Girl Scouts Host Annual Holiday Light Show At Camp Edey

GIRL SCOUTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY OPENS ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW AT CAMP EDEY ON LONG ISLAND

Bayport, NY (Nov 29, 2024) - The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County “flipped the switch” on their annual Holiday Light Show at the Enchanted Forest here tonight, opening the four week show to the public. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine joined Girl Scouts of Suffolk County CEO Tammy Severino and a dozen Girl Scouts and their families for the festive countdown and walk through the display. 

The show returns to Camp Edey for the first time since 2016 with an immersive, half-mile walk-through experience, with dazzling, animated lighted displays, including the iconic giant lighted Christmas tree, with plenty of fun photo opportunities along the way. 

“I’ve been doing this since I was five years old,” said Olivia Philips, of Mastic, a 17-year-old  Ambassador Girl Scout. “Seeing the progression of the displays every year, alongside the favorites like the giant castle, is really like a family tradition.” 

More than two miles of extension cords and enough power for 25 single family homes brings the lights display to life, with every piece homemade by the team of skilled craftsman at the Girl Scouts campground. 

“The lights are really pretty and bring a warm feeling to your heart,” said Girl Scout Emma Mazzerella, of Patchogue. “Regardless of your holiday, everything is here, and it makes me really happy.” 

Additionally, five of the displays are the creation of Girl Scouts who won this year’s art contest. They submitted drawings that were transformed into giant light displays, including a multicolored daisy, a symbolic bridge, and a pair of racing cars. 

“The dollars that are raised from admission to the show will be used to provide programs and scholarships to girls who need support to participate in Girl Scouting,” said Tammy Severino, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.  

Santa is at the light display nightly as well, listening to kids’ Christmas wishes at the Cozy Lodge. Another area, The Chill Zone, features fire pits, music, and games to keep the holiday spirit alive, and the Girl Scout Shoppe will be open with festive goodies and Girl Scout merch for sale. 

The display is open Friday and Saturday nights through December 21. Tickets must be purchased in advance, here.  

 About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County 

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. Follow Girl Scouts of Suffolk County on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

TOS's Annual Children's Holiday Shopping The Tender Years Treasury

Town of Smithtown Recreation & Senior Citizens Department to Host; The Annual Children’s Holiday Shopping Experience, The Tender Years Treasury

Smithtown, N.Y. - The Town of Smithtown Recreation & Senior Citizens Departments will host its annual Tender Years Treasury, an independent holiday shopping experience for kids. On Saturday, December 7th, from 10AM to 1PM, children (grades K-5) can shop with a chaperone, and enjoy giving gifts to family & friends, without spoiling the surprise. Extra little shoppers may shop with parents and older siblings after 12:30PM. The Tender Years Treasury event showcases handmade gifts, all modestly priced at $5 and under. The independent kids shopping experience is held at the Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center. 

“This event gets better every year. Local, incredibly talented artists provide reasonably priced homemade gift items specifically for younger residents to afford, with allowance money. The kids enjoy the thrill of picking out something special for family and school friends, without ruining the surprise. In addition to the independent shopping area, the team at Smithtown Recreation & the Senior Citizens Department have set up a variety of activities such as cookie decorating, face painting, and a gift wrapping station! They put their hearts into this annual event together and it shows on the faces of everyone who attends. There’s even a relaxing waiting area for parents to kick back and enjoy some R & R while the kids shop and have fun. I love taking my grandkids to tender years. If you haven’t experienced it yet… I highly recommend you save the date and bring the little ones.” - Supervisor Ed Wehrheim 

In addition to a shopping area, entertainment includes face painting, cookie decorating, holiday crafts, balloon sculptures, and a free gift wrapping area. Additionally, guests can enter to win a homemade quilt, made by a very talented team of senior quilters. Adults can relax in a waiting area while kids independently shop for family and friends, supervised by a chaperone.  Additionally, children are encouraged to bring a letter to Santa Claus, with return address information to receive a letter from the North Pole in return. 

How it Works:

Children, grades K-5, may enter the shopping area from 10AM - 1PM, under the supervision of a chaperone (Smithtown Senior Center & Recreation Department staff or Student Volunteers) to make their own decisions on purchasing handcrafted gifts made by local artists. The gift items are all priced at five dollars and under. After 12:30PM, parents and/or older siblings will have the option of walking extra little shoppers around to shop. For more details, residents can call Smithtown Recreation at 631-360-7644.

Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center is located at 420 Middle Country Road, in Smithtown

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot At Nissequogue River State Park

Join the Thanksgiving family tradition to start your holiday off right!

Click here to register today and treat your family to a Thanksgiving they’ll never forget! .  We have lots of fun activities planned for the whole family. A DJ, free hot chocolate and coffee and food as well as balloon animals and face painting for the kids. Prizes for best Thanksgiving costumes and Nissy the Turkey will once again lead the 1k Fun Run for Kids! Check out our Facebook event page here. Thursday, Nov 28th   8:30am Fun Run for Kids 9:00am 5K Turkey Trot Nissequogue River State Park 799 St. Johnland Rd. Kings Park, NY 11754 Register soon to get your name printed on your bib and for your free tee shirt. Every participant will also receive free video and photo of their finish on the day of event.   Click here to register online To learn more about the Foundation and the park, please visit our website at;  www.ourstatepark.org. All proceeds from the race go towards the protection and cleanup of the park.  Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you on Thanksgiving!  NRSP Foundation

Thanksgiving Adopt-A-Family Food Drive Nov. 9th & 16th

Thanksgiving adopt-A-Family Food Drive November 9th & 16th - 10 am to 12 noon.

Smithtown Food Pantry. 90 Edgewater Avenue, Smithtown

Shredding And Prescription Drug Disposal Availalable At Library Nov. 2

Nesconset Building

Saturday, November 2, 2024

10:00am - 1:00pm

The Smithtown Library, Legislator Leslie Kennedy’s office and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office invite you to finish your fall decluttering in the Nesconset Building parking lot.  Storage Quarters will provide shredding of personal papers and documents, E-waste removal will be provided by E-Green Recycling and the Sheriff’s Office will be available for prescription drug disposal. 

Disclaimer(s)

No registration required.

Smithtown Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty

SMITHTOWN WOMAN CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA charged a Smithtown woman with animal cruelty for confining her six dogs inside an unsanitary and rotting old home.  Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, said that it’s detectives charged Lisa A Watt, 55, of Smithtown after a search warrant executed on a Kings Park home on Old Commack Road now deemed unfit for occupancy by code officials.  Six dogs were removed with the assistance of Smithtown Animal control officers from the conditions inside. The walls were covered in grime, filth with black discoloration and spiderwebs. A portion of the first floor dining room ceiling was collapsed into the room, the second floor bedroom had the roof collapsed into the floor where the sky was visible from indoors. The floor was bare wood with the finish scratched off in the traversable portions of the interior where urine and feces were permeated into the wood, the kitchen had four dogs confined to it with feces and urine strewn about and tiles discolored with the same. The air was noxious and the overwhelming odor of ammonia, rot, urine, and feces was so pungent that it caused officers to cough, gag, and not tolerate long periods of time inside the home. There was no running water or power accessible indoors. A seventh dog found decomposing inside will undergo forensic examination at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.  After a lengthy investigation charges have been filed. Watt was arrested by detectives on October 26, 2024 at 12:20 PM in Smithtown at a relatives home. She was charged with six counts of Animal Cruelty and six counts of Neglecting an Impounded Animal and later released from the Suffolk County Police Department Fourth Precinct after being processed by Suffolk County SPCA detectives. Watt is scheduled to appear before a Suffolk County Judge in First District Court in Central Islip on October 29, 2024. Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk County. If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at (631) 382-7722.  A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta Holds Annual Winter Coat Drive

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta Holds Annual Winter Coat Drive with SMM Advertising and RSVP

(Smithtown, NY)… For a number of years, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta has been coordinating with Smithtown based SMM Advertising and Retired Volunteer Services Programs (RSVP) to conduct a winter coat drive to benefit the residents of Suffolk County who are in need of warm winter clothing. They are collecting gently used or new coats, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and blankets for infants, children, teens and adult men and women.

“As people prepare for the winter and clean out their closets or plan to give a new coat as a gift, it is important for all of us to help our fellow neighbors who need warm coats by contributing to this drive,” said Legislator Rob Trotta. Donations of coats and other outerwear may be dropped off at Legislator Trotta’s district office, located 59 Landing Avenue, Suite 1, in Smithtown, from 9am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The coat drive ends January 7, 2025. For directions or questions, please call Legislator Trotta’s office at 631-854-3900.

Suffolk County Community College Hosts Fall Open House on Nov. 3

Suffolk County Community College Hosts Fall Open House on November 3, 2024

Selden, NY – September 23, 2024 – Faculty, administrators, staff and current students at Suffolk County Community College will welcome new and prospective students to open house on Sunday, November 3, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Open House will take place at all three of the college’s campuses in Riverhead, Selden and Brentwood, as well as its Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center in Riverhead.

College faculty and administrators will greet visitors and offer detailed information about Suffolk’s varied degree and certificate programs. Admissions staff will be available to help students and parents answer questions and complete the admissions process, and financial aid representatives will provide information about recent changes to FAFSA, as well as the grants and loan process. In addition, visitors will have an opportunity to learn about the numerous scholarships available for students enrolled at Suffolk.

The open house will also provide students with an opportunity to:

• meet faculty
• tour campuses
• learn about student organizations and clubs

Veterans should note that campus representatives will be available to provide educational and transitional services information.

“We look forward to welcoming students and their families as they learn about our academic programs and student support services,” said Joanne E. Braxton, Suffolk’s Dean of Enrollment Management, adding “Visitors will also have the opportunity to tour the campus with student guides who can answer questions.”

Students and their families are encouraged to RSVP by visiting this link: sunysuffolk.edu/OpenHouse

About Suffolk County Community College

Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling approximately 21,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood and Riverhead. Suffolk offers the Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), and Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees, as well as a variety of certificate programs. Offering affordable college tuition, a highly respected Honors program, workforce training programs, extensive extracurricular activities, championship athletic teams, and numerous transfer programs, Suffolk is a first-choice college for Long Island students. Visit us online at sunysuffolk.edu.

Registration For County's Online Real Property Auction Is Open

County Executive Romaine Announces 2024 Suffolk County Real Property Auction Online Auction to be Held on November 20, 2024

HAUPPAUGE, NY – Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine announced today the 2024 Suffolk County Real Property Auction will be held online on Wednesday, November 20, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Suffolk County Real Property Auction helps to relieve the tax burden for taxpayers and provides an unparalleled opportunity for individuals to become property owners in Suffolk County at a reasonable cost. 

“Suffolk County continues to explore opportunities to make this County more affordable for our residents,” said Romaine. “By embracing modern technology and creating more opportunities for its residents and taxpayers to potentially become homeowners through this online platform, we are taking another step towards achieving that goal.”  

The auction will be hosted online for the third time.  The format allows for greater participation, as those looking to purchase property do not need to be present. In prior years, individuals looking to purchase property were required to attend the in-person, 2-day live auction. Additionally, the online vendor-operated format maximizes County resources by allowing County employees to pursue their normal job functions and duties.  

Suffolk County selected the vendor Realauction.com, LLC in July 2024 to host the online auction. There is no cost to the County.  A $325 auction fee per property is paid by the winning bidder.  

Registration is open until Wednesday, November 13, 2024. To register, click here. 

The auction website hosts training webinars and provides information on how to register and navigate the online public auction. All properties are viewable online using GIS access on RealAuction.com and on Suffolk County’s website. Additionally, telephone help desk services are available both through the auction vendor RealAuction.com and through the Suffolk County 311 call center.   

Approximately 65 Parcels are available this year. For a full inventory of properties, click here.