Thistime of year we reflect on all that 2024 has brought us, while thinking of what we strive to accomplish in the year ahead. We are so thankful for each and every one of you; we simply couldn't do what we do without your loyal readership.
As you flip through the pages, you'll find seasonal editorial, along with timely and informative local stories throughout. Plus, don't miss our holiday coloring contest, where you can win a 4-pack of tickets to the Long Island Aquarium! We wish you joy, peace and happiness throughout the season and always.
Spend New Year’s Day Visiting One Of Long Island’s Iconic Lighthouses
The first day of a new year often brings upon feelings of hope and excitment, as we embark on a fresh start and begin to tackle our recently-declared New Year’s resolutions. You may find yourself searching for a memorable activity that you and your loved ones can set your sights on come January 1st. Whether or not your resolution pertains to “being more active,” consider taking a walk to one of Long Island’s iconic lighthouses, the Fire Island Lighthouse. This famous destination can easily be enjoyed by all who visit.
Tower is open from 10 AM - 3:30 PM daily.
Museum and Gift Shop are open 10 AM - 4 PM daily. Plus, you can now shop their gift shop from the comfort of your home! Visit www.fireislandlighthouse.com for more information.
January 12 Evening Tower Tour
On Sunday, January 12, there will be an Evening Tower Tour at 4 PM. Enjoy watching the sunset from the top of the Fire Island Lighthouse! Bring a flashlight for your walk back to the parking lot. Reservations are required. Visit www. fireislandlighthouse for pricing and more information.
Fire Island Lighthouse
Fire Island, New York
The Fire Island Lighthouse, located at the western tip of Fire Island, was one of the first landmarks visitors saw when arriving by ship from Europe. It is Long Island’s tallest lighthouse tower at 168 feet tall, with 182 steps to the top. This very well may be the most recognizable and visited lighthouse on the island.
Fun Ways To Make Christmas Eve Even More Special For Kids
Parentsknow that nothing quite matches the excitement young children feel on Christmas Eve. On the day before Christmas, youngsters anxiously anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus that evening, and are perhaps even more excited by the prospects of the following morning, when they’ll race into the living room and discover all that the jolly old elf left behind. Christmas Eve seems to have some built-in magical components, but there are a handful of ways parents can make the day even more special for children.
• Create a Christmas Eve craft. Gather children and their cousins and/ or friends to create a special Christmas Eve craft or decoration that can be displayed next year. This is a great way to channel youngsters’ nervous Christmas Eve energy into something productive, and it can make for a great tradition families can continue even after kids are grown.
• Watch a favorite Christmas movie. Hollywood has never shied away from holiday fare, so there’s no shortage of festive films to enjoy with youngsters on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a classic like the 1947 film “Miracle on 34th Street” starring Natalie Wood as the adorable “Susan Walker” and
Edmund Gwenn as “Kris Kringle,” or go with something more recent, such as “The Grinch,” the 2018 adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
• Take a nighttime stroll or drive to see the lights. Lighting displays are another component that makes the holiday season so special. After Christmas Eve dinner, take a stroll through your neighborhood to see the lighting displays or climb into the car to take in a different neighborhood’s offerings if you’re already familiar with those in your own neck of the woods.
Christmas Eve is a magical day for youngsters and their parents. Some simple ideas can make the day even more meaningful for children and their families.
Tree Toppers
• Track the big guy’s movements online
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight for more than 60 years. Beginning on Christmas Eve, families can track Santa’s movements across the globe at Noradsanta.org. Kids can visit the site to see where Santa is at any given moment on Christmas Eve, growing more excited as the big fella gets closer and closer to their own region.
Christmas trees are a key component of many people's holiday season. It's a family tradition to choose (or take out) the tree each year and then adorn it with ornaments, tinsel, family mementos, and a beautiful tree topper. In regard to tree toppers, most people fasten the top bough with an angel or a star. The first tree toppers were the infant Jesus, but toppers are now available in other options symbolic of the Nativity of Jesus. The star refers to the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus. The angel represents the messengers of God as well as the Angel Gabriel, who visited Mary to share the news that she would be giving birth to the Son of God. People can choose whichever topper they prefer, but many refer to the religious significance of Christmas.
How To Host A New Year’s Brunch
NewYear’s Day unofficially marks the end of the holiday season. After the turkey and trimmings of Thanksgiving and the gifts galore of Christmas and Chanukah, New Year’s presents one final chance to toast to fun and fortune.
Chances are good that after an evening of ringing in the New Year and dancing until dawn, most people sleep in and catch up on a few extra hours sleep on January 1. Breakfast may come and go before tired revelers are ready to greet the day. That is what makes brunch so popular on January 1.
Brunch is a meal eaten in the late morning or early afternoon — generally between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. It consists of a blend of breakfast and lunch foods. Historical evidence suggests that brunch originated in the British
upper classes in the late 19th century. Many upperclass people gave servants partial or full days off on Sundays. Staff would set out buffet spreads in the morning before leaving, enabling homeowners to graze among breakfast and lunch items.
It may be challenging to compete with the excitement of New Year’s Eve, but a New Year’s Day brunch can be just as memorable, especially when planning is a priority.
• Send invitations early on. The holiday season is a busy time and people often commit to invitations early on. If you want to host certain guests at the brunch, send out those invitations several weeks in advance.
• Keep it intimate. Individuals will be feeling the effects of a late night of partying and it’s likely you will be as well. Make things easier on yourself by keeping the
omelets, French toast, bagels, deli meats, and salads. If you want to get creative, change up these recipes in subtle ways, such as serving French toast stick dippers with a warm maplecaramel dipping sauce or bite-sized omelets baked in small ramekins.
• Keep the coffee flowing. Coffee, teas and hot chocolate are great at brunch. It’s easier to recover from New Year’s Eve overindulgence with a warm jolt of caffeine. Set up a nice beverage bar, and be sure to include other drinks that enable guests to rehydrate after a night of revelry.
guest list on the small side. In turn, there will be less food required and perhaps less mess to clean up afterward.
• Serve familiar foods. Brunch combines the best of breakfast and lunch. Guests will be expecting some of the standards, including
• Keep it simple. Soft music and nice conversation may be all that’s needed to entertain during a New Year’s brunch. Another low-key option is to queue up a light-hearted movie or play a relatively easy trivia game.
New Year’s brunches can close the door on another successful holiday season with a relaxing afternoon spent in the company of family and friends.
Accordingto the American Pet Products Association, consumers in the United States spent $147 billion on pets in 2023. And it’s not just the essentials that have people opening up their wallets for pets. A 2022 YouGov survey found that 57 percent of owners buy holiday gifts for their pets and 40 percent host birthday celebrations.
With the holiday season on the horizon, there’s a good chance that beloved pets are on gift lists this year, particularly for Gen Z pet owners. A study of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Talker Research for Newsweek found that Gen Z spends an average of $148.50 on their pets each month, the highest of all surveyed. For those shopping for gifts their pets will enjoy, these options could have tails wagging.
• Treat dispenser: It isn’t possible to be home with their pets all of the time. A dispenser that can be programmed to offer treats at certain intervals or
connected to an app that enables a person to release one at the push of a button can be a nice gift to surprise stay-at-home pets.
• Puzzle toy: Pets need to keep their brains working; otherwise, they may get bored and into trouble. A puzzle toy that has treats or kibble hidden behind panels helps pets remain mentally sharp.
• New bed: Upgrade a pet’s bed to something even more lush and comfortable. A fleece blanket and a dedicated pet pillow can help pets feel even more pampered.
• Safety belt: Guarantee that trips in the car to the dog park or other excursions are safer by gifting a safety pet harness that works like a seatbelt in a vehicle.
• Grooming package: Everyone wins when a pet is washed, dried and primped to perfection. Professional groomers have the skills to tame excess fur and trim nails so pets smell wonderful and remain comfortable.
Holy Angels Regional School
Give Your Children the advantage that lasts a lifetime!
Open House and Registration
Saturday, January 25th from 11:00am - 2:00pm
• Early Childhood Programs
• Pre-K thru Eighth Grade
• Extra-Curricular Activities
• Before & After Care
• N.Y.S. Regents Courses for Algebra I and Earth Science
Impress Guests With This Flavorful Appetizer
Appetizers
can make a strong first impression when eating at a restaurant. Indeed, a flavorful appetizer can give diners a taste of what’s to come throughout the rest of the meal, creating a sense of anticipation that will linger all the way to the last bite. Appetizers may be most associated with restaurants, but holiday hosts can go the extra mile and prepare some flavorful apps at home as well. As hosts prepare to welcome loved ones into their home this holiday season, they can treat guests with these “Stuffed Mushrooms” courtesy of Lines+Angles.
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Drizzle olive oil on baking sheet and coat thoroughly.
2. Gently clean the mushrooms and remove stems. Finely chop stems. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add stems, onion and garlic, and sauté until stems and onions are soft and garlic is fragrant.
3. In a mixing bowl, add bread crumbs, cheese and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Add sautéed mixture to bread crumb mixture and mix well.
4. Spoon filling mixture into mushroom caps. Arrange on prepared baking sheet, stuffed side up. Bake about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and the tops are golden. Cool for several minutes before serving. Arrange on serving tray or platter. Serve.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Stuffed Mushrooms
Makes 28 servings
Olive oil, to coat baking sheet
28 mushrooms (21⁄2 inches in diameter), stemmed
1⁄2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
3⁄4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1⁄2 cup Romano cheese, grated
3 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Artificial Or Real Christmas Tree?
Even though the debate continues regarding the merits of artificial and real Christmas trees, it seems there is a winner, at least within the United States. According to Statista, 47 percent of American households own an artificial Christmas tree, while 24 percent purchase real trees. Though real trees might not be as popular as their artificial alternatives, the number of real trees that are purchased each year remains significant. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, roughly 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold annually in the United States.
Magic Of Lights Drive - Through Experience Illuminates The Imagination During Holiday Season
Magicof Lights, the family-friendly, drivethrough holiday lights festival, is celebrating the grandest holiday of the year with a dazzling, sparkling, and twinkling series of magical light displays in a 2.5-mile drive-through experience, the longest and brightest ever, at both Long Island’s Jones Beach State Park and at Holmdel’s PNC Bank Arts Center running nightly through January 4. Inside the comfort of their own vehicle, guests will enjoy Magic of Lights’ classic holiday favorites including Winter Wonderland, the 12 Days of Christmas, Toyland, festive Elves and Reindeer Road. In addition to the 200 foot long Enchanting Tunnel of Lights, there will also be other new light tunnels to delight and amaze.
Other illuminated displays include the 32-foot-tall animated Mattel’s Waving Christmas Barbie®, Prehistoric Christmas featuring life sized
dazzle and delight guests of all ages.”
The Magic of Lights uses the latest CAD technology and is hand-crafted at the Magic of Lights warehouse in Medina, OH, then, transported to Long Island. The displays combine for more than 10 miles of LED lighting across all presentations, in the trees, and on the buildings. There are 10 different colors of LED bulbs used. The highest scene is 32-feet tall, and the longest is several hundred feet long. The steel displays are designed, bent, cut, and welded into about 800 frames combined in different configurations to create each show’s giant winter holiday scenes.
by Flagstar. Further, a portion of every Jones Beach entry ticket sold will support Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Foundation for Long Island State Parks Inc.
Guests are encouraged to share their favorite Magic of Lights pictures!
Facebook: @ magicoflightsjonesbeach
Facebook: @ MagicOfLightsNewJersey
Instagram: @ TheMagicOfLights
Magic of Lights is produced in partnership between Family Entertainment Live and Live Nation.
dinosaurs celebrating the season, and the legendary BIGFOOT® Monster Truck. Created with over two million sparkling lights, Magic of Lights is a nostalgic and festive event everyone will enjoy.
The Toyota Holiday Village, which allows guests to walk through a magical out-of-car area featuring Santa Photos, refreshments, and other holiday activities, will also return at both locations. A new augmented reality feature will be introduced this year as well to make the magical experience even more interactive, with details set to be released in November.
“We are excited to return Magic of Lights to both the Long Island and Holmdel communities for as its become a part of the local annual holiday tradition,” says Ken Hudgens, CEO of Family Entertainment Holdings, LLC.
“Our innovative creative team has designed a drive-through holiday wonderland light experience that promises to
Magic of Lights is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. (dusk) until 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. (dusk) until 11 p.m. For dates, times, and ticket availability, visit magicoflights.com. Admission is $30 in advance or $35 at the gate on weekdays and $30 in advance or $40 at the gate on weekends through November. Price is based per car. Special pricing is available for limousines and buses. Group ticket rates are available. Tickets are available through TicketMaster.com.
At Jones Beach, Magic of Lights is supported by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and presented
About Family Entertainment Live
Family Entertainment Holdings, LLC is a diversified, entertainment holding company that develops familyoriented live events including Magic of Lights ®, an outdoor holiday lights drive-through experience produced at venues throughout North America and Hot Wheels® Monster Trucks Live, showcasing a toys-to-life show of Mattel’s legendary Hot Wheels Monster Trucks show presented across North America, Europe and elsewhere internationally. The Company is headquartered in New York, NY. For more information visit familyentertainmentlive.com.
Charming Colonial Home
Welcome to this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bath colonial home built in 1971, This property offers a perfect blend of classic charm and modern amenities, set on a serene .45-acre lot that appeals to nature enthusiasts. Enjoy the convenience of a spacious first Floor Primary bedroom with an en-suite bath, providing a private retreat. The inviting living room features stunning wood beams, ceiling fans and oversized picture windows, flooding the space with natural light and offering picturesque views of the tranquil landscape. On the 2nd Floor: Two additional bedrooms, a full bath with a jetted tub and shower, a walk-in closet, and a stand-up attic provide ample space for family and guests. Host gatherings in the formal dining room or unwind in the cozy den, complete with a wood-burning fireplace for those chilly evenings. The eat-in kitchen boasts granite countertops and a functional layout, making meal preparation a joy. Step outside to a 20x20 deck with a custom awning. Perfect for outdoor entertaining and enjoy the beauty of protected wetlands surrounding the property. Features include central air, central vacuum, a laundry, a 2-car attached garage. A paver patio and walkway enhance the front of the home, complemented by a gravel driveway and a storage shed. Equipped with 200-amp electrical service. Connetquot school district. This home is a rare find in a historic area, offering both comfort and an idyllic setting. Don’t miss your chance to make it your own! List Price $879,000. Contact Ibelle Casanas.
