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A conservation-related press conference held in May. From left to right: County Legislator Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, SCWA Chairman Charles Lefkowitz, County Executive Ed Romaine and Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer. Photo courtesy SCWA

By Peter Sloniewsky

In response to the early summer heat waves, Suffolk County Water Authority has increased its efforts to promote water conservation.

The prime action taken by SCWA is in the form of an odd/even lawn watering system. In this system, customers with odd-numbered addresses may only water their lawns on odd-numbered days, and the inverse for even-numbered addresses. SCWA has also enacted a policy that forbids watering between the peak water usage hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

On average, approximately 70% of the 70 to 80 billion gallons of water pumped by SCWA each year will be used between May and October, largely due to the prevalence of in-ground sprinkler systems.

Increased strain on the system due to heat waves requires the construction of additional infrastructure unless water usage is reduced elsewhere. In this case, about two-thirds of the hundreds of public water wells are only necessary because of irrigation demands. This infrastructure would cost millions, and would be paid for by customers through increased rates.

If every household and business is to follow SCWA’s odd/even lawn watering schedule, it would effectively cut the biggest driver of water use in half, allowing the utility to keep pace with demand and preventing any need for additional infrastructure.

Encouraging customer response

Reassuringly, SCWA’s guidance has been respected by customers. In a July 17 press release, Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz said, “During hot periods of the summer, we have to pump up to 530,000 gallons of water per minute to keep up. This year we haven’t seen those levels, and we think it’s because customers are responding to our calls to save water.” He described these statistics as an “encouraging sign” for the remainder of the season.

SCWA has also made it clear that this system benefits consumers as well.

Citing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the same press release explained that most lawns only need about 1 inch of water per week to remain lush and green, whereas watering every day can lead to harmful patterns of root growth.

Jeff Szabo, chief executive officer, noted the decrease in cost to consumers, saying, “SCWA may be the smallest utility bill that most of our customers pay but the savings can add up.” Reducing demand will also keep rates low by avoiding the need for expensive additional infrastructure.

In addition to the odd/even watering system, SCWA has both enacted and improved some previously set policies for water use.

In 2020, SCWA implemented a tiered rate structure that charges high-usage customers more. Taken in accordance with an initiative by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, SCWA set the policy in an effort to reduce peak-season water use by 15%. The policy has reduced water usage since.

In recent years, SCWA has offered a program, Water Wise, as well. This program offers customer account credits for the purchase of water-saving devices such as rain barrels, EPA low-flow showerheads and solar pool covers.

However, as Lefkowitz made clear in the press release, “None of these things are a silver bullet for solving water conservation alone. … It’s going to take years to change the culture on Long Island but SCWA and other water providers in the region knowbthat this is necessary because our summers aren’t getting any cooler.”

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AI generated photo of voters at the ballot box. Pixabay photo

By Daniel Dunaief

With the rematch between President Joe Biden, 81, and former President Donald Trump, 78, no longer a possibility, local and national Democrats are tapping into a renewed political energy.

After President Biden announced that he was ending his bid for a second term and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, democrats not only contributed a record amount of money to the likely presidential candidate, but also showed more interest in local races.

“People are excited to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” said John Avlon, who is running against Nick LaLota to join the House of Representatives for New York’s 1st Congressional District. “We’ve seen an increase even over typical levels in both volunteerism and donations in the last 24 hours.”

Avlon suggested that the feeling on the ground has changed fundamentally, with Democrats becoming more “fired up” about the prospects in the White House and in the House of Representatives, where toss-up seats like the first congressional district could determine which party has a majority.

A potential repeat of the contested 2020 election had made many democrats uneasy, particularly after a disastrous debate performance by Biden, who validated concerns about his age with awkward silences and uninspiring replies.

The likely ascendance of Vice President Harris, who received endorsements even from those considered potential candidates for president and who has secured enough delegates to be the Democratic nominee, has generated attention and interest among the voting public and has raised the prospect for greater voter turnout in an election that is just over 100 days away.

The change at the top of the ticket provides a “good opportunity to engage voters even beyond the Democratic party,” said Rebecca Kassay, the Democratic candidate for state Assembly District 4, who is running against Republican Ed Flood. She feels the focus on politics from the president to local elections has given her more of an opening to speak with independents and unaffiliated voters and get their thoughts on local issues.

The increased energy and interest around politics, where people in supermarkets, restaurants, gyms and coffee houses are suddenly eager to discuss the changing landscape at the national level, has provided a “great opportunity for local candidates to not have to worry about exciting democrats,” which gives them a chance to reach out to unaffiliated voters and republicans who might consider voting for a democrat, said Keith Davies, Suffolk County Democratic Committee campaign manager.

Davies added that candidates don’t have to spend as much time fielding questions about President Biden’s cognitive abilities.

To be sure, Avlon acknowledged that the political winds, at a local and national level, are bound to blow in different directions as the election approaches.

“There will be good and bad days ahead,” he said. “We shouldn’t over index any one moment.”

Kassay added that the national winds can blow one way or another, with little local control.

Nonetheless, local democratic leaders suggested that this unprecedented decision by an incumbent president, occurring so close to the election, and the immediate effort to rally around Harris and to come together before the Democratic National Convention creates positive momentum.

A new energy

Local democratic politicians appreciated Biden’s efforts to build infrastructure, to lead a coalition to repel Russia’s aggression in the Ukraine and to continue to build jobs in a post-Covid economy.

“There was so much hand wringing because people were saying, at the same time, that Joe Biden did a great job,” but they weren’t confident in his ability to lead for another four years, said Brookhaven Town Councilmember, Jonathan Kornreich. Biden “made this rather courageous decision” to end his campaign.

The effect has been to inspire the democratic political base.

“Everybody who I talked to is energized,” said Steve Englebright, Suffolk County Legislator for the 5th Legislative District. “The implication is that we’ll have enthusiasm and interest, and that will translate into strong turnout.”

Englebright suggested that the number of democratic voters has wider swings in turnout than the number of republican voters, with democrats varying by as much as 30 percent, or more.

Democrats around Suffolk County not only expect higher voter turnout, but also anticipate that more voters would listen to the candidate platforms and make informed decisions.

“There’s a new sense of optimism and that’s palpable,” said Englebright. “That’s going to translate into more people participating and getting involved.”

Higher voter turnout also means that residents can vote on two propositions that will be a part of the 2024 ballot in New York.

The first would add protection against various forms of discrimination, such as sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy, to the state constitution. The second would extend and revise the Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program. This proposal would establish a Water Quality Restoration Fund, that would be supported by a sales and use tax of 1/8 of a percent.

Female candidates

Democratic leaders were also excited to support the second woman to run for president, after Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful 2016 campaign against Trump.

“I see the ascension of a democratic candidate at the top of the ticket, who is a woman of color, a woman of substance, in terms of her accomplishments, as validating the idea that women are equally ready” to serve in any political office, said Englebright.

Kassay is excited to be on the same ballot with other women, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, state Senate District 1 candidate Sarah Anker and Harris.

“I’m energized and inspired to be running with our first potential female president,” said Kassay. “That, for me, is an honor and historic.”

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By Toni-Elena Gallo

With President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection campaign, major players in the Democratic Party, including the president, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 Democratic presumptive presidential candidate.

As a result, TBR News Media had a question for locals: “How will this change impact the race to the presidency?”

— Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo

Kaylee and Emily, Ronkonkoma

Both girls expressed shock, but excitement, at the decision.

“I couldn’t believe it, I just found out,” Emily said.

Kaylee thinks that Harris’ presidential bid has given hesitant voters an “opportunity” to vote for a candidate possibly more competent than Biden, and more competent and likable than former President Donald Trump (R).

“Kamala running has made this election more competitive and serious than before,” she added.

Kaylee also voiced that she thinks Harris will “surprise people” during the upcoming debates with her intelligence.

Vic and Sheila Meneghini, Ronkonkoma

Grandparents to Smithtown school district students, Vic and Sheila Meneghini expressed the opinion that if “Kamala stays the nominee, there won’t be much of a difference [in voter choice] because of her alignment with Biden.”

They think that more women may vote, as Harris has the chance to be our first woman president.

The couple, additionally, shared that voting for Harris will probably be more enticing than voting for Biden, if you are a Democrat, which will affect some change, regarding voting turnout.

Vic, however, doesn’t think there’ll be much movement in voting, “as people have already made up their minds” if they are going to vote Democrat or Republican.

Vic and Sheila declined for their picture to be taken or other personal information to be included.

Eric and Cole, Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Eric, a Stony Brook University visitor, is “glad someone [who is of advancing years] isn’t going to be in office anymore. But, I don’t really have a big political view.”

As someone in his 20s, he would appreciate younger presidential options.

In addition, Eric feels people are likely to vote for the wrong or shallow reasons — because they view the election as a popularity contest, don’t like the candidates as people, and vice versa.

He wants to see people focus “on the issues,” as he is a “middle-class guy” who wants to live a decent and prosperous life.

Neither candidate “is doing anything to help me, right now,” he said.

Cole echoed his friend Eric’s sentiments, saying, “It is interesting to have a different face, who is not as old, and will stir the pot a little bit. But whatever these candidates do is not really going to affect my day-to-day life much at the end of the day.”

David, Long Island

David thinks that this change will encourage “more women and people of color to vote.”

Also, he expressed that making Harris the Democratic nominee “will give the [party] a better chance of beating Trump,” but he does not foresee any major developments coming in the wake of Biden’s decision.

David declined for his picture to be taken or other personal information to be included.

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'Right and Left,' 1850, by William Sidney Mount Image courtesy of the LIM
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'Right and Left,' 1850, by William Sidney Mount Image courtesy of the LIM
Portrait of Captain Jonas Smith by William Sidney Mount. Image courtesy of the Long Island Museum
Portrait of the Mount family. Image courtesy of the Long Island Museum
'Self Portrait with Flute', 1828, by William Sidney Mount. Photo courtesy of Long Island Museum
'The Banjo Player,' 1856, by William Sidney Mount Image courtesy of LIM

By Tara Mae

Art is more than a communion between artist and audience. It is a point of entry into understanding the past, assessing the present, and perhaps even informing the future. A Noble Art: A New Look at the Portraits of William Sidney Mount on display at Long Island Museum’s Art Museum (LIM) through December 15, examines this dynamic through a 27-piece exhibit.

Considered to be the premier American genre painter, William Sidney Mount (1807-1868), who was born in Setauket and spent much of his time in Stony Brook, was a prolific portraitist who expressed the emotional essence of a person and period. 

Mount’s first solo show at the LIM since 2018, A Noble Art encompasses paintings, lithographs, drawings, correspondence, and other artifacts from the 19th century Long Island artist.

“Not many museums in the country have this depth of materials for a single artist, including personal effects…The exhibit showcases rich archival materials and works,” said Joshua Ruff, Co-Executive Director at the LIM and the curator of this exhibit.

LIM houses the largest repository of Mount materials.  A Noble Art spotlights prize items of its collection, such as Right and Left, which has been displayed in previous shows, as well as four pieces that have not previously been on public view at the museum. Among that selection are portraits of Long Island’s reputed first millionaire Captain Jonas Smith and his wife Nancy Williamson Smith, acquired by the LIM at auction in 2022. 

In addition to new acquisitions, the exhibit also reflects new information gathered in the ongoing scholarship about the 19th century Long Island native’s work, particularly his portraiture and its subjects. 

“Our Mount artwork and artifacts are the jewels of our collection — something we are really fortunate to have. It has been a long time since we had an exhibit focused on Mount’s portraiture,” Ruff said. “There have been some changes in research and improvement of knowledge about the portraits’ subjects, so it feels like time to introduce them to visitors.” 

A primary motivating factor for assembling this exhibit is the new details that have been excavated about the individuals immortalized in Mount’s paintings. In recent years, especially with the publication The Art of William Sidney Mount: Long Island People of Color on Canvas by Katherine Kirkpatrick and Vivian Nicholson-Mueller, particular attention is being paid to the Black and Indigenous people who Mount represented rather than caricatured.

“These are sensitive, not stereotypical portrayals…when you really look, there is a lot going on, like subtle symbolic references to the backgrounds of his subjects and nuanced details,” Ruff said. 

From an artistic family, Mount’s most well-known portraits are frequently of people he knew, and their warmth adds elements of intimacy and liveliness. His portraits convey both dynamically diverse and culturally unifying insights into the persons, settings, and circumstances of Long Island during the 1800s. 

A Noble Art even offers context for Mount’s own kin. His family portraits from the 1840s provide a glimpse at a creative clan and further emphasize his progression as an artist. Mount’s sister Ruth and niece Evalina were talented artists in their own right. Mount’s brother Shepard was also a portraitist, and the show features one of his pieces. 

Yet, the heart of the exhibit remains Mount’s ability to forge a connection between creator, subject, and observer. Personable renderings illuminate the evolution of Mount’s artistic intricacies, spanning decades of his work from a self-portrait made when he was 21 years old to two of the three members of his musician series: The Banjo Player and Right and Left. (The third painting of this trio, The Bone Player is on display at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.) 

His work invites the viewer to appreciate an eternal moment and recognize enduring  humanity. “With portraiture you might anticipate an element of sameness, but if you really look at Mount’s portraits there is a lot happening within them. We are excited to share this opportunity for discovery with the public,” Ruff said. 

The Long Island Museum is located at 1200 Route 25A in Stony Brook. Hours are Thursday to Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 adults, $10 seniors and students, children under age 6 are free. For more information, call 631-751-0066 or visit longislandmuseum.org.

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Paula and Mel Blum

Mel and Paula Blum celebrated their 55th anniversary with a wedding vow renewal ceremony at Fountaingate Gardens in Commack on July 11. Both are New York City natives. While Mel spent his early years in Colorado until the age of 12, he frequently visited family in Brooklyn. Paula, on the other hand, grew up in Brooklyn, solidifying her roots in the bustling borough.

Paula and Mel Blum

Their paths converged in Manhattan, in a serendipitous street encounter involving a mutual acquaintance. This acquaintance, having dated Paula a few times and knowing Mel, failed to introduce the two. Paula took the initiative, prompting Mel to introduce himself, and from that moment, a connection was forged.

Their life together includes raising a daughter and building impressive careers. Mel was a chemical executive, while Paula’s professional journey spanned from teaching and college admissions counseling to serving as a field coordinator with the Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs. Later, Paula joined Mel’s companies, where she adeptly handled advertising, marketing, and personnel management.

Now, as founding members of the Fountaingate Gardens Independent Life Plan Community in Commack, where they moved in September 2022, they chose this perfect location to renew their vows. The ceremony was officiated by long-time friend Barbara Epstein and featured beautiful decorations and delicious treats. Following this special ceremony with their Fountaingate Gardens family, Mel and Paula will celebrate at a small gathering of family and friends in August.

Reflecting on their journey together, Mel and Paula offer this advice for a long and happy marriage: “Do not sweat the small stuff; it isn’t worth it. And make sure the bedroom is always the DMZ (demilitarized zone).”

Their story is a testament to love, resilience and the importance of making connections, no matter how unexpected the circumstances.

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Person utilizing coding software on a computer. Pixabay photo

By Aramis Khosronejad

With the rise of artificial intelligence and the seemingly ever-changing technological world, the main question coming from educators and parents is how the new generation is going to adapt and thrive in the dawn of this new era. Stony Brook University’s new summer camp aims to prepare them.

Located in the university’s Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology, the program is a collaboration between Stony Brook and Sunrise Technology.

The program has yielded extremely impressive results and received international attention, attracting students from as far as Hong Kong. This largely has to do with the outreach program managed by Rong Zhao, the director of Stony Brook’s CEWIT, which strives to engage students from local high schools on Long Island. Zhao said that the “demonstration” of the self-driving car models “is the biggest attraction.”

The camp is important, according to Zhao, because it shows students that such advanced technology such as self-driving cars and AI isn’t something to fear. “[It isn’t] this mystical, futuristic thing … it’s tangible … [the students] think, ‘Wow, I can code this.’ It is, in the end, the future generation that we’re helping.”

By teaching students to understand that advanced technologies such as AI aren’t something far off into the future but is our current reality, the camp aims to prepare the new generations to adapt to this inevitable future.

According to a report in Forbes by MIT and Boston University, AI will replace as many as 2 million manufacturing workers by 2025. With such rapidly approaching change, preparing the new generation to adapt to this future is paramount. This kind of preparation is exactly what this interactive AI summer camp aims to do, according to Zhao.

Yu Sun, founder and CEO of Sunrise Technology, explained in an interview with TBR News Media how the camp works. It consists of three main activities for students: Lectures where students will listen to a professor speak on the coding process; computer labs where students will be able to apply what they learned from the lectures; and lastly, a project where students will develop and deploy their own self-driving car models.

The program will “give the students an idea of how these self-driving programs work using their own unique design, which also keeps them engaged,” Sun said. She believes that, regardless of whether parents or students are interested in STEM, “AI is such an up-and-coming buzz and parents want students to be exposed to this field.”

“How can we turn this into an educational opportunity which will have a real impact?” Zhao asked. The future is here already, and teaching students how to thrive and adapt to it is essential.

The program spans over two sessions: The first consisted of two weeks from July 8 to 19, and the second session will consist of another two weeks from Aug. 5 to 16. Students from 9th to 12th grade are eligible for the summer camp.

There are very few prerequisites for this program. The second session of the program is still available for any interested high school students.

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Martin Stromsten. Courtesy of the Stromsten family

Prepared by the Stromsten family

Martin “Marty” L. Stromsten, 88, passed away after a short illness on Tuesday,  July 16.  He was born in Port Jefferson, on Jan. 31, 1936 and was the son of Norwegian immigrants, the late Endre and Karen Gard Stromsten.  

Marty was a graduate of Earl L.Vandermeulen High School where he first discovered his love of music.  At the age of 14 he took up the trumpet and by 18 he had been accepted to the Crane School of Music in Potsdam. He received his master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he met many titans of music.  

In the United States Army, he continued pursuing his passion by playing in the Army Band, serving honorably from 1959 to 1961. Later, he worked as an elementary band music teacher, passing on his talents to many eager students and creating an elementary jazz band.  He was always looking for new and innovative ways to teach his students how to understand and love music.  His last place of employment was in the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District. 

Every community Marty lived in benefitted from his musical talent.  He was constantly forming, conducting or playing in different musical groups from Dixieland bands to big band jazz, and classical quintets to community orchestras.  

Marty was a longtime resident of Port Jefferson and Riverhead.  Outdoors, he loved walking on the beautiful beaches of Long Island and sailing in his sailboat on the Long Island Sound. Politics, books and music were his favorite topics of discussion. Even though he would tell you he was a “terrible student”, he was very well-read and could talk on just about any topic.  Many who have met him would consider him a brilliant, generous, and friendly person.  Marty settled in Port Jefferson and was very proud of the family that he and his then wife, Joan, created.      

Marty is survived by Helen Jones, his life partner of 28 years; Joan Stromsten, the mother of his children; daughters Pamela Fetcho and Suzanne Hennigan; his grandchildren, Nicholas Fetcho, Jesse Fetcho, Trevor Hennigan and Taylor Hennigan; and his great grandchildren, Aiden Fetcho, Atlas Fetcho and Ava Pickett. He was predeceased by his cherished son, Erik Stromsten and his brother, Edvin Stromsten.

Marty lived a life on his terms, and it was a life well lived.

The funeral will be held on Friday, July 26, at 3:30 p.m. at the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home in Clifton Park. Calling hours will be from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on Friday prior to the service. Interment will be in the Jonesville Cemetery, Clifton Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in Latham. For online condolences please visit gordoncemerickfuneralhome.com

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Alex Kelly competes in the long jump for Princeton University. Photos courtesy Rich Acritelli
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Alex Kelly competes in the long jump for Princeton University. Photos courtesy Rich Acritelli
Alex Kelly competes in the long jump for Princeton University. Photos courtesy Rich Acritelli
Alex Kelly competes in the long jump for Princeton University. Photos courtesy Rich Acritelli
Alex Kelly competes in the long jump for Princeton University. Photos courtesy Rich Acritelli
Alex Kelly competes in the long jump for Princeton University. Photos courtesy Rich Acritelli
Alex Kelly competes in the long jump for Princeton University. Photos courtesy Rich Acritelli

By Rich Acritelli

“The goal is always to work the hardest.” Track and  field standout – Jasmine Moore

Rocky Point resident Alexandra “Alex” Kelly, a gifted, 20-year-old athlete, had the opportunity to compete in the 2024 Olympic Trials June 21. There, she was placed 21st in the Women’s Long Jump Qualification – Group 1. She has gained valuable knowledge watching the preparation of other top athletes on the national stage.

Reuben Jones, assistant women’s track and field coach at Princeton University, said, “Alex is one of the all-time most physically-gifted athletes I have ever coached in my 14 years in the Ivy League and the last eight with Princeton. Alex can raise her game to meet the level of any competition. Before she graduates, she can surpass the 22-foot mark in the long jump and the 45-foot mark for the triple jump.”

In 2022, Kelly graduated from Rocky Point High School as an honor student, with a 101 GPA, who enjoyed singing in the chorus and working as lifeguard at her local beach.

As an eighth grader, she was still somewhat new to athletics but still broke the long and triple jump records at the high school.

During COVID-19, every athlete was stopped in their tracks. But, being the positive individual she is, Kelly took this period in stride, and realized that it could be an opportunity for growth. She prioritized her leg health, and never stopped training.

For a time, Kelly ran the 4×100 meter relay, and while she liked this event with her teammates, she stopped running this discipline to devote more time to jumping. To stay in shape, she ran sprints and had a strenuous lifting regimen. All of this training paid dividends as Kelly kept establishing new jumping records, and finished first in New York State championships in the triple jump during the 2021-22 winter and spring track seasons.

Right before high school graduation, Kelly was New Balance Nationals champion in the triple jump, held at the University of Pennsylvania.

As this remarkable athlete successfully competed at the highest levels of track and field in high school, Kelly was aggressively recruited by Columbia, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Stanford and both the Air Force and Naval academies.

For Kelly, Princeton University was the perfect distance away from home. She is majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology, and minoring in the history of science technology and medicine. Kelly is equally as dedicated to her academics.

During her freshman season, Kelly quickly cemented her presence on the Princeton team, as she helped the school earn three Ivy League titles.

This special athlete has some current time to see her family and friends, but she looks forward to her junior season when she will return to Princeton as a captain.

A goal-oriented student-athlete who has her eyes set on attaining her education and the pursuit of athletics brilliance, she will keep being a role model to other younger women and will surely continue to make the North Shore proud of her accomplishments.

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Keynote speaker Rosalie Simon at the podium. Photo courtesy of Town of Huntington
Over 70 guests attended the July 19th ceremony. Photo courtesy of Town of Huntington
Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth with keynote speaker Rosalie Simon. Photo from Town of Huntington
Toby Tobias sings to over 70 guests at the Anne Frank Memorial Garden in Melville on July 19. Photo courtesy of Town of Huntington
Keynote speaker Rosalie Simon at the podium. Photo courtesy of Town of Huntington
Harry Arlin shared his story at the ceremony. Photo courtesy of Town of Huntington
The Anne Frank Memorial Sculpture by Thea Lanzisero
Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth with keynote speaker Rosalie Simon. Photo from Town of Huntington

Keynote speaker was Holocaust survivor Rosalie Simon with music by Toby Tobias

Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth, in conjunction with the Suffolk YJCC, hosted the Town of Huntington’s 13th Annual Anne Frank Memorial Ceremony on July 19. The event took place at Arboretum Park in Melville, home of the Anne Frank Memorial Garden.

The ceremony was held mid-way between Anne Frank’s June 12th birthday and the August 4th date of her capture. Frank would have been 94 this year. Frank died in 1945 at the age of 15 in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany.

This year’s event featured Holocaust survivor Rosalie Simon, and students, Alexa Nissenbaum and Chloe Swartz, who participated in Suffolk Y JCC’s Names, Not Numbers program, a unique program where students learn to combine research, journalism, and video production to capture and share the stories of Holocaust survivors so that they are never forgotten. 

The ceremony also featured special musical guest, South African-born guitarist, and composer Toby Tobias. Tobias shared his stories of hope through music, during a time of war and upheaval across three continents, from Johannesburg to Jerusalem — then here in the United States.

Commander Harry Arlin and members of Jewish War Veterans Post #488 provided a color guard to present the colors for the ceremony while Rabbi Jeff Clopper of Temple Beth El in Huntington led the prayers.

“Every year, we strive to make this event memorable and thought provoking. This year is no different. What happened to Anne Frank, her family, and all victims and survivors of the Holocaust could have happened to anyone, at any point in time,” said Superviser Smyth. 

“Abroad today, in places like Ukraine. At home, with targeted attacks against different groups and the population at large. We must counter the voices that seek to divide us. We can teach love, acceptance, and unity. We can and should resolve ignorance with education,” Smyth added.

The Anne Frank Memorial Garden, was unveiled by the Town in June 2010 at Arboretum Park. The park symbolically captures the journey of Anne Frank’s life. It features a circular pathway that surrounds a garden, which leads to the sculpture of a young girl’s dress. 

The Memorial Garden serves as tribute to Anne’s legacy of wisdom and genuine belief in the goodness of mankind and human nature, despite the ugliness of war and discrimination.

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Pixabay photo

If you solemnly swear you are up to no good, six museums in the Town of Huntington invite wizards and muggles to celebrate Harry Potter’s summer birthday with exciting events from July 30 to August 11. Highlights include scavenger hunts, crafts, presentations, and Harry Potter-themed treats. Don’t miss out on the fun and magical experiences waiting for you!

Participating museums include the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium in Cold Spring Harbor, the Huntington Historical Society’s Conklin Barn in Huntington, the Northport Historical Society, the Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum in Huntington Station, The Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor, and the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport.

Schedule of Events

COLD SPRING HARBOR FISH HATCHERY & AQUARIUM, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor, www.cshfishhatchery.org

August 1 to 4 —  Scavenger Hunt and Craft

Go on a scavenger hunt to find magical creatures. Choose a Hogwarts pet and make a cat, rat or toad craft to take home. Free with admission.

 

HUNTINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S CONKLIN BARN, 2 High Street, Huntington, www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org

July 30 at 10 a.m. — Herbology Exploration

Herbology is the study of magical and mundane plants and fungi, and was a required class taught at Hogwarts by Professor Sprout. Come learn about how herbs similar to the ones in the wizarding world are used in our world, both in the past and the present! For ages 5 to 11. Free, registration required.

August 7 at 10 a.m. — Owl Presentation

We all know about the importance of owls as magical creatures delivering posts and parcels in the wizarding world. Harry’s owl Hedwig and Ron Weasley’s owl Pigwidgeon were great companions to our young wizards. Join us to learn some interesting facts about the owls in our own world! For ages 5 to 11. Free, registration required by visiting www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

 

NORTHPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 215 Main Street, Northport, www.northporthistorical.org

July 31 to August 4 — Harry Potter-Themed Scavenger Hunt:

Visit the Northport Historical Society Wednesdays to Sundays between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to pick up a special Main Street scavenger hunt and embark on a magical adventure. Free.

 

WALT WHITMAN BIRTHPLACE STATE HISTORIC SITE, 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station, www.waltwhitman.org

July 28 to August 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Interactive Tour of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

Test your knowledge on the book that kicked off the Harry Potter series and earn a certificate and a bag of Walt Whitman’s Beans. $5 per participant.

 

THE WHALING MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER, 301 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, www.cshwhalingmuseum.org

July 30 to August 11 — Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt and Wand Craft 

Muggles & wizards alike can enjoy a magical scavenger hunt throughout the museum’s galleries with Huntington’s largest cauldron. Then design and decorate your very own wand craft to take home. Then create a wand to take home.  Free with admission fee to the museum.

August 1 at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. —  Fantastical Beasts & Where to Find Them workshop

Explore the myths and legends surrounding the many mythic creatures featured in the Harry Potter world and create your own dragon egg adorned with gilded seashells. Admission fee +$10 participant. $5 members. No registration required.

 

SUFFOLK COUNTY VANDERBILT MUSEUM, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

July 30 to August 4 — Explore Collections with Harry Potter-themed Map

Visit the museum and explore the collections with a Harry Potter-themed map. Free with admission.

July 30 —  Baby Giant Spider Craft

Visit the education center and create a Baby Giant Spider to take home. Free with admission.

August 4 — Magical Moth Craft 

Visit the education center and create a Magical Moth to take home. Free with admission.

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After or before the events, drop by Sweetie Pies on Main, 181 Main Street in Cold Spring Harbor and Bon Bons Chocolatier, 319 Main Street, Huntington for special Harry Potter-themed treats.

Sweetie Pies on Main will offer Harry Potter-themed drinks for purchase while Bon Bons Chocolatier will offer Chocolate Frogs, Owls and Castles, Bertie Botts and Jelly Slugs, and Golden Snitches. Guests can also enter a raffle to win a Harry Potter Birthday prize.

 

 

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