Paul Mascali of Manhasset crosses the finish line.

Paul Mascali of Manhasset
Scores in 5K Run

Veteran road racer Paul Mascali of Manhasset took top honors in the Masters Division as a record-breaking field of 1,238 runners and walkers crossed the finish line of the 10th edition of the Ho Ho Ho Holiday 5 Kilometer Run.

The run was held on the roads of Bethpage on Saturday morning, Dec. 20.

The 45-year-old Mascali, who runs for the New York Athletic Club, finished in ninth place overall and first in the 45-49 age group, with a time of 15:56.

He was the first runner over the age of 40 to cross the finish line.

The run was administered by the Plainview-Old Bethpage Road Runners Club, with POBRRC's Ed Kovesdy serving as race director.

The key financial supporter was Frontier Communications ("What Communications is Coming Too...").

Hockey Star Visits Russian Child at St. Francis

PICTURED WITH Sean Levchuck, MD (left), pediatric cardiologist, St. Francis Hospital, Sergei Nemchinov (back, center) greets Oksana and her mother, Larissa (right).

While a patient at St. Francis Hospital, 11-year-old Oksana Svetlichnaya of Russia received a visit from New York Islanders' professional hockey player Sergei Nemchinov. Oksana, brought to St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn for cardiac treatment through the Gift of Life program, shared conversation with the athlete in their native language.

The Russian community of Long Island's North Shore also offered support and assistance to Oksana and her mother during their stay. For Oksana, the opportunity to receive much-needed medical treatment was the warmest welcome of all.