Spring is here! This season is one that often brings upon feelings of hope and new beginings. Flip through the pages of this issue for seasonal editorial, along with local news, throughout. Plus, don't miss our reader conest, which gives you a chance to win tickets to the Long Island Aquarium! Looking to advertise? Seasons® Magazine is published monthly in print and online. Contact us for more information today.
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Local Spring Happenings
Spring Floral Design Workshop
Old Westbury Gardens
Saturday, April 19, 2025 • 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Join Old Westbury Gardens’ Greenhouse Supervisor and Head Grower for a hands-on 75-minute Spring Floral Design Workshop. In this creative class, you’ll learn how to craft a beautiful seasonal floral arrangement. $75/person. Members will receive a discount.
Easter & Spring Farm Festival
Smithtown Historical Society
Saturday, April 12, 2025 • 12 PM - 4 PM
Head to Smithtown for this family-friendly event, where children can meet the Easter Bunny, enjoy a scavenger hunt, petting zoo and pony rides, plus there will be live music, face painting, historic farmhouse tours and much more. Rain date: April 13, 2025. Tickets are $10/person. Children under 3 are free.
Robert Moses Nature Walk
Robert Moses State Park, Field 5
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 • 9:30 AM - 12 PM
Looking to destress? Join others for a scenic walk along the Robert Moses Boardwalk trail, a 1.6 mile trail which leads to the Fire Island Lighthouse. Take in the beauty of nature around you and relax! Plus, don’t miss the Fire Island Lighthouse Museum and Gift Shop, which are open daily from 10 AM - 4 PM.
Long Island Whiskey and Spirits Fest
Tanger Outlets (Deer Park location)
Saturday, May 17, 2025 • 1 PM - 4:30 PM
This event features over 100 styles of whiskey and spirits! Those 21 and older will be able to enjoy various drinks while getting to know more from experts! Tickets are available for purchase online.
Did You Know?
EarthDay is now a global event, but its origins are somewhat humble. Prior to the 1960s, awareness of the link between public health and pollution was minimal. However, according to EarthDay.org, the 1962 publication of Silent Spring by American marine biologist, writer and conservationist Rachel Carson was a watershed moment for the environmental movement. The book did much to raise awareness of the effects of pollution on public health. Indeed, the publication of Carson's book proved a pivotal step toward the eventual establishment of Earth Day in 1970, which EarthDay.org characterizes as the dawn of the modern environmental movement. April 22, 2025 is Earth Day!
Spring Egg Hunt At Belmont Lake State Park
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is pleased to announce the 2025 Spring Egg Hunt at Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon.
This event, happening on Saturday, April 12, from 12pm to 2pm, features an egg hunt for children up to nine years old, photos with the Spring Bunny, a princess meet and greet, pony rides, a petting zoo, children’s games, and family entertainment.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. A rain date for the event is scheduled for Sunday, April 13, 12pm to 2pm. An $8 parking fee will be in effect for the event date and rain date.
The 2025 Spring Egg Hunt is made possible by Natural Heritage Trust, a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation supporting the New York State Parks, as well as corporate sponsors such as Cox Media Group Long Island, New York Life, Renewal by Andersen, and Zwanger Pesiri Radiology.
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 88 million visitors annually.
THE JO ANN BOETTCHER TEAM #12 Team by GCI #12 Team by Volume Platinum Award
JENNIFER CONBOY President’s Circle Award
PAUL CALIGURI Leading Edge Award
SUSAN LOMBARDI Gold Award
IRENE SICONOLFI President’s Circle Award
ELIZABETH GLASS Leading Edge Award
ELIZABETH (BETH) LOWE Gold Award
PATTY VORILAS President’s Circle Award
DANUTA KRZEMINSKA Leading Edge Award
LUNA BOND President’s Circle Award
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Easter Egg Coloring Tips
Coloring Easter eggs is a time-honored tradition dating back more than 2,500 years. There is evidence that people living in the ancient settlement of Trypillia dyed eggs. Ancient Persians also were believed to paint eggs for Nowruz (Persian New Year).
Christians adopted similar traditions to symbolize aspects of the Easter story. Originally Christians dyed eggs red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross, according to Chase Oaks Church. Good Housekeeping reports early Christian missionaries adapted the dying tradition to include more egg colors to represent different aspects of the Easter story. Yellow represented the resurrection, blue represented love and red remained a symbol of Christ’s blood.
Whether families dye eggs to symbolize the Easter miracle or simply for fun, the following are some coloring tips to enhance the process.
1. Prevent cracked eggs. Most colored eggs are hard-boiled. To prevent cracking during the boiling process, add a teaspoon of vinegar
and a tablespoon of salt to the boiling water. Additional anti-cracking measures include rubbing half a lemon on each shell before boiling.
2. Boil eggs and cool completely. It takes roughly 10 minutes to hard-boil an egg. Fill a pot with enough water to submerge the eggs, then bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Gently lower the eggs into the water with a slotted spoon. Cover, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Drain the eggs and cool in a bowl of water or run
under cold tap water.
3. Don’t forget the vinegar. Whether you use colored dye tablets or drops of food coloring from the pantry, use a mix of water and vinegar in the coloring solution. According to Education. com, food coloring is an acid dye and bonds using hydrogen. This chemical process only works in an acidic environment. Vinegar is added to water to make it more acidic and help the dyes adhere more strongly to the eggs and produce brighter colors.
4. Stick to white eggs. Stores sell both brown and white eggs. The species of chicken determines whether the eggs will be white or brown. When coloring eggs, it might be better to purchase white eggs, as the dyes will show up more vividly on the white shells.
5. Create distinctive designs. By covering portions of the bare eggs before dipping into color, people can create unique designs. Things like masking tape, rubber bands, wax (or crayons), and even twine can be used. The dye will only take on the uncovered areas, leaving white behind.
6. Dyes are not the only way to color eggs. Everything from watercolor paint to acrylics to decoupage can be used to cover eggs in vivid colors. Egg decorators also can use colored yarns, fabric or stickers. Search for creative materials to set Easter eggs apart this year.
Coloring eggs is a popular Easter tradition, and there are many ways to ensure this beloved activity produces beautiful results.
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Spring Ushers In Grilling Season
Thereturn of warm weather is synonymous with many things. For men and women who love to grill, spring marks a return to grilling their favorite foods and dining outdoors. Burgers and hot dogs may never go out of style, but plenty of additional foods can make for delicious grilled meals. Grilled chicken, for example, makes for a healthy meal the whole family can enjoy. Grilled chicken sandwiches, such as the following recipe for “Grilled Chicken Ciabatta with Romesco and Baby Greens” from Karen Adler and Judith Fertig’s “The Gardener & The Grill: The Bounty of the Garden Meets the Sizzle of the Grill” (Running Press), can make for a nice change of pace from more traditional grilling fare.
Grilled Chicken Ciabatta with Romesco and Baby Greens
Makes 4 servings
2 loaves ciabatta or 4 ciabattini (ciabatta rolls), sliced in half lengthwise
Olive oil, for brushing
Fine kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1⁄2-inch thickness
1⁄2 recipe Romesco Sauce (see below)
Small wedge (about 4 ounces) of Manchego or Parmesan cheese, for shaving 2 cups baby greens
Prepare a hot fire in your grill
Brush the cut sides of the ciabatta with olive oil. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil on both sides and season with salt and pepper.
Grill the chicken, turning once, for 5 minutes total. Grill the ciabatta, cut sides down, until it has good grill marks, 1 to 2 minutes.
Slather all the grilled sides of the ciabatta with the Romesco. Place the chicken breasts on the bottom half of the bread, shave some Manchego cheese over the chicken, then top with baby greens and the top half of the bread. If you’re using a loaf of ciabatta, you’ll have 2 chicken breasts on each loaf, so cut each loaf in half horizontally. If you’re using ciabattini, you’ll use 1 breast for each roll. Serve immediately.
Romesco Sauce
Makes 2 cups
1⁄2 cup toasted slivered almonds
2 jarred roasted red bell peppers, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 slice white bread (crust removed), toasted and crumbled
In a food processor, grind the almonds. Add roasted peppers, garlic, bread, parsley, and hot pepper flakes. Blend until it becomes a paste. Add the vinegar and pulse to blend. With the motor running, gradually pour the olive oil through the feed tube in a steady stream until the mixture thickens like mayonnaise. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Tips To Spring Clean Your Budget
Withflowers blooming and birds chirping, you may be in a spring-cleaning mindset. As you spruce up your home, you can also channel that energy into getting your finances in tiptop shape!
According to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING® professionals, here’s how to clear away the cobwebs in your budget:
Sort expenditures: If you’ve ever sorted your clothes and other items into piles during a spring clean, this budgeting principle will be familiar to you: Review your expenses and categorize them into needs, wants and expenditures you’re ready to part with. Whether you do this on paper or electronically, use a colorcoded system to visualize where your money is going.
Review your streaming services: Electronic subscription bloat is common, as is paying for forgotten
subscriptions after free trials end. For example, you may be subscribed to several of the most common entertainment streaming services, such as Netflix, Max and Hulu. Do you really need all of them? Whether it’s an online newsletter or a music streaming service, cancel unused subscriptions.
Avoid bank fees: Review your bank statements. Are you getting dinged with fees? Consider switching to a bank that doesn’t charge an account maintenance fee. You can also set up notifications to avoid having your account get hit with an overdraft. If you do get charged, contact your bank to explain your situation — you may be able to have some fees waived.
Switch insurance carriers: Periodically review your insurance rates, and shop the market to see if better rates are available for home, automotive and other forms of insurance.
Reduce debt: If your debt
is costing you a pretty penny, it’s time to act. A CFP® professional or credit counselor can help you craft a plan for consolidating debt
into lower-rate credit card accounts, refinancing your mortgage and reducing your overall debt burden. You should also automate credit card payments (and other bills) to ensure you aren’t paying late fees.
Pay yourself first: Earmark a portion of your budget to savings and investments each month. This will leave you with more money for your important goals and less for frivolous spending.
To work with a CFP® professional who can help you roll up your sleeves and get to work on cleaning up your finances, visit letsmakeaplan.org.
This spring, go beyond dusting the baseboards and mopping the floors. Refresh your finances for a fresh start to the season. (StatePoint)
Photo courtesy of (c) GeorgeRudy / iStock via Getty Images
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Tips To Overcome Seasonal Allergies
Spring and summer are typically welcomed with open arms. Warm weather, blooming flowers and trees full of leaves are a welcome sight for many, but seasonal allergy sufferers may find the transition from winter to spring a little more challenging.
The Center for Health Statistics found that just under 26 percent of adults and roughly 19 percent of children have a seasonal allergy. Treatments for seasonal allergies can be effective, and many people find over-the-counter medications are enough to alleviate their symptoms. But even people who take OTC medications daily may have days when seasonal allergies cause considerable discomfort. In such situations, allergy sufferers can consider these strategies.
• Identify your triggers.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology notes that pollen is the most common outside allergy trigger. Trees and grasses typically pollinate in spring and summer, which is why these seasons can be especially challenging for people with seasonal allergies. Dustmites and pets might trigger allergies indoors, but these can appear throughout the year. A visit to an allergist can determine what exactly triggers seasonal allergies. For example, certain types of grasses and trees might be triggers for some but not others. Identifying triggers is an effective first step because it can compel people to avoid the things that cause allergic reactions.
• Stay indoors on dry, windy days. The Mayo Clinic advises seasonal allergy
sufferers to stay indoors on dry, windy days, when pollen can be nearly impossible to avoid.
• Take advantage of a good rain. The Mayo Clinic advises that the best time for seasonal allergy sufferers to be outside is after a good rain. Rain helps to clear pollen from the air, so post-rain conditions can be ideal for people with seasonal allergies.
• Change your clothes and wash up upon coming inside. The ACAAI recommends changing clothes, washing them and taking a shower upon coming inside during allergy season. Washing clothes and taking a shower reduces the likelihood that you’ll spread pollen around the interior of your home, where it can attach to furniture and trigger allergic reactions.
• Monitor the pollen count. As noted, pollen is a seasonal allergy trigger, so allergy sufferers are urged to monitor the pollen count via a website such as Pollen. com, where visitors can type in their ZIP code and get an up-to-date allergy report. On days when the pollen count is high, stay indoors and keep windows closed so the pollen does not get inside. The Mayo Clinic notes that pollen counts tend to be highest in morning, so it’s best to avoid being outside during this time of day.
Seasonal allergies can make spring and summer more challenging. A few simple strategies can help people control their seasonal allergies even on days when pollen counts are particularly high.
Did You Know?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that pollen season is getting longer and increasing in intensity. Shifts in precipitation patterns, more frost-free days, warmer seasonal air temperatures, and greater amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, each of which are side effects of climate change, have led to higher concentrations of pollen in the air and longer pollen seasons. Data from the USA National Phenology Network, which provides data on the timing of seasonal events in plants and animals to ensure the well-being of humans, ecosystems and natural resources, indicates total pollen counts increased by as much as 21 percent between 1990 and 2018. Such data may come as no surprise to people with asthma and seasonal allergies who have noticed the side effects of such conditions tend to start earlier than in the past and extend for longer periods of time than in previous years.
