holiday that asks very little of us, just a table, a few familiar dishes, and the willingness to set aside the daily noise so we can remember what binds us together.

And what a year for noise it has been. Across the country, and even within our own community, disagreements have grown sharper, conversations more fraught, and our sense of common ground sometimes feels frustratingly small.

But Thanksgiving reminds us that the ground beneath our own dining room tables is still solid. It reminds us

that breaking bread has a way of softening corners, quieting tensions, and opening space for gratitude.

But gratitude isn’t passive. It nudges us to notice those who don’t have a warm table waiting. In that spirit, we urge everyone to let their thankfulness spill into the days ahead. Support your local food pantries. Volunteer, donate, or simply reach out to someone spending the holiday alone. Small gestures can echo farther than we know.

From our newspaper family to yours, we wish you a gentle, nourishing, and joyful Thanksgiving. May it remind us long after the leftovers are gone of how much we still have to share, and how much we still owe each other.

BOT can’t be trusted (on St. Paul’s)

To the Editor:

As an enormous fan of the Garden City News and its editor, Meg Norris, last week’s editorial proves that even the brightest, most professional editor can have an off day.

Last week’s editorial, Yet Another Consultant?  (https://www.gcnews. com/articles/yet-another-consultant/), calls for this BOT to hire a consultant to find out the costs of a potential park.  Maybe the editor forgets that Mayor Finneran and Trustee Harrington were both on the Veneziale St Paul’s Committee that was proven to have intentionally manipulated the Westermann report thru “pricing committees” and attempts to “skinny down” the costs of Adaptive Reuse while mysteriously, and with no explanation, doubling the price of a façade project overnight and inflating the demo cost thru claims of unnecessary “historical demo”.  What a waste of $100,000 plus to get a Westerman report only to have it manipulated by the Veneziale St Paul’s Committee.  Our previous Mayor Flanagan attempted to have these emails, all public documents, posted on the Garden City website in the interest of transparency.   She was met with unyielding resistance by 6 Save Every Brick Trustees that now serve on this BOT.  However, the former Mayor was able to get these emails posted on the Garden City News website.   I urge every resident who is interested in St Paul’s and concerned about the real costs and tax burdens that has not read these emails to read the emails and draw your own conclusions.   https:// tinyurl.com/stpaulsemails

But let’s be clear, these were not inadvertent “mistakes” or “there are two sides to every story” discrepancies.   These can only be viewed as intentional, deliberate, calculated attempts to deceive the residents of Garden City about the true costs of this BOT’s Adaptive Reuse plan.  And not $10,000,000 or $20,000,000 or $50,000,000,

but $100,000,000’s when you include financing costs.  Trustee Torino was the “Liaison” between this group and the BOT.  Trustee Courtney and Tsai were aware of those 25 emails as they tried to keep the Mayor from publishing them on the village website.  Trustee Tsai repeated “façade is too expensive” at BOT meetings is particularly disappointing knowing she had access to these emails documenting the manipulation of the façade number so as to force the residents towards her Adaptive Reuse.

Trustee Video Muldoon argued as well, to keep the emails secret, while he picked multiple members of the offending committee for the Muldoon Committee. A committee dealing with the largest capital project in Garden City history, which has had no interim report, no public meetings and continues to meet in secret.  Contrast this when the School Board pondered their largest capital project, they established an independent committee on two occasions when they faced substantial renovation projects, they reported their status monthly and answered residents at regularly scheduled school board trustee meetings.  So much for transparency by this BOT.

Why would ANY fair-minded resident think this BOT would identify, hire and manage a consultant in a fair-minded process to get honest costs for a St Paul’s Park?

Donald MacLeod

A wonderful idea

To the Editor:

What a wonderful idea to create a park on the grounds of St. Paul’s School. I envision a beautiful fountain, a pond on which we could enjoy watching small boats sailing and water birds swimming in the Spring, Summer and Fall and where ice skaters could spend a Winter’s afternoon of fun. I would enjoy a solarium and a greenhouse, as well. Our park would offer us a place to attend concerts and to dance to the See page 42

What draws a community together? We do.

Dear Readers,

What draws the community together? At the risk of sounding like we’re bragging, we think we’re a big part of it

Many of you have been loyal subscribers to the Garden City News for years, if not decades, and we want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your support. You are helping to pay for us to be able to publish issues every week that cover every facet of the community, from kids’ sports to the business community to the governance of this village. The Garden City News has been proud to be a part of the community for over a century, and we aim to be around for many years yet to come.

For those of you who are not regular subscribers, you are receiving this issue as our gift to you. Once a year we publish our Guide to Garden City booklet, which is enclosed in these pages. It is an annual labor of love which takes weeks to prepare, and contains pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Garden City. It has received high praise when we enter it into the New York Press Association’s Better Newspaper contest, and last year it even won first place.

In conjunction with publishing the Guide, we also send this issue out to every home in the village, as a way to

thank even non-subscribers for their support, and to encourage everyone to consider taking a subscription.

The economics of print news media, and in particular small town weekly papers are difficult, and getting harder. We have been a member of the NY Press Association for many years, and until recently I served on its board of directors for six years.

During that time the number of independent small newspapers in New York State has been falling drastically. While New York has traditionally had a strong community of publishers, just in my years on the board I have seen numerous publishers go out of business. There are now “news deserts” in some counties of the state, where there is no local news coverage at all.

In some cases the papers were bought up by corporations which run hundreds of papers, but in many others the publishers just closed down or retired without finding replacements. Even here on Long Island, which has been an excellent place to publish newspapers, the number of papers has fallen due to consolidation of several chains of papers.

When corporations buy papers, they often “regionalize” the publications so that each town might have a little bit coverage. Fewer and fewer towns have their very own newspaper as Garden City does.

Garden City is a bit of a unicorn in that respect. It is a town with people who are very invested in the village and the schools and care deeply about what is going on here, and about what’s going on (just check out our letters to the editor column each week!). And that investment in the community means that we’ve had a good and loyal subscriber base over the years, for which we are enormously grateful.

That said, times are tough. As everyone knows, costs are rising everywhere. Paper costs are up, postage and printing costs are up, health insurance, general overhead, all of it is rising. Our staff members, most of whom are Garden City residents themselves, work long hours for not enough pay.

While sometimes people forget this, newspapers are businesses. We have to earn enough to cover the bills and pay the staff every week. Newspapers are

never going to be huge money makers, but they should be at least self sustaining. (Unlike some of the national media, we don’t have billionaires with checkbooks to help us out!)

Things are tough this year, but they are not yet dire. And that’s where you come in.

If you want to have an independent local newspaper in this community for many years to come, please consider becoming a subscriber if you aren’t already one.

You can subscribe online on our website at: www.gcnews.com/subscribe/ or by filling out the coupon that appears every week on page 2, or by calling our office at 516-294-8900.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support!

Meg Morgan Norris Editor and Publisher 1994-present

Mary J. Morgan (d. 1994) Editor, 1974 - 1994; Publisher, 1994

Robert L. Morgan (d. 1994) Publisher, 1974 - 1994

Louisa Pironi has been a proud Garden City resident since 1989 and a licensed real estate salesperson since 2006. As a long-time member of the community, her insight into the local market runs far deeper than her years in the business. In addition, her family’s construction and property management company has provided her with extensive knowledge of new construction, renovation, and property operations—an invaluable asset for today’s buyers and sellers.

Louisa is known for consistently going above and beyond to deliver outstanding results. Her warm, approachable, and trustworthy style—combined with deep market knowledge and the ability to truly listen—helps clients feel comfortable and confident throughout every step of the buying or selling process. And for Italian-speaking clients, Louisa offers the added benefit of being fluent in Italian.

A proud member of Howard Hanna Coach Realtors, Louisa has earned the Silver Level Achievement Award in recognition of her dedication and accomplishments. Her clients benefit from the company’s unmatched technology, training, and support network of more than 700 professionals, as well as in-house mortgage, title, and relocation services. With exclusive affiliations through Luxury Portfolio International and Mayfair International Realty, Louisa offers world-class reach with local expertise.

Contact Louisa today to discuss your real estate goals—or even just to get an informed update on the Garden City market. She’s always happy to help.

Home Happens Here

Featured Home

Large 2 Bedroom Condo Close To Town And Train ~ $698,888

Welcome to this beautifully maintained 2-bedroom, 1-bath condo offering approximately 1,025 sq. ft. of comfortable living space in a sought-after residential neighborhood.

Enjoy a bright and spacious eat-in kitchen featuring granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and plenty of cabinet space — perfect for homecooked meals and entertaining. The open layout flows seamlessly into the living area, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Ideally located just minutes from the train and town center, you’ll love the convenience of nearby shopping, dining, and commuting options, all while enjoying the peace and charm of a quiet, tree-lined street.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, downsizer, or looking for a great investment, this condo offers the perfect blend of style, comfort, and location.

Grateful beyond measure!

Guiding families through their home sales and welcoming new clients to their next chapter has made this year full of meaningful moments.

I am deeply thankful for the trust and support I’ve received from old friends and new clients, my new friends. Here’s to another year of connection, growth and happy homes.

I love what I do, and I humbly thank you for every opportunity and referral.

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Meadow Street drainage project advances

BY RIKKI MASSAND

The village’s capital project for Meadow Street Drainage Improvements continues to move forward, and on October 23 the Garden City Board of Trustees reviewed recent progress and next steps. One final phase of engineering work is now underway.

Following several questions from the Board, trustees approved a supplemental proposal from L.K. McLean Associates, P.C. (LKMA) of Brookhaven for an additional $6,880 to inspect test holes for 17 sanitary sewer house connections along Meadow Street. Superintendent of Public Works John Borroni explained why the work is necessary.

“Additional work is required to identify the remaining sanitary sewer house connections necessary to complete the design. Due to the depth of the existing sanitary sewer lines and the limitations of our current locating equipment, it has been difficult to accurately determine their locations. The firm’s proposed work includes the use of ground-penetrating radar technology to locate these lines,” he said.

Funding for the supplemental analysis is available in the capital budget for the project.

At the October meeting, Deputy Mayor Judy Courtney asked Borroni to further clarify the status of the drainage improvements. “This one is the supplemental design, and we are about 95% done for the final design work, but we’re awaiting the results of the test hole inspections,” he said.

The major project, which spans Meadow Street between College Place and Tremont Street, dates back several years. In May 2023, the previous Board approved a $1,512,500 bond for the drainage improvements. Trustee Jessica Tai asked Borroni about the status of a key grant application submitted to the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC).

“We are also expecting news about the grant application, and we believe the EFC will announce the grant awards by the end of the year—so we should be ready to go then,” Borroni said, noting that paperwork and agreement execution would follow.

See page 40

Garden City Real Estate Market Information

RECENT REAL ESTATE SALES IN GARDEN CITY

Long Island Sales Data From One Key MLS

110 Lee Road

Date: 11/14/2025

Sold price: $2,140,000

4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath

Architectural Style: Tudor

Property Size: .17 acre

Annual taxes: $27,250

MLS number: 867785

The Seller’s Team: Stephen and Laura Baymack, Compass Greater NY

The Buyer’s Team: Fatemeh Jarrahian, Berkshire Hathaway

Perfectly positioned midblock in the coveted Estates Section of Garden City, this stunning, fully renovated Normandy Tudor seamlessly blends timeless charm with sophisticated modern living. Offering approximately 3,400 square feet of thoughtfully designed living and entertaining space, this home is a rare find.

From the moment you step into the gracious entry foyer, you’ll appreciate the meticulous attention to detail. The first floor showcases over 9-foot ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors, elegant wainscoting, and intricate crown, base, and casement moldings throughout. The spacious living room, centered around a classic fireplace, flows effortlessly into a formal dining room perfect for entertaining. The gourmet kitchen is a chef’s dream, featuring custom cabinetry, top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, and radiant heat flooring.

A sunlit family room with a soaring cathedral ceiling, a fireplace, and a custom wet bar invites relaxation, while a home office, powder room and mudroom all with radiant heat, and an additional sitting room complete the main level.

Upstairs, the expansive primary suite offers a peaceful retreat with a generous walk-in closet and a luxurious en-suite bath with a steam shower and radiant heat. Two additional nicely sized bedrooms share a beautifully appointed hall bath, also with radiant heat and a whirlpool tub. The third floor features a private en-suite bedroom, sitting area, and ample storage—ideal for guests or extended family.

The finished basement includes a recreation room, gym area, laundry room, and an additional home office.

Exceptional upgrades include Marvin windows, 8 zones of heating, 2 zones of central air conditioning, a whole-house water filtration system, built-in surround sound, a security system, in-ground sprinklers, and a two-car garage.

The low taxes and the location close to top-rated schools, parks, and two Long Island Railroad stations is ideal. This pristine home offers unmatched value, style, and convenience—truly a perfect place to call home.

228 Kilburn Road

Date: 11/07/2025

Sold price: $1,495,000 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths

Architectural Style: Colonial

Property Size: .14 acre

Annual taxes: $16,478

MLS number: 900830

The Seller’s Team: Julie Whicher, Compass Greater NY

The Buyer’s Team: Andrea Bharucha, Howard Hanna Coach

Welcome to 228 Kilburn Road, a beautifully renovated Colonial ideally located in the estates section of Garden City. This exquisite home is thoughtfully designed for comfort and style, featuring 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.

Upon entering, you’ll be greeted by a sun-drenched living room that flows seamlessly into a formal dining room, perfect for entertaining. The kitchen features high-end Viking appliances, quartz countertops and an adjacent eating area, a full bathroom, and a family room with a wood burning fireplace and doors leading out to the yard complete the first floor. This blend of elegance and functionality makes everyday living a pleasure.

Upstairs, discover a large primary bedroom with a walk-in closet, complemented by two generously sized additional bedrooms all serviced by a large newly renovated full bathroom.

The fully finished basement provides a large recreation room, office space, laundry room, and ample storage. Outside you will find a private oasis with patio space and a large yard with mature hedges offering complete privacy. Additional highlights of this move in ready home include four zones of radiant heat, updated electrical system, a new roof and siding, security system, close proximity to LIRR, parks, schools and so much more! The location, low taxes, and condition of this home make it an exceptional value.

This informational page is sponsored by Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Houses featured on this page were sold by various real estate agencies

We Know and Love Garden City

We bring a unique perspective to the table, blending traditional values with modern expertise. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, we are dedicated to providing personalized service tailored to your needs. When you choose our Mother/Son team, you gain a partner who truly understands the importance of long-term success and building a legacy for generations to come.

Village reviews first quarter spending, revenue trends

BY RIKKI MASSAND

The Board of Trustees’ meeting on Thursday, November 6th, featured a detailed review of the village’s financial commitments and performance through the first quarter of the fiscal year (June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026), presented by Village Treasurer Irene Woo.

Mayor Ed Finneran invited Woo to provide the overview. She began with the projected FY2025–2026 revenue budget of $67,918,000, which includes the local tax levy of $55.7 million and approximately $12.2 million in additional revenue from village departments.

c.516.456.3091

The adopted expenditure budget was $71.2 million and has since been increased by $823,000 in the first quarter. Of that amount, $611,000 reflects prior-year encumbrances, open purchase orders from FY2024–25 for goods and services not yet received.

“Those funds carried forward to the next year increases the budget. The village also had $16.7 million of unencumbered funds, so when we fund a capital project – i.e. for $100,000 and we only spent $20,000 – the remaining $80,000 would be continued to the next

year. Capital projects’ balances carry on the budget until they are completed –contrasting with the Operating Budget which is just for the single fiscal year, use it or lose it, then budgeted for the next year,” she said.

During Q1, the village approved $9.7 million in bond resolutions for new projects and recorded a $15,000 expenditure increase in the Garden City Police Department (GCPD), with a “high-impact gift for equipment” from Council 1869, Inc. a local 501c3 nonprofit. Woo reported that Q1 expenditures totaled $24.9 million, with an additional $4.7 million encumbered. Altogether, the village committed 41% of its expenditure budget through August 31st—a pace consistent with the prior year.

The budget also increased due to $118,000 in termination payouts and $413,000 in contingency spending during Q1. The dontingency fund began the year at $1 million. Draws included:

• $100,000 for Sands Casino litigation expenses

• $80,000 for Public Works’ emissions and fleet optimization project

See page 39

Holiday season to begin in style at GCHS event

The holidays officially begin with the Historical Society’s Holiday Market Benefit Preview Cocktail Party from 7 to 9:30 p.m. this Friday, November 21st, at the Garden City Senior Center on Golf Club Lane, transformed into an enchanted place by the merry Historical Society elves. It’s a night out right here in town with people you enjoy. Shop in festive style, with an open bar, a signature cocktail and lavish hors d’oeuvres by Prime, with early access to an extraordinary selection of new artisans and upscale merchants selling extraordinary and fabulous gifts.

You’ll find Alphabet Art Prints, Stationery, Calendars, Artisan Breads, Cakes and Sauces. Chic and Classic Apparel and Accessories for Children and Everyone. Elegant Botanical and Antique Prints. Fashionista and Fun Handbags and Jewels. Incomparable Holiday and Home Decorations. An A.T. Stewart Exchange pop-up shop, selling the incomparable handmade wreaths and centerpieces created by the talented Wreath Lady, Diane Geyer. “The Italian Daughter’s Cookbook” signing! And gorgeous flowers to give that will bloom for the holidays, and all winter!

There are the-best-in-Garden-City raffles to win for fun for you or a gift — Islander and St. John’s tickets. Orchestra seats to “The Nutcracker” at The Tilles Center, with VIP lounge access. Brunch and high tea at the Garden City Hotel. A golf simulator. PGA Superstore annual membership. Baskets of the most desirable cheer. A dessert-making lesson with the Sauceress herself in Francine’s Outrageous Kitchen. Restaurant gift cards, to get out of your own kitchen. And lots more. A valuable door prize and raffles only available at the cocktail party are yours to win that night. All this and a night out with friends and family without having to leave Garden City. Benefit Cocktail Party tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased at the A.T. Stewart Exchange at the Historical Society, through Eventbrite https://2025BenefitPreviewCocktailParty. eventbrite. com, or at the door of the Senior Center, on Golf Club Lane, on the eve

The Historical Society’s Holiday Market Benefit Preview Cocktail Party will take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, November 21.

ning of the 21st.

The Holiday Market opens to the public on Saturday, November 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission. Next door, at the Historical Society Museum, at 109 Eleventh Street, the Holiday Village will be alive with music, twinkling décor, and a special appearance by Santa himself.

Dancers from the Eglevsky Ballet’s “Nutcracker” will be posing for festive photos, with a professional photogra pher on hand and a Minted partner ship offering 20% off custom holiday cards. Hot cocoa and candy canes will be served to every child from a special kiosk provided by Figgys Events.

The A.T. Stewart Exchange, downstairs in the museum, will also be open, offering a curated selection of antique, vintage, and one-of-a-kind holiday finds.

Follow the Garden City Historical Society on Instagram and Facebook @ GardenCityHistoricalSociety

local business!

Entrée

• Fresh Cooked Turkery (10–14 lbs)

Choice of Salad

• Garden Salad

• Caesar Salad

• Waldorf Gorgonzola Salad

Choice of Pasta

• Baked Ziti

• Penne Alla Vodka

• Stuffed Shells Bolognese

• Orecchiette w/ Broccoli Rabe & Sausage

Dinner Package ($249) Feast Package ($399)

Serves 10–12 People Full Tray of Each Serves 14–16 People Full Tray of Each

Entrée

Choice of Side

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes

• Sweet Mashed Potatoes

• String Bean Almondine

• Italian Stuffed Mushrooms

• Fresh Cooked Turkery (18–20 lbs)

Choice of Salad

Choice of Stuffing

• Traditional Stuffing

• Sausage Stuffing

• Wild Rice Stuffing

• Garden Salad

• Caesar Salad

Choice of Pasta (Choose 2)

• Baked Ziti

Includes:

• Waldorf Gorgonzola Salad

• Penne Alla Vodka

• Stuffed Shells Bolognese

• Orecchiette w/ Broccoli Rabe & Sausage

Choice of Side (Choose 2)

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes

• Sweet Mashed Potatoes

• String Bean Almondine

• Italian Stuffed Mushrooms

$15 off $75

Choice of Stuffing

• 1 Quart Turkey Gravy

• 1 Quart Cranberry Sauce

• 1 Small Pie of Your Choice

$15 off $75

Good through 11/7/25–11/21/25. Not to be combined with any other offer. Can be used on any in-store purchase.

• Traditional Stuffing

• Sausage Stuffing

Good through 11/7/25–11/21/25. Not to be combined with any other offer. Can be used on any in-store purchase.

Includes:

• Wild Rice Stuffing

• Small Antipasto Platter

• 2 Quarts Turkey Gravy

• 2 Quarts Cranberry Sauce

• 1 Large Pie of Your Choice

THANKSGIVING FAVORITES (Half/Full Trays)

Homemade Lasagna ($59/$99) • Eggplant Parmigiana ($59/$99) Spiral Honey Ham ($49/$79)

$15 off $75

Shady Brook Farms Butterball

All Natural Bell & Evans

Organic Bell & Evans

Good through 11/7/25–11/21/25. Not to be combined with any other offer. Can be used on any in-store purchase.

WE HAVE A FULL LINE OF FRESH TURKEYS

Garden City real estate, reimagined.

Laura Baymack

Karen Guendjoian

Demetrios Arnidis

Kathy Thornton

Jennifer Sullivan

Danielle Nero

Christina M. Hirschfield

RE Salesperson Laura Carroll Team

Adrienne McDougal

Carroll Team

Diaz Team Amanda Keller

Carroll Team

Patrick Gibbons

Kerry Flynn

Denice Giacometti

Mairead Garry

Carolyn Fowler

Jane Reilly

RE Salesperson Laura Carroll Team

Julie Whicher

Team

Laura Rich

Carroll Team

Athena Menoudakos

Maureen Lagarde

Daniel Niebler Lic. RE Salesperson Baymack Team

Susan Gillin Lic. RE Salesperson Jen Sullivan Team

Alyson B. Esposito Lic. RE Salesperson Laura Carroll Team Alexander G. Olivieri

Lauren Grima

List this fall with the #1 brokerage in Garden City.* Reach out to connect to a Garden City agent.

Philip P. Andriola, JD, is a Private Wealth Advisor and Chief Executive Officer with Halcyon Financial Partners, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC in Garden City, NY. He offers fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 27 years.

To contact him: www.philippandriola.com

401 Franklin Avenue, Suite 101

Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 345-2600

2026 Change to Retirement Catch-Up Contribution Rule

The year is already rapidly coming to a close, making it peak season for assessing (and, in many cases, reassessing) contribution options related to retirement savings accounts.

A major factor worth considering heading into the new year are changes to the SECURE 2.0 Act’s catch-up contribution rule. The changes begin on January 1, 2026, and could have a significant impact on individuals 50 years of age and older who earned more than $145,000* in 2025. If you are part of this group of investors, read on to learn about what catch-up contributions are and what the new rules mean for your retirement savings.

What is a catch-up contribution?

If you’re age 50 or older and have any variety of qualifying retirement savings accounts — including 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457(b)s — you have the option of contributing additional pretax funds beyond the standard contribution limits set by the Internal Revenue Service.1 These catch-up contributions are designed to help people nearing retirement give their investments an extra boost, which is especially beneficial for individuals who weren’t able to contribute as much during their younger years. Catch-up contributions give soon-tobe-retirees an opportunity to accelerate their savings to match their expected income needs in retirement.

How did Secure 2.0 Act impact investors?

Passed in December 2022, the SECURE 2.0 Act was created to encourage greater use of retirement plans that allow Americans to prepare for their golden years. The legislation included a variety of tax credits and other provisions, such as opportunities for long-term and part-time employees to participate and save more for retirement. The act increased the age at which individuals must begin making required minimum distributions (RMDs) to accommodate employees who stay in the workforce longer. The catch-up contribution limit for participants aged 60 to 63 was raised in 2025 to $11,250 under this legislation, dubbed a “super catch-up” contribution.2 This allows individuals within this age group to contribute well above the standard catch-up amount and take advantage of their peak earning years.

What is the new catch-up contribution rule?

Beginning in the new year, individuals with employer-sponsored 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) government retirement plans who are 50 years of age or older and who earned more than $145,000* in FICA wages the previous taxable year, must put their catch-up contributions into a designated Roth account after taxes.3 Simply put, this means any catch-up or super catch-up contributions for these high-income earners will be subject to tax deductions. This change does not impact a participant’s standard contributions to their employersponsored retirement savings, which will continue to be able to be contributed pre-tax, and will not impact individuals who made less than $145,000 in FICA wages the prior year. How can I prepare for this change?

For individuals nearing retirement, it’s important to regularly reassess your contributions and make sure they’re aligned with upcoming regulatory changes, shifts in late-career professional plans, and your personal income needs and financial goals. This shift to the catch-up contribution rule presents new strategic opportunities for high-income earners. A financial advisor can help navigate these decisions and diversify investments to set you up for success in retirement.

* In Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) wages and adjusted for inflation

1-CNBC, IRS announces 401(k) catch-up contributions for 2025; https://www.cnbc. com/2024/11/01/401k-catch-up-contributions-2025.html

2- Kiplinger.com, New SECURE 2.0 Super 401(k) Catch-Up Contribution for Ages 60-63. https:// www.kiplinger.com/taxes/super-catch-up-contribution-for-age-60-63

3-John Hancock, SECURE 2.0’s new Roth catch-up contribution rule. https://retirement. johnhancock.com/us/en/viewpoints/legislative--regulatory/secure-2-0-s-new-roth-catch-upcontribution-rule---manulife-john

Withdrawals from a Roth account are tax-free as long as investors leave the money in the account for at least 5 years and are 59 1/2 or older when they take distributions or meet another qualifying event such as death or disability.

Investment products are not insured by the FDIC, NCUA or any federal agency, are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value.

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its affiliates do not offer tax or legal advice. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specific situation.

Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results.

Securities offered by Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2025 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

GC resident named as one of 2025 power players in politics

BY GARY SIMEONE

Michael Skelly, a 47 year-old Garden City resident, was recently named as one of New York’s top power players in Public Relations and Lobbying. The honor was given to him and his firm, Skelly Strategic Solutions, by PoliticsNY, a public affairs online site sponsored by Schneps Media.

Skelly said that he was very proud to join so many distinguished professionals, who were recognized in the City & States 2025 Political Consultants Power 100 list.

“Our firm was recognized for our high visibility campaigns in the public relations and lobbying sector for the labor unions we represent in New York, New Jersey and Florida,” said Skelly. “We specialize in hi-stakes or advocacy campaigns representing workers in the public safety sector, transit system and courts system.”

Skelly said that his firms main objective is to develop a comprehensive plan to make his clients lives better and to have their career goals met.

“Some of the main challenges to improve our clients lives include improving their working conditions, passing legislative bills and ultimately winning contracts in their favor.”

He listed many of the organizations that Skelly Strategic Solutions represent including the Nassau County Corrections Officers Association, NYPD Sergeants, NYS Court Officers, MTA Supervisors, New Jersey State Troopers and the Florida Police Benevolent Association.

“I started my firm ten years ago to give a voice and advocacy to workers in these niche industries including our first responders and our essential workers,” said Skelly. “We collaborate and

Michael Skelly

work alongside the unions involved in high-stakes campaigns and legislation to make these workers lives better for them and their families.”

Skelly gave the example of one of his clients during the Covid pandemic in 2020.

“It was a New York City Corrections officer who was labeled as chronically sick because he had dealt with bouts of Covid. This was during the quarantine period when these essential workers were needed on the job. Him being labeled as such jeopardized his career track and almost led to his dismissal from his job. Our firm combated this issue by getting a bill passed in the Senate, that any state agency was barred from disciplining any state employee in the public sector.”

Skelly graduated from Bates College in Maine and received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the NYU Wagner School of Public Policy. He comes from a long line of public service as his father was an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Monday Night

Duplicate Bridge

Results for Monday, November 17: North / South:

First Place: Athena Philippides and Carol Cook East / West: First Place: George Salem and Rudy Kaiser

EPOA, CPOA host joint meeting on village issues

SUBMITTED BY THE EPOA AND CPOA

The joint meeting of the Eastern Property Owners’ Association (EPOA) and Central Property Owners’ Association (CPOA) on Tuesday, November 18 drew a large turnout of Garden City residents at the Senior Center.

Updates were provided by the Chamber of Commerce, Village Trustees, Board of Education Trustees, and the Traffic Commission, followed by an interactive presentation and roundtable led by Village Consultant's Creighton Manning on traffic concerns in the East and Mott sections. Residents actively participated, exchanging ideas and feedback on potential traffic calming measures. Commissioner Jackson and John Borroni were also on site to answer any additional concerns about Village safety, enforcement and happenings.

The EPOA and Village website will host the original presentation boards and a survey link for residents to review the proposals and provide additional input.

We continue to thank the Board of Trustees — Mayor Edward T. Finneran, Deputy Mayor Judy Courtney, and Trustees Michele Beach Harrington, Vincent “Vinny” Muldoon, Jessica Tai, Bruce A. Torino, Rich Catalano, and Yvonne Varano — as well as our Board of Education Trustees — Joe Sileo, Kristen Pappas, Liz Gaffney, Erin Debrich, and Debra Cupani — and East Library Trustee Mary T. Maguire and the entire Library Board. Your partnership and leadership are very much appreciated.

The Board of Trustees has been a great partner, actively taking steps to respond to Village residents’ concerns, highlighting the community’s ongoing collaboration to improve traffic safety and quality of life.

GCPD collects Toys for Tots

With the holiday season upon us, it is a time to reflect upon how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to share these times with family and friends. As you may be aware, many children are not so fortunate.

To help the Marines on their mission to bring some happiness to families who do not have the resources to provide a gift for their child this year, the Garden City Police Department has gift depository collection boxes for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Toys for

Tots Program. Police Headquarters is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   Your generous gifts, no matter how small, could make a difference to a child. In the spirit of giving, please drop off any new, unused, and unwrapped toys into collection boxes located in the lobby of the Garden City Police Department by Wednesday, December 17.

Last year, the Department collected several boxes of toys, which the Marines then distributed to many children.

Chamber of Commerce President John Wilton speaks EPOA/CPOA joint meeting.

Reviving Hope: A Breakthrough Approach to Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

"Several years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatments. I'm now in remission and blessed to still be here, but I was in so much pain. My feet and hands were constantly burning - a tingling sensation, almost like when your leg or arm falls asleep," shared Mary of Westbury.

Mary was suffering from Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN. While chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, they are not exactly discriminating in what they destroy. The smaller nerves, specifically those in your hands and feet, are some of the first to be harmed. Those suffering from peripheral neuropathy have described this pain as “burning,” “tingling,” “like walking on sharp rocks,” or like Mary explained, that fuzzy, tingling pain you experience during paresthesia (the technical term for when a limb “falls asleep”).

"Standing all day was not just a challenge, it caused me physical agony. Keeping up with my busy schedule - forget about it. I couldn't even go for walks on the beach." Mary, like so many others, was prescribed Gabapentin to help with the pain and told there was nothing anyone could do. In their words: “There is no treatment for neuropathy.”

Fortunately for Mary, where Western medicine fails, Westbury Acupuncture tends to

National Board-Certified Acupuncturist, has been blending the time-tested science of acupuncture with modern, medical technology to design a real solution for peripheral neuropathy that doesn’t involve invasive surgeries or prescription medications with uncomfortable side effects.

These Renew Nerve Ⓡ protocols, specific to Westbury Acupuncture and its network of certified providers, actually treat neuropathy versus attempting to mask its symptoms.

"Acupuncture is incredible at restoring blood flow and stimulating damaged nerves. It’s been used for centuries to treat peripheral neuropathy and similar conditions” tells Jae Won. “We take our treatments a step further by integrating ATP Resonance BioTherapy Ⓡ , which targets specific nerves in the body using microcurrent. ATP Resonance BioTherapyⓇ is

treatment stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerves and provide them with the proper nutrients and energy they need to repair and recover.”

ATP Resonance BioTherapy Ⓡ was originally designed by NASA to speed up healing and recovery. “To have access to this kind of technology has been life changing for our patients” shares Gen, one of the incredibly compassionate Patient Care Technicians at Westbury Acupuncture. “We even have people asking if they can take the equipment home, so we’re working on developing some at-home options for our less mobile patients.”

After only four weeks of treatment, Mary is already seeing incredible improvement. "I've taken the handicap placard off my rearview mirror and I'm finally back to walking on the beach. I can't wait to see how I feel at the end of my program! I used to think that

the neuropathy pain was just the price I have to pay for still being alive. Jae Won has really given me hope for a better life!"

Jae Won L.Ac and the staff at Westbury Acupuncture have a 90% success rate in reversing peripheral neuropathy, and not just that caused by chemotherapy. They also have tremendous success in treating diabetic neuropathy and neuropathy of undetermined origin, otherwise known as idiopathic neuropathy. “I watched my grandmother suffer with neuropathy during her final years and it broke my heart when she was told there was nothing they could do. This condition is one of the main reasons I went into medicine. Since then, I’ve been on a quest to help people truly thrive in their golden years.”

The number of treatments needed to allow the nerves to fully recover will vary from person to person and can only be determined after a comprehensive consultation and detailed neurological evaluation.

If you or someone you love is suffering from peripheral neuropathy, call (516) 500-8281 to schedule.

For new patients, an initial consultation is complimentary. Simply visit www.WestburyAcupuncture.com for more information and to take advantage of this offer.

Women’s Health Care of Garden City committed to personalized care

By John L. Gomes, MD

John L. Gomes, MD, founded Women’s Health Care of Garden City in 1995. It has remained an independent private practice, providing personalized obstetrical and gynecological services.

He employs the technical advances of conventional medicine with an integrative approach to navigate women through difficult pregnancies into the menopausal years. He treats a wide variety of OB/GYN conditions and is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care.

All tests are conveniently done on the premises, and a dedicated, compassionate staff is on call 24/7.

He is committed to excellence in patient communication, education and support, as many patients come with anxiety associated with past experiences and future concerns.

Dr. Gomes received his undergraduate degree from Brown University, and his Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University.

He is both Board Certified and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Women’s Health Care of Garden City is located at 1000 Franklin Avenue, Suite 200, Garden City.

GC artist’s work on display at Library

Artwork by Garden City artist Susan Petry is on display at the Garden City Public Library this month. The display of Susan’s pen and ink and water color works features portraits and abstracts. The portraits are an experimentation of techniques as much as individuals and emotions.  The abstracts use various techniques that can be interpreted to be at different “distances” from the viewer.  The ambiguity in her work allows the viewer to project his own interpretations and reactions to a piece.

Susan Petry is a modern Renaissance Woman – deeply talented and skilled in music, math, psychology, science, art and sculpture. She grew up in a warm supportive family with lots of singing and a love of books.  Her mother was a musician, teacher and writer; her father, an engineer who instilled in her a love of mathematics, science, puzzles and dad jokes.  She studied art with a local professional artist as a teenager, and as an adult with other artists.  Making art seriously began in high school and has continued to this day.

In addition to art Susan was interested in the study of the mind and sostudied psychology through her college years at U Maryland, then on to a Ph.D. at Columbia and finally to a fruitful and rewarding career as a professor of psychology at Adelphi U and a long-time residency in Garden City.

When Susan talks of her relationship to psychology and art, one word jumps out – experimentation. In the many media she employs - sculpture, wood carving, papier-mache, pen and ink, watercolor -  her vitality and vision coupled with a deep thirst for understanding radiate.  She is forever stretching, reaching into new corners and new horizons to test, experiment, expand. And always her mantra, “I like things

that are subtle…I like things that are shy.”

Susan shares about times she is “in the zone” – that state of flow when skills are perfectly matched with the challenge on hand and lead to deep immersion, creativity and joy. Over and over she expresses her joy, “That was cool and it was fun.”

One fascinating part of Susan’s academic/scientific work in experimental psychology is her study of perception and art specializing in the perception of faces and creativity.  The art she did as an avocation influenced and was influenced by her scholarly work.  Susan has shown her work in several solo shows as well as group and juried shows.     Her beautiful words sum up Susan’s goal for herself and the viewer, “I try to create ambiguity and delicacy in my work.  I lose myself in the making; I hope you can lose yourself in the viewing.”

Susan Petry

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Suspension arrest

Officers arrested a male motorist on November 12th on Nassau Boulevard for allegedly driving with 15 license suspensions, unsafe lane use, and operating a cell phone while driving.

Vehicle theft

A 2012 Ford was reported stolen from a Newmarket Road driveway on November 12th.

Tool theft

Assorted tools were reported stolen from the rear of a pickup truck parked on Meadow Street on November 12th.

Construction alarm

On November 12, officers responded to a business for a fire alarm activated by construction work.

Account fraud

A victim was notified by his bank of fraudulent activity against his account on November 12th.

Medical alert

Garden City Police responded on November 12 to an emergency medical alert activation and found it was set in error.

Panic alarms

Two panic alarms were activated on November 12th, and officers determined both had been set in error.

Trespass arrest

On November 13th, officers located a female subject alleged ly trespassing inside a vacant house. She was arrested for outstanding Nassau County warrants for Assault and Petit Larceny.

Unlicensed operation

A Clinton Road motorist was charged on November 13th with unlicensed operation, uninsured auto, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

Steam and irons

GCFD and GCPD responded on November 13th to a fire alarm activated by shower steam, another by a curling iron, and one set off in error.

Registration issues

A Washington Avenue motorist was charged on **November 13** with driving with suspended registration

and operating an unregistered auto.

Gas odor

Firefighters investigated a natural gas odor on Whitehall Boulevard on November 13 and determined everything was in order.

Excessive speed

A Clinton Road motorist was charged with unlicensed operation and excessive speed on November 13th, police say.

Hit-and-run arrest

Detectives arrested a motorist on November 14th for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident that occurred on Cherry Valley Avenue.

Steam alarms

On November 14, the GCFD and GCPD handled a fire alarm triggered by a hair dryer and another set off in error.

Truck violations

A Clinton Road truck operator was cited on November 14th for allegedly driving in a prohibited zone, uninsured operation, and several equipment violations.

Biting incident

A female subject was arrested on November 14 for allegedly biting another person; she was charged with Harassment.

Store theft

Officers investigated a November 14th report that a male subject stole multiple items from CVS and fled.

Mail theft

Multiple checks mailed on 6th Street were reported stolen, altered, and cashed on November 14th.

License issues

A Clinton Road motorist was charged on November 14th with driving with a suspended license and uninsured operation.

Brush fire

The GCFD and GCPD responded on November 15th to Plaza Road, where firefighters extinguished a brush fire on the railroad tracks.

Street damage

A vehicle was reportedly damaged while parked unoccupied on 7th Street on November 15th.

Fraudulent checks

Multiple fraudulent checks were

reported cashed against a victim’s bank account, it was reported on November 15th.

Suspended registrations

Two Washington Avenue motorists were charged with driving with suspended registrations on November 15th, police say.

Sprinkler alarm

On November 15th, Garden City Police and Firefighters responded to a fire alarm triggered by a sprinkler leak.

Phone violation

A Washington Avenue motorist was charged on November 15th with driving an unregistered auto and unlawful cellphone use.

Wild chase

On November 16th Garden City Police officers responded to Clinton Road after a male passenger allegedly assaulted a female passenger in a vehicle. Police say that once the occupants exited, the suspect allegedly jumped into the driver’s seat, fled recklessly, struck a police vehicle, then crashed into another car near Commercial Avenue. The suspect’s vehicle overturned, and he fled on foot before being apprehended. Firefighters rescued a trapped female victim from the vehicle, and two people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say the suspect was charged with DWI, multiple counts of leaving the scene, aggravated unlicensed operation, assault, reckless endangerment, violating parole, and various traffic offenses.

Harassment charge

On November 16th, Garden City Police arrested a 47-year-old male for Harassment after he allegedly struck and shoved a family member.

Porch package theft

Packages were reported stolen from the front porch of a Clinton Road residence on November 16th.

Restricted license

A Clinton Road motorist was charged with driving in violation of a restricted license and excessive speed on November 16th, police say.

Medication disposal

On November 16th, twenty pounds of medications collected by the Garden City Police Department were properly disposed of through authorized channels.

False alarms

Firefighters and officers responded to two fire alarms on November 16th,

See page 44

Happy Thanksgiving! It is the best time of year for family and friends… enjoy one and all and please give thanks for the opportunities we have in this glorious country we call America. Despite all the noise…and it can weigh one down for sure…we are blessed to have been bestowed by our forefathers with the freedoms we enjoy every day: “My Country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty….”

At our November 20, 2025 BOT meeting, Chief Taunton and Buildings Superintendent Giuseppe Giovanniello made presentations on the proposed re-design of the Western Fire House (“Company 2”) located at Edgemere Road and Stewart Avenue. The residents in attendance were quite engaged and there was extensive discussion. The comprehensive plan is now under Board consideration and we anticipate voting on the matter at our December 11, 2025 meeting.

Public Safety Toolkit

The Garden City Police Department would like to remind residents of our Public Safety Toolkit, which includes:

• Overnight Parking

• Vacation Watch

• Keyholder

• At-Risk Residents

• Bike Management

• Pet Management

• Citizen Reporting

These tools are centrally located at https://www.frontlinepss. com/gardencity, which includes descriptions of each tool and a userfriendly method of input. These simpleto-use tools are intended to assist with the partnership that we share with residents, guests, business owners and commuters alike. We invite you to bookmark this website on your phone and/or computer and take advantage of these tools. Please read the popup screens that may be introduced when you enter a module. They will contain pertinent information to assist with your entry. To avoid any confusion, please be aware that the Pet Management tool does NOT replace the requirement for your pet to have a license with the Village. Please contact Village Hall for your pet licenses and thereafter enter your pet information in the Pet Management tool to assist the PD if your pet is Lost or Found. Similarly, the Keyholder tool does not replace the need for all residents and businesses to complete an Alarm Registration with the Village as per Village Code 52-2. You can find a fillable Alarm Registration form on the Department website. Please call the Garden City Police Department Front Desk at 516.465.4100 if you have questions about any of our tools or visit the Garden City Police Department

website at https:// gardencitypolice.net/ for many other valuable resources.

Thanksgiving Week

Sanitation Collection

Residents are reminded that there will be NO garbage pickup on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The Holiday Week Collection Schedule will be as follows:

Garbage:

Western Half of Village - Monday and Friday (West of Rockaway Avenue)

Eastern Half of Village - Tuesday and Saturday (East of Rockaway Avenue)

Rubbish

Entire Village - Wednesday, November 26th

Recycling

Residents scheduled for recycling on Thursday, November 27th, are asked to put their recyclables out on Thursday, December 4th.

Toys for Tots

With the holiday season upon us, it is a time to reflect upon how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to share these times with family and friends. As you may be aware, many children are not so fortunate. To help the Marines bring some happiness to families who do not have the resources to provide a gift for their child this year, the Garden City Police Department has a gift depository collection boxes for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Toys for Tots Program. Police Headquarters is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your generous gifts, no matter how small, could make a difference to a child. In the spirit of giving, please drop off any new, unused, and unwrapped toys into collection boxes located in the lobby of the Garden City Police Department by Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Last year, the Department collected a ton of boxes filled with toys, which the Marines distributed to many deserving kids. Thanks in advance for participating.

Holiday Season Safety Tips

As the holiday season approaches, the Garden City Police Department emphasizes the importance of safety and awareness during the hustle and bustle of the shopping season. While this time of year is meant for celebration and joy, individuals can become more vulnerable to theft and holiday-related crimes. To help ensure the safety of our residents, the Garden City Police Department encourages

everyone to remain vigilant and take proactive measures. Here are some essential safety tips for a happy and peaceful holiday season: Driving

• If you must shop at night, park in a well-lit area and lock your vehicle. Also, close all windows.

• Avoid parking next to large vehicles, vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows.

• Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.

• Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.

• Avoid leaving packages or valuables inside your vehicle where they can be seen by potential thieves.

• When approaching or leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.

• Do not approach your car alone if suspicious people are in the area.

Home

• Ensure pocketbooks, bags, and house and car keys are NOT visible through windows, doors, etc.

• Ensure all doors and windows are locked when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.

• Ensure alarm and video surveillance systems are in good working order.

• When leaving home for extended periods, ask a neighbor or family member to watch your house.

• Have someone pick up your newspapers, and mail. In addition, have packages delivered to an alternate address where someone is available to receive them or arrange for pick-up of packages at a depot.

• Indoor and outdoor lights should be on automatic timers.

• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.

• Ensure that gifts are not visible through the windows and doors of your home.

• Be aware that criminals sometimes pose as couriers delivering gifts.

• Ensure all doors, especially patio

• Do not roll down your window if a stranger approaches; talk through the glass or drive away.

See page 44

Mayor Edward Finneran

Dear Friends of Once Upon A Dish,

After 28 wonderful years, it is with both a heavy heart and deep gratitude that I announce the closing of Once Upon A Dish.

What began as a dream with the previous owner (Deborah) — a place where anyone could come in, pick up a brush, and experience the joy of creating — became so much more than a business. It became a family. Over the years, we had the honor of watching children grow up at our tables, families celebrate milestones, and friendships blossom over shared laughter and paint.

To our amazing customers who quickly became dear friends, thank you for bringing your creativity, your warmth, and your love into the studio. Teaching children (and grown-ups, too!) the joy of art has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. You’ve filled this space with so much color, joy, and connection.

And let’s not forget our Ladies Nights and Adult Nights, when moms, dads, boyfriends, and girlfriends could come together after hours to share laughter, good food, and maybe a little wine, too! Those evenings were filled with creativity, conversation, and the kind of joy that made this place truly special.

And last but not least, to all our employees, past and present, thank you so much for your hard work, kindness, and creativity, which helped make Once Upon A Dish the welcoming, joyful place it has always been. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Our last day of business (closing our doors) will be November 30th. Please pick up all your pottery before that date. Last day of painting will be November 20th.

So, thank you for 28 incredible years.

Sophia Muhr Once Upon A Dish

Library parking lot construction update

Construction work is ongoing at the Garden City Public Library.

Concrete work is ongoing this week in the Library’s parking lot, including walkways, curbs and sidewalk aprons. Lastly, the parking lot will be milled and repaved.

There will be some unavailable spots until 4 p.m. daily. Please allow additional time for parking. Patron parking is available along 7th Street from Hilton to Cathedral Avenues.

Improvements should take a few

weeks to complete. During most of the time, the parking lot will be partially accessible. For updates, please follow the Library website and social media pages:

https://www.gardencitypl.org

https://www.facebook.com/gardencityplny/

https://www.instagram.com/gardencityplny/

Sanitation collections

Thanksgiving week

There will be no garbage pickups on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27. The holiday week collection schedule will be as follows: Western half of the village (west of Rockaway Avenue): Garbage - Monday and Friday; Rubbish - Wednesday, November 26 Eastern half of the village (east of Rockaway Avenue): Garbage - Monday and Friday; Rubbish - Wednesday, November 26

Residents scheduled for recycling on Thursday, November 27, are asked to put their recyclables out on Thursday, December 4.

One Final Opportunity

BY BOB MORGAN, JR.

The next twelve months or so, until Election Day, 2026, may be a final opportunity for the administration of Donald J. Trump to have a big impact on American life and society.

Nothing is certain, but there is a good likelihood that the current narrow Republican majority in the House of Representatives will be erased in the midterm election and the Democrats will gain control of the chamber. (For what it's worth, the current betting odds of a Democratic House win are around 72 percent.). Of course, Democratic victories in the 2025 elections add to the perception that the party will score well in the midterms.

A Democratic House will obviously have negative impact on the Trump administration. For one thing, it will make it impossible for Mr. Trump to advance legislation without Democratic support. But even more significant, Democrats may well replicate their approach when they won the House in 2018. There was a huge flurry of investigations and hearings designed to discredit the administration and, indeed, there were two attempts at impeaching President Trump, the first on pretty slim grounds.

And, while Republicans have a 53 to 47 majority in the Senate and are favored to retain control in 2026 (also about 72 percent in the betting markets), the loss of that body would likely hamper executive appointments by Mr. Trump, and almost certainly would shut down most of his powers to make judicial appointments, including any Supreme Cour pick.

Even best case for Mr. Trump, where his party retains control of both the House and the Senate, there is still the lame duck factor.

Mr. Trump is constitutionally barred from seeking reelection (and no, I don't think he will attempt to contravene that prohibition) and this means that the political spotlight shifts from Mr. Trump to possible successors in 2028. The likely Republican nominee at this writing, J.D. Vance, may well stake out some positions (or at least emphasize issues) that are different from Mr.

Trump’s inclinations. The propensity  of Republicans in Congress to follow his lead will inevitably decline. And Democratic candidates to succeed Mr. Trump will ramp up their vocal criticism of his policies.

But, there still is a window of about a year for Mr. Trump. If he can stay focused, and avoid seemingly pointless controversies, he can continue to make a big difference.

Mr. Trump will again have the opportunity in 2026, which may well be the last one of his Presidency, to pass tax and budget legislation in the House and then use the reconciliation process in the Senate, which would allow GOP majority in the Senate to pass the legislation without having to get past a Democratic filibuster.

Mr. Trump really needs to take advantage of this situation.  For example, while his expressed proposal for a $2,000 rebate to lower income taxpayers to offset the effect of newly imposed tariffs seems a little over the top, some sort of relief in this area may make sense to make taxpayers’ life a bit more affordable.  Similarly, further encouragement to save in tax favored accounts like 401(k)’s may make sense.

Mr. Trump also needs to engage with Democrats to further reform our healthcare system.  It is now clear that premiums for coverage for benefits under the exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, are spiraling out of control, especially with the end of special subsidies Congress passed during the Covid crisis.  The President should advocate such measures as diverting payments away from insurance companies and toward consumers who establish health savings accounts.

Mr. Trump would also do well to boost his public approval by adopting a less frenetic approach to trade policy while focusing immigration enforcement on violent criminals. Another plus would be a successful effort for peace in the Ukraine.

The Trump Administration has limited time left to make a difference. The focus should be on making 2026 its best year yet.

NCL has busy month of service, celebration

Members of the National Charity League collected food to support local families in need.

The National Charity League, Garden City Chapter, has had a busy month of service and celebration! Members kicked off November by collecting generous baskets of food to support local families in need, ensuring fuller tables and brighter holidays across the community. The chapter also proudly hon-

ored our nation’s heroes with special activities celebrating Veterans, expressing gratitude for their service and sacrifice. With hands-on projects and heartfelt outreach, the Garden City Chapter continues to exemplify the spirit of giving—making a meaningful impact throughout November and beyond!

The Chapter also took part in honoring our nation's heroes.

About to hit a milestone?

Share your life accomplishments with your neighbors! Put your engagement, wedding, or baby announcement in the paper. It's free of charge for subscribers! Email editor@gcnews.com

Waldorf students meet Nobel Laureate

Eleventh and twelfth grade physics students from The Waldorf School of Garden City had the extraordinary opportunity to meet Professor Barry C. Barish, 2017 Nobel Laureate in Physics, in an exclusive one-hour conversation about his life, research, and passion for discovery. Professor Barish, awarded the Nobel Prize for his decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves, shared his personal journey in science and insights into the collaborative spirit that drives groundbreaking research.

In addition to their meeting with Professor Barish, students engaged in an in-depth discussion with Professor Chang Kee Jung, distinguished professor and chair of physics at Stony Brook University. Their conversation explored current physics research, the role of curiosity in scientific advancement, and the importance of persistence in experimentation.

For the Waldorf students, the experience was both intimate and inspiring.

“Having the ability and privilege to converse with a Nobel Laureate, hearing his path through life, from wanting to be a professional tennis player to receiving the highest honor bestowed in physics, is truly extraordinary and relieving to hear as I start my own jour-

ney to college and beyond,” said Samuel Weinberg, senior.

Senior Zinedine Bousraou shared, “Meeting Dr. Barish was an experience

like no other. We were given a peek into the experiments completed at the pinnacle of science, such as his work on gravitational waves. These are experiments we are expected to build upon and exceed when we join the field in the future.”

The visit left students inspired and eager to pursue their own explorations in science, reflecting The Waldorf School of Garden City’s commitment to experiential learning and STEM education grounded in creativity, wonder, and purpose.

GCHS to present “Pride and Prejudice”

Garden City High School’s production of “Pride and Prejudice” will be held at Garden City High School on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.

Kate Hamill’s version of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is a lively, modern adaptation of the classic novel that brings humor, energy and a fresh feminist perspective to the beloved story. While staying true to Austen’s wit and social commentary, Hamill reimagines the characters and dialogue in a way

that highlights the timeless themes of love, class and independence for today’s audiences.

This year marks the 250th birthday of Jane Austen, making Hamill’s playful and spirited retelling a fitting celebration of choosing your own path — and finding connection where you least expect it.

Tickets are $12 for students and senior citizens, and $15 for general admission. They can only be purchased online at https://gchsny.booktix.com.

ATTENTION STUDENTS!

We invite you to send details of your academic achievements, along with your name and contact info, to editor@gcnews.com for a chance to be featured in our paper! Submissions from students of all ages are welcome!

The Waldorf School of Garden City high school physics students meet Nobel Laureate Professor Barry C. Barish and Professor Chang Kee Jung at Stony Brook University for an inspiring, private discussion about physics, research, and the pursuit of discovery.

UNICEF visits Garden City Community Church

BY MELVA VICTORINO

During the recent celebration of Children’s Sabbath Service at Garden City Community Church (GCCC), the Lego structures created by some of the children out of loose Lego pieces were put on the altar. Finn, Lucas, Ryan and Wexford put together their interpretations as answers to the questions: What (and why) they were building Lego Structures?  Their answers were powerful reminders of what it means to build a life of faith:

• We’re building a Community Piece by Piece

• Building Blocks for Humanity

• God’s Love holds us together

• Doors that are Welcoming

• Kingdom of Kindness

• Making Connections

• The Structure of God

• Everyone deserves some fun

• Building the Kingdom of God

• Building Up of People

The Children’s Sabbath Service was a time of prayer, education, and action, focused on uplifting children and promoting justice on their behalf. Shannen Gordon from UNICEF USA was the guest speaker who emphasized a commitment to the well being of all children, highlighting their stories, rights and needs. In addition to worship, a call to action is awareness of the needs of the children around the World. GCCC collected donations from the UNICEF Trick or Treat boxes, and a large donation box that says “UNICEF,” to collect donations during the weekdays. This was part of UNICEF’s campaign to ensure the world’s most vulnerable children get nutrition, water, protection, education, and health care they need to survive and thrive

Shannen Gordon is the Manager of Operations and Engagement on the Corporate and Civil Society Partnerships team at UNICEF USA. She helps to build

and manage relationships with companies and civil society organizations that want to support UNICEF’s mission in reaching vulnerable children with the services they need to survive and thrive. In her work she focuses on helping organizations understand children’s needs, connecting to UNICEF’s work, and finding ways to create the best outcomes for children across the globe. Shannen lives with her family in Valley Stream and has been in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years. During Shannon’s time with the GCCC children, she shared with them UNICEF items, trick or treat boxes, and some candies.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II. Its mandate was clear:

Garden City PTA News

Upcoming Events

PARP Movie Day

There are still spots available! PARP is excited to present its annual Movie Day at Bellmore Theaters on Wednesday, November 26th at 10:45. Please visit the link below for more details.

https://www.signupgenius. com/go/10C0D4FABA62DAAFBC70-59480830-parp#/

Digital Citizenship Committee is promoting NoSo (No Social Media) November. Check out gardencitypta.org/digital-citizenship for easy ways to participate.

Annual Sponsorship Applications Now Available! Email sponsorships@gardencitypta.org.

Important Dates

• PARP Movie Day: 11/26

• Schools Closed: 11/26–11/28, Thanksgiving Recess

• Joint Primary Schools Meeting: 12/2, 9:30 a.m. at Homestead School

• Save the Date for our Annual PTA Dinner: March 31, 2026!

Let’s Connect! Website: www.gardencitypta.org Facebook/Instagram/X: @gardencitypta

To get real time information - turn on notifications!

has evolved with the needs of children around the world.  making every dollar count. As UNICEF looks back, it learns from its accomplishments and challenges. To learn more about the UNICEF, visit its website at unicef.org.

The Children’s Sabbath Service, including the invitation of Shannon Gordon was well planned and presented by Robin Boyle Laisure, Janet Martens, and Victoria Rehkugler. Frank Crosio, minister of music, led the choir with meaningful pieces of music.

The community is invited to join the GCCC to witness what God is doing in the life of its church. Sunday worship services are at 10:30 a.m. follow by fellowship gathering.

Whoever you are, wherever you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome at GCCC. It has services, events, and programs for all ages. Its Sunday Worship Service is in-person and live-streamed.

to help children and young people whose lives and futures were at risk – no matter what role their country had played in the war.

This is the DNA of UNICEF. From the ashes of war to the global challenges that affect millions today, its mandate has never wavered. UNICEF works to protect the rights of all children. Whoever they are. Wherever they live. The UNICEF brings over 75 years of field-tested expertise, a network that spans the globe, a passion for innovation, dynamic partnerships, and a commitment to children. For more than 75 years, UNICEF’s mission

For information on how to attend its services virtually or in person, please contact the church office churchoffice@ thegccc.org. To get information regarding its virtual and in-person worship services and programs, visit its website at www. theGCCC.org.

The Garden City Community Church is part of the United Church of Christ. It is an Open and Affirming congregation that welcomes people of all ages, races, gender identities, and sexual orientations to participate in the life of its community. It is located at 245 Stewart Avenue between Whitehall Blvd. and Kensington Road. For more information, email  churchoffice@thegccc.org or call (516) 746-1700. You may also visit its website at www. theGCCC.org

See what’s happening at your

library!

Check this paper each week for fun and informative all-ages activities, like classes, lectures, concerts, movie screenings, and more, all for free or cheap!

Viki Rehkugler, Robin Laisure, Shannon Gordon and Janet Marten

The Garden City Welcoming Club

Join the Welcoming Club for Exciting Upcoming Events!

The Garden City Welcoming Club offers rolling membership to women who reside in the village of Garden City. It is a volunteer women’s organization that unites both New & Long-standing members to build friendships, explore new interests, and give back to the community.  Whether you are new to our community or have resided here for an extended period of time and are looking for a new venture, we would love to speak to you. See below for details.

Breakfast with Santa at the Stewart Manor Country Club

Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m.–11 a.m.

Tickets on sale! Check your email for the link. Not a member yet? Join today to ensure you receive early access.

Contact: welcomingclubfamily@ gmail.com

Join Us on January 15 at 7:45 p.m. for Book Club!

This months book is “Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love” by Dani Shapiro. RSVP to welcomingclubbookclub@gmail.com for more details.

Join Us for Toddler Activities!

Toddler Holiday Cooking Class at The Well Seasoned Chef - Saturday, 12/13, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Contact to register welcomingclubtoddleractivities@gmail.com

Winter Baby & Toddler Music Class - Tuesdays, 12/9 - 1/20 (no class on 12/30).  Time: 9:30 a.m. Contact for details on location and to register welcomingclubtoddleractivities@gmail. com

Join the Club!

To purchase tickets to events you must be a member so join and make a difference! For just $50 a year you will have access to great events. Complete the online membership form today at www.thegardencitywelcomingclub.org in the “Join” section of the website. Browse the site for great information about the club.

Follow Us!

Facebook: The Welcoming Club of Garden City

Instagram: @gcwelcomingclub

LinkedIn: The Garden City Welcoming Club

Website: www.thegardencitywelcomingclub.org/register

Join a Group

Book Club

Enjoy a good book amongst friends. The book club meets every 6 weeks to discuss the page-turner of choice. For upcoming book club events, please email WelcomingClubBookClub@ gmail.com.

Craft Club

The craft club is a great way to meet with friends and get crafty. No experience necessary. We meet every few months to create a seasonal craft. If you are interested in joining, please email GCCraftClub@gmail.com.

Toddler Activities

A great way for you and your little ones to make new friends. Activities include stroller walks each week around our beautiful village and a visit to the park. We also set up playgroups with kids of similar age. Please email welcomingclubtoddleractivities@gmail.com for more information.

Supper Club

Bring your significant others out for this one! This is a great way to make new friends as a couple. You will be paired up with 3-4 other couples to set up a rotation of dinner events. Host your new friends at home or head out to try local restaurants. Please email GCSupper@gmail. com for more information.

Fitness

Different group fitness activities are planned throughout the year.  It’s a great way to stay active and meet new friends. Stay tuned for details on upcoming events, or contact WelcomingClubFitness@gmail.com.

Cathedral announces new director of music

BY ARLEEN BREEN

The Cathedral of the Incarnation will soon welcome one of the nation’s most respected church musicians.

On Monday, November 20, Dean Sniffen announced with great joy the appointment of Canon Martin Green as the Cathedral’s next Canon Musician and Director of Music, beginning February 2026.

Canon Green arrives from St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in San Diego, where he has served with distinction for more than twenty-six years. A nationally acclaimed choral conductor, vocalist, and organist, he has been a central figure in the San Diego musical landscape and a beloved steward of the Anglican choral tradition.

Music has shaped Green’s life from the start. He began as a boy chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral in San Diego, where he once sang as treble soloist during a visit from Queen Elizabeth II. That early grounding in liturgical music propelled him through roles as Organ Scholar, Assistant Organist, and ultimately Canon for Music— positions through which he nurtured generations of young singers and built one of the West Coast’s most dynamic cathedral music programs.

During his long tenure, Green directed numerous choirs—including youth choristers, adult ensembles, and professional singers—while establishing a thriving year-round schedule of Choral Evensong, Choral Eucharists, and organ recitals. His work frequently extended into the wider cultural community through collaborations with the San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Symphony, San Diego Opera, and the San Diego Master Chorale. He also co-founded the San Diego Summer Choral Festival and led the celebrated restoration of St. Paul’s historic AeolianSkinner organ.

Green’s musical pedigree is exemplary. He has studied with revered figures such as Martin Neary, John Rutter, David Willcocks, and Arthur Wills, and has shared his artistic gifts across the country as a conductor at AGO and Choristers Guild conventions. His performances have been featured on NPR’s Pipedreams, and many of his former choristers and organ scholars have gone on to prominent cathedral and university

Getting married?

posts nationwide.

In a statement, Green expressed both gratitude and excitement for the new chapter ahead. “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Cathedral of the Incarnation and to serve among its gifted clergy, musicians, and community,” he wrote. “I look forward to continuing the growth and success of the chorister program, to exploring creative partnerships with arts organizations in the region, and to championing new voices in sacred and choral music in New York and beyond.”

Green will relocate to Garden City with his wife, Molly—a classical ballet teacher deeply committed to arts education—and their two children, Charles and Iris, both enthusiastic young musicians in their own right.

The Cathedral community is preparing a warm welcome for the Green family as they settle into their new home on Long Island. Further details about Canon Green’s inaugural services will be announced in the coming months. Until then, the Cathedral looks forward with great anticipation to the beauty, excellence, and inspiration his leadership will bring to its worship and musical life.

Canon Musician Martin Green and family.

It’s What’s Happening for Young Adults Through the Library

Library volunteers in Grades 6–12 presented cards to veterans at the Library on Veterans Day. Teen volunteers in Grades 6–12 and members of the National Charity League made cards for veterans as part of the Great Give Back (TGGB), which is held during the month of October. The mission of TGGB is to provide a day of opportunities for the patrons of the public libraries of NY State to participate in meaningful, service-oriented experiences. Over 375 cards were made by volunteers and collected by the Library. Thanks to all the volunteers who participated this year in making cards and in the presentation to the veterans.

Upcoming and Ongoing Library Programs for Tweens and Teens

These programs are for tweens and teens in Grades 6-12 unless otherwise noted. Registration is required for these programs on LibCal at https://gardencitypl.libcal. com unless otherwise noted.

Teens who complete an online survey after specific programs can receive community service for participating.

Registration begins Tuesday, November 25, at 10 a.m. online at https://gardencitypl. libcal.com for the following programs:

• Tuesday, November 25, at 10 a.m.–Thursday, December 18, at 4 p.m.: Tiny Art Show for Community Service (Grades 6–12)

• Tuesday, December 2, at 4 p.m.: Teen Advisory Board (Grades 6–12)

• Friday, December 5, at 3:30 p.m.: Teen Crafternoon: DIY Candle Holders (Grades 6–12)

Registration begins Tuesday, December 2, at 10 a.m. online at https:// gardencitypl.libcal.com for the following programs:

• Tuesday, December 9, at 4 p.m.: Teen Tea and Stitch: A Jane Austen Event (Grades 6–12)

• Tuesday, December 10, at 4 p.m.: Teen Art Workshop: Seasonal Paintings with Watercolor (Grades 6–12)

• Thursday, December 11, at 4 p.m.: Tween Thursdays: Model Magic Ornaments (Grades 4–7)

• Friday, December 12, at 3:30 p.m.: Teen Creative Hour (Grades 6–12)

Teens made Perler Bead art for the Library display during VolunTeen Artists: Perler Bead Art for Community Service on Tuesday, November 11! The perler bead art the teens made is displayed in the Teen Room as part of the Library’s Teen Perler Bead Display. This program is for teens in Grades 6–12 and will be held again on Tuesday, December 16, at 4 p.m. Registration is required and can be done online via LibCal at gardencitypl.libcal.com.

• Saturday, December 13, at 3 p.m.: Teen Edible Holiday House with Chris Buchman (Grades 6–12) Ongoing Take-Home Community Service Opportunities

Looking to volunteer? Check out some of our ongoing take-home community service opportunities for tweens and teens in Grades 6–12. Please check at the Library for more information on each of these opportunities; all volunteer projects should be submitted at the Library with a Volunteer Form, which can be found outside the Tweens and Teens Room.

• Ongoing: Bookmarks for Community Service - No registration required. Up to 20 bookmarks can be submitted per volunteer monthly.

Love to write?

• Ongoing: Kindness Cards for Community Service - No registration required. Up to 10 cards can be submitted per volunteer monthly.

• Ongoing: Friendship Bracelets for Community Service - No registration required. Up to 10 bracelets can be submitted per volunteer monthly.

• Ongoing until December 19: Fall Creative Arts Book Submissions for Community Service - No registration required. Up to five pieces of writing and/or art (sized 8.5 × 11 inches) can be submitted per volunteer.

• Ongoing until December 19, 2025: Holiday Recipe Cards for Community Service - No registration required. Up to five recipe cards can be submitted per volunteer.

We’re looking for writers in our community to compose ar ticles on local topics, opinions, reviews, worthy places to visit on Long Island, and even pieces of fiction. We aim to feature at least one new article and writer each week in our Discovery magazine section.

Email submissions: editor@gcnews.com

• Attach article and any photos (1MB), along with your name and contact info.

• Articles must be between 1,500 - 3,000 words. • Each writer will be reimbursed a stipend of $25.⁰⁰

News from the Children’s Room

Please join us on Nov. 22 at 10:30 a.m. for Tot’s Morning Out Ages 2–5 (Not in Kindergarten)

Upcoming November Library Programs for Children

These programs are for children ages Birth through Grade 5. Registration is required. Visit https://www.gardencitypl.libcal.com to register for November programs.

Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ! Children’s programs are extremely popular! We recommend that registrants arrive EARLY to check-in. Your reserved spot will be held for 5 minutes after the starting time of the class before being given to a patron on the waitlist. If you know you cannot attend a class, please cancel your registration on LibCal or call the Library at

516-742-8405 x5241, so that your spot can be released to someone on the waitlist.

• Saturday, Nov. 22, at 10:30 a.m.: Tot’s Morning Out - Ages 2–5 (Not in Kindergarten)

• Monday, Nov. 24, at 10:30 a.m.: Toddler Storytime - 18 Months to 3 Years

• Monday, Nov. 24, at 11:30 a.m.: Mixed Age StorytimeBirth to 5 Years (Not in Kindergarten)

• Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 10:30 a.m.: Mother Goose StorytimeBirth to 17 Months.

• Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 11:30 a.m.: Mixed Age StorytimeBirth to 5 Years (Not in Kindergarten)

• Monday, Dec. 1, at 10:30 a.m.: Toddler Storytime - 18 Months to 3 Years

• Monday, Dec. 1, at 11:30 a.m.: Mixed Age StorytimeBirth to 5 Years (Not in Kindergarten)

• Tuesday, Dec. 2, at

Library hours for Thanksgiving week

The Garden City Public Library will observe the following hours for the Thanksgiving holiday:

• Wednesday, November 26: Open 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

• Thursday, November 27: Thanksgiving, Closed

• Friday, November 28: Open 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Please join us on Nov. 25 at 11:30 a.m. for Mixed Age Storytime - Birth to 5 Years (Not in Kindergarten)

10:30 a.m.: Mother Goose StorytimeBirth to 17 Months

• Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 11:30 a.m.: Preschool Craft - 3 to 5 Years (Not in Kindergarten)

• Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 10:30 a.m.: A Time for Kids - 18 Months to 5 Years (Not in Kindergarten)

• Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 3:30 p.m.: Mixed Age Storytime - Birth to 5 Years (Not in Kindergarten)

• Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 4:00 p.m.: STEAM Fun Club - Grades K–2.

• Thursday, Dec. 4, at 10:30 a.m.: Mixed Age Storytime -

Birth to 5 Years (Not in Kindergarten)

• Thursday, Dec. 4, at 11:30 a.m.: Mother Goose StorytimeBirth to 17 Months.

Unattended Child Policy

It is Library policy that all children under age 11 must be accompanied by a parent or designated responsible person while in the Library. Also, if the young child is attending a Library program, we require the parent or designated responsible person to remain in the Library throughout the program and meet the child upon completion of the program.

• 516-294-8900

Adult Services at the Garden City Public Library

Monday Movies

Monday Movies presented by the Friends of the Garden City Library at 1:30 p.m.: November 2025 –Remembering Robert Redford

11/24/25 - “All is Lost”, 2013, 105 min

December 2025

12/1/25 - “First Wives Club” (PG), 1996, 105 mins

12/8/25 - “Arabesque” (TV-PG), 1966, 105 mins

12/15/25 - “Sabrina” (TV-PG), 1954, 113 mins

12/22/25 - “Christmas in Connecticut” (TV-PG), 1945, 101 mins

12/29/25 - To be announced

December Programs

Learn to Crochet and/or Knit with an Experienced Instructor - Lupe Velasquez TWO DATES ADDED!

• Wednesday, December  3 and 17 7–8 p.m. in the Small Meeting Room  Crafter, knitter and crocheter Lupe Velasquez will be on hand to teach, help and suggest projects to do.   The class is scheduled on alternating Wednesdays through  November, and two December dates have been added. You may register once for the entire series.

Please register online at LibCal at https://gardencitypl.libcal.com/. For additional information contact Adult Services at (516) 742-8405 ext. 5236 or email speakingofbooks@gardencitypl. org.  Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

Italian For Beginners and More

• Thursday, December 4

**MAKE UP DATE: Thursday, December 11

Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon in the Large Meeting Room Mrs. Brunetti is back to teach her popular class “Italian for Beginners and More.”   This program is for those with limited knowledge of Italian but all are welcome to join.

Register online on LibCal (https:// gardencitypl.libcal.com) or call Adult Services Reference Desk at (516)742-8405 ext. 5236 or email Speakingofbooks@ gardencitypl.org.  Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

The Library will hold a program of crafts and games for adults with developmental disabilities on Monday, December 8.

Join Us for Crafts & Games for Adults with Developmental

Disabilities!

Monday, December 8

from 11 a.m. to noon in the Small Meeting Room

We will have a variety of different crafts, games, and activities available for participants to use. Please note there's a limited amount of each craft supply and game, so registrants may not be able to do every craft project or play every game available.  When registering, please indicate the name of Day Hab, how many special needs adults will be attending, and how many caregivers will also be attending.

Register on LibCal (https://gardencitypl.libcal.com) or call Adult Services Reference Desk at (516) 742-8405 ext. 5236 or email Speakingofbooks@ gardencitypl.org or the Young Adult Department here: https://gardencitypl. org/young-adult-department/contactthe-young-adult-tweens-teens-department/.

Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

Day habs & special needs groups are welcome with prior registration. Individuals can also register to participate.

Adults with developmental disabilities must be accompanied by an adult caregiver for the duration of the program.

While these programs are designed for adults with developmental disabilities, all ages and abilities are welcome. Mah-Jongg  & Games (Register for each one separately)

All will be held in the Large Meeting Room

Thursday, December 4 and 18, from 6–8 p.m.

Bring your own mah-jongg board. No instruction is provided. Seating is limited. Please register online or call the Reference desk (516)742-8405 x5236. The first two weeks are reserved for Garden City Public Library patrons only.

Pine Cone Centerpiece with Tout Ruban

Saturday, December 6, from 1–2 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room

Join us for this festive and charming workshop where you’ll craft a 6-inch holiday tree composed entirely of miniature pine cones! It’s the perfect way to create a rustic, whimsical, and truly unique decoration that will look stunning in your home!

Register online on LibCal (https:// gardencitypl.libcal.com) or call Adult Services Reference Desk at (516)742-8405 ext. 5236 or email speakingofbooks@ gardencitypl.org.. Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

Tom Lynch: Our Solar System Tuesday, December 9, from 7–8 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room Amateur astronomer & NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador Tom Lynch explains the origins of our solar system as well as its current status.

Register online on LibCal (https:// gardencitypl.libcal.com) or call Adult Services Reference Desk at (516)742-8405 ext. 5236 or email speakingofbooks@

The film “All is Lost” will be screened at the Garden City Public Library on Monday, November 24.

gardencitypl.org.. Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

Chef Rob - “Barristers Chicken Chasseur” Friday, December 12, from 1–2 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room

This is a demonstration and handson class featuring “Barristers Chicken Chasseur” his own version of this popular French dish he served as a Head chef. Also in this class everyone will make a super-sized single serve holiday sprinkle cookie ready to enjoy by yourself. Patrons don't need to bring anything to class.

Register online on LibCal (https:// gardencitypl.libcal.com) or call Adult Services Reference Desk at (516)742-8405 ext. 5236 or email speakingofbooks@ gardencitypl.org. Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

Bingo for Adults

Friday, December 19, from 11 a.m.–-12 p.m. in the Small Meeting Room

Join us for a fun morning of Bingo and win some fun prizes.

Register for each Bingo online on LibCal (https://gardencitypl.libcal.

Adult Services at the Garden City Public Library

com) or call Adult Services Reference Desk at (516)742-8405 ext. 5236 or email Speakingofbooks@gardencitypl.org.  Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

Twin County Chorus

Saturday, December 20, from 1–2 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room

Twin County Chorus is an awardwinning chapter of Sweet Adelines International.  They encourage women of all backgrounds to discover the joy of singing four-part a cappella in the barbershop style.  They will perform a selection of holiday music, ending with an audience sing-along.

Register online on LibCal (https://

gardencitypl.libcal.com) or call Adult Services Reference Desk at (516)742-8405 ext. 5236 or email speakingofbooks@gardencitypl.org.. Programs may be canceled due to weather, power outages, lack of registration, or other unforeseen circumstances. If contact information has been provided for registration, a direct attempt will be made to notify participants.

Check Out A Museum Pass!

Through the generosity of the Friends of the Garden City Public Library, the Library offers free passes to select museums and cultural institutions. Reservations can be made via LibCal, which requires a Library card and a PIN. Please visit the Circulation Desk to verify or create your PIN. Once you have a PIN, you can make your reservations from home or at the Library. You can make a reservation to bor-

row a Museum pass from one of the member institutions in our Museum Pass Program. Some museum passes are now available to print from home, including the Vanderbilt Museum located at 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport. If you do not have access to a printer, the Library will be happy to print the pass for you. These passes will be good for one day only. Please note that not all museums participate. For a list of printfrom-home passes, visit the Library website, www.gardencitypl.org.

Passes for the following museums still need to be picked up at the Library: 9/11 Memorial & Museum, NYC (2 adults & 2 children); MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art), NYC (5 visitors); the Long Island Children’s Museum, Garden City (2 adults & 2 children) and the Empire Pass, which allows entry of the vehicle when the card is presented at most New York State Parks, Department of

Environmental Conservation forest preserve areas, boat launch sites, arboretums and park preserves.

The following Library Museum Pass rules remain in effect.

• Museum passes are available only to Garden City Public Library cardholders in good standing who have signed the Museum Pass User Agreement. Museum passes may be reserved in advance and must be checked out by an adult (18 years and older) family member.

• Reservations will be taken up to one month in advance of the desired date, subject to availability on a firstcome, first-served basis. Reservations can be made in person at the Adult Services Desk or over the phone at 516-742-8405 x5236.

Additional rules and information are available at the library.

Library welcomes community to annual Veterans Day events

William Bradford Turner Post 265 and Auxiliary held its Veterans Day events at the Garden City Public Library on Tuesday morning due to the cold weather. First, the Auxiliary held “ Meet the Veterans ” to welcome several local veterans to speak informally about their service experiences. At 11:00 a.m., the Post held its annual Veterans Day ceremony to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice and those currently serving in the military fighting for those same freedoms. Post Commander Frank Tauches presided, welcoming veterans, the Auxiliary, residents and Village leaders. The program also included brief remarks from Mayor Ed Finneran, the playing of “ Taps ” by buglers Juliet Stampfel and Dean Polizotto, members of the Garden City High School Band, and the singing of and signing in ASL “ God Bless America ” by Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Preschool current and recent nursery school students.

Back" program.

Veterans and Village Board members gathered for a photo as the Library's teen volunteers presented cards to the veterans to honor their service. The cards were created as part of the Library's "Great Give

Garden City Casino Annual Club Tournament results

Men’s A Singles Champion Arthur Hazarian, Chair Lou Fasano & Finalist Mike Sambus

Ladies A Singles Champion Jessica Seifert, Chair Danielle Molaison & Finalist Erin Doherty

The Garden City Casino hosted its annual club tournament championships during the weekend of September 12 - 14. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, and many thanks to all our volunteers and all our players for another

Men’s B Singles Finalist Keith Butler, Champion Drew Galligan & Chair Kevin Kiely

Ladies B Singles Finalist Karen Pineman, Chair Kristen McCann & Champion Sivan Chapman

outstanding tennis season. Founded in 1895, the GC Casino is the oldest Tennis and Social club in the Village of Garden City, and membership is open to all Garden City Village residents.

GC Casino Club Championship Results

Men’s A Singles: Champion - Arthur Hazarian; Finalist - Mike Sambus

Ladies’ A Singles: Champion - Jessica Seifert; Finalist - Erin Doherty

Men’s A Doubles: Champions - Sean Coonerty / Arthur Hazarian

Finalists - Jeff Coviello / Patrick Sameday

Ladies A Doubles: Champions - Erin Doherty / Danielle Molaison

Finalists - Gina Leake / Karen Pineman

Singles

Men’s B Singles: Champion - Drew Galligan; Finalist - Keith Butler

Ladies’ B Singles: Champion - Sivan Chapman; Finalist - Karen Pineman

Doubles

Men’s B Doubles: Champions - Keith Butler / Josh Chapman

Finalists - Mike Sambus / Adrian Mariacher

Ladies B Doubles: Champions - Daielle Molaison / Lauren Peeples

Finalists - Amy O’Leary / Karen Pineman

Men’s A Double Champions Jeff Coviello & Sean Coonerty, Chair Michael Horn, and Finalists Patrick Sameday & Arthur Hazarian

Men’s B Doubles Finalists Adrian Mariacher & Josh Chapman, Chair Drew Wozniak, and Champions Keith Butler & Mike Sambus Ladies

Ladies A Doubles Champions Erin Doherty & Gina Leake, Chair Christine Williams, and Finalists Karen Pineman & Danielle Molaison

Ladies B Doubles Champions Danielle Molaison & Amy O’Leary, Chair Teri Cirruto, and Finalists Karen Pineman & Lauren Peeples

Garden City Casino Annual Club Tournament results

Doubles

Men’s Casino Cup: Champions - Lee Williams / Kevin Kiely

Finalists - Drew Wozniak / Pat Mcnamara

Ladies Casino Cup: Champions - Michele Brosnan / Kristin Hester

Finalists - Caitlan Sorohan / Ellen Mauk

Men’s 120s: Champions - Keith Becker / John Daley

Casino Cup Finalists Pat McNamara & Kevin Kiely, Chair Jim Murphy, and Champions Drew Wozniak & Lee Williams

Finalists - Jim Murphy / Adrian Mariacher

Ladies 100s: Champions - Erin Doherty / Vicki Glover

Finalists - Bernadette Sullivan / Jessica Seifert

Mixed Doubles: Champions - Jennifer Soper / Genevieve Sameday

Finalists - Mike Quinn / Patrick Sameday

Mixed Doubles Champions Mike Quinn & Jennifer Soper, Chair John Daley, and Finalists Genevieve Sameday and Patrick Sameday

Ladies Casino Cup Champions Michelle Brosnan & Caitlin Sorohan, Chair Kate Crofton, and Finalists Kristin Hester & Ellen Mauk

Ladies Casino Cup Champions Michelle Brosnan & Caitlin Sorohan, Chair Kate Crofton, and Finalists Kristin Hester & Ellen Mauk

Men’s

Men’s 120s Champions Jim Murphy & Keith Becker, Chair Mike Sbeglia, and Finalists John Daley & Adrian Mariacher

Ladies 100s Champions Bernadette Sullivan & Erin Doherty, Chair Louise Fitzsimmons, and Finalists Jessica Seifert & Vicki Glover

Hogwarts comes to the Cathedral

BY ARLEEN BREEN

The Cathedral of the Incarnation was transformed on Sunday, October 26, into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a magical Harry Potter–themed banquet and afternoon of adventure. Children and adults alike filled the sanctuary, which had been refitted for the occasion as the Great Hall of the wizarding world’s most famous school.

Professor Dumbledore himself welcomed guests to open the feast, joined at the high table by several fellow professors. After the banquet, attendees embarked on a series of imaginative Hogwarts-style activities and quests.

New students could attend a class in Defense Against the Dark Arts or try to puzzle their way out of the Chamber of Secrets Escape Room, cleverly staged inside the historic cathedral. Those who successfully escaped were greeted by the Cathedral’s resident ghosts, A.T. and Cornelia Stewart.

Other young wizards set out on a daring Scavenger Hunt Quest to rescue Cornelia the Unicorn, who had been turned to stone by a cockatrice’s bite. To save her, students searched for ingredi-

ents to brew a restorative potion.

Meanwhile, the cathedral’s Potions Class proved a hit as participants concocted magical mixtures—including snow!

The afternoon concluded with a visit from a pair of postal owls and a spread of Honeydukes-inspired desserts, featuring pumpkin pasties and treacle tarts prepared by Cathedral volunteers. Guests also enjoyed butterbeer and pumpkin juice, served by Madam Rosmerta of the Three Broomsticks.

The event was the opening event of the Cathedral’s “Wizards & Wonders” series, celebrating imagination, friendship, and the magic of community. On Sundays, themes will be explored in the children's classes, as well by adults in the weekly Dean’s Forum.

It is not too late to register for the Dinner Series - Parishioners of all ages are invited to gather for a light dinner, discussion and games exploring Christian themes through the adventures of Harry Potter. The first session meets Wednesday, November 5th with the theme of Love and Sacrifice. RSVP by emailing Mo. Kate Salisbury at ksalisbury@incarnationgc.org.

Madam Rosmerta serves her special libations.

Molly checking in on Fred and George's antics.

Prof. Dumbledore and faculty members preside over the banquet.

Prof. Snape has a letter to go out!

Garden City schools report academic gains

From page 1

small-group instruction, and a focus on writing as contributing factors. Targeted lessons in decimals and fractions were implemented to help move students to higher proficiency levels. Students with disabilities also showed progress, with more achieving advanced scores.

Middle school students continued to demonstrate solid results on state assessments and Regents exams, with instruction focused on vocabulary, consistent writing, and independent reading to support preparation for high school.

At Garden City High School, students achieved strong outcomes in AP courses. More than 90% of students scored proficient or higher in AP World History, with comparable results in AP U.S. History, AP Macroeconomics, and other senior-level courses. The district’s

AP “quality index,” which tracks both participation and achievement, remains higher than comparable districts. Regents exams showed near-100% passing rates, with a majority of students reaching mastery-level performance.

For a complete overview of student performance and areas identified for growth, administrators encourage the community to view the full report on the district’s board presentations page.

Superintendent announcements

Superintendent Dr. Kusum Sinha shared key updates, including new state safety requirements.

New state-mandated safety protocols will be implemented beginning January 20, 2026, when all district schools must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan. The Health and Safety Committee has reviewed the plan, and it will enter a 30-day public comment period before

formal adoption in December.

Leadership changes were also noted. Hemlock School Principal Melanie Odone will be resigning at the end of the month to pursue a new opportunity that offers her greater flexibility. Effective December, Jim Curran will serve as interim principal during the search for a permanent replacement.

“Mr. Curran is a familiar and trusted member of the Garden City school community, having served in several interim roles over the years. His deep understanding of our district’s programs and procedures will help ensure a smooth and seamless transition in leadership,” said Sinha.

Community comments

Several parents addressed the board, raising concerns about support for students with learning differences and technology use.

One mother highlighted struggles for students with dyslexia, including inconsistent instruction, lack of certified teachers, and heavy reliance on parents and tutors. She urged the district to adopt a more structured, multisensory approach and group students with similar needs together.

Parents also cautioned against early one-to-one device programs in elementary schools, noting that too much screen time may hinder reading comprehension, focus, and critical thinking. Other parents requested clearer reporting of test data and a survey to understand families’ use of tutoring services.

The Board will review the concerns raised and continue these discussions at the next meeting, scheduled for Monday, November 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Garden City High School.

Changing of the guard in Rec Dept. as projects move ahead

From page 1

Nordt reported that the old slide has been fully removed and contractors are dismantling the footings.

“Once the removal is complete, they’ll anticipate the slide manufacturer’s delivery of the new slide so installation can begin,” he said.

Tai reflected on the nostalgia surrounding the original slide, which served generations of residents. “It was sentimental for a lot of residents,” she said. “We’re excited to see a new slide going up.”

She also asked for an update on the peeling floor inside the kiddie pool. Hill said the village is still awaiting results from the contractor and manufacturer.

“It’s in the contractor’s hands,” he explained. “We’ve reached out for an update on their discussions with the manufacturer but have not heard back,”

he said. He added, “We’re at the point of asking the company for a meeting for the opportunity to make it right. But we can assure you, one way or another this will be made right – we will get it done by the same contractor or if they can’t fulfill that we will look for other services” He added that the village has not paid for any remediation and will not do so until the problem is resolved.

Cluett Hall, field projects move forward

Cluett Hall renovations are progressing, with Milburn Flooring on site for the past two weeks. New flooring and the stage renovation are scheduled for completion by November 24th. Nordt said the new floor looks “fantastic” and encouraged trustees to visit.

He added that the HVAC system project is nearing its start, pending an evaluation of the pads needed for installation.

On the St. Paul’s turf field project, approved in October, a preconstruction meeting was held on November 5th. “Landtek is confident that as long as the weather cooperates, the project can begin within the next couple of weeks and be completed by the end of the year,” Nordt said.

Applause for Recreation leadership

Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi highlighted Nordt’s career, noting his most recent role as recreation director for the City of Newburgh and his 25 years of professional experience—all but three in municipal recreation. A Long Island native from Kings Park, Nordt brings experience in budgeting, capital projects, community programming, and operations.

Suozzi also seized the moment to publicly thank Assistant Superintendent Hill for his leadership during the tran-

sition. “At the last meeting it may have sounded like an obituary—what I meant to say is ‘Thank You’ for your steadfast leadership over the last 12 months,” he said. “You stepped up when Mr. Blake retired and did a wonderful job. You and Matt will become a great leadership team for many years to come.”

Mayor Finneran echoed the praise, noting Hill “rallied the troops in difficult ways” following former Superintendent Paul Blake’s retirement in September 2024.

Nordt, in turn, thanked Hill for steering the department. “Though it was 14 months, it really encompassed 40 months of work,” he said. “Andy led the team and took the ship in the right direction. I’m lucky to take the lead now, and we’ll lean on his expertise. Together we will make everybody proud.”

Village reviews first quarter spending, revenue trends

From page 12

• $70,000 for storm sewer mapping compliance

• $60,000 for cleanup work at the Meadow Street sewer pump station

• $20,000 for a traffic study in the Mott section of the village

Through August 31st, the village received $59.677 million in revenue—88% of its projection and up $1.1 million from the same period last year.

Woo attributed the gains to higher building permit activity compared with Q1 of FY2024–25. However, GCPD revenues dropped significantly year-overyear, from $1.056 million to $539,000. Woo attributed this to the major New York State grant GCPD received for

police technology equipment/operations in the first quarter of 2024-2025, of $465,000, which counted as an item of revenue.

“Other General Revenue” increased by $1.5 million—from $56.804 million to $58.301 million—driven by a $1.3 million rise in real property tax collections (up 2.5%) and a $250,000 Covanta settlement, which had not been budgeted.

Woo also reported an increase in operating revenue for the Pool Enterprise Fund, now $539,000, supported by $239,000 in federal ARPA funds and $300,000 from the General Fund. The increase of $45,000 for operating revenues came up mostly due to the Pool Guest Pass fees.

Water Fund revenue declined by $3

million compared with last year’s first quarter due to New York State grants the village received during FY2024–2025.

“We received $3.8 million last year, compared to $913,000 this year,” Woo said.

Capital Fund revenues also fell, as the village funded more capital projects through taxes during last year’s first quarter.

Woo noted a 10% decrease in revenue for the Insurance Reserve Fund because the village is intentionally drawing down excess surplus. This year’s Q1 allocation was $3.106 million, compared with $3.468 million last year, a drop of $362,000.

Following a more extensive report at the October 23rd meeting, Woo emphasized the importance of closely moni-

toring capital project financing in the years ahead.

“Ideally, we would take on new debt as old debt rolls off to maintain even annual debt service, but we don’t have many projects rolling off,” she said.

Looking ahead to the FY2026–2027 budget, Woo highlighted the potential impact of fluctuating interest rates. “Debt service does impact the tax levy and if we start doubling the debt service that is principal and interest that is being paid every year – it’s embedded in your operating budget so you’d have to keep an eye on it. I think the lowering of interest rates would be good news in terms of financing”

Photos from the Village Archives

Nassau Hospital

A postcard view of the original Nassau Hospital, constructed in 1900. Although in Mineola, it was closely associated with Garden City, even having its water supply at one time furnished by the Garden City Company. More wings were rapidly added, and by 1940 the original wooden buildings were replaced by brick ones, with further additions made in 1954 [Gardner], 1963 [Potter], 1975 [Hoag], and 1981 [North]. When Meadowbrook Hospital in East Meadow, built in 1935, changed its name in 1970 to Nassau County Medical Center, the confusion between the two names prompted Nassau Hospital to be renamed WinthropUniversity Hospital in 1985, in honor of a long-time family of volunteer trustees and recognizing its education programs. In 2019 the hospital was added to the NYU Langone hospital properties and renamed NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island. Benefactor Ken Langone, among other endeavors, was a founder of the Home Depot stores.

Archives identifier: pbpos03

A selection from the extensive Village Archives. Others can be seen at www.NYHeritage.org  - click on Organizations, G,  and Garden City Public Library. Comments/questions: email Historian@gardencityny.net - Wm. Bellmer

Meadow Street drainage project advances

Trustee Vinny Muldoon said many residents have asked about the project, which is intended to reduce flooding risks. He asked Borroni for a general timeline.

Because the project’s schedule depends on the EFC grant, Borroni said it was difficult to provide specific dates. If approvals come through as hoped, the project could start within a few months. Construction is expected to take eight to ten months, with significant progress anticipated by spring.

The last detailed public discussion of the project was in June 2024, when then-Mayor Mary Carter Flanagan and Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi outlined engineering complexities relating to the adjoining Village of Hempstead. At that time, Suozzi described the need for eminent domain to install a drainage system “to alleviate flooding on

Meadow Street between College Place and Tremont Street.”

Board approves participation in contract

At the meeting, Borroni also outlined an agenda item related to the $818,000 bond for Water Main Replacement Projects, awarded on October 9 to Bancker Construction Corp. of Islip.

The Board authorized the Department of Public Works to piggyback off the Nassau County Requirements Contract for maintenance and repair of water mains, hydrants, and valves at various locations. This contract will be used on an as-needed basis to replace undersized mains and hydrants as budgeted for 2025–2026, supporting the village’s fire protection and water service.

Board ratifies CSEA agreement

Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi announced the successful completion of negotiations for a new collective bar-

gaining agreement between the CSEA Rank & File Unit and the Village. The Board ratified the contract, which is effective retroactively from June 1, 2025, through May 21, 2029.

Suozzi thanked Mayor Ed Finneran, the Board, Village Treasurer Irene Woo, Village Labor Counsel Christopher Kurtz of Bond, Schoeneck & King, and the CSEA negotiating team. “There was good communication on both sides resulting in a good contract for both the village and our employees,” he said.

Building Dept: Strong September

Superintendent of Building Giuseppe Giovanniello reported September 2025 activity in his department, including the issuance of 124 permits, 194 inspections, and 114 certificates of occupancy. Staff resolved 56 complaints, and revenues totaled $149,000.

Fire Station No. 2 bids under review

Trustee Muldoon also inquired about bids for the renovation of Garden City Fire Station No. 2 at Edgemere Road and Stewart Avenue. Giovanniello said initial bids underwent close review, resulting in the elimination of most due to errors.

Giovanniello replied, “It was mainly due to errors in those bids, so we’ve narrowed it down to one particular contractor which we are still investigating all the numbers and details for. We are just about complete with the process now, and we’ve also reached out to some of our on-call contractors in case we can get bids from them as well. We did switch off for the station’s mechanical work contractor and we are working with them to narrow down that portion as the bid came in a lot lower than what we expected.”

From page 8

EAB gets deep dive on water infrastructure

From page 1

contaminant 1,4-dioxane. “All the wells owned and operated by the Village of Garden City have the AOP treatment systems, and we are now in full compliance with New York State’s mandate,” Carey said.

Carey also outlined progress on the historic Garden City Water Works building renovation on Eleventh Street and Hilton Avenue. The 116-year-old building is moving toward restoration following the Village Board’s approval of a $2.5 million bond on November 6th. In October, the Board also authorized applying for a $600,000 grant through the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), with D&B Engineers & Architects preparing the application.

“The historic building, a contemporary of St. Paul’s, is in need of renovations which are about 80% designed,” Carey told the EAB. Planned work includes a new roof and windows, full brick repointing, and HVAC upgrades. He said, “The village seems to have scored pretty fairly on the grant application to the NYS OPRHP, so we have our fingers crossed to hear back on grant funds by the end of this year.”

EAB member Elizabeth Bailey asked about the building’s current uses. Carey said it houses water-sampling equipment, well controls, electrical systems, general storage, and some Garden City Police Department space.

Turning to the Village Yard and Community Park/Pool, Carey described emergency water main replacement work undertaken in late winter and early spring. A failing section of main between the pool area and Village Yard required immediate attention. “We were up against the clock, as the Pool was going to open by early June, but we made it,” he said. “The line is in service and up to standards.”

Carey then updated the board on the Cedar Valley Sewer Pump Station Lift project at Hilton Park and Second Street. The lift station transports sewage from the eastern half of the village into a forced main that connects to the county system. The Board approved the design proposal for a new lift station in January 2024, at a cost of $130,000.

Progress also continues on the separate Cedar Valley Pump Station replacement project. The 90-year-old facility has outdated mechanical and electrical equipment and is nearing the end of its useful life. Two contracts for the project were awarded on June 5th. “The contractor has already broken ground,” Carey said. “We expect this to come online by August 2026.”

Hydrant and water-main replace-

ment work is another priority. Annual hydrant inspections revealed several units—some more than a century old— were failing or undersized. Replacement hydrants and the water mains feeding them will be installed through the Nassau County Requirements Contract for Water Main Replacement. The work is expected to begin within weeks. The Board previously approved an $818,000 bond resolution to cover water-main improvements and hydrant upgrades, though Carey told trustees the final cost will likely come in lower.

Carey also noted an upcoming project to replace the domestic and fire-service water lines entering Village Hall at 351 Stewart Avenue due to recent breaks and aging infrastructure.

Water usage trends

Carey presented Garden City’s monthly pumpage data, which is reported to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Through October 2025, the village pumped about 1.5 billion gallons of water. Usage climbs steadily each spring, peaks in the summer, and drops in fall and winter. The final 2025 data will be available in January.

A recurring challenge, he said, is overnight irrigation usage that continues into the cold season because many residents forget to turn sprinklers off or “winterize” their systems, creating icy sidewalk conditions. Carey emphasized that malfunctioning or neglected rain and moisture sensors contribute to unnecessary watering. “If the rain sensors for irrigation worked, we would not see the same exact pattern for three months straight, every other day for the exact same times, because the sprinklers would be shut off when it rains,” he said.

Trustee Jessica Tai noted that modern “smart” irrigation controllers can tie into weather forecasts. Carey encouraged residents to take advantage of the village’s $100 rebate program for installing these devices. “I guarantee that the extra $100 a smart controller might cost would be saved in your first summer,” he said. Between November 10th and 12th alone, he received calls from about 30 residents questioning high water bills.

EAB members discussed preparing an “Environmental Tips” column to educate residents on smart controllers, moisture sensors, and rain-sensor maintenance. Carey said funds remain available for the rebate program, and that increasing promotion through the village’s four property owners’ associations could help spread the word.

THI S WEEK AT ROTARY

Rotarians Meg Norris, Jennifer Ferrara-Poupis, Randy Colohan, Althea Robinson , Tina O’Keeffe, Diana O’Neilll, club President and Tom O’Keeffe attended the November 11 breakfast at the Carle Place Diner where members discussed upcoming events, including the bell ringing for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle p upcoming Bell Ringing on December 6 at the Key Food market.

Celebrating 100th Years A Perfect Time to Join Rotary

On December 17, at our Holiday Dinner and Community Service Awards Dinner at the Stewart Manor Country Club Rotary will celebrate 100 years of providing an array of services to our communities and far beyond. The event will be the culmination of 12 months of club services to local non-profit organizations, carrying out Rotary’s motto, ”Service Above Self.”

Featured will be the presentation of awards to the extraordinary service-oriented Garden City residents Joanne Meyer Jendras, Gary Jendres and to Mary Joesten, founder of Mineola’s Faith Mission Food Bank. Also featured will he therenowned 30-piece Mineola High School choral group will perform.

As we celebrate our centennial year, Mineola-Garden City Rotary encourages those who are also service oriented, to join us as our club embarks on its 101st year of service this January. We are a wonderful and dedicated group of individuals who, through fellowship, camaraderie and sincere appreciation for each other and for the work of Rotary.

Rotary meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month throughout the year at Mineola’s Davenport Press restaurant at 12:15. In order to further accommodate our members, occasional breakfasts are held at the Carle Place Diner, at 8 am. Members may represent local businesses, corporations, schools, houses of worship, individual residents and retirees. Welcome to all! Please join us!

If you are interested, please email membership chair, Jim Brady at jtbrady1@verizon.net or text Jim at 516382-7223. For more information about

Rotary, please refer to the two Rotary pages within the Guide to Garden City inserted in this issue of The Garden City News. For information about Rotary’s Holiday Diner, please email mineolagardencityrotaryclub@gmail.com.

Join Rotary as We Ring the Bell For the Salvation Army on December 6 For more than 40 years, MineolaGarden City Rotary has been ringing the bell in support of the many efforts of the Salvation Army. Join us in this support. Rotarians and Scouts will be standing outside of both entrances at the Key Food market on Saturday, December 6 from 9 am – 4 pm.

At the November 11 breakfast meeting at the Carle Place Diner, Rotarian Randy Colahan holds a mini Salvation Army Red kettle into which attendees donated happy dollars. Rotary Vice President Meg Norris looks on.

music, a place to gather on the benches with friends or to walk along a path and view the flowers that border it. We would have an opportunity to have our dogs romp in a designated dog run and to sit at tables where we could play chess, checkers, or other games. We could join a game of bocci or shuffleboard as we view the preserved clocktower which would serve as a reminder of past times and a beacon of times to come in our village where we live in peace and harmony thankful for the beauty that surrounds us and where we are eternally thankful for the many blessings we share together.

I look forward to meeting you young and less young at the park soon.

Ann Paulson

Fair and feasible approach

To the Editor:

I read with great interest the idea of a beautiful park set in part of the St Paul’s property. Preserving some of the structure as a tribute to the founders of Garden City along with a version of quiet gardens as are in nearby Clark Gardens, Planting Fields of north shore along with maintaining athletic fields for the young people seem to be a fair and more financially feasible approach an equitable solution for current and future taxpayers.

In my opinion this concept merits as much serious consideration as the repeated consulting studies and seemingly endless controversial referendums .

Thomas McLaughlin

Lack of attention to cost

To the Editor:

I find the lack of attention to cost by the current BOTs in the prospective reconstruction of St. Paul’s to be alarming. A take it or leave it approach for a potential capital project exceeding $150 million, which dwarfs the total existing debt, defies any sense of financial accountability. Sending out an obviously flawed survey without consideration for sensible alternatives, including myriad parkland options, speaks to agendas that are not in line with the best interests of the Village.

Timothy Sullivan

Park could unite community

To the Editor:

From what I’ve read in the GC News and the GC Facebook Group, we continue to be a divided community regarding the future of St. Paul’s. Imagine a world in which Village stakeholders compromise their hardened positions.

Imagine a world in which instead of spending north of $100 million, we spend half that amount. Imagine a world that instead of demolishing the entire structure, we save certain parts (ie., the clock tower, entrance, etc.). Imagine a world

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Email: Editor@GCNews.com

in which Village taxes and its bond rating will not be a burden to our seniors, fixed income folks, strapped taxpayers, and future new residents. Imagine a St. Paul’s Park that accomplishes many (not all) of the things that divide us.

Gordon Keit.

Compromise only way to move forward

To the Editor:

I believe a compromise is the only way to move St. Paul’s forward.

No one will get everything they hope for. Every year we all throw good money after well intentioned money.

Let’s find something everyone can say okay to instead of always bashing each other and watching the building decay.

Totally ignoring the history of the village isn’t the answer. Neither is assuming massive amounts of debt that could hurt the village in ways we haven’t even imagined or considered.

St. Paul’s Park looks beautiful and lets give that option a fair chance of being considered by the residents of the Village.

George Evans

More info on park

To the Editor:

I was dismayed by the GCN Editor’s suggestion at p. 2 of last week’s GCN that the current BOT, via a consultant, make a cost estimate of the park concept which has gotten so much favorable mention and support by residents. I am compelled to list reasons why the Editor’s well intended suggestion is unsound: The park concept is presently in an organic phase, with more and more residents expressing their ideas about what the Park could contain. Unfortunately the Editor’s suggestion would appear to give this save it all Board free reign to design their own park and likely pick a preservation save every brick “ expert” to provide estimates.

Let’s look more closely: This Board went so far as to ban the word demolition from its survey. It claimed that a non-binding poll based upon dubious cost estimates by Westerman Construction meant that the expressed preference of 39% of the voters were meaningless. It excluded facade although it was part of the same preservation category as reuse under an overall “preservation” umbrella.

Trustee Torino has said demolition would result in a pile of dirt. Trustee Muldoon, not to be outdone, said it would have 911 consequences. Both were absurd statements designed to influence residents to choose only what THEY themselves want! Trustees Harrington and Torino are involved in several of the many emails (see March 28 GCN article and link to disclosures at https://tinyurl.com/stpauls/emails). Such were disclosed by then Mayor

Flanagan which demonstrate that several Veneziale Mayor Committee members exerted undue influence over Westerman and machinations to impose a budget on Westerman in conformity with their desire to make reuse look fantasy world inexpensive. Do we need to see that movie again?

In one email by Veneziale Committee’s Frank McDonough sent to Dpt. of Building head G. Giovanniello, then Mayor Veneziale, Wm. Alisse, B. Gemmel and P. Coll (email #5 1/15/23) he had the gall to tell others not to provide answers to demolition advocates labeling four of them the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”. I was specifically named. I have long advocated for a demolition/park solution and take umbrage, as would anyone, at this characterization and being marginalized. No one with a scintilla of common sense would want this Board to directly or indirectly evaluate demolition and/ or a park! Their blatant bias does not just run through the Board it gallops with Trustee Muldoon’s Advisory group tainted by some of the same people who participated in the awful emails! The same 6 who drafted the St/ Paul’s demolition not an option survey opposed disclosure of these emails.

As G. Salem wrote last week , (Let’s Build a Park, p.2, GCN) a new Board is needed. That would initiate a fresh start but for now those proposing the Park concept can and will provide fair cost estimates for the demolition/The Park At St. Paul’s concept within the coming weeks.

S. G. Gorray Ten reminders on St. Paul’s To the Editor:

In November, we anticipate the coming of Thanksgiving, when we reflect on the blessings we have been bestowed. We remember the veterans who willingly took on the responsibility of defending our freedoms. We prepare our annual commitments to our churches and temples during the stewardship season. Currently, we also await a report from the Village Board’s St. Paul’s Committee regarding our path forward on St. Paul’s.

There were ample controversies regarding this past spring’s St. Paul’s survey: the absence of demolition or façade options; the “ballpark” cost estimates provided to residents associated with adaptive reuse (Option A), partial replacement (Option B), and mothballing (Option C); the “stacked deck” email revelation that emerged in the spring; the assumption of 30-year financing despite the questionable odds of convincing the NYS legislature to make an exception for Garden City, etc.

That said, in this most comprehensive collection of Village-wide inputs on potential St. Paul’s project plans, I was pleased that Garden City households

were at least asked about their willingness to absorb higher taxes to pay for the three options presented by the Board of Trustees.

Despite the thousands of mailers sent by the St. Paul’s Alliance and the hundreds of videos posted by certain Trustees, I was gratified to see the clear, consistent, and conservative message delivered by Village residents. The results presented by BCI on August 12 showed clear majorities OPPOSING each of the three options. When the tax increases were presented (even assuming 30-year financing on optimistic ballpark figures), the margin of opposition to Adaptive Reuse grew even further.

I think it helps to provide Ten Reminders on the results of the St. Paul’s Survey.

1. Majority Opposition to Adaptive Reuse: 51% opposed to 27% very likely to support, a 24% margin. That figure adjusts to 53% OPPOSED to 40% likely to support (13% margin), when “somewhat” likely or unlikely responses are included.

2. Bigger Opposition to Partial Replacement: 54% opposed to 19% very likely to support, a 35% margin. That figure adjusts to 59% OPPOSED to 31% likely to support (28% margin), when “somewhat” likely or unlikely responses are included.

3. Overwhelming Opposition to Mothballing: 67% OPPOSED to 6% very likely to support, a 61% margin. That figure adjusts to 77% OPPOSED to 14% likely to support (63% margin), when “somewhat” likely or unlikely responses are included.

4. None of the Above was the Clear First Choice of the three options (!) at 50%, as compared to 27% for adaptive reuse, 17% for partial replacement, and 5% for mothballing. This is particularly meaningful because this represents a “head-to-head” comparison of the alternatives, with the majority of survey respondents choosing NONE OF THE ABOVE, fully 23% ahead of adaptive reuse and 33% ahead of partial replacement.

5. 45% of Respondents were an Ironclad No to All 3 Options. As the first three reminders indicate, when the degree of opposition or support is assessed, strong opposition outweighs strong support for Adaptive Reuse by a 24% margin; strong opposition outweighs strong support for partial replacement by a 35% margin; strong opposition outweighs strong support for mothballing by a whopping 61% margin. It is only when observers include “somewhat likely” leaners that those margins are shaved a bit for Options A and B, with opposition still handily representing majorities and significant double-digit margins. The fact that 45% of respondents were iron clad opponents to all three preservation options demonstrates significant skepticism From page 2

about doubling, tripling, or even quintupling Village debt to fund what would be the largest municipal investment in Garden City history.

6. 33% Went Above and Beyond to Write-in “Demo”, even though that option was not explicitly offered on the survey. The 71 pages of resident comments provided by BCI reflected a strong preponderance of sentiment toward demolition given the condition of the building after 34 years of abandonment and deterioration, concerns about the financial burdens of pursuing any of the options presented, skepticism about the cost estimates, and serious doubts about a small village of 22,500 taking on such a large-scale project. Although there were quite a few comments reflecting an emotional attachment to the historical nature of the architecture, more comments appeared to support demolition as the most practical and cost-effective alternative.

7. 52% Would Not Support Any Tax Increase. Those whose housing values were under $2 million overwhelmingly opposed tax increases, while those over $2 million were slightly inclined to support tax increases. Using tax increases to fund adaptive reuse was OPPOSED by 50-34%; to fund partial replacement was OPPOSED by 55-27%; to fund mothballing was OPPOSED 59-21%.

8. “Math is Math” Still Applies. In an apparent effort to offer a sliver of hope to preservationists, BCI noted that while 45% of respondents were an iron clad NO to any of the three options presented, there were 48% of respondents who might support at least one of the three options, although CLEAR MAJORITIES SPECIFICALLY OPPOSED Options A, B, and C. In other words, if you took all the people who were somewhat likely or very likely to support A and/or B and/or C, it would represent a higher number than the 40% that supported Adaptive Reuse because a few of the preservation supporters opposed A, but supported either B and/or C. However, since one cannot pursue a little bit of adaptive reuse, a little bit of partial replacement, and a little bit of mothballing, this statistical point is of little practical usefulness.

9. Phony Math Doesn’t Rationalize Adaptive Reuse. Reminder #8 does serve to obliterate the phony math that some Alliance leaders and supporters used in the immediate aftermath of the survey results. That’s right, one cannot add the minority support of 40% for adaptive reuse to the even smaller minority support for partial replacement to come up with 71% support for the two options [or 85% for the three options], since most of the same people who supported A also supported B and (possibly) C. As noted in reminder #8, only 48% of respondents supported some combination of A, B, and/or C, not 71%. Applying the same flawed

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Email: Editor@GCNews.com

approach to the OPPOSITION figures would sum up 53% opposition to adaptive reuse and 59% opposition to partial replacement to come up with 112% OPPOSITION to adaptive reuse/partial replacement [or 189% OPPOSITION to the three options], if that were even a mathematical possibility. The phony math that falsely asserted 71% support is comparable to a NY Jets fan celebrating the fact that they had 14 wins. Unfortunately, that is merely the sum of wins from 2023, 2024, and 2025, which conveniently ignores the 30 losses they have had over the same period and is apropos of nothing.

10. If Majority Rules, Options A/B/C and their Tax Increases Cannot Go Forward. On May 19, 2025, Trustee Muldoon wrote on Facebook: “We will be making a choice, a resident-driven decision... the majority will decide the direction… but a decision must be made.” In the most comprehensive Village-wide survey results ever compiled, the MAJORITY of Garden City resident respondents OPPOSED adaptive reuse, partial replacement, mothballing, and tax increases to fund such projects. In a head-to-head comparison, NONE OF THE ABOVE somehow received majority support as first choice of the three options presented, or fully 23% ahead of adaptive reuse. Since the BOT has promised to reflect the will of the people AND to move forward with a decision, the Survey’s clear majority voice MUST MEAN that the BOT CANNOT vote to double, triple, or quintuple our debt, paid for with meaningful tax increases, to pursue adaptive reuse, partial replacement, or mothballing.

James Kumpel, CFA

Thank you to sanitation crews

To the Editor:

At this time of Thanksgiving, I proudly thank our Sanitation Crews. In my 40 years in the Village, I have always had the utmost respect for our Crews and truly believe that they are the eyes and ears of our Village as they are constantly around. I have witnessed great acts of kindness by these crews as well as everyday actions of friendliness and great service.

Barbara McElroy

The true meaning of Christmas

To the Editor:

We would like to bring to the attention of your Garden City News readers that in today’s issue we have placed a beautiful, double-page, centerfold “Keep Christ in Christmas” message. This is the seventh year that we have placed this message, and we trust it will become a tradition in Garden City to bring attention to the true meaning of Christmas.

We recognize that the true meaning of Christmas is mostly ignored in society. We see endless news stories

about “Black Friday” sales, “Christmasthemed” movies that rarely display a nativity scene, and appalling legal challenges to Nativity displays by anti-Christian groups.

The words, “Merry Christmas”, have been banned at schools, colleges, businesses, department stores, etc. Instead, we repeatedly hear, “Happy Holidays”, intended to encompass all the politically-correct bromides of the season. It seems that we do not want to offend any one’s feelings, with the exception, of course, of those of Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother.

In response to the secularization of Christmas, we Knights have pledged to proclaim publicly and joyfully our belief in the true meaning of Christmas

– the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, the Light of the World.

This special Christmas message was made possible by the generous support of the members of the Knights of Columbus St. Joseph-Bishop Baldwin Council #15809, and parishioners and friends of the Church of St. Joseph who wish to remember in this beautiful season of gift-giving, that the greatest gift of all is God’s gift of His Son to the world! We wish all a very Happy and Holy Christmas as we always remember to Keep Christ in Christmas.

Joe Levano, Grand Knight, The Knights of Columbus St. Joseph-Bishop Baldwin Council No.15809

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Get the scoop on what’s happening in your community every week! Contact us today 516.294.8900 or visit us online www.gcnews.com

From page 22

both of which were activated in error.

Door damage

Officers responded on November 17th to a home on Rockaway Avenue to investigate a report of a damaged rear door window.

Identity theft

A person’s identity was reportedly stolen and used in a fraudulent out-of-state property sale, it was reported on November 17th.

Overweight truck

A Clinton Road truck operator was charged on November 17th with driving an overweight vehicle and defective brakes.

Bank fraud

On November 17, officers investigated two separate reports of fraudulent activity against victims’ bank accounts.

Suspended registration

A New Hyde Park Road motorist was charged on November 17th with driving with a suspended registration.

Parked car damaged

An unoccupied vehicle on County Seat Drive was reported damaged on November 17th.

Bank scam

On November 18th a victim went to a bank to withdraw money after a caller claimed her account was hacked. Bank personnel quickly realized it was a scam and stopped the transaction.

Suspended tags

Two Washington Avenue motorists were charged on November 18 with driving with suspended registrations, according to Garden City Police.

Stolen checks Checks mailed from the Stewart Avenue Post Office were reported on November 18th to have been stolen, altered, and cashed.

Alarm calls

On November 18, Garden City Police and Firefighters handled a flurry of fire alarms: one triggered by hair spray, one by cooking smoke, one by construction work, and three more that were apparently malfunctions.

Unsafe speed

The Truth About Carpel Tunnel Pain

The base of your palm aches…

Lately, cooking feels like it comes at a price…

Even folding laundry makes your hand and wrist feel angry.

You may have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome, but what is it really?

Inside your wrist is a small passageway called the carpal tunnel…

Running through it are tissues like tendons and one important nerve.

Nerves carry messages from your brain to your muscles so you can move…

And from your skin back to your brain so you can feel texture, pressure, and temperature.

When that nerve gets irritated because the tissues around it are

From page 23

doors, are alarmed and have additional locking devices.

Leaving Home

• Plan your trip carefully and avoid getting lost by knowing the routes you will be taking.

• Tell someone when and where you are going and what time you expect to return home.

• When leaving home, leave

overused, swollen, or inflamed…

That’s when you start to feel discomfort, tingling, or even numbness.

Your median nerve, which helps you grip your phone, turn a doorknob, and feel the warmth of your morning coffee…

Is what gets squished, pressed, and squeezed in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Ahmed Ahmed

Now, here’s the key to making that discomfort finally go away…

So you don’t have to stretch your wrist every hour, run your hand under

interior and exterior lights on, and if equipped, activate your alarm system. Be aware of anyone watching or following you when you leave.

• Ensure your car has a full gas tank, and keep your doors locked and windows closed.

• Do not post on social media Holiday or vacation plans.

• Ensure your surveillance systems are on and notification alerts, if equipped, are activated.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

• When using an ATM at night, choose locations that are well-lit and secure.

• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone standing near you.

• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.

warm water, or rely on a wrist brace anymore.

The pain in your hand and wrist isn’t just a nerve issue…

It’s a muscle issue.

When the muscles in your hands get overworked…

And they don’t get help from your forearm muscles…

The tissues in your wrist start to swell.

The swelling makes the carpal tunnel even smaller, which leads to irritating that median nerve.

The good news is you can stop your

efinneran@gardencityny.net

• When leaving an ATM or Bank, ensure no-one is following you. Be aware of a person(s) distracting you while another person(s) may be removing items from your vehicle.

Shopping

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. At night, shop with a friend or family member.

• Dress casually and comfortably; avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

• If possible, avoid carrying a purse or wallet. They are easy targets for thieves in crowded areas.

• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay for purchases with a credit card or debit card when possible.

• Keep cash in your front pocket.

A Stewart Avenue motorist was charged with driving with a suspended registration and unsafe speed on November 18, police say.

Vehicle damaged on campus

A vehicle parked on the Adelphi University campus was reported damaged by unknown means on November 18th.

More suspensions

On November 18th, a Clinton Road motorist was charged with driving with a suspended registration and uninsured operation.

hand and forearm muscles from getting overworked simply by strengthening them!

Strength gives your hands the support they need so you don’t have to struggle to open a jar again.

More strength means less load on your wrist…

And when that happens, your aches ease up and your median nerve is finally happy.

Ahmed Ahmed is the owner of Lotus Fitness. Contact him at (646) 415-2349 or ahmed@lotusfitnessny. com https://lotusfitnessny.com/

• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.

• Avoid overloading yourself with packages, and stay alert at all times.

• Be sure to locate your keys before going to your car.

• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason.

• Beware of persons attempting to distract you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

• If you have a key chain or fob with a panic button, be prepared to use it if you feel threatened.

• When leaving the shopping center, ensure that no one is following you.

• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen, or misused.

• Call 911 when followed and drive directly to a Police Station or area where people are present.

• Leave small children at home with a trusted babysitter or family member if possible.

• Teach children to stay close to you at all times while shopping.

• Teach your children to go to a store clerk or security officer if they become separated from you.

• Ensure your children know their full name, address, and telephone number.

• Never allow children to make unaccompanied trips to the restroom.

• Children should never be allowed to go to the car alone and should never be left alone in the car.

November 21, 2025

Hotels, Resorts, Attractions Unwrap Best Deals of Year

This time of year, hotels, resorts and attractions offer their best rates to lock in the gift of vacation travel. Here is a sampling:

Sandals Resorts and  Beaches Resorts are launching their biggest sale of the year, offering up to 65% off luxury stays and travel credits of up to $2,000, available to book now through December 2, 2025, for travel through 2027 (sandals.com/sale, beaches.com/ sale).

Save up to 35% on 55 of Extra Holidays vacation ownership resorts, though Dec. 5, such as WorldMark Clear Lake, Club Wyndham Desert Blue, Las Vegas and Margaritaville Vacation Club – St. Thomas. Use promo code BF25 for bookings by Dec. 5 for travel through May 31, 2026.

Karisma Hotels & Resorts: Save up to 65% and get up to $1,000 in resort credits at Karisma’s all-inclusives: Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, Margaritaville Island Reserve Resort Riviera Maya,Margaritaville Island Reserve Resort Riviera Cancun, Azul Beach Resort Negril. Book Nov.18-Dec. 8 for travel through December 22, 2026.  Lamangata Luxury Surf Resort, an all-inclusive retreat in Costa Rica’s jungle-covered hills near the surf: Save up to 40% on select 2026 stays booked Nov. 28-Dec. 2 with code SURFBF2025. Packages include daily gourmet meals and non-alcoholic beverages, personalized surf lessons, daily adventures, airport transfers, local transportation (301-246-2111, lamangata.com)

Elite Island Resorts is offering 5th night free plus $250 in savings with promo code BLACKFRIDAY. Book by Dec. 6 for travel May 1 –

Sandals Saint Vincent. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year at Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts (photo: Sandals)

September 30, 2026, at participating hotels: St. James’s Club Antigua, The Verandah Antigua, Pineapple Beach Club Antigua, Jolly Beach Antigua, and The Club Barbados.

Atlantis Paradise Island: Book Nov. 24-Dec. 5 for savings up to 35% with daily breakfast for travel Jan. 1-Sept. 8, 2026, at The Coral, The Royal, The Cove, and The Reef hotels (minimum four-night stays).

Cayo Espanto, Belize, a private island resort, is offering free airfare credit (up to $750 per person) with booking four- to seven-night stay. Book at aprivateisland.com Nov. 28-Dec. 2. A 7-night stay adds a Catch and Cook Adventure.

Borgo San Vincenzo, Tuscany, Italy: Book Nov. 27–Dec. 2 for 20% off 5+ nights all-suites stay, daily breakfast, e-bike rentals and $106 F&B credit (email info@borgosanvincenzo.com or call +39 0578 810137).

Salamander Collection:  Save up to 35% on select dates across their properties throughout the US and

Caribbean through 2026. Book Nov. 28-Dec. 6; promo code TRAVEL25. Omni Hotels & Resorts, 50 + Locations: Save 30% on minimum stays of two nights during Bright Lights, Big Savings sale, Nov. 19-Dec. 3 for stays thru May 26, 2026.  Outbound Hotels, Stowe, VT; Yosemite, CA; Mammoth, CA; Jackson Hole, WY; Sedona, AZ: Book Nov. 18-Dec. 3 to get up to 35% off for stays through December 30, 2026 (blackout dates).

Limelight Hotels, Aspen, CO, Ketchum, ID, Snowmass, CO have a limited-time “Flash Stay: Mountain Edit” offer: book two- to three-night stay by Dec. 2 to save up to 20% on select dates. Limelight Hotels, Boulder and Denver, CO “Flash Stay: City Style” sale: book a two- to threenight stay by Dec. 2 to save up to 25% on travel through March 31, 2026. Limelight Mammoth, Mammoth, CA, which opens December 1, 2025, has a seasonal offer: book minimum two nights by Dec. 2 to save up to 25% plus

a $25 nightly food and beverage credit, for travel December 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, 45% off stays of five nights or more booked Nov. 28-Dec.2 for travel January 20–September 30, 2026 (code BF2025).

The Meadows on Rock Creek, a seasonal all-inclusive guest ranch in Montana’s Big Sky, is offering 15% off all 2026 season bookings made by Dec. 31 (code HOLIDAY15).

Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, Whitefield, New Hampshire: Get 50% off bookings made Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

The Glen House, an eco-friendly, four-season retreat in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, is offering up to 35% off stays through June 14, 2026 booked by Dec. 3 (THANKS2025).

Sea Crest Beach Resort  Cape Cod, MA  is giving up to 40% off stays booked Nov. 18-Dec. 9 on travel through December 30, 2026.

Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, is offering 30% plus $50 resort credit per night for stays booked through Nov. 30, 2025, for travel through April 11, 2026 (www.thewhitefacelodge.com, 518-523-0505).

Merlin Entertainments: Through Nov.28, save 50% off tickets and annual passes at LEGOLAND® Resorts, LEGO®  and LEGOLAND®  Discovery Centers, SEA LIFE Aquariums, PEPPA PIG Theme Parks, PEPPA PIG World of Play and Madame Tussauds. Gift-givers can save over 30% on gift tickets. Purchase: www. LEGOLAND.com/California,  www. LEGOLAND.com/Florida,  www. LEGOLAND.com/NewYork,  www. LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter. com,, www.VisitSEALIFE.com, www. PEPPAPIGWorldofPlay.com.

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of November 23-29, 2025

Many stargazers are surprised to learn that stars do not all appear the same but actually display different colors. Those that appear white are hotter than those that are orange or red. And bluish stars are the hottest of all.

Of course, not everyone can see color, but those who can still have a tough time with it. The human eye’s color receptors do not respond well to faint light. You know this is true if you’ve ever looked around a darkened movie theater; shapes and shades of gray are pretty easy to spot, but colors are virtually nonexistent.

The same is true with stars. Only the brightest display their colors for our eyes, but if two differently colored stars appear next to one another, the contrast between them becomes quite discernible. This autumn, there is a place in the evening sky where such a colorful contrast exists, but you’ll need a small telescope to see it.

I’m talking about the star Albireo, and it’s located not too far from the center of the Summer Triangle, now appearing midway up in the west after dark.

With the naked eye, Albireo appears as a single star, no matter how good

A Colorful Celestial Showpiece

our vision. Even binoculars don’t show it as anything more. But aim a small, backyard telescope in its direction and you’ll discover that the light you’ve been seeing comes from two separate stars.

Even more impressive is that each of these stars appears to be a different color. The astronomy writer Agnes Clerk wrote in 1905 that the tints “golden and azure” gave perhaps “the most lovely effect of color in the heavens.”

I suspect that anyone viewing Albireo through a small telescope will surely agree.

Its two stars (individually named Albireo A and Albireo B) not only display stunning colors but inform us of a fundamental property of stars as well: their temperatures. Albireo A is a yellow star (around 7,400 F and about 69 times larger than our sun), and Albireo B is a bluish star (around 23,000 F and about 3 times larger than the sun).

Astronomers still don’t know much about these stars. We believe the pair lies about 400 lightyears from us, which means the light we see from it has been traveling in our direction since the early part of the 17th century. But we don’t yet know if the two orbit a common center of gravity or if they just appear along the same line of sight.

The unusual name Albireo has its

roots in historical misunderstandings and mistranslations. Early Arabic texts originally called it “al-Minhar al-Dajajah” (meaning “the hen’s beak”), but Latin scholars misunderstood that the name had come from a kind of herb and translated it as “ab ireo” (meaning “from ireus”). Eventually, people considered this a misprint and transcribed it as “al-bireo.”

Whatever you call it, be sure to check

LOST IN SUBURBIA

Wait, Are YOU My Waiter?

out this celestial showpiece when you get a chance. It will be visible for another month or so as it appears lower to the west with each passing week. If you miss it, don’t worry; Albireo will return to our evening skies next summer.

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

“Can I get an unsweetened iced tea?” I asked the server who brought me a glass of water. My husband was out of town, and I thought it would be nice to treat myself to dinner in a fancy restaurant I’d heard a lot about. I had put on actual shoes instead of Uggs for the occasion, so I expected good food and service to match.

“Oh, I just do the water,” he replied. “Someone else will be over to take your drink order.”

I wasn’t sure why there needed to be one guy for water and one guy for other beverages, but I said OK and looked at the menu while I waited. A few minutes later, another server approached.

“Can I get you a beverage?” asked Server No. 2.

“Yes, I’d like an unsweetened iced tea, please, and I’m also ready to give you my food order.”

“Oh, I just do beverages,” he replied. “I’ll send your server over to take your order.”

“OK,” I replied, wondering why it now took three different people to take my order.

Server No. 3 arrived and took my order while Server No. 2 showed up with my iced tea and Server No. 1 came back and refilled my water glass.

After Server No. 4 came to my table with my appetizer, I asked for some salt, and that was brought over by Server No. 5. And then after I was done with my appetizer, a sixth server showed up to clear my dishes and give me new silverware.

“Can I get another iced tea?” I asked her.

“Oh, I only do silverware,” she replied. “I’ll send someone over to get you another drink.”

While I waited, a seventh server came over and lit the candle on my table, an eighth server replaced my dirty napkin with one that looked like a swan, and a ninth server came over and swept all the crumbs off my table.

At this point I was wondering when someone would come over and eat my meal for me.

Naturally, I had expected that the fancy restaurant would be a step up from the usual service I got at my regular restaurants, but I didn’t count on having nine people preside over me while I ate. I wondered if I was going to have to leave nine different tips for the nine different servers, or just one extremely large tip to be divvied up nine ways. Would it be bad if I showed favoritism for the person who folded my napkin like a swan? Still, I wouldn’t want to shortchange the candle lighter. I was so busy trying to figure all this out, I almost forgot to chew my food.

While I ate my dinner, at least a dozen people stopped by to see if everything tasted OK. At this point I was convinced they thought I was either someone important, a restaurant critic or someone on death row.

At long last, the meal was over. Server No. 6 came back and cleared

my dishes. Server No. 9 swept all the crumbs off the table again. Server No. 2 offered me coffee. Server No. 3 brought me the dessert menu. Server No. 1 refilled my water glass. And Server No. 8 brought me a new napkin and made it into an elephant. I was sure I had met everyone who worked in the restaurant except maybe the dishwasher. But then a new face showed up.

“Hi, my name is Tom. I’m the manager. I just wanted to make sure everything tonight was up to your satisfaction.”

“The food was delicious,” I replied. “But I think you may be understaffed.”

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 2025 CREATORS.COM

The binary star Albireo will be visible by telescope this week. (

Thanksgiving is great with family & friends

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

November is a great time of year and Thanksgiving is definitely one of my favorite holidays. My family, friends and I can relax, eat a delicious meal and spend hours enjoying each other’s company.

Before Thanksgiving arrives, I have plenty of opportunities to read some stories about Thanksgiving to my nieces and nephews. That’s one of the best things about coming from a large, extended family. There are usually plenty of kids of various ages around and I get to tell them about the Thanksgiving holiday. Showing them what it’s all about using the narrative and the book’s pictures is always fun.

Last November Tommy, my 7-yearold nephew, and Julie, my 6-year-old niece, were visiting and I read them the book called, “The Night Before Thanksgiving” by Natasha Wing. Published in 2001 and featuring illustrations by Tammie Lyon, it’s a cute spin on Clement C. Moore’s classic “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

They both liked the “turkey day book” because it vividly describes why so many of us eat roast turkeys and have holiday get-togethers.

Natasha Wing’s tale begins: “’Twas the night before Thanksgiving, and all through the nation families got ready for the big celebration.”

The story goes on, “That night we were nestled all snug in our beds, while visions of turkey legs danced in our heads.”

They watched the Thanksgiving parade on TV the next morning and waited for relatives to arrive by taxi and airplane, by train and by car. The kids polished the best silverware then set two tables “with patience and care.”

The book goes on to say that eventu-

BY CHARLYN FARGO

Want your children to eat healthier? Have them stay at the table longer.

In a randomized clinical trial, researchers found that longer family mealtimes may be an effective strategy to get kids to eat healthier. The trial found that children who spent just 10 minutes more at the table consumed significantly more fruits and vegetables. The study was conducted by Jutta Mata and colleagues at the University of Mannheim in Germany.

Researchers found that in those extra 10 minutes at the table, children ate 3.32 more pieces of fruit (equivalent to a medium apple) and 3.66 more pieces of vegetables than children at regular mealtime duration. The study was published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers found that kids in the longer mealtime group tended

ally everyone showed up except Uncle Norm who called saying that he would be a little late because he was stuck in a storm. The roast turkey feast complete with its trimmings was all set and people gathered around the table along with their appetites. Just as the relatives and guests sat down Uncle Norm came through the door. He said that he was lucky to have gotten a ride from a trucker.

Julie said she liked the part in the book where the Dad said to wait a minute before digging into their food because he said a Thanksgiving prayer: “We’re thankful that everyone is together this year, in our home, and our hearts, where we hold you so dear.”

Tommy said he laughed at the book’s illustration showing the kids eating some of the leftover Thanksgiving feast at their kitchen table the next day. Tommy and Julie added that in

ed about the holiday - and about seeing all of their relatives - and it was fun seeing Thanksgiving through their eyes. Julie said she liked eating the turkey and stuffing and Tommy noted that he enjoyed everything.

Natasha Wing, the author, has said that her favorite part about the Thanksgiving meal is eating sweet potatoes and pie. She added that her tradition is to spend a quiet morning on Thanksgiving with her family then welcome her guests to her home for a big celebration.

After reading and perusing Natasha Wing’s story I explained some of the history of the holiday to my young niece and nephew.

The Thanksgiving Day holiday got its start as a feast in the early days of the American colonies roughly 400 years ago. It was in 1620 that a ship called the Mayflower filled with

school they had drawn pictures of the Pilgrims at a large table covered with the Thanksgiving food plus plenty of gourds, pumpkins and decorations.

Tommy told me that last year he and his first-grade classmates were given some holiday treats by parents - cupcakes topped with icing and a piece of candy in the shape of a turkey. Another parent brought chocolate chip cookies which were a big hit with the kids.

Both Tommy and Julie were so excit-

NUTRITION NEWS

Time at the Table

to eat more vegetables from the start and more fruit during the extra 10 minutes added to the end of mealtime.

The average age of children in the study was 8 years (range 6 to 11) and the average age of parents was 43. Children were equally split between boys and girls. Some 50 pairs of parents and 50 children participated in the study.

Children who had longer family mealtimes also drank more water, on average, about 3.70 milliliters more, as well as more sugar-sweetened beverages. Interestingly, the length of family mealtimes wasn’t associated with more bread or cold cuts eaten. Researchers think because the fruits and vegetables were cut into bite-size pieces, they were more convenient to eat and more enticing.

“This outcome has practical impor-

more than 100 people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from England to settle in the New World. This religious group had begun to question the beliefs of the Church of England and they wanted to separate from it.

They wanted to return to a simpler faith and less structured forms of worship. The idea was to return to worshipping in the way the early Christians had. They were called “Puritans” because they wanted to purify the church.

Settling in what is now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Pilgrims’ first winter in the New World was filled with many hardships. Arriving without fresh food and too late to grow any crops, many colonists died from diseases that were contracted on the voyage from England.

The following spring Wampanoag Indians who lived in the area befriended the Pilgrims and they taught them how to hunt and fish. The Pilgrims were from central England, from villages that aren’t on the coast, so fishing was new to them.

Navigating from place to place on the Atlantic Ocean and over land is something the Indians also taught the Pilgrims how to do. They taught the Pilgrims how to smoke and dry the meat and fish that were local to the area so they would have a sufficient food supply.

They also showed them how to plant corn, barley, beans, pumpkins and squash in dirt that was fertilized by fish. The Massachusetts soil wasn’t familiar to the Pilgrims and they had never grown corn before.

The Wampanoag Indians also taught the Pilgrims how to tan hides used for clothing, how to identify toxic plants and berries, and they explained the medicinal and cooking use of herbs that were native to America. The Pilgrims saw these things for the first time.

In the autumn of 1621, plentiful crops of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins were harvested.

A feast was planned in thanksgiving for the harvest and they invited the local Indian chief and 90 Indians. The Indians brought deer to roast with the turkeys and other wild game offered by the colonists. That Thanksgiving celebration went on for three days.

In subsequent years, many of the original colonists celebrated the autumn harvest with a feast of thanks.

A Happy Thanksgiving to all!

tance for public health because one additional daily portion reduces the risk of cardiometabolic disease by 6 percent to 7 percent,” the group wrote in the study.

If you want to try this with your family, make sure you have fruits and vegetables available at the table. Researchers found the extra time at the table was most effective with the evening meal rather than breakfast, when family members may not be as rushed.

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. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRD.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

BY TOM MARGENAU

The people who syndicate this column have just assigned a new editor to me. She’s a relatively young person. (Of course, when you are 76 years old, as I am, the majority of people I meet and deal with are younger than me!) I sort of apologized to my young editor for having to work with a guy who writes a column about an old people’s topic like Social Security. But she graciously let me know she was looking forward to learning more about the program.

Anyway, this got me to thinking about the issue of young people and Social Security. And it turns out they are more involved with the program than most folks might think. And I’ll use the rest of this column to explain.

I’ll start out by sharing this story. For part of my career with the Social Security Administration, my job was to run around and give speeches and make presentations about the program to various groups and organizations. I used to go out of my way to schedule such talks to high school students -- usually as part of a history or economics class. You might think that I had some kind of speaker’s death wish. After all, can you think of a tougher crowd to stand up in front of and talk about Social Security than a group of teenagers? But there was a method to my madness.

I’d start each class by asking the kids what they thought of when I said the words, “Social Security.” Inevitably, someone would say “old people.” And another kid might pop up and say, “Yeah, I think my grandparents get Social Security checks.” And usually another student would say, “I think that’s what they are taking out of my paycheck at McDonald’s.” Those were the kinds of responses I was expecting.

After a few minutes of playing that word association game, I’d turn the tables a bit and tell the class this. “Many years ago, when I was sitting where you are sitting, I was getting a Social Security check every month from the government.” And then I’d ask them, “How come?”

There was always a long pause as the kids mulled this over. In fact, even the teacher usually looked puzzled. But eventually, a young person somewhere in the room would raise his or her hand and say, “Maybe one of your parents died?”

And that was the right answer. My dad died when I was a little kid. And soon after that, my mom and my sister and brothers and I started getting monthly survivor benefits. So when I was in high school, I was indeed getting a Social Security check every month from the government. (And in case you’re wondering, I wasn’t making a killing off the program. As I recall, my check was all of $22 per month. But of course, that was 60 years ago.)

By the way, I just said “eventually” some kid in the class would figure out that my dad had died. And that was always

Young People and Social Security

because that child also had a deceased parent and was getting Social Security survivor benefits just as I was many years earlier. In fact, I probably made a hundred such talks to high school classes during that part of my career, and I don’t remember a single class that didn’t have at least one kid who was collecting a monthly Social Security check off the record of a deceased parent.

That’s a big part of the message I was delivering to the kids (and now, to you). Social Security isn’t just about old people. There are many millions of younger people who get Social Security benefits every month. They might be children of a deceased parent. Or they might be children of someone getting Social Security retirement or disability benefits. And speaking of the latter, they also might be young or middle-aged adults getting Social Security disability benefits.

The point is that survivor benefits (around since 1940) and disability benefits (around since 1956) are a big part of the Social Security program that many people usually don’t think about. How big? Let’s look at some numbers.

There are 70 million people getting Social Security benefits. Of those, about 8 million are getting disability benefits and another 6 million are getting survivor benefits. In other words, almost 20% of the people getting Social Security benefits are not retirees -- the kind of “old people” normally associated with the Social Security program.

Let me break that down further to highlight the number of children getting Social Security. There are about 1 million children of disabled workers getting monthly dependent benefits, and 2 million children of a deceased parent who are getting monthly survivor benefits.

Further, there are another 723,000 children of retirees who are getting dependent benefits. In other words, we are talking about senior citizens (almost always men) who are getting Social Security retirement benefits who happen to have one or more minor children still living at home. (For obvious biological reasons, it would be rather rare for a woman in her 60s to still have a minor child.)

This has always been a controversial part of the program. I can tell from the emails I’ve gotten over the years that people don’t mind kids getting benefits from a disabled or deceased parent. But for some reason, they have a problem with the children of retirees getting benefits. I’m guessing it’s because they figure we are talking about some old goat who has married a much younger woman and fathered a child or two by her -- and now those kids are getting monthly Social Security checks. Of course, that is not always the case. But I think it’s the perception most people have of male retirees with small children at home.

Although when it comes to benefits for “children,” we are not necessarily always

talking about a minor. Those monthly Social Security checks to kids usually end when the child turns 18. But the law has always said that a child can get benefits after 18 if he or she is disabled. In other words, there are adults in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are getting “disabled adult child” benefits. That number is about 1 million. And that cuts across all three of the major benefit categories. In other words, of the 723,000 children of retirees and 1 million children of disabled workers and 2 million children getting survivor benefits, about 1 million of them are “dis-

abled adult children.”

Anyway, the whole point of this column is to point out that Social Security isn’t always an old people’s program. 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.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

REAL ESTATE WATCH

The Path to Ownership: How Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X can buy a home

For many would-be homebuyers across the country—and especially here on Long Island—the biggest obstacle isn’t income or credit. It’s student loan debt. With balances that often rival the cost of a car, today’s Gen Z, Millennial, and even Gen X buyers face a unique financial squeeze: rising housing prices on one side and rising loan payments on the other. But the dream of owning a coop, condo, or even a single or multifamily home isn’t out of reach. It simply requires strategy, discipline, and an understanding of the tools available.

Below is a generational guide to reducing student debt in a way that opens the door to homeownership sooner than many people realize.

Why Student Loan Debt Matters to Lenders

Before looking at solutions, it’s important to understand how lenders view student loans. When applying for a mortgage—whether for a coop, condo, or single-family home—lenders calculate your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). This is one of the most critical underwriting metrics. Even if you’re making payments on timae, a high monthly student loan obligation can:

• Reduce the mortgage amount you qualify for

• Raise your interest rate

• Lower your overall purchasing power

For coops, the standards are even stricter. Many boards prefer a lower DTI, larger cash reserves, and a stronger post-closing financial position. Condos are more flexible, but the monthly carrying charges add to your DTI as well.

This is why reducing your student loan payment—or paying off loans entirely—can unlock eligibility for the type of home you really want.

Regardless of age, three universal strategies can help almost anyone accelerate progress:

1. Refinance or Consolidate (When It Makes Sense)

A lower interest rate can mean thousands in savings. Private refinancing is a strong option only if you do not need federal protections like income-driven repayment or forgiveness programs. Gen X borrowers, in particular, may benefit because they tend to have higher incomes and longer credit histories.

2. Boost Your Credit Score

Homebuyers with a FICO score above 740 receive the most favorable mortgage terms. Paying down your student loans helps, but so does:

• Keeping credit utilization under 30%

• Paying all bills on time

• Avoiding new debt in the months

before applying

3. Increase Income (Even Temporarily)

A temporary side job, part-time weekend shift, or freelance work can accelerate loan payoff dramatically. Lenders will look for a two-year history of self-employment income, but bonus earnings, overtime, and W-2 side work all count immediately.

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

Gen Z: Early Career, Big Advantage

Gen Z borrowers—roughly early 20s to mid-20s—are in the best position to plan ahead because time is on their side.

Use Income-Driven Repayment

Gen Z often has modest starting salaries, so IDR plans can reduce payments to a manageable level while you save for a down payment. In 2023, the new SAVE plan reduced many borrowers’ payments significantly, freeing up hundreds of dollars per month.

But here’s the key: Don’t let lower payments become an excuse to delay saving. Channel the difference into:

• A high-yield savings account

• Roth IRA (which allows penalty-free withdrawal of contributions for a home purchase)

• A dedicated “home fund”

Employer Repayment Assistance

More companies offer student loan repayment benefits as a hiring incentive. If your employer doesn’t offer one, ask. These programs can shave years off your payoff timeline.

House Hack Early

Gen Z buyers often have flexibility in lifestyle and location. Purchasing a small multifamily home and renting the other unit—or even renting a bedroom—can:

• Cover a significant portion of the mortgage

• Build equity faster

• Help qualify for a larger loan because rental income counts

This is one of the fastest paths to ownership for young buyers, especially in high-cost areas like Long Island.

Millennials: The “Sandwich”

Generation of Student Debt

Millennials (mid-20s to early 40s) carry more student loan debt than any other generation. Many also juggle childcare, aging parents, or career transitions. But they also tend to earn more than they did in their 20s, and many have the most to gain by restructuring their debt.

Aggressive Pay-Down Strategy

Millennials generally benefit from the avalanche method:

1. Pay minimums on all loans

2. Throw any extra money toward the highest-interest loan

3. Roll previous payments into the next highest debt

This technique shortens payoff time and reduces total interest dramatically.

Use IDR to Drop Your DTI Before Applying for a Mortgage

Many Millennials are shocked to learn that income-driven repayment can make homeownership possible even before the loans are fully paid. Lenders typically look at your current monthly payment on your credit report—not the overall balance.

Reducing a $500/month payment to $125/month could increase your buying power by $40,000 to $100,000, depending on other factors.

Downsize Temporarily

Many Millennials maintain higher lifestyle expenses—larger apartments, expensive daycare centers, or subscription overload. A one- or two-year “homeownership sprint,” where you intentionally cut $500 to $1,000 from monthly expenses, can speed both debt payoff and down payment savings.

Gen X: The Final Push to Ownership

Gen X (early 40s to mid-50s) often carries lingering graduate-school debt or Parent PLUS loans for their children. Refinance High-Rate Loans

Gen X borrowers often have older loans with rates between 6% and 9%. Refinancing to a lower rate—even if it extends the term—can reduce DTI enough to qualify for:

• A larger single-family home

• A vacation home

• A “right-sized” condo for empty-nest years

Leverage Home Equity

Some Gen X buyers aren’t first-timers—they’re trading up or down. If you currently own a home, you may be able to:

• Use a HELOC to pay off high-interest student debt

• Improve your DTI

• Refinance into a stronger mortgage position

Always consult a financial advisor before using secured debt to cover unsecured debt, but when done strategically, this move can be highly effective.

Set a Five-Year Countdown

For Gen X buyers who want to retire student-debt-free, a structured fiveyear plan can work wonders:

• Target one loan each year

• Use bonuses, tax refunds, or overtime for lump-sum payments

• Reassess your mortgage qualifica-

tions annually

This approach often leads to both debt freedom and homeownership earlier than expected.

Final Thoughts: Your Debt Doesn’t Define You

Whether you’re Gen Z just starting your career, a Millennial juggling financial responsibilities, or Gen X looking for financial stability before retirement, student loans do not have to delay homeownership indefinitely. The key is not just paying them down— it’s paying them down strategically.

Lowering your monthly student loan payments, improving your credit score, and building a consistent savings plan can significantly enlarge your purchasing power for a coop, condo, or single-family home. The U.S. real estate market—and Long Island’s in particular—still rewards buyers who prepare thoughtfully.

I want to wish everyone an enjoyable, relaxing and fun Thanksgiving with your family and friends. But try not to eat too much, lol!!!

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

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Can’t-’beet’ side dish for Thanksgiving

Lemon-Rosemary Beets

Thanksgiving is a food-centric holiday. Certain dishes are expected to be on the table come Thanksgiving, including roasted turkey, potatoes and pies. However, holiday hosts have a little leeway with side dishes.

Beets are a versatile fall

2 pounds beets (about 6), peeled and cut into wedges

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

food, and these plants thrive in cool temperatures. Beets are nutrient-rich and can be flavorful on their own or when paired with the right ingredients. Their deep, reddish-purple hue also can look festive on a holiday table. This recipe for “Lemon-Rosemary Beets”

2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon cider vinegar

3⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt 1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground

makes a refreshing addition to a Thanksgiving meal. Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of “Cooking Light Dinner’s Ready!” (Oxmoor House) by the editors of Cooking Light. Yield: 7 servings

black pepper

2 rosemary sprigs

1⁄2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1) Place the first 8 ingredients in a 4-quart electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until beets are tender.

2) Remove and discard rosemary sprigs; stir in lemon rind.

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EAB Tip of the Week

Why “Leave the Leaves” Matters More Than You Think

BY AMANDA SHORE

As autumn settles in and yards across our community begin to fill with crunchy layers of fallen leaves, many homeowners feel the familiar urge to rake, bag, and haul them away. But environmental experts are encouraging a different approach—one that supports local wildlife, improves soil health, and helps combat climate change. It’s called “Leave the Leaves.”

At first glance, fallen leaves may look like yard waste, but they’re actually one of nature’s most valuable resources. Leaf litter provides essential overwintering habitat for countless beneficial insects, including pollinators like native bees and butterflies. Fireflies—beloved symbols of summer—spend most of their life cycle hidden in leaf litter or under decaying plant material. When leaves are removed, these species lose critical shelter needed to survive the colder months.

Leaving the leaves also benefits your soil and lawn. As leaves break down naturally, they return nutrients to the ground, enriching the soil

and reducing the need for fertilizer. Shredding leaves with a lawn mower and leaving them as mulch can help

Senior Center.

activities and events!

Trip to Argyle Theatre to see "Newsies" and lunch at La Famiglia

Garden City Recreation and Parks will present a trip to the Argyle Theatre in Babylon, and lunch at La Famiglia Restaurant on Sunday, February 8, at 11 a.m.

The bus leaves from across the street from the Senior Center at 11 am, lunch at 12 noon antd show at 2 p.m.

Cost $72 for show ticket (check made payable to the “Argyle Theatre”) and $50 cash for lunch, both to be paid at time of registration.

To register please stop by the Senior Center front desk.

A Christmas Luncheon

Garden City Recreation and Parks will present a Christmas Luncheon, sponsored by The Grand Pavilion, on Friday, December 19, at noon at the

inputs.

There’s a climate advantage, too. Bagging and transporting yard waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and overcrowds municipal composting facilities. Allowing leaves to decompose naturally in your yard keeps carbon locked in the soil instead of releasing it during transport or processing.

Of course, “leaving the leaves” doesn’t mean letting your yard become unmanageable. Leaves can be strategically moved into garden beds, around trees and shrubs, or into designated wildlife corners. Even setting aside a small area of leaf mulch can make a significant difference for biodiversity.

By choosing to leave the leaves this fall, you’ll be supporting a healthier ecosystem right outside your door—and helping ensure that the pollinators, fireflies, and other creatures we treasure are here for future generations.

If you do choose to remove your leaves, remember to remove sticks and other large debris from curbside leaf piles.

FOR SENIORS

To register please stop by or call the Senior Center front desk at (516) 385-8006. Please note, this is a free event but space is limited.

“Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body”

Join us for a free workshop, “Healthy Living for your Brain and Body” sponsored by the Alzheimer's Associations Education Programs & Services, December 9, at 11:30. To register, please stop by the Senior Center front desk or call (516) 385-8006.

Tai Chi

Beginning December 12, join us at noon for Tai Chi on the second Tuesday of each month, sponsored by the Bristal at Garden City.

CPR, Choking Prevention

NYU EMS will be at the Senior Center on Tuesday, November 18, presenting, “Hands only CPR/Choking”. To register, please stop by the Senior Center front desk or call (516) 385-8006.

Pickup Mah Jongg Games

Beginning on Tuesday, 9/23, we will be offering pickup Mah Jongg games, open to all residents on Tuesdays from 12:00-2:00. Bring your lunch and a set.

Trip to

“Riverdance 30 - the New Generation”

Join us on March 7,2026, for a trip to see “Riverdance 30 - the New Generation”, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey. Price $210, also includes round trip travel by coach bus, and lunch at the Grasshopper Off the Green Irish Pub. Make checks payable to “One if By Land Tours”. DEADLINE: December 1

Afternoon Book Club

Join us, our Afternoon Book Club will be meeting at the Senior Center on Thursday, November 20, at 1:00 p.m.. The title of the book is “By Any Other Name” by Jodi Picoult. All are welcome.

Open Ping Pong

Join us on Tuesday afternoons, at the Senior Center from 1:00–3:00 for Open

Chair Yoga

Chair Yoga schedule for Tania at the Senior Center.  Thursdays, 9:15–9:45 Meditation, 9:45–10:45 Chair Yoga class. Beginning September 11.

Chess 4 Community

Join us for Chess 4 Community’s Play and Learn at the Senior Center, every other Friday 3:00-4:00. This program will resume in the fall, dates to be announced. All ages and levels are welcome. No registration is required, just stop by and play!

Senior Center Lunch Group

Join our Senior Center Lunch Group at 12:30–3:30 on Wednesdays, or, if you miss your pool friends, join the Garden City Pool Chat Group at the center, on Thursdays beginning at 1:00–3:30. For both groups, coffee and tea will be served, just bring your lunch and chat!! Also, call to inquire about our two book clubs, one meets on Thursdays during the day and the other on Wednesday evenings.

suppress weeds, retain moisture, and build healthier turf without chemical

Ping Pong. This is a drop-in program, bring a friend!

Thunder Diez 11s head to championship game

With the 14-7 win over Mineola, the Garden City Thunder - Diez 11s are headed to the NYCFL Championship game!

On a blustery Sunday afternoon at Hampton Stadium in Mineola, the Garden City Thunder - Diez 11s etched another indelible memory into their season, emerging triumphant with a 14-7 victory over the Mineola Chiefs in a riveting NCYFL semifinal showdown.

Before a single point graced the scoreboard, it was the wind itself—a relentless, howling opponent—making its presence known, yanking the ball from kicking tees and swirling debris across the chalked lines. Each snap in those opening quarters teetered on chaos, as gusts topping 40 mph seemed to willfully rewrite playbooks and toss passing ambitions into the gray clouds overhead. For much of the first half, neither offense could summon rhythm, rendering both teams captive to nature’s will and the stalwart resolve of their defenses.

Garden City’s defenders responded

with the poise of seasoned veterans. Time and again, they rebuffed Mineola’s advances—filling holes, breaking up passes, and erupting in celebratory shouts as Chiefs’ drives stalled in the teeth of the gale. The Thunder’s offense, meanwhile, desperately searched for its spark, dashing against the elements, frustrated yet undeterred.

Then, after halftime, destiny—and preparation—conspired to crack the scoreless deadlock. Moments after the break, with tension so thick it seemed the wind itself had paused to watch, Owen Moylan (10) dove beneath a scrum of bodies, clutching an onside kick with a tenacity that sent a surge of hope through the Thunder faithful huddled in the stands.

Without hesitation, the Thunder seized the moment. Grayson Pepicelli (28), whose quicksilver speed had been stifled for two relentless quar-

ters, exploded through a gap, his feet churning like pistons as he slashed 60 jaw-dropping yards up the middle. The crowd’s roar was nearly drowned out by the wind, but there was no missing the exhilaration—nor Pepicelli’s booming kick that followed, a defiant exclamation against the swirling gusts to stake an 8-0 lead.

It was a day made for offensive linemen to earn their stripes—and Garden City’s front wall did just that. The likes of Michael Ferrari (1), Robbie Sampson (40), Sean Schoppner (16), Eric Melendez (88), Matt Dean (52), Ben Mackiewicz (92), and Nicholas Manginello (42) formed an unyielding barricade, weathering Mineola’s blitzes and opening shimmering seams for their backfield. Their grit under pressure set the stage for every Thunder gain.

Defensively, Garden City was tireless. Keegan Fitzpatrick (17), James

Eric Melendez (88), James Virzera (36), and Jackson Gallogly (44) stop the Mineola RB in his tracks.

Owen Moylan (10) recovers an on-side kick. William Burke (48) ready to back him up.

Christian Diez (24), Keegan Fitzpatrick (17), Ben Mackiewicz (92), Jackson Gallogly (44) and the Thunder Defense keep the pressure on Mineola.

Nick Diez (12) knows Grayson Pepicelli (28) is headed for the endzone after busting through the Mineola defense.

Thunder Diez 11s head to championship game

How to Create a CommunityPass Account!

Three simple steps to create a CommunityPass account:

• Create an account through this link:  https://register.capturepoint.com/ GCRecandParks

• Verify your residency with 2 proofs of residency (ID and utility bill) by email (gcrec@gardencityny.net) or stop by the Cottages (108 Rockaway Avenue)

• Log in to your new account and hit the “Click Here To Register” button to find the type of Membership or Class you want to sign up for.

Stay Up to Date On All Things Recreation!

Follow our new Instagram and Facebook “GardenCityRecreation” for all Recreation content! Any questions regarding programs or facilities can be directed to our new Recreation email, GCRec@gardencityny.net .

Upcoming Programs

Flag Football is coming back!Indoor session from 11/7–12/19 from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at the St. Paul’s fields and the St. Paul’s Fieldhouse.  There will be 30 minutes of clinic and 30 minutes of games!  Run by Pioneer!

Girls’ Volleyball Clinic - Sessions starting Mondays 11/17–12/22 from 6 p.m.–7 p.m. at St. Paul's Fieldhouse!  Run by Pioneer!

Multi-Sport Camps: Thanksgiving Week Camp - 11/26/25 and 11/28/25 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m; Winter Break Camp12/26, 12/29, 12/30,12/31, 1/2 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

After School Winter Program

Calling all children grades –-6th! Join us for our annual program, featuring all types of sports and games. Our staff will instruct and interact with the children while guiding them through all types of activities.  Nine weeks for $125!  Starting December 2 through February 12.  K–1st Grades on Tuesday from 3:30 p.m.–5 p.m.; 2nd–3rd Grades on Wednesday 3:30 p.m.–5 p.m.; 4th, 5th, 6th Grades on Thursday 3:30 p.m.–5 p.m. in the St. Paul’s Fieldhouse. Limited spots available, registration will begin on November 14 at 9 a.m. Registration will be through CommunityPass.

*No programming 12/23 – 1/1

**Children must wear athletic footwear only!

Fencing Program

This program introduces the Olympic sport of fencing to children in grades K–8 in a safe, structured, and engaging environment.  Fencing fosters discipline, focus, agility, and sportsmanship, making it an excellent complement to youth development. Coach will provide all equipment for class.  $375 per child.

Chess Wizards Winter Program

Garden City Recreation and Parks has again partnered with the very popular “Chess Wizards” to offer after school programs for Garden City children ages 6 through 12 who want to learn the game of chess!

Chess Wizards is a fun way to have kids experience the excitement of chess. Kids will play in mini tournaments, have interactive lessons with chess pros and play cool chess variants like bug house. It is proven that chess enhanc-

Virzera (36), Daniel Makaryus (30), William Burke (48), and Peter Valentic (46) launched relentless attacks into Mineola’s backfield, forcing hurried throws and swarming ball carriers in a blur of maroon and white. On the perimeter, Jackson Gallogly (44) and Nicholas Diez (12) anchored the edges, setting hard boundaries that corralled every desperate scramble outward. Meanwhile, the secondary—Alex Manna (26), Richie Corrao (97), Christian Diez (24), and Luca Calma (90)—never wavered, sticking to receivers in lockstep and erasing Mineola’s aerial hopes.

In an emotional display of resolve, the Thunder never allowed adversity to define them— not even with key players Dylan Conway (14) and Powers Dell’Olio (3) sidelined. As fourth-quarter nerves jangled and cold fingers

es cognitive development in children, improves both verbal and mathematical skills, and increases all levels of academic performance! Playing chess stimulates the mind and helps children strengthen skills such as focusing, visualizing goals, abstract thinking, and forming concrete opinions.

Instructors (who are called “Wizards”) provide all the materials necessary for your child to participate in the class and no additional purchase is required to attend. All students will receive a trophy, puzzle folder and wizards t-shirt. Come join the fun!!!

Class will take place on Tuesdays from 4–5 p.m. starting 1/13/26.

Classes will be held in St. Paul’s Center, 108 Rockaway Avenue. To register please visit www.chesswizards.com.

Yoga Class

We will be hosting a brand-new yoga program for adults at Cluett Hall in the fall.  Classes will be held on Saturdays from 8 a.m.–9 a.m. starting December 6!  More information to come!

Tennis Instructors Needed

Tennis Instructors are needed for the instructional tennis program at the Community Park Tennis Center. Tennis assistants are also needed. For more information, please call the Recreation Office at 516 465-4075.

Adelphi Swim Lessons

Swimming Lesson Registration 2025–2026 Begins November 17

Children’s swimming lessons for Village residents will be held at the Adelphi Pool in Woodruff Hall on Saturday mornings beginning Saturday,

struggled to grip the ball, Pepicelli again found daylight behind stellar blocking, sprinting for his second score. Time waned, yet the Chiefs refused to yield, mustering a late touchdown that briefly unsettled the air. But it was Garden City’s defense, unyielding from start to finish, that authored the final chapter, closing ranks and securing the win as jubilant teammates and fans poured onto the field in celebration.

With the ghosts of swirling winds behind them and lessons of resilience in their hearts, the Thunder charge into the NCYFL Championship to face the formidable Lynbrook Titans on Sunday at 1:30pm at Mitchell Field. After taming both weather and formidable foes, Garden City’s boys advance with heads high and hearts aflame, carrying the promise of one more magical Sunday. Go Thunder!

December 6, for 9 weeks.

Please check the website: gardencityrecreation.org for more details

Coming Holiday Events

On behalf of the Recreation department, “Happy Thanksgiving everyone!”  We hope to see you at the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day!

Mark Your Calendars for Holiday Fun in December!

• On Sunday, December 14, the Recreation Department is proud to present a SUNRISE THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION of “RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER” This stage play is based on the animated television special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” adapted from the story by Robert L. May and the song by Johnny Marks.

The play will be performed in Cluett Hall beginning at 11 a.m.  Please make reservations by calling the Recreation Office at 516 465-4075 on or after Monday, December 1st.  The play is open to Village of Garden City Residents and admission is free.

• On Wednesday, December 31, the Recreation Department will be holding its annual Children’s New Year’s Eve Celebration! The event is held in Cluett Hall and begins at 11 a.m. This year, the entertainment is by Clowns. com. A magic show, balloon twisting and music and dancing will be the highlight of the event. Of course, there will be hats and noisemakers and a countdown to 12 noon. Reservations will open on Monday, December 15. Call the Recreation Office for reservations: (516) 465-4075. Free admission

A huge 4th down conversion keeps the momentum on Thunder’s side.

GARDEN CITY RECREATION AND PARK NEWS

Boys Varsity Soccer repeats as NY State Champions

Semifinal and final

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Middletown, New York, the Boys Varsity Soccer Team accomplished their season-long goal of repeating as New York State AA Champions with a thrilling, come from behind, 2-1 win over the Cornwall Central Dragons.  This was after a Friday evening 4-1 win in the semi-finals over Harrison High School that was a lot more challenging than the score would imply.

The semi-final game against Harrison was played under the lights in Middletown with the Trojans exerting themselves from the opening minutes and securing three corner kicks within the first eight minutes.  The boys work paid off nine minutes in when Will Egan jumped on a Jack Klein rebound and chipped it into the box where Dylan Fisher headed it home for the score.  Despite the Trojans maintaining the attack through the remainder of the 1st half the score remained 1-0 going into the 2nd half.  Both teams came out aggressive in the 2nd and despite the Trojans strong defensive unit, the Huskies of Harrison were able to capitalize less than ten minutes on a ball bouncing in the box and level the game at 1-1 and pumping life back into the Harrison fans.  As they have done many times this season, the boys shrugged off the opposing goal and went back to work, and Jack Shorr came up big for the Trojans with the next two goals for the Trojans – the first off a selfless pass from Jack Costa in the box and the second from a beautiful long ball from Jack Klein where Shorr just ran past the defense and drilled a shot past the goalkeeper.  Jack Costa put the icing on the cake with less than two minutes left off an Ollie Williams pass to make the final score 4-1.  On to the finals!

The State Final on Saturday was in front of the packed stands at Middleton High School with a great showing of Garden City parents, friends and former players, but

Defending State AA Champions!

also a full contingent of fans for Cornwall Central that is located only thirty minutes away.  The Dragons had a remarkable comeback the day before in their semi-final match being down 2-0 with eight minutes remaining, and scoring 3 goals including the game winner with only 35 seconds left, to punch their ticket to the final.  That type of comeback was not lost on the Trojans who knew they would only win with a tremendous effort by everyone on the team.

As the game began, the Trojans controlled possession while Cornwall looked for opportunities with the long ball, and barely 4 minutes into the match the Dragons capitalized on a bouncing ball in the box that forced goalkeeper Michael Karcher to trip the attacker and avoid any easy goal.  That trip unfortunately earned a yellow card, and Junior backup goalkeeper

Jack Armstrong was brought in to defend the penalty kick, as Karcher had to go out on the yellow.  Armstrong almost stunned the crowd with a save as he dove in the right direction, but the shot was too hard and well placed to stop.  Trojans behind 0-1 for the first time in the playoffs.

As the Dragons fans erupted, the Trojans gathered in front of the net, collected themselves and told each other there was plenty of time for them to play their game and get back into this.  For the remainder of the first half the boys dominated possession mixing up a combination of slow builds with a few long balls as they probed the Dragons defense.  Cornwall mounted a few charges, but nothing that was too threatening while the Trojans kept turning up the pressure.  Cornwall’s defense  was solid in the box turning away

multiple corner kicks, crosses and through balls, however they seemed to be relieved when the halftime whistle blew.

As the second half began the boys came out of the locker room clearly determined to even the score – experience had shown them that most defenses cannot withstand their pressure for eighty minutes without giving up a goal.  They picked up where they left off with control and challenging every possession.  While Cornwall was able to mount a few attacks much of the offense was from the Trojans as it felt like a vice was beginning to close on the Dragons.  At the 22 minute mark, Dylan Fisher took a throw in down low and put a shot on goal that was deflected by the defense off the crossbar, only to be cleared to half field and then brought back in by the Trojans for another round of shots – the vice getting

Thomas Fargione celebrates the equalizer!

Boys Varsity Soccer repeats as NY State Champions

Jack Klein watches the winning goal on its way into the net!

tighter.  Then with about twenty minutes remaining, junior Collin Gibbons drew a foul after doing what he has done all season – tenaciously getting after the ball and never giving up on an opportunity.  With the Garden City faithful chanting “Let’s Go Trojans”, Jack Costa took the free kick and sent a beautiful arching ball into the box to a leaping Thomas Fargione who headed it down and into the net for the equalizer.  It was only the 2nd goal on the season for the defender, but it was huge as his teammates and the benched swallowed him in celebration.  Although the match was still tied and the Trojans had more work to do to earn the title, with that goal, it was as if there was a collective sigh saying “Okay, we got this!”

As play resumed, Cornwall showed their resilience with several offensive attacks and had an excellent opportunity with 18 minutes remaining with a free kick at about 25 yards – a clever set piece sent a low curving shot around the wall toward the right corner of the goal that was sent wide by a great diving save by Karcher.  Unfazed, the Trojans resumed their attack, probing the left side multiple times looking for an opening.  Then it happened.  Jacob Cooper passed the ball to Fisher in the middle, who touched it to Cole Watson, who passed back to Jack Costa, surveyed the field and hit a turning Fisher who delivered a perfect pass behind the defenseman to a cutting Jack Klein.  Klein tapped the ball ahead a few feet and then sent a low even shot between the goalkeeper’s legs and into the open net with just over 9 minutes remaining.  Klein showed complete and utter composure as he took the pass and patiently drove to the net, drawing out the keeper and not overpowering the shot. Trojans up 2-1 and the State Title in site!

Knowing how dangerous Cornwall could be, the Trojans refused to play defensively and continued to fight for control.  As the minutes ticked away, Fargione, Cooper and Egan outmuscled the Dragons on the defensive end, while Costa and Williams frustrated them by burying the ball in the corner and earning a series of corner kicks killing more time.  With the fans counting down the last ten seconds, the reality of a second state title in as many years hit home with the bench rushing the field, the coaches hugging on the sideline and the Garden City fans bursting with cheers.  Let the celebration begin!

Season Recap and Thanks

With the season ending and the 19 seniors finishing their last game there is a lot to reflect on, and a lot of words that could be used to summarize the season such as determination, depth, selflessness, grit, challenge, poise, and many more.  One thing that stood out all season and into the playoffs is the ability of this team to have different players step up and make the big plays when needed, as over the course of the playoffs the Trojans had seven different players putting the ball in the net.  That is incredibly difficult for an opponent to plan for and defend, and while it may make sense to double the defense on Ollie after his pair of hat tricks, that just opened opportunities for the others who capitalized over and over again.

Having written these article for the past several months it feels fitting to thank all the people who have had a hand in supporting, developing and motivating this great group of boys to achieve so much this year.

First and foremost, the coaching staff led by Head Coach Paul Cutter and his

assistant coaches Luke Connolly, Sean Brady, Mike Lind and Jack Fenty, as well as trainer Anthony Navaro.   These coaches have done an amazing job of training and preparing these boys for a grueling season including organizing four nonleague matches that were away games against very tough competition that battle-tested the Trojans.  Furthermore, we should thank Coach Mike Heedles for his help in supporting the team during this playoff run.

Secondly to the teams of St. Benedicts, St Peters, St Anthonys and Shoreham Wading River.  It is said that steel is forged with fire and force, where the fire gives it power and flexibility and the blows give it strength.  Those games were the forge that made this Trojan team fear no team going into the playoff run.  We thank them for the opportunity to play them and learn from them.

Next up is the longer-term development that came from the Garden City Centennials and from trainer extraordinaire, Joey Tavernese.  All these boys started out on a Saturday morning on the fields of St Pauls dribbling a ball around some cones, tripping over jerseys that were probably too long for them and slowly graduated year by year into seasoned players and friends.  The Centennial Program and the parents that volunteer is the bedrock on which this team was built.  Together with Centennials has been Joey Tavernese with his dawn till dusk training at Stratford School and Community Park for individuals and teams, and probably most importantly, the summer high school training that is equal parts brutal and fun.  The summer training has been an integral part of building team relationships and getting the boys ready for a season that starts quickly in September.

Credit also needs to be given to the Garden City School Administration and Athletic Director Ed Ramirez that provide the resources and support to help make the team successful.  Without the fields, equipment, transportation and ongoing moral support, none of the teams achievements would be possible.  It is also worth calling

out here the team’s official photographer, Ed Rotondo, whose incredible pictures that are used in the newspaper and on social media are worth a million words, let alone a thousand.

We also want to thank the team managers, Christian Karavousanos, Shayden Geller and James DeBusschere for all their help and support all season.

Last, but certainly not least are the parents.  Starting with the senior parents who have been so welcoming and supportive of the underclassman and making them feel literally at home for pasta parties and game celebrations.  Particular mention for the captains’ mothers who rival the military in organizational skills covering everything from fund raisers to training camps, pasta parties to soccer merchandise, orange slices to playoff laundry.  There was nothing this group of mothers could not do.  Secondly are the junior parents who lent support in volunteering for multiple activities and did an exceptional job in coordinating the senior day event for the 19 seniors and their families.  The sophomore parents also provided tremendous help across all the activities and were out for every game showing their support.  Finally, I would be remiss in not thanking the parents of last year’s senior class that came out to support this year’s team, and not just home games, but traveling to Farmingdale as well as the several hour journey up to Middletown – remarkable support.

With that being said, each of these teams is a decade in the making and that all of the pieces mentioned above are equally important in coming together and performing so well and having so much fun along the way.  Much has been said about last year’s undefeated season, which was incredible, and although this season may not have been undefeated, there were many reasons to consider it a perfect season nonetheless.  Go Trojans!

Postscript:  The Juniors Centennial team, the Hawks, played their third game of the fall season on Sunday night, the day after the State Finals – time to start training for 2026!

Jack Klein and Thomas Fargione - from Columbus Day Classic....

... to state title!

Tornadoes leave a trail of destruction

The Garden City Tornadoes completed their inaugural fall season with a thrilling 1-0 victory over the Carle Place Waves on Saturday. The Tornadoes finished with a 10-1 record, which included winning the Northport Cow Harbor Columbus Day tournament.

Their dynamic offense was lead by Isobel Wall, Lulu Connolly, Alex Theoharis, Addison Gallagher, and Carmen AlbaredaPadilla. Meanwhile, their stout defensive backline was anchored by Amelia Zulic, Neave Leder, Scarlett Gallagher, Finley Kane & Avelyn Minarcik. Tending net was

Lulu Connolly leads the attack with Isobel Wall and Amelia Zulic.

the vaunted Chloe "Blank Sheet" Chan, who gave up only 5 goals in 11 games. Tornado season returns in March of 2026 so beware... these girls will be ready to roll.

Lulu Connolly hammers one into the back of the net.

Neave Leder restarts the attack with a throw-in.

The Garden City Tornados

Alex Theoharis prepares for a strike on goal.

Addison Gallagher slides one through as Carmen Padilla-Albareda looks on.

Strike Force U10 wraps up season with grit

Boys Varsity Soccer wins first ever State Championship

between two defenders to Jack Schorr. The ball hit Schorr in stride, he beat the two flat footed defenders and whipped a shot past an outstretched keeper and GC had the insurmountable 2-0 lead and a ticket to the finals on Sunday morning.

As the final whistle blew on Saturday the boys knew they had one more test to complete their season long journey. After months of training and battle tested with 22 straight wins that included 17 shutouts the boys and their coaches were on a mission, bring the State title home to Garden City for the first time.

Once again, the Trojans faced a team in Clarnece that approached the game as many opponents have, contain the GC attack, allow time of possession to favor the Trojans but try to not allow good scoring chances. As with the previous day, the Red Devils played with only one man up front and ten behind the ball giving Garden City about an 80-20 percentage of ball control and several quality chances to get the opening goal.

was a through ball from

At the team party: Luca Lara, Marco Manginello, Nico Ranieri, Alex Vazquez, Will Struck, Edward Galanek, James Lewis

Front: Quinn Moylan

Not pictured: Will Sessa, Jack Balkema, Declan Walker

Garden City had numerous chances but couldn’t come up with the first goal. In the opening twenty minutes the Trojans had several dangerous corner kicks but an active Clarence keeper kept them off the scoresheet, either coming off his line to punch the ball out or being in position to grab the ball off the heads of the taller GC forwards.

The Garden City Strike Force U10 boys wrapped up the fall soccer season with determination, teamwork, and plenty of hustle. Completing another competitive season in the LIJSL Championship Division, the boys showed tremendous growth in their offensive play, defensive grit and passing game. Leading the charge up front and on the wings, Jack Balkema, Alex Vazquez, Quinn Moylan and James Lewis worked tirelessly to create scoring chances, consistent-

After an inspiring half-time talk with coach Paul Cutter, he emphasized that the game was there for the taking and the boys couldn’t continue to have so many chances without pushing one in. He implored the boys to raise their intensity, bring more urgency to the field and continue doing what they’ve done all season.

Perhaps the best chance for GC came in the eighteenth minute as Woodbine shook his defender in the box and one touched a ball that just cleared the bar.

For Clarence, their one and only scoring chance of the opening half came on a counterattack in the seventeenth minute as they pushed two men up field. With a good cross to the corner of the 18 yard box, the Clarence forward fired a shot to the opposite corner of the goal that went just wide as Pupke was able to close down the shooters angle.

In the last five minutes of the half, GC continued to attack and had two good chances, both with Luca Profeta on the ball. The first was a free kick from Profeta from 25 yards out that couldn’t connect. And the second, and last chance of the half

ly putting opposing defenses on their heels. Holding strong through the middle of the field, Luca Lara and Marco Manginello provided relentless energy and stifling defense while also helping orchestrate the offense. Defenders Will Sessa and Declan Walker stood strong against opposing attacks with precision tackling and powerful clears. From defense to offense, Edward Galanek, Nico Ranieri and Will Struck showed

Cutter’s words were quickly translated to the field as the team scored in under two minutes gone by in the half. Controlling the ball off of the tap off, GC got the ball into the box and with bodies crashing, Justin Woodbine was able to push the loose ball past an out of position keeper for the opening goal of the game. Garden City celebrated but kept their game faces on as they inched closer to their ultimate goal.

With Clarence looking to generate more offense to get back in the game, the middle of the field started to open up for GC. This played right into the Trojan game plan as the open space allowed them to control the ball with their quick passes and good touches on the ball.

The insurance goal came off the foot of Nassau County scoring leader Myles Watson as he deftly worked the ball into

the box and with only the keeper to beat he was taken down from behind and awarded a penalty kick in the 50th minute of play. Watson approached the ball and drove a strong shot towards the corner, but the Red Devil keeper guessed right and made the save. Watson didn’t give up on the ball and without hesitation struck the ball into the open net for the goal that put GC up 2-0.

had the Trojans going 554 minutes without giving up a goal, and it raised the angst of the many GC fans that travelled to Middletown.

Back row: Coaches Ralph Ranieri, Nick Manginello, Mario Lara, Patrick Moylan (Not pictured: Trainer Eoin Merrick) Middle row: Marco Manginello, Luca Lara, Jack Balkema, Will Sessa, Will Struck Front row: Declan Walker, James Lewis, Quinn Moylan, Alex Vazquesnot pictured: Edward Galanek, Nico Ranieri

The Trojans had several more good scoring chances in the next 15 minutes as the shot total continued to climb in their favor at 23-3. Woodbine shot just wide of the post, Charlie Koester sent a free kick into the box for Jack Klein that was headed on goal and Profeta sent a couple of corner kicks into the goal area, but none connected for the important third goal.

tremendous versatility, skill and effort playing multiple positions throughout the season. Beyond the stats, what stood out most was the Strike Force’s energy, hustle and heart.

Garden City didn’t allow the Red Devils any room in the final minutes of play, and they secured the first NY State title in school history. And the players and coaches were finally able to celebrate loudly having accomplished what they had started in the summer months.

All that was left was a very happy ride back to Garden City, and with a GCPD escort the team bus was able to deliver that title on 7th Street to the many parents, friends and residents on Sunday afternoon. The season was truly an historic run for the team and coaches, as they finished their perfect season with a 23-0 record.

defensive shape, and creating goal scoring opportunities. The team has forged a tremendous foundation to build upon in the spring season, and we expect big things from this squad in 2026.

The boys showed measurable progress in combination play, maintaining

As the game entered the final fifteen minutes, Clarence began pushing more players into the attack and had a good chance that Ian Pupke closed in on and forced the shooter to go wide of the goal.

But with under six minutes remaining in the game Clarence made the game interesting. Attacking down the right sideline the ball was crossed into the middle and a Red Devil player was able to avoid the GC defense and with a quick one touch shot pushed the ball passed Pupke to make the score 2-1. The goal was the first given up by GC in the playoffs, official scoring

Strike First, Strike Hard, Strike Force!

Special mention should be made of the excellent coaching and dedication to the team from head coach Paul Cutter with assistants Luke Connolly and Mike Lind, team managers Ryan Cappello and Henry Schnell, athletic trainer Anthony Navaro and Athletic Director Ed Ramirez (GCTrojanNation).

Congratulations especially to all the seniors, many of whom have been with the team for the past two or three seasons.

Varsity Soccer team leaving for the NYS Championship weekend.

for the Trojans

Profeta that just missed connecting with Jack Costa in the box. The first half ended nil-nil.

Photos by Ed Rotondo

Chargers capture Division 1A title

Garden City has a whole new reason to cheer this week. The Garden City Chargers — a tight-knit, hard-working group of eight-year-old athletes — just wrapped up an incredible season, going undefeated in league play and earning the title of LISJL Division 1AW GU9 League Champions.

From the very first whistle this fall, the Chargers made it clear they were something special. Their game was defined by sharp passing, nonstop hustle, and the kind of chemistry you only get from a team that truly plays for each other. Week after week, they showed confidence, toughness, and sportsmanship beyond their years.

A huge part of the Chargers’ success came from their four dynamic wings — Emmy Clark, Lena Power, Andie Bernstein, and Giuliana Moy — who constantly created scoring chances and kept the energy high. Their speed and creativity opened up the field, powering an attack, spearheaded by Gianna Philippou and Catherine Acquavito, making the Chargers one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the division.

And it wasn’t just the offense turning heads. The defense was nothing short of lockdown, allowing only 6 goals all season, anchored by the steady play

of Claire Berbari and Alba Dersch. On the other side of the ball, the Chargers poured in 43 total goals, often controlling the tempo from start to finish. In the midfield, Emma Watts, Caroline Chalupa, and Maddie Hauser added composure, speed, and unselfish playmaking to keep everything running smoothly.

Of course, no championship run is complete without a little extra support — and the Chargers had it in the form of their beloved four-legged mascots, Kevin Dersch and Brenner Bernstein. The dogs were sideline regulars, bringing big energy, even bigger tail wags, and plenty of good luck all season long.

Coach Rob Philippou praised the girls for their focus, growth, and dedication throughout the season — at practices, in games, and every moment in between.

When the final game at Stewart School wrapped up and the undefeated season became official, the celebration said it all: big smiles, proud coaches, and a team that knew they’d accomplished something truly special.

The Chargers have set an incredible standard — proving that with teamwork, grit, and heart, anything is possible.

Charge on, Chargers!

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The Garden City Chargers

The Chargers celebrate their win.

Islanders return home from road trip

BY TONY SENA

The New York Islanders return home from a very successful seven game road trip out west. They will face-off against the St. Lous Blues at home this Saturday November 22, at 3:30 p.m. at the UBS arena.

The Islanders will also play at home on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. against Seattle. The Islanders won four straight games on the road before losing a tough game against Colorado. The team has been playing very well defensively led by their star goaltender Ilya Sorokin. In addition, the offense has been getting a boost from their top two lines which has generated many scoring opportunities.

Let’s get out there this weekend and cheer on our team, “ Let ’ s Go Islanders!”

Councilman visits

Daisy Scouts

Hempstead Town Councilman Tom Muscarella attended the Girl Scout Daisy Troop 1387 Democracy in Brownies event on November 7, at Stewart School in Garden City.

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We’re looking for writers in our community to compose articles on local topics, opinions, reviews, worthy places to visit on Long Island, and even pieces of fiction. We aim to feature at least one new article and writer each week in our Discovery magazine section.

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Islanders head coach Patrick Roy speaking with the media.

Tradition Lacrosse continues fall tournament play

Get rid of your unwanted items by placing an ad for them in our Classifieds! We have reasonable rates, and you’ll have prompt results! Call our Garden City office at 294-8900 for

Tradition 2028

Tradition 2031 Pink

Tradition 2032 Blue

Tradition 2031 Blue

Tradition 2029 visiting Towson University

Alumni Soccer Game

Looking for any male or female alumni of the GC Centennials who are high school seniors or older that want to lace them up and have a great time with current or former players. It will be a fun time as usual. The details are: Friday,

November 28, at GCHS Turf Field and time is 1 p.m. (12:30 p.m. warmup).

Get together will be immediately following at Doc O’Grady’s on Nassau Blvd. Shirts will be given to the first 50 alumni.

3rd Grade Girls Field Hockey team

The 3rd Grade Girls Field Hockey team recently completed its inaugural season. Lola Javian, Sally Kasnicki, Grace Connolly, Eleanor Sheehan, Audrey Calcagni, Mairead Dillion, Nora Gross, Eleanor Calame, Maeve Burns, Penelope Chabot. Not pictured - but big part of the team: Ainsley Hulla, Ashley Burke, Bridget Saloy, Brinley Sambus, Cora Burning, Lena Power, Sarah Burke

An annual subscription to one of our papers costs less than buying a copy each week. Call 516-294-8900 to subscribe!

Driving like a semi into the semif inal

Garden City 48 – East Meadow 0

The score suggests a runaway semifinal, but it didn’t start that way. The Jets moved the ball early, intercepted two passes, and even forced just the Trojans’ second punt of the season. But Garden City’s championship mentality—resilient, creative, and relentless—soon took control.

The play that will live in Trojan lore came on a perfectly executed “Hook and Ladder”: quarterback Brayden Robertiello (#17) to Chris Desiderio (#18), who, flipped it laterally to Merit Ruckh (#23) for a touchdown.

East Meadow’s opening interception sparked the Trojan defense, which answered with punishing tackles by Andrew Dengler (#43) and Luke Agrippina (#75) to halt the Jets’ advance.

On the next play, Anthony Asaro (#14) broke free for a 70-yard touchdown, and Desiderio nailed the extra point.

Defensive end Mark Escher (#89) delivered a decisive sack, and Justin Baiker (#11) broke up a deep pass to force another punt. Ruckh’s return set up prime field position, and Jeffrey Finnell (#15) hauled in a pass to the oneyard line before Robertiello powered in on a quarterback sneak.

Captains Zach Olson (#77), Jake Brown (#55), and Owen Andersen (#20) anchored the defensive front forcing another punt. Robertiello connected twice with Desiderio before Ruckh raced 50 yards for another score. Desiderio added the point.

The defensive showcase continued as James Sullivan (#73) and A.J. Haeffner (#78) set up a 4th-and-long, paving the

way for the now-legendary “Hook and Ladder.” Angelo Cupani (#44) closed the half with a sack, sending the Trojans into the break up 28-0.

After halftime, Desiderio boomed a 60-yard punt before Brown stripped the ball and returned it to the 10. Cupani then hurdled into the end zone, powered by blocks from Conor Fortney (#76), Thomas Bacich (#54), Gus Galli (#24), and Chase Kraus (#21).

With East Meadow facing fourthand-three, Galli, Kraus, and Wolfgang Ullrich (#70) shut the door, forcing a turnover on downs. Gianluca Ingrassia (#30) bulldozed 47 yards in two plays for another touchdown. Ryan Haniffy (#10) followed with an interception to keep the Jets scoreless.

Jack Le Sueur (#29) then added the final touchdown after help from

Christopher Byrne (#19). Desiderio’s PAT capped the 48-0 rout.

Defensive standouts Mitchell LoBiondo (#50), James Logler (#71), and Michael Desiderio (#28) snuffed out the final Jet drive, while Christian Rodini (#40) and Byrne closed the game with strong runs before Garden City took a victory stance in a show of sportsmanship.

The Trojans’ record-breaking streak now stands at 64 straight wins. Next up: the Nassau County Championship at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 22 at noon, versus the Long Beach Marines.

Tailgate with GC alumni, friends, and family starting at 9 a.m.

Once a Trojan, always a Trojan — Let’s go GC!

Jake Brown strips the ball from a Jet, giving the Trojans possession.

Merit Ruckh scores on the perfectly executed hook-and-ladder play.

Justin Baiker powers ahead for a Trojan first down.

Gianluca Ingrassia breaks through and scores the Trojan touchdown.

Christopher Byrne eludes a Jet defender to secure a first down.

Christopher Desiderio launches a booming 60-yard punt.

New to the MarketTwo Wyndham East Units

Rarely Available Country Kitchen Model

100 Hilton Avenue Unit #411, Garden City, NY

This bright, sunny corner unit has both southern and western exposure. One of the largest 2-bedroom floor plans, it features a spacious eat-in kitchen with updated cabinets, appliances and counters and a large living/dining area with 2 sets of sliding doors opening to a private terrace. Primary suite includes 2 double closets plus a large walk-in closet and an en suite white Carrera bath. Second bedroom also has its own full bath. MLS# 933005. $1,275,000.

Experience Matters

Totally Renovated Corner Duplex

100 Hilton Avenue Unit #M32, Garden City, NY

Completely renovated with impeccable craftsmanship throughout. The open kitchen, which has been meticulously redone, features topof-the-line appliances and finishes. It opens to a beautiful living room with built-in custom cabinets and dining room with access to a large 276 sq. ft. patio. Stylish primary bedroom offers spa-like indulgence of the primary bath, complete with radiant heat and rainfall shower. Second bedroom also has its own en suite bath. A full-size washer and dryer seamlessly integrated into an in-unit laundry room.

MLS# 928262. $1,229,000.

Both units include a lower-level storage cage and 2 valet parking spaces. Residents enjoy the Wyndham Club with gym, exercise classes, heated pool and spa, Club Room, conference and movie rooms, plus a scenic trail—all in the heart of the Village near the LIRR, shops, restaurants, library, and parks.

As a Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty Wyndham Resale agent, I have extensive experience handling Wyndham transactions, successfully selling over 60 units and leasing 30+ rentals. My deep knowledge of the property, its amenities, application procedures, and the closing process ensures my clients a smooth and seamless transaction from start to finish. Contact me today to schedule a viewing or a private tour.

Sunday, 11/23 | 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Doubleday Court, Unit 114 Garden City, NY

2-bedroom, 2-bath. MLS#935953. $1,200,000.

Garden City, NY

4-bedroom, 2.5-bath. MLS# 928706. $1,895,000.

Garden City, NY

6-bedroom, 8.55-bath. MLS# 862217. $5,000,000.

Doubleday Court, Unit 213

Garden City, NY

3-bedroom, 2.5-bath. MLS# 922853. $1,995,000.

Garden City, NY

5-bedroom, 3-bath. MLS# 891657. $1,415,000.

Garden City, NY

4-bedroom, 4.5-bath. MLS# 901471. $2,150,000.

Wyndham West, #505

Garden City, NY

2-bedroom, 2.5-bath. MLS# 922619.

Garden City, NY

3-bedroom, 2-bath. MLS# 907973. $1,425,000.

3.5-bath.

843658. $1,585,000.

City, NY 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath. MLS# 887258. $2,699,000.

873980.

Garden City, NY

3-bedroom, 2.55-bath. MLS# 922455. $1,600,000.

2.5-bath. MLS# 933005. $1,275,000.

Mary Krener

Fortune Heaney Lisa Heaney

Lynn Puccio Cheryl Trimboli Scott Wallace

Arthur Anderson Jessica Brantuk Ann Collins

Claudia Galvin Rene Blair

Christine Cudahy Manager

Linda Mulrooney Eileen O’Hara Diane Piscopo

Daureen Hausser

Stephanie Marchan

Aimee Escher

Matthew Minardi

Kathy Lucchesi

Susan MacDonald Brigid Marmorowski

Patricia Dickson

Marianne Imperial Oliver Grandison

Tracy Kearns