Northport Journal

27/03/2025

On Tuesday, March 25, Northport Village Chief of Police Chris Hughes, a U.S. Air Force veteran, former Northport Fire Chief, and member of the Northport Police Department for 25 years, completed his final walkout of Village Hall and entered retirement. Hughes, who was born and raised in Northport, was sworn in as chief in 2019. Alan Bakker, who has been serving as the department’s lieutenant, will take his place.

On Tuesday, March 25, Northport Village Chief of Police Chris Hughes, a U.S. Army veteran, former Northport Fire Chief, and member of the Northport Police Department for 25 years, completed his final walkout of Village Hall and entered retirement. Hughes, who was born and raised in Northport, was sw...

26/03/2025

To celebrate upcoming events at both Trinity Community Art Center (TCAC) and Gunther’s Tap Room, the Northport Journal is sharing below an article written by Harrison LeBow in 2021, on novelist, poet, once-Northport resident and Gunther’s patron Jack Kerouac.

The back-to-back events begin this Friday, March 28 from 5 to 8pm, when TCAC will host its inaugural “Words to Vision” exhibit, an uplifting event that combines art, history and community spirit, inspired this year by Kerouac, the King of the Beats. Bob and Nancy Hendricks will reveal their portrait of Gunther’s, the latest addition to their Main Street series, at 7:30pm.

At 7:45pm, Kerouac and Gunther’s enthusiasts will gather at the tap room for an Icon Award ceremony, led by Terry Reid of the Northport Historical Society and Museum. The Icon Award, created in 2022 for the Icons of Northport exhibit, recognizes the individuals and businesses who played a significant role in shaping the Village of Northport. Gunther’s Tap Room was born in 1962, when Peter Gunther purchased the old Commercial Bar and Grill from Giuseppe Cavagnaro.

Click the link to read the 2021 Journal story on Kerouac.

To celebrate upcoming events at both Trinity Community Art Center (TCAC) and Gunther’s Tap Room, the

24/03/2025

One of the most prestigious 10Ks in the country, the Great Cow Harbor 10K Run will be held on Saturday, September 20. Registration opened on March 20. Runner’s World has named the run one of the top 100 races in the US, and New England Runner regularly places it in its Top 100 Races, referring to it as a “big race atmosphere in a small town.” The race, which attracts elite and competitive runners, joggers and those scratching the race off their bucket list, sells out every year (so register soon!).

It’s that time of year again, when both avid runners and those who have always wanted to be a part of the largest running race on Long Island can register for the Great Cow Harbor 10K.

24/03/2025

Save the date for the Northport Journal’s third annual Sunset Gala! This year’s theme is DREAMERS. The people with hope in their eyes and hearts on their sleeves. The ones who had a vision and saw it through, who overcame challenges with courage and optimism, and changed our community for the better.

Dreamers push themselves (and us) to be greater, stronger, braver.

We’re calling on our readers to nominate a member of the Northport-East Northport community who you consider to be a dreamer. We will use your nominations to help select our three honorees at this year’s gala, which will be held on Friday, June 27.

Please fill out this form by April 7 to submit your nominations; you may submit more than one person: https://forms.gle/MsWNApBWGUDDfXLj7

More information on the gala and reserving your tickets to come soon.

21/03/2025

Check out some of the happenings in town over the next few weeks... there's something for everyone, from 80s rock music, "an insidious conspiracy on Long Island," a bowl-a-rama at Larkfield Lanes and doll tea party:

TONIGHT: Zebra lead singer Randy Jacksons performs at La Porta Pizza
March 30: FUNdraiser at Larkfield Lanes
April 3: Steve Wicks, an award-winning Long Island journalist, discusses his fiction debut, “The Ruins," at Nest on Main
April 5: A doll tea party at the Northport Historical Society and Museum

Click through to our Happenings section for all the details... https://northportjournal.com/happenings

20/03/2025

While major cuts have yet to hit the Northport VA workforce, Bob Dennis, an East Northport resident and president of AFGE Local 1843, said employees there are in a constant state of trepidation, uncertain if they will have a job tomorrow. “When you walk around the campus, you can see the stress on people. It’s wearing on everybody,” he said.

“When Doug Collins came on, he said he was going to help out the veterans. I can’t see how you’re helping the veterans by taking away services,” Dennis added, noting that any reductions in staff will start to affect the care of the patients at the VA.

“They’re talking about reduction in forces, and right now we’re already struggling for care,” he said. Nursing units are especially short-staffed, with many employees working double shifts just to maintain an adequate level of care; according to Dennis, some are putting in 75 hours overtime in one pay period, in addition to their regular 80 hours of work. He’s worried being understaffed will lead to employee burnout: in the nursing staff, medical support assistance and even the mailroom.

“The force is already too low,” Dennis said.

Bob Dennis, an East Northport resident and president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1843, has been working at the Northport VA Medical Center for 17 years, most recently as an equipment engineering operator on the grounds and operations crew. Last week he was one of near...

18/03/2025

Last year, the Rotary collected more than 10,000 pairs of shoes through its Soles4Souls drive, originally spearheaded by local residents Anita and Bill Thomas, who both passed away in May 2020, just six days apart. If the drive reaches the amount raised last year, the Rotary has pledged to donate 100 new pairs of shoes to Helping Hands/Family Service League in the Town of Huntington.

The Anita and Bill Thomas Soles4Souls Shoe Drive, hosted by the Northport and East Northport Rotary Clubs, is entering the final stretch, running through March 29 with drop off locations throughout town.

15/03/2025

Northport Village’s Indigo Room, “a place for creative souls and free spirits,” is closing in a few months, owner Kim Gardner Kennedy announced on the store’s Instagram page at the beginning of March.

Kennedy moved her store to its current Main Street location in 2020. “After 5 years of Indigo Room (and 10 years of being in business), it’s time for something new for me,” Kennedy wrote.

Northport Village’s Indigo Room, “a place for creative souls and free spirits,” is closing in a few months, owner Kim Gardner Kennedy announced on the store’s Instagram page at the beginning of March.

13/03/2025

There’s a new bakery in town, the kind that might make you want to slow down and stay awhile. Charlie’s Bakery, located in the Country Village Shopping Center on Fort Salonga Road in Northport, welcomed a steady stream of first timers and soon-to-be regulars last week, its third week in business.

Casey Sandler, a Manhattan native who moved to Northport about three years ago, opened Charlie’s Bakery during a blizzard, which led right into President’s Day and winter break for the local school districts. Foot traffic was light at first but Sandler didn’t mind; the off-season opening gave him time to get to know his customers, what they like and what they would love to see more often. Charlie’s staff continues to welcome suggestions as the bakery prepares to quadruple its output for the spring season. Visitors can expect an evolving menu, based on customer feedback and seasonal ingredients, he said.

Currently selling fast are the croissants, chocolate chip cookies, mini key lime pies and fresh baked breads, according to Sandler. Cinnamon buns and a flower cupcake are also gaining popularity. An unexpected find in the bakery is the Pavlova, a meringue-based dessert named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.

There’s a new bakery in town, the kind that might make you want to slow down and stay awhile. Charlie’s Bakery, located in the Country Village Shopping Center on Fort Salonga Road in Northport, welcomed a steady stream of first timers and soon-to-be regulars last week, its third week in business...

11/03/2025

64 and sunny ☀️ on the court today.

10/03/2025

In addition to her professional work, Oristano’s volunteer efforts have provided a constant source of inspiration, allowing her to connect with others and contribute to causes she truly believes in. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to make a difference, and this award further fuels my commitment to serving my community,” Oristano said. “This achievement is a reflection of the collective efforts of all those who have supported me, and I share this moment with them.”

Northport Village resident Linda Oristano was recently honored as a Suffolk County Woman of Distinction for the 18th District by Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-18th L.D.). A celebration luncheon was held at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge this last Tuesday, March 4.

07/03/2025

The facilitating team will work with district leaders and Discovery Works experts to plan discussions about the future of the schools, share information about district programs and challenges, gather feedback on priorities, explore ways to improve student learning opportunities, and assess the resources needed to sustain strong programs and quality learning environments. Team members will serve as facilitators, citizen leaders and spokespersons for the initiative. The process will conclude with the presentation of a final report to the BOE, summarizing findings and informing the district’s strategic planning efforts.

A “facilitating team” composed of community members, working together with a newly hired consultant, will soon be tasked with developing a report on the priorities and values of the Northport-East Northport (NEN) school district community in order to determine its future. At its February 18 boar...

07/03/2025

Check out our Happenings section weekly for more events in and around town, including this St. Patrick's Day bar and trivia crawl tomorrow...

Click here for our growing list of happenings: https://northportjournal.com/happenings

06/03/2025

Variety Child Learning Center (VCLC), a nonprofit organization providing specialized services to children from six weeks to eight years of age, announced yesterday that it is fully on track to open its facility at Bellerose Avenue Elementary School in the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District this summer.

In July, VCLC will be opening preschool classes for 3- and 4-year-olds with special needs. These special education classes are taught by master’s-degree-level early childhood special education teachers. Related services, including speech, occupational and physical therapies, will also be available, as will child and parent therapy as provided by licensed social workers.

Come September, the school will begin universal pre-kindergarten classes in collaboration with the Northport-East Northport school district. There will be both general education classes as well as integrated classes (special class in an integrated setting, or "SCIS").

Variety Child Learning Center (VCLC), a nonprofit organization providing specialized services to children from six weeks to eight years of age, announced yesterday that it is fully on track to open its facility at Bellerose Avenue Elementary School in the Northport-East Northport Union Free School D...

05/03/2025

Congressman Nick LaLota will be hosting a virtual Town Hall tomorrow, March 5, at 6pm. Use the link below to register, which must be done at least one hour prior to start time.

Please note that you must sign up a minimum of 1 hour prior to an event's start time to be included in that event.

03/03/2025

The tradition at Napper Tandy’s began in 2000, when Northport resident John McKenna and a committee of volunteers brought the St. Baldrick’s Day event to the Irish pub’s Laurel Avenue location. Every year, men, women and children sign up to have their heads shaved in the hopes of finding a cure for childhood cancer. The event also brings spectators and supporters who partake in the day’s festivities, which include raffles, the sale of sports memorabilia, and an overwhelming sense of camaraderie and community. A highlight raffle this year includes two round-trip tickets on JetBlue, anywhere the airline flies.

All are welcome.

A decades-long tradition returns to Napper Tandy’s this weekend, as St. Baldrick’s participants, teams and supporters gather in solidarity with kids whose lives have been affected by cancer. The largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants, St. Baldrick’s has its origins in North...

01/03/2025

Art, absinthe and Laser Gaga...

After a brief winter hiatus, our Happenings section is back. We're adding local events and save the dates often, so check our website for things to do in and around town now into the summer months: https://northportjournal.com/happenings

More to come!

26/02/2025

The synthetic turf fields at Veterans Park in East Northport have been replaced, a project approved two years ago by the-then Huntington Town Board. Work began this past November and was completed around the new year.

Original construction of the two turf fields was completed in 2009, part of a multi-million-dollar investment by the Town of Huntington that helped transform and expand Veterans Park into the multi-sport and family-friendly facility it is today.

The issuance of $1.4 million in bonds to replace the synthetic turf at Veterans Park was approved by the Huntington Town Board at its March 14, 2023 meeting.