Good Morning,
As Christmas arrives, our community is balancing holiday moments with the realities of everyday life. From serious local incidents to students spreading cheer through music, plus new small businesses and seasonal closures, here’s what’s happening around town as the holiday week unfolds.
-Brian Grant, managing editor, writer
Local Pulse
🚔 A 65-year-old man was airlifted with serious injuries after a firework exploded in his lap inside an apartment on Pine Neck Avenue in East Patchogue around 5:40 pm on Sunday, December 21. Police said the man was handling fireworks inside the residence when the device detonated, causing severe groin injuries, and he was transported by medevac helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital while arson detectives continued to investigate the incident. Daily Voice
🚧 A Long Island Rail Road train struck a vehicle at the intersection of South Country Road and Robinson Boulevard in East Patchogue around 7:58 am on December 22, prompting a multi-agency emergency response and a temporary halt to train service. North Patchogue Fire Department units arrived to find heavy debris and a reported leak at the scene, EMS personnel evaluated individuals for possible transport, and the Hagerman Fire Department assisted while command was established and the situation was secured. The Legal Advocate
🎶 A new community spot for music lovers and coffee fans opened quietly in Patchogue this fall as Record Cafe began offering specialty coffee alongside vinyl records and guitars just off Main Street on Terry Street. The shop featured about 2,000 records, new and used guitars for sale or trade, and was created by owner Yofry Perez-Drebing as a relaxed space for collectors and creatives to gather while music played throughout the day. Greater Long Island
🏫 Village Hall in Patchogue closed early at 3 pm on Tuesday, December 23, and remained closed for the Christmas holiday through Friday, December 26, reopening at 9 am for regular business. Residents who needed to handle permits, payments, or in-person services were affected by the holiday closure during that week.
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Community Highlights
Community Highlights
The Patchogue Arts Council has launched its Annual Appeal 2026, inviting the community to help double the impact of a $10,000 matching gift and support public art projects that turn the entire village into an open-air museum. With just 10 days to reach their $20,000 goal, every contribution helps keep art visible, vibrant, and accessible across Patchogue and Long Island. [Patchogue Arts Council]
RUMBA is offering a last-chance holiday treat — now through December 24, receive a $20 Bonus Card for every $100 in gift cards purchased, perfect for spreading a little tropical sunshine to anyone on your list. Bonus Cards are redeemable January 1 through April 30, 2026, and the offer ends when they close on Christmas Eve. [RUMBA]
Bayport United Methodist Church is hosting a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on December 24 at 9:00 PM at 482 Middle Road in Bayport, NY. Everyone is invited to attend; for more information, call 631-472-0770 or email [email protected].
Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Village of Patchogue on December 31, 2025, with family-friendly festivities, a ball rise at 8 PM, and fireworks by Grucci. The celebration runs from 6–9 PM on Main Street at Four Corners and West Ave.
Join art historian Thomas Germano for Learning to Look | Pre-Columbian Mexico on January 22, 2026, at 6:30 PM, as he explores 3,000 years of Mesoamerican art and architecture from the Olmec to the Aztecs. Attend in person at 20 Terry Street, Patchogue, or online via Zoom.
The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is showing RENTAL FAMILY, a contemplative new drama starring Brendan Fraser as an actor who takes a job with a Japanese “rental family” agency and rediscovers human connection. Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center
The Patchogue Lioness Lions Club is hosting a Blood Drive on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Patchogue Ambulance Company, located at 336 West Main Street in Patchogue. Donors will receive a choice of fuzzy socks or a winter hat while supplies last, and appointments can be made by contacting Melissa at [email protected].
The Museum of Contemporary Art Long Island is presenting Mexico; Past & Present, a solo exhibition of works by Kelynn Z. Alder curated by John Cino, on view from December 13, 2025 to February 15, 2026. [Patchogue Arts Council]
The Patchogue Theatre is hosting a virtual 5K Run/Walk fundraiser through December 31 to support live entertainment and the arts. Participants will receive a unique gift and have their names displayed on the marquee in January. [Patchogue Theatre]
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