January 18, 2023 Amityville

Developing Young Leaders At Northwest Elementary School

Northwest Elementary School in Amityville has recently collaborated with members of the Calvary Chapel of Hope to create a Leadership Club, allowing students to shine as leaders.

Calvary Chapel members Pastor Jeff Cole and Mrs. Angie Christian along with Northwest social worker Ms. Debra Lee developed this club to let students know that

we are all leaders. “Do not let anyone think less of you because you are young,” Pastor Jeff Cole said. “Be an example to everyone in what you say, how you live, how you treat and trust others, and what enters your mind.”

The group, which meets biweekly, discussed the five rules of leadership:

1. Leaders do what is right, even when no one is

watching.

2. Leaders lead by example. They do everything they expect others to do.

3. Leaders speak the truth.

4. Leaders treat others how they want to be treated. They are respectful to everyone.

5. Leaders work and do their best.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union Wins 2022 UKG Aspire Innovation Award

Bethpage Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in the Northeast Region, and the 15th largest in the nation, has been awarded a 2022 UKG Aspire Innovation Award from UKG, a prominent workforce management company. Recognized for its achievements in creating meaningful and connected experiences for its members and employees, the Customer Innovation Award for HR Transformation was presented to Bethpage’s Human Capital Management System (HCMS) Team.

A tremendous recognition for Bethpage, UKG is a prominent workforce management company. Its Innovation Award celebrates customers using UKG People Technology (UKG Pro) in innovative ways to solve complex problems, create empowering workplaces and drive exceptional business outcomes.

“This is quite an achievement for our Human Capital Management Systems team,” said Melissa Feeney, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Bethpage Federal Credit Union. “UKG receives thousands of award nominations yearly. The impact of the UKG Pro has not only benefitted our HR processes, but has been crucial to our Employee Experience efforts, helping us invest in our teams and adapt our employees’ needs beyond work life.”

Bethpage utilizes UKG People Technology to leverage quicker turnaround times for interviews and hiring decisions for a better candidate experience. It has also established a new digital hire program and developed a seamless compensation process, managing and digitizing HR documents. “Bethpage strives to create a positive employee experience, beginning

with the hiring process itself, continues Feeney. “It has tremendously helped us overcome many manual challenges.”

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a premier community financial institution committed to enriching the lives of its members, employees, and the communities it serves for the past 80 years. Bethpage is the largest credit union in the Northeast Region, and the 15th largest in the nation.

As a not-for-profit credit union, Bethpage is committed to its members and the communities it serves. In addition to giving back to its members in the form of great rates and low fees, the Bethpage Cares program invests heavily in local, high-impact community programs that serve with an eye towards creating better communities through diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Voted the Glass Door Top Place to Work for Small & Midsize companies, Bethpage is a federally chartered credit union, available to people nationwide who open a $5 dollar membership account. Bethpage offers a robust digital platform that allows members to bank from anywhere. Bethpage is a part of the national CO-OP network that gives members access to their accounts at over 30,000 free ATMs and 5,000+ shared branches across the U.S. As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers the best-in market rates, lowest fees and world-class service, plus a full menu of personal and commercial financial services. For more information on Bethpage’s robust portfolio of banking, borrowing, and investment services, visit www.lovebethpage.com or call 1-800- 628-7070.

THE FIVE RULES OF LEADERSHIP - The Leadership Club at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville held their biweekly meeting to discuss the five rules of leadership. Photo courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District

LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND POSITIVE WORDS - Students in Northwest Elementary School’s Leadership Club wrote about leadership skills and positive words that describes them. Photo courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District

Pictured left to right: Samantha Portillo, Bethpage Federal Credit Union Payroll & Benefits Specialist, Human Resources; Paula Crovatt, Senior Manager, Human Capital Management System, Bethpage Federal Credit Union; Alyssa Renda, Human Capital Management System Specialist, Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for January is Pal-O-Mine Equestrian

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is a local non-profit organization that began in 1995 as a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. They grew from having two programs, eight horses and 80 students per week to 11 programs, 25 horses and 400 students per week - and they continue to grow today!

“2023 will be a year of physical growth with our new educational center and treatment clinic, as well as spiritual growth by continuing to serve the many who need our 13 acre farm and herd to help them heal from trauma, grow in personal strength and learn new things to brighten their future,” said Lisa Gatti, Founder of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. The organization will be o ering various events throughout 2023, some of which are noted below.

February 15th they will kick-o a 3 month virtual Hay Drive Fundraiser. “We’ve been holding this Fundraiser once a year for 3 years now because in the last few years the cost of hay has tripled,” said Lisa. “Every penny donated through this fundraiser goes directly to helping us buy hay for our herd. I’d like to warmly thank everyone in advance for their support and donations, it truly helps us more than you know.” This year they are proud to o er a new text to donate feature. More information is available on their website (www.pal-o-mine.org).

Additionally, May 3rd through May 7th from 9:30AM-2:30PM they are holding their annual J-STEP Spring Craft Fair at their farm, located at 829 Old Nichols Road in Islandia.

J-STEP, which stands for Job Security Through Equine Partnership, is their Vocational Program. The program o ers a paid internship that runs 5 days per week for people with disabilities who are 18 years or older. Every item showcased at this fair is handcrafted by the J-STEP interns.

Lastly, May 4th from 6PM-9PM they will hold a Stable Spirits Art Show and Auction in their barn. This will be a night you won’t want to miss, filled with local wine and cheese, creativity and philanthropy! Pal-O-Mine will proudly feature up and coming artists in individual “stalls” in the barn and proceeds from each sale will go towards building their new educational center and clinic.

If you are interested in finding out more about their J-STEP Program or learning about the opportunity to have your art displayed at the Stable Spirits Art Show, contact Tessa at TessaVF@pal-o-mine. org. For more general information about Pal-O-Mine, call 631-348-1389, visit their website (www.pal-o-mine.org), Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Instagram.

Eagle Scout Project To Support Hungry For Music

Pearl Harbor 81st Commemorative Anniversary At Airpower Museum

On Sunday, December 7, 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise military assault on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On December 8, 1941 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his famous “date which will live in infamy” speech and following that Congress declared war and the United States entered into

World War II. Eighty one years later Veterans from all branches of the service came together to commemorate the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor at the Air Power Museum in Farmingdale, New York.

Veterans from World War II ranging in age from 93 to 102 were honored and given certificates

for their service. During the ceremony a bugler played taps in memory of those that perished on that day. Color Guards were provided by the Navy Reserves and other veterans organizations.

Over 200 Veterans and family members as well as local elected officials attended the commemorative ceremony.

Air Force Veteran Ed Freeberg from West Hempstead in front of a Pearl Harbor Memorial Plaque.

Navy Reserves Color Guard.

Doctors

Students

Pre-kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville recently learned about the importance of physical and emotional health as part of the school’s current theme, “Taking Care.”

Doctors and health care professionals from Stony Brook Southampton Hospital visited the school to share some key health tips with students. Students also got to check out some of the doctors’

medical equipment such as stethoscopes and otoscopes. Many of the

students were also excited to share some of their own healthy habits.

Two Amityville Memorial High School Musicians

All-County Honors

Ensembles this year.

of various 2022 NYSCAME/ Suffolk All-County Honors

Melissa Fearrington was selected as a member of the NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County Chorus and Madeline Shingleton was selected as a member of the NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County Orchestra.

Additionally, Shingleton was seated as the principal cellist (first chair) of the All-County Orchestra.

Hundreds of students auditioned for placement into these ensembles last spring at NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals

throughout Suffolk County. Students were chosen to participate based on their proficiency score achieved at the festival and teacher recommendations. The All-County festival showcased the top 11thand 12th-grade students of all Suffolk County music programs.

The district congratulates Fearrington, Shingleton, their families, and their past and present music teachers for this outstanding achievement!

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIANS EARN ALLCOUNTY HONORS - Amityville Memorial High School chorus teacher Joe DeMato-Garcia, left, and orchestra teacher Bianca Ferrante, far right, recognized student musicians Melissa Fearrington, second from left, and Madeline Shingleton for being selected as members of various 2022 NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County Honors Ensembles this year. Photo courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District

Lustgarten Foundation

(NAPSI)—The world’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, the Lustgarten Foundation, is dedicated to curing this devastating disease—and you can help with a donation. To learn more about the condition and what you can do, visit www.lustgarten.org or call toll-free 866-7891000.

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

631-226-2636, press “2”

GET YOUR AD NOTICED!

Ca ll Our Classifi ed Dept. 631-226-2636 Ext. 276

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Place your ad in our Classifieds 631 -2 26- 2636 Ex t. 276

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LOOKING TO ADVERTI SE YOUR BUSINES S? Call Classified and one of our experienced sales representatives will help you. BIG BUDGET?

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LOOKING TO ADVERTI SE YOUR BUSINES S? Call Classified and one of our experienced sales representatives will help you. BIG BUDGET?

SM ALL BUDGET? 631-226-2636, press 276

Debunking

(NAPSI)—Buying a home can seem daunting, especially for first-time homebuyers facing record housing prices, tight supply, and rising interest rates. Quite often, misconceptions about homeownership discourage prospective buyers from starting a search even before it begins.

The good news is homeownership can be much closer than you think. Lisa Frison, Head of Financial Inclusion and Racial Equity at Citi, recalls that growing up her parents rented their home for years before eventually becoming firsttime homebuyers. “Even so, I found myself struggling to understand what I needed to do and what resources were available to me when I was ready to buy my first home nearly a decade later,” she says. Here Frison debunks these Top 5 Myths to help you get on track to building generational wealth through homeownership.

1. I Don’t Have Credit (a FICO Score). Nearly 11% of Americans (50 million people) are “credit invisible,” according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, meaning they have no or limited credit history. This disproportionately affects diverse and underserved communities. To help, Citi’s

Hints For Home Buyers

The Five Myths That Deter Homeownership

HomeRun mortgage program offers non-traditional ways to demonstrate credit readiness, such as providing proof of paying rent, utilities or other monthly payments.

2. I Don’t Have Enough Money Saved. You may have more money than you think. Many banks offer programs for new homebuyers that do not require mortgage insurance for those qualifying. Also, HomeRun has some mortgages for as little as 3% down, with a minimum 1% borrower contribution. This, along with the bank’s Lender Paid Assistance, which provides up to $7,500 closing cost funds that do not need to be paid back, saves qualifying borrowers thousands of dollars in closing costs, helping them afford more house. These programs are offered only in select markets and have income limitations.

3. I Should Start House Hunting with a Realtor. It seems logical to begin with a real estate agent but your best bet may be to start with your lender, who can explore homebuyer assistance programs with you and give you a realistic view of what you can afford through a prequalification or pre-approval. A real estate agent will then narrow the search to help you find the right home for you and your budget.

4. I Earn Too Much to Qualify for Assistance. Lender assistance programs may be more expansive than you think, especially in response to inflation and rising home prices. For example, Citi has increased lending assistance to borrowers with income up to 120% of median income— up from 80% of the median local income. The bank’s loan officers can tell customers where their income is relative to the local median family income and also whether a property is located in an eligible census tract.

5. I Should Keep

Renting

Because I Missed the Market and Now I’m Priced Out. Firsttime or affordable homebuyer programs can help you get on the path to buying a home you can afford. Remember, a home is more than a place to live and build memories—it is a way to build wealth that you can pass on to future generations. That’s something you can’t achieve by renting.

Learn More

For more information, visit www.citi.com/mortgage/ community-lendinghomerun.

Recycling Is Good For The Economy

The statistics are in… recycling is not only good for the environment, but also for the economy. And a standout economic success story in recycling is HELPSY!

The environmental benefits of recycling are well documented and by themselves warrant a more sustainable lifestyle. With information gathered by the Recycling Economic Information Project (REI), an organization created in 2001 to encourage the development of an economic market for recycling and supported by the EPA, it is proven beyond a doubt that recycling not only conserves natural resources

but recycling also strengthens our economy by creating jobs, wages and creating tax revenue.

A 2020 REI report showed the recycling industry (including glass, paper, plastics, rubber, electronics, organic and construction and demolition materials) across the board created 681,000 jobs, $37.8 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in tax revenue. Furthermore, on average… 1.17 jobs were created for every 1000 tons of recycled materials.

Rising above the rest by comparison, with 270 employees, HELPSY is the largest clothing collection

company on the East Coast and collects 15,000 tons of textiles every year…amounting to 18 jobs for every 1000 tons.

“HELPSY’s environmental mission is to radically change the way people think about clothing reuse and recycling. In the process of serving this mission, it has created hundreds of living wage jobs, saved municipalities millions of dollars in disposal fees, and has reduced the enormous environmental burden of the second most polluting industry in the world,” says Dan Green, Co-Founder and CEO of HELPSY.

Over the past year, HELPSY has worked with 113 municipal

recycling departments and collected approximately 1.7 million pounds of textiles from those collaborations. Through a combination of clothing drives, home pick-ups, thrift store partners and clothing receptacles located in 10 states, HELPSY diverts nearly 30 million pounds of textiles from landfills every year. Considering those numbers, recycling clothes makes sense both environmentally and financially. For additional information about HELPSY or to join in our environmental preservation efforts, contact info@helpsy.co.