South Bay's Neighbor
BACKPACKS GALORE: MASSAPEQUA
It’s
Town Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks Open For The Season
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Andrew Monteleone
announce that the Town’s outdoor ice skating rinks at Marjorie R. Post and Syosset-Woodbury Community Parks have officially opened for the season, and remain open through Sunday, March 1st.
“Ice skating is a fun activity for families and residents of all ages to
enjoy, especially during the holiday season. The Town’s outdoor ice rinks provide the perfect setting to take in the wonderful winter atmosphere,” said Councilman Monteleone.
Public Skating Sessions are available at both outdoor rinks.
For residents wishing to take advantage of ice skating but do not wish to be outdoors, the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center is open
year-round and is located at 1001 Stewart Ave. in Bethpage. Indoor skating is open to the public seven days a week, with special extended hours on most holidays and school breaks.
For information on schedules, fees and rink programs at all Town rinks, visit the Town’s website at www. oysterbaytown.com/ice.
SUNDAY, DEC. 7th
DECEMBER HAPPENINGS
SATURDAY, DEC. 6th
9:00AM
HOT CHOCOLATE 5K RUN/WALK
This year marks 20 years of Seaford community spirit! A great morning of fun, fitness, and neighbors coming together. Hosted by the Seaford Wellness Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID #11-3612034) dedicated to promoting wellness and community pride throughout Seaford. Location: Seaford High School, 1575 Seamans Neck Road in Seaford. For more information, please contact Michael DiSilvio, 516-384-8536
9:00AM-NOON
CHRISTMAS WREATH SALE
Amityville Kiwanis Club will be selling Christmas wreaths at the Kiwanis Park parking lot on Broadway in Amityville. Beautiful, thick and decorated with handmade bows for only $27.00. Call and order yours today 516-449-4571. Free delivery! All proceeds benefit the Amityville Community Fund.
5:30PM-7:30PM
TREE LIGHTING AT THE SEAFORD FIREHOUSE
The Seaford Historical Society with host, at the museum, 3890 Waverly Avenue in Seaford, in conjunction with the Tree lighting at the Seaford Firehouse, an open house. Entertainment and warm apple cider served. For information please contact Judy Bongiovi 516-783-8629
6:00PM
MASSAPEQUA CHRISTMAS TREE AND MENORAH LIGHTING CEREMONY at Klestinec Park on Broadway in Massapequa. Rain Date: Sunday, December 7th. A wonderful community event for the family. For more information, please call 516-541-1443
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 information, please call 631.226.2636 x275 or send events to editorial@longislandmediagroup.com
7:00PM
FREE CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The Choir of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church of East Meadow presents its Annual Christmas Concert, “An Evening of Lessons and Carols”, featuring choral music of the Orthodox Church and traditional carols from both East and West. It will be also livestreamed on https://www. facebook.com/htocem. Admission and refreshments are free of charge. Church is located at 369 Green Avenue in East Meadow. For more information, please call 516-483-3649, email htocem@gmail.com, or visit Facebook or www.htocem.org.
SATURDAY, DEC. 6th
SUNDAY, DEC. 7th
Tours begin at 10:00AM and leave every fifteen minutes until 2:30PM both days.
HOLIDAY TOURS AT SAGTIKOS MANOR
A magical tour of the toys we once received at Christmas, from the Colonial times to the magic of motion - 1800-1900s Golden Age of Toys, 1900s-1950s - toys of innovation and engineering to present. Reserve your tour online, sagtikosmanor.org, walk-ins welcome day of as space allows, 677 West Montauk Hwy, West Bay Shore, 631.854.0939 For more information: info@sagtikosmanor.org
SATURDAY, DEC. 6th
7:30PM
SUNDAY, DEC. 7th
4:00PM
MARKING MOMENTS: A LESSONS & CAROLS CELEBRATION
The Babylon Chorale presents A concert version of Lessons & Carols with works by Biebel, Hagen berg, & Quartet, along with traditional hymns sung with audience. St. Peter's
By-The-Sea Episcopal Church - 500 South Country Rd. in Bay Shore. To purchase tickets online or for further information, visit their website at www. babylonchorale.org, or email info@ babylonchorale.org
SUNDAY, DEC. 7th
11:00AM-3:00PM
CHILD WELFARE HOLIDAY BRUNCH
The Woman’s Club of Massapequa is holding its annual Child Welfare Holiday Brunch at the Unqua Corinthian Yacht Club in Amityville. Raffle prizes, DJ, and dancing. For more information or reservations please call Antoinette 516-978-4258.
12NOON-5:00PM
2025 HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR
Historical Society of Islip Hamlet's 2025 Holiday House Tour. Several historically and/or architecturally interesting homes will be decorated for the holidays as tour guides in Victorian dress greet you. At the reception there will be light refreshments, a Christmas auction and 50/50 raffle. Please donate a new, unwrapped toy for the John Theissen Children's Foundation. For more information, please call 6312915, www.isliphamlethistory.org.
5:00PM
ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 210 So. Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst, celebrates the Advent Season with Scriptures and beautiful music led by the adult choir, youth choir, cantors, and instrumentalists. Reception to follow in the School Auditorium. Join us as we prepare for the coming of Christ into our hearts. For more information, please call 631226-7725.
Santa’s Mailboxes From North Pole Have Arrived In Town Offices
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Town Board announce that children can send their ‘holiday wish list’ directly to Old St. Nick at the North Pole through a special network of Santa’s Mailboxes that have arrived in Town facilities from the North Pole. Mailboxes will accept letters through Monday, December 15th.
The Town of Oyster Bay will forward letters to Santa at the North Pole. Letters received by Monday, December 15th with a legible name and return address will be answered by Santa before the holiday. No postage is necessary.
Colorful red mailboxes will be accessible during regular business hours (9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.) at the following locations:
• Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay
• Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa
• Ice Skating Center, 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage
For more information about Santa’s Mailboxes, call (516) 624-6380 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com
Did You Know?
When making a holiday shopping list and checking it twice, shoppers may want to put more emphasis on experiential gifts over material items. A recent survey from GetYourGuide found 51 percent of people prefer some type of travel, 40 percent want to attend a show, 30 percent prefer outdoor activities, and 27 percent want to visit museums. The data is showing more and more people are choosing to share experiences and create meaningful memories with the people they love rather than offering material gifts. The desire for experiential gifts is strong among millennials and Gen Z.
Largest Cruise Thru Toys For Tots Collection Drive
Oyster Bay Town
Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Tom Hand announced that the Town’s massive ‘Cruise-Thru’ Toys for Tots Collection Drive will take place at John Burns Park in Massapequa on Saturday, December 6th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In partnership with the United States Marine Corps and Optimum, the Town is collecting toys to help families and those less fortunate throughout the community during the upcoming holiday season.
In addition to the ‘CruiseThru’, collection boxes are located at Town facilities through December 13th
Supervisor Saladino said, “The Toys for Tots Drive has long been a huge success under the leadership continued on page 16
Backpacks Galore: Massapequa Donation Drive Delivers
Spelling out
“Massapequa,” more than 400 backpacks covered the blacktop at Birch Lane Elementary School on Nov. 20, the result of a monthlong collection drive in the Massapequa School District. Partnering with the With Purpose Foundation, students at all nine schools were encouraged to donate new or gently used backpacks and school supplies throughout October.
The successful drive culminated with a celebration a Birch Lane, the home school of parent Michael Fay, founder of the With Purpose Foundation. The program was attended by board of education trustees, central administrators, principals, teachers, fifth grade student leaders, parents and elected officials.
Give Back Backpack started last year at Birch Lane and Lockhart
elementary schools, and was expanded throughout the district this year. All donations will go to the Massapequa-based YES Community Counseling Center to then distribute items to children across Long Island.
Mr. Fay thanked the Massapequa community for being so generous, noting that the value of the backpacks, lunch boxes and school supplies donated is about $14,000.
He started the With Purpose Foundation after being diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and skin cancer. The organization’s mission is to raise awareness and advancing research and treatment options for people with CLL/SLL, a rare cancer affecting the lymphatic system and bloodstream.
“Our mission is simple: inspire random acts of kindness in our communities and raise
awareness and funds for leukemia, lymphoma and skin cancer with the hope of helping find a cure one day,” he said. “Look at what we’ve done together. Because of this community’s kindness, over 400 children will receive backpacks and supplies they otherwise might not have had.”
Mr. Fay added that the success of this year’s Give Back Backpack drive is inspiring him to expand it further next year, hoping to partner with an additional two school districts as well as Volunteers of America – Greater New York. In recognition of the donations from Massapequa, he presented Superintendent Dr. William Brennan with a certificate of appreciation for district office as well as certificates for each school.
“The collective efforts of our nine Massapequa schools will ensure
that all children get the backpacks and school supplies they need to be thriving learners,” Dr. Brennan said. “We are extremely grateful to
Michael Fay and the With Purpose Foundation for working with the district on this very successful collection drive, and to all of the students and families who donated. Seeing all of the backpacks and supplies together was just another reminder of the generosity of the Massapequa community.”
The district was recognized for its support of the backpack drive during a presentation at Birch Lane Elementary School on Nov. 20. From left are Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Dr. Michelle Walsh, Board of Education Secretary Cher Lepre and President Kerry Wachter, With Purpose Foundation founder Michael Fay, Superintendent Dr. William Brennan and Board of Education Trustee Danielle Ocuto.
Largest Cruise Thru Toys For Tots Collection Drive Donations to Help Families & Those Less Fortunate
continued from page 11
of the U.S. Marine Corps, especially here in the Town of Oyster Bay, as just last year we collected more than 40,000 toys for Long Island children. I encourage
all of our residents who can donate to this amazing cause, as the Toys for Tots Drive helps ensure that disadvantaged children within our community do not have to go through the
holiday season without something to bring them happiness.”
The ‘Cruise Thru Holiday Toy Drive’ will offer residents an excellent opportunity to contribute directly to the cause and help
bring a smile to a child’s face this holiday season. Additionally, the event will feature a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as a holiday drop box where children can drop off their letters to Santa. Letters dropped off with a legible name and return address will be answered by Santa before the holiday.
“Toys for Tots sends a message of hope to less fortunate
children who otherwise wouldn’t be receiving presents this holiday season. I urge residents, who can, to donate new unwrapped toys to any of our dropoff locations,” said Councilman Tom Hand. “By donating, you can help ease the financial burden of our families in need this holiday season.”
Toys for Tots Collection Boxes are
located at the following locations:
• Oyster Bay Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay;
• Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa;
• Ice Skating Center at Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage. The Cruise Thru Toy Drive is made possible through the following sponsors:
Whitey’s Tire Service of Brooklyn, Bola, Long Island Press, Nassau Coliseum, Adventureland, News 12, MSG Networks, Washville, WKJOY 98.3, WHLI 1100AM, 103. The Wolf, 94.3 The Shark, and Embassy Diner. For more information, please call (516) 7974121 or visit www. oysterbaytown.com.
Discover The Orthodox Christian Church
The Orthodox Church offers you the authentic Christian Tradition maintained without innovation since Apostolic times, which fulfills life on a daily basis, not just on Sunday. We welcome all people
seeking a community rooted in the oldest Christian Church with an emphasis on Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition, liturgical and prayer life, and traditional Christian values. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated
every Sunday at 9:30 AM (Hours at 9:00 AM) at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 369 Green Avenue, East Meadow. Coffee hour follows the Divine Liturgy. Services are also streamed on https://www.facebook.
com/htocem. All services are conducted in English. Additional information and schedules can be found on the parish website, www.htocem. org, or by email, htocem@gmail.com.
