Richard Mayhew, Clamdiggers, n.d., oil on board. Courtesy of the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art. (c) 2022 Richard Mayhew; Courtesy ACA Galleries, New York
The Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington will host a virtual panel on Environmental Justice on Long Island on Tuesday, April 5 at 5:30 pm.
The panel is presented in coordination with Richard Mayhew: Reinventing Landscape now on view at The Heckscher Museum of Art. Mayhew’s luminous landscapes address the historic and spiritual connections between Native Americans, African Americans, and the land.
The panel features Dr. Mark Chambers, Professor of Africana Studies at Stony Brook University, and Jeremy Dennis, a contemporary fine art photographer, tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, and founder of Ma’s House, and is moderated by Justyce Bennett, Curatorial Assistant at the Heckscher Museum of Art. They will discuss the environmental justice movement to address how environmental hazards impact communities of color disproportionately.
Jeremy Dennis is a fine art photographer and a tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. His photography explores Indigenous identity, cultural assimilation, and the ancestral traditional practices of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. His work is included in the collections of The Heckscher Museum of Art, The Hudson River Museum, the New York State Museum, and others.
Dr. Mark Chambers is a professor in the Africana Studies department at Stony Brook University. His interests include environmental and technological contacts between Indigenous peoples and free and enslaved miners in North America. His recent book, Gray Gold: Lead Mining and Its Impact on the Natural and Cultural Environment, 1720 to 1840, is a cultural history of lead mining in the region that became the state of Missouri.
Justyce Bennett is the Curatorial Assistant at The Heckscher Museum of Art. She completed her master’s degree at the Winterthur Program for American Material Culture at the University of Delaware. She is interested in Black feminist art history and wrote her master’s thesis on the landscape and historic preservation efforts on St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands.
The event is free to the public, with registration at Heckscher.org/mayhewpanel
The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad team participated in the New York State Science Olympiad competition at Lemoyne College in Syracuse on March 19 and 20. The team placed 20th overall out of 60 teams from throughout the state.
There were 23 events in various STEM and science-related topics. The top 10 pairs of students in each event earned a medal.
Port Jefferson medal winners earned three state medals in bridges, forensics and remote sensing including 8th Place, Forensics – Gavin Onghai and Michelle Wu; 8th Place, Remote Sensing – Hugo Onghai and Benjamin Perez-Flesler; and 9th Place, Bridges – Teppei Fukuto and Riley Perrotta
“We continue to be impressed by our high school Science Olympiad students in their hard work and success,” co-coach Melissa Garcia said.
Co-coach Amanda Brideson added, “We are exceptionally proud of our entire team for not only their academic achievements but also displaying excellent sportsmanship and kindness the entire trip toward other competing teams.”
In addition to Ms. Brideson and Ms. Garcia, chaperones Mr. Gregory Gorniok and Mr. Dannie Holland joined the students.
With Port Jefferson pride, the team members congratulate competitors Ward Melville High School on their success and wish them all the luck at nationals. Photo from PJSD
Encouraging the next generation of scientists, Wading River School’s Science Fair brought together a school community of scientific discovery and pure moments of fun.
While balloons, bubbles, plants, crystals, magnets, eggs and more may have played important roles in experiments, the action-packed, scientifically engaging event was all about the camaraderie and connections among the students as they explored their scientific interests and curiosities.
More than 100 young scientists participated, and Shoreham-Wading River High School students served as judges, noting that the steps of the scientific method were followed in each experiment.
Principal Mr. Louis Parrinello thanked all who made the Science Fair a tremendous success, including teachers, support staff, parents and chairpeople Mr. Mike Morano and Dr. Andrea Stadler. In addition to the top-level experiments of the students, highlights included Dr. Stadler’s exciting elephant toothpaste chemistry experiment and the Van de Graaff generator, an electrostatic generator that created some hair-raising moments.
Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach has announced that the library’s Nature Explorium will reopen April 1.
Photo from MCPL
“We know that many of you are eager to visit the Nature Explorium and play outside. The Nature Explorium is an outdoor learning space for children and families to experience the benefits of nature. Children are invited to explore, play, and learn in a safe and natural environment. The Nature Explorium contains a variety of learning areas, all geared toward connecting children to a different aspect of nature. Whether they’re making a pie in the mud kitchen, climbing on a tree stump, or expressing artistic talent through song and dance on the Play It stage, children will discover the gift of the outdoors,” said the press release.
For more information and operating hours, please visit www.natureexplorium.org or call the library’s youth services desk at 631-585-9393 ext. 559.
Sal Pitti (left) and Ed Garboski (right) stand outside of Jefferson Plaza in Port Jeff Station. Photo by Raymond Janis
Local leaders have weighed in on the proposed redevelopment project at Jefferson Plaza on Route 112, south of Hallock Avenue in Port Jeff Station.
Empty storefronts have been an ongoing issue for the PJ Station community. Photo by Raymond Janis
The plaza is owned by Staller Associates, a commercial real estate company based in Hauppauge. Staller intends to make a significant investment to redevelop this shopping center, according to leadership from the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association. Under the current plan, the plaza will be zoned commercial and residential. TBR News Media could not reach a representative of Staller Associates for this story.
Edward Garboski, incoming president of PJSTCA, said that a plan to revitalize the plaza has been in the works for nearly a decade. Since its approval, that plan has mostly been dormant until recently.
“Over eight years ago, we did a comprehensive study to create a transit-oriented district,” Garboski said. “We presented it to the Town [of Brookhaven]. They accepted it and it kind of got left on the shelf somewhere. We’ve been working on it behind the scenes, but until we got a new councilperson, now it’s really being pushed.”
Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D) is steering the initiative through town hall. According to Kornreich, redevelopment at Jefferson Plaza will help to revitalize the area.
“Redeveloping a site like that is going to really be vital to the rebirth of the Port Jefferson Station area,” he said. “As far as the town goes, in order to encourage redevelopment of sites like that, there was a new code created to encourage redevelopment to those types of properties.”
Kornreich said that the change of town code will allow for the construction of residential housing units at the plaza. He added that this change will also promote inclusion for people with disabilities.
“It’s going to create a greater diversity of housing options, which is something that’s very important for people as they get older and for younger people who are just starting out,” he said. “Also, there’s going to be a significant portion of the residential units there that are dedicated to people with disabilities.” He added, “Having a supportive environment for them that’s also walkable is going to be very valuable to the community as whole.”
Kornreich believes the Jefferson Plaza project will relieve traffic congestion, a problem for Port Jeff Station.
“Residential development generates less traffic than commercial development,” Kornreich said. “When you have a residential unit, people come and go once or twice a day. That same place, if it’s commercial development, is going to have 30, 40, 60 people an hour coming in and out.”
Local leaders expressed optimism that the Port Jeff Station community may soon link up to one of the neighboring sewer districts. The map above shows the geographic areas currently covered by sewers. The Suffolk County Department of Information Technology, GIS Division, granted permission to use data. Map generated by Raymond Janis
The additional step of adding a sewer extension is critical for the realization of this project. According to Salvatore Pitti, outgoing president and incoming vice president of PJSTCA, without a sewer line, redevelopment at the plaza will not be possible.
“One of our big problems here is also sewers,” Pitti said. “If we don’t get sewers, there is no way any of these restaurants or buildings are ever going to work. We’re currently in talks with Suffolk County to try to get sewers here.”
Pitti offered several possible sewer plant locations to which Jefferson Plaza could be attached in the future. He said the most ideal scenario would be to link the area to the Tallmadge Woods sewer district.
“What we’re pushing for is hopefully the Mount Sinai sewage plant, which is Tallmadge,” Pitti said. “Suffolk County is in talks with the town supposedly about trying to expand that sewer plant [to cover more area], but that’s another two-year project before we even hear if that’s going to work or not work.”
Another important question will be where to put the Port Jefferson Station Post Office, which is presently situated in the plaza. According to Garboski, the post office is under federal lease until 2024, at which point construction can begin. “They have a lease,” he said. “The lease still goes another few years and there are other options as to where they can put the post office.”
Pitti added, “That’s more of a federal thing that is way out of our hands.”
According to Pitti, the businesses that currently occupy the plaza are staples with longstanding ties to the Port Jefferson Station community. He said that it will be a challenge moving forward to accommodate both the aims of the developers and the interests of the business owners who fill those storefronts and who may wish to stay.
“I mean, it’s a business that [the developer] has to work out with the [current tenants] if they want to stay there or if they don’t want to stay,” Pitti said. “Honestly, I think they’re going to pretty much level the place and start construction because, fiscally, I don’t think it makes much sense to do half and half.” He added, “We asked the [developer] to do as best as he can to keep them in our community. Whether that happens or not is unfortunately between him and the [business] owners.”
According to Garboski, the developers are “looking to put in […] about $100 million into this project. That’s going to be a shot in the arm for the local economy. They’re serious, they’re putting serious money into it.”
He said that kind of private investment into the local economy is what the area needs to counteract its gradual decline and will encourage other real estate developers to join in.
“This is the first project that’s going to get revitalized and when it does, it’s going to set a precedent for the rest of the street and the rest of the developers,” Garboski said.
Although projects such as these seem to always receive some form of local opposition, Kornreich believes the community will soon notice the positive impact of redeveloping Port Jefferson Plaza.
“People get nervous sometimes when new projects are being proposed,” the councilmember said. “I’ve never seen a project that was universally loved from day one, but generally speaking once stuff gets built and people see it and they realize the positive change it has on the community, people tend to like it most of the time.”
Chazz and Gianna Palminteri with the staff at the Engeman. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Chazz Palminteri. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Chazz Palminteri with the cast of 'A Bronx Tale'. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Chazz Palminteri with the cast of 'A Bronx Tale'. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Chazz Palminteri with the cast of 'A Bronx Tale'. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Chazz Palminteri. Photo by Barbara Anne Kirshner
Chazz Palminteri with the cast of 'A Bronx Tale'. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Chazz Palminteri with the cast of 'A Bronx Tale'. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Actor, filmmaker and playwright Chazz Palminteri and his wife Gianna attended the opening night of A Bronx Tale: The Musical at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport on Saturday, March 26.
The Bronx native, who wrote the play based on his childhood in 1989 and starred as Sonny in the movie version in 1993, thanked the Engeman and cast for a job well done.
“I haven’t seen the musical since Broadway and it is really amazing what this theater did here with the space they have, with the set, it’s just outstanding. I am amazed by it, and my hat goes off to the incredible cast and all the people here at this incredible theater. It brought back a lot of memories,” he said.
“We are truly honored that Chazz and Gianna Palminteri were able to attend the opening night of A Bronx Tale. To be able to celebrate our production with the man who created this brilliant story was a moment that none of us will ever forget,” said Richard Dolce, co-owner of the John W. Engeman Theater.
Five talented young ladies from the Mulvihill-Lynch Irish Dance Studio of Lake Ronkonkoma are excited to be heading to Belfast, Ireland on April 8 to compete at the 2022 World Irish Dance Championships. This will be the first international competition the studio will be attending in three years.
Pictured are Maggie Webber, 18 from Lake Grove, Tori Corcoran, 17 from Holbrook, Millie Valenti, 10 from Sayville, Kyleigh Pilkington, 15 from Port Jefferson Station, and Leanna Sheridan, 16 from Hauppauge.
From left, ‘The Social Brain’ Treasurer Susan Burns, Brandon Bowen, Legislator Kara Hahn, ‘The Social Brain’ President Ira Dunne and Kathy Elton at the Suffolk County Legislature in Hauppauge on March 8. Photo from Leg. Hahn’s office
March is national Brain Injury Awareness Month, and in recognition Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) honored Selden based not-for-profit “The Social Brain” for its work to support the needs of impacted individuals and families on March 8.
“The Social Brain” works to reduce the social isolation that is often associated with a brain injury diagnosis by holding monthly events that include sports programs, bowling, baseball games, art paint nights, nature walks and picnics for individuals and families. Additionally, the organization increases awareness of brain injuries through its community outreach efforts at local schools and neighborhood events.
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, more than 3.6 million people of all ages sustain brain injuries in the United States every year with over 5.6 million Americans living with a permanent brain injury-related disability.
In 2007, Suffolk County declared each second week of March as Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Week.With a goal to further public recognition of brain injuries, Legislator Hahn this month introduced legislation to illuminate the County’s H. Lee Dennison Building in green each March beginning in 2023.
From left, Supervisor Ed Romaine; DIME CEO Kevin M. O’Connor; Town Commissioner of Recycling and Sustainable Materials Management, Christine Fetten; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Councilman Dan Panico and DIME Executive VP and Chief Banking Officer James J. Manseau. Photo from TOB
On March 22, Supervisor Ed Romaine accepted a $4,000 check from DIME Chief Executive Officer Kevin M. O’Connor to co-sponsor the Town of Brookhaven’s 2022 community recycling events. Each year the Town holds two recycling events in each Council District that include paper shredding, e-waste disposal and a supervised prescription drug drop-off program.
The scheduled recycling events will help residents properly dispose of sensitive documents which, when improperly discarded, can fall into the hands of identity thieves. Residents can also dispose of e-waste including TV’s, VCR and DVD players, fax machines, printers, calculators, modems, cables, routers, copiers, radios/stereos, laptops, keyboards and cell phones as well as expired prescription drugs in an environmentally safe manner.
Documents brought in for shredding will be fed into an industrial shredder, enabling each participant to witness the secure destruction of sensitive papers. Paper can be brought in boxes or bags. Documents can remain stapled together, but paper clips and other metal must be removed along with any other contaminants such as rubber bands.
The 2022 schedule of events are as follows:
CD-3 Councilman Kevin LaValle
Saturday, April 2 – 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach
CD-1 Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich
Saturday, April 23 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station
CD-2 Councilwoman Jane Bonner
Saturday, April 30 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai
CD-4 Councilman Michael Loguercio
Saturday, May 21 – 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Brookhaven Town Hall, South Parking Lot, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville
CD-3 Councilman Kevin LaValle
Saturday, Sept. 10 – 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook
CD-2 Councilwoman Jane Bonner
Saturday, October 1 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai
CD-1 Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich
Saturday, October 22 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Setauket Fire Department, 394 Nicolls Road, Setauket
The 2022 recycling events are open to all Brookhaven Town residents for their personal, household material. For more information, call 451-TOWN (8696) or visit www.brookhavenny.gov/recyclingevents.
Kyle Johnston pushes up field for the Royals. Photo by Bill Landon
Camryn Spiller. Photo by Bill Landon
Alexa Ayotte. Photo by Bill Landon
Lucy Dewitt checks a West Babylon player. Photo by Bill Landon
Alexa Ayotte goes after a loose ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Alexa Ayotte passes up field. Photo by Bill Landon
Amy Whitman drives past a Babylon defender. Photo by Bill Landon
Goalie Hipolita Oliva with the save. Photo by Bill Landon
Amy Whitman passes up-field. Photo by Bill Landon
Caroline Hayde takes possession. Photo by Bill Landon
Looking to build momentum after their victory over Stony Brook School three days earlier, the Lady Royals of Port Jefferson hit a roadblock Saturday morning when they hosted West Babylon.
In this first league game of the season, they fell to the Eagles 18-5. A young team that had only formed in 2017, the Port Jeff roster includes only four seniors, four sophomores and seven freshmen, who will be challenged in the Class D 2022 campaign. The Lady Royals retook the field on March 29 at home against the Smithtown West Bulls, where the Royals lost, 14-3.
Prev
