The cell was poorly heated, designed to hold only a single person, briefly, and measuring about 6 feet by 6 feet. But Erron Anthony Clarke spent more than two days there, sleeping near an open toilet with eight others, as the temperature outside dropped to 21 degrees.

The lights were kept on at all hours.

The detention, inside a federal courthouse in Central Islip, N.Y., was the subject of a blistering 24-page opinion on Thursday by Judge Gary R. Brown regarding the treatment of Mr. Clarke, a Jamaican citizen who had applied for permanent residency and was held in the freezing, filthy conditions, unable to shower.

“After nearly 35 years of experience with federal law enforcement in this judicial district, encompassing service as a prosecutor and a judge, I have never encountered anything like this,” Judge Brown, who was appointed by President Trump in 2019, wrote.

The judge also wrote that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had presented false information about Mr. Clarke’s arrest and had ignored court orders by failing to present him for a hearing and provide photographs of the cell. He questioned why the agency should not be held in contempt.

The scathing opinion from Judge Brown was the latest example of the way judges across the country have criticized conditions at federal detention lockups, in some cases releasing people they say have been wrongfully and inhumanely detained.

A federal judge in August ordered the Trump administration to fix the squalid holding cells used to house migrants at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City. In November, a judge in Chicago said that an ICE facility subjected migrants to “unnecessarily cruel” conditions and imposed restrictions on the facility.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did a lawyer for Mr. Clarke, who has now been released.

Mr. Clarke, 41, came to the United States in 2018 on a visa for seasonal workers, according to court documents. He remained in the country after his visa expired but in 2023 married a U.S. citizen, opening a path to permanent residency.

On Nov. 6, Mr. Clarke applied to become a permanent resident, noting in his application that he had worked in the United States without authorization. As part of his application process, he arrived on Dec. 5 for a fingerprinting appointment at an ICE office in Hauppauge, N.Y. He was pulled over and arrested by immigration enforcement agents shortly after leaving the facility. ICE immediately began proceedings to deport him.

For 12 hours that night, Mr. Clarke was detained in the tiny room in the federal courthouse. On Dec. 6, he was moved to an ICE detention facility in East Meadow, N.Y., only to be brought back to the squalid conditions three days later.

After petitioning for his release, Mr. Clarke was again transferred on Dec. 10 to an ICE detention facility, this time in Newark. After the agency initially ignored his order to present him for a hearing, he appeared on Dec. 11 before Judge Brown, who ordered him immediately released. Yet Mr. Clarke was held for another night in Newark.

John Diaz, an ICE officer, wrote in an affidavit that Mr. Clarke’s application had prompted an investigation into his legal status. But Judge Brown said that Mr. Diaz’s declaration was “demonstrably false.”

The warrant for Mr. Clarke’s arrest was in fact issued after Mr. Clarke’s appointment, Judge Brown wrote. And Mr. Diaz’s account in the affidavit of moving Mr. Clarke from facility to facility — including a claim that he had been transported 60 miles in 30 minutes — was “objectively impossible,” he wrote.

“The evidence presented to this court, which has been largely unrebutted, demonstrates that ICE has been deploying its ‘holding rooms’ in a manner that shocks the conscience,” Judge Brown wrote.

Two victims suffered serious injuries after a head-on crash on Sunrise Highway in West Islip, prosecutors say.

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Central Islip man has been sentenced to state prison after driving the wrong way on Sunrise Highway while impaired by alcohol and methamphetamine, causing a head-on crash that seriously injured two people, Suffolk County prosecutors said.

Jimmy Graham, 41, was sentenced on Wednesday to 3 to 9 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular assault and related charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Graham was driving under the combined influence of alcohol and methamphetamine when he caused the crash, which left both victims with severe injuries requiring emergency surgery, according to prosecutors.

According to court records and Graham’s admissions during his guilty plea, the crash occurred at approximately 9:36 p.m. on July 14, 2024, on the Sunrise Highway South Service Road near Malts Avenue in West Islip, prosecutors said.

Graham was operating a 2014 Audi sedan at a high rate of speed in the wrong direction, authorities said. At the time, his license had already been revoked, prosecutors said.

Graham’s vehicle collided head-on with a Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling eastbound in the left lane with 2 occupants inside, according to the DA’s office.

Both victims suffered serious physical injuries, including multiple fractures and a traumatic brain injury, prosecutors said. Each victim required emergency surgery as a result of the crash.

Members of the West Islip Fire Department arrived at the scene and rescued the victims from their vehicle, prosecutors said.

A good Samaritan helped pull Graham from his Audi while he was unconscious, shortly before the vehicle became engulfed in flames, according to the DA’s office.

Graham was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital, where a blood sample was taken for analysis. Prosecutors said a court-authorized search warrant later revealed Graham had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.14 percent — nearly twice the legal limit — and methamphetamine in his system.

Investigators also recovered video surveillance from a nearby business, which captured Graham driving into oncoming traffic at a high rate of speed immediately before the crash, prosecutors said.

According to the DA, Graham pleaded guilty on Nov. 13 before Acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas to one count of aggravated vehicular assault, a Class C felony, two counts of second-degree assault, Class D felonies, one count of driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor, one count of driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs and alcohol, an unclassified misdemeanor, one count of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, an unclassified misdemeanor and one count of reckless driving, an unclassified misdemeanor.

On Dec. 17, Graham was formally sentenced to 3 to 9 years in state prison, prosecutors said.

Graham was represented by Christopher Cassar, who could not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“When someone drives recklessly while under the combined influence of alcohol and methamphetamine, they are not only breaking the law; they are endangering the lives of everyone else on the road,” Tierney said. “This sentencing sends a clear message: in Suffolk County, we will not tolerate actions that turn vehicles into dangerous weapons.”

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The first widespread snowfall of the season dropped a couple of of inches to as much as 6 inches across the Tri-State area.

The snow began late Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning.

Central Park reported 2.7 inches of snow. Colts Neck, New Jersey is reporting at least 8.3 inches of snow. Meanwhile, parts of Long Island, including in Centre Island and Islip, are recording 5.8 inches of snow.

Here's a look at snowfall totals from the storm on December 13-14 2025 from the National Weather Service:

...CONNECTICUT...

...FAIRFIELD COUNTY...2 NNE NORWALK 5.5 IN 1134 AM 12/14 PUBLIC4 S GREENWICH 5.1 IN 1021 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SE WILTON 5.0 IN 1207 PM 12/14 PUBLIC4 N STAMFORD 5.0 IN 0211 PM 12/14 COCORAHS2 ENE NEW CANAAN 5.0 IN 0313 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SE NORWALK 5.0 IN 1130 AM 12/14 PUBLICBRIDGEPORT AIRPORT 4.5 IN 0108 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER2 NNE NORWALK 4.5 IN 1100 AM 12/14 AMATEUR RADIO1 WNW NORWALK 4.5 IN 1131 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 NNE SOUTHPORT 4.0 IN 1049 AM 12/14 PUBLIC4 SSE EASTON 4.0 IN 1144 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 NNE RIDGEFIELD 3.8 IN 1200 PM 12/14 COCORAHS4 NNW RIDGEFIELD 3.5 IN 0920 AM 12/14 PUBLIC3 SSE WESTON 3.4 IN 1051 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 SW NEWTOWN 3.3 IN 1256 PM 12/14 PUBLIC3 WSW SHELTON 3.0 IN 0950 AM 12/14 COCORAHS4 NNE BETHEL 2.6 IN 1251 PM 12/14 PUBLICSHERMAN 1.2 E 2.0 IN 0700 AM 12/14 COCORAHS

...MIDDLESEX COUNTY...1 NNE KILLINGWORTH 4.0 IN 1110 AM 12/14 AMATEUR RADIOCLINTON 3.6 IN 1245 PM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIA1 SW WESTBROOK 3.2 IN 0137 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER

...NEW HAVEN COUNTY...GUILFORD 4.7 IN 0153 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERMADISON 4.4 IN 1220 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER2 NW MADISON 4.4 IN 1243 PM 12/14 PUBLIC3 ENE BRANFORD 4.0 IN 1203 PM 12/14 PUBLIC3 WSW SEYMOUR 3.9 IN 0220 PM 12/14 PUBLIC3 NE NORTH BRANFORD 3.5 IN 0109 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 ESE STRATFORD 3.5 IN 1015 AM 12/14 AMATEUR RADIOHAMDEN 3.2 IN 0116 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 NW ANSONIA 3.1 IN 0131 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WSW WEST HAVEN 3.0 IN 0855 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 WNW OXFORD 3.0 IN 1126 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER3 SSE NORTH HAVEN 2.5 IN 1007 AM 12/14 PUBLIC

...NEW LONDON COUNTY...NIANTIC 0.5 IN 0500 AM 12/14 COCORAHS

...NEW JERSEY...

...BERGEN COUNTY...FAIR LAWN 5.6 IN 1204 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 ESE OAKLAND 5.0 IN 0918 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 N RIVER VALE 5.0 IN 1027 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERWALDWICK 4.8 IN 1135 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 NNE FRANKLIN LAKES 4.8 IN 1043 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 S RIVER EDGE 4.7 IN 1133 AM 12/14 COCORAHS1 SW BOGOTA 4.4 IN 1000 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 NNE BERGENFIELD 4.2 IN 1044 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WSW WALLINGTON 4.1 IN 1110 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERRAMSEY 4.0 IN 0759 AM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIAPARAMUS 3.5 IN 0759 AM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIA1 NE RIDGEFIELD 3.0 IN 1040 AM 12/14 PUBLIC

...ESSEX COUNTY...ESSEX FELLS 7.0 IN 1016 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WNW ESSEX FELLS 7.0 IN 1247 PM 12/14 PUBLICMILLBURN 7.0 IN 0300 PM 12/14 PUBLICWEST CALDWELL 6.0 IN 1015 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 WSW GLEN RIDGE 6.0 IN 1045 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 W NORTH CALDWELL 5.7 IN 1215 PM 12/14 COCORAHS1 NW NEWARK 5.3 IN 1113 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SW NORTH CALDWELL 5.2 IN 1231 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 NE SPRINGFIELD 4.5 IN 0637 AM 12/14 PUBLICGLEN RIDGE 4.0 IN 1200 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SW GLEN RIDGE 3.6 IN 0750 AM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIA

...HUDSON COUNTY...KEARNY 4.0 IN 1200 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERHARRISON 3.9 IN 1017 AM 12/14 CO-OP OBSERVERHOBOKEN 3.6 IN 1130 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 ENE JERSEY CITY 3.5 IN 1040 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 W HOBOKEN 2.5 IN 0752 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER

...PASSAIC COUNTY...HAWTHORNE 5.0 IN 0130 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 NE WAYNE 5.0 IN 1136 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 N WAYNE 4.5 IN 1021 AM 12/14 PUBLIC

...UNION COUNTY...1 NE UNION 6.2 IN 1125 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 NNE WESTFIELD 6.0 IN 1248 PM 12/14 PUBLICPLAINFIELD 6.0 IN 0140 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERCRANFORD 5.8 IN 1020 AM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIA1 NW FANWOOD 5.5 IN 1141 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 ESE MOUNTAINSIDE 5.2 IN 1030 AM 12/14 FIRE DEPT/RESCUE1 NE BERKELEY HEIGHTS 5.0 IN 1045 AM 12/14 PUBLICUNION 4.5 IN 0758 AM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIA1 NNW CRANFORD 4.5 IN 0757 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERNEWARK AIRPORT 4.1 IN 0100 PM 12/14 OFFICIAL NWS OBS

...NEW YORK...

...BRONX COUNTY...1 ENE CO-OP CITY 3.2 IN 0235 PM 12/14 PUBLIC

...KINGS COUNTY...1 SSE WILLIAMSBURG 4.3 IN 1155 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 NNE BAY RIDGE 4.0 IN 0145 PM 12/14 PUBLICMIDWOOD 2.9 IN 0202 PM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIA

...NASSAU COUNTY...FARMINGDALE 8.0 IN 1200 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 SSE PLAINEDGE 8.0 IN 1206 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 WSW UPPER BROOKVILLE 7.9 IN 1100 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WSW ELMONT 7.2 IN 1245 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SW LEVITTOWN 7.2 IN 1123 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 ENE GLEN COVE 7.0 IN 1201 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WNW LEVITTOWN 7.0 IN 1205 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 NNW EAST MASSAPEQUA 7.0 IN 1237 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 ENE BETHPAGE 7.0 IN 1000 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WSW LEVITTOWN 6.5 IN 1135 AM 12/14 PUBLICSEA CLIFF 6.5 IN 1126 AM 12/14 PUBLICGLEN COVE 6.4 IN 1118 AM 12/14 PUBLICWEST HEMPSTEAD 6.2 IN 1223 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SSE BELLMORE 6.2 IN 0106 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SSE MERRICK 6.2 IN 0128 PM 12/14 PUBLICEAST WILLISTON 6.1 IN 1238 PM 12/14 PUBLICMERRICK 6.1 IN 1244 PM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIAMANHASSET HILLS 5.8 IN 0113 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 S SOUTH MASSAPEQUA 5.8 IN 1134 AM 12/14 PUBLICHICKSVILLE 5.5 IN 0105 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WSW PLAINVIEW 5.3 IN 0928 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SE MALVERNE 5.2 IN 0254 PM 12/14BELLMORE 5.1 IN 1002 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 NNW CENTRE ISLAND 4.0 IN 0737 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SSE EAST NORWICH 3.8 IN 0515 AM 12/14 PUBLIC

...NEW YORK (MANHATTAN) COUNTY...1 NNE NEW YORK 3.1 IN 0203 PM 12/14 PUBLICCENTRAL PARK 2.7 IN 0100 PM 12/14 OFFICIAL NWS OBS

...ORANGE COUNTY...3 WNW WARWICK 6.6 IN 1210 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERMONROE 6.5 IN 1015 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER2 SW GREENWOOD LAKE 5.9 IN 1027 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 E HIGHLAND MILLS 5.1 IN 0112 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 SSW STEWART AIRPORT 4.3 IN 1057 AM 12/14 PUBLICMIDDLETOWN 3.7 IN 0752 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER

...PUTNAM COUNTY...3 N PUTNAM VALLEY 3.0 IN 1115 AM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIACARMEL 2.0 IN 0600 AM 12/14 CO-OP OBSERVER

...QUEENS COUNTY...BAYSIDE 5.5 IN 0130 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WSW HOWARD BEACH 5.3 IN 1232 PM 12/14 PUBLICBELLEROSE 5.0 IN 1220 PM 12/14 PUBLICNYC/JFK 4.6 IN 0100 PM 12/14 OFFICIAL NWS OBSHOWARD BEACH 4.5 IN 1130 AM 12/14 COCORAHS1 S JACKSON HEIGHTS 3.8 IN 0100 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER2 ENE BEDFORD-STUYVESANT 3.8 IN 1102 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 S ELMHURST 3.3 IN 1130 AM 12/14 PUBLICNYC/LA GUARDIA 2.6 IN 0100 PM 12/14 OFFICIAL NWS OBS2 SE MIDTOWN MANHATTAN 2.4 IN 1149 AM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIA

...RICHMOND COUNTY...GRASMERE 6.1 IN 0101 PM 12/14 PUBLICDONGAN HILLS 5.2 IN 1040 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 WNW TOMPKINSVILLE 5.1 IN 0945 AM 12/14 PUBLIC

...ROCKLAND COUNTY...MONSEY 3.9 IN 0951 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 NW STONY POINT 3.8 IN 1100 AM 12/14 COCORAHSNEW CITY 3.7 IN 0956 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERNYACK 3.5 IN 0218 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 E CONGERS 3.5 IN 1004 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 E STONY POINT 3.4 IN 1116 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 S STONY POINT 3.4 IN 1114 AM 12/14 PUBLIC

...SUFFOLK COUNTY...2 S COMMACK 8.5 IN 1253 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WNW DIX HILLS 8.3 IN 1200 PM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIA1 NNE CENTER MORICHES 8.2 IN 1215 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SE EAST NORTHPORT 8.2 IN 0300 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WNW EAST PATCHOGUE 8.1 IN 1205 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 W SHIRLEY AIRPORT 8.1 IN 1221 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 E HUNTINGTON STATION 8.0 IN 1138 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 NNW REMSENBURG-SPEONK 8.0 IN 0118 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SW EAST NORTHPORT 8.0 IN 0140 PM 12/14 PUBLICSAINT JAMES 7.8 IN 0154 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERNORTH PATCHOGUE 7.5 IN 0101 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 NW BOHEMIA 7.5 IN 0111 PM 12/14 PUBLICBELLPORT 7.5 IN 0128 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 NNW ISLIP 7.3 IN 1217 PM 12/14 PUBLICBOHEMIA 7.3 IN 1238 PM 12/14 PUBLICUPTON (NWS OFFICE) 7.3 IN 0100 PM 12/14 NWS EMPLOYEE1 NNE SAYVILLE 7.1 IN 1200 PM 12/14 NWS EMPLOYEE1 S CENTERPORT 7.0 IN 0100 PM 12/14 PUBLICISLANDIA 7.0 IN 0101 PM 12/14 PUBLICHAUPPAUGE 7.0 IN 0101 PM 12/14 PUBLICSMITHTOWN 7.0 IN 0101 PM 12/14 PUBLICBLUE POINT 7.0 IN 0130 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 NNW CENTER MORICHES 7.0 IN 1045 AM 12/14 NWS EMPLOYEESTONY BROOK 6.7 IN 1238 PM 12/14 PUBLICEAST ISLIP 6.5 IN 1151 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 NE MEDFORD 6.5 IN 1200 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 S NESCONSET 6.5 IN 1208 PM 12/14 PUBLICDEER PARK 6.5 IN 1215 PM 12/14 PUBLICLINDENHURST 6.5 IN 1245 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 SE RIDGE 6.4 IN 0100 PM 12/14 NWS EMPLOYEE1 SW NORTHPORT 6.3 IN 1258 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SSW NORTH BABYLON 6.3 IN 0101 PM 12/14 PUBLICBABYLON 6.2 IN 1219 PM 12/14 BROADCAST MEDIASAYVILLE 6.1 IN 1249 PM 12/14 NWS EMPLOYEECOPIAGUE 6.0 IN 1237 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 NE CALVERTON 6.0 IN 0119 PM 12/14 PUBLICMOUNT SINAI 6.0 IN 1030 AM 12/14 PUBLICISLIP AIRPORT 5.8 IN 0100 PM 12/14 OFFICIAL NWS OBS3 ENE SAG HARBOR 5.8 IN 0118 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SSW MILLER PLACE 5.5 IN 1100 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 SW POQUOTT 5.3 IN 1219 PM 12/14 PUBLICISLIP TERRACE 5.0 IN 1105 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER3 WNW RIVERHEAD 4.8 IN 1230 PM 12/14 NWS EMPLOYEEJAMESPORT 4.8 IN 0247 PM 12/14 PUBLICORIENT 4.0 IN 0309 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERMATTITUCK 3.3 IN 0150 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERCENTEREACH 2.8 IN 0710 AM 12/14 NWS EMPLOYEE

...WESTCHESTER COUNTY...1 ESE HARTSDALE 5.3 IN 1026 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 SSE GREENVILLE 5.0 IN 1230 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 NE OSSINING 5.0 IN 1042 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 E OSSINING 5.0 IN 1147 AM 12/14 PUBLIC1 WSW ARMONK 4.8 IN 0210 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERWHITE PLAINS 4.6 IN 0900 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER1 SSE ARMONK 4.6 IN 1232 PM 12/14 PUBLIC2 NW WOODLAWN 4.1 IN 1237 PM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTERARMONK 4.1 IN 0920 AM 12/14 PUBLIC2 ENE PEEKSKILL 4.0 IN 0130 PM 12/14 PUBLIC1 N LARCHMONT 4.0 IN 1012 AM 12/14 PUBLICPEEKSKILL 3.2 IN 0800 AM 12/14 TRAINED SPOTTER

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Samantha Bellacosa Dances at Hofstra University's John Cranford Adams Playhouse in Four Performances

New York Dance Theatre's Beloved Production of "The Nutcracker" Returns

Cast Features West Islip Seventh Grader Samantha Bellacosa

Special Guests Include New York City Ballet Stars Brittany Pollack and Daniel Ulbricht

Performances December 20 and 21 at Hofstra University’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse

New York Dance Theatre will present its 43rd season of “The Nutcracker” at Hofstra University’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse on Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21 with performances each day at noon and 5 p.m.

New York City Ballet soloist Brittany Pollack and principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht return as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier in all performances. Mr. Ulbricht also serves as an artistic advisor for the Ohman School of Ballet, a division of New York Dance Theatre, and has been a recurring master class instructor at the school. Joseph J. Simeone, whose credits include City Center’s A Chorus Line and Susan Stroman’s Degas-inspired Little Dancer at the Kennedy Center, returns to NYDT in the role of the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier.

The cast includes young dancers who train at the Ohman School of Ballet, including Udall Road Middle School seventh grader Samantha Bellacosa, who marks her fifth season in the holiday classic performing as a maid in the opening Party Scene, a mouse in the Battle Scene, a reindeer in the Land of Snow, and a Candy Cane in the Land of Sweets.

NYDT founder Frank Ohman (1939-2019), a former student and soloist under George Balanchine, set his staging after his mentor’s iconic Lincoln Center version, and the production includes the original Sugarplum Fairy Pas de Deux from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ® by permission of the George Balanchine Trust as well as costumes and props gifted by Mr. Balanchine. In addition, Ohman created original dances and scenes that set his production apart from others on Long Island. The ballet is directed by NYDT executive artistic director and NYDT/Ohman School of Ballet alumna Nicole Loizides Albruzzese.

With the elegant Christmas Party Scene, the drama of the magical growing Christmas Tree, the Battle of the Toy Soldiers and Giant Mice, the live snowstorm, and the brilliant dancing in the Land of the Sweets, “The Nutcracker” appeals to all ages. In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers will bring this classic story ballet to life on the stage of the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. The children’s roles are performed by students of the Ohman School of Ballet in Commack and the School of American Ballet (the home school of New York City Ballet).

“In our sixth decade of dance on Long Island and our 43rd season of The Nutcracker, New York Dance Theatre welcomes families to join us for a performance that is more than a ballet,” explains Ms. Loizides Albruzzese. “We hope to capture the spirit of the season of giving with our community partners helping us bring the arts to broader audiences.” A semi-immersive pre-show experience returns to the theater this year that invites audience members into the Silberhaus home before the curtain rises, with the sights, smells and sounds of the Christmas Eve party that is the setting for the ballet in the lobby. Students from the Long Island High School for the Arts music program in Syosset will perform as part of this experience before each show. A small portion of ticket sales goes to New York Dance Theatre’s Developpé program introducing dance to at-risk youth, foster families and children in need through workshops, classes, performances, mentors and scholarships in a partnership with North Shore Kiwanis Club, Hope for Youth Long Island, Mommas House, NOSH Delivers!, and Options for Community Living. New York Dance Theatre has donated 100 tickets for families in need to enjoy this holiday production.

Tickets for this full production ballet range from $33 to $55, including discounts for seniors (65+) and children (12 and under), available at www.nydancetheatre.org or 631.462.0964. Group discounts are available for 15 or more tickets purchased for a single show and $25 for Scout troops (ordered by phone and with Scout ID) and assisted living facilities. Photo opportunities are available for matinee shows as an add on to tickets and included for Scout troops and group sales. Additional details are on the website.

About New York Dance Theatre

New York Dance Theatre marked its 50th year in 2024. Founded by New York City Ballet soloist Frank Ohman with the blessing of his mentor, New York City Ballet co-founder George Balanchine, the company is currently under the artistic direction of NYDT alumna and former Momix principal dancer and choreographer Nicole Loizides, whose production work includes the Sochi Olympics. NYDT continues to present studies and performances of works by Balanchine and Antony Tudor with repetiteurs from the Balanchine and Tudor Trusts. The company’s partnerships include organizations focused on at-risk youth opening up scholarships to children in need and offering opportunities to experience live performances.

About the Ohman School of Ballet

The Ohman School of Ballet was founded in 1979 by Frank Ohman (1939-2019), former soloist at New York City Ballet (NYCB) and is currently led by Executive Artistic Director Nicole Loizides, herself an alumna of the school. Located in Commack, in 2024 the school celebrated 45 years serving as a training ground for promising young dancers and offering aspiring students the opportunity to learn classical ballet in the style passed down from George Balanchine to his protégé, Frank Ohman. OSB is a non-competition, non-recital school, focusing on proper classical ballet technique. A division of the New York Dance Theatre, Inc., the Ohman School has become an integral part of the company and is one of the very few not-for-profit ballet schools in the region. It offers three studios with state-of-the art flooring to Balanchine specifications and a highly qualified teaching staff. Artistic advisors for the school include New York City Ballet principal Daniel Ulbricht and retired New York City Ballet principal Ask la Cour, who served as Artistic Director of the school following Frank Ohman’s passing, as well as former Dance Theatre of Harlem principal Da’Von Doane and Toledo Ballet Artistic Director Eric Otto.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

Supervisor Angie Carpenter says the plan helps preserve essential services and jobs despite rising costs.

ISLIP, NY — Islip Town officials unveiled a proposed 2026 budget that aims to balance rising costs with preserving the services residents rely on every day.

The $288.9 million spending plan represents a 3.71 percent increase from last year’s $278.5 million budget. Under the proposal, the average homeowner would pay about $72.77 more per year, or roughly $6 a month, to help fund local services such as road maintenance, recreation, and public safety.

Supervisor Angie Carpenter said the increase is driven largely by new employee contracts, a roughly 10 percent rise in health and retirement costs, and a 75 percent spike in insurance premiums.

“To remain compliant with the state’s tax cap, we would have needed to eliminate nearly $8.8 million from the budget,” Carpenter said in a statement. “Doing so would have required significant reductions to staff and essential services—something we are working hard to avoid.”

Town officials said the plan maintains staffing levels, avoids layoffs, and sustains key programs, including road maintenance, recreation, and public safety initiatives. Without the increase, they warned, of the reduction or elimination of part-time positions that support recreation and community programs, up to 60 full-time employees could face job losses, and infrastructure improvements could be delayed.

“While we continue to seek efficiencies and creative solutions, this budget represents a responsible path forward that preserves the services residents rely on every day,” Carpenter said. “We’re investing in our employees, maintaining public safety, and ensuring that [Islip] remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

By the Numbers: Islip’s 2026 Proposed Budget

Major cost drivers:

Avoided cuts: