Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison announced on March 28 he signed a pledge, on behalf of the department, for the 30x30 initiative that aims at increasing the number of women in policing.
Women have been significantly underrepresented in policing since the profession’s founding.
Currently, women comprise only 12% of sworn officers nationwide. This initiative aims at increasing women in law enforcement to 30% by 2030.
Research shows women officers are perceived by communities as being honest and compassionate, and they see positive outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases. The 30×30 initiative works with law enforcement agencies to improve recruiting practices and establish community partnerships to enable agencies to become truly representative of the jurisdictions they serve. While 30×30 is focused on advancing women in policing, these principles are applicable to all demographic diversity, not just gender.
The Suffolk County Police Department is currently recruiting for its upcoming police exam. The deadline to register for the exam is
April 19 and the exam will be held on June 17.
Suffolk County Police officers have attended hundreds of outreach events to educate individuals about the upcoming test. Officers have visited colleges, fitness centers, and career fairs, and also offered recruitment presentations at houses of worship, military installations, and various community organizations throughout the tristate area. The department is also utilizing advertisements, including moving billboards, signs on buses, radio and television spots.
Additionally, the department will be hosting an informational session, Women
In Law Enforcement at The Quintyne Community Center, located at 1 Commerce Blvd. in Amityville, on March 29 at 6 p.m.
The SCPD will be joined by Nassau County Police and New York State Police to discuss the numerous opportunities for women and the impact they can have on the community as members of law enforcement.
“Ensuring women are represented in law enforcement is critical to the future of the Suffolk County Police Department,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D).
“I commend Police Commissioner Harrison for taking the steps to bring an increased awareness to the number of women in policing and for doing what is needed to
make that goal possible.”
“After spending more than 30 years in law enforcement, I have seen first-hand the valuable contributions women bring to the job,” Harrison said. “There is no question that signing up for this initiative will raise awareness about the opportunities available for women in policing and the powerful difference they can make in the lives of the people we serve.”
Agencies who sign the 30x30 Pledge have agreed to:
• Take measures to increase the representation of women in all ranks of law enforcement
• Ensure that policies and procedures are free of all bias
• Promote equitable hiring, retention and promotion of female officers
• Ensure culture is inclusive, respective and supportive of women in all ranks and roles of law enforcement
For more information, visit www.30x30initiative.org.
The false narrative by our governor, Kathy Hochul (D), continues with this nonsensical, heavy-handed housing plan that threatens to override long-established law and the will of the people who live in local communities. It’s a false narrative because the notion that local municipalities aren’t approving housing is patently false; it’s the lack of sewer infrastructure coupled with the practical aspects of a developer’s land and construction costs that make the practical application of the idea extremely difficult, not obstinance derived from local municipalities. Let’s discuss some examples.
Across the Town of Brookhaven in Port Jefferson Station, North Bellport, East Patchogue and Mastic Beach, there are four quick examples of pending proposals where mixed-use redevelopment is desired by the community and embraced by the town, and three are in proximity to a train station. Each development would offer new restaurant and retail options, as well as brand new housing options for young and old and everyone in between. The municipal opposition portrayed by the governor simply does not exist here; it is a false narrative.
However, with the exception of East Patchogue, where the Town of Brookhaven in a very forwardthinking manner buried dry sewer lines to connect to the nearby Village of Patchogue sewer district years ago, the biggest hurdles in the other three project examples remain the lack of readily available sewer capacity. While we are working with Suffolk County on each other project, the costs associated with the sewer infrastructure necessary for such development and redevelopment render the projects unbuildable without some sort of government sewer funding. That is where the governor should invest
By Dan Panico
her time and the state’s funding by helping Suffolk expand sewer infrastructure so local municipalities can continue to work on community-based redevelopment. To continue to threaten local municipalities with state rubberstamp approvals demonstrates a glaring lack of awareness of the realities of the situation or the logistical realities of what real development actually entails. Moreover, in most areas on Long Island a developer could not realistically build these stateenvisioned housing projects because of the high cost of land, divided into so many small parcels with
single-family homes and businesses, combined with costly construction requirements, parking requirements and sewer infrastructure costs that would never make the project financially viable, let alone affordable. This fact is being overlooked as the governor portends opposition to projects that have not come forward and proposals that simply do not exist. In fact, it’s the exact opposite approach in Brookhaven, as we are leading the way by amending our codes and seeking out and working with developers. The governor would be better off stopping the political charade and giving funding to Suffolk County from the federal infrastructure bill and the recently passed NYS Clean Water Bond Act so that local municipalities can do the work of redeveloping our downtowns. It’s compromise and cooperation that make things happen, not threats and political theater.
Dan Panico (R) is the Town of Brookhaven deputy supervisor and councilman for the 6th District, which includes Mastic, Moriches, Eastport, Manorville and Calverton. He is currently running for Brookhaven Town supervisor.
Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) and Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) attended the Wading River Fire Department’s annual installation dinner at Majestic Gardens in Rocky Point on Saturday, March 25, honoring the company’s members.
The Wading River Fire Department was established in 1947, providing emergency response services throughout the hamlet. Each year the volunteer members respond to more than 1,000 calls for assistance, including structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, water rescues and hazardous material responses. During the
evening, certificates of congratulations were presented to the officers to commemorate their years of service.
“I thank the brave members of the Wading River Fire Department who give so much of their time to protect life and property,” Romaine said. “These dedicated firefighters put their lives on the line every day, and I thank them for the sacrifices they make to keep us safe.”
Bonner added to these sentiments, saying, “I congratulate the incoming officers and the chiefs and thank all the members of the Wading River Fire Department for their service.”
For more information, please visit www. WadingRiverFD.org.
Long Island advocates received support from elected officials and school administrators last week to call on New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to include a program that will save all families money regarding school meals in the 2024 state budget.
Proponents gathered at Jefferson Primary School in Huntington Friday, March 24, to make their plea to the governor at a press conference. The call comes after federal waivers that provided free breakfast and lunch for all students during the COVID-19 pandemic ended last June.
Speakers asked for the governor to provide fully funded school meals for all students in the 2024 state budget. The move could potentially help nearly a quarter million students on Long Island alone.
The Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids program has received bipartisan
support in both the state Senate and Assembly. Senators and Assembly members have allocated $280 million in funding in their budget proposals. Supporters say such a program that would provide free lunch and breakfast to students can have a broader effect, taking pressure off food banks and positively impacting the community as a whole. Speakers at the press conference said that many families whose children are eligible for free meals at school are too embarrassed to apply, while others, who are not eligible due to strict income thresholds to qualify, still experience financial stress.
Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, said while universally free meals at school was something families could count on during the pandemic, once the federal program ended, 243,000 children in Suffolk and Nassau counties lost their access to free school meals. She added HWCLI is part of a broader statewide coalition of more than 250 organizations asking the governor to include
the Healthy School Meals for All program in the budget.
“We know that throughout history we get these moments in time where our actions can really magnificently transform future generations to come,” Sanin said at the press conference. “Today is one of those moments.”
She added that many on Long Island suffer from hunger, poverty, and economic and family stresses that prevent them from receiving proper nourishment.
“When every child in New York can access meals at school, we will be actively reducing hunger,” Sanin said. “We will be actively reducing underachievement. We will be actively reducing poor health outcomes. We will be actively reducing behavioral challenges.”
Jim Polansky, superintendent of Huntington school district and president of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association, said the economic crisis that has followed the pandemic has made the “universal free meal programs more important than ever.”
“Many people in our community,
throughout the region and across the state are struggling to put food on the table, and it may take years for those struggling to recover financially,” he said. “Food insecurity has unfortunately become commonplace.”
He added some districts in the state are able to continue providing free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision program, yet there are also districts that do not meet the CEP criteria. CEP provides a federal nonpricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas.
“No child should go hungry, and no child or family should be stigmatized because they qualify for benefits resulting from family income status,” Polansky said. “Furthermore, there is considerable evidence that children who arrive to school hungry can develop significant mental health issues, including depression and anxiety as well as physical health issues, which lead to difficulties in focusing on academics and other school activities.”
The New York State 2024 budget is due April 1.
The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police: Two women arrested in Centereach massage parlor raid
Suffolk County Police arrested two Flushing women for alleged unlawful practice of a profession during a massage parlor raid in Centereach on March 27. In response to numerous community complaints, Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers, along with a Town of Brookhaven Building Inspector, Brookhaven Town Fire Marshal and Brookhaven Town Investigator conducted a massage parlor investigation at New Day Spa, located at 14 Dawn Drive, at approximately 4 p.m.
In a sea of orange and green, Suffolk County officials, community groups and Irish Americans converged upon the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge on Friday, March 24, commemorating the firstever Irish American Heritage Celebration in county history.
In 2019, the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution designating March as Irish American Heritage Month. Friday’s event marked the first such celebration sponsored by the county government.
“We’re celebrating the incredible contributions that the Irish have made to the United States of America and to the world,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D).
The county executive also used the occasion to acknowledge the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, an Irish American heritage group with nine divisions across the county, including Port Jefferson, Selden, Smithtown and Huntington. Bellone said the AOH enriches Suffolk communities by
celebrating Irish culture while giving back through various charitable endeavors.
Legislators from each of the county’s 18 districts had an opportunity to recognize an Irish American making an impact within their communities. Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) read off the biographical descriptions of each honoree.
Choral and bagpipe arrangements from several Irish American folk groups were performed, along with Irish historian Mike McCormack detailing the historical contributions of the Irish in Suffolk County.
— Photos from Steve Bellone’s Flickr page
The Suffolk County Police Department Impound Section will hold an auction on April 1 at 9 a.m. at the Suffolk County Police Department Impound Facility, located at 100 Old Country Road in Westhampton. The auction begins at 9 a.m. and will be held rain or shine. There will be a preview of the vehicles on March 30 and March 31 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the impound yard. Vehicles will also be available for preview one hour prior to the
start of the auction.
Approximately 120 lots will be auctioned off including sedans, SUVs, and motorcycles. All vehicles will start with a minimum bid of $300 and are sold asis. For a full list of vehicles, registration information and terms and conditions for the auction, visit www.suffolkpd.org under Precinct and Specialized Units, click Impound Section followed by Upcoming Auctions and Events.
Following an investigation, Jessica Garcia, 30, and Wenjuan Deng, 42, were arrested and charged with alleged Unauthorized Practice of a Profession. They were issued a Desk Appearance Ticket and are scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date. The Town of Brookhaven documented numerous violations and condemned the premises.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on March 27 that Glenn Seejattan, 30, of Rocky Point, was found guilty after a jury trial of Murder in the Second Degree for the fatal shooting of a Centereach man who was reported missing in January 2022.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly switched price tags on various food items and then utilized the self-checkout to purchase approximately $250 worth of food for $3.96 from Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, in Medford on March 10 at approximately 1 p.m. The man fled the parking lot in a black SUV, possibly a Lexus.
Glenn Seejattan
As established at trial, the family of Justin Lee, 34, of Centereach, reported that he had been missing since January 18, 2022. Lee was last seen alive at Seejattan’s mother’s home in Rocky Point, where Seejattan also lived. On January 28, 2022, ten days after he went missing, the frozen body of Lee was discovered about a half mile away from Seejattan’s home. An autopsy revealed that Lee had sustained a gunshot wound to his head and a gunshot wound to his thigh.
A trial witness testified that Seejattan admitted that he had shot and killed somebody which he described as a drug deal gone bad.
Seejattan further admitted that he shot the victim in the head, took his clothes off, wrapped him up in a blanket, and took him to the woods.
Seejattan is due back in court for sentencing on April 26 and faces 25 years to life in prison.
Suffolk County Police arrested three people on March 24 for selling e-liquid nicotine to minors at businesses in the Sixth Precinct. In response to numerous community complaints, Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers conducted an investigation into the sale of e-liquid nicotine to minors during which nine businesses were checked for compliance. During the investigation, three people were arrested and charged with allegedly Unlawfully Dealing with a Child: Steylon Ventura Santos, 29, an employee of Chico’s Smoke Shop in Coram; Abhay Shah, 66, an employee of Medford Smoke Shop; and Albert Cepeda Nunez 20, an employee of Hookah City in Farmingville.
— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON
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.
BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
Village of Port Jefferson officials are currently rolling out PASSPort, a first-of-itskind rideshare service tailored for within-the-village transit.
Kevin Wood, the parking and mobility administrator in PJV, worked closely with the village Board of Trustees to develop the software and systems to accommodate PASSPort. Now the service is undergoing beta testing, with plans for public use along the horizon.
PASSPort functions similarly to other popular platforms in the private sector, tapping into the same technologies used by services such as Uber but repurposing them for local municipal oversight and administration.
Under the current plan, Wood said the program remains flexible, subject to villagers’ evolving needs. “There is no parallel to this on Long Island,” he said.
While the village has attempted to administer similar transit services in the past, Wood held that PASSPort represents a significant departure from any past or current offerings. “The closest you came to this were crosstown electric car methods that, in Port Jefferson, have proven to not work for various reasons,” he said.
He added that through PASSPort, the village government hopes to move away from the public perception surrounding those previous models,
which he said were ill suited for winter weather and unable to traverse the area’s steep hills.
Wood noted the various opportunities for residents to make use of PASSPort. According to him, the platform could potentially enhance mobility for those traveling to village beaches, elderly residents unable to operate a car and residents traveling downtown.
Although some apps, such as Uber, bar minors from accessing their service, Wood kept open the possibility in Port Jeff, saying that the village is working through legal parameters of creating a parental authorization process to enable the pickup and drop-off of local students.
The parking and mobility administrator also touched upon the subject of PASSPort vehicle operators. For him, the vehicles would ideally be operated by professional, third-party drivers who would be “exclusive to us for that night” during a designated period.
“We want them to have a certain amount of professional aspect to what they’re doing,” he said. “That’s an important part of this — to monitor not only the integrity of the service itself and timeliness but the courtesy of the driver.” Given the program’s flexibility, he said he could foresee accommodating multiple drivers a night if needed.
Pricing is also variable, with Wood hoping to learn more about this facet of the program as the program rolls out for public use. Measuring PASSPort against taxicabs and other rideshare methods, he foresees clear advantages to the
village program.
“We know that if you took a taxi, that would be … one, a different experience; two, they’d have to be available; and three, that price, I understand, is between $7 and $10,” he said. “We think we’re coming out with a more efficient service, much better technology and we’re still pricing it at the $5 to $8 per person level.”
While PASSPort unleashes private sector technologies for municipal administration, Wood suggested the program is not necessarily intended to outcompete rival services. Instead, he viewed the platform as a village service.
“We’re not in the business of competing with mobility — we’re in the business of serving our residents,” he said. “If someone chooses us over [other rideshare service providers], it’s because of safety, efficiency, pricing and you’re going to see a whole lot of promotion.”
Moreover, Wood said he believes the broader trends are gradually shifting away from individually operated motor vehicles, accelerated by myriad factors, such as congestion pricing and rising costs associated with vehicle maintenance.
“Owning a car today is almost becoming a liability because of insurance costs, gas and all the things associated with it,” he said. “I think ‘mobility’ is the keyword you want to use here — getting to where you have to go in the most efficient way possible.”
Wood, who worked in the technology and marketing sectors before entering the
administration, said he discovered a natural blend of his professional experiences while creating the rideshare service.
Through PASSPort, he said village leaders could effectively boost mobility by integrating new tech and municipal administration. He indicated that rideshare programs such as PASSPort represent the future of municipal servicing.
“I love to see the world of technology and entrepreneurial thinking coming to the government,” he said. “Why not adapt and engage with technology?”
Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden, trustee liaison for parking and mobility, has closely coordinated with Wood in launching the service, expressing optimism for its implementation.
“We’re thrilled for this program,” she said. “We saw a need for residents to be able to visit their downtown. Downtown is not just about the tourists, it’s about the residents.”
The deputy mayor also noted that PASSPort could ease the burden of transit on residents and parking congestion on businesses, saying, “They don’t have to worry about bringing their cars down or about parking. They can get to and from in a safe manner, and it will additionally help the businesses in opening up parking spaces for the people coming in from outside the village.”
Wood said more information regarding PASSPort would be made public in the coming weeks.
Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle (R) recently informed the public about recently approved legislation in New York State allowing people over the age of 18 to apply for one-day marriage officiant licenses, authorizing them to solemnize a marriage in
the State of New York.
License applications must be submitted to the same Town Clerk’s Office that issued the couple’s marriage license. The names, dates of birth and addresses of the parties to be married must be listed on the application as it appears on the couple’s marriage license.
If the application is approved, the applicant will receive a one-day marriage officiant license by email. The license is only valid for parties to be married as stated on the application and will expire after the marriage ceremony or the expiration of the marriage license, whichever occurs first.
Visit www.BrookhavenNY.gov for more information or to apply for a one-day marriage officiant license or a Marriage License. To learn more about the responsibilities of a marriage officiant, visit the New York State Department of Health website at www. Health.NY.gov.
One of TBR News Media’s very own recently embarked on a life-changing collaboration with a former educator.
Kyle Horne, a local artist and frequent contributor of political cartoons and editorial illustrations to our newspapers, has partnered with his former teacher, Janet Werner, to create a book about multiple sclerosis. Together, they tell a moving story of overcoming adversity, revealing a powerful, enduring bond between a student and teacher.
Werner was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, commonly known as MS, in 1986. At the onset of her symptoms, she recalled a feeling of numbness in her legs and overwhelming fatigue.
“I actually took off for two weeks from work that first year and just slept,” she said. “I got an MRI at the time, and it showed plaque in the brain, which is white lesions. Depending upon where these white lesions are seen in the brain, it could affect your mobility, cognition and eyesight.”
As the years advanced, Werner’s symptoms gradually progressed. During a startling incident one morning, she temporarily lost her eyesight and hearing completely. “What seemed like hours was about 20 minutes,” she said. “I was terrified because it had never happened before.”
Nearly four decades after her initial diagnosis, Werner explained she is “doing pretty well” despite the heightening symptoms with each passing year. She said managing the symptoms requires plenty of rest and an upbeat mentality.
With husband Ernest, “we try to get some exercise, eat correctly and just keep a positive frame of mind,” she said. “Of course, life is very stressful but we try to be positive.”
Over several years, Werner wrote “A Pear in an Apple Tree: A Journey with Multiple Sclerosis,” saying she was motivated to write the book for various reasons.
Among them, she noted a lack of public understanding surrounding MS and its symptoms. She also wanted to share her story with those experiencing MS, preparing them for the path ahead and informing them that they are not alone.
“Sometimes with any challenge in your life, you feel like you’re the only one who has this specific condition or challenge, whether it’s MS or cancer and you kind of hide away from the rest of the world,” she said. “That’s not good to do that. I wanted the ‘MSers’ to feel that we’re in this together.”
Werner recalled the moment that gave the book its name. She said she was eating dinner with her husband, struggling with her symptoms that day, when she blurted out, “I feel like a pear in an apple tree, kind of out of place.”
Despite the numerous challenges through the years, Werner said she wrote the book to let others
know they have a place with an MS community that also understands their struggles.
The collaboration between Werner and Horne has been decades in the making. A graduate of Deer Park High School, Horne was her student and a member of the school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions Club, which Werner had advised.
“He would invite me to some of his book signings and art shows, and we kept in close contact over the years,” she said. “When I was doing this book, I immediately thought of him because I loved his artwork.”
Horne described the early stages of preparing the book with his former teacher. He was eager to sign onto the project.
“She came to me with this idea for a book dealing with MS and how it affects her,” Horne said. Although managing symptoms “can be difficult, those challenges have been very helpful in developing her into the person she is today.”
Along with the cover and back cover, Horne prepared several illustrations throughout the book, tying into the themes of each of its chapters. Together, Werner and Horne developed the characters of Ned and Nancy Neuron.
Through the illustrations he prepared for the book, Horne said he learned much about Werner and her experiences with MS, describing a sense of growth and mutual understanding forged throughout their creative journey together.
“I don’t have MS, but I’m able to sympathize more with Janet and the struggles that she’s had,” the artist said. “She has a very strong spirit when it comes to this.”
Following the success of their first collaboration, Werner and Horne are already working on the next project, a coloring book that adds an interactive component to the story of Ned and Nancy Neuron.
Werner said she remains “very hopeful” that researchers will soon discover a cure for MS. Analyzing the scope of scientific investigation into the condition, she said there is considerable
overlap between ongoing MS research and similar autoimmune diseases.
“Research that’s being conducted for, say, AIDS or lupus is also being conducted for MS,” she said. “Stony Brook [University] has an MS center, and their research is going on at a rapid rate. So I am so hopeful.”
Despite the decades she has spent with MS, Werner shares a message of resolve in the face of hardship.
“I think you have to keep fighting,” she said. “You cannot give up. If you’re faced with a challenge, you have to educate yourself about the disease and how it affects your body. And then learn to adapt.”
Horne said the collaboration with Werner has been a personal experience as well. Learning about MS, he said, has informed his outlook on his own life.
“I have a condition known as ulcerative colitis, also known as Crohn’s disease,” Horne said. “Understanding the perspective of another chronic illness, and from a different person, has come to help with my own process and working through my own things.”
He added, “When it comes to something like this it can be very scary at times, but it also can be very rewarding knowing the perseverance of getting through a struggle like that.”
To learn more about MS, visit www. nationalmssociety.org. To purchase “A Pear in an Apple Tree,” visit www.allbook-books.com.
“If you’re faced with a challenge, you have to educate yourself about the disease and how it affects your body. And then learn to adapt.”
— JANET WERNERAuthor Janet Werner, left, and artist Kyle Horne display their finished book, ‘A Pear in an Apple Tree: A Journey with Multiple Sclerosis.’ Photo courtesy Kyle Horne
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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.
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or 631.331.1154
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-Background in the sign/display industry a plus Miller Mohr & Kelly Design Group in Setauket. 631-941-2769 • info@mmkdg.com
Jos. M. Troffa Materials, a well-established landscape and mason supply yard in Setauket, is looking for a Full-Time Sales Associate. Responsibilities include helping customers with orders, ringing up customers, taking phone orders, and helping customers pick out product. Applicants must understand the importance of customer service and work well with others. Please call 631-834-4607 or email your resume to TroffaJM@Gmail.com
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Notes about the business: With 40+ combined years of experience in the fence industry, Smith Point Fence is well positioned to serve all of your fencing needs. We are proud members of the Long Island Chapter of the American Fence Association and premier installers of Eastern Illusions vinyl fence.
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Real Estate Services
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10
While most understand the value of investing in education, there’s more to learning than going to class and doing homework.
We must give all children an equal chance of receiving a proper education, and one way to do so is by ensuring that all students are adequately nourished, navigating the school day on a full stomach.
Last Friday, New York state elected officials joined school administrators and advocates in Huntington to call upon Gov. Kathy Hocul (D) to include fully funded school meals for all students in the 2024 state budget. The call comes after federal waivers that enabled schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students during the COVID-19 pandemic ended before the start of the 2022-23 academic year.
The universal free school meals initiative may make some pause at first. While New Yorkers understand that there are countless people among us — many right here in our own towns — suffering from food insecurity, they are aware that some of our residents can easily afford to feed their children breakfast and lunch.
However, advocates for the Healthy School Meals for All program contend that many families are eligible for the supplement but do not apply because they are embarrassed to ask for help. Some make slightly more than the income requirements to receive nutrition assistance but could desperately use the help.
In an era when most families need both parents to work to make ends meet, and as salaries and wages increases have lagged behind inflation, ensuring free meals for all children can keep our students healthy while easing household budgets. In addition to helping households, the program would eliminate unpaid meal debt for school districts, which increased after the federal waivers expired.
According to the speakers at the March 24 press conference at Jefferson Primary School in Huntington, including the program in the state budget could help nearly a quarter million students on Long Island alone. The initiative is one that state legislators have gotten behind with $280 million in funding included in their budget proposals.
Now it’s time for Hochul to support it.
With states such as California, Colorado, Nevada, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut already implementing the Healthy School Meals for All program, it’s time for New York to embrace this initiative.
Research indicates that well-nourished students perform better on tests, are more present in school and retain information better. Advocates hope the program provides all children the opportunity to be fully prepared to take on a day of learning, something every student deserves.
We remind our readers that New York taxpayers are currently subsidizing a football stadium in Buffalo to the tune of $600 million — a deal brokered by the Hochul administration. Meanwhile, many of our school children here on Long Island are inadequately nourished.
The proposed school nutrition program is less than half the cost of the football stadium yet would go much further in advancing the interests of ordinary citizens. To our governor and state officials in Albany: The Buffalo Bills should never trump the health of our children.
Doing what’s right for our kids, and paving the way for a brighter future for all, starts with a solid breakfast and lunch. Our state officials are fighting for this. It is time for our governor to do the same.
We have had a “clean water” sales tax for years. When last I looked both Suffolk County and New York State took that “clean water” sales tax money and put it into their general budgets. Suffolk County was taken to court where it lost and was ordered to replace the improperly taken money. Suffolk then claimed this money was needed to offset the costs of COVID-19, won a referendum and never truly repaid this money. I call this legalized “stealing.”
Now we are being asked to increase and extend this legalized “stealing” [through a 1/8-cent county sales tax increase to fund water quality improvement projects, subject to a mandatory referendum]. Additionally, we are being asked to provide politically well-connected persons with positions as “a
17-member wastewater management district board of trustees” to administer this money. We are told there will be one, countywide, sewer district with “zones of assessment.” Taxes collected within an established zone of assessment would be required to be kept segregated from taxes collected in other zones of assessment,
except upon approval by the county Legislature on the recommendation of the district board of trustees.
Can we trust the Suffolk County Legislature? What do you think?
Francis G. Gibbons Sr. TerryvilleWe welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation.
Email letters to: editor1@tbrnewsmedia.com or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733
No, I’m not going to predict anything about the on field action this year as the “boys of summer” take the field this week for the start of the 2023 baseball season.
hey’ll win some, they’ll lose some, and it’ll rain, and they’ll have to play some other day.stadiums and be too awestruck to speak. He may have been to other games, but returning to his favorite stadium and looking at the shimmering green grass, the bright foul lines, and the oversized baseball bag will take his breath away, even if only for a moment and even if no one notices the goose flesh on his arms despite the warm temperature.
will reach into history. Who was the best left fielder? Should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame?
Fans will celebrate birthdays, waiting for that fleeting moment when their name appears on the screen with best wishes from Joe, Mo, Mary and the rest of the crew.
making it tough for them to focus on the game. Some of those people will have to leave the game and go back to the office, while others will talk through a document or deal amid a series of ongoing crises.
Instead, I’m going to make some predictions about the action in the stands. After all, the number of people and stories from the stands far exceeds the paltry size of the teams, umpires, grounds crew and everyone else involved with “The Show.” So, without further delay, here are a few predictions for the upcoming season. Someone will walk into one of the local
Someone will share some of their favorite lines from baseball movies, suggesting that the team is a “bunch of lollygaggers,” or that, in as deep a James Earl Jones voice as they can muster, “the one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball.”
D. None of the above
During long day games, fans, clad in T-shirts, jerseys or tank tops, will forget sunscreen and will develop a sunburn. For some, that sunburn will be a reminder of the game. For others, it might provide sore or red skin.
Debates that border on arguments will occur in every part of the stadium. Some disagreements will arise over whether the umpire made the right call, while others
Arecent article that I saw on the Internet claimed that nine out of 10 graduates had regrets about their college. Wow! That’s almost unanimous discontent. Most regretted the heavy debt they had incurred. Some said the college they chose wasn’t a good fit for them. Others expressed disappointment with their major. I, too, have a regret about college; although I am not one generally to harbor regrets, I will confess that regret now.
Between
I regret that I didn’t study harder when I was lucky enough to be in college. Now, this has nothing to do with my particular college. It is a personal failing. I am sure I would have behaved much the same way wherever I had gone to school. But here is the thing about college.
It’s much the same thing as is said about computers: garbage in, garbage out.
Had I applied myself a lot harder, I would have gained a lot more in the way of a splendid education from my college courses and years. After all, I went to a fine college. Instead, I was more interested, especially during the first two years, in dating.
Not to be too hard on myself, I had a lot of catching up to do on that front. The last time I was in a co-ed situation before college was in the sixth grade of my neighborhood elementary school. For junior high and high school, I attended one of the schools in New York City requiring an entrance exam, and it was for all girls.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I loved the school. Many of the teachers had PhDs. I knew I was getting a first-rate education, and I really applied myself to my studies. What else was there to do? I even thrived on the keen competition there, despite the fact that it was considered appropriate to bemoan such a barbaric value.
People will propose marriage. Most will say “yes” and will cover their mouths in astonishment. Some will storm off, throw the ring back, or yell something, leaving others to wonder whether the scene was real or staged.
Some fans will offer unconditional support for their favorite players, urging them on even after they struck out four times. Others will reserve the right to suggest that they could do better or that the player is a “bum.”
Most fans will stand in salute to veterans, as the public address announcer shares details of a person’s service and awards, and his or her family beams nearby, blinking back tears in a strong sun.
Important people will take important calls,
Awestruck people will realize their fantasy and will catch a foul ball. They will raise the ball as if it were a trophy, giving the strangers around them a chance to applaud. A generous fan will likely hand a ball over to a nearby child, knowing how valuable that souvenir will be for him or her.
Fans will high-five people sitting next to them during a key moment in a big game, sharing their joy with anyone and everyone.
Someone from an earlier generation will shout “Holy Cow” when a player hits a towering home run, sending his friends into fits of laughter.
Someone will believe that the next pitch will alter the course of the game and, perhaps, that person’s world, regardless of the score and the standings. Play Ball!
It was also appropriate to wish the school were co-ed, which we all did, and fervently at the time. Now it is co-ed, and as I look back, I am not so sure that was such a good idea.
But I digress.
My college was also one of what was then regarded as the prestigious Seven Sisters and technically all women, although we certainly didn’t refer to ourselves that way at the time. We were girls, and it was an all-girls college. On the other hand, right across the main avenue that ran in front of the campus was an all-boys undergraduate college.
Needless to say, I crossed the road, both to get to the other side, (as in the old joke, “Why did the chicken cross the road”?) and also to use the library at the all-male school. That library was larger, had more comfortable seats, better lighting, and besides, I rarely returned without having at least one date, sometimes two, and even occasionally three dates for the upcoming weekend. It took the first two years to come to something approaching equilibrium.
Life was good. But for my grades, not so much.
Furthermore, I thought that I didn’t really have an appropriate major. I was pre-med. That wasn’t considered a true major, but it did require many hours of science classes that came with many hours in many labs. I could have spaced out those labs — heavy courses — but thought I should get them out of the way sooner. I did have a faculty advisor those first two years, who was a lovely person, and a famous history professor. She knew little about science requirements, confessed as much, and then signed whatever assortment of subjects I put before her to approve.
“You must pick a major,” I was told. And so I picked English because it provided me with an antidote to all those heavy science classes. Reading was a merciful escape. So was writing. I was casual about that decision, though, because I was sure I was never going to use those skills.
TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA We welcome letters, photographs, comments and story ideas. Send your items to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 or email editor1@tbrnewsmedia.com. Times Beacon Record Newspapers are published every Thursday. Subscription $59/year • 631-751-7744 www.tbrnewsmedia.com • Contents copyright 2023 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel MANAGING EDITOR Rita J. Egan EDITOR Raymond Janis LEISURE EDITOR Heidi Sutton COPY EDITOR John Broven ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathleen Gobos ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Elizabeth Bongiorno Robin Lemkin Larry Stahl Katherine Yamaguchi Minnie Yancey ART AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Beth Heller Mason PRODUCTION Janet Fortuna Sharon Nicholson CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Sheila Murray BUSINESS MANAGER Sandi Gross CIRCULATION & LEGALS MANAGER
A SELECTION OF SANDWICHES FROM OUR COMPLETE SANDWICH LIST
ARIZONA: Cheddar, Mashed Avocado, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onion, Sprouts. (Wrap or Sandwich)
COUNTRY CLUB: Grilled Chicken, Virginia Ham, Lettuce, Tomato and Russian Mustard. (Sandwich, Wrap or Tuscan)
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: Ham, Turkey, Monterey Jack Cheese, Roasted Red Pepper, Sun Dried Tomatoes, and Creamy BBQ Sauce. (Sandwich, Wrap, Tuscan or Panini)
JOANIE: Breaded Chicken Cutlet, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Bacon and Creamy BBQ Sauce. (Sandwich, Wrap, Tuscan)
LITTLE ITALY: Prosciutto (meats may vary), Provolone, Ham, Roasted Red Peppers and Italian Vinaigrette. (Sandwich, Wrap, Tuscan or Panini)
MONTEREY: Assorted Grilled Vegetables, Guacamole, Monterey Jack Cheese and Seasoned Olive Oil. (Sandwich, Wrap, Tuscan or Panini)
NORTHWELL: Smoked Turkey, Brie, Caramelized Pears, and Honey Mustard. (Sandwich, Tuscan or Panini)
RUSTIC EGGPLANT: Breaded Eggplant Cutlets, Provolone, Mozzarella, Roasted Red Pepper, Basil Pesto Cream. (Sandwich, Wrap, Tuscan or Panini)
SO FRENCH: Ham, Brie, Blue Cheese, Field Greens – Peach, Fig spread or Apricot Preserves (Sandwich, Wrap or Tuscan)
STONY BROOK: Turkey, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato with Creamy BBQ Sauce. (Sandwich, Wrap, Tuscan or Panini)
VALERIE: Tomatoes, Sundried Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Mozzarella and Balsamic Dressing. (Sandwich, Wrap, Tuscan or Panini)
JAM’IN TURKEY: Sliced Turkey Breast, Sliced Pear, Arugula, Fig Jam (wrap, sandwich or panini)
