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Yearly Archives: 2025

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Photo from LIM

By Heidi Sutton

Mother’s Day isn’t just about the cards, flowers, or fancy gifts—it’s about spending quality time with loved ones. Here are some fun and affordable ways to celebrate mom on the North Shore this weekend.

Mother’s Day at the LIM

Spend a lovely afternoon with Mom exploring the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook on Sunday, May 11 from noon to 5 p.m. Visit the Building the Ballot Box and Colors of Long Island exhibitions, the state of the art Carriage Museum, and stroll the beautiful grounds dotted with art installations, gardens and historic buildings. Free admission for mothers and grandmothers all day! 631-751-0066

Open Weekend at Benner’s Farm

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket will be open to the public on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 from noon to 4 p.m. Come visit a real working farm! See sheep, goats, and chickens, ride the Big Swing and see the new babies born this spring. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors and children. 631-689-8172

Portraits at the Vanderbilt Museum

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport offers live watercolor portrait paintings in the courtyard by local artist Sara Marie Martin on Saturday, May 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your custom watercolor portrait will be painted within 10 minutes! Fee is $20 per 5″ x 7″ (up to 4 people per painting) payable via cash or Venmo on site.*General admission required. www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Mother’s Day at the Whaling Museum

Treat Mom to a special day at the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor with free admission with a paid ticket on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, enjoy a weekend of Mother’s Day crafts. 631-367-3418

Mother’s Day at The Hatchery

Celebrate Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission for Moms when accompanied by their children. 516-692-6768

See more events for Mothers Day weekend here.

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BIRDS-EYE VIEW The Bald Hill Fair in Farmingville (May 8 to 18) will feature ‘The Wheel,’ the largest Ferris wheel on Long Island at a towering 110 feet tall. Photo courtesy of Dreamland Amusements
Ongoing

Bald Hill Fair

The Bald Hill Fair returns to the Catholic Health Amphitheater, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville May 8 through May 18. Featuring the Victoria Circus, World of Wonders Oddity Show, a Big Bee transforming robot, lots of carnival rides with fireworks by Grucci on May 10 and May 17 at dusk. Hours are Monday to Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. , Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.baldhillfair.com.

Thursday May 8

Municipal Clerks’ Week Open House

Huntington Town Clerk and Records Management Officer Andrew Raia invites everyone to get a history of Huntington as the town celebrates Municipal Clerks’ Week with an open house at Town Hall, 100 Main St., Huntington from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. today through May 8. Visitors can view the town’s old records chest, old maps, the statue of American Hero Nathan Hale, the town’s ID dating 1666, Native American deeds, and other interesting documents. Tours are free. 631-351-3035

Farmingdale College Plant Sale 

Farmingdale State College, 2350 Route 110, Farmingdale will hold its annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature a wide assortment of flowering plants, vegetables, herbs, perennials, tropical plants, houseplants, and succulents in parking lot #2 adjacent to the Teaching Gardens and University Police. .

Crafts & Cocktails

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor continues its Crafts & Cocktails series at 6:30 p.m. Discover the history of wet and dry felting as you learn how to sculpt with wool in this needle felting workshop. Explore whalebone tools made by whalers for their loved ones. Sip on a Tipsy Turtle cocktail or mocktail while you transform wool fibers into an adorable sea turtle. $35 per person, $25 members. To register, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

SCCC Spring Concert

The Music Department of Suffolk County Community College, 533 College Road, Selden presents a Spring Concert featuring orchestra, guitar ensemble, the Suffolk Singers and College Choir at the Shea Theatre, Islip Arts Building, at 7 p.m. Free and open to all. No tickets required. 631-451-4163

Vanderbilt Lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its lecture series with A Vanishing New York: Ruins Across the Empire State from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Photographer and author John Lazzaro will explore abandoned sites in  New York and puts their individual stories in the larger context of New York’s historical legacy. Tickets are $10, free for members. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Friday May 9

Garden Club Plant Sale

The Centerport Garden Club will hold its annual Plant Sale in the parking circle in front of Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn from 9 a.m. to noon. Shop for perennials and annuals including native plants. Garden club members will be on hand to answer gardening questions. 

One-Woman Show at the LIM

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents Shirley Chisholm, Unbossed & Unbowed at 7 p.m. This award-winning one-woman show tells the largely unheard story of Shirley St. Hill Chisholm, a Brooklyn-born politician of immigrant parents, who, in the 20th century, was the first African-American woman to win a seat in Congress and run for President. Starring Ingrid Griffith as Chisholm and the characters that surround her life. Tickets are $30, $25 members. To register, visit www.longislandmuseum.org. 631-751-0066.

Northport Chorale Concert

The Northport Chorale, in collaboration with the North Shore Chamber Choir, Northport Community Band, Northport Jazz Orchestra and Northport Symphony Orchestra present their Spring concert at East Northport Middle School, 1075 5th Ave., East Northport at 8 p.m. Program will include works by John Rutter, plus a varied selection of vocal delights. Tickets are $20 per person. www.northportchorale.com

SCCC Spring Concert

The Music Department of Suffolk County Community College, 533 College Road, Selden presents a Spring Concert featuring the jazz ensemble, symphonic band and contemporary music ensemble at the Shea Theatre, Islip Arts Building, at 7 p.m. Free and open to all. No tickets required. 631-451-4163

Grounds and Sounds Concert

Grounds and Sounds Cafe, UUFSB, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket hosts a concert featuring Bob Westcott and the musical duo Princess Peapod, The evening  begins with an Open Mic at 7:30 p.m. (signup at 7 p.m.); the main act goes on at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, available in advance at www.groundsandsounds.org or at the door. For more information, call 631-751-0297.

Saturday May 10

Caumsett Hike

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington presents Just a Hike, a 6 mile, hilly, moderately paced walk affords walkers the opportunity to relax, socialize, and enjoy the park’s beauty, from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Adults only. $4 per person. Registration required by calling 631-423-1770

Car Wash & Bake Sale Fundraiser

The North Shore United Methodist Church, 260 Route 25A in Wading River, will hold a car wash and bake sale fundraiser by the church’s Rwanda Youth Mission Team from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds will help fund the youths’ mission to an orphanage in Rwanda this July. 631-929-6075.

Baby Animal Day

Suffolk County Farm, 350 Yaphank Road, Yaphank will host a Baby Animal Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a day on the farm with baby animals, wagon rides, food trucks, games, and more! $15 per person ages 3+ in advance includes unlimited wagon rides, baby animal visits, live music, touch-a-truck, pony rides, face painting, vendor fair and more. $20 at the gate. To pay in advance, visit ccesuffolk.org. 631-852-4600

Spring Festival & Flower Sale – just added!

United Methodist Church of Lake Ronkonkoma, 792 Hawkins Ave., Lake Grove will hold a Spring Festival & Flower Sale from 10 am. to 4 p.m. with food, flowers, vendors and fun! Rain date is May 17. For more information, visit www.UMCLR.com.

Northport Spring Craft Fair

Time to shop! Northport High School, 154 Laurel Hill Road, Northport hosts an outdoor Spring Craft Fair (indoors in case of rain) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring Jewelry, Soaps, Lotions, Candles, Flowers, Clothing, Beach glass, Crochet, Woodworking, Spring decor, Artisanal foods, Handbags, Pet items, Toys, and Local Art. Shop for last minute Mother’s Day gifts from over 100 vendors. Free admission. 631-885-1267

International Migratory Bird Day

Town of Brookhaven will hold a free nature program in honor of International Migratory Bird Day at West Meadow Beach, 100 Trustees Road, Stony Brook from 10 a.m. to noon. Long Island is a popular stop over and nesting area for many avian species. Join us as we observe and identify the birds of our shorelines and coastal wetlands. Registration is required. E-mail [email protected] to make your reservation.

CSHL Walking Tour

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor will host a guided walking tour of the campus from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Learn about the historic and modern architecture, the Nobel legacy, and the advanced cancer, neuroscience, and plant research taking place at the lab. Fee is $9.31 per person. To register, visit www.cshl.edu. 516-367-8844.

Superheroes of the Sky

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents Superheroes of the Sky from 11 a.m. to noon. Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds the Center’s Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about a Bald Eagle, Turkey Vultures, owls, hawks and many more. Fee is $10 per adult,  $5 per child (Under 12y). To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Mother’s Day Spring Market

St. Thomas of Canterbury, 90 Edgewater Ave., Smithtown presents their second annual Mothers Day Spring Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Look for unique, handmade, and special gifts for mom, including live, on the spot, one of a kind poetry gifts and enjoy delicious food, face painting and live music while you shop. 631-265-4520

All Souls Poetry Reading

The Second Saturdays poetry series returns to All Souls Church in Stony Brook from 11 a.m. to noon. The program will be delivered virtually in an interactive format via ZOOM. Chip Williford will be the featured poet. An open reading will follow the featured poet; all are welcome to read one of their own poems. Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/. 631-655-7798

Portraits at the Vanderbilt Museum

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport offers live watercolor portrait paintings in the courtyard by local artist Sara Marie Martin from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your custom watercolor portrait will be painted within 10 minutes! Fee is $20 per 5″ x 7″ (up to 4 people per painting) payable via cash or Venmo on site.*General admission required. www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Mother’s Day at the Whaling Museum

Treat Mom to a special day at the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor with free admission with a paid ticket today and May 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, enjoy a weekend of Mother’s Day crafts. 631-367-3418

Rocky Point Day

Rocky Point School District presents its 2nd annual Rocky Point Day at the Rocky Point High School Track, 82 Rocky Point-Yaphank Road, Rocky Point from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with vendors and crafts, youth sports, food trucks, musical performances and more. 631-744-1600

Open Weekend at Benner’s Farm

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket will be open to the public today and May 11 from noon to 4 p.m. Come visit a real working farm! See sheep, goats, and chickens, ride the Big Swing and see the new babies born this spring. Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors and children. 631-689-8172

Spring Farm Festival

Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown presents a Spring Farm Festival from noon to 4 p.m. featuring kids crafts, pony rides and petting zoo, live music, sheep shearing, traditional craft demonstrations, historic farmhouse tour, food and craft vendors, face painting, and more! Tickets are $10 per person, children under the age of 3 are free. Purchase in advance at www.eventbrite.com or at the door. Rain date is May 11. 631-265-6768

Author Talk at Hallockville

Join the Hallockville Museum Farm for a presentation by author Richard Wines at Hallock State Park Preserve Visitors Center, 6062 Sound Ave., Riverhead from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wines will speak about his new book, A Farm Family on Long Island’s North Fork. Free but registration required by visiting www.hallockville.org.

Wilderness Survival Workshop

The Vanderbilt Museum 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its Wilderness Survival Series with Ranger Eric Powers and Mike Evans today at 2 p.m. and runs once a month through September 13. Each workshop focuses on specific skills such as making cordage, shelter building, purifying water, toolmaking, foraging for food and medicine, navigation and traps, and making fire. Perfect for those starting their survival skills journey or looking to deepen existing skills. $50 per person, $45 members. To reserve your spot, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Long Island Museum lecture

Join the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook for a talk about the New York Marine Rescue Center, the primary responding organization to sick and injured sea turtles and marine mammals in New York, at 2 p.m. Learn more about marine life here in New York, as well as the rescue and rehabilitation process for these animals. Included with museum admission fee. 631-751-0066

Book Signing at the LIMEHOF

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will hold a book signing event with author David Brown at 2 pm. Brown will take part in a Q&A and sign copies of his book, Talkin’ Greenwich Village. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org

Reboli Center Talk

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook will host an exciting and informative talk with two distinguished figures in the world of classic motorcycles, international guest, Hans Keckeisen, and Long Island’s own, Peter Nettesheim from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Keckeisen and Nettesheim will be discussing the fascinating history of BMW, the iconic Bavarian motor company, and the creation of a truly unique motorcycle that Keckeisen built specifically for Nettesheim’s museum collection. This event is open to the public and free to attend. No reservations required. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and refreshments will be served. For more information, call 631-751-7707 or visit www.rebolicenter.org.

Sunday May 11

Mother’s Day at the Whaling Museum

See May 10 listing.

Open Weekend at Benner’s Farm

See May 10 listing.

Solar Sun Day at Avalon – Just added!

Join Avalon Nature Preserve for a Solar Sun Day from 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Observatories on Shep Jones Lane in St. James. Come observe the brightest star in our sky! Using a large refractor and other dedicated solar telescopes (all equipped with safe solar filters,) they will be providing both digital and visual views of our nearest star, Sol. If the skies permit it, they will also provide views of the planet Jupiter, right in the middle of the day! Free. No registration required. Get directions here. 631-689-0619

Mother’s Day at the LIM

Spend a lovely afternoon with Mom exploring the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook from noon to 5 p.m. Visit the Building the Ballot Box and Colors of Long Island exhibitions, the state of the art Carriage Museum, and stroll the beautiful grounds dotted with art installations, gardens and historic buildings. Free admission for mothers and grandmothers all day! 631-751-0066

Mother’s Day at The Hatchery

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission for Moms when accompanied by their children. 516-692-6768

Monday May 12

Sound Beach Civic Meeting

Sound Beach Civic Association will hold a meeting at the Sound Beach Firehouse, 152 Sound Beach Blvd., Sound Beach at 7:30 p.m. On the agenda will be the Civic’s upcoming event, Out of This World Kids Day. For more information call 631-744-6952.

Country Line Dancing

Celebrate St. James presents Country Line Dance lessons with Natalie at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 2nd St., St. James from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come learn the hottest dances! $15 per person at the door. Please RSVP at  www.celebratestjames.org.

Movie Trivia Night at the CAC

Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for a Movie Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Try to answer 50 questions based all around film, actors and actresses, awards, and everything else associated with the world of film. Challenge like-minded film fans in a battle of wits for cash and other prizes. You can form teams, so bring some friends and work together. Feel free to come alone and play solo as well! Hosted by Dan French. Tickets are $11 per person, $7 members at cinemaartscentre.org.

Tuesday May 13

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a concert by Marty Kupferberg and Thelma Grossman featuring great standard songs of the past. at 11 a.m. Bagels and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Three Village Garden Club meeting

The Three Village Garden Club welcomes the community to their upcoming meetings at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket including today, May 13 (What’s in the Arboretum?); May 20 (Container Gardening); and June 10 (Shade Gardening). The membership meeting starts at 11 a.m. and the program begins at 1 p.m. Visit www.threevillagegardenclub.org for more information.

Board  ‘Walk’  Your Way to Wellness

Health professionals from St. Catherine of Siena Hospital will be available at Sunken Meadow State Park’s boardwalk in Kings Park tonight, May 20 and 27 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to discuss heart health, healthy eating, weight management, breast health, stroke prevention, skin cancer and Lyme disease prevention tips. Free blood pressure screenings and free giveaways. To learn more, call 631-870-3444.

Wednesday May 14

SCPD Property Auction

The Suffolk County Police Department will hold a property auction at the Property Section, located at 30 Yaphank Ave. in Yaphank. The auction will begin at 9 a.m. and will be held rain or shine. There will be a preview of jewelry and select property  from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Among the items being auctioned are jewelry, handbags power tools, electronics, and bicycles. Participants must be at least 18 years old to bid. All items are sold in “as is” condition and must be purchased with cash. www.suffolkpd.org

Cruise Night at The Shoppes

The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River hosts a Cruise Night Car Show tonight and every Wednesday through October from 5 p.m. 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 May 15

Free health screenings

Catholic Health Mobile Outreach Bus will be in the parking lot of Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket for free health screenings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registered nurses will provide blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, glucose and cardiac screenings, along with patient education and referrals as needed. Last screening begins at 1:45 p.m. No appointments are necessary, there are no fees, and insurance is not required. Questions? Email [email protected].

International Museum Day

Join the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach for their  annual festival celebrating International Museum Day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Representatives from many local museums, historical societies, science and nature centers will be on hand to share information regarding their collections, programs and exhibits. Free. 631-585-9393

Tribute to Maxine Jurow exhibit and fundraiser

The Huntington Arts Council and Suite Pieces will present Life in Color – A Tribute to Maxine Jurow, a special exhibition and scholarship fundraiser commemorating the five-year anniversary of artist Maxine Jurow’s passing from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Suite Pieces, 1038 New York Avenue in Huntington. Guests will enjoy complimentary cocktails and light bites throughout the evening as they enjoy the presentation of a curated collection of Maxine Jurow’s original works that will be on display and available for purchase. Tickets are $35 per person and available at www.huntingtonarts.org.

Goat & Alpaca Yoga 

The Smithtown Historical Society, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown will host a 45 minute session of yoga with friendly, interactive goats and alpaca near the Frank Brush Barn from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and again from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m courtesy of by Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo. The classes continue on May 28, June 12, June 12, July 7, July 24 Aug. 5, Aug. 18 and Sept. 11. Tickets are $35 per person via Eventbrite.com. 631-265-6768.

Gallery North Art Reception

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket invites the community to an art reception for The Winner’s Circle exhibition celebrating the award-winning artists of the 2024 Outdoor Art Show and Music Festival from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On view from May 15 to June 22, the exhibition features works by artists Paul Speh, Cassandra Voulo, Laura and Dennis Kemple, Juan Cruz Reverberi, William Demaria, Galina Carroll, Jessamyn Go, Chloe Wang, Cassandra Hussey, Susan Rodgers, Mary Jane van Zeijts, Jonathan Spector, Ash Garcia-Diaz, Sophia Syritsyna, and Eileen Cassidy. Refreshments will be served. 631-751-2676

Theater

‘Fractured Broadway Goes to the Movies’

North Shore United Methodist Church, 260 Route 25A, Wading River presents Fractured Broadway Goes to the Movies on May 9 and May 10 at 7:30 p.m. In this latest version of Riverhead Faculty and Community Theatre’s popular musical revue, local favorite Dan Grable accompanies the very talented cast as they perform familiar movie tunes in entertaining & untraditional ways. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 students at the door or by calling 631-929-6075.  

‘Wait Until Dark’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with Wait Until Dark from April 18 to May 11. Jeffrey Hatcher’s gripping new adaptation of Frederick Knott’s classic sets the action in 1944 Greenwich Village. Susan, a woman who recently lost her vision, is imperiled by con men searching for a mysterious doll. Trapped in her apartment, Susan draws on new depths of resourcefulness as the story builds to its extraordinary, breath-taking conclusion. Contains adult situations. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘South Pacific’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Main Stage season with South Pacific from May 15 to June 29. This beloved musical takes place on a South Pacific island during World War II where two love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. With songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “Younger Than Spring-time,” and “There Is Nothin’ Like A Dame,” South Pacific’s lush score contains some of the best songs ever written by Rodgers & Hammerstein. For more information and to order, call 631-261-2900 or go to www.engemantheater.com.

‘Medea’

The Carriage House Players at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in  Centerport kick off their 36th annual Shakespeare in the Courtyard Festival with Medea from May 16 to May 28. Performances are held on the Vanderbilt mansion courtyard stage on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children under age 12. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. Call  516-557-1207 for more information.

‘Half Time’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson closes its 45th Mainstage season with Half Time from May 24 to June 22. The incredible true story of ten determined dreamers who audition to dance at half time for a major basketball team and have three things in common: they love to dance, they have something to prove, and they are all over 60 years old! Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

Class Reunions

— Ward Melville High School Class of 1975 will hold their 50 year reunion at St George Golf & Country Club in East Setauket on June 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. $126.00 per person includes hors d’oeuvres, Prime Rib buffet dinner and open bar. Contact Cary Fichtner-Vu  at 703-861-8259 or [email protected] for tickets by June 2. No walk-ins. 

— Rocky Point High School Class of 1975 will hold their 50 year reunion at East Wind in Wading River on September 12 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. $150.00 per person includes  reception, hors d’oeuvres, buffet dinner, open bar and dessert. Contact Andrea at 631-774-2474 or [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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CUTENESS OVERLOAD! Head to the Suffolk County Farm for Baby Animal Day on May 10. Photo from Suffolk County Farm
PROGRAMS

First Steps Into Nature 

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents First Steps Into Nature for children ages 2 to 4 on May 9 at 9:30 a.m. Little ones will learn about nature through hands on interaction, music, crafts, stories, play and more. $20 per child per class. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

Art Explorers Club

Heckscher Museum, 2 Prime Ave. Huntington continues its Art Explorers Club on May 10 with Blooming with Love from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Spanish and 11 a.m. to noon in English. Children ages 5 to 10 are invited to join bilingual Museum Educator Kim Zambrano in exploring the art of printmaking to create a colorful flower-filled memory garden. This project will be inspired by Heckscher Park. $5 per family, free for members. To register, visit www.heckscher.org.

Baby Animal Day

Suffolk County Farm, 350 Yaphank Road, Yaphank will host a Baby Animal Day on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a day on the farm with baby animals, wagon rides, food trucks, games, and more! $15 per person ages 3+ in advance includes unlimited wagon rides, baby animal visits, live music, touch-a-truck, pony rides, face painting, vendor fair and more. $20 at the gate. To pay in advance, visit ccesuffolk.org. 631-852-4600

Mother’s Day Painting Workshop

The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite 6 & 9, St. James presents an in-studio, one day kids workshop on May 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Children ages 6 to 12  will learn how to paint a beautiful orchid painting for Mom just in time for Mother’s Day with step-by-step instruction by Miss Linda. Fee is $55 per child and includes an 11″ by 14″ canvas and all art supplies. To register, visit theatelieratflowerfield.org. 631-250-9009.

Second Saturdays in the Studio

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook continues its Second Saturdays in the Studio series on May 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Families are welcome to join educators in the LIM studio and participate in a hands-on activity or art project inspired by exhibitions on view. Included with museum admission. All supplies provided. Children under 16 must have an adult with them. No registration necessary. 631-751-0066

Fairy Garden Workshop

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, Setauket presents a Fairy Garden workshop for ages 4 to 10 on May 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Take a tour around the farm to find all the natural materials — plants, flowers, dirt, stones, moss and more — to build your own fairy garden! $40 per child. To register, call 631-689-8172.

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Ave., Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on May 12 at 10:30 a.m. Free. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4. 631-482-5008

Flower Power

Nissequogue River State Park, 799 St. Johnland Road, Kings Park presents a Tiny Tots class, Flower Power, on May 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Children ages 3 to 5 with a parent/caregiver will enjoy short walks, stories, dances, animal visitors, and crafts. $4 per child. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com.

THEATER

‘The Adventures of Peter Rabbit’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson celebrates Spring with the return of The Adventures of Peter Rabbit from April 16 to May 10 at 11 a.m. With the help of his sisters—Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-Tail—and his cousin, Benjamin Bunny, Peter Rabbit learns the power of sharing and caring in this adorable musical. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs’

Join Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson for a hysterical musical retelling of the wonderful story, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs from May 31 to June 21 with a sensory friendly performance on June 1. Come on down for this daffy tale with a Queen, a Witch, a Princess with skin as white as snow, and seven crazy dwarfs that are guaranteed to keep you laughing from start to finish. Tickets are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com

Send your calendar events to [email protected]

 

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Craft Fair at The Shoppes at East Wind May 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Craft Fair at The Shoppes at East Wind May 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Craft Fair at The Shoppes at East Wind May 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Craft Fair at The Shoppes at East Wind May 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Craft Fair at The Shoppes at East Wind May 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Craft Fair at The Shoppes at East Wind May 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Craft Fair at The Shoppes at East Wind May 4. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The craft fair at The Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River was in full swing Sunday, May 4 where local craft vendors flocked to showcase their wares. The day featured a bounce house for the kids and the ever-popular carousel, a family favorite that was met with warmer temperatures.

Craft Fair Weekends continue at The Shoppes at East Wind on June 7 & 8, July 12 & 13, August 2 & 3 and September 6 & 7, October 4 & 5, and November 1 & 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If interested in becoming a vendor, contact  [email protected] or click here.

 

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Cookie the Pom. Photo from Unsplash

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Dear Paw Landers,

I’ve never written a letter like this before. Truth be told, I’ve never written a letter of any kind.

But I understand you live far away and that you dispense valuable advice that I could use in my everyday life with the guy and his family.

The guy spends most of his days sitting at this thing typing, so I guess I can do it for an hour or so, which, you know, is more like seven hours for him.

I was thinking of asking you about that rumbling noise that scares me so much when it gets incredibly dark out and when the ground gets wet. Those sounds make me want to find cover somewhere, but no matter where I go, I can still hear it and feel the terrible vibrations. It’s like if a pack of, you know, us were running around the neighborhood, growling so loudly outside the door that we caused the floor to vibrate a second or two after a flash of light.

No, no, I’ll save the questions about those noises for some other letter. This one is about the delicate social business of interacting in the neighborhood.

You see, my guy varies in his social energy and interests. Some days, he speaks with everyone we run into and bends down to pet other dogs.

That doesn’t bother me, the way it did with Fifi last week, when she complained that her owner pets other dogs more readily and happily than she pets Fifi. I’m fine if my guy wants to scratch other dogs behind their ears or rubs their back. Frankly, there are times when I think he needs a hobby to get out all of his scratching, squeezing and high-pitched voice energy that he reserves for me and, once in a while, for small people when they come to the house.

Other times, he barely waves or acknowledges people and their pets. He’s either staring into his phone and talking to himself or he’s making lists out loud and telling himself what he needs to do that day.

When he does stop to chat with neighbors and their companions, he often talks about me while the other human talks about their dog. I’m kind of tired of hearing about how I don’t like to swim, how I’m not that high energy and I don’t fetch.

Everyone doesn’t have to fetch or swim, right? But, then, he also talks about how sensitive I am and how supportive I am whenever anyone is feeling sad in the house. Hey, we all have our strengths, right?

When he’s chatting, sometimes about me and sometimes about the weather, I’m not always sure how long the pause in our walk will go.

I sometimes sit or lay down near him, while other dogs jump or sniff around me. Other times, I’m so happy to see one of my neighbors that she and I try to tie the two leashes into a knot in the shape of a heart. My guy and the neighbor never see it, but it’s so obvious to us.

Every so often, I meet someone intriguing and, you know how it is, right? I have to sniff them, the way they have to sniff me. The question is, how long can I sniff their butts before it becomes socially awkward, either for them or for the humans?

I mean, I can tell when my guy is in an intense conversation about something, when his voice drops or shakes and I want to help him. At the same time, I have this need to sniff.

Clearly, sniffing butts at the wrong time or for too long can become a problem for the guy and the other person.

If we do it too long, their conversation ends and he walks away, muttering and puling on me until we get inside.

So, what’s the ideal, allowable butt sniffing time? And remember that none of us is getting any younger, so, you know, if you could write back soon, it’d help. You can’t see me, but I’m looking up at you with my big brown eyes and wagging my tail. That usually works with the guy.

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METRO photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Tuesday was National Teacher Appreciation Day, which reminded me of Miss Rigney, who changed my life. 

Miss Rigney was my sixth grade teacher in the perfectly ordinary elementary school I attended. Housed in a cement building, in the midst of a residential area, it served the neighborhood according to the rules for education in mid-century New York City, with two classrooms and two teachers for each grade. I was assigned to 6A. Next door was 6B.

Soon after entering sixth grade, we became aware of the goal for the coming year. We needed to pass the Hunter Test for the honor of the school and our own benefit.

The Hunter Test, we discovered, was a one day affair that, if successfully navigated, would win us admission to Hunter College High School where classes started with seventh grade and ended with graduation from high school. Open to students from each sixth grade in all five boroughs, a handful of us would be eligible, after scoring well on a standardized test in fifth grade, to travel to the school on the appointed day to take the test.

I liked the sound of that because it was the closest junior high school to where I lived. I sympathized with those students who would have to ride from Brooklyn, Queens and even Staten Island.

There were several special schools throughout the city whose admission was via a challenging test: Stuyvesant, Bronx High School of Science and Brooklyn Tech were three. They were also public schools and were run by the Board of Education with the idea of giving some students a head start. 

But Hunter was different. It was initially started in 1869 as a model school in which to train teachers who were matriculating in Hunter College and was administrated by the Board of Higher Education. Its 1200 students in six grades “represent the top one-quarter of one percent of the City” based on the test scores, according to the school. It was composed of all girls for its first 105 years. The student-teacher ratio was 13:1, and its faculty for the most part had advanced degrees.

“Aim of the entire course through which the Normal students pass is not so much to burden the mind with facts as it is to develop intellectual power, cultivate judgment, and enable the graduates to take trained ability into the world with them,” wrote Harper’s Magazine in 1878.

Now we kids didn’t know any of this. I just wanted the shortest commute, and it was impressed on us that Hunter was a good place to be. So we prepared for the test, which was months away, with the coaching of our teachers, four girls from 6B and two from 6A. 

Only Miss Rigney, a trim, freckle-faced redhead with a gentle manner, who seemed old to me, but was maybe 28, stayed after school twice a week and drilled Carol and me with a workbook. When we didn’t do the homework she then gave us, both arithmetic and English, she was uncharacteristically stern with us. It was clear that this was a challenge she wanted us to surmount.

On the day the results of the Test were sent to the school, the principal called the six of us down to her office, along with the teachers, and with a great deal of excitement, opened the envelope and read the results out loud. Carol and I had been admitted; no one had from the other class.

There was screaming and moaning. Miss Rigney smiled, quietly congratulated the two of us and returned to her classroom. I was happy because I thought I should be. I knew my parents would be pleased, but I had no understanding of what had just happened.

I had no idea that my life would be unalterably changed — that I would be attending what was thought to be one of the finest high school in the country, ranked number one by The Wall Street Journal, one of only 225 pupils, with some of the most accomplished teachers for whom teaching was an art, that I would mingle with far more sophisticated students, and because of them, freely explore the City. 

I had a remarkable high school education. When I landed in college, I was immediately offered second year standing because of my AP classes. Miss Rigney knew. 

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Sunny Bateman

Sunny Bateman passed away peacefully on May 5, at age 80 after a courageous battle with cancer and later complications. 

Born on Dec. 14, 1944 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Mildred and Howard Strecker, Sunny’s abundant love continues through her husband Lee Bateman; children Debbie, Michelle, Brad, Brooke, Kim and Scott; grandchildren Brady, Wyatt, Sunny, Quinn, Caroline, Hank, Matilda, Scarlett, Noa, Aden, Tyler, Kiersten, Charlie, Anna, Luke and Alex; and great grandchildren Jackson and Monroe. She is also survived by her brothers Robert and Billy Strecker, sister-in-law Jayne Strecker, nieces Megan and Janine, and nephews Robert and Derek.  

The family extends their deepest gratitude to her friends, family and the incredible team at Stony Brook University Cardiac ICU for their compassionate care during Sunny’s  final days.

In honor of Sunny’s love of art and her generous spirit,  memorial donations to the Reboli Art Center (rebolicenter.org/donate) in her name would be greatly appreciated in lieu of flowers.

Sunny was welcomed into eternal peace by her beloved father and mother Howard and Mildred Strecker, her aunt and uncle Roy and Pearl Hoffer, her cousin Ronald Hoffer, her son Chad Bateman and her dear friends Catherine Loper and Lydia Simms, who all meant so much to her.

Service will be held this Friday May 9 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home, 411 Old Town Rd, East Setauket. Please visit Bryant Funeral Home (https://www.bryantfh.com/) for details.

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Harold Sheprow with grandson Connor. Photo from Lauren Sheprow
Harold Sheprow and Chuck Sewel. Photo courtesy Lauren Sheprow
Trustee Sheprow with Gordon Thompson. Photo from Lauren Sheprow
Peggy and Harold Sheprow in 2006. Photo courtesy Lauren Sheprow
The Sheprow Family in 2015. Photo courtesy Lauren Sheprow

This article was updated on May 7, 2025.

By Sabrina Artusa

Harold J. Sheprow, six-term mayor of the Village of Port Jefferson, passed away on May 1 at age 95, surrounded by family. 

Sheprow was born Dec, 25, 1929, in Queens to Harold Sheprow Sr. and Gladys Petrie. As a teenager, he joined the Merchant Marines and became chief engineer at 18. Upon his return, he was drafted in 1954 to serve in the Korean War. On Feb. 9, 1957, he married Margaret Mary Katherine Kerr (Peggy) with whom he spent 68 years. 

He then began working at Grumman Corporation, requiring he and Peggy to move to Port Jefferson Village from New Jersey in 1961. As an engineer, he worked on aircrafts like the F14 Tomcat, eventually retiring in 1990. 

Upon moving to the village and paying to take his family to the beach, he was galvanized to get involved in village politics, first as a member of the Planning Board, then as a trustee and finally as mayor. 

Sheprow was mayor for a total of 12 years — his lengthy tenure showcasing his dedication to serving his community, transcending his role as mayor and extending throughout his life. 

Under Sheprow’s leadership, the village acquired the 170-acre Port Jefferson Country Club. He worked tirelessly for almost a decade to achieve his vision of a Port Jefferson where residents could have a private property they could call their own. 

Famously, he attended a party where he made a connection to the country club’s owners. The acquaintance introduced him to the estate owners of the property. In a meeting, they agreed to lease the property to the village. They signed a $1 bill, sealing the agreement until a proper contract could be made. 

The country club, an acquisition that required years of effort and planning and some spontaneous creativity, now bears his name.

Former Director of Recreation and Parks Ron Carlson said he was working in town hall while Sheprow was on a phone call with attorneys from Winston estates. “He came into my office, sat down, and said ‘Ron, guess what’,” Carlson said. “I said, ‘What?’ He said you may not believe this, but we are going to buy that golf club.”

“He said he wasn’t positive, but I think he was,” Carlson added. “He knew deep down that the village would vote ‘yes’ to the acquisition.”

Father Francis Pizzarelli, who formed Hope House Ministries while Sheprow was mayor in 1980, said Sheprow’s “creative genius” and “tender heart” helped make the village what it is today.

“He was a law-and-order tough guy but I was always amazed with him,” Pizzarelli said. “He was always thinking and he would think outside the box.”

Sheprow also worked to open the waterfront for public use through the development of Danfords Hotel & Marina in 1986, making the village less “heavily industrious” and developing a sense of place, former Mayor Margot Garant said. 

As a father of six and an active golfer, Sheprow understood the need and value of recreational services in the village. 

“What was very fun about him was he was very pro-recreation and parks,” Carlson said.

Indeed, he organized a bus service to ferry residents to the beach during the summer; he held Halloween parties at the Village Center; he promoted sports programs to make the athletic fields more accessible, with fields booked almost every day of the week; and even formed a team with other village employees, participating in softball and bowling games against the Village of Patchogue employees.

He strived to make the village a pleasant place to live, full of beauty, recreation and accessible parkland. His leadership style inspired his successors, including Garant.

“He was a man for everybody. He wasn’t pretentious. You always felt comfortable around Hal,” she said. “He never made any situation feel like it was something that couldn’t be handled. He wasn’t mayor for title or prestige, he was mayor for helping the people.” 

Pizzarelli said that, although Sheprow was hesitant to support Hope House Ministries at first, he gave Pizzarelli the opportunity to argue his case and actively listened to other positions. 

“He was always open-minded, and that is what always impressed me,” Pizzarelli said. “Whatever you brought to him, even though he may push back, he allowed you to push back to him so he could have a better understanding of whatever the issue was you were bringing to him.” 

The Village of Port Jefferson made a social media post after Sheprow’s death, stating that the Sheprow family is “lightened by the fact that he was resting comfortably in his final moments, surrounded by loved ones.”

In an interview by Chris Ryon and Mark Sternberg in 2023 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of the village, Sheprow said, “Being a mayor for Port Jefferson has got to be the most exciting experience anybody, laymen, could have. There is no better. I don’t care what you do in Port Jefferson, whether you go water-skiing, whatever you do, golf…nothing. Nothing is better than this — working in the Port Jeff government.”

Sheprow served as mayor from 1977 to 1985 and 1987 to 1991. His daughter, Lauren Sheprow, continues his legacy as mayor. He is survived by his wife Peggy; daughters Madelyn and Lauren; sons Dennis, Warren, Glenn and Brendan; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, brothers Ralph and Warren and son Neil Harold. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hope House Ministries of Port Jefferson. Visitation was on May 6 at Moloney’s Funeral Home in Port Jefferson Station. The funeral Mass was held on May 7 at St. Charles Chapel, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson. Graveside service was be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson following the Mass. 

 

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Members of the Anna Strong Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Photo by Michael Rosengard
Gretchen and Herb Mones. Photo by Michael Rosengard
From left, Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Herb Mones dressed as George Washington, and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico speaks at the event.

It’s a National Celebration of the birth of America – and it kicked off right here in the Three Villages. On May 2, the Anna Smith Strong Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a special celebration titled “250 Years STRONG” at the Setauket Neighborhood House.

While many might not know- across the country events are being planned to mark America’s Semiquincentennial.  It was 250 years ago that the “Shot Heard Around the World” rang out during the battle of Lexington and Concord – considered to be the first military engagement of the Revolutionary War.  On Long Island, the Strong family played a pivotal role during the Revolution through their actions in the Culper or Setauket Spy Ring.

The Culper Spy Ring is credited by George Washington as being a major factor in turning the tide of the American Revolution by providing valuable intelligence to at great risk to themselves.

The Anna Smith Strong Chapter was named for a courageous member of the celebrated Culper Spy Ring, and hosted an event commemorating her role and honoring the American spirit.

Participants enjoyed an evening of history, community and celebration in a picturesque setting – the Setauket Neighborhood House. Keynote speaker and local historian Margo Arceri spoke of the remarkable life of Kate Wheeler Strong. There were raffles, awards and patriotic provisions provided by chief sponsor, David Prestia of Bagel Express. Costumes were optional but fun!  People came in Revolutionary War dress to make things more festive.  Sponsor Michael Rosengard of North Island Photography & Films created an art installation (that included Anna Smith Strong’s clothesline and more) and was the official event photographer. 

Recognized at the event for their historic preservation and education contributions were:  Margo Arceri, local historian/Tri-Spy Tours/Three Village Historical Society; Beverly C. Tyler, author/historian/Three Village Historical Society; and Gloria Rocchio, President of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. 

The Anna Smith Strong Chapter received Proclamations from NYS Senator Anthony Palumbo, NYS Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright and Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico and Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich.

There was an entire ‘regiment’ of sponsors that helped guarantee the success of the event: Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, Krista’s Design Studio, Margo Arceri, Scott Heaney Mill Creek Agency, Inc., Legislator Steve Englebright, The Setauket Neighborhood House, Guy Nicosia/ CEO Strategic Planning, Beth Shatles, Joe Ventimiglia Fine Art, P Mones and Herb Mones, Island Federal Credit Union, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, Colleen Keneflick, Dr Nora Galambos, RADIANCE by the Harbor, and the Reboli Center for Art and History.  In addition, dozens of local businesses donated raffle prizes.  

Several of the community’s leading organizations showcased their activities, literature and programs in the Lakeside Room including the New York Marine Rescue, Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium, Ward Melville Heritage Organization, Three Village Community Trust, Three Village Garden Club, Reboli Center and the Rocky Point Historical Society who all shared information and more. 

Interest was ‘revolutionary’ – and the event quickly sold out. Money raised will go towards education, historic preservation and patriotic/veteran’s endeavors.  Check the DAR’s website for further information on the event or to see what will be happening during the upcoming year: https://annasmithstrongnsdar.org

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The U.S. Postal Service unveiled stamps based on artwork from the classic children’s book “Goodnight Moon” during a ceremony on May 7. The event was held at The Rabbit hOle in North Kansas City, MO, a museum that brings to life a century of American children’s literature, including the book’s iconic Great Green Room.

“These nostalgic stamps not only celebrate the timeless charm of ‘Goodnight Moon’ but also highlight the enduring relevance of both stamps and children’s literature in a digital age,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, the Postal Service’s stamp services director, who spoke at the event. “The enthusiastic response from the public about these stamps has been exciting — a reminder that the joy of stamps continues to inspire all generations.”

Written by Margaret Wise Brown with artwork by Clement Hurd, “Goodnight Moon” revolutionized children’s publishing when it debuted in 1947 and has since become favorite bedtime reading for millions of families around the world. A celebration of the everyday, this quiet, lullaby-like book encourages children and their parents to imagine themselves in the book’s familiar Great Green Room, saying goodnight to everything they see. The sense of peace and security that the book brings helps ease children to sleep, reassuring them that all the familiar things of daily life will still be there in the morning.

Pete Cowdin, co-director of The Rabbit hOle, said the exhibit was an ideal setting for the stamps’ unveiling.

“We knew that the Great Green Room exhibit would kindle a powerful emotional connection with some of our visitors, but the impact of the room has exceeded our expectations. Walking into the exhibit is like walking into the book itself, a time machine that sets free a flood of memories and reconnects adults with their families and their own childhood. It reaffirms what we know already — that ‘Goodnight Moon’ is not just an American classic but a cultural touchstone that celebrates and spans all generations and all demographics.”

Children’s book creator and son of the illustrator of “Goodnight Moon,” Thacher Hurd read the book and discussed his father’s legacy as part of the unveiling.

“I’m sure Margaret and Clem would have loved the beautifully designed stamps created by Derry Noyes and USPS,” he said. “And it’s wonderful that the unveiling of the new ‘Goodnight Moon’ stamps will take place at The Rabbit hOle, with its delightful Great Green Room. It’s the perfect place for this exciting happening.”

One of the first books written for very young children that focuses on everyday experiences, “Goodnight Moon” reflects philosophical shifts in early childhood education that had begun in the early 20th century.

Brown wrote the first draft of “Goodnight Moon” one morning in 1945.

“In the great green room,” the book begins, “There was a telephone / And a red balloon.”

Told in spare, simple language, the book allows children to feel as if they are inside the cozy room, where a young bunny has been tucked into bed.

“Goodnight clocks / And goodnight socks,” reads the text. “Goodnight little house / And goodnight mouse.”

The lilting, hypnotic rhythm perfectly mimics the slow approach of sleep, casting a tender spell over young listeners, who bid goodnight to everything they see in the book — from the toy house and kittens playing on the bedroom floor to wall paintings, a red balloon, and the moon in the night sky. The book also encourages children and parents to look around their own rooms and improvise on the comforting bedtime ritual in any way they would like.

In early 1946, Brown sent the manuscript of “Goodnight Moon” to her friend Hurd (1908-1988), who spent most of the next year working on the book’s illustrations.

Hurd’s images alternate between panoramic scenes of the bedroom rendered in vibrant color and black-and-white close-ups of particular objects in the room, including a pair of mittens hung up to dry and an uneaten bowl of mush on the bedside table. His attention to detail has delighted generations of readers: A copy of “Goodnight Moon” sits upon the nightstand, the time on the clock moves forward, and a tiny mouse scurries about the room. At first brightly lit, the “great green room” grows gradually darker over the course of the book, echoing slumber’s slow descent. In the final scene, the table lamp is off, the moon has risen, and the bowl of mush has been eaten.

Published by Harper & Bros. in September 1947, “Goodnight Moon” sold an initial 6,000 copies, but sales soon dropped off. The book’s remarkable rise in popularity began in the 1950s, in large part because of word of mouth among parents. In 1996, the New York Public Library, which did not add the book to its own collection until 1972, included “Goodnight Moon” on its Books of the Century list.

Today, “Goodnight Moon” has sold a total of more than 48 million copies, placing it among the best-selling children’s books of all time.

Derry Noyes, an art director for the Postal Service, designed the pane using existing art by Hurd.

The Goodnight Moon pane of 16 stamps are issued as Forever stamps, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, First Day of Issue Ceremonies and stamp inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.

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