Home Times of Huntington-Northport

Heckscher Museum invites children to ‘Drop In & Create’ this summer

by Press Release - June 27, 2021

0 65

Drop-In-and-Create-Summer-2021-c-1077x700 — Photo from Heckscher Museum

The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington invites children ages 5 to 10 to stop by the museum on Thursdays from July 8 to Aug. 12 to take part in their Drop In & Create program from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Create fun works of art in a variety of materials inspired by artwork in the Museum’s Collection! Each week’s project will be exciting and different! Held outside on the Museum Terrace, this program is weather-permitting. In the case of inclement weather, the program will be held the following day. Families are invited to come into the Museum following the program at 11:30 am to explore the galleries!

Fee is $10 per child, adults free payable at the door. No registration necessary.
Fee includes all art supplies and general admission to the museum from 11:30 to noon.

Rain dates are Fridays, July 9 to Aug. 13.

For more information, call 631-380-3230 or visit www.heckscher.org.

Allied Foundation Diaper Bank gives back to the community

by Press Release - June 26, 2021

0 141

Just before Father’s Day, the Allied Foundation Diaper Bank, headquartered in Melville, held a special event at Flexible Systems in Hauppauge, marking the collection, purchase and distribution of 1 million diapers to impact the lives of 40,000 low-income families across Long Island and regionally since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Reaching this extraordinary milestone and impacting the lives of so many families in need could not have been achieved without the help of our partners,” said Allied Foundation Executive Director Heather Edwards. “The diapers and supplies collected over the past year provide much-needed relief to young families across the New York regions and Long Island who are struggling with the need for diapers. More parents are facing this strain and are simply unable to afford them due to loss of employment or other hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Allied Foundation collects packages of diapers and distributes them throughout Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties via 50 Agency Partners including Momma’s House, The Safe Center of Long Island, SCO Family of Services, St. Vincent de Paul of Long Island, WIC Programs in Brentwood, Riverhead, Stony Brook Wyandanch, The Association for Mental Health and Wellness, Family Service League, North Fork Spanish Apostolate, The Butterfly Effect Project and The INN among others.

During the past 12 months, donations have come in from the Long Island Community Foundation, The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation, SAR Family Fund, Yurman Family Fund, Robin Hood, All For The East End, Help Me Grow – Long Island, The JPB Foundation, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Docs for Tots, and Girl Scouts of Jericho-Syosset, Lower School at Friends Academy among others. The diapers will be distributed locally through the Allied Foundation Diaper Bank.

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, approximately one in three U.S. families experienced diaper need, a public health issue exacerbated by the growing economic and unemployment crisis caused by the pandemic.

“Diapers are a basic need no baby should ever have to go without. Babies and children in low-income families across Long Island are at greatest risk of suffering the effects of diaper need because many families simply cannot afford diapers. There are no state or federal child safety-net programs allocating dollars specifically for the purchase of diapers; however, thanks to the Allied Foundation Diaper Bank and the donations from our partners, friends and allies, diapers are able to get into the hands of financially strained families who need them most,” explained Scott Svitek, MD, Chair, Allied Foundation Board and Partner, Allied Physicians Group.

“Diapers are needed by many families who struggle to afford enough diapers to keep their babies clean, dry and healthy. This results with diapers being re-used or left on for longer periods of time that leave babies susceptible to painful rashes and infection that can ultimately lead to poor health outcomes. Clean, dry diapers are critical for ensuring good health and well-being for babies and their families,” said added Edwards.

Infants require up to 12 diapers a day and toddlers need about eight, making the cost as much as $80 per month, per child. The Allied Foundation Diaper Bank fills an important void in getting diapers to people facing financial struggles who cannot buy them when there are currently no programs that provide for this. Prices for diapers are forecasted to increase 10 percent or more in the coming months, making it more challenging for families.

Pictured from left to right at the celebration marking this milestone event are: Marty Schmitt, Partner with Flexible Systems (Donor to Allied Foundation), which donates Warehouse Space for Allied Foundation Diaper Bank; New York State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre (District 11); Kerry Fierstein, MD, CEO of Allied Physicians Group and Adjuvant.Health; Allied Foundation Board of Directors Executive Director Heather Edwards; Grecia Morea, Local Mother and recipient of 1 millionth diaper; Scott Svitek, MD, Chair of Allied Foundation Board of Directors; Jeannie DeMaio, representing the Long Island Community Foundation (Donor to Allied Foundation); Noel Raab, President, Five Star Advertising, Long Island Imagine Awards Committee Member (Donor to Allied Foundation); and Tommy DiMisa, Vanguard Insurance Agency, Long Island Imagine Awards Committee Member, Philanthropy in Phocus (Donor to Allied Foundation) who is holding child Ian Morea (second to last from right).

The Allied Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded by Allied Physicians Group, based in Melville, which distributes diapers to families in need across Long Island and beyond.

To learn more about the Allied Foundation and the Allied Diaper Bank of Long Island, please visit https://alliedfoundation.org/give/donate-diapers/ or call (631) 386-4185. For more information about Long Island Community Foundation, visit www.licf.org.

Photo courtesy of Allied Foundation

Anna & Raven’s Adopt + Rescue event heads to Little Shelter June 27

by Press Release - June 25, 2021

0 111

Join Little Shelter, 33 Warner Road, Huntington for an Adopt and Rescue event on Sunday, June 27 from noon to 5 p.m. Co-hosted by Anna & Raven from the Anna and Raven show on WALK 97.5, the event will feature lot of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens looking for new homes plus boatloads of wonderful raffle baskets to take a chance on. Plus Anna and Raven will be pulling the winning ticket and announcing the winner of Little Shelter’s SOLD OUT Semi-Annual Mercedes Benz/$25,000 raffle at 3 p.m. ! Come join the fun! For more information, call 631-368-8770 or visit www.littleshelter.org.

Editorial: Staying safe

by TBR Staff - June 25, 2021

0 89

Port Jefferson Greenway Trail — The Greenway Trail in Port Jefferson Station. Photo by Heidi Sutton

After sitting home for over a year, people are finally emerging from their living rooms. The world has opened back up, restaurants and venues allow 100% capacity again. Things are starting to look like they’re coming back to normal.

Remember before COVID-19 how many murders, shootings and disputes there were — not only on Long Island but across the country?

For almost a year, there was little news of a gunman entering places of business. Schools weren’t open, so there were no high school shootings — something that happened relatively often in 2019.

It was nice, wasn’t it?

But now, we’re seeing a lot of instances again where we need to remember to be safe.

Last week, there was a stabbing in the early morning on the Greenway Trail in Port Jefferson Station. Barely two days later, a shooting occurred outside a bar in Port Jeff village.

Now that life is seemingly regular, the people who have pent-up energy, anger or who are emotionally disturbed are back out in the public.

It’s time to be aware of our surroundings again.

People might have forgotten to look over their shoulders while walking in a parking lot in the dark. They might not realize it’s not safe to be alone during a walk at night. If a customer looks unstable at a business, it might be good to alert someone and stay away.

Things are back to normal and, unfortunately, that means the bad stuff is back, too.

Keep your phone handy, bring a friend to places infrequently visited so you’re not alone and maybe invest in a whistle for your keyring to deter someone coming at you. If someone is walking toward you, look them in the eyes, so they know you can identify them if needed. Also, it never hurts to let someone know where you are going, especially when it’s late at night or you are traveling in an unfamiliar area.

Nowadays there are also apps for your phone that can help you stay safe, from ones that you can check before you venture out to see if any crimes have been reported in the area, to others that will send a message to your contacts you predetermine if you scream or don’t respond to a text message from the service by a certain time.

It’s important to stay safe. Look out for yourself and look out for others.

We’re all in this together.

Battle of the Badges in Yaphank

by Bill Landon - June 25, 2021

0 153

1 of 35

It was the Lawmen of Suffolk County who took on the Nassau County Lawmen in the Battle of the Badges charity softball game at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank on Wednesday, June 23.

The Nassau lineup consisted of police officers from the Nassau County Police Department, while the Suffolk roster included correction officers, deputy sheriffs and members of the SCPD.

After the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Honor Guard presented our nations colors, the Suffolk County Police Department Pipe and Drums took to the diamond before the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by SCPD Officer Christopher Racioppo.

Racioppo was severely injured when he was stabbed during a traffic stop in Patchogue earlier this year.

Both teams fielded long ball hitters in a high scoring game in a benefit for the USA Patriots/Wounded Warrior Amputee softball team. Its mission is to bring athletic and like-minded veteran amputees together to promote the benefits of inclusive sport and therapeutic recreational activities, to inspire and motivate communities of people, to support children with physical challenges, and to operate as a vehicle that offers national opportunities for continued service to our country.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Stuart Cameron, and Nassau County Police Commissioner Pat Ryder conducted the coin toss to decide who batted first.

The USA Patriots are made up of veterans from across the country. They will return to Long Island next month for two free games and a children’s clinic, where players will meet with kids and stand for photo ops.

On July 17, the USA Patriots will go against the Bayport Blue Point All Stars at the newly turfed Bayport Commons, 2p.m.

Sunday, July 18, the team will go against the Long Island All Stars at noon at the Medford Athletic Complex in Brookhaven. There will be a s special opening ceremony with guest of honor Daniel Murphy, father of Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy.

On Friday, July 16, at the Bayport Commons and the Medford Athletic Complex in Brookhaven, kids ages 5-12 can meet and greet the players at the children’s clinic, starting at 2 p.m. The clinic is free, but they ask to register with Scott June at [email protected].

All events are free. Donations will be accepted.

Additional reporting by Julianne Mosher

D. None of the Above: Ready to cheer for the magical return of Broadway

by Daniel Dunaief - June 24, 2021

0 60

InReview_DearEvanHansen_A_(ByMatthewMurphy) — A scene from Broadway's 'Dear Evan Hanson'

By Daniel Dunaief

With my fingers crossed, I am excited about the return of shows on Broadway, which is scheduled to reopen in September.

Something magical happens when a curtain rises, taking an excited audience on a musical journey to other places and other times.

Decades ago, I attended a production of “The King and I.” While the famous Yule Brenner played the title role, I found the experience utterly meaningless.

I remember asking my mother what those small people were doing so far away from me, as we watched that production in the third balcony.

“Next time,” my mother said through gritted teeth to my father, “I’m getting the tickets.”

Sure enough, my parents took my brothers and me to “A Chorus Line.” The experience was as different as standing across the street, looking through the fog at a candy store and sitting at the counter, reading through a menu and enjoying the smell of warm waffles and ice cream and the sight of tantalizing delicacies akin to what I imagined Turkish delights from the Narnia series would taste like.

The live performance so completely captivated me that I left the auditorium humming some of the songs and hoping everything would work out for characters who came from broken homes and broken dreams. Each of the actors was taking his or her shot, hoping for approval, and a job, doing what he or she loved.

I have found numerous shows that have been as moving and as thrilling, including more modern performances, like “Dear Evan Hansen.”

The combination of sights and sounds, the emotional range from humor to tragedy and the riveting live voices that cause seats to vibrate and artwork to come alive provide a completely immersive artistic experience.

I don’t always love every moment in a show, and I don’t always understand what a director or actor is conveying, but that doesn’t stop me from trying or from appreciating the effort.

When I was in high school, I joined the pit orchestra of the musicals “The Wizard of Oz” and “West Side Story.” I far preferred the latter, with its more complicated and intricate music, although participating in each performance provided artistic highlights for my high school career.

On one of my first dates with my wife, we attended “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” starring Nathan Lane. The show, which I had seen once or twice before, was a familiar pleasure, while Lane’s periodic breaking of character and hamming up the role tickled the audience, sharing the equivalent of a modern-day wink with an appreciative crowd.

After the show, I was thrilled to find that my wife shared my love and appreciation for the Great White Way. We repeated lines that amused us, commented on the sets, and appreciated the spectacular stage presence of an acting legend who, somehow, show after show, seemed to be completely in the moment.

As we continue to emerge from a pandemic in which we discussed books we’d read and Netflix shows we’d seen, I am eagerly looking forward to returning to the cushioned seats, the brightly-colored programs, the friendly ushers, and the hard-working cast members who inspire and elevate my life with their dedication, talent and hard work.

Who knows? This year, I might even go back to dressing up for the occasion, tying a tie, finding matching dark socks, and wearing dress shoes as the lights return to live performances, the orchestra holds up its instruments, and the actors take deep breaths, preparing to serenade those lucky enough to score tickets to a transformative ride.

Between You and Me: A ‘Thank You’ note to my rescuers

by Leah Dunaief - June 24, 2021

0 70

pexels-gustavo-reverdito-8290444 — Pixabay photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief

A three-year-old golden retriever, missing for two weeks, was pulled out of Barnegat Bay Wednesday by two blessed souls. I know how that golden feels. I was pulled out of Port Jefferson Harbor Sunday and was I ever grateful.

I’ll tell you the whole story.

My family is visiting, finally, as the pandemic fades. That includes three sons, three daughters-in-law, one granddaughter, two grandsons, (the third was working), one dog and two cats. Sunday late afternoon we noted the arrival of what sailors call “the cocktail breeze,” and to enjoy it, three of us went out in the harbor on a 16-foot Hobie Cat. The catamaran is little more than two pontoons connected by a sturdy webbing on which passengers sit. There is a mainsail and a jib, and the light craft really flies across the water. But there is no motor, only an oar in case the wind dies down, and we have to row ourselves back to shore-hardly a desirable state of affairs, as you can imagine.

So, there we were, happily zipping along, when the breeze turned into a sudden gust, caught us off guard, and lifted one pontoon out of the water. I was sitting above the other, and I saw the colorful mainsail rising up like a wall and coming toward me. The abrupt knot in the pit of my stomach confirmed that we were about to capsize. That had never before happened with this boat. I braced for a shock.

To my pleasant surprise, the water temperature, while not warm, was more comfortable than I expected for so early in the season. And while I was wearing a life vest, I had casually closed only the top couple of toggles, so the vest rode up to the level of my chin, pinning the edge of my broad-brimmed hat that had come askew in front of my eyes. While I knew I was in the water, I couldn’t see a thing.

It took us several minutes to sort ourselves out, my son, daughter-law and myself. We worked to untangle ourselves as we clung to the side of one of the overturned pontoons. Then the boat became caught in a mooring into which the wind had blown us. We hoped one of the two motor boats that came along would stop to help. They passed us by, but one slowed down to take a video of us struggling in the water.

It is hard to right a catamaran, and in the sudden heavy wind, it proved impossible.

“Maybe we should call for help,” my daughter-in-law suggested, and proceeded to do just that.

Fortunately Evelyn and Greg Haegele, in their sailboat aptly named “Necessity” heard us and slowly approached. My children were most concerned with getting me to safety and up the swim ladder that Greg had thrown over the side, my daughter-law helping me swim over to their boat. My son calling out my age with concern in his voice.

It was not easy to climb the six steps in my sopping wet clothes, but as they say at NASA, failure was not an option.

Then Greg passed his sunglasses to his wife and made a beautiful dive to swim over and help right the Hobie. Together they were successful despite the strong wind.

As my children clambered back aboard and sailed off, a police boat, followed by a fire boat dashed after them, checking to see if all was well. It seems some alert person in a waterfront home in Belle Terre, witnessed the mishap and called 911.

Meanwhile the Haegeles took me back to Port Jefferson via the launch service and then drove me home, a drenched dog.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Huntington Summer Arts Festival returns to Heckscher Park June 25

by TBR Staff - June 24, 2021

0 169

1 of 6

It’s back! The Huntington Arts Council has announced the return of the Huntington Summer Arts Festival from June 25 to Aug. 8. While most events will be held on the Rainbow Chapin Stage in Heckscher Park in Huntington this year, all performances will be streamed via facebook.com/HuntingtonArts/live/ and at www.huntingtonarts.org except where noted.

“We are thrilled to bring a full schedule of both live in person, and streamed performances back to the Huntington Summer Arts Festival!” said Marc Courtade, Executive Director Huntington Arts Council.

“There is a diverse mix of music, theatre and dance, making up this year’s program. Included are new and exciting acts like the Urban Bush Women, as well as mainstays such as the Huntington Community Band.”

The Festival is always a celebratory event for the community, but even more so this year. The Huntington Arts Council is partnering with the Heckscher Museum and featuring a new visual arts component with an event called Art Happenings.

“Each Thursday in July a different artist will join us in the park to create,” explained Courtade. Artists will include Kevin McEvoy, on July 1; Diego Garcia on July 8; Patty Eljaiek on July 15; Marie Saint-Cyr on July 22; and Jan Guarino on July 29. “We are welcoming everyone to this event to create with the artist or simply enjoy viewing the process. There will also be a great display of some of our artist member’s work on banners surrounding the stage grounds.”

“The Huntington Arts Council is so fortunate to be able to provide these cultural experiences to the community. They are at the heart of our mission. We are grateful to the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County, New York Council on the Arts for their ongoing support as well as all of our sponsors including presenting sponsor Canon. We are looking forward to seeing old friends and new!” said Courtade.

The performance schedule from June 25 to July 4 is as follows:

Friday, June 25 — Chapin Family (Tom Chapin, Jen Chapin & Band, The Chapin Sisters) at 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 26 — “Forever Plaid” musical by Plaza Theatrical Productions at 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 27 — North Shore Pops Concert Band at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, June 29 — Family Show: Mil’s Trills & Uncle Jumbo’s Extravaganza streamed only at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 30 — Huntington Community Band at 8 p.m.

Thursday, July 1

Art Happenings — featuring artist Kevin McEvoy from 4 to 7 p.m.

Huntington Choral Society at 8 p.m.

Friday, July 2 — LADAMA at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 3 — Andrea McArdle &Donna McKechnie live only at 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 4 — Family Show: Gumbo, Grits & Gravy at 7 p.m.

The Huntington Summer Arts Festival will be held at Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington. Bring seating. For performances through Aug. 8, visit www.huntingtonarts.org.

Both Northport Lacrosse teams win Long Island title on the same day

by TBR Staff - June 23, 2021

0 175

1 of 90

By Steven Zaitz

The Tiger Title Train rolls on — and it is making stops all over Long Island.

On a day that would be considered incredible even by Northport Athletic standards, both the boys and girls lacrosse teams captured Long Island Class A Championships June 19 and together sit atop the Long Island lacrosse universe.

The boys beat Syosset, 11-10, at East Islip, in a match that was as hotly contested as the scorching artificial turf beneath the players’ feet. The raucous crowd, half dressed in red and the other half blue, was deafening from the opening whistle, reacting boisterously to every save, turnover and goal.

The Lady Tigers traveled to Bethpage to take on Massapequa and won in rather casual yet dominating fashion by a 10-6 score. It wasn’t even that close.

The win capped a perfect 19-0 season for the #1 seeded Lady Tigers, who now have two straight Long Island crowns in their trophy case, to go with a New York State title the last time that tournament was played in 2019.

The boys, who floundered around in the beginning of the 2021 season, earned it the hard way with a third seed. They beat perennial top teams Smithtown West and Ward Melville, the latter of which had won the past four county titles. The win against Syosset on Saturday was the Tigers 13th straight.

Tyler Kuprianchick, whose primary function is to take faceoffs, won the James C. Metzger Most Valuable Player Award for the Syosset L.I. title game. He won 65% of his faceoffs during the bracket and over 80% for the year. He also chipped in offensively with a goal on Saturday.

“It’s a blessing to get the M.V.P. of this game, especially because it was for the championship of all of Long Island. It’s so special,” said the fresh-faced Kuprianchick. “My teammates and my coaches have pushed me to be the player I am today.”

He was also pushed by Syosset midfielder Luca Cutolo, but in not such a nurturing manner. In fact, Kuprianchick had to go to the hospital after receiving his M.V.P trophy with a split tongue due to Cutolo’s hit.

“I had to get three stitches in my tongue but winning the Long Island Championship today made it all worth it,” Kuprianchick said. “One hundred percent!”

“Tyler works so hard at his craft and I’m so happy for him,” said Northport Head Coach Larry Cerasi. “He does all those things when nobody is watching, to be the best at what he does – and he is.”

Cerasi, who is in his first year as varsity head coach and took over for longtime coach George Searing, is not looking ahead to what he and his Tigers might do for an encore. Not yet.

“I’m just going to enjoy this moment,” Cerasi said. “I’m really, really proud of this team because we didn’t start the season off too well, but we obviously turned it up as the year progressed to play at this high level.”

Goaltender Andrew Tittmann, who is considered the vocal leader of the team, was spectacular in net for the entire playoffs. He made many difficult, point-blank saves and was aggressive around the crease by shooing away pesky attackers, smartly cutting off angles and making pinpoint outlet passes.

“As a goalie, I see the field in front of me and have the chance to focus on all the matchups,” Tittmann said. “It’s one of my jobs to keep everybody involved, make sure everybody is talking and know what they need to do. Communication is so important in this game, and it brings everyone, offense and defense, closer as a team.”

The Tigers built a 7-4 lead in the first quarter with a dizzying display of offense by both teams.

Midfielder Tristan Triolo opened the scoring for the Tigers four minutes in. Michael Meyer had his customary multiple goal game and Ryan McCarthy, Tim Kirchner and Casey Fortunato helped to build this lead with goals of their own.

But Syosset would not go away. In fact, they would score five of the next six goals, bridging the second and third quarter, to take a one goal lead at 9-8 — the final one in that stretch by Syosset Brave Danny Garone, who had a hat trick on the day.

Despite the heat and fatigue from playing three games in five days, the Tigers had an answer to this.

Jack Helrigel tied the score almost immediately after Garone’s goal. Triolo and Emerson Payne, a defensive midfielder, each scored in the fourth giving Northport a two-goal lead. Payne’s goal was far from pain-free as he lay on the baking turf for close to three minutes after a vicious stick check, again by Cutolo.

“I was running at full speed and so was their defender and he hit me a little high,” Payne said. “I took my shot on goal and didn’t even know the ball went in. When my guys came over to celebrate, I thought they were coming to help me up. But I saw the goalie getting the ball out of the net and I realized that I had scored.”

It was only Payne’s second goal of the year, but what a big one it was. It would be the final goal of a long and ultra-successful season for the Northport Tigers, following up another team that knows a lot about ultra-success — their Lady Tiger counterparts.

Earlier that morning, in a somewhat sleepier setting across county lines in Bethpage, the 18-0 Lady Tigers took on the happy-to be-here Massapequa Chiefs and their less than shiny 6-10 regular season record. It showed, as Northport breezed to a 5-1 lead midway through the second quarter.

“I felt like we controlled the whole game,” head coach Carol Rainson-Rose said. “We went out and got a good lead which helped our confidence.”

Confidence was not in short supply for superstar attackers Kaylie Mackiweicz and Shannon Smith, both juniors. Mackiweicz had four goals and Smith had two, along with a gorgeous assist when she hit Mackiweicz with a perfect lead pass from behind the net.

“We were working well together out there today as an entire unit,” Smith said. “We really practice finding the open person and Kaylie was able to finish on that play, which she usually does.”

Smith is not kidding. Mackiweicz finished with a ridiculous 66 goals for the year, including playoffs, averaging three and a half a game. She credits Rose for putting herself, and the team, in the best position to win.

“Coach Rose is a master of making the right adjustments,” Mackiweicz said. “She pushes you to be the best you can be, and nobody knows this game as well as she does.”

The proof is in the numbers — as well as the trophies. This is Rainson-Rose’s second Long Island Class A title in a row. She won her 13th Suffolk County crown when the Lady Tigers beat Smithtown East last Wednesday, and she is the runaway favorite to win her fourth Long Island Coach of the Year when that is announced — and oh yeah, her team has won 35 games in a row, dating back to 2019.

Isabella Germani had a pair of goals, and Emma Demarco and Emma McLam each had one. Tara Walsh had three assists and Midfielder Ella Cabrera patrolled the field from end to end, which maintained the Lady Tigers territorial advantage for most of the contest.

Massapequa showed signs of mustering an uprising with a goal midway through the second half to cut Northport’s lead to 8-5. But Lady Tiger Goaltender Megan Morris made some key stops and got a little help when the Chiefs had a goal wiped off the board, as there was a player illegally in Morris’s crease.

That would have cut the lead to two with about ten minutes to go. But it stayed at three and became four when Smith scored minutes later. At that point, the rest of the game was a countdown to Rose’s Gatorade shower — which her players were only too happy to administer. It is Rainson-Rose’s ninth Long Island Championship at Northport.

After the win, the newly-crowned Lady Tigers raced over to East Islip to cheer on the boys team. Northport athletes from all different sports have been cheering for each other during this playoff-packed month of June, and Coach Cerasi feels very strongly that the support from the other teams, especially the Lady Tigers, helped push his squad to victory.

“Northport Lacrosse is like a family,” Cerasi said. “After they won, Coach Rose took her team straight to our game to support us. When our boys saw the girls team walk into the bleachers with their uniforms still on, and with their trophy, they got so motivated to follow suit — follow what the girls had done. It was a very special moment and it’s great that both teams are so genuinely proud of what the other was able to accomplish.”

Many other Northport athletes were there to support their classmates in other sports throughout this playoff run and it seems to be part of the D.N.A. of what makes Northport’s athletic achievements so noteworthy.

During this new era of COVID-driven alterations and concessions, the boys basketball team won Suffolk County, the football team won League III, the field hockey team won the Long Island championship, and the boys badminton team won the Suffolk County Championship. All of this winning in a four-month span.

The list goes on with the 2021 successes of both cross-country teams, baseball, softball, wrestling, soccer, volleyball and girls basketball all having successful post-season runs for the White, Blue and Gold.

But it was the Northport Lacrosse program, on a memorable Saturday in June, that put the two final cherries on the Tigers’ championship sundae.

Miller Place street renamed in honor of Chris Pendergast

by Julianne Mosher - June 23, 2021

0 190

pendergast street 2, julianne mosher — The Pendergast family admires the new sign. Photo by Julianne Mosher

The corner of Grandview Boulevard and Lower Rocky Point Road in Miller Place will now have a sign saying Pendergast Path in honor of the street’s former resident and founder of ALS Ride For Life.

Local officials, friends and family joined together on Monday, June 21, next to the street sign to remember Pendergast’s legacy and honor his efforts in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — a degenerative neurological disease that ultimately leads to a loss of muscle control throughout the body, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Monday was Global ALS Awareness Day.

“What a beautiful day to have this event,” said Ray Manzoni, president of ALS Ride For Life. “We’ve got somebody up there keeping an eye on us.”

Chris Pendergast’s grandson had the honor of unveiling the new sign. Photo by Julianne Mosher

Pendergast died on Oct. 14, 2020, after a 28-year battle with the disease. His nonprofit has helped raise more than $10 million in research for ALS.

During the annual Ride For Life, Pendergast was known to ride his motorized wheelchair hundreds of miles to raise funds and awareness of the disease. His longest ride was 350 miles in two weeks.

“He defied the odds in so many ways, his endurance was remarkable,” Manzoni said. “He was extraordinary.”

Pendergast, a former teacher in the Northport school district, was told he only would have a few years to live after his diagnosis. He beat the odds and spent over two decades educating people on the disease and devoting his life to helping others.

His daughter, Melissa Scriven, told the crowd of people that the ALS Ride For Life board started in their house on Grandview Boulevard. Team meetings were held in the kitchen, and the dining room became an office. In 1991, the family moved to the street and two short years later he was diagnosed.

“Our lives were forever changed — dreams for this new house and our new life were shot,” she said. “But only briefly … his positive attitude and optimism shaped how we would handle this ALS diagnosis. We were a team and we’re going to live with this disease — and live we did.”

Scriven said her father adored this house.

“It’s quite fitting that he lived on Grandview Boulevard,” she said. “My dad would for sure say that he was blessed with a grand view of the goodness of humanity, of the loyalty of friends, of the generosity of strangers and the grandest view of all, the love of his family.”

As part of a street renaming, the Town of Brookhaven requires an individual to have provided the town with an outstanding service.

And that he did.

Councilwoman Jane Bonner embraces Christine Pendergast. Photo by Julianne Mosher

Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) presented the Pendergast family with a proclamation from the town shortly before the curtain unveiled Pendergast Path. Bonner said she had a special connection to the day’s event.

“My grandfather died from ALS in the early 1980s, long before anybody really knew what ALS was,” she said. “I have learned so much about ALS because of Chris, because of this organization and because of the people with ALS that really don’t ever let you forget that this disease should not be forgotten, that we need a tremendous amount of research dollars.”

She added there is a lot of time to make up due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People need to be as generous as possible because there are many more people suffering and so we must find a cure,” she said. “And I can think of no person that deserves this honor more than Chris.”

Pendergast’s wife, Christine, was honored to have her husband’s name across the green sign.

“I think he would be grinning ear to ear,” she told TBR News Media. “He took his ALS bike to the streets, literally, and we now have a street named after him. I think it’s a very fitting way to honor him and his work.”

Prev 1...173174175...467 Next

Page 174 of 467