Legislator Nick Caracappa (rear, left) stands next to Middle Country’s Athletic Director Joe Mercado and with students and coaches of the Middle Country Central School District and Longwood School District’s Cross Country teams.
Legislator Nick Caracappa attended a high school dual cross country meet at Farmingville Hills County Park on Portion Road this week, held between Middle Country and Longwood School Districts. Caracappa recently secured Farmingville Hills Park for use by the Middle Country Cross Country Team.
“Middle Country’s meets had previously been held at Sunken Meadow State Park, which is a considerable distance from their area,” stated Legislator Caracappa. “Plus, when all State Parks were closed due to the pandemic, Middle Country’s Coach Joe Toto reached out to me to find a new, closer venue. I then contacted County Executive Steve Bellone’s office for assistance. Shortly after, Mr. Bellone announced the re-opening of all Suffolk County parks for use by the school districts’ cross country teams.”
Purchased by the county in the 1980s as a part of the Open Space Preservation Act, the 105-acre park officially opened to the public in May of 2010. The park features a large open area of grass where events take place, as well as 1.2 miles of hiking trails with hilly terrain.
“I’m pleased to have helped the team stay closer to home, which saves them travel time and the district considerable gas money. Additionally, it was very rewarding to hear firsthand how much the student- athletes and coaches love the county parks and look forward to utilizing them in the future,” concluded Caracappa.
Three outstanding Suffolk County Community College students will be awarded the prestigious State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence at an April virtual ceremony.
The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recognizes students for outstanding achievements and who best demonstrate the integration of SUNY excellence within many aspects of their lives, which must include three of the following areas: academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service, or the arts (creative performing).
“We are extremely proud and celebrate these exceptional students,” said Suffolk County Community College Interim President Louis Petrizzo. “Our students’ outstanding academic achievements, leadership and service, exemplify the very best our college has to offer.”
Suffolk County Community College’s SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recipients are:
Leeanna Rutigliano (pictured on left) A Child Study Education major from Medford, Leeanna has a 4.0 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Leeanna serves as President of Phi Theta Kappa’s Alpha Zeta Nu Chapter; is a Division 1 Finalist Oberndorf Scholar, and member of Suffolk’s College Choir.
Gabriella Hassildine (pictured in center) A Liberal Arts General Studies major from Mattituck, Gabriella has a 4.0 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Gabriella has served as president of the Music Club, president of the Honors Club, and as an Orientation Leader.
Amrita Deonanan (pictured on right) A Business Administration major from Brentwood, Amrita has a 4.0 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Amrita serves as a Peer Mentor, chief financial officer of the Student Government Association, and assistant editor of the Western Student Press.
The Staller Center for the Arts and Stony Brook University, in partnership with Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, a Forbes Top Corporate Law Firm in America, presents a complimentary webinar titled Gift Planning on April 14 at 3:00 p.m. Join them for a comprehensive overview of planned giving and creating a vision to benefit you, your loved ones, and your charity.
Speakers:
Vincent Clark: Intermin Director of Planned Giving at Stony Brook University
Ashley Fetter: Assistant Director of Gift Planning at Stony Brook University
Martin S. Glass, Esq.: Elder Law Attorneyat Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP
Date: April 14, 2021
Time: 3:00 p.m.
The webinar is free but registration is required by visiting www.stallercenter.com/giving/
After registering, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions for joining the meeting.
The pandemic has affected absolutely everyone and no one more so than small business owners and entrepreneurs. They have never worked harder to stay afloat than in the past year.
Elizabeth Malafi, Coordinator of the Miller Business Center acknowledges their hard work. “Small businesses and entrepreneurs have had such a hard time, especially those who rely heavily on in-person events, shows and markets,” she said.
Because of the limits on these types of events, the Middle Country Public Library’s annual Women’s EXPO went virtual last year. And, now, for the first time in its history, this traditionally fall event will be held virtually in the spring.
An initiative of the Middle Country Library Foundation, the Women’s EXPO is a vehicle to promote economic development for Long Island women entrepreneurs.“Offering a virtual marketplace during this time gives women an opportunity to promote themselves in a new way,” said Malafi. “It also pushes them to create or expand their digital presence. With support from Bank of America and our other sponsors, we are able to offer workshops that help them continue to grow their businesses virtually.”
Recent workshops focused on expanding a small business’s social media footprint.
“The mission of the Library’s Miller Business Center has always been to promote economic development on Long Island. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from the exhibitors about our first virtual EXPO led us to make the decision to offer the event for the first time in the spring. Now more than ever, we needed to give Long Island’s women entrepreneurs every opportunity to get back on their feet,” said Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, Director of Middle Country Public Library.
Support local businesses and shop for spring events at the Women’s EXPO on Thursday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Register at www.womensEXPOli.org. Virtual attendees will be entered to win one of several door prizes. Computers for browsing will be available at the Middle Country Public Library’s Centereach branch at 101 Eastwood Blvd, Centereach on the day of the event. For more information, please call 631-585-9393, ext. 296.
And now, meet some of the participating entrepreneurs!
Edna J. White
Edna J. White
An author and life purpose coach, Edna J. White was looking for a way to revive her business during the pandemic. When she saw the EXPO was going virtual last fall, she thought it would be a good way to promote her books and coaching business.
“At first it was a little confusing because it was my first encounter with this innovative idea but after getting much-needed direction from the EXPO team, I was off and running!” she said. “The online EXPO was a great experience with a lot of engagement.”
White is hoping for even more success this spring.
Mary Ann Butera
Mary Ann Butera
Mary Ann Butera, of Crafty Butterfly, was intrigued by the idea of a virtual EXPO but didn’t think it was really for her … until she visited the online event last December and saw how great it looked and how easy the platform was to use.
“This event could well become a new trend as an addition to in-person fairs. Middle Country Library offers such excellent events and programs, this new approach is just so logical and creative — it fits perfectly into the growing acceptance and use of social media … and gives me another outlet for my hand knit creations.”
Butera will be selling felted hats, shawls, wraps, unique accessories and more during the online event.
Sherry Davis
Sherry Davis, of Davis Fiber Arts, had just decided to start selling her artwork as the pandemic hit. She quickly detoured into mask making, taking advantage of both her treasure trove of reclaimed fabrics and her fiber art skills.
Now that things are slowly returning to some semblance of normal, Davis says she is “back on track and ready to offer my handwoven upcycled rugs to the public.” After being referred to the virtual EXPO by another woman entrepreneur, Davis decided it was “just the right time for me to debut my work.”
Tiana Le
Tiana Le, owner of Le Fusion, an artisan spring roll company, has participated in the EXPO for many years and always loved the comradery of the day but was skeptical about the event going virtual last fall.
“When I heard they were doing the EXPO as a virtual market I wasn’t sure how it was going to work but it was AMAZING!!!” said Le, adding that she had customers asking questions throughout the day, like they would in person.
“They brought e-commerce to a different level. The platform was live and interactive. It was a successful and amazing experience!!” Le believes she will be just as successful at the April 15 event.
The Art League of Long Island in Dix Hills recently announced the winners of its 14th annual “Go APE” Advanced Placement Student Exhibition which features 2-D and 3-D works by 124 students from 37 Long Island High Schools. Award-winning artist, artist community organizer, and the Art League Program Manager Andrea Lawl Manning selected award of excellence winners and honorable mentions.
“The Go APE exhibition is one of our most exciting exhibitions every year,” said Manning. “The strength of the work in this exhibition made the jurying process incredibly difficult. The last year pokes its way into this show as a whole, and certainly into the pieces of our winners. Ideas about life, loneliness and isolation, cultural and social issues weave into these works. These evocative, thought provoking, and conceptually mature pieces are bolstered by achievement in technique, and skillful manipulation of medium. There is an authenticity, a boldness, and an honesty in the works of these young artists. Through these works we see a complicated world through their eyes,” she added.
The following students have been selected for awards:
Awards of Excellence:
◆ Kristine Zhou, Syosset High School, Caged, colored pencil and white tape on white paper
◆ Keren Dial, Valley Stream South High School, Cultivating the Mustard, colored pencil
◆ Jordan Brand, Baldwin HS, Illusion is Illumination, acrylic on watercolor paper
◆ Sarah Hauk, Sayville High School, White Wash, acrylic painting
◆ Emma Romano, Oceanside High School, Cultural Cleanse, photography
◆ Kathryn Yi, Jericho High School, Connection, pencil drawing
◆ Aleena Abraham, Hicksville High School, Tenderness, oil on canvas
Honorable Mentions:
◆ Angela Jang, Syosset High School, Dental Repair, colored pencil, foam core and rubber bands
◆ Kayla Timpanaro, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Things We Left Behind, acrylic and ink
◆ Ava Fama, Plainedge High School, The Curtains, acrylic on canvas
◆ Teddy Angelopoulos, Long Beach High School, Skulls, mixed media
◆ Ethan Koenig, Northport High School, Emptied, 3D computer modeling
◆ Alyssa Paino, H. Frank Carey High School, Too Much Pressure, oil pastel
◆ Eleanor Dexter, Mount Sinai High School, Summer’s Sanctuary, watercolor and fine liners
The virtual exhibit close date has been extended to April 9 and is on view at the Art League’s website at www.artleagueli.org.The virtual gallery format allows the viewer to “stroll the gallery” in the virtual rooms, or view the artworks online in an “at a glance” format.
Charlotte the deer stopped by Sweetbriar Nature Center’s socially distancedEgg Hunt and Magical Spring Walk Through the Enchanted Forest event on April 3. She met the Easter Bunny and then browsed the gift tables before selecting a stuffed deer toy aptly named ‘Charlotte’! Check out future events at the center by visiting www.sweetbriarnc.org.
This week’s shelter pet is Mia is a 3-year-old mastiff/pit/lab mix who is still waiting at the Smithtown Animal Shelter for her furever home.
Mia is stunningly beautiful, goofy and playful. Because she lacked proper socialization in her puppy years, she tends to distrust strangers.She needs someone who is willing to give her time to trust; then you will be rewarded with kisses, cuddles and slobber. Once she trusts someone, it is forever.
Mia would be best suited as an only pet in an adult only home. She is spayed, microchipped and is up to date on her vaccines. If you are interested in meeting Mia please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with her in a domestic setting, which includes a Meet and Greet Room, the dog runs and a Dog Walk trail.
The Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Shelter operating hours are currently Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). Call 631-360-7575 or visit www.smithtownanimalshelter.com.
The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main Street, Stony Brook is pleased to name Janet Zug as its artisan of the month for April. “I discovered Janet while looking for some handmade glass for the Design Shop. I searched the internet and found several glass blowers, but I loved her pieces and contacted her. Janet agreed to sell her work at the Center, and we have done very well with her beautiful creations,” said Lois Reboli, founder of the Reboli Center and wife of the late artist, Joseph Reboli.
• Janet Zug at work in in her studio
Janet started blowing glass in 1990. She answered an ad in the local newspaper for a glass blower apprentice and no experience was necessary. The position was with Simon Pearce, a famous glass production studio in Vermont. She got the job and after five days, fell in love with the art of glass blowing. When she was done for the day, she was allowed to work on her own designs. In 1992, she founded her own business and rented space from other studios to make her creations. In 2004, she installed her own hot shop at her studio in Vermont, where she lives.
According to Janet, “I am inspired by function and beauty. A piece should be useful and pretty, such as my hanging vases. I love making drinking glasses as you can use them, enjoy them, wash them and they are so personal. There are so many things I love about glassblowing. First there’s the hot stuff itself, what a crazy medium to play with! Then there’s the challenge of executing high quality work from this pot of hot goo. I never get tired of it because it’s always changing. Blowing glass is the best part, of course, but being a productive business person is equally as important as designing work that I am proud of.”
Janet Zug’s drinking glasses
Her studio is open on Saturdays from Thanksgiving until Christmas and visitors can take a class, where she will help someone make a piece. For more information, visit her website at www.zugglassblower.com
Janet Zug’s hand-blown glass is for sale in the Reboli Center’s Design Shop. The Center is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Lois Reboli, president of the Reboli Center, noted that, “The Center is adhering to CDC, New York State and Suffolk County coronavirus guidelines, which limits the number of attendees at one time and requires all visitors to wear a mask and socially distance. Please be assured that staff and volunteers will wear masks, and do continuous cleaning and sanitizing.
The weather looks lovely this weekend so the Huntington Historical Society will be offering tours of two of their historic properties!
The David Conklin Farmhouse, 2 High Street, Huntington will be open on Sunday, April 11 from 1 to 4 p.m.
This farmhouse was built c. 1750 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally the home of David and Sybel Conklin, the house was occupied by the Conklin family for over one-hundred and fifty years.
A volunteer docent will lead you through the original rooms of the house where Sybel Conklin and her children lived and worked while her husband, David, was held prisoner by the British in 1777. You will also see rooms decorated to reflect the Federal and Victorian periods. Stop by to get a spring dose of local history! Admission is a suggested donation of $4 per person. Parking is available on site. Masks are required.
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Soldiers and Sailors Building
Soldiers and Sailors BuildingThe Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St., Huntington will be open on April 11 as well from 1 to 4 p.m. (free admission). The building was completed in 1892 as a memorial to the 40 townsmen who died in the Civil War.
The idea for a memorial was first proposed in 1865. Huntington’s leading citizens joined together to create The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Association in 1886 and fundraising efforts finally bore fruit when the building was completed in 1892. It is the first of several monumental civic structures built in Huntington in the two decades surrounding the turn of the twentieth century.
This building, which you see before you as you leave downtown Huntington going east, was used as the town library. After the library moved to its current location at the other end of Main Street in 1958, the building was used by the Huntington school district. From 1969 on it became home to the Town Historian. In 2000, the Association donated the building to the Huntington Historical Society. The Society undertook an ambitious eight year restoration project and re-opened it as a museum in 2008.
Today, the building houses the Society’s History and Decorative Arts Museum and features changing exhibits from the Historical Society’s collection. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and as part of Old Town Hall National Register Historic District.
Parking is available on site and masks are required.
“Middle Country’s meets had previously been held at Sunken Meadow State Park, which is a considerable distance from their area,” stated Legislator Caracappa. “Plus, when all State Parks were closed due to the pandemic, Middle Country’s Coach Joe Toto reached out to me to find a new, closer venue. I then contacted County Executive Steve Bellone’s office for assistance. Shortly after, Mr. Bellone announced the re-opening of all Suffolk County parks for use by the school districts’ cross country teams.”
Sherry Davis, of Davis Fiber Arts, had just decided to start selling her artwork as the pandemic hit. She quickly detoured into mask making, taking advantage of both her treasure trove of reclaimed fabrics and her fiber art skills.
Tiana Le, owner of Le Fusion, an artisan spring roll company, has participated in the EXPO for many years and always loved the comradery of the day but was skeptical about the event going virtual last fall.
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