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Bethpage Newsgram (12/24/21)

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SPREADING CHEER

Students at Lee Avenue Elementary School in Hicksville Public Schools took joy in spreading holiday cheer this season through their participation in various events. The students contributed to a

toy drive, sponsored by the school’s PTA and Site-Based Team, benefiting the John Theissen Children’s Foundation. Students

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Bethpage veteran honored for heroic service

The Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States recently held a World War II Veterans Recognition Event in conjunction with Veteran’s Day. The event honored Bethpage veteran Victor Nelson as well as two other Long Island veterans.

The three veterans honored for their  heroic service efforts were: Lieutenant Commander Jules V. Steinhauer of Farmingdale,  Radio Technician 1st Class Victor Nelson of Bethpage,  and the late

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The Bethpage Newsgram is published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Periodical Postage paid at Hicksville, N.Y. 11801 Telephone 931-0012 - USPS 3467-68. Postmaster: Send Address Change to: The Bethpage Newsgram, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris Publisher

NYS AG: Pet store sold sick animals

The New York Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit against a Hicksville pet store that it says knowingly sold sick animals to its customers.  According to the suit, the investigation found that two Shake A Paw stores on Long Island, including its Hicksville location, violated state laws by fabricating health certificates and lying to consumers about the health, breed and origins of its

“Shake A Paw’s actions of deceiving consumers into purchasing sick or injured dogs is unconscionable and illegal,” said State Attorney General, Leticia James. “My office’s thorough investigation uncovered a series of violations by Shake A Paw that defrauded consumers and found sick puppies that came from dangerous puppy mills. When New Yorkers purchased puppies from Shake A Paw, they did not expect to bring home dogs in such heartbreaking and horrifying conditions. Today, we are holding Shake A Paw accountable for their unlawful and inhumane actions by filing a lawsuit to permanently ban the company from selling puppies any longer, as well as to recoup what consumers paid.”

According to the Attorney General's office, the investigation found that both Shake A Paw locations, in Hicksville and Lynbrook, falsely advertised sick and injured pets as healthy, fabricated their health certificates, and failed to disclose the animals legitimate medical conditions.

The suit also says it also uncovered

that the two locations misrepresented the breeds of dogs and refused to reimburse consumers for veterinarian bills when they lodged complaints against the stores.

The Attorney General filed a temporary restraining order against both stores, in an effort to protect the animals, as well as freeze funds that are bank accounts for Shake A Paw for restitution and money owed to consumers.

“Animal mistreatment is despicable and will not be tolerated anywhere in our state,” said James.

Many politicians, including State Senator,  Kevin Thomas and Nassau County legislator, Arnold  Drucker , chimed in about the store’s mistreatment and abuse of its animals.

“It is reprehensible that Shake A Paw would exploit the trust of consumers to make a profit while risking the health and safety of puppies,” said Thomas. “Not only were consumers lied to about the origins of their pets, but also the health and wellness of the beloved animals they were bringing into their homes. I thank Attorney General James for taking swift action to hold Shake A Paw accountable and protect New York’s animals from neglect and cruelty.”

Legislator Drucker echoed the state senator’s sentiments, saying that as a dog lover himself, he was sickened by the reports of animal cruelty.

“As a lifelong dog lover, I was sickened by the systemic deceit and cruelty that the attorney general’s investigation revealed,” said Drucker.

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Lee Avenue Elementary School students displayed their donations to the school’s toy drive, benefiting the John Theissen Children’s Foundation.
Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Register now for Boys and Girls Club

The Boys & Girls Club of Oyster BayEast Norwich has remained a strong presence in the North Shore community for more than sixty years.  The Club is open to youth of all ages from minis (children 3 years old and toilet trained to 5 years old, not yet in kindergarten) through the twelfth grade. Members do not have to participate in the AfterSchool program to join many of the Clubs activities.  2022 kicks off a new year of membership at the Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich.  A full new year to participate in an array of activities and programs to entice a youth’s imagination.

This year, the Club is again offering an extra incentive on special membership packages, renewal rates, and sibling discounts.

The Club also provides opportunities for working parents of members by offering Before and After School Child Care Programs, as well as, full and half day camp options when schools are closed.

If you have never been a Club member before, now is the chance to join and become a part of the fun at the Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich. Applications and more detailed information regarding membership are available at the Club’s website, www. bgcoben.org, or may be picked up at the Club, located at One Pine Hollow Road, Oyster Bay.  For more information, please contact the Boys & Girls Club at 516-922-9285, find us on Facebook or follow us on TikTok and Instagram @ BGCOBEN!

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Water, fire officials meet to discuss common issues

Pictured at a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association and Nassau County Fire Commission presentation meeting that focused on maximizing efficiencies between water suppliers and fire districts with the importance of both of these essential providers working closely together to protect local consumers are (from left to right): John Madden, Supervising Fire Marshal, Office of the Fire Marshal Nassau County; Andrew Schmitt, Jr., Division Supervisor, Office of the Fire Marshal Nassau County; Francis X. DeBobes, Chairman, Nassau County Fire Commission; Amanda R. Field, NSWCA Board President and Plainview Water District Commissioner; and John F. Coumatos, NSWCA 1st Vice President and Bethpage Water District Commissioner. Photo courtesy of Progressive Marketing Group, Inc.

For over a century, fire districts and water districts have worked synergistically in providing essential services to Long Islanders. If water pressure and flow is not maintained to the highest level at all times, it would compromise firefighters’ ability to hook up to fire hydrants and fight fires. Realizing communications between member water districts of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) and local fire districts is imperative, NSWCA, of which John Coumatos of Bethpage Water District is 1st Vice President and Amanda R. Field of Plainview Water District is President, recently held a meeting with the Nassau County Fire Commission.

Hosted by Manhasset Lakeville Water District, the NSWCA’s meeting presentation was led by Francis X. DeBobes, Nassau County Fire Commission chairman. A 30+ year decorated veteran, DeBobes discussed maximizing efficiencies between fire districts and water districts and commended the 21 member districts from Nassau and Suffolk Counties for providing the more than adequate amount of water pressure and flow needed from hydrants, especially during times when water district well sites are being retrofit to treat water from emerging compounds. He also expressed the importance of having residents comply with backflow testing each

year to avoid an undesirable flow of water back into a home or business.

Discussions during the presentation included Commissioner-Elected Water Districts and the Nassau County Fire Commission to collectively pursue federal grants that will provide proper funding to replace dated fire equipment and hydrants.

“Many residents may not know that water suppliers are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of our fire hydrants within our neighborhoods and communities,” stated NSWCA President Field. “Our member Districts test to ensure each hydrant holds line pressure without leaks. We flush each hydrant regularly and we perform additional maintenance as recommended by the hydrant manufacturer. Our heroic firefighters can rely on us each time they connect to a hydrant and water flow will never be an issue.”

“A lot of education is being provided by water suppliers about their responsibilities to consumers, and it’s something worth noting,” said DeBobes. “Fire districts and water districts work hand in hand with one another and, in many ways, we rely on one another. Another fact worth noting is response time from local water districts and local fire districts to an emergency situation can be within minutes…something we take to heart each and every day.”

Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Oyster Bay - East Norwich.

Levittown couple weds

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray (left) officiated the wedding of Levittown residents Jairo Yepes Buritica and Stephanie Huertas on November 30, at Hempstead Town Hall. Residents interested in obtaining their marriage license and/or scheduling a wedding ceremony should call the Office of the Town Clerk at (516) 812-3014 or visit hempsteadny.gov/marriage.

Makes

Grand opening

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray (fifth left) attended the grand opening of Green Street Eatery, located on Emerson Avenue in Levittown, on December 2, 2021. Also attending were owners Matt and Lauren Korsky, Caroline Weaver of Levittown, Levittown Chamber of Commerce President Michael Levy, Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti, New York State Assemblyman John Mikulin and other friends and neighbors.

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(For assistance locating older articles please email editor@gcnews.com ) is pleased to offer custom plaques of any article appearing in this paper since 2014.

Levittown Community Council announces “Home for the Holidays” winners

In what has become a Levittown tradition, the Levittown Community Council hosted its annual Home for the Holidays event once again this year. Nominations for beautifully decorated homes were posted on the Council’s Facebook page and the community was asked to register a vote for their favorite home.

Carrying on a tradition started many years ago by Patty’s father, Patty and Jim Rush took first place in the Levittown Community Council’s Home for the Holidays contest.  Carolers on their front porch at 50 Clay Lane in Levittown, complement the Victorian look of their beautifully decorated home. Lighted wreaths with bows adorn every window of the sprawling home. The decorations are a collaborative effort by the couple that are enhanced by the lighting and addition of the lantern, sled and crèche that are positioned so each gets equal attention.

Decorating for Christmas at the Hoelderlin home of Gina and Roger at 39 Serpentine Lane in Levittown is a family endeavor, which earned them second place in the contest. Gina and her two teens, Jake (13) and Kayla (15) do the planning, design and construction and Roger, in addition to creating a new display piece each year, lays it all out. The new piece this year is a car-

ousel. In May, Roger had open heart surgery, from which he has fully recovered. In response to the question they’re frequently asked, they decided, this year to raise money for the American Heart Association by putting up a collection box for donations. On Saturday nights, Roger dresses as Santa from 7 to 9 p.m. and the family finds great joy in seeing how their handiwork brings so much cheer to those who visit.

Three generations were involved in the production of decorating the home at 66 Balsam Lane owned by Frank and Diane Cafaro, who took third place. Their son Frank Jr. and his 13-year-old daughter Ariana took on the job of decorating the home with a selection of Santas, toy soldiers, lights and wreaths. Inspired by the birth of their second daughter in November, Frank Jr. and his wife Sophia strived to make the decorations festive and joyful to make known the joy and blessings of Christmas to their two daughters.

Photos of other nominations, along with the winners, can be viewed on the Council’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/LevittownCommunityCouncilInc/. As in the past, winners will be recognized at the Community Council’s WinterFest event on February 26, which is being held at the Levittown Public Library.

Upcoming events at the Syosset Public Library

Thursday, January 6 at 2:00 p.m.

The Road to Revolution: Part 1 (VIRTUAL)

Presenter: James Coll, adjunct professor of American and Constitutional history at Nassau Community College and Hofstra University, and a retired NYPD detective

The American Revolution was the product of decades of grievances felt by many colonists to be originating from the seat of power of the British Empire. While most discussions about this time period focus on its military history, we will instead analyze the series of actions from both sides of the Atlantic that led to the declaration that “these united Colonies are, and of right ought to be

Free and Independent States.” No registration required. For the Zoom link, go to syossetlibrary.org/events/calendar.

Friday, January 7 at 2:00 p.m.

The Mystery of Nancy Drew (VIRTUAL)

Presenter: Leslie Goddard, historian and author

More than 90 years ago, a plucky

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detective stepped out of her blue roadster and into the hearts of readers.

Explore the history of America’s favorite girl detective. Who was Carolyn Keene, author of the series? Why did this book series, more than any other, captivate generations of readers? No registration required. For the Zoom link, go to syossetlibrary.org/events/ calendar.

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The Rush home at 50 Clay Lane, Levittown.
The Hoelderlin home at 39 Serpentine Lane, Levittown.
The Cafaro home at 66 Balsam Lane, Levittown.

Summit Lane teachers host drive-thru toy drive

Teachers at Summit Lane Elementary School in the Levittown Public School District hosted a toy collection drivethrough on Dec. 14.

The front of Summit Lane was adorned with festive decorations and lights, and the teachers spread holiday cheer as families drove by to drop off donations. Several bags were filled by

the end of the event and were donated to the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, which supplies toys to children in need.

The second annual drive-thru was a re-invention of Summit Lane’s annual toy drive to keep safety in mind.

Photos courtesy of Levittown Public School District

By the end of the night, the toy drive was highly successful.

Casino bus trip

On Tuesday, January 25, the St. Ignatius Loyola Parish will host a bus trip to the Wind Creek Bethlehem (formerly Sands) Casino in Bethlehem, PA.

Cost is $44 per person, which includes the driver’s tip. There willbe a give back of $35 for slots play.

Please arrive at 8:30 a.m.   Return will be at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Please park at #999 So. Oyster Bay Road (dead end)

For reservations please call Barbara at (516) 935-5576

Please make checks payable to “St. Ignatius Loyola Church”.

The first to pay is the first on the bus, etc.

students and their families dropped off donations.

With warm wishes for a happy

with

From the staff at

Many
Summit Lane teachers spread the holiday cheer in front of the school on Dec. 14.

Learning gets electric for Lee Road fourth graders

Lee Road fourth graders Heather Vahlsing and Scarlett Thompson recently learned about electricity by completing their own circuit. Photo courtesy of Levittown Public Schools

Students in Kristine Boyd’s fourth grade class at Lee Road Elementary School in the Levittown Public School District recently learned how electricity flows through a circuit.

Students were given a bulb, wire, a battery and a battery holder to con-

struct their own simple circuits, which would light up their bulbs.

“They did an amazing job and had a great time planning out and then constructing their own simple circuits,”

Ms. Boyd said.

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College Notes

Conchetta Bohm of Levittown is one of the more than 70 cadets at The Citadel who now know what branch of the Army they will enter after graduation.

The soon-to-be Army officers received their branch assignments during a ceremony on Dec. 1 in Summerall Chapel.

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Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed more than 1,100 new initiates from 41 universities during November 2021.

Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

The following students were honored:

Edina Saljanin of Woodbury (Adelphi University)

Sophie Breslow of Woodbury (Adelphi University)

Gabriella Sferrazza of Levittown (Adelphi University)

Kate Cimino of Hicksville (Adelphi University)

Brooke Zindman of Plainview (Rider University)

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Kristen Aasheim of East Norwich has been named to the Elmira College Dean’s List for the Fall 2021 term. Fulltime undergraduate students registered for at least 12 computable credit hours and earning a term grade point average of 3.6 or higher at the end of Term I or Term II are placed on the Dean’s List at the College.

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Seventy-two students completed New York Institute of Technology’s rigorous Internship Certificate Program during the Fall 2021 semester, earning valuable hands-on experience and developing skills in a wide range of work environments. Local student interns included:

Daniella Jean from Hicksville, who interned at Sensational Development

Maha Essani from Plainview, who interned at Long Island Association

Nabiya Qureshi from Hicksville, who interned at CMM Hasan Physician PC

Pooja Desai from Hicksville, who interned at Northeast Primary Care

Zarmina Khan from Hicksville, who interned at Parker Jewish Institute for Healthcare & Rehabilitation

Daniella Nanous from Syosset, who interned at ScribeAmerica.

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As part of a new agreement, NASA has contracted with New York Institute of Technology, through the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences’ Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center (ETIC), to have ETIC student employees build unique technology prototypes based on existing NASA patents and create professional marketing materials that NASA can use to help commercialize the technology.

Currently, seven New York Tech student employees are working to fulfill the terms of the contract with NASA, which runs through August 2022.

Robert Doxey of Syosset, studying computer science, is among the seven New York Tech students working on this project.

n Joseph Ricciardi of Levittown, a senior criminal justice major was named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2021 semester at York College of Pennsylvania.

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SUNY New Paltz student Luca Sanna of Syosset is on the SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team for the Hawks’ 2021–22 season.

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Emanuele DiRubba, a member of the Colgate University Class of 2023, has earned the spring 2021 Dean’s Award with Distinction.

DiRubba is a political science major from Old Bethpage, and is a graduate of Saint Anthony’s High School.

Students who receive a term grade point average of 3.6 or higher while completing at least three courses during the Spring 2021 semester earn the Dean’s Award with Distinction.

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The following local Colgate University students have earned the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence: Carly Kleinberg of Syosset, is an undeclared major at Colgate and a high school graduate of Syosset High School.

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Justin Weiss of Syosset, is a economics major at Colgate and a high school graduate of Syosset High School.

Students who receive a term grade point average of 3.3 or higher while completing at least three courses for a conventional letter grade earn the Spring 2021 Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence.

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Lee Avenue students spread holiday cheer

From page 1

helped to put smiles on the faces of children by donating new unwrapped toys to the drive.

Additionally, students throughout the school decorated a tree with special snowflake ornaments, displaying one of “Lee-O’s Laws.” Students chose one “law” to highlight on their ornaments, which were then hung on the school’s special tree. “Laws” that students chose to illustrate included treating each other with respect, being kind to one another and being honest.

NYS AG: Pet store sold sick animals

From page 1

“While I am confident that this action will deliver the financial restitution that Shake A Paw’s victims deserve, it will be far more difficult to alleviate the heartache that families throughout our region have experienced as a result of this pet store’s profoundly inhumane and deceptive conduct.”

Gary Rogers, Board president of the

SCPA (Society for the Prevention Cruelty to Animals), said that it was important consumers thoroughly review a location or pet store before purchasing an animal.

“We always advise consumers to do their due diligence about where they are purchasing their pets from and immediately get them checked by a veterinarian upon purchase,” said Rogers.

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Bethpage veteran honored for heroic service

From page 1

William J. Evanzia of Westbury,  Communications Officer, Radar-Man 2nd Class, RD2, who was honored posthumously. In honor of their bravery and service, the Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States presented to Steinhouser, Nelson and the family of late Evanzia special awards that stated, “Thank You For Your Service To Our Country and Your Commitment To Our Community.”

Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States President Roger Noakes of South Setauket commented, “The Navy League motto is ‘Citizens in Support of Sea Services’ and our Long Island Council focuses on activities that support, encourage and honor members in our community. We are extremely pleased to recognize three veterans who served our nation during World War II, Lieutenant Commander Steinhauer, Radio Technician 1st Class Nelson and late Communications Officer, Radar-Man 2nd Class, RD2 Evanzia.”

In thanking the veterans for their service to the United States of America, President Noakes quoted General George S. Patton who said “Wars are fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads, that gains the victory”.

Invocation was provided by Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States Vice President and Chaplain, Reverend Owen W. Watford of Hempstead. Additional remarks were contributed by active military members Naval Operational Support Center (NOSC) Commanding Officer, Commander Creighton Ho along

own a local

with U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lieutenant Owen VanWyck.

The Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States provides important regular support. This includes assisting members of the US Naval Sea Cadet units ages 13 through 18, outstanding American men and women veterans through the Wounded Warrior Project and the Warriors to Work Program, as well as members of the Voyages of Discovery Group.

This Long Island Word War II Veterans Recognition event, held at Villa Olivetti in St. James,  brought together some fifty veterans, defense contractors, and Navy League supporters.

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World War II veteran Victor Nelson of Bethpage. Photo by Wes Steinberg

Holiday Giving Tree shines bright at Kramer Lane

Students at Kramer Lane Elementary School in Bethpage shared the gift of

this

Many of the students’ families donated clothing and toys to Kramer Lane families in need. Teachers, parents and staff members were given the opportunity to pull a snowflake from the Holiday Giving Tree and purchase the specific gift listed on the snowflake for a student at Kramer Lane.

“This event is all about acts of kindness toward others and understanding the importance of giving to others,” said Kramer Lane Principal Kerri McCarthy. “Thank you, Kramer Lane families.”

Photo courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District

December 24, 2021

Favorite Places for Winter Getaways

Now that winter is finally upon us, there’s no better time than the present to book that winter getaway.

High Peaks Resort on the shores of Mirror Lake makes an excellent base for exploring Lake Placid, where you can feel like an Olympian skiing at Whiteface Mountain, visit the Olympic venues and enjoy all that the Adirondacks have to offer. High Peaks Resort encompasses three lodging experiences: the main resort overlooking glimmering Mirror Lake, the mid-century modern Lake House hotel that feels like your own home, or the Waterfront Collection hotel room that gives the impression of seclusion, yet is within an easy stroll of downtown Lake Placid’s vibrancy. Check out  favorite pet-friendly trails for snowshoeing and hiking (snowshoe rentals are complimentary at High Peaks and dogs are always welcome).

The  Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Package features daily breakfast at Dancing Bears and admission to Cascade Ski Center, with 20km of groomed cross-country ski trails. Rates start at $203 per night through March 31. Amenities also include outdoor recreation equipment (available at no charge), fitness center, spa and four indoor and outdoor pools (2384 Saranac Ave., Lake Placid NY, 800755-5598, www.highpeaksresort.com)

Among the sights and activities to enjoy: Wild Lights has returned to The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, where thousands of twinkling lights and music immerse guests in a winter wonderland, complete with warming huts and fire pits, food and hot beverages (through Feb. 26). Ausable Chasm, the “Grand Canyon of the

Mountain Top Inn, Chittenden, Vermont, is enchanting, complete with rides on a horse-drawn sleigh gliding across its expansive fields, and close by Killington for downhill skiing © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

East” and the oldest natural attraction in the United States, is a magical winter getaway for hiking, snowshoeing, ice climbing and cross country skiing.

Also, The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, the longest-running winter carnival in the Northeast dating back to 1897, returns Feb. 4-13, with the hallmark attraction, the Ice Palace. Cheer on Team USA from Lake Placid, the site of two Winter Olympics, with many family-friendly activities and events: fly down a world-famous bobsled track at 60 miles per hour, skate on the Olympic Speed Skating Loop, shred down the best skiing and snowboarding mountain in the state (Whiteface) or take the Skyride gondola to the ski jump towers. Beyond Whiteface, Oak Mountain in Lake Pleasant offers many easy to intermediate trails and snow tubing, ideal for families.

The Sagamore, a grand historic hotel dating back to the 1880s that sits on a private 70-acre island on Lake George, is a sensational self-contained world-class resort in one of America’s oldest tourism destinations. It is just 45 minutes from Gore Mountain, one of the best ski destinations in the East, certainly in New York State (a shuttle is provided); also nearby is West Mountain (downhill skiing, tubing, night skiing) and Crandall Park (cross country skiing, night skiing). The full-service resort offers ice skating, snowshoeing, indoor pool and spa (www.thesagamore.com, 866.384.1944)

Mohonk Mountain House has been enchanting guests for more than 100 years. Founded by the Smiley Family in 1869, the Victorian castle resort, a National Historic Landmark, is set on cliffs overlooking a lake, nestled in the Hudson

GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR

Valley surrounded by 40,000 acres of pristine forest, only 90 miles north of New York City. Mohonk offers a world-class 30,000 sq. ft. “eco-friendly” spa, indoor pool, a spectacular skating pavilion, rock climbing, 85 miles of trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Winter “wellness” programming is designed to help guests combat the “winter blues” and embrace the beauty of the season, with new mindfulness offerings that include fireside meditation, winter forest bathing and mindfulness lectures. If you can pull yourself away from its warm embrace, downhill skiing in the Catskills (Hunter Mountain, Belleayre, Windham) is an hour away. (www.mohonk.com, 844-207-8372)

Topnotch Resort is a great base to enjoy Stowe, Vermont four miles away (free shuttle service). Guests will also enjoy the award-winning Topnotch Spa, an indoor pool and Jacuzzi with cascading waterfall, the Topnotch Tennis Academy, sleigh rides via the Equestrian Center. Enjoy a special cocktail or smore’s around the outdoor fire pits or relax in the heated adults-only pool and Jacuzzi with unobstructed views of Mount Mansfield. Stowe Mountain offers a quintessential New England winter experience both on and off the slopes, with snow covered mountains and quiet fireside retreats and a slew of winter activities including Nordic skiing, dogsledding, snowmobiling, fat tire biking and sleigh rides in addition to its renowned alpine skiing. Stowe Village features many locally owned shops and an array of restaurants, music and art galleries.  A bit beyond Stowe are many popular attractions including Ben and Jerry’s

Continued on next page

Favorite Places for Winter Getaways

Continued from previous page

Factory, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Rock of Ages Granite Quarries, Stowe Cider, Von Trapp Brewery, Whistle Pig, Alchemist (800-451-8686.www.topnotchresort.com)

The Woodstock Inn & Resort in the quintessentially New England village of Woodstock, Vermont, defines country sophistication in one of New England’s most charming and popular year-round vacation destinations.  The 142-room, AAA Four Diamond Resort and a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection, offers award-winning dining in two restaurants, ranked among the finest in New England. The resort’s 10,000 square-foot LEED-designed Spa offers nature-inspired ambiance that features nourishing, seasonal treatments and organic products. Outdoor activities include downhill skiing at the resort’s historic  Suicide Six Ski Area along with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing from the  Nordic Center. The family-favorite retro Game Room is draped in Vermont flannel and fully equipped with a giant Scrabble board, foosball table, vintage pinball machines, board games. Also be sure to visit nearby  Billings Farm & Museum. (Woodstock Inn & Resort, 14 The Green, Woodstock, Vermont 05091, 888-338-2745, www.woodstockinn.com)

Mountain Top Inn & Resort, where we have enjoyed the most marvelous

Christmas, is breathtakingly enchanting, complete with rides on a horsedrawn sleigh gliding across its expansive fields, a Currier & Ives landscape come to life. The setting, on 350 acres with a 740-acre lake, and ringed by the Green Mountain National Forest, offers its own 60 km cross-country ski trail network; a small old-fashioned (natural) skating pond; snowshoeing (twilight tours available); snowmobiling; spa; hot tub; fire pits; and the coziest fireplaces. It’s also a 30 minute drive to Killington Mountain for downhill skiing (shuttle transportation available at 8:30 am, returning 4:30 pm; reserve in advance). (Mountain Top Inn & Resort, 195 Mountain Top Road, Chittenden, Vermont 05737, 802-483-2311, www.MountainTopInn.com)

The elegant Mount Washington Hotel - “a favorite New England retreat of presidents, poets and celebrities” - is just across the road from New Hampshire’s largest ski area, Bretton Woods (yes, that famous mountain hotel where world leaders signed the 1944 Treaty of Bretton Woods ending the gold standard in, fittingly, the Gold Room), with numerous trails and glades and three terrain parks. The grand resort has its own cross-country skiing on the golf course; one of the longest zip line tours in New England (yearround); a full-service 25,000 sq. ft. spa; two 4-Diamond dining rooms (one is a former speakeasy) and sleigh rides. Now an Omni hotel (www.omnihotels.com/

hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington, 603-278-1000)

One of the most atmospheric inns is the Red Lion Inn in the heart of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, another utterly picturesque New England village which is like a Norman Rockwell painting of Americana – in fact, its Main Street is immortalized in Rockwell’s “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas”. The Red Lion has been welcoming travelers to the Berkshires since 1773, one of New England’s few inns that has been operated continuously since before 1800. It is beyond charming – with early American furnishings, much of which has been in place for a century. It has hosted five presidents and other notables including Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Cullen Bryant, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. And much to do in Stockbridge, including the not-tobe-missed visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum, as well as Arrowhead Museum, the home of Herman Melville, in Pittsfield. Skiing nearby at Jiminy Peak. (www. redlioninn.com, 413-298-5545)

Further afield, the Tenaya Lodge is an award-winning, all-season resort adjacent to Yosemite National Park’s south gate. Lodge, cottage and cabin accommodations satisfy a wide variety of preferences and are set on 75 acres primed for outdoor recreation that invite visitors to explore and connect with nature. From the nourishing Ascent Spa to custom-curated Yosemite tours, guided snowshoe hikes and seasonal activities, like ice skating on its outdoor

Gifts for Gardeners

In my last column, I mentioned Jessica Walliser’s new book “Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden.” Of course, not every bug in the garden is beneficial and mosquitoes can be very annoying when you are gardening.

The new, all-natural insect repellent made by Para’Kito helps keep mosquitoes and ticks away. The active ingredients are natural essential oils that smell good to people, but not to insects. The spray is water- and sweat-resistant, and it provides effective protection for up to eight hours. It contains almond oil and vitamin E to help moisturize and comfort your skin. The spray is safe to use for children, pregnant women and people with sensitive skin. A spray bottle sells for $19.50 at us.parakito.com.

Another thing that can make gardening a trying time is chronic pain. Toni Gattone was a suffering gardener. In “The Lifelong Gardener,” she shares her methods for being able to enjoy gardening with an aging body. Her techniques will

help you garden smarter, not harder. The book includes dozens of tips that can help eliminate the physical strain of gardening. Find out more at tonigattone.com

As the name implies, Botanical Interests is more than a vegetable seed company. Their seed packets are works of art. Every one of the packets has a gorgeously detailed painting of the plant. You can buy some of the most popular pictures as botanical art prints on archival paper, or as sets of notecards on sustainable paper. If you haven’t bought a 2022 calendar yet, the Botanical Interests desk calendar is filled with beautiful illustrations. It may be too early for most of us to plant vegetable and flower seeds, but it is not too early to give seeds as a gift. The Botanical Interests Basic Bounty Vegetable Collection contains nine packets of seeds that are sure to produce a tasty harvest of fresh vegetables. Included are Blue Lake bush bean, Marketmore organic cucumber, Glacier Bush tomato, Black Beauty summer squash, Salad Bowl organic lettuce blend, and more. This bounty of seeds comes in a gift box

rink and sledding on its family-friendly hill, a deep appreciation for the iconic location is infused into every aspect of the resort experience that also includes world-class views, multiple pools and abundant dining options ranging from casual to candlelit. The winter is a great time to visit Yosemite National Park. It’s very quiet and peaceful with fewer crowds. The park is open through the south gate and you can hike (snow shoes or crampons recommended). (Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, 1122 Highway 41, Fish Camp, CA 93623, TenayaLodge. com, 888-514-2167)

For a real hoot, take the family to one of New York State’s dude ranches – they provide an excellent venue for outdoor fun in winter – including tubing and even their own ski hills. Among our favorites: Pine Ridge Dude Ranch with horseback riding, tubing, ice skating, paintball outdoors, indoor pool (30 Cherrytown Road, Kerhonkson, NY 12446); Ridin’ Hy, year-round inclusive ranch resort in the Adirondacks Preserve near Lake George, Warrensburg, NY 12885, 518494-2742, www.ridinhy.com); and the ever-popular Rocking Horse Ranch, which has an indoor water park (600 State Route 44/55,Highland, NY 12528, 877-605-6062, 845-691-2927,www.rockinghorseranch.com)

© 2021 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com.

with a decorative ribbon for $17.50. For flower lovers, they have the Bee Happy Seed Collection. The six packets of seeds in this gift will grow flowers that are guaranteed to attract all kinds of bees. These wonderful bees will pollinate the flowers in this gift set (including Bee Balm, Hyssop Lavender, Shades of Blue Larkspur, and more). While they’re at it, those bees will pollinate everything in your vegetable garden. This collection comes gift boxed for just $12.00. Find all of these gift ideas at botanicalinterests.com.

Have you ever marveled at the beauty of a large meadow filled with wildflowers? Whether it was a natural park or a man-made area, it can be very inspiring, but how do you translate that huge area of flowers into a small yard?

Growing a garden filled with colorful wildflowers is easier than you think. Mike Lizotte, author of the book “Mini Meadows,” encourages gardeners to rethink and downsize wildflower meadow gardens for suburban lots. His book is filled with photos of wildflower gardens of all sizes. Lizotte explains how to prep

the soil for planting wildflower seeds. Then he explains the step-by-step process of growing and maintaining a meadow. The book will make a great gift at only $15.

Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@ greenerview.com. .

COPYRIGHT 2021 JEFF RUGG DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS

Crossword Answers

A Certain Christmas Morning

A philosopher once wisely said that we never outgrow our childhood. Those earliest of years stay with us, and with a steady resonance, they sometimes come to the surface to resurrect and flourish. This is especially so during the Christmas season. I have one deeply held memory of a certain Christmas morning that I wish to share as it speaks to the beauty of a childhood belief that there actually is a Santa Claus and yes, he does have something in his bag for you.

I had awoken with a start and dreamily looked out my window that gave a view of the backyard. We all loved our backyards as they were often a private place to play. I could sense that it was early dawn as with its dim light I could gradually make out the details of the bedroom I shared with my younger brother. I could see he was still asleep. I quietly slipped out of bed and stood up to make a quick assessment of the situation. This type of stealth is a kind of ‘casing the situation’ mode that only a kid can appraise on a Christmas morning when all of his senses come alive to the potential of the coming day.

Our bedroom was the first of a number of rooms that you pass when you walked down the long hallway that eventually led to the living room. A great number of apartment layouts shared the same arrangement. I stood still and firmly clasped onto this great thought: Santa Claus must have come and everyone else is asleep. I was alone – a rare event in my crowded world before it all disappeared almost as if on cue. Families soon would pile into moving vans that took us to other places leaving that world behind.

I stood quietly beside my bed still firmly wrapped within the swirl of my Christmas morning thoughts. I started to move slowly, thinking that here in the soft light of early dawn I just might be able to sneak down and get a peek at the goodies Santa may have left for me before he headed out to visit other kids. That thought held me within its subtle grasp – kids love to be alone with a thought that takes them to where they think they might like to go.

My thought led to a plan that

involved a kid’s capacity to engage in real-deal cunning. With a steady appraisal of the situation, I started to quietly creep down the hallway in a low crouch, cowboy style, all the way to the living room to get a peek, no more than that I said to myself, just a peek. Once an idea like that gets in a kid’s head on a Christmas morning, he has absolutely no resistance to its beckoning lure.

Kids are great at stealth as the process becomes like a game in itself and they become alive to the moment as I did then as I silently crept my way along the side of the wall, passing the bathroom and then the kitchen and finally in those last few feet, into the living room where I slyly looked to the left where our Christmas tree lorded over everything with its tinsel splayed about in glorious array. The more modern flat tinsel cannot compare to the crinkled variety that was then, in the late nineteen forties, the only type available.

Much more than the sight of the Rockefeller Center tree with all of its bustle and yuletide atmosphere, the sight of your own family tree on Christmas morning holds its own glow

that is glorious and deeply private in its sudden apparition. I held my breath as I peeked up above the sofa that was in my way and then I saw her. My mother had her back to me as she held a present in her hand with a pensive look that said to me that she was wondering where to put it.

You might think that I assumed I had caught her red-handed. The gig was up. But no, my conclusion was that of a deeply believing child and no one can believe with the fervor of a fully committed child.

My observation was that Santa Claus had to do all of his work in the dark and then he had to scoot out of there before the first light of dawn, so I deftly concluded; Santa Claus must have come and gone. “Yeah that’s it!”

And, I further noted, my mother in her prim manner was rearranging the gifts Santa had left. Rather than assuming that there was no Santa Clause as the evidence in front of me might have suggested, my quick analysis of the situation led me to confirm the reality of Santa Claus.

Now I felt that I must get out of there before my mother catches me spotting her rearranging the gifts. I thought to myself, “Why didn’t I just stay in bed!”

With a soft wince, a sharp pang of remorse, I backtracked with my sly mode of cowboy movement still intact all the way to my shared bed room. I found my brother still asleep, and I became renewed in spirit with the hope I would soon join him. When we both woke up at the same time, which

we often did, I sat up and wondered if my little hallway excursion had been a dream.

As we both drowsily climbed out of bed, we saw my mother who was standing by our bedroom door after uttering her “ahem,” followed by one of those chiding remarks about our being sleepy-heads.

With the recollection of my earlier trek down the hallway almost forgotten, we both rushed down in Christmas morning euphoria and gasped at the thought that there was someone like Santa Claus who left us some of his bounty right in our living room. I thought of that expression years later when my daughter Mary Beth, in the midst of her Christmas morning euphoria exclaimed in her moment of Christmas morning bliss, “You can’t beat Santa Claus!”

Yet I must tell you that when I looked with Christmas morning awe at the pile of gifts, I saw the nicely wrapped present my mother had been holding when I took my little peek, and I fervently hoped was for me.

The rest of that morning is forgotten with the passing of time and I don’t recall if the beautifully wrapped gift my mother was holding when I took my untimely peek was for me.

But nevertheless, the real gift is my vivid recollection of that certain Christmas morning, and the sheer joy of a young boy in his firmly held belief in the yuletide magic of all such Christmas mornings.

When and How to File for Social Security Benefits

Hundreds of thousands of people will be filing for Social Security benefits in 2022. So today, I’m going to write a column about when and how to file for Social Security benefits.

But first, let me clarify the “when to file” part. As I’ve said over and over again in this column, I am not a financial planner. So, I really can’t advise you about the best time to start your Social Security benefits. That’s a decision only you can make, perhaps after consulting a real financial planner.

I’m just an old retired Social Security guy. All I can do is explain Social Security rules to you to help you make that decision. (In my book “Social Security -- Simple and Smart,” I have a whole chapter devoted to this topic, so you might want to check it out. You can order the book online at Amazon.com.)

So, whether you make that decision on your own or with the help of my book or a financial planner, once you decide the month you want your benefits to start, many of you still want to know how far in advance you should file for those benefits. And that is the “when to file” advice I am offering in this column.

Let me begin by pointing something out. Your Social Security eligibility date is always a month, not a day. For example, let’s say you were born January 28, 1956, and you want your benefits to start at your full retirement age. The full retirement age for people born in 1956 is 66 and 4 months. So, you will reach full retirement age on May 28, 2022. But the day you reach FRA isn’t really an issue. It’s the month that is key. In other words, your eligibility date isn’t May 28, 2022. It’s just May 2022.

The Social Security Administration recommends that you file three months before your eligibility month. So, if you wanted your benefits to start in May, you could start the ball rolling sometime in February 2022.

I used to advise people that there really was no need to rush because most Social Security retirement claims are very simple and the SSA processed them in literally a matter of days. So, in the past, I would have told people whose eligibility date is May that they could even wait until April if they wanted and there would be a very good chance their first check would show up on time. But the pandemic seems to have messed things up at the SSA. I’ve heard from so many readers who report to me about delays in either getting through to the SSA in the first place or in getting their benefits started. So, I guess my motto for the time being is this: better safe than sorry. So, file your Social Security claim three months before your first eligibility month.

But don’t let me scare you. Once you contact the SSA, you’ve established

what they call a “protective filing date” and your rights to benefits are guaranteed from that month forward. For example, let’s say you wanted your benefits to start in January 2022. But for whatever reason, you didn’t get around to filing your claim until January 25, 2022. Even though your claim might not finish processing until sometime in February (or possibly even March in these COVID-19-troubled times), you will be paid back to January.

That’s the “when to file” message. About three months ahead of time would be ideal. So now let’s tackle the “how to file” issue.

Probably 90% of us have rather straightforward Social Security claims. That means you are just filing for your own Social Security benefits. In that case, I strongly recommend you file online at www.socialsecurity.gov. It’s simple and easy. I did so a few years back and it probably took me all of a halfhour to finish the process. Check the website yourself and see how easy it is.

But if you have a scenario that you think might be complicated (like trying to get a combination of retirement and spousal benefits), then you should probably do that in person. Call the SSA at 800-772-1213 to set up a phone interview. (According to the SSA’s website, in-office appointments to file Social Security claims are not being offered at this time.)

And if you are filing for widow’s benefits, that must be done by phone. Claims for widow’s benefits cannot be done online. That’s because there may be filing options a widow has that are more easily explained by talking to someone in person rather than online.

What documents do you need to file for Social Security benefits? It depends on the kind of benefit you are trying to get. Think of it this way: You usually have to provide some kind of evidence to support your eligibility for such benefits. For example, if it’s a retirement claim, you need to prove you are old enough to qualify. To do that, you need a birth certificate. If you are filing for spousal benefits, you need to not only prove your age, but you also need to show you are married to the person on whose Social Security record you are applying. So that would be a marriage certificate. If you are a divorced spouse, you’d also need to provide your divorce papers. If you want to apply for widow’s benefits, in addition to proving your age and marriage, you also need a death certificate. In all cases, SSA wants to see original copies of these documents, or copies certified by the record issuer.

One document you don’t need is your Social Security card. I hear from panicky people all the time who tell me they are about to file for Social Security benefits, and they can’t find their SSN card. I tell them to relax. You do not need the card

when you sign up for Social Security.

And speaking of Social Security numbers, many divorced women tell me they are pretty sure they might be due benefits on an ex-spouse’s Social Security record. But they don’t have the guy’s Social Security number and they are worried they won’t get the benefits without the number. In these cases, the SSA will be able to find the ex’s SSN. They might need some identifying in-

formation from you (like his name, date and place of birth, etc.), but you should be able to provide them with that. If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has a book with all the answers. It’s called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart.” You can find the book at www.creators.com/books. Or look for it on Amazon or other book outlets.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Inflation, foreclosures and the dollar devaluation

It’s obvious to everyone that buying consumer goods, food, gas (up $1.20+ since 2020) and heating fuel among almost everything else is that prices have increased substantially. Wood products and components for constructing homes have increased causing the average cost in adding $36,000 to the price tag.

Supposedly, the supply chain issues have been the cause with the lack of labor, truck drivers, even the glue for plywood, the tiny pine beetle that had caused the demise of 15 years of log supplies in British Columbia, Canada which was enough wood to build 9 million homes. They are continuing chewing their way through hardwood forests in Alberta, Canada and the Pacific Northwest. It also takes about 2 years to build a mill to cut the wood and many were built in 2018-2019 established in the south and are just coming online. But I am curious as to how many companies in various sectors of our economy might have been jumping on the bandwagon and began gouging by raising prices arbitrarily? I have seen it just with Covid testing kits in some local pharmacies, have you?

With population growth being down over the last 10 years, but current demand being abnormally and historically high mainly due to the Pandemic, prices of homes has continued to escalate and may continue for maybe another 1-2 years. If the current issues with variants continue, this just might keep the market going. However, as interest rates slowly increase, this will eventually cool off demand and eliminate those who just won’t be able to afford to buy causing them to rent or stay put where they are. This in turn will cause the reduction and pull back in construction.

Inflation makes the cost of everything increase, so the value of your dollar today will be reduced by at least 15% in 2022, which is why holding any excessive amounts of currency and not having it invested in an asset, such as some rental real estate, commodities, emerging markets abroad, gold, silver

or even some crypto currencies to hedge against what will eventually happen to your purchasing power until the ravaging affects of inflation subside. It’s possible that hyper inflation could raise its’ ugly head as the Fed is running out of band aid fixes; or are we in a stagflation situation.

This will continue to have a domino effect on the price of wood and the necessary materials to construct homes. There will be a correlation between interest rates, demand, inventory and whether or not home prices will stabilize or possibly decrease. There are way too many variables in the mix to know for sure what the end results will be. My prediction is by 2023, the market will have changed either moderately or more aggressively.

Today, anyone with a variable rate mortgage or a reverse mortgage and worries about interest rates, I would suggest to refinance to a fix rate asap. However, as forbearance extensions end, you should call your lender or loan servicer and explain your situation and if necessary, ask for another extension, unless you had gotten one right after the CARES Act, which will not allow you to apply for another one; or work something out so you can avoid going into foreclosure. You also want to try to keep your credit in good standing, so don’t avoid communicating with your bank as this will be to your advantage in staying in your home. Unfortunately, there will always be those who avoid calling, so then the Lis Pens(notice of pending action) process begins leading to foreclosure. More important, is if you are having or will be having issues paying your mortgage and cannot work things out with your lender then here is a suggestion.

If you currently have excellent equity, this is the most opportune moment in time, as it is a perfect storm to consider cashing in while prices and demand

are historically high and interest rates are still very low. The next 2 years may be great for some but for so many more, will be a very difficult one as the U.S. is at a tipping point in its’ future financial stability and our position as a Global Empire as we have kicked the can and our financial reckoning down the road for over half a century. We have printed more dollars in the last several years than we have in the past 50. We were on the Gold Standard from 1792 until FDR took us off the gold standard in 1933, changing it from a currency to a commodity, but then it was put back on in 1944 and was the basis of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from the beginning and taken off again by Nixon on August, 1971). Raising rates will not solve our financial problems as it will cause severe pain and slow down our economy. Every ¼ point increase in our interest rates will increase our National Debt by 75 billion per month. To pay our debts income taxes would have to be increased, causing consumers to have less disposable income to spend in turn causing more unrest. However, in order for the U.S. to stabilize their finances and emerge on a more sound footing, we must stop the insane and continuous printing of fiat dollars, which is continuing the dilution in the value of our dollar during these inflationary times. The purchasing power of a dollar has lost tremendous value as a dollar today compared to 2000 would only buy 62.11% of what it would’ve bought back then. We must all bare the pain to get our house in order.

There are pros and cons in reinstituting a gold standard of some amount amongst our allies. However, by doing this it will limit government power by restricting the ability to print money at will, and might be part of the solution in bringing back value to our currency. This will enable more control over our

national debt as well as determining how our economy needs to function going forward and at the same time keeping as many people working and raising the standard of living of those that are being left behind.

With that, I would like to wish all my readers a happy, enjoyable and healthy holiday season and a more healthier, happier and lucrative 2022.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 39 years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.). He will provide you with “free” regular updates of sold and new homes in your town via the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (MLSLI) or go to http://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” `15 minute consultation, as well 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. He can also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and our Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.

You can email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your request or ideas, suggestions or interview you for a specific topic and a Q & A for a future column with your name, email and cell number. He will email or call you back and respond to your request ASAP as long as he has your complete name, cell, email and/or full home or business address. Again, for a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, he can also be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions and concerns in selling, investing, purchasing, or leasing residential or commercial property.

Recipe to Add More Veggies to the Holidays

RECIPE

Looking for a new recipe to serve during the holiday season? You can’t go wrong with vegetables to help balance out the overabundance of sweets. This side, roasted asparagus with balsamic browned butter, is from Cooking Light’s Holiday Cookbook.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH BALSAMIC BROWNED BUTTER

Servings: 8

40 asparagus spears, trimmed (about 2 pounds)

Cooking spray

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet; coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 400 F for 12 minutes or until tender. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat, and cook 3 minutes or until lightly browned, shaking pan occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in soy sauce and vinegar. Drizzle over asparagus, tossing well to coat. Serve immediately.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 5 spears). Per serving: 45 calories; 19 grams protein; 3.9 grams carbohydrate; 3 grams fat, 8 milligrams cholesterol; 1.7 grams fiber; 134 milligrams sodium.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Illinois.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS

We have a haunted house.

Well, I can’t say that definitively because I’ve never met the ghost or ghosts in person formally; they just kind of drift here and there. And I’m not sure you can, actually, meet a ghost “in person” as they are no longer a person, but the ghost of a person who used to be alive. Still, you can see a ghost, if they want to be seen, and honestly, that is proof enough for me. Not to mention the doors that slam shut on their own, the books that mysteriously fall to the floor, and all the other unexplainable and somewhat scary things that ghosts tend to do to get your attention. Such as hanging around while you’re doing the dishes, like mine does.

That’s when we decided our ghost was a kitchen ghost.

Have Yourself a Haunted Holiday

Apparently, something went down in my kitchen many years ago and now some former occupant wants to right a wrong or find a culprit or bake a Bundt cake. There were no stories of anything major that happened in the 120-yearold kitchen of my house. But whatever it was, it was enough to make a ghost haunt my kitchen. I’m generally OK with this, but my feeling is that if you’re going to linger about while I’m doing the dishes, then you should at least dry some pots and pans while you’re there.

It is also possible that the ghost was hungry, or thought it was hungry from a time in the past when it was (actually hungry. But what would a ghost want? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Macaroni and cheese? Borscht? There was really no way to find out. And I don’t keep any borscht in the house, anyway.

Then the holidays arrived, and with them, my teenage children and their friends. Soon we had more guests than you could shake a bedsheet at, and I found myself spending a lot more time in the kitchen with my ghost, catering to the enormous appetites of ramen-loving college-somethings. In between feedings, I told the kids about our ghost. They all thought it was cool, but they couldn’t see it, so it was a hard sell. Someone broke out a Ouija board to make contact, but our ghost stayed quiet, off, presumably, in the kitchen looking for some pierogies or something else I didn’t have.

Eventually we ran out of ramen, and I had to go off to the market to buy some more. I was only out for half an hour, but when I got back, I went into the kitchen and found an enormous mess. Dirty pots littered the stove, half-filled

STARGAZERS

The Winter Solstice

Week of December 19-25, 2021

One of my favorite days of the year is right around the corner. Christmas? New Year’s Eve? Valentine’s Day?

Nope. I’m talking about the first day of winter.

Now, lest you think that this ol’ desert rat enjoys the cold, crisp air of the season -- or perhaps the snow that piles up in some locations -- let me assure you that few things are further from the truth. Maybe it’s the long, dark winter nights that make me happy? Not a bad guess, considering my nocturnal stargazing tendencies.

No, the real reason is that the first day of winter is marked by the winter solstice, and that’s what I eagerly anticipate. This year’s solstice occurs at 10:59 a.m. EST (7:59 a.m. PST) on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

The winter solstice marks the moment that the sun reaches its southernmost position over our planet and begins its journey northward. To an observer in the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere, the day marks the sun’s lowest path across the daytime sky, and the beginning of its climb once again.

At this time of year the sun appears in our Northern Hemisphere sky only about nine hours or so a day, and our temperatures are considerably lower.

So why, then, isn’t the year’s coldest day on the first day of winter? That’s because our atmosphere takes time to respond to temperature variations. Remove a pot of hot water from the

stove and you know intuitively that it doesn’t cool down instantly, and you make allowances for that when cooking.

The same is true with our atmosphere; as a result, the coldest time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere typically occurs not around Dec. 21, but in late January or February.

All this happens because our planet’sequator is tipped by about 23.4 degrees to the plane of its orbit around the sun. This means that, during this time of year, the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is tilted slightly away from the sun, causing the sun’s rays to shine down on us at a relatively shallow angle. Six months -- and half an orbit -later, our planet’s tilt aims the Northern Hemisphere slightly toward the sun and the solar rays shine more directly down upon us.

Now, I’m certainly not the first ever to anticipate this winter solstice; it’s been celebrated by cultures throughout the ages as the rebirth of sunlight, warmth and life on our part of planet Earth. And it’s not a coincidence that some of our world’s major religious holidays are celebrated around this time of year.

Even the term “solstice” originates in antiquity, coming from two Latin words “sol” (meaning “sun”) and “sistere” (meaning “to stand still”). It is at the winter solstice that the sun’s southerly mid-day drop seems to end, the sun “stands still,” and the star that gives life to planet Earth begins its ascendancy once again.

glasses in and near the sink, food spilled on the floor. It looked like a tornado hit it, or ... a very, very angry ghost.

“Oh my god,” I bellowed. The kids came running. “Did the ghosts make this mess?!”

“What?” said my son. “No, we did. Sorry Mom. We’ll clean it up later.”

I shook my head and looked around. That’s when I realized there are some things that are scarier than ghosts.

Teenagers.

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

From this moment until mid-June, the sun will appear to cross higher in our mid-day sky, our days will become longer, temperatures will begin to rise, and the greens of life will return to the Northern Hemisphere of Earth.

And -- at least from my perspective -- not a moment too soon!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

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Visa and MasterCard Accepted

Are you a professional?

Our Professional Guide is sure to bring results. Call 294-8900 for rates and information.

EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED

CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANT

Cherry Valley Club Garden City

Is seeking a seasoned construction knowledgeable individual to act as Owners’ Representative for multiple building related projects at the club. Candidate should be personable and adept at construction trade coordination and project management. Flexible Per-diem employment engagement expected. Send resumes to : carneyj2@verizon.net

RECEPTIONIST needed for P/T eves & weekends. Will train.

Also VET / TECH KENNEL ASST.

Duties include helping doctors with appointments/treatments. Cleaning cages/offices/ equipment. Must like animals, be reliable, dependable & work well with others. Pay negotiable for both positions. Please call to schedule interview.

Port Washington Animal Hospital: 516-883-2005

EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED

TAX PREPARER

PART TIME

Franklin Square

Experience needed Retirees welcome. Call 516-358-9455

Fax resume 516-358-9483

Email: ed@loturco.com

SITUATION WANTED

A HOME HEALTH CARE

AIDE Irish trained woman with 10 years experience and excellent checkable references available. Honest and reliable. Licensed driver with own transportation.

Please call 516-383-7150

CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH

AIDE FULL TIME 25 years experience, light housekeeping, shopping, activities, appointments etc. Valid driver’s license. Excellent references and fully vaccinated. Please call 516-236-1711

ELDER CARE Experienced woman seeks position to care for the elderly live in or live out. Certified HHA. Excellent references. Please call 516-800-6442

EMPLOYMENT

SITUATION WANTED

ELDER CARE: AIDE/COMPANION with 25 years experience available to care for sick or elderly. Days, nights, weekends. Own car. Excellent references. Fully Vaccinated. Call 516-775-6171

Please

EMPLOYMENT

CAREER TRAINING

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING

Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

•

HHA/Caregiver

GET DIRECTV! ONLY $69.99 /month. 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies on Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package). PLUS Stream on UP to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

MARKETPLACE

A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP 516-746-8900

Antiques-Furniture-Jewelry-Silver-Mirrors-LampsArtwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4 Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org Items to Consign? Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society Like us on Facebook & Instagram

MARKETPLACE

INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www.invitedsales. com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

WANTED TO BUY

LOOKING TO BUY!

Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture. Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104

TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTS ALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS

$Highest$ Ca$h Paid$ All Years /Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct Ca$h. DMV 10#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516297-2277

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED

DRIVE OUT BREAST CANCER:

Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup 24hr response Tax deduction Easy to do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

APARTMENT FOR RENT

APARTMENT FOR RENT MINEOLA in 2 Family house on Roslyn Rd

2nd Floor Apartment: 2 Br, Parking $2250/month All utilities are separately metered ***

Close to Winthrop Hospital, LIRR, Restaurants

NO FEES! Contact Michael: 516-510-9666

HOMES FOR RENT

GARDEN CITY SOUTH HOUSE FOR RENT Cape Cod, 3 Bedroom, 1 Bath. Basement, Gas Heat, Laundry. No Smoking. No Pets. $2950 plus utilities. Call 516-366-0614 REAL

ESTATE FOR SALE

HOMES FOR SALE

FOR SALE BY OWNER

PRINCIPALS ONLY

Beautiful Cape in the Village of New Hyde Park. 4BR/3 BTH home with hardwood floors throughout, formal dining & living room. Updated kitchen w/ granite countertops and stainless appliances. Finished basement and garage. Large private backyard with recently paved driveway.

Contact: Ginger 516-737-4905 or Cliff 516-860-7785

REAL ESTATE WANTED

HOUSE WANTED TO RENT

SUMMER 2022 RENTAL WANTED HOUSE OR APARTMENT

Retired Garden City couple looking for summer rental in Garden City, Rockville Centre, W. Hempstead or surrounding areas.

July, August and September. Please call Martha: 516-697-6694

SERVICES

BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99 /mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! CALL 888-508-5313

FAMILY RECOVERY SERVICES

I am a long time resident of Garden City and understand the complexities of ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH.

I am available to GUIDE families find the MOST COST EFFECTIVE & COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN for a loved one. I will Bridge the Gap between a Family ravaged by Alcoholism, Drug Addiction and/or Mental Health AND Life Long Recovery.

HELP IS HERE NOW! Please call me for a confidential consultation. 954-5408441

Kim Koslow, LMHC, MCAP, CTT

Licensed Psychotherapist Motivational Interventionist Reliable Resource

“It was in my heart to help a little because I was helped much” Kahill Gibran

FITNESS/MASSAGE

Virtual workout available via Zoom. One on One Rehabilitation in the comfort of your home.

Following COVID-19 Safety Practices. Contact: 917-612-0460

Andersongourdet@gmail.com

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from!!

Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor

516-775-9495

SERVICES

ATTORNEY

STEPHANIE A.

D’ANGELO, ESQ.

Elder Law, Wills & Trusts

Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122 www.dangelolawassociates.com COMPUTERS

TDS COMPUTER SERVICE

Mac and Windows Repairs / Data Recovery/Virus Removal /Network Support/IT Security 516-944-5193

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

AMBIANCE

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

*Handyman & Remodeling

*Kitchen Installations

*Furniture Assembly

*Finish Carpentry

*Minor Electrical & Plumbing

28 year GC Resident Lic & Ins H18E2170000

Call BOB 516-741-2154

CHIMNEY KING ENT. INC.

FREE ESTIMATES

Stainless steel liners cleaning & repair specialists. Masonry specialist.

FULLY licensed & insured. NYC NASSAU SUFFOLK

516-766-1666 or 631-225-2600 Since 1982 chimneykinginc.com

ELIMINATE GUTTER

CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-763-2379

FREE ESTIMATES

Extensions, Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Carpentry Work, Porticos, Siding, Dormers, Stone, New Construction & Conversions, Mason Work, Stone.

Insured. Please Call 516-581-9146

MADE IN THE SHADE

CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS

Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies

Top Brands at Discount Prices! Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli.com 516-426-2890

SERVICES

MASONRY

All types of stonework

Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps.

Free Estimates

Fully Licensed & Insured #H2219010000

Boceski Masonry Louie 516-850-4886

NEVER PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIRS AGAIN!

Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF + 2 FREE MONTHS! 866-440-6501

THE GENERAC PWRcell

a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194

SERVICES

WIREMAN/CABLEMAN

Flat TVs mounted, Phone, TVs & Computer wiring installed & serviced, camera & stereos, HDTV Antennas FREE TV www.davewireman.com

516-433-WIRE (9473

631-667-WIRE (9473) or TEXT 516-353-1118

HEALTH SERVICES

FAMILY CARE

CONNECTIONS, LLC

Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo

PMHCNS-BC

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager

Assistance with Aging at Home /Care Coordintion

Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement

PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams

Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications

516-248-9323

www.familycareconnections. com

901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530

CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8900

SERVICES

PAINTING & PAPERHANGING

MICHELANGELO

PAINTING & WALLPAPER

Interior, Exterior, Plaster / Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499

TUTORING

PORT TUTORING

Academic success

Test Prep/All subjects/ All Grades/All Levels. Individual and Small Group Tutoring. 516-767-1342 info@portturtoring.com

SERVICES

A & J MOVING & STORAGE:

Established 1971. Long Island and New York State specialists. Residential, Commercial, Piano & Organ experts. Boxes available. Free estimates. www. ajmoving .com 516-741-2657 114 Jericho Tpk, Mineola NYDOT# 10405

DISH TV

$64.99 for 190 Channels + $14.95

High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo expires 1/21/22 Call 1-888-609-9405

LEAK REPAIRS

Plumbing Repairs

Bathrooms, Showers, Kitchens

24 HOUR SERVICE Call 516-668-5624

NEED EXTRA MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. PRIVATE PAY MEDICAL CARE. Personal Concierge Services including Private Medical Care, Companions, Therapy & Housekeeping. Apex Concierge Services 866-VIP-APEX VIP@APEXCONCIERGESERVICES.COM

PASSION FOR SENIORS

Certified HHAs, companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care available. Also Nassau locations.

Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Call 718-850-3400

LAST HOPE ANIMAL RESCUE THRIFT SHOP

274 NEW YORK AVE, HUNTINGTON 11743 (north of 25A)

DAYS & HOURS: THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FROM 10AM TO 3PM

The Last Hope Thrift Shop is a Treasure Trove. We have home decor- new & vintage, holiday decorations, small appliances, pet products, toys, unique one-of-a-kind finds, plus new clothing with tags or in good condition and accessories, handbags and jewelry (silver, gold, costume and vintage) and much more.

If you love the thrill of the hunt, please come down get some great buys and support our cause.

Your Thrift Shop Purchases and Donations can be magically turned into veterinary care, pet spay/neuters, pet supplies, transport fees and everything needed to care for our homeless dogs and cats. More VOLUNTEERS Needed so we can be open more days. Email joannascheps@aol.com for additional information.

Donations Accepted at the Thrift Store when it is OPEN. Or at Last Hope in Wantagh, if labeled “Thrift Shop”.

Please do not leave donations outside.

We cannot take books other than animal or pet books, VCR tapes, picture frames, full sets of dishes or glasses.

KIDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Celebrate a popular chocolate dessert

It is hard to determine who created the brownie, but dessert devotees no doubt appreciation that individual’s now beloved creation.

Brownies are one of North America’s favorite baked treats. They actually are classified as a bar cookie rather than a cake, and the dessert earned its name from the deep, brown color of

Love to write?

We are looking for articles on local topics, opinions, ideas, nice places to visit on Long Island, and even fiction. In our Discover magazine section, we will try to feature one new article and writer each week. Each writer will be reimbursed a stipend of $25.00, and articles should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words. If you want to be published and be part of an issue of Discovery, you may submit your article to: editor@gcnews.com

its main ingredient.

There have been many variations on the brownie through the years, and the lively debate whether crunchy end pieces or chewy middle slices are preferred continues. There may be less debate about how flavorful it can be to mix cheesecake with brownies, which is

just what happens in this recipe for “Marbled Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies” from “Chocolate” (Love Food), by the editors of Parragon Books, Ltd.

Marled Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

Makes 12

3⁄4 cup unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 cup superfine sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup all-purpose flour

Cheesecake mix

1 cup ricotta cheese

3 tablespoons superfine sugar

1 egg beaten

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease an 11 x

7-inch cake pan and line with parchment paper.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, remove from the heat, and stir in the unsweetened cocoa and the sugar. Beat in the eggs, then add the flour, and stir to mix evenly. Pour into the prepared pan.

For the cheesecake mix, beat together the ricotta, sugar and egg, then drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture over the chocolate mixture. Use a metal spatula to swirl the two mixtures tightly together.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until just firm to the touch. Cool in the pan, then cut into bars or squares.

YOUR BUSINESS GROW...

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS...

Each week Litmor Publications publishes the ads of providers in our Classifieds, Professional Guide and Service Directory. A 6 week agreement brings your specialty or service to the attention of the community in a public service format.

LET US BEGIN LISTING YOU IN OUR NEXT ISSUE. For More Information and Rates Call Nancy 516.294.8900 Email: Nancy@gcnews.com Include name, daytime phone number, address and email.

Deadline for Professional Guide or Service Directory is Monday, 12 Noon. Deadline for Classified is Tuesday, 1pm Advertising in the Professional Guide is only open to N.Y.S. Licensed Professionals.

Holiday Break Week Family at Children's Museum

Families can enjoy extra hours of fun at Long Island Children’s Museum with bonus days and extended hours of operation. Enjoy live theater, explore GingerBread Lane, a seasonal confectionary construction project, explore bubbles, building and Feasts for Beasts, among other popular exhibits.

Families can welcome in the new year at Long Island Children’s Museum with two ball drops planned with little ones in mind. LICM’s annual year-ending celebration returns with outdoor ball drops at noon and 4 p.m.

LICM Theater presents “Mouse on the Move”

Monday, December 27 through Thursday, December 30 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Two adventurous mice are ready to explore the world beyond their little mousehole. They decide to go to the moon because they believe it is made entirely of delicious,

mouth-watering cheese. The pair learns to be resourceful, creative and brave as they discover a beautiful garden, navigate uncharted waters and travel through space in search of cheese. Created especially for young audience members, this multisensory and fantastically physical experience offers a wonderful introduction to the world of theater. In this interactive piece, audience members become active in the storytelling as they use props and their imagination to help the mice. Presented with permission of Plays for Young Audiences, A partnership of Seattle Children’s Theatre and Children’s Theatre CompanyMinneapolis.

Order tickets online at www. licm.org/theater

Ages: 1-5. Fee: $9 with Museum admission ($7 Members), $12 Theater only.

Charming Cookie Necklace

Monday, December 27, Wednesday, December 29 and Thursday, December 30 from noon to 2 p.m.

Make a beautiful beaded necklace with a deliciously

LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court Nassau County

USBANK CUST/EMP V, Plaintiff, vs.

FRANCIS CAMERLENGO, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly filed on October 9, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, Front Steps on North Side, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 24, 2022 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 6 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 46, Block 5 and Lot 72. Approximate amount of judgment is $11,946.38 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 4022/16. This foreclosure sale will be held on the North Side Steps of

decorated gingerbread friend to take home.

Ages: 2 and up. Free with museum admission.

Music and Movement

Wednesday, January 5 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 to noon.

Try out this popular weekly workshop that capitalizes on children’s innate curiosity about rhythm and sound. Enjoy creative movement exercises and interactive sing-alongs that get little bodies moving to the rhythm. Order tickets online

Ages: 5 and under. Fee: $4 with museum admission ($3 LICM members).

stART (story + ART)

Thursday, January 6 from 11:30 a.m. – noon

Join us each week as we read childhood classics and introduce new favorites; followed by a take-home, book-inspired craft. This week we’re reading “Time to Sleep” by Denise Fleming. After the story create a warm and cozy den for your own sleepy bear!

Ages: 3-5. Fee: $4 with museum admission ($3 LICM members).

the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., Referee Bronster, LLP, 156 West 56th Street, Suite 902, New York, New York 10019, Attorneys for Plaintiff

BN 7518

4X 12/24,31,01/07,14

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LLCL

LLC Arts. of Org. filed with New York State Dept. of State on 11/22/2021. Office location: Nassau County. The Secretary of State of New York has been designated as agent upon whom process may be serviced and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 6 Tobie Lane, Jericho, NY 11753. Principal business address: 6 Tobie Lane, Jericho, NY 11753. Purpose: any lawful act.

JNJ 7975

6X 12/24,31,1/7,14,21,28

LICM offers visitors a sensory treat when “GingerBread Lane” returns for a holiday season residency. Among the nearly 700 houses and storefronts, visitors will spot familiar Long Island landmarks, including Jones Beach and the Big Duck, along with nautical nods to the region’s surroundings. A replica of the Children’s Museum is a highlight of this year’s display.

A gingerbread house facade serves as the entrance to the gallery with a special door for children to enter into the magical display. The entrance facade incorporates small displays highlighting special items children can search for within GingerBread Lane, such as reindeers, nutcrackers, street signs, etc. The center of the gallery features an interactive house complete with a cooking area allowing children to practice “mixing, baking and decorating.”

GingerBread House Give Away

Saturday, January 8 and Sunday, January 9

GingerBread Lane (Seasonal Display)

Through Sunday, January 2

Visitors can take away a sweet memory of GingerBread Lane this weekend. Families can pick up one of the houses that have been on display at the Museum. The gingerbread

houses are free with Museum admission and available on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last.

Programs subject to change. All activities will be held at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY. For the safety of our visitors, adults are not permitted in the Museum without children; all Museum visitors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Holiday Museum Hours: Sunday, December 26 – Friday, December 31 & Sunday, January 2 from 10 am.-5 p.m. (The Museum will be closed Saturday, January 1.) The first hour of every day (10 am - 11 am) is reserved for Members only.

Hours: Wednesday, January 5-Friday, January 7 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Saturday, January 8 & Sunday, January 9 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The first hour of every day (10 am - 11 am) is reserved for Members only.

Museum admission: $14 for adults and children over 1 year old, $13 seniors, FREE to museum members and children under 1 year old. Additional fees for theater and special programs may apply. For additional information, contact 516-2245800.

Erik the Reptile Guy visits BHS

Ninth graders in Jeanna Martino’s science class at Bethpage High School got to see some reptiles up close during a presentation from Erik’s Reptile Edventures on December 10.

Held in the high school’s Little Theater, Erik the Reptile Guy showcased some of his reptiles, including a 50-pound boa constrictor. Erik also shared fun facts about reptiles, how his passion for wildlife began and urged students to follow their dreams.

About to hit a milestone?

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

Erik the Reptile Guy visited Bethpage High School to showcase some of his reptiles with ninth graders on Dec. 10. Photos courtesy of the Bethpage Union Free School District
The Staff at Grimaldi’s would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Join Us For NFL Football Every Sunday, Monday and Thursday 20% OFF Your Entire Bill when you join us to watch your favorite NFL Team Offer available at the bar and in the back dining room. Please present this coupon to your server/bartender. Valid for DINE-IN ONLY. Not combinable with any other promotion, coupon, Groupon or discount.

SENIOR CITIZENS

DISCOUNT

25% OFF Your Entire Bill when you join us for lunch Monday through Thursday from 11:30am to 3:30pm.

Please present this coupon to your server. Valid for DINE-IN ONLY. Not combinable with any other promotion, coupon, Groupon or discount.

HOLIDAY FAMILY DINNERS

Available Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 - Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 for lunch and dinner • Take out only

PACKAGE #1 $50 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas • Choice of a dozen buffalo wings or spinach artichoke dip • 2L Bottle of Soda

PACKAGE #2 $60 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas •Penne ala vodka

• Choice of a dozen buffalo wings or Spinach artichoke dip

• 2L bottle of soda

PACKAGE #3 $70 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas • Penne ala vodka

• Side order of meatballs • Choice of a dozen buffalo wings or Spinach artichoke dip •2L bottle of soda

LADIES LUNCHING!

Catching up with old friends or meeting to discuss the most recent book you read?

25% OFF Your Entire Bill when you join us for lunch Monday through Thursday from 11:30am to 3:30pm.

Please present this coupon to your server. Valid for DINE-IN ONLY. Not combinable with any other promotion, coupon, Groupon or discount.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS!!

20% OFF Your Entire Bill when you join us for lunch Monday through Thursday from 11:30am to 3:30pm.

Please present this coupon to your server. Valid for DINE-IN ONLY. Not combinable with any other promotion, coupon, Groupon or discount.

HOLIDAY CATERING MEALS

Available Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 - Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 for lunch and dinner • Take out only

PACKAGE #1 $80 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas • 1/2 tray chicken parmigiana

• Complimentary Bottle of Cabernet or Pinot Grigio

PACKAGE #2 $115 Plus Tax

• (2) 18” regular pizzas • 1/2 tray Caesar salad

• 1/2 tray chicken parmigiana • Complimentary Bottle of Cabernet or Pinot Grigio

PACKAGE #3 $145 Plus Tax

• (1) 18” regular pizzas • 1/2 tray Caesar salad

• 1/2 tray chicken parmigiana • 1/2 tray penne ala vodka

• Complimentary Bottle of Cabernet or Pinot Grigio

*Toppings available for additional cost; may not be combined with any other coupon, discount, offer or Groupon; prices do not include tax or gratuity; available for take out only; no substitutions.*

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