Arts & Lifestyles - December 22, 2016

ARTS&LIFESTYLES times beacon RecoRd news media • decembeR 22, 2016

Holiday Memories Special Feature ❅ B10 ALSO:

New Year’s Eve events on the North Shore B23 | Review of ‘Rogue One’ B25 | SBU Sports B28

• With warm regards, from all of us at Times Beacon Record News Media.

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May the peace and love of the holidays be with you throughout the year.

PAGE B2 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

community news

Photo from HAC

Above, Anahi deCanio with ‘Brooklyn Walls’

Creating without limits

The Huntington Arts Council held an opening reception for its latest exhibition, The Versatility of Street Art, at its Main Street Gallery, 213 Main St., Huntington on Friday, Dec. 9.

Twenty-six artists were accepted into the show, which was judged by Phetus, Long Island’s very own graffiti/street artist. Anahi DeCanio won Best in Show for her abstract painting titled “Brooklyn Walls.” Honorable mentions were awarded to Sharon Lobo for “Jackson Heights Queens,” “Fish” by Jared Long and “Paparazzi” by Stephen Palladino. “[This show] is a great example of how we continue to work toward providing opportunity for all types of artists: both from a demographic and creative standpoint,” said HAC’s Executive Director Marc Courtade. The exhibit runs through Jan. 7. For gallery hours, call 631-271-8423.

Photo by Heidi Sutton

From left, Managing director Vivian Koutrakos, 2016 Volunteer of the year Megan Bush, executive Artistic director Jeffrey Sanzel and Group Sales and director of development douglas Quattrock

Theatre Three announces Volunteer of the Year

By Heidi Sutton

Port Jefferson: Theatre Three’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year was announced at the end of last Saturday night’s performance of “A Christmas Carol.”

According to Executive Artistic Director and resident Scrooge Jeffrey Sanzel, the award is given out every year to someone who has made a contribution without asking for anything in return. This year’s recipient is 17-year-old Megan Bush, who has

been with the theater since age 7. A senior at Ward Melville High School, Megan began her relationship with the theater as an acting student playing the role of Want in “A Christmas Carol.”

“For the past 10 years we have watched Megan grow up,” said Sanzel. “She has been a teaching assistant, she has been a teacher in our Dramatic Academy, she has been a stage manager — one of the youngest in the history of the theater — she has been my personal assistant on various pro-

ductions as an assistant director, she has worked with the young people in all the casts of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and the one word in her vocabulary that does not exist is the word ‘no.’ Nobody deserves this award more than she does,” he said.

Megan, whose mother Dana and sister Sarah were past recipients of the same award, was visibly surprised at the announcement. “What makes tonight so special is that we are continuing a tradition,” said Sanzel.

Wishing you a world of thanks ...

Have a Wonderful Holiday Season and a New Year of Peace and Happiness Virginia A. McGrath and the staff of Three Village Bennett Agency

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DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B3

Wine and Cheese

Winter drinks to warm you up

By BoB Lipinski

When I think of “winter drinks to warm me up,” my thoughts immediately run to sitting in a ski lodge after a day on the slopes watching the snow fall through a large picture window, while snuggled in front of a roaring fire with a warm drink in my hand.

Let’s forget the slopes for a moment and pretend you’re home; perhaps just after finishing shoveling snow, relaxing and needing something to remove the chill and warm your bones. I have just the remedy for you.

Cocktails or drinks served warm or even hot have been with us for hundreds of years; some made in the U.S. and others take their history, tradition and ingredients from far off lands. Below are some of my favorite beverages to “take off the chill.”

warm. It is a traditional beverage in England and northern Europe.

Glögg: (Nordic countries) A traditional hot-spiced drink similar to hot mulled wine usually consumed during the cold weather.

It is made from a combination of aquavit or brandy, red wine, cardamom, cloves, sugar, raisins, almonds and other ingredients. Glögg is served warm in glasses containing a small cinnamon stick, raisins, currants or almonds.

Negus: (England) A hot wine (generally port or sherry) drink often sweetened and flavored with various spices, named after Colonel Francis Negus (1670–1732), an English military officer.

Hot buttered rum: A cocktail consisting of dark rum, brown sugar, cloves, butter and boiling water, dating back to the 1650s in New England.

Eggnog:

Hot toddy:

A rich, nonalcoholic dairy beverage made with egg yolks, cream and sugar and generally served during cold weather. The alcoholic version includes brandy or rum as well. The word “eggnog,” first used around 1775, is probably a corruption of “Egg-and-Grog.”

(England) A drink dating back to the 1700s consisting of brandy, whiskey or other distilled spirits with hot water, sugar, lemon juice, These cocktails are cloves, cinnamon and other just what you need to spices. Toddy is derived from the Hindu word “tari” remove the chill and used for the sap or juice of a warm your bones. palm tree. This sap was often fermented to create an Mulled wine: alcoholic beverage.

If you can’t find a hot beverage while (United States) A sweetened and spiced red wine drink to which sugar, out on the slopes, then perhaps look lemon peel and spices such as nutmeg, for a Saint Bernard dog, usually identicloves and cinnamon are added. It is then fied with the carrying of a small keg of heated by a loggerhead and served very brandy or other distilled spirits around warm to hot. A type of mulled wine made its neck to give relief and warmth to in Austria and Germany is “glühwein.” stranded skiers. Happy Holidays!

Below are several types of mulled wine Bob Lipinski, a local author, has written 10 drinks … Bishop, glögg and Negus.

Bishop: (England) One of the many books, including “101: Everything You Need to versions of a mulled wine popular with Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon. in the eighteenth and nineteenth cen- com). He conducts training seminars on wine, turies. It is made with port wine, sugar, spirits and food and is available for speakspices and an orange stuck with cloves. ing engagements. He can be reached at www.

The drink is then heated and served boblipinski.com OR bkjm@hotmail.com.

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Calendar ................................... B16-17 Community news........................... B2 Cooking Cove.................................B18 Crossword puzzle .......................... B7 Gardening .......................................B19 Holiday Memories ................. B10-12 Medical Compass .......................... B9

PAGE B4 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

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DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B5

news around town

File photo from Theatre Three

A scene from ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Theatre Three

Theater takes part in Mannequin Challenge

Photo by Heidi Sutton

From left, Doug Reina, B.J. Intini, Pam Brown, Lois Reboli, Colleen Hanson, David Ebner, Robin Clonts and Jim Molloy

Reboli Center hosts first Third Friday event The Reboli Center for Art and History in Stony Brook presented its first Third Friday event on Dec. 16. Over 75 people attended the standing room only event. “I’m overwhelmed

at the positive response from the community and so thankful for their interest in the center and its programs,” said Lois Reboli. Along with artist Pam Brown, who also

hosted the event, the evening featured a Behind the Scenes art talk with Robin Clonts, David Ebner, Jim Molloy and Doug Reina and commenced with a Q-and-A. Due to its immense popularity, the second Third Friday event has already been scheduled for Jan. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. The Reboli Center is located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook Village. For more information on upcoming programs, call 631-751-7707 or visit www.ReboliCenter.org.

Port Jefferson’s Theatre Three, currently in its 33rd annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” is the first Long Island theater to participate in the Mannequin Challenge, a viral internet video trend where people remain frozen in time while a camera films them.

“We had over fifty people involved, including cast, crew, designers, staff, family and friends of the theater.

It was a great way to bring everybody together to do something that celebrates the community that is Theatre Three’s Christmas Carol,” said Artistic Director and resident Scrooge Jeffrey Sanzel.

In the two-minute and 20-second video, viewers are transported through the historic theater beginning at the box office, into the lobby and past the audience sitting in their seats. The camera then captures a scene of “A Christmas Carol” frozen in time and proceeds to take the viewer backstage and behind the scenes, all to the tune of “Carol of the Bells.” To view the video, please visit www.theatrethree.com.

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PAGE B6 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

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DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B7

Crossword Puzzle

THEME:

Year in Review ACROSS

Answers to last week’s puzzle:

Winter Fun

DOWN 1. Aldous Huxley’s drug of choice 2. “The Iliad,” e.g.

3. Hokkaido language 4. One Beatle 5. Less verbos 6. “The ____ and the Beautiful” 7. *Harper ____, 1926-2016 8. *A ____ Called Quest issued comeback album 9. Seductive one 10. Berry high in antioxidants 11. CrËme de menthe flavor 12. Absorbed, as a loss 15. Relating to spleen 20. What some smells do to memories 22. *Kardashian brother who became a dad 24. In total 25. *Election winner 26. Sign of a saint, pl.

27. Subatomic particle 29. *Like 2016 31. One of auto pioneers 32. Sacha Cohen’s middle name 33. Anoint 34. *”Major Tom” singer, 1947-2016 36. Mystery writer, ____ Paretsky 38. Site of Leaning Tower 42. Naiad or maenad 45. English in Spain 49. “Fancy that!”

51. *Olympic host 54. Caterpillar precursor 56. Opposite end of alpha 57. Seed coat 58. *Mosquito-borne threat 59. Yemeni port 60. Rapper and actor, 50 ____ 61. Rodeo Drive tree 62. ____ gin 63. Ciao in the U.S. 65. Argo propeller 67. Rolled grass

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1. Minimal in magnitude 6. Club alternative 9. Angelina to Maddox 13. Cattiness 14. “___ the land of the free ...”

15. Permissible 16. 1/100 of a rial 17. Oahu greeting gift 18. Foolish 19. *”Harry Potter and the ____ Child” 21. *UK’s 2016 withdrawal vote 23. Christian minister, abbr.

24. Long, long time 25. Scottish cap 28. Sushi selection 30. African tree 35. Faubourg Saint-HonorÈ and Rivoli, e.g.

37. Brown seaweed 39. Latin American plain 40. Sky bear 41. Don’t go out for dinner 43. *This Barrymore got divorced in 2016 44. New Zealander 46. Ring-around-the-rosy flower 47. Prima donna’s numbers 48. George Town state, Malaysia 50. Mary’s follower 52. Born, in society pages 53. Fix a horse 55. *Ezekiel Elliott became one in 2016 57. Popular flowering shrub 60. *Cubs, e.g.

63. *Ciara, on her special day 64. Wade opponent 66. Eagerness, pl.

68. Comic book expression for fear 69. Soccer mom’s ride 70. Icy hut 71. Enthusiasm 72. Product of creativity 73. Cut one’s leg off, e.g.

PAGE B8 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

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DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B9

medical compass

Some sage advice to Santa about health

Dear Santa, This time of year, people around the world are no doubt sending you lists of things they want through emails, blogs, tweets and oldfashioned letters. In the spirit of giving, I’d like to offer you — and maybe your reindeer — some advice.

Let’s face it: You aren’t exactly the model of good health. Think about the example you’re setting for all those people whose faces light up when they imagine you shimmying down their chimneys.

You have what I’d describe as an abnormally high BMI (body mass index). To put it bluntly, you’re not just fat, you’re obese. Since you are a role model to millions, this sends the wrong message.

We already have an epidemic of overBy David weight kids, leading Dunaief, M.D. to an ever increasing number of type 2 diabetics at younger and younger ages. From 2005 to 2007, according to the CDC and NIH, the prevalence of diabetes increased by an alarming rate of three million cases in the U.S. The rate is only getting worse. It complicates the issue that approximately two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight and/or obese. This is just one of many reasons we need you as a shining beacon of health.

Obesity has a much higher risk of shortening a person’s life span, not to mention quality of life and self-image. The most dangerous type of obesity is an increase in visceral adipose tissue, which means central belly fat.

An easy way to tell if someone is too rotund is if a man’s waist line, measured from the navel, is greater than or equal to 40 inches and for a woman is greater than or equal to 35 inches. The chances of diseases such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer and heart disease increase dramatically with this increased fat.

Santa, here is a chance for you to lead by example (and, maybe, by summer, to fit into those skinny jeans you hide in the back of your closet).

Think of the advantages to you of being slimmer and trimmer. For one thing, Santa, you would be so much more efficient if you were fit. Studies show that with a plant-based diet, focusing on fruits and vegetables, people can reverse atherosclerosis, clogging of the arteries.

The importance of a good diet not only helps you lose weight but avoid strokes, heart attacks, peripheral vascular diseases, etc. But you don’t have to be vegetarian; you just have to increase your fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods significantly. With a simple change, like eating a handful of raw nuts a day, you can reduce your risk of heart disease by half. Santa, future generations need you.

Losing weight will also change your center of gravity, so your belly doesn’t pull you forward. This will make it easier for you to keep your balance on those steep, icy rooftops.

Exercise will help, as well. Maybe for the first continent or so, you might want to consider walking or jogging alongside the sleigh. As you exercise, you’ll start to tighten your abs and slowly see fat disappear from your mid-section, reducing risk and practicing preventive medicine.

Your fans everywhere leave you cook- Pole Athletic League’s Softball Team. The ies and milk when you deliver presents. elves don’t even bother holding you on base It’s a tough cycle to break, but break it you anymore, do they?

The benefits to a healthier Santa will ripmust. You — and your fans — need to see a healthier Santa. You might let slip that the ple across the world. Think about something modern Santa enjoys fruits, especially berries, much closer to home, even. Your reindeer and veggies, with an emphasis on cruciferous won’t have to work so hard. You might also fit extra presents in your sleigh. veggies like broccoli florets And Santa, you will be senddipped in humus, which ing kids and adults the have substantial antioxiworld over the right mesdant qualities and can help sage about taking control of reverse disease. their health through nutriAs for your loyal fans, tion and exercise. That’s the you could place fitness vidbest gift you could give! eos under the tree. In fact, As you become more you and your elves could active, you’ll find that you make workout videos for have more energy all year those of us who need them, round, not just on Christand we could follow along mas Eve. If you start soon, as you showed us “12 Days Santa, maybe by next year, of Workouts with Santa and you’ll find yourself parking Friends.” Who knows, you the sleigh farther away and might become a modern skipping from chimney to version of Jane Fonda or chimney.

Richard Simmons!

Wishing you good health How about giving athin the coming year, letic equipment, such as David baseball gloves, baseballs, Skip the cookies and footballs and basketballs, milk this year and reach P.S. I could really use a instead of video games? for a piece of fruit or new baseball glove, if you You could even give wearhave a little extra room in able devices that track vegetable instead. your sleigh. step counts and bike routes or stuff gift certifiDr. Dunaief is a speaker, author and locates for dance lessons into people’s stockings. These might influence the recipients cal lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitto be more active.

By doing all this, you might also have the ness and stress management. For further inkind of energy that will make it easier for you formation, visit www.medicalcompassmd. to steal a base or two in this season’s North com or consult your personal physician.

Art League of Long Island announces winners of latest exhibition The Art League of Long Island recently announced the winners of the second part of their 61st Annual Members’ Exhibition showing through January 8. Exhibition juror John Fink, Professor Emeritus, Nassau Community College selected 8 works of art out of 126 pieces on display in the League’s Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery. Fink will discuss his selections at a gallery talk on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m.

Awards of Excellence were given to Lawrence Agnello for his “St. Francis Power Figure” (mixed media/sculpture), Vicki Field for “It Snowed” (watercolor) and Russell Pulick for his “Clay + Wood” piece.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to Alexander Adell for his “Scallop Trawler” (oil on linen), Alex Atkinson for “Escape” (etching), Leslie Barnett: for “Summer Retreat” (oil), Linda Hartman for “Ocean Breeze” (wood and fiber/ mixed media) and Carol Schanke

Photo from WMHO

Tree planted in Erik Halvorsen’s memory

Photo by Joseph Peragallo

‘Clay + Wood’ by Russell Pulick received an Award of Excellence for “Dove” (mixed media).

The Art League of Long Island is located at 107 East Deer Park

Road in Dix Hills. For more information, visit www.artleagueli. org or call 631-462-5400.

Last summer, the late Erik Halvorsen, owner of Norse Tree Service in Setauket, worked on a project with Michael J. Opisso Designs beautifying the Village Green in Stony Brook Village.

When that project was finished, Erik mentioned that he had always wanted to donate a Dogwood tree to the Ward Melville Heritage Organization and it was determined that a location would be finalized at a later date. Unfortunately in light of his recent tragic passing, that will not happen.

In his honor, WMHO has now planted that tree for him. A 14foot Kousa Dogwood was recently donated and installed by Jeff Owen of Owen Brothers Landscaping. The white flowering tree will bloom from May to July. A bronze plaque honoring Erik’s memory will be placed on a boulder on the Village Green at a special dedication ceremony this spring.

If you would like to make a contribution, please send your tax deductible donation to WMHO (P. O. Box 572, Stony Brook, NY 11790) and note Erik’s name. Any proceeds over and above the cost of the plaque and boulder will be given to the Halvorsen family. For more information please call 631-751-2244.

PAGE B10 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

MARZIPAN CANDY FRUIT

BY ELLEN BARCEL, TBR NEWS MEDIA CONTRIBUTOR There are so many traditions that spell Christmas to me —putting up the tree on Christmas Eve (no earlier), leaving it up until Little Christmas (Jan. 6 when the Wise Men visited), the rushing around, the shopping for that perfect gift, the candles in the window. The traditions that stand out the most, however, are the holiday goodies.

There’s Grandma’s buchta (a sweet bread with spices, almonds and raisins), her almond horn cookies and Aunt Anna’s spicy oatmeal cookies. But the tradition that most says Christmas to me is the brightly colored marzipan candy fruit only available (at least when I was a kid) at Christmas. Since I love them so much, my mother always gave me a box of them as a special Christmas present. To this day, marzipan candy fruit will always say holidays, home and family.

THE THREE VILLAGE INN

BY JOHN YANTZ, PRESIDENT, THREE VILLAGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY When the kids were little and their grandparents and extended family were all still living, we would all celebrate my wife’s birthday, which is the 24th of December by all of us going to the Three Village Inn for Christmas Eve dinner. There would be sometimes over 20 of us at a single table.

Afterward we would go home and put the kids to bed and then my wife and I would put up the Christmas tree followed by wrapping all the gifts for the six of us and putting them under the tree.

We wouldn’t finish until three or four in the morning. After a couple of hours sleep I was up to film the kids as they ran down the stairs to open their gifts at about 6 a.m.

Needless to say Christmas was a long tiring day with sometimes visiting other relatives later in the day. But it was all worth it to see the smiles on their faces and to see my wife so happy for her birthday.

LIFE ON THE NORTH SHORE Times Beacon Record News Media asked community members to share their fondest, most heartwarming holiday memories with our readers.

AN ENGLISH CHRISTMAS

BY JOHN BROVEN, EDITORIAL, TBR NEWS MEDIA

Photo from Celina Wilson

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

BY CELINA WILSON Christmas is such a fun time for our family.

Come to our house and you will see us dancing to holiday music, baking cookies, laughing, decorating the Christmas tree and just enjoying what this season brings. More importantly, Christmas is a special time for us because it means celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Year after year our family partakes in a Christmas tradition called Advent. Advent is a tradition that helps us to remember and refocus on Jesus Christ’s birth. There are five candles in Advent: Prophecy, Bethlehem, Rose (Shepherd), Angel and Christmas Eve. The purple Prophecy, Bethlehem and Angel candles represent the anticipation of Christ’s birth;

meanwhile, the pink Rose candle relates to the excitement of this! Lastly, the white Christmas Eve candle represents the day before this critical moment. Starting with the Prophecy candle, a candle is added each week until all five are lit. In addition to lighting these candles, we also read Bible verses, sing carols and participate in other festivities as well.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ because it helps us to remember what matters most this season. With all the terrible things that have happened in this present time, it’s easy to succumb to fear. However, His birth is a reminder of hope. Further, His light can never be put out by the Enemy and all the evil we see in this world.

Instead, His goodness will always prevail as long as we remember to put our trust and hope in Him. And that’s the miracle of Christmas!

My holiday memories drift naturally toward my English heritage. A special moment was a candlelit Christmas Eve church service in 1978. At the time I was assistant manager at Midland Bank in Ashford, Kent under the wise leadership of Ben Griffiths, a truly inspiring mentor. Ben encouraged me to look beyond my bank work and to enjoy Ashford’s rural environment.

And so I found myself with friend Margaret Ware and her housemate Rachel with Jim at the medieval church of St. Michael the Archangel in the Wealden village of Smarden, founded in 1205, no less, and destined to become the center of the cloth industry in the 15th and 16th centuries. I recall vividly a church packed with adults and children that was alive with joy and celebration, as Christmas should be, a mood enhanced by the warm, flickering candles. I see that the Smarden Midnight Eucharist Service will be held again this year on Dec. 24 at 11 p.m. How comforting that this tradition continues.

The American Christmas is not that different, in all honesty, but I do miss the Christmas pudding laced with brandy and then the exhilaration of Boxing Day, when families leave the house on Dec. 26 for the fresh outdoors. Christmas pudding? Boxing Day? Like the game of cricket, such delights are almost inexplicable to non-Brits.

A final thought: Ashford was the original name of Setauket.

Life moves in strange ways, sometimes, doesn’t it?

Happy Christmas!

CHRISTMAS DINNER

BY PATRICK R. VECCHIO, TOWN OF SMITHTOWN SUPERVISOR

My favorite holiday memories are of Mother preparing Christmas dinners for her husband and five children. Oh what wonderful togetherness we had at the kitchen table with family and friends celebrating Christmas and enjoying the most wonderfully prepared food.

DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B11

NORTHPORT TREE LIGHTING

BY GEORGE J. DOLL JR., MAYOR, INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF NORTHPORT

Photo from Barbara Ransome

Barbara Ransome, center, getting ready to eat her gram’s delicious breakfast with her mother, left, and her oldest sister Blair on the right. room, open the extensions to the table so that BREAKFAST AT GRAM’S all six of us could sit together to enjoy her

BY BARBARA RANSOME, breakfast. Although tight, it was a lot of fun.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, The meal started with juice or rather necPORT JEFFERSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE tar — apricot, don’t know why, but this thick Growing up with my paternal grandmoth- beverage was her choice! Her specialty was er, it was our tradition that on Christmas Day to make cheese blintzes with small sausage morning after we ceremoniously opened all links to accompany them. There would be a the gifts under the tree, a contrived process, huge pile of blintzes oozing with sweetened our grandmother, who I called Gram. would ricotta in the middle of the table that she had prepare our Christmas breakfast. We lived in prepared much earlier in the morning. With a large English Tudor in Patchogue, the home maple syrup as the choice condiment, coffee had been in the family for three generations. would also be served to the adults.

My sisters and I would have already put The agreement made between my father and his mother (Gram) was that when we on our NEW night gowns, with matching moved in as a family, Gram would have her slippers and bathrobes to feast on Gram’s own space. So my father, who had construc- food. As years passed another new tradition tion capabilities, built an extension to the evolved — my mother would bring over an family home with a separate entrance. This empty laundry basket and we would pile up small but efficient one-bedroom apartment all the dirty dishes, walk them back to our we called Gramma’s Coop. She would pull house, a 20-step walk from Gram’s private out the table that lined one wall in the living entrance to place in our awaiting dishwasher!

Not counting my own personal Christmas celebrations, I would have to say this year’s Annual Northport Village Tree Lighting really stands out as the recent best. Every year I find someone or a family to light the village tree — someone with a special connection to the village. We’ve had veterans who have recently returned from war zones, people with special needs, other times the family who donates the tree.

This year I invited two local Olympians to light the tree: Allie Long, a member of the United States Soccer Team, and Mikey Brannigan, a member of the United States Paralympic Track Team. When I introduced Allie and Mikey as this year’s switch throwers, the crowd went wild. I was amazed to see that the youths in the crowd were so enthusiastic; it was nice to see them looking up to people like that. Many residents came up to me afterward to say it was the best tree lighting ever. The tree lighting itself is a special event, but having Allie and Mikey there was like the icing on the cake.

LIFE ON THE NORTH SHORE

A DRIVE THROUGH SETAUKET

BY RABBI AARON BENSON, NORTH SHORE JEWISH CENTER It’s a new Hanukkah memory that I want to share for this year. It happened in the Chamber of Commerce’s Electric Light Parade on Sunday, Dec.ember 11. Our synagogue, the North Shore Jewish Center, had an entry in the holiday parade, something we’d only done once before, many years ago.

Involvement in the parade brought together many different groups in our synagogue. Of course, our lay leaders got very involved, one donating the use of his truck. Lots of other adults helped, but the best thing was how many kids in our community contributed. Our Hebrew School principal and students helped, our Youth Group director and members put in a ton of work, designing a six-foot tall menorah out of pipe and glow in the dark dreidel costumes (that’s the spinning top kids play with for the holiday) for participants to wear. They also put “Happy Hanukkah” stickers on hundreds of pieces of “gelt” (holiday chocolate coins) to distribute during the parade.

It was wonderful to see the pride that being in the parade brought out in the young people in our synagogue.

They were so happy to share their religious and cultural traditions in such a public and joyful way with all our neighbors in Three Village.

And being involved allowed us to fulfill in a really special way one important aspect of the holiday, parsumei nissa or “advertising the miracle.” Hanukkah commemorates the Jews’ fight for religious freedom in ancient times, and as such it is traditional to light one’s menorah in a window or even outside so that all can see our gratitude for the right to practice our religion.

Members of the North Shore Jewish Center pose with their float during the Electric Light Parade.

I’d say driving a pickup truck with a giant menorah on the back through town meets the requirement in a big way. And how warmly were we received during the

Photo from Rabbi Benson

parade! It was a great experience that I will cherish and treasure — until next year when we have the chance to make more Hanukkah memories with everyone.

PAGE B12 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS: A TIME OF WONDER AND ANTICIPATION

BY DEACON JOHN RIEGER, OUR LADY QUEEN OF MARTYRS, CENTERPORT Growing up in a home with seven children, the season of Advent and Christmas Day were always full of anticipation and wonder as Mom and Dad provided each of us with a seamless blend of secular and Catholic traditions to keep us both excited for childhood gifts from Santa and also mindful of the one, true, gift of Christmas, remembering and honoring the birth of the baby Jesus on Christmas Day and longing for his Second Coming.

After Thanksgiving each year we set up the nearly life-size illuminated Nativity scene on our front lawn.

I remember carefully taking each of the statues down from the attic steps one by one and then carefully arranging the wooden stable and crib, Mary and Joseph, the three Wise Men in the order of their gifts of gold,

frankincense and myrrh and then the camels, cattle and sheep. My dad always wrapped the baby Jesus in a blanket and hid him in the garage until Christmas Eve, when he always appeared in the crib on Christmas Day. Seeing Jesus in the crib on Christmas Day always brought a sense of calm and completeness to the Holy Family and to our world.

An Advent wreath with the four candles arranged in a circle on our dinner table would be placed by my mom to mark the four weeks of Advent. We would light them each night and read a story and a prayer from the special Advent prayer book Mom would place on the table that told of Jesus’ coming through scripture.

At the same time the seven children would take turns opening up one of the doors to the Advent calendar hanging in the kitchen, knowing that behind each door was a chocolate candy, and excited to find out just what kind we would receive.

On Christmas day, all seven of us were required to

wait at the top of the stairs until Dad and Mom went down to see if Santa had come and if he had eaten the cookies and his reindeer had eaten the carrots we had left the night before. My children (and their husbands) to this day still wait at the top of the stairs until we give the signal to come down on Christmas Day! Each of these traditions of waiting and anticipating were all wonderful symbols of the true purpose of Advent and the joy and wonder of Christmas. As we came home each night to the illuminated characters of the Nativity scene, we were transformed in our imaginations to that most holy night in Bethlehem, waiting for Jesus to appear.

The Advent wreath candles arranged in a circle reminded us of the power of the Light of Christ in the world today and the infinity of God’s endless love, very much like the symbol of my parents wedding rings and their unconditional love. And the gathering on the stairs as family and community is what Christmas is all about. O come, O come, Emanuel.

LIFE ON THE NORTH SHORE Times Beacon Record News Media asked community members to share their fondest or most heartwarming holiday memories with our readers.

CHRISTMAS OF 1957

‘DIE HARD’ CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

BY MARYANNE DOUGLAS, TREASURER, PORT JEFFERSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BY NEIL WATSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE LONG ISLAND MUSEUM

My fondest holiday memory took place in 1957 when I was living in Levittown. Nassau County was still pretty rural compared to today.

My family home was located next to a working farm. That December it just kept snowing on and off. My neighborhood was almost like looking at a Christmas card.

My father was away on business in Washington, D.C. — he worked for the Navy Department and was often called away for seminars. My mother seemed upset that day. I asked her what was wrong and she said it was only four days until Christmas and we still don’t have a tree and Dad will not be home until Christmas Eve. My mom didn’t drive and there was no public transportation. I was only 12 years old, and my baby brother was 9 years old. I had an idea but was not sure if my mother would let me do it. So, I said to her “I am pretty grown up Mom and I would like to get that tree for you. Michael [my little brother] and I can walk up to the Allied Shopping Center with a sled and bring it back to you.”

Mom had that look on her face like she couldn’t decide if that was a wise idea. Finally, I convinced her that we could do it. I told my brother to get dressed and put on his warmest scarf and mittens. I got dressed and put on a woolen hat and gloves. I got the sled out and put my brother on top of it. I told him I would pull him to the store so he could save his energy to help me pull the sled with the tree.

We arrived safely at the tree stand and found the perfect tree. I asked the man how much it was to make sure we had enough money.

Then the man loaded the tree on the sled. We tied it down so that it wouldn’t fall off as we began the walk home. The tree was heavier then what we expected — my brother on one side of the rope and me on the other side of the rope. The snow was coming down very hard.

My brother looked like a tiny snowman. I was starting to get scared.

I told my brother to start singing “Jingle Bells.” We made it home safely and my mother was standing at the door. My little brother and I were very proud of our little adventure. My mother was glad to see us and said we did a great job. I felt the spirit of Christmas that year and thought it was the best Christmas in the world.

When we moved to Stony Brook three years ago, my family quickly realized we needed a new Christmas tradition. After years of attending the same parties in our old hometown, we’d have to create our own new brand of fun. What makes a perfect Christmas Eve? Brainstorming ensued; priorities set. We decided on three things: great food, a beach walk and an indoor picnic with movies.

We started with the food (in our house, we always start with the food). After the morning walk, it’s lunch at Pentimento. We plan a charcuterie picnic for dinner at home: cheese, saucisson, salami, prosciutto, olives, pickled vegetables, green salad and crusty bread. I’m a huge proponent of buying local, and Stony Brook makes it easy. Off we go to Brew Cheese, where they not only sell cheese, they know exactly what you need to try. A few doors down, Christophe at Lakeside Emotions Wine & Spirits will suggest the perfect wine pairing, and it’s Christmas, so we splurge.

Is “Die Hard” truly a Christmas movie? We voted. My wife lost. Yipee-ki-yay! Cue Christmas Eve. Good food and singing along to “White Christmas,” which we’ve seen with our daughter approximately 3,000 times (this includes the traditional loading of the dishwasher during the “Mandy” number). It ends by the tree at midnight with a glass of champagne and the “open only one present rule” that always gets broken.

Snow is a bonus. There’s always next year.

On the cover: ‘Holiday Gamecock Cottage’ by Jo-Ann Corretti

SANTA CLAUS

BY MARGOT GARANT, MAYOR, PORT JEFFERSON

My favorite holiday memory is standing on the top of the steps gazing at the amazing Christmas tree packed with lights and wrapped packages waiting for my mom and dad to wake up and open presents!

I still believe in Santa.

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DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B13

PAGE B14 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

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PAGE B16 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

Thursday 22 Holiday Light Show Girls Scouts of Suffolk County and County Executive Steve Bellone (D) will present a Holiday drive-thru Light Show at Smith Point County Park, County Road 46, Shirley today and Dec. 23 from 5 to 11 p.m. Now in its 13th year with a new location, the light show is better than ever with more lights, more displays and more festive family fun! $20 per car. Credit card only at the gate. For more information, call 543-6622 or visit www.holidaylightshow.org.

TiMeS

...and dates Dec. 22 to Jan. 5, 2016

See Dec. 22 listing.

Creative Space workshop

Monday 2

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station will hold a Creative Space program from 2 to 4 p.m. Bring your current art project and drop-in to work and chat with others in a relaxed setting. Free and open to all. Call 928-1212 for details.

Astronomy night

View the planets and moon through a telescope at Northport Harbor Park, Main St., Northport from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Free. Weather permitting. Visit www.telescope.hereweb.com first for any last minute weather cancellations. For more information, call Debbee at 486-4818.

Friday Night Face Off

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will host Friday Night Face Off, Long Island’s longest running Improv Comedy Show, on the Second Stage from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. $15 per person. Cash only. For ages 16 and up. Call 928-9100.

Tuesday 3

Saturday 24

Community Awareness Meeting

Hike at Caumsett

Christmas Day dinner

Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church, 22 East 18th St., Huntington Station will host a free dinner on Christmas Day between noon and 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend the meal, which will feature turkey with all the trimmings, lights, music and gifts for the children.

For more information, call 271-2466.

Monday 26 Twilight Tours at the Vanderbilt

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport will host holiday Twilight Tours of the decorated mansion today and Dec. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m., the only time of the year visitors can see the Vanderbilt family's private living quarters at night. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Tickets are $10 adults, $9 students and seniors, $5 ages 12 and younger. For more information, call 854-5579.

Tuesday 27 Twilight Tours at the Vanderbilt See Dec. 26 listing.

Adult coloring class

Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn holds an adult coloring class every Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Kitchen Meeting Room. All are welcome. Registration is not required. Call 757-4200.

Sunday 1 Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington will host an adult Winter Season Stroll (approximately 1.5 miles) from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. to observe seasonal changes. $4 per person. Advance registration required by calling 423-1770.

Holiday Light Show

Sunday 25

The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown will present a New Year's Eve Comedy Show, Loads of Laughs, at 10 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 p.m.) Six headlining comics will entertain you with a robust evening of adult humor. $90 per person, $80 members, includes hors d'oeuvres and light fare, open bar, dessert and a champagne toast. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Winter Season Stroll

Friday 23

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, 25 Lloyd Harbor Road, Huntington will host an adult 6-mile hilly, moderately paced hike from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Bring lunch and drinking water. $4 per person. Advance registration required by calling 423-1770.

Loads of Laughs

TWILIGHT TOURS OF GOLD COAST MANSION Holiday tours of William Vanderbilt’s Eagle’s Nest Mansion in Centerport will be held on Dec. 26 and 27. Above, a decorated tree in the library of the mansion.

Photo from Vanderbilt Museum

Kwanzaa Celebration

Half Hollow Hills Community Library, 55 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills will present a Kwanzaa Celebration hosted by the Mother's Club of Wheatley Heights in conjunction with the Concerned Fathers of Wheatley Heights from 6 to 8 p.m. Join them for an evening of poetry, theatrical skits, storytelling and dance. Refreshments will be served. Tickets are not required. Call 421-4530 for more information.

Wednesday 28 Cold Spring Harbor Hill Hop

Meet at the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt trailhead on Harobr Road (Route 25A) in the unpaved parking lot adjacent to the Cold Spring Harbor Library at 10 a.m. to tackle one of the toughest hikes on Long Island (4.3 miles) with extremely rewarding views of the harbor. Bring water and snacks. Inclement weather cancels. For more information, visit www.ligreenbelt.org.

New York Circle Round Table

The Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket will host a New York Circle Round Table, fostering understanding through dialectic, at 7:30 p.m. Your participation is encouraged through the suggested reading ahead of the meeting. During the discussion, participants hash out the specifics of the reading and discuss its greater implications. All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. $3 donation requested. For further information, visit www.NewYorkCircle.org.

Thursday 29 No events listed for this day.

Friday 30 Live jazz

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will welcome the Bill Rignola Quartet in concert at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students, children 12 and under free. For reservations, visit www.thejazzloft. org. For more information, call 751-1895.

Saturday 31 New Year's Laughin' Eve

Laugh in the New Year at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson at 6 p.m. ($49) or 8 p.m. ($59) with a night of comedy featuring stand-ups Rich Walker and Keith Anthony.

Hosted by Paul Anthony. To order, call 9289100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

New Year's Eve at the Jazz Loft

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will host a New Year's Eve Celebration from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with Tom Manuel and the Syncopated Seven featuring guest artist Melanie Marod. Ring in the New Year with live music, cocktail hour, buffet dinner catered by the Three Village Inn and a midnight champagne toast. $150 per person. For reservations, visit www.thejazzloft.org. For more information, call 751-1895.

The Suffolk County Police Department will hold a Community Awareness Meeting at the Smithtown Library, 148 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset from 7 to 8:45 p.m. to inform residents of issues concerning the local community.

Open to all residents of Suffolk County. Call 360-2480 for questions.

Civic Association meeting

VFW Post 6249, 109 King Road, Rocky Point will host a meeting of the Rocky Point Civic Association from 7:30 to 9 p.m. For additional information, call 744-9106.

Wednesday 4 Accordion Alliance meeting

La Villini Restaurant, 288 Larkfield Road, East Northport will host a meeting of the Long Island Accordion Alliance at 6 p.m. All are welcome. Call 261-6344 for more information.

Thursday 5 Civil War Roundtable Meeting

The South Huntington Public Library, 145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station will host a meeting of the Civil War Roundtable from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Topic of the evening will be the election of 1860. All are welcome. For additional information, call 549-4411.

Theater 'Mary Poppins'

Join the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport for a jolly holiday with "Mary Poppins" through Jan. 1. Based on the classic Disney film, the show features beloved songs such as the Academy Award-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Feed the Birds" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

Tickets range from $71 to $76. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.

DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B17

‘A Christmas Carol’

Celebrate the season with a holiday favorite!

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will present its 33rd annual production of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens through Dec. 30.

All evening shows begin at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $35. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

'Holiday Wishes from Mary Martin & Dinah Shore'

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization's Educational & Cultural Center, 97P Main St., Stony Brook will present a St. George Production, "Holiday Wishes from Mary Martin & Dinah Shore" through Jan. 11. Featuring a musical theater tribute performance and high-tea luncheon catered by Crazy Beans. Tickets are $50, $48 seniors. Advance reservations required by calling 689-5888. For further information, visit www.wmho.org.

‘Sylvia’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will bring the howlingly comic valentine "Sylvia"

by A.R. Gurney to its Mainstage from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4. Tickets are $35 adults, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘The Full Monty’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport will present the 10-time Tony Award nominee "The Full Monty" from Jan. 19 to March 5. Tickets range from $71 to $76. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Peter and the Starcatcher’

From Jan. 14 to Feb. 25 the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown will present the hilarious comedy "Peter and the Starcatcher." Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors, $20 students. To order, call 7243700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

'Respect'

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will bring "Respect: A Musical Journey of Women"

by Dorothy Marcic to its Mainstage from Feb. 25 to March 25. Featuring music by Reddy, Wynette, Gershwin, Rodgers, Hart, Sedaka and many more. Tickets are $35 adults, $20 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

'It Shoulda Been You'

From March 11 to April 15 the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown will introduce a new musical comedy to the Main Stage, "It Shoulda Been You," with book and lyrics by Brian Hargrave and music by Barbara Anselini. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors, $20 students. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Festival of One-Act Plays

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will present its 20th annual Festival of One-Act Plays from March 11 to April 1. Tickets are $18. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www. theatrethree.com.

'Jekyll & Hyde'

From March 16 to April 30, the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport will bring the mesmerizing musical "Jekyll & Hyde" to its Main Stage. Tickets range from $71 to $76. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

'Carmen'/ 'Romeo & Juliet'

The Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook will welcome the Russian National Ballet Theatre to the Main Stage on March 11 at 8 p.m. Enjoy two classic stories, "Carmen" and "Romeo & Juliet" in one spectacular evening.

Tickets are $48 and are available at the box office, by calling 632-2787 or by visiting www.stallercenter.com.

Film 'Little Fockers'

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station will screen the "Little Fockers" starring Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro on Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. Free and open to all. Call 928-1212 to register.

'Scrooged'

As part of its Cult Cafe series, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will screen the Christmas classic "Scrooged" starring Bill Murray on Dec. 23 at 10 p.m. Tickets are $5, $4 members. For more information, call 423-761l.

'Dad's Army'

As part of its Friday Movie Matinee series, the Port Jefferson Free Library, 100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson will screen "Dad's Army" on Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. Free and open to all. No registration necessary. Call 473-0022 for further information.

'The Nutcracker'

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a screening of The Royal Ballet's classic production of "The Nutcracker" at the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington on Dec. 27 at noon. Tickets are $15, $10 members. Call 423-7611 for additional questions.

'Florence Foster Jenkins'

Join the Half Hollow Hills Community Library, 510 Sweet Hollow Road, Melville for a screening of "Florence Foster Jenkins" starring Meryl Streep on Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. Free and open to all. No need to register. Call 421-4535 for more information.

Farmers market Huntington Station Jack Abrams STEM School, 155 Lowndes Ave., Huntington Station will host a winter farmer's market on Jan. 8 and 22, Feb. 5 and 19 and March 5 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring fresh regional produce and artisanal foods. For more information, visit www.longislandfarmersmarkets.com.

Port Jefferson The Village of Port Jefferson will host a winter farmers market at the Village Center, 101A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson every Sunday on the third floor from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through May. Find local organic produce, honey, bread and baked goods, international specialties and much more. Over 20 vendors. Free admission. Call Melissa at 516-551-8461 for further information.

Vendors Wanted ▶ Art League of Long Island, 107 E. Deer Park Road,

Dix Hills seeks merchandise vendors for its 2nd annual Welcome Spring Art and Craft Fair on March 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Deadline is March 10. Call 462-5400 for more information.

Menorah lightings on the North Shore

BY ERIKA RILEY

Dix Hills The Chai Center, located at 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, will be holding an event on Saturday, Dec. 24, the first night of Hanukkah. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature a Chinese food dinner, a family movie and a menorah lighting. Tickets are $25 per adult, $18 for children up to 13 years old or $72 per family of up to two adults and three children.

They will also be holding a Hanukkah Bowling Night at Bowlmor Lanes in Commack on Sunday Dec. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. The price of $12 per person includes two hours of unlimited cosmic glow-in-the-dark bowling, shoes, latkes and doughnuts and a bowling pin menorah ceremony. The Chai Center will also hold a free event on Tuesday Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. featuring latkes, hot chocolate and music. The event is open to the public.

RSVP for all events to www.thechaicenter.com or call 631-351-8672.

Farmingville The Town of Brookhaven will host a Menorah Lighting at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville on Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. Enjoy refreshments, hot latkes and doughnuts. Call 631-451TOWN for more information.

Greenlawn The menorah on the front lawn of the Harborfields Library in Greenlawn will be lit on Monday, Dec. 26 at 7 p.m.

The library is located at 31 Broadway, Greenlawn. You can find more information at www.greenlawncivic.org.

Holbrook

Photo courtesy of Theatre Three

SCROOGE AND HIS GHOSTS Catch the final performances of 'A Christmas Carol' at Theatre Three before they become a part of Christmas Past. The 33rd annual production closes on Dec. 30.

CALENDAR DEADLINE is Wednesday at noon, one week before publication. Items may be mailed to: Times Beacon Record Newspapers, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Email your information about community events to leisure@ tbrnewspapers.com. Calendar listings are for not-for-profit organizations (nonsectarian, nonpartisan events) only, on a space-available basis. Please include a phone number that can be printed.

There will be a menorah lighting at Friendly Drug Pharmacy at 6 p.m. on Dec. 26, hosted by the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce. The pharmacy is located at 1036 Main St., Holbrook. For more information, call 631-585-8585.

MENORAH LIGHTINGS continued on page B25

PAGE B18 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

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Seasons Greetings from Arts & Lifestyles!

Please join us this Christmas Season Setauket Presbyterian Church 5 Caroline Avenue on the Village Green 631-941-4271 Email: setauketpresbyterian@verizon.net

CHRISTMAS EVE December 24

©152349

4:30 Manger Service Family-Friendly Blessing of Animals 5:30 Welcome Friends Dinner Help serve Christmas dinner to Welcome Friends guests in the SPC Fellowship Hall 7:30 Festival Service Choir, Carols, Hallelujah Chorus 11:00 Midnight Service Bells, Candles, Carols, Communion Sunday Christmas Day 9:30 a.m. A family-friendly service of carols and stories Rev. Mary Barrett Speers, Pastor Rev. Dr. Craig Malbon, Visiting Minister

Roasted Root Vegetables served here with pork tenderloin

Holiday dinner sides

By BaRBaRa BeltRami

This year, come Dec. 24, there is a holiday dinner most likely waiting some place in the wings for most of us. With all the past month’s hustle and bustle and preparation, we will finally don our finest or perhaps our most comfortable and sit down to a delicious dinner with family and friends.

Start with something like stuffed artichokes and go on to perhaps a potato rosti (a large plate-size potato pancake) and roasted root vegetables with lots of herbs and onions. No matter what or when your celebration, I wish you a very happy holiday.

Stuffed Artichokes YIELD: Serves 8 INGREDIENTS: • 8 large artichokes, washed, trimmed and stems removed, ½ inch of bottoms sliced off so chokes can stand upright • 4 cups unseasoned bread crumbs • 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese • ½ cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley • 4 garlic cloves, minced • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil • Juice of half a lemon • Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS: Pry the artichoke leaves apart just enough so that you can stuff in between them. Combine the bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, garlic, oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stuff bread crumb mixture in between leaves. Stand the stuffed artichokes in a large heavy saucepan and carefully pour in enough water to come halfway up the artichokes. Cover and simmer at least an hour until chokes are completely soft.

Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

Potato Rosti YIELD: Serves 8 INGREDIENTS: • 2 pounds potatoes, peeled, washed and grated (use large holes of grater) • 1 medium onion, grated • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 2 to 3 tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

Mix the grated potatoes, onion and salt and pepper. Let stand a few minutes. Do not worry about discoloration. Drain and squeeze excess liquid from mixture. In a large nonstick skillet (8 to 9 inches), heat butter or oil. Add potatoes and with back of large spoon, spread mixture to sides of pan so it completely covers bottom. Tuck in any stray shreds so they don’t burn. Cook over medium heat until bottom is golden brown and potatoes on top are opaque, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat.

Slide the rosti onto a large plate; cover with another upside down large plate and flip so that bottom plate is on top. Gently slide rosti back into skillet with golden side up and cook over low-medium heat until bottom is golden, about 6 to 8 minutes. Test center to be sure it’s cooked through and potatoes are soft. Slide onto serving plate and serve hot or warm.

Roasted Root Vegetables YIELD: Serves 6 to 8 INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • • • • •

½ pound beets ½ pound rutabaga ½ pound butternut squash ½ pound carrots ½ pound parsnips ½ pound turnips 2 medium red onions ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme Course salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 F. Peel and remove stems or seeds, wash and cut vegetables into 2-inch chunks. In a glass or ceramic baking dish, toss together the vegetables, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, herbs, salt and pepper until everything is evenly coated.

Bake, turning vegetables occasionally with spatula, until they are tender inside and slightly crisp on the outside, for 45 minutes to one hour. Adjust seasoning, if necessary.

Note: Vegetable amounts can be varied and need not be exact. For instance, if you like beets but don’t like rutabagas, adjust amounts accordingly.

DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B19

gardening

Christmas bird count — a nice holiday tradition to start

By EllEn BarcEl There are two bird counts in which gardeners frequently like to take part.

One is the current one, the Christmas bird count, and the other is the backyard bird count in February (Feb. 17 to 20). Let’s take a look at the Christmas one, and then later in February I’ll go over the backyard bird count.

The Audubon Society’s 117th Christmas bird count is currently underway.

Billed as "the nation’s longest running citizen science bird project,” it goes from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5th. Yes, this is a good thing to do to help science, conservation and the environment, but it’s also a fun way of entertaining the youngsters during their holiday break from school. If you’re unsure of some bird identification, beginners are definitely welcome and are paired with an experienced birder.

All counts take place on one day, but each counter can take part in a number of counts on different days in different areas if they wish. If your home is in one of the areas that the CBC is being done, you can actually do it from your own backyard. While a donation to the Audubon Society would be nice, participation in the CBC is free.

As for the history of the bird count, back before conservation efforts began, many people took part in what was known as the Christmas Side Hunt, where people

Stock photo

would go out and shoot as many birds as possible. “Whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furry) quarry won.”

Yes, now we’re appalled at the thought.

In 1900, Frank M. Chapman, an early Audubon Society member and officer, started a new holiday tradition to replace the Side Hunt. It was called the Christmas Bird Census. Instead of destroying wildlife, the society would count them. The data helps scientists keep track of bird

sudoku puzzle

populations and health in general, which of course reflects on the environment in which we all must live.

The Audubon Society’s website is easy to use, to get further information, to sign up and to enter the data you collected.

There’s even an extensive bibliography for those who want to read more about the various birds of North America. Go to www.audubon.org. Note, for the birder on your holiday list, consider a membership

in the society or a donation in the form of a symbolic bird adoption. It’s a nice present and a nice way to support the society.

Remember, in your future garden planning, to include plants that draw birds to your back yard. You'll be rewarded many times over.

Ellen Barcel is a freelance writer and master gardener. To reach Cornell Cooperative Extension and its Master Gardener program, call 631-727-7850.

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PAGE B20 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

Knowledge seeKers

‘Off the charts talented,’ BNL’s Xin makes catalyst discovery Photo from Bill Corbett

Dr. Meryl ain, center, with her husband Stewart, right, and Maryann Stech, whose story is included in ain’s book.

Celebrating life

By Daniel Dunaief The unexpected appearance of Swiss cheese may be preferable to the predicted presence of a balloon. When it comes to the creation of catalysts for fuel-cell-powered vehicles, the formation of a structure that has miniature holes in it may reduce costs and improve energy efficiency.

Using a state-of-the-art facility where he also supports the work of other scientists around the world, Huolin Xin, an associate materials scientist at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Laboratory, recently made the discovery about the structure of a cheaper catalyst. Xin and his collaborators published their work in Nature Communications.

The finding “goes against conventional wisdom,” Xin said. “If you have a precursor that’s nanometers in size that’s a metal and you heat it up in oxygen, normally, it would grow into a hollow structure, like a balloon.”

Instead, Xin and his colleagues discovered that mixing nickel and cobalt produces a structure that has porosity but is more like spherical Swiss cheese than a balloon. The new architecture has more material crammed into a smaller region than the hollow balloon. It is also stronger, creating a broader range of potential applications.

Scientists at Brookhaven and at other institutions around the world are seeking ways to take advantage of the growing field of nanotechnology, in which physical, electrical or other types of interactions differ from the macromolecular world of hammers, nails and airplane wings.

These nanomaterials take advantage of the high surface area to volume ratio, which offers promise for future technologies. What that means is that these materials contain

numerous surfaces without taking up much space, like an intricate piece of origami, or, in Xin’s case, a sphere with higher packing density.

The potential new catalyst could be used as a part of an oxygen reduction reaction in an alkaline environment. In a car that uses hydrogen, the reaction would produce water with zero emissions, Xin said.

To see the structure of this catalyst, Xin used environmental transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography. The TEM uses computed axial tomography.

This is similar to the CAT scan in a hospital, except that the sample Xin studied was much smaller, about 100 nanometers in size, which is 100 times thinner than the width of a human hair.

’We are definitely doing research for the future.’

— Huolin Xin In addition to determining and defining the structure of the final product, scientists are trying to understand the process that led to that configuration. They can use the environmental transmission electron microscope, which allows gas flowing to study the formation of the catalyst.

Charles Black, the director at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, said Xin is “off the charts talented” and is a “world leader” in figuring out ways to get more information from the electron microscope.

Xin, Black said, has helped create a three-dimensional picture by tilting a two-dimensional sample at different angles in the microscope.

“He had already made great strides in improving the speed with which this could be done,” Black said. “He’s also improved the process to the point where you don’t have to be a super

Dr. Meryl Ain of Commack, known as “The Comfort Coach,” recently discussed the challenges that families with lost loved ones face during the holiday season while offering empowering strategies for transforming grief into positive and comforting acts during a book launch for her newly released book, “My Living Memories Project Journal,” at Book Revue in Huntington on Nov. 29.

Huolin Xin expert to do it anymore.”

By slowing the reaction in the nickel-cobalt catalyst down and studying how it forms, Xin uncovered that the shell is not solid: It has pinholes. Once those small holes form, the oxygen infiltrates the pores. The process repeats itself, as shells form, then break up, then oxygen forms another shell, which breaks up, until the process leads to a spherically stacked collection of Swiss cheese structures.

The process is ready for industrial-scale applications, Xin said, because the whole synthesis involves putting the elements into a furnace and baking it.

While this could have applications in fuel cells, the catalyst still awaits a breakthrough technology with alkaline fuel cells. The technological breakthrough Xin awaits is an alkaline membrane that can conduct a hydroxyl group.

“We are definitely doing research for the future,” Xin said.

“We’re still awaiting the essential element, which is the ionic conductive membrane, to become a technologically mature product.”

Xin isn’t focused on creating that membrane, which is a task for organic chemists. Instead, his main focus is on inorganic materials. As a member of the BNL staff at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, which is a facility that provides technical support to other scientists, Xin spends half of his time with other researchers on

Photo courtesy of Brookhaven National Laboratory

the TEM and half of his time on his own research.

“We really have been fortunate to have found someone like [Xin] who wants to excel in both sides of his mission,” Black said “Someone as talented as [Xin], who is very smart with big ideas and increasingly ambitious in terms of what he wants to accomplish for himself … checks his ego at the door and he helps others accomplish their goals.”

To improve his ability as a colleague, Xin reads about what the users of the TEM are doing and talks with them about their work.

Xin has been working at BNL for over three years.

When he’s not in the lab, Xin enjoys traveling to snorkel in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including his favorite destination, St. John. A skier, Xin’s favorite winter recreational mountain is Lake Placid.

Xin grew up in Beijing, where his father is a professor in a business school and his mother is an engineer. He appreciates the opportunity to engage in a broad universe of fields through the work he does at BNL. He appreciates the scientific partnerships he’s formed.

“My primary focus is on creating novel microscope techniques that can advance the electron microscopy field,” he explained. “I apply them to a variety of materials projects.”

He estimates that half of his materials application projects come from collaborators.

Made to Move Tennis Made to Move Tennis, 5 S. Jersey Ave., Setauket will hold a New Year’s Resolution Week from Jan. 9 to 16 offering free services including tennis instruction, unlimited yoga and personal training. For further information, call 631-801-0039.

Community Blood Drive Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station will host a community blood drive on Wednesday, Dec. 28 from 1 to 7 p.m.

Donors need to weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in general good health. Each donor will receive a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card. Registration is currently taking place. Walk-ins welcome. For more information, call 631928-1212.

Prostate Cancer Support John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, 75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson hosts a US TOO Prostate Cancer Support Group on the first Tuesday of each month from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1. Next meeting will be held on Jan. 3. All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please call Craig at 631846-4377.

Bereavement Support Island Christian Church, 400 Elwood Road, East Northport will host a Grief and Bereavement Support Group for 13 weeks starting on Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. This confidential and informal meeting is designed to help work through the loss of a loved one, especially during the difficult holiday time.

For further details, call 631-822-3000 or visit www.islandchristian.com.

DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B21

Religious ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

STONY BROOK CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Connecting to God, Each Other and the World

400 Nicolls Road, E. Setauket (631) 689–1127 • Fax (631) 689–1215

www.stonybrookchristian.com Pastor Troy Reid Weekly Schedule Sunday Worship w/nursery 10 am Kidmo Children’s Church • Ignited Youth Fellowship and Food Always to Follow Tuesday Evening Prayer: 7 pm Thursday Morning Bible Study w/Coffee & Bagels: 10 am Friday Night Experience “FNX” for Pre K-Middle School: 6:30 pm Ignite Youth Ministry: 7:30 pm Check out our website for other events and times

BYZANTINE CATHOLIC RESURRECTION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH

38 Mayflower Avenue, Smithtown NY 11787 631–759–6083 resurrectionsmithtown@gmail.com www.resurrectionsmithtown.org Father Tyler A. Strand, Administrator, Joseph S. Durko, Cantor Divine Liturgy: Sundays at 11:15 am Holy Days: See website or phone for information Sunday School Sundays at 9:15 am Adult Faith Formation/Bible Study: Mondays at 7:00 pm.

PrayerAnon Prayer Group for substance addictions, Wednesdays at 7 pm A Catholic Church of the Eastern Rite under the Eparchy of Passaic.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. GERARD MAJELLA 300 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station (631) 473–2900 • Fax (631) 473–0015

www.stgmajella.org All are Welcome to Begin Again. Come Pray With Us. Rev. Jerry DiSpigno, Pastor Office of Christian Formation • 928–2550 We celebrate Eucharist Saturday evening 5 pm, Sunday 7:30, 9 and 11 am Weekday Mass Monday–Friday 9 am We celebrate Baptism Third weekend of each month during any of our weekend Masses We celebrate Marriage Arrangements can be made at the church with our Pastor or Deacon We celebrate Reconciliation Confession is celebrated on Saturdays from 4–5 pm We celebrate You! Visit Our Thrift Shop Mon. – Fri. 10 am–4 pm + Sat. 10 am–2 pm

INFANT JESUS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 110 Myrtle Ave., Port Jefferson, NY 11777 (631) 473-0165 • Fax (631) 331-8094

©152951

www.www.infantjesus.org Reverend Patrick M. Riegger, Pastor Associates: Rev. Francis Lasrado & Rev. Rolando Ticllasuca To schedule Baptisms and Weddings, Please call the Rectory Confessions: Saturdays 12:30-1:15 pm in the Lower Church Religious Ed.: (631) 928-0447 • Parish Outreach: (631) 331-6145 Weekly Masses: 6:50 and 9 am in the Church, 12 pm in the Chapel* Weekend Masses: Saturday at 5 pm in the Church, 5:15 pm in the Chapel* Sunday at 7:30 am, 10:30 am, 12 pm, and 5 pm in the Church and at 8:30 am, 10 am, and 11:30 am (Family Mass) in the Chapel* Spanish Masses: Sunday at 8:45 am and Wednesday at 6 pm in the Church *Held at the Infant Jesus Chapel at St. Charles Hospital Religious Education: (631) 928-0447 Parish Outreach: (631) 331-6145

D irectory

CATHOLIC

ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 429 Rt. 25A, Setauket, NY 11733 Phone/Fax: (631) 941–4141

Mission Statement: In faith we come together to celebrate the Eucharist as a Parish Family; and as a Catholic community of faith, we are sent to be Christ to the world around us.

Rev. James-Patrick Mannion, Pastor Rev. Gerald Cestare, Associate Pastor Rev. Jon Fitzgerald, In Residence Weekday Masses: Monday – Saturday 8:00 am Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil 5:00 pm Sunday 8:00am, 9:30 am (family), 11:30 am (choir), 6:00 pm (Youth) Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Baptisms: Sundays at 1:30 pm (except during Lent) Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00 – 4:45 pm or by appointment Anointing Of The Sick: by request Holy Matrimony: contact the office at least 9 months before desired date

CONGREGATIONAL MT. SINAI CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai • (631) 473–1582 www.mtsinaichurchli.org “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here”

Service of Remembrance to be held on December 21 at 7 pm Worship hour is 8:30 am and 10 am Sunday School and Childcare offered at 10:00 am open to all children (infants to 8th grade).

The last Sunday of every month is our Welcome Sunday Service.

This service has been intentionally designed to include persons of differing abilities from local group homes.

We are an Open and Affirming Congregation.

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN CHURCH CROSSOVER CHRISTIAN CHURCH Finding Faith As A Way of Life

Meeting at the Heritage Community Center 633 Mt. Sinai Coram Rd., Mt. Sinai (631)734-0204

www.crossoverchristianchurch.com Pastor Lesaya Kelly Weekly Schedule: Sunday Worship w/Children’s Church 9:30 - 11am We offer weekly small groups and monthly meetings for men and women.

Please join Crossover Christian Church and Mattituck Presbyterian Church 12/24 celebrating Christmas Eve together 4 pm, 7 pm & 10 pm services at Mattituck Presbyterian Church, 12605 Main Road Mattituck, NY 11952 We exist to love God with everything we have. We are a small, vibrant community reaching out to our world with love in action.

EPISCOPAL

ALL SOULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH “Our little historic church on the hill” across from the Stony Brook Duck Pond

Main Street, Stony Brook • (631) 751–0034

www.allsouls–stonybrook.org • allsoulsepiscopalchurch@verizon.net Please come and welcome our new Priest: The Rev. Farrell D. Graves, Ph.D., Vicar Sunday Holy Eucharist: 8 and 9:30 am Religious instruction for children follows the 9:30 am Service Christmas Eve December 24 4:30 pm Caroling, 5 pm Eucharist, 11 pm Eucharist Christmas Day December 25th 9 am Eucharist This is a small eclectic Episcopal congregation that has a personal touch. We welcome all regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey. Walk with us.

EPISCOPAL

CAROLINE CHURCH OF BROOKHAVEN The Rev. Cn. Dr. Richard D. Visconti, Rector

1 Dyke Road on the Village Green, Setauket Web site: www.carolinechurch.net Parish Office email: office@carolinechurch.net (631) 941–4245

Sunday Services: 8 am, 9:30 am and 11:15 am Church School/Child Care at 9:30 am Church School classes now forming. Call 631-941-4245 for registration.

Weekday holy Eucharist’s: Thursday 12 pm and First Friday of the month 7:30 pm (rotating: call Parish Office for location) Youth, Music and Service Programs offered.

Let God walk with you as part of our family–friendly community.

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 127 Barnum Ave., Port Jefferson (631) 473–0273 email: ccoffice@christchurchportjeff.org www.christchurchportjeff.org

Father Anthony DiLorenzo: Priest–In–Charge Sunday Services 8 am & 10 am Sunday Eucharist: 8 am and 10 am/Wednesday 10 in our chapel Sunday School and Nursery Registration for Sunday School starting Sunday after the 10 am Eucharist Our ministries: Welcome Inn on Mondays at 5:45 pm AA meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm/Prayer Group on Wednesdays at 10:30 am/Bible Study on Thursdays at 10 am.

It is the mission of the people of Christ Church to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and to make his love known to all through our lives and ministry.

We at Christ Church are a joyful, welcoming community. Wherever you are in your journey of life we want to be part of it.

EVANGELICAL THREE VILLAGE CHURCH Knowing Christ...Making Him Known

322 Route 25A, East Setauket • (631) 941–3670 www.3vc.org

Lead Pastor Josh Moody Sunday Worship Schedule 9:15 am:Worship Service Sunday School (Pre–K – Adult), Nursery 10:30 am: Bagel/Coffee Fellowship 11:00 am: Worship, Nursery, Pre–K, Cornerstone Kids (Gr. K–4) We offer weekly Teen Programs, Small Groups, Women’s Bible Studies (day & evening) & Men’s Bible Study Faith Nursery School for ages 3 & 4 Join us as we celebrate 55 years of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ!

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION

430 Sheep Pasture Rd., Port Jefferson 11777 Tel: 631-473-0894 • Fax: 631-928-5131 www.kimisis.org • goc.assumption@gmail.com

Rev. Demetrios N. Calogredes, Protopresbyter Sunday Services Orthros 8:30 am - Devine Liturgy 10 am Services conducted in both Greek & English* Books available to follow in English* Sunday Catechism School, 10:15 am - 11:15 am* Greek Language School, Tuesdays 5 pm - 8 pm* Bible Study & Adult Catechism Classes Available* Golden Age & Youth Groups* Thrift Store* Banquet Hall available for Rental* For information please call Church office*

To be listed in the Religious Directory, please call 631–751–7663

PAGE B22 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

Religious CHABAD AT STONY BROOK “Judaism with a smile”

Future site: East side of Nicolls Rd, North of Rte 347 –Next to Fire Dept.

Current location: 821 Hawkins Ave., Lake Grove (631) 585–0521 • (800) My–Torah • www.ChabadSB.com

Rabbi Chaim & Rivkie Grossbaum Rabbi Motti & Chaya Grossbaum Rabbi Sholom B. & Chanie Cohen Membership Free •Weekday, Shabbat & Holiday Services Highly acclaimed Torah Tots Preschool • Afternoon Hebrew School Camp Gan Israel • Judaica Publishing Department • Lectures and Seminars • Living Legacy Holiday Programs Jewish Learning Institute Friendship Circle for Special Needs Children • The CTeen Network N’shei Chabad Women’s Club • Cyberspace Library www.ChabadSB.com Chabad at Stony Brook University – Rabbi Adam & Esther Stein

YOUNG ISRAEL OF CORAM

Coram Jewish Center 981 Old Town Rd., Coram • (631) 698–3939 YIC.org-YoungIsraelofCoram@gmail.com

RABBI DR. MORDECAI AND MARILYN GOLSHEVSKY RABBI SAM AND REBECA GOLSHEVSKY

“THE ETERNAL FLAME-THE ETERNAL LIGHT” Weekly Channel #20 at 10 am Shabbat Morning Services 9 am. Free Membership. No building fund. Free Hebrew School. Bar/Bat Mitzvah Shabbat and Holiday Services followed by hot buffet. Adult Education Institute. Women’s Education Group-Internationally prominent Lecturers and Women’s Torah Class. Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Kaballah Classes. Jewish Holiday Institute. Tutorials for all ages.

Put Meaning in Your Life 631-698-3939 Member, National Council of Young Israel All welcome regardless of knowledge or observance level.

NORTH SHORE JEWISH CENTER

385 Old Town Rd., Port Jefferson Station (631) 928–3737 www.NorthShoreJewishCenter.org Rabbi Aaron Benson

Cantor Daniel Kramer, Rabbi Emeritus Howard Hoffman Executive Director Marcie Platkin Services: Daily morning and evening minyan Friday at 8 pm; Saturday 8:45 am and one hour before sundown • Tot Shabbat Family Kehillah • Sisterhood • Men’s Club • Seniors Club • Youth Group Award–winning Religious School • Teen Community Service Program Nursery School • Mommy and Me • Preschool Summer Program Continuing Ed • Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah • Judaica Shop Thrift Shop • Kosher Catering Panel We warmly welcome you to our Jewish home. Come worship, study and enjoy being Jewish with our caring NSJC family.

Member United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

TEMPLE ISAIAH (REFORM)

1404 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook • (631) 751–8518 www.tisbny.org A warm and caring intergenerational community dedicated to learning, prayer, social action, and friendship.

Member Union for Reform Judaism

Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel Cantor Carol Chesler Rabbi Emeritus Stephen A. Karol Rabbi Emeritus Adam D. Fisher Cantor Emeritus Michael F. Trachtenberg

Sabbath Services Friday 7:30 pm and Saturday 10 am Religious School • Monthly Family Service • Monthly Tot Shabbat Youth Groups • Senior Club • Adult Education Sisterhood • Brotherhood • Book Club-more

LUTHERAN–ELCA HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND ANCHOR NURSERY SCHOOL 46 Dare Road, Selden (631)732-2511 Emergency number (516) 848-5386 Rev. Dr. Richard O. Hill, Pastor email: hopelutheran@msn.com • website: www.hopeluth.com Holy Communion is celebrated every week Saturdays 5 pm and Sundays at 8 am, 9:30 am and 11 am

ST. PAULS LUTHERAN CHURCH

309 Patchogue Road, Port Jefferson Station (631) 473–2236

Rev. Paul A. Downing, Pastor email: pastorpauldowning@yahoo.com • pastor’s cell: 347–423–3623 church website: wwwStPaulsLCPJS.org Services: Sundays-8:30 and 10:30 am-Holy Communion Bibles and Bagels 9:30 am Sunday School during 10:30 service Wednesday evening 7:30 pm-Holy Communion Friday Morning-Power of Prayer Hour 10:30 am Christmas Eve Services - December 24 Holy Communion and Carols services at 5:00pm and 10:30pm Christmas Day December 25 Services at 8:30 and 10:30 Holy Communion New Year’s Eve December 31 - Service at 7:30pm

LUTHERAN–LCMS

MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH Messiah Preschool & Day Care 465 Pond Path, East Setauket www.messiahny.com (631) 751–1775

Rev. Charles Bell, Pastor We welcome all to join us for worship & fellowship Sunday Worship Services 8:15 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am Sunday School at 9:30 am Christmas Eve Worship 5:30 pm Family Candlelight Service 8:00 pm Traditional Candlelight Service Christmas Day Worship 10:00 am We have a NYS Certified Preschool & Day Care

METHODIST

SETAUKET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 160 Main Street, Corner of 25A and Main Street East Setauket • (631) 941–4167

Rev. Steven kim, Pastor

www.setauketumc.org • SUMCNY@aol.com Sunday Worship Service & Church School 10 am 10 am Worship with Holy Communion Mary & Martha Circle (Women’s Ministry) monthly on 2nd Tuesday at noon

STONY BROOK COMMUNITY CHURCH UNITED METHODIST

216 Christian Ave., Stony Brook, 11790 Church Office: 631-751-0574 stonybrookcommunitychurch@gmail.com www.stonybrookcommunitychurch.org Rev. chuck Van Houten, Pastor Connecting people to God, purpose and each other Sunday Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 10:00 am

Renewing, Restoring, Reviving for the 21st Century!

PRESBYTERIAN

SETAUKET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

5 Caroline Avenue ~ On the Village Green (631) 941-4271

Making God’s community livable for all since 1660!! www.setauketpresbyterian.org Email: setauketpresbyterian@verizon.net

Please join us this Christmas Season 7:00 p.m. December 21

Longest Night “Blue Christmas” Service A source of comfort when happy times are sad.

CHRISTMAS EVE 4:30 Manger Service

Family-Friendly Blessing of Animals

5:30 Welcome Friends Dinner

Help serve Christmas Dinner to Welcome Friends guests in the SPC Fellowship Hall

7:30 Festival Service

Choir, Carols, Hallelujah Chorus

11:00 Midnight Service

Bells, Candles, Carols, Communion

Sunday Christmas Day

9:30 a.m. A family-friendly service of carols and stories

Rev. Mary, Barrett Speers, pastor Rev. Dr. Craig Malbon, Visiting Minister

Religious Directory continued on next page

BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 33 Christian Ave/ PO2117 E. Setauket NY 11733 (631) 941–3581 Rev. Gregory L. Leonard–Pastor

Sunday Worship 10:30 am Adult Sunday School 9:30 am Lectionary Reading and Prayer Wed. 12 noon Gospel Choir Tues. 8 pm Praise Choir and Youth Choir 3rd and 4th Fri. 6:30 pm

COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 486 Townline Road, Commack Church Office: (631)499–7310 Fax: (631) 858–0596 www.commack–umc.org • mail@commack–umc.org Rev. Linda Bates–Stepe, Pastor

To be listed in the Religious Directory, please call 631–751–7663

©152952

JEWISH

D irectory

DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B23

North Shore venues ring in the New Year

By Erika rilEy New Year’s Eve is the holiday to close out the season, and there is no better way to celebrate Dec. 31 than to do something fun for the night. Whether you’re in the mood for music, comedy or to simply see a movie before you head out for the night, the North Shore offers several great ways to spend the evening.

Huntington The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington will be hosting a celebration of film on New Year’s Eve. There will be food, drinks, films and friends!

First, attendees will have their pick of three films to view before the ball drops including “Jackie” starring Natalie Portman (8:15 p.m.), “Lion” starring Dev Patel (8:30 p.m.) and a third movie that is yet to be announced.

After the movie screenings, guests can join the party in the Sky Room Cafe for some delicious food, cake and champagne toasts while viewing the ball dropping in Times Square on a television in the Cafe.

Tickets are $40 per person, $35 members, and may be purchased online at www. cinemaartscentre.org or via phone at 631423-FILM.

Port Jefferson This year, Theatre Three, located at 412 Main Street in Port Jefferson will be offering a comedy show titled “New Year’s Laughin’ Eve” at two different times, featuring some of the biggest names in comedy. The “early bird” show will begin at 6 p.m. and run until 7:30 p.m., and the later show will start at 8 p.m. and end by 9:30 p.m., giving attendees plenty of time to take in a New Year’s party and watch the ball drop after the show.

Douglas Quattrock, director of development and group sales and special events coordinator, says that the

From left to right, Natalie Portman in ‘Jackie,’ jazz musician Tom Manuel and comedians keith anthony and Eddie Clark event is a great alternative for those who don’t want to go out to a bar but still want to go do something. “It’s a great way to kick off the new year and end the holiday season,” Quattrock said. “There’s no better medicine than laughter.”

There will be three comedians at the show, the first being Paul Anthony from Massapequa. Anthony is the host of the Long Island Comedy Festival and the host of the new 50+ Comedy Tour, a group of comedians who are targeting their comedy to a slightly older generation.

The second guest is Rich Walker, who has been named the Best Comedian on Long Island two years in a row, has headlined in Las Vegas, and has been featured by the New York Times and the third comedian is Keith Anthony, who has been featured on Showtime, A&E and Comedy Central, and has also headlined his own shows.

Quattrock said that while the comedy isn’t for kids, it’s also not brute or offensive. Tickets for the shows are $49 per person at the door, $45 in advance at www.theatrethree.com or by calling 631928-9100.

Religious UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP AT STONY BROOK

380 Nicolls Road • between Rte 347 & Rte 25A (631) 751–0297 • www.uufsb.org • office@uufsb.org

Rev. Margaret H. Allen (minister@uufsb.org) Sunday Service: 10:30 am

Religious Education at UUFSB: Unitarian Universalism accepts wisdom from many sources and offers non-dogmatic religious education for children from 3-18 to foster ethical and spiritual development and knowledge of world religions. Classes Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. Childcare for little ones under three. Senior High Youth Group meetings Sunday evenings.

Registration is ongoing. For more information: dre@uufsb.org.

Smithtown The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown will present a New Year’s Eve comedy show titled “Loads of Laughs,” featuring six headlining comics. Of the six comics, Ken Washington of the center said, “The comedians are always top of the line ‘headlining’ comics who have been seen on a variety of different media outlets as well as comedy clubs throughout the area.”

Eddie Clark, former cop and current fulltime comic, will be in attendance, as well as seasoned comedians Marvin Bell and Matt Burke. Guests can also expect to see Peyton Clarkson, winner of the New York City Laugh-Off, Joe Currie, a member of several bands as well as a comic, and Warren Holstein, club headliner and occasional contributor to SNL’s “Weekend Update.”

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $180 per couple or $90 per person (there is a $10 discount for members) and include a buffet of Italian hors d’oeuvres and light fare as well as an open bar of wine and beer. Dessert will be served during intermission and a cham-

pagne toast will be made to ring in the New Year. To order, call 631-724-3700.

Note: Show contains dult language.

Stony Brook The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring jazz musician Tom Manuel and the Syncopated Seven from 7:30 to 12:30 p.m. The performance will also showcase guest artist Melanie Marod, who is a modern jazz vocalist who performs regularly around popular clubs in New York City.

“What I’m most excited about is just having a wonderful group of people together in such a classy exciting place with such great music, I feel like when you put together great food and great people and great music it’s a guaranteed home-run evening,” said Manuel , who is also the curator and director of the Jazz Loft.

Tickets are $150 per person, which includes a buffet dinner catered by the Three Village Inn, cocktail hour and a champagne toast at midnight. To order, call 631-7511895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.

D irectory

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF HUNTINGTON

109 Brown’s Road, Huntington, NY 11743 631–427–9547 www.uufh.org

Rev. G. Jude Geiger, Minister

(minister@uufh.org) Starr Austin, religious educator (dreuufh@gmail.com) Sunday Service 10:30 am, Children’s Religious Education 10:30 am Celebrate Christmas with us on Saturday, December 24 (We will also be observing the first night of Hanukah.)

Family Service with Christmas Pageant at 5pm Contemplative Candlelight Service at 7pm Please bring gloves, mittens and scarves to decorate our mitten tree for local charitites.

We will have our 10:30 Sunday service on Christmas Day.

Whoever you are, whomever you love, wherever you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome here.

Our services offer a progressive, non-creedal message with room for spiritual seekers.

Services and Religious Education each Sunday at 10:30 am Youth Group, Lifespan Religious Education for Adults, Adult and Children’s Choirs. Participants in the Huntington Interfaith Housing Initiative. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

UNITY UNITY CHURCH OF HEALING LIGHT 203 East Pulaski Rd., Huntington Sta. (631) 385–7180 www.unityhuntingtonny.org

Rev. Saba Mchunguzi

Unity Church of Healing Light is committed to helping people unfold their Christ potential to transform their lives and build spiritual community through worship, education, prayer and service.

Sunday Worship & Church School 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Service 7:30 p.m.

Sign Language Interpreter at Sunday Service

To be listed in the Religious Directory, please call 631–751–7663 ©152953

PAGE B24 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

153554

DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B25

movie review

‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’

A newer hope: A prequel sequel prequel THE EXPERIENCE

By Michael Tessler Ever wish you could celebrate Christmas each and every day? That’s how I can best describe my childhood dream of receiving a new “Star Wars” film each and every year. What seemed like an impossibility back then has suddenly become an astonishing reality. Thanks to Disney’s acquisition of every creative thought mustered by George Lucas, fans can now enjoy an annual installment of the most successful film franchise in cinema history.

At AMC Loews in Stony Brook on Friday, Nick Acampora and his daughters Elizabeth and Melanie sat together in anticipation for the premiere of Gareth Edwards’ “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

“We’ve got a family connection with the Force,” joked Acampora, a Port Jefferson resident and community historian. Though all smiles, his daughters were bitterly divided between which was their favorite “Star Wars” film (of course, we all know it should be “The Empire Strikes Back”). Despite some debate, all could agree that “Star Wars” is the perfect escape from reality.

Just a few rows away were two grown men named Mike, a father/son duo, both wearing expressions of childlike wonder in anticipation for the new film.

The elder Mike had enjoyed the original “Star Wars” film (later titled “A New Hope”) back in 1977 when he first saw it in theaters. The “Jedi master” and his “padawan” have been to every “Star Wars” premiere together since “Attack of the Clones,” released in 2002. They take enormous pride in having a better relationship than their “Star Wars” counterparts Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

Sitting next to me was my childhood best friend Matthew and, in spirit, my late best friend Brandon. For us, “Star Wars” was more than just a film series, it was the basis for our friendship. Countless days in the backyard were spent dueling with plastic toy light sabers, building the LEGO Millennium Falcon brick by brick, and arguing for hours over fan theories and proper pronunciations of Jedi names.

As Darth Vader appeared on screen for the first time in over a decade in “Rogue One,” Matthew and I paused for a moment, looking at one another. For that brief second we saw each other not as adults but as the little boys we once knew a long time ago ... in a galaxy far, far away.

THE (SPOILERIFIC) REVIEW

By Kevin redding “Rogue One,” the first in what promises to be a series of Star Wars-related anthology films, is a risky experiment in that its plot — based on the first two paragraphs of the original’s opening crawl — requires it to forever change the way we watch “A New Hope.”

In telling the story of how the plans needed to destroy the Death Star wound up in the hands of Princess Leia and eventually

MENORAH LIGHTINGS Continued from page B17

Kings Park

Felicity Jones leads the cast of the newest edition to the ‘star Wars’ saga. kick-start the adventures of a blonde farm kid named Luke, “Rogue One” is of course a prequel, which is a dirty word among many “Star Wars” fans.

But Disney, for the most part, knows what the diehards want to see — practical sets and creatures, Tie fighters and X-wings, and the (ridiculously satisfying, vicious and get-on-your-feet-and-growllike-a-wookie-worthy) return of the biggest, baddest villain in the galaxy, among other familiar faces. The last half of “Rogue One” sets up the start of “A New Hope” masterfully, so much so that if the closing credits of the former and opening crawl of the latter were eliminated, it would work seamlessly as one long adventure.

But I definitely thought it took a while for “Rogue One” to reach its great moments. As we spend time with a ragtag team of new characters, I couldn’t help but want to see what the old standbys were up to instead.

This “Star Wars Story” centers on Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), a slightly dull heroine whose father unwillingly engineered the planet-destroying weaponry on the Death Star while under the diabolic eye of the Empire’s Imperial Commander Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn).

As Erso later finds out, her father intentionally compromised the Death Star so it could easily be destroyed (by Luke in “A New Hope”), thus cleverly correcting one of the biggest plot holes in the original film: Why would the Empire build this elaborate, clearly-expensive space station that can be blown to smithereens so easily?!

Erso finds herself the resilient leader of a group of Rebels who band together to get the job done. Alongside her is Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), who’s sort of the no-fun straight man throughout, K-2SO (perfectly voiced by Alan Tudyk), a reprogrammed Imperial droid that doesn’t know any better than to say exactly what’s on its mind (or in its circuits) to marvelous and hilarious effect, Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen), a Forcesensitive blind warrior who takes down a lot of stormtroopers with little to no effort and

Photo courtesy of Disney

is by far the best new addition to the “Star Wars” universe of the human bunch, Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen), Chirrut’s loyal partner, and Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed), a former Imperial pilot gone rogue.

It’s great to see the inclusion of Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits, reprising his role from the prequel trilogy) and some of the Rebel pilots from the original that were implemented into the spectacular battle scenes on display here.

Where the film really shines, however, is in the villain department. Personally, I was blown away at how Edwards and company resurrected the late-great Peter Cushing through a stunning display of CGI and motion capture to give Grand Moff Tarkin, the ruthless Imperial leader in “A New Hope,” a substantial role.

But what brought me to the theater in the first place was knowing that I’d be seeing Darth Vader be Darth Vader on the big screen again, in all his James Earl Jones-voiced glory. It’s really incredible and overwhelming to see. His two scenes, while extremely short, are worth the price of admission, especially the one in the final moments of the film, which will forever change how we see him in the rest of the saga. If nothing else, “Rogue One” reclaims Vader as the powerful and dangerous threat we were always told he was, and then some.

THE VERDICT “Rogue One’s” greatest attribute is that it somehow manages to make “A New Hope” an even greater film. Admittedly, the first thing I did when I got home was rewatch the 1977 classic. This connective tissue provides compelling emotional subtext to the famed original opening crawl. While a bit clunky in its pacing and struggle to give us new characters to really feel for, “Rogue One” has proven “Star Wars” can survive outside the saga, delivering to fans compelling stories that only further embellish the brilliance of Lucas’ original vision. And if you don’t like this one so much, just wait until next year ... and the year after that...and the year after that.

On the first day of Hanukkah, Dec. 24, at 11 a.m., there will be a menorah lighting at the Veterans Plaza of the King’s Park Branch of the Smithtown Library, which is located at 1 Church St., Kings Park. Call 631269-7678 for more information.

Mount Sinai The Heritage Center of Mount Sinai will celebrate the beginning of the Festival of Lights on Dec. 24 at 4 p.m. at Temple Beth Emeth, 52 Mt. Sinai Ave., Mt. Sinai this year.

Refreshments will follow. For more information, call 631-509-0882.

Ronkonkoma Raynor Beach County Park, located off Ronkonkoma Avenue, will be holding a menorah lighting on Dec. 26 at 7 p.m. Call 631-9632796 for more information.

St. James Starting on Dec. 25, the St. James menorah will be lit for eight nights until the end of Hanukkah on Jan. 1. The menorah, located at the triangle at Route 25A and Lake Avenue and Moriches Road, will be lit at 4 p.m. on Friday and 5:30 p.m. all other days. Call 631-5848510 for more information or visit www.stjameschamber.org.

Production of ‘Nimby’ comes to Hauppauge The Jewish Academy will be performing an original play titled “Nimby” on Friday, Dec. 23 at the Suffolk Y JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack at 10 a.m. The play will portray the wellpublicized actions of thousands of Billings, Montana residents who placed menorahs in their front windows after a rock was thrown through the window of a Jewish family. All are welcome to attend. For more information call 631368-2600.

send your community events to leisure@tbrnewspapers.com.

PAGE B26 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

Holiday break at the Hatchery The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor will hold several holiday events over the winter break.

On Dec. 26, 28 and 30 at 11 p.m. families can take part in a hatchery tour.

At 2 p.m. the hatchery will hold a program, Live Animal Encounters, where children can learn about the hatchery’s reptiles and amphibians during a live animal presentation. Come early (1 p.m.) or stay late (3 p.m.) and enjoy a trout feeding demonstration.

On Dec. 27 the hatchery will present Bird Buddies from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make a bird feeder or build a wooden birdhouse ($5 materials fee) to take home. Make your own homemade playdough to take home on Dec. 29 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Admission for all programs is $6 adults, $4 kids and seniors, under age 3 and members free. Questions? Call 516692-6768 or visit www.cshfha.org.

Italian classes for children Enroll your children in Italian classes in the new year. Ten winter classes will be held at the Setauket Elementary School, 134 Main St., Setauket on Tuesdays from Jan. 17 to March 28 for children ages 3 to 5 from 4 to 4:45 p.m., ages 6 to 11 (former continuing students) from 5 to 5:50 p.m., and for ages 6 to 11 (new students) from 6 to 6:50 p.m. Cost for the 10-class session is $100.

For more information or to sign up, call Josephine at 631-632-7444 or email josephine.fusco@stonybrook.edu.

KIDS CALENDAR

Hands-On Art

The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook will present a program for children in grades K through 4, Hands-On Art, on Jan. 5 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Inspiration is all around us. Learn the elements of art using different materials to create your own masterpiece to take home. $10 per class, $8 members. To register, call 751-0066, ext. 212.

Kids in the Kitchen Kids ages 8 to 12 years are invited to take part in a kid’s cooking course at the Chai Center, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills to learn how to make some great kidapproved kosher dishes such as waffles, personal pan pizzas and cookies in a large state-of-the-art kitchen. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, Jan. 3, 10 and 17 from 5 to 6 p.m. Fee, if registering before Dec. 23, is $15 per class, $40 for all three classes. If registering after Dec. 23, the fee increases to $20 per class, $55 for all three classes.

To RSVP, please call 631-351-8672 or visit www.thechaicenter.com.

Holiday camps The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor will hold a holiday camp, Ice Squad, for kids in grades K to 3 on Dec. 27 and 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Explorers in this drop-off camp can discover the frosty world of polar bears, penguins, walruses and whales!

Register online at www.cshwhalingmuseum.org. For more information, call 631-367-3418.

Gold Medal Gymnastics, 253 West Main St., Smithtown will hold a holiday camp for ages 3 and up on Dec. 27 and Dec. 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $40 per child per day; sibling discounts available. Call 631-366-4653 for details.

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Toddler Time

Book Revue, 313 New York Ave., Huntington hosts Toddler Time for ages 3 to 5 every Thursday (new day) at 11 a.m. Free. No registration necessary. For further information, call 2711442 or visit www.bookrevue.com.

Image from Maritime Explorium

Design your own Times Square Ball at the Maritime Explorium on winter break.

Programs

Let’s Celebrate the New Year!

Join the Maritime Explorium, 101 East Broadway, Port Jefferson as it celebrates the New Year on Dec. 24, 26 to 31 and Jan. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. Explore the principles of geometry and design your own Times Square Ball. $5 per person. Call 331-3277 for more information.

Star Warz Returns

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor brings back its popular Star Warz party on Dec. 29 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Navigate through a special scavenger hunt, create Jabba slime, and make lots of themed crafts. See how sailors used the celestials and meet Darth Vader! $10 children, $6 adults.

Questions? Call 367-3418.

East Northport Public Library, 185 Larkfield Road, East Northport will screen ‘Finding Dory’ on Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. Rated PG. Free and open to all. Call 261-2313 for more information.

Theater ‘Barnaby Saves Christmas’

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson celebrates the 13th anniversary of “Barnaby Saves Christmas” through Dec. 30. Join Santa’s littlest elf Barnaby and his reindeer friend Franklynne as they set off on a journey to save Christmas. All tickets are $10. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Elf Jr.’

Go see ‘Mary Poppins’

‘Frosty’

Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown will present a Tiny Tots program, Where Is Everybody?, on Dec. 29 from 10 to 11 a.m. This is a special time for parent and child to discover the wonders of the natural world together. For ages 3 to 5. $3 per child. Advance registration required by calling 265-1054.

The Northport Historical Society, will hold a special theater event for kids 10 years of age and up on Dec. 30 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Explore the museum, see “Mary Poppins” at the John W. Engeman Theater, then return to the museum for a pizza party! Tickets are $55 per child, $50 members. To register, please call 757-9859.

Just in time for the holidays, the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown will present the musical “Elf Jr.” through Dec. 31 with daily shows from Dec. 26 to 31; no show on Dec. 18. Follow Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Tickets are $15 each. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

A holiday favorite, “Frosty,” returns to the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport through Dec. 31. Join Jenny and Frosty on their winter adventure as they try to save the town of Chillsville from the mean old Ethel Pierpot.

Tickets are $15 each. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’

Go on an adventure at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, 581 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown on Dec. 30 from 2 to 3 p.m. Choose activities from an adventure bag to take part in along the way. $3 per child. Advance registration required by calling 265-1054.

John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport will present “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” on Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. and Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. Performed entirely by students of the John W. Engeman Studio of the Performing Arts. Tickets are $20. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

New Year’s Eve Bash

‘Shrek The Musical Jr.’

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor will present a New Year’s Eve Bash for Kids on Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. Count down to noon with lots of festive crafts. Admission fee plus $3 for craft activities. Call 3673418 for further information.

141892

New Year’s Hike

21 Bennetts Road, Suite 200, Setauket, New York 11733

‘Finding Dory’

Where Is everybody?

The Adventure Bag Walk

(631) 751-6620

Film

Start the year off by learning about Long Island winter habitats with a guided nature hike with the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor on Jan. 2 at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. Fee is $6 adults, $4 kids ages 3 to 12 and seniors; under age 3 and members free. For more information, call 516-692-6768.

Everyone’s favorite ogre will be starring in “Shrek the Musical Jr.” at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown from Jan. 21 to Feb. 26 with shows daily from Feb. 20 to 26 for Presidents’ Week.

All seats are $15. To order, call 724-3700 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

‘The Three Little Pigs’

Three independent pigs, two lost mice and one rappin’ wolf equal a fun-filled musical production of “The Three Little Pigs” at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson from Jan. 21 to Feb. 4. All seats are $10. To order, call 9289100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.

DECEMBER 22, 2016 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • PAGE B27

kids times

Sweetbriar Nature Center prepares to unveil interactive forest exhibit

by Erika rilEy A tropical rainforest comes to life on the second floor of the Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown, and that magic will only expand with the addition of a new interactive experience coming later this month.

The new exhibit, titled Forest to Forest, speaks to the touch, smell, visuals and sounds of the local Long Island woodlands and will officially open on Dec. 26.

The new room, which is located off of the rainforest exhibit on the second floor, aims to be as interactive as possible, allowing visitors the opportunity to use four senses (as taste is excluded) to experience the natural world, but all indoors and warm from the winter chill.

The project was led by Executive Director Eric Young. “We wanted to build something to give them things they couldn’t necessarily see in the outdoors, but also times of year like this where they can’t experience the outdoors,” Young said.

One of the most exciting features is the addition of the crawl space underneath the box turtle exhibit. Children, as well as adults, can crawl through the underground world beneath the forest floor, look through a small window to view the forest floor above and peak at the center’s resident box turtles in their enclosure.

There are already little dioramas installed into the walls of the crawl space showcasing different kinds of wildlife.

According to Young, visitors can also sniff containers with forest smells and explore a touch table that features different textures of objects found in the forest.

Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar Nature Center

Visitors to the new exhibit, Forest to Forest, can meet a box turtle up close and personal.

“While they are doing all of this, they can take in the amazing artistry of the room as they play I Spy to explore the forest and field murals around the room,” he said.

There will also be interactive computer programs set up in the room, such as one that plays an audiofile of a bird call, and visitors must click on the picture of the bird that they think makes that call. Once they click correctly, they can read information about that bird.

Young is planning on bringing in trees and plants from the area to utilize for

the touch and smell parts of the interactive exhibit. All of the wildlife featured in the room will represent local plants and animals that are found in the surrounding woodlands. Any plants that are brought into the room will be directly from Sweetbriar’s woods on the property.

One of the main goals of the new room is to increase children’s excitement and appreciation of nature. According to Young, the involvement with the natural world is a three-step process. One: Help them appreciate the natural world. Two:

Help them understand the natural world.

Three: They want to get involved with the natural world.

“If you don’t care about something, you don’t want to take care of it,” Young said.

Young enlisted the help of artist and head curator at Sweetbriar Jenine Bendicksen and carpenter John Scorola on this project. While Young credits himself as coming up with the idea, he gives them the credit for making it come to life. “It takes a village,” he said.

The exhibit is made possible by a grant from the New York State Council for the Arts Decentralization program. The money was eventually allocated by the Huntington Arts Council to Sweetbriar, and they used it to finally do something with the room previously and affectionately known as Turtle Town.

Once the exhibit opens, Young hopes to keep expanding it and making it even better throughout the years.

Sweetbriar Nature Center is located at 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown and is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends. For more information, please call 631-979-6344 or visit www.sweetbriarnc. org. Admission to the self-guided exhibit is $2 per person, which includes the rainforest room. Proceeds will go toward the upkeep of the exhibit.

About the author: Stony Brook resident Erika Riley is a sophomore at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. She is interning at TBR during her winter break and hopes to advance in the world of journalism and publishing after graduation.

A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE This past July members of the Port Jefferson Dance academy, under the direction of Tara lennstrom, participated in an event titled Dance the World at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Twenty-seven dancers with ages ranging from 10 to 21 participated, performing in a parade at the Magic kingdom leading out the Main Street Electrical Parade. They performed with hundreds of dancers from all over the country, as well as numerous other countries. The group also performed a dance from their repertoire and performed to the song, ‘Welcome to New york.’

Photo from Virginia McCaffrey

PAGE B28 • ARTS & LIFESTYLES • DECEMBER 22, 2016

SBU SportSweek DeC. 22, 2016– JAn. 4, 2017

Tomorrow is Friday – wear red on Campus!

Stony Brook UniverSity

Men pick up 75-63 win at St. Francis The Stony Brook men’s basketball team never trailed as it cruised to a 75-63 win over St. Francis College at DeGol Arena Dec. 17.

The Seawolves (4-7) led St. Francis (3-6) by as many as 16 points in the game, as they were able to bounce back in their final game before the holiday break.

“We came in and we wanted to compete,” Stony Brook head coach Jeff Boals said. “After the game other day, I wanted to see what our response was going to be. Our guys came out and really competed.”

The Seawolves showed that its third different starting lineup of the season could do the trick — denying St. Francis of a bucket in the first three minutes of the game, while using steady production to distance themselves early.

They led by double figures for the majority of the first half, but the Red Flash closed it out on a 10-2 run to get back within six at the break.

Senior Lucas Woodhouse had a big first half, putting up 14 points, while junior Junior Saintel, who returned to the starting lineup against the Red Flash, scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in the opening period.

“We got out to a great start, which is one of the keys to our game,” Boals said. “This was a high-powered offense that averages 80 points-per game, and I thought we did a great job defensively.”

The Seawolves allowed St. Francis to get

Photos from SBU

Above, Bryan Sekunda at the free-throw line during a previous game. Left, Lucas Woodhouse moves around a defender.

back within five early in the second half, but 11 straight points from junior Bryan Sekunda, including three makes from beyond the arc, allowed Stony Brook to match its largest lead of the day.

St. Francis got the difference back to single digits with 5:09 to play, but another three from Sekunda with 1:01 on the clock got the Seawolves’ lead back above 10, and the Red

Flash were only able to connect on two occasions in the final minute of play.

After scoring just three points in the first half, Sekunda dropped in four three-pointers and a pair of free throws in the second half to finish with a season-best five treys and 17 points on the day.

Saintel’s four blocks and 15 points mark a season-best for the junior, and the first time

he has reached double figures in scoring.

Woodhouse matched his Stony Brook careerbest with nine assists and 17 points, also adding a season-high nine rebounds.

Stony Brook limited itself to 10 or fewer turnovers for the sixth time this season, finishing with 10 against St. Francis. The Seawolves held St. Francis to nearly 20 points below its average, allowing the Red Flash to score just 63 compared to their normal 80.

The Seawolves will host the New Jersey Institute of Technology next on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.

Women down Molloy 62-53 in Long Island clash Senior Kori Bayne-Walker and sophomore Davion Wingate scored 14 points each to help the Stony Brook women’s basketball team to a 62-53 win over Long Island foe Molloy College Dec. 16 at Island Federal Credit Union Arena.

Bayne-Walker finished in double figures “Molloy came in here and played a great game,” Stony Brook head coach Caroline for the seventh time in nine games to begin McCombs said. “We came out of the gate the year, while Wingate posted her fourth and knocked down some shots early, which performance of 10 or more points this year.

Wingate added seven rebounds and five allowed us to play with a lead for the entire assists, while Bayne-Walker game. Fortunately, we chipped in four rebounds made enough plays down and four assists. Senior the stretch to get the win.”

Anamaria Skaro tallied a The Seawolves never career-high 10 points in her trailed in the contest, second career start. Senior but an 11-0 Molloy run Christa Scognamiglio led late in the third quarter the Seawolves with a seatrimmed a 12-point cushson-high 10 rebounds and ion to just one in the wanmatched a career-best with ing seconds of the frame. three blocks.

With 11 seconds remainStony Brook went 17ing in the quarter, junior for-21 from the free-throw Aaliyah Worley drained line and held a 41-32 ada three-pointer to give Stony Brook a 44-40 lead — Caroline McCombs vantage on the glass. The Seawolves held their oppothrough three quarters.

After a three-pointer by Molloy’s Kamala nent under 40 percent shooting from outside Thompson opened the fourth, a three-point the arc for the eighth time in nine games.

The meeting was the first between Stony play by senior Elizabeth Manner made it 4743 with 8:35 to go and kept the Seawolves in Brook and Molloy since a 67-55 win during front by at least two possessions for the re- the 1985-86 season. With the win, the Seawolves improve to 4-5 on the year, while the mainder of the contest.

‘We came out of the gate and knocked down some shots early, which allowed us to play with a lead for the entire game.’

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Photos from SBU

Above, kori Bayne-Walker moves the ball downcourt in a previous game. Left, Davion Wingate at the free-throw line.

Lions drop to 8-4.

The Seawolves fly south prior to the holiday break for the Florida Sunshine Classic, hosted by Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. The two-day event began with a game against Florida A&M University Dec. 20, but results were not available by press time.