Stony Brook University has announced the return of the Mall Walkers, a fun and easy free exercise program co-sponsored by Stony Brook University Hospital and Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, that meets on the last Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m.
Members walk around the inside of the mall at their own pace, and after their workout enjoy a complimentary light snack and the opportunity to socialize. Membership includes monthly talks on a variety of health and wellness topics offered by experts from Stony Brook Medicine.
The Mall Walkers meet nine times a year (there will be no meeting in July, August and December). Walking dates for 2022 are February 23, March 30, April 27, May 25, June 29, September 28, October 26 and November 30. For more information, contact Stony Brook Medicine at 631-444-4000.
Just like the perfectly aged cheeses at the Cheese & Spice Market and matured wines at Wines by Nature, these local businesses have evolved since opening, and in fact have developed a character of distinctness, uniqueness and quality that their customers have come to expect and love.
Located at the Shoppes at East Wind in Wading River, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River, these privately owned businesses are situated near each other and create a perfect pairing for customers.Customers frequently go from one shop to the other seeking recommendations on cheese and wine pairings.Both stores proudly feature local products from Long Island and New York State.
The Cheese & Spice Market
The Cheese & Spice Market opened for business in October 2016, and since then owner Patty Kaczmarczyk has greatly expanded the selection of cheese, meats, spices, teas and other gourmet products, focusing on customer requests and expectations.“I love finding new cheeses and other products to bring into the store,” said Patty. “It’s fun introducing our customers to things they may never have tried before.”
Wines by Nature opened in July 2017 and has an outstanding selection of wines and spirits from small family run wineries and distilleries.“The key to our inventory selection is research and tasting,” said owner George Eldi. “The first criteria is always taste; it has to taste delicious! Then the other factors are added in, with value as it’s centerpiece, which is inherent with small, family run wineries.”
Kaczmarczyk and Eldi have over 70 years of combined experience in the food and wine business and were friends prior to opening their shops.They have a love for food, wine and cooking, and they are passionate about their businesses.Everything from the design and natural decor of their shops, the products they select, and customer service they provide is reflective of their knowledge and desire to make customers happy.In addition to describing selections and providing recommendations and samples, they work with customers to make custom cheese platters, gift baskets, and make local deliveries to demonstrate their commitment to their customers.
The Cheese & Spice Market (631-886-1521) and Wines by Nature (631-886-2800) look forward to the day that they can host tasting events in their shops, as they did before the pandemic.Be sure to “Like” and “Follow” them on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates and information about new products they bring into the store.
Three Village Historical Society’s Director of Education Donna Smith and historian Beverly C. Tyler. Photo from TVHS
The Three Village Historical Society has been awarded a $125,000 grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. The grant will be used to create and install Digital Tapestry, an augmented reality experience created by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. Digital Tapestry will focus on core members of the Setauket based Culper Spy Ring during the American Revolution and will incorporate technology that can be experienced through an app utilized on smartphones.
The exhibit is scheduled to open late Spring 2022 at The Three Village Historical Society History Center in Setauket. Digital Tapestry is an innovative, interactive, virtual experience that will use archival imagery that will guide the user through the exhibit. While using the app inside the exhibit, guests will meet key members of the Culper Spy Ring, who lived and operated out of the Setauket area, including Abraham Woodhull, Benjamin Tallmadge and Anna Smith Strong, to name a few of the narrators.
For more information, call 631-751-3730 or visit www.tvhs.org.
From left, John Lessard, CEO, DDI; Philip Veneziano, his son Christopher, and his wife Linda; and Monique Diaz, Residential Manager, DDI. Photo by Anekwe Noel (DDI)
Thanks to a $25,000 donation, residents of a group home for adults with developmental disabilities in Setauket will have guaranteed power for the continuity of critical systems, including life-sustaining medical devices, in the event of a power outage. Funding for the whole-house backup generator was provided by Linda and Philip Veneziano.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the installation of the whole-house backup generator was recently held at the home, operated by Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), where the Veneziano’s adult son, Christopher, resides. Mr. Veneziano is VP of Finance for Broadridge Financial Solutions and presently serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors at DDI.
“The addition of whole-house generators to our residences greatly enhances the lives of people with autism and other developmental disabilities, as well as the staff that care for them, by ensuring that their lives are not disrupted by power outages and that their health and safety are not jeopardized during emergencies,” explained John Lessard, CEO, DDI. “The generator will help ensure the continuity of electrical power and critical systems in the event of a power failure; we are thankful for this wonderful gift.”
On Feb. 8 co-owners of the John W. Engeman Theater Richard T. Dolce and Kevin J. O’Neill presented a check to the Ecumenical Lay Council Food Pantry of Northport at the First Presbyterian Church of Northport with money raised in support of the Food Pantry .
Following each performance of White Christmas, cast members collected donations for the Food Pantry. In total, $35,000 was collected during the run of the 2021 holiday production.
Co-Owner and Managing Director Kevin O’Neill stated that this fundraising effort represents an ongoing commitment to give back to the communities of Northport and greater Long Island. This is the eighth year that the Engeman Theater has raised funds for the Food Pantry and the First Presbyterian Church of Northport, which hosts the Food Pantry. To date, the Theater has donated over $214,000 to the First Presbyterian Church & the Ecumenical Lay Council Food Pantry.
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum has just premiered the fifth video in a series of Vanderbilt Moments in History, How William Vanderbilt Created America’s First International Auto Race, which introduces viewers to the history of the race.
Photo from Vanderbilt Museum
William K. Vanderbilt II, an early auto-racing enthusiast, set a land-speed record in 1904 of 92.3 miles per hour in a Mercedes on a course in Daytona Beach, Florida. That same year, he launched the Vanderbilt Cup, America’s first international auto race.
The video series is being created by Killian Taylor, archives and records manager: “It might come as a surprise to hear that many of the Long Island roads we drive on today were once part of one of the biggest auto events in the country. The Vanderbilt Cup was the brainchild of Mr. Vanderbilt, who wanted to create a race that would encourage American car manufacturers to make race cars that could compete with their European counterparts.
“The races drew thousands of visitors onto the island each year and paved the way for modern auto racing as we know it today. The Vanderbilt Cup was a one-of-a-kind national event, and it happened right in our backyards.”
Watch these other Vanderbilt Moments in History videos:
From left, David D’Agate, DO, St. Francis Heart Center cardiologist; Jie Jane Cao, MD, St. Francis Heart Center cardiologist; and Joshua P. Bozek, DO, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital emergency medicine physician.
Photo from St. Catherine of Siena Hospital/Michelle Pipia-Stiles
Catholic Health is expanding with its newly opened,award-winning St. Francis Heart Center (SFHC) at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital (SCSH) in Smithtown. Here, St. Francis cardiologists will provide prompt, expert assessments and treatment of acute chest pain.
“In bringing St. Francis Heart Center to St. Catherine, we’re giving residents of Suffolk County’s north shore access to lifesaving treatment for patients with acute chest pain,” said SCSH President James O’Connor. “Residents can have confidence in knowing that they have access to St. Francis’ cardiovascular care close to home.”
Led by a team of nationally-renowned cardiologists, the St. Francis Heart Center at St. Catherine is specifically for those who present with acute chest pain. Patients will be seen quickly by a physician and receive an EKG within minutes. The individual’s condition will be evaluated using the H.E.A.R.T. scoring method: History, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Age, Risk factors and levels of Troponin, ensuring customized, efficient and effective treatment.
Based on the patient’s score, St. Francis physicians will determine the level of criticality and treatment options. In some cases, a cardiac CT scan will be performed to better assess a patient’s heart and locate heart disease. The images will be read by St. Francis Heart Center’s dedicated cardiac imaging team. If a patient requires a catheterization, precision angioplasty will be performed onsite with the level of excellence that has made St. Francis Heart Center a recognized national leader in cardiology. Upon the patient’s discharge, the team will schedule follow-up appointments within 24 hours with a St. Francis-affiliated cardiologist, or the patient’s own cardiologist.
“Timely diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute chest pain is vital to successful outcomes,” said Catholic Health and St. Francis Hospital Chairman of Cardiology Richard Shlofmitz, MD. “When a person has a heart problem, it has to be taken care of right away. You don’t want to walk into an urgent care center and then have to drive to a hospital emergency room and wait hours before receiving therapy. Time is valuable, and we want to save you time by bringing St. Francis closer to you. With the opening of the St. Francis Heart Center at St. Catherine, patients will receive the same quality of care and expertise St. Francis is known for worldwide.”
The St. Francis Heart Center has already expanded its nationally recognized cardiovascular expertise to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip and Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre.
For more information on the cardiology services offered at Catholic Health, click here or call (866) MY-LI-DOC. To view a video about the new St. Francis Heart Center at St. Catherine, click here.
The Smithtown Senior Center is now featuring an interactive BINGO experience for members. The recent addition of the jumbo electronic BINGO flash board is a result of a purchase from Siena Village Senior Living community. Senior Center members can enjoy in the BINGO fun every Friday starting at 12:15 p.m.
“We were looking for ways to improve the services and activities for our membership in addition to a selling point, to encourage new enrollment. BINGO is a much-loved form of entertainment… It has been a popular pastime for generations. My hope is that this new addition, and the lineup of fun activities, crafts and clubs will entice new membership and improve the experience for the community members who we see daily,” said Doreen Perrino, Smithtown Senior Citizens Department Program Director.
In addition to the new BINGO Fridays program, the senior center has expanded clubs such as the Knitting & Crochet group, (every Monday from 10 a.m. to noon.) The Knitting & Crochet group makes hats, scarves and mittens for local shelters, baby hats for hospitals, lap blankets and shawls for senior residency homes and much more. Members can use supplies, yarn and tools provided by the Senior Center or bring their own from home.
The Senior Citizens Center offers a wide array of activities, clubs and programming geared towards improving quality of life for our wiser, elder residents. Every day, the center offers a full schedule of arts, fitness, and wellness programming. Members can choose to join a variety of clubs, from gardening, quilting and book clubs to one of seven social clubs, featuring Casino & Theater outings, luncheons, parties, community advocacy and volunteer opportunities. In addition to a wealth of entertaining programming, the Smithtown Senior Citizens Department offers a variety of at home maintenance and repairs services.
The Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center, 420 Middle Country Road, Smithtown, is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (July & August Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Lunch is served daily. Transportation is also available for membership. For questions or additional information, please call (631) 360-7616 or for Transportation: (631) 265-8811.
This week’s shelter pet is a stunning petite cat named Janis Joplin who came to the Smithtown Animal Shelter on the day that would have been the iconic singer’s 79th birthday.
Janis is an active and curious cat with energy for days. Estimated to be 1 year young, this domestic shorthair would love a family that can give her lots of attention and playtime.If you would like to meet this sweetheart, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with her in a domestic setting.
The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are currently Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only).For more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.smithtownanimalshelter.com.
Island Federal Credit Union (Island Federal) has joined forces with Sal DiBenedetto, the well-known digital media producer also known as “The Grubfather,” to support a special effort to fight hunger on Long Island. Together they launched “Spread the Love February Grub Drive” in support of Long Island Cares. The campaign will run throughout the month of February 2022.
From left, Chris Murray and Sal DiBenedetto. Photo from Island Federal
“For more than a decade, Island Federal has supported Long Island Cares in its mission to combat hunger on Long Island. Now, working in partnership with the hugely popular Grubfather Sal DiBenedetto, we are expecting a tremendous response,” said Chris Murray, VP/Marketing, Island Federal. “Our goal is to raise $5,000 this month, but I do believe we can far exceed that.”
Sal DiBenedetto responds, “I’m extremely proud to work with Island Federal on projects that enhance the life of Long Islanders. As fans know, I feature great meals on my Grubfather digital media. What we often forget is that, despite the abundance of great food on Long Island, there are more than 259,000 Long Islanders who remain food insecure, nearly a third of whom are children. That’s why we decided to do this joint fundraiser for Long Island Cares.”
Murray continues, “February is the perfect month to show the love to our fellow Long Islanders. And we’ve made is especially easy to donate from your computer or phone in minutes. Our Island team worked with Long Island Cares to develop a secure website to let you make a cash donation in minutes and see the amount of food it will purchase.”
The “Spread the Love February Grub Drive,” which will run through Feb. 28, will be 100% virtual. To donate, visit islandfcu.com/grubdrive or the TheGrubfather Instagram page now through end of the month.
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