April 1, 2026 North Babylon by Long Island Media Group

South Bay's Neighbor

- The Town of Babylon officially celebrated Irish American Heritage Month with a proclamation ceremony on March 11, honoring the rich history, cultural legacy, and lasting contributions of Irish Americans to the community and the nation. As part of the month-long tribute, Town Hall’s iconic cupola was illuminated in green, serving as a proud symbol of Irish heritage and unity. Local officials and members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians joined together to recognize generations of Irish Americans whose values of faith, family, service, and resilience continue to shape the Town of Babylon.

From Rotary Phones To Pay Phones To Flip Phones To Smart Phones From FM Radio To Satellite Radio From 8 Track & Cassette To CD’s

From Schools, Organizations, Libraries And Local Businesses! From The First Color TV’s in the 1960’s To The First Flat Screens In The 1990’s From Cable TV In The 1980’s To The Streaming Services In The 2000’s

Through All These Changes, South Bay’s Neighbor Newspapers Has Been Proudly Publishing Since 1953 And Continues To Bring The Local Communities

Sharp Tax APRIL HAPPENINGS

MONTH OF APRIL

9:00AM-11:00AM

TUBER SALE

The Long Island Dahlia Society will hold a tuber sale at the Barn at the Bayard Cutting Arboritum during the month of April on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Various types available. Plant sale will start in May. Further information at LongIslandDahlia.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4th

3:00PM

CONCERT OF SACRED LENTEN MUSIC

A Journey through Lent featuring Kathryn Wilson, soprano soloist Saturday. Grace United Methodist Church, 515 S. Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst. For more information, please call 631-226-8690. A free-will offering will be taken.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4th

10:00AM-4:00PM

SUNDAY, APRIL 5th

9:00AM-2:00PM

EASTER PLANT SALE

The Seaford Fire Department will be hosting its annual Easter Plant Sale, at Seaford Fire Department headquarters on the corner of Waverly & Southard Avenues. A wide variety of plants and ﬂowers will be available for purchase (while supplies last). Come early for the best selection. Rain or shine.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11th

10:00am-1:00pm

FRIENDS OF THE LINDENHURST

MEMORIAL LIBRARY

BOOK AND JEWELRY SALE

A preview for current Friends of the Library from 9:00AM-10:00AM. Anyone may sign up for membership at the Sale to take advantage of early access. Located at One Lee Avenue,

MAKE A SUBMISSION! Events must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date and will run free of charge on a space available basis. For more information, please call 631.226.2636 x275 or send events to editorial@longislandmediagroup.com

Lindenhurst. For more information, please call 631-957-7755

10:00AM-4:00PM AMVETS LADIES AUXILIARY 18 CRAFT AND VENDOR FAIR

Hosted at AMVETS Post 18, 141 Carleton Avenue in East Islip. Free Admission, rafﬂes, 50/50, Cake sale. For more information, please call 631-277-9842 or 516-885-1410, GCM42@AOL.COM

11:30AM-1:00PM SPRING BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

The Spring Bereavement Support Group will start on Saturday April 11-June 13. Located at 210 South Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst. For more information, please call 631226-7725 x 200

SATURDAY, APRIL 11th

SUNDAY, APRIL 12th

12:00PM-4:00PM ST JAMES MODEL RAILROAD CLUB SPRING OPEN HOUSE

43 years in the making: Once again open to the public. This will be the last show until November. New Drive In Theater, City scene with operating roadway, Freight yard, LIPA Power plant, Working Fire Scene, Two Operating Subways, Lighted vehicles and much more! Train Show is located at 176 Mills Pond Road in St James. For further information call evenings 516-263-9607 or 631-543-8732w

TUESDAY, APRIL 14th

7:00PM

REPUBLIC AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING

7150 Republic Airport, Room 201 in Farmingdale. For information

call 631-752-7707 x6109 or email: contactus@republicairport.net

THURSDAY, APRIL 16th

7:00PM

THE BAY SHORE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING

At the Bay Shore - Brightwaters Public Library, 1 South Country Rd., in Brightwaters. The guest speaker will be Arthur Frischman, Long Island Sign Guy. The meeting is open to the public at no charge. Refreshments will be served. Learn more at: https:// www.bayshorehistoricalsociety.org/ programs-news

SUNDAY, APRIL 19th

10:00AM-4:30PM ALL KIDS FAIR

A full day of amazing exhibitors, activities and classes! At the Hilton Long Island/Huntington (AKA the Huntington Hilton) in Melville! Hilton Long Island/Huntington, 598 Broadhollow Rd, in Melville. Mostly inside but partially outside - including food trucks, petting zoo, and a few other surprises. For more information, visit https://www.allkidsfair.com/

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22nd

7:00PM-9:00PM

"THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND"

Author Bill Bleyer will discuss "The Battle of Long Island", Long Island's pivotal role in the American Revolution. Learn about the single-day engagement, the British occupation and the resilience of Long Islander's. The program is held at the Islip Public Library, 71 Monell Ave. in Islip. Free and open to the public. For more information, please call 631-559-2915, www. isliphamlethistory.org

How Reading Builds Young Children’s Vocabulary

A study from The Ohio State University found large differences in word exposure based on how often young children are read to. Children whose parents read them five books a day heard about 1.48 million words before kindergarten, compared with just over 4,600 words for children who were never read to. Even daily reading resulted in far fewer words than reading multiple books a day. Beyond vocabulary growth, reading supports children’s communication skills, empathy, literacy, and understanding of the world.

One study also noted the effects that reading to young children can have on the relationship between parent and child. That study, authored by researchers at the University of Wollongong in Australia and Boston University and published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, found that reading to young children supports a strong relationship between parent and child.

Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwords.

Local Author Denise Leary Inspires At Parkdale Civic Association Meeting

The Parkdale Civic Association welcomed a special guest at a recent meeting, as local author Denise Leary returned to her roots to share her story, her work, and her ongoing commitment to the community.

A lifelong resident of North Babylon, Leary

reflected on her upbringing and her time at North Babylon High School, where she graduated and first developed the values that would later shape both her career and her writing.

Leary is the author of the heartfelt book My Father Said I Love You, a deeply personal work that explores

family, resilience, and the lasting impact of a father’s love. Speaking to attendees, she shared what inspired her to write the book.

“This book came from my heart and from my life experiences,” said Leary. “I wanted to remind people how important it is to say ‘I love you’ and to cherish

those moments with family while we have them.”

Community members remained engaged throughout the evening, asking questions and sharing their own stories.

Leary spoke candidly about her journey, emphasizing how her upbringing in North Babylon and her continued involvement in the community have shaped both her perspective and her writing.

She also highlighted her long-standing commitment to community service and the many roles she has held over the years as an active and engaged resident.

“No matter where life takes you, this community stays with you,” Leary added. “Being able to come back and share my story here means everything to me.”

Parkdale Civic Association President Chris Oliva praised Leary’s visit and the impact it had on attendees.

“Denise’s story really resonated with everyone in the room,” said Oliva. “It’s always special to welcome someone who grew up here, stayed connected to the community, and is now giving back by sharing such a meaningful message.”

Leary’s appearance served as both an introduction to

her book and a celebration of local pride, reinforcing the strong sense of community that continues to define North Babylon. If you want, I can also tighten this further for a press release or add a headline/caption.

Parliament Place Hosts Authors And Illustrators Night

Parliament Place Elementary School in the North Babylon School District recently celebrated literacy with a special Authors and Illustrators Night, giving students the opportunity to connect with writers and storytellers both during the school day and at an evening event with their families. Prior to the event, visiting authors and illustrators met with students during special assemblies and classroom visits. During these sessions, the guests read from their books, answered

students’ questions and entertained them with engaging presentations.

Jessica Arteaga, a former teacher at the school, visited to share her books through an interactive puppet read-aloud with kindergarten through second grade students.

Author Antoinette Truglio Martin worked with fifth grade students in their classrooms, guiding them through a journaling experience designed to inspire creativity and storytelling.

Fourth grade students enjoyed a reading from

author Jason Edwards, while Joseph Licari entertained kindergarten through third grade students by playing guitar, singing and reading stories.

On the evening of March 12, families were invited to the school to meet the visiting authors

and illustrators, purchase signed copies of their books and celebrate the joy of reading together. The event provided a meaningful opportunity for students and families to connect the love of literacy with the authors who inspired them.

I look forward to connecting with you soon. Feel free to contact

Parliament Place Elementary School in the North Babylon School District hosted an Authors and Illustrators Night on March 12. Photos courtesy of North Babylon School District

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