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Vanderbilt Museum premieres next video chapter of ‘Moments in History’

by Press Release - February 7, 2022

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The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum has just premiered the fifth video in a series of Vanderbilt Moments in History, How William Vanderbilt Created America’s First International Auto Race, which introduces viewers to the history of the race.

William K. Vanderbilt II, an early auto-racing enthusiast, set a land-speed record in 1904 of 92.3 miles per hour in a Mercedes on a course in Daytona Beach, Florida. That same year, he launched the Vanderbilt Cup, America’s first international auto race.

The video series is being created by Killian Taylor, archives and records manager: “It might come as a surprise to hear that many of the Long Island roads we drive on today were once part of one of the biggest auto events in the country. The Vanderbilt Cup was the brainchild of Mr. Vanderbilt, who wanted to create a race that would encourage American car manufacturers to make race cars that could compete with their European counterparts.

“The races drew thousands of visitors onto the island each year and paved the way for modern auto racing as we know it today. The Vanderbilt Cup was a one-of-a-kind national event, and it happened right in our backyards.”

Watch these other Vanderbilt Moments in History videos:

Alva Belmont: Socialite to Suffragist

The Alva: A Ship for Seven Seas

Eagle’s Nest: The Making of a Gold Coast Estate

The Vanderbilts and the Military

SCCC hosts Section XI Small School championship

by Bill Landon - February 7, 2022

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Comsewogue-Mount-Sinai-Port-Jeff-Harborfields-Section XI-championship-020622-Jenna-Alexa-Jacobs-Landon-0952 — 8565-Port Jeff junior Jenna Jacobs and her sister 8564-Alexa Jacob compete in the 300m dash at SCCC Feb 6. Bill Landon photo

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Legislator Bontempi honors longtime community volunteer

by Press Release - February 7, 2022

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Leg. Stephanie Bontempi and Bea Hartigan

At the February 1^st general meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (Centerport) presented longtime community volunteer, Bea Hartigan, with an official proclamation to honor her service. The presentation of the proclamation was accompanied by a speech made by Bontempi highlighting Bea’s various contributions and special qualities as a human being.

“Bea Hartigan is the epitome of community service. Due to her positive impact on those with whom she interacts and being truly omnipresent, she has become a relied upon leader. Her work with charities and passion for inspiring others to better themselves makes me proud to have her here in Huntington,” said Bontempi.

Perhaps, Bea is best known for her more 50 years of service with the Townwide Fund of Huntington, an organization that assists with numerous local charitable causes. Just as impressive is her consistent participation in the Thanks4giving Charity Run for 40 years now. There is a lot more to her record of generosity, including but not limited to volunteering with the Red Cross, coaching youth swimming competitions and teaching CPR and water-related safety courses.

“After learning just a little bit about Bea’s background, one cannot help but be impressed and inspired. I look forward to hearing more about her success stories in the years to come,” added Bontempi.

TBR News Media police blotter for the issue of February 3, 2022

by Heidi Sutton - February 6, 2022

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The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County Police:

Centereach

■ A resident on Continental Drive in Centereach called the police to report a man had allegedly taken a delivery package off of his front porch valued at approximately $400 on Jan. 23.

■ A petit larceny was reported at Walmart on Middle Country Road in Centereach on Jan. 22. A woman allegedly stole a blender, two mixers, and one juicer with a total value of $650.

■ 7-11 on Mark Tree Road in Centereach reported that someone allegedly stole two preloaded Vanilla Visa gift cards with a value of $500 each on Jan. 23.

■ A petit larceny was reported at Carters on Middle Country Road in Centereach on Jan. 28. Four women allegedly stole assorted children’s clothing with a value of approximately $200.

■ A resident on Bellwood Avenue in Centereach reported that a catalytic converter had been stolen from a 2002 Ford F250 on Jan. 23. Approximate value was $800.

Commack

■ A shoplifter at Home Depot on Jericho Turnpike in Commack was arrested on Jan. 24 for allegedly trying to steal 9 packages of electrical wire valued at approximately $1400.

■ A resident on Fairfield Way in Commack reported that someone stole their vehicle, a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, from the parking lot on Jan. 27. The keys had been left inside the car which was valued at $5000.

■ RX Express Pharmacy on Jericho Turnpike in Commack reported a burglary on Jan. 27. Two men allegedly broke a window, took assorted prescription drugs and fled the scene.

■ Walmart on Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack reported that a man allegedly stole a Hart chainsaw, Goodyear air compressor, clothing and more on Jan. 23. The value of the stolen items was $315.

Dix Hills

■ A resident on Ibsen Court in Dix Hills reported the theft of a catalytic converter from a 2009 Toyota Prius parked in the driveway on Jan. 23. The value was approximately $800.

■ Stop & Shop on East Jericho Turnpike in Dix Hills reported that a woman allegedly stole approximately $450 of assorted groceries on Jan. 23.

East Northport

■ A resident on 10th Avenue in East Northport called the police on Jan. 27 to report that a Tumi briefcase containing a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 was stolen from an unlocked vehicle. The items were valued at $850.

■ A resident on Cherry Street in East Northport was the victim of a scam on Jan. 26. A woman called the home posing as the victim’s daughter and said she had been arrested and needed bail money. A man arrived at the home and collected $8100.

East Setauket

■ Walmart on Nesconset Highway in East Setauket called police on Jan. 27 to report a man allegedly stole a Samsung 55” LED Smart TV worth approximately $500.

■ Store security at Walmart on Nesconset Highway in East Setauket called the police on Jan. 27 to report that a man had allegedly stolen 6 cases of Modelo beer from the store worth $180.

Fort Salonga

■ A home on Chestnut Stump Road in Fort Salonga was burglarized on Jan. 23. A suspect entered through an unlocked laundry room window and stole jewelry.

Hauppauge

■ A man called police on Jan. 27 to report his car had been stolen from the parking lot of QuickChek on Motor Parkway in Hauppauge. The man stated he left his 2000 Toyota Solara running while he went in to the store. When he came back out the car, valued at $1500, was gone.

Huntington Station

■ Macy’s on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station reported a grand larceny on Jan. 28. A person allegedly stole 8 coats with an approximate value of $1500.

■ A male shoplifter was arrested at Saks Fifth Avenue on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station on Jan. 26 for allegedly stealing two dress shirts and jeans valued at $2400.

Lake Grove

■ A catalytic converter was reported stolen from a 2002 Ford F250 parked on Olive Street in Lake Grove on Jan. 22. The stolen item was valued at approximately $650.

■ A woman shopping at Trader Joe’s in Lake Grove on Jan. 27 left her pocketbook unattended in her shopping cart. When she returned her wallet containing credit cards and cash was missing.

■ Sephora at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove reported that a woman allegedly stole three Daisy by Marc Jacobs fragrances on Jan. 28. The items were valued at $340.

■ H&M at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove reported a petit larceny on Jan. 28. A woman allegedly stole assorted clothing valued at about $200.

Miller Place

■ A resident on Henearly Drive in Miller Place reported that someone stole a chainsaw worth $300 from his backyard shed on Jan. 24.

Mount Sinai

■ A resident on Barnsley Cres in Mount Sinai reported that his car had been broken into on Jan. 22 and a debit card was stolen. Over $1000 in purchases were subsequently made with the stolen card.

Port Jefferson

■ A resident on Longacre Court in Port Jefferson called police to report that cash was taken out of two unlocked vehicles parked in the driveway on Jan. 23.

■ A resident on Owasco Drive in Port Jefferson reported a car parked on their property was ransacked and cash stolen on Jan. 23.

Rocky Point

■ A burglary was reported at a vacant home on Garland Road in Rocky Point on Jan. 21. Suspects entered the home through a rear window and unlocked a sliding glass door before removing copper piping.

St. James

■ A petit larceny was reported at K&T Foot Spa on Lake Avenue in St. James on Jan. 24. A person entered the store, picked up the cash register containing cash and fled on foot.

Selden

■ Home Depot on Middle Country Road in Selden reported that a man allegedly stole $350 worth of car batteries from the store on Jan. 26 and fled in a Ford Edge.

■ A resident on Fulton Avenue in Smithtown reported that someone drove up to their mailbox and stole their mail on Jan. 25.

■ A resident on Alpine Court in Smithtown called police on Jan. 24 to report that someone stole his credit card and made $2600 worth of purchases at Brothers Wine, Walmart and two different Target Stores.

South Setauket

■ Target on Pond Path in South Setauket reported two shoplifters on Jan. 26. A man and a woman allegedly concealed 17 videos and 1 calculator in their jackets and walked out of the store.

■ Target on Pond Path in South Setauket reported a petit larceny on Jan. 26. A man allegedly stole a Dyson V8 Animal Vacuum valued at $400.

■ A man was stopped by store security at Home Depot on Middle Country Road in Selden on Jan. 26 for allegedly attempting to steal assorted power tools and wire worth around $2600.

Stony Brook

■ A resident on William Penn Drive in Stony Brook reported that a purse, credit cards and money were stolen from a vehicle parked on their driveway on Jan. 22. A front window was broken to gain entry.

Terryville

■ A resident on Terryville Road in Terryville reported a wallet with credit cards was stolen from an unlocked vehicle on Jan. 22.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

Spread the Love Grub Drive launched to combat hunger

by Press Release - February 5, 2022

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Island Federal Credit Union (Island Federal) has joined forces with Sal DiBenedetto, the well-known digital media producer also known as “The Grubfather,” to support a special effort to fight hunger on Long Island. Together they launched “Spread the Love February Grub Drive” in support of Long Island Cares. The campaign will run throughout the month of February 2022.

From left, Chris Murray and Sal DiBenedetto. Photo from Island Federal

“For more than a decade, Island Federal has supported Long Island Cares in its mission to combat hunger on Long Island. Now, working in partnership with the hugely popular Grubfather Sal DiBenedetto, we are expecting a tremendous response,” said Chris Murray, VP/Marketing, Island Federal. “Our goal is to raise $5,000 this month, but I do believe we can far exceed that.”

Sal DiBenedetto responds, “I’m extremely proud to work with Island Federal on projects that enhance the life of Long Islanders. As fans know, I feature great meals on my Grubfather digital media. What we often forget is that, despite the abundance of great food on Long Island, there are more than 259,000 Long Islanders who remain food insecure, nearly a third of whom are children. That’s why we decided to do this joint fundraiser for Long Island Cares.”

Murray continues, “February is the perfect month to show the love to our fellow Long Islanders. And we’ve made is especially easy to donate from your computer or phone in minutes. Our Island team worked with Long Island Cares to develop a secure website to let you make a cash donation in minutes and see the amount of food it will purchase.”

The “Spread the Love February Grub Drive,” which will run through Feb. 28, will be 100% virtual. To donate, visit islandfcu.com/grubdrive or the TheGrubfather Instagram page now through end of the month.

Man robs TD Bank in Elwood

by Press Release - February 5, 2022

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Suffolk-police-car-cope-Donlonw — File photo

Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives are investigating a robbery that occurred at an Elwood bank on Friday, Feb. 4.

A man entered TD Bank, located at 1941 Jericho Turnpike, at approximately 3:55 p.m., and verbally demanded money from the teller. The teller complied and the man fled the bank on foot.

The man was described as white, wearing a knit cap, dark jacket, light pants and a face covering.

Anyone with information on this robbery is asked to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6553 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Foxes don’t pose a danger to humans

by Rita J. Egan - February 5, 2022

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When foxes are spotted in a neighborhood, residents may wonder if the animal poses any danger to them or their dogs and cats or if they have rabies because they’re out in the daytime. However, experts say seeing foxes out during the day doesn’t necessarily indicate rabies.

Tod the fox is currently recuperating from mange at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown. Photo from Sweetbriar

“Generally, foxes are most active at night or during twilight, however they can be active at other times of day when food demands are higher such as needing to conduct additional foraging to feed young,” according to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials. “During the winter months, foxes may be more inclined to hunt during the day, so a sighting in daylight hours is often not an indication of a sick animal.”

The DEC added that foxes should be viewed at a distance while they are searching for their necessities.

“If foxes are being sighted near residential homes it is probably because some resource need is being met, i.e., shelter, such as under decks or sheds, access to food, where rodents or other natural forage are located.”

Janine Bendicksen, curator and director of wildlife rehabilitation for Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown, said sometimes a person may see a fox circling. This is a result of people who feed them, which is not a good idea as they begin to depend on humans for food. Because of this dependency, when a fox sees a person, they begin circling in anticipation of being fed.

“The fox is definitely more afraid of you than you are of it,” she said. “Foxes have what they love to eat. They love to eat mice. They love moles, rats, and won’t necessarily go after your cat or dog. Could they? Absolutely. But chances are they’re going to be more afraid of the dog than it is of them.”

While people don’t have to worry about their dogs and cats if foxes are spotted, they do have to keep an eye on their chickens. Bendicksen said people who find that foxes get into their chicken cages need to house the birds in an enclosure that is completely fox proof because the animal can get to the chicken easily if there are any substantially sized holes.

Tod the fox was found outside someone’s back door. Photo from Sweetbriar

Fox population

Bendicksen said there hasn’t been an uptick in the fox population necessarily, but with more people at home during the pandemic, she believes more residents have noticed them than they did in the past. Even the number of calls they have received about injured wildlife, in general, have increased over the last couple of years, she said, as people are spending more time outdoors.

The fox population is a cyclical one. When it’s a good summer and they can get more than adequate amounts of food, she said, in turn, the animals have many pups.

However, this can result in overpopulation and the foxes get mites, which cause the contagious disease known as mange. The foxes can die from the disease. When another good summer comes along, the population can grow again.

“The population does go up and down based on food and based on the disease that keeps them in check,” Bendicksen said.

Recently, the nature center saved a fox with mange when a resident found him curled up outside their front door.

“He would not have survived the winter,” the wildlife director said. “We literally got him just in the nick of time. His hair just started to fall out. His eyes were just starting to shut. He would have died of secondary infections and starvation had he not come in.”

The fox, named Tod by the staff, will now spend the winter with the nature center and be released in the spring when he is “older and wiser,” according to Bendicksen.

Injured foxes

If a person sees an injured fox, they should contact an animal rescue such as Sweetbriar (631-979-6344, www.sweetbriarnc.org).

Bendicksen said foxes are difficult to catch, and they have to be extremely sick for a person to catch them. She pointed out that people rarely see foxes hit along the road because of their speed and other skills.

“The foxes are truly super intelligent, super shy, super careful, and so to catch a sick fox, they have to be in pretty bad shape,” she said.

Book Review: ‘I’ll Wait For You’

by Jeffrey Sanzel - February 5, 2022

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Eileen Resta and Mireille Comtois — Left, the author with her birth mother, Mireille Comtois, in 2011.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

I’ll Wait for You, subtitled An Adoption Memoir (Red Penguin Books), is Eileen Mary Coyne Resta’s honest and open account of her search for and discovery of her birth mother. Born Marie Monique Comtois, the author presents an account that is both a quest for information and an exploration of the power of family—and families. While many works on the topic focus on “nature vs. nurture,” Resta spotlights her tale’s human aspects and interpersonal events.

Resta was born in Montreal on June 6, 1949. She was adopted three months later and brought home to Brooklyn on September 9. The family eventually moved to Long Island, settling in Greenlawn. She grew up in a happy family, along with an adopted brother, Brian. She was surrounded by love and acceptance. However, the siblings were told not to share their origins, as there was often a stigma associated with adoption.

The book traces her childhood through marriage and, eventually, her own children. Her narrative is a well-crafted and informative portrait of life in the 1950s and 60s: bike rides and dancing school, secretarial college, and the Manhattan commute on the 7:07. She describes meeting her husband, Claude, their subsequent courtship, and the life they built together. Resta has lived with an appreciation of every moment, relishing gifts both large and small. At age thirty-seven, she returned to school and embarked on a career as an elementary school teacher and then a reading specialist.

The matter of her birth family followed her—as it does all children in the same situation. So much comes from a sense of being different: “I think most adoptees miss looking at a family member and seeing a little of themselves looking back.” She is not bitter but ruminative. She found that reflection with the birth of her daughter: “When my daughter was born, it was a new experience.”

But still, questions always lingered:

As I reflect on my life as an adopted child, and its part in my growing up, I remember wondering who my birth parents might have been but then quickly putting it out of my mind. Why dwell on what you cannot know and especially on something that could upset your parents? Adoptees often fantasize about who their birth parents are. I read that most adoptees think they are descended from either royalty or criminals.

It was not until 2010 that she sought her birth mother. By then, both her parents and her brother had passed away. The book thoroughly details her search. Starting with the orphanage where she stayed briefly, she explains each step in the odyssey to being reunited with her birth mother, Mireille Comtois, who had looked for her several times over the years. The fear of rejection is one that haunted Resta. “I think my adoptees may feel as if they didn’t count, knowing the occasion of their birth was not one for celebration.”

The day of their first meeting was April 14, 2011; Resta was sixty-one, and her birth mother was eighty-one, living in a nursing home, suffering from mild dementia. However, their bond was immediate and beautiful in Resta’s moving description. They were able to share a short but rich relationship. In addition, Resta gained three brothers and their families, developing a lasting connection.

Family is the overriding theme in I’ll Wait for You. Throughout her life, Resta has put family center. Whether it is the one in which she grew up, her husband’s family, or her newfound Canadian clan, the power of belonging is one that she clearly celebrates with a full heart, finding new pieces of herself. She shares both her idyllic moments as well as her struggles. She does not shy away from doubts. But ultimately, her positivity permeates the entire story. She has lived in gratitude, from the family that chose her to finding the woman who gave her life.

In one of the final chapters, “Reflections,” Resta opens up about many of the more introspective thoughts that arose from her adoption, contrasting her personality with that of her adoptive mother, touching on their “ups and downs.” This led to speculation on the similarities between her and Mireille. Having met Mireille towards the end of her life, many questions remained unanswered. “Reflections” is followed by “Peace,” an appropriate coda and a tribute to a certain amount of acceptance and emotional closure. While she ponders some of the lost opportunities, she embraces her achievement: “The peace I was able to bring to her and the peace she gave to me.”

The book’s dedication best sums up Resta’s goal: “This memoir is dedicated to my two mothers. The one who gave me life and the one who raised me. One from afar and one close and constant. I’m forever grateful to both.”

I’ll Wait For You: An Adoption Memoir is available online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

COVID-19 test kit pickup drive-through for Huntington residents Feb. 7

by Press Release - February 4, 2022

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272960251_311035551071267_4329001285718124030_n — Photo from Town of Huntington

Huntington Town Supervisor Edmund J. Smyth, the Huntington Town Board, in their role as the Community Development Agency (CDA), and CDA Director Leah M. Jefferson will launch the distribution of COVID-19 at-home test kits at Manor Field Park, East 5th Street, Huntington Station on Monday, February 7 at 11 a.m.

The Huntington Community Development Agency will be distributing over 10,000 over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 test kits to Town of Huntington residents funded by the 2020 CARES Act Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) program.

Pre-registration is required. Recipients must be Town of Huntington residents and each household is eligible to receive up to four (4) OTC Rapid Result COVID-19 test kits. Apply online at huntingtonny.gov/covid-test-kits.

Hours of operation will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9am to 2pm, Wednesdays from 3pm to 7pm, and Fridays from 1pm to 4pm, while supplies last. The distribution site will not be open on Federal holidays.

The Huntington Community Development Agency is also partnering with Value Drugs of Greenlawn to provide approximately 2,000 Town of Huntington residents an opportunity to receive a free onsite Rapid Results Antigen COVID-19 test. Onsite testing is available now to pre-registered residents. Apply at huntingtonny.gov/valuedrugscovid19testing to receive a voucher for a free test. Once approved, residents can schedule their appointment with Value Drugs. Tests will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Huntington CDA Chairman Ed Smyth stated, “These at-home test kits will provide Huntington families peace of mind that it is safe to gather and visit with at-risk family members.”

“Due to the recent spike in coronavirus cases, and with the demand of test kits outpacing the supply, the Town of Huntington and the Community Development Agency felt it was imperative that we address the issue,” said Leah M. Jefferson, Director of the Community Development Agency. “The Town has faced enough difficulties during the pandemic, and we are grateful for the generosity of Value Drugs which has allowed us to meet the demand for rapid testing, and ultimately keep our community safer.”

In September 2020, the Town of Huntington was awarded funding in the amount of $1,869,925 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prepare for, respond to, and prevent the spread of coronavirus. This funding was made available through the Community Development Block Grant- Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) program. To date, this funding has been made available to businesses and individuals in the community who have been directly impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic, and to those community agencies that provide direct assistance to the residents of Huntington.

At their February 1 Community Development Agency meeting, the CDA Board authorized the distribution of 10,080 COVID-19 over-the-counter rapid tests to residents of the Town of Huntington purchased with $151,200 in CDBG-CV funds awarded in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same meeting, the CDA Board also approved the execution of a contract with Value Drugs for the purpose of administering rapid COVID-19 tests to the residents of the Town of Huntington onsite at the Value Drugs at 106 Broadway in Greenlawn.

Vanderbilt Museum and Reichert Planetarium reopen after brief hiatus

by Press Release - February 4, 2022

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unnamed-2 — Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Reichert Planetarium will reopen this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, February 5 to 6, from noon to 4:00 pm.

Starting Friday, February 11, the Vanderbilt will be open Friday through Sunday, 12 to 4 pm, and on Friday and Saturday nights for Planetarium shows at 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00. Masks are required inside all buildings.

On Saturday, February 5, the Planetarium will premiere a new show, Exoplanets: Discovering New Worlds. Visitors will be transported to planets orbiting faraway stars. Discovering exoplanets is one of today’s scientific goals, and finding life on those worlds is the next challenge.

Although science has not yet found evidence of alien life, this exciting program speculates on the existence of such life and explores how scientists are currently searching for exoplanets and their potential inhabitants. Recommended for ages 12 and up.Exoplanets will be showing Saturday afternoons at 3:00 pm from February 5 through March 20.

Another new Planetarium show that premiered recently is Explore, an odyssey to the planet Mars, seen through the lens of human history and scientific development. This visually stunning full-dome film begins with a look at how scholars and scientists throughout the ages used the sky as a clock and calendar to measure the passage of time. Their charts and star catalogs informed the modern science of astronomy.

Dave Bush, director of the Reichert Planetarium, called Explore “one of the finest productions ever made available to our audiences. It’s truly an immersive masterpiece.”

Explore is an adventurous journey from ancient Mesopotamia to modern space exploration. Experience the fascinating history of astronomy, geocentric and heliocentric models, the laws of planetary motion, and discover the principles of orbital maneuvers that enable satellites and space travel.

The museum is located at 180 Little Neck Road in Centerport. For more information, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

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