The tri-annual and award winning Long Island Restaurant Week will be having their winter edition from Sunday, January 26th to Sunday, February 2nd, 2025, with several prix fixe options. Plus, back to by popular demand, their Gift Card Giveaway will return, giving diners the option to enter to win one of three gift cards to redeemed at a participating restaurant of their choice. Visit longislandrestaurantweek.com to learn more.
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 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.
Recipe Of The Week: Take Hot Chocolate To The Next Level
People tend to think of sipping ice cream floats in the middle of summer when temperatures are soaring. Ice cream floating in a bubbling base of cola or root beer can be a welcome treat on a hot day. However, floats can be just as delicious when the weather chills, particularly when ice cream enhances rich and decadent hot chocolate. For this “Hot Chocolate Float” from “Chocolate: Over 100 Temptingly-Tasty Dishes” (Love Food) by the Love Food editors, coconut and chocolate-flavored scoops of ice cream bob and melt in creamy hot chocolate. Feel free to use your favorite flavors of ice cream to make this recipe your own, and you can even make this drink a boozy version with the inclusion of a shot of flavored vodka.
Serves 4
2 cups milk
8 ounces
2 tablespoons
8 scoops coconut ice cream
8 scoops semisweet chocolate ice cream Whipped cream, to decorate
Directions:
Pour the milk into a saucepan. Break the chocolate into pieces and add to the saucepan with the sugar. Stir over low heat until the chocolate has melted, the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat.
Put 1 scoop of coconut ice cream into each of 4 heatproof glasses, top with a scoop of chocolate ice cream, then repeat the layers.
Pour the chocolate flavored milk into the glasses, top with whipped cream, and serve immediately.
Garage Door
Garage Door
Garage Door Sale!
3
JANUARY HAPPENINGS
SAT. JAN. 18th
8:15AM-12:00 PM 15th ANNUAL 10 MILE BREWERY RUN
Baja Boathouse, 31 Baker Place in Patchogue. This 10 Mile Brewery Run in Memory of Ric DiVeglio boasts a scenic, flat USATF certified course. Participants will race and then enjoy a variety of complimentary Blue Point beer, food, and live music. This event is 21+ only, $75/person. For more information, please visit https://events.elitefeats. com/25breweryrun
1:00PM
LONG ISLAND’S EQUESTRIAN HISTORY
In the clubhouse Connetquot River State Park Preserve, 4090 Sunrise Highway in Oakdale. Jerry and Rita Trapani, lifelong equestrians have created a look at the rich equestrian history on Long Island. Go on a trip back through time and see the racetracks, estates, parks and shows that have made Long Island one of the most important equestrian venues in the world. See how many celebrities and Olympic equestrians started right here on our small island. Look at polo and foxhunting and how they have changed over the years. Register at www.friendsofconnetquot.org
4:00PM-7:00PM FAMILY GAME NIGHT
Farmingdale United Methodist Church, 407 Main Street in Farmingdale, invites the community to their Family Game
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
Night. Come have fun with Duck Races, Cornhole Games, Board Games, Life-Size Jenga, Connect Four, food and much more! Please RSVP to office@farmingdaleumc. org.
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. Certified course and a Boston Qualifier! 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
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, cal litter, chew toys, cat toys, blankets.
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 film, 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
The new year often brings fresh opportunities, and for many, it’s the perfect time to consider making a move. The real estate market typically sees renewed activity as people reevaluate their goals and make plans for the year ahead. Whether buying or selling, staying informed about market trends and working with a knowledgeable real estate professional can make the process smoother and help you achieve your goals. Let’s start the New Year with your goals in mind.
Jeanie Alessi
Diane Morabito-Keegan
JoAnn Passalacqua
Judith Lucca Shane
Broker/Owner
WATERFRONT
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),
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) 5811002.
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.
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Pravato To Host Free Property Tax Assessment Grievance Workshops
Workshops Offered For Town Residents To Lower Taxes
Oyster Bay Town Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato will host four free Property Tax Assessment Grievance Workshops for residents looking to acquire information on how to challenge their 2026-2027 property tax assessments. The workshops will be held both in the morning and evening to help accommodate all residents.
Notable Moments In The Life Of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Few individuals in American history have made an impact as sizable as Martin Luther King, Jr. King wore many hats throughout his tragically short life, from minister to activist to scholar, leaving behind a legacy that is worthy of celebration. Though King was assassinated before he even reached his fortieth birthday, his life was filled with many notable events. Many of those events positively affected, and continue to affect, the lives of millions of others. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University notes that the following are some of the major events of King’s life.
• January 15, 1929: Now commemorated annually as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (in 2023, the holiday is observed on Monday, January 16), January 15 marks the day King was born in 1929. King was born in Atlanta, where his father was a pastor at the Ebenezer church.
• June 8, 1948: King earns his bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Morehouse College.
• May 6-8, 1951: King graduates from Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. He delivers the valedictory address during the graduation ceremony.
• June 18, 1953: King marries Coretta Scott near the bride’s family home in Marion, Alabama. Coretta Scott King would also become a vocal activist, advocating for peace and gay rights and expressing her opposition to apartheid in the 1980s. She would not remarry after her husband’s assassination.
• June 5, 1955: King ears his doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University.
• December 5, 1955: King becomes president of the Montgomery Improvement Association after the organization is formed at the Holt Street Baptist Church. MIA is formed in response to the arrest of Rosa Parks five days earlier after she refused to
Continued On 16
The Property Tax Grievance Workshops are scheduled as follows:
· Tuesday, January 28th, 7pm at the Hicksville Community Center, 28 W. Carl St.
· Wednesday, January 29th, 10am at the Hicksville Community Center, 28 W. Carl St.
· Thursday, January 30th, 10am at Oyster Bay Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay
· Tuesday, February 4th, 7pm at Oyster Bay Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay In January, Nassau County notified residents of their home’s tentative
“While Nassau County determines your assessed value, we in Town government want to make sure you know that you have a right as a homeowner to challenge your assessment. Remember, your assessment can only be lowered as the result of a challenge – it can never be raised – and this workshop helps you challenge for free,” said Receiver of Taxes Pravato. “If you are a homeowner who disagrees with the assessed value of your property, I invite you to attend a Property Tax Assessment Workshop, as the property tax grievance deadline of March 3rd is approaching.”
assessed value for the 20262027 School Tax period and the 2027 General Tax period. Any residents who did not receive the notice may view it online at www. mynassauproperty.com or contact their County Legislator.
At the workshop, Receiver of Taxes Pravato will answer questions and show residents how to use online tools to file an “Application for Correction of Property Tax Assessment” online or via mail. There is no requirement to pay a law firm or agency to file a grievance. For those unable to attend the workshop, Receiver of Taxes Pravato offers an online video at www.oysterbaytown.com/ grievancevideo. For more information, contact the Tax Office at (516) 624-6400 or visit www.oysterbaytown. com.
• September 20, 1944: Despite being only 15 years old, King begins his freshman year at Morehouse College. King was only a high school junior in 1944, but he was admitted to Morehouse, where his father studied for his ministerial degree, after passing the school’s entrance exam.
• August 6, 1946: King’s letter to the editor of The Atlanta Constitution is published. The letter reflects King’s belief that Black Americans are entitled to the same rights and opportunities as White Americans. King’s father later admitted this letter was the first time he and his wife recognized their son’s “developing greatness.”
• February 25, 1948: Following in his father’s footsteps, King is ordained and appointed assistant pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in his hometown of Atlanta.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
vacate her seat for a white passenger.
• January 27, 1956: A threatening phone call late in the evening inspires King to carry on with his activism.
• January 30, 1956: King’s home is bombed while he is elsewhere delivering a speech. His wife and daughter are not injured in the blast.
• January 10-11, 1957: King is named chairman of what becomes the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which was an organization of southern black ministers working together to combat segregation.
• June 23, 1958: King and other leaders meet with U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, D.C.
• September 17, 1958: Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story is published. It is King’s first book.
• September 20, 1958: King survives a stabbing during a book signing in Harlem, New York. During a surgery after the stabbing, doctors remove a seveninch letter opener from King’s chest.
• April 16, 1963: King writes his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in response to criticisms of the Birmingham
Campaign, a collective effort on the part of the SCLC and the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR) to combat segregation in the Alabama city. The letter becomes one of King’s most famous writings.
• August 28, 1963: King delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
• January 3, 1964: King is named “Man of the Year” by Time magazine.
• December 10, 1964: King receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.
• March 17-25, 1965: King helps to lead civil rights marchers from Selma to Montgomery.
• June 7, 1966: King and other leaders resume James Meredith’s “March Against Fear” from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi. Meredith was unable to continue after he was shot and wounded.
• April 3, 1968: King delivers his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” as he returns to Memphis to lead a peaceful march of striking sanitation workers.
• April 4, 1968: King is shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. He is buried in Atlanta five days later.
Town Announces Special Public Skating Sessions For Martin Luther King Holiday
Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Laura Maier announced that residents looking for a fun way to spend their Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday can head to one of the Town’s three ice skating facilities, where holiday hours will be in place, offering extended public skating opportunities.
“For a fun, familyfriendly activity, residents
can head to one of the Town’s ice skating rinks –outdoors at Marjorie Post and Syosset-Woodbury Community Parks, and indoors at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center in Bethpage – on Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” said Councilwoman Maier. “All three facilities will be offering special public sessions to provide children who are off from
school with a fun-filled activity.”
On Monday, January 20th, all Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Rinks will be open for public sessions from 1pm-3pm and 4pm6pm. The outdoor ice rinks are located at Marjorie Post Park, Unqua and Merrick Roads in Massapequa, and at Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, 7900 Jericho Turnpike in
Woodbury. The Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center is located within Bethpage Community Park at 1001 Stewart Avenue, in Bethpage.
For more information, including information about the Town’s Youth Ice Hockey Program, figure skating, or general skating sessions, visit www. oysterbaytown.com/ice.
Sanitation, Recycling Collection Modified For MLK Holiday
Oyster Bay Town Councilman Tom Hand reminds residents that Town sanitation and S.O.R.T. Recycling collection schedules will be modified for the Monday, January 20th observance of Martin
Luther King Jr. Day.
“There will be no sanitation or recycling collection on Monday, January 20th for residents who normally receive Town service,” Councilman Hand said. “Residents who generally
receive Town pickup on Mondays will have their collections done the next day, Tuesday, January 21st.
Those who usually receive pickup on Tuesdays will be collected on Wednesday, January 22.
The Councilman added
Mini Movies Summarize
A book about a bully who gets a fresh start was the inspiration for a digital project at McKenna Elementary School in the Massapequa School District. Students in Olivia Belfiore’s fifth grade class read “Restart” by Gordon Korman, then made movie trailers about it. While the book doesn’t
have a corresponding movie, that didn’t stop students from creating animated previews of “Restart.” They worked in small groups and made their projects in Canva using its animation features.
Ms. Belfiore explained that each group was asked to capture key points of the book such as important plot
that Town offices will be closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but parks and skating rinks will be open and offer extended hours.
For more information, visit the Town’s website, www.oysterbaytown.com.
Anti-Bullying Book
details, character changes, theme, and problem and solution. Instead of writing an essay, students were able to reflect on story elements in more engaging and visual way.
“It was a chance for them to show off their creativity,” Ms. Belfiore said. “Their projects
were fantastic, beyond my expectations!”
For several weeks, Ms. Belfiore read sections of the book aloud each day, which would then be followed by a class discussion and entries in this digital journal. The movie trailers served as the culminating project.
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