Community

'Sa gabing madilim' (in the dark night), 2023, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, pencil, graphite, 42in x 66in by Cheeny Celebrado-Royer

Suffolk County Community College’s Flecker Gallery on the Ammerman Campus in Selden will host artist Cheeny Celebrado-Royer from February 8 through March 8.

Within the upcoming exhibition Dawn, Cheeny weaves together elements of drawing, painting, collage, architecture, and nature, employing a diverse array of materials associated with temporality, construction, and migration. Throughout her work, she explores mediums such as: graphite, packing supplies, cardboard, tape, concrete, and paint. Within her artwork, she undertakes the deconstruction and repurposing of images, either fragments of her own creations or sourced photographs. Her drawings serve as an important role of transforming moments of time into a tangible manifestation of the intricate processes of recording, remembering, and translating. Beautifully displayed together, her drawings create an installation of harmonious and layered abstraction that evoke urgency and familiarity to the viewer.

Cheeny Celebrado-Royer was born in Naga City, Philippines and is a multidisciplinary artist who utilizes discarded and found materials to create installations, sculptures, paintings, and drawings. Her work encapsulates a sense of urgency, transient qualities, and the precarious nature of objects, often drawing inspiration from architectural structures and their inevitable deterioration.

She holds an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (Mount Royal School of Art). Her exhibitions span notable venues such as the Walters Art Museum, Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Fjord Gallery, School 33 Arts Center, the Peale Museum, ’sindikit Gallery, and Rhode Island School of Design Museum. Celebrado-Royer serves as an Assistant Professor in Experimental & Foundation Studies at the Rhode Island School of Design.

The community is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, February 8, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Gallery hours are: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 631-451-4110.

About Suffolk County Community College

Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling approximately 21,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood and Riverhead. Suffolk offers the Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), and Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees, as well as a variety of certificate programs. Offering affordable college tuition, a highly respected Honors program, workforce training programs, extensive extracurricular activities, championship athletic teams, and numerous transfer programs, Suffolk is a first-choice college for Long Island students. Visit sunysuffolk.edu.

Dr. Frank Gress

The prestigious award Master of the American College of Gastroenterology was recently awarded to Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Chief of Gastroenterology and Director of Interventional Endoscopy, Frank Gress, MD, at the 2023 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting in Vancouver, Canada.

The title of “Master” is an honorary designation granted by the ACG, recognizing significant career achievements in clinical practice, research, education, and service to the field of gastroenterology. Recipients are considered leaders and influencers, contributing to the ACG’s mission of promoting the highest standards in patient care and digestive health.

“I am humbled and honored by this award,” Dr. Gress, a resident of Smithtown, said. “This award not only reflects on my efforts but on those of our entire gastroenterology team at Mount Sinai South Nassau. We are focused on advancing the field—and on the care we provide to our patients we see each and every day, keeping them as our primary focus.”

“We applaud Dr. Gress for his leadership, exemplary career in gastroenterology, and development of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s gastroenterology and interventional endoscopy programs,” said Adhi Sharma, MD, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “He is truly dedicated to improving patient care and educating our residents and fellows and is respected by his peers and valued by his patients and their families, both for his insight and compassion.”

Dr. Gress is Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship at Mount Sinai South Nassau. He also serves as the lead for therapeutic endoscopy for the Mount Sinai Health System on Long Island and is Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Board certified in gastroenterology, Dr. Gress has contributed significantly to advancing interventional gastroenterology, and especially endoscopic ultrasound for diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal conditions.

He completed his medical degree at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completed residency training in internal medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, NY. He completed two fellowships, one in gastroenterology and hepatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center/The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, and another in advanced therapeutic endoscopy at Indiana University Medical Center (IUMC) in Indianapolis, Indiana.

It was at IUMC that Dr. Gress developed his interest in the emerging technology of endoscopic ultrasound (a minimally invasive procedure to assess diseases of the digestive tract and other nearby organs and tissues). He has contributed significantly to advancing the technology from a diagnostic modality to an interventional platform. This includes techniques for fine needle aspiration (to remove fluid or tissue samples for biopsy) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided (EUS) celiac plexus block (to control pain associated with chronic pancreatitis) as well as EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (a technique used to reduce pain associated with pancreatic cancer).

In addition to his vital clinical endoscopic research, Dr. Gress has contributed to developing guidelines and programs for advanced endoscopy training. He has published more than 100 original research articles in peer reviewed journals and numerous invited book chapters and editorials, and has edited two highly regarded EUS textbooks: Endoscopic Ultrasonography 4e and the Atlas of Endoscopic Ultrasonography 3e, and co-edited another textbook on pancreatic disease, Curbside Consultations of the Pancreas. He also has helped educate the community during the hospital’s annual colon cancer awareness media briefing, urging the public to undergo colonoscopy screenings based on age and family history.

Dr. Gress has extensive clinical and research experience in pancreatic disease, gallbladder/bile duct diseases, esophageal disorders, and the endoscopic diagnosis and management of GI malignancies. He has participated in numerous multicenter and collaborative studies involving such areas as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (a procedure used to identify the presence of stones, tumors, or narrowing in the biliary and pancreatic ducts), endoscopic surgical techniques, and pancreatitis.

Dr. Gress has served in leadership roles with all the national GI societies, including the ACG, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American Gastroenterological Association, as well as with the American College of Physicians. He currently serves on the ACG Innovation and Technology Committee and is the ACG Governor, representing Long Island, and is past president of the New York Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

About Mount Sinai South Nassau

The Long Island flagship hospital of the Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai South Nassau is designated a Magnet® hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for outstanding nursing care. Mount Sinai South Nassau is one of the region’s largest hospitals, with 455 beds, more than 900 physicians and 3,500 employees. Located in Oceanside, New York, the hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health, and emergency services and operates the only Trauma Center on the South Shore of Nassau County, along with Long Island’s only free-standing Emergency Department in Long Beach.

In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, Mount Sinai South Nassau provides emergency and elective angioplasty, and offers Novalis Tx™ and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery technologies. Mount Sinai South Nassau operates the only Trauma Center on the South Shore of Nassau County verified by the American College of Surgeons as well as Long Island’s only free-standing, 9-1-1 receiving Emergency Department in Long Beach. Mount Sinai South Nassau also is a designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons; is an accredited center of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Association and Quality Improvement Program; and an Infectious Diseases Society of America Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence.

For more information, go to www.mountsinai.org/southnassau.

Heather Johnson

The board of directors of Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead recently announced it has appointed a new executive director, Heather Johnson.

A resident of Smithtown, Johnsonhas significant professional experience in leadership positions at museums and nonprofit organizations, and also worked for several years in communications, administration and instruction within the higher education sector. Most recently, she was the executive director for Friends of the Bay, a nonprofit organization based in Oyster Bay. She was previously the conference coordinator for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and formerly served as the director of the Northport Historical Society. From 1989 to 2006 she worked in a series of administration roles and as adjunct faculty at Hofstra University.   

“With a working farm, a museum with historic buildings and exhibits, and an educational community resource, our executive director wears many hats. We welcome Heather and the diverse experience she brings to this important position,” said Dale Moyer, vice president of the Hallockville Museum Farm Board of Directors.

“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to be the next executive director of historic Hallockville Museum Farm and to guide Hallockville in its mission ‘to take Long Island back to its family farming roots and explore their relevance today,’” said Johnson. “I look forward to building upon the great work that has been done and to find new ways to offer programs and events to engage people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Newfield varsity competes in cheer competition. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Riverhead High School hosted a varsity cheer competition where 44 different high schools converged throughout the day on Saturday, Jan. 27, where each school showcased their school spirit in four different categories in an all-day event.

Newfield wowed the crowd in their 2 1/2 minute performance in the Class A Division collecting 70.65 points from the judges before a near-capacity audience. 

Newfield retakes the mat on Saturday, Feb. 3, in another multischool competition at Hauppauge High School at 12 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

Pixabay photo

By Samantha Rutt

The real estate landscape in Suffolk County is experiencing a significant shift, with the scales tipping decidedly in favor of sellers. As demand continues to outpace supply, prospective homebuyers face fierce competition and rising prices. This phenomenon, commonly known as a seller’s market, has implications for both buyers and sellers in the region.

Suffolk County, nestled on Long Island’s eastern end, boasts a unique blend of scenic landscapes, vibrant communities, and proximity to New York City. This desirability has driven a surge in demand for residential properties across the county. However, this increased demand is not matched by a proportional rise in housing inventory, creating a supply-demand imbalance.

The limited availability of homes for sale has sparked intense competition among buyers vying for desirable properties. Multiple offers, bidding wars, and quick sales have become commonplace, placing sellers in the advantageous position of fielding competitive offers and securing favorable terms.

“​​There’s no inventory, that’s the bottom line,” Jolie Powell, of Jolie Powell Realty said. “We have a very strong buyer demand and we have virtually nothing to sell them.”

According to Redfin, a real estate brokerage corporation, the median sale price in Suffolk County in December of 2023 surged 9.4% compared to the previous year, hovering around $596,000. Homes spend an average of just 28 days on the market, compared to 36 last year, indicating a market hungry for listings. The sale-to-list price ratio often exceeding 100% showcases just how fiercely buyers compete for available properties.

“There’s several reasons,” the broker/owner Powell when asked about the potential causes for the lack of inventory said. “The rates have been high, people got spoiled. Post pandemic, the rates were 3%, and now the rates have doubled. People that locked into that rate have a good situation, and they’re not selling.”

With demand driving prices upward, Suffolk County has witnessed a steady appreciation in property values. Homes are fetching premium prices, often exceeding their listing prices as eager buyers seek to secure their slice of Suffolk County’s real estate market. 

“I don’t forsee the inventory level rising at all, which means the prices will probably appreciate, and we’ll probably go back to bidding wars again this spring,” Powell said. 

Sellers in Suffolk County are positioned to capitalize on the favorable market conditions. With high demand and low inventory, sellers can command top dollar for their properties and negotiate favorable terms. This upward trend in property values is a treat for sellers, who stand to benefit from lucrative returns on their investments.

Prospective homebuyers navigating Suffolk County’s seller’s market face formidable challenges. Buyers must act swiftly, be prepared to make compelling offers, and potentially adjust their expectations to align with market realities.

“I’m hoping the rates will come down a little bit, this spring, and all indications are pointing to lower interest rates than they are right now. So that will hopefully encourage people sell because those that sell need to buy as well,” Powell said.

As the county’s real estate market remains predominantly in favor of sellers, both buyers and sellers are pushed to adapt to the evolving landscape. With demand outstripping supply, buyers face challenges in securing properties, while sellers stand to benefit from rising property values and heightened competition. 

New York State Parks challenge merchandise. Photo courtesy New York State Parks.

By Aidan Johnson

Major celebrations are in store for the New York’s statewide park and historic site system, which has reached 100 years since its founding by Gov. Alfred E. Smith (D) and the state Legislature of 1924.

While there will be multiple events happening statewide throughout the year in New York’s parks and historic sites, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced a year-long challenge for residents and visitors.

The challenge consists of 100 different activities that can be completed at the New York State parks and historic sites throughout the year. All of the tasks can be found listed under “NY State Parks Centennial Challenge” in the app Goosechase, and include missions such as drawing flowers or wildlife found in the park, visiting one of the lighthouses, biking certain trails and attending an environmental education program. However, participants need not worry about traveling statewide to complete every challenge, as only 24 are required to be finished in order to receive a sticker and be entered into a drawing for a three-year Empire Pass and a centennial swag bag.

NYS sees the centennial and challenges as an opportunity to help local economies by attracting visitors to the different parks and sites.

“Our parks in New York State are now for a century where families and friends have gathered, where memories were made outdoors,” said state Parks Deputy Regional Director Kara Hahn.

Hahn described the Share Your Story initiative, in which residents are invited to share their favorite photos and memories of the parks by emailing [email protected] or by using the #nystateparkstory hashtag on social media.

“We really want to inspire and encourage and engage our residents to come out because we know how good it is for health to be outside and active…and we know that it’s good for community health to have our residents gathering in beautiful spaces and have fun,” Hahn said.

“We’re taking this Centennial 100-year anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate all that and hopefully encourage and activate our residents to come back out,” she added.

Information is also available at parks.ny.gov/100/challenge.

Centereach Civic Association emblem. Photo courtesy Centereach Civic Association

By Nasrin Zahed

Centereach Civic Association’s first meeting of the year Tuesday, Jan. 9, sought to discuss how the civic intends to conduct meetings going forward, ongoing development projects, education funding challenges and initiatives underscored by community well-being. State Assemblymen Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) and Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) along with Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) expressed their commitment to serving Middle Country residents. Their aim to align economic interests with community welfare set the tone for collaborative efforts.

The evening kicked off with civic members addressing the merger of the Centereach Civic Association with the Selden Civic Association meetings going forward. The decision underlines a commitment to inclusivity and a desire to streamline communication channels throughout the Middle Country community. This approach aims at fostering increased participation, particularly for those members who find it challenging to commute to one central location. The dedication of the two civics to creating structured arrangements for joint sessions signifies a commitment to community engagement and a desire to address all areas their influence might reach.

Changes in meeting schedules and the strategic approach to alternating meeting locations between the Centereach Fire Department and the Selden Fire Department were discussed. 

Community member Katherine Yamaguchi took the floor to passionately discuss Contractors for Kids, her heartfelt advocacy painting a poignant picture of the organization’s unwavering commitment to supporting families in their most challenging moments. With a genuine admiration for Contractors for Kids’ mission to provide financial assistance during times of illness, injury or the tragic loss of a child, Yamaguchi eloquently described the impactful initiatives, including upcoming galas and community-driven fundraising efforts. Her narrative highlighted the organization not just as a charitable force but as a symbol of collective empathy and strength. 

The community is eagerly anticipating several upcoming development projects that promise to enhance the overall quality of life in the area. These initiatives span various sectors, including infrastructure, public safety and environmental conservation. Residents can look forward to improved road networks, upgraded drainage systems and the replacement of outdated guardrails, ensuring safer and more efficient travel. 

The commitment to restoring essential services, particularly in education and social services, reflects a dedication to the well-being of families and the broader community. Additionally, the focus on veterans initiatives, mental health services and support for Gold Star families that were discussed underscores a commitment to honoring and assisting those who have served their country. 

The civic association is set to receive a $5,000 refund in relation to the holiday seasons tree-lighting ceremony. The conversation around this financial matter involved deliberations on how to handle the refund, and led to an open discussion with the attending neighbors on how best to redistribute the funds back into the community.

Assemblymen Smith and Flood emphasized the need for increased preservation of Long Island farmland, acquiring development rights and engaging in sustainable aquaculture practices. The upcoming projects align with a vision of responsible growth that prioritizes environmental conservation. 

The assemblymen also discussed their dedication to Long Island schools and the work being done to restore and raise education budgets. With cuts being proposed throughout local school districts by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) 2024-25 budget, Smith and Flood both shared their commitment to representing communities such as Middle Country in their efforts to get state aid reinstated. The assemblymen went on to discuss how the taxes local Long Islanders pay is not proportional to the return received through state funding in necessary areas.

Overall, the Middle Country community is poised for positive transformations that will contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive future.

New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo

By Anthony H. Palumbo

Late last month, as New Yorkers were making plans to celebrate the New Year, Governor Hochul once again vetoed the Grieving Families Act. Her action was a surprise to many of us in the State Legislature, especially considering the broad, nearly unanimous bipartisan support for the bill’s passage in consecutive sessions.

More surprisingly was that her veto pen fell on a vastly changed version of the legislation, which was updated to assuage the Governor’s concerns over the Act’s overhyped impact on the State’s hospitals and insurance industry.

The Grieving Families Act is important as it would bring New York State’s wrongful death statute into the modern era, on par with the rest of the nation and in line with our values. It would provide families who have lost a child or loved one the ability to seek damages for their pain and suffering in cases where wrongful death is established.

By expanding the State’s wrongful death statute beyond the callous ‘monetary value’ of the deceased and allowing for pain and suffering to be calculated in wrongful death cases, the legislation weighs the full and devastating impact that the loss of a child, spouse, stay at-home parent, or disabled grandparent has on a family.  It would also hold the wrongdoer responsible for the death accountable.

The benefits of the legislation to New York’s families are crystal clear. The steps that the New York State Legislature will take next to ensure the Grieving Family Act becomes law, is less evident.

There have been discussions to override Governor Hochul’s veto of the Grieving Families Act, but these talks have been met by a mixed response from Democratic Leaders in the State Legislature. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie referred to a veto override as a nuclear option and Senator Brad Hoylman-Siegel, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the bill’s sponsor stated he doesn’t believe an override can occur in a different calendar year from when the bill was vetoed.  To the person, however, these same legislators have engaged in splashy press conferences and rhetorical speeches regarding the need to make the Grieving Families Act law so we can protect victims of negligence.

My solution would be for both houses of the State Legislature to again pass the 2023 version of the bill, and before the State Budget is approved. This would provide Legislators greater leverage, and show our resolve to have the Act become law in 2024.  With supermajorities in both houses, why won’t the Democrats that constantly claim to protect victims and be the Party That Cares More Than Everybody Else simply flex their legislative muscle to make this happen.  If the Governor vetoes the bill again, they must use the ‘nuclear option’ and override her veto.

Antithetically, during last year’s historic nomination of Justice Hector Lasalle for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, the Senate Democrats were more than willing to override the Governor to stack the court with progressives who would toe the political line when it came to the congressional redistricting case that was soon to be heard. Despite the historic nature of the nomination, as the first Latino nominee for Chief Judge, the impeccable qualifications of Justice Lasalle and the fact that the legislature has never denied a Governor’s nomination for Chief Judge, the Lasalle nomination was defeated because he didn’t fit with their agenda. 

Now, with something as important as the Grieving Families Act, the Democrats seem unwilling to move the ball forward.  If they were willing to challenge the Governor for political power, it would be my hope that they could do it for legislation that would serve a greater purpose for all New York’s families.  2024 must be the year the Grieving Families Act becomes law. Whether this happens by the Governor acquiescing to sign the bill or through an override, the important first step is for lawmakers to take action now and repass the Grieving Families Act so we can do what’s right as New Yorkers, for New Yorkers.

Anthony H. Palumbo

New York State Senator, 1st District 

By Bill Landon

The Rocky Point Eagles went into the halftime break protecting a one-point lead in a home game against Comsewogue, trailed by two at the end of three quarters of play but were able to rally in the final eight minutes, to win the game 62-52 in the League IV matchup Jan. 25.

Rocky Point junior Casmere Morrow was the spark for the Eagles hitting a pair of 3-pointers, six field goals and eight from the charity stripe for 26 points, and senior Liam Conlan banked 17. 

Chris Beverly netted 15 points for the Warriors, Joey Santoro notched 12 points and Dale Allison added 11.

The win lifted the Eagles to 5-6 in league while the loss dropped the Warriors to 4-6.

Photos courtesy Sophia Serlis-McPhillips

Prepared by Samantha Rutt

Luise Marie Weiss, a cherished member of the Middle Country community passed on Dec. 21 at the age of 86. Luise was born on April 25, 1937 in Mineola. Luise was the daughter of Julius Steinbrenner and Elsa Muller. 

Throughout her life Luise left an indelible mark on her community, serving nearly 40 years at Middle Country Public Library. Here, she worked as the head of adult services, where she spearheaded the law, business and careers collections, topics she expressed a great passion for. In her time in this role, Luise connected with many community members offering a warmth and rejuvenating presence.

“She was a person who had a passion and enthusiasm for books and reference and learning and education, she pulled everybody in,” Director of the Middle Country Public Library, Sophia Serlis-McPhillips said. “Luise was very influential in all of our lives [at the library].” 

In addition to her work at the library, Luise played an integral part in the development of the Miller Business Center, a regional resource for businesses, independent entrepreneurs, not-for-profit organizations, and individuals. 

“It was Luise’s passion and influence with that collection that drove us to that next step,” Serlis-McPhillips said. “The Miller Center is a big initiative of our library foundation. We have so many businesses on Long Island and if you think about the Center, it all emanated from the passion, really of this one woman.”

The goal of the center is to support regional economic development by promoting a literate and job-ready workforce and providing employment information and career exploration opportunities. 

“At the time, the Center was almost equal to a law library,” Serlis-McPhillips explained. “Everything that we did… we partnered with the Hauppauge Industrial Association, to give members access to the resources that we had, teaching people how to use them, and more networking. Luise’s passion really fueled all that.”

Luise’s love of business was one of her most beloved characteristics. She earned two master’s degrees, a degree in Library Science from CW Post and the other in History from Stony Brook University.

“She loved history,” Serlis-McPhillips said. “She wrote a variety of books. She helped us when we wrote our history book for Middle Country.”

She is survived by her loving children, Kirk, Wayne, and Wendy. She now finds comfort in the embrace of a long-awaited reunion with her late son Douglas.

Her spirit lives in her 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services were held at Moloney-Sinnicksons Funeral Home in Center Moriches.

“You know when you come across the special people in your life, that was Louise.” Serlis-McPhillips said.