Suffolk County News to debut new website

136th Year, Issue 1 | THURSDAY DECEMBER 26, 2019 |

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Giving the shirts off their back

Local pub and haberdasher raise thousands for holiday gifts

BY SAM DESMOND

Giving back to the community that has grown and supported them, Momo's Too pub owner, Rich Comunale, and Island

Life apparel proprietor, Bill Davis, wanted to make Christmas extra special this year for clients at Angela's House. In discussing all the love they have received from the local towns, Comunale and Davis thought of combining their business efforts to raise funds to

See MOMO'S on page 3

A `Joelle' good time

Filled with jolly fun at Caf? Joelle, siblings sit on Santa's lap as Mrs. Claus looks on with admiration, framed by the quaint Sayville Main Street backdrop. See page 5 for more.

Photo courtesy of Sweezey Photography

INSPIRATION AWARDS

Suffolk County News

to debut new website

New layout, additional features, and more content

BY GLENN ROHRBACKER

The Suffolk County News is getting ready to debut its brand-new website, after months working on a rebranding

effort. The site will feature additional web-only content, more multimedia, an enhanced community calendar, and more. The web address will stay the same, . In addition to the website redesign, SCN will debut its print redesign at the end

See WEBSITE on page 15

Each year, The Suffolk County News recognizes the volunteer work of outstanding local residents and organizations. These are the folks who work diligently and passionately on community and charity work without fanfare.

We're asking our readers to nominate these unsung heroes for our annual Inspiration Awards. Those nominated could be from a local group, a neighbor, someone from your house of worship, or one who just stands out with their consistent, worthy commitment to acts of kindness.

Please send in your nomination with a brief outline of what the nominee has done and how they can be reached to: The Suffolk County News, 20 Medford Ave., Patchogue, NY 11772. Email nominations should be sent to the editor at SCNIBLetter@. We will notify this year's winners and our readers in the New Year.

Send us your nominations!

Oakdale

A Civil War Christmas

Page 9

Sayville

Rallying around Matt

Page 5

WEEKLY PERIODICAL

2 SUFFOLK COUNTY NEWS - DECEMBER 26, 2019

INSIDE

COMMUNITY NEWS

Editorial................................ 6 Around Town........................ 7 Years Ago...........................10 Obituaries........................... 11 Public Notices....................12

Rose Santoro celebrates

101st birthday

Rose Santoro was joined by Islip supervisor Angie Carpenter at a celebration marking her 101st birthday this week. The birthday party took place at The Bristal in Sayville, where 81 kids from the Sycamore Avenue Elementary School in Bohemia joined Carpenter in singing "Happy Birthday" to Rose. The students followed with a performance of Christmas carols to the audience of assembled residents. Happy Birthday, Rose!

Courtesy photo

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BACK ISSUES Back Copies of Suffolk County News are charged at a cost of $1.00 per copy for the current month plus an additional $1.00 for each preceding month. Entered as periodical matter at the post office at Sayville, N.Y. 11782 under the act of March 3, 1879.

VFW Christmas party for

hospitalized vets

On Sunday, Dec. 8, Sayville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 433 hosted their annual Holiday Party for Hospitalized Veterans. For over 20 years, Post 433 has been holding this event, inviting veterans from our local health care facilities to celebrate the holiday with us at the Post on Lakeland Avenue. Over 50 veterans and their families joined this year, most from the Northport VA Medical Center, the Stony Brook State Veterans Home and the Arbors Assisted Living facility in Bohemia.

As always, students from the Sayville High School History Club, under the leadership of Susan Hart, joined in serving the veterans a wonderful holiday dinner, interacting with them and acting as Santa's elves by handing out gifts. The students also donated over 200 scratch-off tickets to hand out to the veteran guests and then helped them to reveal their prizes. Everyone left a winner.

The members of Post 433 consider it a privilege to be able to provide a little seasonal joy to these men and women who have served their country as members of the United States Armed Forces.

Courtesy photo

Where Long Island

WINS!

L.I.E. Exit 58

Must be 18 to enter Gaming Floor, play Video Gaming Machines, or wager on horse racing. Please play responsibly. If gambling is a problem for you or someone you care about, please call the 24-hour toll-free help line at 1-877-8HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369).

SUFFOLK COUNTY NEWS - DECEMBER 26, 2019 3

BAYPORT-BLUE POINT

Momo's _____________________________________________________

FROM PAGE 1

buy gifts--both necessities and niceties--for families in difficult circumstances due to medical issues.

Unveiling a limited edition "Island Life" T-shirt in Momo's edgy black and red colors, Comunale and his devoted colleagues wore the apparel and shared the worthy cause with their enthusiastic patrons: for $20, taking no profit, each shirt would raise $10 towards a fund for the children and families of Angela's House, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization started by the Policastro family to help those with developmental disabilities. From just October to early December, Comunale and Davis raised nearly $3,000 and sold close to 300 T-shirts for their donation to Angela's House. Momo's Too in Bayport now has around 250 presents--toys, clothes, crafts, makeup, games, gift cards--for Angela's House recipients in its Christmas display. Comunale and Davis split their time and shopped respectively for a range of age groups, from 3 to 11 and 12 to teenager, at Target and Costco.

The mantra of "Island Life" as helping the community is particularly important to Davis, who says of his catchy brand name, "Island life is what it means to you. Is it the beach? Closeness to the city? Bagels? It's an encompassing idea where everyone is welcome to the `island life' because we all value each

other on the island." Comunale's wife and co-owner, Tracey, who is often decorating Momo's Too to be festive and inviting, helped design the T-shirt that proved popular in aesthetic as well as in its cause to patrons.

Of the fundraising initiative, Comunale said, "I bought the first batch of T-shirts outright. I am so appreciative of the community I grew up in and my role now in its commerce that I value greatly. To give back as a business owner is to come full circle with the dream I had when I opened my place." n

BELOW: Over 250 presents were purchased and donated, ready to go to clients at Angela's House.

Courtesy photos

ABOVE: The raucous and fun-loving bartenders of Momo's Too show off their "Island Life" shirts, whose sale was able to raise nearly $3,000 in charity for gifts to children with developmental disabilities and their families.

Best-decorated

house winners

The Blue Point Civic Coalition hosted its second annual Holiday House Decorating Contest. With over a dozen entries for the coveted prize of "best decorated" home in Bayport-Blue Point, the competition was fierce for both the Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association's pick and the Kids' Choice (local Girl Scout Troop 179). In the end, the winners were chosen for their unbound Christmas spirit and inventive interpretation of theme.

SCN/Desmond

4 SUFFOLK COUNTY NEWS - DECEMBER 26, 2019

NEW YEAR'S EVE

New Year's Eve festivities

Where will you enjoy your final 2019 meal?

BY SAM DESMOND & RANDALL WASZYNSKI

multiple seatings available. Expect the freshest seafood, deliciously, delicately, and decadently prepared to ring in the new roaring `20s.

The View

3 Consuelo Place, Oakdale

Start off the New Year with fine dining at The View's $89 pp. (excluding taxes and gratuities) dinner. You can ring in the new '20s with extravagant, Gatsby-style appetizers like tuna and foie gras sandwiches or Peking duck tacos.

Villa Lombardi's

877 Main Street, Holbrook

The Blue

526 Main Street, Islip

Purchase the New Year's Eve dinner package that includes a DJ, dancing and a three-hour open bar for $115. It is suggested to set dinner reservations after purchasing tickets. The Blue is offering a special New Year's Eve menu that features five appetizers, six entrees and three desserts. Dessert will be served immediately after the simulated ball drop at midnight.

Have all the fun of a Times Square New Year's Eve party without the crowds and

Marconi Lodge

the LIRR trip. Villa Lombardi's $129 pp.

333 Moffitt Boulevard, Islip

package includes champagne service and a bar for everyone: drinks, charcuterie, and mashed potatoes!

The Guglielmo Marconi Lodge will be hosting an elegant buffet dinner, full bar, coffee and ice cream bar beginning at 8

Karvers Grille

p.m. Tickets are $85 and are to be purchased in advance. Music will be provided

480 Patchogue-Holbrook Road, Hol- by DJ Rick.

brook

If you want a low-key New Year's Eve

Maxwell's

with the comfort of every day, Karvers is

501 Main Street, Islip

keeping their regular menu available for Beginning at 9 p.m., Maxwell's will offer

the evening's festivities.

an open bar that includes all tap beer,

The Fish Store

house wine and premium well drinks. Entry is $60 and available upon reserva-

836 Montauk Highway, Bayport

tion. Don't miss the champagne toast at

The Fish Store will have another over- midnight, followed by party favors and a the-top prix fixe menu for 2020 with late-night bagel bar.

bulletin ad 1-4 pg LG:Paragon 12/19/12 2:15 PM Page 2

Make plans to spend your New Year's Eve at a local restaurant.

Stock photo

Jackson Hall

335 East Main Street, Islip

Southside says they have been celebrating since Prohibition.

Purchase the Gold Package for $95 that includes a top-shelf open bar, lavish buffet, passed-hours hors d'oeuvres, a champagne toast and party favors. Festivities will begin at 9 p.m. for dancing all night long. There is also a raffle for a gift basket.

Southside

5 3rd Avenue, Bay Shore

Festivities begin at 9 p.m., and tickets may be purchased in advance for $50.

The Linwood

150 East Main Street, Bay Shore

Established in 2019, the Linwood will host its first New Year's Eve celebration available upon reservation. Dinner service commences at 5 p.m., serving the full menu. There will be a champagne toast at midnight along with party favors, and the bar will be open late night with drink specials available all night.

WISHING OUR NEIGHBORS A VERY HAPPY &

H E A LT H Y N EW Y E A R

Happy New Year

To Our Friends and Neighbors

2020

SUFFOLK TRANSPORTATION SERVICE, INC.

Season's Greetings from OurFamily to Yours



from the

LAW OFFICES OF

SIBEN & SIBEN, LLP

90 EAST MAIN STREET, BAY SHORE

665-3400

STEPHEN G. SIBEN ? ANDREW B. SIBEN MARK A. RUDNER ? JACQUELINE SIBEN

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SUFFOLK COUNTY NEWS - DECEMBER 26, 2019 5

SAYVILLE

It takes a village to make team

`Never Ever Give Up' complete

BY JAMES BERTSCH

A mere 12-year-old, Jessie Rees preached "Never Ever Give Up" (NEGU) in her heroic battle against childhood cancer. Sixteen-year-old Sayville teen Matthew Zender, who also adopted NEGU as his battle cry, is fighting his own battle with cancer, osteosarcoma in his leg. Matt has undergone extensive chemotherapy. He faces the possible amputation of his leg. But Matt is not alone. Team Matt Zender has grown into an army. That army consists of the fencing team he captains, the Sayville High School Band, his two siblings (the other two parts of their triplet team), his parents, Sally and Mark Zender, and the entire community. Matt's dad, band teacher, and fencing coach are interviewed below. All have stepped up to form a circle of love around Matt, a young man whose inner joy lights up a room. All thought we were helping Matt. What we learned is that Matt is helping us. Matt is making us a community. For together we fight! We fight for Matt! Join our army at mattzender.

How has your reaching out to family, friends and community for support helped Matt and your family manage his care?

Mark Zender: We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our family, friends and community. The responses we have received have involved all areas of our lives and have been phenomenal. Matthew did well with surgery to replace much of his lower leg and knee. He continues to progress through his chemotherapy and is working to keep up with his schoolwork through home tutoring. Reaching out through social media has allowed us to keep everyone apprised of his progress and has enabled us to remain in contact with his well-wishers and supporters. Social media has helped us not only care for Matthew, but also his triplet siblings, including carpooling and support at events when we are tied up at the hospital with Matthew. Hearing from so many has helped bolster his spirits and realize he is not alone in his fight.

As Matt's fencing coach, what lesson do you hope Matt and your team take with them into adulthood about the importance of "showing up" for your teammates?

Jill Brown (fencing coach): I hope my team will take with them a sense of responsibility towards others, that when people come together they can create

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Zender family members, with Matthew center, gather to thank everyone for their support.

BELOW: The Zender triplets at a young age.

Courtesy photos

change. We don't have to be in another person's shoes, or have walked the path they're traveling, to extend compassion. Compassion is the only ingredient needed to light the way for us to follow. My hope is that the fencing team will continue to offer compassion to others as they move into adulthood. For Matt, as he moves into his own adulthood, I hope he remembers he was never alone, and that an entire community and then some rallied for his well-being. I hope he will have peace and health and love in his life.

As its conductor, you've made supporting Matt a priority for the Say-

ville High School Band. How do you think rallying support helps Matt and all your students?

Kerri Van Boxel (band teacher): I think it's so important to teach our students to be kind, caring individuals. Many of the students in the band program have been together since they were fifth graders. We are like a family. When one of us is suffering, we are all suffering. When one of us is fighting, we all fight. When I shared the news about Matt and how I wanted us to come together to show our support, the students were 100 percent on board. The students felt good about supporting Matt and his family during this difficult time. I think it was important for Matt to know that the students in the band were thinking about him and supporting him in his fight. We felt proud to wear our "Team Matt" shirts to show our support during football games and parades. I hope that having our support helped Matt get through some of the tough times.

What person, group or organization's response to Matt has been unexpected to you and your family?

Zender: We have been blown away by the support and assistance of the Sayville Fencing Team and the greater Suffolk Fencing community. Coach Jill Brown has carried the flag in coordinating fundraisers for Matthew, and has spearheaded efforts to keep Matt active and involved with his teammates while he undergoes therapy. Matt is a captain of the Sayville Fencing Team. He is passionate about the sport and has enjoyed leading his teammates. The response from his team and other Suffolk fencing teams has been astounding. He has also had tremendous support from the Sayville School District, the Sayville music community and especially Mrs. Kerri Van Boxel, who coordinated a fundraiser in support of Matt. Matt attends both fencing and music events whenever he is home from the hospital and his condition allows. There have been so many other supporters; I wish I could mention them all.

What is one thing about Matt that makes him so special to you?

Brown: The one thing about Matt that makes him so special to me is how he makes others feel. He brings with him joy. He is funny, smart and caring, and has an abundance of personality, but for me, it's how he lights up a room with joy when he walks into it. He makes everyone around him feel good. Really how the community has responded to Matt has everything to do with him as a person. Everyone loves Matt. Everyone respects Matt as a human being. He has touched many lives in his 16 years. This sweet kid and his family deserve better days ahead.

What is one thing about Matt that makes him so special to you?

Van Boxel: Matt is one of the most kind and generous students I have ever had. He is always willing to help and goes above and beyond. No matter what Matt is going through, he keeps smiling. He is an inspiration not only to his classmates, but to the entire community as well. n

Santa had a `Joelle' good time

Mr. and Mrs. Claus make a visit to Caf? Joelle

BY SAM DESMOND

Santa and his sweetheart came to Caf? Joelle in Sayville on a busy Wednesday night before Christmas to get some last-minute gift wishes. Around 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 18, Mr. and Mrs. Claus came into Caf? Joelle, quietly entering the backdoor, and made their way towards the warm and inviting Yuletide seating area set up for them at the front of the restaurant. Dressed in their red splendor, Santa and Mrs. Claus were instantly recognized by the young diners in the cozy booths of Caf? Joelle.

Josh Caporucio, owner of Caf? Joelle, was keen on having Santa visit as part of his holiday charity initiative for Birthday Smiles, an organization that holds birthday parties for children currently at homeless shelters. Those wishing to visit Santa were asked to bring one unwrapped present to donate to Birthday Smiles. The organization, based in Colorado, has helped make birthdays a happy occasion for over 11,000 children at shelters in the Denver area. Each party is complete with the child's requested presents and cake, ice cream, drinks, decorations, crafts, small gifts for all other attending children, and entertainment when available.

"Our Santa is here for all the people who believe in Christ-

mas magic," Caporucio said as his own children, a 4-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter, waited in excited anticipation for Santa's visit. Upon arrival, Santa and Mrs. Claus were greeted with exuberant hugs and excited chatter, surprisingly not about what presents they wanted for Christmas, but about how the couple was enjoying their stay in Sayville. "Are the reindeer outside?" one boy asked, to which Santa chuckled.

LEFT: Before ending their visit to Sayville, the Christmas couple reviews the menu for next year's return.

Photos courtesy of Sweezey Photography

RIGHT: Mrs. Claus chides Santa for eyeing up the delicious desserts at Caf? Joelle.

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