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Photo from Town of Brookhaven

The Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau’s INTERFACE Back to School Drive is currently underway and will run through Friday, August 27. Last year, the INTERFACE Program collected enough supplies to help 1,200 children in need to enter the school year prepared to learn. Collection boxes for the Back to School Drive can be found at:

  1. Town Hall Lobby – 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville
  2. Parks Department Administration Building – 286 Hawkins Road, Centereach
  3. Highway Department Facility – 1140 Old Town Road, Coram
  4. Vehicle Control Building – 550 N. Ocean Avenue, Patchogue
  5. College 101 – 290 Main Street, East Setauket
  6. Modular Devices – 1 Roned Road, Shirley
  7. All For You Hair Salon – 161-1 Long Island Avenue, Holtsville

The Youth Bureau’s INTERFACE Program is asking for donations of pens, calculators, backpacks, notebooks, lunch boxes, folders, glue, binders and more. The supplies will be distributed to families in need who otherwise would be unable to provide them to their children before school begins.

INTERFACE is a partnership between individuals, generous corporate neighbors and the Town of Brookhaven united in a shared effort to give assistance to Brookhaven’s less fortunate residents all year round. For further information about the Back to School Drive and Brookhaven Youth Bureau programs and services please visit brookhavenny.gov or call 631-451-8011.

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The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport will offer its final virtual summer workshop for children in grades K-3 on Tuesday and Thursday,  August 10 and 12 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This fascinating program will be taught by a museum educator live via Zoom.

Trivia & a Craft:  African Savanna & Warthog Mask

What is your favorite animal in the African Savanna?  Explore the Stoll Wing animal dioramas, play a game of trivia, and create a warthog mask.

Children learn a lot in these creative, science workshops and have fun, too.

Fee: $15. Members are free. Advance registration is required. Call or write to reserve a space: (631) 854-5539 or [email protected]

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Pet Therapy Dog Molly
There’s a new top dog of Stony Brook University Hospital’s volunteer program. Stony Brook Medicine has awarded Pet Therapy Team Doreen Monteleone and her seven-year-old Labrador partner Molly the 2020 Volunteers of the Year. Doreen and Molly, from West Sayville, joined the hospital volunteer program in March of 2019 and together have donated nearly 200 hours of service since.
Doreen Monteleone and Pet Therapy Dog Molly

Molly came to Stony Brook with an already impressive resume. She is certified by Therapy Dogs International (TDI) and is recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as a Therapy Dog (THD) for her work over the past several years. Besides her visits at Stony Brook University Hospital, Molly is a reading companion for children at a library. Molly is also highly skilled in scent detection. She competes in events that showcase skills similar to bomb or narcotics detection and is currently trialing at the elite level with the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW). Through AKC, Molly earned obedience titles Beginner Novice (BN) and Companion Dog (CD); and has one leg on her Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title. AKC has also awarded her the Trick Dog Advanced (TDA), Canine Good Citizen (CGC), AKC Temperament Test (ATT) and Farm Dog Certified (FDC) titles.

Before the pandemic, Doreen and Molly engaged in hospital visits primarily involving Stony Brook’s geriatric patients. Regular visits were arranged by Carolyn O’Neill, NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders), Elder Life Coordinator and Geriatric Educator at Stony Brook Medicine.

“I have heard countless stories on how visits from Molly and Doreen have greatly benefited our patients,” says O’Neill. “Molly has brought so much cheer to those who need it and she has touched the hearts of many at Stony Brook.” Doreen recalls one patient who had a profound reaction to one of Molly’s visits. After having a stroke, a woman would not talk to anyone. That was until Molly came to see her. After the four-legged volunteer left, the patient’s nurse asked, “What did you think of Molly?” The patient responded, “I love that dog!”

Pet Therapy Dog Molly

When COVID-19 suspended Volunteer services and in-person visits, Pia York, Therapeutic Intervention Coordinator at Stony Brook Medicine, took the lead to bring virtual Pet Therapy visits to staff. Rounding with an iPad, Pia with help from recreation therapists Chris Brigante, Diane Dignon and Casey Carrick, visited various units bringing tale wags, virtual kisses and tricks to help relieve the stress. They virtually visited every area of the hospital from the pharmacy on the first floor to the 19th floor.

During these visits, Molly became a celebrity. Her name was mentioned hospital-wide and requests for visits increased ten-fold. In addition to visits, Doreen and Molly creatively used photos to help emphasize the importance of social distancing, proper mask wearing, and hand washing to name a few. Some were even written in Spanish. The photos also contained various inspirational messages for Stony Brook staff as they worked tirelessly to care for patients during the height of the pandemic.

Doreen says she simply wants to share the special joy Molly brings. “She always puts a smile on my face and makes me laugh. Patients and staff would often say that Molly made their day,” says Doreen. “When the COVID crisis hit, I thought about the enormous stress and uncertainty at the hospital. Continuing our visits remotely to raise spirits was the least I could do.”

Molly is also a bit of a celebrity outside of Stony Brook. She can be seen running with a little girl at the end of the current Primatene Mist commercial.

To learn more about Pet Therapy at Stony Brook Medicine, visit https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/patientcare/hospital-volunteers/pet-therapy

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Photo from Your CBD Store

The Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting celebration for Your CBD Store® in Port Jefferson Station on July 23.  

In less than two years, Your CBD Stores® have grown to become the world’s largest brick and mortar CBD retailer with locations in over 600 locations and 40 states. Founded with an emphasis on education and community, Your CBD Store® has helped dismiss misconceptions about its hemp derived products.

“Everything we do is focused on improving the lives of our customers. We are a high-quality learning environment where customers can try products and leave knowing what is in their CBD product,” said Dee Earle Browning, store owner of Your CBD Store Port Jeff Station. 

“We are not just another retail chain. We are a community of store owners who truly care and are educating CBD consumers around the nation,” she said.  

Your CBD Store® offers a variety of CBD infused products that don’t require a prescription or medical card to buy. All stores only sell products manufactured by SunMed, which uses a special CO2 extraction process to eliminate the need for chemical solvents to produce a high-quality, full-spectrum CBD. The CBD is then processed again to remove all traces of THC for the company’s zero-THC products. 

Located at 590 Patchogue Road in Port Jefferson Station, Your CBD Store® is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sundays. For more information, call 631-828-3877.

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Photo courtesy of Fathom Events

Stop the presses! In celebration of its 40th anniversary, The Great Muppet Caper returns to select theaters nationwide on Sunday, Aug. 8 and Wednesday, Aug. 11, courtesy of Fathom Events and Universal Pictures. 

Kermit the Frog, The Great Gonzo, and Fozzie Bear are investigative reporters for the Daily Chronicle who travel to Britain to interview a rich victim of jewel thieves and help her along with her secretary, Miss Piggy. Don’t miss the song-filled, star-studded extravaganza directed by the legendary Jim Henson on the big screen. Rated G.

Catch a screening at AMC Stony Brook 17, 2196 Nesconset Highway, Stony Brook on Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Aug. 11 at  7 p.m.; or Island 16 Cinema De Lux , 185 Morris Ave., Holtsville on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. 

To purchase tickets in advance, please visit www.fathomevents.com.

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Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium

The Reichert Planetarium at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents an exciting new program for young astronomers from Monday, Aug. 23 to Thursday, Autg. 26. Enroll your kids in the Junior Astronomer Workshops for four days filled with stellar activities, crafts, games, and Planetarium shows – presented by the Vanderbilt’s talented astronomy educators.

Erin Bennett, lead Planetarium educator, said, “Junior astronomers will learn about astronomy topics that include the Solar System, how to use a telescope, and how to identify constellations they can see from their own backyard. This program focuses on hands-on learning activities and crafts supplemented by interactive presentations in the Planetarium theater.”

Each session is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each day includes a show in the Planetarium, an educational activity or game, a craft, and a break for lunch. Lunch will not be provided. Junior Astronomers are expected to bring a bag lunch, which will be refrigerated. Registration is open for students between 8 and 12 years old. Cost: $145 for non-members; $125 for members. Space is limited, early registration is encouraged.

Anyone who is not vaccinated must wear a face mask. There will be time set aside for campers to eat lunch and take a mask break.

For any questions, please email erin.bennett@vanderbiltmuseum.org.

 

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A scene from 'Lorelei'
A scene from ‘Sisters’

Couldn’t make it to the in-person Stony Brook Film Festival this year? Here’s your chance to watch it virtually! For the Virtual Festival, passes will be available on their release date starting at 7:00 p.m through the following Monday at 11:59 p.m. Passholders will be able to watch films multiple times and will have access to the films the entire weekend. Pre-recorded discussions with filmmakers, directors, cast and crew will be included with the Virtual Festival Pass.

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL FILM SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE | August 5 – 9
Feature: The 5th Man  |  Short: Feeling Through
Feature: Risks & Side Effects  |  Short: David
Feature: Red River Road  |  Short: The Following Year
Feature: Sisters  |  Short: Girls Are Strong Here
Feature: Games People Play  |  Short: Off Duty

WEEK TWO | August 12 – 16
Feature: Persona Non Grata  |  Short: On the Sidewalk
Feature: Anchorage  |  Short: The Saverini Widow
Feature: As Far As I Know |  Short: Da Yie
Feature: Willow  |  Short: The Night I Left America

WEEK THREE | August 19 – August 23
Feature: Fire in the Mountains  |  Short: The Music Video
Feature: Everything in the End  |  Short: Max is Bleeding
Feature: Sun Children  |  Short: Noisy
Feature: The Castle  |  Short: Inverno

WEEK FOUR | August 26 – August 30
Feature: Murder at Cinema North  |  Short: Devek
Feature: How to Stop a Recurring Dream  |  Short: This Uncertain Moment
Feature: Lorelei  |  Short: Swipe
Feature: Perfumes  |  Short: Ganef
Feature: Final Set

QUESTIONS? Contact the Staller Center for the Arts Box Office at (631) 632-ARTS [2787]
CLICK HERE TO WATCH FILM TRAILERS
 

CLICK HERE FOR PASSES & WEEKLY TICKETS

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Facebook photo

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. and two-time Super Bowl winner and former NY Giant Perry Williams will be at White Post Farms in Melville on Saturday, August 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a special “Unity Day” celebration designed to bring the community and law enforcement together.  Perry Williams, a Special Sheriff’s Deputy, will be hosting football clinics and motivating kids with “Believing is Achieving.”

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Correction Officers will have K-9 demos, free Operation Safe Child ID cards, and other fun activities geared towards youth and adults. Many Sheriff’s Office vehicles will be on display for hands-on tours.

At 12 noon, Sheriff Toulon will designate 13-year-old Ronnie Brigati as Sheriff for the Day. He is the son of Ron Brigati Jr., part-owner of White Post Farms, a family-owned business that has been in existence since 1971. Ronnie, who was born with intensive special needs, has been an integral part of the inspiration behind White Post Farms’ mission to bring joy to local families. Ronnie’s Birdie Landing at White Post Farms, which captures the hearts and wonderment of thousands of visitors each year, is named for Ronnie. Sheriff Toulon will present Ronnie with a Sheriff shirt and hat and a proclamation proclaiming Ronnie Brigati “Sheriff for the Day.”

A portion of the proceeds from Unity Day will be donated to the Sheriff’s Office Foundation to support programs for youth.

White Post Farms is located at 250 Old Country Road in Melville. For more information, call 631-351-9373.

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Students attending the ESBOCES Summer Enrichment Program in the Connetquot District participate in an “Enchanted STEAM Fairytales Class.”
Students attending the ESBOCES Summer Enrichment Program in the Connetquot District participate in an “Enchanted STEAM Fairytales Class.”
Students attending the ESBOCES Summer Enrichment Program in the Connetquot District participate in an “Enchanted STEAM Fairytales Class.”
Students attending the ESBOCES Summer Enrichment Program in the Connetquot District participate in an “Enchanted STEAM Fairytales Class.”

The students in Eastern Suffolk BOCES Summer Enrichment Programs spent the summer designing video games, authoring books, exploring the ocean, and so much more. The Summer Enrichment Programs, held in the Bayport-Blue Point, Bayshore, Comsewogue, and Connetquot districts, featured STEAM-based activities, which incorporate the arts into the STEM model. Students participated in hands-on science and math classes, literacy courses and reading groups, and field trips to the Long Island Aquarium, Adventureland, Splish Splash, and virtual ESBOCES Arts-In-Education Programs.

Sessions ran in three, two- week sessions at each location from July 6 through August 13, 2021, and were available to all students entering Grades 1 through 9 in September. Students had half-day and full-day options, as well as an entire summer option.

Lauren Matarese, program director at the Bayport-Blue Point location, has seen firsthand how this program helps students avoid educational regression over the summer months. “The guided reading groups and writing support that we have incorporated are really helping the students practice their literacy skills,” she says. In addition to the enrichment activities, students spend time participating in team sports, arts and crafts, and games. “The students are still having summer fun, but with academics built in,” says Ms. Matarese.

The ESBOCES Model Schools Program assisted the summer staff with integrating new technology into the curriculum for the Summer Enrichment Programs. The Model Schools Program offers support to teachers in the area of technology integration in order to facilitate the implementation of the New York State Learning Standards. The goal of Eastern Suffolk BOCES is to provide a multifaceted educational experience for all students.

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Hospital thanks founders as they prepare for their final bow

Stony Brook Children Hospital representatives thanked Joseph and Maddie Mastriano for the money they have raised through the Three Village Kids Lemonade Stand. Photo from Stony Brook Medicine

After a successful nine-year run, Joseph and Maddie Mastriano are retiring the Three Village Kids Lemonade Stand. The total impact by the original founders of the increasingly ambitious fund-raising event in support of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and the Child Life program is over $122,000, with more to come during the last lemonade stand scheduled to take place this August.

Dr. Carolyn Milana, chair of Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Carol Gomes, CEO of Stony Brook University Hospital, and Joan Alpers, director Child Life Services with members of the Child Life team, met to honor the Mastrianos for their fundraising work, and to receive a check for the program. The money raised has helped the Child Life program fund projects that directly support kids struggling with illness and hospitalization.

Joan Alpers says the event started as a small affair, organized by two preteens but quickly escalated into a local fixture.

“Every event is crafted, colorful, energetic and attracts community members, kids, teens and grownups, to come out and join the giving,” Alpers said. “I know this is the last lemonade stand event, but I have a feeling this could be a ‘lemonade movement’ that inspires another set of young people to find a new way to do a good thing for their hospital and community.”

Joseph and Maddie first started the fundraising event in the summer of 2012 when the siblings decided to make lemonade and sell it outside their home with some friends. At first, they thought of splitting the few dollars raised between friends, but their mother suggested donating it to charity and they chose Stony Brook Children’s.

“We were lucky to have a summer while there are some kids who are sick, and don’t have that chance,” Maddie said. “ We thought donating to the Child’s Life program would be a nice way to let them know we are thinking of them and give them a chance to do everyday activities outside the four walls of the hospital.”

What started out as a small lemonade stand in front of their home, quickly grew year after year. The community rallied around the event, making it a summer tradition. Beyond raising money for Stony Brook, the stand has given more than 1,000 students the opportunity to earn more than 9,000 community service hours. In 2020, 150 volunteers from grades K-12 took part in the annual Three Village Kids Lemonade Stand.

“It’s been so amazing to see people from across the Island come together to support the Children’s hospital and support our efforts to raise money for the Child Life program,” Joseph said.

Now that Maddie is about to start her senior year at Loyola University in Maryland and Joseph is set to begin attending Stony Brook University this fall, they are ready to end the event on a high note.

The final in-person lemonade stand event will be on Monday, Aug. 9, from 3 to 7pm at R.C. Murphy Junior High School with a virtual livestream to follow on the Twitch app (on the “Impulse912_” channel) from 7:30 to 9:30pm. To donate to this year’s event, visit this GoFundMe.

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