Miller Place Fire Department said they responded to a fire Nov. 26 at a home on Imperial Drive. Photo from MPFD
Miller Place Fire Department said they responded to a fire Nov. 26 at a home on Imperial Drive. Photo from MPFD
The Miller Place Fire Department reported battling a blaze on Imperial Drive Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The fire department reported to its Facebook they were alerted to the fire just before 2 p.m., and First Assistant Chief Joseph McCrain Sr. transmitted a working fire and requested additional resources to the scene.
Firefighters battled the flames that had crawled up the exterior wall to the rear of the home. the department said originated from the basement. Nobody was injured, they said. Interior members of the department located a family cat that was alive an unharmed inside the house.
Mutual aid came from Mount Sinai, Sound Beach, Rocky Point, Middle Island, Coram and Terryville fire departments. The trucks were returned to service around 3:30 p.m.
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
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.
Gabriela Schwender and Deborah Scalione have created a mobile craft workshop, like a foot truck for hand made items. Photos from Schwender
“Why not bring the arts and crafts to customers?” thought Gabriela Schwender and Deborah Scalcione, who together run Long Island Crafty Ones, a mobile and traveling workshop based in Rocky Point.
Now such an idea is a reality.
Children attempt crafts in LI Crafty One’s mobile workshop. Photo from Schwender
The duo, who both describe themselves as passionate about creativity and craftwork said the idea to create the mobile workshop came to fruition a year ago. They decided to join forces after Schwender posted a message on Facebook looking for someone to collaborate with on crafts.
Initially the pair looked at retail frontage in the Rocky Point area but realized it wasn’t a good fit.
“We looked at a number of storefronts, but the rent was too expensive, we just couldn’t afford it,” Scalcione said. “After that we were, like, ‘Why don’t we go to the people and travel around?’”
From there, the duo purchased an RV and decided to convert the inside into their workplace area.
Schwender said they work closely with their clients to see what they are looking for.
“We bring everything to them, and they are surprised when we tell them we can come to them,” she said.
Scalcione said that they really try to customize customers experiences. She mentioned a recent birthday party they had worked at.
“It was an older girl’s birthday, and before we asked what she likes, her mother said she really likes to drink coffee and we thought why not marble some coffee mugs,” Scalcione said. “It turned out to be great — they had a lot of fun.”
Schwender said they started out slow due to people not necessarily knowing what they offered, but the feedback they have gotten from customers has been positive.
Gabriela Schwender and Deborah Scalione have created a mobile craft workshop, like a foot truck for hand made items. Photos from Schwender
“They are amazed with what we bring and what we offer,” she said. “They can’t believe we have an RV and think it’s a great idea.”
Scalcione mentioned their services cater to children and adults.
Recently, the partners joined the Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce and said the connections with other businesses have very been helpful.
For the fall season, the pair will have a table every weekend at the Bakewicz Farms Fall Festival in Wading River, doing face paintings and customizing “Toy Story” figurines that fit in with the local festival’s theme.
In addition, the duo said they offer workshops aimed at a multitude of skill sets and they plan on offering seasonal craft sessions for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“We really want [everybody] to be excited about crafting and get them to make something on their own,” Schwender said. “We want to help build up your skills.”
Scalcione said she is glad they are getting more exposure and more people are finding what they do. The duo hopes to continue expanding and possibly buy a second RV or a bigger vehicle.
“I think it is a lost art — we really want people to work with their hands and seeing what they can create,” she said.
Suffolk County Police said they are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a Miller Place man in Middle Island the morning of Saturday, Sept. 21.
Police said Keisha Dalton, of Middle Island, was driving a 2011 Buick Regal northbound on Miller Place-Yaphank Road when her vehicle struck a pedestrian who was walking in the road at around 5:50 a.m.
The victim, Timothy Petrulo, 35, of Miller Place, was transported to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson where he was pronounced dead. Dalton, 45, was not injured.
The Buick was impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call the 6th Squad at 631-854-8652.
Alexa Zicchinelli drives past a Bayport defender in a Div-II matchup at home Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place celebrates after Ally Schreck’s goal to tie the game against Bayport at home Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Bridget Nielsen tries to get off a shot for the Panthers in a 2-1 victory over visiting Bayport Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Christine Doherty air dribbles the ball for the Panthers in a 2-1 victory against visiting Bayport Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Christine Doherty pushes the ball upfield for the Panthers against visiting Bayport Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Christine Doherty tries to dig one out from the scrum against visiting Bayport Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Hannah Burton clears the ball for the Panthers against Bayport at home Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Maddie Power battles for possession (r) in a 2-1 victory over visiting Bayport Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Madison Murphy fires at the cage in a 2-1 victory over visiting Bayport Sept. 17th. Photo by Bill Landon
Bayport-Blue Point’s field hockey team struck first in a Division II matchup Sept. 17, but it was Miller Place senior Ally Schreck who answered the call to tie the game midway through the opening. Alexa Corbin, a junior, scored the go-ahead goal for Miller Place 13 minutes into the secondhalf as the Panthers held on for a 2-1 victory at home. Goalie Meaghan Stoessel had seven saves on the day.
The Panthers are back in action when they hit the road to take on Sayville Sept. 19. Game time is set for. 4 p.m.
The win lifts Miller Place to 2-1 in the division, 4-1 overall.
Security footage of the man who allegedly robbed the Miller Place Chase Bank. Photo from SCPD
Police said they have arrested a man in connection with the robbery of the Miller Place Chase bank earlier this month.
Suffolk County Police arrested Raymond Peruggi, 29, in Mastic Beach Monday, Aug. 20 at around 8:55 p.m. Peruggi was described as undomiciled.
Peruggi was held overnight at the 7thprecinct and is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip. He has been charged with 3rddegree robbery.
On Aug. 12, a man allegedly entered the Chase Bank, located at 385 Route 25A, at around 2:40 p.m. and displayed a note demanding cash to an employee. The teller complied with the suspect’s demands and gave him cash from the drawer. He then fled the bank on foot, west towards Miller Place road, police said.
Security footage of the man who allegedly robbed the Miller Place Chase Bank. Photo from SCPD
Security footage of the man who allegedly robbed the Miller Place Chase Bank. Photo from SCPD
Suffolk County Police are looking for a man who allegedly robbed the Miller Place Chase Bank the afternoon of Monday, Aug. 12.
Police said a man entered Chase Bank, located at 385 Route 25A, at around 2:40 p.m. and displayed a note demanding cash to an employee. The teller complied with the suspect’s demands and gave him cash from the drawer. Police said the suspect fled the bank on foot, west towards Miller Place road.
Security footage of the man who allegedly robbed the Miller Place Chase Bank. Photo from SCPD
The suspect was described as a white man in his late 20s to 30s, average height, medium build, wearing dark rimmed glasses and a full dark colored beard. He was wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans, dark colored shoes and a summer style fedora hat.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on this robbery to call Major Case at 631-852-6555. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 800-220-TIPS (8477) or texting “SCPD” and your message to “CRIMES” (274637). All calls and text messages are kept confidential.
the Sound of a Chord barbershop quartet from the 1980s, with Russ Tobin, Al Mastrangelo, Fred Conway and Don Van der Kolk. Photo from Conway
“I’ll be singing for the rest of my life,” said Fred Conway, a longtime barbershop singer and six-time president of the local Harbormen Chorus barbershop group.
Conway receives a Barbershopper of the Year award at a chorus event. Photo from Conway
Earlier this month, the Miller Place resident was honored by the worldwide Barbershop Harmony Society at an international convention in Salt Lake City for 50 years of talented service.
“That was definitely a bucket list item for me, getting to 50 years,” Conway said.
His career began innocently enough. Conway reminisced about that moment. It was the day of the 1969 Super Bowl and his neighbor at the time showed him an ad in the paper looking for barbershop singers.
“It sounded interesting to me, I hadn’t taken any music lessons at the time, but I knew I had a good voice,” he said. “I went over there the following night and have stuck with it [singing barbershop] ever since.”
Since then, Conway has sung lead in nine quartets in his career, and he is currently a member of the Harbormen, Twin Shores Chorus as well as the Antiquity Quartet. Over the years, he has performed at some notable venues including the St. Petersburg Hall in Russia, Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden. The Miller Place resident has also received the Barbershopper of the Year award by the Barbershop Harmony Society.
As much as Conway dedicates his time to singing barbershop, he also pursued another passion — teaching and counseling. He graduated from St. John’s University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education before attending C.W. Post to get a professional diploma.
During his education career, Conway served as a guidance counselor and coached various sports team for the Miller Place School District.
Conway coached women’s cross-country, the men’s golf team and men’s/women’s track and field. He would later become the first commissioner of cross-country and track and field in the Diocese of Rockville Centre for 12 years and has served as the first executive of Section XI for women’s cross-country for 10 years.
“From about 1975-1986, Miller Place had some great teams,” said the Miller Place resident.
David Lance, a fellow member of the Harbormen Chorus, can attest to Conway’s dedicated to the craft of barbershopping.
“He is a real mover and shaker, he gets things done,” he said.
Lance has known Conway for the past 15 years and first got introduced to the chorus when a member had to leave due to health issues.
“They were looking for a tenor and they recruited me,” he said. “When I got there his voice [Conway’s] really stuck out to me.”
Conway leads members of the Harbormen Chorus in a sarenade at the TBR News Media offices February, 2018. File Photo
Lance mentioned practically everywhere they go and perform, Conway always seems to run into someone he knows.
“He’s a great guy and friend,” he said. “His ambition is contagious.”
Lance, along with the other Harbormen members, have also performed at various senior and assisted living homes throughout Long Island and have welcomed returning veterans fighting overseas at MacArthur airport.
Gary Wilson, a fellow member of the Antiquity Quartet, has known Conway for over 30 years
“He asked me if I wanted to join quartet and I said yes,” Wilson said. “We found two other guys and we formed Harmony Hotline.”
The quartet performed together for some time but had to disband after two other members moved away.
“He is a self-taught singer, he has such a unique sound,” Wilson said.
Currently, Conway lives with his wife of 39 years, Lesley, and they have three children and six grandchildren. He is also a six-year Vestry member of St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church in Shoreham.
“Through the years he has made a lot of people happy,” Lance said. “He is the personality of the quartet and brings a personal touch to his performances.”
The Miller Place resident said he doesn’t see himself stopping doing what he loves.
“I’ll be singing forever,” he reiterated.
The Harbormen Chorus are actively looking for new members and Conway said anyone interested in singing four-part harmony to visit them on Monday nights, except national holidays, at 7:30 p.m. for practice at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall at 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket, which is north of the firehouse, next to the new synagogue. People can call 631-644-0129 for more information.
Miller Place Duck Pond at the corner of North Country Road and Lower Rocky Point Road. Photo by Kyle Barr
Miller Place Duck Pond may soon see drainage improvements Brookhaven town hopes will reduce sediment flow into the small, water lily-filled pond right outside North Country Road Middle School.
Miller Place Duck Pond at the corner of North Country Road and Lower Rocky Point Road. Photo by Kyle Barr
The town board unanimously agreed to shift money around in the capital budget to make room for the pond drainage improvements, allocating $135,285 for the project. At the same time, the highway department is planning to use $2.6 million in total from grants and town funds to complete road and sidewalk repair in tandem with the drainage renovations.
“The new improvements should reduce the amount of sediment from the road, sanding and salting that washes into the pond,” said town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point). “It should reduce pollutants associated with road runoff.”
Last year, TBR News Media reported both local environmental activists and town waterways management said there were problems with invasive and destructive plant species in the pond. The town applied for a grant from the Suffolk County Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program as well as the Stewardship Initiative. The grant would have had a projected cost of $240,000 with a $120,000 town match; however, Bonner said the town failed to get the grant.
Anthony Graves, Brookhaven’s chief environmental analyst, said they have not witnessed, just from viewing the water’s surface, that the pond is as dense with destructive plants as the previous year. Though he added the problem could be because of high rainfall this year compared to previous years, meaning it’s hard to gauge the plant density on the bottom of the pond. A big part of the reason for those invasive plants was the wash of sediment into the pond’s bottom from the road.
Involved in this new drainage includes a “stormceptor unit,” a device placed in the ground used to intercept pollutants and sediments before they enter the pond. Such pollutants include oil and grease from passing cars. Graves added the town is trying to reduce nitrogen buildup in the roadside pond.
In addition to renovating drainage of the pond, the town is expecting to go in and dredge the bottom of the pond.
“The drainage improvements collect the sediment before it enters the pond,” Graves said.
Meanwhile, the town’s highway department has set up to work in tandem and with those drainage improvements, both in renovating the sidewalks around the pond and completing road resurfacing. North Country Road is a Suffolk County-owned road that is managed by the town.
Superintendent of Highways Dan Losquadro (R) said his department received close to $1.25 million from grants, though the town is supplying the rest of its total $2.6 million cost. The project will include resurfacing and restriping of the road in addition to renovated sidewalks.
Losquadro said the town has had to deal with other problems in and around the pond, such that a blocked pipe was restricting enough water from entering the pond toward the southern end.
One of the biggest components of road resurfacing is drainage — getting that water off of the roadway,” he said. “So, as we’re doing this project, we want it to last as long as possible.”
Renovations to the drainage should begin sometime in August, Bonner said, while the highway superintendent said they plan to do some sidewalk work in tandem. The rest of the roadwork will start after the new drainage is installed. While they intend to finish before classes start, he added they would have to finish that work during one of the early school recesses if they can’t finish before.
Participants play in annual tournament for Hoops for Hope. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) and Engel family unveil new sign for basketball court at Cedar Beach. Photo by Julianne Mother
Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) and Engel family unveil new sign for basketball court at Cedar Beach. Photo by Julianne Mother
Participants play in annual tournament for Hoops for Hope. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Participants play in annual tournament for Hoops for Hope. Photo by Julianne Mosher
By Julianne Mosher
For five years, the Engel family of Miller Place has been putting together a basketball tournament and barbecue in memory of their late son, Jake, who tragically lost his life in 2015 to a heroin overdose.
But this year was special for the Jake Engel Hoops for Hope Barbecue – which sold out in just three days. On Friday, July 12, Brookhaven town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) stood with Jake’s family at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai to reveal the new name of the court that overlooks the harbor: The Jake Engel Memorial Basketball Court.
Inscribed with the words “Shine On” and an image of a man fishing, the notion for the memorial was decided last year.
“Basketball and fishing are what Jake loved to do,” Bonner said. “This sign is a reminder of why we are here today and why we play this game every year.”
Shortly after Jake’s death, his brother and friends spontaneously organized a community basketball tournament in his name. Over the course of four years, the organization has raised over $40,000 that has been donated to Hope House Ministries, a Port Jefferson-based nonprofit organization that provides care and hope to individuals suffering
from addiction.
“Our main goal is to bring awareness of the opioid crisis we have here on Long Island and to bring the community together,” Jake’s mother, Karen Engel, said.
The four-and-a-half hour event consisted of 28 teams of three to four players. Over a dozen volunteers helped with selling T-shirts, food and refreshments, along with a large raffle of donated items. Friday’s event raised roughly $12,000 and was the first year of the organization as a nonprofit.
Four months ago, the family officially established the Jake Engel Hoops for Hope Foundation that looks to bring awareness, community and change to all people negatively affected by substance abuse in Suffolk County.
“I want to thank the Engel family for taking such a horrible tragedy and turning it into something special,” Bonner said, “It takes a special person to do that.”
Prev
