Tags Posts tagged with "Steven Zaitz"

Steven Zaitz

Adrian Gilmore. Photo from Facebook

By Steven Zaitz

Adrian Gilmore, Shoreham-Wading River High School’s girls varsity soccer coach, has died at the age of 42.

Gilmore, who led the team to two Long Island championships and one New York State championship during her 13 years as coach, collapsed at Albert G. Prodell Middle School on April 22, where she was a sixth-grade teacher. Suffolk County Police arrived at the school at 100 Randall Road in Shoreham a few minutes before 3 p.m. and shortly thereafter, a Rocky Point emergency vehicle rushed Gilmore to John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson. Gilmore died two days later – the cause is unknown at this time.

Gerald Poole, superintendent of the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District issued a statement that read: “For 20 years, Adrian Gilmore was not only a dedicated and passionate educator, but an outstanding coach, mentor and source of inspiration to many generations of SWR colleagues, families and students. More than her impressive achievements, Adrian will be remembered as a mentor for other coaches and teachers, a passionate advocate for children and a trusted colleague whose impact reached far beyond school walls. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives that she touched as a teacher, coach and community leader. She will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.”

Ava Gengler is a senior captain who fought for a state title this year with Gilmore and her Lady Wildcat teammates. Gengler was a varsity player for Gilmore for four years and will attend the University of Miami in the fall. She remembers Gilmore as not just an effective coach of X’s and O’s, but a caring and compassionate leader.

“I’ll never forget my freshman year — I had a panic attack right before one of our biggest games, and instead of focusing on winning, she stayed with me the entire time, making sure I was okay,” Gengler said. “It was in that moment she showed me how much she truly cared about us as people, not just athletes, and how special of a person she was. Her loss is heartbreaking for all of us, but we’re coming together to honor everything she stood for and everything she gave us.”

Gilmore, whose maiden name was Adrian Weger, was a graduate of William Floyd High School, class of 2000, where she was a standout in both soccer and track and field. She went to Concordia College in Westchester County and was a four-year starter for the Concordia soccer team.  In 2006, she became a teacher in the SWR school district and in 2012, she was named the Wildcats girls varsity soccer coach.

She met her husband Timothy Gilmore while at Concordia where he was an outstanding baseball player. The couple married in 2009 and they had three children —  Kayla, 18, a freshman lacrosse player at the University of Maryland;  Cameron, 13, and Colby, 3. A GoFundMe page has been set up to financially assist the devastated family. 

Gilmore’s friend Charisse Jamroz organized the page and on it she says, “Adrian’s life was a beautiful reflection— full of grace, strength, and a deep love for others. She poured her heart into everything she did, whether she was raising her children, nurturing her students, or guiding her athletes.”

The page has raised over $162,000.

Superintendent Poole also said in his statement that the SWR district will be honoring Gilmore, “as we reflect and remember her legacy. In the meantime, please keep Adrian’s family and friends in your thoughts. Together, we will continue to support one another with compassion as we navigate this loss as a school community and school family.”

In addition to coaching the varsity team, Coach Gilmore was involved in local youth lacrosse developmental leagues around the Shoreham area.

 In 2019, the Lady Wildcats won the New York State title by beating upstate Spencerport 2-0 and Gilmore was named as East Regional Coach of the Year. In the spring of 2021, Gilmore’s girls were a perfect 12-0 in the COVID-shortened season and they outscored their opponents by an astounding aggregate of 61-5. The Wildcats have made it to the Long Island Championship game every year for the last three years.

“Having Mrs. Gilmore as both my teacher and soccer coach honestly changed my life,” said Gengler. “She pushed me to be better — not just as a player or student, but as a person. She was tough, but it was the kind of tough that made you stronger. She taught me what it means to be disciplined, to never give up, and to always give my best. At the same time, she had this really compassionate and caring side.”

A viewing for Adrian Gilmore was held on April 30 at Moloney-Sinnicksons Moriches Funeral Home in Center Moriches and a Mass was held on May 1 at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Center Moriches. In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by her parents Cathleen and Gary Weger and her brothers Mathew, Christopher and Joshua. 

If you wish to make a donation, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-her-honor-supporting-a-devoted-mother-teacher-coach 

By Steven Zaitz

The Ward Melville Softball team paid tribute to local military personnel, past and present in a pre-game ceremony on April 19 that was organized by their booster club and hailed as Military Appreciation Day. Before their game against the West Islip Lady Lions, about 15 military members from all branches of service​ took part in a ‘Tribute Walk’ that deployed the girls on both sides of the left field foul line as every honoree was introduced. They marched toward home plate, as their name, rank, branch and citations were announced to the applauding crowd.

Instead of donning their traditional green and gold, the Ward Melville Softball team wore special American flag-themed uniforms for the occasion that made note of the originally scheduled date of April 12. Due to inclement weather, the event was moved up by a week. Ward Melville won the game by a score of 11-1, as Julianna Russ pitched a complete game, striking out nine. The National Anthem was beautifully performed by sophomore infielder Coryn Rizzo and her sister Samantha served as honorary batgirl for the Lady Pats, who have won 4 of their last 5 and improved to 5-4 on the season. 

– Photos by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The game took 19 hours to complete, but the defending Long Island champion Commack Cougars baseball team took out the Ward Melville Patriots by a score of 8-3 this past weekend, April 11 and 12.

Suspended after 5½ innings due to darkness on Friday, April 11, Commack finished off the Patriots on Saturday despite gloomy weather conditions. Reliever Justin Pagan pitched a scoreless three innings to earn the win that improved the champion Cougars’ record to 5-1 and put them in a first-place tie in Division II with Connetquot. Ward Melville dropped to 1-2 after the loss.

Trailing 3-0 in the third, a two-run double by Pats third baseman Joe Karpowicz highlighted a three-run rally that tied the score at three. It stayed that way until the top of the sixth when the Cougars broke the game open with a 5-run frame. Cougar centerfielder Anthony Antorino hit a two-run triple in that inning that made the score 6-3. They tacked on two more runs with the help of an infield error that allowed both Antorino and catcher Robbie Mascia, who reached on a walk, to score. Ward Melville reliever Dan Cornish was charged with four runs, three of which were earned, in that decisive frame. He suffered the loss.

Ward Melville committed three errors in the game, Commack committed none.

When the game resumed on Saturday morning, Sam Kay, brother of former Commack star and current Stony Brook pitcher Evan Kay, pitched the final inning and a third and struck out three batters.

Commack has won four straight Suffolk County titles and two straight Long Island Championships. During Spring recess, they will play nonleague games against St. Anthony’s and Longwood, resuming league play on April 22 against Lindenhurst.

Ward Melville plays a three-game set against those same Lindenhurst Bulldogs on April 14, April 15 and April 19.

Both teams wore military tribute-style uniforms for the game, with Ward Melville sporting a full camouflage top and Commack, whose school colors are black and gold, wore khaki green shirts.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

Yader Salgado at the Northport Trinity Episcopal Church. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

As sexton of the Trinity Episcopal Church, Yader Salgado has a lot of responsibilities and just as many keys on his oversized key ring to manage them. 

But as he ambles through the venerable building on Main Street in Northport early on a rainy Monday morning, he’s able to unlock every door he needs to, barely glancing at the massive collection of brass jangling from his belt. 

Yader Salgado at the Northport Trinity Episcopal Church. Photo by Steven Zaitz

Despite being in the job for less than a year, Salgado has quickly learned how to take care of the church and its grounds as if he has been doing it for decades. Since returning to Northport in June 2024 from his native Nicaragua, he has become a beloved member of the church and the community.

But in late March, Salgado received a letter from the United States Department of Homeland Security informing him that his enrollment in the United States humanitarian parole program had been revoked and he, his wife and two children would have to leave the country by April 24. Many of the participants in this program, which allowed half a million people from countries like Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua to live in the United States temporarily but legally, are receiving these revocation letters.

The soft-spoken Salgado, who is from a town called Chacaraseca, about 50 miles northeast of the capital of Managua, was shocked when he received it.

“We were not expecting this letter,” said Yader (pronounced YAH-ther). “We’ve been trying so hard to do things right, writing letters to our sponsors and making sure that everything was fine with the immigration department. Then suddenly I just get this letter asking us to depart. We didn’t know what to do and we were very scared and afraid.”

Yader Salgado first came to the United States in the 1990s on a student visa sponsored by missionaries, one of whom was Peter White, a retired Northport High School teacher. Salgado then graduated from Northport High School in 1998 and went to Belmont Abbey College on a full scholarship. Upon graduation, he traveled back to Nicaragua, where he met his wife Sayda. The couple with their son Jesse, 20, and daughter also named Sayda, who is a current Northport High School freshman, came back to the United States this past summer on the two-year parole status. 

However, the letter from Homeland Security prematurely nullified the parole status after 10 months.

Father Andrew Garnett, who is the rector of Trinity Church, sprang into action upon hearing of this letter, initially taking to social media.

“Yader is the American Dream,” Father Andrew’s Facebook post read. “He and his family waited, worked and prayed for the chance to legally come to this country. From day one, he has been nothing but the best. His family is a shining example of what it means to be an American. He embodies the values of faith, family and hard work. To send him and his family away is not justice. It is a betrayal of the very principles upon which this nation was built.” The post ended with the hashtag of #saveyader. 

Father Andrew’s parishioners feel the same.

“This is a human who, with a leap of faith in our country, needed safety, and we offered it to him in Northport — both as a high school student and as a member of the Trinity community,” said Nadine Palumbo, a longtime educator in the Jericho Union Free School District and member of Trinity Episcopal Church. “As a teacher for 30 years, I stood and did the Pledge of Allegiance every day and that meant something to me. I know people have political differences, but when we talk about our basic principles, I think everyone can agree that this letter felt wrong on so many levels.”

Artists Bob and Nancy Hendrick, who are members of the church and also run the Trinity Community Art Center attached to it, have formed close bonds with the Salgados who live in the apartment above the art gallery.

“Yader and his family are a shining example of what it means to be part of our church family, where we support and uplift each other and their love and devotion inspire us to spread love and kindness wherever we go,” Bob Hendrick said. “We believe in treating each other with kindness and respect, embracing everyone in our community and beyond.”

Yader Salgado at the Northport Trinity Episcopal Church. Photo by Steven Zaitz

The sentiment started to snowball — at first within the confines of the church, then in the Village of Northport. It then began to radiate across Long Island and into New York City, as News12 and the other major local news outlets learned of the Salgados’ story. Yader and Father Andrew were on television all week and the unassuming sexton, who also works behind the deli counter at a local supermarket, was now a media sensation. 

With the publicity, a church connection to gain legal support and help from the Northport Mayor’s office, Yader was able to attain temporary asylum until his case is heard by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which could take up to three years. While the Salgados’ immigration journey is not over, they are out of immediate danger.

“These are the kind of people who we should be rallying behind,” Father Andrew said. “It’s not a left or a right or a center thing. It’s the correct thing.”

The Salgados appreciate the love and support.

“Everybody has been so warm and welcoming to my family and me and I like Northport a lot,” Yader said.  “A lot of people have supported me and a lot of people just really like me even if they don’t know me, they want to know who I am. I’m happy to be part of this congregation of this church and part of this in a church family. I’m happy to be part of Northport.”

And Yader and his family would love to add one more key to his ring — the one that opens the door to permanent residence in Northport and the United States. 

By Steven Zaitz

Separated by a 10-yard, police-barricaded neutral zone, supporters of President Donald Trump (R) and Tesla CEO Elon Musk clashed with protesters at the Tesla dealership in Nesconset on Saturday, March 29.

It was the third time this month that marchers descended upon this Suffolk County dealership, located where the Smithtown Bypass meets Middle Country Road. However, in this instance, supporters of the Trump administration and the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency rallied in full force against the group that opposes both Trump’s and DOGE’s actions. 

The group supportive of Musk and Trump started to form at about 10:45 a.m. along the sidewalk on the south side of the Tesla lot. Gigantic American and Trump-themed flags, some as large as a small swimming pool, were tied to utility poles and monster trucks, needing a crew of four or five to erect each of them. 

Approximately 100 Trump/Musk supporters gathered within 30 minutes, but on the north end, nearer to Middle Country Road, Trump/Musk opposers numbered fewer than 10 in the beginning.

Also present were 15 to 20 Suffolk County police officers who monitored both groups, while also assisting and directing Tesla employees and customers with their automotive concerns.

A little before noon, members of both groups gravitated to the metal barricades that separated them and soon words zinged across the police barricades in both directions. The Trump/Musk supporters, many of whom were from Nassau County, passed around a megaphone to ask the other side why they are against “efficiency” in government, while Trump/Musk detractors decried the “clumsy” and “heartless” methods DOGE has used to fire thousands of government workers across the country. 

As this verbal sparring went on and the Trump/Musk opposition side grew in numbers to roughly 50, still a significant reduction from the hundreds at the March 1 rally that was part of the same movement, one supporter of Trump/Musk made her way under the yellow police tape to the opposite side, desiring to peacefully discuss her group’s causes. 

Identifying herself only as Alex R., she rotated around and spoke to anyone who would listen, engaging with liberal-minded locals, young and old, in a spirited but mostly peaceful way.

“I start and end with respect,” said Alex, who moved from New York City to Suffolk County a few years ago. “I don’t think being an extremist on either side is helpful in getting anyone’s point across. I’m very sociable, I’m very friendly, I’m not gonna walk up and say, you’re a clown because that’s not gonna open the conversation in a positive way.”

Alex, who is in her 40s, was the exception on Saturday, as the police made sure members were encamped properly throughout the day. The Trump/Musk group, organized largely by the America First Warehouse Facebook group, swelled to about 150 at its peak. Armed with the only megaphone on either side, they crammed up against the barricade hurling epithets that were not only political in nature but also personally derogatory with regard to the physical appearance and other insults that were in opposition to the statements made by Alex R. 

Trump/Musk opposers had signs denouncing the pair as backers of Russia and Nazism. A few in the crowd wore face stickers that read “F Elon and the FELON.”

As a part of Tesla Takedown day, this protest was one of over 200 that took place in the U.S. and 500 internationally on Saturday in places such as Miami, Washington, D.C., Seattle, London, Paris and Berlin.

Back in Nesconset, there was a moment when both sides ceased hostilities, but very briefly. The Trump/Musk supporters’ public address system played 1970s hit and Trump anthem “YMCA” by the Village People, and at that moment, the two sides, perhaps not realizing it, danced and formed the letters of the song title among themselves, taking a break in shouting at each other.

When the song was over, they resumed shouting until the rally broke up a few hours into an unseasonably warm afternoon. As we approach the spring and summer months and tensions persist, similar rallies — with representation from both sides — are likely to become more frequent, not just in Suffolk County, but around the world.

Steven Zaitz won first place in the NYPA Best Sports Feature Photo category for the above photo.

By Heidi Sutton

The New York Press Association announced the winners of its 2024 Better Newspaper Contest during NYPA’s annual Spring Conference at The Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs on March 20 and 21.

Over 130 newspapers in New York State took part in the annual event celebrating newspaper excellence and community journalism with 2,082 entries competing for 280 awards in 71 categories covering the editorial, advertising and circulation efforts of the state’s dailies and weeklies. Members of the Missouri Press Association were tasked with judging this year’s contest.

TBR News Media, which has 6 newspapers along the North Shore of Suffolk County, was honored with a fitting 6 awards for excellence this year including two first place awards.

Reporter Lynn Hallarman captured first place in the Best Spot News Coverage category for her November 2024 article titled “FEMA denies aid to Stony Brook, state and local officials fight back” on the after effects of the North Shore storm that caused widespread flooding, leading to road closures and extensive property damage to homes and businesses and breached the dams at Stump Pond in Smithtown and Mill Pond in Stony Brook back in August The judge wrote,”Wow! What a phenomenal piece with huge impact to the community. Great writing, in-depth reporting and photography.”

Former news editor Toni-Elena Gallo snagged second place in the same category for her article titled “Storm ravages the North Shore” in August 2024 which addressed each town on the North Shore severely impacted by the flooding. “Great reporting and photos showing storm damage, officials and impact to local wildlife. I really liked the way you broke down and explained each area of impact. It was a well-written report that kept my interested throughout,” commented the judge.

Sports reporter and photographer Steven Zaitz won first place for Best Sports Feature Photo for the photograph on the right titled “Oh-Kay!” which accompanied Zaitz’s article “Evan Kay’s stellar pitching propels Commack to second consecutive Long Island championship” in June 2024.

“The lead photo is full of peak emotion,” wrote the judge. “The player leaping makes the image come alive, creating a focal point that helps organize the image. The flying ball glove is a bonus. The other two photos in the package are also full of emotion with clean backgrounds.”

Art/Production Director Beth Heller Mason won second place for Best Small Space Ad for the design of a 1/4 page ad for the Port Jefferson Lions Club Car Show in September 2024. “Ad full of stuff but you made it feel less crowded and very clean. Way to work it! Great job,” wrote the judge.

The production department also won second place in the Best Multi-Advertiser Pages category for “Shop Local!” box page ads in TBR’s Time for Giving holiday supplement with the judge commenting, “Nice, clean, easy-to read layout.” 

Rounding out the awards, Classifieds Director Sheila Murray won third place for Best Classified Advertising with the judge commenting how he liked the clean layout and how it was well organized.

“As with every year, I am proud of the accolades and recognition of our staff members,” said TBR News Media publisher Leah Dunaief. 

“We are honored to be among the winners recognized by our peers in the New York Press Association but that is not our main purpose, which is to serve our readers and advertisers in the best way possible. Congratulations to the talented and hard working staff of Times Beacon Record News Media!” she said. 

For a full list of winners, visit nynewspapers.com/nypa/better-newspaper-contest/

By Steven Zaitz

As brush fires swept across Suffolk’s South Shore this past weekend, passions flared along Route 347 in Port Jefferson Station, where nearly 500 women, men, and children gathered for ‘The War on Our Rights’ rally, part of the global observance of International Women’s Day.

At noon on March 8, a fervent crowd—spanning generations, as well as genders —assembled at the intersection of Routes 347 and 112. Undeterred by the blustery conditions, demonstrators packed the sidewalk three, four, and even five people deep, stretching down to Canal Road. These local voices joined a far-flung chorus of approximately 300 protests across the U.S, alongside rallies as far away as Spain, Turkey, France, and Nigeria.

While scattered individuals had their own divergent agendas, the overwhelming sentiment of the crowd coalesced around a singular theme — deep-seated disdain for the Trump administration and concerns over its impact on women’s issues.

Shannon Russo, a 28-year-old social worker from Port Jefferson Station, organized the rally with a careful balance in mind: projecting an uplifting and empowering message for women while also underscoring the potential harm another Trump term could inflict on women’s rights and autonomy.

“Everyone at the rally stuck to the facts of what’s going on politically,” Russo said. “It’s difficult to not involve Trump because he’s directly putting people’s lives in danger with recent policies so I think these two concepts are currently very much intertwined. The key difference of our rally was we were peaceful, inclusive and supportive. The ”red side” of Long Island typically is not.”

In the 2024 election, Trump won Suffolk County with 54% of the vote over then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Seven weeks after his inauguration, his policies are sparking concern, and the crowd was not hesitant to speak out against them.

Some of the more pointed signs carried by marchers read “Respect my Existence or Expect my Resistance” and “Angry Women will Change the World.”  Others struck a softer tone like “Hate Won’t Make Us Great,” “Strong Women, Strong World.” and one that simply read “Unity.” Multiple posters read, “My Body, My Choice,” a slogan woven into the fabric of the feminist movement since the 1960s.

Evoking the spirit of that very era, a megaphone wired to a small amplifier carried Russo’s voice — and those of other speakers — who urged the crowd to never stop fighting for their rights. Between speeches, songs like Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman” anthem and Carole King’s “A Natural Woman” crackled through the amp seemingly on a two-song loop, as some in the flower-power-styled crowd swayed and danced nearby.

Sarah Friedman, of Setauket and a 2019 graduate of Ward Melville High School and her sister Maggie, currently a senior there are proud to be a part of the younger generation of louder, female voices.

“We are all proud to be out here for social justice and it’s important to stand up for our marginalized communities and the people who don’t have voices,” said Friedman, 24. “I’m glad that so many of us have enough time during the day to come out here on a Saturday, and shove signs in peoples’  aces who definitely don’t want to see them or us. We have seen our share of middle fingers and stuff like that from cars that pass by, but that’s okay.” 

Her sister Maggie, 18, was undeterred. 

“Women have voices and nothing is ever going to change that. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere!”

Although about 80-85% female, the men in the crowd were also eager to champion their causes.

The father-son team of Clark and Luke Blanton of Mount Sinai are deeply concerned about potential Medicaid budget cuts, which could directly impact Luke, who has special needs. He takes art, music and kickboxing classes at Blue Umbrella Experiences in Smithtown and volunteers at the Branches Food Pantry in Middle Island. 

“I play keyboards and sing lead vocals,” said Luke. “I love volunteering at the food pantry as well and I’m proud to be out here marching for women’s day.”

Clark Blanton, Luke’s dad, has watched the budgetary fight in Congress very closely.

“Funding for what keeps Luke active in the community all comes through Medicaid,” said the elder Blanton. “Our congressman, LaLota [Nick LaLota (R-NY 1], voted to pass a budget to potentially cut $880 billion out of Medicaid. Is this going to come from a program that has to do with my son? Chances are the answer is yes. That’s why we are out here.”

As it was her first time in the top job as organizer of the project, Russo was pleased at not only the number of marchers she was able to muster, but the spirit that they brought with them.

“This is my first time doing this, but I feel like the energy of everybody is making me feel good,” Russo said. “I couldn’t have done it without the moral support of Skyler Johnson, who is the Chair of Suffolk Young Democrats, my family, colleagues and friends. I’ve never hosted or organized a rally before, but I assisted colleagues with a few over the years. I’ve attended rallies in support of Women’s Rights and the Black Lives Matter movement.  It was so important for me to do something to connect and support women on International Women’s Day. It feels so empowering to stand with so many passionate women — and men — in solidarity.”

By Steven Zaitz

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Northport High School wrestler Kingston Strouse was playing his saxophone in 9th period band class when the senior was asked to report to Athletic Director Mark Dantuono’s office.

When he arrived, he found his coach of four years, Thad Alberti, sitting in that office stone-faced and glum.

Alberti informed Strouse, who is ranked first in his weight class in Suffolk County, that due to an administrative error, he, along with five of his teammates, were ruled ineligible for post-season competition. There would be no League Championships, which was just days away, for Strouse and his mates.

That was the first domino — without Leagues, there was no path to Suffolk County or State championship tournaments.

As per New York State Public High School Athletic Association policy, a wrestler who exceeds the maximum number of tournaments, which is six, is ineligible for the remainder of the season and the coach of the wrestler is suspended from the team’s next two scheduled competitions. The reason for the rule is that wrestlers accumulate points over the course of the season and a wrestler who participates in extra matches will have potentially gained more points than his competitors.

“When I was first told the news, I remember being shocked, but I don’t think I had a single ounce of hate or a single ounce of regret for anything that had happened,” Strouse said. “I just remember feeling bad for my coach because he was sitting there and he just looked devastated. I was more concerned about how other people were feeling about the situation and I thought that if we really were together, we could get it overturned. I knew we were going to put up a fight about this.”

His teammates were more concerned about Strouse.

“Kingston is our leader and being that he’s a senior, I really felt terrible for him,” said teammate Peyton Hamada, who was one of the six also suspended. “I was more upset for him than I was for myself.”

As of Wednesday night, the season was over for Strouse,  juniors Hamada and Lucas Rivera, sophomores Sebastian Stabile and Tyler Naughton and freshman Ryan Muller.

But it was Strouse– because of his top ranking in Suffolk County at 152 pounds, his stature on the team and his storied four-year career as a Northport wrestler –who became the face of this soon-to-be exploding media frenzy. The other kids will wrestle for Northport next year. Strouse will not.

The story was first reported by Newsday’s Gregg Sarra, who is the editor of the paper’s high school sports section. As of Feb. 6, he reported that the ‘Northport Six’ were disqualified, and as per Section XI Chief Tom Combs, the rule was clear-cut and the matter was now closed.

But the matter was not closed.

As social media became ablaze with the news, opinions for and against these Northport athletes being allowed to compete were split. Some were  compassionate, not wishing the boys to be punished for a mistake that they themselves did not make.

But others were unsympathetic, posting that Northport has to play by the rules like everybody else. One post on X read “typical Northport athletics, always breaking the rules and never paying for it. Mistake my (foot)”.

As the Long Island wrestling world debated, the guys on the team, the booster club and the Northport and wrestling communities banded together with a plan of action. They set up a GoFundMe page that raised nearly $9,000 to retain a legal team to fight this in the courts. Attorneys Anthony Camisa and James Pascarella, both former Long Islanders wrestlers, were brought in.

The group, including the six wrestlers and some of their parents, travelled to the courthouses in Riverhead on Friday and were able to appear before Suffolk County Justice of the Supreme Court Peter R. McGreevy on an emergency basis. The League III championships were going to start — with or without these guys — in less than 24 hours.

“I told the kids and the parents that all I can do is get you guys before a judge and once that occurs, nobody knows what will happen,” said Camisa, who was a wrestler at Longwood and University of Albany before he passed the bar exam.  “In this case, the kids did nothing wrong and not being able to wrestle would have caused them irreparable harm. I think that was the part of our argument that got us our stay.”

Strouse, who had been fighting a nasty cold all week, was ecstatic at the favorable result.

“When we got down there, it really seemed like we weren’t going to win the case and be able to wrestle,” said Strouse. “Everything was kind of stacked against us, so I can’t even put into words how grateful I am to the lawyers that were able to get this done. But I’m also grateful to the Northport community and the wrestling community as well. It’s a lot smaller than other sports and wrestlers back each other up. A lot of my friends from other schools on Long Island were reaching out to me, being supportive, and sending out our GoFundMe link. There are a lot of people to thank for this.”

It was now time to focus on wrestling

Strouse, still not at 100% strength due to his cold, now had to get ready for the match. He prowled around the Smithtown East gym with a hoody over his head, waiting for his turn.

When it came time, he beat both Andrew Schwartz of Newfield and John Zummo of Smithtown East handily but it would be close to three hours before his final match against North Babylon’s Jack Miller. He waited. He listened to his music. He took a nap in the bleachers until the match with Miller arrived.

Ahead in points for most of the contest, a sudden scramble at the beginning of the third period against Miller caused an awkward twist of Strouse’s left knee. As he lay face down on the mat, writhing in pain, it looked for sure that Strouse’s roller coaster week wouldn’t quite make it to its final turn.  His day seemed done.

With his coach, Chris Posillico, who filled in for the suspended Alberti, and Strouse’s worried mom Lori looking on matside, Strouse rose to his feet.

After a few flexes of his leg and a swig of water, the match continued.

“Yeah, it was bad,” Strouse said. “But it wasn’t structural, so it was just a matter of dealing with the amount of pain that we sometimes have to deal with in this sport.”

Strouse powered through, won the match 14-5, and this long, grueling, but ultimately satisfying week was finally done. However, his journey is not. Despite his lingering illness and the issue with his knee, Strouse will compete for a county championship this weekend at Stony Brook University.

“Everything I did on the mat today just didn’t feel right,” said Strouse. “Every shot I took wasn’t fast. My decision making wasn’t on. I just felt so foggy and weak.  Plus, I couldn’t breathe out of my nose. It seemed like everything was just stacked against me, but I got the job done, so I guess that’s all that matters.”

Yes, Strouse did his job on the mat, but without his eclectic crew of 11th-hour partners from all across Long Island, there would never have been a job for him to do.

By Steven Zaitz

John DeMartini, an educator in the Northport School district for more than half a century, has died at the age of 81. 

Larger than life, yet at the same time unassuming, DeMar, as he was known to everyone in his orbit, was a physical education teacher and Northport High School head baseball coach from the mid 1980s to 2018, won 350-plus games as Tiger skipper, but more importantly enriched the lives of countless students, families and fellow faculty over the course of his 57 year career.

Born in the Bronx, DeMartini moved to Westbury as a boy and attended W.T Clarke High School and then Adelphi University, where he was pitcher and an outfielder on the Panthers baseball team. In 1966, he became a teacher and basketball coach in the Northport-East Northport School District, taking over as Tiger head baseball coach in 1985; a position he held for 33 years until an issue with his heart required him to take an extended leave of absence.

Sean Lynch, an assistant coach at that time and one DeMar’s best friends, took over the team in 2019 as DeMartini recovered from his illness. The two men shared an office for 25 years.

“The most important thing that John took pride in, is the many great relationships that he built over the years and the impact that he had on so many lives,” Lynch said. His love for the kids and the people he touched so positively were always the most important thing to John over wins and losses, and I think that’s truly what his legacy is and will always be.”

One of those kids is NHS Class of 2019 Trent Mayer, who has recently begun a career in education as a teacher in the Franklin Square School District. He also serves as both the Northport Junior Varsity Boys volleyball and baseball coach.

“As I begin my journey as a physical education teacher and coach, I carry with me the invaluable lessons DeMar taught me,” said Mayer. “He always emphasized the importance of being myself and connecting with students. His last words to me were ‘kids don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.’ This has become my guiding principle. I aim to create a supportive environment where students feel valued and inspired and DeMar’s mentorship has shaped not just my career, but my outlook on life. I am grateful for his guidance and proud to continue his legacy.”

DeMartini’s legacy is multi-generational, as current Northport Baseball Booster Club president and baseball mom Noelle Hardick, Class of 1992, can attest. Her eldest son Thomas was the Tigers’ starting second baseman in 2024 and he graduated last spring. Michael Hardick, an outfielder, will graduate in 2026 and both Hardick boys started playing in summer baseball camps led by DeMartini when they were 5 years old

“Coach DeMartini has and always will be the heart and the face of Northport baseball,” Mrs. Hardick said. “He was the coach when I was a student there and was a huge part of not only the baseball team, but the whole school and community. Everyone in the Northport community knows DeMar. That’s something really special and it’s something that you can’t fake or make up. He was the most genuine, loving, kind and selfless person.”

One of DeMartini’s longest relationships was with legendary girls basketball coach Rich Castellano, who has over 750 wins in his career, many of which were witnessed by DeMartini, who was often perched behind the visiting team’s bench to watch Castellano’s girls do their thing.

The two men met in 1976 and quickly became close friends. In recent years, they were often spotted riding around the Northport campus in golf carts, ostensibly to monitor practices and games, but more often to spread good cheer to other student-athletes or anyone lucky enough to cross the path of their cart.

“I promised him that nobody is going to take his name of that golf cart,” an emotional Castellano said. “John’s heart was always with kids and his team, and he was just a good friend that way. The kids loved him for it. He was like a kindly grandfather to these kids and had a huge following. We all saw that when we dedicated the field to him and so many kids, event ones that graduated, made it back for that ceremony to celebrate not just the field-naming, but to celebrate the man.”

On a sunny Saturday morning in September of 2021, the NHS baseball field was named in DeMartini’s honor. Tiger baseball stars past and present came to the ceremony to reminisce, embrace DeMar and shake his hand, and then see his name across the top of the scoreboard in big block letters. 

Rows and rows of folding chairs were spread across the infield for family and VIPs as hundreds of students, parents and faculty cued both the foul lines from home plate to the outfield. Northport Athletic Director Marc Dantuano spoke, as did fellow coaches Jim DeRosa, Lynch and Castellano, along with a few former Tiger players. 

DeMar, the final speaker of the morning, was moved to tears as he finished his speech. As he stepped down from the podium, he doffed his cap to the crowd of close to 1,000.

“It’s always been his field,” said Lynch. “That ceremony just made it official. It was a great day.”

Class of 2023 grad John Dwyer, who played first base and catcher for Northport and is now playing baseball at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was at that ceremony. When the coach returned from his heart issue in 2019, he became the Tiger pitching coach and thus, he and Dwyer, along with the pitching staff, would spend a lot of time together trying to gameplan a way to get opposing hitters out.

“Coach DeMar was such a kind and extremely dedicated man, who put a tremendous amount of time and energy into the baseball program, the school, and the community as a whole,” Dwyer said. “He really cared about each person he encountered and looked to put a smile on their face with his great sense of humor.  He impacted so many people over the years and we’re all going to miss him a lot.”

One of the last conversations Lynch had with DeMartini was a few days before he passed. DeMar had developed a succession of ailments and did not fully disclose how serious they were, as he did not want anyone to worry. 

At the time, Lynch did not realize it would be their last conversation.

“My phone created a memory that day of a photo of DeMar and me, so I texted it to him. I thought it would raise his spirits,“ Lynch recounted. “As the conversation went on, he told me that he wasn’t sure that he would be able to get back this year to help out with the baseball team. He then said ‘Just make sure nobody forgets about me.’ I thought he was speaking in the context of this season, so I assured him that nobody was going to forget about him, and I told him that he would soon be back out there on his field where he belongs. That was the last conversation we had.”

Demar may no longer set foot on his namesake field, or sit in the dugout, or make a trip to the mound to give his pitcher an encouraging pat on the behind, but his legacy and impact on the Northport community will never fade from it.

John is survived by his sister, Lynn McDonald, and her husband, Stephen McDonald, along with his nephew Justin McDonald and his family, Erica (wife), Chloe (daughter), and Harper (daughter). In lieu of flowers, if you wish, you can make a donation to the Northport High School Baseball Booster Club, 9 Tanager Lane, Northport, NY 11768 – Checks should be made out to NHS Baseball Booster Club and in the memo line please write DeMar.

By Steven Zaitz

Hundreds of smiling faces, young and old, braved the cold to gather at Smithtown High School East Monday night to experience the dazzling spectacle of the Harlem Wizards Basketball show.

More entertainment than competition, the athletic and comedic troupe, who have names such as Sky-Rise, Jumping Jack, Big J, and  Road Runner, wowed the crowd with a mixture of high-flying dunks, ball spinning, break dancing, showmanship and good-natured fun, as MC and ringleader U GoBoy egged on the Wizards to cause mayhem with all who dared to enter – or even stumbled unwittingly –  into their playful path.

The team of players/performers ran layup drills, conducted a dance contest for the moms only,  all the while signing autographs on balls, hats, and shirts whenever asked.

For an extra treat, the students in the crowd got to see the Wizards dunk on – and run circles around  – their very own teachers. Faculty members from Dogwood Elementary, Saint James Elementary and Nesaquake Middle School took turns trying to keep up with the Wizards sky-scraping slams and quick-dribbling chicanery. 

Dogwood principal Renee Carpenter served as the ceremonial referee, but after the opening tap, did not blow her whistle very much. Nesaquake principal Dan McCabe and St. James Elementary principal Adam Javidi played for Smithtown side, as did a dozen or so teachers from the three schools.

The event, which was also held in 2023, was organized by Smithtown PTA President Brittany McGrath. She got the idea from her son Dylan, who is a fifth grader at St. James Elementary.

“Dylan saw the Wizards on Instagram and he is a big basketball fan, so we thought this would be a great idea,” said McGrath. “The kids have a lot of fun and all the money we raise goes back to the schools to help fund programs.”

Last year, the Wizards helped raise about $10,000, and judging by the capacity crowd on this cold January night, that number could easily be matched or surpassed.

Austin Black, a second grader at Dogwood Elementary, got his basketball signed by Jumping Jack at halftime.

“I’m so happy that the Wizards came to our town,” said Black, who watched his teacher, Miss Ferolito, compete against the Wizards. “It entertains the kids and gives us a great night of alley-oops, tricks and dunks.”

There were many dunks and tricks by the visiting team, and although nobody—except maybe McGrath, who was designated official scorekeeper—was really counting, the Wizards came out on top, beating the Smithtown Teachers 88-76.

“We’ll get ‘em next year,” McGrath said.