EGG-FLATION
While eggs were back on the shelves at some local supermarkets on Presidents Day, including Aldi in Selden, the prices remain higher than normal with a limit of two per customer. Photo by Heidi Sutton
Send your Photo of the Week to [email protected]
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and the Department of Health Services invite residents who are at risk of developing type-2 diabetes to participate in the Suffolk County Diabetes Prevention Program. The program is based off of the National Diabetes Prevention Program that supports moderate behavioral changes and incorporates healthy eating and physical activity.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 98 million American adults — more than 1 in 3 — are at risk for diabetes.
“We want our residents to be healthy and live fulfilling lives,” said Romaine. “We encourage all adult residents to take a one-minute risk survey to learn if they are at risk for prediabetes. Through educational programming and preventative measures, we are here to help you reduce your risk.”
“Diabetes puts the body at risk for many serious health conditions,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County Health Commissioner. “The good news is that moderate changes in lifestyle can help restore blood sugar to normal levels and result in significant health benefits.”
The Suffolk County Diabetes Prevention Program has received “full plus” recognition from the CDC, meeting the agency’s highest standards. To date, 440 Suffolk County residents have successfully completed the program.
Residents are encouraged to take the one-minute risk test at www.doihaveprediabetes.org and are invited to attend informational sessions at:
— Smithtown Public Library, 148 Smithtown Blvd, Nesconset on Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
— Brookhaven Free Library, 273 Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven on Wednesday, March 12 from noon to 1 p.m.
— Center Moriches Public Library, 235 Main Street, Center Moriches on March 19 from noon to 1 p.m.
— Patchogue/Medford Library, 54-60 East Main Street, Patchogue on March 28 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will welcome back Anthony Marinello, owner of Dropseed Native Landscapes Native Plant Nursery and a bird-habitat specialist, to speak on supporting native backyard songbirds on Sunday, February 23, from 11 a.m. to noon.
Songbirds add beauty and delight to our world. Backyard bird watching and feeding is a cherished tradition for many who appreciate our feathered friends. Marinello will give a presentation on how to support common backyard songbirds with native plants, bird feeders, and other habitat elements. Afterward, participants will make pinecone feeders.
Marinello is a New York State Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional as well as a Certified National Audubon Habitat and Ecosystems Land Professional.
Beth Laxer-Limmer, Director of Education, said, “The Museum is excited to have Anthony Marinello back to share his knowledge of native birds and plants and how we can create a backyard ecosystem for songbirds.”
For adults and children 10 and up. Participating children must be accompanied by a registered adult.
Fee is $25 per person, $22 members.
By Heidi Sutton
As kids and parents return to busy schedules full of sports, homework and weeknight activities after winter break, building a plan for nutritious and easy meals can be challenging.
Piecing together a menu that fuels active minds without spending hours in the kitchen is a common goal for many families.
For a customizable kid-pleaser, turn to Chopped Chicken Taco Salad and garnish with your family’s favorite toppings. This recipe require minimal prep and calls for on-hand ingredients that provide nutrients people of all ages need to grow and maintain strong bodies and minds.
Chopped Chicken Taco Salad
Recipe courtesy of Megan Gundy on behalf of Milk Means More
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
For the Dressing
1 cup yogurt, plain Greek
1/3 cup milk, buttermilk
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
For the Salad
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 head leaf lettuce, chopped
1 avocado, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cheese, Monterey Jack or Mexican shredded cheese
tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips, for topping
DIRECTIONS:
To make the dressing: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well combined. Taste and adjust lime juice and cilantro as needed. If dressing is too thick, add buttermilk one teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
To make the salad: Season the chicken on both sides with the taco seasoning. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Add chicken to the pan and cook on both sides until the outside is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken to a cutting board and slice into strips.
To build the salad, heap the chopped lettuce on a large platter. Sprinkle the chicken over top. Add the avocado, beans, corn, tomatoes and shredded cheese. Drizzle the dressing on top and sprinkle on the tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips right before serving.
By Dylan Friedman
The Northport-East Northport Union Free School District Board of Education met Feb. 13 to discuss the district’s proposed budget for the upcoming school year. The meeting covered various topics, including the district’s five-year technology plan, facilities upgrades and security initiatives.
Technology investments
A significant focus of the meeting was the district’s five-year technology plan, presented by Director of Technology David Leis.
“Every technology investment we make is aligned with instructional purpose and keeping student-centric decision-making in mind,” Leis explained.
The plan outlines a strategic approach to upgrading the district’s technology infrastructure, including modernizing the fiber backbone, enhancing cybersecurity measures and expanding wireless capabilities to support digital learning and assessments.
“As we move more into a digital world, making sure our wireless network is robust and can keep up with the demands of all the mobile devices and online experiences is necessary to support our students,” Leis said.
The technology budget also includes funding for the district’s one-to-one device program, which provides students with laptops or tablets.
“We’ve developed a strategic plan to cycle in new devices for grades one, five and nine each year, aligning with key transition points in a student’s educational journey,” Leis noted.
Facilities upgrades
The district’s facilities and operations team outlined several capital projects and upgrades planned for the upcoming year. These include installing split-unit air-conditioning systems and heat pumps in large shared spaces such as cafeterias and auditoriums.
“We’re focused on creating equitable access to air-conditioned spaces across the district, so students have a comfortable environment for learning, especially during high-stakes testing,” John Lackner, buildings and grounds director, said.
Other facility improvements include restroom renovations, swipe card access for classrooms and upgrades to the district’s intercom and fire alarm systems.
Superintendent David Moyer explained, “We’re really trying to create learning environments that are conducive to our instructional priorities. “
Security initiatives
The district’s security team, led by John McEnroe, presented several security-focused initiatives in the proposed budget. This includes extending the district’s blue strobe lockdown system to interior spaces such as gymnasiums and auditoriums and adding a new server to expand video storage capacity for the security camera network.
“The most important layer of security is training and developing our staff,” McEnroe stated. “We provide ongoing training in areas like de-escalation, threat assessment and emergency response planning.”
Transportation enhancements
The transportation department, supervised by Patricia McGrane, is also slated for improvements. The budget includes funding for two additional full-time bus drivers, allowing the district to use more of its own fleet of buses rather than relying on contracted services.
“When we can use our own large buses, we save tens of thousands of dollars compared to contracting out,” McGrane explained.
The department is also implementing a new “way-finder” system to provide bus drivers with voice-activated turn-by-turn directions.
Recap
The proposed budget reflects the district’s commitment to investing in technology, facilities, security and transportation to support student learning and well-being.
As Moyer emphasized, “These investments are not just about numbers, but about how we can best support the educational experience for our students.”
The board will continue to review and refine the budget proposal in the coming months before presenting it to the community for a vote.
For more information visit www.northport.k12.ny.us.
Bernadette Bergholm of Northport died on Feb. 4 at 87 years of age. She was the beloved mom of David Bergholm, Gary, Lorraine Rossi,and the late Stephen; the loving grandma of Stephen Jr., Anthony, Ryan, Hailey, Jack and the late Kyle; and the cherished great grandmother of Stephen. She is predeceased by her dear sisters Baby Mae, Catherine Wilhelm and Margaret Dolan-Lief.
Bergholm worked for 35 plus years in the real estate industry for several local Real Estate firms as a broker and most recently Douglas Elliman in Cold Spring Harbor.
Special Exhibition Opening February 20 in Advance of Women’s History Month
The Long Island Museum (LIM), 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook has announced the arrival of “A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy,” a humanities discussion series that includes the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition, Voices and Votes: Democracy in America and LIM’s response exhibition Building the Ballot Box: Long Island’s Democratic History opening on February 20, in advance of Women’s History Month. These engaging and thought-provoking exhibitions and programs will examine nearly 250 years of history, exploring the ongoing pursuit to form “a more perfect union.”
The only Smithsonian Affiliate Institution in the Nassau-Suffolk region, LIM collects, preserves, interprets, and celebrates Long Island’s richly diverse past and its storied role in our nation’s history.
“The Long Island Museum is honored to be involved in this statewide conversation about democracy,” said Co-Executive Director Joshua Ruff. “In our response exhibition and planned programs, we will especially explore how political participation throughout our region has expanded and been a shifting, challenging, and inspirational terrain over time.”
Building the Ballot Box, on view through May 18, will examine the role this region played in history from the Women’s suffrage movement, Civil Rights, and other movements in political history. This exhibition will include key artifacts like the Suffrage Wagon that was across New York State in public events to advocate for women’s suffrage in 1917. Other objects highlight regional trailblazers such as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black US Congresswoman, and Geraldine Ferraro, the first female candidate nominated for Vice President by a major political party.
Voices and Votes, on view through April 6, is based on a major exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith, and includes many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photographs; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives, and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material.
The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is the statewide organizer for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service’s Museum on Main Street program bringing Voices and Votes: Democracy in America to twelve museums across New York State. The Long Island Museum is the seventh institution in the state to participate in “A New Agora for New York” and host the Voices and Votes exhibition.
“Long Island is full of inspiring stories of civic engagement and significant ‘firsts’ in America’s 250 years of democratic history,” said MANY Agora Project Fellow Ren Lee. “We are thrilled to work with the Long Island Museum as they use Voices and Votes as a launching point to engage with their community through these exhibitions and a truly fantastic lineup of programs.”
The Voices and Votes exhibition will be on view in the Cowles Gallery of LIM’s History Museum. Building the Ballot Box will be on view directly adjacent to Voices and Votes, in the History Museum’s Main Gallery. These exhibitions will be accompanied by a series of programs including a drop-in day for Girl Scouts on Friday February 21 and an American Experiments Game Night on Feb. 27.
For a full description of the exhibitions and all programs, visit the Long Island Museum’s website longislandmuseum.org
By Bill Landon
Sachem East the Suffolk Class AAA (No. 9) seed came calling on the Patriots of Ward Melville (No. 8) to kick off the postseason in a girls basketball matchup on Feb. 13 where both teams found themselves deadlocked at 21-21 going into the halftime break.
The spark for the Patriots came in the 3rd quarter where the duo of senior captain Julia Dank along with Jenna Greek the junior paired up to put some distance over their visitors. Sachem East clawed their way back in the last 8 minutes of play but the Patriots were able to keep the Arrows at bay for the 47-43 victory.
Dank topped the scoring chart for the Patriots with four three-pointers, a field goal and five from the free throw line for 19 points. Greek banked 2 triples a pair of field goals and 4 from the charity stripe for 14 points.
The win propels the Patriots to the quarter final round where they’ll have their hands full with a road game against top seeded Brentwood on February 27. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.
— Photos by Bill Landon
Ronald Barry Strasberg was born in Syracuse in 1942 and grew up in Carle Place, Long Island. A gifted athlete, he excelled in baseball, football, basketball and track and field, earning a place in the Carle Place High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also one of the fastest men in New York State, competing in the prestigious Penn Relays.
After graduating in 1960, he was offered a football scholarship as a running back at Ohio State but chose Brown University for its academics, where he played rugby.
Strasberg went on to have a successful career as a pilot, flying for Eastern Airlines, later Trump Shuttle, and ending his career with the U.S. Air. He loved being in the skies and took great pride in his work.
Beyond his professional and athletic achievements, Strasberg was known for his charm, quick wit and kindness. He had a sharp mind, an insatiable curiosity and a love for words—famously completing the New York Times Sunday crossword in under an hour, always in ink.
In his adult life, he was also an accomplished tennis player, winning multiple championships throughout the 1970s and 1980s at the Old Field Club and the Three Village Tennis Club on Long Island. At the age of 40, he became a top-five tennis player on the East Coast.
Whether on the court, in the cockpit or among friends and family, Ron approached life with passion and dedication.
He was married to Patti Hopper Strasberg for 58 years. Strasberg’s love for his wife was unwavering and deep, and together they created a beautiful life full of memories, laughter and mutual respect. He was a devoted father to his two sons, Michael and Robert Strasberg, and a proud grandfather to six wonderful grandchildren, who have inherited many of his best qualities.
Strasberg passed away Feb 2. after 13 years with Alzheimer’s disease. His legacy of friendship, good humor and warmth will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
If you would like to make a donation in his memory please consider,
Alzheimer Dementia Resource center ADRCcares.org or Share The Care HelpForCaregivers.org
The Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team pulled away from Villanova early and earned a 12-5 victory over the Wildcats on Feb. 19 in Villanova, Pennsylvania to pick up the squad’s second consecutive win.
The Seawolves were paced by eight different goal scorers with Haydin Eisfeld notching a career-high three goals for her first collegiate hat trick. Alexandra Fusco added a pair of goals and assists while Charlotte Wilmoth scored two goals herself. Casey Colbert led Stony Brook with a team and career-high four assists.
Defensively, Avery Hines tallied a single-game program record with eight caused turnovers while adding a career-high five ground balls. Courtney Maclay recorded five draw controls to lead the Seawolves in the circle. In net, Ava Yancey got her first collegiate start, making three saves through 60 full minutes of play.
For Villanova, Sydney Pappas led the Wildcats with two goals, as Madison Freeman, Elena Torres, and Jillian Vaught each notched one. Goalkeeper Makenzie Fisher made 10 saves in net on a .445 save percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Seawolves scored six straight goals in the span of 11 minutes to begin the contest, the first time since April 6, 2024, against Delaware. Julia Fusco capped the run with a woman-up goal dished out by her sister, Alex.
After a Villanova tally, Wilmoth struck again to put Stony Brook up 7-1 at the end of the first.
The Seawolves grabbed a 9-1 lead with 47 seconds to go in the half as Eisfeld scored in transition to keep Stony Brook on top.
Eisfeld scored again to open the third quarter, as the Wildcats responded and tallied a pair to close the gap, 10-3 heading into the fourth.
Villanova would score another two before Maclay and Kylie Budke capitalized on the Seawolves’ lead to secure a 12-5 victory.
“Really proud of our players and coaches, I always say you improve the most from game one to game two. Our defense was ready to go, holding a potent offense to just 11 shots in the game. That stat is incredible with the offensive power of Villanova. Offensively, we showed spots of brilliance but there’s still so much room for improvement. That’s the great thing about this group is that the ceiling is so high. Really awesome for Avery to set that Stony Brook record as she was so in tune with the scout and the tendencies of the Nova offense. It’s great to start out 2-0, but it’s all eyes on UAlbany Sunday,” noted head coach Joe Spallina postgame.
Next up, the team returns to action on February 23 as they head north to face in-state rival UAlbany. First draw is scheduled for 12 p.m. with coverage available on ESPN+. This will be the 31st meeting between the Seawolves and Great Danes in program history with Stony Brook leading 23-7 all-time.
Prev
