The Port Times Record - February 2, 2023

Photo courtesy Greg Catalano

Photo courtesy Kathianne Snaden

Photo courtesy Greg Catalano

Photo courtesy Greg Catalano

Photo by Raymond Janis

Photo by Raymond Janis

Photo by Raymond Janis

Photo by Raymond Janis

Photo by Raymond Janis

Photo by Raymond Janis

Photo by Raymond Janis

Photo by Raymond Janis

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Discord takes root amid PJS/T civic transition

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

local decision-making.

“Unfortunately, the electeds have just a handful of groups that they can tap into to try to get a feel” of the public will, Nickeson said. “This civic association is small, but it’s the go-to place for a lot of the electeds.”

COMSEWOGUE

The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association is working through an executive transition process that has sparked criticism within the organization.

During an October general meeting, PJSTCA president Ed Garboski and vice president Sal Pitti announced they had each sold their homes. This announcement prompted internal discussion about transitioning the two highest posts.

Under PJSTCA bylaws, Garboski and Pitti were no longer members in good standing. In the same meeting, the body passed a resolution allowing Garboski and Pitti to stay on until the end of 2023.

With talks of transition underway, some members are butting heads with leaders and a clash of organizational vision has ensued. [See story, “PJS/T civic association announces big changes for community and civic,” The Port Times Record, Jan. 26, also TBR News Media website.]

Representing local interests

PJSTCA represents the residents of the 11776 zip code and Comsewogue School District. The civic coordinates frequently with various community and governmental entities.

Garboski regarded serving as president to be a serious time commitment. “People don’t realize the amount of time you put into this and the sacrifice you put into this,” he said. “It’s a lot of work.”

Pitti maintained that holding executive office requires a degree of tact and an ability to give and take throughout negotiations. “If your opinion is set before you enter any kind of negotiation or discussion ... it’s a dead-end road,” he said. “Government officials are going to shut down. They’re not going to want to deal with you.”

Raising the stakes even higher, civic member Ira Costell described the numerous ongoing changes within the hamlet. “We in Port Jeff Station are facing a significant accumulation of development pressures that really are going to dictate the future face of our community,” he said, regarding the civic’s leaders as having “some significant opportunities to shape the face of our area.”

Joan Nickeson, a Terryville resident who has recently rejoined the civic and is involved in several other groups throughout the community, discussed the role the civic association plays in

Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook), who represents Port Jeff Station/Terryville on the Town Board, supported this claim and indicated that his office coordinates closely with the civic.

“People from that civic association are people who know, collectively, every street, every store, every need of the community, as well as every challenge that they face,” Kornreich said. “In order for me to make land use decisions, I need to be able to consult with them closely and frequently, which I do.”

Gradual vs. swift succession

Two competing approaches have emerged amid the coming changes to the executive board and greater community. On the one hand, some seek urgency to allow for continuity of operation following Garboski and Pitti’s departures. On the other hand, the current leaders favor a gradual approach to give time to train their successors.

Garboski and Pitti’s original plan was one of incremental transition. They preferred holding a special election in the summer, allowing the incoming leaders to shadow them and gain relevant experience on the job.

“What I had called for originally was that we would have a special election around July or August so that we could get people that are interested,” Garboski said. “Those people, we would take under our wing and bring them up to speed on everything that’s going on.”

Pitti suggested this slower transition process could enable the incumbents to show the newcomers the ropes, instructing them on the delicate art of back-and-forth local deliberations.

Affirming the time it takes to learn these strategies, he suggested a rush to replace the current officers could be detrimental to the organization in the long run.

“Hopefully, if we have some members that are interested, we could slowly transition them into the position,” he said. “A lot of the things we do take time. But we manage to come to a compromise in that time that makes the majority of people happy.”

While Garboski and Pitti expressed willingness to stay on the executive board, Costell challenged

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association vice president Sal Pitti (left) and president Ed Garboski are set to step down before the end this year. File photo by Raymond Janis

whether this was the right course of action. With neither the president nor vice president in good standing, according to the bylaws, “it just didn’t seem a viable way to proceed,” Costell said.

He instead favored speeding up the process, which he said could generate interest in serving and incentivize possible successors to announce their candidacies sooner. “I just figured let’s start the ball rolling with this nominating process and see if anybody comes forward,” he said.

A nominating committee

The bylaws empower the president to appoint three to five members to serve on a nominating committee for executive board elections. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the members voted to create a nominating committee, with prospective officers to be announced at the next meeting.

As Garboski organizes the nominating committee, Pitti offered that he hopes to see some candidates step forward who understand the stakes and are sensitive to the responsibilities of the position.

“I’m hoping we get somebody that’s looking to do the job and do it correctly,” he said. “That all comes down to who the membership votes for.”

The committee’s composition and the timeframe for a special election are still to be decided, according to Garboski. However, no member has declared his or her candidacy to date.

“Nobody’s saying they want the job, but they’re saying they want an election,” the civic president said. “Let’s see who gets nominated.”

Parting of the ways

Costell stated that his objections to Garboski and Pitti’s proposed transition are grounded in principles rather than personal considerations.

“I’m a stickler for principles above personality,” he said. “This has got nothing to do with Ed and Sal individually. They’re both fine gentlemen who have given good service to the community.”

But, he added, “It’s my belief that the principle is that we need to be represented by those members of the community who are likely to be ongoing and consistently present in the community and who can shepherd these projects through in the long term.”

Kornreich also complimented the outgoing leaders on their time serving the community. “I think that Sal and Ed’s leadership style has always been very inclusive,” he said.

Both Garboski and Pitti acknowledged the considerable efforts that go into representing the civic on the executive board. Given the time constraints, Garboski offered that his successor would have a tall task ahead.

“I said we would have a special election, that I said in October when we announced all of this,” Garboski said. “But if they want to have a regular election and get us out sooner, that’s fine.”

He reiterated, “I think we should have waited and had a special election later in the year, so we have time to get some good candidates for the job.”

Even so, Pitti expressed his desire to see the civic and community head along the right course.

“Am I a little discouraged that it’s ending like this?” he said. “Yes, because I thought we built a better camaraderie within the civic,” adding, “I just hope the community continues to move forward. As long as it’s moving in a positive direction, I’ll be happy.”

Port Jefferson School District

Port Jefferson’s Science Olympiad success

Teams across the region competed in the Eastern Long Island Regional Competition on Jan. 28, at Hauppauge High School.

The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad A team placed fifth out of 53 teams. Port Jefferson also had a B and C team compete. There were 21 STEM events and the top 10 teams in each event earned a medal.

The state competition will be held on March 17-18 at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. Eight teams will represent Eastern Long Island at the New York State competition. Other teams competing besides Port Jefferson are Bay Shore, Bayport-Blue Point, Half Hollow Hills East, Hauppauge, The Stony Brook School, Ward Melville and West Babylon.

Comsewogue School District

Work-based learning at Comsewogue HS

BY CAMILA PEREZ SOLIS DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Comsewogue High School’s Life Skills class students were given the opportunity to work at the local Chick-fil-A in Port Jefferson Station, putting their learning into practice.

This weekly event was made possible by several donations from companies across the Comsewogue community and support from administration and staff.

Michael Mosca, CHS principal, reacted to the unique educational endeavor. “This incredible work experience is a product of the incredible vision of our Life Skills teacher, Katy Dornicik, and our School to Career Partnership that is spearheaded by Mr. Ketterer, Mr. Joudeh and the rest of the business department,” he said.

Mosca added, “Stan, from our local Chick-fil-A, has been a

tremendous supporter of our Work Based Learning initiative.”

The principal also mentioned that this initiative is just the beginning, with plans in the works to build upon this experience and develop the program even further. “Each year, we plan to add more opportunities for all of our students through our growing community partnerships,” Mosca said.

During these visits, students put together salad kits, cleaned tables and windows, and restocked shelves. They are excited to implement the skills that they have learned in Dornicik’s classroom into the real world.

Camila Perez Solis is a foreign-exchange student from Ecuador and a junior at Comsewogue High School.

Coaches were high school science teachers Amanda Perovich and Melissa Garcia.

“I am so happy we were back to a fully inperson Science Olympiad competition this year, and I am exceptionally proud of these students,” Perovich said. “Their interest, hard work and dedication to science and STEM events really shows in their results.”

Port Jefferson School District’s Science Olympiad students. Photo courtesy PJSD

Comsewogue students recently worked at the local Chick-fil-A in Port Jeff Station as part of their Life Skills curriculum. Photo courtesy Andrew Harris

Thrills and chills in Port Jeff during annual ice fest

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Despite the chiseled blocks of ice stationed around the village, downtown Port Jefferson was red hot last weekend during the 4th annual Port Jefferson Ice Festival, hosted by the village’s Business Improvement District.

This two-day celebration took place on Jan. 28 and 29, bringing together several local institutions, dozens of small businesses and a whole lot of ice. Roger Rutherford, Port Jefferson BID president and general manager of Roger’s Frigate, summarized the boost the festival brought to storefronts.

“This is the slowest time of the year for the business community,” he said. “This is our fourth annual, and it has really taken off and turned into something spectacular.”

Making the festivities possible required significant organizational collaboration between the BID and its partners. The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce assisted by facilitating a mac ’n’ cheese crawl.

With 12 participating restaurants, the crawl offered festivalgoers a chance to taste various cuisines from food establishments

around the village.

“This is the second year they asked us to be the administrators for the mac ’n’ cheese crawl,” said chamber executive director Barbara Ransome. “They go to 12 places. It’s four ounces of mac ’n’ cheese [per stop], so you’re talking three pounds [in all].” She added, “It’s a lot of mac ’n’ cheese.”

Thousands flocked to the village to partake in the fun, including trustee Stan Loucks who projected the weekend as one of the highest local turnouts on record.

“I have never seen so many people in our village,” he said. “The merchants were extremely happy with the crowd. They did very well this weekend, and I think it was terrific to see that many people walking around our village.”

James Luciano, owner of PJ Lobster House, reacted to the festival’s success in stimulating small businesses. “This festival brings in a lot of business for us,” he said. “This time of year, you’re lucky to get a couple of tables for lunch and a couple of bar customers.” But, he added, “We’ve been full since we opened the door.”

Meltdown

The sizable show gave much-needed relief to storefront owners still recovering from the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost

three years ago, the world and nation were shocked by the outbreak of the pandemic, leaving downtowns such as Port Jeff’s in disarray.

Indu Kaur is the owner of the Curry Club at SāGhar in Port Jefferson, an establishment that opened in February 2020, just weeks before the lockdowns.

“We took over the business and had no idea that we were going to be shut down,” Kaur said, describing the impact of the pandemic on her business as “a huge tragedy.”

In the face of hardship, Kaur and her staff continued operations by donating meals, then reopened in the fall of that year. With a historic turnout villagewide, Kaur regarded the resurgence of the downtown businesses with delight.

“It’s so exciting to see everyone walking around, enjoying our village, enjoying the new restaurants, the new shows and our ice sculptures,” she said.

Outside Kaur’s restaurant lay a decorative ice sculpture depicting Ganesha, a Hindu deity tying into the theme of local renaissance. “Lord Ganesha is the statue that we all have faith brings prosperity, happiness and peace,” she said.

Icebreaker

Ganesha was just one of a few dozen ice sculptures displayed throughout the village. Many visitors stood and posed with the ice, which was often interactive. Some sculptures depicted animals, others tied in with the businesses for which they were custom made.

Rich Daly, president and owner of Ice Memories, has created sculptures during each of the festival’s four iterations. He discussed the considerable effort and material that made it all possible.

“We do live carvings and have about 90,000 pounds worth of ice set up throughout town,” supplied by Riverhead-based Long Island Ice, Daly said. “Every year, we add more ice and more activities for everybody to do.”

Daly got interested in ice sculpting during culinary school, where he first received an ice carving assignment. “Once they put a chainsaw in my hands, I just never let it go,” he said.

Given how a sculpture shapeshifts and reforms during the different melting stages, the temporality

ICE FEST CONTINUED ON A5

‘The businesses were thriving, the restaurants were full.’

— KATHIANNE SNADEN

Photo courtesy Greg Catalano

Photo courtesy Kathianne Snaden

Photo by Raymond Janis

Photo courtesy Greg Catalano

Photo by Raymond Janis

As vehicle thefts surge, Suffolk police detective warns against leaving key fobs in cars

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The Suffolk County Police Department has observed a recent uptick in stolen vehicles and now urges residents to take precautions.

Detective Richard Marra of SCPD offered a brief history of the crime phenomenon in a phone interview. While vehicle theft cases have been recurrent, the detective noted that the crime is relatively preventable.

“Ninety percent of the cars that are stolen are probably stolen because [drivers] leave the key fobs in the car,” he said.

Marra said the police department first noticed the trend about three years ago when an organized out-of-state group started targeting luxury models.

“We had a group of guys coming out of New Jersey, mostly from Newark, and they would go to the more affluent neighborhoods,” he said. “They’d come in a van, walk down the street and look for any kind of foreign car.”

Thieves often sought out vehicles with the mirrors folded open. This, Marra said, was an indicator that the vehicle was unlocked.

If the key fob was left inside, they would easily steal the vehicle. If not, they may rummage through it for hidden valuables.

“Three years ago, it was crazy,” Marra said. “It slowed down a little bit in the last eight

Ice Fest

Continued from A4

and mutability of the ice medium offer both challenge and opportunity for creative expression.

“It’s a temporary art form, which makes it unique,” Daly said. “Especially on a day like today or a weekend like this, Mother Nature just doesn’t want the ice to be around,” adding, “As it melts, it just kind of changes and transforms, and it’s pretty cool.”

Daly said the process is relatively straightforward for those interested in carving ice. Blocks of ice, he said, can be acquired at most ice plants on Long Island. “It doesn’t take a crazy amount of money to buy tools,” he said. “Just have at it. Start [carving] whatever inspires you.”

Tip of the iceberg

Spring-like temperatures and melting points played a prominent role throughout the festival, with some environmentalists ringing the alarm about the threat of climate change.

Posted along Main, a small group of protesters lined the sidewalks with signs that read: “There is no planet ‘B’” and “Be nice, save the ice.” Holly Fils-Aime, president of the local environmental group EcoLeague, discussed how the melting sculptures signal a dangerous trend.

“The fact that these sculptures didn’t last the day because it’s so warm out here in January is a great teaching device,” Fils-Aime said.

months, but we still have a lot of thefts of cars because the key fobs are left in the car.”

The SCPD detective said that the New Jersey bunch often resold their stolen cars on the secondary market. In a highly coordinated manner, they would steal the cars, drive to New Jersey, remove any GPS trackers and then prepare them for international shipment.

Picketing alongside Fils-Aime was village resident Myrna Gordon, who stressed the importance of local government in identifying environmental problems and implementing science-based solutions.

“In my own village here in Port Jefferson, I think that a lot more has to be done with environmental issues,” she said. “Having an ice festival is wonderful — bringing people to the village, helping the businesses. But we also need to focus on very, very serious issues that are happening here.”

Frozen in time

Through the ice fest, scores of people interacted with the various facets of the community. While there wasn’t an ice sculpture outside the Bayles Boat Shop, boat builders continued their work on the Resolution whaleboat project.

“We’re in the finalizing stages of lofting,” said John Janicek, treasurer of the boat shop. After that, the buildout of the keel and stem can commence.

As the whaleboat enters a pivotal moment in its buildout process, the village is undergoing a transition of its own, moving into the postpandemic era. With downtown thriving once again, Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden gave her thoughts on these positive developments.

“It was incredible to see so many people enjoy the village this time of year,” she said. “The businesses were thriving, the restaurants were full. There were shoppers and diners, and it was great to see the comeback.”

“When they had a container ready, they put them on the container, and it was usually going to South Africa,” Marra said.

While the group from New Jersey had targeted luxury models, some vehicle thieves are less interested in the car’s resale value than its utility.

Marra said some would use the vehicle to temporarily transport drugs or steal catalytic

converters, then discard it. While victims of this variety of theft often retrieved their stolen cars, its condition could be irreversibly impaired.

“The ones that are taking just any car — anything that happens to be left with the fob in it — may drive it around for a day or two and then leave it somewhere,” he said. “Sometimes it’s destroyed, sometimes it’s not, but most of the time it’s not in the shape you left it in.”

The spike in vehicle theft follows another auto theft crime that has hit the county, the theft of catalytic converters. [See story, “Catalytic converter theft on the rise in Suffolk County,” TBR News Media website, Feb. 26, 2022.]

Marra indicated that catalytic converter theft has fallen off substantially in recent months due primarily to coordinated arrests conducted with the federal government.

For residents to protect themselves from vehicle theft, he said there is a simple solution — taking their fobs with them as they exit their cars.

“If people would take their key fobs with them and never leave them in the car, I’d say 90 to 95% of the car thefts would go down,” the detective said. “You just have to keep your keys in your pocket instead of leaving them in the console or the glove compartment.”

He added, “I know it’s nice to just jump in and drive away — but then everybody could jump in and drive away.”

2023-2024

Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Registration

The Port Je erson Union Free School District will open registration for the 20232024 Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The Elementary School Registration Packet can be found under the Central Registration tab, under District, on the district website, www.portje schools.org. Registration packets can be dropped o during school hours, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School or to the District O ce. Only packets that are complete will be accepted. Registration packets must be received by 3  p.m. on Friday, March 3.

The Pre-Kindergarten Program will be a full-day program located in the Elementary School. A lottery will be implemented if necessary for the Pre-Kindergarten Program. Noti cation of acceptance will be via email.  Please be aware that transportation is not provided for prekindergarten students.

To be eligible for prekindergarten and kindergarten, children must  be 4 and 5 years old, respectively, on or before Dec. 1, 2023, and  a resident within the boundaries of the Port Je erson School  District.

Please call 631-791-4323 for more information or to request a registration packet for pickup.

Pixabay photo

January brought welcome relief from persistent viral infections in county

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

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

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

HEALTH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New COVID vaccine approach

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

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

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

Health care professionals welcomed this approach.

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

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

Bivalent booster concern

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

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

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

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police: Pedestrian killed in Rocky Point

Suffolk County Police Seventh Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian in Rocky Point on Jan. 30. Thomas O’Brien was driving a 2018 Subaru Forrester eastbound on Route 25A, east of Rocky Point Road, when his vehicle struck a pedestrian who was crossing the road on Jan. 30 at 9:30 p.m. The pedestrian, Sharif Murray, 21, of Rocky Point, was pronounced dead at the scene. O’Brien, 75, and his wife, Mildred O’Brien, 75, of Shoreham, were not injured.

Selden woman convicted of stealing

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Jan. 27 that Leslie Mroz, 39, of Selden, was sentenced to two to six years in prison for allegedly embezzling more than $340,000 from her employer over the course of approximately three years.

“This defendant wasted no time abusing the trust that her employer placed in her by stealing from her employer,” said District Attorney Tierney. “She will now face justice and serve prison time for her greed.”

An investigation conducted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County Police Department revealed that from February 2016 to February 2019, Mroz was employed by a Medford company where she handled payroll as part of her responsibilities as the Human Resources manager. The position gave her the ability to manipulate her salary and the benefits she received. At the time her theft was discovered, Mroz was paying herself more than double the salary that her employer had authorized.

A review of company records also revealed that Mroz was also making unauthorized contributions to her retirement fund and health insurance.

The owner of the small family-run Medford business where Mroz worked, who asked not to be named for privacy concerns, stated that Mroz’s theft of over $340,000 had the potential to ruin her company. However, she said what hurt her the most was that

Wanted for public lewdness

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly exposed himself and committed a lewd act at a Lake Grove store. A man allegedly exposed himself and committed a lewd act in front of a female in the cafe located in Barnes and Noble at the Smith Haven Mall on December 9 at approximately 4:35 p.m.

Mroz was considered a trusted employee and had been accepted as part of her family. Mroz pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degreein October. She was sentenced on Jan. 23 to two to six years in prison.

Man arrested for bank robbery

Suffolk County Police arrested a Middle Island man who allegedly robbed a Centereach bank on Jan. 31. Ralph William Dominguez entered M&T Bank, located at 1919 Middle Country Road, and allegedly handed a note demanding cash to a bank teller. The employee complied and Dominguez fled on foot at approximately 3:20 p.m.

Approximately 25 minutes later, a man matching his description was located by Sixth Precinct patrol officers in the parking lot of 7-Eleven at 1740 Middle Country Road, Centereach. He was taken into custody and charged with Robbery 3rd Degree, a felony.

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.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Do you recognize this man?

Photo from SCPD

Leslie Mroz

Comsewogue’s Mangialino in the hunt for 100 wins

BY BILL LANDON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Comsewogue sophomore Mason Mangialino pinned his Bayport opponent in a multi-team invitational Saturday, Jan. 28, at Comsewogue High School. This win notches Mangialino’s 97th win for the Warriors as the sophomore strives for

the 100-win milestone early in his varsity career. The Warriors retake the mat on Saturday, Feb. 4, in the League V championships at Rocky Point High School. The first bout is slated for 9 a.m..

SPORTS

Pictured above, Comsewogue sophomore Mason Mangialino pins his Bayport opponent in a multi-team invitational on Jan 28.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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23,2023at10:30AM,

premisesknownas5HEMLOCKROAD,MOUNTSINAI,

Section:211.00,Block: ofNewYork,District:0200, CountyofSuffolkandState theTownofBrookhaven, situate,lyingandbeingin improvementserected, withthebuildingsand plotpieceorparcelofland, NY11766.Allthatcertain

provisionsoffiledJudgment willbesoldsubjectto interestandcosts.Premises judgment$598,156.25plus Approximateamountof 01.00,Lot:048.000.

Index#605079/2016.The

aforementionedauctionwill

COVID-19Protocolslocated withtheSUFFOLKCounty beconductedinaccordance

ontheOfficeofCourt

Administration(OCA)website(https://ww2.nycourts. gov/Admin/oca.shtml)and

assuchallpersonsmust

complywithsocialdistancing,wearingmasksand

atthetimeofthisforeclosuresale.Annette

1400OldCountryRoad, Fein,Such&Crane,LLP Eaderesto,Esq.,Referee

Suite103NWestbury,NY

11590SPSNY43074745

1254201/264xptr

LegalNotice

TentativeAssessmentRoll/ NoticeofGrievanceDay

Pleasetakenoticethatthe

Inc.VillageofPortJefferson,pursuanttoRPTL

Sec.1406,theassessorof

ofFebruaryandthatonthat 2023untilthethirdTuesday hoursfromFebruary1, anypersonduringbusiness whereitmaybereviewedby filedwiththeclerk’soffice roll,andacopyhasbeen thetentativeassessment theVillagehascompleted

datetheBoardofAssessmentReviewwillmeetto

hearcomplaintsinrelation

toassessmentfrom3:00

PMto7:00PMprevailing

timeatPortJeffersonVillageHall,121West

Broadway,PortJefferson,

NY.

BarbaraSakovich

VillageClerk

1256101/262xptr

NOTICEOFRESOLUTION

PERMISSIVEREFERENDUM SUBJECTTO

NOTICEISHEREBYGIVEN

JeffersonFireDistrictata CommissionersofthePort thattheBoardofFire

resolution: adoptedthefollowing January11,2023duly regularmeetingthereofheld

ofNewYorkthatthePort totheTownLawoftheState BEITRESOLVEDpursuant

JeffersonFireDistrictexpendfromtheApparatus

ReserveFundforthepurchaseofanewfourwheel

andbeitfurther nottoexceed$85,000.00 driveutilityvehicle,asum

saidpurchase,togetherwith RESOLVEDthatthecostof

anyincidentalcosts,includingpublishing,contracts,

beitfurther fund,presentlyexisting,and outoftheApparatusreserve equipment,etc.tobepaid

RESOLVED,thatthe

resolutionisadoptedsubjecttopermissivereferendumasprovidedinthe

beitfurther theStateofNewYorkand GeneralMunicipalLawof

RESOLVED,thatthesecretaryoftheFireDistrict,

resolution,publishanotice oftheadoptionofthis withinten(10)workingdays

withintheTimes-BeaconRecordNewspapersetting

thereofandthatthe thepurposeandeffect resolutionconciselystating andanabstractofthe adoptionoftheresolution forththedateofthe

resolutionwasadoptedsubjecttoapermissivereferendum.

Dated:January11,2023

BYORDEROFTHEBOARD

OFFIRECOMMISSIONERS

OFTHEPORTJEFFERSON

FIREDISTRICT

BarbaraCassidy

Secretary

1260302/21xptr

TOWNOFBROOKHAVEN

SUFFOLKCOUNTY,NY

NOTICETOBIDDERS

TownOfficeComplex,One locatedattheBrookhaven BrookhavenTownHallLobby aloudintheTownof publiclyopenedandread Bidswillbereceivedand

IndependenceHill,Farmingville,NewYork,11738,3rd

indicatedat11:00am: projectonthedateas Floor,forthefollowing

BID#23010

MARTHAAVENUE

BALLFIELD

IMPROVEMENTS

BIDDUEDATE:

FEBRUARY28,2023

Specificationsfortheabovereferencedbidwillbe

2,2023. availablebeginningFebruary

PreferredMethod

- Accesswebsite:Municipal

linkforBids. (brookhavenny.gov):clickon Market|Brookhaven,NY

- Followdirectionstoregisteranddownloaddocument.

- Questionsmustbesubmittedinwritingtothe

followinge-mail:

PurchasingGroup@ brookhavenny.gov

Thisprojectisbeingsupported,inwholeorinpart,

U.S.Departmentofthe TownofBrookhavenbythe SLRFP1985awardedtothe byfederalawardnumber

Treasury.

TheTownofBrookhaven

informalitiesor allbidsandtowaiveany anddeclareinvalidanyor reservestherighttoreject

irregularitiesintheproposalsreceived,allinthebest

interestsoftheTown.

TheTownofBrookhaven

minorityandwomen-owned welcomesandencourages

3businessestoparticipate businessesandHUDSection

inthebiddingprocess.

TownofBrookhaven

KathleenC.Koppenhoefer, PurchasingDivision

DeputyCommissioner

(631)451-6252

1269502/21xptr

TOWNOFBROOKHAVEN

SUFFOLKCOUNTY,NY

NOTICETOBIDDERS

TownOfficeComplex,One locatedattheBrookhaven BrookhavenTownHallLobby aloudintheTownof publiclyopenedandread Bidswillbereceivedand

IndependenceHill,Farmingville,NewYork,11738,3rd

indicatedat11:00am: projectonthedateas Floor,forthefollowing

BID#23011

PIPESTAVEHOLLOWROAD

DRAINAGE&ROADWAY

IMPROVEMENTS

BIDDUEDATE:

MARCH1,2023

Specificationsfortheabovereferencedbidwillbe

2,2023. availablebeginningFebruary

PreferredMethod

- Accesswebsite:Municipal

(brookhavenny.gov):clickon Market|Brookhaven,NY

linkforBids.

- Followdirectionstoregisteranddownloaddocument.

- Questionsmustbesubmittedinwritingtothe

followinge-mail:

TownofBrookhavenbythe SLRFP1985awardedtothe byfederalawardnumber

U.S.Departmentofthe

Treasury.

TheTownofBrookhaven

anddeclareinvalidanyor reservestherighttoreject

informalitiesor allbidsandtowaiveany

irregularitiesintheproposalsreceived,allinthebest

interestsoftheTown.

TheTownofBrookhaven

minorityandwomen-owned welcomesandencourages

businessesandHUDSection

3businessestoparticipate

inthebiddingprocess.

TownofBrookhaven

KathleenC.Koppenhoefer, PurchasingDivision

DeputyCommissioner

(631)451-6252

1269602/21xptr

PUBLICNOTICE

Elections ofPortJeffersonVillage Inc.Village

Tuesday,June20,2023

Thenextannualelectionof

Jeffersonwillbeheldon theInc.VillageofPort

Tuesday,June20,2023at

Broadway,PortJefferson, theVillageCenter,101East

NY-betweenthehoursof

setoppositesuchoffices: aretobefilledfortheterms electionthefollowingoffices (prevailingtime)atwhich 6:00amand9:00pm

2Years Term Mayor Office

2Years Term Trustee Office

2Years Term Trustee Office

BarbaraSakovich

VillageClerk

Dated:February2,2023

1269702/21xptr

LEGALS con’t on pg. 2

Thisprojectisbeingsupported,inwholeorinpart, 9

LEGALS

LEGALS con’t from pg. 1

NOTICIAPÚBLICA

PortJefferson Inc.Pueblode

Eleccionesdealdea

Martes,20dejuniode2023

Lapróximaelecciónanual

Jeffersonsellevaráacabo deInc.VillageofPort

elmartes,20dejuniode

2023enVillageCenter,101

EastBroadway,PortJefferson,NY,entrelas6:00

a.m-9:00p.m(hora

predominante)enlaquelas

siguientesoficinasse

llenaránparalostérminos

establecidosfrenteatales

oficinas:

Oficina Término

Alcalde 2Años

Fideicomisario2Años

Fideicomisario2Años

BárbaraSakovich

secretariodelpueblo

Fecha:2defebrerode2023

1269802/21xptr

ZONINGAPPEALS BOARDOF PUBLICHEARING

TOWNOFBROOKHAVEN

PURSUANTTOTHEPROVISIONSOFARTICLEIV,SEC.

NOTICEISHEREBYGIVEN TOWNOFBROOKHAVEN, ZONEORDINANCEOFTHE 85-55(B)OFTHEBUILDING

THATTHEBOARDOFZONINGAPPEALSWILLHOLDA

PUBLICHEARINGATONE

INDEPENDENCEHILL,FARMINGVILLE,N.Y.(AUDITORIUM–2ndFLOOR),ON

2023 COMMENCING AT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY8,

2:00P.M. ANDINACCORDANCEWITHOPENMEETINGSLAW,SAIDPUBLIC

HEARINGWILLBELIVE

STREAMEDOVERTHE

INTERNETAThttp:// brookhaventownny.igm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx,

TOCONSIDERTHEFOLLOWING:

PORTTIMESRECORD

14.HansonPlace,LLC,45

HansonPl.,Sayville,NY.

NOTICEOF 0600019000)

LincolnSt.,PortJeffStation.Applicantrequestslot

011001&012003) dwelling.(0200282000700 proposedonefamily reliefofTownLaw280Afor sideyardvariancesand area,lotfrontageandtotal

22.Vincenza&Giovanni

Miccolis,c/oTraci’sPermits,363TerryvilleRd.,

Station.Applicantrequests &TeeLn.,PortJefferson SoutheastcornerFairwayDr. Terryville,NY.Location:

280000100028000) requiredfrontyard.(0200 existingshedslocatedinthe fromFairwayDr.fortwo frontyardsetbackvariance

28.RonaldLosee,7ContinentalDr.,PortJefferson

requestssideyardvariance JeffersonStation.Applicant EastofColonyRd.,Port sideContinentalDr.204.14’ Station,NY.Location:North

forexistingingroundswimmingpoolnotbuiltin

#22B85298.(020031100 conformancewithpermit

BYORDEROFTHEBOARD

linkforBids. 8

BOARD.

CHAIRMAN HOWARDM.BERGSON

1274102/21xptr

OFASSESSMENTROLL NOTICEOFCOMPLETION

PLEASETAKENOTICE that

Location:EastsideintersectionofEvergreenAve.and relationtoassessments. time)tohearcomplaintsin

OFTRUSTEESOFTHEINC.

VILLAGEOFBELLETERRE

Dated:February1,2023

JoanneRaso

VillageClerk-Treasurer

928-0020

1274502/21xptr

NOTICETOBIDDERS

SealedBidswillbereceived,

- Questionsmustbesubmittedinwritingtothe

followinge-mail:

PurchasingGroup@ brookhavenny.gov

TheTownofBrookhaven

informalitiesor allbidsandtowaiveany anddeclareinvalidanyor reservestherighttoreject

P.M.to8:30P.M. (prevailing consecutivehoursfrom 4:30 Officeforatleastfour willmeetattheVillage Day ,theBoardofReview setthisyearas Grievance 2023 ,whichdayhasbeen Wednesday,February15, duringbusinesshoursuntil andexaminedbyanyperson thatsaidrollmaybeseen CliffRoadinsaidVillage; meattheVillageOfficeat1 thereofhasbeenfiledwith June1,2023;thatacopy Roll fortheyearbeginning completedthe Assessment VillageofBelleTerre has theAssessorforthe Inc.

aloudat11:00a.m.inthe publiclyopenedandread

TownHallLobbyoftheTown

ofBrookhaven,OneIndependenceHill,ThirdFloor,

datesindicated: thefollowingitem(s)onthe Farmingville,NY11738,for

Cottage----February16, MaterialsforGamecock Bid#23012–Construction

2023

Specificationsfortheabovereferencedbidwillbe

2,2023. availablebeginningFebruary

PreferredMethod

- Accesswebsite:Municipal

Market|Brookhaven,NY

THEDISCRETIONOFTHE CASESWILLBEHEARDAT (brookhavenny.gov):clickon

irregularitiesintheproposalsreceived,allinthebest

interestsoftheTown.The

TownofBrookhavenwelcomesandencourages

minoritiesandwomenownedbusinessesandHUD

process. participateinthebidding Section3businessesto

Furtherinformationcanbe

451-6252 obtainedbycalling(631)

KathleenC.Koppenhoefer

DeputyCommissioner

TOWNOFBROOKHAVEN

1274702/21xptr

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

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Editorial

Substance over slander: The art of letter writing

To our readers: We appreciate your weekly letters to the editor. Writing a letter enables vital communication and contributes to a meaningful community dialogue. It is also a safety valve for expressing different, equally passionately held opinions in a civil fashion.

Letter writing can be powerful as the writer broadcasts opinions to the wider public. Here at TBR News Media, our editorial staff shoulders responsibility in channeling that message appropriately.

We hope writers and readers can regard our letters page as a community forum, a place to express themselves and potentially influence their peers and neighbors. But by necessity, this forum must be moderated to function. When a writer expresses a thought as a fact, we do our best to confirm the information is accurate. If we cannot find the information on our own, we go back to the writer and ask for a source. As journalists, we have an obligation to ensure that the facts cited are verified, that we are not allowing someone to use our letters page to spread misinformation or vitriol.

Often we are asked why our letters do not focus squarely on local matters. It’s simple — we don’t receive as many localized letters as we would like.

Our editors aim to choose letters that represent a mix of local, county, state and national topics. We also look for a mix of opinions from conservative, liberal and moderate points of view. Letters serve as a form of public debate, and people from various sides of the political spectrum should be heard.

Moderating our letters page, we view ourselves as mediators for the various interests and opinions of the community. By sharing diverse perspectives on a range of topics, we arm our readers with the information and give them the freedom to make up their own minds.

We are asked why certain writers appear regularly on the opinion page. It’s because they write to us often and thoughtfully, and contribute to the public dialogue. We welcome and encourage letters from readers, and we hope to continue seeing new names each week.

Sometimes, we don’t receive a substantial number of letters to choose from each week that gives both sides of an issue.

If readers feel something is missing from our paper — whether from the news or editorial sections — we urge that they write us. We welcome readers’ thoughts — including criticism — regarding our content. Please feel free to react to a recent article or reflect upon life in our hometown. You can comment on an entertaining festival or even chronicle a delightful day spent at the park. The opportunities for letter writing are endless, so don’t be shy. Let your thoughts be heard.

We edit letters not to censor, but to catch grammatical mistakes, for consistency and to protect the media outlet and letter writers from libel suits. We edit for A.P. style, which is the standard in most U.S.-based news publications. We also edit for length and good taste. If a letter runs longer, we may print it as a perspective piece along with the writer’s photo.

As for good taste, our letters page is not the place to bash a neighbor or a fellow writer. There are plenty of instances when one writer will reference another person and their letter, addressing specific ideas in the other’s writings, and that’s acceptable. However, name-calling or denigration are not helpful.

In the past, we have received letters using derogatory nicknames for presidents and other officials and political figures. We do our best to edit out uncivil language.

The letters page is not a place for one to spew animosity or insults. If blanket, hateful statements are made about a group of people based on the color of their skin, ethnicity or religion, they will not be published. Our letters page is designed to add to, not detract from, a healthy public discourse.

So, please send us a letter — see address and formal policy statement to the right of this editorial. We are always interested in your thoughts, especially regarding what goes on in our coverage area.

Letters to the Editor

Developing Port Jeff: Where do we draw the line?

After reading about Port Jeff’s development in the January edition of The Port eReport, I have a different opinion.

“Transforming blighted sections” of the village into mass apartment complexes is not everyone’s idea of preserving our historic village. My family were forefathers of Port Jefferson and now of Cedar Hill Cemetery. There are still many “old” families here, long retired and shaking their heads over deals wrapped up without thoughtful consideration regarding the impact they have caused.

When I was in grade school, I would sit on the front porch steps of the house my great grandfather built on Main Street in Port Jefferson. I would watch cars passing the house, one every 15 seconds or so. It was peaceful, but that has changed greatly.

The amount and variety of traffic, the lack of respect for the village speed limit — along with the high decibel noise created by this influx — can just be deafening. The overgrowth of Port Jefferson only adds to this problem.

Coming down West Broadway, there used to be an impressive view of Lower Port and our quaint historic village. That view is now obscured by two massive apartment structures. Many surrounding century homes on Barnum Hill, as well as the homes on Brook Road, have lost their beautiful view and the sense of wholeness with the harbor.

Heading up Main Street by the former Cappy’s Carpets and Giles Chevrolet, another three-story apartment complex now blocks the afternoon sun for the century homes on the east side of Main.

Traveling further up Main, past my family home of five generations, up the hill to the crossroads of Sheep Pasture/North Country and Main, yet another three-story apartment building is being built. Remember, this part of Port was once known as Echo. The side of the building on Main will bounce the sound of the traffic, exacerbating what can only be described, again, at times as noise pollution.

Driving past Mather Hospital recently, I had to wait for three light changes due to the volume of traffic, which was bumper to bumper down

Belle Terre Road and down North Country to Main.

The traffic congestion during peak hours is not “environmentally sound.” Just forget relaxing on the front porch on a summer day.

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

I truly hope this is it for the building development in Port Jefferson.

Nancy Russell Rose Port Jefferson

Flooding the zone

Two letters in the Jan. 19 TBR News Media newspapers — by George Altemose [“Not only Santos economical with the truth”] and Mark Sertoff [“No electric car for me”] — are flagrant examples of a tactic dubbed by rightwing ideologue Steve Bannon as “flooding the zone with BS.”

The strategy aims to overwhelm readers with long lists of false, misleading and irrelevant information, making it difficult for readers to separate fact from fiction.

Sertoff’s letter omits the most crucial fact about electric vehicles: They are dramatically more energy efficient than internal combustion engines. EVs convert about 60% of their battery energy into movement, while internal combustion engines convert just 20% — the rest is lost as heat. Large power plants are about 45% efficient. So, even with energy losses along the path, most electric vehicles still get more than 100 miles-per-gallon equivalent, which means fill-ups for $15.

Recycling, battery performance and power distribution are indeed challenges, but all are being addressed and are perfectly solvable. But Sertoff doesn’t really care about the environmental or social impacts of lithium mining, given the overwhelming impacts of fossil fuel extraction and climate change. The purpose of his letter is to stoke the flames of the culture war on behalf of a Republican Party and conservative media heavily funded by the energy industry.

The letter by George Altemose drew a false equivalency between embellishments — some minor, some serious — and the outright fabrication of an entire identity by

recently elected U.S. Rep. George Santos [R-NY3]. Santos claimed education, degrees, finances and work history that were completely false, along with a host of other personal attributes that appear to be utter fabrications.

Altemose accused Rep. Adam Schiff [D-CA30] of “lying” about having evidence of Trump campaign collusion with Russia. However, the evidence Schiff referred to includes emails showing that Russian agents offered the campaign “dirt” on Hillary Clinton as “part of Russia and its government’s support for Trump.” Then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wrote back, “If it’s what you say I love it,” and the campaign eagerly took the meeting.

Later, 2016 campaign manager Paul Manafort shared internal Trump campaign polling data and strategy with former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The only plausible reason to do that would be to allow Russia to coordinate its U.S. election influence operations. That Trump himself wasn’t charged with being a foreign agent doesn’t change the documented facts of multiple Trump associates’ numerous illicit contacts with Russian representatives. Even if legal, what else can all this be called but “collusion”?

But Altemose doesn’t really care about politicians’ honesty. The purpose of his letter is to draw attention away from the Republican failure to expel Santos from the party and force his resignation.

Why does TBR News Media continue to publish such transparently misleading letters? By all means let’s argue about which facts are more important, and what our national energy goals should be. But the media have a responsibility to exercise some judgment about the veracity and honesty of what they publish.

John Hover East Setauket

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

A pink llama, an empty car seat and some perspective

One day, you’re playing with your twin sons at home, running around with a ball on the driveway, calling and waving to neighbors who pass by when they walk their dogs or take their daily stroll through the neighborhood.

The next day, your life changes.

to endure is the sickness of a child.

You check on him, day after day, hoping he’s better, only to find that there’s no improvement.

Suddenly, three weeks later, you’re in the hospital, trying to keep yourself, your spouse, and your other son calm while doctors remove a malignant brain cancer in a 5-year-old boy who defines “goofy” and “playful.”

in the kind of hushed and dramatic tones often associated with discussions about serious health crises, I thought about how hard it was and will be for the other son. I thought he needed the kind of 5-year-old normalcy that might become hard to find when he’s worried about his brother and the anxious adults around him.

known who are working towards cures for cancer.

Many of them know someone in their family, their friend group, their neighborhood, or their schools who, like my daughter’s beloved firstgrade teacher, suddenly were in a battle for their lives against a disease that steals time and joy from people’s lives.

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

You want to know why or how, but you’re too busy trying to apply the brakes to a process that threatens the nature of your existence and your current and future happiness.

Your son had some gastrointestinal issues for a few weeks. You took him to the pediatrician and he said he’s got to get over a virus.

You wait, hope, and maybe say a few extra prayers, because the hardest thing for any parent

One of our close friends in our neighborhood just started this unimaginable battle against a disease many of us know all too well, although the specific form of cancer varies.

Their babysitter shared the horror of the prior weekend with me outside the window of her passing car, where she normally would have driven both the twins to school.

I heard the story because I asked about the empty car seat in the back, where both boys typically showed me whatever stuffed animals or toys they had decided to bring to school, either for show and tell or because they were carrying an object that began with a particular letter.

As I talked with the babysitter, who spoke

I asked him to show me what he was holding. He had a pink llama, who he said wanted to poop on my head or on my dog’s head.

I told him that my dog wouldn’t appreciate the poop unless the stuffed llama somehow pooped pink marshmallows.

He laughed, flashing all his straight baby teeth.

As I walked home, I thought of all the things my wife and I planned to offer our neighbors. Maybe we’d babysit the healthy son, walk their dogs, help with house chores, bring over food, do anything to lighten the unbearably heavy load.

I also thought about all the scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University I have

Their labs often invite or include family members of people with cancer to staff meetings and discussions about their work, making the connection between what the scientists are studying and the people desperate for solutions.

It seems utterly cliche to write it, but I’m going to do it anyway: we should appreciate and enjoy the days we have when we’re not in that battle. The annoyance of dealing with someone who got our order wrong at a restaurant seems so spectacularly small in comparison.

We can appreciate that the person who seems like a total jerk for cutting us off on our way home may also be the one racing back to hug his child or spouse after an impossible day that changed his life.

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF

Having been exposed to the pleasure of streaming movies on my “smart” television, I now look for good stories and have caught up with “The Sopranos.” I well remember how popular the series was, running from Jan. 10, 1999, to June 10, 2007, winning all kinds of awards and addicting millions with its 86 episodes. Somehow I never caught up with the drama, but now, thanks to HBOMax, I have turned the family room into a nightly theater and watch as Tony Soprano tries to balance his work “family” and his biological family responsibilities, thanks to the help of an Italian-American woman psychiatrist.

At the end of the latest installment, Tony, his wife Carmela and his daughter and son are driving at night when they are deluged by a

wild rainstorm. Unable to see the road ahead, and with all of them feeling in peril, Tony parks and ushers his family into an Italian restaurant nearby. There, despite the loss of electricity, the proprietor cooks a marvelous pasta dinner for them, which they finally calm down and eat by candlelight, huddled together at a table in the warm and dry dining room. As he is appreciating the spaghetti on his fork, Tony looks up and says to his children something like, “When you think back on your childhood, it will be scenes like this that you will remember,” while the camera fades out.

That got me thinking. Can I recall such scenes from my childhood, when being with my family in a safe place was so comforting?

One of the first such memories for me was of an intense rainstorm in the Catskill Mountains. I was perhaps 5 or 6 and with my mother and sister in a dilapidated cabin, whose roof leaked ominously. After my mother put pails under the leaks, she realized I was frightened. “Just wait,” she said with a smile, “This storm has brought us pancakes.” With that, she took out

a large frying pan from the cupboard, mixed together flour, eggs and milk, poured Hi-Hat peanut oil (the popular brand then) into the pan, and started cooking the mixture, as thunder cracked overhead. Almost immediately, the irresistible smell of the pancakes started to fill the rustic room.

My mother dabbed the extra oil from the dollar-sized pancakes at the stove, put them on a platter on the kitchen table, brought out a bottle of maple syrup, and my sister and I started to eat ravenously. Soon, my mother joined us at the table, and despite the frequent bolts of lightning I could see through the windows behind her head, and the dripping water in the buckets, I felt warm and safe. The only trouble with that memory: every time there is a heavy rain, I get the urge for pancakes.

I asked my middle son if he had such a memory, and he remembered when we were out in the Sound in our 22-foot Pearson Ensign day sailboat, and the wind and seas suddenly picked up. We had been enjoying a sunny,

peaceful sail near New Haven harbor, my husband and three sons and I, sprawled out in the big cockpit, when the unexpected shift in weather occurred.

With the waves towering around us, we pulled down the sail, put the outboard motor at the stern on high speed, and made for the harbor. My husband, at the tiller, gave each of us a task. My sons were to bail out the water that was flooding the cockpit with every crashing wave, and I was to sit on top of the motor to try and keep it in the water every time a wave pushed us up.

Needless to say, it was a harrowing ride until we finally reached shore and tied up at the marina, onlookers clapping. We left the boat and were thrilled to be on the sand. Drenched as we were, we walked the short distance to the harborside restaurant, Chart House and, laughing by then, had one of the best meals of our lives.

By the way, if you, too, missed “The Sopranos” the first time around, I heartily recommend it.

D. None of the above

‘The Sopranos’ and our scary sailboat ride