HUNTINGTON, NY – October 10, 2026
What’s happening at the Cinema Arts Centre following Dylan Skolnick’s dismissal? Who will be joining us for our Election 2026 candidate interviews? And what should Huntington residents understand about human trafficking happening much closer to home than many people realize?
These are some of the conversations in Episode 29 of the Huntington Matters Weekly Update.
For more than 11 years, Huntington Matters has been connecting neighbors, sharing local news, supporting businesses and organizations, and helping residents stay informed about what’s happening across the Town of Huntington.
June Margolin, Dana Richter and Diane Schaber returned to the table after a two-week break with a packed Community Calendar, an update on the controversy surrounding the Cinema Arts Center, details about our upcoming candidate interviews and important Neighborhood Watch information. We also caught up on our recent coverage of The Great Cow Harbor 10K Run and the opening of Wahoo Market.
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What’s Happening Around Huntington?
Diane Schaber returned with a full calendar of events, beginning with the Long Island Fall Festival in Huntington. With food, vendors, live entertainment and carnival rides, the festival offers activities throughout the holiday weekend. We discussed parking and road closures, discounted advance carnival tickets and why Monday’s quieter carnival schedule may appeal to families with younger children or children with sensory sensitivities.
Other events highlighted included a free beekeeping workshop with Rob Schwartz at Manor Farm Park, a Blessing of the Pets at St. Luke’s Church in Dix Hills during National Faith & Blue Weekend, and a guided tour of Northport Rural Cemetery hosted by the Northport Historical Society.
Commack Day at the Suffolk Y JCC, a Classic Car Show at the Vanderbilt Museum, and a Dolly Parton Celebration screening of 9 to 5 at the Cinema Arts Center were among the additional events discussed. Looking ahead, Diane previewed Town of Huntington Archives tours, the last 2026 opportunity to tour the historic Lefferts Tide Mill and the first Trunk-or-Treat Halloween celebration of the season.
For dates, registration requirements, ticket information and additional activities, visit our Huntington Matters Community Calendar. Submit your own upcoming events.
Election 2026: Huntington Matters Candidate Interviews Begin
Our Election 2026 candidate interview series begins Monday, October 12, giving residents an opportunity to hear directly from candidates seeking to represent them in Albany.
Our first interviews feature Craig Herskowitz and David Weber, candidates for New York State Assembly District 12. On Tuesday, October 13, New York State Senator Mario Mattera, who is seeking reelection in Senate District 2, will join us.
We’ll be asking about issues affecting Huntington residents, including taxes, housing, public safety, education and state funding.
Early voting begins October 24, and Election Day is November 3. Because the races appearing on your ballot depend on where you live, we encourage residents to check their voter information and learn about the candidates running in their districts.
Visit Vote411.org for voter registration information, to see your ballot, candidate profiles and polling details. Our Community Calendar includes all the relevant links on each Huntington Matters candidate interview event.
The Hot Topic: What’s Happening at the Cinema Arts Centre?
The controversy surrounding the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington has generated substantial discussion in Huntington Matters Community Forum since Co-Director Dylan Skolnick’s dismissal became public on September 1.
Skolnick has lifelong ties to the nonprofit theater founded by his parents Vic Skolnick and Charlotte Sky in 1973. His departure has prompted protests, calls for boycotts to force his reinstatement and disagreements over the Cinema Arts Centre’s future.
Dana Richter has been investigating the situation, speaking with representatives on both sides of the dispute. During the episode, she described meeting with Cinema Arts Centre representatives Matthew Daidola – Board Chair and Michael Kornfeld – Interim Co-Director and former Board Member, speaking separately with Skolnick and gathering additional perspectives from community members.
The accounts differ, and Dana is preparing a separate article to examine those differences and the questions surrounding Skolnick’s departure.
I raised a larger question about the Cinema Arts Centre’s future. With supporters canceling memberships, withdrawing donations and boycotting screenings, the theater faces the possibility of closing within weeks. Whatever happens between Dylan Skolnick and the board, the community must decide whether it wants the Cinema Arts Centre to remain part of Huntington in any capacity.
Residents can make their own decisions about supporting the theater while the dispute plays out. Dana emphasized that those decisions have consequences. If the financial support disappears, the Cinema Arts Center may close before the disagreement is resolved, leaving Huntington without a cultural institution that has served the community for more than five decades.
Dana’s upcoming article will take a closer look at the circumstances, the competing accounts and what the people involved told us directly. Watch this segment of the Weekly Update for more of our conversation.
Community Buzz: Catching Up on Huntington Stories
After two weeks away from the Weekly Update, we caught up on three important stories we’ve covered recently.
2026 The Great Cow Harbor 10K Run
We went all out covering The Great Cow Harbor 10K Run this year! From exclusive interviews with elite runners to race-day excitement, we captured the people and community spirit that make this Northport tradition so special.
Dana’s feature article, extensive photo galleries and our growing YouTube 2026 The Great Cow Harbor 10K Run playlist take you behind the scenes of the 2026 race.
Wahooo Market Opens in Huntington Village
John and Mark Cronin, the father-and-son team behind John’s Crazy Socks, launched their newest venture, Wahooo Market, on October 1.
We were there for the grand opening, complete with a flash mob down Main Street! But there’s a much bigger story behind this new business and its mission to support entrepreneurs with differing abilities.
Read Dana’s article and watch our video to find out what makes Wahoo Market different and what’s coming next.
Neighborhood Watch: Human Trafficking Beyond Awareness
We recently attended the Beyond Awareness human trafficking seminar at Huntington Town Hall, presented in partnership with Councilwoman Theresa Mari, the Town of Huntington and Northwell Health. The information shared by investigators and survivor advocates challenged common misconceptions about how trafficking happens, who is involved and how close to home it can be.
Detective Sergeant James “Jimmy” Johnson, who heads the Suffolk County Police Department’s Human Trafficking Investigation Unit, shared some startling information about trafficking right here on Long Island.
Just two days after attending the seminar, I had a disturbing encounter at a local grocery store. A strange conversation between two women caught my attention and left me wondering whether I had witnessed someone being groomed for trafficking. I can’t know for certain, but the experience reinforced just how important it is to recognize potential warning signs.
One critical takeaway: If you suspect human trafficking, don’t confront the suspected trafficker or intervene yourself. You could put yourself or the potential victim in greater danger. Instead, submit a tip to the professionals.
ECLI-VIBES operates a 24-hour HOPE Line at 631-360-3606. Tips can be submitted to Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or through P3Tips.com. Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
Our in-depth article and full seminar recording explore the warning signs, the realities of trafficking in our communities and what residents can do to help.
Knowing what to look for and how to respond is an important part of Huntington Matters Neighborhood Watch.
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Since 2014, Huntington Matters has been connecting neighbors, supporting local businesses, sharing information, advocating for our community, and serving residents across the Town of Huntington.
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