Looking for something to do this weekend? Visit the Festival of Trees, beautifully decorated trees by local businesses, groups, and non-profits, on the second floor of the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson through Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police First Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the men who allegedly stole merchandise from an East Farmingdale store this month.
Three men allegedly stole merchandise valued at $1,500, from Home Depot, located at 202 Airport Plaza Blvd., on December 18 at 5:43 p.m.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward 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 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
The weather was brisk but a good time was had by all at the annual Menorah lighting at the Train Car in Port Jefferson Station on Dec. 25. An annual tradition hosted by Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce, the event was conducted by Rabbi Aaron Benson of the North Shore Jewish Center.
New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, members of the chamber including President Jennifer Dzvonar and members of North Shore Jewish Center enjoyed the festivities.
— Photos courtesy of Will Dzvonar
Town of Smithtown officials and employees have once again united to bring joy to local families in need this holiday season. Continuing an annual tradition, the team organized and delivered wish list items to the Smithtown Children’s Foundation to support families enduring hardship. Many Town employees participated as individuals or on behalf of their families, contributing toys, clothing, and other wish list items. The Smithtown Administrators Guild also made a generous monetary donation to support the effort while individually purchasing gifts to fulfill additional needs.
“Knowing that no child in Smithtown will wake up on Christmas morning without experiencing the magic of this season is my most prized gift this year… The team here at the Town of Smithtown are some of the finest, most kind-hearted individuals I’ve had the privilege of serving with. They consider service to the public a calling, and witnessing this great offering of compassion every year really takes my breath away. I have never been so proud to serve with so many admirable individuals. Together, we consider the people of Smithtown family, and we always take care of our family,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim.
The Smithtown Children’s Foundation works year-round to provide support to less fortunate children, transient families, and those coping with loss or terminal illness. The foundation collaborates confidentially with school social workers and directly with families to ensure their needs are met. Each year, the Town partners with the foundation to make anonymous donations during the holiday season and to supply school necessities for local children throughout the year.
Since its inception in 2008, the Smithtown Children’s Foundation has collaborated with schools, sports teams, businesses, and similar organizations to provide assistance and comfort to children and families facing terminal illnesses, tragic circumstances, or profound loss. This collective effort ensures that no child or family is left to face hardship alone, reinforcing the unwavering spirit of community in Smithtown.
Residents wishing to give back to a great foundation or learn more can visit: www.
The Town of Smithtown Disability Advisory Board hosted a sensory-friendly movie night on December 14, providing an inclusive and welcoming experience for over 100 Smithtown residents. Designed for individuals with sensory sensitivities and their families, the event featured a screening of Moana 2 in a relaxed and accommodating environment.
“The success of our sensory-friendly movie night speaks to the importance of fostering events that create opportunities for all residents to feel welcome and comfortable … This is just the beginning, and we look forward to hosting more events that bring families and the community together,” said Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo.
Attendees enjoyed the movie with lowered sound, adjusted lighting, and on-screen captions, ensuring a comfortable experience for all. Each participant enjoyed popcorn, beverage, and a sensory bag filled with tactile and fidget items to encourage sensory stimulation, focus, and relaxation.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with families expressing gratitude for the inclusive event and excitement for future programming. Attendees asked about planning a future event. The common sentiment shared by participants, reflects the success and importance of such community-centered initiatives.
The Disability Advisory Board members, who were present to welcome families and ensure a smooth event, were thrilled to see the joy and engagement of residents. The Board’s mission is to promote inclusion, accessibility, and a supportive environment for all individuals throughout the Town of Smithtown.
Disability Advisory Board Members:
The Town of Smithtown Disability Advisory Board remains committed to creating events and programs that prioritize accessibility, awareness, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
For more information on upcoming events or the Disability Advisory Board, please visit the Town of Smithtown’s website or email: [email protected]
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who allegedly stole from a Selden store in October.
A man allegedly stole JBL headphones, valued at approximately $150, from Target, located at 307 Independence Plaza, at approximately 1:05 p.m. on October 11 by placing the merchandise in his pants.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward 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 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center announced the winners of the 2024 Annual Gurwin Photo Contest, revealing the photos at a wine and cheese reception in Gurwin’s Simon Rainbow Room at the 460-bed skilled nursing facility in Commack on Dec. 9.
Nearly 1,000 submissions are received each year from across the globe by amateur photographers and students, and are judged by a panel of professional photographers for clarity, composition, subject matter and suitability for display at the Center.
This year’s judges, Iris Zaverdas De Vita of Golden Iris, Tony Lopez of Tony Lopez Photography, and Josh Schmidt of The Tiffen Company, chose 34 winning photos.
Grand Prize, Honorable Mentions, as well as a Best-in-Show winners were awarded in 12 categories: Action/ Sports, Altered/Enhanced, Children, Landscapes, Long Island/ New York, Nature, People, Pets, Still Life, Student, Travel, and Wildlife. Gurwin residents and staff also weighed-in on their favorites for “Resident/ Staff Selection” winners.
Best-in-Show went to Regina Matarazzo (Tobyhanna, PA) for her photo “Seagull Under the Pier” and Best-In-Show Runner-Up to Alan Sloyer (Roslyn) for “Millie’s Diner.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate not only the incredible talent of our photo contest winners but also the joyous return of our in-person reception at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, marking the first time since the pandemic,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System.
“Each year we are so very impressed by the incredible artistry of the participants, many of them perennial supporters of our unique contest. We are pleased to showcase their work, and a grateful for the beauty and inspiration the photos bring to our residents.”
Winning photos are permanently displayed in the Center’s renowned Tiffen Gallery, named in memory of Helen and Nat Tiffen of The Tiffen Company, long-time sponsors of the contest. More than 1,000 photos are showcased throughout the Center for the enjoyment of the community’s 460 long- and short-term residents, staff and visitors.
Photos not selected for a prize award are repurposed as reminiscence aids, for visual stimulation and art therapy, providing a source of comfort and inspiration, for residents throughout the Center, including Gurwin’s Memory Care Unit and Adult Day Care Programs.
“It’s hard for me to fathom that we’ve been hosting this contest for 31 years…at first, it was a way to decorate our newly opened nursing home; today, it’s so much more than that,” said Dennine Cook, Chief Corporate Communications Officer for Gurwin Healthcare System.
“All the selections, whether they be honorable mentions, grand prizes or resident/staff selections, will be judged, discussed and enjoyed by so many appreciative eyes for years to come. That is the real honor – that your photos will hang for decades in our residents’ home,” Cook added.
By Julianne Mosher
Inside Global Language Reads, the maroon-colored walls are home to shelves filled with different books. There are novels varying from classic writers like Charles Dickens to true crime, local authors and historical fiction. There’s a shelf of Oliver Sacks’ best sellers and a room dedicated to solely to children’s books in the back.
It just opened in November, but GLR is already a special oasis that brings the feel of a small, family-owned book shop to Port Jefferson village. But what makes this spot different compared to some other local bookstores is the variety of different languages and cultures they bring to the table. Owner Caterina Lemos Cunha said that many of the books on site are not just sold in English, but are also available in more than a dozen different languages.
Offering a many different services, classes and events, the goal of GLR is to bring readers together through game nights, language classes and debate teams, while creating an environment that welcomes everyone and anyone — no matter what you speak.
With her three children, Cunha was living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn working as a scientist specializing in neuroscience. Using her background in research, she decided to start writing children’s books surrounding different types of science with her (little) free time. Cunha would often interview women scientist, disseminate the information into simpler terms and create a story surrounding that science featuring the main character, Alicia (named after her youngest daughter).
Alicia has more than a dozen stories — she learned about rainbows, fireworks, spiders and mental health, and each book offers a science experiment or recipe that kids can do with their families when they’re done reading. Cunha wanted to break down science and make it easy to digest for kids.
“I try to highlight women because sometimes we get forgotten,” Cunha said. “And then we translate them and publish the stories in other languages.” Out of her 10 books, more than half are written bilingually to cater to people of all backgrounds.
Alicia’s adventures had Cunha writing for years and years with one end goal in mind.
“Our dream was always to have our own store to sell them and also sell other books,” she said. “But I was always very busy with research work.”
Cunha and her family decided to leave the city after her son, Gabriel, was killed last year and move to Port Jefferson.
“We needed a change and we kind of followed our intuition,” she said.
After visiting several empty store fronts, Cunha was introduced to 402 Main Street next door to Theatre Three. A former insurance agent, Cunha repainted the walls her late-sons favorite color and named the shop “Global Language Reads” — the same initials as his name.
“We got into the mindset of wanting to do things now in our life and not wait,” she said.
Since officially opening their doors Nov. 8, Cunha said her favorite thing so far is becoming part of the community. “So far we’ve met so many people and got to learn their stories,” she said. “That’s really the best part.”
Cunha, who was born in Portugal and raised in Germany, wanted to bring a sense of culture to her new store. While stocking the shelves with New York Times bestsellers and typical classics, she wanted to be sure to also showcase authors that other people might not know or who are not well-known in the United States.
And to cater to the rich, diverse local community, she decided to bring in authors and books in not just English but Hindu, Bengali, Arabic, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, French, German, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin. Her children’s books are also written side-by-side bilingually, too. Some genres that can be found include young adult, nonfiction, independent study, historical fiction and some science-heavy reads.
Cunha added that when she opened up the shop, she wanted to bring in different programming for people of all ages. GLR hosts weekly book clubs, game nights and will bring in local authors to talk about their writing.
“I always liked teaching and when I went into research I preferred it,” she said. “Here, too, I want to get kids excited about this and in a small, independent setting you can just come in, learn and have fun.”
The shop is open daily from noon to 9 p.m. Call 631-314-9080 or visit glrbooks.com for more information.
By Jennifer Donatelli
The Northport Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 15 at the Northport Historical Society to celebrate the grand opening of its new exhibit, Kids Make History Cove.
With a grant from the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, the historical society created the year-round exhibit which is both fun and educational for young history enthusiasts. Interior designer and business member Elizabeth Olivier volunteered her time to help design the exhibit.
Using the museum’s educational collection and vintage items such as Victorian-era clothing, a rotary phone, a typewriter and a scale, curator Liz Abrams incorporated historical artifacts to teach visitors about Northport’s history.
Executive Director Terry Reid said she came up with the idea for Kids Make History Cove as a way to teach children about Northport’s history while having fun playing with old-fashioned toys.
“This is enriching for parents as well,” Reid said, “because they can enjoy the museum while the kids play in the new exhibit.”
Paula Pangen, visiting from Austin, Texas, brought her granddaughter Cecilia “CiCi” Collaro, 2, from East Northport to play in the Kids Cove.
“She loved playing with the rotary phone and typewriter,” Pangen said.
Visitors got a special treat when Santa stopped by to read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and take photos with children. Older kids also joined in the fun by participating in the Elf Scavenger Hunt which had them roaming the gallery to find hidden elves.
Claire Weissman of Northport brought her son, Miles, to see the new exhibit.
“I told Santa I want a Godzilla for Christmas,” Miles exclaimed as he looked for mini elves throughout the museum.
Reid said the scavenger hunt changes with each season and is another way to engage children while teaching them about history.
“They’re getting comfortable in a museum setting and realizing that museums are fun,” Reid explained. “Kids today are very interactive and we wanted to have low-tech toys that are engaging but also allow them to explore on their own.”
Cary Bianculli, director of marketing at the historical society, said the museum is committed to celebrating Northport’s history with its new Northport Notable feature. Each month, the museum will highlight a local historical figure who helped shape the community paired with a special activity for children.
“This month, we’re thrilled to highlight Henry Scudder, a Revolutionary War spy from Northport who played a crucial role in gathering intelligence during the American Revolution,” Reid said.
In honor of Scudder’s adventurous life, the museum is offering a Crack the Code activity where kids can engage in a hands-on game of deciphering secret codes similar to how Washington’s Culper Spy Ring operated to aid the American cause.
Founded in 1962, the Northport Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history of Northport and its surrounding communities. The museum, located at 215 Main St., houses permanent and rotating exhibits, educational programs and more than 12,000 documents, photos and artifacts that bring Northport’s history to life for residents and visitors alike.
The next Northport Notable will debut in February, featuring Edna Olmsted, a trailblazer who made history as the first woman to drive a car around the globe.
For more information on the monthly Northport Notables and other events, visit www.northporthistorical.org.
By Bill Landon
Both the Royals of Port Jefferson and the Miller Place Panthers were deadlocked at 39-39 through three quarters of play in the nonleague matchup on Dec. 14, and the outcome wouldn’t be decided until the final second of the game. Port Jefferson trailing by two points inbounded the ball, but couldn’t get a shot off when the buzzer sounded, falling to the Panthers 53-51.
It was the Panther’s second win of the season, having defeated Wyandanch earlier in the season. Senior Ava Zicchinelli led the way for the Panther, banking 9 field goals a three-pointer and 3 from the free throw line for a team high of 24 points, along with teammate Julie Orenzo, a sophomore who added 21.
Port Jeff senior Matreya Driscoll-Stremich led the way for the Royals with 20 points, and freshman Addison Tuttle notched 13.
— Photos by Bill Landon
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