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The Knox Prep Basketball Team is now 15-6 for their season, achieving two hard-fought wins during home games at The Knox School in the Bancroft-Phinney Gymnasium this past weekend. The Knox School is a 501c3 nonprofit institution that is built on a mission that provides the opportunity for capable students to excel within a liberal arts program infused with artistic and athletic pursuits, in preparation for higher education at selective colleges and universities. Our philosophy is to provide a diverse student body with a traditional, structured, and familial atmosphere that fosters academic, intellectual, and character development while celebrating individual strengths and talent. Rooted in the six core principles of integrity, kindness, courage, respect, responsibility and scholarship, the Knox School aims to inspire in each student a love of learning and the desire to continually develop the skills necessary to lead happy, confident and successful lives in a complex and changing world. |
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Exciting Weekend At Our Home Beside The Shore
Hands on HealthCare Elevates to Hands on Signature
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| When it comes to business success, nothing could be more essential than change. This is exactly what Marla Kaplan, Director and Owner of Hands on has accomplished. In 1998, the idea was born to provide services to the community, far more than an ordinary massage center. “The growth of our Myofascial Release treatments has prompted us to reconsider our name, in order to embrace all aspects of our life's work. Hands On Signature Health more accurately describes our center”, explains Ms. Kaplan. Myofascial Release is an innovative and highly effective whole body approach for the evaluation and treatment of pain and dysfunction. Myofascial Release has exploded on the therapeutic scene with an unprecedented impact and is recognized as the most effective form of healthcare therapy. As explained to me by Marla Kaplan, Myofascial Release Approach is applied through gentle, sustained pressure that eliminates pain and restoration of motion, trauma and inflammation, chronic pain, injury related conditions and others. “You really have to be passionate about your work and care for your clients to do this type of work. By offering advanced medical massage therapy, we set the standard of care in the community and must always deliver excellence,” says Marla. Hands on Signature Health’s staff are all licensed therapists and cater to a wide variety of client needs. Hands on Signature Health offers both Medical Massage Therapy and Therapeutic Massage. Advanced medical massage therapy, as with their Myofascial Release Therapy, has made them a respected and recognized leader throughout Suffolk County as medical massage specialists. “Properly executed medical message in many cases is the answer for handling Pain, Injury and Disease. We offer Pre-Natal Massage, Sports Massage, Oncology, Trigger Point Therapy and More”, explains Ms. Kaplan. Hands on Signature Health is recognized as a community provider for Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center and a verified Cancer Aware Facility by Wellness for Cancer – the first organization to establish standardized, objective, cancer-focused training and business criteria for the spa and wellness industry. To attain this certification, Marla Kaplan and her staff had to satisfy a specific protocol and receive intense training relating to proper treatment of cancer patients. Hands On HealthCare is where it began… Hands On Signature Health is an exciting new direction that will continue to deliver exceptional therapeutic and medical massage on long island. Hand on Health Signature is located at 208 Commack Road, Commack. For more information call 631-462-HAND (4263) or visit their site at www.longislandmassageandspa.com |
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Five Healthy Activities For You & Your Valentine
Kathy Horowitz facilitates a monthly women’s writer’s group at the Life Center in Huntington. Her work has appeared in The Long Islander, Long Island Woman, Calyx, Blue Unicorn, and is forthcoming in Seventh Quarry. She recently self-published a collection of poems and completed the 50,000-word novel-writing challenge during November’s NaNoWriMo. Kathy offers freelance writing, editing, and proofreading services (kahorowitz@gmail.com)
www.kathyhorowitz.com.
There’s no better time than Valentine’s Day/weekend to plan a healthy activity with your loved one. But before you venture out for that romantic dinner, here are five healthy picks:
• Seal Watching, Jones Beach (516-780-3295). There’s a designated Harbor Seal Watch Spot at Jones Beach. Park in Field 10 (no fee) and walk down to the beach and keep your eyes open. Sighting seals bobbing up and down in in the water will pleasantly surprise you. The Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center also offers guided seal walks there for a fee of $4.
• Do a Manhattan museum “crawl.” Visit The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Radio and Television), which is dedicated to audio-visual artifacts with a collection of over 150,000 TV/radio programs and advertisements (www.paleycenter.org). Or visit The American Museum of Natural History (www.amnh.org) where you can explore Cuba’s extraordinary biodiversity and unique culture through immersive exhibits; visit the Butterfly Conservatory, or the Wonders of the Arctic, which tells the story of survival.
• Island Rock, 60 Skyline Drive, Plainview (www.islandrock.net). Bring the outdoors inside by challenging one another to this unique rock-climbing gym with over 100 routes, which includes walls, rappel tower, crack climbs, and bouldering cave. Don’t forget to check Groupon for discounts.
• Bowlmor Lanes, Melville. Touted by the Melville Chamber of Commerce as the “best kept secret on LI for bowling entertainment,” Bowlmor turns America’s favorite pastime into a high-end, high-energy activity with 47 lanes and an arcade, which includes classic table games. Also known for their inventive menu and cocktails. (www.bowlmor.com/melville).
• First Glass Wine Tours. If you want to relax after a day of hiking or other activity, you and your partner can bring your own snacks, appetizers and lunch if you choose. A professional Chauffer will graciously assist all your needs at each location. This Classic Package includes a luxury limousine/bus transportation (including bottled water and ice); personally planned itinerary for visiting 3 wineries; live music and dancing; and best of all, 6 hours of relaxation, enjoyment, and new memories made by you and your loved one. Visit the website for packages and fees.
(info@firstglasswinetours.com)
Whatever you and your sweetheart do this Valentine’s Day, remember that it is a good time to reconnect with one another and perhaps to even start a new tradition!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Rooted In Sweet Love
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A sweet sort of mash for your Valentine! Take it from me, a girl who is (a real white starch lover) and never appreciated or desired the deliciousness of the sweet potato. I have just recently fallen in love and am suddenly sweet on these “off white” potatoes! I am now hooked! Although it has taken me a ½ century to reunite with these roots ~ it has been great discovering the healthy and deliciousness to the alternative white stuff and I don’t mean snow ~ oh no! The sweet potato happens to be amongst the oldest vegetable we have on the planet earth today. It is believed to have been in consumption for centuries. There is absolute proof that they were on the “menu” in prehistoric times. So that’s why Dino was so tall and I’m not? Rich in color, dietary fiber, beta carotene, potassium this sweet thing lowers the risk of many illnesses. An asset to your love life and your energy levels (which helps!) The amazing benefits are too extensive to write about as well as the many delicious, loving ways to prepare them. So it’s sealed with a kiss!!! Sweet potatoes for a long loving life! For me the pale white potato has lost its color! Happy Valentine’s Day Mash! Grease a heart shaped pan. Mash 6 sweet potatoes that have been boiled, baked or oven roasted in a bowl with butter or olive oil, add a splash of milk and beat until whipped and creamy. Add fresh ground pepper, sea salt, and a teaspoon of fresh parsley. Make a crust out of chopped pecans drizzled with olive oil or a tad of butter and have been roasted to golden in a 350 degree oven. Spread mash over nut crust, and sprinkle with a lil’ brown sugar! Kiss lightly under the broiler! Xoxo Denise |
Denise Gianatasio is a Northport |
Five Healthy Activities For You & Your Valentine
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There’s no better time than Valentine’s Day/weekend to plan a healthy activity with your loved one. But before you venture out for that romantic dinner, here are five healthy picks: • Seal Watching, Jones Beach (516-780-3295). There’s a designated Harbor Seal Watch Spot at Jones Beach. Park in Field 10 (no fee) and walk down to the beach and keep your eyes open. Sighting seals bobbing up and down in in the water will pleasantly surprise you. The Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center also offers guided seal walks there for a fee of $4. • Do a Manhattan museum “crawl.” Visit The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Radio and Television), which is dedicated to audio-visual artifacts with a collection of over 150,000 TV/radio programs and advertisements (www.paleycenter.org). Or visit The American Museum of Natural History (www.amnh.org) where you can explore Cuba’s extraordinary biodiversity and unique culture through immersive exhibits; visit the Butterfly Conservatory, or the Wonders of the Arctic, which tells the story of survival. • Island Rock, 60 Skyline Drive, Plainview (www.islandrock.net). Bring the outdoors inside by challenging one another to this unique rock-climbing gym with over 100 routes, which includes walls, rappel tower, crack climbs, and bouldering cave. Don’t forget to check Groupon for discounts.
• Bowlmor Lanes, Melville. Touted by the Melville Chamber of Commerce as the “best kept secret on LI for bowling entertainment,” Bowlmor turns America’s favorite pastime into a high-end, high-energy activity with 47 lanes and an arcade, which includes classic table games. Also known for their inventive menu and cocktails. (www.bowlmor.com/melville). • First Glass Wine Tours. If you want to relax after a day of hiking or other activity, you and your partner can bring your own snacks, appetizers and lunch if you choose. A professional Chauffer will graciously assist all your needs at each location. This Classic Package includes a luxury limousine/bus transportation (including bottled water and ice); personally planned itinerary for visiting 3 wineries; live music and dancing; and best of all, 6 hours of relaxation, enjoyment, and new memories made by you and your loved one. Visit the website for packages and fees. Whatever you and your sweetheart do this Valentine’s Day, remember that it is a good time to reconnect with one another and perhaps to even start a new tradition! Happy Valentine’s Day! |
Kathy Horowitz facilitates a monthly women’s writer’s group at the Life Center in Huntington. Her work has appeared in The Long Islander, Long Island Woman, Calyx, Blue Unicorn, and is forthcoming in Seventh Quarry. She recently self-published a collection of poems and completed the 50,000-word novel-writing challenge during November’s NaNoWriMo. Kathy offers freelance writing, editing, and proofreading services (kahorowitz@gmail.com) |
A Sweet & Sometimes Healthy Valentine’s Treat!
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While out shopping with my son recently, he pointed out a plaque that read: “Chocolate comes from cocoa, which is a tree. That makes it a plant. Chocolate is a salad.” The benefits and drawbacks of chocolate have been debated since the Aztec foodstuff made its way to Europe centuries ago. Hailed as, “The food of the Gods,” by some and chief perpetrator of pimples by others, science is now weighing in on the subject. Although the nutrition facts aren’t as simple as the aforementioned plaque would have us hope, armed with a few guidelines we can have our chocolate and some heath perks, too. Chocolate is made from beans sourced from pods of the cacao tree. The beans are fermented, dried, and roasted. After roasting, the shells are separated from the “nib”, which is the “meat” of the bean. Cacao nibs have made their way onto supermarket shelves and are touted as a “superfood”. Cacao nibs have high amounts of phytonutrients, antioxidants, fiber, and minerals such as iron and magnesium. They contain theobromine, which dilates blood vessels and acts as a stimulant to the nervous system. Cacao’s positive impact on cardiovascular function, alertness, and improved mood are responsible for much of the health claims attributed to chocolate. However, doctors caution that because cacao nibs are also high in fat they should be consumed in moderation. As we make our way to more familiar forms of chocolate products, the plot thickens a bit, as will our waistlines, unless we heed some cautions. Cacao nibs are finely ground into “cocoa mass” and some are further processed into cocoa butter and cocoa powder. The artistry of the chocolatier now enters the picture, with sweeteners, milk, and other flavorings to create a signature confection. As with most foods, the more cacao is processed and ingredients added, the less nutritious it is for you. Dark chocolate, which tends to have less sugar added and a higher fat content, offers the better nutrient profile. Many chocolates are now boldly labeled with their cacao content, with percentages above 70 necessary to obtain a health benefit. Milk chocolate will tend to have lower fat levels, and higher sugar, but will not contain enough cacao to be considered beneficial. Some may say the healthier it is the worse it tastes, but dark chocolates with the same cacao percentage may still vary widely in flavor due to many factors, including the country or countries the cacao was sourced from, and other added ingredients. Although as a “health food” chocolate might not rival a nutritional powerhouse like kale, it’s nice to know the candy unparalleled in its ability to touch our hearts can be good for them as well. |
Jackie Demeri Costello is a Certified Yoga Teacher, Holistic Educator, and the author of the Mom’s Choice Gold Award-winning book, Animooves: Yoga & Creativity |
2017 Valentine’s Gift Guide
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Valentine’s Day is not always about flowers, chocolate or jewelry. It’s about love, relationships, thoughtfulness and showing your significant other how much you appreciate them. The perfect Valentine’s Day should consist of a well thought out day/night. Whether you’re just dating, newly married or with a longtime sweetheart; start a tradition or get creative together. Here are some ideas perfect for her and him that will make Valentine’s Day special. For Both Couples Yoga Class Book a Getaway… Book a Brewery or Wine Tour… Get Creative Together… For Her Beauty Products… jewelry… Cologne… For the Sports |
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Valentine’s Day – A Family Affair
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Valentines Day has always been known as a special day to devote to your significant other. Hearts, flowers, and chocolates are synonymous with Valentine’s Day. However, once you have children you may not have the freedom you once had to skip off for a romantic weekend together. There may be slight changes in the way you celebrate. But life is about making every day special. When you have friends and family that you care about, never let the opportunity to express that love go by. Even a small gesture can mean so much! As I am notably one with a huge passion for the happiness that holidays bring, you can be sure I will not let a holiday go by without celebrating it in some way. The following is a family friendly Valentine’s Day celebration guide: Think Pink and Red I Heart You Dessert Traditions Most importantly, think of this holiday as a very special opportunity to show the people around you how much you care, appreciate and love them! |
Michelle Pierre is a freelance writer and |
Show The Love
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Valentine’s Day is approaching and that makes it a great time to “get your rescue on”. Adopting a pet is a great way to help an animal in need, and in return, they will show you unconditional love all year long. If it’s puppy love you’re looking for, then head on over to North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington where there are many available puppies that are in need of their forever homes. North Shore Animal League America is the largest no-kill shelter and rescue in the world. One of the great things about adopting from a shelter is that there are hundreds of breeds to choose from. You can find almost any breed, from a tiny Chihuahua to a big Golden Retriever. When you adopt a pet, you’re not just saving one life, you’re saving two. Your new best friend gets its forever home and you make room for another animal that’s in need of rescue. There’s other fun ways to show your love for animals if you can't adopt. For instance, you can visit the Long Island Aquarium, which is home to the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. The foundation is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of ocean wildlife which includes seals, turtles, and dolphins. There are many activities to do such as shark dives, penguin encounters, boats tours and a touch tank. With so much to do and explore, it makes the aquarium the perfect place to go to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Their latest event is called ChocoVino. It's a Valentine’s celebration that pairs chocolate and wine, along with a five-course dinner to share with your someone special. Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown also has a great Valentine's Day celebration coming up on Sunday, February 12th that’s dedicated to the love of animals. If you’d like to add a little adventure to your weekend, then consider the Sweetbriar Nature Center. It's a fun and educational event for all animal lovers to enjoy. You can meet some of the amazing wildlife that lives here on Long Island and go on a tour of the nature preserve. You can also make a heartwarming craft with your family. Victoria’s Fun Facts and Tips: • The L.I Aquarium is also offering the • Admission at the Aquarium is FREE on your birthday. • Since 1944 North Shore Animal league America has been saving animals all over the country. They always have a large selection of dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. For more information, please visit their websites. |
Victoria is an accomplished animal educator and journalist who's been recognized by Dowling College and awarded by Congress for her work. Victoria also teaches in schools and libraries where she shares firsthand her knowledge and experiences in a series of educational programs that she’s developed. |
The Greatest of These is Love
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Love is, in my estimation, the most priceless and precious gift any human being can give or receive. It is the very essence of life and the one thing most sought after by all. Love can feel like the gentlest of breezes on a warm summer day, or its intensity can literally take your breath away. Love can be pure and innocent, like that which a child gives and receives, or it can be fraught with complex and diverse emotions, sometimes making it an almost bitter pill to swallow. |
Maria DiGiorgio is a lifelong New Yorker, who currently resides in Commack, with her family. She is a devoted wife and mother, an educator and designer. Maria |
Rincon Criollo Restaurant
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 Marc Piperno, President ET Week Media Group |
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Unless you’ve been living on the moon for the last few years, you would have already learned that a landmark restaurant in Corona, Queens has just celebrated one year right here in Huntington. Rincon Criollo Restaurant is a family business that dates back to the early 1950’s, when the Acosta Brothers opened a restaurant in a small town, outside of Havana, Cuba. The restaurant quickly became a favorite amongst celebrities and dignitaries due to its vibrant ambiance, great service and tasty Cuban fare. After two decades of enjoying more success than the family ever dreamed of, the two youngest members of the family came to the states to build a dream of their own by bringing the traditions of the Acosta family’s humble beginnings to Corona, Queens. They became so successful, that the food network showcased them on Guy Fieris’ Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. How’s that for bragging rights! 16 W. Jericho Tpke, Huntington Station, 631-271-2277 |
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7T8 European Fusion
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| Finally, a fresh new approach to dining comes to the Village of Northport. Seventy-Eight European Fusion (7T8) combines a variety of culinary fare with an American influence. Sounds like this new hot spot has taken the word fusion and turned it on its’ head. Executive Chef and owner Stephen Claussell wanted to create a look and feel that would attract its’ patrons regularly, by always having something new to try. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America’s acclaimed A.C.E. program, Chef Stephen was determined to work at some of the finest restaurants, while honing his culinary chops, with the desire of becoming a restauranteur himself. Mr. Claussen soon began to move up the ranks and became the Chef De Cuisine of the five-star hotel and four-star restaurant, Mark Hotel in New York City. Chef Stephen also held several other Executive Chef positions in Alexandria Virginia and Washington, D.C., before realizing his dream of owning and running his own restaurant. The offerings at Seventy-Eight European Fusion are exciting and unique. For starters, try the “Risotto Croquettes”; Four min croquettes prepared with Arborio rice, Braised Beef, three cheeses, and Demi Fried with horseradish whipped potatoes and Marchand De Vin. Savory and sumptuous! The Mussels Sambuca is something that is a must; a generous bowl of savory broth, filled with succulent mussels, bathing in a broth of Fennel and Butter White Wine Cream Sauce with Chorizo and Lemon and Garlic Crostini. Umm, so good! Salads are pretty much standard fare with a couple of soups to choose from as well. For me, the entrees look so amazing, I recommend that you get the dishes that you want with your partner, split them up and share. Otherwise, you’re going to be looking at you dining partners dish, hoping to get a bite. If you are going to split your entrees, definitely do a pasta with fish or meat. Here’s what I recommend. “Mushroom and Pork Ravioli”; delicate morsels of tender pork stuffed into a House Made Black Pepper Pasta in a Grana Cheese, Tomato, and Roasted Pepper Cream Sauce. A perfect complement with this dish “Blackened Wild Salmon”; A moist and buttery cut, Pan Seared and served with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes tossed in Herbs, Grana Cheese, in a Garlic infused Olive Oil Sauce, complimented with Broccoli. The finale you ask? Go for the “Cinnamon Sugar Mini Donuts” served with two dipping sauces, Vanilla Mascarpone Crème and Salted Carmel. Ah yes, the “Frangelico Crème Brulee”, another great choice made with Espresso Whipped Cream, Sweet Custard and Fresh Berries. Fantastico!! Romantic, cool and cutting edge is the only way to describe this welcomed addition to the beautiful village of Northport. For more information: call 631-651-8808 or visit their website at www.7T8europeanfusion.com |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000.