The Village Beacon Record - October 6, 2022

Palumbo and Johnson face off in state Senate debate

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The Republican and Democratic Party nominees for New York’s 1st State Senate District took to the debate stage on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Hampton Bays Senior Center.

Hosted by the Hampton Bays Civic Association, incumbent state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) and Democratic challenger Skyler Johnson, a Mount Sinai native, tackled various pressing issues in Albany. Questions were submitted by members of the civic, as well as some in the audience.

Abortion

Palumbo described himself as a libertarian concerning abortion law but raised objections to the practice of late-term abortions. “Women have a right to choose and should have a right to choose,” he said. “My only objection is to late-term abortion.”

On the other hand, Johnson referred to himself as pro-choice and said he supported a woman’s right to choose. He accused Palumbo of not supporting exceptions for the life of a mother. He also called objections to late-term abortions “a myth.”

“If someone is getting an abortion past six months, it is because their life is in danger,” he said. “Late-term abortions aren’t actually a thing. They are a thing that happens when someone’s life is in danger. There is no data, no statistics to indicate that people are getting abortions because they are changing their minds past the sixth month of pregnancy.”

Renewable energy

Johnson said that he would not like to see the expansion of nuclear power on Long Island. For him, the risks imposed by nuclear power plants are not worth the

rewards. However, he does foresee ways to promote alternative forms of green energy.

“I do think New York has a great opportunity to invest in green energy, to invest in better transportation,” he said.

“That gets more cars off the road, that keeps our air clean, and that lowers the burden on our critical infrastructure.”

Palumbo offered his support behind renewable energy, and said the transition to these novel energy sources should be done “smartly and reliably.”

“The technology is getting there, and we’re pushing,” the state senator said. He added that continued funding for environmental initiatives will be critical to Long Island’s overall health. “We’re a very different animal on Long Island, and the environment is critical. All of the renewables are certainly a part of that whole package.”

Guns in schools

Palumbo said schools should consider having school resource officers, or trained and armed police officers designated to secure schools.

“The people who should be handling guns are not teachers, but people who are trained,” Palumbo said. “Guns in schools should be with school resource officers.”

Johnson agreed that teachers should not be armed, referring to this as a “commonsense policy.”

“I want to make sure that we’re doing everything that we can to improve gun safety in New York because there’s a lot that we can mostly all agree on,” Johnson said.

This debate marks the first of several encounters between the two candidates in the coming weeks. Voters will make their picks on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting begins later this month.

Incumbent state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), left, and Democratic Party challenger Skyler Johnson, right, during a Meet the Candidates forum at Comsewogue Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

File photos by Raymond Janis

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Brookhaven town board unanimously adopts new map, concludes redistricting process

BY RAYMOND JANIS

EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The Town of Brookhaven’s controversial redistricting process concluded on Thursday, Sept. 29, after the Town Board voted unanimously

approve the latest proposed map.

The Town Board, which has a 6-1 Republican majority, took over the redistricting process after an appointed redistricting committee failed to find agreement on a draft proposal. Days after the committee formally disbanded, Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) presented his own map. For more on this story, see “Brookhaven officials react to latest redistricting proposal” (TBR News Media website).

Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) kicked off the public hearing with a forceful line of questioning of the town’s designated mapmaker, David Schaefer of Schenectady-based firm Skyline Consulting.

Kornreich pressed Schaefer on a range of subjects, such as his familiarity with the hamlets throughout the town. He also inquired about how Schaefer arrived at an original determination to split Port Jefferson Station and Terryville between Council Districts 1 and 2, and why he decided to move most of Ridge into CD4.

Responding, Schaefer said that he created the

initial maps solely to bring the six council districts into roughly equal populations. “The first draft that I submitted is all population driven,” he said.

Following Kornreich’s line of questioning, residents pressed their representatives on the Town Board repeatedly over concerns that arose throughout the redistricting process and the alleged inequities in drawing the district lines.

Ira Costell, a resident of Port Jefferson Station, argued Schaefer’s approach was unproductive, reducing redistricting to an analytic method while ignoring its impact on communities of interest.

“There’s more than just standard deviations and numbers at play here,” Costell said. “There’s people, there’s communities, there’s interests,

and there’s fairness at stake here, and I don’t see a lot of it in what the mapmaker initially did.”

Costell further railed against the committee process, saying, “The hearings were poorly advertised, they were chaotic, they were confusing, they were marked by a lack of support information from the town, which resulted in maps that just appeared out of thin air.” He continued, “What does seem transparent, however, is the majority on this board seems poised to ignore the clear will and desires of the voters who did speak out.”

Terryville resident Lou Antoniello suggested Schaefer was not being truthful during his remarks. He added that tampering with district boundaries may affect future redistricting procedures.

“While the map that this board put together is light-years better than the original map, which cut out a huge chunk [of Terryville from CD1], it’s still cutting — cracking — Council District 1,” he said. “That sets a dangerous precedent for the future.”

Members of the redistricting committee also attended the public hearing. Among them was Gail Lynch-Bailey, who had served this year and in 2012. She referred to the two initial maps which split Port Jefferson Station and Terryville as a ploy to divert the public’s attention away from alleged gerrymandering in Council District 4. This district includes the racially and ethnically diverse communities of Coram, Gordon Heights and North Bellport.

“Once the public realized the commission

had had no input into them, the maps were readily recognized by many for what they were: diversions, bait-and-switch tactics, ‘pay-noattention-to-the-man-behind-the-curtain’ maps intended to focus attention on the northern CDs instead of what was going on for CD4,” she said. “This ruse was, and still is, unconscionable.”

Also making an appearance was Ali Nazir, the Republican co-chair on the redistricting committee. He defended the movement of mostly white Ridge into CD4, citing the hamlet’s longstanding ties to the Longwood community.

“Despite rhetoric of the contrary, Ridge has always been in Council District 4,” Nazir said. “Ridge has a long history with the Longwood community, and to arbitrarily excommunicate them from the Longwood community is quite frankly wrong.”

Port Jefferson Station and Terryville, however, remain mostly united within the boundaries of Council District 1. Kornreich, who voted with the majority, justified his vote, saying this map would not split minority communities or dilute their votes.

“We negotiated in good faith, and the supervisor fulfilled his promise to keep Gordon Heights and North Bellport together, not to dilute the minority vote, and in good faith, I will support the agreement we made,” Kornreich said. “Is it an ideal map? No. Is it a

Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) questions the town’s mapmaker during a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 29. Screenshot from the town website

REDISTRICTING

Today

Councilwoman Bonner thanks Girl Scout from Troop 2755 in Miller Place

Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) met with Nicole Menechella at the Miller Place Fire Department on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The councilwoman thanked Menechella for completing her Gold Award. The project consisted of two benches which were donated to the firehouse. The department had two tree saplings sent to them in honor of 9/11, so Nicole wanted to build something for the members to sit on and reflect upon the saplings.

“I would like to congratulate Nicole for earning her Gold Award,” Bonner said. “Her hard work and commitment to community service illustrate that she is a true example

of what it means to be a Girl Scout.”

The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girls Scout can achieve. This prestigious achievement requires an Ambassador Girl Scout to design and implement a project that serves her community. It must consist of at least 80 hours of service while having a sustainable environmental impact.

These outstanding young women have been honored with letters, plaques, and awards from local elected officials, legislators, and even the White House at a council-sponsored event. In addition, each was presented with a flag that was flown over the Capitol.

Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner (right) with Nicole Menechella (left). Photo courtesy the town’s public information office

Sea shanty singers wash ashore for Port Jeff music festival

BY AIDAN JOHNSON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Sea shanty singers from around the globe were called from the briny deep to perform at the 2nd annual Port Jefferson Sea Shanty & Maritime Music Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1.

While the event was due to be held outside at Harborfront Park, it was moved to inside the Village Center due to inclement weather. Yet this was no issue for the singers, as they still gave delightful and entertaining performances.

Amy Tuttle, program director for the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council and creator of the festival, wanted to give sea shanty singers a place to share their talent.

“Last year, there were some sea shanty singers from Mystic Seaport [Connecticut], and Mystic

had discontinued their sea shanty [festival], so those shanty singers were distressed and sad that they had no place to play,” Tuttle shared. “And I said Port Jefferson has a very rich and interesting shipbuilding history — come here.”

Over a matter of a couple of months, GPJAC was able to put together the inaugural Port Jeff sea shanty festival. After seeing that the event was successful, the arts council decided to hold it annually.

Shanty singers came from afar to participate in the festival, including Connecticut, New Jersey and England. “They’ve come from all over to perform in this festival,” Tuttle said.

The performers aren’t the only ones excited about sea shanties. TikTok has thrown the genre into the spotlight amongst the youth, especially with the song “The Wellerman.”

Brookhaven Redistricting

map that I were to draw? Of course not. But when you’ve got one Democrat and a row of Republicans, you tell me what level of political power you have.”

In concluding his remarks, the CD1 councilmember said the final map reflects a series of compromises. “Despite the hideously flawed process that

Continued from A5

led here, I think in the end we’ve created a map that’s got some compromises, and it’s got a little something for everyone to be unhappy about,” he said, adding, “I hope that we can get to work and solve the real problems that face our town.”

No other board member spoke during the hearing.

Following the vote, a droning cry rained from some in the audience, the dissidents shouting, “Shame on you, shame on you.”

It remains unclear whether the map will face challenges in court or whether those challenges could hold up given the bipartisan outcome.

“I know during the pandemic it was a thing on TikTok, and a lot of the kids were experimenting with different things and writing their own music, which was fabulous,” Tuttle said. “We thought, how fun would it be to get some of the [original] singers to come and do sea shanties here.”

Many of the performers have had several decades of experience with sea shanties under their belt. Maria Fairchild started off playing the piano as a child before moving on to the guitar and eventually the banjo. She also has performed in multiple bands for more than 30 years. Adam Becherer, with whom Fairchild performed, grew up with the bluegrass scene in South Street Seaport in Manhattan thanks to his father being in a bluegrass band.

Both Fairchild and Becherer feel an attraction toward folk music. “I like the history of it,”

Fairchild said. “I also like that the melodies are … different from modern music, and there’s something really ancient that I’m attracted to.” Becherer added, “I love the collaborative nature of it. I love getting together with people who you don’t necessarily know, but there’s like a common language of tunes that people can get together and play.”

Despite the weather, the music festival went off without a hitch. Tuttle, along with GPJAC, is planning on having a tavern setting next year, in which people can learn how to sing and play the songs.

Currently, the arts council is presenting its Port Jefferson Documentary Series, with screenings taking place throughout the fall. For more information, visit www.gpjac.org.

— Photos by Aidan Johnson

Performers Adam Becherer and Maria Fairchild.

Performers Bob Conroy and Bill Grau of “Stout.”

Performer Monti Babson of “Pirates at Large.”

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Suffolk County website remains down after cyberattack

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

should be reported to the credit reporting agency and law enforcement authorities.

COUNTY

The Suffolk County website is still not up and running after a cyberattack early September. A landing page is all that appears at www. suffolkcountyny.gov to provide residents with pertinent information.

The county determined its systems had been affected by a cyberattack on or about Sept. 8, according to the website.

“While the cyber assessment remains ongoing, we believe that the threat actors accessed and/or acquired certain personal information from one or more county agency servers,” the website post read.

The county hired “multiple” cybersecurity firms to assess the issue that may have exposed employees and residents information. The firms will also work to restore online services.

“The county will notify any affected individuals as required by law, and all of those affected individuals will be offered free identity theft protection services,” the notice read. “However, because the assessment is ongoing, Suffolk County wants to ensure that employees, residents and stakeholders are informed about precautionary measures they can take to help them protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud or identity theft.”

County officials advise residents to review account statements and periodically obtain credit reports from one or more of the national credit reporting companies. Fraudulent or suspicious activity such as accounts not opened by the person, personal information that differs from a person’s address or social security number

“Even if you do not find signs of fraud on your credit reports, we recommend that you remain vigilant in reviewing your credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies,” the notice read.

County civil service exams that were scheduled for Oct. 1 were postponed, while residents and real estate agents were having trouble searching for titles and deeds.

Suffolk County Police Department public information officers soon after the cyberattack were able to send and receive emails. However, the department doesn’t not have access to its database to search for information to assist journalists with questions for news articles or police blotters.

County Executive Steve Bellone (D) provided an update Sept. 30: “The real estate industry is critical to our economy, and last week, I met with various stakeholder groups to discuss contingency plans as the county continues to assess the cyber intrusion,” he said in a statement. “In line with our rolling restoration of services, [on Saturday, Oct. 1] the Suffolk County Clerk’s office will be open for in-person title searches to allow real estate transactions to proceed.”

Bellone thanked Judy Pascale (R), county clerk, for her help “to ensure services that our residents rely on are restored in a safe and secure way.” He added Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) helped to “provide the necessary equipment to make all this possible.”

After allowing limited access on Saturday, beginning Monday, title companies were able to resume searching titles in the building, according to the county clerk’s office.

County officials recommend residents review credit reports after cyberattack. Stock photo

Shoreham-Wading River Central School District

State recognition for Shoreham-Wading River music students

13 Shoreham-Wading River High School students were selected to represent the district’s music program in the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education Suffolk All-County Music Festival.

Students Anja Minty, Lucas Portuese and Dongkai Zhang have been selected by orchestra teacher Ashley O’Connor; band students Daniel Colon and James Wicks were

selected by band teacher Kevin O’Brien; and choir students Torre Cintorino, Taylor Franson, Lena Leo, Madison McQuade, Ryan O’Shaughnessy, Robert Tacke, Stephanie Tortora and Gavin Trezza were nominated by choir teacher Dennis Creighton.

The Shoreham-Wading River School Central District congratulates these students on this musical achievement.

SWR students run like the wind

Shoreham-Wading River High School freshmen took home first place in the Shoreham-Wading River Cross-Country Invitational against Miller Place on Friday, Sept. 30. The district congratulates Max Boerum, Cole Fernandez, David Formisano, Spencer Lee and Forrest Tepfenhardt who each placed in the top 25.

Shoreham-Wading River High School students selected to the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education Suffolk All-County Music Festival. Photo courtesy SWRCSD

(Left to right) Shoreham-Wading River High School freshmen Spencer Lee, David Formisano, Forrest Tepfenhardt, Max Boerum and Cole Fernandez.

Photo courtesy SWRCSD

PHOTOS BY BILL LANDON

Eagles score 42 in homecoming shutout

BY BILL LANDON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

It was all Rocky Point in the team’s homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Eagles dominated the line of scrimmage with a 42-0 win over Eastport South Manor.

Quarterback Jeremy Graham punched in from short yardage for the opening score, then split

the uprights for the point after kick to put the Eagles out to an early lead.

Later, Graham threw a 36yard touchdown pass to Anthony Viggiano four minutes into the second half and kicked the point after, giving Rocky Point a twotouchdown cushion.

Outside linebacker Dominic Viggiano, Anthony’s twin brother, blocked an ESM punt,

recovered the ball, and jetted 29 yards for the score. Graham’s foot made it 21-0.

Eagles defensive back Liam Resinger scored on a punt return, covering 42 yards. The extra point gave the Eagles a four-score lead.

Rocky Point running back Joe Cecere ripped a 38-yard run for the score to end the third quarter to make it 35-0.

Cecere struck again midway

through the fourth quarter with a 21-yard run. Graham, who didn’t miss the point after attempt all day, put the game away 42-0. The win lifts Rocky Point to 3-1 at the midway point of their season. The Eagles will retake the field on Saturday, Oct. 8, when they travel to Half Hollow Hills West (4-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Pictured clockwise from top-left: Rocky Point’s homecoming football game; Ryan Meyers in on the tackle for Rocky Point; Jeremy Graham punts the ball for Rocky Point and loose ball.

Pictured clockwise from top-left: Rocky Point wide receiver Anthony Viggiano with a catch and touchdown run; quarterback Jeremy Graham rolls out of the pocket looking for a receiver; Eagles Cheer; Touchdown, Rocky Point; and quarterback

game against Eastport South Manor.

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Home Services Business Profile

Scientific Exterminating Services is a family run business that has been protecting homes and businesses from pests and termites since 1957. Scientific is proudly dedicated to customer service; with four generations of experience of protecting health and property.

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You can learn more by visiting www. scientificext.com for information about the pest control services offered or submit a request for an appointment/estimate.

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Editorial

‘Tis the season of precaution

Once again, Suffolk County residents find themselves in the midst of hurricane season.

Hurricanes Fiona and Ian recently reared their ugly heads. While Long Island was spared, the headlines featuring the wreckage left behind in places such as Puerto Rico and Florida remind us of how devastating these storms can be.

In the Atlantic and Caribbean, hurricane season officially begins June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30. The height of the season is typically August, September and October.

Many Long Island residents remember the wrath of Gloria in 1985, and while it was downgraded to a superstorm once it hit our shores nearly 10 years ago, Sandy started as a hurricane, leaving damage and death behind, from the Caribbean to Canada.

Though we are well into hurricane season, it’s never too late to take precautionary measures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends preparing before a storm hits by programming all emergency phone numbers into cellphones, writing down the numbers and placing them on the refrigerator or near home phones. CDC officials also advise locating the nearest shelter and researching different routes to get there. Pet owners should also find pet-friendly shelters and hotels or an out-oftown friend or relative who can take in pets during the case of an evacuation.

The CDC suggests having emergency supplies handy in case of a weather emergency. People should keep in mind that water and electricity could be cut off, and it’s imperative to have a supply of items such as batteries, bottled water, flashlights, medications and important documents that are easily accessible.

All family members should know where the fire extinguishers are in the home and how to use them. And, most importantly, families should go over their emergency plan regularly.

When a storm is predicted, the CDC says to clean up any items outside of the house that could potentially blow around and cause damage. Installing storm shutters or putting plywood on windows can prevent shattered glass coming into a home. Carbon monoxide detectors should be checked to prevent CO poisoning.

The most important tip various agencies give is to follow the advice of government officials and first responders regarding evacuating or sheltering in place at home. When evacuating, take only what you need as well as your emergency kit. Drivers should travel on roads they are instructed to use even if there is traffic, and avoid any downed wires.

Those staying at home need to remember not to go outside, even if it seems calm, until news that the hurricane has finally passed. Also, stay away from windows and, of course, always be prepared to leave if responders tell you that it’s necessary.

For those who have a trip planned, AAA cautions travelers to be proactive when a storm is predicted to hit by monitoring weather conditions of one’s departure city and destination before leaving. When traveling after a weather event such as a hurricane, it’s imperative to call hotels to get an update on the storm’s impact and to confirm if flights are scheduled to leave on time. Remember that even if an area wasn’t directly hit by a storm, it could still be negatively impacted.

A bit of preparation and caution can help a person and families navigate most storms. Hopefully, Long Islanders won’t need the advice this season.

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

Letters to the Editor

We must refrain from plastic consumption

“We do not need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”

– Ann Marie Bonneau

I was delighted to read the Sept. 1 editorial, “Sustainability starts in our own backyard.”

Another way in which Long Islanders can have a positive environmental impact is by reducing plastic, a significant contributor to climate change and ecosystem destruction.

Over eight billion tons of plastic have been created since the 1950s and 40% is used for packaging. Experts agree that we cannot recycle our way out of the plastics crisis. We now have microplastics in our food, water and air. As a result, Americans may be consuming as much as the weight of a credit card in microplastics each week.

The primary solution has to come from lawmakers and/or manufacturers. Even if consumers want to buy things without plastic, we often have no other options. However, all steps individuals take to limit plastic consumption will be beneficial.

Some suggestions to reduce plastic when possible and if your finances and circumstances permit:

• Bring a reusable water bottle with you when you leave the house (store-bought bottled water has been found to contain significantly more microplastics than tap water).

• Choose beverages in glass or metal (both are highly recyclable).

• Buy loose fruits and vegetables and put them in a reusable bag (or no bag, you’ll probably wash it before you eat it anyway). Although it’s convenient to buy pre-cut fruits and vegetables, they always come in a plastic container – buy them whole and cut them at home.

• Tell restaurants that you do not want plastic straws and cutlery. Reuse the plastic cutlery you already have.

• Bring your own to-go containers to restaurants

• Bring reusable bags to all stores to avoid unneeded bags (paper bags take significant resources to make).

• Compost your food scraps to reduce the amount of plastic bags needed for garbage and reduce methane emissions

• Use a paper leaf bag in your outdoor can and empty your garbage into it without a plastic garbage bag.

• Purchase food from bulk bins to avoid packaging altogether, and bring your own container(s) rather than using the plastic bags provided. Bulk bins can be found at Wild By Nature, Whole Foods and Fresh Market.

The plastics crisis needs to be

addressed by our leaders immediately. But we as consumers can also make a big difference, too.

Jennifer Vest Setauket

5th County Legislative District kept intact through compromise

In a refreshing and much-needed show of bipartisan compromise, the previously deadlocked Suffolk County Reapportionment Commission on Sept. 28 unanimously approved a new county legislative district map that keeps the 5th Legislative District intact and creates four majority-minority districts in Suffolk County.

The eight-member Reapportionment Commission was previously deadlocked on party lines over two competing map proposals and had until Sept. 30 to adopt a map to submit to the county Legislature for approval. The Republican map would have split the 5th Legislative District and the Three Village school district into three different county legislative districts, diminishing our votes and undermining the influence our communities have in the Legislature. The Democratic map did not split the 5th District but instead kept intact its shared historic, economic, social, policy, legislative, scientific, educational and environmental values and interests — better ensuring effective and fair representation.

Two days before the deadline, the Reapportionment Commission approved a new “Map C” compromise map which maintains an average population of about 85,000 for all 18 county legislative districts. The new map creates four majority-minority districts, where minority groups comprise a majority of the district’s total population, thus giving them an opportunity to have their voices heard, and their communities represented.

With a nation divided over so many issues, it is promising to see that the county Reapportionment Commission, both Democratic and Republican members, were willing to work together to come up with maps that are fair to both sides. Although there are new state mandates that require counties and localities to comply with redistricting standards to avoid gerrymandering, this commission could have stubbornly maintained partisan positions which would have likely ended in a courtroom battle. Voters win when the people we vote into office are willing to employ a bipartisan approach to problem-solving that benefits the communities they represent and serve.

The recommended Map C will be assigned to a legislative committee and a hearing date or dates set for public comment. If all goes well, Map C will be approved by the Legislature. The hearing date will be made available on the Suffolk County Legislature’s website accessible at www.

scnylegislature.us/.

Thank you to all who sent in comments and participated in the process — working together we can and did make a difference.

Laura Ahearn Port Jefferson

Healthy forest, healthy humans

I am saddened that in my community, a mile away from my home, 2 of the 9 acres remaining of the Harbor Hill glacial moraine second-growth forest was cleared in mid-September for a parking lot. Joni Mitchell and her fans cried out in song in “Big Yellow Taxi” (1970) how tragic it is to “pave paradise, put up a parking lot.” We are still crying out as we get news every day about climate change causing health crises and deaths caused by manmade environmental disasters.

I was appalled by Mather Hospital and Northwell Health’s response to The TBR News Media journalist Aidan Johnson’s report on Sept. 22, as they downplayed the importance of the mature forest they destroyed, by stating “the hospital has committed $25,000 to the Village of Port Jefferson to plant trees as compensation for the removal of the trees.”

A 60-year-old forest with native trees, plants and wildlife is priceless and irreplaceable. The forest filters rainwater into our Long Island aquifer as well as preventing runoff, well described in the TBR article, “Protesters assemble outside Mather, condemn forest clearing.” I was there protesting that day.

In Mather’s proposal, more than a third of the catalog of “native species” proposed to “landscape” after their destruction includes invasive aliens. For example, Nandina shrubs (native to Asia) are invasive, but are gorgeous to us humans for their fall color, but will only feed deer if at all. Or spreading Euonymus (also native to Asia) is so highly invasive that a warning is legally required for each sale of the plant in New York state. Those shrubs have no use even to deer, attract birds for their seeds which are not digested, but rather spread into the wild through droppings. Most of the invasive plants will not support native bugs who will then feed local birds. Yet these species will support the spotted lanternfly (also native to Asia) and other invasive insects that are not eaten by local birds and at times prove to be toxic to local wild life.

The $25,000 payment from Mather went into discretionary spending. I would like to see a detailed proposal that shows how a $25,000 donation can possibly replace 2 full acres of mature forest habitat, consisting of native mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates and plants.

Healthy forests lead to healthy humans.

Janice Fleischman-Eaton Port Jefferson

The 10 commandments of cellphone usage and etiquette for our kids

You’re

meeting with your boss, and you can feel your phone vibrating in your pocket with a new text message, an incoming email or a good old-fashioned phone call.

What do you do?

You’d be on pins and needles if someone you knew, your spouse or partner, perhaps, were expecting a baby. Or, perhaps, someone was traveling a great distance through a storm and you were eager to hear that your friend or family member had arrived safely.

So, when we are talking to our boss, we generally realize that responding to our demanding electronics probably isn’t a great idea.

But what about when we are talking to a parent, a friend, a child or a neighbor?

Given the frequency with which I have seen the tops of people’s heads as they look down at their phones instead of in their eyes, it seems people have concluded that eye contact is so 20th century.

Since when did people outside the room become so much more important and demanding than the ones with whom we are interacting? If we can’t find people who are as interesting in person as the ones far away, perhaps it is time to move to interact with some of those fascinating folks.

first phone.

We can address not only how to handle an incoming text while in the middle of a conversation, but also how to unplug ourselves and our lives from endless messages, games, movies and TV shows.

If I could go back to the time when we handed phones to our children, ensuring that the phone would eventually replace bedtime stories, dinnertime conversation and eye contact, I would consider establishing our own “Ten Commandments” of phone ownership and usage.

These might be:

you can’t use your name or stand behind what you write, you shouldn’t have written it in the first place.

6. Don’t take embarrassing pictures of your parents and share them with your friends. Older people don’t tend to look as glamorous in digital pictures as younger people, so be kind.

5. Internet fame is not a life goal.

4. When you become better at using your phone than your parents (which occurs in a surprisingly short time), share your wisdom and skills with them. Think of it as familial community service.

D. None of the above

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

But most of the time, the stakes aren’t quite as high with incoming information. In fact, some of the time, we’re getting spam that seeks our attention.

I understand that people online don’t have bad breath and messy hair and aren’t wearing the same clashing outfit that they wore last week, and that continues to threaten to give us a migraine.

Maybe we ought to consider classes in electronic etiquette that teachers can share with students or with people who are receiving their

10. Limit the time each day when you use your phone, with only extraordinarily limited exceptions. If you need to use your phone for schoolwork for two or three hours, that still counts as phone usage.

9. Leave the phone in another room when you’re not using it.

8. If you can’t say something supportive or pleasant on social media, don’t say anything.

7. No anonymous messages or criticism. If

3. Don’t assume everything you find online is true. In fact, at least once a week, or even once a day, find something on the internet that you think is false. Use trusted sources to contradict what you think an internet provider got wrong.

2. If it looks like everyone else is having a better time than you, put your phone down. They aren’t.

1. If you can tell your parents to wait while you respond to a text or call from a friend, make sure you tell your friends the same thing when your parents reach out to you.

Let’s share disturbing thoughts in the night. We’ll both feel better

Haveyou been waking up thinking at night? There is so much to think about, even to be deeply concerned about. There is COVID-19, of course. No one wants to get the disease, and if you already had it, you don’t want to get it again, as some people reportedly have. You also don’t want any of the long-hauler symptoms to afflict you: fatigue, brain fog, aches and pains, trouble breathing, dizziness, headache, and at least nine more on a reported list. In fact, the list is so comprehensive, it’s enough to give you anxiety, especially if you already have had the illness. Oh yes, and anxiety is also one of the symptoms. Then there is the Ukraine. Normally

a country that was somewhere in Eastern Europe, in the same general area as “Fiddler on the Roof,” now its whereabouts as Russia’s western neighbor are known around the world.

We watched as Putin sent more than 100,000 soldiers to overrun its borders. Poor little Ukraine, horrid bully Russia. We are sending them an unprecedented amount of money and military aid, and we have lowered our national oil and gas supplies. Will we have enough resources if we are attacked? Even as we cheer the valiant resistance and success of the victims of naked aggression, we worry about Putin’s possible use of nuclear arms. He has over 2000 small such weapons, apparently, and it’s the Cold War all over again.

as well as a challenge for areas in need of Help Wanted. Indeed, I am now reading that some of the immigrants are put to work cleaning up the devastation wrought by hurricane Ian in Florida. They are even being sent back down there to help. Who knows what to believe?

hurricanes, some with even legendary force, the prospect of more and stronger blasts due to climate change has prompted scary instruction about emergency bags and escape routes.

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF

The problem of immigration was brought right to our door with the arrival of immigrants sent by southern governors of border states. They have been literally deposited here by the thousands via buses, and they have been humanely received, if we are to accept what we are told by the media. As I have written in this column before, they can represent an opportunity

If you are going into New York City, how likely are you to ride the subway? The reports of incidents underground are frightening. So are horrible, unprovoked attacks on the streets. Now, I grew up in the city, and I am used to all sorts of miserable statistics concerning crime there, but I somehow never felt fearful. With some eight million people, crime is unfortunately inevitable. And NYC isn’t even statistically the worst. New Orleans is. But somehow, these recent incidents seem more violent.

Climate change has finally penetrated national conversation. The destruction and deaths in Puerto Rico and now in Florida and the Carolinas caused by the last two hurricanes have made those of us who live on islands and along the shores more conscious of future threats. While there have always been

Inflation and its direction are also of grave concern. Going to the supermarket now seems to net about half as many bags of groceries for the usual food budget. Restaurants have decidedly become more expensive, as they have to pay more to function. And home values seem to have stopped rising and begun to cool. The stock market, while it is not the economy, has dropped like a rock. That negates the “wealth effect” homeowners and investors feel that encourages them to spend more freely.

Heck, I even worry about the New York Yankees. Yes, they have won their division, and you might say, “handily.” That’s exactly the problem. The last time they won by a big margin, they lost their competitive edge, along with the series, remember? It even happened this year right after the All-Star break. Teams do better when they have to fight until the last minute.

Awww, forgeddaboutit! Go back to sleep.