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Yearly Archives: 2024

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By Nasrin Zahed

Port Jefferson Board of Education convened on Tuesday, April 9, to kick off the start to the final quarter of the school year. The meeting highlighted achievements and initiatives, such as academic recognition and community engagement discussions. Updates on student activities were shared alongside discussions on budget and curriculum enhancements, reflecting the district’s focus on educational advancement.

John Ruggero, principal of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, announced the valedictorian, Eric Chen, and salutatorian, Michelle Wu, for the Class of 2024. Both students were congratulated on their exceptional academic achievements.

Capital projects

Following a few other brief presentations, Sean Leister, deputy superintendent, provided a comprehensive overview of the current status and future plans for capital projects. Leister began by addressing the delays encountered at the state level regarding project approvals, which contributed to the district falling slightly behind schedule.

For the 2022-23 period, Leister highlighted ongoing projects such as the middle school retaining wall and drainage, the high school bleacher project, the elementary pool repair and the completion of a segment of the high school roofing project. He noted that despite initial budget estimates, actual project costs varied with some coming in under budget while others exceeded projections.

Transitioning to the 2023-24 period, Leister outlined projects still under review, including the ADA bathroom and phase one of the windows replacement at the high school, while also mentioning completed projects such as the rear boundary fence at the elementary school and the cancellation of the stop-arm booth project.

Looking ahead to 2024-25, Leister proposed additional projects, including the renovation of the high school orchestra room, further pool maintenance and additional roofing work. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a contingency budget to address unforeseen circumstances, detailing the restrictions and limitations associated with such a budget.

Public comment

During the presentation, community member concerns regarding declining enrollment and long-term planning were raised. Leister acknowledged the importance of addressing these concerns and assured attendees that discussions regarding future plans were ongoing.

However, concerns raised by Port Jefferson residents during the public comment period shed light on broader community apprehensions. 

Village resident Suzette Smookler expressed worries about declining enrollment and long-term planning, emphasizing the need for transparency and proactive measures. She urged the board to consider contingency plans and engage in open dialogue with stakeholders to address these concerns effectively.

“Whether I look at BOCES reports, your reports, Newsday’s reports, we definitely have a significant declining enrollment,” Smookler said of the district’s current enrollment figures. 

Smookler asked the board how they plan to address the current enrollment numbers. “What is the plan B?” she asked. Smookler continued advocating for a more inviting conversation from residents. “Openness and communication go a long way,” she said. “I would appreciate it if maybe you [the board] can get a committee, a group together, some people from in town, some who have never had children, some who have put six through the distinct. I think by doing that you will foster less divisiveness and distrust.” 

Another resident, Gail Sternberg echoed similar sentiments, posing questions before the board with regard to the district’s current reserve fund status. Sternberg noted the current amount of reserves the district has, at approximately $23 million, though only $1.8 million can be used on an unrestricted basis, as Leister explained. 

Board President Ellen Boehm reassured attendees that discussions regarding long-term planning and enrollment were ongoing. Boehm noted the board’s intention to consider the formation of a committee to facilitate dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders.

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Blueberry Cheese Blintzes

By Heidi Sutton

Filled with ricotta and cream cheese and topped with blueberries and honey, enjoy these delicious blintzes during and even after the Passover holiday!

Blueberry Cheese Blintzes

YIELD: Makes 8 servings

 INGREDIENTS: 

For Blintzes:

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup milk

1/3 cup matzo meal

1/3 cup potato starch

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 stick butter, for cooking the blintzes

2  tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying

For Filling:

1/4 cup  honey

2 tsp. vanilla

zest of 1 orange

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup  ricotta cheese

2 cups (12 oz.)  blueberries, divided

For Topping:

remaining 1 cup blueberries

powdered sugar

honey

DIRECTIONS: 

Whisk together the eggs, milk, matzo meal, potato starch and salt, refrigerate for one hour or overnight. Stir together the honey, vanilla, orange zest, cinnamon, cream cheese and ricotta. Fold in 1 cup of the blueberries. Refrigerate.

Melt the butter and vegetable oil together in a small bowl in the microwave. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat, swirl a spoonful of the butter and oil mixture over the surface of the pan.

Whisk the blintz batter to recombine then ladle about 2 oz. of the batter into the pan, swirling the batter to cover the bottom of the pan in a thin layer. Cook for about 1 1/2 minutes or until the blintz begins to set and turn golden brown on the bottom. Flip the blintz over with a spatula and cook for an additional minute on the other side. Remove the blintz to a sheet pan and continue to cook all the batter.

Assemble the blintzes by placing 1/4 cup of the filling in the center, fold in both sides and roll up.

Place blintzes in a shallow pan and reheat for 15 minutes in a 350°F oven or you can microwave them for 2 to 3 minutes.

Place two blintzes on each plate and serve with additional blueberries, powdered sugar and honey!

TIP: You can make the blintzes ahead of time and heat them up when you are ready to serve. Also, try different fruit topping combinations like blackberry and raspberry.

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'Nissequogue River View' by John Mansueto will be on view at the Mills Pond Gallery through May 18. Image courtesy of STAC
'Peconic River' by Mark Levine
'Peace at Still Waters' by Matthew Lombardo
'Autumn at Mills Pond 'by Renee Caine
'After the Storm' by Robert Berson
'Summer Sailing on the Sound' by Scott Hartman
'Memories of Swimming at Robert Moses State Park' by JoAnn Gushue
'67 Steps Beach' by Adam Smith

In perfect timing with Earth Day, the Smithtown Township Arts Council presents Surrounded by Water, a juried art exhibit at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James featuring the work of 94 artists from 53 communities in New York whose work shows us the elegance, power, and fragility of the Long Island waters that are a source of beauty and wonder. The show runs from April 20 to May 18. 

From ponds, streams and bays to oceans, the waters of Long Island have long provided artists endless possibilities in which to seek their muse. Artists were invited to submit works that will stir memories and curiosities about our beautiful Long Island waters, inspiring gallery visitors to reflect on their relationship to the water that shapes nearly every aspect of their lives and how we must all work to protect it.

Mediums include oil, acrylic, colored pencil, conté, gouache, ink, mixed media, pastel, pencil, photography, and watercolor. Prizes will be awarded for Best in Show along with second and third prize.

Exhibiting artists include Adam Smith,  Al Candia, Anastasia Eswar, Angela Stratton, Anthony Davis,Barbara Bilotta, Barbara Jeanne Siegel, Barbara Keenan, Barry Feuerstein, Bart DeCeglie, Bernice Corbin, Carissa Millett, Carol Ceraso, Carol Koch, Catherine Rezin, Christine MacDonagh, Christopher Buckley, Daniel van Benthuysen, Diana Aliberti, Diane Oliva, Dominique Treboux, Drigo Morin, Ellen Ferrigno, Frederic Mendelsohn, George Junker, Gia Horton, Hillary Serota Needle, Howie Pohl, Irene Vitale, Jacques Garant, James Fingado, James Kelson, Jan Guarino, Jane McGraw-Teubner, Jared Glennon, Jeanette Martone,  Jim Minet, Joan Rockwell, JoAnn Gushue, JoAnne Dumas, John Mansueto, John Taylor, Judith Musaro, Judy Pagano, Judy Stone, Karen Davis, Karen Mortimore, Kathee Shaff Kelson, Katheryn Laible, Khrystyne Robillard-Smith, Kusuma Bheemineni, Linda Hartman, Lisa Marie Scrima-Castelli, Lori Scarlatos, Lou Charnon-Deutsch, Lynn Staiano, Margaret Governale, Mark Levine, Marsha Abrams, Mary Kiernan, Matthew Lombardo, Melanie Reim, Mike Stanko, Myungja Anna Koh, Nancy Wernersbach, Oscar Santiago, Patricia DiGiovanni, Patricia Venturino, Patti Peterson, Patty Yantz, Paul Edelson, Regina Halliday, Renee Caine, Robert Berson, Robert Roehrig, Robert Wallkam, Sally Anne Keller, Scott Hartman, Sheila Breck, Sheniqua Young, Stacey Schuman, Susan Guihan Guasp, Terry Tramantano, Theodora Zavala, Tianzhou Zhao, Tina Anthony, Tracy Mahler Tekverk, Vanessa Pineda Fox, Vicki Field, Vivian Hershfield, Whitney Bell, and William Reed.

The public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, April 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. to meet the exhibiting artists and view their work. 

Mills Pond Gallery is located at 660 Route 25A, Saint James. Hours of operation are Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. (closed May 12). Admission to the gallery is always free. For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.

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Port Jefferson Village trustees meeting. File photo

By Lynn Hallarman

During the April 10 Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees workgroup meeting, Treasurer Stephen Gaffga presented the modified tentative budget for fiscal year 2024-25, highlighting the steps the new administration is taking to stay within the New York State 2% tax cap.

Gaffga divided the presentation into four sections: 

• Overview of operational challenges and strategic initiatives 

• Breakdown of the village’s funding sources  

• Allocation of taxpayer dollars across services and obligations 

• Explanation of the impact on resident taxes. 

Operational challenges and strategic initiatives 

Gaffga provided a detailed breakdown of a $541,000 rise in nondiscretionary spending for fiscal year 2024-25. This increase in spending is mostly due to contractual obligations, including employee health insurance, dental insurance, retirement and workers compensation. Notably, there is a large uptick in municipal insurance costs amounting to $131,000, signifying a 50% increase over the previous year. 

Another challenge area is the gradual reduction over time in taxes collected from the Long Island Power Authority under the “glide path” agreement. This year, the village saw a decrease in LIPA’s tax contribution to the property tax base by $135,990. Gaffga noted a roughly $570,000 decline in the assessed valuation of LIPA properties, reflecting their reduced worth. “That decrease has an effect on the tax rate ultimately down the road,” he said. 

Gaffga indicated that the village exceeded the state tax cap eight times in the last nine years. However, he asserted that will not be the case this year.

According to him, “spending under our control” — or discretionary spending — will decrease in the 2024-25 budget “by more than $260,000.” This decrease is due mainly to eliminating the managerial parking position and redistributing those duties over several departments.

“This operational change will result in a $190,000 decrease in spending, which will be passed on to the taxpayer,” he said. 

Gaffga reported that the “deep dive” into the capital fund audit by specialized CPA firm PKF O’Connor Davies of Hauppauge continues. “They’re getting far along in that process. By the end of the fiscal year, we’ll have some idea of the results of that deep dive,” he said.

The treasurer stressed, “It is important that any changes made to this budget are made by the board and they’re done in full view of the public so that everybody understands that the board controls this budget.”

Funding sources

Property taxes account for 60% of the total revenues collected for the village’s general fund, which supports the operational aspects of the village’s budget. Other significant funding comes from managed parking, tax agreements with utilities and recreation fees. 

Expenses 

Employee benefits are the most significant expenditure at 23%, or $2.6 million, of the general fund. General governmental support, which includes funding the treasurer’s office, attorney support, the clerk’s office and the justice court, amounts to roughly $2.4 million.

Other village services funded by the general fund include public safety — fire marshals, building inspectors and code enforcement; culture, parks and recreation, including the Village Center programs; transportation, including sidewalk repaving; and home community services such as the building and planning department and street cleaning. 

“The large majority of our spending [nondiscretionary] we do not have control over,” Gaffga said. There is a total village spending increase of 5%.

Tax impacts

The general fund appropriations in the modified tentative 2024-25 budget are projected at $11,458,475 ($11,371,826), an increase of 0.76%. In addition, the Port Jefferson Country Club budget is shown at $3,550,000 ($2,904,882), an increase of 22.21% that is paid for by raising dues and fees according to Gaffga. 

Total amount of taxes levied by the village for the fiscal year are shown at roughly $6.8 million, about a 2% increase from last year. “New York State establishes the 2% tax cap to ensure local governments don’t grow their tax base beyond what is necessary. The village is coming under what the New York State allows,” Gaffga confirmed.

Residential individual taxpayers could see a tax increase of $1.45 per $100 of assessed valuation. 

Residents can view the modified tentative budget on the village website. Public comments are open until 5 p.m. April 20. Comments should be directed to Sylvia Pirillo, the village clerk, at [email protected].

The Board of Trustees will meet again on Wednesday, April 24, at 6 p.m.

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Photo by Andrew Martin from Pixabay

By Brian Monahan

At the Three Village Civic Association meeting on April 1, residents listened to a presentation regarding the legislative effort in Albany to take actionable steps at implementing the recommendation of the report of the Legislative Commission on the Future of the Long Island Power Authority to make LIPA a “true publicly owned” power authority. This would allow LIPA to run its own electric grid with considerable savings, according to the report.

Yet, the plan’s prospects appear dim in the backdrop of Albany as a late state budget muddies the waters of progress. The commission’s co-chair, Assemblyman Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor), has legislation in the Assembly, but no such bill exists in the Senate. 

Thiele was not available for comment prior to press time. 

“This is something that will be discussed outside and after the budget during the remainder of the legislative session,” said the deputy communications director for state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) when asked if the majority leader would support putting forward a corresponding bill in the Senate. 

PSEG Long Island has reportedly been lobbying heavily in favor of retaining the current “service provider” model, which is uncommon in the United States. Additionally, PSEGLI points to metrics such as reliability, customer satisfaction, “most improved large utility since taking over the grid 10 years ago” and having the “lowest Department of Public Service complaint rate in New York state” as reasons the current model should stay. 

“The public-private partnership has worked for our customers on Long Island and in the Rockaways,” said Katy Tatzel, director of communications for PSEGLI. “Continuous improvement is one of PSEG Long Island’s core tenants. We have made significant improvement to the customer communications system and hardening of the system both before and after [Tropical Storm] Isaias [in 2020] and will continue to make improvements in the future.”

If LIPA were to be a fully public utility, it would have access to tax-exempt bonds and government grants, which it is argued would help lower prices paid by ratepayers. The utility does not have current access to these potential benefits. 

The financial analysis of the LIPA commission identifies between $48 million and $78 million in annual cost savings through “LIPA directly managing the operation of its electric system,” primarily by eliminating the PSEGLI management fee.

Opponents to this municipalization plan include the Long Island Association and the Empire Center. “The Long Island Association opposes a fully-municipal electric utility for our region as recommended by the Legislative Commission on the Future of LIPA, as it would adversely impact ratepayers and Long Island’s energy future,” LIA President & CEO Matt Cohen said in a statement. 

The Empire Center, a free-market-oriented think tank in Albany, notes that the unique situation of a public-private utility makes it an easy target when service goes awry but believes the commission “failed” to make its case for municipalization.

Where does this web lead ratepayers? “I’ve heard a number of different perspectives, but the one that always resonates is how unhappy people are with the current situation,” said Herb Mones of Stony Brook, expressing how few people have time to understand the present system.

Others see municipalization, which would reconfigure the governing body of LIPA, as a key way to getting local political bodies and organized labor represented on LIPA’s board. 

Questions of which model of governance may be adopted or any other plans for the future of municipalization are secondary to whether the legislation will pass. In the interim, ratepayers remain united in seeking the best service for the best rates possible, whatever arrangement this means. 

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METRO photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

If your daughter or son is about to graduate from high school in a few months, congratulations.

You will undoubtedly reflect on the many wonderful things, and maybe some that were not so magnificent, along the way, as he or she grew up, embraced you, emulated the way you talked, walked or ordered dinner at a restaurant, pushed you away, decided your existence was embarrassing, your breath was intolerable and your voice was like nails on a chalkboard, until he or she rediscovered some of your finer, or at least more tolerable, qualities.

Yes, the relationship between parents and children can and often does move closer and further away. If we’re lucky, the invisible rubber band only stretches so far before parent, child or both close the distance.

Some time this summer, those spectacular people who made you so proud will likely push you away again.

This, from what we experienced and what others have told us, is completely natural and is a way for them to assert their independence and prepare you for the moment you go up to their suddenly empty room and they are no longer in it screaming at you to “Get out, leave me alone, can’t you bother someone else?”

It’s a wonderful, terrible reality when their room is as clean or messy as it was when they left it, with their trophies, ribbons, pictures or abandoned former toys waiting, as if in an animated movie, until a young family who doesn’t mind hand-me-downs revives them.

These graduates will receive advice over the next several months. A graduation speaker will likely offer them important nuggets about being true to themselves, about challenging themselves to do something safe but outside their comfort zone, and about not being afraid to fail.

And a particularly helpful graduation speaker might also urge them to clap for you and for everyone else who made this achievement possible.

The speaker will suggest that they stay in touch with you when they go away. That, as it turns out, is not as easy as it sounds, nor is it a guarantee.

Not hearing from your kids for any length of time can and often is somehow even more challenging than the time they and their friends removed their footwear after a sporting event and made the air so toxic in a confined car that we opened the window in 20 degree weather so we could breathe.

A graduation speaker, friends, and family might suggest that you establish a minimum of a once-a-week call. That is good advice and can and does establish guidelines and expectations for a child you’re sending out into a world with new challenges and, at times, unfortunate temptations.

“Sure, let’s go to a party on Tuesday night. I have a few hours to study after the party before my midterm on Wednesday at 8 am.”

Whoops, bad idea, but they’ll learn that lesson the hard way.

Amid all the other advice or rules parents might give their children before they wish them the best and try to stop picturing them as five-year-olds toddling off with their colorful backpacks into kindergarten is to make sure they stay in regular contact.

The rules we established when our children were four and we didn’t allow them to cross streets without holding our hands might change when they go to college, but we still have an opportunity to create new ones for our children.

No one suggested we encourage our children or our nephews to call us when they were walking to class. And yet, in those moments when they called to catch up, hearing their voices on the way to school, with the sound of birds chirping in the background, gave us an opportunity to connect.

Not only that, those calls helped narrow the geographic distance between our nieces, nephews and children and us while also allowing the rubber band to slacken, bringing us closer to these people we love unconditionally who will, hopefully, one day bring whatever family can attend together to celebrate another graduation.

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Northwell Family Health Center at Huntington. Photos courtesy Northwell Healt
Northwell Family Health Center at Huntington. Photos courtesy Northwell Healt
Northwell Family Health Center at Huntington. Photos courtesy Northwell Healt
Northwell Family Health Center at Huntington. Photos courtesy Northwell Healt
Northwell Family Health Center at Huntington. Photos courtesy Northwell Healt
Northwell Family Health Center at Huntington. Photos courtesy Northwell Healt

By Daniel Dunaief

Different name, different location, same mission.

On Monday, April 8, Northwell Health opened its family health center at 1572 New York Avenue in Huntington Station. The center will replace the Dolan Family Health Center in Greenlawn.

The new center, which occupies a space formerly held by Capital One Bank, will provide primary care, as well as multi-specialty care for women.

Easily accessible by bus lines, the center is “in the heart of the community we serve” with the majority of the expected 30,000 patient visits each year coming from Huntington Station, said Lee Raifrman, Assistant Vice President of Operations for Huntington Hospital and the Northwell Family Center Health Center. Instead of having patients travel to the center, “we’re moving to them.”

The center anticipates around 30,000 visits per year.

“The new location, nestled in the heart of the neighborhood it serves and conveniently close to bus lines, ensures that our care remains accessible to all,” Stephen Bello, regional executive director of Northwell’s Eastern region, said in a statement.

The almost 18,000 square-foot building will provide pediatric care, adult/ family medicine, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, podiatry, gastroenterology, orthopedics and infectious disease care specific to HIV.

The center’s prenatal care assistance program, which offers expanded Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and children under the age of 19, will continue to operate. The center also provides outreach through its Women, Infants and Children program, a supplemental nutriton offering that features nutritious foods for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children through the age of five.

The center also features a Nutrition Pathways Program, which is a collaboration dating to 2020 with Island Harvest that offers personalized nutrition counseling sessions with a registered dietician, access to nutritious foods from the on-site healthy food pantry, referrals to community resources and assistance with SNAP enrollment.

Through Nutrition Pathways, the center screens patients for social determinants of health.

“One of the areas we found that’s becoming more prevalent, unfortunately,” said Raifman. The center directs patients who are food insecure to a registered dietician, who can not only help balance food intake, but who can also manage the financial aspect of finding food.

“Better eating equals improved outcomes,” said Raifman.

Staff at the center reflects the diversity of the patient population.

About 19 percent of the patients are self pay, while a small percentage are on medicare. The center accepts many insurance plans, including all types of medicaid.

Staff at the Family Health Center will reflect a staff that reflects the patient population.

“Our mission is clear: to elevate the health of the communities we serve,” Nick Fitterman, Executive Director of Huntington Hospital said in a statement. “From our homeless to immigrant patients, we open our doors to all, offering care that’s not just accessible but compassionate.”

The hours for the center will be the same as they were in the previous location, opening 8:30 am to 5 pm on Monday and Wednesday and 8 am to 8 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Northwell executives would like to build similar healthcare facilities in other places within its geographic range.

The health care provider “anticipates replicating this model throughout the system in other under-served communities,” said Raifman.

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A scene from 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
A scene from 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
The cast of 'The Adventures of Peter Rabbit' Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

By Heidi Sutton

Spring has sprung in Port Jefferson and that means the return of one of Theatre Three’s most popular children shows, The Adventures of Peter Rabbit. Written by Jeffrey Sanzel and Brent Erlanson with music by Kevin F. Story, the original musical is based on the characters and stories created by Beatrix Potter and is too cute for words.

When the lights dimmed at last Saturday’s show, all the children in the audience shouted “It’s starting!” and settled in to watch eight uber talented actors — Sean Amato (Peter Rabbit), Kyle Breitenbach (Benjamin Bunny), Elizabeth Ladd (Mrs. Rabbit), Cassidy Rose O’Brien (Flopsy), Julia Albino (Mopsy), Courtney Gilmore (Cotton-Tail), Gina Lardi (Mrs. McGregor) and Liam Marsigliano (Mr. McGregor) — bring the mischievous adventures of Peter Rabbit and his cousin Benjamin Bunny to life just in time for Spring Break.

The audience is whisked away to the countryside home of Mrs. Rabbit and her four bunnies who live next to Mr. and Mrs. McGregor who spend the day tending to their pride and joy — their garden. 

While Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail listen to their mother by staying inside and doing their chores, Peter Rabbit and his cousin Benjamin Bunny sneak out to steal from their neighbor’s garden again and again to satisfy their insatiable appetite for carrots, lettuce, peas, parsley and string beans.

When his patience grows thin, the farmer, who’s “a meanie with a temper like a bear,” makes it his mission to stop these bunnies once and for all. At first, Peter is caught but manages to wiggle out his socks and shoes and jacket and hat to escape. The second time Peter is not so lucky. Will he become rabbit stew or will his family come to the rescue?

Directed by Steven Uihlein, the show has so many wonderful moments. When Peter sneaks off to the garden, his sisters go searching for him and ask the audience members if they’ve seen him. (“He’s right behind you!”) When Peter returns home after losing his clothes, he recounts the story and the entire scene is retold in slow motion as Mrs. Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail watch from the sidelines.

The wonderful song and dance numbers, choreographed by Sari Feldman and accompanied on piano by Douglas Quattrock, are terrific with special mention to “One More Time Around,” “Run, Peter, Run” and the fun hip-hop number, “Peter’s Socks.” The final number incorporates all of the songs in a super mega-mix extravaganza. Costumes by Jason Allyn, from the bunnies’ spring dresses in pink, purple, green and red to their white bunny tails, pull it all together perfectly.

Don’t miss this show — you and your kids are guaranteed to love it. Meet the entire cast in the lobby after the show for photos.

Sponsored by Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents The Adventures of Peter Rabbit through April 27.

Saturday Apr. 20 & 27 @ 11:00 am
Wednesday Apr. 24 @ 11:00am
Thursday Apr. 25 @ 11:00am
Friday Apr. 26 @ 11:00am

Duration: One Hour

Children’s theater continues with a brand new production, The Mystery of the Missing Ever After, from May 25 to June 15 followed by Raggedy Ann & Andy from July 5 to 27 and Pinocchio from Aug. 2 to 10. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

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METRO photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

“Don’t fall” is a good motto for people of a certain age. Bad results can happen from a fall, starting with broken wrists and arms, wrenched muscles and tendons, and the oft killer, broken hips. I know that. We all know that. I chuckle, sometimes, at the memories of the many times I have fallen off horses and face-planted on skis. It meant nothing when I was in my teens and 20s. It’s meaningful for me now.

So, yes, just recently I fell.

It happened by accident. It’s always an accident, I guess. No one ever falls on purpose. But this time, it seemed like such a benign situation.

I was visiting a dear friend in South Carolina and staying in her spare bedroom. I had been there several days, and together we were going to leave for a short road trip. We were packed, the car was loaded, and I just went back inside for one last look to check that I had taken everything. 

Nothing left in the bathroom, good, but as I started toward the bed, I thought I should toss the bedspread over the sheets. So I did that with my right arm, then as I turned left to leave, my shoes got caught in the skirt that hangs over and hides the mattress. This skirt was somewhat long, the edges draped on the floor, and they  tripped me as I tried to step away from the bed.

Down I went.

No doubt you have experienced that accidents seem to replay themselves in slow motion. As I twisted and fell, there was enough time for me to voice an unrepeatable expletive but nothing to catch hold of.

It’s almost eight weeks now, and the various parts of the left side of my body, especially my ribs, have almost healed. But with all this spring air encouraging us to greater animation, I thought I should issue the standard warning: don’t fall.

There are many places to be extra cautious about falling. First and most commonly treacherous is the home, especially the bathroom. Every surface in there is unforgiving. Put grab bars in the showers. Whatever the cost, it’s much less than a visit to the emergency room. Make sure those cute little bathroom rugs are skid proof or they may take you for an unwelcome ride. Think about walking slowly on the tile floor, which can be wet from an enthusiastic bath. Ditto for the kitchen floor.

Stairs can be dangerous. I have a rule that I never walk down—or up —steps without holding the banister. That is true even for two or three steps.

Have a light on, however dim, when you get out of bed in the night. You may have cleared the path to the bathroom beforehand, but you never know what may have occurred since then, like a pet nestled along the way. 

Don’t walk along with a bundle in your arms that blocks your view of the floor. There may be an obstacle in your way. If you bend over for any length of time, as when you are drying your feet, or are working in the garden, straighten up slowly and give yourself an extra second to regain your balance.

Speaking of outdoors, there are plenty of possibilities for falls there, too. A friend twisted and broke her ankle by just stepping off a curb carelessly and falling. Uneven pavement can be nefarious and cause you to trip. This is also true where two different types of terrain meet, as in grass and cement. And public bathrooms can have wet floors that are not always flagged. Office buildings, too.

For me, the worst danger comes when I am in a hurry. So the answer is to give ourselves enough time to do what we need to do. It’s okay to get somewhere we have to be a little early, but if we are pressed for time and rushing, we are courting disaster.

By the way, these cautions can also apply to those of a younger age.

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AN AFTERNOON OF ART Meet artist Samuel Adoquei at the Long Island Museum on April 21. Photo courtesy of LIM
Thursday April 18

Art Reception at the Atelier

The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite 6 & 9, St. James invites the community to an opening reception for “Not Just Another Pretty Flower 3,” a vivid exhibition by artist Mary Ahern from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The show will be on view through May 30. For more information, call 631-250-9009.

Audubon Spring Lecture

Four Harbors Audubon Society hosts a Spring lecture via Zoom titled Wild Stories from the History of Migration at 7 p.m.  Guest speaker Rebecca Heisman will share some surprising stories of bird migration  and will discuss why understanding migration is crucial for bird conservation. Registration is required. Email [email protected] for more information.

Vanderbilt Lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its lecture series at the Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium will a presentation by Rachel and Timothy Miller on  Restoring Historic Ironworks, with a focus on Samuel Yellin, from 7 to 8:30 pm. Tickets are $10, members free, at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Pine Barrens Lecture

Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site, 146 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station presents a lecture titled The Pine Barrens: Who’s Guarding Our Long Island Treasure? from 7 to 8:30 p.m. LI Pine Barrens board member Tom Casey will speak about the importance of the Pine Barrens. WWBA Trustee  Mark Nuccio will read Whitman’s ecopoetry and essays. Singer-Songwriter Linda Sussman performs a musical environmental interlude. Everyone in attendance may enter into a lottery to win one of 15 fir trees that were donated by New York State Parks. Free admission. For more information, visit www.waltwhitman.org.

Friday April 19

Friday Food Truck Fest

Three Village Historical Society, 93 North County Road, Setauket hosts a Friday Food Truck Fest tonight and April 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. Grab a delicious dinner, pull up a picnic table, and hang out with friends and neighbors. The historic house will be open for free tours during the event. 631-751-3730

CSHL Classical Concert

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Grace Auditorium 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor welcomes pianists Stephanie Ho and Saar Ahuvia in concert from 6 to 7 p.m. The performance will feature pieces by Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn,Ludwig van Beethoven,Maurice Ravel, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Manuel de Falla. A reception will follow. Tickets are $23.18 at www.cshl.edu, free for CSHL faculty, students, and staff.

Third Friday at the Reboli

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook presents an illustrated lecture titled Art of Social Justice: Cautionary Images of Optimism with artist, curator and educator Marc Fasanella from 6:30 to 8 p.m.  Free. No reservations required. Light refreshments will be served. 631-751-7707

An Evening of Jazz

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook welcomes globally recognized saxophonist Dayna Sean Stephens and his quartet in concert at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 631-751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Hawaiian/Polynesian Heritage Night

The Leo P. Ostebo Kings Park Heritage Museum, RJO Intermediate School, 1 Church St., Kings Park presents a Hawaiian/Polynesian Heritage Night  featuring  the tropical entertainment of Ohana Mokuloa & Friends at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Free admission. www.kpheritagemuseum.net

Saturday April 20

Antiques in April

Join the Huntington Historical Society for an outdoor antiques sale on the grounds of the Kissam House property, 434 Park Ave., Huntington today and April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring antiques dealers on the lawn; books, antiques and furniture in the barn; and specials from their Antiques & Collectibles Shop. Free admission. Held rain or shine. Questions? Call 631-427-7045.

Fling Into Spring Carnival

Newton Shows partners with the North Shore Youth Council (NSYC) to present its 9th annual Fling into Spring community carnival at Heritage Park , 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road, Mt. Sinai today from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m and April 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy a weekend of carnival rides, games, nostalgic eats, children’s magic and illusion shows, laughter, and fun for the whole family with free parking and free admission. Advance tickets, including pay-one-price bracelets, can be purchased at newtonshows.com.

Spring Appreciation Day 

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Spring Appreciation Day returns to the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook with a Mustang and Shelby Club of Long Island car show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,  a petting zoo, scavenger hunt and live music by Brenda and Burke from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; a visit from the Stony Brook fire department; and tours of the Stony Brook Grist Mill from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2244 or visit www.wmho.org.

The Trocks head to SBU

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo,  the world’s foremost all-male ballet company, heads to Stony Brook University’s Staller Center’s Main Stage, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook  at 8 p.m. Parodying the conventions of romantic and classical ballet, the troupe has been entertaining audiences since its founding in 1974 with its signature comedic style. Look no further for top-notch ballet that’s also uproariously funny! Tickets range from $46 to $65. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Sunday April 21

Antiques in April

See April 20 listing.

Fling Into Spring Carnival

See April 20 listing.

Manorville Car Show

The Fabulous 50s & 60s Nostalgia Car Club will hold its annual judged car show at The Maples, 10 Ryerson Ave., Manorville featuring classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars and more along with vendors, live music and raffles from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $20 per vehicle, $5 per spectator. For more information, call 631-926-2554.

SBU Cherry Blossom Festival 

Stony Brook University’s Charles B. Wang Center, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook hosts the annual Sukara Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival from noon to 5 p.m. featuring Koto plays, Japanese traditional dances, martial arts demonstrations, Taiko drums, hands-on bonsai workshops, calligraphy workshops, ikebana flower arrangement, tea workshops, manga drawing, origami paper folding, kimono dress-ups, and cosplay for all ages. Admission of $30 adults, $20 students/seniors, $10 children ages 6 to 12 includes all film viewings, workshops, and theater presentations.

Art Exhibit & Reception

The Belle Terre Community Association will sponsor a free art exhibit featuring 13 Belle Terre Artists with a wine & cheese reception at the Vincent Bove Community Center, 55 Cliff Road, Belle Terre from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 631-828-4340.

An Afternoon with Samuel Adoquei

Join the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook for an afternoon with artist Samuel Adoquei, the subject of the museum’s current exhibition Hidden Treasures: The Art of Samuel Adoquei, at 2 p.m. Starting with a conversation moderated by Joshua Ruff, Co-Executive Director of the LIM, Adoquei will then provide a demonstration of his process followed by a discussion. The event is free with admission. 631-751-0066

LITMA Contradance

Smithtown Historical Society’s Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown will host a LITMA Contradance at 2 p.m. with basic instruction at 1:45 p.m. Ridge Kennedy will be calling and the band will be Dance All Night (Maria Fairchild  on banjo, Mary Nagin on fiddle and Max Rowland on banjo, concertina & button accordion). Admission is $15 adults, $10 LITMA members, $7.50 students, children under 16 free with paid adult. Please bring snacks to share at the break. 631-369-7854

Freddy Monday in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents a concert by singer/songwriter Freddy Monday from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. For more information, call 631-689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org. 

Arrizza Under the Stars

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents  Arrizza Under the Stars, a live performance by local artist and musician Yannaki Arrizza, based on his recent 2022 album release Astronomia at 7 p.m. Audiences can expect to be transported into immersive worlds and interstellar mediums that transcend both space and time and where the only limit is the imagination. This live performance includes artistic landscapes, original fulldome 3D artwork, projections of starfields, and deep-space objects, and includes colorful laser lights through a haze of fog. Tickets are $30 in advance at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org, $25 members, $35 at the door.

Monday April 22

Food as Medicine

Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, 233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai will host a lecture and cooking series on Food as Medicine, presented by dietitian Ian Marghoob MS, RD tonight and April 29 from 7 to 8 p.m. $20 per person per session. To register, call  631-473-1582 or email [email protected].

Decades in Duet

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Special Events series with Decades in Duet at 8 p.m. Vocal duo Annalyse McCoy and Ryan Dunn performing hits from over 40 artists audiences know and love in an exciting night of the greatest duets of all time! Songs include “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” “I Got You Babe,” “Shallow,” and many more chart-topping hits. Tickets are $45. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Tuesday April 23

No events listed for this day.

Wednesday April 24

Long Island Guitar Festival

The 32nd annual Long Island Guitar Festival kicks off at the Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket tonight at 7:30 p.m. and runs through April 28.  The festival will feature guitarists: Ana Vidovic, Eden-Stell Guitar Duo, David Leisner, Huy Thanh Nguyen, Nicoletta Todesco, Harris Becker, Ana Marie Rosado, James Erickson, Laura Lessard and Owen Wang, winner of the 2023 LIGF High School Classical Guitar Competition. Tickets are available online at www.ligfest.net.

Arbor Day Celebration

Join the Village of Port Jefferson for its first annual Arbor Day Celebration in the Maple Parking Lot (behind Old Field’s Restaurant, Billie’s and The Pie) from 5 to 6 p.m. with a sapling giveaway, community speakers and a ceremonial planting of two trees with Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. Hosted by the PJV Tree Committee. All are welcome to join the festivities.

Thursday April 25

Long Island Guitar Festival

See April 24 listing.

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. Call 631-655-7798 for more information.

SBU Presidential lecture

Celebrated public health reporter,  journalist, editor and Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Linda Villarosa, will join Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis for the second Presidential Lecture entitled,   “A Conversation with Linda Villarosa: Answering the Call: A Special Series on Climate Change” in the Charles B. Wange Center Theatre, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook at 5 p.m. In addition to the lecture,  the event will include a Q&A,  book signing, and reception to follow.

Film

Star Trek Night at the CAC

Calling all trekkies! Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a screening of one of the most iconic episodes of Star Trek Deep Space 9 — Episode 6 of Season 6, Sacrifice of Angels — followed by a panel discussion with Melanie Smith (Tora Ziyal, Deep Space 9) and the Captain’s Quadrant Podcast on April 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $16, $10 members. To purchase in advance, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Theater 

‘Jersey Boys’

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St. Northport presents Jersey Boys, the story of Franki Valli & The Four Seasons, from March 14 to June 16. 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. 

‘Murder on the Orient Express’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with Murder on the Orient Express, a thrilling mystery about the most infamous case of one of fiction’s most famous detectives, from April 6 to May 4. Murder and mayhem await renowned investigator Hercule Poirot as he boards a train filled with treachery and intrigue. Featuring a shadowy American, a train full of suspects, a notebook’s worth of alibis, and a singular Belgian sleuth whose mustache twitches at murder, all aboard the Orient Express! 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. 

‘Head Over Heels’

The Theatres at Suffolk County Community College present Head Over Heels, a musical by James Magruder and Jeff Whitty at the Shea Theatre, Islip Arts Building, Ammerman campus, 533 College Road, Selden on April 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 p.m., and April 21 at 2 p.m. A mash-up of posh and punk, Head Over Heels is an unpredictable, Elizabethan rompabout a royal family that must prevent an oracle’s prophecy of doom. Admission is $15 adults, $10 veterans and students 16 years of age or younger. SCCC students with current ID receive two  free tickets. To order, visit https://sunysuffolk.edu/spotlight or call 631-451-4163.

‘Popcorn Falls’

Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents a production of James Hindman’s Popcorn Falls from May 4 to 26. The sleepy town of Popcorn Falls is forced into bankruptcy when a neighboring town threatens to turn them into a sewage treatment plant. Their only hope — open a theater! Two actors play over twenty roles in a world of farce, love, and desperation, proving once and for all that art can save the world. Tickets are $35 adults $32 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

 ‘(mostly) TRUE THINGS’

The Performing Arts Studio, 224 E. Main St, Port Jefferson hosts a performance of (mostly) TRUE THINGS, a game wrapped in a storytelling show that features stories related to the themes in Star Wars on May 4 at 7 p.m. The star-studded case includes Lydia Franco-Hodges, Mindy Pfeiffer and Adam Grundfest. Tickets are $20 online at www.eventbrite.com or $25 at the door (cash only). 

Farmers Markets

Port Jefferson Farmers Market

The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market returns to the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April 28. 631-802-2160

Lake Grove Farmers Market

Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove hosts a Winter Farmers Market in the southwestern quadrant of the parking lot (adjacent to Bahama Breeze) on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 516-444-1280

Class Reunions

•Centereach High School Class of 1974 will hold its 50th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on April 26 from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, email Jean Ann Renzulli at [email protected].

•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. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected].

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