October 1, 2025 Farmingdale

South Bay's Neighbor

SENATOR STEVE RHOADS HONORS LOCAL TRAILBLAZERS

On September 18, State Senator Steve Rhoads celebrated the achievements of 17 remarkable women at his 3rd Annual Women of Distinction ceremony. The event recognized women whose leadership, dedication, and service have profoundly shaped the communities across his Senate district. Front Row: L-R (Sitting) Judith Bongiovi, Jennifer Brien, Janet Goller, Nina Lanci, Dr. Nancy Kaplan, Donna Rivera-Downey, Cheryl Dender, Susan Maher, Shashi Malik. Back Row: L-R (Standing) Senator Steve Rhoads, Laura Dupkin Memisha, Catherine Gabreski, Maryanne Hyland, Nanda Sundri, Farah Abidi, Deirdre Trumpy, Gina McGovern, Marie Testa, District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly

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On September 18, State Senator Steve Rhoads celebrated the achievements of 17 remarkable women at his 3rd Annual Women of Distinction ceremony, held at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library. The event recognized women whose leadership, dedication, and service have profoundly shaped the communities across his Senate district.

From the moment honorees entered the auditorium to the stirring sound of bagpipes, the energy in the room was electric. Attendees erupted into applause, signaling deep appreciation for the honorees’ contributions.

The ceremony opened with Girl Scout Troop 3009 from Judy Jacobs Parkway Elementary School leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Mairead Hill Hotz of Wantagh performing the National Anthem, and a welcoming prayer from

Senator Steve Rhoads Honors Local Trailblazers At 3rd Annual Women Of Distinction Ceremony

Reverend Iwy Patel-Yatri and Pastor Rosa Larios of Hicksville United Methodist Church, creating a sense of unity and reverence.

Entertainment added to the celebratory atmosphere, with a lively dance performance by Hollie Werner of 5678 Dance Studio in Levittown and a stirring piano performance by internationally awardwinning pianist Felicia Garramone of Levittown, showcasing the vibrant local arts community.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, a trailblazer in law and justice with more than three decades of experience, delivered the keynote address. Her words inspired the audience, emphasizing the importance of service, perseverance, and using one’s talents to strengthen the community.

Each honoree’s biography was read aloud, highlighting

their unique contributions— from volunteerism and advocacy to leadership in education, business, and the arts. Senator Rhoads personally presented the Women of Distinction awards, expressing heartfelt gratitude for their tireless efforts to improve the quality of life on Long Island.

In his remarks, Senator Rhoads said, “These extraordinary women show us every day that one person’s courage, vision, and dedication can transform a community. Their achievements inspire all of us to work harder, dream bigger, and leave a lasting mark on the world.”

The ceremony concluded with a warm reception, giving attendees the opportunity to connect, share stories, and celebrate the accomplishments of these outstanding women. Through this annual event, Senator Rhoads continues

to honor the achievements of community leaders while inspiring future generations to make a meaningful difference in their neighborhoods.

Honorees:

Susan Maher (Levittown)

Nanda Sundri (East Meadow)

Farah Abidi (East Meadow)

Judith Bongiovi (Seaford)

Janet Goller (Bellmore)

Nina Lanci (Bellmore)

Dr. Nancy Kaplan (Merrick)

Marie Testa (Merrick)

Shashi Malik (Wantagh) Deirdre Trumpy (Wantagh)

Laura Dupkin Memisha (Wantagh)

Donna Rivera-Downey (Hicksville)

Catherine Gabreski (Farmingdale)

Jennifer Biren (Old Bethpage)

Gina McGovern (Bethpage)

Cheryl Dender (Plainview)

Maryanne Hyland (Westbury)

Abidi, Deirdre Trumpy, Gina McGovern, Marie Testa, District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly

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OCTOBER HAPPENINGS

THURSDAY, OCT. 2nd

7:00PM

HILARIOUS HYPNOTIST SHOW

(Doors open 6:30) Includes Complimentary Brumide Bento Snack Box, Coffee/Tea, Dessert, Cash Bar & Raffles. No one embararssed or insulted. All ages welcome. For more information, please call Antonietta 631-617-7945 or Pat 631-922–0225. Constantino Brumidi Lodge (Sons & Daughters of Italy) 2075 Deer Park Ave. in Deer Park

SATURDAY, OCT. 4th

8:00AM-2:00PM

INDOOR MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE

GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Tables still available. Food, Thrift Shop, Antiques and more. 515 S. Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst. For more information, please call 631226-8690

1:30PM

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 210 S. Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst. Event is on Rectory Front Lawn (in case of inclement weather go to the school auditorium) All four or two legged pets and their owners are invited to the Annual Animal Blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assis Hospitality to follow. For more information call: 631-226-7725

2:00PM

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

The community is invited to bring their creatures, great and small, live or stuffed, to be blessed at the Farmingdale United Methodist

HOLIDAYS

13th - COLUMBUS DAY

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY 31st - HALLOWEEN

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

Church, 407 Main Street in Farmingdale. For more information please call 516 694-3424

MONDAY, OCT. 6th

4:00PM-7:00PM

VETERANS RESOURCE FAIR

Brookhaven Town and the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency are hosting the Second Annual Veterans Resource Fair at Brookhaven Town Hall, located at 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville. Do not miss this important opportunity to connect with organizations offering essential programs and services for veterans. For more information, please call the Department of General Services at 631-451-6331

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8th

12:00PM-4:00PM

SENIOR CITIZEN FALL FEST LUNCHEON

Join The New Serenaders at The Irish Coffee Pub for a Fall Fest Luncheon Party. Enjoy an afternoon of delicious food, drink, singing, and dancing fun. Included will be a 3-course meal with choice of entree, unlimited beer, wine, soda, dessert, coffee, tea, music, and more. The Irish Coffee Pub is located at 131 Carleton Ave. in East Islip. For more informaton, please call 631-2770007

THURSDAY, OCT. 9th

7:00PM

HISTORY OF WANTAGH

Tom Watson of the Wantagh Preservation Society will talk on the History of Wantagh. Seaford Historical Society, at the museum 3890 Waverly Ave. in Wantagh.

Residents Invited To Submit Photos For Town Publications

Oyster Bay Town Councilman Andrew Monteleone invites residents to submit photos taken in the Town of Oyster Bay to be considered for future use in Town publications.

“We accept photos year-round submitted by our residents which depict people, places, community events and scenery throughout our Town,” said Councilman Monteleone. “We accept photos for the calendar, as well as other Town publications, including our website, social media pages and brochures.”

For more information, please call Judy Bongiovi 516-783-8629

6:45PM-8:30PM

BOY SCOUT TROOP 1 INTEREST NIGHT

St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church 39 N. Carll Ave, Babylon Village. Are you a young man that is looking for adventure, personal challenge and community service? Come and meet the Scouts of Troop 1 Babylon and find out what we do to cover those goals. For more information, please call 631-290-1314

7:00PM

LINDENHURST HOMEMAKERS EVENING GROUP at the North Amityville Senior Center 48 Cedar Rd. in Amityville. (off of New Hwy.) Open to all, 18 years old & up. Meetings start at 7:00pm, new members should arrive 15 min. early. For more information, please call Lisa LeBrie 516-413-7467

SATURDAY, OCT. 11th

1:00PM-6:00PM

ANNUAL BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER

Division 2 of the AOH will be hosting its annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser, at the Irish Cultural Center in Babylon Village. This event supports two vital community organizations - the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition and the West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition - which provide direct assistance to local individuals and families affected by this devastating disease. For more information, call Ron Rice, Chairman, 631-335-7191, ronrice107@gmail. com, Lucinda Lauro-Rooney, CoChair, Lucindadiv2@gmail.com

Councilman Monteleone noted that photos should be taken within the confines of the Town

of Oyster Bay. Digital submissions are preferred, but high-quality photos may also be submitted. Emailed photos should be sent to photos@oysterbayny.gov. Printed photos can be submitted to the Town’s Public Information Office, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay NY 11771. Residents should make sure their name, address, phone number and brief description of the photo are included with their submission. The photographer is responsible for the correct spelling of the names and subjects in the photos, as well as notifying subjects they may appear in a Town publication.

Indoor Air Quality

(NAPSI)—Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a crucial aspect of overall health and well-being. Unbeknownst to homeowners, common pollutants lurk inside homes, affecting health in subtle yet significant ways. Learn more at www.NADCA.com/Homeowners.

LONG ISLAND MEDIA GROUP

SEAFOOD

2nd Annual Trail Of Truth March To The Sea Brings Powerful Visual Memorial To Long Island Families Braved Rain To

Place ‘Tombstones’ In The Sand To Expose The Ongoing Toll Of Fentanyl And The Opioid Epidemic

The rainy and dreary weather on Sunday, September 7 did not deter the more than 50 people who came out for the Second Annual Long Island Trail of Truth – March to the Sea. The shoreline at Robert Moses Beach, Field 5, was transformed into a striking memorial as grieving families from across Long Island carried handcrafted tombstones to the water’s edge. The Second Annual March to the Sea honored lives lost to substance-use related causes and confronts the deadly rise of fentanyl in the local drug supply.

The National Trail of Truth movement was established 10 years ago by Truth Pharm and Trail of Truth founder Alexis Pleus. Alexis also serves on a statewide coalition to End Overdose in NY and she’s the Co-chair for the New York State Harm Reduction Association. She serves on the National Coalition for Harm Reduction Funding and the Opioid Network.

Part public art installation, part healing ceremony, the Trail of

Truth pairs emotion with striking visuals. Participants walked together toward the surf, placing memorial tombstones in the sand against the backdrop of the iconic Fire Island Lighthouse. Each marker had the name and face of a loved one, revealing the staggering scope of loss hidden behind the statistics.

“This is a memorial arts project that memorializes loved ones lost to substance use issues,” said Mia Huese, of Truth Pharm, said. “For many people the making of the tombstones can be an outlet for their grief.”

The National Trail of Truth will take place in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 27. For more information visit: https://www.trailoftruth. org

Lori Carbonaro, who lost her son Nicholas in 2014, and organized the event, said “The March to the Sea is a safe, non-judgmental place to remember our loved ones, to say their names, to share who they were, who we knew...not

only what happened to them, they were more ...so much more. Hopefully by us being here it will be impactful enough to help those who are still suffering.”

Steve Chassman, Executive Director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug

Dependence (LICADD), said:

“As we remember those lost amid the devastating opioid epidemic, we walk along the shores of Long Island contemplating much needed improvements to public health, empathetic prevention strategies and

more universal access to quality treatment on demand. We remember those loved and lost but continue to voice our support of individuals and families who remain in the struggle of substance use disorder (SUD) in informing them that help is available, Narcan

is accessible and quality resources for treatment exist. These are the universal missions of The Trail of Truth, LICADD, GGT, FIST and all those lending a helping hand in service to others in need.”

For more information about LICADD, visit https://licadd.org

From The Desk Of Mayor Ralph Ekstrand

Upcoming Fall Farmingdale Village Community Events

Weekly Farmers Market by a Schneider’s Farm

- On the Village Green, Sundays, 10am-2pm, thru November 23, weather permitting (361 Main St)

Art Crawl by Colored Colors, along Main Street, downtown Farmingdale, Saturday: 10/4, 12 noon – 5 pm, free to attend, weather permitting Farmingdale Fire Department Annual Columbus Weekend Fair – weather permitting, free to attend (fee for rides, games, food)

Carnival – Rides, Games, Food Vendors: 10/10, 5-11 pm, 10/11 & 10/12, Noon – 11pm, 10/13, Noon – 7 pm. Plus Beer Garden & Live Music @ 7pm: 10/10

- Electric Dudes, 10/11

- Acoustic Overlook & 10/12 - Superbad. Magic

Beyond Imagination: 10/11 at 2pm & 10/12 at 3pm. (Municipal Lot #4behind the Firehouse, 361 Main St)

Street Fair by Craft-A-

Fair – 10/11 & 10/12, 10am – 4 pm (Main Street, downtown Farmingdale)

Parade – 10/12, 6pm - along Main Street, downtown Farmingdale

Farmingdale Halloween Parade & Fall Fun on the Village Green – Saturday October 25th, (1-4pm): Parade @ 1 pm followed by Free Family Fun on the Farmingdale Village Green, Pony Rodes, Petting Zoo, Candy for the kids, Costume Contest –event is 1-4pm & free to attend. All Ages – come in costume! Parade starts at the walkway next to Candy’s Jewelry (225 Main St) and proceeds on Main Street to the Village Green, 361 Main St, Rain Date 10/26. Sponsored by the Farmingdale Business Improvement District Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary Presentation by Bill Bleyer, Sunday

10/26, 2 pm @ Farmingdale Village Hall, 361 Main St, free to attend. Sponsored by the Farmingdale Village Cultural Arts Committee and Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society

Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Parade, Photos with Santa & Small Business Season Kick-off: Saturday November 22nd @ Noon

The parade features a Farmingdale Public School Marching Band, Dalererettes Kickline, Hardscrabble Girl Scouts in Holiday Costume & more! The parade kicks-off from Northside School and proceeds along Main Street to the Village Green (361 Main St), free to attend, rain or shine.

More details – call 516249-0093 (Village Hall), www.farmingdalevillage. com www.farmingdalebid. com

https://www.farmingdale nychamber.org/

Final Town Hazardous Material & Homeowners Cleanup Days In October

Free Paper Shredding Services Available During Homeowners Cleanup

Oyster Bay Town

Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Tom Hand announce the Town’s S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) and Homeowners Cleanup programs will hold their final drop-off days this October. Residents can drop off materials at the Old Bethpage Solid Waste Disposal Complex, located at 101 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road in Old Bethpage.

Homeowners Cleanup Day - Sunday, October 4th from 8:30am – 4pm: residents can bring nonhazardous waste only, including: air conditioners; all e-waste; campers; boats and boat trailers (proof of ownership requiredoil, gas, other fluids and batteries removed); clean, broken concrete; large metal items; propane tanks and propane torches; tires; and yard waste.

“The fall season often brings with it the cleaning of our yards and winter preparation, and many residents may have significant amounts of non-hazardous debris to

dispose,” said Councilman Hand. “Residents can bring items such as used tires, fence posts, clean broken concrete or yard waste to our Homeowners Cleanup, as well as unwanted documents to be disposed in a safe and secure manner through our free shredding services.”

Free Paper Shredding Services - Sunday, October 4th from 8:30am – 4pm: provides residents an opportunity to destroy unwanted documents in a safe and secure manner. Residents only, no businesses, can bring up to four bankers’ boxes of paper to the shredding program. Residents can bring up to four bankers’ boxes of paper for the Town’s paper shredding program, held during Homeowners Cleanup Day S.T.O.P. programSunday, October 18th from 9am – 4pm: collects various hazardous materials, including: asbestos material (double bagged); automobile batteries; automobile tires (with or without rims); brake and transmission fluids;

drain and oven cleaners; fire extinguishers; fares; fluorescent bulbs; gasoline; pesticides and insecticides; oil-based and latex paint; outdoor gas grill propane tanks; photo chemicals; rechargeable and button batteries; small aerosol cans; smoke detectors; solvents; spot removers; thermostats; waste motor oil and antifreeze; and wood preservatives.

“Improperly disposing of products such as waste oil, oven cleaner or paint thinner could contaminate your water supply,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Anything poured on the ground or put into cesspools, storm drains, or recharge systems can work its way down to the aquifer or our waterways.”

The Town’s S.T.O.P. and Homeowners programs are open to residents within the Town’s Solid Waste Disposal District. Proof of residency is required. For more information, including a full list of what is accepted at these programs, visit www. oysterbaytown.com/cleanup or call (516) 677-5848.

Free Musical Performances At Local Libraries For

Oyster Bay Town Councilman Tom Hand announced that the Distinguished Artists Concert Series will return this October 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 Councilman Hand. “I encourage residents to take advantage of these wonderful performances offered by the Town for free at local libraries.”

Scheduled performances for October and November include:

• Something Special Big Band on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the

October And November

Hicksville Public Library – “Swinging in the 21st Century!” One of the finest nostalgia/jazz swing bands in the New York-Tri-State area. 18-piece ensemble.

• 4 Ways From Sunday on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Bethpage Public Library – A lively program of time-tested classic hits from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.

• Tom Pappas & The Gavrieli Trio on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Massapequa Public Library – Performing American standards and jazz.

• Just Sixties on Sunday, November 2,

2025 at 2:00 pm at the Hicksville Public Library – A multi-media retrospective of the 1960’s with sing-a-longs and trivia questions.

• Gino Di Napoli on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Bethpage Public Library – Gino sings “O Sole Mio,” “Quando, Quando, Quando,” “My Way,” and many, many more!

• The Golden Tone Orchestra on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Farmingdale Public Library – 18 musicians who have been playing jazz and swing standards for more than six decades.

• Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks on

Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 1:00 pm at the Syosset Public Library – Local country, rockabilly legend Gene Casey and his musical entourage present a show of favorites and originals. Open to all. Free tickets required. Registration begins Oct. 22nd. Visit: https://syosset. librarycalendar.com/events/month and select the date of the concert and register.

• Savannah Sky on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Bethpage Public Library – Playing the best of classic country, western swing, folk-rock, and so much more!