Floral Park Villager (2/6/26)

THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY

Tech entrepreneur leads youth robotics effort

BY RIKKI MASSAND

On Sunday, January 18th, 23-year-old Sukhsimran Singh—better known as “Sukh” in his hometown of Floral Park and across Long Island—was back in the Sewanhaka Central School District, attending a FIRST Robotics competition he once competed in during 2020 and 2021. Less than five years later, Sukh is now teaching and guiding a group of aspiring students from Floral Park, Bellerose, and surrounding communities.

Last fall, Sukh launched his own company, Sukh Tech Solutions, Inc., a managed IT services provider delivering reliable, cost-efficient tech support to small- and mid-size businesses. With several clients and long workdays, his Floral Park-based company is steadily growing. One of his first outreach steps was joining the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce. The chamber’s monthly networking meetings allow Sukh to step out of his comfort

zone, share details about the business technology management services he offers, and learn from interactions with experienced local professionals and managers.

In late 2025, Singh and Sukh Tech Solutions had the opportunity to sponsor and mentor FIRST Tech Challenge Team 32048, Robo Warriors—a group of local Sikh American students in grades seven through twelve. Most team members attend schools within the Sewanhaka district, while others come from Herricks and nearby communities. Stu -

dents competing at Sewanhaka on January 18th included Class of 2026 student Manraj Singh, along with Gurshan Sidhu, Nikhil Kandola, Seerat Kaur, Aviraj Multani, and Sukhpal Singh—Sukhsimran’s younger brother and a seventh grader from Floral Park.

“I started the team with the help of the Sikh Youth of New York (SYNY).The organization’s goal is to empower the Sikh youth through Sangat, Seva and Sikhi-parchar but we are open to everyone.

Every year, Robotics students are given three to four months to design and build a robot for a new ‘game’ competition. During weekend FIRST Robotics events, the team’s robot competes against three others on a 12-foot-by-12-foot field. Singh noted, “This year’s game is to pick up multi-colored balls and shoot them in the correct order into a goal.”

Robotics teams from across Nassau and Suffolk counties are competing to advance to the Long Island FIRST Robotics Regional Championship at Hewlett High School on March 1st. From there, the winning team will advance to the 2026 FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, Texas, scheduled for April 29th through May 2nd—an event that can draw more than 50,000 students.

“In both my junior and senior years of high school, Sewanhaka CSD technically made it to FIRST World Championships but due to COVID-19 the event was cancelled in 2020,

then in 2021 it was held online. It was difficult in some ways but it was also better because the robot didn’t have to meet specs. It was also hard since a lot of senior-year students I knew who were looking forward to going to World Championships missed their opportunity,” Sukh shared.

He said transitioning from Robotics student to mentor is very different from a former athlete becoming a coach. “Football stays the same, the rules don’t really change much, but with Robotics the kids now are worlds ahead. The stuff I was doing seven years ago and I felt that those were advanced tech, those things are for beginners now,” he explained.

As a Robotics coach leading teams across Long Island, Singh has learned that success depends largely on student dedication. “If you get four or five kids who are really into creating the robot, they will teach themselves. The coach is really just there as the adult in the room. The students designed and built the entire robot by themselves, and I just helped with some things like cutting material with a saw,” he said.

The 2021 Floral Park Memorial High School graduate initially studied physics at Stony Brook University, but later explored technology as a career path and developed expertise in computer operating systems management.

“For about three semesters I pursued physics, and I did some

Five generations strong: Rotary to hear guest speaker

The Rotary Club of Floral Park–Bellerose will welcome guest speaker Judy Murtha, President of the Rotary Club of Flushing, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Post & Union Restaurant (157 Tulip Ave., Floral Park, NY). Dinner is included and is $35.00 per person. Call Rich Burgess (516-413-9129) to reserve your seat.

Murtha will spotlight her family’s business, HarvyCanes.com, which stands out for two remarkable distinctions. The company is among the very few—possibly the last—manufacturers of wooden walking canes still made in the United States. Even more rare, it is a

fifth-generation family enterprise.

In a time when many family businesses struggle to continue beyond one or two generations, a five-generation legacy is extraordinary. Murtha will share how her family built and sustained this tradition over decades, the challenges they faced along the way, and what the future holds for a company rooted in American-made craftsmanship.

The presentation promises to be both fascinating and inspiring—especially for anyone interested in local enterprise, family legacy, and the values that help small businesses endure.

Civic Assn. meeting

The February Hillcrest Civic Association meeting will be held on Thursday, February 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the Floral Park Recreation Center

The agenda will include updates from the Floral Park trustees and police department

Junior Woman’s Club to meet

The Floral Park Junior Woman's Club will hold its next meeting on Thursday, February 12, at 7 p.m. at the Floral Park Recreation Center

Refreshments will be served - new

Inspiring Stories

Bill Corbett, Jr.

Aaliyah Corley ~ First LI Girl to Earn Every Scouting America Merit Badge The Author Corner

Uncorked

members welcome.

There will be a business meeting and then the group will learn the basics of mahjong.

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Wes Houston Presents... Wes Houston "The String Sisters" ~ Annie Mark & Maria Fairchild

Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District’s sixth grade students in the gifted and talented program, SPARK, are exploring the human body through an in-depth Body Systems unit that goes beyond basic anatomy, encouraging students to view the body as an engineered system. Students are examining how body systems work together and what can happen when systems fail. They are further investigating how technology, such as biomedical engineering, prosthetics and robotics, can support or even replicate human function.

To connect their learning to real-life applications, Floral Park Police Department Lieutenant Doherty, Detective Timms and Officer Murphy visited for an in-district field trip on Jan. 21. They taught students about CPR and AED use, with a strong emphasis on heart health and cardiac emergencies. This meaningful experience allowed students to apply their understanding of body systems, particularly the heart, to real-life emergency scenarios, reinforcing the critical importance of system function, quick thinking and life-saving response.

Chambers welcome new business to Covert Ave.

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Gathered inside at the January 31st , Grand Opening of Stewart Manor Laundromat are Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce Treasurer Anne Musso and Chamber Secretary Nancy Millus; Village of Floral Park Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo and Trustee Jennifer Stewart; Covert Avenue Chamber President Rene Jorglewich, owner of Body Works Day Spa on Covert; Floral Park Chamber of Commerce President Shane Parouse; Floral Park Village Trustee Michael Longobardi; the Laundromat's new owners, Garden City natives and best friends Michael Comiskey and Kyle Irwin, and Floral Park Village Trustee Frank Chiara.

The new co-owners of the Stewart Manor Laundromat at 90 Covert Avenue are two native sons of Garden City, Kyle Irwin and Michael Comiskey (center, kneeling) who became friends when they attended Garden City Nursery School together. At the celebration for their new local business's Grand Opening and Ribbon-cutting, on Saturday afternoon the Irwin and Comiskey families were joined by many longtime friends and former classmates from their days at elementary and middle school in Garden City and several new friends.

Tech entrepreneur leads youth robotics effort

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internship work and lab experience. I was working on a grad project on ‘Particle Collisions in Ultra-Cold Temperatures’ which required the completion of millions of projects and sorting through data. The work was more like writing code and working with software so we could run tests, and then going back to tweak it to get the results we wanted. That gave me the experience to know physics was not the field I really wanted to go into, academically or becoming a career statistician – but I am thankful for the exposure to Linux operating system and the Stony Brook Supercomputer. That started my deep-dive into tech and IT-related stuff, and I was just doing IT-related things including fixing servers and computers,” he shared.

Sukh later switched his major to technology systems management and earned multiple certifications. During the summer of his junior year, he completed an internship at Innovative Associates in Binghamton.

“I worked as an IT intern and that provided me with exposure to how corporate-level IT works, including data backup and resources within different departments,” he said.

Family-FIRST

Growing up, Sukhsimran noticed that his younger brother Sukhpal enjoyed building things—starting with LEGO sets and later watching Robotics competitions. When Sukhpal became eligible for the Robotics team at Floral Park Memorial High School, he attended a few meetings but left feeling shy and self-conscious because he wears a turban.

“As a 7th grader some bigger kids were pushing him around and they were senior to him on the school team.

Sukhpal told me he didn’t feel he was part of the team, it was more of him watching the other students get to do stuff. Two weeks into the season I told him we should just start his own team, and from that the Robo Warriors grew through word of mouth to invite other kids/families – then I brought it to the Sikh Youth of New York and they decided to help us find more kids plus a parent who is a machinist and engineer, and they let us use the garage for building the robot. He’s helped us a lot with design, CAD work and 3-D printing,” Sukhsimran said.

SYNY connected the Robo Warriors with the California-based Sikh Education & Technology Foundation, which awarded the team a $1,500 grant. “There are a lot of SYNY members who helped out our team as mentors, and while the

kids are running this team themselves there is a large support network. A lot of sponsors and parents try their best to make our team successful as well,” Sukh noted.

Parent Hardeep Sidhu attended the January 18th competition at Sewanhaka with his son Gurshan, a member of Team 32048. The team often meets at Sidhu’s home to test software and build robot components. Other meetings are held online through Discourse, and team members also connect socially through a shared Minecraft server.

Warriors with spirit

At the Robo Warriors’ first-ever competition in December, the team advanced to the semifinals. Sukh said he has been inspired by the creativity, teamwork, and resilience of the students he mentors, as well as by the progress Robotics programs have made since his own high school days.

“For a small team of students that had never really been involved with S.T.E.M. or Robotics, they have done really, really well this season. These kids are engaged and careful with building the robot, and they get enthusiastic to make it successful, learn more and keep our program going. I am so proud of what they’ve accomplished, and this impresses me since I am a judge for Robotics qualifiers with several well-established, school district-led teams. Going by the dedication of our students, the Robo Warriors are up there amongst the teams that have been steady in the competitions for the last 10 to 20 years, but our kids’ effort and interest in building the robot was at the top,“ he said.

Singh said the team’s shared values are reflected in their commitment. “I made it clear that this end-product robot will be what they make of it. I’ve seen these young kids tell their parents they

want to stay longer doing Robotics and they did not want to go out to parties or events, they decided to lock in and focus on the robot. Over the holidays, instead of these kids taking it easy at home they were meeting online, they did an expo at one of the local gurudwaras (Sikh temple) to raise funds, and they worked hard on their design. How many kids around 12 or 13 years old would get up at 7 a.m. to meet for hours and work on a robot?” he said.

He added that the team brings a holistic approach to Robotics. The lone high school senior on the team, Manraj Singh, said he has enjoyed leading younger students, including his siblings.

“At our nearby gurudwara (on Cherry Lane, north of Jericho Turnpike) there was an advertisement for the meetings of Team 32048, and my mom said we should check this out. At first I was not into Robotics because I am planning to study to become a doctor, but I decided to try it out. Even though it isn’t the medical field the S.T.E.M. topics, coding and teamwork involved have helped prepare me for college, and we get to meet so many professionals. Our team has done several virtual meetings with people in the finance world, engineers and even lawyers. The work we’ve done has expanded my thinking and all of our connections,” he said. Looking ahead, Team 32048 plans to expand sponsorship opportunities and reach more families in Floral Park and western Nassau County. Donations have primarily been made through PayPal, and Manraj noted that additional sponsors have come through connections with Sikh Youth of New York. Both he and Sukh said they are hopeful for continued growth and community support.

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

From Despair to Hope: Conquering Peripheral Neuropathy with Westbury Acupuncture

“It’s as though I’m stepping from razor blade to razor blade.”

“It feels like my feet are under attack by fire ants.”

“Like I’m walking on wet paint with rolled up socks.”

And you’re in this kind of pain all the time.

“It’s relentless, keeping you up at night and preventing you from doing even the most mundane tasks. Things that I used to take for granted, like wearing shoes and going grocery shopping. Two of my three children were getting married last year and I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to attend their weddings,” shares Rose W. Rose was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in 2015, a degenerative condition affecting almost 5% of people over the age of 55.

“My doctor sat me down and said, ‘Rose I’m so sorry to tell you this, but you have peripheral neuropathy. I’m going to prescribe you gabapentin to manage the discomfort but overall, neuropathy is untreatable.’ My first thought was, ‘we can cure cancer but you can’t stop my feet from hurting?’ It felt like a cruel joke.”

While neuropathy can be caused by a number of things

neuropathy cases are classified as idiopathic. In layman's terms, the cause is unknown. This was the case with Rose. “Basically every question I had was met with an ‘I don’t know.’ It was depressing to say the least.”

Eventually, Rose was forced to quit her job because the numbness had started to set in and prevented her from driving.

Fortunately for Rose, she came across an article in the local newspaper featuring Jae Won Kim L.Ac and his innovative approach to treating peripheral neuropathy. “At first, I thought it had to be a sham. After so many specialists told me there was no hope, here was this acupuncturist in the

just had to call, and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am that I did.”

Jae Won Kim, founder of Westbury Acupuncture, says that cases like Rose’s are incredibly common. “Almost all of my neuropathy patients have been told at one point or another that there is no hope. I like to think I specialize in offering hope.”

To quote the New York Times, “Chinese medicine proves itself where Western medicine fails.”

“Acupuncture has been treating complicated, chronic conditions like neuropathy for thousands of years,” shares Jae Won. “I start with a foundation based on this time-tested science and my clinical experience. I then

tailor treatments based on a number of factors including the severity of your neuropathy, how long you’ve had it, whether or not there are any underlying factors, things of that nature. It’s because of these personalized treatment programs that we’re seeing such incredible results!”

Four months after treatment, Rose is back at work and thriving. “Being back at work isn’t even the most exciting part,” exclaims “Not only was I able to attend my son’s wedding, but I could walk down the aisle! It was the most magical moment and I have Jae Won to thank To think, I might’ve missed that.” Rose held back tears.

If you or someone you love is suffering with chronic pain that presents as burning, tingling, or ‘pins and needles,’ or you’ve recently been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy, it’s important to know that there are options.

There is hope.

Call (516) 500-8281 to schedule an initial consultation or visit WestburyAcupuncture.com to read more incredible success stories.

New York Travel Show: Pauline Frommer Advises Where, How to Go in 2026

BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE

If you think that your bucket-list destinations will be more in reach price-wise in the off-season, you will find there is no such thing as an “off season” any more – travel is a lifestyle, ubiquitous throughout the year. Indeed, weather extremes are pushing the crowds that would have crammed Paris, Florence, and Venice in the summer peak to what would be the “shoulder season,” now offering little relief from crowds and high costs of “high season.”

But, travel expert Pauline Frommer, giving her popular talk at the New York Travel Show, advises set your compass to the secondary destinations that are not as high on people’s lists, helping those marquee destinations free themselves from the blight of overtourism, at the same time spreading the economic and cultural benefits that tourists bring to these lesser frequented places.

“Right now it is so important to consider secondary cities. Often these “secondary cities” have the same types of attractions as the brand name destination, but fewer visitors and lower costs”.

Instead of Amsterdam, which can be so damn crowded, visit Utrecht, a beautiful little city half hour outside Amsterdam, with the same canals, even more beautiful because there are 2 levels, lined with cafes, bars, and fairy lights at night. Utrecht has great museums – you can get a hotel for $65/ night in November (half the cheapest available in Amsterdam).

Here are Frommer’s recommen-

dations for destinations and experiences to enjoy in 2026 “where you will find travel new all over again”, places that will have great celebrations or be affordable, accessible (see Frommers. com/BestPlaces2026)

Oulu, Finland: may well be best known for world air guitar championships, but Frommer is recommending Oulu this year because this little community 20 miles south of the Arctic Circle (incredible wilderness, the Northern Lights will be prominent this year, indigenous cultures), is the European Capital of Culture for 2026. Hundreds of artists of all sorts will descend on Oulu, creating site-specific performances.

Viti Levu, Fiji is like Hawaii, with gorgeous beaches, but much less crowded and much cheaper on the ground than Hawaii, with lots of mom and pop resorts, plus traditional Pacific culture, and now, much cheaper to get

there because, for the first time, there are direct flights from the USA, making getting to Fiji finally affordable. Jasper, Alberta, Canada: two years ago Jasper was afflicted with horrific wildfires. Frommer is recommending visiting now because, “You can go and not realize what happened, but going specifically for fire ecology tours in burned areas and learn how to stop that from happening, how to regenerate and meet the people doing that - more important with climate change. Also, Jasper is another place to experience the Northern Lights that are forecast to be spectacular this year. The Rocky Mountaineer train this year, because of FIFA World Cup, is not going to Vancouver-Banff-Jasper, but just back and forth between Banff and Jasper. “You see the highlights, the best stuff and pay less with great train experience.”

Vienna, Austria this year is cel-

ebrating the 250th anniversary of the Berg Theater, which presents classical music. Every major name in classical music is performing. Last year, the city celebrated the 250th birthday of Johann Strauss, opening a new museum to him. In Vienna, you enjoy the famous Lipizaaner white stallions, beautiful markets, a beautiful, loveable city.”

Kruger National Park, South Africa, is for those who want to take an African Safari but don’t have a trust fund. The park, which is turning 100 this year (and may change its name), allows you to do a self-drive safari (which is rare). You pay $100 fee to get into the park, then go to areas where there are resorts ($80-90 per night) or camping is allowed (as little as $20/ night). When you go into the reserve, park rangers tell you where to go.

Travel Tips:

Best airfare search engines: Momondo, Skyscanner

Hotel Savings: google travel, trivago or skyscanner. To avoid surveillance pricing, set your VPN to a place like Arkansas.

Meet the People: InternationalGreeters.org (local volunteers who show you around for free; TravelingSpoon.com and EatWith. com (for foodies).

Finding multi-day tours : TravelStride.com, TourRadar.com

Travel insurance platforms when booking big-ticket trips (cruises, tours, safaris): SquareMouth.com, InsureMyTrip.com, TravelInsurance. com

© 2026 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com

A Planetary Island Within the Celestial River

BY DENNIS MAMMANA

Week of February 8-14, 2026

With much of North America shivering in a deep freeze, I’d be surprised if many folks are doing stargazing!

If you’re one of the intrepid few, you’ll find it hard to ignore the stars of Orion, standing stoically midway up in the southern sky. Even folks who happen to glance upward accidentally as they race from their cars to their nice warm houses almost instantly spot its four bright stars that outline a rectangle, and three more that trace a straight line in its center.

Easily the most attention-grabbing star grouping, Orion is not the only one in that area of the sky. In fact, one of the longest and faintest of all begins near the foot of the great hunter. Its name is Eridanus.

In ancient Greek mythology, Eridanus represents the river in which young Phaethon crashed after his failed attempt to fly the Chariot of the Sun, but no one knows exactly which river it is. Homer called it an “ocean stream.” Others claim it’s the Tigris or the Euphrates; still others suggest it might be the river Po or maybe even the mighty Nile.

To see this sinuous string of relatively dim stars, first locate the southwestern-most star of Orion (Rigel),

then look just above and to its right for the star that marks the beginning of the river. If you have a night with no light pollution or moonlight and a low southern horizon, you should be able to trace much of the celestial river as it meanders to the west and south.

Because Eridanus lies so far south, skywatchers in the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere can see only a portion of it; if you live in middle or high latitudes, you might be able to see only one-third or half of it. Those living in more southerly locations, of course, will see much more.

Though the stars of Eridanus are rather faint and obscure, one of them has captured the imagination of astronomers and science fiction authors alike. Its name is Epsilon Eridani, a slightly orange star appearing about midway down the constellation’s winding stellar string. You might recognize its name from science fiction novels by Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert, as well as from the 1990s TV series “Babylon 5.”

It was in 1960 that Cornell University astronomer Frank Drake aimed a radio telescope in this star’s direction to see if he might detect evidence of a technologically advanced civilization inhabiting a planet orbiting nearby. Unfortunately, six and a half decades later, no such signals have ever been found.

Back then, the existence of planets orbiting the star was mere conjecture. Not so today. We now know that Epsilon Eridani, only 10.5 lightyears away, is encircled by a disk of dusty debris -- an asteroid belt, if you will. In addition, astronomers have confirmed that orbiting nearby is a Jupiter-like planet they’ve named Aegir, and they suspect it may have at least two additional planets.

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Tipping the Scales in My Favor

Might this nearby star be home to worlds harboring life? We don’t yet know, but if you step outdoors on any one of these frigid winter nights, you can gaze upon its light and wonder!

Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com.

COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

BY TRACY BECKERMAN

As I was settling into bed one night, I happened to catch my husband out of the corner of my eye.

He was getting on the scale.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” I yelled at him. He jerked his head around and looked at me with alarm.

“What? I’m weighing myself.”

I jumped out of bed and yanked him off the scale.

“You can’t do that now!!” I said emphatically.

“Why not?”

“You have to weigh yourself first thing in the morning, after you go to the bathroom, before you eat breakfast, and when you’re completely naked,” I said. “Everybody knows that.”

“What happens if I don’t do that?” he asked.

“You will weigh MORE!” I said, and shuddered.

I was stunned that my husband was so oblivious to the scale rules. It was common knowledge that you are at your lightest first thing in the morning,

and that clothes and food could add on micro-ounces. This is why most women ask for the first appointment when they go to the doctor’s office and insist on disrobing before getting on the scale.

When I go to the doctor, I go full-on airport TSA checkpoint, removing my shoes, belt, jackets, jewelry and anything else that might adversely affect the number on the scale. Conversely, my husband will get on the scale fully clothed, at any time of day, not even removing his shoes or belt, and then step off seemingly unscathed, no matter what the number is. It was dumbfounding.

When I weigh myself first thing in the morning, I remove not only my pajamas but also my mouthguard. Then I will step on the scale, and if I don’t like the number it shows me, I will move the scale around the room until I get a number I like better. If I still don’t like the number, I will tell everyone who will listen that my scale is broken. If the doctor’s office has the same number (or worse, higher), I will tell the doctor his scale is also broken.

And if I’m really desperate, I will break his scale so no other patient has to suffer the same outrage.

The next day I had to take the dog to the vet for his annual physical. When we got in the room, the doctor and his assistant groaned as they lifted the dog onto the examination table. The table also functioned as a scale, and I glanced at the dog, who looked unconcerned as the numbers went higher and higher. Eventually it stopped at a weight that even made me look twice.

“Bowie gained 5 pounds since last year,” said the vet. “He needs to go on a diet.”

“Maybe not,” I replied.

“What do you mean?” asked the doctor.

“It’s late in the day, and he needs a grooming.”

“What difference does that make?” asked the doctor.

“If we weigh him first thing in the morning and I take off his collar and shave his coat, he’ll probably be just right.”

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 2026 CREATORS.COM

Black History: A baseball player & a civil rights leader

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

With February being Black History Month, I am citing baseball player Larry Doby and civil rights leader Dorothy Height for their accomplishments.

Born on December 13, 1923, in Camden, S.C., Lawrence Eugene Doby was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues. In Major League Baseball, Doby was the second Black player to break baseball’s color barrier and the first Black player in the American League.

Larry Doby moved to Paterson, N.J., at age 14 with his mother after his father’s death. A gifted athlete from the very beginning, he excelled in four sports at Paterson East Side High School.

After graduating from high school in 1942, he accepted an athletic scholarship to play basketball at Long Island University Brooklyn. Doby had been dating Eastside classmate Helyn Curvy since his sophomore year and, according to Doby, being able to remain close to Paterson was the primary reason he selected LIU.

In the summer before he enrolled at LIU, Doby accepted an offer to play for the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League for the remainder of the 1942 season, and he transferred to Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia.

He only played basketball for one season at Virginia Union before he was called to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Because of his military service he did not complete a degree, but the university has since honored him as an alumnus, and he is a member of the Virginia Union University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Although Larry Doby met his future wife, Helyn Curvy Robinson, as freshmen at Paterson Eastside High School, they married in the summer of 1946, after his discharge from the Navy.

He and Helyn raised their five children in a house on Nishuane Road in Montclair, N.J. that is still in the family. They lived in that town from 1960 until his death in 2003.

Larry Doby played basketball on the 1942 CIAA Champion Virginia Union basketball team, made his major league baseball debut on July 5, 1947, 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. As the first African-American player in the American League, Larry Doby played 12 major league seasons for the Indians, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers.

During his career Doby was named

79. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. His number 14 was retired by the Cleveland Indians in 2007.

Remembered as a local icon in Montclair, Doby is celebrated for his quiet strength, pioneering courage, and lasting legacy in sports and civil rights. He was given a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously.

A commemorative postage stamp was issued in Larry Doby’s honor in 2012 as part of the “Major League Baseball All-Stars” series.

A notable civil rights leader: Dorothy Height was born in Richmond, Virginia,

to seven Major League Baseball AllStar teams and led the Indians to the 1948 World Series Championship. In retirement Doby didn’t have hobbies, he stayed active in sports.

In 1978, Bill Veeck, the owner of the Chicago White Sox who had originally signed Doby to the Indians, hired him as MLB’s second Black manager.

Doby served as the director of communications for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA from 1980 to 1989, and as their director of community affairs until 1990. In 1995, he was named a special assistant to the American League president, a role in which he helped arrange speaking engagements and appearances for former players.

Larry Doby died on June 18, 2003, at his home in Montclair, N.J., at age

on March 24, 1912. The daughter of a building contractor who was politically active and a nurse, Dorothy Irene Height grew up in Rankin, Pennsylvania.

Height went on to graduate from New York University with a degree in education and a master’s degree in educational psychology. After college she worked as a social worker and became an active member of the National Council of Negro Women.

An influential civil rights leader who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other activists, Height was also an advocate for women’s rights. She saw them as inseparable from civil rights and was instrumental in the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment which was passed by Congress in 1972.

Dorothy Height devoted her life to

grassroots organizations created to fight racism, sexism, inequality, poverty and other societal problems.

Known as the “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement,” Height received numerous awards and honors and was recognized by multiple U.S. presidents for her activism.

Height also founded the National Black Family Reunion and was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It was U.S. President Bill Clinton who awarded Dorothy Height the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, in 1994 during a White House ceremony, for her lifetime of work as a civil rights and women’s rights activist. She had worked as a tireless advocate for those two causes.

Dorothy Height also received the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush in 2004.

For her work as a civil and women’s rights leader, a commemorative stamp honoring Dorothy Height was issued in February 2017. The United States Postal Service honored her with a “Forever” stamp as the 40th entry in its Black Heritage series. That stamp dedication ceremony was held at Howard University and was attended by Height’s relatives and dignitaries.

Dorothy Height passed away on April 20, 2010, in Washington D.C., at 98 years old.

Height had many famous quotes but here are two of my favorites:

“We have to improve life, not just for those who have the most skills and those who know how to manipulate the system. But also for and with those who often have so much to give but never get the opportunity.”

“I want to be remembered as someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work for justice and freedom … I want to be remembered as one who tried.”

Happy Black History Month to one and all!

BY TOM MARGENAU

Your Friends and Neighbors Are Wrong!

Here is a bit of advice from a guy who gives Social Security advice for a living. Don’t take any advice from your friends or neighbors about Social Security. It’s always wrong!

OK, it’s not always wrong. But I’ve learned from many thousands of readers over the years that it’s wrong often enough to make it wise to heed my warning: When it comes to Social Security, don’t listen to your friends and neighbors. I’ll share examples of what I mean in today’s column.

Q: I get my Social Security check on the fourth Wednesday of each month. My wife gets hers on the second Wednesday of each month. And I thought that’s the way things work. Social Security checks come out on various Wednesdays. But I have a neighbor who insists he gets his checks on the seventeenth of each month. Why is that?

A: It isn’t like that. Your friend does not get his Social Security check on the seventeenth of each month. I’m not sure why he would say that. But it really doesn’t matter. He’s just wrong.

For about the first 50 years of the program, Social Security checks always came out on the third of each month. But about 40 years ago, for a variety of reasons, Social Security officials decided to stagger the delivery date of checks based on a person’s day of birth. People born on the first through tenth day of each month would get their checks on the second Wednesday of each month. Those born on the eleventh through twentieth would get their benefits on the third Wednesday of each month. And people born on the twenty-first through the thirty-first would get their benefits on the fourth Wednesday of each month. And for reasons a little too messy to explain here, a few folks still get their benefits on the third of each month. But no one, your neighbor included, gets a benefit check routinely on the seventeenth of the month.

Q: I will be reaching my full retirement age of 66 and 10 months in April 2026. I was planning to start my benefits then. But I have a friend who is the same age as me and he insists that anyone who doesn’t wait until 70 to start their benefits is a darn fool and is throwing money away. What do you say?

A: Well, I say I must be a darn fool because I started my benefits when I was 62 years old. But I did that for a variety of reasons that I’ve explained many times in past columns and just don’t have the space to get into today.

The truth is, no one really knows when the best time is to start their benefits because no one really knows when they are going to die. For example, your friend could wait until 70 to start his

benefits and then get hit by a bus two months later. Then who was the “darn fool?”

All each of us can do is consider issues such as your health, your other sources of income, your marital status and other factors and then just make the best choice you can about when to start your Social Security checks.

And by the way, many financial planners today would say you are right to start your benefits at your full retirement age.

Q: I was talking to a group of neighbors about the future of Social Security. One of them said that Congress will never take any action to fix Social Security until they are forced to pay into the program themselves. Isn’t that a good idea?

A: It’s a non-starting idea: Members of Congress, the president and all other top officials of the federal government have been paying Social Security taxes since the early 1980s.

Q: Late last year, I got a small increase in my monthly Social Security check. I wasn’t sure what that was about until several weeks later when I got a letter explaining what happened. (It was based on earnings I had the prior year that increased my benefit amount.) I was talking to a friend about this. He said the same thing happened to him a couple of years ago. He said the delay in sending letters of explanation was because former President Joe Biden messed up Social Security’s computer systems and that President Donald Trump just hasn’t gotten around to fixing things yet. What do you know about this?

A: I know your friend is full of malarkey! Why do some people insist on looking for political shenanigans and conspiracies when a very simple explanation is in order?

So why does a letter of explanation come many days, or even a week or so, after a change in Social Security benefits? It’s really not a great mystery. And it’s not a political conspiracy. It’s simply that electronic fund transfers can happen almost instantaneously. Whereas a physical letter takes a while to prepare and mail.

In other words, once the Social Security Administration figures out that someone is due an increase in their benefits, they push a few buttons and a payment is on its way to the beneficiary’s bank account. And then after those buttons are pushed, someone else at the SSA has to prepare a letter explaining what happened and then that letter has to go through the SSA’s mailroom and then to the U.S. Postal Service and finally to the recipient’s mailbox.

Some readers have remarked to me that the SSA should time the delivery of the check to coincide with the delivery

of the letter. I remember many years ago, while I still worked for the SSA, being involved in meetings where that issue was discussed. And SSA officials decided that it was best to get the money out to people as fast as possible (it’s their money, after all) and live with the consequences of a delayed letter of explanation.

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

Don’t Let Lost Sales Frustrate You as Tomorrow is Another Day

Who hasn’t ever lost a sale? If you say never, then you are either a liar or just maybe it was your first, second, or third sale and everything went seamlessly, beginners luck, for sure! The reason you haven’t experienced this sometimes devastating event is that you are what I call a “newbie” in the business! Just wait, it will occur. I just lost a sale from my client buyer. We spent over five plus months searching for that one buyer in a development that had the absolute slowest sales that I had experienced in many years. This was possible due to the high maintenance costs (but which included everything, even the internet service), but more importantly the two assessments, but that were absolutely critical and crucial in being pro-active with upgrades and updating and maintaining the development’s pristine look and condition.

My purchaser and his lady friend thoroughly loved the place, a three-bedroom and 2-bath coop with winter water views. My seller and buyer negotiated through me as the intermediary until they reached an agreed-upon price. The coop package was emailed to my buyer, and everything was somewhat stress-free and seamless until his attorney asked for more documents than I have hair on my head (maybe in 15 years, because I do still have a good head of hair, lol).

I heard through my other Broker who lives in the complex, that the seller’s attorney gotten word from the buyer’s attorney, that our buyer decided against moving ahead. After all the work we had performed, the hours of open houses to secure this one purchaser in a development that was currently a very challenging entity in the amount of time that it was to secure buyers for all the listings. The monthly carrying charges (maintenance) was higher than many other developments, but included everything from electric, HVAC, taxes, daily maintenance and a 24/7 concierge and inside parking was an additional $180 per month. Most important were

BY PHILIP A. RAICES

the two assessments that were imposed to revamp the landscaping, hallways and garages on all three buildings that I am only guessing might have been the reason for him to back out. However, I did disclose and convey to him right up front (it was on the listing data form that we gave him). Capital improvements allow the development to hold its value in most cases provides a stronger sale price over the long run!

Ruth’s record. However, all of them including Maris played 162 games or more compared with the Babe’s 154 and was paid $60,000. Moreover, Aaron Judge did hit 62 home runs in 2022 beating Roger Maris’s record and is now considered the number Home Run hitter of all time, but still playing more games (157) than Ruth’s (154) and an earning $40,000,00+ in 2022 when he broke the record.

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:

There was no rock left unturned with respect to all the required and necessary information provided to him. I say, sometimes the operation is a success, but the patient dies (or backs out, lol). I had a feeling that something was going on and that maybe my buyer was getting scared off, due to the amount of information that a typical coop asks on their application, or his attorney may have said something to give him second thoughts about purchasing this apartment. However, assuming and guessing is never accurate unless your client returns your call or text to explain why they changed their mind. It reminds me of a saying that a very old-timer commercial Broker, named Sam conveyed to me 30+ years ago, “Buyers are Liars; Sellers are Yellers, and LAWYERS, MANY TIMES ARE DESTROYERS.” Yup, that last thought is exactly what I am presently thinking, that his attorney may have said or inferred something to him that kiboshed my sale!

I want to segue to tell a story that I periodically tell about Babe Ruth. He hit 60 home runs and in my mind, is still the original numero Uno, “Homerun King.” He always stepped up to the plate and never stopped swinging! The reason I say this is that all the others, e.g. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds (who reportedly had taken PED, e.g. steroids), and Roger Maris (not sure if he too, too any drugs) beat

I had a very strange and uneasy feeling that something was going on and that maybe my buyer was getting scared off by the assessments and/or his attorney saying something to give him second thoughts about purchasing this apartment. It reminds me of a saying that a very old-timer commercial Broker, named Sam conveyed to me 30+ years ago, “Buyers are Liars, Sellers are Yellers and LAWYERS, MANY TIMES ARE DESTROYERS.”

Yup, that last thought is exactly what I am presently thinking, that his attorney may have said or inferred something to him that “kyboshed” my sale!!

There will always be pitfalls and potholes along the paths of your business career as well as in every business, especially in the Real Estate game. One must be cognizant of the fact that failures will lead to successes; as it is only a matter of times you fail that leads you closer to your first, second or more sucesses. One must fail and learn by correcting mistakes, if possible, to savor and thoroughly enjoy your future sucessess; if one never gives up! “Winners Never Quit and Quitters, Never, Ever Win!”

The bottom line, one must keep getting up and continue swinging for the bleachers, for tomorrow will be the start of another day to create a new success story, in order to not only earn a living but continue year in and year out to be a successful Realtor and business person.

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

ONE CALL TO 516-294-8900 AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN 6 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. CALL TODAY FOR OUR VERY LOW RATES. www.gcnews.com

Garden City News • Mid Island Times Bethpage Newsgram • Syosset Advance Jericho News Journal • Floral Park Villager

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Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. Oh, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me herein and show me here 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 succor 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 cause in your hands (say three times). Amen. This prayer is never known to fail and is to be said for 3 consecutive days. In Gratitude (M.T.F.)

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Deep-fried wings make the perfect big game offering

Deep-Fried Chicken Wings and Legs in Beer Batter

People from all walks of life look forward to Super Bowl Sunday. Diehard football fans may love each Sunday of the National Football League season, but even casual fans or people who typically don’t watch a game all season enjoy getting together with friends and family to watch the big game on Super Bowl Sunday.

Much of the appeal around Super Bowl Sunday is the festive atmosphere, a feeling that’s amplified by an assortment of delicious foods that tend to be on the menu at game watch gatherings. Chicken wings are a familiar staple of Super Bowl Sunday spreads, and this Lines+Angles recipe for “Deep-Fried Chicken Wings and Legs In Beer Batter” can help fans indulge their love for wings this season.

Makes 4 servings

For the batter:

1 cup flour

1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder

1⁄2 teaspoon paprika

1 medium egg, beaten

10 ounces beer, IPA-style Pepper

Salt

For the chicken:

4 whole chicken wings

4 chicken drumsticks

3⁄4 cup cornstarch

8 cups vegetable oil, for deepfrying

1) For the batter: Sift the flour, garlic powder, paprika, and salt and pepper into a large mixing bowl.

2. Whisk in the egg and enough beer to make a thick batter, taking care not to over-mix.

3. For the chicken: Heat the oil in a deep, heavybased saucepan to 320° F on a thermometer.

4. Pat the chicken pieces dry and then dust in the cornstarch. Dip in the batter to coat.

5. Deep-fry the chicken, in batches, for 14 to 18 minutes until golden, crisp, and cooked through (the wings will need less time than the drumsticks).

6. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

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Boosting

Top spellers honored by Board of Education

During the Board of Education meeting on Jan. 27, Sewanhaka Central High School District proudly recognized five middle school students for demonstrating exceptional skill, composure and enthusiasm throughout this year’s Scripps Spelling Bee competitions.

Ex officio board member Adam Abdullah, a junior at New Hyde Park Memorial High School, helped to begin the meeting, sharing recent districtwide highlights during the Student Report, including seventh grade orientation programs, the Nassau County Math Tournament and an Athletic Leadership Academy with Lamar Lee.

Attention then turned to the spelling bee champions. Beginning at the classroom level, winners advanced

to a schoolwide competition and now have the chance to compete in the regional Scripps Spelling Bee in February. Congratulations to Elmont Memorial High School eighth grader Ositadinma Uche-Konkwo, Floral Park Memorial High School seventh grader Marcus Pena, H. Frank Carey High School seventh grader Ryan Fayad, New Hyde Park Memorial High School eighth grader Christian Mathew and Sewanhaka High School eighth grader Momina Ali.

“Their poise, preparation and command of complex vocabulary exemplify the intellectual curiosity we strive to cultivate in all learners,” Superintendent of Schools Regina Agrusa said.

Photos courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Park

High

Carey High School’s Spelling Bee winner Ryan Fayad, Elmont Memorial High School’s Spelling Bee winner Ositadinma Uche-Konkwo, Floral Park Memorial High School’s Spelling Bee winner Marcus Pena, ex officio student board member Jasmine Chen and ex officio student board member Christopher Sebber.

Sewanhaka hosts events for robotics competition

Sewanhaka Central High School District proudly hosted two qualifier events for the Long Island FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Competition on Jan. 17 and 18, welcoming 35 teams from Nassau and Suffolk counties to Sewanhaka High School.

The district’s robotics teams competed, led by adviser Jack Chen, delivering outstanding performances throughout the weekend. Team 4017 Robopandas emerged as a top-performing team with a first-place finish and was further recognized with a Think Award and a Design Award. Team 33484 Bamboozlers earned a second-place finish, along with a special Judges Award and the Second Place Innovate Award. As a result of these achievements, both teams qualified to advance to the Long Island Regional Championship on March 1.

The weekend was a tremendous success and highlighted the talent, teamwork and innovation of Sewanhaka's students. The competitions were supported by members of Sewanhaka’s Leadership Club, led by John Reagan, and the Career and Technical Education Culinary Arts Program, led by Shannon Bourgeois.

Sewanhaka’s robotics teams, Team 4017 Robopandas and Team 33484 Bamboozlers, are pictured together.

A Critical Tax Grievance Deadline

Savvy Homeowners Don’t Ignore

Why Grieve Your Property Taxes?

• Lower property taxes can put real money back in your pocket.

• Lower taxes can benefit you now and add value when selling - whether that’s this year or in the future.

• On average, homeowners who grieve their taxes, pay less taxes than those who don’t grieve, approximately 25% less.

Please note:

• Filing a Property Tax Grievance, cannot raise your Property Taxes.

• No one will visit your home from the Assessor’s office.

• Filing a grievance each year, assures a fair property assessment of your home.

• If you use a service provider to help grieve your taxes, you only pay their fee, if they are successful. If no reduction, no fee!

If you have any questions, or need assistance with this process, please reach out to Marie Grant at (516) 524-2781.