The Rad Trads opened the 50th Huntington Summer Arts Festival with a bang on Friday, June 26. This New York-based ensemble energetically played their diverse and brassy repertoire ranging from New Orleans second line to Chicago and delta blues, R&B and rock ’n’ roll. For their finale, they moved off the stage, playing among a clapping and happy audience.
Huntington High School marked its 154th annual commencement on Friday, June 26.
The Blue Devils celebrated in style, marking the occasion with a processional, speeches by a number of students and school officials, words of wisdom from Valedictorian Caitlin Knowles and Salutatorian Joe Saginaw and much cheer from excited parents. It was also longtime Principal Carmela Leonardi’s last graduation, as she celebrates retirement this year.
Centereach High School students received their diplomas Saturday morning at their commencement ceremony under beautiful, sunny skies. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) addressed the senior class with his now presumably patented “Go for it!” speech, the class Valedictorian Devon Patel compared life to a long race in the video game “Mario Kart,” and senior class President Raquel DiGiacomo took a selfie with the entire senior class at the conclusion of her speech. Principal Thomas Bell also took the time to recognize the family of Matthew Lewis, a member of the senior class who passed away earlier in this school year.
The Northport High School Class of 2015 graduated on Saturday, June 27. The bleachers were filled to capacity as speakers U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) congratulated the students and offered some advice.
Principal Irene McLaughlin, as well as other Northport High School staff members and members of the Northport-East Northport school board handed out diplomas and cheered on the students. Valedictorian Joseph Wetzel and Salutatorian Ana Chisholm gave poignant speeches, and the Northport High School Choir sang “Fields of Gold.”
A man robbed a bank in Centereach on Friday, and police are still looking for the culprit.
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, the suspect entered he Peoples United Bank on Middle Country Road at 11:30 a.m. that day and gave a teller a note demanding cash. After the teller complied, the man fled on foot.
Police described the suspect as being a white male with a heavy build between 45 and 50 years old, and about 5 feet 7 inches tall. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, a black T-shirt, dark jeans and sunglasses.
Detectives from the SCPD’s Pattern Crime Unit are investigating the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.
Umbrellas, usually necessary to ward off blazing sun, protected spectators from light drizzle as Ward Melville High School honored around 600 graduates Sunday.
Graduating seniors took their places in bleachers set up alongside the high school’s entrance, which still featured the “Journey to Neverland” backdrop from Thursday night’s prom.
Salutatorian Jayne Green told the women in the audience to remember they were not alone and that as half of the population, women should unite and work together. If they did, she said, “Nothing can stop us.”
Valedictorian Eric Wang shared his moment at the podium with his classmates by mentioning many of them and their contributions by name.
From state athletic champions to talented performers, innovators, “extraordinary leaders,” “patriots serving the country” and those always ready to offer a lending hand, “Each and every one of us is exceptional,” Wang said.
He then urged his classmates to “pay it forward” and channel their energies into their future endeavors.
Following student government president George Zenzerovich’s presentation of the class gift were words from Principal Alan Baum and school board president William Connors. The rain subsided in time for Baum and assistant principal Rosanne DiBella to hand diplomas to the members of the Class of 2015.
Miller Place High School celebrated its graduating class of 2015 on Friday, as more than 240 seniors received their diplomas.
Valedictorian Samantha Brindley and Salutatorian Rebecca Hayman addressed their peers and the audience at the ceremony, and students performed a musical number.
By Rachel Siford
Rocky Point High School seniors can now call themselves graduates, as the school held its commencement ceremony on Friday, June 26.
Erin Damers and Casey Williamson sang the National Anthem, while exhortation speaker, Brittany Rinaldi, gave the first of student speeches, followed by Salutatorian Joseph Niver and Valedictorian Lauren McBrearty.
Superintendent Michael Ring addressed the crowd and reminded parents of how fast time goes by and reminded students that one day they’ll wake up and that their high school classmates will be running the country. Principal John DeBenedetto also said a few words, telling students they can accomplish a lot if they don’t care who gets the credit.
Despite the rainy evening, Mount Sinai seniors’ spirits were still high at their graduation on Saturday night.
More than 200 graduates received their diplomas and were treated to speeches by Salutatorian Brendan Zoto, who will attend Stony Brook University in the fall, and Valedictorian Seth Brand, who heads off to Harvard University. Brand told his fellow grads and the audience to remember the importance of saying thank you and laughing, and received a standing ovation for his remarks.
Police arrested three people they allege were illegally selling fireworks with names like Saturn Missiles, Splendid Flower, Big Bad Bucket, Anaconda and Tornado Alley.
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, officers working off an anonymous tip on Saturday afternoon found about 65 boxes of fireworks — both on display with price tags in front of the store and in the back room — at the Card Smart on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station, just south of Route 347.
The officers arrested the store’s owner, 46-year-old Hicksville resident Ketan Shah, as well as employees Vijaykumar Patel, a 30-year-old Elmhurst resident, and Nancy Sapienza, 65, of Ridge, charging all of them with unlawfully dealing with fireworks, which is a Class A misdemeanor.
Police said the employees were issued field appearance tickets while Shah was arraigned on Sunday.
Shah’s lawyer, Riverhead-based Richard Pellegrino, declined to comment on the case Monday morning, saying he was still investigating the case.
Attorney information for Patel and Sapienza was not available.
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