South Bay's Neighbor
RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY-THE POUR AUTHORITY LI-Senator Rhoads joined the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce and Councilwoman Vicki Walsh for a ribbon-cutting celebration welcoming The Pour Authority LI, Long Island’s first self-pour beer garden, to the heart of Farmingdale. The opening of The Pour Authority LI represents continued economic growth and small business investment in Farmingdale, contributing to the village’s reputation as a thriving destination for dining, entertainment, and local entrepreneurship.
Introducing the most advanced, state-of-the-art health care experience the South Shore has ever seen. To
Here at Good Samaritan University Hospital, “better” isn’t a finish line. It’s a starting point. A new beginning. A symbol of transformation our community deserves. And while our Patient Care Pavilion will feature an all-new, expanded emergency department, technologically advanced operating rooms, reimagined private patient rooms, and enhanced Trauma and Stroke centers, we know that better care isn’t just about the building. It’s about the people inside, and the hands that heal. Because better is something we live every day. And it never stops.
Oyster Bay Town
Free Concerts At Local Libraries This February Enjoy the Sounds of Steely Dan, Swing, Big Band and more!
Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced today that the Distinguished Artists Concert Series will continue with free performances at local libraries throughout the Town.
“The Distinguished Artists Concert Series provides free musical and dance programs for the enjoyment of our residents,” said Supervisor Saladino. “I encourage
residents to take advantage of these wonderful performances offered by the Town for free at local libraries.”
Scheduled performances for February include:
Assemblyman Durso Announces Scholarship Opportunity
New York State
Assemblyman Michael Durso announced that the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators is now accepting applications for academic and athletic scholarships with an award amount of $3,000 each. Scholarships are available to residents of the 9th Assembly District who are current college students or high school seniors entering college. Applicants do not need to be of Italian American heritage to apply.
Students can access and
complete the application by visiting: https://www.nyiacsl. org/apply-for-scholarshipform
The application deadline is Monday, March 16, 2026.
“This is an excellent opportunity for high school seniors and college students in the 9th Assembly District who have worked hard, distinguished themselves from their peers and intend to pursue higher education,” said Assemblyman Durso.
“With college costs on the rise, these scholarships can help reduce the financial burden for so many young
people and their families. I encourage eligible students in my district to apply.”
The New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators is a bipartisan organization of state Assembly and Senate members who actively promote and celebrate the state’s Italian American community.
For additional information, or to inquire if the student lives in the 9th Assembly District, please call Assemblyman Durso’s office at 516-541-4598.
• Back on Bourbon Street on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the Jericho Public Library – Playing the best musical grooves of New Orleans from the 1950’s through today. You’ll hear the right-on sounds of Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Fats Domino & many more! Open to all. Free Tickets required. Two tickets per person. For more information, contact the library at (516) 9356790.
• Art Lillard & The Blue Heaven Swing Sextet on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the Massapequa Public Library – The group plays a variety of swing standards and no-sostandard swing and blues numbers, written by such luminaries as Count Basie, Duke
Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and Lester Young.
• Pure Joy with Paige Patterson on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the Hicksville Public Library – Musical therapy for the soul! A feel-good mix of bestloved songs from Sinatra to Santana, Bon Jovi to Broadway.
• The Little Big Band on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 4:00 pm at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library – The Little Big Band pays homage to the elegant and awe-inspiring bands of the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s, and beyond. Open to all. Free Tickets required. For more information, contact the library at (516) 938-0077.
The Distinguished Artists Concert Series is
sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts (CAPA) Division of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community & Youth Services. For the full concert schedule and further information, please call (516) 797-7900 or visit www. oysterbaytown.com/CAPA.
Volunteer Fire Service
(NAPSI)—Many fire departments are looking for volunteers to step up and serve their communities, reports the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the national association for the volunteer fire service. For more information about the volunteer fire service and to find an opportunity, visit www.MakeMeAFirefighter. com.
FEBRUARY HAPPENINGS
THURSDAY, FEB. 12th
10:00AM-2:00PM
AFA HEALTH SCREENING DAY
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is inviting Long Islanders to get free health screenings. The event takes place at the AFA Barbara Rabinowitz Education and Resource Center, 149 Schleigel Boulevard in Amityville. Open to the public and free of charge. First-come, first-served basis; no appointments required. For more information, contact the AFA Barbara Rabinowitz Education & Resource Center at 631-223-4000
FRIDAY, FEB. 13th, and SATURDAY, FEB. 14th Friday 7:30AM, Saturday 1:30PM
VALENTINE’S CABARET DINNER & SHOW
Celebrate St. James, in partnership with the director and cast of Lighthouse Repertory Theater, is presenting a special Valentine’s Cabaret fundraiser. The talented cast is generously donating their time and talent to support the restoration of the historic Calderone Theatre. Performances will be held at Celebrate St. James, located in the historic Calderone Theatre at 176 Second Street in St. James. All proceeds support ongoing theatre restoration efforts. For tickets and more information, please visit www. celebratestjames.org.
THURSDAY, FEB. 19th
10:00AM-12:00PM
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
WINTER BIRD WALK: FAMILY PROGRAM
2026 Robert Moses State Park in Babylon, Winter Environmental Event Winter on the beach is one of the best birding times of the year! Dress for the weather and we will be walking on sand. Bring binoculars. Reservations required: Visit Eventbrite.com and search #NatureEdventure. If you are unable to keep your reservation, please call or cancel so others may have the opportunity to attend.
SATURDAY, FEB. 21st
1:00PM–4:00pm HOLIDAY CHEER BUS AWARDS CEREMONY KiDS NEED MoRE will host its Holiday Cheer Bus Awards Ceremony to celebrate the volunteers, fundraisers, donors, sponsors, and community partners who made the holiday season possible. The event honors the “elves” behind the scenes who helped spread cheer to children and families across Long Island. Carney’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, 136 Broadway in Amityville. For more information, visit kidsneedmore.org.
7:00PM-11:00PM
DANCE TO THE OLDIES
Will be held at the Wade-Burns VFW 7279, 560 N. Delaware Avenue in Lindenhurst. Tickets $40.00 pp includes: Hero sandwich, Macaroni and Potato salad, Tap beer, House Wine, Soda, coffee, Tea, Dessert.
Music by DJ Ralph. Call Dot Kelly at 631-957-6574 for ticket availability. Must be 18 or older to attend.
SUNDAY, FEB. 22nd
1:30PM–3:00pm
BLACK EXPERIENCES IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR LECTURE
The New York State Parks’ Interpreter for African American History will present a special lecture program called “Black Experiences in the Revolutionary War” at Bethpage State Park’s Heritage Club in the Lenox Room. Reservations are required. To register, please visit Eventbrite.com and search by program title or #NatureEdventure. For questions, please call 631-581-1072
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25th
7:00PM
BOY BAND & POP DIVA MUSIC BINGO 317 Main Street in Farmingdale. All winners will receive a prize! Reserve your spot now and purchase your ticket! 21+ / Limited menu available during the event. For more information, please call 631-9214670
THRU SAT. FEB. 28th 11:00AM-4:00PM HIDDEN HEARTS SCAVENGER HUNT
At The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St. in Cold Spring Harbor. Find the hidden hearts and snag a prize! Free Event. For more information, please call 631-367-3418
Alzheimer’s Foundation, DA’s Office, Babylon Town Clerk To Host Senior Scam Prevention Program Feb. 25
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), Babylon Town Clerk Gerry Compitello, and Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney will host a free senior scam prevention program on Wednesday, February 25, at 10 a.m. at the AFA Barbara Rabinowitz Education
& Resource Center in Amityville.
The program, Preventing the Financial Exploitation of Seniors, will educate attendees on common scams, warning signs, steps to protect against fraud and identity theft, and how to respond if victimized. According to the FBI, seniors
lose an estimated $3 billion annually to scams, often because they are viewed as trusting and financially stable.
AFA President and CEO Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. praised the partnership for empowering seniors with knowledge and awareness. District Attorney Tierney and Town Clerk Compitello emphasized the importance of education in protecting seniors from increasingly sophisticated scams.
Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, call 631-223-4000.
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.
Councilman Hand Invites Residents
To
Apply For Picnic Permits Online
Oyster Bay Town Councilman Tom Hand announced that residents can apply for picnic permits at all Town parks with picnic facilities online by visiting www. oysterbaytown.com/picnic. Reservations are available for picnic space at Marjorie R. Post Community Park in Massapequa, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and Beach in Oyster Bay, Harry Tappen Beach and Marina in Glenwood Landing, SyossetWoodbury Community Park, and Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park.
“Our beautiful Town Parks are the perfect location for a family, school, or community group outing set in the great outdoors. Each location, from Roosevelt Beach in Oyster Bay to Marjorie Post Park in Massapequa, offers something unique
for residents to enjoy,” Councilman Hand said. “We’ve also streamlined the process for residents to apply for a picnic permit, helping to increase convenience and accessibility.”
Picnic Permits are required for groups of 25 or more at all Town of Oyster Bay picnic pavilion locations and include exclusive use of the permitted area from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the reservation date. Some locations are covered, have access to water, and permit barbequing.
To view picnic availability,
residents can visit www. oysterbaytown.com/picnic and filter their preferred date, facility, specific location, and features using the page menu. Those who don’t have a pre-existing account can create one on the same page and apply for the reservation. It is recommended that residents reserve their picnic pavilion early as spaces fill up quickly for the season. For more information on Town of Oyster Bay picnic permits, call (516) 797-4139.
Legislator Drucker, Students Spread Valentine’s Cheer To Local Seniors
For the fourth consecutive year, Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) is once again assembling his local troupe of crafty Cupids to bring joy to local seniors this Valentine’s Day.
It’s all part of the “From Your Heart to Our Seniors” project, in which youngsters create one-of-akind cards filled with warm greetings and messages of love and well-wishes. Any volunteer who wants to make a card is reminded that they must be legible in large prints; handwritten;
and made without glitter. Participants are encouraged to use lots of color and personal creative flourishes like photos, crosswords, and drawings. In the interest of ensuring universal appeal, religious messages should be avoided if possible.
Students from PlainviewOld Bethpage, Syosset, Woodbury, Jericho, Farmingdale and Hicksville schools are welcomed to participate; teachers are encouraged to contact Deputy Minority Leader Drucker’s office at 516571-6216 or adrucker@ nassaucountyny.gov for
details.
“It truly warms my heart to see the care and craftsmanship that local children put into the cards they make – and how those beautiful and uplifting greetings that put smiles on seniors’ faces wherever I have the privilege of delivering them,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker. “I can’t wait to see what our youngsters come up with this Valentine’s Day, and I am looking forward to this year’s program being bigger and better than ever!”
Photo courtesy of the Office of Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker
Did You Know?
Valentine’s Day celebrants who can’t wait for the arrival of February 14 each year may want to add India to their must-visit list of travel destinations. That’s because Valentine’s Day celebrations in India have now expanded into a weeklong festival sometimes referred to as “Valentine’s Week.” Each day of the week between February 7 and February 14 has its own unique designation. Those designations are as follows:
• February 7: Rose Day
• February 8: Propose Day
• February 9: Chocolate Day
• February 10: Teddy Day
• February 11: Promise Day
• February 12: Hug Day
• February 13: Kiss Day
Treat Your Valentine To Gluten-Free Sweets
Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to lavish love and attention on a special person in your life. Exchanging gifts, enjoying dinner out, and snuggling with your sweetheart are commonplace on this mid-February holiday devoted to love. It is equally common to enjoy a sweet dessert to cap off this romantic day. Food allergies and intolerances do not take a holiday when Valentine’s Day rolls around. For those who live gluten-free, finding a dessert that suits their diet might prove a tad challenging. Luckily, it is relatively easy to whip up a gluten-free dessert and ensure that Valentine’s treats can be enjoyed by all. This recipe for “Snickerdoodles” from “Cozy Kitchen Allergy-Friendly Cooking” (Umbrella Sky) by Jeanette Smerina is gluten, soy, and dairy-free, but certainly not free of delicious flavor. What’s fun about these cookies is that cooks can use colored sugar to customize them for any occasion. Use red and pink for Valentine’s Day.
DIRECTIONS:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low just to combine.
2. In a small bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until thickened.
3. Add the egg and sugar mixture to the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Then add the almond milk and blend once more.
4. Cover and chill dough for 30 minutes or more. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or use silicone baking mats.
5. In a shallow bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Scoop small balls of the cookie dough (about an inch in diameter) and roll in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place each ball 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. Repeat until all dough is used. The cookies will puff and enlarge while cooking.
6. Press down slightly on all cookie balls to flatten a bit. Bake cookies 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges of cookies are looking set up.
7. Cool cookies on racks. Store in covered containers for up to one week.
Snickerdoodles
Makes 25 to 30
2 1⁄2 cups gluten-free flour, 1-1 blend 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
rolling and coating:
4 Facts About St. Valentine
Saint Valentine is the patron saint of lovers and engaged and married couples. He also is the name behind the holiday that inspires images of red hearts and rose petals in the middle of February. Not much is actually known about St. Valentine because records are sparse. However, these facts have emerged.
• St. Valentine could be one of at least three individuals who were martyred. In fact, some believe there were about a dozen St. Valentines.
• Of course St. Valentine is known for presiding over lovers. However, he’s also the patron saint of epilepsy, watching over those who experience seizures associated with the disease.
• Visitors to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Rome can find the flower-adorned skull of St. Valentine on display. Other parts of St. Valentine’s skeleton are on display in the Czech Republic, England, France, and Ireland.
• Some people think Geoffrey Chaucer may have invented Valentine’s Day. In his “Parlement of Foules,” he speaks of a tradition of courtly love with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.
This association became more established after Chaucer’s poem had received widespread attention.
Classifieds
CHAPERONES WANTED
Black Experiences In The Revolutionary War Lecture At Bethpage State Park
New York State Parks celebrates America’s Semi-Quincentennial.
On Sunday, February 22nd, the New York State Parks’ Interpreter for African American History will present a special lecture program called “Black Experiences in the Revolutionary War”. The program will be held from 1:30 – 3:00pm at Bethpage State Park’s Heritage Club in the Lenox Room. Program Description: The Revolutionary War was more than battles. It was about people. Those saying no to England also said they did not want to be treated like slaves. Yet, many of them in New York, from the elite class down to tenant farmers were enslavers. Blacks became soldiers for both sides. Black women and children were both laborers and refugees. This program takes a look at the Black faces of the war, people who traditionally have been left out of the story. Presented by Lavada Nahon, Interpreter of African American.
Reservations are required. To register, please visit Eventbrite.com and search by program title or #NatureEdventure. For questions, please call (631) 581-1072.
Did You Know?
Parents who want to encourage their children to volunteer may find their efforts at doing so are more convincing if they volunteer themselves. A study published in the Journal of Adolescence examined the effects that parents who volunteer and talk about volunteering have on children. Researchers found that the children of volunteers were 27 percent more likely to volunteer than children whose parents did not volunteer. In addition, adolescents were 47 percent more likely to volunteer when their parents volunteered and talked about volunteering with their children.
