Suffolk County Police Third Squad detectives are investigating a wrong-way, head-on, motor vehicle crash that injured three people in West Islip on July 14.
Jimmy Graham was driving a 2014 Audi A8 westbound on the eastbound side of the Sunrise Highway Service Road at Malts Avenue when his vehicle crashed head-on with a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was traveling eastbound at approximately 9:35 p.m.
Graham, 40, of Central Islip, was ejected from the Audi. He was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip in critical condition. A passenger in the Jeep, Chelsea Zamzam, 32, of East Northport, was transported to the same hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Her husband, and the driver of the Jeep, Bryan Zamzam, 43, also of East Northport, was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment of serious injuries.
Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the Third Squad at 631-854-8352.
Nassau County International Cricket Stadium at Eisenhower Park. Courtesy Don Lockerbie, T20 USA
By John Broven
The 2024 International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup final, held June 29 in Barbados, featured India and South Africa. Both teams had starred locally June 3-12 in Eisenhower Park at a temporary modular facility, grandly named Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
The site was chosen after NIMBY opposition ruled out first-choice Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. Credit should go to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) for spotting the opportunities for the local economy and tourism.
The eight games were blessed with almost perfect sunny cricket weather. There was a short rain delay for the key India vs. Pakistan game, which India won and effectively knocked out their intense rival from the tournament. Crowds swarmed to see their Indian and Pakistani heroes from back home. Every one of the 34,000 seats was sold within minutes of the ticket office opening, resulting in a scalpers paradise. The attendance was only slightly less for USA’s honorable defeat by ultimate tournament winners India on the concluding Wednesday. All told, more than 150,000 fans saw the Nassau stadium games.
Overlooked features of the competition included USA, a non-cricketing nation, making it to the Super Eight stage and war-torn Afghanistan progressing to the semifinals stage.
T20 cricket at Eisenhower Park
So, how was my experience of international cricket on Long Island? Quite simply, it was wonderful. It was a joy to see top-class cricket again after many years living over here. Even with the rapid-fire T20 format, with matches hardly lasting four hours, the serenity, charm and strategy of the game came shining through. Somehow the introduction of loud recorded music was only a minor distraction.
The batting, bowling and fielding were all spellbinding on what was acknowledged to be a “slow” wicket, where the ball didn’t come quickly onto the bat. As is often said in cricket terminology, the state of the wicket was the same for both teams.
With friend Richard Tapp, who traveled all the way from England for the tournament, I had tickets for the games on Friday, June 7 (Ireland vs. Canada) and the Saturday (South Africa vs. The Netherlands). Both matches swung back and forth, with Canada edging the first game and the Netherlands almost pulling off a shock defeat after South Africa had lost their top four batsmen cheaply.
Meet-and-greet at Westbury LIRR station
The pleasurable experience started as soon as we disembarked June 7 at Westbury station from Stony Brook. A kind gentleman on the platform led us to the shuttle bus area where we were greeted cheerily by LIRR and NICE bus officials. If there were any fears of being stuck in traffic to Eisenhower Park, they were soon dissipated when we realized that the main arteries, Post and Merrick avenues, were dedicated to bus traffic. A lady driver said that the journey would be 8 1/2 minutes — and so it was.
The spirit of the event was captured by bus passengers discussing their presence with others. There was an Indian national who failed to get tickets for the “big game,” but was attending because he wanted to experience live international cricket in the United States. He said he was a fast bowler from New Jersey and played in a cricket league on Long Island with matted pitches (as opposed to grass). A French lady, who lives now in Nassau, said she wanted to experience the occasion even though cricket is as foreign in France as it is in the United States.
After leaving the shuttle bus, we approached the ticket and check-in areas. There were nervous moments as tickets were available only electronically and then on the day of the match. Luckily, the combination of ICC’s ticketing agency and Apple’s iPhone did the job. We had taken the precaution to acquire see-through bags for check-in, but that didn’t save from the trashcan a tasty deli sandwich or a bug spray, which proved to be unnecessary anyway.
Impressive stadium
As we walked the perimeter of the vast modular stadium it was hard to believe that it had been constructed from nothing since January. This included the cricket outfield grown from Kentucky bluegrass in New Jersey and the pitches, which were prepared in Florida based on guidance from the famous Adelaide Oval in Australia.
We were handed big red placards marked “6” — the equivalent of a baseball homerun — and “4,” which were waved vigorously whenever a boundary was struck, adding to the party-like atmosphere.
Our seats in the East Grandstand were perfect for watching the games although there was quite a lot of stair climbing, which was quite hard on the elderly. There was no shortage of bar, food and soft drinks facilities with merch stalls, ice cream vans and, importantly, restrooms and first-aid.
The Friday crowd was on the small side at just over 5,000 people. Although cricket is not a major game in Ireland or Canada, I had expected a larger contingent of Irish and Canadians. Saturday was much fuller, thanks to many enthusiastic South African supporters regaled in green and gold. There were quite a few Netherlands fans, too, dressed in familiar bright orange. The visible security force quietly kept order throughout. Indeed, good humor pervaded at all times among the attendees reflecting the uniqueness of the event.
A touching moment before each game was the competitors’ two huge national flags being unfurled across half the ground by local schoolchildren dressed smartly in white.
There was a strong local connection with T20 USA venue development director, Don Lockerbie, being the son of Bruce Lockerbie, former dean of faculty at The Stony Brook School.
The future of U.S. cricket
Cricket is seemingly destined to be a minnow sport in the U.S., but there’s no doubt that the Long Island T20 series did the game proud — more so than the matches held in Dallas and a weather-hit Florida. As expected, the coverage by the national media was spotty, but credit to the New York Times, News12 and Newsday for their reporting. I think the New Yorker’s doubting headline “If you build it (a cricket stadium on Long Island) will they come?” was well-answered in the affirmative.
English-born John Broven, of East Setauket, is an award-winning American music history author and a copyeditor with TBR News Media. This article is a follow-up to “International cricket coming to Long Island” (Feb. 29).
New store features more than 2,000 local products from 400+ Northeast-based suppliers
Whole Foods Market has announced that it will open a new 43,916-square-foot store, located at 350 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station in the Huntington Shopping Center, on Wednesday, July 17 at 8 a.m. This will be the Northeast Region’s 98th store and 7th location on Long Island.
“The store’s design emphasizes simplicity and modernity, incorporating elements reminiscent of the bay area’s fluidity and the neighborhood’s commuter heritage,” said the company in a press release, adding that the store’s product assortment features more than 2,000 local products from 400+ Northeast-based suppliers.
On opening morning, customers will enjoy coffee from Sail Away Coffee Co., muffins from Abe’s and a sunflower photo station from Tucker Farms. The first 300 customers in line will receive a limited-edition Huntington Station tote bag and a Secret Saver coupon featuring offers up to $100 off. Features of the Huntington Station store include:
Curated grocery section filled with exclusive brand favorites and local products, including new to Whole Foods Market suppliers L’Isolina Pasta, The White Moustache, Don Carvajal Café and La Rossi Pizza, which will be exclusive to the Huntington Station location. Existing local favorites will include Vista Hermosa Tortillas, Family Farmstead Dairy, Heidelberg Bread, Oliver’s Organic Eggs and Adirondack Ice Cream.
An array of certified organic, conventional and Sourced for Good produce, plus offerings from more than 11 local farms and suppliers, including local sunflowers and floral bunches from Tucker Farms and Cranbury Fields, Rubi tomatoes from Oishii, and packaged salads from Satur Farms.
Specialty department dedicated to celebrating cheesemakers and artisan producers, including 20 local suppliers. Local items include fresh mozzarella from Lioni Laticini, sauces from Gotham Greens, and ricotta from Calabro Cheese. The cheese counter will be overseen by trained cheesemongers and a Certified Cheese Professional who can offer recommendations for any occasion and create custom boards.
Full-service seafood counter featuring locally and globally sourced seafood and a large selection of Ready to Cook and Ready to Eat Seafood. Local options include oysters from West Robins Oyster Company, smoked salmon from Catsmo Artisan Smokehouse, and seafood cakes from Lagniappe Foods. All offerings are either sustainable wild-caught or Responsibly Farmed.
Full-service meat counter, with butchers available to cut steaks and poultry to order. Local options include pork from Briar Woods Farms, smoked cooked cured chicken sausages from Bilinski’s, and cured salami items from Brooklyn Cured.
Extensive selection of more than 300 craft beers, including 40 local suppliers. Local options include Money IPA from Barrier Brewing, Sun Up IPA from TALEA Beer Co., and Rose Cider from Sand City Brewing.
A Prepared Foods department featuring a hot bar, salad bar and fresh pizza. Customers can also shop for made-to-order sandwiches and rotisserie chicken.
Bakery department offering bread baked fresh daily as well as everyday favorites, such as Whole Foods Market’s Berry Chantilly Cake and brown butter chocolate chip cookies. The department also carries a wide variety of special diet items. Local offerings include pastries from Balthazar, pita bread from Angel Bakeries, and muffins from Abe’s.
Wellness & Beauty section featuring more than 300 local products from 40 local suppliers. Local products include ginger shots from Annie’s Ginger Elixir and soap bars from RAD Soap Co.
To give back to the community, Whole Foods Market has partnered with local suppliers and organizations, including Helping Hands Rescue Mission, Long Island Cares, and Island Harvest. On opening day, Whole Foods Market will donate a Nourishing Our Neighborhoods van to We All We Got, Inc., along with $3,000 in products as part of the Stuff the Van event.
Prime members who shop at Whole Foods Market have access to a number of benefits year-round, including deep discounts on select popular products each week and an additional 10% off hundreds of in-store sale items. Additionally, customers can pay in-store with their palm using Amazon One or with the Whole Foods Market or Amazon app.
Founded in 1980, Austin-based Whole Foods Market is part of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores and serves customers in more than 530 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Other locations on Long Island include Lake Grove, Commack, Garden City, Manhasset, Massapequa Park and Jericho.
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Scene from the Northport lacrosse alumni game on July 6, 2024. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport lacrosse coach Billy Cordts (left) and his brother Tommy. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Dan McNaughton and his son Dylan both played at the alumni game. Photo by Steven Zaitz
By Steven Zaitz
Northport High School lacrosse stars took the field on July 6 in a friendly battle between Tigers past and present in a jovial but competitive alumni game.
Spanning five decades of Tiger grads, the White team held on for an 8-7 victory over the Blue team in front of an enthusiastic crowd of about 100 fans. But on this salty, sticky afternoon, it was more about the camaraderie than the game result.
“It’s important to have guys who have played here at different times to make connections, have some fun and bond with each other,” said head coach Billy Cordts, Class of 2003, who organized the event with help from the Northport Boys Lacrosse Booster Club.
“We tried to plan this well in advance so guys who are scattered all over the country can plan their annual Northport trip around the alumni game, and the turnout was great. I think that speaks to our program, a program that prides itself on the brotherhood that is Northport lacrosse,” Cordts added.
Brotherhood was the order of the day as Quinn Napolitano, who just graduated from Northport High School and was the team’s starting goalkeeper, was in the nets for the Blue team. His brother Shaun, Class of 2016, was on his team as a defender, and his other brother Ryan, Class of 2012, playing for the White team, scored two goals against his younger brother early on, as the White team jumped out to a 5-0 lead.
“I should have stopped those two against Ryan,” said Quinn, who led the Tigers to the Suffolk County finals this past June. “But it was special sharing the field with my brothers. They started peppering me with tennis balls in the backyard since I was little, so they really helped me get to where I am today. Playing with them and some of the older guys was great, and I’m excited to play in this game next year.”
Nick, Anthony and Vin DeCeglia (2013, 2015 and 2017) were another trio of brothers who suited up, and Cordts’ own brother Tommy, Class of 2011, started in goal for White.
But the one family tie that got perhaps the most attention was that of Dylan and Dan McNaughton. Dylan, Class of 2022, a bruising linebacker, power forward, lacrosse midfielder and nine-time varsity letterman, is going into his junior year at Indiana University. He took the field with his father, Dan, Class of 1982, who coached Dylan in his youth in basketball, baseball, football and lacrosse.
“I never thought I’d be able to play with my dad in an actual game,” said Dylan, who won the Suffolk County basketball title in 2021 over heavily favored Brentwood and was a member of the Tiger lacrosse team that beat Syosset a few months later to win the Long Island championship. “This was an amazing experience, and I hope we can do it again next year,” he added.
Dan McNaughton started the game as an attackman for Blue with Billy Cordts watching his every move. The father played the first 10 minutes or so and watched from the sidelines the rest of the way.
“I had a good scoring chance, so I’m happy,” Dan said. “I played in the first-ever alumni game in 1986 or ’87, and I also remember playing in it when Dylan was just a baby, and my mother was rolling him around in a stroller on the sidelines. Those were fun times when I could move around better. These guys out here today are fast.”
For the record, Dylan McNaughton, a finance and accounting major at Indiana University, is now 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 225 pounds of muscle.
So much fun
Another impressive and muscular specimen who was marauding all over the field for the Blue team was Class of 2015’s Austin Henningsen. The faceoff ace played for the 2017 Maryland Terrapins team that won the NCAA championship and is one in a long line of fabulous Northport faceoff men. He is currently serving in the U.S. Coast Guard and, as ferocious a player as he is on the field, he was as gracious off of it.
“This game was so much fun to play in,” Henningsen said. “It gives us a chance to play with the great players that recently graduated and the guys that I grew up playing with. In Northport, we’ve had so much support from the parents and the community on both boys and girls sides. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Aside from goalkeeper Napolitano, 2024 grads Ryan Cash, Luca Elmaleh, Jack Maisch, Tim McLam and long-stick All-American Giancarlo Valenti also played. Late in the game, Valenti marched through a tired Blue defense to score a goal in the fourth quarter. Recently graduated stars like Nick Tzimas, Tyler Kuprianchik, Jonathan Alfiero and Jack Helrigel suited up for White. Tim Kirchner, Matt Webb, Michael Meyer and Luke Lamendola played for Blue.
Lamendola, Class of 2022, who attends the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, is still involved with lacrosse not only as a player but as an ambassador of its safety.
“I’m studying industrial design, and one of the things I’m interested in doing is designing a safer helmet,” said Lamendola, who was in goal for the Tigers most recent Long Island championship in 2022. “Reducing head injuries in lacrosse has always been a passion of mine.”
The team that won the New York State championship 21 years earlier in 2001 was well-represented on Saturday. Seniors on that team in attendance were Jimmy Taylor, Brian Amen and Jeremy Kahn. One of their teammates that magical year was a sophomore named Billy Cordts.
“I really looked up those guys and tried to emulate them back then,” Cordts said. “Playing with them again almost 25 years later, along with the guys who are just starting out in the world, is really a full-circle kind of thing for me.”
Despite blowing its big lead, White held on for the one-goal win, and the players and their families shared a sweaty group hug near the middle of the field. Selfies and laughs were shared as the group retired to Napper Tandy’s for a post-game celebration to reminisce about old times, revel about the game and look forward to next year when they can take the field with each other once again.
The Food and Drug Administration last week approved donanemab, or Kisunla, an intravenous treatment for early stage Alzheimer’s disease, adding a second medication for mild stages of a disease that robs people of memory and cognitive function.
Nikhil Palekar, Medical Director of the Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease and Director of the Stony Brook Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials Program. Photo courtesy Stony Brook Medicine/Jeanne Neville
The monoclonal antibody drug from Eli Lilly joins Leqembi from drug makers Eisai and Biogen as ways to reduce the characteristic amyloid plaques that are often used to diagnose Alzheimer’s.
While the medications offer ways to slow but do not stop or reverse Alzheimer’s and come with potential significant side effects, doctors welcomed the treatment options for patients who are at risk of cognitive decline.
Dr. Nikhil Palekar, Medical Director of the Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease and Director of the Stony Brook Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials Program, has been in the field for about two decades.
“Only in the last three years have I finally become quite optimistic” about new treatments, said Palekar, who is a consultant for Eisai. “We’ve had so many failures in the last few decades” with the current medications targeting the core pathologies.
That optimism comes at a time when more people in the United States and around the world are likely to deal with diseases that affect the elderly, as the number of people in the United States who are 85 and older is expected to double in the next 10 years.
The rates of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is about 13 percent for people between 75 and 84 and is 33 percent for people over 85 according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Alzheimer’s Association issued a statement welcoming the addition of Kisunla to the medical arsenal.
“This is real progress,” Joanne Pike, Alzheimer’s Association president and CEO, said in a statement. The approval “allows people more options and greater opportunity to have more time.”
To be sure, Leqembi, which was approved in June of 2023 and Kisunla aren’t a guarantee for improvement and come with some potentially significant side effects.
Some patients had a risk of developing so-called amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, which includes brain edema, or ARIA-E or hemorrhaging, or ARIA-H in the brain.
ARIA can resolve on its own, but can, in rare cases, become severe and life-threatening.
Patients taking these medications receive regular monitoring, including MRI’s before various additional treatments.
Patients are “monitored carefully” before infusions to “go over symptom checklists to make sure they don’t have neurological symptoms,” said Palekar. “If they have any symptoms, the next step is to head to the closest emergency room to get an MRI of the brain, which is the only way to know if a side effect is causing symptoms.”
Nonetheless, under medical supervision, patients who took the medication as a part of clinical trials showed a progressive reduction in amyloid plaques up to 84 percent at 18 months compared to their baseline.
The benefits for Leqembi, which is given every two weeks, and Kisunla, which is administered every four weeks, were similar in terms of slowing the effect of cognitive decline, said Dr. Marc Gordon, Chief of Neurology at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks.
“Neither of them is a cure for Alzheimer’s,” said Gordon. “These medications are not a home run, but at least we’re on base.”
Not eligible
Not everyone is eligible to take these monoclonal antibody treatments.
These drugs are not available for people who have progressed beyond the mild stage of the disease. Clinicians advised those who are showing potential signs of Alzheimer’s to visit their doctors before the disease progresses beyond the point where these drugs might help.
Additionally, people on blood thinners, such as Eliquis, Coumadin, and Warfarin, can not take these drugs because a micro bleed could become a larger hemorrhage.
People who have an active malignant cancer also can’t take these drugs, nor can anyone who has had a reaction to these treatments in the past. The people who might likely know of an allergic reaction to these drugs are those who participated in clinical trials.
Doctors monitor their patients carefully when they administer new drugs and have epinephrine on hand in case of an allergic reaction.
Patients with two alleles – meaning from both parents – of a variant called APOE ε4 have a higher incidence of ARIA, including symptomatic, serious and severe AIRA, compared to those with one allele or non-carriers.
If patients have this variant on both alleles, which occurs in about 15 percent of Alzheimer’s patients, Gordon and Palekar both counsel patients not to take the drug.
“We don’t think the risk is acceptable” for this patient population, Gordon said.
Ultimately, Palekar believes patients, their doctors and their families need to make informed calculations about the risks and benefits of any treatment, including for Alzheimer’s.
Beyond drugs
Palekar added that recent studies have also shown that an increase in physical exercise and activity, such as aerobic activity three times a week for 45 minutes each time, can “significantly help in patients with cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease,” he said.
After consulting with a physician to ensure that such activity is safe, patients can use a stationary bike or take walks which can benefit their bodies and their brains.
Additionally, various diets, such as the mind diet that combines the mediterranean diet and the DASH diet, which emphasize eating green leafy vegetables and berries among other things, can benefit the brain as well.
Patients also improve their cognitive health by continuing mental activity through games as well as by retaining social connections to friends, family and members of the community.
Like many other people, Palekar witnessed the ravages of Alzheimer’s first hand. As a teenager, he saw his aunt, who was smart, caring and loving, stare out the window without being able to communicate and engage in conversation as she battled the disease.
As a condition involving amyloid plaques, tau proteins, and inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease may require a combination of treatments that address the range of causes.
“There’s going to be a combined therapy,” said Gordon. “Just like when we’re treating cancer, we don’t have just one drug. It’s going to be important to figure out the sequencing and whether drugs are given sequentially or cumulatively. It has to be a multi-faceted approach.”
The graduating seniors of Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s Class of 2024 toss their cap, to conclude the commencement ceremony. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District
Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s Class of 2024 graduates celebrated their commencement ceremony on June 28. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District
Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s Class of 2024 graduates celebrated their commencement ceremony on June 28. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District
Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s Class of 2024 graduates celebrated their commencement ceremony on June 28. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District
Class of 2024 valedictorian Christopher Sanelli spoke at Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s 62nd commencement ceremony on June 28. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District
Class of 2024 salutatorian Lauren LaMena spoke at Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s 62nd commencement ceremony on June 28. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District
Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s Class of 2024 graduates celebrated their commencement ceremony on June 28. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District
Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s Class of 2024 graduates celebrated their commencement ceremony on June 28. Photo courtesy of Elwood School District
Beneath a beautiful blue sky, the graduating Class of 2024 from Elwood-John H. Glenn High School walked on to the field on June 28 for the school’s 62nd commencement ceremony, ready to mark a milestone on their school and life journeys.
After All School Vice President Sarah Collins led the Pledge of Allegiance, senior musicians shined while playing for the last time with the school’s band, performing “The Last Ride of the Pony Express,” directed by Gabrielle Caviglia and with the school’s choir, performing “Go the Distance,” directed by Brittany Wheeler.
“I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of working with this very special class over the past four years, and have witnessed firsthand what they have accomplished throughout their high school career,” Principal Corey McNamara said before highlighting the seniors’ educational achievements. “These young adults are remarkable and have helped us to earn some amazing accolades. Aside from the amazing academic accomplishments, the Class of 2024 is a kind, mature, polite, respectful and compassionate group of students who value helping others. Many of the young men and women here tonight have consistently served their school and their community as members of various organizations and clubs, both inside and outside of school. We thank them for their leadership and volunteerism to the Elwood community. Additionally, over the past four years, our students have shared their talents with us and have truly represented John Glenn High School with dignity, grace and a tremendous amount of Elwood pride.”
“Your graduation is the completion of a significant process in your life, and the beginning of an exciting journey that awaits you,” Interim Superintendent Kelly Fallon told the seniors. “As you begin this journey, I ask you to consider a thought that I hope will inspire you: Live to learn well, and learn to live well. Living to learn well recognizes the value of embracing every experience and opportunity to grow. Your years at John Glenn have taught you that education extends far beyond classrooms, assignments and textbooks. It is about curiosity, exploration and the courage to ask questions, and in our world today, it is so important to not only ask questions, but seek, hear and listen to all the answers. Now, let’s consider learning to live well. This speaks to applying what you’ve learned to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. It’s about understanding that your education has equipped you with the tools to navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience. Class of 2024, as you walk off this field this evening, let’s commit to a life of continuous learning and purposeful living. Embrace the unknown with enthusiasm and let your passion for knowledge guide you. Graduates, here’s to living to learn well and learning to live well.”
Salutatorian Lauren LaMena spoke to her classmates about embracing their own journey.
“Each of us has traveled a unique path filled with challenges, triumphs, and countless moments of growth, and as we gather here today, let us celebrate not only our achievements, but also the courage it took to forge our own paths,” LaMena said. “Never forget the impact that we can have on the world around us by daring to be different. By following our own paths, we inspire others to do the same. We become beacons of hope, guiding others to embrace their individuality and pursue their dreams with unwavering determination. As we stand on the brink of a new beginning, let us embrace the journey ahead with courage, resilience and an unwavering belief in ourselves. Let us forge our own paths, guided by our passions and fueled by our dreams. Taylor Swift once said, ‘people throw rocks at things that shine.’ If you’re ever doubting yourself or your journey, let this quote serve as a reminder to persevere in the face of adversity and to continue shining brightly despite the rocks thrown your way. Our futures await and the world is ours to conquer. Let us go forth and make our mark, knowing that we have the strength, courage and determination to achieve anything we set our minds to.”
After rolling out a printed list of all those he wished to thank, valedictorian Christopher Sanelli offered three pieces of advice for his classmates.
“The first one is to always show respect,” Sanelli said. “Respect is at the foundation for fostering meaningful relationships and earning trust. The future holds different possibilities for us all, but no matter how smart or successful you become, everyone has the ability to make a positive impact on someone’s life and display a sense of respect. The second piece of advice is to have gratitude. When we express gratitude, we not only recognize the efforts of others, but also create a mindset of abundance and creativity. When we finally become truly grateful for everything that we have, the world around us starts to fall into place. You’ll find yourself being content with who you are and you won’t need to compare yourself to others. This brings me to the third and final piece, which is probably the most important, and that is to take risks. I have the utmost confidence that all of you will leave fulfilling lives, but as humans, we innately suffer from the poverty of time. Time is the one continuity in life, so please don’t waste your future being afraid or question your ability to do something. Rather, focus on the things within yourself, like displaying gratitude and respect. Therein lies everything you will need, and each risk you take is merely a bonus to your already amazing life.”
Class of 2024 graduation speaker Anthony Bell, selected by his peers as a student who exemplifies John Glenn’s spirit, gave the event’s final address.
“Tonight, we gather to participate in one of the most important and meaningful events people go through in modern society,” Bell said. “The beauty behind a day like today, that marks the transition from one era into another, is shared in both the reflecting of memories and in the anticipation of what the future holds. Throughout the past 15 years, we’ve all experienced change. For better or for worse, each and every one of us is on an ever-changing path, and none of us can truly see into the future. The diverse set of roadblocks that has carved all of our own unique paths is what has brought us all to where we are as individuals and is what makes this celebration matter. The challenges we have all faced to get to this point today should serve as reminders to ourselves of how strong we really are and what we can do. Looking to our past should fill us with pride, motivation and excitement for the future and the challenges we will face and overcome on our journey.”
Following the distribution of diplomas, the members of the Class of 2024 gathered one last time to turn their tassels and toss their blue and white caps skyward, proud and prepared to walk out as John Glenn alumni.
Two weeks ago, on June 28, Port Jefferson Village Mayor Lauren Sheprow, then-trustee-elect Xena Ugrinsky and I visited the Advanced Energy Research & Technology Center at Stony Brook University. The AET is doing cutting-edge research on future hydrogen technologies and other projects that create businesses on Long Island. We were welcomed by David Hamilton and Kathleen Ferrell.
The connections with Stony Brook University departments, New York technology leaders, researchers and public agencies that were made in this short visit were quite extraordinary and many appointments were made for future discussions.
The mayor knew Hamilton and Ferrell professionally. Our visit was designed to dovetail with the efforts of the Port Jefferson Power Plant Working Group that Ugrinsky chairs. The PWG is exploring the potential for repowering our base load plants using hydrogen fuel and we will be exploring this possibility with Haiyan Sun when she is scheduled to tour our plant on a trip from Albany July 10.
Sun heads NYSERDA’s (the state’s Energy Research & Development Authority) hydrogen and renewables division and is responsible for evaluating grants and New York State priorities for this fast-evolving future technology. I am proud to be a part of this village’s forward-thinking and well-connected leadership. Port Jefferson is fortunate to be able to have people with these kinds of professional experience and networks working for its residents.
Bruce Miller
Port Jefferson
Comsewogue Community Garden is a special place
My name is Danny, and I am a Life Scout working on the Communication merit badge. I recently started work on my Eagle Scout project at the Comsewogue Community Garden on Terryville Road in Port Jefferson Station. I am replacing the current garden shed with a new one.
I am writing because I would like to share how impressed I am with the garden and the amount of work that volunteers have put into making the garden so beautiful and welcoming. This includes growing fresh vegetables and a pollinator garden. More recently a Girl Scout troop started a sensory garden.
This is a special place in the community and I think more people should know about it. I am hoping that students can take field trips to visit the garden and community members can take advantage of this beautiful space.
Daniel Cappiello
Troop 354 Port Jefferson Station
Happy 60th birthday to public transportation on Long Island
This July marks the 60th anniversary of federal government support for public transportation. The success of public transportation can be traced back to one of the late President Lyndon Johnson’s (D) greatest accomplishments which continues benefiting many Americans today. On July 9, 1964, he signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 into law. Subsequently this has resulted in the investment over time of billions of dollars into public transportation.
Millions of Americans today on a daily basis utilize various public transportation alternatives. They include local and express bus, ferry, jitney, light rail, subway and commuter rail services. All of these systems use less fuel and move far more people than conventional single occupancy vehicles. Most of these systems are funded with your tax dollars thanks to Johnson.
Depending upon where you live, consider the public transportation alternative. Try riding a local or express bus, para transit or commuter van, ferry, light rail, commuter rail or subway.
There is MTA LIRR, NYC Transit bus and subway, Suffolk County Transit Bus, Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART) Bus and Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) Bus.
By using MTA Metro or OMNY cards, there are free transfers between the subway and bus. This has eliminated the old two-fare zones making public transportation an even better bargain. Purchasing a monthly LIRR or MTA subway/bus pass reduces the cost per ride and provides virtually unlimited trips. In many cases, employers can offer transit checks which help subsidize a portion of the costs. Utilize this and reap the benefits. It supports a cleaner environment.
Many employers now allow employees to telecommute and work from home. Others use alternative work schedules which afford staff the ability to avoid rush-hour gridlock. This saves travel time and can improve mileage per gallon. Join a car or van pool to share the costs of commuting.
The ability to travel from home to workplace, school, shopping, entertainment, medical, library, etc., is a factor when moving to a new neighborhood. Economically successful communities are not 100% dependent on automobiles as the sole means of mobility. Seniors, students, low and middle income people need these transportation alternatives. Investment in public transportation today contributes to economic growth, employment and a stronger economy. Dollar for dollar, it is one of the best investments we can make.
What better way to honor the late President Johnson and all that has been achieved these past 60 years in public transportation by continuing funding the federal Highway Trust Fund and Mass Transit Account.
A Self-Guided Tour with Surprises Galore!(rain or shine)
Join the Northport Historical Society for a one-of-a-kind summer experience as you explore the gardens of homeowners in and around Northport on the 2024 Annual Summer Splendor Garden Tour on Sunday, July 14 from noon to 4 p.m.
This year’s collection of gardens boasts an assortment of gardening styles, each with its own personality and tailored to the owner’s preferences. Refreshments and raffles await you at the end of your tour.
Tickets are $45 per person, $40 Society members, $50 day of event. To order, click here.
Please come to the Museum on Saturday (between 1:00pm -4:30pm) or Sunday (from 11am – 4:30pm) to pick up your Guide to the Gardens.
Please Note: Gardens May Not Be Handicap Accessible
If sweat were a valuable commodity, I’d be in high demand.
As it is, however, my thick, heavy high-volume sweat is as welcome as a cup of warm water on a hot, sticky day.
When I was a teenager and attended basketball camp, I used to sit in the back seat with two other campers, squeezing my thick thighs together as much as possible to avoid sharing the sweat that coated my legs.
I had and continue to have the kind of sweat glands that would give marathoners from Ethiopia a run for their money.
No, I can’t run as far or as fast as a marathon runner, but I still sometimes looked like one, especially on those summer days when I walked a few miles to work and arrived in a puddle-stained suit.
Fortunately, the public, even before the notion of “fake news” became trendy, rarely had high expectations for the attire of a reporter.
When the temperature and humidity are high enough, I can picture the various characters from the Disney/Pixar movie “Inside Out” pushing and shoving as they try to climb into a small raft in a sweat-drenched control room.
The process almost always starts on my upper lip. That’s where beady sweat scouts come out, checking to see if it is indeed worth alerting the rest of my body that it’s a good time to join the fun.
Within seconds, my arms and wrists have the almost modest effect of glistening, as a thin layer of perspiration can catch the sun at just the right angle, giving my skin a mildly reflective look. After a few short moments, the production line kicks into higher gear. My fingers, which often swell when I walk more than a mile or so, become drenched.
I have had a few occasions when I’ve run into people who introduce me to others in this condition. When they stick out their hands to shake mine, I’m stuck.
While holding my hand back is disrespectful, soaking someone I’ve met with a soggy handshake makes the wrong kind of first impression.
My sister-in-law carries a collection of mostly healthy snacks in her purse for when my typically charming and delightful brother enters the hangry stage of the day and needs food to carry him to the next meal.
I don’t often become frustrated or angry when I’m hungry. I do, however, become embarrassed when I can feel the thick, heavy drops of sweat racing down my back, slaloming down my legs and collecting in my shoes.
Maybe I should suggest to my wife that she carry wipes, paper towels, an electric fan, or a magical towel that comes out of a tiny purse but can absorb a full day’s worth of sweat. I bet Mary Poppins could pull that off.
Since I’m not always with my wife and this isn’t her problem, I rub my hands against my legs. That kind of works, although that then leaves a soaked hand print on the outside of my pant leg which is usually met by the layer of moisture accumulating on the inside of my pants.
Now, dry fit shirts have become a true gift for me, as they don’t immediately become drenched with perspiration. Maybe some day someone will invent a dry fit suit, which looks like normal business attire, but doesn’t become a magnet for moisture.
I know astronauts drink a purified form of urine, the moisture they exhale and their own sweat. When I interviewed Astronaut Scott Kelly several years ago, he mentioned that he particularly enjoyed the taste of the purified water aboard the International Space Station, where he lived for 340 straight days.
I suppose that means I’d be a valuable commodity as an older, slower moving astronaut, assuming that I didn’t need to drink every ounce and then some, of what I produced when I sweat.
Oh well, that probably won’t work and I’m not that eager to travel into space. In the spirit of reduce, reuse, recycle, maybe I should figure out how to turn my own sweat into an icy cold drink.
Aging has become a frequent subject in the media, perhaps propelled there by our presidential race and its elderly candidates. We are all, of course, aging, and we all want to age well. This plethora of information gives us a chance to measure our health against standard values for our age. The statistics are also comforting: we are not alone with our symptoms and infirmities. We want to be equal or better than predicted for our age.
But are we?
I accepted a delivery from the messenger at my front door and reached for my wallet to pay him the charge. But herein lies the story.
Years ago, I gave up carrying a pocketbook because I was getting lame from carrying everything in there but the proverbial kitchen sink. My doctor, whom I had visited with complaints of an aching shoulder, and who noticed my dead weight tote, pointed out that most men don’t carry pocketbooks and they seem to do fine. Men, after all, keep everything they need for daily living in their pockets.
He advised me to do the same.
He was right. I observed men carefully at checkout lines in supermarkets and in restaurants. They settled the bills with whatever they withdrew from their pockets and went merrily on their way. They carried their door keys in their pockets, and some even took out a comb occasionally to run through their hair. I reasoned that I could do that, too,with my lipstick. The doctor changed my life that day. And my shoulder never again bothered me.
Since then, I have bought clothes with pockets and used them instead of a pocketbook for my routine needs unless I am wearing a gown or a bathing suit. So I was wearing shorts that day, when I paid the driver, then replaced my wallet in my pocket.
Or so I thought.
Later, when I was getting ready to go to my annual dentist appointment, I reached into my pocket to check for my wallet and panicked. It wasn’t there. I could feel the coarse material at the bottom. The pocket was empty.
What had I done with my wallet after I paid for the package? I pivoted to look next to the still unopened box on the front hall table. Nothing. Thinking I absent-mindedly carried the wallet into the living room and put it down next to my reading chair, I entered and found only the day’s newspaper there. Concern mounting, I quickly walked around to the kitchen and scanned the empty counters.
Now I was beginning to panic. If I didn’t find my wallet quickly, I was going to be late for my appointment. It came to me in a flash. I must have brought the wallet to my bedroom. I rushed up the stairs and into the room, searching the bedside table, the thickly padded bedroom chair, the ottoman and even the bathroom. No luck.
Then I ran downstairs and repeated all those steps, hoping I had missed something the first time around. Still nothing. Wait. Had I looked in my closet, where I had earlier pulled out my sandals? Taking flight, I charged back up the stairs and into the walk-in closet. No sight of the stupid wallet.
Overheated and gasping for air, I realized I was going to miss the dentist. I sat down in my bedroom chair, dialed his number and got his receptionist. Breathlessly I explained my predicament and that I would call for another time. She was sympathetic and told me how often that happens to her with her car keys. I wasn’t mollified. I had everything in my wallet: driver’s license, insurance card, credit cards, money.
I hung up and leaned back into the chair, only to feel a lump against my lower back. What had I left in the chair? Nothing, but there was something in the back pocket of my shorts.
There it was. I had forgotten I had back pockets in these shorts. My wallet was running around the house with me the entire time. Duh!
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