Honors, Haunts & a Jailbreak

Good Morning,

Local students are earning statewide music honors, while spooky season is in full swing with haunted houses and Halloween fun popping up across town. Plus, we’re looking back at a daring jail escape from 1930 that once made headlines.

-Brian Grant, managing editor, writer

Local Pulse

🎶 Thirty-one Patchogue-Medford High School students have earned spots in prestigious music ensembles, receiving 13 NYSSMA All-State honors and 31 NYSCAME All-County recognitions. These talented performers will take the stage in Hauppauge and Rochester later this fall. [Patch]

🚁 Friday night’s Fire Prevention Open House at the Medford Fire House got an epic upgrade thanks to aerial footage captured by Ascent Media Corp.! The drone views show the community enjoying a night of fun, fire safety, and togetherness from above. Watch on [Facebook]

🎃 The Gateway's Haunted Playhouse in Bellport is back with six weeks of spine-chilling thrills, immersive sets, and terrifying performances running through November 1. Known as one of Long Island’s top haunted attractions, this year’s edition promises fresh frights and ghastly surprises. [Patch] 

Day in History

 From Lockup to Lab Coats: The Surprising History a Jailbreak

Long before Northwell Health moved in, the old Brookhaven Town Hall once held local prisoners. One even made a dramatic escape that rocked the community in 1930.

Before it became a hub of modern healthcare, the former Brookhaven Town Hall at 205 S Ocean Avenue, Patchogue, served multiple civic purposes including as a temporary jail. On the morning of October 9, 1930, it became the center of a headline-grabbing jailbreak when 21-year-old Alvah Lane, a former post office worker from Clank Street, broke free from his cell under the cover of night.

Lane had been arrested for burglary after state troopers discovered a stash of stolen goods hidden beneath his garage. Awaiting a hearing and unable to post $2,000 bail, he was locked up in the Town Hall. But sometime between 3:30 and 4:15 a.m., using an iron bar from his cot, Lane manipulated a nearby padlock and smashed the lock on his own cell. Blood stains suggested he was injured in the process. He then escaped through a barred window that was already damaged in another escape.

By the time police discovered the scene, Lane had vanished. Possibly walking home to retrieve a car before disappearing entirely.

Today, the building at 205 S Ocean Avenue that once held Lane now houses Northwell Health offices. A “then and now” photo highlights just how much the space and its role in the community has changed over the decades.

Original reporting from The Patchogue Advance, October 10, 1930.

Community Highlights

• Patchogue Village will observe Columbus Day as a village holiday on Monday, October 13, 2025. All municipal offices will be closed. [Village of Patchogue]

• The Town of Brookhaven’s Youth Bureau and INTERFACE Program are hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive from October 14 to November 13, collecting non-perishable food items and $10 grocery gift cards to help families in need enjoy the holiday season. [Town of Brookhaven]

• NYS Senator Dean Murray and Assemblyman Joe DeStefano are hosting their 5th Annual Trick-Or-Treat Event on Wednesday, October 29 from 6–8PM at the Medford Fire Department. A free, family-friendly night of costumes, candy, and Halloween fun.

• Literacy Suffolk is hosting a Disco Bingo Fundraiser on Sunday, November 2 from 2–5PM at 89 North in Patchogue. Enjoy glow-in-the-dark bingo, disco music, and food while supporting local literacy programs. Donations of raffle baskets, food, or gift cards are welcome. [89 North Music Venue]

• The Patchogue Theatre hosts The Musical Box Performs Genesis Live on Saturday, October 11 at 8PM. An accurate recreation of Genesis’ 1973 tour, complete with Peter Gabriel’s iconic costumes. Seats are still available. [Patchogue Theatre]

• The Patchogue Theatre will host a nostalgic night of doo-wop and rock ’n’ roll as The Drifters, The Platters & Cornell Gunter's Coasters perform live on Saturday, February 28 at 7:30PM. [Patchogue Theatre]

• Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is screening One Battle After Another (2025, R). A high‑stakes mystery/thriller about a radical father fighting to save his daughter and will host a film discussion with Prof. Peter Mascuch after the 7:30 PM showing on Friday, October 10.

• All You Need Is George, a live all-star tribute to George Harrison featuring Jackie Greene, Steve Kimock, and more, is coming to town on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Tickets go on sale October 10.

• Take a peaceful virtual stroll through downtown Patchogue in this 4K walking tour by Walking with Genny, showcasing the charm and walkability of one of Long Island’s most inviting villages.

• Sherri Shepherd brings her Make It Make Sense Tour to the Patchogue Theatre on Saturday, January 31 at 7pm, promising an evening of sharp wit and hilarious storytelling. Patchogue Theatre

• RUMBA in Patchogue is hosting a 3-floor Silent Disco Takeover this Friday, October 10, with multiple DJs and island cocktails to keep the party flowing. Reserve your spot early and grab a headset before they run out!

• The Brookhaven Highway Department and Suffolk County Sheriff's Office are offering a free Child Safety Seat Check on October 23 from 3–7 PM at Safety Town in Holtsville. Brookhaven Safety Event

• The Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association invites the community to its General Membership Meeting on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 2–4 PM at the BBP Library, featuring The Devil in New York: The Witchcraft Trial of Goody Garlick with Dr. Tara Rider of Stony Brook University. [Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association]

• The Patchogue Theatre is celebrating The Goonies 40th Anniversary with a special screening and live Q&A featuring Corey Feldman and Kerri Green on March 22, 2026. [Patchogue Theatre]

• The SCPD 5th Precinct and community partners are hosting Bellport Unity Day at Robert Rowley Park on Monday, October 13, 2025, from 12–3 PM, featuring a Trunk-Or-Treat, games, BBQ, and live music for the whole family. [SCPD 5th Precinct]

• The Bellport Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Discover Bellport Sidewalk Sale, a full day of shopping and local deals on Saturday, October 11 from 10 AM to 6 PM. [Bellport Chamber of Commerce]

• Patchogue Arts Council • MoCA L.I. is presenting Shades of Acceptance by Shay Steuart, a mixed-media visual autobiography exploring identity, adoption, and authenticity through photography and painting. The exhibition runs through December 15, 2025, at the PAC • MoCA L.I. Satellite Gallery with SEPA Mujer. [Patchogue Arts Council]

• Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse is offering a $10 discount on tickets Sunday through Thursday. Use code FEAR at checkout to save on your terrifying trip through The Harvester. [The Gateway]

• The Town of Brookhaven is accepting entries for its Recycles Poster Contest until Oct. 28. Students can submit artwork on the themes Choose to Reuse! or Recycle Right! for a chance to be honored by the Town Board and featured in local publications. [Town of Brookhaven]

• Fire Island News profiles returning cover artist Diane Keil, whose nostalgic new piece Through the Eyes of a Child graces the end-of-summer edition, with her work on exhibit at Bayard Cutting Arboretum through Oct. 19. [Fire Island News]

• The Gateway Performing Arts Center is hosting its Haunted Masquerade Fundraiser on Friday, October 10 at 6:30 PM, promising a spooky and elegant evening to support the arts. [Email or call 631-286-8851 for ticket info.]

Community Highlights

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