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Friday, December 13, 2024
Vol. 84, No. 50
Town, Marines collect Toys for Tots
Business leader shares tips on healthy holiday eating BY RIKKI MASSAND
The Town of Oyster Bay, together with the United States Marine Corps, is collecting toys for the needy this holiday season. The Town of Oyster Bay joined the United States Marines Corps and presenting sponsor Optimum in hosting the largest ‘Cruise-Thru’ Toys for Tots Drive at John Burns Park in Massapequa on December 7 th which collected over 36,000 toys for the less fortunate. Sands New York donated $10,000 toward the cause. Town Supervisor Joseph Sal-
adino stated, “The thousands of toys collected at this Cruise-Thru Holiday Toy Drive will bring giant smiles to the faces of children this holiday season. I thank residents for opening their hearts and wallets to generously give back to less fortunate children this holiday. This collection drive truly demonstrated the love and compassion our community has for others.”
There is still time left to donate toys this holiday season. Collection boxes are located at Oyster Bay Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay; Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Rd., Massapequa; and at the Ice Skating Center at Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Ave., Bethpage. For more information, visit www.oysterbaytown.com.
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Healthy eating may not seem compatible with holiday festivities, but Tami Racaniello, vice president of the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, aims to change that. Ahead of the Chamber’s Holiday Lighting Spectacular on December 8 in Syosset, Racaniello shared practical advice for maintaining health while enjoying the season’s gatherings and treats. “At this time of the year carving out the time for self-care and trying to eat healthy can be difficult, and a lot of people will grab something on-the-go. It is important to know where your food is coming from and without a lot of the farmers’ markets open, fresh veggies can be a challenge. The further your food is travelling, the less nutrients it’s going to have,” Racaniello said. Racaniello, a dietary consultant known as the Wellness Unicorn, speaks from personal experience. Her journey to better health inspired her career, and her guidance has helped many across Long Island. On Friday, December 6th Racaniello was presented with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her longtime dedication as a community volunteer. The award is presented by The White House and AmeriCorps to individuals who have completed at least 4,000 hours of volunteer service in their lifetime. Racaniello has also been honored as the 2023 Syosset Woodbury Chamber Businessperson of the Year; the chairperson of the Syosset Street Fair organizing committee for the past two years, and as an MC and host for several Chamber events and meetings. In September at the Mid Island Y JCC in Plainview, she presented a mini workshop on Goal Setting. For the holidays, Racaniello begins by telling shoppers to do their homework and find any locally-sourced vegetables, preferably those in-season. One example she brought up is naval oranges usually sold at grocery stores in New York – the oranges are often from Peru, Chile, or other South American countries. When the options for fresh fruit or vegetables are slim, frozen produce could be a better selection. Those fruits and veggies are typically picked and immediately frozen, so they retain quality more than something that travelled too far. “Frozen veggies are also usually cut and ready to cook so See page 8
Lifesaving teacher honored by Board PAGE 5 Young minds learn financial basics PAGE 6