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Elwood budget fails

by Sabrina Artusa - May 22, 2025

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Elwood Union Free School District:

Budget vote:

Yes–983 • No–830

Board of Education results:

One at-large seat

*Deborah Weiss –1,178 votes

• Vashmir Pascal-Turner – 496 votes

The Elwood school district proposed $79,395,286 budget failed to pass.

The proposed budget was up from last year’s $76,760,609 by 3.43%. The tax levy increased from $53,142,763 to $ 55,374,759. The 4.20% increase pierced the tax cap of 1.29%. A supermajority is required if the cap is surpassed, and since less than 60% of people voted yes, the district can either present the budget for a vote again or adopt a contingency budget, which only allows funds for essential funding. District Superintendent Gayle Steele, Assistant Superintendent for Business Lorraine Dunke, and the board of education have the option to revise the budget.

In their budget statement, the board wrote that the levy increase was necessary to “preserve the integrity of current programs and offerings.” If the district were to abide the levy restriction and cut $2,231,996, “reductions would include 15.2 full-time staffing positions; the elimination of elementary chorus, band and orchestra programs; reduction in security staff; the elimination of middle school athletics; a reduction in BOCES programs, including tuition for students to attend the Long Island High School for the Arts; reduction in Academic Intervention Services; reduction in field trip transportation expense; and further reduction of districtwide equipment, materials, and supplies.” The cuts to staff would include one administrative position, six teaching positions which would likely implicate the mental health staff and technology integration staff, three teaching assistant positions, three paraprofessional positions and one clerical position.

Tax payers would have to pay anywhere from $14 to $29 a month if the 4.20% tax cap were put into place. Additionally, the district proposed transferring funds from the reserves to the capital budget to fix the roof of James H. Boyd Intermediate School.

Emma S. Clark Library temporarily closed

by Sabrina Artusa - May 12, 2025

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The Emma S. Clark Library is temporarily closed after staff noticed a strange odor on May 1. The smell was from a mold growth in a “contained area” of the Library, necessitating repairs to the HVAC system.

The mold, Cladosporium, is described by the National Institute of Health as one of the “most common fungal inhabitants worldwide”. It appears as black or brown spots in a wide variety of conditions and surfaces such as carpets, HVAC grills, wallpaper or wood surfaces, and is particularly drawn to damp, not well-ventilated places like bathrooms or basements.

The library will continue online zoom classes on the usual schedule, but will extend holds and due dates of books, museum passes and items. The prolonged possession of library property will not accrue late fees and holds will be extended for one week past the date of reopening. The library will reopen once air quality tests confirm the mold’s eradication. The library card can be used at any Suffolk County library.

Former Port Jeff Mayor Harold Sheprow passes away

by Sabrina Artusa - May 7, 2025

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This article was updated on May 7, 2025.

By Sabrina Artusa

Harold J. Sheprow, six-term mayor of the Village of Port Jefferson, passed away on May 1 at age 95, surrounded by family.

Sheprow was born Dec, 25, 1929, in Queens to Harold Sheprow Sr. and Gladys Petrie. As a teenager, he joined the Merchant Marines and became chief engineer at 18. Upon his return, he was drafted in 1954 to serve in the Korean War. On Feb. 9, 1957, he married Margaret Mary Katherine Kerr (Peggy) with whom he spent 68 years.

He then began working at Grumman Corporation, requiring he and Peggy to move to Port Jefferson Village from New Jersey in 1961. As an engineer, he worked on aircrafts like the F14 Tomcat, eventually retiring in 1990.

Upon moving to the village and paying to take his family to the beach, he was galvanized to get involved in village politics, first as a member of the Planning Board, then as a trustee and finally as mayor.

Sheprow was mayor for a total of 12 years — his lengthy tenure showcasing his dedication to serving his community, transcending his role as mayor and extending throughout his life.

Under Sheprow’s leadership, the village acquired the 170-acre Port Jefferson Country Club. He worked tirelessly for almost a decade to achieve his vision of a Port Jefferson where residents could have a private property they could call their own.

Famously, he attended a party where he made a connection to the country club’s owners. The acquaintance introduced him to the estate owners of the property. In a meeting, they agreed to lease the property to the village. They signed a $1 bill, sealing the agreement until a proper contract could be made.

The country club, an acquisition that required years of effort and planning and some spontaneous creativity, now bears his name.

Former Director of Recreation and Parks Ron Carlson said he was working in town hall while Sheprow was on a phone call with attorneys from Winston estates. “He came into my office, sat down, and said ‘Ron, guess what’,” Carlson said. “I said, ‘What?’ He said you may not believe this, but we are going to buy that golf club.”

“He said he wasn’t positive, but I think he was,” Carlson added. “He knew deep down that the village would vote ‘yes’ to the acquisition.”

Father Francis Pizzarelli, who formed Hope House Ministries while Sheprow was mayor in 1980, said Sheprow’s “creative genius” and “tender heart” helped make the village what it is today.

“He was a law-and-order tough guy but I was always amazed with him,” Pizzarelli said. “He was always thinking and he would think outside the box.”

Sheprow also worked to open the waterfront for public use through the development of Danfords Hotel & Marina in 1986, making the village less “heavily industrious” and developing a sense of place, former Mayor Margot Garant said.

As a father of six and an active golfer, Sheprow understood the need and value of recreational services in the village.

“What was very fun about him was he was very pro-recreation and parks,” Carlson said.

Indeed, he organized a bus service to ferry residents to the beach during the summer; he held Halloween parties at the Village Center; he promoted sports programs to make the athletic fields more accessible, with fields booked almost every day of the week; and even formed a team with other village employees, participating in softball and bowling games against the Village of Patchogue employees.

He strived to make the village a pleasant place to live, full of beauty, recreation and accessible parkland. His leadership style inspired his successors, including Garant.

“He was a man for everybody. He wasn’t pretentious. You always felt comfortable around Hal,” she said. “He never made any situation feel like it was something that couldn’t be handled. He wasn’t mayor for title or prestige, he was mayor for helping the people.”

Pizzarelli said that, although Sheprow was hesitant to support Hope House Ministries at first, he gave Pizzarelli the opportunity to argue his case and actively listened to other positions.

“He was always open-minded, and that is what always impressed me,” Pizzarelli said. “Whatever you brought to him, even though he may push back, he allowed you to push back to him so he could have a better understanding of whatever the issue was you were bringing to him.”

The Village of Port Jefferson made a social media post after Sheprow’s death, stating that the Sheprow family is “lightened by the fact that he was resting comfortably in his final moments, surrounded by loved ones.”

In an interview by Chris Ryon and Mark Sternberg in 2023 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of the village, Sheprow said, “Being a mayor for Port Jefferson has got to be the most exciting experience anybody, laymen, could have. There is no better. I don’t care what you do in Port Jefferson, whether you go water-skiing, whatever you do, golf…nothing. Nothing is better than this — working in the Port Jeff government.”

Sheprow served as mayor from 1977 to 1985 and 1987 to 1991. His daughter, Lauren Sheprow, continues his legacy as mayor. He is survived by his wife Peggy; daughters Madelyn and Lauren; sons Dennis, Warren, Glenn and Brendan; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, brothers Ralph and Warren and son Neil Harold.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hope House Ministries of Port Jefferson. Visitation was on May 6 at Moloney’s Funeral Home in Port Jefferson Station. The funeral Mass was held on May 7 at St. Charles Chapel, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson. Graveside service was be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson following the Mass.

SBU students’ visas reinstated

by Sabrina Artusa - April 28, 2025

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Eleven students who had their visas revoked, thereby preventing them from working and making them vulnerable to deportation, have now had their records restored.

Last month the students were informed by SBU’s department of Global Affairs that their Student Exchange and Visitor Information System records were revoked. They were among thousands of international students nationwide to receive the message.

On Friday, the Department of Justice started restoring some of the over 1,800 visas that were terminated.

“This change means on-campus employment can be restored, and allows these students to return their full attention to their academic pursuits,” Provost Carl W. Lejuez, Vice Provost for Graduate Education Celia Marshik and Senior Associate Provost for Global Affairs Lindsi Walker wrote in an email sent to SBU faculty and students.

The reversal comes as litigation against the federal government mounts, with students arguing that the revocations were unconstitutional.

After Stony Brook University announced the terminations on April 10, students gathered in following days to express their solidarity with the students affected and to urge the university to help defend against deportation.

“Stony Brook is deeply enriched by the perspectives and contributions of our global community,” the letter from Lejuez, Marshik and Walker reads, “and we are proud to learn, teach, and conduct research alongside our exceptional international students and scholars.

Reportedly, the students were still attending classes during the period where their visas were inactive.

Artist explores themes of autism in exhibition

by Sabrina Artusa - April 19, 2025

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Erich Preis standing next the the centerpiece, “Salvation”. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

The work of Erich Preis, a Huntington native, decorates the walls of Trinity Community Art Center in Northport. Four-foot-tall paintings showcase apocalyptic scenes, foreboding and eerie. His work addresses both internal and external turmoil. Giant gears loom over desolate lands like storm clouds; the people in the paintings, vulnerable and unclothed, either cower or push onward.

Preis has been dedicated to art since he was 9 and studying at the Huntington Fine Arts school. Afterward, with the support of his high school art teacher he went to the Fashion Institute of Technology where he received his associate’s degree in art and design. Then he continued to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with a partial scholarship. During his tenure at the academy, he was awarded the Charles Toppan Memorial Prize.

In his storm series, Preis explores vulnerability, discomfort and the threat of unbridled technological advancement. “They relate to 911, a lot of them,” he said. “And they also relate to man’s battle against the machine and my own struggle with autism, you know, the repetitive motion of my mind.”

There is a painting named “Catharsis.” It is smaller than the others and depicts a triple self-portrait, each face with a different expression. The center face is bisected by a gear and the opened mouth is detached from the face, set wide in a scream. This piece more directly addresses Preis’ relationship with his autism.

“It was very healing to do this piece,” he said. Preis also studied art therapy and received his bachelor’s degree in the subject from C.W. Post. He then founded the Spirit of Huntington Art Center, where he helps his students enjoy the calming artistic process that has helped provide him with a creative outlet to express himself and cope with his autism.

“Catharsis”, painted by Preis. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

The gear, a signature feature of his work, has manifested in his paintings over the course of his career.

“When I was 14 years old, a lawnmower fell apart and I was fascinated by this gear,” he said. “I always had this gear around and when I was in FIT I started to integrate the figure with gears.”

Preis lost his roommate Michael Noeth when a plane hit the Pentagon on 9/11. Since then, the gear has taken on a new meaning. In some pieces, it is like a plane — the storm reminiscent of a nuclear explosion.

The culmination of the series, “Salvation,” is in the middle of the room and is the largest. The painting was the most difficult of those depicted and took Preis two years to complete. Bob Hendrick, one of the founders of the center and an artist himself, commented on the technique and composition: “There is a certain symmetry to it. It is masterfully done.”

While the other paintings emit a sense of panic, fear and hopelessness, “Salvation” depicts the second coming of Christ. The death and resurrection of the people, the heroic angels diving past flames to bring the people back up to the light, provide a sense of solace, even as two gears grind among flames.

Priest of the neighboring Trinity Episcopal Church, Father Andrew Garnett admired what Preis was able to achieve. “Through art we have a deeper insight into what is going on,” he said. Garnett is holding a “sensory-friendly” service on April 27 at noon for all those who find the organ too loud or the typical sermon overwhelming. The service is inspired by autism awareness month.

“I think this is some of my best work because it deals with my emotions,” Preis said of the series. “I really hope that one day they end up in a museum.”

The exhibit will run through April 27. In September, Preis will have an exhibit at the Art League of Long Island in Dix Hills, where he will exhibit his sculptures as well.

The Pressroom Afterhour: Tax updates with Brookhaven Receiver of Taxes Lou Marcoccia

by TBR Staff - April 14, 2025

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Coming up on the Pressroom Afterhour, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine lays out a bold vision in his State of the County address, pointing to rising bond ratings, bipartisan cooperation, and a billion-dollar push to modernize sewers and safeguard water quality. We’ll unpack what his priorities mean for residents.

Then, we shift to Shoreham, where the Tesla Science Center rises from the ashes of a devastating fire. With over $14 million dollars raised and new leadership on board, we’ll explore how the center plans to honor Tesla’s legacy and position itself as a global hub for science and innovation.

As we approach the deadline to file our taxes, Brookhaven Receiver of Taxes Louis Marcoccia tells us what we need to know about this year’s tax season.

Afterwards, we shift our focus to Stony Brook University, where 300 students gathered for the first-ever Long Island Youth Climate Summit.

Turn the page with us as we delve into the week’s top stories, with another episode of the Pressroom Afterhour: Keeping it Local with TBR.

Three Village school district addresses antisemitism

by Sabrina Artusa - March 26, 2025

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WardMelvilleHS-9-11Flags-17-9-11-17w-1 — File photo by Greg Catalano

By Sabrina Artusa

Three Village Central School District Superintendent Kevin Scanlon released a letter on March 21 informing families of incidents of antisemitism in the schools and assured them that the district is going to tackle the issue.

“There have recently been incidents of antisemitism in our schools,” the letter reads. “We believe that there is a larger issue occurring that we need to address.”

The letter suggests that a conglomeration of incidents is leading the district to initiate programs and curriculum changes: “Although some individuals may perceive these incidents as isolated, we cannot afford to take them lightly.”

Rabbi Aaron Benson of the North Shore Jewish Center said he has been in touch with some families whose children have been affected by antisemitism with Three Village middle schools. Benson said his understanding is that no major altercation occurred, but that on one or multiple occasions, students made an antisemitic remark that was heard by several other students, including Jewish students.

“As I understand it, the comments weren’t particularly directed at anybody but there were Jewish students present,” he said. “But also comments of that sort should not be tolerated regardless if a Jewish person is present.”

Rabbi Joshua Gray from Temple Isaiah emailed Scanlon after receiving the letter. Scanlon invited him to the school for a conversation, following through on the district’s commitment to “work together as a community” as written in the letter.

The conversation went “very well” according to Gray, and he left the meeting feeling assured that the district is addressing the issue with consideration and care.

“They are being very proactive,” he said. “It is good when people call it by its name and say it as it is.” Benson, too, was glad that the district acknowledged the issue and is taking an active role in combating hate speech.

“These are all the things I want them to be doing and I am thankful that they are,” he said. Benson, who has been an ordained rabbi for over 20 years, said he likes “to believe that there is just simple ignorance combined with perhaps a desire to be shocking or irreverent” but that there is “a stronger presence of antisemitic commentary that is out there and trickles down to kids.”

Both rabbis live in the district and have children. They said that they have noticed an uptick in antisemitism since Hamas attacked Israel Oct. 7, 2023.

Stefanie Werner, whose child attends a Three Village school, said that her child had experienced antisemitism over five years ago. Glad that the village acknowledged the issue, but upset that antisemitism is still present enough to warrant a letter, Werner called the letter “a double-edged sword.”

“I hate that it has gotten to this point,” she continued. “We’ve gotten this letter and we don’t exactly know what has happened.”

Werner said she would like to see more discussion integrated into the curriculum, a step Scanlon plans to take, according to the letter. Werner said that it is clear that preexisting programs, like assemblies, talks or electives, aren’t enough.

“We have to teach them that it is not okay,” she said. “They don’t see the line.”

Viewpoint: 9/11 first responders fight back

by Lynn Hallarman - March 12, 2025

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We have a special episode of our podcast series: The Pressroom Afterhour,

TBR Reporter Lynn Hallarman brings us to the front lines of the fight to protect the 9/11 health program against recent attempts to slash the program’s funding.

Note to listeners, this episode contains graphic depictions of events on September 11th, 2001, and one offensive word.

Superintendent Schmettan speaks on CVA settlement–The Pressroom Afterhour

by TBR Staff - March 10, 2025

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We dive into the latest updates from Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina as he shares new initiatives to enhance public safety. From tackling traffic accidents to addressing the opioid crisis, Catalina outlines his vision for a safer Suffolk.

Next, we discuss this month’s Three Village Civic Association meeting, where Town of Brookhaven Receiver of Taxes Louis Marcoccia addressed concerns about this year’s tax bills.

Finally, we turn our focus to the ongoing challenges facing the Port Jefferson School District after the Child Victims Act led to a significant financial burden. We’ll hear from Superintendent Jessica Schmettan as she explains the impact of the $16.5 million settlement and the district’s efforts to secure legislative relief.

Listen to this episode of the Pressroom Afterhour on Spotify.

Vasselman’s last game, a loss but filled with Mudita

by Steven Zaitz - March 6, 2025

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hunt v cmk cover — Senior Sofia Vasselman of Commack, here defended by Madlyn Kalb, was held to 12 points in the Lady Cougars playoff loss to Huntington. Vasselman, the Cougars leading scorer, was cleared to play by a judge after being suspended by Section XI for committing two intentional fouls in Commack's regular season finale vs. Bay Shore on February 7th. Photo by Steven Zaitz

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Throughout her five-year career as a Commack Cougar basketball star, Sofia Vasselman will tell you that her life has been filled with a bounty of Mudita.

One of the most prominent tenets of Vasselman’s life is based upon the ancient Sanskrit concept of finding joy in the success of others called Mudita. With her 1,000-point high school career speeding toward its final chapter, getting the opportunity to step on the court Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Suffolk quarterfinals against Huntington brought pure joy and contentment for everyone inside the Commack Varsity Basketball program.

“What the Commack girls basketball team has given me is really indescribable,” said the Geneseo-bound and two-time league MVP Vasselman in an interview after the game. “The relationships and bonds I have made playing this sport is incomparable because this team and school are my family.”

Vasselman, who was fourth in scoring in Suffolk County this year and averaged nearly 20 points a game, was initially suspended for this playoff game by a Section XI rule that states a player who commits two intentional fouls in the same game will be ejected and ineligible for the team’s next contest. Vasselman was called for two intentional fouls in Commack’s regular season finale against Bay Shore on Feb 7. She would not be allowed to play for the fourth-seeded Cougars in the quarterfinal game against Huntington.

She sought a restraining order to overturn the suspension.

Vasselman’s case became the third in a spate of high-profile high school athletic court cases this month in Suffolk County. Two weeks earlier, six Northport wrestlers were suspended from the postseason for a rules violation but were reinstated; and legendary long-distance runner Zariel Macchia from Longwood was also ruled ineligible from New York State competition because she competed against college athletes earlier in the year. Macchia will not participate in the state tournaments but will be eligible to run for the Lions in the spring.

Vasselman won her case and the Cougar Mudita had been restored. The Commack community that she loves was behind her every step of the way, and Vasselman wanted them to know that she gives it right back.

“The community’s support during this time is something I will never forget and I really do appreciate from the bottom of my heart,” said Vasselman. “This is the main reason I love Commack basketball and the fans and the great people that come with it.”

Her teammates’ support never wavered.

“Sofia is an amazing player and captain,” said junior forward Gianna Solch. “She is an unbelievable leader for this team and she pushes everyone else around her to be their best selves. Over the years, she has helped me to develop more confidence in myself and my game and helped me to build new friendships that have made the girls on this team my best friends. She is a true leader, a wonderful friend, and someone who has made a huge impact on my life. When she was cleared to play, I was so, so happy for her and the team.”

With a victory in the courthouse and the team Namaste whole again, it was time to chase another win on the court. But the upstart Huntington Blue Devils stood in their way.

In the moments before tipoff, the support Vasselman felt transformed into a deafening din of noise and anticipation. The Commack High School gym, which is one of the most acoustically intense arenas on Long Island, was ready to have its roof blown off.

Half of this noise came from Huntington’s cheering section, which made it clear that they had very little love in their collective heart for Vasselman, going decibel for decibel with the hometown Cougar crowd. First-year Huntington coach Perry Marinelli and his fifth-seeded Lady Blue Devils had a plan of attack for Vasselman.

“Sofia is a great player,” said Marinelli. “So we threw a bunch of different defenders and looked at her to try to keep her off balance.”

This seemed to work.

Vasselman hit an early layup, but from there, Huntington’s defense smothered her. Rotating double teams, they denied her the ball, forcing her to the perimeter and choking off any clear path to the rim. She was held to just six points in the first half on two for 11 from the field and zero for five from the three-point range. Huntington junior guard Jolie Weinschreider was one of several defensive attack dogs assigned to keep Vasselman away from the hoop.

“Playing Sofia is tough,” said Weinschreider. “They were setting picks for her, which I had to constantly get around. I watched her hips while face guarding, which helped me significantly and I stayed low so I wouldn’t be faked out by all her moves. When she got the ball, we knew to double-team her and shift our defense.”

Huntington took a 16-11 lead into halftime. Junior guard Sabrina Boyle scored the first five points of the game, getting the all-blue Huntington cheering section out of their seats and into a full-throated roar that lasted the entire first half.

“It seems like our whole school came out for this one,” said Boyle who finished with 11 points. “The atmosphere in here was really electric and I think that really helped our team.”

In the second half, both offenses peaked out slightly from their shells. Huntington sophomore point guard Ava McDonald hit a lefty layup to push the Devil lead to seven; however, Commack junior forward Mia McBrien scored five consecutive points at the start of the third period that spearheaded a 12-2 run by the Cougars. After a made free throw by Vasselman, they led 23-20 with 1:18 left in the quarter and Marinelli took a timeout. Chants of “Let’s Go Commack” reverberated across Scholar Lane and could be heard up and down Indian Head Road.

When Commack senior guard Liliana Pettit hit a three-pointer from the wing, it gave her team a 26-21 lead, as the building shook with delight. But it would soon go suddenly silent.

McDonald, the underclassman floor general for Huntington hit on a driving layup to close out the scoring of this suddenly explosive third quarter, but when she came down, she rolled on the floor in pain, clutching her right leg. Marinelli and the Huntington training staff raced out to tend to McDonald, who was helped off the court several minutes later to polite applause. A mood shift was palpable in the arena as it appeared McDonald’s day was done.

With a big wrap around her thigh, McDonald re-entered with a little over five minutes remaining in the game and immediately made a deft pass to fellow sophomore Madyn Kalb for an easy layup to make the score 29-27.

“There was no way I wasn’t coming back in this game,” said McDonald. “I told Coach Marinelli that even if I play on one leg, I want to go back in. Make me a fake hamstring if you have to.”

She made a steal of the ensuing inbound and hit Kalb again for a breakaway layup to tie the score. This one was going down to the wire.

Boyle made a steal with Commack up one, sprinted coast-to-coast, and flipped the lead back to Huntington with 2:30 left. Solch hit a jumper for Commack for the 10th lead change of the game as this battle of punch-counterpunch continued deep into the final quarter.

However, Huntington would deliver the final two haymakers — one on offense, one on defense. With McDonald out of the game again, having her bandages redressed, Weinschreider inbounded to senior Lauren Donaghy in the corner. Falling off balance and nearly out of bounds, Donaghy buried a three to give Huntington a 38-36 lead with 1:25 left.

“I hadn’t taken a lot of threes all game and when it left my hand, I didn’t think it was going in,” Donaghy, who led all scorers with 13, said. “It changed my momentum and I think it changed the momentum of the game.”

Vasselman, who led the Cougars to the county finals last year against Walt Whitman, had 85 seconds to swing the mojo back. She pulled down a rebound and hit Solch with a perfect, three-quarter court dime, but Solch missed the layup that would have tied the score.

Weinschreider sank one of two free throws, pushing Huntington’s lead to three with 21 seconds left. Vasselman, who only had one game in the regular season when she failed to hit at least one three-pointer, was zero for eight from long distance up to this point. Guarded both by Kalb and Boyle, Vasselman hoisted up a three-point attempt right in front of the Commack bench. It was an air ball. The loose ball was gathered up by 5-foot-7 Pettit, who had her shot from the corner blocked by the 5-foot-2, one-legged McDonald. The ball deflected into the front row of the now-celebratory Huntington cheering section. The McDonald block was the exclamation point on this game. The final score was 42-38.

“I don’t block a lot of shots, but after getting injured, I just tried to keep my composure and do anything I could to win this game,” McDonald said.

“Ava is a captain as a sophomore, an emotional leader, and a huge part of what we do on both ends of the floor,” said Marinelli. “When she went down, I knew the girls would rally around her and step up. I was thrilled with how every one of our girls responded and kept their composure. We talked all week about focusing only on what we can control. This game is what high school sports are all about and this win felt great.”

For Vasselman, not so much, but she sees the bigger joy of being a Cougar, her Mudita undisturbed despite the heartbreaking loss in what is to be her game as a high school player.

“My goal at Commack was to leave my legacy and that’s what I feel I have done,” said Vasselman who finished with 12 points in her final game. “I will miss being a part of this team forever and I hope that I have shown the younger players what it means to be on this team and how special it really is. Coaches Moran, DelliSanti and Whitaker helped me become a player and a person who wants to reach the best of my ability and I will always be thankful for them.”

Huntington faced top-seeded Brentwood in the semifinals on Wednesday, March 5, at Comsewogue High School. Results were unavailable at press time.

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