The Times of Huntington-Northport - February 16, 2023

Ferro, Bontempi acquire new heating system for Lewis Oliver Farm Animal Sanctuary

Town of Huntington Councilman Salvatore Ferro has joined efforts with Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi to bring a new heating system to Lewis Oliver Farm in Northport.

The historic community landmark serves as a sanctuary and home to a group of rescued farm animals. The farm, which dates back to the mid-1800s currently relies on plug-in heaters for the winter. After hearing about the potential plug-in heating fire hazard, Ferro immediately reached out to his colleague in the county to see how they could collaboratively improve safety conditions at the farm.

“Lewis Oliver Farm has been a special place to so many people for generations,” Ferro said. “I wanted to take preventative

steps in making sure the dedicated staff and animals have safe working and living conditions. I’m happy to announce the installation process is already underway.”

“I am so excited that this work has begun so quickly, as we still have some cold months ahead,” Bontempi said. “Teaming up with Councilman Ferro is a perfect example of how we can get things done in government.”

The installation process of a new heating system is underway with the duct work installation already completed. Ferro also announced that he wants to bring awareness to the farm and encourages everyone to visit the sanctuary located at Burt Avenue in Northport which also features original barns; botanical and vegetable gardens; native wildlife; and a country store and education center.

Above, Town of Huntington Councilman Salvatore Ferro, Supervisor Ed Smyth and Lorena Ericksen, of Lewis Oliver Farm Animal Sanctuary, with friendly Alpacas in the background. Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, below, feeding a goat. Photos from Sal Ferro’s office

Polansky set to retire before 2023-24 school year begins

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

said. “You’re not looking for it. It finds you.”

Before heading up the Huntington school district, he worked as an assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent in the South Huntington school district.

EDUCATION

After more than three decades in the education sector, the Huntington school district superintendent is ready for his next step in life.

Jim Polansky recently announced that he is set to retire on Sept. 1 from the position he currently has held for nearly 12 years.

His journey as a professional educator began more than 30 years ago when he taught at Syosset High School for 10 years. Polansky said he had “a great teaching experience in a place I grew considerably.” He wasn’t thinking about pursuing administration until an opportunity came along.

“Sometimes that’s the best way to go,” he

Polansky said retirement was something he was thinking about for a time, but he said he wanted to make sure the district was continuing to move in a positive direction after the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. He called the job a “24/7 labor of love” and for one to be successful at it, “you have to be all in, or you can’t get it done any other way.”

Now with his two children Lauren and Adam, 24 and 27, respectively, grown and starting their own careers and his wife Alyssa ready to retire in June, he said, “It just became time.”

Many residents credit Polansky with being integral in the opening of the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School in September 2013, three years after the building, once called the Jack Abrams Intermediate School, closed in July 2010. The school now offers a focus on science, technology, engineering and math.

The superintendent said while that is one moment he is proud of, his biggest achievements have been about the people he is surrounded by on an everyday basis.

“I think we’ve made a lot of strides through the years,” Polansky said. “I think the thing I’m most proud of is the team that I built here, that I brought on, and the administrative team I’ve hired. The teaching staff that has really come such a long way, and all of the support staff members that make it all happen in front of and behind the scenes.”

He added, “I know that my successor will be in a good place because of the great people that are in this school district as employees and in this community as families.”

Polansky said the district has been able to change with the times as the community has changed over the years, too.

“We really worked hard to make sure that our programs, and all that goes with them, really are geared toward serving a beautifully diverse community, and that is something we can take pride in in Huntington” he said.

Polansky said he is also proud of the work accomplished with facilities over the years and how finances have been managed, especially how capital work has been able to be done “without overburdening taxpayers and not using reserves.”

As for his future successor, Polansky said a superintendent needs a passion for education and be someone who wants to be involved in the community.

“That’s important for any position, you have to be vested in the community that you’re going to become a major part of,” he said.

Living slightly beyond the border of the Town of Huntington, he said he’ll continue to be engaged in the community even after leaving his position.

Polansky also plans to keep a hand in education as he teaches college-level courses for teachers who want to become administrators, and he’s looking forward to being able to teach more in the future.

Currently the president of Suffolk County School Superintendents Association, he also hopes to continue being a mentor to those looking to make the job transition.

“I’m going to take a little breather,”

he said. “I’m going to figure some things out, but I’ll have my hand in teaching. I’ll continue to keep my hand in education. It’s just going to be a little bit different than and not with the demands that I’ve faced for the past 12 years.”

Jim Polansky, superintendent of schools, announced he will retire on Sept. 1. Below, Polansky speaking at a board of eduction meeting. Above photo from the Huntington school district website; below file photo by Rohma Abbas

The TIMES OF HUNTINGTON & NORTHPORT (USPS 004-808) is published Thursdays by TBR News Media, 185 Route 25A, Setauket, NY 11733. Periodicals postage paid at Setauket, NY and additional mailing offices. Subscription price $49 annually. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

Suffolk DA’s office welcomes emotional support dog

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office welcomed its newest hire, an emotional support canine named Tillman III, on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the William J. Lindsay County Complex in Hauppauge.

Tillman is a 2-year-old Lab/golden retriever mix, bred and trained as a facility dog by Medfordbased Canine Companions. Assistant District Attorney Melissa Grier, of the Child Abuse and

Domestic Violence Bureau, paired with Tillman, who will assist her as well as victims, witnesses and officers during traumatic events.

“This is a tough system for victims, especially child victims,” District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) said. Tillman is “very comforting, and it’s just a good opportunity to help the kids with a very recognizable and lovable thing in a very unrecognizable and tough situation.”

Together, Tierney and Tillman strolled through the various rooms and hallways throughout the office building, the staff greeting their newest colleague with delight.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney greets the newest member of his staff, Tillman III. Photos by Raymond Janis

Nicholas Vapnyar of Harborfields High School races in the 200 Yard Individual

Medley at Stony Brook University in the 2023 Boys Swimming Section XI Championship.

Photo by Steven Zaitz

Game On retro arcade opens its doors to local youth groups

BY DANIEL FEBRIZIO DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Game On retro arcade, located in Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, recently started a program that enables local youth groups to use the arcade completely free of charge.

Tristan Whitworth, the owner of Game On, has been dedicated to supporting various communities over the years, and he thought this would be a great way to reach out to local youth. The program started organically, Whitworth said.

“A customer asked me if he could have a youth group visit, and then I just thought that would be a cool thing for other churches to do,” he said. “And then it kind of took off.”

Michael Caggiano, of Cornerstone Bible Church of Port Jefferson Station, took his group to Game On last year to utilize this program.

“My youth group had an amazing time at the Game On arcade,” Caggiano said. “To have Tristan opening up his space like that to the community and the youth in particular is a blessing.”

Game On has hosted over a dozen large groups in the past few months. The youth groups are scheduled for weeknights when the arcade is less busy than usual. The program is open to any local youth group — and not only church groups.

According to Whitworth, they need to provide adult supervision for the kids, who then have free rein to play the games in the arcade. Since Game On is located in the Smith Haven food court, kids can take a break to get something to eat.

Whitworth, who also runs a social club at his church for children on the autism spectrum, views Game On as a community and family based arcade.

“I grew up in this. There were arcades everywhere … anything I can do to bring it back.”

Now Whitworth is hoping that this youth program will be a way to give back to the people that supported Game On during COVID-19.

“We just want to give back as much as we possibly can to our community,” he said. It’s “been a tough few years and I’d really like to do as much as we can for everyone right now.”

The game machines at the arcade all run original hardware and monitors — there are no replicas. They boast a number of different rare retro games, such as Baby Pac-Man, which is a combination of regular Pac-Man and pinball. There are also Ms. Pac-Man and Super Pac-Man games.

“On a weekend, [all the Pac-Mans] are being used at the same time, to the point where you almost need another Pac-Man,” Whitworth said.

Game On also has stores in Miller Place, Patchogue and Smithtown. These three locations primarily sell video games, toys, action figures and other collectibles. The Smith Haven arcade opened in January 2022 and is the newest location.

Youth group representatives can reach out at Game On’s Facebook page, via email at gameonvideogamesli@gmail.com, or by phone at 631-821-4263.

“It’s a really special night for them to go out and be together and do something instead of just going to the church community center,” Whitworth said. “It’s just a change of pace.” For more information, visit the website gameonmp.com.

Game On’s retro arcade in the Smith Haven Mall features retro arcade games such as Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, above, and Q*bert, below left, as well as pinball machines below right. Photos by Daniel Febrizio

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police: Smithtown

jewelry store robbed

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating the armed robbery of a Smithtown jewelry store that occurred on February 8.

A woman, wearing a face mask, was buzzed into L.I. Gold Mine, located at 135 West Main St., at approximately 5:15 p.m. The woman allegedly held the door open as four masked men, two displaying handguns, entered the store. The owner and an employee were held at gunpoint while the robbers allegedly smashed display cases and stole assorted jewelry. The five suspects drove away from the scene in a minivan, which they parked a short distance away, then split up and fled in two other vehicles. There were no injuries.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the robbery to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854- 8452.

Wanted for Farmingdale robbery

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police

First Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who allegedly stole an iPhone from a display shelf at Verizon, located at 240 Airport Plaza in Farmingdale, on Jan. 13 at approximately 11:20 a.m. He used wire cutters to strike the hand of an employee who attempted to stop him from leaving the store.

Merchandise swiped from BJ’s Club

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole merchandise including two televisions, from BJ’s Wholesale Club, located at 2 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack, on Jan. 27 at 4 p.m. The items were valued at more than $500.

Do you recognize these men?

Wanted for Commack petit larceny

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the men who allegedly stole three cartons of cigarettes, valued at approximately $400, from Speedway at 2104 Jericho Turnpike in Commack, on Jan. 14 at 4:10 a.m.

Lowe’s in Commack targeted

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man and an accomplice who allegedly stole 20 Smart Lighting Switches from Lowes, located at 100 Express Drive North in Commack, at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Jan.17 and fled the scene in a gray Dodge SUV. The merchandise has a value of $2,900.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

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

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Northport outmuscles Centereach in opening round of playoffs

BY STEVEN ZAITZ DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

fourth quarter.

SPORTS

Andrew Miller scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Northport Tigers boys basketball team defeated the Centereach Cougars 58-45 on Tuesday night in their opening round Suffolk County playoff game.

The Tigers played a stifling brand of defense and had too much size for the visiting Cougars, who were limited to six points in the second quarter and nine points in the third. Northport dominated the glass, outrebounding Centereach 44-29 for the game.

The Cougars had no answer for Miller, and they tried to guard him with a rotation of different players, each having little luck against the 6’4” bruising senior. Miller dominated the painted area, slicing and dicing his way to easy layups. Northport senior guard Brendan Carr had 14 points, including six big ones in the

The Tigers enjoyed a double-digit lead for most of the game, but when Cougar guard Christopher Buzaid hit a three pointer midway through the fourth quarter, Centereach cut the Northport lead to eight. It would be the closest the Cougars would get — as baskets by Miller, Carr and sophomore Owen Boylan gave the Tigers a 54-37 lead with two minutes to go in the contest.

Senior guard Evan Grant led Centereach with 11 points and Buzaid had 10.

In a Battle of the Ports, Northport will battle the Bellport Clippers on Friday, Feb. 17, in the Suffolk County quarterfinal round at Bellport.

The Cougar season ends with a mark of 13-8 overall and 10-6 in league play.

Pictured clockwise from above, Brendan Carr in the paint against Xander Torres; Will Meyer scores; and JoJo Cipollino is double teamed.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

Building confident LGBT families one storybook at a time

BY JULIANNE MOSHER DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Bella Noche, a New York City and Long Island-based drag queen, walked up to the stage inside the LGBT Network at Hauppauge in her 4-inch stiletto heels carrying a stack of children’s books. She sat in her chair, while dozens of kids and their families watched in awe as a real-life mermaid read to them “The GayBCs.”

Enamored by the queen — dressed in glitter, a purple wig and starfish accessories — the kids didn’t realize that Bella was in drag.

“The only question I usually get from them is, ‘Is your hair real?’” she said with a laugh.

Bella is the Long Island chapter president of Drag Story Hour – a worldwide nonprofit that introduces storytellers using the art of drag to read books to children in libraries, schools and bookstores.

According to Drag Story Hour’s mission statement, the organization “captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where everyone can be their authentic selves.”

Founded in San Francisco in 2015, Drag Story Hour has made its way internationally, having chapters across the U.S., as well as in the U.K., Japan, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

The self-proclaimed “mermaid of New York” said that traveling from Manhattan to eastern Long Island to read to kids is a great experience. Not only does it entertain, but it teaches kids about diversity and shows them they can be creative, too.

“We inspire creativity, we inspire uniqueness, we inspire kids to think outside the box,” she said. “At its core, it’s a pure organization — we can look at things differently, but just adding that different perspective is really important to instill in kids, especially today.”

But while the turnout is usually positive, Bella said she has hosted several story hours that caused large and hate-filled protests — some in Nassau County and some in Manhattan.

In December, while hosting a Drag Story Hour in Jackson Heights, Queens, members of the far-right group Proud Boys drew attention with their signs and Proud Boys-emblemed flags lining the sidewalk.

According to The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, protest visits from Proud Boys had averaged just one or two antiLGBTQ protests per month for most of 2022. It picked up speed by the end of the year, with 13 anti-LGBTQ protests in December, more than in any other month last year.

“It’s interesting that since last summer there’s just been a lot of hate from these people,” Bella said. “It’s mostly from them not understanding why we’re doing what we’re doing, spreading rumors and creating vicious lies.”

But Drag Story Hour has been criticized locally since before she became involved with the Long Island chapter of the group. In September 2018, people protested the Port Jefferson Free Library for hosting a drag queen who reads. At the time, the library promoted the event on its online calendar as “a program that raises awareness of gender diversity, promotes self-acceptance and builds empathy through an enjoyable literary experience.”

At the event, several protesters stood outside the library holding signs and verbalizing their opposition to exposing children to the message

promoted by the event.

“It’s insane to think about, but [the protesters] are here and they’re causing calamity,” Bella said.

“But the other thing is that there has been such an

amazing turn of support from that. So, I try to find the silver linings, and the support that we’ve gotten not just from our own community, but from other families and educators has been amazing.”

LGBT Families Day

BY JULIANNE MOSHER

Bella Noche held a Drag Story Hour at the Hauppauge-based LGBT Network Families Day event on Sunday, Feb. 12.

There, hundreds of LGBTQ families were able to meet, mingle and enjoy a fun weekend in a safe, accepting space.

Robert Vitelli, LGBT Network’s COO, said this event was the nonprofit’s third year hosting, and it keeps getting bigger and better.

“Families Day is all about celebrating families and all the different ways that LGBT people start and grow their families,” he said. “It’s a chance for LGBT people to come together and feel free.’

Vitelli said that even in 2023, LGBTQ families still face a lot of stigma, discrimination

and harassment. But events like this can “allow them to take a breath of fresh air and connect with other families like their own.”

Tables with information for families looking to adopt, foster and seek legal advice were available for the grown-ups, while their kids got to enjoy an indoor bounce house, cotton candy, a s’mores station and games.

“We have been working hand in hand and organizing with families to create safer spaces — safer schools, safer and more inclusive libraries, and safer and more inclusive communities,” Vitelli said.

“When people really want to come together and build community, here at the LGBT network, that’s what we’re all about, and it’s our pleasure to be able to bring an event like this to everyone here.”

Bella Noche, above, reads children’s books to children and families during the LGBT Network Families Day event on Feb. 12. Below, attendees leave reasons why the family day is so important to them. Photos by Julianne Mosher

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Letters to the Editor Editorial Using music to appreciate history

Black History Month is celebrated throughout February, and for more than 50 years, has provided an outlet for people to remember and reflect upon African American history.

We see many examples of Black history right here on Long Island. Though not fully understood or preserved, the examples feature most prominently in the field of entertainment.

How many readers are aware of the Red Rooster club on Route 25 between Gordon Heights and Coram with its national Black celebrities and advertising a “complete floor show every night” through the late 1940s? How many can recount the contributions made by the Celebrity Club in Freeport in the 1950s and ‘60s, when R&B and soul reigned supreme?

Then there was East Setauket’s own Paula Jean’s club, where not only could one enjoy the top national and local blues artists at the turn of the new millennium but also the most authentic Cajun or Creole cuisine this side of New Orleans and south Louisiana.

Never heard of these clubs and their place in the Black hierarchy? That’s all the more reason why measures should be taken by the state, counties, towns and villages to recognize these sites with heritage plaques. These important and historic local institutions should be studied in local history classes from K-12, community colleges and universities.

In years to come, the investment of time and resources will be paid off in the form of enhanced Long Island artistic recognition, increased tourist traffic and greater cross-cultural understanding.

Today, the local club tradition is continued in honor of many top Black jazz legends at Tom Manuel’s The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook in live performances and at its museum which features pioneering stars such as Louis Jordan — arguably the inspiration for rock ‘n’ roll music — and balladeer Arthur Prysock.

The recently opened Long Island Music Hall of Fame is located on the site of the Dogwood Hollow Amphitheater behind Stony Brook Village Center. It was the place to be for international acts such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong until 1970.

Like The Jazz Loft, LIMHOF is another institution preserving the music history of artists and entertainers of all colors and stripes. Both organizations should be supported and patronized by local residents and tourists alike. But more recognition through plaques and other landmarks should be offered by our municipalities, as is done with music trails in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Months celebrating specific cultures such as Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian Pacific Heritage Month and more, are all helpful for reminding us that our country is what it is today thanks to people of all walks of life. Recognizing our accomplishments shouldn’t be confined to just four weeks out of the year.

Let’s think of better ways to share the stories of people from all walks of life, those who accomplished greatly whether in music, politics, the armed forces or other fields. Let us remember and honor their legacy by putting those ideas into practice. Here on Long Island, there is diversity in history from which we can learn so much for our future benefit and enlightenment.

LIRR East Side Access Grand Central Madison bloopers

During my recent visit, I observed that there is still work to be done after the soft opening on Jan. 25 for Long Island Rail Road East Side Access to Grand Central Madison. So far, there is only limited shuttle service between Jamaica Station and GCM.

How will the 160,000 daily LIRR riders previously predicted by the MTA to use this supposedly state-of-theart facility deal with some interesting challenges? There are only four elevators connecting the east and west lower and upper level tracks with the mezzanine and Madison concourse.

Escalators are steep and require 90 seconds of travel time. The Penn Station tradition of asking fellow riders to move to one side so others can more quickly walk up or down the escalator will not occur here. In addition to those riders physically challenged, there will be many others such as pregnant women, those with bicycles, people who suffer from vertigo or altophobia, limited eyesight and seniors who may not be comfortable riding escalators, but will instead elect to use elevators. How would only two elevators provide sufficient capacity especially if one or both suffer mechanical difficulties?

The one waiting room only has a 29-seat capacity plus seven stools with electrical outlets for recharging your Wi-Fi device to serve all the riders utilizing this facility. There are no benches on either platform, mezzanine level or Madison concourse to sit while waiting for your train. Perhaps the MTA and LIRR are afraid of an invasion by the homeless occupying space?

You better be in good physical shape if you can find a seat in the waiting room when your train is posted to ensure boarding before departure. There is one set of escalators on the Madison concourse south end yet to be opened.

It is accompanied by a sign “Coming soon.” The same is true for a number of ticket-vending machines identified by signage as “Future” that have not been installed. The fire alarm system was undergoing a test. When it comes to disposal of newspapers, beverage containers, garbage or other waste, there doesn’t appear to be any attempt for recycling let alone disposal of what can’t be recycled. Are riders supposed to carry all of this to street level before being able to throw it out?

Many people, while waiting for a train, enjoy stopping by a newsstand to purchase a paper or periodical. I didn’t see any potential newsstands

or any newspaper vending machines. Newsstands are readily available in Metro-North Grand Central Terminal, Penn and Jamaica stations.

A significant portion of the lighting is the old-style fluorescent bulb versus newer more efficient and environmentally friendly LED. A number of contractors are still walking around the facility in the process of completing contract punch list, inspection and acceptance, quality assurance and quality control.

MTA Real Estate is in charge of leasing space. No retail space has opened to date. How many months of lost revenue will be incurred until all retail space is occupied? Ten years after the original completion date of 2013 as promised in the 2006 Federal Transit Administration $6.3 billion capital investment grant agreement — which capped the federal share at $2.6 billion — and $5 billion over budget, not including $1 billion more for the cost of financing for a total of $12.6 billion, LIRR commuters deserve better.

When it comes to East Side Access, the LIRR 1960s motto “Line of the Dashing Dan” perhaps should be changed to “Line of the Slow Moving Sloth.”

Larry Penner Great Neck

I’m thankful

It was 3 degrees Fahrenheit one Saturday morning with a wind chill of -3 degrees. All night the north wind raged, rattling “sealed” windows and doors but still blowing frigid air through them. I did everything I could: Raise the boiler’s temperature, cover the big expanse of glass on the patio doors windows, pull the shades. I even added an electric heater in the room where my tropical parrot resides so he doesn’t get fatal pneumonia.

The possibility of a power failure crossed my mind with the overhead wires, high winds, many surrounding trees and almost monthly power interruptions in the past. It would be an absolutely worst-case scenario if the power went out tonight. Frozen pipes next? I have a backup generator but the thought of going out in the howling cold night, fueling it, hooking it up, starting it and monitoring the systems

wasn’t that appealing.

But PSEG Long Island’s tree trimming maintenance and generation/ distribution system upkeep allowed the power to stay on through the night and into the next day as I write this. We’re cozy, comfortable and safe. This kind of cold can kill.

I’m thankful we have a reliable, cost-effective electrical generation and distribution system. I’m thankful I have a natural gas-fired boiler that works 24/7 keeping me and my family safe and alive. I am thankful that I don’t rely on intermittent, expensive wind and solar generation as electricity sources that can fail at any time leaving me without power. I’m grateful I don’t have to rely on “backup” battery power that is grossly inadequate, expensive, highly polluting to manufacture and can cause a non-extinguishable toxic gas fire. I pray it does not change.

Mark Sertoff East Northport

Bill to protect bees and birds

For the last few years, I have written a letter to the editor about the dangers of neonicotinoids or “neonics.” This pesticide is linked to massive bee, bird and insect losses worldwide.

Since the introduction in the mid1990s, neonics have threatened our pollinators, such as bees, which are vital to agricultural production. Neonics are coated on corn, wheat, soy and barley seed before planting. They offer few benefits to the agricultural cycle and are easily replaceable with safer alternatives.

Not only do long-lasting neonics destroy our birds and bees but they become infused in plants that are eaten by humans. They remain in the soil and are washed by the rain into drinking water supplies and marine environments.

The Birds and Bees Protection Act (A3226/S1856) would prohibit the sale of these pesticides. The bill passed the New York State Assembly on a bipartisan base last year but failed in the state Senate. I would encourage everyone to contact their state representatives and Gov. Kathy Hochul [D] to encourage passage of this bill in memory of the late Setauket beekeeper Maria Hoffman.

Edward Romaine Town of Brookhaven Supervisor

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

The subtle, and not so subtle, meanings behind types of hand waving

What says hello nonverbally more than a wave? I’m surprised nonhuman animals don’t do it more often.

It’s efficient, requires minimal energy most of the time and can be as subtle as a lifted finger or as dramatic as a fullbody wave signaling to someone at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

pet him and assure him he’s wonderful.

Back to waving — I think the gesture merits categories, along with a short explanation.

— The-wave-or-maybe-not moment: We’ve all been there. Someone we kind of know or with whom we might want to interact appears to wave at us. Is that for me, we wonder? We consider swiveling our heads to check, but we’re not owls. We raise our hand tentatively. When we realize the more popular person behind us is the wave target, we awkwardly run our fingers through our hair. Great recovery, we mutter to ourselves.

lifting their wrists, some people wiggle their fingers next to their heads, as if they are tapping an imaginary musical instrument to send a visual and auditory greeting.

he sees you, and he would prefer that you keep whatever eye contact you’re going to make to a minimum. In fact, if you need to look at something, look at his flat and indifferent hand.

People wave to me frequently, particularly when I’m walking my dog. I suspect many of them are really waving to my dog. He is cuter, more charming and more personable than I am. Sure, I’m happy to engage in a conversation about the weather, the latest “Big Game,” my kids, or someone else’s family, but my dog is prepared to throw his head into someone’s knees as long as they

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

— The “here-but-don’t-really-want-to-be” wave. Remember back when you were in high school, and your homeroom teacher took attendance? He or she would go down the list and when your name came up, you pulled your wrist back as casually as possible and pointed your fingers to the fluorescent lighting on the ceiling? It’s a wave and acknowledgment devoid of any enthusiasm.

— The “tickle the piano keys” wave. After

— The eraser wave. This can either be an enthusiastic or an unenthusiastic gesture. With this wave, people keep their fingers together and brush back and forth, as if they have an eraser in their hand and are removing an incorrect answer from the blackboard. This kind of wave can be an Eeyore greeting from the Winnie the Pooh series, in which he sighs and shares a burden with a deflated wave. With a head tilt, an affectionate smile, and faster side-to-side motion, this kind of wave can also signal a responsive and more enthusiastic greeting.

— The stiff-fingered-salute. Often offered by older men, this isn’t a wave so much as it is a signal that the person sees you, but does not intend to encourage any kind of dialog or further gesturing. It’s a nonverbal stop sign, telling you that he’s coming through,

Being single today is dramatically different

Nearly 40% of United States adults are single, which is up from 29% in 1990. Now, I’ve been married, and I’ve been single. My husband died just three months before we would have marked our 25th wedding anniversary and right around when the number of singles was so much lower. Next Friday would have been our 60th anniversary, but instead, I have been single for 35 years, so I know a little about both.

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF

I was intrigued by an article in Time magazine that spoke about being single, asserting that about one-half of all singles aren’t interested in dating or a relationship and were happily single. This is quite a change from when I was newly alone. In the early 90s, single women

were at best often ignored, and at worst, stigmatized and even preyed upon. All but the closest friends disappeared, and being the odd number for a reservation in a restaurant was a decided obstacle to being included. I don’t think single men had it all that easy, either. While single men were often invited to gatherings, as opposed to single women, there might have been some doubt about their sexuality. Heterosexuality, as evidenced by marriage then, was the norm.

Today, according to Time, the solo life is thought of as authentic, fulfilling, meaningful and psychologically rich. I have found that to be true as the years have gone by, but what a total shift in popular perspective. The marriage rate has been decreasing for decades, as has the birth rate, and the age at which marriage finally may occur, if at all, is later in life for many.

How has this happened?

For one thing, marriage is no longer considered necessary for having a family or assuring financial comfort. Someone like Alexander

Hamilton, who was tortured throughout his life for being a bastard child of an unwed mother, would not recognize today’s values and would certainly have had an easier time of it.

While people in relationships may enjoy greater satisfaction, being married doesn’t guarantee happiness, as in, “They lived happily ever after.” There are people unhappy and even lonely in marriage, although with the decline in marriage, there has also been less divorce. Research shows that people in unhappy marriages have equal or worse health compared to those who never married.

Those who are single as a result of divorce seem to have the most difficult time, according to Time. Widowhood can also be associated with poor mental health, as grief can lead to depression and loneliness. But many of us cherish our freedom, independence, even our creativity and nonconformity, again according to Time, and I wholeheartedly agree.

There was a time when people, especially women, felt they had to have a man in order

— The tree-swaying-in-a-blustery-wind wave. Yes, this is one of those moments when people are so thrilled to see you that they raise their arms over their heads and wave quickly back and forth. They may even catch some air. People waving this way don’t care what others think and, more importantly, want to share how excited they are to see you. This kind of wave transitions into a full-body hug.

— Finally, to end on the opposite end of the spectrum from where we began, there’s the wave from someone you might otherwise want to ignore. That wave says, “I’m over here, I see you, but you’re not responding.” It has the same characteristics as the excited greeting, except that it adds the need for acknowledgment. If you’re embarrassed, that may be a bonus.

to define themselves and their position in society. A woman often was the one who sought financial security, while a man wanted a woman on his arm. Today, with the ability to earn a living, sometimes quite an excellent living, women don’t feel the same pressure to marry, nor do their mothers in urging them.

Singles have more time for themselves. They can focus on goals without having to consider the needs of someone else. There is also more time for spending on hobbies and self-care. This is especially true for younger women and for those who consider sex outside of committed relationships. That, of course, doesn’t preclude interest in a romantic relationship, which some enjoy.

As Time points out, being alone is not the same as being lonely. We singles often have strong ties to our families, to friends and to our neighborhoods. We can be actively involved in community organizations, have a sense of purpose and are generally self-sufficient. We have to be.

D. None of the above

REPAIRING A KNEE LIGAMENT TAKES 62 MINUTES.

ENJOYING A 5K AGAIN CAN LAST FOREVER.

WHAT YOU DO NEXT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

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