The Times of Smithtown - February 17, 2022 by TBR News Media

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F O R T S A LO N G A • K I N G S PA R K • S M I T H TO W N • N E S C O N S E T • S T J A M E S • H E A D O F T H E H A R B O R • N I S S E Q U O G U E • H A U P PA U G E • C O M M A C K Vol. 34, No. 52

February 17, 2022

$1.00 PHOTO FROM SWEETBRIAR NATURE CENTER

Parents and students send a message to Albany Residents rally to end the mask mandate in school districts

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A teaching moment Seal found in Head of the Harbor provides an opportunity for the public to learn about helping marine life — A3 Celebrate Women In Business & Women’s History Month

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PAGE A2 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Free NSPC ‘The Doctor Is In” webinar oﬀers insights into cervical disc replacement By NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery

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past, he notes, “surgeons removed the damaged cervical disc, along with the disc fragment that was pinching the nerve and fused the two bones together. As a result, patients often suffered a loss of motion at the surgical level and greater stress on the adjacent discs. Today, a newer technology offers some patients an alternative to fusion.” Known as cervical disc replacement, or cervical arthroplasty, this advanced procedure involves the use of an artificial disc to replace the damaged disc. “After treatment,” observes Dr. Zouzias, “most patients enjoy a normal range of motion with less risk to the adjacent discs.” He has performed this procedure at such local hospitals as St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown. A Long Island resident, Alex Zouzais, M.D., F.A.A.N.S., is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in complex

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and minimally invasive spinal surgery. In addition to cervical disc replacement, he performs advanced neurological and spinal procedures using such cutting-edge techniques as lateral access procedures for spinal fusion and percutaneous procedures for complex spinal reconstruction. Dr. Zouzias’ February 23 program will provide attendees with an introduction to degenerative disc disease, an overview to treatment options, and a discussion about cervical disc replacement as an alternative to fusion. To learn more about NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery, or Dr. Zouzias, please visit www.nspc.com. To request an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Zouzias, call (631) 983-8400

NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery, Long Island’s largest, independent neurosurgery practice group, will launch a new series of free, online patient education programs on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. Neurosurgeon Alex Zouzias, M.D., F.A.A.N.S., plans to share insights into treatment options for cervical disc herniations in the first installment of the NSPC “The Doctor Is In” community event series. To attend, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ nspcbrainandspinesurgery According to Dr. Zouizas, “cervical disc herniations are a common complaint for people of all ages. Significant arm pain, along with numbness and weakness, frequently occur when a cervical nerve is pinched and inflamed. Although most cervical disc herniations heal with time, medication, and therapy, a small number of patients require surgery.” In the

Alex Zouzias, M.D., F.A.A.N.S., Attending Neurosurgeon, NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery

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FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A3

Town

Seal pup found in Head of the Harbor woods

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

When North Shore residents come across an injured animal, their first instinct is to reach out to a rescue or rehabilitation organization such as Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown. Last Friday, Head of the Harbor residents called the center when they found what turned out to be a true seal pup, also known as a gray seal, washed up in the woods on the side of Harbor Road. The animal had been moaning and crying and seemed to be in pain. Janine Bendicksen, director of wildlife rehabilitation and curator at Sweetbriar, said while the center’s representatives were willing to assess the problem, ultimately they called the New York Marine Rescue Center as Sweetbriar is not equipped to take care of marine animals. The nonprofit located in Riverhead rescues injured marine life and has a hotline, 631-369-9829, to call when people find one anywhere in the state. It’s the only facility equipped in New York to rescue the animals properly. Bendicksen said, at first, the good Samaritans who found the seal thought it might be an otter. “I know that most often these animals don’t need help,” Bendicksen said, adding, however, the callers seemed concerned due to it becoming dark outside and saying it looked weak and wasn’t responding.

Due to poor cell service, the good Samaritans in Head of the Harbor couldn’t send a photo to Sweetbriar, so they waved down a passing truck. Using a blanket, they were able to get the seal in the vehicle’s bed and bring it to Sweetbriar. Once the animal experts at the nature center saw that it was a seal pup, they called the marine rescue center immediately to pick up the animal. “It was the cutest thing you’ve ever seen,” Bendicksen said, adding the seal weighs around 40 pounds. Adult males can grow to be 700 to 800 pounds. Bendicksen said what many people don’t know is that when it comes to animals such as seals, they are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and shouldn’t be approached or moved. People can be fined if they remove such an animal, however, the Head of the Harbor residents were not liable due to believing the animal was injured. Maxine Montello, rescue program director with the marine rescue center, said when spotting a seal or other water animals such as sea turtles on land, people should keep 150 feet away from the creature — about the length of three buses. Montello said seeing seals on the North Shore is rare as they prefer the ocean, but it is possible to see them as they sometimes swim into the Sound looking for food. She said if they are spotted on the beach, most of the time the young seals are just looking for food or relaxing, which is called hauling

A seal pup found in the woods in Head of the Harbor is now resting at the New York Marine Rescue Center . Photo from NYMRC

out. The seals can be separated from their mothers after a few weeks because they are completely weaned and need to learn to fend for themselves. She said if people spot a seal, they can call the hotline number and someone will be sent out to see if the animal is acting normal through an infield assessment. Sometimes the seals can be dehydrated, she added, as they don’t drink water and get fluids from eating fish. If they are not eating properly, problems can occur. Montello said the seals make noises that may sound like they are in distress, but that may not be the case in all circumstances. “When they’re young, it comes off as a cute little cry, but it actually is their way of

defending themselves,” Montello said. Sometimes they will scratch their face to show how big their claws are or open their mouth to show their big teeth, she added. The rescued seal pup from Head of the Harbor is about 5 weeks old, Montello said, completely weaned and has been diagnosed with conjunctivitis. “Our goal is to have the animal show us he can eat on his own,” she said. The seal, which has not been named yet, is receiving fluid therapy to help with hydration. It will soon be given what Montello described as a milkshake-like drink made of fish and the next step is to feed whole fish to the seal. The rescue center also ensures that a seal can swim properly before being released. Therapy for an injured or sick animal can vary from four to eight weeks but some recover in 72 hours. Montello said it hasn’t been determined yet how long it will take for the Head of the Harbor seal to be released. She said the best practice is to step back if a seal is spotted while walking on the beach. “We also tell people that you’re too close to the animal if you’re changing the animal’s behavior,” Montello said. “So, if the animal was resting and then you approach it and now it’s alert, that means you’re altering that animal’s behavior. The vocalization is a kind of a warning sign to step back. You just don’t want to stress them out.” For more information on how to assist NYMRC, visit nymarinerescue.org/how-to-help/.

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PAGE A4 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • FEBRUARY 17, 2022

County

Local townships continue to reject Hochul’s plan to end single-family zoning BY JULIANNE MOSHER JULIANNE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

A week after the Town of Brookhaven and local state representatives bashed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) plan to potentially eliminate certain single-family zoning laws across New York state, other Long Island townships and Suffolk County officially voiced their concerns. During a press conference at the county Legislature in Hauppauge Thursday, Feb. 10, more than two dozen elected officials at town, county, state and federal levels collectively agreed that Hochul’s plan would be bad for the Island. Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) said that of all the officials gathered, it was a unanimous, bipartisan agreement that this should not happen. “We are all concerned about the future of Long Island and the quality of life here and the need for local government to have control over their zoning with local elected officials,” he said. “This is a radical plan by the governor to take away local zoning from where it

Local officials including Leg. Nick Caracappa, U.S. Congressman Tom Suozzi and State Sen. Mario Mattera (at the podium) speak at a press conference Feb.10. Photo by Julianne Mosher

belongs in the hands of the local officials who were elected to make sure that the zoning codes stay in place for the quality of life that each one of the municipalities that

they choose to live in.” He added that if Hochul’s plan in fact happens, it will eventually have an impact on parking, water quality, sewerage and more.

The governor’s comprehensive fiveyear housing plan would potentially invest $25 billion to create and preserve 100,000 affordable homes and tackle inequities in the housing market. Last month, she announced the plan to make housing more affordable as part of the 2022 State of the State. “In the wake of the pandemic, it’s crucial that we tackle the housing crisis and make New York a more affordable place for all,” Hochul previously said. “These bold steps are a major step forward in transforming our housing market, protecting affordability and increasing the housing supply.” Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY3) noticed the plan in the State of the State book and began bringing it to the public’s attention. Suozzi is campaigning to take Hochul’s seat. He cited her State of the State book on pages 130 and 131 regarding accessory dwelling units. According to those documents, he said the governor would want to oppose legislation to require municipalities to allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on owner occupied residentially zoned blocks.

SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING continued on page A8

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FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A5

County

Unmask students rally draws hundreds of residents BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM The front lawn of the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge was a sea of signs and flags Friday, Feb. 11. Hundreds of parents took their children out of school to protest the face mask mandate remaining in New York state for school districts after Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) lifted the mandate for public places Feb. 10. About 1,000 local protesters joined others across New York in cities such as Buffalo, Syracuse, White Plains and more for a statewide sit-out. An online flyer promoting the event encouraged parents to “empower your kids to go to school without a mask and refuse to wear a mask from Feb. 7-Feb. 10.” During the Hauppauge protest, parents and children held signs that read “Unmask our kids,” “Free the children,” “No masks. We can’t breathe,” and “No one has seen my smile since kindergarten … that was two years ago. Let me smile.” Drivers passing the rally on Route 347, including sanitation men and a postal worker, honked their horns to show solidarity with the protesters. Adrianne Stanton, of East Northport, said she brought her children, who are in first grade and pre-K, to the rally along with her nieces. All of them held signs that they made themselves. “We want our children to have a normal childhood, to be able to go to school and to have the memories that we did growing up,”

the mother said. “ And, to fight for, as parents, to be able to choose what is best for our kids.” Casey Austin, of Northport, said one of her daughters told her students aren’t even able to drink water when they’re thirsty and have to wait for water breaks. “I have five little ones that have been living in this pandemic for the last two years of their lives, and it’s got to change now,” she said. “Three of them suffer from learning delays and speech impediments because they are not allowed to even articulate their words correctly. And it’s time for everyone to wake up and stand up and fight for them — and be done with this.” Douglas Cerrato, of Kings Park, attended the rally and was one of the speakers. He recently declared his intention to run for the board of education in the Kings Park school district. In a phone interview after the rally, Cerrato said while it has been difficult for his kids to wear the masks, he has found the teachers in Park View Elementary, where his children attend, to be fantastic with working with the students. Cerrato said it’s important to give parents a choice, adding while more people have been speaking up at school board meetings, some have still been hesitant. The rally was encouraging to Cerrato, who stressed he’s not anti-mask but for choice. “I think you have a lot of people that were on the fence about being vocal becoming vocal,” he said. —Photos by Rita J. Egan

PAGE A6 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • FEBRUARY 17, 2022

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The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County Police. Commack Wanted for questioning ■ Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack reported a petit larceny on Feb. 6. A man and woman allegedly stole two TI-84 calculators, two webcams and miscellaneous household items valued at $380. ■ Ulta Beauty on Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack reported that a man allegedly stole $1200 worth of fragrances on Feb. 8. ■ A resident on Meadow Lark Drive in Commack reported that someone stole a wallet, debit cards and cash from a center console in their unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway on Feb. 7. Someone attempted to use the debit cards at a 7-Eleven but were unsuccessful. ■ Home Depot on Jericho Turnpike in Commack reported a shoplifter on Feb. 10. A man allegedly stole wire worth approximately $1200.

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■ Famous Footwear on Jericho Turnpike in Commack called the police on Feb. 9 to report that a man and a woman allegedly worked together to steal three pairs of shoes worth approximately $350.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who entered Home Depot, located at 5025 Jericho Turnpike in Commack, on Feb. 10 and allegedly stole more than $1,200 worth of wire. When approached by an Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD employee in the parking lot, the suspect left the wire behind and fled in a blue Subaru Forrester with gold New York State license plates. He is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 190 pounds.

East Northport

Kings Park

Northport reported the theft of a 2019 BMW X5 worth $70,000 on Feb. 9. The vehicle had been parked on the driveway and had been locked.

called the police on Feb. 7 to report that items including cash and credit cards were stolen from an unlocked vehicle in front of their home.

Hauppauge

■ Macy’s at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake

■ A resident on Ketcham Court in East

■ A resident on Lincoln Blvd. in Hauppauge called the police on Feb. 7 to report that someone cut the lock off of their garage door and stole two rims and two tires and two ATVs. The items were valued at approximately $14,000. ■ Dunkin Donuts on Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge reported a burglary on Feb. 7. The front glass door was broken by a large rock and an undetermined amount of cash was stolen from three registers.

Head of the Harbor

■ A resident on Wicks Lane in Head of the Harbor called the police on Feb. 8 to report that someone stole a 2021 Mercedes Benz G63 valued at $280,000 from their home. — COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

■ A resident on Cypress Drive in Kings Park

Lake Grove

Grove reported a petit larceny on Feb. 9. Two unknown suspects allegedly stole assorted clothing valued at approximately $680.

■ A resident on Laurelton Ave. in Lake

Grove called the police on Feb. 10 to report the theft of a 2005 Yamaha ATV chained to a camper on the driveway. The vehicle was valued at approximately $2000.

Smithtown

■ A car parked at St. Catherine Medical Center on Route 25A in Smithtown was broken into on Feb. 5 by an unknown suspect who stole a wallet and keys.

■ A 2005 Jeep parked at the LIRR station in

Smithtown was reported stolen on Feb. 10. A spare key had been left in the center console. The vehicle was valued at $2000.

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.

FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A7

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PAGE A8 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • FEBRUARY 17, 2022 ZZ055 DRIFT | 00754 PASMINA

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SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING Continued from page A4

“That’s the end of local control,” he said. “That’s the end of local governments authority.” Suozzi believes this could be “a dangerous idea” that could “result in commercial landlords buying properties and trying to pack people into neighborhoods.” “This is just a failure to understand what it’s like out here,” he added. Currently, many building permit applications that increase the number of bedrooms in a dwelling require the approval of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. According to county representatives, at no point in the proposed legislation does it address the fact that the health department determines the appropriate number of persons residing at a home that is utilizing cesspools. Over 75% of Suffolk County is unsewered — a mass expansion of accessory dwelling units will result in a deterioration in the water quality here on Long Island. State Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James) said that state lawmakers are continuously “going against everything we live for and our investments.” “I wake up in the morning and I feel like I’m in the twilight zone,” he said. Mattera added that many municipalities have been focusing on downtown revitalization plans, which already create apartments. “We’ve been doing these apartments for a reason to make sure our families have places to go so we keep our young or middle aged or seniors here,” he said. “We are doing that job governor, but governor, this is not the City of New York. We’re in the suburbs. This is so important for our future.”

Huntington

Representatives from the Town of Huntington were in attendance, with Supervisor Ed Smyth (R) voicing that the town already has permissive accessory apartments laws.“We already allow for accessory apartments in homes in the town,” he said. “We don’t need Albany telling us how to do this.” He added, “With home rule, we have ensured that our communities do not become overdeveloped, are kept environmentally sound, and are a place people want to live and raise a family. This proposal by the governor would end all of that overnight. Proof of how bad an idea this is … is the fact that both sides of the political aisle have come together to state their opposition.” Smyth said they will not stop until the item is removed from the New York State budget and “laid to rest.”

FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A9

Sports

tbrnewsmedia.com Goforto more sports photos

Smithtown West 46 William Floyd 28

Pictured clockwise from above, Karsyn Kondracki drives the lane for the Bulls in the opening round of the playoffs; Smithtown West senior forward Brianna Guglielmo scores; Smithtown West senior Nikki Mennella charges to the basket. Photos by Bill Landon

Bulls trample Floyd BY BILL LANDON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Protecting a one-point lead going into the halftime break of the opening round of the Class AA playoff game against William Floyd, Smithtown West found its rhythm in the second half with their swarming defense keeping the Colonials at bay to win the Feb. 14 road-game, 46-28. Smithtown West senior Brianna Guglielmo topped the scoring charts for the Bulls with

12 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Teammate Laura Luikart grabbed a career high 20 rebounds, netted 10 points. Senior Karsyn Kondracki notched nine points and banked seven. The Bulls (No. 10 seed) will have their work cut out for them with another road game against Northport (No. 2) in the quarterﬁnal round Feb. 17. Admission tickets are not available at the gate and are sold online only at https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.

PAGE A10 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • FEBRUARY 17, 2022

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FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A11

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

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FIRE DISTRICT TREASURER The Rocky Point Fire District is seeking the services of a part time treasurer. Please call the district office for further information at 631-744-4102.

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Sales/Relationship Builder Are you an upbeat people person? Do you enjoy a fast-paced environment? If so, Old Country Tile would like to talk to you. Old Country Tile is a family-owned business, for over 40 years. We value our customers and recognize that our sales staﬀ needs to reflect our family values. We are looking for showroom help, both part time and full time, to assist our customers with their tile projects. Some tile/design experience is a plus, but not a must. We will teach the right person all they need to know to sell tile. We oﬀer a health plan, profit sharing, vacation time and salary commensurable with talent.

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FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A13

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

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JOS. M TROFFA MATERIALS “We have had the privilege of advertising in The Village Times since the newspaper was ﬁrst published in 1976! After all those years, 45 to be exact, we have had amazing results thanks to their dedication and professionalism. Minnie and Joann are wonderful and are sure to come up with valuable ideas for your individual advertising needs. Every week, Leah Dunaief & The Village Times staﬀ provide an outstanding paper with factual and relevant information for the communities we all cherish. It is only natural to choose to advertise in their papers! We love you Times Beacon Record!”

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Floor Services/Sales

Masonry CARL BONGIORNO LANDSCAPE/MASON CONTRACTOR All phases Masonry Work:Stone Walls, Patios, Poolscapes. All phases of Landscaping Design. Theme Gardens. Residential & Commercial. Lic/Ins. 631-928-2110

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PAGE A18 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Editorial

Smart planning needed for ADUs When Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) talked about increasing affordable housing options across New York during her recent State of the State address, it was something that most residents could agree with. Then the State of the State book came out with more details. Local legislators paused when they saw that a proposed plan would allow residents to build an accessory dwelling unit without seeking approval from their local zoning board, essentially eliminating single-family zoning laws. While most Long Island elected officials believe that our area needs more affordable housing, the majority are not on board with Hochul’s proposed plan. It seems as if she has good intentions. Such a plan would enable a homeowner to create an apartment. One hope is that grown children can live at home longer and have more time to save for their own house. Or, it could provide a space for aging parents who can’t afford the cost of living in New York or keep up with all the things that a household needs. Being able to transform a basement, attic or garage into an apartment sounds better than families flying back and forth to another state to see their parents or children. As it becomes more and more challenging to buy a home, living with one’s parents longer sometimes is the more affordable option. And while there was a time that people lived at home longer simply by sleeping in their childhood bedrooms, now with more teenagers going away to college, when they come back home, they crave their own space and don’t want to explain to mom and dad why they are just leaving the house at 10 p.m. to meet up with friends. They would like to have company over and not worry about their parents coming into the living room and joining the conversation or embarrassing them. And older parents crave their freedom, too. Gone are the days when grandma and grandpa would come to live with the family and sleep in the guest room. As houses have become larger in the last few decades, people have become accustomed to having a good amount of personal space. It should also be noted that in Brookhaven and Huntington, the towns allow accessory apartments on premises with specific regulations, including that the owner of the lot upon which the accessory apartment is located must reside within the dwelling that contains the ADU, and only one accessory apartment is permitted on the premises. Smithtown has limited exceptions. Of course, we understand why many elected officials are dubious. This proposed Hochul plan has to be thought out thoroughly. Many areas of Long Island are overpopulated or are becoming so. While keeping our parents and children close to us is nice, it can be aggravating when cars are parked all over our streets and roadways are congested. We know not everyone will build an apartment for family members to have more affordable living conditions, but many will. And some will add them to their homes, not to help out family members but to collect rent from strangers. Our infrastructure is not able to attract or keep people on the Island even though we want our children and parents to stay here. Our planning and zoning boards work together to decide on what’s best for our areas and allow residents to speak up and express their concerns. To increase affordable housing units along the North Shore, elected officials will need to come together to brainstorm and identify the best areas to create less expensive housing options, such as being near train stations and major roadways. Options like these can keep additional cars off our local streets, so a quick run to the grocery store doesn’t turn into an hour-long ordeal. Change can be good, but putting the responsibility of increasing affordable housing in the hands of residents who may not be experts on density and infrastructure is not a wise decision.

Letters to the Editor

The next interim LIRR president should have come from within

Long Island Rail Road President Phil Eng is retiring effective Feb. 26. He said in resigning, “I can retire knowing that I leave the LIRR well positioned for continued success with a dedicated management team and a tenacious workforce who are delivering the best train performance in LIRR history, while fulfilling our commitments on a historic capital program.” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber announced that he is appointing Metro-North Railroad president, Catherine Rinaldi, to serve as interim LIRR president. Lieber’s justification for this action is that “we need somebody who knows the commuter railroads, we need somebody who knows the MTA.” He went on to say, “And we need somebody who knows Grand Central, where the LIRR and Metro-North are about to be roommates. For all these reasons, I’m naming Cathy Rinaldi to serve, in addition to her role at Metro-North, as the interim president of the LIRR.” Serving as either LIRR or Metro-North president is a full-time job. It requires a good working knowledge of the agency organization, staff, operations, facilities and customers’ needs. The portfolio also includes ongoing capital projects such as the $11.2 billion East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal, $2.6 billion Main Line Third Track and $450 million Jamaica Capacity Improvements. There are also many other projects contained within the LIRR $5.7 billion share of MTA’s $51.5 billion 20202024 Capital Plan. There is little time for on-the-job training to run the nation’s largest commuter railroad. Any good organization develops in-house talent by promoting from within. Lieber could have appointed either the LIRR executive vice president, senior vice president for operations, senior vice president for engineering or one of several other experienced LIRR vice presidents as interim LIRR president. Lieber’s justification of Rinaldi’s appointment was that she knows commuter railroads, the MTA and Grand Central Terminal. Why didn’t Lieber acknowledge that any member of Eng’s current senior leadership already knows the LIRR? They would be ready to step in on day one with no need for on-the-job training. Why didn’t Lieber have confidence in the ability of someone from Eng’s management team already in place to fill this position on a temporary basis? It is an insult to the hardworking current LIRR management team, employees and loyal commuters to not appoint someone from within the LIRR. Rinaldi has her hands full just trying to manage Metro-North, the nation’s second largest commuter railroad. This includes

Metro-North’s $4.7 billion share of the MTA’s $51.5 billion five-year Capital Plan. Adding the LIRR to her portfolio is attempting to serve two bosses. It is a recipe for disaster. There are not enough hours in a day to do justice to both assignments. How many months will go by before the next full-time permanent LIRR president comes on board? Remember that Lieber, just like his predecessors, will need the blessing of the governor. Just like past history, Gov. Kathy Hochul [D] will play a behind-the-scenes role in the selection for a permanent LIRR president. Larry Penner, Great Neck

Zeldin, offer intelligent answers not partisan double-talk

Once again, a lengthy op-ed by U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin [R-NY1] has appeared in this paper’s Letters to the Editor column [Feb. 3] filled with false information and misleading statements. To begin with, in spite of what he implies, inflation is not a problem just in America. It’s happening worldwide, fueled by supply chain disruptions and relief efforts for individuals and industries financially damaged by the pandemic. Contrary to the claim, repeated by Zeldin from a constituent, that the Biden administration [D] is “shut[ting] down oil production in the country,” the administration approved more permits last year for oil and gas drilling on public lands than the Trump administration [R] did in any of its first three years. To make sense of Zeldin’s doubletalk one needs a translation between his words and his actions, based on his record. When he says the best way to tackle inflation is “to remove unnecessary regulations on small business,” what he really means is letting big business pollute our air, dump toxic waste into our water, sell us dangerous or useless products and generally do whatever they please to enhance their bottom line. As a congressman, Zeldin consistently voted to eliminate regulations that displeased such “small businesses” as ExxonMobil, Bank of America and Dow Chemical. If we’re wondering about the meaning of Zeldin’s constant railing against “regulation,” we can take as a local example the Gyrodyne proposal to dump sewage effluent and medical waste into the groundwater running into Stony Brook Harbor. When Zeldin writes he wants to “incentivize and encourage people to rejoin the workforce,” what exactly does he have in mind? Does he mean going back to the good old days before the Affordable Care Act where if you lost your job you lost your health insurance too? Does he mean no financial help for those laid off because of the pandemic, as his vote against the bipartisan American

Rescue Plan indicates? Does he mean going back to keeping the minimum wage at $7.25 an hour? Does he mean crippling unions, so employees stuck with poorly paid or dangerous jobs where they are at the mercy of their employers have no bargaining power? When Zeldin rails about easing the tax burdens on American families, what is he thinking? Is he thinking of the Trump-era tax law, which certainly eased the tax burden on large corporations and the ultrawealthy but did little for anyone else? Zeldin voted for it even though it increased the tax burden on many Long Island families by sharply reducing the deduction for state and local taxes. When Zeldin boasts he would “confront the supply chain crisis head on” what magical measures would he pursue? Forced labor? Wage and price controls? Commanding factories in Asia to step up production, container ships to sail faster, port facilities to be bigger? It would be so refreshing if, just once, Lee Zeldin offered us some intelligent answers for complex problems instead of just partisan double-talk. David Friedman, St. James

Inflation not caused by government spending

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin [R-NY1] in his op-ed [Feb. 3] is wrong about inflation. Of course, it is painful, who could disagree with that, but it is not caused by government spending. Inflation is caused by great consumer demand that had been pent up by COVID-19, and lack of supply due to disruptions in the supply chain also caused by COVID. It is a matter of rising prices when supply doesn’t meet demand. Government spending has nothing to do with it. The sad part of this is that Zeldin presumably understands this but is only joining the inflation hype against President Joe Biden [D] for political reasons. Even if we accept Zeldin’s wrong assertion about government spending causing inflation, would he have wanted to deprive millions of Americans of help during the COVID crises? Would Zeldin have deprived our country of the repair of our deteriorating infrastructure of roads, bridges, ports, airports, electrical grid, etc., on which we all depend? And, speaking of government spending, what about our former president’s giveaway of billions in tax relief that benefited mainly the wealthy who have only greatly increased their wealth during the COVID crises. Inflation is serious and painful but, in context, unemployment is very low, job growth is very good, with the increase in wages most workers (not all) are actually taking home more money despite inflation, and the economy is basically very strong. Adam Fisher, Port Jefferson Station

FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A19

Opinion A recent death with overtones in my life

friend who is the same age as I am recently and suddenly died, leaving behind a wife and two daughters in college who are the same age I was when my father died. I feel like I’m at the center of a prism, with light bouncing out in so many directions that it’s difficult to track each path. I am devastated for my friend. I know he will miss many of the same things my father never got to experience. He won’t see his D. None daughters graduate of the above from college, develop BY DANIEL DUNAIEF their careers, and enjoy learning about themselves through relationships.

He also won’t get to wake up another morning and see his wife’s smile, make plans for the day, and make the kinds of decisions we take for granted, like where to go on vacation, whom to see over the weekend, what friend to call and visit, or how to brighten someone else’s day. I knew him as a dedicated father, who beamed when he spoke of his twin daughters. Unlike so many other parents whose children play sports, he didn’t need his daughters to be superstars. His joy mirrored theirs. I’m sorry for his wife, too, who shared two decades of experience with him and their two children. She went from being in an empty nest to being in an empty house in 18 months. Everywhere she looks, she will see reminders of her husband and the life they shared. I relate to his daughters. I know how strange it is to be in college, surrounded by friends who suddenly don’t know what to say to them. If friends ask the girls how they are doing, will they

tell them, leaving many of their friends without the tools, experience or words to respond? Death leaves a hole in our lives. The friends they have in college, like mine decades ago, may not know about that hole and may not have even met the man missing from the center of their lives. A week after I buried my father, I was back at school, finding it difficult to concentrate or even to care about upcoming exams or responsibilities. When I told a math professor about my loss, he went out of his way to tutor me, to ask me how I was, and to be patient, waiting for me to tell him when I was ready to take a midterm. He arranged for me to take an exam on my own. He made a point of looking for me after each lecture. I appreciated the support and, yet, I felt so weak and angry that I needed it. I remember the first horrifying moment I didn’t feel the weight of the loss of my father.

I was wracked with guilt. What kind of son was I that I had, even for a moment, neglected to mourn? I also recall the first person I met in those turbulent few weeks who didn’t know my story, who treated me like everyone else and who didn’t say she was sorry for my loss. We had the closest thing to a normal evening, which, at that time, was extraordinary. In the weeks, months and years ahead, my friend’s daughters will remember the great moments with their father. They will look back at their idyllic childhoods and remember the mom and dad who made that possible. In the days ahead, however, they will feel a flood of emotions and have a range of thoughts. I hope that they find the kind of peace that comes from appreciating what they had and knowing that, no matter how much they might feel this way, they are not alone and that others share their experiences and care for them.

What does President Vladimir Putin really want?

f it was President Vladimir Putin’s intention to be the center of global attention, he has certainly succeeded. Not much can push the latest COVID news off the top spot. Maybe inflation and how it is affecting the average resident can, but that’s nothing compared to the dominance of the situation in Ukraine and the speculation about what Putin’s next move will be. There seem to be numerous Putin specialists who profess to have studied Between the Russian dictator’s you and me every move for many BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF years and know what his plan is. Or, does he have a plan? Is this a story that he is writing as he goes along? This makes for lots of rhetoric among the pundits. One thing is sure. The serious possibility of Russian aggression has caused North Atlantic

Treaty Organization members to stand together and reaffirm their alliance. Perhaps this was Putin’s test. There was little reaction when the Russians invaded and took over Crimea in 2014. Would anyone really care if they took over all of the Ukraine? Well, the answer to that question is decidedly YES. And the United States has stepped forward to reaffirm it alliance with and leadership of NATO by organizing the threat of severe economic sanctions against Russia, sending military equipment to Ukraine and finally sending a symbolic number of troops to NATO countries that border on Ukraine, namely Poland and Romania. A small number of soldiers also went to Germany, perhaps to bolster the resolve of the newly elected German leader, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to honor its alliance. Germany has the most to lose as far as its energy supply goes. Some 38% of the European Union’s natural gas comes from Russia, according to Eurostat, the EU’s statistics office. Much of it is imported by Germany to heat homes in winter and enable factories to operate. The loss of that source of energy would

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certainly cause economic pain to Germans and other European residents, who would have to pay more for significantly less supply. And of course, that furthers the impact of inflation. Russia’s overt demands include halting NATO’s expansion and reducing its military exercises and presence in Eastern Europe. Specifically, Putin wants guarantees that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO, which its current leadership has indicated it would want to do in the future. However, noted globalist and New York Times columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, suggested in the issue of February 16, that Putin’s fear is that “Ukraine becomes Westernized. He fears that one day Ukraine will be admitted to the European Union.” If such an event were to happen, which Friedman believes young Ukrainians dream about, they feel it could “lock in their frail democracy and lock out corruption and Putinism.” Friedman goes on to point out that “Putin seized Crimea and first invaded part of Eastern Ukraine in February-March 2014. What else was happening then? The European Union’s 28 member states were forging a new E.U.-Ukraine

COPY EDITOR John Broven ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathleen Gobos ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Elizabeth Bongiorno Robin Lemkin Larry Stahl Minnie Yancey SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Kathryn Mandracchia

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

Association Agreement to foster closer political and economic ties, signed on March 21, 2014.” Putin’s greatest fear, according to Friedman, “is the expansion of the E.U.’s sphere of influence and the prospect that it would midwife a decent, democratic, free-market Ukraine that would every day say to the Russian people, ‘This is what you could be without Putin.’” Meanwhile, Putin is deciding, according to Friedman, “If I go ahead with a full scale invasion and it goes bad — wrecking Russia’s economy and resulting in Russian soldiers returning home in body bags from a war with fellow Slavs — could it lead to my own downfall?” Whatever Putin’s thoughts are, he has used the threat of military force to bring the Western leaders to the table for extensive talks. Perhaps the diplomats will remake the Eastern European map without resorting to war. Until there is some sort of resolution to this stand off, what can we, here in America, expect? We will have to deal with the possibility of growing shortages and accompanying inflation, which in fact we are already experiencing at the gas pumps.

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

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