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The Suffolk County Police Department provided 162 doses of Narcan to attendees at Babylon’s Summer Block Party event on July 17, while The Purple Rock Project helped people memorialize their loved one’s lost to overdose by writing a name on a rock. SCPD Emergency Medical Service Officers Alex Trzepizur and Jason Byron; Suffolk County Police Officers Tyana Kurz; Vincent Maio and Sgt, Ashley Dormer all worked together in distributing Narcan to Summer Block part attendees. Parent Carole Trottere, who lost her son Alex to fentanyl, met several family members who had lost loved ones to overdose and helped them create memorial rocks and also distributed information from Long Island Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Photo by Carole Trottere

NYS Comptroller’s Report Shows Babylon IDA Driving Economic Growth And Job Creation

Billion In Value And Over 6,000 New Jobs

The Babylon Industrial Development Agency (Babylon IDA) remains a significant driver of job creation and economic development, as highlighted in the latest Performance Report on Industrial Development Agencies released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The 2025 report, which reflects data from fiscal year 2023, indicates that the Babylon IDA managed 171 active projects with a total value of approximately $1.88 billion. These initiatives are anticipated to create 6,123 new jobs and contribute to a net gain of 6,093 full-time equivalent positions in the Town of Babylon.

“This year’s report affirms the Babylon IDA’s commitment to generating real results--new jobs, stronger businesses, and a thriving tax base,” said Tom Dolan, CEO of the Babylon IDA. “We’re proud to see our strategic investments creating measurable and lasting economic benefits for the Town of Babylon.”

The report reveals that projects supported by the Babylon IDA have increased the number of full-time equivalent jobs from

7,674 before the agency’s involvement to 13,767 in 2023. This achievement includes the retention of 5,093 jobs and the creation of thousands more. These results showcase the Babylon IDA’s consistent success in fostering sustainable employment growth and enhancing the town’s long-term tax base.

The 171 projects supported by the agency delivered $24.45 million across the community through Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) last year—revenue made in place of traditional taxes that helps fund schools, roads, and other essential public services. These contributions reflect the agency’s approach to economic development: using targeted incentives to attract investment while ensuring that the community sees ongoing benefits in return.

On a statewide level, the report indicates that New York’s 4,260 active Industrial Development Agency (IDA) supported projects had a cumulative value of $135 billion in 2023, marking a $3 billion increase from the previous year. These projects are projected to generate

over 212,000 new jobs and retain more than 228,000 existing positions. Total reported tax exemptions approached $2.1 billion, with $1.7 billion attributable to property tax exemptions. Additionally, $869 million was collected in PILOTs, resulting in approximately $1.2 billion in net tax exemptions. Downstate regions, including Long Island, accounted for a significant portion of this economic activity.

“Our success is the result of local businesses, community leaders, and government partners working together to make the Town of Babylon as resilient and vibrant as possible, and our collaboration is a key part of making that happen,” added Dolan.

The Babylon IDA plays a pivotal role in fostering this growth by supporting projects that create permanent jobs and offer temporary employment opportunities during construction and development. The agency is dedicated to collaborating with local businesses and stakeholders to ensure longterm economic benefits for residents throughout the Town of Babylon.

For more information about the Babylon Industrial Development Agency and its current projects, please visit https://babylonida.org/.

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Construction site of The Wel in Lindenhurst

JULY HAPPENINGS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30th

10:00AM-12:00PM

TOUCH-A-TRUCK

At Emma Clark Library 120 Main Street in Setauket. For families with children up to 5th grade. Free Event. Check out vehicles from different community organizations. In the case of inclement weather, please call Emma Clark Library ahead of time: 631.941.4080. Questions? Email kids@emmaclark.org

2:00PM

FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

At the Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park, Great River. Buddy Merriam will be performng. For more information visit Isliparts.org, or call 631-888-3525

5:30PM-7:30PM

TEENS DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

at the Babylon Public Library 24 S. Carll Ave.

Join us in the library for Dungeons & Dragons! Build a character, choose your weapons, and lay waste to nasty critters with a roll of the dice. New and experienced players welcome! Grades 6-12. Registration required. For more information, please call Erin White 631-669-1624

6:30PM-8:30PM

TAP ROOM GOES PURPLE TO END ALZHEIMER'S

The Alzheimer's Association Long Island Chapter is excited to partner with Tap Room for an awareness

HOLIDAYS

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

event. Tap Room, 206 Main Street in Farmingdale. Enjoy complimentary appetizers while you learn about: Free programs and services provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, the latest updates on Alzheimer’s research and treatments, ways you can get involved in any of our ﬁve Long Island Walks and volunteer Opportunities and valuable resources available. For more information, please call 646-793-4851

6:30PM-10:00PM

2025 WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUMMER SERIES

Eisenhower Park - Field 2, Parking Lot 2, in East Meadow. 7PM StartRain or Shine, 6:30PM Kids Fun Run Start. Long Island Road Running Club's ongoing commitment to quality racing, healthy choices and bringing friends & family together! For more information, please call 516-531-3323

6:30PM STRAWBERRY FIELDS BEATLES TRIBUTE

The Kiwanis Club of Copiague is hosting a fundraiser on July 30th, a Night of Music, Food and Friends. Amity Harbor Civic, 100 Western Concourse, Amity Harbor. $30 pp, pizza, wings, snacks, beer, wine & soda. Bring a lawn chair. RSVP Gene Murray 917-498-1781, or Mike Greb 631-835-7087

THURSDAY, JULY 31st

10:00AM-8:00PM

OLD WESTBURY GARDENS

EXTENDED HOURS

Thursday, July 31, and Friday, August 1 They’re open late tonight —until 8pm! Come stroll the grounds, enjoy golden hour in the gardens, and soak in the beauty of a summer evening at Old Westbury Gardens. 71 Old Westbury Rd. in Old Westbury. For more information, visit info@ oldwestburygardens.org or call 516333-0048

11:00AM-1:00PM

FANTASTICAL SEA BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM

The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St. in Cold Spring Harbor. No Registration Required Fire-breathing beasts! Galloping unicorns! Did you know that many mythic creatures featured in the Harry Potter world started their stories in the sea? For more information, please call 631-367-3418

6:00PM

THURSDAYS ON THE BAY

FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 88 West Ave. in West Sayville. Thursdays on the Bay takes place at the Scenic Long Island Maritime Museum and is the perfect place to wind down. Bring a chair or a blanket and stay until sunset. 7/31 Tom Cilmi/ Country music. Free parking. For more information visit Isliparts.org, or call 631-888-3525

Town Of Babylon Cares Health And Wellness Pop-Up Event

in Farmingdale on Saturday, August 2nd from 1:00 PM –5:00 PM. Anyone who donates will receive an exclusive 10% store discount. This family event will feature:

• Wellness-themed games and activities

• A one-mile indoor walk

• Coping skills challenges

• Educational trivia

• Giveaways, prizes, and more! Whether you’d like to attend the event or volunteer to support it, we’d love to have you join us. You can make that selection directly on the form linked below.

SIGN UP HERE: https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczR4gErJXt1WFgNctJqPBFT3vbUVKIGmqmp-4XRikNkVdtg/ viewform?usp=pp_url

Parents who want to encourage their children to volunteer may find their efforts at doing so are more convincing if they volunteer themselves. A study published in the Journal of Adolescence examined the effects that parents who volunteer and talk about volunteering have on children. Researchers found that the children of volunteers were 27 percent more likely to volunteer than children whose parents did not volunteer. In addition, adolescents were 47 percent more likely to volunteer when their parents volunteered and talked about volunteering with their children.

Suffolk Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park) is pleased to inform Babylon and Huntington residents about the local Suffolk County Office for the Aging Summer 2025 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

Summer Senior Advocate Schedules

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 summer, Senior Advocates will be visiting the following locations in the Town of Babylon:

• Deer Park Library, 44 Lake

Avenue, Deer Park: Friday, September 19, 9 – 11 am

• North Amityville Senior Nutrition Center, 48-C Cedar Road, Amityville: Wednesdays, August 27 & September 17, 10 am – 1 pm

• Rainbow Senior Center, 293 Buffalo Avenue, Lindenhurst: Wednesdays, August 6 & September 3, 8:30 – 11 am

• Tanner Park Senior Center, 2 Tanner Park, Copiague: Wednesdays, August 13 & September 10, 8:30 am – 2 pm

• Spangle Drive Senior

Center, 4385 Spangle Drive, North Babylon: Tuesdays, August 26 & September 23, 12 – 3 pm

• Wyandanch Senior Nutrition Center, 28 Wyandanch Avenue, Wyandanch: Wednesdays, August 6 & September 10, 10 am – 1 pm

In Huntington, they will be visiting the following:

• Huntington Senior Nutrition Center, 423 Park Avenue, Huntington: Wednesdays, August 20 & September 17, 8:30 am –2 pm

• Paumanack Village 5 &

6, 100 Adriatic Drive, Melville: Thursdays, July 31, August 28 & September 18, 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 troublefree 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.”

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New York Blood Center Issues Urgent Call For Donors As Blood Supply Drops 20% Ahead Of Trauma Season

THE power of CLASSIFIED!

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2” A sales representative will be happy to assist you

CLASSIFIED GETS RESULTS! Call today! 631-226-2636 631-226-2646

26- 2636 Ex t. 276

New York Blood Center (NYBC) has issued an urgent call for blood donations, especially from those with types O+ and O- blood. The current supply of O- blood, the universal blood type used in emergencies, has dropped to a critically low twoday level, and overall collections are nearly 20% below hospital demand. NYBC expects to collect only about 6,500 donations this week, falling approximately 1,600 donations short of what is needed to maintain a safe and stable blood supply in New York. Spring travel, school breaks, and packed calendars have kept regular donors away— leaving donation levels dangerously low at a time when they should be ramping up. Each year, more than 56,000 traumas are reported in New York State, most occurring between May and September when accidents, car crashes, and violent injuries rise dramatically. Blood transfusions are often needed to treat traumas, and a spike in traumatic accidents can cause a strain on the blood supply.

Type O+ is the most common blood type, representing nearly 40% of the U.S. population. Type O- is the universal blood type and is commonly used in emergency settings. A shortage of both types, both locally and nationally, poses

serious concerns for our healthcare system, and the need for donors is critical.

“Spring can be an exciting season with warmer weather on the way and fun holiday celebrations, but it’s also a critical time of year for the blood supply,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center. “As we start to build our inventory ahead of the trauma-heavy summer season, the need is more urgent than ever. We’re calling on our community, especially type O donors, to roll up their sleeves and make a donation today. Your blood donation could be the lifeline that ensures our hospitals are ready to face any emergency that comes their way.” Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900. To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-9332566 or visit nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still make a lifesaving impact by supporting NYBC’s mission through financial contributions or volunteering your time.