Girl Scouts of Suffolk County’s Holiday Light Show is back for 2015!

Now in its 12th dazzling year, visitors can drive a mile-long trail filled with beautiful holiday vignettes and displays in the picturesque woodlands of Camp Edey in Bayport.

In keeping with its ticketing tradition, all tickets must be purchased in advance online at holidaylightshow.org. Choose your date and time to visit. Tickets will NOT be sold at the entrance of the show.

The magic runs from December 11 through December 23; daily from 5 to 9 pm. Cost is $20 per car. Purchase tickets by December 10 and save on the service fee. For more information, visit holidaylightshow.org, e-mail lightshow@gssc.us, or call (631) 543-6622.

“The Holiday Light Show is the perfect way for families to spend an evening together that’s filled with holiday warmth and magic,” says Yvonne Grant, President & CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.

Top Sponsors for the 12th Annual Holiday Light Show include Capital One Bank, Empire National Bank, PSEG, Stony Brook Children’s and National Grid. Top Media Sponsors include LongIsland.com and Cox Media Group 106.1BLI and WBAB.

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County is the largest youth-serving agency on Long Island. It serves more than 40,000 girls between the ages of 5 and 17, with the dedicated support of more than 9,000 volunteers. For more information about Girl Scouts, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc.us.

PHOTO CAPTIONS: The Castle of the Winterlands and the Lighthouse are among many of the stunning displays at Girl Scouts of Suffolk County’s 12th Annual Holiday Light Show.

From: Girl Scouts of Suffolk County
Contact: (631) 543-6622 ext. 226
girlscouts@gssc.us

West Sayville Christian School will be holding a fund raising Christmas Fair Holiday Boutique on Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The fair will be held in the school building and on the school grounds, located just north of Montauk Highway at 37 Rollstone Avenue in West Sayville.

Included for sale are unique Christmas gifts, high end gift items, linens, many wedding and baby items, handmade craft items, Christmas trees, wreaths and roping, delicious baked goods, homemade plates of cookies, beautiful poinsettias, and the traditional Dutch donut, “Ollie Bollen”. Also the popular children’s craft making area and children’s boutique (filled with items for family and friends on your child’s gift list) will be available.

In addition, there will be a delicious affordable lunch served, including soups, chili, chowders and refreshments. This event is open to the general public. For more information phone the school office at 589-2180 or see our website at www.wscs.org.

Story By Linda Mittiga, Sayville Schools Public Relations

“This year’s Suffolk County Championships was another exciting meet,” Sayville-Bayport Blue Point Girls Swim Coach Nicole Mendez-Chicas reported.

“The divers did extremely well on Friday, November 6th. Megan Romano placed 10th and Calista Tomasetti placed 14th in the county.”

Coach Mendez-Chicas continued. “On Saturday, (November 7th) Julia Horan, Leighann Gensch, Ally Alliegro, Tricia Shiebler, Meghan Caraher, Megan Donnelly, and Mackenzie Thomas swam their hearts out. It was very close, with coaches huddled around the score sheets after each event to see who was winning. It came down to Sayville/Bayport/Bluepoint, Half Hallow Hills (HHH), Connetquot/East Islip (CONN), and Ward Melville (WM).”

“Although the other teams had more than double the amount of swimmers than SayBayBlue, the motivation of our girls was unparalleled,” Coach Mendez-Chicas added proudly. “Every single swimmer beat her best time of the season and/or moved up in the rankings. Most of the girls swam lifetime bests! It came down to the last event, where our girls swam yet another best time and got the final points to win the meet! SayBayBlue is the 2015 Swimming & Diving Suffolk County Champion, breaking Ward Melville’s 23 year winning streak!”

Other great stats:
• Megan Donnelly made States in the 100: Butterfly and placed 4th in the County. During the course of the season, Julia Horan and Mackenzie Thomas (senior and 8th grader from Bayport, respectively) also made States in the 100 Backstroke. At Counties, they placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively. We also had 2 relays make States. Julia Horan, Meghan Caraher, Megan Donnelly, and Mackenzie Thomas not only made States in the 200 Medley Relay, they also placed 1st in the county and broke both the school record in meters and in yards. Julia Horan, Megan Donnelly, Leighann Gensch, and Mackenzie Thomas made States in the 400 Freestyle Relay, placing 4th in the county. Meghan Caraher also deserves recognition. She placed 2nd in the county in the 500 Freestyle and 4th in the County in the 100 Breaststroke, missing the State cut by less than 1 second.

With the Sayville-Bayport Blue Point Girls Swim Team swimming the event in yards at States, Coach Mendez-Chicas has great confidence her team will “crush their own record” in States.

Good luck, Girls!

Megan Donnelly, Meghan Caraher, Julia Horan*, Mackenzie Thomas*

The team who swam at counties jumping in after they announced SayBayBlue as the 2015 Suffolk County Champions!

Julia Horan*, Meghan Caraher, Coach Nicole Mendez-Chicas, Megan Donnelly & Mackenzie Thomas* (These girls placed 1st in Suffolk County in the 200 Medley Relay. They broke both the school’s records in yards and meters. The Coach is holding their meter record.)

Back row- Katie Feely, Megan Donnelly, Rachel Cody*, Coach Ray Willie, Patricia Shiebler*, Leighann Gensch, Mackenzie Thomas*, Meghan Caraher, Coach Nicole Mendez-Chicas front row- Julia Horan*, Ally Alliegro*

PALS Plein Air Limner Society is pleased to announce our 6^th Annual Art Show, Discovering Long Island at the BAFFA Gallery at Gillette House in Sayville on Saturday, December 12^th and Sunday, December 13^th.

The show features art work in watercolor, oils, pastels, acrylic and mixed media. The PALS show is open to the public and holiday shoppers. The group invites everyone to come share in their art, meet local artists and see Long Island through their eyes.

The BAFFA Gallery is located at 47 Gillette Avenue in Sayville.  Show hours both days are 1 to 4 PM.

For further information: 631-589-7343 or www.baffa.org.

Submitted by: Ann Armoza

by Linda Mittiga, Sayville Schools Public Relations

Among the three exceptionally talented Sayville music students (Jillian Brudi, Nick Burkel, and Sean McNally) who recently attended the NAFME’s National Conference and All-National Honor Ensembles Concert in Nashville, Tennessee, one of them was there to perform in a most unique way.

“Sean McNally is the first student—not only the first Sayville High School student—but the first student ever,” High School Assistant Principal Jillian Mackris explained, “invited by NAFME to make a video documentary of NAFME’s National Conference and All-National Honor Ensembles Concert.”

This outstanding invitation was due to the professional quality of the music video Sean created on behalf of Sayville music teachers for a contest launched last February by the National Association for Music Education (NAFME). Sean’s video showcased Sayville High School’s Orchestra and Chorale performing a song by country singer RaeLynn and won Sayville the privilege of having the rising star visit Sayville on her national tour in March, 2015. RaeLynn, of The Voice fame, was joined by the National Association for Music Education, Give a Note Foundation, and Radio Disney to promote the 30th Anniversary of National Music in Our Schools Month. Although many schools submitted videos, only five schools were selected nationally for this celebration. Along with the other four winners, Sayville was also awarded a grant for $1,000.

When Jane Balek, NAFME’s Assistant Executive Director, Center for Marketing and Resource Development, came to Sayville High School in the spring of 2015 to present the grant check, she was surprised that the music video the school had submitted had been created entirely by High School Junior Sean McNally. She was immensely impressed by his ability to blend his musical talent and filmmaking skills and wanted Sean to document—“through the eyes of a music student”— the All National Honor Ensemble experience at the upcoming “Nationals” in October 2015.

This honor was hard-won and well-deserved. Sean’s filmmaking and editing skills have been completely self-taught, right up until this summer, when he attended the Tisch School of the Arts Summer Filmmakers Program at NYU. He was one of fifty-six high school students chosen from all over the world to live in the dorms at NYU and participate in this intensive program where he earned six college credits.

Throughout his high school career, Sean has accrued a long list of accomplishments and extracurricular activities. To name but a few:

• • In the 2015 Fall Production of the musical Little Shop of Horrors at Sayville High School that featured four ensemble casts, Sean played the leading roles of Seymour (in the Thursday and Saturday performances) and The Plant’s Voice (in the Wednesday performance). In addition, Sean electronically engineered all the musical backing tracks for the production, created vocal tracks to help the cast practice their musical cues, and recited the prologue voiceover—a deep, resounding bass—which he had electronically altered to lower his own vocal range.
  • In August, 2015, Sean became a founding member of Actors Care Theatre, a theatrical organization to benefit charities. As technical and media director of ACT’s inaugural production of the 2005 Jerry Bock Award-winning musical Calvin Berger, Sean projected his videos and photographs onto four large screens for a theater-in-the-round effect. The proceeds of this show went to The Neighborhood House, a local charity that supports families grieving the loss of a loved one due to suicide or drug overdose.
  • For the 2014 Middle School musical The Wiz, Sean wrote a computer program that created visual effects and animations (a “live” Wizard Head talked, a digital tornado swirled, and green-screen effects projected a “live” Glinda floating in her bubble and a “live” Wizard floating in his balloon) which he operated during the productions.
  • In May of 2014, Cherry Avenue Principal Lisa Ihne wanted to create a video tribute to the retiring Derek Jeter with fellow Yankee fans among the Cherry Avenue faculty and students. Sean was asked to film, alongside a crew from Yankees YES Network, the interviews conducted by News12 sports reporter Kevin Maher. Fox 5 News Audrey Puente followed-up by interviewing the Cherry Avenue Community and Sean, while three television stations featured the project in their broadcasts, and Newsday interviewed Sean by phone and printed an article about the project.
  • In addition to his filmmaking ventures, Sean is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M National Music Honor Society, Sayville Players Honour Troupe, and actively participates in both the music program, and since seventh grade, the drama productions. Sean has been recognized for his fine character (Breakfast of Champions, President’s Gold Award for Community Service), for his three-year service as the photographer for Prom pictures at The Grange, and for his videography skills at sporting events for the Sayville High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team and the Sayville Youth Football League.

Sean’s parents Dawn and Jim are amazed by everything he has achieved thus far: “We are very proud of Sean’s generosity in using his talents to help others in the community.”

Sean’s voice teacher Amy McGrath noticed something special when the Eighth grader “wanted to become a better singer and musician” for his lead role as Benjy Stone in the Middle School musical My Favorite Year. “He was a very special young man in how he viewed the world. It’s like his brain was always ‘setting up a shot,’ approaching his musical studies as it would relate to his work as a filmmaker and as a performer.” Mrs. McGrath was most impressed by the NAFME appointment, “I do believe he is a very creative and gifted young man who has only begun to scratch the surface of what he will be doing in the future. These days it seems like everyone wants him to be filming something, whether it be theatrical productions, audition videos, or special projects. Being invited by NAFME to make a documentary at their National Convention in Nashville is almost unbelievable, and the beginning of what I’m certain will be an amazing career for Sean.”

Joining Jillian and Nick, Sean went to Nashville, Tennessee at the end of October to film the conference, culminating in the All-National Honor Ensembles Concert at the Grand Ole Opry. There will be no need to ask Sean to explain his experiences. It will all become quite clear in his video documentary, coming soon.

The Bristal Assisted Living Named “Caring Star of 2016” for Service Excellence in Assisted Living and Memory Care.

The Bristal Assisted Living at Sayville has been selected as a “Caring Star of 2016” for service excellence in assisted living and Alzheimer’s care. In ratings and reviews from residents and their family members, The Bristal at Sayville earned a 5-star consumer rating, the highest possible score, while also meeting other qualifying criteria for this national honor.

“We strive daily to provide high-quality care for our residents, and this award helps validate our delivery on that promise,” said Melanie Boyd, Executive Director of The Bristal at Sayville. “On behalf of our community staff and leadership, thank you to those who shared positive feedback about the services we offer, and thank you to Caring.com for recognizing us as a Caring Star of 2016.”

According to Caring.com, the majority of family caregivers have indicated that they turn to the Internet and consumer reviews when researching senior living communities, and have relied on these perspectives more so than in-person recommendations from geriatric professionals or medical personnel. Now entering its fifth year, the Caring Stars annual list helps consumers reliably narrow senior living options for their loved ones to the most-acclaimed communities – particularly as they gather for the holidays and discover increased or urgent senior care needs.

“Congratulations to The Bristal Assisted Living at Sayville for achieving this award after earning accolades from residents and their family members,” said Caring.com CEO and co-founder, Andy Cohen. “This important milestone speaks volumes about the positive difference The Bristal Assisted Living at Sayville is making in serving older adults, and we join with the local community in celebrating their accomplishment.”

About The Bristal Assisted Living
The Bristal Assisted Living communities also have facilities in East Meadow, East Northport, Lake Grove, Lynbrook, Massapequa, North Hills, North Woodmere, Westbury, Armonk, White Plains and Woodcliff Lake, N.J. For information on The Bristal Assisted Living Communities, please visit www.thebristal.com.

A Special Commitment to those facing Alzheimer’s
The Bristal at Sayville houses a special neighborhood called Reflections, a comprehensive memory care program that specializes in dealing with older adults who are facing early to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive disorders.

The Bristals at Sayville is staffed with experienced professionals who are trained and equipped to enhance the quality of life for these special-needs residents and their families. It provides an environment that allows individuals to maintain their dignity while allowing families to be free of the enormously draining role of primary caregiver.

About Caring.com
With three million unique visitors to its website monthly, Caring.com is a leading senior care resource for family caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. A Bankrate company headquartered in San Mateo, CA, Caring.com provides helpful caregiving content, online support groups, and a comprehensive Senior Care Directory for the United States, with nearly 100,000 consumer ratings and reviews and a toll-free senior living referral line at (800) 325-8591.

Submitted by:

Contact:          Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Howard Cannon (212) 843-8072 hcannon@rubenstein.com

Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (R,C,I-Sayville) is announcing a district-wide toy, food and coat drive that will benefit families in need throughout the 7^th Assembly District.

From today until Wednesday, December 16, Garbarino will be collecting these items at his office and a host of other collection sites.

“This holiday season, I encourage everyone to give thanks for their blessings by giving to those in need. Charity and caring for the less fortunate is a responsibility that we all share as a society,” said Garbarino. “I’m proud to host this holiday toy, food, and coat drive to benefit those less fortunate. Too many of those in our community, from our children’s classmates to families down the road, lack the resources to have an enjoyable holiday and it is essential that we do everything we can to make their lives a little easier this year.”

Garbarino encourages Long Island residents to donate any spare coats, non-perishable food items and toys until December 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the below locations in the boxes that have been wrapped with holiday paper:

Assemblyman Garbarino’s District Office
859 Montauk Hwy, Suite 1
Bayport, NY 11705

The Town of Islip Building
401 Main Street
Islip, NY 11751

County Legislator Tom Cilmi’s Office
96 East Main Street, Suite 5
East Islip, NY 11730

Senator Phil Boyle’s District Office
69 W. Main St, Suite B
Bay Shore, NY 11706

Submitted by: James Coughlin

by Pamela Fitzpatrick

It was National Mutt Day earlier this week.   This celebration actually falls on two days each year, July 31 and December 2.

Created in 2005, National Mutt Day is all about embracing, saving, and celebrating mixed breed dogs. It was found Collen Paige, a celebrity pet & family lifestyle expert and ardent animal welfare advocate. Ms. Paige also founded National Dog Day, National Cat Day, and National Puppy Day, among others.

National Mutt Day was created to be celebrated on two dates per year to raise awareness of the plight of mixed breed dogs in shelters around the nation and to educate the public about the sea of mixed breed dogs that desperately await new homes. Remember Benji? That famous movie dog was actually a mixed breed Terrier.

There are many reasons to celebrate mixed breed dogs. Mixed breeds are often healthier than their pure bred counterparts. Mutts are often the “underdog” overlooked in favor of a specific breed. Tragically, they are also the largest percentage of dogs euthanized when shelters run out of room and resources. Puppy mills churning out (often unhealthy) purebreds and breeders creating designer dogs compound the problem.

The tide is starting to turn. Mixed breed dogs are being recognized for what they can contribute, being trained to perform jobs usually reserved for purebreds: bomb/drug sniffing, guide dogs, and search and rescue.

There are millions of loving and healthy mixed breed dogs sitting in shelters, who are desperately searching for a new home. If you have room in your heart and home, please adopt a mutt!! If you can’t adopt, consider fostering, or donating time or money (or both to a local shelter or rescue group.

The goal of National Mutt Day is to save 10,000 mutts July 31 and December 2 from coast to coast! Let’s help them!

For more information, please visit nationalmuttday.com

“In every heart, there is a hole.
In every shelter, ther is love in which to fill it” Colleen Paige

If you have a mutt you love, and you would like to share their story, please email me at appawspetsitting@yahoo.com.

Story by Linda Mittiga/Photos by Timothy Butler

In a gesture symbolizing respect and compassion, Sayville athletes demonstrate a special kind of kindness.

“Too often we hear in the news about student athletes behaving badly, so it is quite a breath of fresh air to witness something truly heartwarming here at Sayville High School,” remarked Sayville Speech Teacher Angela O’Hoppe. “It is a feel-good story that leaves me smiling every time I think about when I leave the building each day.”

Since the beginning of the school year, a student with special needs has been participating in an afterschool physical activity. Along with his aide, he has been walking the track surrounding the football field before going home. “Jacob, for the entire football season, has interacted with members of the football team before, during, and after his walk around the track.” Ms. O’Hoppe continued. “Each day, Jacob instructs the boys to ‘line up!’ Immediately the squad stands shoulder-to-shoulder, with their hands on their hearts, and sings the National Anthem with Jacob. When the song is over they burst into applause and Jacob turns beet red with delight. This ritual that takes place every Monday through Thursday at our school is a shining example of our mission.”

And Ms. O’Hoppe should know. As an adviser for the Sayville Flashes Leadership Club, it has been her goal to encourage students at the high school to be confident and kind by extending compassion to others when no one is looking. “I told the boys they make me very proud to work and live here.”

(“No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.” Abraham Lincoln)

Although technically not part of the team, Jacob Feldman was an invited guest at the Suffolk County Championship Pre-Game Breakfast with the Sayville Golden Flashes on Sunday, November 22, 2015. The breakfast, hosted by the Sayville Booster Club and held at the Sayville Fire Department, has been a long-standing tradition. This year, however, Football Booster Club parent Michelle Galante thought Jacob’s presence would be a welcomed addition, especially because Jacob and the Football team had formed a bond of friendship during the daily football practices with a sing-a-long of the National Anthem. It was this companionship, born from such a kind, spontaneous gesture “when no one was looking” that not only demonstrated the fine character of the team players, but touched so many people when the word about their uplifting routine spread.

During the breakfast, Jacob was presented with a white Sayville Football sweatshirt by team Captains Liam Bailey, Nicholas Casazza, and Jack Coan. After, Jacob signaled his “teammates” to line up for the sing-a-long of The Star Spangled Banner, with Booster Club’s family members joining in song.

Following the breakfast, the team headed over to Stony Brook University for the Suffolk County Championships, and Jacob with his family joined them.

“After winning the title of SUFFOLK COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP,” Mrs. Galante explained, “our boys recognized Jacob, proudly wearing his Sayville Football Sweatshirt, in the stands. They immediately removed their helmets, faced toward Jacob and broke out in unison to sing once again The Star Spangled Banner. These boys,” Mrs. Galante added, “are amazing young men, and we are so proud of them both on and off the field.”

Jacob’s mother Alice expressed how impressed she was “by these boys, both on and off the field. Immediately after they won, they sang the National Anthem with Jacob,” adding the quote: “No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.”

After the LONG ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP game on Sunday, November 29 at Stony Brook, where the Golden Flashes set new records and won the Class III title with a score of 59-15 against Plainedge, the Champs proudly joined one last time in song with Jacob, proving they are winners where it counts the most—in their hearts.

http://www.sayvilleschools.org/district.cfm?subpage=44199

As part of a community service project, Paige Ekert, a student at Shoreham-Wading River High School, organized and donated over 60 bags of non-perishable food items to the Eastern Suffolk BOCES (ESBOCES) Sayville Academic Center (SAC) food pantry.

The food pantry was created two years ago at SAC and currently supports 23 families.

Paige has a special place in her heart for the families at ESBOCES and SAC; her aunt Patricia Richards is a special education teacher at SAC and her grandmother, now retired, worked as a data control specialist for ESBOCES.

Special Education Aide Linda O’Connor, a staff member who manages the food pantry, said, “We are very grateful to Paige for this generous contribution.”

Pictured with the 60 bags of non-perishable food are Patti Richards, Marsha Ekert, Paige Ekert, Michelle Carpenter, Trey Ekert, Jake Ekert, and Millie Ekert.

Submitted by: Fran Knoedl, Public Relations Director
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
Office of Communications
201 Sunrise Highway
Patchogue, NY 11772
631-687-3063
fknoedl@esboces.org

For well over 15 years Sayville VFW Post 433 has hosted a Holiday Party for Hospitalized Veterans at its Post on Lakeland Avenue.

This year’s party was held on December 5th and we welcomed veterans from the Northport VA Hospital, the State Veterans Home at Stony Brook and The Arbors Assisted Living Center to remind them once again, how grateful we for their service.  Post members and their families were joined by students from the Sayville High School History Club, and St. Joseph the Worker’s Confirmation class and the Sayville Country Dancers who helped us provide a spirited Holiday Celebration.

We were thrilled to have the United States Army’s 42nd Infantry Division Band join us for the entire day.  They entertained us all day with a variety musical selections and songs, encouraging many of those in attendance to join in singing many of Holiday favorites and Christmas Carols.

We send a special thanks out to Post 433 member Eric Rivera and his family for bringing Spencer, their Golden Retrieve with them as they have every year since Eric joined our Post.  Spencer is a special dog who owns a special place in the Veteran’s hearts as she visits every table, providing love and attention to everyone and, of course, appreciating their displays of affection towards her.  She demonstrates to all of us what it means to give “unconditional love” to those around her and we love having her at our functions.

Santa Claus made his annual visit to the Post, bearing gifts for our special gifts, who all became honorary members of VFW Post 433 and were given sweatshirts displaying our logo to affirm their status.

Once again Post 433 thanks everyone who made this such a special day for our fellow veterans.

Submitted by: Joan Furey, Adjutant
VFW Post 433
Sayville, NY
jfureyRVN69@hotmail.com

Friendly’s in Sayville Celebrates a New Look and Refreshed Menu with a $2 Original Burger & Fribble Combo
Guests are invited to enjoy an old fashioned $2 meal, December 17th – 24th

From Thursday, December 17th through Thursday, December 24th, Friendly’s in Sayville will offer guests a $2 original burger and 10 oz. junior Fribble combo as a way of celebrating the restaurant’s refreshed appearance and updated menu. Friendly’s on Montauk Highway, which originally opened its doors in 1975 and is owned and operated by J&B Restaurant Partners of New York, is one of the many locations to take part in the company’s ongoing initiative to reposition the brand and bring it back to its roots by recreating an iconic dining and ice cream experience. J&B Restaurant Partners of New York, who has been a Friendly’s franchisee for the past 14 years, is in the process of remodeling two of its New York restaurants, which include Sayville and Commack, to provide guests the best service and dining atmosphere.

In addition to the refurbished look and feel, the Friendly’s team is excited to reintroduce guests to an updated menu that features improvements on classics like the Fishamajig®, Friendly’s SuperMelt® Sandwiches and the Big-Two-Do®. For a limited time, Friendly’s invites guests to come into the restaurant and enjoy a $2 original burger & junior Fribble combo and make new memories that will last a lifetime.

Friendly’s
210 Montauk Highway
Sayville, NY 11782

December 17th – 24th, 2015

$2 Original Burger & Junior Fribble Combo

About Friendly’s Ice Cream, LLC
Friendly’s Ice Cream, LLC is a vertically integrated restaurant company, with an iconic brand name, serving signature sandwiches, burgers and ice cream desserts in a friendly, family environment. Together with its broad franchisee base, the company has system-wide sales of over $500 million and distribution through over 8,000 retail locations. For 80 years, Friendly’s restaurants and dedicated service teams have delighted generations of guests. For the future, Friendly’s has plans for new food and ice cream products, enhanced buildings, and new service channels. For additional information please visit www.friendlys.com. In July 2015, ABC’s ‘Made In America’ series celebrated Friendly’s 80th birthday by highlighting the brand’s Creamery in Wilbraham, Massachusetts during a broadcast of ‘World News Tonight with David Muir.’

Submitted by: Allie Gillette | Account Coordinator
Regan Communications Group
106 Union Wharf, Boston, MA 02109
o: 617.488.2891

by Linda Mittiga, Sayville Schools Public Relations

It was unanimous. Audiences loved Grease, this year’s middle school musical production in Sayville, and there is little wonder why.

Breakout performances by the eighth-, seventh-, and sixth-graders in lead roles, supported by a fine ensemble cast, delivered outstanding singing, amazing dancing, impressive acting, and entertaining comedy.
The musical Grease depicts teens in transition from the traditional values and ethics of the simpler 50s to the revolutionary 60s. New girl at Rydell High, Sandy Dumbrowski must find her niche in society, somewhere between the tricky cliques of Pink Ladies Marty, Frenchy, Jan, and Rizzo, and the awkward swagger of the T-Birds Kenieke, Sonny, Roger, Doody, and especially Danny. However, everyone, even the less-than-cool-kids, must adjust to the changes as American pop culture is about to be turned upside down.

Sayville Middle School students performed with enthusiasm. Each favorite musical number delighted by either pulling at heartstrings or tickling funny bones: Congratulations to the following cast members for their remarkable contributions on stage:

• Allison Lynn’s extraordinary singing voice, especially In Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted, and You’re the One that I Want, was a perfect match for the role of Sandy.
• Anna Crisalli delivered Rizzo’s tough, sarcastic act with stunning renditions of Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee and There are Worse Things I Could Do that gave her character heart and soul.
• Leading her Pink Ladies in the wistful and wonderful Freddy My Love, Isabella Arzt portrayed the envy of teenage sophistication and grace as Marty.
• With comic timing (Beauty School Drop Out) and quality backup singing in Freddy My Love, Angelina Salemi played a very sympathetic Frenchy, the only one of the Pink Ladies who drops out of high School for beauty school until a visit from Teen Angel sets her straight.
• Another of the Pink Ladies, Jan portrayed by Caterina Harris was sweet and funny especially in her duet with Roger in the song Mooning.
• Gabby Luthy gave audiences a Patty who was delightfully annoying as the overconfident and overbearing cheerleader with a serious crush on Danny.
• Impressive Olivia Reiss entertained audiences as Miss Lynch, the prim Head Mistress who lets loose at the High School Hop.
• Michelle Buono (Dance Captain of the ensemble) as Cha Cha danced her way into everyone’s hearts with her amazing performance in Born to Hand Jive.
• With charm and youthful appeal, Aidan Deverna, a solid performer as the number-one T-Bird Danny, gave great renditions of Summer Nights, Alone at the Drive-in Movie, and You’re the One That a I Want.
• Alex Maksimiak delivered a convincing Kenieke, the second-in-command of the “T-Birds, who earned his bragging and singing rights for his amazing Grease Lightning.
• Shaun Gibbons, in the role of wannabe ladies’ man, tough-guy Sonny, maximized his comic talents to great effect throughout the show, but his dynamic performance as Teen Angel in Beauty School Drop Out was unforgettable!
• Hunter Caiazzo offered a stirring Roger who crooned to swoon Jan, especially in his delightful performance of Mooning.
• Christ Quartuccio was amusing as the bemused T-Bird Doody who learned not only the chords to the song Those Magic Changes, but the appealing power that music plays in every generation of teen.
• Evan Powers made a favorable impression with audiences as Eugene the nerd who couldn’t impress the girls.
• The ensemble cast, comprised of nearly sixty students, offered an energetic and supportive backdrop to the lead players and boosted the vibrancy of the whole production.
• On stage on a raised platform, the musicians Joe Loschiavo, Justin Marks, Amrom Svay, Conor Riccomini, and Mike LeVolpe, led by Musical Director Fred Diekmann on piano who was also the voice of radio disk jockey, were seamless in providing the music for the performers as well as during the interludes.

Kudos go to Sayville Middle School’s Director/Choreographer Kim Dufrenoy for her tremendous efforts in marshaling the student talent for this entertaining production, along with Musical Director Fred Diekmann, Producer Ari Kramer, Set Construction-Design-Stage Crew Director Ken Vanessendelt, Sound Director Andy Giammalvo, Lighting Director Steven Hailey, Lighting Technician J.D. Verbeck, and the entire Production Staff, stage crew, high school helpers, volunteers for helping the students, tickets, refreshments, and flowers. The lyrics in the finale song We Go Together characterizes the teams involved in producing the amazing Middle School musical, and at least for Sayville, “That’s the way it should be, oh yeah.”

Christmas has always been a family time and it is filled with traditions and songs that fill us with joy at that time of the year.

Many traditions that we hold dear were products of the Nineteenth Century and became popular at the time of our Civil War. Lady’s magazines of the era brought the elegance of upper class European Christmases into American parlors and we adopted many of those etchings and celebrations into our own Christmas festivities.

Join with the 67th New York and 14th Brooklyn at the Chapel at Islip Grange on December 16, 2015 at 7:30 PM for a Civil War Christmas that will include a Christmas service, some Christmas traditions and the exploration of the beginnings of an American Christmas.

The Civil War reenactors will give you a glimpse of Christmas as it might have appeared in the winter camps of the time.

Sponsors:
The Town of Islip
67th New York Volunteer Infantry
14th Brooklyn Company H
The Friends of the Grange

Photo by Timothy Butler

Photo by Spelman Studios

A Statement from Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (R,C,I-Sayville)

“On behalf of County Legislator Tom Cilmi, Sen. Phil Boyle, and the Town of Islip, I want to say thank you to everyone who helped make our Holiday, Toy, Food and Coat Drive a huge success.

We could not have done it without the support of the people of Long Island.

“We must continue to remember that there are so many people in our schools and workplaces who rely on this drive each year to bring happiness to their families. The incredible generosity of everyone involved will ensure a joyful holiday season for so many this year.

I hope to continue this tradition for years to come.”

Assemblyman Garbarino displays the collection from his annual Holiday Toy, Food, and Coat Drive

by Linda Mittiga, Sayville Schools Public Relations

For educators, creating a climate of constructive collaboration can go a long way at addressing diversity.

As part of a Cultural Exchange program to bridge diversity on Long Island, forty Leadership Club students at Sayville High School welcomed forty Amityville students who were invited to spend a portion of their school day participating in classroom lessons and school-related activities at Sayville High School.

After the Sayville Leadership Club greeted members of The Warrior Awareness Club (aka as the WAC PAC) at the main entrance, everyone enjoyed a breakfast reception, followed by successful “ice-breaker” activities. Once the Sayville and Amityville students paired up, the Sayville students took their counterparts to classes. Later, they all reconvened for a large Thanksgiving-style feast prepared by the Leadership Club organizers that commingled students from different geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic perspectives and allowed them to unwind and share stories and experiences.

Both the WAC PAC and Leadership Club members expressed positive feedback about their day and look forward to the club’s visit to Amityville in Spring. The success of last year’s exchange and this year’s visit have encouraged Leadership Club advisors Jennifer Wittman-Cahill and Angela O’Hoppe along with The Warrior Awareness Club advisor Jason McGowan to continue on their mission of closing the cultural gaps and all it has to offer in the future between the two districts!

Story by Linda Mittiga, photos by Jim Elder

In the spirit of giving Sayville High School students wrap up the Holidays for Every Child’s Dream.

It had looked like Santa’s Workshop, but it was the Sayville High School cafeteria. The sound of paper unrolling from their cardboard cores, the snipping of scissors, the snap of adhesive tape, and the chatting voices of the students had mingled to create an dynamic atmosphere of merry purpose and preparation—wrapping presents for the 535 children who, along with 125 adults, would be attending the Every Child’s Dream Dinner event later in the week.

Many outside community organizations and groups have donated time, materials, and talents to make the Every Child’s Dream an extraordinary experience for the underprivileged, but for the past four years the venue has taken place at Sayville High School. And every year the High School community puts heart and soul into their efforts that contribute to the success of the whole.

The Student Government, under the leadership of advisers Katherine Van Dorn and LynnAnn Perlin, had been coordinating the clubs, toy donations, and coat drives, to prepare for this festive event. Again this year, the Art students, working with Art Teacher Jennifer Berotti, had painted beautiful holiday scenes on the windows and hung decorations to transform the space. Each day afterschool (sometimes until 9 p.m.), the high school students and advisers from all the student clubs had held “wrap sessions” that not only ensured there would be enough presents under the tree, but helped them discover the true meaning of the holiday spirit. In addition to the gifts, the students and staff sorted through bags and bags of gently-used coats that had been donated during the coat drive for distribution at the holiday dinner.

When Santa made his annual visit with the Every Child’s Dream dinner guests this year, many student volunteers were also on hand, some dressed as elves to assist Santa and others to provide music, singing, along with fun activities and games for the children after their delicious dinner.

“This opportunity truly embodies the spirit of the holidays,” High School Principal Ron Hoffer observed about the heartwarming event. “Our faculty, students and staff work collaboratively to help other members of our community during the holiday season. The benefits of our Holiday Dinner go far beyond helping our guests. It has become a tradition we all embrace and enjoy.”

Each year, Every Child’s Dream Dinner is fulfilling on so many levels, not just for the recipients, but also for the many individuals involved in the preparations. Pablo Picasso once said, “The meaning of life is to find you gift; the purpose of life is to give it away.” How fortunate are the Sayville students to feel the truth of these words as they volunteer, not only for Every Child’s Dream, but also for a variety of community service events throughout the academic year.

Mercy Center received a great many generous donations this Holiday season.

Our conference table was a smorgasbord of items for teens, toys for kids, clothing and gift cards (4 times over). The staff from the shelters came to the main office to “shop” for the residents who lived in our three local houses. No gift was too little and certainly no donation too big. The gifts spilled from under the Christmas Trees in all three houses. The newborns wriggled and dozed amidst the excitement; the toddlers were amazed, the teens were overwhelmed, and quietly moved by the outpouring of support.

In the days before Christmas, Sally Rose called me to tell me that her grandson Cameron, had asked that she and Ric forego gifting him this Christmas, and give money to a charity instead. Blessed as we are to have the Rose’s support since our inception, Sally and Ric chose to donate $5,000 to Mercy in their grandson’s name. We need more news stories about altruism, especially in these times, especially when teenagers like Cameron give us hope for the future generation.

We wish to thank the community for their support this year. We look forward to serving the vulnerable youth in our county in 2016!

www.mercycenterministries.org

Submitted by Briana Taylor, Executive Director, Mercy Center Ministries, Inc.

“Joy”

The individual is VALEDICTORIAN of her class, a great achievement. This film shows what happens when an individual lets the norms of life take over.

One goes through life playing societies role. In this instance the pattern that is layer out comes apart at the seams. The individual is left to dissipate on this pile of wasted cloth. Wait a minute, this individual has proven with the sanction of society that she is highly intelligent. She is self motivated by her curiosity and it works pretty well for her. Hold on that is just the first step in this country (free enterprise). Wait until you attempt the first step in this country in the field of competition in the market place. She gets pretty well beat up and nailed to the wall. Remember this person was a VALEDICTORIAN, blooded, yes, but with a fully functioning brain. Take to the paper work, read, she does. She finds her own unnoticed “loop holes” to her screamers. In one word: FRAUD and the beat goes on. She, by her own SELF, will comes out a winner.

This individual known as JOY is portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence. There is a stellar cast supporting Jennifer, Robert DeNero, Dianne Ladd and Bradley Cooper, to name a few. The cast member that gave the best performance was (Trudy) portrayed by Isabella Rossellini. I think this might be a career path for Isabella in MAIN STREAM MOVIES. Her weight in the industry has been proven by independent films. Her hair style and wardrobe deserve a nod of recognition. This is a well rounded piece of entertainment.

“Star Wars The Force Awakens” – The Force Returns

Director/Writer J.J. Abrams plays it safe, back stories are vague. This is fine with me being this is my first viewing of the Star Wars Franchise.

Didn’t run or reserve a seat for this film. A few of my movie mavens encouraged me to see it. You will like it! They were right about that. A thrilling outer space epic was saved by placing personable talented actors through out.

Harrison Ford (Hans Solo) is back. His character is a senior that hobbles a bit when action is required, runs about 9 feet. His comedic timing is spot on, he was a delight. Lela (Carrie Fisher), Debbie Reynold’s daughter, did her best with the rank of General. The new faces on the block for me are Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn). Great chemistry and mature acting skills. A stand out performance by Brendon Gleason’s son, Domhnall Gleason (General Hox). The sound track of John Williams is still a force. A pretty good movie, she says, as the dollars flow into the multi millions at the box office.

I’m looking at the closing which takes place on a rugged ocean coast line. I’m thinking that grass is IRISH and sure enough it was Ireland, Kerry Island on Skellig Michael. Scenes shot on Skellig Michael are some of the most stunning in the movie (UNESCO, World Heritage site).

by Linda Mittiga, Sayville Schools Public Relations

For twenty-eight years, the Sayville Senior Class Breakfast has given the graduating class a break in their hectic schedules and time to share memories.

What better day to reflect and give thanks than the day before Thanksgiving? Originally launched by Senior Class Advisor Mrs. Marie Joost-Cox and former High School Principal Joseph Buderman, Senior Breakfast has been both a tradition and a privilege enjoyed by generations of Sayville students ever since.

This year was no different. The Class of 2016 enjoyed a nourishing morning meal on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, provided by Parkville Deli. Steaming trays of everyone’s favorites: bacon, eggs, omelets, French toast, home fries, along with bagels, fresh fruit with yogurt, juice, coffee, and all the trimmings were served by volunteer Senior Class parents.

Under the guidance of Senior Class of 2016 Advisors Evan Hammer and Mike Pace, the Breakfast Committee decorated the cafeteria with streamers, golden table clothes, balloons, and (plastic) champagne-glass centerpieces filled with Hersey kisses. Once “Class Superlatives” were announced during which each student named received a cap with the description, the breakfast ended with a traditional slide show.

Linda A. Mittiga
Sayville School District Public Relations
(631) 244-6514