Selden, NY – Volunteers of all ages bundled up and gathered on the bright, chilly morning of Saturday, November 15th to beautify Selden and honor our communities’ veterans by partaking in Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay’s November Monthly Mission: 36 community members planted more than 1,000 daffodil bulbs at Veterans Park. This monthly mission was made possible through coordination efforts with Town of Brookhaven Councilman Neil Manzella and Old Town Blooms, who helped coordinate the effort; the daffodil bulbs were donated by Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay and Craig den Hartog of Old Town Blooms, in coordination with Peter Zangle of Site One Supply.

About her November Monthly Mission, Assemblywoman Kassay shared, “Though the chill of the winter season is just settling in, I carry the warmth of spring in my heart thanks to the dozens of energetic, enthusiastic volunteers who came out to make their community a better place for everyone who calls it home. I would like to extend my gratitude to Councilman Neil Manzella and his office for partnering with us to bring this beautification project to Selden. I am also deeply grateful to Craig den Hartog of Old Town Blooms for his generous donation of bulbs, equipment, and time, which added so much to this project. Our parks are special gathering places where residents of all ages can relax, play, and feel connected to their community. By actively taking care of these shared spaces, we are making our neighborhoods brighter, safer, and more inviting. With Veterans Day celebrations come and gone, we are also proud to continue honoring those who served by continuing the beautification efforts at Veterans Park. We hope the volunteers will return to the park next spring to see their hard work come alive in full bloom!”

Town Councilman Neil Manzella shared, “Thank you to Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay for organizing this wonderful day of service. The daffodils we planted will complement the existing landscaping beautifully and the efforts of our amazing volunteers strengthened the sense of community that makes our districts so special.”

Craig den Hartog Planter of Old Town Blooms shared, “Big cheers to Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay for leading the way in helping and beautifying our local communities. Your passion inspires us all. Join the mission—and let’s keep Brookhaven growing and blooming, one month at a time!”

Among the 36 volunteers were members of the Selden and Centereach Civic Associations, Middle Country Youth Civic, and Girl Scout Troops 901 and 885. During the event, volunteers shared their feelings on the initiative:

Diane said, “It’s a wonderful thing she’s doing and it’ll be beautiful in the spring.”
Mitt shared, “It’s a great way to engage the community and to make our homes more lovable.”
Nettie of Troop 901 said, “We’re glad we can do this for the community and can make it a better place.”

A volunteer who wished to remain anonymous shared, “It’s nice to do something that can give the community a boost in beautification and it’s something we can now enjoy every year.”

In an effort to bring residents together to serve their community, connect, and take part in hands-on projects that make a real difference in Assembly District 4, Assemblywoman Kassay has planned monthly missions from September to December, with plans to continue in 2026. December’s mission will feature a partnership with the American Red Cross to help install FREE smoke detectors and provide home safety checks for residents across Assembly District 4 who have signed up to receive the service with the American Red Cross. If you or someone you know would like to sign up to receive this service, please visit their Web site. Assemblywoman Kassay is also putting out a call for local volunteers, asking them to join her office in helping to install these smoke detectors and helping document the visits on Saturday, December 6th from 9am-3pm starting at the Middle Country Public Library's Selden Building. Due to the nature of this mission, any volunteer under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and will be asked to do tasks on site. No experience or equipment required; training will be provided by the American Red Cross on site in the morning.

Community members are encouraged to visit the Assemblywoman’s government website, call her office at 631-751-3094, or email kassayr@nyassembly.gov to sign up for her electronic newsletter and receive information about upcoming events and community updates.