February 4, 2026 West Islip by Long Island Media Group

South Bay's Neighbor

CANCER - The Babylon Junior-Senior High School girls basketball program joined forces with the girls basketball teams at West Islip High School in a unified show of support for the annual Section XI Coaches vs. Cancer “Score for a Cure” fundraising initiative. Both the junior varsity and varsity squads from Babylon participated in the event, donning specially designed shirts to honor loved ones and individuals impacted by cancer. Through this collaborative effort, Babylon and West Islip successfully raised $660 for the American Cancer Society. The effort illustrated how interscholastic athletics can bring schools together for a purpose that transcends competition. Photo courtesy of the Babylon Union Free School District

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.

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

Legislators Recognize Junior Fire Academy Graduates

On the morning of Sunday, January 11th, the Suffolk County Fire Academy hosted a graduation ceremony for participants of the 2025 Junior Basic Exterior Fire Operations Program!

The Junior Basic Exterior Fire Operations Program allows Junior Firefighters from across Suffolk County

to get a head start on their Firefighter 1 training, which is a requirement upon joining a Fire Department.

Suffolk County Legislators RJ Renna and Steve Flotteron were on hand for the occasion, which included graduates from their shared West Babylon Volunteer Fire Department.

Valentine’s Day brightens up the bleakness of the shortest and most wintry month of the year for the northern part of the globe. Businesses and homes are awash in pink and red each February, with heart-shaped decorations and boxes filling up store aisles. Sending heartfelt sentiments is a large part of celebrating Valentine’s Day, and most people cherish the day for the opportunity to bestow gifts on the ones they love.

The National Retail Federation says more than half of all consumers typically plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day. In 2025, $27.5 billion was spent on the holiday, with consumers continuing to prioritize gifting those closest to them. The NRF reports the top gift categories for Valentine’s Day are candy, flowers, greeting cards, an evening out, and jewelry. Here’s how to make these gifts more thoughtful and endearing.

Candy

Gift givers can select candy that is preferable to their loved one instead of choosing the first box of chocolate they find at the store. Perhaps the person you love likes confections from a boutique candy shop a few towns

The Legislators were particularly proud to recognize Junior Firefighters Michael Manzi and Dominick Newell! This was the second Junior Basic Exterior Fire Operations Program hosted by the Academy, and it featured 17 junior firefighters from across the Suffolk County.

Said Legislator Renna: “Entering the ranks with this training largely behind them enables them to become fully qualified firefighters soonermaking them even more of an asset to our community! It should be noted that Michael and Dominick completed this courseworth seven college credits - in addition to regular schoolwork, sports, and being active members of our Junior Brigade. Great work!”

Thoughtful Valentine’s gifts

over or has a hankering for candy from overseas? Mexico, for example, is known for its Dulce de Leche, while Halva is a dense, sweet treat from the Middle East. Choosing a special candy really sets the gift apart.

Flowers

Flowers are special gifts. Too often, people feel pressured to buy roses on

Valentine’s Day, even if this might not be a special someone’s preferred flower. Choose, instead, a flower that has particular meaning to the person or one that is known to be a favorite. Aster and Baby’s Breath are two blooms known for being symbols of love, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Greeting cards

A handmade card may express warmer sentiments than one picked up at the store, particularly since the former can be customized to the recipient. Include personalized sentiments, inside jokes or memories of time spent together. Craft and hobby stores offer plenty of supplies for paper crafting, so it’s possible to create a lovely greeting card with minimal effort.

A night out

A night out can be tailored to the interests of the couple celebrating. Book a dinner at a restaurant that was the scene of your first date; otherwise, stay in and watch a movie you each love.

Jewelry

Jewelry is a very personal gift. While it may seem like a great idea to surprise a special someone with a bracelet or earrings, if the style is off or the color wrong, the piece may not be worn. Rather, the surprise can be a trip to the jewelry store together to pick out something recipients wear all the time. Gifts that fit the interests, personality and memories of a couple can be especially meaningful on Valentine’s 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

1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda

1⁄4 teaspoon salt 1 cup granulated sugar

cup olive oil

eggs

tablespoon vanilla extract

tablespoons almond milk For rolling and coating:

cup granulated sugar (or colored sugar)

tablespoons cinnamon

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.

Islip Winter Senior Advocate Schedules

Suffolk Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park) is pleased to inform Islip residents about the local Suffolk County Office for the Aging Winter 2026 Senior Advocate Schedule. Senior advocates are County representatives who come out into the community and assist seniors with information gathering, completion of eligibility or recertification applications and referrals to appropriate community agencies.

“It is so important for us to provide our senior citizens with the assistance

and information they need in ways that are most convenient to them. These visits allow our seniors to connect with our County’s senior advocates right in their own communities,” said Legislator Donnelly. “I hope all those interested in the services that the Suffolk County Office for the Aging provides will take advantage of this opportunity.”

This winter, Senior Advocates will be visiting the following locations in the Town of Islip:

• Bay Shore Library,

1 S. Country Road,

Brightwaters: Friday, March 20, 10 am – 12 pm

• Bishop McGann Housing, 200 Bishop McGann Drive, Central Islip: Mondays, February 23 & March 30, 10 am – 12 pm

• Brentwood Senior Nutrition, 16 Second Avenue, Brentwood: Fridays, February 13 & March 13, 11:30 am –1:30 pm

• Connetquot Library, 760 Ocean Ave, Bohemia: Thursday, March 12, 10 am – 12 pm

• East Islip Library, 381 E. Main Street, East Islip: Monday, February 9, 10 am – 12 pm

• Islip Library, 71 Monell Avenue, Islip: Monday, March 9, 10 am – 12 pm

• St. Anne’s Gardens, 80100 2nd Avenue, Brentwood: Thursday, February 19, 8:30 am –12 pm

Advocates assist with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known

External Diploma Program

as food stamps), Medicare Savings Program and Heating Emergency Assistance Program (HEAP) applications. They also can provide information on Medicare, answer questions and make recommendations and referrals. For more information about available services or directions to any of these locations, please call the Suffolk County Office for the Aging at (631) 8538200.

“For more than three decades, the Suffolk County Office for the Aging has been providing full and trouble-free access to critical services,” Donnelly said. “I am glad to see their great professional community outreach program continue and hope that every senior resident will make full use of it.”

# # # Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly

represents the 17th Legislative District, which includes parts of Baywood, Deer Park, Dix Hills, Huntington, Melville, North Babylon, North Bay Shore and South Huntington. He is a member of the Budget & Finance, Fire, Rescue, EMS & Preparedness, Public Safety, Seniors & Human Services and Ways & Means committees of the Suffolk County Legislature.

Selling Your Home

(NAPSA)-When selling your home, view it as a potential buyer and make improvements accordingly. Consult with a real estate professional to see if improvements are good investments. To learn more, visit American Home Shield at www. firsthomeresources.com

The National External Diploma Program offers adults 21 and over, the opportunity to receive credit for their life experiences, and earn a high school equivalency diploma without the challenge of taking lengthy timed examinations. NEDP, is a competency based program for students who are unable to attend classes or who prefer to work at home. Successful candidates for NEDP include former ESL students, students who have been out of school for prolonged periods of time, or students who fare better without the structure of tests. This program is an alternative to other programs.

Anyone interested should call Western Suffolk BOCES to meet with a counselor. Call 667-6000, Ext. 327 to register.

Volunteering is a great way for individuals to strengthen their communities, but it also can be a unique way for individuals to improve their own overall happiness. A recent study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies examined 70,000 participants, each of whom received surveys that asked questions regarding their volunteering habits and mental health. The study found that, when compared to those who did not volunteer, people who had volunteered in the previous 12 months were more satisfied with their lives and gave their overall health higher ratings.

Home Heating And Cooling Efficiency

(NAPSI)—Improving your home’s heating and cooling efficiency can go a long way toward saving energy and money, and upgrading your HVAC to superefficient heat pump technology is one of the most effective ways to achieve this, say the experts at ENERGY STAR. Learn more at energystar. gov/homeupgrade.

New York State Park Police Open Applications For The New Year

The New York State Park Police recently opened applications for park police officers for the state park system which will be accepted until Feb. 18, 2026.

The New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation requires candidates to be at least 20 years of age at the time of hire and

must not have passed their 43rd birthday as of Oct. 1, 2026. Candidates are also asked to have education and experience including 60 college semester credit hours completed by June 30, 2026; military service; or municipal police training. Learn more at parks.ny.gov/about/parkpolice/park-policenew-

applicants.

“With updated guidelines and requirements, we are proud to welcome a new generation of park police candidates,” State Parks Acting Commissioner, Kathy Moser, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “Our park

police officers play a vital role in protecting the people, places and experiences that make our state park system so special. As visitation continues to grow, we are seeking dedicated individuals who are committed to public service and to ensuring our parks remain safe and welcoming for

everyone.”

New recruits will receive hands-on field work and classroom education in the following: criminal procedure law, penal law, vehicle and traffic law, park and recreation law, and criminal investigations. They’re also offered training in firearms, first response, snowmobile operation, ATV operation, emergency vehicle operation, along with many other law enforcement-related topics and skills.