Saturday, 18 May 2013 00:00

Joan Hutchinson’s Five J’s Jewelers will be closing its doors after 34 years in town. Currently at 155 Main Street (located in Mini Mall Shops), Five J’s has been located in different spots around Port such as the Soundview shopping center and four different Main Street locations. Five J’s has lost its lease, but will be here through the end of August. The store will be liquidating inventory of jewelry. Hutchinson’s newest venture will include a web-based business from her home, where she will continue to provide her customers with quality merchandise at wholesale prices.  For more information, please email jsjewelers@aol.com or call 516-567-4142.

Friday, 17 May 2013 00:00

Baz Luhrmann, the internationally acclaimed writer, producer and director of the new 3-D adaptation of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, captivated the invitation-only audience at the Long Island premier of the film last Wednesday night at Soundview Cinemas.

“It’s touching for me to be here in Port Washington,” said Luhrmann, a native Australian. “I grew up in a small town where my father had a cinema for a short time. It’s like inviting people into your lounge room to sit in the dark and experience something together.” Luhrmann took notice of all the care that went into refurbishing the Soundview Theater, telling the guests that there really is so much buzz out there about the reopening.

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

The fact that Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) is celebrating its 50th year of working with area boys and girls is quite an accomplishment. Ron Henderson, its executive director for the past 20 years, also has a long history with PYA’s Lions Field that extends all the way back to 1958.

“I played in the first games ever held at the field back then when it was the Port Washington Little League,” said Henderson. “That was before the field was renovated.” The renovation, which began in 1999 and forced the PYA to relocate for two years from its Glen Lane site, now features four Little League fields and one major league field, all on pesticide-free, natural grass. During the fall, the fields are converted for lacrosse and football programs.

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

This is the season of anticipation. Boats are being prepared for launch, yacht clubs are going into commission all up and down Long Island Sound, and the weather is absolutely beautiful. The beginning of an active boating season on Manhasset Bay and LI Sound is just weeks away. Before the season begins, it might be a good idea to think about boat safety.  Whether you are a skipper or crew, racing or out for a nice leisurely afternoon, be it sail or motor, safety should be your first priority.  

An online sailing newsletter, Sail-World.com recently published some good information on this very topic.  It is from the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. This is what Foundation suggests: It takes just six minutes to brief your new guests on board your boat for a day of sailing and it could save a life and/or your boat.  Below is a six-minute briefing that all of us should practice to make sure the sail is fun and relaxed and safe.