Krisha Mehta celebrates her match to Stony Brook Medicine with her family. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
All smiles: matching fourth-year students hold up their signs indicating where their careers as physician will begin. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
Leslie Peralta celebrates her match – to Obstetrics/Gynecology at UNC Medical Center in North Carolina. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
Some of the 26 matching students who will stay at Stony Brook Medicine for their residency training. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
Dr. William Wertheim, Interim RSOM Dean, urged the students to recognize they are on the threshold of their careers where opportunities and enriching experiences await them. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
131 RSOM students match to residency programs; 20 percent to stay at Stony Brook Medicine
Taking a major step toward launching their careers, 131 Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) fourth-year students matched to residency training programs all over the country, New York State and at Stony Brook Medicine on March 18. Twenty percent of the students matched to training programs at Stony Brook, the highest percentage staying at Stony Brook since 2010 when the school began tracking this metric annually.
Match Days are held nationwide each year, a celebratory event when students learn of their residency training assignments. Administered by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), this year more than 39,000 positions were filled. See this NRMP news. The numbers of physicians continue to increase, in part because of a need for our nation’s growing population and increasing need for specialty services in medicine. The two-year international pandemic has also raised awareness of the importance of a strong physician pool going forward in the 21st Century.
“The role of the physician has never been more important,” said Hal Paz, MD, MS, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences at Stony Brook University, in a video message to the matching students. “You will soon be joining a network of over 4.500 physician alumni. The Renaissance School of Medicine gave you an opportunity to become a physician, but you did the hard work to fulfill your dreams.”
Collectively the students matched to programs in 18 states and Washington, DC. Approximately 43 percent of the students matched to programs in NYS, and 56 percent to programs in other states. The leading programs matched to included Internal Medicine (21 students), Emergency Medicine (15), Anesthesiology (12), and Pediatrics (11).
To view the celebration and some students’ matches see this video.
“You all stand on the threshold of your medical careers, a threshold can be the entrance to a new place, or it can be the beginning of some new chapter in our lives, or it can be the limit of a prior condition. For you it is all those things,” said William Wertheim, MD, Interim Dean of the RSOM.
Considering these challenging times in our society and in healthcare, Dr. Wertheim continued: “COVID has become, during your student years, a fact of life. Though it has posed disruptions for you all, it has also created opportunities — for you to witness the advances of science and how each of these advances is incorporated into practice, for the rapidity with which recognition of new conditions and new challenges are adopted into medical care. These are all good lessons to learn.”
Among the students matching include native Long Islanders Kristin Krumenacker and Justin Cheung. Krumenacker, a dual-degree student who will also earn a Master of Arts in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics in May, matched to a Radiology residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems. Cheung, who earned a BS in Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University as an undergraduate, hopes to pursue a fellowship in hematology/oncology. He is one of four fourth-year students completing the BS to MD program at Stony Brook. Cheung matched to an Internal Medicine program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Another student completing the BS to MD program at Stony Brook, Verdah Ahmad, matched to Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey. A native of New Jersey, Ahmad was hoping to match to a school in the New York metro area. She is very happy to match to a program in her home state.
On Tuesday March 15, the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent. That doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. The House of Representatives still has to meet and agree to pass the bill before it can go to President Joe Biden to sign. Also, it wouldn’t go into effect until 2023.
Be that as it may, we here at TBR News Media thought it would be interesting to see how people felt about the news, so we headed out to the streets of Port Jefferson on a sunny Friday afternoon to see what local passersby thought of the prospect of never having to move their clocks forward and back each year.
Here’s what they had to say:
Samantha Falese, West Islip
“I love the sunshine. I’m a morning person, so when I get up, it might be a little bit darker, but I like the idea of coming home knowing it’s light out because I work about an hour away.”
Rachel Guglielmo, Port Jefferson
“I’m looking forward to it staying like this. I like getting out of work and being in the sunlight instead of leaving work and it being all dark out and making me feel like my day is all over. I’m more motivated when it’s light out.”
Connie Poulos, Selden
“I’m happy about it. If it’s like, so that it doesn’t get dark at 4 o’clock, that would be nice. I’m looking forward to more sunlight.”
Gwen Coady with grandson Jack, Saint James
“My husband does construction. If he works later in the summer, it stinks. If it’s daylight, he keeps on working. The other way, he keeps more of a schedule. But I do like the daylight savings because I love to be outside.”
Allison Marin, Port Jefferson
“I think I like the changing back and forth because it kind of gives you something to look forward to that day — when you know you’re getting the hour back. I don’t love losing it necessarily, but when you get the hour back, you kind of feel like you won. You know? Like you want to do something big with your hour. You have to make it worth something. I think it’s kind of fun.”
Stephen Malusa, Selden
“I like it. Finally get rid of that nonsense. Changing back and forth is just an annoyance.”
The Smithtown Historical Society will host a Model Train Show in the Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown on March 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Operating Layouts on display with include the Long Island HOTrack – HO Scale; Frank Kayz Trainz —Surprise; Trainville Hobby Depot — N Scale and more. Admission is $5, $3 for kids 12 and under.Proceeds will benefit the Smithtown Historical Society for the restoration of farm buildings and caring for the animals. For more information, call 524-0529.
Egg Hunt at the Hatchery
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will host an Egg Hunt for children up to age 6 on March 26-27, April 2-3, 9-10 and 15-16 with 20-minute sessions scheduled between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.. $12 per child, $5 helper siblings ages 7 to 12, $7 adults, $6 seniors. Registration is required. Visit www.cshfishhatchery,org or call 516-692-6768.
Children’s Birding Adventures
Children ages 4 to 10 with a caregiver are invited to join the Four Harbors Audubon Society for a children’s story time, bird walk, and a bird-inspired activity at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 101 Main St., Setauket on March 26 from 1 to 2 p.m. Enjoy some family fun while you learn about our feathered friends.Meet at the entrance to the park behind the post office. Free but registration is required by emailing [email protected]. Rain date is April 2.
Bicycle Rodeo
The Traffic Safety Department for the Town of Brookhaven is hosting a free Bicycle Rodeo on March 26 at Safety Town, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville. The event encourages children to learn how to safely ride their bikes in a mock-roadway, kid-sized setting. Participants will be evaluated and given feedback on their bicycle-handling abilities, after proper bicycle safety skills are demonstrated. Bring your own bicycle and helmet. This event is by appointment only; call 363-3770 to schedule a time to attend.
Gee Golly Geology
The Town of Brookhaven kicks off its Spring Nature Programs at Cedar Beach, 200 Harbor Road, Mount Sinai with Gee Golly Geology on March 26 at 2 p.m. Join them for a geology lesson and guided walk of the peninsula to explore and observe the ever-changing topography that provides the foundation for distinct ecosystems and habitats of the beach and salt marsh. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Free but registration is required by e-mailing Environmental Educator Nicole Pocchiare at [email protected].
Theater
‘Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the world premiere of Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz from Feb. 23 to March 26. Dorothy Gale is whisked away by a tornado to that magical land that lies just Over the Rainbow. Follow Dorothy and her friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion as they encounter challenges and celebrate friendship. This new take on a classic tale features an original score, memorable characters, and fun for the entire family. Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz is a delightful reminder that “there’s no place like home!” All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Madagascar’
Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Madagascar: A Musical Adventure from April 2 to May 8. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!” All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Disney’s ‘High School Musical Jr.’
We’re all in this together! Disney Channel’s smash hit musical comes to life at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown in Disney’s High School Musical Jr. from April 15 to May 15. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra curricular activities. The show’s infectious, danceable songs will have you dancing in your seats! All seats are $25. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Long Island Cars kicks off 2022 with a classic car show at Bald Hill in Farmingville on March 27. Photo from LI Cars
Ongoing
TVHS expands hours
The Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket will be open for the spring season on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for exhibit tours of SPIES! and Chicken Hill and gift shop now through May 7. For more information, call 751-3730 or visit www.tvhs.org.
Suffrage exhibit in Port Jefferson
The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson celebrates Women’s History Month with an exhibit on the second floor titled Celebrating Women’s Suffrage and the Timeless Connection of Nan Guzzetta. The exhibit runs through March 31 daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free. For more information, call 802-2160.
Thursday, March 24
Swing Into Spring Festival
The Jazz Loft and Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn presents its Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival at different locations throughout Stony Brook and Setauket today through March 27. Performances continue tonight in Stony Brook at The Country House from 6 to 8 p.m. and a The Jazz Loft from 7 to 9:30 p.m. For a full schedule of events, visit www.thejazzloft.org or call 751-1895.
Stony Brook Walking Tour *This event has been moved to March 25
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization will host a walking tour titled “Against the Grain” featuring newly uncovered stories of Stony Brook Village women. Tours will leave from the Stony Brook Grist Mill on Harbor Road at 10:30 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m. Participants in the walking tour will enjoy at least six entirely new stories about the women of Stony Brook Village, spanning thousands of years. This includes indigenous women; the women of the Revolution; a few scandalous wills; the story of Jennie Melville and her role in the suffrage movement; Alida Emmet and the Center for Twilight Sleep; and Dorothy Melville, the Fairy Godmother of Stony Brook. Tickets are $10 per person, and includes a dessert (with the purchase of an entrée) at Mirabelle Restaurant and Tavern. To reserve your spot, call 751-2244.
Five Ways to Wellness event
The Space at Port Jefferson, 234 Traders Cove, Port Jefferson hosts Five Ways to Wellness, an evening dedicated to pain management, anxiety and sleeplessness, from 6 to 8 p.m. Featuring guest speakers Dee Earle-Browning, Indu Kaur, Elizabeth Martin, Heather Ippolito, Felicia Kasow and Dr. David Gentile with interactive acupuncture, yoga, reiki, hors d’oeuvres and wine. Free but tickets are required by visiting www.eventbrite.com. For further information, call 516-939-8960.
Leading Ladies Trivia Nite!
Join the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum for a Leading Ladies Trivia Nite online at 7 p.m. Test your wits as you explore the lives and work of amazing women who made their marks on the world in film, art, history, science, literature, and music and more in a fun setting! Free to play; $10 donation appreciated in support of the museum’s events. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org to register.
Atelier lecture
The Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James will host a free webinar titled Painting En Plein Air: From Ideal to Practice via Zoom at 7 p.m. Painting en plein air was really an ideal for artists like J. M.W. Turner and John Constable, but it became a real credo for artists like Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, John Singer Sargent, Joaquín Sorolla and many others. In this lecture, painter, teacher and art historian Eric Alexander Santoli will cover the history, principles, materials and methods of painting en plein air. To register, call 250-9009 or visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org.
Friday, March 25
Stony Brook Walking Tour (See March 24 listing)
Friday Night Coffee House
Celebrate St. James continues its Coffee House series at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 2nd. St., St. James tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. The Center will be transformed into a “Coffee House” with easy going eclectic music by Fat Nicky and the Snack featuring Nick Loiodice while in the company of old and new friends. Coffee, tea and treats will be served. Tickets are $20, $15 seniors. To RSVP, call 984-0201 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.
Wintertide Concert
The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson continues its Wintertide Concert Series with the Wine & Cheese All Stars: Kate Corrigan, Cecilia Kirtland, Ray Lambiase and Bob Westcott – veteran singer-songwriters from the wine & cheese cafe heydays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. $5 donation at the door. Call 802-2160 for more information.
Poets in Port
Northport Arts Coalition continues its Poets in Port at the First Presbyterian Church 330 Main Street, Northport and virtually at 7:30 p.m. Featured poet will be Robert McKenna followed by an open reading. Free tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com. For more information, email [email protected].
Friday Night Face-Off
Friday Night Face Off, Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, returns to Theatre Three’s Second Stage, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson tonight at 10:30 p.m. Using audience suggestions, FNFO pits two teams of improvisers against each other in an all-out championship! Recommended for ages16 and up, due to adult content. Tickets are $15 at the door only. Call 928-9100 for more information.
Saturday, March 26
Clean up at the Train Car Park
A community clean up will take place at the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce Train Car Park, located at the corner of Rte. 112 and Rte. 347 in Port Jefferson Station, from 9 a.m. to noon.Come help get the Train Car Park spruced up for the Spring and Summer season by trimming brush and branches, clearing any trash, and making sure everything looks great! Continental breakfast will be available inside the train. All groups welcome to participate. Community service hours will be given if needed. Questions? Call 821-1313.
Mindfulness in Nature Walk
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown will host a Mindfulness in Nature Walk from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m.Experience nature in this slow, mindful practice of forest bathing. Maureen Calamia will lead the walk, share some stories and some interesting facts about our connection to nature. But most of all, you’ll have time to experience it yourself. You can bring a small towel to sit on if you would like for one of the activities. $20 per person. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. For more information, call 979-6344.
The Kennedy Dream Project
As part of the Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival, The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will present The Kennedy Dream Project, a Jazz Studio Orchestra presentation based on composer Oliver Nelson’s musical tribute to John Fitzgerald Kennedy 55 years ago with new compositions by Tom Manuel, Ray Anderson, Oliver Nelson Jr., Dan Pugach, Peter Coco and Steve Salerno from 7 to 9:30 p.m. A second performance will be held at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook on March 27 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students,$15 children ages 6 and up; children 5 and under free. Visit www.thejazzloft.org to register. Call 751-1895 for more info.
SBU Symphony Orchestra
The Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will host a concert by the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra on the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Program will include works by Sheila Silver, Richard Strauss, William Walton. Tickets are $20 per person. To order, visit www.stallercenter.com or call 632-2787.
Sunday, March 27
The Kennedy Dream Project
See March 26 listing.
Car Show & Swap Meet
Long Island Cars will kick off the 2022 season with their Super Swap Sunday Car Show & Swap Meet today at the Bald Hill Cultural Center, 1 Ski Lane, Farmingville from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of classic and collectible automobiles including street rods, muscle cars and antiques will be on display along with a vendor fair, live music by “The Fugitives,” food and refreshments. Admission is $10 per person, under age 12 free. Call 567-5898 or visit www.longislandcars.com.
Huntington Winter Farmers Market
Get your farm fix in the off-season at the Huntington Winter Farmers Market every Sunday through March 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located behind the senior center at 423 Park Ave., Huntington, visitors will find items ranging from hydroponic greens to artisan breads and vegan treats and everything in between. Call 944-2661.
Port Jeff Winter Farmers Market
The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market will be held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson through April 25. This year’s vendors include Brownies N’ Stuff, Joann’s Desserts, Farm Fresh Potions, Mello Munch Awesome Granola, O Honey Bee Farm, Sweet Melissa Dip, Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery, Spilt Milk Macarons and many more. For more information, call 802-2160.
Sound Symphony Concert
Comsewogue High School, 565 North Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station will host a classic concert by the Sound Symphony Orchestra at 2 p.m. The program will include Dances in the Canebreaks by Florence Price, The Banks of Green Willow by George Butterworth and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, featuring 2019 Concerto Competition winner William Tang. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 seniors and students, children under 12 free at the door. For more information, visit www.soundsymphony.org.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce invites the community to its 31st annual Ronkonkoma St. Patrick’s Day Parade from 2 to 6 p.m. along Patchogue-Holbrook Road and Portion Road. This year’s Grand Marshal will be Gerry McMenamin. Call 304-6303.
Long Island Museum lecture
As part of its current exhibit, Two Centuries of Long Island Women Artists: 1800-2000, the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook will host a special program titled Lee Krasner in Context in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room at 2 p.m. Helen A. Harrison, historian, author and director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center will speak about Lee Krasner, her art and her place among the other female abstractionists working on Long Island in the mid 20th century. Free with museum admission. Call 751-0066 or visit www.longislandmuseum.org.
Flax Pond Lecture
The 17th annual Friends of Flax Pond lecture series kicks off with From Plankton to Whales – Why our local waters are worth protecting with Christopher Paparo at 3 p.m. at the Childs Mansion on Shore Road in Old Field. The presentation will be moderated by Distinguished Service Professor and Oceanographer, Dr Malcolm Bowman. Light refreshments will be served. Please bring a reusable coffee mug to reduce waste. The lecture is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, call 767-6287.
Monday, March 28
SHS Spring Lecture
The Smithtown Historical Society concludes its Spring Lecture Series with a presentation titled Seeking Sanctuary, 125 Years of Synagogues on Long Island, with author and photographer Brad Kolodny in the Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown from 7 to 8 p.m. A book signing will follow. Free admission. For more information, call 265-6768.
Audubon lecture
Dr. Brooke Bateman
Four Harbors Audubon Society presents a Zoom lecture titled Birds Are Telling Us It’s Time to Take Action on Climate Change at 7:30 p.m. Over the last 50 years, North America has lost over one quarter of its birds. Join Dr. Brooke Bateman, Director of Climate Science for the National Audubon Society, for a presentation on how future climate change will be one of the greatest threats to birds and how we can implement Natural Climate Solutions to address the climate crises. Free but registration is required by visiting www.4has.org.
Virtual Movie Trivia Night
Do you know a lot about movies? Well here’s your chance to prove it! Join the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington for a virtual Movie Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Hosted by Dan French, the winning team will get up to four CAC Gift Cards (1 per team member) and bragging rights. Tickets are $10 per team, $7 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org to register. Questions? Email [email protected].
Tuesday, March 29
No events listed for this day.
Wednesday, March 30
Starry Nights concert
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will present Starry Nights Spring in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. The Starry Nights concerts at Staller Center have become a well-loved tradition, with artistic director Colin Carr creating unique chamber music programs that bring together world-class musicians from the Stony Brook University Department of Music. The program will include variations of Beethoven’s “Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu” for Piano Trio Opus 121a. Tickets range from $44 to $48. For more information, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
Thursday, March 31
Native American Drumming
All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will host a Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Please call 631-655-7798 for more information.
Theater
‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents The Marvelous Wonderettes from Feb. 19 to March 26. This blast-from-the-past musical takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! Featuring over two dozen classic ‘50’s and ‘60’s hits including “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” and many more. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Festival of One-Act Plays
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 23rd annual Festival of One-Act Plays, featuring the world premiere of six new works, at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on the Second Stage from Feb. 27 to April. 2. Adult content and language. Parental discretion is advised. Tickets are $20. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘A Bronx Tale’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents A Bronx Tale from March 24 to May 8. Based on Chazz Palminteri’s classic movie, this streetwise musical will take you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s—where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring a doo-wop score, A Bronx Tale is a story about respect, loyalty, love, and above all else: family. Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. Read the review in next week’s paper!
‘Steel Magnolias’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Steel Magnolias from April 9 to May 7. Come on down to Truvy’s Louisiana beauty shop where six strong women share their hopes and dreams. Beginning on the day of debutante Shelby’s wedding, the play traces this eccentric and lovable cast of characters as they support each other through life’s many challenges. Stop by for some great laughs and unforgettable friendship. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit theatrethree.com.
Shakespeare’s Henry V
Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Campus, 533 College Road, Selden presents Henry V by Shakespeare at the Shea Theatre, Islip Arts Building on April 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. and April 24 at 2 p.m. Mature content. General admission is $14, students 16 years of age or younger $9.75, veterans and Suffolk students with current ID receive one free ticket. To order, call 451-4163.
Vendors Wanted
◆ Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, 178 Oxhead Road, Centereach seeks vendors for its Spring Craft Fair on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date May 22). $50 for a 10X10 spot. Food trucks also wanted. For more information, email Alex at [email protected].
◆ Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn is looking for craft vendors for its annual outdoor Friends of the Library Craft & Flea Market on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. The non-refundable fee for a 10X10 space is $35. To apply, visit www.harborfieldslibrary.org/friends.
◆ The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor seeks antique vendors for its outdoor Spring Antique Sale on May 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For an application, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. For more information, call 631-367-3418.
The Jazz Loft founder and president Tom Manuel recently met with New York State Senator Mario Mattera (District 2) to give the Senator a tour of the Stony Brook Village museum and performance space and to discuss some of the Loft’s musical programs.
Members of the local business community, Jazz Loft board members and volunteers were also present. Manuel spoke about The Jazz Loft’s Young at Heart daytime concert series which is aimed at seniors, those suffering from memory loss, and their caretakers. The one-hour programs are designed to be interactive and provide a musical trip down memory lane for audience members. Live music was provided by Steve Salerno.
Pictured from left are Jazz Loft volunteers Barbara and Thom Brownsworth; musician Steve Salerno with guitar; Michael Ardolino, Jazz Loft board member and owner of Realty Connect USA; State Senator Mario Mattera; Tom Manuel, founder of the Jazz Loft; Carmine Inserra of the Three Village Chamber of Commerce and owner of ProSysCon Computer Technologies; and Mr. Inserra’s wife Sara Inserra.
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook is located just 90 minutes from New York City and is the only music venue on Long Island that features exclusively jazz music. Learn more at www.thejazzloft.org or call 631-751-1895.
Paige Stonehill. Photo from Comsewogue School District
Anderson Latt. Photo from Comsewogue School District
Last month, Terryville Road Elementary School celebrated National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Guided by the school social worker, Tiffany Liebling, students practiced kindness by participating in Kindness Bingo. Boys and girls could check off a box on their board by paying a student from a different class a compliment or making someone smile.
“It’s an absolute joy to see how thoughtful Terryville students are! I feel blessed to work with such exemplary children,” said principal Annemarie Sciove.
A student-created poster contest depicting thoughtful quotes and artwork decorated the building for the last few weeks and winners were just announced. Congratulations go to 5th grader Anderson Latt, 4th grader Paige Stonehill and 3rd grader Gia Ochoa. And a special acknowledgement to Mrs. Stoeber’s class who won the Kindness Bingo and will enjoy a pizza party next week.
“It’s good to take care of the world,” said 3rd grade winner, Gia.
The Open Door Exchange (ODE) located at 200 Wilson Street, Building G, in Port Jefferson Station is a mission of Setauket Presbyterian Church and seeks to serve the community by providing quality furniture for anyone who needs. Since its beginning, ODE has distributed over 6,000 furniture pieces. From one open door through another ODE has helped more than 800 families.
Throughout the year furniture donations are accepted from individuals and organizations through scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs. The pieces received go through an intake process where they are cleaned, inspected and repaired if necessary. Families and individuals are then welcome to the ODE warehouse where they can view and choose the pieces that work for them.
ODE is run by an efficient and effective staff as well has many hard-working volunteers. The mission of ODE is to bring joy, security and comfort to people in the community by lifting the financial burden of home furnishing. Sometimes that cost is over looked and sometimes people are in need to due to emergency situations. ODE prides itself in keeping quality furniture pieces well stocked and available for visitors to view and tag for their homes.
From March 25 at 9 a.m. through March 31 at 6 p.m. the Open Door Exchange will hold its annual fundraiser, Furnishing Hope, through a live online auction. An in person celebration will be held at Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket on April 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets to the in-person event are $10 per person and can be purchased online. The live auction and tickets can be found at: https://www.opendoorexchange.org/.
Luxury retail stores, such as the one shown above, have been targeted by ORC rings. Photo from Pixabay.
Organized retail crime, a nationwide retail theft phenomenon, has reached Suffolk County.
Last week, four individuals from Newark, New Jersey, were arrested by the Suffolk County Police Department for their alleged involvement in an ORC ring that stole $94,000 worth of luxury handbags from a Balenciaga store in East Hampton on March 3. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) held a press conference shortly after the arrests were made, announcing that those responsible for the theft will be prosecuted.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), above, addressed the recent spike of organized retail crime in the area. Photo from Tierney’s office.
“The individuals in East Hampton, they stole $94,000 worth of bags and they were going to sell that on the secondary market, and they were going to make tens of thousands of dollars in profit,” Tierney said. “The purpose of last week’s press conference was to let people know we are paying attention and we are going to address it because, ultimately, the people who bear the costs of that theft are the consumers, the citizens of Suffolk County who have to pay increased prices for everything.”
ORC refers to the coordinated shoplifting carried out by professional theft rings. According to Tierney, there are stark differences between ORC and ordinary shoplifting.
“We’re trying to separate retail theft from these organized retail theft rings,” he said. “While we’re taking all retail thefts seriously, we want to put special emphasis on the organized retail theft rings, where individuals come in and they’re en masse stealing large amounts of merchandise with the specific purpose of reselling it on the secondary market for profit.”
Gus Downing is publisher and editor of The D&D Daily, an online publication that follows retail trends and raises public awareness for these issues. According to him, ORC has proliferated in recent years due to the rise of the online resale marketplace.
“Organized retail crime has been around a long time, but the internet and third-party selling online is really what took this into the stratosphere,” he said in a phone interview. “When you look at the internet and third-party sellers, and then you tack on the opioid epidemic and the cartels flooding the United States with fentanyl, and then you tack on the surge in crime generically, you’ve got a heck of a problem that is spiraling out of control.”
Downing said that a considerable proportion of mainstream opioid users require a revenue stream to finance their habit. According to him, ORC and drugs are inextricably linked together.
“It’s really all about drugs,” he said. “That’s what drives a person into a store to steal. They have to get the money, and what’s the easiest place to get it when you have millions of people online that would love a deal?”
Tierney has not yet noticed a connection between ORC and drugs in the area. According to him, large returns appear to be motivating the spike in ORC-related incidents throughout the county.
“There’s the sector of the population that are addicted to drugs — they might have mental health issues, and in a sort of ad hoc, unorganized manner they steal things for subsistence and whatever meager money they make goes to drugs or they’re stealing for food,” he said, adding, “Those people from the organized rings, I don’t see drugs and drug addiction being a factor in that. I see it being a profit margin.”
“Those organized gangs, they prey on the most vulnerable people in our society.”
— Barbara Staib, director of development and communications at The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention
Shoplifting education
The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, based in Huntington Station, is an organization that works to curb retail-related thefts through education. According to Barbara Staib, director of development and communications at NASP, shoplifters can be separated into two categories: professional and nonprofessional.
“While not all shoplifters are involved in ORC, anybody who is involved in ORC is a shoplifter,” she said in a phone interview. “People don’t just jump right into being involved in organized gangs. They started as a shoplifter.”
According to its website, NASP offers online courses for adults and juveniles who need to complete a theft class as required by a court or probation officer. Staib suggested that programs such as these help to reduce recidivism of retail theft crimes, which in turn can deter recruitment into ORC rings.
Staib said NASP works with nonprofessional shoplifters. According to her, these individuals are often the most vulnerable to the predatory recruitment tactics of ORC ringleaders.
“Those organized gangs, they prey on the most vulnerable people in our society,” she said. “They prey on people that are homeless, people who are drug addicted, people who are perhaps in a bad place in their lives and need money.” She added, “From a societal point of view, ORC is very damaging.”
Tierney acknowledged the need to treat retail theft incidents in a case-by-case manner. He said the county offers various programs, such as Stoplift, for first-time offenders. However, he added that those who follow a pattern of criminal behavior will be held responsible for their actions.
“The people who stole the $94,000 worth of bags were not first-time offenders,” he said. “Those repeat offenders who are enriching themselves are completely different from first-time shoplifters,” adding, “Of course, we’re going to treat the first-time shoplifter a lot different than we are with those organized theft rings.”
Staib finds a silver lining through programs such as NASP that educate shoplifters. While she considers ORC a dangerous crime trend that requires strict penalties, she views shoplifting education as a way to counter the spread of ORC.
“We need to approach [shoplifting] in two different ways,” Staib said. “We need to approach ORC as a felony crime that meets harsh punishment.” Discussing ways to address nonprofessional shoplifting, she added, “Our message is that education is valuable at any point for someone who shoplifts.”
To learn more about the shoplifting education programs offered by NASP, visit the website www.shopliftingprevention.org.
Update: Suffolk County Police today arrested a Wheatley Heights man for the murder of a Centereach man earlier this year. Homicide Squad detectives arrested Glenn Seejattan, 34, of 50 Colonial Springs Road, and charged him with Murder 2nd Degree for shooting Justin Lee, whose body was found in a wooded area in Rocky Point on January 28. Seejattan will be held overnight at the Sixth Precinct for arraignment on March 23 at First District Court in Central Islip.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Below is the second release:
Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives located the body of Justin Lee in a wooded area, west of Brookhaven Drive, near the North Shore Rail Trail, in Rocky Point today at approximately 2:30 p.m. Lee, 34, of Centereach, was reported missing by an acquaintance on January 21.
The body will be transported to the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death. Detectives are asking with information to contact the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.
Below is the original release:
Suffolk County Police are seeking the public’s help to locate a missing Centereach man who is schizophrenic and bipolar.
Justin Lee, 34, was last seen leaving his residence, located at 33 North Washington Ave., on January 18 at approximately 2:15 p.m. An acquaintance reported Lee missing on January 21.
Lee is Black, 5 feet 5 inches tall and 200 pounds with black hair, brown eyes, a scar on his nose and a gold front tooth. On his right arm, he has tattoos “Helen” and “RIP Helen 1957-2002” with praying hands. He also has a tattoo of “MOB” on his chest.
He was last seen wearing jeans, a black sweater with multi-colored triangles over a light blue long-sleeved thermal shirt, Timberland boots, and a black bandana with red roses.
Anyone with information on Lee’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
Town of Brookhaven offers adult gardening classes in the Spring.
The Town of Brookhaven offers children's gardening classes in the Spring.
A Bicycle Rodeo will be held on March 26.
Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Daniel Losquadro is announcing the return of several educational programs being offered to Town of Brookhaven residents this spring.
The Traffic Safety Department is hosting a free Bicycle Rodeo on Saturday, March 26, at Safety Town, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville. The event encourages children to learn how to safely ride their bikes in a mock-roadway, kid-sized setting. Participants of all ages will be evaluated and given feedback on their bicycle-handling abilities, after proper bicycle safety skills are demonstrated. Participants are required to bring their own helmets and bicycles; both will be inspected for safety. This event is by appointment only; those interested should call 631.363.3770 to schedule a time to attend.
The Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve is offering Spring Pee Wee Gardening Classes for those 3-5 years of age. Children will learn about the environment, animals and plants through crafts and stories. Two different six-week sessions are available beginning either April 12 or 13, for $50. Call 631.451.5330 for class dates/times and to register. Additionally, the Ecology Site is hosting Adult Horticulture Classesduring which participants will learn how to start plants through propagation, grow vegetables from seeds, spring gardening techniques and the uses for native plants. Classes, which are $50 for a six-week session, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays beginning April 14; call 631.451.5330 to register.
Connie Poulos, Selden
Gwen Coady with grandson Jack, Saint James
Allison Marin, Port Jefferson
Stephen Malusa, Selden
Throughout the year furniture donations are accepted from individuals and organizations through scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs. The pieces received go through an intake process where they are cleaned, inspected and repaired if necessary. Families and individuals are then welcome to the ODE warehouse where they can view and choose the pieces that work for them.
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