The TIMES
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Ardolino.c om LongIslan of Huntington • Northport • East Northport dHomeCo nnection.c Cold Spring Harbor • lloyd Harbor • lloyd nECK • HalESitE • HUntington bay • grEEnlawn • CEntErport • aSHaroKEn • Eaton’S nECK • Fort Salonga–wESt om 631-941-4 300 Volume 12, No. 43 February 4, 2016
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John Denver tribute at Theatre Three
Also: review of ‘the revenant,’ bnl Science bowl winners
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Heather Johnson has been at the helm of The Northport Historical Society for the past five years.
photo by alex petroski
Director says goodbye Preserving the past Huntington town Clerk works to keep town history alive
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By AlEx PETroSki
The Northport Historical Society is searching for a new director, as Heather Johnson, who has held the position for five years, is moving on to a new job with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. “Her enthusiasm for her job radiates from her and has enabled the Northport community to become much more supportive,” society board of trustees President Steven King said about Johnson in an interview Tuesday. “All of our events that involve social interaction have improved because she enjoys doing things for people, helping people, takes pride in Northport community and that’s been very helpful over the past five years to make the historical society a more successful institution in the village.” Johnson, whose last day is Feb. 11, arrived in January 2011 with nearly two decades of ex-
perience in various departments at Hofstra University. She spent time in their public relations department and in the office of international admissions, taught art history and even spent time working in their oncampus museum. Johnson also had a unique upbringing, spending years living in New York City, Jacksonville, Florida, and England while her mother pursued an opera career. She returned to Long Island in 1989 and currently lives in Smithtown. Her journey prior to landing in Northport, coupled with some of her own personal interests, made the position at the historical society a fit too perfect to pass up. “I’m a history buff,” Johnson said in an interview Tuesday. “I’ve always loved history, since I was a little kid.” She laughed and added, “There are not many little girls dirECtor continued on page a4
photo by alex petroski
Groundhog says, ‘Let there be spring!’
Holtsville Hal takes in the sun with handler Greg Drossel and Master of Ceremonies Wayne Carrington during his Groundhog Day appearance at Brookhaven Town’s Holtsville Wildlife and Ecology center on Feb. 2, at about 7:30 a.m.