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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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Tire mischief
On Oct. 30 around 8:25 p.m. police arrested a 31-year-old man from Farmingville for criminal mischief. According to police, the man slashed the front and rear tires of a 2008 Nissan Frontier in a parking lot on Old Town Road in Port Jefferson Station. Police said the man was arrested at the scene.

Accidental arrest
A 24-year-old man from Smithtown was arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired on Oct. 31. Police said he was driving a 2010 Acura TSX when he got into a car crash on the corner of East Broadway and Main Street in Port Jefferson around 11:45 a.m. Police said the man was under the influence of heroin prior to driving and was arrested at the scene at 12:23 p.m.

Drop box theft
Suffolk County Police Department said a 19-year-old man from Rocky Point was charged with petit larceny. The man entered the Kohl’s at 346 Route 25A in Rocky Point on Oct. 24 around 3 p.m. and took cash from a drop box. The man was arrested a week later at the same location around 11:30 a.m.

Repeat suspension
On Oct. 31 at 12:15 p.m. a 42-year-old woman from Selden was charged with operating a car with a suspended license. The woman was driving a 2003 Jeep Liberty when she got into a car crash near Middle County and Nicolls Road in Centereach. Police said her license was suspended and arrested the woman around 1:30 p.m. Police also said the woman had her license suspended 23 times on 11 different occasions.

False reports
A 27-year-old man from Coram was arrested and charged with falsely reporting an incident. According to police, the man called the cops and falsely claimed he was robbed because he didn’t want them to know he bought drugs. The incident and arrest took place on Oct. 31 around 10:55 p.m.

Bobs burglary
Police arrested a 53-year-old man from Setauket for burglary. Police said the man entered a residence on Bobs Lane in East Setauket and attempted to steal a scarf around 7:22 p.m. on Nov. 1. Police caught the man in the act and arrested him at 7:51 p.m.

Why’d you do that?
A 31-year-old man from Shirley was arrested on Oct 28 around 7 p.m. and charged with harassment after he struck another man with his open hand at 101 Nicolls Road in Stony Brook. Police said they didn’t know why the man hit the other individual.

Trashed taillights
According to police, an unknown person was in the Port Jefferson Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership parking lot at 5130 Nesconset Highway and damaged the taillights on three Dodge Ram vehicles and one Jeep Grand Cherokee. The incident happened on Oct. 31 around 1 a.m.

Beat at a bar
An unidentified man was taken to Mather Hospital on Nov. 1 around 12:30 a.m. after someone struck him at Schafer’s bar in Port Jefferson. Police didn’t specify where the victim was hit or why the suspect struck him.

Seven years of bad luck
Police said someone shattered a mirror on Oct. 31 around 2 a.m. at a home near West Broadway in Port Jefferson.

iPad problems
An unknown person broke the rear passenger window of a 2014 Infiniti and stole an iPad from the passenger seat on Oct. 30 around 6 p.m. The incident occurred in a residence’s driveway on Crystal Brook Hollow Road in Mount Sinai.

IRS request
According to police, on Nov. 1 around 10 a.m. a Port Jefferson Station resident was near Nesconset Highway in Mount Sinai when he received a phone call from someone who identified himself or herself as being from the IRS. The caller demanded money from the resident.

Jewelry gone
Police said an unknown person entered a residence on Nov. 1 on Henearly Drive in Miller Place and stole jewelry.

Purse problems
On Oct. 30 around 11:50 a.m., a woman reported that someone stole her purse while she was putting groceries into her car in the Stop and Shop parking lot on Route 25A in East Setauket.

Dirty crime
According to police, on Nov. 1 around 4 a.m., someone entered the backyard of a residence on Robinhood Lane in East Setauket. Police said the suspect destroyed the lawn with a dirt bike.

A spooky steal
On Oct. 30 around 10:30 p.m., someone entered the locker room of the Halloween City at 2304 Nesconset Hwy. in Stony Brook, and stole an employee’s purse. The police didn’t know if the suspect also worked at the store.

A bleach outlook
A 50-year-old man from Smithtown was arrested on Oct. 31 after police said he purchased a bottle of bleach and poured it on the floor at a 7-Eleven on 25A in Kings Park at 7 a.m. He was charged with third-degree criminal tampering.

Driveway mischief
An unknown person stole a shotgun and a steel combo lock from the driveway of a residence on Southern Boulevard in Nesconset on Oct. 31 at 10 p.m.

Credit card confusion
On Oct. 29 a 44-year-old woman from Brentwood was arrested after police said she made purchases on someone else’s credit card. She was arrested on Wicks Road in Commack at 10:20 p.m. and charged with fourth-degree unlawful use and possession of a credit card.

Killed Kia
A man reported that one of the tires of his 2008 Kia had been slashed on Oct. 31 at 1:40 p.m. while parked in the New York Community Bank parking lot in Nesconset.

Wrong items
Police said a 30-year-old woman from Mastic was arrested on Oct. 28 at North Ocean Avenue in Ronkonkoma at 11:30 a.m. after police said she was found in possession of a knife switchblade, a hypodermic needle, Xanax and heroin. She was charged with three counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Cashless in the classroom
An unknown person stole cash from a classroom at Developmental Disabilities Inc. in Smithtown on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.

iPhone iLost
On Nov. 1 police arrested a 31-year-old man after they said he stole an iPhone 5 at 12:40 a.m. on Bennett Avenue in Smithtown. He was charged with petit larceny.

Drug driving
A 21-year-old man from Nesconset was arrested after police said he was driving a 2009 Honda Civic on Middle Country Road in Nesconset while impaired by prescription drugs at 2:50 p.m. on Oct. 29. He was charged with first-degree operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.

Belgium blocks be gone
An unknown person stole four Belgium blocks surrounding a resident’s mailbox on Everit Place in Smithtown on Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.

Cat burglar at Kohl’s
On Oct. 29 a 23-year-old woman from Brentwood was arrested after police said she stole assorted jewelry from Kohl’s on Crooked Hill Road in Commack at 6:10 p.m. She was charged with petit larceny.

Five-sipper discount
An unknown person stole a soda from a cooler at a register at Walmart in Commack and left the store without paying for it on Oct. 31 at 5:45 p.m.

Man killed in motorcycle collision
Michael Awamy, 52 of Huntington, was killed after colliding with a car while riding a motorcycle on Oct. 30 at 4:15 p.m. He was driving a 2008 Kawasaki Ninja east on Jericho Turnpike when he hit a 2008 Nissan Sentra that was attempting to make a left turn on Sweet Hollow Road in Huntington. Awamy was transported to Huntington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Nissan Sentra was not injured.

Not using his head
A 56-year-old man from Huntington was arrested after police said he struck another man in the head with a crowbar, causing lacerations that required medical attention on Oct. 31. He was arrested at 1 a.m. on 10th Avenue in Huntington Station and charged with assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon.

ID swiped
Someone broke into a 2009 RAV4 parked in a High Street driveway in Huntington at 11 p.m. on Oct. 28 and took an ID card.

Probation problems
On Oct. 28, a 32-year-old Huntington woman was charged with fugitive arrest without a warrant. Cops said at 8 a.m. she was arrested at the 2nd Precinct and charged with both violating her probation and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Borrowing from Barrow Court
An unknown person broke into a house on Barrow Court in Huntington and stole cash on Oct. 28 at 9:45 p.m.

Breaking a leg
Police said a 51-year-old Huntington man stabbed a victim in the leg, causing wounds, on Oct. 31 at 4:15 a.m. on Railroad Street in Huntington Station. He was charged with assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon.

But I got a fake ID
On Oct. 31, a 59-year-old Elmhurst man was arrested after police said he possessed a fake driver’s license and a fake credit card. He was charged with second-degree possessing a forged instrument and arrested at 5:22 p.m. at the 2nd Precinct.

Swiper is swiping in Fort Salonga
A 21-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested on Oct. 30 at the 2nd Precinct after police said he entered a home on Fort Salonga Road through a window and stole electronics sometime between Sept. 16 and Sept. 18. He was charged with second- degree burglary.

Heroin on NY Ave.
On Oct. 29, a 21-year-old Cold Spring Harbor woman was arrested after police said she was in possession of heroin on New York Avenue in Huntington at 10:30 a.m. She was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Gray skies ahead for a gray Chevy
A 52-year-old Fort Salonga man was arrested on Oct. 28 at 9 a.m. on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington after police said he was driving a gray 2002 Chevy SUV with a suspended license. He was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

High times
Police said a 28-year-old Huntington man was driving while ability impaired by drugs at midnight on Oct. 28. He was driving a 1995 Ford on East Pulaski Road in Huntington Station when cops said they pulled him over for driving at a high speed. He was charged with driving while ability impaired.

Faking it at Lord & Taylor
Three unknown men entered a Lord & Taylor on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington and used a fraudulent credit card to make miscellaneous purchases on Oct. 30 at 2:00 p.m.

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Lauren Kehoe leaps up for the spike in a game last season. File photo by Bill Landon

The Kings Park girls’ volleyball team continues to rule the volleyball scene.

Despite losing several key starters to graduation last year, like standout Amanda Gannon, and head coach Lizz Manly to maternity leave, the team has continued its winning ways. After dropping the first match of the season to Westhampton, 3-1, the girls have gone on a 15-match streak, only dropping the Kings Park Invitational to Wantagh, 2-1.

The No. 2-ranked Kingsmen hosted No. 7 Deer Park in the first round of the Class A playoffs on Tuesday, and shut down the competition, 3-0.

Stephanie Cornwell had 30 assists; Lauren Kloos had 10 kills, three aces, four digs and a block; and Lauren Kehoe had six blocks to lead Kings Park to victory.

With the shutout victory, the girls have now blanked 11 of the 16 teams they have faced.

Kings Park will host No. 3 Eastport-South Manor in the semifinals on Friday at 5 p.m.

This Kingsmen team will have the chance to continue Kings Park’s success streak that began four years ago, when the team won the Long Island Championship, which began a four-year streak of LIC wins. The team also made it to the state tournament as a result of those wins, but has yet to win that elusive title.

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State’s ‘longest-serving’ supervisor sees namesake forever ingrained into the facade of town building

Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio presented the town's 2018 tentative operating budget this week. File photo by Susan Risoli

By Susan Risoli

With laughter, a few tears, memories of the past and a nod to the future, Smithtown Town Hall was dedicated Sunday in honor of Patrick Vecchio (R) and his nearly 38 years as Smithtown supervisor.

The event fulfilled a resolution, passed by town council members in March, that the building at 99 W. Main St. be dedicated in recognition of Vecchio’s lifelong record of public service.

In an interview after the ceremony, Vecchio said he felt “overwhelmed and humbled” by the praise.

When asked if his job was still fun after almost four decades, the supervisor said, “Yes, it is. At the end of the day, I’ve done something for people. And that’s the guiding principle of my life.”

Vecchio shook hands and hugged those in attendance, urging them to get something to eat from the Italian buffet of mozzarella sandwiches and almond cookies set up after the formal dedication.

The official town resolution is put on display. Photo by Susan Risoli
The official town resolution is put on display. Photo by Susan Risoli

As passing motorists tooted their horns and a crowd lined the sidewalk, legislators spoke warmly about Vecchio, peppering their remarks with wisecracks. Drawing laughs and applause from the audience, state Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport) feigned surprise that Vecchio arranged for a reception after the ceremony, because “he’s cheap, he wears it like a badge of honor.”

But the supervisor’s thriftiness is a good thing, Flanagan pointed out, because it means he’s mindful of Smithtown taxpayers.

“He never forgot, never forgets, never will forget where the money is coming from,” Flanagan said.

On a more serious note, Flanagan said Vecchio has been an effective supervisor because “we need leaders, we need people who are not afraid to mix it up.”

State Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) said Vecchio should be acknowledged for the advances Smithtown has made in protecting the environment.

“You have earned this honor. You have earned it,” he said, addressing Vecchio directly.

Smithtown historian, Brad Harris, called Vecchio “a feisty guy … ready to take on an issue or political opponent. He does battle for the people of Smithtown.”

He noted that Vecchio is the longest-serving town supervisor in the region, “and for all we know, the longest-serving supervisor in the state of New York and probably the nation.”

However, Harris said to laughter from the crowd, “It’s just not true that he was here when town hall was constructed in 1912.”

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) quoted legendary film siren Mae West, who said, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

Vecchio, Bellone said, has served Smithtown the right way.

The town is “an amazing place — a place filled with incredible beauty, natural resources, wonderful people … the history of Smithtown is the stuff of legends,” Bellone said.

Looking over at Vecchio seated in the audience, Bellone said, “I’m excited to see the continuing story of this legend.”

Noting that Vecchio is a former boxer who stood up to opponents in the ring before he entered the political arena, Bellone said people have been trying to “knock the supervisor out ever since, but he’s still standing.”

Smithtown Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Tom McCarthy (R) and Councilwoman Lynne Nowick (R) read the council’s resolution to dedicate the building in Vecchio’s honor.

Vecchio’s first word after hearing the tributes was “Wow.”

“My heart is overwhelmed with all of you folks,” Vecchio said, taking his turn at the microphone. “I’m going to cry.”

Vecchio praised the “unsung” heads of departments in town governments.

“You might not know who they are,” he said. “But they are the glue that holds this town together and makes it the best town in New York state.”

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Our government was designed to have some give-and-take. We have a mostly two-party system and two houses of Congress because the parties and the houses ideally check each other.

The House ensures proportional representation based upon population while the Senate, with each state getting two votes, makes sure the little guy can be heard even in a room of big guys. And the Republicans and the Democrats, in a well-balanced Congress, keep each other on their toes.

That’s why the spread between Republicans and Democrats in our North Shore legislative bodies makes us uncomfortable.

In Suffolk County, we have a large majority of Democrats in the Legislature, and the same imbalance exists on the Huntington Town Board. In Brookhaven and Smithtown towns, the Republicans have the overwhelming majority.

That disproportion will be worse come January, when Councilwoman Valerie Cartright will be the only Democrat on the seven-member Brookhaven Town Board. Her lone colleague on the left, Councilwoman Connie Kepert, was ousted by a Republican on Election Day.

One of the reasons our newspaper endorsed Cartright was our desire to preserve the Democratic minority on the board. This wasn’t because we particularly dislike any of the Republican board members or think they are irresponsible, but our government was designed to have shared control, to bring multiple viewpoints. Differing opinions foster compromise and prevent leaders from having absolute power to enact whatever laws they wish. A minority party is a watchdog.

Similarly, we endorsed Councilman Gene Cook for re-election in Huntington in part because he is the only non-Democratic member, and in that role he keeps the others in check. He will remain in such a position next year.

We hope our majority party leaders, from the Suffolk County Legislature to the town boards, keep in mind that even though they may not agree with minority colleagues, those people serve an important purpose — and we hope they will do their best to reach across the aisle, even though they don’t really have to.

It’s not just lip service
We hear it all the time: Every vote counts. And if you want proof, look no further than the North Shore.

With just one vote in the lead, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) stood beside a triumphant group of Democrats on Election Day and timidly celebrated. Suffolk County Democratic Chairman Rich Schaffer joked she won by a “landslide.” Anker fought a tough battle against Republican Steve Tricarico, a Brookhaven Town deputy highway superintendent, and the fight isn’t over — it could be a while before absentee ballot counts are finalized and an official winner is declared. The vote was 5,859 to 5,858 — it could have been Anker’s own vote for herself that kept her head just barely above water.

Our paper has editorialized about voter turnout in the past, usually after Election Day. But it’s virtually unheard of to have two candidates separated by just one vote.

So once again, we implore you, go out and vote at election time. Every vote does count.

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A view of last year’s event from the second floor of the Village Center. Photo by Dick Solo

By Naomi Solo

Port Jefferson Village’s Go Green event returns for its eighth year on Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Port Jefferson Village Center overlooking the harbor. Awareness of the urgency for environmental action inspired the development of this free event eight years ago through the Humanities Institute at Stony Brook University, then directed by Dr. E. Ann Kaplan. John Lutterbie worked with co-chair Naomi Solo to get things started. With 100 percent cooperation of the Port Jefferson Village government, Go Green has now become an annual event. It is with great pride that we salute the youth of our local schools at the event this year, who have led the way in green projects.

Students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, led by Kari Costanza and Tom Meehan, have initiated a Repurpose and Recycle fashion show, have initiated a school cafeteria waste audit leading to district-wide recycling, have raised earthworms for the school garden and have established a lovely native plant garden to attract birds. The students have had many “Green Team” meetings with exciting guest speakers including Sue Avery from the Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI). Currently, they are working on a bottle cap drive titled Caps for Love to raise funds for more projects.

The students at Port Jefferson Middle School, led by Peter Burawa, have participated in the Siemen’s “We can change the world” 2012 challenge, which addressed many environmental issues in the community. They have promoted using safe fertilizers and campaigned to stop people from dumping in the storm water drains of our Village. Titled The Grate Project, the winning slogan was “Only rain down the drain.” They continue to participate in beach cleanups, choosing the slogan “This beach is not your ashtray” after collecting and categorizing debris and work for proper disposal of food wrappers with signs posted at our local eateries. Visit their bake sale table at the event.

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, working with The Long Island Seaport and Eco Center (LISEC), provide crucial support for the Environmental Club led by teachers Dawn Moody and Jon Muletta. They have instituted conservation projects by constructing birdhouses, selling Clean Canteens and doing away with plastic water bottles in the school. In addition they are fostering many recycling projects and beach cleanups. The students are undertaking research on harbor cleanliness and health of our local sea life, have fostered organic landscaping and native plant gardens and have made “Onya’s reusable shopping bags.” In May of this year they sponsored the Green & Clean fair. Many additional recycling and eco-friendly projects are underway, with fundraising to support the environment. Drop off small handheld electronics at their booth during the event for recycling. 

On the morning of Nov. 7, before the fair, you can witness a new initiative involving our schools when Village Gardener Caran Markson joins with Lauren Hubbard of the Maritime Explorium, the Long Island Native Plant Initiative and many school volunteers to spread mulch for a new garden project at the triangle plot near the middle school building. This work is preparation for a spring planting of indigenous flowers.

These are inspiring examples of a community working together. In celebration of these remarkable achievements, Mayor Margot Garant along with village trustees will issue proclamations to each school at 2 p.m. during the Go Green fair. This will be followed by performances by the elementary school’s Select Choir led by music teacher Jessica Pastor.

In addition to the schools, LISEC, LINPI, the Maritime Explorium and other groups will be present. Our Port Jefferson Free Library will have special fun projects for the children to create. Last but not least, do not forget the now famous “Green Elephant” table organized by Barbara Haegele. Bring your gently used items (no clothes, books or electronics please) and donate them to the table where you may take any items for free in yet another example of recycling.

The Port Jefferson Village Center is located at 101A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson. For further information, call 631-473-3549 or 631-802-2160.

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SCCC hosts Long Island documentary premiere

Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental and film director Gerry Gregg respond to questions from the audience. Photo by Donna Newman

By Donna Newman

The documentary “Close to Evil” is the result of a collaboration between Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental and filmmaker Gerry Gregg. It was screened at Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Campus on Oct. 29 for an audience of more than 400, including Honors College students as well as interested Long Islanders. The film was viewed in rapt silence and followed by a penetrating Q-and-A.

Steven Klipstein, assistant director of the Suffolk Center on the Holocaust, Diversity and Human Understanding, introduced the program, making reference to the Holocaust Museum on the top floor of the campus library that documents the ultimate sadism of that historic event. “It’s a miracle that any of these people survived,” he said. “I hope you get something out of seeing [this film].”

By coincidence, the screening was 71 years to the day after 9-year-old Tomi found himself, along with family members, on a transport heading from his village to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. They had spent two years in hiding in their native Bratislava (now the capital of Slovakia) avoiding capture. Tomi survived long enough to be liberated in April 1945. After the war he attempted to return “home” only to find all traces of his former life in Bratislava gone.

Initially he immigrated to Israel before heading to Ireland, where he has lived ever since. In Ireland he started a business, fell in love, married and raised three sons. “I never spoke of it [his wartime experiences] for 55 years,” said Reichental, “I couldn’t.” He never even told his wife.

In 2003 he realized he had a responsibility to those who perished — including 35 members of his family — as one of the last living survivors, to speak out. He now speaks to student groups across Ireland to relate his experience and his eyewitness testimony about the inhumanity of Hitler’s Final Solution. In 2012 he participated in a radio broadcast that brought his story to the attention of a neighbor of former Bergen-Belsen prison guard Hilde Lisiewitz Michnia in Hanover, Germany. The neighbor contacted Reichental to tell him about the 93-year-old widow.    

As originally scripted, the documentary was meant to focus on a possible meeting between Reichental and Michnia. “I have an opportunity to meet this woman,” said Reichental to Gregg. “It would make history [for us] to go together.” He expected, in his naiveté, that Michnia was a victim of her time. Obviously, she must have been brainwashed; indoctrinated with Nazi propaganda. He thought she would show some remorse. And reconciliation was all he wanted.

As shooting progressed, the story took on a life of its own. “There were twists and turns,” said Gregg, “things we didn’t see coming. There’s even a Hollywood ending. We didn’t know any of that would happen.” The surprises include: the awarding of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, its highest honor, to Tomi Reichental, and an unexpected alliance between Reichental and Alexandra Senfft, a granddaughter of Hanns Ludin, Hitler’s ambassador to the Slovak Republic — the man responsible for the deportation (leading to extermination) of more than 60,000 Slovakian Jews.

Gregg said they hope to find a distributor for this unique film, so it can be seen throughout the United States. The two men have made two tours of America so far to present the film to select audiences. Thursday’s showing was co-sponsored by the SCCC Honors College, the Suffolk Center on the Holocaust, Diversity and Human Understanding and the Ammerman Campus office of Campus Activities and Student Leadership Development.

The Suffolk Center on the Holocaust, Diversity and Human Understanding, located  on the second floor of the Huntington Library on the campus of Suffolk County Community College, 533 College Road, Selden, maintains significant collections of original materials that document the Holocaust and chronicle slavery in America.

CHDHU’s mission is to educate the community on historical events and to promote cultural understanding and respect for human dignity. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and by appointment. For further information, please call 631-451-4700 or visit www.chdhu.org.

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Marc Berger photo by Jill McCracken

By Stacy Santini

Mocha buttes rising upward from the soil, vistas framing breathtaking views of distant snow-capped mountains, Indian-traveled sandstone underfoot, rock formations resembling Donatello sculptures, rushing rivers and sienna sunsets; visually, there is no place comparable to the American West.

It is hard to imagine that beauty such as this can be as relevant cinematically in song and just song alone, but lyric-ace Marc Berger has managed to capture this imagery with his album RIDE and will be sharing it with the community at a free concert at North Shore Public Library in Shoreham on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.

Berger’s relationship with the West began while studying law at Rutgers University. When he was 21, he embarked on a cross country journey that would alter his life and career path for ever. Berger describes this catharsis, “Probably because I grew up in the Northeast, I had a strong desire to go out West when I travelled, and the effect it had on me was staggering. I explored the Mojave Desert, Yosemite, all of it, and I came home transformed. Every year for 5 years, making this journey was an integral part of my existence. On each drive I went further inward. At that time, there were no distractions, no cell phones and such. It was a beautiful thing.”

As a result of his travels, he began to write songs about his experiences. Success welcomed Berger early on. His first attempt at his to music publishing firms found him signing a contract. Along the way, icons like Richie Havens befriended him and were very interested in his work. Havens recorded Berger’s song “The Last One” in 1982 and it received much attention.

It was not long before Berger realized that if he wanted to truly make a contribution to the culture he was living in, he needed to sing. “After Richie did my song, I got to thinking about how singing my own lyrics would be the only true expression of myself, and so I willed myself to sing and perfect my voice,” says Berger.

Berger’s roots run deep within the music industry. He has opened for Bob Dylan and other equally impressive bands and musicians. Collaborating with him on his next album, starting in December, will be world class instrumentalists such as Tony Garnier, bass player for Bob Dylan and Paul Simon; Joe Flood, mandolin and fiddler for Levon Helm; and Eric Ambel, guitarist for Joan Jett. Garnier can also be heard on several tracks on RIDE.

Joe Wawrzyniak from Jersey Beat calls the new album “Supremely tuneful and colorful … One can almost taste the dust and feel the desolation of the wide- open prairies while listening to this exquisitely harmonic gem.”

With RIDE, Berger’s passion for the West and his music are palpable, “I don’t think of it as music, but as art, and the art form is secondary to the artist. It is a vehicle to communicate a personality that is only the artist. The most challenging part of this was getting the recording equipment to be pictorial; meaning that I did not want you to just hear a song and picture a band, I wanted you to actually see the great American West, be there present in it,” he said.

With songs such as “Montana,” “Nobody Gonna Ride on the Railroad” and “Heavenly Ancients,” Berger accomplishes just that.

Accompanying Marc next weekend on bass is Rich DePaolo, an extraordinary talent himself. “It is Marc’s vision for sure. I have been working with him for over fifteen years. He is very focused as an artist and clear as to how he wants his vision realized. It is a jot to be a part of this,” he said in describing the collaboration.

North Shore Public Library is a venue that never disappoints when it comes to its concert series. “I am a fan of the American West. Marc’s song, ‘Heavenly Ancients’ on RIDE brought me back to being on the desert floor and glaring up at the sky. His music really captured the awe of the landscape,” said librarian Lorena Doherty.

“I have been doing adult programs here for some time now, bringing in multicultural programs and classical music. Having Marc Berger come here is unique and different. It is very exciting as I am finding that independent musicians have great appeal. We had an amazing turnout for ‘Miles to Dayton’ and I expect the same for Marc,” she added.

North Shore Public Library is located at 250 Route 25A in Shoreham. For more information, please call 631-929-4488.

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Follow #TBRVotes on Twitter for up-to-the-minute posts on the election.

Suffolk County Executive
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, a Democrat, was running for re-election against Republican challenger Jim O’Connor. With 1,047 of 1,052 election districts reporting, Bellone was leading 57 percent to 43 percent.

4th Legislative District
Legislator Tom Muratore, a Republican, was looking for a fourth term against absentee Democratic challenger Jonathan D. Rockfeld. With all election districts reporting, Muratore had 74 percent of the vote.

5th Legislative District
Kara Hahn, the Democratic incumbent, was facing off against Republican challenger Donna Cumella. With 53 of 54 election districts reporting, Hahn had 63 percent of the vote to Cumella’s 37 percent.

6th Legislative District
Legislator Sarah Anker (D) faces a challenge from Republican Steve Tricarico, a Brookhaven Town deputy highway superintendent, in her quest for a third term. With all election districts reporting, Anker had 49.99 percent of the vote to Tricarico’s 49.98 percent. They are just one vote apart. Anker described her feelings as “cautiously optimistic.”

12th Legislative District
Leslie Kennedy, a Republican, was largely unopposed for re-election, against absentee Democratic challenger Adam Halpern. With 62 of 63 election districts reporting, Kennedy had 70 percent of the vote.

13th Legislative District
Legislator Rob Trotta (R) was running for another term in the Legislature against a familiar face, Kings Park Democrat Rich Macellaro. With 64 of 65 election districts reporting, Trotta had 71 percent of the vote.

16th Legislative District
Steve Stern, a Democratic legislator, wanted to win his final term in office against Republican attorney Tom McNally. With all election districts reporting, Stern won with 60 percent of the vote to McNally’s 40 percent.

18th Legislative District
Legislator William “Doc” Spencer (D) was vying for a third term against Republican challenger Grant Lally. With all election districts reporting, Spencer won with 56 percent of the vote to Lally’s 44 percent.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor
Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) was running for re-election against Democratic challenger Douglas Dittko. With 294 of 296 election districts reporting, Romaine had 72 percent of the vote.

Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent
Dan Losquadro, the Republican incumbent, was in a race for another term against Democratic challenger Jason Kontzamanys. With 294 of 296 election districts reporting, Losquadro had 69 percent of the vote.

Brookhaven Town, 1st Council District
Councilwoman Valerie Cartright, a Democrat from Port Jefferson Station, was facing off against Port Jefferson Station civic leader Ed Garboski, a Republican, in the race for town board.
With all election districts reporting, Cartright won with 56 percent of the vote.
She said, “I worked really hard. The community came together.”
If all election results stand, Cartright will be the only Democrat on the town board next year — her one Conservative and four Republican colleagues won re-election and her only Democratic colleague was ousted by a Republican.

Brookhaven Town, 2nd Council District
Jane Bonner, the Conservative councilwoman, was running against an absentee challenger, Democrat Andrew Berger, in her quest for a fifth term on the town board. With 46 of 47 election districts reporting, Bonner had 69 percent of the vote.

Brookhaven Town, 3rd Council District
Kevin LaValle (R) was hoping to win another term as a town councilman against absentee Democratic challenger Christian DeGeorge. With 50 of 51 election districts reporting, LaValle had 74 percent of the vote.

Huntington Town Board
Incumbents Susan Berland (D) and Gene Cook (I) were running for new terms on the town board against Democratic challenger Keith Barrett, the town’s deputy director of general services, and Republican challenger Jennifer Thompson, a Northport school board trustee. In this race, the two candidates with the highest vote counts win seats. With all election districts reporting, Cook was on top with 27 percent of the vote to Berland’s 24 percent, Barrett’s 22 percent and Thompson’s 22 percent. Conservative Michael Helfer had 5 percent of the vote.
Cook said, “I can’t wait till tomorrow. … I felt good throughout today because I’m always honest and I think I’ve shown that in the last four years.”

Smithtown Town Board
Councilmen Bob Creighton and Ed Wehrheim, both Republicans, faced challenges from Republican Lisa Inzerillo, who beat out Creighton in a Republican primary in September, and Democrat Larry Vetter. The two candidates with the most votes win seats on the town board in this race. With all 92 election districts reporting, Wehrheim took the lead with 31 percent of the vote, followed by Inzerillo (28 percent), Vetter (22 percent) and Creighton (20 percent).
Wehrheim, who frequently works with Creighton on town projects, called Inzerillo’s win “a loss for Smithtown” and called his own victory “bittersweet” as he prepared to work with the newcomer.
Vetter said, “The message is clear: The town didn’t want me. … Apparently the town is satisfied with what they have.” Earlier in the night he had said, “If I lose and it’s tight, I might try again. If I get clobbered, I’m not gonna do it again.”

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The Ward Melville field hockey team celebrates it's 2-1 victory over Newfield that earned the Patriots the Suffolk County Class A championship title at Dowling College on Nov. 2. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Despite a scoreless battle after 30 minutes of field hockey action, it was Ward Melville sophomore midfielder Kate Mulham’s goal scored with 8:31 left in regulation that was the game-winner for the No. 1-seeded Patriots over No. 2 Newfield, for the Suffolk County Class A title Monday evening at Dowling College’s Athletic Complex.

Ward Melville's Kate Mulham moves the ball in the Patriots' 2-1 win over Newfield for the Suffolk County Class A championship title on Nov. 2 at Dowling College. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Kate Mulham moves the ball in the Patriots’ 2-1 win over Newfield for the Suffolk County Class A championship title on Nov. 2 at Dowling College. Photo by Bill Landon

The first goal of the game came nine minutes into the second half, when Ward Melville sophomore Kerri Thornton crossed the ball to freshman Lexi Reinhardt, who smacked it in for the 1-0 lead.

“Kerri [Thornton] brought it up field” Reinhardt said. “I was just there to hit it in.”

Neither team faced each other during the regular season, so Patriots (13-1) were seeing the Wolverines (12-2) for the first time.

Although the time of possession favored Ward Melville, Newfield pressed for all 60 minutes, forcing the Patriots to earn every move.

Ward Melville junior Kiera Alventosa said she knew her team would have their hands full with their opponent.

“We couldn’t let up at all against them — they came at us hard,” she said. “On offense, we passed well, we were looking at our lanes. We were strong defensively; they weren’t getting through us.”

With 17:40 left to play, Newfield made it a new game when senior forward Maggie Finley rocked the box with an assist from her younger sister, Abby, a freshman midfielder.

Ward Melville's Kiera Alventosa drives past Newfield's Michelle Loken in the Patriots' 2-1 win over the Wolverines for the Suffolk County Class A title on Nov. 2 at Dowling College. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Kiera Alventosa drives past Newfield’s Michelle Loken in the Patriots’ 2-1 win over the Wolverines for the Suffolk County Class A title on Nov. 2 at Dowling College. Photo by Bill Landon

Ward Melville head coach Shannon Watson said the journey to the championship round wasn’t easy.

“It’s been quite an emotional road — we were down 4-1 in our last game but our kids battled back and it shows how determined they are,” Watson said. “To be here is wonderful, but it just wasn’t enough for them. They wanted to make sure that they had a solid win tonight.”

That solid win came when Mulham received the ball from Thornton, and drove her shot to the back of the cage for the 2-1 lead.

“I expected them to be good — they’re the No. 2 seed,” Thornton said. “So we had to come out with great intensity to keep our momentum.”

Ward Melville will face Massapequa for the Long Island Class A title on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Dowling College.

“I’ll let them take a day to let it soak in and enjoy the win,” said the coach. “Then it’s back to practice and we’ll continue to do what we’ve done all season, working on our spacing and our ball control and sharpening our defense.”

The Ward Melville field hockey team poses for a group photo after edging out Newfield, 2-1, to earn the Suffolk County Class A title at Dowling College on Nov. 2. Photo by Bill Landon
The Ward Melville field hockey team poses for a group photo after edging out Newfield, 2-1, to earn the Suffolk County Class A title at Dowling College on Nov. 2. Photo by Bill Landon

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By Lisa Steuer

In the 1990s, low-fat food products lined the shelves. Consumers believed that choosing a product with a low-fat label was essential for optimal health and fat loss. But today, experts say that a low-fat diet can be detrimental — as food that has the fat removed can instead be high in sugar and calories to make up for the lack of fat.

“The whole low-fat phase was problematic because people substituted refined carbohydrates, and that is a huge problem,” said Dr. Josephine Connolly-Schoonen, Ph.D., RD, the executive director of Stony Brook Medicine Nutrition Division and author of “Losing Weight Permanently with the Bull’s Eye Food Guide: Your Best Mix of Carbs, Proteins, and Fats.”

So with so many diets out there today, which work best for weight loss and health? Here is Connolly-Schoonen’s input.

Going Gluten Free
Gluten is a name for proteins found in wheat, and some common foods that contain gluten include pasta, bread, flour tortillas, oats, dressings, cereals, sauces and more. Go to any grocery store these days and you will most likely find a “gluten-free” section. And while people with Celiac disease cannot eat gluten because they will get sick, many people who aren’t allergic to gluten are touting the weight loss and health benefits of going gluten free.

But if you don’t have a gluten allergy, is it necessary or nutritionally wise to go gluten free?

“I think that many people are gluten intolerant and can benefit from a gluten-free diet,” said Connolly-Schoonen. “But, [it should be] a high-quality gluten-free diet — foods that never had gluten. So your starches are going to be from potato and rice and quinoa, not from gluten-free bread and gluten-free pasta.”

So while foods that are naturally gluten free are generally healthy, those who are not gluten-intolerant should be wary of processed foods that have had the gluten removed, as there now exists a big market and opportunity for companies wanting to take advantage of the gluten-free trend — and products such as “gluten-free cookies” may not necessarily be nutritionally sound.

“In my practice, I’ve seen many people benefit from gluten-free styles of eating, but using whole foods, not processed gluten-free food … A slice of gluten-free bread is rather small and has the same or perhaps a little bit more calories than regular bread,” said Connolly-Schoonen. “Foods that are naturally gluten-free are quite healthy and I really do think people may benefit from a gluten-free style of eating, but it has to be natural.”

The Paleo Diet and Going Vegan
The idea behind the paleo diet is that we should eat as our ancestors or “cavemen” ate, including meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, and excluding processed food, grains and dairy. And while many people have reportedly lost weight on the diet, some argue that the paleo diet does not necessarily follow what our ancestors ate, and there is now a market for processed paleo bars and drinks.

But Connolly-Schoonen says the concept of consuming fewer processed foods is a good one to follow, especially when it comes to sugar-laden beverages.

“With the advent of the high fructose corn syrup, it became so cheap to make sweetened beverages … that have the equivalent of 17, 19, 20 packets of sugar in them, and we genetically cannot handle that.”

In addition, some people choose to go vegan or vegetarian for a variety of reasons — moral, health or a combination. Both vegans and vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or poultry, while vegans also do not use other animal products and byproducts, such as eggs, honey, cosmetics, and more.

“I don’t think you need to be a vegetarian to be at your optimal health, but there is a lot of research over an extended period of time showing that vegetarians, more than vegans, who eat a high-quality vegetarian diet — so no Snickers bars — do quite well in terms of decreasing the risk for chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, and there really is a lot of research behind the vegetarian diet to support that,” said Connolly-Schoonen. “Vegan diets could be healthy, but it’s much more challenging to make sure that you get all of your micronutrients.”

Juicing Up
Juicing is still considered healthy in moderation and as a quick way to get antioxidants. But when you use a juicer, the juice is extracted from fruits and vegetables, leaving behind a pulp that is often thrown away. In addition, this strips the fruit of its fiber but leaves the sugar.

“Even if you’re juicing vegetables, you’re still getting the sugar … and making the sugar much more highly available,” said Connolly-Schoonen. “And most people are more satiated when they chew their food.”

In addition, many people subscribe to the idea of doing juicing “detoxes” or “cleanses” every so often — which have found to be not really necessary, as we already have a natural detoxification system that occurs in our livers. In addition, any sort of diet that deprives one of nutrients is never a great idea. Instead, work on supporting your body’s natural ability to detox.

“If you have an unhealthy gut environment, you’re taxing your liver’s detoxification system. So first you want to have a healthy gut environment, which means lots of fiber and a good source of probiotics,” said Connolly-Schoonen. “Then you need to support your liver’s detoxification system with a wide array of micronutrients, which is going to come from a wide array of whole foods like protein, fish, lean meats, beans and then your vegetables, fruits and nuts.”

The Bottom Line
Instead of following a super strict diet, you may want to simply remember Connolly-Schoonen’s “two key factors” for healthy nutrition: quality and quantity. In terms of quality, choose foods that are less processed — lean proteins like chicken and fish, a huge variety of vegetables, beans, nuts and olive oil for healthy fats.

Once one works on the quality of foods in his or her diet, “it’s been my experience that patients can then much more easily work on moderating the quantity,” she said. “Once you’re eating whole foods and you’re mixing your quality proteins and fats, it becomes much easier to manage your appetite.”

Does this mean you can never have dessert again? Not at all.

“I tell patients if you’re eating ice cream, it should be real ice cream made from whole milk fat and real sugar. You shouldn’t get artificially sweetened products,” she said. “When you want chocolate and you want ice cream, have the real stuff. And that you should be able to include in your diet, maybe not every day, maybe a few times a week — it all just depends on how active you are.”

Lisa Steuer is the managing editor of FitnessRx for Women and FitnessRx for Men magazines. For fitness tips, training videos and healthy recipes, visit www.fitnessrxformen.com and www.fitnessrxwomen.com.

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