An emotional evening of public business at Village Hall

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees met Monday, Feb. 6, with public commendations, updates on East Beach Bluff construction, coastal resilience strategies and parting words.

Recognitions

The village board recognized three code enforcement officers who responded on Dec. 28 to an active shooter incident in Upper Port. Mayor Margot Garant acknowledged code officers Scott Borrero, Emmanuel Kouroupakis and Kevin Toner for their services during a recognition speech.

“I want to thank you in your team efforts for closing off the scene to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, rendering lifesaving first aid to the victim and keeping all safe until Suffolk County police arrived,” she said.

The board also acknowledged former New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) for his decades of service representing the Port Jefferson community. While she had intended to present Englebright with a plaque, Garant said the village parks department was “so efficient they already secured it on the building” at the Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum.

Instead, she presented the former assemblyman with a picture off the bathroom wall at Village Hall. Accepting this honor, Englebright delivered a brief address, sharing the history of the William Tooker House on Sheep Pasture Road, for which his office worked to secure over $800,000 for historic preservation.

The Town of Brookhaven Department of Housing and Community Development is holding a Fair Housing Forum on ursday, February 16, 2023 at 6:00 pm at Brookhaven Town Hall One Independence Hill Farmingville, NY 11738

Agenda

What is Fair Housing?

Overview of the Brookhaven Fair Housing Plan

Online Fair Housing Survey will be Open February 1-28, 2023

Open forum for public comments and suggestions on fair housing matters in the Town of Brookhaven

Please join us to discuss fair and a ordable housing matters in the Town of Brookhaven. Public comments are welcome. If you cannot attend the Brookhaven Fair Housing Forum, written comments may be submitted to akarppi@brookhavenny.gov. Please visit the Town of Brookhaven’s website during the month of February 2023 for a link to the online Fair Housing Survey.

*If you require a reasonable accommodation or an interpreter, please contact the Town of Brookhaven Department of Housing and Community Development at 631-451-6600 at least three days prior to the forum.*

“We have a chance to preserve the legacy that our forebears have brought to us,” he said. “That adventure is just beginning. That house has many more insights to give us as we restore it to useful service.”

He added, “I again say thank you so very, very much to the board. You’re all my heroes, and it’s a great honor to receive the picture off the wall.”

Reports

Mayor Margot Garant offered an update on the ongoing construction at East Beach as part of phase I of the village’s bluff stabilization initiative.

VILLAGE BOARD CONTINUED ON A9

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.

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police:

Pedestrian killed in Farmingville crash

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian in Farmingville on Feb. 5. Steven Godden was driving a 2022 Mercedes-Benz northbound on North Ocean Avenue at Granny Road when he swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting Roland Degroff, who was running east across the roadway at the intersection against the direction of traffic control devices at 7:40 p.m. The Mercedes struck Degroff, who was then struck by a 2021 Hyundai Sonata being operated by Yair Pacheco. Degroff, 58, of Port Jefferson Station, was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue where he was pronounced dead. Neither Godden, 41, of Mount Sinai, or Pacheco, 44, of Coram, or two passengers in the Mercedes-Benz, were injured. The vehicles were both impounded for safety checks. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

Centereach man pleads to guilty to stabbing a police officer

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Feb. 6 the guilty plea of Jonathan Nunez, 27, of Centereach for stabbing and seriously injuring a Suffolk County Police Officer in 2021 after an attempted traffic stop.

According to court documents and the defendant’s statements at his guilty plea allocution, Suffolk County Police Officer Christopher Racioppo observed a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner and with its lights off, on South Ocean Avenue in Patchogue on April 10, 2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m. When Officer Racioppo activated his emergency lights in an attempt to pull the vehicle over, Nunez, the driver, sped away and the officer pursued him. Nunez subsequently crashed into another vehicle at a high rate of speed, totaling both vehicles and causing minor injury to the other driver.

Nunez then exited his vehicle and, despite directives from Officer Racioppo to stop, he fled on foot. Officer Racioppo chased Nunez into a backyard where Nunez stabbed Officer Racioppo in his upper left leg, severing his femoral artery. Witnesses and other responding officers at the scene were able to restrain Nunez and render lifesaving aid to Officer Racioppo.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two men, including the man pictured above, who allegedly stole tool sets and other items from Lowes, located at 2150 Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook, on Jan. 21 at 2:15 p.m. They fled in a blue Ford F-150.

Nunez is due back in court on March 13, 2023, and is expected to be sentenced to 16 years in prison followed by five years of postrelease supervision.

Groceries stolen from Stop & Shop

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police

Sixth Precinct Crime

Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two people who allegedly stole from Stop & Shop at 260 Pond Path in South Setauket in two separate incidents.

A man allegedly stole 37 packages of seafood on Dec. 20 at approximately 2 p.m. The merchandise was valued at approximately $990.

A woman allegedly stole assorted groceries on Jan. 24 at approximately 1:30 p.m. The merchandise was valued at $116.

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.