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Gratitude Game: Fourth Edition


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Gratitude Game: Third Edition

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Farmingdale new school pool

Farmingdale, Hicksville open new school pools with community access

With free open swimming sessions and low-cost lessons at new pools, Long Island school districts aim to provide important community access for all ages.

Catherine Russ is a retired teacher, but she’ll be in class in the Farmingdale School District this fall for another purpose …

…as a student of water aerobics at the district’s new Aquatic Center, which officially opened to the community and students in September.

The $17.1 million center includes two indoor pools: a competition pool — starting at 6 feet deep with eight lanes and a dive tank — and a community pool — a separate, 3.5 feet deep pool intended for classes.

The Aquatic Center replaces the indoor high school pool that was constructed in 1970 and is now more than 50 years old. The new center is built on land adjacent to the Howitt Middle School.

Because it’s a separate building from the school, it can offer swim classes, parent-and-me classes, water aerobics and free open swim to district residents during the day, says Paul Defendini, district superintendent.

Residents will have first dibs on recreational classes, which will entail a nominal fee, and then they will be open to others for a higher price, he says.

The Hicksville School District also recently opened an aquatic center to the public with just one competition pool that starts at four feet deep, says Matthew Calarco, center director. While its center began hosting the district’s competitive swim teams when it opened in August 2021, due to COVID, the facility opened to the general public this summer.

A school district pool that’s open to the public can provide communities with the opportunity for its young children to learn to swim, for its senior citizens to do laps when other exercises may be too tough on the body, and for its school-age students from local organizations as well as from the high school to compete, Calarco says.

“The town of Hicksville does not have a community pool. This is our public pool,” Calarco says.

The pool is adjacent to the high school; the football field and bleachers can be seen through the building’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows. “It’s a gorgeous facility … Because the pool is so new, we’re developing programs as we go along,” he says.

Currently, both Farmingdale and Hicksville are open Monday through Friday. Hicksville is also open on Saturday for CYO and interscholastic swim programs and plans to start a “learn to swim” program.

Hicksville plans to be open 12 months a year; Farmingdale has yet to make that decision.

Kevin Jensen, 68, of Hicksville, just started swimming laps while the Hicksville pool is open to district residents 50 years and older for free between 8 and 10 a.m. on designated weekdays. Free lap swimming for any age district resident is from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays. 

“I just think it’s fantastic for the school district to do this for its residents,” Jensen says.

During the summer he can swim in various public outdoor pools, but the winter is a challenge, he says. “I have to struggle to find a place to swim indoors without paying a lot of money,” he says.

This is the Hicksville School District’s first pool; as soon as the district can find lifeguards who are available during the school day, it plans to add physical education classes in its grades K to 12 curriculum that might include swim lessons, water basketball and water polo, kayaking and paddleboarding, Calarco says.

At Farmingdale, ninth graders are already required to take a 10-week swim class at the high school’s pool, which has not yet officially closed; that requirement will continue but be moved to the new facility next school year.

SWIM TEAM IMPRESSED

Other school districts on Long Island have pools as well – Long Beach, Hewlett-Woodmere, Jericho, Half Hollow Hills, Westbury and West Islip, for instance – but those pools aren’t open to the public during the school day because they are in school buildings.

They are used primarily for the school swim teams, though some public classes may also be offered in the evenings.

That used to be the restriction at Farmingdale as well, when the pool was in the high school, because community members couldn’t enter during the academic periods, Defendini says.

The school girls’ and boys’ swim teams will practice and compete at the new venue – their Varsity Girls’ first meet there, against Long Beach High School, was on ribbon-cutting day. Other team members marveled at the new facility.

“It’s really big. It’s really nice,” says senior Jackson Vignona, 17, who has been on the swim team all through high school. “It still doesn’t feel like it’s ours.”

LESSONS SAVE LIVES

Ed Castigan, 66, is a Farmingdale resident, was a member of the first Farmingdale High Varsity swim team and has been a lifeguard at Jones Beach for 47 years. He applauds the opportunity for community members to take swimming lessons at school district aquatic centers.

“Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death among toddlers,” Castigan says. “We’re surrounded by water on Long Island. When you can swim, you can save a life, and that’s the most important thing you could do for anybody.”

Castigan says swimming at Farmingdale High School “changed my life and opened a lot of doors in my life.” He earned a full tuition college scholarship to swim for York College in Pennsylvania.

Paulana Lamonier, of Uniondale, founder of the group Black People Will Swim, echoes Castigan, saying swimming is a life skill that all people need, and pointing out that Black children are three to four times more likely than white children to drown.

“It is important that they are creating a space where African American people can participate in these lessons,” she says. “We’re hoping to get those drowning numbers as close to zero as possible.”

In Farmingdale, the new facility won’t just benefit people in the water; because it is just blocks from downtown Farmingdale, it will be good for local business owners as well, says Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand, who is also on the Chamber of Commerce Board and manages Moby Drugs on Main Street.

The Aquatic Center was built as part of a $36 million bond approved by voters in 2016 that also included various other sports fields and stadiums in the district. The Farmingdale pool was one of the oldest in a Long Island School District.

“It met the basic needs for our swim team for the past 50 years,” Defendini says. “Eventually something was going to go wrong with it and we wouldn’t be able to bring it back.”

West Islip High School’s pool is even older than Farmingdale’s, says Paul Romanelli, school superintendent. It opened in 1957; the school has a league and county championship swimming banner from as early as 1962, he says.

“Not only can we build on our instructional program for students, we can also involve many community groups as well,” he says of having a district pool for generations. “And of course the fact that we have such a close proximity to the ocean, it’s really beneficial for our students just to be able to build on their level of being swimmers as well and improve safety for them when they’re out in the ocean and pools within the community.”

Writer and reporter: Beth Whitehouse

Editor: Meghan Giannotta

Digital development: James Stewart and Mark Levitas

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Young Entrepreneurs — Boutiques

These Long Island entrepreneurs in their 20s were bitten by fashion and style bugs early, including a former NFL hopeful and physical therapist who pivoted to designer, one who opened her women’s clothing store when she was just a teenager and another who now owns a shop she used to work for.

Malik Morris, 27

Owner of Malik Dupri, Roosevelt Field Mall

“Whatever idea you have, start it and stop wasting time.”

Malik Morris

His pursuits of physical therapy and football careers got sidelined, but when Morris created his own fashion brand, he upped his game.

Morris, who now owns the Malik Dupri unisex fashions store at Roosevelt Field, says music artists such as Rick Ross, Ciara, Young M.A and Chinese Kitty have worn his sunglasses.

“I look up to Daymond John and P. Diddy as they made their mark on the fashion industry with stylish, simple but luxurious everyday fashion,” says Morris, of Elmont. “My store is a vibe. It’s a mix between luxury and urban streetwear.”

Morris graduated from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park and received a doctorate in physical therapy from Ithaca College. His big dream was to play for the NFL, but he decided instead to focus on getting his doctorate. After receiving that degree in 2018, he worked as a physical therapist until he was furloughed in March 2020 due to COVID.

Always ready to pivot, what Morris had learned in a 10th-grade computer graphic design class helped take him in a different direction. “I didn’t know how useful that would be until, seven years later, I helped to start a clothing line called Savage Ruthless in college,” Morris says of the design course. “Besides that, I didn’t have any formal design training or real fashion experience.”

Morris later created the Malik Dupri brand (Dupri is his middle name). He sold his designs from the basement of his parents’ house at first, then shifted to online sales, and in November 2020, opened a sunglass kiosk at Roosevelt Field. He moved into a 1,200-square-foot store space at the mall in June 2021.

To fund his brand, Morris applied for business credit through Chase, and he says his parents have been supportive. He wants to eventually see stores like Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom selling Malik Dupri.

Asked if it’s challenging to keep up with the rent you’re charged for having a store in a top mall, Morris says, it can be. “I have a lot of expenses between store rent, payroll and other expenses,” Morris says, but, “at the end of the day, you’re also paying for some guaranteed foot traffic.”

Morris also has the distinction of being one of the youngest owners in the mall, per Roosevelt Field’s marketing team.

Roosevelt Field Mall, 630 Old Country Rd., Garden City; 516-742-8000; malikdupri.com

— Lisa Irizarry

Ahmed Khalil, 22, and Mohammed Saleh, 23

Owners of Selected Hype, Smith Haven Mall

“You miss out on the opportunity if you do not take the chance.”

Ahmed Khalil

Khalil’s love for sneakers snuck up on him before he was a teenager. He co-owns the Selected Hype sneakers and unisex streetwear store at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove with his friend, Saleh, of East Brunswick.

“The concept of the store is buy, sell, trade,” Khalil, of Ridge, explains. “People can bring in their brand new or slightly used sneakers to sell, or trade up towards something else they might like at the store.”

Originally from Piscataway, New Jersey, Khalil says he can identify with people needing options when they want to purchase the sneakers they like. “I have been obsessed with sneakers and streetwear for years now,” Khalil says. But while growing up, he couldn’t afford those he wanted so he got a job at a sneaker store to make that happen. “I would have fellow employees help me get some of the new releases with their discount. I would sell the limited release sneakers for a profit and the profit would then pay for the pair I wanted to keep.”

Khalil, who went to New Jersey’s Rutgers University where he majored in economics and minored in business administration, later amassed sneakers for a personal collection of nearly 50 pairs ranging from Jordans to Yeezys to Nike Dunks and New Balances.

“After a certain amount of time, sneaker brands like Jordan tend to re-release older sneakers, so all of the sneakers that were released when I was in middle school started releasing,” Khalil says. “I would grab them for nostalgia purposes and that is how my collection started.” He adds, “My obsession started in 2010, when I was only 11 years old, but I actually didn’t get my first sneakers until I was 17 years old.”

Selected Hype opened in October 2021, with prices ranging from $100 to more than $7,000.

Khalil says his goal for the future is to have multiple stores and develop the brand into an “experience” that goes beyond sneakers and streetwear.

313 Smith Haven Mall; 516-732-5909

— Lisa Irizarry

Carissa Cillis, 29

Owner of What A Girl Wants, Wantagh

“Do not give up. When you feel your lowest is when you need to work your hardest.”

Carissa Cillis

Cillis says she’s loved shopping ever since she was old enough to walk a mall by herself, and by the time she was in her early 20s, she already owned her own clothing store.

At What A Girl Wants, she sells everything from clothing and accessories for women and teens to plush toys for children and items for the home.Cillis took over ownership of the store when she was 21 – she started thinking of a possible career in fashion while a student at Seaford High School.

“I knew I was very interested when I decided to take summer classes at FIT in 10th grade that were offered to high school students,” Cillis, of Seaford, says. “I took a summer class again the following year at LIM because at that point I only wanted to attend one of the two colleges. I thought, ‘Why study fashion any place other than New York City?’”

Like the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), LIM College prepares students for fashion careers. Cillis also went to Barry Tech BOCES in 11th and 12th grade, “so half my day was spent there,” Cillis says.

Her preparations for a job in fashion paid off — sooner than expected and in an unexpected way. “Owning a business was never really in the spectrum for me,” Cillis says. “I was ready to pursue a career in corporate America.” She adds, “To be honest it seemed impossible to get there in my mind, but the opportunity fell into my lap and it was fate.”

Cillis had started working at What A Girl Wants as a salesperson when she was 18 and she asked her boss if she could attend a trade show with her. While in the car with her boss, Cillis told her that her father had jokingly said to ask her boss if she wanted a partner. Cillis’ boss confided that she was actually quietly planning to sell the business but she didn’t want to sell it to just anyone. Three years after she started working there Cillis owned the store.

1188 Wantagh Ave.; 516-809-9270; whatagirlwantsli.com

— Lisa Irizarry

Jasmine Richards, 28

Co-owner of Anoz Spa Boutique, Garden City

“Start small. Get your sea legs and work out the kinks for when you blow up.”

Jasmine Richards

Not a lot of people can say they’ve loved going to a spa since childhood, but Jasmine Richards can. The Uniondale resident helped run a spa as a preteen.

Today, Richards co-owns Anoz Spa Boutique with her mother, Sharon Webb-Richards of Queens Village; and it was through her mother and other women in her family that Richards learned how to run a business. Being a female entrepreneur was tradition. Her aunt owns the upscale Negril Village restaurant in Manhattan.

The only job Richards ever had besides working at a spa was a brief stint at Trader Joe’s when her mother closed her spa in Commack. Another spa Richards’ mother owned was Lux Spa and Wellness in Garden City, which opened when Richards was 19. Her mother’s friend had rented a space for her physical therapy practice and asked Richard’s mother if she’d like to share the site and start a business there too.

“My mother said she would only do it if we did it together,” Richards says. “I was good at marketing and we were there about a year,” then the pair moved to a larger space when that spa did so well they needed a larger location. A graduate of Bay Shore High School, Richards attended SUNY Old Westbury and The Swedish Institute for Massage Therapy in Manhattan but dropped out of SUNY because, “It was too much to run a business and be in college.”

The mother/daughter team opened Anoz nearly five years ago, with the name being that of Richard’s late grandmother, Zona, spelled backward. Referring to her Jamaican heritage and the relaxed, tropical atmosphere of Anoz, Richards says, “We wanted to bring that vibe and that of a vacation.”

Richards does a bit of everything there.

“I do all the marketing, Instagram … I did the logo, made the reception desk from scratch, and laid the floors,” Richards says. “It’s my Jamaicanness — doing everything.”

8025 Jericho Turnpike; 516-802-7837; penelopefashions.com

— Lisa Irizarry

Luca Williams, 16

Owner of Moonshot Emporium, Sea Cliff

“A lot of people just scoff at the idea, but you really just have to go with it. It’s really not impossible.”

Luca Williams

After a few months of selling items at flea markets and record conventions, Williams, an 11th grader at Portledge School in Locust Valley, made the bold move to open his own brick-and-mortar, Moonshot Emporium, in 2020.

Williams says he got tired of “peddling around crates of records and setting up tables and everything” at these pop ups, calling it “unpleasant” at times. He saw the potential in the vinyl record biz: “I thought it was an easy market. With COVID, it was so obvious that the market was really gong to explode compared to when I got my first record” in 2017-18. “It was still somewhat of a niche thing, but now records are everywhere.”

His store is divided into two sections: Superior Records (where Williams sells his records) and Crazy Lady Vintage (friend Lisa Leonardi’s vintage clothing company).

While Williams is at school, his mother helps operate the business, which is, technically, his first real job. When he is working, though, most of his time is spent “pricing records and getting them into the store.”

When the time comes, Williams plans on attending college and possibly studying literature, he says.

316 Sea Cliff Ave; 516-806-2500

— Joann Vaglica

Jordan Krauss, 23

Owner of Love and Honey Boutique, East Meadow

“Confidence is key. You must believe within yourself that you can be something great alone.”

Jordan Krauss

Krauss realized early on that school just wasn’t for her, but owning her own clothing store certainly was. When the West Islip resident was just 19 years old, she opened Love and Honey Boutique.

Krauss, of West Islip, graduated from Commack High School and went to Suffolk County Community College, but she quit college after the first year and started working full-time as a retail sales associate in a women’s fashion store.

Fashion had been her true passion for as long as Krauss can remember. Growing up, her father would take her to his Greenvale shoe warehouse on Sundays and it was the highlight of her week. Her aunt attended Parsons School of Design, and at first Krauss wanted to follow in her footsteps.

Krauss says fashion was an outlet for being “authentically myself.” Her store carries clothing for women and teens.

She adds, “When I decided that I wanted to open a store I knew succeeding was the only option. I knew I would never go back to school; it wasn’t for me.”

And being her own boss was important, Krauss notes.

“I wanted to work for myself to feel free – to succeed and prove to myself that I could accomplish my wildest dream solo,” Krauss says. “I think so many millennials should know if I can do it, you can too. With so many resources at our fingertips, and social media to aid the growth of a business, you can succeed alone at any age.”

Love and Honey has become her “baby,” Krauss says, and she’s got big plans for her baby’s growth.

“I’m going to raise her to be a prosperous, self-sufficient empire,” Krauss says. “I dream of warehouses with hundreds of workers, my own design team and much more.” She adds, “This is certainly just the beginning for me.”

2332A Hempstead Turnpike; 516-342-6847; loveandhoneyboutique.com

— Lisa Irizarry

Gabrielle Banschick, 29

Owner of Penelope, Woodbury

“Be willing to put in the work. You can’t be concerned about taking off or your weekends.”

Gabrielle Banschick

When Banschick was in summer camp, other kids would line up outside her bunk waiting for her to style their T-shirts.

“I was always super creative,” the graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan says recalling her camp days. “I’d cut everyone’s T-shirts and cut them in different ways … I’d do fringe …”

She represents the fourth generation of retailers in her family who owned men’s or women’s clothing stores. “Some people like to collect art and I like to wear mine,” Banschick says.

Penelope was opened about 20 years ago by Gabrielle’s parents, Ira and Marta, who started the boutique on Merrick Road in Bellmore. The Woodbury store is now owned by Banschick and her father. Most of the selections are ‘60s- and ‘70s-inspired — two decades Banschick says she gravitates to despite her age. The shop is named after Penelope Tree, an English model famous in the 1960s.

“I like the music; I like the miniskirts and bell bottoms — they show off a woman’s body,” Banschickm who lives in Great Neck, says.

Banschick says her father noticed his daughter’s eye for style when she’d help in the first Penelope store as a child. “Women come into the store now and remember me selling them a pair of jeans when I was 11,” Banschick says. There are other things about her job today that are reminders of the past, like those days in camp. “I wake up to texts from customers asking me what to wear.”

But as much as Banschick adores fashion, she warns that owning a store isn’t that glamorous. “It’s not easy,” Banschick says. “You have to predict fashions before they happen and that’s not an easy thing to do, and you have to take the chance that they’ll sell well.”

8025 Jericho Turnpike; 516-802-7837; penelopefashions.com

— Lisa Irizarry

Katie Goulding, 24

Owner of AJ Sunflower in Center Moriches

“Anyone who has a dream should chase it, but being in business isn’t easy. Keeping up with inventory and the latest trends is a big thing.”

Katie Goulding

Owning a men’s and women’s clothing and home décor store at just 24 and co-owning a lifestyle brand was unexpected for Goulding, but the ventures are by no means the biggest challenges she has faced. She’s deaf, and it took 14 years of speech therapy for her to learn to speak perfectly.

“I had every intention at first of being a teacher for the deaf and hard-of-hearing students having the experience myself,” Goulding, who has a cochlear implant, says. She graduated from William Floyd High School in Shirley and earned a teaching degree from St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue.

But Goulding tried working for the Amelia James online women’s clothing company first, which changed the course of her pursuits. A smaller version of LuLaRoe, the company recruits independent fashion consultants to sell products.

“I wanted to try something different involving fashion,” Goulding says. “I never thought I would have a store but Amelia James turned out to be the best thing I ever did — it led to the store.” Goulding loved the experience so much that she gives a nod to the company in the name of her shop.

Her career direction took a new turn one day when Goulding went to say hello to the owner of a consignment shop that used to be in the AJ Sunflower space, not knowing the shop was destined to be hers.

“She sold the business and inventory,” Goulding says of the consignment store owner. “She moved out and I took over the store and it was the biggest big girl thing I ever did in my life.” Goulding’s parents helped by lending her a total of $5,000 for the first month’s rent and security.

Goulding recently also fulfilled her original goal of being a teacher. When not at the store or working on her brand, she teaches the deaf and hard-of-hearing for Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

30 Main St.; 631-909-8008; ajsunflowerboutique.com

— Lisa Irizarry

Editor: Meghan Giannotta

Photo editor: David Trotman-Wilkins

Multimedia by: Debbie Egan-Chin, Johnny Milano, John Paraskevas, Linda Rosier, Barry Sloan, Alejandra Villa Loarca, J. Conrad Williams Jr.

Producers: Meghan Giannotta and Alison Bernicker

Design: Anthony Carrozzo

Young Entrepreneurs – Main

Whether you’re going out to eat at one of Long Island’s many restaurants, or shopping at a hot new boutique, you might be surprised to find out who owns them. These Long Islanders, ages 30 and under, already have successful brick-and-mortar businesses. They include a millennial who now owns a shop she used to work for, a high schooler who opened a record store, a 26-year-old who started a café bakery behind her parents’ antique store, and a young entrepreneur who, with his cousin, took over the family’s Indian eatery.

Young Entrepreneurs – Restaurants

These Long Island natives have opened restaurants, butchers or bakeries — all by the age of 30. This is how they did it.

Jenna Napolitano, 26

Owner of Elise’s Niece’s Cafe, Farmingdale

“Don’t overthink it. Don’t freak yourself out. Follow your gut and your passion.”

Jenna Napolitano

Jenna Napolitano, who studied fashion at Marist College, never intended to open her own business. But after losing her job at Kate Spade due to the pandemic, and her aunt to cancer around the same time, she combined her hobby and beloved aunt’s knack for baking to open a quaint cafe.

“I started making her recipes just to help my family cope ,” Napolitano says, adding that she kickedstarted her business last year by first offering boxed cookies, miniature pies, muffins and cakes at her parents’ antique shop, Back in Time.

Come June, Napolitano officially debuted her cafe, hidden like a speakeasy behind the shop. “I invested all of my savings into this, which is scary for someone my age. But, I’m almost glad that I didn’t overthink it,” she says of the quick decision she made to open. “I’m investing in myself.”

Napolitano credits her parents for showing her the ropes as a boss; and as far as a career in fashion goes, that’s in the rearview mirror, she says.

441 Main St.; 516-455-7775, elisesniece.wixsite.com

— Joann Vaglica

Carolyn Rios, 29 and Michael Barriga, 29

Owners of Ceci’s Arepa Joint, East Meadow

“Believe in yourself and don’t have a plan B. Then it will have to work.”

Michael Barriga

A decade ago, Carolyn Rios and Michael Barriga dated briefly in high school before going their separate ways. Then, a chance meeting a few years back — Barriga was an Uber driver, Rios his passenger — put them back in each other’s orbit, whereupon they discovered a mutual love for arepas. The flapjack-like corn cakes, fried on a griddle and filled with meats, cheeses and more, are a common street food in Colombia and Venezuela, where Rios’ and Barriga’s families are from respectively.

In 2020, after Barriga lost a job owing to the pandemic, he and Rios decided to open an areperia based on the recipes of Barriga’s Aunt “Ceci” Cecilia.

“They called me crazy, said I had no experience, that we’d never cooked in a real kitchen, didn’t know what we were doing, that I should wait till I’m older,” recalls Barriga. “We got told no in very nice ways.”

“Restaurant businesses have a tendency to be owned by older people, ” adds Rios. “People say, ‘you’re the owner?’ They’re surprised that someone that young would start a business like this.”

But start it they did, opening Ceci’s Arepa Joint in March of 2021. Is it hard being a young couple and running a restaurant?

“We haven’t ripped each other’s heads off,” replies Rios with a laugh. “It has its downsides sometimes, but it’s very good to have someone to bounce ideas off of, someone who will give you a genuine opinion.”

503B Newbridge Rd.; 516-765-3180, cecisarepajoint.com

— Scott Vogel

Supy Singh, 24 and Kam Singh, 30

Owners of Tava Fine Indian Cuisine, Glen Cove

“It has very little to do with luck and a lot to do with hard work and sacrifice.”

Supy Singh

Although Supy Singh has been part of the restaurant business since childhood — his family owns House of India in Huntington and Mango in Bellmore — the plan upon graduating from SUNY Binghamton was to parlay his finance and economics degree into a Wall Street job. A family tragedy changed all that.

“After my father passed away in 2018, I sat down with the family and said I wanted to go into the restaurant business and expand,” Supy recalls. When he announced he wanted to take it over with his cousin Kam, everyone in the family was very supportive, everyone except his mother.

“Now she is happy that I made the decision, but in the beginning she wanted me to have a different job. She said, ‘the restaurant business is very hard and I don’t want you to be stressed all the time.’”

His mother wasn’t wrong, Supy admits. By the time he and Kam opened Tava in November, the pair had endured nine months of headaches — an unplanned gut renovation, high construction costs and more. “I’m not going to lie. There were days when I thought it might not happen,” he said. “I didn’t believe it then, but it was the best thing we could have done.”

61 Glen St.; 516-277-1684, tavacuisine.com

— Scott Vogel

Justin Aronoff, 27

Owner of Center Cuts Gourmet Butcher and Catering, Roslyn Heights and Mattituck

“I advise everybody I know to take a risk. If you’re interested in doing it, give it a shot.”

Justin Aronoff

The road to entrepreneurship for Justin Aronoff started when he was in high school.

While attending Roslyn High School in Roslyn Heights, Aronoff worked at delis, restaurants and butchers across the Island where he “got an understanding of what to do and how to operate,” he says, adding that by the time he was ready to open his own shop, he “knew how to set the case, how to speak to customers, how to make the store look nice and how to sell.”

After finishing a semester at Adelphi — and deciding college wasn’t for him — he saw himself working at The Meat House, a butcher in Roslyn Heights. When the owner announced plans to close, Aronoff considered purchasing the spot, but when another butcher in a more manageable space up the block became available, he took over that shop instead and turned it into Center Cuts.

“I’m a fan of taking risk,” Aronoff says about his investment, though he admits “he didn’t realize the whole back end of” operating a business when he first opened in 2014. That’s something he’s had seven years to figure out, culminating in the launch of a second location in Mattituck in May.

Now that the Roslyn Heights and Mattituck locations are steady on their feet, Aronoff’s on the hunt for a third location.

382 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights; 516-625-0809 and 11155 Main Rd., Mattituck; 631-298-2200, centercutsroslyn.com

— Joann Vaglica

Matthew Pesko, 28 and Lexi Balunas, 30

Owners of Cloud Nine Ice Cream and Cereal Bar, Patchogue and Smithtown

“Knowledge is power and people will trust you if you are confident about your business and product. If you believe in it, there’s no reason why anyone else shouldn’t.”

Lexi Balunas

A 2018 Manhattan-bound birthday trip for Lexi Balunas turned her and her now-fiance into businesspeople. Influenced by a visit to Milk & Cream Cereal Bar, the duo is now bringing novelty ice cream to Suffolk County, specializing in the popular cereal-and-ice-cream mash-up dessert.

“I walked into it and it blew me away — the line of people, the operations,” Pesko says of that first time at Milk & Cream . “I got out my phone and I started timing tickets and seeing how fast it would take someone” to create the dessert. By the time he walked over to Balunas, she was already on her phone looking to see if this concept made it to Long Island — unbeknownst to him.

Soon after, the couple, who have a combined background in restaurants and sales, signed a lease on an East Setauket spot that quickly fell through due to permit issues. “I ended up eating a decent amount of money,” Pesko says of this learning experience. But less than a year later, Patchogue was born and less than a year after that, Smithtown opened.

“Lexi is the brains” of this operation,” he says. “She’s got the creativity. She’s the visionary. I’m the integrator. I make sure everything gets done.”

38 S. Ocean Ave., Patchogue; 83 E. Main St., Smithtown; cloudninecerealbar.com

— Joann Vaglica

Michael Napolitano, 28

Co-owner of Nunzi’s in Farmingdale

“Believe in yourself. You have to work every single day until you figure it out.”

Michael Napolitano

In September, at 28 years old, Michael Napolitano broke into the restaurant business with his first sit-down eatery, Nunzi’s, a modern Italian restaurant inspired by his late grandfather.

It’s a family affair here, with father, Vincent, who’s owned restaurants and sports bars in Manhattan, acting as consultant; mom Stephanie working the front door; brother Vincent Jr. taking orders; and Napolitano’s grandmother, Haydee, occasionally in the kitchen. Longtime family friend Thomas Vitale is co-owner. Together, they help turn out modern takes on classics including Limoncello wings, “rotolo di uova” (egg rolls stuffed with sweet Italian sausage, broccoli rabe and cheeses), plus “cheesesteaks” with shaved rib-eye, American cheese, caramelized onions, garlic aioli and cherry peppers served on Italian bread.

Napolitano first started following his family’s entrepreneurial footsteps at 21,taking over his uncle’s health-focused store, Total Nutrition. Three years later, he gave it a new name and extended its offerings — Empire Nutrition debuted in 2018, as an emporium whose lineup includes a bevy of juices, smoothies, bowls, grab-and-go meals and supplements. His stores continue to pop up in Nassau County with locations in Bellmore, Oceanside, Garden City and Hicksville ( a Syosset location is soon to come ).

“I watched my dad be an entrepreneur his whole life and I loved that,” Napolitano, who has a business degree from Hofstra University, says. “He works for himself and I thought that was the coolest thing.” So how does he keep up with the more than a half a dozen spots? “I honestly don’t know,” he says. “That’s why I lost all of my hair at an early age.”

125 Secatogue Ave.; 516-586-8447; nunzis1274.com

— Joann Vaglica

Editor: Alison Bernicker

Photo editor: Hillary Raskin

Multimedia by: Morgan Campball, Johnny Milano, Brittainy Newman and Linda Rosier

Reporters: Joann Vaglica and Scott Vogel

Design: Anthony Carrozzo

Gratitude Game 2021

Gratitude Game: Second Edition

How to play:

Place the phone in the center of the table. Youngest goes first. You draw it, you discuss it.

Let’s play!

Newsday’s 2022 holiday gift guide: Ideas for friends, kids and more

Don’t let holiday shopping sneak up on you or feel like a burden with rising costs. Check everyone off your list, from teens to teachers to grandparents, with our guide to the newest and trendiest offerings at Long Island retailers. Browse our 100+ picks including budget-friendly gift options under $50 and $25, or click a category below.

WATCH: Newsday TV’s Elisa DiStefano seeks out the hottest finds of the season, from Long Island gifts to budget-friendly finds and new toys and games the whole family will love.

Gifts under $50

Thoughtful gift ideas for anyone on your list that won’t break the bank.

Rainbow-bagel making kit

$30

A rainbow-bagel making kit is a colorful way to spend a wintry day; Nordstrom in Garden City.

Long Island ornament

$14

Decorate your tree with a Long Island home ornament; Pandemonium Boutique in Babylon.

‘The East End A to Z’

$28

See the East End come alive through an ABC book for children with illustrations featuring wildlife, landmarks and more in “The East End A to Z” by Kara Hoblin; Burton’s Bookstore in Greenport and local bookstores.

‘Toy Story’ Pizza Planet pizza maker

$49.99

Yum! An electric pizza maker bakes up to a 12-inch frozen pizza or an 11-inch hand-tossed pizza faster than a conventional oven (no preheating required); Nordstrom in Garden City.

Custom apparel

Starting at $25

From a loved one’s handwriting to pet portraits, this personal gift is a must-have this season. Custom designs can be transferred onto any blank item in the store from T-shirts to sweatshirts or sweatpants; DCD Boutique in Wantagh.

Off-road Long Island tire cover

$49

This tire cover features popular Long Island hot spots including Gilgo Beach, Sore Thumb and Orient Point; Long Island Strong in Sayville.

Hope Cards by The Kindside

$35

Hope Cards by The Kindside spread positive affirmations and inspiring words; Hidden Gem in Southampton.

Gel manicure set

$35

Designed for a salon-quality gel manicure, this set includes a macaron-shaped LED lamp for curing the one-step gel polish in 30 seconds; by Le Mini Macaron at Nordstrom in Garden City.

Billy Joel box set

$38.99

This double live Billy Joel “Live at Yankee Stadium” box set captures the Piano Man during his two-night stand at the famous Bronx baseball stadium on June 22 and 23, 1990, and it’s paired with an accompanying concert film, which has been re-edited in 4K; $38.99 (2 CDs & 1 Blu-ray) or $56.99 (3 vinyl LPs) Looney Tunes in West Babylon.

‘Pulp Fiction’ box set

$30.99

Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” arrives in the 4K Ultra HD format for the first time, in a limited SteelBook edition with bonus content; Barnes & Noble stores. Available Dec. 6.

Mascara kit

$42

Send a love letter to her lashes with Benefit’s cute tin containing three full-sized bestselling mascaras; Ulta Beauty stores.

Dice set

$49

For your high roller, here’s a sleek five-dice set housed in a mirror-polish stainless steel case fastened with a leather strap; by George Jensen at Saks Fifth Avenue in Huntington.

Room fragrance spray

$19.95, large $39.95

Celebrity event planner Michael Russo has created his own signature scent in this room fragrance that will transport you from the winter doldrums to warmer climes with its delicate citrus notes; MADE in Cold Spring Harbor.

Gifts for her/him

For your friend, wife, husband and others.

B.E.C. shirt

$32

Every Long Islander knows you didn’t start the weekend right if you didn’t have a bacon, egg and cheese; Pheos Skate Shop in Massapequa.

Rechargeable lantern

$65

Light a path for Santa, or set the mood with this portable, hanging, rechargeable light complete with dimming feature; by Barebones Living at Nordstrom in Garden City.

Bonaok’s G50 karaoke microphone

$200

Bonaok’s G50 karaoke microphone is a portable karaoke machine with a pair of 26-watt high-fidelity Bluetooth 5.0 speakers; big-box retailers.

Makeup eraser cloth set

$35

Take it off with this vivid set of cloth erasers that removes 100% of your makeup with just water (including waterproof eyeliner, mascara and high-def makeup); Nordstrom in Garden City.

Moon & Star earrings

$14

Give her the sun and the moon as in these mismatched stud earrings with sparkly detail; Kohl’s stores.

Beard kit

$35

Beard grooming kit for your favorite bearded fellow; Bloomingdale’s in Garden City and Huntington.

Puppy PJs

$79

This cozy pajama set features a (wo)man’s best friend; Kate & Hale in Huntington and Port Jefferson.

631 hat

$32

Rep your favorite ZIP code with this baseball cap; AJ Sunflower Boutique in Center Moriches.

‘The LEGO Story’

$32.50

This fascinating book relates the 90-year-old story of how a Danish family helped build a toy empire brick by brick. Dozens of archival photos, including some early Lego iterations; local bookstores.

Heated scarf

$34.99

This heated sherpa scarf allows you to stay warm in style with a battery-operated heating pack; The Giftologist in Rockville Centre.

‘Top Gun’ collection

$139.99

The “Top Gun” two-movie 4K SteelBook superfan collection features the original 1986 film and the hit sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick,” plus bonus content and such goodies as dog tags, decals, coasters and a leather keyring; Best Buy. Available Dec. 6.

Koolaburra by UGG Koola Mini

$84.99

A mini version of the classic, this look has been spotted on celebrities this season; by UGG at Kohl’s stores.

Mini purse

$98

Add a fun design to your ensemble with an OAK Mini Market Bag; Hidden Gem in Southampton.

Backyard pizza oven

$299

Up your backyard pizza game with Cuisinart’s 3-in-1 oven. The propane-powered unit features a 13-inch baking stone for fast-cooking pies, plus griddle and grill surfaces when your tailgate is more burgers and hot dogs; at big-box retailers.

Matching holiday PJs

$10 to $49.99

Family pajamas are a holiday tradition for many. Celebrate this one with a joyous assortment that offers something for everyone (even the dog); Old Navy stores.

Puffer coat

$219

Add a fresh coat of “jolly green” with this warm down puffer with a faux-fur collar; Talbots in Manhasset.

Bro Mask cooling eye gels

$30

Six pairs of cooling eye gel masks specifically formulated for guys will relieve puffy eyes from all that holiday partying; Saks Fifth Avenue in Huntington.

Trucker cap

$24.99

Represent your favorite island with the LINY hat; Eastbound Trading Company in Sayville.

Faux-fur scarf

$89.50

Toasty faux-fur scarf adds a luxe touch to any ensemble; Talbots in Manhasset.

Combat boots

$99

A bold chain adds extra oomph to these edgy combat boots; Kohl’s stores.

Faux-leather pants

$98

Rock a trendy pair of faux-leather pants this season; Reign in Long Beach and Merrick.

Camo toiletry bag

$42

Roomy camo toiletry bag will go everywhere with him and is a perfect accessory for gym, golf and travel bags; Wardrobe Bar in Roslyn.

Star of David necklace

$99

Dressy or casual, this sparkling Star of David pendant can go from day to night, from handmade Long Island jewelry brand Love, Lisa; at Enigma Boutique in Wantagh.

Crystal Advent calendar

$80

Gift an advent calendar featuring a different crystal each day until Christmas arrives; Amityville Apothecary in Amityville.

Thank you’s

Gift ideas for the teachers, hosts and other special people in your life.

Festive serving platter

$22.95

Don’t arrive empty handed. Start the night right with a memory serving dish; Nicolette’s for the Home in Massapequa and Southold.

Books ornament

$18

For your favorite book-lover or teacher, a pretty glass ornament features a stack of novels bound with a ribbon; Anthropologie in Huntington and Manhasset.

Stuffed cookies

Starting at $17

At Chonky, customers can create their own box of four to 24 cookies by mixing and matching stuffed options like s’mores, cookies and cream, “cinna bun” and cotton candy with traditional ones like chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin; Chonky Cookies in Lindenhurst.

Bhavana bamboo tumbler

$43

These sustainable tumblers are etched with words such as peace, abundance and love. They keep liquids hot or cold for up to 12 hours; Joyful Treasures in Point Lookout.

Duck Donuts

$25.50

Fans of the chain can build their own boxes, order a random assortment, a seasonal box or a box featuring its originals, such as strawberry or chocolate icing with rainbow sprinkles, cinnamon sugar, vanilla icing with shredded coconut and glazed with chocolate sprinkles; Duck Donuts in Hauppauge, Selden and Garden City Park.

Pressed flowers journal

$30

Brighten up winter with this journal with its 60 pages of pressed flowers – and another 60 pages of standard paper for notes; Anthropologie in Huntington and Manhasset.

Ski Trip Soy Wax Candle

$38

Even if they’re not hitting the slopes this holiday, Homesick’s Ski Trip soy wax scented candle evokes a snowy lodge with its notes of frosted air, amber, cedar, cocoa and cinnamon; Nordstrom in Garden City.

Confectionary pizza

Starting at $25

Ditch the traditional dough, cheese and sauce for chocolate, caramel, candy, popcorn and more this holiday season; Sweeties Candy Cottage in Huntington.

Sudha Pennathur holiday menorah doorknocker

$32.50

Festive Hanukkah menorah doorknocker features intricate beading on velvet; Sudha Pennathur at Saks Fifth Avenue in Huntington.

‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’

$35

What could be more appropriate for a coffee table than this book by Jerry Seinfeld celebrating the Massapequa-raised star’s popular series about comics sharing joe and jokes? By Simon & Schuster at local bookstores.

Christmas tree wristlet

$79

This charming little wristlet sends out big holiday vibes with its embroidered tree and gold strap; Talbots in Manhasset.

Sugar + Spice candle

$28

Thesoy wax candle gives off a sweet cinnamon aroma with hints of chestnuts, amaretto and a base scent of caramel and sugar; roote in Center Moriches.

Handmade brass bookmarks

$12

Bookworms will love these handmade brass bookmarks that feature vintage postage stamps and maps; Wit & Whim in Port Washington.

Indie rockin buzz bracelets

$28

Spread some positivity with these bracelets featuring inspirational messages such as “be kind” and “believe”; Pandemonium Boutique in Babylon.

Home décor box

$85

Gift a curated holiday home décor box featuring one tray, two brass candlesticks and one set of beads this holiday; Urban Farmhouse Market in Bellmore.

You are a Gem notecard gift set

$26.99

This inspiring set includes notecards, a journal and an amethyst crystal-filled pen; Moon Child Remedies in Massapequa.

Long Island serving board

$75

For the host who loves to serve up their favorite snacks and treats; What A Girl Wants in Wantagh.

’52 Shabbats’

$32.50

From challah to cheesecake, this recipe book by Faith Kramer offers inspirational, seasonally organized recipes for Shabbat; Anthropologie in Huntington and Manhasset.

Snowman wreath

$35

Welcome visitors to your doorstep with a snowman wreath; A Cottage in the City in Sayville.

Cheese knives set

$44.99

This set of four agate cheese knives will bring the “wow” factor to your next gathering; Moon Child Remedies in Massapequa.

Trinket dish

$25

A trinket dish made from resin and rocks from North Fork Long Island beaches; Serendipity Boutique in Sayville.

Gifts for kids

The youngest ones on your list will love these toys and more.

Healthy Roots Dolls

$84.99 each

Healthy Roots Dolls, a Black-owned toy startup, is adding two new dolls to its Curlfriends line, Gaïana and Marisol. They join the original doll, Zoe. Each dolls hair can be shampooed and styled with real products; kids can experiment with styles from puffs to box braids; Healthy Roots Dolls .

Weather station

$58

For the littlest meteorologists forecasters (ages 3 and up), this weather station toy is set for forecasts; Anthropologie in Huntington and Manhasset.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” dolls

$49.99 each

The Black Panther Wakanda Forever: Fresh Fierce Collection of dolls is based on the characters of Shuri, Okoye and Nakia from the Marvel Studios’ movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” For ages 5 and older; by Lisa Williams in collaboration with World of EPI and Marvel Studios

AirTitans Jurassic World Massive Attack T-Rex

$129.99

This 6-foot-long, Airtitans Jurassic World Massive Attack T-Rex from Jakks Pacific inflates in 20 seconds. The remote-control T-Rex stomps and roars and moves with more than a dozen sound effects. Features a rechargeable USB battery. For ages 8 and older; by Jakks

Slam Words

$14.95

Shake the cup and slam it down to reveal three letters. Slam Words requires a player to quickly say a word that has all three letters in it, and then pass the cup to the next player, who must come up with a new word, or they are out. Shake the cup for new letters to play again. A good game for travel as it’s easily portable. For ages 8 and older; FoxMind .

Unicorn dream catcher

$56

This unicorn dream catcher is a great addition to your child’s room or play area; Joyful Treasures in Point Lookout.

Crawligator crawler toy

$73.49

This toy features caster wheels designed to move on a hard floor surface. Infants lie on the padded surface of the gator and can crawl. Babies should be able to hold up their head unassisted before using the Crawligator. Holds up to 30 pounds. Comes in five colors. For ages 4 months and older; by Crawligator.

Ride-On railway

$125

The ride-on railway is a motorized train and track set, with a track that’s more than 15 feet long, a train that moves forward and backward, and the ability to work headlights and sounds. For ages 3 and older; by FAO Schwarz.

LeapPods Max

$49.99

LeapPods Max lets kids enjoy an experience that includes music, active challenges, mindfulness activities and audio adventures. The headphones don’t require a web connection, downloads or setup. Simple controls let kids play, pause and switch modes without removing the headphones. For ages 4 and older; by LeapFrog.

FIFA World Cup soccer ball

$40

The FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar this year, from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18. Soccer fans may like an Adidas ball that’s a replica of the official match ball of the 22nd edition of the competition; by Adidas.

Nintendo Switch Sports

$39.99 digital, $49.99 physical, with leg-strap accessory

Nintendo Switch Sports encourages users to swing, kick and spike with a collection of games in this new version of the classic Wii Sports series. Real-world actions convert to in-game movements using controllers to compete in soccer, volleyball, bowling, tennis and badminton. For ages 10 and older; by Nintendo.

Chicken vs. Hot Dog family action game

$30

Remember the bottle flipping craze a few years back? Chicken vs. Hot Dog challenges teams to successfully flip their chicken or their hot dog and land it right side up a certain number of times, with their eyes closed, or under other such constraints. For ages 10 and older; by Big Potato Games.

Squeegee Art

$29.99

A budding artist or crafter may enjoy experimenting with Squeegee Art. It skips the crayons and paintbrushes and introduces using a squeegee tool to create. Included are two squeegees, five neon paints, six heavyweight papers and a technique guide. For ages 8 and older; by iHeartArt.

Cake-N-Bake Challenge Game

$29.99

Baking shows are a big hit, and the Cake-N-Bake Challenge Game brings the competition to the preschool with a chance to put together toy layers and toppings using colorful playing pieces. Comes with a chef’s hat. For ages 4 and older; by Hey Buddy Hey Pal.

The DoodleJamz BrightBoard

$24.99

The DoodleJamz BrightBoard from Sky Castle Toys is a squish and shape drawing pad, which lights up and can be displayed. Comes with styling tool and templates. For ages 6 and older; Sky Castle Toys .

Hess toy truck

$41.99

This year’s new Hess toy truck is the Hess flatbed truck with hot rods, with two cars on board. Comes with nine batteries and free shipping; by Hess Corporation.

Magic Mixies Magical Crystal Ball

$84.99

The Magic Mixies Magical Crystal Ball features more than 80 lights, sounds and reactions. Kids use a wand to summon the Magic Mixie from the mist into the crystal ball, where it will reveal its fortune-telling powers. For ages 5 to 8; comes in pink and blue; by Moose Toys.

Riderz

$19.95

Riderz stuffed animals are specifically designed to fit into cupholders on cars, strollers and even in water bottle backpack pockets. The toy was created by a parent who got tired of his child’s stuffed animals always winding up on the car floor. Eight animals, including a Dalmatian, a lion and a bunny, feature weighted bean filling. For all ages; by Riderz.

Rock T-shirt

$21.99

Symbols of peace, love and rock and roll adorn this boys’ T-shirt (sizes 8-20); by Fifth Sun at Kohl’s stores.

‘Montauk Has a Very Hungry Shark’

$14.95

“Montauk Has a Very Hungry Shark,” written and illustrated by Nina Ross, explores the adventures of Montauk Mike through towns and villages of Long Island’s East End trying to find himself the perfect dish; Theodore’s Books in Oyster Bay and local bookstores.

Crocheted dolls

$50

Gift your little one a crocheted gingerbread or snowman this holiday; Island Farmhouse in Wading River.

Smoko plush bear keychain

$15

Plush key chain featuring a little bear is easy to find in a backpack; by Smoko at Urban Outfitters in Huntington and Manhasset.

‘Today I Am Grateful For’ rainbow notepad

$15

This cheery notepad comes with 100 pages for 100 days of finding gratitude in everyday life; arni paperie in Southold.

‘Snuggle is real’ onesie

$25

For the snuggliest baby on your holiday list, this onesie is made from buttery soft organic cotton; Painting with Flowers in Port Washington.

Gifts for grandparents and parents

Start the year with gifts that they will love.

Letters to my grandchild book

$14.95

This charming book offers grandparents an opportunity to put into writing all their hopes and dreams for their grandchildren to treasure; Pottery Barn in Huntington.

French Press

$85

Brew a pot of coffee or tea with this Smoked Glass French Press; Eastport General Store in Eastport.

Grandma necklace

$58

She’s proud of her role as grandma. Show her you are too with this pretty 14-karat gold-plated necklace; by Kendra Scott at Bloomingdale’s in Garden City and Huntington.

Pastrami sandwich kits

$110

The south shore staple takes its 30-plus years on Long Island nationwide with its kosher at-home sandwich kit that comes with one pound of pastrami, eight slices of rye bread, pickles, mustard and Russian dressing; Lido Kosher Deli in Lido Beach.

Heated blanket

$69.99

Comfy heated blanket offers a soft plush feel and 10 heat settings; by Biddeford at Kohl’s stores.

Custom return labels

$50

Keep in touch with these custom return address labels; arni paperie in Southold.

Fringe scarf

$48

Cozy knit, chunky scarf made of recycled, eco-conscious fabric will ward off the chill on even the coldest days in sugar plum pink; Free People in Garden City and Huntington.

Kate Spade heart dishes

$60

A charming trio of catchall stackable dishes for your one of a kind; Bloomingdale’s in Garden City and Huntington.

Cocktail book

$14.95

Cocktail recipes and fun, fashion tidbits collide in this delightful tome; Anthropologie in Huntington and Manhasset.

Mariposa ‘Best. Dog. Ever.’ Frame

$49

Give a special spot for them to showcase their best pal in this classic silver-colored frame with beaded trim; Painting with Flowers in Port Washington.

Beach fragrances

$45

Each Long Island beach fragrance will be a reminder of those perfect summer days; The Giftologist in Rockville Centre.

Chess game

$70

Send their heads to the clouds with this chess set that features a sky motif; Painting with Flowers in Port Washington.

Moccasins

$79.50

Toasty toes are guaranteed with these lodge moccasins in animal print calf hair; J.Crew stores.

Inspiring quote blocks

$30

Vintage wooden quote blocks offer heartfelt, inspiring sentiments from luminaries such as Maya Angelou to Dr. Seuss and can stand on their own or hang; by Little Gems at Painting with Flowers in Port Washington.

Gifts under $25

Last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers that won’t break the bank.

Holiday cocktail recipe glass

$10

Whether novice or professional, be the holiday party bartender with these recipe cocktail glasses; Nicolette’s for the Home in Massapequa and Southold.

Nail art

$7.99

Dashing Diva’s “falling stars” 3D nail art stickers make customizing a mani easy; Ulta Beauty stores.

“Sweet surprise gifts” from Manny’s Sweet Treats

Starting at $11.49

Order meals like the churro cinnamon sauce and Oreo waffles; Reese’s peanut butter pancakes, banana temptations pancakes; apple cobbler and fresh fruit crepes; and red velvet and chocolate cake burrito crepes; Manny’s Sweet Treats in Mineola.

Long Island candle

$25

With 50 hours of burn time, you’ll be living your “best Long Island day ever” thanks to this honeysuckle jasmine candle; What A Girl Wants in Wantagh.

Rosebud Motel keychains and notepad

$10-$12

Fans of “Schitt’s Creek” will get a kick out of these Rosebud Motel keychains ($12) and notepad ($10); Wit & Whim in Port Washington.

Town spoons

$22.95

North Fork measuring spoons feature East End towns like Southold, Greenport and Orient; Drifts East in Montauk.

Disco ball bottle opener

$20

For your ’70s queen, this fab mirrored disco ball bottle opener gets the party started; Urban Outfitters in Huntington and Manhasset.

Manifest crystal collection

$25

This manifest crystal collection features crystals intended to raise energetic frequency and bring abundance; Amityville Apothecary in Amityville.

Sugar cookie bubble bath

$2.99

Yum-yum luscious sugar cookie bubble bath will be a super sweet stocking stuffer; Ulta Beauty stores.

Ring holder

$24

An elegant, hand-shaped ceramic ring holder is a vintage-inspired way to display your baubles; Urban Outfitters in Huntington and Manhasset.

World’s smallest pet rock

$12

Dubbed the world’s smallest pet rock, it comes complete with wig and google eyes and is guaranteed to sit and stay; Urban Outfitters in Huntington and Manhasset.

Oyster shell trinket dish

$22

Store jewelry, trinkets and more in this Long Island oyster shell made in Suffolk County by the Oyster Shell Shop; Serendipity Boutique in Sayville.

Arctic monogram ornament

$12

Snowy, arctic monogram ornaments are a personalized touch on the tree and a great teacher or hostess gift; Anthropologie in Huntington and Manhasset.

Festive wineglasses

$18.95

Cheers to the holiday season with these glasses; Nicolette’s for the Home in Massapequa.

Soap set

$9 to $35

This vegan collection made with plant extracts and soothing botanicals features scents of grapefruit zest and fresh woodsy notes of fir oils;The SoapBox in Port Jefferson.

Long Island pride

Help them show off their local style.

Long Island map pillow

$44

Never forget where you came from with this Long Island map pillow; Thred NY in Patchogue.

Sag Harbor coaster set

$39.95

This handcrafted set features four icons of the village: lettering from the Sag Harbor Cinema neon sign, The Windmill, the Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter Veterans’ Memorial Bridge and a whale’s tale; Drifts East in Montauk.

Wooden hitch covers

$145

Show off your interests and favorite things with these wooden hitch covers; Eastbound Trading Company in Sayville.

Long Island necklace

$45

The perfect accessory to keep Long Island close to your heart; AJ Sunflower Boutique in Center Moriches.

Map T-shirt

$32.99

The T-shirt features a map of Long Island on the back; NALU in Bay Shore.

Towns anchor hoodie tee

$58.99

Represent all the towns across Long Island in this long-sleeve lightweight hoodie. Available in a variety of colors; Saltwater Long Island at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station.

Long Island home hood

$46.50

Show your love for Long Island in a cozy hoodie. Available in a variety of colors; The East End Shirt Company in Port Jefferson.

Long Island bottle opener

$14 each

Crack open your favorite drink with this Long Island bottle opener that features a map of Long Island or popular local beach destinations; Thred NY in Patchogue.

‘Island Girl’ spirit jersey

$59.95

This spirit jersey is a fit for your favorite “island girl”; Willy Nilly Trading in Bay Shore.

North Fork compass hoodie

$50

Find your way home in this hooded sweatshirt; Revel North Fork in Greenport.

‘Probably in Montauk’ doormat

$56

The ideal doormat for beach bums dreaming of Montauk during the winter months; Drifts East in Montauk.

Greeting cards

$20

Send loved ones a holiday greeting from Long Island this season; box of 8 cards; arni paperie in Southold.

North Fork tie-dye knit hat

$28

Stay stylish and warm this winter with a tie-dye knit hat; Revel North Fork in Greenport.

Teens

Gifts for the trickiest of all.

Travel duffle

$62, $4 per patch

This nylon travel duffle is great for a weekend away or an overnight sleepover with friends; Jeannine’s Gifts in Rockville Centre.

STMT DIY hand stamped jewelry

$29.99

Learn about the art of letter stamping and create personalized jewelry with this kit that includes loads of cute charms; Nordstrom in Garden City.

‘Live like a local’ tee

$28

Live like a local in this T-shirt; AJ Sunflower Boutique in Center Moriches.

Crystal headband

$24.50

Celestial pavé crystal headband will turn heads; J.Crew stores. Available Nov. 25.

Zodiac shirt

$39.50

What’s their sign? Zodiac symbols are proudly displayed on these soft “broken-in” jersey T-shirts; J. Crew stores.

Winter hat

$38

Bundle up this winter in this chic pom hat; Kate & Hale in Huntington and Port Jefferson.

Dee Bow scrunchie set

$55

Classic scrunchies get an add-on bow. Set of two features one in velvet, one in plaid linen; by Loeffler Randall at Saks Fifth Avenue in Huntington.

Rollstar light-up roller skates

$179

Jessica Simpson recently introduced these retro roller skates that feature an eyeful of glittering sequins and clear wheels that light up when you roll. Rainbow or rose gold; Nordstrom in Garden City.

Puppy pillow

$49

Soft, textured throw pillow shaped like a French bulldog who loves to cuddle; Urban Outfitters in Huntington and Manhasset.

Plush diary

$24.99

Special secrets can be kept in this cute plush ketchup diary that includes lock and key; Claire’s stores.

Dr. Martens combs II dual original boots

$95

Guys will go for these comfortable Dr. Martens that combine leather and lightweight high-grade Poly for a street-smart look; American Eagle stores.

Betsey Johnson Sidny women’s sneakers

$89

Leave it to Betsey Johnson to come up with these fun sneaks that come in five sparkly rhinestone colors; Macy’s stores.

Beaded wallet

$40

Colorful beaded pouches come with all kinds of fun graphics for all kinds of people; Penny Lane in Huntington.

Rokne Curve Classic pickleball paddle

$89.99

For your favorite pickleball pal, this vibrant paddle is engineered for exceptional balance and control; by Rokne at Saks Fifth Avenue in Huntington.

Designer: Mark Levitas

Gifts compiled by: Anne Bratskeir, Dan Bubbeo, Verne Gay, Rafer Guzmán, Kristen Sullivan, Joann Vaglica, Beth Whitehouse

Editor: Meghan Giannotta

Copy editor: Hye Jeong

Long Island Trivia: Halloween Edition

Working Dogs of Long Island

Sage

4 years old

Greeter

Andrew’s Family Farm

working dog Sage

It’s just after 11 a.m. on a Monday and Sage picks up her favorite orange ball and drops it at the feet of her owner, Rose Andrews. “Sometimes, if she can’t find her ball, she’ll go into the farm stand and pick up a peach,” says Andrews, 24, a manager at her family’s Andrews Family Farm in Calverton.

The farm has been operational for the past three decades, but it only gained its mascot four years ago. Sage, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever/golden retriever mix, has spent nearly every day of her life — since she was 10 weeks old — at the farm stand.

Our jobs would be a little bit more boring without Sage here, for sure.

-Andrews, farm stand manager

“It’s hard to have a bad day when she’s here,” says Andrews as Sage lies beside her on a green John Deere Gator. “This, here, is her favorite place.”

Sage’s official role is greeter, says Andrews, explaining that patrons will sometimes come down to the farm just to see her.

In the farm stand, Sage weaves her way in and out of the legs of shoppers, patrolling the area. “Every time someone pulls up she stands up from what she’s doing — unless she’s having a really deep nap.”

But there’s hardly any downtime on the Andrews’ 80-acre farm with 29 greenhouses growing flowers and vegetables sold at the stand and outsourced to local restaurants and farms.

Sage, just like her family, has work to do.

She gets to the farm at 7:30 a.m. with Andrews. “When we turn onto Hulse Landing Road, she sees the farm, it stretches far back, and she sits up and gets so excited. It’s like she doesn’t do this every day, but she does.”

Her routine begins by making the rounds: She checks in on the plants, smells the flowers, says hello to the farm’s rabbits and gently strolls through the greenhouses. “If you step on the flowers you’ll kill them, but Sage tiptoes around everything. She has greenhouse etiquette and knows not to step on the flats.”

Then, she follows Andrews, her brother William and their parents until it’s time to go home around 6 or 7 p.m. “She’s our little co-worker.”

paw breakpoint

Freddie

2 years old

Facility Dog

Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc.

working dog Sage

Many of the more than 200 grade school students at the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County in Roosevelt are nonverbal or have limited communication skills, but the excitement is written on their faces when Freddie, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever walks into their classrooms.

“Freddie, wave!” Jennifer Green, the school’s music therapist, calls out as Freddie lifts his right paw demonstrating how he greets students.

Ashley Brun-Johnson, 20, of Queens, is among the first to lift her arm back to him. She uses her iPad to communicate.

“Freddie has already helped with communication,” says Sherri Glazer, one of the assistant principals, explaining that children and young adults who are meeker in tone need to use a projected voice or use their communication devices to get a response from Freddie. “In the beginning, there were a lot of kids who we’d find were afraid of almost everything. Now they jump out of their shells to touch and engage with him,” says assistant principal Jessica Jean-Charles.

Freddie started his job as a facility dog at the school in May. He spends much of his day traveling between classrooms at the school, helping to encourage children learning motor and communication skills. For Jesus Bonilla, 9, of Hempstead, the command “Freddie bop” helps Bonilla to both speak at a louder volume, walk toward Freddie and reach out to “bop” his nose.

I’ve seen such a change in Freddie and the students.

-Gabi Lugo, 23, service dog instructor at the Guide Dog Foundation.

Gabi Lugo, of the Guide Dog Foundation, trained Freddie for nine months to prepare him for his job. She started off with basics — walking, maintaining eye contact — and gradually worked up to training Freddie to wave, “bop,” shake and more. “Coming back and seeing the difference in him, it’s almost like he knows his job now and settled into what he needs to do,” says Lugo, of Smithtown.

Freddie starts his day at 8:30 a.m., sits atop a pedestal and greets the students as they get off their buses by waving a paw. He’ll then walk alongside their wheelchairs as they make their way to their classrooms. He’ll pop into music therapy classes, development classes and more. For break time, he plays with toys in a fenced-in area outside or cuddle up for nap a bed placed by the desks.

“We knew that Freddie was going to love this. He’s really cut out for just bringing joy to people,” says Lugo.

paw breakpoint

Maclyn

3 years old

Explosive Detection Canine

MacArthur Airport

working dog Maclyn

Suffolk County police officer Kevin Henry says the airport is always moving — which means that Maclyn is always sniffing.

Maclyn is a 3-year-old German shorthaired Pointer. She is the only female dog working in the Suffolk County Police Department. Maclyn is an explosive detection canine, working at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma.

When she’s not doing her job, “she goes home with me and puts me to work at home,” says Henry, her handler. They live in Setauket.

While working at the airport, Maclyn is thorough and attentive. On a recent weekday, there’s a long line at the Southwest Airlines terminal. Henry walks her along the line, and she sniffs just about every suitcase and backpack within reach.

“She’s very calm,” he says, “and always working.”

In May 2019, Maclyn started training with the Suffolk County Police Department. For four months, she sharpened her skills in tracking, obedience and agility.

As an explosive detection canine, Maclyn is trained to move through crowds, find an odor source and follow it. When she finds something, Henry explains, she stays with it, usually by sitting down next to the source. That’s where he comes in.

Maclyn is the only working dog at this airport, so there’s a lot of ground to cover.

“When they’re sniffing, they get really tired,” Henry says. “Processing all the different smells, and they break it all down. They work really hard. It kind of wipes them out.”

So Henry makes sure Maclyn rests throughout her eight-hour shift as much as possible. He said she can “run through” the concourse sniffing luggage for about 45 minutes before needing a break. But if there aren’t a lot of travelers, she can last longer. Her favorite reward after work is playing with her ball.

In addition to being the only female dog, Maclyn is also the first dog of her breed in the county’s police department, Henry says. Henry adds that they’ve mainly worked with German shepherds and Labrador retrievers.

working dog Maclyn

“Probably one of the other reasons why they picked the Pointer: High drive, a lot of energy,” Henry says. “She’s amazing though. When she’s here, there’s plenty of noise and plenty of movement. It kind of keeps her calm.”

This demeanor took some time to achieve. “In the beginning, she was all over the place. She used to drag me all around the airport,” Henry says. “She wanted to find the odor so she could play with her ball.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, the airport was empty most days. So to keep Maclyn’s skills sharp, Henry puts her to the test by setting up tasks for her to complete.

Now, with a sense of normalcy returning, she hasn’t skipped a beat. And Maclyn seems happy while she weaves through the crowds. She doesn’t get sidetracked when people pet her.

“We try to avoid people petting the dog but with her temperament, she’s great,” Henry says. “If you watch someone pet her, she’s still sniffing away. She’s still doing her job.”

paw breakpoint

Dewey

1 year old

Greeter and Taste-Tester

Pawcasso

working dog Dewey

Kids giggled and yelled “Dewey!” as an energetic Jack Russell Terrier jumped up and down at the entrance of Pawcasso. On a summer day, they fed him sweet peppers and gave him hugs on the grass.

This art studio and pet boutique in Westhampton Beach is home to one of the happiest employees you’ll ever meet. Dewey’s job is to schmooze visitors all day long.

Pawcasso is more than dog-friendly — it’s dog-embracing. Co-owners Barbara Martorelli-Shapland and Ron Shapland, of East Moriches, opened a pet store in 2015. But Shapland is a graphic designer, and some customers inquired about his work. Shapland started creating art inspired by pets.

“So one of our first thoughts was, we’ll sell some of his unique pet ideas at our store,” says Martorelli-Shapland. “But then more people started finding out he was an artist.”

This was also around the time that paint-and-sip nights began trending — evenings of paint classes paired with refreshments started popping up on Long Island and beyond.

That’s when the couple decided to move into their current space and expand. The first floor is their studio, where art classes for children and adults take place, and the pet boutique is upstairs. They sell treats (which Martorelli-Shapland makes herself by dehydrating all-natural meat and vegetables), collars, leashes and specialty items for dogs and humans alike.

“Animals and art,” Martorelli-Shapland says. “How could you go wrong?”

Pet owners can bring their dogs while they paint, and the pup can even become a part of the experience, Martorelli-Shapland says.

working dog Dewey

“Their dogs will lay down, sometimes they’ll sit on a chair,” she says. “And they can paint either them or something else. And we have animals incorporated into almost all of our paintings.”

The “big draw” for the customers, the owners agree, is Dewey. The 1-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix greets folks when they arrive at Pawcasso. The main entrance is a Dutch door, horizontally split and open on top. Customers get a great view of Dewey on their way in — he jumps excitedly so he can be seen through the door.

When children come in for art classes at the studio, that’s when Dewey really gets to work.

“First thing he does is he greets the kids that come in,” Martorelli-Shapland says. “Kids that love dogs tend to fall on the floor and let him go crazy and lick them.”

“All you hear is, ‘Dewey, Dewey, Dewey,’” Shapland adds.

“When we first got him when he was a puppy, we would go home and be like, ‘If I hear the name Dewey one more time, I’m gonna scream,’ ” Martorelli-Shapland says with a laugh.

“He plays with them and then as customers come in, he greets every customer,” Martorelli-Shapland says. “He also gets to play with all the dogs, so he loves that.”

Lucky for Dewey, he’s also a “taste-tester” for all of the treats sold at Pawcasso. But he doesn’t do this job alone — the owners have another dog who roams the boutique area of the store. Kava is a nine-year-old Great Dane. When she was a puppy, she welcomed customers like Dewey does now, Martorelli-Shapland says. Since she’s gotten older, now she mostly hangs out upstairs in the boutique while Dewey entertains in the studio below.

“They still love her; they go up and see her,” Martorelli-Shapland says.

Meanwhile, Dewey also goes for walks with kids who take classes there, and they’ve even taught him a few tricks. As he jumps for joy at the entrance for any who comes in or just passes by, children laugh and point while painting their masterpieces.

“That’s his job,” Shapland says. “Making kids laugh.”

paw breakpoint

Kota

6 years old

Grief Therapy Dog

Moloney Funeral Homes

working dog Kota

Six years ago, Kota was facing numbered days at a kill shelter in Arkansas. Now, he spends his time helping Long Islanders grieve the loss of their beloved family members at Moloney Funeral Homes.

“It’s crazy how his journey has come full circle,” says Peter Moloney, the owner of Moloney Funeral Homes which has seven locations in Suffolk County.

Moloney rescued Kota, a 6-year-old Labrador/Weimaraner mix with his family and after noticing his calm temperament, he trained him to become a therapy dog to offer relief during wakes.

“He knows when he’s coming to work when he sees the vest.” Kota’s uniform is a patriotic red, white and blue vest with a patch that reads, “I’m friendly, please pet me” — that’s exactly what his job entails.

Kota spends most days right beside Moloney — in his office in Ronkonkoma, greeting guests and staff, walking the grounds and attending monthly staff meetings. “He’s the only one that groans,” he jokes. “He gets away with it.”

But Kota’s biggest responsibly is attending wakes to serve as an emotional support animal, allowing those grieving to hug, play, pet or simply sit beside him. Kota attends as many as five services per day, spending up to 20 minutes with each.

“He’s brought so much relief to grief through the past years to many, many families,” he says, recalling a time when Kota consoled a 92-year-old man who’d lost his wife. “Kota just put his head on his lap and offered him that comfort he needed.”

Moloney says it’s been rewarding to watch as he didn’t initially think Kota would make such an impact. He introduced the complimentary service at his funeral homes five years ago after witnessing the power grief dogs can hold while at a business meeting. It was that experience that encouraged him to train Kota to do the same. “We recognized that Kota was very smart and docile, so we came home and did some training.”

That turned into six months of training four times a day and a therapy dog certification. “He’s been working with families ever since.”

On the off chance he’s not traveling to services, he can be found lying in bed in Moloney’s office in Ronkonkoma. “He’s busy. He has a place up in my office where he relaxes with his little toys he chews on. He’s a true companion for me.”

Writers and producers: Meghan Giannotta and Rachel Weiss

Digital development: Mark Levitas and Matthew Cassella

Photo and video: Chris Ware

Multimedia journalist: Steve Langford