Kids

By Bill Landon

The Port Jefferson Steeplefest invitational took place on Saturday, April 9, at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, attracting schools from all over Suffolk County. 

Mt. Sinai senior Kate Del Gandio won the girls 100-meter hurdle event with a time of 14.68. Senior Hugo Onghai placed first for Port Jeff in the boys 100-meter hurdles, clocking in at 16.36. In the 2000-meter steeplechase Frosh finals, Shoreham-Wading River’s Anna Minetti finished first with a time of 8:20.82. In the Frosh boys Steeplechase, Patrick Shea of Shoreham-Wading River clocked in at 7:07.36. Del Gandio also placed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.56. Mt. Sinai senior Kyra Franks took the top spot in the 200-meter dash event, besting the field with a 26.09. Port Jeff senior Annie Maier took top honors in the long jump event by traveling 15-11.50. Mt. Sinai’s Kelly Hughes and Casey Campo placed second and third respectively. Julia Sue-Kim-Ling of Smithtown East proved she was the class of the field in the triple jump when she leapt 34-5.25. Kings Park senior Emily Stritzl also placed first in the pole-vault event, clearing 8-0.

 Photos by Bill Landon 

Image courtesy of Northport Historical Society

Home for Spring Break? Come visit the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport on Wednesday April 20 from noon to 2 p.m. for a fun afternoon painting session with 50% of the proceeds going to help those in need in Ukraine. Each child and adult will paint their own canvas with Sunflowers on a Starry Night background. Step-by-step painting instructions will be provided by artist Caitlyn Shea.

$40 covers 2 canvases and all materials. This event is open to ages 8+ with a parent or guardian. To register, call 631-757-9859 or visit www.northporthistorical.org.

TIME TO GO TO THE WILD! Catch a performance of 'Madagascar: A Musical Adventure' at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport for Spring Break. Photo by Christine Carrion.Engeman Theater
Programs

Recycled Crafts

Drop by The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor on April 15 to 17, 20 to 21, and 23 to 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to create some fun, ocean-friendly crafts using recycled materials and your imagination! ​Free with admission of $6 adults, $5 kids/seniors. Call 367-3418.

Earth, Yay!

Sunken Meadow State Park, Sunken Meadow Parkway and Route 25A, Kings Park hosts a children program titled Earth, Yay! on April 16 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Earth Day is just around the corner! Children ages 3 to 5 and a caregiver are invited to join the staff in exploring nature through short walks, animal visitors, and crafts. $4 per child. To register, please visit Eventbrite.com and search #NatureEdventure.

Spring Discovery Days

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown offers Spring Discovery Days from April 18 to 22 for children ages 5 to 11. Each day will be a different natural science theme chock-filled with fun hands-on activities, interaction with the non-releasable wildlife, crafts, games, and much more. Parents can register their child/children for one day, two days, three days, four days, or the entire week. $85/day, $375/week, For more information, call 979-6344 or visit www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Spring Break on the Farm

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket will host a Spring Break Camp for ages 4 to 14 from April 18 to 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register for the full week or by the day. Children will start seeds for their own gardens, watch chicks hatch from eggs, help with farm chores and care for the new barnyard animals. There will be lots of crafts, games, tractor rides and trips to the BIG SWING! Call 689-8172.

Vanderbilt workshops

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will present a series of workshops for children in grades K through 4 for spring break including Pollinators & Plants on April 18, Butterflies & Lifecycle Mobile on April 19 and Invertebrates & Bug Portrait on April 20. All workshops are held from 10 a.m. to noon with a fee of $20 per child. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Earth Scientists

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor presents a drop in program, Earth Scientists, on April 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. Cleaning up Earth has never been more fun! Explore the dangerous effects of oil-spills and water run-off through an educator-led watershed model demonstration. Decorate your own fabric tote bag to reuse again and again. Fee is admission + $10 participant. Call 367-3418.

Scrimshaw Detectives

Calling private investigators! For the month of April, the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor presents Scrimshaw Detectives! Spy around the museum and look for clues to uncover secret meanings hidden in scrimshaw art. When you complete your tasks, design and etch your own scrimshaw box to take home. For ages 5 and up. Admission plus $10 per participant.

Theater

‘Madagascar’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Dreamworks’ Madagascar: A Musical Adventure from April 2 to May 8. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!” All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Disney’s ‘High School Musical Jr.’

We’re all in this together! Disney Channel’s smash hit musical comes to life at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown in Disney’s High School Musical Jr. from April 15 to May 15. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra curricular activities. The show’s infectious, danceable songs will have you dancing in your seats! All seats are $25. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘The Adventures of Peter Rabbit’

The Adventures of Peter Rabbit hops over to Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson from April 16 to May 7 (sensory sensitive performance on April 24). Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, Benjamin Bunny, the McGregors and all their friends come to life in this delightful musical adaption suggested by the characters created by Beatrix Potter. Fun for the entire family and a Theatre Three tradition for spring break! $10 per person. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

A Royal Princess Party

Come one, come all to a Royal Princess Party at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown from April 18 to 22 at 11 a.m. Everyone’s favorite princesses return to the Royal Kingdom of Smithtown to get together and celebrate their stories. Join Royal Historians as they guide you through meeting each of the princesses, teaching the morals behind each of their stories and singing along to their favorite songs in this immersive play. Princesses, princes, and royal families of all ages are welcome to attend but must be with an adult at all times. The special surprises and magical touches make this show a royal treat! All seats are $16. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Children ages 3 to 5 can sign up for a six-week gardening class at the Holtsville Ecology Site starting next week.
Programs

Fairy Garden Workshop

Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket will present a Fairy Garden Workshop for children ages 4 to 10 on April 9 from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. Take a tour around the farm to find all the natural materials to build your very own fairy garden. Come find some plants, flowers, dirt, stones, moss, fairies, gnomes and more! $40 per child. Advance registration is required by calling 689-8172.

Pancakes with the Easter Bunny

The Mount Sinai Fire Department, 746 Mount Sinai Coram Rd, Mount Sinai invites the community to a Pancake Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on April 10 from 8 a.m. to noon. Don’t forget to bring your camera for pictures with the Easter Bunny! Admission at the door is $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children, under age 4 free. For more information, call 473-2418.

Pee Wee Gardening

The Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve, Buckley Road, Holtsville offers Spring Pee Wee Gardening Classes for ages 3 to 5 years. Children will learn about the environment, animals and plants through crafts and stories. Classes are Tuesdays on April 12, 26, May 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 10 to 11 a.m. or Wednesdays on April 13, 27, May 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 1 to 2 p.m. Fee is $50 per child. Call 451-5330 to register.

Theater

‘Madagascar’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Dreamworks’ Madagascar: A Musical Adventure from April 2 to May 8. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!” All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Disney’s ‘High School Musical Jr.’

We’re all in this together! Disney Channel’s smash hit musical comes to life at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown in Disney’s High School Musical Jr. from April 15 to May 15. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra curricular activities. The show’s infectious, danceable songs will have you dancing in your seats! All seats are $25. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘The Adventures of Peter Rabbit’

The Adventures of Peter Rabbit hops over to  Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson from April 16 to May 7 (sensory sensitive performance on April 24). Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, Benjamin Bunny, the McGregors and all their friends come to life in this delightful musical adaption suggested by the characters created by Beatrix Potter. Fun for the entire family and a Theatre Three tradition for spring break! $10 per person. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Royal Princess Party

Come one, come all to a Royal Princess Party at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown from April 18 to 22 at 11 a.m. Everyone’s favorite princesses return to the Royal Kingdom of Smithtown to get together and celebrate their stories. Join Royal Historians as they guide you through meeting each of the princesses, teaching the morals behind each of their stories and singing along to their favorite songs in this immersive play. Princesses, princes, and royal families of all ages are welcome to attend but must be with an adult at all times. The special surprises and magical touches make this show a royal treat! All seats are $16. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

By Heidi Sutton

Ladies and gentleman — it’s showtime! Dreamworks’ Madagascar: A Musical Adventure is back at the Engeman Theater in Northport in all its glory through May 8. Based on the much-loved 2015 animated comedy by the same name, the show follows the adventures of four best friends from New York’s Central Park Zoo — Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe.

It’s Marty’s 10th birthday and his friends throw him a surprise party. When it’s time to blow out the candles, the zebra’s only wish is to go to the wild. After the party he bumps into a bunch of plotting penguins who also want to escape from the zoo and go to Antarctica and Marty follows them to Grand Central Station. 

Discovering that their friend has gone, Alex, Melman and Gloria go after him but they and the penguins are soon recaptured by the zookeepers, tranquilized, and placed in crates en route to Kenya. On the boat the penguins escape their crate, take control of the ship and cause the crates to fall overboard and wash up on the shores of Madagascar. 

There they meet the illustrious King Julien, self-proclaimed Lord of the Ring-Tailed Lemurs, and his adviser, Maurice who see Alex as their new protector from the bloodthirsty foosa “who are always bothering us and ripping our limbs off.” 

While the three vegetarians enjoy the lemur’s daily diet of seaweed on a stick, Alex the carnivore starts to get hungry for his favorite food, steak, and begins to look at his best friends in a new light. Will the four friends be rescued in time or will someone end up on Alex’s dinner plate?

Directed by Andrew McCluskey, the show is funny, fast-paced and wildly engaging. All of the actors are excellent with special mention to the scene-stealing Jae Hughes as the narcissistic King Julien. The songs, including “Wild and Free,” “Relax, Be Cool, Chill Out,” are terrific as well. Choreographed by Jillian Sharpe, the big musical numbers — “Steak,“ “Living in Paradise,” and the iconic “I Like to Move It” —  bring the audience to their feet.

Utilizing the set from the theater’s current Main Stage production “A Bronx Tale,” the stage comes alive through the use of lighting, sound effects (like Alex’s roar and the ship’s horn), props and costumes. The standing ovation at the end of last Saturday’s performance was well-deserved. Don’t miss this one.

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St. Northport presents Madagascar: A Musical Adventure on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. through May 8 (no show on April 17) with special spring break performances on April 21 and 22 at 11 a.m. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

The Museum Corner at Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach has a new exhibit! Titled Pattern Pod, it features patterns in art, math, nature and language. Through engaging and colorful hands-on activities visitors will learn about symmetry and repetition, as well as number patterns, patterns that appear in art from Africa, Asia and South America, and patterns found in nature. 

Middle Country Library cardholders may check out circulating Pattern Pod kits for at-home exploration and register for Museum Corner programs for children. The Museum Corner is open during regular library hours, Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the Youth Services desk at 631-585-9393 ext. 559.

Photo from RPSD

Rocky Point Middle School students continue to advocate and raise awareness for various causes, and, most recently, school social workers Jean Biagiotti and Tesia Brooks organized a Fun Day to recognize World Down Syndrome Day.

Students created colorful posters and decorated paper socks for their Lots of Socks campaign outside the cafeteria to promote public awareness of the genetic disorder. According to Brooks, the event was well-received by all and gave voice to and showed appreciation of those with Down syndrome.

Photo from PJSD

The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad team came in third place at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition, held at Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills.

Students from grades 6 to 9 competed against 30 teams in events which tested their study skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and scientific problem-solving. The students did extremely well, receiving a total of 29 medals between the A, B and C teams. The Science Olympiad team will be competing on April 8 and 9, in the state competition at East Syracuse Minoa Central High School in Syracuse. The team is coached by Adam Bouchard, the middle school earth science and science 8 teacher. 

“Every student was highly motivated and showed a lot of hard work in preparing for their events,” Bouchard said. “It truly showed this year with the team’s all-around terrific performance.” Photo from PJSD

'The Queen's Cartoonists'

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook welcomes The Queen’s Cartoonists to its Recital Hall on Saturday, April 9 at 7 p.m. See projected cartoon classics paired with a tour-de-force of the Swing Era’s zaniest and most creative music, written and or adapted for classic cartoons. Fun for the whole family!

The Queen’s Cartoonists play music from both classic cartoons and contemporary animation. Their performances are synchronized to video projections of the original films, and the band leads the audience through a world of virtuosic musicianship, multi-instrumental mayhem, and comedy. Behind the project is the goal of presenting a concert for everybody – regardless of age, gender, or familiarity with the concert hall.

Tying this diverse concert together are comedic anecdotes involving the cartoons and their composers. The band is on a musical mission of equal parts performance, preservation, and education. Expect the unexpected from the repertoire that includes the Golden Age of animation, cult cartoon classics, modern animation, and elements of a musical circus!

Since their inception in 2015, The Queen’s Cartoonists have brought their unique sound to performing arts centers in over 20 states, and have opened for the New York Philharmonic. The 6 members, all currently living in Queens, New York, are world-class professional musicians. The band has been featured in numerous major publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, Mashable, and on NPR.

Tickets are $52 to $60. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

See video of a performance here.

Private, Kowalski, Skipper and Rico return to the Engeman Theater this weekend in 'Madagascar: A Musical Adventure'
Programs

Egg Hunt at the Hatchery

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will host an Egg Hunt for children up to age 6 on April 2-3, 9-10 and 15-16 with 20-minute sessions scheduled between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.. $12 per child, $5 helper siblings ages 7 to 12, $7 adults, $6 seniors. Registration is required. Visit www.cshfishhatchery.org or call 516-692-6768.

Sweetbriar Open House

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown will host a Summer Program Open House on April 2 from noon to 4 p.m. Children and parents will have the opportunity to tour the facility including a visit to the center’s rainforest room and woodland exhibits, learning more about their summer programs, and meeting some of the resident animals. The Senior Educator will be available to answer any questions. Free. Call 979-6344.

Children’s Birding Adventures

Children ages 4 to 10 with a caregiver are invited to join the Four Harbors Audubon Society for a children’s story time, bird walk, and a bird-inspired activity at Frank Melville Memorial Park, 101 Main St., Setauket on April 2 (rescheduled from March 26) from 1 to 2 p.m. Enjoy some family fun while you learn about our feathered friends.  Meet at the entrance to the park behind the post office. Free but registration is required by emailing [email protected]. 

Nature Walk at Cedar Beach

The Town of Brookhaven continues its Spring Nature Programs at the Cedar Beach Nature Center, 200 Harbor Road, Mount Sinai with a Nature Walk on April 2 at 2 p.m. Explore the unique ecology of the beach and salt marsh and learn about the different and overlapping ecosystems of flora and fauna, and the habitats that comprise this beautiful place. Please wear closed, comfortable shoes and bring binoculars if you have them. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Free but registration is required by e-mailing Environmental Educator Nicole Pocchiare at [email protected].

Sunday Fun-day 

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown continues its Sunday Fun-day series with a program titled Discovering Nature on April 3 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Join them for a hike into the woods, a talk about our local wetlands and meet some local animals. Best suited for ages 6 to 9. $10 per child, $5 per adult. Advance registration required by visiting www.sweetbriarnc.org. For further information, call 979-6344.

Scrimshaw Detectives

Calling private investigators! For the month of April, the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor presents Scrimshaw Detectives! Spy around the museum and look for clues to uncover secret meanings hidden in scrimshaw art. When you complete your tasks, design and etch your own scrimshaw box to take home. For ages 5 and up. Admission plus $10 per participant. Call 367-3418 or visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Theater

‘Madagascar’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is Dreamworks’ Madagascar: A Musical Adventure from April 2 to May 8. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!” All seats are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Disney’s ‘High School Musical Jr.’

We’re all in this together! Disney Channel’s smash hit musical comes to life at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown in Disney’s High School Musical Jr. from April 15 to May 15. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra curricular activities. The show’s infectious, danceable songs will have you dancing in your seats! All seats are $25. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘The Adventures of Peter Rabbit’

The Adventures of Peter Rabbit hops over to  Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson from April 16 to May 7 (sensory sensitive performance on April 24). Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, Benjamin Bunny, the McGregors and all their friends come to life in this delightful musical adaption suggested by the characters created by Beatrix Potter. Fun for the entire family and a Theatre Three tradition for spring break! $10 per person. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com

All numbers are in (631) area code unless noted.