Bishop Robert Rimbo - Urges Outreach To Elderly and Neighbors During And After Storm

With historically unmatched snowfall totals and dangerous blizzard conditions forecasted to blanket the Northeast, threatening the elderly, the isolated and the homeless, Bishop Robert Alan Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is delivering a Winter Storm Communal Bulletin calling on all Synod parishes to engage senior citizens and others who may be isolated, alone and at risk as a result of the severe weather.

“If projected snowfall totals and weather conditions are anywhere near being accurate, the level of disruption will be more than a handful for the typical family who is prepared and ready to hunker down. For the elderly, those living alone or those without a place to even call home, this weather has the potential to be an insurmountable and deadly catastrophe waiting to happen and we must do all we can to help our neighbors who may be literally trapped in their homes or worse,” warned Bishop Rimbo.

“I call on all pastors and lay leaders to use social media, phone outreach and other means to engage the elderly, frail and other neighbors in our communities who might be isolated and make sure that they are safe during the storm. 

“As Lutherans, we are committed to serving the community and doing God’s work here on earth. Key to meeting that commitment is being a good neighbor and helping those who are less fortunate or in need of aid and this unprecedented storm is set to place many in a position of vulnerability.

“I can think of no greater service that we can provide at this time than making it clear to those in need that they are not alone, that our Pastors, lay leaders and concerned congregants are standing by to provide any assistance which they may need,”  he concluded.

Bishop Rimbo’s request was delivered to the Synod’s nearly 200 parishes across all five boroughs of New York City, all of Long Island and seven upstate counties (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester).

People In The News - Pauline Zunno Celebrates 102nd Birthday

Twin Ponds Senior Citizen Club Installs New Officers and Celebrates Pauline Zunno’s 102nd Birthday!

Pauline Zunno and Supervisor Patrick VecchioPauline Zunno - click on photo to enlargeNew officers installed at recent club meeting as they celebrated a special milestone!

Organized in 1984, the Twin Ponds Senior Citizens Club recently installed new officers.  Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and Program Director Laura Greif presided over the swearing in ceremony.

Josephine DeGregoria was installed as President, Pauline Zunno as 1st Vice President, Lorraine Vaccari as Treasurer and Mary Poulos as Recording Secretary. 

The club also celebrated the 102nd birthday of Pauline Zunno!  Pauline, who was born in NYC and lived for many years on Fire Island before moving to Smithtown, enjoys an active social life. Pauline explained “If the snow stays away I plan to celebrate my birthday in Port Jefferson this weekend with family and friends.”

Twin Ponds meets at 12pm on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of the month at the Fairfield Clubhouse in St. James.  New members are always welcome!

Theater Review - "Vanya And Sonia and Masha and Spike"

THEATER REVIEW - “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”

Produced by: The John W. Engeman Theater - Northport

Reviewed by Jeb Ladouceur

We all know who Anton Chekhov is, I suppose, but this reviewer is guessing relatively few of us (present company included) are what might be termed truly “Chekhov savvy.” That said, it’s probably a good idea to explain the odd title of the Christopher Durang play which opened at Northport’s lush Engeman Theater last week.

Exact opposites Stephen Mark Lucas and Kevin Pariseau play ‘Spike’ and ‘Vanya’ at the Engeman thru March 8 Photo by Michael DeCristofaro

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” a comedy that premiered at the Golden Theater on Broadway in March of 2013 (and closed the following August), takes its title from the names of three characters in two different works by the great Russian playwright. The names Vanya and Sonia both derive from the play, “Uncle Vanya” … and Masha, from Chekhov’s classic, “Three Sisters.” It’s obvious that in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” the sibling trio’s deceased college professor parents were quite the high-brow couple while alive and dabbling in community theater … and presumably peering down on lesser mortals from their ivory tower. As for Spike … he probably thinks Chekhov’s a video game.

At the risk of dating myself, ever since “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” inexplicably landed a Tony for Best Play a few years ago, the show’s title has evoked memories of the 1969 Oscar-nominated film “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.” However the cutesy device of utilizing monikers in ra-ta-tat sequence marks the only similarity the two productions share.

For the benefit of those who might fear “Vanya…etc.” is a re-working of some Chekhov drama … relax. Playwright Durang is no Chekhov! Like the social-climbing husband and wife referred to in his play, Chris is merely a name-dropper … even to the extent of famously having said, “My play is not a Chekhov parody.” No kidding! I hasten to add that I don’t expect a Nobel Prize is in today’s mail, either.

Here’s the V&S&M&S plot: Vanya and Sonia are spoiled incompetents, their existence subsidized by movie star sister, Masha (she of the hunk boyfriend, Spike). Masha plans to sell the house, and Vanya and Sonia panic. Some long-winded scenes ensue. Masha changes her mind about selling. Oh, joy! End of play.

Along the way, Kevin Pariseau (Vanya) … Laurie Dawn, (Sonia) … Sean Young, (Masha) … and Stephen Mark Lukas, (Spike) … try to make Christopher Durang’s play entertaining, and Ms. Dawn almost pulls off the near-impossibility. But the script is just too dry and juvenile to permit its redemption.

To be sure, the play, under the direction of Richard T. Dolce, has its moments … a hilarious reverse striptease by Lucas’s beefcake specimen ‘Spike,’ and a touching Garrison Keillor-Archie Bunker style ‘good ole days’ reminiscence by Pariseau, are highlights along with Laurie Dawn’s slightly over-ripe, but generally satisfying, performance. And Dolce gets comedic mileage out of Isabelle Santiago (Cassandra, the frenetic Maid), and Megan Yelaney (Nina, the saccharin-sweet Neighbor). Their performances are much-needed, because ‘Masha,’ the play’s central character, might as well have been assigned to a potted palm.

Jon Collins, Kate Ashton, and Tristan Raines (Set, Lighting and Costume design respectively) combine to make this show visually superb. The blue-painted, distressed wood home is a place we could happily curl up in … while we admire the ever-changing skies over sleepy Bucks County, Pennsylvania … and wait for the voodoo-obsessed cleaning woman to show up in her rainbow-hued ensemble.

But there is only so much that Dolce, Dawn, Collins et .al. can do with this sow’s ear of a show. Tony Award? Seriously? Congress should investigate the American Theatre Wing. Even in a lean year like 2013 (remember ‘Kinky Boots,’ ‘Lucky Guy,’ ‘The Assembled Parties’ … ?) there’s no excuse for honoring a play that barely recouped its investment, then promptly and understandably closed a month later.

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Award-winning writer, Jeb Ladouceur is the author of nine novels, and his theater and book reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. In his newest thriller, HARVEST, an American military doctor is seized by a sinister gang of organ traffickers in The Balkans, and ordered to perform illegal surgeries.

Smithtown's Brendan Martin Qualifies For NYS Olympic Trials And Is Recognized By County Exec. Bellone

“Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone presents local runners with proclamations.” (L-R Smithtown Running Company manager Mike Petrina, Leonora Petrina, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Brendan Martin, Smithtown Running Company owner Brendan Barrett)

(click on photo to enlarge)

Sayville, NY- January 26^th 2015- Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone recently honored local runners Brendan Martin of Smithtown, NY and Leonora Petrina of Bayport, NY,  for qualifying for the 2016 United States Olympic Trials.  Petrina and Martin are both employees of the Smithtown Running Company and were presented proclamations at a press conference announcing the registration details for the inaugural Suffolk County Marathon.

Martin completed the Cal International Marathon after having previously suffered from a femoral stress fracture that forced him to drop out of the Boston Marathon just ten days prior to the event. Determined to give it one more try, he spent about nine weeks preparing for the Cal International race post recovery. With the support of his friends and family, including his former cross country coach at Smithtown West, Coach Carolan, who biked alongside him during many runs, he was successful. Crossing the line with a time of 2:16:38, he hit the time standard to get invited to the trials.

“You can do everything right in training but there are never any guarantees that you’ll get the results you’re hoping for on race day. There are countless variables in a marathon, so I was completely thrilled when it all came together for me,” said Martin, who also volunteers with the track team at Smithtown West High School.

Debuting in her first ever marathon, Petrina’s hard work paid off when she was the first woman to cross the finish line at the Philadelphia Marathon back in November.   “It was pretty exciting. Everything went so well and to get the win when I wasn’t expecting it just topped off an awesome day,” said Petrina. Breaking the tape at a time of 2:39:58, Petrina had not only won, but was headed to the trials as well.

Both Petrina and Martin are considering participating in the September 13^th inaugural Suffolk County Marathon & Half Marathon. Registration and more information is available at SuffolkMarathon.com.

Commack's Scott Massa - Intel Science Talent Search Finalist

Photos by Richard Kurtz - click on photos to enlarge

Scott Massa, a senior at Commack High School, was named an Intel Science Talent Search finalist today, one of only 40 students nationwide recognized for his contribution to improving and enriching everyday life. Scott’s project explored how disturbances in the brain can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. He identified a possible target for the development of new medications that may be a potential cure. The title of his project is, “The Importance of Endocytosis to Neuregulin1 Back Signaling: Implications in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders.”

Scott received a phone call last night (Wednesday, January 21) with the news. “I was ecstatic when I received the call from the director of the competition yesterday evening.  To be a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search is an incredible honor, and I’m living the dream of every high school researcher from around the country.  I’m so proud that I can represent Commack in this national forum.”

“Scott’s research is pivotal in our search for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia,” said Alison Offerman-Celentano, Director of Science. This young man is a stellar example of a Renaissance student, one who is able to accomplish so much with grace and humility. We know Scott will continue to move the field of neuroscience forward as he progresses through his collegial studies and his future career. His accomplishments would not have been possible without the invaluable and tireless efforts of our Science Research team, led by Mr. Richard Kurtz. To be recognized as an Intel finalist is one of the greatest accomplishments a young science researcher can attain and Scott Massa is truly deserving of the honor.”

Scott’s future plans include a career in medicine or clinical research. He will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, to study biology with a concentration in neurobiology. His mentor, Commack High School science teacher Richard Kurtz, said, “I met Scott when he was in eighth grade; he had the spark of curiosity and a natural drive that was obvious. He is a student with the combination of intelligence, compassion, and modesty.  I can confidently speak for most of his teachers and say that we all feel privileged to have had this unique young man in our classes.”

“We have a top-notch science research department here in Commack that assists our students in reaching their fullest potential,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Donald James. “Students like Scott will shape the future of the treatment and eradication of illness and diseases that are incurable at this point. We congratulate Scott on this prestigious recognition, and for his passion, drive, and intellect to find a cause and a cure for disorders that affect the lives of so many people.”

Finalists will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. from March 5-11, where they will compete for more than $1 million in awards. Each finalist receives at least $7,500. Winners will be selected based on rigorous judging sessions and announced at a black-tie, invitation-only gala awards ceremony at the National Building Museum on March 10.