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March 2012

AN ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS SUPPLEMENT

• Barcelona Is Rich in Culture and Fun• American Airlines New Gateway to Tokyo• Long Islander Turns Lost Luggage Into TV Show• Travel Channel: Advice Before You Check-In

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By Ronald Scaglia

Hotel general managers may not appreciate it, but An-thony Melchiorri is going to let an industry secretslip for the benefit of Anton readers. He has some

advice on how to get the very best rate for a hotel room.“If you want to get the best rate, make the reservation at 6

p.m. on the same day if the city is not busy,” said Melchiorri.Just as a container of milk or a carton of eggs has an expi-

ration date, so do hotel rooms. Simply put, the further alongit is in the day, the less likely it is that a vacant hotel roomwill be booked and the more likely it is that the room will re-main empty and not generate any revenue.When it comes to knowing the inner working of hotels,

Melchiorri is definitely a person to speak with as he has beenin the hospitality business for 20 years managing some ofthe most famous hotels. Currently he runs his own company,Argeo Hospitality, consulting on hotel projects for privateowners and investors and he will be hosting a new show onthe Travel Channel called Hotel Impossible, which premiereson Monday, April 9 at 10 p.m.In the new show, Melchiorri visits hotels that are strug-

gling and examines what needs to be improved. Sometimeshis manner can be rough but he says he always maintains alevel of respect.“I’m a nice guy,” said Melchiorri. “You’ll never see me

take someone’s spirit or curse them out.”However, what you will see is Melchiorri determining

what is wrong and how management and staff can fix thoseissues. For the premiere of the show, Melchiorri stayed righthere on Long Island, going out to Gurney’s Inn in Montauk.So what other advice does Melchiorri have for travelers?

For those seeking the best rate, he suggests speaking with asupervisor when making the reservation. According to Mel-chiorri, by asking for a supervisor and then asking for thebest rate, the traveler is most likely to get those savings.Melchiorri says that another stress for travelers is chang-

ing rooms because of an error in booking. Therefore he saysthat the front desk should confirm the room accommodationssuch as the size of the bed, the view and whether the room issmoking. If the front desk doesn’t confirm the information,the guests should so they do not bring their luggage up totheir room only to bring it back down to the front desk.Melchiorri said this situation is also burdensome for hotel

staff, as they have to once again prepare the first room. If thestaff fails to do so, when a later guest goes into that room itcreates another issue if the room does not look well prepared.Another mistake that hotels make is not maintaining confi-

dentiality. Melchiorri said that the front desk representativeshould point to a hotel room number and the rate but not speakit loudly so that others might hear as he said this creates two is-

sues. First, guests may not want the others in the area to knowwhich room they will be in and, secondly, if a guest is getting abetter rate than another guest it could create some friction.Melchiorri also said that guests and hotel staff should be

diligent about the quality of service offered. “Don’t acceptbad service because you’re paying a lower rate,” said Mel-chiorri. “If you’re in a three star or five star hotel, the onlythings that should separate them are amenities, size of roomand maybe location. Not service and not people.”One more suggestion that Melchiorri offers to both travelers

and hotel managers is to check the reviews that are posted on-line about hotels. While some may think that the reviews mayjust be the reaction of someone who had a bad experience, Mel-chiorri finds that the reviews posted online tend to be accurate.“If the majority are good or bad, listen to the reviews,” he

said. “I use them when I travel.”Melchiorri also said that general managers should be ex-

tremely diligent about reviews posted online. Not only dobad reviews turn away business, they also indicate whatproblems need to be fixed in a hotel.“If a general manager doesn’t have the reviews popping on

his Blackberry every time one is written, that general managerprobably shouldn’t be employed as a general manager,” he said.And then the hotel might have to call in Melchiorri to fix

those issues on his new show.

Escape the WinterBlahs Without

LeavingNassau CountyAround this time of year, cabin fever be-

comes rampant. Even though this winterhas been relatively mild, Long Islanders

have had enough of the lack of light and thelong hours spent at home, and they’re lookingto escape from the mundane.Fortunately, they don’t have far to go to get

away from it all. Right in Westbury, the VianaHotel and Spa offers a decadent, romantic get-away that will chase the winter blahs from themoment of arrival. A member of the exclusiveSmall Luxury Hotels of the World, the propertyoffers an enticing staycation package that in-cludes lodging, a prix-fixe dinner, full breakfastbuffet and massages for two.Built a year ago, the Viana was designed based

on the principles of feng shui. From the plushbedding and robes in the guest rooms to the Zen-inspired, full-service spa, the property’s blend ofluxury, natural décor and balanced elements en-velop guests in tranquil rest and relaxation.With the staycation package, guests are pre-

sented with a complimentary bottle of housewine in their choice of red or white upon ar-rival. Couples can reconnect over dinner at thehotel’s upscale restaurant, Marco Polo, whereEast meets West in an inventive confluence ofItalian, Asian and fusion dishes offering a fullmenu of specialty cocktails and organic wines.Our adult-only game room allows you to re-connect with friends offering a pool table or agame of chess to play at your leisure.Included in the package is a 50-minute couples

massage, which is sure to rejuvenate the body andspirit. Guests can also take a dip in the pool orwork out in the state-of-the-art fitness center.Like all good things, the staycation must

come to an end, but guests are guaranteed toleave in a state of mind that is vastly differentfrom the one in which they arrived.The staycation package starts at $499 per

couple per night. Standard rates at the hotelstart at $200 per night.

By Ronald Scaglia

Avisit to Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard is the per-fect one-day getaway for those looking to enjoy aquick day trip on Long Island. The vineyard, lo-

cated in Baiting Hollow and the first vineyard on theNorth Fork Wine Trail, has the distinction of also being ahorse rescue farm, which is home to 24 horses including21 that were rescued from the slaughterhouse.“We’re all huge animal lovers in our family,” said Sharon

Rubin Levine, one of the owners and a member of the fam-ily which operates the Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard.Founder Sam Rubin bought land in Suffolk in the

1980s to produce organic food for his family. He soonwas growing grapes and the natural progression was toproduce wine and its popularity took off.“We decided to make some wine and people really

liked it so we made more wine,” said Rubin Levine.With the wine business growing, the family decided that

a tasting house was needed and so the process of restoringa house to serve in this capacity was begun. At the sametime, Rubin Levine, an animal lover, was receiving numer-ous emails regarding horse slaughter in the United States.Her brother, Richard Rubin, who is also an owner, suggest-ed that when the tasting house was opened, the familycould also rescue a horse. And then a very young filly thatwas about to be slaughtered changed everything.“As soon as I started looking into it, up pops this pic-

ture of a one and a half year old thoroughbred filly,” Ru-bin Levine said of the first horse rescued by Baiting Hol-low Farm Vineyard. “She was in the kill pen and the truckwas leaving with her in a few hours. I was so horrifiedthat there was a baby in the kill pen.”That filly would eventually be named Angel. Now six

years of age, she is a well-trained equine that does dressage.Rubin Levine said that unlike cats and dogs, being young

could actually hurt a horse’s chances of being rescued.“People don’t want to invest in training as it’s a tremen-

dously long period of time,” Rubin Levine said.Not that there’s anything wrong with older horses. Ru-

bin Levine said that some horses live to be 40 years ofage. Therefore horses in their teens and 20s have a lot oflife left to live and plenty of enjoyment to share.“We’re a dog society so we think that a 15-year-old

horse is an old horse,” said Rubin Levine. “It’s not an oldhorse. They are awesome at that age.”While Rubin Levine and her family are doing their part to

save individual horses, she is also trying to call attention tothe larger issues of American horses being sent to slaughter-houses mostly to be consumed as meat in foreign countries.

“Let’s face it, we’re a country (where) we don’t consumehorse meat,” said Rubin Levine. “We appreciate the factthat horses settled this nation; that they’ve carried us intowars and yet we let 100,000 of our horses end up on for-eign dinner plates.”She further said that horses are not used as an inexpen-

sive source of meat for those who are hungry. Rather, shesaid that horsemeat is an expensive delicacy in some areas.“It’s a $20 per pound delicacy in Europe and Asia,”

said Rubin Levine.Recently, legislation was approved which paves the way

for slaughterhouses to be re-opened in the United States.Proponents of this claim that the same number of horsesare being slaughtered, only now they are being sent toMexico and and Canada are are encountering far less hu-mane conditions, but Rubin Levine strongly disagrees.“The new legislation is allowing them to re-open

slaughterhouses in the U.S,” said Rubin Levine. The lob-byists who are working to do this – they’re saying it’s be-cause they have more humane methods of slaughter butthe realty is it’s dollars and cents.For those who want to help horses in danger of suffer-

ing this fate, and for those who enjoy a nice glass of wine,Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard is the place to go. Thevineyard offers 13 varietals of wine, with 3 of thosespecifically used to support the costs of caring for the res-cued horses as well as other horse rescue efforts.“We have really nice wines,” said Rubin Levine.

“They’ve won awards.”In addition to the wines, visitors can also enjoy a nice

day in a picturesque setting. Visitors can take a tour andmeet the horses. Live music is also played on Saturdaysand Sundays from 2 p.m. through 6 p.m.“Coming out to the vineyard year round is a lot of fun,”

said Rubin Levine. “People love coming out to us.”

Vineyard Produces Fine Wine and Rescues Horses

Sultan, an Arabian Egyptian gets some tender lovingcare from Sharon Rubin Levine at Baiting HollowFarm Vineyard Horse Rescue which is now home to21 horses that were destined for slaughter.

Anthony Melchiorri hosts a new show called Hotel Im-possible, which premieres Monday April 9 on the TravelChannel at 10 p.m.

Check Out This Advice Before You Check InHost of Travel Channel’s New Show Has Advice for Travelers

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‘Lost Opportunities’ : Long IslanderProfits from Lost Luggage

By Ronald Scaglia

Have you ever lost your luggagewhen traveling? Did you wonderwhat ever became of your prop-

erty? Is someone in Kansas wearing yourlucky hat which you left in your suitcase?Did it simply disappear into a mysteriousblack hole to never be found again?The truth is, missing luggage does end

up somewhere and opportunists like MarkMeyer are able take advantage of someoneelse’s misfortune. Although only 25, Mey-er is very experienced in finding underval-ued items at auctions and then resellingthose items at a profit. He is bringing hisexpertise to a new show called, BaggageBattles, which will premiere on the TravelChannel on Wednesday, April 11 at 10p.m., with a second episode following at10:30 p.m. The show follows Meyer andother “auction specialists” as they travel toauctions across the globe trying to snagtreasures that others deem worthless.“We’re letting people know about the

small cottage industry,” said Meyer of hisshow in which teams of auction profes-sionals try to find items worth significant-ly more than they’re being offered for.For the show’s premiere, Meyer and the

other treasure hunters went to Miami In-ternational Airport, which services about35 million passengers per year. Accordingto Meyer, only a very small fraction of 1percent of travelers who travel throughthat airport will not receive their luggage,either because it was misplaced or becausepassengers failed to claim it. However, be-cause of the sheer volume of travelerspassing through the airport, it still amountsto about 10,000 unclaimed bags just at thatone airport. And then when you take intoaccount how many airports there are inboth the United States and throughout theglobe, it is easy to understand how savvyopportunists like Meyer can swoop in andfind these unclaimed valuables.“A year ago, I purchased a set of 18-

inch rims and tires for a Cobra Mustangfor $100,” he said.Meyer said that airlines do attempt to do

everything possible to return lost luggageto its rightful owners. However, he said, itis sometimes impossible because bagssimply do not have any tags or identifyingmarks and there is simply no way to findthe owners. After this unclaimed baggagestays in a lost and found for 6 to 12months, it goes to an auction block, andMeyer and others try to capitalize on it.For Meyer, his interest in the field began

at the age of 16, when he purchased a modelat a yard sale. He asked his parents to placethe model on an online auction site. Whenthe model was purchased for $70, an inter-est was piqued and a new career was born.“Ever since then I had to work my way

to pay for school,” said Meyer.Meyer graduated from SUNY Old West-

bury in 2009, with a degree in finance. Hefurther said that he spent two years workingin the corporate world, which he said taught

him to buy and sell. However, the interestdeveloped by that profitable purchase whenhe was a teenager never dwindled and Mey-er continued his work in the field until heopened his own store in West Babyloncalled Nifty Thrifty. And now in addition tohis store, Meyer will be on the new televi-sion show.“Now that I’ve gone to the top of my

field, it’s quite exciting,” said Meyer.Along that ride, Meyer has encountered

tremendous opportunities. As an example,he spoke of finding a vintage CharlieChaplin purse which was worth $1,000and a jackhammer being sold as a powertool which he was able to resell for almost$800. Meyer said that he has finds a vari-ety of valuable items up for auction suchas high end electronics, jewelry and tools.Meyer does not limit himself simply to

airline auctions. He said that he attendsauctions conducted by Suffolk County Po-lice and by U.S. Customs in New Jerseyand he added that some of the best dealshe has gotten have come at these auctions.So what advice does Meyer have for trav-

elers to avoid losing their luggage so thattheir belongings do not end up at an auctionwhere savvy business people like Meyer cansnatch them? He said the most importantthing to do is make sure that luggage is la-beled with the owner’s name and currentcontact information. He said that most un-claimed luggage does not have any identify-ing markings, hence the difficulty in return-ing it to its owner. He further said that manypieces of luggage are very similar looking,which causes travelers to misidentify theirluggage and pick up the wrong bags.“Put a piece of tape on the inside and

outside of the bag,” said Meyer. “Makeyour bag distinguish out. Make sure youhave labels on the bag.”Otherwise, your luggage could end up

featured on Baggage Battles, and Meyer andthe other professionals could turn it into anopportunity to make themselves a profit.

Published by Anton Community Newspapers132 E. Second St., Mineola, NY 11501 – 516-747-8282 www.antonnews.com

VACATION & TRAVEL

Angela Susan AntonPublisher

William M. Delventhal, Jr.General Manager

Cary SeamanManaging Editor

Ron ScagliaSpecial Sections Editor

Frank A.VirgaDirector of Sales & Marketing

Lisa SchiavoneProduction Manager

Iris PiconeClassified Manager

Lucia D’OnofrioPage Designer

Mark Meyer, a Long Islander, is featuredon the Travel Channel’s new show, Bag-gage Battles, which premieres April 11.

VACATION & TRAVEL - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - MARCH 2012 5

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If your vacation wish list includes outstanding art, ar-chitecture, nightlife and beaches, then Barcelona maybe the place for you.

A visit to this magical city reveals a distinctive, intrigu-ing side of Spain. Facing the Mediterranean, Barcelona isthe capital of Catalonia, a state in the country’s northeast-ern sector. Catalonia traces its singular culture to the Mid-dle Ages, and, over the centuries, the region even devel-oped its own language – Catalan – that is still spoken bymany in Barcelona.In fact, on American Airlines Flight 66 from John F.

Kennedy International Airport to Barcelona, the onboardannouncements are given in both Spanish and Catalan.That daily, nonstop flight uses a Boeing 767-300 seating28 in Business Class and 195 in Coach. It departs JFK at5:15 p.m., arriving at Barcelona at 7:10 a.m. the followingmorning.There is much to see and experience in Barcelona. Begin

with a stroll along Las Ramblas, the vibrant central boule-vard that cuts through the heart of the city. The city’s firstlandmark for many visitors, Las Ramblas offers such at-tractions as hotels, restaurants, shops and live street per-formances. Traffic flow is limited so pedestrians rule.At Las Ramblas’ midpoint, discover the Liceu Theater,

and walk over a remarkable circular mosaic in bold, col-ored tiles, created by the world-renowned Catalan artist,Joan Miro. At the northern end of the promenade, is thePlaca de Catalunya, at Barcelona’s center. It is a largesquare populated by neoclassical and avant-garde sculp-tures and flocks of pigeons.There is an important cultural side of Barcelona that de-

fines this city. For an authentic taste of Catalan culture, avisit to the magnificent National Art Gallery of Catalunyais a must. Visitors can lose themselves in works of Catalanart from the Romanesque period to the mid-20th century.At the Picasso Museum, the paintings of the legendary

Pablo Picasso are on display — from his early days to hisfinal works. And those dazzled by the Miro mosaic onLas Ramblas, will want to partake of a full serving of hiswork at the Miro Museum. This outstanding collectiondates back to 1914 and includes not only Miro’s paint-ings, but many of his sculptures, tapestries and earlysketches as well.But to discover the artistic achievement most strongly

associated with Barcelona; visitors must behold the workof Antoni Gaudi – the giant of Spanish architecture. Hismost famous work is Sagrada Familia (Holy Family), ahuge church with a complex design representing the birth,death and resurrection of Christ. Gaudi dedicated his lifeto this immense structure, which was begun in 1883 andleft unfinished when he died in 1926.If seeking some lighter, fun things to do, go to the

Barcelona Aquarium – especially those traveling withchildren. It has 35 tanks, with 1,000 sea animals repre-senting 450 different species, and it’s one of the most im-portant educational centers for Mediterranean marine life.Then, as darkness descends, the Magic Fountain of

Montjuic, has a display of color, light, motion, music andwater acrobatics combined in a spectacular show. Thereare even scheduled “performances”. With so many things

to do, it is easy to be late for supper but that’s fine, as din-ner in Barcelona doesn’t normally begin until 9 p.m. Af-ter that there are a number of clubs offering music for alltastes – from jazz, to discotheque to techno rock. Thereare also plenty of places to dance – but they don’t reallyget underway until 2 a.m.And who could forget the beaches. Barcelona is ideal

for sun worshippers, with seven beaches arrayed alongnearly 3 miles of coastline. But be warned – Barcelona isat about the same latitude as Miami, and that Mediter-ranean sun is powerful, so beachgoers should wear a sunhat and use high SPF lotion.After taking in all of Barcelona’s attractions, it’s time to

catch American Airlines Flight 67 back to JFK. Sit backand savor the amenities on the return flight. And, if reservedin American’s Business Class Cabin, travelers will enjoy thefully adjustable lie-flat seats, personal, in-flight entertain-ment devices, great food, and award-winning fine wine.For further information about Barcelona, please contact

Barcelona Tourist Information: www.turismedebarcelona.com, 212-265-8822.

Barcelona Is Rich in Culture and Fun

Evening visitors to the Magic Fountain of Montjuicwill witness a spectacular display of color, light, mo-tion, music and water acrobatics.

Photo: Courtesy of Turisme de Barcelona

Platja de la Vila Olímpica is one of 7 beaches availableto sun worshippers along Barcelona’s nearly 3 milesof coastline. Photo: Courtesy of Turisme de Barcelona

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A trip to Hawaii can be a pleasant ex-perience. The islands offer beauti-ful sights and gorgeous weather, so

while many of Long Island golfers have stillbeen able to squeeze in a few rounds duringthe unseasonably warm winter, the chanceto play 18 holes of golf while basking intemperatures that average around 80 degreesis awfully appealing and Hawaii has morethan 80 golf courses on its six major islands.For those who are not inclined to chase a

little white ball around all day, there arestill many other activities to enjoy. For ex-ample, a visit to Hawaii offers the chanceto lie on the beach, soak up some sun andread a good book. So even though the win-ter has been bearable, those longing forsummertime activities can get a head start.Here are some events and attractions

provided by the the Hawaii Visitors andConvention Bureau.• The Pearl Harbor Historic Sites on

Oahu recently introduced the Passport toPearl Harbor, a new two-day ticket optionto help visitors experience several distincthistoric sites that are often too challengingto cover in one day. The “passport” isavailable exclusively for purchase at thePearl Harbor Visitors Center for $65 peradult and $35 per child and includes: theofficial Pearl Harbor Audio Tour; USSBowfin Submarine Museum and Park mu-seum admission and submarine audio tour;Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor ad-mission; and Battleship Missouri Memori-al admission and the choice between fourtours. Passport holders can return to PearlHarbor within seven days of their initialvisit at no additional charge. For more in-formation, visit PacificHistoricParks.org.• Step off the beaten path and join Wild

Hawaii Ocean Adventures on Hawaii Is-land for a five-hour excursion south alongthe Kona coast to an isolated green sandbeach accessible only by boat. Guests willrelax, soak up the sun, and have lunch atthe private beach before heading back on aFast Boat Ride near the shoreline for viewsof lava tubes, blow holes, incredible rockformations, and other points of interest. Formore information, visit Wild-Hawaii.com.• Get a behind-the-scenes view of

Maui’s pineapple heritage during an ex-clusive experience with Maui PineappleTours. The tour begins on the pineapplefarm where guests will observe the har-vesting, packing and shipping process,then enjoy a pineapple-themed lunch atMaui’s acclaimed Haliimaile GeneralStore featuring the sweet Maui Goldpineapple. For more information, visitAdventureMaui.com/Pineapple_Tour.• Save money on admission to 10 of

Hawaii Island’s best-known cultural, his-torical, and science centers with the Big Is-

land Museum Pass now available for $8.The pass provides a savings of up to $54for two adults and includes entry to the fol-lowing participating museums: LymanMuseum, Imiloa Astronomy Center, Pacif-ic Tsunami, Laupahoehoe Train Museum,Anna Ranch, Astronaut Ellison OnizukaSpace Center, Hulihee Palace, Kona His-torical Society’s H.N. Greenwell Store andKona Coffee Farm, and Amy B.H. Green-well Ethnobotanical Garden. For more in-formation, visit DestinationHilo.com.• DFS Galleria Waikiki on Oahu has re-

cently expanded its second floor dubbedBeauty World featuring a new BeautyConcierge to provide the largest retailspace in Hawaii dedicated to beauty withmore than 20,000 square feet. The newcomplimentary concierge service offersshoppers a one-on-one consultation with alicensed aesthetician who’ll provide askincare analysis using a Skin ImagingMachine and Light Therapy Device thenrecommend products based on your skinassessment. Additional services includecomplimentary hand and foot massages,makeup applications and trend techniques,beauty tips, complimentary engraving, andbeauty workshops and seminars. For moreinformation, visit DFSGalleria.com.• For those who can’t get away until sum-

mer, Keauhou Beach Resort on Hawaii Is-land invites music lovers and Hawaiian cul-tural enthusiasts to a weeklong Aloha MusicCamp on July 1-7. Guests can enjoy classesin ukulele, slack key guitar, hula, oli (chant),lei making, and instrument crafting. Instruc-tors include world-class musicians• The Iolani Air Tour Company has two

new lava specials: 1) Party of Two? Takeadvantage of the Deluxe Air Tour for twofrom Kona. Couples aboard can experi-ence the entire Hawaii Island in the priva-cy and comfort of a brand new state-of-the-art Skyhawk. It is the only full circleisland air tour exclusively for two peoplepriced at $325 each. 2) $99 Air Tours fromHilo! See the Volcano and Rainbow Fallsin its Airvan at a price that cannot be beat.For more information, visit IolaniAir.com.• Visitors can enjoy an affordable Hawaii

vacation full of convenience and value inWaikiki (Oahu) thanks to OHANA Hotelsand Resort’s OHANA Waikiki Connection,a lineup of free amenities for hotel guests.The complimentary services include accessto Waikiki Trolley’s Pink Line that providestransportation along Waikiki Beach Walk toAla Moana Center, Wi-Fi Internet and longdistance phone calls up to 15 minutes, andmore. OHANA Waikiki Connection isavailable for guests at OHANA WaikikiEast, OHANA Waikiki West, and OHANAWaikiki Malia. For more information, visitOhanaHotels.com.

Hawaii currently has attraction and events to lure vacationers to the summer likeclimate. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Board

Say Hi to Hawaii; The IslandsOffer a Taste of Summer

VACATION & TRAVEL - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - MARCH 2012 9

Test-drive the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive standard and 36 mpg†.Schedule a test drive: (877) 864-5170

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By Charles H. Gamarekian

Homeowners are continuing tochange plans from vacations tostaycations as dreams of tropical

islands become visions of transformingbackyards into elaborate paradises, ladenwith creative features that can be enjoyedall year long. However, budgetary realitiescan often discourage homeowners fromfulfilling their dreams for a total outdoorliving experience. There is a solution forthose who are deliberating over a budgetor a start date. Think big, but start small –accomplish a grand design scheme onesection at a time. Completing a project inseveral phases may require a crystal ballor relying on the talents of a professionalcontractor who just may have one in theirtool bag.For example, if you are starting with an

in-ground pool, think interlocking con-crete pavers for your surrounding pooldeck. Many hardscape contractors canhandle your pool installation and the in-terlocking pavers as well. A paver systemsuch as those offered by Cambridge, man-ufacturers of pavingstones, wallstones anda comprehensive line of outdoor livingproducts in prepackaged kits, are ideal forpoolside applications. The colors of Cam-bridge Pavingstones with ArmorTec willnot fade from the sun or harsh weatherand the pavers can be easily removed andreinstalled in an area where future repairsof underground utilities may become nec-essary. Adding square footage at a latertime is very doable.On the other end of the scale of things,

you can start with a fire pit. It can be cus-tom-built or again, ready-to-install.Prepackaged kits are available in an arrayof colors, styles and textures in square andround configurations. If roasting marsh-

mallows and frankfurters on a stick aswell as grilling steaks, chicken, seafoodand corn on the cob perks-up your tastebuds, consider a barbeque and fire pitfrom Cambridge with cantilevering grillsand you can do it all with one pit. Add asmall paver area adjacent to the pit andperhaps a low wall for casual seatingaround the pit and you are off and runningto phase one of a great outdoor lifestyleexperience.Grade changes can present challenges

especially when projects are completed insegments. But this should not stop yourcontractor from planning the completionof your backyard project in phases. In amultilevel patio design, he will probably

suggest starting at the lowest level of thegrade, using perimeter walls to bring upthe grades according to number of eleva-tions in the plan. For instance, if a fin-ished project embodied 100 cubes ofCambridge brand pavers and walls and to-taled three levels when completed, an out-door kitchen complete with a stainlesssteel appliance package and a pizza ovenall from precut/prepackaged CambridgeKits could be laid out on the top level fora convenient cooking and food prepara-tion area. This could step down to a mid-level, comprised of a striking outdoor fire-place with the optional added features ofdual wood storage boxes flanking eachside. Sitting or dining elements and a

Cambridge Bar Module with a profession-al quality, stainless steel Bull Bar CenterPackage, sink, refrigerator and a PatioPub & Bistro Table from a Cambridgewould also work well on this level. Allcountertops in these precut/prepackagedkits are polished granite and include all ofthe hardscape materials needed. Workingwith kits such as those from Cambridgeafford the homeowner a totally coordinat-ed plan, which considers color, textureand overall style, while saving valuableproject management and installation time.The bottom level, installed first, could bethe smaller patio with a fire pit kit.Before beginning a project that is to be

completed over an extended period oftime, it is best to see a drawing that illus-trates the full spectrum of the venture.The rendering can be prepared by a land-scape architect or your contractor who cancreate one internally using one of themany digital software tools in the marketsuch as the Cambridge DesignScape Visu-alizer, which will show you professionallooking, computer-generated renderingswith before and after views. The drawingshelp him pinpoint certain areas and devel-op a workflow in order to give you, thehomeowner, a sense of reward after cer-tain phases reach completion.So don’t hesitate to show your contrac-

tor a wish list — large or small. Tell himto bring along his crystal ball, and youwill be surprised at how soon you will beenjoying your own piece of paradise…right in your own backyard,About the writer:Charles H. Gamarekian is the Chair-

man/CEO of Cambridge Pavers Inc., man-ufacturers of Cambridge Pavingstones withArmorTec, Cambridge Wallstones and afull line of products for outdoor living.

It’s Okay if the Trip to a Backyard Paradise Takes a Little Longer

It may take a little time to complete a backyard paradise, but it is well worth the wait.

VACATION & TRAVEL - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - MARCH 201210

NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE

www.nassaucountyny.gov

Old BethpageVillage Restoration

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SaturdayMarch 10th

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St. Patrick’sDayCELEBRATION

Live Music by Finn’s Fury

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Irish Vendors

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American Airlines will soon offer a new nonstop route from JFK to Haneda Airport,which is just half an hour from central Tokyo,

American AirlinesNewGateway to Tokyo

Whether it’s for business or fun,getting to and from Tokyo willsoon become easier than ever!

Beginning on June 1, American Airlineswill begin daily nonstop service fromJohn F. Kennedy International Airport toTokyo’s Haneda Airport. Haneda is just30 minutes from central Tokyo, as op-posed to the usual hour and a half fromNarita International Airport.American will serve the new route

with a 247-seat Boeing 777 aircraft,which can carry 16 passengers in First

Class, 37 in Business Class, and 194 inEconomy Class. Once in Tokyo, visitorswill find attractions to please every taste– be it history, cutting-edge technology,cuisine, ancient or contemporary archi-tecture, nature, shopping, or unique cul-tural pursuits.American is, in effect, substituting the

new Haneda service for its existing JFK-Narita route. New Yorkers who still wantto fly from JFK to Narita, can do so bybooking on American’s oneworld partner,Japan Airlines.

VACATION & TRAVEL - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - MARCH 2012 11

Blue OdysseyVacations

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“St. Joseph’s & St. Patrick’s Day”NYCB THEATER AT WESTBURY2pm Show - Wednesday • March 14, 2012

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VACATION & TRAVEL - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - MARCH 201212

2114 Sound Avenue, Baiting Hollow, NY | 631.369.0100 | bhfvineyard.com | Located just 3.8 miles north of exit 71 on the LIE (495)

MORE THAN JUST GREAT WINEBaiting Hollow Farm Vineyard is the perfect setting for

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