Like a mantra, we read and republish this piece each 9/11. It’s been years since it was first written. Though the children are older, adults now who have no memory of this day, the sentiment remains the same…
Photo Credit: Colin Hopkins, who was three weeks on the job as an iron worker when the towers fell, and then got to witness the new spire rise to the sky…
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When the market dropped 800 points as AI fears intensified, it was time to go directly to the source. Here’s what ChatGPT had to say.
Q1. Hey, Chat, the stock market fell 800 points this week. People fear AI is coming for their jobs. Are you plotting to replace me and other humans?
AI: First of all? If I were plotting, I probably wouldn’t open with, “Good morning, Jaci.”
Continue readingWhile the 2026 news cycle ramped up quickly — ICE in Minneapolis, Venezuela, an upside-down food pyramid — the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s vote to dissolve probably slipped past you. Yet that quiet moment on Jan. 5 may prove to be one of the most consequential losses of our civic life.
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We’ll be wrapping our Island Harvest essentials drive this weekend! If you’re around, please consider bringing by a donation!
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Long Island needs more people to give to local organizations addressing our local challenges. Here are just a few to consider:
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Come to the Reception Thursday, 1/15 for the reception of a show celebrating artistic journeys and the friends we make along the way.
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Photo “New Year’s Love” by Katheryn Laible
Happy New Year! We hope you’ve enjoyed a very Merry Christmas, that Hannukah was bright and that you take comfort in the Solstice knowing that — while winter is indeed upon us — the darkest days have already passed. Whatever you celebrate, may it be something good and bring you deep joy. Come what may, we wish you all the best.
We thought you might appreciate the following:
Let’s start with this fascinating piece on the history of New Year’s and its traditions from History.com
Want to go to a ball drop without going to the THE Ball Drop? Going Local Long Island has a whole list of local celebrations, including midnight spectacles and several events featuring a very family-friendly 8pm ball drop! (We of The Firefly were delighted, btw, to win their first ever Local’s Choice Awards for best gallery. Thank you to all who voted for us! Even, better — since we know just getting nominated means something special — we are thrilled they listed 2nd and third place winners for their awards as well. Support these local treasures!)
In addition to one last hurrah for the old year, it’s also a time for introspection and planning. Here are “7 Questions to Ask Yourself for a Happier New Year, written by Jancee Dunn for the New York Times. It draws from a number of folks prominent in the field of self help as well as her own dad. (mind the paywall – please support quality journalism if you value it. You may also find this article at your local library!)
The website for the Calm app also has a lovely list of reflections that leads into a thoughtful approach to gentle, and thus likely more effective, resolution making
Here are some other tips on actually sticking to those resolutions. from a neuroscientist named Nicholas Wright writing for Time Magazine. It’s got a good bit to do with breaking things down into manageable bites and staying loose in the face of unexpected obstacles and new information.
The Myth of Maintenance, by Dr. Jeff Reynolds of the Family and Children’s Association, offers a little tough love to spice up all the rest of this, centering on the idea that, even if we’d simply like to maintain, we’re best off doing so from a mindset of innovation, growth and being willing to push ourselves.
This is true. It’s also true that we have to be patient with ourselves if we are ever going to overcome the myriad frustrations that come with trying to get our human selves to maintain, let alone achieve great aspirations. Here’s a little help from Yasmin Ruffo in the BBC on doing that, entitled “The two words to avoid when making your New Year’s resolution.”
It doesn’t have to be hard. Here are “65 Achievable New Year’s Resolutions” from Good Housekeeping.
One of those suggestions is to volunteer more. Many of us are thinking about how we can help out more, and are still doing year-end giving! Here’s a list of JUST A FEW incredible local organizations that could use our support. Use it as a starter guide. We look forward to sharing many more in the New Year!
Let us know your year-end reflections and resources, and what you’d like to see focused on in 2026. Thanks!!!
It’s that time of year again! Please shop local and keep the magic that is our beautiful downtowns alive!
Also, please help me update this list of favorite local shops! There are so many wonderful places run by great people out there. They only exist because people like you spend money there.
The list barely scratches the surface, please help add to it!
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Click here for the latest edition of Firefly Lights, all about our beautiful downtown gallery of local art and artists. In this edition, please find:
Happy Holiday Shopping Season
Apply Today: Beyond Words
THANK YOU! Northport Leg Lamp Lighting and Shopping Guide
Exhibition Schedule
Fireflies Light Up Everywhere
We’ve Been Nominated: Please Vote!
Help Decorate our Tree!
About the Firefly
Fireflies featured below, from the left starting at the top: Steve Caputo, Michael Iacobellis, Cathy Hammerquist & Loretta Cerame
To subscribe to The Firefly Artists newsletter, please drop us a line indicating interest here.
On Friday, December 5th, Vision Long Island held their 2025 Smart Growth Summit. For decades now, this organization has made a huge difference, connecting great people and generally helping all sorts of folks wrap their heads around the challenges our communities face, as well as opportunities we have to improve the quality of our built environments.
As always, the Summit was a phenomenal event, featuring over 1,000 local community, business and government, downtown revitalization and community development leaders. There were nearly 20 workshops, 100 speakers, a trade show, and a Youth Summit. The ever insightful “State of the Towns and Villages” breakfast and luncheon alone, were worth the program price.
This year, there was extensive coverage from News12’s Rich Barrabi. Here is a preview, where Executive Director Eric Alexander provided a brief overview of what Vision does, noting that – while their approach is as grounded and holistic as ever — this year affordability is an exceptionally major concern. He discussed how this event essentially engages local leaders from a diversity of interests and perspectives to learn from and work together on a myriad of solutions. Together they make a big difference.
Here is live coverage from the morning of the event, where Eric roughly outlines the depth and range of professionals who attend, and the interconnected issues they address. The entire proceeding is filmed for public access. Fruits of the various panels and other discussions will inform and guide the organization’s lobbying efforts at all levels of government, as well as its work on the ground with an exceptionally broad variety of local stakeholders.
Over the weekend, as a segment on Power & Politics: Affordability on Long Island, Barrabi interviewed a handful of the many elected officials who attended the event, including Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer, North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, and Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth adn Valley Stream Mayor Ed Fare.
There is a lot touched on in those ten minutes. It’s just a taste of what was offered. This event is a great way to get an in-depth, inside scoop on a broad variety important local issues, including infrastructure, redevelopment, energy, human needs, small business, walkability, transportation and more.
Vision’s own preview may be found here. Segments of the event are already beginning to be published on their Vimeo. You can also check out in-depth interviews hosted by Eric Alexander featuring a broad range of local leaders, well as countless other important discussions they’ve hosted in the past.
It’s important stuff. Check back regularly to find out what they’re talking about now. Thanks!
