Community

2024 Grand Prize Winner, Children Category: Twins Sharing Ice Cream by Avihai Vaday

Calling all photographers! Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 50 Hauppauge Road in Commack is accepting applications for its 2025 Photo Contest. Entries will be accepted through April 21.

Amateur photographers and students are invited to submit their best photos for a chance to win a recognition award and cash prizes and the opportunity to have their work permanently displayed in the Center’s renowned Tiffen Gallery for the enjoyment of residents, staff and visitors.

2024 Winner, Resident – Staff Selection:
Basket Full of Love
by Jennifer Carpentieri

The Contest garners nearly 1000 submissions each year from across the globe which are judged by a panel of professional photographers for clarity, composition, subject matter and suitability for display at the nursing and rehabilitation center.

Grand Prize, Honorable Mentions, as well as a Best-in-Show winner will be awarded in 12 categories: Landscapes, Travel, People, Pets, Children, Wildlife, Nature, Still Life, Student, Altered/Enhanced, Long Island/ New York and Action/ Sports. Gurwin residents and staff also weigh-in on their favorites for a “Resident/ Staff Selection” winner.

Photos chosen by the judges are enlarged to 20×28 prints, beautifully framed and displayed in Gurwin’s 460-bed nursing and rehabilitation center.

“Each year we are so very impressed by the incredible work submitted and grateful for the support shown to our Center, and in turn, the residents in our care,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gurwin Healthcare System.

Entry forms are available for download here or via email at [email protected]. Up to seven 8×10 printed photos per photographer at a $5 donation per entry will be accepted. Deadline for submissions is April 15. Winners are revealed at an awards presentation ceremony at Gurwin.

For more information, call the Gurwin Corporate Communications office at 631- 715-2562 or 631-715-2569.

Seeking high school vocalists and musicians to apply by deadline of June 1st

This summer, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) will host its first All-Star Band Camp for high school students (grades 9-12). The week-long program will run from July 28th through August 1st at 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each day and conclude with a final concert on Sunday, August 3rd at 3 p.m.

The unique aspect of this band camp is that it will be the first ever to be held in LIMEHOF’s Museum at 97 Main Street in Stony Brook. Students will explore and learn about the great artists who have been inducted into LIMEHOF—from Blue Öyster Cult and Mariah Carey to Billy Joel and Twisted Sister.

“As part of LIMEHOF’s commitment to education, we are thrilled to offer students the opportunity to perform songs by our esteemed inductees in the unique setting of the museum,” said LIMEHOF Vice Chairman Tom Needham, who manages LIMEHOF’s educational programs. “The All-Star Band Camp is a one-of-a-kind experience that connects young musicians with Long Island’s rich musical legacy.”

The program will be coached by LIMEHOF Long Island Sound Award Winner Jack Licitra (from Bayport) of South Bay Arts and his staff, all of whom have extensive experience managing youth programs. Jack Licitra has been coaching youth bands since 2008.  He has developed an efficient approach that highlights talent and prepares kids for the intensity of live performance.

“LIMEHOF is inspiring the next generation of LI musicians and this a great step towards cultivating that talent to create a thriving music scene,” said Licitra.

This intensive experience will have students playing for two-and-a-half hours each day for 5 days of rehearsals and a 6th-day concert performance in the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. This program was designed to enable students to have a team building and professional music experience. All high school-aged vocalists, drummers, guitarists, bass players, and keyboardists from Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Kings (Brooklyn) counties are welcome to apply by the deadline of June 1st. The arrangements will be created specifically for the enrolled ensemble and their skills. The cost to participate is $350.

To apply, please email student’s name, age, specific instrument/vocalist, and contact information to Tom Needham at[email protected] or call 631-689-5888.

About LIMEHOF

Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical and entertainment heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which encompasses New York State’s Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings (Brooklyn) Counties, was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Island music and entertainment in all its forms.  In 2022, LIMEHOF opened its first Hall of Fame building location in Stony Brook, New York. To date, the organization has inducted more than 130 musicians and music industry executives, and offers education programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators.

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in the Port Jefferson School District recently presented a production of Into The Woods from March 28 through March 30.

A Stephen Sondheim musical, Into The Woods debuted on Broadway in 1987 and intertwined the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, reimagining them as if they all took place at the same time. Vandermeulen High School presented the show through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

The Port Jefferson production, which was directed by Anthony Butera and narrated by Marlo Pepe, starred Gianna Vivano as Cinderella, Patrick Hutchinson as Jack, Albert Jack Peterson as the Baker, Rose Meliker-Hammock as the Baker’s Wife, Eve Cruz as Little Red Ridinghood, Victoria Snaden as the Witch, and Isabela Thornsen as Rapunzel.

Into The Woods is a show that I am incredibly proud of, and I know the cast and crew are too,” said Anthony Butera. “It was extremely special to share all of our hard work with the Port Jefferson community.”

For more information regarding the Port Jefferson School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website at https://www.portjeffschools.org and follow its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PortJeffSchools.

Optical Outfitters in Port Jefferson held a ribbon cutting on March 22. Pictured on left, chamber members Ron Schlumpf, Mary Joy Pipe, John Huber, Brett Sceraviao and Steve Munoz; pictured on right, Alan Paulus, owner Danielle Cossari Paulus (with scissors), Natalie Cossari, Anne Cossari, staffer Amelia Bass and Dr. Alfred Cossari.Photo courtesy of Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce

The Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, celebrated new chamber partner, Optical Outfitters, with a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on March 22 at 158 E. Main Street & Arden Place, Suite 2 in Port Jefferson. 

The new shop offers affordable quality prescription eyewear for children and adults with an added focus on specialty collections, quality sunglass brands and a gift section. 

Upcoming events include Mother’s and Father’s Day Wishlist gatherings with a jewelry making demonstration and sunglass fittings to be announced on the shop’s website, opticaloutfitters.com. Operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and extended concierge appointment hours are available by calling 631-928-6401.

 

METRO photo

By Shannon L. Malone, Esq.

Shannon L. Malone Esq.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home anytime soon, it’s time to take note: the real estate rulebook has been revised. As usual, any revision results in additional conferring and completion.

In a landmark settlement finalized late last year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) agreed to pay a whopping $418 million to settle claims that it helped keep real estate commissions artificially high. The changes that came out of that lawsuit aren’t just for the courtroom—they’re now working their way into everyday real estate deals, including right here in New York.

Even though NAR is a national organization, the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) has agreed to follow suit. That means both buyers and sellers on Long Island will notice some new rules—and possibly new costs—when they enter the housing market.

So what’s changing?

Let’s start with the basics. Traditionally, the seller paid both their own agent’s commission and the buyer’s agent’s fee, typically 4% of the sale price in Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Those fees were typically split between the agents and baked into the transaction. Notwithstanding the rule change, this continues to be the practice—for now—although under the new rules, that structure is expected to shift.

Most notably, the buyer’s agent’s commission can no longer be advertised in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)—the go-to database for real estate listings. That alone could shake up how properties are marketed and sold.

Buyers also face a brand-new requirement: before they can even tour a home with an agent, they’ll need to sign a formal written agreement. This agreement must clearly set out what the agent will be paid, how the fee is calculated (flat rate, hourly, or percentage), and—critically—that the terms are negotiable.

No more handshakes and “we’ll figure it out later.” These are binding contracts now.

The key takeaway? Call your attorney first

And here’s the part that cannot be overstated: before you sign anything with a broker—even just to start looking—consult a real estate attorney. These agreements are legal documents, and buyers are now expected to enter into them at the earliest stages of the home-buying process, often before they’ve even settled on a budget or location.

The language in these contracts can be complex, and the financial implications are significant. An attorney can help you understand the terms, negotiate provisions that may be unfavorable, and ensure you’re not committing to obligations you don’t fully grasp.

Why all the fuss?

The aim here is transparency—and fairness. One major concern raised in the lawsuits was the practice of “steering,” where some agents allegedly guided clients toward listings that offered higher commissions, rather than those best suited to the buyer. The new rules are designed to bring those incentives into the open.

A changing landscape—and the need for legal guidance early

If all this sounds a little confusing, you’re not alone. Many prospective buyers and sellers are just now learning about these changes. But the consequences of signing a contract prematurely or without fully understanding it can follow you throughout the transaction.

That’s why having an attorney in your corner from the outset—someone who is not working on commission and who is bound by law to act in your best interest—is more important than ever.

So whether you’re a first-time buyer or preparing to list a home you’ve lived in for decades, slow down, ask questions, and get the right professionals involved before you sign anything. Because in real estate, success isn’t just about finding the right house—it’s about making the right deal.

Shannon L. Malone, Esq. is an Associate Attorney at Glynn Mercep Purcell and Morrison LLP in Setauket. She graduated from Touro Law, where she wrote and served as an editor of the Touro Law Review. Ms. Malone is a proud Stony Brook University alumna.

Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023

By Peter Sloniewsky

At its Jan. 29 meeting, the board of trustees of the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson voted unanimously to appoint Kevin Cooper as code enforcement supervisor and Anthony Flammia as assistant supervisor. 

Cooper is a state-certified code enforcement official and building inspector. A resident of Baiting Hollow, he attended Dowling College and Empire State College before spending more than three decades as an officer for the New York City Police Department and New York City Transit Police. In those roles, Cooper was primarily focused on the New York City subway system. After his retirement from the NYPD in 2020, he became the director of ordinance enforcement and animal control for the Town of East Hampton. 

Flammia is a former officer of the New York City and Centre Island police departments across a 40-year career and possesses a master’s degree in professional studies in homeland security from Penn State University alongside an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and human services from Empire State College. Since 2023, he’s worked as an armed security operative for Arrow Security on Renaissance Technologies’ East Setauket campus. 

In a recent public meeting of the Port Jefferson Civic Association, Cooper presented his plans for Port Jefferson code enforcement. These plans include increased accessibility through an online complaint form, promoting visibility in part through expanded service hours, and broader changes to the division’s mission statement and policy lines between code enforcement and police. Cooper also displayed openness to expanded hiring and clarified his perception of the role of code enforcement as “about education and compliance, not about writing tickets.” 

“I want to help in making the village an enjoyable place to live in and visit,” Cooper said. “I pride myself on being responsive and if I cannot address a concern a resident might make me aware of, I will guide them to the agency or department that will help solve the problem or issue.”

In a statement to TBR News Media, Port Jefferson village Trustee Xena Ugrinsky detailed the context of this selection process as well as faith in Cooper to improve the village’s code enforcement. 

“This has been an 18-month effort of the current administration when [Mayor Lauren Sheprow] was elected. It was focused on modernizing and improving the village’s approach to code enforcement,” Ugrinsky told TBR. “[With Cooper and Flammia] the village is now well-positioned to implement a professional and purpose-built code enforcement unit. Both individuals bring deep experience in law and code enforcement and are working closely with Suffolk County Police to ensure clear coordination and a distinct delineation of responsibilities between the two bodies.” 

Ugrinsky also detailed concerns related to private firearm ownership among code enforcement personnel and outdated village regulation on code enforcement. 

Sheprow also emphasized the importance of the new hirings in a statement to TBR. 

“The training and educational aspects of this professional and cultural shift are significant, and we are grateful to Supervisor Cooper for taking this on,” Sheprow wrote. 

“He has the knowledge and awareness to help shape priorities, and the more time he spends working in the village, the more he will understand where the best opportunities for education and improvement exist.”

For more information visit the Port Jefferson village website (www.portjeff.com). 

Centereach High School

By Dylan Friedman

The March 26 Middle Country Central School District Board of Education meeting celebrated remarkable student achievements while delving into critical budget and special education discussions.

The evening highlighted several exceptional student-athletes, including Leah Norman from the Centereach High School Girls Basketball team. Coach Steve Greco praised Norman, noting she was thrust into a starting role after an early-season injury and helped the team achieve an impressive 18-4 record. “She was an amazing defender and rebounder, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game and chipped in on the offensive end as well, averaging 5.4 points per game,” Greco said.

Another standout athlete, Hayley Torres, was recognized for scoring 1,000 career points as a junior — a milestone achieved by only two previous female basketball players in the school’s history. Greco emphasized her dynamic playing style, stating, “She has been named to the Newsday Top 100 Players to Watch list in each of the past two seasons, [and] had been named all league four times, and all conference and all county three times, including this year, she is seen as one of the best guards in the county and constantly sees the toughest defensive matchups each game.”

The board also celebrated Hannah Hughes, a senior gymnast at Newfield High School, who won her third state vault championship — a feat no Long Island gymnast has accomplished since 1979. Her coach, Melissa Valentino, described a dramatic moment in a prepared statement: “She stepped up, executed her vault flawlessly, and stuck the landing with perfection,” Valentino said. 

The district’s Pupil Personnel Services department presented a comprehensive overview of special education programs. Director Jennifer Harrison revealed that approximately 1,607 students receive special education services, representing 16% of the district’s population — lower than the New York State and Suffolk County rates of 18%.

Harrison highlighted the district’s commitment to providing a continuum of services, including related services, resource room programs, integrated co-teaching services and out-of-district placements. The district is expanding its special education offerings, planning to add five kindergarten classes and an additional special education section at Newfield High School for the 2025-2026 school year.

According to Harrison, the PPS budget for the upcoming year (2025-2026) is approximately $61 million, a 7.1% increase from the current year. Salaries and benefits comprise approximately 72% of this budget. The department is also working diligently on Medicaid reimbursement, with current claims reaching an estimated $223,000.

In the budget development presentation, Assistant Superintendent Beth Rella provided insights into the district’s financial health. 

The district’s recent exit from the state comptroller’s fiscal stress designation doesn’t negate historical trends, which show a precarious financial position and suggest the potential for future difficulties. Rella’s presentation also revealed that the district hopes to build its reserves over the decade further, thus progressing in stabilizing its financial position.

Key budget cost drivers include contractual obligations, health-care costs, special education program expansion, transportation, utilities and technology. The newly proposed budget shows a 3.33% year-over-year growth.

Upon the presentation’s conclusion, one board member noted the potential impact of COVID-19 on special education enrollment, with the conclusion being that the pandemic likely partially affected early intervention and preschool service usage in the district.

The next Middle Country Central School District Board of Education meeting will take place April 23 at the Dr. Karen J. Lessler District Conference Center at Centereach High School.

For more information visit the school website: www.mccsd.net.

Left to right: Stephanie D’Auria, Susan Peretti, Myrna Gordon and Tom Lyon. Bill McNulty sits in front. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa 

At a bus station in Setauket along Route 25A, Bill McNulty, Susan Peretti and Myrna Gordon will often set up flags representing Ireland, Ukraine, Mexico and various other countries. Between the flags there is a sign that reads “HONK FOR PEACE.”

Myrna Gordon of the North Shore Peace Group. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

Among frequent honks and occasional shouts, both in derision and support, the three stand by their message and engage passersby in conversation. Other residents, inspired by their pacifist and “unpolitical” approach, will often join them.

In addition to the “HONK FOR PEACE” sign that McNulty has been using since the 1960s, the group set up a sign that reads “THE ‘TROUBLES’ THEN AND NOW.”  An Irishman, McNulty originally started sitting at the bench at the bus stop with only an Irish flag. The small act of solidarity was intended to acknowledge the “violent times” the Irish have had; however, the call for peace can now be applied to “any political movement.”

“We don’t subscribe to violence,” McNulty said. “We try to disarm the angry.”

Although the three have been involved in the North Shore Peace Group for years, it wasn’t until three years ago in the days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day that McNulty and others decided to amplify their message to Setauket at the bus stop that has become their signature place to organize. 

McNulty has been an activist for decades, once having fasted for 10 days as a protest. He opposed British involvement in Ireland and various other political movements; but the congregation of flags and call for peace is unspecific in some ways. The flags signify inclusion, the call for peace a statement with which most can agree. 

He said his intention is “not to fight them [those who disagree with his views] but to appeal to the mind.” 

“I want them to weep when they see the children. I want them to weep when they see what is happening in Ukraine,” he said.

Stephanie D’Auria joined the group after seeing them at the bus station several weeks before. Another resident Tom Lyon  arrived with a sign featuring the flags of several African countries. McNulty and Peretti said they would like to add even more. 

Lyon, incensed by civilian deaths falling under the category of “collateral damage” in the context of war, said he has been involved with advocacy since 1968.

While standing together on the afternoon of Friday, March 28, a driver called out, “Where is the American flag?” Indeed, the American flag was absent from the collection. 

“We’ve always had the American flag in our hearts and minds,” Gordon said. 

Further, Peretti argued that their group “stand here for years not because we hate the country but because we want the country to be better.”

“There is nothing more patriotic than realizing that your country was founded on self-determination. Defending this is patriotic,” McNulty said. “Democracy is compromise.”

Mairead Carroll designed the most efficient bridge at this year's Bridge Building Competition. Photo by Kevin Coughlin/Brookhaven National Laboratory

And the results are in! Mairead Carroll, a senior from Northport High School, captured first place at the 2025 Bridge Building Competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton on March 14.

Students from 13 Long Island high schools followed a strict set of specifications to try to construct the most efficient model bridge out of lightweight basswood and glue.

The annual event shows high schoolers what it means to be an engineer in a fun, hands-on way and is one of many activities organized by Brookhaven Lab’s Office of Workforce Development and Science Education to cultivate the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and math professionals.

“Because many students spent the whole day at the Lab as a field trip, they were able to take some time to talk to our engineers and educational staff about their career journeys, making the experience about more than just building,” said Educational Programs Administrator Michele Darienzo. “Plus, we all had so much fun!”

Commack High School students Joshua Kim, left, Vincent D’Angelo, and Jordan Gleit earned three out of the four top spots awarded at the competition. Photo by Kevin Coughlin/Brookhaven National Laboratory

Carroll and second-place winner Vincent D’Angelo, a junior from Commack High School, qualify to bring their designs to the International Bridge Building Contest in Chicago, Illinois on April 26.

“Participating in the Brookhaven National Lab Bridge Competition was an incredible experience, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be part of it,” Carroll said. 

“It was a great chance to learn and grow as an aspiring civil engineer, and I’ve gained so much from the talented competitors I had the chance to meet. I’m excited to continue this journey and look forward to representing Northport at the International Bridge competition in Chicago,” she added.

Students and judges watched closely as Brookhaven Lab staff and volunteers tested 95 bridges under a crushing machine that slowly added more and more weight from above until the bridges broke or bent more than one inch. Bridges were ranked based on efficiency scores that are calculated from the load the bridge supports divided by the mass of the bridge — all in grams. The structures could not have a mass greater than 25 grams.

D’Angelo, who visited the Lab with classmates on competition day, said he focused on simplicity and keeping his bridge light. His fellow Commack High School students swept the contest’s remaining awards: junior Joshua Kim earned third place with a bridge that used trusses to maximize efficiency, and junior Jordan Gleit won an aesthetic award for bridge design thanks to a structure with lots of cross beams.

While bridge testing was underway, students toured the National Synchrotron Light Source II and Center for Functional Nanomaterials, two DOE Office of Science user facilities at Brookhaven with unique capabilities that draw scientists from all over the world to Long Island. Students met staff scientists and engineers and learned about the paths that led them to careers at BNL. 

Competitors further tested their engineering skills during an activity that challenged them to craft five increasingly difficult structures out of Geomag magnetic toys and earned Brookhaven Lab goodies if they were successful. Competition organizers also quizzed students with Brookhaven Lab and science trivia for chances to win more prizes.

Photo from The Jazz Loft

Spring has sprung at The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook! Here is their musical line-up for the month of April:

Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
The Jazz Loft Orchestra: Cuban Fire Suite
The Jazz Loft presents a Cuban Fire Suite Orchestra performance at the Staller Center in Stony Brook.
Tickets: $40 Adult, $35 Senior, $30 Student, $25 Child

Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m.
The Jazz Loft Orchestra: Cuban Fire Suite
The Jazz Loft presents a Cuban Fire Suite Orchestra performance.
Tickets: $35 Adult, $30 Senior, $25 Student, $20 Child

Monday, April 7 at 7 p.m.

Bright Moments Series: Jeremy Carlstedt
The Jazz Loft presents Jeremy Carlstedt, drums for the Bright Moments Series, presenting some
of the newest upcoming voices in the Jazz scene.
Tickets: $10

Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m.
The Bad Little Big Band
The Jazz Loft presents a 12-piece Big Band featuring vocalist Madeline Kole, directed by
composer, arranger, and pianist, Rich Iacona.
Tickets: $30 Adult, $25 Senior, $20 Student, $15 Child

Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m.
Harry Allen Quartet
The Jazz Loft presents a Quartet including Harry Allen, tenor saxophone, Rossano Sportiello,
piano, Mike Karn, bass, and Aaron Kimmel, drums.
Tickets: $30 Adult, $25 Senior, $20 Student, $15 Child

Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m.
The Del Segno Trio feat. Dayna Stephens, tenor sax
Tickets: $30/$25/$20/$15
Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m.

Interplay Jazz Orchestra
Interplay Jazz Orchestra, 17-piece big band co-directed by Joe Devassy, trombone & Gary
Henderson, trumpet performs original compositions and arrangements written by band
members.
Tickets: $30 Adult, $25 Senior, $20 Student, $15 Child

Monday, April 28 at 7 p.m.
Bright Moments Series: Elliott Brown
The Jazz Loft presents Elliott Brown, trombone for the Bright Moments Series, presenting some
of the newest upcoming voices in the Jazz scene.
Tickets: $10

The Jazz Loft is located at 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook. For more information, call 631-751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.