Yearly Archives: 2022

Doctors suggest getting immunized before the holiday gathering season begin. Stock photo from Metro

This fall and winter, several infections have their sights set on your lungs.

Amid threats from diseases that affect other organ systems, three of them — COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus — can and often do attack the lungs.

While the current strain of COVID isn’t as lethal as the original, the virus continues to mutate, leading to new strains and, potentially, to different strains later this fall.

At the same time, the flu and RSV have been waiting for an opening after COVID protections like masks also kept them at bay during 2020 and 2021.

“How bad is the winter going to be?” asked Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. “It will be based on more [COVID] variants coming through, with a strong flu season, which is never something you want to see.”

The number of cases of respiratory illnesses like RSV and the flu has been lower in the last few years. The lack of exposure to those viruses, however, may give them an opening for a stronger return in the population.

These viruses “didn’t paddle along for a while,” Nachman said. “Now, they are paddling furiously. Everyone is seeing them.”

People’s immune systems may not be prepared for the threat from these recurring viruses.

When people arrive at the hospital, health care officials often see the same symptoms, with coughing and sneezing.

“It could be one, two or three” causes at the same time, Nachman said.

The combination of contracting more than one virus at the same time could lead to prolonged and painful illnesses.

COVID reality

Much as people would like to return to a pre-pandemic reality, the SARS-CoV2 virus not only continues to infect people, but it also remains something of an evasive target, with mutations leading to new variants.

While area hospitals don’t test for the specific COVID strain when patients are sick, doctors expect that some of the people who have contracted the disease have the modern variants.

“Undoubtedly, many cases that are coming to our Emergency Department are due to the new Omicron sub-variants,” said Dr. Sunil Dhuper, chief medical officer at Port Jefferson’s St. Charles Hospital. “Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that Omicron BA.5 cases are trending downwards and the cases due to the sub-variants are on the rise.”

The purpose of the vaccine is to attenuate the symptoms from the virus and reduce the severity of illness, hospitalizations and/or death.”

— Dr. Sunil Dhuper

Symptoms of the newer variants are similar to others, with fever, chills, cough, runny nose, fatigue, muscle or body aches, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste, sore throat, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea, Dhuper explained.

Doctors said it was difficult to gauge how effective the new bivalent COVID vaccines are against the latest strains.

The latest booster may “not be active against all the coming variants,” explained Dr. Phillip Nizza, attending infectious disease physician at St. Charles Hospital.

The new booster was designed to enhance the reaction to the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.

“We don’t have enough data” to determine the effectiveness of the booster against current and future threats, Nachman said. “How effective it will be depends” on differences between the booster and the strain someone contracts.

Still, the vaccine is likely to provide some benefits, doctors said.

“The purpose of the vaccine is to attenuate the symptoms from the virus and reduce the severity of illness, hospitalizations and/or death,” Dhuper wrote. “And I think the vaccines would be very successful in accomplishing that objective.”

Even for people who have been infected recently with COVID, Nachman urged people to get a booster.

The combination of an infection and a booster “Is always better than not getting a vaccine,” Nachman said. “You should get a vaccine. The timing is tricky” and could involve getting a dose two weeks after contracting the virus or waiting.

The viral threat during the December holidays, in particular, is higher, so Nachman urges being as immunized as possible before then.

With people not wearing masks and not even testing for the virus even when they get sick, Nachman suggested that it’s “highly likely” the country will see new variants by the spring.

Nachman urged people to take steps to protect themselves, which includes eating well, exercising, receiving the latest vaccination and limiting exposure, particularly for those who might be vulnerable.

“Take care of yourself,” Nachman urged.

At Stony Brook University Hospital, the wards are busy, with a steady stream of patients coming in, receiving treatment and getting discharged, Nachman said.

“We’re seeing a lot of other viral illnesses,” she added.

She sees a ramp-up in RSV, which she doesn’t expect to peak until Thanksgiving.

Dhuper remains concerned about viral threats this fall and winter.

“We do anticipate a worse flu season this year as the herd immunity is at a lower level,” he wrote. “People should get their flu shots sooner rather than later as that is the only primary protection we have to offer. People with comorbidities should particularly be concerned as the likelihood of severe illness, hospitalization and even death could be higher without the protection from the vaccine.”

While Nizza hasn’t seen any major spike in the flu yet, he suggested in an email that “now would be a good time to get vaccinated.”

Got all that? Good, now, when you’re outside, far from other people and you want to give your lungs a break, take a deep, cleansing breath. Other times? Protect your health and the health of your family and community.

Alex Sutton died of a heroin/fentanyl overdose on April 8, 2018. That year he was one of nearly 600 people on Long Island whose death was caused by a fatal overdose. This year statistics are no better, in fact Suffolk County has the MOST O.D. deaths of any county in New York State, with more than 500 deaths so far.

Alex’s mother, Carole Trottere, is hosting an event to mark what would have been his 35th birthday by giving out a FREE slice of pizza and a drink at her son’s favorite pizza place, Station Pizza, located at 1099 N. Country Road in Stony Brook on Saturday, Oct. 29 from noon to 5 p.m. The offer is for the first 100 customers. The Suffolk County Police Department will also be present to give out Narcan, with training instruction. Trottere hopes this will help raise awareness of the fentanyl epidemic. And help save lives.

“Every death from overdose affects so many people…parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and colleagues. It’s like a spider web of grief for those left behind,” said Trottere. “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug to ever hit the streets and is responsible for nearly 70% of nationwide drug deaths. I want to plead with anyone thinking about it to not spin that Roulette wheel. Don’t take a chance. It may sound silly to say that death is permanent, but it’s the truth. There’s no do-over.” For more information call 631-275-5277.

Frank Melville Memorial Park. Photo by Gene Sprouse

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief

Last week I wrote about the pleasure of getting away, even for a day, and enjoying the foliage season in lower New England. This time I want to wax rhapsodic (well, in a manner of speaking) about the special places we love here in the neighborhood. 

Do you have such a special place? By which, I mean a place you go when you want to enjoy the beauty of the area, where you can sit and relax and let concerns just melt away for a few minutes. Or where you can go to think out troubles peacefully, deciding what to do next. Or maybe, you just want a bucolic walk.

One such location for me is the Frank Melville Memorial Park, not far from 25A and my office in Setauket, but nicely hidden from view. Opened in 1937 as a memorial to Frank Melville Jr., it was the brainchild of his wife, Jennie MacConnell Melville, and his son, Ward Melville. While it is privately owned, the park is open for the pleasure of the public every day from sunrise to sunset.

So who was Frank Melville, you might ask, and how did it happen that a park is dedicated to him?

Frank Melville Jr. started by selling shoes to the residents from his sailboat on a fixed schedule, as he and his family of wife and small children circumnavigated Long Island. Eventually, he founded the Thom McAn brand with J. Franklin McElwain, a New Hampshire shoe manufacturer, exactly one hundred years ago. Their first retail shoe store in New York, selling a few simple styles at a low fixed price, then expanded to hundreds of stores across the US, becoming the largest footwear retailer in the country with 1400 stores. The brand name was eventually bought by Sears 86 years later. 

As they grew wealthy, the Melvilles, who lived in Manhattan, bought a second home for themselves in Old Field, and became increasingly philanthropic, donating local land for community benefit, including what is now the campus for Stony Brook University. And it was Ward Melville, who visualized and created Stony Brook Village in 1941, the first outdoor mall in the country, and to this day, a fun daytime destination.

When I walk through the park, which surrounds the duck pond with leafy and varied greenery now changing colors, I marvel at the generosity and vision of the Melville family in fashioning such a jewel for anyone who wishes to enjoy its paved path, picture postcard views and many benches. It is such a place of respite for those of us who work just around the corner and those who come with their dogs from farther away. 

Dogs are welcome, as long as their owners pick up after them. We sat on one of the benches last Saturday and called out, “Hello, Dog,” to the various pooches as they walked by with their owners. The dogs immediately veered over for a pat, and sometimes the owners lingered for a chat. 

It was quite a social affair on a beautiful fall afternoon for dogs and people.

One of the people we met as we strolled along was Anita Lago, an energetic woman from Stony Brook who discovered the pond and the park eight years ago and has been coming over to enjoy the swans regularly since then. When she was found cleaning out the stray fishing lines and other detritus that might enmesh the fowl, she was offered a pail and a rake by the foundation that oversees the park and invited to be official. And so, she can be found at water’s edge, when she is not at her full-time job, a hard-working volunteer helping to keep the pond clean and the swans and other fowl safe.

The Frank Melville Memorial Park is supported by donations from a grateful public. It’s that kind of place, one that brings out the best in all of us as it gifts to us all year round.

OH GASTON! Only two more chances to see 'Beauty and the Beast Jr.' at the Engeman Theater. The show closes on Oct. 30. Photo from John W. Engeman Theater

PROGRAMS

Trick or Treat at the Heckscher

Families are invited to celebrate Halloween at the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington on Oct. 27 to Oct. 30 from noon to 5 p.m. Create a spooktacular art activity, make a haunted Digital Action painting, and take home a festive treat! 380-3230, www.heckscher.org

Haunted House workshop 

Boo! A new kid’s weekend workshop is haunting The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite 6 and 9, St. James on Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. Join Miss Linda in some Halloween fun as she teaches you how to paint this cute haunted house painting just in time for Halloween! $50 per child includes an 11×14″ canvas and art supplies. To register, visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org. For more info, call 250-9009.

Fall Fishing

Join the staff at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve,581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown for a morning of Fall Fishing on Oct. 29 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Discover the different types of fishing poles, tackle, and bait, and which is best to use in a freshwater pond. View casting demonstrations and a lesson on the different types of fish that make Willow Pond their home. Then stay for some catch and release fishing! Poles, tackle, and bait will be provided. For children ages 6 to 15. Advance reservations required by calling 265-1054.

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. 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. Families are welcome to join them 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

Trick or Treat Trail

Join the Farmingville Historical Society on Oct. 29 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. Rain date is Oct. 30. All Trick or Treaters must pre-register at www.farmingvillehistoricalsociety.org.

Lil Monster Halloween workshop

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, E. Setauket hosts a Lil Monster Halloween Workshop on Oct. 29 and 30 from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. Make a tye-dye craft, a cookie decorating craft, a lil’ monster or bat craft, and end the day with a tour of the farm with a tractor ride. Come in costume if you like. For ages 3 to 7. $40 per child. To register, call 689-8172.

Halloween Festival and Parade

Community Association of Greater St. James will host a free Halloween Festival & Costume Parade for children ages 2 to 12 at Celebrate Park on Lake Avenue in St. James from noon to 2 p.m. on Oct. 30. 

Storytime Under the Stars

See your favorite Halloween storybooks come to life during Storytime Under the Stars at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport on Oct. 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. Children are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and bring their favorite stuffed animal. $8 per person. www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

Thankful Thursday at the Vanderbilt

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its Thankful Thursdays series on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. Join them for a family-friendly planetarium show titled Dynamic Earth: Exploring Earth’s Climate Energy followed by a look through a telescope at the night sky (weather permitting). Free but registration is required by visiting www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. For more info, call 854-5579.

Patriots & Poultices

Save the date! Ward Melville Heritage Organization presents a family fun experience at the Thompson House (1709), 91 North Country Road, Setauket on Nov. 5. Can you help Dr. Thompason find clues, elude the British, create authentic cures and escape to Connecticut? Interact with artifacts, explore the history of the American Revolution and the power of medicine while helping Dr. Thompson treat his most ailing patients. Sessions will be held at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. $10 per person, $7 per child 12 and under. Registration is required by calling 751-2244.

THEATER

‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children’s theater season with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. through Oct. 30. This Disney love story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the hideous Beast, a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved the curse will end. If he does not learn his lesson before the last enchanted rose petal falls, he and his household of enchanted objects will be doomed for all eternity. All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

FILM

‘Hotel Transylvania’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids series with a screening of Hotel Transylvania on Oct. 30 at noon.  One special weekend, Dracula (Adam Sandler) has invited all his best friends — Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Werewolf family, and more — to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis’s (Selena Gomez) 118th birthday. For Dracula catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem but the party really starts when one ordinary guy stumbles into the hotel and changes everything! Rated PG. Tickets are $12 adults, $5 children ages 12 and under. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook volleyball team fought hard in a back-and-forth battle, but ultimately fell to CAA foe Northeastern in five sets in Boston on Oct. 23. The team started out strong, claiming the first set, 26-24. With the match tied at 20-20, the Seawolves and the Huskies engaged in a back-and-forth contest that saw the Seawolves victorious. 

The Huskies took control of the next two sets, with the second set ending in a close finish, 25-21, and the third in a dominating 25-9 win. The Seawolves then bounced back with a gritty effort to take the fourth, 27-25. Stony Brook was unable to keep the momentum rolling as Northeastern secured the final set, 15-9. 

The Seawolves were led offensively by junior outside hitter Leoni Kunz, who tallied a game-high 16 kills, and sophomore outside hitter Erin Garr, who totaled 10. 

“Northeastern does a lot of things to make you uncomfortable and they did that with their serving and tempo today. We were trailing the play too often and that forced us to make decisions under stress. That said, I thought our fight was good and that we bounced back after a tough third and start to the fourth set. We need to make some adjustments tomorrow, but we mostly need to manage the serve-and-pass game better and stop Northeastern from going on runs,” said head coach Kristin Belzung. 

Metro photo

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, Theatre Three will host a holiday food drive on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. Please help those in need during these difficult times. Items will be collected at the Infant Jesus Church food pantry, 110 Hawkins St. (off Myrtle Ave.) in Port Jefferson Village. 

While all non-perishable items are gladly accepted, the pantry is in special need of turkey or grocery store gift cards/vouchers, turkey gravy, stuffing, yams, canned fruit and vegetables, cranberry sauce, juice, coffee, tea, shelf stable milk and butter. Other food and personal care items in short supply include cereal, complete pancake mix, pancake syrup, oil, Maseca corn flour, healthy snacks, shampoo, conditioner and baby wipes. Cash is also gratefully accepted.

For more information, please call 631-938-6464.

By Michael Christodoulou

It’s unfortunate, but recessions are a fairly normal part of the economic landscape. When a recession occurs, how might you be affected? The answer depends on your individual situation, but regardless of your circumstances, you might want to consider the items in this recession survival checklist: 

Assess your income stability. If your employment remains steady, you may not have to do anything different during a recession. But if you think your income could be threatened or disrupted, you might want to consider joining the “gig economy” or looking for freelance or consulting opportunities. 

Review your spending. Look for ways to trim your spending, such as canceling subscription services you don’t use, eating out less often, and so on. 

Pay down your debts. Try to reduce your debts, especially those with high interest rates. 

Plan your emergency fund. If you haven’t already built one, try to create an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid account. 

Review your protection plan. If your health or life insurance is tied to your work, a change in your employment status could jeopardize this coverage. Review all your options for replacing these types of protection. Also, look for ways to lower premiums on home or auto insurance, without significantly sacrificing coverage, to free up money that could be used for health/ life insurance. 

Keep your long-term goals in mind. Even if you adjust your portfolio during times of volatility, don’t lose sight of your long-term goals. Trying to “outsmart” the market with short-term strategies can often lead to missteps and missed opportunities.

Don’t stop investing. If you can afford it, try to continue investing. Coming out of a recession, stock prices tend to bottom out and then rebound, so if you had headed to the investment “sidelines,” you would have missed the opportunity to benefit from a market rally. 

Revisit your performance expectations. During a bear market, you will constantly be reminded of the decline of a particular market index, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But instead of focusing on these short-term numbers, look instead at the long-term performance of your portfolio to determine if you’re still on track toward meeting your goals. 

Assess your risk tolerance. If you find yourself worrying excessively about declines in your investment statements, you may want to reevaluate your tolerance for risk. One’s risk tolerance can change over time — and it’s important you feel comfortable with the amount of risk you take when investing.

Keep diversifying. Diversification is always important for investors — by having a mix of stocks, mutual funds and bonds, you can reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio. To cite one example: Higher-quality bonds, such as Treasuries, often move in the opposite direction of stocks, so the presence of these bonds in your portfolio, if appropriate for your goals, can be valuable when market conditions are worsening. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification cannot guarantee profits or protect against all losses in a declining market.) 

A recession accompanied by a bear market is not pleasant. But by taking the appropriate steps, you can boost your chances of getting through a difficult period and staying on track toward your important financial goals.

Michael Christodoulou, ChFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CRPS® is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Stony Brook. Member SIPC.

Photo courtesy of HHS

Old Burying Ground tour

Join the Huntington Historical Society for an Old Burying Ground walking tour oOldn Saturday, Oct. 29 at 3 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.

Pixabay photo

The St. James R.C. Church’s Parish Bereavement Ministry, 429 Route 25A, East Setauket offers a free peer support group for adults who are grieving the loss of a loved one. In order to participate, your loss must have occurred prior to July 1, 2022. This group is non-loss-specific and is open to men and women of all faith traditions. Meetings will be held on Saturday mornings this Fall; exact dates to be determined based on group needs. As seating is limited, registration is required. For additional information and to register, call the rectory office at: 631-941-4141 x 341 and leave a message.

TRICK OR TREAT FUN The Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts the 32nd annual Halloween Festival at the Stony Brook Village Center on Oct. 31. Photo by Heidi Sutton/TBR News Media 2021
Ongoing

Fall Art Walk

From Oct. 17 to Nov. 1, over 30 participating businesses along Main Street and East Main Street in the Village of Port Jefferson will display original artwork by local artists for public viewing in their front windows. The event is sponsored by the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Night Herons. Maps are available at participating businesses and at the chamber office, 118 West Broadway, Port Jefferson. For more information, call 473-1414.

Dark Night Halloween World

Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville hosts the 2nd annual Dark Night Halloween World, 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. 27 to 31 from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 children 12 and under, $35 VIP front of the line. Reserve a time at www.DarkNightLI.com.

Thursday Oct. 27

All Hallows Tour

Huntington Town Hall, 100 Main St., Huntington hosts an All Hallows tour at the Town Clerk’s archives today and Oct. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Halloween event will feature  a guided tour exploring Huntington’s haunted history with live interpretations of stories taken out of the archives vault. Free. Call 351-3035.

Indigenous Art discussion

Stony Brook University’s Zuccaire Gallery will host a panel discussion on Indigenous Art & Environmental Issues at the Staller Center Recital Hall, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook at 4 p.m. Connecting the Drops artists Courtney M. Leonard (Shinnecock) and Erin Genia (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate) discuss their work as it relates to the environment and indigenous issues, in dialogue with Shavonne F. Smith, Environmental Director Shinnecock Nation and Dr. Ellen Pikitch, Endowed Professor of Ocean Conservation Science and Executive Director, Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University.  Moderated by Dr. Abena Ampofoa Asare, Associate Professor of Modern African Affairs & History. Free and open to all. Call 632-7240.

Vanderbilt lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centeport welcomes Robert P. Crease, author and philosopher of science, for an evening lecture on public trust in scientific institutions at 7 p.m. Crease’s lecture will serve as a book launch for his latest publication, The Leak: Politics, Activists, and Loss of Trust at Brookhaven National Laboratory, co-authored with former BNL Director Peter D. Bond. In The Leak, Crease reconstructs the events of 1997, when scientists discovered a small leak of radioactive water near the laboratory’s research reactor. He details how, despite posing no threat to public safety, the discovery sparked public outrage and threatened the existence of the national laboratory. $10 per person. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Native American Drumming 

All Souls Church Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook hosts an evening of Native American Drumming from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Call 655-7798 for more information.

Friday Oct. 28

All Hallows Tour

See Oct. 27 listing.

Halloween Market

Take part in a pumpkin carving/decorating contest at the Three Village Farmer’s Market’s 1st annual Halloween Market on the grounds of the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket from 2 to 6 p.m. Public voting will be held through 5:30 p.m. in six judging categories with lots of prizes! The event will also feature 25+ vendors (with food so fresh it’ll fright) makers and artisans, live music and spooky surprises for the whole family. Questions? Call 631-901-7151 or 631-751-3730.

Hauppauge Trunk or Treat

Hauppauge Public Library, 1373 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge invites the community to trick or treat in their parking lot from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Community members will be decorating their trunks in fun and spooky themes and will pass out candy to trick or treaters. The library will also have snacks, games, crafts, and other activities. This event is free and open to all. 631-979-1600.

Harbor Haunts Walking Tour 

Explore Cold Spring Harbor’s ghostly side with fascinating tales of mishaps and historic hauntings on Main Street, courtesy of the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor today at 6 p.m. and Oct. 29 at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Recommended for ages 8 and older. Held rain or shine. Tickets are ​$12 adults, $8 children. 631-367-3418, www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Spooky Lantern Walking 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, today and Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m., 6:15 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. Tickets are $15 per person. www.mpmshistoricalsociety.eventbrite.com.

Deepwells Haunted Mansion

Just in time for Halloween, the Deepwells Farm Historical Society transforms the historic Deepwells Mansion, 2 Taylor Lane, St. James into Deepwells Sanitarium, Home for the Criminally Insane tonight and Oct. 29 from 7 to 10 p.m. Featuring 16 rooms of horror, wooded trail of terror, food vendors, photo-ops and more. Advance tickets are $20 per person, $30 at the door. 631-862-2808, www.deepwellshauntedmansion.com.

Saturday Oct. 29

Harbor Haunts Walking Tour

See Oct. 28 listing.

Spooky Lantern Walking Tour

See Oct. 28 listing.

Deepwells Haunted Mansion

See Oct. 28 listing.

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 at 11 a.m. Come in costume and trick-or-treat, enjoy ice cream, raffles, music, pet costume contest, vendors and more. 631-724-2543, www.nesconsetchamber.com.

Heritage Halloween Fest

The North Shore Youth Council presents a Halloween Fest at the Heritage Center, 633 Mount Sinai Coram Road, Mt. Sinai from noon to 3 p.m. Enjoy pumpkin picking and decorating, a spooky walk scavenger hunt, costume parade, a goodie bag, dance party and more! Registration is $15 per child 12 and under. Parents and guardians are not required to register. www.eventbrite.com.

Yaphank Trunk or Treat

Suffolk County Farm, 350 Yaphank Ave., Yaphank hosts a Truck or Treat event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy truck or treating, trick or treating around the farm, crafts, wagon rides, games, farm animal visits, corn maze and more. Costumes encouraged. $15 children ages 1 to 17, $5 adults. Register at www.eventbrite.com. 631-852-4600.

Commack Trunk or Treat

Commack United Methodist Church, 486 Townline Road, Commack presents its 5th annual  Trunk-N-Treat event from 2 to 4 p.m. Children can trick or treat for candy at festively decorated car trunks and truck beds and enjoy games, crafts and activities. Free. Call 499-7310 or visit www.commack-umc.org.

Hallockville Trunk or Treat

Join Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead dressed in costume for a festive Trunk or Treat from 3 to 6 p.m. The event will feature Mike the Silly Magician, a fabulous silent auction and raffle, pumpkin decorating and other Halloween crafts, games on the lawn, a costume parade and contest, all culminating in an amazing Trunk or Treat! Admission is $15 per person, $50 family of 4. Call 298-5292 or visit www.hallockville.org.

An Evening of Comedy

The Comedy Club at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson returns tonight at 8 p.m. with another hilarious night of non-stop laughter and fun. Featured comedians include Banjo Les Bayer, Bryan McKenna and Mick Thomas. Tickets are $35.To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Michael Feinstein heads to SBU

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook welcomes cabaret legend Michael Feinstein to the Main Stage for a tribute to Judy Garland on her 100th birthday at 8 p.m. Charting through Garland’s storied career, Feinstein and audiences will connect in a journey through Garland’s life and times, punctuated by personal stories told to Feinstein from his dear friend, Garland’s daughter Liza Minnelli, and other close friends. The evening’s set list will feature recently discovered, previously unheard arrangements from Garland’s repertoire, peeling back to curtain and revealing rare insight to the enduring Garland mystique. Tickets  start at $49. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Sunday Oct. 30

Fall Car Show

Rescheduled from Oct 23. Flowerfield Fairgrounds, Route 25A, St. James hosts a Custom & Collectible Car Show by Long Island Cars from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Street rods, classics, muscle cars, antiques, exotics, imports and collectibles plus vendors, cars for sale, music, pumpkin patch for the kids and more. Rain date is Oct. 30. Admission is $10 adults, free for ages 11 and younger. Visit www.longislandcars.com.

Haunted Boo-Museum Festival

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor for its spookiest event of the year, with fun activities for all ages, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go on a spooky-not-scary walk through as museum exhibit coming to life; have your fortune read; listen to ghost stories; and visit Dr. Gellerman’s Spooktacular Zoo with live native spooky wildlife found on Long Island. Enjoy tons of Halloween crafts and activities in the workshop including mixing up your own potion, creating a spider hat, wrapping a mummy whale, designing a mask, and candle-dipping to create a homemade candle and see what’s sticky and gooey at a Spooky Touch Table. Tickets in advance are $10 children, $5 adults; $15 children, $10 adults at the door. Call 367-3418 or visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org

Halloween Family Fun Day

Family Fun Day is back at the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook just in time for Halloween! Join them from 1 to 4 p.m. for  pumpkin painting, trick-or-treating, crafts and more. Wear your Halloween costume if you wish. Free admission .Call 751-0066 or visit www.longislandmuseum.org

Secrets and Spirits Walking Tour 

Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts a Secrets and Spirits of Stony Brook Village walking tours at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Participants of the tour will hear new stories of local hauntings along Stony Brook’s coastal community including the story of the Long Island witch trials, the apparitions of Annette Williamson at the Country House Restaurant (c.1710), the mysterious woman in white seen at the Stony Brook Grist Mill, William Sidney Mount and Spirit Photography; the ghost ships of shipbuilder Jonas Smith, and the role women mediums played in the Suffrage Movement.$12 per person. To reserve your spot, call 751-2244.

Halloween Hayride

The Village of Northport will host its annual Halloween Hayride in Northport Village Park from noon to 4 p.m. with hayrides, pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, live music, petting zoo, costume contest & refreshments. Fun for the whole family! $5 per person. Call 754-3905.

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 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 www.eventbrite.com.

Fall Rummage Sale

Temple Beth El of Huntington, 660 Park Ave., Huntington will hold its annual Fall Rummage Sale today from 2 to 5 p.m. and Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Bag Day — everything you can fit in one of our bags for $8). Questions? Email [email protected] .

Halloween Magic Show

Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for a dazzling Halloween Magic Show for all ages with magician Todd Harris from 5 to 6 p.m. Cost is $5 per person. Register at www.northporthistorical.org.

An Evening of Reflection

The Village Chabad, 360 Nicolls Road, E. Setauket presents an Evening of History and Reflection: From Auschwitz to the IDF at 7 p.m. Guest speaker Leibel Mangel, a combat veteran in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF, will share his powerful story of challenges and successes. Tickets are $15 in advance at www.MyVillageChabad.com/Lecture, $25 on day of event and at the door. Call 463-2912 for more information.

Monday Oct. 31

Fall Rummage Sale

See Oct. 30 listing.

Halloween at Smith Haven Mall 

Join the Smith Haven Mall, Moriches Road, Lake Grove for a spooktacular, fun trick-or-treating for all the little ghouls and goblins from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (while supplies last*) If you want to know what retailers and restaurants may have tricks or treats for the little ones on Halloween, keep and eye out for the pumpkin in their windows. Call 724-1433 for more info.

Halloween Festival

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts its 32nd annual Halloween Festival at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook from 2 to 5 p.m. with music from WALK 97.5, trick-or-treating throughout Stony Brook Village Center, dancing and games for children, Scarecrow Competition announcements at 4 p.m. and a Halloween parade, led by Monster Merlin! Free. Call 751-2244 or visit www.wmho.org.

Halloween Costume Parade

The annual Downtown “Hauntington” Village Halloween Costume Parade returns to the Town of Huntington at 4 p.m. Sponsored by Town of Huntington, Councilwoman Joan Cergol, Dr. Dave Bennardo, and the Huntington Village BID. Line-up at the Huntington Post Office, 55 Gerard St., Huntington for a parade through Huntington followed by trick or treating at designated village merchants. Call 351-3085.

Tuesday Nov. 1

No events listed for this day.

Wednesday Nov. 2

Author Talk – just added!
Stony Brook University’s Center for Italian Studies, Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library E-4340, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook welcomes renowned author, Dacia Maraini, on the occasion of the release of “Sguardo a Oriente” and “Caro Pier Paolo,” at 6 p.m. Dacia Maraini reflects on her literary journey, and her encounters across cultures in conversation with Professor Giuseppe Gazzola (Stony Brook University). Click here for the event flyer and here for Dacia’s biography. Event co-sponsors: Institute for Globalization Studies, Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies, Department of Languages and Cultural Studies, A. D’Amato Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies. Free and open to all. Call 632-7444.

Historical Society lecture – just added!

The Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society presents a lecture titled Maritime Smuggling on Long Island: From Pirates to Rumrunners at the Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mount Sinai at 7 p.m. Guest speaker Bill Bleyer will discuss why pirates like Captain Kidd were attracted to Long Island at the turn of the 18th century and how a visit by Kidd to Gardiner’s Island led him to dying on the gallows in London. Also learn why Long Island’s South Shore became known as Rum Row and was frequented by bootleggers like William McCoy who supplied gangsters like Al Capone and Dutch Schultz. Free and open to all.

Curator’s Book Talk

Join Emma Clark Memorial Library in Setauket for an online presentation centered on The Long Island Museum’s recent publication The Long Road to Freedom: Surviving Slavery on Long Island at 7 p.m. Based on the 2019 exhibition of the same name, the publication written by LIM’s Curator Jonathan M. Olly, Ph.D., focuses on the experiences of people of color from the 17th to 19th centuries. Olly will discuss the five-chapter publication exploring how slavery operated and how African Americans resisted bondage, navigated the era of emancipation, and built communities in the decades after slavery from Brooklyn to the Hamptons. Register at emmaclark.org/programs or call 941-4080.

Thursday Nov. 3

No events listed for this day.

Theater

‘Mystic Pizza’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents the new musical comedy, Mystic Pizza, through Oct. 30. Based on the classic 1988 movie starring Julia Roberts, Mystic Pizza charts the lives and loves of three unforgettable waitresses in the harbor town of Mystic, CT. Add in some of the best pop songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Addicted To Love,” “Small Town,” “Hold On,” and “Take My Breath Away,” and you have all the ingredients for a romantic comedy–with the works! Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘The Lightning Thief’

The Smithtown Performing Arts Center presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical through Oct. 29. As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly-discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want, and a mythology textbook’s worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. Adapted from the best-selling book by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, the mythical adventure  is “worthy of the gods.” Tickets are $40, $35 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Noises Off’

The Theatres at Suffolk County Community College presents Noises Off by Michael Frayn at the Shea Theater, Islip Arts Building, 533 College Road, Selden on Nov. 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 20 and 27 at 2 p.m. Called the funniest farce ever written, Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. *Mature Content* General admission: $14, Veterans and students 16 years of age or younger: $10, Suffolk students with current ID: One FREE ticket. To order, visit https://sunysuffolk.edu/spotlight or call 451-4163

Vendors Wanted

Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook seeks craft vendors for its Holiday Night Market on Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For further information, call 631-588-5024.

Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills seeks artists and craftspeople for its 57th annual Holiday Fine Art & Craft Fair on Dec. 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Deadline to apply is Oct. 31. Call 631-462-5400 or visit www.artleagueli.org.