The Times of Middle Country - November 24, 2022

Photo courtesy SCCC

10 Middle Country seniors sign athletic letters of intent

Recently, 10 Middle Country Central School District senior student-athletes signed letters of intent during a special signing ceremony.

• Julia Ivashko, Lacrosse, Stetson University

• Mia Juvelier, Lacrosse, Merrimack College

• Kate Timarky, Lacrosse, University of Notre Dame

SCHOOL NEWS

In the presence of family, friends, teachers, and district administrators, the students affixed their signatures to letters of intent for their respective colleges, cementing their bright futures ahead.

“This is a huge stepping stone for our student-athletes who are looking forward to the new chapter of their lives after their high school journey,” said Roberta Gerold, superintendent of schools. “We are incredibly proud of our students who are looking to pursue higher education, as well as continue their athletic careers.”

Centereach High School:

• Ashlynne Gangji, Lacrosse, SUNY Cortland

• Juliana Speziale, Lacrosse, Long Island University

• Joseph Speziale, Lacrosse, Florida Southern College

• Charlie Cavaliere, Lacrosse, Stony Brook University

• Kaitlyn Ippolito, Lacrosse, University of Scranton

Newfield High School:

• Madison Keenan, Soccer, Molloy College

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

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BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

After more than two decades of public service, Brookhaven Town Clerk Donna Lent (I) has retired after nine years in that office.

The announcement was made at the Nov. 10 Town Board meeting, where Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) and council members thanked Lent for her service.

“It was a lovely day,” Lent said in a phone interview. “I was not expecting the big sendoff from the board that they gave me, which was very generous.”

Lent ran for her third term in office against Ira Costell (D) in the 2021 election. She said she started having a painful case of sciatica after getting hurt in May. Lent was on medical leave for six weeks. “It just got me thinking,” Lent said. “Here I turned 70 in September, and my husband retired in 2015.”

She initially thought she would retire in August, but she said Romaine asked her to stay longer.

Her first day of retirement was Nov. 14, just a few days after the Town Board send-off. Lent said she stayed on to help in the office because both of her deputies had their children’s birthday parties during the weekend. Soon after her last day, Lent and her husband moved to South Carolina.

Deputy Town Clerk Lauren Thoden is now serving as interim town clerk. A special election will be held in the near future, and the winner will complete Lent’s term which ends in 2025.

Lent said during her tenure she was immersed in the day-to-day operations of the office. She also oversaw the implementation of the town’s electronic content management system, which included a central-scanning repository where the town clerk’s office can scan both department and

town records in real time.

Regarding office operations, Lent said she has no concerns, for now, as she knows it will be “smooth sailing” for the current staff members. However, she does worry that whoever is elected town clerk may not keep the same staff.

“My advice to the new clerk would be to keep the people who know what they’re doing and just let them do it,” she said.

Most people don’t understand the multitude of tasks the office is responsible for, she added, and the new clerk needs to know all the ins and outs of how everything works.

“It’s important to have some continuity,” she said.

Before being elected town clerk, Lent managed a lawyer’s office. She entered public service in 2001 when she became former state Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington’s chief of staff. When Eddington (WF/D/I-Medford) went on to become Brookhaven town clerk, Lent was appointed deputy town clerk.

As Lent looks back at her career, she feels fortunate.“I was really so privileged to be able as a staffer to end up being an elected official and so honored to have held that position and get reelected twice to serve the residents of the Town of Brookhaven,” Lent said. “It really was a job that I loved.”

In a statement, Romaine thanked Lent.

“Donna Lent has a long history of public service to the Town of Brookhaven, and she will be missed by all of us at Town Hall,” he said. “Her efforts to make the department run more efficiently helped to streamline public facing operations, making it easier for residents to conduct their business with her office. On behalf of the Town Board and all the residents of Brookhaven Town, I say thank you Donna for your many years of exemplary service as Brookhaven town clerk.”

Donna Lent leaves Town Hall for the last time as Brookhaven Town Clerk. Photo courtesy Donna Lent

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Please join the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce for our annual Santa Parade on Sunday, November 27, 2022

Parade starts at the Long Island Train Station on Main Street at 3:00 pm, goes down Main Street, makes a right onto East Broadway and finishes at the Port Jefferson Village Center-101A E. Broadway where Santa will be presented on the first floor for photo opportunities. Additionally photo ops with ‘Snow Princesses’ and enjoy the singing of “Sing 2 Music’ children’s Choir!

For more information Contact the Chamber Office at 631-473-1414 Or email: info@portjeffchamber.com (Canceled only if torrential downpours)

MCPL hosts “Scales and Tails” pet education and information fair

Over 600 community members attended the Scales and Tails Pet Education and Information Fair at Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Local rescue groups, shelters, and pet therapy programs showcased their adoptable pets, volunteer opportunities, and pet services.

LIBRARY NEWS

The library’s teen volunteer Mutt Club offered fun hands-on activities for children. Mutt Club members work on projects for local animal shelters and volunteer at the library to share their love of animals.

Right, a young pet fair attendee enjoyed a close encounter with a friendly bird at the Middle Country Public Library’s “Scales and Tails” Pet Education and Information Fair. Photo courtesy MCPL

Above, members of the Mutt Club facilitated crafts for children during the Nov. 5 event. Photo courtesy MCPL

Check in with each other, yourself before approaching holidays, local doctors urge

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

An important gift people can give each other this holiday season is a check-in call or visit.

HEALTH

That’s the advice of area mental health professionals, who say that the holidays in general can be stressful and that several factors, including grieving over the loss of family or friends, fear about ongoing health concerns, and uncertainty and overall anxiety, have created stressors to mental health.

“If you know someone is having a rough time, who will be without a loved one for the holidays, you can call and say, ‘I’m here,’” said Dr. Stacy Eagle, director of Psychiatry at Port Jefferson-based St. Charles Hospital. “Doing something that simple can be really helpful.”

Indeed, area mental health professionals said the health care system in general has been straining to meet the need for patients in a host of ages to provide timely services.

Signs

Dr. Adam Gonzalez, a licensed clinical psychologist, director of Behavioral Health at Stony Brook Medicine and founding director of the Stony Brook University Mind-Body Clinical Research Center at the Renaissance School of Medicine, suggested that people can look for signs among their friends, family members and coworkers.

“Be aware of behavioral and emotional changes like social withdrawal, increased alcohol or drug use, overeating/eating more unhealthy food, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, difficulty with getting work done” irritability and sadness, Gonzalez explained in an email.

Broadly speaking, Eagle added that people should be aware of any change in normal functioning. An extrovert who is acting withdrawn can provide a clue about a daily struggle.

Solutions

When people notice these kinds of changes in themselves or others, doctors urged a host of responses, depending on the severity of the symptom.

People who are an imminent danger to themselves or to others can call 988, which is a suicide and crisis hotline phone number. They can also call 911 or go to an emergency room, where a psychiatrist can evaluate them and offer help.

Cari Faith Besserman, director in the Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services with the Suffolk County Department of Health, said residents can take classes such as Mental Health First Aid, which teaches laypeople to increase their awareness by recognizing signs of emotional and mental distress, how to respond safely, and educates on symptoms of illness to decrease the stigma and mystery of mental health and various stages of wellness.

Suffolk County residents also can turn to

the Diagnostic Assessment and Stabilization Hub, also known as DASH, program, which provides 24/7 access to behavioral health professionals and provides somewhere to go for those experiencing a crisis. The DASH number is 631-952-3333.

For less severe but problematic or ongoing symptoms, doctors urged some restorative measures.

Eagle suggested getting proper rest, ensuring a sufficient and balanced diet and staying hydrated. Activities such as exercise, which helps increase the release of serotonin, can help reduce anxiety and improve mood.

She added that unplugging from social media, especially for adolescents and children, can improve overall mental health.

Gonzalez also urged those who are offering support to remain fully present and nonjudgmental, and listen actively when someone shares concerns or anxieties.

“Be sure to ask what they need from you,” Gonzalez urged. “For some, it may be just listening; for others, it may be advice/ feedback or helping to connect them to professional support services. It’s easy for many to slip into problem-solving mode; however, sometimes others just want to be heard and validated.”

Gonzalez added that group-based treatments are just as effective as individual therapy and

encouraged patients to try skills-based groups to learn coping methods for managing stress, anxiety and depression symptoms.

Stony Brook offers a COVID-19 support group for people who have or have had COVID, especially those with long COVID symptoms.

Stony Brook also offers a comprehensive mind-body treatment program called the Stress Management and Resilience Training program.

The SMART program is helpful for people who are managing co-occurring mental and physical health problems and for those who would like to enhance their overall resilience.

Overwhelming demand

On the whole, hospitals and mental health facilities are struggling to keep up with the need for help.

“Currently, the demand for psychotherapy services is overwhelming,” Gonzalez explained in an email.

Eagle added that the weeks leading up to the holidays have often been a stressful period.

This year, some groups in particular are struggling. Parents of children born in 2022 are especially concerned about respiratory syncytial virus, which is “higher than normal,” Eagle said.

Seasonal affective disorder, which occurs during the darker, colder winter months, also

affects about 0.5 to 3% of the population, Eagle said.

SAD can be harder for people if they have depression or anxiety, Eagle said. “These things are definitely an issue.”

Doctors added that those who are grieving over a loss can find the holidays difficult.

“Grief can be more of an issue” around the holidays, Eagle said.

Eagle urges the continuation of traditions that families found meaningful and helpful.

Gonzalez added that people can cope with grief by keeping a picture of a person who is no longer present close by, offering a prayer in their honor, sharing positive memories, or writing them a note.

Grieving families can also consider starting new traditions that may help them move forward with their lives, Eagle suggested.

Good news

Even amid all the concerns this year, doctors said people can appreciate some good news.

“Happily, we are out of the severe hospitalizations for COVID,” Eagle said.

Communities can also celebrate resilience “as individuals and as a country,” she added.

In hospitals, visitors are able to offer comfort and spend quality time with their friends and family, which is a considerable improvement from the days when patients couldn’t have visitors.

Eagle said she is following her own advice with her friends and family.

She will try to reach out to those she knows have had a particularly bad time this year to “make sure that they are aware that someone is thinking about them,” she said.

The holiday season can be a difficult time for many people, especially for those who lost a loved one recently. Stock photo

‘It’s easy for many to slip into problemsolving mode; however, sometimes others just want to be heard and validated.’

—Dr. Adam Gonzalez

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Three people wanted for damaging property in Port Jefferson Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Sixth Precinct Police Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify three juveniles who damaged property in the Village of Port Jefferson in July. Three males were walking on East Main Street when they ripped out plants from a planter box and then knocked over a different planter box causing damage, in front of 234 East Main Street, on July 4 at approximately 3 a.m. The police have recently released a video of the event which can be viewed online at www.tbrnewsmedia.com/police/.

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run

Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives are investigating a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian in Holbrook. A passing motorist called 911 at approximately 6:45 a.m. on Nov. 20 to report a body on the side of Veterans Memorial Highway at Grundy Avenue. Following an investigation, it was determined the man was crossing eastbound Veterans Memorial Highway when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. The man, Alan Lepre, 59, of Holbrook, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

Man arrested for making fake 911 calls

On Nov. 21, Suffolk County Police arrested a Coram man who made multiple false 911 calls over a two-year span. Andrew Welcom made a 911 call on Aug. 18, reporting a woman had been assaulted and any law enforcement officer that attempted to enter a Lake Ronkonkoma home to help her would be shot. Police responded to the location and found no one in the home was in danger and there were no problems at the house.

As a result of the incident, the Fourth Precinct Crime Section investigated similar incidents and located four additional 911 calls dating back to

November 2020 that could be traced to Welcom. The calls all reported a suspicious person or crime and all were determined to be unfounded. During at least one of the phone calls, Welcom identified himself as a New York City Police officer. Following an investigation, Welcom, 34, was arrested and charged with five counts of Falsely Reporting an Incident and two counts of Criminal Impersonation.

Woman arrested for leaving child in car

Suffolk County Police arrested a Huntington Station woman on Nov. 19 after she left her 4-year-old daughter unattended in a vehicle in cold weather. Second Precinct police officers responded to a 911 call regarding a child unattended, restrained in a safety seat in a vehicle in the parking lot of 711 East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station at approximately 6:45 p.m. The child was alone in the vehicle, a 2021 Toyota, and the engine was not running. Responding officers located the child’s mother, Maricela Avila, and the child was removed from the vehicle. The child was evaluated at the scene. Avila, 31, of Huntington Station, was arrested and charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

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.

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police:

Do you recognize these juveniles? Photo from SCPD — COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

Suffolk’s inaugural Solar Installer Certificate Program class sees ‘bright’ future

Suffolk County Community College’s Solar Installer Certificate Program recently graduated an inaugural class of 13 certified installers, including the father-and-son team of Gabriel and Nicholas Gomez.

The 50-hour Solar Installer Certificate Program is hands-on, taught by industry experts, and includes a paid externship with a local solar company. The program offers an

opportunity to earn an OSHA 10 certificate, a Fall Prevention Safety Certificate and a Suffolk County Community College Completion Certificate.

“Career-connected workforce programs are essential to the success of our local economy and will spur a new generation of upwardly mobile Suffolk County residents,” said Edward Bonahue, SCCC president.

“Together with industry partners, we continue to innovate new ways to deliver short-term, career-focused education that prepares students to be immediately ready to work.”

The course of study covered fall prevention safety, basic construction, and electric and solar technologies. Students built a mock roof and mounted solar panels using assorted industry racking systems.

Brookhaven Highway Department

Safety

Several students secured jobs in the solar industry immediately after completing the program, and several others are awaiting interviews.

The Solar Installer Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for its March 2023 class. For more information, visit: www.sunysuffolk.edu/about-suffolk/ sustainability/courses.jsp#tab-d16e3-2.

Pictured above, left to right, Christian Arevalo, Beverly Johnson, Christopher Duran, Andrew Lopez, DeShawn Little, Suffolk County Community College executive dean Donna Ciampa, Luke Shank, instructor Brian Karp (VP at SUNation), Demarcus Frazier, Suffolk County Community College assistant director of sustainability Melanie Morris-Carsch, Jokubas Balciunas, Gabriel Gomez, Nicolas Gomez, Jon -Tyler Glennon, and Kwani Opharrow. Photo courtesy SCCC

Hundreds plunge at Cedar Beach, support Special Olympics

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Hundreds of courageous community members plunged into the icy waters of Cedar Beach on Saturday, Nov. 19, during this year’s rendition of the Freezin’ for a Reason Polar Plunge.

The Town of Brookhaven puts this annual event together to raise money for the Special Olympics New York organization. Proceeds from the event support training for athletes, equipment, health supplies and attire.

Saturday’s event has raised over $128,000, according to the nonprofit’s website which proclaims that it “provides inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to discover and unleash the champion within.”

Hundreds of plungers from across the region participated in the plunge, with many more spectating warmly from afar. Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point), a perennial “plunger,” made the daring plunge again.

In an interview with Bonner, she was asked what motivates her to take the cold water dip year after year. Her response, jokingly: “We ask ourselves that every year,” she said.

Bonner, who took the plunge this year with Special Olympians Daniel and Joey, said she finds renewed joy and optimism through her involvement in the activities.

“When you meet all those Special Olympians

and interview them … it’s impossible not to get caught up in the adrenaline and momentum of supporting them and other athletes,” she said. “It’s about $400 to $500 per athlete per sport, and no family is ever charged,” adding, “These plunges … help out so many athletes and families.”

Plunging with Bonner was Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R). Before making his plunge, the district attorney expressed some apprehensions, joking, “Unlike Jane and the rest, I am a coward so I’m trying to figure out what brought me to this stage.”

Despite his self-professed reluctance, Tierney did take the plunge. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R), on the other hand, also made an appearance though avoiding the frigid waters.

During a speech, the town supervisor described the plunge as a meaningful sacrifice in serving the greater good. “At the end of the day, you may be a little cold, but this world is going to be a lot happier for what the people are going to do plunging today,” he said.

This year’s polar plunge brought together hundreds of athletes, students and community members who suffered in unity. Bonner said an event such as this makes the community a better place.

“Regardless of political affiliation, color, economic status — there’s no barrier,” the town councilwoman said. “We’re all doing this same thing for the same cause, and it’s hard not to feel good about it at the end of the day.”

— Photos by Raymond Janis

Below, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) exits the water.

Above, Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner and Special Olympians Daniel and Joey celebrate after their plunge.

Shoreham Girl Scout wins light show display contest

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County recently announced the Girl Scout Holiday Light Show Display Contest winners. Junior Girl Scout Ella Schlick, from Shoreham, has been selected as one of five winners of this year’s display contest.

The Girl Scout Holiday Light Show Display Contest is held annually ahead of the Girl Scout Annual Holiday Light Show, selecting five designs from Girl Scouts to be made into custom light displays.

“We are so excited for the winner’s designs to be brought to life during this year’s light show,” said Tammy Severino, CEO and president of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “With over 80 submissions, it was challenging to choose our winners, as we received so many amazing entries. We thank every Girl Scout who submitted their beautiful designs for this year’s contest.”

This year, the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County received over 80 submissions from individual girls and troops across Suffolk County. Each entry featured a handdrawn design of the applicant’s newly

conceptualized light display idea. The display contest winners will have their designs turned into a light display to be featured as part of “Girl Scout Way,” a special section of the show that features favorites like the Girl Scout Cookie display and the designs from past winners of the contest.

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County’s annual holiday light show is a drive-through show along a 1.5-mile trail at Smith Point County Park Campgrounds filled with dazzling holiday light displays curated by Girl Scouts, staff, and community members throughout Suffolk County. The event features more than 100 fun, artistic, holiday-themed displays.

The Girl Scout Holiday Light Show will be open daily from Saturday, Nov. 26, to Friday, Dec. 30, excluding Dec. 24 and 25, from 5 to 9 p.m. The Enchanted Forest will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18 and from Dec. 26 to Dec. 30.

For more information, visit www.gssclightshow.com.

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Junior Girl Scout Ella Schlick, of Shoreham, created a winning display in this year’s Girl Scout Holiday Light Show Display Contest, shown above. Photo courtesy ZE Creative Communications

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Editorial

Think big, shop small

After tackling the Black Friday frenzy at local malls and major department stores, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is set aside for our small businesses.

For over a decade, holiday shoppers have taken part in Small Business Saturday, an initiative created by American Express and the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation in the midst of a recession.

The annual event is an excellent opportunity to patronize mom-and-pop stores in our towns and villages. Many of these places provide personal services that consumers can’t find at larger retailers or by shopping online, such as exceptional customer service and wrapping gifts.

When shoppers support a neighborhood store, they are also helping the surrounding community. Many small business owners sponsor local sports teams or events. Those same owners also pay sales taxes to local municipalities, involving dollars going back into nearby public schools, parks, roads and so much more.

The multiplier effect of small businesses creates more jobs in our communities, too. With many mom-and-pops suffering from the aftereffects of pandemic shutdowns, shoppers at local businesses play a part in keeping small brick-and-mortar stores open and people employed.

We know with lingering COVID-19 concerns, it can be overwhelming for some to step into a store sometimes. Many have become accustomed to ordering online, but if you can’t get out or don’t want to, many local businesses have websites or social media pages where buyers can purchase goods online.

There are also quiet weekdays to stop by a local store and check out their unique items. Shopping small doesn’t have to be restricted to one day out of the year.

After a long day of shopping, remember small businesses aren’t limited to clothing or gift stores, either. Get a bite to eat or a drink at a restaurant or bar in town. Buy a gift certificate to your favorite Friday night spot for a friend or family member. Or maybe someone waiting at home would appreciate flowers from the local florist. Have a loved one who loves yoga, dancing or self-defense classes? Many schools and gyms offer gift certificates, and it’s an easy way for people to try out a business before committing to it.

Most of all, frequenting small businesses creates a stronger sense of community. The last few years have been difficult for many, and the support of others, especially neighbors, can make a huge difference in someone’s life and livelihood.

It is time that we think about the big picture. If we fail to support our local small businesses, then we will soon be left with vacant storefronts. Blighted downtowns can affect property values and diminish the quality and character of our community.

This Saturday, remember to patronize your local mom-andpops. It may seem like a small gesture, but it can make a big difference for our community.

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

New York’s destructive elected leadership

I want to reflect on the New York State governor’s election. Did any Democrat or any other voter stop and actually think about what Gov. Kathy Hochul [D] actually did for our state? Let me list what she has done to our state.

We have the highest crime rates in our subways, city streets and the state. Looting of stores, releasing of criminals with no bail, and prosecutors and district attorneys refusing to charge criminals. Her gun laws affect only law-abiding citizens. Do you think the criminals are going to stop having guns?

Hochul authorized vaccine mandates, firing police, firemen and nurses, as well as defunding police — also illegal immigrants, some of them criminals, being accepted into our (sanctuary) state. We have the highest taxes, highest gas, heating, oil and food. Teachers teaching sex, racism, boys can be girls and girls can be boys, the list goes on.

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin [R-NY1] ran for governor actually trying to save our state. But we live in a Democratic state where voters elect people recognizant of their accomplishments and only vote their party affiliations.

Voters reelected U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer [DNY], who threatened violence against a Supreme Court justice. I guess the voters are OK living in the condition of our state.

Richard Esopa Miller Place

Shop local this holiday season

In these difficult economic times, as a result of inflation, it is especially important to patronize your neighborhood businesses. Do it not only on annual Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, but every day of the year.

Small independent businesses are at the mercy of suppliers, especially third-party brokers who control the price they have to pay for merchandise.

I don’t mind occasionally paying a little more to help our local stores survive. The employees go out of their way to help find what I need. Customer service is their motto.

As independent mom-and-pop stores, they don’t have the bulk-buying purchasing power that Amazon or other large national chain stores have.

The owners can’t negotiate lower prices from suppliers. This is why they sometimes charge a little more.

It is worth the price to avoid the crowds and long lines at larger stores in exchange for the convenience and friendly service your neighborhood community store offers.

Remember these people are our neighbors. They continue to work long hours, pay taxes and keep as many staff employed as possible. Many maintain the tradition of offering job opportunities to students during the holidays and summer.

Customers also patronize other commercial establishments on the

block. Foot traffic is essential for the survival of any neighborhood commercial district. If we don’t patronize our local community stores and restaurants to shop and eat, they don’t eat either. This helps keep our neighbors employed and the local economy growing.

The owners of independent momand-pop stores are the backbone of our neighborhood commercial districts. Show your support by making a purchase.

Larry Penner Great Neck

Cartoon by Kyle Horne @kylehorneart kylehorneart.com

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

Investigative suggestions for future Republican house committees

Yes! Republicans have retaken the house. Now, we can really get down to some important, democracy building and unifying investigations. Undoubtedly, these investigations will get to the bottom of some important political questions that people absolutely want answered.

done in two years — with the important questions, I have ideas for investigations that I’d like to lob in as well. They range from the obvious, to the quirky to the frivolous, but, I figured I might as well make my suggestions now.

poised to tear off his jersey many years ago against the Yankees? Is it safe for purist baseball fans to root for him again? Will he be eligible for the Hall of Fame someday?

D. None of the above

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

Hunter Biden is and will be a prime target. How can he not be? If you look at some of the pictures of him that newspapers have found, he looks guilty, and that should be more than enough.

Besides, who doesn’t like a few insightful, incisive and critical First Family questions?

Once they finish — assuming they can get it

I’m going to write it here because you know it’s inevitable. Hillary Clinton. She might be a private citizen now, and she might have run for office six years ago, but she’s got to be responsible for something. Maybe she knocked the nose off the sphinx. Or maybe she tilted the Tower of Pisa. Come on, she’s got to have done something wrong.

I’d like to know why my email fills with stuff I talk about, but don’t type into my computer. Is someone listening? My wife and I might discuss a trip to Bora Bora and then, the next morning, I find an invitation to visit. Is someone listening all the time?

Jose Altuve. The Houston Astros star second baseman, whom baseball fans in other stadiums, particularly Yankee Stadium, love to hate, still seems to be operating under a cloud of suspicion. Did he cheat? Did he have a tattoo that he didn’t want anyone to see when his teammates seemed

Open Water. Did you see the movie? It was incredibly popular. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but, well, I’m going to do it anyway. These two people suffer through endless torment and fear after their boat leaves them behind while they are scuba diving. It’s not a feel good movie. Injured, cold and miserable, they try to fight off sharks — guess who wins that one? Afterward, I overheard someone say, “seriously? I watched those people for two hours for that?”

Jan. 6th. There’s likely to be a committee investigating the committee investigating the riots. Fine. But wouldn’t it throw Democrats, Republicans and conspiracy theorists for a loop if another committee then investigated the committee that investigated the original committee? It’d be like seeing images several times in a combination of mirrors.

Tom Brady. Okay, I know he’s not having

his usual spectacular world-beating season, but the guy is 45 and strong, muscular, athletic 20-year-olds are putting everything they have into throwing him to the ground. How is he still functioning? He’s not playing golf. Did someone replace him with a robot? Has he discovered some magical diet or fountain of youth that makes it possible to compete at such a high level when he’s at such an advanced age? I throw a ball with my son, and it takes me a week for my arm to recover. The world needs to hear his secrets.

Socks. I’m not particular about my socks. White ones that go above my ankle are fine. Most of the time, I buy socks that look like the ones I already own, which makes matching them pretty easy. And yet, somehow, I wind up with an odd sock more often than not. Where is that missing sock? Is someone stealing socks from driers?

Asparagus. I kind of like the taste, but I’d prefer that my pee didn’t smell later. Can’t someone do something about it? It’s the only vegetable that has that effect. Let’s figure out a better-smelling asparagus.

The success of our family Thanksgiving this year hinges on new pies

Here comes my favorite weekend of the year: Thanksgiving. It starts on a Thursday, as all good weekends should. We, the Dunaief Clan, have managed to extend it into three, even four days. We deserve no less. Like many American families, our immediate members are stretched across the entire continent, from the California coast to the middle of Suffolk County on Long Island, and from below the Mason-Dixon Line and the Florida Peninsula to the Gulf of Mexico. They need that much time just to get to Grandma’s house and back.

LEAH S. DUNAIEF

What’s waiting for them when they arrive? Food! All kinds of favorite foods. And love. Lots of love that bridges

three generations with mighty hugs. Why, it even takes a good part of that long weekend before all the members of the family finish hugging each other, at which point we sit down to eat. We get back up some hours later, only to regroup for the next meal. We know we are among the fortunate in that regard and give thanks.

Food means so many different things. There are the traditional historic dishes that symbolize the meal eaten by the Pilgrims. But we have added so much more to the basics. And each person has a favorite that tickles them when they look at the offerings on the laden table and know it was prepared especially for them. Food is love, and special foods carry that message.

It still amazes me to be surrounded by the many members of my tribe. Almost 60 years ago, before I was married, there was just me. Then, three months later, there were the two of us, my husband and I. Now there are children and children-in-law, and their children and eventually, their children-in-law. Together we populate the dining room and fill the house with chatter and laughter.

One of the high points of the weekend follows Thanksgiving dinner, when we are still sitting around the table, digesting sufficiently until we can have dessert, and we tell each other what we are most thankful for that occurred in the past year. In that way, I get to catch up on some of the events in my loved ones’ lives, and they on mine.

Speaking of dessert, the pumpkin pies will be an issue this year. For all the Thanksgivings we have celebrated here, 53 to be exact, we have enjoyed the classic finale from Good Steer. Their pies pleased all our taste buds, from my children to my parents, who would join us from the city during those early years. Alas, the Good Steer on Middle Country Road is no more, the family having closed the business.

So, faced with this significant void, I have done some research and have come up with replacements. Whether they will be acceptable remains a sensitive question. I’ve had a number of friends offer suggestions, and I thank them kindly because they understand how important it is to find an alternative source. After all, no

two differently-made pumpkin pies taste the same. The result here hangs in the balance until Thursday eve. Keep your fingers crossed for me, as my reputation as the Best Thanksgiving Grandma depends on this important outcome.

Actually I have a monopoly on the title. Thanksgiving is always celebrated at our house. My in-law children know and accept that arrangement because I trade Thanksgiving for Christmas. That seems to work for everyone in the family.

This year, we have a special event to celebrate. My oldest grandson has asked the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with to marry him, and she has accepted. We will welcome her enthusiastically, and I will give thanks for the blessing of seeing our family continue to grow.

Wishing you all, Dear Readers, a Happy Thanksgiving with the foods you enjoy and the people you love, whether they be relatives or close friends or perhaps those you recently met and have chosen to share this celebratory meal.

On this day, we are reminded that we are all Americans together.