Issuu

Friday, August 28, 2026

2Vol. 3, No. 35

THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR

Residents rally for Har-Tru tennis courts PHOTOS AND STORY BY RIKKI MASSAND

About 30 residents attended the August 13th Village Board meeting to comment on tennis courts in the village.

Town plans “Endless Summer” concert, fireworks show During the final days of summer, there are often bittersweet feelings at the approach of fall. But at Town Park Point Lookout, the summer is ‘endless’ as Long Island’s own Mike DelGuidice returns to the Town of Hempstead’s big stage on September 5 for a Labor Day weekend concert and fireworks show.

Supervisor John Ferretti and the Hempstead Town Board welcome all residents to the “Endless Summer” Concert and Fireworks Show on Saturday, September 5, at Town Park Point Lookout. Gates open at 3 p.m. and admission and parking are free. In addition to the epic rock anthems and original hits performed by Mike

About 30 residents attended the Floral Park Village Board’s Aug. 13 meeting to share their views on the village’s tennis courts, the choice of playing surfaces and the growing popularity of pickleball. They learned after the meeting began that there was no agenda item involving possible official action, a bid or a contract for major changes to the Floral Park Recreation Center facilities. Still, many tennis enthusiasts are concerned that Floral Park may not retain its current Har-Tru soft playing surface, which many consider safer and more comfortable than hard courts. Chris Schneider, a Floral Park resident for 60 years, was the first to address the Board. He spoke about friends who suffered serious injuries while playing tennis on the hard surface the village courts for-

merly had. One man tore his Achilles tendon and required surgery, while another, a dentist, “ripped his hamstring” and had to be taken to a hospital. Schneider said he also fell while playing on Court 1 and fractured several bones in his right foot. His message to the Board was, “when you play on concrete, you are rolling the dice!” “In case you were thinking about it, I have some information that you would maybe be interested in. Personal history, I’ve been playing tennis here for almost 50 years. I started playing when I was in my early 30s. Within two years, we had maybe 50 or 60 residents playing tennis – the courts were packed! But as everyone got older, there were many others who were hurt in that way as we played on the hard surface (concrete). Even the great ones – Novak Djokovic, RafaSee page 3

DelGuidice, the Town of Hempstead’s ‘Endless Summer’ concert will feature the annual BBQ cookoff competition, food trucks, a kids’ zone, craft vendors and more. Following Mike DelGuidice’s performance, enjoy a spectacular fireworks display and a drone show to cap off an exciting evening by the See page 7

The Floral Park Villager Published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Telephone 516-931-0012 Postmaster: Send Address Change to: The Floral Park Villager, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208 Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris, Publisher

Floral Park Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald, left, and Trustee Frank Chiara at the August 13th Village Board meeting.

September at Floral Park Public Library PAGE 2 Rosary Altar Society to meet Sept. 13th PAGE 8

Friday, August 28, 2026

September at the Floral Park Library September – the beginning of all things pumpkin season, and the waning daylight hours of lingering summer evenings. The month of September is also six months until St. Patrick’s Day, and the library will celebrate with a Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day program on Sunday, September 27t. Expect Irish dancing and merriment. The Library’s 7th Annual Lawn Sale happens on Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (rain date is Saturday October 3rd). A Shred Away will be at the Library on Friday, September 25, from 10:00 a.m. until noon for those into early fall paper purging. The Library welcomes new Board of Trustee member Laura Trentacoste, as we say ‘farewell’ to Doug Monaghan and thank him for his many years of service and support. With teens likely focused on back to the classroom, new teachers, and curricula, we’re keeping the Library options very light this month with a Teen Advisory Committee Pizza Party and a Teen Latte Art program with Them’s the Breaks. The younger set has their roster of always popular recurring programs: Playmakers (Ages 1 – 3); Tiny Beats Storytime with DJ Shhh!; Play Hooray; Pokémon Card Trading Event with Pokémon Princess Brittany; and A Time for Kids Play Baby Start and Family Pre-school

Hour. New this month, a Fall Wreath with Lisa Paniccia program for children in kindergarten through 2nd grade. Now that the Floral Park pool is closed until next year, and summer vacations are memories, there’s a full roster of fun, entertaining and educational Library programs for adults. They include: “On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line”, two sessions of Pilates on the Library Lawn, three Game Nite for Grownups dates, and the return of Laffs and the Library with Bruce Lipsky and Friends. For the adults who enjoy crafting creativity, they can make a Chunky Knit Scarf (no knitting experience necessary); Create a Decorative Pillow, or enjoy an Embroidery Workshop. Or, just kick back with a Monday Movie Matinee at 2:00 p.m. on September 14. For the knowledge seekers, register for The Sandwich Generation: Balancing Family and Financing Responsibilities. For the discount seekers, the six-hour Empire Safety Council Defensive Driving class still has spots available for Thursday, September 17. A Big Onion Walking Tour of Central Park – with stops including Strawberry Fields and Belvedere Castle – kicks off the new season for the Floral Park Urban Explorers. The Friends of the Floral Park Library Book Club returns for

their monthly meeting on Monday, September 14. The Evening Edition Book Club meets returns to their indoor space in the Library’s Quiet Room on Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 pm to take on Alison Epach’s “The Wedding People”. The Quiet Reading Club meets September 1 at 7:00 p.m. Weather permitting, you’ll find them on the Library lawn. Micheline returns to lead the Wednesday morning Hybrid Adult Chair Yoga. Thanks to Michelle for the great job. The weekly Adult English Language Learner classes continue on Tuesday evenings. Pre-registration is required for both Beginning and Intermediate/Advanced sessions. The Made with Love Knitting and Crocheting groups meet weekly on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.; no registration necessary. The Library Board on meets on Wednesday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m. The Library is closed Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. Regular weekend hours resume on Saturday, September 12. Looking for some help with your résumé, job search, LinkedIn profile or interview prep? Look no further than Ellen O’Brien. Contact her

at eobrien@nassaulibrary.org or 516-326-6330 x3103 for a free 30-minute career consultation. Need assistance with those smart devices and more? 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). 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. Check out the Friends of the Floral Park Library offerings at the Circulation Desk. All sales of books, bookmarks, puzzles, and more support the Friends of the Floral Park Library, a 501c3 organization. The Friends welcome new Members and/or Volunteers. Stop into the Library and pick up an application, or download it from the Library home page where you’ll also find applicable membership fees. We invite you to follow us on Facebook (floralparklibrary), X (fplibrary17), or Instagram (fplibrary 17, floralparkchildrens, fpplteens).

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From page 1

el Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray – have lost years of play and Grand Slam titles due to injuries. Nadal lost two years of play, eight Grand Slams, due to hip injury from playing on hard surfaces. In my humble opinion, if he had played in those eight Grand Slams he would have caught Djokovic and retired with the all-time-most Mens’ Singles titles. The couple of exceptions for the courts’ surfaces are the grass at Wimbledon and the great red clay at Roland-Garros (French Open). Other than that, even if the young greats of tennis suffer injuries – you can imagine that as people get older, what happens,” he said. Schneider said that years ago, following injuries to local tennis players, a petition was organized asking the Village of Floral Park to install Har-Tru soft-surface courts. The group, led by the late Jim Krug, brought the matter to the Board of Trustees. “They listened to us and the following summer they put it in. Ever since then we’ve had a soft court, and it’s been great to play on – it’s the best. I can’t think of any major injuries that have occurred on them in the last 25 years because there is a give to them. The soft court gives a little bit, and concrete never does – and that’s something to

think about,” Schneider told the trustees, drawing loud applause. Schneider also said the USTA, “in consideration of the health, safety and welfare of tennis players, doesn’t roll the dice.” He said the national sports organization has all players ages 60 and older compete on soft courts. Another supporter of the Har-Tru playing surface invited the Board of Trustees to a social event at the Recreation Center’s tennis courts called “Twilight Tennis.” A date was not provided, but the event is expected to begin around 6 p.m. It was described as an opportunity for the trustees “to see how beautiful the current Har-Tru courts look when the lights go on.” Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald said the Village Board has not recently discussed the tennis courts’ surfaces. “We are no closer to a decision than we were months ago. Thank you for the information (Mr. Schneider). Before we make any decisions, we will certainly let everyone know, and you will have an opportunity to provide input,” the mayor said. Doug Monaghan, a former Floral Park Library trustee, former Floral Park-Bellerose Board of Education member and former assistant superintendent of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, also addressed the

Friday, August 28, 2026

Residents rally for Har-Tru tennis courts

Resident Chris Schneider speaks at the Village Board meeting. Board. Monaghan was formerly a member of the Residents’ Advisory Board for the Floral Park Recreation Center. Currently, no tennis players serve on that municipal board. Monaghan said he participated in track and field and basketball while growing up. He also worked at St.

Mary’s High School in the late 1970s and early 1980s, where he was able to play tennis on grass, cement and HarTru surfaces. “In certain areas when you play on grass the ball skids and you have to get down lower, Playing on the hard court See page 4

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Residents rally for Har-Tru tennis courts

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Trustee Jennifer Stewart, left, and Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo From page 3 there is a certain bounce that makes the ball go a little higher, and playing on the Har-Tru is better for older people to get to ‘manufacture points’ playing tennis – it’s more creative and more fun too.” Monaghan said tennis became more popular across America and on Long Island during the 1980s and 1990s because of the sport’s stars and rivalries. He also discussed technical differences between the playing surfaces. “The differences between the two surfaces, as Chris points out, are clear but also with the weather – in a light drizzle, you can play on a Har-Tru court. If there’s a drizzle on a hard surface the players can slip and hurt themselves. And as far as maintenance, I have heard that it costs $10,000 of water supply to keep the Har-Tru courts working. If there are 17,000 residents in our town that is less than $1 per resident,” Monaghan said. He added that routine maintenance is a “minor job” because the Har-Tru courts need to be raked and the lines need to be painted and retouched periodically. Monaghan’s wife, Marie, and a group of six other women attended the meeting to support pickleball, but the discussion did not become contentious. She noted that rumors had circulated about the village resurfacing the courts. “I have an idea to throw forward – we could use more pickleball courts, but maybe we can reconfigure the lines of the multi-purpose court to include two pickleball courts, running the width of that court. I know it might be tight, but if it’s possible we could push the fence back since there is some free real estate there, and it would give us some more room,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Dr. Lynn Pombonyo and the other Village Board members listened to the residents’ comments. In a subsequent phone interview, Pombonyo told the Floral Park Villager that Board members are excited and optimistic about the increasing number of residents participating in village programs and activities. “There are wonderful opportunities for all to celebrate our valued park programs and activities, expand and/ or enhance (not eliminate) them, and plan facility upgrades accordingly… Stay tuned,” she said. One of Schneider’s final questions to the trustees was, “Why would the Village of Floral Park, a small village on Long Island, think about going back to the past and putting in concrete (hard surface) courts, so if any of us fall we are talking about a serious injury?” He was adamant about the need to retain the Har-Tru surface despite its potentially higher cost. Schneider said families would be willing to pay an additional $20 or more in taxes if it meant prioritizing safety. He added another point for the Board’s consideration. “I for one will be done if there is a concrete court – if I fell and hit my head, it’s over. I know there are more people here tonight, and many more who I have talked to, are fed up and they can not play tennis on the concrete. It’s just too risky. What you would be doing is instead of inviting people into the Rec. Center to play, you’d be forcing people away from playing. I do not see the point in that so please, do not go back to the past – keep the soft surface,” Schneider said. After the public comments, Trustee See page 8

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Residents rally for Har-Tru tennis courts

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Doug Monaghan was among 30 residents who attended the board meeting. From page 4 Jennifer Stewart addressed an issue that had reportedly arisen on social media and within the community. She said some tennis supporters had apparently approached people at the Recreation Center in an effort to circulate a petition, leaving several residents uncomfortable. “I request the sports communities to

not approach children or residents playing on the courts to sign anything or to talk about the issue. There was a report that someone was approached about a petition, and they were with children and they felt very uncomfortable. Please bring your concerns directly to us or to the Rec. Center office, and not to the residents playing on the courts or using our beautiful Rec. Center,” Stewart said.

Rosary Altar Society to meet

The first meeting of the Our Lady of Victory Rosary Altar Society for 2026–27 will be Sunday, September 13, in Memorial Hall following the 9 a.m. Rosary Mass.

This will be a business meeting - organizational volunteers meeting (Internal ministry fair for RAS members). All are welcome Refreshments will be served.

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From page 1 shores of the Atlantic. “At the Town of Hempstead, the summer truly is ‘endless,’” Ferretti said. “We’re celebrating Labor Day weekend in style with a special party by the beach, bringing back our hometown star Mike DelGuidice to the stage and capping it all off with an amazing fireworks display and drone show.” In honor of Labor Day, Ferretti will also lead a special tribute to the Town of Hempstead’s dedicated workforce. “I’m thankful every day for the hardworking men and women of the Town of Hempstead’s CSEA Local 880 workforce,” Ferretti said. “They are the backbone of America’s largest township and are the reason why we are able to provide residents with top notch services and exciting programs such as this.” Prior to the Mike DelGuidice concert and tribute to essential workers, the Town of Hempstead will host its annual inter-departmental BBQ cookoff contest. A kids’ zone, along with food trucks

Friday, August 28, 2026

Town plans “Endless Summer” concert, fireworks

and craft vendors will be open starting at 4 p.m. DJ Tommy Nappi of 103.5 KTU will also provide pre-concert music and entertainment. The main event on stage will begin approximately 7:30 p.m. The “Endless Summer” Concert and Fireworks Show caps off an exciting summer of activities hosted by Supervisor Ferretti and the Town Board, including weekly luaus at community pools and an expanded slate of community concerts and children’s shows. As the fall season approaches, there is more to come …for a full listing of upcoming Town of Hempstead programs, please visit townofhempsteadevents.com. “This summer has certainly been a memorable one,” Ferretti said. “From celebrating America’s 250th birthday at the Salute to Veterans event, to bringing Hawaiian-style luaus to community pools, to dancing the night away at the Mid-Summer Concert to tonight’s ‘Endless Summer’ program, we are providing our residents of America’s largest township with a variety of events to enjoy together!”

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Friday, August 28, 2026

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Town plans “Endless Summer” concert, fireworks From page 1 shores of the Atlantic. “At the Town of Hempstead, the summer truly is ‘endless,’” Ferretti said. “We’re celebrating Labor Day weekend in style with a special party by the beach, bringing back our hometown star Mike DelGuidice to the stage and capping it all off with an amazing fireworks display and drone show.” In honor of Labor Day, Ferretti will also lead a special tribute to the Town of Hempstead’s dedicated workforce. “I’m thankful every day for the hardworking men and women of the Town of Hempstead’s CSEA Local 880 workforce,” Ferretti said. “They are the backbone of America’s largest township and are the reason why we are able to provide residents with top notch services and exciting programs such as this.” Prior to the Mike DelGuidice concert and tribute to essential workers, the Town of Hempstead will host its annual inter-departmental BBQ cookoff contest. A kids’ zone, along with food trucks

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Friday, August 28, 2026

FOUR VILLAGE STUDIO

1 Friday, August 28, 2026 Discovery

August 28, 2026

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis Embodies,

Preserves City’s History, Culture, Community BY KAREN RUBIN TRAVEL FEATURES SYNDICATE GOINGPLACESFARANDNEAR.COM It’s become my practice to arrive at least a day early for a tour or cruise – to take into account any unforeseen travel delays but also to spend at least a day to explore. With a 6:30 am pick up time for my Wilderness Voyageurs six-day bike tour on the famed Katy Trail 240-miles through Missouri, this wasn’t even an option. My first step is always to seek out a Historic Hotels of America member property because I know staying in a historic hotel will enhance my appreciation for a destination – these properties are integral to a place, even characters that typically play a part in its story, are always architecturally and culturally interesting and can be depended upon to be walking distance or close proximity to the what want to explore. That was definitely the case for my stay at the 21c Museum Hotel in St. Louis, with a marvelous story, gorgeous architecture, set amid the city’s important historic and cultural structures, and most importantly, a delightful 20-minute walk to Gateway Arch National Park, which was top of my list to see. But it had something more: an important art gallery, that, I learned, was the essence of this hotel brand of six 21c Museum Hotels. The 10-story, Renaissance Revival-style building was originally constructed by architects Louis LaBeaume and Eugene S. Klein in 1926 as a central branch of the St. Louis YMCA in 1926, which operated until 2017. 21c Museum Hotels, which has

Art is a distinct element of the 21c Museum Hotel in St. Louis, a Historic Hotels of America member, where there is a gallery open 24/7 to the public and a proud heritage in the community since 1926 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com several hotels, revived the 10-story YMCA building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving its historic architectural elements like the original indoor pool, billiards room, and gymnasium and reasserting the space’s relevance as a gathering point in the heart of St. Louis. The hotel became an official member of Historic Hotels of America in 2023. Today, the 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis is a 173-room boutique hotel which is not just a hotel with an art gallery, but houses a major contemporary art museum. It features 14,000 square feet of curated gallery space (much of it in what used to be the basketball court, and open free of charge to the public 24-hours a day (guests have to use their room card in the elevator to access the room floors).

Paying homage to its YMCA roots, the 10,500-square-foot full-service Locust Street Athletic and Swim Club boasts a stunning, tiled indoor four-lane lap pool you might confuse for a millionaires’ mansion, sauna, steam rooms and offers spa services. Other features include the Spanish-inspired Idol Wolf restaurant serving Iberian-inspired dishes; the Good Press Café; a stunning lobby bar, a lounge with pool table. The 21c Museum Hotel, besides being integral to St. Louis’ historic and cultural attractions and close by the Gateway Arch National Park, Old Courthouse, CityGarden, and riverfront, is close by to St. Louis’ key sports destinations: Energizer Park soccer-specific stadium and 32-acre urban sports district; Enterprise Center, an 18,096-seat indoor arena

G O I N G P L A C E S N E A R A N D F A R

that is home for the St. Louis Blues professional hockey team and hosts major concerts, family shows, and basketball tournaments. It is also a short ride away from Busch Stadium, the 45,000-seat stadium that is home base for the Cardinals baseball team. There are currently six 21c Museum Hotel locations operating in the United States, managed as part of the Ennismore and Accor collection: Louisville, Kentucky (Flagship); Bentonville, Arkansas; Durham, North Carolina; Lexington, Kentucky; Kansas City, Missouri; and St. Louis, Missouri 21c Museum Hotel, 1528 Locust St., St. Louis, MO 63103, reservations: 888831-7077, 21cMuseumHotels.com A member of Historic Hotels of America since 2023, 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis has been named to these Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Lists: The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America for a Romantic Proposal The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Best of Adaptive Reuse List The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Best of Adaptive Reuse List Historic Hotels of America® is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation with the mission to increase the preservation, recognition, and celebration of the finest historic hotels in the USA. Find Historic Hotels of America members when you travel: https:// www.historichotels.org/us, 800 678 8946. _________________________________ © 2026 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com.

Discovery Friday, August 28, 2026

S T A R G A Z E R S

A Sky Full of Pictures BY DENNIS MAMMANA Week of Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2026 Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! That’s what Dorothy and her friends were worried about in “The Wizard of Oz,” but you’ll find none of them in the night sky. Understandably, beginning stargazers quickly become frustrated because they cannot see in the sky the images they find portrayed on celestial maps. It’s always wise to keep in mind the words of my former boss: “The constellations look no more like their namesakes than the George Washington Bridge looks like the Father of our Country.” As you’ll read quite frequently in these articles, I recommend forgetting about these images; instead, create your own. These we call “asterisms,” groups of stars we connect in our imaginations to create pictures. Two of the most famous asterisms are the Big and Little Dippers, each resembling a rectangular bowl attached to a bent handle. It’s much easier, however, to create simpler pictures; over the years I’ve found many geometrical figures, letters of the alphabet, and even numbers among the stars. Low in the eastern sky after dark these early September evenings, you’ll

find a group of four equally bright stars that form an almost perfect square. It represents the abdomen of Pegasus, the flying horse from ancient Greek mythology, but you’ll most likely never see that. This area is known instead to modern skywatchers as the Great Square of Pegasus, and once you find it, it’ll be hard ever to miss again. To the lower right of the square lies another geometrical figure. It’s rather faint and supposedly forms one of the fishes of Pisces, but it’s more easily recognized as a small circle of stars. Connected to the lower left of the Square of Pegasus are two strings of stars that form a long V or, as one might imagine, a cornucopia. This represents Andromeda, the daughter of Cassiopeia and love interest of Perseus, who rode the winged horse Pegasus to save her from a horrible sea monster. But I’m sure you’ll agree a cornucopia is much easier to see! To her left you’ll find an easy group of five stars in a zig-zag pattern. These are the stars of Cassiopeia, and they form an almost perfect letter W in the northeastern sky. And all the way to the right side of the eastern sky lies another letter: Y. This is a rather tough one, but it lies in the middle of Aquarius, the water-bearer, a constellation I’ve never been able

An asterism is a group of stars that a skywatcher can connect in their imagination to form an image. to make out. It’s not that tough to create others from the thousands of stars visible on a clear night. When I was a kid, a few friends and I used to make up our own images in the sky and give them silly Latin-sounding names. For example, the Square of Pegasus looked like an elevator, so we called it “Boxus Ascendum” or “Boxus Descendum,”

depending on whether it was rising or setting. And the zig-zag of Cassiopeia reminded us of an escalator, so we called it “Starius Movium.” OK, so I was a bit of a nerd, but I learned my way around the night sky and had fun doing so. You can as well! Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. . COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

L O S T I N S U B U R B I A

Having the Time of My Shoes BY TRACY BECKERMAN Like many women I know, I have a vast array of shoes. Unlike clothing, shoes, for the most part, continue to fit whether you gain or lose weight, so they are the bright spot in a sometimes cruel and taunting closet. For this reason, women take their shoes very seriously and many will spend quite some time organizing their shoes by height, color or occasion. Personally, I organize mine by the amount of time I can spend in them before my feet fall off. Take, for example, my regular everyday boots, which I call my 10-hour shoes. I can wear these all day without a problem as long as I get some breaks in between and am not scaling Mt. Everest. Then I have my three-to-five-hour shoes. These are generally for one occasion out with minimal walking involved. I call them my three-to-fivehour shoes because they are really good until that three-hour mark but can suddenly, without warning, turn on me between the fourth and fifth hour and become merciless instruments of podiatric torture.

My one-hour shoes are generally for sitting and the occasional posing so people can admire them before I sit again. There is really no walking involved in these shoes, except maybe to the bathroom, and even then, I will endeavor to hold it in rather than have to teeter my way across the room to go and use up even seven minutes of my precious 60-minute time limit. Then there are my five-minute shoes. Why, you might ask, would someone buy shoes they can only wear for five minutes? If you’re a woman, you probably don’t need to ask this. But for the rest of the population, five-minute shoes can best be described as those unbelievably gorgeous and obscenely expensive shoes you had to buy because they winked at you seductively from the store window and just happen to go perfectly with a new party dress you just got. When you bought them at the store, you had no idea they were five-minute shoes because you only had them on for two or three minutes and were walking around on rugs with Tempur-Pedic cushioning (they plan it that way) so that you couldn’t really know how they would feel in the real world. But then

you wear them with your new party dress, go to an event and discover after five minutes that they are so incredibly painful to actually wear, you immediately become crippled and will need to be rescued by a llama -- standing by in case of emergency -- who will carry you around the event for the rest of the night while he spits on the other guests. Most shoe store salespeople will not tell you that you are looking at five-minute shoes. They show you the fine workmanship and tell you how great they make your feet look and complement your calves. So there you are, strutting around the shoe store in your slinky shoes and your sweatpants hiked up over your knees like you are the queen of some fancy Pilates class, while a good-looking salesguy who looks at ugly feet all day tells you they make your legs look great. What the heck are you supposed to do? Of course you buy them, wear them to some fancy event, and the next thing you know, you are riding around on a rescue llama. Fortunately for me, I have fine-tuned my five-minute shoe radar and rarely fall prey to the seduction of the killer

shoe. But when I do, I know I always have my 24-hour pink fuzzy slippers to fall back on. 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

Crossword Answers

Meeting & greeting at book clubs BY CLAIRE LYNCH There are so many genres of books out there that at my book club we’ve got a good choice of things to talk about. Sometimes we read modern fiction books and at other times someone gets the idea to read some “oldies but goodies.” Either way we end up having very lively discussions and I always enjoy hearing other people’s perspectives on the books. A recent older book we read recently is called “Walking Across Egypt.” Written by Clyde Edgerton and published in 1987, the story is about 78-yearold Mattie Rigsbee and the people she comes across in her hometown. It’s set in a small town in North Carolina and Mattie’s children are grown and living their own lives. She befriends the dogcatcher, Lamar, when a stray dog comes along and she doesn’t know what to do with him. They chat, become friends and Mattie cooks some homemade meals for him. As they talk it comes out that Lamar’s orphaned nephew named Wesley is a troubled teenager and he’s in reform school. He could use a friend so Mattie starts visiting Wesley and helps set him on the right path. This book is all about whether or not people can change - and about friendships that stretch across the generations. “Walking Across Egypt” was so popular that a movie version of it came out in 1999. Book club member Pamela suggested we read one of Anne Tyler’s older novels so we chose “Breathing Lessons.” Published in 1988, the action is set in one single day in the life of Maggie and Ira Moran. They are on a road trip from Baltimore, Maryland, to Deer Lick, Pennsylvania, to attend the

funeral of a friend. On their journey they both reflect on the ups and downs of their marriage. It has a happy ending in that they are content with their life and their marriage although life isn’t perfect. This book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1989 and in 1994, a TV movie based on the book was made for the Hallmark Hall of Fame. It starred James Garner and Joanne Woodward as Ira and Maggie Moran. As we discussed this novel at our book club Pamela said how hard it must be to tell a whole story in one day’s time. Writers have different challenges whether it is the plot, the pacing of the story, character development, the setting or more. Is it a cold, snowy day on a mountaintop or is it a family trip to the Caribbean? The weather and other elements can help make the feeling of a story a cold one or an endearing one. Someone named Artie mentioned reading Anne Rice’s books about the vampires but generally speaking we aren’t into reading horror stories or vampire books. He said reading about vampires is a form of escapism and we laughed at how he put it but he has a point - it’s true that the whole genre of vampire fiction gives readers the chance to escape by hearing about characters that are way out there. We discussed how great Anne Rice’s stories are - and how creative she was. Before Rice started writing her stories in the 1970s many people were familiar with Dracula and those types of vampires but she made her vampires more human. It was in 1976 that Rice’s book, “Interview with the Vampire,” came out and a more modern version of a vampire became known. Louis de Pointe du Lac was profiled in this

book and later Lestat de Lioncourt was famous as the charismatic French nobleman-turned-vampire who is the main character in Anne Rice’s “The Vampire Chronicles.” Artie added that Tom Cruise played the lead role of Lestat in the 1994 vampire film. Some of us said that’s all very interesting but we still weren’t bowled over by vampire books so even though everyone was congenial we moved onto other subjects. A newer book that held pretty much everyone’s interest in my book club was “Tom Lake,” out in 2023. Written by Ann Patchett, “Tom Lake” is set in 2000 and is about three adult daughters who meet on their family’s cherry orchard in northern Michigan while their mother, Lara, tells them the story of her youthful summer romance. The man eventually became a famous Hollywood actor. Over the years they’d heard bits and pieces of this story but never knew the whole story. Emily, Maisie and Nell had been too young to hear all of the juicy details. The famous actor was Peter Duke and their mother shared the stage in “Our Town” at a theatre company named Tom Lake. That was during the 1980s but Lara ended up marrying someone else and having her family. Rachel in my group said she liked “Tom Lake” because although it’s a fictional story, the three daughters realize their mother had a life before she had her children. “It’s funny when we grow up and realize that sometimes our parents had ‘secret lives’ before they even had us,” Rachel said. “I won’t give any spoiler alerts but suffice it to say that as adults now, they understand that Lara’s life has had many different seasons to it.” We usually talk about one mem-

oir every year and last year it was “My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business” by Dick Van Dyke. He went from being a Midwestern radio announcer to a Hollywood star - known for such movies as “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” plus “The Dick Van Dyke Show” was on TV in the 1960s. Van Dyke’s memoir came out in 2011 and at my book club we got a kick out of recalling our favorite scenes from “The Dick Van Dyke Show” as he played opposite Mary Tyler Moore. And “Mary Poppins” when Bert looks around London and tells the Banks children, “There’s the whole world at your feet. And who gets to see it but the birds, the stars, and the chimney sweeps.” Meeting monthly at my local public library, the moderator is a staff member who compiles and distributes our book list for the calendar year. She also facilitates the meetings which means starting off the discussion and then helping to keep everyone on track. We have a great time at my book club and whether it’s an oldie or a new book, a great story always has a way of staying with you.

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S O C I A L S E C U R I T Y A N D Y O U

Disability Means Inability to Work BY TOM MARGENAU Q: I have a friend who has various disabilities. She has hearing problems, chronic arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney trouble and other issues. You name it, this poor woman has had it! Yet despite her medical conditions, she has been working most of her life. She plans to retire when she turns 60 in two months and then file for Social Security disability benefits. I have several concerns and questions. Can she file for disability even though she is voluntarily leaving her job? If so, can she file ahead of time so her benefits are waiting for her when she retires? If her disability claim is denied, will she be eligible for regular Social Security when she is 62? Also, will the pension she will get from her employer offset any Social Security benefits she might be due? A: The answers to your specific questions are: Yes; No; Yes; and No. But all those answers need to be qualified, so let me elaborate. The fact that she will be simply retiring from her job (as opposed to leaving for strictly medical reasons) does not really impact her potential eligibility for Social Security disability benefits. The only thing that matters is whether or not she meets the legal definition of disability for Social Security purposes. And that definition essentially says this: You qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you have a medical condition that is expected to last at least a year and that prevents you from working. In other words, the inability to work (not just the impairment itself) is the key to qualifying for benefits. So having said that, I will make this point. Back when I was 60 years old, I also had issues with high blood pressure, arthritis and kidney problems. But I was taking a variety of medications to help keep those problems in check. I doubt if I would have qualified for disability benefits because I was able to work despite my medical issues. But of course every person’s case is different. It may be that your friend’s problems are worse than mine were. Also, she should know that each separate condition may not be severe enough on its own to make her qualify for benefits. But the combination of all her impairments may push her over the line. Something she has going in her favor is her age. Disability evaluators might say that a younger person with conditions similar to hers could continue to work or be trained to do a less difficult job. But a 60-year-old woman will find it easier to qualify for benefits. But with that in mind, your friend cannot file for Social Security disability ahead of time. The reason why goes back to that basic definition of disabil-

ity. Again, the inability to work is the key to qualifying for benefits. If she filed tomorrow, for example, her claim would be immediately denied because she is still working. According to Social Security law, if you’re working (especially full-time), you’re simply not disabled -no matter how many medical problems you have. When your friend retires, she should make plans to file for Social Security disability benefits the very next day. If her disability claim is approved, she will start getting a monthly benefit that equals her full retirement rate. That’s essentially what a disability benefit is: your full retirement benefit. It’s just paid at an earlier age -- in your friend’s case, at age 60. If her claim is denied, she should appeal that decision. That’s simply a matter of filling out a few forms. But if even her appeals are denied, then she certainly can file for Social Security retirement benefits later on. She would just have to decide if she wants to wait until age 67 to get full retirement benefits or file anytime after age 62 and get reduced retirement benefits. Finally, the pension she gets from her employer will have no impact on her Social Security -- whether she gets disability benefits or retirement benefits. Q: I was injured on the job about a year ago. Shortly after that, I started getting disability compensation from the state. My Social Security disability claim has just been approved and my benefits have started. But they are nowhere near what I was promised. Do you know what’s going on? A: I can make a pretty good guess. There is a law that says the combination of your workers’ compensation payments and your Social Security disability checks cannot exceed 80% of your average monthly wage back when you were working. If the two benefits exceed that rate, one or the other has to be reduced. Which benefit gets offset varies from state to state. It sounds like in your state, it is the Social Security disability check that gets cut. The reason for that offset law should be pretty obvious. If a person could get more money from various disability programs than he or she was getting in salary, what would be the incentive to keep working? Q: I have been getting disability benefits since I was 58 years old. I am about to turn 65. When do I sign up for real Social Security? A: You are already getting “real Social Security.” Social Security disability benefits are as “real” as Social Security retirement benefits. The only difference is that one is paid because you have some medical problems. And the other is paid because you are old. And you will officially turn “old”

when you reach your full retirement age or 67 in your case. At that point, you will be automatically switched from the disability program to the retirement program. But because -- as mentioned in the answer to the first question -- a disability benefit equals a full retirement age benefit, your payment amount will remain the same. So the changeover from one program to the other will essentially be transparent to you. 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. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

C R O S S W O R D P U Z Z L E

Answers on page 2

Why Mamdani’s policies are putting NYC real estate at risk BY PHILIP A. RAICES New York City has always been a city of extraordinary opportunity, but it has also been a city where real estate investors, homeowners, landlords, developers and tenants have learned to navigate a complicated economic landscape. Today, however, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s housing policies are creating a new debate: Can government make housing more affordable without undermining the investment, construction and property ownership that keep New York’s housing market functioning? Mamdani’s supporters argue that his policies are necessary because housing has become unaffordable for too many New Yorkers. His administration has proposed an ambitious plan to create 200,000 new affordable rent-stabilized homes and preserve another 200,000 over the next decade, backed by a planned $22 billion capital investment over five years. Those goals are difficult to argue against. New York desperately needs more housing. The problem is that the way government regulates, taxes and subsidizes real estate can have consequences that are very different from its intentions. Policies designed to help tenants today can discourage investment tomorrow, reduce the supply of available apartments, increase costs for property owners and ultimately make housing even more expensive for people who are trying to enter the market.

Rent Freeze: Relief for some, risk for market

Perhaps the most controversial component of Mamdani’s agenda is the two-year rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments. In June 2026, the Rent Guidelines Board approved a 0% increase for oneand two-year leases, affecting approximately one million rent-stabilized apartments. For tenants already living in these apartments, the policy can provide meaningful financial relief. But real estate economics does not operate in isolation. Owners of rent-stabilized buildings still have to pay property taxes, insurance, utilities, payroll, maintenance, legal expenses, heating, plumbing, roofing and capital improvements. Those costs do not automatically freeze because rents have been frozen. This creates a fundamental economic problem: when revenues are restricted while expenses continue rising, the financial incentive to own, maintain and improve rental property declines. Small landlords may be particularly vulnerable. Reporting has highlighted owners of smaller rent-stabilized buildings who say that rising insurance, maintenance and construction expens-

es have already placed significant pressure on their properties.

The Law of Unintended Consequences

Housing policy must consider what economists call the “second-order effect.” Suppose the government freezes rents to make apartments more affordable. That may help an existing tenant. But if landlords subsequently reduce investment, developers build fewer apartments and owners convert or sell properties, the city may have fewer rental units available several years later. That scarcity can push rents higher in the unregulated market. Indeed, Manhattan’s market-rate rental market remains extremely expensive. Recent reporting found the median Manhattan rent reached approximately $5,000 in July 2026, while available listings had fallen sharply from the previous year. That should concern policymakers. If the objective is affordability, New York needs to increase the total number of housing units, not simply regulate the price of a portion of the existing inventory.

Developers need an economic reason to build

This is where Mamdani’s housing agenda faces its biggest test. New York cannot regulate its way out of a housing shortage. The city reportedly needs approximately 700,000 additional homes over the next decade to meet existing and projected demand. The vacancy rate is extraordinarily low, while tens of thousands of rent-stabilized and public housing units remain vacant for various reasons. The answer therefore has to include construction. But construction requires enormous amounts of private capital. Developers look at land costs, labor, financing, insurance, taxes, zoning, permitting, construction expenses and projected rents. If the government increases costs or limits potential returns without making development substantially easier, developers will simply put their capital elsewhere.

Higher Taxes Can Affect Property Values

Another concern is the city’s new pied-à-terre tax, which targets certain expensive non-primary residences. The measure applies to qualifying high-value second homes, including condos and co-ops beginning at $1 million and one- to three-family properties

valued at $5 million or more, with the city expecting substantial annual revenue. Supporters argue that wealthy property owners can afford to pay more and that the additional revenue can help fund public services. Critics see something different: another layer of taxation that makes owning New York City real estate more expensive. The distinction matters because real estate is ultimately priced according to what buyers are willing and able to pay.

The Investor Is Not the Enemy

One of the most important conversations New York needs to have is about the role of private property owners. There is a tendency in political rhetoric to portray landlords and developers as the problem. Certainly, New York has irresponsible landlords. Some properties are poorly maintained. Some tenants have legitimate complaints. Government absolutely has a responsibility to enforce housing codes and protect residents from negligent or abusive ownership. Mamdani’s administration has emphasized precisely this objective, including stronger tenant protections and legal actions against negligent landlords. But bad landlords should not be confused with landlords generally. The overwhelming majority of housing requires someone to purchase it, finance it, insure it, maintain it and eventually replace its major components.

Property Owners Have Choices

Real estate investors have several options when regulations become too restrictive. They can sell. They can stop renovating. They can convert their investment strategy. None of those responses increases housing supply. That is why policymakers should be careful about celebrating policies that appear to punish property owners without examining the longer-term economic consequences. Damage one part of the ecosystem and the effects eventually spread.

Mamdani’s housing plan has a positive side

It would be unfair to argue that everything Mamdani is doing is harmful to real estate. His administration has proposed ambitious housing construction and preservation goals. It has also announced a city-backed insurance initiative designed to reduce insurance costs for affordable and rent-stabilized housing, recognizing that insurance has become a major expense for property owners.

Those policies point toward a more productive solution: reduce the cost of creating and maintaining housing rather than simply restricting what housing can cost. That is the direction New York should pursue. Make zoning easier. Speed up permitting. Reduce unnecessary bureaucratic delays. Lower construction costs. Expand incentives for housing production. Encourage adaptive reuse. Convert obsolete commercial properties into residential housing where appropriate. Create incentives for landlords to renovate deteriorating buildings. And make it financially attractive for private developers to build hundreds of thousands of new units. For Part 2 come back next week Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate. 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

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INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING Plastering, Taping, Sheetrock Skim Cutting, Old Wood Refinish, Staining, Wallpaper Removal & Hanging, Paint Removal, Power Washing, Wood Replacement JOHN MIGLIACCIO Licensed & Insured #80422100000 Call John anytime: 516-901-9398 (Cell) 516-483-3669 (Office)

A staple summer side dish with a fresh and tasty twist

Potato Salad With New Potatoes, Zucchini, Olives, and Almond Pesto

PROFESSIONAL PAINTER Interior/Exterior Repairs, Spackle, Wallpaper, Mouldings & More! Clean & Dependable Free Estimates Licensed & Insured #H0106110000 CALL SAL TODAY! 516-343-2152

SERVICES AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833-323-0160 PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Let our Service Directory help you find the right company for the job!

Hot dogs and hamburgers garner a lot of attention at a backyard barbecue. But there’s more to backyard gatherings with family and friends than hot dogs and hamburgers, as hosts and guests alike know that various side dishes also are staples of summertime get-togethers. Homemade side dishes can up the ante at backyard barbecues, particularly when such

gatherings are potluck affairs. While store-bought sides can suffice, preparing foods at home allows cooks to experiment with ingredients. Potato salad is a backyard barbecue staple, and this recipe for “Potato Salad With New Potatoes, Zucchini, Olives, and Almond Pesto” from Lines+Angles offers a fresh and tasty twist to this popular side dish. Makes 4 servings

For the pesto: 3 cups basil, leaves only 1⁄2 cup whole blanched almonds 1⁄2 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt 1⁄2 cups extra-virgin olive oil

For the salad: 1 3⁄4 pounds new potatoes 2 zucchinis, halved and sliced 1 1⁄4 cups black olives, pitted 1 small handful basil, leaves only Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper

1) For the pesto: Combine the basil leaves, almonds, Parmesan, garlic and salt in a food processor. 2) Blend on high until broken down and finely chopped. Scrape down the sides of the

processor if needed. 3) Continue to blend on a low setting, drizzling in the olive oil through the feeder spout until the pesto comes together. Adjust seasoning to taste and chill until needed.

Friday, August 28, 2026

CLASSIFIEDS

Friday, August 28, 2026

CLASSIFIEDS

Call 294.8900

Friday, August 28, 2026

SERVICE DIRECTORY GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Call 294.8900

MASONRY

CUSTOM FRAMING

Family Owned & Operated | Fully Insuredd

CJM Contracting Inc.

Specializing in General Contracting, Including Churches & Cathedrals ALL RENOVATIONS, EXPERT LEAK REPAIRS Bathrooms • Kitchens • Basements • Carpentry Roofing • Flat Shingle • Attics • Masonry Stoops • Brickwork • Waterproofing • Pointing Windows • Power Washing • Painting FREE ESTIMATES • LICENSED & INSURED • SMALL JOBS WELCOME

CHRIS MULLINS (516) 428-5777

LIC. #H18C602000 Liability, Disability & W/C INS.

WINDOW TREATMENTS

Two Nassau Blvd Garden City, N.Y.

Contracting LLC

516-538-4503

www.barnesgalleryframing.com barnesgallery@yahoo.com Hours: Tues - Sat 10 am - 5 pm

MASONRY • PAVING • CONCRETE 516.850.4886 WWW.BOCESKI.COM PAINTING/POWER WASHING

PAINTING PROFESSIONAL PAINTER Interior/Exterior

Clean & Dependable Free Estimates

Licensed & Insured: #H0106110000

*CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS TOP BRANDS AT DISCOUNT PRICES* WE BRING THE SHOWROOM TO YOU FREE CONSULTATION

516-426-2890

WWW.MADEINTHESHADENSLI.COM

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

Repairs, Spackle, Wallpaper, Mouldings & More! Clean & Dependable Free Estimates Licensed and Insured #H0106110000

Please call Sal today! (516) 343-2152

CUSTOM FRAMING

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING Over 30 Years in Business We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from

516-775-9495 92 Covert Ave., Stewart Manor HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 @jacks_custom_framing jackmccullough@me.com

PAINTING & WALLPAPER est. 1978

Interior and Exterior • Plaster/Spackle Light Carpentry • Decorative Moldings Power Washing 516-385-3132 New Hyde Park

Sweeney Custom Painting and CARPENTRY

• INTERIOR / EXTERIOR • B. Moore Paints • Power Washing • Dustless Sanding Vacuum System • Taping • Spackling • Plaster Removed • New Drywall

516-884-4016 Lic# H0454870000

DEMOLITION AND JUNK REMOVAL

MASONRY & CONTRACTING EXPERTS Family Owned & Operated Since 1992 Serving All of Nassau County, Suffolk County, and NYC

Our Professional Services

• Pavers • Brick Work • Retaining Walls • Stone Work • Sidewalks & Curbs

Financing Available • Monthly Payment Options • 60-Second Pre-Qualification • Doesn’t Affect Credit Score

Call Andrew: (516) 659-1003 Call Frank: (516) 316-5560

wellingtonmasonry.com NYC License #213379 • Nassau County #204667 Suffolk County #HI-73174

516-328-7499 Licensed & Insured

PAINTING/POWER WASHING

MASONRY

• Driveways • Blacktop • Patios • Stoops • Concrete

www.MpaintingCo.com

Do You Have a Service To Advertise? Litmor Publications publishes the ads of service providers in our Classifieds, Professional Guide and Service Directory. A 6-week agreement brings your specialty or service to the attention of the community. Let us begin listing you in our next Issue.

For More Info & Rates, Call Nancy 516.294.8900

Advertising in the Professional Guide is only open to N.Y.S. Licensed Professionals.

DEMOLITION OF Kitchens - Bathrooms - Basements - Garages - Decks - Sheds Fences - Awnings - Pools - Patios - Playsets Gazebos - Concrete Stoops - Patios - Walkways Gutter Cleaning - Power Washing Yard Cleanups - Small Tree Removal - Land Clearing JUNK REMOVAL Furniture - Appliances - Carpeting Any or All Household Items Construction Debris-Garbage Entire Contents of Home or Office Complete Cleanouts of Home, Office Storefront, Basement, Attic, Garage, Shed $25 Off With This Ad

WE CAN RIP OUT, REMOVE OR TAKE APART ANYTHING OR EVERYTHING IN YOUR HOME OR ON YOUR PROPERTY WE CLEAN IT UP AND TAKE IT AWAY

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Family Owned in Business Since 1999

FREE ESTIMATES

LICENSED & INSURED

516-538-1125

220 South Service Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11557

Call 294.8900 LAWN SPRINKLERS

ROOFING

CARPENTRY

Sweeney Custom Carpentry and PAINTING

New Doors Crown Molding Old Plaster Removed Window Molding New Drywall Installed Base Molding Picture Frame Molding Rotted Wood Replaced

• System Turn-Ons • Backflow Device Tests • Free Estimates • Installation • Service/Repairs

Joe Barbato (516) 775-1199

516-884-4016 Lic# H0454870000

JUNK CAR BUYERS

NO KEYS! NO TITLE! NO PROBLEM!

WE BUY JUNK CARS & TRUCKS

FREE SAME DAY REMOVAL • 7-DAY / 24 HOUR • FREE PICK-UP CALL OR TEXT NOW

(516) 497-8898 TOP $$ PAID FOR YOUR CAR OR TRUCK

WWW.JUNKCARBUCKS.COM

PROFESSIONAL GUIDE

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Stay informed about your community with a weekly subscription to our newspaper. With current events, announcements, restaurant reviews, puzzles, and much more, there’s always something for everybody to enjoy! The Garden City News • Bethpage Newsgram Jericho-Syosset News Journal • Syosset Advance The Mid-Island Times & Levittown Times Floral Park Villager

Litmor Publishing Your Community, Your Newspaper (516) 294-8900

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Professional Services Guide

HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT

Family Care Connections, LLC

• Nurse Geriatric Care Manager • Assistance with Aging at Home • Assisted Living & Nursing Home Placement • Elder Care Consulting & Counseling • Medicaid Application & Consulting Services • Real Estate & Housing Options for Aging

Nassau (516) 248- 9323

Queens (718) 470- 6300

Dr. Ann Marie D’AngeIo, DNP, PMHCNS Dr. Frank G. D’Angelo, JD, Ph.D, M.Div

901 Stewart Ave., Ste. 230 • Garden City, NY 11530 www.FamilyCareConnections.com

ATTORNEY

D’Angelo Law Associates, PC Stephanie A. D’Angelo, Esq.

Your Trusts & Estates Attorney • Wills & Trusts • Estate Administration • Estate Planning • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Probate • Real Estate Nassau (516) 222-1122

Queens (718) 776-7475

901 Stewart Ave., Ste 230 • Garden City, NY 11530 www.DangeloLawAssociates.com

Call 516-294-8900 and let us begin listing you in our Professional Guide. Deadline is Monday, 12 Noon.

11 Friday, August 28, 2026

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Friday, August 28, 2026

New Listing: 73 Chestnut Avenue, Floral Park

Spacious Expanded Cape in Floral Park’s Desirable West End! Welcome to this pristine and impeccably maintained 4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bathroom Expanded Cape, ideally situated in the sought-after West End of Floral Park Village. Filled with warmth and character, this inviting home offers a spacious and flexible floor plan with plenty of room for comfortable everyday living and entertaining. A charming Enclosed Front Porch welcomes you inside, leading to a gracious Living Room with Fireplace and adjoining Dining Room. The Kitchen with Breakfast Nook provides a comfortable spot for casual dining, while a Queen-Size Bedroom, Full Bathroom, and Office with Built-In Desk complete the first floor and offer wonderful versatility for today’s lifestyle. The half-dormered second floor features three Bedrooms and a Full Hall Bathroom, creating a surprisingly generous upper level with additional space and flexibility. Downstairs, the Full Basement adds even more possibilities with an additional Room, Full Bathroom, laundry area, utilities, and abundant storage. Outside, the home is set on a beautifully landscaped 50’ x 100’ property featuring a private backyard, long driveway, and detached 1½-car garage. Enjoy all that Floral Park Village has to offer, including private police and sanitation services and an outstanding Recreation Center with an Olympic-size pool, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, baseball fields, hockey facilities, and more. Conveniently located near shopping, dining, major roadways, and the LIRR with direct service to Grand Central, Penn Station, and Atlantic Terminal, and within highly regarded School District #22. Warm, welcoming, and wonderfully versatile, 73 Chestnut Avenue offers the space, location, and Floral Park Village lifestyle that make this a special place to call home. Offered at $1,078,000

brokerage please disregard. It is not our intention MGrant@signaturepremier.com to solicit the listings of other brokerages. Diamond Circle of Excellence Past President of the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce 2022-2024 Floral Park Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year 2025 *If your property is currently listed with another