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Yearly Archives: 2024

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By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Health clubs, the gym, whatever you call them, have so much subtext to any visit.

First, I wave at the friendly, supportive people who check me in. I wonder, as they look at me and the photo taken when I got my membership, whether I look better than I did on that day. By definition, I’m older, but am I in one of those better periods or one of those I-just-got-back-from-a-wedding-after-eating-out-too-many-times periods?

As I walk towards my preferred piece of equipment, which is usually an elliptical machine, I hope it’s available.

Sure, there is a line of 17 other elliptical machines that provide the same exercise, but I hope the one that has the best view of the 12 TVs I can barely see when I take off my glasses and that has the smoothest stride as I kick into a higher gear, is available.

If it is, I drape the towel I bring with me — I’m not a huge fan of the non absorbent paper towels available throughout my gym — take a few moments to find the least offensive TV show or music on my iPhone and start pedaling.

As I start working out, the calculator in my head immediately starts to monitor how far I’ve gone and how many calories I’ve burned off for each five minute segment on the machine. I have a specific target I try to meet or exceed, which helps me push harder during the last two minutes of each five minute block. Within about 10 minutes, I’ve built up a good sweat and am starting to drift off into endorphin-boosted bliss, sometimes accompanied by one of Billy Joel’s songs or by a ridiculous Adam Sandler movie I wouldn’t dare put on the TV when my wife and I are getting ready for bed.

My journey into sweaty bliss, however, sometimes takes a detour when someone climbs aboard the machine closest to me, despite the availability of all the other pieces of equipment in the row.

“Can’t you use one of the machines further away?” I shout in my head.

At first, I try to ignore the start of their exercise, diving deeper into my leg pumping, while juggling thoughts about the work I have to do when I’m done.

But then the competitive part of me awakens. A monster version can’t help monitoring the speed at which the person next to me is pumping his arms and legs. Am I going faster? Is he on a higher level than me?

No, it doesn’t matter whether he’s 30 years younger, a college athlete or is clearly preparing for a triathlon with a body that repels any fat and that likely won’t age for decades. I have to win.

Of course, the person next to me isn’t always young and fit and doesn’t have the same age and genetic limitations. Sometimes, that person is not only older, but is also sharing a regular need to clear his throat or to cough without covering his mouth.

“Hey, have you heard of Covid, a tissue, staying home when you’re sick, or, I don’t know, another gym?” I again shout in my head.

I look away and breathe to the side, hoping whatever germs he’s expelling into the air are traveling in a different direction.

Even when people don’t exercise near me, I notice the groaning from the men who lift more weight in a day than I might in a year. They roar, Incredible Hulk style, as they drop weights heavy enough to cause the floor 30 feet away to vibrate sufficiently to register on a seismograph.

When I leave the elliptical machine, I circle other pieces of equipment slowly, as if I were selecting a menu item carefully, pondering whether to get the Brussels sprouts, the steamed broccoli or the french fries.

Who am I kidding, I shrug to myself. I’m unlikely to climb on any of these machines, particularly when I’m so sweaty from beating that young kid to the top of the imaginary mountain.

Covered in sweat, I triumphantly walk slowly out of the gym, knowing I’ve conquered another day of exercise and feeling revived, refreshed, stronger, faster and more alert. Now, if I could just remember where I parked my car.

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TBR staff, current and former, gather at the office for a celebratory lunch provided by DJ’s Clam Shack.

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

It’s been quite a week for all of us. First we experienced an earthquake, and not an insignificant one. Centered in New Jersey, it measured 4.8 magnitude and was felt from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia to New York City and even to Maine. That was followed by at least 11 aftershocks, one of which was 4.0 magnitude that struck nearly eight hours after the initial quake. This was the strongest quake for New Jersey in more than 240 years, according to the US Geological Survey.

I never felt the first one.

Although it excited millions of people across hundreds of miles, according to CNN, I was driving to a doctor’s appointment and never felt a thing. Others who were driving said the same. I guess if you’re traveling in an automobile, you expect the road to shake you up a bit.

When I entered the doctor’s office, however, I was amazed at the high pitch of voices and the animation of the staff members. “Did you feel it? Did you feel it?” I was asked. “The blinds all shook and the stools rolled.”

I felt like I had missed out on a memorable event.

Fortunately there seems to have been little damage and no injuries. The infrastructure was checked out; bridges and tunnels intact, subway lines moving normally, buildings sound, with only a handful of mild exceptions.

That was Friday. Monday we had a solar eclipse, as a band of total darkness 100 miles wide moved diagonally across North America from the West coast of Mexico to Newfoundland, Canada. The duration of total darkness at any given point was 4 minutes and 28 seconds. 

Millions of us donned special glasses and looked at the sun. Some thousands traveled to locations beneath the total darkness, in New York State around the Syracuse area, to view the full impact. We on the North shore of Long Island saw only 90 percent of the sun blacked out, but as a show put on by Nature, that wasn’t bad. While the light did become strangely grey and the birds and insects did get quieter, and the temperature perceptibly dropped, the drama was less but real. And it was a great excuse for a Monday afternoon eclipse party, of which there were many across backyards, back decks and parking lots facing west.

We can be casual about eclipses, since we have seen at least one of them before, in 2017, and understand that the world is not coming to an end. But the whole idea of huge bodies performing a ballet with each other across the heavens in an orderly fashion, when you think about it, has to leave you with a profound sense of awe and spirituality. It was an incredible performance.

The third marvel, back on Earth, was our celebratory 48th party for The Village Times and TBR News Media on Tuesday. We invited current and former staffers and some neighbors to a lunch provided in the parking lot by a fire-engine red food truck from DJ’s Clam Shack of Stony Brook. Even our mailman came. Paul Riggio, the owner, offered, lobster rolls, crab cakes, crab cake sandwiches, shrimp scampi rolls, hot dogs, coleslaw and quesadillas filled with a choice of lobster, shrimp, chicken or cheese.

We went to the truck window, gave Paul our order, and he gave us each a number. When that order was prepared, he called out the number and we received our food.

As it happened, the weather was perfect— not too hot, not too cool with a blue sky and a soft breeze. We could have eaten outside, but since there were no tables and chairs, we carried our lunch into the office building. As one of our guests said, there was a party in every room.

Cookies, inside, completed the meal. Then we went back to work.

It’s hard to recall each of those 48 years. They slide into each other, although we can remember particular incidents. It was wonderful seeing former staffers mingling with current members. The commitment is carried on.

We will recall this party as a tune-up for our 49th & 50th.

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An Afternoon with The Lady Blue Saxophone Quartet Experience the sounds of four types of saxophones in concert together at the North Shore Public Library on April 14. Photo courtesy of NSPL
Thursday April 11

Senior Fair

Middle Country Public Library, 575 Middle Country Road, Selden will host a Senior Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Receive Medicare enrollment assistance, and visit with wellness, leisure, volunteer and senior housing organizations, as well as safety, healthcare, legal and caregiver support agencies. Fair is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Questions? Call 631-585-9393.

Art History Lecture

Join the Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook for a free Art History Lecture with award winning artist and art history aficionado, Kevin McEvoy from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Light snacks will be served. No reservations are required to attend. Seating will be first come, first serve.  631-751-7707

The Timeline of  Food

Diane Schwindt, the resident historic cook at the Ketcham Inn Museum in Center Moriches presents a lively lecture, The Timeline of Food, at the North Shore Public Library, 250 Route 25A, Shoreham at 7 p.m. From caveman to fast food and a lot in between … explore moments in time that changed the course of food history. A display of authentic historic hearth ware will be discussed, concluding with food samples. A fun-filled evening of surprising facts that will leave you hungry for more! Open to all. Please register by calling 631-929-4488.

Stand Up/Sit Down Comedy

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Stand Up/Sit Down Comedy Series with comedian Richie Byrne at 8 p.m. Followed by an interview hosted by Steven Taub. Tickets are  $40 per person, $30 members. To order in advance, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Friday April 12

Senior Social Club

The Foundation for Wildlife Sustainability kicks off a new season of the Senior Social Club at Long Island Game Farm, 489 Chapman Blvd., Manorville from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Senior citizens (65 years+) can visit the animals, explore the trails, attend a presentation in Woodland Hall, and enjoy a beverage and snacks with fellow seniors. $10 per person. For reservations, call 631-878-6644.

Friday Food Truck Fest

Three Village Historical Society, 93 North County Road, Setauket hosts a Friday Food Truck Fest tonight, April 19 and 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

Game Night in St. James

Celebrate St. James hosts an adult Game Night at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second St., St. James from 7 to 10 p.m. Enjoy board games, card games and light refreshments. $10 donation. To register, visit www.celebratestjames.org. 631-984-0201

A Night of Opera

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main St., Northport hosts a concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of Opera Night Long Island at 7:30 p.m. Featuring highlights from grand operas with a reception to follow. $10 donation, students free. For more information, visit www.operanight.org.

Grounds and Sounds Concert

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket hosts Grounds and Sounds Cafe concert featuring Jack’s Waterfall. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., open mic starts at 8 p.m. followed by featured artist. Tickets are $15 at the door or in advance at www.groundsandsounds.org. 631-751-0297.

Saturday April 13

Port Jeff Health & Wellness Fest

The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce presents their 15th Annual Health and Wellness Fest at The Meadow Club, 1147 Rte. 112, Port Jefferson Station from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring over 50 health and wellness vendor tables along with a breakfast and lunch food court, health screenings, massages, plenty of giveaways and much more. Free.  631-473-1414

Intro to Wilderness Survival

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington presents an Introduction to Wilderness Survival from 9:45 a.m. to noon. Learn how to find food, start a fire and build a shelter. Adults only. $4 per person. Advance registration required by calling 631-423-1770.

Selden Craft & Gift Fair

Newfield High School, 145 Marshall Drive, Selden hosts the 36th annual Spring Craft & Gift Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to benefit Newfield H.S. Leaders Club. Shop for unique crafts, gifts handmade crafts, gourmet foods and spring fashions from over  90 vendors. Free admission. 631-846-1459

Smithtown Health Fair

St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, 50 Route 25A, Smithtown will host an outdoor Community Health Fair in the parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet with St. Catherine health care professionals, with free health screenings, children activities and much more. Free. 631-469-0989.

Spectrum of Quilts Exhibit

Smithtown Stitchers present A Spectrum of Quilts exhibit at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and April 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guild members will display their finest array of quilts along with their Ombre Quilt Display. Admission is $5 cash. www.smithtownstitchers.com

Davis House Grand Opening

Davis Town Meeting House Society invites the community to the grand opening celebration of the Davis House, 263 Middle Country Road, Coram at 11 a.m. Featuring the 3rd NY Regiment of the Brigade of the American Revolution, house tours, history exhibit, Burying Ground walking tours and more. Refreshments will be served. Free. 631-846-1224

All Souls Poetry Reading

The Second Saturdays poetry series returns to All Souls Church in Stony Brook via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. The featured poet will be Margarette Wahl. An open-reading will follow the featured poet; all are welcome to read one of their own poems.  For more information, call 631-655-7798.  Participants can access the program through https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/

Prohibition Pub Crawl

Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport invites you to celebrate the Repeal of Prohibition with a Prohibition Pub Crawl at noon. Join Education Coordinator Carol Taylor as she takes you on a tour of Prohibition-era Northport while stopping at several local establishments to enjoy refreshments along the way. Dressing in period appropriate attire is highly encouraged! Ages 21+ only. Cost is $40 per person, $30 members. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org.

Veterans Food Drive

Miller Place Mount Sinai Historical Society hosts a Veterans Food Drive and appreciation day at the William Miller House, 75 North Country Road, Miller Place from noon to 3 p.m. Drop off canned or paper products and stay to write a letter to a veteran to thank them for their service. www.mpmshistoricalsociety.org.

Meet the Artists Reception

Wet Paints Studio Group of Sayville celebrates 75 years with an art exhibit at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson through May 1. Join them for a “Meet the Artists” reception today from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Most of the art and prints are for sale. For info, call 631-332-7768 or email [email protected].

An Afternoon of Line Dancing

Setauket Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket invites the community to an afternoon of Line Dancing featuring Stepping Easy with Ellen from 3 to 5 p.m. $10 donation to support the Setauket American Legion Hall. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 631-941-4271

Cirque FLIP Fabrique heads to SBU

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents Blizzard by Cirque FLIP Fabrique on the Main Stage at 8 p.m. The show promises its audiences a crazy and poetic journey through the dead of winter, inviting you to lose yourself in a moment of white wonder. Tickets range from $46 to $65. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

An Evening of Comedy

Join the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook for the Long Island Comedy Festival featuring Laura Patton, Matt Burke and Richie Byrne at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 and include admission to the Hall of Fame. To order in advance, visit www.limehof.org.

Sunday April 14

Spectrum of Quilts Exhibit

See April 13 listing.

Barn Sale in Mt. Sinai

Temple Beth Emeth, 52 Mt. Sinai Ave., Mt. Sinai will hold its monthly thrift barn sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop for everything from household goods, to small appliances, clothing, jewelry and much more. Free admission. Questions? Call 631-928-4103.

Whaling Museum Walking Tour

Join the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum for picturesque early spring walking tour through St. John’s Memorial Cemetery, 1670 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. Titled  Stories in Stone: Celebrating Women’s History, the tour will focus on Victorian-era rituals and Women’s History this month. Cost is $15 per person, $10 members. Registration is required by visiting www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Lady Blue Saxophone Quartet

Join the North Shore Public Library, 250 Route 25A, Shoreham for an afternoon with The Lady Blue Saxophone Quartet at 1:30 p.m. Serious talent, musical training, inventiveness, friendship, and a dash of humor all come together offering a tight, disciplined, beautifully harmonized this musical ensemble. Open to all. To register, call 631-929-4488.

Concert at the Farm

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket hosts a concert on the Good Earth Soundstage featuring Maria Fairchild and Adam Becherer (folk, bluegrass) from 3 to 5 p.m. $15 donation appreciated. Proceeds will go to the artists and to Homestead Arts for this year’s Fiddle and Folk Fest held in early September. Bring seating. For more information, call 631-689-8172.

Ridotto Concert

Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Ave., Huntington hosts a Ridotto concert titled Don Juan at 4 p.m. Ridotto Concert: Don Juan featuring cellist Ani Kalayjian, soprano Deborah Lifton, and Vassily Primakov, piano. Margaretha Maimone is narrator. Tickets are $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 members, $12 students. For reservations, call 631-385-0373, or email [email protected].

Colin Carr Benefit Concert

Colin Carr, Stony Brook Music Department cello faculty and renowned soloist, will be performing a concert to benefit the Colin Carr Scholarship Fund for cello students at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center Recital Hall, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brookat 5 p.m. The concert will feature monumental works for solo cello by Bach, Britten, and Kodály in a not to be missed event.  Admission is free, but donations to the scholarship fund are suggested.  631-632-7313

Monday April 15

TVHS lecture

Three Village Historical Society continues its lecture series at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket with a presentation titled The Cuban Giants: The First Professional Black Baseball Team at 7 p.m. ​The Cuban Giants got their start in Babylon in the summer of 1885. Town of Babylon Historian Mary Cascone will present on the team’s start and their early years in professional baseball, the myths about their name, and their position in baseball history. Free to the public. Donations appreciated. www.tvhs.org.

Tuesday April 16

NSJC Social Club Event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a special presentation on dementia by Lauren Vlachos, MSNP, CFRE of the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center at Stony Brook at 11 a.m. Ms. Vlachos will discuss the topic of Dementia. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-373

Painting on Silk Workshop

Huntington Historical Society hosts a Painting on Silk Workshop at the Conklin Barn, 2 High St., Huntington from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Learn how to transfer your design onto silk and outline a template on fabric, finishing up by painting with special silk dye with textile designer Oksana Danziger. Cost is $55 per person, $50 members. Register at www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Wednesday April 17

Miller Place Homemakers Auction

Miller Place High School, 15 Memorial Drive, Miller Place hosts the Miller Place Homemakers annual auction at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) with beautiful raffle baskets, refreshments and a 50/50 raffle. Entrance fee is $5 and a food pantry item and includes a door prize ticket and 25 tickets for the handmade auction baskets. Proceeds benefit community service projects. Questions? Call 631-821-9044.

Thursday April 18

Senior Scams Seminar

Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai will host a Senior Scams Seminar & Medication Disposal event from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Stay up to date on the newest scams targeting our senior community. This seminar is presented by officers from the Suffolk County Police Departments 6th Precinct who will also be collecting expired or unwanted medications for proper disposal. To register for the seminar, please call 631-451-5312.

Gardening 101

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket presents a special Q&A session, “Let’s Talk Gardening,” in the Vincent O’Leary from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Members of the Three Village Garden Club will share some of their best gardening ideas as well as what can be learned from the unexpected mishaps. Only a few seats left. To register, call 631-941-4080.

Vanderbilt lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its lecture series in the Reichert Planetarium tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Rachel Miller an accomplished blacksmith and co-owner of Spirit Ironworks in Bayport, will discuss Restoring Historic Ironwork, with a focus on Samuel Yellin. Miller will guide the audience through the history and craftsmanship of Yellin’s works at the Vanderbilt Estate, Mansion, and Museum. Tickets are $10 per person (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 8″-18″ fir trees that were donated by New York State Parks. Free admission. For more information, visit www.waltwhitman.org.

Film

‘Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its Spring season with a screening of Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty at John F. Kennedy Middle School, 200 Jayne Blvd., Port Jefferson Station on April 15 at 7 p.m. The documentary chronicles the life and work of one of the most successful conservationists in U.S. history. Followed by a Q&A with local conservationist John Turner. Tickets are $10 at the door or in advance at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.

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 May 26. 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. See review on page B3.

‘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 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 p.m., and April 14 and 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

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].

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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By Fr. Francis Pizzarelli

Fr. Francis Pizzarelli

Two presidents have declared that the heroin/fentanyl epidemic is a national health crisis. Both administrations dropped the ball on this critical health issue. The death toll due to overdoses has increased exponentially in the past year. We have less beds for treatment today than we had four years ago.

Our political leadership, from both sides of the aisle, have gotten lost in the rhetoric about our southern borders and the drug cartels. That’s all part of this tragic story but that’s not the story. The story is that a growing number of young men and women are dying senselessly because we do not have the appropriate treatment professionals and beds to respond. We need to advocate for more comprehensive treatment programs for those who are in need and want to change their lives.

Every week our local newspapers tell horrific stories about talented, gifted young people who have lost their lives due to heroin and fentanyl. We get monetary action and concern when someone of importance overdoses and dies. Meanwhile there is not a family in America that directly or indirectly has not been touched by this horrific crisis.

Talk is cheap … actions speak louder than words. St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson has been on the frontline and is a backbone in the area of treatment for addiction for decades. Jim O’Connor, the President of St. Charles Hospital, has been a leader in the trenches advocating for more beds and giving voice for the need for more comprehensive payment for treatment.

We need more people to step up and offer creative treatment possibilities, especially for the dually diagnosed — those who suffer from a substance use disorder and an untreated mental health issue.

The chronic heroin and fentanyl user needs more than 11 days. One has barely detoxed within that timeframe. The evidence-based research in this regard speaks to at least a year of comprehensive treatment.

My experience after working and living with addicts for more than three decades is that they absolutely need long-term treatment to reclaim their lives and move in positive directions.

Outpatient treatment programs tend to be disasters for people in early recovery from any kind of opioid addiction. Drug dealers just wait outside to prey on them.

The other issue that no one speaks to is the insurance industry and their destructive influence on people’s road to recovery. Very few insurance companies will pay for long-term treatment; they talk the talk but refuse to walk the walk.

We need to support legislation that is advocating that clinical social workers be empowered to write scripts for long-term care and that insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid will have to pay.

People do get better and make positive contributions to our larger community. I see it firsthand every day; it sustains my ministry. I see men on the recovery journey becoming doctors, lawyers, teachers, tradesmen who are determined to give back and to help make the world a better place!

Father Francis Pizzarelli, SMM, LCSW-R, ACSW, DCSW, is the director of Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.

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Stony Brook University Hospital

Out of more than 6,000 hospitals in the country, Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) has been ranked number 19 on Money magazine’s prestigious “Best Hospitals of 2024” list. This recognition gave SBUH an “A” ranking for General Practice and underscores Stony Brook’s unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of care to every Long Island resident.

“This acknowledgment reflects the extraordinary dedication and tireless work of the outstanding teams at Stony Brook Medicine, underscoring our position as a national leader in patient care, health education, and research,” said William A. Wertheim, MD, Interim Executive Vice President, Stony Brook Medicine.

“We are immensely proud to be ranked in Money magazine’s list of Best Hospitals of 2024,” says Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, Chief Executive Officer of Stony Brook University Hospital. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, who tirelessly strive for excellence in patient care and reflects our unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality healthcare services to our community.”

To compile its new list of the Best Hospitals in America, Money crunched 13,500 data points to create the list of 115. Figures analyzed included safety records, patient satisfaction, mortality rates and healthcare practitioner experiences. Money’s editorial team utilized data available from healthcare transparency firm Denniston Data to articulate the final numbers. This is the second year for Money’s Best Hospitals franchise. Click here to see the full list and learn more about Money’s methodology in selecting its top-ranked hospitals.

About Stony Brook University Hospital:

Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) is Long Island’s premier academic health center. With 624 beds, SBUH serves as the region’s only tertiary care center and Regional Trauma Center, and is home to the Stony Brook University Heart Institute, Stony Brook University Cancer Center, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and Stony Brook University Neurosciences Institute. SBUH also encompasses Suffolk County’s only Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center, state-designated AIDS Center, state-designated Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, state-designated Burn Center, the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence, and Kidney Transplant Center. It is home to the nation’s first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. To learn more, visit stonybrookmedicine.edu/sbuh.

About Money:

Founded in 1972, Money Magazine helped everyday people live richer lives by learning personal finance strategies that improved their bottom line. Over that time their mission has evolved to guide people to financial victories through up-to-date information, education, and tools as a digital-only destination.

With the rising costs of healthcare, Money sees the direct correlation between quality of care and the lessened financial impact on the consumer, the better the care, the lower the overall, long-term costs.

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Photo from Councilwoman Bonner's office

On April 6, Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner (6 th from left) attended the Rocky Point Historical Society’s 3 rd New York Regiment Encampment held at the Hallock Homestead Museum (c.1721).

The regiment spent the day encamped at the museum, firing volleys and marching to the Long Island Sound. Activities at the all-day event also included the dedication of the Joan Dochtermann Pollinator Garden, guided tours, and a mourning salute by the 3rd NY Regiment to the patriots buried at the Hallock Burying Ground on Hallock Lane.

The Hallock Homestead Museum is located at 172 Hallock Landing Road in Rocky Point. The Rocky Point Historical Society promotes and encourages historical research of the historic north shore community. For more information, go to www.HistoricalSociety.org RockyPointHistoricalSociety.org .

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Photo from Vanderbilt Museum

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its lecture series at the Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium Theater on Thursday, April 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Rachel Miller and Timothy Miller of Spirit Ironworks in Bayport will give a presentation titled Restoring Historic Ironworks, with a focus on Samuel Yellin.

Samuel Yellin was born in 1884 to a Jewish family in Ukraine. At the age of 11, he was apprenticed to a master ironsmith and completed his apprenticeship in 1900 at age 16. He traveled throughout Europe, emigrated to the United States, and settled in Philadelphia. He set up a blacksmith shop there and began to build his reputation.

From museums to skyscrapers, to private homes, churches, hotels, banks, and universities, Yellin left his mark on the American architectural landscape. His metal designs, craftsmanship, and artistry can be seen throughout the country. He was sought after by the elite for his skills and creativity, and his legacy lives on, not only in his works but also through his family business, passed down from generation to generation – from Samuel to his son Harvey, to his granddaughter Claire Yellin, who oversees the Samuel Yellin Metalworks Company today.

Rachel Miller and Timothy Miller have recently restored the 18-foot weathervane that once topped the bell tower above the entrance to the mansion courtyard. This major undertaking gives them a unique insight into Yellin’s works and a rare opportunity for attendees to see images of his Vanderbilt work and to hear first-hand about the restoration process and its challenges.

Tickets to the event are $10 per person, members free. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org or click here.

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Spirit Ironworks, Inc., was formed in 2001 as a collaboration and partnership between siblings Timothy and Rachel Miller who share a passion for the art of metalwork and blacksmithing. Rachel has a degree in fine art and Timothy in metalsmithing. They have distinguished themselves in their field and create hand-forged scrollwork, repoussé, and decorative elements in-house to ensure control over the quality of their product. Their business has grown over the years and includes a team of skilled artisans.

The Millers are active members of the National Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metals Association, The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, The Institute of Classical Architecture, Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America, and The Patchogue Arts Council.

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Photo from TOB

The Town of Brookhaven has announced that registration for the 16th Annual Great Brookhaven Cleanup is now open. The event, which is co-sponsored by the Town of Brookhaven’s Department of Recycling and Sustainable Materials Management and Teachers Federal Credit Union, will be held on Saturday, May 18 at various locations throughout Brookhaven Town. It is part of a national effort that draws over 5 million volunteers in more than 20,000 communities across America who come together to pick up litter and clean miles of roadway, rivers, lakes, and more. Last year, the Great Brookhaven Clean Up drew more than 2600 volunteers.

Free gloves, trash bags and t-shirts will be provided by the Town for the Great Brookhaven Clean Up volunteers. The supplies will be available for pick up at the Department of Recycling and Sustainable Materials Management’s third floor office at Town Hall during regular business hours (9:00 am to 4:30 pm) from May 6 to May 17. Evening pick-ups are scheduled for May 14 and May 15 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Appointments are necessary and must be scheduled during the registration process. Brookhaven Town Hall is located at 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville.

Individuals or groups can register online for the Great Brookhaven Clean Up and get more information at www.brookhavenny.gov or by calling 451-TOWN (8696).

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Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD
Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD

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

Two women allegedly stole bedding, a wireless phone charger, and pet products from Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, on February 21 at approximately 1:40 p.m.

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

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Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD
Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD
Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the people who allegedly stole from a Selden store this month.

Two women and one man allegedly stole merchandise valued at $582 from Target, located at 307 Independence Plaza, on April 5 at approximately 3:40 p.m.

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

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