In the next Dessert with Andrew & Yvonne Zoom Seminar, the dynamic duo will discuss ways you can help those in need this holiday season. The seminar is titled, “Holiday Edition: Community Service.” From soup kitchens to nursing homes; learn about the various ways one can volunteer, and hear from organizations that are making a positive impact in our community.
Dear Editor,
Governor Kathy Hochul promised us a clean break from Albany’s disgraceful past upon taking office in August.
But she broke that vow by immediately urging a speed up in payments to illegal immigrants under the state’s $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund program passed by the legislature in April. It provides $15,600 to low earning undocumented immigrants who claim to have lost a job or suffered a 50 percent drop in earnings because of the COVID pandemic.
They are entitled to this money even if they worked off the books and paid no taxes. Moderate Democrats on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley and upstate opposed the measure, but progressives called them “racist” and rammed it through the legislative process.
State Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs chided progressives by noting that it’s not racist to question a program that gives “undocumented, non-taxpaying, off-the-books workers a humanitarian grant.”
Lawmakers passed the bill to benefit illegal immigrants who were excluded from the Trump and Biden
administrations’ COVID stimulus programs because they are in our nation illegally. Why can’t New York’s political leaders follow Washington’s example?
Blatant vote grabbing is one reason. Hochul plans to run for governor next year and needs left-wing voters to win her party’s primary election. Many of them live in New York City, where two-thirds of the 200,000 illegal immigrants eligible for COVID benefits reside and have relatives who vote.
I don’t know which NYC legislators voted for this measure, but those who did should be rejected by voters when they face re-election next year. They betrayed their taxpaying constituents and must be held accountable for it.
Sincerely,
Richard Reif
Kew Gardens Hills
Dear Editor,
“Sad Milestone for old Avenue Diner” in The Woodhaven Beat column concerning the first anniversary of the closing of the popular diner is reminiscent of other diners who have met a similar fate.
Over the years, we have seen the demise of the Bay Terrace (Bayside), Bel Aire (Astoria), Gold Star (Bayside), Seville (Douglaston), Sage (Elmhurst), Nevada (Elmhurst), Kanes (Flushing), Saravan (Flushing), Palace (Flushing), Future (Fresh Meadows), Forest Hills (Forest Hills), Waterview (Howard Beach), Fame (Jamaica), Scobees Grill (Little Neck), Sky Line (Glen Oaks), Shalimar (Rego Park), and Tasty (Ridgewood) diners.
Remember these people are our neighbors. Our local entrepreneurs who own and operate diners have continued to invest in our community creating new employment opportunities.
They work long hours, pay taxes and provide local employment. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, they don’t eat either.
In these difficult economic times, it is important to patronize your favorite restaurants.
Here’s hoping that our remaining diners all continue to survive and prosper.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Dear Editor,
I am outraged over the COVID-19 vaccination protests. The argument is mandatory vaccinations are a violation of their constitutional rights. How can a person have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness when many who are not vaccinated are getting sick and dying?
Many of these same people don’t want their children vaccinated or wearing masks in school. Do they want their children sick and potentially dying from this dreaded disease?
Please everyone listen to the science and get vaccinated, because those you love depend on you to do so.
Sincerely Yours,
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
Dear Editor,
The Centers for Disease Control said the vaccines do not prevent transmission of COVID-19, yet the administration says we must be vaccinated and wear masks to protect others.
If the vaccines don’t work 100 percent why are they being mandated?
We need to demand that the public advocate file an injunction against this administration, stopping them from forcing vaccine and mask mandates and mandatory testing until they are all confirmed to be 100 percent safe, and those imposing these mandates are subject to accountability if it turns out they’re mistaken.
Finally, we need to elect a mayor and City Council that’s going to pass a law that will remove executive immunity for criminal actions and prevent the violation of our rights without probable cause and due process.
Sincerely,
Marvin Jeffcoat
Sunnyside
Q: We are about to buy a co-op, and one of my friends asked me if I was going to do an inspection. Do I need to do this for an apartment in a building?
A: A home inspection is not generally done for a co-op apartment because the co-op is responsible for the structure of the building. The only time I would recommend an inspection is if your apartment is located on the top floor or below street level and there is evidence of structural issues.
In either case, it is almost always the responsibility of the co-op to repair any structural problems. You can personally check things like appliances and water leaks and save yourself several hundred dollars of home inspection fees.
Q: Why do I need a lawyer to buy or sell?
A: In many other states, lawyers are not used for transactions. This is usually handled by the brokers and title companies. Using a government-mandated form, you only have to sign a simple agreement and you are in contract.
In the New York metropolitan area, lawyers are very important due to the overwhelming amount of paperwork required to enter into contract and subsequently close a transaction.
This can be even greater if there are banks involved. An experienced attorney will be able to protect your interests and keep you out of bad situations that can cost you money.
Send your real estate-related questions to jambron@bhsusa.com.
A common question in my practice revolves around soy. Should you consumed or avoid it, especially for women who have breast cancer risk factors? It is a valid question, and the medical research has begun to debunk the myth that soy is detrimental.
The form of soy is important; soy from food seems to be safe, but soy in high supplement form has shown mixed results.
Why are patients worried? Soy contains phytoestrogens (plant estrogens). The thought is that phytoestrogens have similar effects as estrogen produced by humans or other animals.
However, the story is complex: soy actually may help prevent breast cancer and its recurrence. It may also have other positive health effects.
Breast Cancer Impact
The Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, an over 5,000 patient observational trial that followed patients for a median of 3.9 years, has had resounding effects on the way we think of soy in relation to breast cancer.
The population consisted of women who had already had one occurrence of breast cancer that was in remission. The women who consumed the most soy from food, measured as soy isoflavones or soy proteins, had a 32 percent reduction in a second occurrence of breast cancer and a 29 percent reduction in breast cancer mortality, compared to those who consumed the least.
This inverse relationship was seen in both estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative women. It is more difficult to treat estrogen receptor-negative women; therefore, making these results even more impressive.
A 2008 meta-analysis suggested that soy decreases breast cancer risk on a dose-dependent curve; for every 10 mg of soy isoflavones daily, there was a 16 percent reduction in breast cancer risk.
Menopause
Soy and soy isoflavones may help improve cognitive function in postmenopausal women. This effect was seen only in women who increased their soy intake before age 65. There may be a “critical window” of therapeutic opportunity in early stages of post-menopause where soy has the greatest impact.
Soy is not the food with the greatest phytoestrogens, flaxseed is. In a randomized control trial, a daily flaxseed bar did no better at reducing vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women, such as hot flashes, than a fiber placebo bar. This took the study’s authors by surprise; preliminary studies had suggested the opposite.
Reinforcing these results, another trial failed to show any beneficial effect of soy isoflavones on menopausal symptoms or on preventing bone loss.
Lung Cancer Treatment and Prevention
Soy isoflavones help to boost the effect of radiation on cancer cells by blocking DNA repair in these cells. They also protect surrounding healthy cells with an antioxidant effect. Soybeans contain three powerful components, genistein, daidzein and glycitein, that provide this effect.
Pretreating lung cancer patients, may promote better outcomes.
The risk of lung cancer was also shown to be reduced 23 percent in one meta-analysis of 11 trials. In subset data, when analysis was restricted to the five highest quality studies, there was an even greater reduction: 30 percent.
Cholesterol
Soy may have modest effects in reducing cholesterol levels. Interestingly, people who convert a soy enzyme to a substance called equol, an estrogen-like compound, during digestion were considered the only ones to benefit; however, one study showed that equol non-producers also benefited with a reduction in LDL “bad” cholesterol.
The equol producers maintained their HDL “good” cholesterol whereas the non-producers saw a decline.
What does all of this tell us? Soy is most likely beneficial for men and women alike, even in those with a risk of breast cancer. It does not mean we should eat a soy-based diet, but rather have soy in moderation – on a daily basis, perhaps. It is best to eat whole soy, not soy isolates.
Also, soy supplements are not the same as foods that contain soy, so it is best to consume soy in foods.
Human trafficking is the act of compelling someone into work or commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion. It is illegal everywhere, but happens every day in big cities and small towns across the United States.
Human trafficking takes many forms: A foster care youth forced into commercial sex work by someone pretending to be her “boyfriend;” a migrant locked in a house, compelled to cook and clean; a man with a mental health disability laboring in a poultry processing plant for no pay.
It occurs across oceans and in our own backyards.
Human trafficking is a $150 billion a year industry. There are more than 40 million victims worldwide, including many in the United States. The National Human Trafficking Hotline recorded 11,500 domestic cases in 2019.
And those were just the reported cases. Many more are never brought to light.
Sadly, marginalized communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, undocumented immigrants, and survivors of abuse, are more likely to become victims. Studies estimate that 40 percent of U.S. sex trafficking victims are Black Americans and over 60 percent of labor trafficking victims are Hispanic.
There is no silver bullet to end human trafficking, and it won’t happen overnight. However, a concerted effort from all levels of society to combat this evil is our best hope to end it.
When communities come together, we can develop a comprehensive response. United Way is proud to leverage our network of more than 1,000 United Ways in 40 countries to identify and support local stakeholders in the fight against trafficking.
By mobilizing individuals, businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations, our Center to Combat Human Trafficking helps coordinate efforts to end this systemic injustice.
This comprehensive approach is being piloted in cities across the country, from Las Vegas to Atlanta. Each program is designed to address each community’s unique challenges, from child abuse to poverty to homelessness.
Companies can work to educate their employees and marshal donations toward projects dedicated to combatting trafficking. Many employees at UPS, for instance, are trained to spot signs of trafficking on their daily routes. UPS employees have given millions of dollars to anti-trafficking efforts led by United Way’s Center.
Additionally, business leaders can strive to employ survivors of trafficking. Secure employment and financial stability help reduce one’s risk of being trafficked again. Employing survivors may require more inclusive hiring practices, like not automatically disqualifying those with criminal records.
As one advisor at the Human Trafficking Legal Center explains, trafficking victims are often “arrested and prosecuted for their traffickers’ crimes.”
Individuals can support anti-human trafficking initiatives by considering their purchasing choices. Consumers can look for signs of sex and labor trafficking in stores, salons, hotels, and restaurants.
They can research whether brands employ responsible sourcing practices in their supply chains.
Concerned voters have immense influence to wield, too. Congress will soon reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which was first passed in 2000 to prosecute traffickers and support survivors.
Americans can call their representatives and urge them to pass this legislation and fund anti-trafficking efforts.
Every day, our lives intersect with this issue through the products we purchase, the systems we perpetuate, and people we pass on the street. Each of us has the opportunity and ability to combat human trafficking. United, we can end it.
Mara Vanderslice Kelly is executive director of the United Way Center to Combat Human Trafficking.
Vincenza Prego passed away on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at the age of 94. Beloved Wife of the late Louis Prego. Loving Mother of Virginia Yuskiewicz (the late Joseph), Carmela Atcosta, and the late Louis (Frances), Alfred and Robert. Cherish Grandmother of Louis, Lou-Marie, Alison, Sara, Frankie, Jason and Jennifer and Great Grandmother and Great-Great-Grandmother to 6 Great-Grandchildren and 8 Great-Great Grandchildren. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends. In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Transfiguration Church on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 9:30 AM. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378.
Daniel Aherne passed away on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at the age of 85. Originally from County Cork, Ireland. Beloved Husband of Bridget Aherne. Loving Father of Sheila Bluni, John Aherne, Brian Aherne and Mary Lynch. Cherished Grandfather of Autumn, Gavin, Tara, Daniel, Saoirse, Brendan, Dylan and James. Dear Brother of Margaret Aherne. Mass of Christian Burial offered at Transfiguration Church on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 10 AM. Interment followed at St. John Cemetery, Middle Village, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 7227 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.
