In response to an emergency blood shortage, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, 50 Route 25A, Smithtown will host a blood drive by the New York Blood Center on Monday, March 27 and Tuesday, March 28 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To make an appointment, please call 800-933-2566 or email [email protected].
Friends of Flax Pond invite the community to join them at the Childs Mansion, 19 Shore Drive, Old Field on Sunday, March 26 at 3 p.m. for a lecture titled “Diamondback Terrapin: the Turtle with the Clown Lips” presented by John Turner.
These amazing turtles inhabit our local coastal areas. Late each spring and early summer the females come ashore to nest on our local beaches. Conservation is key to their continued survival.
Turner will present information about these fascinating creatures as well as some of the local conservation efforts. As always light refreshments will be served. Please bring a reusable coffee mug to reduce waste. The lecture is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Parking is at the Flax Pond Lab, adjacent to the Childs Mansion. If you need other arrangements for parking and have a “handicap parking pass,” please e-mail or text 631-767-6287 to make arrangements.
Clubhouse with gym & rec room, Tennis & salt-water Pool plus all Port Jefferson Village amenities! Living room features gas fireplace, kitchen has granite counters and breakfast area. Spacious landing leads to primary en suite with bath, then to the 2 additional bedrooms and shared bath.
$749,000 | MLS# 3438663
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A large living room offers a wood burning fireplace & bay window. Oversized eat-in kitchen with sitting area and sliding doors to the backyard. A primary suite with an en-suite bath plus another bed and bath on the 1st floor. The 2nd floor offers 3 bedrooms and full bath.
$550,000 | MLS#3464883
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Kitchen with Top of the line SS appliances. Updated Baths w/radiant heated floors, Full part finished basement. Country club back yard with 18×30 inground mountain lake pool and granite outside Kitchen.
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Private beach w/pavilion for parties/baseball field/kayak storage and boat launch. This is a must see if you are looking for a private beach community.
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Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
After being ejected for shoving the head coach, disgraced minor league basketball coach Mark Markovich (Woody Harrelson) goes on a bender, hitting a police cruiser. Given a choice between eighteen months in jail or ninety days of community service, he opts for the latter. His sentence is to work with The Friends, the local recreation center’s intellectually challenged basketball team.
“What do I call them?” Mark asks the judge. “I suggest you call them by their names,” the judge replies.
Therein lies the heart and head of Champions, a sweet, predictable, but sincere comedy.
Champions is based on Campeones, Javier Fesser’s 2018 Spanish film which was inspired by a team created with people with intellectual disabilities that won twelve Spanish championships between 1999 and 2014.
Bobby Farrelly (working solo for the first time) takes a straightforward approach in directing Mark Rizzo’s workmanlike but satisfying screenplay, resulting in a simple but heartfelt story. Thematically, Champions trods no new ground. Mark is a man who “can’t stick” anywhere, bumping from job to job—Ohio to Greece to Turkey to Iowa—his inability to connect results from a combination of anger and almost terminal self-absorption.
While working with The Friends, Mark is more transformed than transforming. As much as he affects the team, he learns to see the players as human beings—something absent from both his personal and professional lives.
Harrelson’s performance offers nothing surprising, but that does not make it ineffectual. He shows restraint, an ability to listen, and seems fully present. His metamorphosis from ambivalence (texting during their first game) to commitment (running up and down the sidelines) is obvious but acceptable. He manages to make Mark’s retreat from self-destruction believable.
There are the inevitable plot bumps and the requisite speech about what it is to be a champion. A particularly clumsy comedic interlude involves raising money for the trip to Canada. But these are to be expected. Champions is a light narrative, not a revelatory documentary.
Mark becomes involved with Alex, player Johnny’s sister. An actor of a certain age, she tours in her van, presenting Shakespeare to middle school students. The Shakespeare piece integrates later in the film but is a bit forced. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Kaitlin Olson makes Alex mildly tough and likable in a mostly limited role. Her fear of Johnny moving into a group home offers an alternate familial insight and provides her with her best moments.
The film triumphs in its small moments. The center’s director, Julio (beautifully methodical Cheech Marin), describes the players, and we are shown moments of their day-to-day lives. One works at an animal shelter; another is a master welder. These glimpses are gentle, tacit, and entirely real. Whether seeing them at work or home, these slivers are wonderfully honest and exposed without feeling intrusive.
The soul and driving force of the film are the ten intellectually challenged team members, played not as victims or outsiders but as wholly realized individuals. Whether it is Casey Metcalfe as savant Marlon, expounding a wide variety of trivia, or James Day Keith’s Benny rehearsing a speech to request time off from work, they are riveting in their presence.
Madison Tevlin is delightful as the team’s sole female, the no-nonsense Consentino. Kevin Iannucci mines Johnny for dimension and heart. The most powerful scene involves Joshua Felder’s gifted Darius. A car crash survivor, the confrontation with Mark addresses the horrors of DWI. If a bit facile, the validity cannot be denied.
Is Champions exploitive?
For over a decade, Matt Nelson has worked for Evanston Special Recreation. He has coached basketball, track and field, powerlifting, swimming, volleyball, softball, and flag football. In addition, he has been the assistant athletics coach for Team Illinois at the 2013 USA Games (Seattle) and the 2022 USA Games (Orlando).
In speaking with Matt on this question, he responded: “Champions is super realistic in its portrayal of a Special Olympics team with regards to their athletic abilities and the individual personalities of each athlete. Each one of my athletes comes from a different living situation—group home, living with parents, living on their own. The movie is no different and stresses how each athlete has a unique story to tell. My teams always succeed the most when they work as a team which Champions accurately portrays. And both my team and I loved the ending and thought it was PERFECT.”
The film’s climax occurs at the North American regionals during the Winnipeg Special Olympics. In agreement with Matt and his players, The Friend’s final shot has a reverberating emotional justice.
Those looking for great depth and searing truth will find this a slight outing. But for a feel-good sports movie that gently celebrates a unique group of underdogs, Champions delivers. Ultimately, the moral comes not from Mark but from the team. “We play for each other.”
Rated PG, Champions is now playing in local theaters.
By Heidi Sutton
You can almost feel spring in the air, and with the warmer weather comes delicious, delectable foods. From casseroles, tarts and omelets to fresh fruits and wholesome vegetables, a change of season offers something to look forward to for nearly every foodie.
Two spring dishes that are sure to impress for brunch are a Cheesy Asparagus Tart and Herbed Spanish Omelet. The tart has melted cheese, cooked asparagus and an under layer of puff pastry baked to golden brown perfection while the omelet features potatoes, fresh spring herbs and red onions.
Cheesy Asparagus Tart
YIELD:Serves 8
INGREDIENTS:
5 cups water
1 pound asparagus
ice water
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus additional, to taste, divided
1/4 teaspoon pepper, plus additional, to taste, divided
flour, for dusting
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 cup grated fontina cheese
1 cup grated gruyere cheese
1 tablespoon shallot, minced
2 egg yolks
3 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 lemon, zest only
DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 400 F. In large skillet, add water and asparagus. Cook 5-8 minutes until asparagus is bright green. Drain asparagus and soak in ice water. In large bowl, mix drained asparagus, vegetable oil, salt and pepper until combined. Flour surface area. Using rolling pin, roll out pastry to 10-by-16-inch rectangle. Transfer pastry to parchment-lined baking sheet. Prick pastry with fork. Bake about 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool slightly on baking sheet.
In large bowl, mix fontina cheese, gruyere cheese, shallot, egg yolks, milk, nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste, until combined. Spread cheese over pastry, leaving 1 inch around edges. Lay asparagus over cheese mixture. Bake 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Sprinkle lemon zest over tart and serve.
Herbed Spanish Omelet
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced
water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup diced red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 large whole eggs, lightly beaten
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
salt, to taste (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Place potatoes in large pan. Cover with water. Bring to boil and cook, uncovered, 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand about 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Drain well. In deep, 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic. Cook about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add potatoes and cook 5 minutes. Combine whole eggs and egg whites. Stir in parsley, basil and chives. Season with salt, to taste, if desired. Pour mixture over potatoes in hot skillet. Reduce heat and cook, uncovered, about 10 minutes, or until bottom of omelet is golden. If desired, brown top under toaster oven.
By Julianne Mosher
The opening night performance of The Scarlet Pimpernel at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport had the entire audience ready to fight the French and head “into the fire” with the cast from the moment the curtain opened.
The swashbuckling adventure follows Percy Blakeney, a proper English gentleman, who takes on a dashing double identity as The Scarlet Pimpernel to save French citizens from the blood-thirsty guillotine. The Pimpernel’s exploits soon become the talk of Paris and the fanatical Agent Chauvelin will stop at nothing to catch the Pimpernel and cut off his head.
First published as a novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel has seen many different lives in both film and plays. Now, 118 years later, this musical version is full of color, excellent accents, a fantastical set design and an incredible ensemble that does not disappoint.
The production begins with large scarlet pimpernel flowers hanging across the stage. Throughout the play, they become part of the set used as background pieces in indoor and outdoor scenes. The actors are responsible for moving the flowers around in between set changes, as they are wheeled from the ceiling to and from the curtain. But along with the pimpernels being part of the show, each scene has a set to help tell the story.
One would think that with a score written by Frank Wildhorn (who wrote the music for Jekyll & Hyde) and a setting similar to Les Misérables that The Scarlet Pimpernel would be a dark historical fiction of the trying times of the French Revolution. While some of the play has dark undertones, the animated expressions and coy one-liners from almost everyone in the cast makes it a show that you must go see.
Directed and choreographed by Paul Stancato, the ensemble features a roster of experienced, talented artists who took on a show that was definitely not your average song and dance. Half the cast, for example, had to master a British accent, while the other half had to make the audience believe they were French — mostly sung, no less.
Starring Christopher Behmke as the title character, Nate Hackmann as Chauvelin and Arianne Davidow as Marguerite St. Just, the emotion and dedication of each actor shined bright on stage. During the happier scenes, the audience felt it and during the more somber times, the audience could see the tears filling up in the stars’ eyes.
The supporting cast makes the play, as well. Everyone had a special role in the show and none were forgettable. However, specific fan favorites of the night were Percy’s group of friends — equivalent to a college frat, they support and join Percy back and forth to France to take down the revolutionists. Showing the power of friendship, they also bring a lot of laughs to their scenes with their silly demeanors, and (pretty awesome) sword fighting.
Each character, whether it was Marguerite or the Prince of Wales (yes, he makes an appearance, too), has a distinct look with colorful, vibrant and time period costumes that change in nearly every scene. The crew definitely dressed everyone to impress from head to toe.
Terrence Mann, who played Chauvelin in the 1997 original Broadway production of the show, joined the cast on stage after the final bow.
“This was amazing,” he told the audience. “I haven’t seen this play since I did it. I just remember sitting in my dressing room when I wasn’t on stage and seeing it now saying to myself, ‘Oh! That’s what happened!’ and they did it really well.” Mann added that while sitting in the audience, himself, he heard his neighbors gasp, yell and “yay” with almost every movement.
“I think it just keeps getting better,” he said. “There are two things that happen in theater — music and the story, and this is a great story with phenomenal music. It transports everybody.”
The only thing missing from the show? More dates to see it. You’ll want to go back after the first night.
———————————————–
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents The Scarlet Pimpernel through April 30. Main stage theater continues with The Sound of Music from May 18 to July 2, and Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville from July 13 to Aug. 27. Tickets range from $80 to $85 with free valet parking. The Engeman also offers children’s theater and a special event series with live concerts and comedy nights. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
I want to hear from you
The political campaigns have started for the November 2023 elections. In the next few months, you will be inundated with flyers, phone calls and literature about those of us who are running to represent you in some office.
We will be telling you who we are, why we want to be elected, what we support, what we don’t support and everything in between. And yes, I will do all these things so that you will know who I am, that you will recognize the name Dorothy Cavalier.
But now I want to know who you are, what your concerns are, what your issues are — what is important to you and in your life?
My name is Dorothy Cavalier and I am asking you to send me emails, visit my Facebook page, stop me in the street to let me know your name, what your life is like, what you need to make your life better, what you support, what you do not support and everything in between.
So, email me at [email protected].
Visit my Facebook page and comment at Dorothy Cavalier for Suffolk Legislative District 6. I want to hear from you.
Dorothy Cavalier
Democratic candidate for Suffolk County’s 6th Legislative District
Mount Sinai
Waiting for Rinaldi to be made LIRR president
Just over 12 months ago, Long Island Rail Road President Phillip Eng retired effective Feb. 25, 2022. Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Janno Lieber immediately appointed Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi as interim LIRR president.
After 12 months on the job, she has developed a good working knowledge of the agency organization, staff, operations, facilities and customer needs. She is familiar with ongoing capital projects in the LIRR portion of the $51.5 billion 2020-24 Five Year Capital Plan.
If Lieber is happy with Rinaldi’s performance to date, why hasn’t he made her the next permanent LIRR president? Is there something we don’t know?
Remember that Lieber, just like his predecessors, will need the blessing of the governor. Just like past history, Gov. Kathy Hochul [D] will play a behind-the-scenes role in the selection of a permanent LIRR president.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
New York State’s bail reform is a success
Under the law, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Under the law, every person is guaranteed the right to a speedy and fair trial by jury. These tenets are the bedrock of our justice system.
Unfortunately, our system has too often failed to live up to these premises. In New York, almost three out of every four people incarcerated are people of color, which is disproportionate to the population. Many of these people are poor, and until the 2019 bail reform law, too many sat in jail awaiting trial because they could not afford bail.
The most tragic example is that of Kalief Browder, who as a teenager was incarcerated at Rikers Island for three years, two of those years spent in solitary confinement, for allegedly stealing a backpack. His family could not afford to bail him out. He committed suicide after his release. The young man’s story, and the families who are impacted by the overlap of incarceration and poverty, are why the 2019 bail law was enacted. The criminal justice system failed Browder and countless others.
As soon as the 2019 bail reform law was enacted, before there was even any data on the impact of the law, the Republican Party began a campaign of fearmongering. Former U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin [R-NY1] made this the theme of his failed 2022 gubernatorial campaign, and other candidates like freshman Assemblyman Ed Flood [R-Port Jefferson] followed suit. It was a campaign that was deeply racist in rhetoric, never addressing the root causes of crime and how to correct these causes.
A recent study refutes the lies of the Republican Party. The results of the two-year study show the opposite of the Republican talking points to be true, with recidivism and re-arrest rates dropping. “Fundamentally, we found that eliminating bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies reduced recidivism in New York City, while there was no clear effect in either direction for cases remaining bail eligible,” said Michael Rempel, director of John Jay College’s Data Collaborative for Justice, in a statement.
The data is clear: Bail reform is a success. The tragedy is that too many elected Democrats refused to push back against the Republican lies and fearmongering. In that vacuum of leadership, misinformation has taken hold.
We must demand leaders and candidates who will stand up for justice. We must also call out politicians like Zeldin and Flood who built their campaigns on lies and ensure they never hold elected office again. We deserve a system of true justice with moral leaders, and Republicans have utterly failed the electorate on the issue of public safety.
Shoshana Hershkowitz
South Setauket
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