May 31, 2023 West Babylon North

SENIOR-ATHLETES SIGN TO PLAY IN COLLEGE - Twelve West Babylon Senior High School senior-athletes put pen to paper as they signed letters of intent to continue to play their sports in college on May 17. Photo courtesy of West Babylon School District

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IVY

2 years old and great with kids.

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1 year old and very friendly. Returned due to relative with allergies.

ANDY

Young male needs Fosterto-Adopt home while Last Hope treats his heartworm.

THE MAMAS

Seeking a home together. Lost their home when their last owner was evicted.

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Female tabby, lonely and about 6 years old.

GLOVER

Male Cane Corso found curled up in a yard limping, and dragging a leash.

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Female Husky mix. 2 years old. Would love a spacious yard to practice fetch.

TUX

Male 4 months old. Tuxedo kitten with silly goatee.

Babylon Teens Earn Prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County recently celebrated local Girl Scouts who have earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award during the annual Silver Award Ceremony and Breakfast, which included a keynote address by the Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Labor Licensing and Consumer

Affairs, Rosalie Drago. The Silver Award program recognizes the power and dedication shared by each recipient as they join an elite group of young women who earn the highest Girl Scout honor a Cadette Scout can achieve. Members of the Babylon Service Unit 616; Lillian Montecalvo, Vivian

Mace, Alyssa Cuevas, Madeline Murphy, Sophia Paduano, Gianna Bruni, Isabella Ferraiuolo and Isabella Rutha were among those acknowledged for this great accomplishment.

“The Silver Award is the highest distinction that Girl Scouts in this age range can earn,” said GSSC President & CEO Tammy Severino. “It takes a great deal of responsibility, dedication, and confidence for these Girls to complete these important projects as they create a notable positive impact in their community. I applaud these girls’ commitment to making a difference and joining a highly distinguished group of accomplished young women.”

To achieve a Silver Award, Girl Scouts each tackled a project that held a deep significance to them and would greatly benefit the world around them. To be eligible for a Silver Award, each recipient must complete their Cadette Journey before beginning their Silver Award project. To meet the Girl Scout

Silver Award requirements, each candidate must complete at least 50 hours toward their project.

Girls in grades 6-8 begin their Silver Award journey by identifying a civic or social issue they care about. Next, a Girl Scout builds a team to support her project with the mission to create a positive impact in her community by addressing an issue she feels passionate about. Through the process, Silver

Award Girl Scouts build invaluable problem-solving, organizational, and leadership skills while educating and inspiring others.

Troop 1037 members Lillian Montecalvo, Vivian Mace, Alyssa Cuevas and Madeline Murphy placed peace poles at St. Paul’s Church in North Babylon. Peace poles are placed to honor humanity and to share the reminder that goodness comes from acts of kindness.

Troop 1037 members Sophia Paduano and Gianna Bruni erected peace poles in front of the Town of Babylon Community Center.

Isabella Ferraiuolo and Isabella Rutha created a buddy bench where anyone can take a seat together and feel comfortable to be themselves. To learn more about the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County or the Silver Award, visit: https://www.gssc.us/

PEACE POLES - Troop 1037 members Sophia Paduano and Gianna Bruni with the peace poles they designed at the Town of Babylon Community Center.

PEACE POLES THEY CREATED - Troop 1037 members Lillian Montecalvo, Vivian Mace, Alyssa Cuevas and Madeline with the peace poles they created.

Alzheimer’s Community Forum

In partnership with the Copiague Memorial Library, Catholic Charities of Long Island and The Bristal at West Babylon, the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for an in-person event called “Alzheimer’s Community Forum” on Wednesday, June 7 from 6-7 p.m. at Copiague Memorial Library.

“Alzheimer’s Community Forum” will provide an opportunity to learn more

about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and memory loss in this brief communityfocused listening session. We will review the basics of these conditions, services of the Alzheimer’s Association, and how we can expand the reach of programs and services.

“This provides a great opportunity for the community to come together to discuss their experiences and needs,” said Kate Anastasia, Director of

Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Chapter. We want to continue to expand our reach in the Long Island community and show nobody is alone.”

To register for the event visit https://www. communityresourcefinder. org/ResourceView/ Index?id=2781265

To learn more about the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, visit its website here or

call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900

If you are having trouble registering for this education program online, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 800.272.3900. For additional information on education programs and resources near you, please contact us at 800.272.3900.

Light refreshments will be served.

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for May is LI Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame

www.limusichallo

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF)

is a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Island music in all its forms. They have proudly inducted over 120 music artists and related professionals who are recognized at their beautiful new Stony Brook location.

Music Education plays a significant role in the lives of many. In addition to granting thousands of dollars in music scholarships to individuals each year, LIMEOF goes above and beyond to keep the love of music alive and well for students. One of the ways they do so is through aligning with the TeachRock program.

Launched by Stevie Van Zandt and the Founders Board of Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese and Bruce Springsteen, this program provides free, standards-aligned resources that use music to help K-12 students succeed in science, math, social studies, language arts and more. Nearly 60,000 educators representing all 50 states are registered at Teachrock.org. The program aspires to:

•Keep the arts in the DNA of school systems

•Empower teachers with a methodology to engage young students

•Create inclusive spaces through the arts by providing teachers well researched, abundanceframed classroom resources featuring positive representations of all Americans

•Increase graduation rates

Teachers/School Districts who are interested in learning more about TeachRock can contact Tom Needham at info@limusichallo ame. org.

Additionally, if you would like to help support LIMEHOF in an easy and fun way, you can. On Sunday, July 23rd at 7:30PM, a concert featuring Pat Benetar, Neil Giraldo and Taylor Dayne will be held at the Catholic Health Amphitheater at Bald Hill. The show will benefit the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, so everyone who buys a ticket will help support their mission.

“We are thrilled that two of our Inductees, Pat Benatar and Taylor Dayne, are performing at this very exciting benefit concert for the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame,” said Ernie Canadeo, LIMEHOF Chairman. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for all Long Islander’s to enjoy a terrific concert in a wonderful venue and support the Hall of Fame’s mission of keeping Long Island’s music heritage alive.”

For more information about LIMEHOF, visit www.limusichallo ame.org or call 631.689.5888.

If your non-profit would like to be featured in this column,please email noellelambert@longislandmediagroup.com for consideration.

Retiring Early

According to Gallup’s 2021 Economy and Personal Finance survey, the average individual in the United States is retiring earlier than many people might expect. Gallup found that the average retirement age was 62, which is two years earlier than the working respondents

indicated they planned to retire. Canadians are retiring a little bit later than their American counterparts, as Statistics Canada reports the average retirement age in Canada is just over 63 and a half. The average retirement age is worth noting, as studies routinely find that many

working professionals greatest concern about retiring is that they won’t have enough money saved to meet their needs. By recognizing that they may end up retiring earlier than they initially planned, professionals can make a concerted effort to save more money in the years ahead.

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West Babylon Announces Top Two In Class Of 2023

West Babylon Senior High School has announced Tyler Lejman as the Class of 2023 valedictorian and Taylor Weber as salutatorian.

Lejman has a GPA of 109.82. He has been the president of the Leo Club for the last three years and also serves as the student body treasurer. He is the testing captain for the Science Olympiad team and a member of the National, Art, Math and Science honor societies. He served as the co-captain of the school’s volleyball team. Lejman will be attending Marist College in the fall to study environmental science education.

With a GPA of 109.76, Weber also spends much time volunteering in various community/school organizations. She is the vice president of the Leo Club and president of the Science Olympiad team. Weber is a member of the National, Math, Science and Art honor societies. She plays on the school’s varsity soccer team and softball team and has been named All-County and Academic All-County. She will be attending the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse to study environmental biology.

BACCA Awarded $50,000 By The New York State Council On The Arts For A New Theatrical Lighting System

Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts, Inc. announced a grant award totaling $50,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the organization’s addition of a new theatrical lighting system at the multi-use BACCA Arts Center in Lindenhurst, NY. This grant is part of a record capital project funding announcement by NYSCA, which totals over $42 million to 144 capital projects across New York State.

BACCA’s Arts Center hosts and provides support for musical performances, productions by community theatre groups, art exhibitions, and other events, and is located at 149 N. Wellwood Ave. in the Village of Lindenhurst. BACCA will celebrate its 50th year of service to community in 2024.

“Strengthening our creative sector increases tourism, boosts our economy, and enhances the rich heritage and cultural life of New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “These record grants

will support a wide range of diverse and innovative projects at our arts and cultural organizations across the state, helping ensure all who visit will continue to have wonderful experiences for years to come.”

NYSCA Executive Director Mara Manus said, “We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for this fifth year of significant capital funding. This investment affirms the pivotal role the arts and culture play in our state’s economic prosperity. A round of applause to BACCA– your transformative project will ensure that our vibrant arts and cultural anchors continue to grow and thrive.”

NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said, “These capital project grants are an investment from the people of New York to the people of New York and will have positive impact on our communities for many years to come. On behalf of the Council and staff, I congratulate BACCA and

look forward to seeing all that will flourish from this project.”

About the New York State Council on the Arts

NYSCA preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. NYSCA upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, NYSCA will award record funding in FY 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts.

NYSCA further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.

Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York

State Legislature, NYSCA is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit http://www.arts. ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, Twitter @ NYSCArts and Instagram @ NYSCouncilontheArts.

About BACCA

The Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts (BACCA) is a not-for-profit cultural resource center for the arts serving the needs of residents, artists, and art organizations in the township of Babylon. Incorporated in 1974, BACCA is designed to sponsor and develop artistic, cultural, and educational programs or services.

The Board of Trustees has set goals to promote and encourage artists in their endeavors through consulting, promotion, technical assistance, and other resources. Our objective is to present cultural programs and opportunities for local artists to promote their craft.

TOP TWO IN CLASS OF 2023 - Tyler Lejman and Taylor Weber have been named as the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the West Babylon Senior High School Class of 2023. Photo courtesy of West Babylon School District

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