Serious News, Summer Fun & a Teen Making a Big Difference

Hi All,

Today’s issue is packed with everything from stage stars to summer festivals and incudes one local teen who’s making a real difference. Plus, community events, volunteer opportunities, and local business updates to keep you in the know.

Let’s dive in.

-Brian Grant, managing editor, writer

Local Pulse

🚨 A 26-year-old woman from Mastic has been charged with driving while ability impaired after allegedly striking a pedestrian just after midnight Sunday near Exit 64 of the Long Island Expressway in Medford. The victim was seriously injured and transported to Stony Brook University Hospital. The Legal Advocate

🎭 Emmy winner Sally Struthers is returning to Bellport’s Gateway Playhouse to star as Jeanette in The Full Monty, running March 13–April 12. The role sees her coaching a group of unlikely male strippers in the beloved comedy, replacing the previously scheduled Dear Evan Hansen due to a rights issue. Newsday

🎶 Thousands flocked to Shorefront Park for the 2025 Great South Bay Music Festival, where acts like Taking Back Sunday and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley lit up the stage over four packed days. Check out vibrant photos capturing the music, crowd, and waterfront vibes. Greater Long Island

Community Highlights

Bellport Teen Honored for a Life of Giving Back

Seventeen-year-old Marissa LaSorsa has been giving back to her community for most of her life. The Bellport teen was recently recognized with the New York State PTA’s Youth Humanitarian Award for Suffolk County, an honor that highlights her deep commitment to helping others. She has been involved in supporting pet adoptions as well as mentoring children coping with grief.

LaSorsa’s most personal service role is as a counselor at East End Hospice’s Camp Good Grief in Center Moriches. She was first introduced to the camp as a child, following the loss of her father when she was just six. Today, she helps others navigate their own losses through therapeutic activities and peer support.

Beyond the camp, LaSorsa serves as a Sunday school assistant and youth group leader at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Patchogue. She also organizes holiday donations for families in need and has supported the North Shore Animal League, even appearing in their Great American Rescue Bowl to promote pet adoption.

Described by local PTA officials as a quiet force of compassion, LaSorsa is known for her humility and drive. This fall, she’ll attend Kutztown University to study criminal justice and music performance, carrying her passion for service into the future.

Read the original story at Newsday.com (subscription may be required).

Alive After Five Set to Bring Disco Vibes to Patchogue

Alive After Five is back in downtown Patchogue this Thursday, July 31, bringing the groove with a disco-themed evening from 5 to 9 p.m. The 23rd annual summer series has already drawn thousands this season and is expected to fill Main Street once again with live music, outdoor dining, artisan vendors, and family fun. This week’s celebration promises mirror ball energy with performances that will get everyone moving.

However, the weather may have other plans. Thursday’s forecast predicts a high of 81°F with mostly cloudy skies and a 70% chance of rain, particularly later in the day. Winds from the ENE at 12 mph could add to the unsettled conditions. Organizers have scheduled a rain date for August 21, in case the skies don’t cooperate.

Alive After Five has become a signature event for the Village of Patchogue, routinely drawing 20,000 to 30,000 visitors per night and nearly 100,000 over the course of the summer. With themed nights like disco and jam bands (set for August 14), the festival continues to be a powerful showcase for local music and community spirit.

For event updates, including weather-related changes, visit patchogue.com/alive-after-five.

Community Highlights

• Lighthouse Mission welcomes volunteers for food distribution and warehouse support, including opportunities for groups and children accompanied by adults. Learn more and see what opportunities await. Lighthouse Mission

• The Gateway Playhouse will present Phantom by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit, a lush and emotional retelling of the Phantom story, running from August 1 to 31 with a 24-member cast and grand stage spectacle. Long Island Advance

• moe. and Umphrey’s McGee joined forces at the Great South Bay Music Festival for a surprise tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, performing Black Sabbath’s “The Wizard” for the first time since 2023. Relix

• Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts will present THE LAST WALTZ Celebration with The THE BAND Band & special guests on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 8 PM, with tickets going on sale Friday, August 1, 2025 at 10 AM. BroadwayWorld

• The Bayport-Blue Point Chamber is hosting its July General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, July 30 at noon at Momo's Too, featuring a $10 lunch special and guest speaker Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo. [Bayport-Blue Point Chamber]

• Patchogue’s Sidewalk Sales return to Main Street from August 1–3, 2025, offering great local deals daily from 10am to 5pm outside shops like the Colony Shop. Patchogue Village Calendar

• Catch Killin' Time performing hits from the '60s to today at the Bellport Summer Bandshell Concert this Friday, August 1, from 7–9pm. Bellport Summer Bandshell Concert Series

• MR. BLAKE, AT YOUR SERVICE! is playing July 25–31 at The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center. This 2025 drama-comedy follows Andrew Blake, who leaves his business behind to work as a butler in France, only to find unexpected purpose and connection among an eccentric household. [Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center]

• CEED has launched a Striped Bass Watercolor Study Class where participants can paint this iconic fish in a guided workshop on August 3. [CEED]

• The Patchogue Arts Council is accepting submissions for Arts on Terry 2025, a curated contemporary art street fair on September 14, featuring booth space for fine artists. Artists can apply here by August 13 for a chance to showcase their work. [Patchogue Arts Council]

• The New York State Senate has launched the 2025 Summer Reading Program, themed “Color our World: Colorea Nuestro Mundo,” encouraging kids to read for fun and discovery all summer long. Participants can earn an official certificate by submitting their reading form by August 22. [New York State Senate]

Community Highlights

Become a Patchogue Live Local Sponsor

Are you a brand new or established business looking to become known in our Patchogue Live Local community? We are looking for locally-owned business that would like to become a Patchogue Live Local sponsor! Sponsorships can include:

• Brandwide Sponsorship

• Mini-Feature Ad

• Calendar Takeover

• Video Spotlight

• Please email us at [email protected]for more information.