Winners from regional JewQ competitions from around the U.S. and abroad came together to face off at the international championships in Princeton, NJ, last weekend. Spencer Harvey of Dix Hills, representing The Chai Center Hebrew School in Dix Hills took home a gold medal in the fourth grade category at the International JewQ Championships.
Throughout the fall, more than 6,000 JewQ students in grades 3-7 from Hebrew schools around the globe learned and were tested on a wide range of Jewish knowledge, such as basic prayers, blessings, Jewish holidays, Torah traditions, and more. Following a regional competition, Spencer was among 150 winners who moved on to the final round of competition. Spencer goes to Ostego Elementary School in Dix Hills, NY, in the Half Hollow Hills Central School District.
“It is incredible to see the vast amount of knowledge Spencer and all the children learned in a few short months,” said Rabbi Dovid Weinbaum, Youth Director of The Chai Center. “My hope is this will inspire them to want to learn more about Judaism and the world around them.”
In an effort to ease the suffering of all those subject to the devastation and terror being inflicted upon the Ukrainian nation, Senator Mario R. Mattera (2nd Senate District) and his staff will be hosting a humanitarian supply drive on Saturday, March 26th, from 10 a.m. to noon in their district office located at 180 East Main Street in Smithtown.
The effort is intended to assist all in the region including animals who were displaced when their families evacuated.
Senator Mattera’s office is coordinating this effort with the staff and students of Kings Park Central School District (KPCSD) and local nonprofit Nobody Starves on Long Island.
To assist families of Ukraine, KPCSD is collecting items that will be shipped overseas to assist the citizens of Ukraine. The KPCSD drive will accept a host of items including medical items (including bandages, gauze and medicine), empty boxes, flashlights, batteries, garbage bags and personal items including warm clothing, boots, socks, tooth care, personal cleaning supplies and feminine hygiene products.
KPCSD will deliver all items to The Monastery of Saint Josaphat in Glen Cove for delivery to those in need in the region.
To assist Ukrainian pets in need, Nobody Starves on Long Island will be accepting pet supplies to help animals that in many cases have lost their owners and their homes. To help the nonprofit, Senator Mattera’s office is accepting pet items such as pet food, leashes, food bowls, treats and collars.
The office will not be accepting cash donations at the event or in their office.
“We are hopeful that everyone in our community will join us in helping all who have been impacted by the attack on the Ukrainian people. This unwarranted assault on their homes must be countered by the kindness of our community and I thank everyone who will or who has helped in this effort. Thank you to Nobody Starves on Long Island and everyone at the Kings Park School District for their selfless work. Together, we can bring hope to those who are suffering,” stated Senator Mattera.
Any resident who is unable to attend the Saturday, March 26, event is invited to drop off items at Senator Mattera’s district office during regular business hours. The office is located in 180 East Main Street, Suite 210, in Smithtown. For more information, call 631-361-2154.
Krisha Mehta celebrates her match to Stony Brook Medicine with her family. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
All smiles: matching fourth-year students hold up their signs indicating where their careers as physician will begin. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
Leslie Peralta celebrates her match – to Obstetrics/Gynecology at UNC Medical Center in North Carolina. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
Some of the 26 matching students who will stay at Stony Brook Medicine for their residency training. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
Dr. William Wertheim, Interim RSOM Dean, urged the students to recognize they are on the threshold of their careers where opportunities and enriching experiences await them. Photo by Arthur Fredericks
131 RSOM students match to residency programs; 20 percent to stay at Stony Brook Medicine
Taking a major step toward launching their careers, 131 Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) fourth-year students matched to residency training programs all over the country, New York State and at Stony Brook Medicine on March 18. Twenty percent of the students matched to training programs at Stony Brook, the highest percentage staying at Stony Brook since 2010 when the school began tracking this metric annually.
Match Days are held nationwide each year, a celebratory event when students learn of their residency training assignments. Administered by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), this year more than 39,000 positions were filled. See this NRMP news. The numbers of physicians continue to increase, in part because of a need for our nation’s growing population and increasing need for specialty services in medicine. The two-year international pandemic has also raised awareness of the importance of a strong physician pool going forward in the 21st Century.
“The role of the physician has never been more important,” said Hal Paz, MD, MS, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences at Stony Brook University, in a video message to the matching students. “You will soon be joining a network of over 4.500 physician alumni. The Renaissance School of Medicine gave you an opportunity to become a physician, but you did the hard work to fulfill your dreams.”
Collectively the students matched to programs in 18 states and Washington, DC. Approximately 43 percent of the students matched to programs in NYS, and 56 percent to programs in other states. The leading programs matched to included Internal Medicine (21 students), Emergency Medicine (15), Anesthesiology (12), and Pediatrics (11).
To view the celebration and some students’ matches see this video.
“You all stand on the threshold of your medical careers, a threshold can be the entrance to a new place, or it can be the beginning of some new chapter in our lives, or it can be the limit of a prior condition. For you it is all those things,” said William Wertheim, MD, Interim Dean of the RSOM.
Considering these challenging times in our society and in healthcare, Dr. Wertheim continued: “COVID has become, during your student years, a fact of life. Though it has posed disruptions for you all, it has also created opportunities — for you to witness the advances of science and how each of these advances is incorporated into practice, for the rapidity with which recognition of new conditions and new challenges are adopted into medical care. These are all good lessons to learn.”
Among the students matching include native Long Islanders Kristin Krumenacker and Justin Cheung. Krumenacker, a dual-degree student who will also earn a Master of Arts in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics in May, matched to a Radiology residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems. Cheung, who earned a BS in Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University as an undergraduate, hopes to pursue a fellowship in hematology/oncology. He is one of four fourth-year students completing the BS to MD program at Stony Brook. Cheung matched to an Internal Medicine program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Another student completing the BS to MD program at Stony Brook, Verdah Ahmad, matched to Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey. A native of New Jersey, Ahmad was hoping to match to a school in the New York metro area. She is very happy to match to a program in her home state.
As I pottered around my kitchen preparing dinner, the evening news was on the TV. I watched the tragedy in Ukraine unfold with its shattered buildings and shattered lives, deliberate assaults on hospitals and shelters, courage and heroism and knew that for so many Ukrainians, there was no longer a home or a kitchen, where a babushka or young mother stood cooking a batch of varenyky or pirohi (dumplings), chicken kyev, a pot of borscht (beet soup) or holubsti (stuffed cabbage), a pan of nalesniki (cream cheese filled crepes) or deruny (potato pancakes).
Today my friend Svitlana told me that her family has safely escaped to Poland, but for so many innocent victims of this cruel siege by an unhinged Russian egomaniac, there will be no food, no shelter, and for some, no life. I dedicate this column to them and their heroism.
Nalesniki
YIELD: Makes 16 crepes
INGREDIENTS:
Crepes:
5 eggs
1 1/4 cups flour
2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ounces melted unsalted butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Filling:
1 1/2 pounds small curd cottage cheese, rinsed and drained
1/2 pound cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Generously grease a 9” x 13” baking dish. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer beat together the eggs and flour until most of the lumps are gone. With mixer on low speed beat in the milk, then the salt, sugar, butterand oil. Heat a 10” crepe pan or nonstick skillet over low heat. Pour 1/4 cup of prepared batter into pan and tilt to evenly distribute it; when edges are slightly crisp, about one minute, carefully flip the crepe and cook another 30 to 45 seconds, remove, place on plate and repeat with remaining batter.
In a medium-large bowl, beat together the cottage cheese, cream cheese and sugar; place a crepe on a flat surface, spread with a thin layer of cheese mixture and, starting with the end closest to you, tightly roll into a long, thin log; repeat procedure with remaining crepes. Place half of them in baking dish, drizzle with half the butter, then repeat procedure with remaining crepes. Bake about 30 minutes, cut logs in half and serve with jam and tea.
Holubsti
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
12 -16 outer leaves from 1 large head green cabbage
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled, finely grated
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
One 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 3/4 cups water
1 large bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground beef
1/3 cup long grain white rice, pre-cooked for 5 minutes
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
DIRECTIONS:
Fill a large bowl with ice water.In a large pot of salted boiling water, blanch the cabbage leaves, one to two minutes, until they are bright green and pliable; carefully place them in ice water, then drain them between several layers of paper towels.
In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat and cook half the onion and all the carrots until soft, about 5 to 7 minutes; add tomato paste and sugar and cook another minute or two, until caramelized. Add tomatoes, water and bay leaf and cook over medium-high heat until reduced by half, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and season.
Meanwhile in a large bowl, combine ground meat, remaining onion and rice; season with salt and pepper and thoroughly combine ingredients. Working one at a time, cut center stem from each cabbage leaf; place two generous tablespoons of meat mixture in center of leaf, fold the sides over and roll up. Place, seam side down in pot, repeat with remaining cabbages leaves and filling and nestle them close together in pot; bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to medium-low, partially cover and cook about 40 minutes, until done. Remove bay leaf, transfer with cabbage rolls and sauce to bowl or platter and serve hot with sour cream.
The Smithtown Historical Society will host a Model Train Show in the Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown on March 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Operating Layouts on display with include the Long Island HOTrack – HO Scale; Frank Kayz Trainz —Surprise; Trainville Hobby Depot — N Scale and more. Admission is $5, $3 for kids 12 and under.Proceeds will benefit the Smithtown Historical Society for the restoration of farm buildings and caring for the animals. For more information, call 524-0529.
Egg Hunt at the Hatchery
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will host an Egg Hunt for children up to age 6 on March 26-27, April 2-3, 9-10 and 15-16 with 20-minute sessions scheduled between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.. $12 per child, $5 helper siblings ages 7 to 12, $7 adults, $6 seniors. Registration is required. Visit www.cshfishhatchery,org or call 516-692-6768.
Children’s Birding Adventures
Children ages 4 to 10 with a caregiver are invited to join the Four Harbors Audubon Society for a children’s story time, bird walk, and a bird-inspired activity at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 101 Main St., Setauket on March 26 from 1 to 2 p.m. Enjoy some family fun while you learn about our feathered friends.Meet at the entrance to the park behind the post office. Free but registration is required by emailing [email protected]. Rain date is April 2.
Bicycle Rodeo
The Traffic Safety Department for the Town of Brookhaven is hosting a free Bicycle Rodeo on March 26 at Safety Town, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville. The event encourages children to learn how to safely ride their bikes in a mock-roadway, kid-sized setting. Participants will be evaluated and given feedback on their bicycle-handling abilities, after proper bicycle safety skills are demonstrated. Bring your own bicycle and helmet. This event is by appointment only; call 363-3770 to schedule a time to attend.
Gee Golly Geology
The Town of Brookhaven kicks off its Spring Nature Programs at Cedar Beach, 200 Harbor Road, Mount Sinai with Gee Golly Geology on March 26 at 2 p.m. Join them for a geology lesson and guided walk of the peninsula to explore and observe the ever-changing topography that provides the foundation for distinct ecosystems and habitats of the beach and salt marsh. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Free but registration is required by e-mailing Environmental Educator Nicole Pocchiare at [email protected].
Theater
‘Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the world premiere of Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz from Feb. 23 to March 26. Dorothy Gale is whisked away by a tornado to that magical land that lies just Over the Rainbow. Follow Dorothy and her friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion as they encounter challenges and celebrate friendship. This new take on a classic tale features an original score, memorable characters, and fun for the entire family. Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz is a delightful reminder that “there’s no place like home!” All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Madagascar’
Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Madagascar: A Musical Adventure from April 2 to May 8. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!” All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
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, danceable songs will have you dancing in your seats! All seats are $25. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Editor’s note: A March 31 court decision update is at the end of article.
By Lisa Scott
For New York State voters in 2022, redistricting is controversial, complex and changing.
Gerrymandering is the intentional distortion of political districts to give one party an advantage. For decades in most states, the majority party in the state legislature drew maps for congressional and state legislature districts which would cement that party’s power for 10 years (until the next census). Nationally, gerrymandering has been criticized for disenfranchising many voters and fueling deeper polarization.
In New York State, voters in 2014 approved a constitutionalamendment which established an independent redistricting commission effective after the 2020 census. This amendment was presented as a way to create fair congressional and state senate and state assembly districts, keeping communities together and representation to minority areas to more fairly give all a voice through their elected officials. At the time, good government groups were divided about the amendment’s wording and potential effect … either a “step in the right direction” or “fake reform.”
In 2021, the newly formed NYS Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) traveled throughout New York State to hold numerous public hearings for input on the map lines that the commission would draw. Unfortunately the IRC was divided equally along partisan lines, and Republican and Democratic commissioners each submitted their own maps to the state legislature and were unable to submit the single plan required by the amendment.
This failure of the IRC threw the district mapping back into the hands of the legislature (both the senate and assembly have Democratic supermajorities) and the legislature’s final 2022 district lines resulted in more districts with strong Democratic-leaning voters. Republicans then filed a lawsuit in Steuben County (upstate NY) whichthrew the 2022 NYS election calendar into potential chaos as it moved through the court system.
A judge did rule to allow this year’s maps/elections to take place as scheduled, but if Republicans win the suit it appears that there will be a repeat election for NYS Senate and Assembly in 2023 with newer district maps. This would result in state legislative elections in three consecutive years — 2022, 2023 and 2024.
There has been concern and controversy about the congressional lines in Suffolk (CD 1, 2 and 3) whose boundaries have significantly changed. Some elected legislators no longer live in their districts, and there has been “packing” (concentrating the opposing party’s voting power in one district to reduce their voting power in other districts) and “cracking” (diluting the voting power of the opposing party’s supporters across many districts). Cracking was most evident regarding the Town of Smithtown, which is divided among 3 congressional districts, and the community of Gordon Heights, which does not have the single representative that they advocated for at many public hearings in 2021.
Although the next Suffolk County Legislature elections will not be held until 2023, redistricting for the SC Legislature is mired in controversy as well. Legislators of both parties did not nominate representatives to a county redistricting commission in 2021. The Democratic majority therefore drew maps and passed legislation to create the new districts.
Lawsuits were filed and County ExecutiveBellone vetoed the bill in early 2022. A new independent/bipartisan redistricting commission is expected to start work in April 2022. Remember that your current Suffolk County legislator will represent you until January 1, 2024. Once the Suffolk legislative maps are drawn and approved, voting in the primaries and general election for those seats will occur in 2023 (not this year).
The bottom line for Suffolk County voters? Find your new congressional and state assembly and senate districts at https://newyork.redistrictingandyou.org. Voting in your new district takes effect with the 2022 primaries and general election. However your current representative in Congress and the state legislature will represent you until January 1, 2023.
As you can see, redistricting after the 2020 census has become controversial, complex, and changing. Today’s “rules” may be overruled by court decisions. Dates may change. Districts may be redrawn. Or nothing will change until 2030!
Lisa Scott is president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit https://my.lwv.org/new-york/suffolk-county or call 631-862-6860.
————————————————————-
Judge rejects New York’s redistricting plan, orders new maps
By Michelle L. Price | AP
Thursday March 31, 2022
NEW YORK — A judge has ordered New York’s Democrat-controlled Legislature to quickly redraw the state’s congressional and legislative districts after finding they were unconstitutional.
Judge Patrick McAllister said in a Thursday ruling that maps redrawing the state’s congressional districts were gerrymandered to benefit Democrats. McAllister said those districts must be redrawn, along with the legislative districts, in a way that attracted at least some bipartisan support.
McAllister, a state trial court judge, gave lawmakers until April 11 to try again. If their new maps fail to pass muster in the courts again, the judge said he would order the state to pay for a court-approved expert to redraw the maps.
Legislative leaders said they would appeal the ruling.
“This is one step in the process. We always knew this case would be decided by the appellate courts. We are appealing this decision and expect this decision will be stayed as the appeal process proceeds,” said Mike Murphy, spokesman for the Senate majority.
A message seeking comment from the governor’s office was not immediately returned.
The state’s primary elections are scheduled June 28 and candidates have already begun campaigning in the new districts.
The judge said that if the Legislature fails again and an outside expert is hired to draw the maps, the process would be expensive and lengthy and may leave the state without maps before Aug. 23, the last possible date that the state could push back its primary election.
Republicans had argued in a lawsuit that the maps were unconstitutionally gerrymandered to benefit Democrats and marginalize GOP voters.
Former GOP U.S. Rep. John Faso, a spokesperson for the Republicans who filed the lawsuit challenging the maps, said Democrats willingly violated a prohibition on partisan gerrymandering.
“This is a victory for the people of the state and it’s a victory for competitive and fair elections in New York State,” Faso said.
Legislative and congressional boundaries are being redrawn as part of the once-per-decade redistricting process kicked off by the 2020 Census.
The maps, drafted by lawmakers and approved by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, ensured that Democrats made up a strong majority of registered voters in 22 of the 26 congressional districts the state will have for a decade.
Republicans currently hold eight of New York’s 27 seats in Congress.
In early March, McAllister said at a hearing that he didn’t think there was enough time to redraw the maps before the June primary. But the judge said he would issue a decision by April 4 about whether to uphold or strike down the maps.
The legal challenge in New York is among a series of disputes over redistricting playing out in states around the country.
Zooarchaeologist Katheryn Twiss at Stony Brook University.
The documentary Magnificent Beast examines how the ferocious wild boar was domesticated through the centuries and across continents, yet still remains a threat to livestock and humans.
Co-Director and Co-Producer Tess Gerritsen
Magnificent Beast visits with pet pig owners as part of the filmÕs exploration of the domestic pig and the relationship between pigs and humans.
Magnificent Beast Movie Poster
Doreen Burke of Port Charlotte, Florida with her pig Rosie. Doreen makes clothing for pigs and other animals.
P82
Josh Gerritsen Co-Director and Co-Producer
Magnificent Beast co-director and producer Tess Gerritsen travels the world to tell the history of the pig, seen here on a visit to pig keeper Ian Maccallan in England to discover how these intelligent animals can be raised.
By Melissa Arnold
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about pigs? Is it this morning’s bacon or your upcoming Easter ham? Maybe you’re picturing a smelly hog rolling in a dusty barn. Or perhaps your religious or personal convictions leave you saying “No thanks!” almost instantly.
Regardless of how you feel about them, there’s no arguing that the humble pig occupies a prominent place in global culture. From farm to table, predator to house pet, pigs are truly all things to all people.
On March 31, PBS stations nationwide will air Magnificent Beast, a captivating documentary that explores the unique ways pigs and humans relate to one another.
Co-directors Tess and Josh Gerritsen, a mother and son duo, traveled across the United States and around the world to capture the whole spectrum of the pig-human dynamic. Along the way, they met chefs, farmers, hunters, archaeologists, historians, and more, each with a unique connection to the animals. At times, their viewpoints differ so much that it’s almost comical to imagine them in a room together. The film’s strength lies not only in that diversity, but in the great care and respect given to each perspective.
The idea for a pig-focused film came to Tess Gerritsen, author of the popular “Rizzoli and Isles” book series, while attending a promotional event in Turkey several years ago.
“I found myself craving bacon for breakfast while I was there, but the majority of Turkish people are Muslim, so you can’t find it there,” Tess explained. “It got me thinking a lot about food taboos. What causes certain foods to become off-limits in a society? As [Josh and I] began to dig deeper, we realized that there was something unique about the status held by pigs.”
Josh Gerritsen began his career in short films and photography, but after a while, he needed a change of pace.
“I thought that I was going to live in New York City forever, but I didn’t have a lot of momentum,” he recalled. “I wasn’t making the world a better place, and that really bothered me. So I decided to move back home to Maine, and spent four years in organic farming. That period was also a major inspiration for Magnificent Beast.”
The pair began research for the film in 2016, with Tess, who has a degree in cultural anthropology, taking the lead. She combed through academic journals in search of people exploring the same issues, and found that many of them were based in the United Kingdom and Egypt.
There’s also a local connection among the featured experts: Dr. Katheryn C. Twiss, an associate professor of anthropology at Stony Brook University.
Twiss’ research focuses on social and economic practices in early agricultural and urban societies. As a zooarchaeologist, she studies animal bones and other remains to learn more about past interactions between humans and animals.
In the film, Twiss explains how pigs have been increasingly domesticated over the course of human history, along with some of the surprising traits that pigs and humans share.
“We were really impressed by the passion Dr. Twiss has for her work, and for pigs in general. It’s clear that she loves what she does, and that was a big part of why we chose to include her,” Tess Gerritsen said.
Dr. Twiss’ curiosity about the ancient world began with an elective class she took early in her undergraduate years.
“Like a lot of people, I had no idea what I wanted to study when I started college. I liked biology, history, languages … and then I took an Introduction to Archeology course and completely fell in love,” she explained. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is awesome! Archeology has everything — I don’t have to choose!’”
Much of Twiss’s research has been on the Neolithic period (between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago) in southwest Asia. In this period, people were first building large communities and relying on foods that they produced or farmed themselves. Pigs were also domesticated at this time. Twiss said that in some Neolithic societies, carved pig tusks were used as personal adornments, and pig bones were embedded in the walls and buried below the floors of homes for symbolic purposes.
“I’m interested in how humans relate to different kinds of animals — how do we obtain our food? How do we feed ourselves, and what rituals are associated with the way we eat? Pigs are environmentally and socially important, just like cattle,” she added.
When the Gerritsens reached out to Twiss about being a part of their film, she was excited and happy to pull a few skulls from the lab for her segment.
“I enjoyed the film’s deeper dive into the social relationships that people have with pigs, especially as pets. It didn’t make me want to get a pet pig, but it did make me want to meet someone with one so I could visit,” she joked. “I hope that Magnificent Beast helps people develop a greater awareness of the many ways in which people interact — or choose not to interact — with pigs. It highlights both the complexity of pigs and the diversity of human cultures.”
To further highlight this complexity, Josh went on social media to find people who interact with pigs on a non-academic level. Using Facebook, he was able to connect with a number of pet pig owners as well as wild hog hunters.
“I made it clear that I wanted to give everyone a fair say, and after a while it led to some really great conversations and a sense of trust,” Josh said.
Ultimately, the Gerritsens were able to meet with members of both groups in person. The pet pig owners taught them more about the deep affection, intelligence and social skills of domestic pigs, while the hunters took them along on a nighttime search for dangerous and destructive wild hogs.
“When people think about pigs, they have a tendency to think of a lazy, sloppy animal, but they are so much more than that,” Josh said. “Our goal is to encourage greater respect and understanding for pigs, and to promote more mindful eating when you do choose to eat pork.”
Distributed by the National Educational Television Association, Magnificent Beast premieres locally at 10 p.m. Thursday, March 31 on WLIW Channel 21. The documentary will air on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and stream on www.PBS.org. For more information, visit www.magnificentbeastmovie.com.
Long Island Cars kicks off 2022 with a classic car show at Bald Hill in Farmingville on March 27. Photo from LI Cars
Ongoing
TVHS expands hours
The Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket will be open for the spring season on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for exhibit tours of SPIES! and Chicken Hill and gift shop now through May 7. For more information, call 751-3730 or visit www.tvhs.org.
Suffrage exhibit in Port Jefferson
The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson celebrates Women’s History Month with an exhibit on the second floor titled Celebrating Women’s Suffrage and the Timeless Connection of Nan Guzzetta. The exhibit runs through March 31 daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free. For more information, call 802-2160.
Thursday, March 24
Swing Into Spring Festival
The Jazz Loft and Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn presents its Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival at different locations throughout Stony Brook and Setauket today through March 27. Performances continue tonight in Stony Brook at The Country House from 6 to 8 p.m. and a The Jazz Loft from 7 to 9:30 p.m. For a full schedule of events, visit www.thejazzloft.org or call 751-1895.
Stony Brook Walking Tour *This event has been moved to March 25
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization will host a walking tour titled “Against the Grain” featuring newly uncovered stories of Stony Brook Village women. Tours will leave from the Stony Brook Grist Mill on Harbor Road at 10:30 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m. Participants in the walking tour will enjoy at least six entirely new stories about the women of Stony Brook Village, spanning thousands of years. This includes indigenous women; the women of the Revolution; a few scandalous wills; the story of Jennie Melville and her role in the suffrage movement; Alida Emmet and the Center for Twilight Sleep; and Dorothy Melville, the Fairy Godmother of Stony Brook. Tickets are $10 per person, and includes a dessert (with the purchase of an entrée) at Mirabelle Restaurant and Tavern. To reserve your spot, call 751-2244.
Five Ways to Wellness event
The Space at Port Jefferson, 234 Traders Cove, Port Jefferson hosts Five Ways to Wellness, an evening dedicated to pain management, anxiety and sleeplessness, from 6 to 8 p.m. Featuring guest speakers Dee Earle-Browning, Indu Kaur, Elizabeth Martin, Heather Ippolito, Felicia Kasow and Dr. David Gentile with interactive acupuncture, yoga, reiki, hors d’oeuvres and wine. Free but tickets are required by visiting www.eventbrite.com. For further information, call 516-939-8960.
Leading Ladies Trivia Nite!
Join the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum for a Leading Ladies Trivia Nite online at 7 p.m. Test your wits as you explore the lives and work of amazing women who made their marks on the world in film, art, history, science, literature, and music and more in a fun setting! Free to play; $10 donation appreciated in support of the museum’s events. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org to register.
Atelier lecture
The Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James will host a free webinar titled Painting En Plein Air: From Ideal to Practice via Zoom at 7 p.m. Painting en plein air was really an ideal for artists like J. M.W. Turner and John Constable, but it became a real credo for artists like Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, John Singer Sargent, Joaquín Sorolla and many others. In this lecture, painter, teacher and art historian Eric Alexander Santoli will cover the history, principles, materials and methods of painting en plein air. To register, call 250-9009 or visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org.
Friday, March 25
Stony Brook Walking Tour (See March 24 listing)
Friday Night Coffee House
Celebrate St. James continues its Coffee House series at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 2nd. St., St. James tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. The Center will be transformed into a “Coffee House” with easy going eclectic music by Fat Nicky and the Snack featuring Nick Loiodice while in the company of old and new friends. Coffee, tea and treats will be served. Tickets are $20, $15 seniors. To RSVP, call 984-0201 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.
Wintertide Concert
The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson continues its Wintertide Concert Series with the Wine & Cheese All Stars: Kate Corrigan, Cecilia Kirtland, Ray Lambiase and Bob Westcott – veteran singer-songwriters from the wine & cheese cafe heydays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. $5 donation at the door. Call 802-2160 for more information.
Poets in Port
Northport Arts Coalition continues its Poets in Port at the First Presbyterian Church 330 Main Street, Northport and virtually at 7:30 p.m. Featured poet will be Robert McKenna followed by an open reading. Free tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com. For more information, email [email protected].
Friday Night Face-Off
Friday Night Face Off, Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, returns to Theatre Three’s Second Stage, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson tonight at 10:30 p.m. Using audience suggestions, FNFO pits two teams of improvisers against each other in an all-out championship! Recommended for ages16 and up, due to adult content. Tickets are $15 at the door only. Call 928-9100 for more information.
Saturday, March 26
Clean up at the Train Car Park
A community clean up will take place at the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce Train Car Park, located at the corner of Rte. 112 and Rte. 347 in Port Jefferson Station, from 9 a.m. to noon.Come help get the Train Car Park spruced up for the Spring and Summer season by trimming brush and branches, clearing any trash, and making sure everything looks great! Continental breakfast will be available inside the train. All groups welcome to participate. Community service hours will be given if needed. Questions? Call 821-1313.
Mindfulness in Nature Walk
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown will host a Mindfulness in Nature Walk from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m.Experience nature in this slow, mindful practice of forest bathing. Maureen Calamia will lead the walk, share some stories and some interesting facts about our connection to nature. But most of all, you’ll have time to experience it yourself. You can bring a small towel to sit on if you would like for one of the activities. $20 per person. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org. For more information, call 979-6344.
The Kennedy Dream Project
As part of the Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival, The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will present The Kennedy Dream Project, a Jazz Studio Orchestra presentation based on composer Oliver Nelson’s musical tribute to John Fitzgerald Kennedy 55 years ago with new compositions by Tom Manuel, Ray Anderson, Oliver Nelson Jr., Dan Pugach, Peter Coco and Steve Salerno from 7 to 9:30 p.m. A second performance will be held at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook on March 27 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students,$15 children ages 6 and up; children 5 and under free. Visit www.thejazzloft.org to register. Call 751-1895 for more info.
SBU Symphony Orchestra
The Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will host a concert by the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra on the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Program will include works by Sheila Silver, Richard Strauss, William Walton. Tickets are $20 per person. To order, visit www.stallercenter.com or call 632-2787.
Sunday, March 27
The Kennedy Dream Project
See March 26 listing.
Car Show & Swap Meet
Long Island Cars will kick off the 2022 season with their Super Swap Sunday Car Show & Swap Meet today at the Bald Hill Cultural Center, 1 Ski Lane, Farmingville from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of classic and collectible automobiles including street rods, muscle cars and antiques will be on display along with a vendor fair, live music by “The Fugitives,” food and refreshments. Admission is $10 per person, under age 12 free. Call 567-5898 or visit www.longislandcars.com.
Huntington Winter Farmers Market
Get your farm fix in the off-season at the Huntington Winter Farmers Market every Sunday through March 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located behind the senior center at 423 Park Ave., Huntington, visitors will find items ranging from hydroponic greens to artisan breads and vegan treats and everything in between. Call 944-2661.
Port Jeff Winter Farmers Market
The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market will be held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson through April 25. This year’s vendors include Brownies N’ Stuff, Joann’s Desserts, Farm Fresh Potions, Mello Munch Awesome Granola, O Honey Bee Farm, Sweet Melissa Dip, Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery, Spilt Milk Macarons and many more. For more information, call 802-2160.
Sound Symphony Concert
Comsewogue High School, 565 North Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station will host a classic concert by the Sound Symphony Orchestra at 2 p.m. The program will include Dances in the Canebreaks by Florence Price, The Banks of Green Willow by George Butterworth and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, featuring 2019 Concerto Competition winner William Tang. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 seniors and students, children under 12 free at the door. For more information, visit www.soundsymphony.org.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce invites the community to its 31st annual Ronkonkoma St. Patrick’s Day Parade from 2 to 6 p.m. along Patchogue-Holbrook Road and Portion Road. This year’s Grand Marshal will be Gerry McMenamin. Call 304-6303.
Long Island Museum lecture
As part of its current exhibit, Two Centuries of Long Island Women Artists: 1800-2000, the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook will host a special program titled Lee Krasner in Context in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room at 2 p.m. Helen A. Harrison, historian, author and director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center will speak about Lee Krasner, her art and her place among the other female abstractionists working on Long Island in the mid 20th century. Free with museum admission. Call 751-0066 or visit www.longislandmuseum.org.
Flax Pond Lecture
The 17th annual Friends of Flax Pond lecture series kicks off with From Plankton to Whales – Why our local waters are worth protecting with Christopher Paparo at 3 p.m. at the Childs Mansion on Shore Road in Old Field. The presentation will be moderated by Distinguished Service Professor and Oceanographer, Dr Malcolm Bowman. Light refreshments will be served. Please bring a reusable coffee mug to reduce waste. The lecture is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, call 767-6287.
Monday, March 28
SHS Spring Lecture
The Smithtown Historical Society concludes its Spring Lecture Series with a presentation titled Seeking Sanctuary, 125 Years of Synagogues on Long Island, with author and photographer Brad Kolodny in the Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown from 7 to 8 p.m. A book signing will follow. Free admission. For more information, call 265-6768.
Audubon lecture
Dr. Brooke Bateman
Four Harbors Audubon Society presents a Zoom lecture titled Birds Are Telling Us It’s Time to Take Action on Climate Change at 7:30 p.m. Over the last 50 years, North America has lost over one quarter of its birds. Join Dr. Brooke Bateman, Director of Climate Science for the National Audubon Society, for a presentation on how future climate change will be one of the greatest threats to birds and how we can implement Natural Climate Solutions to address the climate crises. Free but registration is required by visiting www.4has.org.
Virtual Movie Trivia Night
Do you know a lot about movies? Well here’s your chance to prove it! Join the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington for a virtual Movie Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Hosted by Dan French, the winning team will get up to four CAC Gift Cards (1 per team member) and bragging rights. Tickets are $10 per team, $7 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org to register. Questions? Email [email protected].
Tuesday, March 29
No events listed for this day.
Wednesday, March 30
Starry Nights concert
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will present Starry Nights Spring in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. The Starry Nights concerts at Staller Center have become a well-loved tradition, with artistic director Colin Carr creating unique chamber music programs that bring together world-class musicians from the Stony Brook University Department of Music. The program will include variations of Beethoven’s “Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu” for Piano Trio Opus 121a. Tickets range from $44 to $48. For more information, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
Thursday, March 31
Native American Drumming
All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will host a Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Please call 631-655-7798 for more information.
Theater
‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents The Marvelous Wonderettes from Feb. 19 to March 26. This blast-from-the-past musical takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! Featuring over two dozen classic ‘50’s and ‘60’s hits including “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” and many more. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
Festival of One-Act Plays
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 23rd annual Festival of One-Act Plays, featuring the world premiere of six new works, at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on the Second Stage from Feb. 27 to April. 2. Adult content and language. Parental discretion is advised. Tickets are $20. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘A Bronx Tale’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents A Bronx Tale from March 24 to May 8. Based on Chazz Palminteri’s classic movie, this streetwise musical will take you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s—where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring a doo-wop score, A Bronx Tale is a story about respect, loyalty, love, and above all else: family. Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. Read the review in next week’s paper!
‘Steel Magnolias’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Steel Magnolias from April 9 to May 7. Come on down to Truvy’s Louisiana beauty shop where six strong women share their hopes and dreams. Beginning on the day of debutante Shelby’s wedding, the play traces this eccentric and lovable cast of characters as they support each other through life’s many challenges. Stop by for some great laughs and unforgettable friendship. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit theatrethree.com.
Shakespeare’s Henry V
Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Campus, 533 College Road, Selden presents Henry V by Shakespeare at the Shea Theatre, Islip Arts Building on April 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. and April 24 at 2 p.m. Mature content. General admission is $14, students 16 years of age or younger $9.75, veterans and Suffolk students with current ID receive one free ticket. To order, call 451-4163.
Vendors Wanted
◆ Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, 178 Oxhead Road, Centereach seeks vendors for its Spring Craft Fair on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date May 22). $50 for a 10X10 spot. Food trucks also wanted. For more information, email Alex at [email protected].
◆ Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn is looking for craft vendors for its annual outdoor Friends of the Library Craft & Flea Market on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. The non-refundable fee for a 10X10 space is $35. To apply, visit www.harborfieldslibrary.org/friends.
◆ The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor seeks antique vendors for its outdoor Spring Antique Sale on May 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For an application, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. For more information, call 631-367-3418.
The Jazz Loft founder and president Tom Manuel recently met with New York State Senator Mario Mattera (District 2) to give the Senator a tour of the Stony Brook Village museum and performance space and to discuss some of the Loft’s musical programs.
Members of the local business community, Jazz Loft board members and volunteers were also present. Manuel spoke about The Jazz Loft’s Young at Heart daytime concert series which is aimed at seniors, those suffering from memory loss, and their caretakers. The one-hour programs are designed to be interactive and provide a musical trip down memory lane for audience members. Live music was provided by Steve Salerno.
Pictured from left are Jazz Loft volunteers Barbara and Thom Brownsworth; musician Steve Salerno with guitar; Michael Ardolino, Jazz Loft board member and owner of Realty Connect USA; State Senator Mario Mattera; Tom Manuel, founder of the Jazz Loft; Carmine Inserra of the Three Village Chamber of Commerce and owner of ProSysCon Computer Technologies; and Mr. Inserra’s wife Sara Inserra.
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook is located just 90 minutes from New York City and is the only music venue on Long Island that features exclusively jazz music. Learn more at www.thejazzloft.org or call 631-751-1895.
The Open Door Exchange (ODE) located at 200 Wilson Street, Building G, in Port Jefferson Station is a mission of Setauket Presbyterian Church and seeks to serve the community by providing quality furniture for anyone who needs. Since its beginning, ODE has distributed over 6,000 furniture pieces. From one open door through another ODE has helped more than 800 families.
Throughout the year furniture donations are accepted from individuals and organizations through scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs. The pieces received go through an intake process where they are cleaned, inspected and repaired if necessary. Families and individuals are then welcome to the ODE warehouse where they can view and choose the pieces that work for them.
ODE is run by an efficient and effective staff as well has many hard-working volunteers. The mission of ODE is to bring joy, security and comfort to people in the community by lifting the financial burden of home furnishing. Sometimes that cost is over looked and sometimes people are in need to due to emergency situations. ODE prides itself in keeping quality furniture pieces well stocked and available for visitors to view and tag for their homes.
From March 25 at 9 a.m. through March 31 at 6 p.m. the Open Door Exchange will hold its annual fundraiser, Furnishing Hope, through a live online auction. An in person celebration will be held at Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket on April 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets to the in-person event are $10 per person and can be purchased online. The live auction and tickets can be found at: https://www.opendoorexchange.org/.
Distributed by the National Educational Television Association, Magnificent Beast premieres locally at 10 p.m. Thursday, March 31 on WLIW Channel 21. The documentary will air on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and stream on www.PBS.org. For more information, visit www.magnificentbeastmovie.com.
Throughout the year furniture donations are accepted from individuals and organizations through scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs. The pieces received go through an intake process where they are cleaned, inspected and repaired if necessary. Families and individuals are then welcome to the ODE warehouse where they can view and choose the pieces that work for them.
Prev
