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Amputee softball players visit St. Charles Hospital

by TBR Staff - June 19, 2024

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Wounded Warrior Josh_amputee — Josh Wege (with baseball hat) a United States Marine, retired Lance Corporal and Brian Gentilotti, United States Airforce. Photo courtesy St. Charles Hospital

By Christopher Schulz

Three members of the USA Patriots softball team — formerly known as the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team — visited patients at the St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson Friday morning, June 14. The group initially met in the hospital’s recreational center before proceeding to meet the patients.

The softball players, Josh Wege, Jeffrey Hackett and Brian Gentilotti, shared their stories with the approximately 30 staff members and 10 patients.

Wege said he lost both his legs fighting in Afghanistan as a Marine in 2009. The military vehicle he was riding in hit a bomb that “turned into a landmine” which “traumatically amputated [his] right leg” and mangled his left leg. He now has two prosthetics in place of his lower legs.

Despite his traumatic injury, Wege keeps pushing forward.

“The biggest motivator I would say is to get my life back,” he said. “There are some things that you feel like are just taken away from you”. He later added that he “felt broken” inside that he did not have the same agility and speed he once had as a star athlete.

“You don’t want to feel broken so you start chasing the life that you had,” he said.

Hackett, on the other hand, pushes forward every day for his family. After losing his left leg, “I still wanted to stay in the Army so that pushed me to get back to a normal life,” he said.

In addition, Hackett expressed his respect toward the patients. “They all have their own story. It’s all about making goals and taking that step further,” he said.

One such patient, Shawn Coyle, does not need prosthetics but is in need of a wheelchair at all times. He has avascular necrosis affecting both hips. Coyle says he was diagnosed with the condition six months ago but has only been in the hospital for a couple weeks now.

He has already had surgery on one of his hips. The surgery for his other hip will happen in a few months. When asked about how he felt about the softball players coming, he jokingly responded that he wanted to play with them.

“I like softball,” Coyle simply stated. He also found it “inspiring” to see them and would love to play again his own sports — basketball and baseball — someday. “It’s a process but you’ve got to just keep working at it,” he said. “I feel like they’re like regular people,” referring to the players.

Both Wege and Hackett expressed their desire to come back to St. Charles Hospital or any other hospital to visit and support people who are in the same position they were once in.

“You either stay where you’re at or you just keep inching forward every day and try to get your life back. We like to give that message to people and even talk to kids in schools because they’re curious and they have never met a wounded warrior before, [especially] at the state that we’re at,” Wege said.

“This is stuff we like to do,” Hackett agreed.

Suffolk D.A.: Alleged MS-13 gang member indicted for stabbing two men in their eyes

by Press Release - June 18, 2024

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Ray Tierney photo — Suffolk County D.A. Raymond Tierney

Gensel Soler Avila Allegedly Assaulted Two Men During a Dispute at a Huntington Station Bar, Leaving Each Victim with Permanent Loss of Vision in One Eye

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on June 18 that Gensel Soler Avila, 21, of Huntington Station, an alleged MS-13 gang member, was indicted on four counts of Assault in the First Degree and other related charges, for allegedly attacking two men outside a Huntington Station bar on December 4, 2023, causing permanent injuries to their eyes.

“These alleged brutal acts which resulted in the permanent loss of vision for the victims, are a stark reminder of the senseless violence that torments our communities,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The allegations against this individual, including that he is an MS-13 gang member, are deeply troubling. Our office is committed to seeking justice for the victims and ensuring that those who perpetrate such heinous acts are held accountable.”

According to the investigation, on December 4, 2023, at approximately 11:46 p.m., Soler Avila got into a physical altercation with another male at a bar in Huntington Station. When the man attempted to run away, Soler Avila allegedly chased him into the middle of the intersection of Pulaski Road and New York Avenue and knocked him to the ground. Soler Avila then allegedly beat the victim’s face and body with a sharp object and stabbed him numerous times including in his eye.

The attack caused the victim to bleed heavily and eventually pass out in the middle of the road. The victim was later found by law enforcement still lying unconscious in the street.

While Soler Avila was walking away from the first victim, he allegedly attacked a second man by punching him numerous times while holding a sharp object. During that alleged assault, Soler Avila caused a stab wound that began at the victim’s forehead and dragged down to his eye causing it to bleed heavily.

Both victims were brought to Huntington Hospital but required specialized surgery and were transferred to North Shore University Hospital. The victims each suffered permanent loss of vision in one of their eyes in addition to several other serious injuries, including lacerations to the chest and face. The first victim additionally required the insertion of a prosthetic skull and over 50 staples to his head.

On June 18, 2024, Soler Avila was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro for the following charges:

 Four Counts of Assault in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;
 Four Counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D violent felonies; and
 One Count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.Justice Ambro ordered Soler Avila held on $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, or $3 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Soler Avila is due back in court on July 24, 2024, and he is being represented by Joseph Hanshe, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau. The investigation was conducted by members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Second Squad.

Eye on the Street: Father’s Day

by TBR Staff - June 16, 2024

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By Serena Carpino

Father’s Day is always a special time of the year. Families go out for breakfast at Sweet Mama’s, rent kayaks in the Stony Brook Harbor, play a round of golf at St George’s in Setauket, or continue their own fun traditions.

As Father’s Day approaches, TBR asked local personalities, “What does Father’s Day mean to you? How do you celebrate Father’s Day? What’s the best present you’ve given your father over the years?”

— Photos by Serena Carpino

Eric Rectanus, Stony Brook

Father’s Day is “a way of honoring the person who took care of you. It’s the person who put a roof over your head, made sure you had food in your belly, loved you and cared for you no matter what.” Rectanus, who lost his father last year, said. “Seeing Father’s Day now compared to when I had my dad, I see really what Father’s Day means because I don’t have him anymore. It’s just that person who gives you unconditional love, no matter what you do in life.”

Mario Solis, Stony Brook

“For me, it’s just a time that [my family] can get together, especially with my dad. We don’t have that close of a relationship, so that’s really the only time that I get to spend time with him.”

Solis said that he and his family celebrate Father’s Day with food. “We eat — eat and just spend time together. It’s nothing special but it means a lot to us.” Solis added that the best gift he has given his father was a tool set.

Solis declined for his picture to be taken.

Tatjana Trajkovic, East Setauket

“Father’s Day is a day to celebrate your dad because a lot of us who have dads sometimes take them for granted and don’t realize that some people aren’t as fortunate as us. So, it’s a day to appreciate these special people,” Trajkovic said.

The family celebrates her father and sister as a “two-for-one special” since her sister’s birthday is the same day. “Usually, we get a cake and split it between them,” she said.

Trajkovic will be attending college in the fall and hopes to give her father a meaningful present before she leaves. She explained, “On TikTok there’s a special Father’s Day present that’s trending where you have your dad write down all of his important memories and the best stories of his life. I want him to write all of these in a notebook so that I can carry them to college. That’ll probably be the best gift I’ll ever give him, but I suppose it’ll be a gift for me too.”

Christian McClain, Shoreham

Christian McClain, a student at Shoreham-Wading River High School, said that, to him, “Father’s Day means celebrating and appreciating the love, guidance and support my father has given me throughout my life.”

On Father’s Day, McClain always has baseball tournaments. So, to celebrate his father, he wears light-blue socks and a light-blue wristband. In addition, McClain said that the best gift he ever gave his father “was when my family surprised him with a trip to Italy over the summer.”

Karen Gilmore, Stony Brook

For Father’s Day, Gilmore said that her “daughter gets a present and gives it to him. We usually take him out to dinner or something like that … we like to go to Ragazzi [Italian Kitchen & Bar, in Nesconset].”

This year, Gilmore’s daughter made her dad a nice picture with watercolor in a recent art class. Gilmore said, “She’s really proud that she’s going to give it to him. [It’s important because] it’s something personalized, something that she made, more than just buying something. It’s something that means something from the heart.”

Vanderbilt Museum to host special tour of mansion’s rose garden June 17

by Press Release - June 16, 2024

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Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport hosts a special tour of the mansion’s organic rose garden with the Centerport Garden Club (CGC) on Monday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the second year since its revival and redesign.

Members of the Centerport Garden Club (CGC), in coordination with Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum staff, redesigned, planted and continuously maintain the historic organic rose garden. The plantings, in addition to more than 60 young roses, include perennials, boxwoods, hydrangeas, Japanese Maples, and other companion plants.

Linda Pitra, President of the CGC, will give a brief introduction to the garden. Dr. Jane Corrarino, master gardener and member of the American Rose Society, will discuss growing roses organically without chemicals. Following the presentation, enjoy some refreshments and meet members of the CGC.

“Our club promotes mutual helpfulness among its members in the study of practical gardening and flower arranging,” Pitra said, “We encourage civic beautification and community planting and our goal is to further the conservation of native trees, plants, animals, and the environment.”

The club, organized in 1953, began maintaining the Vanderbilt Rose Garden 40 years ago.

Admission is free but registration is required by visiting www.vanderbiltmuseum.org or click below.

Editorial: Communitywide communication during emergencies

by TBR Staff - June 16, 2024

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In times of crisis, the strength of a community is tested.

Whether facing natural disasters, public health emergencies or unexpected incidents like the recent water main break in East Setauket, the importance of communitywide communication cannot be overstated. The key to navigating these challenges lies in emergency preparedness, the effective use of technology and the dissemination of timely information through mobile apps and other digital platforms as well as keeping in touch with neighbors and family members.

Emergencies can strike without warning, disrupting daily life and putting lives at risk. Events like the water main break in our own communities are reminders of this reality. When such events occur, having a well-organized communication strategy can make all the difference. Immediate, clear and coordinated communication helps ensure that everyone is informed and knows how to respond, especially now as we enter hurricane season.

Emergency preparedness begins before any disaster occurs. It involves educating the public about potential risks, establishing clear response protocols and conducting regular drills. Community members should know where to find reliable information, how to contact emergency services and what steps to take to stay safe.

Technology is an ally in emergency management. Social media platforms, mobile apps and websites can quickly spread information to large audiences.

Suffolk County has some emergency preparedness apps. Smart911, a free service, allows residents to register with the Emergency Alert program to help emergency responders and Suffolk County prepare for disasters and evacuations. SuffolkAlert, another free service, allows residents to sign up for customized emergency alerts via text message, email or voice message.

By leveraging such tools, we can ensure that vital information reaches every corner of our community.

The effectiveness of these tools depends on widespread adoption and usage. It is imperative that local authorities, community leaders and organizations actively promote these resources. Educational campaigns, workshops and community events can help to raise awareness about the importance of downloading and using emergency preparedness apps.

Maintaining trust and credibility in communication channels is essential as misinformation can spread as quickly as a verified alert, sometimes creating space for confusion and panic. Official channels must be seen as the definitive sources of information. To do so successfully requires transparency, consistency and regular updates from authorities, as well as collaboration with local media to reach broader audiences.

Finally, let’s not overlook the human element, in emergencies, neighbors often become first responders. Building a strong sense of community, where people look out for one another and share information, is equally important. Initiatives like neighborhood watch programs and community emergency response teams can enhance our collective resilience. And let us remember to check on neighbors who are elderly, disabled or live alone, and of course those who are not digitally knowledgeable.

Long Island State Veterans Home celebrates 80th anniversary of D-Day

by Press Release - June 15, 2024

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The Long Island State Veterans Home commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion with a special service and the presentation of Proclamations of Meritorious Achievement to two Normandy Invasion veterans on June 6.

New York State and Suffolk County awarded Proclamations of Meritorious Achievement to 100-year-old U.S. Army veteran Frank Agoglia and 102-year-old U.S. Army Air Corps veteran David Wolman, both residents of the Long Island State Veterans Home.

Agoglia, who landed his glider in Ste. Mere Eglise, France, behind German defenses, and Wolman, who worked 72 hours straight as an air traffic controller during the Normandy invasion, were recognized for their heroic service during D-Day and Operation Overlord.

A candle-lighting ceremony honored the 150,000 Allied troops who landed on the beaches of Normandy, all service members who served during World War II, the 41 million men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of freedom, the more than 600,000 members of the armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and the current 2 million members of the

“For over 33 years, the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University has had the honor and privilege to have cared for this special generation of veterans,” Executive Director Fred Sganga said. “We will never forget the service and selfless sacrifice of so many soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen. Today, we thank all of our World War II veterans for their fortitude and perseverance eighty years ago – for answering the call, in order to make the world a safer place. World War II veterans set high standards for bravery and courage and passed the baton to later generations of servicemen and servicewomen, who met the challenge by continuing to defend America and her allies around the world to this day.”

Vanderbilt Museum presents lecture on ancient Egypt June 20

by Press Release - June 15, 2024

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The-Mummy-the-Obelisk-800x800 — This antique store in Cairo, Egypt, was typical of those Vanderbilt explored when he sought to purchase a mummy for his museum. Photo courtesy of the Vanderbilt Museum

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its lecture series at the Reichert Planetarium on Thursday, June 20 with a presentation title The Mummy and the Obelisk: Reflecting on the Vanderbilts’ Captivation for Ancient Egypt from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Roberta Casagrande-Kim, an archaeologist and curator of ancient art, will explore the Vanderbilt family’s fascination with ancient Egypt.

In nineteenth-century New York, the wealthiest families pursued art collecting as one of the vehicles through which they established social and cultural prominence. Interestingly, Casagrande-Kim said, Cornelius Vanderbilt, the first in the prominent family to distinguish himself for his financial acumen, showed very little interest in this pursuit while his son William Henry, grandson William Kissam, and great-grandson William Kissam II all resorted to art to decorate their newly built mansions.

“Their taste remained eclectic and for the most part untrained, with paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts of different periods and quality taking over their living spaces,” she said. “Whereas antiquities never became a priority for the Vanderbilts, ancient Egyptian works or Egypt-inspired commissions made their way into their collections.”

Casagrande-Kim’s lecture will focus in particular on William Henry’s involvement in the transportation of the so-called Cleopatra Needle to Central Park (where it was installed in 1881), on Alva Vanderbilt’s penchant for Egyptomania, and on William Kissam II’s purchase of a three-thousand-year-old mummy still on display in the Centerport mansion.

“We will examine these objects closely, establish the motives behind these acquisitions and donations, and frame the Vanderbilts’ interest for Egypt within the largest context of wealth and power of the New York of their times,” she said.

Dr. Roberta Casagrande-Kim is the Bernard and Lisa Selz Director of Exhibitions and Gallery Curator at New York University’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World. She is also an educator and curator at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.

Casagrande-Kim holds a B.A. in Christian Archaeology from the Università degli Studi di Torino (Italy) and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Roman Art and Archaeology from Columbia University. She is a specialist in Roman funerary practices and beliefs in the afterlife, Late Antique urbanism, and Greco-Roman mapping. She has worked extensively in archaeological excavations in Italy, Israel, and Turkey, and has served as the Assistant Field Director at the Amheida excavations (Egypt) since 2010.

Tickets are $10 per person, members free. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org or click below.

Purchase Tickets

34th annual Long Island Pride Parade celebrates diversity

by Julianne Mosher - June 14, 2024

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By Julianne Mosher

Once Sunday morning’s rainstorm stopped, the streets of Huntington turned into a giant rainbow.

More than 100 groups and community organizations marched through Huntington to celebrate Long Island’s 34th annual Pride Parade on June 9.

David Kilmnick, president of the LGBT Network based in Hauppauge, said he was thrilled at what three decades of pride has become since its first parade in 1990.

“Thirty-four years ago, we were sitting in a federal courthouse in Central Islip fighting for this. They would not let us march and have a pride parade in any town on Long Island,” Kilmnick said. “We won that fight … and look at us today.”

People dressed in rainbows and trans flags marched from Main Street at noon on Sunday, June 9, ending at Heckscher Park, where there were several food trucks, a beer and wine garden, and tables from different sponsors giving away goodies for passersby.

But what really drew the crowd at the park were the performances on the Rainbow Stage, hosted by Long Island-based drag queen Bella Noche, organizer of the Long Island chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour, and CBS New York reporter John Dias. They introduced songs sung by the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus, American Idol finalist Travis Finlay, and performances by drag queens Luxx Noir London and Rosé from the reality competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“Prides have been popping up all over Long Island. It’s way overdue,” Noche said. “I am so happy to be in the heart of Huntington to celebrate.”

The parade’s grand marshals included members of the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus, Suffolk County Police Department Detective Sergeant Tamika Mays, and New York State Assemblyman Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos.

Horseshoe crab protections pass in Albany, await governor’s signature

by Mallie Jane Kim - June 13, 2024

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By Mallie Jane Kim

[email protected]

Permanent protections for New York horseshoe crabs cleared a major hurdle during the last days of the 2024 state legislative session, passing both the state Senate and Assembly on June 7.

“It’s extremely exciting,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Farmingdale-based Citizens Campaign for the Environment, which advocated for the bill. “The horseshoe crab has ambled around the earth for more than 350 million years — we think they have a right to continue to do so.”

The bill, which still needs the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) before becoming law, would prevent the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial or biomedical purposes from state waters. The animals are used as bait for commercial whelk and eel fishing operations, and their blue blood is used to improve vaccine safety and aid in biomedical research, though a synthetic alternative is already in the works for that purpose.

The species has faced a steady decline in the last few decades, which in turn impacts birds like red knots, who feed on horseshoe crab eggs during their migration.

Not everyone is happy with the bill as it is currently written.

“The commercial fishing industry here on Long Island is going to be severely impacted by the passage of this bill,” said Rob Carpenter, director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, which advocates on behalf of commercial fishermen. “Their needs are not addressed in the bill.”

Carpenter, who indicated he hopes for the bill to be amended or vetoed, said horseshoe crab is the only usable bait for commercial fishermen catching whelk.

“If they are not allowed to utilize it, that means the state has just shut down an entire industry of fishing for an entire species,” he said.

The state Senate passed the bill 53-7 and the Assembly sent it through 102-39. Five North Shore legislators voted against the measure, namely Assemblymembers Jake Blumencranz (R-Oyster Bay), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown), Jodi Giglio (R-Riverhead) and Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor); and state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk).

Esposito, who previously said she hoped new protections would incentivize commercial fishing operations to find alternative baits, said she knows from her recent time lobbying for the bill in Albany that the farm bureau and biomedical industry representatives are lobbying against it.

Biomedical companies do not currently harvest from Long Island waters, according to Esposito, though she is concerned stricter rules in neighboring states like Connecticut and Massachusetts could bring New York’s horseshoe crabs to their attention.

“The fact that they are lobbying against this bill is absurd,” she said. “We’re not inhibiting the medical industry — they have alternatives and they’re using alternatives. They’re just crying wolf.”

According to state governmental procedures, since the Legislature is now out of session, the governor will have 30 days to sign the bill once it is delivered to her, but there is no indication of when that delivery will happen. If the bill is not delivered to the governor before the end of the year, or if she does not act within 30 days of delivery, the bill is effectively vetoed.

“Our job’s not done yet,” Esposito said. “Now we’re going to begin our campaign to request the governor sign it.”

The John W. Engeman Theater’s ‘Seussical the Musical’ is all the thinks you can think…and more

by Julianne Mosher - June 13, 2024

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By Julianne Mosher

The colorful pages of Dr. Seuss’ stories come to life on the John W. Engeman’s stage for their latest children’s theater production, and their rendition of Seussical the Musical is one for the books.

Directed by Danny Meglio, the story follows the plot of “Horton Hears a Who,” with Horton (Patrick McCowen), the elephant, speaking to Jojo (Sophie Achee and Finn Brown) — the smallest Who in Whoville. Jojo and his community live on a speck of dust on a clover that Horton lovingly carries throughout the show.

The elephant’s big ears allow him to hear the chitter chatter of the people on the clover, while the rest of the jungle thinks poor Horton is crazy, constantly ridiculing him. On top of that, Horton gets tricked into egg-sitting for the sassy, popular Mayzie (Jillian Sharpe), who abandons her egg to go party in Florida. But luckily, he has the support of his friend Gertrude (Natalie Sues), especially when he gets bullied by the Wickersham Brothers (Daniel Bishop, Terrence Sheldon and Will Logan) and Sour Kangaroo (Christina Cotignola). The Bird Girls (Michelle Shapiro, Nicki Winzelberg and Ally Clancy) are a three-piece ensemble who help tell the story through song and great harmonies throughout each number.

Written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, the show is narrated by the Cat in the Hat (the incredibly talented Jae Hughes) whose mischievous ways will make the entire audience laugh.

Acting as Jojo’s guide, the Cat helps the young dreamer maneuver through all the different scenes he imagines with special mention to the big dance number, “It’s Possible (McElligot’s Pool).” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of a synopsis — you’ll have to see the rest for yourself.

Meant to appeal to young children, with many families in attendance, this musical is really made for all. Grandparents, parents and babysitters alike smiled along as each scene presented a new musical score sung by this professional cast. They effortlessly danced along with choreography by Jillian Sharpe in the most colorful costumes and wigs led by Laura McGauley.

Anyone who has read Dr. Seuss’ other childhood tales (like “Green Eggs and Ham,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” or “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket”) knows that the famous author’s art is truly out of this world and the team at the Engeman Theater and scenic designer Orion Forte did a great job portraying that with funky Seuss-like trees in the jungle of Nool.

Seussical the Musical is a fun play that explores themes of identity, individuality, creativity, loyalty and community. Kids will leave the energetic production knowing the importance of being unique, standing up for one’s beliefs and that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”

So, get your tickets now, fill up on some green eggs and ham and head over to the Engeman Theater for a fun trip into the creative mind of Dr. Seuss. Meet the cast after the show for photos and autographs.

The John W, Engeman Theater, 250 Main St. Northport presents Seussical the Musical on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. through June 30. All seats are $20. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

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