Huntington Local

Whitman’s SADD Club members receiving a check from Michael Tracy of Allstate Insurance Agency. Left to right: Elizabeth Mahadeo, treasurer; Hana Khan, secretary; Marilyn Mandaro, Whitman psychologist and club adviser; Samantha Augustine; Scott Matus; Edith O'Neil, president; Jennifer Mugavero; Allstate Agency owner Michael Tracy; and Whitman Principal James Polansky.

As the prom and graduation season nears, Walt Whitman High School’s SADD Club (Students Against Destructive Decisions) has been extra busy on the Walt Whitman campus. As students entered the main drive this week, they were greeted with the sight of a gruesomely wrecked car on the front grass field, a grim reminder to slow down and make smart decisions when driving or entering a car as a passenger.

Local Allstate Insurance agency owner Michael Tracy visited Whitman on Tuesday to present a check for $1,000 to the Whitman SADD members to help in their efforts to bring attention to the escalating problem of teen auto accidents. “The majority of accidents we’re seeing on Long Island involve teenagers,” said Tracy. “And while there is a problem with drunk driving, there is also a big problem with teenagers speeding. Allstate believes in doing everything we can to help promote safe teen driving, so we are happy to present this check to the Whitman SADD club.”

The club has also been busy distributing friendship bracelets titled: “friends don’t let friends drive drunk,” and student lifeline cards. The cards, which are free to any student, contain an 800 phone number that can be used 24/7 to secure a free cab ride under almost any condition.

Whitman SADD is also cooperating with several other groups to present a powerful and informative program titled “Choices and Consequences” on Tuesday, May 6, at the Walt Whitman High School Forum at 7:30 PM. The SADD students hope that their efforts will help their peers enjoy this celebratory season safely.

Students from the "Green Team" at St. Patrick's school planted a dozen trees at Mill Dam Park in Huntington recently in conjunction with Arbor Day and Earth Day. Jo Ann Bellistri, leader of the team, worked with Councilman Stuart Besen and Conrad Decker of Bartlett Tree Services, as well as with the town’s General Services and Parks Departments. “Children today want to learn about the environment and are enthusiastic about what they can do themselves to make a difference," Besen said. In the back row above are Decker, Besen and Bellistri, with the children.

The South Huntington school district is offering the second in a series of community awareness programs.

District parents, guardians and students are invited to a presentation by Maureen McCormick, assistant district attorney, chief of Vehicular Crimes for Nassau County and a South Huntington resident.

On the agenda is information and discussion about teen drivers and road safety.

The district says: "What you learn will help you – and help your child, to be safer on our roads.
The issue isn’t trust... the issue is safety!"

The meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Walt Whitman High School forum.

In cooperation with: SHUFSD PTA Council, Walt Whitman High School PTA,
WWHS S.A.D.D., WWHS Natural Helpers, and Stimson S.A.D.D.

There's a free raffle for parents in attendance.

For more information please contact: Ms. Jacqueline Harris,
Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, at: 425-5300 x128

A lacrosse jamboree featuring middle and high school teams is scheduled for Saturday at Walt Whitman High School in South Huntington.

Starting at 9 a.m., there will be lacrosse and sports vendors, food, and lacrosse games all day, culminating in a varsity boys gave at 7:15PM when Whitman will faceoff against John Glenn.

The schedule

Stimson 7th & 8th Gr. Girls vs. Candlewood 9:00 AM Turf Field

Stimson 7th Gr. Boys vs Candlewood 10:30 AM Turf Field

Stimson 8th Gr. Boys vs Candlewood 12:00 PM Turf Field

Whitman J.V. Girls vs John Glenn 1:30 PM Turf Field

Whitman Varsity Girls vs John Glenn 3:15 PM Turf Field

Whitman J.V. Boys vs John Glenn 5:15 PM Turf Field

Whitman Varsity Boys vs John Glenn 7:15 PM Turf Field

Huntington (A) 6th Grade PAL vs Wantagh 10:00 AM Front Grass Field

Huntington (A) 4th Grade PAL vs Wantagh 11:30 AM Front Grass Field

Huntington (B) 6th Grade PAL vs SWR 1:00 PM Front Grass Field

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The Long Island Housing Services is hosting a Gala Event on April 24th at the Melville Marriott. Well known civil rights advocates, lawyers, realtors and members of the clergy are expected to be in attendance.

James H. Carr, author of the recently released Segregation: The Rising Costs for America,is the featured guest speaker and will be available to sign books.

LIHSA will honor special supporters: Margarita Logan and Robert W. Ralph, pioneers in the local struggle for Fair Housing.

Location/Time: Melville Marriott
1350 Old Walt Whitman Road, Melville
April 24, 2008
6pm - 9:30pm

Additonal information provided at: www.lifairhousing.org

Stuart Gelberg of Huntington has been named “Pro Bono Attorney of the Year” from the Nassau County Bar Association for his commitment to the Nassau County Volunteer Lawyers Project and Suffolk County Pro Bono Project.

Gelberg, a bankruptcy attorney in Garden City, has recorded more than 500 hours of pro bono work and 269 cases.

He’s also a member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Clerks and the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees.

Ruth D’Onofrio of Huntington has been named “Volunteer of the Year” by the Huntington-based Township Theatre Group (TTG) for her commitment and dedication to the organization.

Since joining the group in 1954, D’Onofrio has either produced or worked on more than 100 shows and has become affectionately known to TTG members as “The Godmother.” “Whenever something needs to be done, Ruth is there,” said TTG President Joseph Paris.

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

A five-person team from Commack High School recently took first-place honors at the Senior High Math League, a tournament-style competition hosted by the Suffolk County Math Teacher's Association. The team beat out 105 teams from 47 high schools countywide.

"There's something to be said for kids who can think quick on their feet," said Bruce Leon, the school's math department chairman. "We try to foster that spirit."

To win, Commack students endured five matches consisting of six questions each in topics such as algebra, pre-calculus and geometry. Teams had five minutes to answer without using a calculator.

Commack's winning team consisted of seniors Carl Grafmuller, Ryan Schum and Frank Aversano and juniors Jason Gross, Ben Hennessy and Zachary Dean on a rotating basis.

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Twenty-four high school students from Long Island were among 31 awardees statewide in the New York State Science & Engineering Fair at the New York Hall of Science in Queens earlier this month.

As part of the contest, students presented research projects to professionals in the field and competed for more than $900,000 in prizes.

Winners in Huntington town include:

Shyam Rajan of Half Hollow Hills West in Dix Hills, chemistry.
Jason Gross of Commack High School, mathematical sciences.
Daniel Cadel of John H. Glenn in Elwood, electrical and mechanical engineering.
Justin Goldsmith of Half Hollow Hills West, energy and transportation.
Daniel Gross of Walt Whitman in Huntington Station, energy and transportation.
Julia Goldberg of Half Hollow Hills East, medicine and health science.

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Nearly 150 students from throughout Long Island were named gold medal winners earlier this month in the Long Island Math Fair, an annual competition coordinated by the St. James-based Continental Mathematics League.

Winner in the Town of Huntington included:

Commack: Marissa Ditkowsky of Commack Middle School; Saba Javadi, Savitha Racha and Jason Gross of Commack High School;

Half Hollow Hills: Grant Costa, Andy Marguilies and Danica Vasa of Candlewood Middle School; Hiral Doshi, Amanda Zigomalas, Alexander Devarajan and Aaron Schwartz of West Hollow Middle School; Sonia Bansal and
Rohit Ramani of Half Hollow Hills High School East; Levent Alpoge of Half Hollow Hills High School West;

Northport-East Northport: Brian Eyring of Northport Middle School; Brent Bomkamp of Northport High School.

More than 1,700 students at Commack Middle School and at Jonas E. Salk Middle School in Levittown baked hundreds of loaves of bread earlier this month for three local food pantries — Island Harvest in Mineola, the Interfaith Nutrition Network in Hempstead and Faith Mission in Ozone Park.

“This is a way for kids to help others while doing something fun with their families,” said Joyce Conneely, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Commack. “Everybody wins.”

As part of the project, each student received a small package — which included flour, yeast, the recipe and instructions — and baked two loaves of bread at home. One loaf, Conneely said, was brought back to school as a donation.

“These days, fewer people are baking at home, so the tradition isn’t being handed down,” said Frank Sand, chairman of Vermont-based King Arthur Flour, which coordinated the nationwide project. “We want to pass on this traditional life skill to the next generation.”

The Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center has been chosen as a finalist in an Internet competition to win a makeover.

The Huntington shelter placed fourth among 947 shelters that participated in the contest nationwide. It is the only Long Island shelter still in the running.

Richard Thompson, founder and CEO of Zootoo.com, visited the shelter on Tuesday for a tour by a judging panel. The final winners will be announced at the HSUS Animal Care Expo in Orlando, FL., on May 15.

Thompson at left in photo, met with shelter president Maryann Chernovsky, Town of Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and Legis. Steven H. Stern (D-Dix Hills).

Oliver Sacks -- who was portrayed by Robin Williams in the movie “Awakenings” -- will give the commencement address Sunday as the Watson School of Biological Sciences holds its fifth commencement at Grace Auditorium at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Sachs, whose writings inspired a play by Harold Pinter and the Oscar-nominated feature film with Williams and Robert De Niro, will receive an honorary degree along with:

At the 4 p.m. ceremony, the institution will confer doctoral degrees to seven graduates and master of science degrees to two graduates.

The new Natural Helpers are Nicole Badolato, Jarret Bodo, Courtney Bryggman, Michelle Daciuk, Molly Daugherty, Mark Egger, Taryn Elliott, Teasia Flythe, Sharise Graham, Anna Koullias, Kristina Maimis, Angel Mateo, Allison Mintz, Jose H. Murillo, Anna Pepe, Sharika Powell, Brittney Quinones, Jake Racaniello, Aseef Raihan, Fuschia Ray, Pierrline Renois, Zachary Rotter, Brittany Sherland, Natasha Vaughn, Hannah Wagner, Nicole Weydener, and Kimi Yamada. Student trainers in attendance were: Sabino Curcio (president), Evan Brieff (vice president), Allison Mintz (secretary), Edmund Gezelter (treasurer), and Jeffrey Haber (public relations).

This spring, Walt Whitman High School celebrated its third year of being part of Natural Helpers. Natural Helpers is a peer-helping program used in high schools across the United States and in several other countries. The program is based on a simple premise: Within every school, an informal "helping network" exists. Students naturally seek out other students for advice, assistance, or a sympathetic ear. Natural Helpers uses this existing helping network; it provides students and adults who are already perceived as "natural helpers” with extensive training. The third annual Walt Whitman Natural Helpers overnight retreat took place from April 5-6 and was a huge success.

School psychologist Kristen Tizzano and math teacher Donna Talleur serve as co-advisors. They ran an activity-filled retreat for 32 Whitman students. Five students acted as student trainers, and there were 27 new students this year. The teacher-chaperones included Jaime Rogers and Elizabeth Kenney. Mairead Kelly from the Huntington Tri-Community Youth Agency also assisted. The Natural Helpers were selected by their peers through a schoolwide nomination process. Students were asked to name peers whom they find to be caring and trustworthy.

The retreat, which took place at Camp Alvernia in Centerport, included many enjoyable team-building activities as well as presentations on such topics as stereotyping, healthy relationships, and active listening skills. They also heard from speakers from Response Hotline and Phoenix House. The result was a meaningful experience for all involved. The students left with a stronger sense of self-awareness and respect for others, better listening skills, and a few new friends! To quote one of our Natural Helpers, “This program has truly opened my mind about a lot of things –– things that will surely make a difference.”

Do you have stories to tell about your community? We are looking for residents to contribute stories to this site in an effort to bring you more local news than ever before. To sign up to write stories yourself about your community, your organization or things that are happening in your neighborhood, e-mail us at lilife@newsday.com with contact information.

The HuntingtonLocal blog is part of Newsday's effrort to provide greater coverage of the communities in the town of Huntington. You can find the HuntingtonNews page by clicking here.

And if you like the blog or the site, or both, please tell a neighbor.

The ceremony to rename a Northport street after a local Marine captain killed in the bombing of a barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983 has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, at 9:00 a.m.

Joseph J. Boccia Jr., who lost his life in the attack, grew up, in part on Starlit Drive. After the efforts of the village's police chief, the street will be renamed "Captain Joseph J. Boccia Jr./Starlit Drive."

Boccia and 240 other U.S. service members were killed when a terrorist drove a truck bomb into the barracks, located at Beirut airport, in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 1983. They were there on a peacekeeping mission.

For our original story on the renaming of the street, click here.

The second annual Marcie Mazzola Foundation Memorial Run/Walk is scheduled to take place Sunday morning in Huntington.

The event features a 4-mile measured and timed course with one hill, and also includes a fun run for children age 12 and under. Registration for the 4-mile run, which begins at 8:30 is $22. The fee for the fun run, which begins at 8 a.m., is $6. Proceeds are to be given to the Huntington YMCA's Summer Camp Program.

The event begins at the Y, 60 Main Street. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age and gender category in the run. The kids fun run is non competitive.

You can register online by clicking here. Online registration closes Friday evening.

The foundation, which says its mission is to "help better the lives of abused and at-risk children; and to build community awareness regarding the needs of children," was founded in 2003 by the family of Marcie Mazzola, who was killed in an car accident on July 6, 2002.

For more information, you can reach the foundation at the above e-mail address or by calling 631-858-1855.

Compiled by Lynn Petry
lynn.petry@newsday.com

The town Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday night at 6 to consider the following:

Cold Spring Harbor: Judith Hogan, Goose Hill Realty, seeks lot-area, lot-width, front and side-yard variance to remove the existing second story and build a new second story for two bedrooms and one bath to existing letter in lieu house, northwest side of Goose Hill Road, south of Titus Lane.

East Northport: Atria Senior Living Group seeks a special-use permit / parking and front-yard variances to expand the existing senior living facility, east of Chesire Place, north of Fifth Avenue.

East Northport: Elizabeth Cartelli seeks rear and long-street side-yard variances to remove rear deck and build a one-story addition with wood deck attached and open portico, northwest corner of Victor Drive and Birch Haven Court.

Huntington: Thaddeus Godek, Phyllis Caliendo and Bernard Godek seek long-street side-yard variances to obtain certificate of occupancy for expired permit 2656 for house with attached garage and legalize a roofed-over patio, southwest corner of St. Andrews and Dumbarton Drive.

Huntington: Andrew R. Levenbaum seeks special-use permit to apply for outside storage, extension of business depth parking variance, granted via zoning board of appeal 17191 and not perfected on New York Avenue, north of Dewey Street.
Huntington: Richard and Virginia Pepper seek to maintain a garage higher than 15 feet, east side of Prospect Street, north of High Street.

Huntington: ETL Realty Llc / Dr. Geoff Epstein seeks an area relief to legalize medical office, nonconforming to parking regulations, parking buffer requirements and parking stall requirements, southwest corner of Walt Whitman Road and Piedmont Drive.

Melville: Public Storage seeks a special-use permit to allow the expansion of more than 25 percent and variance to utilize the northwest portion of the property for outdoor storage of cars and boats, west side of Walt Whitman Road, north of Old Country Road.

Northport: Martin Reiss and Maryann Reiss seek a front-yard variance to build a two-story addition and to legalize a conforming roofed-over porch along long-street, side yard and legalize shed, southwest corner of Oelsner and Blanchard drives.

By Carolyn Fante

On Friday and Saturday, the Huntington High School Drama club will present “Crazy For You,” a musical featuring songs by George and Ira Gershwin.

Under the direction of Mr. Schwendemann, an English and Theatre Arts teacher at the high school, the cast has been rehearsing the musical since January. Along with the school’s pit orchestra and the stage crew, they are rehearsing like crazy this week, staying late every night to get the show ready.

“Crazy For You” is the story of Bobby Child (played by Jonah Kramer) who comes to a very dull and lifeless mining town (Deadrock, Nevada), with the intention of shutting down their theatre. There, he meets and falls in love with Polly Baker (Mary-Liz O’ Neill), who hates him for trying to close the theatre. Bobby disguises himself and Polly falls in love with him in disguise. In disguise he tries to get Polly to fall in love with Bobby. Finally they are able to save the theatre and Polly and Bobby fall in love.

One of the cast members called the play “corny in a good way.” Included in the musical are many of Gershwin’s songs, including I’ve Got Rhythm, Embraceable You, and Someone to Watch Over Me, plus many others.

This is one of the largest musicals the school has ever produced. Tension and nerves are high as the performance draws nearer --Friday at 8, and Saturday at 2 and 8. The most recent performance this year, Arsenic and Old Lace, was great, and everyone in the cast is eager to make this play a success as well.

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Rehearsal, in photo above, for "Crazy For You" at Huntington High School

Teacher Jamie Rogers goes to work on Principal James Polansky.

Walt Whitman's students and administrative and teaching staff, under the sponsorship of the Robotics Club, recently participated in a fundraiser with a unique approach. "How much would you donate to find cures for childhood cancers if I were to shave my head bald?

" Each year, thousands of volunteers ask this question, and tens of thousands provide generous donations. Funds are directed to childhood cancer research and to improving long-term quality of life for childhood cancer survivors.

At Whitman, cleanly shaved heads belonged to Jamie Rogers, Brian Dreher, Michael Moccia, Keith Goldman, Kieth Lundquist, Robert Bilicki, Jacob Goldblatt, Jason Freed, Sean Martin, Peter Kliphuis, Jimmy Vaughn, Alex Delorenzo, Sean Tremblay, Kris Rastu, Matthew Foley, Justin Sherriden, Isaac Alverez, Evan McPartland, Michael Farina, Natalia Chiemi, Brian Jaworski, and Robert Vincenti (barber).

And the icing on the cake? Principal James Polansky. In all $5,444.31 was raised, with all proceeds going to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research.

Patrons at Canterbury Ales. Newsday Photo by Ari Mintz

By Joan Reminick
joan.reminick@newsday.com

Black & Blue Seafood Chophouse is slated to open within the next week or so at 65 Wall St., Huntington, 631-385-9255, where Off the Wall was. Chef Steven Del Lima, whose idea it was to change the name and concept of Off the Wall, said the refashioned dining spot will offer all-natural meat, poultry and seafood and feature grass-fed Argentine beef. There will be a designated menu for the main dining room, dominated by a 150-gallon saltwater fish tank. That tank will be visible from the restaurant’s lounge, which has its own menu listing such modern bar classics as sliders (mini Kobe beef burgers and lobster rolls) along with savory and sweet fondues. On April 8 at 8 p.m., the restaurant will stage a benefit for the American Cancer Society. There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres and live music. The contribution, at the door, is $25 a person.

Aix-en-Provence, 134 New York Ave., Huntington, has updated its prix-fixe menu. At $45 a person, a three-course dinner includes a wine selection for each course. You might opt to pair a main course of hanger steak with a 2005 French merlot. For more information or reservations, call 631-549-3338.

In honor of its 31st anniversary, Canterbury Ales, 314 New York Ave., Huntington, 631-549-4404, is rolling back prices Monday to Thursday the week of April 7 and again April 14 to 17. At lunch, prices from the ’70s will prevail while dinner guests will pay what they would have during the ’80s. That means that a “Canterburger,” which goes for $9.99 these days, will cost $3.95 at lunch and $5.99 at dinner.