January 18, 2023 - January 31, 2023 Suffolk Zone 2

Cancer Society. Pictured: The winning Relay For Life team at High School West.

Photo courtesy of Smithtown

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Commack Middle School Teacher Conquers Antarctica

Commack Middle School social studies teacher Christopher Boundy completed his dream to run a marathon on each continent. He has already conquered the USA,

running marathons in each of our 50 states. On December 14, he conquered his final continentAntarctica, dressed in layers and running for 26 miles on a snow-covered glacier for 5

hours and 22 minutes to finish 22 out of 57 runners. This is one of only two marathons in Antarctica within the Antarctic Circle. Chris said, “It’s more comparable to running

on sand or uneven trails than on roads. Luckily this year’s temperatures were relatively mild (teens Fahrenheit) with not much wind, so while much harder than a normal

road marathon, it could have been even more challenging. Outstanding scenery of course, and overall great experience with a friendly group of crazy runners from all over

the world. Nice to finally be done with the seven continents.”

Permission to reprint is granted from the Commack School District and photo owner Christopher Boundy.

Local Foundation, Big Mission

The Chloe Belle Foundation is a local non-profit organization started by the family of Chloe. Chloe was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 25. She underwent countless treatments, but unfortunately the cancer only progressed. It eventually invaded her spine and left her paralyzed and in immense pain. Thirteen months later, Chloe passed away at home beside her family.

Chloe left a huge impact on those around her, she prioritized the happiness of others and brought joy wherever she went. The Lindberg Family started this foundation as a way to honor Chloe and continue her work here on earth. The mission of the Chloe Belle Foundation is to support children and young adults who have also been diagnosed with cancer, and offer them the same joy and light that Chloe herself was.

Remi Lindberg, President of The Chloe Belle Foundation said, “We have big goals for the foundation. I want Chloe to live on forever. She deserves

that. Most importantly, I want to bring Chloe’s kindness and love to the world on a large scale.”

The Chloe Belle Foundation will begin selling merchandise starting this February to benefit the foundation. They also will be hosting their annual toy drive in the spring, and will have more information on the event soon.

They will be collaborating with Mario’s Pizzeria in East Northport on February 21, 2023. When customers order on that day and mention The Chloe Belle Foundation, their foundation will receive 20% from the pre-tax sale.

To keep up with The Chloe Belle Foundation or to donate please visit their website at https:// thechloebellefoundation.org or follow them on Instagram @ thechloebellefoundation.

For more information, please reach out to Remi, President of The Chloe Belle Foundation at remilindberg. tcbf@gmail.com

Learn How To Produce Maple Syrup At Hoyt Farm

The Town Of Smithtown Offers Maple

Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve is gearing up for another season of maple sugaring for families, scout troops and nature enthusiasts to take advantage of. This unique educational program, available to the general public, teaches the ancient process of making maple syrup/ sugar, which was passed down by the Native Americans to the Colonists. Classes will run on Sundays; February 19th, February 26th and March 5th, from 1:30PM3PM at Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve. Tickets are $5 per person (cash only.) The class is open to both residents and non-residents. It is recommended that guests arrive by 1pm to register for the class as this is a very popular event.

“This is one of the best educational programs the Town offers and it’s one that every Long Islander should partake in. The techniques used to make maple syrup are a part of our history that should be treasured for all time. Jeff Gumin, Sheryl Brook and the team at Hoyt go above and beyond in teaching this demonstration. It’s an unforgettable experience, which I highly recommend for the whole family.” - Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim

The maple sugaring program is a demonstration, encompassing the history of Native American early life, how maple sugaring was originally discovered, all the way up to the modern day process. An interactive portion

Sugaring Classes

of the program enlists the help of younger students to teach the anatomy of the tree, the importance of chlorophyll, and the role of photosynthesis in making maple syrup.

The Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve maple sugaring program is unique in that Black Walnut trees are also tapped for sugaring, in addition to making maple syrup from Maple trees. Maple sugaring season is approximately three weeks out of the year. In order to produce the sweetest sap, weather conditions must be below freezing at night and over 40 degrees during the day. Hoyt Farm taps trees and conducts the maple sugaring program throughout the last two Sundays in February and the first Sunday in March.

The maple sugaring program began in the late 1970’s, and started with one class. It is now a full blown family-oriented interactive experience, available to the general public, (not restricted to Smithtown residents) appropriate for all age groups. School classes, girl scouts, boy scout troops, kids and adults of all ages are welcome and encouraged to take advantage of this unforgettable experience.

Did You Know?

Sugar in the tree sap is made in the leaves by photosynthesis, which is the same process which green plants use to convert water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into food.

Elderly Army Veteran Has Wish For Restaurant Gift Cards Granted

Ron Matonti, a resident of Medford, New York, had his wish for restaurant gift cards granted, thanks to the Long Island chapter of national nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation. Matonti is an Army veteran who has congenital heart failure and is homebound. Because of this, he relies mostly on canned foods that are delivered to him from a local food pantry. His wish is to receive restaurant and food delivery gift cards so that he can order fresh food instead of just eating canned foods.

Matonti was nominated by Melanie Corinne, the project coordinator for the Joseph Dwyer Peer Support Project in Suffolk County. Long Island Chapter Director James Ciervo and Corinne delivered the gift card basket to Matonti on Friday, December 17th at his Medford home.

Twilight Wish Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to honor and enrich the lives of seniors through intergenerational Twilight Wish celebrations. Since its founding in 2003, Twilight Wish has granted over 4,810 individual wishes to seniors throughout the U.S. Twilight Wish grants wishes to seniors who are 65 and older or a permanent resident of a nursing home and earn less than 200% of poverty level. If you would like to nominate a deserving senior or get involved with Twilight Wish, please visit the website at www.twilightwish.org or call 215230-8777 ext. 104.

Ron Matonti with gift card basket

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for January is Pal-O-Mine Equestrian

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is a local non-profit organization that began in 1995 as a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. They grew from having two programs, eight horses and 80 students per week to 11 programs, 25 horses and 400 students per week - and they continue to grow today!

“2023 will be a year of physical growth with our new educational center and treatment clinic, as well as spiritual growth by continuing to serve the many who need our 13 acre farm and herd to help them heal from trauma, grow in personal strength and learn new things to brighten their future,” said Lisa Gatti, Founder of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. The organization will be o ering various events throughout 2023, some of which are noted below.

February 15th they will kick-o a 3 month virtual Hay Drive Fundraiser. “We’ve been holding this Fundraiser once a year for 3 years now because in the last few years the cost of hay has tripled,” said Lisa. “Every penny donated through this fundraiser goes directly to helping us buy hay for our herd. I’d like to warmly thank everyone in advance for their support and donations, it truly helps us more than you know.” This year they are proud to o er a new text to donate feature. More information is available on their website (www.pal-o-mine.org).

Additionally, May 3rd through May 7th from 9:30AM-2:30PM they are holding their annual J-STEP Spring Craft Fair at their farm, located at 829 Old Nichols Road in Islandia.

J-STEP, which stands for Job Security Through Equine Partnership, is their Vocational Program. The program o ers a paid internship that runs 5 days per week for people with disabilities who are 18 years or older. Every item showcased at this fair is handcrafted by the J-STEP interns.

Lastly, May 4th from 6PM-9PM they will hold a Stable Spirits Art Show and Auction in their barn. This will be a night you won’t want to miss, filled with local wine and cheese, creativity and philanthropy! Pal-O-Mine will proudly feature up and coming artists in individual “stalls” in the barn and proceeds from each sale will go towards building their new educational center and clinic.

If you are interested in finding out more about their J-STEP Program or learning about the opportunity to have your art displayed at the Stable Spirits Art Show, contact Tessa at TessaVF@pal-o-mine. org. For more general information about Pal-O-Mine, call 631-348-1389, visit their website (www.pal-o-mine.org), Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Instagram.

Relay For Life Students At HSW Win National Competition

The Relay For Life at High School West recently won a national competition, raising $7,500 in the fight against cancer.

During a four-week span from October through November, High School West students raised the most money out of 31 other high school relay events in the country.

The American Cancer Society competition was titled “Fall Fumble”. It was a bracket style tournament where each week High School West faced off against one school to see who could fundraise more that week.

The championship round was November 29 and High School West won the final round.

Congratulations to Relay Chairs Amanda Froehlich, Gracie Caroppoli, Erin Fels and Madelyn Law! They were joined by High School West Assistant Principal Annemarie Freund and High School West advisors Dillon Archer and Cathy Abbott for a group picture. All donations go to the American Cancer Society.

Commack Students Selected For NYSSMA Winter Conference

Four Commack High School music students were chosen to perform at the NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester, NY, as part of the All-State performing ensembles. Each year approximately 900 students are selected

state-wide to participate in the NYSSMA Conference All-State music groups. Over 6,500 students were evaluated at auditions last spring for master proficiency in voice or an instrument. Congratulations to Tone

Chen, Nate Blatt, Eabha Masciovecchio, and Jake Van Eycken for being selected for this amazing musical accomplishment. Commack is so proud of these talented musicians.

RELAY FOR LIFE STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL COMPETITION - The Relay For Life at High School West recently won a national competition, raising $7,500 in the fight against cancer. All donations go to the American Cancer Society. Pictured: The winning Relay For Life team at High School West. Photo courtesy of Smithtown CSD

STUDENTS SELECTED FOR NYSSMA WINTER CONFERENCE - Commack’s talented musicians (left to right)Tone Chen, Nate Blatt, Eabha Masciovecchio, Jake Van Eycken. Photo permissions are granted for usage and to reprint the photo by owner: Commack School District

Little Free Library In Kings Park

CFA, Inc. at 60 East Main Street in Kings Park is excited to announce they now have a Little Free Library located right in front of the building. Little Free Library is a neighborhood book exchange where everyone’s invited to take a book or leave a book.

The library is part of the Little Free Library network. LFL is: “a nonprofit organization whose mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries”, which is

now more than 150,000 strong! They are now officially part of the world’s largest booksharing movement!

Come by and visit the beautiful Little Free Library and feel free to contribute a book or take a book.

Mary Kahrs is the Director and Owner of CFA, Inc. Her business partner and husband Jim Kahrs designed and built the Little Free Library and it was beautifully hand-painted by CFA’s program administrator Val McMahon!

According to their website, more than 250 million books have

been shared through registered Little Free Libraries. LFL has received several prestigious awards and

has been recognized by the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation, and more. They joined the Little

Free Library network to benefit the entire community and hope everyone enjoys using it!

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LIPA Announces New Community College Scholarship

Officials from the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) joined with representatives from Nassau Community College and Suffolk County Community College to announce a new community college scholarship program.

The LIPA Scholarship is designed to provide education and training for students from households with incomes below the median income of Long Island and the Rockaways (approximately $100,000 for a family of four) living in historically underserved communities.

The LIPA Scholarship is a $350,000 commitment over the next five years to provide 50 full scholarships for students to attend either Nassau Community College or Suffolk County Community College to obtain an associate degree or certificate that will help them pursue a career in the electric utility or clean energy sectors.

This investment is an effort to ensure that our workforce represents all the communities LIPA serves and that all of our customers can participate in the growing career opportunities available in the electric utility and clean energy industry.

Thomas Falcone, Chief Executive Officer of LIPA, said: “Electricity is the clean fuel of the future. Studies predict electricity will provide more than 70 percent of New York’s energy needs by 2050 and that it will be entirely carbon-free.

Lustgarten Foundation

(NAPSI)—The world’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, the Lustgarten Foundation, is dedicated to curing this devastating disease—and you can help with a donation. To learn more about the condition and what you can do, visit www.lustgarten.org or call toll-free 866-789-1000.

With this growing industry, LIPA’s commitment to fund 50 scholarships at Nassau and Suffolk Community College over the next five years will ensure that our workforce represents all the communities LIPA serves and that all our customers can participate in the fabulous and growing career opportunities available in the electric sector.”

Dr. Maria Conzatti, Interim President of Nassau Community College, said: “Together with LIPA, Nassau Community College is pleased to meet the workforce development needs of our business partners and the educational aspirations of the Long Island community.”

Dr. Edward T. Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College, said: “The Long Island Power Authority’s generous scholarships will help us recruit and sustain students entering the STEM fields, transforming our workforce and our region’s economy. With this support, LIPA joins the college in bridging our promising students from financial need to the high-need, high-wage disciplines that lead to a rewarding career.”

The curricula offered at Nassau Community College and Suffolk County Community College include courses relevant to the work LIPA does to meet the clean energy goals set by New York’s Climate Act, as well as to fulfill LIPA’s mission of providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy to Long Island and the Rockaways.

The LIPA Scholarship will support income-qualified, graduating high school seniors, allowing them to extend their educational development and enter the utility and clean energy sectors. Participation in the LIPA Scholarship will provide graduates with a competitive edge in applying for employment at LIPA and its contractor, PSEG Long Island, who plan to hire hundreds of

entry-level workers over the next five years.

This five-year program will provide annual funding for ten full-time, two-year scholarships for low- to moderate-income students who reside in disadvantaged communities, as identified by New York’s Climate Justice Working Group, planning to attend Nassau Community College or Suffolk County Community College. Residents of the following communities served by LIPA are eligible for the LIPA Scholarship:

Nassau County

· Westbury Village, New Cassel, Elmont, Hempstead Village, Uniondale, East Meadow, Valley Stream Village, South Valley Stream, Inwood, Oceanside, Roosevelt, Long Beach City, Glen Cove City, and East Massapequa.

Suffolk County

· Huntington Station, East Farmingdale,

Wyandanch, West Babylon, North Amityville, Copiague, Lindenhurst Village, Brentwood, Islandia Village, Bay Shore, North Bay Shore, Central Islip, Ridge, Patchogue Village, Yaphank, Shirley, Mastic, Calverton, Flanders, Westhampton Beach Village, and Tuckahoe.

Queens County

· The Rockaways. Awardees of LIPA’s Scholarship will have the opportunity to:

· Obtain a scholarship toward an associate degree or certificate program at either Nassau Community College or Suffolk County Community College.

· Attend LIPA Workforce Seminars with utility executives and subject matter experts.

· Receive job placement support for available positions at LIPA, PSEG Long Island, and other LIPA

The first recipients of the scholarship are expected to be announced in 2023. To learn more about the program, please visit www. lipower.org.

The announcement was held on November 8, 2022 at the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center in Wantagh, an educational facility that LIPA maintains in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Free Car Care Guide

(NAPSI)—“Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today’s vehicles,” explains the nonprofit Car Care Council. For a free copy of its Car Care Guide, visit www. carcare.org.

contractors and suppliers.

LIPA ANNOUNCES NEW COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP - From left to right: Dr. Edward T. Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College; Thomas Falcone, Chief Executive Officer of LIPA; and Dr. Maria Conzatti, Interim President of Nassau Community College