Nesconset's Sarah Bauman Raising Puppy Griff II For Canine Companions

     Nesconset, NY -  Canine Companions, the nation’s first and largest service dog organization, is proud to announce that Sarah Bauman of Nesconset, New York recently began raising a future service dog for Canine Companions.

     Puppy Griff II is a 3 month old Lab/Golden Retriever cross who will one-day know over 40 professional commands, and be matched with an adult, child or veteran with disabilities free of charge.  Griff will be able to open and close doors, turn lights on and off, and pick up dropped items to name just a few.

     Volunteer Puppy Raisers are critically important to the work of Canine Companions. Puppy Raisers take the pups into their home at eight weeks of age, teaching them house manners, basic commands and socialization skills.  The socialization is perhaps the most important, because the dogs need to be exposed to all different types of surroundings. With the special yellow capes they wear, these dogs are permitted to go to many public areas that family pets aren’t allowed. When the dogs reach about a year and a half old, they are returned to the Canine Companions regional headquarters in Medford, New York. They begin 6 months of professional training with the organization’s nationally renowned instructors, before they are matched with an adult, child or veteran with disabilities.

     For more information about becoming a Puppy Raiser, visit canine.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

ABOUT CANINE COMPANIONS: Canine Companions is leading the service dog industry so our clients and their dogs can live with greater independence. We provide service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings. Since our founding in 1975, our dogs and all follow-up services are provided at no cost to our clients.  

Kudos To Christopher Cappelmann, Sarah Dolphin And Meredith Haberfield

Mercer University recently announced the President’s List and Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. Inclusion on these lists requires students to meet rigorous GPA standards specific to the college or school within the University.

Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls approximately 9,000 students in 12 schools and colleges - liberal arts and sciences, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing, health professions, and professional advancement - on major campuses in Macon and Atlanta, medical school sites in Macon, Savannah and Columbus, and at regional academic centers in Henry and Douglas counties.

Smithtown, New York Christopher Cappelmann, freshman, School of Business, President’s List  

Bucknell University has released the dean’s list for outstanding academic achievement during the fall semester of the 2022-23 academic year. A student must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0 to receive dean’s list recognition. 

 

Kings Park, NY  Sarah Dolphin, 2025, Undeclared Management

Smithtown, NY  Meredith Haberfield, 2023, English - Film/Media Studies

Filming In Smithtown For "Christmas Eve In Miller's Point" To Begin In February

By Adam Navas

This February, Smithtown natives Eric Berger and Tyler Taormina will be shooting a feature film they both co-wrote titled Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point on location in Long Island. The two have worked on multiple movies together but this will be the first time their hometown will be the chief backdrop. To obtain some more information, I was lucky enough to interview co-writer Eric Berger and ask some questions pertaining to the film and its exciting portrayal of the Smithtown area. 

How has the process been between getting the initial idea and now that you’re a month or so away from shooting? 

I want to say Tyler and I started developing this in late 2017 or 2018. We outlined for months before completing the first draft while on a writing retreat in Twin Peaks, then continued writing and revising over the next year or so.

Was it just the two of you?

To start it was the two of us, but later our close friend and editor Kevin Anton came on board and helped us bring the script to completion. 

Were there any challenges in writing the script together, or was it easier than doing it alone? 

He and I have an amazing rhythm together. We’ve known each other since we were twelve, so our rapport is as natural as it gets. A shared sense of humor and complementary well of ideas makes the whole process a lot of fun. The only downside is that at some point we have to stop writing.

What sparked the initial idea for the script? 

Tyler had come to me with the idea of a Christmas film with a big family, so we started talking about it, then started building out the family. It’s a pretty large family, with the extended members it’s between 10 and 20 people. Then we created backstories, psychologies, and it became more interesting. Just dialoguing at length is enough to get us excited and committed enough to see the film through.

How would you describe the film as a whole? 

[Christmas at Miller’s Point] is a portrait of a family coming together for the holiday, full of excitement and tension, as one generation gives way to another. It’s a comedy about looking for ourselves in each other, about growing older and apart and tracking through the snow to start over again.

When do you start shooting? 

We’re starting on February 15th!

What are you hoping the people of Smithtown draw from this film? 

Hopefully, they’ll be able to go to theaters and see something of themselves on screen. We’re from the town and our families still live here. The film is for them and our friends and an idea that puts it all together.

What are you hoping the general audience will draw from the film? 

The film has a classic and nostalgic appeal while being adventurous in form. It’s meant to be a good time with a lot of laughs, and if we’re successful audiences will leave with a deepened interest in independent cinema.

If you’re interested in supporting the project send your name and contact information to omnesfilms@gmail.com. If you’d like to audition to act in the film send your information and a photo to the same email address. Be sure to look out for Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point in the near future, and if you’re interested in Eric and Tyler’s other work you can find the last feature they wrote together Ham on Rye on Amazon Prime.

Adam Navas is an award-winning filmmaker/screenwriter, in both narrative and documentary, currently residing in Los Angeles. Navas has worked for major networks such as Disney, NBC, and Hulu, as well as producing his own internationally-screened content. His social media journalism throughout the pandemic garnered a following of over sixty-thousand people and millions of views. In 2020, he was awarded top honors by the Golden Script Competition, Milan Gold, Hollywood Just4Shorts, and Short Stop International. He currently has three films - one documentary, two narratives - slated for release in 2023.  

Commack Teacher Chris Boundy's Antartica Marathon Fulfills A Dream

Commack Middle School social studies teacher Christopher Boundy completed his dream to run a marathon on each continent. He has already conquered the USA, running marathons in each of our 50 states. On December 14, he conquered his final continent - Antarctica, dressed in layers and running for 26 miles on a snow-covered glacier for 5 hours and 22 minutes to finish 22 out of 57 runners.

This is one of only two marathons in Antarctica within the Antarctic Circle. Chris said, “It’s more comparable to running on sand or uneven trails than on roads. Luckily this year’s temperatures were relatively mild (teens Fahrenheit) with not much wind, so while much harder than a normal road marathon, it could have been even more challenging. Outstanding scenery of course, and overall great experience with a friendly group of crazy runners from all over the world. Nice to finally be done with the seven continents.”

Link to information about the race   https://www.icemarathon.com/