July 31, 2024 North Babylon by Long Island Media Group

TOWN OF BABYLON’S 17TH ANNUAL SOLDIER RIDE

New York State Assemblyman Michael Durso (R-Massapequa Park) and his daughter Taylor recently took part in the Town of Babylon’s 17th Annual Soldier Ride which raises money for the Wound Warrior Project. They joined Team Kevin McCaffrey and 1100 other cyclists to ride alongside injured veterans in support of their journey to recovery and healing. L to R: NYS Assemblyman Michael Durso, Taylor Durso, Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Walter E. Piatt, CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, and Dominic Bencivenga, Trustee of the Village of Babylon

The Babylon Union Free School District has hired two new probationary teachers, one probationary social worker, and one

Babylon Schools Welcome New Staff

leave replacement director of special education.

Hana Lepore and Conor Smith will serve as special education teachers at

Babylon Junior-Senior High School; Taylor Longo will serve as a social worker at Babylon Memorial Grade School, with split responsibilities at Babylon Elementary School; and Dr. Angela Austin will serve as a temporary leave replacement as the

District Director of Special Education.

Lepore has already been serving as a special education co-teacher at

NFPA Offers Safety Tips This Summer Season To Help Families Protect Themselves

the high school since December 2023. Smith comes to Babylon from Pierson Middle-High School in Sag Harbor, where he was a special education teacher. Longo previously served as a social worker at Tooker Elementary School in neighboring West Babylon. Dr. Austin comes to Babylon from Valley Stream 24 Union Free School District, where she was Director of Pupil Services and has more than a decade of experience in education administration.

“We welcome these new staff members who will fulfill vital roles in our District,” said Superintendent Carisa Manza. “We wish Hana Lepore, Conor Smith, and Taylor Longo the best of luck as they continue their young careers in our schools, and we thank Dr. Austin for lending her deep expertise to our special education department.”

With summer upon us, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) is reminding people about potential electrical hazards that exist in swimming pools and hot tubs, onboard boats, on docks and piers, and in waters surrounding boats, marinas, and launch ramps.

While most people are unaware of electrical dangers posed in water environments such as electric shock drowning (ESD), each year people are injured or killed from these hazards. ESD can occur when improperly installed or maintained electrical systems within marinas or boat electrical systems result in electrical current in the water, which can then pass through a person’s body, causing a level of paralysis that can ultimately cause serious injury or drowning.

“Because ESD is not well known, NFPA continues to raise awareness about the presence of electrical hazards in water to help prevent deaths and injuries from happening in pools and waterways,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach & Advocacy. “Never swim near a marina, dock, or boatyard, and have a qualified electrician inspect your boat, swimming pool equipment, hot tub, and spa before engaging in any water activities to ensure all life-saving measures and protection systems are functioning properly.”

Following are tips for swimmers, and boat and pool owners: Swimmers

Never swim near a marina, dock, or boatyard.

While in a pool or hot

tub look out for underwater lights that are not working properly, flicker, or work intermittently.

If you feel a tingling sensation while in a pool, immediately stop swimming in the direction you are heading. Try and swim in a direction where you had not felt the tingling. Exit the water as quickly as possible; avoid using metal ladders or rails. Touching metal may increase the risk of shock.

Boat owners

Avoid entering the water when launching or loading a boat. These areas can contain stray electrical currents in the water, possibly leading to electric shock drowning or injury from shock, including death.

Each year, have the boat’s electrical system inspected by a qualified marine

electrician to be sure it meets the required codes of your area, including those set by the American Boat & Yacht Council. Make the necessary repairs, if recommended. Follow the same steps after any major storm that affects the boat.

Check with the marina owner about the marina’s electrical system and whether it has recently been inspected to meet the required codes of your area, including the National Electrical Code® (NEC®).

Have ground fault circuit protection (GFCI and GFPE) installed on circuits supplying the boat; use only portable GFCIs or shore power cords (including “Y” adapters) that bear the proper listing mark for marine applications when using electricity near water. Test GFCIs monthly.

NEVER modify the

electrical system on a boat or shore power to make something work.

The code-required safety mechanisms in place are intended to alert people if something is wrong with the boat and with shore power. Find a licensed, qualified professional to help determine the cause of the problem.

Pool owners

If you are putting in a new pool or hot tub, be sure the wiring is performed by an electrician experienced in the special safety requirements for these types of installations and that the completed work is inspected by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).

Have a qualified electrician periodically inspect and — where necessary — replace or upgrade the electrical devices or equipment that

keep your pool or hot tub electrically safe. Have the electrician show you how to turn off all power in case of an emergency. If there are overhead electrical lines, make sure they have proper clearance over the pool and other structures, such as a diving board. If you have any doubts, contact a qualified electrician or your local utility company to make sure power lines are a safe distance away.

NFPA has several resources for swimmers, boat, and pool owners, including videos, tip sheets, checklists, and a new NFPA Podcast episode, “Hazards in the Water,” that can be downloaded and shared. Please visit nfpa.org/ watersafety to learn more.

BABYLON SCHOOLS WELCOME NEW STAFF - Hana Lepore, from left, Conor Smith, and Taylor Longo were recently hired as new staff members at the Babylon Union Free School District. Not pictured is Dr. Angela Austin, who was also hired as a leave replacement director. Photo courtesy of the Babylon Union Free School District

Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition Awards Annual Scholarship

Lights Of Hope Remembrance Ceremony

To Honor Loved Ones Lost To An Overdose

YES Community Counseling Center’s Annual Lights of Hope Remembrance Ceremony is being held on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 7:00 PM. The ceremony will be held at YES Community Counseling Center’s Levittown office located at

152 Center Lane.

Family members are invited to bring a small framed photo of their loved one for a candle lighting ceremony. This event provides a safe space for our community to remember loved ones for who they were. Let’s come

together to honor their lives.

Please see the attached flyer for registration link and QR code. For more information, contact Kathleen Coletta, LCSW (516) 799-3203 x127 or email at kcoletta@ yesccc.org

AUGUST HAPPENINGS

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

AUGUST 3 & 4

11:00AM-8:00PM

JONES BEACH

95TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

The New York State Ofﬁce of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is pleased to announce the Jones Beach 95th Anniversary Celebration, a two-day celebration. This event will be held near the East Bathhouse and Central Mall. For more information, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518-474-0456.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6

7:00PM

REPUBLIC AIRPORT COMMISSION (RAC) MEETING

Due to a scheduling conﬂict, the Republic Airport Commission (RAC) meeting that was to be held on Tuesday August 13th, has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, August 6th at 7:00pm. The meeting will take place at: Republic Airport Main Terminal 7150 Republic Airport, Room 201, Farmingdale. For the latest RAC meeting information, please visit www.republicairport.net .

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7

7:30PM-9:30PM

OWL PROWL WEDNESDAY

Visit Sweetbriar to meet and learn about some of their resident owls. Embark on a walk into the darkness to enjoy the night and call some owls. Wear bug spray and bring a ﬂashlight. *Must have tickets to attend this event. No walk

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

ins permitted* Open to families with children ages 5y and up.

Sweetbriar Nature Center - ECSS 62 Eckernkamp Drive in Smithtown. For more information, please call 631-979-6344

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8

5:00 PM

FARMINGDALE MUSIC ON MAIN 2024

Sponsored by the Farmingdale Village Merchants Association. Music & Fun Along Main St. , between Prospect St & So Front St. For more information, please call 516-249-0093

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

8:00 PM

IAC CONCERT IN THE PARK

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of NYS Parks At Heckscher State Park in East Islip. For more information, call 631-888-3525, Isliparts.org

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

AUGUST 10 & 11

Saturday 1OAM-9:30PM

Sunday 10AM-5PM

PAUMANAUKE POW WOW

The Paumanauke Native American Festival Inc., the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts, and The Town of Babylon present Paumanauke Pow Wow at Tanner Park in Copiague. Audience participation, Traditional Drums, Native Food, Dance Competitions, Quality Traders. For more information, please call BACCA Arts Center 631-587-3696

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11

11:00AM- 4:00PM

SPIRIT OF SUMMER ART FESTIVAL

Proudly hosted by the Spirit of Huntington, Long Island's Largest Non-Profit Art Festival. A day of fine art, community networking, food & dessert, raffles, games, activities and music! Rain Date: August 18th • FREE Admission. Located at 2 Melville Rd. N. in Huntington Station. For more information, please call 631-470-9620

MONDAY, AUGUST 12

7:00PM

LIGHTS OF HOPE

REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY

To honor loved ones lost to an overdose. YES Community Counseling Center’s Annual Lights of Hope Remembrance Ceremony is being held on Monday, August 12, 2024. The ceremony will be held at YES Community Counseling Center’s Levittown ofﬁce located at 152 Center Lane. For more information, contact Kathleen Coletta, LCSW (516) 799-3203 x127 or email at kcoletta@ yesccc.org

MONDAY, AUGUST 12 -16

9:30AM- 12:30PM

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Community United Methodist Church is hosting a Vacation Bible School for ages 4-11. Children must be potty trained. $10 per child. CUMC is located at 100 Park Blvd. in Massapequa. For more information, or to register, please call 516-541-7008, or email: MASSAPCUMC@aol.com.

Jones Beach 95th Anniversary Celebration

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is pleased to announce the Jones Beach 95th Anniversary Celebration, a two-day celebration happening Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4, 2024 from 11:00am to 8:00pm. This event will be held near the East Bathhouse and Central Mall.

The Jones Beach 95th Anniversary Celebration will feature family friendly entertainment and education throughout the two days. Family friendly magic shows will be performed by Adrenaline Entertainment on 8/3 and Magic of Amore on 8/4. Jester Jim will entertain guests with a roaming juggling act

to be seen throughout the boardwalk. Face painting will be available for children provided by Adrenaline Entertainment. Lawn games for all to enjoy will be set up and an inflatable slide and inflatable obstacle course will be available for children to enjoy. Jones Beach “Through the Decades” displays will be available for guests to read, view, and learn about the rich 95-year history of Jones Beach State Park.

Corporate sponsorship booths include Cox Media Long Island [106.1 WBLI / 102.3 WBAB] and AARP. All event activities and entertainment are free. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. A $10 vehicle

use fee will be in effect on both dates of the event.

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, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and the OPRHP Blog.

Drive Safely

(NAPSI)—Age-related physical and mental changes can affect your ability to drive safely. If you’re alert to these changes and manage them carefully, you may be able to continue driving safely for some time, say the experts at the American Geriatrics Society (AGS). Visit www.healthinaging. org/driving-safety for more information.

today and one of our experienced 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 for you. Y ou'll be glad you di d! Call 631-226-2636, ext. 276

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Autism And Children

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Benefits Of Volunteering

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

During the months between graduating high school and beginning college, or between getting a university degree and entering the workforce, graduates may want to explore the personal growth that comes from volunteerism.

Volunteering provides various benefits. Some of these rewards include networking with an entirely different group of people. Volunteering also can help a person realize greater happiness by doing selfless acts for others, while they also can help one to realize a new passion. In the future, volunteering with an organization also may help with a student’s job search.

There are many arenas where young people can focus their volunteer efforts. Here are some ideas.

• Animal shelter: Animal shelters rely on volunteers to help with

According to the National Autism Association, autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that affects the normal development of the brain in various areas. Those areas include social interaction, communication skills and cognitive function. Autism generally appears before a child reaches his or her third birthday, and the NAA notes it is diagnosed four times as often in boys than it is in girls. Roughly 40 percent of children with autism do not speak, but parents whose children speak between the ages of 12 and 18 months should know that such youngsters can still ultimately be diagnosed with autism. In such instances, the NAA notes that children lose the words they previously learned. Incidences of autism appear to be on the rise, though the reasons for that remain unclear. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of autism had risen to one in every 59 children by 2018. That’s twice as great as the rate in 2004, when the CDC reported one in 125 children were diagnosed with autism.

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.

Volunteer Opportunities For Recent Grads

their operations. They can be a good fit for anyone with a passion for animals and animal rights activism.

• Public service sectors: AmeriCorp and Peace Corps have scores of opportunities for volunteers. AmeriCorp focuses on domestic issues, while the PeaceCorp is a branch of the U.S. government that engages volunteers in international service work. Community involvement, health care, agriculture, homelessness, and combatting hunger are top priorities for these organizations.

• English as a second language: Volunteers can spend time abroad teaching English to students. Others may want to volunteer domestically by helping non-English-speaking individuals improve their language skills.

• Community government: A person may choose to sit on the board of a school, a neighborhood housing association, or even explore volunteerism with a township municipal office. This will provide valuable hands-on experience and

may help one lend a voice to issues that affect his or her living situation.

• Religious groups: Churches, synagogues and mosques may have volunteer opportunities focused on community outreach or programs affiliated with local

nonprofits.

• Conservation groups: Volunteers can work on conservation projects across the country. From wildlife management to trail restoration to invasive species eradication, there are a wide variety

of conservationbased volunteering opportunities.

• Tutoring: Graduates can volunteer to tutor students in local schools or overseas. Volunteerism can fill gap years or add to résumés for recent graduates.

153 Days

JOANN CILLA BROKER/OWNER

203 E. Montauk Hwy.

Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Ofﬁce: 631-539-6000 Cell: 516-429-1911 joann@joanncillarealestate.com www.joanncillarealestate.com

On August 1st, there will be 153 days left in 2024. That’s exactly ﬁve months or 21 weeks and six days to achieve the goals you set for yourself, your family, and/or your business at the beginning of this year. How does it look for you? Are you on pace to hit your 2024 goals? Are you behind? Or did you say, “the heck with my goals” back in Feburary?

Some goals are harder than others to achieve. Buying or selling a home is one of them. It takes a lot of work and preparation to make the biggest purchase or sale you will probably ever make in your life.

Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to start thinking about buying or selling your home. Call me or send an email, and let’s start the conversation today so that when the market does change, you will be ready.

In the meantime, you have 153 days to hit your other goals.