The Times of Middle Country - November 10, 2022

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A fantastic four

MCCSD recognizes scholars as Students of the Month

The Middle Country Central School District congratulates Wazdi Khan, Julissa Spooner, Jessica Cohen, and Lilly DiGiamo for being named the district’s October students of the month.

“Wazdi, Julissa, Jessica, and Lilly are great examples of the smart, talented, and driven students in our district,” said Roberta Gerold, superintendent of schools. “Recognizing and congratulating the work and the accomplishments of our students is one the wonderful highlights I look forward to each month. I am incredibly proud and inspired by the continuous efforts our students put into their academics and extracurriculars, as exemplified by these impressive four students.”

Centereach High School student Wazdi Khan is a well-rounded student who serves as the high school’s GO President. He was instrumental in planning Centereach High School’s pep rally and Cougar Carnival for Homecoming.

Wazdi is also involved in numerous clubs, including the history club, yearbook club, and environmental club. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, and Chamber Orchestra.

Academically, Wazdi excels. His GPA ranks him in the top 10% of the Class of 2023. He will graduate this year with 12 Advanced Placement courses and three additional college-level courses, possibly over 40 college credits before he graduates high school.

The Centereach High School senior applied to numerous schools, including Stony Brook, New York University, Cornell, and Columbia University. At college, he plans to study computer science.

Pictured clockwise from top-left: Wazdi Khan; Julissa Spooner; Jessica Cohen and Lilly DiGiamo. Photos courtesy MCCSD

GOP gains seats locally, Dems avert ‘red wave’ nationally Unofficial Results

BY RITA J. EGAN & RAYMOND JANIS RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

While New Yorkers voted Democrat Kathy Hochul as the first woman elected governor, Republicans scored big in races throughout Suffolk County.

Due to September’s cyberattack, results for local races were delayed on Tuesday night as Suffolk County election workers struggled to upload votes.

After technical problems, election workers delivered voting booth memory cards to Yaphank headquarters for votes to be counted. The first voting results started trickling in by the early morning hours of Nov. 9.

New York State governor

Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY1), the Republican Party’s gubernatorial candidate, made a surprise appearance en route to his official viewing party in Manhattan. At the Stereo Garden in Patchogue, Zeldin expressed gratitude for the people of Suffolk County, saying his night would not be complete without first dropping in.

Slowly, the returns began to come in, and the room took on a different tone and tenor as the gubernatorial contest was called for incumbent Hochul.

With 94% reporting as of press time, Hochul carried the state by a 53-47% margin — unusually tight for a state that Democrats generally take handily.

“Tonight, you made your voices heard loud and clear, and you made me the first woman ever to be elected to be the governor of the State of New York,” Hochul said in her victory speech. “But I’m not here to make history. I’m here to make a difference.”

Zeldin conceded the afternoon of Nov. 9 in a statement.

“This race was a once-in-a-generation campaign, with a very close margin in the bluest of blue states,” Zeldin said. “The unrelenting passion and hard work of our grassroots volunteers and supporters made this incredibly close race possible and helped us win at least 49 of New York’s 62 counties.”

He added, “Republicans, Democrats and Independents united as New Yorkers, pouring their heart and soul into this campaign.”

Congress

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was declared the victor early on Nov. 8, receiving 56% of the votes as of press time.

Despite this and a lackluster Republican performance nationwide, some at Stereo Garden did have cause to celebrate. In the race to fill Zeldin’s congressional seat, Nick LaLota defeated Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming (D-Noyac) by a 56-44% margin with 94% reporting.

“Thank you to the voters of Suffolk County for placing your trust in me,” LaLota said in a statement. “I am extremely thankful for the

trust and confidence you have placed in me, and I won’t let you down.”

State Legislature

At the state level, incumbent state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) defeated Democratic Party challenger Skyler Johnson by 12 points. “This is a team effort, as you all know, and we don’t get here without the hard work of all of our volunteers,” Palumbo said in a speech.

Johnson said he wouldn’t make any promises about whether to run for another office. However, he hasn’t ruled it out, either.

“If I think that we have a viable path, and I think that what I can offer is what the constituents need, then ‘yes,’” he said.

State Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James) faced Democrat Susan Berland, formerly Suffolk County legislator in the 16th District and Town of Huntington councilwoman, for the seat in the 2nd District.

The incumbent retained his seat with more than 58% of the votes. Mattera said it felt great to hear the results of his race the morning of Nov. 9, even though he was disappointed that Zeldin lost the gubernatorial race.

“Main party rule is upsetting to me because it’s like a business having a monopoly,” Mattera said.

The state senator said he is looking forward to returning to Albany to continue working toward bringing funds back to the area to help with infrastructure and local businesses. He added he was appreciative of the overwhelming support from his family, friends, law enforcement and trade unions, and the confidence they all have had in him.

In the state Assembly, incumbent Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Riverhead), who represents the 2nd District, easily won her race by a 32% margin over Democratic challenger Wendy Hamberger.

As of early afternoon Nov. 9, the race for Assembly District 4 was tight, with a mere 973 votes dividing the candidates. Incumbent

state Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) is in a competitive bout with Republican challenger Edward Flood. Flood maintains a 2-point lead with 96% of the precincts reporting as of press time, though that race has not been called.

Englebright said his last race in 2020 was a close one, too, and he was not ready to make an official statement as of press time.

In the state Assembly District 8 race, incumbent Michael Fitzpatrick received more than 68% of the votes. His opponent, Democrat Jeanine Aponte, did not run an active campaign.

In addition to parts of Suffolk County, state Assembly District 10 also takes in parts of Nassau County. Incumbent Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) was the winner with 54% of the votes (25,879), while IT professional Aamir Sultan (R) received 46% (21,843).

In the state Assembly race in the 12th District, incumbent Keith Brown (R-Northport), faced Democrat Cooper Macco.

Brown retained his seat with 58% of the votes. Macco said he would consider running for office in the future.

“It was a learning experience,” he said. “I think that in the future, hopefully, I can take what I’ve learned” and apply it to a campaign.

Suffolk County

After losing a June primary, current Suffolk County Clerk Judith Pascale (R) did not run for the position.

Republican Vincent Puleo, the town clerk of Smithtown, faced Democrat Lisa Jimenez, a newcomer running for political office. Puleo won the race with 59% of the votes.

Incumbent county Comptroller John M. Kennedy Jr. (R) won reelection with ease at 60% over his inactive Democratic Party challenger, Thomas Dolan. During a speech at Stereo Garden, he thanked those who helped him secure victory and expressed his vision for the future.

“We left nothing untouched, ladies and

Last updated Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m.

NY Governor

Kathy Hochul (D): 53%

Lee Zeldin (R): 47%

U.S. Senate

Chuck Schumer (D): 56%

Joe Pinion (R): 43%

U.S. Congress - NY1

Bridget Fleming (D) 44%

Nick LaLota (R) 56%

State Senate - SD1

Skyler Johnson (D) 44%

Anthony Palumbo (R) 56%

State Assembly - AD4

Steve Englebright (D) 49%

Edward Flood (R) 51%

State Assembly - AD5

James Anthony (D) 33%

Douglas Smith (R) 67%

Suffolk Clerk

Lisa Jimenez (D): 41%

Vincent Puleo (R): 59%

Suffolk Comptroller

Thomas Dolan (D): 40%

John Kennedy (R): 60%

gentlemen,” the comptroller said. “We will have change in Suffolk County, and we will restore Republican values, I’m confident.”

Propositions

The $4.2 billion state Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 was approved by about 59% of voters (93.64% precincts reporting).

The Suffolk County term limits proposition, to 12 years total, passed with a massive 86% approval.

To follow the results of these elections as they are updated, visit tbrnewsmedia.com.

Nick LaLota, Congressman-elect for New York’s 1st Congressional District, left, and Lee Zeldin, defeated gubernatorial candidate, made appearances at Stereo Garden in Patchogue on Election Night. Photos by Raymond Janis

Vaccines, sleep, exercise among pre-Thanksgiving tips from local doctors

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The time between Halloween and Thanksgiving often involves lists.

Thanksgiving hosts make lists of people to invite, food to purchase, reminders of relatives who need to sit as far from each other as possible, and specialty items, like dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free and sugar-free desserts.

This year, people should also consider adding healthcare steps to their holiday preparation, particularly as new COVID-19 variants and a host of respiratory viruses like the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, threaten to put a damper on the holiday festivities or the days immediately after family gatherings.

Even as new COVID variants circulate in the area, cases of the flu have recently been climbing throughout the county, state and country.

As of the week ending Oct. 29, which is the most recent week for which the state and country produced data, Suffolk County reported 255 confirmed cases of the flu, which is up 86% from the previous week, according to the New York State Department of Health. Statewide, the number of cases reached 3,476 for the same week.

Dr. Christy Beneri, program director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, suggests that the “ideal time is now” to get COVID and flu vaccines. “It generally takes about two weeks for the immune system to show a response to the vaccine to provide protection,” which means that the clock is ticking to prepare immune systems for visits with friends and relatives who might be bringing unwitting viral passengers with them to the dinner table.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people get a bivalent booster — the version from Pfizer/ BioNTech or Moderna that includes protection against some of the newer omicron variants — if it has been at least two months since their last COVID-19 vaccine or since their original booster.

Beneri urges residents to get both COVID and flu vaccines, which people can receive at the same time.

The effects of these combined shots may have increased side effects of flu-like illnesses, like fever, aches and fatigue, which generally lasts for about a day.

The CDC reported that observational studies show greater disease severity in patients with influenza and COVID than in patients with COVID alone.

As for ways to protect guests in people’s homes, Beneri explained in an email that no specific house filters are effective at reducing the spread of disease.

“Good air flow is important,” she wrote. “Leaving some windows cracked and telling guests to wear an extra layer” could reduce the risk of spreading viruses.

Beneri added that area medical facilities have seen patients with more than one respiratory virus.

“Having multiple viruses can lead to more severe disease and thus [the] need for hospitalization for supportive care,” Beneri added.

Treatment options currently exist for COVID and influenza, which is not the case for other respiratory illnesses. The NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines suggested that there are no significant drug-drug interactions between the antiviral agents used to treat the flu and antivirals used to prevent or treat COVID.

While vaccinations may not completely prevent disease, they can help reduce severe disease and hospitalization, which is “especially important with the increase in other respiratory infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus,” she explained in an email.

Boosting immunity

In general, people can enhance their health by eating well, exercising and getting a good night’s sleep, Beneri said.

She also generally recommends a multivitamin.

The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel indicates that there is not enough evidence to support the use of additional supplements, such as Vitamin C, D or zinc in patients with COVID.

Beneri advised residents to review any supplement use with their doctors to avoid drug interactions and possible side effects.

At this point, the bivalent vaccine has improved effectiveness for the omicron strain based on the immune response, Beneri explained.

More data, however, is expected on the vaccine efficacy in the short and longer term with the new bivalent boosters, Beneri said.

Additionally, more data should be forthcoming on treatment options, which will also be important with anticipated new waves over the holidays and new variants emerging, she added.

Combined vaccine

Recently, Pfizer/ BioNTech said it was in phase one trials for a single vaccine that would provide immune protection against COVID and the flu.

Local doctors urged patience as the pharmaceutical company and the Food and Drug Administration review the results from these trials.

“Although there may be benefits with combination vaccines from a compliance perspective, we need to weigh that against the risk of safety and efficacy,” Dr. Sunil Dhuper, chief medical officer at Port Jefferson’s St. Charles Hospital, explained in an email.

The medical community needs to ensure that the combination is neither less immunogenic nor less effective than the singular vaccines on their own, he added.

“Safety and tolerability are other important concerns with combination vaccines,” Dhuper

explained. He hopes the clinical trials will answer a host of questions related to immune response, efficacy, and reactogenicity, which refers to injection site pain, redness, swelling, fever headaches and other responses to the vaccination.

Dr. Chrisy Beneri, below, suggests people leave a window cracked while entertaining such as above. Stock photo above; photo of Dr. Christy Beneri from Stony Brook Medicine

WE CARE FOR YOUR HEALTH

Mayur (Mark) Shah received his RPh from the MS Univeristy of India and has dedicated the majority of his career to serving patients in SeldenCoram, NY. Both he and his wife are pharmacists serving the community for over 37 years in the same location. We are located In the Selden Plaza at 249 Middle Country Rd, Selden, NY 11784 , Quality Pharmacy is known for it’s prompt service, a pillar of information for healthcare concerns and providing emergency services when needed.

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Farmingville man killed in Coram crash

Suffolk County Police have arrested a man for allegedly driving while intoxicated after he was involved in a motor vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian on Nov. 6 in Coram. Derrick Kindle was driving a 2008 Nissan Sentra eastbound on Middle Country Road, east of Country Club Drive, when the vehicle struck a male pedestrian crossing the roadway at approximately 11:50 p.m. The pedestrian, Gerald Smith, 68, of Farmingville was pronounced dead at the scene. Sixth Precinct officers at the scene determined Kindle was intoxicated and placed him in custody. Kindle, 30, of 44 Oakcrest Ave., Middle Island, was charged with Driving While Intoxicated. A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Six workers injured in St. James

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating following a partial building collapse that injured six people, three critically, in St. James on Nov. 3. Six construction workers were on scaffolds dismantling the front façade of 840 Middle Country Road when the façade fell on them, knocking them off the scaffolding at approximately 1:30 p.m. The workers for Sit Back & Relax Ground Maintenance fell more than 20 feet. All six men were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital. One of the men was airlifted via Suffolk County Police helicopter. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified and is investigating. The Smithtown Building Inspector and Smithtown Fire Marshal responded.

Pedestrian killed in Mt. Sinai crash

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian in Mt. Sinai on Nov. 3. Ann Marie Montgomery was heading westbound on northbound County Road 83, north of Canal Road, when she was struck in the left lane by a 2018 Ford F150, driven by James Gerardi, at 10:53 p.m. Montgomery, 42, of Holtsville, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician from Port Jefferson EMS. Gerardi, 57, of Mt. Sinai, was not injured. The Ford was impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

Razor blade found in Halloween candy

Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct officers are investigating an incident where a candy bar received from trick or treating was found with a razor blade inside the bar. A 13-year-old girl was

Wanted for Stony Brook Larceny

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the women who allegedly stole merchandise from Spirit Halloween, located at 2110 Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook, on Oct. 28, at approximately 9:30 p.m. They fled in a white Jeep Renegade with New York plates KNS 6519. Both suspects are believed to have stolen from other Spirit Halloween stores.

trick or treating on October 31 and then traded candy with her classmates at PJ Gelinas Junior High School over the past few days. The girl found a razor blade in a mini 3 Musketeers bar on Nov. 3 and her mother reported it to police at approximately 7:35 p.m. . Officers are asking anyone with information to call the Sixth Pre cinct Crime Section at 631-854-8626.

Motorcyclist injured in Port Jeff crash

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Port Jefferson Village on Nov. 2. Jeffrey Smith was riding a 2019 Harley Davidson Trike on East Broadway, near Bridle Path, when he struck a deer crossing the roadway at approximately 11:25 a.m. Smith was knocked off his motorcycle and struck his head onto the pavement. The three-wheel motorcycle continued to travel unoccupied for approximately 1⁄4 mile until it drove off the roadway, striking several bushes before stopping in the side yard of 101 Hoyt Lane. Smith, 77, of Smithtown, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital in serious condition. The deer was gone upon police arrival. The vehicle was impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Sixth Squad at 631-852-8652.

— 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.

Photo from SCPD

Students of the Month Continued from A2

Newfield High School student Julissa Spooner is full of positive energy and always looks to improve the world around her. She volunteers at Avalon Nature Preserve in Stony Brook and has worked as a camp counselor at Centereach Pool Camp.

She has been named an All-Long Island fencer and plans on continuing at the collegiate level. In addition to fencing, she is a member of DECA, vice president of the Class of 2023, GO President, and plays bass in the high school’s orchestra.

Julissa has the potential to graduate in June with 30 college credits. Given her love for the planet and an interest in environmental policy, she seeks to major in environmental engineering. She applied to Oneonta, Binghamton, and SUNY at Albany.

Dawnwood Middle School eighth-grade student Jessica Cohen is a model example of a student leader. She plays soccer and basketball for Dawnwood Middle School and also played junior varsity softball. She will be trying out for volleyball and is also considering trying out to play lacrosse this year.

Jessica is involved in many activities, both inside and outside of school. In the drama club stage, she was a crew member, working in the south booth to control the lights and sound.

She was a member of the Lego club, art club, service club, and vice president of the photography club. During the summer, Jessica sells 17 different flavors of snow cones in her driveway.

Jessica’s overall average for her sixth and seventh grade school years is 97.88, and her average for the first quarter of this school year is 99.

Selden Middle School eighth-grade student Lilly DiGiamo personifies service to others. It is her nature to think of those who are less fortunate.

Shortly after the war in Ukraine broke out, Lilly organized a drive at Selden Middle School, gathering medical supplies to be sent overseas to the battlefront. She collaborated with a church in New York to get the supplies to those who needed them most.

She maintains a high average in all her classes — her quarterly average has been 96 or better since the beginning of sixth grade.

Lilly is also a member of the Selden Middle School tennis team and the National Honor Society and plans to join the Youth for Humanity Club. In addition, she hopes to make the volleyball team later this year.

For more information regarding the Middle Country Central School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the district’s website:

www.mccsd.net

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lawfulpurpose. NY,11738.Purpose:Any FenwickAve,Farmingville, theprocesstotheLLC:15 SSNYshallmailacopyof againstitmaybeserved. theLLCuponwhomprocess beendesignatedasagentof SuffolkCounty.SSNYhas 9/29/2022.Officelocation: NewYork(SSNY)on theSecretaryofStateof ofOrganizationfiledwith SabrinaDaysieLLC.Articles Noticeofformationof

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11720 Centereach,NewYork 9SouthWashingtonAvenue CentereachFireDistrict FireDistrictSecretary JenniferGardner,

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discretion,prepareawritten SchoolDistrictmay,inits MiddleCountryCentral thegoverningboardof theGeneralMunicipalLaw, persons.Pursuantto§35of inspectionbyallinterested asapublicrecordfor officewhereitisavailable Reporthasbeenfiledinmy Co.,LLP,andthattheAudit auditfirmofR.S.Abrams&

responsetotheAuditReportandfileanysuch

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Date:November10,2022

By:StephanieLarkin, Centereach,NewYork CentralSchoolDistrict MiddleCountry

DistrictClerk

whichisasfollows: Resolution,anabstractof topermissivereferendum,a 2022,dulyadopted,subject 20thdayofSeptember meetingthereof,heldonthe County,NewYork,ata TownofBrookhaven,Suffolk 11548011/101xtmc

To Place A Legal Notice Email: legals@tbrnewsmedia.com periodbeginningonJuly1, SchoolDistrictforthe MiddleCountryCentral

Centereach High School celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Centereach High School recently held its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

The Spanish Heritage Club members and dancers coordinated the event, advised by Patricia Duryea and Victoria Cuomo.

“It was incredible to see our students and families come together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month,” said principal Thomas Bell. “It’s important to recognize the history, culture, and contributions made by Hispanic Americans,” adding, “Great job to all the students and faculty who made the celebration possible.”

Centereach High School students prepared tri-fold posters about a Hispanic country they

researched. The World Languages Club also gave presentations with slideshows they prepared.

Students, friends, and families had an immersive and educational experience as they learned about Hispanic heritage, culture, and contributions. Students also performed various traditional dances and songs while dressed in their cultural attire.

For more information regarding the Middle Country Central School District and its students’ many achievements, visit the district’s website: www.mccsd.net

— Photos courtesy MCCSD

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Wake up, Long Island: the perils of drowsy driving

As it gets darker earlier, now is the right time to take extra precautions on roadways.

Residents in our coverage areas know the dangers that deer present at this time of year. In the frenzy of mating season, these animals can dart out into the road at any time. These are erratic, unpredictable maneuvers that can bring serious bodily harm to drivers — and deer.

Nowadays, drivers encounter several hazards at night. Heedless pedestrians are often found walking in the evening hours, sometimes wearing dark colors and without flashlights or reflective gear which would make them easier to spot. Drivers should be on close guard for these nightwalkers.

To help alleviate this hazard, it’s wise for people walking along our roadways to wear brighter colors, take a flashlight, or put on some form of reflective material over jackets or shirts.

Unfortunately, pedestrians don’t always keep these tips in mind, so drivers must be vigilant about what’s happening on the road ahead. Extra attention should be paid as it gets darker, especially on streets that are lit dimly or not at all.

While driving through residential areas, slow down. Students may be coming home on the late buses, and people can be standing on the street putting garbage out or collecting mail.

Second, Mother Nature can be tricky during autumn. Fallen leaves, especially when wet, can cause dangerous roadway conditions, impeding one’s ability to brake safely. If a driver finds the tires are slipping on leaves, the best thing to do is refrain from swerving suddenly and to brake slowly. The same advice applies when finding a deer or pedestrian near the road.

Last but not least, keep in mind, even though we all gain an extra hour of sleep, when we change the clocks back, some people have difficulty adapting and can feel drowsy. And with the holidays around the corner, some people will be busier and less rested than usual. Experts advise that when a person is feeling sleepy behind the wheel — yawning, having trouble keeping their eyes open, missing traffic signals — the best practice is pulling over and resting before resuming driving.

Resting is always better than drinking coffee, opening a window, turning on air conditioning or playing loud music to stay wide eyed as these measures only add a short burst of alertness.

If a driver sees a swerving vehicle, the best thing to do is to keep as far away from the other car as possible.

Preliminary statistics from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College show just how dangerous driving while drowsy can be. According to its research, in New York state, “fatigue/drowsy driving” and/or “driver fell asleep” appeared “4,865 times as contributing factors on police crash reports.”

The roads can be tricky this time of year, but common sense can go a long way in keeping ourselves and our fellow residents safe.

Editor’s note:

TBR News Media congratulates the election winners. We look forward to working with you during your next term.

Letters to the Editor

Electrifying the Port Jeff Branch line is a priority

I would like to present some of the ongoing work concerning the electrification of the Port Jefferson Branch line.

I had a substantial call with Sammy Chu, the MTA board member for this area. He’s new to the job and going through a learning curve, but he’s interested in the North Shore. I explained to him the economic and transportation benefits to the North Shore if improvements are made to the Port Jeff line.

When I spoke with other MTA officials, however, they had a lot of costly proposals. These proposals were so grand that I came away with the impression that they were not sincere about ever doing anything here.

There’s $10 billion on the table for the MTA in federal funding through the infrastructure bill. The Long Island Rail Road spends hundreds of millions of dollars eliminating grade crossings in Nassau County and tens of millions of dollars fixing bridges. We can do both of these engineering tasks cheaply by moving the existing Port Jefferson train station west to the Lawrence Aviation Superfund property.

The LIRR should put a little thought and planning into the Port Jefferson line. Our public railroad needs to think more about its communities and remember that we, the residents of the North Shore, pay taxes, too.

There will be a lot of development on both sides of the tracks, so eliminating the grade crossing bottleneck will be a positive project for the area. There is also a solar component to the Lawrence Aviation plan.

To see these plans come to fruition will require leadership, and our local leaders already appear to favor this vision overwhelmingly. Now we must think of other ways to jumpstart this endeavor, inching closer to implementing our collective vision.

Perhaps we can bring LIRR planners to Port Jefferson. Alternatively, we could bring the political leaders together. We need to get people in the same place, at the same time, to adopt the same objectives.

Bruce Miller Port Jefferson

Editor’s note: Bruce Miller served as Port Jefferson Village trustee from 2014-22.

Democracy really is in trouble

It has somehow become fashionable for Democrats to proclaim that “democracy is in peril” in the United States, and that this is entirely due to scurrilous machinations on the part of Republicans. As evidence, they offer the insurrection of Jan. 6, in which they falsely claim that four police officers were foully murdered, the systemic racism which seeks to block the unlimited entry of illegal aliens into our sovereign country, and the unfair incarceration of vicious criminals who deserve another chance, or as many chances as their little hearts desire.

Actually, our Democratic friends are right about one thing: Democracy really is in trouble. But the fact is that this is largely due to their own illegal political machinations, not the least of which is their surreptitious takeover of the Department of Justice and the FBI. In the early days of the FBI, when it was led by J. Edgar Hoover, their brave and celebrated agents famously ended the notorious careers of a multitude of bad actors, including John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, Al Capone, and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Sadly, the days of the heroic G-men — a term reportedly coined by George “Machine Gun” Kelly at the time of his capture — have now faded into the history books. Instead, we now have the DOJ and FBI of the 21st century, which have morphed into the enforcement wing of the Democratic party, with the mission of exonerating Democratic lawbreakers, regardless of their crimes, while prosecuting Republican adversaries, for reasons which may be grossly exaggerated, or, if necessary, fabricated entirely. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in their disgraceful efforts to discredit, bury and dismiss the evidence contained in the laptop of Hunter Biden, the degenerate and profligate son of President Joe Biden [D], which shows the president’s involvement with Hunter’s shady deals with foreign governments, and would have cost him the election if it had not been suppressed.

This sordid story is presented in great detail in Miranda Devine’s great new book, “Laptop from Hell,” which can be found at our wonderful Emma S. Clark Memorial Library.

With regard to Republicans,

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

whose only real offense is not being their favored party, they conspired to create a fanciful tale of collusion and election meddling by the Russians, which not only lacked any basis in fact, but was at least partially funded by the DNC.

When President Barack Obama [D] tells us that no challenge poses a greater threat to our children, our planet and future generations than climate change, and Anthony Portesy of the Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee claims that Republican gerrymandering has democracy only one generation away from extinction, how are we to take them seriously? If ever the pot was caught calling the kettle black, surely that pot is the Democratic Party of today.

George Altemose Setauket

The truth about Hitler’s tactics

A letter to the editor [“Why so many ‘whys,’” TBR News Media, Oct. 20] by Lisa Pius, and filled with a great deal of misinformation, claimed that “Hitler was a ‘left-wing socialist’ according to ‘Mein Kampf.’” Aside from the fact that this is wildly, even hilariously false, my question is: Why would this letter writer, or anyone else for that matter, believe a single word of what Hitler wrote in “Mein Kampf”?

The truth is that one of the main tactics employed by Hitler and the Nazis in their rise to power was to stir up fear and hatred of precisely “leftwing socialists,” which for them meant anything from Social Democrats to Communists. The truth is that Hitler, who never won a majority of votes, was enabled to ascend to dictatorial power only with the active assistance of major German industrialists and bankers, and a conservative politician, Franz von Papen. They calculated Hitler would advance their agenda, and that they could control him. Upon taking power, the first thing the Nazis did was not “take away the guns.” It was to round up their political opponents, namely “left-wing socialists”, along with a handful of homosexuals and Jehovah’s Witnesses, and put them in concentration camps such as Dachau.

I would suggest the writer of this letter familiarize herself with the history of what actually happened in Germany before making such ridiculous and erroneous claims. A good place to start would be the “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany,” written by William L. Shirer, who was there at the time and who was an eyewitness of Germany’s rapid descent from liberal democracy to Nazism.

David Friedman St. James

Considering the ways we choose to define ourselves

Have you ever sat in the eye doctor’s chair and had them shift from one lens to another, asking you if A or B is better or if 1 or 2 is clearer?

I did that many times growing up, particularly because my father was an ophthalmologist.

do we live in the Middle Atlantic States?

Other questions also might elicit reflective responses. Are we religious and, if so, do we celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, or Kwanza? Or, maybe we’re not religious at all, and we think of life and ourselves outside the structure of an organized religion.

thinking should violate our sense of right and wrong. Can we prejudge people or suggest that we care less about them because they weren’t born with some of the same elements that define us?

D. None of the above

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

Oftentimes, even now, I’m not exactly sure whether the first image or second is better. In fact, I asked my father to let me see them again. I could hear him groan as I said, “One, no, no, two, no, wait, one.”

The same subtle differences sometimes define who we are and how we see ourselves.

Sometimes, the question of our identity is simple, at least to us. Are we American and

Confessions

You wouldn’t know, of course, dear reader, but I almost always write this column each week at the last minute. Why? I could say it is to get in the latest news, or that I am so busy I can’t write it sooner, but that’s not the truth.

The reason is that I am an incorrigible procrastinator. And even when I do write ahead of time and submit the column early, I feel so virtuous, and I want to extend that good feeling as long as I can, which causes me to procrastinate writing the next column until the last minute.

We also might define ourselves by our race or our combination of races. I had a close friend in college who was so many races that she said she could check off every box on each survey to reflect her mixed heritage.

But, then, when we define ourselves as part of a group, whether it’s a race, religion, political affiliation or other, what does it mean to meet someone or interact with someone from a different group? If we’re a Republican and someone else is a Democrat, should we behave as if we are the Montagues and the Capulets?

Does the fact that they are different mean we don’t have to be respectful of them or that we need to protect our own first before considering their needs?

Surely, such insular, tribal and protective

Several of the ways we identify ourselves don’t typically involve choices. I can’t choose to be much taller, even if I might want to be, and I can’t choose to be Taiwanese, even if I have many close friends who trace their roots to Taiwan.

We have choices in our identity that affect our behavior and define us.

We might, for example, choose not to be a bystander, but, rather a defender. People don’t, or shouldn’t, wake up in the morning and hope to witness someone bully someone else and feel gratified that they observed cruelty.

Perhaps, we might consider ourselves protectors or active community members. Remembering this part of our identity, we might be more inclined to help.

We might also choose to identify ourselves as grateful. We might choose a host of adjectives to describe ourselves — smart,

flexible, sympathetic, understanding. Ultimately, through our thoughts, words and actions, we can demonstrate whether those descriptions apply or whether our self-identification is a mismatch with our behaviors.

Conflicts arise in us when one part of our identity is at odds with another. We might, for example, want to help others, even though we might realize doing so comes with risk to ourselves.

Standing up for someone at the lower end of the social pecking order might cause a bully to turn his attention to us. We might run the risk of injury or worse by trying to help others in dangerous situations.

At those moments, we can be grateful to those among us who protect us against all kinds of threats, who join the armed forces, or the police or firefighters.

On this, the day before Veterans Day and two weeks before Thanksgiving, we can be thankful for all those people who contribute to our lives and to our country.

procrastinators, and that part of the appeal of journalism is the ever-present deadlines, without which we would do nothing but be sloths.

It’s much easier to be lazy. I like to sit on the back deck and just stare out at the trees and think. Perhaps that’s meditating, which would put a respectable spin on it, but it’s more just peacefully enjoying my thoughts and my ease. A deadline, however, does move me.

That one is the panic monster, the only being the instant gratification monkey is terrified of. The panic monster, after putting the whole system in chaos by arriving on the scene, successfully motivates us procrastinators to do what we need to do before the deadline.

So what do I do when I am heeding the instant gratification monkey?

Then there is the call of the wild from the kitchen refrigerator. I must be hungry, and surely there is something in there that I need to eat at this moment. If the frig fails me, I can resort to the organized pantry alongside.

I do all sorts of vitally important things, like cleaning out the pantry on my way to the computer keyboard. Of course, by the time I have finished, it’s time to start making dinner or going to bed. You can believe I have a neatly arranged pantry.

We all need fresh air, especially if we are about to do something that requires some cognitive effort, so we should probably take a walk before we sit down to create. And after the walk, we need a bit of a rest, say a 20-minute power nap. And who was that we were supposed to call back? We should do it right now, before we forget.

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF

What’s more, I believe most people, and especially most journalists, are closet

A recent TED talk, that my oldest son emailed me, confirmed my belief about the existence of multitudes of procrastinators. Tim Urban, a writer and blogger, is also a funny man when he offers a look “Inside the mind of a master procrastinator,” as the subject of his talk. He maintains that we have a rational decision-maker in our brains, who knows when we should get started on a project or chore, and also an instant gratification monkey, who overrides the rational decision-maker in favor of doing things that are easy and fun. There is, according to Urban, a third being we carry in our heads that is a kind of guardian angel.

The New York Times print version is impossible for me to ignore, and it’s a perfect procrastinator’s tool. No matter how much of the daily issue I have read, there is always more to read, all of it equally important, of course. I carefully read the obits of people I have never heard of, and whose names I will shortly forget, but their lives must have great meaning for me right now.

Hey, we can’t begin working yet. “Jeopardy!” is on shortly. We’ll start immediately after the final question. That is, if we are not too tired. If we are too tired, we can always write that next column in the morning, before we go to press.

And that is how, after more than 46-andone-half years of writing a column, I still do so at the last minute. The fault must be in my DNA. I’ll blame it on my mom.

of a hopeless procrastinator

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