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Photo courtesy of Hauppauge School District
Photo courtesy of Hauppauge School District
Photo courtesy of Hauppauge School District

Young journalists at Forest Brook Elementary in the Hauppauge school district  took their reporting skills to the next level on Nov. 22, when students from Hauppauge Middle School’s newspaper visited to teach students the art of interviewing.

Each month, Forest Brook students come together to produce “Forest Brook News,” a filmed news program. On this special day, the middle schoolers served as mentors, guiding their younger peers through the process of gathering information through interviews. The Forest Brook News students shadowed the Hauppauge Middle School journalists and learned how to ask insightful questions that would help them collect valuable information. 

The collaboration between the two schools allowed Forest Brook students to build their confidence and skillsets while also giving the middle school students a chance to practice leadership, sharing their knowledge and excitement with the younger news crew.

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Danny Bacher

The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook has announced that one of its most beloved performers Danny Bacher passed away on December 16 following a heart attack. He was 48.

Bacher’s credentials and world-class talents make for an impressive and illustrious list. Bacher excelled as a vocalist, soprano saxophonist, dancer and composer and delivered jokes and banter effortlessly. Bacher recently published a book titled Collecting Laurel and Hardy, about his personal extensive collection of Laurel and Hardy memorabilia. At the time of his death, he was working on a Harry Nilsson recording project.

“It goes without saying that The Jazz Loft will never be the same without Danny,” said Tom Manuel, friend and founder of The Jazz Loft. “I will always have the utmost respect and admiration for Danny as a musician and an artist. Quite frankly he embodied what no artists have anymore. He was 100% in, 100% of the time— a consummate performer. He truly loved every stranger that sat in front of him. The music was always the number one priority. He appreciated the songwriter, the arranger, the history, the vision of the show, and especially the musicians that backed him up.”

Bacher was an early supporter and performer for The Jazz Loft and is credited with the first “official Jazz Loft gig,” which occurred well before the renovations were completed around 2014.

“We did a concert at what was at the time called The Ward Melville Heritage Organization Education & Cultural Center to bring awareness to the Loft project,’ recalls Manuel. “As the years progressed Danny became such an important part of the personality of our Sinatra Show, Rat Pack Show, and our Nutcracker amongst other things.”

Along with his numerous appearances at The Jazz Loft throughout the year, Bacher kept a busy touring schedule and worked at venues such as the Blue Note, Birdland, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Town Hall. He performed several times at Carnegie Hall and most recently alongside the legendary Michael Feinstein. Bacher released two studio albums as a leader, “Swing That Music!” and “Still Happy” on the Whaling City Sound label. A recent recipient of the prestigious Margaret Whiting Award, Bacher was also nominated for best male vocalist in the 2019 National Jazz Times reader’s poll along with Harry Connick, John Pizzarelli, and Michael Buble, and in 2020 and 2021 placed in the top four in the country alongside Kurt Elling, Gregory Porter and the legendary Tony Bennett. He also received a 2023 Bistro Award for outstanding achievement as a singer/instrumentalist in the New York entertainment community. Bacher was personally selected by the 98-year-old jazz legend, Terry Gibbs, as the vocalist to record his Songbook.

When not performing, Bacher dedicated his time to arts education in his home state of New Jersey. As part of the nationally-recognized Educational Arts Team, he taught arts-integrated curricula to a variety of grade levels, as well as acting, theater improv, magic and puppetry. Along with his brother, Danny was the co-creator of the beloved after-school puppet series “The Backyard Players” (2008-2012), and has helped to run Camp Liberty, an arts-based summer program in Jersey City, for the past decade.

“Danny was a special person and real friend to me,” said Manuel. “I loved him like a brother and I’ll really miss him.”

Bacher is survived by his wife Erin Bernard-Bacher. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Michael E. White

Stony Brook University has named Michael E. White the interim director of The Waste Reduction and Management Institute (WRMI), which resides in the university’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) and is overseen by Dean Paul Shepson.

White is presently a SoMAS adjunct faculty lecturer and works as a consultant on special projects with Winters Bros. Waste Systems of Long Island, LLC, which was recently acquired by Waste Management of New York. Prior to coming to Winters Bros., Michael was director of government affairs for Tunnel Hill Partners LLC. He is an attorney and has concentrated his law practice in the areas of environmental law, solid waste, municipal law, land use, natural resources and freight rail transportation. Michael is the president and owner of LI Strategies, Inc., an environmental planning consulting firm.

As Interim Director, White will oversee the WRMI and its faculty and staff to address the increasingly complex waste issues on Long Island.  The region faces challenges such as some of the highest per capita waste generation in the United States, insufficient on-Island waste disposal capacity, and the need to improve recycling rates.

WRMl’s goal is to reduce the impact of waste generation and management practices on society through research, assessment, education, and policy analysis and recommendations. Efforts look to reduce the amount of waste generated through the promotion of waste prevention strategies, educational programs, increased recycling, the development of creative beneficial uses for waste materials, along with environmentally sound transportation and disposal of waste.

“Stony Brook greatly values its role in the Long Island communities it serves, and WRMI is a critical resource to help address the serious challenges posed by waste generation across our region. We are thrilled to welcome Michael White in his new role and look forward to his expert leadership to advance WRMI’s goals through innovative research, actionable recommendations and effective advocacy,” said Richard L. McCormick, interim president, Stony Brook University.

“I am delighted that WRMI and Stony Brook will have the expert leadership of Michael White, as we do our best to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders to better tackle our considerable waste management challenges on Long Island.  We hope that rather than lead in per capita waste generation, we will soon lead in development of creative solutions to our environmental challenges,” said Dean Shepson.

“I am excited to take on this role. The WRMI is creating an action plan to address challenges related to Long Island waste to energy facilities, management of ash from those facilities, construction and demolition debris management and transportation of waste off Long Island. Key drivers of our crisis are ever-increasing amounts of waste generated, not enough recycling, and lack of waste disposal capacity. Importantly, we are collaborating our efforts through the institute with County Executive Romaine and the Long Island Supervisors’ Association led by Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer. Technical working groups have been created and are composed of people from the University, government, the waste industry, consultants in the industry and the environmental community,” said White.

Recent activities happening at WRMI include the institute being awarded a Regional Solid Waste Management Planning Grant, in the amount $250,000, which runs to August 2025. The goal of the grant is to assess solid waste management practices on Long Island and formulate a comprehensive plan that prescribes immediate, short term and long-term achievable goals and optimal and practical strategies and action items to achieve these goals. White serves as the Principal Investigator. This grant was provided by New York State (NYS) through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

The Waste Reduction and Management Institute (WRMI) was created by the New York State Legislature in 1985, made up of a number of engaged faculty and staff across the Stony Brook campus, and hopes to grow to enable greater impact. An Advisory Board, comprised of experts from government, environmental organizations, and private industry, will be reestablished so that the Institute will benefit from the expertise of others in the fields of waste management and public policy.

“I congratulate Michael White on being appointed as interim director and applaud Stony Brook University’s commitment to innovate and implement best waste management practices on Long Island,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. “In Suffolk County, we are working with our stakeholders and town supervisors to explore further opportunities to transport waste off the island while addressing the environmental and economic challenges our communities continue to face.”

“Michael White is a terrific choice to run the WRMI and I commend President McCormick and Dean Shepson for appointing him to this important position,” added Kevin Law Chair of the Stony Brook University Council. “I am confident Michael will continue the legacy of Larry Swanson who helped educate Long Islanders about the need to recycle and who taught municipal leaders the necessity to work collaboratively to address the regional challenge of solid waste management. “

“I’ve known and worked with Michael for almost four decades and I can’t think of anyone more suited to taking on the challenges of directing Stony Brook University’s Waste Reduction and Management Institute. Michael has years of hands-on administrative and legal experience with both Long Island municipal officials and industry leaders in Long Island’s complex waste management programs.  As a seasoned attorney, I’ve seen firsthand how Michael works to find common ground bringing parties together and finding solutions to complicated environmental and solid waste issues,” said Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer. “Michael was instrumental in helping Babylon form and implement its ground-breaking Commercial Garbage District, which almost 30 years later still is an environmental asset that features the lowest cost commercial waste processing and disposal on Long Island. I have no doubt that Michael will excel in this position.”

“Waste management is an issue on Long Island impacting our environment but also our economy, and Michael White is a well-respected champion for the region who understands the complexity of this challenge and has positioned Stony Brook University to continue its leadership while partnering with municipalities and other key stakeholders to identify innovative and practical solutions,” concluded Matt Cohen from the Long Island Association.

 

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Ben Alessi

Teachers Federal Credit Union has announced the promotion of Ben Alessi to the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Alessi has over 24 years of experience in the financial services industry, 18 of which have been dedicated to Teachers.

In his new role, Alessi will oversee the financial strategy that fuels Teachers Federal Credit Union’s vision and mission, while working closely with the executive team to drive growth and member value. Alessi’s deep commitment to the organization’s values and his hands-on experience make him a trusted leader as Teachers continues its expansion and transformation journey.

“Ben has been an invaluable member of the Teachers team for nearly two decades, consistently demonstrating his dedication to our members, teammates, and our mission,” said Brad Calhoun, President and CEO of Teachers Federal Credit Union. “His expertise, vision, and commitment to the credit union movement align perfectly with our goals. As we continue to grow, Ben’s leadership will play a key role in guiding us toward an even brighter future.”

Alessi’s journey at Teachers Federal Credit Union began in the Internal Audit team. Most recently, as Senior Vice President of Accounting & Finance, he led pivotal financial initiatives, including modernizing budgeting practices and strengthening financial forecasting capabilities. A Certified Public Accountant, Alessi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Binghamton University and an MBA in Management & Leadership from Dowling College.

“It’s an honor to take on this role at such an exciting time in our organization’s transformation journey,” said Alessi. “I am deeply committed to supporting our mission of helping members achieve their financial goals and empowering them with the tools, resources, and guidance they need to build a brighter financial future.”

Ben Alessi’s promotion reinforces Teachers Federal Credit Union’s dedication to building an exceptional leadership team to support its members and communities. For more information about Teachers Federal Credit Union and its services, please visit www.teachersfcu.org.

ABOUT TEACHERS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Teachers Federal Credit Union (Teachers) is one of the country’s largest credit unions, with more than $9.8 billion in assets and over 460,000 members across all 50 states. Founded in New York in 1952, Teachers is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution with an open charter offering membership to anyone in the U.S. through its 30 full-service branches and best-in-class digital solutions. Teachers is a key supporter of the communities it serves and is proud to offer a range of member-focused products with competitive rates and low fees. What started as a smart solution for teachers is now smart for all. For more information, visit www.teachersfcu.org.

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Rob Negri

New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (NYCBS) has announced the appointment of Rob Negri as Chief of Pharmacy. In his new role, Negri will continue to lead the pharmacy operations across NYCBS dispensing sites throughout Long Island, New York City, and Hudson Valley, overseeing the team of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and oncology nursing staff.

“Rob Negri is a visionary healthcare leader with extensive expertise in pharmacy operations,” said Dr. Jeff Vacirca, CEO of NYCBS. “His leadership will drive New York Cancer & Blood Specialists to further elevate its world-class pharmacy practices, integrating advanced automation and innovative technology to enhance patient care and services.

Negri has previously worked as a Certified Pharmacy Technician for the last 15 years. Prior to joining NYCBS in 2015, Negri worked closely with physicians and pharmacists who provided care at a home infusion pharmacy.

“I am honored to lead an exceptional team of dedicated individuals committed to delivering outstanding care to our patients at NYCBS while ensuring affordable access to essential medications,” said Negri.

For more information, please visit nycancer.com.

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Michael Dowling

For the 18th year, the president and CEO of New York’s largest health system has been named to the prestigious list – this year ranking number 35.

Northwell Health has announced that Michael Dowling, president and CEO, was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare of 2024, coming in at number 35. The complete ranking can be found in the December issue of Modern Healthcare magazine.

This prestigious recognition program acknowledges and honors individuals who are deemed by their peers and the senior editors of Modern Healthcare to be the most influential figures in the industry in terms of leadership and impact. Michael has consistently ranked among the top leaders in health care on the annual list and was named the most influential in 2022.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by Modern Healthcare among such distinguished leaders. This recognition reflects the dedication of the entire Northwell Health team to not only providing exceptional care today, but also building the future of healthcare,” said Mr. Dowling. “At Northwell, we are committed to addressing critical issues like health equity, healthy aging, and gun violence prevention, ensuring that everyone can live a healthier life. Together, we can truly improve the health of everyone in our communities.”

As president and CEO of Northwell Health, he leads a clinical, academic and research enterprise with a workforce of more than 87,000. Northwell is the largest healthcare provider and private employer in New York State, caring for more than two million people annually through a vast network of more than 900 outpatient facilities and 21 hospitals. Under his leadership, Northwell’s annual operating budget has increased to more than $18 billion.

Mr. Dowling is focused on creating the health system of the future. This includes addressing today’s public health infrastructure and the inequities, like addressing Black maternal health disparities, that exist in access to care, especially in underserved communities and communities of color.

He has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, resulting in a 90 percent employee satisfaction rate among diverse populations, significantly above the national average. Furthermore, Mr. Dowling has demonstrated a commitment to workforce development through the establishment of the Northwell School of Health Sciencesand a partnership with New York City public schools to create a dedicated health sciences high school.

Since 2019, he has remained a staunch advocate on national issues, including gun violence prevention. Under his leadership, he created the Center for Gun Violence Prevention, has hosted multiple Gun Violence Prevention Forums and has started a wide-reaching public campaign to raise awareness of gun violence. Through the Northwell-initiated National Health Care CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention & Safety, 54 leading health care CEOs have pledged to leverage their collective influence and resources to curb the historic spike in gun-related deaths and injuries – including a commitment to help fund a $40 million national Ad Council PSA campaign.

Recognizing the inadequacy of most healthcare systems to address the growing needs of an aging population, Mr. Dowling continues to advocate for embracing innovation, technology, and new care models to ensure seniors age with dignity and access the support they need to thrive and to develop solutions to create more age-friendly health systems and improve overall care for our aging population. Just this year, Mr. Dowling coauthored the book, The Aging Revolution: The History of Geriatric Health Care and What Really Matters to Older Adults.

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Stony Brook, NY; Stony Brook University: Office of Emergency Management (OEM) toy drive. Photo by John Griffin/Stony Brook Medicine
Stony Brook, NY; Stony Brook University: Office of Emergency Management (OEM) toy drive. Photo by John Griffin/Stony Brook Medicine

The season of giving is in full swing at Stony Brook! Pediatric patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital got a special visit from not only Santa Claus himself but everyones favorite Snowman Olaf and Stony Brook’s own mascot Wolfie on December 12th, as they stopped by to deliver some holiday cheer.

A caravan of 30 first responder vehicles traveled from the Wang Center to the Children’s Hospital to drop off dozens of presents collected during their annual Holiday Toy Drive.

Since 2019, Stony Brook University’s Division of Enterprise Risk Management has teamed up with campus Fire, Police, EMS & Emergency Management staff to collect new and unwrapped gifts for patients spending the holidays in a patient room instead of home with family and friends.

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Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District
Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District
Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District
Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District
Ward Melville High School students put on a production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District

Ward Melville High School student actors and musicians impressed audiences over three live performances of the production “How to Succeed in Business Without ReallyTrying.” Students took to the stage for the comedic musical performance while the pit orchestra helped set the tone throughout and the stage crew established the many scenes. Audiences watched Pierrepont Finch try and climb the corporate ladder while faced with the challenges of office-life, including competitive co-workers, powerful executives, coffee addictions and romance.

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Scene from the Three Village Historical Society's 45th annual Candlelight House Tour. Photo by Bill Landon

From this weekend’s Three Village Historical Society’s 45th annual Candlelight House Tour, to the Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival, we live in an area of rich history and culture.

The quaint holiday atmosphere of villages like Huntington and Stony Brook take us back to a more simple time and place — one of one-horse towns, one story buildings and one community spirit.

The North Shore of Suffolk County has a cozy charm coupled with not only rich historical background, but the cutting edge of modern-day living. Take for example Stony Brook University. Located 20 miles or less from all of TBR’s coverage areas, it is a world-class university, brimming with state-of-the-art scientific research, a diverse student body and cultural heritage. With the musical performances, various film screenings and varied organizations, which the university provides, as a result, the residents of Stony Brook have a portal to some of the most intriguing cultural presentations around.

With a home as unique as Suffolk’s North Shore, our residents appear to have a sense of community that is unlike a major city. We are able to boast a sense of connection that is only possible in a small town. Just walking down the street, one is greeted with warmth. A possible run in with a friend from a dedicated civic association can happen.

So don’t write off the suburbs too quickly.

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Above, the front cover of the Bessie Whiting log book.

The Port Jefferson Historical Society recently added a fascinating piece of history to its collection by acquiring a ship’s log for the historic sailing vessel Bessie Whiting in a local auction. The log contains entries for the years 1903 to 1904 and covers details of the vessel’s merchant voyages to Charleston, Jacksonville, and Savannah.

The ship’s log joins other valuable research resources in the Port Jefferson Historical Society’s archive of historic artifacts, including those related to the early shipbuilding industry of Port Jefferson Village. The log was purchased with the help of funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. 

Above, the title page of the Bessie Whiting log book.

“When small treasures come to light, our goal is to assist in securing them for our historic stewards,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. “These new and old finds will be available for research and to grow our community’s history.”

The Bessie Whiting was a three-masted schooner built in 1882 at the John R. Mather shipyard in Port Jefferson Harbor for Captain George Dayton of Port Jefferson and John R. Mather, along with other Port Jefferson investors. The vessel appears to have carried primarily lumber north from southern ports. 

In the summer of 1882, the vessel made a remarkable voyage of 135 miles up the Hudson River from the Battery in New York City to the village of Coeymans just south of Albany. It was reported to be one of the largest vessels to travel up river and dock at Coeymans Wharf with a cargo of Carolina railroad ties.

After thirty-six years of service, the Bessie Whiting was eventually wrecked on the night of January 11, 1918 on a reef off Perico Island in Bradenton, Florida. The vessel’s long life is a tribute to the design, materials and craftsmanship employed by Port Jefferson’s John R. Mather shipyard along with the skill of its captain during its years of service.

The contents of the ship’s log have been digitized and will be reviewed by the historical society in the near future.

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