Butterfly House Grand Opening
Come meet the butterflies at Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckerncamp Drive, Smithtown! The center’s enclosed outdoor butterfly vivarium will be open for the rest of the summer from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Social distancing guidelines will be followed and masks are mandatory. $5 per adult and $3 per child; exact change please. Questions? Call 979-6344.
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents a screening of “The Sandlot” (rated PG) on July 31 and Aug. 1 at 8:30 p.m. at its drive-in movie theater. Admission is $40 per carload, $34 members. Mr. Softie and his ice cream truck will stop by. Tickets are available online only at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
“Every image I choose to paint is an answer to the question ‘What drew me to this subject?’ As I begin painting, I let go and trust my instincts to guide me to discover the answer.”
By Irene Ruddock
Jan Guarino is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design which led to a forty-five-year career as award winning graphic designer. Her company, Guarino Graphics, combined her skill in graphic designs with her fine art background to build the brands of hundreds of Long Island companies. Today, the East Northport resident has evolved into a full-time watercolor artist/teacher, sharing her knowledge in classes and workshops, and exhibiting in various galleries.
When you were growing up, did you have any mentors that led you to pursue an art career?
I was fortunate that in my senior year in high school, I was able to major in art and received Artist of the Year award. When a previous graduate came back to show us her portfolio, it changed my focus and I immediately applied to FIT. Those two years I was totally in my element, surrounded by other students and teachers who were working artists. It was a major shift and set me in motion for my advertising, marketing and art career.
How did your years owning a graphic design company inform, and then, catapult your career in art?
While it was more about doing graphics for businesses, my clients trusted my design esthetic giving me tremendous freedom to create. Through helping these businesses grow, I knew exactly what to do for myself.
What is it about a subject that inspires you to pick up your brush and start to paint?
I don’t choose my subjects as much as they seem to choose me. It may be a place I visited during my travels … the way the light is hitting the landscape, people, the architecture that reveals some truth to me. But when I see it, there is a moment where something grabs me and causes me to pause. I am overcome by a stirring and a knowing that I must paint it.
What are the qualities of watercolor that especially intrigue you?
This is truly a magical medium. When you let it go, it paints itself. So I don’t work on controlling the paints as much as allowing the natural aspects of the paints to move for me. I embrace the blossoms, drips, and splatters of watercolors. My approach to painting is to encompass that looseness with details as much as possible.
Do you consider yourself a colorist?
Ha, yes well, when I see tonalists work and their colors or lack thereof, I’d have to say yes, I am a colorist. My process is more about letting the paints mix on the paper rather than on a palette. This amps up the unusual colors and helps to go beyond just describing a scene ~ lending a heightened importance even to everyday subjects.
What is it about your special style that you think draws people to your art?
I do feel a lot of it is my fearless attack of the paint to paper, the freshness … to depict the scene as an interpretation, not a literal translation.
How has your knowledge of social media helped to widen your audience?
I have a very strong understanding of basic marketing. It has to do with all the students, friends and colleagues that have referred me over the years. Social media is often still a mystery to me, but you can find me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest. So it has literally grown to be international now as I have students as far as the UK and Australia. I am amazed how the world has gotten smaller using social media.
Tell me about your YouTube demos.
I do my best work when I am demoing in front of a class. It is exciting and I feel that the energy of my students is in the painting with me. So I started recording my classes as a way to make them accessible to my students beyond the classes.
There are also some classes that I made into videos I call “Fixer Uppers” where I show students how to correct, complete or revise their own paintings. I think it is a very fresh way to show everyone how close they are to being finished, and more importantly, happy with the results.
What are your favorite brands of watercolor paint, brushes and paper?
My favorite watercolor paints to use is Maimari Blu and Daniel Smith. I look for what the paints do, more than I look for the color. I ask “Does it move well in water, does it break into other colors or granulate?” —these are some of the many qualities I look for to aid me in my process. My favorite paper is Arches 300lb hot press paper and I’m very happy with synthetic brushes like Silver Black Velvet series or Escoda Prado. A complete list is on my website.
What advice do you give your students?
Relax and allow the paint to work for you. And practice. It doesn’t happen in one class a week. Take classes and workshops, even if you pick up one small thing from them … better to try and integrate it to make it your own. Thinking of it this way will help you to advance your art.
What is the most rewarding thing about being an artist for you?
Well, I’d have to say it has given my life a reason to show up every week for my students. Knowing they are there and so open to learning and growing is extremely meaningful for me. It has not only given me a second career, it has given me a profound new purpose.
Where do you exhibit?
I am in the FireFly Artists Gallery and the Nest on Main in the Village of Northport. My work has also been exhibited at the Huntington Arts Council, Mills Pond Gallery, Art League of Long Island, The Long Island Museum, The Heckscher Museum, and Islip Arts Council.
You are a very versatile artist who excels in so many genres including landscape, still life, people and animal portraits. Do you have a favorite?
I truly love it all. I just love the adventure of exploring something I haven’t painted before and testing out my skill on a new subject.
Where may people get in touch with you and learn about your classes and workshops?
I have a four-day workshop scheduled for October 14 to 17 in Vermont at the Landgrove Inn where you stay, dine, and paint all on the property. It’s heaven! And I am planning another artists’ trip to Italy next fall in the Cinque Terre area.
I also do a Jam-Cam with the Harborfield and South Huntington libraries where you can see me paint a portrait in under an hour. I currently teach virtual classes. You may sign up for weekly updates on my website for information at [email protected]. I look forward to welcoming you!
Twenty-seven of Stony Brook University’s esteemed faculty and staff members have received the 2019-2020 State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. These awards acknowledge the dedication and accomplishments of instructional faculty, librarians, and professional staff across SUNY campuses and encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. The awards are presented annually in seven categories including Librarianship, Scholarship and Creative Activities, Professional Service, Faculty Service, and Teaching.
“The SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are an important acknowledgement of the tremendous talent I am honored to be surrounded by at Stony Brook University,” says University President Maurie McInnis. “I add my personal congratulations and note of appreciation to all of our 27 outstanding recipients for the 2019-20 Awards and look forward to significant accomplishments ahead.”
Michael Bernstein, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, adds, “The tremendous contributions of these 27 staff and faculty members are a testament to the excellence of our Stony Brook community. I extend my hearty congratulations to this year’s recipients on this well-deserved honor.”
The following are the honorees from SBU:
Excellence in Scholarship and
Creative Activities
• Dr. Carlos Simmerling, Professor, Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology
• Dr. Jacobus Verbaarschot, Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Excellence in Adjunct Teaching
• Zachary Dowdy, Lecturer, School of Journalism
• Jeffrey EcklundLe, Lecturer, Undergraduate Biology
Excellence in Classified Service
• Lorraine Carroll, Office Assistant, Center for Excellence in Learning & Teaching
• LaShawne Jones, Administrative Assistant, Student Health Services/Infirmary
• John Lomando, Recycling Specialist, Recycling and Resource Management/Facilities Operations
Excellence in Faculty Service
• Dr. Mary Jo Bona, Professor, Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Dr. M. Ete Chan-Lo, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Dr. Marie Huffman, Ph.D, Department of Linguistics
• Dr. Hoi-Chung Leung, Professor, Department of Psychology
• Dr. Marcia Simon, Professor, Department of Oral Biology and Pathology
Excellence in Librarianship
• Yuet Clara Tran, Associate Librarian, Science Engineering Library
Excellence in Professional Service
• Charles Beier, Student University Assistant Director, Department of Activities and Facility
• Joan D. Dickinson, Senior Staff Associate, Department of Government Relations
• Diane Englot, Instructional Support Technician, Department of General Library Public Service
• Jennifer L. Green, Senior Staff Assistant, Department of Integration of Research, Education and Professional Development
• Laura S. Hawryluk, Staff Associate, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
• Jessica L. Klare, Staff Associate, Department of Honors College
• Jeremy D. Marchese, Staff Associate, Department of University Scholars
• Elizabeth-Anne Tolson, Senior Staff Assistant, Department of European Languages
• Donna Tumminello, Assistant Director, Department of Research Administration
Excellence in Teaching
• Camille Abbruscato, Lecturer, College of Business
• Dr. Michelle Ballan, Professor, School of Social Welfare
• Dr. Steven Glynn, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry
• Dr. Sohl Lee, Assistant Professor, Art Department
• Dr. Marci Lobel, Professor, Department of Psychology
LUCKY DOG
Gladys Siegel of East Setauket took this adorable photo of her dog on July 13. She writes, ‘This is Scout. She is 8 1/2 years young. She loves having me home during this strange time and especially loves taking car rides down to Stony Brook Harbor in the early morning or at the end of a beautiful day. She is easy to photograph, too, because she knows how to hold a pose!’
By Linda Toga, Esq.
THE FACTS: Ever since I purchased my property, my neighbor had allowed me to drive over his property to get to my garage since the driveway that is on my property is very narrow and difficult to navigate. I am concerned that when my neighbor dies or sells his property, I will no longer be able to use the driveway that passes over his property. He told me he is willing to sell me the strip of his property that I am currently using.
THE QUESTION: Is this the best way to proceed?
THE ANSWER: Unless your neighbor owns a very large parcel of land that is subject to subdivision, I would be surprised if he would be allowed to simply sell you a piece of his property. Even if his property could be legally subdivided, it is unlikely that he could sell you a parcel that is smaller than the standard building lots in your area.
Rather than seeking a subdivision, I suggest that your neighbor grant you an easement over his property that runs with the land. In other words, he could grant you the right to use a specific part of his property for a specific purpose and indicate that the obligations and benefits created by the easement shall be enjoyed by subsequent owners of both your property and his own.
If your neighbor is amenable to creating an easement, the first thing that would have to be done is to have a surveyor map out the area that you will be allowed to use and prepare the legal description of that area. He should then retain an attorney to prepare an easement agreement that sets forth the details of your continued use of the area and the rights and obligations of whoever may own each of the subject properties now and in the future.
The agreement must contain sufficient information to identify the properties involved and the area comprising the easement. The agreement must then be recorded against both your property and your neighbor’s property so that future owners of both properties are on notice of the existence of the easement and their rights and obligations.
Once properly recorded, you will have the right to use the designated area of your neighbor’s property as a driveway for as long as you own your property and future owners will enjoy the same benefits you now enjoy.
Linda M. Toga, Esq provides legal services in the areas of real estate, estate planning and administration, small business services and litigation. She is available for email and phone consultations. Call 631-444-5605 or email Ms. Toga at [email protected]. She will respond to messages and emails as quickly as possible.
By Barbara Beltrami
Come hot humid weather when I’m feeling wilted and cranky and badly in need of a pick-me-up, I love a bowl or mug of cold summer soup made from the season’s freshest produce. Usually not much more than pureed veggies or fruits with perhaps the addition of a little cream or yogurt, summer soups are filling, cooling and revitalizing and often ridiculously low in calories. While you may be familiar with popular gazpachos, borschts or vichyssoises here are some off-the–beaten-track recipes that are among my favorites. Although like smoothies in consistency but minus the supplements, they may not be quite as nutrient-packed but they’re still oh, so good for you.
Cold Cherry Soup
YIELD: Makes 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
5 cups boiling water
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup red wine
Pinch of salt
Grated zest of half a lemon
1 1/2 pounds fresh dark sweet cherries, stemmed and pitted
1 cup plain yogurt
DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot combine the water, sugar, wine, salt and lemon zest; boil 5 minutes over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, add cherries, cover and simmer 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Let cool for 5 more minutes. In large bowl gradually whisk yogurt with one cup of juice from cherries until smooth; slowly whisk or stir in the rest of the cherries and the liquid; stirring occasionally, let cool completely, cover with plastic wrap, then refrigerate until cold. Stir before serving. Serve as an appetizer or dessert with fresh fruit.
Watermelon Gazpacho with Feta Cream
YIELD: Makes 5 to 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
3 to 4 cups watermelon cubes, seeds removed
1 large fresh ripe tomato, chopped
1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
DIRECTIONS:
In blender or food processor puree watermelon, tomato, cucumber, jalapeno, oil and vinegar till smooth. Season with salt and pepper; cover and chill several hours. In small bowl, vigorously mash feta and combine with sour cream; whisk in milk; add salt and pepper if needed. When ready to serve, pour gazpacho into bowls or mugs and garnish with feta cream.
Curried Yellow Zucchini Soup
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large yellow zucchini, chopped
1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 teaspoons curry powder or to taste
1 teaspoon ground coriander or to taste
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 quart chicken stock
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup minced cilantro leaves
DIRECTIONS:
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, warm oil. Add zucchini, onion, curry powder, coriander, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are very tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add broth, bring to a boil, then simmer covered until squash pieces completely lose their shape, about 30 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then puree until very smooth. Chill at least 4 hours. Garnish with yogurt and cilantro leaves and serve cold with naan or chapatis.
Cold Cauliflower Soup
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 head cauliflower, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 large sprig fresh thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup cream
1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1/3 cup snipped chives
DIRECTIONS:
In large pot over medium heat, warm oil; add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, till soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add cauliflower, garlic, broth, thyme, salt and pepper and bring to a gentle boil; lower heat to simmer and cook till cauliflower is very tender, about 20 minute. Remove thyme and discard. Let soup sit to cool for 10 minutes, then puree in food processor till very smooth; stir in cream and chill at least 8 hours, overnight if possible. When ready to serve garnish with parsley and chives. Serve with a chilled dry white wine.
Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci joined Huntington historian Robert Hughes and volunteers from Jephtha Masonic Lodge #494 in Huntington on Saturday, July 18 for a cleanup of The Old Burying Ground, Huntington’s oldest cemetery.
The event was one of several projects the local Masons were involved in during the recent pandemic shutdown. Although the lodge is comprised of mostly Huntington residents, members from other lodges from as far as Port Jefferson volunteered in this important preservation project. Armed with work gloves, pruning shears, weed trimmers, a cooler of cold bottled water and a bit of determination, the team went right to work after a brief historical lecture by the Town Historian.
The crew trimmed shrubs, pulled overgrown weeds, raked leaves, and removed debris from the cemetery which is just a short walking distance from the Jephtha Lodge building on New York Avenue.
“Our historic cemeteries tell the story of not only of the establishment of our Town but of the critical role Huntington played in the founding of our nation,” said Supervisor Chad A, Lupinacci. “As we recognize and preserve other aspects of Huntington’s history, we must continue to protect these sacred grounds to honor the souls of generations of Huntingtonians buried here.”
“These volunteer efforts are critical to preserving the Town’s historic cemeteries. Eternal vigilance is the price of preservation,” said Town Historian Robert Hughes.
“I have been a Freemason and member of Jephtha lodge #494 for around 8 years now and have been fortunate to recently take on a leadership role. I’m proud to have been able to coordinate with town historian Robert Hughes and the brothers and family members of Jephtha lodge, in effort to clean up the old cemetery,” said Anthony Colonna, Grand Master, Jephtha Masonic Lodge #494.
“The rich history of this burial site must be carefully preserved. I propose to make this an annual event, perhaps starting this fall. Jephtha’s benevolence committee has gotten off to a terrific start and we seek to do more for the community this year and the ensuing years to come. Helping make a positive impact on the community is just one part of what freemasons are all about,” he added.
“The Brothers of Jephtha Lodge have anticipated this event for some time,” said Ronald Seifried, Trustee Chairman and Lodge Historian. “The lodge is grateful to the Town for being receptive to the lodge’s ongoing effort to give back to the local community by utilizing Jephtha’s benevolence committee for this important preservation of this designated historic landmark. The members look forward to future projects with the town to preserve our local history. Jephtha Lodge is proud to call Huntington home since 1860.”
The Old Burying Ground has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1981. The earliest surviving marker is over 300 years old, but many of the early wooden and fieldstone markers were lost over the years and never replaced. Located on a hill that once had a clear view of Huntington Harbor, the site was originally chosen because of the difficulty to farm on the hilly terrain.
There are 1,246 marked graves on the 4-acre site, but it is estimated that there may have been up to 8,000 interments since the founding of the Town of Huntington in the mid-17th century. The first legible marker is dated 1712 and the final burial was Russell F. Sammis in May 1957. Mr. Hughes explained to the group the variety of markers that can be seen in the cemetery, including local fieldstones, slate, sandstone, marble, iron, zinc and granite.
In 1782, the last year of the American Revolution, occupying British troops destroyed the nearby Presbyterian Church and constructed Fort Golgotha on the highest point of the hill with timbers removed from the church. The British desecration of the church and cemetery is the first recorded act of vandalism in Huntington. Up to 100 tombstones were destroyed and some were used as bake ovens where, according to local legend, the baked bread had reverse inscriptions of the tombstones readable on the lower crust.
With the opening of Huntington Rural Cemetery on New York Avenue as the Town’s main cemetery in the mid-19th century, the Old Burying Ground was used only occasionally. Regular maintenance of the cemetery is conducted by the Town’s Department of General Services. In 2004, the Town received grant funding from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for the restoration, conservation and preservation of the grounds.
This project between the Town Historian and Jephtha Lodge, which has called Huntington home since 1860, is the latest of several coordinated efforts. Other projects include the installation of an historical marker in front of the lodge building on New York Avenue; participation in the Huntington Historical Society’s historic village walking tour and pub crawl; sharing of archives between the lodge and the Huntington Historical Society; and invaluable assistance in the newly published book “Long Island Freemason,” by Ron Seifried.
Photos from Town of Huntington
New York & Company’s parent company RTW Retailwinds is the latest chain to file for bankruptcy as the coronavirus has piled additional pressure on an already challenging retail landscape. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection on July 13. It plans to permanently close most, if not all, of its stores and has begun liquidation sales.
The news affects 10 of the women’s clothing stores on Long Island, including four in Suffolk County — Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack, Tanger Outlets in Deer Park and the Riverhead Outlet in Riverhead.
“The combined effects of a challenging retail environment coupled with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic have caused significant financial distress on our business, and we expect it to continue to do so in the future,” RTW Retailwinds CEO and CFO Sheamus Toal said in a statement.
“As a result, we believe that a restructuring of our liabilities and a potential sale of the business or portions of the business is the best path forward to unlock value.”
Neiman Marcus, J.Crew, Sur la Table, Dean & Deluca, J.C. Penney, Brooks Brothers, and Gold’s Gym have also sought bankruptcy protection amid the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Reviewed By Jeffrey Sanzel
The Truth (La Vérité), acclaimed writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s first film set outside his native Japan and not in his native language, is a fascinating study of family dysfunction that is equally heartfelt and scathing.
The film revolves around famous French actress Fabienne Dangeville (screen legend Catherine Deneuve) on the cusp of her memoir release. Her daughter, screenwriter Lumir (Juliette Binoche), arrives in Paris from the United States, and had expected to see the manuscript; she is chagrined to discover that it has already gone to print. When she does read the book, she confronts her mother with the liberties she has taken, particularly the portrayal of their history. In contrast to the idealized childhood presented in the book, the reality was distant and disconnected, a situation that has continued into adulthood. Fabienne’s answer: “My memories. My book.”
This is just the catalyst as the film doesn’t return to this initial conflict but instead focuses on their current relationship. Lumir is cornered into acting as Fabienne’s assistant as her mother navigates her current job, a low-budget science-fiction picture titled Memories of My Mother.
If it seems a bit on the nose, it is forgivable as the metaphor is much more complicated. The plot of the sci-fi film focuses on a terminally ill mother who lives in space so that she won’t succumb to her condition. She visits her daughter, Amy, at various times in her life. While she doesn’t age, Amy does. Fabienne has been cast as the eldest of the three Amy’s.
Looming in the background is the specter of Sarah, a woman who is referenced many times, but the connection is only gradually revealed. Sarah, an actress, was both Fabienne’s friend and rival. Lumir felt closer to Sarah than to her own mother, and Sarah’s death by suicide or accident — depending on who is telling the story — impacted Lumir deeply. There are also accusations of Fabienne’s complicity in the woman’s death. The suggestion that Sarah was a superior actress is something with which Fabienne has refused to come to terms.
All of these disparate pieces come together in the person of Manon (Manon Clavel) who is playing the mother in the film. Manon is presented as a brilliant up-and-comer and the heir to Sarah’s legacy. Fabienne is resentful of the woman’s talent and mistrustful of her sincerity.
Fabienne is a narcissist of the first order. In one of the earliest discussions, she is unaware which of her colleagues are alive or dead; when corrected, it is clear that she doesn’t really care. She is not even capable of apologizing to Luc (Alain Libolt), her long-suffering manager, and asks Lumir to write the apology for her. Deneuve is one of the great actors and creates a Fabienne whose monstrous ego doesn’t eclipse her insecurities. Deneuve makes her mercurial behavior not just wholly believable but strangely sympathetic.
Binoche never allows Lumir to become an object of pity. As a child who raised herself, she takes on emotionally caring for mother with a mix of amusement and resignation. Her exasperation with her mother is tempered by understanding. Binoche is incapable of giving a performance that is anything but truthful, and the film benefits from her ability to play humor and pain simultaneously. Her growing closeness to Manon (hearkening back to her relationship with Sarah) is a both delicate and subtle.
Clémentine Grenier as daughter Charlotte strikes a nice balance between precocious and present, and is particularly delightful in her scenes with Deneuve. Clavel is ideal as Manon, revealing an understated ferocity in the Memories of My Mother scenes and depth and warmth in her off-camera moments.
The film’s men not are not so much underdeveloped as they are intentionally ciphers. Ethan Hawke plays Hank, Lumir’s husband, a second-rate television and internet actor. He is a fraction of a man who only comes alive when reflected in the women around him. Libolt’s agent is even tacit in his rebellion. Sébastien Chassagne strikes the right subservient chord as the rather ineffectual and nameless director of Memories of My Mother.
Roger Van Hool appears briefly as Fabienne’s estranged husband, a sweet, wild-eyed figure of nominal importance in their lives. (Fabienne reported him as deceased in her book.) There is a wonderful bit of whimsy that poses the question of whether or not Fabienne has turned her ex-husband into a turtle that lives in the garden. This bit of fantasy is left shrewdly unanswered.
The film circles around themes of loneliness, emotional abandonment, and isolation as well as the fact that memory can never be fully trusted. It takes the ideas and threads them through both the narrative and in the film-within-the film. They are neatly balanced, with the professional world alternating with the personal. The truth, in the context of this story, is not so much subjective as it is flexible.
But, at the heart, is Deneuve’s self-absorbed Fabienne. Just when she is on the verge of connecting, she retreats, playing a wild game of emotional hide-and-seek to which only she knows the rules. “I’m an actress. I won’t tell the naked truth.” And it is clear she never does.
Rated PG, The Truth is now streaming On Demand.
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