Photo Gallery

Photo from County Executive Romaine's Facebook

 

Suffolk County Police rescued a jogger on Jan. 30 after he got stuck in chest-high mud in the former lake at Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown.

A jogger called 911 at 12:10 p.m. to report he was lost in the park and stuck in chest-high mud in the former lake. The man’s dog wandered onto the mud and as the man was attempting to retrieve the dog, he began to sink. Fourth Precinct officers, Emergency Service Section officers and Aviation Section officers responded.

Aviation Section officers located the man less than 30 minutes later and hovered over the area until officers on the ground reached him. Fourth Precinct Sergeant Katherine Kuzminski and Fourth Precinct Officer Richard Esposito entered the mud and attempted to pull out the man. After several minutes, Officer Esposito successfully pulled him to shore and placed him in his police vehicle to warm him to avoid hypothermia.

The jogger, Kyle Prato, 24, of Medford, was treated at the scene by members of the Nissequogue and Town of Smithtown Fire Departments. His dog, an Australian Shepherd named Stryker, was unharmed.

By Bill Landon

The Kings Park boys basketball squad mashed the gas pedal from the opening tip-off and never lifted it in a road game against the Wildcats of Shoreham-Wading Friday afternoon. Jan. 17. 

The Kingsmen, protecting a 12-point lead coming out of the halftime break, never looked back scoring the Wildcats in the third quarter before Kings Park head coach Chris Rube rested most of his starters and flushed the bench, cruising to a 50-33 victory in the League VI contest.

Justin Sandstedt led the way for the Kingsmen scoring 12 points along with teammate Jay Paul Verme who netted 10. 

The win lifts the Kingsmen to 6-2 holding on to  second place in the league standings while the loss drops the Wildcats to 3-6

— Photos by Bill Landon

Smithtown Township Arts Council’s Mills Pond Gallery in St. James kicks off the new year with its annual Member Artist Showcase Exhibition celebrating the creativity and tapestry of talent that defines our communities. Featuring the work of 97 Long Island artists, the exhibit runs from Jan. 25 through Feb. 23.

The featured artwork was created in a wide variety of mediums including acrylic, charcoal and pastel, conte, gouache,mixed media, monotype print, oil, pastel, pen & ink, pencil, photography, pigment ink, archival substrate on panel, resin sculpture, solarplate etching, watercolor and more. 

“This exhibit allowed the artists to select the art they wanted to show… each of them offering their distinct approach to seeing and representing their artistic passion. We hope gallery visitors enjoy the artwork presented and we hope once they leave, they suddenly catch the beauty in something because a painting brought their mind into a different focus,” said Allison Cruz, Executive Director of the Smithtown Township Arts Council and Mills Pond Gallery.

Exhibiting artists include Adam D. Smith, Adriena Masi, Andrea Fortunoff, Andrea Tonty, Arlene Gernon, Barbara Jones, Bernice Corbin, Bernice Rausch, Bob Stone, Christopher Buckley, Constance Sloggatt Wolf, CW Max, Daniel Van Benthuysen, David Herman, Debra Baker, Diane Motroni, Dominique Treboux, Ellen Ferrigno, Felecia Montfort, Frederic Mendelsohn, Gia Horton, George Junker, Heather Jablon, Hillary Serota Needle, Jacqueline DuBarry, Jacques Garant, James Kelson, Jane Corrarino, Jeanette Martone, Joan Rockwell, JoAnne Dumas, John Mansueto, John Morris, Josephine Puccio, Joyce Bressler, Judy Stone, Karin Dutra, Kathee Shaff Kelson, Kathy Brown, Khrystyne Robillard-Smith, Kusuma Bheemineni, Kyle Blumenthal, Linda Hartman, Linda Ann Catucci, Lisa Marie Scrima-Castelli, Liz Jorg Masi, Lori Scarlatos, Lou Deutsch, Louise McClellan, Lynn Kinsella, Lynn Staiano, M. Ellen Winter, Madeline Stare, Mark Levine, Mary Difronzo, Mary Waka, Mary Ann Vetter, Matthew Lombardo, Mike Stanko, Myungja Anna Koh, Nicholas Valentino, Pamela Waldroup, Pat Forie, Patricia DiGiovanni,Patricia Lind-Gonzalez, Patricia Yantz, Patti Napolitano Kern, Paul Edelson, Paul Mele, Renee Caine, Robert Wallkam, Robert Tuska, Robert Roehrig, Roberta Rogers, Ron Becker, Roni Murillo, Ross Barbera, Sally Anne Keller, Sandra Feinberg, Sandra Riddle, Scott Hartman, Sean Pollock, Sebastian McLaughlin, Shain Bard, Stephen Shannon, Steven Walker, Susan Guihan Guasp, Terence Mcmanus, Terry Tramantano, Theodora Zavala, Theresa Graff, Thomas Dicicco, Tracey Alemaghides, Victoria Beckert, Virginia Mallon, Whitney Bell, and William Drost.

The community is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to meet the artists and enjoy their wonderful creations. 

Mills Pond Gallery is located at 660 Route 25A in St. James. Regular gallery hours are Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 am. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission to the gallery is always free. 

For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.

By Bill Landon

The Bulls of Smithtown East (13-2) came calling on Newfield Tuesday night and  the Wolverines had an axe to grind, having lost their previous matchup by 20 points back in December. 

This time Newfield led by five points midway through the 3rd quarter, only to see that lead evaporate when both teams deadlocked at 54-54 with three minutes left in regulation. The Wolverines surged ahead by six points a minute later but it would be short lived. The Bulls rallied to take a two-point lead with 0:59 seconds left and then sealed the deal with a free throw in the final seconds to escape with a 65-62 victory.

Both teams retake the court with road games against North Babylon. Newfield plays North Babylon on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 4:00 p.m., and Smithtown East the week after on Jan. 30, with a 5:45 p.m. start.

The win cements the Bulls 2nd place position in league III just behind Hills East with four games remaining before post season play begins.

By Bill Landon

With a break in the incessant wind, Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11,  featured a Town of Brookhaven sponsored Winter Wonderland Walk at the Cedar Beach Nature Center in Mount Sinai. The attendees were treated to a guided tour where they observed the cold and stark beauty of the beach and the salt marsh and learned how wildlife adapted to survive the winter conditions and the important role that native plant life plays in the fragile ecosystem.

 

By Bill Landon

The Shoreham-Wading River girls basketball team sitting atop the League VI leaderboard at the halfway point of their season protecting an undefeated record when Mustangs of Mount Sinai came calling Monday afternoon, Jan. 13, one game behind the Wildcats having lost just once standing at 10-1.

With both teams deadlocked at 14-14 at the halftime break, Mount Sinai surged ahead in the third quarter to lead by six points to begin the final 8 minutes of play. The Wildcats chipped away at the deficit to retie the game at 30-30 with 3 minutes left in regulation play. With 24 seconds left on the clock the Wildcats led by two when Shealyn Varbero went to the line shooting two. Having missed a pair of free throws earlier, Varbero sank both to put the Wildcats out front 36-32, a score that would make the final buzzer.

Mount Sinai junior guard Mia Betancourt topped the scoring chart for the Mustangs with 15 points.

Shoreham-Wading River senior Alyssa Bell led the way for the Wildcats with 13 points and teammate Leslie Jablonski netted 12.

The win lifts the Wildcats to 12-0 on the season, assuring a post season appearance.

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Port Jeff Royals (3-8) were hungry for a much-needed win when Mattituck (4-6) came calling in a League VII matchup. While the Royals trailed by one point at the half and led by a single point to open the fourth quarter, neither team led the other by more than four points throughout the matchup. The Tuckers were able to keep the Royals at bay in the final minutes to hold on for a 44-41 victory Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 14.

It was Mattituck freshman Connor Searl who topped the scoring chart for the Tuckers with 19 points. Patrick Johnston, the senior, netted 17 points for the Royals, and sophomore Dan Rose added 11.

The Royals retake the court Jan. 16 when they host Center Moriches. Game time is slated for 4:30 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

By Bill Landon

With six minutes left in the fourth quarter of a League II matchup between the Patriots of Ward Melville and the Sachem East Arrows, the game began anew with both teams deadlocked at 49-49.

Ward Melville senior Neelesh Raghurama did what he’s done all season, seemingly able to score from anywhere on the court and looking particularly comfortable from long range. Whether it was knocking down seven free throws, hitting a trio of three-pointers, or making three field goals, the senior topped the Patriots’ scoring chart with 22 points to lead his team to a 63-56 road victory Thursday night, Jan. 9.

Teammates Eddie Shields and Jack Degen scored 9 points each, while Logan Seta and James Coffey netted 8 points apiece, and Brennan Kurts added 7.

The win lifts the Patriots to 4-0 in league play and 9-3 overall, while the loss drops Sachem East to 5-6.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

By Bill Landon

Mount Sinai took an 11-point lead into the halftime break keeping the Newfield Wolverines at bay in a non-league basketball matchup Jan. 3, but the Mustangs’ advantage evaporated in the third quarter. Newfield’s offense sprang to life to tie the game and then took the first lead of the game with 2 minutes left in the quarter. The Mustangs were able to shut down the Wolverines’ scoring frenzy in the final 8 minutes of play to hold on for a 76-73 victory.

Brian Vales led the herd for the Mustangs with nine field goals and three free throws for 21 points. Seniors Dominic Pennzello banked 17 points and Blake Kolsch netted 14.

Josh Hayes topped the scoring chart for the Wolverines with 23 points with teammates Marcus Petit-Frere notching 18 and Ranard Fields added 10. .            

– PHOTOS BY BILL LANDON

MEET GOLDIE AND KATE!

This week’s featured shelter pets are a bonded mother/daughter duo, Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson, available for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. These  sweet and stunning ladies both have FIV and Goldie is diabetic. Goldie is beyond affectionate with everyone she meets while Kate takes a little time to warm up to new people, but follows mom’s lead in all things. 

If you are interested in meeting these two dolls, please call ahead to schedule an hour to properly interact with them in the shelter’s Meet and Greet room.

The Town of Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). 

For more information, call 631-360-7575 or visit www.townofsmithtownanimalshelter.com.