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TBR Staff

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TBR News Media covers everything happening on the North Shore of Suffolk County from Cold Spring Harbor to Wading River.

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Children display their medals at the Out of this World's Kids Day. Photo by Ernestine Franco
Children played lots of games at the Out of this World Kids Day. Photo by Ernestine Franco
Children played lots of games at the Out of this World Kids Day. Photo by Ernestine Franco
Cities of Peace Squares at the Out of this World Kids Day. Photo by Ernestine Franco

By Ernestine Franco

Sunday, June 1, New York Avenue in Sound Beach was alive with children laughing during the first Sound Beach Civic Out of This World Kids Day. Held in partnership with the North Shore Youth Council and the Sound Beach Fire Department, the space-themed event centered on the uniqueness of every child and teen in the community.

Over 40 vendors participated and each vendor was asked to provide an activity for children, and they did just that in spades. Have Some Fun of East Meadow had a ring toss game; at Legislator Chad Lennon’s (R, Mount Sinai) table kids could decorate paper circles to create planets; the designs children colored with Orangetheory Rocky Point will be displayed in their studio; and at the Handy Pantry Sound Beach spot children could mine for gems. Deirdre Morgan Dubato, co- secretary of the Rotary of Rocky Point said, “We handed out 94 coloring books and 71 boxes of crayons.”

Jackie Schoeneman of Wisdom Tree Preschool, said, “It was a great event” and hopes to be a part of it next year. A big hit was the mini-Olympics where civic members Amelia and Kevin Creedon ran the games with almost 35 kids “competing” and over 30 kids participated in a scavenger hunt. At the Children’s Park, parents could take a space-themed photo with their kids, and a robotics demonstration at the Veterans Park enthralled everyone. At a fire department truck kids could try to use a fire hose as well as tour the truck.  

A very special activity by the rotary was of the International Cities of Peace movement. Children painted cloth squares depicting what they thought peace is. Civic trustee Patrice Perreca will sew all of the pieces together into a quilt. The quilt and a video by civic member Leon Adler will then be sent to The World Cities Development Organization and all the painted pieces will be gathered to create a World Flag for Peace and Global Friendship to be presented to the United Nations in September 2025.

The day’s activities were crowned with the Best Costume Prize at the Vets Memorial Park awarded by Lennon, who thanked “everyone who helped make this event happen and to everyone who attended!”

 Sound Beach Civic president and the organizer of the event Bea Ruberto said the day was a huge success. “It was a team effort that involved an army of volunteers and the support of the community at large.” What made the day special for her was hearing a young boy shout out with glee, “I’m having so much fun.”

Bobby Woods, the director of the North Shore Youth Council said the day “was an incredible afternoon of community, local pride and connection in Sound Beach. Our team at North Shore Youth Council and I were honored to serve alongside the Sound Beach Civic Association. We’re especially grateful to Bea, whose leadership, dedication and heart made the day a true celebration of everything that makes this community special.”

 To follow other activities of the Sound Beach Civic Association check out its Facebook page.

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A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo

By Dan Palumbo

Residents of Smithtown and alongside neighboring towns gathered on Sunday, June 1 along Main Street to celebrate the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day, sponsored by The Smithtown Chamber of Commerce. 

Main St. was closed off for the duration of the afternoon, so dozens of vendors, including local businesses and restaurants, sold a wide array of goods, as well as  offering entertainment and raffles for the entire family to enjoy as they made their way along the busy street. 

Among the attendees were Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace, Maui Chopped Ice, Island Chimney Service, Liberty Tattoo Company and several local politicians. 

— Photos by Dan Palumbo

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Kathianne Snaden for mayor

As a Port Jefferson village resident and longtime Long Island business owner and entrepreneur, I’m proud to offer my strong support for Kathianne Snaden in her campaign for mayor.

Kathianne understands firsthand the challenges faced by our business community, whether it’s retail, restaurants or service-based industries. Having grown up in a small family-run business, she brings a deep, personal understanding of what it takes to keep a business alive and thriving. She knows that without the support of local government, small businesses can struggle to survive, especially in an ever-changing economy.

Over the years, Kathianne has proven her dedication to Port Jefferson’s business owners. Her track record speaks for itself. She listens, she shows up, and she works side by side with businesses. Whether it’s helping to navigate local regulations, advocating for improvements to our village infrastructure, or simply taking the time to hear concerns, Kathianne has been a consistent and reliable ally. Her accessibility and responsiveness have been critical in helping face both everyday challenges and larger, unexpected hurdles.

Having someone in office that understands business is crucial. I have seen unnecessary roadblocks and hurdles for local businesses that need to be addressed, so we need leaders that will take action immediately. Kathianne’s unwavering support and hands-on approach have made a real difference in our village, and I have no doubt she will continue this level of commitment as mayor.

We need leadership that prioritizes the success and sustainability of our local economy. Kathianne Snaden is that leader. She has the experience, the dedication and the heart to ensure Port Jefferson remains a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work and do business.

I urge my fellow residents to join me in voting for Kathianne Snaden for mayor. Our businesses and our community will be stronger for it.

[The  election is on June 17 at Port Jefferson Village Center.]

Joe Dovi

Port Jefferson Village

Silly season returns: Port Jefferson deserves better

As we enter another mayoral election season, it’s important to remember not just of what’s at stake — but what we’ve already witnessed.

The so-called silly season is in full swing. Yard signs are sprouting across lawns, social media is ablaze and performances are taking center stage while real policy takes a backseat. But elections aren’t theater. They’re about leadership, vision, policy and results. Unfortunately, some candidates still haven’t gotten the message.

In the last election, the Snaden camp engaged in questionable behavior and sadly, it hasn’t stopped.

Let’s remember:

• Worked to kick Lauren Sheprow off the ballot;

• Used fake social media profiles — created and operated by “friends” and surrogates — to launch personal attacks and spread misinformation; and

• Behind the scenes, then-Trustee and Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden was making questionable decisions — most notably involving Maryhaven, a project with long-term consequences for our Village and no public transparency.

And we can’t forget one of her most visible policy failures: the PassPORT Taxi service. Snaden’s program cost the Village thousands of taxpayer dollars to subsidize local taxi rides — a plan that ended up being far more expensive and far less efficient than simply utilizing services like Uber or Lyft. What was billed as innovative transit became a financial burden with little to show in return.

It’s no wonder Snaden lost. Not because she lacked visibility or resources, but because her policy advancements were failures, and her leadership didn’t deliver for the people of Port Jefferson. Performance may win applause in the moment, but residents care about outcomes — and in that area, she fell short.

Now, two years later, they’re back — repeating the same tactics.

She’s now offering “ideas,” but let’s be clear: nothing she’s proposed addresses fiscal management, sustainability, or real forward-thinking policy. And much of what she mentions has already been done — by others. If these issues were truly urgent, where was her action in the intervening years? Why wait until campaign season to suddenly care again?

So let’s ask some hard but necessary questions:

• How is it ethical for a then sitting Trustee to be paid by the Village as a photographer during her term? That’s a clear conflict of interest, or behavior, at the very least that should have been avoided to dispel any appearance of conflict. Then, she and her surrogates spoke out against the village’s new ethics code. Hard to fathom.

• And why would a former Trustee, who prematurely announced her candidacy, remain disengaged from all meaningful Village work — sitting silently in the back of the room during meetings, offering no value, no ideas, no policy, no involvement?

And yet, it’s doubtful any minds will be changed in the village Facebook pages, where vitriol and echoes are all that matter. These digital echo chambers reward outrage over insight, loyalty over logic, and spectacle over substance.

Leadership is not seasonal. It’s not something you dust off for campaign season.
True leadership is built through consistent engagement, ethical conduct, and a genuine commitment to serving the community — not self-interest. If someone seeks your vote, they should have already been doing the work, not just appearing when it’s politically convenient.

Port Jefferson deserves better. It deserves leaders who show up, speak up, and stand up for this community — all year long.

Let’s remember the past, recognize the patterns, and vote for substance over show.
Keep Lauren Sheprow Mayor of Port Jefferson.

 Drew Biondo
Former Trustee, Port Jefferson

Why we need to reelect Mayor Sheprow

As a lifelong Port Jeff resident and former village trustee, I enthusiastically support Lauren Sheprow’s reelection as mayor.

Mayor Sheprow has been a careful steward of our tax dollars. When a forensic audit of the capital fund uncovered a $1.3 million deficit left by the previous administration, she immediately put a plan in place to address the shortfall. And she still managed to keep taxes low and not exceed the tax cap, both this year and last, something that hasn’t been achieved in over a decade.

She also acted quickly to solve a long-standing problem with the carrying of firearms by our Code Enforcement personnel. The mayor worked with a unanimous board to eliminate this liability for the village, given that there is no legal authority to use guns in our village code.

One of the most distinctive achievements spearheaded by the mayor has been the creation of the Make a Difference program. These volunteer committees are filled with some of Port Jeff’s most talented residents, all of whom are devoting their time and expertise to work on the many challenges we face.
Given how effective Mayor Sheprow has proven to be in her first term, I believe she deserves the opportunity to continue her good work. We have been well served by her diligence, her dedication and her love for this village.

Please join me in reelecting Lauren Sheprow as our village mayor!

Virginia Capon
Port Jefferson Village

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Pixabay photo

By Frank Artusa

Try asking your Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant or any smart home device a similar question and you will get some variation of response assuring you that your privacy is important and the queried device is most certainly not spying on you. But how do these supposedly omniscient household oracles know to respond to their respective “wake” words if they’re not indeed listening to every sound wave to grace their diabolically helpful little speakers?

One thing is clear, these devices are indeed monitoring their local environments for all ambient and discrete vocal communications. Manufacturers of these devices, however, have repeatedly stated that no information is collected aside from the user instructions after activation with a wake word or phrase. This is when the device enters an active listening state of operation. Even if only post-wake word data is captured, the question is; what exactly happens to that data on backend servers? 

In 2019, Amazon admitted to employing personnel to listen to customer’s voice commands, albeit to help train and improve the Echo device and algorithm. Amazon in particular has recently changed the way data is handled. Previously, users were given the option to process requests on the local device, but as of March 28, all collected data will be sent to Amazon’s cloud environment for processing. This represents a significant potential opportunity for abuse of private data.

Trusting personal data to these tech behemoths can be a challenge, especially when data collection and selling is so lucrative since the information can be used for targeted advertising and other uses. Data brokers, organizations that buy and sell personal data about individuals, are estimated to earn over 200 billion per year worldwide and the industry continues to grow markedly year after year. They not only leverage personal data to assist advertisers, but this data is also used by retailers, credit agencies, employers and political groups. A big part of the problem is the erosion of consent when agreeing to use these devices. Buyers are faced with a barrage of privacy policies and end user agreements that are usually agreed to with a quick mouse click or touch of a phone screen.

Now with the advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and Large Language Model technologies like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Meta’s LLaMA and Apple’s expected enhancement to Siri, these devices will become even more robust and likely increasingly involved in day to day lives. One example is the significant growth in how GAI based tools are augmenting mental health services, particularly when individuals don’t have access to resources, funding, or health care coverage needed to visit an actual therapist. The adoption of this service and technology is a boon to individuals needing access to therapeutic services even if on a rudimentary level, but the privacy concerns associated with the capture of deeply personal and intimate information are significant.

Governments recognize the problem and have begun taking steps to mitigate the issue surrounding the exposure of personal digital information. Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation and California’s Consumer Privacy Act are two such examples of efforts being made to give control back to individuals. Ultimately, as society increasingly embraces smart technology and more sophisticated devices become available, individuals must weigh the benefits to quality of life against the potential exposure and misuse of sensitive information. 

Until privacy is the default and not the fine print, we’d all be wise to treat our smart assistants like strangers in the room.

Frank Artusa, a resident of Smithtown, is a current cybersecurity professional and retired FBI Special Agent.

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SBU Graduation 2025. Photo by Isabel Epstein

On May 23, Stony Brook University celebrated the graduation of over 7,600 students, including those from bachelors, masters and doctoral programs at the 65th annual commencement ceremony. This year and every year we recognize and appreciate the effort and commitment required to finish degrees at one of the nation’s leading research institutions, with distinguished programs ranging from the biological sciences and engineering to creative writing and the fine arts. 

The way we define “success” in attending and finishing college is more than the common metric of leaving with straight A’s, awards, or the lucky problem of struggling to pose for a photo that captures each and every cord draped proudly about graduate  necks: it is also characterized by the new beginnings inspired by inspirations mined from hard work, passion and encouragement from our mentors and peers. Success is also defined by the barriers which students overcame including for those international, exchange or otherwise underrepresented student populations who have defied the odds. Their failures, shortcomings and mistakes are equally as important in the road to success as those colorful, exuberant representations of mastery are.

Stony Brook University’s reputation may appear intimidating, with a rigorous curriculum, a robust research enterprise and a productive doctoral degree program. Graduates from Stony Brook University in these trying and complex times require an exceptional level of determination and passion, as well as a curiosity undeterred by hostility towards academic institutions and the societal pressure to fit “in-the-box.” Whether this pressure comes from the media, family, peers or even themselves, students can and should rely on their curiosity and passion; it is just a matter of finding what greases the gears of each of their unique minds. 

Graduates this year overcame a pandemic, may have struggled financially, and may have honored fallen family members this past Memorial Day. Some may have immigrated or were the first members of their family to attend college, while others may have faced discrimination. Fueled by curiosity and grit, these graduates can tackle any problem. We thank Stony Brook’s 2025 graduates for their contributions to the school and to the community. We wish them well and hope they can reflect fondly on their time in our community as they prepare for the challenges of the future.

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Senior Conservation advocate at Seatuck Environmental Association John Turner.

Coming up on The Pressroom Afterhour, John Turner, a senior conservation advocate at Seatuck Environmental Association, joins us to talk about Blydenburgh County Park and the two possibilities it faces. Turner describes a future Blydenburgh where the dam is not rebuilt and a river takes its place. 

Next, we turn to federal grant cuts that are threatening the future of vital research projects. We’ll break down how funding changes could affect faculty, postdocs, and students.

Finally, we stop by the Middle Country Public Library, where a recent blood drive drew dozens of local donors. We’ll hear from community members, staff and volunteers about what motivates them to give—and why even small donations can have a life-saving impact.

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Charlie Chaplin, center, in a scene from "The Gold Rush."

The month of June has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in June 1925.

• Twenty-one-year-old New York Yankee Lou Gehrig is inserted as a pinch hitter for Pee-Wee Wanninger in a game versus the Washington Senators on June 1. Gehrig’s appearance begins what would become a streak of 2,130 consecutive games played.

• An Independence Tribunal orders the closure of Turkey’s Progressive Republican Party on June 3. The order is issued on the grounds that the party had supported the protection of Islamic religious customs that had spurred the Sheikh Said rebellion.

• The Rentenmark becomes obsolete in Germany on June 5. The currency had initially been issued in 1923 to combat hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic. The Reichsmark replaced the Rentenmark.

• Walter P. Chrysler incorporates the Chrysler Corporation on June 6 after acquiring the assets of the defunct Maxwell Motor Company.

• Norway sends out two planes to search for Roald Amundsen and his crew on June 6. The explorers had been on the North Pole seaplane expedition but were missing for two weeks before the planes were sent. Amundsen and his crew would land safely in Norway on June 16.

• On June 7, the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial is unveiled on the grounds where the Battle of the Somme had taken place in France in July 1916.

• Seventeen people are killed as a result of a coal mine explosion in Sturgis, Kentucky, on June 8.

• Eddie Gaedel is born in Chicago on June 8. Despite his career lasting just a single plate appearance, the 3-foot-7 Gaedel is remembered as the shortest player in Major League Baseball History.

• On June 11, the Republic of China agrees to assist the Empire of Japan and Japanese soldiers with the removal of Korean immigrants from China’s northeastern provinces, where Korean independence agitators had established a foothold.

• The Southern Branch of the University of California, now known as the University of California, Los Angeles, awards its first Bachelor of Arts degrees on June 12. Ninety-eight of the 128 degrees are awarded to women.

• Charles Francis Jenkins publicly demonstrates the synchronized transmission of pictures and sound in Washington, D.C. on June 13.

• Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku, a gold medal-winning swimmer at the 1912 Olympic Games, saves eight people off the coast of Newport Beach, California, on June 14. Kahanamoku’s heroics were prompted by the capsizing of the fishing yacht Thelma.

• The Philadelphia Athletics score 13 runs in the eighth inning of a game versus the Cleveland Indians on June 15. The thirteen-run outburst erases a 14-2 deficit, and the comeback from 12 runs down remains a record today. The 1925 Athletics share the record with the 1911 Detroit Tigers and the 2001 Indians.

• Thirty-eight nations sign the Geneva Protocol on June 17. The protocol establishes a general prohibition on the usage of chemical and biological weapons in international armed conflicts.

• Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini launches “La battaglia del grano” (“The Battle for Grain”) on June 20. The campaign aspires to decrease Italy’s reliance on imported grain and advocates for the consumption of rice and rice-based substitutes for traditional Italian foods.

• The Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League is formally established on June 21. The organization is considered the beginning of communism in Vietnam.

• The Irish Free State holds elections on June 23. The elections are the first local elections since Ireland gained its independence.

• General Theodoros Pangalos leads a bloodless coup d’etat to overthrow the government of the Second Hellenic Republic on June 25. Pangalos installs himself as the leader of Greece a day later.

• “The Gold Rush” starring Charlie Chaplin premieres at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on June 26. The film remains one of the most celebrated works of Chaplin’s career.

• After a speech by Helen Keller at its international convention in Ohio, the Lions Club formally launches its signature mission of assistance to the blind and the visually impaired on June 30.

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Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Port Jefferson Memorial Day service. Photo by Greg Catalano

By Greg Catalano

Port Jefferson celebrates Memorial Day on May 26 with a ceremony at Port Jefferson Memorial Park at 10 a.m. 

Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), Village of Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow, NYS Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) and Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) spoke of the many sacrifices given by those who served their country. 

Boy scouts laid wreaths at the memorial. Taps played to close out the ceremony, which was held by the American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432. 

–Photos by Greg Catalano

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A scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Greg Catalano
A scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Greg Catalano
A scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Greg Catalano
A scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Greg Catalano
A scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Greg Catalano
A scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Greg Catalano
A scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Greg Catalano
A scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Greg Catalano
Scene from the 2025 Setauket Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Greg Catalano

By Greg Catalano

Hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2054, the Setauket Memorial parade on May 26 honored those who lost their lives fighting in our country’s armed services. Girl and boy scouts, the Setauket Fire Department and the Three Village Patriot Marching band were present.

After a ceremony at the Village Green, the procession started at the corner of Main Street and Route 25A and contended to Memorial park for the closing ceremony. Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setaukey), Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) and Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook)  were in attendance and placed wreathes in honor of those lost. 

Chaplin Michael Russell led a prayer to the veterans, families, community members and politicians in attendance. Leon Schoemmell hosted the event and delivered a speech asking those present on the sunny day to reflect with gratitude on the sacrifices made by all our fallen men and women military heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. He urged everyone to keep their memories alive.

— Photos by Greg Catalano

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By John Broven

John Broven with the ARSC Lifetime Achievement Award.

During my 30 years living on Long Island, I have been fortunate to travel to places south, west and north in the United States, but never to the heartland. 

So, with a curious mind, it was an easy decision to attend the Association of Recorded Sound Collections annual conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 14-17.

One of the panels revolved around my favorite subject, the independent record industry from the post-World War II years onward. This is where rock ‘n’ roll music was born. 

My presentation was accepted on “The Pioneering Black NYC Record Men, with a Nod to New Orleans.” This was based on my taped interviews with Bobby Robinson of Harlem in 1986 and New Orleanian Harold Battiste, then living in Los Angeles in 1975, also including Juggy Murray of New York. Interview excerpts were embedded in an accompanying video professionally prepared by Debbi Scott Price of Stony Brook. 

Robinson captured the street beat sound of Harlem from the 1950s blues and vocal group era to hip hop in the late 1970s. In 1959, he had a national No. 1 record on the pop charts with “Kansas City” by Wilbert Harrison. Murray was responsible for breaking Ike and Tina Turner’s very first hits on the Sue label and his recordings were a bedrock of the British 1960s Mod era. While on the West Coast, Battiste established the careers of Sonny & Cher (“I Got You Babe”) and Dr. John. How lucky was I to meet and get to know these great record men.

To the heartland

And so on a chilly May 14, I set out for Tulsa. The Long Island Rail Road train from Stony Brook was on time and I disembarked at Woodside station for LaGuardia Airport. There, with suitcase and bag in hand, I was confronted by an impossibly steep staircase, probably unchanged since Victorian times. Happily, a kind gentleman grabbed my case and we found our way through the bustling streets to the free bus to LaGuardia. He turned out to be a Kenyan citizen now living in Texas, and our British Commonwealth backgrounds created an immediate bond. 

The Delta Air Lines direct flight to Tulsa was slightly delayed but we arrived on time at the “oil capital of the world.” A courtesy shuttle bus was arranged by the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Here, in early evening, was my first taste of Oklahoma. The vegetation was surprisingly green, yet I was mindful of the hurt of the Dust Bowl era, also the American Indian heritage. 

During the conference, we visited Leon Russell’s Church recording studio, which is still active. In its time, George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder have all recorded there. Oklahoma itself has deep music history ranging from the western swing of Bob Wills, Black bandleaders Ernie Fields and Roy Milton to the folk music of Woody Guthrie and the mesmeric rock of J.J. Cale. A film screening of “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” was also arranged. 

I couldn’t resist the invitation of distinguished German record collector, Dr. Rainer Lotz, to a gourmet meal at the best restaurant in Tulsa, the FarmBar. We had a “traditional” five-course meal from local produce with the menu showing wine pairings from Oregon, Austria and France. Lotz, in his inimitable way, insisted that as we were in America, we must have all-American wine pairings. And the charming sommelier and her staff duly obliged. A splendid evening culminated in two couples at the adjoining table inviting us Europeans to join them for a final drink. When I said I didn’t realize that Oklahoma was so near to Texas, one of them quipped, “Yes, Texas is south of heaven.”

I managed to call in quickly into the Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan centers. Sadly, I ran out of time to visit the Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center, covering the appalling destruction of the Black part of town in 1921.

So what was it like for an East Coast “elitist” to be in the heartland? It was an eye opener. Not once did I see a lawn sign or banner promoting the current president, nor was he mentioned by any of the friendly locals. The only time I heard his name was when I caught up with the news on CNN and MSNBC. The Democratic strategists have work to do.

ARSC awards ceremony

The conference Closing Banquet and ARSC Awards Program was held on Saturday, May 17. It was an Oscar-like OMG moment when the Lifetime Achievement Award was announced to … John Broven. The citation included my books, writing for Blues Unlimited and Juke Blues magazines and my stint with Ace Records of London. 

In an impromptu speech, I thanked my fellow pioneering Brit writers and researchers — we were no more than keen amateurs with day jobs — who from the 1960s onward documented America’s great musical heritage. This award, essentially on their behalf, came from an organization whose membership includes representatives from the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, major universities and public libraries. In my later years, I am indebted to the staunch support of my late wife Shelley, the daughter of a record man. 

Riding on cloud nine, I made the journey back home Sunday to East Setauket. It took three hours to fly from Tulsa to New York. It took another three hours to get from Jamaica station to Stony Brook, courtesy of LIRR. 

Still, I was greeted by a garden with irises, lupines, foxgloves and dogwood tree in full bloom. And my kitchen had been beautifully repainted in Shelley’s favorite color. Life could not be grander for a lad who had grown up in austerity postwar Britain with a passion for American rock ‘n’ roll music. 

One of the first records I played on my return? It had to be Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys’ “Take Me Back To Tulsa.”

Author John Broven was copy editor at TBR News Media from 2006-24.

— All photos courtesy John Broven

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