“By The Original Salpino’s Of Wantagh & N. Babylon. Same Original Owner, Shorter Name!”
DECEMBER HAPPENINGS
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11th
2:30AM-5:00PM THE HELPING HANDS
35TH ANNUAL TOY DRIVE
The Toy Drive will be held at 944 West Bay drive or the BBEA clubhouse - block of Villa Monaco in West Islip. For more information, please contact contact Jennifergalllozzi@gmail.com or to make a donation visit https://www. paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_ id=Q84FKWW5F42DW
FRIDAY, DEC. 13th
7:30PM
A GILBERT & SULLIVAN
CHRISTMAS CAROL
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Islip will bring people together to experience a vibrant performance of “A Christmas Carol,” performed with the music of Gilbert & Sullivan. The production takes place in the church’s Fenton Hall. Presented in tandem with the Islip Arts Council. Proceeds will go to the church’s music ministry. Seating is limited. To purchase tickets, please visit. https:// stmarksislip.org or call 631-581-4950 – or come into the office. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-1:00PM
SATURDAY, DEC. 14TH
10:00AM-3:00PM
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
Islip United Methodist Church will be hosting their Annual Christmas Craft Fair at 350 Main Street in Islip. Lots of Homemade items, Jewelry, Antiques, Raffles, Baked Goods, lunch and so much more. For more information, please call 631-581-7663
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
FUEL OIL
3:00PM CONCERT OF SACRED CHRISTMAS MUSIC
Grace United Methodist Church will be hosting a Concert of Sacred Christmas Music. Featuring soprano soloist Kathryn Wilson. A free-will offering will be taken. Grace United Methodist Church, 515 S. Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst. For more information, please call 631-226-8690
4:00PM-10:00PM
FARMINGDALE UGLY SWEATER BAR CRAWL
The Coop Nashville Kitchen Bar and Lounge, 342 Main Street in Farmingdale. Get ready to don your ugliest holiday sweaters and join us for the ultimate festive adventure on December 14th! This is more than just a bar crawl-it's an Ugly Sweater extravaganza where locals and visitors come together to celebrate the holiday season in style. Email: Info@pubcrawls.com
9:30AM-11:00AM
SANTA AND FRIENDS BREAKFAST
United Skates of America
1276 Hicksville Rd. in Seaford. This is a non-skating event that includes a breakfast buffet and a special meeting with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Frosty and a Gingerbread Man! Wear your cutest holiday pajamas and have some good old fashioned fun! For more information, please call 516-795-5474
10:30AM-3:00PM
BABYLON CHRISTMAS MARKET
Village Gazebo & Bayman Park
The Babylon Beautification Society is pleased to host this outdoor Christmas Market, featuring over 90 vendors selling fine and unique gifts. Plus, enjoy food and beverages for sale in the Gazebo area. The rain date for the event is December 15. Visit babylonbeautification.org for more information
THROUGH DEC. 31st
8:00AM-6:00PM
CHRISTMAS AT HICKS
Pictures with Santa, every day through December 23. Make sure to bring your own camera for pictures. A walkthrough Christmas story features Santa, his elves and friends as they prepare for the big day! A festive animated story for the young and young at heart! Please bring your donation of a non-perishable food item(s) for Long Island Cares and drop off at the end of your walkthrough. 100 Jericho Turnpike in Westbury. For more information, please call 516-334-0066
THROUGH JAN. 02, 2025 10:00AM-3:00PM
CHRISTMAS HOUSE LONG ISLAND
If you are looking for an exciting and fun, indoor family holiday attraction, Christmas House Long Island is now open daily at the Broadway Commons, 358 N. Broadway in Hicksville. This unique 45+ minute walk-through features interactive and imaginative experiences that will delight people of all ages! For more information, please call 516-878-0273
CLUES ACROSS
1. Thou __ do it
6. Sino-Soviet block (abbr.)
9. Brainstem part
13. Town in New York state
14. Little (Spanish)
15. Continent
16. Retch
17. Short-billed rails
18. Small period of time (abbr.)
19. Confused
21. A team needs one
22. Woman in ancient times
23. Republican Party
CLUES DOWN
1. One-time Aaron Rodgers target
2. Wings
3. Overly studious person
4. They protect your valuables
5. The Volunteer State
6. Non-hydraulic cement
7. Horse mackerel
8. Jackson and Diddley are two
9. Splendid displays
10. Mountain in NE Greece
11. A daughter or your brother or sister
12. German surname
14. Having more than one husband at a time
24. Spanish be
25. “The Godfather” character Johnny
28. Not around
29. City in Zambia
31. A type of beginning
33. Numb
36. Gurus
38. Small, gray-headed crow
39. Vehicle type
41. Disorders
44. One point east of southeast
45. Indian soldier
46. Tree type
48. Midway between south and southeast
17. Romanian city
20. Energy
21. Makes less hot
23. Gas diffusion electrode
25. Former CIA
26. Set an example for others
27. Support of a particular person
29. One from the Big Apple
30. Mountain range
32. Violate the sanctity of something
34. Supervises flying
35. Talks
37. Persian male given name
40. Born of
49. It cools your home
51. Corn comes on it
52. Ship’s deck
54. A way to bake
56. Improvised
60. Butterfly genus
61. Baseball fields have them
62. Designated space
63. Discharge
64. Two of something
65. Once more
66. Part of your face
67. Tax collector
68. Cassia tree
42. Forcibly take one’s possessions
43. Discounts
47. Knockouts
49. Posh Colorado destination
50. Form of therapy
52. British rock band
53. Type of virus (abbr.)
55. The U. of Miami mascot is one
56. Volcanic crater
57. Middle Eastern nation
58. Sinn __, Irish organization
59. Ethiopian lake
61. Bits per inch (abbr.)
65. Equally
Northwell Health Visits Belmont Students
Northwell Health and Cohen Children’s Medical Center representatives spent the day at Belmont Elementary School in the North Babylon School District on Nov. 13 to teach students about health and safety with hands-on lessons. Different health and wellness stations were set up in the gymnasium as classes rotated through during the day. At one station, students conducted hands-only CPR and practiced lifesaving techniques with a CPR dummy. They also learned the proper procedures for washing their hands. Another station focused on the different food groups and the importance of proper nutrition, as well as a dental health station with demonstrations of proper tooth brushing. Belmont students also learned the right way to cross a street and safety tips when walking. To have some fun and get their heartrates up, there was an exercise station and a lesson that focused on social-emotional wellness and coping skills.
NORTHWELL HEALTH VISITS BELMONT STUDENTS - Belmont Elementary
Nov. 13. Photos courtesy of North Babylon School District
Getting Into The Holiday Spirit
Denise Heegan did an amazing job ensuring the North Babylon community kicked off the holiday season with the festive lamppost decorating event. As an Ambassador for the Town of Babylon’s Beautification Society, she coordinated the decoration of over 80 light poles alongside her four children. This initiative gave residents a chance to start or continue their family tradition of enhancing the beauty of
the community. Councilman Terence McSweeney who chairs the Town of Babylons beautification committee extended his thanks to Denise and the entire Heegan family for their tireless efforts and for continuing their family tradition, which has also turned into many families in the North Babylon community tradition. McSweeney added that since inducting Denise as an ambassador, “she
hit the ground running and continues to impress me with her positive attitude and love for the community.” Town, County, and State elected officials lent a hand including Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez, Councilman Terence McSweeney, Councilman Anthony Manetta, Legislator Tom Donnelly, Assemblyman Michael Durso, and Assemblymanelect Kwani O’Pharrow.
LONG ISLAND MEDIA GROUP
PUBLISHER
Jeff Lambert
ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER
CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION
Joe Lambert
Ethan Keattikul
Diana Lambert ADMINISTRATION
Teri Tinkler
PRODUCTION
MANAGER
Josh Marlowe GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
MANAGING
EDITOR
Felicia Edwards
MARKETING
MANAGER
Noelle Lambert
Victoria Kokolakis
Stephan Schulze
PROOFREADING
Kerry Mastrobuoni
ACCOUNT
EXECUTIVES
Carol Link
Bob Liquorie
Nicole Sims
Kim Volz
Bonnie Schifano
Lucille Moran
Terry Rydyzynski
Noelle Lambert
SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION:
School in the North Babylon School District had a special visit from Northwell Health on
Sweet Marinara OR Fra Diavolo Sauce: Shrimp, Clams, Mussels, Calamari, Scallops
Baked Salmon $90.00 $170.00
The holiday will be brighter for children at Cohen Children’s Medical Center thanks to the third annual collaboration between Mangano Family Funeral Homes and the Deer Park Fire Department.
Mangano Family Funeral Homes owner Sal Mangano says “This effort began 3 years ago and was spearheaded by Joseph Baggio, a local young man who is a cancer survivor. He is former patient at Cohen who was looking to ‘Pay it forward’. We are proud
to partner with him.”
Cohen Children’s Medical Center provides the very best care to meet the special needs of sick children ranging in age from premature babies to adolescents. The 206-bed hospital opened in 1983 as the NY Metro area’s only hospital exclusively for children. Today, they are the largest provider of pediatric healthcare services in NY State.
This year as an added incentive to donate, Family Florist of Deer Park is giving $10 gift cards to anyone who donates a toy at Mangano Family Funeral Home drop off location to
support this year’s drive.
Mangano credits the generosity of Deer Park residents and surrounding communities for making this toy drive so successful year after year.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped at the following locations through December 14, 2024 : Deer Park Fire Department- 94 Lake Ave, Deer Park Mangano Family Funeral Home- 1701 Deer Park Ave, Deer Park
The Works Barbershop- 1941 Deer Park Ave, Deer Park
For more information please call Mangano Family Funeral Home at 631-586-3600.
About Mangano Family Funeral Homes
With over 100 years in operation as a family-owned business, Mangano Family Funeral Homes provide families and their loved ones with caring and compassionate service in their time of need. To learn more please visit www.manganofh.com
Volunteer Group Raises $250,000 - Sponsors 41 Service Dogs To Assist Vets
A local group of 30 dedicated volunteers just surpassed the $250,000 donated milestone, sponsoring 41 highly trained service dogs thus far to assist our Veterans and first responders in need.
“Friends of America’s Vet Dogs” was established in 2015 with the sole mission of helping our Veterans
have a better life by getting them a service dog free of charge. The all-volunteer non-profit community service group does this through America’s Vet Dogs, a 501c3 located in Smithtown.
Each dog sponsored by the group, which was founded by Sayville residents Cliff Miller and
Patricia Summers, is carefully named to honor an unsung hero of our military, someone who brought great credit to our military, or to recognize someone / someplace that significantly helped a Veteran in need. One of the group’s sponsored dogs, Sully, served President George H. W. Bush until his
death, and now continues to serve Veterans every day at Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
“Friends of America’s Vet Dogs” was honored by the staff and CEO of America’s Vet Dogs John Miller at their Smithtown facility this week for reaching the $250,000 milestone. There
are 30 active members of the group, which raises awareness and funding for the crucial service with an annual Chinese Auction event, hosting information tables at community events, holding other fundraiser events and by speaking at local libraries, labor uMembers of the group are hopeful they will be able to
sponsor their 42nd service dog by year’s end. They can be reached by writing to: Friends of America’s Vet Dogs, Attention Cliff Miller, PO Box 18, Bohemia, NY 11716-0018 or by email at vetdogs@ aol.com Donations are tax deductible and checks should be made payable to America’s Vet Dogs.
America’s Vet Dogs CEO John Miller (center) is flanked by the members of “Friends of America’s Vet Dogs” at America’s Vet Dogs / Guide Dog Foundation Smithtown campus.
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TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you
TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you
TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you
TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you
Dwight Gooden & Alzheimer’s Foundation Of America Team Up With Long Islanders To Strike Out Alzheimer’s Disease
New York baseball legend Dwight Gooden teamed up with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) to help strike out Alzheimer’s disease at AFA’s annual Alzheimer’s Walk in the Park. The walk raised approximately $50,000 to support AFA’s programs, services, and research projects.
Services supported by the walk proceeds include the AFA Helpline, caregiver support groups, and educational programs, as well as research toward better treatment and a cure. AFA funds research
across the country and around the world, including on Long Island at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, and Stony Brook University.
“AFA is grateful to Dwight Gooden, our supporters, and sponsors for helping to make a difference in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO.
“The funds and awareness raised through this event will provide help today and hope for the future for families
affected by Alzheimer’s disease.”
Dwight Gooden, AFA’s honorary Alzheimer’s ambassador for the Walk, cut the ribbon to start the walk, threw out a ceremonial first pitch, and talked about the impact that help and support have for someone going through challenges, encouraging those caring for loved ones with dementia not to go through this journey alone.
The walk took place at AFA’s Respite Care Relief Park, located within Eisenhower
Park in East Meadow. AFA’s Respite Care Relief Park is an educational and recreational dementia-friendly place where caregivers can feel comfortable bringing their loved one with dementia to relax and enjoy a peaceful outdoor setting, while also gaining helpful educational information.
Individuals who could not attend the walk but would like to support the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America can do so by visiting www.alzfdn. org/donate.
Why Supporting Local Small Businesses Matters
The holiday season is a time of year when shopping takes center stage. While online giants and big box retailers seem to be everywhere, offering an endless array of products with the convenience of low prices, small businesses provide a range of benefits that go far beyond the ease of a mouse click or mountains of merchandise. Shopping local retailers is more than just a transaction — it is crucial for maintaining the economic foundation of local communities. Let’s take a look at the many ways it pays to shop small businesses during the holidays and all year long.
• Strengthen the local economy: A large percentage of the money spent at small businesses stays in the community. That’s because these
businesses often are owned and operated by local residents who are invested in the community themselves. Various studies indicate that for every $100 spent at a small business, roughly $70 stays in the community.
• Enhanced customer service: Owners and employees of small businesses have a keen interest in keeping customers happy. They often do so by providing superior customer service. Tailoring recommendations, exhibiting a willingness to accommodate special requests, offering a more engaging shopping experience, and being more friendly and connected with regular
customers sets many small businesses apart.
• Support the community: Small businesses serve the community through the products and services they offer, and many give back in other ways as well. Small, locally owned businesses often sponsor schools, sports teams and charities. This helps foster a sense of belonging in the community.
• Innovative offerings: Small businesses are not beholden to corporate policies or franchise restrictions, so they can more readily bring new life to existing ideas and trends. Small businesses can offer customers different options that larger retailers cannot match.
• Job creation: Small businesses employ a significant percentage of the workforce and frequently provide jobs that might not be available in larger corporate settings. The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy says small businesses have generated 12.9 million net new jobs over the past 25 years, accounting for two out of every three jobs added to the U.S. economy. Keeping residents working helps strengthen local communities. There are numerous benefits to shopping at small businesses this Small Business Saturday and throughout the year. Such firms help to establish a more resilient, diverse and bustling local community.
Fall Senior Advocate Schedules
Suffolk Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park) is pleased to inform Babylon and Huntington residents about the local Suffolk County Office for the Aging Fall 2024 Senior Advocate Schedule. Senior advocates are County representatives who come out into the community and assist seniors with information gathering, completion of eligibility or recertification applications and referrals to appropriate community agencies.
“It is so important for us to provide our senior citizens with the assistance and information they need in ways that are most convenient to them. These visits allow our seniors to connect with our County’s senior advocates right in their own communities,” said Legislator Donnelly. “I
hope all those interested in the services that the Suffolk County Office for the Aging provides will take advantage of this opportunity.”
This fall, Senior Advocates will be visiting the following locations in the Town of Babylon:
• North Amityville Nutrition Center, 48-C Cedar Road, Amityville: Wednesday, December 18, 10 am – 1 pm
• Spangle Drive Center, 4385 Spangle Drive, North Babylon: Tuesday, December 17, 12 – 3:30 pm
In Huntington, they will be visiting the following:
• Huntington Senior Nutrition Center, 423 Park Avenue, Huntington: Wednesday, December 18, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
• Paumanack Village 5 & 6, 100 Adriatic Drive,
Melville: Thursday, December 26, 8:30 am – 12 pm; residents only Advocates assist with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as food stamps), Medicare Savings Program and Heating Emergency Assistance Program (HEAP) applications. They also can provide information on Medicare, answer questions and make recommendations and referrals. For more information about available services or directions to any of these locations, please call the Suffolk County Office for the Aging at (631) 853-8200.
“For more than three decades, the Suffolk County Office for the Aging has been providing full and trouble-free access to critical services,” Donnelly said. “I am glad to see their great professional community outreach program continue and hope that every senior resident will make full use of it.”
External Diploma Program
The National External Diploma Program offers adults 21 and over, the opportunity to receive credit for their life experiences, and earn a high school equivalency diploma without the challenge of taking lengthy timed examinations. NEDP, is a competency based program for students who are unable to attend classes or who prefer to work at home. Successful candidates for NEDP include former ESL students, students who have been out of school for prolonged periods of time, or students who fare better without the structure of tests. This program is an alternative to other programs.
Anyone interested should call Western Suffolk BOCES to meet with a counselor. Call 667-6000, Ext. 327 to register.
North Babylon Varsity Girls Soccer Team: A Family Affair
The North Babylon varsity girls soccer team had a true family atmosphere this past season. Three sisters –Sofia, a senior and captain, Kayla, a junior, and Brook Milheiser, a freshman –were starting players on the varsity team.
“Although it’s not unusual for sisters to play on the same varsity team, it’s unusual to have three sisters, not twins, in different grades and contribute to a 15-12 league championship season,” said coach Steve Corrado. The team had its first undefeated season since 1982.
Kayla had two goals and two assists, while Brook racked up 10 goals and four assists.
All three Milheiser sisters were starters and major contributors to the team, making up three-fifths of the team’s midfield. With five goals and an assist, Sofia will be playing soccer at Queens College next fall.
“As a coach, we have had sisters on our team before but in my 19 years, we never had three sisters who were all starters,” Corrado said. He also added that a group of 11 seniors on this year’s team have been playing together since they were 6 years old in the local Patriot Soccer Club.
and Brook
were all starting players of the
varsity soccer team. The team had its first undefeated season since 1982. Photo courtesy of North Babylon School District
