BELLPORTER

Brookhaven Fire Department’s tree lighting, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. There will be hot chocolate, caroling, treats and a visit from Santa. Winter coat drive, Dec. 3 at 5-7 p.m. The Village Idiot Pub in Patchogue will be hosting a warm winter coat drive. Avery Homestead tree lighting, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. The tree lighting will be held at the Avery Homestead County Park at 29 South Country Road in East Patchogue, behind the Little Red Shed. Bellport’s Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, Dec.

Former congressman Lee Zeldin is President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the EPA, a surprising choice to some local environmentalists who hope the Suffolk County native will prioritize the environment over corporate interests.

GivingTuesday is Dec. 3, and area nonprofit organizations are hoping it will motivate people to donate. GivingTuesday is an annual worldwide event that started at the 92nd Street Y in New York in 2012 as “a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world,” according to the GivingTuesday website. “GivingTuesday is all about celebrating each and every single act of generosity we have to offer,” the group’s website says.

Earlier this month in Philadelphia, Pa., the Baking Coach, a local Long Island women-run business, won SCORE's annual 60th anniversary Pitch Competition. The Baking Coach is an educational and entertainment cooking company located in Bellport. Along with the Baking Coach, nine other incredible entrepreneurs competed for $35K in prizes in the first of five pitch competitions as part of the organization, SCORE.