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Yearly Archives: 2016

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Brittany Braun, 14, with her godfather, Brian Kane, at her first communion in the winter of 2007-08. File photo

The Breathe for Britt Foundation Ltd. presents the second annual Breathe for Britt 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, June 5.

The Breathe for Britt 5K will bring together athletes of all abilities as well as community organizations and local businesses to support those with cystic fibrosis. All proceeds from the event go to the Breathe for Britt Foundation Ltd., a registered nonprofit organization. The Breathe for Britt Foundation was created in memory of a young cystic fibrosis patient and benefits Long Island families affected by this genetic, life-threatening disease.

The race will start and finish at the Gazebo across from Nesconset Plaza, 127 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset.

Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the race will begin at 8:30 a.m., rain or shine. The event is a USATF Certified and sanctioned 5K — 3.1 miles. Timing is provided by Just Finish Inc. The race is a beautiful, paved course through residential streets of Nesconset.

Participants are encouraged to register in advance online at www.justregister.net for reduced registration fees.

Registration fees are as follows: adult, $25, day of race, $30; 17 and under, $20, day of race, $25.

Preregistration must be postmarked by May 29. The event is family friendly and open to both runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Awards will be presented to the overall top three male and female finishers and top three males and females in each age group.

Business sponsorships are still currently available. Companies with four or more participating employees are also eligible to be acknowledged as a race sponsor. Visit www.breatheforbritt.org or call Laura at 631-413-0605 to take advantage of this team building opportunity.

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Huntington's Tara Wilson and Comsewogue's Hannah Dorney fight for possession. Photo by Bill Landon

The Comsewogue girls’ lacrosse team is taking it to the next level.

The Warriors finished the regular season at 7-7 in Division II, and enter playoffs as the No. 7 seed.

The team will be up against No. 2 Rocky Point, when they hit the road today for a 4 p.m. matchup.

Comsewogue has its fair share of close calls this season, and just fell short to the Eagles, 6-5, the only time the two teams met up this season, on April 13.

If the Warriors win, they will move on to the semifinals, which will be on Tuesday against the winner of the No. 3 Westhampton vs. No. 6 West Babylon matchup.

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Matt Senese will portray Lord Farquaad in Theatre Three’s latest production, ‘Shrek the Musical.’ Photo by Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productions Inc.

By Rita J. Egan

Armed with hockey-grade shin and knee guards, Patchogue resident Matt Senese is ready to hit, not the ice, but the stage as Lord Farquaad in Theatre Three’s upcoming Mainstage production of “Shrek the Musical.”

For those who may not be familiar with the 2001 DreamWorks movie or 2009 Broadway musical, Lord Farquaad is the diminutive archenemy of Shrek and friends. Senese, who jokes that he is “5 feet 7 inches with a lot of sleep,” will play the role on his knees in order for the audience to get the full effect of just how small his royal nuisance is. The shin and knee guards under his costume protect his lower legs from injuries.

Matt Senese will portray Lord Farquaad in Theatre Three’s latest production, ‘Shrek the Musical.’ Photo by Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productions Inc.
Matt Senese will portray Lord Farquaad in Theatre Three’s latest production, ‘Shrek the Musical.’ Photo by Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productions Inc.

The seasoned actor, who is also a fourth-grade teacher at Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School in Islip, has appeared in over 300 local productions as well as regional theater outside of New York. Recently, Senese took time out from his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his participation in the upcoming production.

How did you feel when you learned that you got the part?
I was very excited! Jeff (Sanzel), the artistic director, cast me before it was even announced. He asked me about it last year. So, I’ve known for a year that I was going to be doing it which gave me time to … learn it and kind of get used to dancing on my knees.

How are rehearsals going?
They’re great. I think it’s going to be a wonderful show. It’s a very hard working group.

Do you have a favorite number in the musical?
The favorite thing that I do is a song called “What’s Up, Duloc” where it’s kind of a … Las Vegas number, so it’s got back-up singers and dancers. But, I’m doing it on my knees with these tiny legs so it’s very funny. I think my favorite song in the show though is one that I’m not in, and it’s called “Freak Flag.” It’s a song about just being yourself — everyone is different; nobody is perfect. So just let your freak flag fly.

For you is that the main message of ‘Shrek’?
Absolutely. It’s a great musical to bring the whole family to because it’s a musical that celebrates differences. Also, the wonderful thing about this story is it’s not your typical fairy tale. Usually the princess kisses the frog, and the frog turns into a handsome prince. It’s a musical about an ogre who falls in love with a princess and at the end of the story, she turns into an ogress. They’re both ogres at the end of the show, and happy to be ogres because it’s not about looks, it’s about love.

Do you have plans after the musical ends at Theatre Three?
No, I don’t. I’m just going to take it easy. I think after “Shrek” I’m going to rest up and enjoy myself, and then in the fall, look for something to do.

Do you have anything to share with locals who want to act?
I think people who live on Long Island are very lucky in the fact that there are so many theaters. We’re lucky. There are other places you go to, and they really don’t have any kind of local theater and they have to wait until tours come through. We live in a place that really has a lot of art. I think if that’s your passion, then there is a lot opportunity for it on Long Island.

What do you hope the audience will take away from this production of “Shrek the Musical”?
First and foremost, I hope they’ll be entertained. I hope they’ll leave whistling a tune from the show because I think the score is really wonderful. Sometimes you go to see a show and you really can’t whistle any of the tunes. This show you can take so much of that with you. The music is very catchy; it’s very inspirational.
And, I hope that they just get the message. The message of “Shrek” is to just be yourself. There’s no such thing as perfection in the world. We’re led to believe…as children we’re taught these fairy tales, but really nothing in life is a fairy tale, and that is what I think “Shrek” shows. It’s about love. It’s about love and accepting who you are and accepting everyone else for who they are.

Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, will present “Shrek the Musical” from May 21 to June 25. Tickets range from $15 to $30. For more information, visit www.theatrethree.com or call 631-928-9100.

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The poster for the short film "Grace." Photo from Marisa Vitali

By Victoria Espinoza

“Grace” did not come easy for Northport native Marisa Vitali, but she has used her struggles to help inspire others.

The poster for the short film "Grace." Photo from Marisa Vitali
The poster for the short film “Grace.” Photo from Marisa Vitali

The village will be rolling out the red carpet for the premier of Vitali’s short film, “Grace,” based on her experiences battling addiction and recovery. In an interview, the filmmaker said she wanted to tell her story differently and focus more on the light at the end of the tunnel.

“I felt like a turtle without a shell, raw and emotionally exposed,” Vitali said of her struggles. “This was the story I wanted to tell in the film ‘Grace.’ Anyone can watch a film and learn how to shoot a bag of dope or smoke a crack pipe. I wanted to tell a story of hope and recovery and bridge a gap between addicts and non-addicts to start that conversation of recovery.”

The film focuses on a woman in her first year of recovery working at diner, which mirrors Vitali’s real life. She worked at Tim’s Shipwreck Diner in Northport during her first year of recovery. Vitali said she included the snapshot in her film because of how important the first days of improvement are for recovering addicts.

“The first year is the most difficult,” she said. “You’re left with fear, shame, anger and guilt.”

Vitali, who is now nearly 15 years sober, said she went to an outpatient program at Daytop Village Inc. in Huntington Station once she made a commitment to get clean, and continues to attend support meetings.

Discussing the problem is half the battle, Vitali said. She said a lot of people think addiction will never happen to them, or their loved ones, so they end up not having the information they need to deal with the struggles of substance abuse.

“Addiction is still portrayed as a taboo topic,” she said. “There is a lot of stigma attached to it. There is something to be said about how we can all be a little more compassionate for one’s struggle to overcome against all odds.”

Anthony Fernandino, chair of the Northport-East Northport Drug and Alcohol Task Force, said he hopes the film sparks a conversation about the importance of the prevention side of dealing with drug addiction.

“I felt like a turtle without a shell, raw and emotionally exposed.” — Marisa Vitali

“We want to continue to raise awareness, and provide the community with more education,” he said in a phone interview. “If we can prevent a kid or give a parent the tools they need to prevent this from happening, it is a much easier [task] than treating a kid who is already in the throws of addiction.”

He said this film could help give parents new talking points for more open conversations with their children and provide concrete examples of what to do to keep a safe and healthy environment.

This film also lines up with an ongoing battle facing Suffolk County, and the nation as a whole.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 28,000 overdose deaths in 2014 as a result of heroin or opioid abuse across the United States — the highest number on record in any single year. Last year alone, Suffolk County suffered 103 fatal heroin overdoses and tallied more heroin-related overdose deaths than any county in New York from 2009 to 2013, according to the New York State Opioid Poisoning, Overdose and Prevention 2015 Report.

“Grace” was filmed at Tim’s Shipwreck Diner in the village, and Vitali said the community has been extremely supportive of this endeavor.

Marisa Vitali grew up in Northport, which is also the setting for her short film. Photo from Marisa Vital
Marisa Vitali grew up in Northport, which is also the setting for her short film. Photo from Marisa Vital

“It was important to shoot in Northport because it was a homecoming of sorts, and it felt like I had come full circle.”

Not only has “Grace” been received well by the community, it has also won film awards including Best Drama at the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival, the Audience Award for Best Short Film at the Long Island International Film Expo, and was selected for the short film corner in the Cannes Film Festival.

And the journey isn’t ending anytime soon for this short film.

Vitali said she is working to use the film, along with a lesson plan, as a learning tool for health classes in the Northport-East Northport school district.

“This was one of my intentions,” she said. “I wanted it to be available for educational purposes because there is not a lot of education on coming out of addiction and the recovery process.”

“Grace” will be shown at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport on June 7 in an event hosted by the Northport-East Northport Drug and Alcohol Task Force. All proceeds will benefit Youth Directions and Alternatives, a nonprofit organization serving communities throughout Huntington by developing services and sober programs for youth in the communities.

Following the film premiere, there will be a question and answer session with Vitali and the director of the Huntington Drug and Alcohol Task Force Barry Zaks, where they will also discuss ways in which the community can work to address the issue of addiction.

The event was created for high school students, as there is some inappropriate language. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.engemantheater.com/event/grace-premiere.

To learn more about “Grace” visit: www.grace-the-movie.com

To learn more about Marisa Vitali visit: www.marisavitali.com

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Old friend gets third organ transplant with councilwoman’s help

Tom D’Antonio and Jane Bonner spend time after a successful kidney transplant surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Photo from Bonner

A Brookhaven Town Councilwoman was elected in 2007 to serve the community. On April 26, she took the idea of public service to a whole new level.

Tom D’Antonio and Jane Bonner spend time after a successful kidney transplant surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Photo from Bonner
Tom D’Antonio and Jane Bonner spend time after a successful kidney transplant surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Photo from Bonner

Jane Bonner, councilwoman for Brookhaven’s second district, and Tom D’Antonio have known each other for almost 40 years. Bonner said she became friends with D’Antonio’s younger brother Steven in her seventh grade Spanish class at Middleville Junior High School in the Northport-East Northport school district, which has since closed, and the families have stayed in touch ever since. D’Antonio was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when he was 10 years old. He said the disease has “wreaked havoc” on his kidneys over the years. The 57-year-old EMT has a medical history that most would consider unlucky. He wouldn’t agree.

“I’m living proof that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” D’Antonio said.

He has had three successful kidney transplants and a pancreas transplant, and survived an acute coronary thrombosis, which was a 100 percent blood clot-blockage in a vessel of his heart in 2012.

The flip side to the hard luck of requiring three kidney transplant surgeries is the fact that three times, D’Antonio had a willing and able donor who was also a match. The first time was in June 1988 when his then girlfriend Cheryl, who he has been married to for 27 years now, stepped up and donated D’Antonio a healthy kidney. He said at the time, doctors told him the chances of his girlfriend being a match were one in a million.

In 1999, he underwent a pancreas transplant, which he said at the time was somewhat experimental. The result was the formerly insulin-dependent diabetic was essentially cured. But by 2002, the diabetes had done damage to his wife’s former kidney. This time, D’Antonio’s sister stepped up. She wasn’t an option in 1988 because she had just given birth.

Everything was fine until October 2012 when the blockage caused his heart to stop for about 14 minutes while he was riding the Long Island Rail Road one day. An EMT riding the train performed CPR to resuscitate D’Antonio. Luckily, the incident occurred near the Mineola train station, which is about five minutes walking distance from Winthrop University Hospital. Doctors told him they thought he’d have brain damage if he survived the ordeal, emphasis on “if.”

D’Antonio’s brain was okay, but the heart stoppage caused damage to his sister’s kidney. He was back in a familiar position. For a third time he needed a family member or close friend to step up and offer an organ that would save his life.

‘Once I make up my mind, I’m pretty steadfast and determined. I’m a big believer in God having a plan.’ — Jane Bonner

According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney waiting list every month, and 13 people die every day waiting for a kidney transplant. According to the Living Kidney Donors Network, more than 80,000 people are currently on the waiting list, where most people remain for more than five years waiting for a life-saving donation while on dialysis.

D’Antonio found himself in need of a kidney with his options exhausted. In October 2015, Bonner invited D’Antonio and his wife to meet her and her husband, John Sandusky, to join them and some friends at the Huntington Lighthouse Festival in Huntington Harbor. Bonner and Sandusky sailed their boat from Mount Sinai, while the D’Antonios took the short trip by boat from their home in Eaton’s Neck.

“We almost didn’t stop — we didn’t want to intrude,” D’Antonio said about that October day. He revealed to Bonner he was in need of a kidney once again, and told her that a family member who might have been an option was not going to work out.

Tom D’Antonio, his wife Cheryl and Jane Bonner sail on the open seas, which is where Bonner first told D’Antonio she’d like to donate her kidney. Photo from Bonner
Tom D’Antonio, his wife Cheryl and Jane Bonner sail on the open seas, which is where Bonner first told D’Antonio she’d like to donate her kidney. Photo from Bonner

“I said, ‘I’ll do it,’” Bonner said. Taken aback, D’Antonio suggested Bonner should think it over and maybe discuss it with her husband and family.

“John!” D’Antonio said Bonner called out to her husband across the boat. “I’m going to give Tommy a kidney!”

That was all the discussion the Bonners needed, which D’Antonio said was apropos of their relationship.

“Once I make up my mind, I’m pretty steadfast and determined,” Bonner said. “I’m a big believer in God having a plan.”

On April 26, Bonner donated her left kidney to D’Antonio in what she called a “minor surgery” at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

As that master plan has played out since, Bonner said doctors discovered two precancerous polyps that were about two years away from manifesting into colon cancer during the litany of tests she had to undergo in preparation for the donation.

D’Antonio said he’s not sure what his outlook would have been if Bonner hadn’t offered to help.

‘I’m living proof that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’
— Tom D’Antonio

“I know that right now I wouldn’t be feeling as good as I’m feeling,” he said. “I was to the point, the week of and the week before the surgery, if I walked a block I’d have to stop and rest. It’s like a slow, miserable, downward spiral.”

Bonner has since shared news about the transplant on social media using the hashtag #ShareTheSpare, and plans to advocate for programs like the Kidney Paired Donation Pilot Program, which is managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing and is an option for patients with a living donor who is not a match.

“It’s more dangerous to drive to work every day than it is to live with one kidney,” Bonner said. “There’s no greater gift to give than the gift of life.”

Bonner, who missed just eight days of work, has been hesitant and uncomfortable with the baskets, flowers and cards she’s received since the surgery.

“There’s like this common element that runs through people who do that,” D’Antonio said. “They’re all like ‘it’s a no brainer.’ Clearly it’s more than that. That’s the thing that’s hard to express in words — how that makes you feel.”

D’Antonio shared what he said to Bonner in response to that hesitancy to accept thanks or praise.

“Get used to it.”

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‘Gone Fishin,’ 1994, oil on canvas, by Gary Erbe, on loan from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cusenza

Trompe l’oeil /trômp ‘loi/ — noun — visual illusion in art, especially as used to trick the eye into perceiving a painted detail as a three-dimensional object. Fr., deceiving the eye.

By Ed Blair

Artists have attempted to beguile the eyes of viewers with clever techniques for centuries. While the actual phrase originated in the Baroque period, when it referred to perspectival illusionism, trompe l’oeil dates much further back. It was, and still is, often employed in murals. It was used in Greek and Roman times, as famously illustrated in the ruins of Pompeii. There was widespread fascination with this type of perspective drawing during the Renaissance, and it enjoyed a renaissance of its own in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Visitors to the Heckscher Museum of Art  in Huntington will have the opportunity to enjoy this artistic style in an exhibition opening Saturday, May 21, where the work of Gary Erbe will be on display. Combining trompe l’oeil realism with modernist tendencies, Erbe has created captivating illusions that are entrancingly intricate and hypnotically absorbing. Titled Master of Illusion: The Magical Art of Gary Erbe, the exhibit spotlights the engaging oil paintings of the artist who coined the term “levitational realism” to describe his work.

‘Those Amazin’ Mets,’ 2006, oil on canvas, by Gary Erbe, on loan from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cusenza
‘Those Amazin’ Mets,’ 2006, oil on canvas, by Gary Erbe, on loan from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cusenza

A native of Union City, New Jersey, Erbe has been painting professionally for over 40 years. Originally working as an engraver, he made the decision while in his mid-twenties to pursue painting full time. The museum’s exhibition traces the career of the self-taught artist from his early trompe l’oeil works to his more recent paintings that focus on juxtaposed objects and the dynamics of composition, form and structure.

Erbe explained levitational realism as an illusionistic depiction of objects where they seem to hover in space. “I studied the nineteenth century trompe l’oeil works of artists like [William] Harnett and [John F.] Peto,” he said, “but I wanted to be original. I wanted to create an atmosphere surrounding subject matter where it seemed to be floating in space, but at one point I realized that trompe l’oeil had its limitations. I wanted to add new elements of abstraction. I wanted the work to be about ideas, about something I envisioned that was familiar but did not exist in reality.”

Erbe’s subjects are inspired by popular culture and range from nostalgic images of childhood pursuits and national pastimes to American jazz and the golden age of 1950s radio, television and film, to American history, nationalism and contemporary social issues. “The rules of trompe l’oeil do not allow for human figures,” he said. “You can’t fool the eye if a person is in the work. So I occasionally will use silhouettes to give the feeling of a human presence.”

‘The Big Splash,’ 2001, oil on canvas, by Gary Erbe, on loan from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cusenza
‘The Big Splash,’ 2001, oil on canvas, by Gary Erbe, on loan from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cusenza

Lisa Chalif, the Heckscher Museum’s curator, noted that “Mr. Erbe’s impeccable skill imbues familiar objects with a heightened realism that evokes the pristine, otherworldly clarity of surrealism. Painted from carefully crafted constructions of objects belonging to our shared American experience, Erbe’s work is at once aesthetically complex and profoundly engaging to all.” She added, “I have come to admire the artist’s gracious and generous spirit as much as his remarkable work. The museum is sincerely grateful to the private and institutional collectors who have entrusted us with their paintings, sculptures and constructions. Mr. Erbe’s collectors are passionate about his art, and we are honored to share their works with a larger audience.”

Via extensive solo exhibitions, Erbe’s work has been presented throughout the United States, and he has garnered numerous honors and awards. He has exhibited internationally and participated in a group show, American Art on the Brink of the 21st Century, organized by Meridian International in Washington, D.C., that traveled for two years in the Far East. Erbe’s works hang in a number of museums across the country and can be found in many public and private collections throughout the world. He currently maintains a studio in Nutley, New Jersey.

The Heckscher Museum of Art, located at 2 Prime Ave. in Huntington, will present Master of Illusion: The Magical Art of Gary Erbe through Aug. 28. Meet the artist on Sunday, May 22, from 3 to 4 p.m. as he leads a gallery tour exploring his artwork and creative process. Registration is recommended.

For further information, call 631-351-3250, or visit the museum website at  www.heckscher.org.

‘The 50’s,’ 1991, oil on canvas, by Gary Erbe, from the collection of Ira W. Kent
‘The 50’s,’ 1991, oil on canvas, by Gary Erbe, from the collection of Ira W. Kent

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Crash
A 26-year-old man from Smithtown was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated on May 14 after police said he crashed into a vehicle while driving a 2003 Ford on Route 25 in Commack at 12:30 a.m.

Shove it off
On May 13, a 29-year-old man from Central Islip was arrested after police said he shoved an officer and then attempted to flee from police while on Oak Forest Drive and Johnson Avenue in Islandia at 11 p.m.  He was charged with second-degree harassment with physical contact and attempting to leave the scene of a crime.

Pill out
Police said a 29-year-old woman from Ronkonkoma had prescription pills in her possession without a prescription on May 13 while on Jericho Turnpike in Commack. She was arrested and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Coke sans a license
A 53-year-old man from Smithtown was arrested on May 13 after police said he had cocaine in his possession while driving a 2015 Nissan on Motor Parkway in Brentwood with a suspended license. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

Stuck in the weeds
A 20-year-old man from Islandia was arrested after police said he had marijuana in a plastic bag while on Oak Forest Drive and Johnson Road in Islandia just after 11 p.m. on May 13. He was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Quit the Macy’s life
On May 12 a 42-year-old woman from Islip was arrested at Macy’s inside Smithhaven Mall in Lake Grove after police said she stole two bathing suits. Police also said she was banned from all Macy’s. She was charged with third-degree burglary with intent for illegal entry.

24-7 at 7-Eleven
Police said a 25-year-old man from Commack refused to leave a 7-Eleven on Motor Parkway in Brentwood at 9 p.m. on May 12. He was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing on an enclosed property.

Marijuana and pills and needles
A 29-year-old woman from Ronkonkoma was arrested on May 11 after police said she had marijuana, prescription pills and a hypodermic needle in her possession while on Lakeview Road in Ronkonkoma inside a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis. She was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

Jeep-ers
On May 11 a 51-year-old man from Lake Ronkonkoma was arrested on Central Islip Boulevard after police said he had crack cocaine in his possession while inside a 1998 Jeep, with a suspended license. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Marijuana in Mini Cooper
Police said a 19-year-old man from Smithtown had marijuana on him while inside a 2007 Mini Copper on Mt. Pleasant Road in Smithtown on May 11. He was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Lock your car
An unknown person stole medication from inside an unlocked 2014 Toyota parked on Walter Court in Commack on May 14.

Woes in Walmart
Police said an unknown person stole assorted men’s clothing from Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack on May 14.

Shoe steal
An unknown woman stole 20 pairs of shoes and purses from Designer Shoe Warehouse on Middle County Road in Lake Grove on May 14, police said.

Pipe down
A 32-year-old man from Port Jefferson Station stole money from Eager Beaver Carwash on Nesconset Highway on April 6, according to police. He was arrested on May 12 on Halsey Street in Port Jefferson Station, where police said they discovered he had heroin and a glass crack pipe with residue. He was charged with petit larceny and two counts of seventh-degree possession of a controlled substance.

Police chase
On May 11 at about 12:30 a.m., a 52-year-old woman from Bayport driving a 2007 Mitsubishi was speeding on Route 25A near the intersection of Mount Sinai Avenue in Mount Sinai when a police officer turned on his lights, signaling for the driver to pull over, police said. The driver accelerated and swerved in a dangerous manner. She eventually pulled over in Port Jefferson Station. She was arrested and charged with third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle.

Would you like fries with that?
At McDonald’s on Route 25A in Miller Place on May 14, a 17-year-old man was seated in the driver’s seat of a 2007 Hyundai with marijuana in his possession, police said. He was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of the drug.

Police needle suspect
A 30-year-old woman from Farmingville was driving a 1999 Lexus on Teepee Road in Rocky Point near the intersection of King Road at about 2 p.m. on May 11, according to police. She was pulled over and police said they discovered she was driving without a license and had a hypodermic needle. She was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

I’m going to need your Christmas present back …
On Dec. 13, 2015, a 26-year-old man from Centereach and a 23-year-old woman from Bayport stole assorted jewelry from Kohl’s on Nesconset Highway in Shirley, police said. The man was arrested in Centereach and the woman was arrested in Selden, both on May 15. They were each charged with petit larceny.

Drugs on Joan
At about 7:30 p.m. on May 12, a 27-year-old man from Farmingville was seated in the driver’s seat of a 2008 Subaru on Joan Avenue in Centereach with heroin in his possession, according to police. He was arrested and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Picked a fight with police
An 18-year-old woman from Farmingville punched and kicked a police officer near a home on Wood Road in Centereach at about 10 a.m. on May 11, police said. She was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest. The officer was treated for injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital.

Teen tattooing
At a home on Granny Road in Farmingville on March 20, a 34-year-old woman from Farmingville gave a 14-year-old girl a heart tattoo on the front of her neck, according to police. She was arrested on May 13 in Selden and charged with tattooing a minor.

Arsonist arrested
On May 12 at about 3:45 p.m., a 27-year-old man from Central Islip intentionally lit a house on fire on Nicoll Avenue in Central Islip, police said. He was arrested in Stony Brook and charged with second-degree arson.

Subaru ransacked
An unknown person entered a Subaru parked in the driveway of a residence on Harrison Avenue in Miller Place at about 10 p.m. on May 14, according to police. The suspect stole an FDNY shield, a Magellan GPS and a dashboard camera, police said.

Clean getaway
A vacuum was stolen from Walmart on Nesconset Highway in East Setauket at about 3:30 p.m. on May 15, according to police.

Come sail away
The glass door to a boat at The Boat Place in Port Jefferson was damaged at about 3:30 p.m. on May 14, police said.

Breakfast on car
At about 12:45 a.m. on May 13, a 2008 Mitsubishi parked outside of a home on Broadway Avenue in Port Jefferson Station was scratched and egged, according to police.

Shove it off, shove it off
A 50-year-old man from Huntington Station was arrested on May 15 after police said he shoved an officer and pushed him to the ground while at his residence on Darnley Place at 8:15 a.m. He was charged with resisting arrest and second-degree harassment.

You’re screwed
On May 15 a 34-year-old man from Brentwood was arrested after police said he stole batteries and wrenches from Home Depot on New York Avenue in Huntington. He was charged with two counts of petit larceny.

Oh no at Oakwood
Police said a 25-year-old from Huntington had prescription pills in his possession without a prescription while on Oakwood Road in Huntington at 3:30 p.m. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Trouble in a Toyota
An 18-year-old man from Dix Hills was arrested on May 14 after police said he had marijuana in his possession while in a 2009 Toyota sedan parked in Dix Hills Park at 9:30 p.m. He was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Not on the straight path
On May 13 a 27-year-old man from Copiague was arrested after police said he was in possession of prescription pills while on Straight Path and Sagamore Hill in Dix Hills. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Pick pocketing a pickup truck
Police said a 20-year-old man from Commack stole a wallet containing credit cards from a pickup truck parked on Hauppauge Road in Commack on May 13. He was arrested and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny.

Life’s a beach
A 19-year-old man from Huntington was arrested on May 13 after police said he was in possession of marijuana while inside a 2008 Honda sedan at Centerport Beach at 6:30 p.m. He was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Not quite an elite thief
On May 13 a 28-year-old man from Dix Hills was arrested after police said he pried open the front door of Elite Fabrication on New York Avenue in Huntington and proceeded to steal two desktop computers. When he was arrested on Candlewood Path in Dix Hills later that day, he was also found to be in possession of a hypodermic needle. He was charged with third-degree burglary and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

He’s stunned
Police said a 22-year-old man from Huntington Station was in possession of a Viperteck electronic stun gun while at Family Dollar in Huntington Station on May 12. He was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of weapon.

You audi listen to the rules
On May 12, a 33-year-old from Huntington Station was driving a 2009 Audi on Nash Place in Huntington with a suspended license, police said. He was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of motor vehicle.

Car troubles
An unknown person damaged a 1998 Camry and a 2003 Isuzu parked in a residential driveway on Woods End Road in Dix Hills on May 15. Police said they slashed six tires and damaged car doors.

Right on target
Police said an unknown person stole clothing, footwear and household items from Target on West Jericho Turnpike in Commack on May 14.

Dude where’s my plates?
On May 12 an unknown person took the license plates off of a 2012 Hyundai Sonata parked in the Home Depot parking lot on New York Avenue in Huntington Station.

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Sometimes common sense gets lost in arguments about transgender people using public bathrooms. File photo

Long before communities started talking about transgender people using bathrooms of the genders they identify with, our society has operated on a policy of privates being private. When someone walks into a male or female bathroom, no one already inside asks to inspect appendages or for legal proof of sex. And if urinators use separate, closed stalls, why does it matter what organs they have?

This apparently does matter for some, given the debates taking place on our local, state and national levels regarding transgender people and which bathrooms are safe or appropriate for them to use. Those debates, however, often lose sight of common sense.

There are those who want to prohibit anyone from using a restroom built for the sex other than the one they are legally labeled with, usually citing fear of predators posing as transgender to gain access to a different bathroom for nefarious purposes. We would like to ask those people two things: When has a legal limitation stopped a pervert from doing perverted things, and why would someone pretend to be transgender for a long period of time, enduring common things like public humiliation and bullying, just to one day enter a bathroom of the opposite sex and attack someone?

If the latter were ever to occur, it would certainly be a rare instance — too rare to make the legislation, which is impossible to enforce, worth the cost of further alienating a group that is already marginalized and just wants to be accepted for who they are.

It’s not like transgender people are using a toilet in front of others. In women’s public bathrooms, there are only private stalls, and a female transitioning to male would still use a stall in a men’s public bathroom.

The least controversial solution is, of course, to have only unisex, single-person bathrooms. To that end, we would encourage developers on new projects, wherever possible, to construct those kinds of bathrooms as opposed to shared bathrooms. They are simply more comfortable for everyone anyway — who doesn’t like to be alone in a bathroom?

But that isn’t necessarily a feasible fix for existing public spaces, not that we think they need to be fixed in the first place. In fact, the argument of transgender people using specific bathrooms opening a door for perverts reminds us of people who once feared homosexuals, contending that they were more likely to be pedophiles than heterosexuals.

The details are different but the message is the same — they seem to think accommodating or accepting LGBT people will put their society at risk.

We need to move forward in our thinking and understand that transgender people want the same thing in a public bathroom that the rest of us want: to pee in peace. Let’s not start a war over public toilets.

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File photo

A man was found dead after an explosion and flames at a Long Island home on Wednesday afternoon.

Neighbors of the Minerva Lane house in Centereach called 911 after hearing that explosion and seeing the flames at the residence around 2:40 p.m., according to the Suffolk County Police Department. The Centereach Fire Department later pulled 50-year-old Timothy Oskey from the house after finding him unresponsive, lying on the floor in the basement.

Police said Oskey was pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital.

Firefighters put out the blaze with help from the Ronkonkoma, Farmingville and Selden departments, police said, and detectives from the SCPD’s homicide and arson squads are investigating the incident, but do not believe Oskey’s death was criminal in nature.

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The Rev. Mary Speers says the Setauket Presbyterian Church is in a “listening phase” when it comes to mapping out a future with its share of a $100 million trust from the Gillespie family. Photo by Phil Corso

A $100 million trust has the Setauket Presbyterian Church community’s collective ear.

Along with five other philanthropic entities, the church was named a beneficiary of a $100 million charitable trust from the estates of Kingsley Gillespie and his son, Kenyon Gillespie, earlier this spring. The Rev. Mary Speers described the big news as if she were expecting a newborn baby, referring to the trust as “an incredible gift” that will change the church in more ways than they can even anticipate.

“Think about what happens when you’re expecting a baby — especially the first one,” she said. “You’re excited — you don’t want to get too excited too fast — but you can’t help yourself … it’s exciting.”

The gift carried on the philanthropic contributions that both the Kingsley and Kenyon Gillespie families have made, keeping the arts, community service and faith strong.

The charitable trust came as a result of Kenyon Gillespie’s death in March 2015, which built upon the success of his father Kingsley Gillespie and mother Doris Kenyon, who both died in the 1980s.

The Gillespie family's connection to the Setauket church is on display on a baptismal font. Photo by Phil Corso
The Gillespie family’s connection to the Setauket church is on display on a baptismal font. Photo by Phil Corso

The church and the nearby Long Island Museum were named beneficiaries along with MIT, Stamford Hospital, The Rotary Club of Stamford and The First Presbyterian Church of Stamford and will be receiving income earned by the $100 million trust. Stamford Hospital will be getting the biggest share of 50 percent, while the five others will receive 10 percent of the annual 5 percent distribution required by law of such trusts every year.

“It was a total surprise,” Speers said of the Setauket church learning of its role in the trust. “It took a long time for us to wrap our heads around it. We’re still trying to wrap our heads around it.”

In an interview, Speers said one of the biggest challenges facing the church would be making sure the money is used to enhance the community’s culture of participation. She said the entire congregation was in a “listening phase” since learning of the trust, soaking up as much information as possible before making any big decisions.

“We want to think of this as seed money and incentive money, rather than turning ourselves into a grant foundation,” she said. “The Gillespie family singled out the church as something distinct, and we’re trying to be faithful to that — to be part of the fabric of a healthy society.”

The Rev. Mary Speers says the Setauket Presbyterian Church is in a “listening phase” when it comes to mapping out a future with its share of a $100 million trust from the Gillespie family. Photo by Phil Corso
The Rev. Mary Speers says the Setauket Presbyterian Church is in a “listening phase” when it comes to mapping out a future with its share of a $100 million trust from the Gillespie family. Photo by Phil Corso

Speers said she hoped the influx of money would help strengthen integral pieces of the church’s mission that are already in place, like its open door exchange, which provides furniture to those in need. Doris Kenyon was born in 1900 in Brooklyn, but spent summers as a child in Old Field before moving there in the 1930s. She had a lifelong affection for the Three Village community, the Long Island Museum said in a press release. She was married to Kingsley Gillespie, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the two built their family in the Three Village area before retiring to Florida.

Speers said she was initially unsure of exactly how connected the Gillespie family was to the church so many decades ago, but that confusion was quickly squashed when she realized the name of Joan Kenyon Gillespie — Kingsley’s daughter — on a baptismal font that was gifted in her honor after her 1959 death.

“They were clearly a big part of this community — they loved this community,” she said.

The Setauket Presbyterian Church, founded in 1660, will benefit considerably through the charitable trust. The institution, located on the village green at Caroline Avenue in Setauket, has been a longtime home for more than 500 people of faith.

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