Name: Best things we ate in 2025: 4 dishes our food team loved
Uploaded: 2025-12-17T20:40:25.781Z
Duration: 1 min 47 s
Description: Newsday's food team takes a look back at the best things they ate on Long Island in 2025.

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Newsday&#39;s Gregg Sarra talks to Carey football player&nbsp;James McGrath about how he has persevered after losing his parents at a young age, and to the Lahainaluna (Hawaii) High School&nbsp;football coach about how his team&nbsp;persevered after the Maui wildfires of 2023, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the All-Long Island teams&nbsp;photo shoot.

Sports

High School

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Sarra Sounds Off, Ep.16: Sports helping overcome tragedy

Franklin Square

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Newsday

Sarra Sounds Off, Ep.16: From Island to island, how football helped overcome tragedy

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Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks to Carey football player James McGrath about how he has persevered after losing his parents at a young age, and to the Lahainaluna (Hawaii) High School football coach about how his team persevered after the Maui wildfires of 2023, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the All-Long Island teams photo shoot.

News

Weather

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Preparing for the storm

Suffolk

Nassau

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'We're ready to address this storm'

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Residents and town officials are preparing for Friday night's snowstorm. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

After&nbsp;Carey High School senior James McGrath Jr. lost both of his parents by age 11, he relied on his older brother and two sisters to help guide him through life.

High School Football

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Carey High's James McGrath has siblings' support after losing parents

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After Carey High School senior James McGrath Jr. lost both of his parents by age 11, he relied on his older brother and two sisters to help guide him through life.

The federal &quot;no tax on tips&quot;&nbsp;policy&nbsp;allows workers who typically receive tips to receive up to a $25,000 tax deduction for certain gratuities until 2028.

Business

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No tax on tips: What it means for Long Islanders

Jericho

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'It's like an insurance policy'

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The federal "no tax on tips" policy allows workers who typically receive tips to receive up to a $25,000 tax deduction for certain gratuities until 2028.

Floral Park&rsquo;s Dominick Critelli, a 104-year-old World War II veteran, will perform the national anthem on his saxophone before the Islanders-Rangers game on Saturday night at UBS Arena.

Hockey

New York Islanders

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104-year-old World War II veteran to perform national anthem at UBS Arena

Floral Park

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'I love this country'

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Floral Park's Dominick Critelli, a 104-year-old World War II veteran, will perform the national anthem on his saxophone before the Islanders-Rangers game on Saturday night at UBS Arena.

Diane Kearns, of Sound Beach,&nbsp;has helped bring the joy of holiday lights to the homes of cancer patients across Long Island.&nbsp;

Things to Do

Holidays

Winter Holidays

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Bringing Christmas cheer home to cancer patients

Massapequa

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The brightest of lights in the darkest of times

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Diane Kearns, of Sound Beach, has helped bring the joy of holiday lights to the homes of cancer patients across Long Island.

The rooms &mdash; which one judge described as &ldquo;putrid&quot; and &quot;cramped&rdquo; &mdash; have been packed with multiple detainees at same time. NewsdayTV&#39;s Andrew Ehinger reports.&nbsp;

Long Island

Investigations

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ICE has detained dozens on LI in 'putrid, cramped' conditions for prolonged periods

Central Islip

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'These are conditions that no person should be held under'

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The rooms — which one judge described as "putrid" and "cramped" — have been packed with multiple detainees at same time. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Laney McGowan&nbsp;died after a long and courageous battle with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of genetic epilepsy.&nbsp;NewsdayTV&#39;s&nbsp;Virginia Huie reports.&nbsp;

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Remembering 9-year-old Sayville girl who died from rare disorder

Sayville

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'We always prayed and we wished they would have a cure'

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Laney McGowan died after a long and courageous battle with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of genetic epilepsy. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Ed Born, a WWII veteran, had a 100th birthday celebration parade in his Hicksville neighborhood. NewsdayTV&#39;s&nbsp;Virginia Huie has more.&nbsp;

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LI WWII veteran honored for 100th birthday

Hicksville

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'Didn't do anything more than any other serviceman would do'

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Ed Born, a WWII veteran, had a 100th birthday celebration parade in his Hicksville neighborhood. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie has more.

&nbsp;Mamdani made universal child care a cornerstone of his campaign. NewsdayTV&#39;s Macy England talks with experts on how his plan could impact Long Island.

Politics

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How NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's push for universal child care could impact LI

long island

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'I think it's an awesome idea'

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Mamdani made universal child care a cornerstone of his campaign. NewsdayTV's Macy England talks with experts on how his plan could impact Long Island.

Bruce Springsteen&#39;s rendition of &quot;Santa Claus is Comin&#39; To Town&quot; was recorded during a concert at C.W. Post in 1975. NewsdayTV&#39;s Elisa DiStefano reports.

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50 years since Bruce brought 'Santa' to town

Brookville

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'Many people didn't know that it was recorded at C.W. Post'

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Bruce Springsteen's rendition of "Santa Claus is Comin' To Town" was recorded during a concert at C.W. Post in 1975. NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano reports.

NewsdayTV&#39;s Doug Geed takes us out&nbsp;to Center Moriches, where it is extra busy this time of year at Nettie&#39;s Country Bakery.&nbsp;

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Out East: Nettie's Country Bakery in Center Moriches

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'People don't leave here with a frown on their face'

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NewsdayTV's Doug Geed takes us out to Center Moriches, where it is extra busy this time of year at Nettie's Country Bakery.

Newsday business reporter Tory Parrish explains why the cost of beef is rising&nbsp;across Long Island.&nbsp;

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Long Islanders feeling the impact of rising beef prices

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'There's a lot of uncertainty in the economy right now'

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Newsday business reporter Tory Parrish explains why the cost of beef is rising across Long Island.

Newsday&#39;s business reporter James T. Madore speaks with a Long Island attorney on tips for choosing the right financial planner for making possible everything from paying for college to funding retirement.

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What to look for when choosing a financial advisor

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As important as choosing a doctor or mechanic

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Newsday's business reporter James T. Madore speaks with a Long Island attorney on tips for choosing the right financial planner for making possible everything from paying for college to funding retirement.

NewsdayTV&#39;s Doug Geed visits&nbsp;two&nbsp;wineries and&nbsp;a fish market, and then it&#39;s time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.

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Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias

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NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.

Andrew Dykes, 66,&nbsp;has been indicted for the 1997 murder of Tanya Jackson, whose killing was a mystery for nearly 30 years.&nbsp;NewsdayTV&#39;s Virginia Huie reports.&nbsp;

Crime

Gilgo Beach Killings

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Former state trooper pleads not guilty to murder of Gilgo Beach victim 'Peaches'

New York City

Brooklyn

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'A violent and horrifying act of violence'

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Andrew Dykes, 66, has been indicted for the 1997 murder of Tanya Jackson, whose killing was a mystery for nearly 30 years. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Black people were nearly 11 times as likely to experience force as white people by Nassau and Suffolk police between 2021 and 2024, a Newsday analysis found. Newsday investigative reporter Payton Guion has the story.

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LI police still using force against Black people at disproportionate rates, 5 years after reforms

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'Every day I feel like I'm reliving the moment'

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Black people were nearly 11 times as likely to experience force as white people by Nassau and Suffolk police between 2021 and 2024, a Newsday analysis found. Newsday investigative reporter Payton Guion has the story.

Fernando Mejia, an employee at Schmear Bagel Cafe in Port Washington, was arrested by ICE agents in June. He returned to his home country of El Salvador in November. NewsdayTV&#39;s Andrew Ehinger reports.

Towns

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Port Washington community rallies around deported bagel store worker

North Hempstead Town

Port Washington

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'I say thank you to all Port Washington'

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Fernando Mejeia, an employee at Schmear Bagel Café in Port Washington, was arrested by ICE agents in June and later deported. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

A Newsday analysis shows town and city employees across Long Island made&nbsp;$200,000 or more in 2024, a nearly 51%&nbsp;increase over 2023.&nbsp;

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LI town, city employee pay rose 51% in 2024

Oyster Bay Town

Hempstead Town

Brookhaven Town

Smithtown Town

Glen Cove

Long Beach

Islip Town

East Hampton Town

Southampton Town

Riverhead Town

Southold Town

Shelter Island Town

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'The cause for the increase is multifaceted'

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A Newsday analysis shows town and city employees across Long Island made $200,000 or more in 2024, a nearly 51% increase over 2023.

Newsday film critic Rafer Guzm&aacute;n talks with&nbsp;NewsdayTV&#39;s Macy Egeland about three of this year&#39;s most-anticipated movies about to hit the big screen.

Entertainment

Movies

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NewsdayTV's holiday movie preview

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'Avatar' and more December movie releases

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Newsday film critic Rafer Guzmán talks with NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland about three of this year's most-anticipated movies about to hit the big screen.

HOLIDAY SEASON 2025

FLEXIBLE SLOT

From local treasures to this year&#39;s hottest toys, NewsdayTV&#39;s team has a tour of our 2025 Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide.

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Newsday's Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

Stony Brook

Cold Spring Harbor

Oceanside

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Step inside Newsday's Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

From local treasures to this year's hottest toys, NewsdayTV's team has a tour of our 2025 Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide.