BEACON RECORD The Village
Mount Sinai • Miller Place • Sound Beach • rocky Point • ShorehaM • Wading river • leiSure country May 21, 2015
volume 30, no. 43
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Residents vote YES Mount Sinai
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ALL PROPOSED BUDGETS PASS See your district’s results and school board election coverage on pages A3–5
Rocky Point
A day of reflection on Memorial Day also, Memorial Day parades on the North Shore; local actor lands lead in ‘Oliver!’ at Theatre Three
Page B1
PJ library looks to expand Seeks community input
Page a8
Town seeks to curb horseshoe crab harvesting By erika karP
With its horseshoe crab population dwindling, Town of Brookhaven officials are calling on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to ban harvesting within 500 feet of town property. At the Mount Sinai Harbor Marine Stewardship Center at Cedar Beach on Tuesday, Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) announced
the Brookhaven Town Board is poised to approve a message in support of the ban at Thursday night’s board meeting. Horseshoe crabs are harvested for bait and medicinal purposes, as their blue blood, which is worth an estimated $15,000 a quart, is used in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries to detect bacterial contamination in drugs and medical supplies, due to its
Photos by erika Karp
top, an approximately 3- to 4-year-old horseshoe crab; above, Supervisor ed romaine and Brookhaven’s chief environmental analyst anthony graves.
special properties. While there is already a harvesting ban in place for Mount Sinai Harbor, Romaine is seek-
ing to expand the restriction across the North and South shores so the crabs have a safe CRaBS continued on page a10
PAGE A2 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
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MAY 21, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A3
Mount Sinai gets full-day kindergarten 2015-16 budget passes by nearly 80 percent By Erika karp
Full-day kindergarten is officially coming to the Mount Sinai Union Free School District, as residents approved a $56.7 million budget for the 2015-16 school year. Under the spending plan, the district will expand its current half-day kindergarten program to full — a move backed by many parents as well as the teachers’ union. The budget also maintains class sizes, offerings and extracurricular activities, and brings the Columbia University’s Teachers College Writing Project — which provides writing curriculum and professional development for teachers — to grades kindergarten through fifth. The budget passed with 1,241 yes votes to 316 votes against. Superintendent Gordon Brosdal, who joined the district last summer, called the support “outstanding,” and expressed satisfaction that Mount Sinai would no longer be one of the few districts on Long Island left without full day kindergarten. “To have that margin means to me the community supported the budget,” he said on Tuesday after the vote. A resident with an average assessed
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home value of $3,500 will see an annual tax increase of $156. Throughout the past few months, school board trustees and officials have urged residents to show up and vote. The district has had a relatively low voter turnout over the years, and Brosdal previously stated that elected officials do take notice. Compared to last year, 40 more residents cast a ballot in the budget vote. “I think, to a degree, voters did hear our plea and came out,” Trustee Ed Law said. The budget wasn’t the only item residents voted on. They also approved a proposition for library services at either the Comsewogue Public Library or Port Jefferson Free Library, and re-elected incumbent board trustee, Lynn Capobianco, to a second term, and newcomer Mike Riggio with 678 votes and 993 votes, respectively. Candidates John DeBlasio and Joanne Rentz missed election. Despite his loss on Tuesday, DeBlasio, a 54-year-old attorney, said he was happy the budget passed. Rentz, a 51-year-old brand manager, was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday. In a Facebook post Tuesday night, she thanked her supporters and said she hopes for great things in Mount Sinai.
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Mike riggio, center, speaks to his new fellow school board trustees following Tuesday’s election.
Riggio, a 42-year-old retired New York City Police Department commander in the department’s counterterrorism unit, touted his security background and budgeting experience during his campaign. He said on Tuesday evening that he wanted to thank everyone who voted and that win or lose, the experience was “cool.” “I think people like how I was honest,”
he said. Capobianco, a 65-year-old retired Mount Sinai school librarian, said she was grateful for the community’s support and excitement about full-kindergarten, now a reality. “I am thrilled that our program is now a full k-12 program,” she said. “... It has been a long time coming.
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PAGE A4 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
Scott Reh, left, and ed Casswell, right, were elected to the Rocky Point school board.
File photos
Reh, Casswell elected to RP school board Budget approved with nearly 77 percent of the vote By Jenni Culkin
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The Rocky Point Union Free School District’s proposed $78.78 million 201516 school year budget was approved Tuesday with great support. The spending plan, which increased by 2.46 percent from the current year, passed with 788 votes compared to 237 votes against. The budget maintains just about all programs and activities. However, as the district was faced with a large increase in special education costs, administrators moved to decrease the district’s Striving for Higher Achievement at Rocky Point, known as SHARP, at the elementary level. While the after-school component of the program is eliminated, summer SHARP will continue and after-school extra help will still be offered. Residents also re-elected incumbent school board Vice President Scott Reh to the board, while Ed Casswell was elected and will fill Trustee John Lessler’s seat. Lessler did not seek re-election. Reh received 670 votes and Casswell received 588. Unsuccessfully, Donna McCauley garnered 452 votes. More than 40 people waited patiently for the election and budget results in the Rocky Point High School Auditorium on Tuesday evening. Reh, the 48-year-old athletic director for Mount Sinai schools, has served on the board for five years. He said he will “advocate for transparency” and “try to give every student the opportunity to succeed” during his next term on the board.
“My plans are to continue working with the current board,” Reh said. In a phone interview Wednesday morning, Casswell, 50, said he was excited to be part of the team. The Center Moriches High School principal said he will draw his attention to a capital improvements bond referendum the board is considering moving forward. Some residents have voiced concerns over social media that the election of both candidates — who were endorsed by the district’s teachers union — creates a singular point of view on the school board, as all the trustees come from education backgrounds or deal with educators. In a phone interview, McCauley, who ran last year as well, expressed a similar concern. She said she plans on asking the board to reconsider its candidacy requirements and enact stricter requirements for public entities endorsing candidates. “I have nothing against [the teacher union], but it creates an unfair advantage,” she said. While this is her last time running, she vowed to stick around. “I will continue to be involved in any way that I am able,” she said. But Casswell said that as a trustee he is a parent first and believes everyone is looking out for the kids. “We’re working for the betterment of our children,” Casswell said. “Under that premise, I don’t’ think I have any concerns about excluding any groups of individuals.” Erika Karp contributed reporting
MAY 21, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A5
Miller Place residents say ‘yes’ to 2015-16 budget Keith Frank elected to BOE with 781 votes By BarBara Donlon
Miller Place residents came out in support of the district’s proposed nearly $70 million budget on Tuesday with 79 percent of voters casting a “yes” ballot. The approved budget, which stays within the district’s tax levy increase cap of 2.85 percent, maintains programs and adds a few new instructional programs, support services and extracurricular activities. Out of the 1,226 ballot papers lodged, 964 were in the affirmative. In addition, residents approved a proposition for library services and elected Keith Frank, 50, as their new school board trustee. “I think that almost 80 percent is certainly a record in the district for the budget and in a light voter turnout, it means even more,” school board president, Mike Unger, said. Frank, an attorney and father of three kids, waited anxiously for the results to be announced on Tuesday evening. He received 781 votes, while opponent Mike Manspeizer, 55, fell short with 287 votes. After finding out he won, Frank smiled and was congratulated by other board members. He said it felt great to
be elected. “I just want to thank everyone for coming out and voting,” Frank said. “I’m just looking forward to the next three years.” The newcomer will take Unger’s seat as the board president did not seek reelection for a third term. In an email, Unger said he feels the board is in great shape and it’s a good time to hand things off. Frank will assume his school board role on July 1. “I am pleased with Keith Frank as the new trustee,” Unger said. “Both candidates had valuable experience to offer. Keith will be a great addition who will work very well with the existing board, the administration and the community.” Manspeizer said he will continue to serve and be involved in the community. “I am disappointed in the outcome, but I have a great deal of respect for Keith and I know he’ll do a great job,” he said. Miller Place Superintendent Marianne Higuera said she was pleased the budget passed. “We’re very appreciative of the community’s support of our programs and staff, and we look forward to another successful year,” she said.
Photo by Erika Karp
Keith Frank, left with school board president, Mike Unger, right, finds out he won a seat on the Miller Place school board.
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PAGE A6 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
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Sharp objects An unknown person used a sharp object to damage a 1994 Saturn while it was parked in front of an Ashland Street residence in Mount Sinai between May 13 and May 14. Rolling A Huntington Road resident in Sound Beach reported that between May 12 and May 13 a person took tires from his backyard. Just leafy A Sunburst Drive resident in Rocky Point reported a verbal dispute between himself and a neighbor, who pushed the complainant to the ground on May 15. According to police, the dispute was over leaves and the complainant wasn’t injured. Graffiki Action Park An unknown person spray-painted graffiti in Tiki Action Park on Middle Country Road in Centereach on May 14. Knock, knock A Gould Road resident in Centereach reported that on May 13 two males in their early 20s assaulted him after he answered his door. The suspects took cash from the complainant and fled. It was unclear if the victim
required medical attention. Window rocked A Hammond Road resident in Centereach reported that unknown people threw rocks at her home’s window, shattering it, on May 11. Tit for tattoo A 57-year-old Centereach man was arrested for second-degree harassment, third-degree criminal mischief and acting in a manner to injure a child. Police said the man smashed a window, a lighted neon sign and a cigarette bucket at a Centereach tattoo shop during a May 11 incident. Checked out A Strauss Avenue resident in Selden reported on May 17 that an unknown person withdrew money from his checking account without permission. Came out swinging A man walking on Boyle Road in Selden on May 14 reported that another man got out of his vehicle and started to swing his fists at the complainant. Sick and tired A Firestone Complete Auto Care manager in Selden reported damage to the shop’s garage door and window, which occurred between May 12 and May 13. No property was stolen from the store. My sediments exactly The owner of a 1998 Jeep reported the driver’s side window was shattered by a rock found in the front seat on May 11. The car was parked on College Road in Selden and no items were taken from the vehicle. Bottoms up A 55-year-old woman from Centereach was arrested May 15 in East Setauket and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 of 1 percent, and driving while intoxicated. Police said the woman was driving a 1994 Honda westbound on Route 347, east of Arrowhead Lane in Setauket at about 4:50 p.m. when she rear-ended a van. — Compiled by Rohma abbas & eRika kaRp
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MAY 21, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A7
County strengthens domestic violence safeguards By Phil Corso
The county’s proactive push to empower victims of domestic violence reached another milestone on Tuesday when the Legislature unanimously approved a pilot program that would slap ankle bracelets on offenders under an order of protection. County Legislator Kara Hahn (DSetauket) ignited the domestic violence discussion last month when the county approved her legislation providing law enforcement and victims with danger assessment tools that identify highrisk offenders. Her efforts turned another corner with the approval of legislation on May 12 in what she said was a multi-faceted approach toward making Suffolk’s domestic violence policy stronger than it’s ever been. The latest pieces of legislation make Global Positioning System technology available for electronic monitoring of those in the family and criminal court systems subject to a “stay away” order of protection — which is more restrictive than a “refrain from” order — and pose a continuing threat to the safety of a victim or their children, Hahn said. “This has been something I’ve wanted to work on since getting here,” said Hahn, whose personal experience as a victim of domestic violence brings the issue to the
top of her list of priorities. “One of the things that was important to me was dealing with orders of protection. I had an order of protection and it’s very frightening — and I’ve heard over and over again over the years — that it’s just a piece of paper with no ability to truly protect the victim. That’s what I’m trying to fix.” Both bills were virtually replicas of one another, but were specific to criminal and family courts respectively. The county’s district attorney would acquire the GPS units and the offenders would have to cover the cost of monitoring, she said. Tom Spota, Suffolk County district attorney, threw his support behind Hahn’s initiative. “I have every confidence this pilot program will be successful in effectively protecting victims of domestic violence,” he said in a statement. In 2013 alone, the state division of criminal justice reported that there were more than 1,500 violations of orders of protection in the county. That statistic, coupled with the fact that domestic violence accounted for 21 percent of all violent victimizations nationwide from 2003 to 2012, was what spurred Hahn to bulk up her domestic violence agenda, she said. “In my experience as a federal prosecutor, GPS devices serve as a real deterrent,”
Photo from Kara Hahn
legislator Kara hahn, center, pitches the pieces of legislation that would employ GPs technology to keep offenders away from domestic violence victims in suffolk County.
said Tim Sini, assistant deputy Suffolk County executive. “In the moment of passion, an offender often thinks twice before reoffending when he knows he is being monitored by law enforcement.” The pilot program would provide the county with 30 new GPS devices to be used when judges assign offenders to an order of protection. The technology could be used in one of two ways — either tracking offenders so they
stay away from a victim’s home or jobs, or acting as proximity detectors and letting victims know if an offender is near them. The latter form of tracking would be optional for victims. “Having been someone who had an order of protection and was afraid that the offender would come, it gives you peace of mind as a victim knowing you could be alerted,” Hahn said. “If a victim doesn’t like it, they don’t have to [wear] it.”
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PAGE A8 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
Library looks toward more space to learn
Photo from Robert Goykin
Port Jefferson Free library board President laura Hill timpanaro and library Director Robert Goykin present the findings of the library’s strategic plan to more than 40 community leaders on wednesday. By Elana Glowatz
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Port Jefferson Free Library is checking out architects as it moves toward expanding its facilities, officials announced last week during a breakfast meeting with local community members. At the meeting, library staffers updated a few dozen neighborhood leaders on the library’s strategic plan, which its board of trustees recently finalized and includes ideas of how the institution will serve residents in the future. Those plans involve branching out to two properties the library acquired adjacent to its central building at the corner of Thompson and East Main streets: a residence on Thompson and a business on East Main. The goal of expansion is to bring the Teen Center, which is now housed in a separate building across East Main Street, into the main building. And an “inadequacy of library meeting space, in addition to parking challenges, were prime considerations,” library board President Laura Hill Timpanaro said in a statement. The library is looking to hire an architectural firm that will consider the area’s historical character while designing the potential expansion, Library Director Robert Goykin said in a phone interview last week. “The library board is extreme-
ly committed to preserving the historic streetscape and the historic nature of this corner of the town.” Once the board hires an architect, there will be public meetings to get community feedback and suggestions during the design process. “We want to keep the public informed and aware every step of the way,” Goykin said. According to a press release from the library, the adjacent property on East Main Street, which currently houses Scented Cottage Garden, measures 7,750 square feet. The director said the property would help the library meet village parking requirements while satisfying the library’s special needs. Scented Cottage Garden owner Marge McCuen did not return a call for comment. Goykin said that the breakfast meeting at the library was positive, as the community offered supportive comments “and really showed how much the public appreciates the library here in Port Jeff.” He said that it’s a good sign for the future, in terms of receiving community input on the design of the facility expansion. “To see this diverse group of people seemingly in agreement … is a good start.”
MAY 21, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A9
Suffolk County GOP seeks to attract Latino voters Party establishes new Hispanic alliance By Rohma aBBas
File photo by Rohma Abbas
LaLota said. And while it’s not an “exact science,” it gives officials an idea of the growth of the population. Two Hispanic Republicans — Brookhaven’s Jose Nunez and Victoria Serpa of Islip — will co-chair the Suffolk County Republican Hispanic Alliance, LaValle said. When reached this week, Nunez said he felt there was a great opportunity for the Republicans to attract Hispanic voters, who traditionally lean Democratic. “We believe that they have the same core values— family, business,” he said. “They’re very conservative. There’s a lot of religion. I think there’s a pool of people right here that haven’t been reached.” But as far as Suffolk County Democratic Chairman Rich Schaffer is concerned, the Re-
above, Latinos congregate at Xavier Palacios’ law office in huntington station last year to watch President Barack obama announcing executive orders on immigration. Right, suffolk County GoP Chairman John Jay LaValle.
publicans were late to the party. He noted the Democrats have backed several Hispanic individuals who were elected “It’s about time,” Schaffer said. “We don’t need press releases. We’ve been doing it for years. We welcome them to finally recognizing that the Hispanic population is an important part of our county.” Nunez said the GOP’s new alliance would also serve an educational purpose — engaging Latino voters in a political dialogue and perhaps dispelling fears of the political process that some may acquaint with their native countries. It’s “smart” for Republicans to be reaching out to Hispanic voters, according to Xavier Palacios, a Huntington resident,
school board member and cofounder of the Friends of Huntington Station Latin Quarter — a group established to revitalize Huntington Station through business development, mentorship, vocational training and other programs. The number-one issue on the minds of Hispanics, Palacios said, is immigration reform, and it’s something Republicans need to address head-on if they’re going to attract Latino voters. “I think it can no longer be the hot potato,” he said. “A solution to real immigration reform needs to be had, needs to be discussed as a real issue.” Not everyone thinks that Latinos care most about the immigration issue. Nunez said there
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are many Latinos out there who feel people should arrive and settle in the country through legal channels. He also said immigration was a federal issue, not a local one. Other issues on the local level are of importance to Latinos too, Palacios said — namely economic opportunity. He said Republicans and Democrats would be smart “in focusing on pocketbook issues,” as many first-and-second-generation Latino residents are staggered in professions or can’t afford college. Immigrants come here to fulfill the American Dream for their children, something that appears to be becoming more challenging. “Folks nowadays, in my view, are losing that dream,” he said.
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County Republicans are vying for the votes of Suffolk Latinos. A county GOP press release last week announced that for the first time in its history, it would be creating a Hispanic alliance tasked with registering Latino voters and recruiting potential candidates to run for office. “For far too long, the political left has taken the Hispanic community for granted and recent polls indicate a growing frustration with the Democrat party’s lack of family values and understanding of small business,” GOP chairman John Jay LaValle said in the statement. “It is clearly time for Suffolk County’s Hispanic families to seek an alternative and the Republican Party is that alternative.” Republicans are seeking to tap into a growing Latino electorate in Suffolk County, the statement said. According to Nick LaLota, the Republican commissioner of the Suffolk County Board of Elections, Latinos comprise about 7.8 percent of Suffolk County’s 907,000 total registered voters this year. That’s up from 5.82 percent in 2006, he said. When drawing up the figures, BOE officials analyzed the last names of voters to determine which individuals have “Hispanic-oriented” names,
PAGE A10 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
CRABS Continued from page A1
place to mate. The crabs take about nine years to reach sexual maturity. “We think it is time not to stop or prohibit the harvesting of horseshoe crabs … but instead to say, ‘Not within town properties,’” Romaine stated. Brookhaven’s Chief Environmental Analyst Anthony Graves and cleanwater advocacy group Defend H20’s founder and president, Kevin McAllister, joined Romaine at the Tuesday morning press conference. Graves said the ban would help preserve the 450-million-year-old species’ population. Preserving the species affects more than just the crabs: If the population continues to shrink, other species — like the red knot bird, which eats the crab eggs — will suffer.
“They are in some ways an ecological keystone species,” Graves said. “That means that they serve a function beyond their individual existence.” East Coast waterways are the epicenter for the crabs and, according to McAllister, states like New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia have already enacted harvesting limits. The crabs’ nesting season starts in mid-May and lasts until the end of June. Officials said the crabs are oftentimes harvested at night and illegally. Romaine said he has asked all of the town’s waterfront villages to support the measure. If the DEC moves forward with the ban, Romaine said the town could help the department with enforcement by establishing an intermunicipal agreement. A DEC representative did not immediately return a request for comment. Photo by Erika Karp
Kevin McAllister, founder and president of Defend H20, speaks in favor of the ban.
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MAY 21, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A11
OPINION
In education reform, slow and steady wins race Your turn
‘Education in New York is broken as a result of misguided and rushed initiatives that have left districts to their own devices to address state policy issues and misinformation spread throughout their communities.’
BY Jim PolanskY
As the dust attempts to settle following two weeks of state assessment administration, preceded by months of politically charged debate and activism, I’ll, once again, express my plea that the state powers-that-be reflect on the situation and its root causes and attempt to redirect their decision-making toward what is in the best interests of the children of New York. I can attest to the fact that the administrators, teachers and staff members in Huntington clearly understand their responsibilities. They continue to develop and refine their crafts but have never lost sight of the individual differences demonstrated by the students in their classrooms or buildings. They comprehend the concept of college and career readiness and recognize their roles within a systemic approach to a child’s education. They have instructionally prepared their students in alignment with the new standards, while continually striv-
TBR
ing to instill in students a love of learning. They have done everything possible to put aside their anxieties in the face of statewide educational unrest, rapidly moving evaluation targets and mandates that seemingly appear out of nowhere. I imagine all of this is characteristic of the majority of schools and districts throughout the state. I’d like to think that some learning has been accomplished or perspective gained from recent events. For example, broad-scale changes are likely to meet with failure if necessary preparations are not made or if measures are not put into place to facilitate those changes. (The cliché applies — one cannot build a plane while it is being flown.) No amount of federal monies is worth the potential outcomes of a rushed and, therefore, flawed change process. I’ll add that the importance of accountability and evaluation should not be minimized. But an unproven system based on unproven measures will surely contribute to inaccurate outcomes — both false positive and false negative. Education Law §3012-d has been passed. It requires the state’s Board of Regents to redesign the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) process
File photo
Polansky is calling on albany to slow down on requiring districts to submit plans to evaluate teachers by sept. 1.
by June 30 and subsequently requires districts to submit a new plan by Sept. 1. The bulk of plan development would be slated for a time when key stakeholders may not be available. There are numerous education-related issues facing New York at this juncture. These issues must be approached with common sense and, again, with an eye toward what is best for our students. Why not begin such an approach with accepting the recent recommendation and allowing districts until at least September 2016 to build valid and sensible APPR plans? Give districts the time, resources and capacity to do this right. Provide them with the guidance and support
media
they need. Leave threats of withholding aid out of the equation. Education in New York is broken as a result of misguided and rushed initiatives that have left districts to their own devices to address state policy issues and misinformation spread throughout their communities. It is imperative that those in Albany reflect on what has happened and take the critical steps needed to restore transparency, close the wounds and repair what was and could return to being one of the finest educational systems in the country. Jim Polansky is the superintendent of the Huntington school district and former high school principal.
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PAGE A12 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
Honor and Remember The Men And Women Who Served Our Great Country
We remember those who did not come home, and thank those that did for the sacrifices you made for our country. Your bravery & dedication is what keeps our country safe & strong. Wishing All Veteran’s and their Families a Happy & Healthy Memorial Day.
Photos from Kerri Ellis
above, the couple is surrounded by their grown children — from left, Christine, Pam, ann, Patricia and Paul — on their 50th wedding anniversary. Below, Gene and Edna Gerard were married for 65 years. ©115727
Rocky Point Funeral Home
744-9000
603 Route 25A, Rocky Point, NY 11778 www.rockypointfuneralhome.com
Louis J. Marcoccia Brookhaven Town Receiver Of Taxes
To View Your Tax Statement Online visit: www.brookhaven.org
Legal Notice: TO THE TAXPAYERS AND INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, TAKE NOTICE: Louis J. Marcoccia, Receiver of Taxes, in and for the said Town, has received the tax and assessment rolls and warrant for the 2014/2015 Tax Levy and said second half taxes and assessments therein may be paid to the Receiver of Taxes at his office, One Independence Hill, Suite 110, Farmingville, New York 11738-2149, during the following extended hours:
Monday, June 1st 2015 8am – 8pm SECOND HALF PAYMENT: Payable by June 1st, 2015 without penalty.
Please Note:
Town Hall Will Be Closed Monday May 25, 2015 in Observance of Memorial Day
Regular office hours are 9:00am to 4:30pm Monday thru Friday For your convenience, you may also make payment in person at the: Rose Caracappa Senior Citizen Center 739 Route 25A Mt. Sinai, NY 11766 Phone 631.476.6431 Wednesday May 20th 10am – 3pm (no cash please)
After June 1st, 2015 all outstanding balances must be paid to the County Treasurer: Suffolk County Treasurer
Scan Code With Smartphone To Access Mobile Bill Pay App
Riverhead County Center 330 Center Drive Riverhead, New York 11901-3311 631-852-3000
______________________________ LOUIS J. MARCOCCIA BROOKHAVEN TOWN RECEIVER OF TAXES
To Access Your Bill Online Visit: www.brookhaven.org
38656
Local volunteer, leader leaves void By BarBara Donlon
Edna Gerard, a longtime resident with a knack for community service and a mind for business, died on May 16 at age 86. A 57-year resident of Brookhaven Town and the wife of former town councilman Gene Gerard, she died of complications related to esophageal cancer, her daughter Pam Ruschak said in an interview on Tuesday. Edna Gerard had lived in Mount Sinai, Port Jefferson and Middle Island with her husband, to whom she was married for 65 years. The couple raised five children together. The pair’s surname was perhaps most well-known through the printing shop they owned in Port Jefferson Station, St. Gerard Printing, where Edna worked until last year, when the Gerard family sold the local business. But “her big love was community service,” Ruschak said. Gerard had worked with many organizations throughout the area over the years. She was a past president of the Port Jefferson Station and Terryville chamber of commerce; a founding member and past president of the networking group Decision Women in Commerce and Professions; a former vice president of the Mount Sinai Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary; and a former Long Island Power Authority trustee. Former LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel called Gerard a “valuable asset to the board.” “Soft-spoken but challenging, cared greatly for ratepayers and the environment,” Kessel said. “She’ll be missed.” Ruschak said her mother found a way
to raise a family and still be involved in her community, something that makes her proud. “She was just a beautiful, dynamic, classy, graceful woman,” the daughter said. In addition to husband Gene, daughter Pam and Pam’s husband, Richard Ruschak, Edna Gerard is survived by her son, Paul Gerard, and his wife, Pam; her daughter, Patricia Leffke, and husband Gary; her daughter, Ann Dunn, and husband John; her son-in-law, Edward McKenna; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Her daughter, Christine McKenna, preceded her in death. Moloney’s Port Jefferson Station Funeral Home handled arrangements and a Mass was held at St. Frances Cabrini R.C. Church in Coram on Wednesday. “There will be tough shoes to fill,” Pam Ruschak said. “There will be a real void in this community.”
MAY 21, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A13
PEOPLE
A buddy for everyone Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) attended the Buddy Bench unveiling ceremony at the Joseph A. Edgar School in Rocky Point on May 11. Kelly McCauley, the student responsible for raising the funds to purchase the bench, is also the organizer of the Unmasking the Bully club, where she teaches kids about bullying prevention. The Buddy Bench serves as a meeting point for kids looking for playmates. McCauley created the club and bench for her Girl
Scout Gold Award. “The Buddy Bench is a wonderful idea, and I’m proud that one of our own local students took it upon herself to organize this club and raise the funds to purchase this bench,” Anker said. “Bullying continues to be a problem in our schools, but with the help of students like Kelly, I’m optimistic that we can end bullying for good.” Photo from Sarah Anker’s office
Rocky Point’s Kelly McCauley unveiled a new Buddy Bench at the JAE school in Rocky Point.
Photo from Miller Place school district
Miller Place school district’s Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School welcomed local veterans, police officers, firefighters and active duty soldiers to their school to display their appreciation.
Miller Place students thank everyday heroes In honor of Give Back to the Community Day, the Service Club at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School in Miller Place involved the entire student body and community in a schoolwide effort to give back to their local heroes. Approximately 700 students welcomed members of the police force and fire department, veterans and active duty soldiers into their classrooms to personally thank them for their sacrifices and present them with handmade crafts and thank-you cards.
“We do our best to offer our students as many opportunities as possible to interact with members of our armed forces, veterans and everyday heroes,” Superintendent Marianne Higuera said. “We aim to provide positive role models for our students and encourage them to act selflessly. Students are able to comprehend the significance of what these brave men and women do every day, and events like these allow them to show their appreciation.” Each grade created personalized letters, cards, drawings,
handmade bookmarks and spring crafts to send to residents and veterans of Echo Nursing Home in Port Jefferson, both local and New York City firefighters and police officers, residents of the local veterans home and active duty soldiers stationed around the world. Service Club members had the opportunity to Skype with U.S. Army Pvt. Leander Martin, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, via SMART Board. Approximately 30 students wrote letters to Martin earlier this year.
Photo from Rocky Point school district
Ride for Life President Chris Pendergast with Rocky Point students.
RPMS supports Ride for Life
During ALS Awareness Month, Rocky Point Middle School sought to continue to support efforts to raise funds for ALS — also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease — research by donating more than $600 to the ALS Ride for Life event this May. The funds, which had been raised as a result of a National Junior Honor So-
ciety fundraiser, were presented during the ride’s annual 100-plus-mile patient wheelchair ride across Long Island. Ride participants stopped at the school as they worked their way across Long Island. Present at the event were Ride for Life President Chris Pendergast, Dr. Frank Verdone and other ALS patients
Submission information: To send an obituary or People item for publication: Email items to people@tbrnewspapers.com • Send pictures as JPEGs.
PAGE A14 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
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Legals NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: SUFFOLK COUNTY FANNIE MAE; Plaintiff(s) vs. MICHAEL P SANTULLI; ROSEMARIE D SANTULLI; et al; Defendant(s) Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s): ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 2 Summit Court, Suite 301, Fishkill, New York, 12524, 845.897.1600 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on or about December 22, 2014, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738. On June 10, 2015 at 1:30 pm. Premises known as 29 DANDELION RD, ROCKY POINT, NY 11778 District: 0200 Section: 033.00 Block: 04.00 Lot: 050.000 ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York, known and designated as and by Lots Numbers 789 thru 792 both inclusive, as shown on a certain map entitled, “Map of North Shore Beach, Section B”, and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk on June 11, 1928 as Map No. 1050. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms
and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment $321,999.43 plus interest and costs. INDEX NO. 19410/10 Ettore A Simeone, Esq., REFEREE 899 5/7 4x vbr Invitation to Bidders BOARD OF EDUCATION Shoreham-Wading River Central School District PUBLIC NOTICE: is hereby given for separate and single prime contract sealed bids for: Tennis Court Reconstruction & Turf Field Installation at the Shoreham-Wading River High School. Bids will be received by the School District Purchasing Agent, by Monday June 1, 2015 at 3:00 P.M. prevailing time at the District Office, 250B RT 25A Shoreham, NY 11786. The District Office hours are 8AM to 4PM, Monday thru Friday. All bids will be publicly opened and read aloud in the standard fashion at said time and place publicly opened and read aloud. The Contract Documents may be examined at the Office of the Architect, BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, P.C., 244 East Main Street, Patchogue New York, (631-475-0349); however
the Contract Documents may only be obtained thru the Office of REV, 330 Route 17A Suite #2, Goshen New York 10924 (877-272-0216) beginning on Monday, May 18, 2015. Complete digital sets of Contract Documents shall be obtained online (with a free user account) as a download for a non-refundable fee of Forty-Nine ($49.00) Dollars at the following websites: www. bbsprojects.com or www. usinglesspaper.com under ‘public projects’. Optionally, in lieu of digital copies, hard copies may be obtained directly from REV upon a deposit of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars for each complete set. Checks for deposits shall be made payable to the DISTRICT, SHOREHAM-WADING RIVER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT and may be uncertified. All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered plan holders via email and will be available at the above referenced websites. Any bidder requiring documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer and pay for all packaging and shipping costs. Plan holders who have obtained hard copies of the bid documents will need to make the determination if hard copies of the addenda are required for their use, and coordinate directly with the printer for hard copies of addenda to be issued. There will be no charge for registered
plan holders to obtain hard copies of the bid addenda. The bid deposit for hard copies will be returned upon receipt of plans and specifications, in good condition, within thirty days after bid date, except for the lowest responsible bidder, whose check will be forfeited upon the award of the contract.
VILLAGE OF SHOREHAM BOX 389 SHOREHAM, NEW YORK 11786 PUBLIC NOTICE FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL May 13, 2015
The Contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or the proposals will be rejected within 45 days of the date of opening proposals. Bids shall be subject, however, to the discretionary right reserved by the School District to waive any informalities, accept or reject any alternatives, reject any proposals and to advertise for new proposals, if in its opinion the best interest of the School District will thereby be promoted.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE FINAL 2015/2016 VILLAGE OF SHOREHAM ASSESSMENT ROLL WAS FILED WITH THE VILLAGE CLERK ON MAY 13, 2015. INSPECTION OF THE ROLL CAN BE MADE ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY MAY 26 TO MAY 28 FROM NOON UNTIL 3:00 P.M. AT THE VILLAGE HALL, WOODVILLE ROAD, SHOREHAM, NEW YORK.
Each bidder may not withdraw his bid within 45 days after the formal opening thereof. A bidder may withdraw his bid only in writing and prior to the bid opening date.
CATHY DONAHUE SPIER VILLAGE CLERK
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION Shoreham-Wading River C.S.D. Janice M. Seus, District Clerk Dated: May 12, 2015 969_052115_1x_vbr
THE VILLAGE HALL IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE HANDICAPPED.
975_052115_1x_vbr PUBLIC NOTICE MILLER PLACE FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK
2014 and ending on December 31, 2014 have been examined by an independent public accountant and the report of said examination has been filed in the Office of the Treasurer of the Fire District. Said report is available as a matter of public record for all interested persons, who may obtain access to it at said firehouse, during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 12 Miller Place Road, Miller Place, New York, pursuant to Section 35 of the General Municipal Law. The Board of Fire Commissioners may, in its discretion, prepare a response to this examination and file said response in the Office of the Treasurer of said Fire District, as a matter of public record for inspection by all interested persons. Dated: May 15, 2015 Miller Place, New York By Order of The Board of Fire Commissioners of the Miller Place Fire District Janet Staufer, District Secretary 982_052115_1x_vbr
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the fiscal affairs of the MILLER PLACE FIRE DISTRICT for the period beginning on January 1,
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Playoff win puts Mount Sinai on an 11-game win streak
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The bond between seniors Danny Bullis and Dan Keenan spans nearly eight years, and the connection between the attacks was evident on the field Monday as the two connected for half of the No. 3-ranked Mount Sinai boys’ lacrosse team’s goals in a 6-4 victory over No. 6 Islip in the first round of the Division II Class B playoffs Monday. “We practice together all of the time … and there’s a good connection there,” Bullis said. “I always know where he is on the field so I tend to feed the ball to him.” With the game tied 1-1 to the start of the second quarter, the team’s leading scorers connected for their first goal of the evening. Less than two minutes in, sophomore Nick Cesario scooped up a turnover in
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THE TIMES OF HUNTINGTON, NORTHPORT & EAST NORTHPORT
Photo by Desirée Keegan
Senior attackmen lead team to first-round win
CE Y
THE VILLAGE TIMES HERALD
THE TIMES OF SMITHTOWN
Danny Bullis shoots the ball over an Islip player for a goal.
he No. 2 Miller Place boys’ lacrosse team hosted No. 7 EastportSouth Manor Monday and was upset in a playoff game.
the Mustangs’ zone and carried the ball all the way down the field before passing it to Bullis. Milliseconds after receiving the pass, Bullis dished the ball outside to the left of the goal to Keenan, who whipped it in past the goalkeeper to break the tie. Senior Tony DiMonte scored next from 30 yards out off an assist from senior Jason Vengilio, and senior goalkeeper Charlie Faughnan made two big stops — one while the team was a man down — to preserve the 3-1 advantage heading into the halftime break. “Playoffs are playoffs and every game is going to be a battle,” Mount Sinai head coach Harold Drumm said. “Islip is an excellent team, and we’re just really proud of the kids. They worked really hard.” Bullis tallied the first goal of the third stanza off an assist by junior Griffin McGrath, and after Islip scored the next goal of the game to cut the lead, Keenan found the back of the net off another pass from Bullis to give Mount Sinai a 5-2 lead. Islip refused to go down quietly and kept pushing for a goal. The team got an
ESM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Miller Place . . . . . . . . . 7
MAY 21, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A17
Photos by Desirée Keegan
Clockwise from above, the Mount Sinai boys’ lacrosse team embraces one another in celebration of the first-round playoff win; Charlie Faughnan deflects the ball away from the net; and Griffin McGrath scoops up the ground ball off the faceoff.
open look at the net, but couldn’t capital- Drumm said. “[Bullis] can feed, shoot, ize and made one final attempt with nine dodge, he does a great job. He looks for seconds left in the quarter, but Faughnan anybody that’s open. They work in praccame through with another save. tice together all the time and they work “Charlie’s been playing outstanding,” well together, so it’s a nice matchup.” Drumm said of his goalkeeper, who finIslip scored once more two minutes ished the game with seven later and threatened late saves. “Charlie saves us In the second quarter in the game, but Mount and bails us out a lot. Our Sinai’s defense shut defense does a great job, ‘we just started making down any Islip opporbut Charlie is the back- better choices on tunities and the offense bone of that and he makes continued to pass the ball some saves that I just have offense like possessing around the outside to eat to thank him after the the ball, moving the some time off the clock game for.” and preserve the win. ball — and it just Islip squeezed a goal “It was a good team past Faughnan with 8:55 started to click.’ win,” Bullis said. “Our left to play, and just over — Danny Bullis defense was really solid, a minute later Bullis and and goalkeeping ... and Keenan connected for a final time for offensively we moved the ball well. [In the Keenan’s hat trick goal. second quarter] we just started making bet“Dan Keenan, when he shoots over- ter choices on offense like possessing the hand, he has one of the best shots in the ball, moving the ball — and it just started league, without question, and Danny to click.” Bullis is an excellent lacrosse player,” Mount Sinai extended an 11-game win
streak into the postseason, and will have another home game today, Thursday, where the team will host No. 7 EastportSouth Manor at 4 p.m. “We had an excellent regular season for us and we’re real proud of the guys, but none of that really matters at this
T
he No. 7-seeded Mount Sinai baseball team traveled to No. 3 Bayport-Blue Point Tuesday in a playoff game and lost 5-0.
point,” Drumm said. “What matters is now and we won the game today. [So] we play Eastport-South Manor … and we’re prepared. We’ll go into that game knowing it’s going to be a game liked this — a battle — and just try to win every play and hopefully come out with a ‘W.’”
Bayport-Blue Point . . 5 Mount Sinai . . . . . . . . 0
PAGE A18 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
OPINION Petrone: Flanagan will be a ‘powerful voice’ huntington residents should be excited by the selection of John Flanagan as majority leader of the State Senate. I have known John since his election to the Assembly three decades ago. I have found him to be a hardworking, dedicated advocate for policies and programs that are of interest to our constituents. he has helped ensure that Long Island gets its fair share of state education aid, reformed state elections law and led the way on other important measures, such as better informing women about breast density and cancer risks
We would all benefit by keeping our collective cool on the road.
and allowing students with respiratory ailments to bring inhalers to school functions. having served in both the Assembly and the Senate, John understands the issues, the legislative process and the dynamics that produce legislation aimed at bettering the lives of all of us. While holding strong beliefs on some issues, he nevertheless is willing to listen to opposing sides and consider the merits of different positions. As majority leader, John will be a powerful voice in Albany for our local concerns. I congratulate John and look forward to working with him on the items that are central to the town’s legislative agenda. Frank Petrone huntington Town supervisor
File photo
EDITORIAL
Take a chill pill With warmer weather comes an urge to leave the house, and we expect, as usual, there will be a lot more cars on the road, so now is a good time to remind our readers not to lose their cool behind the wheel. Whether a driver made a mistake — as we all do from time to time — or not, it can be terrifying for that person when another motorist becomes enraged and takes it out on them. We’ve all experienced tailgating or obnoxious horn-honking, and some of us have been victims of more dire cases of road rage, like prolonged following and actual physical violence or threats. In the less confrontational incidents, frustrated and angry drivers often lash out
because it’s easy to hide in the anonymous bubble of a car, when they would not have been so bold to display such anger in person. In the more extreme cases, the mad drivers may have had a screw or two loose to begin with and might have acted out no matter the location or circumstance. We understand that daily stresses factor into this problem, and Long Island’s immense traffic congestion doesn’t help the frustration we might already be feeling while in the car. But consider this: The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that aggressive driving is a factor in more than half of all traffic fatalities, according to 2009 data. In those cases, “motorists are concerned with
the others’ aggressive driving while many are guilty themselves.” Terrible accidents involving mangled cars happen all the time, but they don’t have to happen over things as petty as payback for being cut off or revenge on a slow-moving vehicle. We urge our readers to slow down when they’re seeing red behind the wheel and take some time to think about what the other person’s situation might be before lashing out. Give each other the benefit of the doubt because we are all humans who make mistakes. Let small road infractions go with a deep exhale. Rising tempers don’t give us license to rage on the road. And the consequences can be deadly.
got an opinion? discuss it @ tbrnewsmedia.com
Photo by Heidi Sutton
Buttercup’s Dairy is on Old Town Road in Port Jefferson Station.
Buttercup is the best TO ThE EDITOR: On May 2, Buttercup’s Dairy Store on Old Town Road in Port Jefferson Station held its annual Buttercup’s Day. It’s so nice to see a business give back to the community. There were
many attractions free to the public for the children, from pony rides to live animals, games, etc. The men, women and teens who helped out were wonderful. Thank you, Buttercup, for your continued work to give back to your customers. Kitty Shults Port Jefferson Station
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MAY 21, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A19
‘Getting it’ in today’s crazy, mixed-up world
D. None of the above by DaNiel DuNaief
vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com
W
here do we get the “Oh, right, I get it,” moments? We’re so close to ourselves and our lives that those moments are often hard to see. It’s like in the movies, where someone has a close friend: Lo and behold, that friend turns into something much more, once personal introspection is abandoned and it
is realized how important such a friendship is deep down. Beyond the romantic comedies, however, we can turn to dramas, action films or other forms of entertainment for a broader awareness of ourselves and our lives. Let’s say we’re driving on the Long Island Expressway and somebody cuts us off. What do we do? Well, if we’ve got kids in the car, we might grind our teeth, hold on tight to the steering wheel and fight the urge to say things that would look something like “$#$#@%$!!!” in a cartoon. But what did that person make us do? Did we have to hit the brake a bit when we’re on the way to a soccer game? Did she interrupt our train of thought when we were about to cure cancer, come up with a solution for tension in the Middle East, or figure out a way to reduce fossil fuel emissions from the thousands of planes that
soar overhead? Is it possible that she was racing home from work to take care of a kid with a stuffy nose, to hear someone’s first violin concert or congratulate her son for earning his first A in social studies? Yes, most of the time we’re, thankfully, stuck in the world of the small stuff. If we’re fortunate enough, we’re not worried every moment about taking care of basic needs. I know people have told us many times not to sweat the small stuff and they’ve even urged us to understand that it’s all small stuff. The problem is that we’ve become accustomed to a world in which everything is available to us right now and in which we don’t want to wait for anything or anyone. How’s all that extra time working out for us? Are we all enjoying the chance to spend more quality time with each other? We seem to have freed up our time so that we can
disconnect with the people around us, staying plugged in to a virtual world devoid of awkward silences, driven by words that pour out of our fingers instead of our mouths. We don’t have to comb our hair or check our teeth to send someone a funny text with a little premade goofy face. This isn’t a diatribe against electronics. I enjoy the instant gratification of knowing something that comes from ubiquitous Internet access. In movies like “American Beauty,” we see Kevin Spacey “get it” a bit too late. He doesn’t see the wonder of his life, his wife and his daughter until he can’t appreciate or show it. In real life, even people with jobs they dreamt about often get so caught up in what they’re doing that they seem to miss “it.” Of course, when these small, unflattering moments occur for our fame-generated celebrities, eager members of the paparazzi
Are we all enjoying the chance to spend more quality time with each other? capture them “losing it.” It’d be difficult to smell the flowers, become energized and inspired by a child’s question, or pause to appreciate a shifting wind all the time. We wouldn’t get much done and, I suspect, might miss a bill, deadline, meeting or two. But, wouldn’t it be nice if those “Oh, right, I get it,” moments came more often, giving us the ability to appreciate the unseen air we breathe and the world of infinite possibilities that awaits around the corner? Daniel Dunaief’s recent book, “The Other Parent,” may be purchased online from www.tbrnewsmedia.com/ebooks.
Hear ye: new ferry from NYC to Port Jeff
between you and me by leah S. DuNaief
I
vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com
f you could wave a wand and make all the summer weekend traffic on Long Island’s highways disappear, it would be a miracle, right? Well, we should prepare ourselves for a miracle, because one is about to touch down at Port Jefferson. Specifically, it will arrive, starting tomorrow, May 22, and will last through Sunday and every summer weekend thereafter. This miracle to which I refer is a high-speed ferry that will
carry walk-on passengers back and forth from New York City to Port Jefferson three times every Friday, once on Saturday and again three times on Sundays. In so doing, it will, of course, provide an alternate route not only to Port Jefferson but also, thanks to its alliance with the Port Jeff ferry and the Hampton Jitney, to points east and north. Do you hear the announcement, “North Shore, North Fork, Hamptons and the wineries”? What a stimulus this can be for business even as it is a long overdue benefit for passengers. A partnership between Seastreak, the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry and Hampton Jitney is making this new mode of transportation possible. These companies will link the tristate area, even tying into the New Jersey coast. The seasonal weekend service is called Sea Jitney, and it will use the Port Jefferson dock as its hub. Hampton Jitney service will carry passengers to their
preferred destinations elsewhere in Suffolk, and the Port Jeff ferry can take them to Connecticut and Amtrak. “Seastreak has been an innovator in introducing new ferry services from New York City to destinations such as Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket,” said Jim Barker, president of Seastreak, in a press release. I know something about that service because I used it myself as a way to spend a weekend with friends who lived on Martha’s Vineyard. But in order to do that, I had to travel out east at an early hour to catch the boat. Still, I was willing to do that to avoid the legendary traffic jams that come with driving there, and as I bet people will do to visit Long Island. According to Baker, the vessels are equipped with high-backed seating, a full bar and Wi-Fi service. Geoffrey Lynch, president of Hampton Jitney, commented for the press release that this innovative idea from these “three established and
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respected area transportation companies ... will give people a relaxing way to enjoy the East End and Port Jefferson.” The ferry will leave Manhattan’s East 35th Street dock and Highlands, N.J., traveling round trip. Margot Garant, Port Jefferson’s mayor, said in the release, “We are extremely pleased to partner with the Sea Jitney to help bring people to Port Jefferson by our harbor. This powerful partnership has an extremely low impact on our infrastructure while introducing visitors to our beautiful, historic village.” Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry general manager, Fred Hall, pronounced the Sea Jitney “a game changer for people who travel between Connecticut and the Hamptons. At two-andone-half hours from Bridgeport to Southampton, it’s shorter than going through NYC and much less stressful.” Here are some of the nittygritty details. One-way fares LEISURE EDITOR Heidi Sutton SPORTS EDITOR Desirée Keegan ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ellen Recker ONLINE EDITOR Elana Glowatz
What a stimulus this can be for business. will be from $33 to $50, depending on the length of the ride; reservations and advance payment are required. The trip takes about two hours from the city to Port Jefferson and an hour, traffic permitting, from Port Jefferson to the Hamptons. For a complete schedule, go to www.seajitney.com. Aside from my patriotic enthusiasm for the new alliance, I have a totally selfish reason to be so pleased with this new turn of events. My children and grandchildren live to the west. Their summer visits may change for them from endurance on the highways to a pre-weekend pleasure as they stand at the rail and watch the bluffs of Long Island’s North Shore slip by. I’d better start stocking the refrigerator now.
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PAGE A20 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MAY 21, 2015
Treatment for Tick-Related Diseases, anchored by Peconic Bay Medical Center
It’s Tick season and they’re out in force
News Alert From The New Tick-Related Disease Center at PBMC Health How to avoid ‘em:
Do you have Lyme disease?
Suffolk County is one of the nation’s busiest breeding grounds for the little buggers that spread Lyme and other serious infectious diseases. According to the Center for Disease Control, the best ways to avoid them when you’re outdoors: • Stay away from tall grass, shrubs and wooded areas • Use insect repellent • Inspect yourself frequently • Wear light colored clothing • Wear long sleeved clothing • Bathe or shower after going outdoors
Lyme can be hard to diagnose. The famous Lyme bull’s-eye rash may or may not be visible. Symptoms can include fever, chills, sweating, headaches, joint pain, nausea and vomiting. If you think you may be infected, see your doctor right away or call the PBMC Health TickRelated Disease Center to make an appointment with our specialist.
Questions? Call 631-574-TICK (8425) The PBMC Health Tick Related Disease Center is located at 496 County Road 111, Bldg. D, Manorville and receives educational support from Cornell Cooperative Extension.
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Learn more at PBMCHealth.org/TICK