The Port Times Record - May 12, 2022

tbrnewsmedia.com

The

PORT TIMES RECORD P O R T J E F F E R S O N • B E L L E T E R R E • P O R T J E F F E R S O N S TAT I O N • T E R R Y V I L L E

Vol. 35, No. 25

May 12, 2022

$1.00 PHOTO BY

One-on-one with Rebecca Kassay Also: School boards, budgets and COVID

A9

Artist of the Month: Charles Wildbank

Also: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent reviewed, Paw Prints

B1

SPACE RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBER ADDRESS

Vandermeulen High School seniors. Photo courtesy of PJSD

Decision Day College-bound students show some school pride

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors celebrated a milestone in their academic careers by wearing the shirts of their intended college or university for College Decision Day on May 6.

Join us on May 22, 2022

for a five-mile walk through Port Jefferson and Belle Terre to raise money for the Fortunato Breast Health Center.

83370

at Port Jefferson

Register at northwellhealthwalk.com/portjefferson

PAGE A2 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Event announcement Post 6249 Rocky Point Veterans of Foreign Wars 5K PTSD Run

Notice: Surveys & Site Evaluation

This 5K race will be held Sunday, May 15, and will help raise money and awareness for victims of post-traumatic stress disorder and support for the Joseph P. Dwyer Program.

Participants will trek through the roads, trails, hills and track of the Rocky Point High School and Conservation Area.

Registration to begin at 10 a.m. in front of Rocky Point High School: 82 Rocky PointHudsonWineFoodFest22_2x2.crtr - Page 1 - Composite Yaphank Road, Rocky Point NY 11778.

File photo from Pixabay

Sunrise Wind will be gathering soil samples to collect the data that will inform the detailed design of the onshore cable route and landfall.

These activities are expected to begin as early as May 9th, anticipated to be complete within 6-weeks, weather dependent.

LOCATION: TOWN AND COUNTY ROADS

SAVE THE DATE

Activities will occur in the Town of Brookhaven within Town and County owned road right-of-ways along the following roads: Union Ave, Long Island Ave, Mastic Blvd, Manor Rd, Horseblock Rd, Victory Ave, William Floyd Pkwy, Expressway South. Additionally, activities will occur at the Smith Point Marina & Smith Point County Park, and within utility-owned or controlled property.

MAY 28 & 29, 2022 THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT

Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code to learn more.

Columbia Co. Fairgrounds, Chatham, NY

85170

2021

SE R V IN G Y TH E CO M M U N ITA R S FO R O V ER 37 YE

WINNER

COMPUTERIZED WATER ANALYSIS

Craft Beverage Samplings & Seminars, Gourmet Foods, Specialty Crafts, ‘Family Friendly’ Events, Petting Zoo

AWARD-WINNING WINERIES, DISTILLERIES AND CIDERIES FROM NY AND MA Information & tickets available on-line at:

www.hbwinefest.com

84100

Contact us for more information: Email: info@sunrisewindny.com Phone: 631–629–8410 Web: sunrisewindny.com Twitter: @SunrsieWindNY

&

NEPTUNE

POOL SUPPLIES

10% OFF

ANY PURCHASE

©79830

SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY TBR-With Coupon Only 6/12/2022

631-473-6955 • PORT JEFF STA • NEPTUNEPOOLSUPPLIES.COM

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A3

Gearing up for school budget votes in PJ and Comsewogue school districts

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Next week, community members will have an opportunity to weigh in on the direction of their local schools.

On Tuesday, May 17, the Port Jefferson and Comsewogue school districts will hold public votes seeking approval of their proposed annual budgets and trustee elections.

School

Port Jefferson School District

The proposed budget of $46,114,331 has a tax levy increase of 1.74%, which falls below the district’s allowable tax cap limit of 2%.

State aid has increased from $3.8 million to $3.84 million.

According to a newsletter from the school district, the proposed 2022-23 budget is designed to maintain and expand upon robust educational initiatives for students while being fiscally mindful of the impact on taxpayers.

The budget allows for the addition of new high school electives, including the introduction of the AP Capstone program.

The budget also expands the district’s pre-K program to full day and extends the Integrated Co-Teaching program for grades K-2.

Residents will also vote on projects to renovate the elementary school pool

($533,612), high school athletic event bleachers ($561,000) and high school roofing ($105,387).

Also on the ballot is a $2,335,000 proposition to use the district’s capital reserves to address drainage and retaining walls at the middle school. This second proposition is at no cost to taxpayers and does not affect the tax levy limit.

Voting takes place May 17 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the high school cafeteria.

Comsewogue Union Free School District

The proposed expenditure budget for the 2022-23 academic year totals $102,117,258, a 3.7% increase from the previous year. State aid has increased to $35.6 million from $33.2 million, a 7.2% change. It is estimated the average homeowner will pay an extra $162 in annual taxes.

According to minutes from a May 5 budget hearing, the stated goals of the proposed budget are to increase student learning and maximize student potential by enhancing the quality of instruction throughout the district.

Through this budget, the board also hopes to ensure a safe, secure and orderly environment that supports student learning. Additionally, it seeks to ensure fiscal responsibility, stability and accountability through a transparent

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, left, and Comsewogue High School, right, will serve as the polling sites for this year’s school budget and board of education elections. File photos

process that has the support of the community, developing a school district budget that is taxpayer sensitive and aligns with the district’s student learning objectives.

Also on the ballot is Proposition Two, which if approved will reauthorize capital appropriations not exceeding $500,000 to finance health and safety items from

the buildings conditions survey, drainage, sidewalks, among other capital investments.

It is anticipated that there will be no increase in taxes due to this proposition.

The vote will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the gymnasium of Comsewogue High School, located at 565 N. Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station.

Simons Foundation and SBU partner to promote diversity in STEM fields At a press conference held May 11 at Stony Brook University it was announced that the Simons Foundation along with its sister foundation, Simons Foundation International, was gifting $56.6 million to SBU. The funds will be used in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics program to be launched in the fall of 2023. The Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program will provide scholarships, housing and stipends to 50 new students each year in the STEM fields.

“We could not be more excited and grateful to enter this new partnership with the Simons Foundation,” said SBU President Maurie McInnis, in a press release. “The Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program will allow young people to reach their potential as they bring new, much-needed diversity of perspective to science and innovation. At any given time, we will have 200 future STEM leaders on our campus, forging their way in the STEM fields and setting the stage for future generations of students to follow in their footsteps.”

Simons Foundation’s new president David Spergel was on hand for the presentation. The $56.6 million gift is the Simons Foundation’s largest gift under his leadership.

“We need scientists and mathematicians who are reflective of our diverse world, and

University

David Spergel, Simons Foundation president, and Maurie McInnis, SBU president, announced on May 11 that SBU would be the recipient of a $56.6 million gift from the Simons Foundation to fund a STEM program. Photo from Stony Brook University

the scientific and educational communities must work together to find, train, and support underrepresented scientists and mathematicians,” Spergel said. “That’s why the foundation is making its largest investment yet in diversity through the Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program. Stony Brook University has shown a real commitment already to access and opportunity. They’re our ideal partners in this.”

In a joint statement, Jim and Marilyn Simons,

co-founders and co-chairs of the foundation, said they were “proud to see the foundation taking steps to increase diversity in STEM fields.”

“The support network, tight-knit community, and sense of belonging that students will find in this program will be life-changing,” the couple said. “We’re incredibly proud to be part of a program like this, with positive implications not just for Stony Brook, but for New York State and the broader scientific and mathematical communities.”

Justin Fincher, SBU vice president for advancement, said, “The power of this gift is that it is not dedicated to existing programmatic or budget needs; rather, it will exclusively support hundreds of Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars students.”

According to SBU, there is a major need for programs such as the Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program to address the lack of diversity in STEM fields. STEM careers have seen a 79% growth in employment in the past 30 years, making STEM one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. workforce. Yet Black and Hispanic workers only make up 17% of the U.S. STEM workforce, compared to 28% of the total workforce. Only 12% of full-time faculty at PhD-granting institutions are Black or Hispanic, a disparity that also exists in STEM higher education programs.

Underrepresented college and university students are much more likely to switch from a STEM major to another course of study than their peers, according to SBU. 40% of Black STEM students switch their major during undergrad, compared to 29 percent of white STEM students, and Black STEM students are also twice as likely as their white peers to leave college without a degree. Just 7% of all STEM Bachelor’s degrees were awarded to Black students in 2018.

PAGE A4 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Port Jeff BOE candidates tackle the issues

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

As election day approaches, candidates for the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education had an opportunity to share their thoughts on the major issues facing the district.

During a virtual panel on May 9, candidates Ellen Boehm, Randi DeWitt, Paul Ryan and write-in candidate Don Pollard each spoke in turn. The candidates covered a wide range of subjects from declining student enrollment to possible redistricting schemes to infrastructure investments and more.

School

Ellen Boehm

Boehm has served on the Board of Education for 10 years and is currently president.

Commenting on her many family members who graduated from Port Jefferson schools, she said, “The royal blood runs thick in our family.”

Throughout her time on the board, Boehm has maintained active involvement in several clubs and volunteer organizations.

She has taught religious classes at the Infant Jesus R.C. Church, planned the centennial celebration of Port Jefferson High School and is a self-proclaimed sports mom, arts mom and class mom.

“Volunteering really has given me enjoyment while connecting with the students and other parents in the community,” she said.

“I am running again to continue to serve the students and families of Port Jeff and to help keep our great programs great.”

Boehm said building a consensus among community members will be the biggest obstacle facing the school board in the coming term. Although some have suggested a possible merger with another school district, Boehm sees opportunities for district expansion through redistricting.

“If we can somehow redistrict, we increase the [number of] families and potentially increase our enrollment,” she said, adding, “We have to start thinking bigger than how we are falling apart. There are things that have to be done with the infrastructure … but we have to identify the things we treasure in Port Jeff.”

Boehm favors the redistricting approach over any potential merger with a neighboring district.

If Port Jeff were to merge, Boehm believes the district would lose much of its identity. “We all know what happened when Mount Sinai pulled out,” she said. “To me, a merger would be the last thing I would want to do, but I would really like to look into expanding the district.”

Randi DeWitt

DeWitt has been a teacher in the Mount Sinai School District for 24 years, teaching a first grade inclusion class for the bulk of that time. She has been on the Port Jefferson school board for three years.

Four candidates will compete for two seats on the Port Jefferson school board. Left to right: Ellen Boehm, Randi DeWitt, Paul Ryan, and Don Pollard.

DeWitt has served on the policy and curriculum committees of the school board and this year chaired the facilities committee.

Currently she serves on the executive board for the Port Jefferson prom, which she said jokingly is “probably more time consuming than anything that I have ever done in my entire life.”

A long-time resident of Port Jefferson, she described the many ways in which she has immersed herself into the community culture.

“I enjoy playing softball on Tuesday nights and volleyball and golf … and tennis,” she said.

“That’s something that I really enjoy doing and that I love about our community.”

DeWitt considers declining enrollment and aging infrastructure to be the two greatest problems facing the district.

Declining enrollment is an issue which affects the community as a whole, she said, adding that infrastructure investments are necessary to keep the district competitive.

“We have a school with an outstanding reputation, but I really do think that our facilities are in need of some modernization,” she said.

“We have some [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliance needs that have to be met, some safety concerns across our buildings and grounds and … in order to draw those young families we really need to look at the exterior and interior of our schools and we really just need to be appealing.”

On the topic of a possible merger, DeWitt concurred with Boehm. “I went to Port Jeff and have a very strong sense of passion for our district,” she said. “I just couldn’t imagine a Port Jeff student or athlete wearing anything other than Port Jeff. That would be tough.” She

added, “I definitely would never want to lose our sense of identity.”

Paul Ryan

Ryan went to Scraggy Hill Elementary and Port Jefferson Junior High before attending The Stony Brook School. For nearly 20 years, he was away in China studying to become a practitioner of Chinese medicine, then returned to Port Jeff.

While Ryan was in China, he taught English to Chinese students. When he returned to the United States, he filled a vital need during a critical time in the community’s history, serving as polling inspector when some seniors had left their posts in fear of the COVID-19 virus.

“When there’s an opportunity, I do my best to step up and that’s why I’m stepping up for the school board,” he said.

Ryan said building a relationship between the community and the school will be essential to keep the school district operating through this period of declining enrollment. He hopes to identify a prospective niche that will help the district draw more families to the district.

“We know that people move to Port Jefferson for the special needs program,” Ryan said. “So is there a way that we can build off of something like that?” He added that additional language programs would represent another possible niche and could offset some of the diversity and inclusion problems that the district is also facing.

Ryan considers redistricting unrealistic.

“The people that I have talked to about redistricting say it’s very unlikely that it would happen,” he said. “I don’t think there’s another school district around us that is going to give up its student population.” He added,

“As far as mergers go, we can avoid a merger if the school and the school board … have strong community support.”

Don Pollard

Relatively new to the district and the area, Pollard has lived in Port Jefferson for six years.

His background is in finance and he now runs a small brokerage firm.

Before he moved to Port Jeff village, Pollard volunteered at Habitat for Humanity.

He was active in Caroline Episcopal Church of Setauket, working to grow the parish and its finances. He helped to successfully organize a Halloween dance for the school and has served on the parents advisory board for sports, helping to expand the district’s athletics program.

For Pollard, the greatest obstacle facing the district is declining enrollment. “In three years, when we have 60 kids in a class, everything else is really secondary because we won’t have a school district, or it’s going to be really difficult to maintain a school district,” he said.

Pollard proposed creating a task force between local government and the school district to map out a course of action which can better address the enrollment dilemma. He said mitigating the enrollment problem will require joint efforts between the school board, local government, village residents and parents.

Pollard also suggested that strengthening the athletics department could help to curb declining enrollment as parents would have less incentive to send their children off to private schools with stronger sports programs.

On the question of a possible merger, Pollard said the board must find ways to prevent this scenario. “That should be first and foremost,” he said.

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A5

NEXT MEETING

The Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce ©84730

JEFFREY FREUND 631-689-3100

16254599

100-25 SO. JERSEY AVE EAST SETAUKET Prices vary based on how you buy. Subject to terms, conditions & availability. Savings vary.

Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Co., Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co. © 2019 Allstate Insurance Co.

A Farm for the Community

sits on 11 acres of farmland Farm Fresh Delivered to Your Door

178 Oxhead Road, Centereach, NY 11720 hobbsfarm.info ©85060

Call Katherine 631-751-7744

The Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce originated as Centereach Chamber and has grown to also include Coram, Lake Grove and Selden. The Chamber is primarily comprised of local entrepreneurial small business owners that are the engine of this great community. These businesses work tirelessly to not only grow their business but are also committed to the well-being of the community as a whole. Equally appreciated are the larger, well-established organizations, like Stony Brook University and Hospital which has a huge influence in our community. Our chamber unanimously awarded Stony Brook University/Medicine as the Chamber Member of the Year, for all their contributions to our community.

The chamber sponsors or is involved in several community events, such as Strictly Business Trade Show, Run the Farm and just recently hosted a Community Fair & Music Festival, on April 30th, along with Centereach Hyundai and many other sponsors. This event was attended by over 3000 people, from our community and beyond.

Our businesses are small enough to treat you as the important client that you are and yet large enough to service you properly and efficiently. Remember to shop local. Shopping local boosts the local economy, creates jobs and local businesses support our community.

For more information about the chamber and our members, please visit www. middlecountrychamber.com.

Respectfully yours, Lenore Paprocky, President Greater Middle Country Chamber

TODAY!

CALL 631.681.8708

•

THE BEST PHARMACY SERVICE IN TOWN Mark & Aruna Shah, Proudly Serving the Selden/Coram Area for 35 Years!

WE CARE FOR YOUR HEALTH LIMITED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT MOST INSURANCE CO-PAYS SAME AS OTHER PHARMACIES

Why Wait For Impersonal Service?

We Offer Personalized Service!

249 Middle Country Rd., Selden (in Best Market Shopping Center)

631-732-7373 • qualitypharmacy1.com

MON-FRI 9AM-7PM • SAT. 9AM-5PM • CLOSED SUNDAYS

Long Island’s Largest Indoor Adventure Park

©85030

©85050

Your ad could be HERE!

JOIN THE CHAMBER

©84890

Your Neighborhood Realtor Trusted, Respected, Recommended Experience the Difference Linda Catalano C: 516-316-0878 • O: 631-820-3420 lindacatalanoislandadvantagerealty.com Email: Linda@IARNY.com

©84970

Membership Chair of NAIPC

for more information

©84900

VOLUNTEERING AVAILABLE MON.-SAT.

Visit middlecountrychamber.com

Welcome to The Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce

+ = Save up to 25%

84880

Tuesday, May 17

P.O. Box 65, Centereach, NY 11720 631-681-8708 Support Your Local Merchants - Shop Locally!!

3147 Middle Country Rd • Lake Grove, NY 11755 Phone: 631-861-4125 • urbanair.com 30+ Years in Centereach

For All Your Flooring Needs

LIKE US ON

2049 Middle Country Road, Centereach, NY 11720 Phone: 631-981-5000 Fax: 631-981-5001 yourfloorstore@gmail.com ©84860

Your ad could be here Call Katherine 631-751-7744

PAGE A6 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Port Jefferson man sentenced to 40 years to life in prison Joseph Garcia fatally shot Shirley man on Main Street in Port Jefferson following an early afternoon verbal dispute

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) announced Joseph Garcia has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for fatally shooting David Bliss, of Shirley, in broad daylight after the two had a verbal altercation.

“This senseless act of violence was caused by a verbal dispute, which the defendant later joked about as if the life of the victim had no value,” Tierney “Now the defendant said. “Certainly has decades to think this sentence is no laughing about what he has matter and now done.” —Ray Tierney the defendant has decades to think about what he has done while he faces responsibility for his actions.”

Garcia, 20, was convicted on April 7 of second degree murder, second degree criminal possession of a weapon and second degree criminal contempt after a jury trial.

The evidence at trial established that on March 24, 2021, Garcia shot Bliss once in the abdomen at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the village of Port Jefferson which caused the victim’s death within minutes.

Bliss, 25, of Shirley was unknown to Garcia but had gotten into a verbal dispute with him while Bliss was walking on Main Street to pick

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police

up a pizza.

There were multiple video sources that captured the shooting and clearly showed Garcia deliberately discharging the firearm at Bliss and then attempting to pull the trigger at least two additional times but the gun apparently jammed.

Immediately after the murder, Garcia and his associates fled the shooting in a vehicle going to a residence located in Setauket. The residence was equipped with video surveillance outside and inside. The video showed Garcia laughing and joking about the shooting.

In the audio on the video, Garcia made admissions to the shooting and had plans to flee the jurisdiction to avoid being arrested.

Garcia was sentenced before Suffolk County Judge Timothy Mazzei to 25 years to life for murder plus an additional 15 years for the criminal possession of a weapon charge, a total sentence of 40 years to life. Joseph Garcia was also sentenced to a concurrent one year on the criminal contempt conviction. He was represented by George Duncan.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Raphael Pearl, bureau chief of the child abuse and domestic violence bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Tuorto, of the major crime bureau.

Port Jefferson woman indicted for manslaughter

in Chelsea on March 10, 2022. Pazienza is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with manslaughter in the first degree and assault in the second degree.

news on demand

tbrnewsmedia.com

Wanted for questioning:

Setauket reported a shoplifter on May 5. A man allegedly stole a BlackMax string lawn trimmer valued at $120.

Farmingville ■ A car was stolen from the parking lot

of 7-Eleven on North Ocean Avenue in Farmingville on May 7. The vehicle, a 2003 Mercedes Benz valued at $15,000, had been left unlocked and running.

Lake Grove ■ A woman shopping at Trader Joe’s on

Nesconset Highway in Lake Grove reported that someone stole her wallet from her pocketbook on May 7.

Miller Place ■ A resident on Cedar Avenue in Miller

Place reported that someone stole clothing and cash from their unlocked vehicle on April 29.

Mount Sinai ■ A resident on Shore Road in Mount Sinai

reported that an unknown man entered three of his unlocked vehicles and stole cash and gift cards on May 4. Several other unlocked cars along Shore Road were also broken into on May 5.

■ An employee at Washington Memorial Cemetery on Canal Road in Mount Sinai reported that catalytic converters were removed from two work vehicles in the parking lot on May 3.

Port Jefferson Station ■ Work equipment including an impact gun

and drill was reported stolen from a vehicle parked at 7-Eleven on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station on May 1 while the driver was inside the store.

Rocky Point ■ T-Mobile on Route 25A in Rocky Point

©85909

This week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr. announced the indictment of Lauren Pazienza, 26, for allegedly pushing and fatally injuring 87-year-old Barbara Gustern

East Setauket ■ Walmart on Nesconset Highway in East

reported a burglary on May 1. The front window and glass door were broken to gain entry and 7 iPhones worth $5040 and Samsung Galaxy cellphones worth $4500 were stolen.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole approximately $520 worth of clothing from Kohl’s, located at 5000 Nesconset Highway in East Setauket, on April 14 at approximately 1:20 p.m.

Selden

■ Bob’s Stores on Middle Country Road in Selden reported a shoplifter on May 1. A man allegedly stole assorted clothing and boots valued at $600.

■ Target on Middle Country Road in Selden called the police on May 7 to report a grand larceny. A man allegedly used bolt cutters to open a locked cabinet, placed several Apple watches and iPads in a bag, walked out through the rear fire escape and fled on a scooter. The merchandise was valued at $6570.

Stony Brook ■ A landscaping company working at a

residence on Sycamore Circle on May 4 reported that while they were in the backyard a man drove up to the driveway and stole a Husqvarna backpack leaf blower worth $800.

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.

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A7

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM In Suffolk County, the number of positive COVID-19 tests has been steadily climbing in the last month, mirroring the increase in other counties in the state and in parts of the country.

As of May 9, the number of people who tested positive per 100,000 residents on a seven-day average was 47.8. That is up from 34.9 a week earlier, 13.4 on April 9 and 6.3 on March 8, just over two months earlier, according to data from the New York State Department of Health.

“The numbers are creeping up,” said Dr. Mickel Khlat, chief medical officer at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown.

Catholic Health had about 28 to 30 patients a month ago with COVID-19 and that number has now risen to the mid-60s. Most of those are incidental, he added, as the hospital discovered a positive test when a patient came in for another procedure. These positive tests, however, reveal the ongoing presence of the virus in the community. “I was hoping in 2022 that this would go away, but I don’t see this going away any time soon.”

Area doctors and health officials suggested familiar practices to reduce risks, including social distancing and mask-wearing in confined spaces indoors and ensuring up-todate vaccinations.

“Immunity from vaccines and immunity from infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus wanes, so we urge everyone to get vaccinated and to get their booster or second booster if you are eligible,” Dr. Gregson Pigott, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Service, explained in an email.

Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, suggested that the hospital is recommending that people speak to their primary care providers to get the best advice on their need to get a second booster.

“Often, individuals may not realize that they fall into a category of vulnerable populations,” she explained in an email.

“These can include not only adults with immune issues, but also those with heart and lung diseases, kidney issues, obese individuals and, of course, those who are elderly.”

Khlat said since the virus first reached Suffolk County, obesity is often the underlying condition that presents the greatest risk factor for dying, which was evident in the first and second surges.

People of all ages in Suffolk County have been hospitalized, even children, Pigott added.

Health

Stock photo

Recently, fewer sick people have needed medical attention in the intensive care unit.

The majority of people who are under 65 years old and in the ICU are unvaccinated, Pigott added.

In general, the most common symptoms for COVID-19 include respiratory issues as well as fever, Nachman said. Other symptoms include gastrointestinal issues.

“If you have symptoms, please consider doing a rapid test to evaluate the possibility” of having the virus, Nachman added.

The coming fall and winter

In the broader context, state and national officials are anticipating a challenging fall and winter. Earlier this week, the White House estimated that the country could experience as many as 100 million new infections without renewed mitigation measures.

While daunting, particularly in the third year of the pandemic, the large number of potential new infections could encourage Congress to appropriate more funds to combat the virus and alert state officials to the need for measures to protect residents.

Area hospitals have already started to consider the possibility of a rise in infections later this year.

“We are anticipating increase in illness this upcoming fall and winter and are addressing those needs now” through supply chain preparations and other measures, explained Nachman.

Khlat said St. Catherine continues to make sure the hospital has enough personal protective equipment, including N95 masks.

While he suspects the tighter quarters in colder weather could contribute to a surge, he doesn’t expect people will be as sick this time.

If they do get sick, patients can receive the first and second dose of remdesivir in the hospital and then get their next few doses at home, through a hospital-at-home program.

Medical options

Pigott urged those who are at risk and test positive to contact their medical providers soon after testing positive and/or COVID-19 CONTINUED ON A7

DEADLINE EXTENDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND!

Be sure to enter to win in our Long Island #BankonLIArts Coloring Book Contest!

Let’s have some fun and celebrate the world of art with the Times Beacon Record News Media’s Third Edition Coloring Book coloring contest for the young and young at heart.

Categories:

Children - ages 5 -12 Teens - ages 13-19 Adults- ages 20+ HOW TO ENTER: 3 WAYS

HOW TO VOTE:

2) Email your drawing to loveourphotos@ tbrnewsmedia.com with “Artist Coloring Book” in the subject line.

Deadline to vote is June 30, 2022. Winners will be officially announced the week of July 1, 2022.

Simply color in a page of your choice, scan or take a photo, then submit your drawing by one of the following methods: Please include your name, age, town and email/phone number.

1) Post on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtags #BankonLIArts.

Be sure to tag @BankofAmerica and @tbrnewsmedia in your post.

3) Mail in your drawing to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733, Attn: Artist Coloring Book.

The deadline to enter is May 28, 2022.

Starting on June 1, 2022 – Head over to www.facebook.com/ TBRNewsMedia to check out the galleries and vote for your favorite photo in each age category! The photo with the most likes in each category will be declared the winner, discretion of the judges and social media scores.

Winners will be featured in the Times Beacon Record and in local Bank of America financial centers.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase will not increase your odds of winning.

Contest begins March 24, 2022 at 12:01AM EST and ends June 30, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST Limit one (1) entry per person. All entries must be original and entirely created by the entrant. There are no restrictions on what an entrant can use to color the image. Entries will be judged based on creativity, coloring skill and overall artistic ability according to that age category. One winner from each age group (5-12, 13-19, 20 and older) will be determined by the judges in their sole discretion. The decisions of the judges will be final.

All entries become the property of TBR News Media and Bank of America and may be used or reproduced in any manner and for any purpose by TBR NewsMedia and Bank of America without additional consent or compensation, and will not be acknowledged or returned. Winners will have their art work displayed in a local branch of Bank of America. By participating, Contest entrants: (1) represent that they have complied with these Official Contest Rules; (2) have received parental consent and grant TBR news Media and Bank of America the right to use his or her name, city, state, and likeness, (3) release TBR News Media and Bank of America from all and all liability in connection with this Contest. TBR News Media is not responsible for lost, late or misdirected entries, or incomplete/incorrect entries.

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA • 185 ROUTE 25A, SETAUKET, NY 11733 631.751.7744 • tbrnewsmedia.com

©85280

COVID-19 infections increasing, concerns climb about the fall

PAGE A8 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Comsewogue school board election

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

A closer look at some of the candidates

Next week, residents of Comsewogue school district will decide upon the election of two candidates for school board.

The terms for trustees Robert DeStefano and Francisca Alabau-Blatter are expiring and both are running for reelection. On Tuesday, May 17, voters will determine who will fill these seats for the next three years.

TBR News Media reached out to the declared candidates, asking them why they are running, what are the most important issues facing the district in the coming term and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Meghan Puleo and Alabau-Blatter could not be reached for interviews. We welcome Puleo and AlabauBlatter to reach out to us and we will update this story on our website to include these interviews.

School

Robert DeStefano

DeStefano said he is running for reelection out of love for his community. He added that he and his wife grew up in the community, bought a house there and believe in the importance of giving back.

“To serve this community in this capacity is something that I had the honor of doing for the last dozen years,” he said. “There are still a lot of good things to continue to do, and there are always things that we can be working on to improve.”

According to him, there is still much to be done in terms of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He said this is still the greatest issue facing the district.

“Right now it’s all about making sure we get the kids recovered from the last couple of years,”

Declared candidates for the Comsewogue School District’s upcoming BOE election. Calls from TBR News Media were not returned by press time for Meghan Puleo and Francisca Alabau-Blatter. Please tune in to tbrnewsmedia.com to follow future updates to this story. Left to right: Robert DeStefano, Joseph Borruso, Gary Bodenburg, Francisca AlabauBlatter and Meghan Puleo. Photos from candidates and LinkedIn; photo for Puleo could not be found

he said, adding, “We’ve all been through a lot in getting through the pandemic and making sure that for any students that are still feeling the effects of learning loss, we catch them up.”

If elected for another term, DeStefano said his principal objective is, aside from what was previously stated, to help introduce the new programs coming to the district.

“We have a lot of exciting things coming into the district,” he said. “We are introducing

COVID-19

Continued from A7 developing symptoms.

Those who contract COVID-19 have several therapeutic options, especially if they have mild-to-moderate symptoms and are at risk for severe disease.

“COVID-19 antiviral medications or therapies should be started within five to seven days of symptom onset,” Pigott explained.

Nachman added that treatments for Covid include monoclonal antibodies and Paxlovid.

“They can be difficult to get, difficult to take and, particularly for Paxlovid, have serious drug-drug interactions,” Nachman cautioned. “They are indicated for those with underlying medical issues.

Other therapies, although less commonly available, include intravenous remdesivir.”

Khlat said he’d recently heard of two cases in which patients took a five-day course of Paxlovid.

“A week or two later, they came back for monoclonal antibodies,” he said. People had “relapsed from Paxlovid. That, I never heard of before.”

Generally, Khlat said Paxlovid works well, although he, too, cautioned about drug interactions.

With fewer and shorter hospital stays for people who contract COVID-19, hospitals continue to have capacity. “We are not seeing an influx of patients getting admitted for COVID,” Khlat said.

a nine-period day in our high school. We have plans to bring that into our middle school to give our students more options for additional classes.” He added that he intends to perfect these programs as they are implemented by “making sure that these initiatives thrive and become part of the curriculum, so that our younger students and our future students can count on them beyond the life of just this term.”

Joseph Borruso

Borruso said that a number of people throughout the community are seeking change in the school district.

“A lot of the candidates have been there for 10-plus years now, so they just want some fresh people in there,” he said. “My background I think is a perfect fit. I have a bachelor’s in finance and accounting, so I think I would be a good addition to help out in all aspects of the school board and the community.”

If elected, Borruso intends to focus on the curriculum and academic programs throughout the district. “We’re ranked well below some of the similar-sized schools, like Mount Sinai, Rocky Point and Miller Place,” he said. “I don’t think we’re as bad as the rankings show but I’ll dig deep into how these rankings are done and processed, and see what we can do better to get our rankings up.”

Borruso said active participation on the school board will be his principal objective. “I want to go there with a fresh way of thinking

and utilize my background and skills to help push a positive agenda forward,” he said.

Gary Bodenburg

Bodenburg said he has served the community in various capacities through committees throughout the district.

According to him, he is currently the director of curriculum and instruction for a nonprofit organization that helps women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

“It’s safe to say that I am really doing this to move together as a community, enrich the lives of all of our children and support our staff and teachers to the best of my ability,” he said.

Bodenburg emphasized the importance of costs and fiscal responsibility. At a time of great uncertainty, he suggests thoughtful consideration of budgets to be paramount.

“It’s important to be mindful and to make sure that our budget is very tight,” he said.

“We need to be extremely mindful of the circumstances surrounding what’s happening in our world and our fiscal responsibilities to our constituents.”

Bodenburg said his principal objective is to improve communication and transparency among all stakeholders and constituents throughout the district, adding, “And with that, our goal is to advocate for children. That is the most important thing that we need to do as board members.”

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A9

One-on-one with Rebecca Kassay Port Jeff village trustee on her environmental role in crafting village policies

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Village of Port Jefferson trustee Rebecca Kassay is at the forefront of several environmental initiatives. TBR News Media caught up with her for an exclusive interview to discuss these matters in depth.

In this interview, Kassay addresses her early involvement in community organizing, her first term as trustee and her vision for the village and its environment.

What is your background and why did you get involved in local government?

I went to SUNY New Paltz for a degree in environmental studies and a minor in communications and media. During the summers between my semesters there, I interned at Avalon Nature Preserve in Stony Brook. I worked with their three week teen program and, in working with these young people, I saw how excited they became and how engaged they were with their local community and their environment.

Interning over the summers, I began a dialogue with the park director to say, “Hey, wouldn’t it be great if there was a year-round program to engage the youth in this area to do things like habitat restoration, species studies and beach cleanups?” When I graduated from New Paltz, I got a call from the director and she said, “That idea that we’ve been talking about, do you want to give that a shot? Do you want to try to start that program?”

At 21 I was starting my own program at a nonprofit. It was very overwhelming, but we started off strong and just kept building. I ended up working with hundreds of teenagers over

the course of seven years at Avalon, engaging with dozens of nonprofits in the area and seeing what their environmental goals were. After working there for seven years, I began asking myself: “What’s next? What is it that I want to continue doing to build upon this experience?”

In 2013 I started a bed and breakfast at my home and it opened in 2014. I essentially had two full-time jobs — one as a Port Jefferson business owner and one working at Avalon Park and Preserve. I decided to hand the program off to someone else at Avalon and just run the bed and breakfast while I figured out where I wanted to take my skill set.

When COVID hit, I coordinated over 40,000 pieces of homemade PPE and comfort care items to frontline workers during the height of the pandemic. Through that, I began talking to local politicians about this effort and in Port Jefferson, someone said, “Hey, why don’t you consider running for office?” That sounded like a pretty cool way to get involved, so I started collecting my signatures. I ran unopposed and have had a really interesting first term.

What ignited your interest environmental issues?

in

Back in the 12th grade [at Smithtown High School], I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I took Advanced Placement Environmental Science. It was the first course that I took that seemed to be very practicable. I felt that everybody should be taking this course because it has to do with how we interact with what’s around us. If you are humble enough and you’re willing to frighten yourself with the facts of where we might be going if we just continue on the path of neglecting our relationship with the environment, then it’s something scary to think about.

It’s very apparent to me and others that we need to start making some changes. We need to figure out which changes to make in order to help the Earth continue to exist in a meaningful way.

What are some of the most pressing environmental issues facing the village of Port Jefferson?

Rebecca Kassay introducing a youth committee at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy, 2016. Photo courtesy of Kassay

In my view, many of the environmental hazards facing the village stem from climate change, which is something that a lot of people don’t want to talk about. The impacts of climate change are relatively new. It’s really in the past decade or so that we’re starting to see these more frequent and intense storms and more rain from these storms. What everyone has always done in the past is not working anymore. The types

of decisions that are being made, the ways decisions are being made — they need to take climate change into account.

It’s not going to get any better, it’s just going to continue getting worse.

Climate change is a lens through which we have to view pretty much all of our problems, especially being a portside village. We have a very tight relationship with the water — the harbor and the Long Island Sound. If we don’t Trustee Rebecca Kassay (bottom-left) with a group of gardeners and volunteers at the newly start looking at the established Beach Street Community Garden. Photo courtesy of Kassay facts that are being given to us by engineers and scientists, we’re to meeting them. not going to be making the best decisions for Has the village considered adding Port Jefferson residents, not just today but Port rain gardens?

Jefferson residents 20 or 50 years from now.

The village was granted funding for three What are your thoughts on the state rain gardens and those rain gardens are in front of village hall, the village center and of Port Jefferson Harbor?

I know that the Setauket Harbor Task Force the DPW planning department uptown. Those does a wonderful job. It may sound like they’re are great examples of the types of plants just in Setauket, but they also steward the Port you would put in rain gardens. I personally Jefferson Harbor. They do a wonderful job think they are very beautiful and they can monitoring the harbor’s water quality and make really help to retain stormwater, especially great efforts to identify solutions and put them on individuals’ properties. It’s a beautiful into place. I think that the harbor itself is doing addition, as opposed to this very expensive fairly well thanks to these environmental groups. cistern in the ground that you might have to put in to retain your stormwater. And it’s also There are some issues. I myself have a great for the environment. sailboat and I’ve become more acquainted over the past few years in how boaters can affect the You have prioritized planting trees water. I’m really glad that we have a free pump- throughout the village. What will out boat in our harbor that will empty your boat’s sewage tanks for free. You just have to these new trees do for overall call them and the boat will come over because environmental quality? boaters’ sewage can have a very negative effect There are so many reasons we are pushing on our harbor. However, the water quality itself to plant more trees. The presence of trees helps seems to be quite good. in the absorption of stormwater. Large trees will lower the general temperatures in the What is the village doing to comply area where you have a critical mass of trees, with new DEC guidelines regulating so homeowners will spend less fuel and less on air conditioning in the summer and stormwater runoff into harbors money even heating in the winter because trees can and bays? block wind coming off the harbor.

I can’t speak to the absolute current status of For folks who are not as in love with the them, but I know that the village is very aware of the upcoming regulations and is looking ONE-ON-ONE CONTINUED ON A12 closely to see what is the best pathway forward

PAGE A10 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Port Jefferson Smithtown West

1 20

Bulls deluge Royals with 20 goals

BY BILL LANDON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM A steady drizzle made for a wet Port Jefferson lacrosse field and a downpour of goals by the visiting Bulls of Smithtown West.

In this Division II match-up on May 6, the Bulls attained a commanding 13-0 lead by halftime. Port Jeff senior midfielder Blake Roberts scored midway through the third quarter to avert the shutout. Smithtown West’s offensive bombardment was simply too much as the Bulls cruised their way to victory, winning the contest 20-1.

West’s senior attack Ryan Trebing had five assists and three goals. Colin Hansen scored five, and teammate Tom

Sports

Hyland found the cage three times along with two assists.

The win keeps Smithtown West solidly in third spot in the division, behind Shoreham-Wading River and Mount Sinai with three games remaining before the playoffs begin May 17.

Pictured clockwise from above: Port Jeff freshman attack Ryan Filippi pushes up-field; senior Blake Roberts with a take-away; senior attack Michael Scannell looks for a cutter.

Opposite page, pictured clockwise from top-left: Port Jeff midfielder Jonah Pflaster fires at the cage; sophomore attack Patrick Johnston turns up-field; attack Matthew Buonomo pushes to the outside; senior Kyle Yannucci clears the ball up-field.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Go to tbrnewsmedia.com for more sports photos

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A11

tbrnewsmedia.com Goforto more sports photos

PAGE A12 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

One-on-one with Rebecca Kassay Continued from A9

environment as myself and many others, they should know that planting more trees statistically increases property values. To have these larger legacy trees on your property gives the property itself and the neighborhood a greater sense of being established.

Trees are a staple in the ecosystem, providing a habitat for birds, pollinators and critters of all sorts, and these species are beautiful. I joke and say that the reason I bought my house in particular is because it has a beautiful oak on the front corner. I really love being the steward of that oak. It was there way before I was born and I think it will be there after I pass. It’s an honor to have the responsibility of taking care of the property that it lives on.

This month, the Six Acre Park Committee will present to the Board of Trustees. Can you provide readers a preview of that?

Absolutely. The committee has found consensus in agreeing on a mini arboretumlike park [at Highlands Boulevard], planted a bit more densely and focusing mainly on native species of trees. These are the species of trees and shrubs that have been evolving in this area for eons, so the local and migratory wildlife rely on these species. These are our oaks, these are our tulip poplars, these are the species that were here before people started moving in, harvesting timber and building homes and roads.

The concept is to give back to nature. Instead of taking trees down to build a parking lot or a development project, we’re actually putting the forest back. Not only is it going to be aesthetically beautiful, it will also be something

valuable for wildlife and for wildlife lovers. If you go for a walk through this park, there will be a walking path throughout it. It’s a chance to bathe in nature and observe the beauty of what’s around you.

What can residents do to help improve environmental quality?

I think the village government has a great opportunity to set the precedent for our residents and say, “This is a village that prioritizes environmental efforts.” I am working to be a strong voice to keep that in the conversation so that whatever we’re looking at, we’re considering how this may affect the environment and to see if there are any opportunities to have a positive effect on the environment.

As far as residents go, I’m delighted in starting our first community garden in Port Jefferson village. I’ve also been working on these Arbor Day efforts. I pushed to start the committee on the Six Acre Park. Through creating all of these venues, I’m looking to tap back into my community organizing background and have it not just be the government taking action, but the government engaging its residents in being a part of that action. When someone feels that they are a part of something, they’re much more likely to follow through, to feel proud of it and talk to other people about it.

Do you believe the village is on the right track in terms of environmental quality?

I think that the village and the Town [of Brookhaven] and Long Island and the nation and the world still have a lot of work to be done. As far as getting closer to considering the environment in every decision-making process, I don’t think the village is any more ahead or behind any of our neighboring municipalities.

I would love to help the Village of Port Jeff get put on the map as an environmentally minded village, a village that takes this into account.

Again, every decision has to be a balance, but I think the environment has to be a higher priority in most decision-making processes because I see the window of opportunity closing to start pulling ourselves out of a direction that will negatively affect Port Jefferson residents, Long Islanders and people across the globe. It’s these local actions that can have a big impact.

Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?

Trustee Rebecca Kassay with the members of the Six Acre Park Committee at their first meeting in 2021, above. A ribboncutting ceremony at the first of four Relic beach cleanup stations in Port Jeff village, below. Photos courtesy of Kassay

I am very cognizant of the fact that we are not the only ones experiencing flooding or a decrease in tree coverage or any other environmental issue. I’ve started reaching out to nonprofits, to other villages, to people at different levels of government, asking to learn from their experiences so that we can move more efficiently in our local efforts here. To me, it’s very important to not try to reinvent the wheel every time you want to do something.

Trustee Rebecca Kassay holding 300 tree and shrub saplings from the Saratoga Tree Nursery, which were distributed and planted as part of the village’s Arbor Day celebration.

Photo courtesy of Kassay

This networking has been very helpful both in refining concepts that we might want to put into place in Port Jefferson and also in bringing funding into the village so that these aren’t taxpayer-supported projects but grantsupported projects. If we can start a great project and bring in a lot of grant money, then it’s just a win-win across the board.

Also, one of my goals is to open peoples’ eyes to the miracles of nature on their own streets and in their own yards. We often think of nature as something to visit in state or national parklands, when in reality a relationship with, and a stewardship of, urban and suburban nature is equally profound and important. Far beyond the increasingly evident practicality of environmentalism, there’s a great joy to be embraced.

I work to help folks see nature as an asset, as something to enjoy and protect, instead of the current narrative that often paints nature as inconvenient or consciously in opposition to humanity.

Ironically, despite the narrative that environmentally minded actions or solutions are burdensome, there are often significant taxpayer cost savings in the long run. Taxpayers benefit when inevitable environmental issues are initially addressed with a long-term solution, instead of a series of Band-Aids which eventually fail and must be replaced by that same long-term solution.

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A13

84130

“Long Island‛s Island‛s Largest Largest Seller of Palm “Long Palm Trees” Trees”

Local businesses and restaurants need your support more than ever. Whether you visit stores, get delivery or shop online, keep your spending local and keep your community healthy.

85690

6 3 1 - 4 0 3 - 02 2 3 2956 Rt. 112 Medford, NY

We Sell the “Windmill Palm Tree” Guaranteed to Survive the Winter!!!

Quality Palm Trees & Plants at Affordable Prices

Order Online or Call

Newspapers are LOCAL. We are dedicated to keeping you informed, safe and connected and care about the issues that are important to our neighbors, our schools and our businesses.

Ask about Tiki Bar Rental Extra 10% OFF for your with Promonext Code NYS501 Party!

When you support your local newspaper, you support your community.

Local businesses and restaurants need your support more than

www.islandwidepalmtrees.com 631.714.7256 www.islandwidepalmtrees.com 631.403.0223

ever. Whether you visit stores, get delivery or shop online, keep your spending local and keep your community healthy.

Make a Statement...

SUPPORT LOCALto keeping you Newspapers are LOCAL. We are dedicated informed, safe and connected and NEWSPAPER care about the issues that SUPPORT YOUR are important to our neighbors, our schools and our businesses.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Subscrib eN Print, Dig ow, ital Mobile a & When you support your localANnewspaper, EXCELLENCE. WE MAKE ISSUE n Save Mon d ey off IT EVERY WEEK. you supportOFyour community.

Newssta nds

SELECT LENGTH OF SUBSCRIPTION

SELECT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER  The Village TIMES HERALD  The Village BEACON RECORD  The Port TIMES RECORD  The TIMES of Smithtown  The TIMES of Huntington & Northports  The TIMES of Middle Country

1 YEAR 2 YEARS 3 YEARS

00 $ 5900 $99SUPPORT 11900 LOCAL

$

America’s Newspapers is a national association supporting journalism and healthy newspapers in our local communities.

Find out more at www.newspapers.org or follow us on Twitter @newspapersorg or on Facebook @americasnewspapers.

SUPPORT YOUR NEWSPAPER or call 631–751–7744 or online at SUBSCRIBE TODAY Out of County, additional $15 year.

Use this form to mail your subscription

tbrnewsmedia.com

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA, P.O.

BOX 707, SETAUKET, NY 11733

Please allow 4-6 weeks to start delivery and for any changes.

Name

­ ­

©81930

Address State Phone

Zip Email America’s Newspapers is a national association supporting journalism and healthy newspapers in our local communities.

Find out more at www.newspapers.org or follow us on Twitter @newspapersorg or on Facebook @americasnewspapers.

©83900

PAGE A14 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

From Cold Spring Harbor to Wading River – TBR NEWS MEDIA • Six Papers...Plus Our Website...One Price

CLASSIFIEDS 631.331.1154 or 631.751.7663 • tbrnewsmedia.com

Announcements MISSING CAT Black/White Cat, missing from South Street, Port Jefferson, missing since first week in March, responds to ”Baby” Please Call 631-331-6544.

Antiques & Collectibles ALWAYS BUYING ANTIQUES Old clocks, lamps, mirrors, watches etc. Anything Old or Unusual. 631-633-9108 SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION

CASH FOR ALL CARS AND CASH FOR JUNK CARS WANTED. No Key, No Title, No Problem. Free Pick-up. Habla Espanol. Call 631-445-1848.

SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION. JUNK CARS BOUGHT! We’ll Beat Any Price.

Call 631-500-1015. SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION. TOP CASH PAID FOR ALL TRUCKS, CARS, & VANS. Highest prices paid for fixable vehicles. Call Mark 631-258-7919. SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Auto Services DRIVE OUT BREAST CANCER Donate a car today, The benefits of donatingyour car or boat, Fast Free Pickup, 24hr Response, Tax Deduction, Easy To Do, Call 24/7855-905-4755.

FREE 12 foot aluminum boat with trailer, Setauket area, never used, 631-334-2428.

Musical Instruments BLUES MAN PIANO TUNING Certified piano technician, 631-681-9723, bluesmanpianotuning@gmail. com, www.bluesmanpianotuning.com

Novenas PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (Never Known To Fail) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed mother of the Son of God, immaculate virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh star of the sea, help me & show me here in, you are my mother.

Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity There are none who can withstand your power.

Oh show me herein you are my mother. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

(3 times). Oh Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands.

(3 times). Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can obtain my goals.

You gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me, and that in all instances of my life, you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. M.L. The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days. The request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor has been granted. With Thanks M.L.

TRAVELING? Need someone to check on your home?

Contact Tender Loving Pet Care, LLC. We’re more than just pets. Insured/Bonded.

631-675-1938

CLASSIFIED DEADLINE is Tuesday at noon.

If you want to advertise, do it soon!

631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

Financial Services ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-5361 (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)

Schools/Instruction/ Tutoring PIANO - GUITAR - BASS All ages-levels-styles.

Many local references.

Recommended by all area s c h o o l s . To n y M a n n , 631-473-3443, 631-332-6005

Miscellaneous

TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 751-7744

DIRECTV FOR $79.99/MO FOR 12 MONTHS with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, news & entertainment anywhere. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included!

Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.)

Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-534-6918

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply.

Promo Expires 1/21/23.

1-888-609-9405

Rescued Animals For Adoption 608 Route 112 • Port Jefferson Station 631.473.6333 @saveapetanimalrescue @saveapetanimalrescue

Miscellaneous WHEELS FOR WISHES BENEF I T I N G M A K E - A - W I S H ® NORTHEAST NEW YORK. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever! Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100% Tax Deductible.

Minimal To No Human Contact.

Call: (877) 798-9474. Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. www. wheelsforwishes.org.

ADVERTISE FOR RESULTS 631-751-7663 FILL000060

“Nitro” is not even 2 years old but he was raised 25 feet away from his brother Waylon, both living in squalor tied up to ramshackle dog houses filled with garbage. They’ve never know what it is to play or to be loved. Now he has that chance. Will you give it to him?

We Publish Novenas Please call or email and ask about our very reasonable rates.

631.331.1154 • class@tbrnewsmedia.com TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA

©61870

***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS Highest Cash Paid, All Years/ Conditions, WE VISIT YOU, Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Cash.

DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS. 516-297-2277

Merchandise

TENDER LOVING PET CARE, LLC. Pet Sitting Services.

When you need to leave town, why disrupt your pet’s routine.

Let your pets enjoy the comforts of home while receiving TLC from a PSI Certified professional Pet Sitter. Experienced, reliable. Ins/Bonded.

631-675-1938 tenderlovingpetcarellc.com

Housesitting Services

©85710

Automobiles/Trucks Vans/Rec Vehicles

ATTENTION VIAGRA USERS: Generic 100mg blue pills or generic 20mg yellow pills. Get 45 plus 5 free $99 + S/H. Call Today. 877-707-5523

Pets/Pet Services

©105747

YARD SALE SETAUKET FRIDAY 5/13 10:00-4:00PM, SATURDAY 5/14 10:00-3:00PM 2 LEDGEWOOD CIRCLE Lots of good stuff.

Health, Fitness & Beauty

101872

Garage Sales

Limousine Services SUFFOLK LIMO Wine Tours, Events, Hamptons, NYC, Serving all airports, Professional drivers, luxury suv’s, sedans and Sprinter vans. Book online, Suffolklimoservice.com 1-800-364-7049, 631-771-7991.

Finds Under 50

Call today and receive a

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF

CRAFTSMAN GAS PUSH LAWN MOWER. Starts and runs well. $50.00. 631- 219-6857 JOHN DEERE-WEIGHTS FOR TRACTOR 42 lbs, new in original box, $35 for two, 631-941-4425.

WINDOW DEFLECTORS FOR FORD F-150 super-cab Asking $35.00 Call 631-744-3722

1-855-916-5473 With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445

FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT

85740

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A15

WE ARE:

CONTACT US:

BASIC AD RATES • FIRST 20 WORDS

The Village TIMES HERALD The Village BEACON RECORD The Port TIMES RECORD The TIMES of Smithtown The TIMES of Middle Country The TIMES of Huntington, Northport & East Northport

1 Week $29.00 4 Weeks $99.00 DISPLAY ADS Call for rates.

SPECIALS*

tbrnewsmedia.com ©98619

*May change without notice REAL ESTATE FREE FREE FREE ACTION AD 20 words Merchandise DISPLAY ADS $44 for 4 weeks under Ask about our for all your used $50 15 words Contract Rates. merchandise 1 item only.

EMPLOYMENT GARAGE SALE Fax•Mail•E-mail Buy 2 weeks of ADS $29.00 Drop Off any size BOXED 20 words Include Name, ad get 2 weeks Address, Phone # Free 2 signs with free placement of ad

GENERAL OFFICE 631–751–7744 Fax 631–751–4165 This Publication is Subject to All Fair Housing Acts OFFICE HOURS Monday–Friday 10:00 am–4:00 pm

INDEX

OFFICE • IN-PERSON

(40¢ each additional word)

The Classifieds Section is published by TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA every Thursday. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher, Sheila Murray, Classifieds Director. We welcome your comments and ads.

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA will not be responsible for errors after the first week’s insertion. Please check your ad carefully. • Statewide or Regional Classifieds also available - Reach more than 7 million readers in New York’s community newspapers.

Line ads 25 words : Long Island region $69 - $129 – New York City region $289 - $499 – Central region $29 - $59 – Western region $59 - $99 - Capital region $59 - $99 – all regions $389 - $689 words. $10 each additional word. Call for display ad rates.

TBR News Media 185 Route 25A (Bruce Street entrance) Setauket, NY 11733 Call: 631-331-1154 or 631-751-7663

MAIL ADDRESS TBR News Media Classifieds Department P.O. Box 707 Setauket, NY 11733

EMAIL class@tbrnewsmedia.com CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS:

(631) 331–1154 or (631) 751–7663 Fax (631) 751–4165 class@tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com

The following are some of our available categories listed in the order in which they appear.

• Garage Sales • Computer Services • Announcements • Electricians • Antiques & Collectibles • Financial Services • Automobiles/Trucks etc.

• Furniture Repair • Finds under $50 • Handyman Services • Health/Fitness/Beauty • Home Improvement • Merchandise • Lawn & Landscaping • Personals • Painting/Wallpaper • Novenas • Plumbing/Heating • Pets/Pet Services • Power Washing • Professional Services • Roofing/Siding • Schools/Instruction/Tutoring • Tree Work • Wanted to Buy • Window Cleaning • Employment • Real Estate • Cleaning • Residential Property • Commercial Property • Out of State Property DEADLINE: Tuesday at Noon

Prepare for power outages today

DENTAL Insurance

WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR

Call to get your FREE Information Kit

from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

1-855-225-1434

$0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE

Dental50Plus.com/nypress

C A L L N OW B E F O R E T H E N E X T P OW E R O U TAG E

Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer.

Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds: B438, B439 (GA: B439B).

(877) 516-1160

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value!

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.

84400

BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND

CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE

84360

Prepare for Power Outages & Save Money

EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!

15

D

�

% & OFF

R

TH

1

’S

GU

TT

NATIO

N

E

6208-0721

ER GUA

YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE *

FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!

1

+

Promo Code: 285

84370

1

Subject to credit approval. Call for details.

CALL US TODAY FOR

A FREE ESTIMATE

5% OFF

10

% OFF

PWRcell, Generac’s fully-integrated solar + battery storage system, stores solar energy that can power your whole home during utility power outages and save you money on your electric bill.

SENIORS & MILITARY!

WE INSTALL YEAR-ROUND!

TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY! **

R E Q U E S T A F R E E Q U OT E !

LIFETIME WARRANTY

1-855-478-9473

Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST

)RU WKRVH ZKR TXDOLI\ 2QH FRXSRQ SHU KRXVHKROG 1R REOLJDWLRQ HVWLPDWH YDOLG IRU \HDU 2΍ HU YDOLG DW WLPH RI HVWLPDWH RQO\ 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.”

CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 RegistraWLRQ Ζ5 5HJLVWUDWLRQ 9+ 5HJLVWUDWLRQ 3$ 6X΍ RON +Ζ& License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114

ACT NOW

TO RECEIVE A $300 SPECIAL OFFER!* (888) 871-0194 $ 0 D OW N F I N A N C I N G O P T I O N S ! * * *Offer value when purchased at retail. **Financing available through authorized Generac partners.

Solar panels sold separately.

84390

SELL YOUR USED MERCHANDISE & MAKE DOLLARS AND ROOM 4 wks/$44/20 words $.40 ea. additional word

©101636

6 Newspapers/Internet Site ~ Huntington to Wading River ~ Deadline: Tuesday at noon.

Call 631–331–1154 or 631–751–7663 • TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA • tbrnewsmedia.com

PAGE A16 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

E M PL OY M E N T / C A R E E R S

INSURANCE CSR Licensed and Experienced Excellent communication skills and professional work ethic required. Working Knowledge of Insurance agency operations.

Able to work In office environment. Salary Commensurate with experience Since 1988 Shore Line insurance 8 Broadway Rocky Point NY Call Scott Horowitz @631-744-1200

BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440.

(M-F 8am-6pm ET)

small space

BIG RESULTS

BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG

Dental Assistant

Busy Alternative Care Office seeks front desk/assistant for appointment scheduling, filing, phones and more.

Must be people oriented and a multi-tasker.

Monday 3:00-Close, Wednesday 3:00-Close Friday 8:30-3:00 Must be flexible to cover shifts Call 631.979.2977 NOTICE OF AVAILABLE POSITION Part-Time Groundskeeper I (2 Positions)

State of the art, fee for service Three Village Prosthodontic Practice seeks intelligent, caring, efficient individual to join our congenial and supportive staff as a Dental Assistant for 16 hrs. per week Monday & Wednesday. If employment in a respectful, upbeat, patient-centered dental office that offers competitive salary is what you are looking for, we look forward to meeting you.

Required Qualifications • 2 yrs experience in a dental office • Computer competence: Dentrix Software • Digital x-ray expertise • Familiarity with sophisticated prosthetic procedures • The ability to prioritize during a busy day, placing our patients’ needs first References a must • Non-smoker

Call 631.689.5555

FRONT DESK/ASSISTANT

©84990

FRONT DESK/ASSISTANT wanted for Busy Alternative Care Office. Call Bio Energetics Nutrition 631-979-2977. SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION.

WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED HHA, LPN, Nurse’s Aide, Childcare, Housekeeping & Day Workers. No Fees to Employers.

Call Evons Services 516-505-5510

General job duties include: • Performs a variety of light and heavy manual laboring tasks in the maintenance of the grounds at all four Library Buildings. Tasks to be performed use hand and power tools.

• Gives minor routine maintenance service to grounds keeping equipment.

• Removes snow. Salts and sands driveways and sidewalks. Performs custodial tasks during winter months.

Applicants must possess and maintain a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State.

Entry level salary is $17.69 per hour.

Interested candidates please email a letter of application, and your résumé to smithjob@smithlib.org ©83410

Insurance CSR Licensed and Experienced Excellent communication skills and professional work ethic required.

Working Knowledge of Insurance agency operations.

Able to work In office environment.

Salary Commensurate with experience.

Since 1988 8 Broadway Rocky Point NY Call Scott Horowitz @631-744-1200

©86320

DENTAL ASSISTANT State of the art, fee for service Three Village Prosthodontic Practice, 2 yrs experience in a dental office Computer competence: Dentrix Software Digital x-ray expertise, Familiarity with sophisticated prosthetic procedures ability to prioritize during a busy day, placing our patients’ needs first, References a must, Non-smoker Call 631-689-5555.

OPEN HOUSE Join Our Team! We currently have openings in our O. B. Davis Funeral Homes Sunday, May 22, 2022 10 AM -1 PM O.B. Davis Funeral Homes 4839 Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Sta., NY 11776 *Funeral Service Assistants * Receptionists * Pallbearers * Drivers*Cleaning/Maintenance * Funeral Directors * Preneed Counselors*

PART TIME ASSISTANT/ SECRETARY Congenial Stony Brook Law Office, Hours flexible, Computer/Word Savy, Fax resume with cover letter, 631-751-8665.

Help Wanted

©86280

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now, Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details, (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

Help Wanted

©105751

PUBLISHER’S EMPLOYMENT NOTICE: All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to section 296 of the human rights law which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, disability, marital status, sex, age or arrest conviction record or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Title 29, U.S. Code Chap 630, excludes the Federal Gov’t. from the age discrimination provisions. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for employment which is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that employment offerings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Help Wanted

OPEN HOUSE – Join Our Team!

We currently have openings in our O. B. Davis Funeral Homes Sunday, May 22, 2022 10 AM – 1 PM O.B. Davis Funeral Homes 4839 Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Sta., NY 11776

*Funeral Service Assistants * Receptionists * Pallbearers * Drivers* *Cleaning/Maintenance * Funeral Directors * Preneed Counselors* Flexible per-diem scheduling for both the day, evening & weekend

These positions interact directly with client families during their time of need and are responsible for creating and maintaining a premier level of service.

This is the opportunity to join our Dignity Memorial team which received the Best Places to Work Certification since 2017!

86410

Part-Time Sales/ Customer Service

• Retain & grow client base • Computer experience and excellent spelling skills helpful • Sales or customer service experience a must • Must have good people and communication skills

Fax resume to 631-751-4165 email resume:

class@tbrnewspapers.com

©86200

Help Wanted

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A17

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

Carpentry LONG HILL CARPENTRY 45 years experience All phases of home improvement. Old & Historic Restorations. Lic.#H22336/Ins. 631-751-1764 longhill7511764@aol.com

Cesspool Services MR SEWERMAN CESSPOOL SERVICE All types of cesspool servicing, all work guaranteed, family owned and operated since 1985, 631-924-7502.

Licensed and Insured.

Cleaning ORGANIZER any room $15.00 an hour, minimum 4 hours, free estimates, Setauket, Stony Brook, St. James area.

Doreen 631-656-3417.

Clean-Ups LET STEVE DO IT Clean-ups, yards, basements, whole house, painting, tree work, local moving and anything else. Totally overwhelmed?

Call Steve @ 631-745-2598, leave message.

Exterminating ALL PURPOSE LANDSCAPING Tree spraying, exterminating, owner operated, licensed/ insured, 631-924-4099 See Display Ad for coupon and more information.

REACT PEST CONTROL INC. Wasps, Yellow Jackets Nesting in your home! Protect your home before those pesky nests are built. SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Exterminating

Home Improvement

SCIENTIFIC EXTERMINATING SERVICES let’s all stay safe, ecological protection, ticks, ants, mosquitoes, termites, Natural Organic products 631265-5252-SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Fences SMITHPOINT FENCE. DEER PROBLEM? WE CAN HELP! Wood, PVC, Chain Link, Stockade. Free estimates.

Now offering 12 month interest free financing.

Commercial/Residential.

70 Jayne Blvd., PJS. Lic.37690H/Ins. 631-743-9797 www.smithpointfence.com.

Floor Services/Sales FINE SANDING & REFINISHING Wood Floor Installations Craig Aliperti, Wood Floors LLC. All work done by owner.

30 years experience.

Lic.#47595-H/Insured.

631-875-5856

Furniture/Restoration/ Repairs REFINISHING & RESTORATION Antiques restored, repairing recane, reupholstery, touch-ups kitchen, front doors, 40 yrs exp, SAVE$$$, free estimates.

Vincent Alfano 631-707-1228

Gutters/Leaders E L I M I N AT E G U T T E R CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection.

Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify.

PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-763-2379

ALL PHASES OF HOME IMPROVEMENT From attic to your basement, RCJ Construction www.rcjconstruction.com commercial/residential, lic/ins 631-580-4518.

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636 BLUSTAR CONSTRUCTION The North Shore’s Most Trusted Renovation Experts.

631-751-0751 We love small jobs too!

Suffolk Lic. #48714-H, Ins. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION. LAMPS FIXED, $65.

In Home Service!! Handy Howard. My cell 646-996-7628 NEVER PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIRS AGAIN, Complete Care Home Warranty, Covers all major systems and appliances. 30 day risk free. $200.00 OFF +2 FREE Months, 866-440-6501 THE GENERAC PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system.

SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194 WIREMAN/CABLEMAN Flat TVs mounted, Phone, TVs & Computer wiring installed & serviced, camera & stereos, HDTV Antennas, FREE TV www.davewireman.com Call Dave 516-433-WIRE (9473) 631-667-WIRE (9473) or Text 516-353-1118

EXTRA! EXTRA! ADVERTISE HERE! ©FILL000046

Masonry

Home Repairs/ Construction GENERAL CONTRACTOR, TILE & MASONRY SPECIALIST. 20 years of experience.

Also clean-ups and junk removal. Call 631-232-0174. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE DISPLAY AD. J O E ’ S G E N E R A L CONTRACTING Update your Home Now! Over 45 years of experience. Call 631-744-0752. SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Lawn & Landscaping SETAUKET LANDSCAPE DESIGN Stone Driveways/Walkways, Walls/Stairs/Patios/Masonry, Brickwork/Repairs Land Clearing/Drainage,Grading/ Excavating. Plantings/Mulch, Rain Gardens.

Steve Antos, 631-689-6082 setauketlandscape.com Serving Three Villages SWAN COVE LANDSCAPING Lawn Maintenance, Cleanups, Shrub/Tree Pruning, Removals. Landscape Design/ Installation, Ponds/Waterfalls, Stone Walls. Firewood. Free estimates. Lic/Ins.631-6898089

Landscape Materials SCREENED TOP SOIL Mulch, compost, decorative and driveway stone, concrete pavers, sand/block/portland.

Fertilizer and seed.

JOS. M. TROFFA MATERIALS CORP. 631-928-4665, www.troffa.com

CARL BONGIORNO LANDSCAPE/MASON CONTRACTOR All phases Masonry Work:Stone Walls, Patios, Poolscapes. All phases of Landscaping Design.

Theme Gardens. Residential & Commercial. Lic/Ins. 631-928-2110

Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper ALL PRO PAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR Power Washing, Staining, Wallpaper Removal. Free estimates. Lic/Ins #19604HI 631-696-8150. Nick BOB’S PAINTING SERVICE 25 Years Experience.

Interior/Exterior Painting, Spackling, Staining, Wallpaper Removal, Staining and Deck Restoration Power Washing.

Free Estimates. Lic/Ins. #17981.

631-744-8859 LA ROTONDA PAINTING & DESIGN Interior/exterior, sheetrock repairs, taping/spackling, wallpaper removal, faux, decorative finishings. Free estimates. Lic. #53278-H/Ins. Ross LaRotonda 631-689-5998 WORTH PAINTING “PAINTING WITH PRIDE” Interiors/exteriors. Staining & deck restoration, powerwashing, wallpaper removal, sheetrocktape/spackling, carpentry/trimwork. Lead paint certified. References. Free estimates. Lic./Ins. SINCE 1989 Ryan Southworth. SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFO. 631-331-5556

Plumbing/Heating

ADVERTISE FOR RESULTS 631-751-7663 FILL000060

HEAVYWEIGHT PLUMBING A roll of toilet paper stuffed in the drain and pleading for Heavyweight Plumbing to come and rescue it. 631-986-9516 All of Suffolk, Lic/ins.

Local Press 3X More Trusted than Social Media!

Power Washing POWERWASHING Residential-Commercial. Whatever the challenge, whatever the grime, Sparkling clean everytime! Call for free estimate.

631-240-3313. SEE DISPLAY AD FOR MORE INFO. THREE VILLAGE POWERWASHING LLC Protect your investment & freshen up your home, outside furniture, garage doors, gazebo, decks, patio, fence, porches, shed, etc Threevillagepowerwashing.com 631-678-7313.

Satellite TV BEST SATELLITE TV WITH 2 YEAR PRICE GUARANTEE, $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels, Free next day installation,Call 888-508-5313

Tree Work ARBOR-VISTA TREE CARE A COMPLETE TREE CARE SERVICE devoted to the care of trees. Maintenance pruning, water-view work, sun-trimming, elevating, pool areas, storm thinning, large tree removal, stump grinding. Wood chips.

Lic#18902HI. Free estimates.

631-246-5377 RANDALL BROTHERS TREE SERVICE Planting, pruning, removals, stump grinding. Free Estimates.

Fully insured.

LIC# 50701-H. 631-862-9291 SUNBURST TREE EXPERTS Since 1974, our history of customer satisfaction is second to none. Pruning/removals/ planting, plant health care.

Insect/ Disease Management.

ASK ABOUT GYPSY MOTH AND TICK SPRAYS Bonded employees. Lic/Ins. #8864HI 631-744-1577

©FILL000057

SERV ICES

PAGE A18 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

PROF E S SION A L & B U SI N E S S Blues Man Piano Tuning Brad Merila Certified Piano Technician 6 Barnwell Lane, Stony Brook

631.681.9723 bluesmanpianotuning@gmail.com bluesmanpianotuning.com

ALWAYS BUYING

AIRPORT LIMO SERVICE • Glassware • Military Items • China • Anything Old or Unusual

• Old Mirrors • Lamps • Clocks • Watches • Furniture

Wine Tours, Events, Hamptons, NYC Personal & Corporate Travel Professional Chauffeurs, Luxury SUV’s Sedans, Sprinter Vans, etc.

Book Online Now!

Suffolk Limo

LICENSED & BONDED

Call 631-633-9108

©86210

631-771-6991 • suffolklimoservice.com

©108135 ©84780

©85010

Place Your Ad in the

Professional Services Directory Single size

Ask about our 13 & 26 week special rates

$

228/4 weeks

Double size $

296/4 weeks

Buy

4 weeks and

get the

5th week

FREE

(631) 751.7663 or (631) 331.1154

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

HOME SERV ICES

ALL PRO PAINTING

GENERAL CONTRACTOR, TILE & MASONRY SPECIALIST

ALL WORK GUARANTEED FREE ESTIMATES INTERIOR • EXTERIOR • POWERWASHING CUSTOM WORK • STAINING • WALLPAPER REMOVAL

©86330

All Phases of Installation and Repairs 20 Years Cultured Stone, Stucco, Brick Work, Experience Asphalt Driveways and Sealers, Patios, Sidewalks, & Concrete.

Also Clean-ups and Junk Removal. Quality Work!

Neat, Clean and Reliable.

Lic#32372-H Call 631-232-0174 & Insured ©84800

EXPERIENCED AND RELIABLE

Nick Cordovano 631–696–8150

(631) 744-1577

LICENSED #19604-H & INSURED

Lic. 3637H

631–744–0752

©75530

Joe’s General Contracting All Forms of Masonry • Revitalization Projects • Driveways/Sidewalks • Pavers/ Brick/Block Work • Fireplace and Chimneys • Residential/Commercial • Culture Stone • Home Improvements

©82260

RANDALL BROTHERS TREE SERVICE

OVER 45 YEARS EXPERIENCE

©84610

82320

©Fill000040

Ins.

LAMPS FIXED $ 65

Planting  Grinding

In Home Service !!

Handy Howard

631-862-9291 516-319-2595 (cell & text)

My Cell 646-996-7628

Free Estimates

 LIC# 50701-H

©51030

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A19

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

HOME SERV ICES VINCENT ALFANO FURNITURE RESTORATION

Family Owned

WWW.EXPERTFURNITURERESTORATION.COM Give your home furniture a facelift C������� W���������� Refinish, a new look, refresh, make it look great again. � F�������� S��� We do it all.

PICK-UP & DELIVERY 40 Years Experience

• Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing • Upholstery • Table Pads • Water & Fire Damage Restoration • Insurance Estimates Licensed/Insured

631.707.1228 343 So. Country Rd., Brookhaven

©67460

Want to GrowYour Business?

Licensed & Insured #54076-MP

HEAVYWEIGHT PLUMBING A roll of toilet paper stuffed in the drain and pleading for

HEAVYWEIGHT PLUMBING to come and rescue it.

@74100

Cell: 631-986-9516 All of Suffolk

INTERIOR • EXTERIOR

534 North Country Rd., St. James, NY 11780 Find us on www.scientificext.com Facebook

Your Ad Could be Heree 631.331.1154

©75910

©96840

BOB’S PAINTING SERVICE 40 Y E A RS EX PER IENCE

Taping Spackling

• Interiors • Exteriors • Powerwashing • Staining & Deck Restoration • Wallpaper Removal • Gutter Cleaning • Spackling & Wall Restoration

Faux Finishes

CALLS PROMPTLY RETURNED

631–689–5998 Lic. # 53278-H/Ins.

45 YEARS EXPERIENCE

FREE ESTIMATES

631-744-8859 Lic./Ins. (#17,981)

Specializing in Paver Restoration Protect Your Investment & Freshen Up Your:

©84820

©84550

Power Washing

PAINTING & DESIGN

Wallpaper Removal

O wne r O pe rat ed S i n c e 19 78

Home Gazebo Outside Furniture Decks Garage Doors Patio

REFERENCES GLADLY GIVEN

Fence Porches Shed Etc.

ThreeVillagePowerWashing.com 74170

Decorative Finishes

631-678-7313

Insured

REFERENCES AVAILABLE 2021 WINNER

• Interi Interiors • Exteriors • Cabinet Refinishing, Staining & Painting • Faux Finishes • Power Washing • Wallpaper Removal • Tape & Spackling • Staining & Deck Restoration BBB A1 Rating #1 Recommendation on BBB website

longhill7511764@aol.com ✔ All Phases of Home Improvement ✔ Old & Historic Home Restorations ✔ Extensions & Dormers ✔ Kitchens & Baths

✔ Siding & Windows ✔ Porches & Decks ✔ Aging in Place Remodeling ✔ Custom Carpentry: Built-ins, Pantries, and More

“We take pride in our work”

Ryan Southworth 631-331-5556

Licensed/Insured

Licensed H-22336 and fully insured 84630

#37074-H; RI 18499-10-34230

Since 1989

©62710

FREE ESTIMATES

©84590

Full Service contractor – complete jobs from start to finish

CERTIFIED LEAD PAINT REMOVAL

PAGE A20 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

HOME SERV ICES PHOENIXSEALCOAT.com

RCJ

Craig Aliperti, Wood Floors,, LLC

Fine Sanding g & Refinishing g

The Low Cost Local Guys It’s NOT Amateur Hour at Phoenix...THE OWNER DOES EVERY JOB! and the means A LOT

CO N S T R U C T I O N From Your Attic To Your Basement

New Customers Only

All Phases of Home Improvement

$

K I TC H E N S • B AT H R O O M S • D O O R S • W I N D O W S • T I L E • F LO O R I N G C U S TO M F I N I S H E D C A R P E N T RY & M O L D I N G

10% OFF

Wood Floor Installations

25 OFF

Old Wood Floors Made Beautiful All Work Done By Owner

2022 Prices Residential Velvetop Specialist: Protect • Beautify Repair • Save!

www.rcjconstruction.com ©76950

(631) 580-4518 COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL • LIC. #H-32198/INS | OWNER OPERATED

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

For Immediate Quotes Call Or Text Doug:

631.331.9300

Additional Services Hot Patches • Striping Parking Lots Plow & Sanding

Formerly Of A Huntington Father & Son’s Business Lic. #47595-H/Insured

Or Email Doug@Phoenixsealcoat.com

631-875-5856

Sound Beach, LI - Licensed & Insured 29,906-HI-SUFFOLK

©83260

SPECIALIZING IN FINISHED BASEMENTS

82190

ALL PURPOSE LANDSCAPING Tree Spraying Exterminating

REACT

Ticks • Mosquitoes • Caterpillars Termites • Carpenter Ants T Inchworms • Gypsy Moths Ants A • Bees • All Other Pests

INSURED

PEST CONTROL

$

1000 OFF

DEER PROBLEM? WE CAN HELP.

LICENSED

OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE

©84740

631.924.4099

allpurposeexterminating.com

CALL 631-689-1421 www.reactpestcontrol.com

Now offering 12 month interest-free financing

(Lic. # 46456-H)

With This Coupon!

Family owned since 1993

Specializing in all phases of fencing: Wood • PVC • Chain Link • Stockade

New Location

FREE ESTIMATES COMMERCIAL/ RESIDENTIAL

70 Jayne Blvd., Port Jeff Station (631) 743-9797

©83310

©86060

Mommy said, thank you Daddy for calling REACT to get rid of all our bugs !

MULCH & TOPSOIL

Construction Additions & renovations, decks, windows, doors, siding, kitchens, baths, roofs & custom carpentry.

We love small jobs too!

Owner/Operator has 25+ years serving The North Shore

Please call our Stony Brook office today for a FREE in home consultation Lic. #48714-H & Insured

Brick & Stone Veneer Concrete Pavers & Walls Bluestone Portland/Mortar Sand/Block/Gravel Railroad Ties & Tree Stakes Screened Topsoil Compost & Mulch Seed & Lawn Control Products

9| EAST SETAUKET NY 11733

www.troffa.com

631-928-4665 PROMPT DELIVERY ALWAYS AVAILABLE

Black/Brown/Red Mulch Cobblestone-New & Used Drainage Supplies & Castings Boulders & Dive Rocks Wall Stone Cedar Mulch Playground Woodchips Super Peat Tools & Equipment

©65930

©65780

www.BluStarBuilders.com

70 COMSEWOGUE RD. | SUITE

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A21

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

AUTOMOTI V E SERV ICES CA$H FOR ALL CAR$ & CA$H FOR JUNK CAR$ WANTED No Keys No Title No Problem

FREE Pickup Habla Español ©84570

CALL US LAST WE’LL BEAT ANY PRICE

All Trucks, Cars & Vans

Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Domestic/Foreign ©82240

631-331-1154 OR

631-751-7663

Highest prices paid for fixable vehicles.

Also buy motorcycles and muscle cars.

LICENSED • BONDED INSURED

631.500.1015

ask for mark • 631-258-7919

Houses For Sale

All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law.

All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

WATERFRONT SHIRLEY ON DEEP WATER CANAL 2 bedroom bungalow, new plumbing, heating, electrical, roof, floating dock permitted, needs finishing asking $325,000 S T R AT H M O R E E A S T 631-698-3400 AGENT MARK 631-875-7119.

Rentals

ADS

•

COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY SINGLE $189.00 4 weeks DOUBLE $277.00 4 weeks

ON THE LAKE Yaphank 2 bedroom, 2 bath colonial updates, beach rights, immediate occupancy, $2850, no smoking, no pets, Strathmore East 631-698-3400

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! CALL 631.331.1154

DEADLINE: TUESDAY NOON FOR THURSDAY’S PAPER.

CALL 631-751-7663 • 631-331-1154

©105748

PUBLISHERS’ NOTICE

Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES

Upgrade Your Home with a

NEW METAL ROOF

I’m never

alone

Guaranteed to Last a Lifetime!

LIMITED TIME OFFER

60% off

Life Alert® is always here for me.

YOUR INSTALLATION

+

10

Limited time offer.

Expires 3.31.22

+HOS 2Q WKH *R

off

From Dimensional Shingles to classic styles reminiscent of Cedar Shake and Spanish Tile, an architectural roofing system by Erie Metal Roofs can enhance the beauty of your home while protecting your family and property for a lifetime.

Warranty- Limited Lifetime.

Transferable to 1 subsequent owner from original purchaser.

Terms and conditions apply.

Hail up to 2.5”, Appearance of the surface coating beyond normal wear and tear.

Call today to schedule your

FREE ESTIMATE

:Yll]ja]k F]n]j F]]\ ;`Yj_af_&

1-800-404-9776

84380

For a FREE brochure call:

Made in the USA

84410

,¶YH IDOOHQ DQG , FDQ¶W JHW XS

%

Install for Military, Health Workers and First Responders

wi

th GPS !

®

STRONG AS STEEL WITH THE ATTRACTIVE LOOK OF VARIOUS ROOF STYLES

TAKE AN ADDITIONAL

One touch of a button ast, 24/7 24/ . sends help fast,

+HOS DW +RPH

DMV CERTIFIED 7002706

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

R E A L ESTAT E Real Estate Services

USED AUTO PARTS

©85330

$$$ TOP CASH PAID $$$

Place your Ad here for 26 weeks and get 4 weeks FREE!

©FILL000093

(631) 445-1848

Lic. # 7112911/Ins.

GIVE THIS AD TO THE DRIVER and receive an extra $50.

1-855-492-6084

New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not be available in your area.

Offer expires March 31, 2022. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved.

©101859

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES DIRECTORY

JUNK CARS BOUGHT

PAGE A22 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Editorial School elections matter... so get out and vote School board elections are a rare chance to make a positive change in the lives of schoolchildren throughout our community.

Too young to vote, these children depend on us to make responsible decisions on their behalf. It is our duty to help them find direction and we must take this responsibility seriously.

For centuries, school boards on this continent have served a vital role, promoting health, prosperity and civility throughout communities across America. Our school boards prepare our youth for the challenges of life, serving as a vehicle for their coming of age.

On Tuesday, voters will decide who will serve on these school boards and, while they are often overlooked, these elections have enormous consequences. Unlike other elected officials who spend much of their time away in some remote capitol, school board members are here on the ground with their students and constituents.

Among many other obligations, school boards hire district superintendents, approve budgets, design curricula and organize districtwide calendars. These individuals will chart the course of our students’ lives from kindergarten through high school. Behind the scenes, their decisions will shape how these children learn and grow, and how they develop into responsible citizens prepared to contribute to our community.

Americans generally believe that our greatest days still lie ahead of us. Even in this moment of partisanship and polarization, we can all agree that our future requires an educated youth. These young souls will soon be leaders among us, which is why our decisions matter today.

We must take greater interest in the education of our youth. We must study our ballots, familiarizing ourselves not only with the names of the candidates but also the person, platform and character behind the name. Does this candidate have integrity? Can this candidate be entrusted with the moral and intellectual development of our children? These are the critical questions we must ask ourselves before entering the voting booth.

To the readers of TBR News Media, take a moment to research the candidates for your district’s board of education. Be prepared before you pull the lever, including studying the proposed 2022-23 school budget.

While we so often hear people tell us their votes don’t count, we are here to tell you that this one does.

The enlightenment of our children, the health of our community and the future of our nation are in your hands. Make your voice heard and get out to vote this coming Tuesday.

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

Eye on the street: The future of Roe v. Wade

BY CAROLYN SACKSTEIN DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Locals are weighing in on the leaked draft out of the U.S. Supreme Court, which places a cloud of uncertainty over abortion access in this country.

A draft of the majority opinion of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (in Mississippi), written by Justice Samuel Alito, was

Maureen Budway, Port Jefferson Station

Budway declined to be photographed. She said, “I don’t know anything about the leak, but as far as Roe v.

Wade, it is nobody’s business but the person’s and what they do with their body. It’s the government’s responsibility to make things accessible to everybody, not take it away.”

Jimmy Colon, Port Jefferson

“I can’t understand how something like that can come out of the Supreme Court. It shouldn’t be something that came out to the public. It is only a draft. I think they should leave it [Roe v. Wade] the way it was. I believe you do have the right to privacy.

It should be the way they wrote it back in the seventies.

It should be the way they intended the law to be when they wrote it.”

Serafina, Port Jefferson

Serafina declined to be photographed and preferred not to reveal her last name.

She said, “It should be overturned … Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Life starts with conception. When you have an abortion, you are killing a potential human being and you are depriving him from living life and from experiencing life.”

Joseph Maglio, Riverhead

“It was absolutely wrong to leak the draft.” When asked if women have a right to access abortion, he said, “I don’t condemn it, it is whatever the person wants to do.” He went on to say that the right to privacy “is absolutely important.”

leaked to the public on May 2 by Politico. This represents a breach of the court’s stringent ethical standards. Since the leak, a spirited public debate has ensued.

TBR News Media took to the streets last week to obtain a sampling of where locals stand on the issues. People were asked about both the leak and access to legal abortion. While visiting Jefferson Plaza in Port Jefferson Station on May 7, we asked local passersby to respond to the leak and to provide their positions on the right to privacy and access to abortion.

Jane Glazebrook, Port Jefferson

Glazebrook declined to photographed. She said, “It’s an awful thing to have to go through for the woman and the unborn child — it’s terrible for the unborn child, but sometimes the woman can’t say ‘no.’ They end up in bad situations. It should be the woman’s choice.”

Frank DeRosalia, Port Jefferson Station

“The real bully here is not the people who are protesting, in spite of what [Justice Clarence] Thomas would like us to believe. The real bully is the Supreme Court, which is nine people who are not elected, who have no responsibility to answer to other institutions or people, who have no oversight, who are empowered to change the minds of 333 million people.”

Christine Volikas, Nesconset

Also declining to be photographed, she said: “The leak I am very concerned about because I feel like nothing is secure anymore in any form of the government. I feel it is politically based.” Asked if she thinks decisions could be reversed, she said, “No, people are taking it out of proportion.

I am all for putting stipulations on abortion. I am pro-choice for a woman deciding, but you don’t need seven months to decide.”

Xavier Charles, Gordon Heights

On the subject of the leak, he said, “It was a tragedy. It was just awful. People are looking for all of these things to be in their favor and it feels like things got grasped from under our feet. I think it is awful, because people are all different. They should be able to do whatever they choose to do with their own lives, as long as they’re not out there robbing, stealing and doing things against the law. Why bother them?”

MAY 12, 2022 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A23

Opinion And the part of speech winner is…

O

nce upon a time, the eight parts of speech came together to compete for supremacy.

Convinced of his invincibility, the arrogant noun stood on top of the mountain, rolling his eyes at the other parts of speech, assured of his victory.

“I am, without a doubt, the most important of the eight of us,” he declared. “I hope you’re not too disappointed when you all eat my dust.”

D. None “You think you’re the best and the brightest,” of the above laughed the adjective.

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF “Without me, you’d be a bunch of people, places and things, without much flavor. Why, you’d be like vanilla ice cream without sprinkles, melting in the hot sun.”

“Well, sure, adjectives are helpful,” the noun acknowledged. “You’re like Robin to my Batman.”

“So, you’re the only superhero with any real value?” the pronoun asked.

“No, you and I are a team, right? You stand for nouns, with your ‘he, she, it’ and your ‘who, which and what,’ but, come on? Where would you be without me? I’m the king, the throne, the empire, the country and the world all at once.”

“Maybe, but people would get sick of reading the same words over and over if they didn’t have pronouns,” the pronoun argued. “I may have smaller words in my part of speech, but I take the place of all your huge words, without needing to repeat them all.”

“Good grief,” the interjection interjected.

“Come on! I’m not only a conversation stopper, I am often followed by an exclamation point.

See? Well, that’s a question, but I’m a forceful part of speech, dang it! Listen to me! I will win this ridiculous competition!”

Slowly and deliberately, the adverb hopped off his adverb couch, gracefully gliding over to the group.

“Seriously, the adverbs gleefully chuckling over there,” he said, pointing to a group of

words with “ly” tails, “are highly useful and critically important.”

The preposition had heard enough. He climbed off the fence, down a hill, and near the others.

“The proposition of a preposition winning this contest is high,” she said. “We provide context for so many activities — on the roof, by six o’clock, beneath the surface.”

That’s when they heard a sound without end. When they looked for the source of the noise, they noticed an endless group of words strung together.

“Hello, all you other parts of speech,” the conjunction said. “I have endless storage space and can carry each you indefinitely. I can also sew together seemingly different ideas.

The noun laughed at the conjunction.

“What good would all those connections be if you didn’t have the rest of us?” he snickered.

Whirring through the air, the verb appeared, disappeared, jumped over the group, slid beneath them, and ricocheted around the meadow.

“Hello everyone,” the verb snickered. “This competition makes me laugh.”

“Crikey! Why is that?” the interjection asked.

“Well, you’d be a pile of stuff without action verbs,” he said. “In fact, you wouldn’t even be anything without a verb. To do anything, to be anything, and to animate your actions, you all need verbs. We lift you off the canvas, transport you to other places, inspire greatness, and demand attention. Yes, all the rest of you have magnificent qualities (special thanks to the adjective for giving us ‘magnificent’), but verbs drive ideas forward, infuse life into your existence, and encourage discourse.”

“I’d be limited without verbs,” the adverb agreed glumly.

“No, verbs soar majestically because of you,” the verb offered reassuringly. “We count on you.”

“Hey! We’re all important!” the interjection concluded.

“That could be true,” the noun concluded. “I still think none of us would be here without me.”

“True, but you’re a long list of stuff that isn’t doing much and that lacks personality without the rest of us,” the verb said, wanting to have the last word. “Now, let the games begin.”

Want a dog? Check out the parents first

R

ecent impressive research tells us something we already knew: not every golden retriever always retrieves. We have been fortunate to enjoy three golden retrievers in a row over four decades, and for the first two, when we threw a tennis ball, it was enthusiastically returned and dropped at our feet.

Then there was Teddy.

Teddy came to us at eight weeks, a golden ball of fur with two Between eyes, two ears, a pink you and me nose and a tail. He

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF passed on 12 years later, and during that time, we were convinced he was the most beautiful, most intelligent and most fun dog in the world. But there was one oddity about Teddy the Golden Retriever. When we took him out on the lawn and threw a tennis ball, he would politely sit

down and watch its trajectory. Then he would look back at us as if to say, “Yeah? So?” However, if we brought him to a beach and threw a rock that landed among thousands of other rocks, he would bring back that exact rock and drop it at our feet, backing off, tail wagging, and wait for the next throw. This had a terrible effect on his front teeth. Over the years, it wore them down, but he never seemed to mind and didn’t appear to be in any discomfort.

The other item he retrieved at the beach was seaweed. He would plunge into the water, stick his nose beneath the surface, then come up with a mouthful of seaweed and bring it about 10 feet up on the shore, where he would deposit it. From his many trips to the beach, there remained a line of seaweed that marked his hunting spot.

Although the current researchers never interviewed Teddy, they did surveys of 18,385 dogs and sequenced the genomes of 2,155 dogs for their research paper published in the journal Science. They were looking for predictors of canine behavior and concluded that by breed was essentially useless. This might surprise

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA We welcome letters, photographs, comments and story ideas.

Send your items to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 or email editor1@tbrnewsmedia.com.

Times Beacon Record Newspapers are published every Thursday.

Subscription $59/year • 631-751-7744 www.tbrnewsmedia.com • Contents copyright 2022

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel MANAGING EDITOR Rita J. Egan EDITOR Raymond Janis LEISURE EDITOR Heidi Sutton

you, as it did us, except regarding the retrieving aspect we just discussed.

But apparently, stereotypes like pit bulls being aggressive were not validated. In fact, they scored high on human sociability, with videos showing lap-loving pit bulls. According to an article reporting on this study in The New York Times this past Tuesday, written by James Gorman, “Labrador Retriever ancestry [most popular breed in America], on the other hand, didn’t seem to have any significant correlation with human sociability.”

However, the research allows, there are some few predictable traits. “If you adopt a border collie…the probability that it will be easier to train and interested in toys is going to be higher than if you adopt a Great Pyrenees.”

Go figure.

Breed supposedly accounts for only 9% of the variations in any given dog’s behavior. Rather, behavior patterns were strongly inherited, to the tune of 25%, again according to the research, within any given breed. In studying genomes, “several genes [were discovered] that clearly

COPY EDITOR John Broven ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathleen Gobos ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Elizabeth Bongiorno Robin Lemkin Larry Stahl Minnie Yancey

SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Kathryn Mandracchia ART AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Beth Heller Mason PRODUCTION Janet Fortuna Sharon Nicholson CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Sheila Murray

influence behavior, including one for how friendly dogs are.” So if you are about to buy a dog, check out its parents first.

The researchers found 11 specific DNA regions that were associated with behavior, and an interesting comparison can be made with those same areas in human genomics. A region that affects the likelihood of a dog howling corresponds in humans to language development, and another that marks dogs enjoying being with humans presents in human DNA with long-term memory.

So I will tell you a little more about Terrific Teddy. When company would arrive at our home, he would walk up to each newcomer, wag and, I insist, smile, until the person gave him a pat on the head. He would then go on to the next person and wait until the greeting ritual was repeated.

After that, he would withdraw to a corner and watch the socializing quietly unless called.

He was a bit of a terror under the table when we were at dinner. He would stealthily snatch the napkins off the diners’ laps. Some day I will write a children’s book about Teddy, the Napkin Snatcher Dog.

BUSINESS MANAGER Sandi Gross CIRCULATION MANAGER Courtney Biondo INTERNET STRATEGY DIRECTOR Rob Alfano

AwardWinning Newspapers 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Year After Year

Sports

See More High School Sports on A10-11

Photo by Bill Landon

PAGE A24 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MAY 12, 2022

Royal Rodeo Bulls and Royals duel it out in the rain