🌱 Smithtown Daily: Mask Mandate Upheld + Ice Festival + Game On

Welcome back, Smithtown! Diane Witek here with everything you need to know to get this Wednesday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and quite cold. High: 27, low: 13.

Are you a local business owner or marketer in Smithtown? We'd love to start connecting local businesses with our amazing readers. Learn more about how it works.

Here are the top stories today in Smithtown:

1. When Judge Thomas Rademaker ruled Gov. Kathy Hochul’s mask mandate for schools unconstitutional, Hochul said she’d fight back. After an appeals court judge granted a stay, New York’s mask mandate was reinstated Tuesday afternoon. Justice Robert Miller scheduled another hearing on the mask issue for Friday morning. (PIX 11)
2. Game On Retro Arcade in the Smith Haven Mall is a walk back in time when games like Pac-Man, Tetris and X-Men were new and you played them for hours. The room boasts nearly 100 vintage video game consoles. This week, every machine is on free play, for now. After that, all-day play will be $20 Monday to Thursday and $25 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Game On Retro Arcade will also roll out family plans and group rates. From 6-8 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month, Game On Retro Arcade will close to host Whitworth’s autism social club. (Greater Long Island)
3. If you haven't seen Port Jefferson's second annual Ice Festival yet, this Saturday is your last chance to do so. Each carving is unique and will be placed in front of the following locations: Local’s, Pasta Pasta/Toast Coffeehouse steps, Frigate Lot, Chandler Square (front of Port Jefferson Brewery and You, Me Tea) and the PJ Lobster House. (Greater Port Jeff)

From our sponsor:

Today's Smithtown Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at GoodRx — the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com.

Today in Smithtown:

• Art Exhibit — The Walls Still Talk (Smithtown Library-Kings Park Building). (9:30 a.m.)
• Time for Twos (Smithtown Library-Kings Park Building). (10:30 a.m.)
• Sensory Storytime (Smithtown Library-Nesconset Building). (3 p.m.)
• Coping with Grief (Smithtown Library). (3 p.m.)
• Winter Snow Globes (Smithtown Library-Kings Park Building). (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Smithtown Department of Public Safety: "We are saddened and extend our deepest condolences to the Baltimore City Fire Department on the tragic loss of three of their firefighters today. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends and colleagues." (Facebook) (Website)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Fitness 4 You. (Visit website)
• The Creative House. (Visit Website)
• Add your business here.

Announcements:

• Art Teacher available to give lesson. (Details)
• Behind The Scoreboard — Sports For Athletes With Disabilities. (Details)
• Add your announcement.

Job listings:

• Accounting position part-time. (Details)
• Part Time Office Help. (Details)
• Assembler & Technician. (Details)
• Add your job listing.

Loving the Smithtown Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe.
• Get your local business featured in front of readers.
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at diane.witek@patch.com.

Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow for your next update.

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.