A Special Dickens' Message

from MAYOR MARGOT GARANT

and Allan Varela

ALL THINGS DICKENS!

Port Jefferson's historic streets will once again become the living backdrop for the 26^th annual Dickens Festival. Produced by the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council in cooperation with the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson and hailed as Long Island's Best Festival for 2019 & 2020, this beloved Holiday tradition is celebrated by friends and families who travel across the Northeast, all 50 states and, indeed, from around Santa's globe to get "Fezziwigitte!"  

Born Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870), Charles Dickens was arguably the literary superstar of his age, a status that lives on today. Ever the champion of the common man and the downtrodden, his inventive genius has inspired a raft of theatrical performances and a parade of films that portray the drama and redemption of life as a central theme. From A Tale of Two Cities to A Christmas Carol, Dickens managed to create some of literature's most iconic and memorable personalities. We are proud to carry on this time-honored tradition with our Dickens Festival.

Some of the festival's highlights are the wondrous Festival of Trees, an artistic collection of magnificent Christmas creations found at the Port Jefferson Village Center on the second floor - available for viewing the entire month with special thanks to the Chamber of Commerce! The Artisan Square, showing how hand-crafted works were made during Victorian England, resides in the parking lot by the blinking light where Main Street and East and West Broadway merge. The spectacular Tiny Tim's Train Station (a Toys for Tots location), presented by the Reed Family Train Project, will dazzle at the Harbormaster's building. Don't miss the Great Wizard of the North's Magic Show at the Masonic Lodge on Main Street – a great show free of charge for the kids. The restaurants offer Dickensian inspired fare, while the wide range of shops in the Village stays open for extended hours for holiday shopping.

The Village, once again, will be rich with our troupe of Dickens' Street Characters and alive with a host of musical, magical, and theatrical presentations. The Grand East Main Street Opening Parade on Saturday morning at 11:00 am and Pickwick's Puppet Parade, this year featuring the new puppets worthy of a major Hollywood feature film, ends the festivities beginning at 5:00 pm on Sunday. Don't miss either one, as each parade features awe-inspiring new attractions. 

So, come one! Come all! A rapturous time for the young and young at heart, the Dickens Festival is sure to delight the Scroogiest of curmudgeons. A very heartfelt and special thank you to the hundreds of volunteers and our generous sponsors who continue to make this event possible - year after year. For the complete and extended schedule of all events and venues, please visit www.portjeff.com or scan the QR code below. 

A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Margot Garant

Mayor, Village of Port Jefferson

Allan Varela

Chair, Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council

26TH ANNUAL DICKENS FESTIVAL HONOREES

We celebrate the hard work it takes to create the MAGIC!

This year we are celebrating the creative efforts of the Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council (GPJAC) and Port Jefferson's own Dave Melious, head of the Parks Department for the Village.

The Arts Council has been a fixture in the Northern Brookhaven community since 1986. They introduced the Village Cinema program, leading us to host the Student Academy Awards for several years at Theatre Three. In 1996, they featured the internationally acclaimed pianist Arnaldo Cohen from the home of Steve and Barbara Amoretty as part of our In-House Concert Series. This concert was the first time a concert was broadcast over the internet from a private home featuring a major star, as stated by the New York Times. 

Currently, the Arts Council produces the Sunset Concert Series, the WinterTide Concert Series, the revival of the Sunday Street Concert Series, the Sea Shanty and Maritime Music Festival, the Fiddle & Folk Festival, the music for the Harvest Festival, and of course, the Charles Dickens Festival. They are also producers of the Port Jefferson Documentary Series - voted the Best Film Festival on Long Island for the past six years.

In 2005, GPJAC took over the production of the Dickens Festival. Growing it into the powerhouse event that it is today. The Festival has won the Best Annual Event/Festival on Long Island three of the past four years (the 2020 contest for the 2021 award was Covid canceled) and is consistently hailed by Newsday in the number one spot. The Festival will feature 172 performances around the Village streets, churches, and the Village Center this year. They are introducing the Dickens Yuletide Tree Works on the second floor of the Village Center as a tribute to Santa's Workshop past.

None of the Dickens transformations could happen without the expert leadership of the Parks Department director, Dave Melious. The Village of Port Jefferson has benefitted from Dave's expertise for the past 30 years. He leads a dedicated team that performs amazing transformations around the Village. For example, after decorating for Paint Port Pink, he immediately starts decorating for the Dickens Festival. The parks team hangs Christmas wreaths and garlands on all the lanterns around the Village; the Christmas trees are spruced up with lights and puts up the plaques for the lamp posts purchased in memory of loved ones. Dave bought a plaque for his father in 2002, which resides in front of the Masonic Lodge.

In short, when you arrive in the Village over Dickens weekend and think the festive atmosphere is magical, Dave and his team made it so.

Congratulations to the Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council and Dave Melious, our 26^th annual Charles Dickens Honorees.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON - PORT JEFFERSON STYLE!

Get ready for some Holiday Magic

Chamber of Commerce Annual Santa Parade

In the spirit of the holiday season, the Port Jefferson Village Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Annual Santa Parade on Sunday, November 27th, and it needs to be a part of your holiday activities.

The parade starts at the Long Island Train Station on Main Street at 3:00 pm. The participants will make their way down Main St and make a RIGHT onto East Broadway to finish at the Port Jefferson Village Center, where the Jolly Ol' Elf awaits the children for a photo opportunity.

The parade will feature many local organizations and businesses. Come out and enjoy this fun-filled afternoon with your friends and family! While supporting our local businesses and making some great family memories!

BID Tree Lighting

On November 30th at 6:00 pm, the Business Improvement District (BID) will sponsor a tree lighting event. The rain date is December 1st. The event is held on the corner of Main and Broadway and will feature an expandable 14-foot panel tree that's perfect for taking photos with Santa. The tree will be lit by none other than Santa himself. He will hand out Frigate Candy Canes and Starbucks Hot Chocolate. There will also be a children's choir to sing us into the holiday season.

The event is free to attend and open to all ages! Come one, come all!



Embrace the spirit of the holidays and community during our Dickens celebration. While viewing the majesty of the Festival of Trees, be prepared for the joy of Santa. At the end of the tree spectacular, you and your family will be able to take a moment to spend some time with Santa. It is the perfect family bonding time and a great photo spot. We hope we see you there!

Santa's got a new spot!

We're so excited to announce that Santa will now be at the Village Center on the second floor during the Dickens Festival on December 3rd and 4th from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. You might even see an elf or two. Start by exploring the amazing Festival of Trees and enjoying the dazzling displays. Then when you've made your way through, get a photo with Santa himself! He'll even send you off with a sweet treat!



After Santa's back at his workshop, make sure to stop by again so you can get some selfies in front of his chair! We can't wait to see you there!

CREATE MEMORIES AT RESIDENT'S NIGHT

Kick off the holiday season with your friends and families

Check out this video of last year's Residents Night to see all the fun in store for you and your family. You can see that it is a don't-miss event!  

You can share the magic of the holidays with your family by joining us at Port Jefferson's annual Residents Night! Our holiday tradition is filled with ice skating, hot cocoa, and cookies, Santa's mailbox for letters to the North Pole, a DJ playing holiday music, the Festival of Trees, including the new Yuletide Tree Works, and Santa will make a special appearance to visit with children of all ages. 

Join us on Friday, December 2nd, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Enjoy a magical evening skating under the stars. The free skating sessions, including skates for everyone in your family, are the perfect opportunity to get out and have some fun!

It's just another way that our beautiful Village creates magical experiences for memories that will last a lifetime.

The Enchanting Festival of Trees Celebration 

The wonder awaits for the full month of December

Hear ye, Hear ye! The 26th Annual Charles Dickens Festival invites you to take a look at the enchanting Festival of Trees at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The second floor will host a magical presentation of Christmas trees featuring decorations that are guaranteed to dazzle and delight. Each tree will present the sponsor’s vision, expertly crafted and garnished…and not to be missed. You can see the splendor from resident’s night - December 2nd until December 31st. 

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS IN FULL SWING

at The Village Center

Our Village Center is blossoming into a holiday spectacular, and we'd like to thank Paul Braile for hanging all of the beautiful snowflakes in our building. You'll feel like you're in a beautiful winter snowfall when you see them. Paul has been volunteering to install ceiling treatments in the Village Center since 2005. He's hung everything from Christmas ornaments to lighted wreaths and now snowflakes. These volunteer efforts make all of our events that much more special. 

But it's not just the decorations that make this place beautiful—it's also the people who put them up. The staff at the Village Center get the trees ready for The Festival of Trees and decorates the building to ensure that the spirit of the holidays is alive!



We hope you can come and enjoy all the hard work everyone is putting into our beautiful building!

RINX OPENS THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING

Get ready to lace up!

It’s that time of year! Christmas trees, Hanukkah preparations, hot cocoa, holiday music, & ice skating! Nothing screams Welcome back to the Holiday Season more than the reopening of The Rinx - Ice Skating Rink and celebrating the Dickens Festival. Our holiday traditions are back and better than ever. 

It’s Ice-Skating Season, and we welcome you to join us starting Friday, November 25th! Here are all the details you need to know about the upcoming Rinx ice skating season at the Village Center.

RINX Hours of Operation and Rates (weather permitting)

Monday - Thursday - 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Friday  12:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Saturday 10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Sunday  10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Adults: $12 Monday thru Friday 

$13 Holidays, weekends, and school holidays

$14 Friday and Saturday nights from 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Children: $9.50 Monday thru Friday 

$10.50 Holidays, weekends, and school holidays

Seniors:  $5 Monday thru Friday

$6 Holidays, weekends, and school holidays

Skate Rentals: $6

See you at the RINX!

PORT JEFFERSON CODE DEPARTMENT

Heading up a food drive for the holidays!

PJ code department is collecting non-perishable foods and hygiene items to donate to our local church food pantries and cash donations to our local meals on wheels program. "We're doing two food drives—one in November and one in December—so if you have any non-perishable goods to donate, bring them down to Village Hall. There's a box right inside the door where you can place your items," says Chief Leute. "Last year, we collected hats and gloves; the year before, we collected socks and other necessities. We wrap these gifts up and present them to homeless and less fortunate souls we encounter the week before each holiday." He continued. 

They also recommend donating something to the local church kitchens/food pantries and considering making a monetary donation to our local meals on wheels program during these holiday months!

Thank you, PJ code officers! Your efforts make a difference!

LOOKING FOR EXPOSURE FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

Sponsor a Dickens Festival Event

Attract the attention of 25,000+ visitors from all over Long Island, NYC, and New England. The Charles Dickens Festival is one of the most widely attended weekend-long holiday events on Long Island. Consider the return on investment with that many people have access to your message.



On December 3rd and 4th, 2022, the streets of Port Jefferson will be filled with people from all walks of life, from young families to senior groups. As a sponsor of our 26th-year celebration, your contribution will resonate through print, radio, and media outlets, impacting the local and regional community. This culturally rich, top-10 festival on Long Island is made possible due to our business community's support. We will be grateful for your help making the 26th Annual Charles Dickens Festival the biggest and best it's ever been.

PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS 

A Village code change to award the maximum benefit.

We are happy to announce that our proactive code change will make a difference for our village's seniors. New York State has now authorized municipalities to adjust income levels for seniors to qualify for property tax exemptions. The Board of Trustees amended our tax code at the November 7th public meeting to set the income levels to the maximum amount allowed by the State of New York - meaning that more senior citizens (65 and older) will qualify for tax reductions.

The senior tax exemptions are based on income levels. In the past, the NYS Assembly changed its rates intermittently, and it didn't work in coordination with our tax year. With the new code, the income level will automatically adjust to the maximum income exemption amount allowed by the state. "Mayor Garant and her administration have been committed to lowering the tax burden on seniors to keep them in the community, and we are glad to propose this amendment to deliver on that promise. While the Village makes up the smallest portion of your tax bill, every bit helps our fixed income seniors," says Village attorney Brian Egan.

Our Village tax assessor, Paul Damato, is here to help you navigate the details. He is available in person on Fridays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Village Hall, or you can call his office Monday - Friday to leave a message. Mr. Damato can help with any questions about your Village property taxes, including applying for an exemption. You can leave a message for him at (631) 473-4724 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm) or by email at kreilly@portjeff.com.

CLICK HERE for the New York State web page on senior tax exemptions. It is a comprehensive resource in this process.

Village attorney Brian Egan and the Village administration have been working hard to bring this section of the code up to date. I

OUR NEWEST ROAD NEEDS A GREAT NAME

And we want you involved!

We've got some suggestions, and we'd love to hear yours. The connector road between Main St. and Oakland Ave South of the train station and North of the new Port Jefferson Crossings Apartments (see the photo above for reference) still needs to be named. You can choose a suggested name or click other to add your suggestion. The name can reflect the area's history or culture—but it can also be fun, so don't be afraid to get creative. We'll select our new name in just a few days, so cast your vote as soon as possible.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR SURVEY

What's New in Recreation for November

Easy Online Registration @PortJeff.com

(631) 802-2160

Art Classes for Adults

with Disabilities

Oil Painting with Frederick

Mendelsohn

Adult Beginner Tennis

Adult Intermediate Tennis

Bridge Class

Cornhole League

Huner's Fitness Programs

Meet the Author - Event

Pickleball

Senior Clubs

Writer's Journey

Horseback Riding-

Call (631) 802-2160

Karate by Tae Kwon Do-

Call (631) 630-6575

Art

Basketball Coed

Floorball Hockey Coed

Sand Art Show - Event

Teen Tennis Club 12-17yrs

Tennis Coed

Youth Tennis Green 7-10 yrs

Youth Tennis Orange 6-7 yrs

Youth Tennis Red 4-6 yrs

Day in the City

NY Botanical Gardens

Broadway: Neil Diamond

Senior Clubs - Art Class

Senior Clubs - Book Club

Senior Clubs - Sittercise

Congratulations to our Snowflake League Winners, Team Winkler/Colvin

Results of the Window Painting Contest: Our annual Window Painting Contest was held during Harvest Fest, Saturday, October 22. We had many talented artists and teams paint creative Autumn/Halloween the.med designs on the outside windows of The Village Center for all to enjoy. It was a great day to paint and enjoy all the Village Festivities. Congratulations to our winners below!

1st Place: Jake Sullivan

2nd Place: Deia Colosi

3rd Place: Vivian O'Brien and Marlo Pepe

Our beautiful Village has been a hub of maritime activity, even predating America's independence, and it's still going strong today. Recently, a collaboration between the Village and the Bayles Boat Shop has begun the hand-made recreation of a whaleboat from the American Revolution era. The Bayles Boat Shop is part of the Long Island Seaport and Eco Center (LISEC), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving maritime history on Long Island.

"Don't let the term whaleboat mislead you. These boats were never used for hunting whales but were similar in design to the double-ended style boats. They were perfect for military applications. They were light, strong, fast, and relatively simple to build. They could be pulled up on a beach, hidden in the reeds, and turned over as a shelter on the shore, " says Port Jefferson Historian Chris Ryon. Our whaleboat, based on the plans for one from 1776, will be built using materials similar to those found during this time period.

We want you to join us and see the progress!

The building schedule is as follows:

Monday: 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Tuesday: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm & 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Wednesday: 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

Saturday: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

Indulge your love of Port Jefferson history by watching our master builders and artisans recreate an important piece of our role in the Revolutionary War. Upon completion, the boat will be used in reenactments for everyone to enjoy and on display at the Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum to see up close and personal.

To understand the process better, click on the Whaleboat movie below from the Mystic Seaport.

EXPLORE PORT JEFFERSON HISTORY!

Discover the undercover PJ Patriots that helped General George Washington

Mark Sternberg, our Culper Spy Ring Historian for the Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum (also known as the home of Phillips Roe), has made some exciting Culper Spy Ring discoveries about Port Jefferson residents Phillips and Nathaniel Roe’s involvement. If you haven't heard of the Culper Spy Ring, they were locals to Port Jefferson and Setauket that established a sophisticated and unconventional method of conveying information to General Washington to help win the revolutionary war. “Roe was a farmer and merchant who also was part of George Washington's Culper Spy Ring. As part of my role as the Culper Spy Ring Historian, I'm doing a deep dive into the Roe family of Drowned Meadow, the former name for Port Jefferson, and I've made a lot of headway in finding out more about how the Roes played key roles in the Culper Spy Ring." Mark shares. One of his first discoveries was a letter he was looking for, which we now refer to as the 'Letter of Significance' from Loyalist Nehemiah Marks, which definitively tied the brothers to the Ring.

We are also excited to announce that Mark had a significant discovery regarding Selah Strong that serves as the basis for his featured article in the Fall 2022 issue of New York Archives Magazine. The article is available online. To read, Click Here. Another way to catch up on the latest information is the Long Island History Project podcast. The Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum and Mark were recently featured, and it is a must-listen! It is titled Episode 163: Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum with Mark Sternberg and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and Google Podcasts for free.

Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum is open during the Dickens Festival. Learn, in person, the hidden stories of how America's first spy ring came together secretly to provide General George Washington with the information needed to turn the tide of the American Revolution. Experience it during the Dickens Festival on December 3rd & 4th at the Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum at 141 West Broadway. The museum will be open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm for FREE family-fun activities, including Apple Cider and a tasty apple treat (while supplies last).

THE KAYAK RACK DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED

Please pick up your property by December 1st

We've got good news! The deadline for picking up your vessel at Harborfront Park and Crystal Brook Hollow has been extended! You now have until December 1st to get your vessel(s) back from the racks. This gives you more time to enjoy the beautiful weather we're having!

Please retrieve your watercraft by the deadline to save yourself some time, money, and hassle. A storage fee will apply if you do not clear your space by the deadline. Thank You!