The Nassau Coliseum recently hosted the Town of Babylon night, featuring a basketball game between the Long Island Nets and the College Park Skyhawks. Various groups from the Town of Babylon showcased their talents. The evening commenced with firefighters from multiple Babylon fire departments proudly presenting the national colors. The Long Island Nets honored Wyandanch resident and Town of Babylon Deputy Commissioner of Parks, Marlon Marshall, and Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory of Copiague, recognizing their dedicated military service to the nation.
PS I Love You Day” Initiative
The “PS I Love You Day” initiative, founded in 2010 by Jamie and Brooke DiPalma, aims to combat the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Its objective is to provide hope to those affected by mental illness while fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels appreciated. Since 2018, Town of Babylon Councilman Terence McSweeney has collaborated with the DiPalma family to raise awareness about this critical mental health issue. He echoes their message this year, stating, “A brighter tomorrow begins today.” Councilman McSweeney, who has served as a firefighter with the FDNY for 21 years and as a volunteer firefighter with the North Babylon Fire Company for 24 years, announced that his office will be collecting handprint heart posters to distribute to various first responder agencies in the Town of Babylon. He will also collect new and used books for “PS I Love You.”
Lindenhurst Evening Homemakers Group
Join Lindenhurst Evening Homemakers Group at the North Amityville Senior Center 48 Cedar Rd., Amityville, NY 11701 (off of New Hwy.) on Thursday, February 6, 2025 . Open to all, 18 years old & up. Meetings start at 7pm & new members should arrive 15 min. early. Contact Lisa LeBrie at 516-413-7467 for more info.”
Passwords on Multiple Accounts
(NAPSI)—According to a recent Aware poll, most people use the same password across multiple accounts, which means that if a hacker has a password to one account, they can likely access several of that person’s accounts. For further facts, visit www.aware.com.
McSweeney emphasized that “this initiative aligns with the Sustainable Library Initiative by encouraging book reuse, promoting literacy, and enhancing community involvement while supporting environmental sustainability. By
donating gently used or new books during this campaign, community members can significantly impact access to reading resources.”Contributions of posters and books can be made at Babylon Town Hall until February 11. For further inquiries, please contact Councilman Terence McSweeney’s Office at 631-957-3081.
LI Nets Celebrate The Town Of Babylon
LI NETS CELEBRATE THE TOWN OF BABYLON - On Thursday, January 9, the Nassau Coliseum hosted Town of Babylon night, featuring a basketball game between the Long Island Nets and the College Park Skyhawks. This event was particularly significant as various groups from the Town of Babylon showcased their talents, including the St. Cyril & Methodius youth basketball league and a performance by the South Bay dance team during halftime, drawing a crowd of local supporters. The evening commenced with firefighters from multiple Babylon fire departments proudly presenting the national colors. Additionally, the Long Island Nets honored Wyandanch resident and Town of Babylon Deputy Commissioner of Parks, Marlon Marshall, and Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory of Copiague, recognizing their dedicated military service to the nation.
Winter Long Island Restaurant Week Starts January 26th!
The tri-annual and award winning Long Island Restaurant Week is warming up the winter season with an opportunity to bring customers into Long Island restaurants in the off season! In a recent survey sent to diners, over 70% said they are very likely to dine out during Restaurant Week again in the future, and more than 45% said they dine out twice during the promotion. The Winter edition will take place from Sunday, January 26th to Sunday, February 2nd, 2025, with several prix fixe options.
Restaurants may offer a $24 two-course lunch, a $29 three-course dinner menu, a $39 three-course dinner menu and/or a $46 threecourse dinner prix fixe. They may offer one, two or any combination of the four prix fixes during the promotion. Each participant is required to offer three options per course (appetizer, entrée and dessert) for dinner. Participating restaurants MUST offer the $24 twocourse lunch prix fixe, $29, $39 or $46 three-course dinner prix fixe all night every night they are open (or
during lunch hours) from Sunday to Sunday, with the exception of Saturday when it may only be offered until 7 p.m.
Back by popular demand, the Gift Card Giveaway returns for the winter promotion and diners have the option to enter to win one of three gift cards to redeemed at a participating restaurant of their choice. To enter to win, diners must visit the Long Island Restaurant Week website between Monday, January
Recipe Of The Week: Deep-Fried Wontons
Celebrate the Chinese New Year with deep-fried wontons. The Chinese New Year is a unique celebration with a global footprint. While many of the more awe-inspiring celebrations may occur within China, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to commemorate this unique event elsewhere. Celebrations can even take place at home, where individuals can whip up homemade Chinese fare to lend their festivities a more authentic feel. This Chinese New Year, those who want to bring this unique event into their homes can try the following recipe for “Deep-Fried Pork Wontons” courtesy of Lines+Angles.
For the filling:
7 ounces minced pork
2 spring onions
1 green chili, deseeded
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon lime juice
32 square wonton wrappers
Vegetable oil, for frying
To serve:
Mixed leaf salad; cabbage, lettuce and coriander
Add sweet and sour sauce
Directions:
1. Mix together the ingredients for the filling, stirring in one direction only.
2. Place double layers of wonton wrappers in front of you in a diamond shape. Place a little of the filling on the bottom half of the dough. Fold the bottom corner of dough over the filling and roll it once. Take the outside corners and bring them together, sealing with a little water. Stand the wontons on their flat bases and gently separate the two top flaps. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
3. Heat about 4 inches oil in a deep pan until gently bubbling, then fry the wontons in batches for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels then serve on beds of the mixed leaves with the sweet and sour sauce alongside.
Tip: This recipe may also be steamed or boiled.
Winter Long Island Restaurant Week Starts January 26th!
20th, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. EST and Monday, February 3rd at 11:59 p.m. EST and input their information. Winners will be selected on or around Friday, February 7th, 2025, and will be notified via telephone and/ or email.
“What better way to celebrate the cold days of
winter than with a delicious affordable warm meal! We are expecting over 150 restaurants to participate this winter in offering discount meals for Winter Long Island Restaurant Week. With diners sharing that almost 50% of them dine out more than once during restaurant week, it is lining up to be quite a busy week,” shares Nicole Castillo
of Long Island Restaurant and Hospitality Group. For a full list of participants and to view menus, visit www. longislandrestaurantweek. com.
Long Island Restaurant Week is proudly sponsored by Long Island Restaurant News, Discover Long Island & Newsday. Continued From 3
Did You Know?
Tea has been enjoyed as a beverage for thousands of years and has featured prominently in many cultures during that time. The cultural practice of drinking tea is believed to have originated in ancient China. Although there are many different types of tea, the World Tea Council says black tea is the most consumed tea across the globe, comprising around 75 percent of total tea consumption. The most popular type of black tea is Assam tea, which is grown in India. The second-most widely consumed tea is green tea, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of total tea consumption.
JANUARY HAPPENINGS
FRI. JAN. 24th
10:00AM-11:00AM
TINY TOTS:
WINTER PUPPET THEATER
Hempstead Lake State Park. Explore the natural world around us. These programs will connect children and their parents with nature through short walks, animal visitors, and crafts. To register, please visit Eventbrite.com. Registration: Required
SAT. JAN. 25th
8:45AM-12:00PM
8:45AM 5K Start
9:00AM Half Marathon & Marathon Start
ICEBREAKER MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 5K at Eisenhower Park Field 2 Rain or Shine. Certifi ed course and a Boston Qualifi er! The course is a looped course and great for spectating. The course is fully stocked with water and nutrition stops. The course is on park paths and fully closed roads. For more information, please call Brendan Dagan 516-531-3323
9:30AM–4:00PM
DEFENSIVE DRIVING
Will be held at the Islip Public Library, 71 Monell Ave. in Islip. Fee: $25 check or money order payable directly to New York Safety Training Associates (NYSTA) on the day of the program. For more information, please call 631-581-5933
10:00AM-4:00PM
PET ADOPTION-DONATE EVENT
HOLIDAYS
1st - New Years Day
20th - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
MAKE A SUBMISSION!
Events must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date and will run free of charge on a space available basis. For more info, call 631.226.2636 x275 or send events to editorial@longislandmediagroup.com
Aptitude Assessment
(NAPSI)—An aptitude assessment from YouScience Discovery can show you all of the potential career opportunities that are ideal for your specific
including careers potentially never previously considered. Learn more about aptitude assessment and perhaps about yourself at www.youscience.com.
INDOOR EVENT
Come Adopt or Come and Donate
Animal Garage Sale Lots Of Vendors Lots Of Items. 1172 Route 109 in Lindenhurst. Items needed: dry food, canned food, treats, collars/leashes, cat litter, chew toys, cat toys, blankets.
12:00PM
SATURDAY SPACE LAB: SPACE TELESCOPES & THE WONDERS OF LUNAR NEW YEAR
Learn about the incredible space telescopes like Hubble and James Webb, which orbit our planet and capture stunning solar system images. Then, discover the history, traditions, and signifi cance of the Lunar New Year. Space Labs are held at The Cradle Of Aviation Museum, Charles Lindbergh Blvd. in Garden City. Led by talented interns, astronomy docents, and museum educators. Reservations 516-572-4066
6:30PM
NIGHT AT THE RACES
Will be held on Saturday, January 25,2025, at Wade-Burns VFW 7279, 560 N. Delaware Avenue in Lindenhurst, Doors open 6:30 p.m. Admission $10.00. For more information, please call 631-888-9854.
TUES. JAN. 28th
8:30AM
BUS TRIP TO WIND CREEK CASINO BETHLEHEM, PA Hosted by Joseph Barry Columbiettes located in Hicksville.
Cost: $55 pp, includes driver’s tip. Give back: $35 slot play. Please arrive at 8:30 a.m. Return approx. 8:30 p.m. Parking: 999 So. Oyster Bay Road (dead end) Reservations: call Barbara at 516-935-5576
THURS. JAN. 30th
6:30PM-8:00 PM
TRIVIA NIGHT - TRIVIA ON ICE at The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St. in Cold Spring Harbor. A winterthemed trivia in fi lm, music, nature, history, geography, and more with a whale or two added in, of course! Enjoy hot chocolate - spiked or plain - and appetizers from Grasso's Restaurant. Prizes and bragging rights for winners! Adults 21+ For more information, please call Cristina Ainslie at 631-367-3418
UPCOMING
FEBRUARY EVENTS
SAT. FEB. 1st
11:00AM
LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAM Connetquot River State Park Preserve, 4090 Sunrise Highway in Oakdale. After a brisk hike, warm up with traditional New Year soups and sweets while enjoying a Presentation. Our Island’s Story: The Natural History of Long Island: This talk will discuss the features that make Long Island's geology distinctive and have shaped the peoples who have inhabited this island. Registration required. www. friendsofconnetquot.org
Now Hiring Advertising Account Representatives
Long Island Media Group, publishers of South Bay’s Neighbor Newspapers, South Bay’s Seasons ® Magazine and South Bay’s Digital Marketing, has been serving local communities since 1953. We also print and deliver flyers, menus, postcards, newsletters and more. Our familyowned company proudly services businesses of any size from anywhere with the best customer service possible.
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Long Island State Park Hosts 2025 Winter Concert Series
The New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation invites you to warm up from the Winter cold and enjoy the comfort of fine classical music on Sunday afternoons at the Upper Carriage House at Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River, New York. The 2025 Winter Concert Series performance schedule is as follows:
February 02 – Serenade Duo Gerry Saulter (Guitar) Michelle La Porte (Flute)
February 09 – Extra Chi
Terence Purcell (Piano) Michelle Lisi (Flute)
February 16 –
Queensound Linda Teixeira (Soprano), Helena Kim (Piano)
March 02 –
Quintessence Laura Mole (Violin), Jody Ratner (Viola),
March 16 – Cambiata Cello Duo Paul Finkelstein & Suzanne Mueller
Parking will be limited and on a first come, first served basis throughout the entirety of this concert series. All concerts begin promptly at 1:00PM. Seating is on first come, first serve basis. The concerts, free to he public, are sponsored by the Islip Arts Council with funding provided by Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Natural Heritage Trust, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
For more information, please call the Islip Arts Council at (631) 8883525. For information on the day of the concert, please call Bayard Cutting Arboretum at (631) 581-1002.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 80 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.
New York Blood Center And New York Islanders Ring In The New Year With Annual Blood Drive
On Monday, January 6th, New York Blood Center (NYBC) partnered with the New York Islanders for their annual blood drive at the UBS Arena in the Acrisure Great Hall. All blood donors at this blood drive received a voucher redeemable for two tickets to a select 2025 New York Islanders home game. The Islanders have been
long-time supporters of NYBC, hosting blood drives since 2000 and collecting a total of 2,875 donations over the past two decades.
January is National Blood Donor Month, which is always a difficult time for the blood supply, since school breaks, family vacations, holiday travel and cold weather all contribute to
making blood donations less of a priority. NYBC has seen a nearly 40% drop in donations in the last several weeks, resulting in more than 3,000 fewer donations during a critical time of year.
“This National Blood Donor Month, New York Blood Center is grateful to the New York Islanders for decades of partnership in helping us meet the critical need for blood donations, particularly during the difficult winter months,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center. “This partnership unites Islander fans and blood donors to make a meaningful impact on the region’s public health, and we are grateful to the Long Islanders who stepped up in 2025 to support both our community’s health and their home team.”
“We are proud to partner
with the New York Blood Center for over two decades to encourage blood donation in our community,” said Ann Rina, Executive Director for Community Relations, New York Islanders. “Blood donations are essential to saving lives, and we thank our loyal and passionate fans for joining us in making a
difference during National Blood Donor Month.”
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions.
To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900.
To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-9332566 or visit nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still make a lifesaving impact by supporting NYBC’s mission through financial contributions or volunteering your time.
NEWSPAPERS
Business Analyst needed w/ Master’s Deg or Foreign Equiv in Bus Admin or Info Technology or Comp Sci or Comp Info Systems & 1 yr exp as Bus. Analyst or Project Mgr performing following job duties: Work formulating techn’l specs & manuals based on customary client workflows. Assist in Code deployment to QA, UAT, production envrmt along w/ error debugging of applic/ API & its resolution along w/ Server Level updates in production. Collaborate w/ certification team on connectivity & techn’l certifications w/ Speedroute, BAML, Virtu & Stock Exchanges. Work on GUI rltd enhancements based on the changing landscape of compliance w/in the equity & option industry. Work w/ H/ ware, S/ware & connectivity corresponding to client access (Latency) & systems configuration performing Traceroute testing, telnet client, IP whitelisting & Firewall testing. Work w/ functional & non-functional automation tools leveraging their capabilities to drive efficiency & ensure successful outcomes. Use: XML, SQL (DB), C++, ICE chat, CTM, Algorithms, Derivatives, IOI’S, Risk mgmt Tools, Bloomberg Demo tool & API’s. Benefits: Partial Medical, Life Insurance & 401K. Salary: $128,939.00/yr. Job Locs: Mineola, NY or any unanticipated client sites w/in the U.S. Must be available to travel & relocate to any unanticipated client sites for temporary projects. Traveling to any unanticipated client sites w/in the U.S. for temporary projects is based upon project length. Upon the completion of the project, travel is reqd to the next client site. The occupation is only reqd to travel to National which is Mineola, NY or unanticipated client sites w/ in the U.S based on the project length, there is no Int’l travel Reqd. Mail resumes to: Trafix LLC, 34 Willis Ave, Ste 201, Mineola, NY 11501.
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How To Care For Winter Birds That Visit Your Yard
The pristine, white backdrop of a snowy winter day can be a wonder to behold. While fresh snow on the ground can make for awe-inspiring landscapes, the absence of greenery amid the starkness of winter poses challenges for animals that do not ride out winter in a state of hibernation.
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Several bird species stay in colder climates over the winter. Red-winged crossbills, snow buntings, bohemian waxwings, evening grosbeaks, and cardinals are just some of the birds one may find while gazing outside on a chilly winter’s day. Birding in the winter can be a rewarding hobby because, despite the chilly conditions, birds tend to be easy to find in bare trees. Furthermore, the colder temperatures may keep many people inside, meaning neighborhoods, trails and parks can be very quiet, making it easier for those who brave the cold to see birds.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds indicates that winter is a difficult time of year for birds due to the weather and the scarcity of food. Furthermore, birds must consume a lot of
food in a short amount of time to have the energy and body warmth to survive each day.
Even birds that store food in caches or have developed special scavenging strategies to find
as much food as possible can benefit from a little wintertime help. Penn State Extension suggests providing a variety of foods to attract the greatest number of species. Small, blackoil sunflower seeds are preferred by many smaller species of bird and have a high oil content that is nutritionally important for birds. Other sunflower seeds will be appropriate for blue jays and cardinals. Some other popular foods include white proso millet, thistle seed, niger seed, and peanuts.
Consult a wild bird store, which likely sells a birdseed mix that enables you to place a variety of seed into one feeder. In addition to seed, suet, which is made from high-quality animal fat, is crucial for birds in the winter. Families can get crafty by spreading peanut butter onto pine cones and sprinkling seed on top. Hang the pine cones tied to pieces of string from tree branches for homemade feeders. Birds likely need a little help surviving the winter, when conditions can be bleak. Offering food and observing backyard visitors can be a great way to unwind on winter afternoons.
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Watching the big games together with friends and fellow fans makes football even more engaging and fun. With that in mind, fans can consider these tips to improve their game watch parties as the stakes get higher for their favorite teams.
• Upgrade your equipment. There’s no doubt about it, football is best watched on a big screen. Choose a screen size of at least 65 inches and ensure the television has a high refresh rate, which helps to keep up with fast-moving action on the gridiron. A TV with good motion handling can help ensure that moving objects are clear.
• Tailgate at home. There’s something about football and the outdoors that works. Although watching the game indoors is perfectly acceptable, think about
taking the action outside. Open the door to the garage and set up a viewing area there. Man a grill
nearby in the driveway and prepare all of your favorite tailgate foods and beverages. Once the drinks are flowing you might not even notice chilly temperatures.
• Offer finger foods. Foods that can be grabbed and shared are ideal options for football watch parties. These include sliders, pizza, tacos, and wings. The game day menu does not need to be complicated. Just make the food readily accessible and guests will dig right in.
• Toss around the pigskin. Get some exercise and test your skills by throwing around the ball during commercial breaks or before and after the game. If you really want to go all out, play a game of touch or flag football (leave the tackling to the professionals).
• Up the ante. Make watching the
playoffs a little more competitive by taking bets beforehand. Betting boxes (football squares) provide a simple way to collect and pay out during game play. Participants buy as many squares as they like for a set price and write their initials inside the squares they choose. Teams are assigned to the rows and columns which are numbered zero through nine. Those numbers will represent the final digit of the score for the corresponding team. Winners can be called each quarter as well as for the final score.
• Create a winning playlist. Compile a playlist of songs that can raise fans’ spirits. Include teams’ theme songs in the mix when possible; otherwise, incorporate upbeat options that span the last few generations.
