Authors Posts by Heidi Sutton

Heidi Sutton

2590 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

Vanessa Aleksander and Ignacy Liss in a scene from March ‘68. Photo courtesy of Staller Center

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center  for the Arts turns into a movie lover’s mecca when new independent films screen at the Stony Brook Film Festival on evenings and weekends from Thursday, July 20 to Saturday, July 29. The popular festival, now in its 28th year, will become a hub for some of the best filmmakers working today, a meeting ground for favorite actors and rising stars, and a showcase of new masterpieces as it pairs memorable short films with an array of features you won’t see anywhere else.

Presented by Island Federal, this year’s lineup offers 36 films from over 26 countries. The Festival kicks off with the U.S. premiere of the Dutch film Sea of Time. Led by Sallie Harmensen (SkyTV’s Devils), Reinout Scholten van Aschat, and of Danish stage and screen fame Elsie De Brauw, the harrowing, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful film is anchored by the powerhouse performances that examine enduring love in times of hardship.

Many international films in this year’s Festival are threaded by this theme of love overcoming life’s difficulties. Whether it is the blossoming young love against all odds in the Polish period drama March ’68, the touching Japanese film Trapped Balloon (starring Toko Miura of the 2022 Oscar-winning film Drive My Car), the gorgeous and romantic love story of My Sailor, My Love with Scottish film icon James Cosmo (Game of Thrones, His Dark Materials) and Tony-Award Winner Bríd Brennan (Dancing at Lughnasa), or the hilarious, music-infused road trip feature Grandpa Goes South from Slovenia.

Continuing on this shared theme of overcoming is Martha, a film that tells the true story of Martha Liebermann, wife to famed painter Max Liebermann, as she faces the Third Reich on own her terms. 

At the same time, the powerful documentary Radioactive, directed by Stony Brook University professor Heidi Hutner, recounts the saga about four housewives from Three Mile Island facing down the nuclear industry Goliath for over forty years, and The Grandson tells the story of a man’s refusal to allow heartless scammers to get the best of his grandfather in this tight Hungarian thriller.

There is no shortage of independent cinema in this year’s lineup, including the Serbian puzzle piece Where the Road Takes You, which takes the Western trope of the stranger in town who saves the girl and flips it on its head. From Canada comes the quirky comedy I Like Movies about the reformation of a crabby, awkward teenage cinephile. 

Also providing comic relief is the scenic and quietly riotous American indy Friends From Home, shot on the cheap during Covid, and from Italy, the strangely compelling Amanda, about a young woman who suddenly decides that an acquaintance from her very young childhood is now her best friend.

Rounding out a host of stellar independent offerings is the wild Yes, Repeat, No, set in a studio where three actors are all auditioning for the same role. This courageous and unforgettable film zeroes in on questions of conflicting identity while managing to surprise at every turn.

Some recognizable faces also show up in this year’s lineup, including Richard Kind, Karen Allen, and Peter Reigert in Hit Man: Secrets of Lies and the wickedly hilarious Two Chairs, Not One, starring Caitlin Reilly (HBO’s Hacks), whose wildly popular TikTok account has amassed hundreds of millions of views.

The closing night feature tells an extraordinary tale of overcoming. Divertimento shares the true story of sisters Zahia and Fettouma Ziouani, a conductor and a cellist, who, despite being Algerian immigrants from the wrong part of Paris, managed to create a world-class professional orchestra with little more than respect, determination, and sheer talent. Opening and closing with the insistent rhythm of Ravel’s Bolero, the film makes its hopeful message equally insistent: family and community can make the impossible possible.

“We are very excited to have filmmakers from all over the world join us for their premiere screenings. Our audiences can gather in a huge theater with Long Island’s largest screen, to see movies the way they were meant to be seen,” says Festival Director Alan Inkles. 

“Not only are these films not available on any streaming format, but you also get to hear directly from the filmmakers themselves, ask them a question at our live Q&A, and even vote for your favorite,” he said.

Additional sponsors for the Stony Brook Film Festival include Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP; Suffolk County; Altice Media; and WLIW/PBS.

FILM SCHEDULE

OPENING NIGHT

Thursday, July 20 at 8 p.m.

Feature: Sea of Time

Short: The Red Suitcase

Friday, July 21 at 7 p.m.

Feature: Exodus

Short: Hit Friends

Friday, July 21 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature: I Like Movies

Short: Chipper

Saturday, July 22 at 7 p.m.

Feature: My Sailor, My Love

Short: The Countryman

Saturday, July 22 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature: Grandpa Goes South

Short: Two Chairs, Not One

Sunday, July 23 at 7 p.m.

Feature: Martha

Short: Stuck

Sunday, July 23 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature: Friends From Home.

Short: At A Glance

Monday, July 24 at 7 p.m.

Feature: Trapped Balloon

Short: Healer

Monday, July 24 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature: A Fleeting Encounter

Short: Winter’s Passing

Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m.

Feature: Elik & Jimmy

Short: The Third Defector

Tuesday, July 25 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature: Amanda

Short: Mahogany Drive

Wednesday, July 26 at 7 p.m.

Feature: Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island

Short: Queen Moorea

Wednesday, July 26 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature: Where the Road Leads

Short: Hit Man: Secrets of Lies

Thursday, July 27 at 7 p.m.

Feature: March ‘68

Short: The Father, The Son and The Rav Kalmenson

Thursday, July 27 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature: Yes Repeat No

Short: Demon Box

Friday, July 28 at 7 p.m.

Feature: The Grandson

Short: Death By Puppies

Friday, July 28 at 9:30 p.m.

Feature: First Snow of Summer

Short: Voices

CLOSING NIGHT

Saturday, July 29 at 8 p.m.

Feature: Divertimento

Short: The Basics of Love

CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS

10:30 p.m. Presented on stage.

——————————————-

Ticket information

All screenings are held at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook in the 1,000-seat Main Stage theater. 

Festival goers can choose from a Gold Pass “VIP” ($250), Regular Pass ($100), new! Flex Pass ($75), or Individual Pass of $15, $13.50 seniors. To learn about the different membership levels and their benefits, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stonybrookfilmfestival.com.

This article first appeared in Summer Times, a seasonal guide supplement by TBR News Media.

Chevy. Photos from Smithtown Animal Shelter

MEET CHEVY!

This week’s featured shelter pet is Chevy, a two year-old male Pit Mix who had a very difficult start to his young life. It’s hard to imagine that this happy pup was once found on the side of the road, broken and beaten this past New Year’s Eve. Thanks to the kind hearted nature of law enforcement at the Suffolk County Police Department, a truly devoted team at Animal Surgical Center, one saintly foster family, and the selfless team at the Smithtown Animal Shelter, Chevy is thriving, back to good health, and awaiting his furrever home. Since his recovery, Chevy has become quite a celebrity, making appearances in viral TikToks, and getting profiled by News 12 and Newsday. Chevy loves to listen to music, especially Andrea Bocelli, earning him the nickname Bocelli, or Bo for short.

Chevy is finally getting to experience the happy puppy life that he never had before. He has gained back weight, is strong and mobile despite still having a slight limp, and loves to snuggle and kiss. Even though he was mistreated by humans before, he is still very trusting and friendly to all new people. He gets along with some dogs and has lived in a multi-pet home for the period of his recovery. Chevy is the perfect example of the ultimate comeback story, and he won’t let anything get him down.

Chevy will only be adopted into the best of homes who will provide him with the love and care he was missing in his past life. Due to his limited vision, he should only be with older kids that will respect his sight trouble. He also has a well-managed food allergy. He needs a family that is fully committed to the promise that Chevy will never know another bad day again. Chevy can’t wait to find his perfect furrever home, and we know that home is out there somewhere for him.

If you would like to meet this sweetheart, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with him in a domestic setting.

The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). For more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.

FLAT AS A PANCAKE! Catch a performance of 'The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley' at the Engeman Theater this weekend before it's flat-out gone. Photo from The John W. Engeman Theater
PROGRAMS

Dress Up at Sea

In celebration of Pride Month, The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor presents Dress Up at Sea, on June 29 at 2 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. Set sail with drag artist and mermaid, Bella Noche, for a unique Drag Story Hour including maritime origins of mermaids and reading mythical stories. Decorate a ship wheel ornament to keep for your own journeys. Costumes encouraged. Admission fee + $10. Register at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. 631-367-3418.

Owl Prowl 

Visit Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown for an Owl Prowl on June 30 at 8 p.m. (rescheduled from June 23). Meet and learn about some of their resident owls and then embark on a walk into the darkness to enjoy the night.  Wear bug spray and bring a flashlight just in case. Open to families with children ages 5 and up. $15 per person. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

Mud Day at Sweetbriar

Get ready to get muddy! Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown hosts a Mud Day on July 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join them for slime making, sand playing and volcano building. Meet some animals that love to dig around just like you! $10 per child and no charge for  adults. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

The Patriot Tour

Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket kicks off its 2023 Family Summer Program series with The Patriot Tour with Margo Arceri of Tri-Spy Tours on July 4 from 11 a.m. to noon. Learn about the Patriots that lived in Setauket during the Revolutionary War during this walk around the park. Meet at Hap’s Red Barn. Free. 631-689-6146

Scrimshaw Carving

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor for an afternoon of Scrimshaw Carving on July 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Discover how whalers carved teeth, bone, and baleen into beautiful works of art, then create your own scrimshaw-style art on a keepsake box. This classic, popular craft has long been a rite of passage for Long Islanders! Admission + $10 participant. 631-367-3418

THEATER

‘Seussical Jr.’

Smithtown Performing Arts Center presents an outdoor production of Seussical Jr. on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown from July 8 to Aug. 17. Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in this fantastical musical extravaganza. Tickets are $18 per person. To order, call 800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Flat Stanley’

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley from May 28 to July 2. Stanley Lambchop is an ordinary ten-year-old who longs to travel the world and do something amazing! Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One morning, Stanley wakes up really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He’s stamped, posted and mailed from Hollywood to Paris to Honolulu and beyond hoping to once again become three-dimensional. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Goldilocks & The Show Biz Bears’

Up next at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson is Goldilocks & The Show Biz Bears from July 7 to July 29 with a sensory sensitive performance on July 9. Join them for a delightful re-telling of the famous story as Goldilocks, a Campfire Bluebird Pioneer Scout Girl, joins up with the three nicest show-biz bears you’d ever hope to meet. Along with Granny Locks and Wolf Hunter, Forest Ranger, the crew foil the villainous plans of Billy de Goat Gruff. Don’t miss this hysterical musical melodrama about safety! All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

FILM

‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids! series with a screening of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? on July 2 at noon. Robert Zemeckis’ brilliant, and altogether hilarious classic returns! Eddie is a toon-hating private detective who is hired to clear the name of toon-sensation Roger Rabbit. Rated PG. Tickets are $12, $5 children 12 and under. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

by -
0 827
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF SUMMER St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival returns to the grounds of the Trinity Regional School in East Northport June 29 to July 1 with fireworks on July 1.
Thursday June 29

St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival

Fr. Thomas Judge Knights of Columbus celebrates its 30th annual St. Anthony’s Family Feast and Festival  at Trinity Regional School, 1025 Fifth Ave., East Northport tonight and June 30 from 6 to 11 p.m. and July 1 from 3 to 11 p.m. Featuring rides, games, food, craft beer, live music and circus shows. Fireworks on July 1. Free admission, pay-one-price rides or individual rides. 631-261-1077

Northport Community Band

The Northport Community Band will host a concert at the Robert W. Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park tonight, July 6, July 13, July 20 and July 27 starting at 8:30 p.m. Bring seating. Rain location is Northport High School. www.ncb59.org

Friday June 30

St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival

See June 29 listing.

Sounds on the Sound

The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Sounds on the Sound Port Jefferson Sunset Cruise on Friday, June 30 from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. featuring a performance by Dr. K’s Motown Revue (Motown tribute band). For ages 21 and over. General tickets are $45, VIP tickets are $65 at www.portjeffchamber.com. For more information, call 631-473-1414.

Musical Moments

Musical Moments in Kings Park return to Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main St., Kings Park from 7:30 to 9 p.m. tonight with a free concert by Mystery Play, courtesy of the Kings Park Civic Association. Bring seating. 516-319-0672

Happenings on Main Street

Northport Arts Coalition kicks off its annual Happenings on Main Street series, free concerts at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor Friday evenings at 7 p.m., with a performances by The Haymakers, Bring seating. 631-261-1872, www.northportarts.org

Saturday July 1

St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival

See June 29 listing.

Sherwood-Jayne House Tour

Preservation Long Island will host tours of the Sherwood-Jayne House (c. 1730), 55 Old Post Road, Setauket at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. with a self-guided tour at noon. The house contains period furnishings and features original late eighteenth-century hand-painted floral wall frescoes. Tickets are $10, $5 children ages 6 to 15, under age 6 free at www.preservationlongisland.org/tours. 631-692-4664.

All Souls Poetry Reading

The Second Saturdays poetry series returns to All Souls Church in Stony Brook via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson will be the featured poet. An open-reading will follow; all are welcome to read one of their own poems.  For more information, call 631-655-7798.  Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

Heckscher Park’s Chapin Rainbow Stage, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington hosts the Huntington Arts Council’s 58th annual Summer Arts Festival with music, theater and dance from July 1 to 30. Opening week schedule features Sunny Jain’s Red Baraat tonight at 8 p.m., Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra on July 2 at 7 p.m.; Huntington Community Band on July 5 at 8 p.m, Huntington Men’s Chorus on July 6 at 8 p.m. and The Englishtown Project on July 7 at 8 p.m.  For the full schedule, visit www.huntingtonarts.org. 631-271-8423

Sunday July 2

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

See July 1 listing.

Sushi Savant Concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by Sushi Savant from 3 to 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.

Wind Down Sundays

The popular summer concert series returns to Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with the Claudia Jacobs Band at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-689-6146, www.frankmelvillepark.org

Monday July 3

Movie Trivia Night

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 $10 per person, $7 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org. 631-423-7610.

Tuesday July 4

Fourth of July Parade  

Grab yourself a lawn chair and head down to Main Street so you don’t miss a moment of the Port Jefferson Fourth of July Parade at 10 a.m. Fire trucks, dancers, bagpipe players, classic cars and more. The event is sponsored by Port Jefferson Fire
Department. 631-473-1414

Celebration of Hometown Heroes

VFW Post 6249, 109 King Road, Rocky Point and the Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce present A Celebration of Hometown Heroes at 11 a.m. Followed by a live reading of the Declaration of Independence. Refreshments will be served. 631-729-0699

Fireworks at Bald Hill

Celebrate Independence Day at the Long Island Catholic Health Amphitheater at Bald Hill, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville with a high-energy concert by Mean Machine and The Chiclettes starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by fireworks by Grucci at 9:15 p.m. Free. 631-676-7500

Wednesday July 5

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

See July 1 listing.

Author Visit

Join science writer and artist Erica Cirino as she discusses her book Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis at Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport at 4 p.m. Plastic pollution is not confined to the oceans, but is prevalent in our air, food, and soil as well. Learn about the real story of the plastic crisis and gain hope hearing about what is being done across the world to address the problem. Open to all. To register, call 261-6930.

Author Talk

Join CNN Senior Political Analyst and author John Avlon as he discusses his new book, Lincoln and the Fight For Peace, at the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A  Q&A and book signing will follow the lecture. Free and open to all. Registration required. 631-585-9393

Sunset Concerts

Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council kicks off its Sunset Concerts at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with The Well Diggers. Held rain or shine. Bring seating. 631-473-5220, www.gpjac.org

Thursday 6

Northport Community Band

See June 29 listing.

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

See July 1 listing.

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series returns to the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with a concert by Just Sixties tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a preshow at 7 p.m. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Harborside Concerts

The Village of Port Jefferson kicks off its annual Harborside concerts at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson on Thursdays at 7 p.m. with a performance by Solid 70s. Bring seating. 631-473-4724 www.portjeff.com

Film

‘Every Body’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a special screening of the documentary Every Body, a revelatory investigation of the lives of intersex people, on July 5 at 7:30 p.m. The film tells the stories of three individuals who have moved from childhoods marked by shame, secrecy, and non-consensual surgeries to thriving adulthoods after each decided to set aside medical advice to keep their bodies a secret and instead came out as their authentic selves. With Director Julie Cohen in person. Tickets are $15, $10 members. www.cinemaartcentre.org.

‘Brothers In Blues’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will screen the documentary Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues on July 6 at 7:30 p.m. Brothers Jimmie and Stevie went from a small, post-war house in Oak Cliff, Texas to selling millions of records and playing alongside the likes of David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jackson Browne, Carlos Santana and more. Featuring newly revealed photos, home movies and interviews. Tickets are $15, $10 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Theater

‘The Sound of Music’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is The Sound of Music from May 18 to July 2. The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” and “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.” Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’

The Carriage House Players continue their 34th annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in the mansion courtyard of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with The Two Gentlemen of Verona from June 4 to 30. Young Valentine travels to Milan to find his fortune, but instead falls for the fair Silvia, daughter of the Duke. His world is turned upside down when his best friend, Proteus, abandons his love, Tickets are $20, $15 children under 12. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Class Reunions

Hauppauge High School Class of 1978 will hold its 45th reunion on July 22, 2023 with a reunion party on July 21 and a reunion picnic on July 23. For details, email [email protected].

Port Jefferson High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion on the weekend of August 4-6. For information, email Lori Sternlicht Lucki @ [email protected] or call 631-495-8604.

Ward Melville High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket on Sept. 9, 2023 from 6 to 11 p.m. For ticket information, contact Tibo Dioguardi at [email protected].

Save the date! Port Jefferson High School Class of 1964 will hold its 60th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on Oct. 17, 2024. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected]

Vendors Wanted

■ Vendors are wanted for the 2nd annual Port Paws Dog Festival at Joe Erland Park in Port Jefferson on July 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fee is $350 for 10X10 booth for both days. Visit portpawsdogfest.com/vendors or text 516-939-8960.

■ Spirit of Huntington, 2 Melville Road, Huntington seeks artists, musicians, and vendors fort its Spirit of Summer Art Festival on Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. $125 fee for 8’ by 10’ area. Rain date Aug. 13. Deadline to apply is July 28. Visit www.spiritofhuntington.com.

■ Northport Arts Coalition is now accepting applications from artists and artisans for its annual Art in the Park event at Northport Village Park on Sunday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All crafts must be handmade by the artist — no kits, manufactured items, purchased pieces, imports or resale items will be permitted. 10’ X 10’ artist space is $100, $80 for NAC members. Only 40 spaces are available. Deadline to apply is June 30. Visit www.northportarts.org for an application or call 631-261-1872.

■ The Village of Lake Grove seeks arts & crafts, food and community vendors for its 2023 Lake Grove Summer Festival at Memorial Park, 980 Hawkins Ave., Lake Grove on Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit lakegroveny.gov for an application.

■ Vendor applications are now available for Sunshine Prevention Center’s Family Fall Festival at 468 Boyle Road, Port Jefferson Station on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain date Oct 15). Fee is $50 for a 10 x 10 space, no charge for Agency Resource tables. Bring your own tables, tents, chairs. All vendors must also donate a prize ($20 value) for a raffle. Register at www.sunshinepreventionctr.org or email [email protected]. 

■ Craft and new merchandise vendors are wanted for the St. Thomas of Canterbury Church Fall Car Show and Craft Fair, 90 Edgewood Ave., Smithtown, on Oct. 14  from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $50 per booth (10’ by 10’ space). For more information, call 631-265-4520 or visit www.Stthomasofcanterbury.net.

Volunteers Wanted

The Greenlawn Centerport Historical Association seeks volunteers for its Summer Gardiner Farm Stand. One volunteer is needed for each shift to work alongside a GCHA rep. Shifts are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning the week of July 1. High school students can earn community service credit! For more information, call 631-754-1180 or email [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.

 

Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars

By Heidi Sutton

Backyard barbecues beckon and poolside entertaining reigns supreme every summer. After guests have had their fill of fire-licked grilled burgers, hot dogs and chicken, a refreshing dessert that won’t have summertime hosts sweating preparation can make for the perfect culinary capper. 

A no-bake dessert ideal for warm weather entertaining, banana pudding often wins rave reviews. Anyone who loves the sweet taste of bananas, the creaminess of rich pudding and the crunch of vanilla wafers will enjoy digging into these two delicious treats. 

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

While many vanilla pudding recipes are topped with whipped cream, this version, courtesy of Trisha Yearwood and the Food Network, changes things up with a meringue topping for added flair. 

YIELD: Makes 8 servings

INGREDIENTS:

4 large eggs

3⁄4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1⁄2 teaspoon plus a pinch salt

2 cups whole milk

1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract

30 to 40 vanilla wafers

3 to 4 medium ripe bananas

DIRECTIONS: 

Separate the yolks from the whites of three of the eggs; set aside the whites. Add the remaining whole egg to the yolks. In a saucepan, whisk together 1⁄2 cup sugar, the flour and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt. Stir in the whole egg and three yolks, and then stir in the milk. Cook uncovered, stirring often, until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Spread a thin layer of the pudding in a 11⁄2 quart casserole dish. Arrange a layer of vanilla wafers on top of the pudding. Thinly slice the bananas crosswise, about 1⁄8 inch thick, and arrange a layer of banana slices over the wafers. Spread one-third of the remaining pudding over the bananas and continue layering wafers, bananas and pudding, ending with pudding.

To make the meringue, beat the reserved egg whites with a pinch of salt until they are stiff. Gradually beat in the remaining 1⁄4 cup sugar and continue beating until the whites will not slide out of the mixing bowl when it is tilted. Spread the meringue over the pudding with a spatula, making a few decorative peaks on top, and bake until the meringue is lightly browned, 5 minutes.

Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars

Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars

This dessert bar recipe, courtesy of Lena Abraham, senior food editor and stylist at Delish, marries tangy cream cheese with sweet and velvety banana pudding atop a cookie crust. They’re easy to prepare ahead of time and easily sliced when the dessert bell beckons. 

YIELD: Makes 9 servings

INGREDIENTS:

For crust:

1 1⁄2 cup crushed vanilla wafer cookies

5 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

Pinch sea salt

For filling

1 1⁄2  (8 ounces) blocks cream cheese, softened

1⁄2 cup sugar

1 1⁄2 cup whipped topping

1 3.4-ounce package instant banana pudding mix

1 3⁄4 cup whole milk

For topping

Whipped topping

1⁄2 banana, sliced

9 vanilla wafer cookies

DIRECTIONS: 

Line an 8-inch by 8-inch pan with parchment paper. Make crust: In a medium bowl, combine crushed wafer cookies with butter, sugar and salt. Press in an even layer into the prepared pan. Place in freezer while making filling.

Make cheesecake filling: In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or in a stand mixer), beat cream cheese until fluffy and no clumps remain. Add sugar and beat until combined. Fold in whipped topping and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk. Let pudding stand for 3 minutes in the refrigerator, until thickened. Fold into cheesecake mixture until well combined. Pour filling into prepared crust and smooth into an even layer. Freeze until bars are firm, at least 6 hours and up to overnight.

When firm, remove from freezer and slice into nine bars. Top each bar with a dollop of whipped topping, a slice of banana and a vanilla cookie before serving.

Note: If banana isn’t your favorite flavor, replace banana pudding with lemon pudding and use a thin lemon slice in the whipped topping dollop as a garnish when serving.

MEET UFEE!

This week’s featured shelter pet is Ufee, a fourteen year-old Male Pomeranian Mix who was abandoned at a park and is now up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. 

Don’t let his age fool you, he looks and acts just like a young pup! Ufee is a happy and friendly guy who enjoys spending time around people. He is an absolutely beautiful dog who is very gentle and kind. Ufee has a slightly under active thyroid and some limited hearing. He also has some halitosis, but the Animal Shelter is working on taking care of this. Ufee would do well in a home with other pets and with children over the age of ten. He is ready to share his love with a lucky family, and we know that perfect home is out there somewhere for him.

If you would like to meet Ufee, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with him in a domestic setting, which includes a Meet and Greet Room, the dog runs, and a Dog Walk trail.

The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). 

For more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.

THE FAIREST ONE OF ALL Cinema Arts Centre brings Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' to the big screen on June 27. Image from CAC
PROGRAMS

Mud Day on the Farm

Start the summer off with a day of messy fun! Suffolk County Farm, 350 Yaphank Road, Yaphank will host a Mud Day on June 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a day filled with messy play, puddle jumping, muddy car wash, sprinkler play, kids crafts, mud paintings, mud kitchen and more! All guests ages 3 and up are required to have a ticket with includes unlimited wagon rides, a visit to the butterfly house and all the mud you can wear! $5 per person 18+, $15 ages 3-17. Register at ccesuffolk.org. 631-852-4600

All Together Now! Magic Show

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket will host an”All Together Now!” Magic Show on June 24 from 4 to 5 p.m. Join The Great & Powerful Dave for a hilarious, high-energy, interactive magic show. Families with babies and children up to 6th grade welcome. Open to all. No registration required. 631-941-4080

Juneteenth Celebration

Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport celebrates Juneteenth with a Special Sunday at the Society event on June 25 at 2 p.m. Author and artist Kim Taylor will read excerpts from her book, A Flag for Juneteenth, followed by a crafting exercise inspired by the story. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. All ages welcome. Free. 631-757-9859

Dress Up at Sea

In celebration of Pride Month, The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor presents Dress Up at Sea, on June 29 at 2 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. Set sail with drag artist and mermaid, Bella Noche, for a unique Drag Story Hour including maritime origins of mermaids and reading mythical stories. Decorate a ship wheel ornament to keep for your own journeys. Costumes encouraged. Admission fee + $10. Registration required at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. 631-367-3418.

Shark Invasion!

Celebrate sharks this summer at the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor, Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Uncover amazing facts about these incredible predators as you hunt for clues in this shark-themed scavenger hunt. Then roll up your sleeves and excavate a genuine shark tooth fossil to take home!​ Admission fee + $10 participant. 631-367-3418

THEATER

‘Goldilocks & The Show Biz Bears’

Up next at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson is Goldilocks & The Show Biz Bears from July 7 to July 29 with a sensory sensitive performance on July 9. Join them for a delightful re-telling of the famous story as Goldilocks, a Campfire Bluebird Pioneer Scout Girl, joins up with the three nicest show-biz bears you’d ever hope to meet. Along with Granny Locks and Wolf Hunter, Forest Ranger, the crew foil the villainous plans of Billy de Goat Gruff. Don’t miss this hysterical musical melodrama about safety! All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Flat Stanley’

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley from May 28 to July 2. Stanley Lambchop is an ordinary ten-year-old who longs to travel the world and do something amazing! Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One morning, Stanley wakes up really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He’s stamped, posted and mailed from Hollywood to Paris to Honolulu and beyond hoping to once again become three-dimensional. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Seussical Jr.’

Smithtown Performing Arts Center presents an outdoor production of Seussical Jr. on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown from July 8 to Aug. 17. Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in this fantastical musical extravaganza. Tickets are $18 per person. To order, call 800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

FILM

‘The Mighty Ducks’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids! series with a screening of The Mighty Ducks (1992) on June 25 at noon. A lawyer must coach a peewee hockey team, the worst in the league, for community service. He eventually gains the respect of the kids and teaches them how to win, gaining a sponsor on the way and giving the team the name of The Ducks. Rated PG. Tickets are $12, $5 children 12 and under. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’

As part of its Best of the Big Screen series, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a screening one of the true milestone in film history, Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with its brilliant colors, wonderful songs and unforgettable characters on June 27 at 7 p.m. The story of a princess driven from the palace by her wicked stepmother and then saved by a group of seven descriptively-named dwarves, the 1937 animated classic is on every list of greatest films ever made. Hosted by film historian Philip Harwood. Tickets are $15, $8 children ages 12 and under. www.cinemaartscentre.org

by -
0 712
STAR POWER Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington will host legendary movie star Jacqueline Bisset at a screening of her new film, Loren & Rose, on June 25. Photo from CAC
Thursday June 22

Summer Thursdays at the LIM

Kick off your summer with a free outdoor concert featuring Ray Lambiase on the grounds of the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pack a picnic supper, enjoy the concert and view the latest exhibits at the History Museum. In the case of rain, concert will be held in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room. Free admission.  631-751-0066

Summer Swap Concert

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents a free “Summer Stage With a Purpose” (Summer SWAP) concert featuring the Equity Brass Band on the front lawn of the museum from 6 to 8 p.m. Grab a lawn chair and come on down! Sponsored by Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine. The concert series continues with Nikos Chatzitsakos Tiny Big Band on July 13, and the Melanie Marod Ensemble on Aug. 10. 631-751-1895, www.thejazzloft.org

Native American Drumming 

All Souls Church will host an evening of Native American Drumming Meditation at its Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook on Thursday, June 22 from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. 631-655-7798

Friday June 23

Friday Night Face Off

Friday Night Face Off, Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, returns to Theatre Three’s Second Stage, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson tonight at 10:30 p.m. Using audience suggestions, FNFO pits two teams of improvisers against each other in an all-out championship! Recommended for ages 16 and up, due to adult content. Tickets are $15 at the door – cash only. 631-928-9100

Saturday June 24

Benefit Car Show

The Police Surgeons Benevolent Association in association with the Centurion Cruisers Car Club hosts a benefit car show at St. Anthony’s High School, 275 Wolf Hill Rd., Huntington featuring cars, trucks, street rods, muscle cars, police/fire service vehicles and antiques from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5 for spectators. All proceeds will benefit the family of slain NYPD Officer Adeed Fayaz. 631-368-8617

Sherwood-Jayne House Tour

Preservation Long Island will host tours of the Sherwood-Jayne House (c. 1730), 55 Old Post Road, Setauket at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. with a self-guided tour at noon. The house contains period furnishings and features original late eighteenth-century hand-painted floral wall frescoes. Tickets are $10, $5 children ages 6 to 15, under age 6 free at www.preservationlongisland.org/tours. 631-692-4664.

Artisan Vendor Market

Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park & Children’s Zoo, 489 Chapman Blvd., Manorville hosts its first local Artisan Vendor Market featuring planting propagation, wool felting, and floral painting demonstrations, local plant and product sales, and more on from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 631-878-6644.

UCC Steeple Showcase Concert

Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, 233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai kicks off its UCC Steeple Showcase Concert Series with Steve Subject playing your favorite soft rock classics in the church parking lot from 4 to 6 p.m. Join them for this fun late afternoon concert. Bring a chair, a snack and sit back and relax! Concert will be moved indoors if it’s raining. 631-473-1582

‘Laser Taylor Swift’

The Vanderbilt Reichert Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents the premiere of Laser Taylor Swift tonight at 9 p.m. If you can’t score tickets to the Eras tour, Laser Taylor Swift is the next best thing! With more than 200 million records sold, a shelf full of Grammys, and an army of fans, Taylor Swift is an inspiration for generations. This dynamic show takes her biggest hits and brings them to life in dazzling laser light. Tickets are $18 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Sunday June 25

Mike Nugent Concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by Mike Nugent from 3 to 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.

The Dedications Concert

Celebrate St. James  kicks off its summer concert series at Celebrate Park, 369 Lake Ave., St. James with The Dedications (50s, 60s, 70s) featuring lead singer John Zollo from 6 to 9 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-984-0201, www.celebratestjames.org

Monday June 26

Family Pride Picnic

Town of Smithtown’s Anti-Bias Task Force and Youth Bureau will host the 2nd annual Family Pride Picnic at Schubert’s Beach, Long Beach Road, Nissequogue from 5 to 7 p.m. Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with food, crafts and music at this family-friendly community gathering. Pack a picnic dinner and they will take care of beverages, snacks and dessert. Call 631-360-7595 to register.

Tuesday June 27

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a presentation by Michael Wertheim of the Main Street Financial Group of Smithtown titled “Investing in a Turbulent Market” in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Talks Over Tea

Join the Huntington Historical Society curator, Emily Werner, for a presentation on the history of textile production on Long Island at the Conklin Barn, 2 High St., Huntington from 2 to 4 p.m. Werner will discuss her experience putting together the Society’s newest exhibit, From Farm to Fabric: Early Woven Textiles of Long Island. Attendees will learn how to “read” textiles by identifying things like fiber content, weave structure, and designs specific to Long Island coverlets. A selection of textiles from the Society’s collection will be on display for attendees to view up close. $15 per person, members free. Register at www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Community Band Concert

The Smithtown Community Band kicks off its 37th annual concert series, By Land, Sea, & Sky, on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society’s Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown at 8 p.m. Free. Bring seating. 631-275-0443

Tribute to Simon & Garfunkel

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents a concert by Forever Simon & Garfunkel celebrating the best selling duo in rock’n’roll history at 8 p.m. with iconic songs including “The Sound Of Silence, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Mrs. Robinson, I Am A Rock, The Boxer, Homeward Bound, Cecilia, Hazy Shade Of Winter, Feeling Groovy, Me & Julio, Kodachrome,” and many more! Tickets are $45. 631-261-2900, www.engemantheater.com

Wednesday June 28

Author Talk

Join CNN Senior Political Analyst and author John Avlon as he discusses his new book, Lincoln and the Fight For Peace, at the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A  Q&A and book signing will follow the lecture. Free and open to all. Registration required. 631-585-9393

St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival

Fr. Thomas Judge Knights of Columbus celebrates its 30th annual St. Anthony’s Family Feast and Festival  at Trinity Regional School, 1025 Fifth Ave., East Northport today through June 30 from 6 to 11 p.m. and July 1 from 3 to 11 p.m. Featuring rides, games, food, craft beer, live music and circus shows. Fireworks on July 1. Free admission, pay-one-price rides or individual rides. 631-261-1077

Barn FRIENDraiser

Join the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket for a FRIENDraiser event from 6 to 8 p.m. Come learn about the history of the Dominick-Crawford Barn, c.1840, and how it was saved from ruin. Enjoy live music by Donna Lee, food trucks, beer and wine, children’s play zone, docent-led tours of the exhibits and hard hat tours of the barn build. To RSVP, email [email protected]. 631-751-3730

Thursday June 29

St. Anthony’s Feast and Festival

See June 28 listing.

A Night of Pride

Join Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport for a A Night of Pride from 6 to 9 p.m. Celebrate love and community with an evening filled with games, fun, history, art, food trucks, and Laser Shows featuring the music of Queen, David Bowie, and Taylor Swift. Tickets are $10 adults, children under 5 free. All proceeds will be donated to local LGBTQIA+ charities. Register at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Film

‘Loren & Rose’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will screen Loren & Rose starring Jacqueline Bisset on June 25 at 4 p.m. A single meal frames this three-act story of the indelible bond between Loren (Kelly Blatz), a promising filmmaker, and Rose (Bisset), a storied actress looking to reinvigorate her career. Followed by a Q&A with Jacqueline Bissett and Kelly Blatz in person with director Russell Brown.  Tickets are $30, $20 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org. 631-423-7610

Theater

‘The Sound of Music’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is The Sound of Music from May 18 to July 2. The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” and “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.” Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Something Rotten!’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage productions with Something Rotten! from May 20 to June 24.  Living in the shadow of Renaissance rock star The Bard, two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being to thine own self be true. Contains adult humor and situations. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’

The Carriage House Players continue their 34th annual Summer Shakespeare Festival in the mansion courtyard of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with The Two Gentlemen of Verona from June 4 to 30. Young Valentine travels to Milan to find his fortune, but instead falls for the fair Silvia, daughter of the Duke. His world is turned upside down when his best friend, Proteus, abandons his love, Julia, in Verona to woo Silvia for himself. With a pair of bumbling servants and a dog, it’s a lively Shakespearean comedy about the complexities of love, lust, and friendship. Tickets are $20, $15 children under 12. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

‘Princess Ida’

The battle of the sexes will break out into open warfare when the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island brings its 2023 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic Princess Ida to the Star Playhouse at Suffolk Y/JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack on June 25 at 3 p.m.  The production will feature a 23-piece orchestra. Tickets are $30, seniors and students $25. To order, visit  www.gaslocoli.org. 516-619-7415

Class Reunions

Hauppauge High School Class of 1978 will hold its 45th reunion on July 22, 2023 with a reunion party on July 21 and a reunion picnic on July 23. For details, email [email protected].

Ward Melville High School Class of 1973 will hold its 50th reunion at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket on Sept. 9, 2023 from 6 to 11 p.m. For ticket information, contact Tibo Dioguardi at [email protected].

Save the date! Port Jefferson High School Class of 1964 will hold its 60th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on Oct. 17, 2024. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected].

Fresh Strawberry Pie

By Heidi Sutton

Strawberry season marks the beginning of so many wonderful things on Long Island — longer days, warmer weather, the promise of summer … and Father’s Day. Bright red throughout and still warm from the sun, freshly picked strawberries are flavorful and sweet. If some strawberries make it home after picking them out east, try making one of these delicious pies for that special man in your life.

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Recipe adapted from Pillsbury

YIELD: Makes one pie

INGREDIENTS:

1 pie crust

6 cups whole fresh strawberries

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 cup water

sliced strawberries

1 cup sweetened whipped cream

DIRECTIONS: 

Heat oven to 350 F. Press pie crust into 9-inch glass pie pan. Bake 9-11 minutes, or until lightly browned. Completely cool pie crust, approximately 30 minutes. In blender, crush strawberries to make 1 cup.

In saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add crushed strawberries and water. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Cool to room temperature. Arrange sliced strawberries in cooled crust. Pour cooked strawberry mixture evenly over strawberries. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Top with whipped cream before serving.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie  

YIELD: Makes one pie

INGREDIENTS:

1 pie crust, parbaked and cooled 

1/4 cup heavy cream 

8 ounces whipped cream cheese 

1/4 cup powdered sugar 

1/3 cup water 

3 tablespoons cornstarch 

1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered if large

2 tablespoons sugar 

DIRECTIONS: 

Filling: In a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the heavy cream for about 5 minutes until fluffy and soft peaks form. Add the cream cheese and powdered sugar and continue to beat until smooth and combined. 

Strawberries: Whisk together the water and cornstarch. Heat a skillet to medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add the berries, sugar, and cornstarch mixture. Stir until the mixture bubbles and thickens, then turn the heat off. Let the berries cool slightly. 

Scoop the cream cheese filling into the prepared pie crust. Use a spoon or spatula to scrape some of the filling up the sides of the crust, essentially lining the crust with the cream cheese mixture. Fill the crust/cream cheese mixture with the still-warm strawberries, mounding them up in the center of the pie. 

Chill the strawberry cream cheese pie for at least 2 hours, preferably 4 hours or more. To serve, slice the pie straight from the fridge and enjoy cold or at room temperature.

Photo by Rob Pellegrino

Three Village Community Trust’s Friends of the Greenway will host its monthly cleanup of the Greenway Trail on Saturday, June 17 starting at 9 a.m. in the Port Jefferson Station trailhead parking lot off Route 112 next to Port Jeff Bowl.  Come help keep our community gem clean as we get ready for the summer. Questions? Email [email protected].