RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY - MITO On Friday, December 27, 2024, the Babylon Village Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Mito at 48 Deer Park Ave. in Babylon. Serving modern Japanese cuisine. Offering both buffet and a la carte dining options. Pictured from left to right: Legislator Kevin McCaffrey, Mayor Mary Adams, owners Wade and Yong Chen (brothers) Janet Jiang, and Nancy IglesiasGillen, President, Babylon Village Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of N Studios, Ltd
First Course (Choose One)
Pasta:
• Penne
• Baked
• Spaghetti
• Rigatoni
• Stuffed Shells (16 Pc)
• Manicotti (8 Pc)
• Jumbo Cheese Ravioli (16 Pc)
Second Course (Choose One)
Entree:
• Chicken Marsala
• Chicken Francese
• Eggplant Parmigiana
• Chicken Parmigiana
• Sausage & Peppers
• Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes & Broccoli
• Eggplant Rollatine
• Meatballs
Salad (Choose One)
• Garden Salad • Caesar Salad
Bolognese
+tax
• USDA Prime Hanger Steak (Additional Charge)
Jumbo 16/20 Peeled & Deveined
Includes fresh baked Italian Bread
(Serves Min. 4 People)
Give us 90 minutes to prepare your dinner. Valid Monday through Friday 3pm-6:30pm. Must call before 3pm
Recipe Of The Week: Outrageous Barbecued Nachos
Serves 4-6
3 ounces (about 1 cup) pulled pork
3 ounces (about 1 cup) pulled chicken
3 ounces (about 3 slices) sliced and chopped barbecued brisket
1 1⁄2 cups favorite mild barbecue sauce
3⁄4 (10-ounce) bag tortilla chips
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
15 pickled jalapeño slices
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Combine the meats and barbecue sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat.
3. Spread half of the tortilla chips on a small cookie sheet. Cover the chips with half of the meat and sauce. Top with half of each cheese.
4. Repeat the process on top of this layer, using the other half of the ingredients.
5. Bake until the cheese is completely melted, about 10 minutes. Remove and top with the jalapeños.
1. CHECK YOUR GUTTER SYSTEM. Your gutter system is one of the most important structures to look closely at in the Winter. Ice dams can form when your gutters are not cleaned out or damaged. Ice dams form at the edge of a roof & prevent melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water then backs up & can leak into your home causing damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas of your house.
2. CHECK WINDOW & DOOR OPENINGS.
On a cold day put your hand up to your window and door openings to see if you feel any cold air. If you can feel the cold air from outside, heat is escaping your house. Use caulking or weather stripping to seal up the gaps and make the openings air-tight. If that does not work, it may be time to replace your windows or doors.
3. INSULATE YOUR ATTIC.
The best way to keep your home cozy & warm in the Winter is to make sure your home is properly insulated. UNIFIED recommends loose-fill insulation for your attic or crawl space to save up to 30% on your energy bills keeping you warmer in the Winter & cooler in the Summer.
Third Graders Become Detectives
Third graders in Ms. Nemeti’s class at Parliament Place Elementary School in the North Babylon School District recently completed an escape room challenge to determine where the Gingerbread Man was hiding in their classroom.
Students were divided into small groups and positioned at one of five different stations. Rotating through the stations, they were challenged to figure out where the Gingerbread Man was located. Each provided a clue for the possible
location as the groups solved puzzles by decoding a message, grouping different compound words and unlocking word sounds. After successfully discovering the codes, the students were able to find the Gingerbread Man.
The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St. in Cold Spring Harbor. Cozy up with us this winter to explore the thrilling history and surprising uses of tea! Discover how this drink changed the world and learn how drinking - or bathing - in tea may offer surprising benefits. Enjoy a Hot Toddy as you create your own tea-infused bath salts and body scrub to take home with you.for more information, please contact Cristina Ainslie, 631-367-3418
7:00PM LINDENHURST EVENING HOMEMAKERS GROUP
Join Lindenhurst Evening Homemakers Group at the North Amityville Senior Center 48 Cedar Rd., in Amityville (off of New Hwy.) Open to all, 18 years old & up. Meetings start at 7pm & new members should arrive 15 min. early. Contact Lisa LeBrie at 516-413-7467 for more info.
SAT. JAN. 11th
8:45AM-10:30AM POLAR PLUNGEFreezin for a Reason
Get ready to take the plunge for an amazing cause! Join us for the Town of Huntington 2025 Polar Plunge and show your support for the incredible athletes of the Special Olympics! Location: Crab Meadow Beach in Northport. This event is about more than just a chilly
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
dip, it’s about coming together as a community to celebrate and empower these remarkable athletes. Let’s make a difference together. For more details and to register, visit: www.polarplungeny.org/ Huntington
SUN. JAN. 12th
11:00AM-2:00PM
2025 NYS PARKS
WINTER RUN SERIES at Heckscher State Park, East Islip - Field #2. Absolutely No: Baby Joggers, Rollerbladers, Skaters, Bikers or Pets Are Permitted! For more information, please call Brendan Dagan 516-531-3323
TUES. JAN. 14th
10:00AM-12:00PM PC COMPUTER CLEAN-UP Learn how to clean & speed up your PC computer with Emma Clark's Technology Education Librarian, Jennifer Mullen. If you have a PC laptop, bring it with you! If you don't have one, don't worry, you can use ours to learn. Free Event. Open to all Suffolk County residents. Emma Clark Library, 120 Main Street in Setauket. For more information, please call 631-941-4080
SAT. JAN. 18th
4:00PM-7:00PM FAMILY GAME NIGHT
Farmingdale United Methodist Church, 407 Main Street in Farmingdale, invites the community to their Family Game 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
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.
Splish Splash Water Park
Announces All - New SplashTastic Water Playground
From soak to spray there’s water every which way beginning next summer at Splish Splash Water Park, as the park debuts 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 celebrates its 35th summer season.
Opening in 2025 at New York’s Largest Water Park, the new kid-friendly zone will offer families more than 15 fun and silly ways to stay cool during their visit to Splish Splash. The all-new water playground will be decked out with three-pint sized water
slides, six interactive spray features, five water play features, a dump bucket and fun for all to soak and spray.
“At Splish Splash, we want to make sure we are offering a variety of attractions fit for guests of all ages,” said General Manager Mike Bengtson.
“This all-new water playground will offer our smallest guests pint-sized thrills during their visit with more than 15 exciting features. We can’t wait to welcome families back to the park for a splash-tastic summer.”
In addition to the new water playground, Splish Splash has a little
something for everyone including more than 30 thrilling attractions like the new light and sound experience, Hyperlight, the iconic Ailen Invasion water slide and the beloved Bootlegger’s Run water coaster. Plus, next summer visitors can once again expect to enjoy a full lineup of events including Father’s Day Flop, Shark in the Park, Hero Appreciation week, Touch-a-Truck Day and more.
For more details on Splish Splash’s 2025 Season, all-new water playground, Black Friday Sale and more, visit splishsplash.com.
West Babylon Public Library
211 Route 109 West Babylon (631) 669-5445
www.wbpl.us Nancy Evans, Director ***
LEARN HOW: WINTER BEANIE WBA806
Wednesday, January 22, 11 am-1 pm WBA200
Learn how to design your own winter beanie using our Makerspace Cricut machine. Non-refundable/ transferable materials fee: $5
MEDICAID ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE
Wednesday, January 8, 10 am-1 pm
Sign up is first-come, firstserved and free of charge. For more information, call the Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council at 631-435-3000.
YOGA
Wednesdays: January 8-29 WBA401 6-7 pm
Non-refundable/ transferable fee for the 4-week January sessions: $8
PAINT NIGHT: WINTER’S CALM Thursday, January 9, 6:45-8:30 pm WBA112
Non-refundable/transferable materials fee: $5
ZUMBA
Fridays: January 10-31 10:15-11:15 am WBA411
Non-refundable/transferable fee for the 4-week January sessions: $8.
UEPI ISLAND: SCUBA DIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
Monday, January 13 7-8:30 pm WBA204
Travel halfway around the world to go diving with the
Fish Guy on a small tropical island that is perched on the edge of the longest lagoon in the world!
BLIZZARD VASE KIT
January 16-22 WBA114
VIRTUAL WITH KIT A YouTube Link will be provided by the Library. Non-refundable/ transferable materials fee: $5.
Long Island - A new report has just been released which reveals 7 costly mistakes that most homeowners make when selling their home, and a 9 Step System that can help you sell your home fast and for the most amount of money.
This industry report shows clearly how the traditional ways of selling homes have become increasingly less and less effective in today’s market. The fact of the matter is that fully three quarters of homesellers don’t get what they want for their homes and become disillusioned and - worse - financially disadvantaged when they put their homes on the market.
To order a FREE Special Report, visit ninestepsystem.com or to hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-855-928-4453 and enter 1000. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Get your free special report NOW to find out how you can get the most for your home.
As this report uncovers, most homesellers make 7 deadly mistakes that cost them literally thousands of dollars. The good news is that each and every one of these mistakes is entirely preventable. In answer to this issue, industry insiders have prepared a free special report entitled “The 9 Step System to Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar”.
How To Care For Winter Birds That Visit Your Yard
The pristine, white backdrop of a snowy winter day can be a wonder to behold. While fresh snow on the ground can make for awe-inspiring landscapes, the absence of greenery amid the starkness of winter poses challenges for animals that do not ride out winter in a state of hibernation.
Several bird species stay in colder climates over the winter. Red-winged crossbills, snow buntings, bohemian waxwings, evening grosbeaks, and
cardinals are just some of the birds one may find while gazing outside on a chilly winter’s day. Birding in the winter can be a rewarding hobby because, despite the chilly conditions, birds tend to be easy to find in bare trees. Furthermore, the colder temperatures may keep many people inside, meaning neighborhoods, trails and parks can be very quiet, making it easier for those who brave the cold to see birds.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
indicates that winter is a difficult time of year for birds due to the weather and the scarcity of food. Furthermore, birds must consume a lot of food in a short amount of time to have the energy and body warmth to survive each day. Even birds that store food in caches or have developed special scavenging strategies to find as much food as possible can benefit from a little wintertime help. Penn State Extension suggests providing a variety of foods to attract the
greatest number of species. Small, black-oil sunflower seeds are preferred by many smaller species of bird and have a high oil content that is nutritionally important for birds. Other sunflower seeds will be appropriate for blue jays and cardinals. Some other popular foods include white proso millet, thistle seed, niger seed, and peanuts.
Consult a wild bird store, which likely sells a birdseed mix that enables you to place a variety of seed into one feeder. In addition to
seed, suet, which is made from high-quality animal fat, is crucial for birds in the winter. Families can get crafty by spreading peanut butter onto pine cones and sprinkling seed on top. Hang the pine cones tied to pieces of string from tree branches for homemade feeders.
Birds likely need a little help surviving the winter, when conditions can be bleak. Offering food and observing backyard visitors can be a great way to unwind on winter afternoons.
Classifieds
BUYING? SELLING? RENTING?
Place your ad in the Classifieds 631-226-2636 Ext. 276
THINKING ABOUT ADVERTISING YOUR BUSINESS and not sure how to get started? Call today and one of our experienced Sa les Representatives will assist you. We c an help you with a lin e ad or a di splay ad. Let us at SOUTH BAY'S NEIGHBOR NEWS PAPE RS set up an adv ertising program for you. Y ou'll be glad you di d! Call 631-226-2636, ext. 276
276
LOOKING TO ADVERTI SE YOUR BUSINES S? Call Classified and one of our experienced sales representatives will help you. BIG BUDGET? SM ALL BUDGET? 631-226-2636, press 276
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Family Owned & Operated since 1979 nas lic H1200190000 suffolk lic 54895-H BROWER & SONS (516) 889 7926 (631) 624 7979
THE power of CLASSIFIED!
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Minor Repairs to Major Renov ations Tile Work, Painting Sheetrock, Spackle Flooring, Roof Repairs Deck Construction & Repair & mu ch more J&J Pr emier General Construction (516) 523-5591
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GUTTERS
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Winter begins on Sat, Dec. 21, 2024 thru Mar. 20, 2025. Many people lament the arrival of winter, perhaps thinking the colder temperatures and shorter hours of sunlight will compromise their chances to have fun. Even though particularly chilly thermostat readings or stormy conditions can hamper some plans, when people dig deeper they may find that even the coldest days present opportunities for enjoyment.
When winter begins, the following activities can make for an entertaining way to celebrate the arrival of the season.
· Build a snow creation. Use the first significant snowfall of the season to organize a snowman, snowwoman, or snowanimal-making event or contest. Waterproof gloves are a necessary piece of equipment, as are buckets for moving snow, shovels, carving
United Way Of Long Island’s Vetsbuild Program Receives $40,000 Grant From PSEG Foundation
The United Way of Long Island has received a $40,000 grant toward VetsBuild, a program which provides career training and employment opportunities for Long Island veterans and their families, from the PSEG Foundation. The grant will make possible a hands-on education in green construction for 20 veterans as they work to transform the United Way of Long Island headquarters in Deer Park, New York, into a Net Zero building that produces as much energy as it uses.
VetsBuild is part of United Way of Long Island’s Workforce Development Training Academy providing free hands-on training focused on creating a foundation and pathways to secure careers in the renewable energy industry for Long Islanders. Veterans are able to transition back to a civilian routine and gain clear, long-term career path development that is complemented by online financial empowerment workshops. Graduates become proficient in the installation of clean heating and cooling technologies, high-efficiency HVAC, heat pumps, solar panels, and EV Charging.
“PSEG Long Island is proud to support the United Way of Long Island’s VetsBuild program because giving back to the communities where we live and work is part of PSEG Long Island’s mission,” said David Lyons, interim president and COO of PSEG Long Island who is a United Way of Long Island board member. “The veterans in the program are learning to design, build, and implement renewable energy on our island. The PSEG Foundation’s funding of this program is a win for all of us.”
“Our thanks to PSEG for providing this important grant,” said Theresa
A. Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island. “The VetsBuild program will provide workforce development training to connect veterans with the confidence and skills needed to obtain employment and return to everyday life.”
VetsBuild participants will also receive training at United Way’s E3 SmartBuild Training Center, a stateof-the-art facility equipped with the latest technology and equipment. Graduates will work toward earning industry-recognized certifications in green building, such as BPI (Building
Fun Ways To Enjoy Winter
and shaping tools (which can be plastic cutlery), and accessories to dress up the final product.
· Go sledding on the best hills. Sledding is a popular wintertime activity that doesn’t require too much equipment. Sleds can be purchased at sporting goods stores or toy stores. Sledders of all ages should consider wearing helmets to protect against injury if they will be traversing especially steep hills.
· Host a winter block party. Many cities and towns across North America participate in WinterFest events, which run the gamut from food and craft festivals to sporting events. Individuals can take cues from these type of activities and plan neighborhood festivals right on their streets. Neighbors can wheel out
their fire pits or utilize outdoor propane heaters to keep spots cozy. Hot cocoa and cider stations and warm treats can keep everyone from feeling too cold. Electric slow cookers can keep everything from soups to chilis to stews warm and participants can enjoy a buffet of hearty foods.
· Visit an ice rink. Whether a rink is indoors or outside, ice skating is a quintessential wintertime activity. Skaters of all skill levels can take to the ice and enjoy some exercise and laughs. Check local rink schedules to take advantage of open skate times when hockey games or practices are not dominating the ice.
· Mark the winter solstice. The winter solstice, also known as the start of astronomical winter,
Performance Institute) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
“The PSEG Foundation has a long history of supporting veterans and their families, and this program emphasizes all three of our key pillars – environmental sustainability, social justice and equity and economic empowerment,” said Maria Spina, manager, PSEG Foundation and Corporate Social Responsibility.
“VetsBuild is the type of program that will help veterans thrive in the new economy, enabling them to better support their families and communities while also caring for our planet.”
A signature program of the United Way of Long Island, VetsBuild provides career training, employment, and wrap-around services to veterans who have served post-2001 and seek a career path. The program combines formal education with on-the-job training and engages local businesses and unions to hire graduates.
To learn more about United Way of Long Island’s VetsBuild program, visit: www.unitedwayli.org/vetsbuild.
is the shortest day of sunlight on the calendar. It occurs when either of the Earth’s poles reaches maximum tilt away from the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, this occurs on December 21, 2024. Because there will be only roughly seven
hours of daylight, take steps to make the fact that the sun will set at its earliest a little easier to swallow. Kids can run around outdoors with glow sticks, while adults can deck their homes in twinkle lights if they are not decorated for
Christmas. Lanterns, campfires and candles can be lit, and everyone can gather outdoors to chat and socialize. Winter begins on December 21, 2024, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate this fun, if sometimes frigid, season.
