Holiday Tree Lighting
Friday, December 9
OB Historical Society Open House
Saturday, December 10
Holiday Express
Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11
Friday, December 9
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
The tree lighting will take place at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and the tree lighting will take place at 6 p.m. sharp. The magnificent 35-foot Japanese Umbrella Pine, which is located on the south side of the Camilla Greenhouse, will be lit. The event will feature several special guests, including Santa and carolers. Guests will have the opportunity to view the first floor of Coe Hall and will be able to view the spectacular poinsettia display in the Main Greenhouse, featuring several hundred poinsettia plants comprising forty varieties of poinsettias. Visit Periwinkles café in the Visitor Center and enjoy a great snack. See Planting Fields in all its winter splendor. Both the grounds and the building will be open until 8 p.m. Admission is free. Call 922-9200.
Saturday, December 10
OB Historical Society Open House
With a musical program provided by the Hempstead A Cappella Choir, Hood A.M.E. Zion Church, Rev. Kenneth Nelson, minister. 4 p.m. musical program, Hood A.M.E. Zion Church, 137 South St., Oyster Bay. 5 to 7 p.m. Holiday reception, Oyster Bay Historical Society, 20 Summit St., Oyster Bay.
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center
Located at 134 Cove Rd. Call 922-3200 or trsac@audubon.org. Sanctuary Traditions, a holiday-themed event that gives children and families a chance to connect with nature during the holiday season. Families can register for one of two sessions: Dec. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. or Dec. 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. Activities include holiday storytelling, music and refreshments, holiday-themed crafts, activities to help wildlife, nature walks, and a visit from Santa and his elves. Preregistration and prepayment is required. Register early to reserve your date. Prepayment holds your reservation. $20 per family members; $28 per family nonmembers.
Holiday Express
The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum is busily preparing for The Holiday Express! The festivities will take place Dec. 10 and 11. The OBRM Visitor Center, 102 Audrey Ave., will once again host this family-friendly celebration with an operating model railroad, hot cider, candy canes and light refreshments. Also featured are horse drawn carriage rides, raffles, and of course the chance to see the museum’s collection of railroad artifacts and photos New unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine’s Toys For Tots program will be collected. The program will continue through the third week in December, during the OBRM’s business hours. This year Santa will be joined by another special guest. Saturday will feature a book signing by railroad historian David Morrison. The book is entitled, Jamaica Station, and covers the history of the Long Island Railroad in the Jamaica area, including construction photos taken during the 1913 Jamaica Improvement Project. The book contains 128 pages and over 200 historic images. Dave will be on hand to sign his book, and answer any questions about the history of the LIRR. Santa will make his appearance on Sunday, from 1 to 3 p.m. Bring your camera and take pictures with the kids. The horse drawn carriage rides are free and on a first-come-first-served basis. The raffle prizes are fabulous and the 50/50 raffle (winner need not be present) will round out the festivities.
Sunday, December 11
World Holiday Celebration
Diverse music and instrumentation in celebration of the season presented by the LI Baroque Ensemble. 3 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Oyster Bay. For tickets call 631-724-7386.
Friday, December 16
Owl Prowl
Come out for a live owl presentation, followed by a night hike to hear the calls of native Long Island owls. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. $10 general admission, $7 for seniors and children 2-12. Admission includes a visit to Westbury Holiday House. Bring flashlights and dress warmly. All ages. Call the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary 922-3200 or trsac@audubon.org.
Ongoing Event
Muttontown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
The Fellowship provides an atmosphere of warmth and comraderie, with talks presented by intelligent enlightening and non-dogmatic speakers who come from the entire spectrum of the Arts, History and Sciences. This is followed by coffee and an informal discussion circle, held in the turn-of-the-18th century farmhouse in a bucolic setting. Sundays at 10:30 a.m. The Muttontown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is located on the south side of Route 25A (Northern Blvd.), East Norwich, directly east of Martin Viette Nurseries and about a half mile west of Route 106. Look for the white brick gate posts with a large sing for Hunter’s Moon Farm. All are welcome. Call with any questions 659-1686.
Weekly Events
•Alcoholics Anonymous closed step meeting Sundays at 8 p.m. and open meeting at the same time. On Wednesdays at 8 p.m. there is a beginner’s meeting and a closed discussion meeting. Any one can attend the open meetings. The closed meetings are for anyone who has a desire to stop drinking. The meetings are held at Christ Church, 61 E. Main St. For information call 922-6377.
•Play Bridge will be held at the OB-EN Library, 89 E. Main St. Meets every Monday at 7 p.m. Bring a partner or come by yourself. Beginners welcome. Call 922-1212.
•Open Mike at Jack Halyards Restaurant at 8 p.m. every Tuesday. For more information, call 922-2999 or visit www.jackhalyards.com.
•Alanon meeting will be held every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Oyster Bay Presbyterian Church, East Main St. All are welcome.
•Substance Abuse Groups meet at the Youth and Family Counseling Agency, 193 A, South St., on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. and from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration required. Call 922-6867.
•Open Mike at Canterbury’s. Every Thursday enjoy the open mike night at Canterbury’s. Professional musicians and novices are invited to bring their instruments, voices, and friends to join him on stage or perform by themselves. Approximate starting time is 8:45 p.m. Call Mark 922-3214.
•Clutterers Anonymous, a 12-step self-help group, offers help and support to those who have clutter problems in their homes or workplace. Meets weekly on Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 265 Asbury Ave., Westbury and also the 1st and 3rd Friday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the School of the Community Reformed Church, 90 Plandome Rd., Manhasset. There are no dues or fees. For more information, email CLAWestbury@yahoo.com, call (866) 800-3881 or visit www.ClutterersAnonymous.net.
•Bingo Games every Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall, 83 Sea Cliff Ave., Glen Cove. $1,500 in cash prizes. Door prizes and progressive on last game. Smoke-free environment. Call 676-1828 for further info.
•Ballroom Dance at the Life Enrichment Center of Oyster Bay, 45 E. Main St., every Friday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. with instructor Vladimir Velev, an international ballroom dance champion. Learn to Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango and more. Donation requested. Call 922-1770.
•OBRM Preview Center. Every Saturday and Sunday visit the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum Preview Center and Turntable Railyard at 100 to 102 Audrey Ave. (just north of the gazebo/bandstand – on the right), where you will be directed to the turntable railyard- featuring a variety of refurbished train cars. Open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 558-7036.
Monthly Events
•Jewish War Veterans, Gieir-Levitt Post #655 invite all Jewish war veterans to join them at the Mid-Island Y JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview, at 9 a.m. on the second Sunday of every month. Call Larry Sklar 942-3327.
•Young at Heart Parkinson’s Support Group meeting from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of the month in the cafeteria on the ground level, near the emergency room at North Shore University Hospital at Syosset, 221 Jericho Tpke. Open to patients, caregivers or anyone interested in learning about Parkinsons. Call Debbie 390-9454.
•Meet the Doctors. Focusing on education, Premiere OBGYN will sponsor a Meet the Doctors program on the first Tuesday of each month from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at 79 Froelich Farm Blvd., Woodbury. Women who are planning a pregnancy or are already expecting can join Drs. Prince, Brooks and Flynn and have their questions answered on conception and a safe pregnancy.
•Alzheimer’s Support Group. Are you a caregiver who would like to share your experience with others? There is strength in knowing you are not alone. Join this support group at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month in the Adult Day Health Care Program Room at the Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 378 Syosset-Woodbury Rd., Woodbury. Call Sheldon Rybak, RCSW/ACSW 622-7770.
•Golf for Single Adults, a group of 50 + single seniors meet the third Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, Sunnyside Blvd., Exit 46 off the LIE, Plainview. For info call 942-4228. The group plays on courses, mostly in Suffolk on the weekends as well as during the week.
•Oyster Bay Quilting Group held on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Green Room at the OB Library, 89 Main St. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring a project and lunch.
•Syosset Day Chapter/Homemakers Council of NC holds its business meetings the first Wednesday of the month (September through June) at 10:15 a.m. Classes are held on subsequent Wednesdays at 10 a.m. The Homemakers meet at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, Berry Hill Rd., Syosset. All are welcome to join.
•Bereaved Parents of the USA. This national self-help support group charters the LI NY Chapter. Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 231 Jackson Ave., Syosset. The group offers support, compassion, understanding and hope. No dues or fees.
•Locust Valley Garden Club. The Executive Board of the Locust Valley Garden Club invites new members to join. The club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at Bailey Arboretum. Some of the committees take care of local gardens, do garden therapy with residents of Jones Manor, make projects with the children of the Grenville Boys and Girls Club and decorate local libraries at holiday time. If you are interested in becoming a member and perform a service to the community, contact Madeline 643-9109. Membership is not limited to Locust Valley residents. Anyone interested from surrounding towns is welcome to join. Upcoming programs include: garden video, holiday arrangements, sustainable landscapes and terrariums.
•Lions Club of Oyster Bay meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The Lions Club of Oyster Bay, chartered in 1948, is a non-denominational group of men and women from all walks of life, brought together in the common interest of serving the community in the spirit of Lionism. Call 922-2967, e-mail OBLions@aol.com or visit www.lionwap.org/oysterbayny.
