Smithtown board of education member Michael Saidens raises his hand as he is sworn into offie. Photo from Jessica Novins.
By Ted Ryan
Change was a popular theme at Smithtown’s board of education meeting July 12. Two new trustees were sworn into office, and the board voted to update the school’s code of conduct regarding strip searches.
Board Members Michael Saidens and Daniel B. Lynch both took the oath after achieving victory at the polls in May.
Both Saidens and Lynch are serving three-year terms that will expire in June 2019.
Lynch, a Nesconset resident, works as a carpenter for the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, where he does indoor and outdoor commercial construction.
Both he and his wife graduated from Smithtown Central School District and they currently have four sons in the district.
“Smithtown is a wonderful community,” Lynch said in a phone interview. “I want it to be that way for my kids as well.”
To familiarize himself with state of his community’s education system, Lynch has been attending Smithtown board of education meetings regularly for two years before being elected as a trustee.
“I’m absolutely looking forward to being a part of the decision making process, so that all children will get an equal education, while being fiscally responsible,” he said.
Smithtown board of education member Daniel B. Lynch is sworn into offie. Photo from Jessica Novins.
Saidens and Lynch were not the only ones claiming their positions; James J. Grossane repeated the same oath of office, renewing his role as superintendent.
A unanimous vote was made to re-elect Christopher Alcure as president of the board of education.
Also re-elected during the board of education meeting was Vice President Joanne McEnroy. She was also unanimously voted to stay on as the second in command.
And after the new administration was settled in, the board voted to change the district’s strip search policy.
The board has been discussing changes to the code of conduct since early June, after members expressed concerns with the policy allowing school officials to conduct strip searches when there is “probable cause to believe that there is an emergency situation that could imminently threaten the safety of the student or others.”
At a June 28 meeting, district attorney Eugene Barnosky said Smithtown does not agree with the current policy.
“We don’t conduct strip searches here … there is an anti-strip search, anti-physical search policy in place,” school district attorney said. “That’s always been the policy of this district, and it’s never been violated.”
The vote to expel that section of the code passed, and the school district officially does not support or adhere to any strip searches among their students by school officials.
Congressman Lee Zeldin, joined by Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini, health professionals, community groups, parents, expresses his support for the package of bills coming to the House floor this week. File photo from Jennifer DiSiena
Major change may be coming to the North Shore, as a drug abuse bill is set to land on U.S. President Barack Obama’s (D) desk this week.
U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) is a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, which plans to spend $8.3 billion to help combat widespread drug addiction, especially addiction to heroin, on Long Island.
“As addiction and overdose deaths continue to climb, tearing families apart, it is essential that the President sign CARA into law to start delivering help to those suffering,”
— Lee Zeldin
CARA passed through the House of Representatives last week with a bipartisan vote of 407 to 5, and the Senate this week with a bipartisan vote 92 to 2.
Zeldin, who is a member of The Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, said he has been a proud supporter of this bill for more than a year now, and is happy to see Congress backing it.
“With both House and Senate passage of CARA, a bill that I proudly cosponsor, we are now only one step away from this bill being signed into law,” Zeldin said in a statement. “78 people [lose] their life every day as a result of an opioid or heroin overdose. Last year — on Long Island alone — 442 people died of a heroin or opiate overdose, up from 403 overdose deaths the year before. As addiction and overdose deaths continue to climb, tearing apart families and communities, it is essential that the President sign CARA into law to start delivering help to those suffering.”
The specifics of CARA include $80 million in funding to help prevent and treat addiction on a local level through community-based education, prevention, treatment and recovery programs; $160 million for the expansion of medication-assisted treatment options; and $103 million to establish a community-based competitive grant program to address and treat the problems of heroin and opioid addiction and abuse. Additional funding will help supply po lice forces and emergency medical responders with higher quantities of naloxone, known more commonly as Narcan, a medication that is proven to reverse an opioid overdose.
Another part of CARA’s funding focuses on pain management and prescription.
According to the bill, the Department of Health and Human Services is required to assemble a Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, which will review, modify, and update the best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication, and examine and identify the need for, development, and availability of medical alternatives to opioids.
The grant aspect of CARA is connected to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. CARA is set to amend that bill to authorize the Department of Justice to award grants to state, local and tribal governments to provide opioid-abuse services, including enhancing collaboration between criminal justice and substance abuse agencies; developing, implementing and expanding programs to prevent, treat, or respond to opioid abuse; training first responders to administer opioid overdose reversal drugs; and investigating unlawful opioid distribution activities.
The North Shore is not immune to the heroin crisis. According to a New York State Opioid Poisoning, Overdose and Prevention Report from 2015, Suffolk County has the highest heroin-related overdose fatalities of any county in New York.
Zeldin has co-sponsored several other bills in the House on this issue.
“While there is not just one piece of legislation that will solve this crisis, we must always continue our fight to provide our local communities with the resources necessary to help stop and prevent drug abuse through treatment, enforcement, and education,” he said.
An aerial view of Plum Island. Photo from U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
By Wenhao Ma
The future of Plum Island, a government-owned isle located in Southhold Town, east of Orient Point, is still unclear, but one North Shore legislator wants to ensure it remains in the government’s hands.
U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) announced on July 7 that the House of Representatives passed another one of his legislative proposals to save Plum Island from being sold to private developers. It was his second piece of legislation passed on this issue since May.
Currently, the federal government owns Plum Island, but a 2008 law required that the government sell the property to the highest bidder.
Zeldin said he think this is the wrong path for the island, which has served as the site for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center for decades.
U.S. Rep Lee Zeldin, far right, listens during his visit to Plum Island. Photo from Zeldin’s office.
“It is time for the United States Senate to act and pass my proposals, so that we can pursue a better direction for Plum Island that would allow for continued research, public access and permanent preservation of the island,” Zeldin said in a statement
Zeldin’s amendment to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2017 prohibits any of the funding within the appropriations bill to be used to market or sell Plum Island.
Both of Zeldin’s proposals were passed with bipartisan support in the House. The May bill would reverse the 2008 federal law that mandated the public sale of Plum Island by the government to the highest bidder. Now, Zeldin is looking for support from the Senate.
“The Senate also must pass this legislation to ensure that Plum Island is not sold to the highest bidder, but rather is preserved for generations to come,” he said.
The congressman said he would work on providing alternative uses for the island, such as a transfer of ownership to another federal agency, the state or local government, a nonprofit, or a combination for the purpose of education, research and conservation.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website, Plum Island was “the nation’s premier defense against accidental or intentional introduction of transboundary animal diseases,” including foot-and-mouth disease, a viral illness most popular in children under the ages of five.
Homeland Security took over ownership of the island in 2003. Five years later, Congress passed Public Law 110-339, which allowed the General Services Administration to close the disease center and sell the island to the highest bidder in order to fund the building of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas — the replacement for the existing center, due to the age and safety levels of the old facility.
Environment groups from both Long Island and Connecticut have been strongly opposing the law, saying that handing the island to private developers could bring damage to the natural environment and resources.
“The Neck” — A view of Plum Island. Photo by Robert Lorenz
“Its location at the convergence of two major estuaries provides an essential habitat for a rich variety of resident and migrating wildlife,” said Kevin McAllister, founder and president of the Sag Harbor-based nonprofit Defend H2O, which protects and restores the environmental quality of groundwater, surface waters, wetlands and beaches on and around Long Island. “Selling the island to developers would open the gates to more water pollution. Giving it away would be a major blow to conservation efforts and be an unconscionable act by the government.”
Jason Garnett, program director of Soundkeeper, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Long Island Sound, agreed, saying that Plum Island is an important rest location for migrating birds and waterfowl.
“By preserving ecologically important, open coastal spaces such as Plum Island, we are doing the right thing for future generations of people and the creatures that depend on [the island’s] ecological services of clean air and water,” Garnett said.
Soundkeeper was among many organizations and individuals that filed a lawsuit in federal court on Long Island two weeks ago against the Department of Homeland Security and General Services Administration, that accused the department of violating federal laws and failing to protect endangered and threatened species by intending to sell Plum Island.
John Turner, spokesman for the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, is one of the plaintiffs in the suit.
“We think that the government needs to comply with the existing law,” he said.
Zeldin said he is supportive of the local groups’ efforts to prevent the sale of Plum Island.
Besides activist groups, Southold Town also took actions to save the island.
Three years ago, the town passed a zoning law that created two zoning districts on the island, making one a research district and the other a conservation district, where no housing nor any kind of development would be permitted. If the island is sold, a new buyer would have to follow those zoning laws. According to a 2016 Homeland Security report, Alternatives for Final Disposition of Plum Island, the new zoning “sets forth a limited number of allowed uses, restricting the development potential of the property.”
Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell (R) said the town has been working well with local environment groups to prevent an uncertain future for the island.
Shanna Brady won two national championships with the University of Maryland
Shanna Brady has been named the new assistant coach at Hofstra University. Photo from Shanna Brady
By Desirée Keegan
A local lacrosse standout with two national championships under her belt is hoping to make a splash on the coaching side of things.
After serving as an assistant coach at Long Island University last year, Shanna Brady has joined the ranks of Hofstra University, serving as assistant coach of the Pride under six-year head coach Shannon Smith.
“Shanna was the perfect candidate,” Smith said. “She brings a lot to the table and is going to help get Hofstra to the next level. She’s very passionate about the game of lacrosse, she loves teaching the student-athletes and she has a wealth of knowledge with her playing career — winning two national championships and being a four-year starter—so that experience she can share with the players, and help develop our defense.”
Shanna Brady competes for the United Women’s Lacrosse League’s Long Island Sound. Photo from Shanna Brady
Brady, a native of Smithtown and graduate of St. Anthony’s High School, graduated from the University of Maryland in 2015. She reached championship weekend all four years of her college career and totaled 75 ground balls, 46 caused turnovers and 20 draw controls during her 92 games played. Brady also served as a coach with the Long Island Express Lacrosse Club from 2011 to 2014, and was a two-year member of Maryland’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during her undergraduate career.
“I always knew I wanted to be coaching,” Brady said. “Lacrosse is such a huge part of my life and I’ve always wanted to be around a lacrosse atmosphere. Hofstra is an incredible university and they have a group of talented athletes and the potential.”
After graduating, she ran into an assistant coach at LIU Post that was leaving, and was able to land that job.
“She was a great person, very sincere, a true competitor, and she has tremendous knowledge of the sport,” said LIU Post head women’s lacrosse coach Meghan McNamara. “She was excited to coach. That’s what drew me to her.”
While there, Brady was also in charge of recruiting, emails and organizing events.
“She is an awesome, awesome well-known coach and I learned a lot from her in communicating with the girls,” Brady said of McNamara. “I learned a lot other than just growing as a coach on the field.”
McNamara liked what her former assistant brought to the team as well. The Pioneers compiled a 17-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
“She brought energy, a lot of knowledge on the defensive side and confidence to the team. She could relate to the girls, being closer in age,” she said. “She was a good balance for the team. I’m so excited for her and very proud of her. It’s her passion.”
Smith said she believes Brady will bring those same smarts and winning mentality to her team.
Shanna Brady coaching on the sideline at Long Island University. Photo from LIU Post
“She’s great with talking to the student-athletes, in the recruiting aspect she knows a lot of people on Long Island and she’s very confident. She’s well spoken, and I’m just excited for her next step at Hofstra,” she said. “She was a phenomenal player in college. She knows what it takes to win.”
Brady said what makes her and Smith’s connection unique, is that she looked up to Smith as a player, watching her and even playing against her in her freshman year, when Smith was still playing for Northwestern University. Now, Smith coaches Brady — who is currently playing professionally for the Long Island Sound of the United Women’s Lacrosse League.
“We really hit it off, we have similar personalities and we’re kind of cut from the same cloth,” Smith said. “Our philosophies get along with one another. Shanna brings a lot of fundamental skills. She is going to be able to adjust to what we need, whether it be something different in a season or specifically in one game, she’s quick on her feet, she’s hardworking.”
Brady is looking forward to the next step in her coaching career as well, having already had the opportunity to get to know her new team and staff, being in and out of the Hofstra office.
“[Shannon Smith] is an incredible person and a talented coach, and I’m excited to be given the opportunity to coach with her and to learn as much as I can about the game and being successful,” Brady said. “Coming from my background, you have that will and that drive that you always want to be at the top. This is an exciting opportunity because we want to get to that next level as a program.”
“The Neck” — A view of Plum Island. Photo by Robert Lorenz
One of the things that instills great pride in North Shore residents is the unparalleled natural beauty of the place we call home. We are grateful to those who came before us for their discernment and diligence in protecting and preserving that — which, once developed, is lost forever.
Conservationists and environmentalists have worked to ensure that open spaces, clean water, nature preserves and pine barrens will continue to exist for future generations to enjoy.
A controversy is roiling Long Islanders and activists nationwide, over the proposed sale of Plum Island by the federal government. In 1954, the island was the secured location of an animal research facility run by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. More recently, responsibility for the island has shifted to the Department of Homeland Security.
Today, Plum Island, an important, pristine, ecological habitat, is in danger of being sold to a developer. The island has seen little human traffic in the last 70 years, which has enabled about 80 percent of the land to revert to its natural state. It is now home to some of our most imperiled species.
As the Plum Island Animal Disease Center has become outmoded, plans are afoot to create a new center in Manhattan, Kansas. To defray the cost of the new facility, the government wants to sell the 843-acre coastal island to the highest bidder.
We applaud the efforts of Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) to block the proposed sale. The House of Representatives has passed two of his legislative proposals to date. Zeldin urges the Senate to act and pass the proposals as well, and we agree with his sentiments. We are hopeful that we can pursue a better direction for Plum Island than just private ownership, one that would allow for continued research, public access and permanent preservation.
A group of kids decked out in Pokémon attire as they search for Pokémon in town. Photo from Benjamin Harris
By Rebecca Anzel
The latest trend sweeping the nation is a throwback from the 1990s with a modern-technology twist: a augmented reality Pokémon game played on smartphones, and residents of Huntington are not immune. Hundreds of kids, teenagers and adults alike took to the streets this week to interact in this new game.
This latest offering from Pokémon evolved the franchise beyond the original cards, television show and video games. Pokémon GO allows players to create an avatar, called a trainer, and walk around their neighborhoods catching various Pokémon. Players can battle one another and get free in-game items from locations chosen by the game.
“Seeing all these people in my town is so new and great, especially when we can all bond over the same thing,”
— Gerard Anthony
The game is getting people of all ages out of their houses and into their neighborhoods. The only way to catch Pokémon is to walk around searching for them, and players have been posting on social media about how far they have traveled around their neighborhood.
One 22-year-old Greenlawn resident said she saw more than 50 kids hunting for Pokémon at parks in Northport and Huntington in one afternoon.
Megan McLafferty introduced the game to two kids she babysits because she thought, “it would be a fun activity to do outside with the kids — and they loved it.”
She said the kids really enjoyed searching different spots for Pokémon.
“I like that it gets you outside, it gets you moving, and it gets you to interact with other people,” she said in an interview. “It seemed like a lot of people were in big groups together [searching for Pokémon].”
Gerard Anthony, an 18-year-old Northport resident agreed that Pokémon GO is a great game to play in groups.
“Seeing all these people in my town is so new and great, especially when we can all bond over the same thing,” Anthony said in an interview. “I am able to go into Northport by myself and meet a new group of people each day.”
The only way to catch Pokémon is to walk around searching for them, and similarly, the only way to get a refill of free in-game item, like pokéballs is to go to Pokéstops.
One of those stops is the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library in East Setauket. Director Ted Gutmann said once he discovered this, he had to try it. “I caught a few in my office,” he said. “So they’re here!”
The library is busy this time of year because of its summer reading program, but Gutmann said being a Pokéstop is attracting more visitors than usual.
A man captures a Pokemon. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
“The hope is, once they get in here, they’ll stop and read a book or attend one of our programs,” he said.
Gutman added that the library had tried its hand at augmented reality a while ago, implementing the technology in its newsletter. It abandoned the effort because it was not getting enough use at the time, but now that Pokémon GO is increasing the popularity of augmented reality, he said the library may revisit the project.
“There are lots of opportunities to use the technology beyond the game,” he said.
Port Jefferson’s Main Street is also a huge attraction for players. With a multitude of Pokéstops and gyms, the promise of Port Jefferson tempted Chris Aguilar, 23, to travel from Riverhead two days in a row.
Aguilar said there were so many people in the streets on the first night he was in the area, July 13, that mobs of trainers were crossing the streets. They did not begin to clear out until about 2:30 a.m.
“This game is bringing people together in an unprecedented way,” he said. “It’s like an age gap doesn’t exist between players,” who can speak to each other on almost an equal level about the game and trade tips.
Other local hotspots to catch Pokémon include Heritage Parkin Mount Sinai and Sylvan Ave. Park in Miller Place.
Just two days after the game’s release, players were spending an average of 43 minutes and 23 seconds per day playing Pokémon GO, a higher rate than popular apps including Instagram, Snapchat and Whatsapp.
According to SimilarWeb, an information technology company that tracks web analytics, Pokémon GO has so many daily active users that it is projected to soon have more users than Twitter.
But some people are concerned about the safety risks associated with Pokémon GO.
Pedestrians are now wandering around towns, with their eyes faced down at their smartphones. Law enforcement agencies, institutions of higher education and public transportation systems have spoken of the dangers of walking around consumed by a smartphone.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) held a press conference Tuesday to remind residents to exercise caution while playing.
“The safety and well-being of our residents, especially children, is our highest priority,” he said in a statement.
Suffolk County Police CommissionerTim Sini echoed his sentiments at the event.
“There have also been accounts of people using the application while driving,” Sini said. “We are encouraging not just parents, but all users, to practice caution to avoid injury to self and others.”
Stony Brook University also contributed to the conversation, reminding students to watch where they are walking while playing.
Mark Szkolnicki, a student of the university, said that he is always careful.
“I grew up in a bad area, so the whole mugging-for-phones thing has been something that I’ve been cautious of forever,” he said. “But I worry for the youth because it’s a cool concept and it could really grow, but those kinds of obstacles really put a downer on the whole gaming community.”
Stony Brook Office for Marine Sciences Secretary Christina Fink agreed. She said it is important to keep in mind that if players are going hunting for Pokémon at night, they should go with at least one other person.
Say Meatball! The Man in the Yellow Hat, Curious George and Chef Pisghetti pose with members of the audience after the show. Photo courtesy of SPCA
By Rebecca Anzel
Curious George is still going on adventures after 75 years of entertaining children. Through Aug. 28, the actors at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts transform the story of “Curious George: The Golden Meatball” into an hour-long musical performance.
In this play, George helps his friend Chef Pisghetti cook meatballs for the annual All You Can Eat Meatball Day. George had been excited to help the chef cook and serve guests, but when the day came, there was no one in Chef Pisghetti’s restaurant to serve the meatballs to. Instead, the crowd was captivated by Phinneas T. Lightspeed’s meatball-making machine. Upset by Lightspeed’s rhymes, fancy coat and blue meatballs, Chef Pisghetti declared he would never cook again. George, though, wants to help the chef rediscover his passion and talent. He travels all the way to Rome to enter his friend’s meatballs into the Golden Meatball Contest.
This story is based on the originals written by Margret and H.A. Rey, who took their manuscript of “Curious George” out of Paris during World War II. As Jews, the Reys decided to flee Paris before the Nazis seized the city. H.A. Rey assembled two bicycles, and they fled Paris just a few hours before it fell. Among the meager possessions they brought with them was the illustrated manuscript of “Curious George.”
The stories were later turned into a PBS Kids cartoon, which is still airing.
Say Meatball! The Man in the Yellow Hat, Curious George and Chef Pisghetti pose with members of the audience after the show. Photo courtesy of SPCA
Directed by Brianne Boyd, the adult cast of “The Golden Meatball” kept the audience laughing throughout. Marisa Guardino, as George, is complemented perfectly by the other five actors, each of whom played more than one character. It is a testament to costume designer Ronald R. Green III that each of those wardrobe changes happened seamlessly.
Brian Gill, who plays the Man in the Yellow Hat for all Sunday performances, was excellent. Gill brought the same spirit to the role as the character he plays is known for — a responsible and trusting parent to George who can laugh and have fun.
Bobby Montaniz was convincing as Chef Pisghetti. His playful Italian accent and spirited exclamation of “ba da boopie” at the end of a few of his phrases elicited giggles from the audience. Tommy Castelli (Phinneas T. Lightspeed and others), Emily Attridge (Netti and others) and Meagan Materazo (Doorman and others) all worked well with Montaniz in the various roles they performed as partners. The four delivered punchy jokes aimed at parents expertly, like one when Castelli was delivering a package to George by himself, and Materazo asked him where his fellow delivery men were. Castelli looked at the audience, shrugged and replied, “budget cuts.”
Guardino as Curious George stole the show. Her voice perfectly mirrored that of the cartoon character, and her dance moves, from shakes to splits, endeared her character to the children in the audience. The audience also participated during several of the times Guardino and others would ask for directions or confirmation. The cheers for her at the end of the performance were the loudest.
With original music by John Kavanaugh and book and lyrics by Jeremy Desmon, the songs in “The Golden Meatball” were lighthearted and familiar to a few of the children, who could be heard singing along — especially with the Curious George theme song with which the show started and ended.
After the cast sang “George Goes to Rome” and “A Buddy like you,” Chef Pisghetti thanks his friend for traveling all the way to Italy to enter him in the meatball competition. “I’m so lucky to have a buddy like you,” he tells George, whom he affectionately calls Giorgio. George ends up having to cook the chef’s meatballs all by himself at the competition, and he is worried he does not have the chef’s secret ingredient. But after he wins the competition and Chef Pisghetti finally makes it to the contest, he tells George the meatballs he cooked came out so well because he had the secret ingredient — love.
With the cast’s energy and familiar songs, “The Golden Meatball” is the perfect show for young children. Just bring a sweater — the theater is a little chilly. The actors are available after their bows for photos and autographs, although Artistic Director Ken Washington warned that because George is a monkey, “he can’t really sign things.”
Children’s theater will continue at the Smithtown Center for Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown, with “Elf the Musical, Jr.” from Nov. 25 to Dec. 30, “Shrek the Musical, Jr.” from Jan. 21 through Feb. 26 and “Annie, Jr.” from March 18 to April 15. All tickets are $15. To order, call the box office at 631-724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.
The fight against opioid abuse took a step further this week as U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) plugged new legislation. The freshman congressman is a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which plans to spend $8.3 billion in funding to help combat widespread drug addiction, especially to heroin.
CARA passed through the House of Representatives last week with a bipartisan vote of 407 to 5.
Zeldin, who is a member of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, said he has been a proud supporter of this bill for more than a year now.
“As a co-sponsor of CARA, I have been a vocal supporter of this bill since it was first introduced at the beginning of last year,” he said in a statement. “Over the past year … I have worked closely with our local community, hosting multiple drug task force round tables here on Long Island, to bring together local elected officials, law enforcement, health professionals, community groups, parents, concerned residents and those in recovery, to discuss and develop a more localized solution to address this crisis.”
Zeldin has held heroin events in Smithtown and Brookhaven to meet with community members and keep the discussion open.
The specifics of CARA include $80 million in funding to help prevent and treat addiction on a local level through community-based education, prevention, treatment and recovery programs; $160 million for the expansion of medication-assisted treatment options; and $103 million to establish a community-based competitive grant program to address and treat the problems of heroin and opioid addiction and abuse. Additional funding will also help supply police forces and emergency medical responders with higher quantities of naloxone, known more commonly as Narcan, a medication that is proven to reverse an opioid overdose.
“We must always continue our fight to provide local communities with the resources necessary to help stop and prevent drug abuse through treatment, enforcement and education.”
—Lee Zeldin
Another part of CARA’s funding focuses on pain management and prescription.
According to the bill, the Department of Health and Human Services is required to assemble a Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, which will review, modify and update the best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication, and examine and identify the need for, development and availability of medical alternatives to opioids.
The grant aspect of CARA is connected to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. CARA is set to amend that bill to authorize the Department of Justice to award grants to state, local and tribal governments to provide opioid abuse services, including enhancing collaboration between criminal justice and substance abuse agencies; developing, implementing and expanding programs to prevent, treat or respond to opioid abuse; training first responders to administer opioid overdose reversal drugs; and investigating unlawful opioid distribution activities.
CARA currently has 44 co-sponsors and is set to go to a vote in the United States Senate.
The North Shore is not immune to the heroin crisis. According to a New York State Opioid Poisoning, Overdose and Prevention Report from 2015, Suffolk County has the highest heroin-related overdose fatalities of any county in New York.
Zeldin said he hopes the Senate will act fast to approve the bill.
“I implore the Senate to act quickly to pass this bill, so that we can start providing the necessary resources to those in need,” he said. “While there is not just one piece of legislation that will solve this crisis, we must always continue our fight to provide our local communities with the resources necessary to help stop and prevent drug abuse through treatment, enforcement and education.”
A scene from SCPA’s ‘Hairspray.' Photo courtesy of SCPA
By Rita J. Egan
A few mists of hairspray, and a whole lot of talent, transformed the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts into a Broadway theater this weekend. The venue’s production of “Hairspray” opened this past Saturday night to a packed house.
Jordan Hue expertly directs a cast of more than 30 talented musical theater actors. Based on the 1988 movie by John Waters that starred Ricki Lake and Divine, the musical stage production debuted in 2002 and ran for more than six years on Broadway. With music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, the play inspired the release of a second movie in 2007, which starred John Travolta.
Rhythm and blues and 60s-style dance music, combined with a good dose of love and humor, create this coming-of-age tale. Set in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1962, our heroine, Tracy Turnblad, dreams of appearing on a local television dance program called “The Corny Collins Show.” When she finally snags a spot on the show, the plus-sized teenager learns about the injustices in the country, not only when it comes to size but also for non-whites. The determined Tracy then begins a crusade to integrate the production and opens up a completely new world for herself as well as her parents and friends.
The cast of ‘Hairspray.’ Photo courtesy of SCPA
The Smithtown production opens as Tracy, played by Noelle Eichenlaub, and the ensemble greet the day with the rousing “Good Morning Baltimore.” The actors set the stage for a high-energy show, liveliness that they sustain right until the very end with the upbeat and infectious “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
Eichenlaub possesses strong vocals on all her numbers, which include the songs mentioned above as well as “I Can Hear the Bells” and “Welcome to the 60s,” and she captures the sweetness and optimism of Tracy with every note, dance step and line.
Ryan Nolin portrayed Tracy’s mother Edna to the hilt on opening night, and while he may have big shoes to fill with the likes of Divine, Harvey Fierstein and John Travolta playing the role in the past, the actor filled them brilliantly with a great amount of comedic ability. The statuesque Nolin perfectly captures the self-conscious yet strong nature of the loving, protective mother. The actor, who alternates performances with Michael Newman, garnered a huge amount of laughs in all the right places. During the number “You’re Timeless to Me” with Eugene Dailey, a charmingly quirky Wilbur Turnblad, the duo were delightful and received an enormous amount of laughs and applause from the audience.
Michelle Rubino is convincing as anxious and awkward Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s best friend. It’s hard to believe this is the same graceful girl who played Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” on the same stage a few months ago. The versatile young actress showed off her strong vocals during her parts in the songs “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now” and “Without Love.”
Michael Marmann, who starred with Rubino in “The Little Mermaid” as Prince Charming, now charms the audience as Link Larkin, the lead male dancer on “The Corny Collins Show” and Tracy’s crush. The actor smoothly channels a 60s heartthrob, and while performing the song “It Takes Two” with his fellow male dance show members, he sweetly sings the ballad like the lead singer of a boy band.
When Tracy encounters Seaweed, played by Dondi Rollins Jr., and the record shop kids in detention, we get to hear smooth, soulful vocals from Rollins on “Run and Tell That.” This is where M.E. Junge’s choreography takes center stage, too. While all the cast members during the show handle the choreography with ease, Rollins and Kordell Hammond, who plays Duane, both display excellent dance abilities.
Amanda-Camille Isaac as Motormouth Maybelle performed a riveting “I Know Where I’ve Been.” When joined by the record shop kids, the song was elevated to gospel-song-like quality, and by the sounds of the immense applause, it seemed the opening night audience agreed.
Denise Antonelle portrays the immoral show producer Velma Von Tussel and delivers the number “(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs” with the wickedness of a Disney evil queen. The number sets the tone perfectly for what Tracy is up against to integrate her favorite show.
Alexa Brin as Velma’s spoiled daughter Amber is amusingly annoying as Tracy’s arch-nemesis, who not only tries to stand in our heroine’s way to dance on the show but also to win the Miss Teenage Hairspray competition. The actress also shines vocally in the numbers “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now” and “Cooties.”
Adding even more liveliness and high-powered vocals to the number “Welcome to the 60s” were the Dynamites portrayed by Janelle Primm, Diamond Essence White and Isaac. Lauren Tirado as Seaweed’s sister, Little Inez, also demonstrates great vocals on the songs she’s included on.
Ronnie Green as Corny Collins was smooth and confident. It should be noted that the dance show’s council members played by Samantha Cuomo, David Reyes, Matthew Healey, Samantha Foti, Christian Arma, Caroline Anderson, Tommy Castelli and Lisa Naso, and the record shop kids Tirado, Primm, White, Hammond, Elijah Andrews and Jahlil Burke, as well as the swing members, are as integral to the high energy of the show as the lead characters, and they do not disappoint. Adding to the show’s hijinks were the hysterical Anne Marie Finnie as Penny’s overprotective mom, the jailhouse matron and obnoxious gym teacher, and Erich Grathwohl in the roles of Mr. Pinky and Mr. Harriman F. Spritzer, president of Ultra Clutch hairspray.
The Broadway-quality numbers would not be complete without conductor Melissa Coyle along with musicians Craig Coyle, Brian Schatz, Ray Sabatello, Ricky Enderle and Jim Waddell. Also, congratulations to costume designer Ronnie Green for the fun, vibrant outfits, and scenic designer Timothy Golebiewski for the colorful, versatile set. While leaving the theater on opening night, audience members raved about how wonderful the show was, including one person who said that Smithtown’s “Hairspray” was just as good as a Broadway musical.
The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E Main Street, Smithtown, presents “Hairspray” until Aug. 28. All seats are $35. For show schedule and more information, call 631-724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Cheick Diallo addresses the crowd after being selected by the Los Angeles Clippers. Photo from Sara Stelzer
By Clayton Collier
The NBA was a dream worth the wait for Cheick Diallo; even if it meant waiting a little longer than anticipated.
Diallo, at 6 feet, 9 inches, 220 pounds, widely expected to be a late first-round pick, was selected 33rd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. The 19-year-old forward’s draft rights were acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the 39th and 40th overall picks. A 2-for-1 is a hefty price to pay in any exchange, but Pelicans general manager Dell Demps knew they had to get Diallo.
“You talk to people and say, ‘Is he a good kid?’” Demps said. “And they say, ‘No, No.He’s a great kid. He’s a phenomenal kid.’In our interview process with him, when he walked out of the room, everybody just thought, wow.We all said, ‘Did you hear that?Did you listen to this guy? You want to root for him.’”
Cheick Diallo blocks a shot for the University of Kansas. Photo by Jeff Jacobsen
Demps said that first phone call with Diallo was one to remember.
“We talked to him on the phone, and he was so fired up and we were so fired up,” he said. “We were sitting there screaming and yelling on the phone.”
Rev. Ronald Stelzer, head basketball coach at Our Savior New American School, Diallo’s high school in Centereach, made a point to be at the Barclays Center to see his star pupil get selected.
“I was so happy to see how he reacted when he got picked,” Stelzer said “He was really excited and happy; beaming. Sometimes kids get picked a little later than expected and they get all mopey. Cheick had this child-like exuberance to have this chance to play in the NBA now.”
Diallo goes to New Orleans following his freshman year at the University of Kansas, where he averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game, while also amassing 0.85 blocks per game, ranking 12th in the Big 12.
“I was surprised Cheick didn’t go in the first round based on preliminary reports I got,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said in a release. “The big thing is he was able to go 33rd and that will hopefully put him in a position to sign and get a guaranteed contract.”
Minimal collegiate playing time aside, Diallo was a highly sought after talent out of high school. The 2015 McDonald’s All-American picked up offers from the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Syracuse University and Villanova University, among others, before eventually deciding on Kansas.
A native of Kayes, Mali in Africa, Diallo came to Our Savior New American as a 15-year-old freshman. It wasn’t until a few years later that Stelzer said his coaching staff began to see professional-level talent out of Diallo.
“By his junior year, we knew he had something really special,” he said. “We have a lot of kids who have had talent, but he had a little extra athleticism. Combine that with an extremely hard worker, and he just launched.”
Cheick Diallo during his high school years with Our Savior New American head coach Rev. Ronald Stelzer. Photo from Sara Stelzer
Diallo’s former college rival, Buddy Hield, also went to the Pelicans with the sixth overall pick. The reigning John R. Wooden Award winner now joins a rotation that will include Diallo and All-Star big man Anthony Davis.
“That mix of speed and athleticism and power is a great combination,” Stelzer said. “It’s the kind of situation where [Cheick] could make an immediate impact.”
Stelzer said his assistant coaches and Diallo’s host family were essential in getting Diallo from high school onto the next stage.
“We’ve been blessed, and we have a lot of people who have contributed in a team effort to make it possible,” he said. “I wish him the best. It was a pleasure to coach him; he’s a fine young man.”
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