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Hear ye, hear ye! Looking for something cool to do during winter break? The Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown will host a A Royal Princess Party: A Villainous Tale of Magic on and Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. and Feb. 25 and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. The princesses return to the Royal Kingdom of Smithtown to get together and explore some magical artifacts. Princesses, princes, and royal families of all ages are welcome to attend but must be with an adult at all times. Special surprises and magical touches make this show a royal treat! Tickets are $16 per person. To order, call 800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

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Dr. Arif Ahmad, St. Charles and St. Catherine of Siena Acid Reflux and Hiatal Hernia Centers of Excellence Director Photo courtesy of Catholic Health

Catholic Health is expanding its service offerings with the opening of the Acid Reflux and Hiatal Hernia Centers of Excellence at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson and St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown. The Centers will offer minimally invasive surgical procedures as a permanent solution for acid reflux and repair of hiatal hernia. 

Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux, is a chronic condition affecting 20 percent of people in the United States. Common symptoms include acid reflux, heartburn, nausea, persistent regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, chronic cough and chest pain.  

“We are delighted to provide this much-needed service in our community for those who are suffering from chronic heartburn and acid reflux, looking for a long-term solution,” said St. Charles and St. Catherine of Siena President James O’Connor. “Our goal is to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from heartburn and GERD, with an individualized treatment plan and successful outcome.” 

“Many patients want to eliminate dependence on medications and are concerned about long-term side effects,” said St. Charles and St. Catherine of Siena Acid Reflux and Hiatal Hernia Centers of Excellence Director Arif Ahmad, MD. “Most patients continue to regurgitate in spite of medications. Minimally invasive surgical techniques are safe alternatives that should be considered.”

For more information, call 631-474-6808 for St. Charles Hospital and 631-862-3570 for St. Catherine of Siena Hospital.

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Chewy. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Animal Shelter

MEET CHEWY!

This week’s featured shelter pet is 3 1/2-year-old Chewy,  a red/brown Lab/Sharpei/Pit Mix  up for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter.

Chewy and his siblings lost their dad unexpectedly when he passed away. Don’t let his concerned look fool you; this handsome boy is fun loving and likes all people. He did live with several other dogs, though he does not like when other dogs come up to his kennel. 

Chewy had some allergy issues when he arrived that have since cleared up but may resurface as seasons change. He seems to have gentle leash manners, loves belly rubs, has a goofy personality and loves to roll on his back.

If you would like to meet Chewy, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with him 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.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.

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Photo by Michael Hall

A GLACIAL GIFT

Michael Hall of Port Jefferson snapped this photo of Conscience Bay in Setauket with his iPhone 12 on Feb. 1. He writes, “My wife Christina and I were walking in the northern, wooded section of Frank Melville Memorial Park on this cool winter day. The tide was so low we were able to walk into the tidal grasses. The layered colors of this erratic boulder caught my eye.”

Send your Photo of the Week to [email protected]

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Scene from last Sunday's game. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team (16-9, 10-4 CAA) dominated the UNCW Seahawks (4-21, 1-13 CAA), 64-46, in Wilmington, NC on Feb. 19.

The Seawolves were led by three student-athletes who scored in double digits. Senior guard Gigi Gonzalez led the way with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor and 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range.

Sophomore forward Sherese Pittman dropped 18 points and tied a team-high with nine rebounds on the afternoon. Pittman shot 6-of-15 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. 

Graduate guard Annastasia Warren added 11 points and four rebounds. She shot an efficient 4-of-8 from the field in the win.

It took Stony Brook a little more than a quarter to find its groove. UNCW held a 14-11 lead after the first frame, but the Seawolves exploded for a 21-point second quarter as a team.

With about 8:30 remaining in the first half, Gonzalez drove down the right side of the lane and dished off to Pittman, who fought through contact and finished a tough layup to give Stony Brook a 15-14 lead.

The Seawolves began to control the remainder of the game, after outscoring UNCW, 21-8, in the second frame. The squad led 32-22 at the break.

Stony Brook came out strong to start the second half, going on a 11-0 run. About 1:30 into the third quarter, graduate guard Daishai Almond dumped off a no-look bounce pass to Pittman who finished the layup. The play gave the Seawolves a 14-point lead.

After trailing going into the second quarter, the Seawolves dominated for the remainder of the game and picked up their third-straight win and a season sweep of the Seahawks.

“Proud of our team for closing out the weekend with another win. I thought we executed defensively and rebounded the ball well. Wins are hard in February and especially on the road. Glad to be going home 2-0,” said head coach Ashley Langford.

The team will return to Island Federal Arena to take on the Hampton Pirates on Friday, Feb. 24. Tip-off is set for 6:31 p.m. and the game will be broadcast

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The team celebrated their first win of the season last Friday. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

For the first time since the 2015 season, the Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team opened its season at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Feb. 17 and rolled past the Michigan Wolverines, 17-10.

Michigan got off to an early lead, scoring the first goal of the game within the first two minutes of the contest. However, that would not last long as Stony Brook’s offense picked up right where they left off last season.

Junior midfielder Jaden Hampel fueled the Seawolves offense, tallying a career-high five goals to lead all players in the contest. Hampel’s first two goals came back-to-back early in the first quarter. The junior finished the first one off an assist from senior midfielder Charlotte Verhulst to tie the Wolverines, 1-1. Within less than two minutes, Hampel found the back of the cage again to give Stony Brook a 2-1 lead.

The Seawolves would not look back as the squad would go on to score nine of the 11 goals to end the first half. Junior midfielder Ellie Masera recorded her first hattrick of the season, scoring three of her four goals in the second quarter alone.

Midway through the third quarter, Stony Brook captured back-to-back goals in one minute by Hampel, a man-up goal byssenior attacker Morgan Mitchell and a goal by Masera, all one after another, gave the Seawolves a 15-4 lead, its largest lead of the match.

With 11:27 remaining in the game, Michigan’s Josie Gooch found the goal which would spark four more Wolverine goals in the fourth. However, goals from Mo. Mitchell and sophomore midfielder Alexandra Fusco would secure the lead for the Seawolves and ultimately the 17-10 victory.

“I am definitely proud of our athletes, I thought we came out against a top-20 team and had a great effort,” said head coach Joe Spallina. “I thought the first half was super-efficient. I think coming into your first game you always worry about doing too many first game things, especially with the other team having already played a couple of games, but our athletes stepped up and played really well. I thought we were efficient; goals were spread around, and I think that is a little different then where we have been in the past where we just have so many different weapons. Defensively, early on especially, we were locked down and we were in running time for most of the second half against a top-20 team, so we have a lot to build on for us.”

The team returns to Kenneth P. LaValle stadium on Feb. 25 to take on Yale. First draw is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on FloSports.

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Bacon Banana Bread

By Heidi Sutton

There are few things quite as comforting as walking into the house and smelling a freshly baked loaf of banana bread. Whether you eat it for dessert, breakfast or a snack, banana bread (or muffins) is the best way to use up overripe bananas. 

In honor of National Banana Bread Day — February 23 — a day that celebrates a perfect pairing of fruit plus bread, here is a tried and true family recipe for Raisin Nut Banana Bread, or if you love bacon, a recipe for Bacon Banana Bread which combines two morning meal classics in one easy-to-enjoy bite. 

Raisin Nut Banana Bread 

Raisin Nut Banana Bread

YIELD: Makes one loaf

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup raisins

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup sugar

2  eggs

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter 9-by-5-inch metal loaf pan. Mix first four ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine raisins and nuts and 1 tablespoon flour in a separate bowl. In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy; add sugar and eggs. Beat in bananas, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Beat in flour mixture, stir in raisins and nuts. Pour into loaf pan. Bake until tester comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes and then turn onto wire rack to cool completely. Serve with butter.

Bacon Banana Bread

Bacon Banana Bread

YIELD: Makes one loaf

INGREDIENTS:

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sugar

3 medium bananas, mashed

1/2 cup canola oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

8 slices bacon or turkey bacon, cooked and cut into 1/4-1/2-inch pieces

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 325 F. Lightly grease 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. In large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, baking soda, baking powder and sugar. In separate bowl, combine mashed bananas, canola oil, eggs and vanilla extract. Add banana mixture to dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. In small bowl, toss bacon and remaining flour until bacon is lightly coated. Fold flour-coated bacon into batter. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake 70-80 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 20 minutes before inverting bread onto wire rack to cool completely.

See video for Bacon Banana Bread here.

 

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Actor John Higgins in the role of Jesse Platt in a scene from 'I Now Take Up My Pen.' Photo courtesy of Darren St. George

By Julianne Mosher

Long Island — and especially the North Shore — is rich with history. Chapters can be written about what has happened in these neighborhoods ranging from the early days of the Native Americans and the struggle they encountered when settlers came to shore to the boat-building community that thrived in the early 19th century in Port Jefferson.

And while history lovers in Huntington, Smithtown, Setauket and Port Jeff thrive on the Revolutionary War stories and how several families helped General George Washington with the Culper Spy Ring, the local community has even more history that was never really spoken about — for instance, the Platt Brothers and their role in the Civil War. 

On Friday, March 3, the Port Jefferson Historical Society is planning to host their annual dinner at The WaterView at The Port Jefferson Country Club. Joan Townley, vice president of the society, said that while the dinner is held every year to include the usual election of officers and reports as well as projects for the future, 2023 is bringing something special to the table — the premiere screening of a locally-produced film.

Titled I Now Take Up My Pen, the 38-minute film written and produced by St. George Living History Productions — a local group that creates films and webinars for nonprofits and other historical societies — tells the heart-wrenching tale of William and Jesse Platt, who separately volunteered their service to the 5th Regiment of the Zouaves from Long Island.

Townley said that for over a year the historical society was working on getting a $10,000 grant from New York State that would help fund a film they had been wanting to do for a long time.

It all started in 1970 when the society was contacted by a woman in North Carolina claiming to be the granddaughter of one of the Platt Brothers. “She had these letters that were written to each brother and their father during the Civil War,” Townley said. “She sent the Mather House Museum copies of the letters and they sat around for quite a while, but the dream was to one day have them transcribed and turn it into a film.”

Well, that dream finally came true nearly a decade after the letters were read through, pieced together and put together in a book.

Without giving too much away, the film follows the Platt family as 15-year-old William enlists in the war, much to the dismay of his father. Upset and angry, the father (played by the historical society’s president, Nick Acampora) sends his second son, Jesse, on a mission to bring his younger brother home. The film follows the letters that Jesse and William wrote to each other and their family describing in detail everything they saw.

Sal St. George, who read each and every letter, wrote the screenplay.

In December of 2021, Townley said that Assemblyman Steve Englebright secured the grant for the historical society to use. Using local actors and members of the historical society, with costumes created by the late Nan Guzzetta, filming began in the summer of 2022 in various locations in Setauket and Port Jefferson including the Sherwood-Jayne House and Farm, Cedar Hill Cemetery, the Mather House Museum and the Port Jefferson Village Center. Post production was finalized in December.

When the board began discussing plans for this year’s dinner, they realized it would be the perfect time to premiere a film showcasing a piece of Port Jefferson history. 

“Someone gave us these letters as a gift and we wanted to share them with as many people as possible,” Townley said.

Darren St. George, creative director to the film and also the actor who played William, said that being able to show viewers this piece of history was very rewarding.

“The historical society has letters of correspondence and we brought that story to light. Through their writings you can see the brothers on the battlefield. It’s always challenging when you’re portraying someone’s real life in a film, but you recognize as you read more about William’s life in the letters that there are emotions I had to portray and there’s the truth that he lived in them. You see the tragedy that befalls him for enlisting in the war, but also for his family … you see that with his father, it affects everyone,” he said.

“Two normal young men chose to serve their country,” Townley said. “With this film, they come to life and their story is being [finally] shared.”

In the future the historical society is looking to distribute the film to local schools.

“This is our history,” said Darren St. George. “It’s not a Hollywood depiction of what happened, and it’s a great way to understand history if you can connect it to your local community.”

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The Port Jefferson Historical Society invites the community to its annual dinner at the Waterview at the Port Jefferson Country Club, 44 Fairway Drive, Port Jefferson on Friday, March 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. Enjoy dinner (choice of chicken francaise, beef sirloin or salmon), dessert, raffles and the premiere screening of I Now Take Up My Pen. Tickets are $49 per person. To order (by Feb. 28 please), email [email protected].

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The cast of 'Side By Side By Sondheim'. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

By Rita J. Egan

The cast and crew at Theatre Three have once again created an entertaining production of music and laughs with Side by Side by Sondheim. The show debuted on the Port Jefferson stage Feb. 18. 

Countless songs throughout the decades have been loved for generations, and Broadway tunes are no exception. The late composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim is among the talents who created those gems, and Side by Side by Sondheim is a testament to his immense talent by celebrating his earlier works.

From left, Linda May and Emily Gates in the duet ‘If Momma Was Married’ from Gypsy.

The production featuring music and lyrics by Sondheim as well as music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers and Jule Styne debuted in London in 1976 and on Broadway in 1977. The musical revue may leave some in the audience wanting to know more about Sondheim, as he composed so much more after the late 1970s. Despite this factor, it’s the perfect starting point to enjoy his contributions to the arts.

In Theatre Three’s version, director Christine Boehm has expertly directed a cast of five, and conductor Jeffrey Hoffman, on piano, leads bassist Logan Friedman and percussionist Don Larsen seamlessly from one number to another. The three are visible on stage the entire show and, a few times, join in on the jokes with the actors.

Emily Gates, Linda May, Ryan Nolin and Jack Seabury are the main vocalists in the production and have wonderful chemistry together. All four deliver strong performances whether singing as a quartet, trio, duo or solo.

Ana McCasland serves as narrator to fill in the audience on some of the backstories of Sondheim’s songs and his life, including how he met Leonard Bernstein, providing an interesting glimpse into musical history for Broadway enthusiasts.

May shines during “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music, and then just as easily makes everyone laugh during a silly number called “The Boy From,” a song featured in Sondheim’s off-Broadway revue The Mad Show.

Jack Seabury and Ryan Nolin perform ‘We’re Gonna Be All Right’ from Do I Hear a Waltz.

Gates belts out a “Losing My Mind” from Follies so beautifully and perfectly that it’s the tearjerker it’s meant to be. She and May on “A Boy Like That/I Have a Love” capture all the anger, sorrow and tenderness that Maria and Anita felt after Bernardo’s death in West Side Story.

Seabury sings a touching “Anyone Can Whistle” from the musical of the same name, and Nolin delivers a strong “Being Alive” from Company. Nolin also is a delightful surprise during “You Gotta Get a Gimmick,” a favorite tune from Gypsy. Seabury and Nolin are also priceless singing the duet “We’re Gonna Be All Right” from Do I Hear a Waltz. The song was originally written for a woman and man singing about their relationship, but the singers are wonderful in embracing the updated spin on the song.

McCasland is a charming narrator and has her chance to sing during “I Never Do Anything Twice,” featured in the movie The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. Not only did she shine, she also had fun with the song, garnering laughter from the audience as she performed the tune to the hilt.

Subtle choreography and simple, colorful blocks of light on stage rounded out the show beautifully. Theatre Three has produced a lighthearted Side by Side by Sondheim, which is a breath of fresh air. The Cabaret-style revue is perfect for ending a special night or taking in some musical history.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Side By Side By Sondheim through March 18. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 to 12 (under 5 not permitted), $20 Wednesday matinees. For more information or to order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Photos by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

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