Blue Devil Marching Band Places Fifth In State

Huntington’s color guard on the field at Syracuse University. Photo/Darin Reed

Huntington High School’s Blue Devil marching band wrapped up its competitive season with a fifth place finish in the New York State Field Band Conference championships in Syracuse last week.

Huntington competed against some very strong bands. Huntington scored 85.15 at the championships, trailing Horseheads (89.75), Kingston (86.60), Orchard Park (86.45) and Corning-Painted Post (86.15).

Blue Devil band director Brian Stellato and his staff, drum majors Robert Jean-Gilles, Jennifer Low and Michael Reed, field major Andrew Knowles and section leaders are all proud of the season turned in by the band’s musicians and color guard.

“I’m beyond happy with how the season went for the Huntington Blue Devil marching band,” Jean-Gilles said. “So many memories were made for so many people and it does sadden me to leave this amazing program. But I know that the future of this band is in great hands.”

The band impressed judges and audiences across the metropolitan area over the past two months as the Blue Devils went about winning trophies at weekly invitational competitions.

“We had an amazing performance at Syracuse and everyone walked off the field feeling proud,” Low said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better show to end the season with.”

The band and color guard began preparing for this year’s field show last spring. A mini-camp and full weeklong camp along with evening rehearsals helped the teenagers master the technical aspects of the show.

“There is an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment throughout the band that is consistent with the amazing season we had and the show that we put on at the dome on Sunday,” Reed said.

The Blue Devils were sharp at the Syracuse Carrier Dome last Sunday. Huntington’s marching band history dates to 1934 and since its founding the group has paraded and competed across the country.

“My greatest takeaway was the amazing spirit and pride everyone had the entire season,” senior musician Christopher Mavrogian. “Every group has their ups and downs, but this band truly soared from start to finish.”

“Out of the five years that I’ve been a part of this program it is obvious to that this season has been the best,” said senior Neil Jean-Baptiste, one of the clarinet section leaders. “It’s all because of our younger and newer members. I had the honor to educate our members and witness pride grow throughout the season. Everyone became leaders in our family. I’m very excited to see what comes in the future.”

The Blue Devils are upbeat and happy with how the season unfolded and how it concluded last weekend in Syracuse.

“This season was by far the best,” said senior Zubair Ali, one of the low brass section leaders. “I felt such camaraderie between each individual and such pride in our band. We put forth our best efforts and I truly cherished every moment. It was very emotional for me since I was section leader and it was my last year. I forged new relationships with new members, which I hope to maintain and I had a blast with all my veteran friends. This season was truly an honor to be a part of and I’m so proud to be a Huntington Blue Devil marching band member!”

District To Detail Projects In $34.5M Bond At Forum

Science labs at the junior/senior high school would be replaced with a science learning center that includes a marine lab.

The Cold Spring Harbor school board and district administration will hold a community forum to detail for residents the specifics of a proposed $34.45 million bond.  

The forum will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, starting at 8 p.m., at the Francis Roberts Community Center, 75 Goose Hill Road.  

The purpose of the forum is to ensure that all residents are informed voters and have the facts regarding the district’s upcoming bond vote on Tuesday, Nov. 19, according to a district spokesperson. During the forum the district will review the details of the final scope of proposed work to be funded by the bond.

 Voter approval of the bond is required. The vote is set for Tuesday, Nov. 12.

 The district conducted community surveys to prioritize projects. Renovations and upgrades focus on three areas: enhanced safety and security, increased academic opportunities and preserving/improving facilities, according to a district handout.

Numerous projects are included in the bond that will address the specific needs in each of the district’s schools creating a new teaching and learning environment for the benefit of current and future students. The projects include improved security for all schools, including bullet-resistant glass for hallway doors; expanded kitchen, renovated cafeteria and additional parking at West Side Elementary School; classroom alterations and renovations to the Little Theatre at Lloyd Harbor Elementary School; renovated music space at Goosehill Primary School; and multiple enhancements to CSH Jr./Sr. High School. Among them are a new science learning center with four classrooms and a marine lab built around the school’s Coral Reef Project; a new STEAM suite including robotics space; and the relocation and renovation of the school’s weightlifting room into a multiuse physical education/sports training space.

Despite the price tag, the project cost would be “tax levy neutral” as existing debt expiring in 2021 and 2022 will be replaced at no additional cost to taxpayers, according the district.

Detailed information about the projects is available on the district’s website. Visit the district website at www.csh.k12.ny.us.

The bond vote will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Ralph Whitney Field House at CSH Jr./Sr. High School.

Voters Return Incumbents In Town, County Races

Election day winners, top row, from left, are: Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone; County Legislators Susan Berland, Tom Donnelly and William R. “Doc” Spencer; bottom row: Huntington Councilwoman Joan Cergol, Councilman Gene Cook; Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman; Town Clerk Andrew Raia.

With the 2019 elections concluded, many things remained the same. The County Executive Bellone stays in power, as do Huntington’s three County Legislators: William R. “Doc” Spencer, Tom Donnelly and Susan Berland. All won with comfortable margins.

Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman won reelection over challenger Stacy Colamussi with 52.4 percent

In the Town of Huntington, Assemblyman Andrew Raia will be the new Town Clerk. In an interview with soon to be the former Assemblyman, a job that he held for 17 years, he indicated that on election night it was bittersweet for him. On the one hand, winning the office was what he campaigned for. On the other hand, it means his mother, Jo-Ann Raia, will be stepping down after 38 years in office. The Town of Huntington has had a remarkable run with the retiring Town Clerk. When Raia took over, the records in the town archives were in total disarray. She transformed the office into the standard of what a Town Clerk’s office should be and is held in esteem throughout the State of New York.

Andrew Raia said that the Town Clerk will be an interesting role to be in “since the position is a pure Public Service role and not a political role”. He said he is looking forward to this job.

Andrew Raia observed that the Democratic Party did a better job pulling out the vote than the Republican Party did.

When asked if there will be a special election to fill his Assembly seat, Raia said “it is 100 percent at the discretion of the Governor. If the Governor calls a special election , and it would have to be after December 31, which is when Raia resigns his seat. Raia explained that the State then has 77 days to schedule the special election. Raia pointed out that “this could be very interesting timing” since the Democratic Presidential Primary will be in March and they could dovetail the special election with the Democratic primary.

We caught up with the re-elected Councilman Eugene Cook. Cook related that since the state changed the date for filing petitions to February, it made 2019 a very long year for campaigning for office.

In the next four years, Cook said he looks forward to working on quality-of-life issues, most notably the concept of personal sewage treatment facilities within individual homes. Cook feels that “we have long ignored water quality issues” and need to take it seriously to make sure that our water remains safe for the future. He is suggesting that in a single family home, where there are renovations of 50 percent or more, personal treatment equipment is added to remove toxins before wastewater goes into the ground and eventually into the aquifer.

Also high on his agenda is an immediate investigation of the health concern issues that the Northport Middle School families are facing. He feels this is urgent.

We asked the Councilman if he had heard the rumor that on Election Day some Republicans received an auto text urging them to “bullet-vote” for Andre Sorrentino, his Republican running mate, in favor of voting for Councilman Cook. Cook’s only comment: “I heard that also.”

The Town Council election was tighter than anticipated with Councilperson Joan Cergol winning the majority of the votes. Democrat Kathleen Cleary, who had only  the Democratic line, pulled well in light of that, but finished fourth.

Analysis of the unofficial final results shows the importance that the third parties have in a local election. With only 595 votes separating Cook and Sorrentino, it’s likely the Independence line (614) gave Cook the win.

A Win For The History Books

History was made when Huntington’s Victoria Gumbs Moore won one of two seats to the Suffolk County Family Court.. She will be the first African American woman judge to serve on the Family Court in Suffolk County. In a field of four, with two seats open, Gumbs Moore took the second seat by a comfortable margin of over 5 percent over her nearest competitor. Congratulations to Judge-elect Gumbs Moore on a hard fought battle to attain victory and this historic first.

 By James Kelly
jkelly@longislandergroup.com