January 4, 2023 East Islip

Thirty Islip High School Seniors Earn AP Scholar Designation

The College Board recently recognized 30 current Islip High School seniors for achieving AP Scholar designations for 2022, a result of their diligent work in succeeding at college-level AP courses and exams. The Advanced Placement Program recognizes several different award levels.

Fifteen students – Trevor Barnes, Ryan Bucco, Ahdalia Davies, Gabriella Flora, Kelly Flynn, Myles Freelin, Rachael Keyes, Stephen Plotke, Christopher Puhle, Stella Reagan, Chase Rogers, Sara Sentochnik, Emilio Shahib, Faith Theobald and Riley Wallace – were named AP Scholars, granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

Four students – Abigail Alfano, Rebecca Elie,

Maggie Hayes and Olivia Piazzolla – received AP Scholars with Honor designations, granted to those students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

Eleven students –Connor Autera, Leah Bell, Nelson Chan, Jhey Dizon, Aidan Ferrera, Kayley Guzman Morales, Jessica Hagihara, Madelynn Lang, Kacey Schassberger, Katelyn Wallace and Brielle Zink –were named AP Scholars with Distinction, granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Additionally, eight Islip students – Connor Autera, Leah Bell, Nelson Chan, Jhey Dizon, Aidan Ferrera, Jessica Hagihara,

Emilio Shahib and Brielle Zink – earned AP Capstone Diplomas, and 13

students – Abigail Alfano, Ahdalia Davies, Andrew Dromerhauser, Rebecca

Elie, Maggie Frazer, Myles Freelin, Kayley Guzman Morales, Maggie Hayes, Lila

Islip Works To Build ‘Skillful Teachers’

Two groups of Islip School District teachers and administrators have begun a rigorous professional development program through Research for Better Teaching. This program, “The Skillful Teacher,” focuses on building teachers’ capacity

to promote student motivation, learning and increased achievement. The program is based on the belief that teaching is a process of decision-making and that skillful teachers never stop learning through experimentation, data analysis, study and collegial sharing about what works best for their students.

Long Island - A new report has just been released which reveals 7 costly mistakes that most homeowners make when selling their home, and a 9 Step System that can help you sell your home fast and for the most amount of money.

This industry report shows clearly how the traditional ways of selling homes have become increasingly less and less effective in today’s market. The fact of the matter is that fully three quarters of homesellers don’t get what they want for their homes and become disillusioned and - worse - financially disadvantaged when they put their homes on the market.

As this report uncovers, most homesellers

make 7 deadly mistakes that cost them literally thousands of dollars. The good news is that each and every one of these mistakes is entirely preventable. In answer to this issue, industry insiders have prepared a free special report entitled “The 9 Step System to Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar”.

To order a FREE Special Report, visit ninestepsystem.com or to hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-855-928-4453 and enter 1000. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW to find out how you can get the most for your home.

Over the next several years, the district plans to involve secondary teachers and all administrators in developing common language and clear

expectations of what excellent teaching is. Teachers and administrators have been divided into cohorts, each meeting six times throughout the year. Sessions revolve around topics such as belief in students’ capabilities, engagement of students, cultural proficiency, planning engaging lessons and gauging student understanding. Teachers walk away from these sessions with a compendium of skills, strategies and techniques

they will bring back to their classrooms to positively impact instruction.

“It is extremely valuable when we can have teachers work on building their repertoire of tools and strategies to aid in raising student achievement,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Michael Giacchetto said. “This program will significantly benefit our students by strengthening and supporting Islip’s teachers and administrators.”

Kiernan, Olivia Piazzolla, Stephen Plotke, K

THIRTY ISLIP HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS EARN AP SCHOLAR DESIGNATION - The College Board recently recognized 30 current Islip High School seniors for achieving AP Scholar designation for 2022. Photo courtesy of Islip School District

ISLIP WORKS TO BUILD ‘SKILLFUL TEACHERS’ - Islip School District teachers and administrators have begun “The Skillful Teacher,” a rigorous professional development program through Research for Better Teaching. Photo courtesy of Islip School District

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

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

www.pal-o-mine.org

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! “Our mission has been, and continues to be, to provide a comprehensive therapeutic equine program using horses to facilitate growth, learning and healing,” said Lisa Gatti, Founder and CEO of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. “We proudly serve individuals with disabilities, those who have been abused or neglected, the military and the impoverished.”

Their location in Islandia offers an unequaled setting for equestrian activities, with a 20-stall barn on 13 acres, handicapped accessible bathrooms, a 100’ x 120’ indoor arena with state-of-the-art-footing and a rider hoisting system, 3 outdoor riding arenas, classrooms, accessible playground, a greenhouse and a wellness center. They offer the following programs:

Lessons: This program provides quality adaptive riding and unmounted lessons that benefit individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional and mental disabilities. Each one of their riding instructors excels in their field and continues with training and certification throughout their careers.

Equine Assisted Learning: This program incorporates horses experientially for educational and emotional growth and learning. Using unique approaches to create positive and constructive learning experiences for children and adolescents who are at risk of failing in the traditional academic setting, this program has changed the lives of countless individuals.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy: This follows a model designed by EAGALA,

Inc., the leading international EAP training and certifying organization.

Currently, Pal-OMine Equestrian has 7 Licensed Mental Health Professionals and 11 Equine Specialists who are certified in this model. Groups that are participating focus on the following issues: grief, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, substance abuse, addiction and codependency.

Speech & Occupational Therapy: Clients respond well to therapy incorporating activities with animals, and a variety of therapy goals can be addressed using this treatment strategy. Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists run this program to provide therapy services with the assistance of wonderful animals.

Military: For more than four thousand years, horses have been an integral part of warfare. Today, horses are still playing an important role in war, this time in the recovery of military veterans who have suffered emotional and/or physical injuries. This program is an EAGALA designated Military Program and offers individual, group and family sessions to help people heal.

Corporate Leadership: The way individuals interact and react with horses is very similar to the way they interact with their clients, customers, peers and work groups. People interpret horse behavior/emotions through the lens of their personal perception. How they interpret horses can often be a metaphor for their work, attitudes and relationships. Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is proud to offer a Corporate Leadership program.

For more information about this organization and all they offer, please call 631-348-1389 or visit www.pal-omine.org. Don’t miss next week’s article to learn about how you can get involved and help others in your community.

If your nonprofit would like to be featured in this column, please call Noelle Lambert at 631.226.2636 x225 for consideration.

East Islip Public Library

381 East Main Street East Islip, Contact Judy Moccio at (631) 581-9200 ext. 123 email:jmoccio@eipl.org ***

The Board of Trustees of the East Islip Public Library will hold their Board Meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. on the second floor in the North Meeting Room, all are welcome.   For more information, contact the East Islip Public Library at 631-581-9200 x105.

THE BOHLSEN GALLERY

In January, the Gallery will feature Bill Kuchler of West Islip. Mr. Kuchler specializes in realistic watercolors and acrylics inspired by places he has visited in the Northeast and here on Long Island. He endeavors to transform the focus on these overlooked settings, compelling the viewer to consider them from a new perspective. Come fall in love with these unforgettable paintings.

The Lego Collection of Stella Ribando will be featured in the display cases for January. Stella is a 3rd grader at JFK Elementary School in East Islip and has been building Legos since she was 3 years old. Stella has continued to grow her lego collection and build very intricate/ advanced sets that are for adults. You don’t want to miss this display!

In February, the Gallery will feature Michael John Stillwell of Great River. Mr. Stillwell uses oil paint to capture beautiful and unique images. Although he specializes in landscape paintings, he is well versed in a variety of painting styles and subjects. Stop in to see the beautiful art presented by this local artist.

ART SALE

We are always looking for talented local artists to display their work in the

Bohlsen Art Gallery on our 2nd Floor. We are taking applications for artists wishing to show their work. Please email Judy Moccio (jmoccio@eipl.org) for more information. For more information, contact the East Islip Public Library at 631-581-9200 x123.

Career Counseling East Islip Library cardholders can schedule a consultation with the library’s professional Career Counselor. Get help with career changes, resumes, cover letters and your job search. To request an appointment, send an email to help@eipl. org, including your name, telephone number and the email address at which you want to be contacted. The Career Counselor will contact you to set up a virtual or in-person appointment at your convenience. For more information, contact the East Islip Public Library at 631-581-9200 x105.

The Homegrown String Band SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 at 2 P.M. (EIA305)

The Homegrown String Band will take you on a musical journey from ancient ballads of the British Isles to blues and bluegrass of the twentieth century. For more information, contact the East Islip Public Library at 631-581-9200 x105.

Smart Phone

Photography (eia130) R Thursday, January 12 at 7p.m.

Join award wining photographer Holly Hunt, where you will learn how to utilize basic settings on your smart phone to capture amazing photos. Learn what each icon under your camera settings does and a few cool tricks on your smart phone camera.

Sound Meditation with Guided Imagery (eia275) R Wednesday, January 18 at 7 p. m.

Guided imagery is a conscious, intentional use of your imagination, which accesses your sub-conscious mind via sensory images. Join Donna Nesteruk as she guides you through this imagery as these powerful sounds permeate your body to create a harmonious environment.

Monthly Book Discussion

- The Magnolia PlaceWednesday, January 18

The Magnolia Palace By Fiona Davis follows the lives of three women over two periods: 1919 and 1966. An English model has a shoot at the Frick museum and chances upon a series of hidden messages, which she hopes can solve her financial woes but could they reveal the truth behind a decadesold murder?

ROWDY

CARNE ASADA

NAPOLEON

Successful Donation Drive

On Monday, December 19, 2022, Noelle Lambert and The Bryn Elliott Team concluded their Holiday Donation Drive, which ran for four weeks and had drop-off locations throughout Long Island. The drive brought in countless donations, all of which were given to a local non-profit organization, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH).

“It was such a great experience and people didn’t hold back,” said Noelle Lambert, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “I received calls, texts and emails from people who heard of the drive and wanted to donate, many of which ended up giving so much that they couldn’t bring it all into a drop-off location in one trip. Although it’s a very sad reality that many individuals are experiencing homelessness and other hardships right here on Long Island, it was really refreshing to see our community come together and do something about it.”

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless strives to end homelessness on Long Island, and to alleviate the issues associated with homelessness and poverty for homeless and at risk persons in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The organization’s distribution center where the donations were brought is located at 600 Albany Avenue in Amityville,

and is also known as their boutique. People in need can make an appointment to come to the boutique and leave with clothes and other items, such as non perishable food and personal care products for free. LICH is here to work directly with people in need, as well as with case managers, shelter staff members, school employees, church members and the like who are helping these individuals.

”This organization does so much good and it was a pleasure to contribute towards their important mission,” said Bryn Elliott, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “So many people have clothing and miscellaneous items that they aren’t using, while others are in real need; it’s just a matter of coordinating a collection. However, it’s clear that the holiday spirit helped our drive quite a bit. I want to express how thankful we are to all who donated, as well as for the businesses that allowed us to use their locations for the drive, which includes USA Auto Body in East Patchogue, The Fish Store in Bayport, Long Island Media Group in

Farmingdale and Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Smithtown and Farmingville.”

“We are so very grateful for this drive that Noelle and The Bryn Elliott Team put together,” said Bailey Riekkinen, Community Engagement Specialist at LICH.

“The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless will continue to advocate and serve until we achieve our mission of ending homelessness on Long Island. In 2022, we referred over 700 households for permanent housing through Coordinated Entry, a system that ensures the most vulnerable Long Islanders are prioritized for permanent, affordable housing.

Affordable housing is scarce on Long Island, and we are consistently working hard at connecting Long Island’s most vulnerable to the available resources. Additionally, we received and distributed over 10,000 pounds of food and toiletries along with countless clothing items to locals that are homeless and at-risk on the streets and in shelters through our boutique and pantry.”

Together we can make a true difference in our community.

If you would like more information about starting a donation drive with the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, please contact Bailey at 631.464.4314 x125. For more information about LICH and all they offer, visit www. addressthehomeless.org or call 631.464.4314.

Medicare Lowers Premiums And Deductibles

For those of us who are enrolled in the Medicare program, there is good news on the horizon. Medicare has made significant changes to its premiums and deductibles, lowering the cost to the beneficiary.

While the cost of just about everything has gone up, the monthly Medicare Part B premium has been reduced for the first time this century, from $170.10 to $164.90, for a yearly saving of $62.40. What’s more, the Medicare Part B deductible has gone down from $233 per year to $226. These two reductions have broken a string of yearly increases.

Medicare Part B generally covers medically necessary services, that is, services or supplies that are needed to diagnose or treat your medical condition and that meet accepted standards of medical practice. Part B also covers a wide range of preventive services from shots to screenings to prevent illness (like the flu) or detect it at

an early stage, when treatment is most likely to work best.

In addition, due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare will finally be able to negotiate prescription drug costs directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers. While this section of the law doesn’t go into effect until 2025, in the interim, beneficiaries who are insulin dependent can have their insulin costs capped at $35.00 per month. This can save hundreds of dollars a month. Also, the Inflation Reduction Act calls for out of pocket prescription expenses

to be capped at $2,000 annually.

In order to determine which type of plan works best for you, you should call the Nassau County Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program, HIICAP hotline. This is a free service that will guide you to the best plan for you. We have no affiliation with insurance companies, agents or brokers. Our number is 516-485-3754. While we are quite busy during Medicare Open Enrollment Season, we strive to return every call on our voice mail within two working days, and usually call sooner.

FCA can help. Answers to your Medicare questions are just a phone call away.

Barry Klitsberg is an Assistant Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance (HIICAP) Coordinator at FCA in Garden City and an Aging Services Program Specialist at US Department of Health and Human Services.

PUZZLE ANSWERS:

Noelle Lambert & Bryn Elliott

Written by Barry Klitsberg, Nassau County Medicare Counselor, FCA

Left-handed, lefty, southpaw - these are all terms used to describe people who favor their left hands for writing, throwing a ball and myriad other activities. It is estimated that between 10 and 12 percent of all people are left-handed. Although that makes southpaws an undeniable minority, the number of left-handed people is creeping up.

Sports Proclivity

Being left-handed may

confer an advantage for athletes. Wayne Gretzky, Sandy Koufax and Martina Navratilova are just a few of the many accomplished left-handed sports legends. Sports scientist Florian Loffing with the Institute of Sport Science, University of Oldenburg in Germany found that in sports where there is a short time constraint, lefties appeared to excel. That could be why he found 26 percent of the top male players in table

Fun Facts About Lefties

tennis are lefties. And sports like baseball and cricket are dominated by left-handed players.

Health Risks And Benefits

According to a 2010 study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found those who were lefthanded had an increased risk for dyslexia, ADHD and certain mood disorders. It could be tied to the hemispheres of the brain and how 30 percent of lefthanded people are partial

to the right hemisphere or have no dominant hemisphere for language functioning.

Conversely, lefties can bounce back from stroke or other brain-related injuries more readily than righties, according to data published in 2015 in Scientific Reports. A study published in Laterality found that left-handed people are less likely to suffer arthritis and ulcers.

More Creative

Lefties are more likely to be artistic or innovative. Research published in the American Journal of Psychology found there is some evidence that lefthanded people are better at divergent thinking, a method of idea generation that explores many possible solutions. The Left-Handers Club, a pro-lefty advocacy group, also found that lefthanded individuals tend to be drawn to careers in the arts, music, sports, and

information-technology fields.

Ambidextrous Inclinations

The world is geared towards being righthanded, with buttons on jackets, doorknobs, desks in school, and more designed with right-handed people in mind. Therefore, many lefties become ambidextrous simply because they have to, according to data published in Reader’s Digest.

TO

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

BUYING? SELLI NG? RENTING? Place your ad in the Classifieds. 631-226-2636 Ext. 276

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

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