49 Smithtown Students Recognized For Excellence

Smithtown Musicians Honored for Excellence

Smithtown High School West student-musicians were selected for All-County, All-State and one All-National honor. Musicians are pictured with teachers Tim Cassera, Joe Cotignola, and Jim Brosnan, HSW Principal John Coady and Michael Mastrangelo, director of fine arts. Based on their outstanding musical talents, 49 Smithtown High School East and Smithtown High School West student-musicians will represent the Smithtown School District at prestigious musical festivals this fall and winter. 

Smithtown High School West piccolo player Melissa Callegari has been selected for inclusion in the National Association for Music Education’s All-National Honors Ensemble. She will perform along with the nation’s most elite student-musicians at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee in late October. 

Students from Smithtown High School East were recognized for their musical abilities by NYSCAME/SCMEA and NYSSMA. Musicians are pictured with teachers Debra Kalabza, Mark Hegreness and Brian McCoy and HSE Principal Edwin Thompson. Fifteen Smithtown HSE and HSW students have been selected for All-State honors as a result of his/her superior score at the NYSSMA solo festival and teacher recommendation. All-State student ensembles will perform at the NYSSMA 2015 Winter Conference in Rochester, New York, from December 3-6. 

Thirty-three students from HSE and HSW were named NYSCAME/SCMEA All-County musicians. Selection to this organization is one of the most prestigious honors in Suffolk County for a student-musician. Students will perform in the NYSCAME/SCMEA All-County Concert in November. For a complete listing of All-County musicians, visit www.smithtown.k12.ny.us. 

Congratulations to the following All-State student-musicians:

Allison Brault – Smithtown High School East  – Soprano II       

Victoria Delgado – Smithtown High School East – Soprano II

Christopher Galloway – Smithtown High School East – Tenor I

John Musumeci – Smithtown High School East – Bass Clarinet

Rachel Saia – Smithtown High School East – Soprano II

Katherine Saslawsky – Smithtown High School East – Flute

Andrew Smith – Smithtown High School East – Baritone Saxophone

Brandon Star – Smithtown High School East –Trumpet

Brendan Volz – Smithtown High School East – Tuba

Cameron Bonhurst – Smithtown High School West – Tenor II

Gabriella Carucci – Smithtown High School West – Alto I

Iryna Dovirak – Smithtown High School West – Alto I

Joseph Feldman – Smithtown High School West – Bass II

Andrew Golub – Smithtown High School West – Tenor Saxophone

Caitlin Unkenholz – Smithtown High School West – Viola

Photo Captions: 

Photos courtesy of the Smithtown Central School District Click on photos to enlarge

Smithtown's 350 Anniversary Parade A Cast Of Thousands And An Audience Of Many More

Best In Show - Whisper VineyardsSmithtown Library - Most CreativeOn the long list of events planned to celebrate Smithtown’s 350th anniversary was a parade down Main Street. Smithtown 350 Foundation members, tasked with planning events for the anniversary celebration, didn’t want just a parade - they wanted a parade of historic proportions. The check list for the parade included bands (lots of bands), banners, floats, costumes, dignitaries, young people, large turnout, awards, a master of ceremony, grand marshal, bulls, horses, antique vehicles, fire departments, SCPD, business, chambers of commerce, service organizations, the oldest and newest in Smithtown, volunteers, sponsorship and great weather. 

By all accounts the Foundation did what they set out to do. The parade was historical, it was huge and it was one for the record books. Seventy-one different groups, seventeen floats and 2,200 people marched in the parade. Thousands lined Main St. waving and cheering. There were smiling faces everywhere.

Women’s Sufferage - Most Historic GroupMarchers made their way down Main Street and were greeted by Master of Ceremony, Historian Noel Gish, who announced each group and offered commentary as they passed the reviewing stand. Mr. Gish was joined on the reviewing stand by Bradley Harris and Nissequogue mayor Richard Bull Smith.

Dignitaries included Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and Town Board members Creighton, McCarthy and Nowick. County Executive Steve Bellone, Congressman Lee Zeldin, NYS Senator Flanagan and Assemblyman Fitzpatrick, Legislators Trotta and Kennedy as well as County Comptroller Kennedy. Judges Sandra Sgroi, Janine Barbera Dalli and John Toomey.

Best Dressed Group: Presbyterian ChurchThe parade’s success is attributable to the Smithtown 350 Foundation’s parade committee Maureen Smilow, Carolyn Borrella, Marianne Howard, Al Hornburger, Lillian Munro, Joann Betts, Annette Kosar, Rich Graztick, William Garthe and Walter Thomas headed by Chairperson Michael Donnelly.  The planning for the parade took almost a full year and was quite challenging. Leadership of the committee changed, the original date was changed from the 19th to the 26th, and the route of the parade was changed from east to west. 

According to Mike Donnelly, everyone who wanted to participate in the historic parade was welcome to do so. “Our goal was to make this parade inclusive and fun.” said Mike. “We reached out to all of our local fire departments and they all participated. We had students from Hauppauge, Kings Park and Smithtown as well as The Knox School, St. Patrick’s, and St. Anthony.”

Best Thematic Float: St. James Chamber of CommerceThere was a tremendous effort to get young people involved. “This event, like everything planned during this anniversary celebration, was an opportunity to present and to educate people about Smithtown’s rich history,” said Town Historian Bradley Harris. 

It was Maureen Smilow who worked the hardest to get the young people involved. For Maureen, a former teacher, it was a challange she gladly accepted. 

“I was involved with contacting the teachers at Smithtown East and West who were responsible for the Social Studies Honor Societies. In turn the teachers selected student volunteers who arrived at the registration area on parade day.   It was hoped that by providing the students with Smithtown 350 t-shirts and the opportunity to assist the marchers in locating their positions, the students would feel connected to this historic event and an appreciation for their Town’s past.  They were very helpful and it was reassuring to the marchers to have their own personal guides during the staging process. We were also very fortunate to have students from 10 schools participate in the parade as either marchers or members of marching bands.  The enthusiasm demonstrated by the students provided a palpable energy that let the older generation know the future of Smithtown was in capable hands.” Stated Maureen Smilow. 

Five trophies were awarded to winners of the float and costume competition. 

The winners were:

        Best in Show:  Whisper Vineyards

        Most Creative Float:  The Smithtown Library

        Best Thematic Float:  St. James Chamber of Commerce

        Best Dressed Group:  Presbyterian Church

        Most Historic Costumes:  Women’s Sufferage Group

Eight school bands all received a trophy “presented in appreciation” for participating in the parade:

        Hauppauge Marching Band

        Smithtown HS West Marching Band

        Smithtown HS East Marching Band

        Kings Park HS Marching Band

        Great Hollow MS Marching Band

        St. Patrick School

        The Knox School

        St. Anthony’s Band

All the Fire Departments also received a trophy for participation.

For Foundation members the parade was not only fun, but also somewhat overwhelming. “No one expected the kind words and thank-you’s that were shouted from the crowd as we walked down Main Street. It was wonderful and appreciated.” Said Joanne Betts and Lillian Munro.

Everyone can agree that the Smithtown 350 Anniversary Parade is one for the history books. 

More photos - Smithtown 350 Parade & Smithtown 350 Parade part II

Commack Teacher Carolann Lally One Of 51 At National Gallery Of Art Teacher Institute

Carolann Lally from East Islip, NY Attends 2015 Teacher Institute on Art of the Renaissance at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Carolann LallyCarolann Lally, an educator at North Ridge and Burr Intermediate School in Commack, NY was selected as one of only 51 participants of the 2015 National Gallery of Art Teacher Institute on Art of the Renaissance held in Washington, D.C., in July and August of 2015. The six-day seminar brought together teachers of art, English, history, math, and related subjects from 25 states. The program emphasized the social and cultural context of Renaissance art in Italy and Northern countries between the 14th and 16th centuries. The term Renaissance, meaning “rebirth,” refers to the humanistic revival of classical culture and learning with its underlying belief in the creative potential of humankind. Participants studied works by leading Renaissance artists as represented in the Gallery’s permanent collection, including the painters Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Jan van Eyck, and Rogier van der Weyden. Participants learned about the development of oil-painting techniques, the role of prints in disseminating new ideas, using works of art as primary resources in classroom instruction, incorporating art into interdisciplinary teaching, and strengthening students’ visual literacy. 

Through lectures, gallery talks, and hands-on activities, participants analyzed Renaissance artworks and focused on interdisciplinary teaching strategies. Activities were designed to meet teachers’ personal and professional enrichment needs. A demonstration of Venetian painting techniques and a site visit to a printmaker’s studio at Georgetown University rounded out the Institute’s course of study.

Generous support for the Teacher Institute was provided by the Park Foundation, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the Sara Shallenberger Brown Fund, the Anthony Quinn Foundation and National Hellenic Society, and the Annetta J. and Robert M. Coffelt Sr. and Robert M. Coffelt Jr. Endowed Fellowship.

OpEd - Sitting Back And Hoping Is Not A Strategy

By Larry Vetter

What does a vibrant industrial park bring to a town? The answer is simple: jobs and an increased tax base to ease the burdens on everyone.

There are essentially two types of economic centers within the township of Smithtown. One type is visible. This is the down town areas. The second is the industrial parks, equally important but more hidden. When we think of industrial parks, Hauppauge immediately comes to mind, however Nesconset, St. James and Kings Park also contain industrial zones.

Recently, I had the opportunity to drive through the various zones. Hauppauge, Nesconset and St. James zones consist primarily of warehouse type structures while Kings Park consists mostly of yard type commercial businesses. Many of the buildings in the Nesconset and St. James zones are empty or significantly underutilized. The Hauppauge Industrial Park was once vibrant with a mix of light industry, manufacturing and warehousing. Today there is also a malaise in this industrial park.

Suffolk County and several of the townships within the county have developed industrial development associations. They recognize the “Long Island Brain Drain” where many of our well-educated young people cannot find the type of employment commensurate with their education. The primary purpose of these associations is to entice business into the county and more specifically to our towns. Today, Smithtown contains no such association. It seems to be a rather significant oversight to have within our borders one of the largest industrial parks and yet not have any plans for developing it.

So what do we do? What seems to have occurred is that we sit back and hope. Our only initiative was to allow building owners to extend the roof heights in hopes of attracting business. So far neither idea appears effective.

We need to once again think outside of the box. My solutions to this crucial problem are as follows:
1. Develop an industrial development association. This can be done with resources we already have within the town. It is not necessary to spend additional tax revenue on this process. We can piggyback with the existing Suffolk County program.

2. Actively entice businesses to Long Island. Who is to say that Hauppauge canʼt become the next “silicone valley”? Technology companies often need minimal raw materials and shipping is often parcel post; something we are situated very well for.

3. Open discussions with Suffolk in an attempt to develop sewer system plans in Smithtown. As important as this topic is to homeowners, it is equally as important to businesses.

4. Suffolk County has a number of transportation initiatives. Why not work with the county to develop alternative transportation from our nearby rail hubs to enable easier movement into and out of the industrial park?

Smithtown is a great place. We have many hard working families that take the education of their children seriously. As a result there are well-qualified individuals to staff modern technology enterprises. We have great public schools and nearby higher education facilities as well as world-renowned research facilities. We have wonderful beaches, golf courses and several nearby townships are undergoing a revival in eateries and entertainment. Finally we are located very near one of the most vibrant cities in the world. It seems to me that it would not at all be a difficult sell, but like everything else, it must be worked for.

This November take the opportunity to vote for individuals that will work toward solutions and not accept excuses for why things canʼt happen. Letʼs reverse the “Brain Drain” and give us all a chance to keep families together on Long Island. 

Larry Vetter is the Democratic candidate for Smithtown Town Council

Theater Review - 'West Side Story'

THEATER REVIEW - ‘West Side Story’

Produced by: John W. Engeman Theater, Northport

Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur

‘West Side Story’ is invariably described as an American musical suggested by Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ That is akin to stating that a ham sandwich is inspired by Easter. Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, and Jerome Robbins are all fortunate to have had expert press agents, but for them to invoke The Bard in this crotch-grabbing, expletive-riddled show, borders on literary sacrilege.

That said, the sometimes tedious story about young love sprouting in the unlikely atmosphere of Manhattan’s pre-Lincoln Center upper west side has been ambitiously produced, and executed with inexhaustible flair on by the Company.

Indeed, neither director Igor Goldin, nor choreographer Jeffry Denman, need drop William Shakespeare’s magic name to win accolades for the energetic undertaking that runs at the plush Engeman thru November 8^th. At the conclusion of its opener on September 19^th, the sold-out audience was on its feet cheering the principals, Zach Trimmer (Tony), Samantha Williams (Maria), and Karli Dinardo (Anita) in their leading roles.

‘West Side Story’ is known primarily for its memorable Bernstein tunes, secondarily for its Sondheim lyrics, and finally for its book by Arthur Laurents. Significantly, the Broadway musical neither won (nor was even nominated for) Tonys in any of those categories. The show (which was up against an endearing ‘Music Man’ in the bidding that year) did capture the coveted awards for choreography and scenic design in 1958, however.

Visit The Engeman in the next six weeks and you’ll see why.

In the current mounting of the story built on a race-based rivalry between two neighborhood gangs, The Sharks and The Jets, the shows dancers perform some of the most perfectly executed movements ever carried out on a Long Island stage … or any venue, for that matter. In sequence after sequence, we are treated to synchronization that is nothing short of eye-popping. From first routine to finale, every finger, every toe, and every swirling skirt produces the kind of symmetry we’ve come to expect only in the artificial milieu of motion pictures.

What unerringly coordinated dancers these young people are! Throughout the show-stopping dance number, ‘America,’ for instance, I literally held my breath as the indefatigable Tori Simeone, Karli Dinardo, Victoria Casillo, and Ashley Marinelli danced in perfect harmonization to James Olmstead’s nine-member orchestra. The effect was spellbinding.

This is not to imply that the current Engeman offering is purely a dance-fest. The romantic leads in this excellent ‘West Side Story’ bring remarkably well-trained voices to the production. One would never guess that Zach Trimmer’s pitch-perfect tenor or Samantha Williams’ sweet soprano are enhanced by veteran sound designer, Laura Shubert. In the ballads ‘Maria’ and ‘Tonight’ Trimmer and Williams provide ideal balance for the raucous, combative vocals of ‘Cool’ and ‘The Rumble’ hammered home by the warring neighborhood factions.

With each new musical that the team of Richard T. Dolce and Kevin J. O’Neill presents, it becomes increasingly obvious that there’s nothing The Engeman can’t produce … and produce well. Just when we thought that ‘The Music Man’– and ‘A Chorus Line’ couldn’t be topped … along comes director Goldin with this superbly sung and choreographed show. It’s a staging that’ll make you glad you came to Northport’s swanky Main Street playhouse for a look see.

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Award-winning writer, Jeb Ladouceur is the author of eleven novels, and his theater and book reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. His newest book, THE GHOSTWRITERS, explores the bizarre relationship between Harper Lee and Truman Capote. He will introduce the novel at the Smithtown Library’s Main Branch on Monday, November 9. Ladouceur’s website is www.JebsBooks.com