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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Fromthe geysers of Yellowstone to the lush forests of the Great Smoky Mountains, the country’s more than 400 National Parks are a national treasure. Here are three ways to celebrate and enjoy the parks this spring:
1. Celebrate National Park Week happening April 19 to April 27. Entrance fees will be waived on April 19 and the National Park Service parks, programs and partners will host events and activities all week. Follow National Park Week on social media and join the conversation online, or share your experiences, using #NationalParkWeek.
2. Listen to “My Park Story.” On this podcast, which is hosted by the National Park Service, people share their unique connections to the parks and the National Park Service in their communities.
3. Help preserve the beauty, natural environments and recreational opportunities that the National Parks provide by supporting organizations like the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association, which are working to guard against the many threats the parks are currently facing. (StatePoint)
arth 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!
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.
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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.
Hi Neighbor, Come join us to shred your old, unwanted papers! Saturday, April 26th 2025 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Howard Hanna | Coach Realtors office parking lot at: 212 Commack Road, Commack
Bring your unwanted papers to be shredded securely for you.
Maximum per person: 3 banker boxes or 90 lbs . No 3-ring binders. Small binder clips, staples, rubberbands or paperclips are ok.
We will also have Raffles & Refreshments
Please contact us at 631.499.1000 and RSVP By April 16 2025 if you plan to attend!
TheTown of Huntington Youth Court, a specialized project of the Town of Huntington Youth Bureau Institute, has developed the first and only Spanishspeaking Youth Court in New York State. Huntington Youth Court is a Restorative Justice program designed to address delinquent behavior through positive peer influence. Restorative Justice is an approach which holds the respondent accountable for their actions while developing the interests and skills of the respondent. Youth Court offers resources that benefit the respondent through intensive case management, counseling and community service.
The concept of a Spanishspeaking Youth Court was developed by the Youth Court Director, Manuel Zelaya, Jr. in the Fall of 2023. This was a direct result of receiving
referrals of respondents from the local schools and Family Court, where youth and their families predominately speak only Spanish. In the Spring of 2024, through funding by the Town of Huntington and New York Trust Grant, the concept of the Spanish-speaking Youth Court was realized.
“Huntington is proud of its ethnic and cultural diversity, and I am excited to see it embraced in Town programs and services – especially those that interact with our youth,” said Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth. “I applaud Director Manuel Zelaya, Jr. for his innovation and dedication to the Spanish-speaking Youth Court. I wholeheartedly encourage and support this program and more like it.”
Youth, both native Spanish speakers and those learning Spanish, representing many
of the local high schools, embarked on a six- week training, learning the roles of Judge, Jury, Advocate and Bailiff during a trial. Members hear real cases such as: misdemeanor crimes and school code violations including, but not limited to, vaping, vandalism and physical altercations. After hearing the case, the members will then determine appropriate sanctions. These sanctions are aimed at helping the student going through the Town of Huntington Youth
Court process. To date, Huntington Youth Court has 14 active bilingual and/ or native Spanish speaking members and 15 respondents who have benefitted from a Spanish-speaking trial and/or translation services. Town of Huntington Youth Court will host a New Member training in the Spring 2025.
For additional information about the Spanish-speaking Youth Court, please contact: (631) 271-5547.
Withflowers blooming and birds chirping, you may be in a spring-cleaning mindset. As you spruce up your home, you can also channel that energy into getting your finances in tiptop shape!
According to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING® professionals, here’s how to clear away the cobwebs in your budget:
Sort expenditures: If you’ve ever sorted your clothes and other items into piles during a spring clean, this budgeting principle will be familiar to you: Review your expenses and categorize them into needs, wants and expenditures you’re ready to part with. Whether you do this on paper or electronically, use a colorcoded system to visualize where your money is going.
Review your streaming services: Electronic subscription bloat is common, as is paying for
forgotten subscriptions after free trials end. For example, you may be subscribed to several of the most common entertainment streaming services, such as Netflix, Max and Hulu. Do you really need all of them? Whether it’s an online newsletter or a music streaming service, cancel unused subscriptions.
Avoid bank fees: Review your bank statements. Are you getting dinged with fees? Consider switching to a bank that doesn’t charge an account maintenance fee. You can also set up notifications to avoid having your account get hit with an overdraft. If you do get charged, contact your bank to explain your situation — you may be able to have some fees waived.
Switch insurance carriers: Periodically review your insurance rates, and shop the market to see if better rates are available for home, automotive and other forms of insurance. Reduce debt: If your debt
into lower-rate credit card accounts, refinancing your mortgage and reducing your overall debt burden. You should also automate credit card payments (and other bills) to ensure you aren’t paying late fees.
Pay yourself first: Earmark a portion of your budget to savings and investments each month. This will leave you with more money for your important goals and less for frivolous spending.
To work with a CFP® professional who can help you roll up your sleeves and get to work on cleaning up your finances, visit letsmakeaplan.org.
is costing you a pretty penny, it’s time to act. A CFP® professional or credit counselor can help you craft a plan for consolidating debt
This spring, go beyond dusting the baseboards and mopping the floors. Refresh your finances for a fresh start to the season. (StatePoint)
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.
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
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1⁄2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1⁄3 cup red wine vinegar
2⁄3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
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.
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!
he 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.
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
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.
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
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.
