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Yearly Archives: 2025

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Pictured from left, Senior Citizens Dept. Director Doreen Perrino, Christopher Okrent, Kevin Morrow, Mary Hyland (Senior Center Staff). Photo from Town of Smithtown

The Smithtown Senior Citizen Center was recently the focus of a heartfelt and insightful college paper written by Christopher Okrent, a 25-year-old student at St. Joseph’s University in Patchogue, majoring in Human Services. For his assignment, Christopher was tasked with studying and writing about an organization that provides social interaction, recreation, and essential services to those in need. Choosing the Smithtown Senior Citizen Center was a personal decision—Christopher had witnessed firsthand the positive impact the center had on his own grandparents.

“It was an incredible honor when Christopher asked to visit the center to gather information for his college paper. Christopher is such an outstanding young gentleman. He shared with staff member, Mary Hyland and myself that he is pursuing a career in Human Services because of his passion for helping people and doing good. I enjoyed reminiscing with him about his lovely Grandparents and how his Grandmother, Martha, was known around the center as the Wii Bowling Champion!” said Doreen Perrino, Director at the Smithtown Senior Center.

Christopher’s grandparents, Martha and Paul Okrent, were center patrons. After Paul’s passing, Martha Okrent found solace and companionship through the friendships she built at the center. Christopher recalls how much comfort the center provided to his grandmother, helping her navigate life after the loss of her beloved husband. According to Christopher, the friendships she made with the staff and senior center members helped her cope with her grief tremendously.

“This was wonderful news to learn of, although I’m not surprised. The team at the Smithtown Senior Center is more than just staff—they are family and they treat every member as their own kin. They know every member by name, remember their grandkids, favorite hobbies, and even the incredible stories from their past. Whether it’s celebrating a birthday, reminiscing about cherished memories, or simply sharing a laugh over a cup of coffee, the staff goes above and beyond to create a warm and welcoming place where every senior feels valued, heard, and truly at home. I’m truly honored to congratulate Christopher and extend my deepest gratitude for highlighting the senior center in such a meaningful essay—one that will undoubtedly influence the next chapter of his life journey,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim.

Chris and his brothers taught their Grandmother Martha how to play Nintendo Wii Bowling, and Martha was able to perfect her skills at the Smithtown Senior Citizens Center. She quickly became a skilled player, frequently competing against her friend Kevin Morrow, whom she taught to play. While visiting the center for his assignment, Christopher had the opportunity to reconnect with Kevin, sharing fond memories of Martha. Kevin fondly recalled the friendly rivalry, never forgetting how often Martha bested him at Wii bowling.  Martha was also an active book club member and enjoyed many lunches with friends at the center.

After his paper was turned in and graded, Christopher reunited with the team and the members at the Smithtown Senior Citizen Center along with his mother to announce that he got an A on the assignment. The Smithtown Senior Citizen Center remains a place of friendship, engagement, and support, and Christopher’s project serves as a testament to the lasting impact the center has on the lives of its members and their families.

How To Join the Smithtown Senior Center: Smithtown residents, ages 60 years and older can join (no fee is required) by filling out a brief application on-site, along with proof of residency such as a driver’s license. A membership card and welcome packet will be provided, along with a tour of the facility by a Senior Center Club Leader. The welcome packet includes a current calendar of activities, classes, and events, as well as brochures for services and amenities available exclusively for members.

Located at 420 Middle Country Road in Smithtonn, the Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center offers a wide array of activities, clubs and programming geared towards improving quality of life for residents, ages 60 years or older. Every day, the center offers a full schedule of arts, fitness, and wellness programming. Members can choose to join a variety of clubs, from gardening, quilting and book clubs to one of seven social clubs, featuring Casino & Theater outings, luncheons, parties, community advocacy and volunteer opportunities. In addition to a wealth of entertaining programming, the Smithtown Senior Citizens Department offers a variety of at home maintenance and repairs services.

The Senior Center is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (July & August Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Lunch is served daily. Transportation is also available for members. For questions or additional information, please call  (631) 360-7616 or for Transportation: (631) 265-8811.

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Rhona Tarrant

Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism presents its annual Marie Colvin Distinguished Lecture in the Wang Center Theater, 100 Nicolls Road Stony Brook on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. with a reception at 5:30 p.m.

Guest speaker Rhona Tarrant, Executive Editor of CBS News Confirmed, will present a lecture titled The New Battlefield: Open Source Investigations Into Conflict and Disinformation.

Social media has transformed conflict reporting, elevating open-source investigations to a core part of modern journalism. These techniques allow journalists to verify events in real time, supporting the indispensable work of on-the-ground reporting.

At the same time, state-backed disinformation campaigns have become increasingly sophisticated, blurring the lines of reality and driving greater demand for rigorous fact-checking and verification.

Tarrant will examine the rising prominence of open-source verification in conflict reporting and outline the critical tools required for the next generation of journalists.

The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome. No reservations necessary, but encouraged by clicking here. For more information, call 631-632-7403.

 

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Photo from The Jazz Loft

The Bad Little Big Band, a staple at The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook, has announced that in 2025, the band will be performing on the third Thursday every other month with themed shows, featuring the 12-piece band, directed by composer, arranger and pianist Rich Iacona, and featuring vocalist Madeline Kole.

The band’s first performance of 2025 will be “Our Kind Of Broadway” on Thursday, February 20 at 7 p.m. The BLBB will perform the classic Broadway repertoire done in the BLBB swinging fashion, with all music arranged and conducted by Iacona. Other themes for the coming year’s schedule include: Movie Songs We Get to Hear”; “The Music of Harold Arlen”; “The Music of George Gershwin”; “Slightly Latin” ( Bossas, Rhumbas and Jobim); “Pop Goes the Jazz Tunes” (great pop favorites done in jazz style).

Kole a vocalist, bassist and bandleader, recently completed her latest recording, DON’CHA GO ‘WAY MAD… which is a collection of 14 of her favorite standards.

The Bad Little Big Band was started in 1979 by Iacona, who arranged and composed the band’s repertoire. The group made two recordings in the 1980’s- “Painter of Dreams” and “A Long Way to Go,” which received much airplay and notoriety over the years. Many of the original musicians are still with the group and Iacona has added to the repertoire with many new and fresh compositions. The Bad Little Big Band has featured many great soloists, with Kole being one of the band’s favorites. Fans can look forward to a new collection this year from Iacona.

The Jazz Loft is home to not one, but THREE big bands in residence that perform monthly. The Bad Little Big Band appears on the third Thursday every other month throughout 2025.

Tickets for the Jazz Loft Bad Little Big Band performance are $30, $25, $20 $15.  The Jazz Loft is located at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook.

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File photo

Update: The man found deceased in Central Islip on Feb. 18 has been identified as Candido Guadalupe Saravia Martinez, a 39-year-old Salvadoran national. Three men, Brayan Heredia Escobar, 19, of Guatemala; Jhon Lopez Campos, 18, of El Salvador; and Julio Beltran, 39, of El Salvador have been arrested for his murder.

Below is the original press release:

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man found in Central Islip on Feb. 18.

An adult male was found deceased inside a tent-like enclosure on the southside of Suffolk Avenue, near Carleton Avenue, at approximately 12:30 p.m. The preliminary investigation and exam were
inconclusive regarding the cause of death. The cause of death for the man, who has not yet been identified by police, will be determined by an autopsy to be conducted by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers
at 1-800-220-TIPS.

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Dr. Arif Ahmad

St. Charles Hospital, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson will hold a free patient education seminar on acid reflux in the St. Raphael Conference Room, 2nd Floor, on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Want to reduce dependency on medications? Concerned about side effects of medications? Regurgitate in spite of medications? Dr. Arif Ahmad, Director, Acid Reflux and Hiatal Hernia Center of Excellence at St. Charles Hospital, will discuss permanent solutions for acid reflux with minimally invasive surgical procedures that will improve your quality of life. Light refreshments will be served. 

To register, call 631-474-6797.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Feb. 18 that Brianna Hassett, 33, of Wading River, was arrested last week and charged with Bribe Receiving in the Third Degree, and related charges, for allegedly accepting bribes and falsifying paperwork for a license application through her employment at the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs.

“The allegations in this case represent a shocking violation of the public trust, as this defendant is accused of placing her own greed ahead of her duty as a public servant,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office will not tolerate corruption in any government agency or department.”

“Thousands of county employees work hard every day to serve the public with the highest of integrity. When someone is found to have violated the trust of the public and their colleagues, my administration will not hesitate to work with the District Attorney to have them prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said County Executive Ed Romaine. “I want to thank the District Attorney and our law enforcement for their swift action. I have directed our Department of Labor to undertake an extensive review of this employee’s work to ensure all permits filed are complete, accurate and meet all legal requirements.”

According to the investigation, in late January of 2025, Hassett was working as an office assistant in the licensing unit of the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs when, acting in concert with another individual, she allegedly accepted a bribe and falsified an application for a Home Improvement license.

In exchange for a cash bribe, Hassett is alleged to have provided questions and answers to the proficiency examination which needs to be passed for Suffolk County to issue a vocational license.

Hassett also allegedly falsified insurance information on a license application in exchange for a second cash bribe. Hassett engaged in these criminal acts while acting in concert with Esteban Bermudez, 35, of Hampton Bays, who is not a Suffolk County employee. Hassett and Bermudez were both arrested on February 13, 2025.

On February 14, 2025, Hassett was arraigned before Acting County Court Judge Edward J. Hennessey for the following charges:

  • Two counts of Bribe Receiving in the Third Degree, Class D felonies;
  • One count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a Class E felony;
  • One count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E felony;

    and

  • One count of Official Misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor.

Judge Hennessey ordered Hassett to be monitored by the Department of Probation’s Pre-Trial Supervision unit during the pendency of the case. Hassett was released from jail without bail because her charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail.

Hassett is due back in court on March 12, 2025, and faces 3 1⁄2 to 7 years in prison if convicted on the top count. She is being represented by Brian Trodden, Esq.

Bermudez was issued a desk appearance ticket, and his arraignment date is March 5, 2025. Bermudez faces 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison if convicted on the top count.

If you believe you have been victimized by Brianna Hassett, please call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at (631) 853-4626.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James J. O’Rourke, IV, Deputy Bureau Chief Laura de Oliveira, and Bureau Chief Kevin Ward of the Public Corruption Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff Investigator Matthew Matz, assigned to the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad

 

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Zoe Abelson's serenading scene singing 'Take A Chance on Me'. Photo courtesy of CSHSD

Straight from the island of Kalokairi, this year’s Cold Spring Harbor High School musical delivered four unforgettable evenings of fast-paced performances and brilliant storytelling. From Feb. 7 to Feb. 9, audiences of all ages were treated to a fun-filled production of Mamma Mia! While bright costumes, talented vocals, and exciting dance scenes set the stage, it was the cast’s incredible chemistry that made this a spectacular performance. Based on songs recorded by Swedish group ABBA, the musical was clearly a cast favorite, featuring stand-out performances by seniors Zoe Abelson, Samantha Fiore, and Amelia Saladino.

From left, Zoe Abelson, Amelia Saladino and Samantha Fiore singing the encore of ‘Dancing Queen’. Photo courtesy of CSHSD

“I’ve been obsessed with Mamma Mia! and ABBA songs for years, so I was thrilled to find out it was my final musical at Cold Spring Harbor. The cast, stage and music came together better than I could have imagined,” said Zoe Abelson. “This year we had such a talented cast, including junior Sarah Thatcher who starred as Ellie, sophomore Charlotte Wells who played Tanya, and freshmen Max Yulico, Nick Apergis, and Andrew Bobelian who delivered amazing performances playing Sophie’s dads. I didn’t expect the last show to be so bittersweet. There was a lot of laughter but also a lot of tears. To my friends Samantha and Amelia, my cast and directors, I have loved every moment I spent with you. They were defining and something I will always treasure.”

Memorable performances include senior Zoe Abelson’s uplifting Chiquitita and hilarious rendition of Take a Chance on Me, senior Samantha Fiore’s charismatic Lay All Your Love on Me and energetic dance numbers like Gimme-Gimme-Gimme, and senior Amelia Saladino’s melancholy Slipping Through My Fingers and The Winner Takes It All.

Poster Perfect: Sophomore Charlotte Wells and seniors Zoe Abelson and Amelia Saladino. Photo courtesy of CSHSD

“I am exceptionally proud of our Cold Spring Harbor students in their performance of Mamma Mia! As the vocal director, I worked with the cast to learn an exceptionally high number of songs for one musical. Most songs had ensemble chorus as well, and the students took it in stride,” said Mr. Daniel Santangelo, chorus and theatre director. “They were able to achieve a great musical performance in addition to their acting and dancing. During the show, I wore a different hat as bassist in the pit and I was so glad to be able to contribute to the show and see it from that perspective. Bravi to the entire cast and crew!”

The encore of Dancing Queen inspired audiences to dance and sing along, and the performance of Super Trouper stole the show.

“I had a great experience conducting the pit this year. We brought back many previous musicians who have played for us, making it something of an all-star band,” said Mr. Andrew Hochler, band and wind ensemble teacher at Cold Spring Harbor High School. “It doesn’t hurt that I personally love the music of ABBA. The musical is one of my favorite things to do all year, and Mamma Mia! was no different!”

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Judi Lach Veeck

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) in Stony Brook has announced that Judi Lach Veeck, from Hampton Bays, has joined the organization as Executive Director.

“It’s an honor to lead an organization that celebrates Long Island’s rich musical heritage,” said Lach Veeck. “I’m thrilled to contribute to the growth and outreach of our mission, alongside our dedicated board and volunteers! My goals are to diversify funding and to increase awareness of our mission and outreach programs.”

Lach Veeck is a highly accomplished nonprofit executive with proven expertise in fundraising, marketing, image enhancement, and government relations. Her responsibilities for LIMEHOF will include overseeing operations and fundraising activities, organizing and applying for grants, and working with the board of directors to identify prospects.

“We are thrilled to have Judi on our team” said Ernie Canadeo, Chairman of LIMEHOF. “Her experience and expertise will create tremendous opportunities as we continue to grow and fulfill our mission of supporting education and preserving Long Island’s music heritage for future generations.”

A long-time board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of LI (AFPLI), Lach Veeck has over thirty years of experience in working with nonprofits and fundraising. She also has a strong track record of identifying organizational needs and developing specific campaigns and initiatives.

Prior to joining LIMEHOF, she served as Administrator for the Education Foundation for Suffolk County Extension, Inc., and as Director, Development & Public Affairs for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County.

For more information about the leadership at LIMEHOF, please visit: https://www.limusichalloffame.org/board-of-directors/

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File photo

Suffolk County Police arrested a man on Feb. 17 for allegedly selling cannabis products at a Ridge store.

Following community complaints, Seventh Precinct Investigative Unit officers conducted a compliance
check at Koncept Smoke Shop, located at 135 Middle Country Road, during which an employee allegedly sold cannabis products to an undercover officer at approximately 8:05 p.m. Four other businesses were also checked and in compliance with the law.

Ezaz Mohammad, 40, of Coram, was charged with Unlawful Sale of Cannabis and Unauthorized Sale of Cannabis Products Without a License. Mohammad was released on a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook baseball team erased an 8-0 deficit to storm back for an 11-8 victory, capped by a three-run home run from Chanz Doughty in the final inning, securing a series sweep over Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Feb. 16. The game was called after seven innings due to weather conditions.

John Rizzo made his first career start for the Seawolves, tossing 1.2 innings while allowing six runs and striking out two.Matt Sgambati made his Stony Brook debut in the second inning, finishing the second and third frames while allowing two runs on two hits.

Down 8-0 in the third, Johnny Pilla put Stony Brook on the board with a two-out double that plated Matt Miceli, cutting the deficit to 8-1.

Sgambati followed with a 1-2-3 third inning before Nico Azpilcueta led off the fourth with a single. A walk by Luke Szepek and a hit-by-pitch from Cam Santerre loaded the bases with no outs. All three scored on a fielder’s choice and an error, trimming the deficit to 8-4. Kincaid Bergthold later came around to score on another error, making it 8-5.

Hunter Colagrande made his Stony Brook debut in the fourth, allowing two baserunners before striking out three straight hitters to escape the jam.

The Seawolves rallied in the sixth with two outs. Doughty and Miceli singled to bring up Erik Paulsen, who delivered an RBI single to center, making it 8-6. Evan Goforth followed with an RBI single, pulling Stony Brook within one at 8-7.

George Adams made his debut in the bottom of the sixth and struck out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect inning.

In the seventh, Szepek and Santerre drew walks before Bergthold delivered the game-tying RBI single. Doughty then launched a three-run home run to center, giving the Seawolves an 11-8 lead.

Adams shut down Bethune-Cookman in order in the bottom half, sealing the comeback victory before the game was called due to weather.

Next up, the team travels to Fort Myers next week for a three-game series against Florida Gulf Coast. First pitch on Feb. 21 is set for 6:30 p.m., with streaming details to be determined.

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