🌱 Southern PKWY Deadly Crash + Holiday Festival + Toy Drive-Thru

Happy Tuesday, people of Port Jefferson! Here's everything you need to know going on locally today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 44, low: 38.

Here are the top stories today in Port Jefferson:

1. A passenger in a vehicle that crashed into a pole on the Southern State Parkway in Hempstead died Sunday, according to the New York State Police. The vehicle was going westbound at about 1:15 p.m. on the Southern State, west of exit 22, when it left the roadway and struck the pole. The driver and two passengers were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. A third passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries. A fourth passenger was also taken to a hospital, and died from injuries sustained in the crash. State police ask anyone who witnessed the crash or have information about it to call 631-763-3300.(Newsday)
2. The Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 42nd Annual Holiday Festival will return on Sunday, Dec. 5 from noon-6 p.m. at the Stony Brook Village Center, with Santa, performances, displays, activities and more. This is an entirely free event. The festival will feature music from WALK 97.5 throughout the day, Wiggs Optician’s Holiday Train Display, carolers, a performance from Roseland Dance Studio, and a petting zoo. The Bethel AME Choir will be returning to help brighten spirits with a performance. (tbrnewsmedia.com)
3. St. James Fire Department Engine Company No. 1 will hold its second annual St. James Community Holiday Gift & Toy Drive-Thru on Saturday, Dec. 4 at Gyrodyne/Flowerfield in St. James from noon-4 p.m. Visitors will enter via the entrance on Route 25A. Donations of an unwrapped toy or gift card are requested. This year, multiple St. James organizations are collaborating on the event. (tbrnewsmedia.com)
4. The show is wonderful to begin with, there is no doubt about that. Theatre Three's 37th annual production of the iconic Charles Dickens tale a 'Christmas Carol' has certainly became a beautiful tradition in Long Island. Even with slight changes throughout the years, this ageless production is more spectacular than ever. Jefferey Sanzel, the artistic director of the Port Jefferson venue celebrating its 51st season, directs the dazzling play running through Dec. 26. (Broadway World)

Today's Port Jefferson Daily is brought to you by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Port Jefferson!

Today in Port Jefferson:

• Boyle Holiday Boutique — Comsewogue School District. (All Day)
• TeenTalk — Comsewogue Public Library. (6 p.m.)
• Teen Dungeons and Dragons — Port Jefferson Free Library. (6:30 p.m.)
• Apple Pie Minis — Comsewogue Public Library. (9 p.m.)

Port Jefferson Patch Notebook

• Greater Port Jeff-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council: "Santa parade in Port Jefferson." (Facebook)
• Suffolk arson detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding an unspecified device that detonated and formed a crater on Fox Island Sunday morning. Police say they received multiple calls from surrounding towns about a loud noise at around 11 a.m. (News12)
• A Bay Shore woman said her 3-month-old French bulldog was stolen from her home on Saturday. Catherine Vasquez said her dog named Zushi, some cash and clothing were taken from her house on Farrington Avenue late at night. (News12)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Roseland School of Dance — FALL DANCE CLASSES START IN SEPTEMBER- Register today! (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Holiday Tree Lighting at The Shoppes. (Dec. 4)
• Groovin The Port Jeff ! (Dec. 4)
• 25th Annual Charles Dickens Festival Port Jefferson Village. (Dec. 4)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors on board. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Debora Whitehead

About me: Debora Whitehead is a dedicated wife and homeschooling mom from Coram, NY. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Education and loves to teach and write. Her passion for the community reflects on her volunteering work at the 'Mariposa Ministry," a nonprofit family assistance program. One of her strongest believes is Jesus Christ and when she is not parenting, teaching or reading, she is writing. One of her favorites quotes is "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."- Eleanor Roosevelt.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Port Jefferson Daily? You can contact me at PortJefferson@Patch.com.