Home Holidays

CommunityJuly 4, 2024

CommunityJune 16, 2024

Eye on the Street: Father’sDay

American DreamMay 26, 2024

Honoring heroes: past, presentand future

CentereachMay 9, 2024

Eye on the Street: Mother’sDay

CommunityApril 21, 2024

Perspective: Passover — Freedomto, not from, responsibility

CommunityDecember 24, 2023

Dawnwood Middle School’sNational Junior Honor Societyspreads holiday cheer

CommunityDecember 24, 2023

The holiday season prevailsDown Port

CommunityDecember 15, 2023

Port Jeff Station celebratesHanukkah with menorah lightingceremony

CommunityDecember 10, 2023

Rain or shine, Holtsville’sannual Christmas Tree Lightingspreads joy

CommunityDecember 8, 2023

Flames can’t halt Tesla ScienceCenter’s annual Holiday Lighting

Port Jefferson remembers the fallen on Memorial Day

by TBR Staff - May 31, 2025

0 1585

1 of 10

By Greg Catalano

Port Jefferson celebrates Memorial Day on May 26 with a ceremony at Port Jefferson Memorial Park at 10 a.m.

Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), Village of Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow, NYS Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) and Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) spoke of the many sacrifices given by those who served their country.

Boy scouts laid wreaths at the memorial. Taps played to close out the ceremony, which was held by the American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432.

–Photos by Greg Catalano

Setauket honors the fallen with Memorial Day Parade and service

by TBR Staff - May 31, 2025

0 1225

1 of 16

By Greg Catalano

Hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2054, the Setauket Memorial parade on May 26 honored those who lost their lives fighting in our country’s armed services. Girl and boy scouts, the Setauket Fire Department and the Three Village Patriot Marching band were present.

After a ceremony at the Village Green, the procession started at the corner of Main Street and Route 25A and contended to Memorial park for the closing ceremony. Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setaukey), Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) and Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) were in attendance and placed wreathes in honor of those lost.

Chaplin Michael Russell led a prayer to the veterans, families, community members and politicians in attendance. Leon Schoemmell hosted the event and delivered a speech asking those present on the sunny day to reflect with gratitude on the sacrifices made by all our fallen men and women military heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. He urged everyone to keep their memories alive.

— Photos by Greg Catalano

Father’s Day Painting Workshop

by Heidi Sutton - May 31, 2025

0 453

Painting workshop — Image courtesy of The Atelier at Flowerfield

The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite 6 & 9, St. James presents an in-studio Father’s Day workshop for children ages 6 to 12 on Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Learn how to paint this awesome monster truck painting for Dad or that special Dad in your life with step-by-step instruction from Miss Linda.

$55 per child includes an 11″ by 14″ canvas and all art supplies.

To register, visit theatelieratflowerfield.org or click here. For more information, please call 631-250-9009.

Kings Park remembers our patriots with Memorial Day parade and ceremony

by TBR Staff - May 30, 2025

0 1321

1 of 27

By Michael Scro

Kings Park American Legion Post 944 hosted a Memorial Day parade and ceremony May 26 honoring all U.S. military members who have died serving their country. The patriotic parade of local veterans, police, fire department, Boys and Girls Scouts, Kings Park school district students and friends and families began at the corner of Church Street and Old Dock Road to Main Street and assembled at Veterans Plaza for an emotional and solemn ceremony.

Hosted by American Legion Post 944 Commander Hans Richter, the ceremony featured an opening prayer by Father Peter Dugandzic from St. Joseph’s Church in Kings Park; speeches by Vietnam War Veteran and Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R), U.S. Marine Corps veteran and commander of VFW Post 5796 Eric Burnett, New York State Senator Mario Mattera (R, C, St. James), and a keynote speech by Pastor of CenterPoint Church and Coast Guard veteran Tom Walsh. Over 15 wreaths were laid around the plaza memorial site, and closing prayer by American Legion Post 944 Chaplin John Carman.

Richter read aloud tallies provided by the U.S. government of how many American soldiers have been killed in wars since the American Revolution, including the names of those from Kings Park. Walsh read aloud the world famous Gettysburg Address given by President Abraham Lincoln. Burnett and Mattera both spoke of the importance of Memorial Day for the community and younger generation, and Wehrheim spoke about Daniel Flynn, a close personal friend of his who was killed in the Vietnam War and has Daniel J. Flynn Memorial Park dedicated to his memory and service.

Among those in attendance for the parade and ceremony were past Suffolk County American Legion Commander Ken Dolan, Town of Islip Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo, Smithtown Superintendent of Highways Robert Murphy, Smithtown Parks Department Director Joseph Arico, Kings Park Fire Department Chief Philip Carroll, Suffolk County Legislator Trotta and New York State Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick.

— All photos by Michael Scro/Media Origin

A Memorial Day tribute

by Press Release - May 26, 2025

0 529

This Memorial Day the staff at TBR News Media remembers and pays tribute to our brave fallen heroes. The office is closed today but will reopen tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Interesting facts related to Memorial Day:

Memorial Day is celebrated annually on the last Monday of May across the United States. The proximity of Memorial Day to the summer solstice has led many to view the weekend preceding the holiday as the unofficial kickoff to summer. However, Memorial Day is about more than backyard barbecues and weekend getaways. Memorial Day honors service members who died while serving in the United States military.

Though Memorial Day traces its origins to the years following the American Civil War in the mid-nineteenth century, it did not become an official federal holiday until 1971. That’s one of just many interesting facts about Memorial Day that are worth noting as the United States prepares to commemorate the sacrifices of military personnel who died in service of the country.

• Memorial Day began as something of a grass roots movement. According to History.com, by the late 1860s individuals in towns across the war-ravaged United States began holding springtime tributes to soldiers who lost their lives during the American Civil War.

• Among the more notable postwar commemorations was one organized by former slaves in Charleston, South Carolina. That commemoration occurred less than a month after the Confederate forces surrendered in 1865. Despite that, History.com notes that in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Memorial Day.

• Postwar commemorations also were organized by northern veterans of the Civil War. General John A. Logan, who led an organization of Union veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance in May 1868. General Logan referred to the holiday as Declaration Day and chose May 30 because it was not the anniversary of any specific battle and therefore unlikely to be viewed by some as controversial.

• Early commemorations of Decoration Day, which gradually came to be known as Memorial Day, initially honored only those soldiers who died during the American Civil War. However, that changed over time as American servicemen fought in various wars, including both World Wars, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and other conflicts.

• The red poppy has become a symbol of Memorial Day. That red poppy can be traced to a poem by Canadian John McCrae, who served as a Lieutenant Colonel in World War I. “In Flanders Field” notes the red poppies that grew in fields where countless soldiers had been buried in modern-day Belgium. The poem was published in 1915, three years before the war ended. Sadly, McCrae himself was a casualty of the war, succumbing to pneumonia in France in 1918 while still in the service.

Memorial Day honors service personnel who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. The holiday’s inspiration and lengthy history merits consideration as the nation prepares to commemorate countless soldiers’ sacrifices once more.

Long Island State Veterans Home honors the fallen at annual Memorial Day ceremony

by Press Release - May 25, 2025

0 1057

1 of 6

Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University honored our fallen heroes at their annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 23.

New York State Assemblyman Steve Stern (AD-10), Chairman of the NYS Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee, gave the Memorial Day keynote address to veterans and residents and then joined other elected officials in honoring the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in our armed forces with the laying of a memorial wreath. The ceremony included a color guard, firing detail, taps memorial, wreath laying ceremony and “tolling of the bells” memorial service.

The event was also attended by New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, New York State Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, New York State Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy, Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon, Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa, Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright, Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, Fred S. Sganga, Executive Director of the Long Island State Veterans Home, Joseph Cognitore representing VFW Post 6249 in Rocky Point, other local elected officials, LISVH veterans and residents, and many veteran service organization members.

————————-

The Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University is a 350 bed skilled nursing facility that also operates a 40-registrant medical model Adult Day Health Care program to care for honorably discharged veterans. Operated under the auspices of Stony Brook Medicine, the LI State Veterans Home is one of a few nursing homes in the country that is fully integrated into the health and educational mission of an academic medical center. Since opening its doors in October 1991, the Long Island State Veterans Home has provided care to more than 15,000 of Long Island’s veterans. For more information, call (631) 444-VETS.

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County plant flags at Calverton Cemetery in advance of Memorial Day

by Press Release - May 24, 2025

0 736

1 of 9

Approximately 50 girls from The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County (GSSC) honored Long Island military veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice by planting American Flags at their graves at Calverton National Cemetery on May 24.

The annual event sees Girl Scouts install more than 500 flags in just one section of the more than 1,000-acre military cemetery, which is the final resting place for more than 275,000 Veterans from every American conflict. The flag installation is part of the GSSC county-wide Service Unit activities and included girls ages 5 to 16 from Mastic Beach, Shirley, and Moriches.

“We place the flag, we say the names out loud, and we salute the grave,” said Olivia Phillips, 17, of Mastic. “We do it to show that we understand that sacrifice and we wouldn’t be here without them.”

The girls also earned a special “Calverton National Cemetery” patch to wear on their sashes and vests to salute their service.

“It shows how we are honoring the people who are buried here,” said Gabreilla Greco, 11, of Shirley. “If we didn’t do this, I feel like no one would, and it’s important to honor them.”

About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. With over 15,000 members, they are one of the largest youth-serving agencies in Suffolk County. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc.us. Follow Girl Scouts of Suffolk County onFacebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

2025 Memorial Day events on the North Shore

by Heidi Sutton - May 22, 2025

0 3269

Setauket-Memorial-Day_052724_ritajegan12 — A scene from the 2024 Setauket Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan

By Heidi Sutton

‘Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.’ — Unknown

Falling every year on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day honors the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in all branches of the U.S. military. May they never be forgotten. The following communities will commemorate this federal holiday on May 25 and May 26.

Calverton

Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Blvd., Calverton will hold a Memorial Day ceremony on May 26 at 1 p.m. at the re-designed Assembly Area. 631-727-5410

Centerport

The Centerport Fire Department will host a Memorial Day Parade on May 26 at 10 a.m. from Centershore Road, Harrison Drive, east on Mill Dam Road Centerport, southeast on Prospect Road, south on Little Neck Road. Ends at Park Circle, Centerport followed by a ceremony at the memorial monuments in the park. 631-261-5916

Centereach

The Centereach Fire Department will hold its 2nd annual Memorial Day Parade on May 25 at 1 p.m. Parade kicks off at the corner of Horseblock Road and Middle Country Road and ends at the Centereach Fire Department on South Washington Avenue. 631-588-8652

Commack

VFW Elwood-Commack Post 9263 hosts a Memorial Day parade on May 26 at 10 a.m. Kick off is at the Home Depot parking lot at the intersection of Larkfield Road and Jericho Turnpike and head east on Jericho Turnpike to junction at Veterans Highway to Cannon Park for a ceremony. 631-780-4853

East Northport

Father Judge Council Knights of Columbus hosts the East Northport Memorial Day Parade with kick off on May 26 at noon at Clay Pitts and Larkfield roads and proceed to John Walsh Memorial Park. 631-262-1891

Farmingdale

— The annual Farmingdale Memorial Day Parade on May 26 kicks off at 1 p.m.. proceeding south on Main Street, ending at Village Hall. Followed by a ceremony on the Village Green.

— Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale will hold a Memorial Day service on May 25 at 2 p.m. 631-454-4949

Farmingville

The Farmingville Fire Department’s annual Memorial Day Parade will be held on May 26 at 11 a.m. Parade starts at CVS on Horseblock Road to the memorial at Nicolls Road and Portion Road. 631-732-6611

Greenlawn

Organized by the Greenlawn Fire Department, a Memorial Day parade will kick off on May 26 at 9 a.m. on East Maple Road, south on Broadway to Greenlawn Memorial Park, at the corner of Pulaski Road and Broadway. 631-261-9103

Kings Park

The annual Kings Park Memorial Day Parade, sponsored by American Legion Post 944, will be held on May 26 at 9 a.m. Kick off is at the corner of Old Dock Road and Church Street to the Veterans Plaza at Route 25A for flag ceremonies. 631-269-4140

Holbrook

Holbrook Chamber of Commerce will host a Memorial Day Parade on May 26 at 11 a.m. Parade begins at 1069 Main St., heads south to Furrow’s Road, west to Grundy and culminates at the Vietnam Memorial. 631-471-2725

Huntington

— The Town of Huntington will host a Wreath Laying Ceremony on May 25 at Veterans Plaza on the front lawn of Huntington Town Hall at 100 Main Street at 10 a.m. 631-351-3012

— American Legion Post 360 will hold a Memorial Day Parade on May 26 at noon. Parade will begin on Gerard Street to West Neck Road, Main Street to Stewart Ave. 631-423-7575

Lake Ronkonkoma

Join AMVETS Post 48 in honoring veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country on May 26, for the Lake Ronkonkoma Veterans Memorial Parade. The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Church Street and ends at Raynor Park for a very special Veterans Ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. 631-615-1428

Mount Sinai

A Parade of American Flags will be on display at Heritage Park, 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Rd, Mt Sinai on May 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 1776. 631-403-4846

Northport

Organized by the Northport American Legion Post 694, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. on May 26 at Laurel Avenue School and proceed down Main Street to the Northport Village Park. 631-261-4424

Port Jefferson

American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432 will perform a Memorial Day ceremony at Port Jefferson Memorial Park, West Broadway, Port Jefferson on May 26 at 10 a.m. 631-473-9774

Port Jefferson Station

Join the American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432 for a Memorial Day ceremony at Steven J. Crowley Memorial Park on Old Town Road in Port Jefferson Station on May 26 at 9 a.m. 631-473-9774

Rocky Point

The Rocky Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6249, 109 King Road, Rocky Point will host a Memorial Day service to honor the fallen on May 26 at 11 a.m. 631-744-9106

St. James

A Memorial Day Parade organized by Sgt. John W. Cooke VFW Post 395 will be held on May 26 at 10 a.m. The parade steps off at the corner of Lake Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue and proceeds to St. James Elementary School for a ceremony. 631-862-7965

Setauket

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3054 will hold its annual Three Village Memorial Day Parade in Setauket on May 26 at 11 a.m. Parade starts at the corner of Main Street and Route 25A with an opening ceremony at the Village Green across from the library and a closing ceremony at Memorial Park along Route 25A by Se-Port Deli. 631-406-1938

Smithtown

The Smithtown Fire Department hosts its annual Memorial Day Parade on May 26 at noon. Kickoff is at the corner of Main Street and Singer Lane, continuing west on Main Street to Town Hall. 631-360-7620

Sound Beach

The Sound Beach Civic Association will hold a Memorial Day service at the Veterans Memorial Park on New York Avenue in Sound Beach on May 26 at noon. 631-744-6952

Community comes together for Earth Day celebration at West Hills County Park

by Press Release - May 21, 2025

0 1269

1 of 3

On Sunday, May 18, Legislator Rebecca Sanin hosted an Earth Day Celebration at West Hills County Park, bringing together residents, local organizations, and community partners for a day of environmental education, family fun, and sustainability-focused engagement. The event featured a wide range of community sponsors, partners, and vendors, including: Silver Edge Construction, Confident Minds Psychotherapy and Coaching, County Line Hardware, Harbor Paint, Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site, West Hills Neighbors, DDR Farm, Say Cheese Pizza Café, and PSEG.

In addition, the event welcomed a series of organizations that provided educational materials and interactive experiences, including: Long Island Clean Energy Hub, Toxic/Nature Studios, Art League of Long Island, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Decor by Don, PuroClean of Huntington, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County – Marine Department, and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS). Additional appreciation is extended to the Commack Library and Elwood Library for providing lawn games, and for contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere for families throughout the day.

“It is truly an inspiration to watch our community gather in support of our home planet,” said Legislator Sanin. “Our earth is the most precious that gift we have, and it is up to all of us to advocate for, respect, and celebrate that gift.”

Now in its second year, Legislator Sanin’s Earth Day Celebration continues to bring the community together in support of local environmental efforts. The event highlighted the role of youth in shaping a sustainable future through the Earth Day Poetry Contest, where student participants expressed their environmental values through powerful creative writing. Legislator Sanin extends her congratulations to winners Abigail Kaloo and Kenji Flores of Walt Whitman High School, and Aleuris Lantigua of Brentwood High School for the creativity and care demonstrated in their poetry submissions.

The event showed a shared commitment to environmental change and the importance of making everyday Earth Day through continued advocacy, education, and sustainable choices.

Eye on the Street: Mother’s Day memories

by TBR Staff - May 18, 2025

0 953

Laurel_and_Dylan_Gallo — Laurel and Dylan Gallo. Photo by Joshua Kim

By Joshua Kim

This Mother’s Day, locals reflected on the role their mothers have played in their lives; from attending sports games to dispensing unforgettable advice, these matriarchs shaped who their children are today.

TBR News Media asked community members, “What is your favorite memory with your mother?

Laurel and Dylan Gallo, Centereach

Laurel remembers going to Cedar Beach with her mother, people-watching and shopping together. Her son

Dylan recalled recently going to see Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats at Madison Square Garden withher, sipping margaritas together in their booth. “We got to hear all our favorite songs that we grew up listening to together, and I don’t think I’m ever gonna forget it.”

Alex Andre, Hempstead

Alex’s fondest memory of his mother was going out for food together before he went to Germany for the Army.

Thomas and Flynn, St. James

Flynn’s favorite memory was going to Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor water park, together with his mom. His brother Thomas also shared his favorite memory: “probably the day when I was born!”

Nekki Lang, Southbury, Conn.

This former Long Islander’s favorite memory with her mother was trekking up to Vermont to visit after her mother had moved off of Long Island.

Jace Mas, Port Jefferson Station

While checking people out at The Frigate, Jace shared his favorite memory: coming off the mat at his wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu matches and seeing his mom cheering him on.

Mashal Siddiqui, Centereach

Mashal recalled going to the beach as a family when her brothers were young. She said the time she spent with her family then was her favorite memory with her mother.

Ryan, Mount Sinai

Ryan’s absolute favorite memory with his mom was going to Universal Studios with her. His sister’s favorite memory is a secret.

Jake and Shannon Chant, Middle Island

Shannon’s favorite memory with her mother is going on vacation with her and getting one-on-one time together. Her son Jake’s favorite memory, similarly, is visiting the beaches of Nantucket with her.

— All photos by Joshua Kim

12 3...105 Next

Page 1 of 105