BANNERS - Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Steve Labriola announce that the Town of Oyster Bay is now accepting applications for the 2026 Hometown Heroes Community Recognition Program. This cherished initiative honors the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces – both living and deceased – who are current or former residents of the Town of Oyster Bay. For more information or to download an application, visit www.oysterbaytown.com/herobanners or call (516) 797-4121.
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SUNDAY, DEC. 7th
FEBRUARY HAPPENINGS
THURSDAY, FEB. 5th
7:00PM
BLACK JAZZ ARTISTS TO BE CELEBRATED
Black History Month will be celebrated this year at The Jazz Loft with a special presentation by the Loft’s 17-piece Big Band. The program will feature compositions by Black composers, arrangers, and performers. The band is conducted by The Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel. For more information, visit https://www. thejazzloft.org or call 631-7511895
SATURDAY, FEB. 7th,
THRU SUNDAY, FEB. 8th
12:00PM-3:00PM ART FROM THE HEART
Eastern Suffolk BOCES presents Art from the Heart: An Artistic Journey, featuring artwork from the students of Sayville Elementary School and Brookhaven Learning Center, at the BAFFA Art Gallery. Reception on Sunday from 12:00 to 3:00. The BAFFA Art Gallery is located in the historic Gillette House at 47 Gillette Avenue in Sayville. For further information visit www.baffa.org.
MONDAY, FEB. 9th
7:00PM
SCAM PREVENTION SEMINAR
New York State Senator Steve Rhoads, Nassau County Legislators Tom McKevitt and Kayla Knight, and the Kiwanis Club of Levittown invite residents
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
to a scam awareness program featuring experts from the Nassau County Office of the Crime Victim Advocate, Family & Children’s Association, and the Nassau County Police Department. Topics include identifying new scams, how to report and recover from fraud, and ways to prevent identity theft. Be Safe, Not Sorry: Protect Yourself from Scams! Levittown Public Library, 1 Bluegrass Lane, Levittown. RSVP and information: Senator Rhoads’ office at 516-8820630 or rhoads@nysenate.gov
TUESDAY, FEB. 10th
7:00PM
REPUBLIC AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING
7150 Republic Airport, Room 201, in Farmingdale. For more information, please call 631-7527707 x6109 or email: contactus@ republicairport.net
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, firstserved basis; no appointments are required. For additional information, contact the AFA Barbara Rabinowitz Education &
Resource Center at 631-223-4000.
THURSDAY, FEB. 19th
10:00AM-12:00PM
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 are 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.
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 631-921-4670
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
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwords.
Hometown Heroes
Banner Recognition Applications
Now Available
Residents & Businesses Invited To Sponsor Hometown Hero Banners To Recognize Veterans And Active Duty Personnel
Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Steve Labriola announce that the Town of Oyster Bay is now accepting applications for the 2026 Hometown Heroes Community Recognition Program. This cherished initiative honors the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces – both living and deceased – who are current or former residents of the Town of Oyster Bay.
Councilman Labriola stated, “This Hometown Heroes Banner Recognition Program allows us to show our deep gratitude to the men and women who have put their lives on the line for our nation. Their courage and dedication deserve our
utmost respect, and this initiative provides a lasting tribute to their service. We are proud to bring this important initiative back to our communities.”
The program features banners bearing the honorees’ names, ranks, photographs, and areas of service. These banners will be displayed at selected park facilities throughout the Town of Oyster Bay in the months leading up to Veterans Day in November. To participate, individuals or organizations may sponsor a banner for $75, covering the production cost. No profit is made from this program.
After Veterans Day, the banners will be taken down to prevent damage from winter weather and returned
to the service member’s family or loved ones. Those who sponsored banners in the previous year must submit a new application to be included in the 2026 season. Applications are due by March 13, 2026.
Supervisor Saladino concluded, “This program is a meaningful way for our community to pay tribute to those who have bravely and selflessly served our nation. It is an honor to recognize their sacrifices and their continued contributions to our local communities through advocacy and leadership.”
For more information or to download an application, visit www.oysterbaytown. com/herobanners or call (516) 797-4121.
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
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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.
Town Councilman Steve Labriola
Saladino, LaMarca Invite Couples To Valentine’s Vow Renewal Ceremony Special Event To Feature Reenactment Of America’s First Valentine
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Town Clerk Richard LaMarca invite residents to renew their wedding vows at a special ceremony in recognition of Valentine’s Day, on Friday, February 13th, at Oyster Bay Town Hall. Co-sponsored by Raynham Hall Museum, the event will include a reading of America’s First Valentine, which was written on February 14, 1779 in Oyster Bay. The special ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. and will include light refreshments for all guests.
“Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year, and many couples celebrate their wedding anniversaries on this special day. We look forward to making this special day even better as couples renew their marriage vows and declare their endless love for one
another,” said Supervisor Saladino.
“Couples often select Valentine’s Day to celebrate their relationship,” added Town Clerk LaMarca. “It may be a sentimental choice for couples who had their first date, first kiss, or even engagement on Valentine’s Day. Whatever the reason, we are proud to offer this special vow renewal ceremony at Town Hall.”
The ceremony will take place at Oyster Bay Town Hall, 54 Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay hamlet. The event is offered free of charge to Town residents but reservations are required.
Residents interested in renewing their wedding vows should RSVP to (516) 624-6380 by February 9th.
The story of America’s first Valentine is a proud piece of Oyster Bay history which dates back to the time of the
Revolutionary War, as British troops occupied Long Island homes. During the height of the American Revolutionary War, love improbably
blossomed between Lt. Col Simcoe and a young patriot named Sally Townsend as the Townsend property served as a headquarters for
a regiment of 300 British troops. Lt. Col. Simcoe presented Sally with a poem he wrote asking her to be his Valentine, and his famous poem, entitled ‘Will You Be My Valentine,’ became the first documented written Valentine in America.
Lockhart’s Young Thespians Are Off To See The Wizard
Take a journey from Massapequa to Kansas to the Land of Oz as fourth and fifth graders from Lockhart Elementary School present “The Wizard of Oz.” The annual Spotlight musical production features 66 student-actors in a trio of shows on Feb. 11 and 12.
Lead actors include
Charlotte Wu as Dorothy, Emily Considine as the Scarecrow, Samil Saygili as the Tin Man, Vivian D’Alto as the Cowardly Lion and Emily Utkin as Toto. Jack D’Alto and Matthew Roth will alternate as the Wizard and Professor Marvel and Alex Brostoff and Lilianna Buckley will each take a
turn as Almira Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West. Sofia Katimisky portrays Glinda, the Good Witch.
The show will feature several well-known songs such as “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “We’re Off to See the
Wizard.” Director Kathleen Dyckman said the children are very excited about the show because many of them are familiar with “Wicked,” a “Wizard of Oz” prequel.
“It’s nice to do a classic,” Ms. Dyckman said. “The cast is working very hard and our dancers are incredible.”
Rehearsals have been taking place twice a week since October. Ms. Dyckman is supported by assistants Jacqueline Spinelli and Allison Virgilio, as well as student dance captains Valentina Blandino and Vivian Mirro. Theater students from Berner Middle School and
Massapequa High School are also helping out and several fourth and fifth graders not in the cast are working the stage crew. There will be a schoolday performance for Lockhart students on Feb. 11, followed by 4:30 and 7 p.m. shows for families on Feb. 12. Tickets are $10.
Councilwoman Laura Maier, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca, Supervisor Joe Saladino, Councilman Andrew Monteleone and Tax Receiver Jeff Pravato celebrate with over 100 couples at a Valentine’s Day Vow Renewal ceremony at Town Hall.
More than 60 fourth and fifth graders from Lockhart Elementary School will perform “The Wizard of Oz” on Feb. 11 and 12.
A Hot Breakfast For A Relaxed Weekend Mornings
A hot breakfast can be just what the doctor ordered on weekends. Weekday mornings might be too hectic to whip up a hot breakfast, but that’s often not the case come Saturday and Sunday. For those with time to cook breakfast over the weekend, this recipe for a “Peasant Omelet” from Lines+Angles is delicious and simple to prepare.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat the oil in a skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the chopped potatoes and saute until almost fork tender. Add the garlic and continue cooking until the potatoes are tender. Add ham and fresh parsley, stirring until heated through. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
2. Melt butter in an omelet pan or saute pan. Beat milk and eggs together. Pour egg mixture into the omelet pan. Cook over medium heat, gently move the eggs by sliding a spatula under the eggs, to promote even cooking. Cook until eggs are set.
Peasant Omelet
Makes 1 serving
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small potato, peeled and chopped into small pieces 1 clove minced garlic, peeled and minced 2 slices cooked ham, cut into bite-size pieces
2 teaspoons fresh parsley, finely chopped, plus extra for garnish
eggs
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 pickle, sliced lengthwise (optional)
3. Slide cooked omelet onto plate. Season with freshly ground black pepper and top with potato and ham mixture. Garnish with fresh parsley and sliced pickle. Serve immediately.
High School Seniors Impacted By Alzheimer’s Invited To Apply For AFA’s Teen Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is offering scholarships of up to $5,000 to college-bound high school seniors affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses as part of its annual Teen Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship. Entries can be submitted at www.alzfdn. org/scholarship and must be received by Sunday, March 1 at 5 pm ET.
Eligible teens are invited to apply for the scholarship by submitting an essay (1,500 words maximum) or submitting a video (no more than four minutes long) describing how Alzheimer’s disease has shaped their lives, what they have learned about themselves, their family and/or their community through their experience with Alzheimer’s, and how they plan to advocate or raise awareness in the future.
The contest recognizes the emotional, academic, and personal challenges young people often face when a loved one is living with the disease. By amplifying student voices, the program aims to raise awareness, foster empathy, and support the next generation as they pursue higher education while honoring the resilience shown by families affected by Alzheimer’s.
Examples of ways that Alzheimer’s impacted a student’s life can include:
· Having a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementiarelated illness
· Helping care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementiarelated illness
· Volunteering or working in a care setting that serves individuals with dementia
· Raising Alzheimer’s awareness in their school
or community
· Conducting Alzheimer’s research
The program is open to current high school seniors living in the United States who will be attending a U.S. college or university this Fall. Students already attending college are not eligible to participate.
The top prize awarded is a $5,000 scholarship. Additional prizes are awarded for runners up and honorable mentions.
More than $527,000 in college scholarships have been awarded since the program’s inception.
AFA provides these scholarship funds through the generous support of charitable donors. Individuals wishing to support this and other programs and services for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease can do so by visiting www.alzfdn. org/donate or calling AFA at 866-232-8484.
2026 Picnic Pavilion Reservations For Long Island State Parks
Are you interested in renting a picnic pavilion this summer at one of your Long Island State Parks? Reservations will open Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 9:00 AM EST on the New York State Parks Reserve America website or by calling 1-800-456-2267. There are no in-person reservations. All picnic pavilion reservations must be made online or by calling Reserve America directly.
Reservable picnic pavilions are located at the following Long Island State Parks for the 2026 season, with the following restrictions:
• Belmont Lake State Park, North Babylon
o No sound systems / DJ’s / amplified sound
o No buses on holidays Memorial Day to Labor Day
o No generators permitted
• Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale
o No electricity
• Heckscher State Park, East Islip
• Hempstead Lake State Park, West Hempstead
o No generators permitted
• Orient Beach State Park, Orient
o No buses on weekends
• Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park (Field # 4)
o No pony rides, inflatables, sound systems / DJ’s / amplified sound
• Valley Stream State Park, Valley Stream
o No sound systems / DJ’s / amplified sound
o No buses on weekends and holidays Memorial Day to Labor Day
After you have successfully reserved a pavilion, you can then apply for an add-on permit to enhance your reservation. Applications for add-on permits, which include sound system / DJ’s / amplified sound, pony rides, buses, inflatables, food trucks, or alcohol, can be found within the 2026 Group Picnic Application. Applications must be received at least 14 days prior to your reservation date.
For additional information, please call the Regional Permit Office at 631-321-3770. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 88 million visits annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.
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TO pl ace an ad in the CLASSIFIED se ctio n, call 631-226-2636, press “2”.
A sales representative will be happy to assist you.
TO pl ace an ad in the CLASSIFIED se ctio n, call 631-226-2636, press “2”.
A sales representative will be happy to assist you.
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A sales representative will be happy to assist you.
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, Syosset-Woodbury 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 preexisting 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.
Health Screenings
Health screenings are a vital component of preventative health care. Specific screenings for older adults can help them stay healthy. Healthline and WebMD recommend older adults schedule these routine tests. The frequency of the screenings may depend on individuals’ health histories, so each test should be discussed with a physician during adults’ annual checkups.
· Blood pressure check
Blood test to check cholesterol and triglyceride levels
· Colorectal cancer exam starting at age 50
Weight screening to check for gains or losses
· Prostate cancer screening for men age 70 and older
Breast exam and mammogram for women, starting at age 40
· Pap smear and HPV tests at recommended intervals advised by a doctor
· Hearing test
· Osteoporosis test
· Shingles and pneumococcal vaccines
· Eye exam
· Periodontal exam yearly
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