Community

Time to start your holiday shopping! The Brick Clay Studio & Gallery, 2 Flowerfield, St. James hosts a Holiday Pottery Sale on Saturday, Nov 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.   Besides one of a kind hand-made pottery by members, they will have raffles, live music and light refreshments.  The Gallery Shop will also be open  to browse and purchase unique handmade pottery made on the premises.  Join them in reconnecting with our artist community and to shop local. Gift certificates available.Visit  www.thebrickstudio.org for future events and classes or call 833-THE-BRICK.

'Winter's Warmth' by John Mansueto will be on view through Dec. 23.

‘Tis the season! Gallery North in Setauket kicks off the holidays with Deck the Halls, its annual group exhibition of small original works for holiday giving, on view from Nov. 17 to Dec. 23.

Enjoy artworks by over 50 local and regional artists in a range of media, including painting, printmaking, works on paper, sculpture, glassware, and more. The exhibition offers an excellent opportunity to support local artists, and features a diverse selection of affordable, exciting, original artworks for everyone on your list. 

“11×14 Collage” by Tom Brydelsky will be part of the Deck the Halls exhibit.

In addition, Gallery North also features a large assortment of artisan-created jewelry, handmade crafts, and decorations within the Shop at Gallery North, as well as clothing and artist-made greeting cards produced in the Studio at Gallery North. They also offer the gift of an art class or workshop to an aspiring artist, child, or adult. 

As a complement to the exhibition, Gallery North will host a Holiday Gift Bazaar, a series of three, special holiday gift markets inside the Gallery each Saturday in December (Dec. 3, 10 and 17) from noon to 7 p.m. to provide the community with an alternative to holiday shopping in malls and shopping centers. 

The Holiday Gift Bazaar will offer an excellent opportunity to support local artists and businesses, complete with warm beverages from LevelUp Kitchen. Holiday shoppers will find a diverse selection of affordable, exciting, original paintings, prints, photography, ceramics, pottery, woodwork, glassware, artisan created jewelry, handmade crafts, decorations, and clothing – perfect gifts for everyone on your list. 

Deck the Halls is generously sponsored by WFC Architects, Jefferson’s Ferry, bld Architecture, and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning.

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org.

By Heidi Sutton

“Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.” And so begins one of the most popular, most-adapted and most relevant holiday tales ever written, Charles Dickens’ novella, A Christmas Carol. Published on Dec. 19, 1843, the initial print run of 6,000 copies sold out by Christmas Eve. More than 178 years later, it lives on as a story of redemption and hope and serves as a reminder to keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts all year round. 

In the book’s foreword, Dickens writes:

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

Now the pages of the Dickensian story come to life once again as Theatre Three in Port Jefferson presents its 38th annual production of A Christmas Carol. The curtain went up this past Saturday to a full house.

While preparations are still underway to transform the seaport village back to the Victorian era for its 26th annual Charles Dickens Festival on Dec 3 and 4, Theatre Three is already dressed head to toe for the holidays and carolers entertain theatergoers before the show, setting the  tone for what is to come.

Adapted for the stage by Executive Artistic Director Jeffrey Sanzel, A Christmas Carol tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Sanzel), a successful business man who has chosen money over everything else and has become bitter, lonely and stingy over the years, especially around the holidays. “I have devoted my life to the cultivation of business,” he explains.

We first meet the miserly curmudgeon on Christmas Eve, exactly seven years after the death of his business partner Jacob Marley (Stephen T. Wangner). Caught in a particulary bad mood, we witness him chase carolers from his office, turn away the needy and a pair of charity workers. He snaps at his underappreciated and underpaid clerk Bob Cratchit (Douglas J. Quattrock) and his chipper nephew Fred Halliwell (Sean Amato) the sole child of Scrooge’s deceased sister, Fan, who has dropped by to invite him for dinner. “Keep Christmas in your own way and I will keep it in mine,” he warns his nephew before kicking him out.

That evening Scrooge is visited by Marley’s tormented ghost who offers him one last chance at redemption. Draped in the chains he has forged in life, Marley tells Scrooge he will be visited by three spirits — the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

The Ghost of Christmas Past (Danielle Pafundi) appears soon after, all aglow in a white dress, and takes Scrooge to Wellington House, the boarding school he attended as a young boy alone; we meet his adored sister Fan and his apprenticeship at Fezziwig’s (played by Scott Hofer), where the audience is introduced to Scrooge’s one and only love, Belle. This is also where he meets Marley for the first time and where his choices take him down a dark path.

The Ghost of Christmas Present (Scott Hofer) takes Scrooge to meet Bob Cratchit’s family where he learns about Tiny Tim’s failing health and to a dinner party hosted by his nephew where guests play a fun game of Yes or No. 

In one of the most anticipated and frightful scenes, a towering Ghost of Christmas Future (operated by Sean Amato) shows Scrooge the shadows of what is yet to come, including  at trip to the cemetery to see his headstone, and how the people in his life are affected after his death, including a disturbing scene where Scrooge’s housekeeper Mrs. Dilber (Ginger Dalton) attempts to profit from his demise. It is just what Scrooge needs to shake him to the core. In the end, he learns that “life is not about facts and figures. It’s about joy and family and Christmas.”

Directed by Sanzel, the entire production is flawless and the talented cast (playing multiple roles) is excellent. As Scrooge, Sanzel is at his finest in a role he has played almost 1500 times. This is most evident when the Ghost of Christmas Past takes his character to one of Fezziwig’s famous holiday parties. While otherwise slightly hunched over with a slow walk, Sanzel suddenly jumps into the role of a younger Scrooge and  takes part in a Wassail dance (choreographed by Sari Feldman) with boundless energy.

Although in its 38th year, the show is always evolving, remaining fresh and exciting while maintaining its timelessness and important message. The Victorian set, costumes and creative lighting tie it all together to create a magical evening at the theater.

Get your ticket to see this wonderful production “before you dot another ‘i'” and make it part of your holiday traditions. It will make your heart full.

Stay after the show for a photo keepsake with Scrooge. The $5 fee goes to support the theater’s scholarship fund.

The Cast: Sean Amato, Ava Andrejko, Ginger Dalton, Ellie Dunn, Alexa Eichinger, Samantha Fierro, Griffin Fleming, Julie Friedman, Skye Greenberg, Kathleen Han, Scott Hofer, Patrick Hutchinson, Linda May, Brooke Morrison, Danielle Pafundi, Douglas J. Quattrock, Michaela Reis, Dylan Paige Rumble, Vivian Leigh Rumble, Jeffrey Sanzel, Jennifer Salvia, Steven Uihlein,  Addyson Urso, Hannah Waller, Stephen T. Wangner and Cassidy Worrell.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol through Dec. 30. Tickets are $20 per person in November, and $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, and $20 children ages 5 and up in December. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Above, the Port Jefferson Royals girls volleyball team. Photo courtesy PJSD

The Port Jefferson Royals girls volleyball team defeated John S. Burke Catholic 3-0 to take home the regional championship on Saturday, Nov. 12. 

The contest took place at James I. O’Neill High School in West Point, New York. The Royals now advance to the NYSPHSAA championships. 

There are four teams competing in pool play on Nov. 19, with the top two teams advancing to the championship contest on Nov. 20. Port Jefferson will compete against Galway, Lansing and Portville.

“The team plays with energy and confidence, regardless of what is happening on the court,” athletic director Adam Sherrard said. “Their strong senior leadership has helped propel the Royals to their best season in the school’s history. I am extremely proud of their success so far this season, and am looking forward to their performance in the championship tournament this weekend.”

The district congratulates team members Alexa Ayotte, Caroline Hayde, Erin Henry, Maggie Johnston, Anna Matvya, Maddy Matvya, Bianca Nakagawa, Mia O’Connell, Hannah Pflaster, McKayla Pollard, Ava Reilly, Chloe Sherman, Olivia Sherman, Lexi Verruto, Sophia Wennerod and Gretchen Zimmerman, head coach CJ Hafner and assistant coach Matt Dolan.

Pictured above, picketers gathered outside Pindar Wine Shop on Thursday, Nov. 10. Photo by Raymond Janis

It would have seemed like any other day in Port Jeff village if not for the group of union farmworkers picketing on Main Street.

Half-a-dozen members of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW assembled outside the storefront of Pindar wine shop on Thursday, Nov. 10, in a call of action against the shop’s parent company, Pindar Vineyards of Peconic. The protesters carried picket signs and remained for two hours.

The Port Jefferson wine store is one of Pindar’s two locations, the other a tasting room located at the Peconic winery itself. Thursday’s protest was part of the union’s ongoing efforts to negotiate with Pindar for a new contract.

“This is a call of action to let the community know what’s been going on,” said Noemi Barrera, union organizer with Local 338. Requests for comment to Pindar Vineyards have been unanswered to date.

The New York Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act took effect in 2020. Among other conditions, this law granted farm workers compensation benefits, a mandatory day of rest, set wages and overtime rates, and established a right to organize.

The controversy with Pindar centers around more than a year of back-and-forth negotiations between the union and the wine company. Those negotiations have stalled, according to a statement by Local 338 president John Durso, prompting the workers to take action.

“Despite our best efforts to avoid it, Pindar Vineyards forced us to take direct action recently to make consumers and the public fully aware of their unwillingness to come to a fair deal for our members,” Durso said. “Local 338 has been negotiating a labor contract with Pindar Vineyards for over a year, and the process has been a slow and difficult one.”

Pixabay photo

The recent ransomware attack against the Suffolk County government has raised important questions about the relationship between citizens, governments and technologies.

A confirmed ransomware event took place in early September. The hack crippled the county’s information technology infrastructure, and recovery efforts remain ongoing. 

In the wake of these events, the hack prompted critics to question the digitization of sensitive information and how governments can better secure their IT networks.

What is ransomware?

Nick Nikiforakis is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stony Brook University. His research focuses on web security and privacy. In an interview, he described how ransomware works.

“Ransomware is, effectively, malicious software that infiltrates a machine, starts encrypting all sorts of private documents, spreadsheets, anything that is of value, and then leaks out to the attacker the encryption key and potentially the data that was encrypted,” he said. 

Some forms of ransomware affect only a single machine, according to Nikiforakis. Other strains may spread into several devices, potentially infecting an entire network.

Ransomware is the confirmed vector of attack for Suffolk County. However, how hackers first entered the county’s system is unknown to the public. 

While the details of the county hack are scanty, Nikiforakis said cyberattackers commonly use emails with malicious attachments. In other instances, they can locate vulnerable software within a network, exploit that weakness and breach that system. Once hackers gain access to the system, they hold sensitive information for ransom. 

“The original idea behind ransomware is that if you don’t pay the attacker the money that they ask, then you lose access to your data,” Nikiforakis said. 

Backup software was developed, in part, to mitigate this concern. Regardless, as technologies have evolved, so has cybercrime. 

“Even if you have the ability to restore your data from backups, now you have to deal with the attacker having access to your data and threatening you with making that data public, which is what’s happening in this case,” Nikiforakis said.

Based on the information available, Nikiforakis said the attackers likely gained access to speeding tickets and various titles, among other sensitive materials. “This is definitely a cause for concern, and that is why, in certain cases, people decide to pay, to avoid this blowback that will come from the data being made publicly available.”

A question of payment

Ransomware raises an ethical dilemma for government officials, namely whether to use public funds to pay a ransom.

“People can take a philosophical approach and say, ‘We don’t negotiate with terrorists,’ and I understand that,” Nikiforakis said, “But then the rational thing for the attacker to do is to make that data available to the public. Because if he doesn’t, then the next victim will also not pay him.” 

The profitability of the ransomware operation depends upon the victim trusting that the criminals will comply with the conditions of the transaction. The ransomware business model would fail if cyberattackers generally went against their word.

For this reason, Nikiforakis said payment and compliance could sometimes be in the interests of both parties. 

“I think it’s a very rational decision to say, ‘Let’s pay and accept this as a financial loss and let’s make sure that this doesn’t happen again,’” he said.

In Suffolk County, however, putting this theoretical framework into action is more complicated. Responsibility for paying ransomware payments would be vested in the Office of the Comptroller, which oversees the county’s finances. 

During an election interview last month with county Comptroller John Kennedy Jr. (R), he hinted that compromising with cybercriminals is off the table.

“There is no predicate in the charter, in the New York State County Law, in the Suffolk County code, to take taxpayer money and give it to a criminal,” he said.

‘Technology is moving so quickly that it is incredibly challenging for government to keep up.’ 

— Sarah Anker

The effect on the county’s government operations

The ransomware attack has also aggravated concerns over securing the county’s IT apparatus. Kennedy likened the problem to a fire code, saying fire codes often include provisions for masonry walls and other buffers that reduce the spread of a fire.

“If a fire starts, it doesn’t take down the whole complex. It stops at the masonry wall,” he said. “Our system was not configured with those hard breaks, other than some separation of function out in Riverhead in the County Clerk’s Office.” 

Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai), whose office was attacked by ransomware in 2017, has advocated for serious IT reform for some time. She followed the county’s technology closely and expressed frustration over how the initial attack occurred.

“I could tell, and I could feel, that there needed to be more done,” she said. “It has hampered the government, it has affected our constituents. Maybe it could have been worse, but it should have never happened.”

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. (D) explained his office’s many challenges since the hack. Though communications systems are slowly returning online, the initial attack disrupted both external and internal communications within the Sheriff’s Office.

“From a jail and police perspective, it really hindered us in the beginning,” he said. “Emails that we received from other law enforcement agencies or any communication with our community was stopped for a significant amount of time.”

New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency assisted the Sheriff’s Office as Toulon’s staff worked without an operational communication network. Because of this coordination, Toulon maintained that the functions of the jails were more or less appropriately executed.

“We wanted to make sure that any individual that was supposed to be released from our custody was released on time,” the county sheriff said. “No one was incarcerated longer than they had to be.” 

Preparing for the future

Toulon suggested the existing IT network is too centralized and interconnected. To prevent future failure of the entire network, he proposed creating separate silos for each department.

“I feel that the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, the [County] Clerk’s Office and the Comptroller’s Office should be totally separate from the County Executive’s Office,” Toulon said, “So if, god forbid, this were to happen again in the future, we wouldn’t be directly impacted like everyone else.”

Anker said she and a newly formed panel of county legislators are beginning to explore ways to harden the network and apply strategies that work elsewhere.

“As we move forward, we need to see what the other municipalities and corporations are doing,” she said. “What types of programs and software do they have that prevent these attacks?”

The rate of software development, according to Anker, is outpacing the ability of governments to respond effectively. While IT departments must remain ahead of the cybercriminals to keep their digital infrastructure safe, staying out front is easier said than done.

“Technology is moving so quickly that it is incredibly challenging for government to keep up,” she said. “I would like to see more accountability in all respects and from everyone as we move forward with new technology.”

While the recent cyberattack focuses on the government, Anker believes ordinary citizens are also at risk from hostile online actors. The county legislator contended more work should be done to alert community members of these dangers.

“Not enough is being done regarding community outreach,” she said. “There needs to be more education on preventing an attack even on your home computer.”

Nikiforakis proposed that greater attention be given to digitizing personal records. According to him, those records in the wrong hands could unleash great harm. 

“Ransomware was a big game-changer for attackers because it allows them to monetize data that would not be traditionally monetizable,” he said. “Through ransomware, suddenly everything that is of value can be monetized.”

The SBU associate professor supports software upgrades, cybersecurity protocols and other measures that protect against ransomware. But, he said, a broader conversation needs to take place about the nature of digitization and whether individuals and governments should store sensitive files online.

“More and more things that didn’t used to be online are suddenly available online,” he said. “We have to reassess the eagerness with which we put everything online and see whether the convenience that we get out of these systems being online is a good return on investment, given the risks.”

Postman Pete stamps a letter to Santa. Photo by Bob Savage

A Visit with Postman Pete

The Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society presents A Visit with Postman Pete on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Children are invited to bring their pre-written letters for Santa to the old Miller Place Post Office at 75 North Country Road where Postman Pete will bundle the letters for the North Pole! Then  visit a vintage fire truck and enjoy crafts, story time, raffles and refreshments inside the William Miller House (c. 1720). $12 per child. Pre-registration is required by visiting PostmanPete2022.eventbrite.com by Nov. 30. For additional information, please contact the Society at 631-476-5742.

‘Violinist to the stars’ Caroline Campbell heads to the Staller Center on Nov. 19.
Thursday Nov. 17

Dreamcatcher Workshop 

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor invites adults and teens to a Dreamcatcher Workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. Discover the history behind the most enduring and widespread symbol of Native American culture, the dreamcatcher, with special guest and member of the Shinnecock and Hassanamisco Nations, Denise Silva-Dennis. Learn the meaning and significance behind these beautiful artworks and create a traditional dreamcatcher of your own. $16 participant; $8 members. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org to reserve your spot.

Friday Nov. 18

Library Holiday Craft Fair

Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn presents its 11th annual Friends Holiday Craft Fair today and Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shop for handcrafted gift items featuring the Starz on Broadway Crafters in the Library meeting rooms and art gallery hallway. Questions? Call 757-4200.

Winter Lantern Festival

The Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown celebrates the holiday season with Suffolk County’s FIRST immersive Winter Lantern Festival tonight, Nov. 19 and 20 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 8, 2023. The walk-through holiday light show will feature lanterns and displays in the shape of flowers, mushrooms, farm animals, dinosaurs and many more, all handmade by artisans with decades of dedication to their craft. Be ready for photo ops with friends and family, as this will be an unforgettable experience! Tickets are $22 per person, $12 ages 3 to 12. To order, visit https://www.showclix.com/tickets/suffolk-winter-lantern-festival. For more information, call 265-6768.

Owl Prowl at the Vanderbilt

Biologist and ranger Eric Powers, co-founder of the Center for Environmental Education & Discovery (CEED), will lead an Owl Prowl on the grounds of the Vanderbilt Estate and Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport at 6 p.m. After a presentation on the owls of Long Island, Powers will lead a walk on the estate grounds, during which he will attempt to call in nearby owls. Flashlights are not permitted. Sturdy footwear is recommended as the trail is uneven and it will be dark. Tickets are $12, members free. Register at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Third Friday at the Reboli

Join the Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook for a Third Friday event with author and arborist, John Duvall who will enlighten listeners to some interesting, historic facts about the history of the tradition of the Christmas tree from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Duvall will also share with listeners tips and tricks on how to make your traditions more sustainable this year. Followed by a book signing and Q&A. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to all. Call 751-7707. 

Northport Symphony concert

The Northport Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Hyman, will present a concert of classical music at Northport High School, 154 Laurel Road, Northport at 8 p.m.  The concert will feature Symphony No. 8 by Antonin Dvorak, and Overture in D by Franz Schubert and the Tragic Overture by Johannes Brahms. Ticket price is $10. Visit www.northportsymphony.org for more information.

Saturday Nov. 19

Library Holiday Craft Fair

See Nov. 18 listing.

Winter Lantern Festival

See Nov. 18 listing.

Foraging with the ‘Wildman’

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents Foraging with the “Wildman” from 9 a.m. to noon. Join environmental educator Steve Brill for a talk in the planetarium theater followed by a foraging tour on the estate grounds. Participants should bring plastic bags for veggies & herbs, and a paper bag  for early-season mushrooms plus a small hand tool. Everyone should wear closed shoes. $10 per person, children under age 10 free. Register at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Turkey Trot Run / Walk 5k

Join the North Shore Youth Council and CrossFit 631 Red Woods for a Turkey Trot Run/Walk 5k at Heritage Park, 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road, Mt. Sinai at 10 a.m. $10 per person plus a canned food item to help them fill 100 Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. Register at www.eventbrite.com.

Holiday Pottery Sale – just added!

The Brick Clay Studio & Gallery, 2 Flowerfield, St. James hosts a Holiday Pottery Sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Besides one of a kind hand-made pottery by members,  there will be raffles, live music and light refreshments.  The Gallery Shop will also be open this holiday season to browse and purchase unique handmade pottery made on the premises.  Visit  www.thebrickstudio.org or call 833-THE-BRICK.

Santaport Fair

A holiday tradition returns Centerport United Methodist Church, 97 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents Santaport from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fair will feature jewelry, housewares, toys, a silent auction of themed gift baskets, arts & crafts for kids, electronics, tools, sporting goods, computer equipment, CDs, DVDs, garden tools, live holiday music, luncheon cafe and a book signing with Raising Betty author Sarah Zagaja and Fenway the therapy dog!  Santa Claus will be there all day to pose for photos at no charge. Call 261-5222.

School Craft Fair

Walt Whitman High School, 301 West Hills Road, Huntington Station hosts its 21st annual Holiday Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring over 100 vendors with hand-crafted items—  the perfect place to find one of a kind items for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Call 549-8582

Holly Jolly Holiday Party

St. George Living History Productions in conjunction with the Leo P. Ostebo Kings Park Heritage Museum will present the Holly Jolly Holiday Party, at RJO Intermediate School, 99 Old Dock Road Kings Park at 11 a.m. The two hour extravaganza will feature a multifaceted celebration of holiday television specials of the past and the festive spirit of the present, Q&A session, and luncheon. For tickets, visit www.stgeorgelivinghistory.com.

Polar Bear Plunge

Town of Brookhaven will host the 13th annual Polar Plunge at Cedar Beach, Harbor Road, Mount Sinai at 11:30 a.m. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The annual event is held to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics New York athletes in the Long Island region. For more information, or to register online, please visit www.polarplungeny.org\brookhaven.

Avalon Astronomy eventjust added!

Avalon Nature Preserve in Stony Brook invites the community to join them for an astronomy event at the Sky Lab in the Avalon Barn on Shep Jones Lane from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Led by David Cohn and David Barnett, they will be presenting a live observing session (weather permitting) focusing on Jupiter, Saturn, and several deep sky objects. No registration required. Free. Call 689-0619 for more information.

An evening of comedy

Temple Isaiah Brotherhood, 1404 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook presents a Comedy Night at 7:45 p.m. Emceed by Maria Walsh, the evening will feature comedians Chris Monty, Chris Roach and Rich Walker. Tickets are $50 per person. BYOB and refreshments. For more information, call 751-8518.

Caroline Campbell in concert

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts welcomes Caroline Campbell in concert in the Recital Hall at 8 p.m. Establishing herself both as a skilled classical artist and a versatile contemporary musician, world renowned violinist Caroline Campbell will share her arrangements of some of her favorite moments from the movies, including West Side Story, Romeo and Juliet, Harry Potter, Titanic, James Bond, The Red Violin, and many more! Tickets range from $39 to $58. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

LI Comedy Festival

Celebrate St. James hosts the Long Island Comedy Festival at the St. James Fire Department, 533 Route 25, St. James at 8 p.m. Comedians include Rob Falcone, Paul Anthony and David Weiss. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are $35. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Engine 1 Community Holiday Toy Drive. To order, visit www.celebratestjames.org.

Sunday Nov. 20

Holiday Pottery Sale

See Nov. 19 listing.

Winter Lantern Festival

See Nov. 18 listing.

Northport Walking Tour

The Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St.. Northport hosts a Parading Down Main Street walking tour at 1:30 p.m. Tour guide Dan Sheehan makes the past come alive during this lively and informative walking tour of Northport’s historic Main Street business district. $7 per person. Register at www.northporthistorical.org or call 757-9859.

Saxophone Quartet concert

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station welcomes the Transitions Saxophone Quartet in concert at 1:30 p.m. Enjoy a musical performance demonstrating the evolution of jazz through the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Open to all. Register by calling 928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org.

Sound Symphony Orchestra concert

Comsewogue High School, 565 Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station hosts a concert by the Sound Symphony Orchestra at 2 p.m. Program will include Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, Mvts. 1, 3 and 4; Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 13, featuring soloist Luke Baron, piano; and Gipps: Seascape for Double Wind Quintet. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students at the door. Military and children under 12 years old receive free admission Cash only.  For more information, visit www.soundsymphony.org.

Sunday at the Society

The Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport continues its Sunday at the Society series with an Icon Award Presentation at 2 p.m. Join them as they honor Vincent Terranova and Jones Drug Store, a staple on Main Street in Northport since 1901, with stories and refreshments. Free but registration is required by visiting www.northporthistorical.org.

Monday Nov. 21

No events listed for this day.

Tuesday Nov. 22

No events listed for this day.

Wednesday Nov. 23

No events listed for this day.

Thursday Nov. 24
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving Foot Races

Miller Avenue School, 3 Miller Ave., Shoreham will host the annual Shoreham-Wading River Thanksgiving Foot Races at 8 a.m. with a 5k, 5-mile and 1-mile runs for various ages. Proceeds benefit scholarships. Fee is $15 in advance, $20 race day. Call 821-8116 or visit www.swrschools.org. 

Turkey Trot

The 15th annual Nissequogue River State Park Foundation’s 5k Turkey Trot at Nissequogue River State Park, 799 St. Johnland Road, Kings Park will kick off with a Fun Run for Kids at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Turkey Trot at 9 a.m. Enjoy free hot chocolate, coffee and food and activities for the kids. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. Entry fee is $24 in advance, $30 day of race, $10 Fun Run. To register, visit www.ourstatepark.com.

Thanksgiving Day Run

American Legion Hall, 1 Mill Dam Rd., Halesite will host the Townwide Fund of Huntington’s 4-mile Thanksgiving Day Run with a Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. and 4k Run at 9 a.m.  Fees are $30 in advance, $45 day of race, $15 fun run. Call 629-4950 visit www.townwidefund.org.

Film

South Asian Film Festival

The Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents the first-ever Long Island South Asian Film Festival on Nov. 19. Featuring 13 shorts, one short documentary, and one feature film over the span of six hours beginning at noon. For the complete lineup of films and to purchase tickets, please visit www.longislandsaff.com.

‘Man with a Movie Camera’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cult Café series with a screening of the 1929 Ukrainian documentary, Man with a Movie Camera  on Nov. 19 at 9 p.m. Composer Justin Sherburn’s joyful original score celebrates the beauty and resilience of Ukraine’s people and aims to inspire American audiences to support the country in its time of need. Tickets are $12, $7 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

‘The Youtube Effect’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. with a screening of The Youtube Effect at Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson. The documentary takes viewers on a timely and gripping journey inside the cloistered world of YouTube and parent Google. It investigates YouTube’s rise from humble beginnings in the attic of a pizzeria to its explosion onto the world stage, becoming the largest media platform in history and sparking a cultural revolution, while creating massive controversy in the age of disinformation. YouTubers, reporters, and experts alike join Winter in interrogating the effects these problems can have. Guest Speaker via live Zoom will be Alex Winter, Director. Tickets are $10 at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com or at the door. 

Theater

‘Sister Act’

Stage 74 @SYJCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack presents Sister Act on Nov. 12 and 19 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. Based on the hit 1992 film, the show follows disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, who witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be a found: a convent! Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, Sister Act is reason to rejoice! Tickets are $32, $25 seniors and students. To order, call 462-9800 or visit www.starplayhouse.com.

‘Noises Off’

The Theatres at Suffolk County Community College presents Noises Off by Michael Frayn at the Shea Theater, Islip Arts Building, 533 College Road, Selden on Nov. 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 20 and 27 at 2 p.m. Called the funniest farce ever written, Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. *Mature Content* General admission: $14, Veterans and students 16 years of age or younger: $10, Suffolk students with current ID: One FREE ticket. To order, visit https://sunysuffolk.edu/spotlight or call 451-4163.

‘A Christmas Carol’

“I will honor Christmas in my heart…” Join Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson for its 38th annual production of A Christmas Carol in all of its thrills, music, joy, and spirit. from Nov. 12 to Dec. 30. Follow the miser Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey that teaches him the true meaning of Christmas — past, present and future. $20 tickets in November; December tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. See review on page B11.

‘A Christmas Story’

The John W. Engeman Theater presents A Christmas Story, The Musical from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31. Nine-year-old Ralphie Parker only wants one thing for Christmas ­ an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Rebuffed at every turn, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to achieve his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun. Based on the beloved movie, A Christmas Story, The Musical is the perfect holiday gift for the entire family! Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’

The Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown kicks off the holiday season with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. from Nov. 19 to Jan. 22 with a special sensory performance on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. All seats are $25. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Vendors Wanted

Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main St., Northport seeks vendors for its annual St. Nicholas Bazaar on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 631-261-7670 for further details.

Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook seeks craft vendors for its Holiday Night Market on Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Call 631-588-5024.

Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road,  Setauket seeks vendors for its first annual Three Village Winter Market, an outdoor holiday shopping experience,  on Dec. 10 and 11 from 11 to 4 p.m. $100 for one day or $150 for both. Call 631-751-3730 or visit www.tvhs.org.

Pictured above, state Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), left, and Edward Flood. File photos by Raymond Janis

A week has passed since Election Day, and the race for New York State Assembly District 4 has yet to be called. However, the Republican Party challenger Edward Flood, of Port Jefferson, appears to be on the brink of an upset.

As of press time, Flood maintains a 51-49% margin over incumbent state Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket). With remaining votes outstanding and the outcome still undetermined, Englebright — who is current chair of the Assembly’s important Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation — declined to comment for this story.

In a phone interview on Tuesday evening, Flood gave an update on the remaining ballots. As of press time, Flood held a 973-vote lead with tallies of 23,707-22,734, according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Flood said roughly 1,100 absentee and affidavit ballots remain uncounted. 

“I’ve been told it’s mathematically improbable but not impossible for me to lose,” he said. “It’s unofficial, but it’s looking like I have this.”

Even so, Flood has yet to declare victory in the race. He said he would prefer to let the process play out. “I haven’t formally said I won, but I’m hoping that as of tomorrow, we have some more definitive answers,” the Republican candidate said.

Initial reports of Flood’s prospective victory surprised many within the community. Englebright has held that seat since 1992, and before entering the state Assembly, had represented the area in the Suffolk County Legislature starting in 1983. Flood said he was not necessarily surprised by the outcome.

“For my campaign team, this wasn’t a shock,” he said. “We did some polling and we knew we were right there.” He added, “I understand why people outside my camp would call it a shock. Steve’s been there for a really long time … so I don’t discount the magnitude of what happened, but it wasn’t a shock to my team.”

If Flood is declared the victor in the coming days, he said he would like to begin the transition, starting with a discussion with his election opponent.

“I would like to have a conversation with Steve, if he would be willing to — and I think he’s a standup guy and I think he would — to kind of let me know what specific constituent problems they have,” Flood said. “We’ve reached out to a lot of the civics, and I’d like to sit with them and get some ideas … and just get a feel of what each community is looking for from me.”

He also said he plans to coordinate with the law enforcement community to understand the challenges experienced on the ground. He expressed his intent to “speak with law enforcement and get the best plan for how to address some of the issues with criminal justice reform that I think are just not working right now.”

To his possible constituency, Flood offered to maintain an open-door policy. He emphasized community outreach and maintaining close contact with community members.

“My job is to represent the people in the district, whether they voted for me or didn’t vote for me,” he said. “I’m not saying I don’t have some ideas, but I want this to be clear that I’m going to represent them and the interests of our community up in Albany.”

To follow the election results as the final ballots are counted, visit the website www.elections.ny.gov under “Suffolk County Election Night Results,” then scroll down to “New York Assembly AD#4.”

If the loss of Englebright’s seat is confirmed, TBR News Media plans to conduct an exit interview marking the end of his term.