Suffolk County Police arrested a man on April 29 for allegedly selling fake car insurance to a Shirley man last month.
A Shirley man contacted police on March 29 after he gave money to pay for an auto insurance policy to Joseph Cawley, an independent insurance broker, on March 16 but did not receive any identification cards for the policy. In total, the victim paid more than $1,550 for the policy, which did not exist.
Following an investigation, Seventh Squad detectives arrested Cawley at his home, located on Rolling
Hills Drive in Ridge, at 1:38 p.m. on April 29. Cawley, 37, was charged with alleged Grand Larceny 4th Degree. He was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court on a later date.
Anyone who believes they are a victim of the scam is asked to contact the Seventh Squad at 631-852-
8752.
L-R LIMEHOF Educator of Note Recipients Alan Schwartz, Susan Weber, Frank Abel and Kim Löwenborg-Coyne.
Five music teachers from across Long Island were recently honored at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) in Stony Brook in a special ceremony honoring the organizations most recent Educator of Note Award winners.
“It was wonderful,” said Tom Needham, Tom Needham, Second Vice Chair and Educational Programs Director at LIMEHOF. “When you get all these people together in one room and you hear about the number of students they’ve influenced over the years and the impact they’ve had on music education on Long Island. It’s truly incredible. We’re so excited to have this opportunity to have them all here in the room and to celebrate the good things that they’ve accomplished.”
“We all had and have such meaningful careers that have impacted music education in so many different ways,” said Susan Weber. “Bottom line is that we all love seeing the reaction with our students and former students and as time goes on how music education impacts kids and it was just a very special day.”
“It’s a wonderful opportunity and I’m just so thrilled to be amongst these people here and to have my name with these people, these legends is just one of the biggest honors of my life,” said Alan Schwartz.
“What a wonderful ride… a wonderful journey after 42 years of teaching on this very special day to receive this very special award at the Hall of Fame. We don’t go in teaching for awards but this one right here I’m going to cherish,” said Frank Abel.
Supporting and highlighting musical education and upcoming talent through its education programs is a large part of LIMEHOF’s mission. Each year the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame presents an Educator of Note Award recognizing outstanding achievement in Long Island music education and normally they present the awards publicly during their galas. LIMEHOF has not held an awards Gala since 2019 in large part due to covid restrictions these award winners were unable to receive their awards in a public ceremony, so LIMEHOF organized this special ceremony for them at their Stony Brook Museum location.
LIMEHOF says it’s important to recognize the music teachers who are top in their field and making a difference by building strong educational programs for students to be able to perform and be evaluated.
“We celebrate music history here on Long Island and everybody knows we honor people like Billy Joel and John Coltraine and other artists but sometimes people forget that the people who have the biggest impact on Long Island in terms of music are music teachers,” said Needham. “Music teachers have the ability to reach thousands of kids throughout a career.”
The 2024 Educator of Note nomination process is currently open with a deadline of September 30th. For more information about LIMEHOF’s Educator of Note, scholarships and other music education programs, please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/educator-of-note/
About LIMEHOF
Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical and entertainment heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which encompasses New York State’s Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings (Brooklyn) Counties, was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Island music and entertainment in all its forms. In 2022, LIMEHOF opened its first Hall of Fame building location in Stony Brook, New York. To date, the organization has inducted more than 120 musicians and music industry executives, and offers education programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators.
The Cinema Arts Centre will host a five-day celebration of Jewish Cinema and culture, with films that include thoughtful documentaries, captivating dramas, and historically significant films
This May, the Long Island Jewish Film Festival will return to Huntington’s Cinema Arts Centre for the festival’s second year. The second season of the Long Island Jewish Film Festival will span five days, May 3rd – May 7th, and will include screenings of films at the forefront of Jewish cultural storytelling.
The festival will feature films that include innovative documentaries, riveting dramas, and rarely seen pieces of film history, all curated by David Schwartz, Curator at Large at the Museum of the Moving Image, who will also host and lead audience discussions after many of the festival’s screenings.
The Long Island Jewish Film Festival was organized to help celebrate the rich cultural traditions and history of the Jewish community in America and abroad. The films highlighted in the festival represent the apex of both historic and modern Jewish cinema, featuring films from over a 100 years ago, through today.
The Long Island Jewish Film Festival will begin on Friday, May 3rd with a screening of powerful historical drama “Kidnapped”. The second day of the festival will feature screenings of three films: the enthralling dramas “The Other Widow” & “The Goldman Case”, as well as the acclaimed new documentary “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer”. Sunday, the third day of the festival, will include a screening of the historic 1923 silent film “The Ancient Law”, with a live score performed by pianist Donald Sosin & klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals, a screening of the 1980 documentary “Brighton Beach”, featuring a discussion with director Susan Wittenberg in-person, as well as an encore screening of the film “Kidnapped” for those that observe shabbat and couldn’t attend the Friday screening.
The remaining days of the festival will also feature encore screenings of the films “The Goldman Case”, and “The Other Widow”. The screenings of “The Other Widow” and “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer” will feature pre-record Q&As with the film’s directors and our host and curator David Schwartz.
Public tickets are $16 per screening with the exception of the film “The Ancient Law”, for which public tickets will cost $18. The Films:
A scene from ‘Kidnapped’
Kidnapped Friday, May 3rd at 7 PM
& Sunday, May 5th at 7 PM
$16 Public | $10 Members
The great Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio, now 84, has made one of the most stylish and operatic films of his career. Kidnapped depicts the scandalous true story of Edgardo Mortara, a six-year-old Jewish boy who, in 1858, was baptized by his caretaker, and abducted from his family by order of the Pope, to be raised as a Catholic. Edgardo became the center of an international firestorm as his parents fought to retrieve their child from the clutches of a ruthless theocratic government; the case led to historical change. (2023, 134 mins)
Promotional Image from The Other Widow. 2022. Lama Films, Cup of Tea, Tobina Films.
The Other Widow Saturday, May 4th at 2 PM
& Tuesday, May 7th at 7 PM
Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Maayan Rypp
$16 Public | $10 Members
Nominated for 9 Ophir awards (the Israeli Oscars) including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress, this wonderfully observed comedic drama follows Ella (Dana Ivgy) a costume designer who is in a long-term affair with Assaf, a married playwright. When Assaf dies unexpectedly, Ella decides to attend Shiva while keeping her identity under wraps, diving into a world once forbidden to her. Through intimate encounters with his family, she examines her place in his life and eventually demands her legitimate right to mourn. (2022, 83 mins)
A scene from ‘The Goldman Case’
The Goldman Case Saturday, May 4th at 4 PM
& Monday, May 6th at 7 PM
$16 Public | $10 Members
This gripping courtroom drama delves into the sensational and widely followed 1976 trial of Pierre Goldman, a Jewish activist defending himself against multiple charges, including murder. Goldman steadfastly maintained his innocence, while the facts of his case became a flash point for a generation, raising questions of antisemitism and political ideology. Directed with vérité realism and pinpoint historical precision, The Goldman Case is both subdued and electrifying, communicating so much about the complexity of Jewish identity in recent European history. It was the opening night film in the Director’s Fortnight section at Cannes. (2023, 115 mins)
Portrait of Norman Mailer featured in How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer. 2023. Zeitgeist Films. Image provided courtesy of Zeitgeist Films & Kino Lorber.
How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer Saturday, May 4th at 7 PM
Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Jeff Zimbalist
$16 Public | $10 Members
Norman Mailer, a towering figure in American literature, had a life that was certainly stranger than fiction. From his formative years in Brooklyn, through his career as a preeminent cultural voice, we follow Mailer’s life through 6 marriages, 9 children, 11 bestselling books and 2 Pulitzer Prizes as he solidifies his place in the literary pantheon. With access to Mailer’s family and never before seen footage, this biography details the life and times of an American icon. (2023,100 mins)
Still from The Ancient Law. 1923. Comedia-Film. Public Domain.
The Ancient Law Sunday, May 5th at 2 PM
With live score performed by Donald Sosin and Alicia Svigals
$18 Public | $12 Members
This rarely seen silent film from Weimar Era Germany tells the dramatic story of Baruch, a young shtetl Jew and the son of a Rabbi, who leaves his family and community, seeking a secular career as a stage actor. Featuring wonderful scenes depicting shtetl life, the film paints a complex portrait of the tension between tradition and modernity. Like so many other Jewish artists of the era, director E.A. Dupont and star Ernst Deutsch were both forced to flee their homelands as the Nazis rose to power. (1923, 128 mins)
Still from Brighton Beach. 1980. Carol Stein and Susan Wittenberg. Courtesy of Indiecollect.
Brighton Beach Sunday, May 5th at 5 PM
With director Susan Wittenberg in-person
$16 Public | $10 Members
Set against the iconic Coney Island boardwalk, Brighton Beach is a neighborhood in constant re-formation. This 1980 documentary offers a genuine portrait of the immigrant communities that changed the Brooklyn neighborhood—mostly Soviet Jews and Puerto Ricans—as they mingle on the boardwalk with long-time residents, eye one another, and coexist around a shared sense of uprootedness. From directors Susan Wittenberg and Carol Stein, Brighton Beach is an unposed, seductively shot, color film about life’s simple pleasures and the creating of a community. (2080, 55 mins)
Location:
Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743
You can purchase tickets or find more information about these and other events on the Cinema Arts Centre website: www.cinemaartscentre.org
Arrowhead Elementary School fundraised $1,095 to benefit various organizations that support autism awareness. Photo courtesy the TVCSD
Arrowhead Elementary School fundraised $1,095 to benefit various organizations that support autism awareness. Photo courtesy the TVCSD
Arrowhead Elementary School fundraised $1,095 to benefit various organizations that support autism awareness. Photo courtesy the TVCSD
Arrowhead Elementary School fundraised $1,095 to benefit various organizations that support autism awareness. Photo courtesy the TVCSD
The Arrowhead Elementary School community in East Setauket celebrated Autism Acceptance Month throughout April.
The building held a kickoff assembly on April 8 to explain the many events the building would be holding to promote inclusion and raise awareness about autism. Teachers and students led several fundraisers, as well as a spirit week centered around autism acceptance and awareness.
The celebrations culminated with a schoolwide Autism Awareness Walk on April 19. At the walk, teachers presented a $1,095 check from the building’s fundraising efforts. The funds will benefit various organizations supporting autism awareness.
Additionally, the building’s Autism Ambassadors were introduced. One student was selected from each grade level after being nominated by their classroom teacher to share what they’ve learned about autism during April. The afternoon ended with a schoolwide walk for students and staff to come together for the cause.
Suffolk County Police have issued a Silver Alert for a missing Sound Beach man who suffers from schizophrenia and is in need of medication.
Matthew Zoll, 22, was last seen at his home, located at 30 Richmond Hill Road, at approximately 2 a.m. on April 27. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and blue and white flannel pants.
Zoll is white, 6 feet 1 inch tall, and 150 pounds. He has shoulder-length dark brown hair and brown eyes.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on Zoll’s location to call 911 or Seventh Squad detectives at 631-852-8752.
Silver Alert is a program implemented in Suffolk County that allows local law enforcement to share information with media outlets about individuals with special needs who have been reported missing.
Suffolk County Police arrested four people on April 25 for allegedly selling tobacco and vape products to people under the age of 21 during compliance checks at multiple businesses in Mastic and Shirley.
In response to community complaints, Seventh Precinct Crime Section officers, with assistance from the Suffolk County Department of Health Tobacco Enforcement Unit, checked nine locations for age compliance related to sales of vape and tobacco products.
The following people were charged with alleged Unlawfully Dealing with a Child:
Supansa Hancock, 31, of Centereach, employed at Royal Grocery and Deli, located at 600 Montauk Highway in Shirley.
Abdul Wajid, 22, of Brooklyn, employed at Evergreen Mart, located at 1495 Montauk Highway in Mastic.
Lyanna White, 21, of Port Jefferson Station, employed at Shirley Smoke and Cigars, located at 429 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley.
Okan Dugan, 48, of Medford, employed at Ocean Gas, located at 980 Montauk Highway in Shirley. More than 3,000 illegal vape products were seized from Ocean Gas.All four were issued Field Appearance Tickets and will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.
From left, Thelma and Louise. Photo courtesy of Suffolk D.A.'s office
In response to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office request for the public’s help to identify the owner of two small dogs that had been intentionally abandoned in Sunken Meadow State Park in March, the Suffolk County Police Department received a tip that led to the arrest of Roger Guzman-Gomez, 43, of Selden on April 18. Guzman-Gomez is due to be arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court on May 8. Both Thelma and Louise have since been adopted.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jack Nicholas of the Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team (BEAST).
Below is the original press release:
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Suffolk County Police Department, and Crime Stoppers are seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating the individual(s) wanted in connection to the abandonment of two small dogs in Kings Park.
Abandoned dogs running in the park. Photo courtesy of Suffolk D.A.’s office
On March 5, at approximately 12:10 p.m., an unknown subject driving a tan or gold SUV was seen pushing two small white dogs out of the subject’s car, releasing them into Sunken Meadow State Park, and then fleeing. The two dogs were subsequently located and brought to the Town of Smithtown Animal Shelter covered in ticks. The dogs were not microchipped and had no other identifying information.
The Town of Smithtown renamed the dogs “Thelma” and “Louise.” They are both mixed breed dogs. Thelma, who has since been adopted, is estimated to be four years old. Louise is estimated to be two years old.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-8477. Crime Stoppers has pledged a reward of up to $5,000 for any information that results in an arrest. The public can also provide information directly to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office at: https://suffolkcountyny.gov/da/Contact-Us/Report-Animal-Abuse-Neglect-or-Illegal-Possession- of-an-Exotic-or-Dangerous-Animal
If you are interested in adopting Louise, please submit an online adoption application to the Town of Smithtown Animal Shelter at https://www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com/.
SKYWALKER SAGA MAY THE 4th MARATHON HEADS TO HOLSTVILLE.
Fans are Invited to Watch All Nine “Star Wars” Movies on the Big Screen on “Star Wars Day” beginning at 8:00 p.m. on May 3 until 6:45 p.m. on May 4
Showcase Cinemas has announced that Island 16: Cinema de Lux in Holtsville, will be one of only 14 theaters nationwide, and the only location on Long Island, to host the exclusive “The Skywalker Saga May the 4thMarathon” taking place on May 3 and 4. Scheduled over “Star Wars Day” (May the 4th), Star Wars fans will have the opportunity to view all nine films from the Star Wars saga together on the big screen during a 23-hour time period, including a special look at the upcoming Disney+ series “The Acolyte.”
Tickets are on sale now, priced at $60 for the general public and $55 for Starpass loyalty program members. Tickets can be purchased via the Showcase Cinemas website at this link. Tickets include all nine movies and exclusive commemorative items including a limited-edition collectible print and a keepsake marathon badge. Marathon guests will also receive a 25 percent discount on food and beverage purchases (excluding alcohol), including on items featured on the special Star Wars-themed menu.
“The Skywalker Saga May the 4th Marathon” begins with “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” at 8 p.m. on May 3 and concludes with “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker,” ending at 6:45 p.m. on May 4. Short breaks will be offered in between films for guests to freshen up and purchase food.
“What better way to celebrate May the 4th this year than to watch all of the ‘Star Wars’ films on the big screen back-to-back?” said Mark Malinowski, Vice President of Global Marketing at Showcase Cinemas. “This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Star Wars fans to celebrate the day in a big way, and we couldn’t be more excited to help them create special memories. It’s going to be an incredible event!”
In addition to Island 16: Cinema de Lux, Showcase Cinemas is also hosting the marathon in two sold-out auditoriums at Showcase Cinema de Lux at Legacy Place in Dedham, Mass. on the same date.
For more information on the “The Skywalker Saga May the 4th Marathon” on Long Island, please visit this link.
Suffolk County Police on April 25 cited the manager of a Melville restaurant during a New York State Liquor Authority compliance check.
In response to community complaints, Second Precinct Crime Section officers along with Second Precinct Patrol officers, New York State Liquor Authority, Town of Huntington Fire Marshall, and Town of Huntington Code Enforcement Inspector conducted a SLA Inspection at Bijou Modern American Asian Restaurant, located at 400 Broadhollow Road, at 11 p.m.
Police issued several summonses for SLA violations to the manager of the restaurant, Michael DeFrancesco, 32, of Lynbrook. A bag of cocaine was found on the floor of the establishment
The Town of Huntington Fire Marshall and Town of Huntington Code Enforcement Inspector issued six combined Building, Fire and Code Violations to the owner.
The State Liquor Authority observed that the restaurant was illegally operating as a night club, with a DJ playing music and a dance floor. The Liquor Authority issued numerous violations and the establishment was closed for the night.
April 22, 1970, marked the first Earth Day celebration. A day dedicated to Mother Earth, to appreciate, recognize and demonstrate support for the planet we inhabit. A time to reflect on the impact our actions have on the environment but, more importantly, it’s a springboard for action.
Here in our own communities, the need for environmental stewardship is particularly relevant. From keeping our streets and parks clean to embracing sustainable practices, we can all play a vital role. The good news is there’s a wave of positive momentum building.
Numerous opportunities exist for us to roll up our sleeves and make a real difference.
Friends of the Greenway is hosting a cleanup day, on Saturday, April 27. Beginning at 9 a.m. at the Port Jefferson Station trailhead, meet with members of the community to aid in the cleanup efforts along the beloved Greenway Trail.
If your artistic side thrives outdoors, join the Gallery North Cleanup on April 27 and 28. Day 1 will be held at Flax Pond Tidal Wetland Area on Saturday and day 2 at Smith Point Beach on Sunday. Each cleanup will be conducted in two shifts starting at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. each day. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held rain or shine. All ages are welcome.
On Saturday, May 18, the Great Brookhaven Cleanup will offer a chance to tackle litter in our neighborhoods. Part of a national effort, the event draws over 5 million volunteers in more than 20,000 communities across America who come together to pick up litter and clean miles of roadway, rivers, lakes and more. Last year, the Great Brookhaven Cleanup drew more than 2,600 volunteers.
Stony Brook University also stepped up with Earth Day events — several student clubs joined together to organize a beach cleanup last Saturday, April 20, at West Meadow Beach.
But Earth Day isn’t just about one-time cleanups. Sustainability is the key to long-term environmental health. The Town of Smithtown’s recent upcycling program, NexTrex with the Trex Company, serves as a shining example. This initiative allows residents to transform used plastic into eco-friendly composite materials.
Let’s take inspiration from these efforts. Consider reducing your single-use plastics, opting for reusable alternatives. Support local farmers markets and businesses committed to sustainable practices. Every little bit counts.
Earth Day is more than just a day on the calendar. It’s a call to action, a reminder that the well-being of our environment is intrinsically linked to our own. Let’s celebrate this Earth Day not just with words, but with dedicated action. Together, we can build a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come.