YOUR HOMETOWN PAPER SINCE 1871 | www.longislandadvance.net | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 | $1 VOTE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 RE-ELECT Mayor Paul Pontieri Trustee John A. (Jack) Krieger Trustee Lori Devlin • Trustee Thomas Ferb EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST FOLLOW @PATCHOGUE2020 ON #PATCHOGUE2020 Paid for by Friends of PAtchogue PATCHOGUE2020.COM 10 things to know about the 2020 census lowing 10 facts come from a public session D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the How to participate, and why at the Patchogue-Medford Library and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana You can prevent someone you should get counted from the U.S. Census Bureau website: Islands, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. from knocking at your door. Everyone needs to be counted. There are four ways If you don’t want a visit from a Census Bureau worker, you should plan to take BY GLENN ROHRBACKER It is in the Constitution that a nation- to take the survey. the census online, by phone or by mail. wide census be performed every 10 years. According to a timeline from the Census The 2020 U.S. census will begin soon, For the first time, the U.S. census can Every person living in the United States Bureau, reminders will be sent out sev- and it is already underway in some remote be taken online and over the phone. You must be counted, and eral times by mail between March 12 and parts of the country. Communities across will get an invitation between March 12 PATCHOGUE counted only once. April 30. If you still haven’t responded, the U.S. are coming together to get “com- and 20 with a code directing you to the This includes service you could be called on by census takers, plete counts” in order to have accurate VILLAGE online portal. It is also possible to take the members; infants born who will begin visiting homes to try to get results in this year’s survey, which will survey by phone, by mailing in the form after April 1; those experiencing home- then be used for the next decade. The fol- or in person. See 2020 CENSUS on page 5 lessness; and those living in Washington, “It’s my opportunity to give back that love” founder. Newsday’s Olivia Winslow and Of Colors Black History Keith Herbert were the recipients of the Exhibition & Diversity Melba Tolliver Award for their series on real estate steering. Celebration was standing “It’s a real tribute to our culture that everyone comes out,” Hunter said, look- room-only last weekend ing at the packed gallery. BY LINDA LEUZZI Stacks of folding chairs kept coming in. While Saturday night was frigid, the Mayor Paul Pontieri commented that Of Colors Black History Exhibition & in 2006 “we were standing in a park- Diversity Celebration rocked warm with ing lot,” of Artspace’s metamorphosis. greetings, stories and awards in the Pat- “Now we’re standing in a place that chogue Artspace Gallery. changed a communi- People grouped in chairs on the west PATCHOGUE ty.” Legis. Rob Calarco area space. In the middle. On the east VILLAGE said, “Your culture is section by the side door. In the back. my culture. That’s the Even in the entrance lobby. It was beauty of living in America.” standing room only. Tolliver, who pointed to a special The gallery walls glowed with beau- award sculpture of Harriet Tubman by tiful, bold art pieces. There were jew- artist James Counts and told a bit of elry offerings and creations made by her own story, also coaxed background Artspace residents, and food and wine. tales out of the performers and awardees Captain Kirk Douglas, guitarist of including Captain Kirk Douglas, who The Roots and “Tonight Show Starring grew up in Holbrook. Douglas said that Jimmy Fallon” fame, drove in from seeing guitarist Vernon Reid in the rock Brooklyn, a polite, low-key presence band Living Colour on television gave who roused the audience. So did singer him the possibility that there might be a Destiny Robinson, who traveled from place for him too. Ridge, and Long Island Perhaps one of the most poignant tell- flutist Dwayne Kerr. Sar- ings came from David Bunn, brother of iah Scott played a mean awardee John Bunn, founder of A Voice steel drum. DJ Rob 4 the Unheard, who couldn’t make the James kept the beat ceremony. John Bunn was wrongfully going. Little ones, in incarcerated for 17 years, for a crime he the arms of aunts and didn’t commit at age 14, and eventually moms, bounced in tune exonerated. David Bunn chronicled the with the harmonic joy or heartache, persistence and concern the The Of Colors Black History Exhibition & Diversity Celebration hosted a riveted, standing room- tried to break free and dance with the family experienced in fighting for their only crowd Saturday night featuring talented musicians and award winners. Captain Kirk Douglas music. loved one as well what his brother went (above) — guitarist in The Roots and of “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” fame — drove in Former News 12 anchor Melba Tolliver through. from Brooklyn; the Holbrook native was a polite, low-key presence who roused the audience. was the engaging host with Tracy Todd Patchogue-Medford Schools Superin- ADV/Leuzzi Hunter, Artspace resident and Of Colors See BLACK HISTORY MONTH on page 27 WEEKLY PERIODICAL Vol. 149, Issue 28 PATCHOGUE VILLAGE Indoor hydroponic farm serves the community PAGE 3 MASTIC BEACH 22 acres of wetlands preserved PAGE 5 2 LONG ISLAND ADVANCE | FEBRUARY 20, 2020 | longislandadvance.net INSIDE Around Town 12 Obituaries 8 Halfway to the ramp Classifieds 24 Public Notices 18 BY LINDA LEUZZI Editorial 10 Sports 25 From the Archives 17 The Grace AME Zion Church’s quest to build a ramp is looking good. It just needs another push from PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY noble-minded folks willing to step up — Advance Building that is, with funds. 20 Medford Avenue/P.O. Box 780 “So far, $850 in donations have come Patchogue, NY 11772 Phone: (631) 475-1000 Fax: (631) 475-1565 in,” said Patchogue Village board mem- ©2020 Patchogue Advance Inc. All rights reserved. ber Tom Ferb. “We PATCHOGUE could use another CONTACT US VILLAGE $1,000. Some of it will be used for materials CALL 631-475-1000, plus extension shown and landscaping.” Subscriptions: Vicki-Ann Morales (ext. 23) [email protected] The small, elegant 100-year-old Pat- chogue church has a half-dozen narrow Display ads: Chris Shaljian (ext. 15) [email protected] steps to the front door. A ramp would aid some of its devoted churchgoers with Classifieds: Lynn Halverson (ext. 10), Mike Leonardi (ext. 11). [email protected] achy hips and knees. “Jason Pontieri, an Legal notices: Vicki-Ann Morales (ext. 24) engineer, did a pro bono site rendering of [email protected] a ramp for the front and side, and we’ll Executive Editor: Nicole Fuentes (ext. 21) give them to the church people to decide,” Associate Editor: Glenn Rohrbacker (ext. 19) Ferb said. “Once they choose, Jason will complete the process, and the village will Letters to the Editor: [email protected] waive the $750 permit application. Mark Mac Nish (ext. 22) Production: By the middle of March, we’ll be able to Office Manager: Doug Marino (ext. 27) put a shovel in the ground.” Publisher: Terry Tuthill (ext. 25) Rev. Jessie Fields said in an earlier interview there were 25 active members; SUBSCRIPTION RATES 15 more would come with the ramp. $36 per year in Suffolk County The little building has historical heft $47 per year out of Suffolk County $38 Nine-month student Subscription as the first black church in Patchogue Grace AME Zion Church members are hoping for a ramp. Left to right: Pamela Gwathney, Armed Forces: Same as above and for its choir singing and social jus- Mary Durham, Thelma Smith, Presiding Elder Rev. Keith Harris, Ella McLean, Rev. Jessie Fields, Foreign Countries: Rates upon request tice initiatives. It is the birthplace of the Jacqlyn Schley, Patchogue Village trustee Tom Ferb. Single copy: $1. By mail: $4 Brookhaven NAACP. ADV/Leuzzi Rebuilding Together Long Island vol- ing and concrete suppliers to donate their for the Grace Church ramp, and sent BACK ISSUES cost $1 per copy for the current unteers will construct the ramp. The materials and services. to Greater Patchogue Chamber of Com- month, and $2 per copy for earlier issues. 27-year-old nonprofit organization pro- Ferb approached the Greater Pat- merce, 15 North Ocean Ave., Patchogue, vides free home repairs to qualified home- chogue Foundation, which sent out a flyer NY 11772. Credit cards are accepted also. USPS No. 318-300 owners who are seniors, frail people with and attracted supporters in November. Come to the chamber office at the above Entered as periodical matter at the post office at Pat- disabilities, and vets and their families; Checks for the Grace AME Zion Church address where they can swipe it, or call chogue, N.Y. 11772 under the act of March 3, 1879. ramps are one of its specialties. Ferb is ramp can be made out to the Greater 631-207-1000 with your credit card ready. n cautiously confident about getting build- Patchogue Foundation, with a notation ARE YOU READY FOR ST. PATRICKS DAY? 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