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Yearly Archives: 2025

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Elwood-John H. Glenn High School varsity boys soccer team earned numerous accolades and awards at the Suffolk County Soccer Coaches Association’s All-Star Awards Banquet. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District

It was a year of achievements and accolades for John Glenn High School’s varsity boys soccer team. Extending far past their 2024 fall season, the Knights went 13-2-1, earning league and county championships, the No. 1 Class A playoff seed, and a ranking of seventh in New York State.

Elwood-John H. Glenn High School senior goalkeeper Tyler Ziminski won the Bill Lown Small School Player of the Year award at the the Suffolk County Soccer Coaches Association’s All-Star Awards Banquet. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District

At the Suffolk County Soccer Coaches Association (SCSCA) All-Star Awards Banquet in December, goalkeeper Tyler Ziminski won the Bill Lown Small School Player of the Year award and was named All-Conference, All-County, All-State, All-Region (a first in school history), the SCSCA’s Exceptional Senior in the All-Star Game, and League VIII MVP and Keeper of the Year. Ziminski, a senior, finished the season with an incredible 13 shutouts, raising his career total to 30.

Also earning All-Conference honors were three juniors: forward Cooper Kassan, forward Isaac Perez, and midfielder Jake Piacentini. Two defenders, junior Peter Bell and senior James Mossey, earned All-League designation. Senior Davin Li was named Academic All-County and a News 12 Scholar-Athlete. Eli Tyll, Matthew Riberic, and Sam Voege won John Glenn’s Coaches Award, with Tyll earning the SCSCA’s Captain Alex Fyfe Courage Award.

The superlative efforts of the team’s staff were also recognized. Head coach Lou Hanner won Suffolk County’s John Eden Small School Coach of the Year award, and assistant coach Chris Riley was named United Soccer Coaches 2024 East Region High School Assistant Coach of the Year. Additionally, Hanner, Riley, and assistant coach Don O’Brien were named League Coaching Staff of the Year.

“We just had an incredible year,” Hanner said. “The kids did fantastic. We’ve been really close to winning the county title before; we’ve been to the semifinals 10 of the last 12 years, so to finally win it was special.”

“What a fantastic year for this team,” Athletic Director Dave Shanahan said. “The coaching staff and student-athletes made us proud with their exceptional season. Their postseason honors are well deserved. Congratulations to Coach Hanner, his staff, and all of the postseason award winners.”

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Newfield senior Brandon McDaniels fights his way to the rim for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Alex Campanelli throws a buzzer beater from three quarters court for the Mustangs in a home game against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Brock Kolsch scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Dominic Pennzello battles his way to the rim in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield’s Ranard Fields fights his way to the rim for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield’s Ranard Fields drives the lane for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Jump ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Blake Kolsch drains a three pointer for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Marcus Magloire scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Aiden Hill drives the baseline for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Josh Hayes hits a three pointer from the corner. Photo by Bill Landon
Brian Vales scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Brock Kolsch scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Brock Kolsch scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Brian Vales lays up for two for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai freshman Andrew McNeely takes flight for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Marcus Magloire in traffic for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Foul? Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Marcus Magloire keeps the ball in play for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Blake Kolsch drives the lane for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Dominic Pennzello drives the lane in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior Marcus Petit Frere lays up for two for Newfield in a non-league matchup against Mt. Sinai. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Jay Deliat splits a pair of defenders for the score. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Mount Sinai took an 11-point lead into the halftime break keeping the Newfield Wolverines at bay in a non-league basketball matchup Jan. 3, but the Mustangs’ advantage evaporated in the third quarter. Newfield’s offense sprang to life to tie the game and then took the first lead of the game with 2 minutes left in the quarter. The Mustangs were able to shut down the Wolverines’ scoring frenzy in the final 8 minutes of play to hold on for a 76-73 victory.

Brian Vales led the herd for the Mustangs with nine field goals and three free throws for 21 points. Seniors Dominic Pennzello banked 17 points and Blake Kolsch netted 14.

Josh Hayes topped the scoring chart for the Wolverines with 23 points with teammates Marcus Petit-Frere notching 18 and Ranard Fields added 10. .            

– PHOTOS BY BILL LANDON

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President Jimmy Carter. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

By Sabrina Artusa

In the early 1980s, Robin Agnew’s parents were at the end of their rope. After years of struggling under the increased oil prices, Robin Agnew’s father, a commercial gardener, was struggling to maintain operation of his greenhouse in Terryville.

The inflated oil prices caused by President Jimmy Carter’s (D) embargo on oil from Iran drained any revenue her father gained from selling chrysanthemums and orchids.

“There was this hope that this incredible increase in oil prices would subside. Year after year it got worse,” Robin Agnew said. “It never changed.”

On June 30, 1980, Carter signed the Energy Security Act, which emphasized the development of renewable energy projects and energy conservation. 

By this time, the Agnew family’s “state of the art” greenhouses were falling into disrepair and Robin Agnew’s father was “working around the clock just to break even.” At this point her brother, Clark Jr., designed a new greenhouse. He proposed a greenhouse that can weather the elements and utilize the sun’s warmth to its highest potential. The greenhouse would be partially underground, with the top part south-facing to maximize exposure to the sun; it would use rocks as thermal energy storage and have a fan to spread the warm air. 

Clark Agnew Jr., a recent graduate who studied architecture, applied and was approved for a government grant to support his plans to create a new greenhouse.

“They had their backs against the wall and it saved them,” said Robin, who was around 13 when her parents received the grant. 

The greenhouse not only saved the livelihood of her parents, but supplied Robin and Clark with livelihoods of their own.

“He was extremely excited then,” Robin said of her brother. “It was his first really big project and to have someone acknowledge and support it was pretty life changing for him I would think.” 

Robin remarked how a member of the Carter administration, sent to supervise the project, had told her brother “that of all the grant money that they handed out, his was most impressive.” 

“It boosted the trajectory of his life because he felt like they made the right decision in his future and it gave him the confidence to go ahead and do big things,” she said. 

Carter’s presidency is marked by environmental advocacy and progressive climate policies. During his presidency, Carter passed numerous acts aimed at increasing energy efficiency and conservation. 

The grant program that helped the Agnew family was part of Carter’s larger mission of diversifying the country’s energy sources, thereby reducing the country’s reliance on oil. 

His vision in the power of renewable energy sources was such that Carter had solar panels installed on the White House. 

The Agnew greenhouse is still used by Robin Agnew, who refers to it as “her happy place.” There is an aviary, a grapefruit tree and constant warmth. A dressmaker, Robin Agnew works on her craft in the greenhouse as well. 

The greenhouse was a vessel for the economic growth of each of the Agnew family members; it actualized a future that could have easily slipped away without help from the Carter administration. 

“They [Robin Agnew’s parents] were extremely grateful and appreciative and so was I. For me it was amazing,” Robin said.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

Stony Brook men’s basketball fell to Drexel, 67-51, on Thursday evening at Stony Brook Arena. CJ Luster II tallied a team-high 21 points, but the Seawolves offense was outscored 13-2 over the final eight-plus minutes of action and suffered a loss at the hands of the Dragons.

Stony Brook and Drexel went back and forth early on before the Dragons took control out of the under-12 media timeout.

Drexel used a 20-7 run that spanned nearly eight minutes to turn a one-point game into a 30-16 advantage with less than five minutes to play in the half.

The Seawolves’ offense ripped off 10 unanswered points, holding Drexel scoreless for more than four minutes to trim their deficit to four points. The Dragons broke the scoreless streak with a basket in the final minute of the half, but Luster’s buzzer-beating jumper made it a four-point game again as the contest entered the intermission.

Stony Brook kept it close, staying within one or two possessions of Drexel for the first 11-plus minutes of the second half, but could not find a way to go in front. A Joe Octave basket with 8:11 to play made it a five-point game, 54-49, but the Seawolves’ offense went cold.

Drexel scored 10 straight points, holding Stony Brook scoreless for more than seven minutes to ice the game.

Stony Brook did not make a field goal over the final eight-plus minutes of play, missing its final seven field goal attempts and eventually falling, 67-51, to Drexel.

The team wraps up its three-game homestand, welcoming Northeastern on Jan. 11. The Seawolves and Huskies tip-off at 7 pm from Stony Brook Arena, with the contest airing live on SNY and streaming on FloCollege.

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The Long Island. Photo courtesy of Fred Hall

By Sabrina Artusa

The Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company have added a new vessel to its fleet: the Long Island.

The 300-foot long,  53-foot wide ferry completed its first voyage to Bridgeport on Dec. 27. The boat features new amenities such as an updated interior and tier 4 engines, the highest standard for diesel engines. It can carry 1,000 passengers and up to 124 cars.

The Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company Vice President and General Manager Fred Hall was the second passenger on the first voyage of the Long Island. “It was a wonderful trip; it was great to see people oohing and aahing at the decor that they hadn’t seen before.”

Unlike the smaller Park City, the Grand Republic or PT Barnum, the Long Island has seating along the window, a counter with phone charging stations, two-seat and four-seat tables and a separate cabin for pets.

The speed is the same as the other boats, but the engine is of a higher standard and releases less carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbon and particulate matter emissions.

The addition of a fourth boat to the fleet allows Hall and the company to pursue ventures besides the simple transit to and from Bridgeport.

Hall said that years ago the company used to plan excursions to other locations, such as Playland Park in Rye, an overnight trip to Albany or a trip down the Connecticut River. With an extra boat, this now may be possible.

A fourth boat also alleviates the burden of demand. the company can only schedule three boats, but having a fourth reduces the inconvenience of delays in the case one of the others needs repairs or is out of commission.

Further, Hall is exploring the possibility of using the fourth boat as a shuttle. In other words, if there is a surplus of vehicles waiting to board, and the scheduled vessel is at capacity, the fourth can serve as a shuttle to transport the remaining cars.

“This is the huge benefit,” Hall said. “Everyone asks me when is your peak season. I’ve always said when the public schools aren’t in session.” He had meant summers, but has since realized that weekends are just as busy.

“Our goal is to provide three-vessel service every weekend of the year. It is not going to happen 100% of the time. If you have four boats you have a better chance of providing three-boat service on the weekends consistently,” Hall said.

Come down to the Port Jefferson Harbor and check out the new addition of the Long Island.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

Stony Brook men’s basketball fell in its CAA home opener to William & Mary, 83-76, on Jan. 4 at Stony Brook Arena. CJ Luster II scored a game-high 22 points to lead a trio of double-digit scorers for the Seawolves in the loss.

Stony Brook and William & Mary traded blows early, with each side holding a lead during the opening three minutes of action. The Seawolves used an early 9-0 run to take a 19-11 lead, the largest gap between the two teams in the first half. The Tribe responded with an 11-2 run of their own, whittling the deficit to one point.

William & Mary battled back to tie the game on two occasions, before regaining the lead on an Isaiah Mbeng triple with 5:30 to play in the first stanza. A Nick Woodard steal and score in transition put the Seawolves ahead again, 33-32, but the Tribe closed the half on a 10-4 run to take a 42-37 lead into the locker room.

Andre Snoddy and Jared Frey opened the second-half scoring with back-to-back baskets, giving the Seawolves an advantage in the scoring column again. The Seawolves maintained a lead until the 12-minute mark when the Tribe used a 7-2 run to even the score at 58 apiece.

William & Mary fell behind again, but took control of the lead with 9:23 to play and never trailed from that point on. Stony Brook leveled the contest once more, but could not overcome the deficit. The Tribe’s Isaiah Mbeng buried an end-of-shot-clock three-pointer with 67 seconds remaining in the contest to ice the game.

“Give William & Mary credit, they were able to score in crunch time with some big shots. We had the ball four straight times in the last three minutes and had plenty of chances to take the lead and weren’t able to score,” head coach Geno Ford said. “We are getting better, which is encouraging, but we haven’t found anyone who can deliver big baskets for us in crunch time. Once we can get that, we will start to win these types of games.”

Up next, the team continues its three-game homestand, hosting Drexel on Jan. 9. The Seawolves and Dragons tip-off at 7 p.m. from Stony Brook Arena, with the contest airing live on SNY and streaming on FloCollege.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team fell to Monmouth, 75-61, on Jan. 5 at the OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, N.J. Despite Janay Brantley’s first career double-double and Breauna Ware dropping 19 points, the Seawolves were defeated by the Hawks for their first CAA loss of the season.  

Janay Brantley

The Seawolves had three players score in double figures, led by Brantley and Ware who each scored 19 points. Brantley added a team-high 10 rebounds as Shamarla King chipped in with 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Stony Brook struggled out of the gate, scoring only 12 points with King accounting for seven herself. Monmouth pieced together a team-effort first quarter with six players scoring through the opening frame to take a 23-12 lead. 

Stony Brook then started off the second quarter by going on a 7-0 run, highlighted by buckets from Brantley and Ware, to narrow its deficit to 23-19. The Hawks responded and expanded their lead, leaving the Seawolves trailing 38-25 heading into halftime.

After intermission, Stony Brook cut its deficit to 40-28 before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from King, to trim its deficit to 40-34 with 6:21 to go in the third. Monmouth countered and stretched its lead once again heading into the fourth with a score of 58-42. Stony Brook played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 17 points in the paint.

The Seawolves continued to shrink their deficit at 65-55 with 4:44 to go in the contest. The Hawks responded and outscored the Seawolves the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 75-61. Stony Brook took advantage of five Monmouth turnovers in the quarter, but it wasn’t enough to help the Seawolves emerge victorious.

Up next, the team welcomes William & Mary to Long Island for the conference home opener on Jan. 10. The Seawolves and Tribe tip-off at 7 p.m. from Stony Brook Arena, with the contest airing live on SNY and streaming on FloCollege.

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Coconut Butternut Squash Soup

By Heidi Sutton

As the temperature drops and the snow falls, warm up with a creamy butternut squash soup or a comforting bowl of roasted vegetable soup, courtesy of McCormick Spices.

Coconut Butternut Squash Soup
Coconut Butternut Squash Soup

YIELD: Makes 6 one cup servings

INGREDIENTS: 

2 tablespoons olive oil

3/4 cup chopped onion

4 cups peeled butternut squash chunks, (1-inch pieces)

1 medium green apple, cored and cut into 1-inch chunks

1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

1/3 cup orange juice

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup chicken stock

1 can (13.66 ounces) lite coconut milk

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oil in large saucepan on medium-low heat. Add onion; cook and stir 3 minutes or until slightly softened. Add squash, apple and pecans. Cook on medium heat 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Stir in orange juice, turmeric, nutmeg and stock. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 25 minutes or until squash is tender, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.

With center part of cover removed to let steam escape, puree soup in batches in blender on high speed until smooth. Return pureed mixture to saucepan. Stir in coconut milk. Simmer for 5 minutes. 

Ladle into soup bowls. Garnish with additional turmeric and finely chopped apples, if desired.

Roasted Vegetable Soup
Roasted Vegetable Soup

YIELD: Makes 6 one cup servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound (about 5 large) plum tomatoes, quartered

1 pound (about 6 cups) fresh oyster or portobello mushrooms, trimmed

1 medium sweet onion, quartered

4 teaspoons olive oil, divided

2 teaspoons  sea salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried sage

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided

2 medium avocado, peeled, pitted and cut into 3/4-inch chunks

1 1/2 cups unsalted vegetable stock

1 cup water

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450°F. Place tomatoes, mushrooms and onion in large bowl. Add 3 teaspoons of the olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the sea salt, thyme, sage and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper; toss to coat well. In separate small bowl, gently toss avocado with remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place tomato and mushroom mixture on one side of foil-lined shallow baking pan. Place avocado on other side of pan. Roast 35 to 40 minutes or until vegetables are tender and golden brown.

Meanwhile, bring stock and water to boil in small saucepan on medium heat. Cover. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to use. Add the warm stock mixture and roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and onion into blender container, while keeping the roasted avocados on the baking pan. With center part of blender cover removed to let steam escape, puree on high speed until smooth. Pour soup into serving bowls or mugs and top with roasted avocado. Drizzle with additional olive oil before serving.

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