Abraham Lincoln once said “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.” From Oct. 15 to Nov. 19, a new juried exhibit at the Smithtown Township Arts Council’s Mills Pond Gallery does just that by shining a spotlight on the beautiful place we call home.
With Long Island as their muse and art as their medium, artists were invited to submit 2D artwork that reflects why Long Island is such a treasured place. The result is a show titled Inspired by Long Island featuring 60 works created by local artists that showcase the wonderful parks, beaches, lakes, wildlife and landmarks that are a part of our DNA.
From the Montauk and Fire Island lighthouses to Old Westbury Gardens, from West Meadow Beach and Avalon Preserve in Stony Brook and Frank Melville Memorial Park in Setauket, to Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River in all four seasons, the paintings meld together to create a love story to our Island.
“Art has the ability to stretch our boundaries and challenge us intellectually. A work of art can stir up powerful emotions when we look at it,” said Allison Cruz, Curator and Executive Director at the Mills Pond Gallery. “My goal for our Inspired by Long Island exhibit is to nurture our viewers’ attachment to our amazing Island, encourage them to explore new places and become familiar with all the amazing things their home has to offer.”
Works were created using a variety of mediums including acrylic, charcoal, graphite, ink, oil, pastel, oil pastel, pencil, gouache, solarplate etching and watercolor.
Exhibiting artists include Angela Stratton, Anita Simmons, Annette Napolitano, Catherine Rezin, Chris Ann Ambery, Diane Oliva, E. Craig Marcin, Ellen Ferrigno, Eugene Adamowicz, Frederic Mendelsohn, Gerry Hirschstein, Gia Horton, Gisela Skoglund, Jacqueline DuBarry, James Kelson, Jan Guarino, Jeanette Martone, Jeff Potter, John Hunt, John Taylor, Joyce Bressler, Judy Stone, Kathleen Shaff Kelson, Laurie Samara Schlageter, Lori Scarlatos, Lynn Staiano, Madeline Stare, Marsha Abrams, Mary Ann Vetter, Mary Waka, Mike Stanko, Myungja Anna Koh, Nicholas Valentino, Oscar Santiago, Patricia Morrison, Patty Yantz, Paul Edelson, Renee Caine, Rhoda Gordon, Rima Potter, Robert Wallkam, Robert Roehrig, Ron Becker, Ross Barbera, Sean Pollock, Shain Bard, Sheila Breck, Stacey Schuman, Stephen Shannon, Steve Walker,Susan Guihan, Teresa Cromwell, Theodora Zavala and Vivian Gattuso.
The Mills Pond Gallery is located at 660 Route 25A, St. James. Gallery hours are Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4 p.m.The public is invited to an opening reception of Inspired by Long Island on Saturday Oct. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. to meet the exhibiting artists and view their work.For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.
The Stony Brook University volleyball team extended its winning streak to three matches on Oct. 9 after defeating Hampton University in straight sets. This is the first ever weekend sweep for the Seawolves in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), as the squad notched a four-set victory Oct. 8 against the Lady Pirates.
The Seawolves were charged by the junior duo of Abby Campbell and Lauren Schmitz capturing a team high of 13 kills and 11 kills in the victory. For the weekend, the tandem led the squad in kills with Campbell capturing 27 and Schmitz having 24 in the conference sweep.
The squad had their hands full in the first set with the Lady Pirates that saw a tied score at seven different points in the set. But, the Seawolves did not fault or waver a lead the entire set and went on a 5-1 run at 20-19 to ultimately take the set, 25-20. Junior Leoni Kunz and Schmitz mashed two kills each in the final stretch to finish off Hamptons early momentum early in the match.
Following a powerful second set victory by Stony Brook, the Lady Pirates did not render, fighting to keep the match alive, as they went on a 9-0 run in the middle of the third set to take a 18-14 lead. However, the Seawolves stormed back later in the set, again going on a late run, scoring the final four points to take the final set, 26-24.
Defensively, junior Julia Patsos led the squad with her persistent and tenacious back-row play, as the libero collected a team-best 13 digs today and 24 overall for the weekend. The Long Island native has had 10 or more digs in 12 of 17 starts this season and now has 202 for the season.
“I am very proud of our group for locking two wins in this weekend which is huge for our goals for the season. I thought we played really well offensively and made some adjustments defensively from yesterday that made a big impact,” said head coach Kristin Belzung.
HUNTINGTON'S STORY
The Huntington Militia will present a Fall Muster at the Arsenal Museum on Oct. 16 in conjunction with the Huntington Historical Society's annual Apple Festival. Both events, which are directly across from each other on Park Avenue, are free. File photo by Victoria Espinoza/TBR News Media
Ongoing
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 multiple days through Oct. 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, $35 VIP front of the line.Visit www.DarkNightLI.com to order..
Thursday October 13
Historic Walking Tour & Pub Crawl
The Huntington Historical Society hosts its lastHistoric Walking Tour & Pub Crawl of the year beginning at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, Main Street, Huntington at 6 p.m. Led by Town of Huntington Historian, Robert C. Hughes, this walking tour will guide you through the notable buildings and events in the history of Huntington Village. Along the way participants will stop at local establishments, (with a great history or in a historic building) to enjoy some refreshment before continuing the tour. $25 per person, $20 members (drinks not included). To register, call 427-7045 or visitwww.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
Author Talk
Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket will present Stories Light and Dark: An Evening of Jewish Noir from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Join author Kenneth Wishnia and other contributors for a spirited discussion of the diverse themes in the Jewish Noir II anthology. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event, plus a bonus story collection offered free with each purchase. To register, please call 941-4080.
Halloween Costume Party
Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for its first Night at the Museum Halloween Costume Party from 7 to 10 p.m. Featuring music from DJ Stephen Lombardo, Halloween trivia, raffles and costume prizes, tarot card readings and more. PLUS, a special appearance by Northport artist Nicolas Bruno, who will discuss his Somnia Tarot project, featured this October in the museum’s Pop-Up Exhibit space. For ages 21 and older. $13 per person. Register at www.northporthistorical.org.
Vanderbilt lecture
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will host a presentation titled “Becoming Wild” at 7 p.m. Ecologist and author Carl Safina will speak on the dynamics of animal intelligence and the cultural lives of animals based on his years of field research and from his acclaimed 2020 book Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace. Tickets are $10 per person at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Friday October 14
Harbor Haunts walking tour
The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor kicks off its Harbor Haunts walking tours tonight at 6 p.m. and Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m. Explore Cold Spring Harbor’s ghostly side with fascinating tales of mishaps and historic hauntings on Main Street. Other dates include Oct. 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29. Recommended for adults and ages 8+. Held rain or shine. Fee is $12 adults, $8 children. To order, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. Call 367-3418 for more info.
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, Oct. 15, 21, 22, 28 and 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 at www.deepwellshauntedmansion.com, $30 at the door. Call 862-2808.
Smithtown Contradance – just added!
The Long Island Traditional Music Association (LITMA) invites the community to a Contradance at the Frank Brush Barn on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society, 211 East Main St., Smithtown at 7:30 p.m. with basic instruction at 7:15 p.m. Featuring Chart Guthrie calling with music by Dance All Night. $15 general admission, $10 members, students half price, children under 16 FREE with paid adult. Visit www.litma.org.
An evening of opera
After a two year hiatus, Opera Night Long Island will resume its monthly program tonight at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main Street, Northport with an Open Mic Night at 7:30 p.m.. Tenartists will perform arias from popular operas, including Il Trovatore, Lakme, and Marriage of Figaro. The program will also include performances of art songs and numbers from musical theater. Admission is a $10 donation at the door. Visit www.operanight.org.
Macy Kate heads to SBU
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook welcomes singer Macy Kate to Recital Hall at 8 p.m. Macy Kate’s soulful, sweet, and smoky voice launched her to fame at 16, when she appeared on ABC’s Rising Star. Her sultry sound packs so much power that Flo Rida signed her to IMG Records and brought her on his worldwide G.D.F.R. tour. A true, bonafide star in the making, Kate’s powerhouse voice coupled with her confessional, self-effacing lyrics make for the perfect combination of down-to-earth and out-of-this-stratosphere. Tickets range from $50 to $58. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
Saturday October 15
Harbor Haunts walking tour
See Oct. 14 listing.
Deepwells Haunted Mansion
See Oct. 14 listing.
Octoberfest
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 716 Route 25A, Rocky Point invites the community to its annual Octoberfest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Featuring a craft fair, delicious food and desserts, bake sale & special activities for children. Call 744-9355 for more information.
Outdoor Country Auction
Going once, going twice, sold! The Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson will hold its 34th annual outdoor Country Auction on the grounds of the Mather House Museum, 115 Prospect St., Port Jefferson at 9:30 a.m. with a preview at 9 a.m. Items this year include assorted shelf & wall clocks,Moroccan Carpet w/tassels, Aubusson rug, gold & diamond jewelry, framed botanicals, chandeliers & sconces, antique garden tools, signs, farm items, mirrors, 1850s side chairs, quilts and many more unique items. Free parking at school parking lot on High Street. Lunch available for purchase. Rain or shine. Call 473-2665 or visit www.portjeffhistorical.org.
Miller Place Country Fair
The Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society will host its annual Country Fair on the grounds of the William Miller House, 75 North Country Road Miller Place today and Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The two day event will feature basket weaving, open hearth cooking, pottery making, wampum bead making, Colonial and Victorian games, a Reolutionary War encampment and much more. $5 donation includes a tour of the historic William Miller House (c. 1720). Call 476-5742 or visit www.mpmshistoricalsociety.org.
Old Burying Ground tour
Join the Huntington Historical Society for an Old Burying Ground walking 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.
Saturdays at Six concert
All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Saturdays at Six concert series with a performance by Lost in Staller, a group of Stony Brook University graduate student musicians who “strive to bring back the dance aspect of jazz and to make sure that groove never stops,” at 6 p.m. The band includes bass, keyboard, guitar, drums, trombone, and saxophone. Lost in Staller will be playing a mix of funk music and jazz standards and pop tunes in their own style, and will include music from Vulfpeck, Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, and Cole Porter. Free. Call 655-7798.
A Psychic Evening
Ronkonkoma Fire Department, 177 Portion Road, Ronkonkoma presents An Evening with Psychic Medium Jeffrey Wands fundraiser from 7 to 9 p.m. Come for an intimate evening of up close and personal gallery style readings. $40 per person. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com.
The Godfathers of Comedy
In partnership with Governer’s Comedy Club, the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown presents an evening of stand-up comedy at 8 p.m. Featuring headliner Joey Kola, Eric Tartaglione, Debbie D Amore and Mario Bosco. Tickets are $45 and includes an open bar of beer and wine. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Sunday October 16
Miller Place Country Fair
See Oct. 15 listing.
Elks Community Yard Sale
Love yard sales? The Port Jefferson Elks Lodge, 41 Horseblock Road, Centereach hosts a Community Yard Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come shop for treasures all in one spot! Call 928-2138.
Porsche Car Show – just added!
The rained-out October 2 show by the Porsche Club of America (Metropolitan New York) at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport has been rescheduled for today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the original date are valid. Cars will be displayed on the estate grounds with a spectacular view of Northport Bay. Visitors pay only general Museum admission. There is no extra charge to attend the car shows. Adults $10; seniors (62 plus) and students with ID $9; children 12 and under $7. Visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org or call 854-5579.
Huntington Apple Festival
The annual Apple Festival is back on the grounds of the Dr. Daniel Kissam House, 434 Park Ave., Huntington from noon to 4 p.m., courtesy of the Huntington Historical Society. Enjoy traditional games, a magic show, pumpkin painting, seasonal crafts, live music, fall foods, house tours and historical demonstrations by costumed interpreters. The Museum Shop will also be open. Free admission. Call 427-7045.
Fall Muster at the Arsenal
The Huntington Militia will present a Fall Muster at the Huntington Arsenal, 425 Park Avenue, Huntington during the Huntington Apple Festival from noon to 4 p.m. See history come to life as the militia recreates a typical 1775 militia muster at the Arsenal and Village Green. See musket and cannon firings, 18th century crafts, trades, music and cooking. Free. Call 223-8017.
Northport Walking Tour
Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport hosts a walking tour titled Parading Through Main Street at 1:30 p.m. Tour guide Dan Sheehan makes the past come alive during this lively and informative tour of Northport’s historic Main Street business district. $7 per person. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org.
Monday October 17
TVHS lecture
The Three Village Historical Society continues its lecture series at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket and via Zoom at 7 p.m. with Mafia Spies: The Inside Story of the CIA, Gangster, JFK and Castro. Author Thomas Maier will discuss his latest book which shows how the CIA recruited two gangsters to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro during the Cold War. Moderated by TVHS Director Mari Irizarry. Suggested donation. To register, visit www.tvhs.org or call 751-3730.
Tuesday October 18
SHS Fall lecture
The Smithtown Historical Society concludes its Fall lecture series with “Death By Fire and Ice: The Steamboat Lexington Calamity,” with author Brian O’Connor at the Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown at 7 p.m. O’Connor will discuss his new book, which tells the story of the steamboat Lexington that caught fire and sank on Long Island Sound in January 1840, with approximately 147 people on board. The tragedy remains the worst maritime disaster in the history of the Sound. Light refreshments will be served. Free but registration required at www.eventbrite.com. For more info, call 265-6768.
Emerson String Quartet concert
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents the world-renowned Emerson String Quartet in concert in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. Program will include Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 12; Alban Berg’s String Quartet Op.3; and Dvorak’s No. 14 in A b major, Op. 105. Tickets range from $52 to $60. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
Wednesday October 19
Dwight Gooden heads to CAC
Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for an intimate evening with legendary Cy Young Award-winning Mets and Yankees pitcher Dwight Gooden, featuring a conversation with the beloved baseball star that will include questions from the audience. This will be followed by a Meet & Greet, Autograph Session, and a Photo Op. Every attendee will receive an 8×10 color Mets or Yankees photo, and can bring one additional item to be autographed. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet a true New York sports legend, and a man who has overcome adversity to demonstrate the power of redemption. Tickets are $60 at www.cinemaartscentre.org.
Thursday October 20
Outreach bus heads to Setauket
The Catholic Health Community Outreach Bus will be at Emma S. Clark Memorial Library parking lot, 120 Main St., Setauket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Registered nurses will provide blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and glucose screenings along with patient education and referrals as needed. Free flu vaccinations will be offered by a registered nurse. The last screening will begin at 1:45 p.m. No appointments are necessary, there are no fees, and insurance is not required. Bo registration necessary. Call 941-4080.
Theater
‘Guys and Dolls’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off its 52nd season with Guys and Dolls from Sept. 17 to Oct. 22. Considered the perfect musical of Broadway’s Golden Age, this delightful romp gambles in luck and love from Times Square to Havana. High rollers and low characters from Damon Runyon’s mythical New York are joyously presented in Frank Loesser’s bold and brassy score, featuring “Luck Be a Lady,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” An award-winning classic for the entire family! Tickets are $35 adults, $28 senior and students, $20 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Mystic Pizza’
Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is the new musical comedy, Mystic Pizza, from Sept. 15 to 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 from Sept. 30 to 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. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief is an action-packed mythical adventure “worthy of the gods” Tickets are $40, $35 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Film
‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Oct. 15 at 9:30 p.m. shadowcast with the ZEN Room. Sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite scientist. Prop bags will be available the night of the show! Tickets are $20, $15 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
Catch a screening of ‘Nosferatu’ at the Cinema Arts Centre on Oct. 18. Photo from CAC
‘Nosferatu’
In honor of the spookiest season, the Cinema Arts Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a screening of Nosferatu, one of the most important horror films of the silent era and one of the first vampire movies, on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature a live score by The Invincible Czars and costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $25, $20 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.
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.
◆ The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor seeks vendors selling antique, vintage and/or retro items for its Antiques & More event on Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.$50 donation to the museum for a 10 x 10 foot space. Call 631-367-3418
Have an event you would like to share? Send your calendar listings to [email protected]
The popular Halloween Spooktacular returns to Sweetbriar this Friday and Saturday. Photo from Sweetbriar Nature Center
PROGRAMS
Halloween Spooktacular
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown invites all ghoulies, ghosties, and other Halloween creepies for an evening of fun and excitement at its annual Halloween Spooktacular fundraiser on Oct. 14 and 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy an eerie animal presentations, a ghostly graveyard, creepy games, scary music, and spooky night trails. Best for ghouls 7 years and up. Rain dates are Oct. 21 and 22. Tickets are $15 per person online at www.sweetbriarnc.org
Bicycle Rodeo
The Town of Brookhaven Highway Department’s Safety Town, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville will hold a Bicycle Rodeo on Oct. 15 from 8 a.m. to noon. This event encourages children to learn how to safely ride their bikes in a mock-roadway, kid-sized setting. Participants of all ages will be evaluated and given feedback on their own bicycle-handling abilities, after proper bicycle safety skills are demonstrated. Bring your own helmet and bicycle. Free. Registration is required by calling 451-5335,
Teddy Bear Clinic
The Long Island Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson hosts a Teddy Bear Clinic with Stony Brook University on Oct. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. Bring in your favorite teddy bear for a check-up. SBU’s Nursing Department will be on hand to help you will check Teddy’s vital signs, give them a vaccine shot, learn to bandage boo-boos, check mental health, and promote body positivity and good nutrition. Free but registration is required by visiting www.longislandexplorium.org. Call 331-3277 for more info.
Spooky Lantern Walk
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown will host a Spooky Lantern Walk on Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a fun evening of walking through the park with only a lantern to light the way during this family program. See Caleb Smith in a whole new way after dark, while your guide tells some spooky stories! Lanterns are provided. $4 per person. Advance registration required by calling265-1054.
Family Hour Sunday
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington will present a special dual language Family Hour Sunday in both Spanish and English on Oct. 16 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Children ages 5 through 10 are invited for a family-friendly art experience with Museum Educator Tami Wood and a guest educator. Explore works of art in the Museum and create fun art projects! Free but registration recommended by visiting www.heckscher.org. Call 380-3230 for more info.
Skull Scavenger Hunt
In anticipation of Halloween, the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor will offer a Skull Scavenger Hunt during gallery hours, Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Oct. 23. Hunt for papier-mache skulls around the museum in this seasonal, spooky scavenger hunt. Find them all and win a piece of candy! Free with admission of $6 adults, $5 kids/seniors. Call 367-3418.
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 BeastJr. on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. from Sept. 24 to 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. Enjoy the songs we all love such as “Be Our Guest” and “Tale as Old as Time.” All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘A Kooky Spooky Halloween’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off its 2022-2023 children’s theater season with A Kooky Spooky Halloween, a merry musical about a ghost who’s afraid of the dark, from Oct. 8 to 22. Recently graduated spirit Abner Perkins is assigned to the Aberdeen Boarding House — known for its spectral sightings and terrific toast. Here, Abner finds himself cast into a company of its wacky residents. When his secret is revealed, he is forced to leave his haunted home and set-off on a quest with his newly found friends. All tickets are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
FILM
‘Goosebumps’
Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids series with a screening of Goosebumps on Oct. 16 at noon. The beloved series of spooky children’s books comes to life in a hilarious and meta big screen debut. Goosebumps brings all your favorite monsters from the beloved series of spooky children’s books to life on the big screen, and they bring plenty of comedy and adventure along with them. Rated PG. Tickets are $12 adults, $5 children ages 12 and under. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
Ihave never been as happy to hear a Madonna song as I was this weekend.
Let me back up. My family and I attended our second familial wedding of the last three months. This one was a destination wedding in Ithaca, New York.
Stepping out of the rental car at the hotel on campus, I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore, as shorts, a T-shirt and a sweatshirt weren’t sufficient for the cooler upstate air.
In the hours before the ceremony on Saturday, my son, brother-in-law, his grown sons and I threw a tiny gift shop Nerf ball around on the baseball field, while surrounded by a visual collage of multi-colored foliage. That tiny football was probably the best $7.50 I’ve ever spent at a wedding.
With the wedding in the hotel, we only had to push an elevator button to get to the correct floor.
The bride and groom exchanged vows that they hadn’t previously shared with each other. Not too surprisingly after dating for close to a decade, the vows included many of the same references to things they each enjoyed about their time together, including dancing in the kitchen while making dinners, watching TV shows together during college, and running to the clock tower and back.
During the cocktail hour, I excused myself from my social circle to go to the bathroom, where I overheard the first of two unusual restroom conversations. The groom and his young cousin were chatting.
“You know the secret to a successful marriage?” the young man asked, eager to share the accelerated wisdom he’d accrued during his short life.
“What’s that?” the groom asked gamely.
“Separate vacations,” the sage young man suggested.
“Hmm, well,” the groom continued, “thanks so much for coming. I appreciate it.”
“My mom said my grandparents would have wanted us to come, so we came,” the unfiltered young man added.
Fortunately, neither of them could hear me inhale sharply.
Listening to the toasts and comments from the parents of the bride and groom, each side seemed to think the new member of the family would help soothe their partner. Perhaps, that says something about the way the bride and groom interact with their parents?
After dinner and before the music started, I returned to the restroom. This time, a man was standing at the sink, washing his hands.
“Out of respect for the gentleman who just walked in, I’m going to end our conversation about poop,” he said to a friend in the stall.
“Oh, uh, I’ll be leaving soon,” I offered, not wanting to interrupt.
“It’s okay,” he added. “We were done.”
Returning to the ballroom, I raced to the dance floor once the music started. My wife, children and I love to dance, with each of us smiling and shimmying as we jump, sway and sing the lyrics of the music. Somehow, our daughter knows the words to just about every song at most of these events, singing and shouting them to her cousin’s girlfriend, who has the same encyclopedic knowledge of modern music. I chime in with the chorus, while our son glides around, often with his arms in the air.
And here’s where Madonna came in. After bending my knees and swaying to numerous rap songs I had never heard before, I was thrilled to hear the familiar intro to a Madonna hit.
Buoyed by throwback sounds from an earlier decade, I threw myself around the floor, crooning for all I was worth.
When the rap songs returned, I scanned the floor and saw the bride, groom and their friends sharing their euphoria for the moment and for their familiar music. While Frank Sinatra never made an appearance, the happy couple were clearly doing it their way.
This message is for older people who are reading this column and may get COVID-19. The information may save your life. It may have saved mine.
Especially for older people, COVID is a deadly virus. What defines older? Let’s say, beyond 50. Now there is a medicine that dramatically reduces severity and possible death from this virus, but many Americans are not taking it. Its name is Paxlovid.
“Never really in recent history for a respiratory virus can I think of an anti-viral medication being as effective, demonstrated in scientific literature, as what Paxlovid has shown,” stated Dr. Rebecca Wang, an infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, when interviewed by The New York Times.
Both random trials and data from electronic health records have shown this medicine to be effective, particularly among older patients. The medicine works by inhibiting the virus’s replication once it invades the body. Its underuse is already associated with thousands of preventable deaths, according to Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the medicine department at the University of California, San Francisco.
“A large chunk of deaths are preventable right now with Paxlovid alone,” Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID response coordinator told David Leonhardt of The New York Times. He predicted that if every American 50 and above with COVID received a course of either Paxlovid or monoclonal antibodies, daily deaths might fall to about 50 per day, from about 400 per day.
So why aren’t people taking the medicine?
For one reason, Paxlovid, which is taken twice a day for five days, does leave a metallic taste in the mouth. So I found that by eating half a banana after each dose, I got rid of the unwelcome taste. I also got the benefit of a banana a day, which is a healthy and nutritious fruit containing fiber and some essential vitamins and minerals.
Another possible reason is the association of Paxlovid with “rebound,” a second session of the disease which can occur a week to a month after the end of the first round. Experts don’t know what causes the rebound. A rebound is possible even if the patient never used Paxlovid. And even if he or she did, perhaps a longer duration of the drug is necessary for some patients than the five days currently administered.
Research has shown that out of sample of 568,000 patients, 0.016% over 50 who used Paxlovid died. For a similar cohort of patients who did not use the drug, the death rate was four times higher or 0.070. But only 25% of patients eligible to receive the drug actually took it, even though it is available and free.
Thanks to my son, Daniel Dunaief, who has spoken with two infectious disease experts, we also have some local reaction to the drug. Dr. Andrew Handel, pediatric infectious disease physician at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, commented, “Hesitancy to take Paxlovid seems to fall in line with the general ‘COVID fatigue.’COVID is clearly less lethal now than during prior surges, thanks in large part to vaccinations, but it still causes some hospitalizations. Those at highest risk of severe disease, particularly those who are unvaccinated, benefit from antiviral treatment if they are infected.”
Dr. David Galinkin, infectious disease expert at St. Charles Hospital, said, “The media has overblown this rebound experience. In the literature, about 10% of cases [have a rebound.] Like any other medication, people that could really benefit from Paxlovid [should consider it.] … We are still seeing people dying from this.”
Perhaps more doctors could be better informed about this drug. Additional information and encouragement are needed from the White House, and a lot more public announcements should be placed in the media to reach people. As has been the case throughout these last two-and-one-half COVID years, instructions have been changing, adjusted as the scientific and medical professions learn more about this pathogen. Proper treatment is still a work in progress.
The cast and crew of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center were honored to have Rob Rokicki (center), composer and lyricist of the show, in the audience this past Saturday. The show that “will steal your heart” (Barbara Anne Kirshner/ TBR News Media) runs through Oct. 29.
The nuclear industry will see major growth thanks to the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, and Long Island communities must again resist calls to go nuclear.
Among other incentives, the new federal law gives tax credits to utility companies that invest in new nuclear plants. While this may benefit other places around the country, such as West Virginia’s coal economy, it will do no good for Long Island.
The decommissioned Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, still standing today, is a living relic of Long Island’s long-standing opposition to nuclear power. At the time of its construction, the plant saw intense local resistance for various reasons.
While efforts to oppose Shoreham proved successful, we know that bad ideas die hard. While nuclear energy sees a renaissance nationwide, let us remember why we are a nuclear-free zone.
Anyone driving on the LIE at rush hour understands the glaring logistical hurdles of evacuating Long Island during a potential nuclear meltdown. It can take hours to get off the Island on any given day of the week. Our mass transit network is outdated and already incapable of supporting this overdeveloped and highly congested regional economy.
In an age of more frequent and intense hurricanes, a nuclear meltdown appears ever more plausible. Swift and successful evacuation seems unlikely, if not impossible. For these reasons, adding nuclear infrastructure would be an existential threat to the health and safety of Long Island residents.
Properly treating and disposing of radioactive material remains an unsettled science. Ridding ourselves of this toxic waste would put a greater strain on our already cluttered roads, highways, tunnels and bridges, further complicating evacuation efforts.
Finally, while we acknowledge that nuclear energy vastly outperforms wind and solar technologies, we should continue exploring these cleaner, safer alternatives. We should limit our carbon footprint and reduce fossil fuel consumption where possible, but we should do so responsibly. Reintroducing nuclear power to Long Island merely swaps one environmental hazard for another, endangering our citizens needlessly.
The apparent ties between our electric service provider and the nuclear industry should give Long Islanders unease, especially since the Long Island Power Authority maintains an 18% stake in the Oswego-based Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station.
History tells us that powerful and monied interests may try to score a quick profit, even at the expense of ordinary folk. In time, some here on Long Island may seek to use the newly available nuclear energy subsidies. We must not let them.
Long Island has never been — and never will be — a safe venue for nuclear energy. We must remember the example of Shoreham, how generations of Long Islanders have fought to keep our island nuclear free. Let us continue their work.
Smithtown residents voted for three library board trustees and the 2023 library budget on Oct. 11.
Voters chose from 15 candidates which was the most since Smithtown residents voted for an independent library district more than 20 years ago, according to library director Robert Lusak. In 2001, 20 candidates were running for seven seats.
This year, incumbents Joseph Gregurich and Anita Dowd-Neufeld were among the candidates. Current trustee Marie Gergenti, whose term expires at the end of the year, decided not to run again.
Both Gregurich and Dowd-Neufeld lost their seats as residents voted Annette Galarza (1,819), Mildred Bernstein (1,746) and Howard Knispel (1,719) to the library board.
Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis delivered the State of the University address on Oct. 12. Photo from SBU
During the latest annual State of the University address held on Oct. 12, Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis gave updates about the latest news and accomplishments at the educational institution in a prepared speech.
Toward the beginning of her address, McInnis quoted from the essay “The Pandemic is a Portal” by novelist and critic Arundhati Roy. The author compared a pandemic to a portal.
“We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.”
McInnis said earlier in the pandemic, the university was “in the midst of the pandemic; we were reeling from the effects of long-entrenched budget issues; we were working around the clock to care for our community; we were teaching online; and our staff were stepping up to the plate every day to keep the complex operations of this university running.”
Despite the obstacles COVID-19 brought, she said SBU emerged “as a flagship institution with a renewed commitment to our students’ wellbeing, reinvigorated support for our scholars and research, a stronger and expanded health care enterprise, and several major developments on the horizon —speaks to our university’s ability to adapt and grow. To imagine a better world. To fight for it.”
McInnis told those in attendance that SBU was named a flagship of the SUNY System and just earned its highest ranking from the U.S. News & World Report. The university rated No. 31 for public institutions and No. 1 public in New York state.
The university president said the four-year graduation and six-year graduation rate at SBU increased 18% points and 10 points, respectively, over eight years.
“In addition to these increases, we have nearly eliminated the equity gaps most universities face when it comes to graduation rates for Black, Latinx, underserved and Pell-eligible students,” she said.
The university is committed “to increasing our one-year retention rate to 92% and targeting a six-year graduation rate of 85% by 2030.”
McInnis said the university wants to ensure “that Stony Brook’s campus culture promotes connection” and has reimagined its undergraduate colleges “connecting students across disciplines and fields under global topics.”
One example, the university president said, is the Vertically Integrated Projects Program that was inaugurated three years ago at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The VIP program brings together undergraduates, graduate students and faculty “in multidisciplinary teams to work on real-world projects in research, design and entrepreneurship.” The program has grown from approximately 50 students to more than 500.
McInnis said the partnership between SBU and the Simons Foundation has resulted in the Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program, which aims “to create pathways to successful STEM careers for underrepresented students and increase the diversity of students pursuing doctoral degrees in STEM.”
McInnis said in 2022, for the first time, four SBU junior faculty members earned “the prestigious” Sloan Fellowship. There are also six Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need awards, which helps to support graduate student research.
“We also just learned that the National Science Foundation will be funding three instrumentation proposals for Stony Brook University — marking the first time that all of our proposals submitted to the NSF MRI Program have been successful,” she added.
McInnis said during the address that the College of Business is now fully accredited. The university’s School of Communication and Journalism received the Inaugural Solutions Journalism Hub Designation this year and was one of only four universities to receive it.
She said, in 2022, 14 students received a Fulbright Fellowship, which they will used to fund their international research and teaching.
SBU has made a bid to become the anchor institution for the Governors Island Center for Climate Solutions, McInnis announced. She said if the university is selected it would develop the island “as a hub for climate-change solutions and innovations in New York.”
“Our proposal includes an interactive living lab with green-designed research labs, classrooms and mitigation technologies,” she said. “A Research and Technology Accelerator will nurture new ventures dedicated to solving climate change in New York and beyond, and academic programs will prepare students of all ages for different careers in environmental justice and climate change.”
The president also devoted part of her address to Stony Brook Medicine, which she described as “a differentiator on Long Island and in New York state.” She name-checked many individual students and professors throughout.
Midway through the address, representatives from the Graduate Students Employees Union interrupted the speech to say that they are not paid well. One said, “We deserve a living wage.” After the last person spoke, a few repeatedly shouted, “Living wage now.”
McInnis remained silent and allowed the representatives to speak. When they were done, she returned to her address.
Later that day, SBU officials released a statement that said they “recognize the high cost of living and stipend issues that our graduate students and other employees face here on Long Island.”
“Wages and stipends are negotiated between the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and the respective bargaining units. The current Graduate Student Employees Union agreement for state graduate assistant and teaching assistant student employees raises salaries and has a total compensation package that includes insurance, pension, paid leave, and a location adjustment among other benefits. This is in addition to tuition scholarships.”
Officials recognized it as a “longstanding issue.”
“At Stony Brook, we have consistently advocated for increases and funding to support such increases,” the statement read. “Additionally, we have increased graduate student employee stipends well above the contractual requirement and recently added to those stipends retroactive to Oct. 1, 2021, so that all State TAs and GAs received an increase proportionate to their appointments.”
The statement listed added support such as “student fee scholarships of up to nearly $1,800 for doctoral and terminal degree students. The university has also made available $1 million in Presidential Completion Awards. These awards provide stipend support and research funds.
McInnis concluded her address by saying, “At Stony Brook University — where our scholarship crosses over the arts, humanities, social sciences, STEM and medicine; where our research extends well past this campus and even beyond New York to countries all over the world; where our legacy has been defined by bravery, creativity and commitment to service — we are working to address the world’s pressing issues.”
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