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'Rock of Ages' is currently playing at the Engeman Theater in Northport.
Ongoing

Vanderbilt Museum reopens

Starting Feb. 11, the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport  will be open Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday nights for Planetarium shows at 8, 9, and 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org

Thursday 10

Atelier lecture

Join the Atelier at Flowerfield for an online lecture titled A Triumphant Triad: Sargent, Sorolla and Zorn via Zoom from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Guest speaker Neill Slaughter will discuss  

John Singer Sargent, Joaquín Sorolla, and Anders Zorn became internationally renowned during their lifetimes, primarily as artists who painted portraits, thereby preserving for posterity a wide array of individuals ranging from fellow artists to the aristocracy of Great Britain and Europe; from lords and ladies to kings and queens, as well as the robber barons of America and even U.S. presidents. Free. To register, visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org.

An evening of jazz

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will present a concert by the Interplay Jazz Orchestra at 7 p.m. The 17-member orchestra, directed by Joe Devassy, trombonist and Gary Henderson, trumpet, performs original compositions and arrangements written by band members. Tickets are $30 adults,$25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children, children under 5 free. To order, visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Author Talk

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport will present a free Zoom event with author Sara Dykman at 7 p.m. Dykman made history when she became the first person to bicycle alongside monarch butterflies on their storied annual migration – a round-trip adventure that included three countries and more than 10,000 miles. Dykman will discuss the chronicle of that journey and her book, Bicycling with Butterflies, at 7 p.m. Registration is required by visiting www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Friday 11

Friday Night Coffee House 

You’re invited! Celebrate St. James hosts a Friday Night Coffee House at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second St., St. James at 7 p.m. The first in a series of Friday night entertainment, the evening will feature the music of acoustic duo “Sweet Tea.” Special coffee beverages & tea will be available, along with sweet treats! Admission is $20 adults, $15 seniors. To register, call 984-0201 or visit www.celebratestjames.org.

Saturday 12

Second Saturdays Poetry

All Souls Church in Stony Brook continues its Second Saturday Poetry Reading series via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. The readings will be hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson.  The featured poet will be Tom Stock. An open-reading will follow the featured poet; all are welcome to read one of their own poems.  For more information, call 655-7798. Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/

Fish Hatchery lecture

The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor kicks off a new adult lecture series with The Birds and Bees (And Everything In Between) at 6 p.m. Flirtatious frogs, debaucherous ducks and other amorous animals! Learn more about the wacky world of animal breeding than you ever wanted to know. Fee is $20, $10 members. Registration is required by visiting www.cshfishhatchery.org.

Valentine’s Jazz

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook presents a concert titled Here’s to the Ladies featuring The Jazz Loft All Stars: Ray Anderson on trombone, Tom Manuel on cornet, Mike Hall on bass, Steve Salerno on guitar, and Ellis Holmes on drums from 7 to 9 p.m. $40 adults, $35 seniors, $30 students includes a glass of champagne and chocolate. To buy tickets, call 751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Sunday 13

Huntington Winter Farmers Market

Get your farm fix in the off-season at the Huntington Winter Farmers Market every Sunday through March 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located behind the senior center at 423 Park Ave., Huntington, visitors will find items ranging from hydroponic greens to artisan breads and vegan treats and everything in between. Call 944-2661.

Theatre Three Food Drive

Theatre Three in Port Jefferson will host a food and personal care items drive to benefit the Open Cupboard Pantry at Infant Jesus Church on Sunday, Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Items will be collected at the Infant Jesus convent building at 110 Hawkins St. (off Myrtle Ave), in Port Jefferson. Donations needed include juice, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, sugar, Maseca corn flour, cooking oil, coffee, pancake mix (complete), pancake syrup, healthy snacks as well as shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, toilet paper, baby shampoo, baby wash, baby wipes, baby powder, Desitin and lotion. Grocery store gift cards and cash also accepted. For more information, call 631-938-6464.

Port Jeff Winter Farmers Market 

The Port Jefferson Winter Farmers Market will be held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson through April 25. This year’s vendors include Brownies N’ Stuff, Joann’s Desserts, Farm Fresh Potions, Mello Munch Awesome Granola, O Honey Bee Farm, Sweet Melissa Dip, Mr. B’s Hot Sauce, Speedy Kiwi Bakery, Knot of this World Pretzels, Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery, Spilt Milk Macarons and many more. For more information, call 802-2160.

Heckscher docent tour

Learn more about the latest exhibitions at the Heckscher Museum, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington with a docent volunteer! From 1 to 2 p.m., a docent will be in the galleries to bring the artwork to life, answering visitors’ questions and providing further insight into works on view. Sign up for the 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. tour at www.heckscher.org. For more information, call 380-3230.

Galentine’s Craft Evening

Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents Galentine’s Craft Evening at the Barn from 6 to 8 p.m. Get the gals together for a craft evening in Sweetbriar’s barn. You’ll be making feather/leaf macrame hangers, homemade anti-bacterial hand spray and more. Chocolates and drinks will be served. Facemasks must be worn indoors. This event is for adults and teens (accompanied by an adult). $20 per person. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org.

Monday 14
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Tuesday 15

Jupiter Hammon Project lecture

Northport-East Northport Public Library will host a virtual lecture, The Jupiter Hammon Project and Joseph Lloyd Manor, via Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Preservation Long Island Director, Sarah Kautz, will discuss the life of author Jupiter Hammon who lived as an enslaved person at Lloyd Manor and whose work was the first to be published by an African American born in North America. Free but registration required by visiting www.preservationlongisland.org.

Wednesday 16

CAC Sky Room Talk

Join the Cinema Arts Centre for a virtual lecture via Zoom titled Women and Monsters at 7 p.m. Costume designer Jolene Marie Richardson will take a deeper look at the women and monsters of Universal Classic Horror and how costuming shapes our perception of these women and their status in 1930’s Hollywood through Frankenstein (31), Dracula (31), The Mummy (32), and The Bride of Frankenstein (35). Fee is $10, $7 members. To register, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Thursday 17

No events listed for this day.

Film

‘Invisible Threads’

The Tesla Science Center will present a one-night screening of ‘Invisible Threads – From Wireless to War’ at Stony Brook University’s Wang Center, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook on Feb. 11 from 7 to 9:45 p.m. Narrated by Tony Todd (Candy Man, The Rock), the documentary explores the early innovation of wireless technology on the eve of WWI that connected Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi to a shadowy wireless station in West Sayville called Telefunken. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Joseph Sikorski. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 TSCW members, $15 SBU students/staff, seniors and veterans. Reception and exhibits at 6 p.m. To order, visit www.teslasciencenter.org.

‘Cry Macho’

Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for a screening of “Cry Macho” starring Clint Eastwood on Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. To register, call 928-1212, option 3 or visit www.cplib.org.

Theater

‘Punk Rock Girl!’

The Argyle Theatre, 34 West Main St., Babylon kicks off the new year with the world premiere of PUNK ROCK GIRL! from Jan. 20 to Feb. 27. With book and arrangements by Tony-nominated Long Island composer Joe Iconis, arrangements and orchestrations by Rob Rokicki and directed and choreographed by Jennifer Werner, the new musical features a score of popular songs written and made famous by female artists and female-fronted bands including Blondie, Pat Benatar, Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, P!nk, Gwen Stefani, and more. Tickets range from $49 to $77 and may be purchased online at www.argyletheatre.com or by calling 230-3500.

‘Rock of Ages’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Rock of Ages from Jan. 27 to March 13. The five-time Tony Award®-nominated Broadway musical smash tells the story of a small-town girl, a city boy, and a rock ‘n’ roll romance on the Sunset Strip. But when the bar where rock reigns supreme is set to be demolished, it’s up to these wannabe rockers and their band of friends to save the day — and the music. Rock of Ages’ electric score features all your favorite ’80s rock anthems and power ballads, including “Every Rose has its Thorn,” “I Wanna Know What Love is,” Here I Go Again,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and more! Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents The Marvelous Wonderettes from Feb. 19 to March 26. This blast-from-the-past musical takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! Featuring over two dozen classic ’50’s and ’60’s hits including “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” and “Son of a Preacher Man.” Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘The Diary of Anne Frank’

Star Playhouse at the Suffolk Y JCCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack presents The Diary of Anne Frank on March 12 and 19 at 8 p.m. and March 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. In this transcendently powerful adaptation, Anne Frank emerges from history a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl, who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit, and determination. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 seniors and students. To order, call 462-9800, ext. 136 or visit www.starplayhouse.com.

Festival of One-Act Plays

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 23rd annual Festival of One-Act Plays, featuring the world premiere of six new works, at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on the Second Stage from Feb. 27 to April. 2. Featuring Steve Ayle, Antoine Jones, Tamralynn Dorsa, Brittany Lacey, Steven Uihlein, Steve Wangner, Bradlee Bing, Sari Feldman, Eric J. Hughes, and Evan Teich. Adult content and language. Parental discretion is advised. Tickets are $20. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. 

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

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From left, Matt McGorry, Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi star in Archive 81. Photo from Netflix

By Jeffrey Sanzel

One of Netflix’s top ten most popular shows is the first season of the supernatural Archive 81. The twisty thriller runs parallel timelines that eventually entangle. Smart and well-plotted, the eight one-hour episodes deliver intriguing concepts in a literate, engaging storyline.

Based on the podcast of the same name, Archive 81 focuses on Daniel Turner (Mamoudou Athie, understated and riveting), an expert archivist for the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City, who is hired to restore fire-damaged twenty-five-year-old videos. The head of the shadowy LMG corporation, Virgil Davenport (folksy malevolence as played by Martin Donovan), ensconces Daniel in a remote compound to do the work. 

Mamoudou Athie as Daniel Turner in a scene from the series. Photo from Netflix

The found-footage video belonged to documentarian Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi), who was writing her Ph.D. dissertation about an apartment building, The Visser. However, Melody’s prime goal was locating her birth mother, who had left her in a church as an infant. 

While Melody lived in the building and investigated, The Visser burned down, leaving thirteen people missing. As Daniel watches the tapes, he becomes obsessed with Melody. Additionally, he is suspicious of the coincidence of his own tragic childhood loss of his entire family in a fire. 

The expansive construction of Archive 81 allows for full portraits of the isolated Daniel and the determined Melody. Their pain and struggles are palpable and are a study in contrast. Melody ferociously seeks the truth, even if it puts her in danger. On the other hand, the damaged Daniel spends his life on the sidelines, not as a creator. Asked if he is a filmmaker, he responds, “No, I restore … films, tapes, photographs … things that have been damaged, lost, or forgotten … I bring them back.”

When Melody begins speaking to him in the tapes and then appearing in person, he questions his sanity. But gradually, both realize they are connecting across time and space, with the lines not so much dissolved as tangled. Time is out of joint in both minutes and years, conceptually playing into the commentary of lost spirits who do not know where to go. Ultimately, this poses the question: “Can the present haunt the past?”

Creator Rebecca Sonnenshine (with four other writers and four directors) has crafted inventive mythology, well-developed characters, and clear and differing styles for 1994 and 2019. The driving force is the building and its occupants. 

Harkening to Rosemary’s Baby, the denizens of the Visser are a strange bunch, harboring secrets and holding clandestine meetings in the community room. But this is to be expected in a story that deals with covens, satanic cults, human sacrifices, and a god-demon named Kalego. 

Add to this spirit receivers, lost television tapes, a Hollywood connection, and drug addiction, Archive 81 boasts a complicated but not convoluted plot. The emotional investment is appropriately life-and-death, with the revelations smartly unveiled. 

The acting is solid, with Athie and Shihabi anchoring the narrative. Matt McGorry is excellent as Daniel’s friend and confidant Mark who runs the paranormal podcast Mystery Signals. McGorry mines the role for dimension, raising it above the stereotypical sidekick. Julia Chan just avoids caricature as Melody’s aggressive artist roommate, Anabelle. Ariana Neal’s Jessica is a likable, off-beat teen groomed for darker purposes. Evan Jonigkeit is wholly believable as Samuel, the most welcoming of The Visser’s residents. If Kristin Griffith and Kate Eastman are two of the more over-the-top tenants, Sol Miranda’s fortuneteller/medium makes a difficult scene soar.

There is little gore, and the handful of jump-out scares are well-earned. Unfortunately, the special effects are not as high-end as the series warrants, landing more functional than impressive.

Oddly, in the penultimate episode, Archive 81 loses tension as it is filled predominantly with straightforward flashbacks of the 1924 origin of the cult. The explanations deflate the existential dread, and its linear style is far less interesting than the early, more peripatetic entries. Clarification seems to diffuse the energy. The final moment sets up for at least a future season, if not seasons.

Archive 81 is an enigmatic fast-paced story grounded in riddles and played for high stakes. And what more could you ask for in a binge-watch? The series is now streaming on Netflix.

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New Webster Bank corporate signage unveiled at a Long Island-based Webster branch.

It’s official. The Connecticut-based Webster Financial Corp. has completed its $10.3-billion acquisition of Sterling Bancorp, creating one of the largest commercial banks in the Northeast. The merger was initially announced in April 2021, and federal regulators gave the deal final approval in December of that year.

John R. Ciulla, President and Chief Executive Officer, Webster Bank and Webster Financial Corporation

With the merger, Webster Bank acquired Sterling National Bank’s 33 branches on Long Island, from Wading River in Suffolk County to Valley Stream on the border of Queens. The bank signs were changed this week.

“Today marks a transformative moment in Webster’s history that will greatly benefit our colleagues, clients, communities and shareholders,” said John R. Ciulla, President and CEO of Webster in a Feb. 1 press release. “Our bank will have enhanced scale, significant loan growth potential, best-in-class deposit franchises and a longstanding commitment to community development and corporate citizenship.”

The combined company has approximately $65 billion in assets, $44 billion in loans, and $53 billion in deposits based on balances as of December 31, 2021 and operates 202 financial centers in the Northeast region. 

The new headquarters of Webster is in Stamford, Connecticut, and Webster will have a continued multi-campus presence in the greater New York City area and Waterbury, Connecticut.

“The completion of the merger with Webster brings the best of our banks together, promising an elevated experience for our clients and colleagues as the financial services industry evolves,” said Executive Chairman Jack L. Kopnisky of the newly combined bank. 

Both Webster and Sterling clients will continue to bank as they normally do at their existing banking centers and through Webster’s and Sterling’s websites and mobile applications. For more information, visit www.websterbank.com.

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Celebrate the Year of the Tiger at the Vanderbilt Museum on Feb. 12. Pixabay photo
Programs

Year of the Tiger brush painting

Xin Nian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year!) The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents a Year of the Tiger brush painting workshop for children in grades K through 4 with an adult on Feb. 12 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and again from noon to 1:30 p.m. Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with traditional crafts, dancing, and a visit to the collections. $15 per child, $15 per adult. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Ice candle workshop

Looking for a fun winter craft? Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown hosts a family workshop making ice candles on Feb. 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Hot wax and cold ice will be used to create a unique candle for you to decorate and take home. Appropriate for ages 7 and up. $4 per person. Advance registration required by calling 265-1054.

Saturday Story Hour

Celebrate St. James, 176 Second St., St. James  continues its Saturday Story Hour series for Elementary School-aged children on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. Author Jestina Weems will read from her book “Michael & Ralph,” the story of an unusual pair of friends — a squirrel and a rat! This story will teach the little ones to be kind to themselves, others, and animals. $10 per child, $5 each additional sibling. To register, call 984-0201 or visit www.celebratestjames.org. 

Family Hour Sunday

The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave, Huntington presents Family Hour Sunday on Feb. 13 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Children ages 5 through 10 are invited for a family-friendly art experience with Museum Educator Tami Wood. Explore works of art in the Museum and create fun art projects. $10 per child, adults free. Advance registration recommended by visiting www.heckscher.org.

Falling In Love With Wildlife

Join Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown for an afternoon of close encounters with wildlife on Feb. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet some of Sweetbriar’s cute and loveable animals, play an animal matching game in honor of Valentine’s Day, and create a craft to remember the day. There will be many photo opportunities. $10 per child, $5 adult. To register, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org or call 979-6344.

Star Quest! 

Calling all brave explorers! The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St.. Cold Spring Harbor presents Star Quest! Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the week of Feb. 21 to 25. Hunt for star constellations around the museum with a spyglass to navigate your journey, just like mariners at sea. Solve puzzles to find your reward — a glittery star lantern you can decorate in our workshop to light your way home. For ages 5 and older. Admission fee plus $10 per participant. Call 367-3418.

Theater

Disney’s Frozen Jr.

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Disney’s Frozen Jr. Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. from Feb. 13 to March 13. When faced with danger, princesses Anna and Elsa discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. This enchanting musical features all of the memorable songs from the hit Disney film and will thaw even the coldest heart! Tickets are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

A Royal Princess Party 

Come one, come all to a Royal Princess Party at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown from Feb. 19 to 26 with performances daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join Royal Historians as they guide you through meeting each of the princesses, teaching the morals behind each of their stories and singing along to their favorite songs. Be sure to wear your best princess attire — the special surprises and magical touches make this show a royal treat! Tickets are $16 per person. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz’

Just in time for Winter Break, Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the world premiere of Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz from Feb. 23 to March 26. Dorothy Gale is whisked away by a tornado to that magical land that lies just Over the Rainbow. Follow Dorothy and her friends — the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Lion — as they encounter challenges and celebrate friendship. This new take on a classic tale features an original score, memorable characters, and fun for the entire family. Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz is a delightful reminder that “there’s no place like home!” All seats are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

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Rudolph

Welcome to the second edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home! 

Shelter Pets of the Month

 

 

Meet Goose!

Goose

A three-year-old Pekingese mix, Goose is waiting at Little Shelter in Huntington to swoop in and capture your heart. One could say that he qualifies as “special needs” dog due to paralysis of his back legs, though he doesn’t let this disability slow him down in the least. He has a positive outlook on life, is friendly with everyone, good with all age groups, and is an inspiration to always view the glass (or water bowl!) as half full. While he can navigate all on his own, with his set of specially fitted wheels to act as his back legs, he’s nearly unstoppable! He is joyful, playful, and just about the sweetest soul you may ever meet. Come by and take a gander at little Goose.“True love doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be true.” Call 631-368-8770 for more information

Blinky

Meet Blinky!

Blinky recently arrived at Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton from Texas. A 1-year-old male American Eskimo mix, this sweetheart gets along wonderfully with other dogs and is an all around good boy with a HUGE heart. He only has eyes for you this Valentine’s Day! Call 631-727-5731 for more information.

River

Meet River!

Look at those ears! River, a 9-month-old Collie Mix is available for adoption at Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton. He weighs 29 pounds and loves to play with his toys. He is a sweet little boy just looking for love! Come see River today! Call 631-727-5731

Ben

 

Meet Ben!

Ben is a 3-year-old male medium/long-haired domestic patiently waiting at Little Shelter in Huntington for his furever home. He runs up to everyone for pets and head-scratches. If he isn’t getting lovin’s, he is playing with toys and other cats. He is a very happy and energetic fellow! Call 631-368-8770.

Meet Rudolph!

Rudolph

Brookhaven Town Animal Shelter and Adoption Center currently has several cute bunnies available for adoption including Rudolph. All are spayed and neutered. Call 631-451-6955 for more information.

 

 

 

Meet Princess!

An eight-year-old Terrier mix, Princess arrived at Little Shelter in Huntington severely emaciated and malnourished due to a combination of Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Following her diagnosis, she was started on a special diet and the appropriate  medication, resulting in a slow but steady weight gain and this little warrior Princess is looking and feeling much better. She is now ready for a “foster with intent to adopt” situation so she can continue her progress in a loving home environment. This sweetie pie is a slice of happiness served up with a wagging tail and a joyful spirit. She is social, active, fun-loving and always excited to be among friends. Will you be the one to write her next chapter? Call 631-368-8770.

Paw News

MY FURRY VALENTINE

The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center offers free adoptions for the month of February for animals that have been at the shelter over 6 months. For more information, call 631-451-6955 or visit www.brookhavenny.gov/animalshelter.

*Check out the next Paw Prints in the issue of March 10 in print and online.

 

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Pixabay photo

By John L. Turner

If you’re attracted to birds then you’re also very aware of how they can elicit reactions. Watching an Osprey dive into the bay with talons flaring and pulling away with a wriggling fish, creates head-nodding awe. A Scarlet Tanager or Baltimore Oriole flitting among oak flowers in the dappled sunlight of a Spring forest produces a breathtaking wow. There’s one bird, however, that elicits a different response —whenever I see one it automatically puts a smile on my face, often followed by a verbal “hello little fella” response. The species? The Black-capped Chickadee. 

Black-capped Chickadees are the definition of cute. They’re active, vocal, and small, have an extensive and distinctive black throat bib, and a head fitted with a black cap (the species part of the scientific name Poecile atricapilla means “the black hair of the head” and Poecile is Greek for pied — a reference to the two tone look of the bird — grey on top, white on the bottom). Given the distinctiveness of their plumage they are not likely to be confused with any other bird here on Long Island. 

A black-capped chickadee at Elizabeth Morton National Refuge. Photo by John Turner

Chickadees are animated birds, often flitting around in both trees and shrubs, probing the recesses of bark, amidst leaves, and along branches for prey, often vocalizing their well-known onomatopoeic “chick-a-dee” call (or their ‘hey sweetie’ whistle) as they move about. They are quite adept at finding prey and due to special muscles and tendons in their legs are able to hang upside down to probe for food on the underside of leaves and branches. 

In wintertime chickadees form mixed species flocks with other songbirds including Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpecker, both White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Brown Creeper. These flocks move systematically through a woodland seeking food. By flocking this time of year with other species chickadees can feed more efficiently since there are more eyes to discern predators (Eastern Screech-Owls and Sharp-shinned Hawks eat chickadees) and to find food. 

Wait you say, maybe more eyes helps spot predators but don’t the other birds in the flock mean direct competition for food at a time of year when food supplies are at a yearly low? Wouldn’t this competition for food outweigh the benefit of being able to more easily see predators? Actually no. Ecologists who have studied this find these birds feed in different parts of the tree — nuthatches and creepers on the main trunk, the chickadees and titmice on larger branches, and kinglets on the smaller side branches. By doing this — a concept ecologists call “niche partitioning” — they are able to divvy up a common resource in a way that reduces or eliminates competition between them. Ecological elegance.

Chickadees, being small animals that live in harsh climates where the temperature in the winter routinely drops well below freezing (in fact in northern Canada and Alaska they may experience night-time temperatures as low as -50 degrees!!), have, not surprisingly, evolved a number of behavioral and physiological adaptations to increase their likelihood of surviving the cold. 

At night they seek out cavities or dense vegetation where winds are blocked or reduced, resulting in slower heat loss (bent tail feathers are a telltale sign of this cavity nesting habit — look for crooked tail feathers with the chickadees visiting your feeders). Studies have documented a 50% reduction in heat loss in cavity roosting birds as compared to those which roost in more open situations. On rare occasion, chickadees huddle together in cavities, further reducing heat loss. They also tuck their bill and front part of their head (and the unfeathered eye) into their shoulder feathers to reduce heat loss from these unfeathered areas.

Perhaps the most remarkable adaptation — called regulated hypothermia — allows for chickadees to reduce their body temperature and metabolism, an effective strategy for reducing their heat loss at night; by lowering their body temperature from 108 degrees (they are hot-blooded!) to the mid-to-low 90’s overnight, chickadees can reduce the amount of energy they burn during the night by 20-25% — perhaps the difference between life and death. To help stay warm chickadees intentionally shiver through the night, burning the fat they were able build during the day from feeding. So, while they’re very cute, chickadees are also tough creatures!

About a decade ago I watched a pair of chickadees excavate a nesting cavity in a dead grey birch. Chickadees have small bills and are not able to excavate cavities in live wood, depending instead on soft, rotting wood like the birch they were working on. The tree was located about ten feet from the edge of a paved bike trail in the Massapequa Preserve but the birds didn’t seem to mind the traffic.

I watched the industrious pair work to excavate the cavity, dutifully carrying the wood chips away in their bills, flying some distance from the nest site before spreading the chips (presumably to make it impossible for any nest predator to cue in to the nesting location from the chips). I monitored the progress of the nest and the success of the fledglings over the next couple of weeks; I’m not sure of the total but on several occasions I saw three young birds together.

There are six other chickadee species found in North America. The Carolina Chickadee is the chickadee of the southeastern United States, breeding as far north as southern New Jersey where it is displaced by the Black-capped (there are numerous reports of the two species interbreeding, resulting in hybrids). In the west there’s the Mountain Chickadee and along the Pacific Coast the beautiful Chestnut-backed Chickadee. The Mexican Chickadee barely enters the United States in southeastern Arizona. 

In the far north we have the Gray-headed Chickadee and the Boreal Chickadee; the Boreal Chickadee has a large range across Canada dipping down into the United States. It breeds in the Adirondacks so New York has two resident chickadee species. Titmice, of which Long Island has the Tufted Titmouse, are close cousins to the chickadees. In Europe and Asia there are many more chickadee and titmice species. The Black-capped Chickadee is the state bird of Massachusetts and Maine. 

If you wish to experience Black-capped Chickadees up close and personal, plan a winter trip to the Elizabeth Morton National Wildlife Refuge in Noyac. Here, a population of tame chickadees, along with Tufted Titmice and White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, will land in your hand if it’s filled with unsalted sunflower seeds (they don’t eat millet and some of the other ingredients in commercial bird feed). 

If you get there early you may have several birds lined up waiting to land in your seed-filled hand waiting not so patiently to grab a seed. I’ve had two species of birds land on my hand at one time, assessing which seed to take, one of which is almost always a chickadee. Some birds flit to a spot nearby to hammer open the seed while others fly farther away to cache it for a future meal. Chickadees, you see, have very good spatial memories and can remember where they’ve hidden hundreds of food items. (If you end up with a lot of unused seed please take it home for another trip rather than dumping it along the trail where it could attract unwanted animals).

Being able to watch these wild, free-flying, but trusting birds a mere arm’s length away is an absolute joy — children love it and it is a great way for them to connect with wildlife and nature. I hope you feel the tickling of tiny chickadee feet on your outstretched hand sometime this winter, thereby making the acquaintance of these avian ambassadors. Bet they put a smile on your face too.

A resident of Setauket, John Turner is conservation chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, author of “Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Nature Guide to Long Island” and president of Alula Birding & Natural History Tours.

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Left, the author with her birth mother, Mireille Comtois, in 2011.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel

I’ll Wait for You, subtitled An Adoption Memoir (Red Penguin Books), is Eileen Mary Coyne Resta’s honest and open account of her search for and discovery of her birth mother. Born Marie Monique Comtois, the author presents an account that is both a quest for information and an exploration of the power of family—and families. While many works on the topic focus on “nature vs. nurture,” Resta spotlights her tale’s human aspects and interpersonal events.

Author Eileen Mary Coyne Resta

Resta was born in Montreal on June 6, 1949. She was adopted three months later and brought home to Brooklyn on September 9. The family eventually moved to Long Island, settling in Greenlawn. She grew up in a happy family, along with an adopted brother, Brian. She was surrounded by love and acceptance. However, the siblings were told not to share their origins, as there was often a stigma associated with adoption.

The book traces her childhood through marriage and, eventually, her own children. Her narrative is a well-crafted and informative portrait of life in the 1950s and 60s: bike rides and dancing school, secretarial college, and the Manhattan commute on the 7:07. She describes meeting her husband, Claude, their subsequent courtship, and the life they built together. Resta has lived with an appreciation of every moment, relishing gifts both large and small. At age thirty-seven, she returned to school and embarked on a career as an elementary school teacher and then a reading specialist. 

The matter of her birth family followed her—as it does all children in the same situation. So much comes from a sense of being different: “I think most adoptees miss looking at a family member and seeing a little of themselves looking back.” She is not bitter but ruminative. She found that reflection with the birth of her daughter: “When my daughter was born, it was a new experience.”

But still, questions always lingered:

As I reflect on my life as an adopted child, and its part in my growing up, I remember wondering who my birth parents might have been but then quickly putting it out of my mind. Why dwell on what you cannot know and especially on something that could upset your parents? Adoptees often fantasize about who their birth parents are. I read that most adoptees think they are descended from either royalty or criminals.

It was not until 2010 that she sought her birth mother. By then, both her parents and her brother had passed away. The book thoroughly details her search. Starting with the orphanage where she stayed briefly, she explains each step in the odyssey to being reunited with her birth mother, Mireille Comtois, who had looked for her several times over the years. The fear of rejection is one that haunted Resta. “I think my adoptees may feel as if they didn’t count, knowing the occasion of their birth was not one for celebration.”

‘I’ll Wait for You’

The day of their first meeting was April 14, 2011; Resta was sixty-one, and her birth mother was eighty-one, living in a nursing home, suffering from mild dementia. However, their bond was immediate and beautiful in Resta’s moving description. They were able to share a short but rich relationship. In addition, Resta gained three brothers and their families, developing a lasting connection. 

Family is the overriding theme in I’ll Wait for You. Throughout her life, Resta has put family center. Whether it is the one in which she grew up, her husband’s family, or her newfound Canadian clan, the power of belonging is one that she clearly celebrates with a full heart, finding new pieces of herself. She shares both her idyllic moments as well as her struggles. She does not shy away from doubts. But ultimately, her positivity permeates the entire story. She has lived in gratitude, from the family that chose her to finding the woman who gave her life.

In one of the final chapters, “Reflections,” Resta opens up about many of the more introspective thoughts that arose from her adoption, contrasting her personality with that of her adoptive mother, touching on their “ups and downs.” This led to speculation on the similarities between her and Mireille. Having met Mireille towards the end of her life, many questions remained unanswered. “Reflections” is followed by “Peace,” an appropriate coda and a tribute to a certain amount of acceptance and emotional closure. While she ponders some of the lost opportunities, she embraces her achievement: “The peace I was able to bring to her and the peace she gave to me.”

The book’s dedication best sums up Resta’s goal: “This memoir is dedicated to my two mothers. The one who gave me life and the one who raised me. One from afar and one close and constant. I’m forever grateful to both.”

I’ll Wait For You: An Adoption Memoir is available online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

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Pierce Brosnan and Kaya Scodelario in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Gravitas Ventures
Fan Bingbing and Kaya Scodelario in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Gravitas Ventures
William Hurt in the role of Père La Chaise. Photo courtesy of Gravitas Ventures

By Jeffrey Sanzel

Vonda N. McIntyre’s The Moon and the Sun (1997) blended science fiction and historical romance. The novel won the Nebula Award for Best Novel, besting George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones. Among the book’s other accolades were a Publishers Weekly Best Book Award, Locus Recommended Book, and Intergalactic Award for Best Novel. Set in the seventeenth-century French court of King Louis XIV, the story follows the longest-reigning monarch’s search for immortality by ingesting an endangered sea monster’s flesh.

Talk of a movie version can be traced back to 2002, with Natalie Portman attached as the lead. But the film failed to be greenlit. Eventually, The Moon and the Sun was filmed in 2014, set for a 2015 release date, but the film remained on the shelf for nearly seven years. Various reasons have been proffered, including test audiences’ less than positive reaction to the visual effects and a tax evasion scandal involving the film’s mermaid, Fan Bingbing, China’s highest-paid female star. The film has finally been released under the title The King’s Daughter.

It has taken a quarter of a century for The Moon and the Sun to land on the big screen. But sadly, one suspects that this is not what McIntyre had in mind.

Choosing Julie Andrews as narrator probably seemed like a good idea on paper, but the once-upon-a-time illustrated prologue along with Andrews’ unique warmth and whimsy point towards Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Unfortunately, the child-friendly prologue presents the wrong signals for what is—or at least should be—a darker tale.

The opening convent scene features Rachel Griffiths as the Mother Abbess channeling The Sound of Music as she disciplines Marie-Josèphe (Kaya Scodelario) for being too … well, too Maria von Trapp. The Abbess’ departing shot to the girl is that she is going “to a lavish, glimmering hell … where you no doubt will thrive.” If only. 

The court seems to be short on courtiers. Outside of a scene of the king (Pierce Brosnan) addressing what looks like the peasants from a road company operetta, the population of Versailles seems to be on holiday. Perhaps they are off buying some of the strangely non-period dresses that occasionally pop up in the oddest places.

Quickly, with very little explanation other than a gift for music, she is whisked away to the court by the king’s personal confessor, Père La Chaise (William Hurt). Louis quickly elevates the feisty lass to court composer. 

Meanwhile, sailor Yves De La Croix (Benjamin Walker) has found the sea creature (Bingbing). The villainous court doctor (Pablo Schreiber) has promised the monster’s heart and life force will grant the king eternal life. The mermaid must be sacrificed during the upcoming solar eclipse. 

Louis shows particular interest in Marie-Josèphe, as she is his illegitimate daughter, spawning some of the most uncomfortable parent-child scenes ever found outside of the plays of Eugene O’Neill. 

The mermaid’s singing draws Marie-Josèphe to the pool in which the creature is imprisoned. The musician uses the siren’s pinging vocalizations to inspire her composition, meeting the king’s immediate approval. In addition, the girl falls for the sailor. However, as the court is in dire financial straits, Louis wants Marie-Josèphe to marry the wealthy merchant-heir Jean-Michel Lintillac (Ben-Lloyd Hughes).

Barry Berman and James Schamus have taken a range of liberties with the source in fashioning their clumsy screenplay. Director Sean McNamara’s lack of nuance does nothing to enhance the performances. Teeth-grinding earnestness fills every line; emotion is replaced by slow motion. Brosnan is always charming and could have excelled in the role, but the writers could not commit to what they wanted their Sun King to be. His relationship with Hurt’s priest seems like lifted from a buddy movie. Scodelario alternates between pleasantly upbeat (though occasionally a bit rom-com) and crying.

Films of this ilk can be saved by style-over-substance. Lady-in-waiting Magali (Crystal Clarke) tells Marie-Josèphe that “color and bravado are the order of the day.” Again, if only. The filmmakers were granted access to shoot at Versailles. Somehow, they made the spectacular palace look cheap—as if shot in the producers’ Hampton’s backyard.

 The royal ball in the Hall of Mirrors is a missed opportunity to showcase excess and opulence, further ruined by an excruciating father-daughter dance. The underground cave where they keep the mermaid is quasi-Pirates of the Caribbean (not the film—the ride). The special effects seem generated on an ancient laptop, with the final sequence particularly appalling. 

After dithering about souls and morality, the final platitude is “only love is immortal.” Yes. But clear storytelling and character development can be nice, too.

Rated PG, The King’s Daughter is now playing in local theaters.

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