Northport students attend the 2016 commencement ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
The Northport High School Class of 2016 graduated from the high school on Saturday, June 25. The bleachers were filled to capacity as U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) congratulated the students and offered some advice.
Principal Daniel Danbusky, as well as other Northport High School staff members and members of the Northport-East Northport school board handed out diplomas and cheered on the students. ValedictorianIan Buitenkant and SalutatorianEmily Labruna gave poignant speeches, and the Northport High School Choir sang “Fields of Gold.”
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Northport graduates toss their caps in the sky. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Members of the senior class speak during the commencement ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Valedictorian Ian Buitenkant speaks during the ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza.
Northport seniors walk to the football field at the beginning of the ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Northport students smile as the ceremony begins. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Northport students attend the 2016 commencement ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Northport students attend the 2016 commencement ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Northport students attend the 2016 commencement ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
The Northport Choir performs during the graduation ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Salutatorian Emily Labruna speaks during the ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer speaks during the ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza.
One graduate receives his diploma from Northport school board Trustee Lori McCue.
Northport students attend the 2016 commencement ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Northport students attend the 2016 commencement ceremony. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
The Cold Spring Harbor High School Class of 2016 received their diplomas on Sunday, June 12, at the district’s 53rd commencement ceremony.
Principal Jay Matuk congratulated the class of 2016 on the achievement in their academic careers, and following tradition, there were four student reflection speakers.
The first was Tamanna Bhatia, who said she entered the countdown to graduation on her cellphone in September while enjoying all the perks of being senior, including knowing the best classes to take, the best delis to visit, and realizing the comfort and familiarity of home and friends will soon be left behind.
Justin Relf spoke next about what it means to be a student at CSH. He said his wish for his classmates was to “stay close to the ones you love; they will always have your back. And, keep up with your wellness, never despair, and always find hope.”
Sophia Kalinowska-Werter said all of the students she’s been with will “go the extra mile without even having to ask.”
The last speakerwas Timothy Sherlock, who said the senior class ensemble will soon be taking a different stage, and asked them to remember: “don’t be distracted by the critics. Go off script and try something new. Rely on your supporting cast; they will always be in the front row.”
Superintendent Judith A. Wilansky gave her final graduation speech, as she is set to retire this year. She spoke of gratitude. “Learn to look at the world through grateful eyes,” she said. “It is easy to be distracted, and not a badge of honor to be busy.”
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Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
Cold Spring Harbor High School graduates attend the 2016 commencement ceremony on June 12. Photo from Karen Spehler.
One of the three cars that was involved in the crash. Photo by Steve Silverman.
A Huntington Station woman was killed, and two others were injured, in a three-car crash Sunday night as the result of an alleged drunk driver.
A mugshot of Ryan Gurecki. Photo from SCPD.
Ryan Gurecki, 34, of Lindenhurst, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated just before 9:30 p.m. on June 26, after Gurecki was driving a 2010 Ford Explorer on Jericho Turnpike, and struck a 2016 Ford Escape that was stopped at a red light, police said.
The Huntington Manor Fire Department responded to the crash with two heavy rescue trucks and a rescue engine, under the command of Chief Frank McQuade. Firefighters used heavy rescue tools to extricate the three family members in the Ford Escape.
The Huntington Community First Aid Squad then transported the family to Huntington Hospital, where Karen Holden, 56, of Huntington Station, died from her injuries. Her husband, and driver of the Escape, William Holden, 57, suffered a head injury, and her son, Robert Holden, 23, suffered a back injury. Both men were listed in stable condition.
Hyun Chung, 59, of Melville, was driving a 2014 Honda Odyssey west on Jericho Turnpike and was sideswiped by Gurecki’s car, but was not injured.
Gurecki is being held at the Second Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned this morning at First District Court in Central Islip. Attorney information for the suspect was not immediately available on the New York State court system’s online database.
All three vehicles have been impounded for safety checks and the investigation is ongoing. Detectives are asking anyone with information about this crash to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555.
The cheese steak egg rolls from Del Frisco's Grille. Photo from Del Frisco's Grille.
Residents of Huntington who are looking for a new bite to eat should look no further than Del Frisco’s Grille. Opening this Friday, June 24, in the Walt Whitman Shopping Center, Del Frisco’s promises to be a comfortable, family-friendly spot with twists on classic American dishes.
“We cater to such a broad audience,” Executive Chef Seth Barton said. “Yes, we are American comfort food with a twist, but you’ll see Mediterranean food on our menu, and Asian twists.”
It is the first and only restaurant from the Del Frisco’s chain on Long Island, and there is something for everyone. The menu ranges from classic burgers with their signature “sloppy sauce” to appetizers like the cheesesteak eggrolls, which have a sweet and spicy chili sauce and honey mustard drizzled over them.
Popular entrees include prime beef short rib stroganoff with pappardelle noodles, prime ribeye and filet mignon.
Del Frisco’s Grille in Huntington at the Walt Whitman Mall. Photo from Del Frisco’s Grille.
Everything on the menu is made fresh in-house, which Barton said is one of the most important parts of the restaurant.
“We get our fresh seafood in daily; we’re trying to get the best quality out there possible,” Barton said. “That’s one thing we really pride ourselves on.”
Aside from lunch and dinner, the grill also serves brunch on Sundays, which includes items like red velvet waffles, chicken and waffles, crab Benedict and a do-it-yourself Bloody Mary that comes with multiple sides, including green beans, pickles and more. The menu includes weekly features, a rotating daily dish and various handmade cocktails, such as the signature VIP cocktail, which is made with only two ingredients — pineapple and clementine vodka.
The new spot holds about 300 guests indoors and has a private dining area that is available for parties. There is also an outdoor dining area on the patio that can hold at least 35 people.
The location where Del Frisco’s Grille sits had been empty for more than a year, the only vacated eatery spot in the mall.
Staffers said they can’t wait to get to know and become a part of the Huntington community.
“[We’re] super excited,” Barton said. “Everybody in this area that we’ve met with has been welcoming with open arms.”
Harborfields High School. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
By Victoria Espinoza
Harborfields
Sabrina Qi and Trevor Jones are the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Harborfields graduating class of 2016.
Sabrina Qi. Photo from Harborfields central school district.
Qi was named a scholar in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program, she received the National School Development Council Academic Growth & Student Leadership Award and was presented the Daughters of American Revolution Good Citizenship Award. She is enrolled in six Advanced Placement courses and one college-level language class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Global Justice Club and Science Research Club. Qi will attend Duke University in the fall with plans of majoring in biomedical engineering and biophysics. “I think Harborfields has truly prepared me for the future with all the classes I have taken,” Qi said. “As long as you take the classes that you are interested in, the teachers will prepare you for what you want to study in college.”
Trevor Jones. Photo from Harborfields central school district.
Jones is also enrolled in six Advanced Placement courses at Harborfields and is the class president. Among his high school experiences, he interned for U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), worked at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and North Shore-LIJ to conduct medical research, and he served as the student representative at the board of education meetings. He will attend Boston College on a full scholarship with plans to major in biology or public policy.
“I am going to miss the community,” Jones said. “The classes and teachers are great, but at the end of the day, what I am going to miss most are my peers, my friends and the environment we have here.”
Northport
Ian Buitenkant is this year’s valedictorian at Northport High School, with Emily Labruna following as salutatorian.
Ian Buitenkant. Photo from Northport-East Northport school district.
Buitenkant is a National Merit Commended Scholar, and has been the math department’s Student of the Month. He interned at the Academy of Information Technology last summer with SeniorNet, an organization that teaches computer skills to retired and elderly people. The valedictorian enrolled in 10 AP courses throughout his four years and was awarded the AP Scholar with Honors in 2015. He is a member of the high school Mathletes Team, and his junior year had one of the highest cumulative scores among all participants in a multi-week competition sponsored by the Suffolk County Math Teachers Association. Outside of the classroom, he can be found at a chessboard. He was named the Suffolk County High School Chess champion in 2013, and is also the president of the high school Chess Club. Buitenkant was also on the high school varisty tennis team for three years. He plans to attend Stony Brook University’s Honors College, majoring in computer science as a member of the Honors Program, and hopes to become a software developer in the future.
Emily Labruna. Photo from Northport-East Northport school district.
Labruna is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate. She spent two summers at Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University through the Packard Scholars Program, and her participation in these programs led her to want to continue neuroscience research in college. Labruna was a math department Student of the Month and is a National Merit Commended Scholar. She is a member of the Mathletes, the Academic Team, varsity softball, the National Honor Society, and Schools for Schools, where she has helped raise money for the education of children in poverty. The salutatorian also has a third-degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. She will be attending Johns Hopkins University with a major in neuroscience.
Huntington
Huntington High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian are Rachel Carpenter and Olivia Stamatatos, respectively.
Rachel Carpenter. Photo from Huntington school district.
Carpenter is the president of Huntington’s branch of National Honor Society, and has participated in all eight of the high school’s drama productions. “When I first moved here four years ago, I had no idea I would have been in the position I am in now,” she said. “I have the people of Huntington High to thank for my growth and success.”
Olivia Stamatatos. Photo from Huntington school district.
Stamatatos is president of the school’s branch of Italian National Honor Society, a member of the Mathletes, wind esemble, and Tri-M Music National Honor Society. She also takes dance lessons at the Lynch School of Ballet in Huntington.She plans to pursure a degree in biochemistry “in order to gain a deeper understanding of underlying factors that contribute to the curative properties in natural substances.” She credited the staff at Huntington. “The teachers of Huntington High School have not only provided me with a high quality education, but have also built strong relationships with me and have always made me feel welcome,” she said.
Asharoken Mayor Greg Letica, center, and Trustees Laura Burke and Mel Ettinger are all seeking a third term in Village Hall. Photo from Laura Burke
Asharoken is not shaking up its leadership in the coming year, as per the results of Tuesday’s village election.
Mayor Greg Letica and Trustees Mel Ettinger and Laura Burke were all re-elected. Letica recieved 167 votes, Ettinger got 150 and Burke had 143.
Ettinger said he is excited to begin another term for Asharoken.
“I’m thrilled to have been re-elected together with Greg and Laura,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday. “The three of us are looking forward to working with the other two trustees for another two years, and continuing to work on some of the issues facing our village and whatever new issues arise.”
Letica echoed his sentiments.
“I am very happy to be re-elected and I look forward to continuing to serve the residents,” he said. “And I also want to thank them for their support.”
Burke said she is excited to continue to help the village.
“I would like to say that I am pleased and honored to serve alongside the other elected officials of Asharoken, in particular Mayor Letica who brings a tremendous amount of honesty and integrity to our village government,” she said in an email. “I will continue to strive to make decisions in the best interests of our residents and village.
Olivia Gregorius, right, and Emma Lutz, left, are hoping to raise awarness for female empowerment on their bike journey across the country. Photo from Gregorius
A Northport native is biking across the United States to raise money and awareness for an organization that builds schools in Africa.
Olivia Gregorius, a 2011 Northport High School graduate, kicked off her cross-country adventure in Vancouver about three weeks ago and said she is determined to finish at the Mexican border by July.
“I feel good so far,” she said in a phone interview. ”My body hurts horribly, but I feel good.”
Gregorius is a volunteer with the organization Africa Schoolhouse, a nonprofit that brings education, medical care, job training and clean water to rural villages in northern Tanzania. Her journey was designed to raise money for the newest ASH project: an all-female boarding school. Gregorius said she hopes to promote female youth empowerment while on the journey.
“This mission to help females so far away who deserve an equal and safe education space is something we believe is very important,” she said. “I truly believe that the way we teach and treat young females is key to shaping a more progressive and healthy society both locally and abroad.”
She also said it is important to acknowledge the privileges she’s been afforded that other women aren’t as lucky to receive.
“We, as young women who have had the distinct privilege of a college education, want to give back to the many girls around the world who struggle to access basic education,” she said. “We want to empower ourselves as young women going on a self-supported trip of 2,000 miles with the ultimate goal of supporting as many other young women as possible to believe themselves capable and worthy of any achievement.”
Africa Schoolhouse began in Ntulya, Tanzania, in 2006, when village elders approached founder Aimée Bessire with the idea of building a school and medical clinic. ASH successfully built the school and medical clinic, and now the organization is shifting its focus on getting women a safe and efficient education.
Gregorius said only 1 percent of Tanzanian girls complete secondary school for reasons including families who privilege the education of sons over daughters, girls being married off at young ages and unsafe journeys to school due to incomplete or unfinished roads, or the risk of assault while traveling long spans of distance on their own.
This wasn’t the first time Gregorius worked on projects associated with female empowerment. During her first year at Bates College in Maine, she helped develop a college-access mentoring program for Lewiston, Maine, middle school females. She also worked at an overnight teen empowerment camp in 2013, where she developed classes pertaining to girls’ youth empowerment, outdoor education, wellness and the arts.
Gregorius is traveling with Emma Lutz, a fellow Bates graduate, and so far the team has already raise more than $3,000. To make a contribution or learn more, visit https://www.crowdrise.com/emma-and-livs-bike-tour-from-canada-to-mexico.
A scene from the Gersh Academy’s field day at West Hills Day Camp last Friday, June 10. Photo from Corbett Public Relations
More than 120 North Shore students with autism, in grades K through 12, attended a field day at West Hills Day Camp in Huntington last Friday, June 10. The event was designed to give students with autism the chance to experience fun athletic and recreational activities within a safe and positive environment, while providing them a forum that fosters growth and development.
Celeste Gagliardi, principal of Gersh Academy, said the day was a complete success and a wonderful experience.
A scene from the Gersh Academy’s field day at West Hills Day Camp last Friday, June 10. Photo from Corbett Public Relations
“Today is the day they get to show how much they’ve grown,” Gagliardi said after the event on Friday in a phone interview. “It was wonderful to watch all of these kids just be themselves.”
Students were able to access numerous athletic and recreational facilities, including several swimming pools, ziplines, supervised rope activities, bounce houses, a playground and an arts and crafts center. The different activities helped develop students’ mental and emotional growth among their peers, while learning skills in athleticism, socialization, teamwork and hand-eye coordination.
The day also included Gersh Academy students enjoying a barbecue lunch prepared and served by individuals with autism between the ages of 18 and 23, who are participants in Gersh Experience. The program offers young adults on the autism spectrum life skills, along with social, psychological and educational support, while they develop their independence. Three of the students will be working at the West Hills Day Camp this summer.
“It’s beautiful to see them interact … it’s the cherry on top of the year,” Gagliardi said.
Gersh Academy is a private school for children with special needs in K-12. They have several locations across the Island, including Hauppauge and Huntington.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks to fishermen in Northport. Photo from Marisa Kaufman
Black sea bass is back on the table, as of June 27.
After public outcry for an earlier start to summer sea bass fishing, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced this week the season will start 19 days earlier than the previous July start date.
The DEC has blamed federal regulations and management for the reasons behind originally closing the fishing season during June, despite plentiful numbers of bass.
“In spite of abundant populations, DEC is being forced to alter the commercial and recreational fishing seasons in order to meet federal quotas,” Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement. “By allowing for an earlier June opening, we’re trying to strike the best possible arrangement for the recreational fishing community.”
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for modifications to the summer fishing period last week at an event on the North Shore, speaking against what he called “inflexible” and “outdated” federal regulations for black sea bass fishing.
Fishing in Port Jefferson/photo by Elana Glowatz
“After a slow start to the black sea bass season, mostly due to weather, our Long Island commercial fishers are ready to bounce back and access the plentiful supply of sea bass,” Schumer said at the event. “But instead they might fall flat if the feds and the state don’t throw them a line and let them do what they do best — fish.”
And Long Island fishermen said the July start date was hurting their livelihood.
“It’s a disaster for conservation and the economy,” said James Schneider, a boat captain in Huntington. “It’s crushed us.”
Schneider is catching other fish since the last black sea bass season ended on May 31, and said he has been forced to throw back the bass he inadvertently catches. Those die shortly after, he said, further contributing to a loss in potential profits.
Some fishers were also upset that Connecticut’s black sea bass season, which opened on May 1 and runs through Dec. 31, allowed fishermen to start earlier than in New York, as they share a body of water in the Long Island Sound.
Sean Mahar, the DEC director of communications, last week acknowledged fishing got off to a slow start in New York. Through May 21, only one-third of the May quota had been harvested, “with approximately 42,000 pounds [still] available on May 21,” Mahar said in an email. “However, the harvest rate increased dramatically the last week in May,” and the DEC had to receive more population data before deciding to open the summer fishing season earlier than July.
Although fishermen like Schneider can now get back to bass fishing earlier, the DEC has also increased the minimum size of the bottom feeders caught by 1 inch — making the new minimum length 15 inches — and reduced the daily possession limit from eight fish to three. However, that latter change will only affect the fishing season through August, so fishermen can have up to eight in September and October, and 10 in November and December.
According to the DEC, it also considered a July 8 opening with a five-fish limit, but anglers opted for the earlier start with a three-fish limit for a longer season.
Fishers can now catch black sea bass earlier this summer, but the minimum fish length has increased an inch and the number they can catch is limited for the first month.
The DEC also said the federal government’s population assessment of sea bass has caused scientists to “exercise extreme caution when determining harvest limits,” which has forced New York to reduce sea bass harvest despite an “abundance of fish.”
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is one of three organizations that jointly manage black sea bass fishing, by determining the quota for sea bass each year. The quota this year was set at about 189,000 pounds.
Kirby Rootes-Murdy, that commission’s senior fishery management plan coordinator, said obtaining accurate population data on black sea bass poses a challenge because black sea bass are a hermaphroditic species, meaning they change sex from male to female.
“The reproductive life history characteristics … of black sea bass make it difficult to develop an accurate abundance estimate, ultimately limiting the ability to develop reliable catch limits,” he said in an email. “Assessment scientists are working hard to develop models to address these issues facing black sea bass management.”
The high school football fields may be replaced with turf and capital improvements. File photo
The Northport board of education voted to move forward with improvements to science, athletic, and structural parts of the district Thursday night.
Superintendent Robert Banzer said the major goals of the capital improvements were to replace aging infrastructure and provide students and the community with more useful physical education and athletic facilities.
Infrastructure improvements included replacing bathrooms, windows, and ceilings in classrooms from kindergarten through high school. At the presentation last Thursday night, Banzer went through several photos showing cracked countertops, and antiquated lavatories.
“Some of our buildings are very old and we need to take a cold, hard look at them,” he said.
Tony Resca, a member of the capital projects committee, said the district needed to create state-of-the-art science labs, which would “foster inquiry-based scientific experimentation” and “strengthen overall STEM learning outcomes.”
Changes would include new desks designed to form into lab stations as well as new fume hoods and cabinetry for lab chemicals.
“These lab benches and work desks … are modular, they are moveable and flexible and they can be moved at a moment’s notice to accommodate a wide variety of science-related activities,” Resca said.
Talks for improving the athletic facilities at Northport have been underway for more than a year and projects included better irrigation systems for athletic fields, a new stadium at the high school with a turf field, a new track, a concession stand, outdoor bathrooms, and a replacement of tennis courts.
Paul Klimuszko, director of physical education, athletics and health, and a member of the committee, talked about the importance of replacing certain fields at Northport and improving irrigation at others.
“Whether it rains during the game or days before, this is what the field typically ends up looking like during a game,” Klimuszko said as he pointed to a photo of the high school football team playing in a field covered in mud. He also said that field was heavily used, which diminished its quality and made it less accessible to the greater Northport community.
“Even when the team is out for half-time, the marching band is putting on a half-time show, so that field never gets a break,” he said.
Under Banzer’s suggestion, the district will now seek prices and plans from an architect to achieve the plans listed in capital projects that were voted for in the May budget.
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