Arts & Entertainment

The Over 50 Fair, in its 15th year, returns to the Hilton Long Island/Huntington, 598 Broadhollow Road, Melville on Sunday, September 22 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Each year, Baby Boomers, seniors, and those a bit younger meet with over 80 exhibitors and attend over 25 classes geared toward them. The Over 50 Fair annually entertains and educates hundreds of Long Islanders.

The classes are always hugely popular at the event, and each year there is tremendous variety. This year’s classes include “Zumba,” presented by Laura O’Shea of the YMCA of Long Island; “Google:  More Than a Search Engine,” presented by Rich Levitan of Family Service League, SeniorNet LI; “How to Improve Your Dating and Sex Life After 50” with Maureen Tara Nelson; and Astrology – What is in Your Stars?” presented by Terry Lauria-Whalen of Your Enchanted Tree. Additional classes will include talks on clutter control, Medicare, ghost hunting, and two fitness and self-defense classes. The schedule of all classes can be found at www.Over50Fair.com/class-list. 

Businesses and non-profits promote local products and services, including health and wellness, education, travel, and financial services, plus some less expected, such as several book authors and psychics.

Over 50 Fair is the brainchild of East Hills resident Barbara Kaplan, who also coordinates the very successful All Kids Fair each April. She said the Over 50 Fair is “Overflowing with Opportunities for Age 50+.” She emphasized that “this is NOT a typical ‘senior fair.’ It is an opportunity for people to learn, interact, and have fun. Our guests can meet with many experts in their fields all in one place,” she added.  

Some of this year’s “draws” will be “arts and crafts for adults” with One River School of Art + Design, a singles lounge, compliments of MTN Matchmaking, and a live acoustic music showcase, presented by Carrie Creative Concepts.

Six acoustic musicians will be performing a variety of types of music. James Erxleben of North American Pandas who will be playing various acoustic rock and popular music favorites from the The Beatles to Kurt Cobain. Vickie and the Acoustic Gents will be playing soulful vocal and high energy music from the 70’s through today’s artists, including great duets.

Free hearing screenings will be offered by Anywhere Audiology.  There will be free blood pressure checks, energy wellness scans, and reiki healings available.

This event has built a loyal following due to its consistent presentation of various classes, products, and services they find appealing. 

Feedback from the attendees and exhibitors after the 2023 event was very positive. Exhibitor Joe Satriano of the Susan Satriano Foundation shared that the Over 50 Fair “runs smoothly because of her [Barbara Kaplan’s] organizational skills, her kind demeanor, and her willingness to assure that those who attend have a great experience.”

The Over 50 Fair was recently voted 2024’s Best of Nassau County in the Best Annual Event/Festival – Live or Virtual category for the 10th consecutive year. 

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network), a local non-profit that helps Long Island’s needy, will be in attendance collecting non-perishable food and funds. Those who donate will receive raffle tickets to win terrific donated prizes.

Tickets are $5 in advance at www.Over50Fair.com, which includes all classes, exhibits, singles lounge, music performances, health screenings, arts & crafts, and more. Those who purchase tickets online will receive a raffle ticket at the event for a special door prize raffle. Tickets are also available at the door for $7, and it is free for Veterans to attend with ID.

This year’s event sponsors are Acupuncture Wellness Services, Men on the Move, Optum Medical Care, Wellcare, Healthfirst, AARP Long Island, East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, CenterLight Healthcare PACE, Jake’s 58, Schneps Long Island, The Garden City News, Herald Community Newspapers,102.3 WBAB/106.1 BLI and 516Ads.com/631Ads.com.

For more information about this and future events, visit www.Over50Fair.comor call 516-621-1446.

Photo by Bill Landon

In celebration of NYS Sheriff’s Week, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will host an Open House and Family Day on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Yaphank Correctional Facility located at 200 Glover Drive in Yaphank. The free event features jail tours throughout the day for residents ages 12 and up, exciting demonstrations by the Sheriff’s Office departments including the Emergency Response Team and K9 unit, Sheriff’s Office vehicle displays, food trucks, music, and free activities all day long.  

In addition to jail tours, there will be exhibits, law enforcement demonstrations, a “Troop Carrier” truck ride, Child and Pet ID Cards, face painting, live DJ music, a buggy obstacle course, bounce house, giveaways, games and interactive sports like Tug-of-War and much more.  Suffolk County Girl Scouts will be able to earn a special Patch at the event.  For more information, please visit www.suffolksheriff.com

From left, Beetlejuice, Lydia, Delia

Welcome to the 33rd edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home.

From left, Beetlejuice, Lydia, Delia

 

Meet Beetlejuice, Lydia and Delia

These sweet babies at the Smithtown Animal Shelter are just 5 months old and ready for their furever home. Curious and playful, they can’t wait to get out of their cage and explore the world. They are spayed/neutered and up to date on their vaccinations. The shelter has a surplus of adorable furballs waiting for their heroes. Come visit them today! 631-360-7575.

Gizmo

Meet Gizmo

Waiting patiently at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter, this little guy is Gizmo, a spirited 10-year-old with a heart full of zest and a personality that’s anything but old! Despite his years, Gizmo is brimming with energy and loves to take charge of bird and squirrel duty in the yard. When he’s not on patrol, you’ll find him happily curled up in your lap, basking in the sun, or enjoying a leisurely walk. 

Gizmo does have a few quirks—he prefers not to have his back end touched and might show a little attitude if it happens (just a hint of spice!). He also has a cherry eye, but don’t let that fool you; it doesn’t impact his vision one bit. Gizmo would thrive in a home with a low-key canine companion to share his golden years and would do best with children aged 12 and up. He is neutered, vaccinated, and heartworm negative. If you’re looking for a loving lap companion with a playful side, Gizmo is ready to bring joy and warmth to your home!

Please  fill out a Matchmaker Adoption Application at www.brookhavenny.gov/152/Animal-Shelter to arrange a meet and greet

Houston

Meet Houston

Filled with sage advice and words of wisdom, meet Houston, a thirteen-year-old Beagle mix at Little Shelter in Huntington. While part of the “Silver Sneakers” set, this distinguished gentleman routinely logs in more steps than his kennel mates, knowing that keeping active and engaged is the key to staying youthful. Looking towards the future with a positive attitude, he’s confident that he has much to contribute as your best friend and companion, in addition to being an expert commentator on the upcoming Puppy Bowl! 

If you have room on your couch and a good supply of snacks, stop by Little Shelter to meet Houston…he’s the one appropriately dressed in the Superman t-shirt!

“The dog’s tail wagged. It was his tail’s job; to synchronize all nearby moods to the measure of his joy. A metronome of happiness.” 631-368-8770, ext. 21

Gizzy

Meet Gizzy

Thriving on tenderness, appreciation, encouragement, and butt scratches, meet Gizzy, a ten year old Shih-tzu mix at Little Shelter in Huntington. An impartial judge of character, once you earn her trust you’ll find her to be warm, affectionate and good-hearted. A girly girl, she loves to dress the part and prance down the walking path (aka runway!) showing off her impeccable style. Despite being visually challenged, she’s fiercely independent, enjoying exploratory walks guided by her other senses and the sound of your voice. 

With a resilient spirit and the soul of a warrior, Gizzy has proven she can handle anything life throws her way. Now she’s ready for the challenging task of screening potential adopters to find her forever home, confident she’ll have her happily ever after. You’ll want to be first in line to meet this little force of nature…ask for Gizzy! 631-368-8770, ext. 21

Elvira
Spider

Meet Elvira and Spider

Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton has a bumper crop of kittens available for adoption including, from left, Elvira, a beautiful 6-month-old female, and Spider, a 4 1/2-month-old male. Come find your new best friend! 631-727-5731

TEACHER’S PET MONTH

Did you know? For the month of September, the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter, 300 Horseblock Road, Brookhaven offers a “Teacher’s Pet” special promotion — All animals that are ” School Age” (4 years old and up) are free. 631-451-695

Rescue is a lifestyle. Adopt, don’t shop.

Check out the next Paw Prints in the issue of October 17.

Paw Prints is generously sponsored by Mark T. Freeley, Esq.

 

From left, Oscar Rivera-Cruz from the University of Puerto Rico, BNL materials scientist Anibal Boscoboinik, Alexander Bailey from West Virginia State University, and Jeremy Lopez from the University of Puerto Rico. Photo courtesy of BNL

By Daniel Dunaief

It’s been a banner year for ideas and potential products that trap noble gases at Brookhaven National Laboratory. So-named for their full complement of electrons, noble gases tend to be less reactive than other atoms that can add electrons to their outer shells.

While their name sounds grandiose, these gases are anything but, particularly when people inhale the radioactive and prevalent gas radon, which can cause lung cancer or when the decay of uranium into xenon makes a nuclear reactor less efficient.

When he was studying how hydrocarbons react at the active site of zeolite models, Brookhaven National Laboratory’s material scientist Anibal Boscoboinik made an accidental discovery about a decade ago that some nanomaterials, which are incredibly small, trap these gases.

Among several other projects he’s working on, Boscoboinik has since studied these nanocages, learning about the trapping mechanism and making variations of these materials and trapping methods that can be useful for a wide range of applications. 

The Battelle Memorial Institute, which partners with Stony Brook University to form Brookhaven Science Associates and manages nine national labs across the country, named Boscoboinik an “inventor of the year” for his work developing these materials.

Battelle awards an inventor of the year to a researcher from each institution under its management, recognizing efforts that contribute to science or engineering and that can have a positive impact on society.

“It feels really good to be recognized for the work,” said Boscoboinik, who is proud of the many people who made this progress possible directly and indirectly. “It would be amazing if we get to see something that stemmed from an accidental discovery doing very basic fundamental research becoming a real-life application that can benefit society.”

At the same time, three students from minority serving institutions were selected to receive seed grants as a part of MSI (for Minority Serving Institutions) Connect at BNL, in which they seek to commercialize a way to remove radon from the air.

They may work in a business to business model to supply other companies that can incorporate their materials into products.

The students, Jeremy Lopez Flores and Oscar Rivera-Cruz from the University of Puerto Rico and Alexander Bailey from West Virginia State University, will enter phase 2 in the process. The next phase of funding comes from other sources, such as FedTech. Boscoboinik will advise the students as they develop the company and any potential products.

These undergraduate students are looking to remove radon from the air at a concentration of four picocuries per liter, which is equivalent to smoking eight cigarettes a day.

“I am certainly pleased that the value of our collective output was recognized,” said Bailey, who is from St. Albans, West Virginia, in an email. Bailey, a sophomore double majoring in chemistry and math, plans to attend graduate school after completing his undergraduate studies.

Rivera-Cruz, who is a senior majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology, appreciated the guidance from Boscoboinik, whom he described in an email as an “incredible resource for the team” and suggested that the team was “extremely grateful and lucky” to have Boscoboinik’s support.

In other research

As a staff member at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Boscoboinik spends half his time working with scientists from around the world who come to the CFN to conduct experiments and half his time working on his own research.

The process of granting time to use the facilities at BNL is extremely competitive, which means the projects he works on with other scientists are compelling. “While I help them with their research, I get to learn from them,” he said.

Boscoboinik regularly works with the group of Professor Guangwen Zhou from Binghamton University. In recent work, they explored the dynamics of peroxide formation on a copper surface in different environments.

In his own work, Boscoboinik is also interested in trying to help the nuclear energy community.

During the breakdown of radioactive uranium, the process heats up water in a tank, moving a turbine that produces energy.

The breakdown of uranium, however, produces the noble gas xenon, which is a neutron absorber, making reactors less efficient.

Boscoboinik anticipates that any new product that could help the field of nuclear energy by removing xenon could be a decade or more away. “This is a highly regulated industry and changes in design take a very long time,” he explained.

Boscoboinik is also collaborating with researchers from Johns Hopkins University on metal organic frameworks. Some molecules pass through these frameworks more rapidly than others, which could enable researchers to use these frameworks to separate out a heterogeneous collection of molecules.

Additionally, he is developing processes to understand dynamic conditions that affect different types of reactions. At this point, he has been looking at the oxidation of carbon monoxide, which he called the “drosophila” of surface science for its widespread use and versatility, to develop the methodology. In oxidation, carbon monoxide mixes with oxygen to make carbon dioxide.

In his work, Boscoboinik has collaborated with Qin Wu, who deploys artificial intelligence to interpret the data he generates in his experiments.

The long-term plan is to develop complex-enough algorithms that suggest experiments based on the analysis and interpretation of data.

Outside the lab

Boscoboinik is a part of a collaborative effort to combine science and music. “We use music as a way to enable conversations between scientists and the general public” to help make the sometimes complex and jargon-laden world of science more accessible, he said.

In Argentina, research groups have taken famous musicians to the lab to perform concerts while encouraging conversations about science. During the course of their visits, the musicians speak with scientists for the benefit of the public. In prior seasons, the musicians used popular songs to relate to the research the scientists they interview do. Part of the plan is to make new songs related to the research.

Boscoboinik is part of a collaboration between Music for Science, the network of Argentinian scientists abroad, and the Argentinian diplomatic missions, including the embassies and the consulates. At some point in the future he may create a show that relates noble gases and music.

As with his some of his scientific work, the connection between music and research is a developing proof of concept that he hopes has broader appeal over time.

Roasted Tomato and Bell Pepper Soup

By Heidi Sutton

If your garden is still spitting out tomatoes and peppers, try the following recipes for stuffed peppers for breakfast and tomato and bell pepper soup for lunch or dinner .

Stuffed Breakfast Peppers

Recipe courtesy of Amber Gray

Stuffed Breakfast Peppers

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

2 large green bell peppers seeded, cut in half lengthwise

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 sweet onion diced

1/2 medium tomato seeded, chopped

3 slices bacon or breakfast sausage, cooked, chopped

1 cup chopped kale or spinach, tough stems removed

4 large eggs

2 tablespoons 1% milk

1/2 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup salsa or tomato sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange pepper halves in 13×9-inch baking dish. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat; add onion and cook 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, bacon and kale or spinach, and cook 2-3 minutes. Spoon vegetables into pepper halves. Whisk eggs and milk in small bowl until well blended. Pour evenly over vegetable mixture in pepper halves. Bake 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven, top peppers with cheese and return to oven. Bake 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Top each pepper with 2 tablespoons salsa or tomato sauce.

Roasted Tomato and Bell Pepper Soup

Recipe courtesy of Tracy Shaw

Roasted Tomato and Bell Pepper Soup

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

4 bell peppers

2 lbs tomatoes cherry or other

5 garlic cloves

1 yellow onion – peeled and cut in half

2 cups low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth

Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the bell peppers in half and clean out the seeds and membrane. Spray baking sheets with olive oil. Place the pepper halves, tomatoes, onion, and garlic cloves on prepared baking sheets. Roast for 20-30 minutes, until the skin is dark on the peppers and have collapsed. The skin on the tomatoes will soften and begin to burst. Allow the peppers to cool and remove the skin. Place all the vegetables and the juices from the tomato pan into a stock pot or dutch oven. Add in the chicken broth, salt and pepper. Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. *If you don’t have an immersion blender, use a regular blender. Heat and serve.

Stock photo

By Britt Burner, Esq.

Britt Burner Esq.

Turning 18 is a right of passage. According to New York State law, you are now and adult! With the reward and freedom of adulthood also comes responsibility. 

You may be on a continued education path to college or starting a new job. Some new adults are still receiving monetary and housing support from their families while others find themselves navigating on their own. Either way, on the “adulting to-do list” you should also add the basics of estate planning. Whether you are 18 or 81, there are four key documents you should consider: health care proxy, HIPAA release form, living will, and power of attorney.

Once adulthood is reached, a parent no longer has the authority to make medical decisions on behalf of their child. Since you are no longer under your parents’ care, they do not have an automatic right to access your medical records; no one has that right. It is important to designate who may receive this information if you should become incapacitated and, further, who you want to make medical decisions for you if you cannot do so for yourself. 

A health care proxy allows you to appoint an agent to make medical decisions for you in the event you cannot do so. You must choose a primary agent but can nominate alternates in case your primary is unable or unwilling to act. If you are in the hospital and have not signed a health care proxy, the law has a default regarding who can make medical decisions. Is this who you would choose? 

Beyond the proxy, a HIPAA release form should also be considered. HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is the law that protects your personal medical information. A HIPAA release authorizes others to obtain your medical information. Executing these documents will ensure that your parent (or whomever you designate to make such medical decisions) will not face resistance when it comes to inquiring about the status of your health or providing care instructions to your doctor.  

In contrast, the power of attorney is a document that has to do with your financial and other non-medical information. This document will name an agent to make financial decisions on your behalf. The power of attorney does not strip you of your financial powers but rather duplicates them so that your agent can act on your behalf. A power of attorney can be beneficial if you need someone to pay a bill, apply for financial aid, or hire a professional, such as an accountant or lawyer. 

You may also want to consider a living will. A living will is a guide to your agents regarding end-of-life decisions, such as whether you want to be kept alive by artificial means if you have an incurable disease or are in a persistent vegetative state. 

Although these are questions that you will hopefully not face for decades, planning for your future is an important way of taking control of your life. The decisions you make today are not set in stone; these documents can be changed at any time. Anyone entering the first phase of adulthood should become familiar with these documents. 

Britt Burner, Esq. is a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Elder Law. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan and East Hampton.

By Julianne Mosher

One of the last musical numbers during Theatre Three’s latest production of Matilda the Musical is called “Revolting Children,” but the cast of this show is far from it. 

Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl and the 1996 movie starring Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito, the musical is a fun and enchanting twist that will make all ages in the audience smile. 

Written by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, Matilda follows the story of a spectacularly smart child who lives in an unhappy home with dimwitted parents. Matilda (played by the extraordinarily talented Sadie Mathers — who is readily on the path to stardom), finds solace in the library where she reads books upon books while also sharing tales she makes up in her head to the local librarian, Mrs. Phelps (Michelle LaBozzetta).

Her family, the Wormwoods, don’t read. In fact, they’re lazy and dumb. Matilda’s father, played by Steven Uihlein, is a crooked car salesman who refuses to acknowledge the young girl as his daughter, and her mother, played by Rachel Geiser, is an amateur ballroom dancer who only cares about her looks — not her family. Matilda has a brother, Michael, played by Jax Segal, who does not speak and stares at the TV throughout the entire show, remote in hand. 

To teach her some discipline, Mr. Wormwood ships Matilda off to a private academy headed by Miss. Trunchbull (Liam Marsigliano), a former Olympian who hates children and wishes for a world without them. Luckily, Matilda and her classmates find comfort knowing their teacher, Miss Honey (Veronica Fox), loves them and tries to make their school days better despite their dreary and frightening walls.

Throughout the play, Matilda shares a tale of an escapologist (Eric J. Hughes) and his wife, the acrobat (Josie McSwane) that she makes up in her head. The characters, however, seem to match with certain people the young girl meets and encounters in her daily life.

Compared to the movie, the musical version of Matilda is set in England so the ensemble needed to not only learn the lyrics to difficult songs, but do it with a cockney accent — the child actors included. The talent of the entire cast is remarkable with its leadership from musical director Jeffrey Hoffman and choreography from Sari Feldman with dance moves and vocal ranges fit for Broadway. 

And if you’re a fan of film, you’ll be surprised with a similar plot but with different twists and turns.

From the campy costumes full of color — minus the school uniforms, of course — (designed by Jason Allyn) to the set design that integrates video using TV monitors framing the stage (Randall Parsons), the attention to detail is nothing short from extraordinary.

So, you better go see this show or else you’ll be thrown in the chokey and give this group of actors the standing ovation they continuously deserve.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Matilda the Musical through Oct. 20. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12, $25 Wednesday matinees. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

All photos by Steve Kyle/Showbizshots

UNDER THE MOONLIGHT: Catch a free outdoor screening of E.T. The Extraterrestrial at Heritage Park in Mt. Sinai on Sept. 20.
PROGRAMS

The Great Noisy Outdoors

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a Tiny Tots program, The Great Noisy Outdoors, on Sept. 19 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Enjoy short walks, story time, animal visitors, and crafts. For children ages 3 to 5. $4 per child. Reservations taken on www.eventbrite.com.

First Steps in Nature

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown continues its First Steps in Nature series for ages 2 to 4 on Sept. 20 at 9:30 a.m. with hands-on exciting activities, crafts, stories and much more. Children will gain a greater appreciation of nature and wildlife while having fun. $20 per child. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

Reclaim the Lost Master Bolt 

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket invites families with children up to Grade 6 to Reclaim the Lost Master Bolt on Sept. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Get ready for the launch of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess! Spend some time at Camp Half-Blood and relive some of the memorable moments Percy and the gang have faces in earlier books. No registration required. Questions? Email [email protected]

Exploring Native Plants 

As part of its Learn & Create events, the Long Island Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson presents Exploring Native Plants on Sept. 22 and 29 from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Using leaves from the on-site native plant garden, you’ll create unique leaf rubbings and learn all about the crucial role native plants play in sustaining ecosystems, conserving water, and supporting wildlife. $5 per person plus admission fee of $6 children, $8 adults. 631-331-3277

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Ave., Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Sept. 23 at 10:30 a.m. Free. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4. 631-482-5008

Apple Workshop

Save the date! Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket presents an Apple Workshop for ages 4 to 8 on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. Children will learn about Johnny Appleseed, will create a variety of apple goodies to take home and more. $40 per child. To register, call 631-689-8172.

THEATER

‘Rapunzel’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Rapunzel: A Tangled Fairytale from Sept. 28 to Oct. 27. Rapunzel’s sixteenth birthday has come, meaning that she’ll be able to see the outside world for the first time, just as her “mother” promised. Scared to let her go, though, the witch reneges. Lucky for Rapunzel a young Prince happens across her tower. Before the Prince and Rapunzel have their inevitable “happily ever after,” though, they’re going to have to face the wrath of the witch and a few other hilarious obstacles. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit engemantheater.com.

‘Kooky Spooky Halloween’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its children’s theatre season with A Kooky Spooky Halloween from Oct. 5 to 19 with a sensory sensitive performance on Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. Recently graduated spirit Abner Perkins is assigned to the Aberdeen Boarding House — known for its spectral sightings and terrific toast. Here, Abner finds himself cast into a company of its wacky residents. When his secret is revealed, he is forced to leave his haunted home and set-off on a quest with his newly found friends.  Hilarious hijinks and a message of cooperation highlight this delightful musical for the entire family. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

FILM

‘E.T. The Extra Terrestrial’

Heritage Park, 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road, Mount Sinai continues its Movies in the Moonlight series with a screening of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Sept. 20; and Hocus Pocus on Oct. 18. Movies begin at dusk 8:30 p.m. Bring seating. Presented by the North Shore Youth Council and Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon. 631-403-4846

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COMMUNITY PRIDE The Village of Northport celebrates Cow Harbor Day weekend with a parade on Sunday, Sept. 22 at noon. Photo by Michael Scro/Media Origin
Ongoing

Dino Safari Festival

Walt Whitman Shops, 160 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station will host its 5th annual LuminoCity Dino Safari Festival, featuring exhibits,animatronics with light art, an interactive recreation zone and more, now through Sept. 22. Featuring more than 70  life-size dinosaur displays, food, and an educational area with a safari dig and dino fossil hunt. The show runs Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. For tickets, visit www.luminocityfestival.com or purchase onsite.

Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch

Four Harbors Audubon Society invites the community to join them for their 8th annual Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket every evening through Oct. 6 from 5:30 p.m. until dusk. The group will be tallying migrating Common Nighthawks to better understand nighthawk population trends. Join them at the Stone Bridge to witness nighthawks as they pass over during their migratory journey to their wintering grounds in Brazil and Argentina. Bring binoculars. Visit www.4has.org for further details.

Thursday Sept. 19

Harbor Jazz Festival

The 9th annual Harbor Jazz Festival at The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook continues today through Sept. 21. Each day brings a line-up of jazz greats, including some of the top internationally and nationally recognized talents. All events on Sept. 21 are free and take place on the front lawn of the Jazz Loft and on the Stony Brook Village Green. For a full schedule of events, visit www.thejazzloft.org. 631-751-1895 

Vanderbilt Museum Lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s Reichert Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will host a lecture by Ron Schaper on Vanderbilt’s Whale Shark and the Island Life of the Last East Coast Ocean Pound Trap Fishermen from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Schaper, whose uncles caught the 16,000-pound, 32-foot whale shark displayed in the Vanderbilt Museum’s Habitat, will speak about his family and the hundreds of others that made their living as fishermen, and the fascinating history of commercial fishing on Long Island. Tickets are $10, members free. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Music Under the Stars

The MCPL Music Under the Stars summer concert series will take its final bow when The Men of Soul take the stage tonight at 7:30 p.m., at Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd. Centereach. The band will play renditions of classic hits from iconic soul bands of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. This outdoor concert is free and open to all. Bring seating. 631-585-9393.

Eric Roberts at the CAC

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington welcomes Eric Roberts for a book signing of his new memoir, Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far. The evening will start at 7:30 p.m. with a screening of the 1985 film Runaway Train followed by a discussion with the actor, audience Q&A, gala book signing and reception featuring food and live jazz music by New York Times-acclaimed guitarist Mike Soloway. Tickets are $52, $42 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Friday Sept. 20

Harbor Jazz Festival

See Sept. 19 listing.

Stony Brook Village Walking Tour

Ward Melville Heritage Organization presents Secrets of Stony Brook Village walking tours at 10:50 a.m. and again at 3:50 p.m. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through beautiful Stony Brook Village while hearing the quirky, real stories of the people who lived here and the landmarks that make it unique. Tickets are $12 per person. To reserve your spot, call 631-751-2244.

The 4 Seasons of John Monteleone

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents a special  i musical event, The Four Seasons of John Monteleone, in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room at 6:30 p.m.  Join them for an unforgettable evening celebrating the artistry of luthier John Monteleone and his season-themed archtop guitars, on loan from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Acclaimed guitarists Anthony Wilson, Chico Pinheiro, Gregg Belisle-Chi, and Steve Cardenas will unite to perform Seasons: A Song Cycle for Guitar Quartet, with a special opening set by Mafalda Minnozzi with guitarist Paul Ricci. Tickets are $45, $40 members. To order, visit www.longislandmuseum.org. 

Third Friday at the Reboli

As part of their Third Friday series, the Reboli Center for Art and History,  64 Main Street, Stony Brook invites art lovers to the opening reception of The Way We See It!  from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with live jazz music by the P.D.P Trio, refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. Free and open to the public. No RSVP required. 631-751-7707

Irish Heritage Night

The Ancient Order of Hibernians will present a night of Irish Heritage at the Kings Park Heritage Museum, RJO Middle School, 99 Old Dock Road, Kings Park at 7 p.m. Performing for your entertainment will be Ed Ryan, guitarist and singer of Irish songs, comedian Stevie GB, and the Mulvihill Lynch School of Irish Dancers. Admission to this event is free. 631-269-3305

Saturday Sept. 21

Harbor Jazz Festival

See Sept. 19 listing.

Great Cow Harbor Weekend

Village of Northport’s annual Great Cow Harbor Weekend kicks off today at 8:30 a.m. with a 10K race followed by a concert and lighted boat display at Northport Village Park at 8 p.m. The festivities continue on Sept. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. with a parade at noon. Main Street is closed to cars as visitors enjoy carnival rides, games, food, music, arts and craft vendors, sidewalk sales, and a Crazy Boat Race at the harbor at 2 p.m. 631-261-7502, www.cowharborday.com

Port jefferson Beach Cleanup

Coastal Steward hosts a beach cleanup of MacAllister Park, Anchorage Road, Port Jefferson from 8 a.m. to 2 pm. as part of International Coastal Cleanup weekend. www.coastalsteward.org. 

Greenway Trail Cleanup

Three Village Community Trust’s Friends of the Greenway will host a September cleanup of the Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail, corner of Route 112 and Route 25A, starting at 9 a.m. [email protected]

Antiques, Flea Market & Craft Fair

The Manorville Historical Society will be holding its 34th annual Antiques, Craft Fair and Flea Market at the The Maples Bar & Grill, 10 Ryerson Ave., Manorville from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Antiques, flea market items, handmade crafts and raffle auction. 631-878-8358

Greenlawn Church Fair

First Presbyterian Church, 497 Pulaski Road, Greenlawn will present its annual Church Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature craft vendors, raffles, indoor rummage sale, health fair, live music and a food court with door prizes. Something for everyone! 631-261-2150

CSHL Walking Tour

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor will host a guided walking tour of the campus from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Learn about the historic and modern architecture, the Nobel legacy, and the advanced cancer, neuroscience, and plant research taking place at the lab. Fee is $7.18 per person. To register, visit www.cshl.edu. 516-367-8844

Gallery North Outdoor Art Show

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket presents its 57th annual Outdoor Art Show & Music Festival today and Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring some of the finest art and craft from regional artists and artisans with live musical performances, kids activities, as well as delicious food vendors. Awards are granted for best in show for each category, including crafts, fiber art, glass art, jewelry, painting, photography, pottery, printmaking, and more. Free admission. 631-751-2676,  www.gallerynorth.org

Walk with a Doc

Join the Long Island Health Collaborative, AARP Long Island, Stony Brook Medicine, the Suffolk County Office of Minority Health, and the Long Island Sound Study for a Walk with a Doc at Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Guest speakers will include Dr. Anupama Paranandi of Stony Brook Medicine, Adesuwa Watson, Director of Suffolk County DOH’s Office of Minority Health and Jimena Perez-Viscasillas, Long Island Sound Study Outreach Coordinator. Free. Register at www.eventbrite.com.

Brookhaven Country Fair

The Town of Brookhaven’s Country Fair returns to the historic Longwood Estate located on Longwood Road and Smith Road in Ridge today and Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy traditional crafts, vendors, colonial cooking, Revolutionary War and Civil War re-enactments, music by the Ed Travers Band, a medieval gathering, house tours, and children’s activities. Leashed dogs permitted. Held rain or shine. Admission is $5, children 12 and under free. 631-924-1820, brookhavenny.gov

Pickle Festival

Do you love pickles? Then head over to John Gardiner Farm, 900 Park Ave., Greenlawn for its 44th annual Pickle Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy specialty pickles, farmer’s market, craft vendors, baked goods, corn maze, hayrides and a ride on the restored Lollipop Farm train. Admission is $5, free for ages 11 and younger. 631-754-1180, www.greenlawncenterporthistorical.org

Superheroes of the Sky

Join Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive,  Smithtown, for Superheroes of the Sky from 11 a.m. to noon. Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds the Center’s  Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. Fee is $10 adults, $5 children under age 12. To register, visit www. sweetbriarnc.org.

San Gennaro Feast

Lenny Bruno Farms, 740 Wading River Road, Manorville presents its annual San Gennaro Feast today and Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The two day event will celebrate Italian-American culture, delicious cuisine, and the beauty of Long Island’s agricultural heritage. Enjoy a vendor market and food trucks showcasing vegetables straight from Lenny Bruno Farms, pick your own sunflowers, corn maze, farm animals, beer and wine tastings, jumbo garden games and more. $10 per person. www.lennybrunofarms.com/events

German Fall Festival

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 30 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown presents its 7th annual German Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring brats & beer, food trucks, music, baked goods, craft vendors, pickles, pretzels, hair braiding, children’s games, bounce houses and raffles. Rain date is Sept. 28. Call 265-2288 or visit  standrewsofsmithtown.org

Draw Out! Arts Festival

Join the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington for its annual Draw Out! Community Arts Festival, a day of creativity, art, music, and family fun for all ages, from noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy watercolor painting in scenic Heckscher Park, create a collage and sketch from a live model, enjoy live music on the terrace by Dead Ahead, artist demonstrations with The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024 exhibiting artists Jeremy Grand and Herold Patrick Alexis and take part in a docent-led tour of the museum’s latest exhibits. Free. No reservations required. 631-380-3230, heckscher.org

Blues on the Harbor Festival

The Port Jefferson Arts Council, Doc Blues, the Long Island Blues Society and WUSB 90.1 present the Cedar Beach Blues on the Harbor Festival at Harborfront Park, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson today from noon to 6 p.m. and Sept. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. Featuring the best of NY Blues musicians. Free admission. www.gpjac.org

Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook welcomes Broadway star Renée Elise Goldsberry to the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Known for her Tony Award-winning role as Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway smash hit Hamilton, Goldsberry’s star power shines brightly from Broadway to the big screen. Fans of her earlier Broadway triumphs in Rent and The Color Purple know that Goldsberry brings unmatched energy and passion to every performance. Tickets range from $53 to $96. To order, call 631-632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Sunday Sept. 22

Great Cow Harbor Weekend

See Sept. 21 listing.

Gallery North Outdoor Art Show

See Sept. 21 listing.

Brookhaven Country Fair

See Sept. 21 listing.

San Gennaro Feast

See Sept. 21 listing.

Blues on the Harbor Festival

See Sept. 21 listing.

Antique Car Show & House Tour

Step back in time with the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society as they present an Antique Car Show and a tour of the Fitz-Greene Hallock Homestead, 2869 Pond Road, Lake Ronkonkoma from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 50/50 raffle and basket auction. $5 donation. 631-588-7599

Over 50 Fair

Hilton Long Island, 598 Broadhollow Road, Melville will host the 15th annual Over 50 Fair from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fair connects adults 50 and older with 25 classes, over 80 exhibitors, a singles lounge, hearing screenings, a live acoustic music showcase, and much more. Tickets are $5 in advance at www.Over50Fair.com, which includes all classes, exhibits, singles lounge, music performances, health screenings, and more. Those who purchase tickets online will receive a raffle ticket at the event for a special door prize raffle. Tickets are also available at the door for $7, free for veterans. 516-621-1446

Psychic Fair 

The Radisson Hotel, 110 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge hosts the Islandwide Psychic Fair, Gift and Craft Show on Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Participants include clairvoyants, medums, tarot card readers, angel card readers, palm readers, vendors and more. Free admission, fee for readings. 631-334-0802

Bead and Jewelry Festival

A paradise for wholesalers and crafters alike, the Long Island Bead and Jewelry Festival heads to IBEW Local 25 Banquet Center, 370 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From semi-precious stones to sterling silver, art glass to Venetian glass, pearls to Swarovski crystal, this event has it all and more. Nearly every style of bead and stone imaginable will be available for retail and wholesale purchase. Admission is $5.

Biking History Tour

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington hosts  Biking History Tour from 1 to 3 p.m. Travel through the Preserve’s unique history on a guided biking tour. All participants must bring their own bike. Reservation taken on eventbrite.com. 631-423-1770

Antique Train Car Open House

Port Jefferson Station Terryville Chamber of Commerce will host an Antique Train Car Open House along with an Open Mic and Karaoke at the Train Car Park, corner of Route 112 and Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Station at 2 p.m. Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright will discuss the train’s history at the event. Bands and singers welcome. 631-759-8850

Monday Sept. 23

No events listed for this day.

Tuesday Sept. 24

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a presentation by Frank McCoy who will discuss the benefits of physical therapy for seniors in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Sponsored by M&T Bank. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Tap Into Soul Concert

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its Special Events series with Solomon Jaye’s Tap Into Soul at 8 p.m. From “I Feel Good” (James Brown) and “Let’s Stay Together” (Al Green) through “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder) and “September” (Earth, Wind & Fire) to “Shape of You” (Ed Sheeran) and “Uptown Funk” (Bruno Mars), the incredible music featured in this high-energy show (accompanied by Jaye’s frenzy of fast footwork and even some surprise instrumental solos) transports listeners from the 1950s to today in the blink of an eye! Tickets are $45. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Wednesday Sept. 25

Calligraffiti Workshop

Walt Whitman Birthplace, 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station presents a Calligraffiti Workshop with Helen Murdock-Prep at 10 a.m. Learn the art of  beautiful handwriting. Using a brush marker, have fun expressing yourself with this cursive lettering form that adds bold graffiti elements to make your words pop. Fee is $50, $40 members. Includes all supplies. To register, visit www.waltwhitman.org. 631-427-5240

Cruise Night at The Shoppes

The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River hosts a Cruise Night Car Show every Wednesday through October from 5 to 9 p.m. Visit the Shoppes, enjoy a bite to eat and then check out the fine array of classic cars in the parking lot. 631-929-3500

Thursday Sept. 26

Native American Drumming

All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook hosts an evening of Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m.  Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Free. 631-655-7798 

Theater

‘Matilda The Musical’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off its 54th season with Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical from Sept. 14 to Oct. 20. Matilda is a courageous little girl with astonishing wit, a vivid imagination, and psychokinetic powers. Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, the unique and unforgettable Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl on an extraordinary journey! Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12, $25 Wednesday matinees. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit  theatrethree.com. See review on page B12.

‘Clue’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is the hilarious musical Clue from Sept. 12 to Oct. 27. Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, the farce-meets-murder mystery begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Clue is the comedy whodunit that will leave you in stitches as they try to figure out…who did it, where, and with what! Tickets range from $85 to $95. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit engemantheater.com.

‘(Mostly) True Things

(Mostly) True Things, a game wrapped in a storytelling show that features true stories and a game celebrates 10 years of performances at The Performing Arts Studio, 224 E. Main St. Port Jefferson on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. with stories on the theme Trips — stories about experiences of being “tripped up” by life, tripping and falling, road trips and traveling. Featured performers include Marc L Abbott,  Jean Candiotte, Nina Lesiga, Dawn Borchers and Jude Treder-Wolff, host and creator of the show. Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door (cash only). 

Northport One-Act Play Festival

St Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main Street, Northport hosts the 15th annual Northport One-Act Play Festival featuring 10 plays from Sept. 27 to 29. Program One (first 5 plays) will be performed on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m., and Sept. 28 at 2:30 p.m. Program Two (last 5 plays) will be performed on Sept. 28 at  7:30 p.m. and Sept. 29 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is $25 to each of the four festival performances. To order, visit www.northportplays.com or call 631-223-8053.

‘The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’

Suffolk County Community College, 533 College Road, Selden presents The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, a hilarious, crazy fairy-tale extravaganza, on Oct. 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. in Theatre 119 in the Islip Arts Building. Two narrators attempt to recreate all 209 of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm in a wild, fast-paced extravaganza. To make it more difficult, they attempt to combine them into one gigantic fable using Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and other more obscure stories like Lean Lisa and The Devil’s Grandmother. General admission is $15, veterans and students 16 years of age or younger $10. SCCC students with current ID get one free ticket. To order, call 631-451-4163

‘Night of the Living Dead’

Smithtown Performing Arts Center 2 East Main St., Smithtown presents Night of the Living Dead from Oct. 5 to 27. Fall out from a satellite probe shot to Venus returns to Earth carrying a mysterious radiation that transforms the unburied dead into flesh-eating zombies. Seven people trapped in an isolated farmhouse, held hostage by the ravenous ghouls, begin to turn on each other as the dead encroach. A gripping terror-filled monochromatic play that brings all the fright of the cult classic to life. *This production is recommended for audiences high school age and up. Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors and $25 students. To order, visit smithtownpac.org.

Film

‘That’s Entertainment’

Cinema Arts Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a special screening of That’s Entertainment (1974) on Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m. Presented by AARP Long Island, join hosts Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Jimmy Stewart, Liza Minnelli, Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, Donald O’Connor, Peter Lawford and Debbie Reynolds in a joyous celebration of MGM musicals! This iconic collection of song, dance, outtakes, and interviews starts with The Broadway Melody of 1929, and takes us up to 1958’s Academy Award-winning Gigi. Featuring scenes from such American musical classics as Singin’ In the Rain, Show Boat and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and a parade of stars, including stars Ginger Rogers, Esther Williams, and Clark Gable. Tickets are $16, 10 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org. 

‘Join or Die’

The Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its Fall 2024 season with a screening of Join or Die at the First United Methodist Church, 603 Main St., Port Jefferson on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.  Directors Pete and Rebecca Davis follow the half-century story of the unraveling of America’s social fabric through the journey of legendary Harvard social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking “Bowling Alone” research has illuminated the powerful connection between ordinary community bonds and our health, happiness, economy, and politics. In the spirit of the film’s theme, the Port Jefferson Doc Series will host various local volunteer & civic groups to join in conversation about our community. Please consider bringing a small dessert to share. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students. portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.

CALENDAR DEADLINE  is Wednesday at noon, one week before publication. Items may be mailed to: Times Beacon Record News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Email your information about community events to [email protected]. Calendar listings are for not-for-profit organizations (nonsectarian, nonpartisan events) only, on a space-available basis. Please include a phone number that can be printed.

Class Reunions

— The 50s classes of Port Jefferson High School will hold a gathering at Detmer Farm, Ridgeway Ave., Setauket on Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. BYOB. To RSVP, call 631-924-4817 or 631-941-4186. 

— Port Jefferson High School Class of 1964 will hold its 60th reunion at the Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station on Oct. 17. Members of the Class of 1963 are invited to join them. For more information, email Mike Whelen at [email protected]. 

Ward Melville High School Class of 2014 will hold its 10 year reunion at The Waterview, 44 Fairway Drive, Port Jefferson  on Nov. 30 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are  $100 — plus ones allowed. Includes open bar, passed appetizers, and dinner. Please email [email protected] for the link to purchase tickets. 

 

Sanya Richards Ross
First guest will be Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross

Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket will inaugurate their Faithful Conversations series on Friday, September 27 at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall with Sanya Richards-Ross, a decorated Track and Field Olympic champion, NBC Sports Analyst, TV star, entrepreneur, wife, and mother.

Long-ranked the world’s best 400m runner, Richards-Ross has been a force of nature since the beginning of her sports career. She became the first American woman in 28 years, and only the 2nd in history, to be crowned Olympic Champion over 400m at the 2012 Games in London. Richards-Ross is one of the most decorated female athletes in Track and Field history with 4 gold medals and 1 bronze, and remains the fastest American woman to ever run the 400m. Twice the IAAF Athlete of the Year, and Track & Field News’ Athlete of the Decade, Sanya’s legacy in the sport of track and field is undeniable.

On and off the track, Richards-Ross has partnered as a brand ambassador and motivational speaker with popular brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, BMW, Citibank, Liberty Mutual, BP, iFit and others. She wears many hats and answers to many titles: Olympic Champion, Author, Entrepreneur, TV Personality and Wife, but her most prized title, Mother, is the one that inspired the creation of MommiNation, a virtual community and resource that supports black mothers in meaningful ways all over the world.

Richards-Ross has also continued to take on inspiring television opportunities. In 2019, Sanya was tapped by Will Packer and Monique Chenault to become one of the first women of color to host an entertainment news magazine show called Central Ave. She’s been a Real Housewife of Atlanta and is a prominent voice as a color commentator for NBC during the Olympics.

Richards-Ross now resides in Atlanta with her husband, two-time Superbowl Champion, Aaron Ross and their two sons Aaron and Asani.

The Faithful Conversations series, moderated by SPC’s Pastor Dr. Johanna McCune Wagner, is free and open to the public, and all are welcome to attend but registration is required.

Visit setauketpresbyterian.org/speaker-series to learn more and register or click here. For more information, call 631-941-4271.