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Yearly Archives: 2024

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Blueberry-Pecan Scones

By Heidi Sutton

This weekend, wake up the family with the delicious smell of blueberry-pecan scones baking in the oven or make these scrumptious Blueberry Cake Donuts for dessert.

Blueberry-Pecan Scones

Recipe courtesy of Cooking Light Magazine

Blueberry-Pecan Scones

YIELD: Makes 10 scones

INGREDIENTS: 

1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons grated lemon rind

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into pieces

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1/4 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted

Cooking spray

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375°. Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Gently fold in blueberries and pecans. Add milk mixture, stirring just until moist (dough will be sticky).

Turn dough out onto a floured surface; pat dough into an 8-inch circle. Cut dough into 10 wedges, and place the dough wedges on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Brush egg white over dough wedges; sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake for 18 minutes or until golden. Serve warm or at room temperature.

See how to make this recipe here.

Blueberry Cake Donuts

Recipe courtesy of Culinary.net

Blueberry Donuts

YIELD: Makes 2 dozen regular donuts, 48 mini donuts

INGREDIENTS: 

1 cup cake flour

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt, divided

2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided

2 eggs, plus 1 egg yolk

1 cup buttermilk

2 cups blueberries

2-4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, whisk cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda and baking powder. In large bowl or stand mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla until fluffy. Add eggs and yolk; mix until creamy. Alternate adding buttermilk and flour mixture until blended. Remove bowl from stand mixer, add blueberries and stir until combined.

Fill piping bag with batter. Fill mini donut pan cavities about halfway. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool completely. In medium bowl, whisk 1 cup powdered sugar, milk, remaining salt and remaining vanilla extract. Add additional 1 to 3 cups powdered sugar until mixture reaches desired thickness. Dip cooled donuts in glaze and place on wired rack to drip off excess.

Substitution: If cake flour isn’t available, measure 1 cup all-purpose flour and remove 2 tablespoons. Add 2 tablespoons cornstarch.

See how to make this recipe here.

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METRO photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but I just received a copy of the draft of the debate rules that were sent to the two older gentlemen who would like to be president from 2024 to 2028.

Now, no one was supposed to see these, but my friend’s nephew’s babysitter’s neighbor happened to be taking out his recycling and he noticed a piece of paper with official presidential letter head on it. I’m going to share a few ideas that almost made it into the debate.

First, the two candidates considered the possibility of a brief nap. Each of them would have had a pillow and a small bed, just off stage, where they could recover and restore their vim and vigor.

Second, they were considering whether to allow a translator for each of them. That way, when one of them misspeaks and uses the wrong name or mispronounces a word, a country, a language or a religion, the translator could auto correct for the moment.

Third, they each considered bringing a Pinocchio onstage. When the other person spoke, the nonspeaking candidate could demonstrate the perceived inaccuracy of the other person’s comments by extending the nose of their puppet. 

Fourth, they each considered at least 30 seconds when they could appeal directly and exclusively to their donors, explaining why they needed more money and how they would best use it.

Fifth, they were each given the opportunity to ignore one question openly and ask themselves a better one that they themselves could then answer.

Sixth, they wanted the chance to stump the other with their spectacular knowledge of the world. Each person could ask the other to spell the name of a particular country and then demonstrate their world prowess by pointing to that country on an unlabeled map.

Seventh, they could each choose a way to demonstrate their intellectual prowess by choosing from the following list: name as many digits of pi as possible, name the former presidents in order, share the names of some important Supreme Court decisions, or name as many national parks as they could.

Eighth, each candidate would have the opportunity, in a minute or less, to share a lesson they learned in the classroom that they believe has come in particularly handy in their lives.

Ninth, each candidate would have to name at least five people who aren’t relatives and who are alive who they think might be great presidents one day.

Tenth, before they offered their own positions, each president would have a chance to do their best impersonation of the other man. For 90 seconds, each of them could pretend to be the candidate for the rival party.

Eleventh, in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation, each one had to say something genuinely supportive and nice about the other person, and it couldn’t be about the person’s family.

Twelfth, each participant would need to spend at least 30 seconds sharing his thoughts on RFK Jr.’s candidacy.

Thirteenth, each candidate would have to indicate how he would be president for the entire United States and not just his constituency. Each candidate would be required to speak directly to the supporters of the other candidate, suggesting why people who have made up their minds should change their vote.

Fourteenth, both candidates would need to discuss something other than his rival as the greatest threat to the future of the United States.

Fifteenth, each candidate should discuss why, despite their frustration with the press that they think favors the other side, they still support the First Amendment. They would also need to share their views on the value of a free press, emphasizing in particular its ability to hold politicians accountable.

Sixteenth, the winner of the debate, as determined by an independent panel of disinterested observers, would circle the stage while sharing some dance moves of his choice.

Seventeenth, regardless of the outcome of the debate, the candidates agree to shake each other’s hands, to smile and to wish their competitor, their competitor’s family, and the country well.

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The sculpture of Borghese's Itala in Kirov, Russia. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

This month marks an anniversary of the Peking to Paris Road Race of 1907. Now there is a recent book to recount the adventure, “The Race to the Future,” by Kassia St. Clair. Five automobiles, so newly invented that people weren’t sure what to call them, turned out for the 9000-mile trip over unpaved deserts and mountains, rivers and forests to win the acclaim, and a magnum of Mumm champagne, that would go to the first person to reach the finish line.

More than a race, it was really a challenge to promote the use of motor cars. The Paris newspaper. “Le Matin,” on January 31, 1907 wrote the following:

“What needs to be proved today is that as long as man has a car, he can do anything and go anywhere. Is there anyone who will undertake to travel this summer from Paris to Peking by automobile?”

The race actually started in the other direction, from the French embassy in Peking (now Beijing) on June 10th and came down to between two very different men, ending on August 10th.

The winner was the car carrying the imperious Italian Prince Scipione Borghese, Ettore Guizzardi, who apparently did most of the driving, and journalist Luigi Barzini, who in 1908 wrote a book about the trip, “Peking to Paris.” Frenchman Charles Godard was the raffish driver of the second car, and he had no money, begged for petrol, borrowed the Dutch Spyker for the trip, and was arrested for fraud near the end of the race. One of the other cars, the three-wheel Contal cyclecar, bccame bogged down. Godard and the journalist with him ran out of fuel in the Gobi desert and almost died. Borghese’s personal car, The Itala, was technically superior to the others.

Gasoline and provisions were carried ahead by camel and horseback, and newspapers arranged for a reporter in each car to track the progress and send back articles. Because the race followed a telegraph route, stories could be posted regularly from the stations to Paris. 

Some of the areas in Asia were so remote that people were unfamiliar with automobiles, only using horses to reach them. And St. Clair, in the book, recounts episodes like the search in the Urals for carpenters to repair the cars’ smashed wooden wheels. The direction of the book, however, is always forward, as can be guessed from the title. The decadent empires of Russia and China that the racers were traversing were fading but the adventure of the remote villages and primitive Siberian settlements must have been fantastic experiences.

The race has stimulated the imagination of many over the century, and there have been reenactments during that time. In 1908 The Great Auto Race, which went from New York west (by sea for part of the way) to Paris, tried to capture the excitement of that first race. When Russia became the USSR after the 1917 Revolution, that route was barred; only when the Soviet Union dissolved in the 1990, were racers allowed back.

Other routes for similar car races include the 1997 “Second Peking to Paris Motor Challenge” that went through Tibet, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece and Italy, a more southerly trail. And there have been others through the years.

For me, the excitement of the open road is irresistible, whether it is intercontinental or merely out east to the Hamptons. The unknown that lies beyond the next bend promises, if not rugged terrain, at least new sights, sounds and contacts. It’s not necessarily a race that beckons, only the adventure of the different and unexpected. 

For me, the challenge is not the wild terrain but merely navigating the traffic. As the houses drop away and the farms and vineyards come into view, I can feel myself physically relax and breathe in the smells of flowering fields and sod farms.

I can only imagine the thrill of crossing unchartered lands.

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Catholic Health hosts a Community Health Fair at 245 Old Country Road, Melville on Saturday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a day of healthy fun with free health screenings, CPR/First Aid demonstrations, free narcan kits, and educational activities for all ages including a teddy bear clinic. Meet with Catholic Health specialists and other vendors and enjoy lots of free giveaways. Rain date is June 23. For more information and to register for a free gift, please call 516-705-3839.

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Connor Biddle shows off the fish he caught before releasing it back into the water. Photo by Carol Tokosh/FCSP
Ryan Millan catching a fish. Photo by Carol Tokosh/FCSP
Salvatore Rizzo and his trophy. Photo by Carol Tokosh/FCSP
Junior Anglers compete in the 2024 Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve annual fishing competition. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Junior Anglers compete in the 2024 Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve annual fishing competition. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Junior Anglers compete in the 2024 Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve annual fishing competition. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Junior Anglers compete in the 2024 Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve annual fishing competition. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Junior Anglers compete in the 2024 Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve annual fishing competition. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Easton Hodge with his trophy for Biggest Other Fish. Photo by Carol Tokosh/FCSP

Submitted by the Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve

It was a beautiful day for fishing on June 8, and that’s exactly what children with rods and bait in hand did during the Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve’s Annual Junior Angler Tournament. 

The Friends group held two catch-and-release fishing competitions at the preserve: one for 5- to 8-year-olds in the morning of June 8 and another for 9- to 12-year-olds in the afternoon. Throughout the day, more than 40 junior anglers caught a total of 151 fish, according to Tom and Carol Tokosh, event co-chairs. The variety of fish included trout, bass and sunfish.

“For some of the children, it was their first time fishing. For others, it was the first fish they ever caught,” Carol Tokosh said. “The children would get very excited with each fish that they caught.”

Morning winners included Logan Wagner, 8, who won Most Fish Caught, which was 6. Salvatore Rizzo, 5, won Biggest Panfish for catching one that was 9 inches. Easton Hodge, 8, caught a 21-inch trout, which garnered him the Biggest Other Fish award. In the afternoon, Arabella Siegel, 12, won Most Fish Caught for reeling in an 11-inch fish. Patrick O’Donnell caught a 9-inch panfish which earned him The Biggest Panfish award. The Biggest Other Fish award went to Connor Biddle, 11, whose catch measured 17 inches. 

Raffles were held at both sessions. Oliver Rogeinski won a rod, reel and tackle box. The prize was in memory of Michael D’Agostino, who was one of the founders of FCSP. In the afternoon tournament, Addilynn Blaine won a reel and rod donated in memory of Peter Paquette, the Friends group treasurer, who passed away in May. Both D’Agostino and Paquette volunteered every year at the tournament. 

All participants received goodie bags containing information about fishing and the preserve as well as word search puzzles, a park activity book and other fishing items.

The event co-chairs thanked the volunteers for their help during the event as well as sponsors Campsite Store Shop and The Fisherman magazine for sponsoring the junior angler tournament.

“A special thank you goes out to the staff at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve for getting the park ready so the children could have a wonderful time fishing,” Carol Tokosh said. “Hopefully, the children will be hooked on fishing and will come back to the park to fish.”

Tom Tokosh encouraged junior anglers to visit the park to participate in catch-and-release fishing regularly. “It’s refreshing to see children out fishing and enjoying an activity in the fresh air,” he said. “Fishing at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve always makes for a memorable day.”

For more information on fishing at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, call 631-265-1054.

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Hocus
Pocus

MEET HOCUS AND POCUS!

This week’s featured shelter pets are Hocus and her sister, Pocus who were adopted from the Smithtown Animal Shelter as kittens. They are affectionate, playful and loving.

They lived in a home with another cat, a large dog and a 5-year-old child. Two years later, they ended up back at the shelter when their tiny human developed allergies to them. These sisters have always been together and the shelter staff want to keep it that way. If you are interested in meeting Hocus and Pocus, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with them in the Meet and Greet room.

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

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OH THE THINKS YOU CAN THINK! Catch a performance of 'Seussical the Musical' in Northport this weekend. Photo from John W. Engeman Theater

PROGRAMS

First Steps in Nature

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown continues its First Steps in Nature series for ages 2 to 4 on June 21 at 9:30 a.m. An experienced educator will lead your youngster through hands-on exciting activities, crafts, stories and much more. Children will gain a greater appreciation of nature and wildlife while having fun. $20 per child. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344.

Me & You with Keri Wirth

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Lloyd Harbor presents Me & You with Keri Wirth on June 23 at 10:30 a.m. Rock out to singer/songwriter Keri Wirth’s original music that is funny and educational and dance your way into the sunny day. Pick up an instrument and create a harmonious musical environment with other families in the peaceful Walled Garden. For ages infant to 5 years old and families. Fee is $20. To register, visit www.caumsettfoundation.org/programs. 631-423-1770

Sunday Funday Mud Day

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents its annual Sunday Funday Mud Day on June 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join them for slime making, sand playing and volcano building. Meet some animals that love to dig around just like you! $15 per child and no charge for adults. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Ave., Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on June 24 at 10:30 a.m. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4. 631-482-5008

Dress Up at Sea

Love costumes? The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor presents Dress Up at Sea on June 27 at 2:30 p.m. and again at 430 p.m. Dive into sailors’ sea traditions and discover line-crossing ceremonies where crew members dressed as underwater queens and mermaids. Join drag artist Bella Noche for Drag Story Hour to explore maritime mermaid tales. Get your face painted and create cool costume crafts! $20 child; $10 adult. Advance registration required by visiting www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. 631-367-3418

THEATER

‘Seussical the Musical’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children’s theater with Seussical the Musical from June 1 to June 30. “Oh the Thinks You Can Think!” Dive into the colorful world of Dr. Seuss as The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who sets off to save a speck of dust containing The Whos from destruction. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, imagination, loyalty, and community are challenged and emerge victorious. Tickets are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Raggedy Ann & Andy’

“Be a buddy, be a pal, be a friend …”  Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Raggedy Ann and Andy from July 5 to July 27. The world’s favorite and most famous rag dolls come to life in a heart-warming adventure about friendship and loyalty as the toys save the Tiwilliger Toy Workshop for Extra-Special Friends. A captivating tale of the power of love and cooperation. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

FILM

Catch a screening of ‘Labyrinth’ at the Cinema Arts Centre on June 23. Photo courtesy of CAC

‘Labyrinth’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids! series with a screening of Labyrinth on June 23 at noon. Teenager Sarah, stuck babysitting her baby brother, angrily wishes that goblins from her favorite book The Labyrinth will come take him away. When her wish comes true, Sarah must head into the Labyrinth herself to save him. Rated PG. Tickets are $13 adults, $5 children 12 and under. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

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MUSICAL ARTISTRY Catch a free screening of 'The Chisels Are Calling,' a profile of legendary guitar and mandolin builder John Monteleone, at the Long Island Museum on June 20. Photo courtesy of Street Singer Productions
Ongoing

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

The 59th annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival returns to Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington from June 21 to Aug. 24, Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. The 10-week festival will feature over 40 live performances including dance, theater and music. Bring seating. Held rain or shine. Free. For a list of scheduled performers, visit www.huntingtonarts.org. 631-271-8423

Thursday June 20

Lunch and Learn

Huntington Historical Society continues its Lunch and Learn series with a presentation titled The Lloyds & Jupiter Hammon at Harbor Mist Restaurant, 105 Harbor Road, Cold Spring Harbor from noon to 2 p.m. Presenter Andrew Tharler, Education and Engagement Director, Preservation Long Island, will discuss the life and writing of Jupiter Hammon, the first published Black American poet who was enslaved by the Lloyd family on Long Island in the 18th century. $55 per person, $45 members includes a two-course gourmet meal and dessert. Cash bar available. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org. 631-427-7045

Juneteenth Fashion Show

In celebration of Juneteenth, Rhonda Gooden of Chez Lâa Reine Boutique on New York Avenue in Huntington, will host a “fabulous” fashion show on the Great Lawn of the Walt Whitman Birthplace, 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station from 5 to 9 p.m.  The event will feature a dozen models showcasing African American styles from today and yesteryear along with a poetry reading, cultural exhibit and bbq (fee). Free admission. 631-427-5240

Summer Thursday at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook kicks off its 2024 Summer Thursdays series with a free screening of The Chisels Are Calling followed by a Q&A with director Trevor Laurence and John Monteleone, as well as a performance by Chico Pinheiro from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The special event also includes free admission to the museum’s latest exhibit,  Musical Masterworks. A unique way to experience the LIM after hours. 631-751-0066

Goat & Alpaca Yoga

The Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St. Smithtown presents two Goat & Alpaca Yoga workshops (5:30 to 6:30 p.m. or 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.) with Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo. Features 45 minutes of yoga followed by 15 minutes of photo-ops and a play session to cool down. BYO yoga mat and water. Tickets are $35 at www.eventbrite.com. For more information, call 631-265-6768.

Vanderbilt Lecture

Join the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport for a lecture titled The Mummy and the Obelisk: The Vanderbilts and Ancient Egypt at 7 p.m. Roberta Casagrande-Kim, an archaeologist and curator of ancient art, will give a lecture on the Vanderbilt family’s fascination with ancient Egypt. Ticket are $10 per person. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Friday June 21

Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill Tours

Huntington Historical Society will give a tour of the Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill at 11 a.m. Built in 1795, the mill is one of the best preserved 18th-century tide mills in the country. The 1½-hour tour includes a short boat ride from Gold Star Battalion Beach. For ages 12 and up. $20 per person, $15 members. Reservations required. 631-427-7045, www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org

Hoops for Hope Fundraiser

Hope House Ministries will host the 8th Annual Jake Engel Hoops for Hope Fundraiser at Cedar Beach Basketball Court, 244 Harbor Beach Road in Mt. Sinai from 4 to 8 p.m. with a 3v3 Basketball Tournament, food, music, basket prizes and raffles. All are welcome to enjoy a fun, exciting night. All proceeds to benefit Hope House Ministries. To register for the 3v3 tournament or for more information, visit www.hhm.org/hoops-for-hope-fundraiser/ or call 631-473-8796.

Third Friday at the Reboli

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Third Friday series with a presentation on The Aluminaire House with guest speakers Frances Campani and Jon Michael Schwarting from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Free. No RSVP required. 631-751-7707

Saturday June 22

Farmingdale Craft & Gift Fair

Farmingdale will host a Craft & Gift Fair featuring vendors and food along Main Street and the Village Green today and June 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a Farmers Market on June 23. 516-442-6000

Community Dance Workshop

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station hosts a Community Dance Workshop from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Explore community and connection through guided movement with dance educator Jacqueline Lynch. No dance experience necessary! Open to all. Call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org to register.

Adopt & Rescue Event

Anna and Raven from The Anna & Raven Show on WALK 97.5 will host their 4th annual Adopt + Rescue event at Little Shelter, 33 Warner Road, Huntington from noon to 5 p.m. Meet tons of adoptable dogs and cats with live music and raffle baskets.  631-368-8770

Pride Festival

Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills presents its inaugural Pride celebration, hosted in partnership with Colored Colors from 2 to 8 p.m. with showcases featuring talented queer artists, a campaign spotlighting leaders in the LGBTQ+ community, workshops for all ages, led by queer artists, and dazzling live performances on the Art League’s new stage.  Free admission. 631-462-5400

OLLI One-Day University

Lifelong learners are invited to a showcase of fun and educational workshops as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Stony Brook University’s Student Activities Center Ballroom, first floor, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Topics include art, music, history, humor, entertainment and more. $15 per person includes refreshments, giveaways, and raffles. To RSVP, visit stonybrook.edu/olli/oneday or 631-632-6554.

Black History Walking Tour

The Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport celebrates Juneteenth with a Black History Walking Tour on June 22 at 1 p.m. Presented by researcher Ceylan Swenson, attendees will experience familiar locations from a different vantage point, as they hear the compelling narratives of the diverse Black families who have called Northport and its surrounding areas home for generations. Tour begins in Northport Village Park. $7 per person. Register at www.northporthistorical.org. 631-757-9859

Sunday June 23

Farmingdale Craft & Gift Fair

See June 22 listing.

Car Show and Swap Meet

Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater at Bald Hill, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville, hosts a Car Show and Swap Meet by Long Island Cars from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with street rods, classics, muscle cars, antiques, exotics, imports and collectible cars on display with vendors selling parts and accessories, food and entertainment. Admission is $10, under 12 years are free. 631-567-5898, www.LongIslandCars.com

Elks Smithtown USA Car Show

Smithtown Elks Lodge #2036, 120 Edgewood Ave., Smithtown presents its 4th annual Elks Smithtown USA Car Show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with antique, classic, custom, muscle and special interest vehicles. Fee is $5 for spectators, kids under 12 are free. Rain date is June 30. 631-873-6068

Huntington Lighthouse Tour – This event has been canceled due to the extreme heat index.

The Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society hosts guided tours of the historic Huntington Lighthouse on June 23, July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8. Built in 1912, it is on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy a boat ride out and back to the lighthouse, and learn about the history of the Huntington lighthouse, how it was saved from demolition by a dedicated group of volunteers, and the important role it continues to play as a working navigational aid. One hour boat tour leaves from Gold Star Battalion Beach, 324 West Shore Road, Huntington continuously starting at 11 a.m. Last boat departs at 3 p.m. Flat rubber soled shoes required (no flip flops).  $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 children ages 5 to 12. www.huntingtonlighthouse.org/tours

TruckFest

American Truck Historical Society Long Island Chapters will hold a TruckFest — All Truck Show at The Maples, 10 Ryerson Ave., Manorville from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featuring pick-ups to Peterbilts and everything in between including big rigs, jeeps and all utility coupe trucks. $5 admission for spectators. All you can eat bbq for $20. Proceeds benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Rain date is Sept. 8. 631-774-7555

LI Moose Classic Car Club Car Show

Baiting Hollow Church, 2416 Sound Ave., Baiting Hollow hosts the Long Island Moose Classic Car Club from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with entertainment, refreshments, raffles and vendors. $5 for spectators. Proceeds benefit St. Jude’s Hospital. Rain date is June 30. 631-831-3547

Caumsett Hike

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Lloyd Harbor hosts a Map Hike from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.  Participants will use a map of the park to navigate to specific destinations. The hike will cover approximately 5 miles over some hills. $4 per person. Adults only. Advance registration required by calling 631-423-1770.

Benner’s Farm Concert

Good Earth Soundstage at Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket welcomes Hank Stone and Ben Diamond in concert from 3 to 5 p.m. $15 donation at the door. Bring seating. Proceeds will benefit the artists and Homestead Arts for this year’s Fiddle & Folk Festival. 631-689-8172

Josie Bello in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents a concert by Josie Bello (folk, country & blues) from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org. 

Michael Goldstein in concert

The Chai Center, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills welcomes Michael Goldstein in concert at 5 p.m. Featuring Latin, pop and jazz genres. Tickets are $15 per person. To RSVP, visit www.thechaicenter.com/concert. 631-351-8672

Monday June 24

Pride Picnic in Smithtown

Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve, 200 New Highway, Commack hosts the 3rd Annual Pride Family Picnic from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pack a picnic dinner and come join the Town of Smithtown Unity Council and the Youth Bureau to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride with games, face painting, DJ, crafts and more. Snacks, beverages and desserts will be served. $12 parking without a Smithtown parking sticker. To register (by June 21) visit bit.ly/smithtownpride2024.

Tuesday June 25

Reboli Art Reception

The Reboli Center for Art & History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook will host a reception for the opening of the Gallery North Wet Paint Festival exhibit from 6 to 8 p.m. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of the People’s Choice award will be announced. 631-751-7707

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to sing along with Ted Haiman, piano accompanist and entertainer, in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Wednesday June 26

Cruise Night Car Show

The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River hosts a Cruise Night Car Show every Wednesday through October from 5 to 9 p.m. Visit the Shoppes, enjoy a bite to eat and then check out the fine array of classic cars in the parking lot. 631-929-3500

St. James Summer Nights

St. James Elementary School, 580 Lake Ave., St. James hosts St. James Summer Nights tonight,  July 17 (rain date July 24) and Aug. 14 (rain date Aug. 21) from 5 to 9:30 p.m. featuring live music, crafts and vendors under the summer stars. 516-220-8217

St. Anthony’s Family Festival

Fr. Thomas Judge Knights of Columbus celebrates its 31st annual St. Anthony’s Family Feast and Festival  at Trinity Regional School, 1025 Fifth Ave., East Northport tonight, June 27 and 28 from 6 to 11 p.m. and June 29 from 3 to 11 p.m. Featuring rides, games, food, craft beer, live music by Totally Taylor and circus show by Cirque Cyber. Fireworks on June 28. Free admission, pay-one-price rides or individual rides. 631-261-1077

Milagro in Concert

Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn presents its annual summer outdoor concert featuring Milagro (Santana tribute band) at 7 p.m. The band will play Carlos Santana’s legendary hits, blending rock, blues, funk, Latin, and jazz to capture his musical style and rhythm. This concert is open to the public, and there is no registration required. Bring seating. 631-757-4200

Thursday June 27

St. Anthony’s Family Festival

See June 26 listing.

Next Chapter Author Talk

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Avenue, Huntington welcomes former New York Jet defensive tackle and current Jets radio analyst Marty Lyons for an Author Talk at 7 p.m. Lyons will be speaking about and signing copies of his book, “If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the New York Jets Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box.” www.thenextchapterli.com.

Native American Drumming

All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will host an evening of Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m.  Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Free. Call 631-655-7798 for more information.

Theater 

‘The Producers’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Mel Brooks’ The Producers from May 18 to June 22. With something to offend everyone, the hilarious show-biz hit follows the antics of a pair of scheming Broadway producers with a plan to put on the biggest flop of all time. Featuring “If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It,” That Face,” “Keep It Gay,” and the outrageous “Springtime for Hitler.” Contains adult humor and situations. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Jersey Boys’

Extended! John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St. Northport presents Jersey Boys, the story of Franki Valli & The Four Seasons, from March 14 to June 30. They were just 4 guys from Jersey until they sang their very first note–a sound the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage was a different story ­— a story that has made them a sensation all over again. Winner of the 2006 Tony© Award for “Best Musical,” Jersey Boys features the top ten hits “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and “December, 1963 (Oh What A Night).” To order tickets, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Romeo and Juliet’

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its 35th annual Shakespeare in the Courtyard Festival with Romeo and Juliet from June 7 to July 5 (No performance June 19 & 21). Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy of star crossed lovers follows two families locked in an ancient rivalry. When two children from opposing sides fall in love, they challenge the imposed norms of the time and set both families on a path to ruin. Presented by the Carriage House Players, the show will take place in the mansion’s Spanish Revival Courtyard on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Newsies’

Stop the presses! This Disney film turned Tony-winning Broadway hit Newsies heads to the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown from July 13 to Aug. 18. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right! Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org

CALENDAR DEADLINE  is Wednesday at noon, one week before publication. Items may be mailed to: Times Beacon Record News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Email your information about community events to [email protected]. Calendar listings are for not-for-profit organizations (nonsectarian, nonpartisan events) only, on a space-available basis. Please include a phone number that can be printed.

 

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Josh Wege (with baseball hat) a United States Marine, retired Lance Corporal and Brian Gentilotti, United States Airforce. Photo courtesy St. Charles Hospital

By Christopher Schulz

Three members of the USA Patriots softball team — formerly known as the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team — visited patients at the St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson Friday morning, June 14. The group initially met in the hospital’s recreational center before proceeding to meet the patients.

The softball players, Josh Wege, Jeffrey Hackett and Brian Gentilotti, shared their stories with the approximately 30 staff members and 10 patients. 

Wege said he lost both his legs fighting in Afghanistan as a Marine in 2009. The military vehicle he was riding in hit a bomb that “turned into a landmine” which “traumatically amputated [his] right leg” and mangled his left leg. He now has two prosthetics in place of his lower legs.

Despite his traumatic injury, Wege keeps pushing forward. 

“The biggest motivator I would say is to get my life back,” he said. “There are some things that you feel like are just taken away from you”. He later added that he “felt broken” inside that he did not have the same agility and speed he once had as a star athlete. 

“You don’t want to feel broken so you start chasing the life that you had,” he said. 

Hackett, on the other hand, pushes forward every day for his family. After losing his left leg, “I still wanted to stay in the Army so that pushed me to get back to a normal life,” he said. 

In addition, Hackett expressed his respect toward the patients. “They all have their own story. It’s all about making goals and taking that step further,” he said. 

One such patient, Shawn Coyle, does not need prosthetics but is in need of a wheelchair at all times. He has avascular necrosis affecting both hips. Coyle says he was diagnosed with the condition six months ago but has only been in the hospital for a couple weeks now.

He has already had surgery on one of his hips. The surgery for his other hip will happen in a few months. When asked about how he felt about the softball players coming, he jokingly responded that he wanted to play with them. 

“I like softball,” Coyle simply stated. He also found it “inspiring” to see them and would love to play again his own sports — basketball and baseball — someday. “It’s a process but you’ve got to just keep working at it,” he said. “I feel like they’re like regular people,” referring to the players. 

Both Wege and Hackett expressed their desire to come back to St. Charles Hospital or any other hospital to visit and support people who are in the same position they were once in. 

“You either stay where you’re at or you just keep inching forward every day and try to get your life back. We like to give that message to people and even talk to kids in schools because they’re curious and they have never met a wounded warrior before, [especially] at the state that we’re at,” Wege said. 

“This is stuff we like to do,” Hackett agreed. 

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Marie Parziale, Xena Ugrinsky and Kyle Hill outside the polling site on June 18. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

By Aidan Johnson

Kyle Hill and Xena Ugrinsky will join the Port Jefferson Village Board of Trustees after winning the June 18 election, receiving 796 and 673 votes, respectively.

“What an outstanding turnout from Port Jefferson voters yesterday,” Port Jefferson Village Mayor Lauren Sheprow said. “We are very passionate about our elections!” 

The race saw three candidates—Hill, Ugrinsky and Port Jefferson resident Marie Parziale—compete for two open seats, replacing Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay and Village Trustee Drew Biondo. Parziale finished in third place with 449 votes.

Additionally, 90 write-in votes were cast, including for names such as former Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden, former Village Mayor Hal Sheprow, Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay and Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee Chair Anthony Portesy.

“I congratulate Xena and Kyle on their victories and look forward to working with them starting with our first meeting as a Board on July 1,” Sheprow said in a statement. “We have a lot of work to do! I know Xena will hit the ground running and I look forward to getting to know Kyle and hearing more about what he would like to contribute as a Trustee.”

In an interview after the results were announced, Hill expressed gratitude for the support he received.

“I feel like our campaign was really about reaching out to folks that are in the village, not on social media, and really just want to see the place as great as it can be. Having those conversations face to face with folks was a great experience,” Hill said.

“I’m excited to work with the entire board and mayor and looking forward to all the great things that we can do together,” he added.

In a speech to her supporters, Ugrinsky also expressed appreciation for the support and help she received.

“I promise that I will do my best to try and solve some of these problems, and I don’t care if it takes two years, six years, or ten years,” Ugrinsky said. “Even if there’s a term limit, I’m here as a resident; I care so deeply about this village, and I hope to make you all proud.”

In a statement, Parziale congratulated Hill and Ugrinsky on their win, saying she looks “forward to the positive changes you will bring.”

“I remain dedicated to uniting our community and encouraging participation in the village’s ‘Make a Difference’ committees. Additionally, I am committed to advancing the uptown economic development plan and am honored to have accepted the chair of the committee,” Parziale stated.

The last meeting of the current village board will be on June 26 and the swearing-in ceremony will take place on July 4.

 

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