HEIGH-HO! How many dwarfs can you name? Meet all seven at Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs now playing at Theatre Three. Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre three Productions, Inc.
PROGRAMS
Sensational Strawberries
Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, Setauket will hold a workshop titled Sensational Strawberries for children ages 4 to 12 on June 11 and again on June 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. Take a hike to the strawberry fields, pick ripe fruit and make delicious goodies to take home. Learn how to transform strawberries into jam, ice cream, cupcakes and more! $40 per child. To register, call 689-8172 or visit www.bennersfarm.com.
Get Outdoors & Get Together Day
Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park hosts a Get Outdoors & Get Together Day on June 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a puppet show with children’s entertainer Steve Petra and his friends Big Mouth Gus, Pedro the Gargling Piranha Fish, Antoinette and Krusty the Stale Donut for magic, music and fun, tour the Nature Center with an environmental educator who will speak with children about our natural environment. The beach will be open for swimming. Refreshments will be available at the main concession. Call 269-4333 for more info.
Marsh Meander
Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a family program, Marsh Meander, on June 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. From snails and crabs, to fish and birds, life in the marsh is in full swing! Bring your water shoes and observe some summertime marsh dwellers in their natural habitat! $4 per person. To register, visit Eventbrite.com and search #NatureEdventure.
THEATER
‘Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs on June 4, 11 and 18 at 11 a.m. with a sensory sensitive performance on June 12 at 11 a.m. Join them for a hysterical retelling of a wonderful story with a vain Queen, a Magic Mirror, a Witch, a handsome Prince, a Princess with skin as white as snow, and seven Dwarfs guaranteed to keep you laughing from start to finish. Costumes encouraged. All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Pinkalicious The Musical’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children’s theater season with Pinkalicious The Musical from May 28 to July 3. Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe — a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament. Tickets are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. See review on page B35.
Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’
The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid from July 2 to July 24. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. All seats are $25. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org or call 724-3700
Huntington Adventure Camp
New! Children ages 7 to 12 are invited to visit a different cultural museum in Huntington each day during the week of June 27 to July 1 from 9 a.m. to noon to create amazing projects and explore local history and art. Family, friends, and caretakers are invited to the Heckscher Museum on July 1 at 11:30 a.m. for a special free reception to celebrate their accomplishments.
Schedule:
June 27: Huntington Historical Society
June 28: Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium
June 29: The Whaling Museum
June 30: Heckscher Museum of Art
July 1: Adventure Celebration @ Heckscher Museum
Fee is $220 per child, $200 members. To register, visit www.heckscher.org or call 631-380-3230.
The cast of 'Pinkalicious' at the Engeman Theater.
Emilie Goodrich stars as Pinkalicious in 'Pinkalicious The Musical'
Kara Vito and Emilie Goodrich star in 'Pinkalicious The Musical' at the Engeman Theater
The cast of 'Pinkalicious' at the Engeman Theater.
Justin Autz, Emilie Goodrich and Jae Hughes in a scene from 'Pinkalicious The Musical' at the Engeman Theater
Emilie Goodrich and Justin Autz in a scene from 'Pinkalicious The Musical' at the Engeman Theater
The cast of 'Pinkalicious' at the Engeman Theater.
By Heidi Sutton
What’s your favorite color? If the answer is pink, then you should run, not walk, to the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport to catch a truly wonderful production of Pinkalicious the Musical.
Based on the popular children’s book by Elizabeth and Victoria Kann, the show tells the story of a little girl named Pinkalicious Pinkerton who loves the color pink (“It’s a color like no other!”) and is obsessed with pink cupcakes.
Despite her parent’s warnings, Pinkalicious overindulges on the sugary delights and wakes up the next day pink from head to toe. The doctor diagnoses her with pinkititis and in order to keep it from becoming worse she has to eat healthy green foods. But Pinkalicious just can’t stop eating those cupcakes, and when she wakes up the second morning, she’s turned red. She realizes the only way out of this predicament is to follow doctor’s orders. But is it too late? Will she be red forever?
Directed by Danny Meglio with choreography by Jillian Sharpe, the show is an instant hit thanks to a talented cast of five who tackle this fast-paced script with ease.
Perfectly cast in the role of Pinkalicious, Emilie Goodrich embraces her inner child to bring this colorful, energetic character to life and sparkles on stage. The other members of the family, the organized Mrs. Pinkerton (the delightful Kassie Kueffne), the busy Mr. Pinkerton (an incredible Justin Autz), and overlooked brother Peter (the multi-talented Jae Hughes) along with best friend Alison (the amazing Kara Vito), play multiple roles throughout the show with unbounded enthusiasm.
What’s special about this show is that each actor has a chance to shine with a solo, from Goodrich’s lovely “When Dreams Come True,” to Kueffne’s lullaby “You Get Just What You Get,” Vito’s “Pinkititis,” Jae Hughes’ heartfelt “I Got the Pink Blues,” and Autz in the “Finale.”
There are also so many wonderful moments in the show. At one point the family goes to the doctor’s office on a pink four seat bicycle. On the way back home, they take a detour through the aisles of the theater to go to a park with a real slide. While at the park Pinkalicious is surrounded by a bee, a bird and two butterflies who are attracted to her pink color in the cute number “Buzz Off.”Another time, Pinkalicious has a dream about pink cupcakes who all of a sudden walk out of the refrigerator and start singing and dancing. Great stuff.
Pinkalicious is more than a story about eating your vegetables. It is about the power of communication, the love of family and the affirmation that a little pink goes a long way. Don’t miss this one.
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Pinkalicious The Musical through July 3. All seats are $20. For more information or to order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Now that cryptocurrencies so much in the news, you might be wondering if you should invest in them. But “invest” may not be the right word — because, in many ways, cryptocurrencies, or “crypto” for short, are more speculation than investment.
But what’s really the difference between a speculator and an investor? Probably the main factor is the differing views of time. A true investor is in it for the long term, building a portfolio that, over many years, can eventually provide the financial resources to achieve important goals, such as a comfortable retirement. But speculators want to see results, in the form of big gains, right now — and they’re often willing to take big risks to achieve these outcomes.
There’s also the difference in knowledge. Investors know that they’re buying shares of stock in a company that manufactures products or provides services. But many speculators in cryptocurrency don’t fully comprehend what they’re buying because crypto just isn’t that easy to understand.
Cryptocurrency is a digital asset, and cryptocurrency transactions only exist as digital entries on a blockchain, with the “block” essentially being just a collection of information, or digital ledgers. But even knowing this doesn’t necessarily provide a clear picture to many of those entering the crypto world.
In addition to time and understanding, two other elements help define cryptocurrency’s speculative nature:
Lack of regulation: When you invest in the traditional financial markets, your transactions are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the firms with which you invest are typically overseen by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Other agencies are also involved in regulating various investments. These regulating bodies work to ensure the basic fairness of the financial markets and to prevent and investigate fraud.
But cryptocurrency exchanges are essentially unregulated, and this lack of oversight has contributed to the growth of “scam” exchanges, crypto market manipulation, excessive trading fees and other predatory practices. This “Wild West” scenario should be of concern to anyone putting money in crypto.
Volatility:Cryptocurrencies are subject to truly astonishing price swings, with big gains followed by enormous losses — sometimes within a matter of hours. What’s behind this type of volatility? Actually, several factors are involved. For one thing, the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies depends heavily on supply and demand —and the demand can skyrocket when media outlets and crypto “celebrities” tout a particular offering.
Furthermore, speculators will bet on crypto prices moving up or down, and these bets can trigger a rush on buying and selling, again leading to the rapid price movements. And many purchasers of crypto, especially young people, want to see big profits quickly, so when they lose large amounts, which is common, they often simply quit the market, contributing to the volatility.
The cryptocurrency market is still relatively new, and it’s certainly possible that, in the future, crypto can become more of an investment and less of a speculation. In fact, Congress is actively considering ways to regulate the cryptocurrency market. But for now, caveat emptor — “let the buyer beware.”
Michael Christodoulou, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CRPS® is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Stony Brook. Member SIPC.
TINKER TIME
The 5th annual Maker Faire Long Island heads to Port Jefferson Village on June 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. File photo by Kyle Barr/TBR News Media
Thursday, June 9
Look Book Luncheon
Grab your fanciest hat and get off to the races! Mint Clothing Boutique will be celebrating the release of their first private line of designs at a Belmont Stakes themed Look Book Luncheon at the Three Village Inn, 150 Main St., Stony Brook from noon to 3 p.m. As guests enjoy their al fresco lunch, models will stroll through the gardens wearing the private line’s breathable, sustainable and easy-to-wear styles. Tickets for this event are $35 per person and include a three-course prix fix lunch. Rain date is June 10. To reserve your seat, call 751-0555.
Cooking at the SHS
The Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown kicks off a new cooking series featuring local culinary pros sharing tips, techniques, and a taste to bring the community together – in front of the Roseneath Cottage from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Myra Naseem ofElegant Eating and Nancy Vallarella of Long Island Locavore will put together three themed boards/platters just in time for summer entertaining. Tickets are $20 per person in advance at Eventbrite.com, $30 at the door (cash or check). Questions? Call 265-6768.
Friday, June 10
CSHL lecture
Tony Zador
Got Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the brain? AI can be used in many fields, but plays a fascinating new role in neuroscience research. Hear Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Professor Tony Zador delve deep into the ever-evolving world of AI during a webinar at noon. Learn how curiosity-driven research can help revolutionize people’s daily lives and the role that CSHL is playing to make advances in this exciting field. This 45-minute lecture will conclude with a live Q&A session with Professor Zador. Register via Eventbrite. Call 516-367-6866 for further information.
Hallockville Spring Tea
The Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead will host a SpringTea at 1 p.m. Enjoy the timeless tradition of afternoon tea in the historic Naugles Barn. This annual fundraiser will feature an assortment of delicious savory and sweet finger foods, assorted teas, a presentation by herbal educator April Alexander, and raffles. $45 per person. To register, call 298-5292 or visit www.hallockville.org.
Pride at the Farm
Celebrate Pride and your freedom to love with your friends and family as the Suffolk County Farm & Education Center, Yaphank presents a Pride at the Farm event from 4 to 7 p.m. Visit with farm animals, take a wagon ride around the fields, with fun crafts, music and dancing, rainbow treats, Drag Queen Story Hour, and more! Free. Call 852-4600 for more info.
Saturday, June 11
Greenway Trail cleanup
Join the Three Village Community Trust’s Friends of the Greenway for a clean-up at the Port Jefferson Station trail head at the Route 112 parking lot (next to 7-Eleven) starting at 9 a.m.
Community Yard Sale
St. Thomas of Canterbury, 29 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown will host a Community Yard Sale today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come shop for treasures! Call 265-4520.
Rocky Point Garden Tour
The Rocky Point Civic Association hosts its annual Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Tourthe gardens of seven local homes and the garden at the historic Hallock House. Held rain or shine. Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased at Flowers on Broadway, Heritage Paint, Gings Nursery or at www.rpcivic.org.
Community Yard Sale
Commack United Methodist Church, 486 Townline Road, Commack will hold a Community Yard Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Featuring vendors with both old and new merchandise, antiques, jewelry, crafts, food, music, toys, bikes, books, clothing, housewares, art work and much more. The Thrift Shoppe will also be open. Held rain or shine. Call 499-7310 for more information.
Second Saturdays Poetry
The Second Saturdays poetry series continues at All Souls Church in Stony Brook via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson, the featured poet will be Maya Dreamwalker. An open-reading will follow. Access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/ Call 655-7798.
Art in Bloom
Join the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington for its third annual Art in Bloom event today and June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Art in Bloom combines art and nature through 12 stunning floral arrangements designed by the North Country Garden Club; North Suffolk Garden Club; South Side Garden Club; and Three Harbors Garden Club and inspired by the artwork of two current exhibitions: Global Asias: Asian and Asian American Art and Moonstruck: Lunar Art from the Collection. Suggested donation of $5 children free. Visit www.heckscher.org or call 380-3230.
Maker Faire Long Island
It’s back! After a two-year hiatus, the 5th annual Maker Faire Long Island returns to the Long Island Explorium, Port Jefferson Village Center, and Harbofront Park, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come celebrate creativity and innovation in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math with over 100 makers of all ages with hands-on exhibits and performances. Tickets are $12 at Eventbrite, $15 at the door. Call 331-3277 for further details.
Author Talk
Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook welcomes folklorist Nancy Solomon, the executive director of Long Island Traditions, who will talk about her new book, Boat Building and Boat Yards of Long Island: A Tribute to Tradition, at 10:15 a.m. Solomonwill share the stories she collected from traditional boat builders and boat yard managers in the region during the late 1990s to the present day and will be joined by boat builder Chris Hale, and duck hunter/model carver George Rigby. A book signing will follow. To register, call 588-5024.
A Day on the Farm
Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, Setauket will be open today and June 12 from noon to 4 p.m. Come tour the fifteen-acre family homestead, visit with the barnyard animals, meet the new spring baby animals and ride the Big Swing. Admission is $8 adults, $6 children. Call 689-8172 or visit www.bennersfarm.com.
Old Burying Ground tour
Join the Huntington Historical Society for an Old Burying Groundwalking tour at 4 p.m. Established soon after the Town’s 1653 founding, Huntington’s earliest public burying ground features stunning folk art and beautiful epitaphs honoring Huntington’s residents and rich history. Tour begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St., Huntington .Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children. For reservations, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
Destination — Anywhere Concert
The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates Pride with “Destination – Anywhere,” a musical road trip through the songs of Sondheim, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and many more at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25; available online at ligmc.org and at the door.
Sunday, June 12
Art in Bloom
See June 11 listing.
A Day on the Farm
See June 11 listing.
Blessing of the Fleet
The Mount Sinai Yacht Club, 244 Harbor Beach Road, Mt. Sinai will host the 19th annual Blessing of the Fleet at 11 a.m. All boaters are invited to assemble outside of the Mt. Sinai Harbor inlet for a fleet procession led by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and Fleet Captain Dan Diamond. The boats will proceed west passing D and C docks for a parade and blessing by Rev. Jerome J. Nedelka. A prize will be given for the best decorated boat. Call 473-2993 for more information.
St. James Art Walk
Celebrate St. James hosts an Art Walk along Lake Avenue in St. James from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stroll the historic St.James Cultural Arts District as it becomes a showcase of beautiful artwork by local painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelry makers, and more. Entertainment will include guitarist Lou Mazzaferro and singer Nick Singu. Stop by the Historic Calderone Theatre at 176 Second Street and see the Pet and Animal Art Exhibit on display Rain date is June 19. For more information, call 984-0201.
Farmingville Street Fair
The Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce will host the 10th annual Farmingville Street Fair at 1075 Portion Road between Leeds and Warren Avenues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring hundreds of vendors offering a variety of crafts, toys, jewelry, clothing, accessories and other wares, live music, classic cars, bounce structures, beer garden, food, and more. Call 317-1738.
Country Line Dancing
Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, 178 Oxhead Road, Centereach will host an afternoon of Country Line Dancing at 1:30 p.m. with Skip and The Country Rhythms Team. All dances will be taught. Tickets are $25 per person online at www.hobbsfarm.info, $30 at the door. Includes light refreshments. Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle tickets will be available for purchase. Text 774-1556 for more information.
Sound Symphony concert
Comsewogue High School, 565 Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station hosts a concert by the Sound Symphony Orchestra at 2 p.m. Directed by Dorothy Savitch, the program will include works by Brahms, and Schumann. Tickets are $15, $10 seniors and students, children under 12 free. Visit www.soundsymphony.org
Art Share
The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook will present Art Share: Long Island Women Artists Through the Generations, in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room at 2 p.m. Join exhibition co-curator Nina Sangimino for a panel discussion with contemporary female artists Wendy Prellwitz, Mary Stubelek and Janet Culbertson. The program is free with Museum admission. Call 751-0066.
Destination — Anywhere Concert
The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates Pride with “Destination – Anywhere,” a musical road trip through the songs of Sondheim, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and many more at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 12 Prospect St., Huntington at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25; available online at ligmc.org and at the door.
Monday, June 13
TVHS lecture
The Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket continues its hybrid lecture series with Winning Votes for Women on Long Island and the Nation at 7 p.m. Guest speaker Natalie Naylor will discuss how suffrage leaders including Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, Harriot Stanton Blatch, and Rosalie Gardiner Jones secured the vote in 1917, and in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, extending the vote to all women in the United States. This event will be held in person and via zoom. Suggested donation. To RSVP, visit www.tvhs.org.
Tuesday, June 14
Garden Club meeting
The Three Village Garden Club welcomes prospective members to attend its monthly meeting at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main Street, Setauket at 10 a.m. The program, titled “Gardens and Environmental Protection — The Town of Brookhaven” will be presented by Nicole Pocchiare. Call 751-2743.
Sounds of the Sound
The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce presents a Port Jefferson Sunset Cruise on the Port Jefferson Ferry from 7 to 10 p.m., Featuring a live performance by Movin’ Out, the ultimate Billy Joel Tribute Band from the original Broadway hit music show. Tickets are $75 with cash bar. To order, visit www.portjeffchamber.com.
Flag Retirement Ceremony
The Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket will lead a US Flag Retirement Ceremony, a fun, family friendly, interactive presentation in accordance with the United States Flag Code, at 5 p.m. Led by Holly Brainard, the event is free is and open to all. Complimentary US Flag Code booklets will be available for guests and TVHS will raffle off a new flag kit. Children and adults will learn why the flag is important and how to properly handle and dispose of the flag. Call 751-3730 or visit www.tvhs.org.
Wednesday, June 15
Juneteenth art show reception
The Town of Brookhaven will present aJuneteenth Art Celebration art show at Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville from June 15 to July 15. Co-sponsored by the Town of Brookhaven and the Town’s Black History Commission, the community is invited to an opening reception tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. on the second-floor mezzanine. Viewing hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 451-TOWN for more info.
Owl Prowl Wednesday
Join Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown for an Owl Prowl from 8 to 10 p.m. Meet and learn about some of the Center’s resident owls and then embark on a walk into the darkness to enjoy the night. Wear bug spray and bring a flashlight just in case. Open to families with children ages 5and up. $15 per person. Visit www.sweetbriarnc.org to register.
Thursday, June 16
Stony Brook Village Walking Tour
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization presents a Secrets of Stony Brook Village Walking Tour at 11:50 a.m. and again at 3:50 p.m. Hear some newly uncovered stories while strolling through the picturesque village. $10 per person. Advance registration required by calling 751-2244.
Historical Walking Tour
The Huntington Historical Society presents a Historical Walking Tour titled The Centers of Controversy from 6 to 9 p.m. Led by Town of Huntington Historian, Robert C. Hughes, the tour will head east from the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building to visit sites in central Huntington that gave rise over the centuries to scandals, lawsuits, and other controversies.This tour will terminate at Six Harbors Brewing Company.$25 per person. Advance registration required by emailing [email protected] or by calling 427-7045.
Film
‘The Bungalows of Rockaway’
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington kicks off its Maritime Film Festival with a screening of The Bungalows of Rockaway on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. With enticing vintage postcards, archival photography, Marx Brothers home movies, hilarious boardwalk tales, personal accounts recounted by bungalow residents and Rockawayans alike, all grounded by historians, the film brings viewers close to the highs and lows of a large, thriving, affordable, urban seaside resort. Followed by a Q&A with co-producer Elizabeth Harris. Tickets are $17, $12 members. Call 423-7610 or visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
Theater
‘Mamma Mia!’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson closes its 2021-2022 with Mamma Mia! from May 21 to June 25. ABBA’s timeless hits tell the enchanting story! On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the Greek island paradise they last visited twenty years ago. Featuring such chart toppers as “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” and “Dancing Queen,” this is a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget. Contains adult themes and situations. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Much Ado About Nothing’
The Carriage House Players continues its annual Shakespeare Festival at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Much Ado About Nothing from June 5 to June 26 on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. Performances take place outdoors on stage in the courtyard, where the Spanish-Mediterranean architecture adds a touch of timeless charm and magic. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy before the show and bring your own lawn chair. Inclement weather cancels. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children ages 12 and under. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
‘Kinky Boots’
John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Kinky Boots from May 19 to July 3. With songs by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, this dazzling, sassy and uplifting musical celebrates a joyous story, inspired by true life events, taking you from the factory floor of a men’s shoe factory to the glamorous catwalks of Milan! Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘Mikado’
The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island presents The Mikado: A Long Island Fantasy at Suffolk Y/JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road in Commack on June 17 at 8 p.m. Admission is $30, seniors and students $25. For further information, call 516-619-7415 or visit www.gaslocoli.org. See more on page B24.
Vendors Wanted
◆ The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River has vendor opportunities available for its upcoming outdoor Farmer’s Markets on June 18,July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept.17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 631-929-3500 x708 for an application.
◆ St. Thomas of Canterbury, 29 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown seeks craft or new merchandise vendors for its Craft Fair and Car Show on Oct. 8 (rain date is Oct. 15 for craft fair only). Visit www.stthomasofcanterbury.net or call 631-265-4520 to obtain an application or get more info.
◆ The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor seeks glass enthusiasts (both sea glass and historic glass) and vendors to be a part of it Suffolk County Seaglass Festival on Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee for vendor participation is $50 and entitles you to a 72” banquet table for displaying your items. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org for an application or call 631-367-3418.
Tom Cruise as test pilot Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
In 1986, 24-year-old, pre-couch-jumping Tom Cruise was featured in a string of high-profile films: The Outsiders (1983), Risky Business (1983), All the Right Moves (1983), and Legend (1985). Poised for a breakthrough, his performance as rebellious Naval Aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun secured his stardom. The highest-grossing film of the year, it made over 350 million dollars worldwide.
Many critics found little to love outside of the aerial dynamics, but it became a pop culture hit, winning the Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away” (music by Giorgio Moroder; lyrics by Tom Whitlock). Inspired by Ehud Yonay’s article “Top Guns,” the film’s screenplay (by Jim Cash and Jack Epps, Jr.) combined endless flight jargon with dialogue lifted from the lesser After School specials.
Peppered with clichés like “he’s a wild card” and “it’s not your flying, it’s your attitude,” the film lacked depth, subtlety, and even basic tension. The insufferably smarmy Maverick is not so much a character but the smirk of one. Outside of one “steamy” scene between Cruise and co-star Kelly McGillis, the homoerotic movie is populated by men in towels talking about the need to shower. Both misogynistic and juvenile, Top Gun made Risky Business seem emotionally sophisticated.
As early as 2010, a Top Sequel was in development. Finally, after years of delays, Top Gun: Maverick arrives 36 years after the original’s release. Instead of a clumsy sequel, the creators have forged a smart, entertaining, well-made film that is visually stunning. If the screenplay (by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie) is not exactly Citizen Kane, the storytelling is defined. The characters are simply drawn but true to the situation. There is an honesty and a general earnestness that harkens back to the better war movies of the 1940s. Joseph Kosinski has directed his actors to play the characters straight down the middle. There are not a lot of surprises, but the can-do spirit works.
Cruise’s Maverick is a much-decorated pilot but still a captain. For every commendation he has received, overstepping has prevented him from receiving a promotion. While his skills are never in doubt, his problematic behavior towards authority has not so much stalled his career but buried it. At the end of the first film, Maverick requested a position as a Top Gun trainer. He reveals that he only lasted two months.
The older Maverick is low-key but still rebellious, rankling his superiors. Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain (Ed Harris) tells him, “The future is coming. And you’re not in it.”
Maverick’s formal rival, “Iceman” (Val Kilmer), now commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, has called Maverick back to Top Gun. (Except for Cruise, Kilmer is the only holdover from the first film. He has a single scene where he mostly communicates by typing as the admiral has throat cancer.) The mission is to take out a rogue state’s uranium enrichment plant before it opens. Surface-to-air missiles and skilled fighter pilots protect the canyon. The only way to bomb the plant is to literally fly under the radar in a demanding, dangerous mission.
Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson (John Hamm) and Rear Admiral Solomon “Warlock” Bates (Charles Parnell) have gathered an elite group of fighter pilots for Maverick to train.
The plot is simple, with the sole complication that one of the pilots, Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, is the son of Maverick’s former radar intercept officer and best friend, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards in Top Gun). While cleared of the responsibility for his pal’s death, Maverick still carries guilt, and he reveals that at the request of Goose’s widow (now dead—Meg Ryan in the earlier film), he has done everything to prevent Rooster from flying. Eventually, Maverick and Rooster come to terms with their joined histories.
A minor romantic subplot involves Maverick and a bar owner, Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly), but it generates little heat or interest.
The film’s two driving forces are Cruise and the mission. Both Cruise and Maverick have aged well, and the general lack of arrogance makes for a watchable experience. As the writing is focused, the technical details are clear. The actors lean into the physical demands and challenges of the flying and the mantra that “It’s not the plane. It’s the pilot.” The cavalier comment in Top Gun—“A need for speed”—here actually makes sense. Everything builds up to a spectacular final act, with the operation beautifully orchestrated with the right amount of suspense and a couple of twists that help keep it interesting. The faceless, but ominous enemy, is smartly handled.
Top Gun: Maverick’s major song, Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand,” plays over the credits. It is an appropriate metaphor for the film. A bit schmaltzy but also effective, honest, and wholly satisfying.
Rated PG-13, the film is now playing in local theaters.
These poor couples have had to wait for days, months and years to tie the knot in front of family and friends. It’s such a relief that we can all gather again, celebrating the love that binds two people forever and that may, if it hasn’t already, lead to children.
It seems that the list of dos and don’ts for weddings has changed, just as so many other parts of modern reality have altered the way we go about our lives.
Here are a few of the dos and don’ts, starting with the don’ts.
— Cough. Ever. If you have to cough, swallow it or make it sound like a strange laugh. No one wants to hear a cough, least of all at a wedding. Go outside to cough. Cough in the car. Cough into your hand like you’re saying something private and being discrete. Go to the edge of the parking lot and cough.
— Chew with your mouth open. No one wants to see the food you’re eating, especially not in the third year of COVID-19.
—Point to the food and say how much better you could make it. Look, we know that you’ve lost a step on your social graces from being home so often. We know that you’ve spent a great deal of time cooking meals to your satisfaction. We know that you are a great admirer of your own food, your own voice, and your own way of doing things. Appreciate that someone else has made the food and will clean it up and that they do things differently than you do. You can have food you know you love as soon as you walk back into your fortress of solitude.
— Talk about politics. You’re not going to convince anyone who doesn’t agree with you already of your views. So, why bring it up? This isn’t the time to try to make a reasoned argument with relatives who only share genes and nothing else. Smile if they bring something up you find disagreeable.
— Complain about the weather. The bride, groom and the extended family have no control over the weather. If it’s too hot, get a drink. If it’s too cold, shift back and forth from one foot to the other or bring a sweater. The weather is either perfect, dramatic, lovely or dynamic.
— Talk about your own wedding. If people were there, they remember. If not, they don’t need you to compare what’s going on to what you did. Your wedding may have been lovely, but you’re not there right now.
— Point to someone else’s mask and ask them why they’re wearing it. Do whatever is comfortable for you. Don’t tell anyone else what to do because, well, that doesn’t work and it gets people angry. They do their thing, you do yours.
— Binge watch shows while you’re waiting for the ceremony to start. Yes, the invitation said the party would start at 7 p.m. and it’s now 7:18 p.m. So what? You’re there to celebrate other people and to witness this lovely moment. Netflix and other shows can wait. Live your life.
— Show pictures of your pet. Many of us added dogs, cats and fish, particularly during the pandemic.
Okay, so, here is a short list of dos:
— Give other people a chance to talk. Silence, periodically, is okay. You don’t need to fill every quiet moment, if there are any, with your opinions, thoughts and experiences.
— Ask someone to dance who seems eager for a partner. Grab your mother-in-law, your brother-in-law, or your something-in-law by the hand, lead him or her to the floor, smile, and appreciate the chance to dance.
— Remember that you won’t have to see many of these people until the next blessed event, whenever that is.
— Thank the bride, groom and their families for a lovely event. Even if you hated it, you’ve got some good stories to share and you gave your wonderful pets a short break from you.
Medical scientists released fantastic news Sunday that made me think of my father and weep. In a small trial of 18 patients with rectal cancer, who took a particular drug, the cancer totally vanished. My dad died of rectal cancer in 1975.
Dr. Luis A. Diaz Jr of Memorial Sloan Cancer Center was an author of the paper published in The New England Journal of Medicine explaining the results, according to The New York Times. He said he knew of no other study in which a treatment completely obliterated a cancer in every patient.
“I believe this is the first time this has happened in the history of cancer,” the NYT quotes Diaz as saying. The trial was sponsored by the drug company GlaxoSmithKline. My dad and all these other patients faced chemotherapy, radiation and surgery with possible colostomy bags as treatment for their cancer. Unlike my dad, with the benefit of the new drug, dostarlimab, 47 years later, they all seem to be cured, although only time will tell. So far, it has been three years. And none of the patients had “clinically significant complications.” The medicine was taken every three weeks for six months and cost $11,000 per dose.
“It unmasks cancer cells, allowing the immune system to identify and destroy them,” according to the NYT.
I guess we are thinking of our dads this month in particular since Father’s Day is coming quickly, and we need a gift for the occasion. This incredible breakthrough seems like the ultimate present for any fathers suffering from this disease, and of course for anyone else, too. But it has come too late for my adored dad.
My father, born in 1904, came to the City from the family’s Catskill dairy farm when he was 13. One of 9 children, “the middle child,” he would like to distinguish himself by saying he was sent off by his father to build his life since he was now considered an adult. He liked to tell us stories about his total ignorance of urban life.
A favorite concerned the boarding house in which he first rented a room. It was in a brownstone a block away from where his next older brother lived in Brooklyn. He had only shortly before arrived, had dutifully sat down to write a letter home explaining his new circumstances and had gone out as instructed by his landlady to mail the letter in the mailbox on the corner. Deed done, he turned around to return, only to discover that each building looked the same. He had no idea which held his room. Ultimately someone came out to find him.
He quickly found a job delivering packages to various parts of the city. But that proved a puzzle. He had a map and was able to figure out his destination for each delivery. He rode the buses so as not to lose his sense of navigation. But he could not understand why one time the bus would go where he wanted but other times would turn off and head in a different direction. So to be sure of winding up where he needed to go, he ran. He ran all over the city until he was fired. He was deemed to be too slow.
Another early instance of having arrived in an alien world happened when he followed his brother into a tiny room in a tall building. Surprised when the doors slid closed behind, he could feel the floor drop beneath his feet. Bending into a crouch, he prepared to cushion the shock of the landing when he realized the others in the space were staring at him. He was in his first encounter with an elevator.
Of course, he was the constant victim of teasing in the next office in which he worked. He still remembered when the office manager gave him a folder to bring to the stationery store down the block. Wise now, he retorted, “I’m surprised you would try to trick me, Miss Murphy. I know every store is stationary.”
My dad went on to become a successful businessman in Manhattan. But that’s a story for a different day.
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. speaks at the 2019 Sandy Hook Promise Gala. Photo from Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office
By Donna Deedy
People are calling for reform after the recent onslaught of mass shootings that included an elementary school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 young children and two teachers were gunned down in their classroom with an automatic assault rifle.
“We’re seeing an absolute epidemic and the loss and slaughter of innocence and it has to stop,” said New York State Assemblyman Steven Englebright (D-Setauket). Corporate greed, he said, has mixed into a movement that has become very confused. “People are identifying with weapons.”
Englebright pointed out Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) response to the latest school tragedy. According to a June 6 press release, she “signed a landmark legislative package to immediately strengthen the state’s gun laws, close critical loopholes exposed by shooters in Buffalo and Uvalde and protect New Yorkers from the scourge of gun violence.”
What exactly can a person do to reverse the gun violence epidemic that is plaguing the nation?
The nonprofit group Sandy Hook Promise has outlined a comprehensive response to that very question. Founded by some of the parents whose first graders were murdered in their Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, the group has taken a holistic approach to the situation and they say they are leading out of love. Their programs combine community awareness and mental health research with effective prevention strategies, while separately advocating for sensible, bipartisan gun safety policies.
“Take your heartache, your fear, your anger and sadness, and channel them into action,” said Nicole Hockley and Mark Barden, co-founders and CEOs of Sandy Hook Promise, who each lost a son in the Newtown tragedy. “We must take action today and every day until this epidemic of violence ends.”
So far, more than 14 million people and 23,000 schools nationwide have participated in Sandy Hook Promise programs, according to their website, which has led to 115,000 anonymous tips and reportedly resulted in 321 confirmed lives saved with crisis interventions.
Here in Suffolk County, Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. (D) launched Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Signs initiative in 2018, his first year in office.
“After the shooting in Parkland, Florida, I made school safety a priority for the Sheriff’s Office,” Toulon said.
Over the last few years, county officers have trained more than 30,000 students, teachers and staff with Sandy Hook’s methods. Miller Place, East Islip, Central Islip, Lindenhurst and Bridgehampton are a few school districts that have participated in the program.
Toulon said he’s proud to have partnered with the Sandy Hook foundation and encourages more people to participate in its lifesaving movement.
“Now, more than ever, programs like Sandy Hook Promise are needed as school threats are on the rise,” he said.
TBR News Media reached out to few school districts in our circulation area for comments on their programs. Through their public relations firm, Smithtown Central School District preferred not participate in the story but it posts position papers on mental health and social and emotional learning on the district’s website. Three Village said it is not affiliated with Sandy Hook Promise. We did not receive a response to follow-up questions about their programs before press deadlines.
Sandy Hook Promise encourages anyone interested in pursuing community support for its programs to become a “promise leader” by registering on its website.
Here’s a brief overview of Sandy Hook Promise programs:
There are four distinct programs developed by educators with expertise in curriculum development. All of it is accessible in person or online via Sandy Hook Promise’s Learning Center at no cost. Their award-winning programs include lesson plans, activities, games and discussion guides. Anyone who registers on the group’s website, www.sandyhookpromise.org, can access the charity’s free digital library that includes training sessions. The Start with Hello and Say Something programs both fall under the umbrella of the organization’s Know the Signs program.
Start with Hello
Start with Hello teaches children and youth how to minimize social isolation and empathize with others to create a more socially inclusive and connected culture. That lesson is explained in three steps: 1. See someone alone; 2. Reach out and help; 3. Start with Hello.
Say Something
Experts say that people who are at risk of hurting themselves or others often show warning signs before they carry out an act of violence. Sandy Hook Promises trains middle school and high school students to spot these signs and do something about it. This program also follows a three-step approach: 1. Recognize the signs of someone at risk, especially on social media; 2. Act immediately and take it seriously; 3. Learn how to intervene by telling a trusted adult or by using the program’s anonymous reporting system.
Say Something Anonymous Reporting System
The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System can be used when students see classmates who are at risk of harming themselves or others. It requires additional training for school district personnel and local law enforcement. It is reportedly the only anonymous reporting system in the U.S. that offers training along with a mobile app, a website and a hotline — exclusively for schools.
The charity also runs its National Crisis Center that operates 24/7, 365 days a year. Experienced crisis counselors trained in suicide prevention, crisis management and mental health support respond to the tips.
So far more than 120 school districts participate in this program, along with the states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. A webform is available for schools and agencies interested in registering for access to this system.
SAVE Promise Club
Students interested in starting a club or leading a committee within an existing club receive, at no cost, tools from Sandy Hook Promise, so they can plan activities that promote kindness and inclusiveness to instill the value of looking out for one another in their community. The club, called Students Against Violence Everywhere, is supported by a contract with U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe & Supportive Schools and can be accessed from the government’s website:safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/resources. The initiative reinforces the key messages of the Start with Hello and Say Something programs.
Gun safety policies
The mission of Sandy Hook Promise is to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. It advocates what it calls sensible, bipartisan gun safety policies to support that goal. They’ve created a sister organization, called an action fund, that works to pass legislation that advances school safety, mental health and gun violence prevention issues.
“We believe in protecting the second amendment,” said Aimee Thunberg, Sandy Hook Promise’s media contact. “But we support policies that promote safe gun ownership to keep our children and communities safe.”
The group supports the bipartisan background check legislation that recently passed in the House of Representatives, but still needs Senate attention. The organization also supports extreme risk protection orders, or red-flag laws, that allows family and law enforcement to seek the court’s help to temporarily separate people in crisis from firearms. New York State’s red-flag law was implemented in August 2019 with roughly 160 weapons seized in Suffolk County, more than any other county in the state.The organization also advocates bans on assault-style weapons and limits on high-capacity magazines to prevent more mass shootings.
Anyone who wants to, can get involved to help the Sandy Hook mission. In addition to programs for parents, students, teachers and other youth organizations, Sandy Hook Promise welcomes volunteers to help showcase their programs at community events to build better awareness.
Otherwise, in response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Sandy Hook Promise has compiled a list of very specific things people can do to help end gun violence. It’s available at www.sandyhookpromise.org/blog/gun-violence/what-you-can-do-right-now-to-help-end-gun-violence.
“Our key message is that gun violence is preventable, and we have actions that every individual can take in their family, community, schools and with politicians,” said Nicole Hockley in a recent blog post.“Don’t back away. Be part of the solution.”
TBR News Media asks readers who have participated in Sandy Hook Promise programs to email us at [email protected] and let us know about your experience.
Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian in Greenlawn during the early morning hours of June 9.
Tagried Thompson, 33, of Huntington Station, was walking on Park Avenue, north of Hartland Avenue, when she was struck by a northbound 2012 Honda Accord, at approximately 12:35 a.m.
Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. The driver of the Honda, Ramon Mendez, 32, of Brentwood, was not injured.
The vehicle was impounded for a safety check.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.
Even as the newer omicron subvariant of COVID-19 continues to spread throughout Long Island, hospitalizations and infections have been lower.
Hospitalizations, which had risen to 490 in mid-May from about 130 in early April, have been “slowly declining for the past week or two,” according to Dr. Gregson Pigott, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Service.
Area health care professionals suggested that the severity of symptoms also had eased up.
“COVID hospitalization rates are lower than in prior COVID waves,” Dr. Adrian Popp, chair of infection control at Huntington Hospital, explained in an email. Most of the patients have mild to moderate illnesses, although Huntington Hospital still does have some severe cases and/or a COVID-related death.
The average number of positive tests per 100,000 people in Suffolk County has declined from recent peaks. As of June 3, the 7-day average number of positive PCR and rapid tests per 100,000 people was 33, which is down from 52 on May 27 and 67.7 on May 20, according to New York State Department of Health data.
“If anything, Suffolk County rates are dropping,” said Dr. Michel Khlat, chief medical officer at St. Catherine of Siena in Smithtown. “We’re seeing a drop in inpatient cases.”
Many of the cases St. Catherine is finding are incidental, as the hospital tests for the virus in connection with other procedures.
At this point, the newer subvariant of omicron, called BA 2.12.1, accounted for 78.1% of the positive samples collected between May 22 and May 28 in New York, which is up from 593% in the prior two weeks, according to figures from the New York State Department of Health.
“Preliminary data suggest that Omicron may cause more mild disease, although some people may still have severe disease, need hospitalization, and could die from the infection with this variant,” Pigott added in an email.
Khlat suggested that hospitals aren’t tracking the type of variant. Even if they did, it wouldn’t alter the way they treated patients.
“It doesn’t make a difference” whether someone has one or another subtype of omicron, Khlat said. The treatment is identical.
Area doctors and medical care professionals continue to recommend that residents over 50 receive a second booster, particularly if they are immunocompromised or have other health complications.
“People over 50 should get the booster — it decreases the severity of COVID,” explained Popp.
Like much of the rest of the country, some Long Islanders have also contracted COVID more than once. The reinfection rate per 100,000 is currently 7.3%, according to New York State Department of Health figures.
“We are certainly seeing symptomatic COVID infections in persons who report having COVID at the beginning of this year or last year,” Dr. Susan Donelan, medical director of the Healthcare Epidemiology Department at Stony Brook Medicine, explained in an email.
Popp explained that natural immunity from a COVID infection generally lasts about two to three months. Vaccine-related immunity generally lasts twice that duration, for about four to six months.
Doctors continue to urge caution during larger, poorly-ventilated indoor gatherings.
“Close crowds without masks, in an indoor setting with poor air flow, would be one version of a scenario with potential super-spreader potential,” Donelan explained.
Donelan said Stony Brook encouraged staff and patients to consider receiving boosters when they are eligible.
Popp believes wearing masks indoors while in a large gathering is a “reasonable” measure. That includes theaters, airplanes, buses and trains.
At Huntington Hospital, meetings continue to take place online.
“We decided as an organization that the risk of transmission is high enough to continue these measures,” Popp wrote. “We cannot afford to lose team members to COVID since it can negatively impact our operation.”
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