Welcome to this beautiful 7-room ranch nestled on a private cul-de-sac, offering 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and updates throughout. Inside, you’ll find CAC, hardwood floors, fresh paint and crown moldings, along with a kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances, stone countertops, and radiant heated floors. The kitchen flows into the living and dining rooms, while a separate family room offers additional space to relax. The home also features a woodburning fireplace, updated bathrooms, and Andersen and Pella windows throughout. The finished basement adds extra living space, and the property also includes a 1-car attached garage, 200-amp electrical service and IGS. This home sits on a third of an acre with a spacious fenced-in yard, complete with a large deck, Cambridge paver patio surrounding the in-ground pool, and a fire pit. The taxes after STAR rebate are $14,712.36…come see for yourself.
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.
SAYVILLE | 60 Lincoln Avenue | $799,000 | Web# 818691
Unmissable Opportunity in Sayville! This 2-family home is ideal for living or investing. Each unit offers a private entrance, kitchen, combined living/dining space, two spacious bedrooms, and a full bath. A walk-up attic and basement provide abundant storage. This property blends comfort and potential. Don’t miss out on this exceptional chance — contact me today!
| Web# 835570 Discover the last waterfront property in the charming hamlet of Sayville! This 0.38-acre gem boasts 111.4 feet of private bayfront access, a new 135-foot marine bulkhead, and stunning views of the Great South Bay. A rare opportunity to create your dream retreat or versatile asset — don’t miss out! Contact me today.
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.
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.
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.
Shake Up With Variety
ILenten dinners
t’s customary for people participating in Lenten fasting to skip meat and poultry dinners on Fridays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. It is a sacrifice symbolic of the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. However, opting for vegetables and fish in lieu of meats doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor. “Seafood Pancakes” from “Judy Joo’s Korean Soul Food” (White Lion Publishing) are a popular Korean appetizer. Any shellfish can be
Seafood Pancakes
Makes 4 to 5 pancakes
2 ounces mussels, cleaned and debearded
2 ounces clams, cleaned
3 1⁄4 ounces rice flour
2 tablespoons cornflour
2 1⁄2 ounces self-rising flour
2 tablespoons dwengjang (Korean soy bean paste)
1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 large pinches of sea salt
3 1⁄2 ounces brown shrimp
5 spring onions, julienned
1 teaspoon garlic, grated or finely chopped
2 red chillies, thinly sliced at an angle Vegetable oil for frying
Directions:
substituted, but the ingredients listed help keep the pancakes crispy. Enjoy this dish as a light lunch or in addition to other offerings for a tasty dinner.
In a large saucepan, add enough water so that it’s three-quarters full and bring to a boil. Add the mussels and clams and cook until the shells open. Remove the shellfish and set aside to cool. Retain 3⁄4 ounces of the cooking liquor then strain it to remove the meat from the shells of the mussels and clams and set aside.
In a large bowl, gently whisk together the rice flour, cornflour, self-rising flour, dwengjang, pepper, salt and 8 ounces of cold water and liquor from the cooked shellfish until smooth. Add the brown shrimp, mussels, clams, spring onions, garlic and red chillies (keeping the seeds, if you like more heat) and stir batter until thoroughly combined.
In a large nonstick frying pan, heat a generous drizzle of oil over a medium-high heat. Spoon in the batter and spread it evenly to form a pancake about 5 inches wide. Fry until golden brown and crispy on the base, about 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip and cook for a further 3 to 4 minutes until the other side is golden. Transfer to a kitchen paper-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil to the frying pan as needed. Serve immediately with a favorite dipping sauce.
Did You Know?
Day 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!
Unleavened Bread The Foundation Of Passover Cooking
Passover is a Jewish celebration and one of the religion’s most sacred and widely observed holidays. Passover commemorates the Biblical story of the Israelites’ escape from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. In 2025, Passover takes place at sundown on Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 20, 2025.
Pesach, as Passover is known in Hebrew, includes all kinds of ceremonial
foods. The Passover seder plate showcases specific items that relate to both the suffering and emancipation of the Jewish people. Throughout Passover, the faithful abstain from any leavened bread products. According to Exodus 12:8:
“They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat.” Jews also are to remove all leaven (hametz) from their homes and eat unleavened bread
Perfect Matzah Balls (Kneidlach)
Yields 4 balls per each 1⁄4 cup of matzah meal (Meat, Pareve)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons oil or chicken fat
2 tablespoons soup stock or water
1⁄2 cup matzah meal
1 teaspoon salt
1 quart of salted water or chicken soup, for cooking
Directions:
for an additional seven days. Apart from being commanded by God, it is believed unleavened bread became traditional Passover food because the Jewish people departed Egypt in haste without time to let bread rise. Furthermore, some say God also associated leavened bread with sin.
If there is one ingredient Passover celebrants may find challenging to work with during the holiday,
it could be unleavened bread. Typically matzoh/ matzah is substituted for other yeasted breads this time of year. One place matzoh really shines, though, is in matzoh balls for use in soups or side dishes. A dumpling of sorts, matzoh balls are tasty and filling, and ideal for meals throughout Passover. Try this recipe for “Perfect Matzah Balls (Kneidlach)” courtesy of Chabad.org’s Kosher Cooking.
Beat eggs slightly with fork. Add other ingredients, except matzah meal, and mix. Add matzah meal gradually until thick. Stir. Refrigerate for 20 minutes in covered bowl.
Wet hands and form into balls. Drop into bubbling chicken soup or into a large wide pot into which 1 quart of water seasoned with 1 tablespoon salt has been added and has come to a boil. Cook for 30 minutes.
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.
Natalie’s Recent Transactions
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.
Unlock your home’s potential
Splish Splash Gears Up For 2025 Season & Debut Of All-New Water Playground
From soak to spray there’s water every which way, beginning this summer at New York’s Largest Water Park, Splish Splash, the park will debut an all-new water playground. Set to open for visitors in summer 2025, the new kids’ zone will welcome the tiniest of tots as the water park reopens for its 35th Season on Saturday, May 24. The brand-new splash-tastic water playground will offer more than 15 fun and silly ways to stay cool during family’s visits to Splish Splash. The new area will be decked out with threepint sized water slides, six interactive spray features, five water play features, a dump bucket and fun for all to soak and spray.
In addition to the new water playground, the park will be adding new events to add to their already diverse line-up. Splish Splash will kick off the season with entertainment
will be more surprises around the corner this season.
This world-class oasis of 96 tree-covered acres offers fun for all and located just off the Long Island Expressway. The park offers two wave pools, a large Kiddie Area, a lazy river, and many different food and merchandise locations. Splish Splash offers unique thrilling attractions and high-speed slides like Bombs Away, Riptide Racer, and Bootlegger’s Run, the first water coaster in New York full of breathtaking drops, including one from nearly five stories high.
Opening Weekend. Kids of all ages will love Kids Fest weekends in June and the annual Father’s Day Belly Flop contest on Saturday, June 14. Then, in July and August, the park will bring back its Shark in the Park, Touch a Truck and Hero Appreciation and Teacher Appreciation weeks. There
To celebrate the all-new water playground and Splish Splash’s 35th Season, guests can purchase a 2025 Season Pass now for as low as five payments of $20 each which is best way to experience the park. Season Passes come with an array of perks from discounts on food and retail, free parking, bring a friend tickets and more.
To kick off the 2025 Season, Splish Splash is hiring 1,000 team members and accepting applications in all departments. Those who apply today can work as a lifeguard at the park’s all-new water playground or make one of the park’s famous Ben’s Soft Pretzels. Positions are also available in Park Services, Admissions, Retail, Security, Guest Services and more. The park offers competitive wages starting at up to $20 per hour, scholarships and advancement opportunities, incentive programs, monthly special events, discounts on food and retail, free admission to Splish Splash and 14 other amusement parks in the United States and much more. The park is accepting applications for those ages 14 and up, there are also opportunities for professionals and retirees.
For more information on the all-new water playground, to purchase Season Passes or apply for a position, visit splishsplash.com.
