Ten years have passed since Stephanie Jacob and Kathleen Donaldson uprooted their families from the suburbs of New Orleans to stay with family on the North Fork. READ
Profiles
Mark Gatz was a gentle teacher, a devout lover of jazz, an unyielding worker and — as one fellow musician put it — “the best saxophonist on Long Island.”
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East End Arts School new director Diane Giardi on the porch of the school last week. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
An artist with a holistic approach to lesson planning has been named East End Arts’ newest education director.
Diane Giardi, who began work in the downtown Riverhead office last week, said she’s excited to help teachers prepare curriculums and to build relationships with local artists and community groups.
“One thing I’d like to incorporate is some text in courses — poetry and other aspects of writing and the narrative,” she said. “It would also be nice to bring a little more theater back.”
Junius Atkins Jr. has been working at Suffolk County Community College for over 35 years. The Riverhead High School graduate, who works in a custodial supervisory role, was recently recognized for his service with a SUNY Chancellor’s Award, one of five given each year. SUNY employs 50,000 people statewide. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)
His trademark shiny black boots have walked the halls of Suffolk County Community College’s Eastern Campus for more than 35 years.
As the longest-serving employee on campus, Junius Atkins Jr. of Riverhead has garnered a reputation as an innovative professional and all-around stand-up guy since he started as a part-time custodian in 1977, when the Riverside campus opened. (more…)
Brandon Boardman (at piano) and his teacher, Billy Johnson, perform at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame Gala on Oct. 23. Mr. Boardman, a Riverhead resident who has Asperger’s syndrome, received a standing ovation following the performance. (Credit: Long Island Music Hall of Fame photos)
You won’t see Brandon Boardman using sheet music when he plays piano. That’s because the 20-year-old Riverhead musician can bang out an entire tune — mistake-free — after hearing it just once.
Mr. Boardman, who has Asperger Syndrome, was one of just a handful of performers to receive a standing ovation during last month’s Long Island Music Hall of Fame Gala at The Paramount in Huntington. (more…)