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‘THE STANDARD OF THE WORLD’ Kick off spring with a Car Show and Swap Meet at Bald Hill in Farmingville on March 26 featuring custom cars like this 1950’s Cadillac to classic muscle cars. Photo by Phyllis Aquino/Long Island Cars
Thursday 23

Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival

Presented by Leg. Kara Hahn and The Jazz Loft founder Tom Manual, the Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival continues tonight, March 24 and 25 at The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook and in local shops and restaurants, including Stony Brook Chocolate and The Country House. For the full schedule, visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Native American Drumming 

Alls Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook will host a Native American Drumming Meditation workshop from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Call 655-7798 for more information.

Celebrating David Crosby

The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Rock Legends Live! series with David Crosby: A Celebration at 7:30 p.m. Come celebrate the life of legendary singer-songwriter David Crosby, featuring numerous rare performance clips. Tickets are $15, $10 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Friday 24

Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival

See March 23 listing.

Vanderbilt Evening Birdwatch

Join the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport for an Evening Birdwatch and Architecture Tour with the Museum’s director of curatorial affairs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Participants will enjoy the unique opportunity to view the Vanderbilt estate at dusk, when the grounds are closed but the birds are active. Sturdy hiking footwear is strongly suggested, and participants are asked to bring their own binoculars. Walks will also be held on April 7 and 21, and May 5 and 19. Tickets are $12, free for members. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Wintertide concert

The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson continues  its  Wintertide concert series from 7 to 8 p.m with songwriter and guitarist Rupert Wates in the Sail Loft Room on the third floor. $5 donation at the door. Questions? Call 473-4778.

Battle of the Bands

Northport Centerport Lions Club presents the Battle of the Bands at the Huntington Moose Lodge, 631 Pulaski Rd, Greenlawn from 7 to 11 p.m. Raffles and snacks. Tickets are $30 per person. Proceeds to go to local charities including Smithtown Guide Dog Foundation. Questions? Call 516-380-6444.

Saturday 25

Swing Into Spring Jazz Festival

See March 23 listing.

Go for the Green Run

The Rotary Club of Smithtown presents the 28th annual St. Patrick’s ‘Go for the Green’ 5K run at 9:30 a.m. (1 mile family fun run at 9 a.m.) The race kicks off at Smithtown Elementary School, 51 Lawrence Ave., Smithtown. Register online at events.elitefeats.com/23gogreen. For additional information, call 516-458-5159.

Guided Beach Walks

Town of Brookhaven hosts a guided beach walk, See By the Sound, at West Meadow Beach, Trustees Road, Stony Brook at 10 a.m. and a guided beach walk at Cedar Beach Nature Center, Harbor Beach Road, Mount Sinai at 2 p.m. Look for shells, gulls and other shore birds. Bring binoculars if you have them. Free but registration is required by emailing [email protected].

Veterans Food Drive

Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society hosts a Give Back to Our Veterans Food Drive at the William Miller House, 75 North Country Road, Miller Place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Canned and paper products appreciated. Any person that donates can dedicate a rock to the Society’s Veteran’s Memorial Rock Garden. Stay and write a letter to a veteran to thank them for their service. For more information, visit www.mpmshistoricalsociety.org.

Model Train Show

The Smithtown Historical Society presents its annual Model Train Show in the Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St. Smithtown from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Operating layouts on display include Long Island HOTracks — HO Scale and Frank Kabylarz — N Scale. Admission is $5 adults, $3 children under age 12. Proceeds from the event go towards maintenance of farm buildings and animal care on the property. For more information, call 265-6768.

Acoustic Afternoons at Mills Pond

Join local musicians for an afternoon open mic at the Mills Pond Gallery, 199 Mills Pond Road, St. James from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Enjoy the fine art exhibit, share your musical talents, sing along or just listen in a beautiful gallery space. Signup in person beginning at 1 p.m. Free to listen, $5 donation for performers. Call 862-6575 for more information.

Dreamcatcher Workshop

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor for a Dreamcatcher Workshop at 2 p.m. Discover the history behind the most enduring and widespread symbol of Native American culture, the dreamcatcher. Special guest and member of the Shinnecock and Hassanamisco Nations Denise Silva-Dennis “WeeTahMoe” will  present this art and culture workshop on the iconic Lakota tradition. Create a traditional dreamcatcher of your own to take home. Admission fee + $10 participant.  For adults and kids. To register, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Silverpoint Art Workshop

The Atelier at Flowerfield, 2 Flowerfield, Suite #15, St. James presents a workshop titled The Magic of Drawing in Silverpoint from 2 to 5 p.m. Join artist Randall DiGiuseppe for a fun-filled and informative drawing workshop that explores the history, mechanism, and methods that make silverpoint such a special drawing medium. You get to try your hand at creating your own silverpoint drawing. Open to all skill levels. Light refreshments will be served. $65 per person includes all materials. To register, visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org or call 250-9009.

Comedy Night Dinner Show

Yaphank Fire Department Truck Company #1, 31 Main St., Yaphank hosts a Comedy Night Dinner Show with doors opening at 6 p.m. Comedic line-up includes David Weiss, Dennis Rooney, “Banjo” Les Bayer and Eric Tartaglione. Tickets are $40 per person and includes a roast beef dinner, dessert, beer, wine and soda. To order tickets, call 905-2134.

Sunday 26

Car Show and Swap Meet

“Long Island Cars” kicks off its 2023 season with a “Super Swap Sunday” Car Show & Swap Meet at Bald Hill, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of classic and collectible automobiles including street rods, muscle cars, antiques, exotics and imports will be on display along with a swap meet, live music, food and refreshments. Admission is $10, children under age 12 are free. Call 567-5898 or visit www.LongIslandCars.com.

Port Jefferson Food Drive

The Port Jefferson Rotary Club and “Call Brian” Senior Services will sponsor a Friends of the Pantry Food and Personal Care Items Drive at the Open Cupboard Pantry at Infant Jesus Church, 110 Hawkins St., Port Jefferson today from 9 a.m. to noon. Currently the pantry is in extreme need of boxed milk, Ramen soup, juice, pancake mix (complete), pancake syrup, peanut butter, jelly, mac & cheese, pasta sauce, condiments, Maseca flour, cooking oil, cereal oatmeal, canned fruit, black beans, canned mixed vegetables, coffee and healthy snacks. They are also in need of personal care items such as shampoo, conditioner, deoderant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, toilet paper, baby shampoo, baby wash, baby wipes, Enfamil formula, Desitin and lotion. Grocery store gift cards and cash also accepted.  Please help them help those in need during these difficult times. For more information, call 938-6464.

Huntington Farmers Market

The John J. Flanagan Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington hosts the Huntington Winter Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March with over 40 vendors plus guest vendors. Visit www.longislandfarmersmarkets.com.

Port Jefferson Farmers Market

The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market will be held at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April 30. Featuring over 20 vendors. Call 473-4778.

Dedication Ceremony at Caroline Church

Caroline Church of Brookhaven, 1 Dyke Road, Setauket will host a dedication ceremony for its newly restored historic 1887 seven-bay carriage shed at 11 a.m.  The shed will be dedicated to the men and women who joined together to fund and build an enclosure designed to provide shelter for their horses and carriages. The name plaques will be unveiled and a few short stories will be told about the owners of the stalls. All are welcome. For more information, call 941-4245.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The 33rd annual Ronkonkoma St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held at 2 p.m. Grand Marshal John McNamara will lead the parade from Hawkins Avenue at School Street, south down Hawkins Ave ending at Thorne Street. Call 304-6303 or visit www.ronkonkomaparade.org.

Flax Pond Lecture

Friends of Flax Pond invite the community to join them at the Childs Mansion, 19 Shore Drive, Old Field at 3 p.m. for a lecture titled “Diamondback Terrapin: the Turtle with the Clown Lips” presented by John Turner. These amazing turtles inhabit our local coastal areas. Late each spring and early summer the females come ashore to nest on our local beaches. Conservation is key to their continued survival. John will present information about these fascinating creatures as well as some of the local conservation efforts. As always light refreshments will be served. Please bring a reusable coffee mug to reduce waste. The lecture is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Parking is at the Flax Pond Lab, adjacent to the Childs Mansion. If you need other arrangements for parking and have a “handicap parking pass,” please e-mail or text 631-767-6287 to make arrangements.

Eagle River Band in concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will host a concert by the Eagle River Band from 3 to 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum. For more information, call 689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.

Ridotto Concert

Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Ave., Huntington hosts a Ridotto concert titled Abbandonata at 4 p.m. Program will include Haydn: Cantata ‘Arianna auf Naxos; string Quartets by Haydn and Boccherini, Monteverdi for lute and voice, Gluck arias ‘oh del mio’ and ‘Che faro Eurydice’ with Kate Lerner, mezzo; Christopher Morrongiello, lute; and Poetica Quartet with Song-A Cho, violin.  Tickets are $35, $30 seniors, $25 members and $12 students. For reservations, call 385-0373 or email [email protected].

Comedy Show fundraiser

Port Jefferson Moose Lodge, 37 Crystal Brook Hollow Road, Mt. Sinai hosts a Comedy Show fundraiser by the Terryville Road PTA for Port Jefferson Station 8-year-old Tenzin Tanaka who is battling leukemia at 4 p.m. (Doors open at 2:30 p.m.) with comedians John Butera, Chris Roach, Dan LaRocco, Rich Walker and Fat Jay.  With 50/50 raffle auction. Mature audiences only. $30 per person, $50 per couple. For tickets, please call 516-662-0931.

Monday 27

SHS Lecture

Smithtown Historical Society concludes its Spring Lecture Series at the Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown with a presentation titled “Looking Back: 1965 Smithtown’s Tricentennial” with SHS Vice President Maureen Smilow. Take a look back at the celebration where a time capsule was buried at Town Hall and a grand parade, complete with a real bull, took place on Main Street. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. For more information, call 265-6768.

Tuesday 28

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station will screen the film Jewish Broadway about the contributions of Jewish talent to the entertainment industry in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee among other refreshments will be served. $5 per person, $3 members. Call 928-3737 for more information.

Healthy Libraries event

Drop by Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station between 2 and 4:30 p.m. to meet with Stony Brook Medicine healthcare professionals and graduate student interns from the fields of social work, public health, nursing, and nutrition for assistance with access to in-person and virtual healthcare resources. Questions? Call 631-928-1212.

An Evening of Sound Healing

Port Talks presents Desmond O’Sullivan live at The Space in Port Jefferson, 234 Traders Cove, Port Jefferson from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. As the captain of the Celtic Quest fishing boat, learn why Desi is passionate about the healing power of sound. He will demonstrate how to use sound and frequency to optimize health and well being and how they can be of great benefit to the human spirit. This event will include pre-networking, an interview and demonstration. $20 per person. Register at www.portjefftalks.com. For more information, text 516-939-8960.

CAC Sky Room Talk

Join film historian Glenn Andreiev for a Sky Room Talk, Made Men and Mobsters — The Mafia in the Movies, at the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington at 7:30 p.m. See familiar Mafia movie moments, which range from frightening to funny, and discover seldom seen mobster classics. See clips from silent era mob movies, the eye-popping 1932 Scarface, newsreel footage of some real wise-guys, along with some 1970’s mob movies that slipped under the radar. There will also be some trivia questions with mobster-like prizes. Tickets are $17, $12 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org to register.

An evening of Swing Dance

Swing Dance Long Island, a non-profit social dance club, holds weekly dances every Tuesday evening at the  Huntington Moose Lodge, 631 Pulaski Rd. Greenlawn with beginner swing lessons at 7:30 p.m. and dancing from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Singles and beginners are welcome.  No partner necessary. Admission is $15-DJ night,  $20-band night on the third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call 516-521-1410.

Comedy Night at the Engeman

Join the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport for a Comedy Night at 8 p.m. Come have some laughs, enjoy some cocktails, and listen to some very funny comedians! Tickets are $45 per person. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Wednesday 29

Staller’s Starry Nights

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents Starry Nights in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. With the combined talent of Stony Brook’s established artists and its rising stars, Artist-in-Residence Colin Carr and company continue to enchant audiences with their musical wizardry. Program will include Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor featuring renowned violinist Hagai Shaham, as well as the beloved Schubert String Quintet featuring Mr. Carr and the Pelia String Quartet. Tickets range from $43 to $48. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Thursday 30

No events listed for this day.

Theater
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Only two more chances to catch a performance of the 24th annual Festival of One-Act Plays on Theatre Three’s Second Stage. The show closes on March 25.
Photo by Peter Lanscombe/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

Festival of One-Act Plays

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 24th annual Festival of One-Act Plays through March 25 at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on the Second Stage. Selected from over 750 submissions world-wide, these seven cutting-edge premieres are guaranteed to entertain and engage. Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, the plays will feature Steve Ayle, Tamralynn Dorsa, Antoine Jones, Brittany Lacey, Phyllis March, Evan Teich, Steven Uihlein, Sean Amato, Ava Andrejko, Angelo DiBiase, Samantha Fierro, Jason Furnari, Melissa Norman, Danielle Pafundi, and Tristan Prin. Adult content and language. Tickets are $20. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’

The swashbuckling musical adventure The Scarlet Pimpernel heads to the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport from March 16 to April 30. Percy Blakeney, a proper Englishman, takes on a sword fighting and dashing double identity as The Scarlet Pimpernel to save French citizens from the blood-hungry guillotine. His exploits soon become the talk of Paris, however, the fanatical Agent Chauvelin will stop at nothing to catch the Pimpernel and send him to the guillotine. With a rousing and passionate score by Frank Wildhorn,  The Scarlet Pimpernel is a thrilling musical! For ticket info, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Seussical’

Mount Sinai High School, 110 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai presents the musical Seussical on March 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. and March 25 at 2 p.m. This special Theater for Young Audiences version of the Broadway hit has been rewritten and streamlined to engage audience members from age 4 to 94. Tickets are $15, $12 seniors and students at www.Ludus.com/MountSinaiPerformingArts. Questions? call 870-2882.

‘Prde@Prejudice’

Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, presents Pride @ Prejudice from April 7 through May 6. Watch Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy fall in love all over again – this time filtered through the world of the internet. Modern voices interject and build on this classic love story in the form of blog posts, chat room discussions, quotes from film adaptations, and even letters from Ms. Austen herself to create a delightfully postmodern view of 19th century England. Five actors play nearly two dozen roles in this hilarious and moving homage to Jane Austen’s most beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 928-9100 or visit theatrethree.com.

‘The Comedy of Errors’

The Theatre at Suffolk County Community College, Ammerman campus, 533 College Road, Selden presents a production of The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare in the Shea Theatre in the Islip Arts Building on April 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and April 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. Mature content. General admission is $15. For tickets, call 451-4163. 

Film

‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’

Celebrate St. James continues its classic movie series with a screening of Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur at the St. James Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second St., St. James on March 26 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25, $20 seniors and members. To register, visit www.celebratestjames.org or call 984-0201. 

‘I Am Not’

Port Jefferson Documentary Series continues its spring season with a viewing of  I Am Not at JFK Middle School on March 27 at 7 p.m. The film follows the journey of Oren Levy, a young adopted Israeli man who travels back to Guatemala in search of his identity. Followed by a Q&A with guest speaker Ehud Levy, Oren’s father and subject in film, via live Zoom. Tickets are $10 at www.portjeffdocumentaryseries.com or at the door.

* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.

HUNTINGTON'S STORY The Huntington Militia will present a Fall Muster at the Arsenal Museum on Oct. 16 in conjunction with the Huntington Historical Society's annual Apple Festival. Both events, which are directly across from each other on Park Avenue, are free. File photo by Victoria Espinoza/TBR News Media
Ongoing

Dark Night Halloween World

Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater, 1 Ski Run Lane, Farmingville hosts the 2nd annual Dark Night Halloween World, an outdoor extravaganza combining moderate scares with comedy that at the same time celebrates the nostalgia of vintage haunted trails through a post-modern twist on inspired characters from pop culture and horror movies of the 1990s, on multiple days through Oct. 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, $35 VIP front of the line.Visit www.DarkNightLI.com to order..

Thursday October 13

Historic Walking Tour & Pub Crawl

The Huntington Historical Society hosts its last  Historic Walking Tour & Pub Crawl of the year beginning at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, Main Street, Huntington at 6 p.m. Led by Town of Huntington Historian, Robert C. Hughes, this walking tour will guide you through the notable buildings and events in the history of Huntington Village. Along the way participants will stop at local establishments, (with a great history or in a historic building) to enjoy some refreshment before continuing the tour. $25 per person, $20 members (drinks not included). To register, call 427-7045 or visit  www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Author Talk

Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket will present Stories Light and Dark: An Evening of Jewish Noir from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Join author Kenneth Wishnia and other contributors for a spirited discussion of the diverse themes in the Jewish Noir II anthology. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event, plus a bonus story collection offered free with each purchase. To register, please call 941-4080. 

Halloween Costume Party

Join the Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport for its first Night at the Museum Halloween Costume Party from 7 to 10 p.m. Featuring music from DJ Stephen Lombardo, Halloween trivia, raffles and costume prizes, tarot card readings and more. PLUS, a special appearance by Northport artist Nicolas Bruno, who will discuss his Somnia Tarot project, featured this October in the museum’s Pop-Up Exhibit space. For ages 21 and older. $13 per person. Register at www.northporthistorical.org.

Vanderbilt lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will host a presentation titled “Becoming Wild” at 7 p.m. Ecologist and author Carl Safina will speak on the dynamics of animal intelligence and the cultural lives of animals based on his years of field research and from his acclaimed 2020 book Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace. Tickets are $10 per person at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. 

Friday October 14

Harbor Haunts walking tour

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor kicks off its Harbor Haunts walking tours tonight at 6 p.m. and Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m. Explore Cold Spring Harbor’s ghostly side with fascinating tales of mishaps and historic hauntings on Main Street. Other dates include Oct. 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29. Recommended for adults and ages 8+. Held rain or shine. Fee is ​$12 adults, $8 children. To order, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. Call 367-3418 for more info.

Deepwells Haunted Mansion

Just in time for Halloween, the Deepwells Farm Historical Society transforms the historic Deepwells Mansion, 2 Taylor Lane, St. James into Deepwells Sanitarium, Home for the Criminally Insane tonight, Oct. 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 from 7 to 10 p.m. Featuring 16 rooms of horror, wooded trail of terror, food vendors, photo-ops and more. Advance tickets are $20 per person at www.deepwellshauntedmansion.com, $30 at the door. Call 862-2808.

Smithtown Contradance – just added!

The Long Island Traditional Music Association (LITMA) invites the community to a Contradance at the Frank Brush Barn on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society, 211 East Main St., Smithtown at 7:30 p.m. with basic instruction at 7:15 p.m. Featuring Chart Guthrie calling with music by Dance All Night. $15 general admission, $10 members, students half price, children under 16 FREE with paid adult. Visit www.litma.org.

An evening of opera

After a two year hiatus, Opera Night Long Island will resume its monthly program tonight at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main Street, Northport with an Open Mic Night at 7:30 p.m.. Ten  artists will perform arias from popular operas, including Il Trovatore, Lakme, and Marriage of Figaro. The program will also include performances of art songs and numbers from musical theater. Admission is a $10 donation at the door. Visit www.operanight.org.  

Macy Kate heads to SBU

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook welcomes singer Macy Kate to Recital Hall at 8 p.m. Macy Kate’s soulful, sweet, and smoky voice launched her to fame at 16, when she appeared on ABC’s Rising Star. Her sultry sound packs so much power that Flo Rida signed her to IMG Records and brought her on his worldwide G.D.F.R. tour. A true, bonafide star in the making, Kate’s powerhouse voice coupled with her confessional, self-effacing lyrics make for the perfect combination of down-to-earth and out-of-this-stratosphere. Tickets range from $50 to $58. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Saturday October 15

Harbor Haunts walking tour

See Oct. 14 listing.

Deepwells Haunted Mansion

See Oct. 14 listing.

Octoberfest

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 716 Route 25A, Rocky Point invites the community to its annual Octoberfest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Featuring a craft fair, delicious food and desserts, bake sale & special activities for children. Call 744-9355 for more information.

Outdoor Country Auction 

Going once, going twice, sold! The Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson will hold its 34th annual outdoor Country Auction on the grounds of the Mather House Museum, 115 Prospect St., Port Jefferson at 9:30 a.m. with a preview at 9 a.m. Items this year include assorted shelf & wall clocks,  Moroccan Carpet w/tassels, Aubusson rug, gold & diamond jewelry, framed botanicals, chandeliers & sconces, antique garden tools, signs, farm items, mirrors, 1850s side chairs, quilts and many more unique items. Free parking at school parking lot on High Street. Lunch available for purchase. Rain or shine. Call 473-2665 or visit www.portjeffhistorical.org.

Miller Place Country Fair

The Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society will host its annual Country Fair on the grounds of the William Miller House, 75 North Country Road Miller Place today and Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The two day event will feature basket weaving, open hearth cooking, pottery making, wampum bead making, Colonial and Victorian games, a Reolutionary War encampment and much more. $5 donation includes a tour of the historic William Miller House (c. 1720). Call 476-5742 or visit www.mpmshistoricalsociety.org.

Old Burying Ground tour

Join the Huntington Historical Society for an Old Burying Ground walking tour at 4 p.m. Established soon after the Town’s 1653 founding, Huntington’s earliest public burying ground features stunning folk art and beautiful epitaphs honoring Huntington’s residents and rich history. Tour begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St., Huntington. Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children. For reservations, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Saturdays at Six concert

All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook continues its Saturdays at Six concert series with a performance by Lost in Staller, a group of Stony Brook University graduate student musicians who “strive to bring back the dance aspect of jazz and to make sure that groove never stops,” at 6 p.m. The band includes bass, keyboard, guitar, drums, trombone, and saxophone. Lost in Staller will be playing a mix of funk music and jazz standards and pop tunes in their own style, and will include music from Vulfpeck, Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, and Cole Porter. Free. Call 655-7798.

A Psychic Evening

Ronkonkoma Fire Department, 177 Portion Road, Ronkonkoma presents An Evening with Psychic Medium Jeffrey Wands fundraiser from 7 to 9 p.m. Come for an intimate evening of up close and personal gallery style readings. $40 per person. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com. 

The Godfathers of Comedy

In partnership with Governer’s Comedy Club, the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown presents an evening of stand-up comedy at 8 p.m. Featuring headliner Joey Kola, Eric Tartaglione, Debbie D Amore and Mario Bosco. Tickets are $45 and includes an open bar of beer and wine. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Sunday October 16

Miller Place Country Fair

See Oct. 15 listing.

Elks Community Yard Sale

Love yard sales? The Port Jefferson Elks Lodge, 41 Horseblock Road, Centereach hosts a Community Yard Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come shop for treasures all in one spot! Call 928-2138.

Porsche Car Show just added!

The rained-out October 2 show by the Porsche Club of America (Metropolitan New York) at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport has been rescheduled for today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the original date are valid.  Cars will be displayed on the estate grounds with a spectacular view of Northport Bay. Visitors pay only general Museum admission. There is no extra charge to attend the car shows. Adults $10; seniors (62 plus) and students with ID $9; children 12 and under $7. Visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org or call 854-5579.

Huntington Apple Festival

The annual Apple Festival is back on the grounds of the Dr. Daniel Kissam House, 434 Park Ave., Huntington from noon to 4 p.m., courtesy of the Huntington Historical Society. Enjoy traditional games, a magic show, pumpkin painting, seasonal crafts, live music, fall foods, house tours and historical demonstrations by costumed interpreters. The Museum Shop will also be open. Free admission. Call 427-7045.

Fall Muster at the Arsenal

The Huntington Militia will present a Fall Muster at the Huntington Arsenal, 425 Park Avenue, Huntington during the Huntington Apple Festival from noon to 4 p.m. See history come to life as the militia recreates a typical 1775 militia muster at the Arsenal and Village Green. See musket and cannon firings, 18th century crafts, trades, music and cooking. Free. Call 223-8017.

Northport Walking Tour

Northport Historical Society, 215 Main St., Northport hosts a walking tour titled Parading Through Main Street at 1:30 p.m. Tour guide Dan Sheehan makes the past come alive during this lively and informative tour of Northport’s historic Main Street business district. $7 per person. To register, visit www.northporthistorical.org.

Monday October 17

TVHS lecture

The Three Village Historical Society continues its lecture series at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket and via Zoom at 7 p.m. with Mafia Spies: The Inside Story of the CIA, Gangster, JFK and Castro. Author Thomas Maier will discuss his latest book which shows how the CIA recruited two gangsters to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro during the Cold War. Moderated by TVHS Director Mari Irizarry. Suggested donation. To register, visit www.tvhs.org or call 751-3730.

Tuesday October 18

SHS Fall lecture

The Smithtown Historical Society concludes its Fall lecture series with “Death By Fire and Ice: The Steamboat Lexington Calamity,” with author Brian O’Connor at the Frank Brush Barn, 211 E. Main St., Smithtown at 7 p.m. O’Connor will discuss his new book, which tells the story of the steamboat Lexington that caught fire and sank on Long Island Sound in January 1840, with approximately 147 people on board. The tragedy remains the worst maritime disaster in the history of the Sound. Light refreshments will be served. Free but registration required at www.eventbrite.com. For more info, call 265-6768.

Emerson String Quartet concert

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook presents the world-renowned Emerson String Quartet in concert in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. Program will include Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 12; Alban Berg’s String Quartet Op.3; and Dvorak’s No. 14 in A b major, Op. 105. Tickets range from $52 to $60. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Wednesday October 19

Dwight Gooden heads to CAC

Join the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington for an intimate evening with legendary Cy Young Award-winning Mets and Yankees pitcher Dwight Gooden, featuring a conversation with the beloved baseball star that will include questions from the audience. This will be followed by a Meet & Greet, Autograph Session, and a Photo Op. Every attendee will receive an 8×10 color Mets or Yankees photo, and can bring one additional item to be autographed. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet a true New York sports legend, and a man who has overcome adversity to demonstrate the power of redemption. Tickets are $60 at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Thursday October 20

Outreach bus heads to Setauket

The Catholic Health Community Outreach Bus will be at Emma S. Clark Memorial Library parking lot, 120 Main St., Setauket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Registered nurses will provide blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, and glucose screenings along with patient education and referrals as needed. Free flu vaccinations will be offered by a registered nurse. The last screening will begin at 1:45 p.m. No appointments are necessary, there are no fees, and insurance is not required. Bo registration necessary. Call 941-4080.

Theater

‘Guys and Dolls’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson kicks off its 52nd season with Guys and Dolls from Sept. 17 to Oct. 22. Considered the perfect musical of Broadway’s Golden Age, this delightful romp gambles in luck and love from Times Square to Havana. High rollers and low characters from Damon Runyon’s mythical New York are joyously presented in Frank Loesser’s bold and brassy score, featuring “Luck Be a Lady,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” An award-winning classic for the entire family! Tickets are $35 adults, $28 senior and students, $20 children ages 5 and up. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

‘Mystic Pizza’

Up next at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport is the new musical comedy, Mystic Pizza, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 30. Based on the classic 1988 movie starring Julia Roberts, Mystic Pizza charts the lives and loves of three unforgettable waitresses in the harbor town of Mystic, CT. Add in some of the best pop songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Addicted To Love,” “Small Town,” “Hold On,” and “Take My Breath Away,” and you have all the ingredients for a romantic comedy–with the works! Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘The Lightning Thief’

The Smithtown Performing Arts Center presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical  from Sept. 30 to Oct. 29. As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly-discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want, and a mythology textbook’s worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief is an action-packed mythical adventure “worthy of the gods” Tickets are $40, $35 seniors, $25 students. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org. 

Film

‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’

The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Oct. 15 at 9:30 p.m. shadowcast with the ZEN Room. Sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite scientist. Prop bags will be available the night of the show! Tickets are $20, $15 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Catch a screening of ‘Nosferatu’ at the Cinema Arts Centre on Oct. 18. Photo from CAC

‘Nosferatu’

In honor of the spookiest season, the Cinema Arts Center, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a screening of Nosferatu, one of the most important horror films of the silent era and one of the first vampire movies, on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature a live score by The Invincible Czars and costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $25, $20 members at www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Vendors Wanted

Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook seeks craft vendors for its Holiday Night Market on Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For further information, call 631-588-5024.

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor seeks vendors selling antique, vintage and/or retro items for its Antiques & More event on Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $50 donation to the museum for a 10 x 10 foot space. Call 631-367-3418

Have an event you would like to share? Send your calendar listings to [email protected]

 

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He’s making a list and checking it twice, but the Miller Place/Mount Sinai Historical Society is helping to make sure the big man in red is getting all the up-to-date information.

The society held its annual Mailman Mark event Dec. 6. Normally held over a longer period where they can receive close to 300 children, this year, because of the pandemic, time was limited and people were incentivized to come by appointment. No families were turned away, however.

The event is held outside the historic William Miller House in Miller Place, in a building that once operated as the hamlet’s original post office. The titular Mailman Mark, ever Santa’s helper, helped the children get their pre-written letter stamped and put inside his mailbag, always reminding them before it was in that all wishes were final.

Santa is expected to write each child back before Christmas time. 

The historical society also had a vintage fire truck available for families to take pictures in front of, as well as the opportunity to meet a dalmatian mascot named Sparky.

All funds for the event went to the historical society to help continue their preservation efforts.

Fundraising continues with opportunities to purchase an historic brick on the house’s walkway, vintage duplicated postcards, note cards of historic homes in the district and a keepsake coloring book. One can also donate to the restoration of the circa 1810 Daniel Hawkins House to be used for multiple community events.

Photos clockwise from bottom left: Nolan Elder, Mackenzie Burger  and Connor Burger deliver their letters to Mailman Mark, soon to be sent right to the North Pole.

Brookhaven intends on completing the North Country Road repaving, having recently come close to finishing a section in Miller Place. Photo by Kyle Barr

The Town of Brookhaven has come close to  finishing a single section of a much larger project along North Country Road.

This past weekend, Brookhaven finished paving and painting the lines along North Country Road in Miller Place from Honey Lane to the Miller Place Duck Pond, over to the entrance to the Laddie A. Decker School on Lower Rocky Point Road. The new resurfacing includes fixing the drainage along the side of the road and the installation of sidewalk and curbing. The new road and sidewalks pass in front of several area staples like the Town & Country Market, McNulty’s Ice Cream Parlor and the William Miller House.

According to the town Highway Department and Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro (R), the North Country Road Highway project is actually a combination of three separate capital improvement projects. 

The New York State Department of Transportation grant received by the Highway Department funded 60% of the “complete streets” portion of this project, which is the new paving in Miller Place. The contractor responsible for this section of the project should complete their work within the next few weeks. This part of the project came now in order to finish before schools reopened in September.

The second section of this project was the sidewalk and curb installation on North Country Road that was completed in 2019 from the entrance to the Laddie Decker School to Echo Avenue. The Highway Department resurfaced that section of North Country Road Aug. 6.

The final section of this project is North Country Road from Washington Avenue to Route 25A in Sound Beach. Highway crews are completing the preparation work on this stretch of road this week, with the milling and resurfacing of this section to be completed within the next few weeks.

The Brookhaven Highway Department has included in its 2021 budget request to install a significant amount of drainage infrastructure on North Country Road from Pipe Stave Hollow Road to Honey Lane to remove the water from the roadway. Once the drainage work is complete, that final section of roadway will be resurfaced.

This will complete the paving of North Country Road from the Village of Port Jefferson border to Route 25A at the Rocky Point/Miller Place border.

In July, the town announced the finalized resurfacing of Lower Rocky Point Road from Woodhull Landing Road to Rocky Point Landing Road, as well as Hagerman Landing Road. The town is also currently active milling 37 roadways all over Sound Beach. Once milling is complete at a near future date, weather permitting, all roads will be resurfaced. 

Final details about the North Country Road project, including the total cost, grant funding and photos will be available when the project comes to completion in the next few months.

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Therese O’Connor turned 91 July 19, and the MPMS Historical Society came out in support. Photo by Kyle Barr

Turning 91 is a milestone in anyone’s book, but for the Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society’s oldest trustee, it was a chance for the membership to show respect for someone who has long been helping to bridge the community’s past with its present. 

Therese O’Connor was 91 July 19, and local residents and members of the MPMSHS drove past her home honking and cheering for the venerable community resident. She has been on the historical society board in some capacity since 1990, though she has been a dues-paying member of the Miller Place Historical Society since its founding in 1974 — the Mount Sinai name was added in 1982. Through the years, she has taken her hand to the spindle and has done spinning for the society’s annual fairs for the past 20 years. 

Joining in the parade were area residents Thomas and Tricia McCarthy, who brought with them a decommissioned fire truck the husband has been repairing all on his own. It’s one bought out from its retirement last August, and though repairs are ongoing, he and his wife have joined a Facebook community group to participate in many birthday car parades over the past several months. Tom drives, while Tricia stands up top in a Dalmatian costume they call Sparky.

“All these kids were having birthday parties, and I thought you know what, let’s be goofy and make a couple of kids laugh, next thing you know we were getting messages,” Tricia McCarthy said. “They were asking how much it costs, and I just said, ‘Everybody has to smile,’ that’s the way we roll.”

Celebrating the day with her large extended family, O’Connor said she was surprised and delighted to see the cars roll by. She added that such times as these require people to commemorate anything that deserves it.

“Years ago when I taught deaf children, we were trying to figure out what to do for one of the speech teachers, and we never had enough good things to say about her,” the birthday girl said. “That always stuck in my mind, we have to celebrate the good things, especially today with so much going on.”

The society has opened the circa 1720 William Miller House for private tours in Phase 4 of reopening for small groups by appointment at 631-476-5742. The MPMSHS is also developing virtual tours, and is looking to see if there are any volunteers who can offer guidance for such a project. 

“This is all new to us, and we want to create quality professional style videos for schools, libraries, general public and the BOCES catalog where teachers look for quality field trips,” said historical society vice president Antoinette Donato. 

Fundraising continues with opportunities to purchase an historic brick on the house’s walkway, vintage duplicated postcards, note cards of historic homes in the district and a keepsake coloring book. One can also donate to the restoration of the circa 1810 Daniel Hawkins House to be used for multiple community events.

The society is set to celebrate a special birthday of its own this year with the 300th anniversary of the William Miller House, and the society is composing a keepsake journal. Individuals have an opportunity to be included with an ad or personal friend inclusion at varying price levels. More info is available on the society’s website mpmshistoricalsociety.org.

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The near-300-year old William Miller House in Miller Place hummed with historical activity the weekend of Sept. 28. The Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society hosted its annual Country Fair, bringing reenactors, local history buffs and community together.

Participants experienced open-hearth cooking and pottery making, while more local historians shared information on Colonial and Victorian games and how wampum beads were made. The Revolutionary War reenactors, the 3rd NY Regiment, Long Island Cos., shot off muskets and shared in the collective history of Long Island’s Revolutionary past. Meanwhile, Harry Randall, the historical society’s barn curator, showed off his huge collection of farm implements and tools in the old barn to the rear of the William Miller House.

 

Members of MS Girl Scout Troop 2750 stand behind board members of the MPMS Historical Society on the new bench. Photo by Kyle Barr

Fifteen years ago, Mount Sinai Girl Scout Troop 2750 created an herb garden at the landmark William Miller House, the home base of the Miller Place Mount Sinai Historical Society. For years, that garden remained unattended, and it was years later when new members of Troop 2750 came in to fix it up, continuing to maintain the small patch of basil, dill and lady’s mantle.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, modern troop members took their dedication one step further as they built a new bench by hand that will remain behind the historic house.

“The kids who are taking care of this now are the descendants of the original same troop,” said Antoinette Donato, the vice president of the historical society. “We say it was meant to be … the garden is historically appropriate and accurate.”

Alex Valentine installs plaque on the new bench. Photo by Kyle Barr

Troop members Julia Endelson, Kathryn Rooney, Alex Valentine, Mackenzie Navins, Emily Caputo, Kayla Knoetgen and Carina Muratore all aided in building the bench, sitting just over 3.5 feet off the ground. Both revitalizing the garden and the bench was part of the scouts silver awards.

Troop leader Jennifer Endelson said troop worked on the project throughout the month of July for two nights a week. Local resident Kevin Rooney was instrumental in designing and showing the Scouts what tools to use and how to build it. The young people in Troop 2750 enjoyed the project, though they were surprised about how much math was involved in creating its dimensions.

“Learning about the different kind of wood that was out there, going through the list of everything, purchasing the equipment and using tools they weren’t too familiar with,” Endelson said.

Troop members Rooney, Valentine, Endelson, Navins, Caputo, Knoetgen and fellow troop member Jordan Deblasio have been caring for the garden over the past several years. Donato said their service has been vital, adding she hopes they continue to aid the historical society.

“There is nothing more noble than volunteering your life,” she said.

Miller Place resident Margaret Doscher-Cibulka said she was a fellow former Girl Scout. When addressing the Scouts, she said the group can create lifelong companions.

“I want you to know my friends from Girl Scouts are still my friends,” she said. “I wish you all the best of luck.”

 

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Rocky Point Little Free Library. Photo by Kyle Barr

One small book club in Rocky Point has shown an outsized dedication to the community, helping to plant a new Little Free Library in only three months from conception to post in the ground.

The box is open to all residents in the local area, who are encouraged to take or share a book.

“We just want to promote a love of literacy in the community.”

— Lisa Dwyer

The 10-member Rocky Point/Sound Beach Women’s Book Club, headed by Rocky Point resident Lisa Dwyer, spearheaded the project with the help of Jeff Davis, the owner of the Rocky Point Funeral Home, who donated front lawn space of his funeral home for the little, box-sized library. 

Dwyer originally had the idea of a free lending library, one she presented to the Rocky Point Civic Association. Earlier this year, she came across the Little Free Library through Facebook.

“I saw it online and loved the idea, so I presented it to our group,” Dwyer said. “They loved the idea as well.”

The box has been up since July 1, starting with a small collection of 30 books, including several small children’s books. So far, Dwyer said she is impressed with just how many local residents have already become interested. She has even enlisted a number of local kids who just happened to come by on their bikes as “guardians of the books.” The library #82854 already has over 130 followers on Facebook.

“These kinds of things can be vandalized, so it’s good to have that kind of positive reinforcement,” she said.

Davis paid for the box part of the Little Free Library. The book club purchased the post and sign. The book club leader estimated it cost approximately $500 overall. 

These Little Free Libraries have been popping up all across the North Shore and well beyond. There are now library boxes in places such as Rocketship Park in Port Jefferson, Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai, in front of the William Miller House in Miller Place and at The Terryville Union. 

Now that the project is complete, Dwyer said she and her small book club are currently bent on reading “The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton. The book club, along with the Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce, will host a ribbon cutting for the new Little Free Library July 25.

“We just want to promote a love of literacy in the community,” she said.

Joseph DiBiasi shows off his completed project at the William Miller House property on North Country Road in Miller Place Sept. 29. Photo by Alex Petroski

Visitors to Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society’s annual Postman Pete event are in for an improved experience thanks to the ingenuity of a local Boy Scout who has reached Eagle status.

Boy Scouts hoping to become Eagle Scouts, the highest rank attainable by a male Scout, are tasked with completing a project that demonstrates leadership and benefits the community. Joseph DiBiasi, a 17-year-old Comsewogue High School senior and member of Boy Scout Troop 1776 said he has been attending the historical society’s Postman Pete festivities since he was a kid, an event that gives kids the chance to hand over a letter to be delivered to Santa around Christmas time.

Those interested line up to head into the building on the rear of the historical society’s property on North Country Road in Miller Place, where they head in when it’s their turn. The small building on the same grounds as the larger William Miller House has two points of entry, though the rear exit had about an 18-inch drop off from the doorway to a layer of rocks, making it unsafe for youngsters to utilize. Instead, a logjam would regularly take place at the main point of entry where those entering would have to saunter around those exiting.

“When kids would come in and see Postman Pete, bring their letter, and then they’d have to make a U-turn and go back out,” society treasurer Gerard Mannarino said Sept. 29 during the ceremony to unveil DiBiasi’s completed project. “It’s not an area that you can have traffic in both directions. We always wanted to be able to open the back door and have them go out, but we had the danger because the step down from there was big and it was just a big rock.”

For his project, DiBiasi drew up plans and constructed a deck, equipped with a railing, to make the rear of the building accessible and usable. The project required the drawing of plans, approval from the Town of Brookhaven building department and Historic District Advisory Committee, some redrawing and reimagining and lots of hard work through the spring and summer.

“In 2016 when Gerrard originally showed this to me I was like, ‘Wow, this needs to be fixed,’” DiBiasi said. “As a kid I went to Postman Pete and I just felt like, when I was a kid it was a big thing for me. So I thought this would be a great addition.”

Greg Muroff, DiBiasi’s Scoutmaster, said he was proud of his Scout’s diligence and dedication to the project, as it also exposed him to some of the “red tape” involved with getting construction projects approved by local government.

“It came out better than I saw in the drawing,” Muroff said. “I knew this was going to be a bit challenging for him but Joseph definitely persevered. He aspires to be an engineer at some point in his life. He definitely has a mathematical mind, and he put pen to paper.”

Brookhaven town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (C-Rocky Point) attended the event and presented proclamations to DiBiasi and Michael Muroff, another Scout from Troop 1776 who presented his completed project that day.

“We always like to take time out of our day to recognize and honor our Scouts,” Bonner said. “So much attention is focused on the bad things our kids are doing and not on the good things they’re doing. It makes me feel good to know that we’re surrounded by some really great kids.”

Mount Sinai Scout Michael Muroff stands with his completed Eagle Scout project Sept. 29, the front door of the Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society. Photo by Alex Petroski

A Mount Sinai Boy Scout literally restored an entryway to local history to complete his Eagle Scout project.

The front door to the William Miller House on North Country Road, a centuries-old building that has long served as the headquarters for the Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society, was in a state of disrepair for longer than historian Edna Giffen could remember. Now, thanks to 17-year-old Scout Michael Muroff from Troop 1776, a brand new door constructed with a nod to history in mind hangs from the hinges, serving as a refurbished entry to local history.

Boy Scouts hoping to achieve Eagle status, the highest rank attainable by a male Scout, are tasked with completing a project that demonstrates leadership and benefits the community. Repairing the front door of the historical society met the criteria for Muroff, who said he and his family had been attending events — like the annual Country Fair that took place Sept. 29 during Muroff’s project unveiling — at the house since he was a kid.

Eagle Scout Michael Muroff, center, receives a proclamation from Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner, third from right, after unveiling is project Sept. 29. Photo by Alex Petroski

“I’ve always had an interest in local history, and it was always a subject I excelled at in class, and I thought by doing this project it would be a good way of giving back to the community and something that I really enjoy,” he said.

The work started with four to five weekends dedicated to just stripping the old paint off of the door frame using a heat gun and metal stripper, according to the Scout. With help from a local woodworker and others, a new, yet true to the original batten door was constructed. Batten doors traditionally have between six and eight wooden planks bound together. Muroff’s door features seven planks and includes the door’s original hinges, restored and repainted as well as part of the project. He also found authentic galvanized nails to match the original and maintain the new door’s historic integrity. The door’s original handle was left as is though, according to Muroff.

“The old door was falling apart and dilapidated, so we had to just completely make a new one,” Muroff said.

Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner (C-Rocky Point) attended the event and joked she had never seen the front door of the building hang so straight and close so tightly.

“We always like to take time out of our day to recognize and honor our Scouts,” she said. “So much attention is focused on the bad things our kids are doing and not on the good things they’re doing. It makes me feel good to know that we’re surrounded by some really great kids.”

In August, Muroff’s sister Rebecca completed her Gold Award project, the equivalent to the Eagle project but for Girl Scouts, which entailed cataloging the historical society’s vast collection of historic photos. The Scouts’ dad Greg Muroff served as Michael’s Scoutmaster throughout his time working through the program.

“It’s just wonderful that many years coming down to the Country Fair and to see Postman Pete, just to have my children Rebecca and Michael give back to the historical society and the community is just a wonderful thing,” he said. “Mike has a tremendous love of history and this was an ideal project for him.”

He said it will be special for both him and his son to drive past the house on North Country Road for years to come and see his hard work front and center.

“I have to say, as his dad and Scoutmaster I’m especially proud,” the Scoutmaster said. “The Eagle Scout award is more than just a project, it’s a culmination of their Boy Scout career. It means a lot of leadership, service to the community and self-discipline.”