The Port Times Record - November 24, 2022

Photo courtesy Kenneth C. Brady Digital Archive

Upper wall put on hold, village board tackles branch pickup, Station Street and upcoming events

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees met on Monday, Nov. 21, for a business meeting covering a range of pressing public business.

services within the village, was affected by changes to state regulations in 2017.

The purpose of the deliberations was to decide whether to enable P.W. Grosser Consulting, a Bohemia-based environmental firm, to negotiate with the DEC to work out a permit agreement.

VILLAGE NEWS

Mayor Margot Garant presented the cost estimates for the proposed upper wall to fortify the East Beach bluff, presenting figures ranging from $3.32 million to $4.52 million depending on the scope of the projects, such as add-ons to accommodate racket sports amenities. [See story, “Port Jeff ... trustees debate erosion mitigation strategy at village country club,” The Port Times Record, Sept. 29, also TBR News Media website.]

After presenting these cost estimates, Garant recommended that the board reject these bids. “I don’t think we should take any action on the upper wall, the steel wall, at this point,” she said.

The plans for the upper wall were delayed for a variety of factors, according to Garant. In a text message, she maintained that the delay was not a change of posture but rather a change in the timeline for final approval, given the weather and the pending completion of the lower wall.

“My position hasn’t changed,” she said. “Something has to be done, but the timeline for the lower wall to be completed, with the upland restoration and plantings not occurring now to the spring, is pushing this from being done within the next six to eight months, so we cannot approve the bid.”

The board also debated an ongoing permit dispute between the village and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regarding the Port Jefferson Village Clean Solid Waste Landfill. This kettle hole, which facilitates branch and leaf pickup

“We would like to get our permit back to what the state regs were prior to them changing them, which means we can put branches and leaves in there,” Garant said.

“The challenge has become Mother Nature, really, with the large trees.”

The mayor added, “Branch pickup, honestly, I don’t know if it’s sustainable for us in this community.”

With a looming Dec. 11 deadline, the future of the landfill and branch pickup in PJV hangs in the balance. After some debate, the board agreed to table the matter for a later meeting.

In her report, Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden detailed the results of a recent survey conducted to determine the name of Station Street, a one-way corridor opening in Upper Port. Out of 134 submissions, “Station Street” was the highest vote-getter.

Trustee Rebecca Kassay reported on an event she has been coordinating with other sponsors called Walk Safe with a Doc. The event will be held sometime this spring to promote the physical benefits of walking and the importance of pedestrian safety.

Trustee Lauren Sheprow reported two upcoming meetings, one with the Country Club Social/Hospitality Task Force and the other with the newly reestablished Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. The PRAC will assign roles and designate committee chairs at its next meeting.

The board of trustees will reconvene Monday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m., the same day as the upcoming bond vote in Port Jefferson School District.

Ed Flood wins Assembly District 4 election, Englebright reacts

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

In a major upset, Republican Party challenger Edward Flood, of Port Jefferson, has defeated Steve Englebright, incumbent state assemblyman (D-Setauket). Englebright, who chairs the state Assembly’s Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation, has held the seat since 1992.

Flood maintains a 700vote lead over Englebright in Assembly District 4, with a current vote count of 24,189-23,489, according to a Suffolk County Board of Elections official. While those tallies are still uncertified, the source suggested the race is safe to call in Flood’s favor.

The 4th District covers Setauket, Stony Brook, Strong’s Neck, Poquott, Port Jefferson, Belle Terre, Port Jefferson Station, Terryville, and parts of Coram, Selden and Gordon Heights.

In a phone interview on Friday afternoon, Nov. 18, Flood said he learned of his victory shortly after noon following a 10-day wait. While this result stunned many within the community, it was no surprise to his team. “On Election Day, we expected to win, and we expected to win

narrowly,” he said.

While the results are still uncertified, Englebright offered his thoughts on the race during a phone interview on Sunday morning. He remarked on the several factors that contributed to his defeat, notably the effect of U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin’s (R-NY1) gubernatorial campaign on races down the ballot.

“It appears that I have not prevailed in this election, so I am, of course, disappointed,” the assemblyman said. “The turnout was low, and the results were, in part, also because there was in this region of the state more focus on the Republican head of the ticket than there was on the Democratic one.”

did some polling and realized our message was resonating, it just needed to get out.”

For Englebright, the result reflected a regional trend in this election cycle away from the Democrats. “We lost four [state] Senate seats — two of which were incumbents in Nassau County — and … it looks like we lost five [Democratic] Assembly seats if you include the two in Brooklyn,” he said. “It was a disappointing evening for all Democrats, really.”

the quality of the human being.” The successful Republican candidate added, Englebright “has been a champion of the environment, and that’s something I want to continue.”

Unlike his predecessor, Flood will be a minority member of the Assembly and a freshman legislator. Given these factors, Englebright encouraged Flood to find ways to be effective.

— ED FLOOD

Throughout the campaign, Flood focused on the issues of crime and the economy. While the assemblyman-elect attributes his win, in part, to declining trust in Albany, he credited those involved in his campaign.

“I think it was a combination of the general attitudes toward politics right now — what’s going on both statewide and nationwide, the issues that we were hitting on — and then our ground game,” he said. “We had a lot of volunteers. … Once we

Despite his differences from the incumbent, Flood remarked on the qualities he admired in Englebright.

“Assemblyman Englebright, at the end of the day, is a gentleman,” Flood said. “He was in this position for 30 years, a [county] legislator for nine. For someone to go through 39 years and never have an ethical thing come up, never have a scandal, it goes to

“I hope he is able to be relevant,” Englebright said. “The reality is he will be serving in the minority, and he will have a real challenge in just being able to accomplish rudimentary things.”

He added, “I hope that he’s able to be productive for the best interests of the people of the district, but all things are relative and it’s a seniority-based system. As a freshman and minority member, it will be a challenge.”

In his interview, Flood reiterated a previous

‘On Election Day, we expected to win, and we expected to win narrowly.’

Assemblyman-elect Edward Flood (R-Port Jefferson).

File photo by Rita J. Egan STORY CONTINUED ON

Santa Claus is coming to town!

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

Brookhaven’s town clerk retires from public service

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

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

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

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

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

TOWN NEWS

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

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

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

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

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

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

town records in real time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In a statement, Romaine thanked Lent.

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

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

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

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

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

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

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

HEALTH

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

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

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

Signs

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

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

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

Solutions

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

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

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

Suffolk County residents also can turn to

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gonzalez added that group-based treatments are just as effective as individual therapy and encouraged patients to try skills-based groups to learn coping methods for managing stress, anxiety and depression symptoms.

Stony Brook offers a COVID-19 support group for people who have or have had

COVID, especially those with long COVID symptoms. Stony Brook also offers a comprehensive mind-body treatment program called the Stress Management and Resilience Training program.

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

Overwhelming demand

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

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

Ed Flood

Continued from A3

message about his intended role in Albany. While he brings some ideas and policy preferences to the office, he insists that his service requires collaboration with the communities he represents.

“I’m there to serve the people and their needs,” he said. “For a lot of people throughout the district, there are very similar needs and priorities that we want. We want good schools, safe neighborhoods, economic opportunities. We want the prices of things to come down, and we want to be able to manage to stay on Long Island.”

He concluded, “My door is always open to see what the needs of the community are and act appropriately. At the end of the day, I was

Seasonal affective disorder, which occurs during the darker, colder winter months, also affects about 0.5 to 3% of the population, Eagle said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good news

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

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

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

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

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

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

elected to [advance] the needs and the work of the community, not necessarily my own needs.”

After serving in public office for nearly four decades, Englebright will soon return to life as a private citizen. However, the outgoing assemblyman pledged to stay involved in the community and remains committed to the principles and policies guiding his time in office.

“I’m in every way looking forward to continuing to make contributions to the community,” he said. “Ultimately, we are one community, and we have a need to respect our common heritage and continue to do everything possible to protect our quality of life by investing in young people and joining together to protect things that matter, such as the water quality of our harbors and drinking water,” adding, “These are things we should continue to work together on.”

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

CAUGHT

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

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run

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

Man arrested for making fake 911 calls

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

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

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

Woman arrested for leaving child in car

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

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police:

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

LEGALS

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School News

The students in the Port Jefferson School District’s International Club took a recipe including garlic, onions, carrots, chopped meat and pasta, then sprinkled heaps of kindness into the mix.

The finished meal was delivered to the residents of Hope House in Port Jefferson. The students and advisers, Kristin Britt and Jennifer Walling, will continue to provide a meal

International Club students create a meal. Photo courtesy PJSD

each month to Hope House.

“To be able to do this for a local organization that helps people with compassion and care is so worthwhile for

our students to be involved with,” Walling said. “Helping those right in our community gives us all hope for a more thoughtful future.”

Port Jefferson Middle School hosts Thanksgiving luncheon

long-time tradition.

With turkey sandwiches stuffed with cranberries and all the trimmings, bottled waters and some tasty apple pies for dessert, the residents – including one woman who graduated from Port Jefferson High School in 1950 – enjoyed this

Middle school student-musicians performed seasonal selections under Vanessa Salzman’s leadership. Several students read poetry and greeted the guests, along with student council adviser Megan Roth-Ueno and principal Brian Walker.

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Port Jefferson Middle School principal Brian Walker and student council adviser Megan Roth-Ueno with student council members. Photo courtesy PJSD

Port Jefferson Middle School hosted a festive Thanksgiving luncheon for local senior citizens on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Comsewogue students create a healthy bake sale

BY CAMILA PEREZ SOLIS DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

For the past two weeks, students from Comsewogue High School’s Triple C Club brainstormed ways they could raise awareness of healthy alternatives to typical snacks and baked goods.

They decided to hold the Strong Bake Sale, with healthier options like a banana power bar. All sales were conducted from the high school’s rotunda, with profits supporting student scholarships and positive activities around the school and Greater Comsewogue community.

“It is important to educate students at our school on how they can eat healthier and offer them alternatives,” said Andrew Harris, club adviser.

The organizers of the sale sought to raise awareness that what we eat as foods can be both nourishing and delicious. Oftentimes, people avoid eating healthy because they worry these options won’t taste as good.

Sofia Castro, one of the star bakers in this sale, offered a different perspective. “The double chocolate protein muffins were truly a big hit,” she said. “They provide a good source of protein, but are still so tasty.”

Along with Alexa Kallmeyer, Castro also

made pumpkin and banana muffins. “It is relaxing for us to bake, so we didn’t mind spending the weekend doing it,” she said.

Michael Mosca, CHS principal, gave us his opinion on this initiative. “I love the idea of the bake sale,” he said. “There is definitely a common misconception that healthy foods do not taste good, but there are so many delicious foods that can make for great snacks.” The principal added, “Life is all about choices, and it’s important for people to have options that are better for our health.”

These baked goods were all homemade, using healthier ingredients such as sweet potatoes, almond flour, unsweetened applesauce and dates. Of course each treat also included lots of love from the bottom of the Triple C volunteer bakers hearts.

Comsewogue is proud to report that the sale satisfied two objectives by raising over $200, and building awareness and momentum for healthier eating choices in the district. Next month, the club will continue its work, offering fresh organic fruits to students, with plans for another bake sale sometime soon.

Above, healthy foods on display during the Strong Bake Sale at CHS; left, students from the high school’s Triple C Club during the sale.

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

Photos courtesy Andrew Harris

‘Life is all about choices, and it’s important for people to have options that are better for our health.’

—PRINCIPAL MICHAEL MOSCA

Comsewogue School District

Hometown History Talking turkey about McDonald Farms

BY KENNETH BRADY DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

McDonald Farms, once the largest turkey breeding farm in New York state, was located south of Sheep Pasture Road and the LIRR tracks in Port Jefferson Station.

Established in 1939 by the William P. McDonald Construction Company, the farm was tucked away in the woods nearby McDonald’s sand mine on Sheep Pasture Road.

In 1944, Ledkote Products Company, the corporate predecessor of now-shuttered Lawrence Aviation, purchased McDonald Farms and continued raising turkeys on the property.

Retaining the name McDonald Farms, the business flourished after World War II, creating a demand for poultrymen who were offered $30 per week and lodging as compensation.

In 1947, the farm had 5,000 breeders and raised over 20,000 Broad Breasted Bronze and White Holland turkeys, advertised as the “undisputed monarchs of the entire turkey kingdom.”

The business boasted everything necessary to ready birds for the market, including incubators, nurseries, floor brooders, houses for the hens and toms, ranges planted in clover and dressing rooms.

A leader in the poultry trade, McDonald Farms hosted the regional Northeastern Turkey Growers Convention in July 1947. The two-day event featured a tour of the farm, a banquet at Teddy’s Hotel and Restaurant at the intersection of Main and East Broadway in Port Jefferson, and agricultural programs at Port Jefferson High School.

McDonald Farms generously donated turkeys to needy individuals and charitable

organizations, not only on Thanksgiving but throughout the year.

The business also welcomed field trips from students in all age groups, reaching youngsters in the lower grades as well as upperclassmen in John E. Berney’s vocational agriculture class at the high school.

A roaring fire destroyed a fourstory feed hopper at McDonald Farms in April 1955, but fortunately no fatalities or serious injuries resulted from the blaze.

Beginning in 1959, Lawrence Aviation began manufacturing titanium sheeting at what was formerly the McDonald Farms property, marking the site’s transformation from agricultural to industrial use.

Kenneth Brady has served as the Port Jefferson Village historian and president of the Port Jefferson Conservancy, as well as on the boards of the Suffolk County Historical Society, Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council and Port Jefferson Historical Society. He is a longtime resident of the village.

Above, Celebrated local artist Louise Brett, left, and Theresa Emery, right, are pictured on the bridge that crosses over the LIRR tracks at Sheep Pasture Road, February 1948. Note the sign for McDonald turkeys. Below, a Thanksgiving postcard.

Photos courtesy Kenneth C. Brady Digital Archive

Comsewogue School District

Comsewogue student to march in Macy’s

BY ELAINE HOLMES

DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Comsewogue High School congratulates sophomore Elliot Jaklitsch on being named a Macy’s Great American Marching Band member.

Honoring America’s finest high school musicians, color guard members and dancers, this marching band comprises select students from across the country.

Jaklitsch will be one of 185 musicians chosen to perform for this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan. This prestigious band will be positioned among the gigantic helium balloons, impressive floats and the nation’s top marching bands.

“I am so excited to have this amazing opportunity,” Jaklitsch said. “I am looking forward to meeting musicians from all over the United States and marching in one of the best parades.”

Stepping off from Central Park, the band will be cheered on by an estimated 3 million spectators lining the parade route. Arriving at Macy’s Herald Square, the band will perform for celebrity hosts, a grandstand audience and the usual millions of TV viewers watching the

Thanksgiving Day Parade

Make a Statement...

broadcast live from home.

“Elliot is an incredible young lady, and we are very proud of her accomplishment,” said Michael Mosca, Comsewogue High School principal.

To watch the Macy’s audition video with Jaklitsch playing the mellophone, see: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=32x4hTYaO80.

Brookhaven Highway Department

Child Safety Seat

Elaine Holmes is the orchestra director at Comsewogue High School.

Above, Elliot Jaklitsch, sophomore at Comsewogue High School. Photo courtesy Elaine Holmes

Hundreds plunge at Cedar Beach, support Special Olympics

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

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

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

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

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

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

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

“When you meet all those Special Olympians

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Photos by Raymond Janis

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

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

Letters to the Editor

Continued from A22

Shop local this holiday season

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

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

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

As independent mom-and-pop stores, they don’t have the bulk-buying purchasing power that Amazon or other large national chain stores have. The owners can’t negotiate lower prices from suppliers. This is why they sometimes charge a little more.

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

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

Customers also patronize other commercial establishments on the block. Foot traffic is essential for the survival of any neighborhood commercial district. If we

don’t patronize our local community stores and restaurants to shop and eat, they don’t eat either. This helps keep our neighbors employed and the local economy growing.

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

Larry Penner Great Neck

New York’s destructive elected leadership

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

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

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

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

and only vote their party affiliations.

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

Richard Esopa Miller Place

Hitler’s ‘wingness’ meaningless in the scope of modern politics

The Oct. 20 edition of TBR News Media featured an outstanding letter from Lisa Pius [“American leaders are suffocating the nation”], in which she enumerated many of the most egregious shortcomings of the hapless Biden administration, including their open-border policy, their reckless spending practices, their insane oil directives and a dozen or so equally destructive and un-American practices.

In response, the TBR Nov. 10 edition gave us a letter from David Friedman [“The truth about Hitler’s tactics”], who was, to put it mildly, not pleased with the letter from Ms. Pius. Oddly, however, Mr. Friedman failed to address even a single one of the substantive issues raised by Ms. Pius. Instead, he fixated on a parenthetical comment in the Pius letter, which was that “Hitler was a ‘left-wing socialist’ according to ‘Mein Kampf.’” To most Americans, the question of whether Hitler was a left-wing socialist, a right-wing socialist or a national socialist is roughly about as important as the question of whether or not he was a vegetarian. That is to say, it is of very minor

importance, particularly when compared to the enormous issues and problems with which we are confronted today.

If, however, you are personally a real left-wing socialist or are a card-carrying member of a left-wing socialist group, you would likely be extremely offended by a suggestion that Hitler was one of you. Based on previous letters from Mr. Friedman, it would not be entirely unreasonable to speculate that he might, indeed, be a person of the left-wing socialist persuasion, and that this might explain his apoplectic reaction to a marvelous letter that succinctly points out a growing number of big problems that need to be addressed.

Instead of splitting hairs over the “wingness” of Hitler’s socialism, perhaps Mr. Friedman would enlighten us as to why it is a good idea to allow, and even encourage, 5 million illegal aliens to invade our sovereign country. Or he can explain the wisdom of giving away our strategic oil reserves when we should be drilling and exporting oil to our allies around the world. Or tell us why we should allow men who want to be women to compete in contests with women, and then give them a medal when they win. Of course, these questions do not have easy answers, and the policy of President Joe Biden [D] and his friends to either hide in the basement or only answer previously rehearsed questions from previously selected persons has worked well for him — and there may be no good reason to change it anytime soon.

George Altemose Setauket

Perspective: Reflecting on the midterm elections

As I reflect on the recent midterm elections, I am both breathing a sigh of relief and also shaking my head in disbelief. While Democrats had a far more successful night nationally than expected, on Long Island and across New York state, fear, dishonesty and racism prevailed. We have much work to do.

I am relieved that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) defeated Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY1). Zeldin’s positions on issues including fracking, reproductive rights and gun safety would be harmful to this state. His vote to overturn the 2020 presidential election, hours after the violent insurrection at the Capitol, marks him as someone who does not respect free and fair elections.

With that said, I am devastated to see that a great public servant like state Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) has lost his seat. Englebright has been a champion for climate protection and public education in his decades in office. His opponent, Republican Ed Flood (Port Jefferson), ran a campaign that was deeply racist in tone, sending out a mailer with incarcerated Black men pictured. Flood also had troubling things to say about public education. In a meet

the candidates night in October, Flood said that “out here” public education isn’t a problem, “but in lower socioeconomic areas” where “parents aren’t involved,” it is. He seems to misunderstand that the purpose of public education is to provide every child with a high-quality public education, no matter their zip code. I wonder how he will be able to face the historically Black community of Gordon Heights as their representative in Albany. He’s already made it quite clear how he views people of color.

The loss of state and congressional seats in New York, coupled with the narrow win of Hochul, ought to give the Democratic Party pause. The Hochul campaign seemed to cede Long Island to Zeldin and barely engaged the base out here. This cost us Democratic seats down ballot at the congressional and state levels. Jay Jacobs serves as chair of both the New York State and

Nassau County Democratic committees, and Rich Schaffer serves as the Suffolk County Democratic Committee chair. Under their leadership, Long Island has bled seats for several election cycles, at the local, state and federal levels. Democrats deserve better leadership. In any failing organization, the leaders must be held accountable. It is past time for new local leadership in the Democratic Party.

As a prime Democratic voter, I am not seeking a kumbaya moment with insurrectionists and their sympathizers. I want my daughter’s reproductive rights to be protected. I want my children to not live in a world of school shootings and lockdown drills. I want affordable housing for the next generation. I want to protect our climate. It is time for Democrats to affirm our values and stop cowering and pandering. That is how Democrats on Long Island can stop themselves from becoming a minority party.

By Shoshana Hershkowitz

When I think about what should come next for the Democratic Party, I believe it’s a long overdue moment of self-reflection. Women are vulnerable, with their reproductive rights under attack. Communities of color are overpoliced and disproportionately incarcerated. Young people struggle to live in the place they are raised. The income inequality and segregation on Long Island is staggering. Despite this, too many Democrats aim to “work with the other side.”

Despite my disappointments, I remain hopeful. When I speak with young people, I see their passion for environmental, social, economic and racial justice. Gen Z members came out to vote in historic numbers this year and were key to Democratic success across the country. Our youth are the future, and they are grounded in hope and action, not bigotry and fear. And for that reason, I will continue to fight the good fight, alongside and in solidarity with my children’s generation, who deserve to inherit a better world.

Shoshana Hershkowitz is the founder of Suffolk Progressives.

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Think big, shop small

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WRITE TO US … We welcome your letters. They should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style and good taste. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include a phone number and address for confirmation. Email letters to:

editor1@tbrnewsmedia.com or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

Letters to the Editor

Regarding Dec. 12 $25M school bond vote

“Too much for Port Jefferson residents to read.” That is what I was told at the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education meeting of Sept. 6 that I attended when I asked why we can’t vote for Propositions 1 and 2 next May with the usual vote for budget.

We, the residents of Port Jefferson, are mostly professionals. We are more than capable of reading the two propositions in May.

Why would we, the taxpayers, want to pay more tax dollars to have the vote on Monday, Dec. 12, when many residents are busy for holidays and away from home. Or is this a good time to only have a select group vote?

Getting absentee ballots is time consuming and difficult to obtain.

Steve Englebright, local champion

Often when one reads praise about someone in the political arena it is perceived as hyperbole or puffery intended to gin up support for an election.

But the dust has settled on Nov. 8 and Election Day is over. This letter is simply intended to honor an individual who has meant so much to this community, and the broader community of Long Island and New York state as we all lost a true champion and valuable asset with the recent defeat of state Assemblyman Steve Englebright [D-Setauket].

I had the privilege to witness Steve’s

entry onto the local scene in the early 1980s and cannot think of any individual who has done more to shape the future of our neighborhoods during this extended period of service. Whether broadening our understanding of the need to protect our drinking water in the Pine Barrens, to safeguarding Setauket Harbor, or educating many on the value of the cultural, historical and natural resources of Long Island, Steve helped inspire many legislative changes which improved the lives of those who call this special place home.

Though I began working with Steve as an environmentalist and advocate for sensible planning in Brookhaven in the ’80s, Assemblyman Englebright lit a burning passion in me in the early 2000s in local history by sharing about the Culper Spy Ring. They were patriots in our own backyard who helped provide crucial intelligence during the Revolutionary War to help Gen. George Washington prevail

over the British. This led me to research and produce a self-guided cellphone tour replete with signage which has been accessed by thousands to share this amazing story of local history. Anyone interested can still call 631-498-4740 to celebrate this unique aspect of the richness of our area.

In a similar sense, Steve has exhibited a commitment to disseminating intelligence, selfless service to others and a love of community which is unrivaled. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Patriots of old who shaped our nation but must realize there are still patriots among us who have helped save our way of life and defended our freedoms. Prime among them in this area has been Steve Englebright and I will be forever grateful for all he has accomplished on our behalf.

Ira Costell

Port Jefferson Station

Carol Bram

Port Jefferson

Cartoon by Kyle Horne @kylehorneart kylehorneart.com

File photo

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

Investigative suggestions for future Republican house committees

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

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

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

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

D. None of the above

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

Hunter Biden is and will be a prime target. How can he not be? If you look at some of the pictures of him that newspapers have found, he looks guilty, and that should be more than enough. Besides, who doesn’t like a few insightful, incisive and critical First Family questions?

Once they finish — assuming they can get it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The success of

family Thanksgiving this year hinges on new pies

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

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

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

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

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

our