_________________ WANTAGH ________________
your HEALTH body / mind / fitness
November 17, 2022
HERALD Your Health
With a focus on
ho lid ays
Healthy Holidays
Inside
Vol. 70 No. 47
Chief rabbi comes to town
Wantagh seniors win scholarships
Page 3
Page 7
NoVEMBER 17 - 23, 2022
$1.00
Harvesting local goodwill Church and Kiwanis Club grow fresh food for pantries tionship with the Freeport Emergency Food Center, but Garner said he quickly recogThe Wantagh Kiwanis Club nized the need for fresh produce and a local church are combin- at pantries like that one. ing their efforts to help combat “For the first few years, we world hunger, and had to drag a garden now they are urging hose out, and it was m e mb e r s o f th e very dif ficult to Wantagh, Seaford water the plants,” and sur rounding Garner said. “So we communities to help spoke to the trustees tackle the problem. and got a sprinkler The Kiwanis system installed in Club routinely runs 2015.” food drives for nonLaurie Nunez, of perishable food Bellmore, quickly items, as well as volunteered to assist necessities such as Garner in this effort, baby powder and and is now in charge shampoo, which go of the garden. to local pantries. But Nunez said she has Ron Garner of the tried many different Wantagh Memorial gardening techC o n g r e g a t i o n a l RoN GARNER niques, including Church, a United “sister planting,” Pastor, Church of Christ which originated congregation, said Wantagh Memorial w i t h t h e N at ive he wanted to add Congregational Americans. fresh produce to that Church “ I t ’s r e a l l y a lineup and started a hands-on expericommunity garden ment,” Nunez said. at his parish. “Some things work, some things Garner, who is the treasurer don’t.” of the Long Island Council of The effort started this spring Churches, created the Wantagh and wrapped up late last month, Giving Garden in 2012. His par- and thanks to Nunez’s efforts and ish already had a working relaContinued on page 2
By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald
Different uniforms, similar ideals Wantagh honored its veterans at a special service at American Legion Post 1273 last Friday. Legionnaires spoke at the ceremony and fired a 21-guns salute. Among those in attendance were State Sen.-elect Steve Rhoads, Assemblyman David McDonough, Hempstead Town Councilman Christopher Carini and members of Boy Scout Troop 96.
Barking Biscuit turns canine treats into a howling success By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
W
hat began as a passion project by a Wantagh couple now has the potential to take the pet food industry by storm. The couple recently launched a business called the Barking Biscuit, which makes homemade treats for dogs. Ira Reiter and wife Hillary say they always loved dogs, and both of them grew up with dogs in their home. “Growing up, I had a German shepherd mix named Cindy,” Hillary Reiter, who is originally from the Five Towns, said. “Then I moved out and
got Bandit, another shepherd mix. He lived for 16 years. Then there was Shelby, a sheltie. She also lived for 16 years.” Together, the Reiters now have three dogs — Gracie, Riley and Oscar, all of whom are rescues. “I grew up with great Danes,” Ira Reiter, originally from Elmont, said. “Growing up, I probably had eight or nine great dogs. And then Hillary and I got married, and we went from big dogs to small dogs.” According to the Reiters, their daughter, Jaymee, was always an animal enthusiast growing up as well, and they saw every kind of animal in their household, from mice and guinea pigs to hedgehogs, fish and hermit crabs. Jaymee never forget Continued on page 4
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was going down to the pantry in Freeport with fresh produce two or three times a week during the summer.