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Vol. 76 no. 2
JAnUARY 8 - 14, 2026
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Blending fruit flavors into her own lip gloss of eating more fruit — and her conclusion was to promote lip gloss. “Not only did I like lip gloss,” Jessica Barnes launched her own line of fruit-flavored lip she said, “but so did a lot of the gloss, branded Jus Jess and other girls at my school.” Now, Jus Jess based in Uniondale, offers glosses in in the summer of more than two 2024 — an ambitious dozen fruit-inspired venture sparked by a flavors, includingdesire to encourage strawberry, mango, her fellow students watermelon, guava, at Lawrence Road passion fruit and Middle School to eat blueberry. As for the healthier. colors and glitter, During lunch Jessica recommendperiod at school, the ed using a color 12-year-old noticed based on the fruit that many classthe user chooses. A mates skipped the pink or red tone daily offerings of matches a strawberapples, oranges and ry or watermelon carrots and just gloss, while passion went straight for the fruit could be main meal — or just applied for an stuck to snacks. JeSSICA BARneS orange or yellow “I always took the Founder of Jus Jess hue. fruit, because I think products She has even that fruits are imporlaunched an aloe tant,” Jessica said. “I noticed a lot of kids just walked vera lip oil line, inspired by a past it and weren’t taking the friend’s suggestion during a car fruits. I wanted to change that, ride. It comes in a larger gloss but thought, ‘How can I change bottle, is popular among her classmates and can be used by that?’” She began brainstorming boys or men because it’s a ways to connect something stu- smooth moisturizer. All larger dents already liked with the idea
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
I
Steve Sachs/Herald photos
Welcoming the new year In keeping with its permanent exhibit, “Saltwater Stories,” the Long Island Children’s Museum hosted a sea-themed New Year’s Eve bash, inviting families to three countdown ball drops, starting at noon, as well as crafts and confetti-filled fun to “O-FISH-ally” ring in the new year before their bedtime. Above, kids jumped for joy as confetti rained down during one of the Times Square-style countdowns. At right, Francesca Donovan and her children celebrated with party props near the sock ice rink as they welcomed 2026. Story, more photos, Page 10.
noticed a lot of kids just walked past it and weren’t taking the fruits. I wanted to change that, but thought, ‘How can I change that?’
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