Yearly Archives: 2023

Photo by Chris Boland/Unsplash: www.chrisboland.com/cambridge-wedding-videographer

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief

A dear friend is British and sent us an invitation to a coronation party a couple of months ago. It was more like a “save the date” at that point, but we could already feel his excitement. It was to be held at his and his wife’s home. We would not be expected to arrive in time to see the real thing in the middle of the night on May 6, the time difference being what it is, but rather we would catch a recording of the historic event starting at 12:30 p.m., a much more civilized hour.

We were instructed to wear clothes that would be appropriate for a visit to Ascot. For those who might not know, Ascot is a racecourse that was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, when the American colonies were still in their cradles. Described on the internet as being a “pillar of British sporting and social culture,” it is a snooty place. 

We got the idea. We were to dress up. And especially, we were to wear our finest jewelry, with much bling, which in my case consists only of a string of pearls. On the day, I forgot to adorn myself. But for some reason, probably because I must have seen pictures in my checkered past, I associate Ascot with large, elegant, saucer-shaped hats. 

Now I don’t own a hat, if you exempt my ski cap. So I begged a young and chic friend to loan me one of hers, which she did. It was a broad-brimmed brown straw job with a black netting, and it coordinated perfectly with the rest of my outfit, which consisted of a black silk blouse and brown patterned cotton pants. 

Last Saturday, Coronation Day, I sailed into the party as if I were joining the crowd at Ascot, hoping the hat would not in turn sail off from its rakish angle on the side of my head. Happily, it obeyed.

The party was a total delight. The hosts had decorated their home with every possible bit of Britannica, from posters to red, white and blue Union Jacks that were hung from the rafters on the back deck and emblazoned on the napkins and paper plates. By the way, since I didn’t know this and was interested to learn so I am sharing with you, the Union Jack (from Jacobus, the Latin version of James)  represents a combination of the flags of England, Scotland and Ireland. Sadly, Wales is not represented due to historic mis-timing, but was given a “supporter” role in the royal coat of arms of England, used by the Tudors from 1485. The Welsh don’t seem to mind.

The food was symbolic and simply scrumptious. There was beef and kidney pie, pork rolls, two different kinds of quiche, salad, chopped veggies in what seemed like a vinegar drizzle, slices of fresh ham with mustard, croissants filled with lunch meat, and an overflowing bread basket. I’m sure I am forgetting half the delicacies. And then there were the desserts lined up on a groaning dining room table. As you can imagine, all of this was washed down nicely with red and white wines and glasses of champagne. Charles would have been impressed.

The weather cooperated wonderfully, the day bright with sunshine and the perfect temperature for all humans in the 70s. As if all the above were not enough, the hosts created a Royalty Coronation Quiz. With prizes for the winners. (“Stuff I’ve wanted to get rid of for years,” according to the Master of Ceremonies.) There were 20 questions, such as “Name the three children of Prince William of Wales,” and “Explain President Biden’s snub to the British by just sending his wife to attend the Coronation.”

Some 25 guests were at the festivities, four with UK accents, the rest of us Americans, I’m guessing. We acquitted ourselves reasonably well. I came home with four flamingo long stemmed stirrers and a tiny bottle of gin.

Catch a screening of 'Brave' at the Cinema Arts Centre on Mother's Day.
PROGRAMS

Baby Animal Day

Suffolk County Farm, 350 Yaphank Ave., Yaphank will host a Baby Animal Day on May 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry at 3 p.m.) Bring your family and friends to enjoy a day on the farm with baby animals, wagon rides, food trucks, games, and more! All guests ages 3+ are required to have a ticket. Tickets are $15 per person in advance at eventbrite.com, $20 at the gate. Call 631-852-4600 for more information.

Teddy Bear Clinic

Long Island Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson hosts a Teddy Bear Clinic on May 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. Don’t miss this unique workshop with special guests from Stony Brook University. Bring in your favorite teddy bear for a check-up and learn about health and wellness in a fun and interactive way.

Stony Brook University Nursing Department will be on hand to help you check your teddy’s vital signs, give them a vaccine shot, learn to bandage boo-boos, check mental health, and promote body positivity and good nutrition. This event is free with admission of $5. Register at www.longislandexplorium.org. For more information, call 631-331-3277.

Crafternoons at the library

Children ages 3 to 12 are invited to drop by Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket  on May 13 between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. to make a Mother’s Day-themed button sign. Open to all. No registration required. Questions? Call 631-941-4080.

Books in the Barn

Smithtown Historical Society’s new Books in the Barn program for ages 3 to 5 with parent/caregiver continues on May 15 and 22 from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Meet at the newly refurbished Franklin O. Arthur Farm, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown to listen to stories about farms, barns and animals. Then visit with the chickens, bunnies, sheep, ponies and barn cats that call the farm home. Free. Open to all. To register, visit www.smithlib.org/children, call 631-360-2480, ext. 140 or visit in person. 

Welcome, Summer Birds

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a Tiny Tots program for ages 3 to 5, Welcome, Summer Birds on May 18 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.  The program will connect children and their parents with nature through short walks, animal visitors, and crafts. To register, please visit Eventbrite.com and search #NatureEdventure.

THEATER

‘Flat Stanley’

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley from May 27 to July 2 with a sensory friendly performance on June 10 at 11 a.m. Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill, ten-year-old. For Stanley, life is too normal. He longs to travel the world, do something amazing! Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One morning, Stanley wakes up really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He’s stamped, posted and mailed from Hollywood to Honolulu and beyond hoping to once again become three dimensional. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Cinderella’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson closes its children’s theatre season with its original retelling of the poor waif Cinderella from May 27 to June 17 with a sensory sensitive performance on June 4 at 11 a.m. The classic love story finds its power in a pumpkin, a palace, a prince —e and a young girl whose belief in herself can overcome any obstacle. When her Fairy Godmother adds a dash of excitement, the magical possibilities are endless. Don’t miss this musical enchantment for the entire family. All seats are $10. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

FILM

‘Brave’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids! series with a screening of Brave on Mother’s Day, May 14 at noon. Passionate and fiery, Merida is a headstrong teenager of royal upbringing who is struggling to take control of her own destiny. When Merida’s mother, Queen Elinor, is transformed into a bear, mother and daughter must work together to find a way to reverse the spell, all the while attempting to placate feuding lords and avoid the kingdom’s most renowned bear hunter—King Fergus himself. Rated PG. Tickets are $12, $5 children 12 and under. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

The kids are cool, the cars are hot, and the tunes are always rockin’ and rollin’ when one of the most beloved musical comedies of all time, Grease, returns to select theaters nationwide to celebrate its 45th anniversary on Sunday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 17, courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Fathom Events.

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Fathom Events

When young lovers Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and Danny (John Travolta) suddenly find themselves reunited after a summer fling at Rydell High and separated by opposing cliques. They must decide if they can overcome their differences and rekindle their romance before their summer dreams are ripped at the seams. The film also stars Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Frankie Avalon, Sid Caesar, and Joan Blondell, and boasts an iconic soundtrack that includes “You’re The One That I Want,” “Summer Nights,” “We Go Together,” and “Hopelessly Devoted To You.”

The screening includes an exclusive featurette from film historian Leonard Maltin, examining the hit musical’s continued impact and influence throughout the years. 

Locally the film will be screened at Island 16 Cinema de Lux in Holtsville, AMC Loews Stony Brook 17 and Showcase Cinema de Lux in Farmingdale on May 14 at 4 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. and on May 17 at 7 p.m.

Special anniversary screenings continue into the summer with Hairspray in June, National Lampoon’s Vacation in July and Enter the Dragon in August. To order tickets in advance, visit www.fathomevents.com.

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ARIAS AND DUETS St. Paul’s United Methodist Church hosts a night of opera on May 12. Photo courtesy of Opera Night Long Island
Thursday May 11

Lunch & Learn

Huntington Historical Society continues its Lunch & Learn series with a presentation by Bill Bleyer titled The True Story of the Culper Spy Ring at Matteo’s Restaurant, 300 Jericho Turnpike, Huntington from noon to 2 p.m. $55, $50 members includes a gourmet three-course meal, dessert and house wine. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org or call 631-427-7045.

Friday May 12

An Evening of Opera

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main St., Northport hosts a concert by Opera Night Long Island at 7:30 p.m. featuring opera, operetta, art songs and musical theater excerpts by ten artists including Puccini’s “La Boheme” and Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Refreshments will follow. $10 donation at the door. For more information, call 631-261-8808 or visit www.operanight.org.

Saturday May 13

Birdwatch-Architecture Tours

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will offer an early morning Birdwatch and Architecture Tour with the Vanderbilt’s director of curatorial affairs at 8 a.m. Participants will enjoy the unique opportunity to view the Vanderbilt estate in the early dawn hours, when the grounds are still closed but the birds are active. Sturdy hiking footwear is strongly suggested. Participants are asked to bring their own binoculars. Tickets are $12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Greenway Trail Clean Up

In conjunction with the Town of Brookhaven’s 2022 Great Annual Clean Up, the Three Village Community Trust hosts a cleanup of the Setauket and Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail at 9 a.m. Meet up with Friends of the Greenway volunteers at trailhead at Hallock Ave. and Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station. For more info, email [email protected].

Pottery and Craft Show

The Brick Clay Studio & Gallery, 2 Flowerfield, Suites 57 & 60, St. James will hold a Spring Outdoor Pottery and Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featuring one of a kind hand-made pottery, artwork, crafts and live music. Proceeds from bowl and raffle sales will be donated to World Central Kitchen/Ukraine. The  Gallery Shop will also be open. Admission is free. Visit www.thebrickstudio.org or call 833-THE-BRICK for more info.

Spring Craft Fair

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Northport High School, 154 Laurel Hill Road Northport hosts an outdoor Spring Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with over 125 artisans featuring one of kind creations and designs including original art, photography, jewelry, crafted candles and natural soaps, artisanal foods, textiles and select gift items with live music and refreshments. fFree admission. Event will be moved indoors in case of inclement weather. For more info, call 631-846-1459.

Saturdays Poetry Reading

All Souls Church in Stony Brook presents a virtual Second Saturdays Poetry Reading via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson, the featured poet will be Weslea Sidon. An open-reading will follow; all are welcome to read one of their own poems.  For more information, please call 631-655-7798.  Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/

Mother’s Day Painting Workshop

The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite #6 & 9, St. James will hold a Mother’s Day Silk Painting workshop with artist Genevieve Jezick from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn how to paint silk and create a beautiful piece to give as a gift or keep for yourself. $75 per person. To register, call 631-250-9009 or visit theatelieratflowerfield.org.

Beyond the Boat Walking Tour – this event has been canceled 

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor hosts a Beyond the Boat Walking Tour at noon and again at 2 p.m. Join them to celebrate and explore the women and mothers of Cold Spring Harbor’s Historic Main Street. Hear about what life was like in a 19th-Century coastal village when many of the men were out at sea. Discover the struggles these women faced, along with the challenges historians have when reconstructing their stories. Tour includes a stop at the Old Methodist Church on Main Street for a brief complimentary talk by Preservation Long Island. $15 participant; $10 museum members. To register, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Spring Farm Festival

Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown presents a Spring Farm Festival from noon to 4 p.m. with children’s games and crafts, pony rides, petting zoo, sheep shearing, food trucks, local vendors and more! $5 per person. Call 631-265-6768 for more information.

Old Burying Ground Tour

Join the Huntington Historical Society for a tour of Huntington’s earliest public burying ground, established soon after the Town’s 1653 founding, at 4 p.m. You’ll view stunning folk art and beautiful epitaphs while listening to stories of Huntington’s residents and rich history. All tours begin at The Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main Street Huntington. $15 per person, $10 members, $5 children. To register, call 631-427-7045.

Grounds and Sounds Concert

Grounds and Sounds Cafe at the Universalist Unitarian Fellowship, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket welcomes Toby Tobias and his ensemble in concert at 8:45 p.m. Toby and his band play modern folk and jazz, influenced by funk and world rhythms. The fantastic arrangements and joyful, exhilarating sounds of the band inspire and entertain. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for an Open Mic session. Tickets are $15 per person, available in advance at www.groundsandsounds.org and at the door. Light refreshments for sale. For further information, call 631-751-0297.

A Night of Comedy

The Comedy Club @ Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson returns with another outrageous night of stand-up comedy on the Second Stage at 8 p.m.  Come early and enjoy a glass of local wine or beer from the bar’s extensive selection. Then sit back, relax and enjoy an evening of non-stop hilarious fun with comedians Matt Burke, Jim Dailakis plus a surprise guest. Tickets are $45. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Sunday May 14

Mother’s Day at the LIM

Celebrate mom with a visit to the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook today from noon to 5 p.m. with free admission  for all mothers and grandmothers. Spend the afternoon exploring the museum’s beautiful 9-acre campus featuring a world-renowned Carriage Museum, Art Museum, historic buildings, vibrant herb garden, one-room schoolhouse and outdoor art installations. For more information, call 631-751-0066 or visit www.longislandmuseum.org.

Monday May 15

TVHS lecture

Three Village Historical Society continues its lecture series at the Setauket Neighborhood House at 7 p.m. with a presentation titled Smallpox in Washington’s Army: Disease, War and Society during the Revolutionary War. Guest speaker SUNY Empire State College Professor Dr. Ann Becker will discuss the impact of this dreaded disease on both armies as well as the civilian population in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. Suggested donation/free for members. To register, visit www.tvhs.org. For more information, call 631-751-3730.

Tuesday May 16

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a screening of the documentary A Walk Up Broadway with David Hartman and Historian Barry Lewis at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee among other refreshments will be served. $5 per person, $3 members. Call 631-928-3737 for more information.

An evening of Swing Dance

Swing Dance Long Island, a non-profit social dance club, holds weekly dances every Tuesday evening at the  Huntington Moose Lodge, 631 Pulaski Rd. Greenlawn with beginner swing lessons at 7:30 p.m. and dancing from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Singles and beginners are welcome.  No partner necessary. Admission is $15 on DJ night,  $20 on band night on the third Tuesday of the month. Call 516-521-1410.

Wednesday May 17

TVHS Awards Dinner

Old Field Club, 86 West Meadow Road Setauket hosts the Three Village Historical Society’s 43rd Awards Dinner and Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. with entertainment by the Suffolk Trio. Each year the Three Village Historical Society Board of Trustees and Award Committee awards local businesses, residents, homeowners, Society members and youth who have made significant contributions in helping with Preserving our Shared Heritage within the Three Village area. Tickets are $75 per person, $65 members. To order, visit www.tvhs.org or call 631-751-3730.

Thursday May 18

Atelier lecture

Join the Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite 15, St. James for a free “Seascape Plein Air” lecture and demonstration by artist Kirk Larsen from 2 to 4 p.m. Larsen, whose exhibition “WOW! You’ve Gotta See This” is currently on view at Atelier Hall, will demonstrate his “en plein air” technique. For more information, call 631-250-9009 or visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org/lectures.

Walking Tour and Pub Crawl

The Huntington Historical Society presents a Walking Tour and Pub Crawl at 6:30 p.m. Led by Town of Huntington Historian, Robert C. Hughes, these walking tours 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. The tour will begin at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, located at 228 Main Street in Huntington Village. $25 per person, $20 members. Call 631-427-7045  to reserve your space. 

Vanderbilt Museum lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its lecture series with a presentation titled Coastal Playland: Developing the Sound with Kara Murphy Schlichting  at 7 p.m. in the Planetarium. Schlichting’s lecture will draw heavily from her 2019 book New York Recentered: Building the Metropolis from the Shore focusing not on Robert Moses and grand scheme planning but on the lesser-known local businesses, developers, and government officials whose efforts profoundly shaped coastal communities throughout the metropolitan region. Tickets are $10, members free, at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Theater

Summer Shakespeare Festival

The Carriage House Players kick off the 34th annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in the mansion courtyard of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) on May 12, 13 and 26 at 8 p.m. and May 14 and 21 at 7 p.m. Three Shakespeare enthusiasts attempt to do the impossible: Act their way through all of The Bard’s 37 plays in one night. They comedically stumble their way through in a hilarious race against the clock, and what they don’t remember, they simply make up on the spot! Tickets are $20, $15 children under 12. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Cabaret’

Star Playhouse, Stage 74 at Suffolk Y JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack, presents Cabaret on May 13 and 20 at 8 p.m. and May 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. Daring, provocative and exuberantly entertaining, Cabaret explores the dark and heady life of Bohemian Berlin as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Tickets are $32, $25 seniors and students. Call 631-462-9800 x-136 or visit www.starplayhouse.com to order.

‘The Sound of Music’

Up next for the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is The Sound of Music from May 18 to July 2. The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title number, The Sound of Music has won the hearts of audiences worldwide. Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Something Rotten!’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage productions with Something Rotten! from May 20 to June 24.  Living in the shadow of Renaissance rock star The Bard, two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being to thine own self be true—and all that jazz! Contains adult humor and situations. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Class Reunions

Ward Melville High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket on Sept. 9, 2023 from 6 to 11 p.m. For ticket information, contact Tibo Dioguardi at [email protected]

Save the date! Port Jefferson High School Class of 1964 will hold its 60th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on Oct. 17, 2024. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected].

Island Harvest Food Bank and the National Association of Letter Carriers urges residents to leave a bag of non-perishable food near their mailbox on Saturday, May 13, to help Long Islanders struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Photo courtesy of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Island Harvest Food Bank, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), and the United States Postal Service (USPS) are pleased to announce the return of the annual Stamp Out Hunger®, the nation’s most extensive one-day food collection campaign. This year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive is on Saturday. May 13 and all food collected in Nassau and Suffolk counties will benefit Island Harvest in providing much-needed supplemental food support to more than 300,000 Long Islanders who face hunger and food insecurity, including nearly one-third who are children.

“Participating in Stamp Out Hunger is easy,” says Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “Generous Long Islanders are encouraged to leave non-perishable food items in a bag next to their mailbox before the regularly scheduled mail delivery on Saturday, May 13. Then, your USPS letter carrier will do the rest to help make sure that no one on Long Island goes hungry.”

Non-perishable food items to be donated include canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices and shelf-stable milk (please, no food or juices in glass containers). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and disposable diapers are accepted. All goods donated on Long Island will help replenish Island Harvest’s network of food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs in communities throughout Long Island.

“Every donation, no matter how small, helps our neighbors who are in the unenviable position of choosing between paying for such things as housing, transportation, and medicine or putting food on the table,” said Ms. Shubin Dresner. “I am confident that the past generosity displayed by our Long Island neighbors will help make this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive one of the most successful.”

Due to the pandemic, the Stamp Out Hunger food collection was temporarily discontinued in 2020.

Since its inception in 1993, Stamp Out Hunger has collected more than 1.75 billion pounds of food in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help address the issue of hunger in America. On Long Island, Stamp Out Hunger brought in over 519,000 pounds of food in 2019 before the event was temporarily suspended from 2020 through 2022 due to the pandemic.

“The National Association of Letter Carriers and the men and women we represent on Long Island are pleased to once again partner with Island Harvest in this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food collection,” said Tom Siesto, 1st Vice President, NALC Branch 6000. “Our carriers often see firsthand the pervasive issue of hunger as part of their daily rounds, and they are eager to help give back to the community and assist in helping Island Harvest Food Bank tackle this important issue.”

This year’s major sponsoring partners with Island Harvest on the NALC Stamp Out Hunger collection campaign include National Grid, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Amazon, Allstate, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Catholic Health, Nonna’s Garden, Long Island Federation of Labor, MCN Distributors, Dime Community Bank and New York Community Bank. All donations to Stamp Out Hunger are tax-deductible because all the food collected benefits Island Harvest, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

About Island Harvest Food Bank

Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading human services organization whose mission is to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. We accomplish this through innovative programs and services aimed at enhanced hunger awareness, short-term case management, nutrition education, outreach and advocacy initiatives, our Healthy Harvest Farm, a Workforce Skills Development Institute, and efficient food collection and distribution. Our work directly supports children, families, seniors, and veterans who turn to us in times of crisis and supports a network of community-based nonprofit organizations. Island Harvest Food Bank is a member of Feeding America®, a nationwide network of food banks leading the effort to solve hunger in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.islandharvest.org.

 

Stony Brook University hosted Sakura Matsuri (which translates roughly to Cherry Blossom Tree Festival) at the Charles B. Wang Center Sunday, May 7.      

The event opened with a performance by Taiko Tides, an SBU Japanese musical group. They performed on the front steps to the Wang Center as attendees arrived.

Several dancers and dance groups performed in the Wang Center theater throughout the day. Junko Fisher performed an Okinawan dance and Ichifuji-kai Dance Association performed as well. The 10Tecomai Yosakoi dance team performed five different upbeat dance numbers, focusing on getting the crowd up on their feet and pumping their fists.

Several exhibitors set up booths throughout the Wang Center. The Long Island Bonsai Society displayed potted plants. There was also a Manga workshop and a brush painting demonstration. Later in the day, the Greater NY Naginata Federation produced a martial arts and weapons display.

The Miyabi Koto Shamisen Ensemble, headed by Masayo Ishigure, performed on a kotos (a plucked half-tube zither instrument and the national instrument of Japan) and a shamisens (a three-stringed traditional Japanese instrument).

Visit our website at www.tbrnewsmedia.com or our YouTube site to watch a montage of some of the event’s performances.

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File photo
Do you recognize these two? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the women who allegedly stole merchandise from a Medford store.

Two women allegedly stole a vacuum cleaner from Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, on April 25.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney has announced that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, along with the Suffolk County  Police Department, and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, has partnered with the Fund for  Animal Cruelty Treatment of Suffolk, Inc. (“FACTS”), a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization, for the utilization of their animal cruelty crime victims fund.

“Prosecuting an animal cruelty case is unlike any other crime, in that the evidence of the crime  consists of a living, breathing animal that needs to be cared for while the case or investigation is  pending,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Abused or neglected animals require a significant  amount of resources including veterinary care, shelter, transportation, medication, and food. We  have partnered with FACTS so that the money needed for the care and recovery of abused and  neglected animals can be funded by donations, alleviating the burden on Suffolk County  taxpayers.”

“FACTS is proud to partner with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County  Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office by providing costs of care that benefit  animal cruelty victims,” said Joyce Glass and Barbara Dennihy, co-founders of FACTS. “This  funding allows animal victims to receive necessary care while recovering and cases are pending.  FACTS meets an identified need during the investigation and prosecution of cases, focusing on  victims without a voice. Donations to FACTS allow us to speak for animal victims by providing  the care and treatment they deserve.”

“Animal cruelty cases are particularly disturbing as the victim is defenseless and voiceless,” said  Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison. “This new partnership ensures that  injured or neglected animals receive the necessary care they deserve while the case moves through  the court process. This is a win-win for animal rights as well as Suffolk County taxpayers.”

“Often times, when our Deputy Sheriffs are reporting to a domestic violence situation or similar  crime, they find animals that are also victims of cruelty or abandonment,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “This partnership with FACTS will allow us to immediately get  these animals the proper treatment and housing they deserve without worrying about where the  funding for their care is coming from.”

Financial assistance from FACTS will help treat and care for animals that are victims of criminal  animal cruelty investigations that are being prosecuted by District Attorney Tierney’s Biological,  Environmental, and Animal Safety Team.

To kick off FACTS’ fundraising, Kristie Johnson, president of Foos Fire, Inc., a local Suffolk  County fire sprinkler business, and Kristie’s husband, Christopher Johnson, presented FACTS  with a $10,000 check.

If you would like to donate to FACTS, please visit www.FACTSSAVES.org, and click on the  “Donate Now” button.  You can also donate to FACTS on Venmo, to username @factssaves. Donations can be mailed to:  FACTS, 2168 Nesconset Highway, Suite # 310, Stony Brook, New York 11790.



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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 8 that Christopher Guzman, 40, of Farmingville, was indicted for allegedly driving while impaired by fentanyl and causing a three-car collision that claimed the life of a 22-year-old Centereach man,  and injured two other drivers.  

“While this defendant was operating his vehicle, he was allegedly impaired by fentanyl, one of the  deadliest drugs in America, which has affected our communities here in Suffolk County,” said  District Attorney Tierney. “Sadly, the defendant’s alleged use of fentanyl in this case forever  changed the life of an innocent victim. The tragic death of 22-year-old Timothy Carpenter is yet  another sad reminder of the consequences of driving while impaired by drugs. Swift legislative  action needs to be taken to strengthen our DWI laws as well as increase the penalties for fentanyl  related crimes.”  

According to the investigation, on March 19, 2023, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Guzman was  driving a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado westbound on Middle Country Road in Centereach when he  allegedly crossed over the double yellow lines and sideswiped a 2011 Toyota Camry that was in  the eastbound lanes. The impact caused the Camry, being driven by 66-year-old Virginia  Molkentin, to spin out of control. Guzman’s vehicle allegedly then proceeded to cross over into the eastbound lanes traffic, and crashed into a 2012 Ford Escape driven by 55-year-old Stacy  Carpenter.

Timothy Carpenter, the driver’s nephew, was the front seat passenger in the Ford  Escape at the time of the collision. Both Stacy and Timothy Carpenter were taken by ambulance  to Stony Brook University Hospital. Stacy Carpenter was treated for serious injuries he sustained  from the crash, and Timothy Carpenter died due to the injuries he sustained. Guzman and the other  driver, Virginia Molkentin were also transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where they  were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. While at the hospital, police officers allegedly  observed that Guzman was exhibiting signs that he was impaired by drugs.  

On May 8, Guzman was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice, the  Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei for the charges of:  

One count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class B felony;  

One count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;  

One count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class D felony;  One count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault; a Class C felony;  

Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree; a Class D violent felony;  Two counts of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, a Class E felony;  One count of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an Unclassified misdemeanor; and  One count of Reckless Driving, an Unclassified misdemeanor.  

Judge Mazzei ordered Guzman held on $75,000 cash, $150,000 bond, $750,000 partially secured  bond and suspended his license. He is due back in court on June 21, 2023.



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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Just released! Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who allegedly stole from a Port Jefferson Station grocery store in March.

A man allegedly stole assorted groceries from ShopRite, located at 5145 Nesconset Highway, at approximately 3:20 p.m. on March 27.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.