Lisa Sparkles Ballroom & Latin Dance Studio will celebrate with a grand opening party on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 7:30 to 11 p.m. The evening will include a free dance lesson, student performances, a hot buffet and great dancing. Music will be provided by Long Island DJ, Louis Del Prete, playing all the best hustle, swing, Latin, ballroom and modern dance music for a great night of dancing.

After six years in Oyster Bay, and 15 years of teaching ballroom and Latin dance in the New York area, Lisa Sparkles has created a permanent home for her studio in Syosset, a location central to both new and experienced dancers from across Nassau and Suffolk. The studio is located at 16 Berry Hill Rd. and features a spacious new dance floor, a sparkling mirror ball and plenty of free parking.

The entire community is invited to come for the evening to dance and check out the new studio. Lisa Sparkles Ballroom & Latin dance offers individual and group instruction in all of the major Ballroom and Latin dances; wedding dance preparation; and Zumba. Prices for the evening are: $12 for active students of the studio, $15 with advanced purchase and $20 at the door.

Reservations can be made at www.lisasparklesdance.com or by calling the studio at 516-241-3179.

Gail Wurtzel signs the tribute board, pointing to her mother.

Under brilliant blue skies, Gail Wurtzel marched with her team, Memories of Miriam, to celebrate her mother Miriam Hanania’s memory and honor her life on Sept. 19. She lead her team in the Walk to Defeat ALS at Eisenhower Park. Miriam Hanania, mother of long time Plainview resident Gail Wurtzel, suffered from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). During her struggle with the disease, Miriam lost her ability to speak, swallow, walk and breathe, ultimately passing away three years ago.

The Walk to Defeat ALS was filled with marchers and ALS sufferers. The mood during the day wasn’t somber. It was joyful, hopeful and optimistic.

“I formed my team to honor my mother’s memory,” said Wurtzel. “She was a beautiful woman and despite how ALS weakened her, her spirit and will to live remained strong to the end. Everywhere you turned during the Walk, you saw, heard and felt that same spirit–in family members, supporters and sufferers of ALS. It was a very uplifting day.”

Gail Wurtzel and family

Last year’s Ice Bucket Challenge brought much needed attention to ALS, raising more money that ever before. This year’s Walk to Defeat ALS brought out new and old supporters, continuing the work to raise awareness and raise money to defeat this dreaded disease. Recent reports indicate that the funds raised through the Ice Bucket Challenge accelerated research that could lead to new discoveries in ALS treatment and research. The challenge also created widespread awareness of ALS and found new and recurring donors to the cause.

“ALS is a horrible disease. Seeing people who have the will to live, fight and thrive is inspirational,” said Wurtzel. “My mother was like that. When you have a team with that fighting spirit, anything is possible, including finding the cure for ALS.”

To make a donation to find the cure or get more information, visit www.ALSA.org.

NYS Judge Gina Lopez-Summa swears in South Grove ES student council members. Photos courtesy of the Syosset School District

Forty-five newly elected student council members representing grades kindergarten through five at South Grove Elementary School were recently sworn in by a New York State judge who provided a firsthand lesson on the United States system of government.

In recognition of Constitution Day, the entire South Grove student body was treated to a special visit from the Hon. Gina Lopez-Summa, who administered the oath to the new council members, discussed how the three branches of government function, and stressed the importance of governance and leadership.

South Grove Elementary School’s newly inducted student council members, representing grades K-5, flanked by NYS Judge Gina Lopez-Summa and Principal Theresa Scrocco on the left and advisers Christina Mancuso and Cathy Bozza on the right.

Student Council President Francesca Napoleone recited the Preamble to the Constitution, which begins, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union…”

Principal Theresa Scrocco challenged all of her students to learn the Preamble as well. Student council advisers Cathy Bozza and Christina Mancuso also shared information about upcoming council activities.

South Grove Elementary School’s newly inducted student council officers, with NYS Judge Gina Lopez-Summa and Principal Theresa Scrocco on the left and advisers Christina Mancuso and Cathy Bozza on the right.

Created in 2004, Constitution Day recognizes the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed on Sept. 17, the day in 1787 on which delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.

Syosset native Sarah Appleman works with a young student.

Close to seven years ago, Syosset native Sarah Appleman was working with a young student who was having trouble overcoming handwriting difficulties. The child’s parents had tried numerous methods, all resulting in the same frustrating educational dead ends. Then, in a moment of inspiration and dogged determination, Appleman created a new teaching method on the spot.

What she came up with was Paw Prints, a multi-sensory handwriting curriculum geared toward the preschool and kindergarten grade levels. Available to teachers for classroom use, it follows Common Core curriculum standards and is designed to teach children letter recognition, letter formation and early literacy skills.

“I made up something and it worked. I thought, ‘this has to be developed,’” said Appleman, a pediatric occupational therapist currently residing in San Diego. “It’s a unique way to teach children using animals, which children love and are familiar with.”

Working with her business partner and co-author of Paw Prints Alissa Alongi, a pediatric occupational therapist in Oceanside, NY, Appleman’s Paw Prints includes three books—for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and a curriculum book for teachers—with more than 300 practice sheets to draw letters using animals, a basic overview of how these exercises can help children’s visual motor skills and an instructor guide to help speed up the handwriting and motor skills learning process for children.

Appleman said that while this method is especially helpful for children with Autism, as well as youngsters with other special learning requirements, it is a teaching approach that can benefit children across the spectrum.

“It’s for everybody, but it just so happens that it is extremely beneficial for students who have extra learning requirements,” said Appleman. “It helps them keep up with the rest of the class. And for the rest of the class, it’s a brand new activity. It’s not redundant and boring. This method brings all kids together; mainstream learners, special needs, public and private school.”

Appleman’s Paw Prints helps children learn handwriting skills.

According to Appleman, one parent of an ADHD-diagnosed child told her that Paw Prints completely changed the way her son took in new information. The parent told Appleman that within weeks, he was writing his name and drawing pictures of people and animals—all of the things that other kids his age were doing—and his confidence increased dramatically.

And other learning specialists are also on board with Paw Prints. Pam Miscioscia, an occupational therapist from Long Beach, NY, said that parents are also looking for innovative ways for their children to learn.

“Parents are excited to see something new and innovative, and because of their excitement the kids are excited as well,” she said. “This is the prefect fit to add to the current curriculum because not only is it fun and educational, but it fills a void that is not currently being taught in schools.”

Currently, Appleman and Alongi are working to become certified on the public speaking circuit. This will enable the duo to travel from region to region expounding on the virtues of Paw Prints to educators from coast to coast. Appleman said Paw Prints is a brand of learning that not only teaches, but helps kids do what they do best.

“It helps children be children,” she said. “Kids often don’t even have time to be kids anymore. This program is fun, creative and silly and it allows bonding and it builds confidence. When kids feel good about themselves, they go a step further. It’s a relaxed way of learning that is beneficial to everybody.”

For more information on Paw Prints, visit www.pawprintslearning.com.

Assemblyman Charles Lavine held a government presentation at Jericho library. (Photos by Chris Boyle)

New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine recently pulled aside the veil to provide the average citizen with a look into what makes a successful state government tick at a lecture entitled “Albany 101: Police and Ethics in the New York State Legislature,” held on Sept. 24 at the Jericho Public Library, part of an ongoing series that Lavine said he is doing throughout Nassau County.

“The idea is to help people to know more about how bills actually become laws in New York State from the legislative point of view, which I think is quite interesting,” he said. “And another important aspect of these programs that I’m doing is talking about how ethical violations are investigated and punished in Albany, which is something that occupies a lot of my time because I’m the chairman of the Assembly Ethics Committee and the co-chair of the state Legislative Ethics Commission.”

Lavine held his lecture in the Jericho Library auditorium, accompanied by a slide-show presentation and afterwards an active question and answer session with community members who attended. These types of presentations are something Lavine said he wished existed before he initially got involved in the political arena.

“Before I was in elected office, I never once hear of anyone in state office having a program to discuss the nuts and bolts of how legislation actually works and certainly never heard anyone talking about ethics laws and how they pertain to members of the assembly, the senate and lobbyists,” he said. “My objective is to open up the line of communications with the people in our communities so that they have a better sense of how legislation actually takes place, and the process that’s involved when my colleagues are changed with ethical lapses.”

Getting a law passed in New York State—any law—can be a complex, harrowing ordeal with a variety of checks and balances in place to ensure that any bill that is passed is, indeed, a good and just one. And Lavine said sometimes the entire process can take years, depending on the circumstances.

“The there are many important aspects to passing a law—first, it’s got to make sense and secondly, if it makes sense, it’s a matter of finding enough allies who will support it,” he said. “Then you have to get it through a committee, and then the process that’s involved with getting through other committees who will vet it before it goes to the floor of the House of Representitves. Then there’s the process involved with getting to the floor and arguing for its passage, and then seeing if the Senate is doing the same thing, and assuming they do, then we have to see if the Governor will sign it into law.”

But even if an official is lucky enough to get a bill passed through the House and the Senate and the Governor signs off on it, Lavine noted that’s only the beginning. Laws are living, breathing entities that must be able to evolve with the times, he said.

“The important part to note is that when these laws are passes, it is not done out of happenstance. A lot of work goes into it,” he said. “And even though these bills are checked, vetted, argued, discussed and passed, in the end, we never know just how these things are going to work in real life. That’s another part of the process, because no sooner do we pass a law, then we have to re-evaluate them and modernize them so they can protect our citizens.”

So far, Lavine said that reaction to his Albany 101 series has been very positive. Already, there are plans in the works to possibly expand it to Suffolk County as well.

“It’s been very good so far. We recently had a packed house at Hofstra University,” he said. “I’ve presented these to churches, synagogues, libraries like here in Jericho, and they’re fun. A big part of the program isn’t me talking, it’s the people in the audience expressing their opinions and asking questions. That’s the most important part. I learn a lot more from them then they learn from me.”

Maddy Owen was one of the attendees at the event and said that she was given a glimpse into the word of politics that she wasn’t privy to beforehand.

“Assemblyman Lavine was very informative and actually pretty funny as well,” she said. “I had no idea how complex politics can be. It’s a wonder they accomplish anything. I think this was a great event and I think our elected officials should hold more like it.”

After naming 16 students as Merit Semifinalists last week, Syosset High School named 33 youngsters as commended students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

With this great honor, the school congratulated Eugene Ahn, Rachel Baum, Jason Beck, Alexandra Chan, Emily Chen, Yang Yu Chen, Ishan Datt, Alexa De Leon, Daniel Forman, Jordyn Goldstein, Hanna Hong, Ryan Huie, Ian Kang, Justin Kang, Sungjae Kim, Ross Kliegman, Louis Ko, Ann Kogosov, Sarah Lee, Kylie Marlow, Arjun Mehrotra, Sourav Panda, Faith Park, Ryan Ritraj, Maxwell Salit, Harrison Schorr, Niv Skidan, Lauren Song, Jacob Sugarman, Kavan Wadhwa, Rossy Yang, Alexander Yu and Cindy Zhang.

These students are among 34,000 of the 50,000 high scorers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in 2014. They represent the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 NMSC competition by taking the PSAT/NMSQT and will receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. —Syosset Schools

Meanwhile, the Jericho School District also honored its commended students. In addition to the 11 Jericho High School students named semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship Program, the organization named 29 students to the National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students list.

The following Jericho students are 2016 Commended Students, who were honored for their outstanding academic promise: Jake Carrion, Michael Carrion, Jason Chan, Nicole Chen, Cynthia Chu, Lauren Gold, Rachel Hahn, Matthew Herzog, Samyukta Jhavar, Joyce Jin, Uma Kanth, Gina Kim, Jonathan Lam, Dana Luong, Jason Micelotta, Ann Paulose, Nasif Quadir, Andrew Rabinowitz, Brianna Sa, Rishi Shah, Jihun Son, Matthew Swickle, Eric Wang, Robert Wong, Sarina Xu, Robert Yang, Yichen Zhang, Kevin Zheng and Shijia Zheng.

Although commended students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses. The National Merit Scholarship Program is managed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence. —Jericho Schools

Syosset Lydia Esslinger was named an outstanding educator. (Photo by Syosset Schools)

The Syosset Central School District recently announced that Syosset High School English teacher Lydia Esslinger has been honored with the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award.

Esslinger, who currently teaches AP Language and AP Literature as well as creative writing and public speaking courses, has been with Syosset for more than 40 years, during which she has taught nearly every English course offered and, for 20 years, directed the spring musical.

Former student Zubair Merchant, who was enrolled in Esslinger’s AP Language course during his junior year, nominated her for the award. Merchant also captained the Forensics Speech and Debate team, which Esslinger still coaches.

“Frequently, Zubair would stop by at the end of the day and ask if I needed him to do anything. He was always very willing to stay late to help others on the team do well. That is the case with a lot of these kids,” said Esslinger of the team, which has been one of the most consistently successful co-curricular clubs through the years, often winning awards and recognition as a top debate team in the state and country. “I hope I helped to set a standard for these students. I know a lot of their success is due to their willingness to help each other.”

The University of Chicago’s Office of College Admissions grants the Outstanding Educator Award to teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the education and mentorship of their students. University freshmen have the opportunity to nominate a former teacher who has influenced them significantly.

“Each year, we invite entering first-year students to nominate an educator who has changed them, challenged them or helped them along the path to intellectual growth,” said James Nondorf, the University of Chicago’s vice president for enrollment. “We receive back hundreds of letters from students inspired by teachers who have changed the course of their lives [and] taught them to reimagine texts, delve deeper into problem-solving and think beyond the borders of the classroom in the pursuit of their own education.”

“It’s such a great honor to be recognized,” said Esslinger. “I have a great deal of respect for the University of Chicago.” —Syosset Schools

Judith S. Bloch will have a street renamed in her honor. (Photo by Susan Bloch Photography)

A beloved Syosset woman who championed the education of children with special needs, will have a street renamed in her honor on Oct. 17.

Judith Bloch, who passed away on June 15, was the founder of Variety Child Learning Center (VCLC) and the CEO of the organization for 42 years. After her retirement, the executive board named the school the Judith S. Bloch School in her honor. Now, anyone driving to the school will remember Bloch’s contributions to childhood learning.

Humphrey Drive in Syosset will be remaned “Judith Bloch’s Way” in recognition of her lifelong devotion to improving the lives of children with special needs and their families The event, taking place from 4 to 5 p.m., will include remarks from elected officials and family, as well as former colleagues of Bloch.

The ceremony will take place outdoors, in front of Variety Child Learning Center (47 Humphrey Dr.), at the corner of Humphrey Drive and Walker Street.

Temple Or Elohim recently built, and filled, a brand new Sukkah to accommodate a marked increase in its membership.

Sukkah is a temporary outdoor structure that is used to eat in and to conduct prayers during the holiday of Sukkot, a Jewish holiday occurring for five days following Yom Kippur—this year, it ran from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4. The holiday marks the 40 years that the Israelites wandered the desert, living in huts, and celebrates the harvest yield of fruits and vegetables that provided sustenance for these people.

Artie Mayer, the temple’s men’s club president, said the new structure was built at a time when most synagogues are dealing with decreasing memberships.

“We’ve experienced a marked increase,” Mayer said of the temple. “It’s running contrary to the downtrend that has befallen other synagogues in this region. It’s why we need to expand the Sukkah.”

Replacing a Sukkah is no easy task for any synagogue, according to Mayer, and Temple Or Elohim, based in Jericho and serving people from many communities including Plainview-Old Bethpage, looked inward to see if temple members themselves could roll up their sleeves and endure some hard labor.

“It’s our [the men’s club] responsibility to maintain the Sukkah, so it was up to us to put a plan in place to upgrade or replace the existing one,” said Mayer.

Perhaps fortuitously, Mark Heller, the men’s club executive vice president, is in the display business and knows his way around blueprints and materials suppliers. Mayer said Heller was highly motivated to help create a new, larger Sukkah for the temple.

“He became the project leader,” said Mayer, who added that multiple members did their part in the construction process. “Dave Berg, besides being a wonderful singer and great guitarist, was also a virtuoso with power tools and became a second cog in the project team. Phil Rubin, a former club president and former temple president, known for his ability to execute major events and keep things organized, joined another former temple president Howard Pastolove and the men’s club rank and file in forming a battalion of committed congregants. Rabbi Harvey Abramowitz and several spouses also contributed to the cause.”

The newly-constructed Sukkah stretched eight feet wider than its predecessor. Mayer said that based upon the original blueprint, using new wood, bolts, drills, saws and screwdrivers, a skeletal frame was fashioned and then team members joined the front and rear frames together as others placed the side beams into place.

A lattice-like “roof,” which afforded congregants a nighttime view of the heavens, was put in place across the top. At this point, it was left to the temple’s religious school students, led by education director Deborah Tract and several teachers, to supervise the hanging of holiday-themed crafts from the wood beams and support bars. Finally, men’s club volunteers completed the final decorations just hours before the temple’s Sukkot evening service.

“The temple had the structure in place for its brand new, larger Sukkah, all done ‘in house’ by its own congregants,” he said. “People of diverse backgrounds with varying degrees of building skills, united by a commitment to get the job done.”

Mayer said the successful realization of the new Sukkah was the culmination of several months of planning.

“More important than the actual project, this was an example of people working together in order to further the concept of what I call ‘templehood,’ the notion that the temple is the focal point of a community that may be dispersed across miles but is united by heritage and common beliefs.”

Syosset school officials congratulate the district’s All-National Concert Band participants. From left: Syosset CSD Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts, K-12 Michael Salzman, music teacher Larry Ballereau, Jakob Finkelstein, Ross Kliegman and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Rogers.

The Syosset Central School District is proud to announce that two Syosset High School student-musicians have been named to the National Association for Music Education’s All-National Concert Band, which will perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee later this month.

Jakob Finkelstein (trumpet) and Ross Kliegman (oboe) are among 120 elite student-musicians selected from schools throughout the country to perform in the All-National Concert Band. They join more than 670 students representing schools in 49 states and overseas military bases who will be performing in the four All-National Honor Ensembles—concert band, jazz ensemble, symphony orchestra and mixed Choir—at this year’s NAfME conference, taking place from Oct. 25-28.

The conference will consist of informative workshops and other rewarding experiences for student-musicians, culminating with the ensemble concerts on the final day. NAfME is among the world’s largest arts education organizations that advocates at all levels and provides resources and a variety of opportunities for music students and educators.

The All-National Concert Band will be led by Eugene Migliaro Corporon, renowned conductor of the Wind Symphony and regents professor of music at the University of North Texas College of Music. He is also a respected author who has recorded more than 1000 works with various performing groups.

Congratulations to Jakob and Ross and their teacher, Larry Ballereau, on this impressive achievement.

Syosset student-athletes donned T-shirts that read “Syosset Braves — Proud to be an athlete! Proud to be an American!” for their participation in this year’s Tunnel to Towers run, through which they raised $10,480 for firefighters and first responders. (Photo by Syosset Schools)

An impressive total of 167 Syosset student-athletes joined 25,000 others from the tri-state area and beyond to show their pride in their country and raise a significant amount of money for an important cause.

Members of the Syosset High School Braves girls and boys cross-country teams, girls and boys soccer programs, football team, kick-line squad, girls swimming team and girls volleyball team participated in the annual Tunnel to Towers Run on Sept. 27. The 5K run traces the footsteps of fallen FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who strapped on his gear and ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 to help save lives, ultimately losing his own. The event raises money to construct specially adapted smart homes for the most catastrophically injured first responders and service members.

This is the 13th year Syosset High School athletes have fundraised for the cause. The group sported T-shirts that read “Syosset Braves — Proud to be an athlete! Proud to be an American!” Even more remarkable than the student turnout was the amount of money raised by the Syosset athletes for Tunnel to Towers– $10,480, which brings the school’s 13-year total to just over $80,000.

“All the athletes and coaches did a phenomenal job…it was a great day to be a Brave,” said Diane Malley, a business education teacher and coach who coordinates the district’s participation in the program with other coaches and the athletic department. “We have all grown very fond of this event and the greater experience it creates for our student-athletes.”
—Syosset Schools

The Milleridge Inn, facing an uncertain future as its owner eyes retirement, will be the subject of a special community meeting tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

Organized in part by Sheila Doherty, a Plainview resident who started the “Save The Milleridge” Facebook page, the meeting will take place Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Hicksville (45 Heitz Place) and will feature speakers from the community, as well as representatives Kimco Realty, the company that purchased the Inn.

The Milleridge Inn was sold to strip mall developer Kimco Realty this past May, though at the time, Kimco representatives said the Inn’s previous owners would still run day-to-day operations. That changed in August when it was revealed that the Inn’s longtime owner would retire at year’s end, putting any events scheduled for 2016 in jeopardy.

“We will have people speaking about the history of the Inn, as well as the developer,” said Doherty. “Kimco keeps saying they are looking for an ‘operator’ for the site. This gives me hope that they plan to continue on with the Milleridge Inn and not bulldoze it.”

David Bujnicki, Kimco’s vice president of investor relations and communications, said the realty firm is actively in search of another potential operator for the site and they welcome any public input.

“Kimco is actively looking for another potential operator for the site,” he said. “As soon as we have additional details, we will be happy to share them.”

Sheila Doherty began the Milleridge Inn meeting. (Photos by Steve Mosco)

With history on their minds and personal memories in tow, more than 100 people showed support for the Milleridge Inn at a town hall-style meeting at the Knights of Columbus in Hicksville Oct. 7.

Most attendees left the meeting satisfied with what they heard as Kimco Realty, which purchased the property this past May, confirmed that it would like to keep the Inn and Cottage as a restaurant and catering hall and that they have already begun meeting with potential operators.

Milleridge operator Owen Smith, who will retire at year’s end, believes in Kimco’s intentions.

“As I was walking in I overheard someone say that ‘it’s a done deal’ and we have ‘bulldozers ready to tear it down.’” said Nick Brown, vice president of development with Kimco, a New Hyde Park-based company. “That is absolutely not the case. While we don’t exactly know what we are going to do with the site yet, we do hope to find an operator. We are sensitive to the history of the site and this will be a very deliberate process.”

When Kimco Realty purchased the site, it reached an agreement with owner Owen Smith to have him continue to operate the establishment until January 2016, at which time the day-to-day operations would transfer to a new proprietor. Smith, who attended the meeting and answered many questions, declined Kimco’s offer to continue running the site into 2016 until a new operator is found.

“It’s time for me to move forward,” said Smith, who plans on retiring. “I selected Kimco because I know them and they know and respect the community, as well as the history of the Milleridge.”

As for the Inn’s current employees, some of which Smith said have worked at the Inn for more than 30 years, there is a glimmer of hope that they will retain their jobs. Smith said he was required by law to send out Worker Adjustment and Retaining Notification (WARN) letters to all of his employees, but this does not necessarily mean they will all be laid off.

“I did send out WARN letters, as I am required to do,” he said. “But I am working with Kimco and I hope there can be some continuity with the employees.”

Smith also pledged to help any new operator of the site.

“I will stick around to help the new operator get acquainted with the Inn,” he said. “The property is very important to me. And I will be around to make sure the community’s concerns are addressed.”

Kimco has hired two architectural firms, BKSK and Steward Preservation Services, both of which specialize in historical architecture, to look into the historical significance of the site. A representative from each firm spoke at the meeting, with each coming across as pro-preservation.

Joel Snodgrass, principal of Steward Preservation, addressed the concerns that the Milleridge Inn does not have Landmark status. He said such a status is only necessary when the owner of a site is acting in an uncooperative manner and ignores the historical significance of a site.

“Landmarking is not always necessary. The owners [Kimco] have elected to preserve the historical significance of the Milleridge Inn on their own, ahead of the curve,” said Snodgrass. “Landmarking would force them to take the proper precautions, but that is not necessary here.”

More than 100 people attended the meeting in Hicksville.

However, Kimco representatives could not confirm the fate of the Inn’s popular village, which consists of a handful of small specialty shops. Rumors swirled throughout the meeting that Kimco planned to remove the village in favor of a hotel—a possibility that Kimco did not confirm or deny.

“The short answer is that we are exploring all options,” Brown said about the village. “We will get feedback from the community and find out what is best. This is an open dialogue and this is not the last meeting.”

Sheila Doherty, who started the “Save the Milleridge” Facebook page and helped organize the meeting with James Muller, author of a petition to preserve the Inn, spoke about the shared family memories of the Inn that Long Islanders hold dear. Doherty said she had her wedding at the venue, as did many of her family members. She also expressed concern that the Inn would face the same fate as the nearby, and just as historic, Maine Maid Inn, which has deteriorated drastically in recent years.

“It’s a special place and it’s very important to all of us,” she said. “We do not want this to end up being another Maine Maid Inn.”

Lake Success is being targeted for Nassau County’s lone medicinal marijuana dispensary by a Staten Island-based company, New York State Department of Health records reveal. Records show Bloomfield Industries Inc. plan to open the 3,238-square-foot Lake Success Patient Resource Center at 2001 Marcus Ave. in Lake Success, a stones throw from Clinton G. Martin Park.

Bloomfield is one of five groups the state in July approved to manufacture the drug under the New York State Medical Marijuana program. The center would run Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to documents. The company’s website says the facility will be operational by December.

Bloomfield has not publicly announced the proposal. They did not return calls for comment on this story.

“It’s pretty dense there,” North Lakeville Estates Civic Association Betty Leong said. “And New Hyde Park road is a main artery right now. That’ll become clogged. I’m not against them having a dispensary, but we’d like the location to be somewhere else.”

The company’s website says they “will ensure a compassionate patient experience, while protecting public health and safety in the communities served…each [center] will adopt a holistic approach to educate, support, and provide relevant resources for patients in a secure and discreet environment.” The website also said the site would house 25 employees.

Town of North Hempstead officials confirmed they’re conversing with Bloomfield reps and that the current plan is not permitted by its zoning laws. Numerous residents argued for and against the center’s opening at a town board meeting on Sept. 29.

“I share the concerns our residents have voiced about the proposed location of a medical marijuana dispensary [on Marcus Avenue],” North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said in a statement. “I learned about it through the same reports through which our residents may have heard. There has been no application to the Town of North Hempstead to allow this dispensary to open and they have not sought the town’s approval.”

Bloomfield also applied to open dispensaries in Manhattan, Syracuse and Williamsville, and a main manufacturing center on Borden Avenue in Long Island City, the documents say.

“I urge the company that will provide patients with medical marijuana to identify a new location that is in compliance with zoning laws and to consider a location more central in the county that is more convenient for patients and their caregivers,” Bosworth said. “It seems odd that a facility intended to serve severely ill residents from all over Nassau would be located on the westernmost area of the county, adjacent to Queens.”

Those close to the issue don’t argue the health benefits of medicinal cannabis with proper regulation, including Bosworth and local community members. Richard Carlton, a Port Washington psychiatrist, contends the drug’s helpfulness in “alleviating cancer pain from nausea and vomiting in chemo[therapy]. In Parkinson’s patients, it takes away the tremors. It’s a remarkable drug.”

“In Colorado, you see these jars of buds,” Carlton said. “[In New York] it’s either in capsule form that can be inserted into a vape pen or oils and forms of edibles. Some of the preparations will have THC and some will have CBD, a component of the plant that helps the conditions.”

Carlton has helped epilepsy patients obtain medical cannabis in New Jersey, which has a dispensary.

“To obtain it, epilepsy patients have to be evaluated by a psychiatrist,” he said. “I started seeing patients from New Jersey at my Manhattan office. When they get on the cannabis, seizures stop.”

Carlton treated a 14-year-old New Jersey girl, who dealt with 50-100 seizures per day, brain surgery and multiple medications before being prescribed medical marijuana. She now manages one episode every eight days.

“She was down to one seizure within two months,” Carlton said. “Before using the cannabis, she was depressed and couldn’t function. Now, she’s bright-eyed, smiling and gets to blow-dry her hair just like every young 14-year-old girl should be.”

Multiple sclerosis, cancer, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, and Huntington’s disease are some of the many illnesses eligible for the drug under state law, according to the health department.

“[Medical marijuana] can keep people away and off opiates” Carlton stated. “There’s been double-blind studies showing that. People are worried it’s a gateway drug. It’s the opposite.”

The state health department began accepting registration applications on April 27. Each applicant was required to submit a non-refundable $10,000 application fee and a $200,000 registration fee. The registration fee would be refunded if the applicant is not issued a registration, according to the state department website.

“Why don’t they put it in a pharmacy where it can be regulated rather than a private company?” Lakeville Estates Civic Association President Bill Cutrone said. “Who’s going to monitor it? And good luck getting [Bloomfield] on the phone. The dispensary is not the problem, it’s the space that has been chosen.”

Prospective companies had until June 5 to apply.

“The concerns that people have that stoners are going to go in there and get stuff and walk around smoking, it’s not going to happen,” Carlton said.

Runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes from all over Long Island and beyond are cordially invited to join in the fun on Saturday, Oct. 17, for the new and improved Oyster Bay Town Supervisor’s 5 Kilometer Run.

This year’s run will feature a new course that heads west from downtown Oyster Bay into the villages of Mill Neck and Upper Brookville before returning to the exciting finish at Townsend Square.

The run will once again be part of the USATF-LI Grand Prix of Long Island Road Races, a Grand Prix Team event, and the USATF-LI 5 Kilometer Championship for 2015, with outstanding refreshments, excellent raffles and awards five deep in five years age groups, as well as Athena, Clydesdale and wheelchair awards.

Top quality Next Level long sleeve thermal shirts will be presented to everyone who registers.

Registration and packet pickup will be at the usual place—in the community center in Townsend Square Parking Lot, just off East Main Street near Oyster Bay-East Norwich High School.

The entry fee is $21 for those who preregister, $18 for preregistered residents of the Town of Oyster Bay and $25 for those who register on the day of the run. There is a 50 percent discount for pre-registered runners under age 16.

Greater Long Island Running Club will once again be offering the Long Island Champions Challenge to the top three male and top three female finishers from Nassau or Suffolk counties. The club will be presenting cash prizes of $250 each to the first male and first female finishers; cash prizes of $150 each to the second male and female finishers; and cash prizes of $100 each to the third male and female finishers.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Chris Coschignano (who is also a partner in our Presenting Sponsor Sahn, Ward & Coschigano) will be running the 2015 Oyster Bay Town Supervisor’s Run to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities and its efforts to improve the health and well being of children and their families during difficult times.

Register online at www.glirc.org or call the running club at 516-349-7646 for hard copy entry forms or more information.

At this past Sunday’s 15th annual Long Island Pancreatic Cancer Walk held at Jones Beach, more than $1 million was raised by 465 teams. Jericho High School junior Samantha Lustberg, whose grandfather Alan Lustberg passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer, has made it one of her goals to see this disease eradicated in her lifetime so no one else loses a loved one.

Exceeding her lofty goal of raising $30,000, Samantha was honored with the second highest fundraising total out of thousands of participants in this year’s event.

When asked at the walk what she was feeling, Samantha said that with the amount of people that showed up to walk, it is clear that this disease must be eradicated.

“Look around today at this event alone and see how many people this disease has affected just on Long Island, let alone worldwide,” she said. “It is clear that this horrible cycle needs to be put to an end.”

Samantha said that research holds the key to finding better treatments and a cure, but only 2 percent of the National Cancer Research budget is given to fund pancreatic cancer, yet it is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in this country.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” she said.

This year, Samantha’s Team Poppy had 64 people walk with to remember her grandfather, as well as the many others who have been affected by this disease. The Lustgarten Foundation donates 100 percent of every dollar directly to pancreatic cancer research and the hope is to walk for all survivors, not the 93 percent who will not survive when given a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

By Neeva Shafiian

In 2010, a little known Canadian singer and lyrical genius stole the hearts of hardcore R&B music fans with a new breed of dark love songs. Abel Tesfaye, who goes by the intentionally misspelled moniker The Weeknd, sings about love and vice above an irresistible beat. His voice, which alternates between soft and gloomy to raspy and powerful, brings vitality to words that speak of death. He produces lyrics that describe painful abuse, somber self-indulgence and a captivating love. After he dropped a couple mixtapes, The Weeknd caught the attention of rap virtuoso Kanye West and soon after he began collaborating with artists like Drake and Ariana Grande.

Tesfaye’s slow but steady rise to fame has recently reached a climax. His critically renowned album debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. Beauty Behind the Madness sold 412,000 copies in its first week, making it the largest album debut so far in 2015. Today, it sits comfortably on the top of several charts. Even if you haven’t heard of the man with the eclectic style and beautiful voice, you’ve surely heard his songs. “Earned It” quickly became a smash hit following its feature in the film Fifty Shades of Grey. The MJ-esque “Can’t Feel My Face” became the song of the summer, gripping on to its number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (something many major artists have yet to do). Currently, “The Hills” is being played constantly on popular stations around the country giving The Weeknd his third hit from the album. Many fans believe the song peeks into one of his hidden relationships with an A-list celebrity—the aforementioned Ariana Grande.

Beauty Behind the Madness immediately enchants a listener with “real life.” Tesfaye writes of the troubles of giving one’s heart to someone and maintaining a relationship—”Mama called me destructive, oh yeah/ Said it’d ruin me one day, yeah/ Cause every woman that loved me, oh yeah/I seemed to push them away.” In fact, this battle with commitment is a common theme throughout the album. “Acquainted,” “Shameless,” and “As You Are” are all exposés that focus on deep loves that had quick expiration dates due to character faults. “Tell Your Friends,” produced by none other than Kanye West, is an open door into a complicated lifestyle of relationships, drugs and fame. Tesfaye’s wounded voice admits to the dark side of sexuality in “Often” with lyrics that some listeners consider to be borderline offensive and misogynistic. Although the words may be discomforting, the brutal honesty about relationship struggles are relatable. The funky, yet dark, “In The Night” describes a girl who was abused as a child and now parties when she’s “dancing to relieve the pain.” In the closing song “Angel,” Tesfaye describes the sacrifice of being selfless and letting a girl go because it is in her best interest.

The hit album also features some notable collaborations. In the anthem of the pursuit of dreams “Losers,” Tesfaye collaborated with British singer Labyrinth to reminisce on their decisions to drop everything and make the bold moves that commenced their careers. Featuring British sensation Ed Sheeran, “Dark Times” warns women about their addictions that relapse during depressing times. One of the most anticipated tracks on the album, “Prisoner,” features the indie-pop princess Lana Del Rey. Together, their voices talk about a tortured love under the pressure of Hollywood.

The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness is a perfect blend of 14 songs that will get stuck in your head and force you to sing along.

Lace up the skates, it’s time to hit the ice.

The Town of Oyster Bay’s Learn to Skate program is back and open for registration at the Bethpage Community Park ice skating center.

“Anyone interested in learning to skate or in sharpening their abilities will be happy to learn that the ice skating center offers skating classes for residents all throughout the year,” said town Councilwoman Michele Johnson said. “Registration for Series 2 (Nov. 1 through Dec. 19) will begin on Oct. 18. Those interested can register at the rink, online (www.therinx.com) or by phone at 516-797-4126.”

The program offers group skating lessons to beginners through advanced levels. Skaters are paired based on age and skill, ranging from pre-school and basic skills through advanced levels. The program is seven weeks in length with the exception of Thursday and Friday classes which are prorated for six weeks. All classes are 30 minutes in length. For residents, the fee is $135 for the session. For non-residents the fee is $175. The schedule is: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon; Saturdays, from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.; and Sundays from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. The rink will be closed on Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) and no classes will be offered on Nov. 27.

Registration costs include admission into the session for which you are registered on the day of the lesson, membership in the United States Figure Skating (USFS) Basic Skills Program, USFS record book for new members, along with stickers and USFS badges upon mastering of each level. There will also be an evaluation on week seven with a recommendation for the next series. There will be no refunds or makeups and skate rental is not included in price. Helmets, gloves or mittens and warm layers are recommended for all skaters.

“The Rinx Skating School staff is consists of experienced and qualified professionals, governed by US Figure Skating, USA Hockey and Professional Skaters Association,” said Johnson. “This team of professionals places a major focus on educating the fundamentals of ice skating but most importantly, having fun. The town is happy to offer such outstanding programs that are enjoyable for skaters of all ages.”

For more information, visit www.oysterbaytown.com, www.therinx.com or call the Rinx office at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center at 516-797-4126.

From left: Business teacher Nicole Izzo, Jericho senior Matthew Herzog and Jericho’s Curriculum Associate for Social Studies, Business, and Libraries, Dr. Eric Sundberg.

At a recent Board of Education meeting in Jericho, the board presented Jericho senior Matthew Herzog with a certificate for his honors at the FBLA Spring Conference, at the local, state and national level.

At FBLA’s Spring District Conference at Molloy College, where the team competed with business students all across Long Island, Herzog came in first place in accounting and first place in banking and financial systems. Meanwhile, at FBLA’s State Leadership Conference in Rochester, where the team competed with business students from New York State, he came in first place in securities and investments and fourth place in accounting.

The senior continued his success at FBLA’s National Leadership Conference in Chicago, where the team competed with business students from all over the country. Herzog came in first place in securities and investments in the nation.

“Matt exemplifies the skills of a distinguished business leader in and out of the classroom,” said teacher Nicole Izzo. “His focus, drive, and character motivate all that have the opportunity to work with him. His contributions here at Jericho have made an impact, and I have no doubts he will continue that same path in the business world.”

Berry Hill Elementary School in the Syosset Central School District kicked off this year’s PRIDE campaign in spirited fashion.

PRIDE, which stands for Patience, Respect, Integrity, Dignity and Empathy, is an ongoing character education initiative designed to encourage students throughout the school to demonstrate these important qualities. Berry Hill recently held a pep rally in the school gymnasium, where students from every class displayed colorful posters carrying important messages akin to the theme.

Principal Joanne Mannion led off the assembly before passing the microphone to physical education teachers Scott Segal and Bill Lewis, who reinforced the importance of being good citizens and asked students to talk about PRIDE in their own words. Faculty and students wore their “Got PRIDE?” T-shirts, modeled after the famous milk campaign. They will wear the shirts every Friday this year to remind everyone in the school about the importance of demonstrating the attributes of PRIDE.

Photo Caption: Berry Hill ES students recently held a pep rally in the school gymnasium, where students from every class displayed colorful posters carrying important messages akin to the character education theme of PRIDE.