Pictured (left to right) are Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Councilman Neil Manzella; Craig Knapp; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Supervisor Dan Panico; Councilman Neil Foley; Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig; Councilman Michael Loguercio and Town Clerk Kevin LaValle. Photo from Town of Brookhaven
At the February 13 Town of Brookhaven Board Meeting, Councilwoman Jane Bonner recognized Rocky Point School District music teacher, Craig Knapp, for being named 2024 ‘Educator of Note’ by the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF).
Mr. Knapp is the 18th music teacher to be recognized by LIMEHOF. The ‘Educator of Note’ award recognizes exceptional teachers who demonstrate a commitment to music education, play an active role in the community, and have a significant influence on the lives of music students of all backgrounds and abilities.
The ceremony took place at LIMEHOF’s museum location in Stony Brook and featured musical performances by current and former students, live and video-recorded speeches from colleagues, and a video presentation about Mr. Knapp’s career.
Pictured (left to right) are Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Councilman Neil Manzella; Craig Knapp; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Supervisor Dan Panico; Councilman Neil Foley; Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig; Councilman Michael Loguercio and Town Clerk Kevin LaValle.
Best-selling author, influential political commentator and esteemed professor Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. will headline Stony Brook University’s upcoming Presidential Lecture called “A Conversation with Eddie S. Glaude, PhD” at the Charles B. Wang Center Theater, 100 Nicolls Road Stony Brook on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m.
Glaude will join Provost Carl Lejuez for this inspiring conversation highlighting the importance of fostering environments that encourage thoughtful and systematic engagement about the pressing issues of our time.
Professor Glaude Jr.’s research and expertise explore the intricate dynamics of the American racial experience. His writings examine Black communities, the complexities of race in the United States and the pressing challenges facing American democracy. From 2009 to 2023, Professor Glaude served as chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University. His latest book is We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For.
In addition to the lecture, the event will include a Q&A, book signing, and reception to follow.
This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.For more information, call 631-632-6310.
#33 Leon Nahar takes a shot during Monday's game. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics
Stony Brook men’s basketball dropped an afternoon contest on Feb. 24 at Hampton University in V.A., 81-49. CJ Luster II scored a game-high 18 points in the setback.
After Luster started the scoring with a three-point play, Hampton scored 15 straight points and held Stony Brook without a point for almost six minutes.
Hampton managed to push the lead and maintain a 13-point advantage through the opening 10 minutes.
The Seawolves used a six-point scoring run to bring themselves back within seven points of the Pirates.
Hampton’s lead expanded to 15 points, the largest of the opening stanza, and the Pirates carried a 14-point cushion into the half.
Stony Brook fell behind by 24 points early in the second half and never closed the gap further. Hampton closed out a 32-point victory on Monday afternoon.
“Hampton dominated for 40 minutes. We struggled with the short turnaround and were unable to take care of the ball against their pressure,” head coach Geno Ford said postgame.
The team heads home, hosting Hofstra on February 27. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm in the Battle of Long Island from Stony Brook Arena. The contest will be broadcast on SNY and FloCollege.
A pod of Humpback whales swim together on their annual migration to northern waters. Photo by Corey Ford
Do whales “speak” in a similar way that human beings do? Stony Brook University Postdoctoral Fellow Mason Youngblood from the university’s Institute for Advanced Computational Science has published a new study in Science Advances that reveals that whale communication is not just complex—it’s remarkably efficient, following the same linguistic principles that shape human speech.
By analyzing vocal sequences from 16 whale species and comparing them with 51 human languages, Dr. Youngblood found that many whales “compress” their calls to maximize efficiency, similarly to how humans do when speaking. Eleven species exhibit Menzerath’s law, meaning longer vocal sequences are made up of shorter elements, and some—like humpback and blue whales—also follow Zipf’s law of abbreviation, where frequently used sounds are shorter. This suggests that much like humans, whales have evolved ways to streamline their communication, potentially saving energy and avoiding predators.
But not all whales play by the same rules, according to Dr. Youngblood. Some dolphin species, like those in the Cephalorhynchus genus, show no evidence of these efficiency patterns—possibly because they rely on stealthy, ultrasonic sounds to evade predators rather than optimize timing. Even within species, efficiency varies: killer whales compress their call sequences but not the smaller elements inside them. These findings suggest that the push for efficient communication is not universal, but shaped by a mix of biology, behavior, and environment. More broadly, they highlight just how much there still is to learn about the complex communication systems of whales.
“I find it fascinating that communication evolves in similar ways across species, even when the purpose is wildly different“, said Dr. Youngblood. “Humpback and bowhead whales are thought to sing to attract mates, dolphins and killer whales use calls to coordinate with one another, and sperm whales produce clicks to communicate clan identity. Yet, despite these differences, many of their vocal sequences show the same efficiency patterns found in human language—suggesting that the drive to communicate with less effort is widespread in animals.”
From left, LIMEHOF board member Barry Fisch, Albert Bouchard, LIMEHOF board member Kelly Leung, and LIMEHOF co-founder and board member Norm Prussian. Photo by Steve Leung
Albert Bouchard playing the cowbell. Photo Credit
Steve Leung
Norm Prussian hosts discussion with Albert Bouchard. Photo by Barry Fisch
Albert Bouchard, the former Blue Öyster Cult member who played the cowbell on the recording of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"reflects on the impact the Long Island band has had on pop culture. Photo by Steve Leung
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) in Stony Brook hosted LIMHOF inductee Albert Bouchard on Feb. 22. The former Blue Öyster Cult member who played the cowbell on the recording “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” reflected on the impact this Long Island band had on pop culture.
Bouchard spoke about the writing of the song, the famous Saturday Night Live skit “More Cowbell” which aired on April 8th, 2000 starring Christopher Walken and Will Ferrell, and how the expression “I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell” remains iconic!
“I love being a part of this organization (LIMEHOF),” Bouchard said. “Everyone’s like “How come you’re not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? I don’t really care about that. To me, you look at what’s going on there it’s not all Rock and Roll and that’s a subjective classification anyway. This, you’re talking about music and entertainment. It’s exactly what it is. It’s properly named, and you have the real people. It’s not just a popularity cult contest. It’s people who really made a difference from Long Island so I think this is a fantastic organization to belong to and I’m really delighted to be part of it.”
Norm Prusslin, co-founder LIMEHOF and current board member organized and hosted the event. He said it’s an important part of the organization’s mission to host inductees and local artists to share insights and stories most people might not know about historical events they lived through and the ups, downs and pressures of the music industry.
“Albert has been a good partner of LIMEHOF since we started,” said Prusslin. “Clearly all the hoopla about the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary year and the fact that the ‘More Cowbell’ skit has been one of the top skits ever in their 50-year history I thought it might be fun to see if Albert was available to come out and talk about the recording of the song and about the skit and the impact that the skit has had to the band and to him and to pop culture itself. I knew that since Albert was a former member of Blue Öyster Cult, and that band was formed in Stony Brook, there’d be a lot of interest for people to come out and to share some stories that people may not know.”
Bouchard said he didn’t know SNL was planning on running a skit about the recording of the song at the time it aired, so it came as a surprise to him when he heard about it. He originally thought it was going to be terrible but after seeing it his reaction was one of delight.
“Oh my God this is so funny!” Bouchard recounted. “This is like just what happened… then I thought, how did he even hear the cowbell? To this day I cannot watch it without smiling. There’s always some little bit that makes me go ‘oh my God’ that was it.”
One major error that the skit made that Bouchard corrected was the producer. The SNL skit had Christopher Walken playing the famous music producer Bruce Dickinson. The original credits list three producers of the song — David Lucas, Murray Krugman and LIMEHOF inductee Sandy Pearlman. Of the three it was David Lucas who had the idea to add in the cowbell.
The back story about the producer mix up is that the writers of the skit saw a credit for Bruce Dickinson from a compilation album, not the original record of the song, which lead to the confusion.
Bouchard went on to explain how it happened in real life and that there were similar debates about including the cowbell at the time. At one point Bouchard wanted to play a triangle instead, but that was changed to a cowbell.
“David wanted to hear the cowbell in it,” Bouchard explained. “I never quite understood why he wanted it and then a couple of years ago he said … ‘I wanted some pulse, some quarter note pulse like a metronome but not a metronome to balance off all those eighth notes. Everything was eighth notes the whole song if you listen to it’… The cowbell balances that with a quarter note pulse. A brilliant idea when you think about it.”
“If it was up to me, it wouldn’t be on the song,” Bouchard continued. “I never would have thought to put a cowbell on it. It was David Lucas’s idea, and I just happened to be his tool to make that happen since I happened to be in the studio at the time…. It worked, that’s the bottom line. The cowbell riff worked, the cowbell skit worked, the song worked. It’s all about making people feel good.”
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. To date, the organization has inducted more than 130 musicians and music industry executives, and offers education programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators.
Over 500 students from 32 Suffolk County public and private high schools are currently participating in the 2025 New York State High School Mock Trial Program, the largest the Suffolk County program has ever seen. The Suffolk County Coordinators, Glenn P. Warmuth, Esq. & Leonard Badia, Esq., head up this annual educational program co-sponsored by The Suffolk County Bar Association and The Suffolk Academy of Law.
Northport High School
The New York State High School Mock Trial Program is a joint venture of The New York Bar Foundation, the New York State Bar Association, and the Law, Youth and Citizenship Program. In this educational program, high school students gain first-hand knowledge of civil/criminal law and courtroom procedures. Thousands of students participate each year. Objectives of the tournament are to: Teach students ethics, civility, and professionalism; further students’ understanding of the law, court procedures and the legal system; improve proficiency in basic life skills, such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning; promote better communication and cooperation among the school community, teachers and students and members of the legal profession, and heighten appreciation for academic studies and stimulate interest in law-related careers.
The 2025 Mock Trial case is a civil case entitled Leyton Manns vs. Sandy Townes. In this hands-on competition, the teams argue both sides of the case and assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses. Each team competes to earn points based on their presentation and legal skills. “Judges”, usually local judges and attorneys who volunteer their time, score the teams based on ratings on preparation, performance, and professionalism.
While the Mock Trial program is set up as a “competition,” emphasis is placed on the educational aspect of the experience which focuses on the preparation and presentation of a hypothetical courtroom trial that involves critical issues that are important and interesting to young people.
The first round of the competition began on February 5, 2025 with four weeks of random team matchups. The top 16 teams will then head to Round 2 at the John P. Cohalan, Jr. Courthouse in Central Islip, New York, for three weeks of “Sweet 16” style competition leading to the Finals on April 2, 2025 at Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court in Riverhead with the Honorable Vincent J. Messina, Jr., Surrogate, presiding. The Suffolk County champion will then compete in the New York State Finals in Albany on May 18-20, 2025.
The Suffolk County High Schools involved in the 2025 High School Mock Trial competition are: Bay Shore High School, Babylon High School, Brentwood High School, Central Islip High School, Commack High School, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, Comsewogue High School, Connetquot High School, Deer Park High School, East Hampton High School, East Islip High School, Eastport-South Manor High School, John H. Glenn High School, Greenport High School, Half Hollow Hills High School East, Half Hollow Hills High School West, Hampton Bays High School, Harborfields High School, Huntington High School, Kings Park High School, Lindenhurst High School, Mattituck High School, Miller Place High School, Newfield High School, Northport High School, Shoreham-Wading River High School, St. Anthony’s High School, St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, Southampton High School, The Stony Brook School, Ward Melville High School, and West Islip High School.
For interest in joining the High School Mock Trial program for 2026, please contact Suffolk County Coordinator, Glenn P. Warmuth, Esq., at (631) 732-2000 or [email protected]. Mock Trial can be an after-school club, an elective class, or part of your school’s curriculum. An attorney will be provided to you to help coach the students in the matters of the legal profession.
The Suffolk County Bar Association, a professional association comprised of more than 2,600 lawyers and judges, was founded in 1908 to serve the needs of the local legal community and the public. For more information about these or other Suffolk County Bar Association programs or services, call 631-234-5511 x 221 or visit www.scba.org
Smithtown High School East seniors Sophia Trivigno and Gabe Finger traveled to Albany on Feb. 11 to advocate for passing the Students for Solar Act (S1986). The students met with Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Smithtown High School East seniors Gabe Finger and Sophia Trivigno. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Smithtown High School East seniors, Gabe Finger and Sophia Trivigno, traveled to Albany on Feb. 11 and joined the Long Island Lobby Coalition to speak one-on-one with members of the New York State Senate, Assembly and governor’s staff to advocate for passing the Students for Solar Act (S1986). They highlighted the success of Smithtown High School West’s solar array for its environmental benefits and for the cost savings that go directly back into the schools.
Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassey (D-Port Jefferson), a Smithtown High School East alumna, praised the student’s involvement. “What a joy to speak with two students from my very own high school on Long Island Advocacy Day,” Kassey said. “Along with fellow community members, Gabe and Sophia traveled to New York’s capital to let us policymakers know the kind of future they want — a sustainable one! Their visit and voices reinforce my commitment to passing laws that not only address the near future but also build towards meeting long-term goals as we work towards both environmental and fiscal sustainability for every New Yorker.”
The students were met with applause and admiration for their passion to make a difference. “It is imperative these students are given the opportunity and voice to advocate for their future,” says Melissa Parrott, executive director, Renewable Energy Long Island. “Gabe and Sophia expressed themselves with such confidence and commitment, it was impressive.”
United Cerebral Palsy of Long Island (UCP-LI) in Hauppauge has announced the appointment of Tami Nelson, Senior Director at Techstars, to the UCP-LI Board of Directors.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tami Nelson to our Board of Directors. Ms. Nelson’s expertise, vision and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to grow and achieve our mission. We look forward to the positive impact she will have on our organization,” said Thomas Pfundstein, Board Chair, in a press release.
Nelson has held multiple leadership positions in globally recognized organizations such as A&E Television Networks, Paramount, and HBO and most recently served as the Senior Director of Strategic Projects at Techstars. Her expertise in creating transformative strategies, fostering partnerships, and delivering measurable results will be a tremendous asset to UCP-LI as the organization continues to provide innovative programs and services.
Nelson has made a profound impact throughout her career, supporting underrepresented communities and spearheading initiatives to rebuild generational wealth. Her addition to the UCP-LI Board signifies her continued commitment to advocacy, excellence, and innovation.
“I am honored to join the Board of Directors at UCP of LI, an organization with a profound legacy of empowering individuals and advocating for inclusivity. I am excited to contribute my expertise and collaborate with such a passionate and dedicated team as we work to create opportunities and improve the quality of life for those we serve. Together, we can continue to make a lasting impact on our community,” said Ms. Nelson.
For more information about UCP of Long Island and its programs, visit www.ucp-li.org
Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York (Little Flower), a social services organization based in Wading River supporting children, youth, families and individuals with developmental disabilities across New York and Long Island, welcomed Mary J. Maguire, SPHR, CDE, to the senior executive team as the organization’s new Vice President of Human Resources and Culture, effective February 18, 2025.
With more than 20 years of experience in human resources and operations leadership, Maguire brings strategic expertise in workforce transformation, talent optimization, and culture development to support Little Flower’s mission of empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and transforming care into action.
As a key member of the Senior Executive Council, Maguire will lead the human resources strategy across the organization, ensuring that talent development, employee engagement, workforce planning, benefits, and equity and inclusion work align with Little Flower’s long-term vision. She will also advance leadership development, enhance employee relations, and cultivate a workplace culture that promotes service excellence.
“Mary’s outstanding leadership in human capital strategy, organizational development, and culture transformation makes her an invaluable addition to our team,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Corinne Hammons in a press release. “Her ability to drive impactful talent initiatives, develop inclusive and high-performing teams, and implement HR innovations will strengthen our organization and enhance the employee experience.”
Maguire’s career includes senior leadership roles in human resources and operations, such as Chief Operating Officer (and Global CHRO) at SAPRO, Chief Human Resources Officer at PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP, Regional Director of Human Resources at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, and Director of Human Resources at RSM. She has led transformational HR strategies, initiated award-winning DEIB programs, optimized talent management, and driven operational efficiency, positioning organizations for sustainable growth and success.
As a recognized HR strategist and workforce development leader, Maguire holds certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE). She has played a pivotal role in designing and implementing innovative talent initiatives, promoting compensation equity, and fostering a learning, inclusion, and professional growth culture.
“I am honored to join Little Flower, an organization that is genuinely committed to transforming care into action,” said Maguire. “By building a dynamic, engaged workforce and advancing strategic people initiatives, we will strengthen our mission, empower our employees, and drive sustainable impact for the children, families, and communities we serve.”
About Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York
Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a nonprofit organization serving individuals and families across New York City and Long Island. Since 1929, Little Flower has been committed to improving the well-being of children, youth, adults with developmental disabilities, and families by building on their strengths and supporting their success.
Today, Little Flower’s staff provide community-based services, foster care and adoption programs, services for people with developmental disabilities, medical and behavioral health services and coordination, and residential treatment care.
The Stony Brook baseball team jumped out to an early five-run advantage in the first career start for right-hander Hunter Colagrande, but the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (FGCU) rallied to secure a 10-6 victory on Feb. 23 in Fort Myers, Fla.
Stony Brook started strong, scoring three runs in the first inning on four hits. Erik Paulsen led off with a double to left-center, followed by a single from Evan Goforth. Johnny Pilla then drove in Paulsen with a single to right field. Later in the inning, Cam Santerre brought home Goforth and Pilla, giving the Seawolves an early 3-0 lead.
Making his first career start, Colagrande retired the first three batters he faced in the opening inning, striking out two.
After a scoreless second inning, the Seawolves added two more runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Goforth reached on a hit-by-pitch, and Nico Azpilcueta walked before Santerre doubled to left-center, driving both runners home.
FGCU responded with two runs in the bottom of the third, cutting the deficit to 5-2. The Eagles added another run in the fourth to make it 5-3, but Stony Brook answered in the fifth when Pilla led off with a base hit and later scored on a ground-ball error off the bat of Santerre, extending the lead to 6-3.
Matthew Canizares entered the game in the fifth, but FGCU pushed across two runs in the frame, narrowing the gap to 6-5.
The Eagles’ offense continued to gain momentum, scoring two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, followed by another run in the eighth, to take a 10-6 lead and secure the victory.
The team returns to action on March 7 as they travel to Chapel Hill for the first time since 2023 to take on No. 6 North Carolina in a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 4 p.m.
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