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BREAKING NEWS: Stony Brook University grapples with student protests

by Samantha Rutt - May 2, 2024

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Marketing Photo Shoot — Stony Brook University: Entrance sign

BREAKING NEWS: This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information is available

By Samantha Rutt

In the early hours of Thursday morning, at approximately 12:15 a.m., Stony Brook University was rocked by a series of events that culminated in the arrest of 29 individuals, including students, faculty members, and external affiliates for violating various legal statutes and university policies.

What began as a peaceful demonstration on the university’s Staller steps escalated into a tense standoff between protesters and university officials, ultimately resulting in police intervention.

The university administration, in a statement released shortly after the arrests, expressed disappointment at the turn of events.

According to university officials, efforts were made to de-escalate tensions throughout the day on Wednesday, with administrators offering to meet with protest leaders to discuss their grievances. However, these attempts were rebuffed, and the situation continued to deteriorate as protesters erected tents and engaged in behavior that violated university policies.

“What began on Tuesday as a peaceful demonstration in compliance with our rules escalated to include intimidation and harassment of other students, the erection of tents in violation of the University’s policy, and the continued occupation of a space that must continue to be available to other student groups that had reserved its use well in advance,” University President Maurie McInnis said in a statement earlier this morning.

McInnis lamented the need for police intervention and emphasized the university’s commitment to upholding the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly. McInnis acknowledged the complexities of the situation, recognizing the importance of allowing all voices to be heard while ensuring the safety and well-being of the campus community.

“I am deeply saddened that we reached a point where police intervention became necessary. University administrators made every effort to avert this outcome. Nevertheless, I want to express my appreciation to all involved for the peaceful manner in which the events of yesterday evening unfolded. The police acted professionally and with restraint, and most of our students comported themselves peacefully and with dignity in a manner that contrasts sharply with the scenes we are seeing from many other campuses.”

“As we have stated previously, Stony Brook supports every individual’s right to free expression and peaceful assembly. As a campus community, we have hosted numerous demonstrations and events, for the most part, mindful of our responsibility to treat one another with respect and civility,” the statement continued.

The events at Stony Brook are reflective of broader tensions surrounding issues of free speech, activism, and campus governance that have been playing out on college campuses across the country. With protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict sparking controversy and debate, universities like Stony Brook find themselves navigating challenging terrain as they seek to balance the rights of students to express their views with the need to maintain order and uphold institutional policies.

As the campus grapples with the aftermath of the events, questions remain about the future of student activism and student life at Stony Brook and the university’s approach to managing protests and demonstrations. While the administration has made clear its commitment to supporting free speech, it also stresses the importance of adherence to university guidelines and policies.

TBR News Media walks away with 22 NYPA awards at annual Better Newspaper Contest

by Heidi Sutton - May 2, 2024

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Tesla Science Center Christmas tree lighting. Photo by Bill Landon — This photo by Bill Landon won second place for Best Feature Photo.

By Heidi Sutton

From news and feature articles, sports stories, photography, editorial cartoons, special supplements, ad projects and classifieds, TBR News Media took home 22 awards from the 2023 New York Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest this year. The winners were announced during NYPA’s annual Spring Conference at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs on April 26 and 27.

Over 140 newspapers in New York State took part in the annual event celebrating newspaper excellence with 2,530 entries competing for 379 awards in 70 categories covering the editorial, advertising and circulation efforts of the state’s dailies and weeklies. Members of the Tennessee Press Association were tasked with judging this year’s contest.

TBR News Media earned 175 total contest points including six first-place awards, two-second place awards and seven third-place awards, placing it among the top 5 winners.

This photo by Steven Zaitz won first place for Best Sports Action Photo.

In a tight competition, reporter Steven Zaitz won third place in the Best Sports Writer of the Year category. “This writer does a good job of putting the reader into the action. And I like that he doesn’t take 20 words to say what he can say in 10. I liked his work very much,” commented the judge after seeing samples of his work.

A talented photographer as well, Zaitz also captured two first place awards in the Best Sports Action Photo category (Division 1 & 3) as well as an Honorable Mention, second place for Best Front Page, and first place in the Best Feature Photo category with a photo titled “Frozen Assets” taken at the Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai last November. “This package has a variety of images with great expression in the subjects faces. I can simply look at the photos and tell these people were cold, but had a warmth in their hearts for this special cause,” said the judge.

Zaitz also received an Honorable Mention for Best Sports Action Photo and Best Sports Feature Photo.

Reporter Bill Landon won a second place award in the Best Feature Photo category with a photo titled “Glittering Revival” taken at the Tesla Science Center in Shoreham during its annual Holiday Lighting event last December, two weeks after the Center’s devastating fire. “This photo shines in the competition in more ways than one … from her facial expression to the unique glow in the photo. It’s an obvious winner!” said the judge.

Landon also received an Honorable Mention for Best Sports Action Photo.

Kyle Horne won first place for Best Editorial Cartoon.

Artist Kyle Horne nabbed first place in the Best Editorial Cartoon category for his creative illustration depicting Port Jefferson Village government’s attempts to address flooding.

Former editor Raymond Janis captured several awards as well including third place for Best News Story for an article on Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) and was a Sharon R. Fulmer Award for Community Leadership third place winner for his coverage of board meetings at the Port Jefferson Village Hall. The judge commented, “You can’t beat a little ‘outrage’ media coverage to make public officials change their tune ASAP. The power of the press and people is STRONG!”

He also shared a third place award with reporter Lynn Hallarman for Best Coverage of Local Government which included a sampling of stories about issues in the Town of Brookhaven and the Village of Port Jefferson. “Excellent layout. Reports are eye-catching and cover a variety of controversial local government topics,” wrote the judge.

In addition, Janis shared an Honorable Mention with reporter Nasrin Zahed in the Best Obituaries category for an article celebrating the full life of Judith “Judi” Betts. “Judi seems like someone you would like to meet,” commented the judge.

Former editor Rita J. Egan snagged third place in the Best Feature Story category for her heartwarming article about a memorial bench from Connecticut that washed ashore at West Meadow Beach in Stony Brook and the attempts to find the owner. The judge commented, “Amazing the things you find during a walk on the beach.”

Classifieds Director Sheila Murray won first place in the Best Classified Advertising category with the judge commenting, “Good looking black and white page layout for classifieds. Could easily find the classified ads on the pages. Not hidden among the ads,” and Art/Production Director Beth Heller Mason received an Honorable Mention for Best Small Space Ad.

TBR News Media’s graduation supplement won first place for Best Special Sections/Niche Publications in Newsprint. “Beautiful work on this keepsake. Dedication to the project shows in the completed product,” wrote the judge.

The newspaper’s annual Summer Times supplement by editor Heidi Sutton received a third place award in the same category with the judge commenting, “The cover is fun and makes you want to look even further. Very nice overall.”

TBR News Media also won third place for Best Innovative Ad Project for its People of the Year supplement and an Honorable Mention for its Salute to Women supplement in the Best Special Section: Advertising category. “Loved this entry and the idea of a salute to women from all walks of life. Just enough info on each woman. Good layout and presentation,” said the judge.

“Probably nothing is more professionally gratifying than being commended by one’s colleagues,” said TBR News Media publisher Leah Dunaief. “We are deeply appreciative for this remarkable total of 22 awards we were given at the Better Newspaper Contest last weekend. The awards run the gamut from excellent articles to outstanding ads to attractive design to community leadership. Congrats to the talented and hard working staff of Times Beacon Record News Media.”

For a full list of winners, visit nynewspapers.com/nypa/better-newspaper-contest/

D. None of the above: Going beyond the I-can’t-believe-it’s-May observations

by Daniel Dunaief - May 2, 2024

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By Daniel Dunaief

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. It’s a shock that it’s May 1st because the new month is always a surprise.

It’s something to talk about, I suppose, and it suggests that time continues to move in the only direction we have ever experienced.

In the realm of things I can’t believe, I’d like to share a few items that range from the trivial to the surreal, without touching most of the third rails in our lives.

For starters, I can’t believe it’s over 24 years since Y2K. Remember all the hullabaloo about how every electronic system we had might fail at the start of the year 2000? People were afraid to fly, imagined that their computers would malfunction and that all manner of automated systems would get something between a computer version of the hiccups and malfunction completely. It seems like only yesterday and yet a world away that we were concerned about the year 2000.

Speaking of 2000, I remember calculating how incredibly old I’d be in 2000. And yet, here we are, 24 years, and counting, later. Gulp!

I don’t remember the first or even the last manned moon landing. I was alive, but not old enough to process any of the remarkable moments in the space program. Now, NASA is planning a manned trip around the moon next year and, in 2026, intends to send astronauts to the moon’s south pole. I’m excited to see people hopping around in lighter gravity while wearing modern spacesuits. I wonder if those outfits will have corporate logos and if the astronauts will send us live feeds from their helmet cams.

On a more personal level, I can’t believe the milestones that the next generation has passed. Our daughter graduated from college, our nephew got married, and our son will vote in the next presidential election for the first time.

Speaking of the presidential election, I can’t believe two candidates who evoke such ire, scorn and disappointment nationally are running yet again. I know we’re slowly marching towards yet another tight race between two angry older men, but I can’t help wondering why neither party and the electorates couldn’t come up with another alternative.

That doesn’t include Robert Kennedy Jr. who isn’t exactly a unifier. Even his siblings have disowned him politically, vowing to vote for President Joe Biden rather than their anti-vax relative.

On a more mundane level, I can’t believe how infrequently I have gone to the movies. From the time we started dating, my wife and I loved the movies. We’d make sure we got to the theater early, waited for overpriced popcorn and, back in the day when I could eat M&M’s and other chocolate candies, would mix candy into the bucket to create a salty-sweet movie snack.

At the end of the movie, we’d get the free popcorn refill and bring it home, where our daughter would pick at it that night or the next morning, listening to a synopsis of the film.

We still watch movies and, as readers of this column may remember, attended “Oppenheimer” in person, but we haven’t planned an evening around a trip to the movies in years.

On the many plus sides of technology, I can’t believe how much easier the logistics of life are with a phone that redirects me when I go the wrong way, that allows me to connect with friends and family all over the world, and that calls anyone in my contact list without my needing to remember a phone number or even dialing or pushing buttons. I still remember the phone numbers of some high school and college friends, not that I’d ever need them, especially since their families have either moved away or given up their land lines.

Oh, and, thanks to my sister-in-law’s efforts to go through older files in my mom’s house, I now have a collection of photos from my high school graduation and prom. I can’t believe I thought that mustache looked good. Then again, that was the age of Tom Selleck and Magnum PI. Much as I might blame the actor for my facial hair, I was more likely following the stylings of my older brother, the family trendsetter.

Farmingdale State College holds annual plant sale May 7 to 9

by Press Release - May 2, 2024

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Celebration of Spring at Long Island’s Original Agricultural College

Calling all gardeners! Farmingdale State College (FSC) will hold its annual Plant Sale from Tuesday, May 7 to Thursday, May 9, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (daily) at the Farmingdale State College campus, located at 2350 NY-110, Farmingdale, NY 11735.

The Plant Sale will feature a wide selection of flowers, vegetables/herbs, perennials, houseplants, succulents, and tropical plants for the patio. Much of the plant material is grown on-campus by College staff and students, while the remainder is grown locally on Long Island.

The Plant Sale at Farmingdale State College is managed by the Department of Urban Horticulture and Design, a legacy program with a storied past dating back more than 100 years, when the institution opened its doors as an agricultural school.

“Over the years, the Department of Urban Horticulture & Design has developed a strong partnership with the local horticulture industry, since many local professionals complete their training at Farmingdale,” said Dr. Jonathan M. Lehrer, Chairman of the Horticulture Department.

Horticulture students learn their skills in the department’s classrooms, studios, labs, and greenhouses. Perhaps most important is the “living” classroom, the renowned Robert F. Ench Teaching Gardens. Beyond its iron gates rest 5+ acres of theme gardens that are carefully designed, planted, maintained, and treasured by students as an integral component of their training, during the semester and as part of the Summer Garden Intern Program.

The Gardens are also a source of inspiration and education for the campus and Long Island community. They are open to the public daily during the growing season.

All proceeds from the Sale are used to support Horticulture students and the Robert F. Ench Teaching Gardens. Customers are encouraged to bring their own wagon for convenience.

About Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale State College offers 46-degree programs focused on emerging, high-demand, and relevant careers to help prepare the next generation of leaders in technology, engineering, business, healthcare, science and the arts. With nearly 10,000 students, FSC is SUNY’s largest college of applied science and technology. More than half of our graduating seniors leave debt-free and 82% are employed six months after graduation or enrolled in graduate school. FSC is home to Broad Hollow Bioscience Park, which supports the development of biotech start-up companies and partners with surrounding businesses and research institutions along the Route 110 Business Corridor. Our engaging student experience, highly inclusive campus and sustained commitment to accessibility, affordability, and student support, helps make FSC one of the best values in higher education.

Between You and Me: Spies, betrayal and violence were part of Ben Franklin’s world

by Leah Dunaief - May 2, 2024

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franklin_trailer_michael_douglas_limited_series-1280x720 — Michael Douglas stars as 'Franklin' on Apple+. Photo courtesy of Apple+

By Leah S. Dunaief

Could the colonists have won the Revolutionary War without the aid of the French? “Franklin” is currently streaming on Apple+ and deals with that question as it also shows that founding father to have been quite human. An eight-episode story, it stars Michael Douglas, and I have watched five installments, starting with Franklin’s landing on the shores of France in December 1776. He did so at great risk, for had he been caught by the British during the voyage, he might have been hanged as one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His mission was to get France to supply and join the colonists in their struggle against the British, also enemies of the French.

The plot, with its court intrigue, violence, spies, and photogenic 18th century clothing and luxury, along with both the brilliance and character failings of its polymath hero, make for good entertainment. And I came to wonder what eventually happened to two others who played a role at that time.

One was Temple Franklin, the illegitimate son of Franklin’s own illegitimate son, William, Governor of New Jersey, and Benedict Arnold, who provided the decisive turning point in France’s decision to join with the colonists.

Temple, who accompanied his 70-year-old grandfather, was 17 when they landed and served Franklin as his private secretary, keeping records as the Franco-American Treaty of Alliance was negotiated in 1778 and then the Treaty of Paris in 1782.

Temple became a European, embracing French culture, values and rakish friends. In no way was he able to emulate his grandfather. When he returned to Philadelphia with Franklin in 1785 at the end of the war, he did not fit in. Despite his grandfather’s efforts, he did not receive a diplomatic post, although he hungered to be appointed to the court of France. He returned to Paris in 1796, after a stint in London with his father, and died there penniless in 1823. A friend had to pay for his burial.

As for Benedict Arnold, he was a British military officer (remember, they were all British before the War) who fought with the Continental Army, and was responsible for the critical victory at Saratoga that convinced the French to join the war. He became a major general, and earned Washington’s complete trust when put in charge of the fort at West Point before defecting to the British in 1780. Later in the war, he rose to brigadier general and led the British Army in their fight against some of the men he had formerly commanded.

His name became synonymous with betrayal and treason.

How could that happen? Many historians say, “Cherchez la femme.”

Arnold mingled in Philadelphia with upper class Loyalists, living well beyond his means. Despite his several substantial military contributions to the Revolutionary War effort, he became enchanted with Peggy Shippen, and married into her staunchly Loyalist family. She was good friends with Major John Andre, who became head of British Intelligence. Arnold was offered 20,000 pounds if he surrendered West Point to the British, and Shippen passed messages between the two men.

As we know from our Culper Spy local history, Andre was caught with incriminating papers by American militiamen as he rode north to meet Arnold, who was warned of the capture. He fled across the Hudson and joined the British camp; Andre was hanged.

Arnold subsequently caused much damage in Connecticut, leading troops that burned down New London and slaughtered surrendering forces after the Battle of Groton Heights, just a few miles down river from the town where he was born and grew up.

In 1782, he and Peggy moved to London, where he was well received by King George III and the Tories, given 6000 pounds and an annual pension of 360 pounds, but shunned by the Whigs and most Army officers. He moved to Canada in 1787 to run a merchant business, but was extremely unpopular and returned to London in 1791. He died there ten years later.

Their lives were footnotes in history with two sad tales.

Obituary: John Joseph Connell

by wpengine - April 30, 2024

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John (1) — John Connell. Photo courtesy M.A. Connell Funeral Home Inc.

Prepared by Caitlin Berghela

John Joseph Connell, affectionately known as “Eddie” and “Pop Pop” by his grandchildren, passed away on Friday, April 26, surrounded by his family.

Born March 18,1937, to Michael and Florence Connell, John was a lifelong resident of Huntington who deeply loved his community. Growing up, he attended St. Hugh’s School and Huntington High School, where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty Ann” Class, daughter of William Class, John’s physical education teacher and the first athletic director at Huntington High School. After high school, John made frequent trips to visit Betty Ann at Cortland State University, while working at the M.A. Connell family funeral home in Huntington Station and serving in the Navy Reserve.

In 1960, John and Betty Ann married and began building their family and a life filled with love in Huntington. In 1961, the high school sweethearts welcomed their son, Michael and, soon after, John’s Navy service was activated to defend his country during the Cuban Missile Crisis. John was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1962, and in the following year, he and Betty Ann welcomed their daughter, Debbie.

As he and Betty Ann raised their family and planted deeper roots in Huntington, John proudly ran the funeral home for decades with his brother Peter, furthering his family’s legacy and eventually working alongside his son, Michael, and son-in-law, Nicholas Berghela Sr. In 2018, his grandson, Nicholas Berghela Jr., joined the funeral service, making him the fourth generation that has served the Huntington area now for over 100 years. John’s commitment to his work was seen and felt by every person he served, so much so that he never officially retired, and would come to the funeral home nearly every day, right up until the very final days of his life.

While John was able to accomplish so much in his life, it is without question that family was at the core of his existence. As his children grew and started families of their own, John welcomed his son-in-law, Nicholas, and his favorite daughter-in-law, Anne Penders, into his family and loved them as if they were his own children. In turn, his children blessed him with four grandchildren, Krysti (Josh), Nicholas Jr. (Caitlin), Edward John and Grace, and three great-grandchildren, Oliver, Myles and Nicholas III. Becoming a grandfather, and eventually a great-grandfather, was one of John’s greatest joys in life and something in which he took immense pride. Alongside Betty Ann, they loved supporting their grandchildren and great-grandchildren by attending every concert, sporting event or graduation. To add to his list of loving nicknames, John proudly donned the title of “El Grande de Grandisimo Great Papa” upon welcoming his great-grandchildren.

Beyond being supportive parents and grandparents, John and Betty Ann filled their days by traveling the country and the world together. From their summers in Montauk, to trips to Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and Bermuda — John and Betty Ann loved every moment of their travels with their children and grandchildren. For many years, they split time between their home in Huntington, with their homes in Florida, from Palm Coast and, eventually, Fort Myers, ingratiating themselves into their communities, and making lifelong friends. Some of their favorite time spent in Florida were the many trips they made to Sanibel Island, either by themselves or with family and friends.

Perhaps the only thing that could rival the deep love that John felt for his family and community was that of his sharp wit and cunning sense of humor. John could be counted on to make everyone laugh, no matter how serious a situation — whether that was by busting out some dance moves, offering one of his signature one-liners that were sure to stop you in your tracks (like offering to lend a hand, and then proceeding to clap), or by making a clean (and sometimes questionable) joke. His ability to keep the party going, lift spirits or soothe a troubled heart, was unparalleled.

As John rejoins his bride, who passed in 2020, he will be loved and missed by his family, extended family, many friends and the community in which he dedicated his life. Viewings to celebrate John’s life will be fittingly held at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station, Wednesday, May 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs R.C. Church, 53 Prospect Road, Centerport, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, with graveside burial to follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, 183 Mount Pleasant Road, Huntington.

The Long Island Jewish Film Festival returns to Huntington for its second year

by Press Release - April 28, 2024

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The Cinema Arts Centre will host a five-day celebration of Jewish Cinema and culture, with films that include thoughtful documentaries, captivating dramas, and historically significant films

This May, the Long Island Jewish Film Festival will return to Huntington’s Cinema Arts Centre for the festival’s second year. The second season of the Long Island Jewish Film Festival will span five days, May 3^rd – May 7^th, and will include screenings of films at the forefront of Jewish cultural storytelling.

The festival will feature films that include innovative documentaries, riveting dramas, and rarely seen pieces of film history, all curated by David Schwartz, Curator at Large at the Museum of the Moving Image, who will also host and lead audience discussions after many of the festival’s screenings.

The Long Island Jewish Film Festival was organized to help celebrate the rich cultural traditions and history of the Jewish community in America and abroad. The films highlighted in the festival represent the apex of both historic and modern Jewish cinema, featuring films from over a 100 years ago, through today.

The Long Island Jewish Film Festival will begin on Friday, May 3^rd with a screening of powerful historical drama “Kidnapped”. The second day of the festival will feature screenings of three films: the enthralling dramas “The Other Widow” & “The Goldman Case”, as well as the acclaimed new documentary “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer”. Sunday, the third day of the festival, will include a screening of the historic 1923 silent film “The Ancient Law”, with a live score performed by pianist Donald Sosin & klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals, a screening of the 1980 documentary “Brighton Beach”, featuring a discussion with director Susan Wittenberg in-person, as well as an encore screening of the film “Kidnapped” for those that observe shabbat and couldn’t attend the Friday screening.

The remaining days of the festival will also feature encore screenings of the films “The Goldman Case”, and “The Other Widow”. The screenings of “The Other Widow” and “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer” will feature pre-record Q&As with the film’s directors and our host and curator David Schwartz.

Public tickets are $16 per screening with the exception of the film “The Ancient Law”, for which public tickets will cost $18.

The Films:

Kidnapped
Friday, May 3^rd at 7 PM
& Sunday, May 5^th at 7 PM
$16 Public | $10 Members
The great Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio, now 84, has made one of the most stylish and operatic films of his career. Kidnapped depicts the scandalous true story of Edgardo Mortara, a six-year-old Jewish boy who, in 1858, was baptized by his caretaker, and abducted from his family by order of the Pope, to be raised as a Catholic. Edgardo became the center of an international firestorm as his parents fought to retrieve their child from the clutches of a ruthless theocratic government; the case led to historical change. (2023, 134 mins)

Promotional Image from The Other Widow. 2022. Lama Films, Cup of Tea, Tobina Films.

The Other Widow
Saturday, May 4^th at 2 PM
& Tuesday, May 7^th at 7 PM
Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Maayan Rypp
$16 Public | $10 Members
Nominated for 9 Ophir awards (the Israeli Oscars) including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress, this wonderfully observed comedic drama follows Ella (Dana Ivgy) a costume designer who is in a long-term affair with Assaf, a married playwright. When Assaf dies unexpectedly, Ella decides to attend Shiva while keeping her identity under wraps, diving into a world once forbidden to her. Through intimate encounters with his family, she examines her place in his life and eventually demands her legitimate right to mourn. (2022, 83 mins)

The Goldman Case
Saturday, May 4^th at 4 PM
& Monday, May 6th at 7 PM
$16 Public | $10 Members
This gripping courtroom drama delves into the sensational and widely followed 1976 trial of Pierre Goldman, a Jewish activist defending himself against multiple charges, including murder. Goldman steadfastly maintained his innocence, while the facts of his case became a flash point for a generation, raising questions of antisemitism and political ideology. Directed with vérité realism and pinpoint historical precision, The Goldman Case is both subdued and electrifying, communicating so much about the complexity of Jewish identity in recent European history. It was the opening night film in the Director’s Fortnight section at Cannes. (2023, 115 mins)

Portrait of Norman Mailer featured in How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer. 2023. Zeitgeist Films. Image provided courtesy of Zeitgeist Films & Kino Lorber.

How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer
Saturday, May 4^that 7 PM
Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Jeff Zimbalist
$16 Public | $10 Members
Norman Mailer, a towering figure in American literature, had a life that was certainly stranger than fiction. From his formative years in Brooklyn, through his career as a preeminent cultural voice, we follow Mailer’s life through 6 marriages, 9 children, 11 bestselling books and 2 Pulitzer Prizes as he solidifies his place in the literary pantheon. With access to Mailer’s family and never before seen footage, this biography details the life and times of an American icon. (2023,100 mins)

Still from The Ancient Law. 1923. Comedia-Film. Public Domain.

The Ancient Law
Sunday, May 5^th at 2 PM
With live score performed by Donald Sosin and Alicia Svigals
$18 Public | $12 Members
This rarely seen silent film from Weimar Era Germany tells the dramatic story of Baruch, a young shtetl Jew and the son of a Rabbi, who leaves his family and community, seeking a secular career as a stage actor. Featuring wonderful scenes depicting shtetl life, the film paints a complex portrait of the tension between tradition and modernity. Like so many other Jewish artists of the era, director E.A. Dupont and star Ernst Deutsch were both forced to flee their homelands as the Nazis rose to power. (1923, 128 mins)

Still from Brighton Beach. 1980. Carol Stein and Susan Wittenberg. Courtesy of Indiecollect.

Brighton Beach
Sunday, May 5^th at 5 PM
With director Susan Wittenberg in-person
$16 Public | $10 Members
Set against the iconic Coney Island boardwalk, Brighton Beach is a neighborhood in constant re-formation. This 1980 documentary offers a genuine portrait of the immigrant communities that changed the Brooklyn neighborhood—mostly Soviet Jews and Puerto Ricans—as they mingle on the boardwalk with long-time residents, eye one another, and coexist around a shared sense of uprootedness. From directors Susan Wittenberg and Carol Stein, Brighton Beach is an unposed, seductively shot, color film about life’s simple pleasures and the creating of a community. (2080, 55 mins)

Location:
Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743

You can purchase tickets or find more information about these and other events on the Cinema Arts Centre website: www.cinemaartscentre.org

Tiger eyes are smiling, Northport flag football team wins fourth in a row

by Steven Zaitz - April 27, 2024

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By Steven Zaitz

It was all smiles for the Northport flag football team during their pre-game warmup before facing Harborfields on April 19.

The sun was shining, it was the Friday afternoon before spring break, and the Lady Tigers were coming off their third straight win – a dominating 32-12 destruction of crosstown Commack.

With the second-division Tornados coming to town, Northport was poised to win their fourth game in a row and inch closer to the playoffs in their second year of existence.

But then the game started.

On the very first play from scrimmage, Harborfields quarterback Kate Lysaght hit receiver Scarlet Carey with a short pass in the left flat.

Carey dodged two Northport defenders, cut to the middle of the field, and in a flash, was gone. It was a 60-yard touchdown catch and run and it put the Tigers in an immediate 6-0 hole. The smiles, so bright and omnipresent on the Northport sideline just seconds before, were suddenly gone.

“She [Carey] is very fast, but we had a few chances to grab her flag on that play, but we just missed it,” said Northport head coach Pat Campbell. “We work on grabbing that flag in practice and we have gotten a lot better at it, but not on that play.”

The Tigers, anxious to counter, spent most of the first half moving the ball and picking up first downs but they had nothing to show for it.

Blossoming superstar quarterback Grace Gilmartin, a sophomore, is leading all of Long Island in total yardage with 2,056. But she couldn’t punch it in after a long drive on the Tiger’s first possession and threw an interception in the Tornado end zone with five and half minutes to go in the half.

“We’ve learned that it’s very hard to score in flag football.” said Campbell. “It’s 20 yards for a first down and you need to convert on explosive plays. For most of that first half, we couldn’t do that.”

Most of the half – but not all.

With under two minutes left in the half, the Lady Tigers faced a third down from the Harborfields 20. Gilmartin dropped back and just as she was about to be sacked, found center Nina Corbett, short over the middle. Corbett reached up high and caught the very back end of the ball and collected herself, Deceptively quick, Corbett ran away from Carey, cut to her right, and scampered past Tornado defensive-back Annie Aguilar at the pylon for a touchdown. Northport wide-receiver Sarah Power converted the extra point that gave the Lady Tigers a 7-6 lead. They would never look back, dominate the second half, and win the game 27-6.

“Grace got rushed but we were able to connect just before they got to her,” said the sophomore Corbett. “She is always able to make the tough throw under pressure or run when she has to. That was a huge play and I was really excited when I realized I scored to tie the game.”

Corbett, who is almost always smiling, finally gave the home team and their fans a reason to do the same. It was her second touchdown of the year.

“Nina’s smile is contagious,” said three-way star and captain Hazel Carlson. “Her touchdown was very important for our team and brought us so much energy for the rest of the game.“

Carlson, who plays middle linebacker, receiver and punt returner, had 27 combined flag pulls in the games against Commack and Harborfields. The sophomore is the orchestrator of the Tiger defense that allowed next to nothing after the Tornados blew in for their early touchdown. She also had 54 yards of offense and a 42-yard punt return. Carlson is in the Suffolk County top ten in both rushing and receiving on offense, and in flag pulls on defense.

“Hazel is exceptional,” said Campbell. “She sees the ball carrier and always takes the right path. She plays on all three phases of the game, always plays hard, and is just fun to watch.”

Also fun to watch is the evolution of Gilmartin as a quarterback. Last year as a freshman, her information processing and decision-making was, well, freshman-like. There is a stark difference in her play in 2024. She has mastered the run-pass-option X and is playing with much more confidence and zeal.

“This year, Grace is as good a thrower of the football as there is in the county,” said Campbell. “When she sets he feet and squares her shoulders, she throws darts.”

Gilmartin has a quarterback rating of 100.8 after the Harborfields win; a very good number and a 25-point improvement over 2023.

“The more games I play, the more I’ve become aware of what is a good throw and what is not,” said the lead-by-example Gilmartin. “I feel more comfortable with my decisions this year.”

Another change for the Tigers this year is the addition of defensive back Kate Pitfick, who is tied for the county lead with six interceptions. Along with Carlson, right cornerback Dana Restivo, outside linebacker Stephanie Milanos, and pass rushers Caroline Bender and Ella Laposta, the Northport defense has been virtually leak-proof. They have given up an average of seven and a half points a game over the last four contests.

The senior Pitfick is happy she decided to play flag football this year.

“The girls and coaches are all amazing and made me feel so welcomed.” said Pitfick. “I played football in the street with my brothers growing up and they usually stuck me on defense. I owe a lot to them.”

Power had nine catches for 141 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown, and two extra points. She is second on Long Island in receiving with 576 yards. She also has the second-most extra point conversions with seven, Gilmartin had 300 yards of total offense against Harborfields and accounted for three touchdowns. Gilmartin and Pitfick also had long touchdowns in the second half and Campbell finally had plenty of the explosive plays he was looking for.

“It feels great to be part of a winning team,” said Pitfick. I’ve made such great friends during this time.”

With their fourth straight win and their first-ever playoff berth a developing possibility, Pitfick, and her Lady Tiger friends, have great reason to smile.

Northport boys lacrosse controls ball in 10-3 win over Smithtown East

by Steven Zaitz - April 26, 2024

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By Steven Zaitz

The Northport boys lacrosse team powered past the Bulls of Smithtown East on April 18 by a score of 10-3.

They are now a sparkling 8-1 on the season with their victory over Bay Shore on April 20 and have won five straight games. Smithtown East drops to 3-6.

Attacker Jack Deliberti and midfielder Luca Elmaleh had three goals apiece and midfielder Quinn Reynolds had a goal and two assists for the first-place and defending Suffolk County champion Tigers. Cameron James had a pair of goals for the Bulls.

Deliberti got the party started two minutes into the game with his sixteenth goal of the year, firing a sharp-angle rip from the left wing. It stayed that way until Deliberti bounced another one past All-Suffolk Bull goalkeeper Brendan Carroll from 10 yards away with 1:30 to go in the first period. Elmahleh finished a nearly-flawless quarter for Northport, scoring with 47 seconds left.

The second quarter started just like the first when a Smithtown turnover turned into a goal for long pole middie Giancarlo Valenti. Faceoff artist Dylan Baumgarth won 75% of his draws in the first half and one of his wins led to Reynolds’ goal and Northport built a 5-0 lead. Luke DiMaria and James Scored for East to slice it 5-2 at half, but they would never get any closer.

Northport traveled to Bay Shore on April 20 capturing a 9-3 win. The Tigers next game will take place on April 26 when they will travel to Patchogue-Medford.

Smithtown East won 10-9 against South Fork High School on April 20 and played Huntington yesterday, but results were not available at press time.

Federal funding strives to keep Long Island’s water safe

by TBR Staff - April 26, 2024

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Protest-copy-scaled-1-700x383 — File photo by Raymond Jani

By Aramis Khosronejad

In March, nearly 50 Long Island projects, totaling $87 million, were approved in both the first and second tranche of appropriations bills that the U.S. Congress approved.

U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY1) was able to secure monies to carry through these projects with other local congressmen, Andrew Garbarino (R-NY2) and Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY4), and Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

According to LaLota, after “months of relentless advocacy, including the crafting of detailed proposals and concerted efforts directed at members of the House Appropriations Committee,” they were finally able to integrate various initiatives and final appropriations bills.

For some time now, the water infrastructure on Long Island has been brought into question and, by extension, the quality of water available for citizens. Suffolk County has seen protests over the past year concerning the basic right each citizen has to clean water [See story, “Suffolk County Legislature recesses, blocks referendum on wastewater fund,” July 27, 2023, TBR News Media]. The conflict has evolved into a political issue.

The FY2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act passed with “overwhelming” bipartisan support in the House. LaLota described the local funding as “a significant milestone in our commitment to serving the people of Suffolk County.”

Included are the Town of Brookhaven’s Port Jefferson Harbor dredging and wave wall construction projects, for which $1.5 million has been secured. “This funding will cover the costs of much-needed structural improvements to maintain the harbor,” LaLota said.

The town will benefit from another sum of $1.5 million for sewer treatment facility expansion secured by Garbarino. The congressman also secured $2 million for a Suffolk County sewer expansion project.

A further $1.25 million has been secured by LaLota for the Suffolk County Water Authority’s Westhampton Water Main Extension project. Old Country Road in Westhampton, which serves as an area housing 64 homes and families, has long been identified by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services for polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, contamination. An allocation of the federal monies will be used to ensure access to clean, regularly tested drinking water for affected households.

Charlie Lefkowitz, chairman of Suffolk County Water Authority, emphasized that “clean drinking water is the right of every New Yorker but making these projects affordable is critical to giving access to that resource.”

“Thanks to this funding we will soon be able to extend high-quality public water to these families, giving them peace of mind every time they turn on the tap,” he added.

LaLota and Lefkowitz, along with their teams, continue to “maintain our unwavering commitment to addressing water quality issues and prioritizing the well-being of every Long Island family,” LaLota explained in an email. With the passing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act and the considerable federal funding that comes with it, the future of the water infrastructure on Long Island looks brighter.

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