The Village Beacon Record - December 10, 2020

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The VILLAGE BEACON RECORD M O U N T S I N A I • M I L L E R P L AC E • S O U N D B E AC H • R O C K Y P O I N T • WA D I N G R I V E R • S H O R E H A M

Vol. 36, No. 21

December 10, 2020

Unknown person(s) steal statue from Mount Sinai cemetery park A3

Checking it Twice

KYLE BARR

What’s Inside

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Despite rapid increase in COVID numbers, schools see few cases A5 The 79th anniversary of Pearl Harbor comes during a time of adversity A9

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MPMS Historical Society mails kids’ letters for the big man in red — A12 A Personal Invitation!

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Also: Review of Hillbilly Elegy, One on One with celebrity chef Duff Goldman


PAGE A2 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

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DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A3

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The bronze eagle statue atop the plinth in Washington Memorial Park was stolen last month. Photo from SCPD

Police: Statue Stolen from Mount Sinai Cemetery Park

BY KYLE BARR KYLE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Police are currently looking for the person or people involved in allegedly stealing a statue from the Washington Memorial Park, a cemetery in Mount Sinai. Police said the 4-foot tall bronze eagle statue near the entrance to the park, located at 855 Canal Road, was stolen from atop its plinth Nov. 13 sometime between 5 and 7 p.m. The granite base for the statue was apparently damaged during the theft. A representative from Washington Memorial Park said the eagle represents the parks emblem, and they were “very upset and surprised� to have seen it stolen. The park is located in a relatively quiet residential area, and has not seen any such acts in recent memory. The park rep said they found pieces of the statue on the

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ground, leading them to believe it must have fell as it was being taken. The park has been around since 1926, and the front area where the statue was located was developed in the 1940s. The park representative stressed that their biggest concern is for families and their loved ones’ graves. There is security at night and gate access to the park is shut after hours. The rep stressed has been no tampering of graves at the park. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS (8477), utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails are kept confidential.

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Throughout the weekend, fire departments such as Wading River, above, trailed around the community with their trucks and sirens blaring, bringing along Santa Claus himself. Photo by Bill Landon

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PAGE A4 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

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DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A5

County

Schools Maintain Low Infection Rate While the Rest of Community Soars BY JULIANNE MOSHER JULIANNE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Local school districts are still maintaining low COVID-19 numbers, while the rest of Suffolk County is nearing 6% in some areas. According to district leadership, that’s because schools have been constantly evolving their plans to keep students, staff and the community safe. Middle Country school district covers a large jurisdiction, Dr. Roberta Gerold, superintendent of schools, said. In non-COVID times, there are roughly 11,000 students within the district, though now approximately 7,500 are in buildings due to hybrid and remote learning options. The district has only had 102 positive COVID cases since the start of school, a 1.3% infection rate — with 52 of those cases coming from Thanksgiving break. “We have such strong guidelines we’re containing it, not spreading it,” she said. “We know where [students and staff have] been and who they’ve been with.” Like all the other districts, students are required to wear a mask at all times, except during mask breaks. Social distancing has been implemented with barriers on desks, and teachers are asked to keep their windows and doors open. If a student is showing symptoms, they are immediately placed into an isolation room and brought home. But that barely happens, according to Gerold. “The community is doing a good job because they’re not sending us positive kids,” she said. “We’re not getting a lot of cases in the schools.” Ronald Masera, president of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association, said that over the summer, local superintendents began putting together plans to better prepare their districts. “When the pandemic started, there was a feeling of uncertainty,” he said. “But now what we’ve found is we could place a great deal on social distancing.” Because they have been implementing and following CDC guidelines, he said they’re not seeing spread within the schools. “Controlled environment helps keep the community safe,” he said. “Even if we see the community numbers rise, I think the government, politicians, leadership and superintendents know how important keeping schools open is.” A representative from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) office agreed, and said the new guidelines released last month are to keep the doors of local schools open. “We encourage them to not be closed, but to test instead,” they said. Guidelines now require mass testing in schools in red, orange and yellow micro-cluster zones before they reopen, followed by vigilant symptom and exposure screening conducted daily. Impacted schools can reopen as early as Monday, however students and faculty must be able to provide a negative COVID-19 test result

Superintendents Marianne Cartisano and Gerard Poole from Miller Place and Shoreham-Wading River, respectively, both said the current restrictions in schools are helping to keep positive cases down. File photos

prior to going back to the classroom. New York State will provide rapid test kits for schools wishing to participate. After a school reopens in a red or orange micro-cluster zone, vigilant symptom and exposure screening must be conducted daily. A quarter of the in-person learning school community — both students and faculty/staff — must be tested per week, and the school should ensure that it provides opportunities to test on school grounds, or otherwise facilitates testing and accepts test results from health care providers. If the school does not hold a testing event or provide testing on school grounds, test results provided to the school as part of the 25% testing of the population must be received within seven days. The governor’s representative said that no regions have hit the 9% emergency number, which would close the county again. Schools, however, have flexibility regarding choosing a comfortable closing percentage. “They can use their own metrics to close down districts or schools as long as those metrics don’t go against the state mandate of 9%,” the representative said. “A lot of things are state law governed. Schools are done by the locals, and we wanted to be within the local district rules.” Port Jefferson Superintendent Jessica Schmettan said that they are hopeful to remain on their current course, but are prepared to pivot their instructional models as directed by the governor’s office. “Moving forward, our schools will continue to follow the guidance provided at the local, regional and state levels, including any prescribed steps needed should our area become designed a yellow, orange or red zone,” she said. “We are grateful to our students, staff and community for their unwavering support of and adherence to our initiatives. Their collective efforts have helped to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within our schools and allowed us to keep our buildings open for in-person instruction.” Marianne Cartisano, superintendent of Miller Place school district, said schools, to date, are

the safest places for children to succeed academically, socially and emotionally. “We are also fortunate to have the acknowledgement of social responsibility in our community, coupled with everyone’s common goal to keep schools open,” she said. The latest number of confirmed and new COVID-19 cases in the Town of Brookhaven, according to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services on Dec. 7 is 17,307, while a school district like Shoreham-Wading River has seen just a total of 43 positive tests for students

and teachers/staff as at Dec. 8. “I would like to thank our parents, staff and students for implementing the required COVID-19 health protocols this year. The daily temperature checks, health screening forms and conversations about washing hands, wearing masks properly and socially distancing have been really effective in keeping or schools open, healthy and safe,” said Superintendent Gerard Poole in an email statement. “The district is fully prepared for a shift to distance learning if a closure is mandated. We have a great distance learning plan and have already shifted this year successfully for a day or two when necessary due to COVOD-19 related school closures.“ Smithtown school district superintendent, Mark Secaur, said he is planning for several different scenarios, including the potential of COVID testing in schools, or going back to completely remote. “Based on the relative safety of our students and staff, providing education for those two things has been at odd at times,” he said. “But it’s the balance we have to navigate because of the pandemic.” “We have proven that schools are safer than the outside community,” Secaur added. “Kids have been amazing. They’re excited to be with their friends again, and the kids have been more resilient than some adults.”

Four Officers Honored for Puppy Rescue BY JULIANNE MOSHER JULIANNE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM It was a ruff rescue last month when Piper the Yorkshire terrier fell down a storm drain outside his home in Coram. Four officers from the Suffolk County Police Department Sixth Precinct responded to a call on Nov. 7 and began the task of climbing into the drain to save him. “Officers safely extracted the frightened puppy ad reunited it with his family,” Roy Gross, chief of Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said. Piper was luckily uninjured. On Friday, Dec. 4, Gross presented certificates to Sergeant William Madden and Officer Paul Altmann outside the Selden precinct. Emergency Service Section Officer Carmine Pellegrino and Sixth Precinct Police Officer Lynn Volpe, who were

A Suffolk County emergency police officer rescues a 4-month-old Yorkie Piper from a storm drain around 11:45 a.m. in front of 87 Argyle Avenue in Coram on Nov. 7. The owner of the dog Freddy Wnoa, said his wife and his two daughters were inside the home when the dog ran out of their front door and fell into the storm drain in front of their house. The dog was not injured, but the police suggested to the family that Piper needed a bath. James Carbone/Newsday

not in attendance, will also be receiving certificates. “In the 37 years that I’ve been with the Suffolk County SPCA, it’s such a great partnership because when they need us, we also need them,” Gross said. “It goes both ways, and we really appreciate the comradery we have with them.


PAGE A6 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

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Journalism is under attack. It’s a sentiment shared by Laura Lindenfeld, the dean of the School of Journalism at Stony Brook University after years of. Efforts to undermine the press “remind me why journalism is so critical to democracy,” she said. “We have our work cut out for us.” Lindenfeld, who came into the position in March this year after serving as interim dean, said she is encouraged by what she sees at the journalism school, where she lauded students for their engagement, motivation and passion. “That gives me an incredible sense of hope about our ability to overcome,” she said. Data from Gallup shows that, as of September this year, trust in media is higher than it was in 2016, but not by a sizable amount. In that survey, 40% said they trust the media a great deal or fair amount. 33% trust the media “none at all.” The difference is most expressed when looking at political party, with only 10% of republicans trusting the media to any real degree, while 73% of Democrats share more trust. Meanwhile, the journalism school has taken several steps to prepare its students for a challenging world. In addition to providing the same kind of ethical training other schools offer, Stony Brook is immersing them in a digital program in which they can tell factually based, compelling stories. The school is also urging students to become part of local communities. Professors encourage students to “listen beneath the surface” and to hear stories and gather information “they might not have heard otherwise.” Lindenfeld is a strong believer in the school’s DEI program, which stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “We need to be thinking about how important difference is” and how important it is to “listen beyond what we think we are saying,” Lindenfeld said. Additionally, the journalism program at Stony Brook is inextricably intertwined with the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, which the dean used to head up. Named after the famed TV and movie actor who brought an improv-driven effort to Stony Brook to encourage researchers to share their work and their passion for science with the public, the center also serves as a resource for journalism students. While students at the journalism school aren’t all training to become science journalists, they do have a “unique opportunity to understand and think beyond what they imagined” to appreciate what audiences might be feeling.

SBU J-School Dean Laura Lindenfeld took over in March after serving as interim dean for several months. Previous dean Howard Schneider officially left the position at the end of 2018 to focus on bringing SBU’s news litearcy course to public schools. Photo from SBU

Journalism students “get a dose of improv” in their education. The school is planning a new class that will start this spring that teaches data and statistics through storytelling, combining the kinds of data that inform economic, demographic, and epidemiological information with an underlying narrative that engages the readers, driving them through the story. Elizabeth Bojsza and Julia Hathaway of the Alan Alda Center are teaching the class. The journalism school has long promoted its news literacy class, which guides students to discern between fact and fiction and addresses how to understand thoughtful, effective, ethical journalistic practices. The class is made available to non-journalism students as well. This spring, the school is also offering a class for graduate students in which scientists engage with journalists. Stony Brook invites journalists to attend, where they practice interviews and get to redo them, enabling them to ask questions in a compelling way. Taught by journalism professor, Pablo Calvi, the class is titled Engaging with Journalists. Lindenfeld said she believes “great story telling will prevail” in journalism. She also believes that people will pay for editorial products they value. The journalism school also provides its students with an education in business. A year ago, SBU JOURNALISM Continued on A10


County

DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A7

2020 Elections

Suffolk Republican Chairman Speaks Democratic Chairman Schaffer Talks Continuing Blue Coalition on 2020 Election and Beyond BY KYLE BARR KYLE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

BY KYLE BARR KYLE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Despite the loss of the presidential election, and with just 18 months on the job, Suffolk County Republican Party Chairman Jesse Garcia is instead looking at big local wins. The party held onto longtime Republican state Senate seats previously held by Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), who’s retiring this year, and Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport), who vacated his seat earlier in 2020. Despite a blue wave in 2018 that saw the GOP hold over the state Senate wane, this year Republican Alexis Weik, of Sayville, defeated state Sen. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), making Suffolk County a solid wall of red against a mostly blue Nassau County and New York City. People “responded to our message of taking back New York State from one-party rule, and raised the voices of Long Island in Albany,” Garcia said in a phone interview a few days after the majority of absentee ballots were counted. All races in Suffolk have now been officially called. Garcia came into the position in April 2019 from his previous post as chairman of the Brookhaven Town Republican Committee. The Suffolk post was previously held by John Jay LaValle, who had been ardent in his support for President Donald Trump (R) in 2016. The retirement of multiple high-level Republicans in Suffolk, including LaValle and Flanagan as well as U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY2), brought a new urgency to this election beyond the politicking of a presidential election year, even if 2020 wasn’t one of the most divisive elections in recent memory. Trump squeaked out a win in Suffolk County by just a little over 200 ballots, with 49.40% of the vote compared to Democrat Joe Biden’s 49.37%. This is compared to 2016 when Trump carried Suffolk by close to 47,000 votes. Still, Garcia praised the county’s steadfast

Rich Schaffer, chairman of the Suffolk County Democratic Committee, said he has long seen Suffolk as “a purple district,” despite Republican wins within the county. This, he said, was made evident by the final polling results that were released at last after weeks of absentee vote counting. President Donald Trump (R) won Suffolk County by just a little over 200 ballots, a far cry from just four years ago when Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton with 46,619 more votes in 2016. Suffolk “is more of a get-even county in terms of both the registration numbers as well as the enthusiasm, so most races are competitive,” Schaffer said during a phone interview postelection. “And that was just proven by the results that came out.” Still, Democrats suffered several defeats for both state offices and for congressional seats. The Republicans also flipped the 3rd state Senatorial District seat held by Sen. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood). Northport Democrat Michael Marcantonio lost the 12th District Assembly race against Republican Keith Brown by a little over 2,000 votes. Yet there were some victories in there as well. State Sen. Jim Gaughran (D-Northport) held onto his seat against a strong challenge from current Town of Huntington board member Ed Smyth (R). Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), a 28-year member of the Assembly, held out over the long weeks of absentee-vote counting for a 6,825-vote win over Republican Michael Ross. Schaffer said the much greater turnout not just in Suffolk but nationwide also expressed people’s interest in candidates. He said though some candidates have yet to confirm they will be running again in 2022, people such as Laura Ahearn, who ran against Republican Anthony Palumbo for SD1, and Jackie Gordon, who lost her race for Congressional District 2 while win-

Suffolk Republican Committee Chairman Jesse Garcia said the party had big wins in Suffolk despite losses on the federal level. Photo from Suffolk Republicans

support of Republicans. Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) defeated Democrat Laura Ahearn for LaValle’s seat, and St. James Republican Mario Mattera defeated Democrat Mike Siderakis to pick up where Flanagan left off. As for Congress,, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (RNY1) held an over-36,000 vote lead against Democrat Nancy Goroff by the time all absentee votes were counted. Republican Andrew Garbarino, of Sayville, defeated Democrat Jackie Gordon for King’s seat, though more votes went blue on the Suffolk side of the district. Garcia also cited a victory when voters rejected Suffolk County’s proposition 1, which would have increased the terms of legislators from two years to four, something he called “an incumbency protection program.” Despite Biden’s win on the national stage having been upstaged by Trump’s continued JESSE GARCIA Ccontinued on A10

Rich Schaffer, the Suffolk Democratic chairman, said current polling numbers prove the area is more purple than people realize. Photo from Suffolk Democrats

ning Suffolk, have good shots if they continue their political careers. He added Gordon has an especially good shot if CD2 becomes redistricted to become exclusively Suffolk-based based on census results. Though Biden has already been certified as the winner of the election, Trump supporters and the president himself continue to call the results fraudulent. Schaffer said such a thing is ludicrous. “I mean, I’m the first guy to say, if you can show us widespread fraud, then I’m on board with making sure that it’s not the case,” he said. “But, again, it’s just been this flailing and throwing things against the wall to see what sticks at it.” Schaffer sees Democrats in Suffolk as a kind of coalition that is trying to support suburban values. Republicans, he said, have spent the past year painting their opposing party as such things like anti-police. As Republicans pushed the bail reform RICH SCHAFFER Continued on A10


PAGE A8 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

County

Urgent Care Facilities See Rise in COVID Testing BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Over the last few weeks, a popular conversation among residents is the length of the lines outside CityMD Urgent Care walk-in clinics. With many seeking COVID-19 tests to spend time with family members over the holidays, for upcoming surgeries or to meet college testing requirements, residents over the last few weeks have seen nearly two dozen or more people standing outside of the urgent care offices, in most cases, socially distanced and wearing masks. Several have commented that they have visited CityMD and have waited for hours in line where patients who are not being tested for COVID, but for other illnesses are also waiting. The urgent care doesn’t bifurcate the line into COVID-related and non-COVID concerns. One Smithtown woman, who asked not to be named for privacy reasons, said her husband went to one urgent care location for stitches when his hand was bleeding, and he didn’t want to go to a hospital emergency room, not wishing to take away precious time from health care personnel. Once he found out he would have to wait three hours at the urgent care,

he wound up going to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center. On Sunday, Nesconset resident Mary Jo Orr said she waited in line with her daughter who needed a rapid test because she was starting in a new school. She noticed the line wasn’t that long when they got there at a little before 11 a.m. “Apparently, early in the morning one of the workers decided to make a list of the first 100 people,” she said. “They were all given a number and were told to wait in their cars and they would be texted when it was their turn.” However, management squashed the idea and others who didn’t make the list had to stand outside in line. “We were there for 3 1/2 hours,” Orr said. She added that she was prepared to wait, even though she wished the visit went quicker. To deal with the cold weather, she and her daughter took turns waiting in their car. A spokesperson for CityMD said the locations are all walk-ins and do not take appointments, but the company’s goal is to treat as many people as possible. The urgent care centers offer three forms of COVID-19 testing: the rapid test; polymerase chain reaction, most commonly known as PCR test and needs to be

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sent to a laboratory; and serum antibody IgG blood test. “Demand for COVID-related visits, including testing, remains consistently high,” the spokesperson said. “This is creating long lines at almost all our 130-plus walkin CityMD Urgent Care centers, so we ask patients to please plan accordingly.” Many have asked why CityMD doesn’t split the line into two or allow patients to wait in cars until they are called into the building. “Wherever possible, our team members walk the lines and triage patients who need to be seen urgently,” the CityMD spokesperson said. “But, there are potential HIPAA issues with asking patients in line to disclose their

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Patients line up outside the CityMD Urgent Care in Selden. Facilities have seen more patients than usual in recent weeks due to COVID testing. Photo by Rita J. Egan

condition in front of others.” She added that CityMD is “piloting a queue system with hopes of a broad rollout.” “Our goal is to see as many patients as we can in the safest way possible — whether it is for typical urgent care needs or for medical evaluation and a COVID-19 test.” Many community members have said they have gone to Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care centers instead. The locations require an appointment for COVID-testing. Northwell offers both COVID-19 testing and antibody testing. Dr. Betsy Koickel, associate medical director of Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, said the appointments for COVID-related visits were necessary so the staff could better prepare for such visits. “While we always welcome walk-ins for illness and injury care, we require a spot to be saved for COVID-19 testing in our centers so that we can safely prepare for each patient’s visit,” she said. “During the surge in the need for testing, our teams are working diligently to see all ill and injured patients while also increasing availability for COVID testing.” The doctor said some walk-in patients may have to wait during peak times as staff members are safely preparing rooms. Even though there are no significant lines outside, patients are asked to wear masks while socially distancing or wait in their cars. Others in the community have also recommended CVS Pharmacy locations and Stony Brook University Hospital’s testing. Both require an appointment and require the patient to fill out an assessment.


DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A9

History

Looking Back on the 79th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor ‘The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.’

— President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dec. 8, 1941

BY RICH ACRITELLI DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM The above words were parts of the “Day in Infamy” speech that President Franklin Roosevelt presented to Americans directly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor some 79 years ago. As the United States is currently battling COVID-19, many decades ago, our citizens were fighting for a different type of survival. On that Sunday morning, Americans woke up to one of the most startling pieces of news that ever struck this country. As our people listened to their radios, they quickly realized that our powerful military in Hawaii was devastated by the Empire of Japan. In a matter of moments, a nation that was once hesitant to fight the Axis powers was now immediately engaged in a massive war. The tropical paradise of Hawaii had its skies marred by the first wave of 183 Japanese Zero fighter planes that aggressively responded to their orders of “Tora, Tora, Tora.” Large numbers of Japanese aircraft took off from their carriers as they were cheered on the decks by the crews. In one of the largest national security blunders to ever harm the nation, the American intelligence system lost the Japanese fleet which sailed undetected from their home waters and emerged 230 miles off the coast of Oahu. While these waves were detected by radar, no alarm was issued due to the belief that these enemy aircraft were American B-17 Flying Fortresses that were traveling from San Diego. When military leaders in Washington D.C. feared that an attack was imminent, an American alert was finally issued to the senior military officers. Every Sunday morning, General George C. Marshall routinely rode his horse and this report sat at his home for almost two hours before he responded to this possible threat. Within a short period, the beautiful skies overhead were darkened by the smoke of naval ships, aircraft, army equipment, and fuel dumps that were destroyed by bombs. Japanese planes accurately swarmed over “Battleship Row” to bomb the large American fighting ships. Again, another wave of Japanese organized 54 high level bombers and 78 dive-bombers, all of whom were escorted by 36 fighter planes. To make the strafing missions easier for the Japanese, many of the American military aircraft were situated extremely close together out of fears that Japanese agents would sabotage them. This same

Ships and planes burn as the Japanese Imperial Navy launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.

placement of planes was utilized by General Douglas R. MacArthur in the Philippines. Like in Hawaii, many of the planes and bombers were crippled on the ground, as the Japanese gained complete air superiority against American air, army and naval forces. The well-coordinated Japanese attack also presented the new fear that if they had landed their army forces in Hawaii, it was possible for them to take these islands. During this surprise attack, Secretary of State Cordell Hull spoke with representatives from the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. As he spoke to his counterparts, Hull was informed by his aide’s that Pearl Harbor was being hit at that very moment. It was the task of these diplomats to give Hull a lengthy document of major grievances against the American government. They understood that the time to attack was near, and it was the goal of the Japanese officials to deliver this message to Hull before their planes struck Hawaii, but it took the Japanese Embassy longer to decipher and type this response and the delay caused them to hand Hull this response as their planes were devastating the headquarters of the American navy in the Pacific. For the rest of his life, Hull was bothered that as he was negotiating for peace, the Japanese deceived him through many phony meetings, where they were only interested in pursuing war. Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and Lieutenant General Walter C. Short were the army and naval senior commanders that were responsible for the defense of Pearl Harbor. Short had 40 years of service under his belt, where he served

with Marshall and was promoted by him to command the Department of Hawaii. Directly after this attack where Short was caught off guard, he retired from the service. When Kimmel saw the attack unfolding, a stray bullet forced him to fall to the ground. He realized that the Japanese were in the process of destroying the American military presence that he held the responsibility for protecting. With Pearl Harbor virtually defenseless, Kimmel eerily stated about almost being shot, “It would have been merciful had it killed me.” Both men were the scapegoats for “dereliction of duty” and their careers were terminated. Some 60 years later, Congress cleared Short and Kimmel’s names and stated that they were not solely to blame for 2,400 losses on Dec. 7, 1941. Less than two weeks later, Kimmel was relieved of his command and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz ascended to the position of Commander in Chief. This historic officer was at the helm of many naval successes in the Pacific and he was warmly greeted by his wife who was pleased about his promotion. However, on Dec. 7, there was no joy, the fleet barely survived, and instead of searching for the Japanese carriers that caused this chaotic assault, his men were attempting to rescue their comrades who were trapped in sunken ships in and around Pearl Harbor. Nimitz could only respond to his wife, “all of the vessels are at the bottom.” On the USS Arizona alone, there were twenty-three sets of brothers that were serving together on this ship that were killed by the Japanese.

To make matters worse for the U.S., the Japanese attacked the American strongholds in the islands of the Philippines, Wake, and Guam. For years, the Japanese, as a growing military power, resented the deterrence of the United States navy held as they sought control the Pacific and Asia. The Japanese leadership understood that if they did not sink the aircraft carriers and battleships at Pearl Harbor, they were unable to match the military and economic might of the U.S. For a year, the Japanese lived up to their strength as the “Rising Sun” showed no signs of being halted. They controlled a tremendous land and sea empire that stretched north into China. They took two Aleutian Islands from Alaska, reached in opposite directions towards Australia and Burma, and they pushed towards the island of Midway. Roosevelt was determined that the U.S. would fight in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation before the end of 1942. Immediately, FDR sought vengeance against the sneak attack that nearly destroyed the naval force at Pearl Harbor. While the “Doolittle Raid” did not hurt the Japanese war effort, it managed to show to this warring nation that America was able to quickly strike back. An aircraft carrier strike force sailed within four hundred miles of Japan and launched its bombers to hit their mainland. Fifteen out of the 16 American B-25 bombers crashed landed in China with a minimal casualties. And while this was a minimal raid, it was a psychological blow to the Japanese and it showed resilience to American citizens. For his efforts in leading and carrying out this assault, Dolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor by Roosevelt. American boys from the inner cities, the rural areas, and communities like that of the North Shore were quickly trained and deployed for war. Both Americans and British landed in Morocco and Algeria to briefly fight the Vichy French troops and oppose the Germans. In the Pacific, American ground forces landed at Guadalcanal to prevent the Japanese from building an air strip that would attack the shipping lanes to Australia and New Zealand. Since this past March, our country has been severely hurt by the terror of COVID-19, but let the sacrifices and resolve that was shown by the United States during and after Pearl Harbor prove to our current citizens that there are no challenges that this nation is unable to overcome. May we always remember our past, present, and future veterans and those front-line workers today that are engaged within the “health defense” of this nation. Thank you for members of the Rocky Point History Honors Society for contributing to this story. Rich Acritelli is a social studies teacher at Rocky Point High School and an adjunct professor of American history at Suffolk County Community College.


PAGE A10 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

JESSE GARCIA Continued from A7

unverified claims that the election was stolen in key states, the campaign has presented little to no evidence of widespread voter fraud — although a Nov. 18 Reuters/Ipsos poll reported nearly half of Republicans nationally say the election was stolen because of voter fraud. The Republican chairman said changes to this year’s election process due to the pandemic were as a result of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) “weaponizing a pandemic for his political purposes,” and that the governor used COVID-19 as a way to “scare voters away from the polling places.” Garcia blamed the governor for moving back the dates of primaries, though Republicans only hosted one primary this year, that being for the 2nd Congressional District held in June. The chairman also brought up his share of claims of impropriety in the past election, though he did not cite any specific examples of widespread fraud. He said there was a lack of checking to confirm who people were when requesting an absentee ballot and cited the example of a Water Mill man who was indicted by District Attorney Tim Sini (D) for allegedly requesting two mail-in ballots for his deceased mother. “I know that there are a number of oth-

RICH SCHAFFER Continued from A7

bill passed in the 2019 budget as a major part of their campaigns, Schaffer said Democrats in the city hurt their suburban or rural colleagues by not having discussions about it prior to its passing. “The trick for us is to continue to push our agenda out here and make sure people understand that we’re not in lockstep with New York City Democrats,” he said. “The approach needs to be that we’re talking about what it means to the quality of life in the suburbs, and whether or not it’s something that people out here support, as opposed to what the party is advancing.” He said that Long Island Democrats need to join up and form a kind of “suburban working group,” not as a rebuff to the party, but as a way of making their thoughts and voices heard. “Just as the city representatives flex their muscles, the suburban representatives do the same. They need to all stick together,” he said. At the heart of Suffolk Democrats’ woes is trying to create a coalition between the moderate and more progressive ends of the left. Some progressives have expressed their displeasure with the greater party over what they feel is their views being stifled.

er questionable applications that we hope are under investigation, because that’s what fair and transparent elections are all about,” he said. Despite their wins, the Republicans still remain a minority in both houses of the state Legislature. Garcia said the Democrats who hold seats in the suburban parts of New York are going to need to “deal with choosing to vote for Long Island taxpayers, against their party and against the governor … or they’re going to join with our delegation to fight for more school aid, the repeal of the catch-and-release bail reform act.” As for the near future, the Suffolk County Republican head is looking forward to 2021. Early next year, the Town of Brookhaven will be holding a special election to replace Councilwoman Valerie Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station), who is leaving to become a state Supreme Court judge. Garcia said they have been doing interviews for candidates and will be announcing their pick as soon as the town supervisor announces a date for that vote. On the Suffolk side, a large number of seats are coming up for vote once again. Democrats in the county Legislature hold a single-member majority against their GOP counterparts. “We’re going to look to flip the Suffolk County Legislature into the government into the Republican column the first time since 2005,” Garcia said. Schaffer said just like any other part of the party, their views are accounted for, but what’s also required is compromise. He added that progressives need to stop demonizing people who don’t fully support their policy positions. “They present their opinions, they can present their views, they can talk about legislation, but they also have to understand that politics is compromise,” he said. “Those that want to say all our views aren’t being listened to, so we’re going to just take our ball and go home, need to rethink that strategy.” For 2021, Schaffer said there are multiple important local races, including a special election for Town of Brookhaven as well as Suffolk Legislature seats. Schaffer said the committee is going forward with Setauket community advocate Jonathan Kornreich as their nominee for Brookhaven Council District 1, as long as nothing changes in the time between now and election. Otherwise, with races such as county Legislators Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) and Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) up for election this year, it will be about maintaining incumbent seats. “We’re excited about our incumbents — we think they’ve done a good job locally,” he said. “We’re looking forward to put them out there again for reelection.”

Town Brookhaven Moves Forward on Cheaper Electric and Gas Option for Residents Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) announced the town has issued a request for proposal for a natural gas supplier for the town’s new Community Choice Aggregation program, an energy program that allows local governments to buy electricity and gas on behalf of its residents. Brookhaven officials outlined such a program to the town board back in October, 2019. CCA is a municipal energy procurement model that replaces the utility as the default supplier for virtually all homes and small businesses with your jurisdiction. The utility remains responsible for energy delivery and billing. By pooling demand, communities build clout necessary to negotiate lower rates with private suppliers and are able to choose cleaner energy. CCA allows for the bulk purchasing of electricity and/or gas and, if all goes according to plan, provides the ability to obtain more competitive rates from energy suppliers, ultimately saving money for residents and commercial properties. “Community Choice Aggregation could result in cheaper, cleaner energy use for all of our residents and businesses in Brookhaven and would give them the opportunity to seek an alternative utility provider for the first time,” Romaine said in a release. “Issuing this RFP for a natural gas provider brings us one step closer to putting in place the first CCA on Long Island.” After receiving bids for potential CCA electrical/gas rates, officials said the town will ex-

SBU JOURNALISM Continued from A6

the school hired Sree Sreenivasan, who is the Marshall R. Loeb Visiting professor of Digital Innovation and Audience Engagement. He will help students understand how to build a digital audience. Lindenfeld would also like to see the school add other degree programs. The university is a “knowledge production machine” and has the opportunity to create programs in communication and mass communication that draw on some of the journalistic principles. As for the nuts and bolts of writing, including grammar, word choice and punctuation, The J-school dean said she is committed

The Town of Brookhaven has proposed a program allowing them to buy electricity and gas on behalf of residents. File photo

amine if there is a cost savings benefit to residents and small businesses and choose whether to sign the contract to begin CCA. If approved, residents and businesses currently served by the local utility company do not need to do anything in order to be included within the CCA — they will automatically be included, unless they affirmatively opt-out. There is no contract for the resident or small business to sign or enter into. If a resident or business wishes to leave the CCA program, they may terminate at any time with no early termination or exit fee. No taxpayer or public funding is used to run a CCA Program. The CCA program was created by the New York State Public Service Commission in April 2016. Westchester was the first New York county, through the Sustainable Westchester consortium, to launch the CCA program under Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). Other municipalities on Long Island that are in the process of establishing CCA programs include Hempstead, Southampton, and East Hampton Towns. More than 80 municipalities across New York State have enacted legislation to begin the process to adopt CCA.

— Kyle Barr to great writing. “Rules are there for the sake of clarity, flow and engagement,” she said. Passionate about food culture, Lindenfeld looks at the recipe of the day in the New York Times. She has observed how the cost of ingredients has decreased during the pandemic. Not to mention, people are experiencing a resurgence in home cooking. “I do fear for restaurant culture,” Lindenfeld said. Lindenfeld urges students to listen and hear people from a wide variety of backgrounds, including to those whose ideas or ideologies might conflict with their own. “Hearing involves a willingness to be changed by the other,” Lindenfeld said. She urges students to respect those with whom they are speaking “with dignity.”


DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A11

School News

Shoreham-Wading River Central School District

SWRHS students in Lauren Ocker’s science class dissect turkey legs. Photo from SWRCSD

A Seasonal Science Lesson for SWRHS Students Shoreham-Wading River High School students conducted a seasonal scientific investigation as a culminating activity for a histology unit with a turkey leg dissection. During the unit with science teacher Lauren Ocker, the students explored the four types of body tissues — epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous — both in structure and how

they function together. Once they conducted the dissection they were able to examine how tendons work and how the different tissues can interact together in the body. “They were able to see three of the four types of body tissues in their turkey leg and did a great job working independently,” Ocker said.

Rocky Point Union Free School District

RPHS Virtual Enterprise Project Receives National and State Accolades

The Rocky Point High School Virtual Enterprise class project, BreAkoUt, has received both national and state recognition. The 16 students in the class, taught by business teacher Dorothy Burns, competed in a virtual national online elevator pitch competition. They competed against 133 companies across the country and finished in the top eight of the competition. Senior Aidan Serviss used his persuasive presentation skills to pitch the product, an augmented reality escape room geared to people from teens to aged 60. The class also participated in the virtual VE Long Island Regional Trade Show in late November. The students pitched and sold virtual products to competitor “consumers” and were

Rocky Point High School senior Aidan Serviss. Photo from RPUFSD

able to explore other companies from around the region. They were selected from among the top 200 in New York State. “The Virtual Enterprise course continues to provide students with unique opportunities to collaborate in creating and improving a model company,” said Aaron Factor, Rocky Point School District’s director of math, science and technology.

Miller Place School District

SWR Student Presents BNL Program Research on High School Pond

North County students handed out water and hot breakfasts to each of the bus drivers to pass on their gratitude for the drivers’ work. Photos from MPSD

Shoreham-Wading River High School student Jalal Sawas conducted a comprehensive presentation in a Google Meet with dozens of students, educators and researchers from the Brookhaven National Laboratory SPARK (Student Partnerships for Advanced Research and Knowledge) program. Jalal, a senior in the high school’s Science Research Program with teacher Dana Schaefer, is in the process of writing a manuscript for publication about the class project analyzing the sediment from the pond on the high school property for heavy metals that may impact the aquatic life of the pond ecosystem. The goal of the meeting was to review Jalal’s data and the graphical representation of that data. It is one of the first steps in drafting the manuscript that will be submitted for publication to present the experiment to the scientific community. “The SPARK program has provided Jalal

In recognition of their gratitude and appreciation, North Country Road Middle School Student Government in Miller Place organized a drive-up hot breakfast and coffee station for the district’s transportation team. The annual initiative, Bus Driver Appreciation Day, acknowledges all the hard work, flexibility and dedication of the district’s bus drivers who ensure the safety of our students while traveling between home and school. The leadership and unique qualities displayed by each driver every morning and afternoon is an inspiration to our students to put their best foot forward and lead with kindness.

MP Middle Schoolers Show Appreciation to Bus Drivers During Pandemic

Shoreham-Wading River High School student Jalal Sawas. Photo by SWRCSD

and all students opportunities for real-world research,” Schaefer said. “We are all proud and excited for the experience it has provided.”


PAGE A12 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

Holidays

Letters Sent Straight to Santa at MPMS Historical Society BY KYLE BARR KYLE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

He’s making a list and checking it twice, but the Miller Place/Mount Sinai Historical Society is helping to make sure the big man in red is getting all the up-to-date information. The society held its annual Mailman Mark event Dec. 6. Normally held over a longer period where they can receive close to 300 children, this year, because of the pandemic, time was limited and people were incentivized to come by appointment. No families were turned away, however. The event is held outside the historic William Miller House in Miller Place, in a building that once operated as the hamlet’s original post office. The titular Mailman Mark, ever Santa’s helper, helped the children get their pre-written letter stamped and put inside his mailbag, always reminding them before it was in that all

wishes were final. Santa is expected to write each child back before Christmas time. The historical society also had a vintage fire truck available for families to take pictures in front of, as well as the opportunity to meet a dalmatian mascot named Sparky. All funds for the event went to the historical society to help continue their preservation efforts. Fundraising continues with opportunities to purchase an historic brick on the house’s walkway, vintage duplicated postcards, note cards of historic homes in the district and a keepsake coloring book. One can also donate to the restoration of the circa 1810 Daniel Hawkins House to be used for multiple community events. Photos clockwise from bottom left: Nolan Elder, Mackenzie Burger and Connor Burger deliver their letters to Mailman Mark, soon to be sent right to the North Pole.

Town Challenger Unseats Incumbent in Wading River Fire District Commissioner Race

Heritage Park Shines Bright in Annual Tree Lighting The Heritage Trust hosted its annual tree lighting ceremony Dec. 6 with help from both the Mount Sinai Fire Department and Santa himself. Normally the Heritage Trust hosts a cookie celebration inside the Heritage

Center, but due to the pandemic it was cancelled this year. The park trust’s need for donations is even greater this year, as they have been unable to host most of their normal fundraising drives. To donate, visit msheritagetrust.org

In one of the only contested fire commissioner races in the local area, a past commissioner managed to unseat an incumbent in Wading River by a margin of 25 votes after ballots were counted Dec. 8. Tim Devany, a 23-year Wading River resident and past commissioner of the Wading River Fire District, gained 197 votes to his opponent, 15-year incumbent and lifelong Wading River resident Jim Meier’s 172. District Manager Gregory Michalakopoulos said there were two additional writein votes. The seat is for a five-year term starting Jan. 1, 2021, and ending Dec. 31, 2025. Head to tbrnewsmedia.com for past coverage of this year’s commissioner race.

— Kyle Barr

Tim Deveny was elected to the Wading River board of fire commissioners Dec. 8. Photo from Deveny


DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A13

Town

North Shore Man Spreads Christmas Cheer on the Road BY JULIANNE MOSHER JULIANNE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Driving along Route 25A, you might have seen a boxy vehicle decked out in lights. Candy canes stick out from its top alongside green garland. The Long Island Holiday Jeep has been seen throughout Port Jefferson, near Stony Brook University, and even out into Huntington. Every holiday season, Michael Johnston joins dozens of other people on the road, decorating their vehicles as part of a group called The Christmas Convoy. The 19-year-old Setauket resident said he began decorating cars before he was even able to drive, at age 16 with his father. “This year I went all out because it was such a depressing year,” he said. Usually his Jeep Renegade has about 2,000 lights on it, he said. This year he added 3,000 more. “It’s just fun to do,” he said. “It’s fun to get reactions from people and everyone

loves it … other than some cops.” Unlike some his Convoy-counterparts, Johnston decorates for most holidays. He’s been at the Huntington St. Patrick’s Day Parade adorning green, dazzled with hearts for Valentine’s Day and with Easter Bunny ears placed at his car’s top in the spring. He’s decorated for Thanksgiving and Halloween, but nothing compares to Christmas. Johnston is a delivery driver for DoorDash, so he’s always out and about. “Everyone has a way different reaction,” he said. “Some people scream, they wave, and they ask me questions about it.” He said he hopes that the bright lights on the road spread some holiday cheer during a rather bleak time. For now, he and his holiday Jeep can be spotted all across the North Shore, and eventually, the young man hopes, it might be another vehicle. “I actually want to get a new car,” he said. “A Cadillac Escalade.”

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Michael Johnston in front of the Port Jefferson Village Center with his decked out Jeep Renegade. Photo by Julianne Mosher

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1 Week $29.00 4 Weeks $99.00 DISPLAY ADS Call for rates.

SPECIALS*

tbrnewsmedia.com

©98619

GENERAL OFFICE 631–751–7744 Fax 631–751–4165

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(631) 331–1154 or (631) 751–7663 Fax (631) 751–4165 class@tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com

The Classifieds Section is published by TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA every Thursday. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher, Sheila Murray, Classifieds Director. We welcome your comments and ads. TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA will not be responsible for errors after the first week’s insertion. Please check your ad carefully. • Statewide or Regional Classifieds also available - Reach more than 7 million readers in New York’s community newspapers. Line ads 25 words : Long Island region $69 - $129 – New York City region $289 - $499 – Central region $29 - $59 – Western region $59 - $99 - Capital region $59 - $99 – all regions $389 - $689 words. $10 each additional word. Call for display ad rates.

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INDEX The following are some of our available categories listed in the order in which they appear. • Garage Sales • Computer Services • Announcements • Electricians • Antiques & Collectibles • Financial Services • Automobiles/Trucks etc. • Furniture Repair • Finds under $50 • Handyman Services • Health/Fitness/Beauty • Home Improvement • Merchandise • Lawn & Landscaping • Personals • Painting/Wallpaper • Novenas • Plumbing/Heating • Pets/Pet Services • Power Washing • Professional Services • Roofing/Siding • Schools/Instruction/Tutoring • Tree Work • Wanted to Buy • Window Cleaning • Employment • Real Estate • Cleaning • Residential Property • Commercial Property • Out of State Property DEADLINE: Tuesday at Noon

DENTAL Insurance

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DENTAL OFFICE FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST for State of the Art Prosthodontic Practice. Part-time 20-25hrs./wk. 2 years experience, Computer Competence: Dentrix Software, Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills. Non-Smoker, references needed. See Display Ad for more info. Call 631-689-5555 HVAC TECHS & INSTALLERS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY F/T, year round, full benefits Flanders Heating and Air conditioning, Call Audrey 631-727-2760 See our display ad for more information

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Help Wanted OLD FIELD CLUB TENNIS PROFESSIONAL. Looking for an enthusiastic individual w/min 2 yrs. exp, USPTA Certification, coaching exp./college play. Must be available 5/1/21 to 9/30/21. See Display Ad for more Info. WANTED P/T COURT CLERK Tuesday & Thursday 9:00am-2:00pm St James-Village of Head of the Harbor. Send resume & salary requirements to vhohhr@gmail.com See our display ad for more information. WANTED PT/FT LABORATORY AIDE private medical laboratory in Riverhead. To work with biopsies and chemicals and has knowledge with computers. Call 631-591-1086 or email: pathrecruiter@gmail.com

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154 HVAC TECHS & INSTALLERS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!

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;QWT #F %QWNF $G *GTG Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154

©105752

PT CLEANER to perform janitorial duties. 2-5 years experience needed. Mon-Fri 3-6 hrs daily. Contact Mr. Barge at tbarge49@gmail.com. See Display Ad for more information.

www.dental50plus.com/nypress

107861

PUBLISHER’S EMPLOYMENT NOTICE: All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to section 296 of the human rights law which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, disability, marital status, sex, age or arrest conviction record or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Title 29, U.S. Code Chap 630, excludes the Federal Gov’t. from the age discrimination provisions. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for employment which is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that employment offerings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Help Wanted

Visit us online at

Don’t wait! Call now and we’ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details.

E M PL OY M E N T / C A R E E R S $18.50 NYC, $16 L.I. & up to $13.50 Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend or neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. Phone: 347-713-3553 ASSISTANT OFFICE MANAGER for busy auto repair shop, immediate, permanent position, competitive salary and benefits, Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm work week; p/t or f/t hours available for right candidate; no weekends, Mike’s Mechanic Service Inc 631-241-6031, mdbiggers@aol.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. METICULOUS PERSON NEEDED for 3 nights/wk for 3-4 weeks to help with disabled young man. Stony Brook area. $16/hr. 631-246-9379

1-855-225-1434

You can get coverage before your next checkup


PAGE A16 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

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

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needed to perform janitorial duties in a building or facility. Applicant must have 2-5 years cleaning experience. Must be available Mon.-Fri. for 3-6 hrs/day. Pay rate is $16-$19/hr.

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We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with a passion for the sport who has demonstrated the ability to promote the game of tennis, develop and participate in tennis programs and knows how to plan events for adults and juniors. This Head Pro position will be responsible for supervising adult and junior tournaments, providing lessons, managing court reservations, enforcing club rules and regulations, and supervising special tennis functions. Qualifications: Minimum 2 years experience as a tennis pro or in a similar role. Certification as a Professional by U.S. Professional Tennis Association required. College tennis playing or coaching experience is a plus. Must be available May 1, 2021 through September 2021. How to apply: Please email your cover letter and resume to Kelly Mason at kamason19@aol.com  Relocation Costs and Housing Assistance Not Provided

WANTED – P/T COURT CLERK

WA N T E D

Part-Time/Full-Time Laboratory Aide for private medical laboratory in Riverhead to work with biopsies and chemicals and has knowledge of computers.

Responsibilities will include maintenance of records and general clerical duties as Court Clerk. Qualifications include excellent verbal and written communication skills and exceptional customer service. Ability to type +35 WPM and general computer knowledge is required. Strong organizational skills with attention to detail are essential; must be able to prioritize and multitask. Vehicle and Traffic Court experience preferred but will train.

Email rĂŠsumĂŠs & salary requirements to vhohhr@gmail.com

ASSISTANT OFFICE MANAGER For Busy Auto Repair Shop

Ideal Candidate Will Have Experience In: • 5+ years Customer Service (Required) • Multi-Line Phone System, Appointment Scheduling, Reception, Billing, and Payment Processing • Basic Computer Skills, Filing, and Check Writing • Use of Auto Repair Terminology (Big Plus), but Willingness to Learn Acceptable Looking for Mature, Welcoming, Energetic Person Who Is: • Reliable, Punctual and Accurate • Positive w/Excellent Interpersonal Skills • Effective Communicator and Organized • Multitasker and Detail Oriented We Offer: IMMEDIATE, Permanent Position Competitive Salary and Benefits Mon - Fri, 8 am - 5 pm work week; P/T OR F/T Hours Available For Right Candidate; NO Weekends

MIKE’S MECHANICS SERVICE INC.

A Leader in Foreign & Domestic Auto Repair for 40 Years Specializing in Honda, Toyota & Subaru Family Owned and Operated PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY

Call/Text or Email to Apply 631.241.6031 mdbiggers@aol.com

Š108517

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Dental Office Front Desk Receptionist

Š108441

State of the art, fee for service Prosthodontic Practice seeks intelligent and committed individual to join our staff as a Part-time Front Desk Receptionist for 20-25 hrs./wk. If employment in a respectful patient-centered dental office is what you are looking for, we look forward to meeting you. Required Qualifications • 2 yrs experience in dental office • Computer competence: Dentrix Software • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Strong interpersonal skills to maintain positive and effective rapport with patients, their families, referring Dental and Medical professionals, as well as our office staff. • Ability to prioritize a busy day, while placing our patients’ needs first. References needed • Non-smoker

Suffolk County established caterer (35+ years) with clients from Montauk to Manhattan. Immediate opening for culinary professional with minimum 6 years off-premises catering experience. Will be responsible for maintaining menu & brand identity, ensure food is prepared properly, aesthetically pleasing, and manage kitchen operations and staff (under 10). Collaborate with management on inventory, budget, and food presentation. New American cuisine. Plant-based, Latin & Asian a plus. Responsibilities include: Purchase food & supplies from vendors approved by the company; monitor & track inventory (minimize waste, ensure quality & freshness); develop menus & create new dishes seasonally; hire, train & supervise kitchen personnel; stay current on industry trends; identify new culinary techniques & presentations; assist kitchen staff with food prep; strong knowledge of food handling health code regulations; provide direction & supervision to kitchen staff. Weekly hours vary from 40-60 hours to include Saturday & some Sunday events. Compensation negotiable.

Call 631.689.5555

Call 631-334-3263 • juliannabudd23@gmail.com

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St. James-Village Head of the Harbor Tuesday & Thursday 9 am - 2 pm Evening Court Session 3rd Thurs/month

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DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A17

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

Clean-Ups LET STEVE DO IT Clean-ups, yards, basements, whole house, painting, tree work, local moving and anything else. Totally overwhelmed? Call Steve @ 631-745-2598, leave message.

Decks DECKS ONLY BUILDERS & DESIGNERS Of Outdoor Living By Northern Construction of LI. Decks, Patios/Hardscapes, Pergolas, Outdoor Kitchens and Lighting. Since 1995. Lic/Ins. 3rd Party Financing Available. 105 Broadway, Greenlawn. 631-651-8478. www.DecksOnly.com

Electricians SOUNDVIEW ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING Prompt* Reliable* Professional. Residential/Commercial, Free Estimates. Ins/Lic#57478-ME. Owner Operator, 631-828-4675 See our Display Ad in the Home Services Directory

Fences SMITHPOINT FENCE. DEER PROBLEM? WE CAN HELP! Wood, PVC, Chain Link, Stockade. Free estimates. Now offering 12 month interest free financing. Commercial/Residential. 70 Jayne Blvd., PJS. Lic.37690-H/Ins. 631-743-9797 www.smithpointfence.com.

Floor Services/Sales FINE SANDING & REFINISHING Wood Floor Installations Craig Aliperti, Wood Floors LLC. All work done by owner. 28 years experience. Lic.#47595-H/Insured. 631-875-5856

Furniture/Restoration/ Repairs REFINISHING & RESTORATION Antiques restored, repairing recane, reupholstery, touch-ups kitchen, front doors, 40 yrs exp, SAVE$$$, free estimates. Vincent Alfano 631-707-1228

Gutters/Leaders GREG TRINKLE PAINTING & GUTTER CLEANING Powerwashing, window washing, staining. Neat, reliable, 25 years experience. Free Estimates. Lic/Ins.#31398-H. 631-331-0976

Heating/Cooling HEATING SPECIALIST FOR ALL HEATING SERVICES Installations and repairs for Boilers, Oil tanks and Hot Water Heaters. 10 years of excellent experience. See Display Ad for more info. Call 631-704-0218

Home Improvement ALL PHASES OF HOME IMPROVEMENT From attic to your basement, RCJ Construction www.rcjconstruction.com commercial/residential, lic/ins 631-580-4518. LAMPS FIXED, $65. In Home Service!! Handy Howard. My cell 646-996-7628

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154 Home Improvement BLUSTAR CONSTRUCTION The North Shore’s Most Trusted Renovation Experts. 631-751-0751 We love small jobs too! Suffolk Lic. #48714-H, Ins. See Our Display Ad THE SIDING SPECIALISTSWINTER SALE GOING ON NOW siding, trim work, windows, repairs, gutters, leaders, capping V&P Siding & Window Corp 631-321-4005 Lic/Ins Lic# 27369-HI

Home Repairs/ Construction URBAN VILLAGE CONTRACTING, INC Roofing, windows, entry doors, siding, masonry, foundation waterproofing, free estimates since 1998, 631-484-8161. See our Display Ad for more information.

Lawn & Landscaping SETAUKET LANDSCAPE DESIGN Stone Driveways/Walkways, Walls/Stairs/Patios/Masonry, Brickwork/Repairs Land Clearing/Drainage,Grading/ Excavating. Plantings/Mulch, Rain Gardens. Steve Antos, 631-689-6082 setauketlandscape.com Serving Three Villages LG LANDSCAPING Full Service Property Maintenance. Fall Clean Ups, Gutter Cleaning, Pruning, Tree Services, Plantings, Mulch, Powerwashing and much more. See our Display Ad for Info. 631-365-5853 or 631-480-3762.

Lawn & Landscaping SWAN COVE LANDSCAPING Lawn Maintenance, Clean-ups, Shrub/Tree Pruning, Removals. Landscape Design/Installation, Ponds/Waterfalls, Stone Walls. Firewood. Free estimates. Lic/Ins.631-689-8089

Landscape Materials SCREENED TOP SOIL Mulch, compost, decorative and driveway stone, concrete pavers, sand/block/portland. Fertilizer and seed. JOS. M. TROFFA MATERIALS CORP. 631-928-4665, www.troffa.com

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

Miscellaneous DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-888-609-9405 GET DIRECTV! ONLY $35/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies on Demand. (w/SELECT All Included Package). PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV, 1-888-534-6918

Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper ALL PRO PAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR Power Washing, Staining, Wallpaper Removal. Free estimates. Lic/Ins #19604HI 631-696-8150. Nick BOB’S PAINTING SERVICE 25 Years Experience. Interior/Exterior Painting, Spackling, Staining, Wallpaper Removal, Staining and Deck Restoration Power Washing. Free Estimates. Lic/Ins. #17981. 631-744-8859 COUNTY-WIDE PAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR Painting/Staining. Quality workmanship. Living and Serving Three Village Area for over 30 years. Lic#37153-H. 631-751-8280

Place Your Ad in the

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FREE

Single size • $228/4 weeks Double size • $296/4 weeks Ask about our 13 & 26 week special rates

(631) 751.7663 or (631) 331.1154

ALWAYS BUYING • Glassware • Military Items • China • Anything Old or Unusual

• Old Mirrors • Lamps • Clocks • Watches • Furniture LICENSED & BONDED

Call 631-633-9108

Š108135

EXTERIOR CLEANING SPECIALISTS Roof cleaning, pressure washing/softwashing, deck restorations, gutter maintenance. Squeaky Clean Property Solutions 631-387-2156 www.SqueakyCleanli.com POWERWASHING PETE Sanitize your home professionally- house, deck, fence, roof, driveway, pavers and outdoor furniture. $50 off any job! Free Estimates. Call 631-240-3313. Powerwashpete.com. See Display Ad for more Info.

Tree Work

JAY A. SPILLMANN PAINTING CO. Over 35 years in business. Spackling/Taping, Wallpaper removal. Quality prep work. Interior/Exterior. Lic. #17856-H/Ins. 631-331-3712, 631-525-2206

ARBOR-VISTA TREE CARE A COMPLETE TREE CARE SERVICE devoted to the care of trees. Maintenance pruning, water-view work, sun-trimming, elevating, pool areas, storm thinning, large tree removal, stump grinding. Wood chips. Lic#18902HI. Free estimates. 631-246-5377

LaROTONDA PAINTING & DESIGN Interior/exterior, sheetrock repairs, taping/spackling, wallpaper removal, Faux, decorative finishings. Free estimates. Lic.#53278-H/Ins. Ross LaRotonda 631-689-5998

RANDALL BROTHERS TREE SERVICE Planting, pruning, removals, stump grinding. Free Estimates. Fully insured. LIC# 50701-H. 631-862-9291

WORTH PAINTING “PAINTING WITH PRIDE� Interiors/exteriors. Staining & deck restoration, power-washing, wallpaper removal, sheetrocktape/spackling, carpentry/trimwork. Lead paint certified. References. Free estimates. Lic./Ins. SINCE 1989 Ryan Southworth. See Display Ad. 631-331-5556

SUNBURST TREE EXPERTS Since 1974, our history of customer satisfaction is second to none. Pruning/removals/planting, plant health care. Insect/ Disease Management. ASK ABOUT GYPSY MOTH AND TICK SPRAYS Bonded employees. Lic/Ins. #8864HI 631-744-1577

PROF E S SION A L & B U SI N E S S Buy 4 weeks and get the 5th week

Power Washing

Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154 PAGE P

Blues Man Piano Tuning Brad Merila Certified Piano Technician 6 Barnwell Lane, Stony Brook

631.681.9723

bluesmanpianotuning@gmail.com bluesmanpianotuning.com Š108286


PAGE A18 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

AUTOMOTI V E SERV ICES

UNWANTED CARS

Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Domestic/Foreign Highest prices paid for fixable vehicles. Also buy motorcycles and muscle cars.

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631-255-8335

JUNK CARS BOUGHT

All Trucks, Cars & Vans

Lic. # 7112911/Ins.

(631) 445-1848

CALL US LAST WE’LL BEAT ANY PRICE LICENSED • BONDED INSURED

631.500.1015

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HOME SERV ICES

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• Roofing • Windows/Entry Doors • Siding Since 1998

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Give Your Furniture A Facelift the Holiday Outdoor Furniture • Sand Blastingfor • Powder Coating

631.707.1228

343 343 So. So. Country Country Rd., Rd., Brookhaven Brookhaven

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PICK-UP PICK-UP && DELIVERY DELIVERY

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DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A19

HOME SERV ICES

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Please call our Stony Brook office today for a FREE in home consultation

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PAGE A22 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

Editorial Letters to the Editor Dear Newly Elected Officials Think of Operation Christmas Child During Holidays Every year we sit down with local candidates for our preelection political debates in the TBR News Media office. This year, of course, those debates were held via Zoom. Despite the new format this year, one thing didn’t change — the first thing we do is thank each of the candidates for taking on the responsibility for running for office. We recognize being a public official is no easy task and running for office is just as difficult. All candidates deserve an extra round of applause for their patience regarding the counting of mail-in ballots. After Election Day, as we reached out to the various candidates in our coverage area, those who were behind after in-person voting remained patient, and those who were ahead were humble. Most who were ahead didn’t claim victory as they understood the importance of making sure every ballot was counted, and they acknowledged every single vote mattered. After a few long weeks, we would like to congratulate U.S. Reps Lee Zeldin (R-NY1) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY3); state Assemblymen Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills); and state Sen. Jim Gaughran (D-Northport) for regaining their seats. We also welcome newcomers, state Sen.-elect Mario Mattera (R-St. James) and state Assemblyman-elect Keith Brown (R-Northport) to the world of legislation, as well as Sen.-elect Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) and Assemblywoman-elect Jodi Giglio (R-Riverhead) to their new roles. Now that the votes are counted, it’s time to get back to business. We urge each of our elected officials to take the next few weeks to carefully assess what is going on in their districts, so after they are sworn in come January, they can hit the ground running. It’s no secret that the coronavirus has wreaked havoc on our local businesses. Those in Albany and Washington, D.C., need to get them the funds they need to keep their doors open and their employees on the payroll. If the funds aren’t available, those in government need to work together to come up with creative ideas to keep these businesses afloat while ensuring public health safety. Elected officials also have to look deeper as to how hard the pandemic has hurt their constituents financially. The loss of jobs and pay cuts have left many unable to make their mortgage and rent payments or keep their refrigerators full. Conversations with residents may provide vital information about what is truly happening within districts. While New York is one of the fortunate states to have strong leadership during the pandemic, there is still a lot of work to do. And while we can hope for federal aid, we can’t count on it, as all of the states are going through the same struggle as New Yorkers are. We need to come up with new ideas to help keep Long Island strong. Looking beyond the coronavirus, there is one thing that comes up every year during our debates. How are we going to make the Island more affordable in order to keep both our young people and retirees here, but at the same time, not overdevelop our valuable open spaces? It’s time to stop talking about it and start doing something about it. A closer eye needs to be kept on developers who promise affordable housing but are completely out of touch regarding what wage earners can actually afford. What’s the sense of building affordable housing in precious open space if the housing is out of reach financially for most residents? Most of all, we ask our leaders in government to work together, to extend their hands across the aisles. We have seen what divisiveness in the United States has done to our country over the last decade — let’s see people come together against partisanship, now more than ever. We have one thing in common besides our humanity. Both sides of the aisle are Americans.

There is so much about Christmas that is commercialized, but the Christmas season stimulates the spirit of giving more than at any other time of year. There is within people an innate generosity to help others, those who are less fortunate or going through a difficult time. That is especially true this year with people giving to local charities, food banks or helping family members going through economic or physical difficulties. Church on the Sound in Stony Brook is the Suffolk County Collection Center for Operation Christmas Child, an outreach of Samaritan’s Purse, which is under Franklin Graham’s ministries. Shoeboxes filled with essential items, such as soap, toothbrushes, combs, brushes, school supplies, crayons and small toys are packed and sent overseas to economically depressed or war-torn countries. These boxes are sent to give children who might never have received a gift, not only joy in receiving, but to share with them the love of God and the hope found in Jesus Christ. A love and

Children in Uganda receive shoeboxes of gifts from Operation Christmas Child in 2016. File photo

hope which can with remain with them all year long. While the items in the box might seem inconsequential to children in America, they are much appreciated by children to whom running water and electricity are uncommon luxuries. Church groups, schools, organizations and individuals, from Hampton Bays to Huntington pack bright red and green shoeboxes with the items which are dropped off at Church on the Sound the week before Thanksgiving. Volunteers then pack the boxes into cartons then loaded onto 18 wheelers and brought to Baltimore, one of the eight regional

processing centers in the United States. This year over 17,900 boxes were donated in Suffolk. The first shoeboxes were collected in 1993 to aid children in the Balkans after the Bosnian War. Since then, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 178 million boxes to children in over 150 countries. Samaritan’s Purse also helps people throughout the year by providing physical and spiritual aid to victims of war, natural disasters, disease and famine. Rosanna Walther Shoreham

ESAAL Calls on NYS to Supply Rapid Tests from Stockpile During the first wave of COVID-19 in the spring of this year, assisted living communities across New York State reacted swiftly and comprehensively to minimize the spread of the virus within. Adult care facilities were mandated to test all staff every week and this will likely remain in place for the foreseeable future, and at a great cost to providers. Adult care facilities and assisted living residences in the state of New York are required to test more than 36,000 staff members weekly. These communities are facing a testing cost of more than $3.2 million per week for the PCR test, which average $100 each. The Empire State Association of Assisted Living (ESAAL) and its provider members strongly support the continued testing of staff so that their senior residents remain safe and healthy. However, the financial strain placed on them during the pandemic has restricted their ability to invest in other necessary activities such as building maintenance, improvements to technology to help keep residents and their families better

connected — and some are even facing closure. These ACFs simply cannot sustain the exorbitant weekly costs: It is breaking their backs. Just as vaccine development continues to progress at a breakneck pace, great strides have been made in the capability to perform tests and achieve near instantaneous results. The first round of testing kits, commonly known as PCR tests, provide results in anywhere from 2 to 10 days, a long wait for ESAAL’s more than 300 assisted living member communities to identify the presence of the virus and take necessary safety measures to stop its spread. Today, with advances in rapid tests, the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card can produce results in about 20 minutes — dramatically reducing the risk of exposure for our residents and staff and at a much lower cost, around $35 each. The federal government has provided a limited supply of the tests to some adult care facilities, but it is far short of what is needed. The federal government has indicated that the US Department

of Health and Human Services reviews epidemiological data on a bi-weekly basis in order to ensure tests are directed to areas with greatest need and facilities may be added to or removed from the distribution based on these data. As a result, there is not an adequate and reliable pipeline of these tests. Adult care facilities need the state to assist us in securing a consistent supply of tests, especially as New York is now experiencing an increase in COVID-19 in some communities. On behalf of the 30,000 senior New Yorkers who are residing in ESAAL member communities, we are calling upon New York State to provide them with a supply of the rapid Abbott tests from the state’s strategic stockpile, so that we can provide the greatest level of protection and security for our residents, their families and the hardworking, dedicated men and women who staff these residences. Lisa Newcomb Executive Director of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living

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

Letters … We welcome your letters. They should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style and good taste. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include a phone number and address for confirmation. Email letters to kyle@tbrnewsmedia.com or mail them to The Village Beacon Record, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.


DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A23

Opinion

A Birthday Trip to the Zoo Remains On the Menu

M

y wife wanted to get out of the house and move beyond the daily walk in our neighborhood for her birthday. We decided to take our teenage children to the zoo. Back when our son and daughter were younger, a trip to the zoo was a cause for celebration, as they got to see animals from all over the world, watch various shows, spend about four seconds reading D. None an interesting fact about their favorite of the above creature, and BY DANIEL DUNAIEF continue to hop, skip and jump from one exhibit to the next.

These days, their thumbs do most of the hopping, skipping and jumping. Given the importance of birthdays in our house and the willingness to do whatever the birthday celebrant desires, our teenagers gamely climbed into the car. As with most zoos this year, we had to preregister for tickets. Indeed, the Bronx Zoo requires visitors to use a date-specific ticket. The experience of entering the zoo was remarkably quick and smooth, saving us the customary wait. Zoos require guests to remain socially distanced and to wear masks. All but about eight of the other visitors we saw wore masks. Most of the time, other guests also maintained social distancing, taking their turns to the glass to look at gorillas and apes, who didn’t seem at all curious about the appearance of people whose lips and noses disappeared behind masks. While we circumnavigated the walking trail, all four of us reveled in the appearance

of numerous animals, including an enormous bison and a swaying elephant. It seemed slightly unfair to the ostrich, who is over nine feet tall and is the largest bird in the world, to share a pen with the 20foot giraffe, which dwarfs a bird that also has the largest eye of any bird in the world. Something about seeing all these animals, including a lemur resting in a tree, an arctic fox and a pair of lions, restored a sense of normalcy in an abnormal year. It was also comforting to hear the excitement from other people who all expressed similar sentiments in several languages when the giraffe started to run. On our first trip out around the zoo, we stopped at three bear exhibits in which the celebrated occupants were either not there or hidden. Once we had circled the zoo and headed back towards the car, my wife played her birthday privilege, urging us to take one more look at the black bear, the grizzly bear, and the polar bear.

The first two bears remained out of view on our way back to the car. Standing alone along the railing at almost exactly 4 p.m., which was closing time, we saw the polar bear slowly emerge, then retreat, then emerge from a darkened den. We suspected he might have a keen sense of time and know when it as safe to come out and avoid larger crowds. He or she (we didn’t read anything about the bear’s gender) played with a toy that looked like the top of a garbage can and then reached up to a ledge to pull down a bone with some meat on it. After giving us an eightminute private show, the polar bear took his bone and, as if on cue, exited stage right. While the zoo might not be at the top of your list or top of mind, particularly during the winter, it offers a pleasant chance to get away from our own 2020 pens. The Bronx Zoo has a know before you go page, which you can see by searching Know Before You Go — Bronx Zoo, with details about visiting this year.

Take That, You Lowly Sour Cream Potato Chip!

F

irst is the problem, then comes a solution. When I was in the supermarket this past weekend, in addition to the bok choy and grapefruit in my basket, I threw in a bag of pretzels and one of sourcream-and-chives potato chips. At the checkout aisle, I was surprised to find them there since I don’t tend to buy such snack foods, although I will eat them if offered a handful by a Between generous soul. I hesitated but I did you and me not put them back. BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF Somehow, after all the lockdown and stress caused by COVID-19, I felt entitled to them. Besides, they were small bags. I took them home and scarfed them down over the next couple of

days with only the tiniest twinge of guilt. Sound familiar? An article in Tuesday’s The New York Times spoke directly to me. “Pandemic Begets Weight Gain and Stress,” by Anahad O’Connor, informed me that I was not alone in my aberrant behavior. “The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns led to big changes in health behaviors, prompting people to cut back on physical activity and eat more junk foods,” the article said, confirming that I was just one of the crowd. A global study, published in the scientific journal Obesity and carried out by members of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, surveyed some 8,000 adults from 50 countries and every state in the U.S. The researchers found that, “the decline in healthy behaviors during the pandemic and widespread lockdowns was fairly common regardless of geography.” Even if everyone is well in our family, our eating habits have worsened, our exercise routines have largely declined, our social contacts have diminished as we have become

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA We welcome letters, photographs, comments and story ideas. Send your items to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 or email kyle@tbrnewsmedia.com. Times Beacon Record Newspapers are published every Thursday. Subscription $49/year • 631-751-7744 www.tbrnewsmedia.com • Contents copyright 2020

cut off from friends and family, and for some, there has been a frightening economic crisis as jobs have been lost or diminished. All of that has been as a result of the huge disruption in our daily lives by the virus. About 27% of those surveyed said they had gained weight. And there is more. Anxiety levels have risen dramatically, logically out of fear of contagion or job loss. Even TUMS, and other common remedies for heartburn, are scarce in drugstores. Because people are anxious, they may have trouble sleeping, which in turn can result is less energy to exercise and more urge to eat junk food and then gain weight in an ongoing downward cycle. About 44% or almost half of the people in the survey said they had trouble sleeping. There is a thin silver lining, it should be said. Probably those who managed to increase their activity level, 17% of those surveyed reported weight loss. With home cooking and focus on healthier foods, like fruits and less fried dishes, many did show an increase in their “healthy eating scores,” according to the article. Others are discovering new ingredients and are looking

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel MANAGING EDITOR Kyle Barr EDITOR Kyle Barr

LEISURE EDITOR Heidi Sutton EDITORIAL Julianne Mosher ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathleen Gobos

for ways to make healthier food, according to The Times. So what to do? Recognizing the problem is always the first step toward correction. Dr. Emily Flanagan, the author of the study, “hoped the findings might inspire people to take steps to be more proactive about their health, such as seeking out mental health specialists, prioritizing sleep and finding ways to exercise at home and cook more, in the event of future lockdowns.” Conveniently, at the top of the same page of the newspaper, there was an article headed, “Exercise 11 Minutes a Day for a Longer Life.” Again based on a study, its data offered the conclusion that such a daily regimen may ease the effects of sitting for prolonged periods of time, something we are forced by colder weather, and especially the virus, into doing. “Multiple past epidemiological studies show links between sitting and mortality. In general, in these studies, couch bound people are far more likely to die prematurely than active people are.” So there you are. Whenever the urge to eat some junk food presents itself, instead let’s get up and move it, move it.

ART AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Beth Heller Mason INTERNET STRATEGY DIRECTOR Rob Alfano CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR Sheila Murray

BUSINESS MANAGER Sandi Gross CREDIT MANAGER Diane Wattecamps CIRCULATION MANAGER Courtney Biondo SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Sheila Murray


PAGE A24 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 10, 2020

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