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Press Release

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Lloyd Harbor Elementary School’s recent production of “The Addams Family Musical” in the Cold Spring Harbor School District proved to be a resounding success, captivating audiences with its charm, wit and theatrical flair. Featuring a cast and crew of fifth and sixth grade students, the show brought the iconic Addams family to life in a spirited performance that showcased the incredible talent, creativity and dedication of the young performers.

With a perfect blend of spooky charm and heartwarming humor, the fifth and sixth grade cast and crew welcomed brave souls and curious mortals to a world where the creepy is endearing, the kooky is captivating and being different is something to celebrate. From the opening number to the final bow, the talented young performers delivered an incredible show filled with impressive singing, polished choreography and impeccable comedic timing.

The fan-favorite number, “Full Disclosure,” captured the spirit of the musical’s message – that even the strangest families can bond over dinner. And while the characters may have emerged from the cobwebs of Broadway, it was hard to believe these stars-in-the-making were only in elementary school.

Under the inspired direction of Jennifer Cové, the production shined with professional- level quality. The costumes, makeup and set design were extraordinary, while the backstage crew executed seamless scene changes with quiet precision and tireless dedication.

Bravo to the entire cast, crew and production team for embracing the eccentric, celebrating the macabre and reminding us all that there’s magic in the mysterious.

 

LookBook Luncheons. Image from WMHO

Stony Brook Village has announced the return of its popular luncheon fashion show series, “The Lookbook Luncheons,” set to take place this May. This three-part series will showcase the latest spring styles from renowned local boutiques, offering a delightful blend of fashion and local cuisine.

LookBook Luncheon. Photo from WMHO

Each event will run from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at a different local restaurant, including: Mirabelle Restaurant at the Three Village Inn (two-course meal for $30) on May 1; Country House Restaurant (three-course meal for $46) on May 8; and Luca Restaurant (two-course meal for $39) on May 14.

Guests can look forward to enjoying a curated dining experience featuring a variety of spring fashion and accessories from Mint, Ecolin Jewelers, Madison’s Niche, D.K. Brothers, Kate’s Vintage Rose, and Chico’s. Each luncheon will unveil new styles, making it possible to attend all three and discover the latest trends.

LookBook Luncheon. Photo from WMHO

As attendees enjoy their meals, models will grace the dining spaces, showcasing stunning spring fashions and sharing insights about the looks they are wearing and The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) will be present to share fascinating tidbits of local history. 

New this year, guests can savor an elevated culinary experience at the luncheon immersed in the rich and flavorful world of cheese, courtesy of Little Cheese. Returning by popular demand, The Crushed Olive will provide tastings of their olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

Reservations are required to ensure a spot at these events. Interested guests can make reservations by contacting the restaurants directly: Mirabelle Restaurant, 150 Main Street, Stony Brook Village, 631-751-0555; Country House Restaurant, 1175 North Country Road, Stony Brook, 631- 751-3332; and Luca Modern Italian Restaurant, 93 Main Street, Stony Brook Village, 631-675-0435. 

Pictured from left are Marketing Director Tricia Catalani; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Regional Manager Pablo Cuevas; General Manager Johanna Cruz; Catering Manager Karen Diaz and Quentin Palifka, Legislative Aide for Legislator Chad Lennon. Photo courtesy of Councilwoman Bonner's office

On March 27, Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner joined the owners, employees and guests to celebrate the grand reopening of Moe’s Southwest Grill located at 346 Route 25A in Rocky Point. With more than 600 restaurants in the country, Moe’s serves delicious southwestern food including burritos, nachos, quesadillas, tacos and burrito bowl with a twist. Pico de gallo, seasonal salsas and good times are made in house every day. 

Pictured from left are Marketing Director Tricia Catalani; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Regional Manager Pablo Cuevas; General Manager Johanna Cruz; Catering Manager Karen Diaz and Quentin Palifka, Legislative Aide for Legislator Chad Lennon.

Operating hours are weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Sundays. They also offer delivery. For more information, call 631-849-6487.

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Film director Maria Capp's 'The Lady of the Lake' will be screened this weekend. Photos courtesy of LIMEHOF

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF), 97 Main Street, Stony Brook recently announced the launch of a monthly LIMEHOF Local Filmmakers Series, which turns the spotlight on Long Island directors and their films. Sponsored by Rick Rberle of Magnetic Vine and G&R Events, the series will feature a variety of dramas, horror films, comedies, and documentaries, among other genres. Attendance is free for LIMEHOF members and general admission ticket price for non-members. 

Sean King’s ‘Screamwalkers’ will be screened on May 17. Photo courtesy of LIMEHOF

“The LIMEHOF Monthly Local Filmmaker Series is a celebration of the incredible filmmaking talent emerging from our region,” saidLIMEHOF Vice Chairman Tom Needham. “Each month, we showcase the creativity, passion, and dedication of local filmmakers, providing them with a platform to share their work and connect with audiences who appreciate the power of storytelling. This series is an important part of our mission to support the arts and highlight Long Island’s impact on the entertainment industry.”

The series will kick off with film director Maria Capp, who will screen her latest film, The Lady of The Lake: The Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma, on Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m. 

A Native American folklore thriller distributed by Vision Films Inc., the film was shot on location, in around the filmmaker Maria Capp’s childhood hometown of Ronkonkoma and stars Seth Gilliam (The Walking Dead) and Nia Sioux (Dance Moms) as, respectively the father and daughter protagonists. Also featured are Larry Saperstein (High School Musical: The Musical [TV Series]), Emery Kelly (Netflix’s Alexa & Katie), Steven Thomas Capp (Fat Camp), and Julie Dove (Days of our Lives). See trailer here.

“I wrote, directed, and produced a psychological thriller about Lake Ronkonkoma’s legend, addressing grief and challenging Native American stereotypes,” Capp said. A Q&A panel will follow the screening, emceed by Needham. 

The series continues on Saturday, May 17 at 1 p.m. with a screening of filmmaker Sean King’s Screamwalkers, the ultimate 90’s style slasher experience.

LIMEHOF welcomes nominations of local film directors and movies for consideration to feature in the series. For more information, call 631-394-8387.

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Police car
Suffolk County Police arrested a woman during a massage parlor raid in Port Jefferson Station on April 18.

Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers conducted an investigation into Best Foot Spa, located at 27 Chereb Lane, and arrested Saiyon Xie.

Xie, 57, was charged with alleged Unauthorized Practice of a Profession. She was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

The Town of Brookhaven Fire Marshal and Brookhaven officials issued numerous citations and closed the business.

 

Pictured at the Legislature to recognize the Champions of Diversity from the 13th Legislative District are some of the members of the Smithtown Unity Council Michael Chlystun, Jay Fried, chair Maria LaMalfa (with the proclamation), Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta and Brian De Sorbe. Photo courtesy of Leg. Trotta's office

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta recognized the Smithtown Unity Council as the 2025 13th Legislative District’s Champion of Diversity at a ceremony during the Suffolk County Legislature’s General Meeting in Riverhead on April 8.

In 2022, the Legislature passed a resolution that each Legislator shall designate a Diversity Champion for their district to be recognized in the month of April every year. The honoree is one who demonstrates an openness in thinking and respects diverse racial, cultural and ethnic differences.

The Town of Smithtown initially formed the Smithtown Anti-Bias Task Force in 1994 and then in 2023, the Board renamed it the Smithtown Unity Council. However, the mandate remains the same – to identify and respond to bias through education and cultural initiatives, promoting both the diversity and unity of the people of Smithtown.

The Suffolk County Police Department Hate Crimes Unit provides the members with statistics to guide them in planning educational programs needed to remediate and to support the communities targeted by hate attacks.

Members of the Council attend monthly meetings of the Suffolk County Interfaith Anti- Bias Task Force to share information and programming ideas with other Town organizations. In conjunction with such organizations as the Suffolk County Community College Center for Social Justice and Human Understanding, 3GNY (an educational organization founded by the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors to preserve the legacies and lessons of the Holocaust), and the AME denomination (African Methodist Episcopal Church), the Unity Council offers opportunities for residents to learn and enhance their understanding through programs focused on the Holocaust and local African American history.

In conjunction with various organizations and businesses, the Unity Council hosts events throughout the year to bring people together to learn about and understand each other’s cultures on such special occasions as Iftar during Ramadan, Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration and an annual Pride Family Picnic.

“I applaud the work and contributions that the Smithtown Unity Council does for the residents and businesses of Smithtown. I commend each member for their contributions and personal involvement said,” said Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta.

Maria LaMalfa, chair of the Smithtown Unity Council, expressed their heartfelt thanks to Legislator Trotta and the County Legislature for recognizing and celebrating our ongoing commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Thank you, Legislator Trotta, for standing with us in building a stronger, more inclusive community for all,” she added.

 

 

Once again, the All Kids Fair was an enjoyable day for families across Long Island and beyond. It occurred on Sunday, April 6 at the Hilton Long Island/Huntington.   

The All Kids Fair, produced by Specialty Connections, provided a fun, educational day for families to share together as it does every April. In addition to many kid-centered activities, there were opportunities to learn about Long Island-based companies that offer services and products relevant to them.

Over 2000 attendees spent the day learning about schools, camps, after-school activities, saving for college, health/wellness services, birthday party options, and non-profits. They also had the opportunity to purchase kids’ products such as bows and toys.

There were many kids’ classes, including fencing, karate, chess, brain training, fashion design and sewing, dance, and tennis.

In addition to the classes, and all included with admission, the children enjoyed bounce houses, music, face painting, balloon animals, characters, cotton candy, a photo booth, child ID kits, arts and crafts, a Lego table with sensory play, and pediatric dental screenings. There was also a petting zoo with sheep, goats, chickens, and rabbits, sponsored by Optum Medical Care. Fortunately, the weather held out, and the petting zoo was able to take place on a dry day under cloudy skies.

Miss Long Island 2024 Katherine Wang attended and took photos with the kids.

This fun-filled event offers exciting educational and leisure activities to interest kids and their families each year. The Fair has opportunities for all ages, including kids with special needs.

One of this year’s newest additions was the opportunity to play with and cuddle puppies, which was a huge hit.

The 501st Legion, Empire City Garrison, taught two Star Wars costuming classes. This all-volunteer organization was formed to bring together costume enthusiasts and was in authentic “Bad Guy” costumes from the beloved franchise. 

Attendee Katie Chaput of Smithtown shared “I think this year the vendors were fantastic. Everybody was very helpful and made the fair very enjoyable. I look forward to coming back next year with my kids.”

Barbara Kaplan, the owner/director the expo, said, “The All Kids Fair is always such a fun day. It is wonderful to see the families enjoying themselves, and the exhibitors had a great day meeting with the public to showcase their products and services.” 

There was also a charity drive to benefit Agape Meals for Kids, a local 501(c)(3) organization that provides weekend meals to children living with food insecurity on Long Island. Attendees were encouraged to bring non-perishable, easy-to-prepare, easy-to-heat, single-serve, and healthy food. Those who donated food or money received raffle tickets to win great prizes and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that they helped Long Island kids in need.

Additional 2025 All Kids Fair sponsors were Saf-T-Swim Swim School, WildPlay Jones Beach, Small Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, TGA Tennis – Golf – Athletics, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School, Epic Escape Rooms LI, Achievement Behavior Services, 106.1 BLI, Clowns.com, Your Local Kids Source, Schneps Long Island, Herald Community Newspapers, Litmor Publications / Garden City News, and 516Ads.com / 631Ads.com.

Information about the expo is available at www.AllKidsFair.com 

The next event produced by Specialty Connections will be the 16th annual Over 50 Fair on Sunday, September 14 at the Hilton Long Island/Huntington. Sales for exhibitors and speakers will begin in two weeks. This event is geared towards adults age 50+ and is not a “typical senior fair” but rather a fun and educational day that includes fun activities and information about living life to its fullest. The Over 50 Fair website is www.Over50Fair.com 

About the All Kids Fair

The All Kids Fair is an annual event organized by Specialty Connections. It showcases services such as schools, after-school activities, places for kids to play, camps, childcare centers, kid-friendly products such as toys and books, and health/wellness products and services. For information about all the events that Specialty Connections produces, visit www.SpecialtyConnections.com. For more information about the All Kids Fair, visit www.AllKidsFair.com. To learn about the Over 50 Fair, another event that Specialty Connection produces and is geared towards adults age 50+, visit www.Over50Fair.com.  Contact Barbara Kaplan at 516-621-1446.

Shipbuilder Nehemiah Hand (1814-1894)

This spring, the Three Village Historical Society and Museum (TVHS) and The Reboli Center for Art and History are inviting the community to step into the world of nineteenth-century shipbuilding with a new exhibition titled Built by Hand: The Shipbuilding Legacy of Nehemiah Hand. 

The exhibit, which opened on April 16 in the Englebright Gallery at the Reboli Center, 64 Main St., Stony Brook, sheds light on the craftsmanship, culture, and community that once thrived along the shores of Setauket Harbor.

A mid-nineteenth-century branding iron once owned by Nehemiah Hand will be one of the artifacts featured in the exhibit.

Curated by Scott Ferrara, Curator at TVHS, and Chris Ryon, Historian for the Village of Port Jefferson, Built by Hand tells the story of Nehemiah Hand, a prolific shipbuilder whose work helped define a maritime era in East Setauket. Through original tools, artifacts, photographs, and personal items, the exhibit offers visitors a rare look at the daily life and lasting impact of the shipbuilders who shaped the region’s history.

Among the highlights are a ship caulking mallet and caulking irons that once belonged to Benjamin Risley, a ship caulker who worked along Shore Road in the late 1800s, along with Hand’s own personal branding iron. Additionally, original artwork, maps, and photographs trace the outlines of the now-vanished shipyards that once lined Setauket’s shores.

This exhibition also marks a milestone in local collaboration: although TVHS has partnered with the Reboli Center on lectures in the past, Built by Hand is their first full-scale joint exhibit—one that highlights not just history but the spirit of cooperation between cultural institutions in the community.

Running alongside Built by Hand is Getting There, a transportation-themed art exhibition that delves into the artistic exploration of various modes of transportation, such as cars, trains, boats, and beyond and featuring work by Joseph Reboli, Mike McLaughlin, Nelson Medina, Peter Nettesheim, Doug Reina, Marshall Buck, Chris Kelsch and more. 

As a lively addition to the experience, visitors can also enjoy a rotation of classic motorcycle and car shows in the Center’s parking lot throughout the spring and early summer months.

An opening reception for both exhibits will be held on Friday, April 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., welcoming guests to explore the exhibit and connect with the curators behind it.

Built by Hand and Getting There will remain on view through July 6. For more information, call 631-751-7707 or visit www.rebolicenter.org.

Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

Fueled by a dominant 8-0 run and strong second-half defense, Stony Brook men’s lacrosse defeated CAA foe Monmouth, 13-9, at LaValle Stadium on April 12. Collin Williamson and Justin Bonacci led the Seawolf attack, each recording a game-high six points.

Good goalie play and timely offense allowed the Hawks to take a 3-1 lead with 5:55 remaining in the first. The Seawolves scored two of the final three goals in the first quarter, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of Monmouth heading into the second quarter.

Stony Brook opened the scoring in the second with a man-up goal from Williamson to even things up at 4-all. Each team traded a goal to make it 5-5 with 7:42 remaining in the first half.

Monmouth tacked on a pair of goals late in the second quarter to take a 7-5 lead into the locker room.

The Hawks carried their momentum into the third quarter, scoring the first two goals of the second half and giving themselves a 9-5 lead with 6:55 remaining in the third. The Seawolves answered back just nine seconds later after Robbie Smith won a face-off and raced downfield to bury Stony Brook’s first goal of the half.

From that point on, the Seawolves took full control of the game, scoring the final two goals of the quarter, including a buzzer-beater from Gary Correa that brought them within one goal heading into the final frame.

Stony Brook evened things up with 11:47 remaining in the fourth as Bonacci buried the game-tying goal. Just over four minutes later, the Seawolves took their first lead of the day on a goal from Williamson.

Now in the driver’s seat, Stony Brook tacked on three more fourth-quarter goals to bookend an 8-0 run that spanned more than 21 minutes of game action to secure victory over the Hawks.

The win gives Stony Brook a 2-1 lead in the all-time series.

Up next, the team will travel to Philadelphia for its next matchup against Drexel on April 19. The contest will begin at noon and will stream live on FloCollege.

Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team defeated Campbell, 19-12, in a comeback effort on April 13 at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek, N.C. A second-half surge saw the Seawolves outscore the Fighting Camels 10-4 over the final 30 minutes to overcome a halftime deficit and emerge victorious.

After an even first quarter (3-3), Campbell would go on to score four straight to take a 7-4 lead with 6:49 remaining in the first half. The Seawolves and Camels then traded goals before Stony Brook found the back of the net twice courtesy of Isabella Caporuscio and Riley McDonald and cut the Camels’ lead to 8-7 heading into halftime.

The Seawolves surged out of the gates in the second half, netting nine goals (four woman-up) to start the third quarter and take a comfortable eight goal lead. McDonald, Charlotte Wilmoth, Caporuscio, Alexandra Fusco, and Molly LaForge were responsible for the dominant display of Stony Brook goals.

The fourth quarter would become a back-and-forth affair with Campbell outscoring Stony Brook, 4-3, but the Seawolves were able to close out the come-from-behind victory with a strong second half offensive performance.

Up next, the team returns to Long Island for their home finale at LaValle Stadium on Friday, April 18 at 6 p.m. as they face off against undefeated Drexel. Stony Brook won both the regular season (18-11) and postseason (9-6) contests over the Dragons last season. Coverage is set to be available on FloCollege.