Puzzle Pieces of Prevention: Babylon Unites for Red Ribbon Week Celebration

BABYLON, NY — October 24, 2025: The sound of applause echoed through Babylon Town Hall as students, leaders, and community members joined forces for the annual Red Ribbon Week Town Hall, turning a routine October evening into a celebration of prevention and community.
Under this year’s national theme, “Life Is a Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free,” the event brought more than fifty people together, law enforcement officers, educators, youth, and faith leaders, all bound by a shared mission to keep their communities healthy and substance-free. The night opened with a powerful Color Guard presentation from the Lindenhurst Marine Corps ROTC and a National Anthem sung by the Wyandanch Memorial High School Elite Wolves Choir. Energy filled the room as Freedom Chapel Church of Amityville brought the audience to its feet with an uplifting dance and blessing that set the tone for the night.
Throughout the evening, speakers including Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr., and Councilman Dwayne Gregory on behalf of Councilman Terence McSweeney, called for continued collaboration and youth leadership in the fight against substance misuse. Their words weren’t just speeches, they were calls to action.
The night’s most powerful moment came when each coalition stepped forward to add their piece to a giant community puzzle, symbolizing unity across the Town of Babylon neighborhoods. “This event reminds us that every person, organization, and act of service is a vital piece in creating lasting change,” said Lori-Ann Novello, Executive Director of Lindenhurst Community Cares. “When we come together, we complete the picture of a healthier, stronger community.”
By the end of the night, every person understood their place in the bigger picture, proof that when all the pieces come together, prevention becomes possible.

Prevention doesn't happen in a vacuum. Meetings, planning, collaborating!

The Lindy Cares staff team included Lori-Ann Novello, Vincenza Damon, Karina Bak, Lori-Anne Herman, and Kayla Johnson, whose collaboration and dedication helped make the event a success. We were honored to welcome several dignitary hosts and government officials, including Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr.; Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer; Deputy Supervisor Antonio Martinez; Councilmen Terence McSweeney, DuWayne Gregory, and Anthony Manetta; Legislators Kevin McCaffrey and Jason Richberg; Mayors Mary E. Adams, Mike O’Neil, and Michael Levorata; Trustee Roger Smith; and Assemblymen Kwani O’Pharrow and Michael Durso. Representation from the law enforcement sector included Nick Sheida, Inspector Brendan Forte, and Officer Cupak of the Suffolk County Police Department’s 1st Precinct, as well as SPC Hartwell of the U.S. Army National Guard. The faith-based sector was represented by Freedom Chapel Church, who opened the event with a dance performance and blessing, while the education sector was highlighted by the Wyandanch Memorial High School Elite Wolves Choir, who performed the National Anthem. The business sector was proudly represented by The Little Flower Shop of Lindenhurst, a generous event sponsor. Coalition and community representatives included Kisha Carter of Concerned Citizens of Wyandanch and Valerie St. Bernard of the Deer Park Prevention Coalition, demonstrating strong cross-community collaboration.
Youth engagement played a central role in the event, with students and volunteers from Lindenhurst, Wyandanch, Copiague, and Deer Park contributing to the planning, puzzle activity, and event setup, reflecting the campaign’s youth-led, adult-guided mission. The event also featured several vendors and resource tables, including Hope for Youth, Seafield Center, TOB Beacon Family Wellness, New Horizons Counseling Center, and RiseWell, who provided valuable information and resources to attendees.