Around Patchogue-Medford:

• Saxton is having their Winter Banquet hosted by their G.O. on December 13 at 7pm.
• The ACT exam is being held on Saturday, December 14, don’t forget to study!
• Eagle is hosting a movie night on December 16. The Polar Express will begin at 6:30pm.
• Support the Patchogue-Medford Youth & Community Services Holiday Assistance Program by donating wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, bows, ribbon, or gift tags. Donations can be brought to room 119, or placed in the donation box in the Teacher Center until December 16th.
• South Ocean’s 7th & 8th Grade Winter Concert is being held at Saxton on December 17, beginning at 7pm.
• Oregon’s 7th & 8th Grade Winter Concert will be held in the High School auditorium on December 17, starting at 7pm.
• River is hosting a movie night on December 18. The Polar Express is being shown from 6-7:30pm.
• Elf is being shown at Barton on December 18 through the SEPTA program from 6:30-8:30.
• The High School’s Winter Concert #2 is happening on December 18 in the Auditorium, beginning at 7pm.
• Saxton is having their 7th & 8th Grade Winter Concert on December 19 at Saxton beginning at 7pm.
• The High School PTSA meeting is being held on Thursday, December 19 in room 216 starting at 7:30.

Local Happenings:

• The Annual Holiday Concert & Community Sing-a-long is taking place on December 15 at 7pm at the Congregational Church of Patchogue.
• Seiskaya Ballet’s The Nutcracker on December 19 at 7pm at the Staller Center For the Arts in Stony Brook.
• Elf the Musical is being performed at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts on December 20 beginning at 7pm. Tickets range from $59 to $89.

Beyond Long Island:

• Trump Administration dropped plans for mandatory face scans of citizens as they travel in and out of the country.
• Scientists say the aquamarine color of the Mekong River has recently acquired tourists but it also indicates a problem caused by upstream dams.
• The EPA rejected a ban on poison bombs against a cattle predator. The Trump administration says it will allow trappers to continue using controversial sodium cyanide bombs to kill coyotes and other livestock predators.