The Jericho-Syosset News Journal

Holiday on Ice

Oyster Bay Town Councilman Joseph G. Pinto (left) and Town Clerk James Altadonna Jr. (right) recently attended the Town of Oyster Bay’s 2016 “Holiday on Ice” Skating Show held at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center in Bethpage. The “Holiday on Ice” Skating Show features skaters who are enrolled in the Ice Skating Center’s “Learn to Skate” ice-skating program and demonstrates the skating skills they have learned before family and friends in a delightful ice-skating show that celebrates the holiday season. Pictured with Councilman Pinto and Town Clerk Altadonna at the “Holiday on Ice” Skating Show are Santa Claus, New York Assemblyman Joseph Saladino and the dozens of skaters who helped to make this year’s “Holiday on Ice” Skating Show spectacular.

Mangano seeks nominations for Senior Citizen of the Year

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano is seeking nominations for Nassau County’s 2017 Senior Citizen of the Year. This annual award recognizes two individuals who have demonstrated outstanding con-

cern and action for human services and community involvement relating to any age group.

Nominations are being accepted through Tuesday, February 14.

“There are so many seniors who have dedicated themselves

to enriching the lives of others,” said County Executive Mangano. “While this award pays tribute to two residents, I commend all of our senior citizens for the vital role they play in our com-

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Local resident writes about his struggles with debilitating disease

Jericho resident, Vincent Spoto, got the call he didn’t want to hear in early 2006 while he was working as Director of Servicing, Surveillance and Loan Repurchasing on the trading floor on Wall Street. The MRI had come back and doctor’s were 99% sure that he had the progressively debilitating disease known as multiple sclerosis.

“It was not one of my best days,” said Spoto. “ I ended up taking the train back from the city and went to the neurologist office to hear the results. The guy said to me, Vincent I have some good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first. Naturally being an optimist I wanted to hear the good news so he told me well I didn’t have ALS but it looks pretty clear from the MRI you do have multiple sclerosis.”

From that point on he said he had follow up tests including a spinal tap and even sought out opinion’s from multiple doctor’s but it was pretty conclusive what he was dealing with.

“I couldn’t believe it. i thought I’m a healthy guy, I’ve lived a healthy life, how could something like this happen to me. Usually people are diagnosed with this in their 20’s and 30’s. I was 47 when I found out I had this disease.”

His diagnosis inspired him to write a book entitled, “Multiple

Sclerosis...Why not Me?” which explains his struggles with the disease and appeal to readers who are in similar situations and are looking for someone with whom they can relate.

In his book he describes how he has adjusted to a host of daily routines to continue supporting an active lifestyle, all while maintaining a positive attitude and keeping an optimistic outlook for the future.

“In the early stages of the disease I did not experience too many physical symptoms except for a clumsy stumble here and there,” said Spoto. “But over the years since my diagnosis I developed an obvious physical limp, had to have a surgical pump installed for my muscle spasticity and now I use a cane and walker to get around. Basically the book takes people through the different stages of the disease.”

In the book he talks about how he has had to readjust his lifestyle because of the disease. He describes waking up an extra hour early in the morning to get dressed and get in the shower and going about his daily routine.

“It’s gotten to the point where it’s tough for me to get in and out of my car so now I do things like find businesses that offer drive-thru service to make it easier on me.”

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What’s Happening

January 2

The Jericho Public Library hosts an "English Conversation Group" from 10 a.m. through 12 noon for patrons with some understanding of English.

January 3

Two sessions will be held of "Preschool Storytime" at the Syosset Public Library, beginning today. One session runs 1:30 to 2 p.m. and the second is 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. Please register in advance.

"Yoga For Relaxation" with Laurie Ahleman will begin today and run for six classes on Tuesdays from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. at the Syosset Public Library.

Edye Rosenbaum will at the Jericho Public Library at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning today and running ten sessions through March 14 for the Winter Knitting Group program. Knitters of all levels are invited to attend and registration is recommended.

January 4

From 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., "Baby & Me

with PlayHooray" will begin at the Syosset Public Library for newborn children through 18 months old with an adult.

The program runs for three sessions and advanced registration is required.

"Watercolor Workshop" with Nancy Wernersbach begins today at 1 p.m. at the Jericho Public Library. The series continues each Wednesday through March 8. Please register in advance.

January 5

At 10:30 a.m. at the Jericho Public Library, children from birth to 30 months of age with their caregivers can attend "Rhyme Time" at 10:30 a.m.

"Yoga With Sharon Cohen Starr" will begin today at 11 a.m and continue for ten Thursdays at the Jericho Public Library.

Marc Courtade, Executive Director of the Huntington Arts Council, will be at the Syosset Public Library at 2 p.m. to present a session on "Greer Garson: MGM's Leading Lady".

Compiled

by Meg Meyer

THE POLICE BLOTTER

Incidents that have occurred recently in the local area include:

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Seven rolls of Grifflen fire proofing material was stolen between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. on November 30 from the roof top of a location on Old Country Road in Old Bethpage.

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License plates were stolen from a vehicle on Locust Lane in Oyster Bay between 12 and 1 p.m. on December 1.

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At the Home Depot in Jericho, a 25-year-old man from North Bellmore was arrested at 12:43 p.m. on December 3 and charged with Shoplifting.

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On December 4 at 1 a.m., a 37-year-old man from Glen Cove was arrested and was charged with Driving While Intoxicated on the North Service Road of the Long Island Expressway and Mineola Avenue in Roslyn Heights.

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On Northern Boulevard in Great Neck, a 29-year-old woman from Brooklyn was arrested and was charged with Driving While Intoxicated on December 4 at 10:40 p.m.

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At 10:50 p.m. on December 4, a 33-yearold man from Westbury was arrested at the corner of Merrick Avenue and Corporate Drive in Westbury. He was charged with Criminal Possession of Marijuana.

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At LA Fitness Center on Marcus Avenue in North New Hyde Park, a 24-yearold man from Manhasset Hills was arrested and was charged with Criminal Possession of Marijuana on December 5 at 2 p.m.

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A vehicle license plate was stolen from the parking lot of Nassau Community College in East Garden City.  The items was taken between 12 and 6 p.m. on December 6.

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At Dick’s Sporting Goods in Garden City, a 48-year-old man from Hempstead was arrested and charged with Shoplifting at 3:30 p.m. on December 7.

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A 22-year-old man from Corona was arrested at 2:30 p.m. on December 8 and charged with Shoplifting from TJ Maxx in Greenvale.

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A 37-year-old man from East Meadow was arrested and charged with Shoplifting from a location on Old Country Road in East Garden City at 2:45 p.m. on Dec.8.

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At the City MD Urgent Care location on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset, unknown subjects damaged a victim's vehicle while it was parked between 7:50 and 8:10 p.m. on December 8.

n At 7 p.m. on December 9, an unattended iPhone4 was stolen from Forever 21 in East Garden City.

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A 50-year-old woman from Port Washington was arrested and was charged with Driving While Intoxicated at 1:50 a.m. on December 10 at the intersection of West Shore Road and Northern Boulevard in Roslyn.

n On Northern Boulevard in Roslyn, a 47-year-old man from Sea Cliff was arrested and was charged with Driving While Intoxicated on December 10 at 2:35 a.m.

n At the intersection of Great Neck Road and Northern Boulevard in Great Neck, a 48-year-old man from that town was arrested at 5:22 a.m. on December 10. He was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

n On December 10 at 10:42 p.m., a victim discovered that her vehicle was damaged by rocks that were thrown while it was parked on Plaza Avenue in New Hyde Park.

n At the parking lot at Target on Corporate Drive in Westbury, a 59-yearold woman from West Hempstead was arrested at 10 a.m. on December 11. She was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

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January 2017 Book Discussions at Syosset Public Library

Evening Book Discussion

Tuesday, January 10. 7:30 PM

Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris

With Ralph Guiteau, Readers’ Services Librarian Free. No registration required.

Book-to-Film Discussion

Friday, January 27. 2 PM

Showing of the film Me Before You based on the novel written by Jojo Moyes.

This film is rated PG-13.

With Evelyn Hershkowitz, Readers’ Services Librarian Free. No registration required.

20 & 30-Something Title Swap

Monday, January 30. 7:30 PM

Share the titles of your favor-

ite books with the rest of the 20 & 30-Something group. You tell us your favorite titles and we’ll tell you ours.

With Jessikah Chautin & Stacey Levine, 20-Something Librarians. Free. No registration required.

Afternoon Book Discussion

Tuesday, January 31. 1:30 PM

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

With Jackie Ranaldo, Head of Readers’ Services Free. No registration required.

The Syosset Public Library is located at 225 South Oyster Bay Road, Syosset, NY 11791. For more information: 516921-7161 ext. 239 or www.syossetlibrary. org. Email: Readersservices@ syossetlibrary.org

*All events are Wheelchair Accessible

January Book Discussion at the Jericho Public Library

Now is a great time to pick up a copy of The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende. Then join Fran Cohen on January 10th, 2017 at 7:00 PM as she leads a discussion of this magical, sweeping multi-generational

Syosset-Woodbury Rotary Hosts Adopt A Battalion

Mr. Dick Olsen, President of Adopt A Battalion, was the guest speaker at a recent Syosset-Woodbury Rotary Club meeting, which meets at Andrea’s 25, Woodbury. Since 2004, this organization has supported active duty military personnel by collecting and providing basic necessities and comforts for home. The personal supplies, such as toiletries, snacks, and moist wipes, are sent to troops in the Middle East year round. If you would like to show your gratitude and support to the active service men and women, please call Mr. Olsen at (516)359-9371 or visit the organization’s website: www.adoptabattalion. org.

Rotary President Bob Mittleman; Adopt A Battalion President Dick Olsen; Rotarian Ed Aulman

December 30, 2016

THE POLICE BLOTTER

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An 18-year-old man from Harlem was arrested at 7:15 p.m. on December 11 and charged with Shoplifting from Bloomingdales in Old Country Road in East Garden City.

n At Century 21 in Westbury, a 24-yearold woman from Hicksville was arrested and charged with Shoplifting at 1:10 p.m. on December 12.

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A 35-year-old woman from Fresh Meadows was arrested at 7 p.m. on December 12 and carved with Shoplifting from Sephora in East Garden City.

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At Lowes in Garden City, a 48-yearold man from Uniondale was arrested and charged with Shoplifting at 8 a.m. on December 13.

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At 2:50 p.m. on December 13, a 69-yearold man was charged with Criminal Pos-

session of Marijuana at the intersection of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park.

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On Madison Avenue in Garden City Park, a 22-year-old man from Yonkers was arrested at 9:20 p.m. on December 13. He was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

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At Best Buy, located on Old Country road in Westbury, a 32-year-old man from South Huntington was arrested and was charged with Shoplifting on December 14 at 6:20 p.m.

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A 30-year-old woman from Hemp On December 14, an arrest was made for Criminal Possession of Marijuana at a parking lot on Old Country Road. A 21-year-old man from Flushing was charged at 10:50 p.m.

Compiled by Kate and Meg Meyer

Mangano seeks nominations for Senior Citizen of the Year

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munities.”

To be eligible for the award, a candidate:

• Must be 60 years of age or older and presently living in Nassau County;

• May not be an employee of any organization, unless in an unpaid, volunteer position; and

• Must be submitted on an official application form.

Those who have already received the award are ineligible, while those who were nominated but did not receive previous awards may be re-nominated. All nominations will be reviewed by a panel of judges from the Advisory Council to the Office for the Aging. This award

will honor two of the many dedicated individuals who have made outstanding personal contributions for the enrichment of the lives of others.

Nominations for Senior Citizen of the Year may be made by individuals or groups. All nominations must be submitted on an application form and received by Tuesday, February 14, 2017. For more information, an application or submission, please call (516) 227-8919 or email Michele.Greenblatt@hhsnassaucountyny.us. Nominations can also be mailed to: Awards Committee, Nassau County Department of Human Services, Office for the Aging, 60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Suite #260. Uniondale, NY 11553-3691

Local resident writes about his struggles with debilitating disease

Continued from page 1

He said that when he was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis there were only three self injectable drugs for the disease on the market.

“Now there are 13 to 14 different types of drugs including pills and infusions and even more drugs they’re working on. It’s not all about just figuring out a cure but restoring functionality. That is the main thing and I’m optimistic about it.”

Spoto says he is grateful that the 340 page book was finally published in early November and that while selling copies and collecting royalties is a

2016: The Year in Review

BY BOB MORGAN, JR.

Every year at this time I do a review of the year. In some years, the most important story is fairly debatable, but not in 2016. Welcome to some, not welcome to others, the amazing rise and election of Donald J. Trump as president of the United States was clearly the most important news event.

Long a high profile celebrity and businessperson who seemed to be only sporadically interested in politics (he flirted with the Obama birth certificate alleged controversy and briefly indicated interest in being governor of New York), Mr. Trump was not taken seriously when he began his presidential run in mid2015, partly because of a series of controversial statements about, among other things, Mexicans, the Bush family and John McCain.

But by the beginning of 2016, Mr. Trump and his populist and anti-illegal immigration message were beginning to gain considerable momentum in his race against 16 rivals for the Republican nomination, many of whom he attempted to discredit by unflattering nicknames (“Lyin” Ted Cruz, “Low Energy” Jeb Bush). Meanwhile, the establishment wing of the party was unable to rally around a candidate.

By April, Mr. Trump had secured enough delegates in primaries and caucuses to make him the presumptive Republican nominee. Meanwhile, the Democratic front runner and eventual nominee, Hillary Clinton, was locked in a bruising nomination battle with Vermont senator, and avowed socialist, Bernie Sanders.

campaign schedule) and a general feeling that she was not honest and trustworthy.

But most fundamentally, Ms. Clinton spent too much time in her campaign trying to disqualify Mr. Trump and not enough making a case for her own presidency. President Obama is now middling popular, but there is an eight year itch in politics. In a world of just a 2 percent growth rate, fears of jobs being exported, a flawed health care system and a disjointed foreign policy, Ms. Clinton had to do more than criticize Mr. Trump and implicitly promise a surrogate third term for Mr. Obama, but her message rarely went beyond attacking her opponent.

In the end Mr. Trump, in addition to holding the allegiance of conservatives worried about the Supreme Court, gained strong support among disaffected white working class voters in swing states who were willing to give Mr. Trump a chance to make America great again. His massive campaign rallies, often in rural areas, proved successful in spreading the word about his candidacy and energizing his followers. While losing the popular vote, Mr. Trump won a clear electoral college victory and will be inaugurated as the 45th president of a very divided nation.

plus his main goal was to inform people about the disease and help those out who might be struggling with similar conditions or symptoms.

“My goal in writing the book was not for financial gain, but rather to share my story with others in the hopes of assisting and inspiring them. If this helps only one person, I will consider my objective to have been met.”

His publishing house, Dorrance Publishing Co. will be sending copies of his book to local libraries including Syosset, Jericho and Massapequa in January. The book is also available for purchase on the website, dorrancebookstore.com, Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

After a successful convention, Ms. Clinton emerged as the favorite in the race against Mr. Trump, buoyed by a large financial advantage and continuing controversies involving Mr. Trump (including emergence of a very nasty tape relating to Mr. Trump and women) and overwhelming support of Ms. Clinton in the news media and entertainment industry. Nevertheless, Ms. Clinton was never able to open up a big lead over Mr. Trump and had a number of problems, including continuing fallout relating to her use of a private email server, potential conflicts involving the Clinton Foundation, a health scare (and a surprisingly light

The second biggest story, Brexit, ties in with Mr. Trump’s victory. The surprise decision by British voters to opt out of the European Union in many ways reflected demographic trends and issues similar to those that propelled the Trump victory on this side of the Atlantic. Supporters of Brexit were frequently workers fearful of job losses due to globalization and concerned about a wave of refugees from war-torn areas. These voters defied the economic and political establishment in opting for fundamental change.

2016 was in many ways a difficult year dominated by an especially bitter election. The decision in favor of Mr. Trump marks a direction that alarms some citizens while giving hope to others. Going forward, we will do well to remember that people of good will can disagree for honest reasons and that, difficult political controversies notwithstanding, there is more that unites us than divides us. Happy New Year!

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Syosset students give thanks

Several schools in the Syosset School District held Thanksgiving celebrations this year.

At Village Elementary School, every student and every staff member was invited into the school gymnasium to enjoy turkey with all of the appropriate trimmings.

Village parents volunteered to serve those dining while some students donned school spirit T-shirts and others made paper hats to wear during the feast.

Village mothers Deb Ceglia, Tara Lieberman, Erica Reese

and Tracy Romano were influential in coordinating the feast.

Once again, South Grove Elementary School said thanks to local firefighters, police officers, and veterans with a traditional Thanksgiving feast in the kindergarten/grade 1 annex. Dressed in various costumes, students sang songs to entertain their heroes under the direction of music teacher Dr. Kathleen Conklin.

Christina Mancuso, the school’s developmental reading specialist and lead teacher, coordinated the event. The

school also held a celebration in the main building for children in grades 2-5. Baylis Elementary School kindergartners put on a Thanksgiving show of their own before parents, students, staff and administrators in the school gymnasium. Also festively dressed, students sang Thanksgiving themed songs. Music teachers Allison Lasky and Heather Eggerman joined with kindergarten teachers Linda Pizzarelli, Cara Trotta, and Peggy Ward to prepare the children.

At Village School, students were among the invited guests who assembled in the school gymnasium to enjoy turkey with all of the appropriate trimmings.

Baylis School kindergartners put on a Thanksgiving show in the school gymnasium.

South Grove Annex in Syosset gives thanks

The South Grove Annex held a very festive Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 22nd. The kindergarten and first grade students were dressed as Native Americans and Pilgrims. Their classroom created garb was absolutely adorable and the headdresses the kindergarten wore were made of three paper feathers, each of which represented a good deed done by the child who wore it.

As they do every year, the School invited some of our local heroes to honor and thank for their contributions to our community and our country. The guests of honor included Nassau County Police from the 2nd precinct, veterans from the American Legion and

firemen from our local fire house. In addition to being served a Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings, the honorees were serenaded by the children with songs that represent what Thanksgiving and our country are all about. The Student Council led the children in “The Pledge Of Allegiance” and then they sang the songs: “America, My Country ‘Tis of Thee”, “Free To Be You And Me”, and “Let’s Be Thankful” among others. It is wonderful that the children are being taught at a young age to acknowledge people that help make our lives a little better and a little brighter just as the children do for us each day.

Syosset High School’s Aaron Rosenfeld won second-place out of 74 competing student-run virtual businesses in the Elevator Pitch competition of the Virtual Enterprise International Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership Conference at LIU Post.

Syosset enterprisers grab top honors

Two students enrolled in Syosset High School’s Virtual Enterprise course finished in the top 10 in the Elevator Pitch competition at the Virtual Enterprise International Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership Conference, recently held at LIU Post. This included second-place honors out of 74 competing VE businesses.

VE students take on the roles of business professionals and create a workplace environment in the classroom. They brainstorm ideas for a product, service or marketable concept, then establish their company by submitting resumes and cover letters to hopefully land an interview for different positions, including the CEO. They develop a genuine understanding of how a business is run and marketed while gaining expertise in problem-solving, decision-making, communication, collaboration, technology and accessing,

TOB GAP Program Annual Holiday Party

Oyster Bay Town Councilman Joseph G. Pinto (back row center) recently attended the Town of Oyster Bay’s Annual Group Activities Program (GAP) Holiday Party at the Town of Oyster Bay’s Syosset-Woodbury Community Center. The fun-filled event was generously sponsored by the Syosset Rotary Club. The GAP program is administered by the Handicapped Services Division of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community and Youth Services. Councilman Pinto, a longtime advocate of GAP, stressed the importance of the program and thanked the staff and supporters for their dedicated efforts throughout the year. “This program, which is offered at both north and south shore locations in the Town, provides a unique social-recreational experience for developmentally disabled town residents in a well supervised setting and is an important outlet for both participants and parents alike,” Councilman Pinto said. “I appreciate everyone’s dedicated efforts toward making this program a resounding success.”

John Ellis Kordes

using and analyzing information.

One student from each of the four participating Syosset teams was designated to make the pitch on behalf of their class/company for the competition.

Congratulations to Syosset High School junior Aaron Rosenfeld, head of sales for Flip Chip, the mock business created in Matthew Fiasconaro’s VE class. Aaron won second-place and $500 to be placed back into the business for his elevator pitch of Flip Chip and its line of all-natural, environmentally sustainable, uniquely curved and tasty potato chips.

Syosset High School’s Andrew Goldman of Nice Pops finished in ninth place in the competition for his pitch to sell these all-natural, non-genetically modified organism frozen desserts. The company was created in Jason Muller’s VE class.

Latkes and Vodkas at Jericho Jewish Center

Sixty congregants had a wonderful time at Jericho Jewish Center’s 3rd annual Latkes and Vodkas. Participants enjoyed a wide variety of latkes, including cranberry, sweet potato and spinach, as well as a wide array of flavored vodkas (chocolate raspberry, vanilla and peach to name a few). Our religious school students participated in a spirited Havdalah service and then designed their own Mezuzot with clay while Latkes and Vodkas was going on for the adults. Everyone had a wonderful time. An early Happy Hanukkah and joyous holiday season to you!

a wonderful time at the

Where to Fulfill New Year’s Resolution to Experience Something New Have

BY KAREN RUBIN

a Bucket List? a Life List? Where to Go in 2017

At this time of year, people make resolutions for the year ahead: tick off a destination from a bucket list? Add a travel experience to a life list? Here are some ideas: AdventureSmith Explorations Offering Tour, Cruise Discounts for Early 2017 Warm Weather Escapes

AdventureSmith Explorations is offering discounts on early 2017 journeys to sunny and warm destinations to those who can act now.

Benefits of booking these warmweather escapes before the deadline include credits of up to $700 off scheduled rates. Although most often known as the small ship cruise expert,  AdventureSmith Explorations  also shares land-based opportunities.  Here’s a list of specials with booking deadlines noted The Panama Canal springs to life on an eightday itinerary encompassing Costa Rica and the Panama Canal. Guests who choose a Costa Rica & Panama Canal cruise departing on select 2017 dates and book by December 31, 2016, can select from; free round-trip airfare between Miami and Costa Rica/Panama City, plus a free overnight Panama City tour extension, which includes a private dinner at the Miraflores Locks, a city tour and a visit to the Frank Gehry-designed Bio Museum; or a $500 air credit if they cannot stay the

Small ship cruising in Tahiti: AdventureSmith is offering a $700 savings on the Tahitian

extra day.

This classic route aboard the 62-guest  National Geographic Sea Lion transports guests through the Panama Canal to explore Costa Rica and Panama’s famed national parks and wildlife reserves. Highlights are snorkeling at Isla Coiba, exploring shorelines in kayaks and learning from National Geographic guides and experts. The rate is from $6,390

per person, double. See:  http:// www.adventuresmithexplorations. com/costa-rica-panama-canalbarro-colorado-cruise-nationalgeographic-guides

In Chile, a lodge-based adventure embraces the recently renovated Explora Atacama. This luxury lodge is in the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, 8,202 feet above sea level in Chile’s Atacama Desert. From

GOING PLACES NEAR AND FAR

this 50-room, comfort-driven resort guests may combine thermal bath soaks with hiking, bicycling and horseback riding while engaging in their choices of over 40 explorations that are led by bilingual guides. Yearround, day-time highs are in the mid 70s. The first night is free for bookings made by March 30, 2017 for stays through April 30, 2017 (minimum

See page D2

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

Where to Fulfill New Year’s Resolution to Experience Something New Have

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three-night stay). A four-day stay starts at $2,184 per person double. See:  http:// www.adventuresmithexplorations. com/explora-atacama-desert-travelhiking-biking-horseback-riding-chile

In the Galapagos select January and February departures of sister 16-guest catamarans come with savings of $500 if booked before Dec. 31, 2016. The luxury  Petrel  dates to 2015 and  Cormorant to 2011; each serves as home base for a comprehensive Galapagos Islands cruise. Spectacular year-round, this famed archipelago is especially fun at the start of each year as water temperatures are on the rise making it the ideal time for snorkeling. The regular rate for this four-day program is from $3,090 (Cormorant), or $3245 (Petrel) per person double. Petrel:  http://www. adventuresmithexplorations. com/petrel-galapagos-cruises Cormorant:  http://www. adventuresmithexplorations.com/ cormorant-galapagos-cruises

From Iquitos, Peru , guests

a Bucket List, a Life List? Where to Go in 2017

landscape” of

planet’s list of “Best in US” places

aboard Amatista Amazon Cruise can experience 20 percent savings if they book this nine-day adventure by Jan. 31, 2017. Enroute is an exploration of one of the last accessible tropical rainforests in

the world, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, during its high water season (typically December through May) when rivers are up to 23 feet higher. This means closer viewing of monkeys and birdlife in the jungle canopy as the ship can go deeper into isolated corners of the reserve. The regular rate is from $2,499 per person double. This riverboat accommodates 30 guests. See:  http:// www.adventuresmithexplorations. com/amatista-amazon-cruise Paradise of Tahiti: Receive a $700 savings on the Tahitian Affair Cruise if booked by Jan. 31, 2017. With departures that begin in late April, this cusp-o-winter tropical escape sails through French Polynesia’s Leeward Islands, including visits to Bora Bora, Tahaa, Huahine,

Motu Iriru and Raiatea.  A bonus is a scenic helicopter flight for embarkation on the luxurious 24-guest  Island Passage. Kayaking, fishing, swimming, snorkeling and stand-up paddle boarding add to the fun. The regular rate for this eight-day cruise is from $4,270- per person double. See:  http:// www.adventuresmithexplorations. com/tahitian-affair-tahiti-small-shipcruise-island-passage-bora-bora-frenchpolynesia

For information on all of AdventureSmith’s small ship cruises worldwide, itineraries, availability and reservations, Phone: 800-7282875 toll-free or visit  http://www. adventuresmithexplorations.com/

8 Fit Trips for the New Year

With the arrival of the New Year, many will make resolutions to get fit or take a trip. From biking to hiking to paddling and yoga, here are eight active adventures around the world that will help you accomplish both.

1. Ride an Ironman bike course: With tour operators  Ride & Seek and Big Island Bike Tours, ride the roads of Hawaii’s grueling and windy Ironman bike course, through coffee plantations and up the world’s largest active volcano, 13,677-foot Mauna Loa. You’ll also get to soak away any soreness in the heated tide pools of Kapoho.

2. Snorkel and kayak Thailand: On an Adventure Life trip, snorkel the clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand, home to abundant coral and marine life, and spend a day exploring the uninhabited islands of Angthong Marine Park by kayak. There’s also plenty of time to relax on the idyllic beaches of Koh Samui.

Iceland tops many lists as a trending destination for 2017

Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

3. Trek with gorillas in Rwanda: Encounter some of the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world on a  Gondwana EcoTours trek into the lush forests of Rwanda, home to hundreds of species of birds and numerous waterfalls. You’ll also track chimpanzees and the golden monkey, and watch for elephants and buffalo.

4. Ski steep and deep in Montana: Rent a cabin in the Moonlight Basin community and ski the steep, open terrain of Montana’s Big Sky resort. You’ll have access to 5,800 acres and 4,350 feet of vertical, and with a private guide from Moonlight can ski the famed North Summit Snowfield and areas normally closed to the public. Other activities include guided Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking on winter trails.

5.Hike and photograph Northwest Argentina:  With  Travel Vision Journeys, hike and photograph a variety of landscapes in Northwest Argentina, including the Gorge of Arrows, Seven Colors Mountain, the Enchanted Valley in Los Cardones National Park and the Salinas Grandes salt flat. Along the way, you’ll also sample some of the country’s finest wines from highaltitude vineyards.

6. Fly fish Bolivia:  Where the Amazon jungle meets the Andes, wade a freestone stream and walk its banks

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

on a  Frontiers tour of Bolivia. You’ll be casting for golden dorado, as well as pirapitinga, yatorana and surubi in remote national park and indigenous territory.

7. Yoga at a Wyoming ranch retreat: At  Red Reflet Ranch near Ten Sleep, Wyoming, take a yoga class with serene views of green pastures, ponds and red rock formations. There’s also a climbing wall, hiking, mountain biking and, of course, horseback and cattle activities.

8. Cycle an alpine road in Romania: On Ciclismo Classico’s Grand Tour of Transylvania, climb 15 miles up the winding Transfagarasan alpine road – the second-highest paved road in Romania – to Balea Lake at 6,562 feet in elevation. You’ll also pass through medieval cities, stay in a restored castle and visit a fortified church.

Lonely Planet’s 10 Top US Destinations to Travel in 2017

Travel media company Lonely Planet has just announced its annual list of the top 10 most exciting places to go in the United States in the year ahead.

Lonely Planet’s travel experts scoured the states this year to choose  Best in the US 2017 (lonelyplanet.com/best-inus), 10 destinations poised to shine next year, whether they’re up-and-coming, overlooked or offer new, inviting reasons to visit in 2017.

This year, Lonely Planet named the charming enclave of  Asheville, North Carolina as the #1 destination in the US to visit in 2017. The vibrant small city is known for its welcoming, creative spirit and eclectic architecture. Its thriving artistic community and booming food and drink scene – all surrounded by spectacular natural beauty – is putting it firmly on the map.

Following in second place is  Western Washington , where iconic landscapes made their way into popular consciousness in  Twin Peaks, the television drama making a comeback in 2017. In third place is heartland hub  Lincoln, Nebraska , hosting festivals throughout the year to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Other notable places that made the list include the southern desert area of California (#4), Texas’ relatively unknown wine country (#8) and a picture-perfect strip of Florida coast (#10).

“Lonely Planet’s  Best in the US 2017  are the places we recommend travelers go next year,” said  Lonely Planet magazine managing editor Rebecca Warren. “This year’s list is incredibly diverse, spanning from coast to coast, giving a panoramic tour of America. Whether travelers want to escape to the mountains, get transported back in time or relax by the beach, these are the destinations to be excited about.

WRITER’S CORNER

Here’s to a Great & Happy New Year!

Some of them are on the public’s radar, while others are recently emerging, and they all offer compelling reasons to visit in 2017.”

Now in its 7th edition, Lonely Planet’s  Best in the US is a highly anticipated list of cities, regions and states worth traveling to in the year ahead, selected and ranked by Lonely Planet’s US destination editors, writers and travel community. The list is available online at lonelyplanet. com/best-in-us, featuring a  video and a chance to win a weekend away for two in #1 Asheville, plus accompanying articles on each destination.

Lonely Planet’s Best in the US 2017

1. Asheville, North Carolina  –Appalachia’s most surprising city

· River Arts District features over 200 artists

·  Nicknamed “Beer City USA”

·  World renowned dining scene

2.Western Washington  – David Lynch fans, take note

·Filming locales made famous by  Twin Peaks, making a comeback in 2017

·New farm-to-table dining and microbrewing emerging in  Seattle and San Juan Islands

3.Lincoln, Nebraska  – Hip and happening in the heartland

See page D5

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

I was chatting with my 4-year old nephew, Richie, recently about many various things when the subject of the New Year’s holiday came up. He had heard a little bit about New Year’s and vaguely remembered his parents making a big deal about it the prior year - with their horn blowing and dancing around - but he wasn’t sure what it was all about.

He wanted me to explain the holiday so I said, “It’s out with the old and in with the new.” “It’s about wiping the slate clean and starting fresh.” “Let’s kick off the New Year positively.” “It’s about forgiving the mistakes of yesterday and starting all over.”

As I spoke I was getting some quizzical looks and realizing that none of this made any sense to Richie, I decided to take a different approach.

A smart boy, I knew that Richie was familiar with the names of the months. So I explained, “You know how your birthday is in May which is in the spring?” He said yes. And June is a summer month when it’s warm and you can go swimming?” He nodded again.

I said that January 1st is New Year’s Day. It’s the first day of the New Year and that’s a holiday for us. We celebrate

it. We dance around and have special dinners.

New Year’s Eve is a special night for many because we count down the minutes and seconds until midnight. Many people stay up late and watch the glittery ball drop in Manhattan’s Times Square.

Richie said that he had seen pictures on TV of the ball dropping in Times Square – but then he added that he had never stayed up that late to see it when it happened. I assured him that someday when he was older he would be able to stay up late and watch not only the ball dropping but all of the revelry.

I mentioned the word “resolutions” and explained that it means trying harder. We can all do better. Richie understood and seemed to like my explanation.

I added that my goals were to exercise more, to lose weight and to eat lots of green foods like broccoli and cauliflower. Richie turned up his nose when I mentioned broccoli and cauliflower and we both laughed.

I knew that Richie and fresh vegetables didn’t go hand in hand. When it came to food types, they weren’t his favorites.

Richie seemed to get my New Year’s explanation and he quietly said,

“Sometimes I can be nicer to my younger brother,” meaning more patient and I knew he really got it.

I then spent a few minutes telling him how different cultures celebrated New Year’s Day a long time ago and

how some people started the idea of making New Year’s resolutions.

The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the New Year although for them the year began not in January but in midMarch, when the crops were planted.

(history.com)

During a massive 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed.

These promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. If the Babylonians kept to their word, their gods would bestow favor on them for the coming year. If not, they would fall out of the gods’ favor and that was something no one wanted.

A similar practice occurred in ancient Rome, after the reform-minded emperor Julius Caesar tinkered with the calendar and established January 1 as the beginning of the New Year circa 46 B.C.

Named for Janus, the two-faced god whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, January had special significance for the Romans. Believing that Janus symbolically looked backwards into the previous year and ahead into the future, the Romans offered sacrifices to the deity and made promises of good conduct for the coming year.

For early Christians, the first day of

See page D5

BY TOM MARGENAU

Quite a few readers have asked me to comment on a bill sponsored by Representative Sam Johnson, R.-Texas, that he calls The Social Security Reform Act of 2016. I would call it the One-Sided Social Security Reform Act of 2016. And that’s because, like just about every Social Security reform proposal I have seen sponsored by a Republican, it is lopsided. It proposes an array of benefit cuts and not a single suggestion to raise revenues.

Having said that, let me commend the congressman for at least taking the initiative to present a package of Social Security reforms. (Although one does have to wonder why he did so on the very last day of the current Congress.) Still, a last day proposal is better than none at all. Too many of our country’s leaders treat the program like a sacred cow that should never be tampered with.

But tamper they must. Some of my old friends still with the Social Security Administration tell me that they are taking something like 10,000 retirement claims each day. In other words, tax-paying baby boomers are turning into benefit-receiving senior boomers at a record pace. That demographic time bomb has been ticking for quite a while now. The longer we wait to deal with the issue, the harder it will be to implement changes.

You can think of our Social Security system as a pipeline. On one end of it are working people pumping their tax dollars into the pipe. On the other end, are senior citizens -- along with people with disabilities and widow(er)s and children of deceased workers -- drawing Social Security benefits out of the pipe.

For many years now, the system has worked very well at a three-to-one ratio. In other words, with three workers pumping taxes into the front end of the pipe for every one person on the back end collecting benefits.

But with 10,000 people every day moving from the input side of the pipe to the output side, we are gradually reaching the point where we will have only two workers pumping money into the system for each retiree sucking benefits out of the other end. And our Social Security system simply cannot be sustained at that two-to-one level -- as it is currently structured. That’s why reform is needed.

To deal with that pending shortfall, you essentially have two choices. You can pump more money into the front end of the pipe (by raising revenues) or you can cut back on the money flowing out of the other end (by reducing benefits). Most fair-minded people agree that a reasonable solution would involve a mix of both: some tax increases and some benefit cuts.

And as I alluded to at the beginning of this column, I don’t think

A One-Sided Social Security Reform Proposal

Congressman Johnson’s proposals meet that “fair-minded” test. His bill includes 15 specific reforms, some of them way too technical to explain in a short column. But here is a brief rundown of the major points of his Social Security reform package.

He would gradually raise the retirement age from 67 to 69 for people born after 1967. While I think a gradual increase in the retirement age is inevitable, I think age 69 might be just a bit too steep. I agree with many other reformists who think age 68 is a better target number.

Johnson also proposes to reduce benefit payments for the top 50 percent of wage earners. Although the details of this proposal are too complex to explain here, the bill essentially means that future benefits for people making more than $50,000 per year would be cut. SSA’s actuaries project that under Johnson’s proposal, people making $50,000 per year or more could see their benefits cut between 11 percent and 35 percent. Although I, and many people, think that benefits could be trimmed for the very wealthiest Americans, I think that dropping the benefit-cutting ax on middle-class earners is way too much.

The plan also would cut cost-of-living increases for all Social Security beneficiaries and eliminate them for people with incomes over $85,000. Although most economic experts agree that Social Security COLAs could be reduced, I haven’t heard any serious proposals to outright eliminate them for anyone who is in the upper middle class or higher.

An out-of-left-field part of Johnson’s plan calls for a cut in benefits to most spouses and children of retirees and disabled workers. It would peg their benefits to the average national wage, rather than to the worker’s actual wage. In other words, benefits would go down for any family with above-average income.

Johnson did throw a bone to Democrats and others he knew would oppose his lopsided plan with a proposal to provide a minimum Social Security benefit for the very poorest annual wage earners, those averaging $12,000 or less. They would see their benefits rise by about 20 percent. But frankly, that wasn’t much of a bone, since his plan would cut benefits to anyone making more than that. So the very poorest Americans would get a boost with the Johnson plan, whereas anyone in the middle class and above would get a kick in the pants!

Once again, I applaud Congressman Johnson for at least broaching the subject of Social Security reform. I just wish his proposals were not so darn partisan. I know it is an anathema to most Republicans to suggest anything that smells of a tax increase. But had he, for example, included a proposal to eliminate or at least increase the cap on Social Security taxable earnings, or

slightly raise the payroll tax (which hasn’t been increased in more than 30 years) from 6.2 to 6.4 percent, he would not have had to recommend such dramatic cuts in benefits.

In other words, a balanced mix of revenue increases and benefit reductions is the real and fair way to reform Social

Security. Congressman Johnson’s plan is a place to start discussing reform, but nothing more.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net.

COPYRIGHT 2016 CREATORS.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

GOING PLACES NEAR & FAR

Where to Fulfill New Year’s Resolution to Experience Something New

an eco-friendly, 80-acre dream

·150th anniversary parades, parties and festivals

·College vibe, bike trails, breweries, music, art walks and farmers’ markets

·One of the largest refugee resettlement areas; cultural diversity

4.California’s Low Desert – The LA getaway meets a new generation

·New wave of cool headed to Palm Springs and beyond (maybe even  The Obamas!)

·View of Coachella Valley via world’s largest aerial tramway

·36534465Otherworldly landscapes (Joshua Tree) and quirky curiosities (Salvation Mountain)

5. Montana’s Flathead Valley – Big sky, big mountains, big bears

·One of the largest wilderness areas in the contiguous states

·Gateway to Glacier National Park and Canadian border

· Whitefish welcomes hikers, bikers and après-skiers

6.  Atlanta, Georgia – The airport epicenter is flying high in 2017

·New state-of-the-art stadiums and first Major League Soccer team

·Introducing  The BeltLine, the answer to New York’s High Line

·World-class art scene and up-andcoming neighborhoods like East Atlanta

7.Adirondack Mountains – New York’s best views after Manhattan

·42 peaks over 4000ft

·New  Wild Walk is an elevated trail above the treetops

·Larger than Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon and Great Smokies combined

8.Texas Hill Country wine region –The best wine country you’ve never heard of

·Over 70 wineries in Texas and dozens in Hill Country

·Wide variety of tasting rooms along  Wine Road 290 make for an epic road trip

·10th  Dripping with Taste Wine & Food Festival and 45th annual Kerrville Folk Festival

9.Denver, Colorado – The “MileHigh City” has never been more fun

·More than just a gateway to the  Rocky Mountains

·New Ski Train in 2017 takes skiers and boarders straight to the slopes

·Microbreweries, music and (legal) marijuana

10.Florida’s Emerald Coast – The “Redneck Riviera” no more

·100-mile stretch of sugar-fine sand and beachfront towns

·Frequented by the rich and famous, and still affordable

·The Truman Show town of Seaside is

Lonely Planet’s  Best in the US 2017  goes beyond the locations featured in its annual Best in Travel 2017, which names the best places to visit all over the globe, featuring Canada (#1 country), Coastal Georgia, Los Angeles and Portland.

Backroads: Alaska, Iceland, New Zealand, Italy Among Top Trending Destinations for 2017; Family Trips Also Booming

Berkeley, CA– With a new year approaching, many people are looking for new adventures and Backroads, a leading active travel company, has announced its top trending trips for 2017 active travel. Top trending destinations already booked include the Dalmatian Coast, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, and the US National Parks. Additionally, the Active River Cruise category continues to expand and grow in popularity..

Backroads Family Adventures –one of the company’s fastest-growing segments – is seeing tremendous interest with families booking travel to top selling destinations such as Alaska; Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon; and Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Iceland and the Dalmatian Coast continue to trend strongly as perennial family favorite tour destinations..

Backroads Top-Selling 2017 Trips include Iceland Multisport Adventure Tour; Exploration at the Edge of the Arctic Circle; Danube Cycling Sensation River Cruise Bike Tour; Prague to Budapest

page D6

GOING PLACES, NEAR & FAR....

fWhere to Fulfill New Year’s Resolution to Experience Something New

– Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia & Hungary; New Zealand Bike Tour and New Zealand Walking & Hiking Tour; South Island Splendor; Costa Rica Multisport Adventure Tour; From Highlands & Rain Forests to the Nicoya Peninsula Beaches; * Vietnam & Cambodia Bike Tour and Old Indochina from Hanoi to Angkor Wat..

“Now is the time to make a New Year’s resolution to get out and explore the world actively,” said Backroads Founder and President, Tom Hale. “2017 is shaping up to be another recordbreaking year for Backroads. We’re seeing strong growth in our family business—on both Family Adventures for families with teens and kids of all ages, and on Family Breakaway Trips for families with older teens and 20-somethings. Greater Europe is also still strong and our Private and North America trips are selling better than ever.”.

Private Trip Bookings on the Rise: Guests wanting to travel on an exclusive Backroads tour with just their friends or family can book a private trip anywhere Backroads travels worldwide. When 10 or more guests book a private trip, they lock in the lowest price and save an average of $300 each compared to signing up individually on a scheduled departure. In addition, the more guests

who sign up, the bigger the savings for the entire group. In 2017, Backroads Taste of Camino de Santiago Walking & Hiking Tour in Spain and Portugal is trending at the top for private trip guests..

No Place like Home: Traveling close to home has always been popular but in 2017, bookings for the United States and Canada are already proving to be top vacation choices. New Backroads trips in 2017 include a heli-hiking adventure in the Canadian Rockies, biking in New York’s Hudson Valley, Adirondacks Multisport, Arizona Walking & Hiking or a Biking tour, and a leisurely Napa Valley Bike tour. Canada will prove to be an exciting destination in 2017 as the country celebrates 150 years of Confederation with festivities planned throughout the year..

For more information, visit  www. backroads.com or call 800-462-2848 daily, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Pacific time.

USTOA Tour Operator Members Forecast Top Destinations for 2017

NEW YORK (December 20, 2016)—

In a recent survey conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), tour operator members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) named Cuba the most popular or “hot” destination for travelers in 2017.

Encounter some of the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world on a Gondwana EcoTours trek into the lush forests of Rwanda

Ausable Chasm, the Grand Canyon of New York State’s Adirondack Mountains, which are larger than Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon and Great Smokies combined, are on Lonely Planet’s List of Best in US destinations for 2017© 2016 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The top 10 “hot” destinations for the coming year included Italy, which ranked second, followed by Iceland, United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, China and Vietnam.

“It’s interesting to see Cuba grab that top spot for the first time on the hot destinations list as it also clinched the number one spot on the top emerging destinations list for 2017,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of USTOA.  “This only validates Cuba’s popularity and the growing demand among US travelers. Nearly a third of our members anticipate that the easing of US-Cuba sanctions will help increase their annual revenue.”

Among the top 10 off-the-beaten path or emerging destinations for 2017 named by tour operators are: Cuba, which ranked first for the second year in a row, Iceland ranked second, followed by Croatia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, Iran, Africa (South Africa and Morocco), Cambodia and India.

Representing nearly $15 billion in revenue, members of U.S. Tour Operators Association provide tours, packages and custom arrangements

that allow 8.6 million travelers annually unparalleled access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value and freedom to enjoy destinations and experiences across the entire globe.   Each member company has met the travel industry’s highest standards, including participation in the USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program, which protects consumer payments up to $1 million if the company goes out of business. As a voice for the tour operator industry for more than 40 years, USTOA also provides education and assistance for consumers and travel agents. For more information on USTOA, visit www.ustoa.com, call 212-599-6599, or email information@ustoa.com

© 2016 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com and travelwritersmagazine.com/ TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress. com and moralcompasstravel.info. Send comments or questions to FamTravLtr@ aol.com. Tweet @TravelFeatures. ‘Like’ us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

C ontinued from page D3

Here’s to a Great & Happy New Year!

the New Year became the traditional occasion for thinking about one’s past mistakes and resolving to do and be better in the future.

In 1740, the English clergyman John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal Service, most commonly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

Also known as watch night services, they included readings from Scriptures and hymn singing, and served as a spiritual alternative to the loud celebrations normally held to celebrate the coming of the New Year.

Now popular within evangelical Protestant churches, watch night services held on New Year’s Eve are often spent praying and making resolutions for the coming year.

I read some good tips for New Year’s resolutions recently that were posted online on Angel Chernoff’s web site marcandangel.com for good everyday living.

• It’s not what you say to everybody else that determines your life – it’s what you whisper to yourself every day that has the greatest power.

• Don’t look for others to give you permission to be yourself. You don’t

need anyone’s validation to be “good enough” or to have a great day.

• The best time to be extra kind to yourself is when you don’t feel like it. That’s because when doing so it can make the biggest difference.

• Be your own experiment. Be your own work of art. Be a work in progress. And be OK with it.

• Let people around you see the real, imperfect, quirky, weird, beautiful and magical person you are. That is enough.

• You can’t base your ideas of success and happiness on other people’s opinions and expectations.

• Spend a lot more time with those who make you smile and a lot less time with those who you feel pressured to constantly impress.

• Our greatest defense against stress is the ability to choose one thought over another. Remember this. If you look for reasons to be angry and upset, you’ll find plenty of them. Instead look for reasons to be positive and see them everywhere.

• One of the most peaceful mindsets ever begins the moment you finally find the courage to let go of what you can’t change.

• When you discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy –

something that truly matters to you – care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.

I like all of Angel Chernoff’s tips and will try to implement them. I’ve also come up with my own personal New Year’s resolution for 2017. Sure I want to exercise more, lose some weight, eat more nutritiously, learn some new skills and get better organized.

But my primary goal for 2017 is to have fun in everything I do. I plan on enjoying everything I do. I plan on helping others without asking for anything in return.

I want to reach out to new and different people every day, not just stay in my comfortable circle of friends.

I want to smile and be friendly in public even if – and when – I may be having a rough day.

I want to share my talents and abilities with others and each day I want to appreciate and learn from others people’s talents.

I want to travel to new places and take in all of the beauty of the local culture.

I want to make the time to learn the musical instrument of my choice this year and being that I have a keyboard, sheet music for beginners and plenty

of batteries on hand for the keyboard, I have no excuses. I can do it.

Many people make New Year’s resolutions with all good intentions but then don’t keep them. I don’t want to be one of those statistics. I want to keep my resolutions, to keep my commitments and I don’t think they are too far out of my reach.

I can do it and when 2017 draws to a close, I want to be able to tell young Richie, my nephew, that I made some resolutions and kept them. I want to be able to say that I did it!

The poet Rainer Maria Rilke once wrote about the New Year’s holiday:

“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.”

Happy New Year, everyone. Have a healthy and prosperous New Year!

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SERVICES

NEW YORK MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS:

Joan Atwood, Ph.D. An experienced therapist makes all the difference. Individual, couple, family therapy and anger management. 516-764-2526. jatwood@optonline.net www.NYMFT.com

COMPUTERS

COMPUTER REPAIR AND INSTRUCTION

Chaminade Graduate

Eliminate viruses, malware, bloatware, adware, spyware

Computer Instruction

Home & Business Networking

Reasonable Rates

Call Phil at Aspect Networking 516-830-3366 OR email: support@aspectnetworking. com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

AMBIANCE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

*Handyman & Remodeling

*Kitchen Installations

*Furniture Assembly

*Finish Carpentry

*Minor Electrical & Plumbing

23year GC Resident

Lic & Ins H18E2170000

Call BOB 516-741-2154

LAMPS FIXED $65

In home service. Handy Howard. 646-996-7628

SERVICES

SKY CLEAR WINDOW and Restorations Inc. Window Restorations, Outdated Hardware, skylights, Andersen Sashes, new storm windows, wood windows, chain/rope repairs, falling windows, fogged panes, mechanical repairs, wood repairs, restorations, all brands. Call Mr. Fagan, 32 years experience. 631-385-7975 www.skyclearwindow.com

PAINTING & PAPERHANGING

CESAR’S PAINTING:

Interior/Exterior renovations, wallpaper removal, skimcoating, painting, plastering. Senior discounts. 516-943-3755

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)

JV PAINT

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Interior-Exterior Specialist Painting, Wallpapering, Plastering, Spackling, Staining, Power Washing. Nassau Lic#H3814310000 fully Insured Call John 516-741-5378

PARTY HELP

LADIES & GENTLEMEN RELAX & ENJOY Your Next Party! Catering and Experienced Professional Services for Assisting with Preparation, Serving and Clean Up Before, During and After Your Party Bartenders Available. Call Kate at 516-248-1545

TUTORING

CHEMISTRY TUTOR: Call Jonathan, Ivy League Ph.D. AP, SAT II, Regents. I also tutor Biology, Physics, Earth & Environmental Science. itutorchem@gmail.com or 516669-0587

SERVICES

TUTORING

COLLEGE ESSAYS: Make your application stand above the rest. Call Jonathan. 516-6690587 or ifixessays@gmail.com, an Ivy League PhD with proven Ivy League results.

FRENCH TUTOR:

Highly experienced college professor and French native available for tutoring Middle School, High School & College students as well as adults. All levels. Email: thebestfrancaisteacher@gmail. com

MATH, SAT, ACT TUTOR: Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2 plus Trig, Pre-Calc, AP Calculus. Norm 625-3314

ENGLISH, ACT, SAT TUTOR: 25+ year experience Critical Reading, Writing, Grammar, Essays. Lynne 625-3314

MATHEMATICS TUTOR: NYS certified math teacher. Experienced and patient. All elementary and middle school grades. HS Algebra, Geometry and SAT prep. Text or call Ken 516-526-8315 or email: kmctutor79@gmail.com

SPANISH TUTOR: Spanish Grammar-Literature, FLACS A -FLACS B, Exam Preparation/ Comps. William Cullen, M.A., Spanish, S.D.A. Chaminade HS, Fairfield University Alumnus. 516-509-8174. wdctutor06@aol. com. References furnished upon request.

STOCK MARKET INVESTORS, ATTN: Let me show the advantages of using stock options to participate in market volatility with less capital. Protect profits and gain income. 516-288-2110

STOCK MARKET TUTOR: Retired banker and experienced stock market trader available for tutoring high school students on the stock market. Should have some knowledge of the market. Adults welcome. Text/call Ron Goldberg 516-567-8434

SERVICES INSTRUCTION

PIANO LESSONS

By Ira Baslow. Experience the joy of playing the piano. Private lessons in your home, free no-obligation piano lesson, all levels, all styles, all ages. Beginners a specialty. 516-312-1054 www.iwantmypianolessons. com

CLEANING

FOUR SEASONS CLEANING SERVICES

19 years of service Dust, Mop, Vacuum Homes, Apartments Offices.

FREE ESTIMATES

Call Karin 516-468-1791

MARIA’S CLEANING SERVICE

Our excellent cleaning team will get your home or office spotless! Available Monday thru Friday 7am to 6pm

Supplies provided if needed

Own transportation

Excellent references provided CALL 516-849-2026

SPARKLING CLEANING SERVICES

Offices * Homes * Apartments

Own Transportation Free Estimates

Experienced with excellent references from many satisfied customers! Call or Text: 516-669-2909

STRONG ARM CLEANING: Residential and commercial cleaning specialist, post construction clean ups, shipping and waxing floors, move ins and move outs. Free estimates. Bonded and insured. 516-5381125 www.strongarmcleaningny.com

SERVICES

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

COLLEGE ARTS ADMISSIONS: College Counseling in the Visual and Performing Arts. Dance, Musical Theatre & Drama. Film, Instrumental & Vocal Music. Audio Recording & Production. Theatre Technology & Production. Visual & Graphic Arts. Resume, Essays, Repertoire Lists. Michele Zimmerman. 516-353-6255 CollegeArtsAdmissions@gmail.com www.CollegeArtsAdmissions. com

COMPLETE JUNK REMOVAL/DEMOLITION SERVICE: Strong Arm Contracting Inc. We haul anything and everything. Entire contents of home or office. We clean it up and take it away. Residential/Commercial. Bonded/Insured. Free estimates. 516-538-1125

OLD VILLAGE TREE SERVICE: Owner operated since 1989. 24 hour emergency service. Licensed / insured. Free estimates, member LI Arborist Assoc. Please call 516-466-9220

PSYCHOTHERAPY: Efrat Fridman, LCSW. Individual, couple and family therapy. effiefrid@gmail.com 2 Pinetree Lane, Old Westbury, NY 11568. 516-224-7670 or 225 West 35th Street, NY 10001 718-887-4400

CLASSIFIEDS Call 294.8935

Join the Last Hope cat rescue and adoption team! Volunteer orientations are held at our Wantagh adoption center the second Sunday of each month at 3:00 PM. Reservations not needed, but please fill out and fax a volunteer application in advance to 516-765-9181. You can download the application from our website – http:// lasthopeanimalrescue.org. Click on “How to Help”, then “Become a Volunteer!”. The adoption center is located at 3300 Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh.

Donations needed for dogs and cats

Please help to bring happy faces to homeless dogs and cats this holiday season by donating canned and dry pet food. Toys are also needed. Donations can be dropped off at our adoption center at 3300 Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh from December 21st through January 1st. For more information, please call 631-332-6606 or 631-445-2326. The flyer can be downloaded here: http://lasthopeanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ Last-Hope-Food-Drive_2016.pdf

GRANDPARENTS - Send in your grandchildren’s photos and enter our “World’s Most Beautiful Grandchildren” contest. Just send a photo and a brief description of the child (or children) along with your name and address to: Litmor Publications, Beautiful Grandchildren Contest, 81 East Barclay St., Hicksville N.Y. 11801. We’ll do the rest!

Best Inexpensive Instant Pot and Smart TV, and Recipe for Vinyl Siding Cleaner, Too

BY MARY HUNT

Dear Mary: I have always valued your comments about various products and can honestly say that I have never been disappointed in anything I bought after reading your recommendations. Have you done any research on the Instant Pot multifunctional pressure cookers? I was thinking one might be a good gift. Thank you so much. -- Conni

Dear Conni: Thank you for your kind words and trust. It means the world to me.

Yes, I am very familiar with Instant Pot, a single electric appliance that functions as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, maker, steamer and warmer and also sautes and browns. Its onboard microprocessor (think computer) is programmed with adjustable cooking modes, up to 24 hours of delayed cooking and automatic keep-warm for up to 10 hours. When it comes to modern technology, Instant Pot is it. This appliance can turn out perfectly poached eggs in two to three minutes and baked potatoes in 12 minutes.

Instant Pot has the power to change your life. Really, I can’t say too many good things, and I agree wholeheart-

edly that an Instant Pot would make a wonderful gift for a very lucky foodie! While there are a number of different Instant Pot models, my pick for the best inexpensive option is the 6-quart 1,000watt Instant Pot IP-DUO60 7-in-1 Multi Functional Pressure Cooker. It is sweet! It costs about $120.

Dear Mary: I have read your advice for years and gained so much from your tips. My husband and I are thinking of buying a big-screen TV. We have been told to get a smart one. Can you give me any recommendations? Thanks. -- Judy

Dear Judy: I agree that if you’re going to invest in a new television, it really should be a smart TV, one that is internet-enabled and supports movie streaming from content providers, such as Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. These days, there are so many to choose from. They all have their own features, and prices range from as low as $150 for an entry-level 32-inch model up to $20,000 for an 88-inch curved screen model that broadcasts in 4K Ultra HD!

Here’s my advice: First, decide where you will put this television. That will help you determine the best size. Next, determine how much you are willing to

spend. If you live within driving range of either Costco or Sam’s Club, go there. You can get a day pass if you are not a member, so you can look around. Talk with the folks in the TV department. You’ll learn a lot. And you’ll see some great prices for beautiful smart TVs.

With all of that said, if you would rather just order one online and have it delivered to your home with free shipping (like me), here’s my pick for the best inexpensive smart TV: the TCL 55inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV. It’s a great TV for the price -- about $400.

Need a bit more help? Amazon has introduced a great new online feature that will take all the guesswork out of finding the right TV for your needs. Check it out.

Dear Mary: I am looking for a formula to wash down a vinyl-sided house. I read about it here years ago. I recall that one of the ingredients was Spic and Span. I hope you can help. Thank you. -- Connie

Dear Connie: I can -- here it is:

VINYL SIDING CLEANER: You’ll need 2/3 cup Spic ‘n Span, 1/2 cup powdered Tide laundry detergent, 1 quart liquid chlorine bleach and 3 quarts very hot water. Mix ingredients very well

in a 2-gallon bucket, and allow them to stand for 4 to 5 hours. Pour this concentrate into an ordinary hose-end garden sprayer set to the midpoint, and apply the cleaner to the vinyl siding. Leave solution on siding for five minutes, remove the sprayer, and rinse the siding well with a hose.

Hope that helps. Let me know how it works for you. By the way, you can always find past columns on the Everyday Cheapskate website. Use the handy search bar to type in a keyword.

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of “Debt-Proof Living,” released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2017 CREATORS.COM

PROFESSIONAL GUIDE Call

868-5757 SMurphy824@gmail.com

Stewart Avenue, Suite 230 Garden City, NY11530 (516) 222-1122 WWW.DANGELOLAWASSOCIATES.COM

SLafazan@Hotmail.com 516-375-3897 Individual, Couple & Family Counseling Women’s Groups

Tracey Cardello, LCSW P.C.

SPANISH TUTOR

FLACS A- FLACS B Exam Preparation Trimester Exams/Comps

William Cullen, M.A., SPANISH, S.D.A. Chaminade HS / Fairfield University Alumnus 516-509-8174 / wdctutor06@aol.com References furnished on request

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., f/k/a The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, in trust for and for the benefit of the Certificateholders of the Multi-Class Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, ChaseFlex Trust Series 2007-3; Plaintiff(s) vs. ANGELICA GOMEZ; et al; Defendant(s)

Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s): ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 2 Summit Court, Suite 301, Fishkill, New York, 12524, 845.897.1600

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on or about August 5, 2016, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder at the Calendar Control Part (CCP) Courtroom of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501.

On January 10, 2017 at 11:30 am. Premises known as 380 WOODBURY ROAD, WOODBURY, NY 11797

Section: 14 Block: 39 Lot: 11 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, together with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Woodbury, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale.

Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale.

Approximate amount of judg-

ment $1,206,261.08 plus interest and costs.

INDEX NO. 1539-13

Ellen Durst-Blair, Esq., REFEREE

SA 4008

4X 12/9,16,23,30

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff against STEVEN ASMAN A/K/A STEVE ASMAN ,et al Defendants

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein, Such & Crane LLP, 1400 Old Country Road, Suite C103, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorney(s) for Plaintiff(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale Entered SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder at the CCP (CALENDAR CONTROL PART COURTROOM) IN THE NASSAU SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501 on JANUARY 31, 2017 at 11:30

A.M.. Premises known as 122 GREENWAY DRIVE SOUTH, SYOSSET, NY 11791. Sec 15

Block 200 Lot 13. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, and being at Syosset, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau , State New York.

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $415,554.05 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 013485/12

ROBERT GREY, ESQ , Referee SA 4013

4X 12/30; 1/6, 1/13, 1/20

Bible Raps performs at Jericho Jewish Center

Matt Bar, the Executive Director of Bible Raps, did a pre-Hanukkah concert for the Jericho Jewish Center. He first ran a workshop where our 6th and 7th grade students came up with their own rap lyrics related to Hanukkah, and then they performed center stage. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Toys for Tots collection at real estate agency

Realty Connect USA of Woodbury recently collected toys for the U.S. Marine’s Toys for Tots drive. Co-chairs Craig Bell and Maxine Hollander thank all participants. “It is wonderful how much we can accomplish when everyone works together,” they said.

Willits students spread seasonal cheer with song

Fifth graders from A.P. Willits School performed holiday songs for their senior friends at Excel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Fifth graders from A.P. Willits Elementary School in Syosset continued their partnership with the Excel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Woodbury as the students visited their senior citizen friends and gave a heartwarming holiday musical performance.

Under the direction of Willits music teacher Ann Marie Hennessey, Tiffany Rennard and Alison Zorn’s fifth graders

Thinking of Leaving Long Island?

sang a variety of holiday songs including “Rock the Halls,” “Oh Hanukkah” and many more.

At the end of the concert, students presented Excel residents with special holiday gift bags they designed. Many of them added to the festive mood by wearing holiday attire. Willits students have been performing for residents of the center for more than 10 years.

Considering Retirement Opportunities?

MLS listing # 4600528.

11 Oak St, Alfred, ME, 04002

The owner is retiring and the Beehive is priced to sell at $449,000

Please contact: Ship Bright, Coldwell Banker (207) 831-8429.Ship.Bright@nemoves.com www.TheBeehive-Alfred.com

This historic and beautifully updated 30 room Town of Alfred, Maine treasure has 4 sunny, spacious, and fully updated apartments that rent easily. In fact, this fall with one ad we had 3 units rented in 72 hours! (12 qualified applicants)

In addition to the 4 apartments, the Beehive offers 7 flexible retail/professional units.

There is: (2) 3 room suites, (1) 2 room suite, and (4) 1 room offices or retail.

At full rent, the Beehive gross is $82,000 And is attractively priced at $449,000

Alfred ME is 4.5 hours from Long Island, all highway. Alfred is a warm, vital and sophisticated town with most of the Center Village having Federal Historic designation. As one of the most historic and oldest buildings in Center Village, the Beehive and its owner are much lauded. There is no historic designation requirements imposed on the building.

Portland Int’l Jetport (20 mins) has frequent JetBlue service to JFK and it is 20 mins from the Beehive to Kennebunk and the beaches is 25 mins, Ogunquit is 35 mins, Amtrak to Boston is 20 mins, Portsmouth NH is 45 min. The Beehive is 8 miles from the ME Turnpike along a main road.

This property is turnkey. We have a great team in place of plumbers, electricians, landscape and snow removal, etc Also, if interested, our exceptional property manager is only 5 mins. away.

The Beehive will allow you to live for free, pay all expenses, and STILL generate a profit!

Berry Hill Boutique - Just in time for the holidays

Berry Hill Elementary students got some much needed holiday shopping done at the PTA’s Holiday Boutique. Students shopped for gifts for relatives and friends, while parents and teachers were on hand to help students manage their money. The Berry Hill PTA did a great job providing many gift options for parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and pets. The fourth and fifth grade student PRIDE Pals helped their kindergarten, first and second grade friends buy gifts for everyone on their shopping lists. There was even a gift wrapping area where parents wrapped students’ purchases so their gifts were ready for the holidays.

3

Total

MLS# 2885572

4

Style:

Schools: Syosset

Total

MLS# 2859405

LOCAL EXPERTS UNLIMITED REACH

Real Estate is not just local anymore.

With 80% of buyers coming from outside of our neighborhoods, Douglas Elliman is the only company that has you covered.

Some of our most recent buyers moved from the following locations to Syosset, Jericho and Woodbury.

Bayside

Odds are your buyer is already our client.

Syosset Office | 317 Jackson Avenue

516.921.2262 | elliman.com/long-island