UNDERAGE DRINKING…PLEASE SHARE:

Suffolk Legislature, and Police Department turn off the tap on underage drinking parties. What every PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW:

Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci recently joined the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington for the unveiling of “Master of Illusion: the Magical Art of Gary Erbe.” Erbe, a self-taught oil painter from Union City, New Jersey, uses illusion to portray objects belonging to our shared American experience.

(L-R) Tameika Grant and Lupinacci at the Heckscher Museum of Art

“Through my work as an educator, a former South Huntington School Board member and the Ranking Member on the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, I know the importance of keeping the arts engaging for all students,” Lupinacci said. “It is critical for our students to express themselves through the arts, and the magical works of Mr. Erbe’s can only come as results of contemporary norms and outside the box thinking.

“I would also like to recognize Dr. Michael Schantz, Ms. Deborah Johnson and all of the dedicated workers at the Heckscher Museum of Art for being such a valuable resource to our local students and scholars of the arts. The remarkable success that the Heckscher Museum of Art has had through the years, with over 7,000 students from Nassau and Suffolk enrolled in its programs, is a testament to its bright future as a continued staple in our community,” Lupinacci said.

The Harborfields Central School District is pleased to congratulate Harborfields High School student-athletes Ryan Scanlon and Ella Simkins for receiving the prestigious Dellecave Award at a special breakfast awards ceremony on June 12.

Each year, the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame presents the top male and female high school student-athletes in Suffolk County with the Dellecave Award. The award is given in memory of Guy Dellecave, a former guidance counselor, teacher and coach in the Connetquot Central School District and one of the founders of the Suffolk County Hall of Fame. Nominees are chosen on the basis of outstanding athletic ability as well as having displayed exceptional character and integrity. In addition to this honor, each award recipient is provided with a $1,000 scholarship.

The two gifted athletes left their mark in the Harborfields athletics program with their exceptional performances. Scanlon was a devoted member of the cross-country and track and field teams for his four years of high school. He will attend Boston College in the fall where he will continue practicing his sport. Simkins was a member of several sports teams. Most notably, she excelled on the girls lacrosse team at the varsity level for the past four seasons. In the fall, she will attend Syracuse University on an athletic scholarship for girls lacrosse.

Photo Caption: Harborfields High School student-athletes Ryan Scanlon and Ella Simkins received the Dellecave Award presented by the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame.

Photo courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District

During its business meeting, the Harborfields Central School District Board of Education appointed Harborfields High School Assistant Principal Timothy Russo as principal of Harborfields High School. Russo will be replacing Dr. Rory Manning who will be filling the position of Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Human Resources. They will respectively assume their new roles Aug. 1, 2016.

Familiar to the district, Russo has been part of the Harborfields faculty for the past 14 years. He began working as a Harborfields High School social studies teacher then became dean in the student management office. In July 2015, he assumed the position of assistant principal at Harborfields High School. In years past, he has coached Harborfields boys and girls cross-country, winter and spring track, boys lacrosse and boys basketball.

Russo received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Marist College and his Master of Arts in secondary education from Dowling College. In 2009, Russo earned his advanced certification in educational leadership from Long Island University Post.

“I am thrilled to have been chosen as the successful candidate for the position,” said Russo. “I have been so fortunate to have worked with so many incredible students and their families over the years. I have had a chance to learn so much from my colleagues on the faculty, staff and administrative team. I am very excited to take this huge step professionally and I feel very fortunate to get a chance to continue to work within this incredible district.”

Photo Caption: The Harborfields Central School District Board of Education appointed Timothy Russo to the position of principal at Harborfields High School.

Photo courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District

The sun was shining and so were the radiant smiles of members of the Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Class of 2016 as they participated in the school’s 54th commencement ceremony on June 24, 2016. Members of the board of education, administrators, family, friends, faculty and invited guests greeted the soon-to-be graduates with an outpour of cheers as they made their way onto the football field to celebrate their milestone achievement.

Prior to the conferring of the diplomas, students listened to a variety of inspirational and encouraging messages imparted by High School Interim Principal Dr. James Ruck, Board of Education President Andrew L. Kaplan and select members of the Class of 2016. Musical highlights throughout the celebration included special performances by the high school band as well as members of the concert and mixed choruses, who sang “In My Life” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Valedictorian Amanda DiMartini reminisced on the transitions she endured during her educational journey and how she embraced new challenges. “In my experience, the best way to embrace change is to set new goals,” she said. “It is important to have big dreams and to allow ourselves to chase after them rather than limiting ourselves.”

Class of 2016 salutatorian Zachary Wollman advised his fellow classmates to make the most of the opportunities in college and what the world has to offer. “Enroll in courses that seem interesting, play sports you are not skilled at but still enjoy anyway, make friends with people who are completely unique from anyone you have ever met, try activities completely outlandish and unfamiliar to you, be out going and open minded and you will uncover who you are through the things you come to love,” he said. “It is of utmost importance that we discover our passions and never cease in our pursuit of them.”

In his final address as Superintendent of Schools, Peter Scordo afforded congratulatory remarks to the Class of 2016. “I want to congratulate you on all your accomplishments in the classroom, on the playing field, on the stage and throughout the community,” he said. “You are an exceptional class and we look forward to hearing great things about you in the future.” In lieu of his retirement from the district, Dr. Ruck presented the first diploma to Mr. Scordo on behalf of the entire district for his years of commitment to the community and children of Elwood.

Following the distribution of diplomas to the Class of 2016, the senior class officers led the group in turning their tassels and ceremonially tossed their caps into the air. Following the recessional march, they reunited with their loved ones as official alumni of the Elwood Union Free School District.

Photos:

HS 1: Members of the Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Class of 2016.

HS 2: Members of the Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Class of 2016 held their decorated graduation caps.

HS 3: Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Class of 2016 received their diplomas.

HS 4: Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Class of 2016 cap toss.

HS 5: Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Class of 2016 valedictorian Amanda DiMartini (right) and salutatorian Zachary Wollman (left).

Photo courtesy of the Elwood Union Free School District

Family, friends, faculty, members of the board of education, administration, staff and other special guests from the community shared an important day in the lives of Harborfields High School’s Class of 2016 at the school’s 57th annual commencement exercises on June 25.
Leading up to the final moment in the graduation ceremony, students heard speeches filled with hopes, dreams and sage advice delivered by HHS Principal Dr. Rory Manning, Superintendent of Schools Diana Todaro, valedictorian Sabrina Qi, senior class president and salutatorian Trevor Jones and featured speaker HHS Assistant Principal Tim Russo.

Board of Education member Nicholas P. Giuliano made a special address to congratulate the Class of 2016 as well as to honor Superintendent of Schools Diana Todaro, since this was the last graduation she would be part of as superintendent, in lieu of her retirement. In her greeting, Todaro expressed her delight in the success each of the members of the Class of 2016 achieved during their time in the Harborfields school system. Additionally, she conferred the first diploma to Dr. Manning, who will be transitioning to the role of assistant superintendent for administration and human resources, effective Aug. 1.

In his final speech as high school principal, Dr. Manning shared with students highlights from his personal life journey, through which he told by “connecting the dots,” an analogy coined by Steve Jobs. “Have faith that your dots will connect in ways that you can’t image,” he said. As a reminder of the story, Dr. Manning placed a packet of mints under each graduate’s chair with the message. The mints represented the “dots” or events that they have already experienced in their lives.

To conclude her valedictorian speech, Qi advised her fellow graduates, “Miss the person you were yesterday, celebrate who you are now, and look with curiosity and excitement toward the version of yourself that you’ll be tomorrow.”

Upon receiving their diplomas, the newly conferred Harborfields graduates turned their tassels and cheerfully tossed their caps in the air. As the high school band performed the recessional, the graduates took their first steps as official Harborfields alumni. Congratulations to the Class of 2016.

Photo:

HS1: Members of the Harborfields High School Class of 2016.

HS2: Harborfields High School Class of 2016 valedictorian Sabrina Qi and salutatorian Trevor Jones.

HS3-4: Members of the Harborfields High School Class of 2016 received their diplomas.

Photos courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District

At the July 5, 2016 reorganization meeting of the Harborfields Central School District’s Board of Education, Colleen Wolcott was sworn into the position as the board’s newest trustee. In addition, Hansen Lee took the oath of office for his three-year term as trustee after being re-elected last May.

Following the administration of the oaths of office, the board of education unanimously elected Nicholas Guiliano to the role of president and David Steinberg to the position of vice president for the 2016-17 school year.

Photo : Harborfields District Clerk Sharon Whelan (right) administered the oath of office to new board of education trustee Colleen Wolcott (left).

Photo courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District

In light of the tragic attack on law enforcement in Baton Rouge earlier today, Police Commissioner Timothy D. Sini and Chief of Department Stuart Cameron express their sincere condolences to the families and coworkers of those who were injured and killed in this morning’s unprovoked attack.  Our thoughts and prayers are with these officers and their departments as they deal with this horrific event.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has authorized flags to fly at half-staff to honor those who gave their lives protecting the public from harm.

Additional counter measures were immediately implemented after this attack to ensure the safety of our police officers and the citizens of Suffolk County.  The Suffolk County Police Department is in close contact with our law enforcement partners, including the FBI, receiving intelligence and updates on this attack.  Modifications to our posture will be implemented as necessary.

The public is asked to be vigilant and aware.  Any suspicious activity should be immediately reported to law enforcement.

SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING

Trackchair fundraising makes a difference

Harborfields’ Oldfield Middle School received a proclamation from the Town of Huntington on July 12 in recognition of fundraising efforts that supported the purchase of a Trackchair for disabled veteran Julia Torres. Principal Joanne Giordano was joined by several students to accept the honor at a town board meeting held at Town Hall.

Throughout the 2015-16 school year, students, faculty and PTA members organized more than 16 fundraising initiatives in hopes of garnering $15,000 in proceeds. They actually surpassed their goal, gathering $16,000 that bought a “Zoom” Trackchair through the Independence Fund.

The Trackchair is a motorized device that enhances mobility. The Independence Fund is a nonprofit organization that supports injured and wounded veterans by providing the tools they need to achieve their independence and freedom. Oldfield Middle School presented the chair to a grateful Ms. Torres during a special gathering in May, during which students, staff members and administrators provided Independence Fund Executive Director Tommy Rieman with a $1600 check to cover the Trackchair expense.

Harborfields’ Oldfield Middle School received a proclamation from the Town of Huntington for efforts to assist veteran.

Students, administrators and staff members representing Oldfield Middle School were commended at a town board meeting on July 12, 2016.

Photos courtesy of Harborfields Public Schools

Sunday, July 31, in the Planetarium

Patricia Shih Family Concert: ‘Songs in the Key of Earth’Sunday, July 31, in the Planetarium   CENTERPORT, NY (July 19, 2016) – Patricia Shih is an award-winning singer-songwriter who specializes in family music filled with heart, soul  and fun. She will give her next family concert in the Vanderbilt Reichert Planetarium on Sunday, July 31, at 5:00 p.m.   Combining her music with the wonder and magic of the Vanderbilt Reichert Planetarium will make this a one-of-a-kind event. Tickets are $8.00 per person and are available on-line at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Shih and her rollicking sidekick Stephen Fricker (in photo, above right) take the audience on a rocket ship ride through space and land back on Earth. They are renowned for including the audience as guest stars, inspiring them to sing and clap along, help write a song, dance and move, and learn sign language.   Audience-participation music, projected images and video all create a magical journey under the Planetarium’s starry dome. Shih said the evening will celebrate the Earth and “the greatest idea in the universe – love – found only on this planet.” Along the way, the audience will appreciate the planet’s beauty and fragility, get to make wishes upon the first star, snuggle up with a lullaby, help to make a thunderstorm, and dance under a huge rainbow.   Patricia Shih wrote her first song at age 12 and hasn’t stopped since. Her professional career began when she was 15 and signed a recording and management contract with Unicorn Records of Washington, D.C. as half of a duo. Shih released a 45-rpm record a year later, and numerous television, radio, concert and club performances followed. Those include an international radio broadcast on the Voice of America and appearances at the legendary Cellar Door. Several years later, she began her solo career in California, notably on her own PBS special Patty Shih–Music from the Gallery. Soon after, she returned to the east coast and settled in Huntington, NY.   Shih has recorded three albums for adults and five for families and children. Her albums have brought her honors including the Gold Award from the National Association of Parenting Publications, two Parents’ Choice Awards and Creative Child Magazine’s Seal of Excellence.   MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM INFORMATION  Hours – Museum and Mansion Through September 4: Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00 – 5:00. (The Museum and Mansion are closed Monday.) Hours – Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium Through September 4: Daytime shows Tuesday-Sunday at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. Evening shows on Friday and Saturday at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00. (The Planetarium is closed Monday.) Observatory Year-round viewing of the night sky (weather permitting), Friday only, 9:00-10:00 (free with show ticket; $3.00 without show ticket) Planetarium Schedule – Summer 2016 June 27 – September 4 Friday Nights 8;00 – Long Island Skies 9:00 – Black Holes 10:00 – Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – NEW LASER SHOW! Saturday Nights 8:00 – Night Sky, Live! 9:00 – Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe 10:00 – Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – NEW LASER SHOW! Tuesday – Sunday Afternoons 12:00 – One World, One Sky 1:00 – Solar System Odyssey 2:00 – Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe 3:00 – Laser Beatles 4:00 – Night Sky, Live! (NO SHOW JULY 31) Museum Admission General museum admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students with ID and seniors (62 and older), and $3 for children 12 and under. General admission includes estate-grounds access to the Marine Museum, Memorial Wing natural-history and ethnographic-artifact galleries, Nursery Wing, Habitat Room, Egyptian mummy and Stoll Wing animal-habitat dioramas. For a mansion tour, add $5 per ticket. (A video tour of the mansion is available on request.)   Mansion Tours Guided tours of the Vanderbilt Mansion — listed on the National Register of Historic Places — are available Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00.   Planetarium Admission During the day, visitors to the Planetarium pay general museum admission ($7 for adults, $6 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older, and $3 for children 12 and under), plus $5 each for a Planetarium show. Since the museum is closed in the evening, no general museum admission is charged — visitors pay only for Planetarium show tickets: $9 for adults, $8 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older, and $7 for children 12 and under.   Vanderbilt Observatory Night-sky viewing on Friday (weather permitting), 9:00-10:00 p.m. Observation is free to visitors with a planetarium show ticket, $3.00 for those without a show ticket.   Location and Website The Vanderbilt Museum is located at 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY. Directions and updated details on programs and events are available at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. For information, call 631-854-5579.   The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum — a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural history museum, planetarium and park — is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Long Island and beyond. This mission is achieved through the thoughtful preservation, interpretation and enhancement of the Eagle’s Nest estate as an informal educational facility. Many exhibition and program themes focus upon Long Island’s Gold Coast Era. Programs also concentrate on William K. Vanderbilt II’s desire that his marine, natural history and ethnographic collections promote appreciation and understanding of the marvelous diversity of life, other cultures, and scientific knowledge. Planetarium programming, more specifically, focuses on scientific knowledge and seeks to capture Mr. Vanderbilt’s sense of adventure and exploration through state-of-the-art entertainment.   ###

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who burglarized a Centerport restaurant earlier this year.

A man broke into The Mill Pond Restaurant, located at 437 East Main St., on March 3 between 1:30 a.m. and 2:05 a.m. A dozen bottles of liquor, valued at approximately $3,000, were stolen.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Due to the heavy rainfall on Friday, July 29, 2016, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services has issued an advisory against bathing at 62 beaches. The advisory is based on the potential that the presence of bacteria at levels that exceed New York State standards will impact these areas.

The beaches covered by the advisory are located in areas that are heavily influenced by stormwater runoff from the surrounding watersheds and/or adjacent tributaries, and because of their location in an enclosed embayment, experience limited tidal flushing.

The department recommends that bathing and other water contact be suspended in affected areas until the waters have been flushed by two successive tidal cycles (at least a 24 hour period) after the cessation of rainfall.  This advisory will be lifted Saturday, June 30, 2016, at 5 p.m., unless sampling conducted by the department finds elevated bacterial numbers persisting beyond the 24-hour period.

Benjamin Beach in Bay Shore and Lake Ronkonkoma Beach in Islip will remain closed until further notice.

For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at 852-5822, contact the Department’s Office of Ecology at 852-5760 during normal business hours, or visit Suffolk County Department of Health Services beach monitoring webpage.

Beaches Included in Bathing Advisory

Huntington Advisory:

James L. Tomarken, MD, MSW, MPH, MBA,Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, says today that the following beaches are closed to bathing due to the finding of bacterial levels in excess of acceptable criteria:

• Amityville Village Beach in Amityville,
• Tanner Park Beach in Copiague,
• Venetian Shores Beach in Lindenhurst,
• Copiague Harbor (Great South Bay) POA in Copiague,
• Gold Star Battalion Park Beach in Huntington,
• Nathan Hale Beach Club in Huntington Bay, and
• Peconic Dunes County Park (Lake) in Southold.

Note: Immersion in bacteria-contaminated water can result in gastrointestinal illness, as well as infections of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat.

For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at 631-852-5822, contact the Department’s Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 during normal business hours, or visit the website at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health.    http://gis2.suffolkcountyny.gov/bathingbeaches/

Sunday, August 21, 2016 on the Great Lawn

At Vanderbilt Planetarium, You Can View the Sun Safely with New Solar Telescope

Visitors to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s Reichert Planetarium can now view the Sun through a new solar telescope.
The Planetarium has just installed a Lunt Solar Systems hydrogen-alpha solar telescope in the Observatory – for daytime observation of the Sun.
Dave Bush, the Planetarium’s technical and production coordinator, and an astronomy educator, said the solar telescope is mounted “piggy back” onto the 16-inch Meade reflecting telescope in order to track the Sun across the sky.

(Above right: Dave Bush keeps an eye on the Sun. Vanderbilt Museum photo.)

“The refractor-style telescope with its 80-milimeter optical aperture gives us sharp detail and contrast of features on the surface and the limb, or edge, of the Sun,” he said. “This telescope allows us to see prominences, flares, super granulation, filaments, and active regions.”

Bush explained that hydrogen-alpha light is emitted by the hydrogen atoms that make up the majority of the Sun’s composition. When electrons within the hydrogen atoms absorb energy and rise to a higher energy level then fall back to their original orbits, light is emitted at a particular wavelength that can be seen with the specialized telescope.”

“Typically, telescopic views of objects in outer space rarely change before our eyes in real-time,” Bush said. “However, on a day when the Sun is particularly active we can watch features on the Sun evolve before our eyes while looking through an H-alpha telescope!
“The sun is dynamic and alive. It changes daily, and rotates.”
Bush explained the solar features in the picture at Below, shot by photographer Alan Friedman.:

• The wisps of white curling off the upper left curve of the Sun are prominences, or arcs of gas that erupt from the surface. Sometimes the loops extend thousands of miles into space.
• The lighter spots and streaks are called plages, the French word for beaches, and are, appropriately hot spots or bright emissions caused by emerging flux regions associated with the magnetic field of the Sun.
• The tiny hair-like lines that extend from the surface are spicules. These are jets of hot gas that can rise up to 6,000 miles high. Most last only 15 minutes before morphing into new spicules.
• The dark spots are sun spots, which are cooler areas of the surface caused by the suppression of convection cells due to the Sun’s strong magnetic field.

The Sun is 93 million miles from Earth, and its size is almost beyond human comprehension – 1.3 million Earths could fit inside the Sun.
The solar telescope is available for viewing on a limited schedule, on clear days. (The Sun is not observable on cloudy or rainy days.)

MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM INFORMATIONHours – Museum and Mansion
Through September 4: Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00 – 5:00. (The Museum and Mansion are closed Monday.)Hours – Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium
Through September 4: Daytime shows Tuesday-Sunday at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. Evening shows on Friday and Saturday at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00. (The Planetarium is closed Monday.)Observatory
Year-round viewing of the night sky (weather permitting), Friday only, 9:00-10:00 (free with show ticket; $3.00 without show ticket)
Planetarium Schedule – Summer 2016
June 27 – September 4
Friday Nights
8;00 – Long Island Skies
9:00 – Black Holes
10:00 – Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – NEW LASER SHOW!
Saturday Nights
8:00 – Night Sky, Live!
9:00 – Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe
10:00 – Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – NEW LASER SHOW!
Tuesday – Sunday Afternoons
12:00 – One World, One Sky
1:00 – Solar System Odyssey
2:00 – Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe
3:00 – Night Sky Live!
4:00 – Laser Beatles – NEW LASER SHOW!
Museum Admission
General museum admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students with ID and seniors (62 and older), and $3 for children 12 and under. General admission includes estate-grounds access to the Marine Museum, Memorial Wing natural-history and ethnographic-artifact galleries, Nursery Wing, Habitat Room, Egyptian mummy and Stoll Wing animal-habitat dioramas. For a mansion tour, add $5 per ticket. (A video tour of the mansion is available on request.)

Mansion Tours
Guided tours of the Vanderbilt Mansion — listed on the National Register of Historic Places — are available Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00.

Planetarium Admission
During the day, visitors to the Planetarium pay general museum admission ($7 for adults, $6 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older, and $3 for children 12 and under), plus $5 each for a Planetarium show. Since the museum is closed in the evening, no general museum admission is charged — visitors pay only for Planetarium show tickets: $9 for adults, $8 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older, and $7 for children 12 and under.

Vanderbilt Observatory
Night-sky viewing on Friday (weather permitting), 9:00-10:00 p.m. Observation is free to visitors with a planetarium show ticket, $3.00 for those without a show ticket.

Location and Website
The Vanderbilt Museum is located at 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY. Directions and updated details on programs and events are available at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. For information, call 631-854-5579.

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum — a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural history museum, planetarium and park — is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Long Island and beyond. This mission is achieved through the thoughtful preservation, interpretation and enhancement of the Eagle’s Nest estate as an informal educational facility. Many exhibition and program themes focus upon Long Island’s Gold Coast Era. Programs also concentrate on William K. Vanderbilt II’s desire that his marine, natural history and ethnographic collections promote appreciation and understanding of the marvelous diversity of life, other cultures, and scientific knowledge. Planetarium programming, more specifically, focuses on scientific knowledge and seeks to capture Mr. Vanderbilt’s sense of adventure and exploration through state-of-the-art entertainment.

Andrew Raia

Assemblyman Andrew Raia (R,C,I-East Northport) joined over 30 federal, state and local officials to sign a letter from Gov. Andrew Cuomo informing President Obama that New York will take legal action against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if the planned dumping of dredged materials from Connecticut is approved. The EPA has issued a rule that would allow potentially hazardous materials to be dumped in the Long Island Sound and compromise the health and safety of Long Island’s environment, as well as its residents.

“It’s unfathomable to me that the EPA, an agency that is supposed to be protecting and preserving our environment, would allow such an irresponsible plan as this,” said Raia. “What does it say about the EPA and its view of Long Island that it would take waste and dangerous material from another state and dump it into one of our most treasured and scenic waterways? This plan is inexcusable, and there will be consequences if a new one is not formulated.”

Raia has been a major proponent of environmental protection and New York’s agenda to end open water dumping on Long Island. The plan being pushed by the EPA to make the Long Island Sound a new designated disposal site would impede upon the extensive progress that has been made to protect Long Island’s environment.

“I have been fighting for the safety and protection of Long Island’s environment for as long as I have been an elected official,” said Raia. “This new plan by the EPA is a betrayal of trust and undermines the success we’ve experienced from the work that went into protecting our environment for future generations to enjoy. I will not stand by and allow such irresponsible actions to harm Long Island or its residents. By signing the governor’s letter, I am making sure the voices of Long Island residents are heard and the EPA will never see fit to use the Long Island Sound as a dumping ground again.”

Great-Great Granddaughter of William K. Vanderbilt II

William K. Vanderbilt II’s (1878-1944) great-great granddaughter, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, has been named a legacy trustee by the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum Board of Trustees.

Costin is a seventh-generation descendant of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the shipping and railroad entrepreneur who amassed one of the greatest fortunes of the nineteenth century.

(Above: Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, during a CD-cover photo shoot. Photo by Vital Agibalow for Hensel.)

Above: Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin (center) at the Vanderbilt’s fifth annual benefit Clam Bake in July. From left: executive director Lance Reinheimer, trustee Michelle Gegwich, board president Ronald Beattie, and trustees Kevin Peterman, Steve Gittelman, Jack DeMasi, Anthony Guarneschelli and Elizabeth Cambria. Photo by Doreen Lumbra.
“I am so honored to be appointed to the board of the Vanderbilt Museum,” Costin said. “The property is magnificent and I am so happy we are able to share this legacy with future generations.”

“The Museum is honored that Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, who is named after Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl (1903-2011), daughter of William K. Vanderbilt II, will serve on the Board of Trustees,” said Ronald A. Beattie, president of the Board.

“Mr. Vanderbilt’s legacy lives through his estate and museum, and now through Consuelo, his living heir.”

A singer and songwriter, Costin is an international pop star. She has performed around the world and shared the stage with such notable artists as Mya, Tweet, Vanessa Carlton and the late Joe Cocker.

In July 2016, she was a special guest at the Museum’s annual Clam Bake, a benefit for Vanderbilt education programs. As a surprise, she entertained nearly 200 diners by singing the classic George Gershwin song “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess.

Over the past few years, Costin’s music was featured on the Billboard Dance Charts for an accumulated 49 weeks. Costin has been featured on some of the most popular television shows in Germany. In 2014, a film crew from the prominent German news channel NTV (part of the CNN network) chronicled her life in New York City for several weeks, and featured her in a six-part series for its show “Premium Lounge.”

In April 2015, she filmed a music video at the Vanderbilt Mansion. The story explored an arranged marriage, Costin said, and looked at the societal pressures and family positioning that had plagued Vanderbilt women of the past, dating back to Consuelo Vanderbilt’s marriage to the Duke of Marlborough at the end of the nineteenth century.

In the video, Costin wore the engagement ring of her great-grandmother, Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl, who died in 2011 at the age of 107. Mrs. Earl gave Costin the ring as a gift, and it served as inspiration for her jewelry line, Homage, which launched in 2015.

MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM INFORMATION

Hours – Museum and Mansion
Through September 4: Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00 – 5:00. (The Museum and Mansion are closed Monday.)

Hours – Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium
Through September 4: Daytime shows Tuesday-Sunday at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. Evening shows on Friday and Saturday at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00. (The Planetarium is closed Monday.)

Observatory
Year-round viewing of the night sky (weather permitting), Friday only, 9:00-10:00 (free with show ticket; $3.00 without show ticket)

Planetarium Schedule – Summer 2016
June 27 – September 4

Friday Nights
8;00 – Long Island Skies
9:00 – Black Holes
10:00 – Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – NEW LASER SHOW!

Saturday Nights
8:00 – Night Sky, Live!
9:00 – Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe
10:00 – Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – NEW LASER SHOW!

Tuesday – Sunday Afternoons
12:00 – One World, One Sky
1:00 – Solar System Odyssey
2:00 – Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe
3:00 – Night Sky Live!
4:00 – Laser Beatles – NEW LASER SHOW!

Museum Admission
General museum admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students with ID and seniors (62 and older), and $3 for children 12 and under. General admission includes estate-grounds access to the Marine Museum, Memorial Wing natural-history and ethnographic-artifact galleries, Nursery Wing, Habitat Room, Egyptian mummy and Stoll Wing animal-habitat dioramas. For a mansion tour, add $5 per ticket. (A video tour of the mansion is available on request.)

Mansion Tours
Guided tours of the Vanderbilt Mansion — listed on the National Register of Historic Places — are available Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00.

Planetarium Admission
During the day, visitors to the Planetarium pay general museum admission ($7 for adults, $6 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older, and $3 for children 12 and under), plus $5 each for a Planetarium show. Since the museum is closed in the evening, no general museum admission is charged — visitors pay only for Planetarium show tickets: $9 for adults, $8 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older, and $7 for children 12 and under.

Vanderbilt Observatory
Night-sky viewing on Friday (weather permitting), 9:00-10:00 p.m. Observation is free to visitors with a planetarium show ticket, $3.00 for those without a show ticket.

Location and Website
The Vanderbilt Museum is located at 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY. Directions and updated details on programs and events are available at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. For information, call 631-854-5579.

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum — a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural history museum, planetarium and park — is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Long Island and beyond. This mission is achieved through the thoughtful preservation, interpretation and enhancement of the Eagle’s Nest estate as an informal educational facility. Many exhibition and program themes focus upon Long Island’s Gold Coast Era. Programs also concentrate on William K. Vanderbilt II’s desire that his marine, natural history and ethnographic collections promote appreciation and understanding of the marvelous diversity of life, other cultures, and scientific knowledge. Planetarium programming, more specifically, focuses on scientific knowledge and seeks to capture Mr. Vanderbilt’s sense of adventure and exploration through state-of-the-art entertainment.

Officials remind residents to check schedules to be sure they are up to date on their immunizations

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Commissioner of Health Services Dr. James Tomarken wish to inform parents that all children entering 7th and 12th grade in New York State this fall must have the meningococcal vaccine by September 1, 2016. Without it, they can’t start school.

While the meningococcal vaccine is not a new immunization—the vaccine has been has been recommended for a decade and many parents have already chosen to immunize their children– this year is the first year it vaccine will be required for school entry.

“Immunizations are among the safest and most cost-effective ways to prevent disease,” said Executive Bellone. “They not only protect vaccinated individuals but also help protect entire communities, which is why we want everyone who is not up to date on their immunizations to obtain them as soon as possible, especially the children who need the meningococcal vaccine.”

Teens and young adults are at greater risk for meningococcal disease, which causes bacterial meningitis and other serious diseases. It comes on quickly and without warning with symptoms that are similar to the flu. Every case of this disease can result in death or long-term disability.

“Over the years, vaccines have eradicated smallpox, eliminated poliovirus in the United States and significantly reduced the number of reported cases of measles diphtheria, and rubella,” said Dr. Tomarken. “But not everyone is up to date on their immunizations, for example, HPV vaccine, which can reduce risk for cancer. Immunization schedules change periodically, so we ask that everyone—adults, pregnant women, and parents of older children– to speak with their healthcare providers to find out what immunizations are recommended for them.

To take the Adolescent and Adult Vaccine Quiz, visit: http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched/

To view easy-to-read schedules for all ages, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html

Individuals who are uninsured, underinsured don’t have a primary healthcare provider are advised to contact  the Suffolk County Shots for Tots program, also known as the Immunization Action Plan (IAP). Immunizations are available to children on specific IAP dates. Learn more at http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/HealthServices/PatientCare/ImmunizationActionProgram/tabid/1277/modId/2597/key/EventDetail/start/635731542000000000/eventid/1250/Default.aspx

The Jaguar Drivers Club of Long Island and the MG Car Club-Long Island Centre will hold their annual Concours d’Elegance and All-Marque Concours Sanitaire, a show of classic automobiles, at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum on Sunday, September 11,2016 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Rain date: September 18, 2016.)

(Above: Vintage Jaguars and MGs in 2015 Concours d’Elegance at Vanderbilt Mansion. Photo by George Stephani.)

More than 100 cars will be on display on the Vanderbilt Estate grounds overlooking scenic Northport Bay. Included will be vintage and new Jaguar and MG models and a wide range of international and domestic sports cars and sedans.

TheVanderbilt Estate, Mansion and Museum are located at 180 Little Neck Road in Centerport, N.Y.

Visitors pay only the museum’s general-admission fee (adults $7, students with ID and seniors 62 and older $6, children 12 and under $3) – there is no additional charge for car show. Museum members enter the show free.

Proceeds from a raffle will benefit AMVETS, one of the nation’s leading veterans service organizations, with more than 250,000 members.

The AMVETS mission is to enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American veterans.

SmokaBurger’s of East Northport will be selling burgers, hot dogs, sausage and peppers, and sandwiches. For information, contact Mike Carroll at 516-607-6074 or macsl300@aol.com.

In the Concours portion, Jaguars in the Championship, Driven and Special Division classes are judged under Jaguar Club of North America Concours rules, which emphasize excellence of appearance. The Concours Sanitaire portion is open to vehicles of all years, makes, models and countries of origin. Cars are judged solely on appearance, cleanliness and general condition. (Originality is not judged.)
* * * *

MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM INFORMATION

Hours – Museum and Mansion
Through September 4: Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00 – 5:00. (The Museum and Mansion are closed Monday.)

Hours – Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium
Through September 4: Daytime shows Tuesday-Sunday at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. Evening shows on Friday and Saturday at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00. (The Planetarium is closed Monday.)

Observatory
Year-round viewing of the night sky (weather permitting), Friday only, 9:00-10:00 (free with show ticket; $3.00 without show ticket)

Planetarium Schedule – Summer 2016
June 27 – September 4

Friday Nights
8;00 – Long Island Skies
9:00 – Black Holes
10:00 – Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – NEW LASER SHOW!

Saturday Nights
8:00 – Night Sky, Live!
9:00 – Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe
10:00 – Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon – NEW LASER SHOW!

Tuesday – Sunday Afternoons
12:00 – One World, One Sky
1:00 – Solar System Odyssey
2:00 – Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe
3:00 – Night Sky Live!
4:00 – Laser Beatles – NEW LASER SHOW!

Museum Admission
General museum admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students with ID and seniors (62 and older), and $3 for children 12 and under. General admission includes estate-grounds access to the Marine Museum, Memorial Wing natural-history and ethnographic-artifact galleries, Nursery Wing, Habitat Room, Egyptian mummy and Stoll Wing animal-habitat dioramas. For a mansion tour, add $5 per ticket. (A video tour of the mansion is available on request.)

Mansion Tours
Guided tours of the Vanderbilt Mansion — listed on the National Register of Historic Places — are available Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00.

Planetarium Admission
During the day, visitors to the Planetarium pay general museum admission ($7 for adults, $6 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older, and $3 for children 12 and under), plus $5 each for a Planetarium show. Since the museum is closed in the evening, no general museum admission is charged — visitors pay only for Planetarium show tickets: $9 for adults, $8 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older, and $7 for children 12 and under.

Vanderbilt Observatory
Night-sky viewing on Friday (weather permitting), 9:00-10:00 p.m. Observation is free to visitors with a planetarium show ticket, $3.00 for those without a show ticket.

Location and Website
The Vanderbilt Museum is located at 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY. Directions and updated details on programs and events are available at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org. For information, call 631-854-5579.
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum — a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural history museum, planetarium and park — is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Long Island and beyond. This mission is achieved through the thoughtful preservation, interpretation and enhancement of the Eagle’s Nest estate as an informal educational facility. Many exhibition and program themes focus upon Long Island’s Gold Coast Era. Programs also concentrate on William K. Vanderbilt II’s desire that his marine, natural history and ethnographic collections promote appreciation and understanding of the marvelous diversity of life, other cultures, and scientific knowledge. Planetarium programming, more specifically, focuses on scientific knowledge and seeks to capture Mr. Vanderbilt’s sense of adventure and exploration through state-of-the-art entertainment.