Photo Gallery

By Rita J. Egan

Spring-like weather provided a “great day for the Irish” in Kings Park on Saturday, March 1.

A few thousand people lined up along the hamlet’s main thoroughfares to cheer on participants in the 15th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Grand Marshal Susan Benjes led the procession and was joined by Scouts, fire department members, elected officials, Irish step dancers and more. Parade participants marched up Lou Avenue and Pulaski Road and continued on Main Street before turning north on Church Street and stopping at William T. Rogers Middle School.

Many spectators, who in the past would visit Main Street Pub for a drink during the parade, stopped by nearby tents to donate to the establishment this year. A few days before the parade, the fire left the bar and Euro Barber Shop with extensive fire, heat and smoke damage. Main Street Pub owner Scott McKinnon and his employees were on hand Saturday to thank those who donated by handing out refreshments.

By Bill Landon

The Panthers of Miller Place (No. 4) seed hosted Sayville (No.5) seed in the Suffolk Class A quarterfinal round Feb. 25 having played each other twice during the regular season. Miller Place edged the Golden Flashes in the December matchup and Sayville returned the favor by defeating the Panthers, Feb. 1. 

The Panthers got off to a slow start trailing Sayville by 7 points at the halftime break but found their rhythm in the third quarter, tying the game in the final seconds to make it a new game at 43 all, to open the final 8 minutes of play.

Deadlocked at 55-55, with 15 seconds left in regulation, Miller Place senior Matthew Cirrito went to the free throw line, shooting two missing the front end but nailed the back end and the Panthers held on to the one-point lead as time expired.

Senior co-captain Nick Frusco topped the scoring charts for the Panthers with 22 points and teammate Mike Biondi netted 13. 

The win propels the Panthers to the semifinal round where they will face top seeded Southampton Wednesday March 5 at Longwood High School. Tickets can be purchased at:  https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI. Game time is slated for 6:30 p.m. 

– Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

It was another edition of Superheroes of the Sky Saturday morning, Feb. 15, at the Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown where a cacophony of wild birds of prey made their presence known and tour guide Jim MacDougall conducted the daily ritual of feeding the hawks, barred owls, turkey vultures and bald eagle among others at the end of Eckernkamp Drive in Smithtown. 

Sweetbriar Nature Center is situated on 54 acres of varied garden, woodland, field and wetland habitats on the Nissequogue River. Hundreds of species of plants and animals make their homes there.

Many of the feathered friends were injured raptors lucky enough to find safe refuge at the center where onlookers learned about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild.

Through education and examples, the center encourages responsible decision making, appreciation and respect for the unique wildlife and ecosystems found on Long Island.

The next Superheroes of the Sky program will be held on Saturday, March 8 from 11 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children. Preregistration is required by clicking here.

For more information about the Sweetbriar Nature Center visit  www.sweetbriarnc.org.

— Photos by Bill Landon

The lower level of the Smithtown Library's main branch has been restored after Aug. 19 storm. Photo by Robert Lusak

By Sabrina Artusa

After the Aug. 19 storm, the lower level of the Smithtown Library’s main branch at 1 North Country Road had to be cleaned and gutted. The stairwell has been repainted and all electriclal equipment has been removed. Now, the floor is a blank slate. Smithtown Library Director Robert Lusak views this as an opportunity to re-situate the floor to make it a better, nicer area.  

–Photos by Robert Lusak

Port Jefferson Middle School recently presented Imaginary, an enchanting new musical that explores the magic of childhood, the power of imagination, and the journey of growing up. This exciting production, from Jan/ 31 to Feb. 2, was the New York premiere of the musical and captivated audiences with its heartfelt storyline and talented performers.

Featuring catchy tunes and touching ballads, Imaginary follows a young protagonist as they navigate a mystery at their new school—why are all these students acting like zombies? To save the day they must learn to harness the power of friendship and imagination. As the story unfolds, the audience is reminded of the importance of nurturing creativity and connection in a world that often emphasizes the pursuit of perfect grades instead.

“The themes of Imaginary resonate deeply with children and adults alike,” said Christine Creighton and Laurel Ormiston, the directors of the musical. “It’s a story about holding onto the magic of your imagination while embracing the changes that come with growing up. We were incredibly proud to bring this inspiring production to the stage for the first time in New York, and to be able to give that unique opportunity for both cast and audience to experience something brand new.”

The cast, comprised of Port Jefferson Middle School students, showcased their months of dedicated work by delivering joyful, expressive performances. “We could not be more proud of these students. For many, this was their first show, and we hope that this was the start of their journey here with our phenomenal Royals’ performing arts community,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, the Port Jefferson Director of Music and Fine Arts.

The musical was also brought to life through exquisite lighting, props, costumes, and beautifully crafted sets which were the result of generous efforts by both parent volunteers and Port Jefferson staff. “Our students and families have been one of the best to work with because of their enthusiasm, teamwork, and talent,” noted Creighton.

The Port Jefferson Middle School community came together to enjoy this extraordinary event, with many students, teachers, and families attending the performances. The success of Imaginary marks another milestone in the school’s long history of producing high-quality theatrical productions.

For more information regarding the Port Jefferson School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website at https://www.portjeffschools.org and follow its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PortJeffSchools.

By Daniel Palumbo

The energy in the arena was electric on Feb. 16 at Stony Brook University for the Section XI Wrestling Championships. The athletes were supported by friends and family, who cheered words of encouragement during the matches. Each bout was fought with grit and determination. After each victory, most of the wrestlers leaped into their coaches’ arms in celebration. Signs of mutual respect were displayed throughout the competition. 

In the 101-pound weight class, Trevor Patrovich of Hauppauge High School won first place, defeating Chase Phillips of Ward Melville High School in the finals.

In the 108-pound weight class, Connor Sheridan of Hauppauge reached the finals but lost to Austin Bro Campsey of East Hampton.

Smithtown East’s Dylan Reinard wrestled well in the 166-pound weight class, reaching the finals but falling to Longwood’s Anthony Lagala Ryan.

Gino Manta, a Hauppauge wrestler, won the 124-pound weight class, defeating Longwood’s Devin Connelly.

Smithtown East’s Mathew McDermott triumphed in the 131-pound weight class, defeating Anthony Severino of Lindenhurst.

Niko Marnika of Commack High School wrestled hard in the 138-pound weight class, earning a spot in the finals but ultimately losing to Camryn Howard of Bellport.

In the 145-pound weight class, Michael McGuiness of Walt Whitman High School made it to the finals but lost to Leo Mongiello of Sayville.

Kingston Strouse of Northport High School wrestled his way into the finals in the 152-pound weight class. In a difficult match, he lost to John De La Rosa of Brentwood.

Rocky Point’s Aidan Barry emerged victorious in the 170-pound weight class, earning first place after defeating James Dauch of West Babylon.

In the 190-pound weight class, Brady Curry of Commack won after battling Bay Shore’s John Betancourt.

— Photos by Daniel Palumbo

Jacklyn Engel drives the lane for the Patriots in the opening round of post season play. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon 

Sachem East the Suffolk Class AAA (No. 9) seed came calling on the Patriots of Ward Melville (No. 8) to kick off the postseason in a girls basketball matchup on Feb. 13 where both teams found themselves deadlocked at 21-21 going into the halftime break.

The spark for the Patriots came in the 3rd quarter where the duo of senior captain Julia Dank along with Jenna Greek the junior paired up to put some distance over their visitors. Sachem East clawed their way back in the last 8 minutes of play but the Patriots were able to keep the Arrows at bay for the 47-43 victory.

Dank topped the scoring chart for the Patriots with four three-pointers, a field goal and five from the free throw line for 19 points. Greek banked 2 triples a pair of field goals and 4 from the charity stripe for 14 points.

The win propels the Patriots to the quarter final round where they’ll have their hands full with a road game against top seeded Brentwood on February 27. Game time is slated for 5 p.m. 

— Photos by Bill Landon

Train enthusiasts had a “choo choo” of a fun time when they visited the Railroad Museum of Long Island’s toy train display at Middle Country Public Library in Centereach on Feb. 15 and Feb. 16. With 1,400 in attendance, patrons enjoyed watching a variety of trains running in addition to interacting with museum staff and volunteers who shared their expertise. One of the highlights was the toy train clinic that was offered.

For more information about programs and classes held at Middle Country Public Library, please visit https://www.mcplibrary.org or call at 631-585-9393.

By Steve Zaitz

The Huntington girls basketball team scored a 51-37 victory over Smithtown East last Thursday, Feb. 6 in the regular season finale for both teams.

Senior guard Sabrina Boyle had 20 points and senior forward Lauren Donaghy had 16 to lead the Lady Blue Devils to the win.  Improving to 9-3 in conference play, they finished tied for second place in League III with Hills East. The Suffolk County playoffs begin on Feb 13.

Smithtown East finished the season at 8-11 and did not qualify for the playoffs. Freshman guard Ava Giordano had 17 points for the Lady Red Bulls.

Awardees from Setauket, Mattituck, Sag Harbor, Fort Salonga, and Garden City recognized

Preservation Long Island hosted an awards ceremony and reception on January 25 to honor individuals and organizations who have exemplified excellence in their efforts to preserve their community’s valuable historic resources. 

Held at Preservation Long Island’s headquarters gallery in the Old Methodist Church in Cold Spring Harbor, the evening brought together honorees and guests for a celebration of preservation excellence. Attendees enjoyed live jazz music, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres while viewing historic paintings, artifacts, and antique furniture from Preservation Long Island’s permanent collection.

Preservation LI Board President Michelle Elliott Gokey welcomed guests and provided an overview of the biennial Preservation Awards that recognize extraordinary achievement in historic preservation across Long Island. 

Executive Director Jackie Powers, emphasized the significance of the awards and acknowledged the public officials in attendance, including Suffolk County Legislators Steven Englebright and Robert Trotta (both 2024 awardees), Huntington Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo, Michelle McCarthy, Chief of Staff to Huntington Town Supervisor Edmund Smyth and Kevin Stuessi, Mayor of Greenport.

Guest presenters awarded certificates to the recipients of Preservation LI’s 2024 Preservation Awards and the 2024 Howard C. Sherwood Award:

1. Project Excellence Award: The Hawkins-Elzon House Restoration: Presented by Zachary Studenroth, Architecture and Preservation Consultant

The Safina Center received recognition for restoring the Hawkins-Elzon House, which now serves as the nonprofit’s headquarters. The award was presented to Carl Safina, founder of the Safina Center, and New York State Legislator Steven Englebright, both in attendance.

2. Organizational Excellence Award: Suffolk County for the Preservation of Owl Hill: Presented by Tara Cubie, Preservation Director, Preservation LI

Suffolk County was recognized for preserving Owl Hill, a 1907 mansion and 27 acres of open space in Fort Salonga, protecting it from redevelopment. Legislator Robert Trotta accepted the award on behalf of the county and County Executive Romaine. Also in attendance was Richard Martin, Suffolk County Parks Department Director of Historic Services. Independent historian Corey Geske was acknowledged for identifying the home’s renowned architect.

3. Project Excellence Award: The Church, Sag Harbor: Presented by Jeremy Dennis, Lead Artist & President, Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio

Artists April Gornick & Eric Fischl, along with Lee Skolnick & Jo Ann Secor of Skolnick Architecture, were honored for their leadership in transforming a 19th-century Methodist church into a vibrant arts and cultural hub. The award also recognized the site’s landscape design and amphitheater by renowned landscape designer Ed Hollander, accepted on his behalf by Jackie Powers.

4. Project Excellence Award: Mattituck Creek Tide Mill: Presented by Tara Cubie

The restoration of the historic Mattituck Creek Tide Mill was celebrated, with the award presented to Anthony Martignetti, a restauranteur, author, and designer. The careful restoration, undertaken with contractor Glenn Heidtmann of Heidtmann and Sons, was conducted under guidance from the New York State Historic Preservation Office. The Old Mill is set to open as a restaurant in Spring 2025.

5. Howard Sherwood Award for Preservation Advocacy: Brian Pinnola (Posthumous): Presented by Architect Paul Bentel

The evening concluded with a special tribute to Brian Pinnola, a devoted advocate for historic preservation, former board member of Preservation Long Island, and past president of The Garden City Historical Society. Brian’s lifelong dedication left a lasting impact on the community. The award was accepted in his honor by his partner, Maureen Soltren.

Photos by Len Marks Photography