Amazon Fresh held a ribbon cutting for its East Setauket store on Oct. 24. Photo from Long Island Cares
Amazon Fresh presented a check in the amount of $10,000 to Long Island Cares/Island Harvest during the Oct. 24 grand opening/ribbon cutting. Pictured from left, Ginger Belesi, Office of Assembly Member Ed Flood; Omar Ventura, Amazon Fresh Store Manager, East Setauket; and Paule Pachter, CEO, Long Island Cares. Photo courtesy of Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh presented a check in the amount of $10,000 to Long Island Cares/Island Harvest during the Oct. 24 grand opening/ribbon cutting. Pictured from left, Ginger Belesi, Office of Assembly Member Ed Flood; Omar Ventura, Amazon Fresh Store Manager, East Setauket; and Paule Pachter, CEO, Long Island Cares. Photo courtesy of Amazon Fresh
The Dash Cart at Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh
By Heidi Sutton
The day has finally arrived. After remaining vacant for nearly two years, Amazon Fresh officially opened in East Setauket in the former Waldbaum’s location on Thursday, Oct. 24. The 42,900-square-foot store in Suffolk Plaza at 4054 Nesconset Highway is the first of its kind in Suffolk County.
The community was invited to celebrate the momentous occasion at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. featuring music, samples, games, the chance to win $500 toward groceries, and a $5 off $25 coupon. The first 100 customers in line received an Amazon.com gift card and all customers received a free tote while supplies lasted.
The East Setauket store is one of a handful of new Fresh locations that Amazon has launched in recent months after making some improvements to its business format. The biggest change was the discontinuation of the much touted Just Walk Out cashier-less checkout technology which has been replaced with computerized Dash Carts — smart shopping carts equipped with scanners that track items as customers place them inside —along with Amazon One, a palm-based payment device, for a more seamless checkout experience.
Shoppers will find a wide selection of popular national and local brands along with Amazon’s private-label products, such as Aplenty, Fresh Brand and 365 by Whole Foods Market, which was acquired by Amazon in 2017. The store also offers prepared foods made fresh daily, as well as produce, meat, and seafood.
Amazon Prime members can save up to 50 percent off on eight to 15 grocery items that rotate each week, according to a company statement and can earn 5% back when they use their Prime Visa card.
The store also offers same day grocery delivery or free grocery pickup and serves as a drop-off location for Amazon return packages. All surplus food will be donated to Long Island Cares.
“We offer great prices on quality items every day at Amazon Fresh, ensuring grocery shopping is convenient and affordable for all our customers,” said Claire Peters, worldwide VP, Amazon Fresh in a statement. “Increasing our weekly deals across thousands of items and expanding the reach of Prime savings at Amazon Fresh is just one way that we’re continuing to invest in competitive pricing and savings for all of our customers — both in-store and online.”
Store hours will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
The success of the East Setauket store will be watched closely as the company continues to expand in Suffolk County.
Another Amazon Fresh at 3017 North Ocean Ave. in Farmingville was completed last year but remains empty.
“We remain committed to grocery, and will selectively open new Amazon Fresh stores as we see positive customer feedback on the new format,” read a statement from the Seattle-based company. For more information, call 1-800-250-0668.
One morning in the spring of 2021, I was invited by Port Jefferson Village trustee Rebecca Kassay to join her for a cup of coffee. At that time, I had just been elected to the Brookhaven Town Council, and she wanted to meet to discuss some of the issues being faced by the community we serve. I was immediately impressed by her collaborative approach to working together, the depth of her knowledge and experience, and her love for public service.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to witness firsthand how Rebecca truly embodies the spirit of leadership that our community needs. She takes the time to be well-informed on issues, engages deeply with stakeholders and is always focused on solutions. I believe it’s reasonable for the public to expect an elected official to have a genuine passion for public service and a commitment to put the needs of the community above party affiliation or any other consideration. Rebecca does exactly that.
Another thing I have observed about Rebecca is that she doesn’t just run from event to event looking for a photo op. She engages deeply with community members and our important organizations in meaningful ways, and takes the time to get to know the players and build relationships. This has helped her develop a detailed understanding of the community’s needs. Her leadership isn’t about serving a political party — it’s about serving us, the people of this community.
Rebecca’s candidacy for the New York State Assembly stands out because she is driven by a strong sense of responsibility to the public. When elected officials have deeper connections to the community they serve, they become less reliant on a political machine to elect them and are answerable directly to the people. Rebecca is not going to Albany to push a political agenda — she’s going there to represent us, and to fight for what matters most to the people of our community.
I urge my fellow residents to support Rebecca Kassay for New York State Assembly. She has the heart, experience and commitment to serve us all with integrity and vision.
Brookhaven Councilmember
Jonathan Kornreich
(D-Stony Brook)
Securing Suffolk’s future: Why Prop 2 matters for clean water
After years of delays, Suffolk County voters will finally be able to make their voices heard on a key challenge facing our region — restoring water quality. As Long Islanders, we treasure our pure drinking water, beaches, harbors and bays. If approved this November, Prop 2 will ensure that our ground and surface water resources are uncontaminated and useful for all present and future generations.
Currently, nitrogen pollution from untreated sewage is degrading both Suffolk’s groundwater and recreational waterways. The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act is a critical step
toward reversing this trend and achieving a sustainable future, and would enable investment into tested and proven clean water technologies to replace our outdated septic systems.
This measure will also bring expanded sewer services to many of the most densely developed parts of our county, help secure additional federal and state funding, create thousands of good local jobs, revitalize business districts and boost property values.
Most importantly, if confirmed, this referendum will protect the health and well-being of every Suffolk County resident. This year, we have the power to protect our water and our future. We urge all Suffolk County residents to vote YES on Prop 2 this Nov. 5.
The Suffolk CountyLegislature Democratic Caucus:
Minority Leader Jason Richberg;Legislators Tom Donnelly,
Rebecca Sanin, SamuelGonzalez, Steve Englebright and Ann Welker
From capes to camouflage: teaching kids about real heroes
As part of our American Halloween tradition, children look forward to dressing up in their best-loved costumes, including as their favorite superhero. In a world where the term “hero” is often attributed to celebrities, athletes and fictional characters, we must remind our kids that our real heroes are America’s military brave men and women, who have dedicated their lives protecting our nation, securing our freedoms and preserving peace.
Through the lens of veterans’ experiences, we can teach kids the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of danger, and putting the greater good above self-interest. These lessons are particularly important in our society that often emphasizes individual success and instant gratification. We can teach children the value of military heroism by:
• Incorporating veterans’ stories into education by including lessons about military history and veterans in school curricula. Invite veterans to share their experiences in classrooms and during school events.
• Celebrating national holidays by using Veterans Day, Memorial Day and other national holidays as opportunities to discuss the significance of these days and the heroes they honor.
• Visiting historical sites and memorials by organizing trips to military museums, memorials and cemeteries. These visits can provide tangible connections to the past and the sacrifices made by veterans.
• Engaging in community activities by writing letters, sending care packages or volunteering with organizations that assist veterans.
• Inviting veterans to share personal stories that can make the lessons more relatable and impactful.
By understanding and honoring the sacrifices and contributions of veterans, children learn valuable lessons about courage, sacrifice, patriotism, empathy and civic duty. Veterans have played a critical role in shaping and defending our nation. Their service and sacrifices are the bedrock upon which our freedoms and way of life are built. By highlighting genuine acts of bravery, we help children distinguish between fantasy and reality, and appreciate the profound impact of our military heroes.
Sarah Anker
Former Suffolk County Legislator
NYS Senate Candidate
‘Do No Harm’ is more harm than good
Why should anyone worry about whether or not the grade on a Regents exam might pull down a student’s grade point average? [See letter, “Rethinking grades: the return of the ‘Do No Harm’ policy,” TBR News Media, Oct. 17.] It seems to me that the concern is misplaced. Regents exams were always hard and, once upon a time, graduating with a Regents diploma rather than a general diploma meant something.
Rather than fussing about GPAs, shouldn’t we be concerned that students haven’t mastered the material well enough to get good grades on the Regents exams?
Jane O’Sullivan
Setauket
Celebrate Long Island Restaurant Week all year long
Why not patronize your neighborhood restaurants during Long Island Restaurant Week Oct. 27-Nov. 3 with a wide variety of lunch and dinner specials all year long. During this event, participating restaurants are offering two-course lunches for only $24 or three-course dinners ranging from $29, $39 to $46.
My wife and I don’t mind occasionally paying a little more to help our favorite restaurants survive. Don’t forget your cook and server. We try to tip 20 to 25 percent against the total bill including taxes. If it is an odd amount, we round up to the next dollar. If we can afford to eat out, we can afford an extra dollar tip. When ordering take out, we always leave a dollar or two for the waiter or cook. It is appreciated.
The restaurant industry employees hosts, bartenders, waiters, busboys, cooks, cashiers and parking valets, wholesale food sellers, distributors and linen suppliers. There are also construction contractors who renovate or build new restaurants.
Our local entrepreneurs work long hours, pay taxes and provide local employment especially to students during the summer. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, they don’t eat either. Why travel into Manhattan when we have so many great neighborhood restaurants in Suffolk County to select from.
Children can trick or treat at the Stony Brook Village Center during the Ward Melville Heritage Organization's annual Halloween Festival on Oct. 31. Photo from WMHO
By Heidi Sutton
Halloween is such a fun time of year. Whether you like to go on a haunted hayride, a spooky walk, join a parade or go trick or treating, here are 31 Halloween events on the North Shore to enjoy. Happy Halloween!
Calverton
Haunted Hollow Fundraiser
Baiting Hollow Scout Camp, 1774 Sound Ave., Calverton will host a Haunted Trail and Haunted House on Oct. 25 and 26 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Prepare yourself for a night filled with spine-tingling frights and eerie sights! Admission is $20 per person at www.sccbsa.org/hollowhaunted.
Centerport
Halloween Boo at the Museum
The Vanderbilt Museum Education Department, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents Halloween Boo at the Museum on Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Young children in Preschool with an adult are invited to hear a museum educator read a Halloween book and then make a craft project inspired by the story. Cost is $20 per child. Register at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 631-854-5552.
Cold Spring Harbor
Haunted Hatchery
Calling all ghosts and goblins, spiders and bones … Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will host a Haunted Hatchery on Oct. 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. Families are welcome to join them for a not-so-scary Haunted Hatchery. Trick-or-Treat your way through their outdoor grounds. Admission fee is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 3 to 12. 516-692-6768, www.cshfishhatchery.org
Commack
Trunk-N-Treat
Commack United Methodist Church, 486 Townline Road, Commack presents its 6th annualTrunk-N-Treat event on Oct. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. Children can trick or treat for candy at festively decorated car trunks and enjoy games, crafts and activities. Free. 631-499-7310
East Setauket
Trunk or Treats
◆ Messiah Lutheran Church, 465 Pond Path, East Setauket hosts a Trunk or Treat on the front lawn on Oct. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free. 631-751-1775
◆ Three Village Church, 322 Main St., East Setauket presents a Trunk or Treat Fall Festival on Oct. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy decorated car trunks to “trick or treat” through, bounce house, face painting, games and more. Free. 631-941-3670
Spooky Walk
Setauket Fire Department, 394 Nicolls Road, East Setauket hosts its third annual Spooky Walk on Oct. 26 from 6 to 10 p.m. Come down for some family fun and trick or treating! Free, Rain date is Oct. 27. 631-941-4900
Haunted Hayrides
They’re baaaaack! Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket will offer Haunted Hayrides on Oct. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. Get ready for a thrilling tractor ride through the haunted woods where friendly frights and magical moments await! This adventure is designed to be just spooky enough to send shivers down your spine! *The first hour of each night will be kid friendly. Tickets are $12 per person. To register, visit www.bennersfarm.com. 631-689-8172
Farmingdale
The Haunted Hangar Halloween Party returns to the American Airpower Museum on Oct. 26.
Haunted Hangar Halloween Party
American Airpower Museum, 1230 New Highway, Hangar 3, Farmingdale presents a Haunted Hangar Halloween Party, Fright Takes Flight, on Oct 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. complete with a haunted house with spooky warbirds, and ghosts, witches, and goblins! Enjoy a tour of a haunted bomber, take part in a costume contest, and dare to enter the maze of terror at this family friendly event. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and veterans, $10 for children ages 5 to 12. 631-293-6398
Farmingville
Trick or Treat Trail
Join the Farmingville Historical Society on Oct. 26 for a Trick or Treat Trail at Farmingville Hills County Park, 503 Horseblock Road, Farmingville from noon to 2 p.m. Come in costume and trick or treat along a trail while learning about the history of candy. Fill your bag with real, full-size candy treats. The entry fee is $15 per trick or treater. Parents are welcome to escort their children without paying. All Trick or Treaters must pre-register at www.farmingvillehistoricalsociety.org
Haunted Firehouse
Farmingville Fire Department, 1080 Portion Road, Farmingville presents a Haunted Firehouse on Oct. 25, 26, 27 and 31 from 7 to 10 p.m. Visitors will step into a world of horror where the firehouse transforms into a haunted haven of the macabre. Tickets are $15 per person at www.longislandhauntedfirehouse.org. A Not So Scary event will be held on Oct. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. Admission for that event is $20 per family (up to 6 people), cash only.
Hauppauge
Trick or Treat at the Library
Hauppauge Public Library, 1373 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge invites the community to trick or treat in their parking lot on Oct. 25 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Community members will be decorating their trunks in fun and spooky themes and will pass out candy to trick or treaters. The library will also have snacks, games, crafts, and other activities. Free and open to all. 631-979-1600.
Huntington
Trunk or Treat
Town of Huntington presents its 2nd annual Trunk or Treat at the Cinema Arts Centre parking lot, 423 Park Ave., Huntington on Oct. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. This free event will feature candy, music, a trunk design contest, and more.
Halloween at the Heckscher
Families are invited to celebrate Halloween at the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington on Oct. 27 and Oct. 31 from noon to 5 p.m. Create a spooktacular art activity, make a haunted Digital Action painting, and take home a festive treat! Free admission. Costumes encouraged. Free. 631-380-3230, www.heckscher.org
Halloween Costume Parade
The annual Downtown “Hauntington” Village Halloween Costume Parade returns to the Town of Huntington on Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. Sponsored by Town of Huntington, Councilwoman Joan Cergol, Dr. Dave Bennardo, and the Huntington Village BID. Line-up at the Huntington Post Office, 55 Gerard St., Huntington for a parade. Trick or treat at designated village merchants before and after the parade. Free. 631-351-3173
Lake Grove
Halloween at Smith Haven Mall
Join the Smith Haven Mall, Moriches Road, Lake Grove for a spooktacular, fun trick-or-treating for all the little ghouls and goblins on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (while supplies last*) If you want to know what retailers and restaurants may have tricks or treats for the little ones on Halloween, keep and eye out for the pumpkin in their windows. Free. 631-724-1433
Miller Place
Spooky Lantern Walking Tour
The Miller Place Mount Sinai Historical Society, 75 North Country Road, Miller Place presents its annual Spooky Lantern Tour, a not-too-scary walking tour of the haunted history of Miller Place, on Oct. 25 and 26 at 5:30 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. A guide from the MPMS Historical Society who will regale you with all the spooky stories surrounding this pre-Revolutionary War town. Bring a lantern or flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. For ages 10 and up. $20 per person. Advance registration required at www.mpmshistoricalsociety.org.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt
The Miller Place Mount Sinai Historical Society, 75 North Country Road, Miller Place will hold a Halloween Candy Scavenger Hunt on Oct. 31 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., a historic way to celebrate the spooky season with friends and family. Visit the historic William Miller Hours, post office, barn and the schoolhouse to grab some treats! This is a free event while supplies last. 631-476-5742
Northport
Howl-Ween Pet Pawrade
Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, Village of Northport Mayor Donna Koch, and the Northport Farmers’ Market will be hosting the Howl-Ween Pet Pawrade in Northport Village Park on Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. Bring your furry friends dressed in their best Halloween costumes to join the fun and have a chance to win a prize!
The parade lineup will meet in the Village Park behind the basketball court. The parade route will proceed around the playground and will end by the Farmers’ Market, where vendors and volunteers will judge the pet costumes. Winners will receive prizes donated by local pet stores and will have their pets highlighted on social media. Free. Rain date is Nov. 2. 631-854-4500
Port Jefferson Station
Boo-wl Tastic Halloween Party
Port Jeff Bowl, 31 Chereb Lane, Port Jefferson Station will hold a Boo-wl Tastic Halloween Party on Oct. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. $30 per person includes two hours of bowling with shoes, cosmic bowling with Halloween theme and music, goodie bag for each child, kids costume parade and contest. Reserve online at www.portjeffbowl.com.
Rocky Point
Trunk or Treat
The North Shore Youth Council and the Rocky Point PTA present its annual Trunk Or Treat! event at the Joseph A. Edgar School, 525 Route 25A, Rocky Point on Oct. 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. with decorated cars and trunks, candy and non-edible treats, face painting, crafts and photo prop. Costumes encouraged. Free.
St. James
Halloween painting workshop
Discover your inner artist! The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite 6 and 9, St. Jameshosts a kids painting workshop on Saturday Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon. No tricks, just treats with Miss Linda as she teaches you how to paint this yummy Halloween ice cream painting step by step. $55 per child includes an 11×14 canvas and art supplies. To register, visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org. For more info, call 631-250-9009.
Deepwells Haunted Mansion
Deepwells Farm Historical Society, 2 Taylor Lane, St. James transforms the Deepwells mansion into the spine-chilling splendor of a Deepwells Freak Show for Halloween on Oct. 25, 26, Nov. 1 and 2 from 7 to 10 p.m. This year, history and horror intertwine at the haunted historic estate, now transformed into a peculiar spectacle where all your nightmares come to life. Not suitable for young children. Advance tickets are $30 at www.deepwellshauntedmansion.com, $40 at the door. 631-862-2808
Halloween Parade
The Community Association of Greater St. James presents its annual Halloween Parade on Oct. 27 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Meet at the Gazebo on Lake Avenue dressed in your Halloween best to parade around the park. Free. 631-360-7620
Smithtown
Spooky Woods & Trick O’ Treat
Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown presents a family-friendly Spooky Woods and Trick O’ Treat event on October 25, 26, 27, 30, and 31 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Take a spooktacular walk through a haunted trail, where little ones will have a great time seeing Halloween displays on one side and farm animals on the other. Enjoy trick o’ treating and say hi to craft and food vendors (and maybe some jolly ghosts) at this unique Halloween experience for the entire family. Don’t miss the hayride (additional charge) through the spooky woods! $10 per person, kids under 3 free. 631-265-6768
Stony Brook
Halloween Family Fun Day
Family Fun Day is back at the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook just in time for Halloween! Join them on Oct. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. forpumpkin painting, trick-or-treating, crafts and more. Wear your Halloween costume if you wish. Free admission. 631-751-0066, www.longislandmuseum.org
Halloween Festival
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts its 34th annual Halloween Festival at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook on Oct. 31 from 2 to 5 p.m. with trick or treating in the shops and restaurants, Halloween parade, games and Monster Mash dancing — wear your best costume! Scarecrow competition winners announced at 3:30 p.m. Free. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org
Wading River
Safe Trick or Treat at The Shoppes
The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River invites all goblins & ghouls & children dressed in costume to enjoy a safe outdoor Trick or Treating on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. 631-929-3500
Darkside Haunted House
It’s fear at its finest! Named the 15th “Scariest Haunted House” in the country by TravelandLeisure.com, the Darkside Haunted House, 5184 Route 25A, Wading River is guaranteed to provide spine-tingling thrills that will make your blood run cold. Remaining dates are Oct. 24 to 27, Oct 30 and 31 and Nov. 1 and 2. General admission is $35 per person. Visit www.darksideproductions.com for hours and tickets.
Yaphank
Halloween on the Farm
The Suffolk County Farm, 350 Yaphank Ave., Yaphank presents Halloween on the Farm on Oct. 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come Trick or Treat at the farm and see what the animals have for you! Treats will be provided at a dozen stations, unlimited wagons rides, kids crafts, corn maze and family games included. Pumpkins can be purchased for an additional cost. Fee is $20 for ages 1 to 18, $10 per adult at the door. Call 631-852-4600 or visit www.ccesuffolk.org for further information
Yaphank
Suffolk County Farm, 350 Yaphank Ave., Yaphank hosts a Truck or Treat event on Oct. 29from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy truck or treating, trick or treating around the farm, crafts, wagon rides, games, farm animal visits, corn maze and more. Costumes encouraged. $15 children ages 1 to 17, $5 adults. Register at www.eventbrite.com. 631-852-4600.
My wife and I have been voting early for several years. We like the convenience of early voting and find that we don’t tend to have to wait too long through the potential long lines of Election Day.
This election day, in particular, seemed problematic to us, as talk of unofficial and party-trained monitors, some of whom are watching over the elections themselves while others are observing the actions of other monitors, are poised to pollute the process.
We drove to the early site, looking carefully from the road at the number of cars in the parking lot and the length of the line out of the building.
If the line exceeded a certain visual marker, we would have returned at another day and time. When we were sure the queue was shorter than our maximum, we pulled into the parking lot, where we immediately found a spot.
Standing outside in an organized, relaxed and respectful crowd, we opened our phones to take a last look at the backgrounds of some of the down ballot candidates and at the experiences of would-be officials who were unaffiliated with either major party.
An elderly black woman appeared behind us, holding a tiny bijou cream-colored dog inside her coat.
“I hope that dog has an official ID,” I offered, as she smiled at me. “Which way is she leaning this year?”
The woman shared a broad and welcoming grin and said her dog’s papers were up to date.
As other voters joined the line or exited the polling place, several people came over and chatted with her about her dog.
“I miss my dog so much,” a man said, as he asked if he could pet her puppy.
She said he was welcome to visit.
“I lost my dog a few months after I lost my wife,” the man said, barely holding back tears.
The rest of us offered sympathetic glances at the man, who, despite sharing a palpable and visible grief, had come out to vote.
The line continued to build, with a 30-something man in scrubs standing next to the woman with the dog.
As others waited for their turn behind us, almost everyone grinned at the dog whose calm demeanor and charm could easily have won him votes if he were running for office.
Once inside the building, the election official with a name tag that read Sarah asked a woman to dispose of an almost empty drink container in the nearby restroom. Sarah promised to hold the woman’s spot, while the voter deposited her trash.
When my wife and I got to the front, Sarah asked the woman behind us if her dog was a service dog. The woman hesitated and then said she had a bad ankle and would have to carry the dog all the way back to the car.
Sarah apologized and also planned to hold her spot. I walked to the open check in desk, handed over my driver’s license and was asked to pronounce my last name. I was directed to another line, where I waited until another official took me to a voting machine.
The woman who returned her dog to her car was standing at a desk. She said she had considered describing her dog as a service animal, but thought better of lying.
Once at a voting machine, I started making my choices.
“Kamala Harris, Kamala Harris, Kamala Harris,” a Black girl who was about 10 years old shouted in a loud crescendo as her mother stood in the machine next to mine.
“So sorry,” her mother sighed, smiling at me, as she tried to contain her daughter’s excitement.
This young girl clearly didn’t share any of the fear, name calling, or anger of this election. She read a name she knew and was overflowing with unbridled enthusiasm.
As a parent, I wished I had told that woman to videotape her daughter’s delight, not only for the historic nature of the moment, but also to capture the sound of an enthralled, youthful voice.
As much as I regret saying this and disappointing my enthusiastic friends, I don’t much care for Halloween. Yes, I admire the creativity that goes into the decorations, the costumes, the stories and the efforts to make great parties. I also like the candy. But there is an undercurrent of something uncontrollable about the holiday, almost as if it is a license that day to egg a garage or knock down a mailbox. The Trick-or-Treat slogan makes me uneasy.
Maybe this is the result of having had those minor but annoying experiences. How many of us, when the next day dawns, look around to see if there is any graffiti on our houses or flat tires on our cars?
I have dear friends who dress up in clever costumes and become those characters for a few hours. It’s fun for many of us, children and adults. My all time favorite was when my friend, John, came as a toilet bowl. And it actually flushed. I love to see small children running through the neighborhood as Batman or Spock, imaginations at play. They tightly clutch their bags of treasure, eyes wide with wonder at being handed treats by someone in the doorway of every house on the block. And it is a chance for costumed adults to play at being children again.
So I guess I have what are called “mixed feelings” about Halloween.
I am not alone in this. There are others who, in the extreme, actually fear the holiday. That fear has a medical term: samhainophobia. Here is the professional definition. “People with this specific phobia feel anxious when they think about or experience anything to do with Halloween. Many people with samhainophobia (sam-HI-noh-phobia) have gone through a past traumatic situation related to Halloween. Exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy can help overcome samhainophobia…Such anxiety can be caused at the thought of Halloween parties, symbols such as ghosts and spiders and trick-or-treating.”
Symptoms, ranging from mild to extreme, can include dizziness, intense sweating, pale skin, panic attacks, rapid breathing and heart rate, strong feeling of terror, nausea and trembling or shaking. For children who are so triggered, avoiding the dark, not wanting to go to school on Halloween, even not wanting to sleep by themselves can be manifestations of this anxiety disorder.
Samhain comes from the Celtic festival first celebrated by the druids some 2000 years ago. The Celts lived primarily in what is now Ireland, the U.K. and northern France, and they believed that on October 31, the living mingled with the dead. That was the night before the Celtic New Year. The festival included large bonfires, animal sacrifices to please the dead, and costumes of animal skins and heads on the participants.
I did enjoy Halloween when I was in elementary school and growing up in an apartment building. My mother would let me put together some semblance of a costume, including a bath towel tied cape-like on my back, and I would run around the hallway, ringing door bells and yelling “Trick-or-Treat!” I still remember being amazed when residents who normally kept to themselves would open their doors, smile, and hand me candy or an apple. I knew nothing of Celts and druids, but I was thrilled by the power to awaken neighborly response and be rewarded for my efforts.
Some people, here in the suburbs, may put out scary monsters, faux graveyards, giant spiders crawling across their huge webs, and all manner of spooks on their front lawns. Box stores seem to make as much money at this time of the year as they do at Christmas. The 12 foot skeletons even come with eyes that light up menacingly and audio that episodically screams. While this is a demonstration of decorating artistry, perhaps it is our way of safely laughing at death.
Members of the Setauket Harbor Task Force. Photo from George Hoffman
Save the Sound’s most recent report card states that inner and outer Port Jefferson Harbor, as well as middle Port Jefferson Harbor (Setauket Harbor), are among Long Island Sound’s top five waterways, boasting strong water chemistry. Water chemistry ratings indicate that a body of water has healthy chemical conditions that support aquatic life and overall ecosystem health.
This is something to celebrate, as stormwater systems have steadily reduced our harbors’ nitrogen levels over the past 30 years.
However, despite our improved knowledge of waste disposal and our diligent efforts to test our water’s chemical and bacterial levels, more work remains to be done.
August’s devastating storm served as a stark reminder that Mother Nature is a powerful force. Despite our area’s best efforts, advanced technologies, and state-of-the-art flood safeguards, millions of dollars in damage proved that even our best preventive efforts can be in vain.
That is why we must not remain stagnant in our efforts to protect our island. Worsening weather conditions can easily overshadow even our most cautious endeavors. Following the recent storm, bacteria levels in Stony Brook Harbor and neighboring waterways spiked, creating an unsuitable environment for aquatic life—not to mention the dozens of fish that washed up on our streets.
So, TBR implores you: Please continue your efforts to keep our environment clean and safe. Properly dispose of household chemicals and waste, minimize fertilizer and pesticide use, and maintain your car to prevent leaks.
Don’t forget to pick up litter you see in the streets and be mindful of your own waste. Community cleanups are frequently held in our coverage areas, providing not only a great way to keep our environment pristine but also an opportunity to connect with fellow community members. Water conservation is crucial, as well. It helps maintain healthy water levels in rivers, lakes, and estuaries, preventing excessive pollution concentration, protecting our aquatic ecosystems, and ensuring sufficient water for recreation and wildlife survival.
Bask in the success of our environmental consciousness, but don’t rest on your laurels. Together, we can make Long Island cleaner and safer for our ecosystems than ever before!
It’s back, bigger than ever, with an added Peter-and-the-Wolf style musical debut.
This year’s version of Science on Stage at Stony Brook University, which brings together the research and life experiences of three scientists with the artistic interpretation and creative talents of three playwrights, focuses on the theme of climate change.
Before the reading of the plays at the free October 28th event at the Staller Center’s Recital Hall, a group of eight high school students and two graduate students will perform an original piece of music composed by Professor Margaret Schedel called “Carnival of the Endangered Animals” (see accompanying story below).
Christine Gilbert with graduate student Emily Gelardi. Photo by Conor Harrigan
The event, which has a seating capacity of 379, which is almost triple the potential audience size from last year, and requires advance registration, is sponsored by the Collaborative for the Earth (C4E).
The organizers of Science on Stage “want people to be thinking about [climate change] from new ways or with new perspectives,” said Heather Lynch, inaugural director of the C4E and Endowed Chair for Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook’s Institute for Advanced Computational Science and Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution.
In these performances, professional actors, directed by Logan Vaughn, share a dramatic reading of the scripts, titled “Ghost Forest,” “Counterfactual,” and “Resplendence.” After the performance, the scientists and playwrights will participate in a question and answer session led by Lecturer J.D. Allen, who is managing editor of NPR affiliate WSHU.
Provost Carl Lejuez, whose office provides funding for the C4E, celebrated the ongoing collaboration between the humanities and the sciences.
“Science on Stage is one of our true interdisciplinary gems,” Lejuez explained. “In a time of such misinformation, the arts provide such a powerful vehicle to communicate science in accessible and inspiring ways.”
Indeed, in addition to hearing an original piece of music and listening to a reading of the plays, audience members will have the opportunity to share their perspectives on climate science before and after the performance.
Christine Gilbert, who holds a joint appointment at the School of Communication and Journalism and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and is one of the participating scientists, is conducting a study of the effect of the experience with audience members.
Attendees can participate in a short mobile-based survey before the plays and immediately afterwards. A social scientist, Gilbert will follow up with those members who are willing to engage in individual interviews in the weeks after the performance.
Event organizers wanted to know “what is it that’s so magical in the intersection between science, humanity and art” that drew a crowd so large last year that the fire marshal had to turn people away, said Gilbert.
By polling the audience, Gilbert, who was one of the people who couldn’t watch the show last year, hopes to explore the effect of teaching complex science in this forum.
She also hopes to assess how audience members feel after hearing more about climate change and plans to share what she learns with Stony Brook and with the broader scientific community through a published paper.
Heavy and humorous
The scientists and the playwrights appreciated the opportunity to learn from each other and to engage in a creative effort designed to use science, or the life of scientists, to appeal to audiences.
Lynch, who participated in the Science on Stage effort last year, suggested that this year’s plays are powerful and evocative.
“These are deep, adult serious issues,” she said, cautioning that the language includes some cursing and that the themes include loss, parenthood and grief. “This is not Disney.”
To be sure, the plays blend a wide range of emotions.
“With short plays that deal with heavier topics, playwrights will gravitate towards humor,” said Ken Weitzman, Founder and Associate Professor of Theater at Stony Brook, who started Science on Stage virtually in 2020. “It’s how we engage” and commune with an audience.
Counterfactual
Playwright Mat Smart
Author of the play “The Agitators,” about a true narrative describing the 45-year friendship between suffragist Susan B. Anthony and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, Smart said he has taken long Uber rides with people whose views differ from his, leading to spirited conversations.
When Smart described his experiences to Reed, they discovered they had similar interactions.
While much of the script involves a combination of conversations and ideas, Smart explained that part of the dialogue in the play came from a discussion he and Reed had about food choices and climate change.
The interaction about cheeseburgers is “based on something [Reed] said to me,” Smart said. Reed explained the high carbon footprint of a cheeseburger, although he urged Smart to cut back rather than eliminate them from his diet.
“The play is about two people who see things very differently who choose to have a dialogue and to have a tough conversation,” said Smart. “They’re both affected by it.”
Ghost forest
Playwright Gab Reisman
Elizabeth Watson, Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolution, teamed up with Gab Reisman, who wrote “Ghost Forest.”
In this play, a climate researcher’s subjects spring to life as she writes an important grant proposal.
While it doesn’t reflect how field research or grant writing typically goes, it does capture “some things that have happened to me,” Watson said.
Her field work has involved considerable challenges, including getting stuck in the mud, being covered in ticks, crawling across mudflats, and being abandoned on a raft in a lagoon.
Watson appreciates how the artistic effort allows her to connect with people who probably aren’t the same ones who would read a publication she wrote or come to a presentation.
She also added that the world has what it needs to deal with climate change and that people need to understand the kinds of partnerships and actions that make a difference.
Resplendence
Playwright Kareem Fahmy
After speaking with Gilbert, playwright Kareem Fahmy wrote “Resplendence,” which follows three generations of a family who try to save their island off the coast of Maine.
The New England State is an important setting for playwright and scientist.
“Maine has such a special place in my heart,” said Gilbert, who has family in the state and attended college at the University of Maine. The pull of the “wild, eastern coast of Maine is so ubiquitous.”
Gilbert appreciated how Fahmy did a “great job of personalizing the context” of the state.
The challenge of preserving destinations, particularly those close to sea level, will likely persist.
“When you do any research about climate change, you have to be aware that this is not just a problem for people living today, but for people 200 years from now,” Gilbert said.
Weitzman said the play was an epic despite its short running time and thought it was “quite touching.”
Beyond the performance
Weitzman suggested that the plays can provide an educational component beyond the confines of the Staller Recital Hall.
While people can’t produce the plays as part of paid entertainment, teachers can read and use them in the classroom. Actors Bill Heck, April Matthis, Tina Benko, Mandi Masden and Taylor Crousore will provide dramatic reading of the plays.
In a short time, the actors are “practically off the book,” as they embrace the opportunity to bring the words to life, Weitzman said.
He suggested the plays offer a glimpse into researchers’ lives. “Here is this person on the front lines. I’m surprised at the angles that are taken” in these plays.
Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will present this year’s Science on Stage: Climate Edition on Monday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public but reservations are strongly recommended.
To register, go to: https://bit.ly/4dcDtsi or click here.
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SBU’s Margaret Schedel brings endangered species to life through musi
Margaret Schedel discusses the ‘Carnival of the Endangered Animals’ with the band and conductor Justin Stolarik during rehearsal. Photo by Heather Lynch
Science on Stage at Stony Brook University added a new dimension to the performance this year, as Margaret Schedel, Associate Professor of Music, composed “Carnival of the Endangered Animals.” The original music, which will debut on Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. at the Staller Center’s Recital Hall, is a recreation of the sounds of a wide range of animals who are in danger of becoming extinct.
“It’s melodic, interrupted by moments of trying to translate” the calls from these animals, Schedel said.
Ken Weitzman, Founder and Associate Professor at Stony Brook, appreciates how quickly music can resonate for audiences.
“Music appeals to the emotions,” said Weitzman. “I’m jealous of how quickly music can do in 10 seconds what it takes me hours to do.”
The animals featured in the piece, along with the instrument that captures their sounds, are: the Atlantic Right Whale (Marimba); the A’kikiki bird, which is a Hawaiian honeycreeper (flute); Sumatran Tiger (trumpet); sage grouse (clarinet); Bajii, which is a Yangtze river dolphin; and the Jiangtun, which is a Yangtze finless porpoise (four-hand piano); gorilla (french horn); African bush elephant (trombone); Koala (bassoon); and the penguin (oboe).
Schedel plans to share information about each piece, which eight area high school students and two graduate students will perform, with the audience through a QR code, so they can connect the sounds with the message or visuals she was conveying.
Schedel tried to use a logical progression of the instruments, mixing up the woodwinds, percussion and brass.
Threatened by land development, the sage grouse includes high and low notes from the clarinet that gets covered up by the sounds of a flute and trumpet, imitating the sounds excavators make when they back up and develop McMansions.
Endangered by the spread of avian malaria carried by mosquitoes, the Hawaiian A’kikiki bird had been able to evade these insects by traveling higher up the mountain, where the colder temperatures kills the mosquitoes. That is not happening as much because global warming is enabling the blood sucking creatures to survive at higher elevation.
The sage grouse music starts with a melodic theme on the flute and as it goes higher, the theme becomes compressed. The buzzing brass, meanwhile, gets louder and louder as the mosquito pursues its meal, infecting the bird with a lethal parasite.
Reflecting the struggle for survival these creatures face, the Yangtze river dolphin, which had about 20 members when Schedel first started composing the music, may have become extinct by the time of the performance. That is, in part, why she combined the dolphin and the finless porpoise on the four hand piano.
As for the sounds of the elephant, Schedel recalled a safari she had experienced when she had been in South Africa. Elephants charged at Schedel and her group, who had come too close to the younger ones in the herd.
The elephants growled at Schedel and her companions.
“You can feel it in your chest, the sound waves moving,” she said. “Little by little, the younger ones put up their trunks and eventually a big momma elephant with a broken tusk put up her trunk, which is a symbol of, “we are calm,’” she said. With the trombone representing the elephant, the bass drum connotes its growling sounds.
When she was growing up, Schedel listened to the Leonard Bernstein version of “Peter and the Wolf” so many times that the recording is “nearly dead,” she laughed. She hopes people enjoy her piece with the same energy and excitement, connecting the sounds and the stories with the endangered animals.
Schedel described the experience of creating the music as a “labor of love.”
The Reboli Center for Art & History, 604 Main St., Stony Brook hosts an Autumn Paint Party on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Join instructor Linda Davison Mathues in completing a painting in the style of Joseph Reboli. The subject matter for the evening will be Autumn Colors. The cost to attend is $45, all materials are included and no experience is necessary. Frames for your finished canvas will be available for purchase and refreshments and snacks will be served. Registration required by calling 631-751-7707.
From left, Bob Thompson, Helen Sells and Vivian Nicholson-Mueller with the new plaque. Photo by Michael Rosengard
Vivian Nicholson-Mueller speaks at the unveiling ceremony. Photo by Michael Rosengard
Helen Sells and Bob Thompson at the unveiling ceremony. Photo by Michael Rosengard
The sign is unveiled. Photo by Michael Rosengard
Members of the Setalcott Nation at the unveiling ceremony. Photo by Michael Rosengard
Participants of the unveiling ceremony. Photo by Michael Rosengard
By Mari Irizarry
The Three Village Historical Society and Museum (TVHS) hosted an intimate event on Monday, Oct. 14, to unveil the new National Register of Historic Places plaque at the Old Bethel AME Cemetery, located at the corner of Woodfield Road and Christian Avenue. The ceremony honored the tireless efforts of Vivian Nicholson-Mueller and Simira Tobias, who in 2017 successfully placed the Old Bethel Cemetery on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
TVHS has had the honor of working closely under the direction of Vivian and Simira, most recently in Oct. 2023, to restore and clean the historic cemetery. Their combined efforts culminated in securing grant funding for the installation of the National Register marker, generously provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
The Old Bethel Cemetery, dating back to at least 1848, marks the site of the first Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the region. A line of stones at the cemetery is believed to mark the foundation of the original church. Among the headstones are memorials to some of the African and Indigenous American founding families of the Three Village community, including Civil War veterans.
Forty-five guests attended the event, which began with an opening prayer by Reverend Lisa Williams of Bethel AME Church. A message from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation was shared and co-chairs of the Setalcott Nation, Helen Sells and Bob Thompson, were introduced to the event’s participants. The guest of honor, Vivian Nicholson-Mueller, shared heartfelt remarks, followed by words from Suffolk County Legislature member Steve Englebright, joined by local representatives Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Valerie Cartright and a representative from Ed Flood’s office.
The plaque unveiling was met with enthusiasm from all in attendance, and the event concluded with a closing prayer by Cheetra Wells of the Setalcott Nation.
For more information about this marker and the grant funder, please visit pomeroyfoundation.org.
Mari Irizarry is the director of the Three Village Historical Society and Museum.
More than 250 Long Islanders gathered at Stony Brook University on Sunday to participate in Anthony’s Red Shoe FUNd Run in support of the widespread fundraising effort for the $30 million Ronald McDonald House, which is set to be built next to Stony Brook University Hospital.
Lisa Muratori, a professor at the Stony Brook University School of Health Professions, led the event, which was held in honor of her nephew Anthony Petrocelli, who passed away in 2019, at 16 years old, after fighting ewing sarcoma for two years. Dr. Muratori’s family relied upon the Ronald McDonald House room in the children’s hospital during his time spent in the hospital, and they got involved with the charity after his passing with hopes that the hospital would expand from its current two rooms to a larger entity.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro chapter plans to open the 60,000-square-foot building, containing 30 suites, by the end of 2026, with the house’s official groundbreaking event occurring this past May. The first of its kind in Suffolk County, the house will host the families of those being cared for in the children’s hospital free of charge, with amenities like daily meals, laundry facilities, full pantries, and a gym provided during their stays.
“The Ronald McDonald House isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a place where families can find comfort, hope, and a sense of normalcy during incredibly difficult hard times,” Stacy Gropack, Dean of the School of Health Professions said before the race.
Lisa Muratori and Family. Photo by Matt Tisdell
“Whether you’re running, walking, cheering or volunteering, we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. Every step you take brings us closer to making sure that we can achieve the goals of the Ronald McDonald House and getting one on campus.”
Participants either ran in the 5k race or walked in a one-mile lap around the campus, with entry to the race costing $40 for the 5k, $30 for the one-mile and $20 for Stony Brook students. All in attendance were eligible for post-run raffles, with prizes ranging from T-shirts to gift cards, and were able to grab breakfast and lunch from food trucks surrounding the Student Activity Center for free.
Felipe Garcia, a 42-year-old long-distance runner from Port Jefferson Station, won first place in the 5k race with a time of 19 minutes and 30 seconds. He and his housemate, Lennie Nemerovsky, a 69-year-old retired pharmacist, previously attended the Head of the Harbor race held in April by the Ronald McDonald House Charities in St. James.
Stacy Gropack speaks at the event. Photo by Matt Tisdell
“We try to support the good intentions of the school to build a place for the parents of sick children to have a place to stay,” Nemerovsky said.
Muratori was pleased with the turnout and looks forward to the upcoming construction of the Ronald McDonald House. “We had a huge number of people, we raised a lot of money and everyone had a great time, we couldn’t be happier,” Muratori said after the race. “
We’re going to break ground and should be open by the end of 2026, so Suffolk County, take a look, we’re going to have a great big Ronald McDonald House right here on the Stony Brook campus.”
Matt Tisdell is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
The East Setauket store is one of a handful of new Fresh locations that Amazon has launched in recent months after making some improvements to its business format. The biggest change was the discontinuation of the much touted Just Walk Out cashier-less checkout technology which has been replaced with computerized Dash Carts — smart shopping carts equipped with scanners that track items as customers place them inside — along with Amazon One, a palm-based payment device, for a more seamless checkout experience.
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