The Port Jefferson Free Library, 100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson invites the community to view its latest art exhibit in the Meeting Room titled Celebration of Art/Coming Out of the Pandemic by artist Joseph Rotella through the month of December. The exhibit will feature landscape and floral narratives which were all created during the pandemic. For more information, call 631-473-0022.
This past weekend Judy Farabaugh, a representative from the Northport Rotary, along with several members of the community group, delivered 200 boxes containing 10,000 books to the home of Hindi’s Libraries co-founder, Leslie Gang, a result of their latest book drive. The rotary, whose mission includes supporting education and promoting literacy, has been a supporter of Hindi’s Libraries since the organization’s inception.
In addition to the book donations, Hindi’s Libraries received a generous contribution of $2,000 from the Northport Rotary to assist with shipping costs the nonprofit may incur.
Hindi’s Libraries is a 501c3 international nonprofit that donates new and gently used children’s books all over the world, spanning across 50 states, Israel, India, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Africa. Books are sent to recipients, completely free of charge, as the nonprofit absorbs all fees associated with shipping. Since the organization’s inception in 2018, they have collected more than 250,000 books and partnered with 650 organizations worldwide.
All books are dedicated in memory of Dr. Hindi Krinsky, 32 year old educator and mother of 5 who suddenly passed away in August of 2018 due to complications from Crohn’s disease. For more information, visit www.hindislibraries.org.
Senator Mario R. Mattera (2nd Senate District), in cooperation with the Middle Country Public Library, is hosting the Stony Brook Cancer Center’s Mobile Mammography Van at the library’s Selden location. This no-cost breast cancer-screening event will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on Monday, December 6th at the library, which is located at 575 Middle Country Road.
Stony Brook University Cancer Center operates and staffs the mobile van, which is supported by more than $3 million in funding from the New York State Department of Health. The van provides convenient access to screening services for all women in our area to ensure they get the information and services needed to protect themselves from breast cancer.
This event is for women 40 and older who have not had a mammogram in the past year. To help ensure proper coordination of the event, residents are being asked to schedule an appointment by calling 631-638-4135.
According to information provided by Stony Brook Cancer Center, most screenings are no cost to the patient since the cost of mammograms are covered by most insurance plans. Any resident without insurance will be referred to the New York State Cancer Services Program.
“Thank you to the Stony Brook Cancer Center and the Middle Country Public Library for taking part in this important event. Hopefully, this will help residents who may face challenges that prevent them from accessing this very important regular screening get the information they need to protect their health. Early detection is the most critical protection in the fight against breast cancer and I hope everyone who needs this service will join us on December 6th,” stated Senator Mattera.
For more information on this important event, including eligibility requirements and directions to the library, please visit Senator Mattera’s website at mattera.nysenate.gov.
Amongst the Middle Country Public Library’s many historical documents and artifacts are a few that explain just how far the area has come from its pastoral roots. The picture and story below come courtesy of a collaborative effort among the library staff.
To grow a fence — If this seems like an impossible idea, think again.
If you lived on Long Island during the late 18th century and you needed an enclosure for your livestock or wanted to create a boundary line, you’d most likely grow a fence instead of purchasing one.
Today we’d take a drive over to the local home improvement store to buy the posts and other supplies to erect a fence, or perhaps we would hire a contractor to take care of the project.
Whichever way we choose to install a fence nowadays, we have goods and services at our disposal to get the job done.
Take a look at these photos and read on to learn how our ancestors went about the same task, using materials at hand — trees or young saplings already growing in the proper locations.
As local historian Thomas Bayles wrote in his 1965 booklet, “Old Lopped Tree Fences,” live trees were partially cut with their tops bent over mounds of previously piled soil, in a technique known as “lopping.”
The bent section of the tree would begin to sprout roots and continue to grow. After several years the larger upright branches would become new trees and the “lopping” process would be repeated again. According to Thomas Bayles, these living fences could be maintained for a century or more, with the original offshoots developing into large trees, still attached to the original trunk.
One of the most fascinating facts about the lopped tree fences is that George Washington took note of them on his 1790 visit to Long Island, even writing several entries about them in his diary.
Lopped fences were very popular in our area at the time, and President Washington was quite intrigued by them.
However, he did note that they were not “hog tight,” meaning that the homesteaders’ pigs could get around or under the fences. Nonetheless, the settlers of the time favored these fences because their horses and cattle were safely contained within their borders.
Landowners learned that the fences could be reinforced by weaving in vines or adding other plants like saplings and woody shrubs along existing lopped tree fences to fill in gaps and provide a more secure barrier.
Over time, most of these trees have been removed, but some have been reported to be standing on Long Island as late as 1965.
A few may be standing yet. Next time you are driving or cycling down an old country lane or exploring a wooded area, see if you can spy a tree which looks as if it may have been coaxed into growing in this special way, and you’ll see a piece of our living local history.
If you locate a lopped tree and would like to let us know, please e-mail Middle Country Public Library’s Local History Team at [email protected].
Calling all job seekers! East Northport Public Library, 185 Larkfield Road, East Northport will host a Job Fair by Suffolk County One-Stop Employment Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Companies from several different industries will be available to discuss job opportunities. Bring your resume and dress for success. To register, call 631-261-6930 or visit www.nenpl.org.
One of the area’s favorite fall events, the Middle Country Public Library’s Women’s EXPO is back in person on Nov. 5 and, for the first time, outdoors. The annual event, which will feature more than 40 exhibitors this year, celebrates women entrepreneurs by connecting them with their peers, local business women and potential customers.
“We are eager to see some of our favorites and to meet a great selection of new women entrepreneurs at this year’s EXPO,” said Elizabeth Malafi, coordinator of the library’s Miller Business Center.
As always, the EXPO welcomes a diverse group of entrepreneurs with something for everyone. Shoppers can find items such as jewelry, pottery, handbags and home decor. Library director, Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, reminds us that the EXPO is much more than a trade show. “The library’s Miller Business Center works with these and other entrepreneurs all year, educating them on business topics and offering them ample opportunities to network with business professionals from throughout Long Island.”
TD Bank has been a sponsor of the EXPO since 2007. Maryellen Ferretti, Retail Market Manager, V.P./Long Island East Region says, “The Middle Country Library is a great partner with TD Bank because we both believe in giving back to the community in which we live and work. The Women’s EXPO is a great example of TD Bank’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and business on Long Island.”
Let’s learn more about some of the women you’ll meet at the EXPO.
Jessica and Jennifer Morales, Luv Chic Boutique
On their birthday in 2019, twins Jessica and Jennifer Morales tossed around the idea of starting their own clothing business. They wanted Luv Chic Boutique to help “women feel beautiful, comfortable and confident.” Having worked at the Middle Country Library since 2014, Jessica knew the Miller Business Center can help entrepreneurs like her and her sister. Librarians at the Center connected them with the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center, where they were able to get their business going.
Learning as they went, Jessica and Jennifer started with big clothing drops, promoting via social media, but soon found that smaller collections were more successful. Both women look forward to growing their business, eventually adding accessories and even a store front. Jessica and Jennifer are eager to finally be a part of the EXPO as exhibitors as they have seen the energy of the day. “We are excited to do the show because it is such a big and important event.”
Shannon Messina, North Fork Creations
Shannon Messina of North Fork Creations is an EXPO veteran. She worked with her business partner and mother-in-law, Elaine, to create beautiful hand painted glassware. After Elaine passed away, Shannon had a difficult time picking up a paint brush so she tried something new. She started hosting paint parties at wineries out East and was building her new niche when Covid happened.
Like most small businesses, Shannon pivoted to survive, creating kits for people to paint at home and investing in a laser cutting machine. She loves the creativity involved with both painting and designing laser cut items and is looking forward to showing her new products to EXPO shoppers. “What’s so nice about the EXPO is that you speak with so many different types of people. Whenever I meet another woman [business owner] from Long Island, I tell them to do the EXPO.”
Cathy Buckley, Cathy Buckley Cat’s Meow
Cathy Buckley always loved seeing the beautiful, unique handmade jewelry when she attended art fairs and felt inspired to make her own. Being a registered nurse, designing jewelry with copper, brass, silver and vintage items is also a way for Cathy to keep her sanity. During the pandemic, she shifted sales to online and worked hard to increase the presence of Cat’s Meow on Instagram and other social media outlets. Cathy even participated in the virtual EXPO last year but is eager to get back to in-person events. “I love the EXPO! It’s very empowering to be in the presence of so many women entrepreneurs.”
Diana McDonough, ACD Vinyl
Diana McDonough is BUSY! She works full-time and is a full-time grad student in Cyber Security at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC. Oh, and did we mention she runs ACD Vinyl? As many entrepreneurs did, during the start of the pandemic, Diana took her graphic design background and turned it into a business. She was happy to be able to use her creativity to make her own designs in cake toppers, stickers, cards, banners and more.
Each month, Diana donates a portion of sales to an organization focused on getting women & girls into STEM such as Girls Who Code. While most of her sales are online, Diana loves to attend shows so she can network with other small businesses. She is excited to attend the EXPO for the first time because “celebrating women and helping women is something I am extremely passionate about.”
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The annual Women’s EXPO will take place outdoors on Friday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd, Centereach. Admission is free and there is ample parking. The rain date for the EXPO is Friday, November 12th. For further information, call the library at 631-585-9393 x296 or visit www.womensEXPOli.org.
The Teen department of Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket is hosting a drive for local charities, collecting new pajamas for children now through Nov. 14. The public (residents or non-residents) may drop off donations in the “Kids Pajamas Drive” box located in the lobby, during library hours. Pajamas must be new (with tags) and for children. Sizes 2T – 4T are most needed, but all sizes are welcome.
In addition, teen volunteers are making birthday gifts for homeless children as part of the community service program at the library. The class will be held on Wednesday, November 17 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Teen volunteers will pick pajamas (from the Pajama Drive) and an Elephant & Piggie book by Mo Willems. They will then create a no-sew pillow, no-sew Elephant & Piggie finger puppets, and a birthday card for the complete gift set. Participants must register ahead of time at emmaclark.org/programs and must be Three Village residents in grades 7 – 12.
“It never ceases to amaze me how generous our community can be, and I’m so excited we are offering these two new ways to help children in need,” says Emily Ostrander, Emma Clark Library’s Teen Services Librarian. “Pajamas are such a basic necessity, and it’s so sad that there is such a huge need for them in local shelters and through local charities. Between the Drive, and our Birthday Gifts for Homeless Children program, I’m glad we can do our part to fill the need and can’t wait to work with the teens on such an important project!”
For more information, call 631-941-4080.
As part of The Great Give Back, a Suffolk Cooperative Library System initiative to provide opportunities for library patrons to participate in meaningful, service-oriented activities, Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket will hold a Pet Food Drive from Sept. 27 to Oct. 16. They will be collecting new, unopened pet food (both canned and dry) in the Library lobby. All are welcome to donate (residents or non-residents) during Library hours. For more information, call 631-941-4080.
Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station will host a Shed the Meds event on Thursday, Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drop by with any unused prescriptions and they will be safely discarded by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office. Open to all. No registration required. For more information, call 631-928-1212, option 3.
Brookhaven Town Councilman Kevin LaValle will present a special recycling event for Town of Brookhaven residents at Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd., Centereach on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with an e-waste collection, paper shredding and drug take back. Questions? Call 451-6647.
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