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Yearly Archives: 2024

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Pictured Above: Legislator Bontempi with Kieran Johnson of the Huntington Arts Council

On September 4, at the Suffolk County Legislature’s General Meeting, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-18th L.D.) sponsored a resolution to appoint Kieran Johnson as a member of the Suffolk County Citizens Advisory Board for the Arts, representing the 18th Legislative District. The Advisory Board, comprised of one member from each of Suffolk’s 18 legislative districts, plays a vital role in shaping, reviewing, and recommending arts policies and programs that enhance the cultural landscape of Suffolk County.

Kieran Johnson has long been a key figure in the Long Island arts community. Since 2022, he has served as the Executive Director of the Huntington Arts Council, an organization he has been actively involved with since 2017. His leadership extends beyond this role, having previously chaired the Town of Huntington’s Public Art Advisory Committee. Kieran Johnson also currently serves as Co-Chair of Arts & Experience for the Huntington Chamber of Commerce, further demonstrating his dedication to promoting the arts.

 “Kieran’s extensive experience and deep commitment to the arts makes him an ideal representative for the 18th Legislative District. I’m confident that his leadership will be instrumental in advancing arts initiatives across Suffolk County.” said Legislator Bontempi. 

“I am deeply honored to be appointed to the Citizens Advisory Board for the Arts for Legislative District 18 and this opportunity to support and uplift the creative sector in our community, ensuring that the arts continue to thrive and remain accessible to the public. I look forward to working collaboratively with the CAB and Legislator Bontempi to continue to foster a vibrant cultural landscape across Suffolk County.” said Kieran Johnson.

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Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Police arrested three people for allegedly selling cannabis during a compliance check at a business in Huntington on Oct. 2.

Following an investigation by Second Precinct Crime Section officers, in conjunction with NYS Office of Cannabis Management Investigators, Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Town of Huntington Fire Marshal and Town of Huntington Building Department, a search warrant was executed at A to Z Smoke Shop & Convenience, located at 581 West Jericho Turnpike, where marijuana, THC marijuana vapes, flavor vape products, an illegal firearm and two stun guns were discovered.

The following people were arrested at the store:

  • Aman Sabharwal, 42, of Deer Park, was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree, one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis, and one count of Criminal Nuisance.
  • Akashdeep Singh, 23, of Floral Park, was charged with three counts of Unlawful Sale of Cannabis, and three counts of Sale of Cannabis without a License.
  • Gagan Smith, 36, of Richmond Hill, Unlawful Sale of Cannabis and Sale of Cannabis without a License.All three were issued Desk Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip at a later date. The Town of Huntington issued multiple violations to the business.

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TIME TO BE NEURALYZED! Director Barry Sonnenfeld will be at the Cinema Arts Centre on Oct. 8 for a book signing and a screening of Men in Black.
Ongoing

Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch

Four Harbors Audubon Society invites the community to join them for their 8th annual Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket every evening through Oct. 6 from 5:30 p.m. until dusk. The group will be tallying migrating Common Nighthawks to better understand nighthawk population trends. Join them at the Stone Bridge to witness nighthawks as they pass over during their migratory journey to their wintering grounds in Brazil and Argentina. Bring binoculars. Visit www.4has.org for further details.

Paint Port Pink

Attend events throughout Port Jefferson in October hosted by John T. Mather Memorial Hospital and its community partners as part of a month-long outreach program by the Fortunato Breast Health Center with the mission of raising awareness about breast cancer, sharing information and education and fostering solidarity in the community. www.matherhospital.org/pink

Thursday Oct. 3

Medicaid Enrollment Assistance

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station hosts a Medicaid Enrollment Assistance event for the Aged, Blind and Disabled from 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those 65+, blind, and/or disabled can get assistance enrolling in selected Medicaid programs. First come, first served. Questions? Contact the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council at 631-656-9783 (option 2).

Friday Oct. 4

Sweetbriar Garage Sale

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown hosts an Outdoor Thrift Garage Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. around the double garage in the parking lot. Household items and fun treasures! Money goes back into the wildlife center. 631-979-6344

Saturday Oct. 5

Stony Brook Train Station Cleanup

Join the Three Village Community Trust for their annual Fall Cleanup of the Stony Brook Train Station from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Come help pick up litter, weed landscaped beds, trim bushes and trees and more. Bring gloves and yard tools. 631-942-4558

Library Book Sale

Miller Place Academy Free Library, 162 North Country Road, Miller Place will hold a Book Sale today and Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature a Sunday read-aloud with Krista Legge at 11 a.m., a raffle basket, white elephant sale, teacher discount, free books, and the historical society’s country fair. Cash only please. Rain dates are Oct. 12 and 13.

Fish Hatchery Fall Festival

Rescheduled from Sept. 28. Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor presents its annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with environmental exhibitors, kid’s fishing, music, games, live animal encounters, food and more. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children. Rain date is Oct. 5. 516-692-6768

Miller Place Country Fair

The Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society will host its annual Country Fair on the grounds of the William Miller House, 75 North Country Road Miller Place today and Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will historic re-enactments, guest speakers under the pavilion, live music, historic walking tour, children’s games and cornucopia contest, raffles and more. $5 donation includes a tour of the historic William Miller House (c. 1720). Call 631-476-5742 or visit www.mpmshistoricalsociety.org.

Community Shred Day

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Saturday hosts a Community Shred Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A shredding truck from A Shred Away, Inc. will be in the library parking lot for on-site shredding of personal documents. There is a limit of 5 boxes or bags. All paper collected will be recycled at a certified paper mill. Open to all. 631-941-4080

Christmas in October Craft Fair

The 5th annual Christmas in October Village Craft Fair will be held on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featuring handmade items by local and tri-state artisans including artwork, photography, handcrafted jewelry, home decor, organic body & bath products, wood crafts, gourmet foods and more. Free admission. 631-846-1459

Fall Artisan Market

St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, 29 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown presents a Fall Artisan Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy a curated craft fair with over 75 vendors, crafts, farmers market goodies, food trucks, pet parade and costume contest, live music, face painting, classic car show, and pumpkin patch. Free admission. 631-265-4520

AMVETS Riders Motorcycle Show

AMVETS Post 48, 660 Hawkins Ave., Lake Ronkonkoma hosts a motorcycle show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with food, raffles, 50/50, vendors and refreshments. Rain date Oct. 6. 631-236-2643

Fall Harvest Festival 

Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, 178 Oxhead Road, Centereach will hold its annual Fall Harvest Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy vendors, food trucks, music, basket auction, country line dancing and so much more! Fun for the whole family. Free admission. 631-774-1556, hobbsfarm.info

Fall Harvest Festival 

Join the Church on the Sound, 335 Oxhead Road, Stony Brook for its annual Fall Harvest Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lots of activities for the whole family! Free. Call 631-941-4100.

Musician in the Gallery 

Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents a Musician in the Gallery event at 1:30 p.m. Enjoy live music by guitarist Howard Emerson performs in the Musical Masterworks gallery on his Monteleone LaCorsa #310. Come explore the beautiful instruments on view while listening to sweet melodies performed by Emerson. This is not a sit-down performance and is intended to accompany your visit to the gallery. Included with museum admission. No registration required. www.longislandmuseum.org

Old Burying Ground Tour

Huntington Historical Society hosts a tour of the Old Burying Ground at 4 p.m. Visit Huntington’s earliest public burying ground established in the 17th century, soon after the town’s founding in 1653.  Enjoy stunning folk art, beautiful epitaphs and learn about Huntington’s rich heritage, including the fascinating story behind Fort Golgotha. Meet outside the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main Street Huntington. Fee is $15 adults, $10 members, $5 children. Masks are required. Rain date is Oct. 6. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Sunday Oct. 6

Library Book Sale

See Oct. 5 listing.

Miller Place Country Fair

See Oct. 5 listing.

Soles for All Souls Race 

Ready, get set, go! All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook hosts its 16th annual Soles for All Souls 5K Run/2K Walk starting at 9 a.m. Come race or walk through the beautiful tree lined streets of Stony Brook Village. All proceeds from the race will be dedicated to making the church handicapped accessible. Award ceremony with medal presentations and prizes immediately following race. To register, visit active.com or register on the day of the race at the Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook at 7:30 a.m. 631-655-7798

Thunderbird & Ford Car Show

The Long Island Thunderbird Club and Thunderbird Owners of New York present the 18th annual Thunderbird & All Ford Car Show at the Key Food Shopping Center, 58 Indian Head Rd., Kings Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain date is Oct. 13. Free for spectators. 631-724-3756

Fall into Fun Festival

Heritage Park, 633 Mount Sinai Coram Road, Mt. Sinai celebrates the season with a Fall into Fun Festival and Fundraiser on Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy live music, food trucks, craft vendors, outdoor games, kids scavenger hunt, pumpkin patch, face painting, balloon artist, apple pie contest and more. Free admission with a suggested donation of $20 per family. 631-403-4846. 

Art in the Park

Northport Arts Coalition presents its annual Art in the Park event at Northport Village Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring music, dance, poetry, children’s art workshop plus forty artists displaying and selling their original work, this free event in Northport Park is a fun day for the entire family. www.northportarts.org.

Commack Day

Suffolk Y JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack hosts Commack Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy bounce houses, rock wall, axe-throwing, petting zoo, face painting, more than 110 vendors, live entertainment and more. Held rain or shine. Admission is $10 adults in advance at eventbrite.com, $15 at the door, free for children 10 and under. www.commackday.com

Jaguar Car Show

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will host a car show by Jaguar Drivers of Long Island on the Great Lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain date is Oct. 13. Visitors pay only museum admission of $10 adults, $9 students and seniors, $7 children 12 and under, which includes estate-grounds access.  www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

St. James Day 

St. James Chamber of Commerce presents St. James Day, a street fair along Lake Avenue in St. James (between Woodlawn and Railroad Avenues) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy festival food, music, live entertainment, children’s activities and over 200 vendors. 631-584-8510

Huntington Village Art Walk

The Huntington Village Art Walk, a self-guided tour of the new exhibits at the museums and galleries, in the Village of Huntington, returns today from  noon to 5 p.m. This year’s Art Walk will feature the Huntington Art Center, The Calling Bell, D. Velez Art Gallery,  Huntington Arts Council, Heckscher Museum of Art, digho at Lens Mark Photography, fotofoto gallery, b.j. spoke gallery, The Paramount, Huntington Public Library, and the Huntington Historical Society. Free admission. No registration required. 631-380-3230, www.heckscher.org.

Northport Walking Tour

Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport will present a walking tour of Northport’s historic Main Street at 1 p.m. Join Huntington Town Historian Robert Hughes for a walking tour of Northport’s historic Main Street, highlighting places, people, and stories captured in the paintings of nineteenth-century artist Edward Lange. A reception will follow the tour at the Northport Historical Society.  Tickets are $25 per person at www.northporthistorical.org.

Sunday Street Concert

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 26A, Stony Brook presents a Sunday Street Concert featuring Willie Nile in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room at 5 p.m. Expect songs and stories from all stages of his rich career, songs from a forthcoming album, along with a couple of well-chosen covers (Dylan, The Clash, maybe even the Ramones). Presented by the LIM, The Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council, and WUSB-FM. Advance tickets are $ 31 at www.sundaystreet.org through Oct. 4, and $35 at the door (cash only). 631-751-0066

Monday Oct. 7

Meet the Candidates Night

Three Village Civic Association invites the community to a Meet the Candidates night and Speakers for Proposition 1 and 2 at the Setauket Fire House, 190 Main St., Setauket at 7 p.m. Hear from Anthony Palumbo, Edward Flood, John Avlon, Sarah Anker and Rebecca Kassay. Refreshments will be served. Please park in the lower lot located off Old Town Road. Also available on Zoom.  www.3vcivic.org

Tuesday Oct. 8

CAC welcomes Barry Sonnenfeld

Legendary Director Barry Sonnenfeld (Get Shorty, The Addams Family, Men in Black Trilogy) returns to the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington at 7:30 p.m. for a screening of Men in Black followed by a discussion, audience Q&A, and a book signing reception for his new book, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time with live musical entertainment. Tickets are $60, $50 members and include a copy of the book. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

NYC3 in Concert

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Special Events series with NYC3 at 8 p.m. The baby boomers had the Beatles, groups like ABBA took the 70s by storm, but now it’s time for today’s music to take center stage. Starring three of New York City’s hottest male vocalists, this high-energy concert event delivers phenomenal performances of today’s top hits from artists like Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Shawn Mendes, Usher, and more. Great songs like Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and Walk the Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance” will get your audience up on their feet. Tickets are $45. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Wednesday Oct. 9

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

Thursday Oct. 10

Women’s EXPO

Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach presents its annual Women’s EXPO from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A showcase and a marketplace for Long Island women entrepreneurs, the indoor event will feature over 80 exhibitors who create or distribute a variety of products, including jewelry, pottery, soaps, food and more. The indoor event is a great opportunity to support local women entrepreneurs while shopping for holiday gift giving. Free admission. 631-585-9393, www.womensexpoli.org. See more on page B11.

Vanderbilt Lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road Centerport continues its lecture series with a presentation titled In Levittown’s Shadow: Poverty in America’s Wealthiest Postwar Suburb at 7 p.m. Historian Tim Keogh will  take a nuanced look at the history of suburban development and its connection to impoverished living conditions on Long Island. Tickets are $10 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Theater

‘Matilda The Musical’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off its 54th season with Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical from Sept. 14 to Oct. 20. Matilda is a courageous little girl with astonishing wit, a vivid imagination, and psychokinetic powers. Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, the unique and unforgettable Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl on an extraordinary journey! Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12, $25 Wednesday matinees. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit  www.theatrethree.com.

‘Clue’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is the hilarious musical Clue from Sept. 12 to Oct. 27. Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, the farce-meets-murder mystery begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Clue is the comedy whodunit that will leave you in stitches as they try to figure out…who did it, where, and with what! Tickets range from $85 to $95. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’

Suffolk County Community College, 533 College Road, Selden presents The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, a hilarious, crazy fairy-tale extravaganza, on Oct. 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. in Theatre 119 in the Islip Arts Building. Two narrators attempt to recreate all 209 of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm in a wild, fast-paced extravaganza. To make it more difficult, they attempt to combine them into one gigantic fable using Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and other more obscure stories like Lean Lisa and The Devil’s Grandmother. General admission is $15, veterans and students 16 years of age or younger $10. SCCC students with current ID get one free ticket. To order, call 631-451-4163

‘Night of the Living Dead’

Smithtown Performing Arts Center 2 East Main St., Smithtown presents Night of the Living Dead from Oct. 5 to 27. Fall out from a satellite probe shot to Venus returns to Earth carrying a mysterious radiation that transforms the unburied dead into flesh-eating zombies. Seven people trapped in an isolated farmhouse, held hostage by the ravenous ghouls, begin to turn on each other as the dead encroach. A gripping terror-filled monochromatic play that brings all the fright of the cult classic to life. *This production is recommended for audiences high school age and up. Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors and $25 students. To order, visit smithtownpac.org.

‘She Kills Monsters’

Minstrel Players presents Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters at Houghton Hall, Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main St., Northport on Oct. 19 and 26 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 20 and 27 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and students. To order, call 516-361-7232

‘Mostly True Things’

(mostly) TRUE THINGS, a game wrapped in a storytelling show that features true stories and a game celebrates 10 years of performances at The Performing Arts Studio, 224 E. Main St., Port Jefferson on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. with stories on the themes Anniversary or 10! Featured performers include Jessica Piscatelli Robinson, Adam Grundfest, Sean Brown, Rita Rigano and Jude Treder-Wolff. Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door (cash only).

Film

‘Tower to the People’ 

Presented with the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, the Cinema Arts Centre, 412 Park Ave., Huntington presents a special screening of Tower to the People, the tragic, yet ultimately inspirational story about Nikola Tesla’ most ambitious experiment for humanity, on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. With post-film Q&A with filmmaker Joe Sikorski in conversation with Jane Alcorn, Board Member at the Tesla Science Center. $25, $20 members. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’

Rescheduled from July. As part of its Political Film Festival, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will screen Frank Capra’s iconic film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. With post-film discussion with former congressmen Steve Israel and Peter King.$16 per person, $10 members. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

‘Invisible Nation’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its Fall 2024 season with a screening of Invisible Nation at the First United Methodist Church, 603 Main St., Port Jefferson on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. With unprecedented access to Taiwan’s sitting head of state, director Vanessa Hope investigates the election and tenure of Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan. Thorough, incisive and bristling with tension, Invisible Nation is a living account of Tsai’s tightrope walk as she balances the hopes and dreams of her nation between the colossal geopolitical forces of the U.S. and China. Followed by a Q&A. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students. www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com. 

Class Reunions

— 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. Members of the Class of 1963 are invited to join them. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected]. 

— Ward Melville High School Class of 2014 will hold its 10 year reunion at The Waterview, 44 Fairway Drive, Port Jefferson  on Nov. 30 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are  $100 — plus ones allowed. Includes open bar, passed appetizers, and dinner. Please email [email protected] for the link to purchase tickets. 

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#10 Linn Beck and #15 Jamie Keens celebrate the team's win after Sunday's game. Photo courtesy of SB Athletics

Stony Brook women’s soccer fought back from a second-half deficit to knock off Campbell, 2-1 on Sept. 29 at Eakes Athletics Complex in Buies Creek, N.C. Luciana Setteducate found the equalizer in the 50th minute and Linn Beck provided the game-winning goal seven minutes later.

Campbell grabbed a 1-0 lead when Kaleigh Backlund scored in the 27th minute, opening the scoring on Sunday afternoon.

The Seawolves leveled the game on a goal by Luciana Setteducate — her fourth goal of the season — in the 49th minute, assisted by Sammy Hannwacker. The two connected for the goal off a corner setpiece.

Stony Brook then busted up the 1-1 draw on Linn Beck’s 56th-minute goal, her fourth of the season. Gabrielle Cote assisted the goal. Beck’s goal proved to be the difference, coming a little less than seven minutes after Setteducate’s game-tying goal. Kerry Pearson nearly added another goal for Stony Brook, but Campbell was credited with a team save to keep the ball from the back of the net.

Campbell tried just two shots after Stony Brook went ahead in the match, with Nicolette Pasquarella saving the only attempt on target down the stretch. The Seawolves held off the Camels to close out the come-from-behind victory to end the road trip.

“I thought we played well today and it’s never easy to win an away game,” head coach Tobias Bischof said. “Unfortunately, we got scored on against the run of play in the first half. In the second half, the team reacted and did very well to score twice and come from behind to win.” 

The team returns home to face Monmouth on Oct. 3. Kickoff between the Seawolves and Hawks is set for 6 p.m. at LaValle Stadium with the contest streaming live on FloFC.

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Catch a screening of 'Shaun the Sheep' at the Cinema Arts Centre on Oct 6.
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 Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. with 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

Apple Workshop

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket presents an Apple Workshop for ages 4 to 8 on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. Children will learn about Johnny Appleseed, create a variety of apple goodies to take home and more. $40 per child. To register, call 631-689-8172.

Tails, Trails and Treats 

Celebrate Halloween at Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown with  Tales, Trails, and Treats on Oct. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. Kids can enjoy close encounters with animals, a ghostly garden, games, an enchanted trail and a special puppet presentation. For families with children ages 2 to 7 years old. $15 per child,  $5 adults. Rain date is Oct. 6. www.sweetbriarnc.org, 631-974-6344

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Ave., Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Oct. 7 at 10:30 a.m. Free. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4. 631-482-5008

Ukelele Workshop

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents an Intermediate Ukulele Workshop for students in grades 1 to 3 on Thursdays, Oct. 10, 17, 24, Nov. 7, 14, and 21 from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. Join local musician and early childhood educator Mr. Johnny for an intermediate class on the ukulele! Go beyond the basics and add more chords to expand your songbook, all in a joyful and encouraging environment. Fee is $175, $150 members. Please note: There will be an additional instrument fee of $50 for any child who does not already have a ukelele, which will cover the cost of a new instrument that is theirs to keep! To register, visit www.longislandmuseum.org.

THEATER

‘Rapunzel’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Rapunzel: A Tangled Fairytale from Sept. 28 to Oct. 27. Rapunzel’s sixteenth birthday has come, meaning that she’ll be able to see the outside world for the first time, just as her “mother” promised. Scared to let her go, though, the witch reneges. Lucky for Rapunzel a young Prince happens across her tower. Before the Prince and Rapunzel have their inevitable “happily ever after,” though, they’re going to have to face the wrath of the witch and a few other hilarious obstacles. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit engemantheater.com.

‘A Kooky Spooky Halloween’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its children’s theatre season with A Kooky Spooky Halloween from Oct. 5 to 19 with a sensory sensitive performance on Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. Recently graduated spirit Abner Perkins is assigned to the Aberdeen Boarding House — known for its spectral sightings and terrific toast. Here, Abner finds himself cast into a company of its wacky residents. When his secret is revealed, he is forced to leave his haunted home and set-off on a quest with his newly found friends.  Hilarious hijinks and a message of cooperation highlight this delightful musical for the entire family. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Halloween Princess Party

You’re invited to a special Halloween Princess Party at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown on Oct. 19 and 26 at 2 p.m. and Oct. 20 and 27 at 11 a.m. Learn about Halloween traditions from different kingdoms and meet new friends. Costumes encouraged at this royal trick-or-treat! Tickets are $16. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org or call 1-800-595-4849.

FILM

‘Shaun the Sheep’

The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids series with a screening of Shaun the Sheep on Oct. 6 at noon. All is well at Mossy Bottom Farm, except for the fact that the animals will do anything to get out of work. So, Shaun the sheep and his scheming friends devise a plan to put their master to sleep. However, the ruse backfires when the poor farmer finds himself transported to the big city, having lost his memory. Now, it’s up to Sean, Timmy the lamb, Shirley the ewe and the rest of the gang to travel to the metropolis and get him back, while not landing in even more trouble themselves. Tickets are $5 children, $13 adults. www.cinemaartscentre.org

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Photo by Steve Zaitz

Trinity Community Arts Center, 130 Main Street, Northport presents a photography exhibit by award-winning photojournalist and TBR News Media’s very own sports writer/photographer Steve Zaitz from Oct. 6 to 19. Titled Blue, Sweat & Tears, the exhibit will showcase 150 large size photos featuring local high school athletes in all their highest and lowest emotional moments on the field as well as spectacular action shots.

The community is invited to an opening reception on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Light snacks, soft drinks and wine will be served. For more information, please call 631-637-2278.

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Capital projects fund review of East Beach bluff stabilization shows an estimated $800,000 budget overspend. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

By Lynn Hallarman

The final report reviewing the capital projects fund was presented to the public by CPA firm, PKF O’Connor Davies of Hauppauge, at the Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees Sept. 25 meeting, ending a year of uncertainty over the financial condition of the fund.

The most significant conclusion was an estimated $1.27 million in overspending on capital projects done without an identified funding source. The largest overage was the East Beach bluff stabilization project of about $800,000.

Why the review was done

One year ago, concerns were raised by then newly-appointed village treasurer, Stephen Gaffga, about the bookkeeping practices that track the village’s capital projects fund. This prompted village officials to hire PKF O’Connor Davies to give a full historical accounting of the fund’s financial recordkeeping. The review spanned from May 2016 to May 2023.

“I noticed shortly after starting my position as treasurer in September of 2023 that our capital projects fund looked like every expense account had a negative balance, which immediately raised red flags for me,” Gaffga said in an interview with TBR News Media.

Gaffga noted that best practices recommended by the Office of the New York State Comptroller were not being followed, making it difficult to track how money was being spent on individual projects.

Ideally a capital project fund ledger should give a granular view of how money flows though different projects and meticulously accounts for funding and payments related to each project, according to the OSC.

The village additionally enlisted Charlene Kagel, CPA — former commissioner of finance for the Town of Brookhaven and ex-Southampton village administrator — as an expert municipal finance consultant to assist the village as it corrects bookkeeping practices to comply with state guidelines.

Reports findings

According to PKF O’Connor Davies, the purpose of the capital projects fund review was to identify which projects have been funded, which have been overspent and what grant funds for specific projects have not yet been reimbursed to the village.

The report provided a clearer picture of the capital fund financial state, especially addressing the overall negative balance observed a year ago. PKF detailed 26 projects as having a deficit fund balance.

Reviewers also noted that “recordkeeping varied by project” — or in other words, the bookkeeping lacked a consistent approach across the ledgers.

Overall, the review revealed an $8.1 million total deficit as of May 31, 2023. “Most of this deficit, an estimated $5 million, is due to grants expected but not yet received by the village,” Gaffga said.

The estimated $1.27 million shortfall comes from spending on a few large projects, most of which, $800,000, is attributed to the bluff stabilization project.

Gaffga explained that the additional spending on the bluff project occurred incrementally over several years starting in 2017, with board members approving these expenses without first identifying a funding source.

Recommendations

Recommendations to the village boil down to one improvement: Follow bookkeeping guidance outlined by the OSC.

The report also identifies the absence of a long-term capital projects fund plan for the village.

Kagel told TBR that an excellent capital plan should include a list of proposed projects by department heads and for municipalities to assign each project a “priority ranking” year by year.

“The board ranks what projects are most important and then figures out how they are going to pay for it,” she said.

Gaffga added, “There will need to be an identified funding source to correct that $1.27 million deficit in the capital fund.”

Gaffga pointed out, however, that this amount is an unaudited estimation. The village has hired a new accounting firm, R.S. Abrams & Co. of Islandia, to finalize the numbers cited in the report before village officials will move forward with a financial plan to reimburse the capital projects fund, as required by municipal law.

“Bottom line, it’s just bad bookkeeping. The village didn’t follow the recommended practice and accounting procedures that are set forth by the state and this is what happens when you don’t,” Kagel said.

Moving forward

The treasurer for a municipality is the custodian of all capital funds, responsible for tracking the finances of each project and developing financial reports for the board and the public.

“At the same time, the board is ultimately responsible for the oversight of the village financials,” Kagel said. “It’s pretty clear that municipalities aren’t supposed to overspend their budget, according to general municipal law in New York State.”

“Stephen [Gaffga] has implemented an OSC best practice, tracking each project financial detail to be sent to the board monthly, so the board can say, ‘Hey, how come we’re in the red on this project?’” she said.

“I’m glad we are now through the most difficult part of the capital projects fund review process and we now know exactly where the village stands,” Mayor Lauren Sheprow said in an email statement to TBR News Media.

“Now the village can proceed to develop a truly transparent capital project plan with guidance from our new Budget and Finance Committee and our incredible treasurer, Stephen Gaffga,” she added.

The full report can be viewed on the Village of Port Jefferson website at www.portjeff.com, and the next Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Oct. 9, as a work session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jaime Gonzalez. Photo courtesy of Gurwin

Annual Tribute Recognizes Efforts to Improve Quality, Safety and Equity of Patient Care

 Gurwin Healthcare System recently announced that Jaime Gonzalez, RN, of Brentwood, has been honored as a Quality Improvement Champion by United Hospital Fund as part of its annual Tribute to Excellence in Healthcare. Mr. Gonzalez is a Nurse Manager at Island Nursing and Rehab Center, a 120-bed skilled nursing community located in Holtsville, part of the Gurwin Healthcare System family of services.

Mr. Gonzalez and his team care for clinically complex patients with multiple comorbidities,  including those requiring specialized care offered by Island Nursing and Rehab Center, such as Total Parental Nutrition (TPN), Lasix IVPB and Solumedrol IVPB. This specialty niche facilitates timely hospital patient discharges to Island Nursing, one of the few skilled nursing facilities on Long Island uniquely qualified to provide such treatment services. Mr. Gonzalez was recognized for his leadership skills in cultivating a supportive and caring environment, for identifying opportunities for improvement, and for bringing forth and carrying out new concept initiatives as part of Island Nursing’s nursing administration team.

“We are very pleased that UHF has recognized Jaime’s contributions to advancing the quality of care and caring at Island Nursing and Rehab Center,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System. “Jaime’s hands-on leadership style and the respect and compassion he has for his patients, their families and his fellow staff is the driving force behind increased resident satisfaction and the provision of high-quality care at Island. We congratulate Jamie on this prestigious award.”

 

 

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Pixabay photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

My Aunt Maxine had Down syndrome, which means she was mentally disabled.

In so many ways, Maxine and her life defied expectations and labels.

When Maxine was born, doctors told my grandparents that she wouldn’t likely live long, so they should consider putting her in an institution.

My grandparents couldn’t imagine being away from their daughter. They took Maxine home to the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where they raised and educated her.

As she grew up, Maxine was on the shorter side, at under five feet tall, and carried the youthful, round face of Down syndrome throughout her life.

She also had facial hair that my grandmother, mother and caregivers regularly trimmed.

My aunt lacked any self-consciousness about who she was, what she was, and how she related to the world. She figured everyone was as ready to love her and interact with her as she was with them.

More often than not, she smiled, offering an energetic and enthusiastic nod whenever anyone made eye contact. Plenty of people avoided looking at her in part because she was different and, in part, because she lived in New York and the rules of sidewalk engagement limited eye contact.

When people didn’t notice or engage with her, she kept walking, singing, talking to herself, chatting with her parents or the rest of us, or whistling, which she could do by inhaling and exhaling.

She lived at a higher decibel level. Her whisper was even louder than her normal speaking voice.

“What?” she’d whisper so loudly that it could be heard in the back row of a movie theater. “You want me to be quiet? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“Yes, shhhh.”

“Don’t shush me!” she’d say, her husky whisper, like her husky voice, becoming louder and indignant.

“Sorry, Macky,” I’d say. “People are trying to watch the movie. Can you watch it, too?”

“Oh, yes, yes, yes,” she’d say, nodding vigorously. “I’ll be quiet. I will. I’ll be quiet. If that’s what you want, I can be quiet. Sure, suuuuure!”

She was spectacularly funny and knew introductions were an opportunity for comedy.

“Who is this young lady?” she’d ask anyone who walked in the door in our house. The person could be anywhere from six to 96 and she’d ask the same thing.

“How old are you?” she’d ask.

No matter the answer, she’d suggest the person was a “lovely” young lady.

“What’s your name?” she’d ask.

When the person said her name, she’d say “what” several times and then ask the person to spell it. When she slowed our guest down repeatedly and asked her to say it again, the guest would shout.

“Hey, what are you yelling for? I can hear you. Not so loud. You’re hurting my ears.”

She’d squint and a smile would fill her face as she’d scan the room, knowing the old routine had hit the mark.

More than anything else, though, Maxine was compassionate, emotionally connected, loving and supportive.

She would sing the Star Spangled Banner when she listened to Robert Merrill on the radio before a Yankees game.

“It’s so beautiful,” she’d say, as she blew her nose and wiped her eyes.

I suspect many other Americans have an aunt, sibling, distant relative, friend or neighbor for whom labels mean even less than the totality of their lives, the winsome nature of their personality, and the triumphs that define their days.

Hearing anyone use the term “disabled” as a take down misses the point, particularly for those who seek to be the country’s leader.

Maxine required but also taught a level of patience. In exchange, our family and friends appreciated her joy of life and basked in her unconditioned positive regard. She wouldn’t have resented or hated others, wouldn’t have insulted individuals or a group and would have forgiven anyone who made a mistake.

Perhaps some day, those who use words like “mental disability” as a way to dismiss others or to cast others aside will think of the Maxines of the world. We can learn so much from others whose lives are different from ours and who aren’t trying to use words to project an image, to cut others down, or to suggest that someone is limited.

I can picture Maxine sitting in a chair next to me, tilting her head and looking at me from the side.

“You’re such a silly goose,” she’d laugh.

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TBR News Media publisher Leah Dunaief meeting the 39th U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, at the White House in 1978. Photo from Leah Dunaief

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Jimmy Carter was the first United States President to invite me to the White House. The year was 1978, we had just started our first newspaper, The Village Times in the Three Village area, two years earlier, and the level of excitement was somewhere in the  stratosphere when our receptionist screamed, “It’s the White House calling!”  

Yes, indeed, it was someone from the White House, asking our address for the invitation to be sent to the Out of Town Press Conference later that month. With entrepreneurial bravado, I had written a letter addressed merely to “The White House, Washington, D.C.” asking if we might visit, not knowing about their monthly conferences at which Carter would gain insight from reporters into issues around the nation, even as he got his top priorities out into the communities. If I had known, I might have doubted his interest in a new weekly newspaper, but I would have been mistaken. 

They wanted me.

From the moment of that phone call until I sat in the office with 29 other reporters, talking with the President, that excitement never abated. The session was lengthy, interrupted at one point by the arrival of a boxed lunch. The conversation continued over a hard boiled egg and half a tuna fish sandwich. As I salted my egg and proceeded to down it, I still could not quite believe I was there.

Of course it made a great front page story in our paper when I returned, a photo shaking hands with President Carter a lifetime treasure. At the end of the session, he asked us to line up and tell him our names and where we lived, as a photographer snapped the moment. The line moved quickly, but when it was my turn, I was determined to say something that might be more interesting to him. 

“Mr. President, your sister, Ruth, visited my hometown of Stony Brook last week,” I rushed out the words. He stopped the line, his blue eyes large, and smiled broadly at me. I had read that he adored his sister.

“Isn’t Ruth great?” he offered. It wasn’t a question. “Why was she there?”

Ruth Carter Stapleton was a Christian Evangelist and I explained that she had been visiting one of the local Christian schools. He chatted another minute, then again shook my hand, and I moved on. I was in my late 30’s, and it was surely one of the high points of my life.

I was only 14 when I met Julie Andrews. She was one of the leads in the British play, “The Boy Friend,” and I went to a matinee with my eighth grade class on a field trip to see my first Broadway show. Word must have gotten to her that students were in the audience, and she invited all of us back stage to chat as she took off her makeup. She was only 19 at the time and told us she was thrilled with being in America for the first time. We were thrilled in turn to meet her. She didn’t seem much older than we, and the conversation was high spirited girl talk.

Little did any of us know that she would go on to become one of her era’s brightest stars, with a career starting as a child actress and spanning eight decades. She was the recipient of countless awards, and became Dame Julia by Queen Elizabeth in 2000. Her breakthrough American role was as Eliza Doolittle opposite Rex Harrison in the superb “My Fair Lady,” then went on to Queen Guinevere in “Camelot.” As Mary Poppins, in her first film role, she won the Academy Award’s Best Actress, then on to “The Sound of Music,” and many more.

It was fun to know that these two remarkable people shared the same birthday, October 1, and it made my walk down memory lane, this past Tuesday, a fond one.

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