After missing out in 2020, the Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson was finally able to host their annual Outdoor Country Auction.
On Saturday, Oct. 16, dozens of interested buyers came together outside the Mather House Museum at 115 Prospect St. to bid on more than 200 unique items.
Nick Acampora, president of the historical society, said that they were “so happy” to hold the event after COVID-19 canceled last year’s auction.
“We love doing the auction because it’s a part of the community,” he said. “It’s so important to us because it’s a great time for everyone, while providing the funds to keep the historical society going.”
Acampora said that everything from costumes to furniture was available for auction, many of the items being donated or sold on consignment. Some of them dated as far back as the 1800s, as well as coins from the Greek and Roman empires.
While the final figures of money raised for the historical society wasn’t immediately available, Acampora said he thinks the organization did extremely well — but what was most important was bringing the community back for a fun-filled and interesting get-together.
“It was wonderful to welcome everyone back,” he said.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) tested positive for COVID-19.
The County Executive, who is vaccinated and has been observing mask mandates, is unsure of how he contracted the virus.
Bellone has mild symptoms and is currently not receiving any medical treatment.
“I hope this serves as a reminder to all residents that while we are making incredible progress in the war against COVID-19, we are not done just yet,” Bellone said in a statement. “I encourage anyone who is eligible to receive their booster shot to do so.”
At this point, no other members of his office staff or his family has tested positive.
Bellone said he feels in “good health and spirits,” according to the statement. He will continue to carry out the duties of the County Executive.
Meanwhile, the percentage of positive tests on a seven-day average in Suffolk County fell below 3% on Oct. 20, dropping to 2.9%, according to the Suffolk County Department of Health.
Local health care providers have been encouraged by the overall decline in positive tests, which they attribute in part to ongoing vaccination efforts.
The Food and Drug Administration provided emergency use authorization for the Moderna booster for a specific groups of people who were fully vaccinated at least six months ago. Those groups include: people 65 years and older; people 18 through 64 who are considered at high risk; and people 18 through 64 with occupational exposure.
The FDA also approved the use of a single booster dose for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
The FDA also allowed a mix and match approach to boosters, authorizing those who received one type of vaccination to choose a different booster. Local health care providers said studies have shown that people who received the J&J vaccine had a higher antibody response after receiving a Moderna booster.
“The available data suggest waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodccock said in a statement. “The availability of those authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”
Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said the FDA would gather additional data as quickly as possible to assess the benefits and risks of the us of booster doses in additional populations and plans to update the healthcare community and the public in the coming weeks.
For more information on vaccines in the area, residents can go to the web site: suffolkcountyny.gov/vaccine.
The web site also includes answers to frequently asked questions, such as: what are the side effects after I get the COVID-19 vaccine, is it safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I have an underlying medical condition, and what should I do if I am exposed to COVID-19 after being vaccinated.
Early in the pandemic, Bellone remained in quarantine and managed his responsibilities from home after Deputy County Executive Peter Scully tested positive for the virus. Bellone didn’t test positive at that point, although he, like so many others in the early days of the disease, waited days for the results of his COVID test.
Nick Castle as Michael Myers in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
The Halloween franchise boasts eleven films, including seven in the first series (with the third an unconnected entry), a reboot, and a continuation of its premiere track. The most recent, Halloween (2018), is now joined by Halloween Kills.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Judy Greer in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
While falling into the category of “slasher movie,” Halloween (1978) remains one of the finest thrillers. Taut, brooding, and atmospheric, it relied on shadows, tension, and an unforgettable score to create its horror. John Carpenter directed and co-wrote the film that remains definitive in the genre. In addition, the film catapulted its lead, Jamie Lee Curtis, to Scream Queen stardom. She presented Laurie Strode as a self-actualized and resourceful heroine. Curtis would reprise the role four more times in addition to Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends (projected for release in 2022).
Ignoring much of the mythology developed during the progressively less inspired sequels, the well-received Halloween (2018) picked up forty years after the original film, with institutionalized killer Michael Myers (once again Nick Castle and James Jude Courtney) escaping while being transferred to a maximum-security prison. After returning to Haddonfield and embarking on a killing spree, he “dies” in Laurie’s burning home. The film emphasized Laurie as a wounded survivor, finding the inner strength to confront her living nightmare. The script—by Jeff Fradley, Danny McBride, and David Gordon Green—honored the story’s roots. Carpenter praised the outing, noting the strength of the screenplay and Green’s direction.
It would be easy to say things like Halloween Kills … an hour and forty-six minutes of your life. Or Halloween Kills … the desire to go to the movies. Or Halloween Kills … a franchise. It would be easy to pick this low-hanging fruit. So, I won’t say any of those things.
Halloween Kills is a movie cobbled together with brutal violence and an absence of actual conflict. It serves as a placeholder between the first film, which reintroduced the characters, and the third (and hopefully final) chapter that concludes Laurie’s journey. That Michael Myers must survive to complete the trilogy is a given. Nevertheless, it does not need to be so painfully generic. In the first fifteen minutes, Michael slaughters an entire team of first responders. What follows is one meaningless killing after another.
The film makes the egregious error of showing flashbacks to the Halloween (and Halloween) of 1978. However, these newly shot scenes lack the meditative, shadowed world of the original. Instead, they are overwrought, introducing information with only the slightest nod towards character development. Additionally, the use of footage of Donald Pleasance (the powerful, understated Dr. Loomis of the source film) is a reminder of the complete absence of style and substance in this newest incarnation.
Having been stabbed in the abdomen, Laurie spends almost the entire film in a hospital bed (shades of Halloween II’s hospital location). Sidelining the strongest character is a mistake. Saddling an actor of Jamie Lee Curtis’s caliber with embarrassingly clumsy dialogue is a crime.
The roster of townspeople is a mix of new characters and shout-outs to minor characters in the original. Some of the 1978 cast returns to play themselves forty years later; others are the grown-up versions of the children hunted that fateful night.
Anthony Michael Hall is the adult Tommy, the boy Laurie was babysitting. The role edges to slightly more than one dimension. At a bar talent night(!), Tommy shares the story of “The Bogeyman,” who terrorized the town. His character misfires on every level, trading trauma for campfire whimsy and rally-round-the-pitchfork-boys. Among the new victims for the stalk-dispatch-repeat are an African American couple (she’s a doctor; he’s a nurse) and a gay couple (Big John and Little John). Please don’t get too invested in the diversity; they are all undefined fodder for the knife.
Worst of all, in a nod to topicality, the creators introduce the dangers of mob mentality and vigilante justice. “Evil dies tonight!” they chant. Multiple times. Declarations such as “No, he’s turning us into monsters,” “The more he kills, the more he transcends,” and “He is the essence of evil” don’t elevate the situation.
The performances never overstep the awkward script. Judy Greer (as Karen Nelson, Laurie’s daughter), Andi Matichak (as Allyson Nelson, Laurie’s granddaughter),and Will Patton (as Deputy Frank Hawkins) continue their paths from Halloween (2018). Greer, a talented actor, is a cipher. It is also hard to believe that her husband was murdered by Michael this same night. It is as if the year between the release of the films has allowed her to accept it. The storyline and timeline are bizarrely disconnected.
For those looking for a predictable, sadistic bloodbath, Halloween Kills might be for you. But, for those hoping for plot, motivation, thought, tone, and engagement … well, there’s always next Halloween. Rated R, the film is now playing in local theaters.
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Other seasonal fair to consider: the Candyman reboot; Malignant, the twisty thriller from James Wan; Lamb, the story of a human/sheep hybrid; Last Night in Soho, a psychological time-travel film with a horror overtone; malevolent forces in Shepherd; and the supernatural creature-feature Antlers, starring Keri Russell. (Please note: These films have not been reviewed by TBR News Media.)
TBR News Media is preparing for our special election coverage editions that will be out Oct. 28. Our articles are based on debates with candidates to help voters make informed decisions when they choose their representatives.
With everyone’s busy lives, it’s difficult to find a mutual day and time for competing candidates to sit down and discuss the issues and challenges that affect the office they seek. What’s even more frustrating is when we discover a candidate is just a placeholder, in other words, they’re not actively campaigning. Too many times in the past, we’ve spoken with a candidate for a one-on-one interview instead of in a debate, and it will happen again this year.
Both political parties have been guilty of nominating someone to run for office and putting their name on the ballot, even though the person has no intention of knocking on doors or engaging in the democratic process to discuss their ideas.
This happens often when the office has a strong incumbent where a party has a feeling their candidate has no chance of winning. However, at the same time, they know the person will get a good number of votes because they understand some people just vote down their party line.
During divisive times, the Democrat and Republican committees owe the public much more. Whether an election involves federal, state, county, town or village levels, it is important for the entire process to be credible. Some may say our local elections are even more important as the decisions made by elected officials have more of an impact on our everyday lives, such as how often our garbage is picked up and whether or not our roads will be repaired.
We suggest both parties take every election seriously and produce candidates who will actively campaign instead of providing a random name for those voting for a D or an R. One of the most important things an elected official can do is show up for the election from start to finish.
Anyone whose name goes on a ballot should be a bona fide candidate seeking office, and not merely a token way for a party to remain visible. Before checking off whom you want to represent you for any office, do your research. Find out the races that affect your area. Read up on the candidates, and don’t vote for any candidate who places so little value on your vote and can’t bother to campaign. When you are at the polls, you don’t have to choose someone in every race. If you are not familiar with the candidates, or if you don’t like them for whatever reason, you can skip that row.
Simply voting for someone just because they belong to the same political party as you is a reflection on your belief in a party or even a machine — and not in the individual. That’s like choosing a partner based on his or her last name or heritage without considering whether that person is right for you. We need candidates who are ready to represent us and our districts, and who are willing to listen to our concerns, values and priorities. Choose wisely, and in doing so, you’ll send a message that people count more than parties.
'La Mujer de las Flores' by Abigail Simon. Image from HAC
'Tethered to the Dark' by Julia Crapanzano. Image from HAC
'Blind Eye' by Jacob Medina. Image from HAC
'Captured Memories' by Liza McPherson
'Creepy Crawlies' by Charlotte Oser. Image from HAC
'Fear of Death' by Brynn Amatulli
'Horror F.R.I.E.N.D.S' by Holly Eude. Image from HAC
'Suffocate' by Sarah Davi
From trick or treating, haunted trails, parades, festivals and pumpkin carving, there’s always so much to do on the North Shore around Halloween. Over in Huntington, the Huntington Arts Council is playing host to a spooky art show that is perfect for the season.
Celebrating its 10th year, the popular juried student exhibit Nightmare on Main Street featuring 55 works of art opens at the HAC’s Main Street Gallery on Oct. 22.
This year’s juror, Sueey Gutierrez, invited students in grades 6 to 12 to submit work inspired by the theme of Halloween.“Halloween is a celebration observed in many countries. For some, it is a time, or reflection for remembering loved ones that have passed. For others it is a celebration of life. Many experience Halloween mainly with candy, costumes and spooky decorations. It all depends on your cultural background. … Show us how you celebrate Halloween and what it means to you, your family or your friends,” she asked of the artists.
All mediums were accepted, including drawing, painting, photography and sculpture.
“It was challenging selecting works for this show since there were so many great entries. There was a lot of variety in the work from digital, photography, sculpture and traditional media as well as different skill sets. But the pieces that were selected for this exhibition conveyed strong emotions and how they connect to Halloween; from cultural, whimsical, and visceral imagery,” said Gutierrez.
“The point is to make the audience connect with the work, to grab their attention so that they may form their own opinions,” she added.
“Our 10th annual Nightmare on Main Street exhibition continues to inspire students throughout Long Island to interpret the meaning of Halloween and how they chose to create their artistic representation of the theme. With 89 submissions, from 19 school districts, the 55 pieces accepted for the show reflect the abundance of talent, creativity and skill in these young adults, and that is exciting to see,” said Marc Courtade, Executive Director of Huntington Arts Council.
“For many of these students, Nightmare on Main Street is their first opportunity to participate in a gallery exhibition. Huntington Arts Council is proud to be able to support young artists in the community, and encourage their creativity through our exhibition program. All are welcome to come to our Main Street Gallery and view this unique show!” said Courtade.
The Huntington Arts Council’s Main Street Gallery, 213 Main Street, Huntington presents Nightmare On Main Street from Oct. 22 to Nov. 13. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and some weekends with limited capacity, social distancing and face coverings required at all times. Please call 631-271-8423 in advance. For more information,visit www.huntingtonarts.org.
The cast of 'A Kooky Spooky Halloween' at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
Two more performances left! Children’s theater continues at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson with A Kooky Spooky Halloween, a merry musical about a ghost who’s afraid of the dark, on Oct 23 and Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. Recently graduated spirit Abner Perkins is assigned to the Aberdeen Boarding House — known for its spectral sightings and terrific toast. Here, Abner finds himself cast into a company of its wacky residents. When his secret is revealed, he is forced to leave his haunted home and set off on a quest with his newly found friends and learns the power of helping others. All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Take part in a pet parade in Port Jefferson during the annual Harvest Fest on Oct. 23. File photo by Bob Savage/TBR News Media
By Heidi Sutton
Halloween is such a fun time of year and celebrations have come early this year, with many events happening this weekend in addition to next weekend. Here are 31 Halloween events on the North Shore to enjoy with your family.
Centerport
Vanderbilt Fall Festival
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport hosts a Fall Festival with lots of seasonal fun for visitors of every age to enjoy a safe Halloween on Friday evenings and on weekends through Halloween. Choose daytime events from noon to 4 p.m. with mini golf, face painting, pumpkin patch, Halloween games, a scavenger hunt or nightime attractions with a Wicked Walk, a haunted maze, and The Wicked Haunt, the museum’s version of a haunted house, plus a 9-hole Mini Golf from 6 to 10 p.m.For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Center Moriches – just added!
Magic of the Cauldron – adults only
The Ketcham Inn, 81 Main St., Center Moriches presents Magic of the Cauldron on Oct. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. As the veil of darkness appears … pull up a chair around the cauldron on Ketcham Inn’s front lawn and feel the warmth of the fire. Hear the cauldron story while sipping savory soup and enjoy warm freshly baked bread from the Inn’s c. 1693 hearth by historic cook Diane Schwindt. Tickets are $15 per person (adults only please). The tavern will be open to purchase an additional drink. All proceeds go toward the restoration of the Inn. Call 631-878-1855 or visit www.ketchaminnfoundation.org.
Cold Spring Harbor
Harbor Haunts Walking Tour
The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor hosts a Harbor Haunts Walking Tour on Oct 23 at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Explore Cold Spring Harbor’s ghostly side with fascinating tales of mishaps and historic hauntings on Main Street. Recommended for adults and children ages 8 and up. All tours are held rain or shine. Fee is $12 adults, $8 children. Register for the tours at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org or call 631-367-3418.
Haunted Hatchery
Calling all ghosts and goblins, spiders and bones … Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will host a Halloween event on Oct. 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. Families are welcome to join us for a not-so-scary Haunted Hatchery. Trick-or-Treat your way through their outdoor grounds. Admission fee is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 3 to 12. 516-692-6768, www.cshfishhatchery.org
Commack
Trunk-N-Treat
Commack United Methodist Church, 486 Townline Road, Commack presents a Trunk-N-Treat event on Oct. 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. Children can trick or treat for candy at festively decorated car trunks and truck beds. Stay for some games and activities. Free. 631-499-7310, www.commack-umc.org
Farmingville
Trick or Treat Trail
Join the Farmingville Historical Society on Oct. 30 and 31 for a Trick or Treat Trail at Farmingville Hills County Park, 503 Horseblock Road, Farmingville from noon to 3 p.m. Come in costume and trick or treat along a trail while learning about the history of candy. Fill your bag with real, full-size candy treats. The entry fee is $12 per trick or treater. Parents are welcome to escort their children without paying. Please note this is not a haunted trail. All Trick or Treaters must pre-register at www.farmingvillehistoricalsociety.org.
Dark Night: Halloween Trail
Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville presents Dark Night: Halloween Trail, an outdoor extravaganza combining moderate scares with comedy that at the same time celebrates the nostalgia of vintage haunted trails through a post-modern twist on inspired characters from pop culture and horror movies of the 1990s, on Oct. 22 to 24 and Oct. 28 to 31. Hours are 7 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Sundays and on Thursday, Oct. 28. Tickets are $35 adults, $15 per child.To purchase tickets, please visit, www.DarkNightLI.com.
Huntington
All Hallows Tour
Huntington Town Hall, 100 Main St., Huntington hosts an All Hallows tour at the Town Clerk’s archives every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through October from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The Halloween event will feature live interpretations of stories taken out of the archives vault. Free. Call 631-351-3216 or 631-351-3035.
Trick or Treat at the Heckscher
Families are invited to celebrate Halloween at the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington on Oct. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. Create a spooktacular art activity, make a haunted Digital Action painting, and take home a festive treat! Free admission for kids in costume and their families! Reserve timed tickets at www.heckscher.org. 631-380-3230.
Kings Park
Seaside Lantern Walk
Join the staff at Sunken Meadow State Park, Route 25A and Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park for a Seaside Lantern Walk on Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. See the beach in a whole new light as you round the point of Sunken Meadow State Park with only lanterns to guide the way. The group will pause along the way for some Long Island historical scary stories! Reservations are required. To register, please visit Eventbrite.com and search for #NatureEdventures. For more info, call 631-581-1072
Lake Ronkonkoma
Halloween Pet Parade
The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization hosts a Halloween Pet Parade in the Lake Shore Plaza parking lot on Portion Road in front of Shoprite on Oct. 23 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Goodie bags for all participants, top prizes for scariest, original and cute, 50/50 raffle. www.lakeronkonkomacivic.org
Miller Place
Spooky Lantern Tour
The Miller Place Mount Sinai Historical Society presents its annual Spooky Lantern Tour, a not-too-scary walking tour of the haunted history of Miller Place, onOct. 22, 23, 29 & 30 at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Walk the Miller Place Historic District with a guide from the MPMS Historical Society who will regale you with all the spooky stories surrounding this pre-Revolutionary War town. Bring a lantern or flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. For ages 10 and up. Masks are mandatory. Tickets are $15 per person. To register, visit www.mpmshistoricalsociety.eventbrite.com.
Mount Sinai
A Heritage Park Halloween
The Heritage Center, 633 Mount Sinai Coram Road, Mt. Sinai presents an outdoor Halloween event on Oct. 31 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and again from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy pumpkin picking and decorating, unlimited game playing, and much more. Registration is $10 per participant. Parents and guardians are not required to register. Each registrant will receive a goodie bag and pumpkin to decorate and take home. Don’t forget to wear your costume! Advance registration only at www.msheritagetrust.org.
Nesconset
Halloween Pet Parade
The Nesconset Chamber of Commerce and Jennifer O’Brien of State Farm hosts a Halloween Pet Parade fundraiser for the Smithtown Children’s Foundation at the Nesconset Gazebo, across from Nesconset Plaza, 127 Smithtown Boulevard, Nesconset on Oct. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Come in costume and trick-or-treat, enjoy ice cream, raffles, music, pet costume contest, vendors and more. Rain date is Oct. 31. Free.631-724-2543, www.nesconsetchamber.com.
Northport
Children enjoy a hayride at Northport’s Halloween Hayride at Northport Village Park on Oct. 25. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Halloween Hayride
The Village of Northport will host its annual Halloween Hayride in Northport Village Park on Oct. 24 from noon to 4 p.m. with hayrides, pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, live music, petting zoo, costume contest & refreshments. Fun for the whole family! Admission is $5 per person. Call 631-754-3905.
Port Jefferson
Trick or Treat Halloween Party
Give Kids Hope, 1506 Main St., Port Jefferson hosts a Trick or Treat Halloween Party on Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Decorate a pumpkin, play games, take part in a costume contest and more. Free. Call 631-538-5287.
Harvest Fest
The Village of Port Jefferson hosts its annual Harvest Fest throughout the village on Oct. 23 from noon to 5 p.m. with live music, fall inspired beer tastings, children’s activities, costumed dog parade, Pirate Scavenger Hunt, pumpkin carving, cornhole, woodcarving demonstrations, chowder crawl ($10 fee) and much more. Rain date is Oct. 24. Visit portjeff.com for schedule of events.
Halloween at the Explorium
Drop by the Long Island Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson in costume on Oct. 30 and 31 between 1 and 5 p.m. and pick up a Halloween treat! Call 631-331-3277.
Riverhead
Festive Trunk or Treat
Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead presents a festive Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. Come in costume and enjoy a mummy wrapping contest, Mike the Silly Magician Show, Halloween crafts, pumpkin decorating, games, costume parade,Trunk or Treat (treat bags provided) and much more. Admission is $15 per person, $50 for a family of four, children under 5 free. For a full schedule and tickets, visit www.hallockville.org.
Rocky Point
Trunk Or Treat!
The North Shore Youth Council and the Rocky Point PTA present a Trunk Or Treat! event at the Joseph A. Edgar School, 525 Route 25A, Rocky Point on Oct. 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. with decorated cars and trunks, candy and non-edible treats, face painting, crafts and photo prop. Costumes encouraged. Join them for a scary good time! Register for this free event at trunkortreatnsyc.eventbrite.com.
Ronkonkoma
Ghosts, Goblins and Witches
Ballet Long Island, 1863 Pond Road, Ronkonkoma presents Ghosts, Goblins and Witches, a fun ballet that is full of dance tricks and treats, on Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. and again at 12:15 p.m. (indoors) and on Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. (outdoors).Tickets are $18 adults, $9 children and seniors. To order, call 631-737-1964 or visit www.theballetcenter.org.
St. James
Halloween Parade
The Community Association of Greater St. James will host a Halloween Parade along Lake Avenue on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. Line-up starts at noon on Seventh Street. Email [email protected].
Deepwells Haunted Mansion
Just in time for Halloween, the Deepwells Farm Historical Society transforms the Deepwells Farm Mansion, 2 Taylor Lane, St. James into Deepwells Sanitarium, Home for the Criminally Insane on Oct. 22, 23, 29 to 30 from 7 to 10 p.m. Featuring 16 rooms of horror, wooded trail of terror, food vendors, photo-ops and more. Advance tickets are available at www.deepwellshauntedmansion.com for $20 per person, $25 at the door. For more information, call 631-862-2808.
Setauket
Graveyard Walking Tours
In lieu of its annual Spirits Tour, the Three Village Historical Society hosts a series of one hour Graveyard Walking Tours through the Caroline Church and Setauket Presbyterian graveyards on Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 5 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. Hear the stories of the dearly departed including the Culper Spies that lay at rest in the Three Village area. Tickets are $25. To register, visit www.tvhs.org.
Shoreham
Halloween at Wardenclyffe
Join the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, 5 Randall Road, Shoreham in celebrating Halloween on Oct. 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. with electrifyingly eerie exhibits, educational activities and fun for all ages featuring music, food, vendors, pumpkin contest, costume contest, Monster Mash Robot Challenge and more. Tickets are $15 adults, $13 seniors and students, $5 for ages 5 to 17, free for kids under 5. Visit www.teslasciencecenter.org or call 631-886-2632 for more information.
Smithtown
Ghosts and Goblins event
*This event is for Smithtown residents only.
Ghosts and goblins will invade Smithtown all in the name of good fun when the Smithtown Recreation Department hosts its annual Ghosts and Goblins event on Oct. 23 at Browns Road Park, 72 Browns Road, Nesconset from 10 a.m. to noon. Enjoy games and prizes, pony rides, a balloon artist, and more. Free. Call 631-360-7644.
Halloween Spooktacular
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Ave., Smithtown hosts a Halloween Spooktacular event on Oct. 28 and 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. Calling all ghoulies, ghosties, and other Halloween creepies for an evening of fun and excitement. Enjoy eerie animal presentations, a ghostly graveyard, creepy games, scary music, and spooky night trails. Great for ghouls 7 years and up. Refreshments available for purchase. Tickets are $15 per person. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org or call 631-979-6344.
Spooky Lantern Walk
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown hosts a Spooky Lantern Walk On Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a fun evening of walking through the park with only a lantern to light the way. See Caleb Smith in a whole new way after dark, while your guide tells some spooky stories! Lanterns are provided. Advance registration is required by calling 631-265-1054.
Stony Brook
Halloween Family Fun
The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents its annual Halloween Family Fun Day on Oct. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. Come in costume and enjoy some spooky family fun on the museum grounds with a Halloween-themed magic show by Magic of Amore at 1 p.m., pumpkin painting and outdoor activities. Rain date is Oct. 24. Free admission and free pumpkin/decoration kit for each child while supplies last. 631-751-0066, www.longislandmuseum.org.
Secrets and Spirits Walking Tour
Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts a Secrets and Spirits of Stony Brook Village walking tours on Oct. 28 at 2:50 p.m. and Oct. 29 at 10:50 a.m. Participants of the tour will hear the stories of the people who lived, loved, died…and still reside in Stony Brook Village! Stories include star-crossed lovers Mark and Sarah, who resided by the harbor in the 1800s; legendary 19th-century artist William Sidney Mount and his involvement in the “Miracle Circle” group of séance enthusiasts; the traveling ghost of Jonas Smith, the so-called “Lady in White,” who is said to suddenly appear at the Stony Brook Grist Mill, and more. $10 per person. To reserve your spot, call 631-751-2244.
Halloween Festival
Join the Ward Melville Heritage Organization for its 31st annual Halloween Festival at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook on Oct. 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy trick-or-treating in the shops, dancing and games, music from WALK 97.5, scarecrow competition and a Halloween parade! Free. Call 631-751-2244.
Pumpkin Carving Contest
The Reboli Center for Art & History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook hosts a Pumpkin Carving & Mask Making contest on Friday, Oct. 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Participants must bring their own, finished, carved pumpkin or mask (or both) in order to enter the contests. First place winners in each age group will win a Reboli Center gift certificate. Costumes welcome. Rain date is Oct. 29. 631-751-7707.
If there’s one holiday that caters to the population’s sweet tooth, it’s Halloween. Candy corn and bite-size candy bars notwithstanding, some of the best treats are candy apples whether the ones with the red crackly coating for traditionalists, those with a caramel nut coating for caramel nuts, or those with a chocolate and M & M coating for chocoholics. All of them are pretty expensive if you buy them, but inexpensive, fun and easy to make yourself. And speaking of teeth, they’re all a dentist’s dream.
Old-fashioned Candy Apples
YIELD: Makes 4 apples
INGREDIENTS:
4 wooden lollipop or popsicle sticks
4 Granny Smith apples, rinsed and dried
Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
DIRECTIONS:
Insert lollipop sticks into tops of apples, one-third to one half of the way. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with nonstick cooking spray. In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup and water; over medium heat bring to a boil; add red food coloring; continue cooking; swirl pan but do not stir.
When candy thermometer reaches 290-300 F after about 10 minutes, remove pan from heat and, twirling apple over pan to let excess liquid drip off, immediately dip each apple in coating. Place apples on prepared parchment to cool and let candy coating harden. Serve with peppermint stick ice cream.
Caramel-Peanut Apples
YIELD: Makes 6 apples
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 Granny Smith apples, rinsed and dried
6 wooden lollipop or popsicle sticks
Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup finely chopped salted peanuts
DIRECTIONS:
Combine sugar, corn syrup and half a cup of water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and give a quick stir to thoroughly combine. Attach a candy thermometer to the inside of the saucepan and bring mixture to a boil; cook until mixture begins to turn amber, then swirl it to even out the color. Continue to cook until it turns a deep amber and thermometer reads 375 to 380 F; remove from heat. Gently pour in cream, then whisk to combine; stir in butter, vanilla and salt till smooth. Let sit off heat but don’t remove thermometer. Pierce the apples’ tops 1/3 to 1/2 way with the sticks. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Place peanuts on a plate. When the thermometer reads 190 F dip each apple in caramel and twist and swirl to cover; let excess drip back into pan. (If caramel gets too stiff, gently heat and stir over low heat to liquify.) Immediately dip and roll apples in peanuts and place them upside down on parchment. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Chocolate-dipped Apples
YIELD: Makes 4 apples
INGREDIENTS:
6 Granny Smith apples, rinsed and dried
1 pound semi-sweet chocolate, diced
1 cupM&M’s, finely chopped
Nonstick cooking spray,
6 wooden lollipop or popsicle sticks
DIRECTIONS:
Insert sticks halfway into apple core. In a double boiler over medium-high heat, bring water to a boil; add chocolate to top part of double boiler and stir until chocolate is almost completely melted; remove from heat and continue stirring until chocolate is smooth and warm but not hot. Place M & M’s on a plate. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and coat with nonstick cooking spray. Swirl the apples in the chocolate and, coating them as much as possible, let extra drip back into double boiler. Immediately roll apples in M & M’s and place on parchment. Serve with chocolate ice cream.
With 10 weeks left until the end of 2021, it seems fitting to consider what we might put into a time capsule that future generations might open to understand the strange world that was so incredibly different from the one just two years ago.
Here are a few items I’d throw into a box I’d bury or shoot into space.
— Masks. Even with so many events where people aren’t wearing masks, including huge gatherings of fans at sporting events, masks are still a part of our lives in 2021.
— A Netflix app. I’m not a streaming TV person. Most of my regular TV watching involves sports or movies (many of which I’ve seen a few times before). Still, I got caught up in the “Stranger Things” phenomenon and am now impressed with the storylines from “Madam Secretary,” which include prescient references to our withdrawal from Afghanistan and to the potential (and now real) pandemic.
— Pet paraphernalia. The number of homes with pets has climbed dramatically, as people who seemed unwilling or uninterested in having dogs are out with their collection of poop bags, leashes and pieces of dog food to entice the wayward wanderer in the right direction.
— A zoom app. Even with people returning to work, many of us are still interacting with large groups of people on a divided screen. Future generations may find all this normal and the start of eSocializing and virtual working. Many of us today are still trying to figure out where to look and avoid the temptation to scrutinize our own image.
— Cargo ships. The year started off in March with the blocking of the Suez Canal. For six days, the Ever Given kept one of the world’s most important canals from functioning, blocking container ships from going from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. As the year has progressed, concerns about shortages and supply chains have triggered fears about empty shelves.
— A small model of the Enterprise. The ship from the show “Star Trek” seems apt in a 2021 time capsule in part because William Shatner, who played the fictional Captain James T. Kirk (or admiral, if you’re also a fan of the movies), traveled briefly into space. In many ways, the science fiction of the past — a telephone that allowed you to look at someone else — is the fact of the present, with FaceTime and the aforementioned zoom.
— Competing signs. Protesting seems to have returned in full force this year. As the year comes to a close, people who do and don’t believe in vaccinations often stand on opposite sides of a road, shouting at cars, each other and the wind to get their messages across.
— A syringe. We started the year with people over 65 and in vulnerable groups getting their first doses of a vaccine that has slowed the progression of COVID-19, and we’re ending it with the distribution of booster shots for this population and, eventually, for others who received a vaccine eight months earlier.
— Take-out menus. I would throw several take-out menus, along with instructions about leaving food at a front door, into the time capsule. While numerous restaurants are operating close to their in-dining capacity, some of us are still eating the same food at home.
— An Amazon box. Barely a day goes by when I don’t see an Amazon delivery truck in the neighborhood, leaving the familiar smiling boxes at my neighbors’ front doors.
— Broken glass. I would include some carefully protected broken glass to reflect some of the divisions in the country and to remember the moment protesters stormed the capital, overwhelming the police and sending politicians scrambling for cover.
— Houses of gold. I would throw in a golden house, to show how the value of homes, particularly those outside of a city, increased amid an urban exodus.
— A Broadway playbill. My wife and I saw a musical for the first time in over two years. We were thrilled to attend “Wicked.” The combination of songs, staging, acting, and lighting transported us back to the land of Oz. Judging from the thunderous applause at the end from a fully masked audience, we were not the only ones grateful to enjoy the incredible talents of performers who must have struggled amid the shutdown.
'Frank Melville Memorial Park', watercolor, William Graf
'Enchanted Evening', oil, by Renee Caine
'After the Rain, Old Field Farm', hand-painted photography, by Marlene Weinstein
'Avalon Reflections', pastel, by Joanne Liff
'Brown Jugs', watercolor, by Eleanor Meier
'Frank Melville Park Bench', pastel, by Julie Doczi
'Mexican Sunflowers', oil, by Kyle Blumenthal
'Portal', oil. by Ron Becker
'Setauket Cove' by Irene Ruddock
'Setauket Mill in Winter', oil, by Robert Roehrig
'Stony Brook', oil, by Frederic Mendelsohn
As autumn arrives on the North Shore, so does a perennial favorite, the Setauket Artists exhibition. Now in its 41st year, the beloved show returns to the Setauket Neighborhood House on Oct. 24 with a reception from 1 to 4 p.m. Over 40 local artists will be participating this year along with guest artist and nationally known oil painter David Peikon.
Peikon is showcasing his stunning painting of an east end farm which displays the naturalism of his landscapes. “Capturing nature in all its infinite beauty is a never-ending challenge. I endeavor to create paintings that pull the viewer into the space as if they were alongside me,” he said.
This year’s Honored Artist, Patricia Yantz, will exhibit five of her latest paintings. “The artists chose Patricia because of the superior quality of her acrylic and pastels paintings and years of dedication to the organization. She works tirelessly on various committees and has become our newly elected recording secretary,” said Irene Ruddock, President of the Setauket Artists.
The cover artist is John Mansueto, a Parsons School of Design graduate in Fine Arts, who exhibits in New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. “I love to explore Long Island and when I saw the sunflowers in the crates at Riverhead’s Briermere Farm, I knew I had to paint it,” he said.
The works of pastel artist Jane McGraw Teubner will be on view as well.
“The Setauket Artists are honored to include Jane McGraw Teubner, PSA, MA, Master’s Circle who has been accepted into the permanent collection of the Salmagundi Art Club, won the silver medal from Allied Artist of America, was accepted into the Pastel Journals best one hundred and will soon be award the title Eminent Pastelist from the International Pastel Society,” said Ms. Ruddock.
The only photographer in the show is the incomparable Marlene Weinstein who is exhibiting her hand-painted and mixed media pieces to the delight of her ardent followers. This year, the group is happy to welcome back Laurence Johnston, another fine artist who explains that he is “influenced by the light that living near the water brings and elevates the ordinary to the sublime.” Look for his beautifully painted oil Setauket Spring hanging over the fireplace in the entry hall.
For lovers of contemporary art, Shelia Breck will awe you with her Matisse-like painting of Katey and Paul Edelson’s soft and sensual colors will bring you into the peaceful world he endeavors to capture. Celeste Mauro will wow you with her creative impressionistic acrylic and collage paintings.
For nostalgia and history, you will enjoy Carol Link Scinta’s Rainy Day at the Setauket Neighborhood House and The Setauket Diner as well as William Graf’s luminous local watercolors of a Stony Brook sunset and Frank Melville Memorial Park.
Flo Kemp usually creates soft-ground etchings, but this time she offers a very large, softly hued oil painting aptly titled Purple Mountain Melody. FredericMendelsohn, who enjoys painting the bucolic waterways of Long Island, presents his oil piece titled Stony Brook Harbor and you are sure to be enchanted by Renee Caine’soil painting Enchanted Evening.
Ruddock is excited for the opening. “As coordinator of the exhibit, I try to attract outstanding artists and I am thrilled with the quality of the paintings in this show. All of your favorite Setauket Artists will be there — Al Candia, Muriel Musarra, Rob Roehrig, Eleanor Meier, and so many more who will be showcasing their latest local paintings and looking forward to seeing you,” she said.
The reception is in-person, but a tent (with electric warmer) will be provided for viewers to wait until the number of people in the house matches the New York State guidelines. Refreshments will be served and raffles for paintings by Anthony Davis, Anne Katz, and Celeste Mauro offer a variety of styles and mediums: oil, watercolor and acrylic/collage paintings will draw you into the excitement of this annual autumn community event.
The artists deeply appreciate Fred Bryant of Bryant Funeral Home, who has been their generous sponsor for 16 years. Explains Ms. Ruddock, “Every single year, the art group uses the donation Fred gives us in a productive way that enhances our show, and, over time, has made it what it is. The artist are grateful indeed!”
Participating artists include:
Ross Barbera, Shain Bard, Ron Becker, Rina Betro, Kyle Blumenthal, Sheila Breck, Joyce Bressler, Renee Caine, Al Candia, Gail L. Chase, Anthony Davis, Julie Doczi, Paul J. Edelson, Marge Governale, William Graf, Laurence Johnston, Flo Kemp, Karen Kemp, Joanne Liff, John Mansueto, Celeste Mauro, Judith Mausner, Lorraine McCormick, Jane McGraw Teubner, Terry McManus, Eleanor Meier, Fred Mendelsohn, Muriel Musarra, David Peikon, Paula Pelletier, Cathy Rezin, Joan Rockwell, Robert Roehrig, Irene Ruddock, Oscar Santiago, Carole Link Scinta, Barbara Jeanne Siegel, Angela Stratton, Susan Trawick, Marie Lourdes Velez, Marlene Weinstein and Patricia Yantz.
The Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket presents the 41st annual Setauket Artists Exhibition from Oct. 24 to Nov. 14 daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Open Halloween, closed Nov. 6 and 7). Face masks are required. For more information, visit www.setauketartists.com or email [email protected].
Halloween is such a fun time of year and celebrations have come early this year, with many events happening this weekend in addition to next weekend. Here are 31 Halloween events on the North Shore to enjoy with your family.
Farmingville
INGREDIENTS:
YIELD: Makes 6 apples
YIELD: Makes 4 apples
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