Cub Scout Pack 3333 is hosting their 2nd Vendor Showcase, featuring top-of-the-line products, handmade jewelry, clothing, and much more.  It will be held at the Forest Brook Elementary School Gymnasium on Lilac Lane in Smithtown, 6-9 PM, Nov 20, 2009. Admission is free. For more information, call 631-979-0782.

Two months ago we learned about Michael Jackson’s death, and we’ve kept hearing and hearing about it. (Thank God the 40th anniversary of Woodstock helped take the Jackson reports out of the spotlight, and thank God the Woodstock stories are finished too.) And now we are told – in detail – how Jackson’s doctor gave him drug after drug that night and finally administering Propofol, killing him. This brings to mind a junkie in an alley or on a street corner being overdosed by another, and what’s the difference between that individual and Jackson? The difference is Jackson’s ability to entertain and his money. Goodbye to just another junkie.

By now we’ve all heard about Diane Schuler who caused an accident resulting the deaths of seven people besides herself on the Taconic Parkway in Westchester County, NY, reportedly by consuming Absolut vodka and marijuana while driving. Her blood alcohol level showed she had the equivalent of 10 shots of 80 proof liquor – an ounce short of a pint of vodka. And, high levels of marijuana, smoked within 15 minutes of the crash.  And this was done by someone who no one is admitting known having had a problem. Yeah, right.

Last Sunday on the TV show 60 Minutes there was a story DWI: Is It Murder? which focused in part on the murder conviction of the wrong-way drunk driver who smashed his pickup truck into a limo returning home from a wedding, killing the limo driver and the wedding’s seven-year-old flower girl. The driver was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to 18 years to life in prison. It was reported that he had no previous trouble with the law. It was proven that by drinking and driving he had depraved indifference to human life. Somehow that sentence seemed out of whack, even though drunkenness is not an excuse.

This man left a party and drove off, not intending to cause loss of human life any more than a sober cell phone user, a sober drowsy driver, a sober map reader, a sober text messager, or a sober senior citizen with declining driving skills. But doesn’t alcohol make you think that you can drive just fine? There was a show on TV a while back documenting a professional driver on a closed driving track who was given one drunk after another and then driving an obstacle course – and before each attempt he was sure he could do it with no problem – and each time he did worse than before.

But let’s get back to Ms Schuler – getting into a car, with children, some not even her own, then first starting to drink and smoke marijuana. OK, that’s murder. And let’s forget about that monument at the campground.

The Smithtown Township Arts Council in St. James is now offering new adult art classes for ages 17 to 99. Learn to draw in a basic drawing class, Drawing out the Artist Within, where you can explore the basic fundamentals of drawing: contour line, composition, perspective and tonal drawing. Or learn to paint beautiful, decorative art for pleasure or profit in One Stroke Brush Painting for Adults. There’s also an adult class in portraiture where, working in any medium, you can learn to draw a portrait from start to finish!

Throughout the spring and summer, a wide range of weekly art classes are being offered for both children and adults. Full schedule is listed at www.stacarts.org. Call (631) 862-6575 or e-mail classes@stacarts.org for more information. The Smithtown Township Arts Council is located at 660 Route 25A, in St. James.

The Smithtown Township Arts Council is now accepting registrations for its 2009 summer arts camp – develop your child’s creativity in a fun & stimulating environment! A week-long arts exploration full of thinking, making, seeing and doing. In a fun, non-competitive environment, campers explore creativity and
develop their artistic talent.  Weekly sessions are offered throughout July and August, and camp hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Aftercare will be available from 4-5 pm for a small additional fee.

Campers ages 7-10 will spend a week at Mills Pond House Gallery having fun, exploring the gallery exhibitions, learning about art and creating their own art projects. Camp projects change each week so students may enroll in more than one session.

Enrollment is on a first-come, first-serve basis on receipt of payment, so early registration is encouraged. And there are three ways to save 10% off your registration fee: enroll with a friend; enroll with a sibling; or enroll in multiple classes.

The Smithtown Township Arts Council is located at 660 Route 25A, in St. James. Call (631) 862-6575 or e-mail classes@stacarts.org for more information. Full class schedule is listed on www.stacarts.org

The works of Long Island artist Jill Amorosano will be on view April 14 – June 15, 2009 at Apple Bank, 91 Route 111, Smithtown. The exhibition, part of Smithtown Township Arts Council’s Outreach Gallery Program, can be viewed during regular bank hours.

Jill Amorosano has won awards at the Long Island Fair for the last two years, and has had the great opportunity to exhibit her artwork at many New York venues. Her artwork exemplifies the use of bold color and encompasses impressionism, surrealism, and folk art. Her favorite medium to paint in is oil, but she does not confine herself to this medium alone. “Art is experimentation in every direction and there should never be any boundaries to it…The uniqueness and beauty of art is that you can take it in the direction you wish”.

She is not only a dedicated artist, but an educator as well. Some art classes that she has taught include 20th Century Masters, Cartooning, Art Rocks, Plein Air, and Ukrainian Egg Workshops. She holds a Bachelors Degree in History and Education and a Masters Degree in Liberal Arts. Ms. Amorosano volunteers art for local schools, churches and hospitals. She is currently accepting commissioned work.

For more information, call the Smithtown Township Arts Council at 631-862-6575, or visit www.stacarts.org.

On May 2 – 30, 2009, the Smithtown Township Arts Council in St. James will be sponsoring The Artist Next Door, an exhibition to celebrate the character of the Suffolk County community …a spirit that rises from its citizens and determines the quality of its life. This project seeks to represent all arts disciplines, spotlighting full-time Suffolk County residents who participate in the arts, assisting them in expanding their audience, and publicizing their work. There will be a reception May 2, 2-4pm open to the public.

Suffolk communities are filled with citizens with enormous capacity for the creative process. Suffolk county residents who participate in the arts are encouraged to partake in this celebration with the contribution of their unique artistic talents. For the full prospectus, go to www.stacarts.org,  or call (631) 862-6575 for more information.

The Smithtown Township Arts Council of St. James will be hosting a Book Sale and Granny’s Attic Fundraiser Saturday and Sunday April 25-26, 2009, rain or shine. Doors open Saturday 8:30-3pm, and Sunday 9:30-3pm. No early preview.

Sale features a vast array of books in very good to excellent condition and  over 50 categories. Fiction, old books, religion, inspirational, self-help, sports/hobbies, children’s, travel, language, reference, and more! Most prices range from  $1 to $5, some higher/lower. Also videos, DVDs, CDs, granny’s attic, more! Bring your own boxes/bags. Cash only. 100% proceeds to benefit community arts programs.

For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.stacarts.org.

When the marquee star of a Broadway-bound out of town musical is murdered during the curtain call, in comes Boston homicide detective and theatre buff Frank Cioffi. The cast and crew are quarantined as Cioffi conducts his Columbo style investigations and in-between repairs the ailing musical within the musical. Smithtown’s long serving Town Supervisor, Patrick Vecchio plays the Producer.

Mar 21, 2009 through Apr 26, 2009
Thursday, Friday, & Saturdays @ 8 Sundays @ 2pm
Tickets $26.00 – $30.00
Students with Valid ID $18.00

Call 631-724-3700 or contact Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts

Music, dancing, and dinner will be held on Friday, Mar 13, 2009, at 7pm at 99 Indian Head Road, Kings Park in celebration of  St. Patrick’s Day. Admission $30 per person. Call 631-269-6210 for more information.