The Suffolk County Legislature recognized inspiring contributions to the healthcare of our County from a diverse and inspiring range of “Healthcare Heroes” with special presentations on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey was proud to name Denise DeFazio as the 2025 Healthcare Hero Honoree for the 14th Legislative District during the Suffolk County Legislature’s General Meeting.
The hard work and dedication of the second grade classes at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in the West Babylon School District were on full display as they presented their poetry to an audience of classmates and guests on May 21. Invited guests came to the classroom to see the students’ poetry displayed on the walls. Each student created their own poetry book filled with the different types of poems they studied this year, including haiku, cinquain, acrostic, name and concrete poems. One by one, second graders came to the front of the room to share a few of their favorite poems with attendees. Following the recitations, students enjoyed snacks and tea with their guests and classmates. Photo courtesy of West Babylon School District
Long Island Media Group, publishers of South Bay’s Neighbor Newspapers, South Bay’s Seasons ® Magazine and South Bay’s Digital Marketing, has been serving local communities since 1953. We also print and deliver flyers, menus, postcards, newsletters and more. Our familyowned company proudly assists businesses of any size from anywhere while prioritizing superior customer service.
Third, fourth and fifth grade enrichment students in Ms. Levy’s class at South Bay Elementary School in the West Babylon School District shared their threedimensional creations with kindergarten students during a bubble wand celebration on June 13. The enrichment students created bubble wands using the school’s 3D printer. They explained to the kindergarteners what a 3D printer is and how it prints 3D models using plastic filament.
They also shared how the printer can take hours to create each of the bubble wands, as it lays down very thin layers of plastic. It must print over the same spot – sometimes 50 or 100 times – just to get the design right.
The bubble wands were designed using a program called Tinkercad. Using the program for the first time, Ms. Levy’s students enjoyed watching howto videos, experimenting with different settings and shapes and figuring out
how to create the bubble wands on the blueprints they had drawn. Third, fourth and fifth graders also shared how their designs did not always work out. As a solution, they brainstormed new ideas, reworking and
redesigning them to have successful prints. The kindergarten students were happy to spend the morning playing with their many different 3D creations.
and fifth grade
13. Photos courtesy of West Babylon School District
SATURDAY, JUNE 28th
8:00AM
LINDY CARES PRESENTS: THE TRUE COLORS RUN!
Join us at Fireman’s Park in Lindenhurst for a vibrant morning of fun, fitness, and community spirit! Whether you run, walk, or dance your way through the course, this is an event you won’t want to miss! Together, we made a difference by supporting youth programs, scholarships, and education initiatives in Lindenhurst. For more information and to register visit https:// runsignup.com/race/ny/lindenhurst/ lindycaresannualcolorsrun
9:00AM-3:00 PM HOARDERS FLEA MARKET
Long Island's new monthly outdoor flea market! Up to 100 Vendors, Food Trucks. Featuring a variety of sellers including antiques, collectibles, second-hand goods, services, clothing, jewelry, local artists and businesses! Interesting finds, food, and fun! For for information about up-coming events and vendor registration, please visit www. hoardersfleamarket.com
9:30AM-4:00PM
NASSAU REPTILE EXPO 2025
Nassau Reptile Expo 2025 at Cradle of Aviation Museum. Charles Lindbergh Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Featuring over 175 tables of reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate breeders and supply vendors. For more information, please call : 516572-4111
14th - FLAG DAY
15th - FATHER'S DAY
19th - JUNETEENTH
20th - SUMMER BEGINS
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
Aging men and women may be tempted to eschew home cooking entirely. After all, there are plenty of convenient frozen or take-out foods available that can be whipped up in a snap. However, there are certain benefits to cooking your own meals.
them that they can handle an important daily task without having to rely on their family for meals. As long as it is deemed safe (i.e., no sign of cognitive decline or forgetfulness), seniors should be encouraged to continue cooking.
3:00PM-10:00PM
SALUTE TO VETERANS
The Town of Hempstead proudly presents Salute to Veterans, a familyfriendly celebration honoring the brave men and women who have served our country. Held at the scenic Town Park in Point Lookout, this free community event offers a full day of patriotic fun, entertainment, and heartfelt recognition. Town Park, Point Lookout, 1300 Lido Blvd, Point Lookout. Rain Date: Sunday, June 29, 2025 Admission: FREE for all. For more informtion, please call 516-931-2201
SATURDAY, JUNE 28th
SUNDAY, JUNE 29th
10:00AM-5:00PM
FARMINGDALE CRAFT & GIFT FAIR
Farmingdale Craft & Gift Fair On the Village Green. Free. 361 Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735. Get ready for Fun - Summer 2025 ~ Back for Round3! The Farmingdale Kiwanis Fair comes to the Village Green with MANY VENDORS and Entertainment Acts on Saturday 6/28 and Sunday 6/29 - 10:00 - 5:00 Both Days! Sponsors Welcome! For more information visit nassaucountycraftshows.com
SATURDAY, JUNE 28th
SUNDAY, JUNE 29th
12:00AM-12:00AM 5th ANNUAL
LANTERN LIGHTING CELEBRATION
Enjoy live music and a fairy-tale atmosphere of string lights and candles as families personalize floating lanterns with heartfelt
messages to their loved ones. Families can hear their loved one’s name read aloud in a beautiful ceremony as they release their floating lantern within the Rose Garden Fountain. Seating and tables will be available and light desserts and refreshments will be provided courtesy of Pinelawn Memorial Park. For more information, please call Memorial Park and Arboretum 631- 249-6100
SUNDAY, JUNE 29th
9:30AM-5:00PM
LIGHT FROM DARKNESS
Call for Artists! Light From Darkness: a Members Exhibition, is a juried exhibit that will be held at the BAFFA Art Gallery in downtown Sayville, 47 Gillette Avenue, during the month of September. The Gallery is currently accepting paintings, drawings, photography, sculptures, digital art, textiles, and more. The submission deadline is August 2, 2025. For complete details go to www.baffa.org and click on Gallery.
7:00PM-8:30PM
OYSTER BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Oyster Bay Music Festival: Harmony in the Ballroom at Old Westbury Gardens. 71 Old Westbury Road Old Westbury, NY 11568. Prepare to be astounded by this one-of-a-kind evening of music filled with virtuoso instrumentalists, chamber music masterpieces, and favorite vocal arias. For more information, please call Maritza Ramirez 516-333-0048
John Moore, DO, an Aetna medical director and senior health specialist, says that cooking can be good for helping to stave off cognitive decline. Dr. Moore notes that, when cooking, the mind is put to use following a recipe and learning new skills and tasks. Furthermore, cooking for oneself can boost seniors’ selfconfidence, reassuring
211 Route 109
West Babylon (631) 669-5445
www.wbpl.us
Nancy Evans, Director
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HEALTH SCREENING
Thursday, June 26, 10 am-2 pm
Catholic Health Community Bus will be at the Library offering FREE health screenings. Staffed by Registered Nurses from Catholic Health the screenings include a brief cardiac history, blood pressure and simple finger stick blood test for cholesterol and diabetes. No registration
required.
LET’S TALK ABOUT BOOKS
1:30-3:30 pm
Thursday, June 26
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
SOUTHERN CORNBREAD SALAD
Thursday, June 26, 7-8:30 pm
This layered salad features colorful bell peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and cubed cornbread.
LEARNING TO CROCHET Monday, June 30,
7-8:30 pm
Join us for this second installment beginner crochet class. Patrons will learn the chain (slip) stitch, single, and double crochet. Start a small project to bring home to finish. Nonrefundable/ transferable materials fee: $5.
YOGA
Wednesdays: July 2-30 6-7 pm
Non-refundable/trans-ferable fee for the 5-week June sessions: $10.
LEMON CHERRY TRAY KIT July 3-10
Shirley Ruby will virtually instruct you to make your own one-of-a-kind project. A YouTube Link will be provided by the Library. Non-refundable/ transferable materials fee: $5.
SAND & SEASHELL ART: COLORFUL BUTTERFLY
Monday, July 7, 7-8:30 pm
Non-refundable/transferable materials fee: $5.
ENGLISH: BEGINNERS
Tuesdays, July 8
6:15-7:15 pm
Join us for this monthly class to help enhance your English language skills.
MEDICAID ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE
Wednesday, July 9
10 am-1:30 pm
Sign up is first-come, firstserved and free of charge. For more information, call the Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council at 631-435-3000.
LEARN HOW: CANVA POSTER PRINTING
July 9, 6:30-8 pm
Learn how to set-up your own FREE Canva account, which will allow you to create different custom print materials. This class will cover setting up and using
Canva then creating a poster to be printed after class to take home. Posters can be made for marketing purposes, communions, weddings, showers, graduations, photo collages, and more!
DECORATIVE GARDEN GLOBE DROP IN Fridays: July 11-25
Drop by the library anytime and check out our garden craft station.
ZUMBA
Fridays: July 11-25, 10:15-11:15 am
Non-refundable fee for the 3-week July session: $6.
By JoAnn Cilla
Long Island is one of the best places in the world to be in the summer. From the beaches to the restaurants, and the landmarks to the parks, Long Island has something for every resident and visitor. Here are five things you should consider adding to your bucket list for June – August.
1. Unusual Attractions & Roadside Wonders
Long Island has great, quirky landmarks. Have you been to the iconic Big Duck in Flanders? It’s a giant duck-shaped building that’s both a historic site and a gift shop and opened in 1931. In Montauk, the Montauk Point Lighthouse offers breathtaking ocean
JOANN CILLA
views. You should also make time to visit the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, where you can dive with sharks (I’m happy to be a spectator for this activity).
2. Festivals & Fairs
Summer is festival season on Long Island. The Empire
State Fair returns to Nassau Coliseum from June 27 to July 13, featuring rides, live entertainment, and delicious fair food. For a cultural experience, check out the Long Island Celtic Festival & Highland Games at Old Westbury Gardens on August 23. It’s a celebration of Scottish heritage with music, dance, and traditional games.
3. Offbeat Eats & Sweet Treats
If satisfying your sweet tooth is on your list this summer, head over to BonBon, a Swedish candy shop in Sag Harbor. They have colorful displays of your favorite confections. Longing for some nostalgia? Make dinner reservations
at Swifty’s. They are located at The Hedges Inn in East Hampton and serve classic dishes in a charming setting.
4. Nature & Wellness Escapes
If you want to reconnect with nature, make plans to visit the North Fork’s beaches and vineyards. Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack offers wine tastings at their beautiful vineyards. You can also plan a wellness retreat at Naturopathica Spa in Bridgehampton.
5. Family-Friendly Fun
If you and your family are looking to cool off, enjoy a day at Splish Splash Water Park in Calverton. Alternatively, there is the Long Island FunFest which runs from June 12 to 22 and
has carnival rides, games, and live performances.
If you run a business on Long Island and want to thank your loyal customers while introducing new people to your business, here are three suggestions:
1. Host Themed Events: It’s easy to organize summerthemed events or workshops that align with your business (a hardware store hosting DIY projects, a restaurant having cooking classes).
2. Collaborate Locally:
Think about partnering with neighboring businesses to create joint promotions or packages. You can introduce your customers to their business and vice-versa. With the right packages or
promotions, it can be a great “win-win” for everyone.
3. Use Social Media to Get and Stay Connected: With platforms like Instagram and Facebook, you can showcase your summer specials, share behindthe-scenes content, and engage with your customers through interactive posts and stories. Make them fun and memorable too!
With so many fun and interesting things to do on Long Island in June, July, and August, make sure you plan ahead to take advantage of all the things you want to do. Then you can include those spur-of-the-moment day trips to round out a perfect summer!
Volunteering is a great way for individuals to strengthen their communities, but it also can be a unique way for individuals to improve their
own overall happiness. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies examined 70,000 participants, each of whom received
surveys that asked questions regarding their volunteering habits and mental health. The study found that, when compared to those who did
not volunteer, people who had volunteered in the previous 12 months were more satisfied with their lives and gave their overall health higher ratings.
The frequency of giving back to one’s community also may affect just how much volunteering affects mental health. Study participants who volunteered at least once per month rated their mental health even higher than those who volunteered but did so infrequently.
DIRECTIONS:
1. To make the cookie cups: preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a 24-count mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar together for 1 to 2 minutes, or until well combined.
4. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined, making sure to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
5. Mix in the dry ingredients until just combined.
6. Evenly distribute the cookie dough among all 24 cups in the mini muffin pan, a little more than 1 tablespoon of cookie dough per cup. Press each ball of cookie dough into the cups and smooth it out.
7. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the edges of the cookie cups are lightly browned and the tops are set.
8. Remove from the oven, and make an indentation in each cookie using the back of a measuring spoon. Allow to cool in the muffin pan, then carefully remove from the pan and set aside.
9. To make the vanilla buttercream frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the butter for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing in each addition until well combined.
10. Add the heavy whipping cream and vanilla extract, and continue mixing until fully combined, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Pipe the frosting into the cooled cookie cups and top with the sprinkles.
12. Store the cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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PEOPLE THAT I WOULD LO VE TO HEAR FROM (fond memo ries): Dottie Bonv entre (1974, Lindenhurst High. You were MORE than just a friend); Karen Martinelli (Fri. ni gh t parties); Frank Smith (you and Chuc ky at my parties); Charlotte Nargi (1 978 “Miss
