November 16, 2022 West Babylon South

Red Ribbon Week

West Babylon Senior High School hosted an assembly with Stephen Hill, motivational speaker

shared

journey

recovery with students. Sharing his personal story,

treatment. Photo courtesy of West Babylon School District

THEN NOW

TOMORROW ALWAYS

We are Good Samaritan University Hospital

Here, “University” means so much more. For more than 25 years, we’ve been educating the next generation of physicians in the latest, most innovative medicine, all while providing the most advanced capabilities along with the most compassionate care. Now, our name reflects that commitment to Long Islanders today — and for generations to come.

Learn more at goodsamaritanuniversity.org LONG LIVE LONG

Babylon Rotary Club’s 75th Anniversary

Four West Babylon Student-Athletes Sign On To Play In College

BABYLON ROTARY CLUB’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY - On Wednesday, November 9th, Babylon Town Councilman Terence McSweeney attended the Babylon Rotary Club’s 75th anniversary. The Babylon Rotary Club led by President Kristen Morse has initiated and participated in many local, national, and international projects. The primary focus of this club has been helping alleviate hunger in our communities. Councilman McSweeney presented a plaque on behalf of Supervisor Schaffer and the rest of the Babylon Town Board. He spoke about the Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self” and how this club, in particular, inspires members to provide humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards, and promotes peace within our community and around the world.

STUDENT-ATHLETES SIGN ON TO PLAY IN COLLEGE - Alongside their coaches, family members and administrators, four student-athletes from West Babylon Senior High School put pen to paper on Nov. 9 as they signed national letters of intent to continue their respective sports in college. The district congratulates the following students: Lacey Downey, Boston College, lacrosse; Savana Lippe, Newberry College, field hockey; Anthony Raccomandato, Western Connecticut State University; and Riley Vergano, Tusculum University, lacrosse. Photo courtesy of West Babylon School District

The U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program is encouraging home-owners to find and fix leaks to save more than 10 percent on utility bills now and help save water for future generations. For more information and tips about how to save water, visit www.epa.gov/water sense.

STOP & SHOP’S TURKEY EXPRESS

PROGRAM - Paule Pachter, Chief Executive Officer of Long Island Cares (far left) and Randi Shubin Dresssner, President & CEO, of Island Harvest (2nd from left) took part in a charity shootout between the first and second period of Islanders- Flames game at the UBS Arena, as Stop & Shop donated one thousand Thanksgiving turkeys each to Long Island’s two food banks. Stop & Shop’s Stefanie Shuman (2nd from right) and Shanon Karafian (far right) looked on. The donation is part of Stop & Shop’s Turkey Express program, in which the Supermarket donated 25,000 Thanksgiving Turkeys to food banks across five states.

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 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.

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for November is Association for Mental Health and Wellness

As home to 72,000 military veterans, Suffolk County has more veterans than any of the other 61 counties in New York State. With Veterans Day occurring in November, this month is a fitting time to recognize local organizations that serve the veterans community, such as our Charity of the Month, the Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW).

MHAW offers a wide spectrum of assistance to Suffolk County veterans in respect to affordable housing, medical and mental health assistance, peer support, and other services. This column focuses on MHAW’s permanent housing for veterans with support services.

In October of 2021, MHAW celebrated the opening of three new homes, adding to their capacity to offer permanent residences for formerly homeless veterans. The three houses became available through Suffolk County’s “Housing Our Homeless Heroes Act” where abandoned properties are transferred to non-profit organizations that serve at-risk and homeless veterans. The initiative is funded through New York State’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s “Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.”

Ashanta Murray, a Navy veteran of eight years with three young children, is now living in one of the homes. “I was so proud to serve in the Navy – and to come home and try to find housing was such a struggle,” Ms. Murray said. “To serve your country and come home to face homelessness should never happen. This home for me and my children has been such a blessing.”

Aside from a new home, veterans receive such support services as employment and training opportunities, counseling, peer support, independent living skills training, linkage to primary healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, mental healthcare, childcare and other benefits.

The goal of this kind of permanent housing and support services is to prevent

chronic illness, promote a healthy and safe environment, promote wellbeing, prevent mental health and substance use disorders and to help veterans continue to live in their communities in a manner consistent with their abilities and goals. MHAW aims to purchase and rehab additional homes in the future.

“We owe our veterans deep gratitude and must ensure that they have the opportunity to thrive,” said Colleen Merlo, CEO of MHAW. “They cannot do that without safe and consistent housing. It is an honor to be part of this program.”

For several years, MHAW focused its attention on offering temporary housing for homeless veterans at a shelter in Yaphank. Through the efforts of MHAW along with community and government partners, Long Island has made significant strides in addressing homelessness among veterans in recent years. “We have reached a point where when a veteran is homeless, they do not remain homeless for very long,” said Ms. Merlo. “We are proud to have helped to support this trend through our affordable and permanent housing work as well as our focus on employment opportunities and support services to veterans and their families.”

If you are a veteran that is interested in MHAW’s services, please contact Marcelle Leis, the Director of Veteran Services, at 631-946-0147, or by email at mleis@mhaw. org.

Dignitaries and community leaders cut the ribbon on new permanent housing for veterans in Medford,

Ca ll Our Classifi ed Dept. 631-226-2636 Ext. 276

GET YOUR AD NOTICED! Ca ll Our Classifi ed Dept. 631-226-2636 Ext. 276

HAVE AN APARTMENT TO RENT? Place your ad in our Classifieds 631 -2 26- 2636 Ex t. 276

BUYING? SEL LING? RENT ING? Place your ad in the Classi fieds 631 -2 26-2636 Ext. 27 6

BUYING?

SELLING?

RENTING? Place your ad in the Classifieds 631 -2 26-2636, Ext. 276

West Babylon Public Library

211 Route 109 West Babylon (631) 669-5445 Fax: (631) 669-6539 www.wbpl.us Nancy Evans, Director ***

Registration dates are for WBPL cardholders. Non-residents may register 14 days prior to program. Please note: These programs are offered virtually through Zoom. Registrants must have an email address to attend programs.

SENIOR ADVOCATE Thursday, November 17, 10 am-12 pm IN PERSON A Suffolk County 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.

LET’S TALK ABOUT BOOKS

Thursday, November 17, 1:30-3:30 pm WBA40

IN PERSON

Join the West Babylon Literary Club to meet and discuss a novel. Copies of this month’s novel are available at the Circulation Desk upon registration or for download via Libby. This month’s book is The Rose Code by Kate

Quinn.

PUMPKIN PATCH TRAY November 17-22 WA120

VIRTUAL WITH KIT Join Shirley Ruby and learn to paint a group of colorful pumpkins on a large 17” wood tray with metal handles. Pretty to look at and so practical for serving up those Autumn treats. Video link will be available November 17-December 1. Nonrefundable/transferable materials fee: $5.

CASUAL CRAFTING

November 21-27 WBA117

TAKE HOME KIT Get crafty in your down time with these monthly kits for adults. Each kit comes with a small DIY craft to be completed at your leisure. Patrons will be contacted when kits are available for pick-up. One kit per library card. West Babylon Card holders only.

NO BAKE BOSTON CREAM DESSERT

November 22-28 WBA621

VIRTUAL WITH KIT Great if your oven is super busy cooking a turkey! Make the chocolate glaze and vanilla filling. Use graham crackers and layer these ingredients

into a dessert. Set in the fridge overnight to enjoy the next day. Join the Baking Coach and learn to make this yummy dessert! Baking kit and video link will be provided by the Library. Registrants will be contacted when baking kits are available for pick-up. Nonrefundable/transferable materials fee: $5.

EMPIRE DEFENSIVE DRIVING Saturday, November 26, 10 am-4 pm WBA300 IN PERSON

Attend this class and you may be eligible for an auto premium discount and reduction of violation points. A $35 non-refundable check or money order (NO CASH) payable to Empire Safety Council is due within 48hrs of sign up. Please be aware that space is limited, the payment is due within 48hrs of registration to keep your spot. One registration per Library Card.

DIY: CERAMIC OWL November 29-December 4 WBA122

TAKE HOME KIT Paint and design your own ceramic owl. West Babylon Card holders only. Registrants will be contacted when kits are available for pick-up.

Clothing

Needed For Long Island Children

3-4,

and

“We assist more than 2,500 children and their families each year by providing them clothing for children from newborn to size 12 as well as infant furniture at no cost,” says Pat Spencer of Port Washington. The “store” – staffed entirely by volunteers – lets families pick out the things they need, at no cost to them. Those interested in making contributions of clothing or gift cards, should call Ethical Friends of Children at 516-2805526 or email efoc@ehsli. org

Did You Know?

If you get a call from a government agency or other business asking for a payment, hang up. No one from a federal government agency will ask for money over the phone.

The 14th Annual Bethpage Turkey Drive For Island Harvest Food Bank To Help Thousands Of Long Islanders Serve A Thanksgiving Meal To Their Family

Now in its 14th year, the Bethpage Turkey Drive to benefit Island Harvest Food Bank will take place on Friday, November 18, 2022, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The annual drive, which kicks off the holiday food drive season on Long Island, will include a no-contact donation car drive-through which will enable community residents to remain in their cars while volunteers remove donations from the vehicles.

Long Islanders are asked to donate frozen turkeys, non-perishable food items, supermarket gift cards or monetary donations. These donations will go directly to Island Harvest, which will help supply Thanksgiving meals to the more than 300,000 foodinsecure Long Islanders through its distribution network of over 400 food pantries, soup kitchens,

and other feeding programs on Long Island. Non-perishable food items needed include canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices, and shelfstable milk (please, no glass containers).

The Bethpage Turkey Drive will take place at Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s headquarters located at 899 South Oyster Bay Road in Bethpage.

For those unable to make an on-site donation on November 18th, most Bethpage branch locations are accepting non-perishable food items from November 1 through November 18, 2022, with the exception of the Bay Shore King Kullen and Chelsea, NYC branches.

Or, if you would rather show your support online, Bethpage is accepting online monetary donations at https://bit.ly/3zDUzyu through November 30,

2022. Every gift of $35 will help support a holiday meal for your Long Island neighbors.

“Bethpage is a proud, longtime partner and supporter of Island Harvest and its mission to help end hunger on Long Island,” said Linda Armyn, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer. “I encourage everyone to join us this year by making a donation in whatever form and amount you can. With your help, we will make a difference.”

“So many of our neighbors on Long Island are a paycheck away from disaster, and record inflation and high grocery prices are putting additional burden on families struggling to put food on their tables,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO, Island Harvest. “Fortunately, we have a longtime, valued

partner in Bethpage Federal Credit Union helping us provide muchneeded supplemental food support to the most vulnerable among us. Their ongoing support and generosity are invaluable in our mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island.”

Patches will be given to all Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts who make a donation. Troop leaders can make a donation on behalf of troop members, and bring back patches for the entire troop.

Since the first Bethpage Turkey Drive was organized in 2009, hundreds of community volunteers have come out to assist in the collection of more than 42,000 turkeys and over 179,000 pounds of food, which were then given to Long Island families facing hardship in time for the holidays.

Island Harvest Food Bank has seen an increase in the requests for food and support services among the 400 community-based agencies it serves. About 70,000 individuals receive food assistance from the Island Harvest Food Bank network each week.

About Island Harvest Food Bank Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading human services organization

whose mission is to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. We accomplish this through innovative programs and services aimed at enhanced hunger awareness, shortterm case management, nutrition education, outreach and advocacy initiatives, a Workforce Skills Development Institute, our organic farm, and efficient food collection and distribution.

Our work directly supports children, families, seniors, and veterans who turn to us in times of crisis and when needed and supports a network of 300 community-based nonprofit organizations.

Island Harvest Food Bank is a member of Feeding America®, a nationwide network of food banks leading the effort to solve hunger in the U.S. To learn more, visit www. islandharvest.org.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a premier community financial institution committed to enriching the lives of its members, employees and the communities it serves for the past 80 years. Bethpage is the largest credit union in the Northeast Region, and the 15th largest in the nation.

As a not-for-profit

credit union, Bethpage is committed to its members and the communities it serves. In addition to giving back to its members in the form of great rates and low fees, the Bethpage Cares program invests heavily in local, high-impact community programs that serve with an eye towards creating better communities through diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Voted the Glass Door Top Place to Work for Small & Midsize companies, Bethpage is a federally chartered credit union, available to people nationwide who open a $5 dollar membership account. Bethpage offers a robust digital platform that allows members to bank from anywhere. Bethpage is a part of the national CO-OP network that gives members access to their accounts at over 30,000 free ATMs and 5,000+ shared branches across the U.S. As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers the bestin market rates, lowest fees and world-class service, plus a full menu of personal and commercial financial services. For more information on Bethpage’s robust portfolio of banking, borrowing, and investment services, visit www.lovebethpage.com or call 1-800- 628-7070.

Annual Thanksgiving & Christmas Open House Seasonal Shows!

Come join CENTRAL OPERATINGLINES LTD. as they Kick-Off their “Annual Thanksgiving & Christmas Holidays, Open House Train Shows!”

Saturday & Sunday, November 19th & 20th, and December 3rd & 4th, from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Open to the general

public and community.

Admission is free!

Raffled Prizes, 50/50, and more!

Come see the recent upgrades and ongoing changes to the layout!

There’s also a “LIONEL” INTERACTIVE ANIMATION layout for the children as well.

Contact Info:

centraloperatinglines@ gmail.com or please call (631) 563-0173.

Website: www. coltrains.com

Central Operating Lines Ltd. is located at 50-A Carlough Rd. in Bohemia, NY 11716

Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube.