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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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National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time when the country pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic-Americans who have influenced our society, ended on Oct. 15. But that doesn’t mean Long Island’s North Shore should stop thinking about this growing demographic.

There’s more we can do as a region to better accommodate and embrace Hispanic-Americans who help diversify our neighborhoods and are a huge economic driver on the Island. According to a 2007 research report, prepared for the Long Island social activism nonprofit, Hagedorn Foundation, Hispanic residents add nearly $5.7 billion to total Long Island output as a result of their consumer spending, and Hispanic employment continues to grow rapidly. Those numbers can only have grown in the last several years since the report was published — and community tensions have grown along with them.

Tensions between Hispanic residents and police officers have been well documented.

Earlier this year, a class action lawsuit by a group of Latinos alleged the Suffolk County Police Department targeted them. The group claimed several officers robbed them or issued them traffic citations in unfounded, race-based stops. There has also been an outcry from Huntington Station residents, many of them Hispanic, who say they don’t feel safe in their own neighborhoods or protected by police.

And there have been instances of Hispanic people being made to feel marginalized by their own neighbors.

Police should continue to cultivate a stronger relationship with the Island’s Hispanic communities by involving youth and hosting local programs, like forums, where residents can discuss local issues or share concerns. Non-Hispanic residents should also do their part to call out prejudice when they see it, and encourage more Hispanic neighbors to join their various community groups.

We should strive to include Hispanics as we steer Long Island toward its future, and we should do it because it’s necessary, not just because of some national holiday prompt.

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‘The Beach is the Place to Be’ by Iacopo Pasquinelli

A perennial favorite on the North Shore, the Setauket Artists’ Exhibition returns to the Setauket Neighborhood House, from Oct. 25 to Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Now in its 35th year, the art show will feature the works of 43 local artists in a variety of media.

“I am surprised and very pleased with the longevity and the success of the show,” said artist Flo Kemp, who organized the group of local artists that  became known as the Setauket Artists back in 1980. Ten years ago, she turned the helm over to Irene Ruddock, an exhibiting artist who has continued to uphold all the traditions of the beginning exhibit as well as adding new traditions of her own.

When asked about her ten year tenure, Ruddock said, “It has been an exciting and rewarding experience for me, because I have had the privilege of working with these exceptional artists who have become my friends. I’m also on the board of the Setauket Neighborhood House, whose members are sincerely dedicated to the preservation and welfare of this historic house.” The Setauket Artists will contribute a portion of their profits to the preservation effort.

“When I began, I set goals that I wanted to achieve for the show. The most important was to always seek out the highest quality of art work; paintings that people want to hang in their homes, giving them pleasure each day. ‘Art for a Lifetime’ — that is the Setauket Artists’ motto. We never take our collectors for granted, because we sincerely are grateful when we find the perfect match for a piece of art,” said Ruddock, adding that the group is privileged to have a Joseph Reboli giclee print available for purchase this year, titled “Pumpkin Light.”

‘Pleasant Contemplation’ by Terry McManus
‘Pleasant Contemplation’ by Terry McManus

One of the exhibiting artists, Mary Jane van Zeijts, who will be opening her own teaching studio and gallery at 268 Main Street in Setauket in November, said “I love this group of artists, not only for their work, but as human beings. The Setauket Artists are a beautiful art community.”

The exhibit will be sponsored by Fred Bryant, of Bryant Funeral Home in East Setauket, who has believed in and supported the artists for ten years.

This year’s honored judge, Steve Forster, director of Long Island Academy of Fine Art in Glen Cove, will choose winners from the categories of Best in Show, Award of Excellence, Award of Merit, Award of Distinction and Honorable Mention.

Jim Molloy will be the Setauket Artists’ Honored Artist this year, chosen by the artists themselves for his stunning artwork and his contributions to the organization. “[The Setauket Artists’ Exhibition] is the perfect venue for displaying my work and seeing the creative process of the other artists,” he said.

Stop by any time during the exhibit to take a chance on this year’s raffle paintings. Molloy will contribute a giclee of one of his most popular pieces, titled “Vestiges,” along with a soft-ground etching by Flo Kemp titled “Beach Cottages.”

All artwork will be for sale at affordable prices, so consider doing your holiday shopping with the Setauket Artists. The exhibit will open with an artist reception at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket, on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-6208 or visit www.setauketneighborhoodhouse.com.

This version corrects the location of Mary Jane van Zeijts’ future gallery and studio.

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Jaclyn Wilton bumps the ball in a game last season. File photo by Bill Landon
Jaclyn Wilton bumps the ball in a game last season. File photo by Bill Landon
Jaclyn Wilton bumps the ball in a game last season. File photo by Bill Landon

Despite losing some top competitors to graduation last year, the Kings Park girls’ volleyball team is on track to do it again.

The Kingsmen currently sit atop the League V standings, tied with Westhampton with a 9-1 record.

The team has shut out eight of its opponents so far this season, not including the Wednesday result, and only had one five-set contest in which the team topped Islip, 3-2, Oct. 14.

The Kingsmen were undefeated in league play in the previous three seasons, and won four Long Island championships in a row, making it to the state championship each year as a result.

The team will traveled to Harborfields on Wednesday. They will follow it up with a tournament at Smithtown West Saturday, and wrap up regular season play at Hauppauge on Monday at 6:15 p.m.

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By Ernestine Franco

Residents of Rocky Point school district will be voting on a $20.4 million Maintenance Bond on October 26. This bond is divided into two sections: Proposition 1: $17,478,513 and Proposition 2: $2,953,500. Proposition 2 will only be done if Proposition 1 is approved.

The Bond Summary is four pages long. Proposition 1 has 82 separate items. Proposition 2 has seven items. If you want to see the complete summary, go to www.rockypointschools.org.

Here are some totals from Prop 1:

• Bathrooms: $3,534,000 (indoor); $953,000 (outdoor); Total: $4,487,000

• Ceilings and lighting: $3,783,601

• Locker room renovations: $1,140.824

• Central air conditioning: $694,625

For Prop 2:

• Artificial grass: $2,432,500

These items bring up several questions:

• Shouldn’t regular maintenance be addressed annually, through the district’s budget? Or is this simply a way for the district to say it is staying under the cap by paying for these projects using funds that are not counted in the budget? Are they just taking money out of one pocket so they can say that they’re not taking it out of another?

• In 2012, the district asked us to spend $1.9 million for artificial grass at the football field. When asked whether this money was needed for other repairs, we were told that the district was in good shape and the money wasn’t needed for anything else. How did the district fall into such disrepair in only two years?

Another selling point touted by the board and the superintendent is that the state will reimburse 70.2 percent of the cost. The implication here is that it is free money. Again, this brings up several points:

• Money that comes from Albany is still tax money. Again, isn’t this just taking money from one pocket so they can say it’s not coming out of the other?

• Floating a bond means that we will be paying for this for a long time. Even with the state reimbursing 70 percent, that still leaves 30 percent that the district (that’s us) will have to pay. Then there’s the interest. Again, even with the state reimbursing 70 percent of the interest, how much will the district (that’s us again!) be on the hook for a $20+ million loan. Just think of the interest you pay on your mortgage!

• And let’s remember that we currently already have $20 million in outstanding debt from previous bonds. This will increase the debt to $40 million.

All of this would be OK if all the items on the bond needed to be done, and done now, but they don’t. The district needs to do what we all do in our daily life — Look at the list and remove any items that can wait.

This bond reads like a Washington bill written by politicians. There are some good things in this bond that need to be done, however, there is lots of “pork” that’s just a wish list.

Rocky Point school district has left us no choice but to vote no on both Propositions. Tell the board and the superintendent they need to be smarter and more responsible in how they spend our money.

The vote on this bond will be held on Monday, October 26, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., in the Rocky Point High School.

The author is a resident of Sound Beach. She is part of the Sound Beach Civic Association as well as a proofreader for Times Beacon Record Newspapers.

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A creepy graveyard will be on the tour during the Haunted Hayrides at Benner’s Farm. Photo by Giselle Barkley

By Rita J. Egan

Scaring up some Halloween fun isn’t tricky when you live on or near the North Shore of Suffolk County. However, beware; some activities are not for scaredy cats.

Those taking a hayride at Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, E. Setauket, will find that things will get a little spookier on Oct. 30 and 31. While visitors will find an array of static figures, including ogres, witches and ghosts, in the fields on any given day this month, the creatures will come alive on Halloween eve and day from 6 to 9 p.m. when the farm offers Haunted Hayrides.

Owner Bob Benner said the event is open to all ages, but he warns that the later the ride is, the scarier it gets. “We have had some people who have been really scared and other people who simply just enjoyed the ride a lot,” he said.

Mr. Benner said the farm staff, along with volunteers, play the creatures that can come out of nowhere and jump toward the hayride or unexpectedly scream. In addition, there are different tableaus, including the farm’s spooky cemetery, where visitors may witness a ghoulish figure up to something evil.

Mr. Benner said the creativity of those in the field always amazes him. “I never quite know what they are going to come up with in terms of scaring folks.” Rides, which cost $6 per person,  leave every 20 minutes. Visit with the animals and have a Halloween treat while you wait. For more information, visit www.bennersfarm.com or call 631-689-8172.

Over at F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm in Melville, 26 Pinelawn Road, a mad doctor who encountered a book of ancient texts has taken over. Visitors to The Haunted Mansion of Melville will encounter otherworldly creatures as well as various oddities during their spine-chilling visit.

Outside, those who dare can explore The Haunted Corn Maze where the physician dumps his patients who may or may not be dead. There’s also a high-intensity live stage show, “The Experiment,” that gives spectators the opportunity to witness some of the doctor’s experiments on his patients.

The show, which is enhanced with special effects, isn’t recommended for those with heart conditions or those who cannot handle intense situations. Tickets are $19 for the mansion, $11 for the corn maze, $5 for “The Experiment” and $30 for a combo ticket. Open Thursdays and Sundays 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 7 p.m. to midnight through the end of October. Visit www.schmittshaunt.com or call 631-271-3276 for information, including hours for their less scary, daytime show for children.

For more hair-raising Halloween moments, head over to The Darkside Haunted House at 5184 Rt. 25A, Wading River. The indoor and outdoor attraction, which spans over 14,000 square feet, features movie-quality sets and bone-chilling special effects. While The Darkside Haunted House is not recommended for children under 12 years old, an early matinee from 1 to 5 p.m. on weekend days, with the lights on and no live actors, is available for the little ones as well as the weak of heart. The Darkside Haunted House is open weekdays and weekends until Nov. 1. Tickets start at $18. For more information and hours, visit www.darksideproductions.com or call 631-369-SCARE.

For a tamer treat, join the animals at Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Dr., Smithtown, during their annual Halloween Spook-tacular. Children are encouraged to wear costumes as they spend the day walking through the ghostly garden, and participating in the scavenger hunt, story time, crafts and sensory activities. New this year, visitors can travel the Jack O’ Lantern trail decorated with hand-carved and glowing pumpkins. The Spook-tacular is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and costs $7 per person. The center will also offer a Not-So-Spooky Spook-tacular on Oct. 24 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For more information, or to contribute a carved or uncarved pumpkin, call Eric at 631-979-6344, ext. 302.

Spooky stories will fill the halls of the museum of the Hallock Homestead Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead, during its Haunted Museum Tours on Friday, Oct. 30, at 4:30 p.m. More than 250 years of Hallockville Homestead dark secrets will be exposed, including the death of the Phantom British Officer.

During the tour, one may hear the hair-raising sobs of the broken-hearted Spectral Bride searching for her lost love, and guests may even encounter the ghost of the dishonest Regretful Rumrunner, doomed by his own poisoned drink. Based on historical fact, local folklore and urban legend, the tour was created by professional actress, costume designer and museum educator Colette Gilbert.

Beth Motschenbacher, assistant director, said this is the first year the museum is offering the tour. “I hope people enjoy seeing the historic homestead in a different light and learning a little bit more about the darker side of folklore,” she said.

Tours, which depart from the Hudson-Sydlowski house, last 50 to 60 minutes and run every 15 minutes until 7:45 p.m. Advance reservations are recommended. Geared for all ages, admission is $7 for adults and children age 10 and under are free. For more information, call 631-298-5292 or visit www.hallockville.com.

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By Nancy Burner, Esq.

What does “look-back” mean? What is spousal refusal? Will Medicaid take my house if my husband has to go into a nursing home? All too often these are the questions we hear from our clients who are faced with navigating the Medicaid landscape once a crisis occurs. 

In New York State, the Medicaid program can provide a source of payment for those who are financially eligible and require care, either in a nursing facility or in their own home. In order to be eligible for Chronic Care Medicaid (payment for nursing home care), an individual must meet certain income and asset requirements.

To start, the applicant may have no more than $14,850 in liquid nonqualified (nonretirement) assets in their name. They may have qualified (retirement) assets in an unlimited amount provided they are taking a monthly distribution. 

When applying, the Department of Social Services will require a full financial accounting from both the applicant and his spouse for the five years immediately prior.  This is what is often referred to as the look-back. The purpose of this investigation is to determine among other things whether any transfers were made during this time period that would affect eligibility. The rule is that for every $12,390 that was transferred, a one-month penalty will be imposed.

For example, if in the financial review it is discovered that the applicant gifted $40,000 to his children during the look-back period, a determination will be made that imposes a penalty for roughly three months. This means that Medicaid will not pay for the first three months of nursing care, and the family will be responsible to pay privately. The aggregate result of this type of penalty is roughly a dollar-for-dollar penalty, meaning that for each dollar that you transfer you will have to pay a like amount in nursing home care should the need arise. This rule applies unless the transfer is considered an exempt transfer.  Transfers that are exempt do not create a penalty and therefore do not affect Medicaid eligibility. In New York State, transfers to spouses are exempt under the provisions of spousal refusal.

We use the term “spousal refusal” when the community spouse (the spouse who is not institutionalized) chooses not to contribute to the cost of care for an institutionalized spouse. This means that the institutionalized spouse cannot be denied Medicaid because the community spouse refuses to contribute. Moreover, the above penalties cannot be assessed due to the fact that the signing of a spousal refusal makes it such that the transfer is an exempt transfer.  The refusing spouse must still provide any and all financial information and cooperate fully with the Medicaid application. It is important to note that once Medicaid is approved, the county does have the right to seek recovery against the community spouse. Other exempt transfers include transfers to disabled children, transfers of the primary residence to a caretaker child and finally transfers of a primary residence to a sibling with an equity interest. 

With respect to income, an applicant for Chronic Care Medicaid may only keep $50.00 of his income monthly. His spouse may retain the greater of (1) all of his or her own income or (2) all of his or her income and enough of the institutionalized spouse’s income to bring them to $2,980.50. 

Community Medicaid is the program that covers care at home.  This program will cover the cost of a personal care aide to assist with activities of daily living such as bathing, cooking, dressing, etc. The program may also cover day programs, transportation to medical appointments, assisted living programs and some durable medical equipment and supplies. For 2015, an individual applying for Community Medicaid can have no more than $14,850, not including their home, in nonqualified (nonretirement) liquid assets. They may have qualified (retirement) assets in an unlimited amount, provided they are taking a monthly distribution. 

It is important to realize that the home is an exempt resource while the Community Medicaid recipient is alive; however, additional estate planning should be considered to avoid a Medicaid lien after the recipient’s death. While these limitations may seem daunting, the good news is that there is no look-back period. That means someone looking to get care at home can transfer assets in one month and be eligible for Community Medicaid the following month with no penalty assessed for the transfer of assets. 

With respect to income, an applicant for Community Medicaid may have no more than $845 per month.  An individual with an income over the $845 can opt to use a Pooled Income Trust. The excess income would be paid to a pooled trust company, and the trustees of the trust would pay expenses for the benefit of the applicant.

As you can see from this brief overview of Medicaid, there are many options available for care when the need arises. Make sure you are seeking advice from those knowledgeable in the area to make sure that you are getting the care that you require without sacrificing all that you have worked for.

Nancy Burner, Esq. has practiced elder law and estate planning for more than 25 years.

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Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s varsity cross country team took third place in the Peter Pan Division at the Disney Cross-Country Classic. Photo from the Port Jefferson school district

The Port Jefferson cross country team had a great run at the Disney Cross Country Classic, held on Oct. 9 in Disney World.

During the competition, Port Jefferson’s Justin Julich took first place overall in the Peter Pan Division, a varsity boys 5K race that featured 187 national runners. Julich, a senior, finished with a time of 16 minutes, 24.60 seconds.

Julich’s win, along with teammate Sam Walker placing third and Alex Rebec placing in the top 25, put the Port Jefferson team in third place in the Peter Pan Division.

“This team truly achieved greatness,” Port Jefferson’s athletic director Debra Ferry said. “We are very proud of them.”

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Tab Hunter with one of his theme cakes at the reception. Photo by Theresa Rothman

By Stacy Santini

Wednesday evening, Oct. 14, the Cinema Arts Centre had the privilege of hosting in person the infamous, impossibly handsome 1950s icon Tab Hunter and his partner of 33 years, Allan Glaser, at an exclusive Long Island screening of Glaser’s riveting documentary based on Tab Hunter’s memoir and life titled “Tab Hunter Confidential.”

Curated by Jud Newborn, the center not only screened the movie to a packed house, standing room only, but honored the veteran screen legend with a roster of engaging events. After the viewing, there was a dialogue with Hunter and Glaser conducted by famed author and film critic Foster Hirsch followed by a Q-and-A session.

A reception in the center’s Sky Room followed with droves of people lined up to meet the humble, engaging Hunter, who at 84 is as stunning as ever. Audience members were treated to jazz music by Mike Soloway, a buffet of cheese, fruit and crudité as well as three cakes specially made to remind us of some of his career highlights: one a baseball glove surrounded by the four bases in honor of his most popular movie, “Damn Yankees,” the second a tribute to his chart topping song, “Young Love” and the last, a joyful rainbow confection welcoming him.

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Harborfields' Katie Hammer moves the ball downfield in the Tornadoes' 1-0 win over Comsewogue on Oct. 19. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue's Jamie Fischer and Harborfields' Christiana DeBorja battle for possession in the Warriors' 1-0 loss to the Tornadoes on Oct. 19. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue’s Jamie Fischer and Harborfields’ Christiana DeBorja battle for possession in the Warriors’ 1-0 loss to the Tornadoes on Oct. 19. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Harborfields girls’ soccer team needed a win to bolster its playoff seeding and got it, blowing through Warriors territory and leaving Comsewogue unable to find its first win of the season. The Tornadoes took the victory, 1-0, on its rival’s senior night.

The lone goal of the game came at the 17:31 mark of the first half when Harborfields junior Caroline Rosales fired a shot from 25 yards out that never touched the ground and slipped under the top post just off the fingertips.

“It was a rebound, and I just hit it off of a defender and I happened to be there and I just ripped one,” Rosales said. “They played hard as you would expect them to — it was their senior game, so of course we expected them to [come at us] hard.”

From there, it was a defensive struggle on both sides of the ball the rest of the way.

“They definitely came out strong, but we stayed with them,” Comsewogue senior Amanda Cirrincione said. “But we played really well today, and we were very strong defensively.”

Harborfields' Caroline Axelson stops the ball while Comsewogue's Haley Cooke tried to stop her in her tracks in the Tornadoes' 1-0 win over the Warriors on Oct. 19. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields’ Caroline Axelson stops the ball while Comsewogue’s Haley Cooke tried to stop her in her tracks in the Tornadoes’ 1-0 win over the Warriors on Oct. 19. Photo by Bill Landon

Harborfields’ head coach Scott Wallace said Comsewogue was a different team from the last time they faced each other, when the Tornadoes won 4-0.

“They prevented us from doing what we normally do, which is possess in the midfield, and there they stepped on us,” the coach said. “So I give them a lot of credit. We didn’t play poorly, they just didn’t let us play well.”

Wallace said his defense played well, adding that it was a good team effort that helps prepare his team for the postseason.

“We’re going to finish 8-4, because our opponent on Wednesday forfeited,” Wallace said. “So I think we’ll get the last seed or the second to last seed, so we’re preparing for that. We’re going to be playing one of the top teams in the first round.”

The coach added that if his team can continue to play well defensively the Tornadoes might be able to surprise some people.

Harborfields' Katie Hammer moves the ball downfield in the Tornadoes' 1-0 win over Comsewogue on Oct. 19. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields’ Katie Hammer moves the ball downfield in the Tornadoes’ 1-0 win over Comsewogue on Oct. 19. Photo by Bill Landon

Cirrincione said she thought her team moved the ball well, and had good positioning against Harborfields’ solid defense — it’s just that the Warriors missed some opportunities.

Her classmate Jenna Lynch echoed her sentiment.

“I feel that we’ve worked really well together on the field, but we just didn’t get the win,” she said.

The two victories in the Warriors’ record — they are 2-9-1 in League V — were both forfeits by Amityville.

“We haven’t won a game all season — this is a team that’s been executing our game plan to the letter, but just haven’t had a stroke of luck,” Comsewogue head coach James Bentley said. “If you were to rate nine out of 10 things, we’re phenomenal in nine sections — it’s just that we struggle to finish the ball.”

The Warriors will look for that elusive win on Wednesday when they travel to Westhampton Beach for a 4 p.m. matchup.

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Panthers pick off passes, make big offensive moves to annihilate Eagles, 53-14

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The Miller Place football team storms the field in the Panthers' 53-14 crushing homecoming win over Rocky Point on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place quarterback Stephen Farrell takes off with the ball in the Panthers' 53-14 annihilation of Rocky Point on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place wide receiver Thomas Bell catches the pass on 4th-and-19 as he looks for the end zone in the Panthers' 53-14 bulldoze over Rocky Point on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place running back Tyler Ammirato will not go down as he pushes through a crowd of defenders in the Panthers' 53-14 homecoming win over Rocky Point on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place cheerleaders perform during the Panthers' homecoming halftime celebration. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place homecoming queen, Danielle Bambola, and king, Tristan Verdone, pose for a photo during Miller Place's homecoming parade on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place wide reciever Thomas Bell eludes a would-be tackler as he gains yards in the Panthers' 53-14 homecoming win over Rocky Point on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place running back Matthew Bell keeps both feet inbounds for the leaping touchdown catch in the Panthers' 53-14 homecoming win over Rocky Point on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place running back Kemonte Mosely steps away from a defender as me moves the ball across the field in the Panthers' 53-14 homecoming win over Rocky Point on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place running wide receiver Thomas Bell dives into the end zone to start the Panthers' scoring fest in the team's 53-14 homecoming victory over Rocky Point on Oct. 17. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Panthers pounced early, and often.

On Saturday afternoon, the Miller Place football team outscored Rocky Point 53-14 in their homecoming game. After the pregame parade of floats, the marching band, fire trucks, cheerleaders and the crowning of the king & queen, the Panthers went to work.

Miller Place moved the chains four minutes in and appeared to stall on a 4th-and-19, but a call from the playbook was to go for it, and they did. Miller Place senior quarterback Stephen Farrell faked a handoff and rolled to his right, he was able to see a clear path to senior wide receiver Thomas Bell, who found the end zone for the score.

“We practice that play a lot and it was too far for a field goal, so we might as well take a shot with a play that we practice all week,” Farrell said. “And when it’s run the right way, it looks good.”

With the point after good, the Panthers took an early lead, 7-0.

Rocky Point fumbled the ball on its next possession, and Miller Place sophomore running back Tyler Ammirato, on a long run, put the Panthers in scoring position. Two plays later, Ammirato finished what he started by powering into the end zone for the Panthers second score. With the extra-point kick successful, the team took a 14-0 lead with 4:23 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Rocky Point fielded the ball on the 1-yard line, and stepped back into its own end zone and took a knee, downing the ball in the Eagles’ own end zone and handing the Panthers two points on a safety.

With 1:36 left in the opening quarter, Miller Place senior running back Kemonte Mosely made something out of nothing when he stalled up the middle and bounced outside, running eight yards to the end zone. With junior Eric Romero-Cisneros’ kick good, the Panthers took a 23-0 advantage into the second quarter.

“Coaches told us to come out here and play our hearts out,” Mosely said. “It’s homecoming, and the last time for our seniors to come out here and make it big. Rocky Point’s our neighbor — we knew it was going to be a big game for us, so we came out here and played hard.”

The Eagles found the end zone on the opening play of the second quarter when senior quarterback Harrison Lynch found sophomore running back Alec Rinaldi for the touchdown. Junior Sean McGovern split the uprights, and his team trailed, 23-7.

From there, it went from bad to worse for the Eagles, as the Panthers continued to light up the scoreboard. First, senior running back Matthew Bell, on a hand off, stepped outside and strolled into the end zone untouched. Rock Point was desperate to stop the bleeding and threw a long ball down the right sideline only to have it picked off by Miller Place senior defensive back and co-captain Mike Bodnar, who ran it back to the 16-yard line. With 8:55 left in the half, Farrell found Matthew Bell, who caught the ball and ran 21 yards for the score and 37-7 lead.

“Words can’t describe how bad we wanted it — we had the heart and the hustle,” Bell said. “We wanted it more and that’s what happened.”

The Eagles couldn’t get any traction, as Lynch searched for an open receiver and threw the ball down the right sidelines, only to have it picked off again, this time, by senior defensive back Kevin Kelleher.

The Panthers took over on the 34-yard line, but were unable to move the chains. With a cold breeze sweeping through, Romero-Cisneros knocked the ball between the posts with 16 seconds left on the clock. His 37-yard field goal helped his team surge ahead 40-7.

On the subsequent kickoff, the Eagles had time for one or two more plays. Desperate to put points on the board before the halftime break, Rocky Point made another long attempt, but Kelleher again saw the pass and snatched the ball out of the air for his second interception on the day.

Thomas Bell opened the second half for Miller Place with an 85-yard kickoff return to put the Panthers deep into Eagles territory. Mosely got the call, again, and delivered. Two plays later, he pushed his way into the end zone, and just 15 seconds into the third quarter, Miller Place head coach Ron Petrie began rotating his bench players with the 47-7 advantage.

“Defensively, we set a tone early; they had a couple of quick three and outs,” Petrie said. “With what we do offensively, we knew we would be able to find some mismatches in the passing game, and I think that’s what opened it up for us.”

In the closing quarter, Ammirato struck again for the Panthers’ final score of the day.

“It was a great win and I’m happy we won for our seniors today,” Ammirato said.

With the missed extra point, the Panthers were out in front, 53-7.

Rocky Point wasn’t out of gas just yet, and the Eagles managed one more score with nine minutes left when senior running back Brandon Combs found the end zone to help bring the final score to 53-14.

Bell said the win was very satisfying.

“They fought hard, we fought hard; it’s all the preparation from our coaches that got us to where we are now,” he said.

Farrell wasn’t surprised by the win, and was proud of his team’s efforts as the Panthers improve to 4-2 in Division III, while Rocky Point dropped to 2-4.

“It just shows how hard we worked and how bad we wanted this win,” Farrell said. “We wanted it for all the fans, and we wanted it for all of us.”

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