Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Minor Columbia Street chimney fire brings quick response, no injuries reported
Spotted on the Islip calendar: UPK Registration for 2026-2027
Hey there, Islip! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Minor Columbia Street chimney fire brings quick response, no injuries reported
- How Islip’s cell tower ban could reshape Bayport’s firehouse plans
- What a West Islip school contractor must repay underpaid workers
Today's riddle: What did the baby computer say to the mommy computer? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Islipfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 49 and low of 35 degrees.
- Thursday: A bit of snow and rain, temps: high: 37, low: 16. ⛄️ Brr!
- Friday: Strong winds subsiding, with a high of 32 and low of 29 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Minor Chimney Fire Erupts at Islip Residence (thelegaladvocate.com) — Emergency crews quickly contained a minor chimney fire Tuesday evening at a home on Columbia Street in Islip, with no injuries or major damage reported. Firefighters checked for any spread of the blaze, had an officer in charge on scene, and canceled mutual aid once the situation was secure. 
Find out what's happening in Islipfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
• Legal precedent questioned in Bayport tower debate (newsday.com) — Islip Town’s ban on cell towers near homes is at the center of a heated fight over a proposed 152-foot communications tower at the Bayport firehouse. Fire officials say the project would fix radio dead zones without raising taxes, while dozens of nearby residents and town attorneys argue the plan skirts Islip zoning rules and could hurt property values.
• Amityville Contractor Admits Stealing Wages From West Islip Middle School Employees, Must Repay $13K: DA (patch.com) — Workers on a public painting project at Masera Middle School in West Islip have received more than $13,000 in back wages after an Amityville contractor admitted underpaying them. Suffolk County prosecutors say the owner of RJ Painting Inc. pleaded guilty to petit larceny tied to prevailing wage violations on the West Islip job and two other public projects between 2022 and 2024.
📸 Around Islip
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Islip
- UPK Registration for 2026-2027
Bay Shore UFSD Bay Shore, NY 11706
Thursday January 15
📣 Islip Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Long Island Bigger Pockets January Meet- Up
Kismet - Coffee, Kitchen & Cocktails , 45 W Main St , Bay Shore
7:00 pm - 🎉 Bingo Wednesdays at Great South Bay Brewery! 🍻
Great South Bay Brewery , 25 Drexel Dr , Bay Shore
7:00 pm - 2026 Joint NLS & SCLS Mock Printz Workshop
Bay Shore-Brightwaters Public Library , 1 S Country Rd , Brightwaters
9:30 am - Workshop: How the New Medicare Benefit Supports Patients With Dementia
Brookhaven, NY Calendar
12:00 pm - Winter Seed Sowing
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County , 423 N Griffing Ave # 100 , Riverhead
12:00 pm - Vascular Disease Screenings - Centereach Location
Stony Brook Vascular Center , 23 South Howell Ave, Suite H , Centereach
1:00 pm - VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON: A Look Back at the Early Days of TV Advertising
Connetquot Public Library , 760 Ocean Ave , Bohemia
2:30 pm - Teen Thursdays
Brentwood Public Library , 34 Second Ave , Brentwood
3:00 pm - Community Service: Bookmark Decorating
Central Islip Public Library , 33 Hawthorne Ave , Central Islip
3:30 pm - Mario Kart Tournament: Ages 8-12
Central Islip Public Library , 33 Hawthorne Ave , Central Islip
6:00 pm - Live Music with Paris Ray!
Coastal Kitchen & Daiquiri Bar , 12 E Main St , Bay Shore
6:00 pm
Wednesday January 14
Thursday January 15
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Islip PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- I have been feeding a stray cat for over a year, and he hasn't been around lately.
He hasn't been around for at least 24 hours. Has anyone seen this cat or taken him in? I call him "Sam." I just want to know if he is okay. (Nextdoor Islip Commack)
- Snipes posted a job opening for Stock Personnel in Central Islip. Apply here.
- Dollar Tree posted a job opening for Assistant Manager II in Bay Shore. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Islip here.
🗞 Nearby News
Central Islip
- Suffolk County Criminal Defense Attorney Jason Bassett Explains Key Differences Between Petit And Grand Larceny In New York (pressreleasecc.com)
Bohemia
- Hauppauge family seeks support as father remains in ICU after crash (greaterlongisland.com)
Hauppauge
Ok Islip! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I want my data.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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