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Village of Port Jefferson and Town of Brookhaven meet in joint hearing over annexation

by Sabrina Artusa - March 15, 2025

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Screenshot 2025-03-12 at 12.32.58 PM — A picture of the property to be annexed, screen shotted from the Town of Brookhaven’s online map application. The upper gray portion indicates the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson. Photo courtesy the Town of Brookhaven website

By Sabrina Artusa

The Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees and the Town of Brookhaven Council met for a joint public hearing for the prospective annexation of the Port Jefferson Station property on March 6.

James Tsunis, owner of the 5.6-acre parcel next to Baylis Avenue in Port Jefferson Station, initiated the historic hearing between the entities when he requested that five plots of land be annexed to Port Jefferson village. The last time the two entities met for a joint hearing was in 1978.

Area in question is highlighted during the meeting on March 6. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

Tsunis and his company, Northwind Group, intend to develop the area into a 48-unit multifamily townhouse complex, which would be impossible under Brookhaven’s current industrial zoning. If the land is annexed, it will be in the purview of the Port Jefferson village planning board, and Tsunis would apply for a rezoning application with the village instead of the town. In this 3.5-hour meeting, Tsunis, as the petitioner, was to prove to both boards that there is a clear public benefit from annexation.

Previously, Brookhaven council members gave feedback indicating that if Tsunis were to submit a rezoning application, it would be rejected.

Tsunis, a 50-year Port Jefferson resident, said “None of the residents of the Village of Port Jefferson want industrial [development] on the property. So what do we do? We annex it into the village because that is who is affected by the use of this property.”

In conjunction with his Brook Meadows plan, Tsunis would contribute $500,000 to the village, assist in rebuilding the William Tooker House, the oldest structure in the village, build a community garden and build a sidewalk from the property to Sheep Pasture Road.

Baylis Avenue and Sheep Pasture Road

Brookhaven Town Board Meeting on March 6. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

Tsunis’ attorney Michael Towey argued that the singular access road to the property from Sheep Pasture Road, which serves as the border between the town and the village, is problematic. “This section is completely geographically isolated from the town. It is only accessible through the village,” Towey said.

Since Sheep Pasture Road is the only entry point, Towey argued that the village residents will be affected by whatever is built on the parcel. “We believe the village and its residents [have] reason to be concerned not in the sense of any imminent threat, but in the sense that they presently lack control over how this territory or how these properties will be utilized in the future,” he said.

Supervisor Dan Panico (R) said that any property adjacent to an incorporated village would be implicated by that argument. Indeed, in order to reach Scenic View Court, a residential area neighboring Baylis Avenue, one must pass through the village from the east, though the road can be accessed without entering the village from the west. The Port Jefferson Marina, owned by the Town of Brookhaven, requires passing through the village.

Services

If the annexation is approved by both boards, the children who reside on the property would attend the Comsewogue School District, despite living in the village. The properties are currently serviced by the Terryville Fire District and will remain so even if the property is annexed. “An annexation of the property would place a division in unity of purpose of the public services providing emergency and educational services,” Town of Brookhaven Planning Director Don Hohn said.

Towey argued that the village already assumes responsibility for the road, and including the road in Brookhaven’s district was not efficient, although this could not be proven. Brookhaven paved the road in 2023.

Town of Brookhaven Superintendent of Highways Dan Losquadro (R) issued a letter of support of the annexation, writing “this will alleviate the duplication of services by more than one municipality on the same roadway.”

Some speakers reiterated the revitalization of Port Jefferson village as a benefit of the Brooks Meadows plan. Of the 24 speakers that addressed the board, 18 were in support of the development.

Jim Steiner hopes Brooks Meadows would breathe new life into the village: “[Revitalization] has been a slow process and to have a townhouse type place within walking distance will help lift up the neighborhood.”

Industrial vs. Multifamily

Hohn noted the increased traffic associated with multifamily zoning, stating that the daily trips would be lower if the area remains zoned industrial. “If the maximum building size allowed on a L1 industrial lot were to be developed, this would generate 214 total daily trips. The maximum building size on a multifamily lot, were it to be developed, would be 372 daily trips.” This assertion was corroborated by the Town of Brookhaven Highway Department, though the letter added that the traffic wouldn’t create “significant traffic impacts.” The maximum building height would be 50 feet in light industrial zoning and 35 feet in multifamily zoning in Brookhaven.

Alexander and Jim Tsunis listening to the public testimonies at the Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

Many residents expressed displeasure over the aspect of letting the property remain industrial. Port Jefferson resident Gary Zamek said, “The Village of Port Jefferson does not need more industrial land on Sheep Pasture Road…I know Port Jefferson is trying to revitalize our uptown area. It just seems obvious to me that more residents as opposed to trucks would help create that.”

Businesses such as health clubs, offices, warehouses and veterinary hospitals would all be permitted in an area zoned industrial, as noted in Chapter 85 in Brookhaven’s town zone.

Further, some speakers supported the annexation as it would supply additional housing. Town of Brookhaven Councilman Jonathan Kornreich (D, Stony Brook) said, “On the application, it indicated there would be four affordable units…This will not be affordable housing by any means. Four of them will be.”

“As a trustee, I want to see owned real estate,” Port Jefferson village Trustee Xena Ugrinsky said.

The Brook Meadows site proposal was analyzed by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Planning and Development in 2023 before it was removed for consideration by Tsunis. The plan was analyzed and disapproved by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Planning and Development in 2023, citing incongruence with adjacent industrial zoning, additional traffic and that a change of zone is simply unnecessary and prohibitive to prospective light industrial zoning developments. The walkability score from the property was listed as 56 partly due to its distance to the Port Jefferson Train Station and downtown, an estimated 10-minute walk. Tsunis then withdrew his application.

“If it was to be developed industrially, it would likely, in my opinion, be developed into something more demure when it comes to light industrial like a self-storage, which is typically a generator of almost zero,” Panico said.

The prospect of a rail yard being built by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority at the Lawrence Aviation site is another consideration of the Brookhaven town council. Tsunis included a 100-foot buffer from the tracks in his plan, but Panico argued that this location would not be in the public’s best interest.

The town and the village have to vote on the annexation within 90 days of the hearing. If the town and village don’t vote in agreement, then one entity could appeal the other’s decision, according to Town of Brookhaven Attorney James Burke.

The public comment period closes on March 14 at midnight for online submissions and at 4:30 p.m. for physical submissions by mail.

Port Jefferson architects honored for preserving Aluminaire House

by Press Release - March 14, 2025

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Frances Campani and Michael Schwarting of Campani and Schwarting Architects in Port Jefferson were recently awarded a coveted Advocacy Citation of Merit from Docomomo, an international organization involved with preserving modern architecture around the world, for their work to save and rebuild the 1931 Aluminaire House in Palm Springs, California.

The Aluminaire House was conceived and constructed by Lawrence Kocher and Albert Frey as an exhibition house for the Allied Arts and Industry and Architectural League Exhibition of 1931 at the Grand Central Palace in New York City. The house is constructed of mostly aluminum and glass, and was intended to be mass produced and affordable, using inexpensive, off-the-shelf materials. The three-story house was constructed for the exhibit in just ten days, and during its first week on display attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

The husband and wife architect team have worked on this project since 1987 when they rescued it from demolition in Huntington, deconstructed and reconstructed it with their architecture students at the New York Institute of Technology campus in Central Islip. Campani is presently an Associate Professor and Schwarting a Professor Emeritus of NYIT. The campus closed in 2005 and Campani and Schwarting formed the Aluminaire House Foundation and gifted it to the Palm Springs Museum of Art in 2020. It opened on the grounds of the Museum as part of their collection in March 2024.

The Aluminaire House was selected as one of 16 best American modern preservation projects at the 2024 Docomomo Modernism in America Awards ceremony in West Hollywood. The jurors noted, “This is an almost 100-year-old house that was not meant to last, but it has.” “People have gone to herculean lengths to preserve it, and there is a value in recognizing the individuals who have spent decades in service to preserving this object. The new location in Palm springs makes prefect sense.” “Sometimes the best preservation tool is patience.”

“We are very proud of the results of 35 years of work to save this significant structure,” said Schwarting and Campini in a press release. “There have many people involved to help but it is worth noting the 120 NYIT architecture students that worked and were educated by it.”

Campani and Schwarting have also published a book, The Aluminaire House by Gibbs-Smith publisher. To learn more, visit the current exhibition about the Aluminaire House at the Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main Street, Stony Brook. The exhibit runs through April 13.

Local 11-year-old shaves head to raise funds for cancer research

by TBR Staff - March 14, 2025

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ImageID_0_3 — Parker Hutchinson. Photo courtesy the Hutchinson family

By Joshua Kim

If you want to catch a glimpse of Parker Hutchinson’s fresh, cleanly faded, cut-in-Massapequa hair, you’ll have to act fast. On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, with about 12 others, 11-year-old Parker is going to shave off his hair in the auditorium of Port Jefferson High School.

The shaving is part of a fundraising event for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which was brought to Port Jefferson School District by childhood cancer survivor and Port Jefferson High School senior Kyle Martin. Melissa Martin, Kyle’s mother as well as Parker’s kindergarten teacher, described the foundation as “an organization that raises money to help fund children’s cancer research. They try to help children in the area where the money is raised.”

Kyle, who plans to attend SUNY Geneseo in the fall, hopes to leave Port Jeff’s St. Baldrick’s as his legacy — a way to make a difference while teaching others along the way to stay positive and keep fighting.

People can participate at St. Baldrick’s events in two ways —as shavees and as fundraisers. At the time of writing, in addition to planning to shave his head, Parker has also raised over $2,300 for the foundation, meeting his original goal of $250 more than nine times over.

He said he’d gotten donations from over 50 people, including seven people who donated over a hundred dollars, through posting on social media and directly asking the people around him, like coaches, friends and family, to help the cause. Paige Hutchinson, Parker’s mom, said that “everyone sees it’s for a good cause, so people have been so generous and willing to donate.”

For the past two years, Port Jefferson Middle School had shown its students a video about St. Baldrick’s encouraging them to join in. This year, Parker, who had fundraised for his sports teams and school before, was convinced; in particular, he remembered the video telling him that every two minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer. He registered for the event as soon as he could.

The original $250 goal was met in less than a day. Two weeks in, he hit $1,000, texting his mom, “We’re over!” Then, just a few days later, he hit $2,000. The family is hoping to “punch out another thousand” before March 17. Parker only said he was “happy because everyone’s been so supportive” when he saw how the money was coming in. His mom put it a bit more strongly: “He was psyched!”

But while the support he’s received is exciting, he still says that the event is really about “helping kids who are going through bad stuff to have hope.”

“If there are kids who don’t even have cancer who shave their heads, [it] can show them they’re not alone and that it’s not embarrassing,” he said.

When the day comes, he’ll walk over with his classmates during their lunch period to the Port Jefferson High School auditorium before noon, where he expects there to be around 500 people: middle and high school students, teachers, parents and community members. Then, he and the 12 other participants will go on stage to have the deed done by local barbers. As for what he’ll do after, Parker said that he’ll “maybe go downtown once the day’s over.” Then, of course, he’ll spend the next few months around school with a hairless head.

“We didn’t tell him to do anything. We didn’t ask him to do anything —it was all his idea. So that’s amazing. And then on the flip-side, it’s been nice to see the support he’s gotten from the folks who are willing to donate,” said his mother.

“The support from the local community has been overwhelming,” added her husband, Pete.

Congressmen Nick LaLota and Tom Suozzi hold town halls to address concerns

by Sabrina Artusa - March 14, 2025

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482003427_1182554979894406_8037684269394789147_n — Rep. Thomas Suozzi took phone calls from his constituents on March 6. Photo courtesy of Suozzi's Facebook page

By Sabrina Artusa

Representative Nick LaLota (R-NY1) on March 5 and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY3) held a virtual town hall March 6 address their constituent’s concerns, where federal cuts were chief among them.

Suozzi’s town hall was attended by over 10,000 people. Suozzi, who was one of 10 Democrats to censure Texas Representative Al Green (D-9th) after Green interrupted President Donald Trump’s (R) Joint Address to Congress, fielded questions on his motivation behind the vote.

“That is not appropriate,” he said, noting. “If it was a Republican doing that to a Democrat it wouldn’t be appropriate and I can’t be a hypocrite.”

Instead of “getting caught up in the protests and the sign-holding and interrupting the president’s speech,” Suozzi emphasized building relationships on “both sides of the aisle” as a method for Democrats to gain a foothold in Congress and “get things done” and “win the argument.”

Residents asked how Suozzi will stand against the federal cuts, including $880 million in proposed cuts to Medicaid. Education, litigation and mobilization were the three primary routes to change, said Suozzi.

Suozzi added that, “58,000 are in the affordable care act that comes from Medicaid; 305,000 people on Long Island are low-income individuals on Medicaid; 133,000 disabled Long Islanders are on Medicaid; and 62% of people in my district in nursing homes are on Medicaid … when you want to see someone’s values look at their budget.”

“We need to talk about the importance of Medicaid and how important it is in your life,” Suozzi told a disabled speaker who relies on Medicaid and Social Security and was concerned that he wouldn’t be able to afford to live on Long Island without the aid.

Suozzi admitted that he gets frustrated with the opposite party, but disagrees with dramatic displays of protest such as Green’s, whom he said he has successfully worked with in the past. At the address, Suozzi said he “was angry at the president” but doesn’t want to indulge forces that “want to divide us.”

One speaker called this approach “naïve,” saying Suozzi has “fallen prey to the paradox of tolerance.” Overall, the meeting lasted an hour. Speakers who were unable to ask questions were encouraged to leave a voicemail.

To contact Suozzi go to suozzi.houe.gov. Washington, DC, office at (202- 225-3335.

LaLota held a town hall on March 5. The tele-town hall comes after a President’s Day rally held at his office by Indivisible, a grassroots national movement. The rally was organized to demand an in-person town hall meeting. Lalota has previously only held tele-town halls.

He fielded accusations that tele-town halls are scripted with questions not being representative of his constituents’ concerns, responding that these claims were untrue.

Integrating polls throughout the call, LaLota garnered feedback on hot topics such as tariffs and Medicaid cuts. In regard to the tariffs, LaLota said he would monitor them and felt confident that the president would use precision and care when using tariffs as leverage.

LaLota said “we need to reduce spending: and he wants “people in government to root out things that don’t make sense.”

To contact LaLota go to house.lalota.gov; district phone number is (631) 289-1097.

Police seek man involved in hit-and-run crash in Port Jefferson Station

by Press Release - March 14, 2025

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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Port Jefferson Station.

A man driving a black Kia, Florida plate RETD20, pulled out of the parking lot at 5145 Route 347 and struck a 2020 Ford SUV traveling eastbound on Route 347 on March 12 at 9:15 p.m. The Kia sustained to the front driver’s side. No one was injured in the crash.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

Five years later, local docs reflect on lessons learned from the pandemic

by Daniel Dunaief - March 13, 2025

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covid-19-gba8aa1f0e_1920 — Pixabay photo

By Daniel Dunaief

For many local health care workers, the pandemic transitioned from triggering uneasiness about reports of a respiratory illness coming out of China to a significant threat to area residents.

Dr. Susan Donelan, Photo from Stony Brook Medicine/Jeanne Neville

Health care workers were in an all-out scramble to save lives even as information about the disease, its course and treatment, changed.

Five years after the start of a world-altering pandemic, infectious disease experts and emergency medicine specialists shared a range of thoughts about their initial reactions and concerns about this illness as well as insights about lessons learned and readiness to manage through future significant health threats.

Dr. Susan Donelan, Medical Director of Healthcare Epidemiology at Stony Brook Medicine, remembers raising questions about this virus towards late December of 2019. People urged her to go home and have a nice Christmas.

When Hospital CEO Carol Gomes called her on a Sunday and told Donelan she had an hour to get back to her, she recognized the approaching storm.

“I remember saying, ‘It’s a Sunday and she needs me in an hour,’” Donelan recalled. “We’re in it.”

Indeed, over the following months and, as it turned out, years, doctors dealt with numerous unknowns amid a fluid situation that threatened the population and, in particular those who were immunocompromised, had diabetes or respiratory or cardiac issues.

“People forget how bad things were,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. “So many people were dying” that hospitals needed to figure out where to put the deceased.

Residents also lined up to get the scarce tests for the presence of the virus and often waited days or longer for a result.

Fluid situation

Health care professionals were reacting to a fluid situation in which best practices in terms of treatment and prevention changed even as the virus was mutating.

“It seems like a blur, going back and thinking about those moments,” said Dr. Jennifer Goebel, emergency room doctor at Huntington Hospital. “It was very surreal, taking care of a disease process you knew nothing about and attempting to be the expert when we were still learning.”

Federal, state and county health officials were unsure of the best guidance for a range of safety measures, including the use of masks.

Additionally, health care experts struggled with the level of contagion based on different environments.

“I don’t think anyone really knew about the continuum that could occur depending on the ambient circumstances,” said Donelan. “I think we probably could have done a better job of letting the public know that our communications would evolve as our knowledge evolved.”

Sharing safety messages

During the worst of the pandemic, health care professionals struggled to share messages that would help people make informed decisions about protecting themselves, their families and their communities.

“Trust in public health was completely undermined,” said Dr. Sharon Nachman, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital “That hurt all of us.”

Nachman also listened to health care professionals on national TV who were discussing the health crisis. These pundits were sharing information that included far too many inaccessible words and concepts.

“Smart professionals were talking” but people weren’t understanding them, she said.

Additionally, the echo chamber of social media distorted messages, often questioning the developing science and best practices, suggesting conspiracy theories as well as treatments that were either unproven or ineffective.

Having local professionals from area hospitals made a difference on Long Island, Nachman said.

Whenever Nachman went to ShopRite, people who knew she was a part of their community saw her and asked questions.

“When it’s someone local from Northwell, Stony Brook, NYU Winthrop or others, [local communication] really works better,” she said.

Goebel added that she continues to share her medical knowledge not only with patients, but also with family members who have come to the hospital to provide support.

Hospitals, for their part, learned their lesson about stocking personal protective equipment.

“People have learned their lessons” at hospitals, said Pigott. “We need a more adequate stock of PPE.”

Health care provider PTSD

During the worst of the pandemic, one in five doctors who responded to an American Medical Association poll in 2022 said it was likely they would leave their practice within two years.

Dr. Jennifer Goebel. File photo from Northwell Health

“It was so staggering to hear some of these numbers,” said Goebel. Doctors go through over a decade of training. Seeing so many people leave was difficult.

Health care workers struggled, and continue to struggle, with memories and experiences in the midst of a crisis that killed millions around the world.

“I remember going to room nine, intubating a patient and being called to bed 12 and intubating another patient, within a matter of minutes,” said Goebel.

As the director of wellness in the Emergency Medicine Service Line, Goebel has created new initiatives to help reduce burnout and provide support.

She developed a peer to peer pilot program that started in September in which new physicians, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners were matched with a more experienced professional from day one.

The effort is designed to help new staff navigate the health system and address any questions or concerns.

“We’re looking to put these processes in place” throughout Northwell, Goebel said.

Remote medicine

While remote medical choices, such as telehealth, predated the pandemic, these options have become increasingly common, particularly for residents who might struggle to get to a medical visit.

“Because people were forced to use it, with practice, they got better at it,” said Pigott.

Many organizations invested more in telehealth, which also reduces the burden on Emergency Departments.

Teleheatlh has its “risks and benefits,” said Goebel, as it can keep patients who might be vulnerable out of an environment where they might otherwise be exposed to other pathogens.

Goebel appreciates the importance of a visit with a doctor, who can differentiate between an ear ache and a potential indication of shingles.

Fortunately, for many people, Covid has become a much more manageable infection.

Pigott contracted Covid in September. He took Paxlovid, which helped knock out the symptoms within three days.

Pigott is also grateful for vaccines, which provided a dramatic reduction in mortality during the worst of the pandemic, particularly for people who are over 65.

The vaccine was “saving lives,” said Pigott. “There was real evidence that these are doing their jobs and are working out.”

Child diagnosed with measles, rabies found in dead raccoons in Suffolk County

by Daniel Dunaief - March 13, 2025

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482321149_1073710551456265_6118747965242674770_n — Image courtesy of Suffolk County Dept. of Health

By Daniel Dunaief

Suffolk County reported its first case of measles in a child since 2017 this week, as an unvaccinated person under five years old contracted the infectious disease.

Suffolk County health officials are working with the New York State Department of Health and Northwell Health and are taking steps to prevent the spread of the disease.

The case of measles in Suffolk County is the third in the state and comes as Texas has had over 200 confirmed reports of measles since January, with 29 hospitalizations, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

“Measles can be very serious,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement. “It’s much more than just a rash as complications can include pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, and often results in hospitalization.”

Officials indicated that residents could have been exposed to the person with measles at the pediatric emergency department at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens from March 3rd to March 4th.

Patients who visited an inpatient child on the Medicine 3 unit from March 3rd to March 6th also could have had exposure.

The Cohen Children’s Medical Center, which is run by Northwell Health, is reaching out to patients who were at the center during the time of exposure. The Center has also identified patients who are high risk and may require timely treatment.

“As we follow this case and closely monitor potential exposures, we strongly encourage all residents to protect their health and the health of our youngest and most vulnerable residents by ensuring they are on time and up to date their measles vaccines and all recommended and lifesaving immunizations.” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services, said in a statement.

The incubation period for measles, which is spread by coughing or sneezing into the air, is 21 days, with symptoms that can include high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. The best way to prevent measles, according to health officials, is to get the MMR vaccine. One dose is 93 percent effective at preventing measles, while two doses are about 97 percent effective.

Doctors recommend that residents receive their first dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at four to six years of age.

Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of early labor, miscarriage, and low birth weight infants.

Separately, area officials found two dead raccoons tested that positive for rabies in Amityville and North Amityville on March 4th and January 28th, respectively.

These are the first confirmed cases of rabid raccoons in the county since 2009

These animals had no known contact with humans or animals.

“We have over 1.5 million residents [in Suffolk County] and it’s not good to have raccoons running around with rabies,” said Pigott. These animals can get in a fight and can transmit the rabies virus to other animals or to humans.

Left untreated, rabies, which has early symptoms including irritability, headache, fever and itchiness at the site of exposure, can be lethal.

People can contract rabies if they are exposed to saliva or nervous tissue of a rabid animal through a bite.

Pigott urged pet owners to ensure their animals are vaccinated for rabies. He also suggested that people take safety measures when they are out among animals. He asks those living in Huntington, Islip, Smithtown or Babylon to contact the Department of Health Services if they encounter a dead raccoon.

Theatre Three’s Festival of One-Act Plays deserves a standing ovation

by Julianne Mosher - March 13, 2025

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1 of 8

By Julianne Mosher

Seven small plays packed into a two-hour festival will leave you with plenty of emotions; you’ll laugh, cry, gasp and smile.

Now in its 26th year, the Festival of One-Act Plays at Port Jefferson’s Theatre Three has been the place where world premieres have been shown. Throughout it’s almost three decades, they have received 14,000 submissions worldwide. This year, 1,000 plays were sent in and seven made the cut.

Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, the festival starts out with the somber “A Happy Child” featuring the incredible Jae Hughes and Linda May. Written by Melinda Gros, Hughes plays Rory, the child of the woman (May), who is a drifter. They won’t go home to a stable shelter where their child lives and grows, and it hurts both them and their mom. The mom expresses how much she misses them when they’re away and the end of the show will leave your heart hurting for the family that seems to be holding on by a thread.

“Monster Love,” written by D.L. Siegel, is next featuring Steve Ayle as Victor and Julia Albino as Bonnie. Bonnie is getting married, and she must plan the festivities with her scientist father, Victor Frankenstein. He really wants his late wife, Bonnie’s mother, there, so he shows off his new creation (Samantha Fierro) … And it happens to have his wife’s head. You’ll laugh at this one, it’s silly, but a clever take on modernizing the classic tale and making it more… relatable? While Fierro doesn’t have much speaking parts, she plays a great monster with her hilarious body language and facial expressions. Albino is a successful working woman and Ayle’s mad scientist is absolutely hysterical.

Port Jefferson local Melanie Acampora’s third show in the festival premiered with “Too Much Fondant” which starts off with funny banter between a husband (Evan Teich) and wife (Brittany Lacey). Teich, a workaholic, is unimpressed by a piece of cake Lacey brought home after the neighbor’s birthday party. Too much fondant can ruin a cake. But in a quick turn of events, we see their relationship completely unravel. What went wrong? Teich and Lacey’s chemistry on stage is beautiful and tragic, especially when we watch the relationship fall apart.

The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.

Before intermission, Larry (Jason Furnari), Jess (Hughes), Luke (Will Brennan), Amy (Fierro), Bobbi (Phyllis March) and Desi (Steven Uihlein) are putting on a community theater production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” in “Final Dress, or Places for the End of the World” by Matthew Green. The five are rehearsing the famous end scene, and Bobbi is tired and wants to leave the theater … which is actually a shelter from the end of the world outside. When Bobbi leaves, Jess, who has become stage manager and director, needs to figure out how to produce “Romeo and Juliet” with just four actors. This one feels all too real in a post-pandemic world.

Mark Mulkerin’s “Where Illusions End” is a sad one, but also relatable to people who have felt the effects of cancer firsthand. Cam (Furnari) and his brother Alex (Teich) are navigating how to better care for their sick mother. Alex is a magician by trade, and he is completely against their mom trying a new type of treatment that he is convinced is a scam. An illusionist, himself, he says he can do a better job at pretending to cure her than an expensive doctor can.

On a lighter note, we’re then brought to a business pitch in James McLindon’s “Sinergy.” Aubrey (Lacey) plays a businesswoman whose specialty is combining medieval prayer with modern cleansing … of your sins. She’s pitching this wellness practice to Taylor (Ayle), and to prove it works, Tistram (Uihlein), a poor man dressed in pauper’s clothing, who reluctantly will take on the sins of the consumer, clearing their conscious and making them feel great. This one is funny. It’ll be a sin to not to laugh at it.

The festival ends with “Cliff” by Teri Foltz. Cliff (Douglas Quattrock) is sitting in a waiting room anticipating a cancer diagnosis. His hurricane of a wife, Carrie (May), is there with him along with four other patients; (Albino, Brennan, Fierro and March). Cliff, a quiet, delicate man tells us the story of his life. He’s always been known as shy, kind of a doormat, and relatively awkward in social settings, but he’s kind, and deep down he wants more. This diagnosis, whether it’s negative or positive, could be the start of a new chapter for Cliff.

Quattrock’s performance received a standing ovation and should continue on throughout the remainder of the shows.

Overall, the festival was an amazing production of short and sweet plays that will appeal to everyone. There’s a reason The Festival of One-Act Plays has been selling out shows for 26 years.

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Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 26th annual Festival of One-Act Plays at the Ronald F. Peierls Theatre on the Second Stage through April 5. Tickets are $25. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

Town of Brookhaven announces recipients of 39th annual Women’s Recognition Awards

by Press Release - March 13, 2025

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JQuinn — Dr. Jennifer Quinn has been chosen as a recipient of the Town of Brookhaven's 2025 Women's Recognition Awards.

Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Daniel J. Panico has announced the recipients of the 2025 Women’s Recognition Awards who will be honored at the 39th Annual Women’s Recognition Night to be held on Thursday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill in Farmingville.

Lily Stolzberg has been chosen as a recipient of the Town of Brookhaven’s 2025 Women’s Recognition Awards.

The event, which is open to the public, is sponsored by the Town’s Office of Women’s Services, Department of General Services. Nominated by members of the community, the winners either live or work in the Town of Brookhaven and have demonstrated excellence in their endeavors in a variety of areas. Nominations were considered by members of Brookhaven’s Women’s Advisory Board and selected based on resumes and letters of recommendation.

The 2025 Women’s Recognition Award recipients are:
Business Mary Beth Lichtneger / Center Moriches
Communications Lily Stolzberg / Miller Place
Community Services Professional Jennifer Hernandez / Mount Sinai
Community Service Volunteer Debra L. Engelhardt/ Wading River
Education Leah Topek-Walker / Patchogue
Government Leslie A. Mitchel / Port Jefferson
Health Care Provider Christina Burke, PT, DPT, NCS / Great River/ Stony Brook Medicine
Law Enforcement Megan O’Donnell / Calverton/ District Attorney’s Office
Legal Profession Stephanie A. Buffa, Esq. / East Setauket
Medicine Dr. Rachel Davis/ Roslyn / Stony Brook Medicine
Science Dr. Gabriella Carini / Port Jefferson

Stephanie A Buffa, Esq. has been chosen as a recipient of the Town of Brookhaven’s 2025 Women’s Recognition Awards.

2025 Town Board Special Commendation Awards
Supervisor Daniel J. Panico – Annette Eaderesto, Esq. / Brookhaven
Councilman Jonathan Kornreich – Dr. Jennifer Quinn / East Setauket
Councilwoman Jane Bonner – Bea Ruberto / Sound Beach
Councilman Neil A. Manzella – Linda Miller / Selden
Councilman Michael A. Loguercio – Isabella Rossellini / Brookhaven
Councilman Neil Foley – Mary Bailey / Blue Point
Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig – Maura Spery / Mastic

The Town of Brookhaven’s Office of Women’s Services, a Division of the Department of General Services, provides a variety of services for women and their families. For more information about the 39th Annual Women’s Recognition Awards Night ceremony, please call 631-451-6146 or visit BrookhavenNY.gov.

International Women’s Day Rally roars in Port Jeff Station

by Steven Zaitz - March 13, 2025

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By Steven Zaitz

As brush fires swept across Suffolk’s South Shore this past weekend, passions flared along Route 347 in Port Jefferson Station, where nearly 500 women, men, and children gathered for ‘The War on Our Rights’ rally, part of the global observance of International Women’s Day.

At noon on March 8, a fervent crowd—spanning generations, as well as genders —assembled at the intersection of Routes 347 and 112. Undeterred by the blustery conditions, demonstrators packed the sidewalk three, four, and even five people deep, stretching down to Canal Road. These local voices joined a far-flung chorus of approximately 300 protests across the U.S, alongside rallies as far away as Spain, Turkey, France, and Nigeria.

While scattered individuals had their own divergent agendas, the overwhelming sentiment of the crowd coalesced around a singular theme — deep-seated disdain for the Trump administration and concerns over its impact on women’s issues.

Shannon Russo, a 28-year-old social worker from Port Jefferson Station, organized the rally with a careful balance in mind: projecting an uplifting and empowering message for women while also underscoring the potential harm another Trump term could inflict on women’s rights and autonomy.

“Everyone at the rally stuck to the facts of what’s going on politically,” Russo said. “It’s difficult to not involve Trump because he’s directly putting people’s lives in danger with recent policies so I think these two concepts are currently very much intertwined. The key difference of our rally was we were peaceful, inclusive and supportive. The ”red side” of Long Island typically is not.”

In the 2024 election, Trump won Suffolk County with 54% of the vote over then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Seven weeks after his inauguration, his policies are sparking concern, and the crowd was not hesitant to speak out against them.

Some of the more pointed signs carried by marchers read “Respect my Existence or Expect my Resistance” and “Angry Women will Change the World.” Others struck a softer tone like “Hate Won’t Make Us Great,” “Strong Women, Strong World.” and one that simply read “Unity.” Multiple posters read, “My Body, My Choice,” a slogan woven into the fabric of the feminist movement since the 1960s.

Evoking the spirit of that very era, a megaphone wired to a small amplifier carried Russo’s voice — and those of other speakers — who urged the crowd to never stop fighting for their rights. Between speeches, songs like Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman” anthem and Carole King’s “A Natural Woman” crackled through the amp seemingly on a two-song loop, as some in the flower-power-styled crowd swayed and danced nearby.

Sarah Friedman, of Setauket and a 2019 graduate of Ward Melville High School and her sister Maggie, currently a senior there are proud to be a part of the younger generation of louder, female voices.

“We are all proud to be out here for social justice and it’s important to stand up for our marginalized communities and the people who don’t have voices,” said Friedman, 24. “I’m glad that so many of us have enough time during the day to come out here on a Saturday, and shove signs in peoples’ aces who definitely don’t want to see them or us. We have seen our share of middle fingers and stuff like that from cars that pass by, but that’s okay.”

Her sister Maggie, 18, was undeterred.

“Women have voices and nothing is ever going to change that. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere!”

Although about 80-85% female, the men in the crowd were also eager to champion their causes.

The father-son team of Clark and Luke Blanton of Mount Sinai are deeply concerned about potential Medicaid budget cuts, which could directly impact Luke, who has special needs. He takes art, music and kickboxing classes at Blue Umbrella Experiences in Smithtown and volunteers at the Branches Food Pantry in Middle Island.

“I play keyboards and sing lead vocals,” said Luke. “I love volunteering at the food pantry as well and I’m proud to be out here marching for women’s day.”

Clark Blanton, Luke’s dad, has watched the budgetary fight in Congress very closely.

“Funding for what keeps Luke active in the community all comes through Medicaid,” said the elder Blanton. “Our congressman, LaLota [Nick LaLota (R-NY 1], voted to pass a budget to potentially cut $880 billion out of Medicaid. Is this going to come from a program that has to do with my son? Chances are the answer is yes. That’s why we are out here.”

As it was her first time in the top job as organizer of the project, Russo was pleased at not only the number of marchers she was able to muster, but the spirit that they brought with them.

“This is my first time doing this, but I feel like the energy of everybody is making me feel good,” Russo said. “I couldn’t have done it without the moral support of Skyler Johnson, who is the Chair of Suffolk Young Democrats, my family, colleagues and friends. I’ve never hosted or organized a rally before, but I assisted colleagues with a few over the years. I’ve attended rallies in support of Women’s Rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. It was so important for me to do something to connect and support women on International Women’s Day. It feels so empowering to stand with so many passionate women — and men — in solidarity.”

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