CLOSE
Kids

by -
0 910
Staller Center line-up

By Rita J. Egan

As the air begins to chill, Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts is ready to warm up audiences with a variety of exciting performances with its Fall 2024 season.

Alan Inkles, Staller Center director, said planning a season is similar to putting together a puzzle when deciding who to include and working with the artists’ schedules. He added he and his team like to create a season that is a mixture of newcomers and well-known names, which he feels both challenges and entertains audiences.

Record breaking artist Jackie Evancho heads to Stony Brook University on November 23.
Photo courtesy of Staller Center

“What I’ve begun the last couple years is to mix the stars in with what I call discovery shows,” he said. “We’ve got to keep going back to bringing in shows with great, talented people that maybe you might remember them from America’s Got Talent or you may have seen them somewhere. That’s the joy of going to an arts center.”

Among those who have appeared on America’s Got Talent scheduled to perform at the Staller Center are Malevo on Oct. 26 and Jackie Evancho on Nov. 23.

Inkles described Malevo’s show as “high energy.” The dance group from Argentina was a semi-finalist on AGT in 2016. The dancers will perform zapateo, similar to tap dancing, using a type of weapon called boleadora.

Evancho is known for competing as an opera singer and coming in second on AGT in 2010 at the age of 10. Inkles said the artist, now known for singing pop, has created a show that will include opera, pop and Broadway tunes. 

“That will be a fun night,” Inkles said. “That’s something different that I like to bring in.”

Among those appearing at the Staller Center this season will be comedian Wanda Sykes (sold out), Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, musician John Pizzarelli and Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque.

The season will kick off on Sept. 15 with the Emerson Legacy Concert Presents the Han-Setzer-Finckel Trio performing the music of Haydn, Beethoven and Dvorak. The trio continues the tradition of the Emerson String Quartet with former members Phil Setzer on violin and David Finckel playing cello, with the addition of pianist Wu Han.

Entertainers perform on the main stage or recital hall depending on the performance. Inkles said on Nov. 13, “It’s going to be a really cool night at the recital hall.” The night will feature viral star Stella Cole, Postmodern Jukebox’s Benny Benack III and tap dancer Jabu Graybeal for Some Enchanted Evening with Stella Cole. The trio will perform Jazz-inspired selections of Broadway hits spanning the decades.

The Peridance Contemporary Dance Company will take on the Staller Main Stage on Nov. 16. “If you like modern dance … if you want to see amazing movement, if you’re taking dance class, there is ballet, there is tap dancing in it,” Inkles said.

Last year, the Staller Center debuted a new concept showing a children’s movie. At the same time, a live orchestra performed along to the songs with Disney’s Coco. This year, the arts center will show Disney’s Encanto on Oct. 14, with a Latin band playing the musical score. After the viewing, attendees can meet the band members.

“It gives the kids the opportunity to see a live band as well as a movie,” he said.

Changes through the years

For this year’s fall season, like most performance periods, Inkles and his team began planning two years ago when he started traveling around the country to attend shows featuring various artists to see who would be a good fit for the arts center.

After the COVID-19 shutdowns and venues began to open again, Inkles said a decision was made to have a fall and spring season instead of one long performance period due to people tending to go out less after the pandemic. “People aren’t buying in advance as much or as many shows,” he said.

Regarding post-pandemic, Inkles said that out of the other State University of New York campuses with arts centers, the Staller Center is doing better than others audience-wise, and things are returning to normal. “We’re thriving in a time when a lot of our centers have either closed their doors or are doing much, much less,” he said.

Inkles said it’s vital to have such an arts center on campus grounds. For every show, the center makes at least 100 free tickets available to SBU students who wish to attend a performance. “We want to give these students culture and entertainment that they’ve not seen before,” he said. “It’s growth of the future. If we don’t do this, in 20 years there won’t be art centers. People will just be watching on their phones.”

Inkles added he and his team aim to create shows that are good not just for Long Island but also in general.

“When you come to see a show at the Staller Center, in my mind, it is as good, if not better, because the acoustics are great in the recital hall, or our sound system is better than most theaters on Broadway,” he said. “You need to walk out thinking it’s as good, if not better than something you could see in New York City, and that’s sort of my rule of thumb. I’m not looking for something that is pretty good, I’m looking for something that’s really great.”

Calendar of Event

  9/15 — Emerson Legacy Concert at 5 p.m. (RH)

  9/21 — Renée Elise Goldsberry at 8 p.m. (MS)

  9/28 — John Pizzarelli: Stage & Screen at 8 p.m. (RH) 

10/14 — Disney’s ‘Encanto’ Sing-Along at 4 p.m. (MS)

10/18 — Wanda Sykes at 8 p.m. (MS) *Sold out

10/26 — Malevo at 8 p.m. (MS)

  10/9 — Cirque Kalabané: Afrique en Cirque at 7 p.m. (MS)

11/13 — Some Enchanted Evening with Stella Cole at 7 p.m. (RH)

11/16 — Peridance Contemporary Dance Company at 8 p.m. (MS)

11/21 — Starry Nights at 7 p.m. (RH)

11/23 — An Evening with Jackie Evancho at 8 p.m. (RH)

11/24 — ‘Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus’ at 3 p.m. (MS)

  12/6 — Anthony Nunziata: A Broadway Italian Christmas at 8 p.m. (RH)

 12/14 — Caroline Campbell with guest Chloe Flower at 8 p.m. (RH)

RH: Recital Hall

MS: Main Stage

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts is located at 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook. To order tickets, call the box office at 631-632-2787 or visit stallercenter.com.

by -
0 700
PREHISTORIC FUN Come see dinosaurs roar at the Dino Safari Festival in Huntington Station.
PROGRAMS

Dino Safari Festival

Walt Whitman Shops, 160 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station will host its 5th annual LuminoCity Dino Safari Festival, featuring exhibits,animatronics with light art, an interaCtive recreation zone and more, now through Sept. 22. Featuring more than 70  life-size dinosaur displays, food, and an educational area with a safari dig and dino fossil hunt. The show runs Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. For tickets, visit luminocityfestival.com or purchase onsite.

First Steps in Nature

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown continues its First Steps in Nature series for ages 2 to 4 on Sept. 6 at 9:30 a.m. with hands-on exciting activities, crafts, stories and much more. Children will gain a greater appreciation of nature and wildlife while having fun. $20 per child. To register, visit sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

Art in the Barn

Walt Whitman Birthplace, 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station  continues its Art in the Barn series for children in Pre-K to 3rd Grade and their parent/guardian with a family portrait workshop on Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Taught by Lena Massari Sawyer.  $25 per child and guardian, $20 second child. Pre-registration is required by visiting  waltwhitman.org.

Sky Scavengers

As part of its Sunday Funday series, Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents Sky Scavengers on Sept. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. Come meet the Center’s turkey vultures for Turkey Vulture awareness weekend. Participants will meet some of their friends and learn all about these local birds through games and activities. Create a cool turkey vulture craft to take home. $15 per child, $5 per adult. Register at sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

My Grown-Up & Me Tiny Explorers

Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook presents an eight-week program, My Grown-up & Me Tiny Explorers for children 2–4 years old with a guardian on Mondays, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct. 7, 21, 28, and Nov. 4 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Spend the morning together encouraging curiosity and appreciation for nature. Through the fusion of science and art, children and their grown-ups will explore the world around them with instructors Elisavet Loukaidou and Katie Bloodgood. Fee is $150. To register, visitlongislandmuseum.org. 

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Ave., Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Sept. 9 at 10:30 a.m. Free. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4. 631-482-5008

THEATER

‘Rapunzel’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Rapunzel: A Tangled Fairytale from Sept. 28 to Oct. 27. Rapunzel’s sixteenth birthday has come, meaning that she’ll be able to see the outside world for the first time, just as her “mother” promised. Scared to let her go, though, the witch reneges. Lucky for Rapunzel a young Prince happens across her tower and calls out to her, as he’s seen the witch do: “Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair!” Before the Prince and Rapunzel have their inevitable “happily ever after,” though, they’re going to have to face the wrath of the witch and a few other hilarious obstacles. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit engemantheater.com.

‘Kooky Spooky Halloween’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its children’s theatre season with A Kooky Spooky Halloween from Oct. 5 to 19 with a sensory sensitive performance on Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. Recently graduated spirit Abner Perkins is assigned to the Aberdeen Boarding House — known for its spectral sightings and terrific toast. Here, Abner finds himself cast into a company of its wacky residents. When his secret is revealed, he is forced to leave his haunted home and set-off on a quest with his newly found friends. Hilarious hijinks and a message of cooperation highlight this Halloween-inspired musical for the entire family. All seats are $12. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

by -
0 983
Reenactors on the grounds of the Three Village Historical Society during Culper Spy Day on Sept. 10. Photo by Joseph Cali

By Heidi Sutton

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Three Village Historical Society and Tri-Spy Tours will host a Revolutionary event — Culper Spy Day. Made possible by title sponsor Heritage Spy Ring Golf Club, it’s the event that every history buff looks forward to.

Now in its 10th year, the annual event is the brainchild of Margo Arceri, who first heard about Washington’s Setauket spies (including her favorite spy Anna Smith Strong) from her Strong’s Neck neighbor and local historian, Kate W. Strong, in the early 1970s. 

Meet Big Bill the Tory at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm on Sept. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Preservation Long Island

“My love of history grew from there,” said Arceri who today runs Tri-Spy Tours offering walking, bike and kayak tours of the Setauket area. “Everywhere you turn in the Three Villages you are looking at an artifact, and as the historical society believes, the community is our museum and I would really love to put that on the forefront of people’s minds. History is constantly evolving and new information is being discovered everyday. We don’t know what is waiting to be unearthed next and that fills me with excitement.”

The day of spy-related tours and activities was named for the Culper Spy Ring founded by Benjamin Tallmadge of Setauket, which provided General George Washington the information he needed to turn the tide of the American Revolution.

On Culper Spy Day, you will have the chance to visit the places where history was made and visit with area groups to learn about the patriots who risked their lives. 

Visitors can enjoy docent-led tours of historic homes, churches and cemeteries; Colonial cooking demonstrations; Anna Smith Strong’s famed clothesline; and a Revolutionary War encampment and musket firing drills by several militia groups.

There are plenty of children’s activities too including a children’s story hour, a potato sack race, an epic scavenger hunt, invisible ink demonstrations decoding spy names, sending wax sealed letters, making colonial crafts, and building a scale model timber frame house alongside Abraham Woodhull. 

In addition, Revolutionary War artifacts, including George Washington’s original letters to members of his spy ring will be on display in the Stony Brook University Library Special Collections. View a rare surviving letter dated November 8, 1779, between Benjamin Tallmadge and Robert Townsend at the Long Island Museum and explore their  world-famous carriage collection, with ties to Long Island’s Revolutionary War history 

Visitors will have a chance to meet Abraham Woodhull, Big Bill the Tory and Anna Smith Strong as well. 

See history come to life with this self-guided interactive tour spanning the Three Villages and beyond! Start your adventure at the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket and then visit participating locations including the Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum, The Long Island Museum, Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, Caroline Episcopal Church, Setauket Presbyterian Church, Setauket Neighborhood House, Patriots Rock, and Stony Brook University. The Setauket Elementary School’s auditorium will also be open for a special viewing of the Vance Locke murals depicting the founding of the Town of Brookhaven. 

All events are free with the exception of the Sherwood-Jayne Farm house tour ($5 adults, free for ages 17 and under) and the award-winning Spies! exhibit at the Three Village Historical Society. Build your own Revolutionary War story and see history come to life at this fun-filled event. For more information, call 631-751-3730 or visit www.tvhs.org for a full schedule of events.

—————————————–

*New this year will be a Culper  5K Race/Walk on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 9 a.m. Presented by Strong Island Running Club and sponsored by the Three Village Dads Foundation, the event will support the Dominick-Crawford Barn History & Education Center. Racers can trace the footsteps of the spies starting at the TVHS Headquarters, through the Old Setauket Historic District, up through battle fields and farmlands, around the churches, past pre-Revolutionary homes, and back to the Museum. Tickets are $30 adults, $10 kids fun run. Sign up at tvhs.org/5k.

by -
0 479
Stock photo

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico has announced that the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau  will host a “Money Matters Mondays” Financial Literacy program for youth ages 16 to 24 years old. This event is perfect for young individuals looking to gain essential financial skills that will help them navigate their financial futures with confidence. 

The three free workshops will teach young people how to set goals, build a budget and save money.  Sessions will be held in the first-floor Meeting Room-South at Brookhaven Town Hall, located at 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville. Each workshop runs from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. 

The “Money Matters Mondays” schedule is as follows:

September 16: How to set financial goals, create a budget, and save your earnings for what you want.

September 23: Understanding, building, and improving your credit score.

September 30: Investing 101 with a Financial Advisor: Learn how to start investing early to build wealth and how to take advantage of company matches for retirement.

The featured speaker at the workshops will be Kate Travers, Chase Community Manager. Refreshments and giveaways will be available at each workshop. 

To secure your spot, please register online by September 9 by visiting brookhavenny.gov/327/Youth. For more information, call 631-451-8011.

by -
0 1223
Ward Melville High School. File photo by Greg Catalano

The change would mean later mornings for secondary students

By Mallie Jane Kim

After years of advocacy and discussion over shifting secondary school start times later, Three Village Board of Education settled on a framework to put forward for community input. If adopted, Ward Melville High School and the district’s two junior high schools — P.J. Gelinas and R.C. Murphy — would each start 35 minutes later than they currently do, at 7:40 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., respectively. 

Any such adjustments would likely take place starting fall 2025, in tandem with the district’s plan to move sixth grade into junior high and ninth into the high school. To make the changes possible with the fewest added buses, the plan would mark a change for at least one elementary school. Currently, two schools start around 8:40 a.m. and three at 9:25. Under the proposed plan, only one elementary school could begin the day at the earlier time.

Three Village would have to find a bit over $1 million in other areas of the budget to accommodate the increased transportation costs incurred by a change in start times, according to district officials.

“That is the best that we came up with from both the dollar standpoint and also what seemed to work best,” said interim Deputy Superintendent Jeffrey Carlson at an Aug. 21 board meeting as he laid out the rationale for the plan. “It’s not going to make everybody thrilled, but it does a number of things that we were looking to do.”

District administrators and some board members have said for many months that they believe and agree with study results that indicate starting later is better for adolescent physical and mental health and for academic outcomes, but concerns over financial implications have kept the district from committing to make a change — as has figuring out the most efficient configuration.

Advocates were hoping to push the high school start time past the 8 a.m. mark, though Superintendent of Schools Kevin Scanlon pointed out the current proposal ends Ward Melville at 2:21 p.m., allowing time before sports begin at 3 for students to participate in a club or get extra academic help — something he said was a major concern expressed at public meetings on the topic.

“There’s no such thing as perfect,” said Scanlon, who also mentioned the later time should help the 10% of high school students who chronically miss first period. “This is getting us there a little better.”

The board had engaged a transportation consultant to help find efficient ways to change start times and possibly push the high school time to 8 a.m., but unfortunately that exercise produced results Scanlon called “lacking at best.”

The current proposal is one the board has had since at least January and came from a start time subcommittee that has been meeting over the past two years.

The district will seek community input on the change, particularly because of the over $1 million price tag, through a pair of planned public meetings in September, Scanlon announced, adding that the district planned to livestream the sessions and sort out the appropriate technology to allow people to participate and provide feedback virtually.

Board member David McKinnon, a long-time later start time advocate, emphasized that Three Village would source that $1 million by reapportioning funds within the whole budget — not tacking that amount directly onto what residents pay in taxes. Taxpayers vote each year on a budget number, not line-by-line allocations.

McKinnon also cautioned against looking at the change in terms of pure economic efficiency.

“Efficiency is making use of all our resources in an optimal way,” McKinnon said. “As students are starting school so early that they’re not learning, we’re wasting vast amounts of money on teacher salaries. It’s inefficient to be trying to teach kids when they can’t learn or when they’re learning less optimally.”

If the board decides this fall to adopt new start times for the next academic year, those changes would still be subject to the annual budget planning process.

by -
0 728
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will headline this year's festival.

By Melissa Arnold

As summer begins to wind down, September ushers in what could be considered the best of the season: Mellower weather, cooler nights, and still plenty of time for outdoor fun.

Benner’s Farm in East Setauket is an ideal spot for celebrating all things Americana when the Fiddle and Folk Festival returns on Sunday, Sept. 8.

Historical records show that the 15-acre property has functioned as a working family farm as far back as 1751, if not earlier. Seven families have called it home since then, with schoolteachers Bob and Jean Benner purchasing the property in 1974.

The concert line-up will include Eastbound Freight Bluegrass — John Brisotti on mandolin; Dave Thompson on guitar; Bill DeTurk on banjo; Bill Ayasse on fiddle and Bruce Barry on bass — who will be joined by two former members, singer Gene Yellin and fiddler Bill Christopherson.

Today, Benner’s Farm provides a much-needed respite from the frenetic pace of life on the North Shore. Visitors can enjoy the grounds and say hello to the sheep and goats, chickens and ducks, and Tippy the cow. 

The Fiddle and Folk Festival was held for many years at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. When those festivals were discontinued, Bob Benner found that he really missed attending.

“We’ve always had a love for music on the farm, whether that’s contra dancing or welcoming musicians to come and play,” Benner said. 

At the Long Island Museum, a William Sidney Mount painting of a fiddler at a barn dance (“Dance of the Haymakers”) captured Benner’s imagination. And with a little encouragement from the late Gerry Riemer of WUSB Radio in Stony Brook, Benner made plans to reboot the festival on the farm.

In the years since then, the Long Island Traditional Music Association, Homestead Arts and the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council have helped Benner connect with a wide variety of folk, bluegrass, blues and roots musicians.

“The folk community might be smaller than others, but they are global and well-connected to each other,” said Amy Tuttle, the arts council’s program director. “I’ve gotten to know many performers simply through word of mouth from other musicians. They are all creative spirits that are excited to get to know new people, including their audiences.”  

This year’s festival has four performance spaces situated around the farm, each with its own unique vibe. The heart of the action is on the Back Porch, a gorgeous hillside where headliners and larger groups will perform.

Headlining this year’s festival are Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, a married duo best known for their expressive roots tunes. Ungar’s Grammy Award-winning song “Ashokan Farewell” gained notoriety as the theme for the acclaimed Ken Burns documentary The Civil War.

The Sugar Maple Barn will host fiddle and banjo duo Brian Chabza and Bill Ayasse, plus the anticipated “Pick of the Crop” competition, where hopeful performers can step up to the mic. Impress the judges and you could be invited to play on the Back Porch. Keep your ears open for last year’s contest winners, Toby Tobias and Suzanne Ernst, as they make their Big Porch debuts.

If you have musical talent but don’t want to compete,  the open mic “stage”— actually a 100-year-old Model T truck — awaits. And if you’re looking to jam with a group or sing along in the audience, head to the Shady Grove, an acoustic spot featuring the Eastern Long Island Old Time Jam. Beginners and seasoned performers alike are encouraged to pull up a chair and play.

Emceed by Bob Westcott, the lineup will also include The Roger Street Friedman Band, Claudia Jacob’s Say Hey Crew, and Eastbound Freight, among others.

Hot dogs, hamburgers and other picnic fare will be available for purchase. Kids can explore activities just for them, or take the whole family on a nature walk.

The festival is a fun opportunity to get some fresh air and explore new types of music you might not hear all the time, Tuttle said.

“The Fiddle and Folk Festival celebrates Americana in a number of forms, from very traditional old time sounds to contemporary songwriters putting their own spin on traditional instruments, or even Americana interpreted by people from other parts of the world. It’s all different, depending on how the artist approaches the music. You’re not going to be listening to six hours of the same thing,” she explained. “The performers care so deeply about the community and come out to intermingle and talk to people. There’s no ‘wall’ between the audience and the performers.”

As the day draws to a close and the sun begins to set, Benner said there’s nothing like listening to the music play on as the sun filters through the trees, filling the Back Porch area with amber light.

“It’s such a treat for me to do this every year, right here in my own backyard,” he said. 

The 12th Annual Fiddle & Folk Festival will be held at Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket on Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets in advance are $22 adults, $18 seniors and $10 for children; tickets at the door are $25 adults, $22 seniors and $12 for children. Bring seating. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, visit fiddleandfolk.com or call 631 689-8172.

by -
0 495
1 of 17
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon
Scene from the 2024 Port Jefferson Greek Festival, Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Scenes from the annual Greek Festival, held at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, in Port Jefferson. The celebration was held from Aug. 22-25, and was truly a display of great culural pride, as well as the perfect place for some good-old-fashioned family fun!

— Photos by Bill Landon

by -
0 288
Last chance to see 'Finding Nemo Jr.' at the Engeman Theater. The show closes on Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of The John W. Engeman Theater
PROGRAMS

Turtle Experience

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor offers a Turtle Experience through Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meet the youngest hatchling turtles and adult turtles too. Discover why turtles play an important role in our environment and how you can help protect their habitat and way of life. Get a picture with your favorite turtle. Each session is 20 minutes. $12 per person. Online registration required at cshfishhatchery.org. 516-692-6768

Growing Up Wild

Town of Brookhaven hosts a children’s program for ages 3 to 6, Growing Up Wild, on Aug. 31 at Cedar Beach Nature Center, Harbor Beach Blvd., Mt. Sinai at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Parents and grandparents are invited to explore nature with their little ones. Each class will focus on a different nature topic and may include a story time, live animals and an activity. Free but registration is required by emailing [email protected]

Field Journaling Workshop

Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown presents a Field Journaling Workshop for ages 12 and up on Aug. 31 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.  Explore the Preserve with a pencil in hand as you sketch the natural world. All skill levels are welcome and all materials are provided, but feel free to bring your own. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com.

Art in the Barn

Walt Whitman Birthplace, 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station  continues its Art in the Barn series for children in Pre-K to 3rd Grade and their parent/guardian with a workshop on Ancient Hieroglyphics on Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Taught by Lena Massari Sawyer, come learn to write your name in ancient hieroglyphics and try on a pharaoh’s crown.  $35 per child and guardian, $20 second child. Pre-registration is required by visiting  waltwhitman.org.

Story & Craft with Nana Carol

The Next Chapter bookstore, 204 New York Ave., Huntington hosts a Story and Craft event with Nana Carol on Sept. 2 at 10:30 a.m. Free. No registration required. Appropriate for ages 0-4. 631-482-5008

Jumping for Jellyfish

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway, Kings Park presents a program for ages 3 to 5, Jumping for Jellyfish, on Sept. 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Enjoy short walks, story time, animal visitors, and crafts. $4 per child. Reservations taken on eventbrite.com.

First Steps in Nature

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown continues its First Steps in Nature series for ages 2 to 4 on Sept. 6 at 9:30 a.m. with hands-on exciting activities, crafts, stories and much more. Children will gain a greater appreciation of nature and wildlife while having fun. $20 per child. To register, visit sweetbriarnc.org. 631-979-6344

THEATER

‘Finding Nemo Jr.’

Extended! Summer fun continues at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport with Finding Nemo Jr. from July 20 to Sept. 1. In this musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie, Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as Dory, Crush, and the Tank Gang, Marlin, and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit engemantheater.com.

‘Kooky Spooky Halloween’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its children’s theatre season with A Kooky Spooky Halloween from Oct. 5 to 19 with a sensory sensitive performance on Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. Recently graduated spirit Abner Perkins is assigned to the Aberdeen Boarding House — known for its spectral sightings and terrific toast. Here, Abner finds himself cast into a company of its wacky residents. When his secret is revealed, he is forced to leave his haunted home and set-off on a quest with his newly found friends. Hilarious hijinks and a message of cooperation highlight this Halloween-inspired musical for the entire family. All seats are $12. to order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com

Send your calendar events to [email protected]

 

by -
0 821
Girl Scout Troop 1343 in front of the American flag mural at Paws of War in Nesconset.

By Tara Mae

“I really like the feeling of helping people and making their lives better, like when we did the food drive for Paws of War.”

This assessment by Cecilia Schultz, part of Junior Girl Scout Troop 1343, encompasses the members’ ongoing experience of sustaining social works. Comprised of nine  and ten year olds from Stony Brook and Setauket in the Three Village School District, Troop 1343 recently partnered with Nesconset-based animal rescue Paws of War that works with soldiers, veterans, and first responders.  

Members of Girl Scout Troop 1343 work on the stars for the mural.

Troop 1343, consisting of many reported animal lovers who have family dogs or other pets, reached out to Paws of War in an effort to merit its Bronze Award. The highest honor Girl Scout Juniors (grades 4 and 5) can achieve, it is earned by a troop that has finished a project to make a difference in the community and completed 20 hours of service. 

To this end, the girls initiated a seven month long multifaceted community service enterprise on behalf of Paws of War.  

“We focused primarily last year on community service, with everything circling that theme…The girls wanted to go for a Bronze Award; it is considered the first stepping stone to building up to bigger awards,” Lisa Unander,  co-leader of Troop 1343 with Kaethe Cuomo and Christine Colavito, said.

Under the guidance of artist Denise Backman, a family friend of Unander’s who acted as artistic advisor to Troop 1343 and has collaborated with it in the past, the girls chose to paint a mural at Paws of War headquarters; an act of service for those who have served the country.

“I like helping people, so I just think it would make people happy to have the mural,” Junior Girl Scout Emily St. Germaine said. 

The mural proved a many-tiered educational endeavor for Troop 1343. As freelance artists of a kind, members learned about the art and business sides of such labor. They not only had to work together but had to get feedback about what the client —Paws of War — needed.   

The finished mural at Paws of War in Nesconset.

“Backman mentored the girls in the creative aspects and business aspects of the project: how you take criticism; how if you take on this role, there is creativity but a lot of direction too; how you pitch ideas to a client — even though its the girls’ idea, Paws of War gets final say, since it is its space,” Unander said. 

Creating the mural also furthered the development of inter-troop communication. Part of the members’ learning process was simply exploring how to communicate through collaboration.

“I was learning how to cope with different people, and learn everyone else’s ideas. It is different to cope with people — not difficult, but something you have to stay patient about because other people have different ideas,” Junior Girl Scout Emma Taranto said. 

Through these growing pains, troop members reached a consensus about their subject. With audience in mind, the Junior Girl Scouts agreed to create a mural of the American flag to adorn the wall in front of which the animals and their found families pose for photos during meet and greets. The mural, 7’ x 5’, required exact measurements and a number of drafts, according to Unander. 

The plaque next to the mural at Paws of War in Nesconset

“Doing this, I learned that the flag was actually really complicated to make correctly. Veterans are going to see it, so it was nice for it to be the best we could get it,” Junior Girl Scout Hannah Unander said.

A nonprofit entity, Paws of War works closely with veterans, soldiers, and first responders. The organization saves shelter dogs and trains them to be companions for military veterans. It also reunites troops with the animals they befriended overseas but were unable to take home. 

These informally adopted pets are not considered military service animals, and it is against Department of Defense policy for troops to have companion pets, officially adopt them, or transport them on military planes. 

“I learned that soldiers find dogs and cats in other countries and make friends with them, and want to bring them back over. That’s the purpose of Paws of War: dogs are happy and people are happy,” Schultz said. 

Paws of War raises money for rescue and reunification. The nonprofit facilitates the transportation and adoption of these animals as well as the cost of training service dogs. 

In support of its mission and as part of Troop 1343’s community outreach project beyond the mural, the Junior Girl Scouts wrote letters to veterans; donated blankets and dog toys; volunteered at an informational table during a local Community Day; and, hosted a pet supply drive.

And while this venture may be completed, the Junior Girl Scouts remain committed to Paws of War. With their families, many of the girls are baking homemade dog treats to donate to the organization. 

“It has been so rewarding seeing the girls so excited to learn about an organization that none of them knew,” Lisa Unander said. 

“All of these factors contributed to their excitement: really seeing the impact of how the project changed the space, meeting members of the organization, fundraising and donating, etc. The girls wound up being more enthusiastic, and now want to help more,” she added.

To learn more about Paws of War, including how you may contribute to its services, visit pawsofwar.org.

by -
0 1150
Pixabay photo

Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) invites residents to join him in helping to ensure local elementary school students have the essential supplies they need for the upcoming academic year. Donations for a back-to-school drive will be accepted at the legislator’s office, 306 Main Street, Port Jefferson, until Sept. 15. Supplies will be donated to United Way of Long Island.

Items needed for students in first to fifth grade include backpacks, lunch boxes, notebooks, pencils, crayons, Post-its, index cards and more. Donated items must be new and can be dropped off at the legislator’s office from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, email [email protected] or call 631-854-1650.

Prev1...242526...189Next Page 25 of 189
TBR News Media is your local news and entertainment website.
We provide you with the latest breaking news and information for your community.
Contact us: [email protected]

Most Viewed

©