Floral Park Villager (10/3/25)

THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY

FLORAL PARK HOMECOMING

School pride and enthusiasm filled the air during Floral Park Memorial High School’s homecoming festivities on Sept. 27. The varsity team faced off against Valley Stream South High School and secured a 21-9 victory. Halftime entertainment featured energetic performances by the Florettes and the varsity cheerleaders.

Fire damages Daisy Ave. home

A fire which broke out at a Daisy Avenue home forced four residents to flee on Tuesday, our residents of a Daisy Avenue home

Four people were forced to evacuate, including one who was hospitalized, after a fire broke out at a Floral Park house

early Tuesday, authorities said.

According to police, the fire broke out around 2:06 a.m. The Floral Park Fire Department responded to the blaze, Assistant Chief Fire Marshal James Hickman said in a news release.

Upon arrival, firefighters

discovered a fire on the first floor. Four occupants of the house got out with assistance from the Floral Park police, Hickman said.

Six other fire departments also responded to the fire, which took about 25 minutes to extinguish.

Pedestrian killed on Plainfield Ave.

Nassau County Police are investigating a fatal auto accident which took the life of a 63-year-old man crossing Plainfield Avenue on Wednesday, September 24. According to police, the pedestrian was crossing Plainfield Avenue from west to east when he was struck by a 2018 Chevy school bus. The operator of the school bus was a 69-year-

old female who remained at scene. The male victim suffered body trauma and was transported to a local hospital in a NYU Langone ambulance for treatment. The victim was later pronounced deceased by a hospital physician.

There were no school children on the bus at the time of the accident.

The investigation is ongoing.

Town to host pet fair, rabies vax clinic

With rabies on the rise across Long Island after nearly a decade of absence, Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti is inviting residents to attend the Annual Rabies Vaccine Program and Pet Fair on Saturday, October 4th at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter (3320 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This important community event offers valuable services to pet owners and animal lovers while also furthering the animal shelter’s mission of finding forever homes for shelter pets.

“The Annual Rabies Vaccine Program and Pet Fair is one of the many ways the Town

of Hempstead is committed to keeping our community—and our pets—safe and healthy," said Town Supervisor John Ferretti. "From free vaccinations and microchipping to waived adoption fees, this event is a win for pet owners, animal lovers, and the wonderful animals waiting for loving homes.”

Town of Hempstead residents who attend the Annual Rabies Vaccine Program and Pet Fair will be able to have their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies free of charge. All dogs must have a current dog license to receive the vaccines. If a dog is unlicensed, See page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Supports Lynch for Legislature

To the Editor:

I’d like to call your attention to the candidacy of Dr. James Lynch for the Nassau County Legislature representing Floral Park and the surrounding communities.

We have known Jimmy for 40 years as a friend to our family and as someone invested in where he lives.  We believe strongly he would serve our interests in the Nassau Legislature.

James has adamantly opposed the Sands Corporation’s efforts to bring a Casino to the Nassau Hub.  He believes we need to invest in infrastructure in our local community and throughout the county if we are to continue as the great American suburb.

James will support our Police Officers and our Schools so the next generation will have the same opportunities we had when we decided to move to Floral Park.

The choice is simple: business as usual or an independent thinker with a fresh perspective and approach to governing Nassau County.

Richard & Mary Pfeiffer

Check the Facts

To the Editor:

I attended the September 3, 2025

Town of Hempstead (TOH) Board Meeting and made the following comments:

“Mr. Ferretti, your appointment to Supervisor has been controversial and reflects poorly on all involved, but you can earn the trust and respect of your constituents by leading the charge to reverse the change in zoning that allows gambling at the Nassau Coliseum site.

Although you voted in favor of the LVS Sands so-called integrated resort project you did not vote for this zoning change.  Since that ship has sailed it’s time to undo this mess. Do you know that Las Vegas is not doing well and that Sullivan County Taxpayers are bailing out a casino?

I also want to call out the out-of-control spending on new signage throughout the TOH.  Has this board ever considered passing a law that removes the names of elected officials from all signs?  Think of the millions of dollars saved by passing such laws.  As we all know, TOH mails out many flyers to residents. Stop sending out the glossy flyers.  You are wasting my tax dollars and adding to the waste stream.

I love the one that says, “You Can Lower Your Property Taxes, We Can Help!”  Why did someone think it was necessary to mail out two versions of the same flyer?  Did you think the 10 ½ X 5 flyer was too small and that the larg-

er flyer 10 ½ X 8 might get my attention? To fix property taxes fix the system!  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to fix this assessment system. Sadly, the real reason is that Tax Reduction firms are major campaign donors.

Have you had enough of “Weekend Passport Day” mailers?  Why are you duplicating a program that the USPS runs quite well?  Another example of wasteful spending.”

My comments and questions went unanswered from the dais.

I hope that readers of the Floral Park Villager are as disgusted as I am by the campaign mailers we’ve recently received that grossly distort the records of those running against the incumbents.  One in particular misrepresents a quote from a scholarly study on rape shield laws written by Seth Koslow as representative of his own opinions and describing him as “dangerous.”

Ironically, the mailer itself encourages readers in fine print as follows: “Check the Facts (1) Touro Law Review (VOL.29, NO.3[2013}, ART17)” and provides a link:  https://digitalcommons. tourolaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1699&context=lawreview

Those who take the trouble to read the paper quickly find that the mailer is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.  Mr. Koslow isn’t dangerous, those

who approved these mailers are. How sad that they’ve chosen to focus on character assassination and defamation instead of the issues that concern us.

I’ve attended many TOH board meetings and watched Joseph Scianablo, who is running for TOH Supervisor, call the Board out for violating open meetings laws when they appointed John Ferretti to Supervisor on the day that Don Clavin resigned his position and took a no-show job at taxpayer expense.  Joe is a Marine combat veteran, retired New York City Police Officer, and served as a prosecutor in the Queens District Attorney’s office. He is the real deal and will restore good government in the Town of Hempstead.

I encourage everyone to attend Town of Hempstead and Nassau County Legislative meetings to see first-hand what is broken and why we need a change. Get to know the candidates who are running for office, fact check, contact them, meet them, and compare them to the current office holders and decide which candidates will improve our communities without wasting our tax dollars with the primary goal of staying in power.  Make an informed decision and make a difference.

Lynn Krug

Cluttered?

Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call the Garden City office today 294-8900 for more information.

FP Junior Woman’s Club

to meet Oct. 9th

The next meeting of the Floral Park Junior Woman’s Club will be held on Thursday, October 9, at 7 p.m. at the Floral Park Recreation Center.

The Club is a group of active, community spirited women of all ages, interests and backgrounds. They are your friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances. They are wives, mothers and single women, professionals, educators and business owners who donate their time and talents to the betterment of  children, neighbors, the community and the world.

The Junior Woman’s Club meets on the second Thursday of the month to conduct the business of the Club at the Floral Park Recreation Center.

Meetings consist of a special monthly program, discussions of upcoming events, any immediate needs of the Floral Park community and how we can be of assistance.

The Club gives away over $3,000 in scholarships annually to local students. It sponsors special community events such as a Spring & Fall Craft Fair and the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

Junior Clubs are a critical part of The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC.org). The GFWC is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.

Get Results!

Place an ad in our Classifieds for reasonable rates and prompt results. Call 294-8900 or visit us online www.gcnews.com to request information & rates

Litmor Publishing's Community Newspapers

Inspiring Stories

Bill Corbett, Jr.

Krista Giannak ~ Blogger, Ghostwriter, Inspirational Speaker, Blind Skier

FPFD: Red Alert

Larry King, AEMT “Tunnel To Towers Foundation” ~ Tom O’Connor, T2T Board Member

The Author Corner

Stephanie Larkin

Kieran Larkin ~ “Prophets of the Old Testament”

The Antique Road Test

Walter Gosden

“Cars In Song: Motor Car Sheet Music ” 9:30 PM

Wes Houston Presents…

Wes Houston

“Take 2” ~ Acoustic Duo James O’Malley & Candice Baranello

Floral Park Memorial High School celebrates 2025 homecoming

School pride and enthusiasm filled the air during Floral Park Memorial High School’s homecoming festivities on Sept. 27.

Community members lined the streets to await the anticipated neighborhood parade, which featured the marching band, cheerleaders, Florettes, homecoming court and student clubs. This year’s Senior Royalty, crowned during Friday’s Pep Rally, are Syeda Laia Ali, Samantha Bonini-Cappello, Hailey Diaz, Olivia Morrisey, Mannraj Singh and James Urban.

For the afternoon football game, the stands became a sea of red, filled

with excited fans cheering loudly and proudly for the Knights. The varsity team faced off against Valley Stream South High School and secured a 21-9 victory. Halftime entertainment featured energetic performances by the Florettes and the varsity cheerleaders.

This year’s homecoming was a celebration to remember, bringing together students, staff, families and the Floral Park community in a vibrant show of school pride and unity.

began

COSTUME CONTEST (PRIZES FOR “BEST” & “MOST ORIGINAL COSTUME”) FOOD INCLUDED • CASH BAR • LIVE MUSIC BY T-BIRD & THE BUZZARDS CHILDREN’S COSTUME CONTEST (SUNDAY, 10/26, 2–5PM - AGES 2 & UP) RSVP AT YOUR OWN RISK (CAPACITY LIMITED): LIAM (347-996-7819), JOE (516-840-9883)

October at the

Floral Park Public Library

October, the season of pumpkin spice and everything (pumpkin) nice! And, the perfect time to “fall” into a good book! Or…

There’s a Taylor Swift listening party for Teens this month, along with a Spooky Halloween Lantern craft and several Halloween-themed programs.

For adults, there’s two more sessions in the Mah Jongg triple (pre-registration was required); an Intro to AI program;  Medicare Made Clear; Game Nites for Grownups; Rock the Crock Fall Cooking with Chef Barbara; Shop! Cook! Enjoy! healthy eating; and Graveyard Genealogy.

The always artsy Cathy Buckley inaugurates a Beginning Watercolors class for Adults, and Tom Lynch offers a Training and Stargazing Event with the Library’s telescope.

The Gatsby celebration continues. The 1974 movie “The Great Gatsby” starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow airs as a Monday Matinee on October 6, and it wraps up with The Evening Edition Book Club on Thursday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m., where F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” takes center stage.

October finds the Floral Park Library Urban Explorers on bus trip to Chinatown and Little Italy. Registration for the October 29 date is ongoing at the Reference Desk.

The English Language Learner class meets weekly on Tuesday evenings. Registration is required.

Wednesday Chair Yoga is back in hybrid form every Wednesday at 10:15 a.m.

Learn about volunteer opportunities with Parker Jewish Institute’s Willing Hands… Helpful Hearts at the Wednesday, October 8, Library tabling event.

The first Monday of the month Morning Book Club meets on Monday, October 6.

For the ‘littles,’ there’s a three-ses-

sion Gardening with Miss Rita program; Build It (K – 3rd grade) with the Long Island Children’s Museum; Storylab for Kids (grades 3 – 5); Storycraft Halloween craft (pre-K – 2nd grade); and Storytime (ages 2 ½ - preschool).

Plus, the ‘regulars’ are on October’s kiddie calendar, too: Play Hooray; Baby Start and Family Pre-School with A Time for Kids; and a Pom Pom Queen craft for grades 3 – 5).

Family programs feature The Planetarium Guy and Taco Stuffed Shells with Chefs of d’Future.

The Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting groups meet Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.; no registration necessary. The Library Board meets on Wednesday, October 8, at 7:30 p.m. As always, the meeting is open to the public.

One-to-one tech help with Joe for tablets, smartphones, laptops, Kindles and general questions is available for our Floral Park patrons by appointment only (floralparktechhelp@gmail.com).

The Library is closed on Monday, October 13, for Columbus Day.

For more information on dates and times, events registration and program details, visit the library website, floralparklibrary.org, call 516 326-6330, or visit us at 17 Caroline Place. All events and programs are subject to change and/or cancellation.

The Friends of the Floral Park Library offer “Blind Date with a Book” gifts for sale for varying age groups. Check out their inventory at the Circulation Desk. Call the Library (516 326-6330) to check days and times for the Book Nook. All sales of books, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles, bookmarks and more support the Friends of the Floral Park Library, a 501c3 organization.

Follow the Library on Facebook (floralparklibrary), X (fplibrary17), or Instagram (fplibrary 17, floralparkchildrens, fpplteens).

Town to host pet fair

From page 1

residents can purchase a license on-site for $10 for spayed/neutered dogs and $18 for non-spayed/non-neutered dogs. Dog owners must bring proof of spay/ neuter if applicable. No pre-registration is required.

Autumn is the perfect time to fall in love and take home a new furry friend for the family! During the Annual Rabies Vaccine Program and Pet Fair, all adoption fees will be waived. Each adopted pet will come with age-appropriate vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and microchipping.

In addition to free rabies vaccines and pet adoptions, attendees can also have their cats or licensed dogs microchipped at not cost. A microchip provides permanent identification and increases the chances of a safe return should your pet ever get lost.

“Don’t miss this chance to protect your pets, support local animal welfare efforts, and maybe even meet your newest best friend,” said Ferretti. “I encourage everyone to attend this year’s Annual Rabies Vaccine Program and Pet Fair and to adopt – not shop – when looking for a new furry friend.”

October 3, 2025

Discovery Bicycle Tours Vietnam Trip: Ho Chi Minh

Mausoleum Brings New Clarity to a Cloudy Past

BY KAREN RUBIN

Visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi is a profound experience – revelatory, even. I had not expected to see the great liberator of Vietnam’s actual body, lighted from above. And shortly after, standing outside the Soviet-built mausoleum, I realize as we were listening to our guide, Nguyen Hong Phong, that I had no actual understanding of who Ho Chi Minh was. Combing the recesses of my mind, I realize I saw Ho Chi Minh as the enemy and likely a brutal dictator. And even though I had lived through the Vietnam War (known here as the American War or the Second Indochina War), I really hadn’t understood that either.

But here in Hanoi, you can see how Ho Chi Minh is justifiably venerated as a hero to his people - George Washington, Lincoln and FDR rolled into one. Visiting is like a pilgrimage with rules that accord him maximum respect. We walk up the stairs into the mausoleum, and slowly walk around his actual body, lit from above, as if he is merely sleeping - the still sleeping Liberator.

Ho Chi Minh, Phong tells us, “is the most respected in Vietnam. People changed their name to Ho. He is worshipped like a god in homes. He overcame the French, Japanese, Chinese and Americans for independence and freedom. Now we live in a peaceful country because of Ho Chi Minh.”

Coming back to the front of his mausoleum (built by the Soviets), Phong relates that Ho Chi Minh was

Visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi on Discovery Bicycle Tours’ 12-day Vietnam trip is a profound experience © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com

born in 1890 into an educated family - his father was a Mandarin, working for a royal family. In feudal society, only men went to school. He and his brother went to a French school.

He attended college in Saigon in 1911, studying culinary arts and applied to work as a cook in France. He wound up working on a ship, traveling to America, Britain, France, Russia and in 1928, went to China. Seeing the world in this way is what cultivated his revolutionary ideology and zeal to liberate Vietnam from foreign imperialists.

“What he really learned was the importance of making Vietnam independent. He left Vietnam to learn enough about the French to kick them out,” Phong tells us.

He returned to Vietnam in 1941, having been away for 30 years.

When the Japanese and the French (who had occupied Vietnam since 1868, introducing Roman alphabet to replace Chinese characters the people used for 1000 years) left in 1945 at the end of World War II, Ho Chi Minh declared the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam. But after only one year, in 1946, the French attacked, forcing Ho Chi Minh into the mountains and retaking control.

“He wanted peace and agreed to divide the country in two for two years. They agreed to divide along the 17th parallel. It was supposed to be temporary. Five million people (mostly Catholic), fled south while one million southerners moved north. Then there was supposed to be national elections.”

If I had questioned how Americans

would be received in Vietnam, I soon get my answer standing in front of a monument to John McCain, at the lake where McCain’s plane was shot down in 1967. McCain began six years as a prisoner in the dreaded Hoa Lo Prison, infamously known as the “Hanoi Hilton” – famously refusing to leave until his comrades were also freed.

The monument dates from 1992, when John McCain became one of the first Americans to come to Vietnam to heal relations; President Bill Clinton established relations in 1993 and helped revive Vietnam’s economy.

If Vietnamese still resent Americans you do not feel it at allwhen I ask our guides about that, I am told “We are a Buddhist country. We do not look to the past; we look to the future.”

It is our second day on Discovery Bicycle Tours’ 12-day Vietnam tour.

From here, we drive a couple of hours to the Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone where we travel by traditional boat into a bird sanctuary.

It’s another 45 minutes drive to Emeralda Ninh Binh Resort, the fabulous five-star resort where we will stay for two nights.

Discovery Bicycle Tours, 2520 W. Woodstock Rd., Woodstock, VT 05091, 800-257-2226, 802- 457-3553,   info@discoverybicycletours.com,  www.discoverybicycletours.com

Next: Ninh Binh: A Boat Ride Through Caves, Bike Ride To Temples

© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of October 5-11, 2025

I recall as a child lying on the grass at night, gazing up at the stars, and wondering if any of those distant suns had planets orbiting nearby.

I was not the first to do so, of course. The question had been pondered by others for millennia. In a letter to Herodotus, the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) wrote: “There are infinite worlds both like and unlike this world of ours. ... We must believe that in all worlds there are living creatures and plants and other living things we see in this world.”

Even before these now-famous words, Thales of Miletus in the sixth century B.C. taught that the stars and the Earth are made of the same materials. His student Anaximander extrapolated further that if the universe is infinite and the makeup of all its parts is identical, then there must be an infinite number of worlds out there.

But pondering such weighty questions and finding other worlds among the stars are two completely different matters. Just imagine trying to find a small planet-sized body near a glaring sun many trillions of miles away. That’s what astronomers have always been up against, and such a planet had never been reported.

Planets Among the Stars

Not until 1963, that is. In that year, Swarthmore College astronomer Peter Van de Kamp described a small red star (Barnard’s Star) that wobbled as it drifted through space, a telltale sign that something must be orbiting nearby and tugging on it gravitationally.

The excitement didn’t last long, however. Other astronomers eventually found just enough errors in the measurement process to determine that this planet was most likely not real.

But when a similar announcement was made 30 years ago this week by Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, it rocked the astronomical community and earned them the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Using a much more advanced technique than Van de Kamp, they found that the sunlike star 51 Pegasi -- affectionately known to astronomers as 51 Peg -- some 50.9 lightyears away, appeared to be wobbling as if a planet was pulling on it. This new world was originally designated 51 Pegasi but is now called Dimidium, the Latin word for “half,” because it is believed to contain nearly half the mass of Jupiter.

Today, astronomers have at least a dozen techniques to seek and detect planets orbiting other stars, and have turned up thousands. But 51 Peg will always be special since it was our first. Not only that, but it’s a star that back-

Thirty years ago, astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz discovered the sunlike star 51 Pegasi.

yard stargazers can find easily.

This week, go outdoors after dark and look midway up in the eastern sky. There you should spot the four stars outlining the Great Square of Pegasus. With the accompanying map in hand, you’ll be able to identify it easily.

If your sky is dark and relatively free from light pollution or moonlight, try to spot 51 Peg (perhaps with binoculars).

It’s located almost midway between the two westernmost stars of the square,

LOST IN SUBURBIA

Check This Out

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

Whenever I go to the supermarket, I have a big decision to make. It has nothing to do with which cereal to buy or what to make for dinner. It’s not figuring out the math so I know whether to get 4 = 8 or 6 = 15 rolls of paper towels. It’s all about which checkout to use: cashier or self-checkout.

On the plus side for the self-checkout, the lines are usually a lot shorter. But the problem for me is that I suffer from a little-known affliction: I am self-checkout challenged. This means that I go to check out full of confidence but invariably something happens that will require a self-checkout supervisor to come over to help me with an item or to reset the machine or find a new product that will scan better. This results in a slowdown at the self-checkout line and a bunch of people on line glaring at me while I shrug my shoulders and blame it on the barcode.

This was the case the last time I

was at the supermarket when I found myself stalled at the self-checkout machine. I had successfully weighed my bananas and looked them up by typing in their name, but then when I went to accept the weight, the machine flipped out and said I needed a store employee to finish the transaction. This time I couldn’t blame it on the barcode because there was no barcode -- just a bunch of bananas.

I looked around for a store employee, but there didn’t seem to be anyone at their usual perch, waiting to assist the self-checkout challenged like myself. I thought maybe I could back out of the banana problem by hitting the cancel button, but I was afraid it would cancel the entire transaction, and I was already 20 items into the checkout process. Out of options, I decided maybe I could reason with it.

“Reset,” I said to the machine, leaning in so the people at the other self-checkout lanes didn’t hear me.

The giant X on the screen continued

to flash at me.

I thought maybe I needed to be nicer to it.

“Please reset,” I said.

The giant X didn’t move.

I thought maybe it needed a compliment.

“You’ve been doing a great job so far,” I said to it. “Could you please reset?”

Nothing happened.

I thought maybe I needed to be more complimentary and also more specific.

“You’re a very attractive self-checkout machine,” I said to it. “Could you please ring up my bananas?”

The giant X just glared at me.

I thought if I gave it any more compliments, it would think I was hitting on it and report me to the self-checkout authorities, so I decided to change tactics.

“Congratulations, you’ve won a year’s supply of groceries,” I said enthusiastically. “Simply ring up these bananas to claim your prize.”

and slightly west of the line connecting them.

To learn more about the discovery of these distant worlds, check out the website science.nasa.gov and scroll down to the exoplanet section.

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

Fortunately, right at that moment, a store employee appeared at my side.

“Do you need help?” she asked. I wasn’t sure if she was referring to ringing up my bananas or if she had overheard me and thought I was going bananas.

I nodded and pointed to the giant X on the screen. She stepped up to the checkout and swiped her employee card.

“Place your BANANAS in the bag,” said the self-checkout machine. “And don’t forget my year’s supply of groceries.”

Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online! You can visit her at www. tracybeckerman.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

The generation gap can be awfully confusing

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

For years I pretended that the generation gap was something made up - or at least overly exaggerated - and I tried to ignore it. As time went on, however, I kept seeing examples of the generation gap in conversations I had with friends, relatives and co-workers.

Sometimes these people were older than I but most times it was the members of the younger generations who didn’t get a reference I’d made to a movie, to a book or to someone famous in history.

It would take a few minutes to clarify whatever the reference was then we would good naturedly laugh about it but later on, it made me pause and think. What’s missing? As a Baby Boomer I see the world through a certain lens and that can be both good and bad.

The Gen Xers and Gen Zers I meet and chat with also see the world through certain lenses. They were shaped and formed by how they grew up and what they perceived of society and the world around them. The most glaring examples I encounter are our different work ethics. We Baby Boomers tend to have a strong work ethic, are competitive, are family oriented and for the most part are team players.

Gen Xers, those people born between 1965 - 1980, are a bit more independent, more flexible, like challenges, and seek a fun work life and work-life balance. They don’t want to devote all their energy to the job, they want to enjoy life when they’re not working.

Gen Xers seem to have a different view of the world. Many of them grew up in homes where both parents worked so they became “latchkey kids.” Generally speaking Gen Xers are an independent group who by and large are resourceful and adaptable. They figured out how to do things and with the advent of personal computers they were off and running.

Gen X began using email in the workplace in the 1980s before it became common for the public during the midto-late 1990s. This makes them the first generation to adapt to email and other early communication technologies.

Gen Zers, born between 1997 - 2010, by and large really like using social media. They crave individuality, creativity and diversity. They want to work at companies where they can learn the skills needed to advance their careers.

It’s not always good to generalize, I realize that, but when it comes to the generation gap, many times the generalizations are true. And we Baby Boomers have our cultural references with the other generations.

Who was Mama Cass Elliott? Mama Cass was part of the 1960s folk-rock group “The Mamas & the Papas” popu-

lar in the 1960s and wow, what a voice she had. I have nostalgic memories of “The Mamas & the Papas” for their songs “California Dreamin’,” “Monday, Monday,” “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and more.

It was nice turning on the radio and hearing John Phillips or Mama Cass belting out one of their hit songs. It was a unique time in America and “The Mamas & the Papas” set a tone that was all their own. They wrote their own songs too. John Phillips was the primary songwriter for the group.

When I hear “California Dreamin,” these lyrics are a nice memory of “The Mamas & the Papas” from 1965:

“All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)

And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)

I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)

On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)

I’d be safe and warm (I’d be safe and warm)

If I was in LA (if I was in LA)

California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)

On such a winter’s day …”

And when I talk about Leon the younger people say, “Leon who?”

“Like a rubber-neck giraffe, you look into my past …” That’s Leon Russell of course singing “Tight Rope” in 1972.

Bette Midler? Who else could sing these words the way she did?

“It must have been cold there in my shadow

To never have sunlight on your face

You were content to let me shine, that’s your way

You always walked a step behind …

“Did you ever know that you’re my hero?

And everything I would like to be I can fly higher than an eagle

For you are the wind beneath my wings …”

Those lyrics kind of made you sit up and take notice. When “Wing Beneath My Wings” came out in 1988 that was Bette Midler’s biggest hit song. It was featured in the movie “Beaches” and that was a memorable movie.

If you said “Beaches” in the 1980s or ‘90s everyone knew you meant the movie not Fire Island or Atlantic Beach, that’s what kind of an impression it made. It also made my friends and me take stock and think about who the heroes were in our lives.

An old expression is it’s a “red letter day” meaning it’s a special or memorable day. The term first came about because of the old custom of printing holidays in red on calendars. For example, “Bill got promoted and engaged to be married yesterday, it was truly a red-letter day for him.”

I wonder how many young people remember red letter days or Leon Russell, Bette Midler or Mama Cass? Each generation makes its mark and that’s not to say that one generation is

better than the other.

My efforts go into trying to minimize the generation gap because that makes for an all-around happier place.

My nephew, Jake, stopped at my place recently and I invited him to play Left, Center, Right but that card game didn’t appeal to him.

Then I asked him if he wanted to play a round of mah-jongg along with two other people and that didn’t appeal to him either. He didn’t want to deal with tiles, build a wall and keep playing for an hour or more. It’s true, those mah-jongg games often feel like they are going on forever.

I was going to mention playing a few hands of poker complete with chips but I could tell Jake was thinking of other ways to spend his time. My younger relatives prefer riding motorcycles, going to concerts and listening to music.

Smiling at our generational differences, I mention Game Boys and Jake talks about Tik Tok videos. Yes, Jake is decades younger and so are many of my other nieces and nephews but somehow, in some way, we manage to bridge the divide.

Different Answers Are Not Necessarily Wrong Answers

BY TOM MARGENAU

Readers frequently tell me that they talked to two different Social Security Administration agents and got two different answers. Or they tell me that a neighbor gave them one bit of Social Security advice, but another neighbor told them something else.

Sometimes I will do a little digging and learn that they didn’t really get conflicting information. Rather, they got the same information or answer, but it was simply presented in different ways. Or they posed a question to a Social Security rep and got one answer, and then later asked what they thought was the same question of another rep and got a different answer. Today’s column will give some examples of what I am talking about.

Q: I am 67 and started getting my Social Security benefits a year ago. I called the Social Security Administration about a month ago and asked if my wife, who has never worked, would get half of my Social Security. I was told she would, and an interview was set up to take her claim. When the interview finally took place yesterday, I was told that my wife would not receive half, but only a third. Which agent should I believe?

A: Both SSA agents gave you correct answers, based on the information they had at the time. I checked into this and learned that you failed to tell the first agent that your wife was only 62 years old. Your wife can get up to half of your Social Security benefit if she waits until her full retirement age to file. But if she starts her benefits at 62, she gets a reduced rate -- roughly one-third of your FRA benefit amount.

Q: I will be turning 67 in April 2026. I want to get 100% of my full retirement age rate so, per the advice of a neighbor, I was planning to file for those benefits in April of next year. But then another neighbor told me I could file as early as January 2026 and get the same 100% rate. Are there some new and different rules?

A: There aren’t any new rules. I’m guessing your second neighbor was trying to tell you that you can file for benefits up to 3 months ahead of time. In other words, you could file in January, but you would indicate on your application that you want those benefits to start in April.

Q: I recently filed for Social Security disability benefits. As part of the claims intake process, the Social Security rep explained to me that the law required a 5-month waiting period before my benefits could begin. In other words, if my claim is approved, I would have to wait 5 months before my first disability check would arrive. A week or so later, I went back to the Social Security office to take in some of my medical records. While there, I asked about this waiting period, and this time, a different clerk told me it is

actually a 6-month waiting period! So, who is right?

A: Interestingly enough, they both are. What the law actually says is that no benefit payments can be made for the first five “full calendar months” after the date the records show your disability began. For example, let’s assume your claim is approved, and they say you became disabled on Sept. 15, 2025. Your first Social Security disability check would be paid for the month of February 2026. That is five full calendar months after September 2025. But if you’re counting on your fingers, it seems more like six months later.

The five full calendar month count would come out to an actual five months only in those fairly rare cases when someone is declared to be disabled on the first day of the month. In other words, if you became disabled on Sept. 1, 2025, then five full calendar months later would be January 2026 and that is when your benefits would begin.

Q: A couple of months ago, I was in the planning stages of filing for my Social Security retirement benefits. I called Social Security and made an appointment. During that appointment call, I told the agent that we have a disabled 39-year-old son. She told me that he would be eligible for “disabled adult child” benefits on my record. I finally had the appointment interview yesterday. And this SSA rep told me my son was not eligible for benefits. Why was I misled by the first agent? Or is this second agent wrong?

A: I actually exchanged several emails with this questioner and quickly figured out what was going on. He does indeed have a son with a disability. But that disability is the result of a car accident the son had when he was 30 years old. When he made his appointment, he didn’t explain that to the SSA representative. And that is a critical piece of information because the law says that dependent benefits can be paid to an adult child who has been disabled since childhood. To be specific, the rules say the child must have been disabled before age 22.

Q: When I filed for my Social Security benefits at age 70 several years ago. I was still working at the time, and I clearly remember the Social Security rep telling me, “Because you are over your full retirement age, you could earn a million dollars per year and your benefits will not be reduced.” So imagine my shock when I got a letter this year telling me that because I sold some property in 2024 (and just coincidentally happened to make a million dollars on the sale), my Social Security benefits are being dramatically cut beginning in 2026. Why was I lied to?

A: You were not lied to. The SSA agent correctly told that if you were working and making a million dollars in salary, that would not reduce your benefits. But your property sale was not income

from a job. It was a capital gain. Even so, that million-dollar capital gain did not reduce your benefit. At least not directly. What it did do is increase your Medicare Part B premium, which is deducted from your monthly Social Security check.

For about 30 years now, the law has said that rich people should pay more for Medicare. And you were “rich,” at least on paper, for that one year (2024). And the rules say that income affects your Medicare premium two years later. So the bad news is that you must pay the higher Part B premium and thus get a lower Social Security check during 2026. But the good

news is that, assuming you have not sold any property since, your Part B premium and your Social Security benefit will return to normal in 2027.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Predictions for the housing market through 2026

What is the prediction of the strength of the housing market in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 2026?

Here’s a reasoned projection (with caveats) for the strength of the U.S. housing market in Q4 2025 through 2026 — along with key risks and regional caveats you should watch. (Note: this is not a certainty — it’s a synthesis of expert forecasts and macro trends.)

Key Signals & Assumptions

Some of the main inputs shaping forecasts:

Mortgage rates: Expected to decline from mid-6 % toward ~5.9 % by end of 2026 per Fannie Mae

Lower rates will re-stimulate buyer demand and make financing more affordable.

Home sales volume: Fannie Mae projects home sales rising — e.g. from ~4.72 million in 2025 to ~5.16 million in 2026

Stronger transaction activity as demand recovers.

Price growth / appreciation : Moderate, slower growth expectations: many analysts expect modest gains rather than dramatic runs

Prices unlikely to collapse — but gains will be more restrained.

Supply / Inventory / New construction : Construction constrained by financing costs, labor, regulation; inventory is tight but slowly improving

A tighter supply curve may support pricing even if demand is only modest.

Macroeconomy & employment: Slower overall growth expected (but still positive) maintains support for housing demand

If job growth weakens, housing demand could sag.

Affordability & valuations : Current affordability headwinds (high prices + rates) moderate demand; equity in homes and wealth effects may help some buyers

Affordability is a key brake — gains may skew toward markets with lower price bases or stronger incomes.

Given these, the forecast is for a soft recovery / stabilization rather than a boom.

Forecast: Q4 2025 Through 2026

Putting it all together, here’s how I expect things to play out (with ranges):

Transaction volume (home sales): Upward drift or moderate rebound. As mortgage rates ease, more buyers re-enter. Fannie Mae’s forecast suggests a noticeable increase in sales volumes in 2026 compared to 2025

Home price appreciation: Modest, low to mid single-digit growth

Many forecasts see inflationary pressure, supply constraints, and buyer

demand supporting continued rising prices — but at a slower pace than past years. Some more cautious forecasts even see flat or slight declines in certain markets.

Regional divergence

Strong bifurcation

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

Fast-growing sunbelt, exurban, or supplyconstrained markets may outperform. Slower or declining growth in high-cost, oversupplied, or weak-demand metro areas.

Short-term (Q4 2025 / early 2026): Relatively flat to gently improving The recovery may begin late 2025, but the real momentum may accelerate through 2026 as rate cuts take fuller effect. Some parts of 2025 may still feel “stuck.”

Bottom line forecast: By the end of 2026, the housing market will likely be stronger than in 2025 — but not in a runaway fashion. Gains in volume and price are likely, but tempered by affordability constraints and macro pressures.

Risks, Uncertainties & What to Watch

• Interest rates & monetary policy shifts: If inflation resurges, the Fed might delay cuts, keeping rates higher longer. That would choke off demand again.

• Economic shock / recession risk: A downturn in employment or consumer income could dampen demand sharply.

• Regional / local vulnerabilities: Areas with weak job growth or overbuilding may see price softness or outright decline.

• Regulatory, tax, lending changes: Changes to credit standards, property taxes, or incentives could shift demand quickly.

• Supply constraints / construction bottlenecks: Even with demand, if new supply doesn’t keep up, that can push prices upward further (or limit how much volume can grow).

The housing market on Long Island is poised for a moderate recovery through the fourth quarter of 2025 and into 2026, influenced by declining mortgage rates, sustained demand, and limited inventory. Here’s a detailed outlook for your area:

Long Island Housing Market Outlook (Q4 2025 – 2026)

Home Prices & Sales Activity

• Median Home Prices: As of mid2025, Long Island’s median home price reached $725,000, marking an 8.2% year-over-year increase. This trend is

expected to continue, with moderate appreciation projected at 4–6% annually through 2026.

• Sales Volume: In Q2 2025, home sales declined by 10.6% year-over-year, totaling 4,634 closed sales. While this indicates a slowdown, the market is anticipated to stabilize as mortgage rates decrease and inventory levels adjust.

• Inventory Levels: Long Island’s housing inventory remains tight, with only 3.1 months of supply in Q2 2025, significantly below the national average of 4.6 months. This limited supply continues to favor sellers but may ease as new listings emerge.

Market Trends for 2026

• Mortgage Rates: Fannie Mae projects the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate to decline to 5.9% by the end of 2026, potentially stimulating buyer demand and increasing home sales.

• Sales Activity: Nationally, existing home sales are expected to increase by 9.6% year-over-year in 2026, with new home sales rising by 6.9%. Long Island may experience a similar uptick, contingent on broader economic conditions and mortgage rate trends.

Regional Dynamics

Nassau County

• Market Characteristics: Nassau County continues to be a soughtafter location due to its proximity to New York City, quality schools, and suburban amenities.

• Price Trends: Home prices have seen steady increases, with some areas experiencing appreciation rates above the regional average.

Suffolk County

• Market Characteristics: Suffolk County offers more affordable housing options compared to Nassau, attracting first-time buyers and families seeking more space.

• Development Projects: Ongoing developments and infrastructure improvements are expected to bolster the housing market, potentially leading to increased demand and price stabilization.

Key Considerations

• Affordability Challenges: Despite declining mortgage rates, high home prices and property taxes may continue to pose affordability challenges for buyers.

• Economic Factors: Broader economic conditions, including employment rates and consumer confidence, will influence housing

demand and market stability.

• Regional Variations: Market conditions can vary significantly within Long Island, with some areas experiencing stronger growth than others.

Conclusion

The Long Island housing market is expected to experience a moderate recovery through the end of 2026, driven by declining mortgage rates, sustained demand, and limited inventory. Buyers and sellers should remain informed about market trends and consider consulting with local real estate professionals to navigate the evolving landscape effectively.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 43+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant designations:

National Association of Realtors Graduate Realtors Institute (what I consider a Master’s degree in real estate).

Certified International Property Specialist - expert in consulting and completing international transactions.

National Association of Realtors Green designation: eco-friendly low carbon footprint construction with 3-D printed foundations, Solar panels, Geothermal HVAC/Heat Pumps).

He will also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and his Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home.

He will provide you with “free” regular updates of what has gone under contract (pending), been sold (closed) and those homes that have been withdrawn/ released or expired (W/R) and all new listings of homes, HOA, Townhomes, Condos, and Coops in your town or go to:

https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search at your leisure on your own. However, for a “FREE” no obligation/ no strings attached 15-minute consultation, as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached call him at (516) 647-4289 or email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.com

You can now search at your leisure for properties at:

WWW.Li-RealEstate.com

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EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED

MECHANIC

Now hiring

$2,500-$3,000 / week for heavy equipment Trucking Construction Company in Farmingdale, NY Call 516-802-3552 or email resume: baycareer516@gmail.com

PERSONAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

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WE BUY HOUSES FOR CASH AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670

NOVENAS/PRAYERS

3 DAY NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days, making your specific request after the initial lines.

Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.

Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother.

Oh Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power.

Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).

Holy Mary I place this prayer in your hands (say three times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. When request is granted, the novena must be published. (MAK)

Our Professional Guide will get you business from all across Long Island! Call 294-8900 for rates & info.

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Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed to 6pm) Saturday 12-4 (entrance & parking in back)

Consignments by appointment atstewartexchange@tgchs.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society INVITED SALES BY TRACY JORDAN

Transform your space, maximize your value: Are you looking to add value to your property and enhance its appeal? Look no further!

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MARKETPLACE

WANTED TO BUY

LOOKING TO BUY!

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TAG SALE

TAG SALE MOVING SALE

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REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

GREENPORT

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REAL ESTATE WANTED

HOMES WANTED

HOME WANTED IN GARDEN CITY

Elderly couple looking for a Ranch home west of Nassau Blvd. Principals only No Brokers Please Call Tom: 917-710-5828

SERVICES

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Toss homemade pizza with ease

Simple Pizza Dough

Pizza is one of the most widely enjoyed and consumed comfort foods around the world. Although it is believed to have originated in Italy, pizza can now be found in many countries across the globe. Canadians and Americans consume many pounds of pizza every year, and pizzerias are popular, successful businesses. Sometimes it can be fun to make pizza at home where everyone gets busy kneading dough and customizing their toppings. Enjoy this “Simple Pizza Dough,” courtesy of Janie’s Mill artisanal stoneground flours. Makes one large or 2 to 3 smaller pizzas

375 grams (3 cups) Italian Style Pizza Flour (plus extra)

250 ml (1 cup) warm water

1 tablespoon olive oil

1) Preheat oven to 475° F.

2) Mix flour and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Combine water, yeast and sugar (if using) in a large mixing bowl and let sit for 5 minutes until it is foamy and bubbly.

3) Add the olive oil and the flour-salt mixture to the large bowl with the water-yeast mixture, and stir with a spatula until dough comes together.

4) Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Add additional flour if needed, one tablespoon at a time.

5) Return the dough to the bowl, cover with a kitchen

6 grams instant dry yeast

10 grams sugar (optional)

6 grams salt

towel, and let dough rise for 30 minutes if you have time. If not, simply roll the dough out to 1⁄4-inch to 1⁄2-inch thick on a well-floured surface. Form it into one or more rough circles to make your pizza(s).

6) Pierce the dough with a fork multiple times, add your toppings and bake on the bottom rack of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bottom and edges of the crust are a rich golden brown. Check your pizza often so it doesn’t get too brown.

7) As with all bread recipes, this pizza recipe will turn out best if you weigh your ingredi-

ents. Invest in a quality kitchen scale to get the best results. Topping ideas: Marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese creates a classic pizza, but everyone can get creative with their toppings. A pesto sauce base and grilled chicken can be tasty. Try prosciutto and basil as another option. Meatlovers’ pizzas often contain ground sausage, pepperoni and sometimes ham. Pizza dough also can be used for dessert. Top with a “sauce” of hazelnut spread and sliced strawberries for a delicious treat.

Welcome to The Floral Park Villager, where your story is our story!

Over the next few weeks we will be mailing free copies of our new newspaper to all of the homes in the zip code so you can see what we’re excited about! If this is your first time seeing the paper, welcome! Copies are also available at drop points around town. In addition, you can find us online at www.fpvillager.com

What You Can Expect:

Local Focus: Unlike other papers, we concentrate solely on Floral Park and Bellerose. Our pages will be filled with news that matters to you and your neighbors.

Community Contributions: We want to hear from you! Share your sports updates, event announcements, club news, scouting adventures, and personal milestones like weddings and graduations. Your stories are the heartbeat of our publication.

Comprehensive Coverage: Stay informed about village and school board meetings, ensuring you’re up-to-date with the decisions that impact our community.

Letters to the Editor: We value your voice. Share your opinions, ideas, and feedback. Your letters will help shape the dialogue in our community.

Get Involved:

We encourage you to submit your items for publication to editor@gcnews.com. Whether it’s a story, a photo, or an announcement, your contributions will help us build a newspaper that truly reflects the spirit of Floral Park and Bellerose.

How to Subscribe

If you would like to get convenient home delivery of the paper through the mail, please use this QR code or go to our website at www.fpvillager.com

Advertising:

Our Advertising Account Executive, Peter Camp, is a long-time member of the Floral Park community. For information about advertising, you can reach him at 917-861-4627 or pcamp@gcnews.com.

Saltwater Stories: We need the sea and the sea needs me

The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) celebrates the opening of Saltwater Stories: We Need the Sea and the Sea Needs Me, its first new permanent exhibit in more than a decade. This immersive experience honors the people, traditions and communities that make Long Island unique.

Saltwater Stories dives deep into the region’s maritime heritage, drawing inspiration from over 15 years of LICM programs that highlighted the lives and practices of local tradition bearers such as baymen, fishermen and indigenous artists. The exhibit is a culmination of years of collaboration and connection, reflecting the authenticity and diversity of Long Island’s coastal identity.

“This exhibit is an exciting celebration of Long Island's maritime culture - a core part of who we are!, explains LICM President Erika Floreska. “It gives visitors of all ages a chance to connect with a cultural richness that defines Long Island in a playful, hands-on way.”

Hands on Experience

From the stories of generations of baymen to the bustling fish markets of the Nautical Mile, Saltwater Stories offers hands-on, family-friendly experiences rooted in the everyday lives of Long Islanders past and present. The exhibit also highlights the connections

between the traditions of immigrant communities who share seaside cultures, offering opportunities for shared experiences and dialogue.

In the 1,900-sq-ft exhibit, visitors will have the opportunity to:

• Role-play life on the bay in a walkin replica of a Long Island Bay House, which features a “magic window” enabling visitors to observe changing weather and tides in a tidal marsh.

• Work together in a classic Long Island Fish Market: unloading the daily catch from the fishing boat docked outside, sorting fish or selling them at the checkout station.

• Explore Lifting the Ocean’s Lid, an immersive early learner area that lets children get up and close with what lives under the sea.

• Climb into a 10-foot, 500-pound hand-carved mishoon (Indigenous dugout canoe) and discover how it honors the region's original navigators and their enduring relationship with the sea. This section of the exhibit features the video of Billy Joel’s “The Downeaster ‘Alexa’,” the unofficial anthem of commercial fishing.

• See many ways Long Islanders engage with the waters around the island on a 20’ long interactive Story Map mural.

Visitors are welcomed to the exhib-

Fairyland displays at Centennial Gardens

Bits and pieces of the minature villages from five years of Fairy Festivals will be on display at Centennial Gardens to the right of the entryway on Floral Parkway. Stop by soon as Mother Nature may have a say over the run of this show! No charge, but if you want to bring a buck, it will be happily accepted. All proceeds go to the Floral Park Conservation Society whereby volunteers work tirelessly to maintain this beautiful 13 acre garden and bird sanctuary.

it by a 9-foot-high immersive, stylized wave tunnel. Visible from the three entries to the second floor of the Museum, this wow-moment hooks you into the gallery and recreates many people’s first introduction to the sea – a day at the beach. Lighting and sound effects create a transportive transition into Saltwater Stories.

Visitors are guided through the exhibit using play prompts—clearly marked, easy-to-read cues that help caregivers engage their children in playful, meaningful ways throughout the experience.

Handwritten notes and sketches inspired by real bay house families and fish market workers anchor the experience for visitors. Rooted in authentic oral histories and local traditions, these elements transform personal memories into tangible experiences. Visitors don’t just learn history—they step into it, connecting emotionally with the everyday lives of those who work and live along the Great South Bay.

For those eager to explore further, “Salty Solutions” graphics spotlight local individuals and initiatives dedicated to protecting Long Island’s waterways, bridging past and present through stories of environmental stewardship. Featured individuals include inspiring figures like former WNBA player and 18th-generation Long Island-

er Sue Wicks, who now runs a sustainable kelp farm and advocates for marine conservation in the region.

In partnership with a wide-ranging group of experts—from scientists and historians to local fish market owners and members of Indigenous communities -- Long Island Children's Museum (LICM) has ensured this exhibit reflects the true essence of Long Island's maritime culture.

Through these collaborations, LICM offers families a chance to connect with the island’s rich traditions, strengthening their sense of place and the shared stories that bind our communities together.

Saltwater Stories opens Saturday, October 11 with a three-day celebration that invites visitors to connect with local fisherfolk, engage in educational activities for all ages, and explore the deep-rooted traditions of our coastal communities. The long weekend’s festivities (October 11-13) feature storytelling sessions, artisan demonstrations and craft-making that highlights the region’s seafaring history. Serving as the official kickoff, the event launches a series of monthly programs delving into the impact of maritime life on disciplines such as art, science, literature, and cultural heritage.