Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner and Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon joined the McDonald’s at 463 Route 25A in Rocky Point for a grand re-opening celebration on Oct. 26. The long-time fast-food restaurant was completely renovated, both inside and out. McDonalds mascot “Grimace” (center) and staff were presented with a Certificate of Congratulations from both local officials.
By Bill Landon
It was a twist of fate that the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field was selected as the venue for the girls soccer finals before the season began. As a result, the Shoreham-Wading River girls soccer team had a home field advantage in the Suffolk County Class A soccer final Tuesday night, Nov. 5.
Mia Mangano had a shot on goal that just missed eight minutes into the second half, but the Shoreham-Wading River junior capitalized on the rebound courtesy of an assist from sophomore Stamatia Almiroudis to put the Wildcats ahead 1-0 against Sayville.
It would be all the Wildcats needed to punch their ticket to the Long Island championship round Sunday, Nov. 10, at Farmingdale State College.
It was the Wildcats third straight county championship and their goal is to return to the New York State finals.
Shoreham-Wading River will face the Nassau winner of the North Shore vs. Wantagh final.
— Photos by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
The Port Jefferson girls volleyball team began their 2024 campaign back on Sept. 4 with a 3-0 shutout over Mattituck and never looked back, finishing their regular season at 16-0-0 in League VII. But the Royals record doesn’t tell the whole story. Not only did they go undefeated, but in all 16 of those victories they did so by sweeping their opponents 3-0, not having lost a single set all season.
The Lady Royals would square off again against Mattituck in the Suffolk County Class C championship game Tuesday, Nov. 4, in what would be their third meeting of the season.
The Royals did what they’ve done all season beating the Tuckers convincingly in the opening set 25-10, putting the second set away 25-12 seemingly not having broken a sweat. The third set would be different when Mattituck gave the Royals a run for their money and tied the score at 23-23 forcing a timeout. With the perfect season in jeopardy Port Jeff won the next point and Mattituck miscued on the following volley to give the Royals another 3-0 sweep.
Port Jefferson’s Ava Reilly, a sophomore, reached a career milestone notching her 1,000th assist, recording 36 on the day. McKayla Pollard, a junior, was in top form at the net with 22 kill shots.
The win propels the Lady Royals to the Long Island championship game Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Hauppauge High School, where they take on either Evergreen Charter or Carle Place. First service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
— Photos by Bill Landon
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) celebrated Halloween with its 34th Annual Halloween Festival, held on October 31st from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Stony Brook Village Center. This year’s festival brought families and visitors together to experience Halloween festivities in a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Guests of all ages enjoyed live music provided by WALK 97.5, trick-or-treating throughout the Village Center, and dancing with Monster Merlin.
This event was sponsored by Suffolk Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy, Optimum, News 12 Long Island, Green Towers Group, Amazon Fresh, Apple Bank, Goldfish Swim School, Dr. Rocco Morelli, and Dr. Robert Quilty.
During the event, WMHO announced the winners of their highly anticipated 34th Annual Scarecrow Competition, which showcased impressive scarecrow designs across three categories: Professional, Adult & Family, and Children. The winners are as follows:
By Jennifer Donatelli
The Heckscher Museum of Art, located inside Heckscher Park in Huntington, celebrated Halloween with a free, family-friendly event on Sunday, Oct. 27, from noon to 5 p.m.
Held in conjunction with the museum’s new exhibit, “The Body Politic,” the event showcased how artists use different mediums to interact with and shape the world.
Young attendees received an activity worksheet and worked with their families to choose a favorite artwork on display at the museum. Adding to the fun, children and their families participated in a scavenger hunt throughout the museum, looking for portraits, landscapes, abstract art, and sculptures.
The young artists learned how looking closely at art helps us learn to observe artwork and the world around us more carefully.
Attendees created their own haunted Digital Action paintings, learned about collage-making, and designed spooky ghost crafts—all while learning how to interpret and appreciate various art forms.
“The purpose of this event,” said Joy Weiner, Director of Education and Public Programs for the Heckscher Museum, “is because many parents aren’t comfortable explaining art to their children or don’t know how to make it age-appropriate. The activity guide provides a series of questions to help children learn about art while having fun.”
Mary Porter, a museum docent, mentioned that the event has taken place biannually since 2010 and draws hundreds from the local community and across Long Island to experience art in a fun, hands-on environment.
Jane and Annie Mahoney, sisters from Queens, came with their parents and grandparents, planning to play on the playground but stayed for an hour to explore exhibits and make crafts.
Porter explained that the event is a great way to bring families to the museum, allowing adults to enjoy the artwork while children engage in activities.
Sawa, age 2; Koto, age 7; and Seisuke, age 4—siblings originally from Japan and now living in Syosset—enjoyed making Halloween crafts and learning about different cultures through artwork.
Gary Rubin, 6, from East Williston, came with his dad, both museum members who enjoy attending events. Wearing his Dracula costume with fake blood, Gary said he loved making crafts and had fun getting messy.
Upcoming events at the Heckscher Museum of Art include Artists in the Galleries, every Sunday in November and December from noon to 2 p.m. Visitors can meet the artists and learn about their work.
For more information on programs and exhibits, or to sign up for an event, visit www.heckscher.org.
This summer, the Lefferts Tide Mill & Preserve hosted a design contest for its custom brew label, created in collaboration with Six Harbors Brewing Company in Huntington.
Artists and photographers were challenged to capture the 18th-century Lefferts Tide Mill and Dam in Lloyd Harbor in its prime. To spark creativity, participants were invited to join a tour presented through the Huntington Historical Society, paddle to the end of Puppy Cove in their kayaks, or visit their website for inspiration.
Over the summer, a barge was filled with restoration tools in front of the mill. Participants were tasked with portraying the essence of the Tide Mill—whether including the barge docked for the restoration work or not—in their artwork.
The organization received twelve unique entries, each offering a different perspective on this iconic landmark. A panel of three judges from the Board reviewed the submissions and ultimately selected a stunning aerial photograph.
“It was a beautiful setting, with the Lefferts Tide Mill looking majestic as the subject of the photo,” commented judge Toby Kissam.
The winning entry was submitted by Peter Stango, who joined the group at a fundraiser on Aug. 16 to see his artwork featured on the Lefferts Tide Mill Lager label. He explained, “It was a drone shot, with a few Photoshop adjustments to remove the work equipment and complete the walkway.”
The Lefferts Tide Mill & Preserve is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2013, dedicated to preserving and protecting an 18th-century tide mill in the Village of Lloyd Harbor. This mill is considered the best-preserved tidal grist mill in the United States. Its design is based on U.S. Patent No. 3 for an “automatic mill,” signed by President George Washington. The surrounding mill pond has become a thriving habitat for native and migratory waterfowl, playing an important role in supporting the region’s biodiversity. For more information, www.leffertstidemill.org.
By Jennifer Donatelli
Are you or someone you know caring for a loved one?
In honor of National Caregiver Month, Huntington Hospital hosted its first-ever Caregiver Retreat on Oct. 29 to highlight the critical role support systems play for those caring for ill or disabled loved ones. Nearly one in four households is involved in caregiving for someone age 50 and older.
The event provided resources to ease the stress caregivers face, helping them navigate the complex healthcare system while creating a platform for sharing experiences with others. It emphasized the importance of self-care when another person depends on you.
Hundreds of caregivers attended the daylong event, participating in support and educational groups that provided tools to manage stressful situations.
Caregivers could also attend a Community Caregivers Resource Fair, guided meditation, and receive goody bags filled with giveaways. Most importantly, they were with others who had given up a part of their lives to be caregivers.
Barbara Roiland is one of many caregivers who attend weekly support groups and take advantage of Huntington Hospital’s programs. For the past 10 years, the Huntington resident has been the primary caregiver for her husband, Gary, who is suffering from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a debilitating brain disease.
Once an active couple who loved sailing, the diagnosis forced them to sell their sailboat, and Gary has since lost his ability to walk unaided and speak clearly. Barbara, with no medical background, has taken on the full-time role of his caregiver — a role that’s become overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally draining.
The support groups not only provide Barbara with emotional support but also help her navigate the medical complexities she faces daily, allowing her to keep Gary as healthy as possible at home.
“The diagnosis was devastating — our whole life has changed,” Barbara said. “I’m constantly worried about him falling or coughing.”
Barbara said that being able to ask medical questions and get support from others going through the same experience has been invaluable. “I don’t know what I’d do without it,” she said.
Northport resident Mary Ellen Mendelsohn has also found solace and guidance through the hospital’s caregiver programs. Mary Ellen’s husband, Andy, was diagnosed with prostate cancer several years ago. Despite treatment, the cancer returned, and since 2019, Andy has been in and out of the hospital, now reliant on a wheelchair due to the toll of his illness.
Mendelsohn shared how essential the hospital’s caregiver support has been in managing Andy’s frequent hospitalizations and medical needs.
“The caregivers have been a huge help,” Mendelsohn explained. “They check in every week or two, and those calls make a difference. They answer my questions, and that support has been vital. I miss spending time with my granddaughter, but having that extra help gives me some peace of mind.”
According to Mendelsohn, one nurse went out of her way to show her how to properly irrigate Andy’s catheter, a critical task given his susceptibility to UTIs. From ordering her husband’s supplies to refilling his medications, Mary Ellen has taken on most of his care, but she emphasizes how much it helps to know she’s not alone.
Two years ago, Huntington Hospital completed the Reichert Family Caregiver Center. The 550-square-foot space, located in the main lobby of the hospital, was designed to offer extra care outside the hospital. The center provides a space for caregivers to sit and talk with trained caregiver coaches who can offer resources as they manage the day-to-day demands of caring for a sick loved one.
Nick Fitterman, executive director of Huntington Hospital, said, “This center will be a destination for caregivers in our community to find resources and respite when they need assistance.”
Trained volunteer coaches and a social worker meet with family caregivers one-on-one to provide emotional support, discuss their concerns and needs, and guide them to community resources, said Kacey Farber, LMSW, program manager.
The Reichert Family Caregiver Center is staffed by a social worker and trained volunteer coaches. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It includes a quiet room with a recliner chair, a small meeting room, and a room with three chairs and a computer.
For more information on Caregiver Support Programs, visit www.huntington.northwell.edu
By Bill Landon
Under brilliant blue skies and mild temperatures, it was another edition of the annual Trunk-Or-Treat event presented by the North Shore Youth Council along with the Rocky Point PTA in the parking lot of Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School on Route 25A in Rocky Point Sunday afternoon, Oct. 27.
The North Shore Youth Council prides itself with providing local communities with comprehensive family programs and services in child care, enrichment, education counseling and recreation.
Hundreds of costumed trick-or-treaters visited the spooky decorated cars and coffins that lined the parking lot where free candy, treats, popcorn and face-painting crafts with photo props were in abundance.
For more information about the North Shore Youth Council visit www.nsyc.com.
Stony Brook Cancer Center and Stony Brook Orthopaedic Associates participated and supported the American Cancer Society’s largest breast cancer walk in the country, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at Jones Beach State Park on October 20.
With the goal of bringing smiles to patients and families who are facing Halloween in the hospital, Stony Brook Medicine hosted Halloween events to make the holiday extra special. The March of Dimes made costumes for NICU patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. The Stony Brook Cancer Center held its first-ever Trick or Treat and Halloween extraBOOganza with a parade.
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