🌱 Smithtown Daily: Toy Drive-Thru + Sen. Mattera's Toy Drive

Up and at 'em, Smithtown! Diane Witek here providing you with what you need to know to get your day started off right! Let's get you started this Thursday with everything you need to know going on around town today.

First, today's weather:

A shower in the evening; breezy. High: 57, low: 41.

Here are the top stories today in Smithtown:

1. St. James to host Holiday Gift & Toy Drive-Thru. "The goal is to make the holidays special for all the children in our community," said Thomas Donohue, St. James Fire District commissioner. The second annual St. James Community Holiday Gift & Toy Drive-Thru is set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Gyrodyne/Flowerfield, St. James. Visitors can enter via the entrance on Route 25A. An unwrapped toy serves as the admission. (Smithtown Patch)
2. Smithtown Town Board to hold zoom meeting regarding town code change for garden apartments. The proposal will eliminate descriptive wording on height and apartment units. (smithtownmatters.com)
3. Senator Mario R. Mattera (2nd Senate District) will be hosting a very special Holiday Toy Drive on Saturday, Dec. 11. The special event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Frank O. Arthur Brush Barn in Smithtown, which is located at 245 Middle Country Road in Smithtown. Volunteers will be accepting new and unwrapped toys and gift cards for children aged 2 through 16. Donors should avoid any toy guns or knives. There will be cookies and hot chocolate for the children who participate and each child who makes a donation is invited to send a personalized letter to Santa! (smithtownmatters.com)

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Today in Smithtown:

• Rock and Rhyme (Smithtown Library-Nesconset Building). (10 a.m.)
• Igloo Engineering Challenge (Smithtown Library-Smithtown Building). (11 a.m.)
• One-On-One Medicare Counseling and Assistance (Smithtown Library-Nesconset Building). (Noon)
• Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty Holiday Boutique. (5:30 p.m.)
• Director Abby Epstein Talks "The Business of Birth Control" on Tom Needham’s "Sounds of Film." (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Smithtown Performing Arts Center: "Our theatre education program performances of 'Frozen Jr.' and 'Frozen Kids' are a hit! 💙 Shoutout to our main-stage cast for their support and time volunteering as crew for their performances. #smithtownperformingartscenter #spac." (Facebook)
• Smithtown Department of Public Safety: "Why should you move over? A state trooper was inside this vehicle when a box truck drifted off the road, onto the shoulder and hit his patrol car. Luckily, he will be okay. When you see lights, vests reflectors or flares, check traffic around you, slow down and move over." (Facebook)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Roseland School of Dance — FALL DANCE CLASSES START IN SEPTEMBER — Register today! (Visit website)
• Add your business here.

Events:

• Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty Holiday Boutique. (Dec. 2)
• Bright Lights, A Magical Holiday Celebration at Vanderbilt Museum. (Dec. 3-4)
• Super Saturday Giveaway Day! (Dec. 4)
• Photos with Santa. (Dec. 4)
• Big Apple Circus is NOW OPEN in New York City! (Dec. 12)
• Add your event.

Job listings:

• Lumber yard worker/ facility attendant/ Customer Service. (Details)
• Add your job listing.

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update. If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Diane Witek

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

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Smithtown Daily? You can reach me at diane.witek@patch.com.