Yearly Archives: 2023

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Disney Pixar's 'Coco' heads to the Staller Center in a live-to-film concert on Oct. 9.
PROGRAMS

Kids Creatures of the Night

Join Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown for a “not so dark” kid friendly Creatures of the Night event on Oct. 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Meet nighttime animals, hear a story about some nocturnal animals, and take a short walk in the woods to see where creatures of the night make their homes. Bring a picnic blanket to watch the animal presentations and story. Event will be moved inside if it rains. Cost is $10 per child/ $5 per adult. All children must be accompanied by an adult, this is not a drop-off program. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Fall Festivities!

Join Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society for a Fall Festivities! program at Cold Spring Harbor Public Library, 95 Harbor Road, Cold Spring Harbor on Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. Learn about how animals prepare for the Fall season, make a seasonal craft and go for a walk in the woods. For children ages 5-9, accompanied by a caregiver. Free. To register, call 631-896-2872.

Fossil Finds

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a Fossil Finds family program on Oct. 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Journey through time and observe real fossils and simulate how they form. Explore how fossils are found, and compare them to life today. $4 per person. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com. 

Fall Art at the Heckscher

In coordination with Long Island Fall Festival at Heckscher Park, the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington invites children to join them on the terrace to create a pumpkin patch collage on Oct. 9 from noon to 5 p.m. Add your own details to complete this Fall work of art! (The project will be held indoors in case of inclement weather.) Free. 631-380-3230

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Avenue Huntington hosts A Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Mondays including Oct. 9 and 16 at 10:30 a.m. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4 (sometimes older siblings join as well). 631-482-5008

THEATER

‘The Wizard of Oz’

Children’s theater continues at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport with The Wizard of Oz from Sept. 30 to Oct. 29. After a tornado whisks her away to the magical land of Oz, Dorothy Gale teams up with a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodsman, and a Cowardly Lion to find the mighty Wizard of Oz who can send her home. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘A Kooky Spooky Halloween’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents A Kooky Spooky Halloween, a merry musical about a ghost who’s afraid of the dark, from Oct. 7 to 21 with a sensory sensitive performance on Oct. 8. 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 $12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

FILM

‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids! series with a screening of Little Shop of Horrors on Oct. 8 at noon. Meek flower shop assistant Seymour pines for co-worker Audrey. During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which has a taste for something other than fertilizer. Rated PG-13. Tickets are $12, $5 children 12 and under. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

‘Coco’ Live-to-Film Concert

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents Disney Pixar’s Coco live-to-Film concert on the Main Stage on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. A holiday event for the entire family, don’t miss this screening of the beloved film Coco featuring a live performance of the Oscar and Grammy-winning musical score, performed by a live 20-member Latin ensemble. Tickets range from $12 to $35. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

TRIBUTE TO THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Roman Zavada returns to the Vanderbilt Planetarium for his live concert Résonances Boréales on Oct. 7.
Thursday Oct. 5

Women’s EXPO

Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach presents its annual Women’s EXPO from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A showcase and a marketplace for Long Island women entrepreneurs, the indoor event will feature over 80 exhibitors who create or distribute a variety of products, including jewelry, pottery, soaps, food and more. The indoor event is a great opportunity to support local women entrepreneurs while shopping for holiday gift giving. Free admission. 631-585-9393, www.womensexpoli.org  

NHS Lecture

Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for a lecture titled Coming Out Day with Northport author and artist Greg Fox at 6 p.m. Fox will speak about his experiences in Northport which led to the creation of his widely successful comic series, Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast. Centered around the town of Northport, Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast is the world’s only comic strip about a gay bed and breakfast. Copies of Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast will be available for purchase and signing. Refreshments will be served. This is a free event. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org.

Cirque Italia in Lake Grove

Cirque Italia opens under the white and blue big top tent at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove tonight at 7:30 and runs through Oct. 15. The show takes place weekdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. This high-octane show features master jugglers, low wire fanatics, dazzling contortion, wild trampoline antics, and even a wheel of death! Suitable for all ages. For tickets and more information, visit the box office on site or go to www.cirqueitalia.com.

Friday Oct. 6

Cirque Italia in Lake Grove

See Oct. 5 listing.

Long Island Fall Festival

Time to celebrate the season! The Long Island Fall Festival returns to Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington for Columbus Day weekend tonight from 5 to 10 p.m., Oct. 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Oct. 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hosted by the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Huntington. Free admission. 631-423-6100

Birdwatch and Architecture Tour

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its evening Birdwatch and Architecture Tours, led by the Museum’s director of curatorial affairs, tonight, Oct. 20 and Nov. 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Participants will enjoy the unique opportunity to view the Vanderbilt estate at dusk, when the grounds are closed but the birds are active. Each Birdwatch will feature aspects of the estate’s architectural history while participants view the Vanderbilt’s resident avian species and hear their calls and songs. Sturdy hiking footwear and binoculars are recommended. Tickets are $12 per person, free for members, at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Game Night in St. James

Celebrate St. James hosts a Coffee House: Game Night Special for adults at the former St. James Calderone Theatre, 176 Second St., St. James on Friday, Oct. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. Enjoy board games, card games and light refreshments. Tickets are $15 per person. To register, visit www.celebratestjames.org or call 631-984-0201.

Saturday Oct. 7

Cirque Italia in Lake Grove

See Oct. 5 listing.

Long Island Fall Festival

See Oct. 6 listing.

October Festival

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 716 Route 25A, Rocky Point invites the community to its annual October Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Featuring a craft fair, delicious food and desserts, bake sale & special activities for children. 631-744-9355, www.thefishchurch.com

Columbus Weekend Fair

Hosted by the Farmingdale Fire Department, this annual fall festival along Main Street will be held today from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate fall with a carnival, rides, games, food, entertainment, and a parade. 516-249-3710

Fish Hatchery Fall Festival – This event has been cancelled

Rescheduled from Sept. 29. Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor hosts a Fall Festival Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with environmental exhibitors, kid’s fishing, music, games, live animal encounters, food and more. Rain date is Oct. 7. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children. 516-692-6768

EVolution Auto Festival

Long Island’s first-ever outdoor electric vehicle auto festival will be held at the southeast corner of Airport Plaza, Route 110, Farmingdale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come learn about electric, hybrid and alternative fuel cars, trucks and SUVs.  Go for a test drive and see the latest electric vehicle models.  Plus, enjoy live music, food trucks and fun! Free admission.  electriclongisland.com

Fall Harvest Festival 

Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, 178 Oxhead Road, Centereach will hold its annual Fall Harvest Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy vendors, bouncy houses, tractor ride, food trucks, farm stand and more! Fun for the whole family. Free admission. Rain date is Oct. 8. 631-774-1556, www.hobbsfarm.info

Prohibition Pub Crawl

Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for its final Prohibition Pub Crawl of 2023 at 12:30 p.m. Education Coordinator Carol Taylor takes you on a tour of Prohibition-era Northport while stopping at several local establishments to enjoy refreshments along the way. Ages 21+ only! Cost is $40 per person, $30 members at www.northporthistorical.org. 631-757-9859

Sugar Skull workshop

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park offers a sugar skull workshop for adults from 1 to 3 p.m. Frida Kahlo painted sugar skulls as reflections between life and death. Create sugar skulls and spark your own creativity during this adult program. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com.

Roman Zavada  in concert

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents ‘Résonances Boréales’ by Roman Zavada at 5:30 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Zavada will perform piano compositions inspired by the spectacular aurora borealis. This immersive experience takes the audience on a journey above the 60th parallel as Zavada translates the spirit of the North in a dialogue between the piano and the pulsing energies of the astonishing northern lights. Tickets are $30, $25 members in advance at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org, $35 at the door.

Saturdays at Six Concert

All Souls Church, 61 Main Street, Stony Brook will present Sputter Box in concert at 6 p.m. Performing interdisciplinary pieces involving sound, theater, movement, visual art, and improvisation, the group includes Kathryn Vetter (clarinets), Alina Tamborini (voice), and Peter White (percussion).  Free. Please bring a can of food to donate to a food pantry.  631-655-7798

Baroque concert

Long Island Baroque Ensemble heads to the St. James Episcopal Church 490 North Country Road, St. James for a concert titled Viva Italia!, early Italian Baroque music, at 7 p.m. Enjoy works by Claudio Monteverdi, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Francesca Caccini and more. Tickets are $35 adults, $30 seniors, $15 students, children free at www.libaroque.org or at the door.

Sunday Oct. 8

Cirque Italia in Lake Grove

See Oct. 5 listing.

Long Island Fall Festival

See Oct. 6 listing.

Columbus Weekend Fair

See Oct. 5 listing.

Riverhead Country Fair

Celebrate the agricultural heritage of Riverhead at the 46th annual Riverhead Country Fair in historic Downtown Riverhead from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take time to enjoy the works of original artists, agricultural and homemaking displays and competitions, entertainers, local merchants, food, amusement rides, petting zoo, business expositions and displays, vendors and more. 631-727-1215, www.riverheadcountryfair.com

Heritage Country Fair  

Rescheduled from Sept. 24. The Smithtown Historical Society, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown will hold its annual Heritage Country Fair from noon to 4 p.m. with Island Long Riders Cowboy Mounted Shooting displays, petting zoo and pony rides, live music, historical reenactions, blacksmithing, spinning and other demonstrations, a vendor market, touch a truck and so much more. Tickets are $5 per person. Held rain or shine. 631-265-6768

Book Signing at LIMEHOF

Twisted Sister’s Jay Jay French will be on hand to sign his book, “Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock ‘n Roll” in addition to participating in a related Q&A event at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main Street, Stony Brook at 7 p.m. T Also expected to attend will be Ken Neil and Mark “The Animal” Mendoza of Twisted Sister, John Gatto and Joe Franco of The Good Rats, Randy Jackson and Felix Hanneman of Zebra, and Mark Fowler of the Stanton Anderson Band. Tickets are $35 at www.limusichalloffame.org.

Monday Oct. 9

Cirque Italia in Lake Grove

See Oct. 5 listing.

Long Island Fall Festival

See Oct. 6 listing.

Owl Prowl 

Sweetbriar Nature Center , 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown hosts an Owl Prowl from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. Meet and learn about some of the Center’s resident owls and then  embark on a walk into the darkness to enjoy the night and call some owls. Meet behind the main house and check in. Open to families with children ages 5 years and up. $15 per person. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Tuesday Oct. 10

Cirque Italia in Lake Grove

See Oct. 5 listing.

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a screening of “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” where Sammy Davis Jr. explores his journey to create his own identity as a black man who embraced Judaism and became an entertainment industry legend, in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Forever Simon & Garfunkel

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Special Events series with The Everly Set in concert at 8 p.m. Sean Altman & Jack Skuller celebrate The Everly Brothers, featuring Bye Bye Love, Wake Up Little Susie, Cathy’s Clown, All I Have To Do Is Dream, When Will I Be Loved, Crying In The Rain, Love Hurts, Bird Dog, Claudette, Walk Right Back, and more. Tickets are $45. 631-261-2900, www.engemantheater.com.

 Wednesday Oct. 11

Cirque Italia in Lake Grove

See Oct. 5 listing.

Cruise Night at The Shoppes

Cruise Nights are back at The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River from 5 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday through Oct. 25. Check out the fine array of classic and coveted automobiles from car enthusiasts from across Long Island in The Shoppes parking lot. 631-929-3500

Thursday Oct. 12

Cirque Italia in Lake Grove

See Oct. 5 listing.

HHS Lunch & Learn

Huntington Historical Society continues its Lunch & Learn series with Thea Morales of Rosie’s Vintage at Matteo’s, 300 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station at noon.  Learn how Long Island antique stores operate and how residents can work with them to save Long Island History by giving items a new life. $60 per person, $50 members includes gourmet three-course meal, wine, and dessert. Call 631-427-7045 or visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Film

‘Time Bomb Y2K’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues with a screening of Time Bomb Y2K at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. This fully archival feature documents the countdown to Y2K against the backdrop of the mass hysteria that infiltrated everything from politics to pop culture.Guest speakers will be co-directors Brian Becker and/or Marley McDonald. Tickets are $10 at the door (cash only) or at www.portjeffersondocumentaryseries.com.

‘Beetlejuice’

Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook hosts an outdoor screening of Beetlejuice on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. Find your spot in the parking lot beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bring your own lawn chairs and snacks. Event will be cancelled in the event of rain. 631-588-5024

 Theater

‘The Prom’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off its 53rd season with The Prom from Sept. 16 to Oct. 21. As the lights dim on four fading Broadway stars, they wildly seek the spotlight. Courting the controversy surrounding a small-town Indiana prom, the quartet invades a community that wants to keep the party straight. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors, $20 students, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Rent’ 

Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents Jonathan Larson’s Rent from Sept. 16 to Oct. 22. Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, the groundbreaking musical follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians — Roger, Mimi, Tom, Angel, Maureen, Joanne, Benny and Mark — struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors, $28 students. To order, call 800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org. 

‘Every Brilliant Thing’

Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, in association with Response Crisis Center, presents Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show starring Jeffrey Sanzel, on the Second Stage from Sept. 17 to Oct. 8. With audience members recruited to take on supporting roles, Every Brilliant Thing is a heart-wrenching, hilarious story of depression and the lengths we will go for those we love. All seats are $20. Fifty percent of the gross proceeds of this production will benefit Response Crisis Center. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Beautiful’

Main stage theater continues at the John W. Engeman Theater with Beautiful: The Carole King Musical now extended to Nov. 5. From the chart-topping hits she wrote for the biggest acts in music to her own life-changing success with Tapestry, the show takes you back to where it all began–and takes you on the ride of a lifetime. Featuring such unforgettable classics as “You’ve Got a Friend,” “One Fine Day,” “So Far Away,” and many more. This Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning show is filled with the songs you remember and a story you’ll never forget. Tickets start at $80. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Antigone Now: A Short Drama’

The Theatres at Suffolk County Community College present Antigone Now: A Short Drama by Melissa Cooper in Theatre 119, Islip Arts Building Suffolk County Community College, 533 College Road, Selden on Oct. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. In the midst of a bombed-out city still feeling the aftershocks of war, the rebellious and intense Antigone defies her uncle to bury her disgraced brother. This contemporary response to the myth of Antigone brings powerful, modern prose to an ancient and universal story. *Mature Content  General admission: $15, veterans and students 16 years of age or younger $10. For tickets call 631-451-4163.

Northport One-Act Play Festival

Northport Plays presents the 14th Annual Northport One-Act Play Festival at The Playhouse at St Paul’s, 270 Main St, Northport, from October 6 to 8. Ten new plays will be performed in two different programs. Go to www.NorthportPlays.com for details and tickets. 631-223-8053

‘An Inspector Calls’

Minstrel Players, Houghton Hall, Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main St., Northport presents J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls from Oct. 14 to 22. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and students. To order, call 516-361-7232 or email [email protected].

Class Reunions

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].

A scene from 'The Golden Bachelor' Photo from Facebook(ABC/Craig Sjodin)

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief

Lately, there have been numerous articles about older folks and aging in general. At least, it seems so to me. Remember Martha Stewart on the cover of Sports Illustrated? Probably the one now with the most buzz is “The Golden Bachelor,” the most recent in the long-running series of Bachelor programs shown on ABC.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to acknowledge that I have seldom watched any of the episodes on the so-called reality dating franchise. If I happened to be passing the television in my house, and one was on the screen, I might have been captured for a few minutes, especially by the beautiful settings in far away places, but it always struck me as improbably scripted.

Yes, I know there is some data showing that a few couples who met on the show actually married and went on to have children and make happy family lives for themselves. Good for those few, but it was too staged for me, and I never became hooked the way my mother, for example, was ensnared by “The Guiding Light” and other such radio soaps in her day.

It seems that television, in general, is suffering from a major drop-off in audience viewership, as people switch to streaming services. That is the case, except for older people, those above 60, who are reluctant to give up their favorite programs in favor of Netflix and hulu. So, some Bachelor television executive decided to give that older cohort more to watch, and as a result, we have been introduced to Gerry Turner, from Indiana, who is 72 years old and a widower looking for a new partner.

Now, he is not a billionaire jet-setting around the world but in need of a companion to make his life complete; rather he is retired from the food distribution industry and had a loving marriage that was cut short by his wife’s tragic bacterial infection. A father of two grown daughters and two granddaughters, who enthusiastically support his new role, he is attractive enough to hold the attention of 22 women contestants also looking for a mate. The women are between 60-75, range from divorced and widowed mothers and grandmothers, and in turn are alluring enough to put a gleam in Turner’s eye as he meets them for the first time.

How do I know? I watched the first episode, not on its Thursday night time slot but on a streaming service a couple of nights later. I admit it. I was curious enough to see what love was going to look like for the silver set.

The tone of the program was, if anything, conspicuously wholesome. What could be more wholesome than a mid-Westerner talking about how he lost his middle-aged wife of 43 years, whom he met in high school, and crying on national television? Still, Turner was called, “sexy,” and though the ladies were, for the most part, relatively restrained in their manners, the underlying message was, “Yes, older people can be attractive and still be looking for love.”

There is another message that seems to have emerged, as this quote from an article in The New York Times reveals.

“The prevailing narrative surrounding the growing number of unmarried older adults tends to focus on the risks of isolation and loneliness. [One in three baby boomers is single.] But Sindy Oh, a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, said she was struck by how different dating could be for her older clients because they had a much stronger sense of self. ‘They have accepted who they are, and they are presenting themselves as is,’ she said.”

This seems to fit what is offered by “The Golden Bachelor.” The producers note that when they cast for other Bachelor shows, intended for 20s and 30s participants, they sense that the auditioners feel they have to present a version of themselves that is what the show is looking for. But these women who responded were just themselves and could laugh about their age.

Older people still have hope.

 

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The United States Postal Service released a new Forever stamp honoring the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Oct. 2. The stamp’s unveiling took place at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery during a first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony that was open to the public.

Designed by Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, with a Michael J. Deas oil painting based on a photograph by Philip Bermingham, the stamp captures the 107th U.S. Supreme Court justice in her black judicial robe and favorite white-lace collar.

“Justice Ginsburg was an iconic figure who dedicated her life to public service and the pursuit of justice,” said USPS Board of Governors Chairman Roman Martinez IV. “She was a true pioneer, and it is our honor to celebrate her incredible legacy in this way. This stamp serves not just as a tribute but as an inspiration for future generations to uphold the values she fought for.”

Joining Martinez for the ceremony were Nina Totenberg, legal affairs correspondent at National Public Radio; Lori Dym, USPS procurement and property law managing counsel; Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the public safety nonprofit Vital City; and Ginsburg’s granddaughter Clara Spera, a lecturer at Harvard Law School and senior associate at WilmerHale.

The Ruth Bader Ginsburg stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp and is available in panes of 20 at select Post Office locations nationwide and at usps.com/shopstamps. Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

The stamp will serve as a lasting tribute to the Brooklyn native who has left an indelible impact on American jurisprudence and society at large.

Ginsburg’s multifaceted legacy includes the legal and social changes she helped to bring about; the example she set of tenacity and perseverance in the service of meaningful work; the inspiring passion that she brought to her dissents in defense of principles she held dear; and the countless people — young and old, men and women — who view her as a role model.

About Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ginsburg was a lifelong trailblazer as a woman in a male-dominated field, a law professor, an expert on anti-discrimination and equal protection law, and a judge who was unafraid to dissent from her colleagues in steadfast defense of her principles.

In a distinguished career that began as an activist lawyer fighting gender discrimination, Ginsburg was a respected jurist whose strong dissents on socially controversial rulings made her an icon of American culture.

President Bill Clinton nominated her to serve as a Supreme Court justice in 1993, and she subsequently earned praise for her pragmatism and willingness to build consensus. After a 2007 decision upholding a federal abortion procedure ban, she took the unusual step of reading her dissent aloud from the bench, a practice she continued with greater frequency during her second decade on the court.

In 2011, she received an honorary law degree from Harvard, which she attended for two of the three years of her legal education. In 2012, she was the subject of a panel discussion at Yale Law School prior to being named the first Gruber Distinguished Lecturer in Women’s Rights. In 2013, an issue of the Harvard Law Review included several warm tributes to her jurisprudence, and she received the Radcliffe Medal from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University in 2015 for her role as a socially transformative figure.

In 2013, a popular blog created by a New York University law student elevated Ginsburg to the status of “Notorious R.B.G.” — a humorous play on the name of late rapper the Notorious B.I.G. — and further enshrined her as an icon of American popular culture. In 2016, Ginsburg and two biographers published “My Own Words,” which became an immediate New York Times bestseller. The 2018 documentary “RBG” brought additional attention to her life and work, and another film released that year, “On the Basis of Sex,” dramatized Ginsburg and her husband arguing her first discrimination case in the 1970s.

Ginsburg was a lifelong fan of opera, and during her time on the bench she came to be seen as one of the country’s foremost promoters of the art form. In 2015 she attended the debut of a one-act operatic comedy that dramatized her friendship with fellow Supreme Court justice and opera lover Antonin Scalia, a conservative with whom she frequently disagreed on legal matters.

During her Supreme Court years, Ginsburg battled cancer several times but always insisted on returning to the bench as quickly as possible after treatments. Even as she became more visibly frail, her determination to stick to her rigorous, much-publicized daily workout routine and her regular, relentless schedule of work earned her ever greater admiration as she demonstrated her endurance and the strength of her commitment to causes she had championed for a lifetime.

Ginsburg died at the age of 87 on Sept. 18, 2020, at her home in Washington, DC, of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer.

After Ginsburg’s death, she lay in repose for two days at the Supreme Court — outdoors due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time — after which, during a private ceremony, she was the first woman to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.

Sweet Tea

MEET SWEET TEA!

Sweet Tea is a delightful one year-old Female Pit Mix who arrived at the Smithtown Animal Shelter after being found wandering around busy roads and trying to get into passing cars. Her time as a stray left her a little underweight, and there were some signs that she had a recent litter.

After initially being somewhat unsure of herself in her new surroundings, she has shown the shelter staff just how friendly and loving she can be! Sweet Tea is a small ball of energy and an absolute pleasure to be around. She enjoys meeting anyone who will give her some attention, and she responds positively to training. Sweet Tea would do well in a home with older children, and she’ll likely get along with most other dogs that can tolerate her social behavior.

If you are interested in meeting Sweet Tea, please fill out an application to schedule time to properly interact with her in a domestic setting, which includes a Meet and Greet Room, the dog runs, and a Dog Walk trail.

The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.

 

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Suffolk County Police arrested a Moriches woman on Oct. 4 for allegedly driving with 40 license suspensions in Patchogue.

Ashley Burgos was driving a 2012 Kia Optima westbound on Sunrise Highway, at Phyllis Drive, when an officer observed a fraudulent Georgia license plate and dark tinted windows and initiated a traffic stop at approximately 5:10 p.m. A check of Burgos’ license revealed 40 license suspensions on eight different dates.

The Kia Optima was impounded.

Burgos, 38, was charged with alleged Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 2nd Degree, a misdemeanor, and several traffic summonses. She was released on a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

Gov. Kathy Hochul updates New Yorkers on Saturday, Sept. 30, the day after declaring a state of emergency for Long Island. Photo courtesy the New York State Executive Chamber

Flash flooding leveled much of the tri-state area last Friday, Sept. 29, prompting a state of emergency declaration for Long Island while unleashing damage and halting some services.

The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood watch for Long Island Friday, which remained in effect into the night. Heavy rainfall and intense flooding throughout the region prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to declare a state of emergency for Long Island, as well as for New York City and portions of the Hudson Valley.

Heavy flooding caused roadway closures at state Route 110 in Huntington between Mill Lane and Prime Avenue near Madison Street at Heckscher State Park, according to a NWS report. In Commack, a stranded motorist on Town Line Road required an emergency service response, the same report indicated.

In an emailed statement, Town of Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth (R) maintained that much of the town’s infrastructure and services remained undisturbed despite the heavy rainfall.

“Highway Superintendent Andre Sorrentino and the Highway Department, along with our Environmental Waste Management Department, were out in full force with pumps and tree crews clearing and cleaning,” Smyth said. “Our sewage treatment plants received more than double their normal water flow without any reported spillage.”

He added that garbage collection continued as scheduled, though the storm had disrupted and canceled numerous local events. “However, normal government operations continued without interruption. Although there were no significant issues, the town is currently assessing all departments to determine any and all issues relating to the storm.”

Joana Flores, media liaison for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, indicated that operations along the Long Island Rail Road’s Port Jefferson Branch were largely undeterred.

“Friday’s weather event did not have any impact on MTA infrastructure in the Port Jefferson area or to Port Jefferson train service,” Flores said. “With the exception of one train that was momentarily delayed due to a non-weather-related matter, the Port Jefferson Branch operated on or close to schedule.”

“Crews did perform periodic patrols of the Port Jefferson Branch to monitor conditions of the infrastructure,” she added.

Electrical infrastructure had similarly avoided major damages, according to Jeremy Walsh, a spokesperson for PSEG Long Island. “Friday’s flooding did not impact the electric infrastructure,” he said in an email. “Overall, the system performed well. While we did experience scattered outage activity, it was mainly as a result of the heavy rains and gusty conditions impacting trees and tree limbs, not flood damage.”

Given projections for more frequent and intense storm events over the coming years, Walsh added that the utility company is continuing efforts toward mitigating the associated risks to the electrical grid.

“PSEG Long Island has been storm-hardening the electric grid since 2014, including elevating equipment at some substations to protect against flooding, and this has helped reduce the impact of severe weather events,” he noted. “We continue to storm-harden the infrastructure using the best projections for future flooding and wind conditions that are available to us.”

The storm’s impacts were not limited to public infrastructure, however. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation temporarily closed much of the North Shore to shellfishing due to “extremely heavy rainfall and extraordinary amounts of stormwater runoff and localized street flooding … which may result in conditions causing shellfish to be hazardous for use as food,” a NYSDEC report said.

At a press conference the following day, Sept. 30, Hochul announced that there had been no recorded fatalities due to the flooding, thanking the public for heeding emergency warnings.

“What had been described by myself as a potentially life-threatening event ended up being a time when people listened, they reacted properly, they took precautions and no lives were lost,” the governor said.

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