Ed Thomas: Commercial Fisherman and Bayman Ed Thomas was born in Baldwin, NY, and has been fishing for as long as he can remember. His started his first business at eight years old, digging soft shell clams and putting them in a basket on his bicycle, and selling them house to house down the street. […]
Chuck Tekula: Bayman and Fisherman Chuck Tekula is a commercial fisherman from Center Moriches. College educated at Empire State College in New York, Chuck frequently writes about the lives of commercial fishermen, the regulations, and policies that affect them, and what has led to the decline of Great South Bay. He was one of the […]
Tommy Stewart: Decoy Carver/Shorebirds Tom Stewart is a decorative decoy carver, who is also a recreational hunter. Like other traditional decoy carvers. Tom’s interest in carving can be traced to his family, especially his grandfather Dave Stewart and his lather Russell. Dave and Russell spent many hours when Tom was just a young boy making […]
Theo Torres: Peruvian Musician Theo Torres was born in 1952 in Lima, the capital of Peru. His family originally lived in Cajamarca in northern Peru, but they moved to Lima in search of greater economic opportunities. One of nine children, Theo attended school and college. By the age of 15, he was also playing a […]
Achyut Tope : Tabla Player Achyut Tope was born in Hyderabad, India in the early 1960s. He received his Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in India, and at the age of 21, he immigrated to the United States to continue his studies. He attended SUNY-ESF and Syracuse University where he received his Master’s degree. He […]
Flo Sharkey: Clammer Flo Sharkey is a 2nd-generation baywoman who was an active member of the Brookhaven Baymen’s Association and past president. As a young girl Flo learned how to clam, scallop, crab and eel from her father. She works part-time on the bay from her waterfront dock and home in Patchogue. Flo and other […]
Joey Scavone: Fisherman Joey Scavone was born in Freeport and began fishing with his father, a devoted recreational fisherman. Like most recreational fishermen, his father awoke young Joey in the early morning hours to go fishing for striped bass and blue fish, which were abundant in the south shore bays near Jones Beach and Captree. “We’d […]
Steel Sensation: Trinidadian Steelband Steel Sensation was founded by Trinidadian born Ian Japsi. Ian learned to play from family members, including his uncle, the legendary Jit Samaroo. Trinidad is a small Caribbean island that has had a big effect on music through its contributions of calypso and the steel band. The steel band is composed […]
George Rigby, Jr. — Master Fisherman, Duck Hunter and Decoy Carver George Rigby was born in Bay Shore, Long Island, the descendant of several generations of baymen and duck hunters. His great grandfather and grandfather worked on the bay during the late 1800s and early 1900s in Canarsie near Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn either harvesting […]
The Sopasinas Hellenic Dance Academy: Greek Folk Dance School Kitty Sopasis, who was born in the Northern Greek community of Thesalomike in 1949, founded the Sopasinas Hellenic Dance Academy in 1983. The granddaughter of Greek farmers and the daughter of a steelworker who settled in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with his family, Sopasis was imbued with traditional […]
