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Yearly Archives: 2025

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Photo caption The Daniel Gale Foundation, the philanthropic division of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, a leader in luxury real estate, is collecting new and gently used business attire in support of its 25th annual clothing drive for Dress for Success. Donations can be dropped off  at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty offices.  Pictured here (l-r), real estate advisors Lowell Ackerman, Veranika Johnston and Jessica Crowley.

The Daniel Gale Foundation, the philanthropic division of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, has announced the launch of its 25th annual clothing drive in support of Dress for Success.

From now through the end of May, all 29 Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty offices from Brooklyn and Queens to the Hamptons will be collecting new or gently used professional clothing and accessories to help local women dress for success—literally. Items being accepted include dress and pant suits and separates, blouses, shoes, coats, handbags, and other business-appropriate attire. All donations will benefit Dress for Success, which supports unemployed and underemployed women by providing professional attire and tools to help them succeed in their job search and career development.

“Whether it’s the first impression a property or a person makes, no one understands the power of presentation like a real estate agent,” said Deirdre O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty. “But this drive is about so much more than clothes—it’s about helping women feel seen, valued, and equipped to take the next step in their careers and lives.”

Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s partnership with Dress for Success began in 2000, when agents and employees were first invited to participate in a company-wide clothing collection. Since then, the initiative has become a cherished annual tradition, with the company donating truckloads of high-quality business attire that has supported countless women on their journeys to economic independence and personal empowerment.

This year’s drive continues the legacy of service that is a hallmark of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s culture—supporting not only the communities in which its agents work but also those striving to build better futures for themselves and their families.

Community members are invited to join the effort by dropping off donations at a Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty office. To find the nearest location, visit www.danielgale.com/locations.

 

 

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Three Village Civic Association during the planning meeting. Photo courtesy George Hoffman
Three Village Civic Association during the planning meeting. Photo courtesy George Hoffman

In a recent meeting at Studio 268 in East Setauket, around two dozen community activists began planning for a new expanded park in the downtown area, which many hope will help Main Street become a place where residents can stroll, take in views of the harbor and learn about Setauket’s local history.

Organized by the Three Village Civic Association, headed by Charlie Tramontana,  the participants included Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook), Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) and members of the Thre Village Chamber of Commerce, the Three Village Rotary Club and the Setalcott Nation, among others.

The working group will be meeting over the next several months to develop a plan that will then be incorporated into the Town of Brookhaven’s park project plan.

Charlie Tramontana said, “today was the first meeting of the working and planning group where we walked the park and discussed features that we hope to incorporate into the eventual plan for the park.”

The Three Village Civic Association plans to take the ideas and incorporate them into a computer generated site plan that will be created by Joseph Betz, a professor of architecture at Farmingdale College and member of the civic association.

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

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man and woman who allegedly stole from an East Setauket store in January.

A man and a woman allegedly stole various household items from Walmart, located at 3990 Nesconset Highway, at approximately 12:15 p.m. on April 28.

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

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Island Harvest Food Bank, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), and the United States Postal Service (USPS) are once again in a united front for the annual Stamp Out Hunger® food drive, the nation’s most extensive single-day food collection campaign on Saturday, May 10.

At a recent kickoff rally at Island Harvest’s Melville headquarters before a group of postal union workers, corporate sponsors, and food bank staff and supporters, Samantha Morales, founder of Branches Long Island, a Middle Island-based social services organization that helps people in need, relayed a story about a first-time client coming in for food assistance.

“A woman named Maria came in holding a baby in one arm and a grocery list in the other. Her husband had been laid off, and their savings were completely gone. She looked exhausted yet determined and said, ‘I never thought I’d need help like this, but my baby needs to eat.’” Ms. Morales said that because of food donations from efforts like Stamp Out Hunger, Maria wasn’t turned away in her time of need, and she was given fresh produce, canned goods, and formula for her baby. As Maria left, she hugged a volunteer, broke down and said, “You gave me a lifeline today.” In concluding her remarks, Ms. Morales stated, “Every can, every box and every bag collected during this campaign helps real people right here on Long Island.”

According to Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO of Island Harvest, the need for food assistance on Long Island has never been greater.

“The need among Long Island families is alarming, making your contribution to Stamp Out Hunger more important than ever,” said Shubin Dresner. She highlights that the organization distributed a record 18.3 million pounds of food last year and is forecasted to distribute 20 million pounds this year.

“With increased costs at the grocery store, coupled with the region’s high cost of living and continued economic uncertainty, more Long Islanders urgently need supplemental food support. We are calling on the responsibility and generosity of all Long Islanders to donate what they can by leaving nonperishable food items in a bag next to your mailbox before the regularly scheduled mail delivery on Saturday, May 10 for your letter carrier to pick up and help ensure it gets onto the tables of our Long Island neighbors in need,” she added.

Nonperishable food includes canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices, and shelf-stable milk (no prepared food or food or juices in glass containers). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and disposable diapers are gratefully accepted. All donations collected will help replenish Island Harvest’s network of community-based food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs in communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“Every donation, no matter the size, will help countless Long Islanders who may be struggling to put food on their tables — even a can of soup can be a much-needed meal for people who are hungry,” added Ms. Shubin Dresner, “We’ve always been touched by the generosity of Long Islanders to help their neighbors in need, and we are confident that they will once again step up and support this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive.”

“The National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 6000 and the United States Postal Service are excited to partner with Island Harvest again this year for your 33rd annual Stamp Out Hunger food collection,” said Tom Siesto, Executive Vice President of NALC Branch 6000. “The members of Branch 6000 and the employees of the United States Postal Service often see firsthand the widespread issue of food insecurity on Long Island and are thrilled to take part in this very important campaign and give back to the local communities they serve.”

Since its inception in 1993, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, held on the second Saturday in May, has collected approximately 1.9 billion pounds of food for those in need across the United States. Input from food banks and pantries suggested that late spring would be the best time because most food banks start running out of the donations received during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays by that point in the year, according to the NALC.

Last year, generous Long Islanders donated 382,175 pounds of food, supplementing 577,000 meals. Island Harvest hopes to exceed 500,000 pounds of food during this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food collection campaign.

This year’s Stamp Out Hunger collection campaign on Long Island is generously supported by presenting sponsor National Grid (lead sponsor), JPMorganChase, Dime Community Bank, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, IPRO Healthcare, Leviton, M&T Bank, Nonna’s Garden, Petro Home Services, and Stop & Shop.

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Photo courtesy of Reboli Center

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 on Saturday, May 10 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.

Hans Keckeisen

Hans Keckeisen is a master craftsman whose expertise in sheet metalwork, restoration, and reconstruction of classic motorcycles is second to none. Keckeisen specializes in restoring unusual bodywork and racing parts, always with meticulous attention to detail.

Drawing from years of experience and a passion for traditional craftsmanship techniques, Keckeisen is renowned for his work with BMW, Megola, and Windhoff motorcycles, among others. He treats each project with individual care, striving for the greatest possible authenticity and originality. He works with a diverse international clientele, from Austria to the USA, and his work is known for its dedication to preserving the technical cultural heritage of motorcycles.

The talk will also touch on Peter Nettesheim’s incredible contributions to preserving BMW’s legacy. Nettesheim is the owner of Nettesheim Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of BMW motorcycles, based on Long Island. With over 120 motorcycles spanning from 1923 to 1970, as well as 30 additional models from the 1970s onward, Nettesheim’s museum offers a remarkable look into the history and evolution of BMW’s motorcycle line.

The free event coincides with the Center’s current exhibit, Getting There,  which that delves into the artistic exploration of various modes of transportation, such as cars, motorcycles, trains, boats, and beyond.

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.

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Photo courtesy Suffolk County SPCA

After a thorough investigation, Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA have charged a Bohemia man with animal cruelty and neglect charges. SPCA Detectives responded to a Bohemia residence after a complaint of dozens of cats living in poor, squalid conditions as well as many deceased cats in a freezer.

Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk SPCA, said that its detectives charged Stephen Glantz, 75, with eighteen misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and animal neglect; alleging that he neglected over sixty living cats in his care.

On May 3, SPCA Detectives found dozens of cats, and their owner, living in alarming conditions with wet urine, smeared feces, grime, and filth covering the floors, walls, and stairs. The overpowering foul odors of feces, rot, grime, and ammonia were so severe SPCA Detectives requested the Town of Islip Fire Marshal’s Hazmat Team and Bohemia Fire Department Response Team. Islip Fire Marshals conducted an evaluation of the air and structure, high readings of ammonia gas were detected in the interior of the residence. Due to the air quality and other code violations, the residence was placarded as unfit for human occupancy. SPCA Detectives found multiple wrapped items in a freezer containing over twenty deceased kittens.

SPCA Detectives contacted John Debacker, Vice President of Long Island Cat & Kitten Solution, to respond to the residence Saturday night to organize the removal of the cats. Debacker’s Team and SPCA officers worked alongside in trapping sixty-one cats over the coming hours and day, some of which were later found to be pregnant. The cats were brought to the Islip Town Animal Shelter to be housed and provided veterinary care at the SPCA Mobile Animal & Surgical Hospital, “M.A.S.H.” Unit.

Doctor Jason Heller, President of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association and SPCA Veterinarian, treated the cats on the MASH Unit beginning Saturday night after removal from the scene into the early morning hours of Sunday. Doctor Heller spearheaded and organized a massive push from the veterinary community to spay, neuter, medically evaluate, treat, medicate, and care for sixty nine cats in the Islip Shelter and MASH Unit.

Many cats presented with medical conditions including upper respiratory infections, urine scalding, eye disease, dental disease, missing teeth, and ear discharge; three cats were in such severe physical condition they required humane euthansia. The cats are recovering at the Islip Animal Shelter and once medically stable will be available for adoption through the shelter.

On May 6, Glantz surrendered to SPCA Detectives at the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Precinct where he was arrested and booked. Glantz was charged with nine counts of cruelty to animals and nine counts of animal neglect. Glantz is due to be arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court on May 23. Sixteen cats will be transferred to the Columbia County SPCA and ten to the Saratoga County Animal Shelter for a hopeful speedy adoption into forever homes upstate New York.

To report animal cruelty 24/7 call 631-382-7722.

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New York State Attorney General Letitia James

New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured more than $3.2 million from eight Nissan dealerships in New York City, the Hudson Valley, and on Long Island – Action Nissan, Bay Ridge Nissan, Legend Nissan, Garden City Nissan, Huntington Nissan, Rockaway Nissan, Smithtown Nissan, and Teddy Nissan – for allegedly overcharging more than 1,700 New Yorkers who wanted to purchase their leased vehicles at the end of their lease term. The announcement was made on May 6.

An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that these dealerships added junk fees or falsified the price of leased vehicles that customers wanted to buy when their lease ended, forcing them to pay higher costs. As a result of OAG’s investigation, eight dealerships will pay penalties for overcharging on end-of-lease buyouts and pay full restitution to more than 1,700 consumers who paid more for their vehicles than they were promised. Attorney General James has now stopped deceptive practices at 15 Nissan dealerships and recovered more than $1 million in penalties and $4.5 million in restitution for more than 2,800 New Yorkers.

“Buying a car is a major financial decision, and no one should have to worry about dealers using illegal junk fees to drive up the price,” said Attorney General James in a press release. “These car dealers misled their customers with bogus fees and other costs to cheat them out of their hard-earned money. My office’s investigation will put money back in the pockets of defrauded New Yorkers and require these dealers to steer clear of violating our laws and deceiving consumers.”

The OAG opened an investigation into Nissan dealerships after consumers reported they were being overcharged and given inaccurate receipts for end-of-lease buyouts after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation found that the consumers leased their Nissan cars under an agreement that gave them the option to purchase the vehicle for a set amount after the lease term ended. However, when they returned to the dealerships to buy their car when their leases were up, the dealerships substantially overcharged them. The dealers either added miscellaneous “dealership fees” or “administrative fees,” or inflated the vehicle’s price on the invoice given to the consumer.

Under the agreements announced on May 6:

  • Action Nissan in Nyack, Rockland County will pay $157,958.59 to 192 overcharged consumers and pay a $47,920 penalty;
  • Bay Ridge Nissan in Brooklyn will pay $23,624 to 46 overcharged consumers and pay a $11,960 penalty;
  • Garden City Nissan in Hempstead, Nassau County will pay $824,013 to 361 overcharged consumers and pay a $89,624 penalty;
  • Huntington Nissan in Huntington Station, Suffolk County will pay $426,654 to 275 overcharged consumers and pay a $68,750 penalty;
  • Legend Nissan in Syosset, Nassau County will pay $333,482 to 233 overcharged consumers and pay a $20,000 penalty;
  • Rockaway Nissan in Queens will pay $308,918 to 177 overcharged consumers and pay a $44,250 penalty;
  • Smithtown Nissan in St. James, Suffolk County will pay $643,640 to 321 overcharged consumers and pay a $80,250 penalty; and
  • Teddy Nissan in the Bronx will pay $108,773 to 156 overcharged consumers and pay a $35,560 penalty.

New Yorkers entitled to restitution do not need to take any action to receive the payment. The dealerships have already begun paying restitution through mailed checks in the full amount of the overcharge and will continue to do so throughout the year. The dealerships have also agreed to reform their invoicing practices to ensure all lease buyout customers are neither overcharged nor provided with inaccurate receipts.

Attorney General James has secured settlements with 15 different Nissan dealerships for cheating customers with illegal fees and inflated prices when they attempted to buy out the leases on their cars. In June 2024, Attorney General James secured $350,000 from two Nissan dealers on Long Island. In March 2024, Attorney General James secured over $1.9 million from five Nissan dealers in New York City and Long Island.

Attorney General James asks any consumers who may have been affected by deceptive or fraudulent lease buyout practices to file a consumer complaint online.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Alec Webley of the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia and Deputy Bureau Chief Laura J. Levine. The Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau is a part of the Division of Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

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Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Sophie Reed, senior second baseman, hit a grand slam homer. Photo by StevenZaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from Ward Melville softball's charity game on May 3. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Signs dedicated to Gabby Petito adorned the grounds near the Ward Melville softball field. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The Ward Melville softball team held their 5th annual charity game on May 3 for the benefit of the Gabby Petito Foundation and to bring awareness to domestic abuse.

For the past five seasons, the team has chosen a different charity to support and, for 2025, the team selected the Gabby Petito Foundation. 

Petito, who attended Bayport-Blue Point High School, was 22 years old when she was murdered by her fiancé in 2021 during a cross-country road trip. The foundation’s mission is to address the needs of organizations that support locating missing persons and to provide aid to organizations that assist victims of domestic violence situations through education, awareness and prevention strategies.

Purple balloons, bunting and petals of lilac and lavender festooned the grounds near the softball field and, although it was only 10 o’clock in the morning, the strengthening whiff of fire-grilled hot dogs tantalized the taste buds. 

Posters of Petito stood on easels near the backstop and an ice sculpture rested on a purple-and-pink draped table that was protected from the morning sun by a canvas tent. Two banners devoted to Petito and her namesake organization hung on the centerfield fence. 

Dana Powell, mom of senior star player Emerson Powell, who is currently on the injured list, organized much of this event, which has raised more than $10,000 so far. 

“We felt it would be great because this is a team of young ladies to bring awareness to domestic abuse and teach them — and the community — that it does start young. We want everyone to look for the signs,” said Powell, who is the head of the team’s booster club. “The Gabby Petito Foundation is doing amazing things to protect not just young women but also young men and missing persons.”

Members of Petito’s family participated in the pregame service and entered the field through the third-base fence, passing through a welcoming line of players holding their bats in an overhead V formation. The procession was led by Petito’s grandmother, Mary Wickman, and the family of about 10, who were all greeted by warm applause as they took their place near the middle of the diamond. Ward Melville head softball coach Joe Burger addressed the crowd near the third-base bleachers.

“There are times when our athletes need more than coaching,” Burger told the crowd. “They need to be lifted up, be seen, heard and supported. When the pressure of life and the game becomes too heavy, they need to know that we are standing right beside them and that we believe in them.”

Ward Melville players, coaches and most of the parents wore special purple shirts for this game that promoted the event on the front of the shirt and Gabby Petito Foundation. On the back, the phrase Love Doesn’t Hurt was written inside a heart-shaped border. Bellport donned similar shirts, but theirs were mostly white with purple trim. 

Lady Patriots players Isabella Parente, Sara Kropp, Cate Scolaro and Kaitlyn Morales spoke to the crowd about how much they have learned about the many forms of domestic abuse and what can be done to help. 

“I have learned that there are many resources and support available,” said Scolaro, who is an 11th grader. “Hotlines, shelters, counseling services and legal assistance are some of these and it is important to know that you are never alone and there is always help to escape the cycle of abuse and rebuild a safe life.” 

Mary Wickman closed the oratorical portion of the ceremony with a heartfelt thank you to the team, the school and the Three Village community. Petito’s cousin, Bubba Wickman, a middle schooler in the Middle Country Central School District and a grandchild of Mary, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Patriots catcher Haley Mauser, as last-minute hugs were shared on and around the field up until the very last moments before the umpire shouted “Play Ball.” During this time, the team presented Mary Wickman with a bright yellow, glass-encased softball signed by every member of the team, along with a bouquet of pink and white flowers. As she posed for photos and hugged each player, Wickman was awash with emotion.

“Being a team isn’t just about what happens on the field, it’s about fighting for something bigger,” said Mary Wickman. “And these young women have done just that. To the coaches and the players and the school and the community, I say thank you for taking the time, energy as a force for good. For the love of Gabby, keep leading, keep caring and using your voice to make a difference.”

On the field the Lady Patriots certainly made a difference too, as they beat Bellport by a score of 17-5. Senior second baseman Sophie Reed hit a grand-slam home run in the first inning and Ward Melville raced out to a 7-0 lead after just one inning. Starting pitcher Makenna Steinberg struck out 10 Bellport batters for the win.

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Eric Hurnyak and other riders on the North Shore Rail Trail heading to Greenport. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

For Eric Hurnyak, the battle with glioblastoma was a personal one when he lost his mom, Barbara Johnson Hurnyak, to this insidious disease in March. The Sound Beach resident wanted to raise awareness by doing what he did when he was his mother’s primary caregiver for the better part of two years: by riding his bike to clear his head. 

The May 4 fundraising event started from the Stony Brook Village Center and took the North Shore Rail Trail from Port Jefferson to Wading River, which marked the 20-mile mark with 35 miles to go until Greenport.

“My mother wanted to find a clinical trial or advanced research program, but her case was so far advanced there weren’t a lot of options,” Hurnyak said. “So, after two years it’s hard to give up the fight. So raising money to further the research into this dreaded disease is what I’ve turned to, as we’ve passed the six-thousand-dollar mark as of yesterday morning.”

The balance of the ride included stops at On the Docks in Aquebogue and the Love Lane Kitchen in Mattituck before finishing at Andy’s restaurant on Front Street in Greenport.

Proceeds benefit the Glioblastoma Research Organization, For more information visit https://www.gbmresearch.org/.

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The cast of 'Miss Austen'. Photo courtesy of PBS

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

The following is based on viewing Part One of Masterpiece’s presentation of ‘Miss Austen.’

Jane Austen’s correspondence was vast, with an estimation of her penning thousands of letters: Only 160 remain. For reasons unknown, years after Austen’s death, her sister, Cassandra, burned the bulk of Jane’s letters.

Gill Hornby’s intriguing and entertaining Miss Austen: A Novel of the Austen Sisters (2020) speculates why. Hornby’s fictional explanation captures Jane Austen’s style, tone, and diction, with Hornby remarkably echoing Austen’s sly wit and keen observations. Hornby’s book could be seen as a seventh novel in Austen’s sadly small canon. 

A scene from ‘Miss Austen.’ Photo courtesy of PBS

Played in two timelines, the story follows the older Cassandra, in 1830, traveling to Kintbury on the pretext of helping Isabella Fowle, who is mourning her father’s death. However, Cassandra’s true motivation is retrieving the letters written by Jane and herself to Eliza Fowle, Isabella’s mother. Hornby uses Cassandra’s discovery and reading of the cache to flashback to the late 18th and early 19th century. 

In the teleplay, Andrea Gibb puts Isabella’s father, Reverend Fowle, on his deathbed (flickering candles and soft focus), imparting Cassandra a dying wish for Isabella. In this moment, the series sets itself at odds with the source—darker and leaning into the drama (or even melodrama)—rather than the edgier, droller, but more inspired world of the novel. Both touch on the themes of women in society, family obligations, and the pressure for marriage and children. But the approaches are distinctly different, with Gibb’s version trodding heavily, highlighting the romantic elements. The teleplay’s tone (and Aisling Walsh’s direction) departs from Hornby, and in essence, Austen: the author’s brilliance was balancing heartbreak with humor, satire with a sense of humanity. Lacking these vital elements, the filmed version seems bleached and untextured. 

Keeley Hawes is particularly effective as the older Cassandra, conveying thought with subtlety and presenting the older Austen sister as a woman missing nothing but keeping her own counsel. Synnøve Karlsen easily matches her as the young Cassandra, giving an equally rich performance. Patsy Ferran makes Jane quirky and likable and easily drops the few bon mots expected of the witty writer. However, along with Madeline Walker’s pleasant Eliza Fowle, the relationships feel more Little Women than Mansfield Park. 

Rose Leslie’s Isabella is lovely if reinvented as a more traditional heroine. Jessica Hynes’ waspish sister-in-law, Mary, is more ominous than necessary due less to her choice than the approach to her plotline. The same is true of the always wonderful Phyllis Logan, who plays matriarch Mrs. Austen. The book’s Mrs. Austen possesses more than a few shades of Mrs. Bennett; instead, she is given a less colorful portrait to create. Mirren Mack, in her brief appearance, manages the right blend of “respectful impudence” as the Fowles’ maid, Dinah. As for the men, they do little but respond or spout platitudes. 

Ultimately, the major point is legacy. When clergyman Mr. Dundas (Thomas Coombes, in a delightfully wicked cameo suggesting Pride and Prejudice’s unctuous Mr. Collins) suggests to Cassandra that the world is lacking a definitive biography so the public could know the real Jane Austen, she rebukes him. “Everything one needs to know about Jane Austen is to be found in the pages of her novels. There is nothing more.” In essence, this is the thesis. Jane’s life should be defined only by what she offered the public, and her private life and thoughts should remain just that—private. 

Miss Austen offers an interesting—if fictional—glimpse into one of the great literary figures of all time. That said, it is clearly the old saw: “The book was better.” 

The four-part series streams Sundays on PBS.org through May 18.

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