CLOSE

Yearly Archives: 2019

by -
0 320
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone poses with the Hawkins Path Recycling Crew. Photo from Bellone's office

Thanks to a Suffolk County pilot program, students in the Middle Country Central School District have been learning about the importance of recycling and have been quite successful at the task.

On Oct. 3, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) came to Hawkins Path Elementary School in Selden to announce that students who participated in the Suffolk School Recycling Program, which was launched last year, recycled 35 tons of paper during the 2018-19 school year. Hawkins Path students, as well as New Lane Elementary School in Selden and Unity Drive PreK/Kindergarten Center in Centereach, were among the more than 6,000 children that participated in the partnership with the county.

During the pilot program, Hawkins Path, Unity Drive and New Lane recycled 2,330, 4,554 and 8,043 pounds of paper, respectively. Hawkins Path and New Lane also recycled a combined total of approximately half a ton of bottles and cans, according to county officials.

Roberta Gerold, Middle Country Central School District superintendent, congratulated the schools.

“Our students’ enthusiasm for this project clearly articulates the value of recycling and of sustaining resources,” she said. “The Suffolk School Recycling Program has inspired all of us in Middle Country. We are so proud of our students and staff’s work.”

In 2018, as part of Suffolk’s pilot program, 1,000 recycling bins were delivered to 12 schools allowing each building to have two bins for each classroom, office cafeteria and athletic field. Schools were also provided with scales to measure recycled materials.

According to county officials, recycling 35 tons of paper translates into the students saving 595 trees, 150,000 kilowatt hours of energy, 331 barrels of oil, 1,988 BTUs of energy, 245,000 gallons of water, 145 cubic yards of landfill space and stops 2,100 pounds of air pollution from being released.

“We launched a new kind of program to prove that students can help improve our recycling efforts and actually measure how much of an impact that they are having on our environment,” Bellone said. “The results are undeniable, the program is working, and we will continue to look for new opportunities to expand the initiative to protect and preserve our Island.”

The press conference was Bellone’s second visit to Hawkins Path Elementary School in 2019. Earlier this year he met with the school’s fifth-grade students who showed examples of their recycling work.

In addition to Middle Country schools, the county worked with Harley Avenue Primary School, James Boyd Intermediate School, Elwood Middle School, John Glenn High School, Twin
Pines Elementary School, Hemlock Park Elementary, Hampton Bays Elementary, Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School and Quogue Elementary. The county anticipates working with other school districts in the near future to develop the program on a larger scale.

by -
0 1592
Port Jefferson shops such as Hookah City on Main Street, above, sell hookahs. Photo by Elana Glowatz

Port Jefferson officials have made explicit their antipathy for the vape and smoke shop in the village, especially after news broke an employee had been cited for selling to children underage.

Hookah City, located at 202 Main St. in Port Jefferson was recently charged with unlawfully dealing with a child in a countywide police sting labeled Operation Vape Out. It was amongst 32 establishments that Suffolk County police said were cited for illicit behavior, most concerning selling tobacco products to children under the legal age limit of 21.

“All eyes are on that place,” said Trustee Kathianne Snaden during a conversation after the Sept. 23 village board meeting.

“It’s immoral to addict a human being to something they can’t get away from.”

— Paul Casciano

Mayor Margot Garant said they had asked Village Attorney Brian Egan about the shop but were told there is nothing in village code that allows the village to affect a business in such a way, adding there was nothing that violated their lease. 

Fred Leute, the acting chief of code enforcement, said constables take reports and inform Suffolk County police regarding businesses selling to people underage. Leute added they had originally sent notice to police about the shop.

“Kids would come in and put their knapsack down — they would have money on the knapsack, and a note stapled to it what they wanted,” the acting chief said. “The guy who they caught would take that note, fill their order, so to speak, and put the stuff in the bag, then the kid would come by and take their bag.”

A manager or owner of Hookah City could not be reached for comment before press time.

New York State was originally set to ban the creation and sale of flavored e-cigarette products Oct. 4, but a day before the deadline the state appellate court put that order on hold until the court reconvenes Oct. 18. The proposed ban came after a wave of health cases the U.S. Centers for Disease Control attributed to vaping, among them were several deaths. As at Oct. 8, there have been 1,080 cases of injury nationwide with 23 deaths. There have been 110 cases attributed to New York, according to the state’s health department. On the same day, the death of a Bronx teen was announced as the first confirmed fatality in New York related to vape products.

Under the 1992 state Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act, each time a vendor is caught selling tobacco products to a person under the age of 21, that vendor will acquire two points on their license. If the vendor acquires three points within a three-year period of time, the vendor will lose its tobacco and lottery ticket licenses.

Though as of recently this is the first infraction in a number of years. Suffolk police’s research section found Hookah City has had no other infractions of selling to minors since the beginning of 2016. 

Nearly 40 percent of 12th grade students and 27 percent of high school students in New York State are now using e-cigarettes, according to New York State health officials.

Parents and school officials in Port Jefferson said not only are kids using vape products excessively in school but are doing so sometimes in the middle of classrooms and clandestinely in bathrooms.

Soon-to-be-outgoing Superintendent Paul Casciano said in a sit-down interview that districts all across the county have been dealing with the same thing. While the district has added vape detectors, students will either blow the smoke into backpacks or lockers to avoid smoke detectors or find areas of the school without the detectors. Incoming Superintendent Jessica Schmettan said at the last school board meeting the district takes away vape products from students, who are then disciplined.

“The kids aren’t producing this stuff, and that for me and among my colleagues is one of the most disturbing parts — adults are creating these things,” Casciano said. “It’s immoral to addict a human being to something they can’t get away from.”

The district recently played host to the countywide peer education pilot program about the dangers of vaping. 

But for the one last vape shop in Port Jeff, the focus has come down hard on its shoulders for the number of students who have continued to vape. Casciano said there is little the district can do to affect the businesses in and around Port Jeff, many of whom sell vape and e-cig products. The most they can do is applaud current activities from New York State and continue to educate young people about vape products.

“The local efforts, whether its local or state officials, those have all helped, because if you can’t get your hands on the flavors … it will be even more difficult for them,” Schmettan said.

The mayor mentioned limiting vaping in village parks, but she later said that, unlike cigarettes which offer physical discomfort and negative health effects to pedestrians, it would be hard to enforce with citations.

“I think it goes back to the household.”

— Margot Garant

Snaden said the issue of vaping needs an effort on all ends. She suggested the school district should include harsher penalties to students who use vape products in schools, including potentially kicking them off sport teams. 

“If everywhere these kids turn, everywhere they turn they’re being shown this is not accepted in this village, they’re either going to take it somewhere else — we’re not going to alleviate the problem altogether — we have to hit them everywhere they turn,” she said. “They have to get turned away everywhere, that’s how we can get the message across.”

Village code currently disallows new smoke shops in Port Jefferson, but Hookah City was grandfathered in when the code was changed in 2016. Garant said during the Oct. 7 village board meeting that with the current code, they are looking to enforce other businesses within the village to limit the sale of vape products. 

“They would all have to become vape dispensaries, so we’re cracking down on them ourselves,” she said. 

She added that vaping, just like any other drug use, often requires work from those closest to the youth.

“I think it goes back to the household,” the mayor said.

by -
0 299
Joaquin Phoenix stars as the Joker. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

By Jeffrey Sanzel

Batman’s most infamous nemesis, the Joker, first appeared in the Batman comic book in 1940. Created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, the psychopathic clown with a sadistic streak has endured for eight decades, being reinvented time and again.  

The Joker was first embodied on the small screen in the 1960s with Cesar Romero’s over-the-top but highly enjoyable take in the camp television series (and subsequent film) Batman. First-billed Jack Nicholson played the criminal with gangster shades in the more serious 1989 Batman film. Heath Ledger received a posthumous Oscar for his twitchy, psychotic anarchist that traded on the character’s insanity and ambiguity in The Dark Knight (2008). Jared Leto took a fairly modern approach with a tattooed and outlandish hoodlum in Suicide Squad (2016).

As for the Joker’s origin, it has been recreated throughout his existence, with no true commitment to who he is and how he came to be. Part of his mystique is this swirling mystery. The Joker is the ultimate unreliable narrator: “Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another … if I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!” (The Killing Joke, 1988).

Which brings us to Joker, the new film from director Todd Phillips, who has co-written the screenplay with Scott Silver. This is not just a rethinking of the character and his world; this is another world entirely, and a brutally real one.  

The Gotham City of Joker is a bleak vision of 1980 New York City, a crime- and rat-infested hell; it is a world mired in corruption where the haves actively keep down the have-nots. There are strong political statements that touch on gun control, living conditions of the disenfranchised and the treatment of mental health. (It should be noted that there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the film and its violence.)  

Phillips presents a back-storied Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a clown whose work is limited to sign-tossing in front of stores and entertaining in children’s hospital wards. He suffers from a neurological disorder that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times. The marginalized Fleck cares for his mother (Frances Conroy, harboring family secrets) in a rundown apartment. Fleck’s great goal is to become a stand-up comic and an unsuccessful attempt contributes to his downward spiral.  

Rather than the tale of a larger-than-life villain — the insane master criminal and homicidal clown — Joker is about society’s rejection of those who need the support the most. The film opens with him being beaten by a group of teenage thugs. Later, Fleck learns that the social services he relies on for his seven medications have been cut. It is this continuous “bad day” scenario that plagues him.  

The already delicate Fleck is driven to his choices by external circumstances. His murder of three Wall Street brokers who are abusing him on the subway becomes freeing. His actions make him a hero to a city that takes up the cry of “Kill the Rich.” Mobs of clown-masked protesters turn the metropolis into a literal hell.

If one separates the history of the character, it is easier to embrace Joaquin Phoenix’s performance. It is a monument of introspection, of ticks, of pain. His Fleck is a man on the brink and then beyond. The camera rarely leaves him for the two-hour running time. Phoenix is the film.

If anything, the character is based less on the Joker and hearkens more to Travis Bickle, the anti-hero of Taxi Driver (1976), with shades of Rupert Pupkin in The King of Comedy (1982). This is no surprise as the common denominator is Robert DeNiro, the creator of Bickle in the former and the down-on-his luck comedian Pupkin in the latter. In Joker, DeNiro comfortably assays a callous late-night host who brings Fleck onto his show, after using a clip of Fleck’s disastrous stand-up. So much of this adds up to Joker as a homage to these films and those performances.

Special note should be made of Lawrence Sher’s cinematography. Its evocative harshness contributes to the uncompromising tension. The final moments resonate long after the film is over, a true portrait of senseless, bloody violence. 

Joker certainly feels the least like a comic adaptation of any film, and, as an addition to that cinematic universe, it is a strange one. However, it is apparent that this was a choice by the creators. They have opted for a realm that is a gritty, recognizable world, where the day-to-day angers cause horrors that enflame chaos and mayhem. Ultimately, if one separates the film from its source, Joker is a dark, unique and current reflection of our own times.

Rated R, Joker is now playing in local theaters.

by -
0 370
Stephanie Carsten portrays Maria Smith Williamson at last year’s event. Photo courtesy of TVHS

By Melissa Arnold

Ah, October. The perfect time of year to grab a light jacket, sip a hot drink, and go for a casual walk through a cemetery.

For a quarter of a century, the Three Village Historical Society has invited visitors from far and wide to explore the lives of some of our area’s greatest contributors, both famous and little known at its annual Spirits Tour.

The interesting twist is that the event brings guests on a walking tour through two of Setauket’s historic cemeteries — Caroline Church of Brookhaven Cemetery and the Setauket Presbyterian Church Cemetery — to meet each deceased community member and hear his or her story firsthand.

It’s a unique, fascinating and engaging way to learn more about the area’s rich history, and none of it is scary or Halloween-themed. They promise.

The long-running event, held this year on Oct. 19, is primarily the work of historical society board member Frank Turano who creates detailed scripts for each character and has written more than 400 pages over the past 25 years.

The historical society works hard to ensure that the tour is different each year, with some familiar faces as well as new people to meet. This year’s theme, The Unforgotten, focuses on names you might not know from history class but who still made a significant impact on the area.

“There were a number of people I knew about that never got any sort of notoriety,” said Turano. “So I decided to go about the process of finding interesting but obscure characters. It took several months to write the scripts.”

Volunteers from around the community, many of whom are involved with local theater productions, suit up for the evening in period attire from Nan’s Antique Costume & Props Rental in Port Jefferson for a true-to-life experience.

The cast

Greeter

(Tim Adams)

Richard Floyd 

(Michael Freed)

Anna Kopriva 

(Karen Overin)

Myra Lyons 

(Stephanie Carsten)

Edward Pheiffer 

(Tommy Ranieri)

Justice Carl Rhuland

(Steve Healy)

John Scott 

(Mort Rosen)

Gen. Francis Spinola

(George Overin)

Caroline Strong 

(Karin Lynch)

Hilma Wilson 

(Tara Ebrahimian)

Sarah Young 

(Theresa Travers)

Henrietta Shipman

(Cathleen Shannon)

Marjorie Cutler Bishop

(Stephanie Sakson)

“I live in the area, and it feels great to be connected to the place where I live,” said Janet McCauley, a board member of the historical society who’s also served as co-chair for the tour for more than 10 years. “It’s so much fun watching the actors portray these different figures in our history, and to see people from the community come back year after year.”

The 90-minute guided tour will include a dozen historical figures, among them Brookhaven town founder Richard Floyd, World War I nurse Caroline Strong, and Sarah Young, a woman with a curious story and shocking devotion to the man she loved. For the first time ever, this year’s tour features more women than men, a difficult feat considering the majority of historical records were written about and by men, Turano said. 

Even Three Village Historical Society President Steve Healy is getting in on the action with a portrayal of Justice Carl Rhuland, a local businessman and justice of the peace.

“The Spirits Tour is one of the longest-running events of its kind and it’s close to my heart,” Healy said. “You can go on this tour every year and learn something new. Everyone is so passionate about bringing these stories to life, from the costumes to casting to script writing and the fine details. Frank has incredible attention to detail and this time of year provides the perfect atmosphere for the tour.”

McCauley urges all tour goers to arrive early, dress for extended time outdoors and to wear comfortable walking shoes. And of course, help yourself to apple cider and donuts donated from local supermarkets and Ann Marie’s Farmstand in Setauket. An exhibit with additional information will be on display at Setauket Presbyterian Church throughout the night.

The 25th Annual Spirits Tour will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19 (rain date Oct. 26). Tours, which are approximately 90 minutes long, leave from the Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket every 15 minutes starting at 5 p.m. Each tour lasts approximately 1½ to 2 hours. The last tour departs at 7:45 p.m. 

Tickets in advance at www.tvhs.org are $25 adults, $15 members; $10 children under 12, $8 members. Tickets on the night of the event, if available, are $30 adults, $20 members; $12 children under 12, $10 members. For more information, call 631-751-3730. 

by -
0 2272
1 of 9
Senior Co-Captain Will Cutinella with his approach shot to the 9th hole in league play against Longwood Oct. 8. Bill Landon photo
Liam Daly a senior Co-Captain chips onto the green at Spring Lake Golf Club in a league play Oct. 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior Co-Captain Gavin Melandro a 6 yr. varsity starter sinks a putt on the 9th green at Spring Lake Golf Club in a league match against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon
A four-year All-League varsity and #1 position player senior Gavin Melandro chips on the 9th green in league play against Longwood, Oct. 8. Bill Landon photo
Shoreham-Wading River senior Matt Baylous from the edge of a sand trap at Spring Lake Golf Club in a league match against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior Co-Captain Liam Daly drains one on 11 at Spring Lake Golf Club in a league matchup against Longwood Oct. 8. Bill Landon photo
Senior Co-Captain Matt Baylous with his tee shot on 10 in league play against Longwood at Spring Lake Golf Club Oct. 8. Bill Landon photo
Timmy Manzello in his 1st varsity match chips onto the 9th green at Spring Lake Golf Club Oct. 8. Bill Landon photo
Timmy Manzello the #1 junior varsity player, makes his varsity debut sinking a putt in an exhibition match at Spring Lake Golf Club Oct. 8. Photo by Bill Landon

Leading the way for the Wildcats’ golf team was senior co-captain Gavin Melandro, a six-year varsity veteran and four-year All-League player, who lived up to his No. 1 position on the team winning his match by shooting a 43 against Longwood at Spring Lake Golf Club, Middle Island, Oct. 8. Kevin Beagan, a senior and co-captain of the team, shined from the No. 6 position defeating his opponent by three strokes. Andrew Vignola, who according to coach Rich Muller is the most consistent player, shot a 48 and is vying for a spot on the final six-man roster for postseason tournament play. Freshman Timmy Manzello, the No. 1 player for the JV squad, made his varsity debut in exhibition play. Muller said he deserved to be brought up, adding that Manzello shot a respectable 56. 

Longwood beat Shoreham-Wading River 7-2.

The Wildcats are back on the links Oct. 11 at Great Rock Golf Club in Wading River where they’ll take on Mount Sinai at 4 p.m. to conclude their regular season.

“I hope to have as many individuals qualify for the county tournament by playing well at leagues and having the team qualify would be special,” Muller said. “I have high expectations for my top three: Gavin Melandro, Tristan Costello, who didn’t play today, and Andrew Vignola to make the county’s. Depending on conditions, and what player shows up, we should do well.”

Photos clockwise from top left: Melandro sinks a putt on the ninth green; senior co-captain Matt Baylous with his tee shot on the 10th hole; senior co-captain Will Cutinella with his approach shot to the ninth hole; Liam Daly, a senior co-captain, chips onto the green; and Manzello chips onto the ninth green. 

by -
0 2100

Joseph Ralph Hoerger

Joseph Ralph Hoerger, of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and formerly of Port Jefferson, passed away peacefully Oct. 4. He was 92.

He was born in Patchogue but lived most of his life in Port Jefferson where he met his beautiful wife, Ella, who preceded him in death in 2015 after 65 years of marriage. 

Serving with the Coast Guard during World War II, he was also a member of American Legion Post 432. He was a local carpenter who built many houses in Port Jefferson, and in later years owned a flower nursery as well as working for the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Co. He also served as scoutmaster for Troop 45 for many years. 

He is survived by his sons Jeffrey (Michelle) of Holland, Pennsylvania, and Brian of Port Jefferson; three grandchildren, Christopher (Meghan), Ashley (Chris) and Tommy; as well as four great-grandchildren, Jamie, Tia, Andrew and Cora.

The family kindly requests that donations be made to The Honor Flight Network at www.honorflight.org, a charity near and dear to his heart.

A graveside service with military honors is planned for Nov. 12 at Washington’s Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Jane Gombieski

Jane S. Gombieski of Stony Brook died Sept. 29. She was 82.

She was born in Middletown Connecticut, in 1937 and moved to Stony Brook in 1969, proudly living in the same house in the Strathmore “H” section for 50 years. She was an active civic leader, serving as president of the Three Village Civic Association and the Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Association, which she originally helped to create.

In 1987, Gombieski was named the Village Times Woman of the Year in Civic Affairs. The Village Times noted, “Gombieski’s passionate identification with the Three Villages, her belief in honest and open government make her a formidable gadfly for local interest … Gombieski is an eloquent spokesperson for the idea of neighborhood integrity, for the principle that decisions that have a direct impact on where people live or how their dollars are spent should be subject to ongoing public review and consent.”

She was a talented writer, and in addition to being a frequent “letter to the editor” contributor, she was a freelance writer, with pieces appearing in many publications, including the Village Times, Three Village Herald, and the LI Historical Journal. She was an expert on local historical issues including women’s suffrage, baseball, the KKK in Suffolk County and the operations of the German American settlement in Yaphank.

Jane was fiercely independent, with a quick wit and was highly intelligent — she could read ancient Greek and complete the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle in pen in just five minutes. She loved reading about Ancient Egypt, watching classic movies and gardening, and took great joy in spending time with her children and grandchildren. 

She is survived by her children Kim Brandeau (Mark) of Setauket, Donna DeMarco (Rob) of Sound Beach, Edward Gombieski (Adria) of Bangor, Maine, and Laura Price and her husband Howard of East Norwich. In addition, she was a loving grandmother to Kyle, Sarah, Julie, Robbie, Spring and Summer and is further survived by her brothers Leo and Eddie. She was preceded in death by her beloved sisters Helen, Ann and MaryAnn.

Visitation was held on Oct. 1 at Moloney Family Funeral Home in Port Jefferson Station and interment followed at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson.

Adele Jasiewicz

Adele H. Jasiewicz, of East Setauket, died Aug. 30. She was 90.

She was born April 7, 1929, in the Bronx, and was the daughter of Blanche and Louis Rucki.

She was a retired executive administrative assistant for Good Samaritan Hospital.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Diane and Karen (Thomas); her son, Ronald; five grandchildren and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence.

Services were held at the St. James R.C. Church Sept. 3. Interment was at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the
online guest book.

Anne Dundon

Anne E. Dundon, of Stony Brook, died Aug. 26. She was 86.

She was born Jan. 1, 1933, in Brooklyn and was the daughter of Frances and James Harvey.

Dundon was a homemaker, a member of the Stony Brook Yacht Club, St. George’s Country Club and St. James Rosary Altar Society. She also enjoyed reading and playing bridge.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Anne, Elizabeth, Ellen, Jean and Kathleen; her sons James, Gerard, Robert and Thomas; 12 grandchildren; her brothers Kenneth and Stephen; along with many other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerard; her brother, Bob; and sister, Barbara.

Services were held at the St. James R.C. Church Aug. 30. Interment followed at the St. James R.C. Churchyard Cemetery

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the
online guest book.

Contributions made to the St. James Pantry or the Catholic Relief Services in her memory would be appreciated.

Jane Mueller

Jane F. Mueller, of Coram, died Sept. 7. She was 70.

She was born Jan. 23, 1949, in Queens, and was the daughter of Jean and Thomas Geraghty.

Mueller was a customer service representative for Allstate and in her free time she enjoyed reading, gardening, knitting, playing Candy Crush, doing crosswords, family vacations in Montauk and most of all her faithful dog Ferguson.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Bernard “Bernie”; her daughter, Alison; sons Chris and BJ; five grandchildren; sisters Claire and Sheila; brother, Tommy; along with other family and friends.

Services were held at the Infant Jesus R.C. Church in Port Jefferson Sept. 12. Interment was at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the
online guest book.

Contributions made to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, www.mskcc.org, in her memory would be appreciated.

Mario Mignone

Mario B. Mignone, 79, of Stony Brook, died suddenly Sept. 9.

He emigrated to the U.S. in 1960 from Benevento, Italy, with his parents, Palmina and Robert, and seven siblings. He graduated from The City College of New York with a bachelor’s degree and received master’s and doctoral degrees from Rutgers University.

The professor joined Stony Brook University in 1970 where he rose to be a SUNY distinguished service professor, director of the Center for Italian Studies and professor of Italian and Italian American Studies. Within his department, he served as chair, director of graduate and undergraduate studies and director of SBU’s summer program in Rome. In 1985, he founded the Center for Italian Studies to establish a cultural bridge between the university and the community and created the first endowed chair in the SBU College of Arts and Sciences.

An accomplished writer and scholar, he authored 15 books and more than 50 scholarly articles on modern Italian literature, culture and emigration. He received national and international recognition and honors including the Cavaliere Ufficiale al Merito della Repubblica by the president of the Italian Republic.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lois, and daughters Pamela Salzman (Daniel), Cristina Armato (Philip) and Elizabeth Jakic (Ante) and was the doting Nonno to his eight grandchildren. Known for his prolific vegetable garden, Mario enjoyed sharing produce with friends.

Services were held at Sts. Philip and James R.C. Church in St. James Sept. 12. Interment followed at the St. James R.C. Churchyard Cemetery.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket.
Visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book. 

Donations can be made to the Center for Italian Studies at Stony Brook University in his memory.

Angela Ganzenmuller

Angela Ganzenmuller, of Glendale, died Aug. 10. She was 84.

She was born Oct. 16, 1934, in Ridgewood, Queens, and was the daughter of Emma and Antonio Minardi.

Ganzenmuller, aka “Mom, Gram, Ang and Auntie Gel,” was a retired secretary who loved sitting on the couch with daughter Laurie watching her favorite shows including “Law and Order,” “Dr. Phil” and “Golden Girls.” She enjoyed her phone calls with her son, Chuck. In life, she gave her children words of encouragement, wisdom and comfort that kept them in line, taught them the “school of hard knocks,” which gave them something to pass down to their children. She was known for not holding back her opinion and her knack for telling it like it was. She was famous for her tossed salad with her homemade Italian dressing, and she loved being surrounded by grandkids and family for any occasion. All these things and many more great qualities made up our “Angela.” She left us beautiful memories — her love is still our guide — and although we cannot see her, she’s always at our side.

She will be sorely missed by her daughter, Laurie, and son, Charles (Carole); grandsons Anthony, Adam, Charles (Angela) and Christopher; granddaughter, Sara (Chris); seven great-grandchildren; and many other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband/best friend, Charlie aka “Hun,” and her sisters Carmela and Marie.

Services were held at Sacred Heart R.C. Church Aug. 14. Interment followed in St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket.

by -
0 315
Three Village Central School District becomes the first school district in New York to join a national lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturer Juul. TBR News Media file photo

Three Village Central School District is joining the fight against vaping devices.

In a letter from Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich and Board of Education President William Connors, the district announced it became the first school district in New York to join a national lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturer Juul.

“As educators, it is our duty to protect the health and safety of our students, and we believe this company is compromising those efforts while simultaneously disrupting the educational process by marketing to teens,” Pedisich and Connors wrote.

Officials stated in the letter that legal fees will be covered by the firms representing the parties in the suit and will not come from district taxes.

The district officials said in the letter vaping devices are easy for teenagers to hide and use. 

“This epidemic, while a national one, has had a direct and grave impact on our local school community,” school officials said. “As a district, we have needed to divert resources and deploy new ones to combat the problem of teen vaping.”

Three Village has installed devices to detect vaping, created prevention programs, adjusted health curricula to focus on the dangers of vaping, created a new student assistant counselor position to focus on prevention and treatment, and embraced new disciplinary actions and a districtwide zero-tolerance policy on vaping, according to the letter.

Nearly 40 percent of 12th grade students and 27 percent of high school students in New York State are now using e-cigarettes, according to New York State officials.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states on its website that the use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for children, teens and young adults, as most e-cigarettes contain nicotine and other harmful substances. According to the agency, highly-addictive nicotine can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.

As at Oct. 8, the CDC has reported 1,080 vaping-associated illnesses in the United States with 23 deaths. There have been 110 cases attributed to New York, according to the state’s health department. On the same day, the death of a Bronx teen was announced as the first confirmed fatality related to vape products in New York.

 

by -
0 1576
1 of 27
The Wolverines mug for the camera after a goal in a 2-1 victory over visiting Northport Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior forward Tim Birchwell traps the ball in a home game against Northport Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior Tage Oster heads the ball into the net to trail Newfield by 1. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior Tage Oster with a centering pass against Newfield Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield forward Steven Branco, right, settles the ball in a home game against Northport Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield midfielder Sonny Farrell #10 maintains possession in a home game against Northport Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Newfield’s Sonny Farrell #10 is congratulated by a teammate after scoring the opening goal at home against Northport Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Newfield midfielder Sonny Farrell #10 scores in a home game against Northport Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Northport senior forward Peter DeTolla with a take away against Newfield Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Northport senior forward Peter DeTolla, left, battles Newfield freshman Joe Fuentes Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior Peter DeTolla, left, battles with Newfield’s Gaven Oliviera in a League III matchup Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior Peter DeTolla, left, battles with Newfield’s Gaven Oliviera in a League III matchup Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport’s Michael Pinzone dribbles the ball in a League III matchup against Newfield Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Northport’s Michael Pinzone #9 fights for possession with Newfield’s Joe Fuentes Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Co-Captain Lorenzo Selini #3 is congratulated after scoring a goal in a home game against Northport Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Junior forward Kyle Gallagher drives the ball up-field for Northport in a League III matchup Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman forward John Fuentes takes possession against visiting Northport Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Tigers celebrate after Oster’s goal in a League III matchup against Newfield Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Newfield midfielder Gaven Oliviera heads the ball against Northport in a League III matchup Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Northport’s Joseph Kearns makes the save for the Tigers in a League III contest against Newfield Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport midfielder Dan Costello settles the ball on the road against Newfield. Bill Landon photo
Chris Vientimilla with the header for Newfield against visiting Northport Oct. 7. Bill Landon photo
Newfield senior defender Chris Vientimilla, right, battles Northort’s Dan Costello in a League III matchup Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield goalie Chris Cusimano clears the ball in a home game against Northport Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport midfielder Aidan Sheehan pushes up-field in a League III contest against Newfield Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport midfielder Aidan Sheehan pushes up-field in a League III contest against Newfield Oct. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior midfielder Aidan Sawczyk sends the ball deep on the road against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon

The Newfield Wolverines, 4-3 in the league, hosted the Northport Tigers, who stand 4-2, Oct. 7. 
Both teams looked to move into second place in League III behind Huntington and League III leader Smithtown West.

Sonny Farrell, the junior midfielder, broke the ice for Newfield scoring 21 minutes in when co-captain Lorenzo Selini scored an insurance goal with six minutes left to take it 2-0 into the halftime break.

Northport senior Tage Oster made a game of it heading the ball into the net 10 minutes into the second half but the Wolverines dug and held on for the 2-1 win. Chris Cusimano had four saves in net for Newfield, and Joseph Kearns stopped five for the Tigers.

Northport retakes the field when they host Hills East on Oct. 11, and the Wolverines will try their hand with Hills East on the road Oct. 16. Both games kickoff at 4 p.m.

by -
0 268
Challenger Will Ferraro and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine during a debate hosted by the Sound Beach Civic Association at the Sound Beach Firehouse Oct. 8. Photo by Kyle Barr

Road issues and health/odor complaints from the town landfill have become a major bane for residents in the Town of Brookhaven, and local incumbents and challengers have made it a major point of their election campaigns.

The Sound Beach Civic Association hosted debates Oct. 8 for Brookhaven town candidates in The Village Beacon Record area as Long Island quickly slides toward Election Day Nov. 5.

The room was flanked with both Republican, Democratic and a few third-party candidates.

Perhaps the most contentious town race is for supervisor, with young Democratic challenger Will Ferraro facing the well-established town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R).

Romaine lauded his and the town’s accomplishments in the seven years since he was first put in office during a special election in 2012. He talked about recent intermunicipal agreements combining districts to save residents money, including ending the Sound Beach and Setauket water districts that gave a small check to residents of those defunct districts.

In terms of roads, Romaine cited the proposed town budget that includes a $150 million pot of funds for the Highway Department from both bonds and reserves from the tentative capital budget.

“I believe in fighting for each and every one of the communities of this town”

– Ed Romaine

Ferraro, who has worked as a legislative analyst for the New York State Assembly and a political activist, spoke of the three main issues of his campaign: the quality of Brookhaven’s roads, a plan to reconfigure the town’s recycling to bring back monthly glass pickup, and a public plan for air quality issues around the town landfill.

“This election is not going to be about credentials, it’s about credibility,” he said.

When an audience member’s question was brought up about the town’s website, saying that it was purposefully convoluted, the supervisor said the town has worked hard to make everything easily available and to make town matters transparent. Ferraro retorted, “I agree with [Romaine] I don’t think it’s intentional, they really think that’s what a website is supposed to look like in 2019.”

The landfill was recently cited by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation over odor complaints and was ordered to spend $150,000 on the landfill or face a fine of $178,000. Romaine said the odor complaints were from last December and occurred because of the process of currently capping portions of the site in the Brookhaven hamlet. The town is looking to set aside $20 million to deal with the impact of the landfill closing in 2024.

“We are definitely going to look at how we are going to handle solid waste — that is something we will be working with all the communities in Brookhaven,” he said.

Ferraro responded that Romaine was diluting the complaints that residents living close to the landfill have had, both in terms of odor and health issues they claim have come from the dump. He criticized Romaine for leaving his state appointment to the Long Island Regional Planning Council in 2018 and said more needs to be done to test the air quality in the area surrounding the landfill.

The day of the debate, Newsday had published its endorsement for Romaine, who held up a printout to show to the audience. Ferraro said, “that endorsement will be in Newsday tomorrow, it will also be in my cat’s litter box tomorrow,” to the moans of several audience members.

Though he had planned to attend the debate, town Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro (R) had to cancel at the last minute, and his second-time Democratic challenger Anthony Portesy spoke up instead about his plans to remedy town road issues.

He advocated for his six-point plan, complaining about the town’s practices of “mill and fill” for fixing roads with topcoats that crumble in a short time and for not fixing drainage issues. He also talked about creating a priority list by working with the town council, and then posting that publicly online to see which roads are getting done based on the level of funding. He also called for the need to advocate for more state and federal funding for road repairs.

“We need to get out of this duct tape and Band-Aid operation,” he said. “I want to make sure we’re creating a long-term mission for the Town of Brookhaven.”

Democrat Sarah Deonarine is challenging Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) for the District 2 seat.

Bonner said the issue with recycling was the market has collapsed, a problem not just for Brookhaven but for every municipality across the U.S. Since the market for glass has fallen through the floor, the town has been taking glass at drop-off sites and using them for lining the landfill.

“What is better recycling than that?,” she said.

Regarding the landfill, she said the town has steadily increased its landfill closure account to deal with the impacts of when there will be nowhere on the island left to dump ash or debris, though they have taken the odor complaints “very seriously.” She said the best plan is to turn the landfill into an “energy park.” 

On the issue of recycling the Democratic challenger cited other towns that currently accept other materials, promising to model their collection system after them. She also called out the town’s response to the DEC’s order regarding the landfill. She said she has “connections” around the island, and with those they could start a work group that could look at the health impacts of the landfill.

“The town should recognize that people are getting sick there, set up our own [odor] hotline, and invest in the people in the area to get better,” she said.

On Monday, Oct. 14, the Sound Beach Civic Association will host a second debate moderated by the Suffolk County League of Women Voters between Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) and her Republican challenger Gary Pollakusky at the Sound Beach Firehouse located at 152 Sound Beach Blvd. People can come at 6:30 p.m. to write out questions for the debate starting at 7:30 p.m.

Early voting starts Oct. 26, with election day set for Tuesday, Nov. 5. Check back here at The Village Beacon Record Oct. 31 for our annual election issue, featuring debates with all local candidates in our coverage area.

 

by -
0 395
1 of 9
Michelle LaBozzetta, Eric J. Hughes and Steven Uihlein in a scene from the show in 2019. Photo from Theatre Three
The cast of 'A Spooky Kooky Halloween'
Steven Uihlein and Michelle LaBozzetta in a scene from the show
Stuck together 'like birds of a feather'
Stuck together 'like birds of a feather'
Getting reading for Halloween
Yum ... toast!
The speed spell
The cast of 'A Spooky Kooky Halloween'

By Heidi Sutton

As one of the country’s most beloved holidays draws near, Theatre Three gets into the act with Halloween treats of its own. While the theater thrills and chills on the Mainstage with “Jekyll & Hyde,” its Children’s Theatre offers “A Kooky Spooky Halloween,” the adorable tale of a ghost who is afraid of the dark. Written by Jeffrey Sanzel and Steve McCoy, the musical, which runs through Oct. 26, is the perfect way to kick off the spookiest of seasons.

A friendly ghost named Abner Perkins (played by Steven Uihlein) has just graduated from Haunting High School. With a diploma and a medallion of invisibility in hand, his first assignment is to become the spooksperson for Ma Aberdeen’s Boarding House, famously known the world over for being the most haunted house in Harrison County U.S.A. and for serving the best toast. There are only two rules he has to follow — he can only haunt at night and he can’t lose the medallion or he’ll be seen by the living.

Abner confides to his best friend Lavinda the witch (Michelle LaBozzetta) that he has an uncontrollable fear of the dark and, after a bit of teasing (“That’s like a vampire who’s afraid of necks!”), she gifts him a night-light and promises to assist him with his haunting duties for the first few weeks. When they arrive at the boarding house, they find Ma Aberdeen (Ginger Dalton), the finest toast maker in the land, and her guests in the kitchen stuffing treat bags for Halloween.

We meet Kit Garret (Nicole Bianco) who “just came from a small town to a big city with a suitcase in my hand and hope in my heart” and can’t wait to try Ma Aberdeen’s famous toast. We also meet the Petersons — Paul the periodontist (Andrew Lenahan), his wife Penelope (Krystal Lawless) and their son Pip (Eric J. Hughes) — who have the most curious habit of using words that start with the letter P in every sentence.

When Pip puts on a pumpkin pullover and proceeds to tell pumpkin jokes (see what I did there?), Abner casts a speed spell on the group, making them spin like a top, do jumping jacks and walk like a duck in double time, and then, straight out of a scene from “The Golden Goose,” has them stick to each other “like birds of a feather.”

Just as he is about to undo the spell, fellow graduate and ghost with a grudge Dora Pike (Beth Ladd) shows up and steals Abner’s night-light and medallion of invisibility and hides them in Black Ridge Gulch, the deepest, darkest gorge in the entire world. Now visible, Abner has to convince the boarders, who are still stuck to each other in “an unprecedented predicament,” to help him and Lavinda get his property back. What follows is a hilarious adventure that highlights the power of honesty, determination and friendship.

Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, the eight-member adult cast embraces the brilliant script and presents a hauntingly fun afternoon both children and parents will love. Accompanied on piano by Douglas Quattrock with choreography by Nicole Bianco, the song and dance numbers are fun and catchy with special mention to the rap “A Need for Speed” by Abner and Lavinda and the group number, “It’s Ma Who Makes the Toast.” Costumes by Teresa Matteson and Toni St. John are spot on, from the Peterson’s black and orange outfits to the spooky white garbs for the ghosts. And wait until you see the special effects!

Souvenir cat, pumpkin, vampire and ghost dolls will be available for purchase before the show and during intermission for $5. Meet the cast in the lobby for photos on your way out.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will present “A Kooky Spooky Halloween” on Oct. 12, 19 and 26 at 11 a.m. and Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. Running time is 1 hour and 15 minutes with one intermission, and Halloween costumes are encouraged. Children’s theater continues with “Barnaby Saves Christmas,” from Nov. 23 to Dec. 28. All seats are $10. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Prev1...505152...217Next Page 51 of 217
TBR News Media is your local news and entertainment website.
We provide you with the latest breaking news and information for your community.
Contact us: [email protected]

Most Viewed

©