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VoL. 102 No. 50
DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2025
1283570
All the news of the Five Towns
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‘Girl Chocolate,’ aimed at PMS, is on the market By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Courtesy Eytan Goldstein
Created to help a former girlfriend with premenstrual syndrome —cramps, mood swings and other familiar symptoms — Girl Chocolate may transform the way those with menstrual challenges deal with their hormonal imbalance. “Girl chocolate is a functional treat designed to comfort you during your cycle, with carefully selected ingredients to help support hormonal balance, mood support and cravings,” according to GirlChocolate.com. Founder Eytan Goldstein, of Lawrence, said that a four-year partner was the inspiration for the product. Originally from Kfarsaba, Israel, Goldstein, 20, moved to upstate New York, near Albany, at age 16 to live with his father, Benny Goldstein, a businessman and inventor with a quirky entrepre-
Lawrence resident Eytan Goldstein’s creation, Girl Chocolate, is available for purchase at Seasons, in Lawrence.
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HHS senior honored at science research symposium By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Hewlett High School senior Benjamin Zelikoff was named one of the top nine student presenters at the Virtual 2025 High School Students Research Symposium last month. Sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the symposium is a virtual event that recognizes excellence in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, research. Held on Nov. 22, it featured top high school researchers from the New York and Southern California sections of the American Chemical Society.
Zelikoff, 17, was recognized for his research on modifying nanocrystals for multiple functions, highlighting his innovation and scientific rigor. He has been a member of Hewlett High’s Science Research program since ninth grade. “I’ve always had a bit of an interest in science,” he said. “I was always passionate since I was a kid. I was always on the path to science, and hearing that there’s a prestigious science research program was one of the biggest parts for me.” Over the summer, Zelikoff worked at New York University’s structural DNA nanotechnology lab, where he focused on
using DNA as a building block to create larger structures. “One of the structures is called the ‘tensegrity triangle,’ which is seven strands of DNA that will come together to make a crystal that appears under a microscope like a rhombus,” Zelikoff explained. “Given that technology is a revolutionary field, having programmable DNA that we can use for countless things could theoretically be used with many biological applications.” Terrence Bissoondial, the research program coordinator at Hewlett High, entered Zelikoff in the symposium. He made a 15-minute online pre-
sentation, and answered questions about his work. A few days later, he recounted, he was informed that he was being considered for recognition as one of the top presenters. “I was ecstatic, and very thankful for the opportunity to present my research in general,” Zelikoff said. “Hearing that I was being honored is a bonus
on top of it.” He loves research, he said, and was glad to present it so others can see the value of what he does. “Since I entered the Science Research program, Dr. Bissoondial has been the lead chief instructor on everything science research,” Zelikoff added. ContinuEd on paGE 9