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Times of Huntington-Northport

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Volunteer Mary Reid, with her grandsons, Robert and Nicholas Parisi helping in the food pantry. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli
Families shopping for household items. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli
Helping Hands Rescue Mission President, Kim Gaine-Gambino shows a rendering of the new Community Kitchen. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli

By Jennifer Donatelli

While many people enjoy a day off work or school to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, others are struggling just to put food on the table each day. With the aid of Helping Hands Rescue Mission, a nonprofit organization based in Huntington Station, hundreds of families will have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season.

The mission introduced a program called Fill a Box, Feed a Family in 2021 that collects food donations for Thanksgiving. Donors pick up a box at the outreach center, fill it with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal and return the box by Nov. 22 to Huntington Assembly of God in Huntington Station. Some people fill one box, others fill multiple boxes.

With a mission rooted in compassion and community support, Helping Hands Rescue Mission seeks to alleviate some of the burdens faced by the underprivileged, offering both immediate relief and long-term hope. Through the generosity of donors and the tireless efforts of 125 volunteers, they work to ensure no one goes without the essentials for survival and dignity.

The mission was founded in 1965 by newlyweds Rev. J.A. Gaines, his wife, Rev. Rose Marie Gaines and her mother Florence E. Meringola, after witnessing local poverty firsthand. The couple returned from their honeymoon and used their wedding money to start the mission with the viewpoint that if they could help even one person, it was worth the investment.

The foundation’s work continues 59 years later under the direction of their daughter, Rev. Kim Gaines-Gambino, who functions as the president and pastor of the nonprofit. “My parents were the best ambassadors of what it means to love, serve and give,” said Gaines-Gambino. “Those were the core values of their mission, and we continue to do that today.”

When asked about what it means to run the mission on a daily basis, Gaines-Gambino said it means so much to her because she grew up with the mission and doesn’t know what life is like without it. “Serving the community has always been a part of my life,” she said.

Working with Food Rescue U.S., a nonprofit that transfers fresh food from restaurants, grocers and other food industry sources, the mission is able to provide prepared meals for the more than 250 people they serve each week.

One of the oldest members of the organization is Huntington resident Kay Jahn, who, at 90 has been volunteering since the mission first opened. She described her work as “a gift from God.”

Mary Reid of East Northport has been volunteering in the food pantry for seven years. This week was special because her grandsons, Nicholas and Robert Parisi, ages 9 and 7, visited from South Carolina during their school break to work with her in the food pantry. “We get to help people, and it feels good when you can see people be happy for one day,” said Nicholas.

Gaines-Gambino explained the town has been very generous to them over the years. “Whole Foods in South Huntington gave us a $10,000 donation and delivers food to us three times a week,” she said. The mission also receives donations from Trader Joe’s, Starbucks and Lidl, to name a few.

In addition to the outreach program, Helping Hands Rescue Mission introduced a monthly program in 2017 they call Baby Blessings. “We were running out of diapers in different sizes for the moms who came to the outreach,” Gaines-Gambino said, “so we set aside one special day a month where we can do outreach just for moms and their babies.”

Held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Huntington Assembly of God in Huntington Station, Baby Blessings provides more than 160 underprivileged families in the community with diapers, baby clothes, baby supplies, toys and a warm breakfast and coffee donated by Starbucks. Shoppers can also take home formula, baby food, strollers, car seats and bassinets.

Registration is necessary to participate in the program, and all moms must be residents of Huntington, with some referrals accepted.

Claudia Gaffoor, a referral from Flushing, experienced poverty firsthand when she was laid off from her job as a crossing guard and couldn’t afford to pay her rent or buy food for her family. A single mom of two boys, Gaffoor has been coming to Baby Blessings since her 3-year-old was born. “I fell on some hard times,” Gaffoor said. “I can’t afford to buy my son clothes.”

Through a partnership with the Allied Foundation, a nonprofit comprised of pediatricians from Long Island, Baby Blessings is able to meet their diaper needs each month.

Liz Sturm from Commack, a retired doctor and longtime volunteer, comes every Monday to unload the truck. “My parents came from Poland after the war. We didn’t have anything like this to help us,” Sturm said. “So I like to help others as much as I can.”

Baby Blessings, run by Donna Fortmeyer of Hauppauge along with a team of volunteers, sorts, folds and pre-packs bags of donated clothes by size, making sure each bag has matching outfits along with pajamas, sweaters, pants and shoes. “It’s a great feeling knowing how many families we can help and how happy we can make them,” said Fortmeyer.

Ann Macchia, from Huntington, volunteers each week and even takes clothes home with her to fold and sort. “It gives me a great feeling to help other people and see the smiles on their faces,” she said. “At the end of the day, this is what it’s all about.”

Through fundraising and generous donations from the community, the mission is in its final stages of building a house they call The Community Kitchen — a homelike space that will provide fresh, nutritious meals to food-insecure families, veterans and the homeless on a daily basis.

The mission opens its outreach center to the Huntington community every Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. People can come to the pantry once every 15 days to get household items, clothing and food.

“Every person is deserving of love and compassion, regardless of their circumstances,” Gaines-Gambino said. “By offering a helping hand to those in need, we hope to spread the message of God’s unconditional love.” For more information visit www.helpinghandsrescuemission.org.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R), District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), Legislator Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) and Department of Social Services (DSS) officials have unveiled sweeping reforms to the county’s Child Protective Services (CPS) system in response to the tragic Thomas Valva case.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. File photo

Under Romaine’s leadership, Suffolk County DSS has implemented measures aimed at improving services, enhancing interagency collaboration and focusing on the needs of vulnerable populations. The changes also promote open communication among stakeholders involved in social services.

“We took swift and significant action to reform the Suffolk County Department of Social Services to ensure that children in CPS are truly protected,” Romaine said. “We’ve allocated funds to fill vacancies, improve services, reform processes and ensure better training. These efforts will help prevent tragedies like the one experienced by Thomas Valva.”

District Attorney Tierney emphasized the importance of ensuring accountability. “We must never allow a tragedy like Thomas Valva’s to happen again,” he said. “I am proud of the work of the task force, in partnership with the new administration and Legislature, to enact the recommendations from the Grand Jury Report.”

Legislator Bergin echoed these sentiments, noting, “It was critical that the grand jury report not gather dust. We’ve worked diligently to implement necessary changes and ensure such a tragedy is never repeated.”

Key reforms to child protective services:

Quality improvements recognized by New York State

 The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) 2024 Program Quality Improvement Review reported substantial progress in Suffolk County’s CPS, Preventative/Protective Services and Foster Care systems. Many categories achieved a 100% compliance rate, reflecting the county’s renewed commitment to better serve families.

Implementation of blind removal policy

Suffolk County now uses a blind removal policy for CPS cases requiring a child’s removal from their family. This process excludes personal and demographic information about the child and family during decision-making, reducing potential biases.

Relocation of CPS abuse teams

CPS caseworkers investigating child abuse cases will relocate to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in Central Islip in December. The move allows caseworkers to collaborate closely with law enforcement and attorneys during investigations.

Interagency training initiatives

Since March 2024, DSS has conducted training sessions on child protection, trauma-informed care, forensic interviewing and multidisciplinary approaches to child abuse investigations. These sessions include participation from CPS staff, Suffolk County Police and legal professionals.

Legal training enhancements

In partnership with the County Attorney’s Office, DSS has improved training for handling sensitive abuse and neglect cases. This initiative strengthens collaboration between caseworkers and legal representatives.

Integration of adult protective services

 In September 2024, Adult Protective Services (APS) was reintegrated into the Family and Children’s Services Division. This change enhances collaboration between APS and CPS, particularly for developmentally disabled youths transitioning to adult services.

Specialized training for disabilities

More than 170 DSS employees have completed training at Daemen College, focusing on understanding and addressing the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Topics included autism, ADHD and other conditions.

Multidisciplinary training

 DSS, in collaboration with state and county partners, is expanding training for frontline workers to better serve children, adults with disabilities and older adults. Training emphasizes skills for investigating, prosecuting and protecting vulnerable populations.

Supervisor training

DSS is enhancing training for supervisory staff to develop a family-centered clinical model. This approach provides middle management with advanced decision-making tools and support for caseworkers.

Improved safety and security

DSS is equipping over 600 employees with a panic button app to instantly connect with emergency services, enhancing staff safety during high-stress situations.

Support for staff wellbeing

To combat burnout and compassion fatigue, DSS is offering additional support services to employees managing trauma from child welfare cases.

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Photo courtesy of Huntington Hospital

Huntington Hospital recently renovated its two cardiac catheterization labs and unveiled new state-of-the-art diagnostic technology. The renovated labs are a combined 1,200 square feet and cost approximately $5 million. 

In addition to the labs which each have a control room, there is a third-floor suite that includes nine beds and a holding area where patients are treated pre-and post-operatively.

“With the renovation of our labs, we continue to be able to provide our community with the highest level of cardiovascular care right here at home,” said Gaurav Rao, MD, director of interventional cardiology at Huntington Hospital. “This means faster diagnoses, efficient treatments, and ultimately, better outcomes for our patients. Having access to such advanced care close to home is not just a convenience, it’s a critical factor in saving lives and improving the overall health of our community.”

The new labs leverage this technology with integrated Coroflow Cardiovascular System to diagnose coronary microvascular dysfunction and coronary spasm, which was made possible through an anonymous donation. Computer-generated coronary physiology maps are utilized to diagnose coronary artery disease and guide interventions. Complex coronary interventions are routinely performed using coherence tomography (OCT), an advanced coronary imaging tool that allows precise plaque characterization to inform optimal calcium modification and tailored stent implant strategies.

“By incorporating cutting-edge technology, we are elevating the standard of cardiac care available in our community,” said Nick Fitterman, MD, president, Huntington Hospital. “This is a testament to our commitment to advancing health care and meeting the needs of our community with the highest level of excellence.”

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Olaf Kleingbeil at the Pezcoller24 Symposium in Italy in June, 2024. Photo by Claudia Tonelli

By Daniel Dunaief

The wreck-and-check method sometimes works, providing the kind of clues that lead to cures.

In the case of cancer, however, taking out one gene or one protein may not be enough, particularly when a combination contributes to cancer growth or to inactivating the body’s defenses against the disease.

Olaf Klingbeil. Photo courtesy of CSHL

Over the course of seven years, first developing a technique, then searching for possible clues about what the work might reveal, Olaf Klingbeil, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Professor Chris Vakoc at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, discovered two proteins that work together to do cancer’s bidding.

Called Mark 1 and Mark 2, these two proteins in combination keep a tumor suppressor called Hippo from doing its job, enabling a wide range of cancers from continuing to grow.

The Hippo pathway is one of the most dysfunctional in all human cancer biology.

The journey to this discovery is as compelling as the finding itself.

Klingbeil honed a technique that took out a series of genes, hoping to find out how more than one protein might be involved in the kind of on-off switch geneticists are often seeking to slow or squelch cancer.

Indeed, disrupting either of the proteins on its own would not have been enough, as the disease would have progressed with a singular inhibitor.

“When you manipulate A or B individually” you don’t see much difference in the cancer cells, Vakoc said. “When you manipulate A plus B, you get a massive effect.”

Vakoc suggested that his lab developed a new technology to find cancer targets, enabling them to search for processes and contributors that were otherwise invisible. Klingbeil used lentiviruses to introduce CRISPR gene editing into cancer cells.

“What [Klingbeil] developed, a method where you can introduce two [changes] at the same time, can be engineered to target combinations of genes,” Vakoc said. “It took years to figure out how to do this.”

Klingbeil explored the effect of making these double knockouts through many perturbations.

“It was the largest project in my lab to this point,” said Vakoc.

A eureka moment

Klingbeil examined several potential leads that might provide clues about how to attack cancer cells. He published 1,719 single gene knockouts and 2,529 paralog double knockouts and expected to find a few jewels. 

Christopher Vakoc. Photo courtesy of CSHL

He likens the process to panning for gold at a creek, which involves getting rid of numerous stones before discovering that gold nugget, which, in this case came in the form of two kinases, which add phosphate labels to macromolecules.

When Klingbeil honed in on Mark 2 and Mark 3, he couldn’t immediately understand why inhibiting these enzymes affected some forms of cancer, but not all of them. 

The postdoctoral researcher read a study in which the researchers looked at the tumor suppressive function of Yap/Taz in leukemia and neuroendocrine cancers and realized that these were the cancer types that didn’t show a reaction to inhibiting these kinases.

This was the first hint that Marks 2 and 3 and Yap/Taz might work together, Klingbeil explained.

The affected cancers include liver, lung, colorectal, ovarian, triple negative breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer. That list also includes rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of pediatric cancer for which Vakoc, in particular, is eager to develop new treatments.

While numerous scientists are seeking ways to block this pathway directly, the focus on Mark 2 and Mark 3 presents a new potential opportunity.

Marks are “totally overlooked in the community” and are “not a known target,” said Vakoc. “This is the first paper that announces these as cancer targets in a compelling way.”

An existing drug

Once he discovered this link, Klingbeil searched for existing drugs that might target Marks 2 and 3. Fortunately, he found one that Merck had tried to develop for Alzheimer’s disease.

While that didn’t work as well as the pharmaceutical company had hoped, the CSHL researchers are looking to use it as a starting point for a future therapy.

“We are excited that there’s a chemical matter” that might help treat cancer, Vakoc said, adding that such a treatment will likely require “a lot of love by chemists to give them the ideal attributes” for any therapeutic approach.

The drug Merck produced inhibited Marks 1 and 4 as well as 2 and 3, which provides opportunities to tailor it for the most relevant enzymes. By increasing the specificity of the drug for two of the four proteins, researchers and pharmaceutical companies could reduce the side effects of inhibition.

To be sure, Vakoc and Klingbeil cautioned that this discovery, while encouraging, wouldn’t likely provide a magic bullet for cancer, which has a way of becoming resistant to treatments and to tapping into other unknown or unseen pathways to continue to cause harm.

Effective future treatments that involve inhibiting Marks 2 and 3 could require the use of a combination of therapies, which might outmaneuver or slow the progression of cancer.

A personal message

Earlier this year, Klingbeil learned that the journal Cancer Discovery had accepted the paper for publication in an unusual way. He was attending a dinner one night at a conference in Italy when Elizabeth McKenna, the Executive Editor of the journal, approached him.

“She told me she was about to send an email” to Vakoc that the paper was accepted, Klingbeil said. “I was very excited. I’m happy to publish it and that I could convince the most critical reviewers about the value of the work.”

After a productive and rewarding collaboration with Vakoc, Klingbeil is preparing for the next steps in his career. He is speaking with various institutions, particularly in Europe, where he can be closer to his family and his native Berlin, Germany while continuing to advance his scientific career. He plans to continue to work with Vakoc after he leaves.

“The discovery was big enough to carve out a piece for him and me,” Klingbeil said and suggested he would study Mark function in pancreatic cancer in more detail.

On the personal front, fate lent a hand when Klingbeil first arrived on Long Island.

He started his life here in the middle of the winter, without a car or a driver’s license. The lab provided temporary housing on campus. He had a choice to share an apartment with either a French or an Italian postdoctoral researcher.

He chose to live with postdoctoral researcher Claudia Tonelli, who works in the lab of Cancer Center Director David Tuveson and is now his partner. The two researchers, who started dating a few months after living together, have a daughter Lily.

As for his work, he is cautiously optimistic that this discovery may one day help with new and effective therapies.

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Thoracic surgeon Dr. Andrea Carollo in front of the ION robot. Photo courtesy Lee Weissman

By Daniel Dunaief

Early and prompt detection of any cancer can and often does lead to better patient outcomes. With that in mind, Huntington Hospital recently added a new ION Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy to identify and perform biopsies on lung nodules. The robotic system, which the hospital has used on 25 patients, can trim the time for a diagnosis to as little as two to four weeks from as much as 70 days.

“We felt it would be an appropriate investment for the patient population so they wouldn’t have to travel to get a diagnosis in a timely manner,” said thoracic surgeon Dr. Andrea Carollo.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer in Suffolk County, according to Dr. Nick Fitterman, Executive Director of Huntington Hospital. On top of that, two out of three lung cancers are in the outer third of the lungs, which the ION Robot specializes in sampling. Prior to the introduction of this system, patients either traveled to South Shore Hospital or would receive more extensive surgery to sample nodules.

For 90 percent of the patients, these nodules are benign. Not every nodule warrants a biopsy. Doctors use standard guidelines to monitor nodules and perform a procedure when these nodules require further investigation. With the ION Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy, these patients, who are under general anesthesia during the analysis, can go home the same day.

Get screened

Huntington Hospital. File photo

Doctors typically recommend further evaluation when nodules come up on a CAT scan. While many residents receive screenings for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer, few take the time to receive a lung screen, even among those who would benefit from initial and ongoing surveillance. About 79 percent of people eligible for a mammography get one. Of the people eligible for lung cancer screening, however, only about 6 percent receive them, Fitterman added.

“We are woefully, woefully deficient in lung cancer screening,” Fitterman said. “There’s an effective screening tool out there that is widely under utilized.”

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that high risk patients between 50 and 80 receive lung cancer screening. High risk patients include those who have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years and are either current smokers or have quit smoking within the last 15 years.

“If you are a smoker, you should definitely get involved in lung cancer screening,” said Carollo.

By screening more patients, the hospital can offer immediate services, including surgery and various treatment regimes such as chemotherapy.

Options

Once a CAT scan reveals a nodule that warrants further imaging, doctors have three potential surgical options.

They can use trans-thoracic biopsy if the nodule is of a good size, is in a favorable location and the interventional radiologist performing the procedure thinks it is technically possible.

The overall risk of a collapsed lung is about 10 percent with this approach, but much higher in patients with central lesions and  considerable emphysema. The risk is lower in patients with peripheral nodules and no emphysema. If a pneumothorax occurs, sometimes the patient requires a chest tube and hospital stay for as long as one to seven days.

With ION, the procedure is done through a breathing tube in the mouth and into the airways. The risk of a collapsed lung is less than one percent.

If there is a high suspicion of cancer, doctors can also go straight to surgery, which could be the case for a 50 year-old smoker with a 0.7 centimeter nodule that grew to one centimeter and shows activity on a PET scan.

In that case, the nodule and a portion of the lung are removed and sent to pathology, which evaluates it on site and, in about 20 minutes, can indicate whether it’s cancer. From there, doctors can take more lung tissue and lymph nodes for completion of a cancer operation. They review the tissue samples, which takes about 7 to 10 days to get a full answer of the type of cancer and stage if any mutations occurred.

The ION procedure, which has been available for over five years, decreases the risk of a collapsed lung and bleeding and provides an analysis of the nodule more rapidly. The complication rate is lower than with trans thoracic surgery.

At this point, Carollo is doing the majority of these ION-assisted biopsies, while pulmonologist, Dr. Nazir Lone, is doing some, as well.

In the ION procedure, doctors use a roller ball and a wheel that requires eye-hand coordination.

The company provides training to get certified and it takes about 10 to 15 of these procedures for a surgeon to feel comfortable doing them on his or her own, Carollo said.

Huntington Hospital ensures that doctors have sufficient training before allowing them to treat or diagnose patients. “Whenever we adopt any new technology or procedure, we have significant quality guardrails,” said Fitterman.

“We make sure that anyone operating on a machine first is proctored by someone else who is facile with it. They sign off and say, ‘Yes, you now met competencies. You can do it.’”

The speed of the analysis has important implications for patients. “If we can get this done in 30 days from the time we find something to treatment, that’s huge,” Carollo said. “Patients tend to have better outcomes. They live longer,” he continued. Delays over 50 days lead to decreased one and five year survival.

Other new developments

Huntington Hospital has several other new developments in the works.

The hospital is building a new cancer center in Greenlawn as well as expanding its labor and delivery capacity to provide services to more pregnant women.

Ever since St. Catherine of Siena closed its obstetrical unit on Feb. 1, Huntington Hospital has seen an increase in the number of pregnant patients.

The labor and delivery suites will add four beds and will refresh the space the hospital currently uses. The mother-baby units are “beautiful,” but the suites have to “catch up to that,” said Fitterman.

In the third quarter of next year, during the renovation, the labor and delivery areas will move to a place where the old emergency space had been. The improvements are expected to take about three months.

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File photo

By Peter Sloniewsky

The Huntington Town Board met Nov. 7 to discuss budgeting, zoning changes and community welfare.

Various department heads presented preliminary budgets for 2025 and the board scheduled public hearings for resident feedback on project funding and tax implications.

The board approved a $1,000 donation from Reworld for the Pink in the Park Breast Cancer Awareness Fair. Rink fees were waived for the Andrew McMorris Foundation charity hockey game, a match between the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office and Suffolk County firefighters to support the foundation’s mission to end drunk and impaired driving.

The board named the Hubbs-Burr Marstellar House in Commack as a historic landmark. The house, built in 1840, is noted as one of the best Queen Anne-style houses of the area and was inhabited by some of the town’s first residents.

Public hearings were announced on new measures to combat coastal erosion, on public safety, on sewer construction and on fire prevention measures.

There was another meeting Nov. 19  for which we have no details, and there will be another meeting Dec. 10.

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The cast of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' Photo from The John W. Engeman Theater
Matthew Eby (Charlie Bucket) and Sarah Colt (Mrs. Bucket)
Matthew Eby (Charlie Bucket). Photo from The John W. Engeman Theater
From left, Steven Bidwell (Ensemble), Caroline Eby (Ensemble), Zoe Gillis (Ensemble), Howard Pinhasik (Grandpa Joe), Matthew Eby (Charlie Bucket), and Sarah Colt (Mrs. Bucket). Photo from The John W. Engeman Theater
Sarah Colt (Mrs. Bucket), Matthew Eby (Charlie Bucket), and Howard Pinhasik (Grandpa Joe). Photo from The John W, Engeman Theater
Matthew Eby (Charlie Bucket) and Cooper Grodin (Willy Wonka)

By Julianne Mosher

Oompa Loompa doopity-doo, here is another theater review for you.

The Engeman Theater’s latest production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is as sweet as candy and will have you itching for more sugar by the end of it. 

Directed by Drew Humphrey and choreographed by Mandy Modic, the show has similarities between the other Wonka films, but this is entirely its own. 

We meet Willy Wonka (Cooper Grodin) who discloses to the audience that he is looking for someone to take over his candy factory. He’s going to hold a genius marketing campaign of placing five Golden Tickets in his famous Wonka bars with a grand prize of visiting the factory, while also working incognito as a candy store salesman, watching the winners revealed on television one by one. 

At his store, Wonka meets Charlie Bucket (Matthew Eby), a young boy with a big imagination and very little money. Coming from poverty, he lives in a shack with his single mother (Sarah Colt), and his four grandparents (Steven Bidwell, Caroline Eby, Zoe Gillis and Howard Pinhasik) who all sleep in one bed and haven’t emerged from it in decades.

Grandpa Joe (Pinhasik), who is also Charlie’s best friend, used to work at the factory many years ago. He instilled his love for chocolate and fills the young boy’s head with stories from the good old days. But because of their lack of wealth, Charlie gets just one chocolate bar a year for his birthday. 

Wonka has lived in recluse for many years after a spy tried to steal his recipes, but the campaign becomes an international hit with five children finding the tickets: Augustus Gloop (Oliver Cirelli and Elliot Torbenson), Veruca Salt (London DelVecchio and Elyana Faith Randolph), Violet Beauregarde (Briahna Gribben and Satya Mae Williams), Mike Teavee (Benjamin Corso and Luca Silva) and Charlie. 

Spoiled rotten and mean to their parents, Augustus, Veruca, Violet and Mike have far different personalities from the last winner, Charlie, who lucked out finding a candy bar with his last remaining pennies after his birthday bar had no winning ticket.

The five kids and their parents, Mrs. Gloop (Caitlin Burke), Mr. Salt (James Channing), Mr. Beauregarde (Rickens Anantua) and Mrs. Teavee (Molly Samson) along with Grandpa Joe, enter the factory and witness all the magic Wonka has created over the years. Greed and the lack of listening skills from the kids, however, results in some pretty bad outcomes which are narrated by the cleverly created Oompa Loompas (small fabric marionettes attached to the dancers of the ensemble). 

A more modern take on the original 1971 film and less creepy than the Tim Burton version from the early 2000s, the Engeman’s version is spectacularly done with a dynamic set, innovative props and gorgeous costumes for the kids and adults, alike. They do a great job transforming the stage into Wonka’s factory from the slums of the Bucket’s household with ease and inside the factory itself is a magical interpretation of what a candy factory ought to be. 

You’ll be able to sing along to some well-known favorites like “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination,” with newer bops like “More of Him to Love” (to introduce Augustus), “When Veruca Says” (to introduce Veruca), “The Queen of Pop” (to introduce Violet) and “Little Man of Mine” (for Mike’s character). The second half of the show has the ensemble of Oompa Loompas singing farewell jingles when the kids are taken away to their individual demises. 

The talent from not just the adult ensemble but the child cast is excellently done and each actor shines on stage.

Perfect for audiences of all ages, the theater has also created specialty cocktails (for the grownups) made of sweet syrups and candy while also selling Wonka chocolate bars with the chance to win a real Golden Ticket inside with various prizes including season tickets to the theater. 

You’re sure to get a sugar high from this show, where dreams and chocolate collide. 

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main Street, Northport presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory through Dec. 29. The season continues with Heartbreak Hotel from Jan. 16 to March 2 and Waitress The Musical from March 13 to April 27. 

For more information or to order tickets, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

See a sneak preview of the show here.

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Cleanup efforts are underway at the Stony Brook Mill Pond. Photo by Denis Lynch

On Aug. 18, an intense rainfall event — dropping approximately 10 inches overnight — resulted in catastrophic flooding, severely damaging local landmarks including the Stony Brook Mill Pond, the Stony Brook Grist Mill (1751), and Avalon Nature Preserve.

We are calling on all levels of government — federal, New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYS Department of Transportation, Suffolk County and the towns of Brookhaven, Smithtown and Village of Head of the Harbor — to collaborate in the restoration efforts. It is imperative that every elected official work together to restore the Stony Brook Mill Pond, Stony Brook Grist Mill and Avalon Park’s primary access route.

These cherished heritage and nature destinations are integral to our communities, encouraging visitors to explore both the rich history and the natural beauty of the area. Both the Stony Brook Mill Pond and the Stony Brook Grist Mill are listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. 

The Stony Brook Mill Pond has been of ecological and economic importance for centuries. Before the storm, it provided sustenance and shelter for a variety of wildlife species and played a critical role in stormwater management. The Mill Pond has been a vital component of the Grist Mill’s operations, powering the waterwheel of this iconic Long Island landmark since 1751.

Avalon Nature Preserve, a protected area spanning 216 acres —140 of which are accessible to the public — boasts diverse flora and fauna. It features walking trails, a wildflower meadow and woodlands. Access to the Avalon Nature Preserve has been severely impacted by the destruction of Harbor Road.

The Three Village Chamber of Commerce respectfully asks for your support in these restoration efforts. Representing the Three Village business network, this work is vital to helping the business community in Stony Brook thrive once again. 

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Three Village Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors

President Carmine Inserra

Michael Ardolino

Heather Banoub

Robert Brown

Perry Cassidy

Leah S. Dunaief

Colette Frey-Bitzas

Susie Kaiserman

Kenneth P. Kroncke

Ronald J. LaVita

Edwin Miller

Andy Polan

David Prestia

Gloria Rocchio

Nicole Sarno

Martha Stansbury

John C. Tsunis

President Emeritus Charles Lefkowitz

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A unique aspect of the whale is that the public will be able to step inside to view its internal organs. Photo courtesy of the Whaling Museum

The Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor has  announced the new fabrication and acquisition of a life-size inflatable whale, which will travel to locations across Long Island in a new “Whale on Wheels” educational program. 

This will be the only whale of its kind in the state of New York and will serve as a crucial educational tool to address the needs of children from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in the museum’s traveling programs.

Photo courtesy of The Whaling Museum

The inflatable whale is a 45-foot Sperm Whale. A unique aspect of the whale is that the public will be able to step inside to view its internal organs. The inflatable is a custom piece fabricated by the company Landmark Creations in Minnesota, and will use pressurized air with a blower. The whale’s design was modeled utilizing multiple sperm whale images.

Museum educators will use the whale to bring the sperm whale’s story, history, and biology to life. Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales, and are found in all deep oceans worldwide. With their massive, square-shaped heads, adult males can weigh 90,000 to 100,000 pounds, which is more than 700 people combined. From the height of Yankee whaling in the 19th century through the 1970’s, sperm whales were heavily targeted by American and international whalers, pushing the whale to the brink of extinction. An international ban on whaling went into effect in 1987.

Today, sperm whale populations are still slow to recover, and are currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Sperm whales are threatened by vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, marine debris ingestion, and other threats from human impacts on the ocean environment. 

Similar to real whales, the inflatable whale is designed with realistic scars on its body, such as propeller scars on its tail, to help demonstrate the pressures whales face today.

Main support for this project comes from a $16,050 grant from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, which primarily supports the study of Long Island history and its role in the American experience. Robert D. L. Gardiner was the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island until his death in 2004. The Foundation is inspired by Gardiner’s personal passion for New York history.

“We are very thankful to the Gardiner Foundation for partnering with our Museum to enable our education team to provide schools and libraries with the greatest teaching tool of all — a traveling life-size whale,” noted Nomi Dayan, Executive Director of the museum.

Additional funding for this project comes from an Innovation Grant awarded from the Long Island Library Resources Council, which supports unique and new projects in cultural institutions in the region.

The whale will arrive at the museum at the end of November, and the museum plans to introduce the whale to the public in Spring 2025. 

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Letter to Gov. Hochul on delayed FEMA reimbursements for Stony Brook University Hospital by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine

Since 2022, Stony Brook University Hospital, including Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital and Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Long Island State Veterans Home and Stony Brook University have been actively engaged with SUNY and the Division of Budget in submitting claims totaling over $195 million for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency pursuant to the Robert T Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford act) after the nationwide emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic. Per FEMA, this act provides for “eligible emergency protective measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 emergency at the direction or guidance of public health officials may be reimbursed under Category B of FEMA’s Public Assistance program.”

Stony Brook University Hospital, et al., have submitted thousands of eligible expenses and documentation for reimbursement for 100% federal cost for expenses incurred prior to July 1, 2022, and 90% federal cost for expenses incurred after July 2, 2022, by all requested deadlines. FEMA committed to apply federal funding to all eligible COVID-19 costs for work performed and items including employee labor, purchased supplies, equipment, leased equipment and facilities and contract costs.

Private hospitals applied for reimbursement directly to FEMA and have been reimbursed. SUNY’s hospitals were required to apply through the DOB who would then submit the applications to FEMA. Since SBUH is not the applicant, it was unable to contact FEMA directly. Stony Brook University Hospital, et al., have been in communication with the DOB and have urged it to ask FEMA to expedite the process.

On Sept. 8, 2024, Stony Brook Medicine representatives met with SUNY and DOB, which revealed that FEMA seems overwhelmed by pandemic-related reimbursement across the nation.

Representatives from SUNY, DOB and Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D) office have a request into FEMA for a meeting.

I join with them in urging prompt payment to Stony Brook University, Stony Brook University hospitals, and the Long Island State Veterans Home. I would also ask that pandemic relief deadlines be extended.

Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Hospital is Suffolk County’s largest employer and one of our economic engines. Delays in FEMA reimbursements affect the university and the general economy of Suffolk County.

      Edward P. Romaine

 Suffolk County Executive

Not an experiment

Stefanie Werner [“Three Village BOE’s costly sleep experiment,” TBR News Media, Nov. 14] is certainly entitled to her opinion that the benefits of moving to later high school start times are not worth the financial cost (less than 1% of the budget).

However, she is not entitled to dismiss the well-established evidence that even a modest delay in school start times leads to significant benefits for adolescent students. Research from dozens of studies has conclusively shown that later start times result in more sleep, improved attendance, higher grades and fewer car crashes. These findings are not a “fantasy belief.” They are supported by extensive scientific evidence. That is why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends secondary schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. — a standard the new plan still falls short of by 50 minutes. It is also why states such as California and Florida have passed laws mandating later school start times for secondary students.

The Three Village BOE is not conducting an “experiment.” The experiments have already been done, and the results are clear. The only question is whether we are willing to act on this well-documented evidence.

        John Hover

East Setauket

Batteries vs. community safety

As a resident of Setauket, I am deeply concerned about the proposed battery storage facilities slated for construction near our neighborhoods, including one location in close proximity to a home for individuals with developmental disabilities.  These facilities pose significant risks to the safety and well-being of our community, and I urge local officials and residents to reconsider their placement.

The continuous noise levels expected from these facilities — around 50 decibels — may not seem excessive on paper, but for those with sensory sensitivities or specific needs, it could be highly disruptive.  For the residents of the nearby home, this could lead to unnecessary distress and challenges that could easily be avoided with a better site selection.

Moreover, there are substantial safety concerns.  At a recent community meeting, experts noted that fires at battery storage sites are exceptionally difficult to extinguish, potentially resulting in days of harmful smoke, chemicals and toxins polluting the air.  This is not a hypothetical scenario; incidents involving battery energy storage systems have already occurred in other parts of New York, with devastating consequences for the environment and public health.

While renewable energy solutions are essential, these facilities must be sited in appropriate locations — away from residential areas, schools and sensitive community spaces.  The risk to our children, families and first responders is simply too great to justify their current proposed locations.

We must advocate for thoughtful, safe and community-centered planning to ensure that renewable energy initiatives do not come at the expense of our health and safety.

Together, we can make a difference and protect what makes Setauket a great place to live.

    Brian Baker

Setauket

Toxic batteries don’t belong in our backyard

I am writing regarding the battery facility that is proposed for the Setauket/East  Setauket  area. This facility will put our community and residents in danger of fires, which would burn and release toxic chemicals into the air, but it’s a health hazard for our children, families and our communities. I am opposed to having a battery facility so close to our residential areas and our homes where our children and grandchildren play. It is a hazard that needs to be kept out. Please highlight this issue in your next publication so that the community is made aware of this. Many people don’t know about it and need to be informed.

    Stacy Doerler-Antonucci

Port Jefferson Station

New risks, old lessons

I live in Setauket Meadows. Previously I lived on Pheasant Lane and Parsonage Road. These are all within a short walking distance of the proposed lithium battery storage facilities on Old Town Road and Sheep Pasture Road. I understand the conflicts that can arise when residences butt up against industrial property, but usually a compromise is reached.

However, now we have a very new technology with some known hazards and some unknown ones. These facilities would have unmanned security and have the risk of fire and or air contamination.

Savion is the company proposing these installations. They are only five years old as a company. Where and when have they built before? What were the problems? These questions need to be answered before any permits are issued. What would happen if we had another nine-day power outage due to a hurricane or brush fire in the area? Who would evacuate the toddlers and memory-impaired adults who are cared for at the facility right next to the proposed storage facility? The company has said this site was chosen due to its location in an area that has a high  need for energy. Really? Wouldn’t the university be a better choice?

Just down the road we have a prime example of an industry contaminating acres. The owner of Lawrence Aviation abandoned his responsibilities and the rest of us paid the full price.

Let’s not do this again. Let’s not trade the environmental hazards of fossil fuel for the environmental hazards of unproven technology.

    Mary Negra

Setauket

Community at risk: The hidden dangers of proposed battery storage facilities

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the battery storage facilities that are proposed for Setauket and East Setauket. These facilities will go right up to the backyards of many homeowners, as well as businesses, schools and places of worship in the Three Village community. Many of these community members are completely unaware that these projects are slated for construction starting as early as 2025.

Many have voiced frustration that many simple requests to the Town of Brookhaven are denied, and yet a project of this magnitude and scope is allowed to be proposed to the town without any notification and buy-in from the very people who will have to live and work right next to these facilities. 

These battery storage facilities have dubious safety records as there have been many reports of these facilities catching fire. These fires are not able to simply be extinguished and must burn themselves out (likely taking days), thereby further endangering the community with the potential exposure to toxic smoke, chemicals and runoff. 

This community has already dealt with the negligence of corporations such as Northville Industries and Lawrence Aviation whose irresponsible practices have already created a negative impact on the community that is still being felt today.

Please highlight this issue and its importance in your next issue as it is imperative that everyone in our community be aware of this project, thereby encouraging people to take action and also voice their concerns to the Town of Brookhaven.  

Three Village residents 

Xingtao Liu, Shannon Carlson, Brenda-Jimenez-Tillman, Caroline Guo and Robert Tu

Letter to Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich from the Three Village Civic Association: Addressing safety concerns over Setauket battery storage plans

Dear Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich,

As you know, the Three Village Civic Association recently held a community meeting in early November to learn about Savion Energy Systems’ proposed plans to construct two large battery storage facilities in Setauket.

Our association certainly understands the importance of battery storage facilities for the electrical energy generated by solar and wind. These facilities are key in powering the grid under the New York State green energy plans. However, our community is alarmed at the size and location of the planned battery storage facilities in the Three Villages as proposed by Savion Energy Systems, particularly in regard to their close proximity to residential neighborhoods.

We reviewed the Town’s battery storage code, which was only added to the Town’s Zoning Code in 2020. This new code permits Tier 2 facilities (SGT;600kw) to be located in L1 and L2 Zoning Districts without any consideration to the specific location of the L1 and L2 Zones. Under the current code, there is no consideration given to nearby or adjacent residential neighborhoods, schools, assisted living facilities, retirement communities, day care centers etc. We are sure you agree that this is problematic.

We also reviewed the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s model code for siting battery storage facilities which recommends that local municipalities establish a battery storage task force to review and adopt policies that would regulate aspects of battery storage development within towns and villages.

It is important to note the following from NYSERDA Model Energy Storage Guidebook:

Appoint a Battery Energy Storage Task Force (“Task Force”) that represents all interested stakeholders including residents, businesses, interested non-profit organizations, the battery energy storage industry, utilities and relevant municipal officials and staff to prepare an action plan, adopt or amend a comprehensive plan to include battery energy storage system planning goals and actions and develop local laws and/or other regulations to ensure the orderly development of battery energy storage system projects.

Charge the Task Force with conducting meetings on a communitywide basis to involve all key stakeholders, gather all available ideas, identify divergent groups and views and secure support from the entire community. The Task Force should also conduct studies and determine whether existing policies, plans and land use regulations require amendments to remove barriers and to facilitate battery energy storage system development goals.

We think that suggestion makes sense and Brookhaven should establish a Battery Storage Task Force to formulate guidelines before any battery storage facilities are approved.

Thank you for your attention and consideration in this important matter.

  Charles Tramontana

President, Three Village  Civic  Association

Herb Mones

Land Use Chair, Three Village Civic  Association

Three Village Civic Association Executive Board

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