SAVE
OUR
cinema
Our community’s beloved independent cinema is at risk.
Please act now
One of our community’s beloved cultural organizations is in danger. We are outraged that the Cinema Arts Centre Board is making reckless decisions that have thrown this treasured arts organization into chaos.
The decision to fire long time CAC Co-Director Dylan Skolnick without cause, then smear his reputation with vague innuendo, is unforgivable. Dylan has dedicated almost his entire adult life to CAC and has played a key role in growing it into an internationally respected cinema.
Immediate action is needed to ensure that the Cinema Arts Centre survives and continues to thrive. We have four demands…
→ Board Co-Chair Matthew Daidola, and CAC Co-Directors Michael Kornfeld & Kelsie Greene, must resign immediately.
→ Dylan Skolnick must be immediately reinstated as Co-Director.
→ He must receive all lost back-pay.
→ The current CAC Board must resign.
If you care about the Cinema Arts Centre, please help by sending these demands to the CAC Board of Directors:
Matthew Daidola (Board Chair)
Partner, TA Law Group, PLLC
mjdaidola@gmail.com
Michael Kornfield
Interim CAC Co-Director
mskornfeld@yahoo.com
Glenn Seidman
Owner, Empire Medical Compression Fittings. LLC
glenn.e.seidman@gmail.com
Jonathan Gross
VP, Small Business Banking, Long Island, Valley National Bank
jonathangross28@gmail.com
Tom Fazio
VP, Business Banking National Strategy,
JPMorgan Chase
trfazio@hotmail.com
Suzanne Ettinger
Attorney At Law, Partner Ettinger Law Firm settinger@trustlaw.com
Stephanie Rubin (Co-Secretary)
LCSW-Therapist
stephanierubin81@yahoo.com
Monisha George
PT, DPT Compass Physical Therapy
moegeorge94@gmail.com
Prof. Martin Haas (Co-Secretary)
Adelphi University
haas@adelphi.edu
Kelsie Greene
CAC Co-Director
kelsie@cinemaartscentre.org
…and please email our Huntington Town Board:
Edmund J. Smyth, Supervisor
https://www.huntingtonny.gov/Contact-Ed
Dr. Dave Bennardo, Councilman
dbennardo@HuntingtonNY.gov
Brooke A. Lupinacci, Councilwoman
blupinacci@HuntingtonNY.gov
Theresa Mari, Councilwoman
tmari@HuntingtonNY.gov
Jennifer Hebert, Councilwoman
jhebert@HuntingtonNY.gov
THOUGHTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY
“The reason given was vague and without context. The Board owes it to CAC’s membership to explain its action, especially given the harsh language against Dylan that maligns his reputation. Until we know the truth, I see Dylan’s removal as a stain on the Cinema’s legacy.”
Linda S. “The Board’s shabby treatment of Dylan Skolnick is embarrassing and damaging to the cultural life of Huntington. The Board is hiding behind a poorly written firing notice intended to harm Skolnick by hinting at serious misconduct it avoids naming. What is apparently a minor dispute over his side gig supporting other film organizations is being turned into a firing offense. Dylan and family are heroes here. Everybody knows that. Reinstate immediately.”
Spencer V.“When the power of LOVE overcomes the love of POWER the artistry and dedication of Dylan as the legacy to the dream of Vic & Char will be not only reinstated but RESPECTED again. Truly every nonprofit organization needs to evolve over time, but much like tending a garden, you don’t plow over the landscape to help it grow.”
Dorian S.“Dylan is more than an executive director. The Cinema is his life, as it has was for his parents. Now he is its heart as they were before him. It would not be the Cinema without him. He works tirelessly and brings a lifetime of knowledge to his role. His contacts are impressive, and he brings top-shelf actors, directors and others to us that few others could equal. I've known this family for 30 years. I cannot imagine Dylan doing anything that a reasonable person would consider ‘misconduct.’”
Bett B.“I discovered Cinema Arts shortly after I moved to Long Island in 2007. It has ever since been one of the most important parts of my life here. I hate the idea of losing cinema over Dylan's firing but I don't think I can continue to support it if this decision is not reversed.”
Jane J.“The Cinema Arts Center is cultural jewel for Long Island. Dylan has done an extraordinary job of building on his parents' legacy. The board has fired him, apparently without warning. It has accused him of misconduct without defining it or attempting remediation. This is unjust, inhumane, and unacceptable. CAC is community supported. Its board represents and should be responsible to that community. In this matter it has failed in its duty of transparency.”
John I.