Bundle up, neighbors. It is a classic coastal January week with chilly mornings, bright afternoons, and plenty of ways to get out of the house. Here is what is happening around town, plus a look ahead to the rest of the month.
This Week at a Glance: Jan 12-18
- Tue 1/13 - Family Game Night at the library, 6:30-8:00 pm: Board games and puzzles for all ages. Quiet, cozy fun midweek.
- Wed 1/14 - Indoor Pickleball Open Play at the community center, 7:00-9:00 pm: Bring a paddle if you have one; loaners limited. Mixed levels welcome.
- Thu 1/15 - Winter Bird Walk at Twin Lakes Preserve, 9:00-10:30 am: A gentle nature walk. Dress warm and bring binoculars if you can.
- Fri 1/16 - Teens Create Night at the library, 6:00-7:30 pm: Drop-in art lab with seasonal crafts and sketch supplies provided.
- Sat 1/17 - Community Blood Drive, 9:00 am-2:00 pm, firehouse meeting room: Walk-ins welcome. Eat before donating and bring ID.
- Sat 1/17 - Jones Beach West End Dune Stroll, 11:00 am-12:00 pm: Learn about winter shore ecology on a brisk guided walk.
- Sat 1/17 - Varsity Basketball Home Game, 2:00 pm, high school gym: Local pride on display. Concessions open.
- Sun 1/18 - Wantagh Museum Open Hours, 2:00-4:00 pm: Step into local history with exhibits on the rail station and early settlement.
Spotlight: Cozy Indoor Options
If the wind is up, keep it indoors. The library has study rooms, story times, and a quiet reading nook by the large windows. The community center schedules open gym blocks most afternoons this week - a good chance to run the kids or shoot some hoops. Seniors can check morning low-impact fitness on Tuesday and Thursday, with coffee social afterward. If you are home with little ones, try a DIY winter scavenger hunt card from youth services - pick up a sheet and see how many items you can spot on a neighborhood walk.
Outdoors When You Can
On calmer days, Wantagh Park is an easy winter win. The waterfront path has clear sightlines and is often sunnier than side streets. Bring gloves, walk the loop, and watch for buffleheads and mergansers rafted offshore. Early risers can catch good light at the Twin Lakes boardwalk. Pets are welcome in designated areas - keep leashes short and paws warm.
Community Notes
- Road safety: With overnight refreezing possible, give yourself extra braking room, especially near the parkway ramps and the train station.
- Heat help: If a neighbor's porch light stays dark and unshoveled after a frost, check in by phone or over the fence. Small kindnesses go far in January.
- Recreation reminders: Field permits for spring sports open soon. Coaches should gather rosters and proof-of-residency packets now to speed approvals.
Later This Month
- Mon 1/19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Most public offices and schools are closed. Expect holiday adjustments to curbside collection; set bins the evening before your revised day and secure lids against wind.
- Sat 1/24 - Winter Shoreline Cleanup, 10:00-11:30 am: Family-friendly litter pick along the bayside. Gloves and bags provided at check-in.
- Thu 1/29 - Parents Night: Digital Safety Q and A, 7:00-8:15 pm, community center classroom: Practical tips on device settings and family rules.
- Sat 1/31 - Cabin Fever Concert, 7:00-8:30 pm, auditorium: Local musicians, acoustic sets, and warm beverages for a midwinter lift.
Quick Planner
What to bring this week: warm layers, a reusable water bottle, and small bills for concessions and raffles. What to watch for: black ice at dawn, late afternoon school and activity traffic near Wantagh Avenue, and stronger breezes near the shoreline. Share this bulletin with a neighbor, pick one event, and we will see you around town.
