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Plants need stems to survive. They provide structural support and connect the roots to the leaves and flowers, making it possible to bring water, nutrients and sugars throughout the plant.

Similarly, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) serves a critical function for society.

As with the rest of a plant, STEM is not the only part that nourishes our culture, but it does offer critical support that makes it possible to adapt to future challenges and to push the frontier of human knowledge.

This week, we and scientists around the world celebrated the long-anticipated grand opening of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, a telescope and camera so advanced that it has already spotted 2,400 asteroids we hadn’t previously seen.

This state-of-the-art camera was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, making it possible to see deep into space and to ask questions about changes around us as well as dark matter and dark energy.

“NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory reflects what’s possible when the federal government backs world-class engineers and scientists with the tools to lead,” Harriet Kung, acting director of the DOE’s Office of Science said in a statement.

Indeed!

This project echoes some of the cutting edge science efforts that the federal government supported after World War II.

STEM funding supports translational research, which addresses questions like what molecule can scientists target to slow or stop the progression of cancer or what plant genes can enhance resistance to disease or environmental extremes. It can also support basic research that explores what causes a cell to divide, to die, or to differentiate.

Both of these areas of research have led to important discoveries that have contributed to society. Researchers credit their achievements with the opportunity and knowledge they received from previous generations of scientists who, like runners in a relay race, pass the baton to the next generation of great thinkers and explorers.

Science funding has among the highest returns on investment of any federal funding, Cutting funding to areas like the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and other federal programs can impede the ability of science and society to grow and respond to change.

The current budget proposal for 2026 suggests a 40 percent cut to the NIH, which would reduce the number of institutes from 27 to eight. Yikes!

Further up the chain, societal growth also depends on supporting the education of students who can go from a classroom where they learn about what’s known to a field where they can rewrite the textbooks they had studied.

Canceling grants to STEM education not only threatens the students who miss out on chances to learn, but also society, which won’t benefit from the spark of inspiration these students receive.

The federal government must continue to invest in STEM. The future growth of our society – with businesses, cures for diseases and an expanding knowledge base that enables us to live healthier and better lives – depends on it.

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The festival opens with 'The Ties That Bind Us.'

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center  for the Arts turns into a movie lover’s mecca when new independent films screen at the Stony Brook Film Festival on evenings from Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 26. The popular festival, now in its 30th year, will become a hub for some of the best filmmakers working today, a meeting ground for favorite actors and rising stars, and a showcase of new masterpieces as it pairs memorable short films with an array of features you won’t see anywhere else.

This year’s festival will showcase 36 films from 19 countries and kicks off with the East Coast Premiere of The Ties That Bind Us, a beautiful, surprisingly realistic film in which a set-in-her-ways 50-something single woman finds herself in a slowly shifting relationship with two children who live in her apartment building. This intimate, poignant, and ultimately joyous film wrestles with the question of what defines family.

The examination of the strength and limits of family continues through many of the films at this year’s festival, including the action-drama Way Home, that features a father struggling to bring his radicalized son back home from war-torn Syria; the challenging and inspiring drama Nawi, in which a young Kenyan teenage girl’s dreams of attending High School are jeopardized by her father’s plans to marry her off; the hilarious Mazel Tov, where a quick-talking, neurotic man who has been estranged from his siblings, returns to Argentina to mend his broken relationships — if he could only keep his big mouth shut; and a thought-provoking and gorgeous reverie from India called The Umesh Chronicles, that follows a woman from a privileged background considering the very different life of the servant-boy that grew up with her.

Finn Wittrock gives a finely layered portrayal of a filmmaker plagued by his past in the offbeat and witty Long Island-based feature Westhampton, a beautifully shot tale of forgiveness and acceptance by Long Island native Christian Nilsson. 

Shot on location at his grandfather’s scenic ranch near the border of Mexico, JT Walker’s epic La Gloria stars David Morse as an aged rancher struggling to earn the trust of an immigrant woman he accidentally wounded.  

Director Joel Alfonso Vargas has created a work of art that harkens back to the 70’s heyday of independent cinema with Mad Bills to Pay: (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), a film that explores the struggles of a 19-year-old man-child navigating his new responsibilities after bringing his pregnant girlfriend to live with his family in the Bronx.

The pleasing aroma of new culinary discoveries permeates two of the festival’s independent features. In the beautiful period drama Mistura, a privileged French-Peruvian woman embarks on a daring culinary venture with the very people she had been raised to disregard. At the same time, in the uplifting documentary Ali Eats America, a teenage cancer patient plots a map with his mother of all the restaurants he wants to visit across the country.

Other can’t miss films include the wildly unique Animale featuring SBFF favorite Oulaya Amamra of Divertimento and Hard Shell, Soft Shell. In this western/horror/mystery from the South of France, a bull-racer notices disturbing changes occurring around her following an injury. Music fans will surely enjoy the surprisingly light-hearted biopic Midas Man about Beatles manager Brian Epstein. 

And everyone should put closing night on their calendar, as the SBFF  feature the American premiere from Spain with Gala Gracia’s first feature film, The Remnants of You. This masterfully subtle film follows a woman putting her career as a jazz pianist on hold following the sudden death of her father, which showcases an evocative solo piano score by Filipe Raposo.

The Festival is more than a cinematic event—it’s a cultural experience. Two feature films each evening,—each preceded by a short film—are shown on the Center’s 40-foot screen, often followed by intimate Q&As with the filmmakers, cast, and crew.

“We are very excited to have filmmakers from all over the world join us for their premiere screenings. Our audiences can gather in a huge theater with Long Island’s largest screen, to see movies the way they were meant to be seen,” says SBFF & Staller Center Director, Alan Inkles

The Stony Brook Film Festival is presented by Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University with support from Suffolk County, Campolo, Middleton, & McCormick, LLP, Strata Alliance, News 12, and WLIW. 

Film Festival line-up

OPENING NIGHT

Thursday, July 17 at 7 p.m.

Short: Hearts of Stone

Feature: The Ties that Bind Us

Friday, July 18 at 7 p.m.

Short: Resaca

Feature: Mistura

Friday, July 18 at 9:30 p.m.

Short: Quick Fix

Feature: Way Home

Saturday, July 19 at 7 p.m.

Short: A Guest in My Country

Feature: Westhampton

Saturday, July 19 at 9:30 p.m.

Short: We Do Our Best

Feature: Long Story Short

Sunday, July 20 at 7 p.m.

Short: Blackmoll

Feature: Never Alone

Sunday, July 20 at 9:30 p.m.

Short: We Buy Houses

Feature: La Gloria

Monday, July 21 at 7 p.m.

Short: Miracle

Feature: Nawi

Monday, July 21 at 9:30 p.m.

Short: The Traveler’s Prayer

Feature: Real Estate

Tuesday, July 22 at 7 p.m.

Short: My Name is Dania

Feature: Mazel Tov

Tuesday, July 22 at 9:30 p.m.

Short: Chatter

Feature: Midas Man

Wednesday, July 23 at 7 p.m.

Short: Ebb & Flow

Feature: Ali Eats America

Wednesday, July 23 at 9:30 p.m.

Short: Crab Claw

Feature: A World Apart

Thursday, July 24 at 7 p.m.

Short: 3 Minutos

Feature: The Umesh Chronicles

Thursday, July 24 at 9:30 p.m.

Short: Wait to Tell Mother

Feature: Animale

Friday, July 25 at 7 p.m.

Short: Baquine Friends Forever

Feature: Mad Bills to Pay

Friday, July 25 at 9:30 p.m.

Short: Sweet Cesspool

Feature: Uncle Vanya – Bubble Waltz

CLOSING NIGHT

Saturday, July 26 at 7 p.m.

Short: Place Under the Sun

Feature: The Remnants of You

CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS

9:30 p.m. Presented on stage.

Ticket information 

All screenings are held at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook in the 1,000-seat Main Stage theater. 

Stony Brook Film Festival pass options include a VIP Gold Pass for $250 and a Regular Pass for $100, granting access to all ten days of the festival, and the Flex Pass for $75. Individual tickets — $15 adults, $13.50 seniors —  are also available after July 1. 

The Gold Pass includes VIP access to Opening and Closing Night parties, which include hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a chance to mingle with filmmakers and festival goers alike. The Opening Night party will be hosted at Elaine’s Restaurant and Bar in East Setauket immediately following the Opening Night Feature film Q&A. This year’s Closing Night party will be at Curry Club at SaGhar in Port Jefferson Village. 

This, along with guaranteed seating in a VIP reserved area of the theatre with filmmakers and actors, first admittance to the theatre for all screenings, and an exclusive festival gift, makes the Gold Pass (which is the price of one premiere screening at Sundance) a fantastic value and the best way to enjoy the entire festival experience!

The Flex Pass is perfect for someone with a jam-packed summer, the Flex Pass grants access to any five days of the festival (excluding Closing Night). It is the perfect opportunity for film fest discovery with the added benefit of flexibility at an affordable price. 

All passholders receive guaranteed Priority Seating, Q&As with filmmakers, voting eligibility for the Audience Choice Awards, discounts at partner locations, and a festival gift. Each pass has added perks at different levels. Friends of Staller Members also get a reduced rate when using their Member discount at checkout.

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Tickets may be purchased at stonybrookfilmfestival.com/pass. For more information, call the box office at 631-632-2787 or visit www.stonybrookfilmfestival.com.

This article originally appeared in TBR News Media’s Summer Times Supplement on June 19.

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Photo courtesy of America's VetDogs

As Independence Day celebrations begin by breaking out the grills, lawn chairs and festive food, America’s VetDogs of Smithtown wants to remind pet owners that fireworks can be scary to your four legged friends and can send them into a panic. With a little planning and the below tips, you can ensure your pets can enjoy the holiday, just as much as you do.

  • Create a safe place for your pet indoors by finding a room or area they are tucked away from loud booms of fireworks, preferably without windows can be helpful. Playing soft music or putting on the TV can help muffle the sounds of fireworks. Draw any blinds or shades to reduce the amount of bright flashes into the room. Remove any items in the room that your pet could chew or ingest, as animals can become destructive when frightened or stressed.
  • Exercise your pet earlier in the day before any planned celebrations. By getting the energy out, they’ll have less to exert if they become anxious during fireworks.
  • Feed your pet their meal an hour or two prior to the firework celebration. This could help them feel relaxed before celebrations begin.
  • Provide appropriate and pet safe distractions by cuddling or playing with them during fireworks. Stuffing a Nylabone or KONG with peanut butter, kibble or pumpkin and freezing it can help divert their attention and focus on licking the toy over the celebrations in the background.
  • Make sure your pet has proper ID. To prevent your pet from going missing, make sure your pet always wears an ID tag with your up-to-date contact information.
  • As a reminder, fireworks can be stressful on veterans suffering from PTSD in your area. Please be considerate of your neighbors by not setting them off late at night or close to their homes.

For more pet care tips, visit vetdogs.org

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The community gathers for free outdoor concerts at the Stony Brook Village Center every summer.
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s much-anticipated Summer Concert Series returns to the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook this weekend. The series kicks off on July 6 at 7 p.m. with a performance by One Step Ahead in front of the Stony Brook Post Office. Following this, the concerts will continue at 7 p.m. every Sunday from July 13 to August 17. Bring seating. In the event of rain, the concerts will be canceled.
Concert lineup:

July 6th – One Step Ahead – One Step Ahead is a high-energy band with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry.

July 13th – The Dance Mechanics – The Dance Mechanics are an extraordinary 12-piece band hailing from Kings Park, NY.

July 20th – The Rustlers – A dynamic group delivering classic and contemporary country and rock and roll hits.

July 27th – NuGroove – NuGroove is a genre-blending band from Long Island that fuses disco, Motown, rock, country, pop, and today’s hits into high-energy mashups.

August 3rd – High Note – High Note plays Reggae, R&B, Rock and Dance music from your favorite bands!

August 10th – Common Ground – Travel back in time with classic hits from the 1980s MTV Generation.

August 17th – Just Sixties Band – Enjoy the timeless tunes of the longest-running sixties tribute band in the United States.

The Summer Concerts are generously sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright and the office of Economic Development and Planning and Stony Brook Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals.
For more information, visit wmho.org or contact 631-751-2244.

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METRO photo

By Anisha Makovicky

America is the land of opportunities they say, we just have to work hard and we can succeed. As a high school student, I have watched the current administration strip students such as myself of the opportunities that will allow us to build a successful future. The current funding cuts do not impact just science research but also education. According to a report published by Education Week in May 2025, the National Science Foundation, under the Trump administration, canceled over 400 grants for STEM education.

The administration has even cut funding for PBS Kids, which was created to bring STEM education to children of lower class families. I can’t imagine any benefits to discouraging our future doctors, engineers, scientists and leaders from science. If high school students are not allowed to start pursuing science early, they will be set back in the future. And since one day we will all depend on this next generation of scientists, doctors and engineers, setting back high school students will set back our whole country, not just in science. 

Everyone should be worried about cuts to science and education funding. These affect entire families, students and educators. Parents are worried that their children will lack future opportunities to become involved in STEM fields. High school students are primarily affected by the loss of programs and reduced chances to gain experiences to form their career ideas. Educators and teachers are not able to do their jobs and support students as they did in the past. Knowledge generated by scientists trickles down to the high school curriculum but if science is limited, there will be less knowledge passed down, meaning that future high schoolers will be at a lower standing. This domino effect will have a cascading impact on future generations. 

A well rounded education is important for everyone, not just students who aspire to attend competitive colleges. As a society, we believe a high school education is crucial for making informed decisions and helping one understand the world better. This is especially relevant because for many people, a high school diploma is the highest level of education they will receive. Federally funded education programs offer different ways of learning both in and outside classrooms. Experiential learning such as hands-on curricula through internships, public education programs, museums and field trips expand upon the standard public school curricula. This is important because students learn in different ways and non-classroom learning experiences are especially beneficial for students with learning disabilities or different capacities to engage. These diverse types of opportunities are necessary to ensure every student is given a chance to succeed. 

Over 50% of NSF funding cuts have been to education programs, according to the Hechinger Report. 1,400 grants have been cut, and 750 of those were to STEM education. That equates to about $775 million that could have helped students engage with STEM. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began the cuts to reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion in scientific research. While it is understandable to want our federal government to run efficiently, cutting scientific research and education will have little effect on the efficiency of our government and the lasting impacts will put our entire nation at a disadvantage. It is imperative that we protect our equal access to education in order to create a better future.

Anisha Makovicky is a student at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. 

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Gas pump. METRO photo

Gasoline prices are a little lower after a tumultuous week for oil and gas markets that ultimately ended with sharply lower crude oil prices and less pressure on prices at the pump. This is good news for drivers heading into the Fourth of July holiday travel period, as local pump prices remain considerably lower than this time last year.

With virtually all the crude oil price increases stemming from Middle East tensions evaporating from petroleum markets by the middle of last week, the focus for commodities traders shifted to domestic supply and demand readings that show demand for gasoline continues to increase — but supplies remain strong as well.

The Energy Information Administration last week reported a third straight weekly increase in gasoline demand, which rose nearly 400,000 barrels a day over the prior week to 9.1 million barrels per day, in line with expectations for strong demand typically seen in early summer.

That higher demand was a factor in national inventories of gasoline declining by 2.1 million barrels in total, according to the EIA, which might put additional upward pressure on pump prices. But in the Northeast, regional inventories actually increased by just over 2 million barrels, bucking the national trend. Regional supplies are now up 3.2 million barrels over last year and comfortably positioned ahead of the July 4 holiday and the next few peak weeks of the summer driving season.

“Recent geopolitical events showcased the volatile nature of oil and gas markets, but right now supply and demand are the primary factors impacting how much it costs to fill our tanks,” said Robert Sinclair of AAA Northeast. “While regional pump prices are up slightly from a month ago, they remain more than 40 cents lower per gallon than this time last year — great news for those heading out for Fourth of July road trips.”

AAA Northeast’s June 30 survey of fuel prices found the average for a gallon of regular in New York City $3.21, a penny lower than a week ago. The price is 42 cents less than a year ago. Long Island averages $3.13, Connecticut $3.17 and New Jersey also $3.17.

The current national average is down 4 cents from last week averaging $3.18 per gallon. Today’s price is 31 cents lower than last year ($3.49). 

Today, Mississippi and Oklahoma have the lowest prices in the nation at $2.71 and $2.73, respectively. California and Hawaii hold the highest prices in the nation this week at $4.59 and $4.47, respectively.

AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and New York, providing nearly 6.8 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.  

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File photo

By William Stieglitz

With Pride Month bringing to Suffolk County both joyous parades and calls for greater support of LGBTQ+ community members, TBR News Media reached out to two local nonprofits, Gender Equality New York and Pride for Youth (a division of the Long Island Crisis Center), to ask what issues most impact LGBTQ+ people in Suffolk right now.

Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of GENY, founded the organization in 2016 in the aftermath of the group Empire State Pride Agenda disbanding. She said that after the passage of marriage equality in New York and nationwide, “all the LGBT people who were giving money to keep the organization up and running left.” “And so with them going out of business,” she continued, “there was no statewide advocacy organization to fight for transgender civil rights.” 

So, she founded GENY to empower transgender, gender nonbinary and intersex New Yorkers, and GENY now provides educational training for Suffolk and Nassau police academies, local hospitals and houses of worship.

PFY, an LGBTQ+ health and human services organization, was founded in 1993 in response to its parent organization receiving many calls on its crisis support hotlines from people looking for LGBTQ+-based services. “Back in 1993, nothing like us existed in a suburban setting,” explained Tawni Engel, associate executive director of LICS, adding that PFY became the first LGBTQ+ organization in the U.S. to offer the services it did in a suburban area. 

PFY now offers 32 programs and services throughout Suffolk, Nassau and Queens, including social spaces for queer youth, family counseling, housing support and HIV testing and education. “I feel like if you name the service, we offer it,” Engel said.

Both directors said one of the most prevalent issues facing LGBTQ+ Long Islanders now is hate and disinformation, especially toward the local trans community, leading to fear, bias and discrimination. “There are people walking around that believe that transgender kids are getting surgery at eight years old; that is a fallacy,” said Grey-Owens. “There are people walking around thinking that school nurses are handing out hormones. I mean, school nurses aren’t even allowed to hand out a cough drop.”

Engel also spoke on the rhetoric around trans community members, saying it is often dehumanizing and federal actions like the erasure of the “T” from the now “LGB+” pages on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website don’t help. “I think the message that that sends to people, especially young people, is just so demoralizing.”

Funding for services is also a major issue. With diversity, equality and inclusion programs dissolving, she explained, corporate sponsorships PFY used to rely on are falling through. “We have received many letters, come to find out they were sent to us illegally by the government, telling us that ‘x’ amount of dollars were gonna be pulled literally within twenty-four hours. It got reinstated, but it’s just been this roller coaster ride.”
The complexity these issues have on Pride Month, said Engel, was a consideration when organizing PFY’s annual pride gala and fundraiser. “It absolutely is a fun celebratory night of queer celebration and celebrating pride. But at the same time, especially this year … how do we strike that balance between educating and facing the realities of what’s going on, but also celebrating and taking care of ourselves?” she said. “We kind of started off with, okay, let’s talk about the realities of what’s going on, and then just dance our butts off the rest of the night and take care of ourselves and each other, you know.”

The gala featured Glen Cove city councilmember Marsha Silverman (D), who is the first-out lesbian councilmember on Long Island on the North Shore. Both Engel and Grey-Owens emphasized the importance of involvement and support from local officials, with Grey-Owens being a member of the Suffolk County Legislature’s LGBTQ advisory board and the LGBTQ task force for Huntington. 

“Attend a school board meeting,” said Grey-Owens. “Make sure that the school board is representative or has representation or is aware of our community. Go to town council meetings. Visit your legislators… These are all people that have local offices here on Long Island, so it’s not like you have to travel to DC to see somebody. You can do it right here on Long Island.”

For more information visit the GENY website: www.genderequalityny.org.

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Cast and crew of 'Maybe Happy Ending' at the Tony Awards after party, from left, Peter Hylenski, Hue Park, Ben Stanton, Dane Laffrey, Helen J. Shen, Darren Criss, Michael Arden, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra and Hunter Arnold. Photo by Connor Macchi (KateMadeMedia)

By Daniel Dunaief

The back story for Maybe Happy Ending, the Tony Award winner for best musical, could in and of itself become its own drama.

The show chronicles an unusual love story between two “Helperbots,” which are humanoid robots that had been personal assistants. The musical wasn’t exactly a smash hit out of the gates, despite a compelling script and, as it turns out, well received performances from its leads Darren Criss of Glee fame and Helen J. Shen.

“It was a situation of, can we get people to come to the musical, because it is an exciting new original musical” that is set in the future, said co-lead Producer and long-time Setauket resident Dr. Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra. “While it doesn’t dwell on technology or futurism, it tells a story of two human-like robots that are living in the not too distant future.”

It was a challenge to introduce Broadway audiences to this story and these characters, when it was competing against legacy shows and revivals.

Amid early concerns about whether Maybe Happy Ending was financially viable, Hurst-Della Pietra said the team “used to call ourselves the little engine that could.”

Indeed, amid positive reviews and with enough support, the show survived its early unsteady beginnings.

“You’ve heard of the expression, ‘It takes a village?’” Hurst-Della Pietra asked rhetorically. “I’m really delighted that people believed in the show. I personally adore the show and really had my heart and soul in it. I can’t be more pleased with the outcome.”

Hurst Della-Pietra, who played Anita in West Side Story at French Woods in the summer when she was growing up, became involved with theater professionally when her daughter Ava started performing. She has been a producer on nine other shows.

Amid the tailwinds of numerous awards, including five other Tonys including one for Best Actor for Darren Criss and for set design, the show is planning to travel around the country and through Europe.

The music in the show deals with themes of loneliness and the search for connection.

The song “How to Not Be Alone,” which Hurst-Della Pietra describes as “very warm” and “poignant,” frames love as a choice, even as it doesn’t guarantee anything.

“I feel like there’s a lot of young people in their 20’s and 30’s that are kind of wanting,” said Hurst-Della Pietra. “They’re not as connected as prior generations.”

The two HelperBots are different from each other, but they are “giving it a go and they’re willing to try for love and they’re not perfect,” she said.

The song is “really about choosing not to be alone as long as you can help it,” said Hurst-Della Pietra.

Darren Criss plays Oliver, is obsessed with his jazz albums and taking care of his plant, while Shen plays Claire, who is affected by the rancor of her previous owner’s unhappy relationship.

Oliver plans to travel to Jeju Island to reconnect with his former owner James. Claire decides to join him to see fireflies, although the two HelperBots aren’t allowed to travel on their own.

To appear human, they develop their own story, which becomes a song called “The Rainy Day We Met.”

Hurst-Della Pietra describes that song as “cute and comical and super well done.”

Every time she’s seen the show, which, at this point is over 20 times, “I shed a tear.”

The title refers to the ambiguity about the ending of the show as well as the ambiguity that occurs throughout the show, the co-lead producer said.

She appreciates that the show addresses how we all deal with the fact that we are going to lose the people we love.

The show explores “the reality we all face,” she said. “I really like that human story.”

Hurst-Della Pietra is thrilled with the team that made this show possible, including Criss and Shen as well as director Michael Arden, scenic designer Dane Laffrey, video and production designer George Reeve, as well as the contributions of the two main lead producers Hunter Arnold and Jeffrey Richards.

“I couldn’t have had better people with whom to do it,” said Hurst-Della Pietra. “It was a joyful experience.”

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Poquott Village Hall

By Sabrina Artusa

Incumbents Jeremy Flint and Raymond Graham were reelected as trustees for the Village of Poquott, filling the two open seats. Flint had 61 votes and Graham had 60. 

Having just completed their first two-year terms in the village, both candidates decided to run again, happy to work for the village they love. 

Jeremy Flint

Flint moved to Poquott from his native Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2021 in an interesting reversal of recent trends. “When I first moved up, people asked me why. I told them ‘to get away from all the New Yorkers because so many move in the other direction,’” he said. 

He and his wife toured houses during COVID-19, when suburban homes were getting bought quickly as people emigrated from the city. When he and his wife toured their current home, they “immediately fell in love.” “It felt like home,” Flint said, and they put an offer in that very evening.

Flint owns his own business working in insurance, construction and consulting.

Galvanized to run after noticing how homes in his village were being utilized as rental properties, Flint ran for trustee in 2023, won and was appointed deputy mayor. Now, there are stipulations preventing residents or property owners from renting out their homes for short intervals. The village enforces a 30-day-stay minimum for rentals. 

Additionally, Flint is eager to continue working on improving the safety of Poquott roads, expanding community events, advancing village technology to “improve interaction with residents” and refreshing the 10-year master plan. 

He said his focus as trustee is respecting the balance of his unique community. “It is a combination of the inevitable moving into the future and working on the village and the upkeep,” he said 

Graham is also entering his second term. He works in the Kings Park Central School District as a middle school librarian. 

A Kings Park native, he moved to Poquott in 2019 and quickly became involved in the community volunteering, putting on fundraisers and embracing the community he called a “little slice of paradise.” 

It felt like a natural transition, then, when he ran for trustee in 2023 after the previous trustee moved. Like Flint, Graham is concerned about safety. 

“I want my roads to be safe,” he said. “I want my neighbors to be safe living here so I have been focusing my time on that aspect.” 

Indeed, the village has experimented with movable speed bumps as part of a PILOT program, which allowed the village to both gauge resident reaction and test where they would be more efficient.

Graham also said he is eager to continue fostering community unity through events like the annual summer barbeque. He is also floating the idea for a 5k run through the village as, he said, the local running community is growing. The scenic views and hilly roads provide a good combination of pleasurable views and a tough workout. 

Poquott beaches and infrastructures suffered damage in last year’s storm; Graham is eager to continue working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency “to try and restore the beautification of our village.” 

One beach particularly suffered from the 100-year storm, Walnut Beach. “At high tide you can’t even walk down the beach in that area because of the erosion,” Graham said.

For more information visit the village website: www.villageofpoquott.com.

Graham and Flint’s term will be three years as the village transitions to four year terms for trustees.

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Elizabeth Hashagen of News12 Long Island, who delivered the keynote address, at left. Tammy Severino, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, to her left. Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County recently honored 55 Girl Scouts at its annual Gold Award Dinner & Ceremony on at the Stonebridge Country Club in Smithtown, for identifying an issue they care about and leading a team to create lasting impact in their communities—and beyond. The Gold Award is the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting.

Gold Award Girl Scouts address issues they’re passionate about by planning and implementing a project that produces lasting change in their communities and beyond. To earn a Gold Award, each recipient must complete two Senior or Ambassador Journeys or their Girl Scout Silver Award before beginning their Gold Award project. To meet the Girl Scout Gold Award requirements, each candidate must complete at least 80 hours toward their project.

“Our Gold Award Girl Scouts are leaders in their community who are making measurable and sustainable change while still in high school said Tammy Severino, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “As they take action to transform their world, they gain tangible, real-world skills and a civic-minded awareness that sets them apart from their peers. 96% of Gold Award Girl Scouts say their experience inspired their ongoing commitment to service or volunteering. Our Gold Award Girl Scouts are discovering they have the power to create the future they want for themselves and others, and we are proud and honored by their achievements.”

Among the awardees:

Sophia Aurrecoechea – Islip Terrace

Giuliana Avella – Port Jefferson Station

Sara Bally – Miller Place

Elliot Baravarian – East Northport

Emma Barbo – Greenlawn

Eva Barbo – Greenlawn

Gianna Beck – North Babylon

Madison Calvanese – Setauket

Isabella Caracci – Stony Brook

Molly Caufield – Sound Beach

Marissa Cilibrasi – Ronkonkoma

Megan Condolff – Centerport

Nina Cottone – Setauket

Ellie Crowley – Huntington

Ava D’Angelo – Commack

Olivia Davis – Patchogue

Alessandra De Stefano – Commack

Emma Dean-Stahl – West Sayville

Mya DeClue – Smithtown

Anna DiBiase – Smithtown

Alexis Ebanks – Centerport

Sophie Epstein – Nesconset

Charlotte Farrugia – Selden

Jasmine Farrugia – Selden

Jailyn Fasano – Commack

Lillian Fleischer – Centerport

Julia Furer – Dix Hills

Grace Goetz – Greenlawn

Kristin Krause – Nesconset

Kayden Laucella – Stony Brook

Lauren Limongelli – West Babylon

Olivia LoBue – Huntington

Ruth Joy Mahnken – Ridge

Callie McLean – Mattituck

Jenna Mehlinger – Smithtown

Gabrielle Mitchell – Nesconset

Isabella Muccio – Port Jefferson Station

Brianna Naumann – St. James

Danika Riccio – Bayshore

Paige Rizzo – West Babylon

Elizabeth Ryan – Medford

Regan Sayers – Smithtown

Lily Scarth – East Setauket

Nicole Schrock – Cold Spring Harbor

Adelina Scott – Westhampton

Caroline Severino – Nesconset

Kinley Simmons – Miller Place

Samantha Simson – Commack

Victoria Starkey – Smithtown

Emma Travaglia – West Sayville

Kristin Tveter – Bayport

Adria Vargas – Sayville

Olivia Vigliotti – Ronkonkoma

Amanda Woods – Bayport

Cassidy Yates – West Babylon

Details about each Girl Scout’s project were shared with the audience in a print and digital yearbook, here. A video about their achievements, also shared at the event, is here.

The event was memorialized online with a photo booth of fun photos, here.

About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. With over 15,000 members, they are one of the largest youth-serving agencies in Suffolk County. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc.us. Follow Girl Scouts of Suffolk County onFacebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 

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