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Junior Taylor Tripptree tallies 18 points in win

Ward Melville junior Taylor Tripptree moves through traffic in the Patriots' 55-49 nonleague home win over Islip on Dec. 12. Photo by Desirée Keegan

Behind junior Taylor Tripptree’s 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, the Ward Melville girls’ basketball team was able to edge ahead of nonleague competitor Islip Saturday and maintain its advantage after the first quarter to earn a 55-49 victory.

“I think we honestly played a very, very good game,” Tripptree said. “They’re a very good team and we did what we had to do to do against two Division I and two Division II girls. We played as a team and I think that’s what won us the game.”

Ward Melville junior Brook Pikiell dribbles the ball up the court in the Patriots' 55-49 nonleague win over Islip on Dec. 12. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville junior Brook Pikiell dribbles the ball up the court in the Patriots’ 55-49 nonleague win over Islip on Dec. 12. Photo by Desirée Keegan

Islip got on the board first with two free throws, but a free throw by junior Julia Coletti and a layup by Tripptree put the team out in front, 3-2. The two teams continued to trade scores, with junior guard Brooke Pikiell scoring a three-pointer and a layup and Tripptree adding another field goal, but at the end of the first, the teams were in a stalemate at 10-10.

“We really need to work on our second-shot opportunities and staying in [to] help against a big girl,” Tripptree said.

Ward Melville had trouble sinking its shots, but during the second stanza, the Patriots began to find their rhythm. Islip scored first, again, and made another field goal to jump out in front, 14-10, but the lead didn’t last for long.

With 5:12 left in the half, Tripptree tacked on a three-pointer of her own to pull within one, 14-13, and senior Heidi Scarth scored two field goals, the first off an assist from Pikiell, to give the Patriots the lead for good.

Ward Melville rounded out the scoring for the first half with a three-pointer to bring the score to 22-18.

Junior Kiera Ramaliu opened the third with a long field goal, and Islip edged close after a field goal and two free-throw points, but the Patriots wouldn’t let the Buccaneers stay close for long.

Tripptree began a six-point scoring run with a field goal, and Pikiell scored twice in a row to put the Patriots up 30-22.

Ward Melville junior Kiera Ramaliu maintains possession while looking for the open lane to move the ball in the Patriots' Dec. 12 55-49 nonleague win over Islip. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville junior Kiera Ramaliu maintains possession while looking for the open lane to move the ball in the Patriots’ Dec. 12 55-49 nonleague win over Islip. Photo by Desirée Keegan

Tripptree assisted on her team’s next points, and followed it up with another layup, and at the end of three quarters Ward Melville was ahead 40-29.

“You’ve gotta run and you’ve gotta pressure,” Ward Melville head coach Bruce Haller told his girls on the sidelines before the start of the final stanza.

And the girls raced across the court and pressured the ball, converting turnovers and forcing steals to trip up Islip.

“We prepared for this a lot,” Pikiell said. “We made sure we knew their zone and we knew who their good kids were and we just made sure we had a body on them at all times. I think we ran and tired them out a lot, and I think we really worked together on defense, which helped against their bigger girls.”

The teams continued to trade points, but Ward Melville managed to maintain its advantage to pull away with the win.

Behind Tripptree was Pikiell with nine points, and Scarth with eight, but five other girls also scored.

“Everyone contributed to this,” Pikiell said. “We’ve come together very well. We only lost one player last year and a couple of players came up, but we were all already very close beforehand, so I think we’re playing great together.”

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A scene from a previous production of ‘The Nutcracker.’ Photo from Dimitri Papadakos

The Seiskaya Ballet School is always on point, especially around the holidays. For the past 21 years the company has performed its rendition of “The Nutcracker” at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center and this year is no different.

“Christmas is [The] Nutcracker,” said Valia Seiskaya. Russian-born Seiskaya has choreographed the school’s “Nutcracker” since 1995 when they started performing the production at the Staller Center. While “The Nutcracker” is popular around the holiday season, the ballet school took a theatrical approach to the performance. Dimitri Papadakos, the ballet school’s administrator and Seiskaya’s husband, said the  performance will include a flying sleigh, a dragon that blows smoke and other elements that will bring the performance to life.

“If you’re going to do something you might as well try to do it better than anybody else,” Papadakos said. “So we got creative in our sets.”

The backdrops for the school’s annual production are tailored specifically to the Staller Center stage. Viewers can get a hint of scenes to come by looking at the backdrops during the performance. While the production is designed for a full theatrical experience  that will keep even the youngest audience members glued to their seats, the dramatic setting isn’t the only captivating aspect of Seiskaya’s “Nutcracker” — it’s also about the acting and dancing of the production’s 90- to 100-member cast.

Soloist Diana Atoian is returning for another shot at “The Nutcracker.” Like many “Nutcracker” performers, 14-year-old Diana has several roles including Clara. She said what makes Seiskaya’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” so unique is the dancers dedication to their craft.

“It’s just the passion that gets us going,” Diana said. “Valia is a very good teacher. She helps us feel it and she makes us want to keep pushing and keep moving forward.”

Her fellow soloists, 13-year-old Madison Mursch, 12-year-old Brianna Jimenez and 14-year-old Jenna Lee agreed that Papadakos and Seiskaya push their dancers to execute the choreography and acting correctly. Being strict is part of Seiskaya’s method and it has been since the school was established in 1974.

“My wife does not believe in dumbing down based on who’s available,” Papadakos said. “You’ve got to rise to the occasion.”

Last year the school lost a handful of its older dancers who went on to college. The change left youngsters like Diana, Madison, Jenna and Brianna to take the lead on bigger roles like Clara, the Snow Queen, Sugar Plum and the Chocolate Soldier, respectively. Twyla Tharp Troupe dancer Nick Coppula will be returning to reclaim his role as the Cavalier this year.

Viewers can see these young dancers and get the full theatrical experience on Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 19, at 2 and 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 20, at 1 and 6 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 21,  at 7 p.m. at the Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University. Tickets are $40 for adults, $34 for children and seniors and $30 for groups of 20 or more. For more information call 631-632-ARTS or visit www.nutcrackerballet.com.

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A view of the front entrance to Huntington Hospital on Park Avenue in Huntington. File photo

Hospitals across the North Shore and the country have been adapting to an entirely new set of medical codes over the last two months, completely changing the system in which a patient’s diagnosis is detailed.

As of October, all hospitals across the United States switched to the ICD-10 system, which allows for more than 14,000 different codes and permits the tracking of many new diagnoses. ICD-10, an international medical classification system by the World Health Organization, requires more specificity than the previous code system. Doctors at North Shore facilities said they agreed that although it’s time-consuming and has slowed productivity, it is more beneficial to patients in the end.

Dr. Michael Grosso, chairman of medicine at Huntington Hospital said these new codes should help make it easier for symptoms of various diseases to be tracked.

According to Gross, preparation for the new code started two years ago with a required education program for all physicians that described what all the new codes meant.

“Physicians are being called upon to provide more specificity and detail,” Grosso said in a phone interview. He described the codes as a “vast extension” to what the hospital was previously using and said it should “improve the quality of medical records and increase the amount of information that researchers can obtain and make for the best care for patients.”

Grosso also said that understanding and learning the codes was an important first step, but ongoing feedback on how the codes are being adopted is equally important. A feedback program has been created at each hospital.

John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson. File photo
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson. File photo

John Ruth, director of revenue integrity and interim chief compliance officer at Stony Brook University Hospital, said Stony Brook used outside resource companies with online courses to teach the new code to their physicians and coding staff.

Ruth said that a new code system was necessary, as the previous system, ICD-9, was created by WHO in the 1970s. He called ICD-10 a natural progression.

“There are a lot more codes for specific organ systems, muscles, muscle tendons and nerves than were required with ICD-9,” he said in a phone interview.

Ruth also said that ICD-9 was mostly comprised of three- and four-digit codes, and ICD-10 is up to seven digits in length, which makes the new coding more challenging but more valuable.

“If a patient has PTSD, we can assign a code from where he got it from, not just that he has it, which is important for planning his future and ongoing care,” Ruth said.

Stacie Colonna, associate director of inpatient coding at Stony Brook University Hospital, said there has been approximately a 30 percent decrease in staff productivity with the changeover to ICD-10 and a shortage of trained staff.

“I get 10 questions a day just from internal staff,” Colonna said. But she also noted that staff frequently asked daily questions about the old system as well. She said she expects productivity to improve in the near future.

At John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Joseph Ng said the staff went through web training, too. One-on-one training was also available if a clinician requested it.

Ng agreed specificity is both the pro and con of ICD-10. “Because it’s so specific, it really allows clinicians to hone in on what’s really going on with patients and be able to communicate better with one another,” Ng said in an email. “But because it’s so specific, sometimes it’s hard to find the right code, especially when it comes to procedures. The codes are not all inclusive.”

Looking forward, Grosso said the new system had a lot to offer for hospitals across the country because of the amount of information people could potentially learn from it.

“A number of private and government parties will benefit from the ability to look at more detailed hospital data,” Grosso said.

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The front cover of ‘General Washington’s Commando: Benjamin Tallmadge in the Revolutionary War’ by Richard F. Welch. Photo from Beverly Tyler

By Beverly C. Tyler

Holiday shopping at the local stores that help give our historic communities a sense of place just makes good sense. The upcoming Christmas and winter holidays are also good times to purchase a few of the wonderful gifts and books about the local area and to pay a relaxing visit to a few local not-for-profit shops that deserve our special support.

Three Village Historical Society Museum & Gift Shop, 93 North Country Road, Setauket

The Society’s gift shop was expanded to complement the exhibit “SPIES! How a Group of Long Island Patriots Helped George Washington Win the Revolution.” There you will find gifts including many books, booklets and pamphlets on local history.

A new addition this year is “General Washington’s Commando: Benjamin Tallmadge in the Revolutionary War” by Richard F. Welch. I already knew a lot about Tallmadge but I couldn’t put Welch’s book down. It’s well researched, well organized and interesting. Other books of note include “Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring” by Alexander Rose. Rose is the consultant for the AMC series “TURN,” which is a dramatization of the Setauket-based Culper Spy Ring.

“Upon Secrecy” by Selene Castrovilla is an engaging book that will delight both children and adults. Castrovilla’s writing brings the Revolutionary War to life as it carries us into the actions of the Long Island-based Culper spy operation. This story will keep you on the edge of your chair as the spy letters move from Manhattan to Setauket and across Long Island Sound to Washington’s headquarters.

“Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette” by Selene Castrovilla is a delightfully illustrated book that brings to life the relationship between Washington and Lafayette. Lafayette’s own words, inset throughout the book, are a real delight and add to an understanding of the Marquis’s relationship to both Washington and America. At the back of the book are time lines for Lafayette and Washington plus places to visit connected with Lafayette and Washington and details on Lafayette’s Legacy in America. Everyone of every age should read this moving account of a real American treasure.

The gift shop is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the gift shop and exhibits are open every Sundays from 1-4 p.m. (Closed Dec. 27 and Jan. 3)

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket

The Gallery is diagonally across the street from the historical society. It is very easy to park at one and walk across the street to the other. The entire Gallery is a gift shop with many wonderful paintings and gift pieces by local artists for sale. The current exhibit is “Deck the Halls.” Local artists and artisans have created beautiful paintings, drawings, ceramic and sculpture works, each piece being less than 20 by 20 inches and set at affordable prices that are perfect for gift giving. Gallery North also is showcasing a diverse range of Long Island art. Gallery North current exhibit is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 23. Call 631-751-2676 for more information.

Long Island Museum, 1200 Rte. 25A, Stony Brook

The museum has a small gift shop in the History Museum, which has some wonderful books, and other items you probably won’t find anywhere else. Stop in for a visit and be sure to take in their current exhibits as well. In the Main Gallery of the History Museum is the exhibit “One Square Foot” featuring the works of LIMarts members in a variety of media and themes. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays through Dec. 20.

St. James General Store, 516 Moriches Road, St. James

This “old-fashioned” general store, not technically a not-for-profit, is run for the benefit of Suffolk County residents through the County Parks, as a part of Historical Services. There are two floors of 19th and 20th century goods, and lots of homemade goodies. They have an extensive collection of old-style candies; many date back to the 19th century. Be sure to also try one of their delicious molasses pops. On the second floor are books on Long Island covering many local communities, as well as lots of wonderful children’s books. This is now one good, close independent bookstore. The back room has an extensive collection of ornaments, some of which are reproductions of antique decorations. Back on the first floor there is a large selection of toys, dolls and games for children that also harken back to the 19th century. The St. James General Store is open every day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., (631) 854-3740.

There are lots of unusual gifts at these three gift shops. If you are buying a gift for someone, you will almost certainly find something to suit every taste. There are many other wonderful local shops in Stony Brook Village Shopping Center, in Setauket and in the Village of Port Jefferson. A special one in Port Jefferson is Secret Garden Tea Room on Main Street. Have a cup of tea, maybe a scone and jam or a delicious lunch and look over their selection of gifts. Finding a special or unusual gift is not only a good idea, it supports our local businesses and brings us closer together as a community. And you never know who you will run into by shopping locally.

Beverly Tyler is the Three Village Historical Society historian.

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Nick Piccininni, a four-time state champion, will be tough to replace this season. File photo

With four impact-players returning, the Ward Melville wrestling team is hopeful it can rebuild after losing half of the starting squad to graduation.

“It’s hard to project what they’re going to do, but some of the wrestlers did a lot of offseason work and came back much improved from last year,” Ward Melville head coach Bill DeSario said.

The biggest loss from last season is four-time state champion Nick Piccininni.

“It’s impossible to replace Nick,” DeSario said. “But we do have some young guys that are coming up that have impressed me in the first meet that we had. We wrestled Commack on Saturday, and they seem to be learning.”

The Patriots topped Commack, 51-21, and junior 113-pounder Kenny Cracchiola, who was ranked third in the league last season, said his team performed well.

“We won most of our matches,” he said. “We still have a lot of things to work on and improve before our next meet on Friday, but I think, for the first match of the season, it was a pretty good test.”

It was a test to see where the team is, and it’s coming along.

Senior Matt O’Brien, an all-county wrestler — ranked sixth — who will be competing at 160, said he told the underclassmen from last season how he put in the work during the offseason after his sophomore year, and saw how much it paid off.

“I realized I should tell them and pass on how important it is to put in the work in the offseason so they could really impact the team well,” he said. “Me and Christian [Araneo], we’ve been trying to help the other kids with moves and teaching them different things and add on to what the coaches are saying. We’re trying to help the kids learn everything they need to, so I think we have a good up-and-coming team.”

Araneo, a senior 220-pounder who will eventually wrestle at 195 this season, is a retuning New York State champion.

“He’s just a force,” DeSario said. “He’s a monster. He’s our top gun.”

DeSario said the team is missing three wrestlers to injury, and said once they return, it will solidify the lineup. He will also be looking forward to seeing the progression of sophomore Rafael Lievano, who will be taking Piccininni’s spot at 126; classmate Chris Stellwagen, who will be competing at 106; and Tom Fitzsimons, a freshman who will be competing at 99. The head coach will also be looking for solid seasons from juniors Jake Weizenecker at 120, Sean Fitzsimons, Tyler Lynde at 170, Aaron Rettig at 182 and Nadlher Jules at 285.

“I really think we just need to train the freshmen and sophomores more so that we can have a lot of good guys ranked,” O’Brien said of the team this year as he looks even further to next. “We have coaches who have been coaching for a long time, so they have a lot of experience, which I think is our strength. Also, we have a state champ on the team, which really helps out, because he’s also second in the nation, so he can teach us a lot of things.”

While DeSario and coach Kurt Ferraro are retiring at the end of this season, DeSario said they’re hoping to set up an assistant coach to be ready to take over the team, but he also wants to make sure the team is set up for the following year.

“The main goal is to try to develop one of our assistants who we hope will take over the program,” he said. “But with that, our goal is to not only make sure we help him, but to also help the wrestlers to leave him with a good nucleus for next year. I don’t know where we’ll end up in League I this season, because it’s one of the toughest in the state, but I think we’ll do very well outside our league, in tournaments, and we’ll see what happens. We’re also looking this season to send more than one guy up to the state tournament.”

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Heroin rides shotgun

A 38-year-old woman from East Setauket was arrested on Dec. 5 for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said officials pulled the woman over between Main Street and Dayton Avenue in Port Jefferson Station for an unknown reason, then discovered she was in possession of heroin. The drug was on the front passenger seat of the woman’s 2005 Ford. Police arrested her at the scene.

It’s not my asphalt

On Dec. 3, police arrested a 19-year-old man from Port Jefferson for robbery and criminal mischief, after police said he threw someone to the ground and stole their wallet near the Pax Christi Hospitality Center on Oakland Avenue in Port Jefferson. The man also threw a piece of asphalt at the building and broke one of its windows. Police arrested the man on Linden Place.

Heads and tails

Police arrested a 38-year-old man from Mount Sinai on Dec. 6 for driving while ability impaired while going east on Route 25A in Mount Sinai. Police pulled the man over because his Volkswagen Jetta’s headlights and taillights weren’t working. Officials discovered the man was under the influence and arrested him at the scene.

A 54-year-old man from Centereach was arrested on Dec. 5 for driving while ability impaired in a 1992 Buick on Rustic Road in Centereach. Police pulled the man over around 12:42 a.m. because the car’s taillights weren’t working. They discovered he was intoxicated and arrested him.

Wrangling a suspect

On Dec. 5, a 41-year-old man from Centereach was arrested for leaving the scene of a car crash. The man was driving a Jeep Wrangler east on Old Town Road in East Setauket when he crashed into a 2006 Acura around 8:05 p.m. Police arrested the man minutes later at his residence on Gnarled Hollow Road. Police said the man failed to stop, causing the crash, but it was unclear if that was at a stop sign or at a traffic light.

Desperate Housewives, cont.

Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Selden for assault with a weapon on Dec. 6, a day after he struck someone with a glass bottle. Police didn’t say what caused the altercation but said the victim was transported to the Stony Brook University Hospital. The teenaged assailant was arrested the following day at his residence on Wisteria Lane in Lake Grove.

College crash

A 56-year-old woman from Selden was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash on Dec. 5, after driving a 2004 Nissan on College Road in Selden and crashing into another car. Police found the woman after she fled and arrested her at the 6th Precinct.

If I had a Nicolls …

Police arrested a 31-year-old woman from Islip on Dec. 4 for driving while ability impaired on Nicolls Road in Stony Brook. Police pulled her over when she failed to stay in her lane and arrested her after discovering she was under the influence.

Que Linda!

An unknown person slashed a tire of a 1997 Lincoln that was parked on Linda Street in Port Jefferson Station. Police said the incident happened between Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. and Dec. 6 around 6 a.m.

Cutting

On Dec. 6, a 39-year-old man from Port Jefferson was arrested for harassment. The man was standing on Main Street in Port Jefferson and had a machete in his pants. Police said the man pointed the machete toward his own throat and made a cutting motion.

Thief fresh

An unidentified person walked into the Subway on Route 25A in Miller Place with a small black handgun and demanded money from the cash register. The incident happened on Dec. 4 around 8:19 a.m.

On Dec. 3, someone stole a yellow skateboard in front of the Subway on Route 25A in Shoreham.

Two chains

An unidentified person stole two bikes and a chain saw from a residence on Farmingdale Road in Sound Beach between Dec. 4 at noon and Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. The items were located in a storage shed near the house.

Just kickin’ it

On Dec. 4, several unknown people kicked a hole in the fence of a residence on Model Court in Sound Beach.

Out of gas

Police arrested a 25-year-old man from Rocky Point on Dec. 6 around 9:55 p.m. According to police, the man entered a BP gas station in August armed with a small handgun and demanded money from the cash register. Police finally arrested the man on Dogwood Road in Rocky Point.

Cracking the Walnut

An unknown person stole cash and removed a locked safe from a residence on Walnut Drive in East Shoreham on Dec. 3.

Meet me upstairs

Police said an unknown person broke the upstairs window of a residence on Park Hill Drive in Selden on Dec. 6.

For your convenience

An unidentified man and woman entered the CVS Pharmacy on Middle Country Road in Selden and stole beauty supplies, medical supplies and other items from the store. Police said the incident happened on Dec. 6.

Common sprinkler’s trick

An unknown man entered Old Navy on Jericho Turnpike in Commack sometime between 9:30 p.m. and 6:15 a.m. on Oct. 25 through a common sprinkler room. It is unknown if the man fled with any items. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man, who was seen wearing a black hoodie.

Trying to stay fresh

A 46-year-old man and a 25-year-old man both from Farmingville were arrested on Dec. 5 at 6:50 p.m. for stealing air fresheners and red hair dye from Costco on Garet Place in Commack, according to police. They were charged with petit larceny.

Smack in Commack

On Dec. 4 an 18-year-old man from Dix Hills was arrested after police said he had a large amount of cocaine and prescription drugs without a prescription in his possession on Commack Road in Commack at midnight. He was charged with three accounts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Prepare for beat down

Police said a 25-year-old man from Dix Hills stole two pairs of Beats headphones from Target on Henry Street in Commack at 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 3. He was charged with petit larceny.

To infinity and — nope

A 44-year-old man from Commack was arrested on Dec. 3 at 6:10 p.m. after police said he was in possession of heroin and was driving a 1994 Infiniti on Carlton Avenue in Commack with a suspended license. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

We didn’t start the fire

On Dec. 6 a 30-year-old man from St. James was arrested at 6 p.m. on Privet Court in Smithtown after police said he threatened to physically harm someone and burn their house down. He was charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

Ladies don’t get in her Mercedes

A 49-year-old woman from Smithtown was arrested in Huntington Station on Dec. 3 at 6:40 p.m. after police said she was involved in a crash while driving a 2000 Mercedes and discovered she was on drugs. She was charged with first-degree operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.

Driving on the high road

On Dec. 6 a 26-year-old man from Islandia was arrested on Larkfield Road and Daly Road in Commack at 8:12 p.m. after police said he was driving a 2009 Pontiac while on drugs. He was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs.

The lady in the Mercedes

A 49-year-old woman from Smithtown was arrested in Huntington Station on Dec. 3 at 6:40 p.m. after police said she was involved in a crash while driving a 2000 Mercedes. Police discovered she was on drugs and charged her with first-degree operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.

Not in prime position

A 22-year-old man from East Northport was arrested at the corner of Prime Avenue and Mill Lane in Huntington at about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 after police said he was in possession of marijuana and prescription medication without a prescription. He was charged with two accounts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

No smiles on Broadway

Police said a 27-year-old man from Wheatley Heights had marijuana in his possession at midnight on Broadway Road in Greenlawn, on Dec. 6. He was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Liberty is caught

On Dec. 3, a 58-year-old man from Dix Hills was arrested at the 2nd Precinct for an incident on Nov. 19 at 10:35 p.m., where police said he was driving a 2011 Jeep Liberty on New York Avenue in Huntington when he side swiped another vehicle and then fled the scene. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle and leaving the scene with property damage.

Wallet woes

Police said a 32-year-old man from Huntington stole a wallet from someone inside Christopher’s in Huntington on July 19 at 11:15 p.m. He was arrested on Dec. 2 at the corner of New York Avenue and Main Street and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny involving a credit card.

A 25-year-old from Bayville was arrested on Dec. 4 at 11:10 p.m. at Acacia Restaurant on New York Avenue in Huntington for stealing someone’s wallet. He was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny.

Not nice in the Nissan

On Dec. 2, a 37-year-old man from Huntington Station was arrested after police said he was driving a 1998 Nissan on New York Avenue in Huntington Station at 3:40 p.m. with a suspended license. He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

Corner drugs

Police said a 22-year-old man from East Northport had marijuana in his possession on Mckay Road and Columbia Street in Huntington Station at 12:15 a.m on Dec. 6. He was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Driving on the high road

On Dec. 6, a 26-year-old man from Islandia was arrested on Larkfield Road and Daly Road in Commack at 8:12 p.m., after police said he was driving a 2009 Pontiac while on drugs. He was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs.

Not BB-ing nice to the windows

On Dec. 4, at about 10 p.m., someone reported that a window of his or her home on West Neck Road in Huntington was shot with a BB gun.

Close but no cigar

An unknown person broke into a home on Browning Drive in Greenlawn on Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m. but did not steal anything.

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Hailey Del Giorno, left, is out for a meal with three of the girls she works with at Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York in Wading River. Photo from Hailey Del Giorno

It isn’t typical for a 9-year-old to reject the joy of crafting a Christmas list from scratch, but that’s exactly what 22-year-old Setauket native Hailey Del Giorno encountered.

Del Giorno, a Ward Melville High School graduate, recently launched a campaign to raise money to buy holiday gifts for children she works with at Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York in Wading River. She works in Mary’s Cottage with girls between ages 9 and 16, providing foster boarding home care, residential treatment care and adolescent development. And while she said she knew raising funds would be a challenge, she did not expect the toys list to be equally as difficult.

“They seemed hesitant at first,” Del Giorno, who is now studying psychology at St. Joseph’s College, said about the young girls’ reluctance to share their holiday wishes. “They didn’t seem to want to get their hopes up.”

Del Giorno landed the Wading River job over the summer to satisfy her desire to help others in need and has since been working closely with the young girls, many of whom come from abusive or neglectful homes, every weekend over shifts that could run as long as 12 hours. Since June, she has been working on developing relationships with these girls, but it was not easy, she said.

The group did not openly trust Del Giorno at first, she said, often misconstruing her caring demeanor as intrusive or fake. But she made it a point to squash those misconceptions by working longer and longer shifts on a week-by-week basis.

“These girls have tendencies to be defensive, untrusting and resistive to authority figures because of what they have been through,” she said. “When I started getting to know the girls, I wanted to show them that I had a true interest in learning who they were as people.”

And with each passing week, and each blossoming relationship, Del Giorno said she saw the upcoming holiday season as an opportunity to give back and show the girls that she’s on their side.

Her co-workers and even family members jumped into action. The goal was to raise $5,000 for the girls so Del Giorno and her team could buy them holiday presents and take them out to dinner on Christmas somewhere in the community. She launched an online crowd-funding page via Gofundme.com and has since raise close to $2,000 of that goal, with more than two weeks left, and has spent weeks polling her girls with hopes of assembling a holiday items wish list.

“Hailey I’m so proud of you,” supporter Belinda Groneman wrote on the page. “You have a big heart”

Maria Adams also chimed in.

“God bless you for caring,” she said alongside her donation.

And even when she did get an answer, they were still selfless ones. Several of the girls Del Giorno approached used their holiday gift wishes as opportunities to request items for siblings or loved ones instead, including anything from Barbie dolls to paint brushes and portable Casio keyboards.

In the end, Del Giorno said she hopes to make a lasting impression on the girls and remind them that family does not have to be just along their bloodlines.

“In my family, we always practiced the concept of giving back to the less fortunate,” she said. “After [my family] learned to care about these girls the way I did, we felt we needed to give these girls an extra special Christmas … They are all unique and special in their own ways and shine so positively when they are passionate and excited.”

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Butchers Blind will be one of the last bands performing at the Sunday Street Concert series' old venue. Photo from Charlie Backfish

By Ellen Barcel

The University Cafe at Stony Brook University will be closing early in 2016 due to renovations of the Student Union, but that doesn’t mean that the wonderful series of Sunday Street Concerts, which have been held there for more than a decade, will be ending.

First, going out with a really special performance, the Sunday Street Concert series will present its final show at the University Cafe on Saturday, Dec. 12, which will include Butchers Blind, Chris Connolly and Bryan Gallo, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

“For our last hurrah at the cafe, we’re presenting some of Long Island’s finest young musicians in a very special evening to benefit WUSB-FM and the Sunday Street Series as it moves to its new venue,” said Sunday Street Concert series producer Charlie Backfish.

Then, changes will take place. One is that the venue itself will change, effective 2016. Future concerts will be held down the road in the Gillespie Room of the Carriage Museum at the Long Island Museum, in Stony Brook. Wine, beer and cider will be available there.

A second change is that the concerts will be open to all ages. “That’s particularly good news because we have had parents wanting to bring their children to shows but had to say ‘no’ due to the university policy for the cafe,” said Backfish.

The Sunday Street Concert series will welcome Sloan Wainwright on Jan. 17 to its new venue at the Long Island Museum. Photo from Charlie Backfish
The Sunday Street Concert series will welcome Sloan Wainwright on Jan. 17 to its new venue at the Long Island Museum. Photo from Charlie Backfish

A third change is sponsorship. “This new direction for us is an interesting partnership between the Sunday Street Series, WUSB Radio (90.1 FM, the university’s own radio station), the Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council and the Long Island Museum,” said Backfish. “LIM has been expanding their programming to include music (the North Shore Pro Musica is already holding their concerts there), the GPJAC supports live performances in our area, and the Sunday Street Series of WUSB was seeking a new venue in order to continue. This all was a perfect match.”

Backfish, who is the director of field experience and student teaching in the Department of History at SBU, also hosts the radio station’s Sunday Street morning program, from 9 a.m. to noon. featuring acoustic, folk and singer-songwriter music.

“I’ve had a lot of performers joining me on air during my radio program, Sunday Street, on Sunday mornings on WUSB. Norm Prusslin, the former general manager of WUSB, suggested thinking about having some of these artists follow up a radio appearance with a show at the University Cafe, at that time a new venue,” he said. “It seemed like a very good idea and the result has been this series, which has now had 175 shows during its existence.”

What will not change is the great lineup of musicians who will be performing. The first concert of the new year is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 17, at 3 p.m. when Sloan Wainwright, known for a variety of American music styles including pop, folk, jazz and blues, will be performing. Tickets are $22 in advance, $27 at the door (cash only), if available. “Sloan Wainwright is a great singer whose amazing alto voice powers songs of others as well as her own songs. No surprise since she is part of a well-known musical family, with her brother Loudon Wainwright, and her nephew Rufus and nieces Martha and Lucy,” added Backfish.

The second scheduled 2016 performance will be on Sunday, Jan. 31, at 3 p.m. when Willie Nile will be performing. Advance sales are $25, $30 at the door (cash only), if available. “Willie Nile is a legendary figure on the rock music scene who came to prominence with a debut album hailed by critics. He writes powerfully and always delivers high-energy performances … Since his most recent album is a collection of his songs played on a grand piano, we’re looking forward to Willie making use of the grand piano in the Gillespie room at LIM,” said Backfish.

Another thing that won’t change includes the annual Dylan show. “Our annual celebration of Bob Dylan’s birthday in May has always been special since we assemble a group of musicians who are devotees of Dylan’s work … We’ll continue this tradition at the LIM on Saturday, May 21, at 7 p.m.,” said Backfish. “Coincidentally, the museum at the time will be presenting a traveling exhibition from the Rock and Roll Museum and Hall of Fame,” he added.

The future schedule includes the Scottish band, The Paul McKenna Band in March, Ian Matthews and Plainsong in a tribute to Richard Farina in April and John Gorka, also in April. For details and tickets for the 2016 performances go to www.sundaystreet.org or www.gpjac.org.

The museum, which curates a large number of Setauket artist William Sidney Mount’s paintings, is a very appropriate venue for concerts. Mount not only had many musical themes in his paintings but also played the violin himself as well as designing a violin. “You can almost hear echoes of” him at the museum, noted Backfish.

The Sunday Street Concerts received a warm “reception from the folks at the Long Island Museum,” he added. “I’m really happy we were able to do this. The people at the LIM … want to expand their music — it’s very timely.” Backfish noted that the movement to the Long Island Museum really “expands what the museum does since they already are the venue for North Shore Pro Musica’s concerts.”

The move to the LIM “parallels some of the things they will be doing. For example, an exhibit on traveling music festivals … It couldn’t be better timing,” noted Backfish, adding, “We’re delighted that the LIM has been so supportive in enabling us to continue this series in a great new venue.”

“We are very fortunate to be involved in this,” said Neil Watson, executive director of the LIM. “This is our second season of North Shore Pro Musica. The museum is a cultural hub. We are trying to engage as many people as we can, create as many experiences as possible. I was interested in creating a singer/songwriter series after Pro Musica. When Charlie came to us about losing their space, the collaboration with him grew — a great marriage. We have a wonderful space and sound system and Charlie has the experience booking the talent. I’d like to do a jazz series in the future. We are beyond thrilled, so happy about it. People can experience the museum not only through their eyes but their ears.”

Regarding the future LIM music exhibit beginning in May, Watson noted, “It’s an opportunity to look at culture … All festivals were a lightning rod for more than just music.” He added that during the exhibit there will be talks, panel discussions and additional music.

Backfish will welcome Watson and Joshua Ruff, director of collections and interpretation of the museum, as his guests on Sunday morning, Dec. 13, on his show on WUSB (90.1 FM and wusb.fm) to discuss the partnership of the Sunday Street Series with the Long Island Museum.

The Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages is located at 1200 Route 25A in Stony Brook. It is a Smithsonian affiliate. For further information on the museum, visit www.longislandmuseum.org or call 631-751-0066.

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Legislator Kara Hahn, Councilwoman Valerie Cartright, WMHO Chairman of the Board of Directors Richard Rugen, Supervisor Ed Romaine, Town Clerk Donna Lent and WMHO Trustee Mary VanTuyl. Front row from left to right: WMHO President Gloria Rocchio, Town Historian Barbara Russell, WMHO Trustees Anna Kerekes and Charles Napoli. Photo from Jack Krieger

The American Revolution might be a thing of the past but it’s made a mark in Long Island’s present.

After three and a half centuries the historic Brewster House in East Setauket is still standing thanks to the Ward Melville Heritage Organization.

On Monday Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) and Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station) and the WMHO celebrated the house’s 350th anniversary.

President of the WMHO Gloria Rocchio said nine generations of Brewsters lived in the house after the town sold the house to Nethaniel Brewster on Oct. 24, 1665. She added that the house may be older than 350 years as it was already built when the town sold the property.

WMHO acquired the property in 1948 after John Ward Melville purchased the house from Jennie E. Smith and Robert Elderkin — they were the last members of the Brewster family to own the home. Additions were made to the home before Melville purchased the property — the home was transformed from a one-room cottage to its current multiple-room structure. Nineteen years after purchasing the home, Melville began restoring the dilapidated house.

The Brewster House was as a tavern and general store during the American Revolution. Members of the Brewster family resided in the upstairs portion of the home. At the time, Joseph Brewster entertained British Troops at the home. Joseph Brewster’s cousin Caleb supposedly frequented the house often during the revolution — he was a member of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring alongside the Roe brothers. The Roe brothers resided in Port Jefferson, which was once called Drowned Meadow.

In light of the house’s long history, Cartright read the original deed that transferred the property to the Town of Brookhaven during the celebration. The town originally acquired the property before WMHO obtained the house many years ago. Both Romaine and Cartright said the house is the oldest building in Brookhaven. It’s age and it’s history made the house worth preserving.

“You don’t want to take these historical homes and modernize them. You want to keep the historical culture,” Cartright said. “Ward Melville Heritage Organization understands the importance of keeping the historical significance of these homes so that’s why we’re happy to work with them.”

Ward Melville established the WMHO on Dec. 29 1939. It was initially known as The Stony Brook Community Fund. While Melville established the organization with the goal of rehabilitating Stony Brook Village and merge history with the area’s natural beauty, the organization has since expanded on his vision.

Currently they continue to spread awareness about Long Island’s history and help to preserve historic sites like the Brewster House.

Romaine added that preserving parts of the community’s history would help the community’s future.

“We have to understand that we’re part of a continuum of history. To do that we’ve got to look back as well as look forward because by looking back we get a clear vision of how to look forward.”

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Ward Melville junior Michael Jaklitsch battles a Huntington opponent in a match last season. File photo by Bill Landon

In February of this year, the Ward Melville girls’ and boys’ fencing team swept the Suffolk County championships for the ninth straight season. The boys extended their match streak to 124 with the win, and although the girls had their 195-game streak snapped last year, will look to start a new one as the girls begin the road to what could be their 14th straight Suffolk County crown.

Five senior fencers were sent off to college last year, with Carly Weber-Levine competing at Stanford University, Ilana Solomon playing for Columbia University, Michael Antipas competing at University of Notre Dame, and Angela Zhang and Michael Skolnick fencing for Cornell University and Vassar College, respectively.

Ward Melville junior Lara Obedin fences against a Huntington opponent in a match last season. File photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior Lara Obedin fences against a Huntington opponent in a match last season. File photo by Bill Landon

While the girls lost Solomon, the boys team returns her younger brother, Danny, who is a sophomore this year.

The loss of Antipas will be felt heavily, along with Marc Dalrymple and two other seniors, but the Patriots return a slew of underclassmen looking to fill the shoes of those lost.

Antipas was the last of three family members to fence at the school, and his presence will be missed. He, along with his sisters, Demi and Alexa, combined for a 346-2 varsity record.

The girls lost three other seniors along with Weber-Levine to graduation, but this Patriots team also returns a ton of sophomores and a handful of juniors to the lineup.

The season will test what those underclassmen have learned from some of the greats before them, and the teams will be tested when they travel to Newfield on Wednesday, for the first meet of the season, at 5 p.m.

The teams will host Commack the following day, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m., before competing in a tournament at Brentwood on Dec. 12. The tournament is set to begin at 9 a.m.

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