Rosanna Scotto, co-host of Good Day New York, speaks of the people who impacted her early life, her role on Good Day New York, and her advice on how to be successful.
When searching for Power Women Podcast on your podcast networks make sure to click subscribe to automatically receive each new weekly episode or you can stream us online at podcasts.schnepsmedia.com.
Produced by Chaya Gurkov and Eric Hercules.
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The Weekender: 5 Things to Do on Long Island This Weekend
SHANE GILLIS
A stand-up special by comedian Shane Gillis for audiences 16 and older. Gillis was the 2016 winner of Philly’s Funniest at Helium Comedy Club. Governors’ of Levittown, 90 Division Ave., Levittown, govs.com $25. 7, 8 and 9:30 p.m. June 11 & 12.
JUNE CONCERT SERIES: THE MYSTIC
Performing together for more than 20 years, the band members have performed on Broadway and with Billy Joel and Elton John, playing a diverse range of music from country to rock. The concert will also have a DJ, full bar and food trucks. Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater at Bald Hill, 1 Ski Run Ln., Farmingville, licommunityhospitalamp.com $10. 5:30-11 p.m. June 12.
THE DAVE DIAMOND BAND
The singer/songwriter will be holding a live performance outdoors, playing a blend of Americana, funk and classic rock. Bring your own lawn chairs for seating arrangements. The event is limited to 150 guests and groups will be seated together in pods. Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington, landmarkonmainstreet.org $20-30. 7 p.m. June 12.
ART AND CINEMA DISCUSSION
Enjoy a lively conversation on the links and inspirations between all artistic media and the culmination of such into cinematic presentation, featuring visual artist Alexis Rockman and sound artist Carter Burwell, moderated by Guild Hall Executive Director Andrea Grover. 158 Main Street, East Hampton. guildhall.org 7 p.m. June 12.
AUTHOR EVENT: DON LEMON ‘THIS IS THE FIRE’ The Social Justice Committee of Temple Adas Israel, in partnership with The Church, welcomes Sag Harbor resident Don Lemon, host of CNN’s Don Lemon Tonight for a virtual book event in celebration of his new book, This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism. Join in a discussion moderated by local historian Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, the executive director of the Eastville Community Historical Society. Signed books can be ordered by calling Canio’s Books. 631-725-4926, caniosbooks@verizon.net, sagharborchurch.org 10 a.m. June 13.
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Courtesy Mattituck Strawberry Festival Facebook page.
By Nicole Formisano
Looking for some sweet summer fun? Well, you’re in luck— the Strawberry Festival is back!
This Long Island staple, sponsored by the Mattituck Lions Club, is celebrating its 66th annual festival from June 16 to 21. Last year’s cancellation of this longstanding tradition was a symbol of just how much the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted our lives; on the bright side, it makes its return that much sweeter.
However, the pandemic has still thrown some obstacles in the way of this beloved festival. Due to the late decision to have the festival, the organizers have encountered issues with transportation, supply, and timing. Because of this, the hulling night had to be canceled. This means that this year, festival-goers will have to do without that famous, oh-so-delicious strawberry shortcake. Luckily, in its place will be local farm-fresh strawberries (and chocolate-covered, if you so choose!)
Despite these barriers, the Mattituck Lions are making “every attempt to make this year’s festival the same as previous.” The Strawberry Festival’s thrilling games and rides will once again be provided by Reithoffer Shows. The much-beloved international food court, though missing the shortcake, will still feature zeppoles and alcohol-free strawberry daiquiris. The festival will also be opening on Wednesday instead of Thursday, giving the public an extra night of fun!
Not only will there be games, food, and rides, but also fireworks shows for three nights in a row: Thursday at 9:30 p.m., Friday at 10 p.m., and Saturday at 10:15 p.m.
There will be fireworks three nights of the festival. (Courtesy Mattituck Strawberry Festival Facebook page)
And of course, what is the Strawberry Festival without its queen? The 65th Strawberry Queen is selected from a pool of Southold sophomores and juniors, based on her “poise, academic success, range of interests, and a commitment to community service.” She will be the recipient of not only a crown and title, but a scholarship as well. The Queen will be announced on Saturday, the 19th, at 3 p.m.
Every year, the Mattituck Lions host the event toward the end of June not only because the local strawberries are at their peak ripeness, but also because it is a Father’s Day tradition. In honor of this, the festival is offering a deal on that special day: all dads can enter free of charge with the purchase of one ticket for their child. All the proceeds go toward the Mattituck Lions’ year-round community service efforts. Those who will benefit include the Girl Scouts, DECA, Vacation Camp for the Blind, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and many more.
For those in Nassau, the Massapequa Historical Society is hosting its own Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Historical Complex. The festival will feature tours, raffles, merch, a community food drive, and Long Island strawberries.
The Strawberry Festivals mark the continuation of Island tradition and the beginning of a slow return to normal. After a year of sacrifices, it’s finally time for a weekend of fun alongside friends and family. So go out and enjoy the rides, the entertainment, and of course, those sweet summer strawberries.
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Whether it’s a big plate of chicken, veal or eggplant parmesan, or a hefty bowl of penne, rigatoni or spaghetti, Italian cuisine will never cease to satisfy. There are plenty of Italian restaurants on Long Island, but which is best?
Want to find an Italian restaurant that still does it right? Look no further than Vito’s Pizza in Glen Cove. The classic eats are infused with history with recipes passed down generation after generation straight from Sicily.
While you can step in for a quick slice of delicious pizza, you can also hunker down in the elegant, yet cozy dining room for a great deal of enticing entrees, including pollo parmigiana, vitello marsala, salsiccia and peppers and melanzane rollatini. Vito’s staff is welcoming and inviting to everyone who walks inside.
The great food and warm service makes it unlikely you stop by for a single meal.
Vito’s Pizza is located at 91 Forest Ave. in Glen Cove. It can be reached at 516-759-1366 or vitospizzany.com
To find all the other 2021 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest winners, visit bestoflongisland.com Nominate your favorite businesses and people in the 2022 Best of Long Island program through Aug. 31.
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Twenty-five years ago, Julie Wexler was a caregiver to her elderly father-in-law. She and her husband, a newly married couple, had no choice but to watch as dementia took hold of their loved one.
Now a representative of senior care community Bristal Assisted Living, Wexler took it upon herself to provide the public the information she wished she had all those years ago.
On June 4, Bristal Assisted Living and Burner Law Group, PC, teamed up to host a webinar on Alzheimer’s and dementia in aging populations. This Q&A-style lecture featured Dr. Nicole Absar, an assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, who specializes in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry. She uses her skills to ensure that patients not only receive proper diagnoses but the necessary supportive care every day after.
“I’m a very optimistic doctor,” Absar says. “I really feel like we have to share the optimism with our caregivers because it’s draining for our caregivers to live with a loved one and see the decline every day. It’s so hard for the caregiver to go through this, so we have to have this optimism.”
She explains that with proper care, patients not only improve their quality of life but also slow down the progression of their disease. She suggests that patients focus on diet, physical exercise, and cognitive exercise. This means following a clinically proven MIND diet (a diet with an emphasis on healthy fats and low carbohydrate intake), walking every day, and keeping the mind active with reading and games such as crossword puzzles.
Absar also uses spirituality and philosophy to empower her patients. She explains, “One of the things Buddha said before he died was … ‘Only three things matter in life. Number one: how much you loved. Number two: how gently you lived your life. And number three, which is the hard one: how gracefully you let go of things that do not serve you anymore.’ Don’t fight the diagnosis. It is what it is. Accept the diagnosis and focus on what you can do. How you can challenge your brain, what more you can do to slow down the progression [of the disease] so you can have a good quality of life for you and your family.”
Improving quality of life is the very reason Wexler, of Bristal Assisted Living, and Britt Burner, of Burner Law Group, hosted this webinar. Both emphasized their drive to provide proper care and support to their elderly clients.
“A part of our mission has always been that we need to bring awareness and education to the community,” says Burner. “So by teaming up with all of you today, we really are trying to continue that mission, so we can get closer to that cure.”
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Soundridge, a spacious, classic colonial home, is listed for sale at 629 Bayville Rd. in Locust Valley.
This house, built in 1914, is grand and classy. It sits on a sprawling and secluded 2.07-acre country estate with ample space inside and out. Fine architectural details give the home its historic character while being completely and newly renovated with gorgeous, modern amenities.
The main floor is open with an entry hall leading to a grand, formal living room with a fireplace. There is also a walnut-paneled library and formal dining room with fireplaces. The large eat-in kitchen has its own fireplace, as well as a breakfast area.
The family room has — you guessed it — a fireplace. There are also two offices, a mudroom, and a powder room on the first floor.
In total, the house has seven bedrooms and five full bathrooms. The second floor houses the master suite, including the bedroom, large walk-in closet, spa bath, and sunlit lounging area. Also on the second floor are the remaining bedrooms and a laundry room.
This property also features a spacious attic, a renovated, three-car garage, expansive terraces, and an outdoor, inground pool. Recent updates have been made to the HVAC and electric, roof, insulation, exterior, and windows.
The home is located in a quaint neighborhood in the Village of Lattingtown, close to beaches, Bayville adventure parks, and more.
The asking price is $1,999,950, not including the annual property tax of $53,717.
The real estate agent listed for the property is Kathleen Dodd, of Daniel Gale Assoc Inc., who can be reached at 516-759-4800.
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With dreams of being faster than a speeding bullet, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) last week spearheaded a Congressional push to bring high-speed rail (HSR) to the country’s Northeast corridor.
In a letter fired off to U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Suozzi led 22 members of Congress from seven states, including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, in urging authorization of the North Atlantic Rail Corporation (NARC) to receive federal funds to design, build, and oversee a high-speed rail (HSR) project across the Northeast.
“Now is the time to authorize this massive high-speed rail project which will not only dramatically improve the quality of life and economy of the seven states affected, it will also produce an enormous amount of jobs,” said Suozzi.
The HSR project upon completion would see travel time from Boston to NYC – currently roughly three hours and 50 minutes – cut to one hour and 40 minutes. Proponents of the project put the cost at about $105 billion.
“This authorization will be the delivery vehicle for the North Atlantic Rail (NAR) Network, a bold transportation infrastructure project under consideration for the New York/New England region. The North Atlantic Rail Network will be the nation’s first integrated high-speed, high-performance, and regional rail network, serving the seven-state New York/New England region. It can serve as a prototype for new 21st-century rail networks in the nation’s other megaregions,” the lawmakers wrote.
According to supporters of the project, the HSR will reach speeds along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor of up to 225 MPH. Currently, the high speed along this corridor is 150 mph.
Suozzi said that the new rail line will also reduce local time travel. To travel from Jamaica, Queens to Midtown Manhattan will be shaved to a quick ten minutes. Currently, this travel time takes around 30 minutes.”
Other Congressional members signing on to the letter included Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City), Katherine Clark, Jake Auchincloss, Ayanna Pressley, Jim McGovern, Bill Keating, Stephen Lynch and Lori Trahan from Massachusetts (MA); John Larson and Jim Himes from Connecticut (CT), David Cicilline and Jim Langevin from Rhode Island (RI), Ritchie Torres, Grace Meng from New York (NY), Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster from New Hampshire (NH), Peter Welch from Vermont (VT), and Chellie Pingree from Maine (ME).
The New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) also expressed support for the infrastructure project.
“Public transportation is the lifeblood of our economy and deserves increased investment on the federal level, and we appreciate more federal attention to these needs. The MTA supports improved intercity and commuter rail service for the benefit of all New Yorkers and the region,” said MTA Spokesperson Brianna Borresen.
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Relax in the 2021 top-rated hammock byMarthastewart.com. This double hammock provides durability with its tightly woven high-quality cotton and a stand constructed with a heavy-duty steel that can be assembled in a few minutes without the use of tools. The easily adjustable hammock hooks allow you to decide how low or high you want to lay. With over 30 colors to choose from, this hammock is sure to be the highlight of your yard.
The best-rated charcoal and overall grill for 2021 as rated byfoodandwine.com. The Large EGG can cook 20-pound turkeys, 12 burgers, six chickens vertically, eight steaks, nd seven racks of ribs vertically. The ceramic shell ensures even heat distribution throughout. It’s versatile enough for weekend cookouts or pizza parties, large enough for eight steaks at once, and efficient enough for an impromptu meatloaf for two!
According tonymag.com’s survey of Amazon reviews, this is the top-rated fire pit for 2021. Powered by propane and small in size, this fire pit is compact enough for easy transportation and provides for quick cleanup. The durable high-quality steel construction with protective enamel finish gives it superior stainless-steel burner and fasteners that add a dependable longevity to the fire pit.
This isBestreviews.com top cooler for 2021. “Tough, rugged, and is perfect for camping, tailgating and picnicking.” Made with three inches of PermaFrost Insulation and an extra thick FatWall design, the cooler can provide extended ice retention and keep your drinks and food cold for an extended period of time. All Tundra coolers feature a T-Rex Lid Latch constructed of heavy-duty rubber. This ice chest has plenty of room, holding a limit of redfish or your prized brisket.
-Joseph Gemino and Drashti Mehta
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Crystal McCrary, award-winning film, television producer, director and author, speaks of the people who impacted her early life, past and current projects, and advice on how to be successful.
When searching for Power Women Podcast on your podcast networks make sure to click subscribe to automatically receive each new weekly episode or you can stream us online at podcasts.schnepsmedia.com.
Produced by Chaya Gurkov and Eric Hercules
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While craft beer bars are all the rage right now, some local watering holes cater to patrons who prefer to wet their whistle with whiskey. But which is the best whiskey bar on Long Island?
Long Islanders voted Alibi Speakeasy & Lounge the Best Whiskey Bar on Long Island in the 2021 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest!
Visit The Alibi Speakeasy & Lounge in Farmingdale and prepare to step back in time to the Prohibition era, when grabbing a whiskey was more than a way to blow off steam after work…it could get you a few days in jail!
The Alibi is a unique way to spend a night out, with its list of more than eight top-shelf whiskeys such as Jameson, Jack Daniels, Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey or Dunsmore Irish Whiskey.
If you need some munchies to go with those great whiskeys, check out the Alibi’s eats from apps like pot stickers and mozzarella sticks to homemade paninis, 10-inch bar pizzas and decadent desserts like molten lava cake or black and white cookies.
You never need an excuse to hang out at The Alibi.
Alibi Speakeasy & Lounge is located at 230 Main St. in Farmingdale. It can be reached at 516-586-8622 or alibifarmingdale.com
To find all the other 2021 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest winners, visit bestoflongisland.com Nominate your favorite businesses and people in the 2022 Best of Long Island program through Aug. 31.
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