Half Hollow Hills - 4/23/15 Edition

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VOL. 17, ISSUE 11

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THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015 DIX HILLS

Rabbi Responds To Anti-Semitic Image

By Andrew Wroblewski awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

This image of Commack High School students wearing anti-Semitic t-shirts was posted online over spring break and prompted community response; their faces are blurred to preserve their identites.

From a hurtful image spawned a “Night of Unity” at The Chai Center in Dix Hills on Sunday.

Days after an image of Commack High School students wearing antiSemitic t-shirts was proliferated online, Rabbi Yackov Saacks and his staff at the center welcomed nearly 350 people for a meeting to discuss what can be done to respond to, and learn from, the incident.

“You have to be outraged [with the photo], but you also need to find solutions,” Saacks said on Monday.

Community members, Commack School District officials, politicians, Jewish clergy members and a Holo-

caust survivor were some of those in attendance as Saacks explained the three goals he has set out to accomplish in the wake of the image that he said is “hurtful to the core.”

“We need to work with the school districts to enhance education in the matters of bias, racism, anti-Semitism; we need to teach children how to properly respond to incidents like this and not wait until they’re discovered; and we need to create an awareness in our community that we’re all God’s children,” Saacks, director of The Chai Center, said.

The meeting was set after Commack Superintendent Donald James met with six rabbis, including Saacks, from the Dix Hills, Commack and East Northport communities on April

16 to address and discuss the image.

The district first acknowledged the photograph – which contains two students wearing red t-shirts that have a swastika and the word Auschwitz drawn on them – on April 16 via a statement posted its website. According to the statement, the photo was taken off-campus during spring break and prompted an investigation by the district.

An updated statement posted on April 17 said the district was “appalled” by the actions of these students and that “consequences… as allowed by the law” were imposed.

“Prejudice in any form is reprehensible,” the statement reads.

Commack Public Relations Coor(Continued on page A20)

DIX HILLS

Next Up At Paramount: Easy Star All-Stars A19 Long Islander News photo/Danny Schrafel

Town: Beef Up Infrastructure Before Building

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com

Huntington Councilwoman Susan Berland airs the town’s concerns over the Heartland Town Square proposal, a mini-city proposed to be built in nearby Brentwood.

Inside This Issue

Warning Signs Of Drug Abuse A6

Commitments to addressing infrastructure improvements and traffic concerns must be made before shovels go into the ground for the ambitious Heartland Town Square mini-city concept, Huntington elected officials told the Islip Planning Board April 16.

Developer Jerry Wolkoff and his son, David, are proposing to build 9,000 residential units, 1 million square feet of retail space, 3,239,500 square feet of office space and 215,500 square feet of civic space on a 452 acres of the Pilgrim State Hospital in nearby Brentwood, which (Continued on page A20)

Hills Finalizes School Budget Details Inside A2

A2 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

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HALF HOLLOW HILLS

Hills School Board Adopts $238.7M Budget

By Andrew Wroblewski awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

The Half Hollow Hills school board unanimously adopted its 2015-2016 school budget on Monday – a budget that’s valued at $238,658,101, sports a tax levy increase of 2.34-percent and marks the lowest budget-to-budget increase (1.9percent) for the district since the 1996-97 school year.

“This budget is really focusing on education opportunities for the kids,” Eric Geringswald, board president, said after Monday’s meeting. “And the facts that we’re staying within the 2-percent tax levy cap and that it’s actually a less than 2-percent year-to-year [increase] is really exciting.”

Looking forward to the budget vote, which is set for May 19, Geringswald stressed those educational opportunities proposed in the budget, which include items such as restoration of elementary clubs; fine arts courses like filmmaking and photography; a revamped physical education program that includes individual, group and outdoor education; STEM program enhancements; funding for up to six additional English Language Learners (ELL) and English as a New Language (ENL) teachers; three new buses; a security patrol sedan; and three capital projects – the replacement of High School East’s chilling and cooling tower, the renovation of High School West’s tennis courts, and the replacement of High School West’s auditorium partition doors.

Ann Marie Marrone Caliendo, assistant superintendent for finance and facilities for Half Hollow Hills, explains the proposed 2015-2016 school budget during Monday’s board meeting. The proposed budget was later unanimously adopted by school board members.

“We’re doing [this] in the most cost-effective way we can,” he said. “It’s a meaty budget that really provides great stuff for our kids.”

The nearly $239-million budget will be funded most-heavily by the property tax levy, which is valued at $195,369,595. In New York State aid, the district expects to receive a $2,122,269 increase from 2014-15 for a total anticipated value of $28,999,697. The remainder of the proposed budget is made up of payments in lieu of taxes (PI-

LOTs), miscellaneous revenue, the district’s reserves and its appropriated fund balance.

Ann Marie Marrone Caliendo, assistant superintendent for finance and facilities, said the district is in the process of steadily decreasing its appropriated fund balance in order to comply with recent critiques made by the New York State Comptroller’s Office of school districts that use surplus funds to keep tax levy increases low for the following school year.

The proposed revenue will go towards funding the district’s expenditures, which most-heavily reside in instruction at $132,793,146, or 55.64 percent, of the proposed budget. Undistributed costs – employee benefits, debt services, etc. – make up the next-largest chunk at $70,452,271. General support – expenses supportive of management in the district – will cost $20,831,234. Transportation is set at $14,461,045. Community service – costs related to community use of the district pool – closes out the budget at $120,405.

Voter registration will be provided on any school day between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the District Clerk’s Office at the Fran Greenspan Administration Center. The final day for voters to register is May 14. Special voter registration days will also be available on May 9 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and May 13 from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

A budget hearing is set for May 11. The budget and board of education trustee election are on May 19 from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. in the East Gymnasium of High School East.

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

Schools Report Widespread State Test Refusal

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com

Thousands of Huntington Township students in grades 3-8 did not take state English Language Arts examinations last week, including more than 40 percent of eligible students in the Half Hollow Hills School District, according to statistics compiled by a grassroots opt-out statistics compilation effort.

The school district itself did not respond to requests for the number of students who did not take last week’s state tests. However, according to a live spreadsheet maintained by optout advocate Jeanette Deutermann, founder of the Long Island Opt Out Info Facebook page and the New York State Allies for Public Education, 1,680 students refused the English test, amounting to 42 percent of eligible students.

In neighboring Commack, the school district there as of April 16 reported that of 3,171 students in grades 3-8, 1,722, or 54.3 percent, “refused the entire test.”

Opting out, or refusing the tests, has become a rallying cry of advocates

against the Common Core, a national curriculum adopted by 44 states in 2010 – including New York – to create consistent educational standards across the country and ensure pupils are college- and work-ready when they graduate high school.

State education leaders have warned districts that the tests are federally mandated and that federal aid penalties may result if participation rates fall below 95 percent.

According to Deutermann’s spreadsheet, as many as 63,000 children were opted-out of tests on Long Island.

The trend continued throughout town. South Huntington School District Superintendent David Bennardo, in a statement posted to the district’s Facebook page, said that 755 of 2,716 students in the Silas Wood sixth-grade center, Stimson Middle School, Birchwood Intermediate School and Maplewood Intermediate Schools did not take the state exams. Those figures represent 33 percent of Silas Wood students, 32 percent of Stimson students, 17 percent of Birchwood and 29 percent of Maplewood students, for a total of 28 percent refusal.

Those figures do not distinguish between those who refused the tests and those who were absent for another reason.

Bennardo said he made the decision to release the numbers sooner rather than later in light of a “considerable number” of parent and media requests.

“While the controversy and attention surrounding New York State testing is simply unavoidable, our community members were largely respectful of their neighbors and allowed personal family choice to unfold naturally throughout the day,” Bennardo said April 14.

In Elwood, more than a quarter of students in grades 3-5 at James H. Boyd Intermediate School opted out; at Elwood Middle School, 38 percent of students refused the test.

District spokesperson Beth Izzo said 26.8 percent of grade 3 students refused the exam as of Wednesday; in grade 4, 31.9 percent refused. Eighteen percent of grade 5 students, 37.9 percent of grade six, 39.6 percent of grade 7 and 36.4 percent of grade 8 students opted out, Izzo said.

In Harborfields, 31 percent of stu-

dents refused the ELA assessment based on parents’ requests, according to an April 16 letter signed by Superintendent Diana Todaro. In Huntington, 358 students, or approximately 17.2 percent, opted out of the test.

Northport officials said the final number of students who opted out “will be tallied after all tests have been administered.”

James Graber, president of the Associated Teachers of Huntington, said the high refusal numbers and the optout movement reflect parents and teachers who are “deeply frustrated with the Governor’s agenda of over testing.”

“We believe that testing can be a useful diagnostic tool when created to inform instruction, can be used to identify individual strengths and weaknesses of students, and is developmentally appropriate,” he said. “It is not clear that the tests foisted upon schools meet these criteria. Parents are aware that these tests fall short of those expectations and have responded in a way that few find surprising.”

-Andrew Wroblewski, Carina Livoti and Luann Dallojacono contributed to this report.

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A3

DIX HILLS

PD: Bank Robber Busted In Another Heist

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com

Dix Hills native Max Schneider, twice convicted of robbing banks and once accused of helping to steal more than $50,000 in bronze vases from Pinelawn Memorial Cemetery, is back in the slammer.

This time, it’s for allegedly rob-

bing a Capital One Bank in Rocky Point on April 14, and then, when police cornered him two days later at the Walt Whitman Shops, he allegedly tried to flee by ramming two cop cars with his Honda Civic.

Lt. Edward Reilly of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Pattern Crime Section said Schneider passed a note demanding money at

the bank at 9:10 a.m.

After being identified by witnesses, detectives last Thursday developed leads which determined Schneider was on his way to Huntington and the Walt Whitman Shops, Reilly said. There, at 5:45 p.m., two squad cars staked out the mall, waiting for Schneider to arrive. After the suspect drove into the

DIX HILLS/MELVILLE

LI Expressway Closures Announced Parts of the Long Island Expressway will be closed as the state department of transportation replaces the Carlls Straight Path Bridge.

On Friday, April 24, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., two lanes are scheduled to be closed on the westbound expressway and one on the eastbound side with intermittent closures of the Carlls Straight Path Bridge.

These travel lane closures are needed to perform work on the

$12.8-million design-build project to replace the bridge that is being undertaken to preserve the structural integrity of the bridge and maintain the safety of motorists and pedestrians. The Carlls Straight Path Bridge is being completely replaced with a new, wider span with larger shoulders and sidewalk, and a center turn lane that will accommodate more vehicles waiting to turn, reducing congestion during peak travel periods. In addition, the new bridge

will have increased vertical clearance above the expressway, reducing the possibility of bridge strikes. The project also includes reconstruction of the roadway approaches to the bridge, new traffic signals, signs, guide rails, pavement and pavement markings.

The project is currently scheduled for completion by the end of 2015, DOT officials said.

Visit www.INFORMNY.com for the most up-to-date information.

parking lot and officers stopped him, Schneider allegedly tried to drive away, ramming two squad cars with his car.

Schneider was charged with third-degree robbery, a D felony; two counts of criminal mischief resulting in damage over $250, an E felony; reckless endangerment for nearly striking a police officer, a misdemeanor; and violation of a parole warrant. Reilly said Schneider was on parole for bank robbery.

After previous incidents, officials described Schneider as a heroin addict who robbed to feed his habit.

Asked if drugs were a factor in this incident, Reilly said, “That’s a possibility, yes.”

Schneider was being held on $300,000 bond and $125,000 cash bail ahead of an April 22 court date, which was to occur after press time.

Attorney information for Schneider was not immediately available.

Prior to this most recent charge, Schneider on Oct. 14, 2014 was arrested as a fugitive from justice related to an armed-robbery charge in Broward County, Fla. (Continued on page A20)

A4 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

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Keep Your Noise To Yourself, Please A yearly reminder… Now, listen folks, I get of “summery things I forget to do until the last minute” is the annual washing of the air-condiit; the weather is beautiful once again and you tioner vents. Every year, I want to drive through Huntington village with pledge to myself that I’ll do it your windows down – that’s fine! But, please, in April, so that when the first for the love of Pete, if you’re going to do it, really, really hot day comes, make sure that you’re courteIN THE KNOW I’m ready to turn on the air. ous to us hard workers trying WITH AUNT ROSIE But, most times, I forget, and I to get through our schedules have to sweat until the vents each and every day. I, for one, don’t need a have dried on the line. I promdrive-by concert strolling by our office every 15 ise you, folks – once I file this with the office, minutes. Yes, I know you love Taylor Swift and I’m getting the soap and clothes pins.

Calvin Harris – or whomever it is the kids these days are listening to – but please be courteous in Thanks for cleaning the Station… Thankdeciding whether or not the entire village needs fully, here’s another summery thing that the to know as well!

Huntington Station Happy Helpers, with a helpWaiting for the bloom… Last week I finally ing hand from the Friends of the Huntington Station Latin Quarter, never forget. Every year, pulled out my big hat, dusted off my gardening volunteers gather in Huntington Station, roll up gloves and got out in the yard again! I haven’t their sleeves and sweep away the litter and trash planted anything new yet, but I put some fresh that accumulated in the community during the dirt in the flower boxes and cleaned up as much summer. They get their hands dirty every year to of the nasty winter salt and sand as I could. help make their town a better place. To everyPhew, was I glad to do away with all that grime! body who pitched in Sunday, I salute you! And Hopefully my tulips and roses will come back, free hand sanitizer on the house. but after all the snow I wouldn’t blame them if they hid away this season. I took out some pots, (Aunt Rosie wants to hear from you! If you but I haven’t decided what to put in them. Panhave comments, ideas, or tips about what’s hapsies seem to be in fashion these days, but I’m pening in your neck of the woods, write to me tothinking crocuses. I do so love daisies, but it’s day and let me know the latest. To contact me, not quite warm enough to think of those yet. drop a line to Aunt Rosie, c/o The Long-Islander, 14 Wall Street, Huntington NY 11743. Or try the Time to wash the vents… Added to the list e-mail at aunt.rosieli@gmail.com)

Send a photo of your pre-school age child along with a brief anecdotal background and we’ll consider it for “Baby Faces.”

Include baby’s full name, date of birth, hometown and names of parents and grandparents. Send to: Baby of the Week, c/o Long-Islander, 14 Wall St., Huntington, NY 11743. Please include a daytime phone number for verification purposes. Or email info@longislandergroup.com

POLICE REPORT Compiled by Danny Schrafel

Car Vandalized A car parked overnight on the South Service Road of the Long Island Expressway was vandalized. Between 11 p.m. April 11 and a call to cops April 12, someone covered a 2005 Dodge in spray paint on the driver’s side and keyed the car.

Landscaping Gear Stolen A landscaper called the cops at 5:19 p.m.

April 13. The landscaper reported that while his workers were in a Capel Drive backyard, two leaf blowers were stolen. A similar complaint came in at 3 p.m. April 17, in which a contractor complained that a blower and an edger were stolen from the front yard of an Astro Place home they were working at.

Full Of Gas The staff at a Sunoco station on Broadhollow Road called the cops April 17 after someone filled up their car with gas, then peeled out without paying. The incident occurred between 11:37 p.m. April 16 and the call to cops the next day.

Pool Equipment Stolen A Dix Hills resident called the cops April 17 after someone stole a pool pump and a pool cleaner from their Marlin Street yard at 2 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK RABBI YACKOV SAACKS

Impaired Drivers Arrested

“People need to realize that their actions may not be criminal, but that doesn’t make them acceptable. We all live in God’s world together.”

Police arrested two people for drunk and drugged driving April 17. Police said that the first, a 55-year-old Long Beach resident, was pulled over at 2 a.m. after he blew a red light driving northbound on Pinelawn Road at Route 110. The second, a 62-year-old woman from Dix Hills, was charged after she rear-ended a stopped vehicle while driving westbound on Jericho Turnpike at Melville Road at 10:10 a.m. in Huntington Station.

Rabbi Responds To Anti-Semitic Image, A1

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The presence of Sean Urda, a Dix Hills Diner employee and John Glenn student who died early this year, looms large Saturday night during a memorial concert.

DIX HILLS

Teen’s Memory Lives On

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com

Since the day their son died in a snow-tubing accident in Huntington Jan. 26, Gary and Nicole Urda said the Elwood community has time and again proven their nickname, the “Heart of Huntington,” is more than a catchphrase – it’s a way of life in the tight-knit community.

The people of Elwood stepped up to the plate once again, filling John

Glenn High School’s auditorium Saturday night for a memorial concert in the memory of Sean Urda, a captain of the John Glenn High School soccer team, an Honor Society student and member of the Natural Helpers club who also worked at the Dix Hills Diner.

It’s the latest act of kindness bestowed upon the Urda family by the Elwood school community, which has rallied to their side since their (Continued on page A23)

THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A5

A6 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

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TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com

A month after Second Precinct Officer Mark Collins was shot in the line of duty following a pursuit in Huntington Station, county officials, led

by County Executive Steve Bellone and the chief and commissioner of the Suffolk County Police Department, honored on April 14 the members of the Huntington Community First Aid Squad who responded to the call of “officer down” March 11.

In a letter to the squad, read by Second Precinct Inspector Edward Brady at a press conference April 14, Collins, a member of the precinct’s anti-gang unit, thanked the volunteers who rushed to his aid in his hour of need.

“Your members, as always, responded quickly and provide valuable pre-hospital care to stabilize my injuries, preparing me to be airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital for further care,” the letter, addressed to First Aid Squad Chief Thomas Lemp, reads.

“Your members reacted brilliantly and professionally under stressful conditions, knowing it was a fellow member of the service… I am forever grateful for their service.”

It’s a call no ambulance corps ever wants to receive, but once they did, Huntington Community First Aid Squad members rushed to the scene and provided care that saved his life and greatly improved his prognosis for long-term recovery, Collins added.

Long Islander News photo/Danny Schrafel

Wounded Officer Thanks His Rescuers For Care

County Executive Steve Bellone, center, Suffolk County PD Chief James Burke, left, and Police Commissioner Edward Webber, right, salute members of the Huntington Community First Aid Squad on April 14 for their care of Officer Mark Collins after he was shot March 11.

Paramedic Chris Evers, who was part of the team that responded to the call that came in shortly before midnight March 11, said they first caught wind that something was “potentially escalating” through transmissions over a police scanner in the dispatch office.

The crew on duty was notified, and an ambulance crew was on the way to the corner of Mercer Court and East Jericho Turnpike. With a paramedic and EMT rushing to the scene and ambulances and another paramedic on the way, the call came in – it was a shooting, and the victim may be a

police officer.

With suspect Sheldon Leftenant still on the loose after fleeing a traffic stop that Collins and his colleagues initiated, paramedics were advised that Collins had been shot in the neck and hip, and found him laying “supine on the driveway, aided by several officers in his unit,” Evers said.

Despite his wounds, Collins was alert, the paramedic said, and able to answer questions. As paramedics aided Collins, a Medevac helicopter was already on the way to the Target parking lot on Jericho Turnpike Collins had the wherewithal to radio for de-

spite his injuries.

“The incident went as smoothly as possible. We were able to get Police Officer Collins to a level 1 trauma center in under an hour, which is always the goal in major trauma,” he said.

Brady said Collins, a members of the precinct’s anti-gang unit, is still recovering at home and undergoing physical therapy.

“The outcome here was as good as you could possibly get in a situation like this where an officer is shot twice,” Bellone said, adding that the overall efforts of first responders in this case were “absolutely incredible.”

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON

PD Brass: Over-Prescribing Aids Opiate Scourge

By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com

A top officer in Suffolk County’s Second Precinct, which polices the Town of Huntington, said the rapid proliferation of powerful prescription medication is making Long Island’s drug crisis worse.

The comments came following a presentation by the county’s chief medical examiner during a monthly police community meeting in South Huntington about the ravages that drugs, particularly opiates and heroin, inflict upon the body.

“I’m stunned at the amount of medication being thrown at children,” said Second Precinct Deputy Inspector William Read. “I’m not the expert, but it seems to me a lot of these drug-abusing kids have other medications.”

Many of those drugs, said Deputy

Inspector William Read, come with the admonition that one should not mix them with alcohol or other drugs.

“How these doctors don’t understand they’re slowly killing these kids is beyond me,” Read said.

Michael Kaplan, the chief medical examiner for Suffolk County, urged responsible prescribing.

“Prescriptions drugs can be a good thing, of course. Sometimes we give a message that all prescription drugs are bad,” he said. “That’s not true, so long as they’re given responsibly.”

Inspector Edward Brady urged residents to rid their homes of unneeded prescription medications through the county’s Shed the Meds program.

“Get them out of the house,” he said.

Any efforts that can throw a road-

block in front of addiction are well worth the trouble, Brady said. Typical outcomes of addiction can result in thefts from within the home, which escalates to thefts from neighbors, to larcenies from cars, home burglaries and robberies.

“This is what it progresses to. It affects all of us,” he said.

With marijuana-legalization efforts intensifying, Read urged taking a hard stance against the drug, which he said sets many down the road to addiction.

During his presentation, Kaplan said alcohol, prescription drugs and pot can set the wheels of addiction into motion, leading to a need for stronger drugs. Prescription-drug abuse can also be triggered after someone begins taking analgesics after an injury.

“We try to in our minds not make that link that one thing leads to an-

other, but we all know the opposite… those roads are linked,” he said. “To stop that road, we have to see what it’s coming from in the beginning.”

While heroin is getting most of the headlines, Kaplan stressed that most drug-related deaths in the county involve a deadly cocktail of multiple substances. What once was a cause of death largely restricted to older patients is now appearing with alarming frequency in younger people, necessitating the need for earlier, age-appropriate drug education, the medical examiner said.

“It’s very disturbing,” he said.

Read also took a hard stance against the idea of hitting “rock-bottom” as a catalyst for change.

“That’s baloney. Rock bottom is death,” he said. “We don’t want to wait until somebody hits rock bottom to wake up.”

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DIX HILLS

Department Meets Prospective Recruits Photo by Steve Silverman

Dix Hills Fire Department Third Assistant Chief Joe Williamson, seated left, Commissioner Bob Commisso, seated right, and Ex-Chief Richard Sorrentino, standing center, speak with prospective members at their recruitment drive Sunday.

DIX HILLS

Fire Damages Garage Photo by Steve Silverman

The fire-damaged contents of the garage.

Sunday morning brought yet another fire call for Dix Hills volunteer firefighters – the year’s ninth – when a Dulce Lane garage went ablaze Sunday morning.

Alerted to the fire by an automatic alarm at 9:50 a.m., Dix Hills firefighters arrived on the scene to discover light smoke and quickly located the fire in an attached garage.

Led by Chief Robert Fling and Third Assistant Chief Joe Williamson, the blaze was brought under control within a half-hour, fire officials said.

Fire damage was contained to the garage and items inside, while the

remainder of the home sustained some smoke damage, according to responders.

There were no injuries reported, and the fire appears to be accidental, fire officials said.

Fifty firefighters and rescue personnel were on the scene with six trucks, two ambulances, first responder and paramedic units. The Greenlawn and Deer Park fire departments assisted at the scene, with the Melville Fire Department and Huntington Community First Aid Squad providing standby coverage for Dix Hills during the alarm.

THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A7

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Opinion ‘Not the types set up by the printer return their impression, the meaning, the main concern.’

Grassroots Effort Takes Hold Unofficial reports indicate that the ef- the curriculum only clouded the state’s fects of the “opt out” movement were decision-making. nothing short of monumental.

Last year’s poor test scores should be The grassroots movement, started to no surprise. That parents and the educaprotest perceived over-testing of students tors who work most closely with students by the state and bolstered by objections to embraced and encouraged the opt-out the governor’s proposal to give test movement should likewise come as no scores greater weight in teacher evalua- surprise, for it seems that amid the politions, resulted in significant ticking and hidden agendas, numbers of students sitting EDITORIAL our children are being forgotout of last week’s language ten. arts exams. While few statistics have We agree that standardized testing is been released from official sources, one absolutely necessary as an evaluation organizer of the movement compiled sta- tool. However, too much testing stifles tistics from whatever sources were avail- children as well as the teaching profesable, and the numbers are staggering. sionals whose individualized approaches An estimated 40 percent of eligible stu- to education create a love of learning in dents in Half Hollow Hills schools sat out students. of the test, according to a leading opt-out Having 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluadvocate. The statistics were similar ation based on this test diminishes the across the board in local districts, ranging role of parents and family in the educafrom about 25 percent in Elwood, to a tion process. By holding the children out high of 54 percent in Commack. of the tests, the parents said they care, Refusing the tests was a draconian and that Albany has to stop using their measure that pushed back against the children as political pawns. state’s adoption of the Common Core Common ground needs to be found curriculum in 2010. While the goal of somewhere in between. As the whole Common Core is to implement consistent mess gets sorted out – and negotiated – educational standards nationwide, the the opt-out movement has earned parents state education department fumbled and classroom-level teachers a place at when it rolled out the curriculum. The the table; they should have been there state simply hit the switch on testing from the start. State and federal elected without phasing in the teaching. Threats and education officials must listen and by federal education officials to withhold stop dictating. Last we saw, we lived in a funds from states that do not implement democracy.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Keep Vaccinations Up To Date DEAR EDITOR: In conjunction with this month’s “National Infant Immunization Week,” [I] would like to inform all par-

ents that the number of reported cases of measles continues to rise nationally and pertussis (whooping cough) is circulating locally so it is vital to check that all children are up-to-date on immunizations.

According to Dr. James

HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER

Serving the communities of: Dix Hills, Melville and the Half Hollow Hills Central School District.

Copyright © 2015 by Long Islander News, publishers of The Long-Islander, The Record and Half Hollow Hills Newspaper. Each issue of the The Long-Islander and all contents thereof are copyrighted by Long Islander. None of the contents or articles may be reproduced in any forum or medium without the advance express written permission of the publisher. Infringement hereof is a violation of the Copyright laws.

Tomarken, Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services, there are several reasons why immunizations need to be a top priority for parents: Immunizations can save children from 14 vaccine preventable diseases: diph-

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Send letters to:

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The Half H Newspap ollow Hills er, 14 Wall S treet, Huntingto n, New Y ork 11743 or email u s at info@lon gislander group.co m

theria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza type B, varicella (chickenpox), pneumococcal disease, rotavirus and influenza.

Immunizations are safe and effective and given to children only after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals.

Immunization protects others from getting preventable diseases. Babies who are too young to be fully immunized, immune-compromised individuals, pregnant women and older adults are among those who are particularly vulnerable to disease.

To help keep them safe, be sure that you and your children are fully immunized.

Immunization saves time and money. Vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care. In contrast, immunization is a good investment and usually covered by insurance.

Immunization protects future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. If we continue vaccinating now, and

vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that it is possible some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.

Families are encouraged to check with their doctors to make sure every child's immunizations are up to date.

Parents who have questions about immunization may call Suffolk County’s Shots for Tots Hotline, (631) 8540222, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Additional information and vaccination schedules may be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s web site at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Note: The Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) offers the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) immunization to college students, as mandated by the NYS Department of Health.

Call the SCDHS Office of Public Health, (631) 8540333, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for dates, times and locations.

LOU D’AMARO Suffolk County Legislator 17th Legislative District Editor’s note: The above letter was adapted from a press release.

James V. Kelly Publisher/CEO Peter Sloggatt Associate Publisher/Managing Editor Luann Dallojacono Editor James V. Kelly III Director - Sales and Marketing Danny Schrafel Associate Editor Andrew Wroblewski Carina Livoti Reporters NEWS

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A9

Life&Style MUSIC

Ardelia Trio Brings Chamber Music To Library

By Carina Livoti clivoti@longislandergroup.com

The Northport Arts Coalition presents world-renowned chamber group the Ardelia Trio at this Friday’s “Doing Music” program.

Violinist Janey Choi met pianist Jihea Hong-Park while working as a teaching artist for the New York Philharmonic’s education program. After touring abroad with the program, Choi said she and Hong-Park ended up playing a recital together.

“It went well, and we thought maybe there was some way that we could continue playing together; it turned out she had a cellist friend,” she said.

Cellist Clara Yang, joined the pair in 2009 to form the Ardelia Trio, a chamber ensemble which has since allowed them to continue playing together and share their music with a wide audience.

All three musicians studied at Julliard and have deep education backgrounds. Between their teaching efforts and further education endeavors,

Choi said that it was often hard to get together and make music.

“We get together a few times a year and so far it’s going well; it’s not as much as we would like to play, but it’s difficult because there are various other things we have going on. For example, Clara was getting her PhD in Texas for a while,” she said.

However, in the pockets of time they do find, the group has managed to rack up some meaningful accomplishments over the past several years.

In their first year, they partnered with the arts organization Mécénat, to establish a community concert residency in Seoul, South Korea. That same year, they presented a workshop at the 53rd Annual National Conference of the College Music Society, and since then have performed at Carnegie’s Weill Hall and the Bar Harbor Music Festival.

Choi said one of her favorite moments was a concert the trio performed for students in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A little over a year ago, someone contacted the group after they had played a house concert and

thought they would be a great group to put together an outreach concert, she said.

“Most of [the kids we played for] had not seen a piano concert or even a cello up close, and by the end they were screaming at us like we were The Beatles,” she said, adding that it was great to see that kind of enthusiasm for what they did.

The Ardelia Trio’s performance at the Northport Library is part of the Northport Arts Coalition’s “Do-ing Music” series, which runs four programs a year and dates back to 1998.

The series aims to promote musicians and expose the Northport community to classical music.

Choi said this week’s audience can expect a varied program, with traditional music like Beethoven, fun arrangements of familiar songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and modern pieces, like Paul Schoenfield’s “Café Music,” which incorporate elements of ragtime, peppered throughout.

“We like to talk to the audience a lot, so we want to create a comfortable

The Ardelia Trio will perform at the Northport Library this Friday. atmosphere while they hear really interesting music; people should look forward to hearing some great music and we’re looking forward to getting to know our audience,” Choi said.

The concert, open to the public, is Friday, April 24 at 7:30 pm at the Northport Library, located at 151 Laurel Ave.

LEISURE

Fish Hatchery And Aquarium Celebrates Spring

By Carina Livoti clivoti@longislandergroup.com

The Cold Spring Harbor Hatchery and Aquarium is celebrating spring this Saturday with its annual spring festival. The festival will include food, entertainment, a petting zoo, and a hint of environmental activism.

According to the hatchery’s education coordinator, Krissy Foreman, the festival has been around for quite some time.

“I don’t know if it’s been since we became a nonprofit in 1982 or if it happened sometime after that, but it’s been a long-term thing,” she said.

Hatchery Technician Frances Dottino said that one of the things that makes the festival unique is that it is the only time in which the hatchery allows catch-and-release fishing.

“We do two-minute fishing sessions throughout the day; this is the only time you’re allowed to release.

It’s for the kids, but parents are allowed to come and cheer the kids on or give them advice,” Dottino said.

The festival also features old-style carnival games, like a beanbag toss and a magnetic fishing game, along with a petting zoo, food vendors, and face painting.

Foreman said that the event also includes some exhibition tables, which are generally science and environmental groups.

“They’re mostly nature organizations, like the Waterfront and Theodore Roosevelt’s Sanctuary.

This year we’re also kind of partnering with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and their DNA day,” Foreman said.

The festival is fun for the kids, with a little bit of awareness and education mixed in for both kids and adults, according to Foreman.

“It’s a fun event, it’s family friendly, and it gives families a great

The Spring Festival at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery features games for children of all ages. opportunity to come down and have some fun with what we have to offer,” she said.

The festival will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 4:30

p.m., with a rain date set for May 2.

Adults are $6, children $4, and seniors are free. For more information, visit cshfha.org or call 516-6926768.

A10 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

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BUSINESS GIS Service Available From Town

By Andrew Wroblewski awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

Information is power, but to the Town of Huntington, it can also be a time- and money-saver.

That was the goal, Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said, in launching the town’s Professional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Service on April 15.

Through the subscription-based online service, lawyers, real estate workers, architects and other professionals will be able to access copious amount of land-use information and create reports while skipping some trips to Huntington Town Hall and Suffolk County offices.

“This service provides a valuable tool for a wide range of land-use professionals… It will help them serve their clients better and save them time and effort,” Petrone said in a press release.

For $600 a year – or $700 to include mobile, Android and iOS, device use – the town is providing a “one-stop” information shop that hosts a variety of demographic, regulator and economic data typically needed in the forming of site plan applications, working through zoning matters and filing environmental documents. This includes access to latest ownership and permitting data for 73,000 properties; property specific land-use documents; fixed infrastructure; environmental and historic

delineations; property characteristics; and current and historic photographs and aerials.

The subscription service is an expansion of what the town currently offers for free through its website.

“Information is everything,” Michael McCarthy, a Huntington-based land use, zoning, real estate and development lawyer, said. “What this does is allow for local practitioners to get a quick handle on property information… It’s an invaluable tool.”

While McCarthy had yet to subscribe to the service – but said he planned to – he applauded the town for its offering and said it will assuredly make his life easier.

Ann Marie Pallister, vice president of Suffolk County for the Long Island Board of Realtors, said the service could prove to be a “game-changer for a real estate agent.”

“These agents are going to freak out when they get their hands on [the GIS service],” Pallister, also education director for the Hamptons region of Douglas Elliman Real Estate agency. “From talking to a client on the phone, an agent will be able send them a market analysis in 10 minutes… and that’s very impressive to the homeowner.”

A monthly subscription of $60-$70 is also being offered, Aidan Mallamo, the town’s geographic information systems manager, said.

A similar GIS service is currently offered by

Subscribers to the Huntington Professional Geographic Information Systems Service have access to useful demographic, regulator and economic data via web browsers and mobile devices.

Southampton Town and Suffolk County, but Mallamo said the Huntington service offers users more information.

“Essentially we’re extending the same capabilities we use on the staff side here in Town Hall to the folks who are coming to the other side of the counter,” he said.

Those interested in subscribing – including the general public – can visit the town’s website at huntingtonny.gov or bring a check to the Town of Huntington Department of Planning and Environment.

How Should I Spend My Raise?

By Jon L. Ten Haagen, CFP asktheexpert@longislandergroup.com

Q: Not long ago, one of our children called us in a joyous mood.

She just opened her paystub for the week and much to her surprise and delight, she’d received a raise.

Not a large one, but big enough to make her day! How should she manage this added cash?

A: How should she manage this added cash? Go on a vacation? Buy a car? Have a party? NO! She should think of herself first and her future. A penny saved is a penny earned. She should increase her contribution to her 401k, IRA or ROTH IRA first. Remember: Consider yourself the first bill you pay.

Next, look to start an emergency fund. This is an investment into a short-term fixed income investment.

It could be a bank savings account, though they are paying next to nothing; or it could be a CD (certificate

of deposit), but again, they are not paying enough interest to write home about. They are FDIC insured, so your principle is safe.

There are also some mutual funds which invest in short-term fixed income assets – they can be taxable, tax deferred and tax-free – which can currently pay you between 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent, and they usually compound monthly. They come in a variety of “sizes.” Study the costs of each fund before you buy so you have a lower rate than the average if possible.

An emergency fund is for the rainy day, which will happen at some point in the future. The car needs to be replaced, the house roof starts to leak, or there is a medical emergency not covered by your insurance. Keep in mind that this is not a savings plan for your annual vacation trip!

I suggest that you aim for a fund with nine months of living expenses.

Most people do not have that much sitting around, so you can start a mutual fund with $500 to $1,000 to start, and start an automatic monthly investment where the fund will take an amount (usually a minimum of $50 a month) from your checking account. At first this might feel like a lot of sacrifice, but in short order it will be out of sight, out of mind.

As you get near retirement, you should consider raising the amount in the emergency fund to two years of living expenses.

The reason for this fund is that you have long-term investments for your future retirement, which you want to grow with the markets. If you experience a market downturn like in 2000-2001 and 2008-2009, you do not want to take money from your retirement growth accounts, which could be down in value by 10, 20, even 25 percent when you can take monies from your emergency fund, which is invested in short-term

ASK

THE EXPERT

fixed income vehicles that fluctuate in value per share, but not anywhere near the equity markets.

It is time to take charge of your life and your finances. No one but you cares if you succeed or not – so care!

Got a question? Email asktheexpert@longislandergroup.com.

Jon L. Ten Haagen, CFP, of Huntington, is an Investment Advisor Representative offering securities and advisory services offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC and a registered investment advisor. Ten Haagen Financial Group is not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. or registered as a broker dealer or investment advisor.

Disclaimer: The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only. Use of this column is not intended to replace or substitute any professional advice.

This column, its author, the newspaper and publisher are not responsible for the outcome of following any advice that appears here.

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A11

BUSINESS 35 Years of Quirky, Custom Scent Making Spotlight On

Huntington Businesses

By Carina Livoti clivoti@longislandergroup.com

While you may not expect to be able to buy a fragrance called “Dog’s Breath” at an ordinary shop, Scentsational of Huntington is no ordinary shop, and owner Sarah Latham said it may not be the funniest name she’s seen in her 35 years making custom fragrances.

Naming is part of the fun of buying a custom fragrance at Scentsational, where customers can choose from a wide array of fragrances created in the store or create their own, which they then name.

Latham said a man created “Dog’s Breath” for his girlfriend; the name

was part of an inside joke.

Among the other colorful names for the shop’s creations was “Dude Magnet,” later renamed to “Athena,” which an employee created.

“She cataloged all the fragrances that men liked and put them together; we had to change it because men didn’t want their girlfriends wearing ‘Dude Magnet,’” the owner said.

Latham opened the shop in 1980 after years in the cosmetics industry in Michigan and Los Angeles. She said she and a partner had been talking about opening a shop with an assortment of fragrance oils for custom scent creation.

“When I was in high school I worked at an upscale drugstore and then I worked for Saks Fifth Avenue in LA and they would always put me in cosmetics…I discovered that I really loved cosmetics and that I had a good nose,” she said.

Latham made the move to Huntington after making a trip to visit her then-partner’s family.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Small Business Advisory Committee: Helping New And Existing Businesses Starting a business, and growing a business, can often present many challenges, even if the owners are driven and stocked with talented individuals.

The Huntington Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advisory Committee (SBAC) is proud of its efforts to provide entrepreneurs starting a business, and existing businesses looking to grow, opportunities to seek advice from experts with proven track records of helping small businesses.

The chamber’s SBAC is comprised of experienced professionals with the knowledge required to keep businesses on the right path and help them succeed.

One-on-one business counseling sessions can be scheduled with experts in the fields of law, accounting, banking, finance, insurance, financial planning and strategy, business development, marketing strategy and regulatory

guidance. All inquiries are private and confidential.

To further assist you, the committee can refer you to professionals who will also help with your business needs. They can suggest strategies for capital investment and financing your business and give you the tools to help with your plan to start or grow your business.

In the near future, the committee will set up open panel discussions with multiple experts to answer your questions and concerns. You will have the opportunity to meet other individuals to share ideas.

We encourage businesses just starting out, and those seeking to grow, to reach out to us to discuss potential business opportunities and to seek our advice regarding forming, and growing businesses.

Please contact the Huntington Chamber for an appointment at 631-423-6100.

Sarah Latham and her staff create custom fragrances that can be used as perfumes or added to soaps, lotions, body mists and more.

“It’s a great shopping, walking town and people come here, and they walk around and I loved that, she said.

Latham said that people often come in looking for gifts. While the store also sells some accessories, home fragrances, and other types of jewelry and trinkets, custom scents seem to be the fan favorite when it comes to gift giving.

“I think people love to be involved

in the prep of something—it’s fun.

It’s a very personal, beautiful gift, and you see that they put a lot of love into it,” she said.

Scentsational 259 Main St #1, Huntington village 631-549-2090 escentsational.com

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e i d o o F THE

SECTION

DINEHUNTINGTON .COM

The Sweet And Sour Science Of Bread

By Andrew Wroblewski foodies@longislandergroup.com

Have you ever thought of your food as science?

I hadn’t; but that was before Chef Peter Berley, also an award-winning author, explained to me – and a host of others at the Cold Spring Harbor Library last week – that one of the world’s seemingly simplest foods is actually born from a complex chemical reaction.

That food is bread, and – spoiler alert – it’s one of my favorite appetizing treats around. Now, thanks to Chef Peter, I’ve learned how it’s made, and boy, was it surprising.

Chef Peter began the Thursday

night bread-making class with a simple dry erase board explaining the significance of a grain and the part it plays in the “miracle” of bread making.

I say miracle not only because Chef Peter described it as such, but because from those tiny grains, hundreds of loaves of bread can be made once the grain is converted into a culture – a mixture of flour and water, typically 200 grams of whole rye flour, 900 grams of whole flour, 900 grams of all-purpose flour and some non-chlorinated water. A simple cup of that culture, Chef Peter explained, can be “fed” and maintained so that it grows to produce an ever-continuing supply of bread – hopefully in

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A12 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

Award-winning chef and author Peter Berley hosts a bread-making class and tasting in the Cold Spring Harbor Library April 16. the form of loaves as tasty as the supply he brought along for us lucky few to try.

To start, 1-2 tablespoons can be drawn and fed 100 grams of flour and 100 grams of warm water in order to form a leaven. Once the leaven sets, it’s transformed into dough with a mixture of water, white bread flour, whole-wheat flour and salt. After a few more steps – including fermentation, turning, shaping and resting – it’s time to bake.

Fielding more questions, opening a conversation with the audience and ultimately explaining how he himself bakes his signature sourdough bread, Chef Peter finally let us get our hands on it.

It was worth the wait.

Thinly cut slices were placed by Chef Peter onto serving trays where they were topped with just a hint of butter. Those trays soon danced around the room until each mouth in the room was delighted by a sweet slice – or should I say, sour

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slice – of science.

The slices were of the sourdough variety, which the chef has perfected so that it brings a hint of sour, rather than a blast. He does this so as not to interfere with the other tastes that go to work in the tiny slice of heaven – or any topping that may go under, between or on top of them.

The result was a mouth-watering sweet-and-sour blend that had many of us aiming our praises toward the chef at the front of the room. That was quickly followed by our feet marching up to the table in hopes of grabbing just one more slice.

Soon enough, the night came to a close as Chef Peter signed copies of two of his books, “The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen” and “Fresh Food Fast,” which have earned him James Beard and International Association

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From those tiny grains on the right comes the “miracle” of bread on the left. of Culinary Professionals (IACP) awards.

Like excited students to a beloved professor, some even asked the chef how to sign up for his next class before scurrying out the door.

For more information, visit www.peterberley.com.

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DINEHUNTINGTON .COM VEGETERIAN DEBATE: An argument for end, and she’s only 10 years old.

vegetarian eating will take the screen May 4 at the Cinema Arts Centre.

From the producer and writer of “Forks Over Knives,” “PlantPure Nation” tells the story of three people on a quest to spread the message of the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

When nutritional scientist and respected author Dr. T. Colin Campbell inspires Kentucky State Representative Tom Riner to propose a pilot program documenting the health benefits of a plant-based diet, they inadvertently set in motion a series of events that expose powerful forces opposed to the diet.

When industry lobbyists kill the pilot program, Dr. Campbell’s oldest son Nelson decides to try his own grassroots approach in his hometown of Mebane, N.C. “PlantPure Nation,” copresented by Huntington-based community group Healthy Planet, screens with author and biochemist Dr. T. Colin Campbell and his son, the film’s director, Nelson Campbell, for discussion, reception and book signing on at 7:30 p.m. It’s all part of the “Let’s Eat: Food on Film” series at Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington. 631-423-7611 www.CinemaArtsCentre.org. Tickets are $12 for Cinema Arts members and $17 for the public.

CHILD

CELEBRITY

CHEF:

There will be a celebrity chef in town next week-

“Chef A.J.,” of Freeport, who competed on FOX’s “MasterChef Junior” TV competition cooking show earlier this year, will be at The All Kids Fair at the Melville Marriott on April 26.

A.J. Espinoza, whose favorite dish to make is corn mascarpone ravioli, will make an appearance starting at 10:30 a.m., where she’ll sign autographs, take photos and do a demo at 3:30 p.m. featuring Belgian waffles and a whipped cream challenge. Who is her inspiration, you might ask? “I’ve been watching classic television ever since I can remember, so Lucille Ball and Julia Childs. I love the way Lucy throws pizza dough in the air and has fun doing it. Julia Childs was the best French-trained chef of her time. They were both very funny and determined like I am!” she says. The fair, to be held from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., is a combination of education and activities expo and health and wellness fair focusing on kids. Over 80 exhibitor spaces and 24 kids’ classes provide valuable information for kids and their parents and grandparents. Visit www.AllKidsFair.com for more information.

“Chef AJ” of MasterChef Junior will be in Melville this weekend doing cooking demonstrations for kids.

THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A13

A14 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

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OPEN HOUSES

Want to get your open houses listed? Get your listings for free on this page every week in Long Islander News papers.

Call Associate Publisher Peter Sloggatt at 631-427-7000 or send an e-mail to psloggatt@longislandergroup.com.

Town Centerport Melville Northport Melville Dix Hills Dix Hills Cold Spring Hrbr Greenlawn Melville Dix Hills Melville Dix Hills Melville Huntington Melville Dix Hills Northport Melville

MELVILLE

DIX HILLS

MELVILLE

6 Agnes Ct Bedrooms 3 Baths 3 Price $369,000 Taxes $8,489 Open House 4/25 11:00am-12:30pm Signature Premier Properties 631-673-3700

6 Middlesex Dr Bedrooms 4 Baths 3 Price $559,000 Taxes $10,305 Open house 4/26 1:00pm-3:00pm Coldwell Banker Residential 631-673-4444

127 Old Country Rd Bedrooms 3 Baths 2 Price $899,000 Taxes $10,953 Open House 4/26 1:00pm-3:00pm Coach Real Estate Assoc Inc 631-427-9100

Address Beds 15 Harbor Heights Dr 4 50 Quintree Ln 5 483 Asharoken Ave 4 6 Agnes Ct 3 4 Cobblers Ln 5 2 Home Ct 6 12 Kennedy Ln 4 11 Kipling Dr 3 13 Overhill Rd 4 6 Middlesex Dr 4 20 Tappen Dr 4 3 Ingold Dr 4 16 Richbourne Ln 4 9 Briarfield Ln 2 31 Oxford St 4 9 Ryder Ct 5 178 Bayview Ave 3 127 Old Country Rd 3

Baths 3 4 4 3 3 4 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2

Price $635,000 $745,000 $945,000 $369,000 $659,000 $1,295,000 $1,549,000 $469,000 $535,000 $559,000 $585,000 $599,000 $749,000 $765,000 $785,000 $799,000 $849,000 $899,000

Taxes $14,392 $20,868 $14,244 $8,489 $15,375 $24,000 $17,768 $11,491 $11,388 $10,305 $12,240 $16,424 $16,644 $16,974 $14,000 $18,840 $11,768 $10,953

Date 4/23 4/23 4/24 4/25 4/25 4/25 4/25 4/26 4/26 4/26 4/26 4/26 4/26 4/26 4/26 4/26 4/26 4/26

Time 12:00pm-1:30pm 12:00pm-1:30pm 5:30pm-7:30pm 11:00am-12:30pm 1:00pm-3:00pm 1:00pm-3:00pm 1:00pm-3:00pm 1:00pm-3:00pm 1:00pm-2:30pm 1:00pm-3:00pm 2:30pm-4:00pm 3:00pm-4:30pm 2:30pm-4:30pm 1:00pm-4:00pm 1:00pm-3:00pm 2:30pm-4:30pm 1:00pm-3:00pm 1:00pm-3:00pm

Broker Coldwell Banker Residential Coldwell Banker Residential Douglas Elliman Real Estate Signature Premier Properties Coldwell Banker Residential Coldwell Banker Residential Douglas Elliman Real Estate Coach Real Estate Assoc Inc Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc Coldwell Banker Residential Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc Douglas Elliman Real Estate Douglas Elliman Real Estate Daniel Gale Agency Inc Coldwell Banker Residential RE/MAX Beyond Signature Premier Properties Coach Real Estate Assoc Inc

Phone 631-673-6800 516-864-8100 516-921-2262 631-673-3700 631-673-4444 516-864-8100 516-921-2262 631-757-7272 516-575-7500 631-673-4444 516-575-7500 516-921-2262 631-499-9191 631-427-6600 516-864-8100 631-862-1100 631-673-3700 631-427-9100

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DIX HILLS

Signature Building Shelter Long Islander News photo/Andrew Wroblewski

Signature Premier Properties owner and founder, Peter Morris, left, is joined for a picture outside of the realtor’s Huntington office by Broker of Record Kathy Kirby-Viard, center, and Marisa Doonan.

By Andrew Wroblewski awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

Coworkers, yes, but the people behind Huntington-based Signature Premier Properties prefer to think of themselves as more than that: they’re family members.

And every family can use a canine companion, or at least that’s how the Signature family feels.

As a part of Signature Cares, a division of the company dedicated to giving back to the community, a new “Doggie Playground” is being built right next to the Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center in Huntington.

“We’re clearing out trees, putting up fencing and adding speed and agility equipment for the dogs so that they have a place to run and play instead of being caged up,” Peter Morris, owner and founder of the real estate agency, said.

The playground is on track to be completed this summer and it’s just another way that Signature has given back to its hometown.

Huntington is where Morris first set up shop in November 2007 and began selling homes to the people of the north shore.

“This is where we’ve always worked… I live in Huntington, I build in Huntington and I know Huntington,” he said.

Just like any family, Signature has grown steadily over the last seven years from one office to six and from five agents to over 300 in 2015.

With that growth, Signature has expanded its reach.

Sure, the heart still lies within the agency’s home in the Town of Huntington – where Signature has four offices, in Dix Hills, Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington and Northport – but it has also expanded into Smithtown and Syosset. Early this fall, Signature is set to open its seventh office in the heart

of Babylon Village.

Yet, even with the growth, the family values and business model remain the same: sell homes to people and families looking to begin the next chapter in their own lives while maintaining company milestones – like hosting listing that spend the least days on the market, but that sell the most, and claiming the highest-overall market share in each location Signature serves, company representatives said.

“We want to continue to be the best local real estate company around,” Kathy Kirby-Viard, broker of record, said. “We’d like to continue to grow, fill our company with top-notch agents and service the people of Long Island the best we can.”

Experience is one factor that sets those agents apart, Morris added, to the point where that experience has helped Signature to mentor its young, newcomer agents in becoming “future superstars” – or, perhaps, members of the family.

“We really feel that Signature is a family; an extended family of our personal families,” Kirby-Viard said.

“The agents have beautiful, deep bonds and they’re loyal to us.”

The agents are also loyal to the community, she said, and that’s one aspect of the company that Signature is most proud of.

“It’s important for us to give back to the communities we’re living in; we’re raising our families here,” Kirby-Viard said. “The agents, honestly, are very involved in the food drives, the coat drives and the adopt-a-family [efforts] and I think that’s really helped us to stay a tight-knit family because we’re a bunch of givers.”

Building playground, hosting barbecues and taking field trips to the beach – these are just a few of the things that make Signature more than just a top-notch realtor; they’re what make it a family.

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A16 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

THURSDAY Dorothy Day’s Granddaughter Speaks

The Institute for the Study of Religion in Community Life at St. Joseph’s College (SJC) is pleased to announce that Martha Hennessy, granddaughter of Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, will give a lecture titled, “Dorothy Day: Peacemaker for Our Time” on Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the McGann Conference Room on the College’s Long Island Campus in Patchogue. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 631-687-2689. SJC is located at 155 W. Roe Blvd. in Patchogue.

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Calendar O M M U N I T Y

TUESDAY Calling All Needleworkers

The Suffolk County Chapter of The Embroiderers' Guild of America will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Half Hollow Hills Community Library, 55 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills. Beginner, intermediate or advanced stitchers welcome. No charge to attend first meeting.

631-423-3738.

FRIDAY Blast To The Past

On Friday, April 24, Oakwood Primary Center, 264 W. 22nd St., Huntington, hosts “Oakwood’s Blast to the Past” event from 7-8:30 p.m. Take a walk through time with a special exhibit of historic buildings on loan from the Huntington Town Clerk’s archives, or pop into a vintage photobooth. Other highlights include spinning and carding demonstrations by Diane Pionegro of the Spinning Study Group of Long Island and old style “trundling” (or hoop races as we know it today) in the gymnasium.

Healthy Kids Race

The Healthy Kids Running Series will be held Fridays, April 24 and May 1, 8, 5-6 p.m. at Fifth Avenue Elementary School, 1157 Fifth Ave., East Northport. The series aims to provide kids with a positive, educational, and fun experience in the world of running. Visit www.healthykidsrunningseries.org.

SATURDAY Earth Day Expo

The Family Earth Day Expo is April 25, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Town Hall Parking Lot at 100 Main St., Huntington. Safely dispose of medicines and obsolete e-waste; shred sensitive documents; take a look at the Green Showcase; view a variety of sea creatures on display in the touch tank; and learn about and touch a fire truck. 631-351-3171.

Acompora Lacrosse Jamboree

The Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation hosts the 14th Annual Louis J. Acompora Memorial Lacrosse Jamboree at Veterans Park, 279 Bellerose Ave., East Northport, on April 25. In addition to lacrosse games all day long, the Long Island Lizards will join in the fun, along with a BBQ, fun games and giveaways, hands-only CPR demonstrations and education on early heart disease in youth. www.La12.org.

Huntington Choral Concert

The Huntington Choral Society presents an evening of great opera choruses and arias on April 25 at 8 p.m. in the Huntington High School auditorium at Oakwood and McKay Roads in Huntington. Admission is $20. Students are free. www.huntingtonchoralsociety.org.

the following places and times: Huntington Library, Monday, May 11 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Huntington Nutrition Center, Wednesdays, April 29, May 27 and June 24, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Paumanack Village I & II (Greenlawn), Tuesdays, April 21 and June 16, 10 a.m.1 p.m.; Paumanack Village V & VI (Melville), Thursdays, April 23 and May 28, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; South Huntington Library, Thursday, April 22 and June 25, 10-11:30 a.m. 631-853-8200.

WEDNESDAY Open Mic Night

Minstrel Players of Northport For its 50th production, the Players take on Kaufman’s & Hart’s “The Man Who Came to Dinner” on Saturdays, April 25 and May 2 at 8 p.m. and Sundays, April 26 and May 3 at 3 p.m. at Houghton Hall Theatre at Trinity Episcopal Church located at 130 Main St. in Northport Village. $20 adults/$15 seniors and children. 631-732-2926 or www.minstrelplayers.org.

YMCA Camp Open House

Learn more about the Huntington YMCA Summer Day Camp during open houses on Wednesday, April 15, 6:30-8 p.m.; Saturday, April 25, 1-4 p.m.; Saturday, May 16, 12-3 p.m.; and Saturday, June 6, 1-3 p.m. at 60 Main St., Huntington. https://ymcali.org/huntington/camp/ or call 631-421-4242.

Collections For Local Vets

Huntington Elks Lodge Veterans Outreach and Troop 106 Eagle Scouts are collecting “gently used” clothes for men, women and children, as well as new toiletry items (toothpaste, brushes, soap and local gift cards) on April 25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 195 Main St. in Huntington. Donations will be distributed to local veterans. 631-549-8330.

SUNDAY Senior Pops Concert

The Senior Pops Orchestra plays April 26, 2 p.m. at the Suffolk County Community College’s Van Nostrand Theater in Brentwood. For more information, visit www.seniorpops.org.

‘Beneath The Helmet’

Acclaimed film “Beneath The Helmet: From High School to the Home Front,” a coming-of-age story which follows the journey of five Israeli high school graduates who are drafted into the army to defend their country, will be shown April 26, 7 p.m. at the Huntington Jewish Center (HJC), 510 Park Ave., Huntington.

Tickets are $5. Refreshments will be served. Reserved seating only. Contact Barbara at 631-427-1089 ext 23.

All Kids Fair

The fifth annual All Kids Fair, an education and activities expo and health and wellness fair, is at the Melville Marriott on April 26, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., featuring more than 80 exhibitors and 24 fun and interesting classes for the kids. Chef AJ of Fox TV’s “MasterChef Junior” Season 3 will be posing for photos and doing a demonstration. Other guests include QuackerJack from the Long Island Ducks, a juggler from the Big Apple Circus and Amy Marchany, Ms. Royal America. www.AllKidsFair.com.

Chai Center Camp Open House

Get a sneak peek at a summer full of fun and adventure at The Chai Center of Dix Hills, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway. Parents and children can tour the facility featuring all new indoor specialty club rooms and Certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. Children will enjoy our moon bounce, art and our light and shadow room. April 26, 10:30 a.m. Call 631-3518672 or visit thechaicenter.com for more information.

MONDAY Meet With Senior Advocates

Suffolk County Senior Advocates who assist seniors with information gathering, completion of eligibility or recertification applications and referrals to appropriate community agencies, will be available at

Play your heart out at an acoustic open mic night every Wednesday at Caffe Portofino, 249 Main St., Northport, 7-10 p.m. www.facebook.com/cafportopenmic.

Original songs only.

AT THE LIBRARIES Cold Spring Harbor Library

95 Harbor Road, Cold Spring Harbor.

631-692-6820. cshlibrary.org.

• Make fun crafts at Mix-It-Up Mayhem on Friday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m.

• Learn how to make your own edible flowerpot cake on April 27 & 29 at 4:30 p.m.

Commack Public Library

18 Hauppauge Road, Commack. 631499-0888. commack.suffolk.lib.ny.us.

• Enjoy a friendly game of bridge or mahjongg in the Community Room every Friday, from 1-5:30 p.m.

• Learn all about beautiful and intelligent parrots on Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m.

All ages welcome.

Deer Park Public Library

44 Lake Ave., Deer Park. 631-586-3000. deerparklibrary.org.

• Through a grant from New York State, the library offers Google Nexus 7 tablets for borrowing. Browse the web, download a book, play games and more with just a touch of your finger.

Tablets can be checked out for two weeks on an adult Deer Park library card.

• Listen to the music of the amazing Brittany Maier, a blind and autistic pianist, on April 26, 1-3 p.m.

Elwood Public Library

3027 Jericho Turnpike, Elwood. 631-4993722. www.elwoodlibrary.org.

• Watch the library’s weekly Friday afternoon movie at 1 p.m.

• Learn about “The Most Beautiful Cars Ever Built” on Saturday, April 25, from 1-3 p.m., as Roy Jaffe, former senior stylist at General Motors, returns to share images of beautiful and unusual cars from his photo collection.

(Continued on page A17)

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A17

(Continued from page A16)

Half Hollow Hills Community Library

All Kids Fair

Dix Hills: 55 Vanderbilt Parkway. 631421-4530; Melville: 510 Sweet Hollow Road. 631-421-4535. hhhlibrary.org.

• 3D printing is here! Watch the MakerBot in action for 50 cents of printing for each 30 minutes. For more information, call the Adult Reference Desk.

• Watch a film about junk food news, and after, there will be a Q&A with the film’s director and producer on Sunday, April 26, from 2-4 p.m.

The fifth annual All Kids Fair, an education and activities expo and health and wellness fair, is at the Melville Marriott on April 26, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., featuring more than 80 exhibitors and 24 fun and interesting classes for the kids. Chef AJ of Fox TV’s “MasterChef Junior” Season 3 will be posing for photos and doing a demonstration. Other guests include QuackerJack from the Long Island Ducks, a juggler from the Big Apple Circus and Amy Marchany, Ms. Royal America. www.AllKidsFair.com.

Harborfields Public Library

31 Broadway, Greenlawn. 631-757-4200. harborfieldslibrary.org.

• Come in for some fun and games every Friday from 1-4 p.m. The game room is stocked with scrabble, bridge and other fun board games.

• Children in grades K-5 can come to the children’s room to guess the number of jellybeans in the jar for a chance to win a prize. Children must also read a book and write the title along with their guesses. Contest is open through April 25.

Huntington Public Library

Main Branch: 338 Main St., Huntington.

631-427-5165. Station Branch: 1335 New York Ave., Huntington Station. 631-4215053. www.thehuntingtonlibrary.org.

• Op-Ed Fridays are weekly at the main branch. Stop by from 2-5 p.m. and discuss your thoughts on a changing world. Registration is required and light refreshments will be served.

• Stay in shape with QiGong, a series of slow and gentle exercises meant to develop your inner body awareness.

Class is taught by Dorothy Mandrakos and held on Friday, April 24, from 9:3010:30 a.m. at the Station branch.

Northport-East Northport Library

Northport: 151 Laurel Ave. 631-2616930. East Northport: 185 Larkfield Road. 631-261-2313. www.nenpl.org.

• Art historian Mary Vahey will be holding a lecture about the highlights and history of the new Whitney Museum of American Art opening in Manhattan on Thursday, April 23, from 2:30-4 p.m. in Northport.

• Come and enjoy Taste of the Fest, a selection of short one-act plays on Sunday, April 26, from 2-3 p.m. in Northport.

South Huntington Public Library

145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station. 631-549-4411. www.shpl.info.

• Come and celebrate the Pigeon’s birthday for an afternoon of fun stories, crafts and snacks on Saturday, April 25, 2:30 p.m. Registration is required.

Children ages 4-8.

• Watch the epic conclusion of the “Hobbit” film trilogy and enjoy free pizza on Friday, April 24, from 6-9 p.m.

Children ages 12-18. Registration is required.

Butera family on Sunday, April 26.

There will also be food, films and a screening of “Dinner Rush.”

John W. Engeman Theater

350 Main St., Northport. www.johnwengemantheater.com. 631-261-2900.

• The classic “A Chorus Line” shows through May 10.

Minstrel Players of Northport

For its 50th production, the Players take on Kaufman’s & Hart’s “The Man Who Came to Dinner” on Saturdays, April 25 and May 2 at 8 p.m. and Sundays, April 26 and May 3 at 3 p.m. at Houghton Hall Theatre at Trinity Episcopal Church located at 130 Main St. in Northport Village. $20 adults/$15 seniors and children. 631732-2926 or www.minstrelplayers.org.

MUSEUMS/EXHIBITS Art League of Long Island

107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills.

Gallery hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends. 631-462-5400. www.ArtLeagueLI.net.

• Check out the Art League’s 57th Long Island Artists Exhibition through May 7.

b.j. spoke gallery

299 Main St., Huntington. Gallery hours: Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 631-5495106. www.bjspokegallery.com.

• Winners of the EXPO 34 Competition are now on display at the Gallery through April 30.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery

1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor.

Open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and Sundays until 6 p.m.: $6 adults; $4 children 3-12 and seniors over 65; members and children under 3 are free. 516-692-6768. www.cshfha.org.

• Enjoy the Fish Hatchery Festival with kid’s fishing, a petting zoo, castle bouncer and many other activities on April 25, from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum

THEATER & FILM Cinema Arts Centre

423 Park Ave., Huntington. www.cinemaartscentre.org. 631-423-7611.

• Listen to PUBLIQuartet perform live in the Sky Room on Friday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m.

• Enjoy an evening with director Bob Giraldi, star Danny Aiello, and the

279 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor. 631367-3418. www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

• The year-long exhibit “Sea Ink: American Sailors and Tattoo Art” explores the culture and significance of nautical tattoos and their historical origins from sailors’ lives at sea. The exhibit features an array of tattoo artifacts, antique machines, early inking tools and Sailor Jerry flash art.

Heckscher Museum Of Art

2 Prime Ave., Huntington. Museum hours: Wednesday - Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., first Fridays from 4-8:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $6-8/adults, $46/seniors, and $4-5/children; members and children under 10 free. 631-3513250.

• Come and check out “Before Selfies: Portraiture through the Ages” for a look at portraits before the advent of cameras. The exhibit is on display from April 25-Aug. 9.

Huntington Arts Council

Main Street Petite Gallery: 213 Main St., Huntington. Gallery hours: Monday Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday noon-4 p.m. 631-271-8423. www.huntingtonarts.org.

• “I See Me,” the self-portrait show, will be on display in the Main Street Gallery through April 27.

Huntington Historical Society

Main office/library: 209 Main St., Huntington. Museums: Conklin Barn, 2 High St.; Kissam House/Museum Shop, 434 Park Ave.; Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building, 228 Main St. 631427-7045, ext. 401. www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

• Enjoy the Sheep Shawl Festival, which includes sheep sheering, textile demonstrations by local artisans, oldfashioned games and children’s activities at the Dr. Daniel W. Kissam House on May 3, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Northport Historical Society Museum

215 Main St., Northport. Museum hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 1-4:30 p.m. 631-7579859. www.northporthistorical.org.

• For an afternoon of historical fun, come and enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the Northport’s Historic Main Street Tuesday-Sunday from 1-4:30 p.m. Available in the museum shop at $5 per person.

Ripe Art Gallery

1028 Park Ave., Huntington. TuesdayThursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 2-8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. www.ripeartgal.com. 631-239-1805.

• Enjoy a two-man show featuring the work of Northport native, Edward Joseph and BK the Artist. The exhibit is on display through May 2.

Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport.

Museum hours through April 15:

Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Grounds admission: $7 adults, $6 students with ID and seniors 62 and older, and $3 children 12 and under.

Mansion tour, add $5 per person. 631854-5555. www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

• Enjoy an afternoon of mansion touring, which begins in the Courtyard of the historic house once owned by William K. Vanderbilt II. Tours are Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday for a fee of $5 in addition to the price of admission. Check the museum’s website for time listings.

Walt Whitman Birthplace

246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station. Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 students, and children under 5 are free.

631-427-5240. www.waltwhitman.org.

• Schedule at a time convenient for your group for high tea and transport yourself back in time as your group experiences High Tea in a private gathering house at the Birthplace. $25/person.

631-427-5240, ext. 120. teaparty@waltwhitman.org.

MUSIC & DANCE Five Towns College Performing Arts Center

Five Towns College, 305 N. Service Road, Dix Hills. Box Office: 631-6562148. www.dhpac.org.

• Relive the adventures of the big green ogre in “Shrek the Musical” on May 2-3.

Show times are online.

The Paramount

370 New York Ave., Huntington. 631-6737300. www.paramountny.com. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

• Come and enjoy Primus and the Chocolate Factory featuring Fungi Ensemble on Saturday, April 25.

Ridotto, Concerts “With a Touch of Theatre”

“Being There” on Sunday, May 3, 4 p.m. is centered in Vienna around 1900 with music by Hugo Wolf, Arnold Schonberg (Songs), Johannes Brahms (Piano Quartet) and others. Performers are the LongLeash Ensemble with Clarissa Lyons, soprano and Renate Rohlfing, piano. Concert is in the Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Ave., Huntington. $10 students/$18 members/$20 seniors/$25 adults.

Reservations recommended. 631-3850373 or Ridotto@optonline.net. www.ridotto.org.

Send us your listings Submissions must be in by 5 p.m.

10 days prior to publication date.

Send to Community Calendar at 14 Wall Street, Huntington, NY 11743, or e-mail to info@longislandergroup.com

A18 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A19

School Notebook

Compiled by Luann Dallojacono

Petland Discounts recently brought an array of interesting animals to Vanderbilt Elementary.

Traveling Pets Petland Discounts visited Vanderbilt Elementary School recently as part of its educational school program where representatives visit classrooms with “traveling pets” for an exciting, hands-on and educational show with 12-14 different animals.

The visit gives the students the opportunity to see some common, as well as some not-so-common, pets up close and learn about them.

Students learn about the history of the many diverse species presented as well as the proper care associated with these pets and what is necessary to ensure their quality of life.

Poetry Honors Friends Academy eighth-grader Avalon Fenster, of Dix Hills, was awarded distinguished honors for her original submission from the National Scholastic Art and Writing

Competition, a contest that was cre- Birthplace and the String Poets ated in 1923.

Competition. Seeing how my writSubmissions are judged by lumi- ing touched readers, when I read the naries in the field and selected for poem at the ceremony was a major their originality, techniturning point for me as cal skill and an emera writer. Words are so gence of a personal powerful – they can voice or vision. Fenhurt, inspire, bring joy ster's poem, “Her Secret or bring clarity about Sermon,” won her the our world.” regional Silver Key When Fenster disAward. covered that some of In her poem, Fenster her creative heroes, explored the downward such as Truman spiral of self-destruction Capote, Richard Aveand alcoholism after a don, Sylvia Plath and woman loses the man in John Updike, were also Avalon Fenster her life who was instrupast teen winners with mental to her happiness. the National Scholastic Art and “The piece takes place in the pres- Writing Competition, it only deepent, but mostly consists of her flash- ened her appreciation of her honor. back on how she looked, acted and “Winning this award has affirmed felt in the past – before she began my love for writing and inspired me destroying herself again,” explained to continue to work on my craft. PoFenster. etry has helped me through some Fenster's writing aspirations be- hard times and has been a great tool gan as early as third grade. for me to also celebrate life through “The process of writing has al- good times,” she said. “Words are ways fascinated me,” she said. “It magical, on their own and when they was actually in third grade when I come together. That is why literature won first place for a poem that I had and great poetry, even from hunwritten called Nature’s Beauty for dreds of years ago, are still relevant the Walt Whitman Museum and today. That's what I think inspires

‘All-Star’ Reggae Act To Play Paramount The Paramount Spotlight For more than a decade, the Easy Star All-Stars have been touring the world bringing cultures a blend of musical versatility, instrumental prowess, beautiful vocal harmonies and a premier rhythm section.

Now, on April 30, the reggae act is set to bring its show to Huntington as the act takes to The Paramount’s stage along with The English Beat.

Founded in 2003, Easy Star AllStars first got its start by covering Pink Floyd’s classic album, “The Dark Side of the Moon,” but by adding its own distinct reggae and ska sound to the mix. The result was a dub reggae tribute properly titled “Dub Side of the Moon.”

The band then continued to ride the wave of success its first studio album produced and took aim at another classic with the release of “Radiodread” in 2006, which was a reggae, ska and dub interpretation of Radiohead’s classic 1997 album, “OK Computer.”

More tributes to classic bands and albums – including Michael Jackson

The Easy Star All-Stars, a reggae collective, are coming to The Paramount April 30. and The Beatles – were released by the Easy Star All-Stars, but, in 2011, the band ventured into territory it hadn’t yet before. The first original, fulllength studio album every produced by the Easy Star All-Stars hit the market in the form of “First Light.”

Through it all, the band’s only constant has been Michael Goldwasser – also co-founder and president of Easy

Star Records – as Goldwasser’s supporting cast has come-and-gone over the past 12 years. Most recently, however, Goldwasser has been accompanied by Victor Axelrod, Patrick Dougher and Victor Rice.

Along with Easy Star All-Stars, The Paramount will also play host to the two tone ska revival band, The English Beat. Founded in 1978 in

Birmingham, England, the English Beat is set to, in 2015, release its first full-length studio album in 33 years, “Here We Go Love.”

Tickets to see Easy Star All-Stars and The English Beat – along with special guest, The Skints – are available from the box office or online at www.paramountny.com.

Prices range from $20-$45.

A20 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

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Town: Beef up infrastructure before Heartland (Continued from page A2)

the Wolkoffs bought in 2002 after the property was decommissioned by the state.

However, Huntington town officials, represented by Councilwoman Susan Berland at an April 16 public hearing on a zone change to accommodate the project, argue current infrastructure can’t handle the ambitious project, which would be situated near the Dix Hills and Commack borders.

She also accused the Town of Islip of throwing the Town of Huntington a curveball on the topic.

The finalized general environmental impact statement (GEIS) calls for full road access from the development to Commack Road – a big change that will negatively impact Huntington residents and all commuters on Commack Road, Berland said.

“The Islip Town Board adopted the final GEIS, gave short shrift to Huntington’s objections and left critical questions unanswered,” Berland said, referring to whether infrastructure improvements will come, when they will be built and who will pay for them.

Berland said Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone flagged the issue five years ago when he told the Suffolk County Planning Commission that a consensus must be reached on infrastructure improvements, and that those must begin before Islip decides on Heartland.

That has not happened, and until it does – and direct access to Commack Road is eliminated – Islip should not act, Berland said.

The Islip Planning Board will ulti-

mately make a recommendation on a proposed zone change for the project to Islip’s Town Board. The planning board voted to reserve a decision following the four-and-a-half-hour hearing.

The Wolkoff organization has argued that concerns over traffic are misplaced. They said the development is planned so cars won’t be necessary for every trip. People will be able to walk, ride bikes and take mass transit within the complex or connect to outside mass transit such as the Long Island Rail Road’s Deer Park station, they said.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has said that because the development model breaks the project down into several phases, that will give municipalities ample time to improve roadways and mass transit. The Wolkoffs estimate infrastructure costs within the complex, including roads and sewers, will cost hundreds of millions of dollars out of pocket.

Outside of the complex, the state held two planning meetings last week to seek public input on plans for future improvements to the Sagtikos Parkway, and Suffolk County is addressing improvements to Crooked Hill Road.

But attorney Joseph Fritz, a former Islip Planning Board member, argued it is inappropriate for municipalities to pick up the bill for the Heartland infrastructure projects.

“It represents an effort by the developer to foist development on the community at the government’s cost and expense,” he said.

According to Commack’s Nancy Gamby, any outside infrastructure

Anti-Semitic t-shirts (Continued from page A1)

dinator Brenda Lentsch also confirmed that an “Interfaith Counsel” will be created within the district to help educate students on issues of prejudice.

On Sunday, Saacks said he had the opportunity to meet with parents of the students in the image.

One parent, he said, apologized for and was mortified and devastated by the incident.

Another asked Saacks to speak with their child. The rabbi is hopeful that, through that conversation, he may be able to explain to the student the extent of their actions in an effort to turn them into an ambassador for the Jewish community.

“I think this is a teaching mo-

ment,” Saacks said.

Through it all, Saacks stressed that this issue is not just one secluded to the Commack community, but a larger issue where people must understand it’s not acceptable to cause such pain to another person.

With that, Saacks said he is currently in the process of recruiting no more than 12 members of the community – Jewish and not – to form a “think tank” set on the goal of combating bigotry, anti-Semitism, ignorance and idiocy. The rabbi said those interested can email him at change4suffolk@gmail.com.

“People need to realize that their actions may not be criminal, but that doesn’t make them acceptable,” he said. “We all live in God’s world together.”

improvements that do come will make little difference. Already, traffic is unbearable across the town line, she said, adding that she has had to sit through three light cycles at the intersection of Commack Road and the Long Island Expressway service road “more times than I can count,” and traffic on Sagtikos is already badly snarled.

A development of Heartland’s size will only add to the trouble, she added.

“The notion that 20,000 new residents… won’t make it worse is crazy,” Gamby said. “Even if another lane is added on the Sagtikos Parkway, there is no way that area can support that much traffic.”

Huntington Groups, Residents Weigh In On Heartland If approved by the Islip Town Board, Heartland Town Square would be built in three phases.

The first calls for 626,000 square feet of office space, 560,000 square feet of retail space, 105,000 square feet of civic space and 3,504 residential units.

Phase two would bring 1,602,322 square feet of office space, 391,930 square feet of retail space, 5,000 square feet of civic space and 3,472 units of residential space.

The final phase would bring 1,011,178 square feet of office space, 48,070 square feet of retail space, 105,000 square feet of civic space and 2,024 residential units.

Jerry Wolkoff has said the project will take at least 25 years to build out to completion. His son David argued the project, which has been weaving its way through Islip Town Hall for over a decade, will help usher Long Island boldly into the 21st century and help end the flight of young and old from Long Island.

“Those of you who know us know our commitment to Long Island,” said David Wolkoff. “Heartland Town Square continues that commit-

ment – for the betterment of Brentwood, the Town of Islip and the Long Island region.”

Huntington’s Bill Hubbs, a representative of the Commack-based Long Island Builders Institute (LIBI), argued the impact could be transformative for the region.

In Heartland, Islip has a “significant new dimension to our regional lifestyle and economy,” like Levittown did in the 1950s, Roosevelt Field did in the 1960s and the Hauppauge Industrial Park did in the 1970s, he said.

Eric Alexander, executive director of the Northport-based smart-growth advocacy group Vision Long Island called for more bike lanes and greater diversity of housing, but said the organization “supports the concept and supports the direction” of the development.

While town officials in Huntington have raised concerns, county leadership has been largely supportive of the Heartland vision. The mini-city is being factored in as a driver of County Executive Bellone’s Connect Long Island proposal, which aims to fight the brain-drain by tying together regional assets, such as universities, job centers, labs and parks through mass transit enhancements and creating vibrant, walkable, transit-oriented downtowns.

“This is an opportunity to act,” Sheila Kelly, an aide for Bellone, said. “It’s time to stop talking and start doing.”

Melville’s Philip Shwom said he believes the development would be a boon for young and aging Long Islanders.

“This community will provide an attractive destination so that when my children graduate college, they want to stay on Long Island,” he said.

“When my wife and I downsize from our home, we will have a great and vibrant place to live. This is what Long Island needs.”

Bank robber busted (Continued from page A3)

Prior to that, on Feb. 6, 2014, he was one of three accused of stealing more than $53,000 worth of bronze graveside vases from Pinelawn Memorial Cemetery. The trio is believed to have sold some for scrap to buy drugs, police said at the time.

Three weeks before his arrest in that case, Schneider had been released on parole after spending 11 months in prison following a Dec. 3, 2012 bank robbery in West Babylon, according to online state pris-

oner records.

Before that, Schneider was first arrested in March 2011 in connection to a string of bank robberies in Babylon, North Babylon, West Babylon, Commack, Deer Park, West Islip and Lake Grove. Schneider was famously busted on the Long Island Rail Road en route to New York City from Huntington.

His accomplice in those robberies was Vito Frabizio, eyed by the Baltimore Orioles before the heists as a prospective pitching star.

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A21

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HillSPORTS BOYS LACROSSE>> HILLS WEST 19, EAST ISLIP 12

By Andrew Wroblewski awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

Ryan Ozsvath accrued a seasonhigh 7 points and the Colts of Half Hollow Hills High School West’s boys lacrosse team fought off a late surge by the Redmen of East Islip (2-5) to secure a 19-12 win on April 16.

For the second time this season, the Colts (4-3) climbed back to a game over .500 in League II with the win after beginning the season 0-2.

As of press time Monday, this left the Colts in sixth place with a little less than half the season left to play.

The win over the Redmen was powered by Ozsvath’s 7 points, which he gathered through 5 goals and 2 assists. Michael McCarthy recorded a season-high 6 points in the win via a goal and 5 assists.

East Islip made the game interesting, however, despite trailing through three quarters of the game.

The Redmen outscored the Colts 8-1

Long Islander News photos/Andrew Wroblewski

Colts Trump Redmen On The Road

The Colts fought off a late fourth-quarter surge by East Islip on April 16 to earn a 19-12 League II win. in the final quarter, but goalkeepers Andrew DeLuca and Ryan Coffey combined over the course of the con-

test to make 11 saves for Hills West and preserve the win.

A non-league win over New

Milford continued the Colts’ winning ways on Saturday as McCarthy led the Colts with 6 points on 3 goals and 3 assists.

With a 5-point performance in that win, Ozsvath leveled his season total to 39 and secured himself as the Colts’ second-leading points producer. Cam Mule – who recorded 5 points of his own against New Milford – currently sits atop that list with 41 points, which is the sixthmost out of all players in Suffolk County.

Ozvath, however, leads the Colts in goals with 30 and found himself in a tie for ninth-most on all of Long Island.

The Colts were scheduled to be in action once again on Monday as they welcomed one of Suffolk’s undefeated teams in Connetquot (7-0) for a non-league contest.

On Friday, the Colts will get back into League II play with a game against Deer Park (0-6) scheduled for 3 p.m. at Deer Park High School.

BASEBALL>> HILLS EAST 14, SMITHTOWN WEST 6

Thunderbirds Avoid Sweep, Edge Bulls Late

By Andrew Wroblewski awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

With 6 RBIs, including a 2-run homerun, Rich Villa provided a spark for the offense of Half Hollow Hills High School East’s baseball team on Friday in its 14-6 win over Smithtown West (6-3). With the win, along with avoiding a three-game sweep, the Thunderbirds (7-2) stepped into second place in League III with a little more than half the season left to play.

Heading into the fifth inning against the Bulls, however, the outlook was rather bleak for the Thunderbirds as they trailed 6-2. The two runs for Hills East had come off the bat of Villa in the first inning as he launched a 2-run homer over the wall for his third homerun of the season.

Hills East rallied, though, and tied the game at 6-6 when Mike Palazzolo managed to steal home on a Bulls pickoff attempt. With 2 outs, Villa, a senior, once again stepped to

the plate and broke the tie with a 2run single that gave the Thunderbirds a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Villa concluded the day 3-for-4 with 6 RBIs. Matt Hogan, a freshman, was 1-for-3 and contributed 3 RBIs of his own.

On the mound, pitcher Nate Byrd earned his first win for Hills East this season, but Joe Marzouk helped out by coming on in the sixth and seventh innings to keep the Bulls’ bats silent with a shutout performance.

Hills East avoided the sweep by the Bulls after dropping the first two games in the three-game series 4-1 and 3-1 early last week. Those were the Thunderbirds’ first two losses of the season, but the boys responded on Friday to stay one game ahead of Smithtown West in League III. As of press time Monday, the Thunderbirds had two series left to play in the League III before onegame matchups with each of the league’s five other teams to close out

Matt Taylor prepares to take a swing for the Thunderbirds in a game against the Walt Whitman Wildcats. regular-season play.

The first series may prove to be another test for Hills East as it takes on League III’s top dog, Smithtown East (8-1). The Thunderbirds were set to travel to the Bulls on Tuesday

for the first game of the series before heading back home on Wednesday for game two at High School East.

The series is set to culminate with a night game at Otsego Park in Dix Hills on Thursday at 7 p.m.

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THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015 • A23

BOXING

Algieri Heading Back To Barclays awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

He’s back.

The championship-winning boxer from Greenlawn, Chris Algieri, is set to get back into the ring for the first time since November when he suffered his first professional defeat to Manny Pacquiao in Macau, China.

On May 29, however, Algieri (201, 8 KOs) will fight on his home turf as he welcomes the United Kingdom’s Amir “King” Khan (30-3, 19 KOs) to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for a main-event bout.

“I am very excited to get back into the ring and to be fighting here in New York,” Algieri said in a press release. “Amir Khan is a tested cham-

pion and is the matchup that I wanted. I believe this is a fight that will bring the best out of me.”

For Algieri, the trip to the Barclays Center will be his second. He earned his first-ever professional boxing championship there after he defeated Ruslan Provodnikov via split decision; that title, World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight championship, was later stripped from Algieri following his fight with Pacquiao.

"Fighting at Barclays Center, where I won my world title just under a year ago, is an added bonus,” Algieri, 31, said.

Kahn, 28, first made a name for himself in 2004 when he earned a silver medal at the Olympics. The na-

Concert for Sean Urda (Continued from page A5)

son’s sudden death.

“We can’t express our gratitude, how deeply we feel about this community and how much everything they’ve done for us means to me, my wife and our family,” Gary Urda said. “It’s unthinkable what we’re going through – I can’t imagine going through it without these people to help us. And they’ve been amazing.”

Senior Tom Priest got to work on pulling the concert together soon after Urda died, and Sean’s parents gave their blessing. A guitarist and vocalist, Priest said he’d seen the power of music to bring people together and lift their spirits.

“I had this idea after Sean passed of bringing the whole community together as a healing process,” he said.

“I thought I’d bring the whole community together and everybody would be happy after this and they’d realize he touched so many people.”

The concert began with a performance of the Marvin Gaye standard, “What’s Going On,” performed by the high school jazz band; Sean played in the middle school jazz band as a youngster. An eclectic set list followed, veering from songs by Matisyahu to One Republic and Ed Sheeran and Fun. While the occasion was at times a somber one of remembrance, the atmosphere was lively – just how Sean would have liked it.

“Jolly silliness… I called him my ‘wild card’ because he was just so

tive of England has not lost since July 14, 2012 and most recently defeated former welterweight world champion Devon Alexander by unanimous decision at the Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 12.

“I’m delighted to now be fighting [in New York] once again against another champion in Chris Algieri,” Khan said in a press release. “Algieri has shared the ring with some tremendous fighters and shown great skills in those fights so I know I will need to be at my very best when we meet.”

The fight is set to air as the main event on a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card, and will be broadcasted on Spike TV. Tickets for the fight are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

Boxer Chris Algieri from Greenlawn will next step into the ring on May 29 at the Barclays Center.

Long Islander News photos/Danny Schrafel

By Andrew Wroblewski

Members of “Acapellwood” perform One Republic’s “When The Love is Gone” during the concert. silly,” said Natural Helpers adviser Jen Basford said. Urda was a member of the peer-to-peer mentoring and helping program for most of his high school career.

“He was always smiling. He knew how to keep everybody upbeat,” said Glenn senior Sydney Kelly, a Natural Helpers senior trainer.

The concert was a benefit for the Sean Urda Memorial Scholarship fund, which, as of Monday, eclipsed the $80,000 mark in a little over two months.

The fund will provide at least three $1,400 scholarships – Urda’s number on the team was 14 – to a John Glenn soccer team senior, a senior on the Score FC travel tournament team Urda played for and the Suffolk County all-star squad.

Students have raised thousands of dollars for the scholarship fund in recent months through various tournaments and events.

Andrew Lule, a sophomore, was a

From left, junior-varsity soccer coach Joe Manaseri, Elwood Middle School coach Ken Mulvihill, freshman Chris Spalding and sophomore Andrew Lule sell tshirts before the concert in support of the scholarship fund. freshman on the John Glenn Knights when Urda was a senior captain. On Saturday night, he and his teammates and coaches sold Sean Urda no. 14 t-shirts to aid the scholarship fund. So far, they’ve sold hundreds; after starting with 50 of each size Saturday night, they were down to just a handful of smalls and extralarges by show time.

“He was more of a big brother,” he said of Urda.

After Urda’s funeral on Jan. 31, the school district opened the cafeteria to mourners to get something to eat and share memories. Hundreds

packed the auditorium, and local restaurants gave enough to feed 500 people, the Urdas said.

Mother Nicole Urda said the family was “honored that they had gone to so much trouble to pay homage to Sean’s memory.”

“My biggest fear is that Sean would be forgotten,” she said. “It warms my heart to see this.”

To make a contribution to the scholarship fund, visit http://www.gofundme.com/l01mz8.

Applications for the scholarship are due by May 1; for more information, visit www.seanurda14.org.

A24 • THE HALF HOLLOW HILLS NEWSPAPER • APRIL 23, 2015

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