The Village Beacon Record - December 22, 2022

Photo by Raymond Janis

Bea Ruberto, Sound Beach civic leader, named woman of distinction

Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) recently presented Sound Beach resident Bea Ruberto with a proclamation. The proclamation recognizes Ruberto as a Woman of Distinction in 2022 and for her ongoing dedication to her community. In addition to serving as president of the Sound Beach Civic Association, Ruberto is the coowner of Pern Editorial Services, a member of the Brookhaven Anti-Litter Task Force, and a leader in local diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. She also served as president of the auxiliary of the Sound Beach Fire Department.

COMMUNITY NEWS

“It is not primarily the geography of a town that makes it remarkable,” Anker said. “It is the passion and dedication of its residents that make a community distinguished. Bea makes Sound Beach shine, and it fills me with joy to present her with this recognition.”

Above, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) and Bea Ruberto. Photo courtesy Anker’s office

‘Bea makes Sound Beach shine, and it fills me with joy to present her with this recognition.’

— SARAH ANKER

GOP officials, advocates press Gov. Hochul for additional child care appropriations

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

In an effort to influence the upcoming state budget, Republican officials in the New York State Legislature joined policy advocates at the Perry B. Duryea State Office Building in Hauppauge Thursday, Dec. 15.

Also in attendance was Ryan Stanton, executive director of the Long Island Federation of Labor, who emphasized the inordinate expenses associated with child care and the need for state support.

POLITICS

The officials called the press event to raise public awareness about the lack of child care services on Long Island, hoping to pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who is preparing the state budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

Child care on Long Island “is not a problem, it’s a crisis,” said Dean Murray, state Sen.-elect (R-East Patchogue), who organized the event. “We are at a crisis level on Long Island when it comes to child care, and there is no simple solution.”

Murray regarded the issues associated with child care as threefold. For him, the state government can remedy the problem by addressing its affordability, availability and accessibility.

While Murray applauded Hochul and the Legislature for targeting the issue in last year’s budget, he said the changes do not adequately account for regional economic differences throughout the state.

“The cost of living here on Long Island does not compare to areas upstate,” he said, “So when you have a statewide standard, it simply isn’t fair to regions like Long Island.”

He added that the child care is underfunded, arguing, “We need to do what we can as a government to help to create more availability, helping to build more facilities, helping to encourage employers to offer onsite child care.”

The state senator-elect regarded child care service as “a profession, not a job.” However, he said these professionals are often underpaid.

“Can you think of a job that’s more important than caring for our kids?” he said.

“This is a professional job. [The workers] need to be treated as such, and they need to be compensated as such.”

State Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James) explained the problem similarly. He detailed the underinvestment in child care personnel, saying the incentive is to pursue other industries.

“The people right now with child care are leaving because they’re getting other jobs,” Mattera said. “They’re getting better [paying] jobs even in McDonald’s. That’s a problem.”

He added, “They are watching our kids and protecting our children, but they’re not getting paid properly.”

Mattera also addressed the need for more child care training programs. If child care is to be a profession, he said these service providers deserve similar specialized teaching to those of other fields.

“We need to educate,” the state senator

said. “We need to make sure [institutions] like Suffolk Community College, a perfect example, have some kind of a course … to have qualified people watching our children.”

Jennifer Rojas, executive director of the Commack-based Child Care Council of Suffolk, discussed the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the child care industry. While these essential services remained operational throughout the public health emergency, the industry has struggled since.

“When everything shut down in March of 2020, child care remained open because we knew how important it was for our essential workers to continue to work,” she said. “Unfortunately, our industry is in a crisis. … It’s expensive for parents, and the workforce is making poverty wages.”

She added, “It’s because you cannot raise the cost on parents in order to pay your staff more, so we’re stuck in this bubble where providers are not able to pay their staff and, therefore, not able to recruit.”

Without sufficient staff, Rojas said some child care programs are cutting back resources and, in some instances, shutting down altogether. “This is a crisis like we have never seen in this industry, and it’s always been an industry that has operated on razor-thin margins,” she added.

State Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Riverhead) echoed Rojas’ sentiments about the crippling effects of COVID-19 on child care service providers. To Giglio, the lockdowns generated conditions where child care was less necessary for parents.

“Because the moms couldn’t go to work and everybody was expected to stay home, a lot of these facilities closed down,” she said. “It costs a lot because your payroll is not going down and you’re still turning the lights on every day.”

“In both Nassau and Suffolk counties, the cost of care is about $30,000 a year,” he said. “That is more than going to the State University of New York for an entire year. You have working families struggling to make ends meet. In order to go to work, [they] must have care in many instances. And we’re asking them to pay for a college tuition bill or more.”

Giglio, a member of the state Assembly’s Labor and Economic Development committees, suggested funding child care to remediate labor shortages, viewing such an investment as an economic development tool.

“We have warehouses out there that are full of materials, waiting to be delivered to customers, and those items are not getting delivered because they don’t have the drivers,” she said. “We need to get people back to work. Employers are looking for workers, and parents are looking for a better life for their families.”

Concluding the press conference, Murray outlined some possible solutions. He recommended removing the statewide eligibility standard to resolve the regional economic differences between Long Island and the rest of the state.

“Because of our economic diversity here, [the statewide standard] doesn’t serve Long Island like it should,” the state senator-elect said. “Rather than a statewide eligibility level, we should break it into the 10 regional economic development council regions.”

With different standards for different regions, Murray maintained that Long Islanders could qualify for additional state aid for child care, reflective of their higher cost of living.

“This is a fairer way, especially for Long Island families,” he said.

Murray said another way to improve the issue is through employer-based on-site child care. He offered that expanding these benefits could assist working families and employers alike.

Speaking to employers directly, he said, “If you offer on-site child care as a benefit to your employees, I guarantee you that will put you above your competition in the game of recruitment,” adding, “What we want to do is incentivize that.”

Lastly, he suggested exploring any changes in state regulations that may be holding up the construction of new child care facilities. “We also need to sit down and look at whether or not there are regulations slowing down the building of health care facilities,” Murray said.

He added, “Let me be very clear: We will never change any regulations that deal with the health, the safety or the well-being of the children. But we should take a look at the regulations otherwise and see if they are slowing them down.”

Hochul is expected to release her proposed FY 2024 budget next month

Above, at podium, state Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James), surrounded by Long Island child care advocates and Republican colleagues in the state Legislature. Below, state Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Riverhead).

Photos by Raymond Janis

Giving peace a chance: NCPG marks 20 years in the fight against war

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

This month, North Country Peace Group marks its 20th anniversary.

Posted at the southeast corner of Route 25A and Bennetts Road in Setauket, NCPG has maintained a visible weekly presence within the community, advocating various causes throughout its history. On Saturday, Dec. 10, some members reflected on this milestone year for their organization and discussed why they remain committed to their cause.

Roots

Bob Becherer was among the founding members of the peace group. He traces the organization’s origins beyond 20 years when, in the early 1990s, a group of civic-oriented parishioners of the St. James R.C. Church formed the Peace and Justice Community.

“It was really out of that group that we became the North Country Peace Group,” Becherer said, crediting Bill McNulty as the founder and leader of both organizations.

In an exclusive interview, McNulty chronicled his “traditional, apolitical” upbringing and his eventual reawakening. Growing up, he said he maintained a 16-year connection to the military. Between U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, ROTC, active duty and active reserve service, McNulty kept in close contact with the military and military culture. Over time, however, he began to question these ties.

Catalyzing McNulty’s transformation was America’s foreign policy throughout Latin America during the 1970s and ’80s. His early advocacy work centered around the School of the Americas, a training ground founded as a bulwark against the spread of communism. Over time, McNulty said, the school devolved. A string of murders and rapes connected to the School of the Americas prompted him into action.

During that time, McNulty said he devoted his energies to “increase the knowledge among the American population that this school existed and that we were, through our tax dollars, paying for training for these soldiers.” His resistance led him to a federal prison, where he served for six months.

Within the full swing of these events, McNulty soon got involved with the Peace and Justice Community, initially focusing on America’s involvement in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War (1990-91). As the PJC’s work took on more secular aims, they moved out of the church and onto the streets. NCPG emerged from the second Iraq War (2003-11).

Organizational principles

McNulty offered some of the philosophical precepts underpinning the NCPG’s activism. He said the group seeks to challenge conventional wisdom, to prompt community members to think critically about the information authorities give them. Through this, he said the group has often met fierce resistance from dogmatists and partisans.

“Very often, when you bring a message that’s contrary to the conventional wisdom, they get angry at you,” he said. “They don’t want to hear what you have to offer because it’s very startling and shocking. There’s a cognitive dissonance.”

McNulty maintained that NCPG, since its inception, has rejected the notion of reciprocal violence. “The Old Testament thinking of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, you have to break it with that idea of love and acceptance,” he said.

He viewed the human propensity toward violence as a conflict between instincts and ideals. Though he held that most people are born peaceful and good, he sees many as conditioned to accept violence and war as the natural order.

“People, I think, are pretty good, but they

acquire a lot of these characteristics as a result of what they experience in life,” he said. “Down deep, people are good because they always act well when the dog falls down the well or when the tornado rips the roof off the house.”

McNulty said that overcoming aggression requires conscious effort, but doing so may be the recipe for lasting peace. “The idea is to take the words of the song, the words of the poem, to take the suggestion of the painting or the sculpture or whatever else and to put it into practice,” he said. “It’s a very hard job.”

Two decades into the struggle for peace

One of the essential features of NCPG throughout its 20-year history has been the persistence of its members. Member Susan Perretti regards the organization as a weekly reminder to the community that there is an alternative to unceasing human conflicts worldwide.

“We’re sort of a reminder to the community that passes us by,” she said. “It’s a reminder that we still have war — endless war — going on and that violence itself is not the answer.”

Robert Marcus, another NCPG member, said the fight for peace and preserving democracy go hand in hand. He said that standing on the street corner is a way to promote both ends.

“We have to do everything we can to make a more peaceful world,” Marcus said. “We can’t just take it for granted. We have to work really hard for peace and to strengthen our democracy because it’s under threat.”

For John Robinson, participating in the peace group’s various activities is a way to connect to a larger cause and to make a difference on a grander stage. “It feels good to be around people who have the same concerns, the same thoughts, the same issues that I do,” he said. “Coming out here makes a real statement about the need for peace and the need to treat each other well.”

Myrna Gordon said she and NCPG use their platform to advocate a new mode of thinking around the way the United States government spends its taxpayer dollars. According to her, too great a share of the federal budget is devoted to perpetuating violence.

“We need to move the money out of the military and back into human needs and human lives so that we will have that money and be able to fix roads, provide better education, health care and everything else,” she said.

An alternative to war

McNulty was asked if he believes a lasting peace is possible or if humanity is doomed to a fate of unending war. He admitted that lasting peace may not be attainable but that pursuing such an ideal is.

“We would like to hope that it is possible,” he said. “We helped each other to a great extent, and we have affected a few people around our immediate neighborhood, but they’re still making war. The School of the Americas is still open, still training soldiers to keep people under control.”

Perretti offered a slightly different take by suggesting humanity could adapt itself to a condition without war.

“The point is that we have to evolve past this idea — as a human species and not just as Americans — that war and killing one another is the only solution,” she said. “I don’t know what that takes, but for me I’m here because I won’t give up the struggle, and I want to be faithful to what I believe in my heart.”

Whether humans can coexist and overcome violence is still to be decided. Twenty years after their organization’s founding, members of North Country Peace Group remain stationed at their usual street corner, committed to giving peace its fair shake.

Above, members of North Country Peace Group on Saturday, Dec. 10. Below, Bill McNulty, one of the founders and thought leaders within the organization. Above by Raymond Janis, below courtesy Myrna Gordon

‘We have to evolve past this idea — as a human species and not just as Americans — that war and killing one another is the only solution.’

— SUSAN PERRETTI

Celebrating the holidays amid health risks from the ‘tridemic’

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Around this time of year, parking lots are often full.

That’s true of the mall parking lot, as people go out to shop for holiday gifts for their friends and family, but it’s also true, especially this year, for hospitals and urgent care centers.

HEALTH

With the so-called “tridemic,” which is a combination of viruses that typically affect the lungs, including COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (or RSV), infecting people of all ages, the need for health care and medical attention has been high in the weeks leading up to the holidays.

When Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, arrives at work at 7 a.m., she drives past urgent center parking lots that are “full for a reason. It’s because people are sick” and need medical attention at the start of the day.

Indeed, the combination of the three viruses, as well as other viruses and bacteria in the community such as adenovirus and enterovirus, has made it difficult for some children to attend schools and for adults to go to work.

For the week ending Dec. 10, which is the most recent period for which data is available, Suffolk County reported 3,936 cases of the flu, which is up 35% just from the prior week. The week ending Dec. 10 alone represents more than half of all flu cases for the entire 2019-2020 season, according to data from the New York State Department of Health.

At the same time, COVID and RSV numbers have climbed.

“We almost doubled our COVID census over the last three to four weeks,” Dr. Michael Khlat, chief medical officer at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, explained in an email. St. Catherine currently has almost 60 COVID-positive patients. Nearly a third of those patients are admitted for COVID and are receiving intravenous remdesivir, while the others are incidental findings in the context of other medical needs.

“What is special about this surge is that it is inclusive of COVID, influenza, rhinovirus as well as RSV,” Khlat wrote. “The symptoms are very similar, and treatments are all supportive at this time.”

Family gatherings at Thanksgiving contributed to the increase, adding “extra turbocharging to the current respiratory viruses,” Nachman said.

The most vulnerable patients are the immunocompromised, patients with diabetes, chronic lung and cardiac disease, obese residents and patients with chronic liver and kidney disease, Khlat added.

Demand for beds

The influx of patients has meant that St. Catherine has had to increase its capacity of staffing using nursing agencies to meet the needs of the community for “seamless, high-quality care,” Khlat explained.

St. Catherine has also added more providers on the medical wards to care for patients and has load balanced patients with their Catholic services partner St. Charles Hospital and other Catholic Health facilities.

Nachman urged residents to see their primary care doctor if they have routine viral symptoms. Coming directly to the emergency room slows the process of delivering urgent care.

To be sure, Nachman urged anyone with chest pains or stroke-like symptoms should head directly to the emergency room.

Nachman said Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is transitioning to a model in which they triage patients who walk into the ER to assess the need for services.

As people prepare for family gatherings, Nachman suggested that they evaluate the risks of interacting with others.

People with an immune deficiency might want to wear masks or speak outside with others, particularly if someone in the group had one of the respiratory viruses.

Viruses like RSV are generally contagious for about three to eight days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RSV spreads through close contact, which means that passing someone in a supermarket won’t likely spread the virus, while sitting and doing homework or eating a meal next to someone could.

As for COVID, Nachman continued to urge people to get the bivalent booster shot.

Every study, she said, shows that the booster drastically reduces the risk of being hospitalized with COVID.

Town of Brookhaven celebrates the start of Hanukkah at annual menorah lighting ceremony

The Town of Brookhaven celebrated the start of Hanukkah at the Community Menorah Lighting ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Town Hall in Farmingville.

The annual holiday event was led by Rabbi

Mendy Goldberg of the Lubavitch of the East End/Chabad House of Coram. Guests enjoyed traditional Hanukkah songs and stories, entertainment and refreshments, including hot latkes and donuts.

People are waiting once again for COVID-19 and other tests at local urgent care centers. File photo by Lina Weingarten

Above, Town of Brookhaven Councilman Neil Foley (R-Blue Point); Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R); Rabbi Mendy Goldberg and Councilman Kevin LaValle (R-Selden). Photo courtesy the town’s public information office

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police: Man suffers medical emergency, drives off dock in Port Jefferson

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating an incident during which a man died after driving his vehicle into the water in Port Jefferson on Dec. 16. Stuart Dorfman was operating a vehicle on West Broadway at the Port Jefferson dock when he suffered an apparent medical emergency and drove into the water at 7:20 p.m. Dorfman, 74, of Plainview, was pulled from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.

Suffolk County detectives intercept money for elderly scam victim

On Dec. 16, Suffolk County Police Financial Crimes Unit detectives intercepted cash that an elderly Louisiana man mailed as a part of a scam. Financial Crimes Unit detectives were made aware that an 82-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana, man sent $9,800 to a location on Union Boulevard in Bay Shore as part of a cyber scam. Detectives intercepted the money at a location in Ronkonkoma at 12:37 p.m. The money is being returned to the victim and the investigation is continuing.

Wanted for Medford petit larceny

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who allegedly stole from a Medford store in December. A man allegedly stole two chainsaws from Lowe’s, located at 2796 Route 112, at 10:50 a.m. on Dec. 1. The merchandise was valued at approximately $410.

Wanted for South Setauket petit larceny

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who allegedly stole from a South Setauket store in December. A man allegedly stole LEGOs, baby items and clothing from Target, located at 265 Pond Path, at 7:40 p.m. on Dec. 7. The merchandise is valued at approximately $915.

Wanted for South Setauket petit larceny

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two people who allegedly stole from a South Setauket store in December. A man and the woman pictured above allegedly stole assorted groceries and clothing from Target, located at 265 Pond Path, at 5:50 p.m. on Dec. 9.

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.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

LEGALS

NOTICEOFSALESUPREME

COURTSUFFOLKCOUNTY

CORP.,Plaintiffagainst MID-ISLANDMORTGAGE

Defendant(s) KENNETHM.TOOMEY,etal

PursuanttoaJudgmentof Suite330,Iselin,NJ08830. Plaza,485BRoute1South, WoodbridgeCorporation Stern&Eisenberg,P.C., AttorneyforPlaintiff(s)

ForeclosureandSaleenteredMay9,2022,Iwill

sellatpublicauctiontothe

highestbidderatBrookhavenTownHall,1IndependenceHill,Farmingville,NY

JudgmentIndexNo subjecttoprovisionsoffiled costs.Premiseswillbesold plusinterest,fees,and ofJudgmentis$195,419.39 York.ApproximateAmount ofSuffolkandStateofNew TownofBrookhaven,County lyingandbeingatSelden, orparcelofland,situate, Allthatcertainplot,piece Block03.00Lot047.000. NY11784.Sec392.00 as5SavoyCourt,Selden, at9:30AM.Premisesknown 11738onJanuary12,2023

606144/2018.Forsaleinformation,pleasevisitwww. Auction.comorcall(800)

280-2832.

DuringtheCOVID-19health

emergency,Biddersarerequiredtocomplywithall

butnotlimitedtowearing timeofthesaleincluding requirementsineffectatthe governmentalhealth

facecoveringsandmaintainingsocialdistancing(at

theauction,whiletendering least6-feetapart)during

depositandatanysubsequentclosing.Shoulda

ForeclosureAuctionRules requiredtocomplywiththe indefault.Biddersarealso closingandholdthebidder acceptanybid,cancelthe Refereemayrefuseto bidderfailtocomply,the

andCOVID-19HealthEmergencyRulesissuedbythe

TermsofSale. conditionssetforthinthe Countyinadditiontothe SupremeCourtofthis

Esq.,Referee J.EdwardGathman,Jr.,

NY202100000467-1

11898012/84xvbr

To Place A Legal Notice

NOTICEOFSALESUPREME

COURTCOUNTYOFSUFFOLKBankofAmerica,N.A.,

Ebersa/k/aRobertP.Ebers, PlaintiffAGAINSTRobert

etal.,Defendant(s)PursuanttoaJudgmentof

BrookhavenTownHall,1 sellatpublicauctionatthe theundersignedRefereewill enteredJanuary20,2021,I, ForeclosureandSaleduly

IndependenceHill,Farmingville,NY11738onJanuary

pieceorparcelofland,with 11766.Allthatcertainplot PostRoad,MountSinai,NY premisesknownas88Old 18,2023at11:30AM,

thebuildingsandimprovementserected,situate,

SuffolkandStateofNew ofBrookhaven,Countyof lyingandbeingintheTown

York,SBL#:066.00,District0200,BLOCK:02.00,

ontheOfficeofCourt COVID-19Protocolslocated withtheSUFFOLKCounty beconductedinaccordance aforementionedauctionwill #620572/2018.The filedJudgmentIndex soldsubjecttoprovisionsof andcosts.Premiseswillbe $246,730.73plusinterest amountofjudgment LOT:002.001.Approximate

Administration(OCA)website(https://ww2.nycourts. gov/Admin/oca.shtml)and

assuchallpersonsmust

complywithsocialdistancing,wearingmasksand

screeningpracticesineffect

atthetimeofthisforeclosuresale.Forsaleinformation,pleasevisitAuction. comatwww.Auction.comor

74259 1170601-089409-F00 GibsonStreetBayShore,NY Weisman&Gordon,LLP53 FrenkelLambertWeiss Eaderesto,Esq.,Referee call(800)280-2832Annette

11918012/154xvbr

STATEOFNEWYORK–SUPREMECOURTOFTHE

HEIRS,DISTRIBUTEES,DEVISEES,GRANTEES,

TRUSTEES,LIENORS,

CREDITORS,ANDASSIGNEESOFTHEESTATE

ININTERESTIFANYOF 11790,THEIRSUCCESSORS STONYBROOK,NEWYORK WAS58BARKERDRIVE, LASTKNOWNADDRESS SUFFOLKCOUNTYWHOSE 2017,ARESIDENTOF DIEDONDECEMBER5, WASBORNIN1955AND LAURAM.WARMAN,WHO OFLAURAWARMANA/K/A

THEAFORESAIDDEFENDANTSBEDECEASED,

THEYORANYOFTHEMBE CLASSESOFPERSON,IF OFTHEAFORESAID SUCCESSORSININTEREST ATLAW,NEXTOFKIN,AND THEIRRESPECTIVEHEIRS

DEAD,ANDTHEIRRESPECTIVEHUSBANDS,WIVESOR

WHOMANDWHOSENAMES WIDOWS,IFANY,ALLOF

ANDPLACES,AREUNKNOWNTOPLAINTIFF,

TOBETHEUNKNOWN THROUGH50,INTENDING JOHNDOEANDJANEDOE1

HEIRS,DISTRIBUTEES,DEVISEES,GRANTEES,

TRUSTEES,LIENORS,

CREDITORS,ANDASSIGNEESOFTHEESTATE

RESIDENTOFSUFFOLK, WHOWASBORNIN1993,A A/K/ALAURAM.WARMAN, KINTOLAURAWARMAN HEIRATLAWANDNEXTOF OFMICHAELWARMAN,AS

WHOSELASTKNOWNADDRESSWAS58BARKER

IFANYOFTHEAFORESAID SUCCESSORSININTEREST YORK11790,THEIR DRIVE,STONYBROOK,NEW

DEFENDANTSBEDECEASED,THEIRRESPECTIVEHEIRSATLAW,NEXT

OFTHEMBEDEAD,AND PERSON,IFTHEYORANY AFORESAIDCLASSESOF ININTERESTOFTHE OFKIN,ANDSUCCESSORS

THEIRRESPECTIVEHUSBANDS,WIVESORWIDOWS,

YORKSTATEDEPARTMENT STATEOFNEWYORK,NEW PLAINTIFF,PEOPLEOFTHE PLACES,AREUNKNOWNTO WHOSENAMESAND IFANY,ALLOFWHOMAND

OFTAXATIONANDFINANCE,UNITEDSTATESOF

REVENUESERVICE,Defendants.Totheabove-named

defendants:YOUARE

HEREBYSUMMONEDtoanswerthecomplaintinthis

ANSWERONTHEATTORNEY SERVINGACOPYOFTHE YOUMUSTRESPONDBY stopthisforeclosureaction. mortgagecompanywillnot Sendingapaymenttoyour andprotectyourproperty. howtoanswerthesummons forfurtherinformationon whereyourcaseispending attorneyorgotothecourt yourhome.Speaktoan enteredandyoucanlose defaultjudgmentmaybe answerwiththecourt,a againstyouandfilingthe foreclosureproceeding companywhofiledthis attorneyforthemortgage copyoftheansweronthe andcomplaintbyservinga respondtothissummons YOURHOMEIfyoudonot INDANGEROFLOSING complaint.NOTICEYOUARE thereliefdemandedinthe againstyoubydefaultfor judgmentwillbetaken failuretoappearoranswer, York);andincaseofyour youwithintheStateofNew notpersonallydeliveredto completeifthissummonsis daysaftertheserviceis service(orwithinthirty(30) exclusiveofthedayof serviceofthissummons, twenty(20)daysafterthe plaintiff’sattorneyswithin noticeofappearance,onthe thissummons,toservea complaintisnotservedwith ofyouranswer,or,ifthe actionandtoserveacopy

TOBETHEUNKNOWN THROUGH50,INTENDING JOHNDOEANDJANEDOE1 LAURAM.WARMAN, TOLAURAWARMANA/K/A ATLAWANDNEXTOFKIN AARONWARMANASHEIR TRUST,2007-1,Plaintiff, MORTGAGEFUNDING legalaidofficetoobtain anattorneyoryourlocal shouldimmediatelycontact Complaintcarefully.You readtheSummonsand mayloseyourhome.Please thisforeclosureaction,you SummonsandComplaintin Ifyoufailtorespondtothe dangeroflosingyourhome. ANDCOMPLAINTYouarein readitcarefully.SUMMONS foreclosureprocess.Please youthisnoticeaboutthe Staterequiresthatwesend INFORECLOSURENewYork HELPFORHOMEOWNERS 855-845-2584facsimile. York11747.631-812-4084. Suite3C20,Melville,New HuntingtonQuadrangle, AttorneysforPlaintiff,1 Weisberg&Conway,LLC, THECOURT.McCabe,

FORTHEPLAINTIFF(MORTGAGECOMPANY)ANDFILINGTHEANSWERWITH

yourself.SOURCESOFINFORMATIONANDASSISTANCETheStateencouragesyoutobecome

attorneyorlegalaidoffice, seekingassistancefroman inforeclosure.Inadditionto informedaboutyouroptions

therearegovernmentagencies,andnon-profitorganizationsthatyoumay

toll-freehelplinemaintained nearyou,youmaycallthe process.Tolocateanentity yourlenderduringthis includingtryingtoworkwith aboutpossibleoptions, contactforinformation

byNewYorkStateDepartmentofFinancialServices’

theDepartment’swebsiteat (1-877-226-5697)orvisit at1-877-BANK-NYS

WWW.BANKING.STATE.NY. US.RIGHTSANDOBLIGATIONSYOUARENOTREQUIREDTOLEAVEYOUR

HOMEATTHISTIME.You

pursuanttoajudgmentof propertyissoldatauction homeunlessanduntilyour notrequiredtoleaveyour foreclosureprocess.Youare yourhomeduringthe havetherighttostayin

foreclosureandsale.Regardlessofwhetheryou

Thereareindividualswho offersto“save”yourhome. whoapproachyouwith SCAMSBecarefulofpeople FORECLOSURERESCUE stateandlocallaw. taxesinaccordancewith PROPERTYandpayyour TOTAKECAREOFYOUR home,YOUAREREQUIRED choosetoremaininyour

watchfornoticesofforeclosureactionsinorderto

File#18-301204 suchpromisedservices. theyhavecompletedall anymoneyfromyouuntil prohibitsthemfromtaking theywillcharge,andwhich theywillperformandfees fullydescribestheservices enterintoacontractwhich suchservicesforprofitto requiresanyoneoffering overyourdeed.Statelaw youpaythemafeeorsign andanysuggestionsthat aboutanysuchpromises shouldbeextremelycareful homeowner’sdistress.You unfairlyprofitfroma

AMERICAO/B/OINTERNAL OFTHE OFFIRECOMMISSIONERS OFTHEBOARD ORGANIZATIONALMEETING NOTICEOF

12082012/154xvbr

SoundBeach,NewYork. SoundBeachBoulevard, BeachFireDistrict,152 MainFirehouseoftheSound January3,2023,atthe 7:00P.M.,onTuesday, itsorganizationalmeetingat County,NewYork,willhold TownofBrookhaven,Suffolk BeachFireDistrictinthe CommissionersoftheSound thattheBoardofFire NOTICEISHEREBYGIVEN,

November28,2022 NewYork Dated:SoundBeach, DISTRICTFOR2023 SOUNDBEACHFIRE

SoundBeachFireDistrict FireCommissionersofthe

DistrictSecretary LynnannTrapani,

12171012/221xvbr

MEETINGOFTHE ORGANIZATIONAL NOTICEOF

FIREDISTRICT ROCKYPOINT

pursuanttoaresolutionof PLEASETAKENOTICEthat

theBoardofFireCommissionersoftheRockyPoint

FireDistrict,TownofBrookhaven,CountyofSuffolk,

StateofNewYork,the

annualOrganizationalMeetingoftheBoardofFire

CommissionersofsaidDistrictfor2023willbeheldat

dayofJanuary,2023. (prevailingtime)onthe3rd NewYorkat7:00PM StateRoute25A,Shoreham, theShorehamFirehouse, theFireDistrictadjacentto theadministrativeofficeof

Dated:December16,2022

BYORDEROFTHEBOARD

OFFIRECOMMISSIONERS

OFTHEROCKYPOINTFIRE

DISTRICT,TownofBrookhaven,SuffolkCounty,New

York.

By:EdwinS.Brooks

FireDistrictSecretary

Email: legals@tbrnewsmedia.com TRUSTEEFORNOVASTAR TRUSTCOMPANY,AS DEUTSCHEBANKNATIONAL 11790. StonyBrook,NewYork Property:58BarkerDrive, SubjectProperty.Subject baseduponthesitusofthe DesignationofVenueis CountyasthePlaceofTrial. PlaintiffdesignatesSuffolk SUMMONS FILED3/28/2022 INDEX#605592/2022 COUNTYOFSUFFOLK

adviceonhowtoprotect 12240012/221xvbr

Comsewogue Warriors cage Rocky Point Eagles

BY BILL LANDON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

SPORTS

The Rocky Point Eagles had their hands full, facing a stout defense in a road game against Comsewogue.

In this Div. IV matchup on Thursday, Dec. 15, the Warriors broke out early, taking a 22-point lead going into the halftime break. The Eagles managed to outscore Comsewogue in the third quarter, but the Warriors slammed the door in the fourth, putting the game away, 49-29.

Leela Smith led the Eagles

with 13 points, Julia Koprowski scored six and teammate McKenzie Moeller netted five.

Danielle McGuire topped the scoring chart for the Warriors with four triples and a field goal for 14 points. Hannah Ellis notched 11 and Lalynn Kirschenheuter banked 10.

The win lifts the Warriors to 3-1 in their division. They return to action on Monday, Dec. 19, with a road game against Westhampton. The Eagles travel to Port Jefferson Tuesday, Dec. 20. Game times are 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Clockwise from above: Rocky Point senior Leela Smith boxes out; Comsewogue’s Maria Stamatopoulos shoots for the Warriors; and Comsewogue’s Jalynn Kirschenheuter lays up for two.

Pictured clockwise from top-left: Rocky Point senior Sarah May on a fast break for the Eagles; Comsewogue’s Hannah Ellis with an inside pass; Comsewogue’s Danielle McGuire scores; and Rocky Point junior Julia Koprowski drives the lane in a road game against Comsewogue.

Automobiles/Trucks

***AAA***AUTOBUYERSHighestCashPaid,AllYears/Conditions,WEVISITYOU,Or Donate,TaxDeduct+Cash. DMVID#1303199.CallLUKE 516-VAN-CARS.516-297-2277

JUNKCARSBOUGHT! We’llBeatAnyPrice. Call631-500-1015. SEEDISPLAYADFORMOREINFORMATION.

TOPCASHPAIDFORALL TRUCKS,CARS,&VANS. Highestpricespaidforfixable vehicles.CallMark 631-258-7919. SEEDISPLAY ADFORMOREINFORMATION.

Auto Services

DRIVEOUTBREASTCANCER Donateacartoday,Thebenefits ofdonatingyourcarorboat,Fast FreePickup,24hrResponse, TaxDeduction,EasyToDo,Call 24/7855-905-4755.

Health, Fitness & Beauty

ATTENTIONVIAGRAUSERS:

Generic100mgbluepillsor generic20mgyellowpills.Get 45plus5free$99+S/H.Call Today.877-707-5523

Musical Instruments

BLUESMANPIANOTUNING Certifiedpianotechnician, 631-681-9723, bluesmanpianotuning@gmail. com, www.bluesmanpianotuning.com

GUITARINSTRUCTION-Intelligent,focused,empathic instructionforguitar,bass,all frettedinstruments.Allstyles, levels.Setauketstudio.Coyote Music(631)721-5004

Musical Instruments

MUSICLESSONS

HOME/VIRTUAL

Guitar,Piano,Stringsandmore IntroductoryRatesfornewstudents,AlsoPianoTuningand Repairs. Stringsoundstudios.com O631-476-8946, C631-223-6899

Financial Services

AREYOUBEHIND$10kOR MOREONYOURTAXES?Stop wage&banklevies,liens& audits,unfiledtaxreturns,payrollissues,&resolvetaxdebt FAST.Call888-869-5361 (Hours:Mon-Fri7am-5pmPST)

Schools/Instruction/ Tutoring

PIANO-GUITAR-BASS Allages-levels-styles. Manylocalreferences. Recommendedbyallarea schools.TonyMann, 631-473-3443,631-332-6005

Limousine Services

SUFFOLKLIMO

WineTours,Events,Hamptons, NYC,Servingallairports,Professionaldrivers,luxurysuv’s, sedansandSprintervans.Book online,Suffolklimoservice.com 1-800-364-7049,631-771-7991.

Finds Under 50

BEAUTIFULFENDER

ACOUSTICGUITARwithelectricinputs,perfectcondition, hardlyused,withStand,Bargain at$50,631-689-9226.

BLENDJET2-LAVENDER. Boxed,brandnew,duplicategift. $30.00Greatholidaygift. 631-689-8616.

Finds Under 50

FLUORESCENTSHOP

FIXTURE4foot,2bulb Asking$20.00Call 631-744-3722

FREE:FULLSIZEFUTON woodframe,withnewmattress andcover.Leavemessage. 631-744-5621.

Housesitting Services

TRAVELING?

Needsomeonetocheckonyour home?

ContactTenderLovingPet Care,LLC.We’remorethanjust pets.Insured/Bonded. 631-675-1938

Miscellaneous

DISHTV$64.99For190Channels+$14.95HighSpeedInternet.FreeInstallation,SmartHD DVRIncluded,FreeVoiceRemote.Somerestrictionsapply. PromoExpires1/21/23. 1-888-609-9405

GETDIRECTVFOR$64.99/MO FOR12MONTHSWITH CHOICEPACKAGE.Savean additional$120over1styear. First3monthsofHBOMax, Cinemax,Showtime,Starzand Epixincluded!Directvis#1in CustomerSatisfaction(JD Power&Assoc.)Somerestrictionsapply.Call 1-888-534-6918

WHEELSFORWISHESBENEFITINGMAKE-A-WISH ® NORTHEASTNEWYORK.Your CarDonationsMatterNOW MoreThanEver!FreeVehicle PickUpANYWHERE.We AcceptMostVehiclesRunning orNot.100%TaxDeductible. MinimalToNoHumanContact. Call:(877)798-9474.CarDonationFoundationd/b/aWheels ForWishes.www. wheelsforwishes.org.

EMPLOYMENT/CAREERS

Help Wanted

PUBLISHER’SEMPLOYMENTNOTICE:Allemploymentadvertisinginthisnewspaperissubjecttosection296 ofthehumanrightslawwhich makesitillegaltoadvertise anypreference,limitationor discriminationbasedonrace, color,creed,nationalorigin, disability,maritalstatus,sex, ageorarrestconvictionrecord oranintentiontomakeany suchpreference,limitationor discrimination.Title29,U.S. CodeChap630,excludesthe FederalGov’t.fromtheage discriminationprovisions.This newspaperwillnotknowingly acceptanyadvertisingforemploymentwhichisinviolation ofthelaw.Ourreadersareinformedthatemploymentofferingsadvertisedinthisnewspaperareavailableonanequal opportunitybasis.

HOSTESS/PHONEPERSON

Part-time,CustomerExperience necessary,Evenings,4pm8:30pm$16/hr.LaPiazzaPlainview.CallMariaorToni 516-938-0800

Help Wanted

BOOKKEEPER 3-6hourstwiceamonth. Dutiesinclude: Issuechecksforvariouschurch expense,i.e.,payrollof4people throughQuickBooksprogram, bills,andexpensevoucher checks,Reconcilecheckbook balancemonthly,PreparebalancesheetandP&Lstatement monthly.Experience:priorbookkeepingexperiencedesirable, includinguseofQuickbooks program. Submitresumesto: office@pjpres.org

DATAENTRYANDWORD PROCESSING

Maintaindatabasebyentering newandupdatedcustomerand accountinformation. CytoGenX,StonyBrook $17FT/PT(Benefits) 631-751-0212.

TRAINONLINETODOMEDICALBILLING!BecomeaMedicalOfficeProfessionalonlineat CTI!GetTrained,Certified& readytoworkinmonths!Call 855-543-6440.(M-F8am-6pm ET).Computerwithinternetis required.

SERVICES

Carpentry

LONGHILLCARPENTRY

45yearsexperience

Allphasesofhomeimprovement.Old&HistoricRestorations.Mastercard/VisaLic. #H22336/Ins.631-751-1764 longhill7511764@aol.com

Cesspool Services

MRSEWERMANCESSPOOL

SERVICEAlltypesofcesspoolservicing,allworkguaranteed,familyownedandoperatedsince1985, 631-924-7502. LicensedandInsured.

Clean-Ups

LETSTEVEDOIT

Clean-ups,yards,basements, wholehouse,painting,tree work,localmovingand anythingelse.Totally overwhelmed? CallSteve@631-745-2598, leavemessage.

Exterminating

REACTPESTCONTROLINC. Wasps,YellowJacketsNesting inyourhome!Protectyourhome beforethosepeskynestsare built. SEEDISPLAYADFOR MOREINFORMATION.

Fences

SMITHPOINTFENCE. DEERPROBLEM?WECAN HELP!Wood,PVC,ChainLink, Stockade.Freeestimates. Nowoffering12monthinterest freefinancing. Commercial/Residential. 70JayneBlvd.,PJS.Lic.37690H/Ins.631-743-9797 www.smithpointfence.com.

Floor Services/Sales

FINESANDING& REFINISHING

WoodFloorInstallations CraigAliperti,WoodFloorsLLC. Allworkdonebyowner. 30yearsexperience. Lic.#47595-H/Insured. 631-875-5856

©122480

COMPUTER&ITTRAINING

PROGRAM!TrainONLINEto gettheskillstobecomeaComputer&HelpDeskProfessional now!GrantsandScholarships availableforcertainprograms forqualifiedapplicants.CallCTI fordetails!844-947-0192(M-F 8am-6pmET).Computerwith internetisrequired.

TO SUBSCRIBE

CALL 751-7744 101872

Furniture/Restoration/ Repairs

REFINISHING& RESTORATION

Antiquesrestored,repairing recane,reupholstery,touch-ups kitchen,frontdoors,40yrsexp, SAVE$$$,freeestimates. VincentAlfano631-707-1228

Home Improvement

ALLPHASESOF

HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Fromattictoyourbasement, RCJConstruction www.rcjconstruction.com commercial/residential,lic/ins 631-580-4518.

BATH&SHOWERUPDATESin aslittleasONEDAY!Affordable prices-Nopaymentsfor18 months!Lifetimewarranty&professionalinstalls.Senior&MilitaryDiscountsavailable.Call: 866-393-3636

ADVERTISE FOR RESULTS

631-751-7663 FILL000061

& WORD PROCESSING

ENTRY

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction

This individual will provide leadership and vision in ongoing planning, implementation, development, direction, review, and evaluation of the district’s curriculum and instructional services. They would be responsible for ensuring that the district’s educational objectives align with state frameworks and to instructional practices that yield the highest standards for student achievement and instruction excellence.

122270

NYS SDL or SDA Certification Required

Please apply online by Jan 9th at https://monlicelloschools.tedk12.com/hire

EOE

Improvement HELP WANTED SPECIAL! DisplayAds Buy2Weeks-Get2FREE Call Classifieds for sizes and pricing. 631–331–1154 or 631–751–7663 ©Fill000036 DATA

BLUSTARRENOVATIONS

Home Repairs/ Construction

Lawn & Landscaping

SETAUKETLANDSCAPE

DESIGN

StoneDriveways/Walkways, Walls/Stairs/Patios/Masonry, Brickwork/RepairsLand

Clearing/Drainage,Grading/ Excavating.Plantings/Mulch, RainGardens.

SteveAntos,631-689-6082 setauketlandscape.com

SEEOURDISPLAYADFOR MOREINFORMATION

ServingThreeVillages

SETAUKETLANDSCAPE

LAMPSFIXED,$65. InHomeService!!Handy Howard.Mycell646-996-7628

BOOKKEEPER TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL 751-7744 ©101869

StoneDriveways/Walkways, Walls/Stairs/Patios/Masonry, Brickwork/RepairsLand Clearing/Drainage,Grading/ Excavating.Plantings/Mulch, RainGardens.

SteveAntos,631-689-6082 setauketlandscape.com

ServingThreeVillages

Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper

ALLPROPAINTING

INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PowerWashing,Staining, WallpaperRemoval.Free estimates.Lic/Ins#19604HI 631-696-8150.Nick

BOB’SPAINTINGSERVICE

25YearsExperience. Interior/ExteriorPainting, Spackling,Staining,Wallpaper Removal,StainingandDeck RestorationPowerWashing. FreeEstimates.Lic/Ins.#17981. 631-744-8859

Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper

LAROTONDA PAINTING&DESIGN

Interior/exterior,sheetrock repairs,taping/spackling,wallpaperremoval,faux,decorative finishings.Freeestimates.Lic. #53278-H/Ins.RossLaRotonda 631-689-5998

WORTHPAINTING “PAINTINGWITHPRIDE”

Interiors/exteriors.Staining& deckrestoration,powerwashing,wallpaperremoval, sheetrocktape/spackling, carpentry/trimwork.Leadpaint certified.References.Freeestimates.Lic./Ins.SINCE1989 RyanSouthworth. SEEDISPLAYADFORMOREINFO 631-331-5556

Power Washing

THREEVILLAGEPOWERWASHINGLLC We’remorethanpowerwashing. Weoffershrinkwrappingforoutdoorfurnitureandboats,snow removalservicesavailable. Threevillagepowerwashing.com 631-678-7313.

Tree Work

ARBOR-VISTATREECARE ACOMPLETETREECARE SERVICEdevotedtothecare oftrees.Maintenancepruning, water-viewwork,sun-trimming, elevating,poolareas,storm thinning,largetreeremoval, stumpgrinding.Woodchips. Lic#18902HI.Freeestimates. 631-246-5377

BESTSATELLITETVWITH2 YEARPRICEGUARANTEE, $59.99/mowith190

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

SQUEAKY CLEAN

“I am a lifetime resident of Saint James who has been advertising in the Times Beacon Record Newspaper for the last 5 years. Through advertising with this local publication, I have been able to extend my exterior cleaning services to many local Long Island homes. It has been a pleasure working with such a professional advertising team, helping to keep our neighborhood houses looking Squeaky Clean!”

STRATHMORE EAST EQUITIES

“For decades, the Village Times has been our paper to attract people who would appreciate our lifestyles in Port Jefferson and local towns. Efficient, affordable and reliable is the trademark of the Village Times. Thank You!”

BOB’S PAINTING SERVICE

“Times Beacon Record is a great paper in every way, especially if you are a community oriented individual. Fun facts are here, as well as information on hiring business people that take pride in their workmanship. A great success story!”

SUFFOLK TRANSPORTATION

“It is a pleasure working with Times Beacon News Media. Sheila always keeps me informed of deadlines and is aware of what I am looking for pertaining to advertisement locations. With our hectic schedule it is nice to know she is my safety net . I am happy to advertise in the publication. I know my message is getting to my audience.“

RCJ

“We have been an advertiser for many years with the Times Beacon news for our home improvement company. The response of customers answering our advertisements has been very high steady. The representative we have been dealing with (Shelia) has been very helpful and is always there to advise me of the best advertising strategies. The cost is very affordable too.

I will continue to use this paper as we feel it’s been the best way along with the social media ads they run to reach our customers.”

PUBLISHERS’NOTICE

AllrealestateadvertisedhereinissubjecttotheFederalFair HousingAct,whichmakesit illegaltoadvertise“anypreference,limitation,ordiscriminationbecauseofrace,color,religion,sex,handicap,familial status,ornationalorigin,orintentiontomakeanysuchpreference,limitation,ordiscrimination.”

Wewillnotknowinglyaccept anyadvertisingforrealestate whichisinviolationofthelaw. Allpersonsareherebyinformedthatalldwellingsadvertisedareavailableonan equalopportunitybasis.

SETAUKETHighVisibility,25A, cornerofficesuitewithlarge plateglasswindow,privatebath, ownthermostat,nicelydecorated,offstreetparking,Village TimesBuilding,Call 631-751-7744.

Editorial

Long Islanders need child care assistance

We often think of our country as the greatest in the world. In many ways, it is, but we are falling behind other firstworld countries regarding health care costs, life expectancy, high-speed transportation and more.

Among our country’s greatest weaknesses is a lack of affordable child care options for parents.

Local Republican elected officials recently held a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, to raise awareness about this important issue.

Their mission was to implore New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to include increased aid for child care services in the 2024 state budget. Hochul’s budget is still in its early stages and is expected to be released next month.

While the issue was addressed to an extent in last year’s budget, the elected officials said more needs to be done. Their plea is for the governor to consider how the cost of living varies throughout the state, with Long Islanders spending more than many of their fellow New Yorkers.

For these reasons, a statewide child care eligibility level makes little sense for Long Islanders. If the statewide standard is not amended to reflect these differences, more people will flee this Island for more affordable regions of the state and nation.

In New York, more funding and incentives are needed to make child care more accessible for working parents, including building more facilities and encouraging employers to offer on-site options. We are seeing the exact opposite take place within our region, with many child care facilities cutting back their services or closing shop altogether.

The low salaries of those working in the industry also need to be corrected. Many are making minimum wage or close to it. It’s inexcusable that those responsible for taking care of children are paid so poorly that they can make the same or more while working for a fast-food restaurant or retailer.

The onset of the pandemic demonstrated how vital child care is to families. While many worked from home, those deemed essential workers, such as people in the medical, emergency, media and food industry fields, could work onsite. Child care facilities remaining open for these workers enabled them to continue providing residents with necessary vital services.

At the same time, many businesses deemed nonessential were shut down. With employees working from home, child care services experienced a drop-off in enrollment. The result was a decrease in cash flow, creating financial burdens on many facilities and several shutting their doors for good.

In addition to helping families afford these services, it’s imperative that our child care providers and professionals receive the financial support they need to open centers and keep them open with properly paid staff members. These are all serious red flags for our regional economy.

On-site day care is more than babysitting. The benefits of attending a child care center include improved socialemotional skills and children who are better prepared for elementary school.

The need for more child care assistance for Long Islanders should be a nonpartisan issue, something every elected official should be rallying for in the near future. We hope to see more public leaders speak up about the need and get behind any legislation to improve child care in our state.

The financial stability of New Yorkers — and most importantly, our children’s futures — depend on it.

Letters to the Editor

Whelan for Bout would be magic, not chess

In Larry Penner’s letter appearing in this newspaper [“Biden doesn’t know how to play chess,” Dec. 15], he terms President Joe Biden [D] “a fool” for securing Brittney Griner’s release in exchange for Viktor Bout.

He claims Biden doesn’t know “how to play chess.” But what Penner is proposing — swapping Bout for Paul Whelan instead — isn’t chess. It’s magic. Regardless of Penner’s fantasy about “chess,” the only offer on the table was Bout for Griner. Take it or leave it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the dictator of a totalitarian state, couldn’t care less about fairness or the supposed rules of the game. There was no offer of Bout for Whelan. He’d be more than happy to let Griner rot in a Russian forced labor camp while we held out for a deal that was never going to happen.

So, the choice was Bout for Griner, or nothing. Maybe Penner can tell us what he would have done, not in his imaginary world featuring a make-believe Putin who is ready

to deal as Penner thinks he ought, but in the real world which has a far less cooperative Putin. If he would have chosen “nothing,” he could at least come right out and say so.

In his letter, Penner remarks that Griner once said the national anthem should not be played before WNBA games. What possible bearing does that have on efforts made to secure her release? Is she less worthy of being released because she exercised her free speech rights to state an opinion not everyone shares?

Of course, Whelan should be released. No doubt the Biden administration is working to secure his release. It’s a difficult and delicate undertaking. The man Russia wants in exchange for him is not Bout, but a convicted Russian assassin serving a life

sentence in Germany for gunning down an anti-Putin Chechen in broad daylight in a Berlin park.

Making the issue into who’s more worthy of release, Griner or Whelan, only serves Russian propaganda purposes. That’s exactly what the Russians want us to be fighting about.

What’s really important is knowing that if you hold an American passport, and you’re taken hostage by a rogue foreign government on trumped up charges, our government will do everything in its power to secure your release as quickly as possible, regardless of who you are or your political beliefs. The emphasis being on the word “possible.”

David Friedman St. James

WRITE TO US … We welcome your letters. They should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style and good taste. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include a phone number and address for confirmation. Email letters to: editor1@tbrnewsmedia.com or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

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

Opinion

Elon Musk and the Twitter factory

ur story begins some time around now. No, there’s no chocolate, despite the season, and there’s no meadow where everything is edible.enter a sweepstakes.

No, our modern-day story begins where so much of us live these days, online.

When he narrows the field down to those who get the golden tweet, he plans to invite a group of five people to come to a virtual, top secret Twitter tour.

D.

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

You see, a famous and once marvelous company called Twitter is run by an eccentric, wealthy and successful businessman named Elon Musk, who somehow figured out how to create and mass produce electric cars that require no gas and that sound like spaceships.

Musk has decided, after many hours of running Twitter, that he needs to find a successor.

So, borrowing a page from Willy Wonka, he provides invitations that cost 3 cents per tweet to

A few people try to make fake tickets, but the ever vigilant Musk spots the fraud. Day after day, people wait until, finally, five people, some of whom have never tweeted in their lives, have a chance to run the company.

Musk appears on screen wearing a top hat and a menacing smile. He demands that no one record what they see or take a screenshot of the secrets he is prepared to share.

Each person has a tiny image — about 1/4 the size of Musk’s — as they virtually walk through a factory floor.

On the first stop, Musk invites them to join him in the secret Hunter Biden/ New York Post room. Ah, yes, the story about the infamous laptop, which will undoubtedly become a part of an extensive investigation into the Biden progeny, is in this room.

“Don’t try to read anything!” he snaps. But, of course, one of the contestants can’t

This holiday season starts the path to peace with Viva la Difference!

Peace. That is what religions ask for, what billions of people across all nations pray for. Why in our family of humanity is that goal so elusive?

Perhaps this is a question only for theologians and philosophers to answer. But now, in this glorious holiday season, when we speak and sing of Peace on Earth, we all articulate the ideal.

When will there be such peace?

The answer, it seems, is when all humans are of good will.

And what does that involve?

For starters, it requires acceptance and respect for the “other.” We need to see each other as humans with the same ambitions and desires and feelings. Rather than look down on and despise people who are simply different, we can be intrigued and interested in those differences and therefore in those who are different.

resist. With a special tool that tracks eye movements, Musk knows that contestant No. 1, who is chewing gum constantly, is trying to decipher all the information. Her screen develops a horrible virus that turns it (and her entire computer) purple.

“You see?” he says, shaking his virtual head at the other small characters. “That’s what you get when you don’t listen. Oh, look, here they come now.”

Wearing virtual clothing embroidered with the Tesla logo, a modern day group of OompaLoompas appears on screen.

“Oompa, loompa, doompa dee do.

I’ve got another riddle for you. Oompa loompa, doompa dee dee if you are wise, you’ll listen to me. What do you get when you don’t listen to Musk?

A virus on your computer that will kill it before dusk.

Who do you think should have the last laugh? It certainly won’t be you or your staff. Take a moment to ponder this fact, Running Twitter may take too much tact.”

“Well,” Musk interrupts, waving away the virtual characters. “That’s enough of that. Now, let’s go for a virtual boat ride.”

In everyone steps as a boat careens through a choppy river, passing one door after another, with the names of celebrities who have been suspended hanging from each virtual room.

The boat stops near an embankment. The Musk character invites his guests to look at some special doors.

When he turns around, his virtual eyes widen in shock, his lower jaw drops down to his knees, and he hunches his shoulders.

“How? What? Wait, what’s going on?” he stammers, looking closely at the faces of his remaining four contestants.

Sure enough, on screen, Musk recognizes that two of the faces are the same as his, while the other two look like versions of Donald Trump.

“No, but, I made this game,” he whines. “How will we find out who wins?”

“Ah,” one of the Trumps says. “For that, you’ll have to tune into the sequel, which will only cost $99 and will become a collector’s item in no time.”

All of us, who contributed to TBR News Media in 2022, wish you a healthy & happy holiday and new year!

Michael Ardolino

Melissa Arnold

Kyle Barr

Barbara Beltrami

Elyse Benavides

Nancy Burner, Esq.

Leah Chiappino

Michael Christodoulou

Tara Mae

Kevin McCarthy

Mary McCarthy

Jim Meadows

Media Origin

Chris Mellides

Julianne Mosher

Amanda Olsen

Fr. Frank Pizzarelli

Amanda Pomerantz

Many seek, and indeed can fi nd inner peace. But the dream of peace, the kind of peace that is defi ned as lack of conflict and freedom from fear of violence between individuals and groups, has never been achieved.

Between

We can invite into our world those who are different from us in the way of skin color or appearance or beliefs. And if we can do so, we can see them as humans, just like us, and bigotry cannot exist. For we cannot look down on ourselves. If we are to do so, starting now, racism and antisemitism and every other sort of hatred of our neighbors disappears.

TIMES BEACON RECORD

Donna Deedy Adam Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

David Dunaief, M.D.

Bob Giglione

Aidan Johnson

Matthew Kearns, DVM

Bill Landon

Jenna Lennon

Bob Lipinski

Nancy Marr

Sydney Manzano

Cayla Rosenhagen

Irene Ruddock

Michael E. Russell

Carolyn Sackstein

Jeffrey Sanzel

Lisa Scott

John Turner

Beverly C. Tyler

Lauren Vohrer

Katherine Yamaguchi

Steven Zaitz

Rich Acritelli

Photo by Bill Landon