Town Honors Women of Distinction
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined Women of Distinction Committee members Councilwoman Laura Maier and Councilwoman Vicki Walsh, along with Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato, to host the 2026 Women of Distinction Ceremony recognizing exceptional women who have made significant contributions to their communities. This year’s ceremony honored 12 women who live and work throughout the Town of Oyster Bay.
Supervisor Saladino stated, “These extraordinary women possess outstanding qualities and have truly made our Town a better place. Together with my
colleagues on the Town Board, we salute these remarkable residents for their dedication to local charities, our hometown, and the neighbors they care so deeply about.”
Town To Host Empire State Ride Long Island To End Cancer On June 13th
Councilwoman Maier added, “All of our honorees have gone above and beyond in their communities. These women have inspiring stories to tell, and while their backgrounds are different, they all have one thing in common— they do not do what they do in search of accolades. Each honoree should take pride in her achievements, as these women are true role models in their fields and communities.”
The 2026 Women of Distinction honorees were: Dorothy Roberts of Jericho; Mary Ann Marriott of Syosset; Jill Seplowitz of Plainview; Gaetina Hodnett of Massapequa; Katherine Brenton of Bethpage; Treasa Kalliath, Esq., of Jericho; Mary Koslap-Petraco, NP, of Massapequa Park; Lorraine Dammes Quirk; Kelly Palfi of Massapequa; Alyssa Guidice of Hicksville; Bette Blankfein of Glen Head; and Lisa Fiebert of Massapequa.
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined with Town Clerk Richard LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato to announce the Town’s partnership with Empire State Ride Long Island to host Long Island’s largest charitable cycling fundraiser to benefit cancer research, scheduled for Saturday, June 13th
Town officials were joined by Co-Chairman of Empire State Ride Long Island, Steve Mars; Empire State Ride Founder Terry Bourgeois; and Senior Vice President of Oncology and Surgical Services for Catholic Health Dan Loen.
“We are thrilled to once again partner with Catholic Health Cancer Institutes and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to help raise this important funding which supports cancer research and clinical trials,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Ride to better health while cycling through
beautiful beaches, woodlands, and historic destinationsin and around the Town of Oyster Bay’s exquisite north shore. With two wheels on the ground, you can help change the world!”
The event features four course lengths for riders of all ages and ability. All routes will begin on Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay, by the historic Oyster Bay Post Office. For those who can’t cycle but wish to attend and support the event, downtown Oyster Bay will also host a Health & Wellness Fair, hosted in partnership with the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce - as local businesses will line the streets with food, live music and fun activities for families. Those interested in learning more or signing up to ride and raise funds for the event, should visit www. esrlongisland.com<http:// www.esrlongisland.com
Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino (third from left), Town Clerk Rich LaMarca (left) and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato (right) join with Empire State Ride Co-Chair Steve Mars (second from right), Empire State Ride Founder Terry Bourgeois (third from right) and Senior Vice President of Oncology and Surgical Services for Catholic Health Dan Loen to announce this year’s Empire State Ride.
Free Narcan Training
New York State Assemblyman Michael Durso, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Village of Massapequa Park Mayor Daniel Pearl are holding a free Narcan Training on Friday, June 12th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Massapequa Park Village Hall.
A trained specialist from the Nassau County Office of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency & Developmental Disabilities Services will discuss signs of an opiate overdose, overdose risk factors, recognizing and responding to an overdose, administration of Naloxone (Narcan), and new treatment approaches. Each registered participant will receive a free Narcan kit at the end of the training.
Registration is required. To reserve your seat, please call Assemblyman Durso’s office at 516541-4598.
Historical Sign Unveiled At TOBAY Beach To Commemorate
Oyster Bay Town
Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Town Receiver of Taxes
Jeff Pravato dedicated a historical sign at TOBAY Beach to commemorate Marilyn Monroe’s visit to TOBAY Beach in celebration of what would have been her 100th birthday. Prior to becoming Marilyn Monroe, the young up-and-coming starlet was Norma Jean Mortenson, looking for her big break. She had been cast in some minor film roles and was looking for her big break
100th Birthday Of Marilyn Monroe
into show business.
“In June of 1949, she visited New York City, looking to catapult her career. Her photographer wanted to set up a photoshoot to capture her youth, her beauty and her great personality. For her backdrop, they selected TOBAY Beach!” said Supervisor Saladino.
“The photos taken that day were intended to build her portfolio and catch the attention of future casting directors, and that’s exactly what they did.”
As Marilyn and her photographer Andre de Dienes arrived at TOBAY Beach, the overcast and rainy weather suddenly cleared, and they found they basically had the beach to themselves. The beautiful portraits that he captured generated immediate publicity for the young star – with one of the pictures appearing on the cover of a prestigious British magazine. Hollywood studios quickly took notice, as her look of youthful innocence, vulnerability and effortless beauty came across vividly through the camera lens.
By the early 1950s, Marilyn was landing small but influential roles in major films, which further caught the attention of both critics and studios. By the mid-1950s, she had secured her status as the ultimate Hollywood bombshell and officially changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
“This beautiful location was where history began, right here at TOBAY Beach. Now we will forever memorialize the iconic moment that Marilyn became Marilyn against the beautiful backdrop of our beach,” Supervisor Saladino. “TOBAY wasn’t just a quiet escape, it was the place where a legend was launched.”
Officials dedicate a historical sign commemorating Marilyn Monroe’s visit to TOBAY Beach, in celebration of what would have been the star’s 100th birthday.
Massapequa Students Explore 250 Years Of History
Massapequa students are celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States of America through engaging history lessons and personal reflections.
First graders at Birch Lane Elementary School colored paper firecrackers and wrote responses based on different prompts, such as their favorite American heroes and why their futures are bright. Their heroes included George Washington and Betsy Ross. The colorful creations decorated a hallway bulletin board.
Teacher Vanessa Apfelbaum said her students also worked on American eagle craft projects, sharing the freedoms that they most treasure.
At Berner Middle School, eighth graders researched United States symbols, memorials and national parks. Each student created a sheet with a drawing and five sentences about his or her assigned subject. In class, they took part in a gallery walk to see all of the pieces and learn about these notable symbols and sites. The completed pieces were then used to create a “USA 250” collage in the windows in front of the school.
Activities at Berner and the elementary schools were from resources provided by the social studies department, under the leadership of Curriculum Associate Jason Gelardi.
Community Invited To Celebrate Flag Day
Residents are encouraged to honor Flag Day on June 14, commemorating the adoption of the American flag in 1777 and the values it represents. Flag Day is a time to reflect on the nation’s history, unity, and freedom. Community members can participate by displaying the American flag at their homes and businesses and attending local ceremonies and educational programs. Flag Day reminds us of the ideals that unite us as Americans. It’s a meaningful opportunity to come together and show pride in our country. Local observances may include flag-raising ceremonies and activities for residents of all ages to learn about the history and significance of the Stars and Stripes.
First graders at Birch Lane Elementary School did an “I Love America” firework craft project, as part of the Massapequa School District’s celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary. Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District
Eighth graders, from left, Diego Aparicio, Emily Demmett, Micaella Lopez, Kylee Poveromo, Danny Hernandez and Alex Lomaga helped contribute to a “USA 250” collage in the front windows of Berner.
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There are THOUSANDS of agents representing HUNDREDS of offices in our area. Only TWO in Nassau made this list. (Based on Volume)
JUNE HAPPENINGS
FRIDAY, JUNE 12th
10:00AM-1:00PM
THRIFT SHOP BAG SALE
Simpson United Methodist Church, 30 Locust Ave. in Amityville. $5 bag sale for clothing. For more information, please call Mary at 516991-8098
7:00PM
KIDS NEED MORE
LIVE BINGO SHOW
American Legion Hall, 80 Herbert Ave. in Lindenhurst. Show $25.00 Adults $5 Kids (under 12) Win Prizes! Bring Your Own Food & Snacks! Cash Bar! KiDS NEED MoRE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing fun, friendship, and joy to children and families coping with cancer, serious illness, and other grown-up stuff. Childhood Only Happens Once, Let’s Make it a Good One. GiVE MoRE. Do MoRE. BE MoRE. For more information, please call 646-907-8473, givebutter.com/ livebingo
SATURDAY, JUNE 13th
10:00AM-4:00PM
AMITYVILLE KIWANIS CRAFT & ANTIQUE FAIR
Rain date: June 20th. 10am - 4pm Amityville Beach Pavilion, 398 So. Bayview Ave in the James Caples Memorial Park. Huge annual event. Come shop for beautiful creations, handmade treasures and scrumptious treats plus eclectic antiques. Plus, there will be raffle baskets & refreshments. You'll find lots of things to buy for Dad's and Grad's while supporting the Amityville community. FREE gift for the 1st 50 shoppers. For
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
more information please contact: AmityvilleKiwanisCraftFair@gmail. com
2:00PM-8:00PM 8th ANNUAL SEAFEST
At Bay Shore Marina, South Clinton Ave. in Bay Shore. Come enjoy live music, great food, beautiful bay views, and more. Music & Food by the bay. Vendors, Food Trucks, Seafood, Beer Garden. Admission is free, and a shuttle bus will be available. For more information, please call 631-224-5430 • www. islipny.gov
ALL JUNE DURING GALLERY HOURS
11:00AM-4:00PM
RAINBOW SCAVENGER HUNT
At the Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St. in Cold Spring Harbor. Find all the colors in the rainbow in the gallery for a prize! Included with Admission. For more information, please call Cristina Ainslie at 631-367-3418
SUNDAY, JUNE 14th
10:00AM-4:00PM LOYALIST OR SPY..IF WALLS COULD TALK
Sagtikos Manor, Bay Shore
Learn what life was like on Long Island during the American Revolution under the British Occupation. Experience the reenactment of Isaac Thompson, the British and what life was like during the occupation at Sagtikos Manor. Demonstrators will display their wares and there are colonial activities for the kids. The Culper Spy Ring will be on hand to make sure
you understand what freedom from England meant. For more information, https://www.sagtikosmanor.org/ or 631.854.0939
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17th
5:00PM
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: GOLDEN GROOVES CONCERT
JESSE GARRON'S TRIBUTE TO ELVIS
The Town of Babylon hosts its 2026 Summer Concert Series at the Tanner Park Bandshell, 400 Baylawn Avenue in Copiague. Join us for an evening of live music as part of the Town of Babylon’s Summer Concert Series. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy a great night of entertainment. Weather permitting. For more information, please visit https:// townofbabylonny.gov/calendar.aspx
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24th
3:30PM-8:00PM NY BLOOD DRIVE
Christ Lutheran Church, 117 Carleton Ave. in Islip Terrace. For moreinformation, please call 631-5811710
6:00PM
SUMMER SOLSTICE WALKING TOUR
Bayport Blue Point Heritage
Association's Frank Giebfried will be your guide for an evening stroll that marks the beginning of the summer season. This is a BBP Library program and you need to register with the library to join the walking tour. There are 2 dates available and space is limited. You can register by phone by calling the library at 631-363-6133 and dial 3 for the main desk. The tour will last about 2 hours.
Classifieds
Hospital Association Offers
$2,000 Scholarship
The Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC) announces a $2,000 scholarship for college juniors/seniors or post graduate students who are studying Journalism, Marketing/ Communications, or Healthcare Administration. (The scholarship is not for clinical-based study.)
The Ann Marie Brown Memorial Scholarship honors the late Ann Marie Brown, who
served as vice president for government and public relations for the Hospital Council from 1983 to 1993. The scholarship is administered by the Hospital Council’s Communications Committee.
Filing deadline is June 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM. For more information and an application go to the NSHC scholarship page or call 631-334-8321.
About the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC) The Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council represents the notfor-profit and public hospitals on Long Island. It works in conjunction with the Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State to advance legislative and regulatory priorities. NSHC serves as the local and collective voice of hospitals on Long Island.
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
get started? Call today and one of our experi enced 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
How Flag Day Got Its Start
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Flag Day is commemorated each year in the United States on June 14. Though Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, it remains significant, as it dates back to 1777.
The Second Continental Congress formally adopted the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. That resolution noted certain characteristics of the new flag, including the alternating red and white stripes, which remain part of the flag celebrated each June 14.
Flag Day is one of various notable events and holidays commemorated in June, a list that includes Father’s Day, Juneteenth, and the summer solstice. That can make it easy for Flag Day to get lost in the proverbial shuffle, but the Farmer’s Almanac notes it is customary for the sitting president of the United States to encourage Americans to display the
flag outside of their homes and businesses each June 14. The flag is flown from all public buildings on Flag Day, which the Farmer’s Almanac reports is another rich tradition that dates back to 1877 and the centennial of the flag’s adoption.
President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation on June 14, 1916, that designated the day as Flag Day going forward. Thirtythree years after President
Wilson’s proclamation, the U.S. Congress officially established June 14 as National Flag Day.
One notable tidbit Americans can consider this Flag Day is the connection between the flag and seamstress Betsy Ross. Many American schoolchildren were taught that Ms. Ross designed and sewed the first American flag, but historians have since discredited that legend.
The Farmer’s Almanac
notes that many historians now believe George Washington already had a design for a flag with 13 red and white alternating stripes and 13 six-pointed stars set in a circle when he visited Ms. Ross in Philadelphia. And while historians do not doubt that Ms. Ross sewed a flag reflecting the design George Washington brought with him when visiting the seamstress, it’s hard to confirm if she, in fact, sewed the first flag.
Volunteer Opportunity To Help Terrapin Turtles Survive
June 20th Survival Day Includes Beach Cleanup
In an effort to help protect diamondback terrapins, Oyster Bay Town Clerk Richard LaMarca announces that the Town and Friends of the Bay are co-hosting a Terrapin conservation and Beach Cleanup Day on Saturday, June 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Centre Island Beach in Bayville.
“The Town of Oyster Bay joined forces with Friends of the Bay to launch ‘Team Terrapin,’ to help protect the Diamondback Terrapin turtle, as this small species lives in fresh or brackish waters in our Town,” said Town Clerk LaMarca. “These turtles, which have distinctive diamond-shaped rings covering their shells, have a near-threatened conservation status and we are working with our
environmental partners and local volunteers to help protect this vulnerable species.”
During this Terrapin conservation and Beach Cleanup Day, volunteers will be trained to identify signs of nesting terrapins and briefed on how to collect data. The event features a beach cleanup and tours of nesting sites.
“We feel it is our duty to protect and bring awareness to this vulnerable and important species that is native to our area and we are inviting volunteers to help us gain a better understanding of the current status of the Oyster Bay diamondback terrapin population,” said Christine Suter, executive director of Friends of the Bay. Terrapin monitoring will
take place for four to six weeks after the event and Team Terrapin volunteers will be encouraged to sign up for half-hour or one-hour monitoring shifts during weekdays and weekends. This is an excellent citizen science opportunity for people of all ages. Community service hours and certificates of participation will be provided upon request.
Terrapins can be found along the northern shore of Oyster Bay, especially at Centre Island Beach, with a large population at the head of Mill Neck Creek near Beaver Dam. To register for the event, volunteers should visit www.friendsofthebay. org/terrapin-monitoring. For more information, please email info@ friendsofthebay.org.
