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By Mike White 🇺🇸 Dec. 16, 2025

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☕ Good morning, Long Island!

☃️ Look at that snow. Commack in Suffolk was the big winner with 8.5 inches, followed by 8 inches in Plainedge in Nassau, according to National Weather Service.

Here's an inch total report from midday Sunday.

❄️ And here are some pretty photos from the Babylon area.

🙏🏼 Thank you to the readers who responded to last week's call out about attendance at Catholic Masses on the Island. Report appears below.

✍🏼 Feel free to respond to this email with feedback!

Weather: Sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 15 and 25

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HOLIDAY CATERING FROM UNCLE GIUSEPPE'S

First, ‘Something is happening’ as pews fill at Catholic Masses on Long Island

🛐 Church pews across Nassau and Suffolk are noticeably fuller this fall, with parishioners and clergy reporting a striking uptick in Sunday Mass attendance that some see as part of a broader, organic renewal of interest in Catholic faith — but the reasons why, exactly, remain elusive.

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Second, a decade of the Southern Pine Beetle has left L.I. forests primed for fire

🎍A decade after the Southern Pine Beetle first took hold, vast stretches of the Pine Barrens are now filled with dead and dying trees, creating dangerous fuel for wildfires. Experts warn that without aggressive management and restoration the region remains primed for more intense fires in the years ahead. Click here to read our special report.

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Third, construction officially begins on Riverhead’s long-awaited Town Square

📰 Riverhead has officially broken ground on its long-awaited Town Square project, marking the start of a major downtown revitalization that’s been in the works for more than a decade and is expected to be finished within two years.

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More headlines to highlight

🍪 Crumbl Cookies confirmed a Dec. 19 opening for its first Suffolk County location at Brooktown Plaza in Stony Brook.

🥧 A Mighty Fine popup opened a festive holiday popup in Huntington as owners prepare full-time cafes in Huntington and Bay Shore

💪🏼 A Glen Head bodybuilder is turning heads by winning her second straight IFBB world title and inspiring women in the sport.

🍕 La Porta is expanding in Northport Village, with a new grab-and-go slice shop opening just down the block from the popular sit-down space.

📖 🍸 The Bookstore bar debuted in Patchogue, blending a bartender co-op concept with a cozy spot where you can even buy or trade books.

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FEATURED PARTNERS

Long Island’s Kiwanis clubs are rallying to serve more local families

Kiwanis Clubs across Long Island are stepping up efforts to support local families, from food drives and school programs to hands-on community service. Leaders say the growing need has sparked renewed energy among volunteers to make a tangible, local impact.

Greater Babylon coverage is funded in part by The Argyle Theatre, where Broadway comes to Babylon. Click here for tickets to Annie.