October 26, 2022 - November 8, 2022 Suffolk Zone 2

LaVida

Smithtown. Mark Davis,

N.Y. 11729

631-465-9400

516-641-4243

On Oct. 3, Smithtown West held it’s 13th annual “Play 4 A Cure” field hockey game honoring the memory of St. James Elementary School teacher Sara Long Harte. Each year Smithtown West team dedicates this game to Sarah, who passed away due to breast cancer.

Sara taught at St. James

Elementary School, the very same elementary school where she attended as a child, for eight years. Her immeasurable impact throughout the community in such a short period lives on today through a Scholarship Fund, a Memorial Garden and a hand-crafted picket fence in front of the St.

James Elementary School which was built to honor her by a former student.

Her dedication to her students, charity work with the Sunrise Fund for Childhood Cancer and her unending labor of love for this community will never be forgotten.

Long Island’s Largest Halloween Event, The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze!

music teacher Christa Braunreuther during Sara Long Harte Memorial field hockey game. Photo courtesy of Smithtown CSD

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is a 28-day immersive, family friendly Halloween experience that’s set on Long Island’s historic 19th century village at the beloved Old Bethpage Village Restoration. It began on September 30, 2022 and runs through November 6, 2022. Historic Hudson Valley, which develops and produces the event, is a not-for-profit education organization that owns and operates National Historic Landmarks in New York’s Sleepy Hollow region. Proceeds from ticket purchases will support the education and preservation of Old Bethpage Village Restoration and Historic Hudson Valley. An immersive, familyfriendly event, set to an original soundtrack and

synchronized lighting, this event includes more than 25 elaborate themed exhibits. New this year is:

• The Long Island Hall of Fame - featuring pumpkin portraits of local Long Island icons Billy Joel, Joan Jett, Sue Bird, Dr. J and more

• A galloping, animated Headless Horsemanfeaturing an advanced chase scene of the Horseman flying down the hill

• An elaborate Pumpkin Portal - a 32-foot immersive light experience

• The Old Bethpage Village Restoration’s New York Mutuals Baseball Players – a Halloween tribute to this beloved 19th century baseball team

• The Deep Sea Divers – featuring pumpkin deep sea divers, a humpback whale, turtles, a shark and a squid

• Classic Hollywood Monsters – old-school Hollywood icons haunting a house

• And much more!

Other exhibits include the Pumkin Planetarium, and a magnificent Long Island Lighthouse, which pays homage to Long Island’s Montauk Light. The event has limited capacity and all admissions are by advance purchase timed ticket or FLEX anytime ticket. No tickets are sold on site. Online tickets start at $32 for adults and $24 for children 3-17 and are free for children 2 and under.

Photo Credit: Matteo Raccuglia

Grand Opening Of LaVida Massage

Grand Opening of LaVida

119 Terry Road in

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By Lisa Scott President of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County

As a member of the League of Women Voters (LWV), a 102 year old nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, this is my “busy season.” With my LWV colleagues, all volunteers, I speak to groups, answer countless questions, organize and moderate debates, and write articles; all as outreach during election season. Additionally, we encourage all citizens to vote responsibly in every election in which they are eligible, whether that be fire districts, libraries, school districts, local, state or federal. Your vote is your voice and I urge you to use it this Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th. Below is some significant information to keep in mind:

• Be sure you are registered to vote prior to heading to the polls.

• Because of redistricting, mandated by the US Constitution after the (2020) census, some of your district numbers may have changed! You can find your polling place easily on the NYS Board of Elections (BOE) website at www.voterlookup. elections.ny.gov. If you don’t have access to the internet, go to your local public library, where you can find assistance to get on one of their computers. Your information is private.

• You may have applied for an absentee ballot. If you plan to vote this way, the same website allows you to track your ballot to be sure it’s been received and will be counted by your county’s BOE. With a new tracking system now in place, if you have applied for an absentee ballot, but you decide you’d rather vote in person, you will not be able to cast your vote in a machine during early voting or on Election Day. Instead, you’ll be given an “affidavit ballot” and the BOE will check your records

to confirm whether or not your absentee ballot was received. This is to ensure no one’s vote is counted twice.

• This year you’ll be voting for your local member of the House of Representatives, one US Senator, NYS Governor and Lt. Governor and your local member of the NYS Senate and NYS Assembly. In Suffolk County, you’ll also vote for County Comptroller and County Clerk. There may be some local races on the ballot too.

• There is a NYS Environmental Bond proposition on the back of your ballot. If approved, this would allow the NYS Comptroller to issue and sell $4.2million in bonds to be used to fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resiliency, and clean energy projects. This is not a tax, investors buy NYS bonds.

• Suffolk County also has a countywide proposition clarifying the wording of the term limits law and four Suffolk townships have local propositions too. Nassau does not have a county proposition on this year’s ballot.

Please plan ahead; learn about the candidates and know what’s on your ballot. You can visit www.vote411. org, enter your address (no need for your name or personal info) and you will see the offices, candidates, and propositions that will be on the ballot. All candidates were sent questions and given the opportunity to answer them on the site; sometimes candidates refuse to respond, this is indicated. No one ever should be too busy, too disinterested or even too frustrated to vote. Your vote is your hard-earned right, but also your obligation as an American citizen.

Important Contact Information:

Suffolk County Board of Elections: 631-852-4500

Nassau County Board of Elections: 516-571-2411

a great

tours,

Right: Barbara Franco, Executive Director of Smithtown Chamber of Commerce. Robert Steinberg, Partner & Alison Brennan, CEO First Development Corporation. New York State Senator

Nuzzo with children AJ & Caroline, Owners LaVida Massage of Smithtown. Gail Apel, General Manager LaVida Massage of Smithtown. Mark Davis, CEO LaVida Massage Franchise Development.

Mattera, 2nd Senate District.

& Jessica

Town Pays Tribute To Local Hero

The Town of Smithtown hosted an unveiling ceremony at the newly renovated little league field, located at Moriches Park, officially renaming it; James E. DowlingSmithtown - St James Facility. On Tuesday, September 27th at 11AM, the community of St James, friends and family all gathered on a perfect sunny day to celebrate the life and legacy of World War II POW, founder of the St.James Little League and former Superintendent of Highways, James E. Dowling. The ceremony coincidentally took place on the anniversary of the Day Jim “Red” Dowling was shot down and taken as a prisoner of war in Germany.

“Most of us who were blessed to know Jim, will tell you it would be impossible to forget him. The legacy he has left us with is one that will continue to impact our youth, our families and our community as a whole for generations to come. He will always be remembered

as the greatest generation’s brave hero, the father of our local little league and the builder of roadways. Renaming and dedicating this newly restored ballpark is but one small way we can teach our youth about service, honor and duty to our neighbors, family and country.”

- Supervisor Ed Wehrheim

The newly renovated ball field was completed by mid summer of this year. The Parks Department constructed a new dugout, backstop and installed new outfield fencing. The 90 foot synthetic turf infield replacement compliments the previous renovations at Moriches/Vets Memorial Park, which include the recent replacement of the turf fields at the Soccer Complex, a soft splash pad at the waterpark, stateof-the-art playgrounds, interactive playhouse new fencing surrounding the play areas, concrete sidewalks, a LED userfriendly crosswalk, and all new landscaping. The new ball field makeover was the

result of a public-private partnership with the St James/Smithtown Little League.

James E. Dowling was drafted at the age of 18 in 1942. Despite a high school knee injury, he became part of the 703rd Squadron, 445th Bomb Group in the 8th Army Air Corps as a Bombardier/Navigator, alongside the famous actor, Jimmy Stewart as his Flight Leader. Two years later, at the age of 20, Dowling became an officer, earning the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Dowling was shot down and taken as a prisoner of war on his 11th mission, during the 703rd Squadron’s bombing run over Kassel, Germany. Not long after returning home from the service, Dowling married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy. He fathered eight children and continued to be a shining example of service and sacrifice for his family, friends and community. He started a peewee baseball league for children in the neighborhood which became the St. James Little

League, where he served as its president for 18 years.

James E. Dowling was elected Smithtown Highway Superintendent in1960 and served through 1998. Using his knowledge from the service, Dowling successfully created 250 miles of permanent roads, multiple infrastructure projects and altered the way Smithtown handled snow storms/removal, which set the precedent for a system that is implemented nationwide

to this day.

Dowling was featured in the Town of Smithtown Faces of War documentary series and has an entire chapter devoted to his story in Tom Brokaw’s book The Greatest Generation. James E Dowling passed away over Memorial Day weekend, on May 26th, 2022. He is remembered as a loving father to James Dowling Jr, Douglas and Jeanne Dowling, Jeffrey and Aniela Dowling, Janet and Brett

Weingarten, Jean Dowling, Elizabeth and Robert Elderkin, Gregory and Donna Dowling, William and Christine Dowling; adored grandfather to 25 grandchildren, 33 greatgrandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Additionally, James E Dowling is remembered by the Town of Smithtown as a hero who undoubtedly left his legacy upon the community for generations to come.

TOWN PAYS TRIBUTE TO LOCAL HERO - The Town of Smithtown hosted an unveiling ceremony at the newly renovated little league field, located at Moriches Park, officially renaming it; James E. Dowling - Smithtown - St James Facility. On Tuesday, September 27th at 11AM, the community of St James, friends and family all gathered on a perfect sunny day to celebrate the life and legacy of World War II POW, founder of the St.James Little League and former Superintendent of Highways, James E. Dowling. Left to Right: Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo, Councilman Tom Lohmann, Erin Dowling, Liz Elderkin, Willie Dowling, Jeffrey Dowling, Greg Dowling, Supervisor Ed Wehrheim, Superintendent of Highways Robert Murphy, Councilwoman Lynne Nowick and Town Clerk Vincent Puleo.

A Hoyt Farm Halloweekend

Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve hosted its 17th Annual Halloweekend on Saturday, October 15th, and Sunday, October 16th, 2022. The popular annual event traditionally sells out without much advertising. This year was no different, with roughly 1500 residents, between both days, participating in the festival weekend. Families enjoyed touring the festive preserve playing games, winning prizes, engaging in the entertainment and Fall fare, and enjoying the food.

“Each year, I take my grandkids to this event and each year I’m more and more impressed with the attention to detail, TLC and thought that goes into delivering such a memorable experience for the community. I’d like to thank and acknowledge Jeff Gumin, our Director of Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve, Sheryl, Kate, Dominick, Kellie and the entire Hoyt Farm team… they really

knocked it out of the park!”

- Supervisor Ed Wehrheim

Each year, the team at Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve plan an elaborate and memorable Halloween festival for Smithtown families to enjoy. They try to create an atmosphere of good old-fashioned Fall fun mixed with kid-friendly Halloween enjoyment. They devote countless hours to orchestrating the whole weekend of fun which includes hay rides, pumpkin picking and decorating, spooky fun games, face painting, crafts, scavenger hunts and an unforgettable haunted house. The staff joins in the fun, dressed in unforgettable costumes to greet kids and parents who are dressed in Halloween costumes as well. The team at Hoyt Farm believes that a successful festival is one in which adults become kids and children become superheroes, and mythical beings inside a magical and unforgettable atmosphere.

“This is an event that we put our hearts and souls into at Hoyt Farm. We try to make everything from scratch to spark that nostalgic country festival feel. It is an extremely popular event and each year

it provides smiles to about 1500 Smithtown residents. We already started planning for next year!“ - Jeff Gumin (Director of Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve) and the Hoyt Farm staff The Annual

Hoyt Farm Halloweekend is for Smithtown residents only. The event includes a variety of seasonal games, crafts and entertainment.

For more information about Hoyt Farm, visit them

online or call at 631-5437804. Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve is located at 200 New Highway in Commack, NY 11725.

Photo courtesy of Town of Smithtown

Helping You Help Others

By Noelle Lambert

The Charity of the Month for October is Helen Keller Services

Helen Keller Services (HKS), a nonprofit organization with locations across Long Island and the nation, works with thousands of individuals who are blind, have low vision, are DeafBlind or have combined hearing and vision loss to live, work and thrive in their community of choice.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices.

Helen Keller Services, located in Port Washington, recently held its 3rd annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) event, celebrating The US Department of Labor’s theme, “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation”, recognizing the vital role people with disabilities play in making the nation’s workforce diverse and inclusive.

“Accessibility to job opportunities affects everyone and should be integral to hiring practices, and not just an afterthought,” said Joseph Melillo, National Business & Employment Relations Specialist at Helen Keller Services. “With equal access, people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind can unlock their inner ability.”

Highlights of the event included a keynote address from Kathy West-Evans, Director of Business Relations, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)/ National Employment Team (NET), and experts who spoke about disability inclusion, use of technology and the talents of the DeafBlind community in the workplace.

“The DeafBlind community is just like the rest of us; they simply communicate differently. And like the rest of us, they have unique gifts and talents to share that can

make our world a more diverse and vibrant place to work and live,” said Sue Ruzenski, CEO of Helen Keller Services.

Every year, Helen Keller Services spotlights companies that work with the DeafBlind community at its Access-Ability Awards, held in June.

“We recognize leaders who have made it their business to take action and advance accessibility within their companies or organizations and for the people they serve,” said Sue Ruzenski, CEO of Helen Keller Services. “We continue to make progress towards greater accessibility and inclusivity for and among the communities we work with, but there is still a great deal more of work to be done.”

If you would like to get involved with this organization, there are various opportunities to do so! HKS is actively hiring for multiple positions and they’re also accepting new volunteers. Your HKS experience, whether through a paid or volunteer position, will no doubt be rewarding on a personal level. As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to make meaningful connections with blind or DeafBlind individuals, helping to enhance their quality of life and to expand their social circles. Additionally, you can donate to HKS anytime on their website.

To learn more about Helen Keller Services, including their employment, volunteer and donation opportunities, please visit their website, www.helenkeller.org.

www.helenkeller.org

National Recognition

Commack High School is proud to announce that students Juliette Amram and Emma Van Cott were honored for their academic achievements by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Juliette and Emma are two of 16,000 nationwide National Merit Semifinalists. These students represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and we are proud that these

two academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28million that will be offered next spring.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

This is the corporation’s 68th annual program. The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Congratulations to Juliette and Emma for being recognized for this honor and achievement - the Commack School District is proud of our talented students!

Meals On

are currently experiencing a steep reduction in the availability of our dear volunteer drivers. Our Home Delivered

Program relies heavily on our

drivers and their ability to deliver a hot meal to each of our clients.

Nutrition Program

serves 105

homebound seniors throughout the community. Without our volunteers’ help and generosity of time, these seniors may not receive a meal and will endure continued social isolation. Volunteers may give an hour or two of their time to help us deliver these meals. Options for daily, weekly

St. Thomas Of Canterbury Pumpkin Sales

St. Thomas Of Canterbury, Smithtown will be hosting A GIANT PUMPKIN PATCH through Monday, October 31, 2022. There are many unique and regular pumpkins, all

sizes. Hours are: Mon.-Fri.: 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Sat. 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sun. 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Pick the best for carving, decorating or

painting. Have fun! Address: 29 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown. Please visit website: https://www. stthomasofcanterbury.net. Tel: (631) 265-4520.

and substitute drivers are available to any who choose to help.

If you have any questions, concerns or require more information, please do

not hesitate to contact the Senior Citizens Department at 631-360-7616.

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Saving Energy Today

A Brighter Future Tomorrow

energy conservation initiatives were highlighted in a recent edition of Retrofit magazine! The District’s second Energy Performance Contract (EPC) included upgrades and installations of lighting controls that turn off lights when rooms are unoccupied, new roofing, building weatherization, digital centralized temperature control systems, cogeneration plants to recapture heat waste, and rooftop and carport solar panels, providing electrical generation of about 2.5 megawatts.

“This EPC project reduced the District’s carbon footprint and energy costs, and provides a cleaner and energy-efficient learning environment,” stated Dr. Jordan Cox, Superintendent. He explained, “An EPC is a New York State funded and approved project that guarantees energy savings for the District, at no cost to the taxpayer or out-of-pocket expenses for the schools. Everyone wins!”

Use this link to read the full story: http://epro2.com/septemberoctober-2022?m=44069&i=759045&p=46&pp=1&ver=html5

Breast Cancer Hotline Volunteers Sought 4-Session Training In November

Breast cancer survivors can help others coping with breast cancer by becoming volunteers with the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program. The four-day training program will take place on consecutive Tuesdays in November (November 1, 8, 15 and 22) from 10 am to 1 pm on zoom. Attendance at all four sessions is necessary.

This in-depth training includes presentations by nurse navigators and social workers on basic breast cancer education, active listening skills, and tips on engaging the community.

Those who complete the training will have opportunities to provide support and guidance on the hotline; attend community outreach events to support underserved communities; deliver educational presentations and speaking engagements; assist with local and national press and media; and help with fundraising efforts.

To arrange an interview, contact Nina Foley, Hotline and Volunteer Coordinator, at 516-877-4315; nfoley@adelphi.edu.

To reach the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline, call 800-877-8077. You are not alone.

SAVING ENERGY TODAY FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE TOMORROW - Pictured depicts the solar array on Commack High School. Photo courtesy of the Commack School District