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WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Three more chances to see 'High School Musical Jr.' at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts. The show closes on May 15. Photo from SPAC
PROGRAMS

Caterpillars and Critters

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket presents a children’s workshop,Caterpillars and Critters, on May 14 from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Learn about bugs and critters that live in the garden and help it grow! Make and take home a foot long caterpillar that will grow into a flower garden. Visit the farm’s gardens, take a tour of the farm and a tractor ride too! For ages 3 to 12. $40 per child. To register, call 689-812 or visit www.bennersfarm.com.

Baby Animal Day

Suffolk County Farm and Education Center, 350 Yaphank Avenue, Yaphank hosts a Baby Animal Day on May 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come enjoy a day on the farm with baby animals, wagon rides, food trucks, games, live music, Touch -A-Truck, K-9 demonstrations  and more! Admission is $15 per person ages 3 and up at Eventbrite.com, $20 at the gate. Held rain or shine. For more information, call 852-4600.

Superheroes of the Sky 

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents Superheroes of the Sky on May 14 from 11 a.m. to noon. Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds the birds of prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about a bald eagle, turkey vultures, owls, hawks and many more. Event will be held weather permitting.  Meet behind main house at picnic tables. $10 per adult, $5 per child. Register at www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Touch-a-Truck event

Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach invites the community to a  Touch-a-Truck drop-in event on May 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children can explore various vehicles, sit in the driver’s seat and discover the world of trucks. This unique event will feature large trucks and heavy equipment from law enforcement, fire departments, commercial companies, industrial companies and more. No registration required. Call 585-9393 ext. 559.

THEATER

Disney’s ‘High School Musical Jr.’

We’re all in this together! Disney Channel’s smash hit musical comes to life at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown in Disney’s High School Musical Jr. from April 15 to May 15. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra curricular activities. The show’s infectious songs will have you dancing in your seats! All seats are $25. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org. 

‘Pinkalicious The Musical’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport continues its children’s theater season with Pinkalicious The Musical from May 28 to July 3. Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe — a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament. Tickets are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on May 28, June 4, 11 and 18 at 11 a.m. with a sensory sensitive performance on June 12 at 11 a.m. Join Theater Three for a hysterical retelling of a wonderful story with a Queen, a Witch, a Princess with skin as white as snow, and seven dwarfs guaranteed to keep you laughing from start to finish. Costumes encouraged. All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

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Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

The informal definition of “meta” (according to Merriam-Webster.com) is “showing or suggesting an explicit awareness of itself or oneself as a member of its category: cleverly self-referential.” No term better describes Nicolas Cage’s The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. And while it is directed by Tom Gormican, from a screenplay by Gormican and Kevin Etten, Cage is the sole reason. 

Nicolas Cage plays Nicolas Cage—or, at least, a version of Cage. Here, he is a larger-than-life star with a larger-than-life ego. It is hard to say whether this reflects or distorts the actual Cage. However, Cage, one of the busiest and most enigmatic actors, offers a delightful “meta” performance.

Nicolas Cage in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Films

The Cage on display in The Unbearable Weight is an ego-centric star just on the cusp of decline. Frantically pursuing a role, he auditions in front of a restaurant as the director attempts to get into his car. There is more than a whiff of desperation as Cage does everything but beg for the part in the upcoming film.

Driven by fiscal problems (he is in arrears to the tune of $600,000 for the apartment he rents), he agrees to attend the birthday party of billionaire playboy Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal), being held on Javi’s compound in Mallorca, Spain. 

While there, CIA agents Vivian (Tiffany Haddish) and Martin (Ike Barinholtz) approach Cage. They inform him that Javi is an arms dealer who has kidnapped a politician’s daughter to drive him out of an upcoming election. The agents enlist the reluctant Cage to aid with the recovery mission.

The plot veers to Hollywood blockbuster. While initially elements nod towards something heightened and outrageous, in the end it is a buddy comedy between Cage and Pascal. There is an attempt to satirize (at least spoof) the genre, but mostly it lands in safe territory. There are funny moments (the wall scene spoiled by every trailer; a viewing of Paddington 2), but many situations seem forced (an acid-tripping scene; the sedative bit).

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is at its best when delving into Cage’s psyche and simultaneously mammoth and fragile ego. Several times he is confronted by his younger self. Regrettably, there are only three of these moments, and we are left wondering if there were not more that ended up cut because they were (once again) too “meta.” 

Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Cage’s ability to put himself in the crosshairs of his own pretension make for the strongest fodder. He often speaks of his acting process—“nouveau shamanic”—and his desire to make a “character-driven adult film.” He struggles with the difference between actor and movie star, perpetually obsessing over his choices. He is not so much oblivious to his daughter, Addy (Lily Sheen), as his energy is misplaced, mistaking his own likes for sharing. His fractious but not unloving relationship with his estranged wife, Olivia (Sharon Horgan), highlights his inability to look beyond his career. He is where doubt and narcissism implode.

Both Sheen and Horgan give fine, understated performances, but they are minor characters on this broader stage. Neil Patrick Harris appears briefly as Cage’s agent, a character that barely has one dimension. The same is true of Alessandra Mastronardi as Gabriela, Javi’s faithful assistant. Paco León, as Javi’s cousin Lucas, is a by-the-numbers hoodlum. Haddish and Barinholtz hit the right notes but have very little to play.

Pascal makes the perfect fanboy who possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the minutiae of Cage’s career, complete with a trophy room (also spoiled by the trailers). While Javi is eager for Cage to star in the screenplay he has written, the burgeoning bromance drives the character. The plot creaks in fits and starts, and an unfortunate plot twist softens the entire nature of the relationship. But Pascal and Cage have real chemistry and make the more conventional stretches watchable.

The film is an uneasy mix of comedy, abduction thriller, and meta-exploration. If the creators had leaned more into the last (think Being John Malkovich), the result would have been both engaging and surprising. But, in the end, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent delivers an entertaining parody that does not quite live it up to its greater potential. One suspects that they had a bigger concept and lost their way. Or perhaps, they got spooked thinking that just like the discussion of film within the film, something more esoteric would not play to a general audience. Or, even a greater heresy, sell. 

Rated R, the film is now playing in local theaters.

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'Parallel Perspectives'

The Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills will host an Artist Talk & Book Signing with Holly Gordon and Ward Hooper on Saturday, May 14 from 3 to 5 p.m. The authors will discuss their book, Parallel Perspectives: The Brush/Lens Collaboration, followed by a book signing.

Meet two local artists who’ve been featured in numerous exhibitions and news articles on their endearing collaboration highlighting the parallels between their artistic approaches to their art forms. Photo-liminalist Holly Gordon and Painter Ward Hooper found that they share an uncanny artistic sensibility in their body of work, prompting a series of exhibitions to be shown throughout Long Island, the first of which was shown at the Art League in August 2015. The May 14 discussion and book signing is free and open to the public. The book, full of lively paintings and photo-liminalist works can be purchased for $50.

The book itself provides the backstory on the artwork on display in the Strolling Gallery as noted on Holly’s website: “This contemporary love story between painter and photographer is synergized by creativity, connects with the past, inspires the present and transforms photography into the future. After decades of creating independently, social media brought Holly Gordon and Ward Hooper together. They immediately saw parallels in their creative processes and execution; but it was the discovery that they were inadvertently inspired by the same landscapes as Arthur Dove and Helen Torr, two early 20th century artists, that turns this dynamic collaborative pairing into a time traveler tale that is all true.”

Learn more about the artists at www.parallelperspectivesbook.com.

For questions about the May 14 event, please call 631-462-5400.

 

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MASTERY AND GRACE Grammy award winner classical guitarist David Russell performs in concert at the Long Island Guitar Festival in Setauket on May 14 at 8 p.m. Photo by M. Rodriguez
Thursday May 12

Long Island Guitar Festival

The 30th annual Long Island Guitar Festival will be held through May 15 at various times the Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket. Scheduled performers include David Russell, Benjamin Verdery, Beijing Guitar Duo, Evan Taucher, Harris Becker & Friends, Laura Lessard, Michael Roberts, James Erickson, Paul Cesarczyk, Chinnawat Themkumkwun, Olson/De Cari Duo, Jeffrey Marcus, Maureen Hynes, Rie Schmidt, Alan Morris, and Samantha Clarke. Ensembles scheduled to perform include the NJMEA HS Honors Guitar Orchestra, the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra, the Susan E. Wagner HS Guitar Ensemble, and the Metropolitan Guitar Academy. Tickets are available at Eventbrite or at the door. Visit www.ligfest.net for more info.

Virtual Trivia Night

Wok this way and join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St. Cold Spring Harbor for a virtually Deliciously Fun Trivia Night via Zoom at 7 p.m. Test your knowledge of foods from around the world, food moments in film and music, food logos, historic dishes, ingredients, cultural traditions, food in art, and more. Questions are mostly multiple choice and include photos, videos and audio clips. Participate solo or play as a team. Winner is Lord of the Fries! $10 suggested donation. To register, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org..

Friday May 13

Long Island Guitar Festival

See May 12 listing.

Garden Club Plant Sale

The Centerport Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale featuring perennial plants from their gardens at Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn from 9 to 11 a.m. while supplies last. Cash or check donations will be accepted. Call 757-4200 for more information.

Musical & Shadow Puppet Show

Stony Brook University’s Charles Wang Center Theatre presents Miao Girl Kiab and the Silver Needle, a live musical and shadow puppet performance, from 6 to 7 p.m. Admission is $20 adults, $15 students/seniors/children ages 6 to 12, free for ages 5 and under. RSVP at www.thewangcenter.org.

Wine and Chocolate Tasting

Celebrate St. James hosts a Wine and Chocolate Tasting event at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 2nd St, St James from 7 to 9 p.m. Enjoy wine sampling from a boutique winery, from light whites to robust reds. Donna Meyers will guide you through the sampling as each wine is paired with just the right chocolate! Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors. To RSVP, visit www.celebratestjames.org or call 984-0201.

Opera Open Mic Night

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 109 Browns Road, Huntington welcomes Opera Night Long Island with Opera Open Mic at 7:30 p.m. Featuring performances by Ariana Warren, Kimberly Iannuzzi, Marie Michalopoulos, Chris Jurak and more. $10 donation at the door. Ccall 261-8808 or visit www.operanight.org.

LITMA Contradance

The Smithtown Historical Society’s Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown hosts a Contradance by LITMA at 7:30 p.m. with basic instruction at 7:15 p.m. Featuring Alex Deis-Lauby Calling with The LITMA Contra Band. Admission is $15, $10 members. Students are half price and children under 16 are free with a paid adult. Questions? Call 369-7854.

Saturday May 14

Long Island Guitar Festival

See May 12 listing.

Pottery & Craft Sale

The Brick Clay Studio & Gallery, 2 Flowerfield, Suites 57 & 60, St. James will hold a Spring Outdoor Pottery and Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring one of a kind hand-made pottery, local artists and craftsmen, live music and a food truck.  Proceeds from bowl and raffle sales will be donated to World Central Kitchen /Ukraine. The Gallery Shop will also be open to browse their handmade pottery made on the premises. Admission is free. Rain date is May 15. Visit www.thebrickstudio.org or call 833-THE-BRICK for more information.

Buttercup Day

Buttercup’s Dairy Store, 285 Boyle Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to celebrate its 51st anniversary with a Buttercup Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a petting zoo, hot dogs, fun slides, games and prizes. Free. Call 928-4607.

Muster Day at the Arsenal

Rescheduled from May 7. Join the Huntington Militia for a Muster Day at the Huntington Arsenal and Village Green on Park Avenue in Huntington from noon to 5 p.m. This is a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of The Order of the Ancient and Honorable Huntington Militia and see what is involved reenacting Long Island history with marching, musket firing, tours of the Arsenal, open hearth cooking, and craft demonstrations. Free. Visit www.huntingtonmilitia.com.

Paige Patterson in concert

The Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council presents Paige Patterson in concert at Harborfront Park, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson at 3 p.m. Patterson will be performing her feel-good concert titled Musical Therapy for the Soul encompassing the genres of standards, classic soul, contemporary and Broadway. Rain location: First United Methodist Church, 603 Main St., Port Jefferson. Free. Visit www.gpjac.org.

Artist Talk & Book Signing

The Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills will host an Artist Talk & Book Signing with Holly Gordon and Ward Hooper from 3 to 5 p.m. The authors will discuss their book, Parallel Perspectives: The Brush/Lens Collaboration, followed by a book signing. Free. Call 462-5400 for more information.

Old Burying Ground tour

Join the Huntington Historical Society for an Old Burying Ground  walking tour at 4 p.m. Established soon after the Town’s 1653 founding, Huntington’s earliest public burying ground features stunning folk art and beautiful epitaphs honoring Huntington’s residents and rich history. Tour begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St., Huntington .Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children. For reservations, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

An evening of comedy

The Comedy Club returns to Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson with another hilarious night of non-stop laughter and fun! Featuring comedians David Weiss, Steven Rocco Parrillo, Travis Grant, and Chris Monty. Tickets are $35. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Sunday May 15

Long Island Guitar Festival

See May 12 listing.

Car Show & Swap Meet

The Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater at Bald Hill, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville hosts a Car Show & Swap Meet by Long Island Cars from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring street rods, muscle cars, antiques exotics and imports along with a swap meet, live music by The Fugitives plus food and refreshments. Admission is $10, under 12 years are free. Call 567-5898.

Port Jefferson Farmers Market

Get local! The Port Jefferson Farmer’s Market returns to Harborfront Park, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson today and every Sunday through Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Purchase local produce, honey, bread and baked goods, plants and flower bouquets. Call 473-4724.

Caumsett hike

Join the staff at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington for a 2-mile hike from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. On this hilly moderately long walk you will study the park’s social economic, architectural and political history. (Some walking in long grass). Adults only $4 per person. Advance registration required by calling 423-1770.

Spring Craft Fair

Join Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, 178 Oxhead Road, Centereach for a Spring Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featuring local businesses, jewelry, self-care products, clothing, accessories, wreathes and more. Join them as they celebrate their way into the Spring season! Rain date is May 22. Questions? Call 619-7023.

Charity Car & Truck Show

Miller’s Ale House, Middle Country Road, Lake Grove host a Drive for Dana Charity Car  Truck Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in honor of Dana Ryan Sikorsky who suffered a near fatal drowning accident three years ago. The event will feature all years, makes and models cars and trucks will raffles and awards. $25 donation for show cars, free for spectators. Call 553-6975 for more info.

Spring Farm Festival

Smithtown Historical Society, 239 E. Main St., Smithtown hosts a Spring Farm Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy spinning & weaving demonstrations, blacksmithing, wool dyeing, sheep shearing, children’s crafts, pony rides, petting zoo, vendor fair and much more. $5 per person. Pre-register at Eventbrite.com. Call 265-6768 for more information.

Celebrate St. James Art Reception

In celebration of Pet Month, Celebrate St. James will host an art exhibit celebrating pets at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second Street, St. James through May 30. Join them for an opening reception today from 1 to 2 p.m. with live music and refreshments. Call 984-0201.

Grist Mill tours

The Stony Brook Grist Mill, 100 Harbor Road, Stony Brook will be open today and every Sunday through October from 1 to 4 p.m. Learn about the inner workings of the mill as it crushes grain into flour and hear about its 323 year history on a guided tour will a miller during guided tours and a visit the Country Store. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children. Cash only. For more information on the Stony Brook Grist Mill and for large group tours, call The Ward Melville Heritage Organization at 751-2244.

Victorian Tea Party

Joan of Arc Columbiettes Council 1992 will host a Victorian Tea at Montfort Hall at Infant Jesus Church, 110 Myrtle Ave., Port Jefferson from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wear a pretty spring hat and bring your own teacup if you wish. $20 adults, $10 ages 10 to 16. To RSVP, call Michele at 473-0165.

Horseshoe Crab Walk

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park hosts a Horseshoe Crab Walk from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Investigate these living fossils that come to our shores in the spring with a walk down to the marsh to observe these creatures during their high tide spawning periods during this family program. $4 per person. To register, please visit Eventbrite.com and search #NatureEdventure

Silver Chords Chorus concert

The Huntington Moose Lodge, 631 Pulaski Road, Greenlawn welcomes the Silver Chords Chorus in concert at 2 p.m. Celebrating 40 years of choral music, the program will include such old gems as “Shenandoah,” “Birth of the Blues,” “Let the River Run” and “How Can I Keep From Singing,” along with some special premieres. Admission is free. Call 235-3593.

Monday May 16

No events listed for this day.

Tuesday May 17

Anything But Silent at the CAC

The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Anything But Silent series with a screening of The Cameraman (1928) at 7 p.m. with live accompaniment by Ben Model. In this classic comedy, Buster Keaton stars as a clumsy man hopelessly in love with a woman working at MGM Studios. Buster soon attempts to become a motion picture cameraman to be close to the object of his desire! Tickets are $17, $12 members. For more information, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Wednesday May 18

Cruise Night Car Show

It’s back! The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River hosts a Cruise Night Car Show every Wednesday through Oct. 26 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. Call 929-3500.

Thursday May 19

International Museum Day

Celebrate International Museum Day at the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach from 4 to 7 p.m. Representatives from many local museums, historical societies, science and nature centers will be on hand to share information regarding their collections, programs and exhibits! Call 585-9393 for further information.

An evening of jazz

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook welcomes the Big Little Bad Band in concert from 7 to 9:30 p.m. featuring vocalist Madeline Kole and original compositions and arrangements by bandleader and pianist Rich Iacona. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children, under age 5 free. Visit www.thejazzloft.org to order.

Theater

‘Mamma Mia!’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson closes its 2021-2022 with Mamma Mia! from May 21 to June 25. ABBA’s timeless hits tell the enchanting story! On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the Greek island paradise they last visited twenty years ago. Featuring such chart toppers as “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” and “Dancing Queen,” this is a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget. Contains adult themes and situations. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Kinky Boots’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Kinky Boots from May 19 to July 3. With songs by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, this dazzling, sassy and uplifting musical celebrates a joyous story, inspired by true life events, taking you from the factory floor of a men’s shoe factory to the glamorous catwalks of Milan! Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’

The Carriage House Players open the 31st annual Summer Shakespeare Festival at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Midsummer Night’s Dream on May 13 from 8 to 9 p.m. and May 15 from 7 to 8 p.m.. Performances take place outdoors on stage in the courtyard, where the Spanish-Mediterranean architecture adds a touch of timeless charm and magic. Bring your own lawn chairs. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

‘It Shoulda Been You’

Star Playhouse at Stage 74, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack presents It Shoulda Been You, Broadway’s wild musical farce with blushing brides, nervous grooms, overbearing moms, unexpected guests and plenty of crazy twists and turns, on May 14 and 21 at 8 p.m. and May 15 and May 22 at 2 p.m. It’s wedding season and you’re invited to a wedding like no other! Get ready for a good time filled with music, mayhem, comedy, and a real bunch of characters! Tickets are $25 adults, $20 seniors and students. To order, call 462-9800, ext. 136 or visit www.starplayhouse.com.

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One of the newly renovated theaters at the Cinema Arts Centre. Photo by Nate Close

After a long closure, and full renovation, Huntington’s Cinema Art Centre has reopened for in-person screenings and events

After more than two years, the Cinema Arts Centre (CAC), 423 Park Ave., Huntington has reopened with a newly renovated space. Independent film screenings and special programming are back at the cinema, with great events planned for this spring and summer, and more on the way.

Having first closed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CAC decided to use the opportunity to embark upon a large scale renovation of its lobby and three theaters. The work on the theater includes brand new seats, carpeting, ceilings, an updated ventilation system, as well as new paint and carpeting in the lobby and new seats and tables in the café, which are set to arrive any day. The floors in the theaters have also been re-profiled to create better sight lines, the bathrooms have been refurbished, and additional handicap seating has been added to the theaters.

New lobby carpeting at the Cinema Arts Centre. Photo by Nate Close

During its closure the Cinema Arts Centre stayed busy presenting pop-up and drive-in screenings along with a diverse range of virtual programming, some of which will continue in some capacity into the future.

The Cinema is now open for in-person programming, and tickets are on sale for a number of films and special events this year. One series that particularly excites that staff is the Maritime Film Festival.

A celebration of Long Island’s coastal culture, the multi-day Maritime Film Festival, will explore topics such as Long Island’s bay houses, the first all-female crew of sailors to circumnavigate the globe, and the Bungalows of Rockaway. The festival will feature a number of special guests including filmmakers, subjects of the films, and experts on Long Island history. You can purchase tickets or find more information about these and other events at www.cinemaartscentre.org

“It has been a long road to get us to this point,” said Nate Close, director of communications at the CAC. “We experienced a few delays along the way but we are thrilled to be finally reopening as an even better version of the Cinema Arts Centre. With our comfortable new seats and more modern theater design, we are excited to once again provide a space where people in our community can come together. We want to sincerely thank our members, donors, and everyone in our amazing Huntington and Long Island communities who made this possible.”

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Executive Director of the Long Island Museum, Neil Watson (center) with his successors, Joshua Ruff (left) and Sarah Abruzzi (right) on the grounds of the LIM in front of the sculpture by Hans Van de Bovenkamp, “Montauk Sun & Moon,” 1986. Photo by Kristin Cuomo
Deputy Directors Sarah Abruzzi and Joshua Ruff named as successors

The Long Island Museum (LIM) in Stony Brook a Smithsonian affiliate dedicated to American history and art with a Long Island connection, announced May 5 that Executive Director, Neil Watson, will retire in October of 2022. During his nine years of dedicated leadership to the LIM, Watson introduced visitors to award winning exhibitions and educational programs, increased Museum membership, and enhanced musical programs. Along with Watson’s retirement, the LIM’s Board of Trustees also announced that the LIM’s current Deputy Directors, Sarah Abruzzi and Joshua Ruff will succeed Watson as Co-Executive Directors of the LIM.

“Neil Watson’s contributions to the Long Island Museum have been beyond measure,” said Thomas M. Sullivan, the LIM’s Board of Trustees Chair. “His leadership and vision transformed the Museum into a more dynamic and representative reflection of our history and art. By assembling a fantastic group of talented people who shared his vision for how the museum serves the community, it is without question that Neil Watson had a transformative impact on the Long Island Museum.”

Since 2013, under Watson’s distinguished leadership, the LIM reopened the History Museum, initiated a new outdoor sculpture program and partnered with local organizations, such as the Sunday Street singer/songwriter series and North Shore Pro Musica, to bring a chamber music series to the community. During Watson’s tenure, the Museum’s annual operating budget has grown to nearly 3 million dollars and the Museum’s Endowment funds have doubled to over 40 million dollars. He also created a new level of membership to enhance and support the rich artistic talent on Long Island, entitled LIMarts: A Collaborative Arts Group, which currently has over 125 active artist members and offers the opportunity and space for the exhibition and sale of artwork.

“Retirement is never an easy decision, but it is even more difficult when you love what you do,” said Watson. “Here at LIM we are all dedicated to the idea that a museum can tell stories about who we are, through art, craft, history, music, and film. I could not be prouder of our accomplishments over the past nine years. Part of a director’s job is to imagine the future, and I felt strongly that we had two people in place who had the vision to take on the dual leadership model. Creative solutions make for creative outcomes, and the LIM culture is about trust, respect, and innovative thinking. I’m thankful to the Board, who were open to implementing a different model of museum leadership. I have the utmost confidence that Sarah and Joshua will bring their enthusiasm and expertise to guide the Museum into the next phase. As I take my exit, I can only thank them, the Board of Trustees, the gifted staff, and the community for giving me the most fulfilling years of my career.”

Sarah Abruzzi is an accomplished executive and fundraising professional with over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Throughout her career, she has worked in all aspects of museum operations, including education, interpretation, collections management, volunteer coordination, fundraising, finance, HR, communications, and government relations.

Abruzzi grew up in Port Jefferson and remembers with great fondness her childhood visits to the LIM with her family. She first worked at the LIM in the late 2000s before spending eight years outside of the museum field serving as the lead fundraiser for Dr. Richard Leakey’s Kenya-based human origins research project at Stony Brook University. Abruzzi jumped at the chance to return to the LIM in 2017 as Director of Major Gifts and Special Projects. Abruzzi’s amiable management style and thoughtful approach to leadership paved the way for her promotion to Deputy Director/Director of Advancement & External Affairs in February 2019. Additionally, she previously served as Director of Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay,  and The Three Village Historical Society in Setauket.

Entering his 25th year at the LIM, including the last three as a Deputy Director and the last nine as the Director of Collections & Interpretation, managing both the Curatorial and Education departments, Joshua Ruff has a proven track record of strong leadership, excellence, and versatility as well as years of expertise in all facets of museum operations.

A lifelong resident of New York State, he is a graduate of Syracuse University with BAs in Broadcast Journalism and in History, and Stony Brook University with a MA in History. After curating or co-curating nearly 70 exhibitions of a variety of scale and scope and many publications, Ruff is a recognized scholar of Long Island art and history, two crucial components of the Museum’s mission. In addition to co-authoring several books and exhibition catalogs, his articles have appeared in publications including the Magazine Antiques; American Art Review; New York Archives Magazine; and American History magazine. Beyond his work at the Long Island Museum, Ruff has served in a variety of service capacities for outside organizations, including as Grant Reviewer for NYSCA’s Museum Program (2015-2018) and as an incoming member of the Board of Directors for the Museum Association of New York (2022-2025).

“Neil Watson has been such a dynamic and collaborative leader for this museum, and we have learned and gained so much from him. We will miss him,” said Joshua Ruff,  Deputy Director and Director of Collections & Interpretation at the LIM.  “Sarah and I are thankful to the Board for this leadership opportunity and we are really excited for this new chapter. We’ll work hard with all our talented colleagues to take the LIM to new and exciting achievements,” Ruff continued.

“Neil’s humility and humor have helped shape the LIM into the treasured community resource it is today,” said Sarah Abruzzi, Deputy Director and Director of Advancement & External Affairs. “Josh and I are honored to be a special part of Neil’s legacy and look forward to continuing his tradition of honest, inclusive, and transparent leadership in service of the Museum, our colleagues, and the community we all care so deeply about.”

The new organizational structure builds upon the strong and collaborative work environment that Watson cultivated at the LIM during his tenure. Over the past several years, the three have worked closely with the rest of the LIM’s talented Senior Staff to create a culture of equability and opportunity among the entire LIM staff of 39 people. Watson’s visionary plan of streamlining LIM’s work flow into two main areas will take place in October with Ruff responsible for Collections and Programming, and Abruzzi responsible for Operations.

“I can’t stress enough how supportive and instrumental Neil was to the expansion of the LIM’s Education Department,” said Lisa Unander, Director of Education at the Long Island Museum since 2013 and at the Museum for the past 16 years.

“His unique non-hierarchical and highly creative approach can be credited for how the LIM has been able to push the boundaries of our programs and become the even more inclusive community centered organization it is today. It won’t be the same without him, but he has instilled a welcoming, positive and vibrant workplace culture that I know Sarah and Joshua will continue to build upon as they continue the museum’s mission,” Unander continued.

Exhibitions during Watson’s career at the LIM include the groundbreaking Long Road to Freedom: Surviving Slavery on Long Island, the first major museum project to examine slavery from a Long Island regional historical perspective, Walt Whitman’s Arcadia: Long Island Through the Eyes of a Poet & Painters to mark the American bard’s 200th Birthday, and Fire & Form: New Directions in Glass, a visually striking exhibition featuring more than 50 works from nine contemporary artists.

Watson is known for his community engagement and charismatic style, and while serving as the Executive Director of the Katonah Museum of Art for nearly eight years, he also served on the Board of the Katonah Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Board of Arts Westchester, and as a museum panelist for the New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA). Prior to joining the LIM, Watson was the former Chief Curator of the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington and the former Curator of Contemporary Art at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, FL.

About the Long Island Museum

Located at 1200 Route 25A in Stony Brook, the Long Island Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate dedicated to enhancing the lives of adults and children with an understanding of Long Island’s rich history and diverse cultures. Regular museum hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for students 6 -17 and college students with I.D. Children under six are admitted for free. For more information visit longislandmuseum.org.

 

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Photo from PSEG

For the fourth consecutive year, PSEG Long Island has earned the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award, the most prestigious ENERGY STAR award offered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

PSEG Long Island was recognized for its incentives and rebate programs that encourage customers to buy the most energy-efficient lighting fixtures and appliances.

“PSEG Long Island values its partnership with ENERGY STAR, and we’re excited to see the impact we’ve made to help customers save on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Michael Voltz, PSEG Long Island director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables. “We are proud to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to a clean energy future.”

Each year, the ENERGY STAR program honors a group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy achievements. ENERGY STAR award winners are selected from a network of thousands of ENERGY STAR partners. They lead their industries in the production, sale and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services and strategies ─ efforts that are essential to fighting the climate crisis and protecting public health.

PSEG Long Island ENERGY STAR savings for customers

PSEG Long Island customers can save money and cut their fossil fuel use by purchasing the most energy efficient outdoor equipment with rebates of up to $600 on lawn, garden and pool equipment. Using energy efficient pool heaters, lawnmowers and lawn equipment can help reduce customers’ carbon footprint and also lower energy bills. Also, chargeable electric tools are quieter, cleaner and easier to use than traditional gas equipment; and they require less maintenance. To view PSEG Long Island’s ENERGY STAR ® rebates and learn about other energy efficiency programs, visit www.psegliny.com/efficiency.

Since 2014, PSEG Long Island has provided more than $360 million in rebates to customers purchasing energy-efficient appliances, lighting fixtures and other home and commercial equipment, saving approximately 2.3 million MWh of energy. This is equivalent to removing more than 214,000 gasoline-fueled cars from our roads or the amount of energy required to power more than 193,500 homes annually.

“We know it’s going to take all of us working together to tackle the climate crisis, and the 2022 ENERGY STAR award-winning partners are demonstrating what it takes to build a more sustainable future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, who noted that companies like PSEG Long Island “are showing once again that taking action in support of a clean energy economy can be good not only for the environment, but also for business and customers.”

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including more than 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found at www.energystar.gov/impacts and state-level information can be found at www.energystar.gov/statefacts.

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Pixabay photo

The Whaling Museum and Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor is hosting its first ever New York State Certified Safe Boating Course! Two dates will be offered for students age 10 and older to receive their boating certificate. The first course is being offered on Saturday, May 14th at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The second course is being offered on Saturday June 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m,.The cost to attend is $25 and includes a pizza lunch and viewing of the museum’s exhibits.

The course meets the New York State education requirement for the Personal WaterCraft Operation Permit, Youth and Adult Boating Certificate. Students will receive a temporary safe boating card that is good for 90 days. To receive the permanent safe boating card, students must register their score with NYS. Details will be provided during the course on how to do this.

To register, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org or call 631-367-3418.

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Stock photo

School breaks and increased travel have caused a dramatic decrease in blood donations; types O and B have dropped to 1-to-2-day level

New York Blood Center (NYBC) announced a blood emergency today, as school spring breaks and holiday travel have caused an alarming drop in donations over the past six weeks. All blood types are low and type O is at just a 1-to-2-day level.

This shortage occurs amid increasing COVID rates, which can be attributed to the highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 that has been spreading rapidly throughout New York and surrounding areas. For example, New York City’s COVID transmission rate has increased 32% in the last 10 days. Last Monday, the city raised its COVID alert level to medium as cases surpassed a rate of 200 per 100,000 people in the five boroughs.

Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors to receive life-saving blood donations, but the recent spike in cases and spring break travel have caused uncertainty. Donor participation has reached record lows at blood drives and donor centers.  In the last 6 weeks, NYBC has seen approximately 6000 fewer blood donors versus earlier this year.

“This time of the year always tends to be difficult for the blood supply, with school spring breaks and increased travel making blood donations less of a priority. These factors are now coinciding with increasing COVID cases and a potential fifth wave of the pandemic,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Executive Director at New York Blood Center. “One blood donation has the ability to save up to three lives. We highly encourage all who are able to donate today to help New Yorkers who need it most.”

It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.

 To make an appointment at a local blood drive, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit by visiting nybc.org.

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Chris Wagner with his owl carving. Photo from Reboli Center

The Reboli Center’s May Artisan of the month is Chris Wagner, Chainsaw Carving Connoisseur.

Chris Wagner was born and raised on Long Island and resides in West Sayville. He is a trained chef and director of food services at a health care facility. It was while that he was working as a chef and researching ice sculpting that he added another dimension to his career. He was enamored by the technique of carving, all be it a bit dangerous, but was compelled to learn the trade. In the summer of 2013 he spent several days learning the basic techniques with well-known carver Barre Pinske at his studio in Vermont. He left with a new creative side job and a love of the medium.

A pelican carving by Chris Wagner. Photo from Reboli Center

Over the years he developed his craft and was able to establish a shop at a local firewood distribution center – provided with a continuous source of discarded wood and an area conducive to the level of noise he generates during his creative process.

Chris Wagners’s statues are primarily animals, very detailed oriented. His pieces are carved with a massive blade. He brings birds and animals to life in a variety of woods. When completed, he uses a blowtorch to burn a smooth finish on each design. This technique illustrates the natural grain in the wood and adds a depth to each piece. To withstand inclement weather, the final step is to stain the work after a relief cut is installed in the back of the sculpture to preserve the wood. Consequently, with chainsaw carving, no two pieces are alike so each one is a one-of-a kind original work of art. He does accept commissions, so please contact The Reboli Center.

According to Chris, “I am familiar with Joe Reboli’s work and he was an amazing artist. I am so honored and thankful to be able to show my work in a museum named for him.” Lois Reboli, president and founder of The Reboli Center said, “This is the first time we have had a chainsaw carving sculptor as our artisan of the month. We are so proud to feature his unique and whimsical work. It is a wonderful addition to our current “Bloom” and floral exhibit at the Center. We hope everyone will be as thrilled with his sculptures as we are.”

The Reboli Center is located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook, and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and for more information, please call 631-751-7707.

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