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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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The Three Village Historical Society hosted its annual Candlelight House Tour on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of this annual holiday event, the tour featured six locations, which included five residences, each individually decorated by a talented local interior designer, and a rare look inside the Setauket Grist Mill. Participants also had the option of attending an evening reception at the Old Field Club or breakfast at the Stony Brook Yacht Club,

Decked out in holiday splendor, every location welcomed an unprecedented number of visitors and was staffed by a rotation of dedicated volunteers. Though presented through a fresh vision, tours of yesteryear were acknowledged through the inclusion of certain houses that had been previously featured.

Additionally, Eva Glaser and Liz Tyler Carey, who were inaugural event chairs, returned as decorators for one of the homes, which also featured a pop-up holiday boutique consisting of unique gift items. All proceeds from those sales went to the planned restoration of the Dominic Crawford Barn.

The nearly sold out event raised a significant amount of money for the Three Village Historical Society’s Education Fund. Many people gave of their talents, time and services to create the festive fundraiser.

This beloved seasonal tradition would not exist without the generosity of the event chairs, Patty Cain and Patty Yantz, as well as the food and beverage sponsors, homeowners, Three Village Historical Society administrative staff, house chairs, decorators, volunteers, members, supporters and community at large.

All photos by Pam Botway

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Newfield sophomore Matthew Hu, left, challenges Ward Melville junior Dylan Mathews Dec. 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield Captain Jake Hempe, left, top foilist in Suffolk County, trades touches with Ward Melville’s Chris Ancona Dec. 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Regan St. Clair, right, scores a touch on Newfield foilist Jacob Braxton Dec 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Jacob Braxton, left, battles Ward Melville senior Regan St. Clair Dec. 8. Photo by Bill Landon
All-County finalist Newfield junior Vincent Reyes, left, scores on Ward Melville junior Dylan Mathews. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior and Brandeis University recruit Ben Rogak, left, scores a touch on Newfield sophomore Chris Cano iDec. 8. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Ward Melville squared off against the Newfield Wolverines out on the strip Dec. 8 in a three-way bout with Brentwood. The Patriots had their hands full with a surging Newfield squad but edged the Wolverines 16-11 to remain unbeaten 3-0 in Suffolk League II.

The Patriots are back out on the strip Dec. 13 where they’ll host Centereach starting at 5 p.m. at Ward Melville High School. The Patriots and Wolverines will also compete in a holiday tournament invitational Dec. 15 at Brentwood High School. First bout scheduled for 9 a.m.

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Harborfields senior guard Casey Nickerson scores 2 of her team high 17 points Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Celia Argiriou sets up the play Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Celia Argiriou drives the lane Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Celia Argiriou finishes with a layup Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Colleen Dwyer passes the ball in a non-league Tornado 45-41 victory on the road against Bay Shore Dec. 7th. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Colleen Dwyer with a jumper Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior forward Hallie Simkins fights her way to the rim Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior forward Hallie Simkins battles in the paint in a non-league Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Lizzy Cuthbertson drives the lane in a non-league victory Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Lizzy Cuthbertson scores in a non-league victory Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior forward Olivia Seligmann shoots from the baseline Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Harborfields girls varsity basketball team traveled to Bay Shore for a nonleague match where the Tornadoes squeezed out a 45-41 victory Dec. 7.

Senior Casey Nickerson led her team in scoring with 17 points that included three treys, while senior Celia
Argiriou tacked on 12, and senior guard Colleen Dwyer banked 9 points for her team.

The Lady Tornadoes will be back in action Dec. 13 as they host Eastport/South Manorville at 6 p.m.

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Dr. Edmunde Stewart had a passion for riding horses. Photo Courtesy of the Steart family

By Vicky Stewart

Dr. Edmunde Andrew Cameron Stewart, 80, died Dec. 6 in St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, surrounded by the love of his family. Stewart had been fighting pneumonia. For the past several years, after being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, his lungs were compromised.

The Stewart family is most known for living on Old Field Road for many years, where he and his wife, Norma, raised their three children. Stewart was an orthopedic surgeon working at St. Charles Hospital and Mather Hospital, serving as the chief of orthopedics at Mather, for many years, and as a past president of the medical staff at both St. Charles and Mather. He had a private practice on Elm Street in Port Jefferson.

Stewart was also an exceptional equestrian and had a passion for foxhunting. He was the master of the Smithtown Hunt Club and a president of the Smithtown Hunt Horse Show. He is remembered affectionately by fellow foxhunters as “Doc” as he would often help injured riders, during a foxhunt. For many years, he moderated the hunt breakfast, to benefit the museums at Stony Brook. He also served three terms as a trustee for the Village of Old Field.

Although medicine and horses were his passions, his greatest love was his family. Right until the end, with family by his side, he was letting them know how much he loved them.

His legacy will live on through his loving family, who adored him. He leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Norma; his son Greg; daughters Victoria and Gillian; and son-in-law Juan. He was a loving grandpa to his four grandchildren, Olivia, Cameron, Benjamin and Emilia, all who affectionately called him “Deda.”

Stewart was a native of Dundee, Scotland. He was predeceased by his father Andrew Stewart, mother Winifred Byrd Lennox and sister Winifred Lennox Govan.

Stewart entered St. Andrew’s University Medical School in Scotland at the age of 17. Upon graduation in 1961, he did two specialty residences in Scotland: internal medicine and orthopedics. In 1962-63, he taught anatomy at St. Andrew’s University. He came to the United States in 1963 and served his residency in orthopedics at Nassau Hospital, Meadowbrook Hospital and here at St. Charles. He became a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 1971, and the following year he received his fellow of American College of Surgeons. He also served in the Army Reserve, as a reserve commissioned officer  for the United States Army.

The doctor was a man of many talents. His children remember him playing the trumpet and the piano. Prior to entering medical school, he had spent many years on the stage, as a member of the Dundee Repertory Theatre, with starring roles in productions of “Oliver Twist” and “Great Expectations,” to name a few. At the same time, although busy on the stage and with his studies, Stewart managed to find some time to participate in one of his favorite sports. For two years, he was the junior champion of the West End Lawn Tennis Club, a prominent private tennis club in his native Dundee.

While at St. Andrews, Stewart was a member of the university’s fencing team, touring England, Ireland and Scotland and in the process obtaining his “full blue” for the university.

He was laid to rest Dec. 10 at the Caroline Church of Brookhaven in Setauket, on a beautiful sunny day, with a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace,” in the distance.

“Every man dies, not every man lives” is a quote he was fond of, by William Wallace, a freedom fighter from Scotland near the end of the 13th century. This quote is a great testament to the fact that Stewart truly lived and lived with passion, until the very end. His fighting spirit and love for life will live on in all who knew him.

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Cleary School for the Deaf in Nesconset is the only state-supported school in Suffolk County for more than 50 preschool children who are deaf or profoundly hearing impaired. It has become apparently clear to us the state assistance it does receive doesn’t seem to be nearly enough.

As a parent pointed out, Cleary’s full-time students ages 3 to 7, despite being young, are keenly aware that they are different from their peers. While facing the challenges of learning how to overcome hearing loss, often in combination with visual impairments and other disabilities, they are separated from peers.

This is a classic case of separate but not equal. Cleary School for the Deaf was forced to take down its 30-year-old wooden playgrounds and has taken to GoFundMe to raise the money needed to replace them.

Young children have a natural desire to want to run, jump and play outside. A playground provides them with the opportunity  not only to get exercise and build gross motor skills as they try to negotiate the monkey bars, but a chance for social interaction as well. In taking the risk of asking another child to play, they learn how to negotiate making friends and, unfortunately, deal with rejection. It can also be a chance to be creative by playing make believe.

Parents researching various preschool and kindergarten programs have every reason to want to know what activities and resources will be available to their children — including what opportunities will be available for play.

Katie Kerzner, principal at Cleary, said she’s already faced the difficult questions from parents such as “Will my preschool or kindergarten-aged child have the same opportunity as those at public schools? The opportunity to play on a playground?”

The answer, we all know, should be an unequivocal “Yes.” Unfortunately, the future isn’t so clear. The state-supported school’s staff say enrollment has boomed in the last five years and state aid isn’t keeping up.

Parents of Cleary’s students have launched a GoFundMe campaign in an effort to raise the funds necessary to build a playground. In addition, the school hosted fundraising breakfasts and raffles while local businesses and community members have stepped forward to help, but it’s not yet clear if their fundraising efforts will be enough.

New York State officials need to get on this, provide support and do more. It’s not right to have children who already feel different as they fight to overcome disabilities left out on a fundamental part of growing up.

Our Long Island schools, both public and state-supported, need to receive their fair part of state funding. It’s a battle cry we hear from teachers and school administrators at the start of every budget season in January. This time, we’re sounding the rally cry early for Cleary and its students.

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By Bill Landon

The Comsewogue Warriors stretched their legs in a 48 to 36 victory over the visiting Port Jeff Royals in a nonleague contest Dec. 6. Danielle McGuire along with teammate Lindsay Hanson topped the leaderboard for the Warriors with 12 points apiece, while Julianna Watson added three triples for nine more. Eighth-grader Lola Idir led the Royals in scoring six field goals, a triple and a free throw for 16 points while Hailey Hearney netted 10. Both teams open league season play Dec. 12 with the Royals at home against Mattituck as the Warriors hit the road to take on Centereach. Game times are 4:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

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Comsewogue 8th grader Danielle McGuire shoots from the baseline banking 12 points in a non-league victory over visiting Port Jeff Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff sophomore guard Evelyn Walker nails her second trey of the night but the Royals came up short in a non-league contest at Comsewogue high school Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore guard Hailey Hearney who scored 10 points on the night drives the lane in a non-league contest at Comsewogue high school Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore guard Hailey Hearney who banked a pair of three pointers looks for the rim in a non-league contest at Comsewogue high school Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore guard Hailey Hearney drains a three pointer her second of the game, but the Royals came up short in a non-league contest at Comsewogue high school Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue junior Lindsay Hanson who along with teammate Danielle McGuire led the Warriors in scoring with 12 points each, scores from the corner in a non-league victory over the Royals at home Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff 8th grader Lola Idir who led her team in scoring with 16 points rebounds the ball against Comsewogue in a non-league matchup on the road Dec 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff 8th grader Lola Idir who led her team in scoring with 16 points drives the baseline against Comsewogue in a non-league matchup on the road Dec 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue sophomore forward Samantha Andresen lets a three pointer fly in a non-league victory over the Royals at home Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue sophomore forward Samantha Andresen from the baseline in a non-league victory over the Royals at home Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue senior guard Sofia Colocho escapes double coverage in a non-league victory over the Royals at home Dec. 6. Photo by Bill Landon

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A Coast Guard Auxiliary boat. Photo Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard

By Herb Herman

On a cold evening in the fall of 2003 a few people got together in Port Jefferson to form a flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Fifteen years later, Flotilla 14-22-06, the Port Jefferson Flotilla, is still among the most active auxiliary groups in the country. Thousands of Americans volunteer as U.S. Coast Guard auxiliarists, many of whom are still actively engaged in various professions. Their common motives for joining are love of the water and wanting to participate in an activity that has great regional and national importance.

The Port Jefferson USCG Auxiliary Flotilla, 1st Southern District 14, Division 22, Flotilla 06, was founded in 2003 and now has 33 members. Since its founding, the flotilla has been active in boater education and in patrols within the Long Island Sound and in the Port Jefferson Harbor and Mount Sinai areas. Additionally, in this era of deep concern about terrorism, the flotilla engages in a program to inspect the marine-related facilities and the Port Jefferson Harbor infrastructure in order to discover and to report to the Coast Guard any vulnerability in the marine area. The Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry is of particular interest to the Coast Guard and to the auxiliary.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, created by an act of Congress in 1939, is an all-volunteer civilian branch of the Coast Guard, acting as a “force multiplier,” where auxiliary members, both men and women, frequently aid the Coast Guard in wide-ranging activities. At Coast Guard stations around the country, auxiliary members carry out watch standing, that is, they will engage in communication management for a Coast Guard station. Frequently, they work in the stations’ kitchens, helping in food preparation and service. Many auxiliary members are talented craftspeople and will frequently work to support and improve Coast Guard station facilities.

Some 28,000 auxiliary members contribute over 4.5 million hours of service each year and complete nearly 500,000 boating safety patrol missions to support the Coast Guard. Every year auxiliarists help to save some 500 lives, assist 15,000 distressed boaters, and provide boater safety instruction to over 500,000 students, adults and children alike. In total, the Coast Guard Auxiliary saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Auxiliary members commonly conduct safety patrols on local waterways, assist in search and rescue, teach boating safety classes, conduct free vessel safety checks for the public, as well as many other activities related to recreational boating safety. Appropriate training of our members is key to a dynamic and effective organization. Training enables auxiliary members to become valuable partners with the Coast Guard, helping them meet mission objectives. Also, we meet our commitment to be of service not only to the maritime community but the community as a whole.

In particular, the Vessel Examination Program is a major part of the Port Jefferson Flotilla activity. Nationally, the auxiliary annually performs over 150,000 safety inspections of recreational vessels. This program provides a free vessel safety check (VSC) service to boaters to educate them on boating safety and on the equipment they are required to carry in order to be compliant with federal, state and local regulations.

The auxiliary is prevented by statute from direct participation in the Coast Guard’s military or law enforcement activities. Other than that, the auxiliary has most of the positions of the active duty Coast Guard and trains for them using essentially the same materials and standards. There are some jobs that a new auxiliarist can begin after a few weeks while there are others, such as auxiliary boat crew, that will take a year or so to gather the training and experience to pass a qualification exam. During that time a new member can be out on active auxiliary boat patrols.

The Port Jefferson Flotilla, as well as the other six flotillas in Division 22 on Long Island, is actively recruiting men and women of all ages who want to serve their community and country in this unique way. Interested parties are invited to attend our meetings, which are held on the second Wednesday of each month at the Port Jefferson Yacht Club on Surf Road at Port Jefferson Harbor. Doors open at 7 p.m. and call to order is at 7:30 p.m. For more information on the activities of the Port Jefferson Flotilla visit www.cgapj.org, email [email protected] or call  631-938-1705.

Herb Herman is the flotilla staff officer for public affairs, Port Jefferson Auxiliary Flotilla 14-22-06.

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The Vanderbilt Mansion's library is ready for the holidays

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s holiday centerpiece is the mansion of William and Rosamond Vanderbilt, decorated each year by local designers and garden clubs. Their creative touch brings additional charm and magic to the spectacular, 24-room, Spanish-Revival house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

An elegant dining room table setting

Visitors can see the captivating results during guided tours now through Dec. 30 as lighted trees, ornaments, wreaths, ribbons, poinsettias, garlands, toys and elegantly wrapped faux gifts fill the rooms.

Stephanie Gress, the Vanderbilt’s director of curatorial affairs, and her staff decorated the Windsor Guest Room, Lancaster Room, Breakfast Nook and Northport Porch.

“Most of these garden clubs and designers have been decorating the mansion for more than 20 seasons,” Gress, said. “We look forward to seeing them each year, and to how they use their creative skills to bring elegant holiday charm to the house.”

Designers Mary Schlotter and Krishtia McCord put finishing touches on their botanical dress

Centerport designers Mary Schlotter and her daughter Krishtia McCord — who operate Harbor Homestead & Co. — created a spectacular botanical dress that is displayed in Rosamond Vanderbilt’s bedroom. 

“The challenge was to use natural materials for the skirt,” McCord said. “We used dried birch-branch tips and wove in strings of tiny clear lights.” 

“We wanted to give the dress some sparkle,” Schlotter added. “So, we asked friends and family to share their grandmothers’ and mothers’ clip-on earrings and brooches and added them to the skirt. We made a botanical necklace using lamb’s ear leaves and hydrangea petals and accented it with pearls.” 

They also fashioned a long flowing sash with wide, white birch bark-print ribbon and combined the same ribbon design with greenery to decorate the nearby mantelpiece. 

The mother/daughter team made its first botanical dress for the Vanderbilt two years ago. “We like to use materials that will break down and not harm the Earth. We never use floral foam because it takes many years to break down. Instead, like many floral designers, we use chicken wire and thin tape.”

The library fireplace

The two designers used antique chandelier crystals and other glass objects to decorate the fireplace mantel in Rosamond Vanderbilt’s stunning mirrored dressing room, where their original botanical dress is displayed.

Lorri Toth, who made the velvet top of Schlotter and McCord’s first botanical dress, created the dove-gray velvet top for the new dress. Toth, who worked in New York City fashion houses, now has her own design business, Couture Creations, in Huntington Village, and makes lots of wedding dresses, Schlotter said. 

This year’s mansion decorators also include the Dix Hills Garden Club (dining room), Honey Hills Garden Club (Sonja Henie Guest Room), Nathan Hale Garden Club (Organ Room and Yellow Guest Room), Asharoken Garden Club (Portuguese Sitting Room), Three Village Garden Club (William Vanderbilt’s bedroom), Harbor Homestead & Co. (Rosamond Vanderbilt’s bedroom and dressing room), Centerport Garden Club (library), Hydrangea Home of Northport (holiday floral centerpiece) and volunteers from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Program of Suffolk County. Museum guide Ellen Mason contributed her family’s vintage electric train set and accompanying buildings for display around the base of the tree in the library.

The Organ Room in the mansion is ready for visitors.

Lance Reinheimer, executive director of the Vanderbilt Museum, said “We’re grateful to these generous volunteers who give their time and talent to create an atmosphere of enchanting holiday grandeur and sophisticated living.”

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum is located at 180 Little Neck Road in Centerport. General admission is $8 adults, $7 students and seniors and $5 for children 12 and under.  

Guided tours of the mansion are given on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday (and Wednesday to Sunday, Dec. 26 to 30 during school vacation) at regular intervals between 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. for an additional $6. 

Special Twilight Tours will be given on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 27 and 28, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This event is a treat for visitors, and the only time of the year the Vanderbilt family’s private living quarters can be seen at night. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for students and seniors and $5 for children 12 and under. 

For more information, call 631-854-5579 or visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

All photos from Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum

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Ward Melville senior guard Robert Soto. who led his team in scoring with 15 points, drives to the rim in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior guard Ray Grabowski scores from the top of the key for one of his 12 points of the night in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior guard Ray Grabowski lays up for one of his 12 points of the night in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior guard Ray Grabowski drives the lane for one of his 12 points on the night in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior forward Paul Otto Nicholson dominates under the basket in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior guard Myles Brown flies to the rim in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior guard Myles Brown drives the lane in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior guard Jack Holland drives to the basket drawing double coverage in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior guard Jack Holland drains a three pointer in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior guard Jack Holland who had 7 points on the night, drives against a defender in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior guard Jack Holland, who had 7 points on the night, drives the baseline in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior guard Giancarlo Serratore with the jumper in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior guard Ray Grabowski drives the lane for one of his 12 points on the night in the Patriots season opener against Bay Shore Nov. 30. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Patriots drew with eight points late in the game but dropped their season opener 61-50 against visiting Bay Shore Nov. 30.

Robert Soto led his team in scoring netting 15 points along with a pair of treys. Ray Grabowski followed with 12 points, and Chris Foglia banked seven.

Ward Melville will be back in action Dec. 3 where they’ll host Centereach in another nonleague contest in a Coaches vs. Cancer matchup at home. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:15 pm.

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Newfield sabreist Kayla Colabella on the strip against Centereach Dec. 3. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield foilist Jennifer LoMastro out on the strip Dec. 3. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Shaili Soni (L) faces Centereach junior Nadine Pulia Dec. 3. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield junior Sara Ayala (L) challenges Centereach senior captain Jessica DeSena a returning 1st team All League and 2nd team All County foilist. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Pia Desantis (L) faces Centereach senior captain Catherine Dwulit who was 3-0 in Sabre Dec. 3. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield junior Jennifer LoMastro (L) trades touches with Centereach eighth-grader in foil Dec. 3. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield junior Jennifer LoMastro (L) challenges Centereach eighth-grader Gianna DiCanio. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield junior Hailey Mays (L) duels Centereach freshman, 1st year starter, Ginel Lopez in Sabre Dec. 3. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Centereach High School’s sabreist Catherine Dwulit and eighth-grade foilist Gianna DiCanio won all three of their matches on the road to lead their team to a 15-12 victory over Newfield in the season opener Dec. 3.

The Cougars are back in action Dec. 10 at home where they’ll host Brentwood/Bay Shore at 5 p.m. Newfield is back out on the strip Dec. 8 where they take on Ward Melville/Comsewogue at Brentwood High School at 9 a.m. 

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