Huntington Local

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Silas Wood sixth grader Morgan Trefney, left, with classmates, prepare boxes to hold donated sneakers. Teachers Ms. Scardapane and Mr. Dwyer lend a hand.

Students at South Huntington’s Silas Wood Sixth Grade Center are working hard to provide gently worn sneakers to those in greatest need around the world.

Starting last week and culminating on June 13, the students, led by teachers Ms. Marijean Scardapane and Mr. Robert Dwyer, were collecting gently worn sneakers. The idea was presented to the teachers by Morgan Trefney, a student at Silas Wood. “Do you have any extra sneakers at home?” asks Morgan. “Perhaps a pair you have outgrown? If you do, we want them.”

The idea for Share Your Soles was born in 1999, when Chicago native Mona Purdy, a life-long runner, traveled with a friend to Guatemala to take part in a race and was shocked by what she saw. Ms. Purdy entered a half-marathon made up of two different categories—one for children and one for adults. Waiting for her turn, Purdy noticed that many of the children weren’t wearing shoes, and she watched as they painted hot tar on the soles of their feet to run the race without hurting themselves. On the plane home, Purdy sat next to an orthopedic surgeon from Guatemala who treated the frail feet of kids who were too poor to afford shoes. He told her that if these children had shoes to wear, he would not have to amputate their limbs.

Now known as the “shoe messiah,” Purdy started Share Your Soles, and the nonprofit organization is flourishing. They have touched the hearts of hundreds of thousands, and volunteers in more than 30 states have organized shoe drives and special events to put shoes on the feet of children and adults in the most impoverished areas of the world.

Sixth graders in South Huntington are looking for your help. To cover the cost of detergent, bleach, and washing machine service, the students are asking that you donate $1 with each pair of donated sneakers. For additional information on how you can donate your gently used sneakers, contact Ms. Scardapane at mscardapane@shufsd.org.

Melissa Tara Moss and Maureen Piranian of Moss Spa & Yoga in Cold Spring Harbor, with their award.

Richard Gordon and Eileen Knauer of the Huntington YMCA, which received an award.

Twenty-nine companies and organizations from across the Island -- ranging from a new spa in Cold Spring Harbor to a fine ladies fashion shop in downtown Huntington to communications giant Verizon -- received a 2008 Long Island Business Best Award on Friday from the Huntington Chamber of Commerce.

Jim Kelly, a member of the chamber's executive committee, explained that the group honors companies within and beyond the borders of the town, "because no one operates in a vacuum. These are all companies operating in the region."

The chamber said the award was "created to honors influential corporations and leaders in business and industry . . . " and to recognize "companies that contribute to the quality of life within their community through their participation with the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce."

These companies and organizations received awards at a lunch at the Hilton Long Island in Melville:

• Adelphi University


• Austin Travel


• Bethpage Federal Credit Union


• Briarcliffe College


• Citibank


• Coach Realtors


• Commerce Bank


• Conrad Capital Management


• Dalia's


• JPMorgan Chase


• JVKellyGroup, Inc.


• Kushnick & Associates


• Long Islander Newspapers, Inc.


• Long Island Power Authority


• Long Island Press


• Marcum & Kliegman, LLP


• Moss Spa and Yoga


• National Grid


• Neighbor Newspapers


• Newsday


• Nightingale & Nightingale Public Relations


• Portnoy Messinger & Pearl


• Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate


• Target Group Media


• Town of Huntington


• VIP Basket Store


• Verizon Communications


• YMCA of Huntington


• Walsdorf Insurance

Coach Patrick Campbell and the undefeated East Northport Middle School Lady Tigers basketball team received a proclamation last week from Councilman Stuart Besen and the rest of the Huntington Town Board (that's them in the background). The team finished in first place with a season record of 10 wins and 0 losses.

The roots of "Other People's Money,” about a corporate raider eyeing a family-owned business,
date to 1914, but the theme of this romantic comedy-drama seems pretty up-to-date. Catch it before it closes Sunday at the John W. Engeman Theater at Northport tonight and tomorrow at 8 (limited seats available) and Sunday at 2. $45. 250 Main St., 631-261-2900, johnwengeman
theater.com. (That's Wilbur Edwin Henry and James DePaiva in the photo, above.

Photo by Anthony Caporale

The venerable Art League of Long Island -- once known as the Huntington Township Art League -- this weekend hosts its 41st annual Art in the Park show and sale in Huntington's Heckscher Park with a gift for visitors: For the first time, admission is free, although the league does request donations and will sell raffles. Tomorrow and Sunday, 10 a.m.- 5p.m., rain or shine, you'll find more than 50 artists and craftsmen displaying jewelry, paintings, photos and more.

Local students will play jazz live at the show, and you can try your hand at various arts and crafts -- and get a taste of the league's art classes. Prime Avenue and Route 25A (Main Street). 631-462-5400, ext. 246, artleagueli.org .

Walt Whitman’s High School Wildcat Booster Club president Robert Fregenti and South Huntington School District’s Athletic Director James Wright presented their Gold Key Awards last week to 21 student athletes who have demonstrated outstanding athletic participation in a combination of eight junior varsity or varsity seasons in grades 10-12 while at Walt Whitman High School.

The 2008 Gold Key recipients were: Jacquelyn Addeo, Tyler Brown, Christopher DeLuca, Elizabeth DeMarco, Brice DeRosa, Joseph DiRocco, Milton Feliciano, Gregory Fevola, Jason Freed, Kai Garlipp, Brittany Greene, Krista Hannaford, Robert Kraatz, Caitlin Martin, Ryan Mesloh, Anthony Rebolini, John Roselle, John Rouse, Justin Saslaw, John Servinskas, and Kristin Stepniewski.

Athletic scholarships sponsored by the Wildcat Booster Club were also awarded to the following seniors: Robert H. Young Scholarship for Outstanding Male and Female Athletes presented to: John Roselle and Ludnie Faustin
Wildcat Booster Club Leadership Scholarships to: Michael Roff and Brittany Greene
Major Michael F. Bradley Memorial Scholarship For Athletic/Academic Excellence to: Kai Garlipp
Wildcat Sportsman of the Year Scholarship to: Kyheem Green
Wildcat Sportswoman of the Year Scholarship to: Jennifer LaCara
Wildcat Booster Club Presidential Scholarships to: Kate Barnosky and Tyler Brown
Athletic Director’s Scholarships to: Raul Romero and C.J. Humphries
Robert Spreckels Memorial Scholarship to: Lisa Bilodeau
Huntington Boys Club Scholarships for Sportsmanship to: James Berbrick and Michelle Falcone
Frank Gugliotta Memorial Basketball Scholarships to: Nicholas Barrotta and Brian Muller
Joan Schanars Memorial Scholarship to: Jacquelyn Addeo
Paul A. Lyle Memorial Scholarship to: Kristin Stepniewski
Raymond Ferranti Wildcat Booster Club Scholarship to: Nicholas Barrotta
Wildcat Booster Club Gold Key Scholarships to: Brice DeRosa and Elizabeth DeMarco
and The Quick Environmental “Joe Greene” Scholarship to: Mychael Fabio.

Rendering by architect Mojo Stumer Associates of how the building is going to look.

The building this week. Newsday Photo

The former Aboff building on New York Avenue and Fairview Street in downtown Huntington is undergoing a year-long renovation and expansion by The Advantage Group of Companies.

Originally the Hotel Huntington (below), the building became a department store in 1951. Advantage became a tenant in 1992 and bought the building in 2000. It plans to expand the building to about 34,000 square feet from 20,000 and use 20,000 square feet on the two upper floors. The ground floor would be leased.

The company said the new design includes a brick facade and limestone columns as well as a two-story glass-enclosed lobby. A top floor, removed by a prior owner, will be restored, as will windows that are currently bricked over.

The Advantage Groups is five affiliated companies, including a title company founded in 1987.

The Hotel Huntington

How the building looked in 1960

The Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday at 6 p.m. to consider the following applications.

Dix Hills: Arthur and Lucille A. Foerderer seek a rear-yard variance to maintain existing roofed-over patio in rear of house and request to demolish existing nonconforming shed, north side of Chaffey Court, west of Seamans Neck Road.

East Northport: Patrick and Laura Fitzgerald seek lot-area and side-yard variances to build a one-story rear addition with basement under and remove existing deck and build a new rear deck, cellar entrance and front roof-over porch and side deck, northwest corner of Furwood Drive and South Gate.

East Northport: NY SMSA Ltd. Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, seeks a special-use permit to build six antennas concealed within steeple and two global positioning system units mounted on rooftop and construction of 22.66-foot by 19.5-foot fenced and canopied equipment area, southeast corner of Field Daisy Lane and Cedar Road.

Huntington: Kenneth R. Klaffky / GAK Properties, Llc seeks to expand existing structure where parking cannot be provided on site. Also requests to utilize municipal parking for on-site parking, south side of Main Street, east of Prospect Street.

Huntington Station: PSM Long Island Corp. seeks relief of the merger clause to make application to the Building Department for a one-family house on the vacant parcel, south side of Lynch Street, east of Varney Avenue.

Huntington Station: Annunziato Algeria seeks front-yard variance to legalize conversion of front portion of letter in lieu house 11-foot by 26-foot from a porch into two bedrooms, south side of Lynch Street, east of Varney Avenue.

Huntington Station: Tarsem Singh seeks a rear-yard variance to build a one-story addition, north side of Harton Drive, east of New York Avenue.

Melville: Michael P. and Jennifer Leslie seek a side-yard variance to maintain conversion of raised wood deck to composite material for safety reasons and conversion of existing garage to bedroom for accessory apartment (permit 003403), southeast corner of Rainer Street and New York Avenue.

By Lynn Ruvolo

Councilman Stuart Besen is teaming up with AAA New York to speak with parents of teenage drivers and review the power point presentation: The Ten Deadly Common Driver Mistakes drivers of that age succumb to. Also joining in the presentation will be members of the Centerport Fire Department/Rescue Squad.

This presentation will be held at Town Hall, 100 Main Street, Huntington on June 10, at 7:00 pm. The program runs for about an hour and will give helpful tips on how to avoid making mistakes by helping the teen driver improve their judgment, knowledge, behavior and skills while operating a motor vehicle. The ten deadly mistakes include: risk taking, late night cruising, rowdy riders, overconfidence, CD player, speeding, peer pressure, unbuckled seatbelts, DUI and, of course, cell phones.

Key messages for parents include:
-- car crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens
-- parental involvement is essential
-- parents need to learn the new Graduated Driver Licensing Law (GDL)

“The summer is approaching rapidly and schools will be closed, which means our teens will be driving to work or out with their friends. This is an important program. Find out what you as a parent can do to avert fatal missteps with your teen either behind the wheel or as a passenger,” said Besen, who is shown above during last year's presentation.

This program is designed for parents but teens are most certainly welcome. For additional information, call 631-351-3171.

Lynn Ruvolo works in the Town of Huntington's Citizen Services department.

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

Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School recently raised $32,694 — the largest amount of any Long Island school — for the American Heart Association through “Jump Rope for Heart,” a nationwide program that combines fitness and fundraising. In recognition of its feat, the school was presented with a $1,000 check to purchase new gym equipment.

The top fundraisers in each grade were fifth-grader Nicholas Farino, fourth-grader Stephen Hildebrandt and third-grader Sarah Fick, who raised $610, $545 and $450, respectively.

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

Craig Isser, a junior at Commack High School, recently received the President's Volunteer Service Award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

To achieve the feat, Isser completed more than 250 hours of community service at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack.

"I think I help to make the employees' lives a little less hectic,” said Isser, 16. "As a volunteer, I like knowing I've made a difference in the lives of people.”

Isser joined Gurwin several years ago as part of his synagogue's Mitzvah Day, a nationwide day of good deeds in the Jewish religion. He ultimately stayed on as a longtime volunteer to help with clerical duties, social activities and patient transportation.

As a writing student at the Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts, Isser also admits to using his "adopted grandparents” at Gurwin as source material.

"You never know, I can always get an idea for a character from someone there,” said Isser, who said he enjoys hearing about historical events that residents have experienced. "They inspire me.”

In April, Isser read original prose and poetry at the "Know Me, Know My Name” Conference at Hofstra University, a Nassau BOCES event in which high-schoolers shared original works about bullying and peer pressure.

By Steve Silverman
Photo and text

Honorary Chief Henry Gerdes, center, was recently awarded the Huntington Fire Department "Firefighter of the Year Award" for his dedicated and outstanding service. Gerdes, a young 88-years of age who is still active after 69 years of service, received a long standing ovation at the 165th Annual Installation of Officers. From left, are Second Deputy Chief Ken Cochrane, Third Deputy Chief Bob Berry, Henry Gerdes, Chief Dana Aliperti and First Assistant Chief Brian Riggs.

By Steve Silverman
Photo and text

The Huntington Manor Fire Department recently presented Ex-Captain David Schombs with the Peter A. Nelson Firefighter of the Year Award in recognition of his many years of dedicated service. From left, are Chief Robert Herley, outgoing Chief Dane Martin, David Schombs, 1st Assistant Chief Mark Sciallo, 2nd Assistant Chief Gary Hatton and 3rd Assistant Chief Fred Steenson, Jr. The award is presented annually in the memory of Huntington Manor FD Chief and FDNY Rescue Company No. 4 Firefighter Peter A. Nelson, who was killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

By Steve Silverman
Photo and text

The Cold Spring Harbor Fire Department recently recognized two firefighters for their top response to fire calls. Firefighters James Felton Sr., and Justin Armbruster were both tied for the Highest Response To Fire Alarms Award. From left, are Chief James Felton, James Felton, Sr. (the chief's father), Justin Armbruster, and Outgoing Chief William Tremblay. The presentations took place at the department's 156th annual installation of officers.

We're trying something new this weekend. You can click here to see garage sales advertised this weekend in the town of Huntington. And to give us feedback on this new feature, drop us an e-mail

Deborah S. Morris
deborah.morris@newsday.com

Huntington job seekers get out your resumes. The town and the Huntington and East Northport chambers of commerce have come together to assist unemployed residents or those seeking a new job.

More than 50 businesses are taking part in the Second Annual Huntington Employment Fair being held Thursday at Huntington High School, Oakwood and McKay roads, between 5:00 and 7 p.m.

The event will focus primarily on the recruitment and retention of Huntington residents for both blue-collar and white-collar positions, town officials said.

Town board member Glenda Jackson recruited 50 local businesses and community service agencies to help residents in a range of job-related concerns such as job placement, resume writing and insurance.

Jackson said with the economy in such flux she decided to work with local chambers and businesses to assist Huntington residents to find stable full-time work.

“We are in the midst of a significant economic downturn on Long Island and in the Town of Huntington,” Jackson said. “I have experienced firsthand the outcry from the community for more jobs and more career opportunities.”

Community leaders and residents from across the town approached her, Jackson said, hoping they could join with her to assist with employment opportunities.

“In recognition of the high percentage of unemployment, it is my vision to marry the diverse business community in the town with our talented and highly skilled workforce,” Jackson said. “It is a win-win situation and could not come at a more crucial time.”

Kindergarten through second-grade students at Oakwood Primary School in South Huntington participated in Connecting Cultures, an ongoing project that uses video conferencing technology to learn about a remote village in Morocco.

The Model Schools program at Western Suffolk BOCES presented a Technology Integration Award for the project to teacher Ms. Linda Cepelak (second, right). The project motivated the students to raise $2,000 to help the village construct a bathroom in its school.

Celebrating the project’s success were (left to right) Ms. Sharon Fellner, Technology Supervisor; Ms. Merryl Rogers, Assistant Superintendent Instruction and Curriculum; Ms. Cepelak, and Ms. Eileen Kerrigan, Oakwood Principal.

By Michael Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Seven Suffolk County students have been named winners in “New York State History Day,” an annual contest sponsored by the New York State Historical Association that encourages the exploration of local, national and world history.

Winners were
--Amelia Goodman and Kate Mallison of Henry L. Stimson Middle School in Huntington Station, first place in junior group documentary.
--Shalini Pammal of Commack High School, second place in senior Web site
--Kristen Freiman, Colleen Teubner, Rebecca Silverman and Caitlin Etri of Huntington High School, third place in senior group performance.

People are still talking about Billy Joel's recent Mother's Day weekend appearance in downtown Huntington. On May 10, he drove his Harley into town and stopped at Cassis. He sat outside the French bistro on Wall Street and had a drink with a friend. Later that weekend, he took his mother, Rosalind Nyman Joel, who lives in Huntington in a house purchased for $248,000 in 1984, for a Mother's Day dinner at the more traditional Abel Conklins on New Street. Joel owns a house in Centre Island, which is now on the market for $32.5 million, as well as homes in Sagaponack and Sag Harbor.

Getty Images photo

Kevin Lawlor, the president of Huntington Hospital, with Councilwoman Susan Berland, Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, Clark Gillies, Councilman Mark Curthbertson and Councilwoman Glenda A. Jackson.

By Susannah Mrazek

Councilman Mark Cuthbertson and the Huntington Town Board recently acknowledged former Islander hockey sensation and Hall of Famer Clark Gillies for his generous donation towards the completion of the pediatric emergency wing of Huntington Hospital.

Gillies is a former professional ice hockey player and Hall of Famer, who was a left winger for the New York Islanders for 12 years, during which time the team won four Stanley Cups.

Gillies and the Gillies Foundation have given a million dollars towards this endeavor, and the most recent gift of $225,000 will allow Huntington Hospital to provide safe, comfortable emergency support services to children from the ages of 1-12.

Huntington Hospital President Kevin Lawlor worked with Gillies to endure that the new inpatient facility catered to children by providing toys, video games and child size medical equipment. The facility will also have a separate entrance so that children may feel more at ease.

“As a parent I know first hand that emergency rooms can be a frightening place for a child,” remarked Councilman Cuthbertson as he presented Gillies with a special Proclamation from the Town of Huntington. “That is why Mister Gillies and the Gillies Foundation’s donation is so important to the children of our community and to our Town. On behalf of our youngest citizens, we thank him for helping to make Huntington an even better place to live.”

Susannah Mrazek is a legislative aide to the Huntington Town Board.`

The Book Revue has announced that a scheduled appearance Saturday by Butch Patrick, the actor who played Eddie Munster on the 1960s television show “The Munsters,” has been canceled.

Patrick, 55, was to sign copies of "Eddie Munster aka Butch Patrick: The Untold Story of His Early Hollywood-a, Could-a, Should-a Years" - a biography of Patrick by Helen Darras of Setauket.

The Huntington book store said the event was canceled “due to circumstances beyond our control,” and that there were “currently no plans to reschedule.”

Whitman senior Andrew Tremblay at the wheel, learns what driving drunk feels like the safe way...the only way, behind the wheel of a multi-million dollar simulator.

As students across Long Island prepare for proms and graduations, Walt Whitman students have been taking part in several programs that are intended to teach them about the dangers of drunk driving and let them know that they have the power to do something about it. “We want kids to understand that they need to step up and take the keys of a friend who has been drinking, even at the risk of being labeled ‘uncool,’” said Chris Geysbeek, Save a Life Tour manager. “Kids need to know how important it is to be there for their friends.”

The Save a Life Tour is a high-impact alcohol awareness program with three presentation units that travel all over the country. Their multimillion-dollar drinking-and-driving simulators are the only ones in the nation that give participants a completely realistic, sober perspective on the effects of driving while intoxicated.

At the wheel of the simulator, Whitman senior Andrew Tremblay tried unsuccessfully to control his vehicle when the simulator mimicked what he would have experienced if he had had several drinks. ”If there's alcohol involved, I won't be driving or getting into someone else's car,” said Tremblay.

“It was very hard to drive that way,” said another Whitman senior, Michelle Stodolski, after her turn in the simulator. “It makes you realize that driving drunk would not be easy, like kids may think. It would be so easy to get into an accident or even kill someone. It can happen to anyone, and this program made you realize that.”

In an even stronger presentation called “Choices or Consequences,” Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Maureen McCormick detailed the effects of bad decisions about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The program featured first-person accounts offered by young people who are living with their bad decisions. It was difficult for students to watch the video footage, caught by a dash-mounted camera, as Martin Heidgen’s pickup truck slammed head-on into a limousine, ending the life of driver Stanley Rabinowitz and 7-year-old flower girl Katie Flynn on the Meadowbrook Parkway.

“Drinking and driving can have devastating effects,” said Dr. Thomas Shea, South Huntington School Superintendent. “As a school district, we want to be as proactive as possible in taking steps to prevent it. In my January Spotlight message, I talked about parents’ responsibility to their children and others in the community, in light of the new Social Host law now in effect in Suffolk County. These final two programs of the school year cap several that we have held this year in our effort to educate our teens and help them to make good decisions.”

By Karen Krupka

Every year Kiddie Academy has their annual conference for franchisees. The conference is held to bring 95 franchisees together to recognize individuals and academies for their efforts and accomplishments during the previous year.

Alissa Repetti, in photo above, received the Director of the Year award for exceeding Kiddie Academy standards, maintaining best practices in early childhood education and the child care industry and being a positive supporter of the Kiddie Academy brand. Her nomination was supported by many staff and parent letters of recommendation.

Other awards received by Kiddie Academy of Greenlawn:

John Hanc, author of "Jones Beach: An Illustrated History," will talk about his book and the beach as part of the Huntington Historical Society’s Conklin House Lecture Series 2008 on Thursday.

The series features three lectures in the spring and three in the fall that take place in the barn adjacent to the David Conklin Farmhouse Museum, which houses various exhibits and is open free of charge for tours immediately following each lecture.

Admission to the lecture, which starts at 2 p.m., is free to society members and costs $5 for non-members. The barn is 2 High Street in the village.

The book by Hanc, who also writes for Newsday, was published last year by The Globe Pequot Press.

For more information, call 631-427-7045 ex. 402.

By Su Ronneburger

This past December, at the Northport Chorale’s annual “Messiah” Sing-In, “Handel-on-the-Harbor,” an extraordinary talent graced the hall at Trinity Church in the person of Ms. Mary-Liz O’Neill, a 14-year-old soprano with credentials that rival many professionals.

Ms. O’Neill has been the youngest regular performer at Northport’s “Opera Night” series; she has been a recipient of the Robert Campbell Scholarship award at New York State’s Summer School of Choral Studies; she will be auditioning for pre-college programs at both Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music; and will be performing at Carnegie Hall as part of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Chorale in June. She has studied privately since the tender age of eight, presently with Hofstra University’s Tammy Hensrud.

In recognition of Ms. O’Neill’s talent and dedication to her craft, the Chorale presented her with the “Young Artist Incentive Award” for 2008 at their Spring Concert on Friday, May 9th. In the photo above, Ms. O’Neill receives the inaugural award from Mrs. Debi Susinno, treasurer of the Northport Chorale.

Su Ronneburger is president of the Northport Chorale

Huntington Councilman Mark Cuthbertson recently sponsored a resolution to accept special signs from the Coast Guard Auxiliary under a program to encourage the use of life jackets. The Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 22 out of Eaton's Neck was recently awarded a boating safety grant from the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water for the purposes of a massive boater awareness campaign. The “Wear It!” signs are expected to remind boaters of their responsibility to wear personal floatation devices and to increase overall awareness of safe boating habits. Boating Safety Week takes place from May 17 to 23. With the signs above are Councilman Stuart P. Besen, Cpt. Anthony Wuestman of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Cuthbertson, Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, Councilwoman Glenda A. Jackson and Marine Officer Richard Rothamel.

For many months, Stimson students have been communicating through letters and care packages to soldiers in the Middle East.

Ms. Farrell's seventh-grade health classes have been communicating with Sgt. First Class Anibal Romero, who Ms. Farrell adopted through the Manhattanville College Adopt-a-Soldier program.

Sgt. Romero, of the 601st Aviation Support Battalion, has been in the Army for 13 years and was deployed to Iraq in December. Since December, Ms. Farrell's classes have sent several letters and a care package to Sgt. Romero. The sergeant shared the letters and care package that he received with his colleagues in Iraq.

In March, Sgt. Romero returned to the states for an 18-day leave, during which he visited the students of Stimson Middle School. He told them first-hand about his experience in Iraq.
Sgt. Romero passed around pictures he had taken while stationed in Iraq and answered a wide variety of questions from the students. Some of the questions included, “What do you eat there?” “What is the weather like?” “Do you like being in Iraq?” and “What do you miss the most?”

Sgt. Romero had a great time meeting the students and answered the questions candidly. His visit created quite a buzz around the school. Students stopped by during the day to thank him, shake his hand, and even get his autograph. One student said, “It was like having a celebrity visit the school.” Sgt. Romero returned to Iraq in late March to complete his tour of duty.

If you or your family are interested in adopting a soldier, log onto www.mysoldier.com to get more information.

Student Akeem Muhammad, who designs fashions without a pattern.

From the Huntington School District

At next week’s Huntington School District Art Show at Huntington High School, 50 fashion students will take to the runway and provide attendees with a glimpse of “project-based learning” in action. The Art Show is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20-21. Fashion shows will be held on Tuesday at both 3:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Educational researchers have long been encouraging schools to make learning relevant and more project-based. “Student motivation is directly related to how useful the student feels the information is and whether they believe they can be successful in the learning process,” said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. The high school art department’s Fashion Design and Illustration program immerses students in the whole fashion industry, from how designers get their thematic ideas, to drawing illustrations, to sewing their own garments and accessories, to marketing and producing their own fashion show.

Fashion teacher Kristin Singer, who is completing her first year as the instructor for this two level course, has been inspired by the dedication and drive the students in the program demonstrate each day.

“Mrs. Singer has really expanded the variety of fashion designs the students are making this year,” Mrs. Fretz said. “I have been so impressed with the work ethic of the students. The fashion program includes many different types of students, from our high academic achievers to our students who are often disengaged from school. I am particularly intrigued by how seriously many of our “at-risk” students work in the Fashion program. I believe that is because they are interested in the topic and have been successful in the class. The key to engaging students who seem disinterested in school is to capture their natural interests and talents and provide them with ways to develop those talents into strengths.”

Supporters say the Fashion program is a perfect example of project-based learning. “This is real-life learning that permits students to use the knowledge and skills they are given in the course to solve real problems while developing their creative and collaborative skills,” Mrs. Fretz said. “These are all skills that students will need in order to be successful in the 21st century work force. Businesses are looking for creative employees who can think “out of the box.” The Fashion program has provided that exciting experience for many of our Huntington students.”

Mrs. Singer will be the first to state that the driving force behind this year’s Fashion Show is high school senior Elizabeth Mormile, (inset photo, above left) a career intern in the Fashion program. Her internship project is the development of this year’s fashion show. “The Fashion program is very hands-on. I’m a hands-on learner and this is such a fun way to learn,” Ms. Mormile explained. “Everyone expresses themselves through clothes. In the Fashion course, you get to choose the fabric and the pattern and it really represents you.”

Ms. Mormile is interested in the business end of fashion, so developing the fashion show was an ideal project for her internship. She took classes at Fashion Institute of Technology, which included an event-planning course and used many of the concepts she learned there to create a 3-D floor plan for the show’s runway and a power point presentation to explain all the components of the show to her peers.

Ms. Mormile has helped organize most aspects of the show, working collaboratively with several other art interns. Eva Valerio has worked on advertising, Christine Kang designed the fashion show poster and Danielle Siele has helped with the personal invitations, which are being sent to all high school staff, central office staff and PTA presidents.

Ms. Mormile has also organized planning meetings and presented her ideas to the art faculty. “She is an extraordinary young lady,” Mrs. Fretz said. “Liz demonstrates vision, maturity, organization and an infectious enthusiasm which makes her a natural leader and event planner. I was so impressed by how poised she was when we were discussing the development of the show. I’m so pleased that she has had this opportunity to develop her interests and talents in the art program.”

After dozens of hours of work, Ms. Mormile is hopeful the Huntington community will come out to see the fashion show. Some students have created entire collections of fashions. Mrs. Fretz said the program also includes two young men who have shown great skill. “Our guy designers are amazing,” gushed Ms. Mormile. “Dillon Lockwood can create a dress faster than anyone and Akeem Muhammad creates original fashions without a pattern. Wait until you see their work!”

Ms. Mormile will continue her studies in the fashion industry next fall as a freshman at the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in Manhattan. Each of the fashion shows (3:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.) next Tuesday (May 20) is free and open to the public.

For more information about the Fashion program contact Ms. Fretz at 673-2106 or .jfretz@hufsd.edu.

The orchestra in concert. Photo by Michael Brennan.

By Stephanie Branta

The Northport Community Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Hyman, will present a free outdoor concert at noon on Saturday, June 7. The concert, which will include works by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Vaughan-Williams, will be a feature of the annual Northport Chorale Craft Fair, which will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offer a wide variety of craft items from local artisans and other craft vendors.

The concert and fair will take place at the Northport Harbor Park, at the corner of Main Street and Bayview Avenue, adjacent to Northport Harbor. Following the concert, donations will be accepted; all proceeds will benefit the Northport Community Orchestra. The concert will be cancelled in the event of rain.

The Northport Community Orchestra was founded in early 2007, with the assistance of the Northport Chorale, when a group of dedicated musicians came together to share their music with the community. The orchestra has performed with the Chorale and has concluded two successful concerts on its own.

Programs have featured local soloists, including clarinetist Andrew Segale of East Northport and violinist Matthew Aprea of Northport. Director Richard Hyman, who is also Music Director of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Huntington and Director of Honors Orchestra and Choir at Francis Lewis High School in Queens, was recognized last year as Queens Music Teacher of the Year. The Orchestra seeks additional members. To schedule an audition, please call (631) 462-6617. For more information about the concert, call (631) 549-9515.

Stephanie Branta is a member of the orchestra.

Dave Zinman, a Newsday science writer from 1965 to 1992, has become an aspiring playwright, and two of his one-act plays – “Hearts, Spades, and Bullets” and “Smart Ass" and— will have their first reading, and audience talkback, in Northport.

The readings, by the Northport Readers Theatre, are free and open to the public. The group will meet on Monday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m. at St Paul's United Methodist Church, 270 Main St.

According to Zinman, “Mr. Smart Ass” is about middle-aged woman who reminisces about an obnoxious male classmate, who, at their 25th college reunion, holds the key to a dark secret that could ruin her life. In “Hearts, Spades, and Bullets,” what starts as a friendly game of bridge ends in tragedy when Myrtle Bennett and her husband argue about the play of a hand. He slaps her -- three times -- and she gets a gun and shoots and kills him. The bizarre incident actually happened in Kansas City in 1929. It led to a sensational trial covered by reporters from all the major newspapers and followed by households throughout the United States.

For directions or further information, people interested in coming can contact Jo Ann Katz of the Readers Theatre at 631-261-5089 or JoAnnKatz@gmail.com

Zinman said his first play, "Who Killed the Kingfish?" (about Louisiana Sen. Huey Long) had a successful staging at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, the site of Huey's assassination in 1935. Another, "Strom in Limbo" (about the staunch pro-segregation senator from South Carolina) was staged at the University of South Carolina Upstate. It went on to get productions all over the state, including a three-week run by a professional company in Columbia, the state capital, and a nomination for the $10,000 Weissberger Award, a national prize for excellence in playwriting.

Photo by James Carbone

Members of the Commack High School varsity kickline team were presented with plaques at a May 8 district school board meeting. The team took first place in Kick at the National Kickline Championships in Orlando, Florida. It was their 13th title in 12 years in the annual competition. Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport) and Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown) were on hand to congratulate the team.

The Stimson Middle School Showstoppers, under the director of Stimson music teacher Ms. Terri Hass, have a busy spring in store as they sing their way into the hearts of audiences young and old alike. Friday they were at the Wolf Hill Seniors Club for a luncheon performance, and Saturday they will be a featured performance in a one-of-a-kind musical performance by the Huntington Choral Society.

Billed as “Harmonies of the World: a Mass for Our Time,” this premiere performance will feature Steven Finch and the Huntington Choral Society, world-renowned musicians Kimba Arem and David Hykes, and, of course, the Stimson Showstoppers. The audience will be treated to music from many cultures and eras, from Bernstein to Bach to the Misa Criolla to the Gospel Mass of Robert Ray.

Don’t miss this evening of incredible music.
Saturday, May 10 at 8 PM
Huntington High School
Oakwood and McKay Roads
Huntington, NY
Advance tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students; $2 more at the door.
Call 631-421-SING for additional information.

The Stimson Showstoppers spring tour continues at 7 PM on Tuesday, May 20, at the Walt Whitman Performing Arts Center. They will perform again on May 29 at the Gurwen Geriatric Center at noon and end their season on June 12 with the NJHS Induction Ceremony at Stimson Middle School.

Third and fifth graders from Pulaski Road School with teacher Gina Pellicani, right, teachers aide Susan Pospisil, left, and Mather Nurse Stacey Jolley, RN, rear center.

By Nancy Fischetti

When Gina Pellicani’s third grade students at Pulaski Road School in East Northport said they wanted to do something to help other kids, the teacher knew exactly where to turn.

“My sister used to work at Mather and she told me about their HUGS program,” said Pellicani of the effort that brings stuffed toys to pediatric and elderly patients at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson. “The kids were really excited.”

They raised funds through their own version of “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” Through voluntary admission donations, the youngsters raised nearly $500, with which they purchased 24 teddy bears and a dozen stuffed tigers — the school’s mascot — and donated the remainder to the HUGS program.

New stuffed animals or donations to purchase them may be sent to the HUGS program care of Dorothy Perricone, Director of Volunteer Services, John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, 75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777. For more information about HUGS or other volunteer programs at Mather Hospital, call 631-476-2749.

Nancy Fischetti works in the public relations department at Mather.

By Beth Bryant

On Friday, June 6, Atria Huntington in Huntington Station will host a financial planning seminar.

The seminar will feature financial advisor Russell D. Weill of Morgan Stanley and eldercare attorney Susan Flanagan.

The seminar will begin at 10 am and is free and open to the public. Brunch will be served. For more information, call 631-549-3533.

Beth Bryant is with Atria Huntington.

Christina Magel, Danielle Schwartz and Stephanie Ramirez at May 4 drive.

By Susan Magel

We often hear about raising money to help people in Africa, or more recently the food crisis in Haiti. What you may not know is that we have homeless and hungry people all around us right here on Long Island.

Christina Magel and Danielle Schwartz are eighth graders at Long Island School for the Gifted. They have set out to help children in need right here in our own back yard. They have been raising money and collecting items for Madonna Heights emergency homeless shelters for women and children. There are seven of these shelters throughout Long Island.

Through a message Christina left on the premier soccer community Web site, "back of the net" (botn.com), an anonymous person has donated a $10,000 matching grant for any funds donated.

On May 4th, Christina, Danielle, Stephanie Ramirez and Lauren Pabisch spent three hours asking Long Islanders in the area of Bagatelle Road and the LIE service road for donations. Long Island residents did not disappoint! Just under $600 was donated. With the matching grant, that equals $1200. But the girls are not done yet. They don't want the shelters to lose the match money.

On May 25th the girls will have another drive at St. Matthew’s Parish Center on Sunday, May 25, between 10:30 a.m. and noon, at 35 North Service Road, Dix Hills (Between Deer Park Ave and Carlls Straight Path).

You can help by donating items such as toddler clothing, diapers of any size, wipes, q-tips, etc. Or you can send a check.

For your donation to be counted towards the Matching Grant, please do the following: Make your check payable to Madonna Heights, and mail it to the law offices of:
Birnbaum & Skedelsky
Attorneys at Law
149-40 14th Ave.
Whitestone, NY 11357

(The reason the money goes to the law office is to track the funds so that the matching contribution can be made.)

There are no administrative fees attached to this Matching Grant so every penny you donate goes directly to services for these homeless women and children.

Let's help the girls help the homeless women and children right here on Long Island.

Susan Magel is Christina’s mom.

BY LYNN PETRY
lynn.petry@newsday.com

The Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6 o’clock tonight to consider the following.

Centerport
Karen Barbaro seeks side-yard and accessory-structure variances for four front retaining walls, addition to rear retaining wall, side deck, remove second-story, build new second story and balcony and legalize second-story balcony and second-story addition, Harding Court, north of McKinley Terrace.

East Northport
Vincent and Lena Franzone seek rear-yard variance to build a one-story addition and to legalize screened addition, southeast corner of Klaibar and Medford lanes.

Huntington
Anna Naccarato seeks lot width and side-yard variance to legalize a rear addition to a two-car garage, conversion of breezeway to living space, removal of 8-foot by 4-foot shed, metal awning and 40-foot by 20-foot below-ground swimming pool and conversion of single-family to two-family residence, east side of Soundview Road, north of Willow Avenue.

Huntington
Ernest Saasto, Esq. seeks relief of condition of prior zoning board of appeals 17286 in which parking platform in same location was not permitted and to legalize L-shaped 13-inch interlocking-block retaining wall built to provide two parking spaces in front yard, west side of East Shore Road.

Huntington
Julie Boettger-Tchinnis seeks a 280-a relief, lot width, area, side and rear relief and relief to maintain two decks, front retaining wall, ramp and steps, enclosed stairs, shed, legalize garage (repair roof), shed and add second story to house, west side of Knollwood Road, north of East Neck Court.

Melville
Paul and Yona Miller seek a parking variance and reduction of buffers to legalize dentist office, west side of Walt Whitman Road, south of Piermond Drive.

Northport
David and Bronwyn Henningsen seek accessory-structure variance for a garage in front of the main house and to build 4-foot by 22-foot storage addition for detached garage, remove existing second story and replace with a new half-story for storage with height greater than 15 feet, west side of Eatons Neck Road, south of Tudor Drive.

Northport
Timber Point Builders, Llc seeks lot frontage, 280A relief and area relief for developed lot with proposed lot line change on the northerly terminus of Timber Point Drive, north of Woodycrest Drive, south of LIPA row.

By Ellen Druda
Librarian

"The Friends of the Coltrane Home" is partnering with the Half Hollow Hills Community Library to put together a searchable database of jazz icon John Coltrane's music, photos, and other digitized memorabilia.

Browse through the pictures as you sit and listen to the music, and get transported into the fantastic world of Trane's spiritual imagination. The collection will be on a computer located near the DVDs this summer.

The library will also be doing a big program in the Fall with John's son Ravi.

To learn more about the Coltrane Home and the library's involvement, visit thecoltranehome.wordpress.com.

By Beth Bryant
Atria Huntington

On Monday, June 9, and Wednesday, June 11, Atria Huntington in Huntington Station will host the AARP Defensive Driving class. The two-day course educates participants on the effects of aging on driving and how they can adjust accordingly.

The AARP Defensive Driving course is open to the public, and lunch will be served afterwards. The cost is $10. Students can make checks payable to AARP. For more information, call 631-549-3533

By Lida Russo

The 10th Annual Golf Outing benefiting the Trinity Regional School of East Northport will be held Monday, May 12th at the Indian Hills Country Club at Northport.

Festivities include a Buffet Breakfast, Driving Range, Shotgun Start at 12pm, and BBQ lunch on golf course. Cocktail reception, dinner, awards and raffles immediately following golf.

A Hole In One contest is sponsored by Jaguar of Great Neck and the WKF & C Agency.

Cost of participation per golfer is $300. Sponsorships are also available.

For additional information call John Renaldo 631-546-5826 Chairperson, or Email: jmrtitle@optonline.net

By Dennis Giunta

Norwood Elementary School Principal Michael Genovese and students welcomed the American Legion Post 1244 Flag Collection Box to kick off the tour of the "Old Glory Box" through the six grade schools of the Northport School District.

Julia Labuskes, a parent, arranged the tour with the American Legion post.

The "Old Glory Box" is used to collect worn, frayed and soiled American Flags to be disposed of in a proper ceremony, near Flag Day, with the cooperation of the Boy Scouts, Troop 32, the Greenlawn Fire Department and Post 1244.

More than 200 old flags were collected on the last tour of the box through the Elwood and Harborfield School districts and are waiting for this years’ ceremony.

Mrs. Labuskes has also been making special guest appearances at schools teaching the children how to show respect for our Nation's Flag.

The "Old Glory Box," a retired Post Office Mail Box, was decorated by Cycle-Delics of Bay Shore and will move through the schools on the following schedule:

Norwood Ave. School 4/29 THRU 5/07
Ocean Ave. School 5/07 THRU 5/16
Pulaski Road School 5/16 THRU 5/23
Dickinson Ave. School 5/23 THRU 5/30
Bellerose Ave. School 5/30 THRU 6/06
Fifth Ave. School 6/06 THRU 6/13

Dennis Giunta is the 2nd Vice Commander at Post 1244 and coordinator for the flag collection box .

Walt Whitman’s DECA International third place winning team of Caitlin Meuser, left in photo and Kate Simone, right; with DECA Advisor Joseph Innaco

Walt Whitman's DECA team, and their adviser, Joseph Innaco, and co-adviser, Diane Zamow, just returned from the 62st Annual International DECA Career Conference, held in Atlanta. Whitman's finest competed against more than 14,000 high school DECA competitors from every US state, as well as Canada, Mexico, and Germany.

New York DECA is part of an international student organization whose program of leadership and personal development is designed specifically for students interested in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. The goals of DECA, commonly known as the four points of the DECA Diamond, are to promote leadership development, civic consciousness, social intelligence, and vocational understanding.

This year, as in years past, the Whitman kids competed well and continued the tradition of DECA dominance.

Congratulations to the following participants: Caitlin Meuser and Kate Simone–-third place international trophy winners in the event of Entrepreneurship Promotion Project; Jonathan Balsano–-overall top-ten finalist in the event of Accounting Applications; and Kevin Klima–-top-ten semifinalist in the event of Automotive Services Marketing. Also representing the state were the following Whitman students, who should be recognized for their outstanding effort: Matt Garton–-Business Services Marketing Series, Edmund Gezelter–-Marketing Management Series; Amanda Horn–-Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series; Carly Bencivenga–-Internet Marketing Management Team Decision Making Event Linsey McDonald–-Internet Marketing Management Team Decision Making Event; Michael Giambrone–- Leadership Development Academy; Jenn LaCara–-Entrepreneurship Written Event; Sam Dewitt–-Entrepreneurship Written Event; Courtney Bryggman–-Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan Event; and Jordan Stone–-Entrepreneurship Participating Event.

Recent news from the Huntington School District:

By Spencer Ross

On Saturday, May 3, officials from Suffolk County, the Town of Huntington and the State of New York will be presenting Proclamations to the Sagamore Rowing Association for a quarter century of its volunteer effort to develop rowing on Long Island.

The Sagamore Rowing Association, a not for profit organization managed by an active volunteer group, now has a membership of over 500. It has trained literally thousands of youth and adults since the program in Huntington Harbor started in the early 1980's and has produced many rowers for high school and university teams, World Cup and the Olympics. Additionally, adult rowers participate actively in recreational and competitive programs, both locally and nationally.

The event will start at 10 a.m. on Gold Star Beach in Huntington. After reading of the proclamations, a tour of the adjoining boathouse will be conducted for all attendees.

Spencer Ross is the commodore of the Sagamore Rowing Association

By Pam Cordes

On Friday, May 9, nine Long Island High School singers will perform in the “Welcome to the 60’s” Cabaret Show to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk.

Linda Ray, producer of Huntington Cabaret, will donate a performance of "Welcome To The 60s," a cabaret show directed by award-winning New York City director Lennie Watts and noted musical director Jeffrey Cubeta.

The show, which was originally performed at the Metropolitan Room in New York City, to a sold out audiences, is a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk.

The Centerport United Methodist Church in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk and will be building a house in Bay Shore later this year.

The benefit will take place at The Centerport United Methodist Church, 97 Little Neck Rd, Centerport, New York at 7:30 p.m.

The cast features nine singers ages 13 through 18 from throughout Long Island including Leilani D'Onofrio, Robert Finley Middle School Glen Cove; Amanda Hassler, West Islip HS; Kenna Koenigsberger, Candlewood Middle School, Half Hollow Hills in Dix Hills; Jonah Kramer, Huntington High School; Kristen Maldonado, Massapequa High School; Caitlin Nofi, Cold Spring Harbor High School; Lenny Sadowsky, Massapequa High School; Alanna Shalinski (in photo), Walt Whitman High School, South Huntington; Ian Silverman, Grand Avenue Middle School, Bellmore. The cast members, chosen after auditions with Mr. Watts last September, were trained in cabaret technique during an nine-week advanced performance workshop in Huntington.

There will be a "Chinese" auction after the show which will include theatre tickets, passes to major NYC museums, jewelry, gift certificates for award-winning restaurants, a 32" flat screen TV and much more. The auction will begin at 6:30 and continue after the show during a dessert reception with the cast.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for kids and include a dessert reception after the show. For tickets and more information please call Producer Linda Ray at 631-673-5577.

Pam Cordes handles publicity for Huntington Cabaret and for Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk.

Patricia Irving, first elected an Asharoken village trustee in 2003, has decided to challenge Bill Kelly for the mayor’s post in the election June 17. She told The Times of Northport that she decided to run because of the mayor’s handling of a lawsuit against LIPA involving erosion. Kelly has been mayor since 1982.

Seeking re-election, apparently unopposed, are trustees Eric Fauser and Bob Marks. Challengers have until May 13 to file. For Patricia Proven’s story on the situation, click here.