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Several pieces from the famous Blue Guitar Collection, once on display in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, will be part of the Jazz Loft’s annual John Monteleone, ‘Art of the Guitar’ Festival.

The John Monteleone, “Art of the Guitar” Festival, named for renowned guitar craftsman John Monteleone, will feature demonstrations, exhibits, workshops and performances at the Jazz Loft, located at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook. The festival, which kicked off Aug. 1 with an opening reception, will continue on Aug. 2 and 3. Performances will include Laurence Juber, The Anthony Wilson Organ Trio, Frank Vignola & Pasquale Grasso, and Martin Taylor &Allison Burns.

Recognized as being one of the finest living archtop guitar and mandolin makers in the world today, Monteleone has been at the forefront of innovative cutting-edge archtop instrument making for many years. A resident of Islip, New York, Monteleone has been pushing the luthier envelope for more than 40 years with his refreshing passion for new and elegant designs. Producing instruments of great tonal expression with stunning artistic beauty is also one of Monteleone’s missions in life.

Currently, Monteleone is being honored with an exclusive exhibit of his guitars at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. The exhibit, Musical Masterworks: John Monteleone’s Guitars and Other Instruments, runs through October 13, 2024.

During John’s workshop on Saturday, August 3, guitarist Steve Salerno will join John to bring these incredible instruments to life and display their exquisite sound and history.

“It’s a privilege to present such a world-class Guitar Jazz Festival,” said Tom Manuel, founder of the Jazz Loft. “Audiences will experience the incredible music, the artistry of these iconic guitars, and be up close with the performers as well as the guitars displayed in the gallery. John’s importance to this music, and Festival, is the best reflection of what Jazz represents.”

The music from world-known musicians is just part of the allure of the festival. For guitar aficionados, there will be plenty to look at. The festival will once again feature the Iconic & Historic Guitar Gallery, displaying two of the Archtop Foundation’s Blue Guitars, George Benson’s 1958 D’Angelico New Yorker, Frank Sinatra’s longtime guitarist, Al Viola’s Epiphone, Bucky Pizzarelli’s first guitar and over 20 guitars rarely seen. Two once-in-a-lifetime surprises are also in the works to be shown publicly at the event.

The vision of a Blue Guitar Collection came from vintage guitar collector, the late Scott Chinery, a major figure in the vintage guitar world. “Often thought that it would be neat to get all the greatest builders together and have them interpret the same guitar, an 18-inch archtop, in the same color blue,” Chinery said. The Collection, now owned by the Archtop Foundation, is continuing the tradition of inviting the industry’s top luthiers to build new expressions of the original concept.

The schedule for the festival, all taking place inside The Jazz Loft, is below:

Friday, August 2, 2024:

5 p.m. performance by Laurence Juber

7 pm.  Performance by The Anthony Wilson Organ Trio

Saturday, August 3, 2024:

12 p.m. Guitar Workshop with John Monteleone & Steve Salerno

4 p.m. performance by Frank Vignolo & Pasquale Grasso

7 p.m. performance by Martin Taylor & Alison Burns

For information, please visit https://www.thejazzloft.org/monteleone.

The Jazz Loft is located at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook. Tickets for the guitar festival can be purchased here: https://www.thejazzloft.org/tickets

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Halle Hazzard

Onetime Gurwin volunteers, now Olympic hopefuls, set their eyes on gold

All eyes are trained on Paris and the athletes competing in the Olympic Games, and two young women from Long Island have their moms to thank for getting them there.

Brianna Jones

Halle Hazzard of Commack and Brianna Jones of North Babylon are each first-time Olympians. Hazzard is representing Grenada and competing in the 100-meter dash, and Jones is representing Puerto Rico in Women’s Basketball. Watching their children live out their dreams are Pauline Hazzard and Christina Jones, mothers of Hale and Brianna, both long-time employees of Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack.

Halle began running at 14 years old and went on to compete in meets across Long Island and New York State while attending high school at St. Anthony’s. She attended the University of Virginia and received her master’s degree at the University of Southern California in journalism, documentary and film.

Pauline, a Certified Nursing Assistant and Program Assistant in Gurwin’s Social Adult Day Care Program, was happy to sacrifice to ensure Halle achieved her dreams.  “Our weekend road trips started in high school to various meets across NY State and beyond,” she said. “It continued through college with track meets worldwide. As parents, we are very proud of keeping her grounded and helping her pursue her goals; we are even more proud of her staying humble while chasing her Olympic dream.”

Brianna began playing basketball in the second grade and attended North Babylon High School. She then went on to graduate from Georgetown with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in sports industry management.

“It is a moment of immense pride and joy for our family to see Brianna playing for the Puerto Rican Women’s National Basketball team in the Olympics. The years of training, early morning workouts, long road trips to tournaments and sacrifices she has made have culminated in this remarkable achievement,” said Christina, RN, Director of Nursing at Gurwin’s nursing and rehabilitation center.  “As a parent, there is no greater feeling than seeing your child realize her dreams. She is a source of inspiration for others and to young Puerto Rican women. Her journey serves as a reminder that with passion, dedication and determination, anything is possible.”

In addition to having mothers as full-time employees at Gurwin, Halle and Brianna each volunteered at Gurwin while juggling their busy athletic schedules. Halle began volunteering at Gurwin in the sixth grade and would frequently visit Gurwin throughout college. Brianna volunteered  in Gurwin’s therapeutic recreation department throughout high school, helping with programs for the elderly residents in the nursing home.

“Here at Gurwin, we celebrate the incredible achievements of our team members and their families. We are exceptionally proud of Halle and Brianna as they chase their Olympic dreams,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO, Gurwin Healthcare System. “Their dedication, hard work and excellence inspire us all. We are certainly watching and cheering Halle and Brianna on!”

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Caprese Zucchini Noodle Bowl

By Heidi Sutton

Zucchini is one of the most versatile veggies out there. If you have a bumper crop this year, try these delicious recipes for lunch, dinner and dessert. 

Zucchini Boats

Zucchini Boats

YIELD: Makes 8 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

4 medium zucchinis, halved lengthwise

1 jar (16 ounces) marinara sauce

2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, divided

olive oil

2 cups finely shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup mini pepperonis

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Scoop out insides of each half zucchini and place in medium bowl. In medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine zucchini insides, marinara sauce and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Cook 8-10 minutes, or until zucchini is tender. 

Place six hollow zucchini halves in baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and remaining Italian seasoning. Scoop sauce mixture into zucchini. Top with mozzarella cheese and mini pepperonis. Bake 15-17 minutes. Switch oven to high broil 4-5 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown, watching closely.

Caprese Zucchini Noodle Bowl

Caprese Zucchini Noodle Bowl

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

4 medium zucchini, spiralized

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup packed chopped fresh basil

1 ball (8 ounces) burrata cheese, torn

DIRECTIONS:

Toss together zucchini, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper; let stand 10 minutes, or until zucchini starts to soften. Gently stir in tomatoes and basil. Divide salad among four bowls. Top with cheese.

Zucchini & Apple Bread

Zucchini & Apple Bread

YIELD: Makes about 12 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3/4 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 medium zucchini, shredded (1-1/2 cups)

1 medium apple, peeled, cored and shredded

3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with vegetable pan spray. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. In medium bowl, whisk together oil, eggs and vanilla. Stir into flour mixture. Stir in zucchini, apple and pecans, mixing until just combined. (Do not overmix.) Turn mixture into prepared pan. 

Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool bread in pan 10 minutes. Loosen edges of bread from pan. Remove bread from pan; cool completely.

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Qingtao Sun, postdoctoral researcher at CSHL, presents a poster of the cachexia research taken at a Society for Neuroscience meeting in 2023 in Washington, DC. Photo by Dr. Wenqiang Zheng

By Daniel Dunaief

Cancer acts as a thief, robbing people of time, energy, and quality of life. In the end, cancer can trigger the painful wasting condition known as cachexia, in which a beloved relative, friend or neighbor loses far too much weight, leaving them in an emaciated, weakened condition.

A team of researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has been studying various triggers and mechanisms involved in cachexia, hoping to find the signals that enable this process.

Recently, CSHL scientists collaborated on a discovery published in the journal Nature Communications that connected a molecule called interleukin-6, or IL-6, to the area postrema in the brain, triggering cachexia.

By deleting the receptors in this part of the brain for IL-6, “we can prevent animals from developing cachexia,” said Qingtao Sun, a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Professor Bo Li.

Through additional experiments, scientists hope to build on this discovery to develop new therapeutic treatments when doctors have no current remedy for a condition that is often the cause of death for people who develop cancer.

To be sure, the promising research results at this point have been in an animal model. Any new treatment for people would not only require additional research, but would also need to minimize the potential side effects of reducing IL-6.

Like so many other molecules in the body, IL-6 plays an important role in a healthy system, promoting anti- and pro-inflammatory responses among immune cells, which can help fight off infections and even prevent cancer.

“Our study suggests we need to specifically target IL-6 or its receptors only in the area prostrema,” explained Li in an email.

Tobias Janowitz, Associate Professor at CSHL and a collaborator on this project, recognized that balancing therapeutic effects with potential side effects is a “big challenge in general and also is here.”

Additionally, Li added that it is possible that the progression of cachexia could involve other mechanistic steps in humans, which could mean reducing IL-6 alone might not be sufficient to slow or stop this process.

“Cachexia is the consequence of multi-organ interactions and progressive changes, so the underlying mechanisms have to be multifactorial, too,” Miriam Ferrer Gonzalez, a co-first author and former PhD student in Janowitz’s lab, explained in an email.

Nonetheless, this research result offers a promising potential target to develop future stand alone or cocktail treatments.

The power of collaborations

Working in a neuroscience lab, Sun explained that this discovery depended on several collaborations throughout Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. 

“This progress wouldn’t be possible if it’s only done in our own lab,” said Sun. “We are a neuroscience lab. Before this study, we mainly focused on how the brain works. We have no experience in studying cachexia.”

This paper is the first in Li’s lab that studied cachexia. Before Li’s postdoc started this project, Sun had focused on how the brain works and had no experience with cachexia.

When Sun first joined Li’s lab three years ago, Li asked his postdoctoral researcher to conduct an experiment to see whether circulating IL-6 could enter the brain and, if so where.

Sun discovered that it could only enter one area, which took Li’s research “in an exciting direction,” Li said.

CSHL Collaborators included Janowitz, Ferrer Gonzalez, Associate Professor Jessica Tolkhun, and Cancer Center Director David Tuveson and former CSHL Professor and current Principal Investigator in Neurobiology at Duke University School of Medicine Z. Josh Huang.

Tollkuhn’s lab provided the genetic tool to help delete the IL-6 receptor.

The combination of expertise is “what made this collaboration a success,” Ferrer Gonzalez, who is now Program Manager for the Weill Cornell Medicine partnership with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, explained in an email.

Tuveson added that pancreatic cancer is often accompanied by severe cachexia.

“Identifying a specific area in the brain that participates in sensing IL-6 levels is fascinating as it suggests new ways to understand physiological responses to elevated inflammation and to intervene to blunt this response,” Tuveson explained. “Work in the field supports the concept that slowing or reversing cachexia would improve the fitness of cancer patients to thereby improve the quality and quantity of life and enable therapeutic interventions to proceed.”

Tuveson described his lab’s role as “modest” in promoting this research program by providing cancer model systems and advising senior authors Li and Janowitz.

Co-leading an effort to develop new treatments for cachexia that received a $25 million grant from the Cancer Grand Challenge, Janowitz helped Sun understand the processes involved in the wasting disease. 

Connecting the tumor biology to the brain is an “important step” for cachexia research, Janowitz added. He believes this step is likely not the only causative process for cachexia.

Cutting the signal

After discovering that IL-6 affected the brain in the area postrema, Sun sought to determine its relevance in the context of cachexia.

After he deleted receptors for this molecule, the survival period for the test animals was double that for those who had interleukin 6 receptors in this part of the brain. Some of the test animals still died of cachexia, which Sun suggested may be due to technical issues. The virus they used may not have affected enough neurons in the area postrema.

In the Nature Communications research, Sun studied cachexia for colon cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Sun expects that he will look at cancer models for other types of the disease as well.

“In the future, we will probably focus on different types” of cancer, he added.

Long journey

Born and raised in Henan province in the town of Weihui, China, Sun currently lives in Syosset. When he’s not in the lab, he enjoyed playing basketball and fishing for flounder.

When he was growing up, he showed a particular interest in science.

As for the next steps in the research, Sun is collaborating with other labs to develop new strategies to treat cancer cachexia.

He is eager to contribute to efforts that will lead to future remedies for cachexia.

“We are trying to develop some therapeutic treatment,” Sun said.

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Adele
Adele
Adele

MEET ADELE!

This week’s featured shelter pet is Adele, a sweet and petite, all black, domestic, short-haired girl up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. 

Adele, who is approximately one year old, was found as a stray and brought to the shelter with her litter of newborn kittens. She was a wonderful mother who took excellent care of her babies. Now that they are completely weaned, Adele is ready to become a cherished family member where she can find endless joy, love and happiness. 

In addition to her bewitching beauty, Adele is incredibly charming, playful and a bit of a flirt if we’re being honest. She is famous around the shelter for serenading those who make her acquaintance, as she is extraordinarily vocal, and it’s absolutely adorable! This little lady is very comfortable in the spotlight and enjoys interacting with her audience. However, the most endearing quality this superstar possesses is her ability to make those around her feel loved, special, and appreciated. This girl has an unlimited supply of love and affection to give one very lucky family.

Adele is healthy and will likely do well in a home with children and pets. 

If you are interested in meeting Adele, please fill out an application to schedule time to properly interact with your prospective soul mate in a domestic setting at www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.

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Museum Palette Café

The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington invites the community to a ribbon cutting and grand opening of its Museum Palette Café on Friday, Aug. 2 at noon. 

The event, which will be attended by Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, Assemblyman Keith P. Brown,  TOH Cultural Affairs Greg Wagner, and Marc Perez, president of Bank of America Long Island, will be followed by live music and free art activities for families through 2 p.m.

Enjoy tasty bites and a beautiful view of Heckscher Park in this new outdoor space on the Museum’s terrace from Off the Bone, the first of in a rotating roster of local food trucks. The café includes seating for up to thirty-six people. Food trucks will provide delicacies for guests each Friday between noon and 5 p.m. through Sept. 27. A diverse range of cuisines curated by Black, Indigenous, and female chef owners of color will be featured. Seating on the terrace will be accessible year-round and includes wheelchair accessible/ADA approved tables.

The café has been made possible thanks to a $100,000 grant through the Suffolk County JumpStart program and the support of Former County Executive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, and Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth.

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TAKE A BOW: Above, the winners of this year's Stony Brook Film Festival, from left, Daniel Rashid and Reilly Anspaugh (Chauncey), Tathagata Ghosh (If), Zach Finger (Mimesis), Axel Dahan (On the Paths Awakened), Ryan Ward and Mackenzie Leigh (Daughter of the Sun), Bradley Gallo (Audrey’s Children), Mediha Alhamad (Mediha), and Barnabas Toth (Mastergame). Photo from Staller Center

The 29th annual Stony Brook Film Festival, presented by Island Federal Credit Union, wrapped up with its closing night awards ceremony on July 27.  The evening recognized the outstanding new independent films screened at the festival, which was held at Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University from July 18 to 27.

This year’s festival brought together hundreds of directors and filmmakers and featured 36 films from 19 countries of which 13 standouts received awards. 

GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Mediha Alhamad, the subject and co-writer of the Grand Prize Award-winning ‘Mediha,’ with festival director Alan Inkles. Photo from Staller Center

Mediha took home the Grand Prize Award. Directed by Hasan Oswald, this masterful documentary chronicles the journey of a young Yazidi girl returning from ISIS captivity. Using her camera to process her trauma, she documents her experience while rescuers continue to search for her missing family members. The Grand Prize is given to films that have ‘wowed’ both the audience and the jury beyond what could be contained in the simple phrase ‘best film’ in this or that category. Mediha is the 11th film in the festival’s 29-year history that has received a Grand Prize and only the second time awarded to a Documentary Film. 

Two short films won the audience’s hearts, resulting in a tie for this year’s Audience Choice Award for Best Short. The winners for this category included two of the youngest filmmakers to win an award in the 29-year festival history. Mimesis, a drama about a struggling alcoholic actor who finds solace in an audition for the role of therapist, and On the Paths Awakened, a WWII-era story of two French teens facing intimate conflicts as the resistance recruits them. The festival’s youngest filmmakers directed the two winning short films: 20-year-old Zach Finger from Long Island and 19-year-old Axel Dahan from France.

One feature that truly captivated the audience was Running on Sand, which took home the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature. Adar Shafran directed this heartfelt crowd-pleaser about a refugee from Israel who, facing imminent deportation, is mistakenly identified as a Nigerian soccer star at the airport. The film highlights the precariousness of refugees’ lives, the power of second chances, and the complex intersections of identity and survival. 

The Spirit of Independent Filmmaking Award is for filmmakers who use a distinct indie perspective to bring their stories to life vividly. It is reserved for filmmakers who have created a standout film with very few resources, financial or otherwise. “When it looks and sounds great, plays great, creates its own world, and you would never suspect how hard the filmmakers worked to bring it to life on screen, then you’re watching the kind of film we give these awards to,” said Festival Programmer, Kent Marks. 

Daughter of the Sun secured the honor of this year’s award. This vintage-feeling, breathtaking fantasy tells the story of a man with Tourette’s Syndrome and supernatural powers and his 12-year-old daughter navigating life on the run.

The festival also announced that one of the films received an especially rare award in the 2024 Dr. Gabriel Sara Humanitarian Award. In 2022, the Stony Brook Film Festival created an inaugural prize in honor of Dr. Gabriel Sara, who worked wonders in cancer at Mount Sinai in New York by treating patients with dignity through song, dance, and teaming up with some of the most caring individuals in healthcare. He went on to play a role not unlike himself in the film opposite Catherine Deneuve. 

This year, the festival hosted a non-competing sneak preview of the film. Titled Audrey’s Children, it tells the story of Dr. Audrey Evans, who brought new treatments to pediatric cancer patients in the U.S. and went on to co-found The Ronald McDonald House. 

The Jury Award for Best Short went to Where We Belong, the Jury Award for Directing given to Mastergame, and the Jury Award for Best Feature went to The Strangers’ Case. (To listen to a podcast interview with The Strangers’ Case writer and director Brandt Andersen with TBR News Media reporter Daniel Dunaief, visit www.tbrnewsmedia.com.)

Mastergame director Barnabás Toth, who attended the awards ceremony, said, “Being here as a filmmaker is special. Coming here is like a therapy, a cure for any kind of artist because people who create are appreciated here. So please continue to keep it that way.”

The Festival’s Opening and Closing Night Feature and Short films were also recognized, including Director Aexandre Arcady of The Blond Boy From the Casbah (Opening Night Feature), Christopher Doll, Director/Producer and Karoline Herfurth, actress of One Million Minutes (Closing Night Feature), Daniel Rashid, Director of Chauncey (Opening Night Short), and Tathagata Gosh, Director of If (Closing Night Short). 

In addition to Island Federal’s generous support as presenting sponsor, additional sponsors for the Stony Brook Film Festival included News 12 Long Island; Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP; Suffolk Arts and Film; Strata Alliance; and WLIW/PBS.

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Catch an outdoor screening of 'The Wizard of Oz' at the Middle Country Public Library on Aug. 7.
PROGRAMS

Drop-In Art Workshops

Children ages five through ten are invited to the Heckscher Museum, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington to create fun works of art in a variety of materials inspired by artwork in the Museum’s exhibitions on Aug. 1 and Aug. 8 from 10 to 11 a.m. Each week’s project will be exciting and different! Programs will be held both in the Museum and in Heckscher Park, weather-permitting. $10 per child includes all art supplies and admission to the museum. No advance registration required. www.heckscher.org

First Steps in Nature

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown continues its First Steps in Nature series for ages 2 to 4 on  Aug. 2 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

Hatchery Olympics

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will host their very own Hatchery Olympics on Aug. 3 and 4! Open ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. with frog hops, insect catches, animal track stars, bird balance beam and a snake shedding race. Athletes will compete against others in their age group. Free with admission fee. Register by emailing [email protected].

THE ART OF ILLUSION
Enjoy a free magic show with Magic of Amore at the Stony Brook Village Center on Aug. 3.

Pop-Up Saturday

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) continues its Pop-Up Saturdays series at the Stony Brook Village Center’s Inner Court by Crazy Beans, 97 Main St., Stony Brook on Aug. 3 with a captivating magic show with Magic of Amore from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. 631-751-2244

BNL Open House

Join Brookhaven National Laboratory, 2 Center St., Upton for an Open House on Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, where researchers probe tiny structures for big discoveries! See electron microscopes and a clean room, where research teams work with advanced materials at the nanoscale. Enjoy a Magic of Energy show, science talks and tour Center for Functional Nanomaterials the National Weather Service. Free. No reservations required. www.bnl.org.

Kids for Kids Concert

Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket continues its free summer programs with a Kids for Kids Interactive Concert on Aug. 6 at 11 a.m. Ward Melville High School students will share their knowledge about the many intruments they play. Children will be offered a hands-on experience too. Meet at Hap’s Red Barn. Bring seating. Free. No registration required. 631-689-6146

Giant Game & Big Voice Day

Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket invites families with children up to Grade 6 to its Giant Game & Big Voice Day on Aug. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m Try your hand at Giant Connect 4, sing karaoke, and spin the prize wheel. No registration required. Open to all. Questions? Email [email protected].

Busy Bees

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a Tiny Tots program, Busy Bees, on Aug. 8 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 eventbrite.com.

Adventures in Painting

Time to paint outside the box! Families with children up to Grade 6 are invited to drop by Emma Clark Library, 120 Main St., Setauket for an Adventures in Painting class on Aug. 8 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.  to But you won’t find any paintbrushes here — you’ll be painting using various tools you may have never thought of. Leave with as many masterpieces as you can make! No registration required. Open to all. Questions? Email [email protected]

THEATER

‘Pinocchio’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Pinocchio, an original musical of the puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy, from Aug. 2 to 10. In a joyous and hilarious retelling of the famous tale, Pinocchio discovers the challenges and rewards of being truly human. Along the way, he befriends a sassy cricket and a bumbling fairy and is challenged by a sly fox, a wily cat, and a sneaky rat who tempt him off the path! Come follow Pinocchio as he journeys down the road of misadventure and learns the importance of telling the truth! All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Finding Nemo Jr.’

Summer fun continues at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport with Finding Nemo Jr. from July 20 to Aug. 25. In this musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie, Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as Dory, Crush, and the Tank Gang, Marlin, and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

FILM

‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’

Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Cinema for Kids! series with a screening of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs on Aug. 4 at noon. Hailed as a hero at first, inventer Flint Lockwood must scramble to avert disaster with the weather girl Sam Sparks and Steve, Flint’s talking monkey assistant, as food of gargantuan proportions rains down. Tickets are $13 adults, $5 children 12 and under. www.cinemaartscentre.org.

‘The Wizard of Oz’

Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach invites the community to a screening of the classic The Wizard of Oz in the library’s parking lot on Aug. 7 at 8:30 p.m. After a tornado whisks her away to the magical land of Oz, Dorothy Gale teams up with a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodsman, and a Cowardly Lion to find the mighty Wizard of Oz, who can send her home. Rain date is Aug.14. Bring seating. 631-585-9393

Send your calendar events to [email protected]

 

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A scene from a previous East Northport Fire Department Fair. Photo by Amanda Perelli
Ongoing

Circus heads to Lake Grove

Paranormal Cirque III arrives at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove from Aug. 1 to Aug. 4 featuring a brand new show for mature audiences under the big tent in the mall’s parking lot. Featuring acrobats, illusionists, mysterious creatures and the Wheel of Death all under a black and red Clown Castle tent, the shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets range from $20 to $60. No one under age 13 will be admitted to the show. Guests aged 13 – 17 must be accompanied by an adult. This show has adult language and material. To order, visit www.paranormalcirque.com. 

Huntington Summer Arts Festival

The 59th annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival returns to Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington from June 21 to Aug. 24, Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. The 10-week festival will feature over 40 live performances including dance, theater and music. Bring seating. Held rain or shine. Free. For a list of scheduled performers, visit www.huntingtonarts.org. 631-271-8423

Thursday Aug. 1

Art of the Guitar Festival

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents the 4th annual Monteleone: Art of the Guitar Festival tonight to Aug. 3 with performances by Laurence Juber, Anthony Wilson Organ Trio, Frank Vignolo & Pasquale Grasso and Martin Taylor & Allison Burns; opening reception tonight at 6 p.m.; and a workshop with John Monteleone and Steve Salerno on Aug. 3 at noon. Visit www.thejazzloft.org/monteleone for full schedule. 631-751-1895

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series continues at the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with New York’s Finest (Police/Sting tribute) tonight at 7:30 p.m. No registration

required. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Community Band Concert

The Northport Community Band will host concerts at the Robert W. Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park tonight starting at 8:30 p.m. Free. Bring seating. Rain location is Northport High School. www.ncb59.org

Friday Aug. 2

Art of the Guitar Festival

See Aug. 1 listing.

Musical Moments

Musical Moments in Kings Park return to Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main St., Kings Park from 7:30 to 9 p.m. with Mystery Play, courtesy of the Kings Park Civic Association. Weather permitting. Bring seating. 516-509-7231

Alex Torres in Concert

For the 17th summer, the internationally renowned Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestrat return to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport for a concert tonight and Aug. 3 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Vanderbilt mansion courtyeard. Pack a cooler and a picnic dinner and enjoy the show! Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $65 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Happenings on Main Street

Northport Arts Coalition presents Happenings on Main Street, free concerts at the Northport Village Park Gazebo at the harbor Friday evenings at 7 p.m. through Aug. 30. Tonight’s performance will feature Christine Sweeney & The Dirty Stayouts. Bring seating. 631-261-1872

Adele Tribute Concert

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its summer concert series with an Absolute Adele Tribute Concert with Jennifer Cela at 8 p.m. Enjoy Adele’s top hits including  “Rolling In The Deep’, “Set Fire To The Rain,” “Someone Like You,”  “Rumor Has It,”  “Hello,” “Send My Love,” and “Water Under the Bridge,” “When We Were Young,” “Easy On Me,” and many more. Tickets are $55. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Saturday Aug. 3

Art of the Guitar Festival

See Aug. 1 listing.

Alex Torres in Concert

See Aug. 2 listing.

Sweet SummerFest

Lenny Bruno Farms, 740 Wading River Road, Manorville will host its 2024 Sweet SummerFest, a celebration of all things sweet, including melons, sunflowers, and sweet corn, today and Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees can enjoy live music, tastings, and a range of fun activities including a watermelon eating contest and a foam party. Attendees can also pick their own sunflowers for just $1 per stem and take a hayride around the farm (fee). Admission is $10 per person (children ages 2 and under are free). www.lennybrunofarms.com/events.

Nature Walks

Town of Brookhaven hosts a Nature Walk at West Meadow Beach, Trustees Road, Stony Brook at 10 a.m. and at Cedar Beach, 244 Harbor Beach Road, Mount Sinai at 2 p.m. Come explore the unique ecology of the beach and salt marsh. Learn about the different and overlapping ecosystems of flora and fauna, and the habitats that comprise these beautiful places. Please wear closed, comfortable shoes. Free but registration required by emailing [email protected].

Port Palooza

The 4th annual Port Palooza music festival heads to the Port Jeff Brewing Company, 22 Mill Creek Road, Port Jefferson today from noon to 10 p.m. and Aug. 4 from noon to 8 p.m. Enjoy live music both days with a Save-A-Pet puppy adoption event on Saturday and family dance party with games and kid friendly activities on Sunday. Featured artists include local favorites The Cole Fortier Band and The Como Brothers, along with new act Big Rick Energy and many more TBA. Event will benefit Jaegar’s Run animal rescue. Free. Text 516-939-8960 or visit www.portpalooza.com for more info.

Eastbound Freight in Concert

All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Saturdays at Six concert series with a performance by Eastbound Freight, a 5-piece traditional bluegrass band, at 6 p.m. The group will perform instrumentals and songs reflecting the rich history of this uniquely American genre. Their music includes fast-paced fiddle tunes as well as ballads and gospel music from the early years of bluegrass to the present day.  Free.  631-655-7798

Walking the Line Concert

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson welcomes Walking the Line: A Tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter at 8 p.m., the most authentic sounding and visual performance of the music of Johnny Cash, playing the singer’s most loved hits and rare gems while recreating the look, feel, and flow of his concerts. Tickets are $65. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Sunday Aug. 4

Sweet SummerFest

See Aug. 3 listing.

Port Palooza

See Aug. 3 listing.

Rock & Roll Car Show

The 13th annual Rock-N-Roll Car Show will be held at the Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. View cars from the Fabulous 50s-60s Nostalgia Car Club, enjoy music, food vendors, craft tables, blood pressure screenings and more for Judy’s Run For Stroke Awareness and Prevention annual judged rock show fundraiser. Rain date is Aug. 11. Fee is $10 per car for spectators. 631-255-2516

Linda Sussman in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook  presents a concert by Linda Sussman (folk, alternative-folk and blues) from 3 to 4 p.m. The event is free with general admission ticket purchase. 631-689-5888, www.limusichalloffame.org. 

Wind Down Sundays

The popular summer concert series returns to Hap’s historic Red Barn at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 1 Old Field Road, Setauket with a performance by the Carlos Jimenez Mambo Dulcet at 5:30 p.m. Bring seating. 631-689-6146, www.frankmelvillepark.org

Celebrate St. James Concert Series – The event has been canceled due to the threat of rain.

Line-up change: Celebrate St. James continues its summer concert series at Celebrate Park, 369 Lake Ave., St. James with Hooch and the Bluesicians from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The series continues every Sunday through Aug. 18. Free. Bring seating. 631-984-0201, www.celebratestjames.org

Village Green Summer Concert

Summer concerts return to the Stony Brook Village Center every Sunday at 7 p.m. in front of the Stony Brook Post Office, 111 Main Street, Stony Brook through Aug. 18. Tonight’s performance will feature One Step Ahead. Bring seating. In the case of rain, the concerts will be cancelled. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org

Monday Aug. 5

Movie Trivia Night

Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for a Movie Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Try to answer 50 questions based all around film, actors and actresses, awards, and everything else associated with the world of film. Challenge like-minded film fans in a battle of wits for cash and other prizes. You can form teams, so bring some friends and work together. Feel free to come alone and play solo as well! Hosted by Dan French. Tickets are $11 per person, $7 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org. 631-423-7610.

Tuesday Aug. 6

National Night Out events

See page B20.

NSJC Social Club event

(Rescheduled from July 30) North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a performance by the amazing Mulvihill Lynch Irish Dancers  with a demonstration of classic Irish dancing in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee will be served. $5 per person, $4 members. 631-928-3737

Goat & Alpaca Yoga

The Smithtown Historical Society, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown hosts a 45 minute session of yoga with friendly, interactive goats and alpacas from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and again from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m courtesy of  by Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo. Tickets are $35 per person. Please bring a mat & towel. Registration required via Eventbrite. For more information, call 631-265-6768.

Concerts at The Gazebo 

Enjoy Tuesday night concerts at The Gazebo, 127 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset at 7 p.m. through Aug. 27. Tonight’s performance will feature Panic! (Dance Rock Tribute) on Aug. 6. Rain date is Aug. 7. 631-672-5197, www.nesconsetchamber.org

Wednesday Aug. 7

Cruise Night Car Show

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

Port Jefferson Sunset Concert

Port Jefferson Arts Council continues its Sunset Concerts at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson with a performance by Danny Kean from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Free. Bring seating. Held rain or shine. 631-473-5220, www.gpjac.org

East Northport Fire Dept.  Fair

The East Northport Fire Department, 1 9th Ave., East Northport will host its annual Fair tonight through Aug. 10 from 7 to 11 p.m. with carnival rides, games of chance and skill, live music, large selection of food and more. Parade kicks off tonight on Larkfield Road at 7 p.m. Free admission. POP ride bracelets. 631-261-0360, ext. 110

Summerfest Concert

The Northport Chamber of Commerce kicks off its Summerfest Concert series on Wednesday nights at the Robert Krueger Bandshell in Northport Village Park with Streetfighter from 7:30 to 9 p.m.. Bring seating. 631-754-3905

Summer Concert Wednesdays

(Rescheduled from July 17) Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Chamber of Commerce continues its Summer Concert Wednesdays at the Train Car Park, 1 Rose Ave. (corner of Route 112 and Nesconset Highway), Port Jefferson Station with a performance by Drive and a car show from 7 to 9 p.m. Bring seating. 631-821-1313

Thursday Aug. 8

East Northport Fire Dept.  Fair

See Aug. 8 listing.

Adventure Trivia

Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for Adventure Trivia from 4 to 5 p.m. or from 7 to 8 p.m. Test your knowledge of music, movies, history and more with a chance to win prizes with Theresa Maritato. Adults only. To register, call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org

Kings Park Rocks 

Kings Park Chamber of Commerce presents a Kings Park Rocks summer concert featuring Southbound at Russ Savatt Park, 14 Main Street,  Kings Park on Aug. 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. 631-269-7678

Harborside Concerts

Harborside concerts continue at the Show Mobile at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson tonight at 7 p.m. with Drive (Cars tribute band). Bring seating. 631-473-4724, www.portjeff.com

Music in the Park

The Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce presents Music in the Park at Veterans Park, Boyle Road, Selden with live music by Milagro (Santana tribute band) starting at 7 p.m. Rain date is Aug. 28. Bring seating. 631-681-8708

Dennis Cannataro Concert Series

The Dennis Cannataro Family Summer Concert Series continues at the Smithtown Library, 1 North Country Road, Smithtown with Penny Lane (Beatles tribute) tonight at 7:30 p.m. No registration required. Bring seating. 631-360-2480 ext. 150

Film

‘A Million Miles Away’

Village of Port Jefferson continues its Movies on the Harbor series at Harborfront Park, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson with a screening of A Million Miles Away on Aug. 6 at dusk. Rain date is the next evening. Bring seating. 631-473-4724

‘The Boys in the Boat’

Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson for a screening of  The Boys in the Boat starring Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner, and Hadley Robinson on Aug. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. Open to all. To reserve your seat, call 631-928-1212 or visit www.cplib.org. 

Theater

‘Newsies’

Stop the presses! This Disney film turned Tony-winning Broadway hit Newsies heads to the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown from July 13 to Aug. 18. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right! Tickets are $35 adults, $32 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org. 

‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’

The Carriage House Players at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in  Centerport continue their 35th annual Shakespeare in the Courtyard Festival with The Merry Wives of Windsor from July 12 to Aug. 9. Performances are held on the Vanderbilt mansion courtyard stage on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children under age 12 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

‘Legally Blonde The Musical’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Legally Blonde The Musical from July 11 to Aug. 25. Elle Woods appears to have it all until her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend dumps her to attend Harvard. Determined to get him back, Elle charms her way into the prestigious law school. An award-winning musical based on the adored movie, the show follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Tickets range from $80 to  $95. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Be Chill’

The Engeman Select Players at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport present Be More Chill on Aug. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. A hit on Broadway and in the West End, Be More Chill is based on the novel by Ned Vizzini. Tickets are $25. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Guys and Dolls’

Celebrate St. James presents a production of the musical Guys and Dolls at St. James Episcopal Church (Mills Hall), 490 North Country Road, St. James on Aug. 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. The show takes us from the bustle of Times Square to the dance clubs of Havana to the sewers of New York City as it demonstrates the great lengths to which a guy will go when he truly falls in love with a “doll.” Tickets, which include refreshments and dessert, are $35 adults, $30 seniors. To order, call 516-272-6597 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.

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.

 

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Children enjoy the grand opening of Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park in Elwood. Photo by Kyle Barr

Cooling Centers Opening, Beach/Pool/Spray Park Hours Extended During Heat Wave

As a community service and in light of the warmer than average summer, the Town of Huntington will now be allowing Huntington residents to use the Manor Field Park and Elwood Spray Parks free of charge throughout the remainder of the summer.  Proof of residency is required.  Elwood and Manor Field Spray Parks will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the heat wave.  (Spray Parks are open at 10 a.m. for children with special needs).

“For some of our residents, staying cool during these frequent summer heat waves can be a challenge,” said Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth.  “Offering the spray parks to our residents with children is the best kind of community service – convenient, safe, fun and now, free.”

Spray Park hours will return to 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, August 5.

In anticipation of the forecasted heat wave, the Town of Huntington will also put the following services and schedules in place:

Cooling centers:      –      The Dix Hills Ice Rink will be open from noon to 8 p.m.

  • The Town of Huntington Flanagan Senior Center will be open until 4 p.m. – Thursday and Friday Only!

Beaches: Crab Meadow, West Neck, Hobart, and Centerport Beaches will be open with stationed lifeguards until 8 PM.  Beach Permits required.  Residents can visit www.tohbeachpermit.com to obtain a virtual beach permit.

Dix Hills Pool: The Dix Hills Pool will also be free to residents during the heat wave –

(Thursday, August 1 – Sunday, August 4).

The following community hours will apply:

Thursday (8/1):  2 to 8 p.m.

Friday (8/2):  12:30 to 8 p.m.

Saturday (8/3) and Sunday (8/4):  11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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