The Times of Huntington-Northport - November 17, 2022

Tiger’s Michael Raio (#2) is tackled by Lindy’s Fred Meza during Nov. 12 game.

Photo by Steven Zaitz

Northport High School teacher inducted to New York State Veterans’ Hall of Fame

Northport High School social studies teacher and veteran Darryl St. George was selected by Senator James Gaughran for the 2021 New York State Veterans’ Hall of Fame. Due to the pandemic, St. George was not able to receive the traditional celebratory ceremony at the time of his induction. On November 10, 2022, Senator Gaughran visited Northport High School to present Mr. St. George with his award during a surprise ceremony.

With many of St. George’s students and colleagues filling the high school commons, Superintendent of Schools Robert Banzer and Chairperson for Social Studies Sean Hurley welcomed Senator Gaughran in advance of Veteran’s Day, thanking him for his continued support of our schools. Senator Gaughran then spoke about the hard work of our veterans.

“We are very blessed in our country and in our community that we have people who step forward. They step forward to protect us, step forward to protect our democracy,” Senator Gaughran said. “In our community, we have a lot of great people who have done this and who have

worked very hard to protect us and then go on when they come back to work in our community and to help not only fellow veterans, but to help educate and help move our society forward.”

While St. George was aware he had received this award in 2021, the ceremony came as a surprise as he was called to the podium as the NYS Veteran of the Year in Senate District 5. During his time in the navy and stationed in Afghanistan, St. George obtained the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer, Fleet Marine Force (F.M.F. Corpsman) and earned many awards for his service.

When addressing his colleagues and students, St. George was emotional as he spoke about his hope for the future and how his students continuously inspire him. “Every day when I work with you students, that’s where I get my inspiration from,” he said.

According to the NYS Senate website, the Veterans’ Hall of Fame “was created to honor and recognize outstanding veterans from the Empire State who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life.”

Northwell saves Holiday Spectacular

Last week, in a joint statement, the Town of Huntington and the Huntington Village Business Improvement District, announced that the BID would not be able to organize the annual Holiday Spectacular this year. That decision has now been reversed.

According to a Nov. 11 press release from the town and BID, Northwell Health will provide funding to help the event go on as usual.

“The Town of Huntington’s Annual Holiday Spectacular has garnered a lot of attention this year,” the press release read. “One key issue for this year’s event being reimagined was not only the safety concerns but the costs involved in creating such an event. The crowning glory of the Holiday Spectacular was the magnificent 65foot multi-media Christmas tree. It must be made clear that the tree is not owned by the BID or the town, but is provided by (along with other decor) each year through Looks Great Services, Inc.”

This year the BID did not have the resources to fully fund the event in order for it to be a safe and successful one, according to the press release. The hope was to reimagine the event, but new plans wouldn’t be completed in time for the 2022 holiday season.

“However, since the plight of the spectacular was made public, we have since heard from our lead sponsor, Northwell Health and they have committed to provide the additional funding needed to ensure that the Spectacular continues for 2022,” the press release read. “Northwell Health’s generosity will enable the BID and the town to continue this highly anticipated event for the third consecutive year at its original location in Huntington Village/Wall Street. We are grateful to Northwell Health that we can continue the tradition!”

According to the town and BID, organizers will work with local fire officials and first responders to take into account safeguards and precautions.

“We expect that this event will be ever changing based on the needs of the community, our town, and our merchants,” the press release read. “For now, we are happy to return the event so many have found to be the epitome of the holiday season for the Huntington community. We look forward to welcoming you all back to Wall Street for 2022.”

The parade and celebration is scheduled for Nov. 26.

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 $59 annually. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

Photo from Town of Huntington

Senator James Gaughran (right) presents Northport High School social studies teacher and veteran Darryl St. George with his Veteran’s Hall of Fame plaque. Photo from Northport-East Northport UFSD

Veterans honored during moving ceremony at Greenlawn Memorial Park

BY MICHAEL SCRO

A Veteran’s Day ceremony was held at Greenlawn Memorial Park this past Veterans Day on November 11th at 11 a.m., where attendees participated in the honoring of veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Hosted by American Legion Post 1244, it featured neighboring American Legion members, Greenlawn Fire Department members, as well as community groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and family/friends of veterans.

Donna Boyle, commander of American Legion Post 1244, noted it is the only ceremony in the Town of Huntington that is held on Veteran’s Day, and said the ceremony notes all six branches of the United States Military: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force.

“America has been an all volunteer force since before 1978, which is when I joined the service,” Boyle said. “Approximately one percent of Americans have assumed the responsibility for ensuring that America’s ideals continue, and we owe these veterans a large thank you.”

Father John Carr, Chapin of American Legion 1244, read aloud a prayer to honor veterans, followed by the wreath presentations around the memorial statues and monuments at the park. Wreaths were presented by American Legion 1244, Greenlawn Fire Department, Greenlawn Civic Association, Greenlawn Lions Club, Girl Scout Troop 706 and 519 and Boy Scout Troop 2255 and 32.

“We thank everyone for coming out today, and we thank our young children for coming to learn respect for American — it is very important,” Boyle said.

Photos by

Origin

Veterans nonprofit organizes events to raise funds for expenses

BY SERENA CARPINO DESK@TBRNEWMEDIA.COM

For the past few years, Stony Brook resident Rena Sylvester has helped veterans throughout Suffolk County through her organization Cooking For Long Island Veterans.

MOVER & SHAKER

Recently, CFLIV has expanded the number of events it offers to raise funds to cover expenses and possible future expansion. One of those events was held Oct. 9, as more than 50 runners and walkers took part in a 5K at Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown.

Though it began as a school club, CFLIV is now a nonprofit food pantry dedicated to helping homebound veterans on Long Island. Every week veterans receive three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners and lots of snacks. The meals are provided by restaurants and volunteers who cook in certified kitchens.

One of the volunteers is Karen Fazio, president of the Setauket Fire Department Auxiliary. She said she is always looking for the auxiliary to do something for the community. She saw CFLIV on Facebook and mentioned it to the auxiliary members, a couple of whom decided to volunteer with her.

Fazio said during her time volunteering she has done a bit of everything from

cooking, packing up meals and delivering them to the veterans. “It’s very rewarding no matter which job you do,” she said.

The volunteer said when she drops off meals sometimes she’ll have time to stay and talk a while with the veterans. She said some don’t have families so the work the nonprofit does is an important one.

Sylvester, a retired home economics teacher who comes from a military family, said she started CFLIV “by accident.” During her career at East Islip school district, she created a club that mailed care packages to deployed members of the military. Sylvester and her students sent packages to many local soldiers, including those belonging to the 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton and the 1st Marine Corps District in Garden City.

In the beginning, they would prepare very simple meals. However, in later years the club started receiving food from restaurants, including the Rolling Pin bakery in East Setauket. This allowed Sylvester to prepare more inviting meals.

In February of 2019, the organization began to expand.

“I was going on vacation, and there was a Korean War veteran that was complaining about the meals he was getting [from another organization],” Sylvester said. “So, I brought him a couple of meals.

At a recent 5K event at Blydenburgh County Park, runners came out to raise funds for Cooking for Long Island Veterans, above. Photo by Rita J. Egan

Suffolk County cyberattack offers a window into

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The recent ransomware attack against the Suffolk County government has raised important questions about the relationship between citizens, governments and technologies.

A confirmed ransomware event took place in early September. The hack crippled the county’s information technology infrastructure, and recovery efforts remain ongoing.

In the wake of these events, the hack prompted critics to question the digitization of sensitive information and how governments can better secure their IT networks.

What is ransomware?

Nick Nikiforakis is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stony Brook University. His research focuses on web security and privacy. In an interview, he described how ransomware works.

“Ransomware is, effectively, malicious software that infiltrates a machine, starts encrypting all sorts of private documents, spreadsheets, anything that is of value, and then leaks out to the attacker the encryption key and potentially the data that was encrypted,” he said.

Some forms of ransomware affect only a single machine, according to Nikiforakis. Other strains may spread into several devices, potentially infecting an entire network.

Ransomware is the confirmed vector of attack for Suffolk County. However, how hackers first entered the county’s system is unknown to the public.

While the details of the county hack are scanty, Nikiforakis said cyberattackers commonly use emails with malicious attachments. In other instances, they can locate vulnerable software within a network, exploit that weakness and breach that system. Once hackers gain access to the system, they hold sensitive information for ransom.

“The original idea behind ransomware is that if you don’t pay the attacker the money that they ask, then you lose access to your data,” Nikiforakis said.

Backup software was developed, in part, to mitigate this concern. Regardless, as technologies have evolved, so has cybercrime.

“Even if you have the ability to restore your data from backups, now you have to deal with the attacker having access to your data and threatening you with making that data public, which is what’s happening in this case,” Nikiforakis said.

Based on the information available, Nikiforakis said the attackers likely gained access to speeding tickets and various titles, among other sensitive materials. “This is definitely a cause for concern, and that is why, in certain cases, people decide to pay, to avoid this blowback that will come from the data being made publicly available.”

A question of payment

Ransomware raises an ethical dilemma for government officials, namely whether to use public funds to pay a ransom.

“People can take a philosophical approach and say, ‘We don’t negotiate with terrorists,’ and I understand that,” Nikiforakis said, “But then the rational thing for the attacker to do is to make that data available to the public. Because if he doesn’t, then the next victim will also not pay him.”

The profitability of the ransomware operation depends upon the victim trusting that the criminals will comply with the conditions

dangers of

and other buffers that reduce the spread of a fire.

“If a fire starts, it doesn’t take down the whole complex. It stops at the masonry wall,” he said. “Our system was not configured with those hard breaks, other than some separation of function out in Riverhead in the County Clerk’s Office.”

Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai), whose office was attacked by ransomware in 2017, has advocated for serious IT reform for some time. She followed the county’s technology closely and expressed frustration over how the initial attack occurred.

digital age

Preparing for the future

Toulon suggested the existing IT network is too centralized and interconnected. To prevent future failure of the entire network, he proposed creating separate silos for each department.

“I feel that the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, the [County] Clerk’s Office and the Comptroller’s Office should be totally separate from the County Executive’s Office,” Toulon said, “So if, god forbid, this were to happen again in the future, we wouldn’t be directly impacted like everyone else.”

Anker said she and a newly formed panel of county legislators are beginning to explore ways to harden the network and apply strategies that work elsewhere.

“As we move forward, we need to see what the other municipalities and corporations are doing,” she said. “What types of programs and software do they have that prevent these attacks?”

The rate of software development, according to Anker, is outpacing the ability of governments to respond effectively. While IT departments must remain ahead of the cybercriminals to keep their digital infrastructure safe, staying out front is easier said than done.

“Technology is moving so quickly that it is incredibly challenging for government to keep up,” she said. “I would like to see more accountability in all respects and from everyone as we move forward with new technology.”

of the transaction. The ransomware business model would fail if cyberattackers generally went against their word.

For this reason, Nikiforakis said payment and compliance could sometimes be in the interests of both parties.

“I think it’s a very rational decision to say, ‘Let’s pay and accept this as a financial loss and let’s make sure that this doesn’t happen again,’” he said.

In Suffolk County, however, putting this theoretical framework into action is more complicated. Responsibility for paying ransomware payments would be vested in the Office of the Comptroller, which oversees the county’s finances.

During an election interview last month with county Comptroller John Kennedy Jr. (R), he hinted that compromising with cybercriminals is off the table.

“There is no predicate in the charter, in the New York State County Law, in the Suffolk County code, to take taxpayer money and give it to a criminal,” he said.

The effect on the county’s government operations

The ransomware attack has also aggravated concerns over securing the county’s IT apparatus. Kennedy likened the problem to a fire code, saying fire codes often include provisions for masonry walls

“I could tell, and I could feel, that there needed to be more done,” she said. “It has hampered the government, it has affected our constituents. Maybe it could have been worse, but it should have never happened.”

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. (D) explained his office’s many challenges since the hack. Though communications systems are slowly returning online, the initial attack disrupted both external and internal communications within the Sheriff’s Office.

“From a jail and police perspective, it really hindered us in the beginning,” he said. “Emails that we received from other law enforcement agencies or any communication with our community was stopped for a significant amount of time.”

New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency assisted the Sheriff’s Office as Toulon’s staff worked without an operational communication network. Because of this coordination, Toulon maintained that the functions of the jails were more or less appropriately executed.

“We wanted to make sure that any individual that was supposed to be released from our custody was released on time,” the county sheriff said. “No one was incarcerated longer than they had to be.”

While the recent cyberattack focuses on the government, Anker believes ordinary citizens are also at risk from hostile online actors. The county legislator contended more work should be done to alert community members of these dangers.

“Not enough is being done regarding community outreach,” she said. “There needs to be more education on preventing an attack even on your home computer.”

Nikiforakis proposed that greater attention be given to digitizing personal records. According to him, those records in the wrong hands could unleash great harm.

“Ransomware was a big game-changer for attackers because it allows them to monetize data that would not be traditionally monetizable,” he said. “Through ransomware, suddenly everything that is of value can be monetized.”

The SBU associate professor supports software upgrades, cybersecurity protocols and other measures that protect against ransomware. But, he said, a broader conversation needs to take place about the nature of digitization and whether individuals and governments should store sensitive files online.

“More and more things that didn’t used to be online are suddenly available online,” he said. “We have to reassess the eagerness with which we put everything online and see whether the convenience that we get out of these systems being online is a good return on investment, given the risks.”

‘Technology is moving so quickly that it is incredibly challenging for government to keep up.’

— Sarah Anker

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Former aide arrested for using elderly client’s EBT food card in Smithtown

Suffolk County Police arrested a former aide on Nov. 12 for fraudulently using an elderly client’s EBT card in Smithtown more than a dozen times in 2020. Shatia Parker, an aide who advertised on Care.com, allegedly used an elderly client’s EBT card to make 17 unauthorized purchases at a grocery store in Smithtown between October 2020 and December 2020. The unauthorized transactions ranged between $37 and $193. A family member contacted police after noticing a discrepancy on receipts. Following an investigation by Fourth Precinct Crime Section, Parker, 30, of Riverhead, was arrested and charged with 17 counts of Petit Larceny.

Woman Injured in Motor Vehicle Crash

Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a woman in Huntington Station on Nov. 14. Rebecca DeWitt was driving a 2021 Honda, when she attempted to make a left turn onto Jericho Turnpike, from southbound Schiller Avenue and was struck by a 2022 BMW being driven westbound on Jericho Turnpike by Marianne Bagatta at approximately 5:15 p.m. DeWitt, 22, of Melville, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital via Suffolk County Police helicopter with serious but non-lifethreatening injuries. Bagatta, 44, of Huntington Station, was not injured.

Clothing stolen from donation bin

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 stole donated items from a Smithtown drop bin in September. The man pictured below, along with another man, allegedly entered a PAL clothing donation drop bin, located at 712 Route 347, and stole multiple bags of clothing and other household items, on Sept. 3 through Sept. 9, between 10:27 p.m. and 10:49 p.m.

Suffolk

Wanted for 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 a man who allegedly stole a 65-inch Vizio television from Walmart located at 85 Crooked Hill Road in Commack at 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 2. The merchandise was valued at approximately $450.The man left the store in a dark gray Chrysler 300 traveling northbound on Crooked Hill Road.

Lawnmower stolen from trailer

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate three men who allegedly stole a commercial lawnmower valued at approximately $7,000, from a landscaping trailer parked on East 17th Street in Huntington Station on Oct. 26 at approximately 9:40 a.m. The men were in a black Ford pickup, either a 250 or 350, with an open top trailer attached. For video of the incident, visit www.youtube.com/SCPDTV. Click on Wanted for Huntington Station Grand Larceny 22-633460.

Commack home burglarized

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two men who burglarized a Commack home last month. Two men entered the rear of a residence on Cecily Lane on Oct. 13 at approximately 1:30 p.m. They stole cash, jewelry and a laptop. The suspects fled in a black Dodge Nitro with no front license plate.— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

1-800-220-TIPS.

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

Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Do you recognize this man?

Photo from SCPD

Tigers lick Lindenhurst, advance to County Final against Bellport

BY STEVEN ZAITZ

Almost exactly one year ago, the Northport Football Tigers held a two-touchdown lead against perennial power Lindenhurst and were six minutes away from playing for a Suffolk County title.

But a missed extra point, a ton of costly penalties and two late scores by the Bulldogs were all part of a disastrous 4th quarter sequence that ended the Tigers’ season on that cold, wet and dreadful night on the Great South Bay. Northport would need to wait fifty-one weeks for a chance at retribution. They would have it.

In a stirring performance, led by backup quarterback Macklin O’Brien’s three touchdown tosses and a relentless pass rush that registered nine sacks, the Tigers crushed Lindenhurst this past Saturday, 21-7 in Northport, to advance to the Suffolk Conference II Final against the Bellport Clippers. This high-stakes game will be played at Stony Brook University on Friday, November 18.

O’Brien, filling in for Tiger star QB Owen Johansen, who broke his ankle against Bellport and was lost for the season four weeks ago, had his best day throwing the ball. He completed 7 of 9 passes for 149 and three scores and did not turn the ball over — a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3.

Despite the pressure growing with each passing round of the playoffs, O’Brien has remained cool and collected on the field and off. “I just try to stay focused and keep improving,” said the lanky senior. “When I first stepped in for Owen, I had some pretty big shoes to fill but with each week, I’ve gotten more comfortable.”

The Tigers lost that game against Bellport, when O’Brien was thrust into the spotlight midway through the first quarter. Since then, The Tigers are 4-0 in games he has started.

“Macklin works hard, and he’s always worked hard, that’s just the way he is,” said Tiger Head Coach Pat Campbell. “He’s a really good athlete and I know some people felt the sky was falling when Owen got hurt, but nobody in our room felt that way. Good teams pick each other up and rely on the guy next to them and I think having that mentality from everyone — players and coaches — has fostered success for the whole team and for Mack.”

The opening drive of the game was a symbol of this success for O’Brien as well as their AllSuffolk tight end Andrew Miller. Miller took a short rollout pass from O’Brien and rambled 56 yards down the far sideline on the very first play from scrimmage. Miller would score three plays later beating double coverage in the back-right corner of the end zone and the Tigers led 7-0 barely two minutes into the game.

Despite this explosive start, the rest of the first half was kind of a snooze-fest, as the teams traded fruitless drives in and around the middle of the field for the better part of two quarters.

However, with less than a minute to go in the half, Lindenhurst quarterback Christian Capogna

scrambled for 20 yards to the Northport 12-yard line. On the next play, Bulldog superstar Chris Carson, who is a finalist for the Hansen award that is given to the Most Valuable Player in Suffolk County, caught a touchdown pass at the pylon with six seconds remaining in the half. This tied the score at 7-7 and took a lot of the air out of the blue and gold balloon going into halftime.

But it would get refilled in short order.

After stopping Lindenhurst three and out to start the second half, the combination of O’Brien to Miller would do damage again as they connected on a 38-yard TD strike down the middle of the field. Miller beat his man, safety Dominick Artale, on a simple post pattern and O’Brien lofted a perfect rainbow to Miller just as he crossed the goal line.

Miller had his second touchdown catch of the day and the Tigers took the lead back with just three minutes gone in the 3rd quarter.

“Macklin has adjusted great, and he’s been very focused since he took over the offense,” said Miller. “On the second touchdown, I made a move to get the defender to flip his hips and Mack threw a great ball that led me right into the end zone.”

Miller had 4 receptions for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day. He also had a big third down run with a 12 yard rush up the middle, keeping a drive alive in the third quarter. This led to a 31-yard TD dart from O’Brien to wide receiver Nick Valenti, giving the Tigers a 21-7 lead. It was quite a day for Miller, but his offensive output is only half the story.

The senior is also a big part of the Tiger defense that took up residence in the Bulldog backfield all day. In addition to the nine sacks, one of which was by Miller, Northport limited Lindenhurst to a puny 110 yards of total offense and there would be no blown leads for the Tigers this time around.

Defensive linemen Matt Diaz and Nick Tzimas each had three sacks and All County linebacker Tim Cleary had one. Safety Michael Campoli had nine total tackles, and linemen Thomas Kraus and Matt Lugo had seven each in what was a master class in defensive football. Campbell has pushed all the right buttons this year in increasing reps for guys who had reduced roles before Johansen’s injury. Tzimas, who just started playing organized football this year, is one of those guys.

“It’s been a bit of a learning curve, especially in the beginning,” said Tzimas, who is also a star lacrosse defenseman for the Tigers. “It’s very cool to be able to make an impact and it seemed like every play at least one or two of us was chasing down their quarterback.”

Lindenhurst switched up their offensive alignment on the fly, trying in desperation to find anything to generate sustained drives. Nothing worked.

Carson, who can do anything asked of him on a football field, is primarily a wide receiver. But Lindenhurst Head Coach Nick Lombardo had him running a wildcat-type offense at quarterback for a good chunk of the second half. He was bottled up for much of what must have been a frustrating day, his last in a Lindenhurst uniform.

“We didn’t play Lindy-tough football today,” said Carson. “There is nobody to really point the finger at. It was all of us and there really is no excuse for it.”

The Tigers manhandled the Bulldogs in the regular season meeting, beating them 19-0 in early October. Dominating a team of this caliber by a composite 40-7 is no small feat and thus they are rewarded with their first trip to a final such as this since they won the Large School Championship in 1991. They beat Bellport 28-9 that day and the rematch comes 31 years later with the stakes just as high.

“We’ve had a nice year and a lot of success so far,” Campbell said. “The way the chips have fallen this year, we’ve had to overcome a lot of adversity. The kids are the ones that make it all happen and I’m just interested to see where it all ends up.”

As the Tigers face the team that dealt them their last loss, knocked out their star player and in many ways, set them on their current trajectory, the entire Suffolk County High School Football universe will be watching with interest as well.

Clockwise from top left, Nick Tzimas (#28) and Calvin Bissett chase Lindy’s Chris Carson; Nick Valente scores a touchdown; Nick Valenti celebrates his touchdown with Tim Cleary (#51)

Photos by Steven Zaitz

CFLIV

help, whether it’s buying supplies, picking up food or delivering to veterans.

Soon, the pandemic hit and many people were concerned about food provision for veterans. At the time, “I had just stopped working at a homeless shelter for veterans, so I knew veterans in need. So, it kind of blossomed out of that,” she said.

Currently, CFLIV feeds 45 veterans around Long Island. Veterans in need have been recommended to the nonprofit by social workers from the VA.

Along with the increased numbers of veterans served, CFLIV receives help from local restaurants, such as Bliss, Elegant Eating and Panico’s Community Market. In addition, the VFW posts in Rocky Point, Lake Ronkonkoma and Patchogue allow volunteers to use their kitchens.

In addition to the recent 5K run, the nonprofit has organized other fundraisers to raise much-needed money. Earlier this year, CFLIV held a bourbon night, which Sylvester described as “a smashing success.”

A car show was held in October, also a cigar night with a raw seafood bar. In November to date, there has been a murder mystery dinner, while the organization has also participated in the 247th Marine Corps Birthday Ball.

It is still difficult to raise enough money to cover expenses. “We pay a cleaning woman, we pay two insurance policies, we have to

buy certain things, we have utilities … it’s mostly donations,” Sylvester said.

To help pay bills, CFLIV asks veterans above a certain income level to pay a weekly donation of $10 to $20. In comparison, Sylvester explained, other organizations

charge a few dollars per day. However, veterans sometimes find it difficult to pay. The nonprofit will still provide meals to them.

Other problems include lack of driver volunteers, breakfast foods and containers. Sylvester said they are always looking for

In spite of these challenges, Sylvester is continuing to hold events and increase volunteer involvement in CFLIV.

“One of the reasons we’re having the fundraisers is because we are going to be working with either the town [Brookhaven] or county officials,” she said. To increase operations, “we’re interested in getting an abandoned building, but nobody’s going to give us a pristine abandoned building.”

Sylvester’s goal is to raise $100,000 before they begin to look for a building.

“We’re going to need staff, we’re going to need insurance, we’re going to have some serious bills,” she said.

So far, all the work by CFLIV volunteers has paid off, and the organization has received help from other food donation organizations on Long Island. Recently, CFLIV became a member of Feeding America and food rescue program Island Harvest.

CFLIV is also a food rescue program. “As much as feeding veterans is important, rescue food is a very, very close second,” Sylvester said. “I love when volunteers take food. I love when we can give stuff to the VFW. Sometimes I do go to the Marine Corps League, and when I do I bring them all this stuff and they go home with a loaf of bread and they love it.”

For more information, visit the website cooking4livets.com.

Additional reporting by Rita J. Egan.

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Three Village fourth-grade student Mia Goldin used what she learned during the district’s Summer Enrichment Program to prepare French toast for Cooking for Long Island Veterans. Photo from Three Village Central School District

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NOTICETOBIDDERS

andreadaloud. theywillbepubliclyopened York11724atwhichtime ColdSpringHarbor,New locatedat75GooseHillRd, ColdSpringHarborCSD, AdministrativeOfficesatthe December12,2022atthe prevailingtimeon receiveduntil11:00AM PHASE3 projectwillbe bidsfor 2019BONDISSUEgiventhatseparatesealed PublicNoticeishereby

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CONTRACT#1-

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SED#

58-04-02-06-0-002-036LLOYDELEMENTARY

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SCHOOL WESTSIDEELEMENTARY 58-04-02-06-0-006-035SED#

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58-04-02-06-0-007-055COLDSPRINGHARBOR

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ofthebiddocumentswill haveobtainedhardcopies costs.Planholderswho allpackagingandshipping withtheprinterandpayfor shallmakearrangements documentstobeshipped Anybidderrequiring abovereferencedwebsites. willbeavailableatthe planholdersviaemailand transmittedtoregistered Allbidaddendawillbe

needtomakethedeterminationifhardcopiesof

haveelapsed. Districtafterthe(30)days forfeitedtotheSchool date.Alldepositsshallbe daysafterthebidopening thereonwithin(30)calendar handwrittennotations ingoodcondition,withno specificationsarereturned, onlyiftheplansand refundedtoeachBidder Thebiddepositshallbe copiesofthebidaddenda. holderstoobtainhard chargeforregisteredplan beissued.Therewillbeno hardcopiesofaddendato directlywiththeprinterfor fortheiruse,andcoordinate theaddendaarerequired

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records.Theoriginalpayrollsortranscriptsshallbe

ontheproject. thecompletionofthework preservedfor(5)yearsfrom

BOARDOFEDUCATION

ADMINISTRATIVEOFFICES DISTRICT CENTRALSCHOOL COLDSPRINGHARBOR

COLDSPRINGHARBOR, 75GOOSEHILLROAD

NEWYORK11724

DISTRICTCLERK CHRISTINECOSTA

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Taking personal steps to prevent ransomware attacks

The recent ransomware attack against the Suffolk County government has sparked questions regarding our relationship with technology.

We often take for granted the convenience offered by our devices. Today, we can communicate at lightning speed thanks to email and text messaging. A week’s supply of groceries is just a few clicks away. And many can carry out a full day of work without leaving their homes.

The digital revolution has permeated nearly every facet of our lives, finding the quickest, simplest, most convenient solutions to almost all of our daily problems. But are there consequences to our increasingly digital way of life? If the Suffolk County cyberattack has taught us anything, the answer is an emphatic “yes.”

While our county officials work through the ransomware situation, we must take a closer look at our technologies at home. What kind of sensitive records are stored within our smartphones and personal computers? How much could someone with access to these devices learn about us?

While most give very little thought to these matters, we must take a greater interest in our personal cybersecurity. If hackers can infiltrate the county’s network, crippling the government’s entire system for over a month, they can invade your home computer, too.

The digitization of all records is not the answer to our problems. Our social security cards and birth certificates are safer in the filing cabinet than on our computers. If we refrain from uploading these sensitive records to our devices, we deny hackers the chance to use them against us.

To protect oneself against ransomware, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, an operational component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, recommends installing antivirus software, firewalls and email filters. CISA also advises upgrading all applications and operating systems, as outdated programs are frequent targets for ransomware.

Users can defend themselves, too, by verifying email senders and cautiously approaching all email attachments. One should only use a single card for all online purchases to prevent access to multiple financial accounts. Most importantly, people should stay current on cybercrime trends to remain ahead of the curve.

Remember that hackers cannot access records we do not upload. With caution and common sense, we can better protect ourselves from the growing threat of ransomware and other malicious activities online.

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

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

By Shoshana Hershkowitz

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. When I think about what should come next for the Democratic Party, I believe

Letters to the editor

Electrifying the Port Jeff Branch line is a priority

I would like to present some of the ongoing work concerning the electrification of the Port Jefferson Branch line.

I had a substantial call with Sammy Chu, the MTA board member for this area. He’s new to the job and going through a learning curve, but he’s interested in the North Shore. I explained to him the economic and transportation benefits to the North Shore if improvements are made to the Port Jeff line.

When I spoke with other MTA officials, however, they had a lot of costly proposals. These proposals were so grand that I came away with the impression that they were not sincere about ever doing anything here.

There’s $10 billion on the table for the MTA in federal funding through the infrastructure bill. The Long Island Rail Road spends hundreds of millions of dollars eliminating grade crossings in Nassau County and tens of millions of dollars fixing bridges. We can do both of these engineering tasks cheaply by moving the existing Port Jefferson train station west to the Lawrence Aviation Superfund property.

The LIRR should put a little thought and planning into the Port Jefferson line. Our public railroad needs to think more about its communities and remember that we, the residents of the North Shore, pay taxes, too.

There will be a lot of development on both sides of the tracks, so eliminating the grade crossing bottleneck will be a

it’s a long overdue moment of selfreflection. 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.”

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.

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.

positive project for the area. There is also a solar component to the Lawrence Aviation plan.

To see these plans come to fruition will require leadership, and our local leaders already appear to favor this vision overwhelmingly. Now we must think of other ways to jumpstart this endeavor, inching closer to implementing our collective vision.

Perhaps we can bring LIRR planners to Port Jefferson. Alternatively, we could bring the political leaders together. We need to get people in the same place, at the same time, to adopt the same objectives.

Bruce Miller

Port Jefferson

Editor’s note: Bruce Miller served as Port Jefferson Village trustee from 2014-22.

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

Shoshana Hershkowitz is the founder of Suffolk Progressives.

The tale of a sugar cookie that hit the floor during a tragic show

Even months after we emerged from our Covid caves, I still appreciate the wonder and joy of getting out again, of seeing people, of making plans, and of going on a date with my wife.

Recently, we went to see “Hadestown.”

he didn’t even see the movie “Rainman,” in which Dustin Hoffman’s character is addicted to the show “The People’s Court.”

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

We didn’t know much about it, except that it had won several awards. As soon as we sat down, we fell on the playbill, reading about the origins of the story, checking out the cast, and immersing ourselves in the experience.

I will admit, sheepishly, that we also used our TV app to watch a few minutes of the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. Our son thinks our addiction to that show is laughable and

Anyway, after Jeopardy! ended, we took in the room. We studied the arrangement of the set, where it was clear the musicians would be on stage. When I was in high school, I thor oughly enjoyed playing in the pit orchestras of “West Side Story” and “The Wizard of Oz.” One of the wonders of the experience was the opportunity to dress casually, as we played in a true, recessed pit where we were heard and not seen.

As we got closer to the start of “Hadestown,” the auditorium filled with people sporting a wide range of attire, from casual to festive.

In the first few moments of the show, we were transported, as a colorful Hermes pranced around the stage, interacting with the other actors and reaching out to the audience.

The appreciative guests lapped up his over-the-top gestures and movements, as he introduced us to some of the characters and the band, who filled the stage with vitality, music and movement.

During intermission, I watched two women in the row in front of me. One was talking, while the other nodded absent-mindedly while playing solitaire. Perhaps that’s a carry over from too much time at home. Then again, who am I to complain? We watched a TV show in the moments before “Hadestown” started, so we’re also accustomed to our isolated entertainment.

To my left, two women with bright blonde hair opened a ziplock bag filled with small sugar cookies. After they each ate one, the woman holding the bag dropped a cookie on the floor. I felt it hit my shoe before it settled on the ground.

Now, I am a bit OCD with germs. Okay, fine, that’s like being a bit pregnant. I’m OCD and have been known to wash my hands so often in the winter that my skin becomes incredibly dry, cracks and bleeds.

So, what would I have done with that cookie? I would have picked it up, put it in my coat pocket, forgotten about it for about two weeks and, upon rediscovering it, would have thrown it in the garbage and, of course, washed my hands immediately afterwards.

What did she do? The woman picked it up, briefly scraped off the parts she imagined must have touched the floor and my shoe, blew on it and broke it in half. She gave her companion one half, she kept the other, and they both, gulp, ate it.

I laughed nervously and made a mental note, not that I ever need one, to wash my hands just because, well, yuck!

In the second half of “Hadestown,” the show followed a similar pattern, as one sad, longing song gave way to another.

At the critical moment of the story, the woman who had been playing solitaire in front of us objected to the tragic turn of events.“Oh no, don’t do it!” she shouted.

While I wasn’t surprised by the ending to a story filled with mournful songs and that Hermes told us was sad, I chuckled as she tried to change the script from the balcony.

Yes, it was great to be out and to appreciate the show, the music, and the other guests.

All the world, as Shakespeare suggested, is a stage, including for the appreciative members of the audience.

Thanksgiving is almost here, and many of us are bustling about, packing for a distant visit with loved ones or making sure the house is in good shape to receive those traveling to us. For most Americans, it is our favorite holiday, defined by turkey and the trimmings. What could be bad about an eating holiday? The only skunk at the party is abandoned overeating, and most of us, wise from unfortunate past experience, try to avoid that.

to make a strong community, some of them leaders of organizations, others simply caring neighbors who go out of their way to help when help is needed.

In recognition of the many who enhance the quality of our lives, we publish a Thank You edition of the newspaper and website on the Thursday between Christmas and New Year’s. We call that issue, “People of the Year,” and we solicit suggestions for profiles from our staff, community leaders and especially from readers.

When we published only one newspaper, selection was fairly easy. As our editions grew, we produced a different slate for each. Recently, however, we have realized that what happens in Stony Brook can also affect Northport and vice versa, so we now publish a master list of sorts honoring those who have gone the extra mile on behalf of our communities. And by so doing, we have eased the strain on our COVIDreduced staff.

appreciated, then with the additional kick of it being a surprise.

Until the year 2020, we invited the People of the Year to supper at the Three Village Inn in Stony Brook, generally on a late Sunday afternoon in March. At that venue, we gave each recipient a framed certificate, spoke for a minute about why they were selected, then gave them the mic to elaborate on their work.

Between you and me

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF

The other thing that makes Thanksgiving special is the conscious awareness, again by most of us, of how much we have to be grateful for, including the community in which we live. It takes exceptional people

We have been doing this for 47 years, since we started publishing, and we still haven’t run out of winners. In fact, the more we meet, the larger the circle grows. [Confession in the spirit of full disclosure: I used to worry that we would indeed run out of nominees.] Sometimes we get lots of suggestions for the same person. We’ve even had readers bring in petitions with many signatures to help us choose whom to profile.

Ultimately the TBR Editorial Board makes the final decisions, so if you disagree with any of the choices, blame us.

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA

We

The purpose of the profiles, in addition to offering these terrific people our thanks, is also to give them a spotlight to help them with their work, which is usually ongoing. With that goal in mind, we refrain from writing in this issue about those who have retired or are deceased. However, those stories, along with many we couldn’t fit in, may become features in future additions.

We have tried, each year, to keep their selection a secret from the winners. They seem to enjoy opening the paper in print or on the web and finding themselves and their efforts acknowledged. Of course, it’s fun to be

Many of the past awardees also attended each year. Based on how long the residents lingered over dessert after the last certificate was announced, we concluded that there was a lot of cross pollination among them, further strengthening our communities and their interactions.

We stopped those suppers with the advent of the coronavirus, fearing the possibility of a super spreader event. With each passing year, we hope to restore that tradition. It was delightful for us and, we believe, helpful for the community.

So we will wait to see what happens in 2023 and if we can resume partying. We all hope for the start of an After Times.

‘Thank You’ to community superstars

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From leading-edge robotic surgery to expert cancer care, we’re raising health every day. Because we don’t just want to be the best — we want what’s best for our community, too.

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