Red-tailed hawk at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
Twin Ponds Nature Park in Centerport
Barn in Cutchogue
Swans in Cutchogue
Twin Ponds Nature Park in Centerport
Twin Ponds Nature Park in Centerport
By Julianne Mosher
For more than four decades, George Gough has been capturing what he sees in real life through the lens’ of his camera.
“I remember getting my first camera in Japan,” he said. “Just the color of the slides really hit me.”
Gough began taking photos recreationally in his early adulthood. He said he always had creative eye but picking up his first camera — a Mamiya/ Sekor — truly sparked his interest.
Originally a native of Westchester, Gough moved to Huntington in the late 60s. He began a career as an air traffic controller for international flights at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, which allowed him to travel, bringing his camera along for the ride.
Now, the 77-year-old has been periodically showcasing his photography at local venues, including the Huntington Public Library and the Huntington Arts Council.
This month, 30 images Gough took throughout his career are on display at the Harborfields Public Library Gallery in Greenlawn. The show runs through Oct. 29.
“He captures things,” said Library Director Ryan Athanas. “He seems to be in the right place at the right time.”
The gallery at the Harborfields Library is unique, Athanas said. “We get a lot of foot traffic here. A lot of people come through and it makes us different. To us it’s always amazing to see the art in our community. It’s another service being a community center.”
But Gough said he simply just sees things that other people might not notice. “It’s like the lotto,” he said. “It’s the luck of the draw.”
The photographer will often across Long Island to find different shots. “I love Brooklyn street photography and meeting people,” he said, “I love the interactions of common folk in and around Manhattan.” Before the COVID-19 crisis, Gough would head up and down the East Coast, throughout the rest of the country and take trips worldwide.
The exhibit showcases photos he took with his old Mamiya Sekor years ago as well as more recent ones. Now he mostly uses his Fuji and Panasonic cameras, digital instead of film. “I like to shoot the adventure where other people might not be able to go, places that they might not be able to see because of their busy schedules,” he said.
Gough said he was thrilled when the library contacted him and asked if he’d like to be showcased. “It was nice,” he said. “It’s pretty special because there are other artists out there that they can choose from and they asked me.”
One of the reasons he was chosen was for his skill in seeing things others might not notice. “I’ve always been a visual person,” he said. “My wife likes to joke that I can see a hawk in the sky, but I can’t find the butter in the refrigerator.”
Gough said that prints of his work will also be for sale at the site. “I want people to reminisce and look at different aspects of the world [and] to bring good memories.”
“The Photography of George Gough” will be on view in the gallery at Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn through Oct. 29. For more information, call 631-757-4200.
SBU student Caroline Klewinowski is just one of thousands impacted by the university’s new dorming mandates. Photo by Julianne Mosher
By Julianne Mosher
Amidst the COVID-19 health crisis that is shaking the world, Stony Brook University students are now being affected – especially those who rely on dorming on campus.
At the beginning of what was ostensibly the start of spring break, dormer students were told they would have to leave campus. Photo by Kyle Barr
The last week has been turbulent, and for students the news has been changing daily. On March 11, SBU Interim President Michael Bernstein sent out an email to students telling them that classes were going to resume remotely after spring break.
“Spring break (March 16-20) will commence as planned at the end of this week and we will begin remote instruction at the conclusion of the break,” the email read. “Accordingly, students planning to leave campus for spring break should take with them any items essential to continuing their education from home including laptops, textbooks, notebooks, essential papers and other material. Students should also bring home valuables and indispensable items in the event that a sustained period will pass before they are able to easily retrieve them.”
The email came shortly after angry and anxious students began protesting the administration, as rumors began to swirl among the student body.
“Administration didn’t really communicate with us,” said Jeni Dhodary, a philosophy and economics major. “We didn’t get an official response until the day before spring break. … It’s a really messy situation.”
Since students were gearing up for their break, they were advised to go home and stay home, if they could, even though the dorms and some food spots would remain open on campus for students preferring to stay there.
Caroline Klewinowski, originally of Brooklyn, opted to stay in her dorm instead of heading home for spring break.
“New York City seems like ground zero for coronavirus,” she said. “Long Island seems a lot safer.” The journalism major’s mother suffers from lupus, which was another reason she wanted to stay away from home.
But then things changed and on March 17 the university sent out another email to students saying that on-campus housing will close and students must go home.
Richard Gatteau, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of Students, and Dallas Bauman, assistant vice president for Campus Residences stated in another email the plans for students over the next several days.
“All residents who live within driving distance of campus must vacate the residence halls and campus apartments as soon as possible, but no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 19. All other residents must vacate as soon as possible, but no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20,” it read. “Room and meal plan costs, where applicable, will be prorated for the remainder of the semester for all students leaving campus housing and applied as a refund and/or credit to your student account based on the date of checkout.”
At the beginning of what was ostensibly the start of spring break, dormer students were told they would have to leave campus. Photo by Kyle Barr
With an international student body that makes up about 18 percent of the university, those students are required to move out as well, since “Visa and Immigration Services will not terminate or shorten the immigration records for F-1/J-1 degree-seeking students who remain enrolled and depart the U.S. It is important to note that Customs and Border Protection has not provided updated guidance regarding procedures for reentry, including the five-month absence from the U.S.”
International student, Vaidik Trivedi, who lives off campus, was concerned about the initial reports of remote learning, but found comfort in having his own place not within the dorms — even though there are bans on going outside.
“I don’t know what to do with my weekends now,” he said. “I think we need to deal with this logically, rather than focus on the mayhem.”
Trivedi added it was hard being on campus, with little communication coming from the administration and rumors spreading at a rapid rate.
“The university created havoc … students didn’t know what was going on,” the 22-year-old said. “They could have communicated better with the students while the rumors caught on fire, especially with the international students. It was one week too late.”
Maria Tsapuik, a Junior Multidisciplinary Studies major is originally from Ukraine, which banned all commercial travel coming into the country March 17. The same day, Stony Brook shut down the dorms.
“I understand their decision to [close the dorms], but they should have told us earlier … before every country shut its borders and there is no way for us to get out,” she said.
She has filled out the form for an extended stay and is waiting for an answer from the university. If they do not grant her an extended stay, she said she has someone to stay with.
While students are packing up to leave and find shelter in their homes away from the campus grounds, one thing all college students are feeling is a general sense of heartache that their year at school is being cut short.
Frank Gargano, a senior, dormed on campus, but went home for spring break only to find out he had to drive back to school to pack up his room.
“I’m half-mad that the housing money is essentially shot, and half-mad I can’t hang out with my friends as often as I could during my last semester,” he said. “I’m essentially robbed of my last semester.”
Even professors are feeling the changes coming to Stony Brook University, by placing their courses online with no physical student interaction.
“It’s much less rewarding because I like to teach in a classroom and encourage students to speak up in class,” adjunct journalism professor Jon Friedman, said. “But I like to take on new challenges, and this is an enormous one.”
He added he feels badly for the students who are planning to graduate this May.
“The last semester should be their happiest time and now they probably won’t be able to celebrate a normal commencement ceremony,” he said. “Throwing your cap in the air in triumph, in your backyard, doesn’t give a student the same kind of thrill.”
This post has been updated with additional reporting by Leah Chiappino
Hospital Prez Looks Back at His 34 Years, End of Community Hospitals Across LI
Kenneth Roberts, Mather Hospital president, signs a banner that will be hung shortly outside the hospital to celebrate its 90th year. Photo by Kyle Barr
By Julianne Mosher
It all started with a dream from a local businessman and third-generation shipbuilder who lived in Port Jefferson.
John Titus Mather passed away in 1928, but he was a huge part of the shipbuilding community during the later 19th century and early part of the 20th century. Before he died, he knew that he wanted to leave a legacy that would help the Port Jeff community for years to come. If only he could see it nine decades later.
Mather held its cornerstone dedication ceremony May 4, 1929. Photo from Stu Vincent
This year celebrates the 90th anniversary of Mather Hospital, formally known as the John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, named after the man who envisioned the institution. His will clearly outlined that his family and loved ones were to be taken care of, and instructed his executor to “incorporate under the laws of the State of New York a nonsectarian charitable hospital, to be located in said village of Port Jefferson … so designed and constructed as to permit future enlargement, assuming that future needs may justify such action. It is my sincere hope that the citizens of Port Jefferson and vicinity will give their liberal and devoted support to said institution and endeavor to make it a success and a credit to the community,” the Mather website stated. Today, the hospital is decorated with a nautical theme to honor its founder.
Opening Dec. 29, 1929, the hospital became a staple on Long Island, featuring 54 beds and state-of-the-art technology of its time.
“Mather Hospital was the first community hospital in the Town of Brookhaven,” said Kenneth Roberts, president of the hospital. “So, for a long time, it was the gem of the community and it remains so to this day.”
And every 10 years or so, it seems like the hospital is adding a new service or wing, constantly evolving to become better than before. In 1962, a new surgical suite, emergency facility and an intensive care unit joined in. The expansion resulted in additional beds, totaling 110. A new psychiatric unit was added in 1973, upgrading the hospital to 203 beds and by 1997, the hospital reached its
current bed count of 248 spots.
The reason for the constant upgrades was to continue better serving the community, the hospital president said.
“Technology has changed dramatically,” Roberts said, “And has changed the delivery of health care here.”
Roberts became president of Mather in 1986 and has pioneered dozens of changes throughout the campus. For starters, people don’t smoke on the campus, anymore, which if one weren’t around at that time, came as a shock to the multitudes of hospital staff who weren’t shy of smoking.
Mather Hospital was also the first hospital on Long Island, including Brooklyn and Queens, to have a successful in vitro fertilization program that started up in 1988. Being a leader in that program, it eventually became available elsewhere, so in 2008, the program closed to make room for others.
“We just change with what the community needs,” Roberts said.
Alongside the hospital, Roberts has also seen the community expand.
Mather Hospital’s original facade. Photo from Stu Vincent
“I think it’s grown a lot,” he said. “Obviously the traffic, the expansion, the adding of lights on 347, the construction of the third lanes… there’s been a lot of growth in housing and in population out in this area. So basically, we made an attempt to change with the needs of the population.”
As the area grew, so did the competition from St. Charles Hospital down the road, and Stony Brook University Hospital just 15 minutes away.
“We were the first community hospital and then St. Charles converted itself from a polio institution to a community hospital and we work closely with them to not compete in major services,” Roberts said. “But at the same time, to provide all the services that the community needed.”
When St. Charles redesigned itself to a hospital in the 1940s, it actually ended up helping Mather which was at 120 percent patient occupancy.
In 2013, it was recognized as a Magnet-designated hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which recognizes health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice.
Mather employs over 2,600 people, and has more than 600 staff and affiliated physicians. In 2016, the hospital cared for more than 12,500 inpatients and over 40,000 emergency patients.
In December 2017, Mather formally joined the Northwell Health system as its 23rd hospital, something the hospital president constantly lauded.
“It was a once-in-a-century decision going from an independent hospital to joining a larger system,” Roberts said. “Once you join a larger system, you’re in that larger system forever and it’s a big decision to make. We were extremely happy and pleased with the amount of resources that Northwell brings to the table.”
A group of nurses at Mather during its early years. Photo from Stu Vincent
Roberts added that there are no independently owned community hospitals on Long Island anymore. It’s a trend that’s predicated on costs and need, something, he said, a single standalone hospital would have a very difficult time doing on its own. Roberts said he sees a future where all hospitals and similar institutions are consolidated under just four or five health care companies.
“There’s a whole host of reasons why hospitals are going the same route, like all the other industries,” he said. “We see in the whole economy everybody’s changing: Airlines are basically consolidating, the big accounting firms … newspapers are consolidating.”
And although things have changed at Mather, Roberts is happy with what the
future holds.
“I think that the future of Mather Hospital looks very good because of our affiliation with Northwell,” he said. “The services we will provide on a very high-quality basis, and we will continue to innovate and provide the services that the community needs.”
He added that he is waiting on an approval to start a cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology service at Mather, and plans to grow its outpatient care over the next decade.
Enrico Scarda, owner of Danfords, with Jami Cohen at the fundraiser for her sister. Photo by Julianne Mosher
By Julianne Mosher
The Brookhaven Ballroom at Danfords was filled with hundreds of people to celebrate and support one of their own this week through the family’s bout with cancer.
Dara Cohen. photo from Dara’s GoFundMe health fund
Dara Cohen, originally of Dix Hills, has been living under the weight of cancer for years, battling Stage 4 breast, brain and lung cancer, and now friends said it has metastasized in her lower spinal cord. The actress and professional dancer works as a ballet teacher when she feels up to it, but the disease has had a lasting effect.
It was just a few months ago when Dara Cohen’s sister, Jami, who bartends at the hotel in PJ, came to work and asked her managers if they could help her create a fundraiser.
The goal was to raise $100,000 for the 46-year-old dancer, singer and actress.
“They immediately said yes,” Jami Cohen, of Port Jefferson, said. “I couldn’t ask for better people to work with.”
On Monday, Nov. 11, Danfords donated its space upstairs and an extensive menu at its buffet to the Cohen family.
“Obviously it’s an unbelievable cause,” Enrico Scarda, owner of Danfords, said, “And we do whatever we can to support our employees.”
Lamar Peters with Gail King and Shelly Cohen. Photo by Julianne Mosher
A DJ blasted music while people mingled. Lamar Peters, a tribute artist known for his Elvis, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly impersonations, came out to play, and over 100 gifts were donated to the raffle table.
“All of us are here to unite and break course for Dara,” Dara’s father Shelly Cohen said. “We’re looking to make a difference and these people are coming out to help our daughter.”
Tickets were $40 for the three-hour event and the outcome was a huge success. Although Dara couldn’t be in attendance, she video-called in and was grateful for the response given in her honor.
Known for her popular social media posts chronicling her journey, Dara’s goal has been to help other people struggling as well.
“She’s an amazing person,” Dara’s mother Karen Deangelis, said. “Dara has made an impact on other people and has a tremendous amount of support … Hopefully we can help other people, too.”
Village officials, members of the chamber of commerce, locals and members of the Long Island Explorium christen the new sensory garden. Photo by Julianne Mosher
By Julianne Mosher
A new sensory garden has been installed outside the Long Island Explorium in Port Jefferson, hoping to give those passing through the village an educational and therapeutic experience.
Bruce D’Abramo, village trustee, Barbara Ransom, director of operations, Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Angeline Judex, executive director of the Long Island Explorium, Jackie Grennon Brooks, senior advisor of the Long Island Explorium, Ellen Kushner, treasurer of Decision Women in Commerce and Professions, Chelsea Finn, board member of the Long Island Explorium, Shelia Wieber, board member of Decision Women in Commerce and Professions, cut the ribbon on the new garden. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Sensory gardens are outdoor environments with flower aromas, plant colors, kinetic sculptures and interactive devices that encourage sensory play, learning and experience using all senses.
“These gardens have been shown to offer a range of health, therapeutic and educational benefits to all visitors, with particular benefits to children with sensory challenges, especially those on the autistic spectrum,” said Angeline Judex, executive director of the explorium.
For the past year, the explorium has been working toward creating the space on its front lawn. It all began when Ellen Kushner, treasurer of Decision Women in Commerce and Professions, brought her grandchildren there to play last December.
“I was so impressed with it and they had so much fun,” she said, “I thought to myself that we absolutely had to get involved and give the explorium some funding.”
She said everyone at Decision was on board with the idea to fund the garden, and at the organization’s 40th anniversary dinner in June they gifted the
explorium the grant.
The garden took about $2,000 to create and has been made possible by Decision’s funding, along with a donation and consultation from Port Jefferson Station-based Kunz Greenhouses as well as the village gardener, Caran Markson.
The garden transformed the grass that was originally outside, now including a solar fountain, a pathway of stones and several dozen types of plant species. The garden is more than 70 percent native, with flowers, leaves and stalks that provide food and habitats for wildlife, deep-root systems that purify water along with beauty that nurtures the senses.
“We specifically wanted plants that appeal to the five senses,” said Jacqueline Grennon Brooks, senior adviser to the explorium. “We wanted them to be visually interesting with the variety of fragrances and textures … ones that produce sound when swaying or when touched, and herbs or plants with edibles parts.”
Village officials, members of the chamber of commerce, locals and members of the Long Island Explorium christen the new sensory garden. Photo by Julianne Mosher
She added, “Research indicates that at the 70 percent native mark, we can reestablish important insect and bird populations.”
Although it’s helpful to the environment, village Trustee Bruce D’Abramo loved the idea that kids can come to the garden and do what they want.
“You don’t have to tell them what to do,” he said. “They make the decisions.”
He added that the space is going to be seen by all walking through the village.
“This area gets a lot of foot traffic,” he said. “Just last weekend at the Dragon Boat Race Festival, 2,500 people walked right past this park.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the garden Sept. 17, and will be open year round, even when the explorium is closed.
“People should come visit and be amazed by the transformation of our front yard into a delightful garden that both teaches and brings joy to everyone,” Judex said. ”I love seeing how people get excited about the sensory garden and want to create one in their own yard.”
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