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Friday, February 20, 2026
Vol. 86, No. 8
Town Valentines Day vow renewal ceremony
Syosset Woodbury Chamber hears about SJU workforce programs BY RIKKI MASSAND
Councilman Lou Imbroto, Councilwoman Laura Maier, Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato celebrated with over 100 residents at the Valentine’s Day Vow Renewal ceremony held at Town Hall. Members of the Town of Oyster Bay Board recently celebrated with more than 50 couples at a special Vow Renewal Ceremony held in celebration of Valentine’s Day at Town Hall. Co-sponsored by Raynham Hall Museum, the event featured a reading of America’s First Valentine, which was written on February 14, 1779 in Oyster Bay. “Valentine’s Day is such a special day for couples, and we are thrilled that so many residents chose to celebrate with us at this heartwarming ceremony at Town Hall,” said Supervisor Saladino. “This is
one of the most special events we run, and we appreciate that so many couples join us to reaffirm their commitment to being together forever.” The special vow renewal ceremony featured residents from throughout the Town of Oyster Bay, married from just one year to those celebrating more than 70 years of marriage. Supervisor Saladino and Town Clerk LaMarca presided over the vow renewals and ring pledge, and a Raynham Hall representative reenacted the reading of America’s first Valentine. See page 6
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The January meeting of the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, held at Fusion Academy in Woodbury, featured a presentation led by a duo representing St. John’s University – attorney and Professor Will Murphy, who ran for NYS Assembly in 2025, and Senior Director of Employer Relations James R. Lally. They discussed unique opportunities for Long Island businesses and entrepreneurs to engage with St. John’s academic programs and discover the large and growing pool of aspiring interns, including high-performing students who can become steady employees and assets in the local workforce. Lally and Murphy are professors at St. John’s Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies. Murphy is an assistant professor in the Division of Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and Homeland Security. “Over the past year I’ve had the opportunity to speak with a lot of our fellow chamber members about my day job as full-time St. John’s faculty. I’ve shared many details about educational opportunities for business owners, professionals and everyone that St. John’s offers. We’ve chatted about advanced degrees and certifications, and also for some members we discuss programs for college-bound children,” he told a room of about 50 Chamber members. Murphy said he
has also connected with colleagues in the legal field and is glad to serve as a mentor and bridge for several pre-law students. Lally, who grew up in Floral Park, shared a presentation centered on working relationships the university cultivates with New York’s metro-area employers. The collaborations include scheduling recruiting and branding events on the SJU campus, as well as creating digital content tailored to students and young professionals. He walked the chamber audience through the benefits of partnering with St. John’s and spoke about the marketing and branding opportunities available to Syosset and Woodbury’s local companies and professional services. Signature ‘Employer Events’ planned by St. John’s staff include career treks and employer visits; industry networking events; career and internship expos; on-campus recruiting; and ‘Employer Days,’ when a company can sponsor a breakfast or lunch, visit particular classes, conduct a skills workshop and even interview students they meet for jobs or internships. The spring 2026 lineup Lally discussed included “Meet the Firms” on February 12th – specifically for companies in Finance, Accounting, Consulting and Tech. Lally noted, “We also have a team See page 6
School Board recognizes students PAGE 4 'Beetlejuice' comes to middle school PAGE 7