The Times of Middle Country - January 26, 2023

Photo by Rita J. Egan

Elected officials say Hochul is misguided

affordable

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

proposal

on the individual needs of their communities. Many added that a blanket state housing proposal wouldn’t work on Long Island due to lack of sewer systems, also infrastructure and environmental concerns.

COUNTY

Local elected officials held a press conference Friday, Jan. 20, to make it clear that they don’t agree with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) New York Housing Compact proposal.

Republican state senators and assemblymembers, county legislators and town supervisors from Suffolk County gathered at the Perry B. Duryea State Office Building in Hauppauge with a message for Hochul. The elected members speaking at the press conference said zoning, land use and development matters are best left to local elected officials.

In her State of the State message earlier this month, Hochul proposed a housing strategy calling for 800,000 new homes to be built in the state over the course of a decade to address the lack of affordable housing. Among the plan’s requirements would be municipalities with Metropolitan Transportation Authority railroad stations to rezone to make way for higher-density residential development. All downstate cities, towns and villages served by the MTA would have a new home creation target over three years of 3%, compared to upstate counties that would need to build 1% more new homes over the same period.

But speakers on Jan. 20 called her proposed initiative “government overreach” and “misguided,” and they said municipalities should create zoning laws, grant building permits and urban plans based

The press conference was led by state Sen. Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue).

“We all agree that we have an affordable housing problem,” he said. “What we don’t agree on is how to fix it.”

He added, “The governor apparently believes that one size fits all is the way to go, that heavyhanded mandates are the way to go.”

Murray said the Village of Patchogue is the model of revitalizing villages and downtowns across the state. He added local issues must be considered, such as environmental concerns, traffic issues and parking options. He said Patchogue officials worked to rebuild the village’s infrastructure, invested in and expanded sewer plants, repaved 85% of its streets, invested into pools, parks and the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. Murray added 700 new residential homes were built since 2003, 575 of them are within walking distance from the train station and village.

Town supervisors speak up

Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) said they were all concerned about what Long Island will look like in the future. He added there is a need for sewer systems in most towns, and local infrastructure needs improvement. He said the three rail lines that cross the town depend

Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, at podium, joined elected officials at the Jan. 20 press conference. Photo by Rita J. Egan

School bus safety program sparks dialogue within Suffolk County government

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The Suffolk County School Bus Safety Program has drawn scrutiny from Republican county officials targeting the program for alleged mismanagement.

Enacted unanimously by the county Legislature in 2021, this traffic safety program uses cameras attached near the stop arm of school buses to enforce the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law. The county has partnered with Virginia-based BusPatrol to operate the program.

Under state law, offenders caught passing buses while the stop arm is extended receive a $250 fine. The county code states, “net proceeds of any penalty … shall be expended for programs related to improving traffic safety and/or school district safety in Suffolk County.”

County Comptroller John Kennedy Jr. (R) recently announced his office is conducting an audit of the School Bus Safety program. He stated the program had captured his attention when numerous residents complained about receiving potentially erroneous violations.

“My interest in any program is always that a program is being operated as the laws that adopted

it … sought to have it operate,” Kennedy said. “How is the revenue that’s being collected from the program being allocated? Is it being done under the terms of the contract? Is the vendor fulfilling all of their requirements?”

He added, “That’s the audit function, and it is universal across the board.”

Legislative purpose

Marykate Guilfoyle, a spokesperson for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D), summarized the motive for developing the program in the first place.

“The goal of the School Bus Safety program is to protect children as they get on and off the bus and to reduce the number of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, which endangers the lives of students,” Guilfoyle said in an email. “The program is completely violator funded, and county proceeds are used to support public safety, traffic safety and school safety initiatives.”

County Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) defended the School Bus Safety program. She said her office’s most frequent complaints are related to roadway safety and other traffic concerns.

“Red light cameras and school bus cameras are a way to prevent death and injuries without

Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class

Wednesdays, 7-8pm, starting February 8th to May 24th, 14 sessions (no classes April 5th and 12th for Passover)

Busy doing something else when you were 13? No problem!

It’s never too late to have a bar or bat mitzvah. Study for 14 weeks with Rabbi Benson and learn the basics about Jewish texts, history, practices, Hebrew and Torah reading. The class will have their B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, May 27th which is the holiday of Shavuot.

Mount Sinai Elementary School

118 North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York 11766

RSVP by to 631-928-3737 or rabbi.benson@nsjc.org.

$100 for all 14 classes. Need 4 students to run the class. ©126720

The Suffolk County School Bus Safety Program has drawn criticism from Republicans within the county government. Stock photo

BUS SAFETY PROGRAM CONTINUED ON A10

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police: Selden woman dies in car crash

Suffolk County Police Seventh Squad detectives are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed a woman in Yaphank on Jan. 22. Fay Vella was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer, with her one-year-old daughter as a passenger, on the southbound William Floyd exit ramp to Express Drive North when she lost control of the vehicle, crashed through a chain link fence, overturned, and came to a stop in the woods off the roadway at approximately 1:20 a.m. Vella, 41, of Selden, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. Her daughter was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead where she was evaluated and released to a family member. The vehicle was impounded for a safety check. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752.

Pedestrian struck by two cars in Coram

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a pedestrian in Coram on Jan. 22. Jose Franco was standing in the eastbound lane of Middle Country Road, near Country Club Drive, when he was struck by a 2004 Toyota Camry being operated by Kevin Williams at 5:33 p.m. The driver of a 2007 Toyota Camry that was driving behind Williams, Freya Syeda Siddiqua, attempted to swerve out of the way but also struck Franco. Franco, 28, of Middle Island, was transported via Coram Fire Department Ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Neither of the drivers involved, Williams, 64, of Coram, and Siddiqua, 23, of Wading River, were injured. Both Toyota vehicles were impounded for safety checks. Anyone with information on this crash is asked to contact the Sixth Squad at 631854-8652.

Three people arrested for burglaries

Suffolk County Police arrested three people on Jan. 20 in connection with burglaries at Dunkin’ Donuts and other commercial establishments that have occurred since December. A pair allegedly broke into Dunkin’ Donuts on Horseblock Road in Farmingville, stole cash and fled to a waiting vehicle at approximately 3:40 a.m. A short time later, detectives pulled over the vehicle and arrested the driver, Michael Gruber, 54, and passengers Kristen Osmolia, 51, and Christopher Volpe, 44, of Holbrook.

Wanted for Medford grand larceny

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a group of people who allegedly stole merchandise from a Medford store this month.

Three females and a male entered Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, on January 7 at approximately 9 p.m. The group allegedly placed approximately $1200 worth of merchandise into a shopping cart. Two of the women distracted security personnel while the man and third woman fled the store with the merchandise.

A further investigation by Major Case Unit detectives determined Gruber and Volpe were also responsible for allegedly burglarizing Dunkin’ Donuts in Holbrook on Jan. 3; Dunkin’ Donuts in Smithtown on Jan. 20; Dunkin’ Donuts in Saint James on Dec. 29; and Dunkin’ Donuts in East Setauket on Dec. 27. Osmolia was charged for the January robberies and she and Volpe were found responsible for burglarizing Sunoco in Hauppauge on Dec. 15. Gruber and Volpe were also charged with burglarizing Toast Coffeehouse in Port Jefferson Station on Dec. 3.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

Do you recognize this couple? Photo from SCPD

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Housing Proposal

on diesel fuel, and he added overgrowth has also contaminated the waters.

“Governor, before you start talking about more housing, how about the infrastructure to support it?” Romaine said. “How about electrifying the rail? How about making sure the roads work? How about making sure that there are sewers?”

Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R) said the town is manufacturing affordable housing “to the extent it’s possible” based on its infrastructure.

In the last five years, he said the town has approved the construction of 450 rental units, 10% of which are classified as affordable per state law.

“The only elected officials that know how to do that on Long Island are your local elected officials with the help of our county, state and federal officials as well,” Wehrheim said. “So, we are doing what the governor wants, but we’re doing it the right way.”

Town of Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth (R) said New York politics “is not Republican vs. Democrat. It’s New York City versus New York state.” He said the governor is affected by New York City extremists.

“I implore the governor to form a working coalition of centrist Democrats and centrist Republicans in the state Legislature to govern from the center as the vast majority of New Yorkers expect of you,” Smyth said.

Additional perspectives

State Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (RSt. James) said when he hears the governor talk about local control, he feels she is aligning with the progressive left. He added “everything they touch they destroy,” listing the economy, energy independence and the southern border.

“They want to destroy our local zoning, and they will destroy what makes Long Island and New York state the wonderful place to live that it is,” Fitzpatrick said. “Local control works, and we seek a cooperative relationship, a carrot approach rather than the stick approach that she is putting before us.”

Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, also spoke at the press conference. He acknowledged there is a housing problem on the Island and said the town supervisors have provided hope with past projects.

“They have been behind getting affordable housing in their communities,” Alexander said, adding 20,000 units of multihousing have been approved on Long Island over the past 17 years.

State Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport), who has been a zoning attorney for more than 20 years, in an interview after the press conference said incentives and funding are needed.

He said Brookhaven’s Commercial Redevelopment Districts are excellent zoning examples of redevelopment and multifamily houses where there are incentives such as being near transportation and connecting to sewers.

“Those are the incentives that we should be talking about, not creating super zoning boards, and more bureaucracy,” Brown said.

In a statement to TBR News Media, Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook), who was a former president of the Three Village Civic Association, said, “We have to be wise enough to recognize that the land under which our aquifers sit can only bear so much development.”

He gave the example of a parcel of land in Port Jefferson Station on Route 112 and near the train station. The large, vegetated parcel has restrictive covenants to limit the type of development on the site.

“This place is a vital area of green space, where trees can grow, where oxygen is produced and where rainwater is filtered before it goes down to the aquifers we drink from,” he said. “The governor’s proposal would throw all that planning out the window and turn this into a potential development site for hundreds of new units.”

Former state Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), who was chair of the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee between 2015 and 2022, attended the press conference and in a phone interview said, “This is a proposal that attempts to meet one need, but has a likely outcome, if advanced, of completely overriding environmental concerns. Our first limiting factor for sustainable communities is the environment, in particular water — drinking water.”

He added the proposal to increase the density of housing not only overrides local planning but threatens communities’ quality of life.

He added, for example, a village such as Poquott wouldn’t be able to build more housing as it’s “essentially a completely built-out community.” Or, a hamlet such as St. James wouldn’t be able to add more housing near the train station.

“If you impose from above a mandate to change the land use, you’re basically impacting the environment immediately and, for the long term, the quality of life of a community,” he said.

January brings welcome relief from persistent viral infections in county

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

After a November and December in which realities like a “tridemic” of viral threats sickened residents throughout Suffolk County, the new year has started off with fewer illnesses and cautious optimism among health care professionals.

Cases of monkeypox continue to be on the lower side, in part because of the number of vaccines people in the area have received.

HEALTH

“The numbers are coming down now,” said Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. The overall threat is “less” and “we’re in the take-a-deep-breath phase.”

Indeed, the frequency of cases of several viruses is lower.

“Flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are down,” Dr. Adrian Popp, chair of Infection Control at Huntington Hospital/ Northwell Health and associate professor of medicine at Hofstra School of Medicine, explained in an email.

At the Catholic Health hospitals, including Port Jefferson-based St. Charles and Smithtown-based St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, the emergency room visits are down around 10% from a few weeks ago, said Dr. Jeffrey Wheeler, medical director of the Emergency Department at St. Charles.

In between too busy and too quiet, the hospital is in the “sweet spot” where health care providers have enough to do without frantically racing from one emergency to another, Wheeler said.

Among those visiting St. Charles, Wheeler added that health care providers are seeing a smattering of illnesses.

At the same time, the vaccine for the flu has proven to be a “good match” for the current strain, Nachman said. “Amongst those who did the flu shot, they have tended to not get sick enough to go to the doctor.”

To be sure, health care workers are still helping people overcome a range of infections circulating in the county.

“We are still seeing a smorgasbord of flu, COVID and RSV,” said Nachman. Of the people admitted to Stony Brook Hospital, most of them have a comorbidity.

At Huntington Hospital, admissions are “high,” and the hospital census remains high, Popp added.

Health care workers are diagnosing viruses like the flu and COVID-19 and have used available treatments to reduce the symptoms and the spread of these viruses.

New COVID vaccine approach

Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration posted documents online that reflected a possible future change in its approach to COVID-19 vaccinations.

Instead of recommending bivalent boosters or a range of ongoing vaccinations to provide protection against circulating strains, the FDA plans to approach COVID-19 vaccinations in the same way as the flu.

Each year, people who are otherwise healthy and may not have high risks may get a single dose of a vaccine based on the strains the administration anticipates may circulate, particularly during the colder winter months.

Health care professionals welcomed this approach.

Nachman and Popp thought a single shot would be “great” and appreciated how the annual vaccine would simplify the process while reducing inoculation fatigue.

“The simplest messages with the simplest strategy often wins,” Nachman said.

Bivalent booster concern

According to Alexander, 10,000 more units are coming down the pike, and 50 communities have had buildings built near transit stations.

Englebright and current elected officials are concerned that the housing legislation would be included in the state budget similar to bail reform.

According to New York State Department of Health figures, the overall numbers across the state have been declining for the flu. For the week ending Jan. 14, the number of infections was cut in half.

Addressing concerns raised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about a potential link between the bivalent booster and stroke, Nachman suggested that was one data point among many.

Suffolk County saw a slightly larger drop, falling 59% for the same week, to 571.

tbrnewsmedia.com

Hochul’s administration has said more information on the housing proposal will be released in the near future.

• tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com • tbrnewsmedia.com

This year, people who were going to get the flu vaccine may have helped themselves and their families by getting the shot earlier, rather than dragging out the process of boosting their immune systems over the course of months. Nachman said.

Israel has used the Pfizer bivalent booster exclusively and hasn’t seen any such evidence linking the booster to stroke.

The CDC data is “one of multiple data points that we use to look at safety events,” she said. “Not a single other one has shown any relationship with stroke among the elderly in the first 21 days.”

clockwise from top-left: Centereach senior Will Kiernan goes to the rim; junior Logan Norman scores; senior Tim McCarthy scores; and Centereach senior Evan Grant lays up for two in a road game against Smithtown East.

Pictured

Photos by Bill Landon

Smithtown East edges Centereach

BY BILL LANDON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The Bulls of Smithtown East (7-4) needed a win to secure a postseason appearance when they hosted Centereach (7-4) but they fell behind by seven points at the halftime break.

Smithtown East senior Benjiman Haug, however, provided the necessary spark in the third quarter, putting his team out front. The Bulls never looked back, winning the contest, 58-48, in this Division II matchup Monday, Jan. 23.

Haug finished with 22 points, and teammates James Burton and Dominic Galati

netted 12 and 11, respectively.

Centereach senior Tim McCarthy topped the scoring chart for the Cougars with 10 field goals, a three-pointer and four free throws for 27 points.

The win lifts Smithtown East to 8-4 in league, 11-4 overall. The loss drops the Cougars to 7-5 with four games remaining before postseason play begins.

Pictured clockwise from above, Smithtown East senior Benjiman Haug drives the baseline; Centereach senior Xander Torres scores for the Cougars; and Centereach senior Tim McCarthy boxes out for the Cougars.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Noticeofformationof

ofStateofNewYork(SSNY) ofOrg.filedwithSecretary Reason2Season,LLC.Arts

on04/15/2022.Officelocation:SuffolkCounty.SSNY

LLC:5DynastyDrive,Ridge, copyoftheprocesstothe served.SSNYshallmaila processagainstitmay agentoftheLLCuponwhom hasbeendesignatedas

Bus Safety Program

Continued from A5

needing a paid police officer at every intersection and following every bus,” she said. “It’s a very efficient way for providing the consequence for breaking the rules of the road.”

Before the program took effect, Hahn added, few violators ever got caught. Today, they receive a fine, incentivizing better roadway behavior and creating a safer traffic environment.

“Now people have to change their behavior to no longer do the illegal action that puts people’s lives at risk,” the county legislator said.

Questions over potential misapplication

$1 million to school districts and $125,000 in [public service announcements] during the back-to-school months to educate drivers on the state law surrounding stopping for buses.”

Trotta viewed the school bus program as a lucrative moneymaker for the county and vendor rather than a measure promoting bus safety. He said the law is applied unfairly, ticketing busy multilane corridors in the same manner as residential neighborhoods.

“I’ve checked with all the school districts, and kids aren’t crossing major thoroughfares,” Trotta said. “I’m all for giving a ticket to someone who passes a school bus on a residential avenue because it’s dangerous. I’m not at all for 1,000 people on Jericho Turnpike getting tickets.”

While the county code imposes rigid reporting requirements regarding expenditures of revenues generated from the program, Kennedy said he has yet to see any reports to date.

1245401/196xtmc

York(SSNY)on SecretaryofStateofNew LLC.ArtsofOrg.filedwith Cakes&TreastsByMojo Noticeofformationof

Anylawfulpurpose. NewYork,11961.Purpose: 1245601/196xtmc

Sinai,NewYork,11766. LLC:21RockPath,Mount copyoftheprocesstothe served.SSNYshallmaila processagainstitmaybe agentoftheLLCuponwhom hasbeendesignatedas

Purpose:Anylawfulpurpose.

To Place A Legal Notice Email: legals@tbrnewsmedia.com 12/30/2022.Officelocation:SuffolkCounty.SSNY

County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) said the School Bus Safety program is one of the few measures for which he wishes he could rescind his “yes” vote. He said the Legislature was misled when the program was pitched.

Figures obtained by Trotta indicate the program grossed $23 million last year, with $13 million retained by the county and the outstanding $10 million collected by the vendor. Kennedy estimated the county government netted approximately $11 million.

“We don’t have all the net revenue,” Kennedy said. “That’s been another consequence of the hack” against the county government in September. For more on this ransomware event, see story, “Suffolk County cyberattack offers a window into the dangers of the digital age,” Nov. 17, also TBR News Media website.

By statute, the net proceeds generated by the School Bus Safety program must support various educational programs related to school bus and traffic safety. Asked how the revenue is being spent, an administration official said the 2022 revenue figures are still being finalized.

Guilfoyle, however, cited specific examples of how the revenue supports countywide traffic education initiatives: “Examples of the county’s efforts include dedicating more than

Competing perspectives

Following an initial spike when programs such as this are first instituted, Hahn said offenses start to wane “because people begin to change their behaviors — they stop at red lights because they’re afraid of getting a ticket.”

In time, the legislator added, drivers throughout Suffolk “will no longer go around stopped school buses,” but “if they choose to break the law, they will get tickets.”

Trotta said he is pushing to repeal the School Bus Safety program altogether. “The reality is it’s a sham, and it’s not what we were told it was going to be,” he said.

While Kennedy acknowledged the importance of traffic safety, he held that the audit is to determine whether the program is administered correctly.

“I never want to see somebody blowing a stopped school bus sign — it’s just heinous,” the county comptroller said. “But if [the program] is not being operated in a fair and proper and consistent manner by the school bus drivers and the vendor … then it’s a problem.”

Kennedy expects the audit to be finalized by the second quarter of 2023.

Garage Sales

MULTIDEALER

ANTIQUESHOW

Saturday,January28th 9am-4pm ST.JAMESEPISCOPAL CHURCH 490RTE25ASTJAMES Antiquejewelryand collectable’s,

Automobiles/Trucks

Vans/Rec Vehicles

***AAA***AUTOBUYERSHighestCashPaid,AllYears/Conditions,WEVISITYOU,Or Donate,TaxDeduct+Cash. DMVID#1303199.CallLUKE 516-VAN-CARS.516-297-2277

JUNKCARSBOUGHT! We’llBeatAnyPrice. Call631-500-1015. SEEDISPLAYADFORMOREINFORMATION.

TOPCASHPAIDFORALL TRUCKS,CARS,&VANS. Highestpricespaidforfixable vehicles.CallMark 631-258-7919. SEEDISPLAY ADFORMOREINFORMATION.

Auto Services

DRIVEOUTBREASTCANCER

Donateacartoday,Thebenefits ofdonatingyourcarorboat,Fast FreePickup,24hrResponse, TaxDeduction,EasyToDo,Call 24/7855-905-4755.

Merchandise

CRAFTSMAN30INCH 13:50CCSNOWBLOWER $1100Call631-332-8287.

Musical Instruments

BLUESMANPIANOTUNING

Certifiedpianotechnician, 631-681-9723, bluesmanpianotuning@gmail. com, www.bluesmanpianotuning.com

GUITARINSTRUCTION-Intelligent,focused,empathic instructionforguitar,bass,all frettedinstruments.Allstyles, levels.Setauketstudio.Coyote Music(631)721-5004

MUSICLESSONS

HOME/VIRTUAL Guitar,Piano,Stringsandmore IntroductoryRatesfornewstudents,AlsoPianoTuningand Repairs. Stringsoundstudios.com O631-476-8946, C631-223-6899

Novenas

ST.JUDENOVENA

MaytheSacredHeartof Jesusbeadored,glorified, lovedandpreservedthroughout theworld,nowandforever.May theSacredHeartofJesusthy kingdomcome.St.Jude,helper ofthehopeless,PrayForUs. St.Jude,workerofmiracles, PrayForUs.

Thisprayerisneverknownto failifrepeated9timesdailyfor 9consecutivedays.Publication shouldbepromised.J.B.ST.

JUDENOVENA

MaytheSacredHeartof Jesusbeadored,glorified, lovedandpreservedthroughout theworld,nowandforever.May theSacredHeartofJesusthy kingdomcome.St.Jude,helper ofthehopeless,PrayForUs. St.Jude,workerofmiracles, PrayForUs.

Thisprayerisneverknownto failifrepeated9timesdailyfor 9consecutivedays.Publication shouldbepromised.J.B.

Financial Services

AREYOUBEHIND$10kOR MOREONYOURTAXES?Stop wage&banklevies,liens& audits,unfiledtaxreturns,payrollissues,&resolvetaxdebt FAST.Call888-869-5361 (Hours:Mon-Fri7am-5pmPST)

Health, Fitness & Beauty DEADLINE is Tuesday at noon. If you want to advertise, do it soon! ©102895

Schools/Instruction/ Tutoring

PIANO-GUITAR-BASS

Allages-levels-styles. Manylocalreferences. Recommendedbyallarea schools.TonyMann, 631-473-3443,631-332-6005

Limousine Services

SUFFOLKLIMO

WineTours,Events,Hamptons, NYC,Servingallairports,Professionaldrivers,luxurysuv’s, sedansandSprintervans.Book online,Suffolklimoservice.com 1-800-364-7049,631-771-7991.

Finds Under 50

AntiqueMirrorfromthe60’s $50Call917-539-8320.

Housesitting Services

TRAVELING?

FOUND:TREKBIKE onPondPathinEastSetauket. CallPaul631-987-4817

GETDIRECTVFOR$64.99/MO FOR12MONTHSWITH CHOICEPACKAGE.Savean additional$120over1styear. First3monthsofHBOMax, Cinemax,Showtime,Starzand Epixincluded!Directvis#1in CustomerSatisfaction(JD Power&Assoc.)Somerestrictionsapply.Call 1-888-534-6918

WHEELSFORWISHESBENEFITINGMAKE-A-WISH ® NORTHEASTNEWYORK.Your CarDonationsMatterNOW MoreThanEver!FreeVehicle PickUpANYWHERE.We AcceptMostVehiclesRunning orNot.100%TaxDeductible. MinimalToNoHumanContact. Call:(877)798-9474.CarDonationFoundationd/b/aWheels ForWishes.www. wheelsforwishes.org.

PET SERVICES MEDICAL SERVICES

Rescued Animals For Adoption

HOME SERVICES GARAGE SALES tbrnewsmedia.com

HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE PROF. SERVICES

Times Beacon Record News Media’s Classifieds Online at

Miscellaneous Please call or email and ask about our very reasonable rates. 631.331.1154 class@tbrnewsmedia.com TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA FILL000096

DISHTV$64.99For190Channels+$14.95HighSpeedInternet.FreeInstallation,SmartHD DVRIncluded,FreeVoiceRemote.Somerestrictionsapply. PromoExpires1/21/23. 1-888-609-9405 TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 751-7744 101872

waiting for you.

©FILL000033

126470

EMPLOYMENT/CAREERS

Help Wanted

PUBLISHER’SEMPLOYMENTNOTICE:Allemploymentadvertisinginthisnewspaperissubjecttosection296 ofthehumanrightslawwhich makesitillegaltoadvertise anypreference,limitationor discriminationbasedonrace, color,creed,nationalorigin, disability,maritalstatus,sex, ageorarrestconvictionrecord oranintentiontomakeany suchpreference,limitationor discrimination.Title29,U.S. CodeChap630,excludesthe FederalGov’t.fromtheage discriminationprovisions.This newspaperwillnotknowingly acceptanyadvertisingforemploymentwhichisinviolation ofthelaw.Ourreadersareinformedthatemploymentofferingsadvertisedinthisnewspaperareavailableonanequal opportunitybasis.

P/TSALES/CUSTOMER

SERVICE

Insidepositionsellingadvertisingforanaward-winning communitynewsmediagroup, Faxresumeto631-751-4165or emailresumeto Class@tbrnewspapers.com. Seeourdisplayadformore information.

Help Wanted

TRAINONLINETODOMEDICALBILLING!BecomeaMedicalOfficeProfessionalonlineat CTI!GetTrained,Certified& readytoworkinmonths!Call 855-543-6440.(M-F8am-6pm ET).Computerwithinternetis required.

UPTO$20.70NYC,$20.00L.I., $16.20UPSTATENY!Ifyou needcarefromyourrelative, friend/neighborandyouhave Medicaid,theymaybeeligibleto starttakingcareofyouaspersonalassistantunderNYSMedicaidCDPAProgram.No Certificatesneeded. 347-713-3553

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School Assistant

Principal

COMPUTER&ITTRAINING PROGRAM!TrainONLINEto gettheskillstobecomeaComputer&HelpDeskProfessional now!GrantsandScholarships availableforcertainprograms forqualifiedapplicants.CallCTI fordetails!844-947-0192(M-F 8am-6pmET).Computerwith internetisrequired.

Carpentry

LONGHILLCARPENTRY

45yearsexperience

Allphasesofhomeimprovement.Old&HistoricRestorations.Mastercard/VisaLic. #H22336/Ins.631-751-1764 longhill7511764@aol.com

Cesspool Services

MRSEWERMANCESSPOOL

SERVICEAlltypesofcesspoolservicing,allworkguaranteed,familyownedandoperatedsince1985, 631-924-7502. LicensedandInsured.

Fences

SMITHPOINTFENCE. DEERPROBLEM?WECAN HELP!Wood,PVC,ChainLink, Stockade.Freeestimates. Nowoffering12monthinterest freefinancing. Commercial/Residential. 70JayneBlvd.,PJS.Lic.37690H/Ins.631-743-9797 www.smithpointfence.com.

Lawn & Landscaping

SWANCOVE LANDSCAPING

LawnMaintenance,Cleanups,Shrub/TreePruning, Removals.LandscapeDesign/ Installation,Ponds/Waterfalls, StoneWalls.Firewood.Free estimates.Lic/Ins.631-6898089

Landscape Materials

SCREENEDTOPSOIL

Mulch,compost,decorative anddrivewaystone,concrete pavers,sand/block/portland. Fertilizerandseed.

JOS.M.TROFFA MATERIALSCORP. 631-928-4665,www.troffa.com

LAMPSFIXED,$65.

InHomeService!!Handy Howard.Mycell646-996-7628

Lawn & Landscaping

WIREMAN/CABLEMANFlat TVsmounted,Phone,TVs& Computerwiringinstalled& serviced,camera&stereos, HDTVAntennas,FREETV www.davewireman.com CallDave516-433-WIRE(9473) 631-667-WIRE(9473)orText 516-353-1118

SETAUKETLANDSCAPE DESIGN

StoneDriveways/Walkways, Walls/Stairs/Patios/Masonry, Brickwork/RepairsLand Clearing/Drainage,Grading/ Excavating.Plantings/Mulch, RainGardens. SteveAntos,631-689-6082 setauketlandscape.com ServingThreeVillages

Masonry

LANDSCAPE/MASON CONTRACTOR

Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper

ALLPROPAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PowerWashing,Staining, WallpaperRemoval.Free estimates.Lic/Ins#19604HI 631-696-8150.Nick

BOB’SPAINTINGSERVICE 25YearsExperience. Interior/ExteriorPainting, Spackling,Staining,Wallpaper Removal,StainingandDeck RestorationPowerWashing. FreeEstimates.Lic/Ins.#17981. 631-744-8859

LUXDEVELOPMENTGROUP

Historicalrestorations,Extensions&Dormers,Cedarsiding andClapboardinstallation, basementrenovations,kitchen &Bathrooms,doors&windows, finishedcarpentry&moulding Call631-283-2266

AllphasesMasonryWork:Stone Walls,Patios,Poolscapes.All phasesofLandscapingDesign. ThemeGardens.Residential& Commercial.Lic/Ins. 631-928-2110

Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper

WORTHPAINTING “PAINTINGWITHPRIDE” Interiors/exteriors.Staining& deckrestoration,powerwashing,FinishingCarpentry, sheetrocktape/spackling, carpentry/trimwork.Leadpaint certified.References.Freeestimates.Lic./Ins.SINCE1989 RyanSouthworth. SEEDISPLAYADFORMOREINFO 631-331-5556

Satellite TV

Tree Work

ARBOR-VISTATREECARE ACOMPLETETREECARE SERVICEdevotedtothecare oftrees.Maintenancepruning, water-viewwork,sun-trimming, elevating,poolareas,storm thinning,largetreeremoval, stumpgrinding.Woodchips. Lic#18902HI.Freeestimates. 631-246-5377

LAROTONDA PAINTING&DESIGN

Interior/exterior,sheetrock repairs,taping/spackling,wallpaperremoval,faux,decorative finishings.Freeestimates.Lic. #53278-H/Ins.RossLaRotonda 631-689-5998

YEARPRICEGUARANTEE, $59.99/mowith190

miummoviechannels,Freenext dayinstallation,Call 888-508-5313

AllrealestateadvertisedhereinissubjecttotheFederalFair HousingAct,whichmakesit illegaltoadvertise“anypreference,limitation,ordiscriminationbecauseofrace,color,religion,sex,handicap,familial status,ornationalorigin,orintentiontomakeanysuchpreference,limitation,ordiscrimination.”

Wewillnotknowinglyaccept anyadvertisingforrealestate whichisinviolationofthelaw. Allpersonsareherebyinformedthatalldwellingsadvertisedareavailableonan equalopportunitybasis.

GREENPORT:NorthFork commercial/retail.Primemain streetvillagelocation.Captain’s house.Originalfloorsandarchitecturaldetails.Excellentexposure.Owner,516-241-8135.

SETAUKETHighVisibility,25A, cornerofficesuitewithlarge plateglasswindow,privatebath, ownthermostat,nicelydecorated,offstreetparking,Village TimesBuilding,Call 631-751-7744.

Editorial

Birds of a feather, in our cars together

County officials are currently engaged in a contentious debate over the Suffolk County School Bus Safety Program.

Proponents say the program bolsters traffic safety around school buses. Detractors argue the program represents little more than a convenient revenue generator to plug holes in the county budget.

Promoting safety on public roads remains a priority regardless of where one stands on the program itself.

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law is a worthy undertaking to protect school children. Whether cameras remain strapped to school buses, drivers should always be vigilant near a school bus with flashing yellow lights.

Under no circumstances should one ever pass a school bus while the stop arm is extended.

But roadway safety is not isolated to school buses. The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 42,915 people died in traffic crashes in 2021. That’s a 10.5% increase from the previous year.

NHTSA reports collected from 2016 to 2020 indicate that nearly 1,000 vehicular fatalities occurred on Long Island, more than half of which were in Suffolk County.

Statistics aside, we read almost weekly reports of individuals involved in significant motor vehicle accidents within our coverage area. Many times, they include serious bodily injury to the victims. At other times, they can be fatal.

Long Island is unique in its autocentric character. Development of our Island happened nearly a century ago, and the suburbanization of Long Island happened almost simultaneously with the growth of the American automobile industry.

Planners, notably Robert Moses, saw the car as offering individual autonomy. They viewed the Long Island Dream as an expression of that individualistic promise.

Unfortunately, they failed to provide sufficient mass transit infrastructure, twisting a dream into our difficult reality.

Today, Long Islanders are glued to their cars. For most of us, getting to work requires a car. Having success in our professional and social lives requires a car. For those who do not live within walking distance of a train station, accessing the rail requires a car.

All of this highlights the need to drive responsibly.

When we operate a moving vehicle, we harness the power to unleash great bodily injury — even death — upon ourselves and others. At the same time, we can monitor our decisions and protect our fellows on the roads.

We can make our roads safer by following the speed limits, driving sober and taking extra precautions when we get behind the wheel.

Unfortunately, we Long Islanders are stuck in our cars for the foreseeable future. But we are stuck together.

Let us be mindful of our neighbors. Let us regard the lives of other drivers as we would our family members or friends.

We can help make these roads safer for all through our positive choices today.

WRITE TO US … We welcome your letters. They should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style and good taste. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include a phone number and address for confirmation. Email letters to: editor1@tbrnewsmedia.com or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

Letters to the Editor

Lies passed as opinions

In spite of all his “what abouts,” George Altemose does raise an important concern in his Jan. 19 letter [“Not only Santos economical with the truth”] about U.S. Rep. George Santos [R-NY3] and others: truth vs. falsehood. If we can’t tell one from the other, we’re in big trouble. It seems we’ve reached a point where factual truth simply doesn’t matter. In former White House aide Kellyanne Conway’s notorious phrase, if the facts are inconvenient, they’re simply replaced with more politically convenient “alternative facts.” These used to be called “lies.” Now they pass as “opinions.”

Here’s a small sample of “alternative facts” far more consequential than whether President Joe Biden [D] ever drove a tractor trailer or whether Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D-MA] has any Native American blood — which, incidentally, the letter writer gets wrong in asserting “DNA testing showed otherwise.”

Former President Donald Trump [R] won the 2020 election: There’s not a shred of evidence which stands up to scrutiny to support this falsehood. Nonetheless it’s still believed by millions of Americans. As a consequence, our Capitol was invaded on Jan. 6, 2021, by an angry mob that embraced it. This mob attempted to subvert our democracy by preventing the constitutional peaceful transfer of power, and to impose its will by force, based on this lie.

QAnon: Is the world run by a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles — not coincidentally all Democrats — operating out of the basement of a certain pizzeria in Washington, D.C. (which pizzeria does not actually have a basement?) Do I really need to debunk this? In spite of being self-evidently ludicrous, millions of Americans believe it.

The “great replacement” theory: One recent survey shows a third of Americans believe there’s a plot to replace white Christian Americans with non-white immigrants for electoral gain. Another survey had nearly 70% of Republicans agreeing with the central tenets of this “theory.” Instead of seeing illegal immigration as a chaotic process driven by war, violence, oppression and poverty, believers in this notion see it as a conspiracy organized by Democrats, Jews or shadowy left-wing elites.

Once a fringe idea, originating with the European anti-Semitic right, it’s been mainstreamed thanks to its relentless popularization by media

personalities like Tucker Carlson on Fox News and politicians such as U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik [R-NY21] and Sen. J. D. Vance [R-OH]. It’s an invitation to violence: the murderers at the mass shootings in Buffalo, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., were all influenced by it.

Sandy Hook was a hoax staged by paid actors to justify taking away people’s guns: Even after a noncontrite Alex Jones was ordered, upon being convicted of defamation, to pay $473 million in punitive damages for the suffering he caused parents of the murdered children by broadcasting this lie, his Infowars website still averages over 300,000 viewers daily. It’s not like he’s got no defenders, or that everyone is so disgusted by this rank lie that his credibility has been reduced to zero.

Santos is a symptom of a deeper pathology in our body politic: a culture of lying. And much as I’d love to appear nonpartisan by claiming that both political parties are equally at fault, that wouldn’t be the truth either. The Democrats aren’t choir boys, but the really big lies are embraced and spread by the reactionary faction which has seized control of the Republican Party. In spite of the letter writer equating Santos with some Democrats, there’s a huge difference: Santos is a fraud, from top to bottom.

David Friedman St. James

EVs include benefits, too

Mark Sertoff’s letter in TBR News Media newspapers on Jan. 19 [“No electric car for me”] gave many arguments why he would not buy an electric vehicle. He is correct that EVs are heavier than gas vehicles because the weight of the battery is larger than the weight of a fuel tank, and this does lead to increased tire wear. But he is incorrect about brake wear. One of the great ways that EVs save energy is regenerative braking, that uses the motor as a generator to put the energy of the moving car back into the battery for reuse. Brakes in EVs last far longer than for gasoline cars because they are used only for emergency braking, and the regeneration greatly improves the efficiency of the vehicle, especially in stop-and-go traffic.

The cost of driving an electric car vs. a gas car depends on the prices of electricity and gasoline. Electric

cars typically go approximately 3 miles per kWhour, while gas cars go to approximately 30 miles per gallon. Electricity at night (from PSEG rate booklet) is 6 cents per kWh, so this is 2 cents per mile. If gas is $3 per gallon, then for a gas car it is 10 cents per mile.

Sertoff brings up other issues that pertain to many of the materials needed in modern society. All mining should comply with safety and labor guidelines and laws, and this is not an issue that is specific to EVs. Fracking to extract oil and gas also pollutes and can even cause earthquakes, so fossil fuels have their issues also. Proper recycling of lithium car batteries needs to be done and is the focus of many new companies. Batteries can catch fire, but so can fuel tanks. Statistics from Tesla state that there are 55 gasoline car fires for 1 billion miles driven, but only five EV car fires for the same distance driven. Batteries in EVs are temperature controlled and have warranties of at least 100,000 miles or eight years.

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act includes money to speed the transition to EVs, tax incentives to install heat pumps for heating homes, and funding for long-distance transmission lines to efficiently carry energy from regions that have excess renewable energy to places that need it. The 50% increase in grid capacity that is needed is comparable to the increases that were made when air conditioning of homes became more prevalent. This transition will take place over time, so that utilities can upgrade their equipment as it is needed. The blackouts in Texas were because the local power authority did not require winterization of generation equipment. The blackouts in California were caused by extremely dry conditions — a result of global warming — so that power lines through forested areas could not be used because of fire danger.

To slow and reverse the warming of the planet, the world must change its reliance on fossil fuels. Electric cars still have issues, such as long trips requiring planning for charging and they have been expensive, but as these problems get solved, they are becoming excellent choices for many people, especially if you can charge in your garage every night and never visit a gas station.

Gene Sprouse Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Stony Brook University and Editor in Chief, Emeritus, American Physical Society

The opinions of columnists and letter writers are their own. They do not speak for the newspaper.

Hearing about jumping out of a plane while on a flight

When our children were young, a friend recently told me, she viewed the parents of people she met through a binary process.

D. None of the above

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

A mom of two boys, she figured she had a better chance, at least in the first 10 years or so of her sons’ lives, of interacting with the parents of other boys.When she met girls and their families, she was polite and friendly, without putting too much effort into getting to know them.

Fast forward almost two decades, and her children, like mine, are out of the house. She and her husband have an adorable, small dog that they dote on, transferring their abundant parenting attention to a canine companion.

Nowadays, my friend said, she sees people through a similar lens. She takes her small dog

to a dog park, where a fence separates pets under 40 pounds from the bigger, heavier versions. When she meets someone outside the park with a dog, she’s more likely to pay attention to their names and their stories if they have a small dog.

As I considered what she said about the parents of boys and girls, as well as the owners of dogs of different sizes, I wondered about the metaphorical fences we create.

Sure, those fences make it easier for us to find people who have similar interests and opinions and who might not challenge us or disagree with us in our decision-making. Those fences also, however, separate us from others with whom we might have even more connections or common interests than we thought, especially if the filter for our “in” and “out” groups is as arbitrary as having sons, daughters or small dogs.

What if a man with a large dog worked in a similar field, had two children about my friend’s offspring’s ages, and went to the same college at the same time? Then again, what if a woman on the other side of the fence had nothing in common with my friend? She had no children,

grew up in another country, worked in a completely different field, and didn’t see any of the same movies or read the same books? Would that make her less or more interesting? Perhaps that woman might be fascinating for her life experiences, compelling for her opinions, and amazing in her own way.

Recently, I sat in the window seat of a plane next to a large man who was stuck in the middle. An army veteran, he laughed as we reached our destination, saying he was unaccustomed to landing in planes. I took the bait, asking him why. He said he’d made over 150 jumps out of airplanes.

He and his unit jumped out of planes at 800 feet, although he didn’t need to do much jumping, as he felt as if a hand pulled him out when he got to the opening. He never had to pull a chord, as the parachute automatically started opening within a second of leaving the plane.

On one type of plane, he stepped out and immediately started falling. Another had a small “bubble” outside the entrance, where he and others stood before leaving the plane. One of his

army unit once forgot about the platform, took a small hop on the landing, and then rolled along the entire side of the plane. The others heard as his body scraped the airplane all the way to the back. Fortunately, the impact didn’t cause severe injuries.

One of the many instructions he received was to keep his chin on his chest as he exited. On his first jump, he didn’t, which caused enough discomfort that he never made that mistake again. He reached the ground at 38 miles per hour, at which point he was supposed to tuck and roll, ending on his back. Once, a crosswind turned him upside down and he landed on his head, cracking his helmet and causing a concussion.

Listening to his stories, I learned about something I will likely never do and connected with someone I will likely never see again. He did, however, expand my horizons and share his compelling life experiences, among other stories. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with someone who lives outside whatever fences I intentionally or unintentionally put up around me.

Proud of our columnists, including the nepotism of my sons

Maybe it sounds like I’m tooting our horn too much, but I have to say how proud I am of the columnists who write for our papers and website. They are clearly bright and offer the reader information and knowledge that aren’t usually found even in a big metro daily or a glossy magazine. They are, collectively and individually, one of the main reasons our hometown newspapers have managed to survive while so many of our colleagues, 25% of them in the nation, have had to shut their doors.

Readers want to learn from our regular columnists, who, by the way, are local residents. That’s not surprising, though, because the population we serve is exceptional, accomplished in their own right, and can be expected to harbor such talent. Let me explain. The columnists are found in the second section of the newspaper, called Arts & Lifestyles. In

the interest of full disclosure and without false modesty, I point out and salute my youngest son, Dr. David Dunaief. He is a physician totally committed to helping his patients, and the high regard is returned by them in equal measure, as testimonials about him confirm. In addition, he writes every week about current medical problems and brings readers up to date with the latest research and thinking regarding common ailments. I know him to be a voracious reader of medical journals and he footnotes his sources of expertise at the end of every “Medical Compass” column.

Dr. Matthew Kearns is a longtime popular veterinarian who writes “Ask the Vet,” keeping our beloved pets healthy. Michael E. Russell is a successful, retired financial professional who cannot cut the cord with Wall Street, and shares his thoughts on the economy and suggesting current buys on the stock market. He will also throw in something irreverent, or even askance, to keep you tuned in.

Also writing knowledgeably on the contemporary scene about finance and the economy is Michael Christodoulou, who is also an active financial advisor. Ever try to read your auto insurance policies? If I had trouble falling

asleep, they would knock me out by the second paragraph. Enter A. Craig Purcell, a partner in a long-established local law firm, who is attempting to explain auto insurance coverage, a merciful endeavor, with his column. His words do not put me to sleep. Shannon Malone will alternate the writing for us. Michael Ardolino, a well-known realtor, somehow manages to make both ends of a real estate transaction, for buyers and sellers, sound promising at this time.

Our lead movie and book reviewer is the highly talented Jeffrey Sanzel. In addition to being a terrific actor, he is a gifted writer and almost always feels the same way about what he is reviewing as I do. No wonder I think he is brilliant. Father Frank has been writing for the papers for many years and always with great integrity and compassion.

John Turner, famous naturalist and noted author and lecturer, keeps us apprised of challenges to nature. This is a niche for all residents near the shorelines of Long Island. He also writes “Living Lightly,” about being a responsible earth dweller. Bob Lipinski is the wine connoisseur who travels the world and keeps us aware of best wines and cheeses.

Lisa Scott and Nancy Marr of the Suffolk County

League of Women Voters, keep us informed about upcoming elections, new laws and important propositions. Elder law attorney Nancy Burner tells us about Medicare, estate planning, wills gifting, trustees, trusts and other critical issues as we age.

The last columnist I will mention is Daniel Dunaief, who, like bookends for my salute, is also my son. Among several other articles, he writes “The Power of Three,” explaining some of the research that is performed at Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Labs and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He makes a deep dive into the science in such a way that layman readers can understand what is happening in the labs. He has been paid the ultimate compliment by the scientists for a journalist: they pick up the phone and willingly talk to him, unafraid that he will get the story wrong or misquote them. In fact, he has been told a rewarding number of times by the researchers that his questions for the articles have helped them further direct their work.

When my sons began writing for TBR News Media, a few readers accused me of nepotism. I haven’t heard that charge now in years.

P.S. Of course, we can’t forget Beverly C. Tyler and Kenneth Brady, stellar historians both.