Gurwin Healthcare System has announced that it has received the following awards across various categories in the health and wellness category industry Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s 2024 Best of Long Island Awards:
Julie Yerkes, RN voted Best Nurse for the second consecutive year.
Gurwin Adult Day Health Program voted Best Adult Day Care Program for the eighth consecutive year.
Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center voted Best Rehabilitation for the fourth consecutive year.
Gurwin Home Care Agency voted Best Health Aides for the sixth consecutive year.
Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center voted Best Nursing Home. The Center also received this honor in 2021.
Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences voted Best Assisted Living. The assisted living community also received this honor in 2010, 2011 and 2019.
The annual Bethpage Best of Long Island contest is a roadmap to the best businesses and services throughout both Nassau and Suffolk counties. This year, more than one million votes were cast by Long Island residents and patrons, who each voted in dozens of categories.
“We are delighted that Long Islanders have chosen so many of Gurwin’s programs as the Best on Long Island,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System. “This recognition stems from the talented staff on the Gurwin team whose dedication is evident in their compassionate care and innovative programming. We are privileged to serve as a steadfast resource for thousands of older and medically frail adults in our surrounding communities and are honored to be recognized for our commitment to 5-star quality, patient-centered care.”
Gurwin Healthcare System is a renowned healthcare provider offering a full continuum of healthcare and senior living services for more than 35 years. Set on a 36-acre campus in Commack, NY, the System includes Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, providing short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing care, memory care, respiratory and ventilator care, palliative and hospice care, social and medical adult day programs and on-site dialysis. Located within the Center is Gurwin Licensed Home Care Services Agency and Certified Home Care Agency, which provide in-home skilled care as well as home health aides. Sharing the campus is Gurwin’s Assisted Living community, Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences, and Fountaingate Gardens, a luxury independent living community. Completing the Gurwin family of healthcare services is Island Nursing and Rehab Center, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility located in Holtsville, New York. For more information, visit www.gurwin.org. Follow Gurwin on Facebook (@GurwinNursingRehab) (@GurwinAssistedLiving) and on X (@GurwinJewish).
PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE
Above, from left, Suffolk County Supervisor Ed Romaine, New York State Assemblyman Ed Flood and Port Jefferson Village Mayor Lauren Sheprow help plant a tree in the Village of Port Jefferson last Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Avril Coakley
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
Port Jefferson Village school District fifth grader Michael Viviano.
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine spoke at the event.
Port Jefferson Village school District fifth grader Michael Viviano.
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
Port Jefferson Village school District fifth grader Michael Viviano.
Port Jefferson Village school District fifth grader Michael Viviano.
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
A scene from Port Jefferson Village's Arbor Day Celebration 04/24/24
By Heidi Sutton
The Village of Port Jefferson hosted its first annual Arbor Day Celebration on April 24. The event, organized by the newly formed Tree Committee members Anne Leahey and Avril Coakley, was attended by local officials and community members.
Port Jefferson Village Deputy Mayor and Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability Rebecca Kassay served as Master of Ceremony and introduced speakers Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, New York State Assemblyman Ed Flood, Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright and Port Jefferson Village Mayor Lauren Sheprow. Former Mayor Sandra Swenk, Leahey and Port Jefferson Village Trustee Bob Juliano also spoke at the event.
Port Jefferson Village school District fifth grader Michael Viviano read a poem that he wrote for the occasion titled “The Tree Stands Tall” followed by the planting of two native trees — an American Hornbeam (Carbines Carolinians) and a Hackberry tree (Celtis Occidentalis) in the Maple Street parking lot.All attendees were given a native tree or shrub sapling to plant in their own yards.
Reached after the event, Port Jefferson Deputy Mayor Kassay said, “As Port Jefferson Village’s first Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability, I’ve been honored to bring together and galvanize our community’s tree enthusiasts. Last year, I helped to form the Village’s first Tree Committee with a group of residents who shared the goal of making PJV a “Tree City, USA” under the Arbor Day Foundation canopy. We have successfully worked towards this goal, including creating a budget line for tree plantings, and an annual Arbor Day event. Their work to plant trees this year will serve their neighbors for decades to come. Many thanks to all who came out to celebrate the planting of two new trees in the Village, our young poet laureate of the event, and the distribution of native tree and shrub saplings.”
Sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and the NYS Urban Forestry Council, Port Jefferson Village is now one step closer to achieving a Tree City USA designation.
"THE WHEEL": The largest Ferris wheel on Long Island at an impressive 110 feet tall, The Wheel offers a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the midway
and surrounding area. The ride features 24 spacious gondola cars, each with a 6-person capacity to accommodate the whole family.
Local family business focuses on family fun at carnivals as well as three major events featuring several fireworks shows and a stunning new Ferris wheel
Leading carnival midway and family entertainment provider Dreamland Amusements is bringing first-rate family fun back to Long Island this summer with exciting rides and games for all ages, favorite fair food, and a variety of special attractions including live entertainment, a series of spectacular fireworks shows, and “The Wheel,” the largest Ferris wheel on Long Island at a towering 110 feet tall.
This summer, Dreamland will also introduce a third signature event: the Bald Hill Fair at Catholic Health Amphitheater, which will kick off the 2024 Long Island Summer Tour May 9-19 in Farmingville.
The busy Long Island schedule includes the Long Island FunFest, June 13-23 at Suffolk County Community College’s Grant Campus, and the Empire State Fair, June 28 – July 16 at Nassau Live Center, the final stop before Dreamland continues on its northern route.
Among the signature event entertainment will be circus shows, live music, pirate thrill shows, petting zoos and much more. Be sure to visit the individual event websites for each one’s schedule of offerings.
In addition, a total of eight dazzling fireworks displays will illuminate the Long Island night sky this summer at Dreamland’s three major events. These crowd-pleasing shows will be produced by the renowned Fireworks by Grucci, a Long Island-based family business founded in 1850.
While Dreamland Amusements, another well-established family business, services the length of the East Coast from Florida to Maine, Long Island is particularly special to owners Kathy and Bob DeStefano, who make their home there when they’re not on the road with the two carnival units they operate with two of their daughters, two sons-in-law and a nephew.
Bob DeStefano said his family looks forward every year to seeing many familiar faces enjoying Dreamland’s Long Island events.
“These folks aren’t just patrons, they’re our neighbors and friends,” DeStefano said. “I can’t express how much it’s meant to have the support of the Long Island community all these years, and we’re very pleased to give them the best experience we can.”
The 2024 Long Island Summer Tour includes:
May 9-19: Bald Hill Fair at Catholic Health Amphitheater, 1 Ski Run Lane, LIE Exit 63 (North Ocean Avenue) in Farmingville (www.BaldHillFair.com)
May 9-19: Hicksville Carnival at Broadway Commons
May 23-27: Levittown Carnival sponsored by the Levittown Chamber of Commerce
May 23-27: Merrick Train Station Carnival at Merrick LIRR Station
May 30 – June 2: Herricks Community Fund Carnival at Herricks Community Center in New Hyde Park
May 30 – June 9: South Shore Mall Carnival in Bay Shore
June 12-16: Westbury Carnival at Samanea New York Mall
June 26-30: Hicksville Summer Carnival at Broadway Commons
June 28 – July 14: Empire State Fair at Nassau Live Center, Uniondale (www.EmpireStatefair.com)
July 4-7: Lynbrook Titans Carnival at Greis Park
“We’re really excited to be back on Long Island and provide a topnotch family-fun experience at all of our upcoming events,” DeStefano said. “And we believe our guests will be excited by the roster of rides at each event and the entertainment offerings at the Bald Hill Fair, FunFest and Empire State Fair.”
All Dreamland events feature mechanical rides for the whole family, from whimsical kiddie rides to state-of-the-art thrill rides, entertaining midway games, and deep-fried treats, sweets and other tantalizing carnival eats.
On April 29, Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (fourth from left) stopped by the Leisure Village
Senior Club in Ridge to thank the members for their generous donation of $5000 to Saint Jude Children’s
Research Hospital.
Over the last 3 years, the group has raised and donated $9000 to Saint Jude. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of their founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
Councilwoman Bonner said, “The work that these volunteers do for the children at St. Jude is truly heroic. It’s a labor of love that pays back ten-fold when you see the smiles on the faces of the children and their parents when they leave the hospital.”
Pictured left to right are Cheryl Guastello; Linda Staszak; Stacey Bawker, St. Jude’s Philanthropic Advisor; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Kathy Senatore; Ellen Fisher; Lil Nociforo and Gail Powell.
To learn more about how you can donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, go to www.stjude.org .
The title invokes her outstanding impact on the field of medicine as a clinician and educator
Susan Lane, MD, MACP, Professor of Medicine at Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM), was recently inducted as a Master of the American College of Physicians (MACP), the world’s largest medical specialty society.
According to the American College of Physicians (ACP), MACPs, a title reserved for a limited number of physicians each year, are selected because of their “integrity, positions of honor, impact in practice or in medical research, or other attainments in science or in the art of medicine.” In addition to their contributions to medical research, Masters must be active ACP members and are expected to maintain active involvement after their convocation as MACPs.
Since 1991, only two other physicians from Stony Brook Medicine have received this unique distinction. This includes Drs. Jordan J. Cohen (1991) and Martin R. Liebowitz (1999), making Dr. Lane the third Stony Brook physician to become an MACP.
Dr. Lane joined Stony Brook University in 2000. She and 56 other recipients were formally inducted at the ACP’s annual Internal Medicine Meeting in Boston on April 18-20.
“I am honored to be named an ACP Master, joining a renowned group of physician leaders who are my role models, and who like the ACP are dedicated to quality patient care, advocacy, and education to improve the lives of our patients,” says Dr. Lane.
Within the RSOM, Dr. Lane is the Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Medicine.
She has balanced a career as a physician with a passion for education and advocacy. Dr. Lane is currently Vice Chair of the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine Board of Directors and the former President of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (2021-2022). For her research and excellence in education and leadership, she has won numerous awards, including the RSOM Aesculapius Award for Excellence in Medical Education (2019), the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) Inspire Award (2022), and the RSOM Department of Medicine Outstanding Service Award (2021).
The East Setauket resident received her B.A. from Amherst College, her M.D. from the University of Connecticut, and completed her Internal Medicine Residency Training at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and has practiced general internal medicine since 1996.
Caption:
Susan Lane, MD, MACP
Credit: Jeanne Neville, Stony Brook Medicine
Editor’s Note: Dr. Susan Lane resides in East Setauket, NY.
There was a party going on recently at Jefferson’s Ferry Foundation’s 19th Annual Gala in support of its Resident Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance to Jefferson’s Ferry residents who outlive their assets or experience a shortfall through no fault of their own. Reflective of this year’s “New York State of Mind” theme, partygoers posed with “NYC taxi cabs” to kick off the event. Pictured here: (L to R:) Jefferson’s Ferry residents Ruth Weinreb, Rose Modica, Josephine Pheffer, Jean Grunwald and Dolores Dellova. (Photo by resident Martin Cohen)
Popular Fundraiser Benefits the Foundation’s Resident Assistance Fund
Every spring for nearly 20 years, Jefferson’s Ferry residents, donors, and vendors have joined Jefferson’s Ferry management, staff and board members to support the Jefferson’s Ferry Foundation at its annual gala fundraiser on April 18. This year was no exception. The party, held at Flowerfield in St. James, celebrated the vibrant community, active lifestyle, and peace of mind that can be found in abundance at Jefferson’s Ferry.
All proceeds from the evening will benefit the Foundation’s Resident Assistance Fund, which was established in 2006 to provide financial assistance to Jefferson’s Ferry residents who outlive their assets or experience a shortfall through no fault of their own. Over the years, the Resident Assistance Fund has played a role in upholding the Life Plan Community Promise of peace of mind and health care for Jefferson’s Ferry residents by subsidizing the monthly fees of residents in need.
This year, the gala gave a nod to New York City nightlife with “A New York State of Mind” theme. Party-goers enjoyed live music by the Jazz Loft, dancing, New York-style hor d’oeuvres, casino-style gaming and hand-rolled cigars.
With Jefferson’s Ferry’s “Journey Towards Renewal” renovation and expansion project a hair shy of completion–the new Memory Support Neighborhood is due to open in the coming weeks — the gala honored the two architectural and design firms critical to the project, KDA Architects and Merlino Design Partnership (MDP). Principal architect and KDA Partner David Fowles and principal designer and MDP President Bruce Hurowitz were on hand to accept their honors.
“The outpouring of generosity in support of the Jefferson’s Ferry Foundation and the Resident Assistance Fund is deeply gratifying and demonstrative of the strong community bond we enjoy here at Jefferson’s Ferry,” said President and CEO Bob Caulfield. “We have neighbors helping neighbors through the Resident Assistant Fund and in so many other less tangible but no less important ways. It’s one of the many reasons Jefferson’s Ferry is such a singular community.”
Photo Caption:There was a party going on recently at Jefferson’s Ferry Foundation’s 19th Annual Gala in support of its Resident Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance to Jefferson’s Ferry residents who outlive their assets or experience a shortfall through no fault of their own. Reflective of this year’s “New York State of Mind” theme, partygoers posed with “NYC taxi cabs” to kick off the event.Pictured here: (L to R:) Jefferson’s Ferry residents Ruth Weinreb, Rose Modica, Josephine Pheffer, Jean Grunwald and Dolores Dellova.(Photo by resident Martin Cohen)
Jefferson’s Ferry is a not-for-profit Life Plan Community for active adults aged 62 and above, with Independent Living cottages and apartments, assisted living apartments, and a quality health care center all on one site.A multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project, “The Journey Toward Renewal,” is part of a larger strategic initiative launched in 2018 to create a life-enriching environment for all new and current residents at every stage of their life. Journey to Renewal has added 60 one- and two-bedroom independent living apartments, provided six distinct dining venues, an expanded Healthy Living Center, Fitness Center, and its state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Therapy Center. A new Memory Support Neighborhood will provide a high quality of life and care for people diagnosed and living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Common areas in Assisted Living and the Health Care Center will be renovated.
Jefferson’s Ferry offers exceptional living and amenities, including indoor pool, computer center, library, recreational areas, gardens, and gazebos.A mix of cultural excursions, civic activities, and a community of residents who help shape Jefferson’s Ferry’s future ensures a spirited and engaged lifestyle.
The Vincent Bove Health Center at Jefferson’s Ferry enjoys a 5-star rating from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and was named a “Best Of” nursing home by U.S. News & World Report.Jefferson’s Ferry has repeatedly earned the industrywide Community Choice Award for resident satisfaction and engagement and has been recognized with the Pinnacle Quality Insight’s Customer Experience Award for five years running. FitchRatings has assigned Jefferson’s Ferry a BBB bond rating.Jefferson’s Ferry has consistently been voted Best Retirement Community, Best Nursing Home and Best Assisted Living on Long Island by The Long Island Press and has been recognized for Excellence by the Hauppauge Industrial Association’s Business Achievement Awards program.
John Connell. Photo courtesy M.A. Connell Funeral Home Inc.
Prepared by Caitlin Berghela
John Joseph Connell, affectionately known as “Eddie” and “Pop Pop” by his grandchildren, passed away on Friday, April 26, surrounded by his family.
Born March 18,1937, to Michael and Florence Connell, John was a lifelong resident of Huntington who deeply loved his community. Growing up, he attended St. Hugh’s School and Huntington High School, where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty Ann” Class, daughter of William Class, John’s physical education teacher and the first athletic director at Huntington High School. After high school, John made frequent trips to visit Betty Ann at Cortland State University, while working at the M.A. Connell family funeral home in Huntington Station and serving in the Navy Reserve.
In 1960, John and Betty Ann married and began building their family and a life filled with love in Huntington. In 1961, the high school sweethearts welcomed their son, Michael and, soon after, John’s Navy service was activated to defend his country during the Cuban Missile Crisis. John was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1962, and in the following year, he and Betty Ann welcomed their daughter, Debbie.
As he and Betty Ann raised their family and planted deeper roots in Huntington, John proudly ran the funeral home for decades with his brother Peter, furthering his family’s legacy and eventually working alongside his son, Michael, and son-in-law, Nicholas Berghela Sr. In 2018, his grandson, Nicholas Berghela Jr., joined the funeral service, making him the fourth generation that has served the Huntington area now for over 100 years. John’s commitment to his work was seen and felt by every person he served, so much so that he never officially retired, and would come to the funeral home nearly every day, right up until the very final days of his life.
While John was able to accomplish so much in his life, it is without question that family was at the core of his existence. As his children grew and started families of their own, John welcomed his son-in-law, Nicholas, and his favorite daughter-in-law, Anne Penders, into his family and loved them as if they were his own children. In turn, his children blessed him with four grandchildren, Krysti (Josh), Nicholas Jr. (Caitlin), Edward John and Grace, and three great-grandchildren, Oliver, Myles and Nicholas III. Becoming a grandfather, and eventually a great-grandfather, was one of John’s greatest joys in life and something in which he took immense pride. Alongside Betty Ann, they loved supporting their grandchildren and great-grandchildren by attending every concert, sporting event or graduation. To add to his list of loving nicknames, John proudly donned the title of “El Grande de Grandisimo Great Papa” upon welcoming his great-grandchildren.
Beyond being supportive parents and grandparents, John and Betty Ann filled their days by traveling the country and the world together. From their summers in Montauk, to trips to Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and Bermuda — John and Betty Ann loved every moment of their travels with their children and grandchildren. For many years, they split time between their home in Huntington, with their homes in Florida, from Palm Coast and, eventually, Fort Myers, ingratiating themselves into their communities, and making lifelong friends. Some of their favorite time spent in Florida were the many trips they made to Sanibel Island, either by themselves or with family and friends.
Perhaps the only thing that could rival the deep love that John felt for his family and community was that of his sharp wit and cunning sense of humor. John could be counted on to make everyone laugh, no matter how serious a situation — whether that was by busting out some dance moves, offering one of his signature one-liners that were sure to stop you in your tracks (like offering to lend a hand, and then proceeding to clap), or by making a clean (and sometimes questionable) joke. His ability to keep the party going, lift spirits or soothe a troubled heart, was unparalleled.
As John rejoins his bride, who passed in 2020, he will be loved and missed by his family, extended family, many friends and the community in which he dedicated his life. Viewings to celebrate John’s life will be fittingly held at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station, Wednesday, May 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs R.C. Church, 53 Prospect Road, Centerport, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, with graveside burial to follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, 183 Mount Pleasant Road, Smithtown.
L-R LIMEHOF Educator of Note Recipients Alan Schwartz, Susan Weber, Frank Abel and Kim Löwenborg-Coyne.
Five music teachers from across Long Island were recently honored at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) in Stony Brook in a special ceremony honoring the organizations most recent Educator of Note Award winners.
“It was wonderful,” said Tom Needham, Tom Needham, Second Vice Chair and Educational Programs Director at LIMEHOF. “When you get all these people together in one room and you hear about the number of students they’ve influenced over the years and the impact they’ve had on music education on Long Island. It’s truly incredible. We’re so excited to have this opportunity to have them all here in the room and to celebrate the good things that they’ve accomplished.”
“We all had and have such meaningful careers that have impacted music education in so many different ways,” said Susan Weber. “Bottom line is that we all love seeing the reaction with our students and former students and as time goes on how music education impacts kids and it was just a very special day.”
“It’s a wonderful opportunity and I’m just so thrilled to be amongst these people here and to have my name with these people, these legends is just one of the biggest honors of my life,” said Alan Schwartz.
“What a wonderful ride… a wonderful journey after 42 years of teaching on this very special day to receive this very special award at the Hall of Fame. We don’t go in teaching for awards but this one right here I’m going to cherish,” said Frank Abel.
Supporting and highlighting musical education and upcoming talent through its education programs is a large part of LIMEHOF’s mission. Each year the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame presents an Educator of Note Award recognizing outstanding achievement in Long Island music education and normally they present the awards publicly during their galas. LIMEHOF has not held an awards Gala since 2019 in large part due to covid restrictions these award winners were unable to receive their awards in a public ceremony, so LIMEHOF organized this special ceremony for them at their Stony Brook Museum location.
LIMEHOF says it’s important to recognize the music teachers who are top in their field and making a difference by building strong educational programs for students to be able to perform and be evaluated.
“We celebrate music history here on Long Island and everybody knows we honor people like Billy Joel and John Coltraine and other artists but sometimes people forget that the people who have the biggest impact on Long Island in terms of music are music teachers,” said Needham. “Music teachers have the ability to reach thousands of kids throughout a career.”
The 2024 Educator of Note nomination process is currently open with a deadline of September 30th. For more information about LIMEHOF’s Educator of Note, scholarships and other music education programs, please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/educator-of-note/
About LIMEHOF
Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical and entertainment heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which encompasses New York State’s Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings (Brooklyn) Counties, was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Island music and entertainment in all its forms. In 2022, LIMEHOF opened its first Hall of Fame building location in Stony Brook, New York. To date, the organization has inducted more than 120 musicians and music industry executives, and offers education programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators.
Dave Morrissey Jr. as Col. Benjamin Tallmadge in a scene from 'One Life to Give.' Michael Pawluk Photography
By Rita J. Egan
For nearly 15 years, Dave Morrissey Jr.’s career path has taken him from playing Revolutionary War hero Col. Benjamin Tallmadge in independent productions to taking on bad guy roles on television. In a recent phone interview, the actor said he credits his theatrical experiences on Long Island for helping him pursue his acting goals.
Currently living in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Morrissey was born in Port Jefferson and grew up in Selden and Miller Place. He said the seeds of his career were planted during his formative years studying at The Performing Arts Studio of New York in Port Jefferson, which his mother, Terri Morrissey, owns, along with Deborah and Michael Livering.
Playing a hero
A graduate of Suffolk County Community College and Fashion Institute of Technology, Morrissey first had the opportunity to play Tallmadge, who oversaw the Setauket spies during the Revolutionary War, in the independent film The Culper Spy Adventure. He became involved in the movie thanks to his connection with one of the directors, Michael Tessler, who had attended The Performing Arts Studio of New York. He would have the chance to play Tallmadge again for the TBR News Media-produced One Life to Give and its sequel, Traitor: A Culper Spy Story.
Morrissey said being part of the two films with local actors was a fun and “sweet experience.” One of his favorite memories includes the night when the actors decided to sleep over at Benner’s Farm in East Setauket, one of the film’s locations, to get the feel of sleeping in a fort, which was constructed by the crew.
“That was a real fun method-acting experience because it was July Fourth weekend, and it was camping out with a bunch of reenactors,” he said.
Regarding playing Tallmadge, Morrissey said he wished he could do it again. “I still get people reaching out to me, texting me or messaging me on social media saying, ‘Oh, I saw you in The Culper Spy Adventure,'” he said.
One of the things the actor appreciated most about appearing in the independent films was that they weren’t as dramatized as they were in Turn: Washington’s Spies, the AMC series about the Culper Spy Ring.
“The thing that I liked about One Life to Give was that it had a certain level of authenticity,” Morrissey said. “Everyone really loved that time period. Everyone really loved the experience. I don’t know if I’ve ever really had a set that magical.”
Taking on the bad guys
Since his time on the One Life to Give and Traitor: A Culper Spy Story sets, he has had roles on Law and Order: Organized Crime, American Horror Story and FBI, where he has been cast as bad guys.
“I quickly found that casting is going to like me if I play a bad guy, and I’m not a bad person,” he said, adding the roles are fun to play. “It’s a challenge, and it’s complex.”
Having varied experiences when starting a career in movies and television is essential as well as producing content, according to Morrissey. “When I got out of high school, it was right when content creation was kind of starting, and everyone was saying you have to make your own work,” he said. “I really leaned into that.”
It led to the creation of the former Bluebox Theatre Company with his friend Joe Rubino, where they produced what he called “dark” productions. Morrissey also produces, hosts and directs gaming technology and branded content.
In addition to playing Tallmadge and bad guys, Morrissey said one of his favorite performances has been in the movie Our Lady of Queens, which he produced and acted in along with prolific character actor Austin Pendleton. He described the film as a family drama that delves into the subject of dementia. He recently submitted Our Lady of Queens to film festivals along with a short film he narrated titled Cowboy Killer.
Currently, the actor said he’s been busy completing a documentary series with the United States Space Force and Space.com and a short documentary, Chasing Electric, about the rise of electric motorcycles. Morrissey is also appearing in a play about artificial intelligence titled A Groundbreaking Achievement of Outrageous Importance at Theatrelab in New York City through May that is produced and directed by fellow Long Islander Andrew Beck.
Sharing advice
His advice for people interested in acting is that they can start at any age, and he said living on Long Island is a good place to start as the “industry is right here.”
“When you really see what the industry is made of, you’ll be less intimidated by it,” he said. “So, you should just go for it 100 percent.”
Among advice such as actors must know what type they are before getting headshots and having the pictures taken before trying to find a manager, Morrissey said it’s important for aspiring actors to “spread yourself out and make your pond as big as possible.”
The actor added that he believes the local Long Island theaters provide different perspectives essential for actors entering the entertainment industry.
“You’ll see there are some people who come out of Long Island who are unbelievable and they succeed,” Morrissey said. “I think it’s because we have the opportunity to really have these different communities that are really so amazing — these theater communities on Long Island.”
The Cinema Arts Centre will host a five-day celebration of Jewish Cinema and culture, with films that include thoughtful documentaries, captivating dramas, and historically significant films
This May, the Long Island Jewish Film Festival will return to Huntington’s Cinema Arts Centre for the festival’s second year. The second season of the Long Island Jewish Film Festival will span five days, May 3rd – May 7th, and will include screenings of films at the forefront of Jewish cultural storytelling.
The festival will feature films that include innovative documentaries, riveting dramas, and rarely seen pieces of film history, all curated by David Schwartz, Curator at Large at the Museum of the Moving Image, who will also host and lead audience discussions after many of the festival’s screenings.
The Long Island Jewish Film Festival was organized to help celebrate the rich cultural traditions and history of the Jewish community in America and abroad. The films highlighted in the festival represent the apex of both historic and modern Jewish cinema, featuring films from over a 100 years ago, through today.
The Long Island Jewish Film Festival will begin on Friday, May 3rd with a screening of powerful historical drama “Kidnapped”. The second day of the festival will feature screenings of three films: the enthralling dramas “The Other Widow” & “The Goldman Case”, as well as the acclaimed new documentary “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer”. Sunday, the third day of the festival, will include a screening of the historic 1923 silent film “The Ancient Law”, with a live score performed by pianist Donald Sosin & klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals, a screening of the 1980 documentary “Brighton Beach”, featuring a discussion with director Susan Wittenberg in-person, as well as an encore screening of the film “Kidnapped” for those that observe shabbat and couldn’t attend the Friday screening.
The remaining days of the festival will also feature encore screenings of the films “The Goldman Case”, and “The Other Widow”. The screenings of “The Other Widow” and “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer” will feature pre-record Q&As with the film’s directors and our host and curator David Schwartz.
Public tickets are $16 per screening with the exception of the film “The Ancient Law”, for which public tickets will cost $18. The Films:
A scene from ‘Kidnapped’
Kidnapped Friday, May 3rd at 7 PM
& Sunday, May 5th at 7 PM
$16 Public | $10 Members
The great Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio, now 84, has made one of the most stylish and operatic films of his career. Kidnapped depicts the scandalous true story of Edgardo Mortara, a six-year-old Jewish boy who, in 1858, was baptized by his caretaker, and abducted from his family by order of the Pope, to be raised as a Catholic. Edgardo became the center of an international firestorm as his parents fought to retrieve their child from the clutches of a ruthless theocratic government; the case led to historical change. (2023, 134 mins)
Promotional Image from The Other Widow. 2022. Lama Films, Cup of Tea, Tobina Films.
The Other Widow Saturday, May 4th at 2 PM
& Tuesday, May 7th at 7 PM
Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Maayan Rypp
$16 Public | $10 Members
Nominated for 9 Ophir awards (the Israeli Oscars) including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress, this wonderfully observed comedic drama follows Ella (Dana Ivgy) a costume designer who is in a long-term affair with Assaf, a married playwright. When Assaf dies unexpectedly, Ella decides to attend Shiva while keeping her identity under wraps, diving into a world once forbidden to her. Through intimate encounters with his family, she examines her place in his life and eventually demands her legitimate right to mourn. (2022, 83 mins)
A scene from ‘The Goldman Case’
The Goldman Case Saturday, May 4th at 4 PM
& Monday, May 6th at 7 PM
$16 Public | $10 Members
This gripping courtroom drama delves into the sensational and widely followed 1976 trial of Pierre Goldman, a Jewish activist defending himself against multiple charges, including murder. Goldman steadfastly maintained his innocence, while the facts of his case became a flash point for a generation, raising questions of antisemitism and political ideology. Directed with vérité realism and pinpoint historical precision, The Goldman Case is both subdued and electrifying, communicating so much about the complexity of Jewish identity in recent European history. It was the opening night film in the Director’s Fortnight section at Cannes. (2023, 115 mins)
Portrait of Norman Mailer featured in How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer. 2023. Zeitgeist Films. Image provided courtesy of Zeitgeist Films & Kino Lorber.
How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer Saturday, May 4th at 7 PM
Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Jeff Zimbalist
$16 Public | $10 Members
Norman Mailer, a towering figure in American literature, had a life that was certainly stranger than fiction. From his formative years in Brooklyn, through his career as a preeminent cultural voice, we follow Mailer’s life through 6 marriages, 9 children, 11 bestselling books and 2 Pulitzer Prizes as he solidifies his place in the literary pantheon. With access to Mailer’s family and never before seen footage, this biography details the life and times of an American icon. (2023,100 mins)
Still from The Ancient Law. 1923. Comedia-Film. Public Domain.
The Ancient Law Sunday, May 5th at 2 PM
With live score performed by Donald Sosin and Alicia Svigals
$18 Public | $12 Members
This rarely seen silent film from Weimar Era Germany tells the dramatic story of Baruch, a young shtetl Jew and the son of a Rabbi, who leaves his family and community, seeking a secular career as a stage actor. Featuring wonderful scenes depicting shtetl life, the film paints a complex portrait of the tension between tradition and modernity. Like so many other Jewish artists of the era, director E.A. Dupont and star Ernst Deutsch were both forced to flee their homelands as the Nazis rose to power. (1923, 128 mins)
Still from Brighton Beach. 1980. Carol Stein and Susan Wittenberg. Courtesy of Indiecollect.
Brighton Beach Sunday, May 5th at 5 PM
With director Susan Wittenberg in-person
$16 Public | $10 Members
Set against the iconic Coney Island boardwalk, Brighton Beach is a neighborhood in constant re-formation. This 1980 documentary offers a genuine portrait of the immigrant communities that changed the Brooklyn neighborhood—mostly Soviet Jews and Puerto Ricans—as they mingle on the boardwalk with long-time residents, eye one another, and coexist around a shared sense of uprootedness. From directors Susan Wittenberg and Carol Stein, Brighton Beach is an unposed, seductively shot, color film about life’s simple pleasures and the creating of a community. (2080, 55 mins)
Location:
Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743
You can purchase tickets or find more information about these and other events on the Cinema Arts Centre website: www.cinemaartscentre.org
