March 1, 2023 West Babylon South

Good Samaritan University Hospital puts you first Today, tomorrow, always

We do more than provide state-of-the-art treatment and compassionate care. We educate the physicians of the future, while expanding the medical capabilities of the entire Catholic Health system. We’re ensuring that Long Islanders will be taken care of with the most advanced medical technology, integrity, and compassion…now and forever.

Learn more at goodsamaritanuniversity.org

West Babylon Public Library

ZUMBA

Fridays: March 3-31

WBA612 IN PERSON

(631) 669-6539 www.wbpl.us

Nancy Evans, Director ***

Registration dates are for WBPL cardholders. Nonresidents may register 14 days prior to program. Please note: Registrants must have an email address to attend virtual programs.

YOGA

Wednesdays: March 1-29

WBA404 6-7 pm

IN PERSON

Join Evelyn Regan for this monthly yoga series. March registration begins

Wednesday, February 1.

Non-refundable/ transferable fee for the 5-week March session: $10.

WBA424 10:15-11:15 am IN PERSON

Join Cindy Merkler for this monthly Zumba series. Non-refundable/ transferable fee for the 5-week March sessions: $10.

PAINT NIGHT: CACTUS

Tuesday, March 14, 6:458:30 pm WBA126 IN PERSON

Join Kathy Reccardi and paint your own masterpiece. Non-refundable/ transferable materials fee: $5.

MEXICAN STREET TACOS

Thursday, March 16, 7-8 pm

Learn how to make this yummy dish as well as some of the history behind it.

ART TALK: VINCENT VAN GOGH

Monday, March 20, 7-8 pm

WBA212 VIRTUAL

Join us for an engaging conversation with art historian Jay Schuck. A Zoom link will be provided by the Library.

GREEN LIVING

Tuesday, March 21, 7-8 pm

WBA213 IN PERSON

Join us for a discussion on how to incorporate health & sustainability into your choices regarding: personal care products, cleaners, pesticides, and plastics, to make your home “green” and toxin-free..

FUNKY FLOWER VOTIVE

March 23-28 WBA128

VIRTUAL WITH KIT

Join Shirley Ruby and paint

External Diploma Program

The National External Diploma Program offers adults 21 and over, the opportunity to receive credit for their life experiences, and earn a high school equivalency diploma without the challenge of taking lengthy timed examinations. NEDP, is a competency based program for students who are unable to attend classes or who prefer to work at home. Successful candidates for NEDP include former ESL students, students who have been out of school for prolonged periods of time, or students who fare better without the structure of tests. This program is an alternative to other programs.

Anyone interested should call Western Suffolk BOCES to meet with a counselor. Call 667-6000, Ext. 327 to register.

this funky design. Nonrefundable/transferable materials fee: $5.

SENIOR ADVOCATE

Thursday, March 23, 10 am-12 pm IN PERSON

A Suffolk County Office for the Aging representative will be here to help with Medicaid, Senior ID Cards, food stamps & more. Patrons will be helped on a first come, first served basis.

WOMEN IN MUSIC: FOLK, ROCK, SOUL, AND BLUES

Saturday, March 25, 2-3 pm

WBA707 IN PERSON

Join Kirsten Thien and Erik Boyd for this fun and informative live music program about the impact of women on music in America. Patrons may register themselves and 1 guest.

What To Do When Things Don’t Go Your Way

By JoAnn Cilla

As a real estate broker, I knew that the boom years of 2020 and 2021 wouldn’t last forever. For two years, houses for sale often had multiple offers before they were ever listed. Many homes went for above the asking price; sometimes well above the asking price.

But, as the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.” Today, interest rates are more than double what they were a few years ago, home sellers aren’t leaving their 3% mortgage rates, and home buyers are waiting for more homes to hit the market and for interest rates to come down.

What do we do when business, and life, suddenly change directions? Some people put their heads in the sand and wait for everything to blow past them; others run to find a safe spot. What about the ones who stand and face the obstacle in front of them? Often, they are the winners.

In business, when a good economy turns bad, companies will abandon their projects, lay off employees, and slash expenses. Smaller companies may go out of business because they didn’t prepare for the downturn, and they ran out of money. Look at the stores in town;

JOANN CILLA

In Loving Memory Of John G. Vogt

February 15, 2023, was a very sad day for the American Venice Civic Association. It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of John Vogt. John was the driving force of our Civic, and he was an Executive Board Member and President. John lost his fight with Cancer and leaves behind his wife Candida, daughter Nicole 29, son Robert 27, and daughter Emily 25. His passion for his community was second to none. He was a great leader who spent all of his time working on making his home community, The American Venice, a better place to live. John tried his best and fought long enough to see the beginnings of the improvements here in the Venice that he started. It hurts our Hearts that he did not get to see the

completion of the Living Shore Line in the West Venice, the raising of the roads, and also the reconstruction of the “Circle” in the Grande Canal.

John also volunteered his talents to the Copiague Kiwanis Club as a board member and as secretary, Boy Scout Troop 284 Copiague leader and he was a member of the Sunnyside

Chamber of Commerce - Business Improvement District.

John was a giving man, not only with his time but was known to help financially if a person was down on their luck. John was a gentleman, a true friend, a great team player and all around wonderful man that will be missed terribly.

There will be a memorial service held on February 28, 2023, 5 PM - 9 PM at the Massapequa Funeral Home, located at 4980 Merrick Road, Massapequa Park, NY 11762. The Vogt family request that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in John Vogt’s memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research, Boy Scout Troop 284, or The Copiague Kiwanis Club. Please bring your fondest memories of John to share.

JOHN G. VOGT

You

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SUSIE Petite Shepard mix puppy. Lots of energy with herding dog potential.

Neighbor Pets’ Place

BLISS Young female. Very friendly and sweet. Loves to sit on your lap.

ORCHID

Young female. Long haired beauty seeking her BFF.

Seeking her forever home.

631.425.1884

MAJOR

4 year old male. Handsome and outgoing. Rescued from outside.

JESSE

1 year old male.Corgi mix. 40 pounds. A good fit with kids 10 and older.

SARA

6 month old female. Tabby Beauty. 1 of 9 friendly cats abandoned during a move.

GRACIE & BLACKIE

Bonded 4 year old sisters. DSH. Affectionate and sweet.

ROCCO 3-4 year old male. Lab/Pit/Shar Pei mix. Loves to be outdoors and play.

CHEWY

3-4 year old male. Lab/Pit/Shar Pei mix. Loves meeting new people.

SAMSON 9 year old male. Boxer/Pit mix. Cuddle bug that loves to love.

To inquire about having your shelter included in this column, email info@longislandmediagroup.com!

SMITHTOWN ANIMAL SHELTER • 410 MIDDLE COUNTRY ROAD, BROOKHAVEN • 631.360.7575

March Happenings

West Babylon JHS To Host St. Baldrick’s

Thursday, March 2 7:00PM

March Business Meeting

Join the Lindenhurst Evening Homemakers Unit at the Amityville Senior Center. Open to all members and newcomers for women 18 years and up. New members should arrive 15 minutes early. Contact Lisa LeBrie at 516-413-7467 for more information.

Saturday, March 4 10:30AM-12:30PM

Eye To Eye Group Meeting

Join Eye to Eye, a support group of visually impaired members of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Long Island Chapter for their monthly meeting at the Freeport Memorial Library. Zoom option also available. Contact Frann Glick at 516-2321257 for more information or email glickchick1@gmail.com.

Saturday, March 4 2:30PM-3:30PM

Irish Dance Performance

Presented by Show Stompin' Irish Dance at the Freeport Memorial Library. Contact 516-379-3274 ext. 501 for more information.

Saturday, March 4-5 10:00AM-7:00PM/5:00PM

Long Island Pet Expo

Come enjoy a true family event at Suffolk Community College, Grant Campus. Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome. Adults $15, Children, $6, Military/Senior $13. Visit www. familypetshows.com for special discounts.

Sunday, March 5 2:00PM-4:00PM

58th Annual East Islip

St. Patrick's Day Parade

The parade will begin in front of the East Islip Public Library and travel west along Main Street passing by the grandstand at St. Mary's RC Church and ending at Irish Lane. Rain or shine. Fore more information email localhibernians@gmail.com.

Items listed are free of charge. Events must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date and will run in the calendar on a space available basis. For further information, call 631.226.2636, extension 211 or send events to nataliealmeida@longislandmediagroup.com

Wednesday, March 8 6:00PM-7:00PM

Yoga For Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors

Yoga tailored for breast cancer patients and survivors on the second Wednesday of every month at the North Fork Breast Health Coalition. Dress comfortably and bring your own yoga supplies such as a mat, blocks, belt, pillow and water. Visit www.northforkbreasthealth.org/ services for more information.

Saturday, March 11

1:00PM

Women In Long Island's Past Discover the stories of the remarkable women of Long Island at the River State Park Preserve. The lecture is free for Friends of Connetquot members and $5 a person for non members. Visit www. friendsofconnetquot.org/calendar to register.

Saturday, March 11 8:00PM

Guilty Pleasures Band

The Ultimate 80's Tribute Band will be performing at Brumidi Lodge Deer Park. It is $15 per person cover charge; doors open at 7:15PM, Show begins at 8PM. Cash bar, Limited Concert Menu available for purchase. Mature audience only (21+). For tickets contact Dan 631514-9772 or Anita 631-422-6914.

Sunday, March 12 1:00PM-3:00PM

Thyroid Cancer Support Group

Free virtual meeting for thyroid cancer survivors. This support group is free and open to any survivors and their families and friends.

Contact Abby Melendez at 516-6085113 or longisland-ny@thyca.org.

Thursday, March 16

6:30PM-8:30PM

Saints Day Social

Join us at the Brumidi Lodge to celebrate St. Patrick and St. Joseph. Dinner, refreshments and dessert included. $40 per person, ages 7 and under are free. Contact Karen at 631-943-3622 to purchase tickets in advance.

Saturday, March 18 9:00AM-12:00PM

4-Leaf Clover 5K Run/Walk Rain or shine at the East Moriches Middle School. The rst 100 participants are guaranteed a race t-shirt. Money raised is being used for community projects in the Greater Moriches and Eastport Areas. Contact 516-531-3323 for more information.

Sunday, March 19

1:00PM-2:00PM

St. Patrick's Day Parade

The parade begins to form up at noon in the area of the Finley Middle School at Forest Avenue and Dosoris Lane in Glen Cove. It steps off at 1PM and proceeds through the streets of downtown Glen Cove, ending at 70 Glen Street. For more information visit www. glencoveparade.com

Saturday, March 25 9:00AM-11:00AM

Breakfast With The Easter Bunny

Held at Brumidi Lodge Deer Park. Ages 3 and under are free. Ages 4-12, $12 and 13+ are $18. This includes breakfast, toy auction, 50/50 raffle, lottery cash board raffle and crafts. Contact Karen at 631943-3622 to reserve your seat or table.

Monday, March 27

1:00PM

Music Lover's Club

Enjoy a free musical performance the last Monday of every month through April at the United Methodist Church in Islip, Meeting Room 1. Refreshments to follow. For more information contact Donald Warner at 516-993-9032.

Tuesday, March 28

6:30PM

Wantagh Preservation Society Meeting

Interesting "Show &Tell" meeting planned. Bring any Wantagh related items to share information on, or just come and listen. Light refreshments will be served. Contact 516-8268767 for questions.

West Babylon Junior High School will host its fifth annual St. Baldrick’s event on March 10 from 6-8:30 p.m. There will be activities for the whole family, such as carnival games, face painting, hats for sale, food sales and raffles. All funds raised will help reach the school’s goal for 2023 of $40,000 for a five-year total of $200,000 to help find a cure for children’s cancer.

Other activities include:

• Head shaving, live music and dance performances in Eagle Hall (auditorium)

• Knit items for sale

• Food and beverages for purchase in the cafeteria and at the outdoor beverage cart

• Raffles including Yankees and Mets tickets, gift cards, specialty cookies

South Shore Audubon Offers Scholarships

The South Shore Audubon Society has begun accepting applications for two $1000 Environmental Scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to college juniors, seniors, or graduate students earning a degree in areas of biological or environmental science, or sustainable and renewable energy .

For the Evelyn and Jerry Bishop Environmental Scholarship, applicants must be residents of one of the areas listed at www. ssaudubon.org/areas-weserve.asp and/or attend a college in Nassau or Suffolk County.

For the Jay Koolpix, Environmental Scholarship, applicants must be residents of Nassau County and/or attend a college in Nassau or Suffolk County.

May 31,2023 is the deadline for submission

of applications. Completed applications include a brief explanation of the reason for applying for the scholarship and the plan to use the money, a copy of the most recent transcript of grades, and at least one letter of recommendation. Applicants may apply for both scholarships but cannot be awarded more than one.

For applications and more information, go to www.ssaudubon.org/ or contact Betsy Gulotta eagulotta@optonline.net, or Betty Borowsky, bborow@ optonline.net.

Tell Us About It!

Let us know about your honors, awards, promotions and other announcements. They are always welcome. Photos can be emailed as well. Send them to editorial@ longislandmediagroup.com.

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for March is Canine Companions®

Canine Companions is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained service dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Independence shouldn’t be limited to those who look or live a certain way, so they are proud to provide their dogs and support services free of charge to recipients.

Clients come to Canine Companions because of their reputation, the quality of their dogs, the experience of their training sta and the desire to lead a life with greater independence. The organization is proud to have various chapters and training centers across our nation that operate o of these six core values:

Teamwork: They believe in the joyful and transforming power of the partnership between an individual and their dog.

Compassionate Service: They treat everyone they serve with respect and empathy.

Integrity: They do what is right guided by honesty, accountability and sincerity.

Community: They practice inclusion and acceptance to build positive relationships within their diverse community.

Excellence: They conduct ourselves with professionalism in pursuit of the highest standards.

Innovation: They continually pursue new ideas to unleash their greatest potential.

Canine Companions uses Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and crosses of these two breeds. Most of their dogs come from their selective breeding program, but occasionally donated puppies are accepted if they meet the strict qualification requirements. Their puppies are raised by volunteers who selflessly take them to classes that teach them basic obedience and house manners. When

What To Do When Things Don’t Go Your Way

Continued From 17

that will tell you who planned for a weaker economy and who failed to plan.

Autism And Children

the puppies are old enough to enter their professional training program, they head to one of their six regional training centers, located in Northern California, Southern California, Texas, Ohio, New York and Florida.

The organization typically places between 325 and 375 service dogs per year. Once a dog has completed professional training, it is ready to be matched with a person with disabilities. The match is made at one of their regional training centers during Team Training, a two-week group class.

During Team Training, students learn to manage the service dog’s behavior, to direct the dog to respond to commands it has learned and to assume responsibility for maintaining the health and well-being of the dog.

Each dog can really make all the di erence in the life of its new partner.

A Canine Companions service dog can not only open doors, pick up dropped items, turn on the lights and alert its partner of important sounds, but they can also increase confidence and independence.

Tough times bring stress, anxiety, and tough decisions; they also bring opportunities for the people and businesses that prepare for them. Prices for many items will come down because companies have fewer customers buying their products (think of everything from home appliances to cars). Competitors will go out of business, and their customers will look for new places to spend their money. The same is true for vendors and suppliers. What is your plan when things don’t go your way? Will you stand and fight while looking for opportunities, or will you wait for everything to blow over? I hope you decide to fight. We need stronger small businesses in our community, and we need our residents to support them along the way.

Tell Us About It!

Let us know about your honors, awards, promotions and other announcements. They are always welcome. Photos can be emailed as well. Send them to editorial@ longislandmediagroup.com.

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.

PUZZLE ANSWERS:

To learn more about this organization, please visit www.canine.org or call 631.561.0200.

Stay tuned for next week’s article to learn more about their Long Island location, located in Medford, NY and find out how you can get involved!

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

EMPLOYMENT SECTION

NOTICE-Federal and State

law make it unlawful for employers and employment agencies to advertise prospective employment where the job is limited as to age, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, genetic disposition or carrier status or marital status unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ). This publication does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws

Business Intelligence Analyst, F/TCollect, analyze business intelligence data for reporting to Mandarin-speaking management; design tools for data collection; analyze data to identify Chinese radio operation issues, audience and advertisers and develop marketing strategies; administer business intelligence platform. Annual Salary: $102,500. Job Location: Nassau, NY. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Applied Data Analytics and Visualization, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related major. Send resume and application to: WGBB-AM, INC., Director of Program Department, 2116 Merrick Avenue, Ste 2003, Merrick, NY 11566

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A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

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A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

A sales representative will be happy to assist you

TO place an ad in the CLASSIFIED section, call 631-226-2636, press “2”

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THE TOP REASONS FOR SELLING YOUR HOUSE

Many of today’s homeowners bought or re nanced their homes during the pandemic when mortgage rates were at history-making lows. Since rates doubled in 2022, some homeowners put their plans to move on hold, not wanting to lose the low mortgage rate they have on their current house. And while today’s rates have started coming down from last year’s peak, they’re still higher than they were a couple of years ago. There is no Indication we will return to the historic low rates in 2020, 2021 and early 2022. Today, 93% of outstanding mortgages have a rate at or below 6%. That means a strong majority of homeowners with mortgages have a rate below what they’d get if they moved right now. But if you’re a homeowner in that position, remember that mortgage rates aren’t the only thing to consider when making a move. Your mortgage rate is important, but there are plenty of reasons you may still need or want to move. RealTrends explains:

“Sellers who don’t have to move won’t be moving. The most common sellers will be: Homeowners downsizing . . . people moving to get more space, [households] looking for better schools…etc.”

So, if you’re on the fence about selling your house, consider the other reasons homeowners are choosing to make a move. A recent report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) breaks down why homeowners have decided to sell over the past year:

As the visual shows, the most commonly cited reasons for selling were the desire to move closer to loved ones, followed by moving due to retirement, and their neighborhood becoming less desirable. Additionally, the need for more space factored in, as did a change in household structure.

If you also nd yourself wanting a change in location or needing space your current house just can’t provide, it may be time to sell.

What you want and need in a home can be reason enough to move. To nd out what’s right for you, we will offer advice and expert guidance throughout the process. We will lay out all your options – giving you what you need to make a con dent decision.

Bottom Line

The Spring Market