Photo Gallery

By Kimberly Phyfe

The Three Village Historical Society (TVHS) celebrated its 30th Annual Spirits Graveyard Tour on Oct. 19.  The sold out event, titled Revolutionary Women: Living History/ Sharing Her Story, honored local women from as far back as 300 years ago who were revolutionary in their time.

TVHS Director Mari Irizarry commented on the staying power of three decades of this event. “We are so proud that the Spirits Tour has been running for thirty years, and grateful that the community continues to come out to enjoy this event! There is no shortage of incredible stories to tell of the people who lived, worked, died, and are buried here. With over three hundred years of history, there is something new to discover every time we put on a show!”

All eight scenes of the humorous, honest, and often heart-breaking women and men portrayed on the Spirits Tour were real people who lived in Setauket at one point in their lives. The majority of them are buried at Setauket Presbyterian Church or Caroline Episcopal Church, where the walking tour takes place every year.

As you wander Three Village and explore the historic sites, inspiration is everywhere. The theme for Revolutionary Women came up as traditionally, a woman’s place in history was in relation to the men around her. The Society wanted to give these women a chance to tell their own stories, many of them in their own words.

Rebecca Kassay was a first time actor in this year’s tour who wishes that everyone knew “that the spirits being portrayed were real people whose dynamic lives shaped the community we know and love today, and the Spirits Tour is a rare opportunity to hear their stories.”

When asked why she chose to get involved for the first time, Kassay stated “I’m grateful to be a part of the TVHS’s innovative efforts to bring history to life for audiences of all ages, connecting our past to our present, which helps to build a stronger future for our community.”

Elizabeth Marra is another first time actor on the Spirits Tour who noted that “our area is renowned for the contributions of local men in our revolutionary and seafaring history, but there were such beautiful, poignant, and inspiring women that history has forgotten. I enjoyed getting to know all of their stories.”

Marra spoke about her character that “the young woman I got to play, Mary Swift Jones — she was one of the first Americans (not just women) to see China and Japan. It was fascinating to think of the scale of the experience she must have had and how that must have sat with locals, especially for her time and being such a young woman.”

Mary Swift Jones and her husband, Captain Benjamin Jones, are both laid to rest at Setauket Presbyterian Church. Rob Von Bernewitz, long time tour guide and chair of the Cemetery Committee at TVHS, cleaned Mary’s headstone with permission for the special occasion.

While there were fresh faces joining the Tour this year, there were several long standing actors and guides who have been around for all three decades! Morton Rosen “has been performing in the tour ever since it was started 30 years ago! I have portrayed men who lived in our community in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Each time I learn something new that makes me proud to live in Setauket and it is a pleasure to share that pride with those who visit our spirits. It is so important for everyone to know that what we call history was generated by the people who lived here and created the stories we celebrate today.” Rosen portrayed Captain Gilbert Floyd in a scene with his granddaughter, Blanche Dominick played by Suzanne Velazquez.

George Overin has been part of the Spirits Tour since 2017. This year, he was Thomas Hodgkins, uncle of Emma S. Clark. “So many people came up to talk to me after the tour who love the library, but didn’t know anything about Emma, her uncle who founded it in her honor, or Emma’s revolutionary generosity in helping others! The Three Village Historical Society seeks to answer questions we maybe haven’t even thought to ask — and they do it all with knowledge, compassion, and by creating wonderfully memorable experiences!”

An incredibly special touch this year was the inclusion of the four female lighthouse keepers at Old Field Point Lighthouse. The Society worked with Old Field Point in 2023 to assist Trustee Rebecca Van Der Bogart on getting the lighthouse on the National Register of Historic Places. In the Spirits Tour, Van Der Bogart herself portrayed Elizabeth Shoemaker — the first female lighthouse keeper not only at Old Field Point, but in New York State history! Haley Ogle portrayed the longest serving female lighthouse keeper, Betsy Smith, along with Caterina Vacchi Suzzi as Mary Foster, and Karen Wexler as Amelia Jayne.

Choosing which spirits to include every year is a daunting task. First the Society creates a theme, then researches which people would best fit the narrative. Irizarry joked that “if we honored all the women we wanted to, the tour would have been several days long! Choosing which stories to include is a grueling process, and we end up saving many of the spirits for future years.”

The scripts were written and edited by Kimberly Phyfe and researched by TVHS Archives Fellow Kayleigh Smith. The Society invited two professional guest writers for the monologues: Camile Arnone wrote for Amelia Shepard Jones Clay and Stephanie Drewisis wrote for Thomas Hodgkins.

Mary Satterly Rowland’s script was comprised entirely in her own words, from journal entries in the society’s archives. The witch trials of Mary and Ralph Hall and Goody Garlick were shaped by Scott Ferrara’s book, Accused of Witchcraft in New York. 

The scene for Mary Swift Jones was heavily influenced by Bev Tyler’s new book Love and Letters from Japan which included many of Mary’s letters. Tyler will be presenting his book at the Society’s free monthly lecture series on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Setauket Neighborhood House.

The 30th Annual Spirits Graveyard Tour was sponsored by Annmarie’s Farm Stand, Luigi’s Pizzeria, Starbucks, Apple Bank and Stop & Shop in East Setauket. Chamber music was provided by students in the Ward Melville High School orchestra, and traffic assistance was given by the History Honor Society at WMHS. Special contributions were made by the Education Committee: Bev Tyler, Donna Smith, Lindsey Steward-Goldberg, Town of Brookhaven Historian Barbara Russell, and Spirits Tour Committee Chair Janet McCauley.

Three Village Historical Society would especially like to thank Setauket Presbyterian Church and Caroline Episcopal Church for their unwavering support of this sold-out event year after year!

Author Kimberly Phyfe is the Community Engagement Manager at the Three Village Historical Society.

By Jennifer Donatelli

The aroma of fresh-baked pies, hot apple cider and hand-cut flowers filled the autumn air last weekend as families flocked to the Huntington Historical Society’s Apple Festival at the Daniel W. Kissam House Museum.

This free event has grown from a small community gathering 20 years ago into a vibrant celebration of fall that attracts over 1,000 visitors from all over Long Island. The festival featured a variety of activities and hands-on demonstrations designed to educate the community about life during Colonial America.

Heather and Rob of Kings Park brought their children to the festival to celebrate their daughter’s birthday.

“We wanted to do something fun outside for her and this is the perfect place,” Heather said.

The smell of fresh-cut flowers was abundant throughout the day. Jess Seilheimer, owner of Dahlias and Dreams, grows the flowers in her Centerport backyard, and transforms them into beautiful bouquets.

“I love bringing flowers into people’s homes because it makes them joyful and relaxed,” Seilheimer said. “This makes me happy and makes other people happy and that’s exactly what I want to do.”

In addition to the relaxing, music-filled ambiance of the event, attendees dove into American history with tours of the 18th-century Kissam House. The house, built in 1795 by Timothy Jarvis and first occupied by Dr. Daniel Whitehead Kissam and his family, is one of four national register historic properties, maintained by the Huntington Historical Society.

Attendees experienced firsthand what it was like to live in colonial America. Demonstrations throughout the day included traditional folk artisans woodworking, weaving and quilting.

Additionally, activities for the children included a magic show, face painting and pumpkin decorating, among a host of other activities.

One of the most popular demonstrations of the day was rug hooking — an art form where rugs are made by pulling loops of wool through stiff, woven fabric, such as burlap.

Mary, a member of the Rug Hooking Club of Long Island, explained that in colonial times, rug hooking was a craft of necessity. Poor women used scraps from their bags to create homemade floor coverings while girls from wealthy families were sent to school to learn embroidery or quilting. Today, rug hooking is regarded as a fine art.

Donna Waldenburg, a member of the Huntington Historical Society board, said the Apple Festival is a great way to engage younger families and showcase the society’s programs and events.

“We want to educate the community about colonial life… in a way that [engages] everyone,” Waldenburg explained.

Stephanie Gotard, executive director of the Huntington Historical Society, reiterated the uniqueness of this annual event.

Long Island-grown apples were sold by the bag along with other fall favorites like candy apples, apple donuts, apple cider and an assortment of homemade pies and breads from the Jericho Cider Mill and local bakeries.

The Kissam House is open for tours during the week. Visitors can also stop by the Museum Store to shop for collectibles and antiques.

For more information on tours, workshops, programs and events, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Residents of Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack were all smiles as staff brought their furry companions to strut their stuff in their first annual Halloween Dog Parade, complete with costumes, treats and wagging tails!

 “We are so excited to host our first annual Halloween Dog Parade for our residents,” said Nicole Hopper, Director of Therapeutic Recreation at the 460-bed facility. “Not only did the parade make our residents smile, but also it made them reminisce about growing up with their own pets. Pet therapy is extremely beneficial, and we look forward to continuing our pet therapy programs here at Gurwin.”

The parade took place in the Gurwin Center’s Simon Rainbow Room, where a dozen four-legged friends of Gurwin staff were dolled up in creative Halloween attire. With Hopper serving as the MC, the dogs, along with their owners, were able to flaunt their costumes down the makeshift runway with Gurwin residents flanking both sides.

Costumes included Wonder Woman, The Incredibles, Elvis, a shark, a pirate and a Beanie Baby, and treats were waiting for the pups including Halloween spooky snacks and pup cups!

“I very much enjoyed the parade because it was so nice to see the Gurwin staff with their dogs,” said Nina Klanke, Gurwin Center resident. “I myself had two dogs that were Cocker Spaniels, and they were so much fun and great company. Being at the parade today reminded me of the happy memories that I made with my own dogs.”

 

By Jennifer Donatelli

The year is 1775 and there’s been turmoil in all of the colonies. At least, that’s what it felt like for visitors at the Huntington Militia Group’s annual Fall Muster Day last Sunday, Oct. 20, at The Arsenal, part of the Sammis House, at The Village Green in Huntington. 

The Militia Group recreated life in the 18th century with live, hands-on demonstrations through the day of civilian and military life in the 1700s.

Attendees witnessed live musket and cannon drills throughout the day, as well as witnessing them being fired from The Arsenal. This was all part of living history that the Militia Group uses to educate the community of what life was like in Colonial America in Huntington. All volunteers were dressed in period clothing they sewed themselves.  

Patrick Mantle, commander of the Huntington Militia, said the event promotes family participation with the live demonstrations and provides a wide range of educational activities. He explained, “It’s like American history textbooks coming alive.” 

In addition to a variety of colonial crafts, visitors learned about silversmithing, paper making, sewing, cooking, embroidery, weaving and even how to load and shoot a musket.

One of the highlights of the day for kids was the Children’s Musket Drill where kids — and adults — were taught to march, drill and fire “practice muskets.” Noah, age 8, from Huntington thought it was “so cool.” His older sister Elyse agreed, saying, “It made me really want to learn more about the history of the colonists.”

Papermaking, silver jewelry, embroidery and muskets 

Patricia Roos, one of the volunteers and a former teacher, talked about the importance of papermaking while she demonstrated the process. She explained that paper was too expensive to buy because it was being imported from England and was heavily taxed by the British. Paper was an important commodity because it was used for writing letters, as cartridges for guns and writing books. 

The colonists wound up teaching themselves how to make paper from natural materials like linen or cotton from their clothes. Roos said, “The colonists would wear out their clothing until it became rags and then sell it to a ragman.” She added, “The ragman would turn around and sell the clothing rags to a factory where they would chop up the fabric into little tiny pieces, put it in a barrel with water to make a pulp.” Using a screen and pressing out the water, the soon-to-be paper would hang to dry for 24 hours. 

Volunteer and silversmith, Michael Goudket, makes silver jewelry from coins — a trade he said the colonists carried out during the early 1700s. He added that Native Americans would trade beaver pellets for silver jewelry. The Native Americans would use the silver crosses as decorative and shiny pieces on their clothing. 

Goudket explained, “Silversmiths were an intricate part of the community because in colonial times, when you brought your money to the bank they charged you to have a man stand with a gun and guard it.” He added, “People would bring their coins to the silversmith who would turn them into plates and tankards writing the owner’s initials on them so they couldn’t be stolen.” 

Goudket said he learned silversmithing while a student at Syracuse University. “It was part of my fine arts curriculum,” he said. “I have been silversmithing ever since.” He explained that a silversmith would take silver coins and hammer them out to make sheets of silver that would be used to trade for beaver pellets, which were needed to make fur hats.” 

Robert and Merrell, a husband-and-wife team who did not wish to disclose their last name, have been volunteering for years with the Huntington Militia Group. Merrell explained the importance of embroidery, while showing visitors how to use the embroidery needles to make dining room chair covers from the 1700s. She said, “Ladies did all the embroidery because it was a luxury that required leisure time and a lot of money.

Robert demonstrated how cord would be used in colonial times in lacing a corset or for a woman to use cord to tie her apron. He said, “It may have been done by the ladies, children or older people in the house to give them something to do.” 

Robert said he learned the art of lucet when he went to visit the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. He observed a woman making cord and said, “When I got home I went to the library and found a book on an 18th-century lucet and began from there.” He has written a reference pamphlet on the subject so the tradition can carry on. 

Attendees got to see first-hand how Revolutionary War soldiers were able to load and shoot a .75 caliber rifle. Artillery volunteer, Vinny DeNardo, explained that a regular rifle only had the capability to shoot 65 to 75 yards but a gun-powdered musket can load in 20 seconds and could shoot across three football fields, instantly killing a British officer with only one shot. 

Huntington Militia

The Ancient and Honorable Huntington Militia is one of the oldest organizations in the United States. It was formed in 1653 by the Town of Huntington to provide an effective defense against the hostile Dutch settlements of New Netherlands and to keep the local Native Americans in awe by holding regular, public training exercises on the Town Common. Huntington was made part of the Colony of New York in 1664 and the Huntington Militia became part of the New York Provincial forces in 1666.

The Huntington Militia was reactivated by The Town of Huntington in 1974, to serve in a ceremonial capacity as its official Colonial Guard and to continue as a permanent, living link with the town’s proud heritage. The militia became a Revolutionary War reenactment unit in 1976 and continues to this day to preserve its heritage and recreate life as it was on Long Island in Colonial America.

For more information on upcoming events, or to volunteer, visit the website www.huntingtonmilitia.com.

By Bill Landon

The Patriots of Ward Melville girls soccer team came calling on Sachem East Saturday morning, Oct. 19, with an unblemished League II record 6-0 looking to stay atop the leaderboard just ahead of their opponents, but the Flaming Arrows at 5-1-1 wouldn’t make it easy.

Ward Melville forward Adriana Victoriano broke the ice for the Patriots at the 16-minute mark of first half when she rifled a shot to the back of the net. The lead would not last long when a minute later Sachem East countered to make it 1-1. 

Sachem East struck again halfway through the second half, courtesy of a corner kick to take a 2-1 lead, before Victoriano struck again six minutes later to retie the game. Victoriano scored in the closing minutes of the game for a notable hat trick as the Patriots secured a narrow 3-2 victory.

Ward Melville goalkeeper Kate Ronzoni notched four saves.  

— Photos by Bill Landon 

By Heidi Sutton

The day has finally arrived. After remaining vacant for nearly two years, Amazon Fresh officially opened in East Setauket in the former Waldbaum’s location on Thursday, Oct. 24. The 42,900-square-foot store in Suffolk Plaza at 4054 Nesconset Highway is the first of its kind in Suffolk County. 

The community was invited to celebrate the momentous occasion at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. featuring music, samples, games, the chance to win $500 toward groceries, and a $5 off $25 coupon. The first 100 customers in line received an Amazon.com gift card and all customers received a free tote while supplies lasted. 

The East Setauket store is one of a handful of new Fresh locations that Amazon has launched in recent months after making some improvements to its business format. The biggest change was the discontinuation of the much touted Just Walk Out cashier-less checkout technology which has been replaced with computerized Dash Carts — smart shopping carts equipped with scanners that track items as customers place them inside —  along with Amazon One, a palm-based payment device, for a more seamless checkout experience.

Shoppers will find a wide selection of popular national and local brands along with Amazon’s private-label products, such as Aplenty, Fresh Brand and 365 by Whole Foods Market, which was acquired by Amazon in 2017. The store also offers prepared foods made fresh daily, as well as produce, meat, and seafood.

Amazon Prime members can save up to 50 percent off on eight to 15 grocery items that rotate each week, according to a company statement and can earn 5% back when they use their Prime Visa card.

The store also offers same day grocery delivery or free grocery pickup and serves as a drop-off location for Amazon return packages. All surplus food will be donated to Long Island Cares.

“We offer great prices on quality items every day at Amazon Fresh, ensuring grocery shopping is convenient and affordable for all our customers,” said Claire Peters, worldwide VP, Amazon Fresh in a statement. “Increasing our weekly deals across thousands of items and expanding the reach of Prime savings at Amazon Fresh is just one way that we’re continuing to invest in competitive pricing and savings for all of our customers — both in-store and online.”

Store hours will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. 

The success of the East Setauket store will be watched closely as the company continues to expand in Suffolk County.

Another Amazon Fresh at 3017 North Ocean Ave. in Farmingville was completed last year but remains empty.

“We remain committed to grocery, and will selectively open new Amazon Fresh stores as we see positive customer feedback on the new format,” read a statement from the Seattle-based company. For more information, call 1-800-250-0668.

By Bill Landon

It would be the foot of Dan Jurgens, the place-kicker for Center Moriches, that would decide the game when Shoreham-Wading River came calling, snatching victory from the Wildcats to win 17-14 Friday afternoon, Oct. 11.

Deadlocked at 14-14 from the middle of the third quarter, Shoreham-Wading River mounted a late-game surge only to be stopped 2 yards from the end zone where the Red Devils took over on downs. Center Moriches, with a ground-and-pound offensive running game, mounted an eight-minute drive moving the chains bleeding out the clock, and called time-out at the 19-yard line with two seconds left in regulation. Jurgens split the uprights for the 29-yard field goal for the Red Devils win as time expired.

The victory lifts Center Moriches to 3-2 in Division IV, while the Wildcats drop to 3-2.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Paws of War has expanded its Nesconset headquarters with the opening of its Veteran Support Command Center, advancing its mission to support veterans and their service dogs. The new facility provides a safe haven for veterans and first responders dealing with PTSD, mental health crises, addiction and homelessness, offering the assistance and resources they need. Contractors who donated their time, labor, and materials for the construction attended the ribbon-cutting event.

The project was led by Bulovas Restorations with support from subcontractors Bri Co Electrical, Premier Flooring Solutions, East End Designs LLC, SOS Store On Site, Park Ave Building and Roofing Supplies LLC, Colucci Carting, and ADI Contracting LLC.

“When veterans and their companion animals are in crisis, every second counts. Many of our heroes suffer from addiction, mental health issues, and homelessness. In times of crisis, they won’t part with their pets and continue to struggle,” said Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War.

“Our support center is a major step forward in helping veterans overcome challenges while keeping their pets safe and by their sides.”

Veterans and first responders with service or companion animals, some homeless or facing medical emergencies, need special attention to ensure they gain access to services. Often, having a service or companion dog limits access to housing and health care options. In many cases, these heroes refuse support because they won’t leave their pets behind.

For homeless veterans with emotional support or service animals, Paws of War provides short-term, temporary, or long-term homes. If an animal isn’t permitted in a shelter or the owner is experiencing difficult circumstances, Paws of War fosters the animal at their kennel, where trained experts care for the dogs until they are reunited with their owners.

The organization also adopts dogs if a veteran can no longer provide care or if the veteran passes away. Through partnerships with local agencies, veterans and first responders have access to programs that address their personal needs, including housing, substance abuse and addiction, mental and physical health services, as well as veterinary care and sheltering options for their service animals.

The new Command Center offers a welcoming environment for veterans to share experiences with others facing PTSD and mental health issues.

The 2,000-square-foot facility includes six offices, workstations, a therapy area and meeting rooms. The increased space and staff enable a quicker, more coordinated response to help more veterans and their animals.

By Toni-Elena Gallo

Ghoulies, ghosties and other Halloween creepies spooked patrons for an evening of fun and excitement, at Sweetbriar Nature Center’s Oct. 12th Halloween Spooktacular. Guests to the Smithtown grounds enjoyed eerie animal presentations, a ghostly garden, creepy crafts, scary stories, a night walk as well as fall-favorite snacks!

By Jennifer Donatelli

It was a beautiful autumn weekend for families and friends attending the Long Island Fall Festival in Huntington last weekend. The four-day, free event took place at Heckscher Park during Columbus Day weekend from Oct. 12 to 14, kicking off the festivities with live music and a world-class carnival on Friday night.

The largest of its kind in the Northeast and now in its 30th year, the Long Island Fall Festival has become the premier event for family fun. Filled with excitement at every turn, the carnival featured thrilling rides, games and classic carnival food.

Hundreds of vendors lined Madison and Prime Streets, adjacent to Heckscher Park, as well as around the pond and inside the park grounds. The Local Craft Beer and Wine Tent showcased beverages sourced locally from Six Harbors Brewing Company in Huntington.

The annual event attracts tens of thousands of people from all over Long Island and the Tri-State area. It even boasts an international food court serving a wide variety of options from classic festival fare to global cuisines.

For those who love to shop, the festival’s marketplace featured more than 300 vendors selling everything from handmade crafts to baked goods, jewelry and unique gifts. For many vendors, it was their first foray at the festival.

Ivan Reiter, owner of The Barking Biscuit, which makes all-natural dog treats, personalized cookies, birthday cakes and wedding favors, said he heard many great things about the festival and decided to participate this year.

Mr. Reiter’s business started as a hobby during COVID when everyone was getting dogs and has since expanded. He explained, “We got our name out, started small, and went from a small tent at events to a trailer, and now we’re in a bus!”

One of the most sought-after vendors was Sugaring NYC, a franchise company that makes scrubs from brown sugar, lemon and water, creating an alternative to using hot wax for hair removal. Owner Carolina Costa shared that she even uses it on her hands to get rid of age spots.

“You can also use the scrubs in the shower or mix them in with your body wash for deep exfoliation in the comfort of your own home,” she explained.

Cathy O’Connor of Northport came with a friend to shop and sample some craft beers. She ended up purchasing scrubs, soap and jewelry from various vendors. Ms. O’Connor thinks the festival is “the best way to support local businesses, find one-of-a-kind treasures and spend the day with family and friends.”

For those who don’t like to cook, The Spice Cabinet sold hand-blended spices and herbs in ready-to-cook packets complete with ingredients and directions. The owner, who goes solely by Jean, explained that everything needed is in the bag.

“You just have to boil water. It’s great for people on the go who need a quick and easy meal or for college students who don’t have time to cook,” she said.

Highlights from the weekend included a Columbus Day parade, a meatball-eating contest and a magic show for children. Live performances on the Harry Chapin Rainbow Stage featured dance numbers by students from Laura’s Yoga and Fitness in Huntington and high schoolers from the Long Island School for the Arts in Syosset. Kids also enjoyed free art activities at the Heckscher Museum’s terrace.

In addition to on-street parking, visitors to the festival were allowed to park for free at the Huntington LIRR station and take a $2 round-trip shuttle bus to the park.

For more information or to get involved in next year’s Long Island Fall Festival as a volunteer or vendor, visit www.lifallfestival.com.