Village Connection Magazine Editorial

By Amy Tischler January 9, 2025
[DIX HILLS, NY, 12/18/2024] – The Art League of Long Island (ALLI), a cornerstone of the Long Island arts community, is proud to announce the celebration of its 70th anniversary in 2025. Since its founding in 1955, the Art League of Long Island has remained steadfast in its mission to provide high-quality visual arts education, foster creativity, and build connections through the arts. This remarkable milestone celebrates a legacy of resilience, innovation, and dedication to enriching lives through the visual arts. From its early beginnings in a YMCA to a small schoolhouse and now its current purpose-built facility constructed in the early 2000s, ALLI has evolved in name and location, adapting to meet the needs of the community it serves. Over the decades, the organization has weathered economic recessions, a global pandemic, and natural disasters, emerging stronger and more committed to its mission. "Reaching our 70th anniversary is a testament to the incredible support of our members, students, staff, and the Long Island community," said Marianne Della Croce, Executive Director of the Art League of Long Island. "It’s an opportunity to reflect on the challenges we’ve overcome, celebrate our accomplishments, and look forward to a bright future of creativity and collaboration." Celebratory Events and Initiatives The Art League of Long Island has an exciting lineup of events planned throughout 2025 to honor this milestone: 1970s-Themed Workshops: Dive into the past with workshops inspired by the vibrant art and culture of the 1970s, celebrating the era when ALLI was firmly establishing itself as a creative hub. Gala in May: A spectacular gala event that celebrates the artwork of one of the Art League of Long Island’s most tenured instructors, David Peikon, in hopes to bring together artists, supporters, and community members to promote continued support for the arts. Art Therapy Retreat in March: A unique initiative blending art and mindfulness to highlight the therapeutic power of creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to create, stretch, breathe and reflect. Backyard Zen Garden Project: In partnership with local Girl Scout troops, ALLI’s backyard will be transformed into a tranquil zen area, fostering a serene space for relaxation and inspiration. A place to unplug from our digital devices and become inspired by the world around us. A Legacy of Excellence Over its 70 years, the Art League of Long Island has reached countless lives through: A wide range of art classes for all ages (from 5-105) and skill levels (from beginners to the masters). Specialized programs such as “Arts in Education” for local schools and professional development for educators. Exhibitions showcasing local and national artists, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. Flexible event spaces that support local businesses and community activities. As it celebrates this milestone, the Art League of Long Island remains committed to innovation, diversity and growth, ensuring its programs and facilities continue to inspire and empower future generations of artists. We invite the larger Long Island community to join us in this celebration and to continue supporting ALLI as we advance our mission to foster creativity and connection through the arts. About the Art League of Long Island The Art League of Long Island is a nonprofit visual arts organization dedicated to enhancing Long Island’s cultural landscape. Founded in 1955, the Art League of Long Island provides a comprehensive calendar of art classes, exhibitions, and events that foster artistic growth and community engagement. For more information, visit www.artleagueli.org . For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Amy Tischler Marketing & Engagement Coordinator The Art League of Long Island Phone: 631-462-5400 Email: atischler@artleagueli.org “Be the Artist You Want to Be”
By Jeanne Murphy January 9, 2025
For many small business owners, the words "digital marketing" can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to assume you need a huge budget or advanced technical skills to see results, but that’s not true. In fact, learning just a few basics can empower you to attract more customers, improve your online presence, and grow your business organically. This blog is here to help! The Challenge for Small Businesses Small business owners often wear multiple hats, juggling operations, customer service, and marketing. With limited time and resources, digital marketing can often feel like the last thing on the list. The problem is, your customers are online—and if they can’t find you there, they may not find you at all. But here’s the good news: You don’t need to master everything at once. By starting small and focusing on the most impactful strategies, you can build a strong foundation for your online presence without breaking the bank. What You’ll Learn Here In this blog, I’ll break down digital marketing into bite-sized, actionable strategies tailored for small businesses. Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect: 1. Optimizing Your Google Business Profile Why it’s a must for local visibility and how to make your listing stand out. 2. Simple Website Updates Easy ways to ensure your site works for you, from mobile optimization to adding key information. 3. Keyword Research 101 How to discover the phrases your customers are searching for and use them to your advantage. 4. Competitor Analysis Learn from your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses to sharpen your own strategy. 5. Social Media Simplified Which platforms make sense for your business and how to post effectively without spending hours online. 6. Email Marketing Basics Build lasting relationships with your customers by creating emails they actually want to read. Why You Should Follow Along This isn’t about overwhelming you with jargon or complex strategies. Each post will offer straightforward advice, practical examples, and steps you can implement immediately. Whether you're just getting started or looking to refresh your approach, this blog will help you take control of your digital marketing and see real results over time. Let’s Get Started This year is the perfect time to take charge of your online presence. Bookmark this blog, check back regularly, and start implementing these tips to grow your business one step at a time. If there’s a specific topic you’d love to learn about, let me know—I’d love to help! Here’s to a successful and stress-free start to your digital marketing journey.
By James Savalli January 7, 2025
The whole family is invited to a wintry FrostFest celebration at The Whaling Museum, where we have a variety of indoor activities inspired by the winter season for children and their families. Come warm up from the cold in our wintry celebration! Discover survival tricks of polar sea creatures, see a walrus and narwhal tusk, create snow-tastic crafts, meet the character Elsa, and of course enjoy ice cream.
By Jeanne Clark January 1, 2025
When implementing significant changes in our lives, it may be more manageable to divide them into smaller modifications to prevent feelings of being overwhelmed . When we decide it's time to make huge changes in our lives, we should do it slowly and start small. Small modifications help us develop a new habit and make it a permanent part of our lives. Sudden changes can create a sense of failure, making it tough to continue, and we are more likely to return to our previous patterns. If we have already gone that road and are considering starting anew, we can choose to take it slowly this time and move forward. Sometimes the objectives we establish for ourselves are simply markers of the need for change, and they help us go in the correct direction. However, we may realize that the adjustment does not fit us or make us feel as we had intended. By starting off slowly, we may look about and examine different options as we learn and mature. We have time to investigate the underlying values of the desire for change and find ways to express those feelings, whether they resemble our original goal or not. Taking modest movements ahead allows us to adjust and find our footing on our new route. Life does not always allow us to anticipate or prepare for significant change, and we may find ourselves overwhelmed by what lies ahead of us. By concentrating on one task at a time, we direct our attention on something manageable, and when we look up, we will see that we have accomplished a lot. Forcing change is, in essence, an indication that we do not trust the universe's wisdom. Instead, we can listen to our inner direction and make changes at our own pace, while remaining in sync with the universe's rhythm. Jeanne Clark, RN, MSN
By Jim Savalli December 21, 2024
Gift-giving during the holiday season shouldn’t be stressful.
By Maureen Tara Nelson December 17, 2024
Dating Coaching Wouldn’t you love to be in the know when it comes to dating? Dating coaches are there to answer any questions you could possibly have and are there to help you with any dating challenges you may be facing. You will never have to wonder again how the other person thinks about you. We are the neutral third-party and you will always know how the other person feels. Hand Selected Photos Ever look on tinder and think to yourself “which one is she? There are ten girls in this photo” or when meeting that person for the first time, you end up realizing the photos you saw were from 5+ years ago? You will never be put in that situation at MTN Matchmaking Inc. We use only current photos when becoming a member. We want our clients to have a clear understanding of who they will be meeting! Compatibility Your match will be compatible to you in three different ways. This private matchmaking system is done by using hand selected matches by Maureen Tara Nelson personally. Your matches are not made by a computer system, they are made by Maureen’s secret method which has a proven track record of success of over 1000 success stories! Personalized Service At MTN Matchmaking, our main goal is to find the perfect person for you. We are here to help you through this exciting journey. If you ever need anything, have any questions or concerns you can of course call into the office and we will be here to help you. We know all of our clients very well and we have a clear understanding of what they are looking for. We want to make you successful, and with our great team of dating experts, we know how to make you successful in this most important area of your life. Multiple, Affordable Programs One of the biggest questions is always “HOW much is this?” We offer a variety of different packages for clients to choose from. Now remember, we are here to help you find the love of your life, which when that happens, it will be invaluable to you! 
By Happy Days Budtenders December 12, 2024
The holiday season is exciting and fun, but also stressful. ‘Tis the season for travel, spending time with family, and cooking giant multi-course meals. No matter what gets you stressed , there’s something for everyone. While you should be relaxing over platters of cookies, it’s perfectly normal if you need some help to unwind and enjoy your holiday season. CBD might be the key to your holiday stress. How can CBD improve your holiday stress? There are several ways CBD can provide relief for happy holidays.  CBD Gummies for Travel Stress Whether you’re navigating airports or driving to see relatives, CBD gummies can ease your anxiety and help you think more clearly when it comes time for smart travel decision-making. CBD Tinctures for Family Time Family time can be fun, but also a source of stress. Spending time with challenging relatives or rambunctious younger family members can add to your holiday stress. Fortunately, a drop or two of tasty CBD tinctures can help you relax and enjoy a few days of chatting with every family member. Tinctures are useful because they are easy to take, fast-acting, and taste delicious. Pick up a holiday flavor like peppermint or gingerbread to embrace a festive vibe while staying calm and relaxed. You can drop a tincture under your tongue before shared meals to make them more enjoyable and smooth out your conversation with family members. CBD Cooking Oil Preparing the Feast If you’re nervous about cooking a holiday feast for the family, consider using some CBD cooking oil . You can make a relaxing side that helps you focus on the artistry of creating a beautiful multi-course meal without stressing out. CBD edibles are a wonderful way to enhance the holidays for yourself and any adult relatives who could also use some help with holiday stress. Cook your CBD into cookies and brownies, toss it into the Chex Mix, or make signature side dishes with CBD oil. Just ensure to label the medicated dishes you’re making! CBD Capsules With Your Daily Vitamins Add a CBD capsule to your daily vitamins if you prefer to take it as a supplement. Supplements are important during the holidays because they help you stay healthy and energetic when your immune system is at the greatest risk. CBD capsules can help protect your immune system by lowering your holiday stress. They are also easy to build into your daily health routine. CBD Bath Bomb to Unwind Each Day The final element of your relaxing CBD holiday is a few bath bombs or other CBD topicals to help you unwind at the end of the day. CBD lotion, oil, or bath bombs can enhance your bedtime routine. They can also help you let go of the day’s stress and improve the depth and quality of your sleep. This will ensure you wake up refreshed and energized, ready to face another family day with holiday cheer. Planning a Stress-Free CBD Holiday in New York City Whether you are making your holiday plans from NYC or have family to visit in New York, you can find the CBD supplies you need for stress-free holidays at Happy Days Dispensary. Contact us or stop by to pick up your favorite CBD products like gummies, tinctures, topicals, oil, and more. Get our Coupon on Village Coupons!
By Jeannne+ Clark December 5, 2024
Monthly OM
By Jeannne+ Clark November 28, 2024
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By Michael Savalli November 13, 2024
The NADA ear protocol was developed in the 1970s to help the community around the borough of the Bronx, in New York City.   Lincoln...
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