The Village Beacon Record - December 31, 2015 by TBR News Media

BEACON RECORD The Village

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Volume 31, No. 23

People Of The Year • BROOKHAVEN

Meehan is the man

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Above, Tom Meehan participates in the royal educational Foundation’s fun run through Port Jefferson village, and receives an award for his contributions to the community. above right, he is all smiles with returning students on the first day of school last year.

Elementary school principal does what’s best for kids and his community By elana gloWatz

Tom Meehan is the kind of principal who would give a child the clothes off his back — literally. When he saw an Edna Louise Spear Elementary School student was not wearing a jacket, the Port Jefferson principal took off the one he had on and gave it to the boy to wear home. “He understands that it’s about the kids — that they’re the priority,” school board President Kathleen Brennan said, adding that Meehan goes “above the call of duty to make sure kids get what they need.” For his dedication to Port Jefferson’s kids and the greater community, Tom Meehan is the Port Times Record’s Person of the Year. Meehan was hired for the 2011-12 school year, originally

on an interim basis. District officials expected to hire a permanent elementary principal, but soon found the best choice was right under their noses. Tony Butera, a longtime kindergarten teacher at Edna Louise Spear, has worked under a bunch of principals in his time there, but said Meehan has “a nice sense of what Port Jeff is supposed to be about.” “He just sees it as, these are his kids,” Butera said. Early on in Meehan’s time in Port Jefferson, there was an issue with one of the bus routes and it was running late. Brennan said the principal “got on the bus, rode the bus around the route and reassured the parents at every stop about why they were late and what happened.” That leadership instinct is not something that can be taught, Brennan said.

“Tom has … what I call ‘horse sense’ about what school administration is about.” One initiative Meehan started in the elementary school is a safety patrol for the fifth-graders to teach them responsibility. Among their activities, they help with dismissal, making sure younger kids get onto the school buses. School board member Ellen Boehm, a former district employee, said it gives the kids a sense that “what they did was important.” And for the less outgoing kids, she added, “He built them up during their time as a safety leader.” Meehan, a longtime volunteer for the Port Jefferson Fire Department, was also responsible for starting the tradition of elementary school kids singing at the fire department’s annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony.

Brennan said the experience is significant for the kids who attend, and they’ve been able to see Meehan in uniform a few times. It’s “important to see adults have other roles in the community,” she said. Christian Neubert has worked alongside Meehan both in the school district, where he is a music teacher, and as a volunteer for the Port Jefferson Fire Department. He said the 9/11 ceremony is not the only way Meehan bridges the school and the department — he also gets firefighters involved in the school’s evacuation drills, and some high school kids now in the junior firefighter program had Meehan as a principal and look up to him at the firehouse. Neubert, a lieutenant, noted Meehan is still qualified to fight fires inside buildings, despite MEEHAN continued on page A18

PAGE A2 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

A message from the publisher

Contrary to wild rumors you may have heard

Full service is NOT a thing of the past Custom Design Chains & Bracelets Neatly Repaired Clasps Replaced Watch Links Added/Removed Rings Sized Prongs Replaced

The Port Times Record is proud to continue an annual tradition of honoring members of the community who have contributed in a significant manner to its residents and institutions during the past year. These are the people who go the extra mile to improve the quality of our lives. In these pages, we salute their achievements. We also realize that these men and women are not unique. They are symbolic of the many who devote their efforts to the good of our hometowns. We salute them all and thank them for their service to the community we all love. Two years ago, we changed the format of how we honor our People of the Year. Now we have one edition for each of the three towns we cover — Brookhaven, Smithtown and Huntington — combining winners from multiple papers. We also eliminated the categories we previously used to organize the winners, such as medicine, sports or the arts, as we found that they were limiting us in how we were able to honor people. Every winner is simply a person of the year, no matter what their concentration. And instead of

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having an overall man and woman of the year gracing our front page, we will just have one overall winner, regardless of gender or affiliation. We hope you enjoy our People of the Year issue, and that you feel an enhanced pride in our hometown. Leah S. Dunaief Publisher

The VILLAGE BEACON RECORd (USPS 004-808) is published Thursdays by TImES BEACON RECORd NEwSPAPERS, 185 Route 25A, Setauket, NY 11733. Periodicals postage paid at Setauket, NY and additional mailing offices. Subscription price $49 annually. Leah S. dunaief, Publisher. POSTmASTER: Send change of address to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

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PAGE A4 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

Photo above from Tracey Budd; photo below from Facebook

Left, Debbie Longo speaks at a Dan’s Foundation for recovery event. above, Tracey Budd poses for a photo with her son Kevin norris, who died of a heroin overdose in 2012.

Budd, Longo lead fight to keep North Shore off drugs Moms look to start coalition for addiction prevention By Desirée Keegan

Tracey Budd’s son died of a heroin overdose in September 2012. One year later, Budd, of Rocky Point, was asked to speak at the North Shore Youth Council. Since then, she’s ended up on a public service announcement, “Not My Child,” that’s shown in high schools and middle schools along the North Shore, aiding her in becoming an advocate for drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation. She also teamed up with another mother, Debbie Longo, of Miller Place, and the two have become advocates for prevention and rehabilitation along the North Shore. It is because of their hard work and dedication to fighting this issue on Long Island that they are 2015 Times Beacon Record Newspapers People of the Year. “I made the decision not to be ashamed of how he passed away,” Budd said. “Just from speaking that one time at North Shore Youth Council, it was so very healing for me, and so many things have come from that and taken me in a direction that I never thought I’d be in, but it seems like it’s my calling.” Janene Gentile, a drug and alcohol counselor and executive director of the North Shore Youth Council, helped work on that PSA. “It was very powerful,” she said. “It was walking her through her grief. She has a lot of courage.”

ing me if I’m okay and what’s going on. I don’t know her personally, but she had a sense of urgency and a willingness to help. Budd, who is also a member of Fami- I think that speaks volumes.” Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Silies in Support of Treatment, pulled together as much information as she could, nai) said with Budd’s outspokenness and and this past October, created a Facebook Longo’s long-standing knowledge of the page — North Shore Drug Awareness Ad- issue, they’ll be successful in their efforts. “These women put their energy, their vocates — pooling together families from Rocky Point, Miller Place, Mount Sinai anger, their frustration, their sorrow into and Shoreham-Wading River to spread something that is helpful to the commuthe word about the rising concern over nity,” she said. “I think they’re going to do dangerous drugs, like heroin, growing in amazing work.” Longo has been involved in advocacy popularity across the Island. “It just seemed that so many people across the Island for the last five years, after her son suffered an were inboxing me and overdose 10 years ago. asking me for help,” ‘It takes a lot of guts to she said. “I created the come out in the open and Since then, her son has and currently page so we could have a do this and help people. recovered, lives in Los Angeles as a centralized area where director of marketing for we share information, There are a lot of people a rehabilitation center. and organize meetings hurting out there.’ She said she found where the group could — Sheila littler sending her son out of all meet up. I also organized meetings once a month so we could state helped him recover, because once he was done with his treatment, he wasn’t to teach people about advocacy.” Having a 12-year-old daughter, resi- going back to seeing the same people he dents like Cristina Dimou attended the knew when he was using. But she too has been involved in outmeetings to begin to gather information reach and drug abuse prevention, aside on the issue. About one week ago, someone Dimou from being to co-administrator of Budd’s knows suffered an unexpected overdose, Facebook page. “I get a call just about every day from a she said. She immediately reached out to parent saying they have a kid that’s addicted Budd asking for guidance. “She gave me three phone numbers tell- and they don’t know what to do,” she said. ing me who to call for what and even gave “We’re losing kids left and right. We’re losme websites of rehabilitation centers,” she ing a generation is what we’re losing.” Longo is a part of a 501(c)3 not-for-profit said. “She checks up on me every day, ask-

program, Steered Straight, which spreads prevention in schools. Recovered addict Michael DeLeon leads the program. “You can hear a pin drop in the auditorium, that’s how dynamic of a speaker he is,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many kids come up to us at the end of the program and say, ‘I have a problem.’” Longo was the chapter coordinator for New York State for a website called The Addict’s Mom, and is currently the head of Before the Petals Fall, Magnolia Addiction Support’s New York chapter. She is a 12-step yoga teacher to recovering addicts, and does post-traumatic stress disorder programs to help those dealing with grief. As a retired nurse, Longo said she thought she’d know where to turn when she found out her son was an addict, but said she really didn’t know what to do. “There was such a bad stigma about addiction that you didn’t want to talk about it — you kind of suffered in silence,” she said. “If I was a nurse and had these contacts and didn’t know what to do, the average mother may have no idea. I’m trying to open the community up to what we have here on the North Shore.” Longo has helped mothers like Sheila “Terry” Littler, of Rocky Point, whose son is a second-time recovering heroin addict. Currently, he is three months sober. Knowing about treatment and where to get help, because it was something that started for her 13 years ago, Littler reached out to Longo for mental support. “It was nice to have somebody else that’s BUDD & LONGO continued on page A30

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A5

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PAGE A6 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

Photos from Kristin MacKay

above, Vincent DeMarco, center, poses for a photo with some members of the youth re-entry task Force during a regular bi-monthly meeting. Below, DeMarco is reducing the rate of recidivism in county jails.

County sheriff reduces return rate of inmates DeMarco was named Suffolk County sheriff in 2006 and became the first uniSuffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMar- formed member of the Sheriff’s Office to co has worked diligently over the last nine be elected sheriff, and one of the youngest years going above and beyond what’s asked sheriffs ever elected in Suffolk County. of his position. From the beginning of his tenure, DeHis creation and development of the Marco said he has made working with Youth Re-Entry Task Force, a program cre- youth inmates a priority of his administraated to rehabilitate youth inmates, among tion. In 2011, DeMarco began assembling his other initiatives, has earned him the the partners needed for an undertaking like distinction of a 2015 Times Beacon Record the Youth Re-Entry Task Force. Newspapers Person of the Year. “We needed partners on the outside in “The sheriff has truly changed the cul- order to make this a success,” DeMarco said. ture of corrections in Suffolk County, and “We needed housing. … We also had to find has put particular emphasis on rehabili- not-for-profits that were willing to come into tation of incarcerated youth,” said Kris- the correctional facilities and do some countin MacKay, director of seling: drug counseling, public relations for the ‘He looks at the big anger management, life Suffolk County Sheriff’s skill counseling, vocationOffice. “He has been at picture beyond the walls al counseling, all types of the forefront of the fight of his jail and that has stuff to fill our program, so to eliminate state manwhen they leave the facilidates for new county allowed him to make a ties they actually have the jail construction, which significant impact on tools to succeed instead saved the county’s tax- the lives of many young of just warehousing them payers hundreds of milin a correctional facilpeople on Long Island.’ lions of dollars.” ity where you’re not giving Though you wouldn’t — Thaddaeus hill them any tools and they’re know it from speaking going to fail.” with him, DeMarco did not initially intend Among the most essential resources Deto go into law enforcement. A Ronkonkoma Marco and his administration found was native, DeMarco went to St. John’s Univer- housing for youths in Hope House Minsity, graduating with a degree in economics istries in Port Jefferson and Timothy Hill in 1991. Children’s Ranch in Riverhead. “I always had an interest in law enforceThaddaeus Hill, executive director of ment,” DeMarco said. “But I didn’t think it Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch — created was going to be my career.” and named in memory of his older brother After two years working in the financial — said the program has seen great success, industry in New York City, DeMarco tran- highlighted by the 50 percent drop in recidisitioned into law enforcement, becoming a vism among youths that enter the program. deputy sheriff for Suffolk County in 1994. “Sheriff DeMarco has pioneered proDeMarco took to the job quickly. grams that few in this country have had the “I think I have the best job in the world, courage to take on,” Hill said. “He looks at I really do,” he said. “I love coming to work the big picture beyond the walls of his jail everyday. I love what I do.” and that has allowed him to make a sigBy Clayton Collier

nificant impact on the lives of many young people on Long Island.” Another key component was EasternSuffolk BOCES to incorporate education into the program. Barbara Egloff, divisional administrator for Eastern Suffolk BOCES and Oversight of the Jail Education Program and Career, Technical and Adult Education, said DeMarco has effectively used the strengths of all of his partnerships to make the program a success. “It is inspiring to work with Sheriff DeMarco,” Egloff said. “He has instilled the importance of effective collaboration to all who have the opportunity to work with him.” Suffolk County Court Judge Fernando Camacho, who heads the County’s Felony Youth Part, a program created in conjunction with Sheriff DeMarco, said it is rare to come across a sheriff so dedicated to creating better lives for his inmates after they have served their time. “I’ve worked in criminal justice my entire professional career, over 30 years, and I’ve worked with a lot of individuals running correctional facilities, and I can honestly say I’ve run across somebody who’s actually bringing in social workers and service providers into his jail to help young people to identify what the issues are, and to try to come up with solutions,” Camacho said. Camacho said it is important to work with youth inmates to improve their situations upon leaving the jail. “Rather than putting them Upstate for three years and forgetting about them, we’re actually thinking about it in a different way,” Camacho said. “Let’s see if we can figure out why this kid got in trouble, and let’s see if we can put a plan in place that’s going to give this kid an opportunity to break out of the cycle and get back on track.” As DeMarco explains, the program’s numbers speak for themselves. “Nationally, the average inmate has an

83 percent chance of returning,” DeMarco said. “The kids that come through our program have a 23 percent chance of coming back; that’s a big difference.” Overall, the program contributes to lowering the number of inmates in county jails, allowing DeMarco to prevent the costly undertaking of additional facilities. “It doesn’t cost us any more to provide these services to the youth in this facility, but the return we get is that they don’t come back to the facility and we lower the jail population, and that has enabled us not to build more jail cells; a huge cost to the taxpayers.” In the future, DeMarco hopes to expand for additional age groups. The more people he can help, he says, the better. “If someone winds up touching the criminal justice system and they wind up in this facility, and we can find out the underlying reason why this crime was committed,” he said, “we can change that and change their behavior when they get out, we’ve increased public safety, and that’s the goal.”

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A7

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PAGE A8 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

Pinkenburg makes Rocky Point robotics real By Rachel SifoRd

Chris Pinkenburg has been trying to get Rocky Point students more interested in math and science. So he created his own robotics club called GearHeadz to do so. Because of this, he has been named a 2015 Times Beacon Record Person of the Year. Pinkenburg, a physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, was inspired to create his own robotics club in the Rocky Point school district after attending an educational symposium at BNL. He thought this was the perfect way to get more students involved in engineering. GearHeadz is a privately run FIRST LEGO League team from Rocky Point. “For years, he was the one who was very vocal about how having robotics in the school is important,” said Bea Ruberto, president of the Sound Beach Civic Association. “Encouraging science and technology is very important for kids.” Pinkenburg has three children in the Rocky Point school district, all of which have participated in his robotics club at one point. “He is very passionate about education,” Wlodek Guryn, Pinkenburg’s colleague at BNL, said. “He wants children to learn as much as possible in school and give them as many opportunities as possible, which is also why he got involved in the robotics club.” Pinkenburg started to prod his school district to implement a robotics club into

the schools. He eventually formed his own private team that won first place in programming in the qualifiers the first time they competed. After this, a club was introduced to Rocky Point Middle School with Pinkenburg leading it as a mentor. They even competed in a worldwide competition in St. Louis, Missouri. According to Rocky Point Middle School Principal Scott O’Brien, the school was involved with a program associated with BNL that focused on math and science. There were multiple sections of the program, one of which was robotics. “I had put out a survey looking for feedback about the program and the kids noted that the robotics section was their favorite part, and said they benefited the most from it,” O’Brien said. “We knew we needed to expand it, and, at the same time, Pinkenburg was there and created this club. A lot of kids are very highly interested in robotics. Over 100 students came to the first meeting.” Each year, teams are presented with a new challenge and must try to develop a solution using robotics. This year’s theme is Trash Trek, which prompts them to explore the world of trash and invent a solution to help minimize trash issues. They must also build and program a LEGO robot to accomplish trash-themed missions on a playing field and show how well they work together as a team. “The team has been very successful,” Ruberto said. “They won last year’s Long

Photos from Chris Pinkenburg

at top, chris Pinkenburg, far right, with some members of his Rocky Point robotics Gearheadz team. above, the team demonstrates one of their projects.

Island Championship and went on to compete in the North American Open Championships against 75 other national and international champions in California.” As a physicist at BNL, Pinkenburg has been passionate about programming and simulations. One part of robotics is to build the robot itself, which is more engineering based, but the other big part, which is Pinkenburg’s specialty, requires computing, which helps in programming the robot so it does exactly what it

is meant to do. “He is very pleasant and passionate, and works very hard on computing aspects and simulations of his work,” Guryn said about Pinkenburg. “He is very dedicated. Physics requires a lot of passion and dedication and he has a lot of both.” Pinkenburg’s efforts are being spread to the high school, as he starts his FIRST Tech Challenge team, a higher-level team, to continue to spread his love for computing and physics.

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A9

Reference librarian keeps Three Village informed By Giselle Barkley

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She is the librarian’s librarian and one of Emma S. Clark Memorial Library’s longest-serving employees. Throughout her 30 years at the East Setauket library, reference librarian Carolyn Emerson, 61, can find almost anything, her colleagues said. But it’s her involvement with the library and caring attitude that’s made her an intricate part of the library and the community, and that is why Times Beacon Record Newspapers selected her as a Person of the Year in 2015. Every other Wednesday, this soft-spoken librarian has organized the library’s senior bus program, which transports to the library senior residents who would otherwise be unable to go to the library. Although she didn’t start the program, Emerson took over the program to help these seniors. She also used her position at the library and her knowledge of Three Village history to organize and create programs like last year’s Culper Spy Day, which paid homage to the community’s ties to spy rings during the Revolutionary War. On June 20, 2014, the library held its first Culper Spy Day program, where residents could learn about the Revolutionary War, the Culper Spy Ring and its ties to Long Island. Three Village Historian Bev Tyler, of Three Village Historical Society, helped organize the event and said Emerson established a user-friendly site to spread the word about the spy ring throughout the community. “She’s a very community-oriented [person] and easy to work with,” Tyler said. “She really makes the library a good common resource for more than just books and videos, but also history.” Her efforts to inform the community stemmed from a desire to share her vast array of knowledge with others and help those in need, those close to her said. And her hard work is not only for the bigger programs, but also for little tasks that accompany her title as a reference librarian in Emma S. Clark’s Adult section. “Whenever anybody comes up to the reference desk, she just gives it 110 percent,” said co-worker Jennifer Mullen, the public relations manager and community outreach librarian. “She doesn’t stop looking until she finds it either, and everybody appreciates that. She digs deep.” Mullen met Emerson a little more than 10 years ago. They worked side-by-side as reference librarians. Now, Mullen works alongside Teen Services Librarian Nanette Feder, who also commended Emerson for her insight on art, local history and literature, and dedication to her work and the community members she serves. Emerson’s husband, Mark Rothenberg, said his wife comes from a line of people who share her tenacity and need to give back to their community. Emerson’s mother was recognized for her work following Hurricane Andrew, building homes for storm victims. Her father, a psychiatrist who ran a family clinic, counseled families in the Miami area. While her parents did their part to actively help those around them, they encouraged a young Carolyn Emerson and her siblings to be compassionate and stand up for themselves and their beliefs, Rothenberg said. Emerson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Despite the diagnosis, chemotherapy and surgery, Emerson remained resilient. She was cleared of cancer the following year and continued her work inside and outside the library. “Many times, I’m in awe of her,” said Rothenberg, who works as the head of the Patchogue-Medford Library’s Celia M. Hastings Local History Room. “She’s been through a lot, including cancer.” In addition to being a reference librarian, Emerson has also worked as a published poet. She has written poems in EMERSON continued on page A25

PAGE A10 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

Rybak’s got your back Social ministry director tirelessly helps needy in area “Year-round she is involved in projects like this,” Engelhardt said about RyVicki Rybak has been serving the bak. “She tries to be everything that anyLong Island community for more than one needs, which can be exhausting. She a decade, known by her friends and co- is helping families from falling through workers as one of the busiest and most the cracks and they are really fortunate resourceful people they know. to have someone who has the time and As the director of social ministry and energy to be that person.” outreach for Infant Jesus R.C. Church in Jim Fenton is one of the oldest volunPort Jefferson, Rybak teers at Infant Jesus has gone above and be- ‘She is helping families and has worked with yond her job descrip- from falling through the Rybak closely. tion. For that reason, “Vicki is extremely she has been named cracks and they are really resourceful when somea Port Times Record fortunate to have someone one comes to her with a Person of the Year. problem,” Fenton said. “She is a last resort who has the time and “She has all these phone for a lot of people,” said energy to be that person.’ numbers at her fingerDebbie Engelhardt, di— Debbie engelharDt tips, and is very comrector of the Comsepassionate too.” wogue Public Library and a Port Jefferson Fenton added that Rybak devotes time Rotary Club member. to applying for grants to keep the food The Rotary Club works closely with pantries stocked and keep the equipment Rybak and the church. One of their big- working — “all of her own initiative.” gest collaborations is on The Open Cup“She goes above and beyond what is board at the church, a food pantry for in her job description,” Fenton added. needy Long Islanders that the Rotary do- “There is nothing she won’t do.” nates to. According to Engelhardt, one in Sharon Brennan, another Rotary Club eight on Long Island currently need help member, shared an anecdote of working RYBAK continued on page A19 from food banks. By Rachel SifoRd

File photo

Vicki Rybak, far right, poses with the Rev. Patrick Riegger and Rotarians Sharon Brennan and Jackie Brown as infant Jesus R.c. church accepts a Rotary donation to its food pantry.

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push the Southampton relationship with Stony Brook through,” said Reuven PasQuality health care and, to hear state ternak, the CEO of Stony Brook UniverSen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) de- sity Hospital. “He was absolutely critical scribe it, home cooking, are good for the in keeping those discussions going and body, mind, soul and community. That’s seeing them to fruition.” Pasternak said LaValle also facilitated the argument the Republican senator has been making for years on behalf of Stony a connection with Eastern Long Island Hospital. Brook Medical Center and its hospital. LaValle has been “a big supporter” of After the university lost out earlier this year on a partnership with Pecon- that relationship, Pasternak said. “He’s ic Bay Medical Center, which agreed always made himself available to speak to team up with North Shore-LIJ, the to people in Albany.” Indeed, LaValle was instrumental in long-time local senator has continued his unflagging support of Stony Brook, the building of the new Medicine and Research Translation buildparticularly with Mather Hospital. ‘He is firmly supportive ing, a 240,000-square foot facility that is ex“If we think of a wheel, of Stony Brook’s role pected to be completed the hub of a wheel and the local community and mission, as well as in 2016. Kenneth Kaushansky, hospitals are its spokes,” for all the hospitals in the dean of the School of LaValle said, with Stony Medicine and the senior Brook at the center. “This our community.’ is my vision and one that I — Steve englebright vice president of health sciences, said LaValle think is good for the people I represent” to allow them to have the helped secure critical state financing. LaValle identified $45 million that “best quality health care” close to home. For his consistent and long-term ef- was earmarked for a law school at Stony forts to lend the support of his office to Brook that was never built that he “was an important area institution, and for able get reallocated,” said Kaushansky. the passion and dedication he has shown “The state support for MART was hugely to the residents of the region for close to dependent on the senator.” Kaushansky said he and LaValle have four decades, LaValle is a Times Beacon regular discussions about any potential Record Man of the Year. Stony Brook officials appreciated La- issues that arise. If things aren’t proceeding the way Valle’s work on their behalf and suggested that he played a seminal role in the university would like, LaValle “alkeeping the ongoing relationship with ways volunteers to help put them back on track.” Southampton Hospital on track. LAVALLE continued on page A23 “It took perseverance to continue to By Daniel Dunaief

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Josephine Lunde keeps presents coming all year long By Giselle Barkley

Josephine Lunde never gives up. More than a decade ago, Lunde started volunteering with the Town of Brookhaven’s annual Toy Drive. Her need to help Brookhaven residents landed her a fulltime position at Brookhaven’s Youth Bureau two years ago, and because of her ongoing efforts to helping others, she has been named a 2015 Times Beacon Record Person of the Year. “She was full time anyway,” said Maria Polack, secretary to the tax assessor for Brookhaven Town Star Exemption. “She does the work of like five men, for real.” Polack met Lunde 15 years ago when Lunde started volunteering at the Town of Brookhaven. When it comes to helping others, Lunde’s work ethic is second to none. On many occasions, Lunde stayed up all hours of the night into the early morning to work on her many fundraising events. Lunde doesn’t only help organize Brookhaven’s Toy Drive, which helps around 7,000 children around the holidays, she organizes a variety of events, including food drives, school supply drives, clothing drives, volunteer programs for senior citizen and the prom dress program, to name a few. Lunde has led the prom program for around three years, according to Diana Weir, commissioner of Brookhaven’s Housing and Human Services department. The event allows girls from families

in need to select prom attire from dresses to purses, shoes and more. Schools allow their students to attend the event by appointment. Lunde started staying after hours to accommodate students and their families who couldn’t get a dress during the program’s daytime hours. Weir said Lunde’s dedication and desire to spend as much time as possible makes this Medford resident more special. “She will never complain,” Weir said. “She never says boo.” While every child who registers for the prom dress program gets special attention, Polack remembers Lunde going above and beyond for one high school student who thought she was too overweight to attend her prom. Lunde didn’t only get her a dress, she organized for the student to get her nails and hair done. “The determination in Josie is bigger than both of us when she makes up her mind that she’s going to help somebody,” Polack said. Superintendent of Highways Dan Losquadro (R) said Lunde is one who focuses her attention on those in need in the community, especially those who don’t always want to ask for help. “A lot of those folks that she works with are people who are very proud, and who might not otherwise seek assistance. These things have gotten really expensive,” Losquadro said about Lunde and buying gifts around the holidays. Lunde’s son Mike said his mother has

File photo

above, Josephine lunde poses with Brookhaven Town supervisor ed romaine during a back-to-school drive.

always been one to help others but, almost to a fault. “She doesn’t think of herself,” he said. When Mike was a child, his mother was a den mother for his Boy Scout troop, and took on other responsibilities when her kids were getting older. Regardless of her accomplishments, Lunde likes to stay in the background. But whether she’s in the forefront at

an event or working behind the scenes, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) said the Town is very happy to have her, “Someone like her really adds to what it means to be a part of a town,” Romaine said. “She’s the heart of Brookhaven because she takes the heart of all the problems and tries to make them better … we should have more people like her in this world. If we did, it’d be a much better place.”

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DiNunzio does it all Port Jefferson Rotary member gives time and limitless energy to make his world a better place By Elana Glowatz

Jumping out of a plane, mentoring younger people and planting flowers are all in a day’s work for Ed DiNunzio. He’s officially the head of membership for the Port Jefferson Rotary but he has worn many more hats during his years with the service organization, filling in wherever he can to make his community a better place to live. For selflessly dedicating his endless energy to serving his neighbors, DiNunzio is a Port Times Record Person of the Year. One of DiNunzio’s biggest roles is in the Gift of Life program, which started in Suffolk County 40 years ago — but has expanded through Rotary International — and provides lifesaving heart procedures to children around the globe. The Person of the Year has been involved since the beginning, Port Jefferson Rotary member Debbie Engelhardt said, using his skills as a lawyer to help it get organized and off the ground. Suffolk Rotary clubs have most recently raised funds and brought a 4-year-old girl to Long Island from Kosovo, for a surgery to repair a nickel-sized hole in her heart called an atrial septal defect. Gift of Life also works to provide medical staff in other countries with equipment and training to perform such procedures, so children will not have to travel so far for treatment in the future. DiNunzio has gone to extremes for the program. He once raised money for Gift of Life by skydiving. “That was a great thing that he did personally,” fellow Rotarian Dennis Brennan said, noting the physical risk involved in jumping out of a plane for charity. “That was a large sacrifice on his part to do that.” Each jumper in that fundraising effort

was supposed to bring in $1,500 but DiNunzio collected $2,150 for Gift of Life. “He’s true blue,” said Engelhardt, who is also the director of the Comsewogue Public Library. “He’s got more energy than basically anybody I know.” Skydiving isn’t the only way DiNunzio brings in funding for Rotary. Engelhardt said the club holds an annual raffle fundraiser in which each member is expected to sell at least 25 tickets, but “without fail, Ed sells over 200 every year.”

But it’s not just about the money — between attending to his family in Mount Sinai and his law practice in Port Jefferson, DiNunzio also gives his time. He is heavily involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange program, through which students study abroad and stay with a host family. According to Engelhardt, DiNunzio has lent a hand on an organizational level for the Northeastern region for many years and has opened his home to exchange students from other areas.

Photos at top from Debbie Engelhardt; file photo above by Dennis Brennan

Clockwise from top left, Ed Dinunzio skydives for a Gift of life fundraiser; Dinunzio, kneeling, gets painting in downtown Port Jefferson; and he digs deep to beautify a camp for kids with disabilities.

Between those kids and others from the Northeast who had life-changing experiences overseas through the program, DiNunzio has made an impact on the lives of numerous young people. Engelhardt explained that a lot of them are now grown adults living all over the world, but whenever they are in the area they look up DiNunzio. She said Rotary is about using your life to make the world a better place, and DiNunzio does that. “Everybody’s part of something bigger,” Engelhardt said. “He’s not a child, but he’d be our poster child.” Brennan described DiNunzio’s meticulous nature, which is obvious when the volunteer manages one of the Rotary’s bank accounts. “He watches it like a hawk,” Brennan said. And he is meticulous about his physical fitness too. Brennan said DiNunzio brings an important strength to the Rotary: The club uses a heavy wooden sign when it collects food for donation, and “we depend on Ed” to bring it to the collections because he’s the only one who can lift it on his own. Once at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, a Center Moriches camp for kids with disabilities where the Rotary does cleanups and beautification, a group was planting perennials by a flagpole but the ground was hard, making digging difficult. “Old Ed, he just kept going at it,” Brennan said. “He never quit.” Brennan refers to the Person of the Year as “Mr. Rotary” because he has his hand in every program and gives his all. “When he gets involved with something … he puts his whole self into it and the results are easy to see,” he said. “He’s a very caring person and I think that he’s demonstrated that.”

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A17

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PAGE A18 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

MEEHAN

‘In their minds, Mr. Meehan knows everything.’

Continued from page A1

being older than most guys who do that, since the physical requirements are high. As a testament to his fitness, Meehan can be seen walking to school every morning, Neubert said, and students and teachers can sometimes catch a glimpse of him walking the school halls “in his suit and hiking boots.” That’s not the only place they can see him. He’s at his students’ sports games and all around the village. During the Charles Dickens Festival earlier this month, Superintendent Ken Bossert said, he watched his students perform and then roasted marshmallows with them. “He is just everywhere at all times,” Bossert said. “All the kids know him and love him.” Well, almost everywhere: “Mr. Meehan is rarely in his office,” Neubert said, because he frequently drops into classrooms around the school. Meehan has joined Neubert’s class a few times to share musical facts he knows, which the kids loved. “In their minds, Mr. Meehan knows everything,” Neubert said. That goes for sports too. A physical education teacher was once absent and a swimming class at the end of the day needed a qualified teacher or it would have been canceled. Meehan, a certified lifeguard, didn’t want to disappoint the kids, Bossert said, so he went home to get

— Christian neubert

his swimsuit and taught the class. Bossert said he was the “first principal that they ever saw in the water.” According to a letter the superintendent wrote, nominating Meehan as a Person of the Year, “He was dry and back in his dress suit in time for dismissal.”

File photos

Clockwise from top: Principal Tom Meehan, far right, poses with singers from the elementary school at the fire department’s annual 9/11 memorial ceremony in September; he stands, seventh from the left, with his fellow firefighters for a recent group photo in front of the firehouse on Maple Place; and studies marine life with students at West Beach in Port Jefferson.

Meehan has helped kids on an individual basis as well. Bossert described a time when Meehan pulled some strings with the Long Island Rail Road on behalf of a special needs student who had “a fascination with trains,” and the child was able to conduct a train between the

Port Jefferson to Stony Brook stations. He also brings gifts to kids during the holidays when he knows their families can’t afford them. Those close to him said he knows every child’s name and if one needs extra attention, Butera said, “he’ll find ways throughout the day of stopping by” to check on that student. But his subtle approach to offering that extra attention puts the kids at ease, Boehm said. She described it as, “Hey, I’m here, and we’ll take care of this together.” Around the hallways, Meehan is also known for his sense of humor, cracking jokes with kids and dressing up as Mario for Halloween, making him more approachable. “He has such a great rapport” with all the parents, the staff and the kids, and everyone in the community knows who he is, said Sean Leister, the assistant superintendent for business. Usually that kind of reverence comes with someone who’s been in his position for 20 years, Leister said, but Meehan’s attained it in five. Even so, he doesn’t take credit for most of what he does. “He’s not the kind of guy that likes any limelight or fanfare,” Boehm said. “He would never make a big deal about what he was doing.”

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L et us pause to reﬂect on our blessings, give thanks during this holiday season for all we have been given, and pray for peace and the preservation of all that is good on earth.

File photo

Rotarian Jackie Brown, Vicki Rybak, St. Charles Hospital’s Marilyn Fabbricante, Rotarian Debbie Englehardt and backpack program sponsor Katharine Coen carry backpacks for donation.

RYBAK Continued from page A10

with Rybak. Once, a couple went to her office crying because a fire had destroyed everything they owned. “Vicki started making calls immediately, getting them stuff over the phone, getting Christmas presents for their children,” Brennan said. “She just goes into high gear and makes stuff happen.” Rybak is involved in many different programs throughout the year, including the Adopt-A-Family program for the holiday season, through which volunteers purchase Christmas presents such as toys and clothes for families who do not have enough money to spend on those items themselves. That project gets a lot of residents and community groups involved, including the Interact Club at Port Jeffer-

son’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, right down the road from the church. The Person of the Year also works on a back-to-school project, filling up 150 backpacks with school supplies — such as composition notebooks and pencils — for children at the start of the each new school year, with the help of community donations. “Vicki somewhere, somehow finds a way to help them, no matter what they need,” Laszlo Girhiny, a church member, said about Rybak’s dedication to local people in need. “Hundreds of people have walked through her doors.” If Rybak cannot help people herself, she connects them with other social service agencies so the job can get done. “She has the right attitude and always treats the people she helps with dignity,” Brennan said. “She says everyone has been there one time in their life.”

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PAGE A20 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

Stony Brook researchers on front lines of medicine By Daniel Dunaief

File photo by Barbara Donlon

yusuf Hannun speaks at a Stony Brook Cancer Center event.

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They have a sense of urgency that motivates those around them to push for better results. In fighting against diseases that kill millions of people every year, they are doing what they’ve done from the time they left their home country of Lebanon until they arrived at Stony Brook three years ago: they are supporting their colleagues, recruiting top talent from around the world, and encouraging their staff to train and encourage the next generation of researchers. Yusuf Hannun, the director of the Cancer Center at Stony Brook, and Lina Obeid, the dean for research, continue to build a deep and talented team, adding researchers focused on curing diseases while also developing the next generation of Stony Brook scientists. Times Beacon Record Newspapers recognizes Hannun and Obeid as People of the Year for their day-to-day leadership, their discoveries in their labs, and their focus on the future of science at Stony Brook. “In terms of what they are building at Stony Brook, their vision is to grow that Cancer Center into a NCIdesignated Cancer Center,” said Gerard Blobe, a professor of medicine and the research director at the Division of Medical Oncology at Duke University Medical Center who earned his Ph.D. in Hannun’s lab more than 20 years ago. They want to make it a “force in clinical care and research and training. They have a mission up there and I have no doubt that they’ll accomplish it.” Indeed, Blobe said the National Cancer Institute designation is just the “icing on the cake” that enables the center to seek funding for some projects. What’s more important, he said, is “what they will accomplish by getting that prize,” in building and developing Stony Brook’s research abilities. Scientists in the same field as Hannun were quick to praise his achievements and innovation. Discoveries by Hannun about sphingolipids, which are molecules that are involved in a range of roles, including cell division, differentiation and cell death, provided key insights. Hannun “pushed the field into the modern age,” said Tony Futerman, the Joseph Meyerhoff professorial chair of biochemistry at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. “He’s been innovative for 30 years in the field. He’s undoubtedly, if not the leader, then a leader. It’s fair to say the same about” Obeid. In her lab, Obeid, who is the dean for research and a professor of medicine at the Stony Brook School of Medicine, is exploring the role of enzymes that control molecules that are involved in cell growth and others that play a role in cell death or differentiation. While Futerman is a competitor to Hannun in some respects, he suggested that Hannun has been instrumental in the careers of many other scientists, developing talented and dedicated researchers who have also made significant contributions. “They are excellent mentors of younger people,” he said. “There’s a whole school of former post docs who went on to get independent positions. This speaks to their mentorship. They both have the same attitude: they push young people into leadership positions.” Indeed, those who have worked for Obeid and Hannun in the past suggested that they offered the kind of guidance, discipline and approach that was applicable in and outside the lab. “Part of [Hannun’s] success is he’s very good at planning,” said Supriya Jayadev, who was a graduate student in Hannun’s lab at Duke and is now the executive director of Clallam Mosaic in Port Angeles, Washington. “He plans out an experiment such that it works the first time.” Corinne Linardic was Hannun’s first graduate student. She said someone cautioned her about the risks of joining a new lab. Her first meeting with him, however, quickly allayed her concerns. “I remember him saying, ‘It’s important not to look HANNUN continued on page A30

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A21

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PAGE A22 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

Turano takes Three Village history to another level By SuSan RiSoli

Setauket resident Frank Turano delves deeply into local history. He uncovers compelling stories of everyday people and brings those tales alive for the rest of us to share. For that reason, and for his ongoing service to the Three Village Historical Society as board member and past president, Turano is one of Times Beacon Record’s People of the Year. Beverly Tyler, the historical society’s historian, said he has known Turano since the early 1970s. He described Turano’s leadership in unearthing details about Chicken Hill, the area of Route 25A around the current-day Setauket Methodist Church. It was once a thriving community of immigrants who helped each other make a new life in America. An exhibit about Chicken Hill is now on display at the Historical Society’s headquarters in Setauket. Tyler said Turano, who is manager of the Chicken Hill project and curator of the exhibit, led the search for the community’s almostforgotten past and wrote a successful funding proposal to create the exhibit. “He’s there almost every single weekend, to give tours of the exhibit,” Tyler said. He and Turano traveled in September to the annual meeting of the American Association for State and Local History, where the Chicken Hill exhibit received

the association’s highest distinction, the Award of Merit. Karen Martin, archivist for the Historical Society, said Turano leads the organization’s Rhodes Committee. At the group’s weekly meetings in the Emma Clark Public Library, Martin said, Turano facilitates the group’s far-ranging and free-wheeling conversations about the history of our area, and then mines the discussions for ideas to dig into. “The big names, like the Ward Melvilles, make the headlines,” Martin said. “But Frank also wants to know about everyone who lived in a community, the everyday person, the guy who owned the general store.” If a historical topic comes up in a Rhodes committee meeting, Martin said, Turano “wants to know all the details. He’ll say, “Who’s going to know about this? Let’s give them a call.’” Turano also volunteers for the Society’s annual Candlelight House Tour every December, Martin said. He explains the history of houses on the tour, she said, and in general “he loves to give presentations.” Local resident Hub Edwards, who has worked with Turano on many history projects, said, “If people want to know history, they should listen to him. He goes to great lengths to get the true story of a project, with no shortcuts.” Edwards said Turano is always featured in the Historical Society’s annual “Spirits” tour of local graveyards, dressed as one of the

Photo from Beverly Tyler

Frank Turano leads an interactive discussion delving into the history of Three Village.

historical figures highlighted by the tour. Turano also frequently writes scripts for the tour’s performances, Edwards said. Turano’s daughter Alyssa said her father is now combing through the archives of the Long Island Museum. He’s working on an exploration of the Long Island whaling shipbuilding industry, she said, “focusing on Mr. Cooper, one specific whale ship builder who lived in the 1800s.” Turano is finding out about Cooper’s life by reading his diaries and looking over ship construction work logs. Alyssa said her father has been excitedly sharing stories with her and

his friends, about the buried gems of history he is finding. “Not everyone appreciates history in the way that he does,” she said. “It’s very inspiring. When you are so passionate about history, you can make it come alive again.” Her father is committed to finding out as much as he can about local history, she said, because he believes strongly that “not all of these people have had their stories told.” And he has told her, she said, that “it’s better to know the back story, so you can know how your community has changed throughout time.”

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DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A23

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Legals File photo

State Sen. Ken LaValle has consistently mended the support of his office to Stony Brook.

lavalle Continued from page A12

State Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) said LaValle deserves recognition for his work on behalf of Stony Brook and all the area hospitals. “He is firmly supportive of Stony Brook’s role and mission, as well as for all the hospitals in our community,” Englebright said. LaValle suggested his role as chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education gives him an opportunity to advocate on behalf of the medical school. His chairmanship provides “a vehicle to be able to work with other people in the state university system and within state agencies,” he said. The approximately 129 students in each medical school class contribute to area health care while they pursue their education, LaValle said. “That is one of the very first helping points for the university,” LaValle said. “It’s being able to fulfill the education of their medical students. There are also people doing their clinical work and residencies.” LaValle is contributing to Stony Brook’s effort to secure a longer-term connection with Mather. He cited numerous such two-way benefits for a potential longer-term alliance. Stony Brook can provide services that “will save Mather a lot of money,” LaValle said. For patients of the two hospitals, the quality and convenience are also a winning combination. “If someone needs cardiac care, it is a hop, skip and a jump to get that care,” LaValle

said. “They don’t have to be helicoptered some place or drive a long time distance.” Kaushansky appreciated the support from the senator. “He’s doing everything he can,” Kaushansky said. LaValle has “been a strong proponent of getting us and Mather to work together for the benefit” of the patient population in the area. Kaushansky cited several other benefits to Mather of an ongoing and deeper connection with Stony Brook, including support for Mather’s stroke center with back-up cerebral artery intervention, and support for their radiology department. While a deeper connection with Mather would be mutually beneficial for the hospitals, LaValle suggested, it would also create an important level of convenience for patients. “I have started with the premise that patient care closest to home is the best care for the patient,” LaValle said. “The families can interact and it’s convenient. We are focused in a way to ensure that the quality of health care is at its maximum.” From the leaders through the rank and file, Stony Brook health care professionals appreciate LaValle’s support. “If anybody were to ask a person working in the dialysis unit, ‘Of all the politicians in the state of New York, who do you think is the strongest advocate for Stony Brook Medical School and Stony Brook University Hospital?’ most of them would say Ken LaValle,” said Kaushansky. Pasternak, who considers LaValle a friend, called him sincere in his beliefs. “It’s not the politics that drives him,” Pasternak said. “It’s his passion for the region and the people in the region.”

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PAGE A24 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

SCCC coach lends helping hand on and off court

similar [to one another],” Quinn said. “Now that I’m an adult and I can look at Just keep shooting. how [Foley] handled [coaching] and how That’s what Kevin Foley used to tell he managed his team...you’ve got to kill the women playing for the Suffolk Coun- yourself to prove anything to him [bety Community College women’s basket- cause] he already sees what your potenball team. tial is and he’ll nurture it.” And he didn’t just encourage them to Quinn graduated from SCCC in 1999 never give up on the court, but off the and played for Foley when she attended court as well both before and after re- the college in 1997. Quinn, of Middle Istiring as the women’s basketball head land, was a senior in high school when coach earlier in 2015. But retirement Foley approached her after watching her didn’t stop Foley from returning to play a game at the college. SCCC as the institution’s athletic direcInitially, she didn’t plan on playing tor that same year. basketball at the college level before That is why Kevin Foley was selected Foley spoke to her. But Foley helped her, as a 2015 Times Beacon and many students just Record Person of the Year. ‘...you’ve got to kill like her. Vice President of Stu- yourself to prove SCCC’s Athletics and dent Affairs Christopher anything to him Intramurals Coordinator Adams said Foley has Kerry Swanson met Foley worked at the college [because] he already 20 years ago when she was nearly 37 years as a pro- sees what your one of his players. Swanfessor and member of the son attended the college school’s athletic depart- potential is and he’ll in the early to mid 1990s. ment. While Adams de- nurture it.’ She admitted that she scribed Foley as dedicated was unsure of what she — Colleen Quinn and passionate, he said was doing with her life it’s his overall approach to and Foley helped steer life that resonates with him. her in the right direction. According to “He’s very big on success in the Swanson, Foley has a knack for helping classroom and the athletic fields,” Ad- those who are lost find their way reams said. gardless of who they are or his relationAdams said Foley instilled important ship with them. life lessons into all of his players: you’ll “He tries to connect with people on be successful if you’re a “good sport” some level. If he can go out of his way who follows the rules. for someone, he just goes out of his Foley was like a father figure for some way,” Swanson said about the current of his players in his 19 years of coaching, athletic director. those close to him said. Former SCCC Adams said Foley also put the college student and basketball player Colleen on the map, as many SCCC sports teams Quinn said she remembers Foley differ- have improved under his leadership. He’s ently than other coaches she had when also earned several awards on multiple growing up. As a high school student, occasions including: the NATYCAA Quinn said she always felt like she wasn’t Cup otherwise known as the Pepsi Cup; doing well on the basketball court. the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup; the “I only really had a few coaches to Mickey Crowley Metropolitan Officials compare him to, and those coaches were Sportsmanship award and the Joe DeBoBy Giselle Barkley

nis Sportsmanship Award. The college received this regional award 12 times in the past two decades. He also celebrated his 400th career win earlier in 2015 along with several other awards for his work as a professor. In honor of Foley and all his achievements on and off the court, SCCC will rename the basketball court on the school’s Ammerman Campus in Selden after him. As a senior attending Seton Hall High School in 1965, Foley aver-

aged 30 points per game. He also received a basketball scholarship to attend Seton Hall University where he served as the team’s captain from 1968-69. In 1994, he was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. “He is someone that could have gone anywhere to coach big time athletics,” Adams said. “He’s been at the college for almost 37 years. That speaks to his dedication and it speaks to his love for our college and for the students.”

Photos from Kerry Swanson

Top, kevin Foley has his team huddle around him for a mid-game discussion. Bottom, Foley watches a basketball game from the sidelines.

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A25

TImeS BeacoN RecoRd Presents

BRIdGeS A Resource Guide Featuring Stony Brook Medicine and University Offerings for the Community and Shops & Services of the North Shore Business Communities serving Stony Brook Staff

February 25, 2016

To be published at the beginning of the spring semester, Bridges will be distributed to the doctors and healthcare professionals at the hospital and faculty and administrators on campus, as well as inserted into the full run of six Times Beacon Record Newspapers and published with an interactive fully searchable online version on our web site, tbrnewsmedia.com. Included will be hospital updates on the future of healthcare, clinical programs, technologies and healthcare reform as well as university events, exhibits and the schedule of SBU games for the sports season.

Photo by Mark Rothenberg

Carolyn Emerson has been a librarian at Emma S. Clark Memorial Library for the last 30 years.

Continued from page A9

both English and French for publication. The librarian has also overseen poetry and book discussions at the library, which are a hit among residents, her coworkers said. Mullen said Emerson acquired a large following for her evening book discus-

TBR

sions and monthly poetry meetings. Her ability to listen appears to be one of Emerson’s many positive qualities that help further assist those who request her help, Mullen said. While Feder didn’t pinpoint a specific moment illustrating Emerson’s character, she said, “It’s just how she works everyday at the library. She could be on a reference desk [or] helping a member of the library.”

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PAGE A26 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

Setauket Harbor group a force for good

By Phil Corso

They’ve covered a lot of ground — and water — in their first year, but members of the Setauket Harbor Task Force are only getting started. The all-volunteer Setauket Harbor Task Force, led by residents and cofounders Laurie Vetere and George Hoffman, held its first general meeting on Oct. 29 of 2014, and meetings have grown to host nearly 100 residents. Since the first meeting, members of the group have become a known force for North Shore environmentalism, and their efforts have washed upon the shores of civic leaders, elected officials and beyond. The group has spent the past year studying the harbor, influencing the public debate surrounding it and garnering public support for its preservation and sustainability. For their contributions to the North Shore’s environmental discussion, members of the Setauket Harbor Task Force have been named 2015 Village Times Herald People of the Year. On the ground level, civic members in the Setauket and Stony Brook communities have become big fans of the Setauket Harbor Task Force and have continuously teamed up with the group to help promote its mission of preserving the communities’ waterways. Shawn Nuzzo, president of the Civic Association of the Setaukets and Stony Brook, said he stood behind the Task Force’s work with hopes that it could help bring back a strong and vibrant Long Island economy based on the sustainable harvesting of coastal shorelines. “We have a sordid and shameful history of polluting our Long Island waterways,” Nuzzo said. “For years, scientists and environmentalists have been warning of the harmful effects of nitrogen and other contaminants in our water. But it is only relatively recently that the politicians have begun discussing remediating the situation, thanks in part to advocacy groups like the Setauket Harbor Task Force.”

The Task Force has been hosting regular walking tours of the harbor and its surrounding environmental beauties with hopes of reminding the community just how important it is to maintain. Some of the group’s key concerns have included making sure the town pays attention to the road runoff retention basin that forms near the inlet at Setauket Harbor and maintaining park property just to the west of the area’s footbridge. The Task Force also launched its first Setauket Harbor Day, back in September — a free event held at the Shore Road dock, established to inspire the community to join the Force in its efforts to clean and preserve the harbor. Since the group’s inception, members have been working hand-in-hand with elected officials from various levels of government, and so far their messages have been heard loud and clear. State Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) has been a consistent voice in the North Shore’s environmental discussion, having held previous positions as a geologist and biologist before becoming a public servant. And with his expertise, Englebright referred to the Setauket Harbor Task Force as the epicenter of community pride that has made a tremendous impact on the North Shore. “We have a sense of purpose now to work between our civic community and the town and the state — it’s just wonderful,” he said. “I guess everybody would hope that government would do all of this on its own, but the additional attention and focus being brought by citizens who have taken this initiative on is just terrific. So my sense is that by establishing the Setauket Harbor Task Force, and providing a forum where issues that relate to the overall health of the ecosystem in our harbor can be discussed, we have a matter of focus.” The group has received support from Brookhaven officials as well. Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) said the Task Force represented the best of Brookhaven. “These are citizens coming together

and recognizing a common problem and looking to make a positive difference,” Romaine said. “We are prepared to spend money to enact some of the things they are trying to achieve. This is a commitment and what helps us is that we have partners on the local level — people who step up to the plate.” Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station) echoed the same sentiments after spending the year working closely with the Task Force. “The formation of the Setauket Harbor Task Force is a significant step in addressing some of the environmental concerns in the area,” she said. “It is a vehicle for the community to work together to assist in preserving our harbor and improving our water quality. I thank the members of the Task Force for all of their hard work to bring awareness of the

needs of the Harbor to the community. I had the privilege of attending the first Setauket Harbor Day this past summer, which I believe was a success, as it was both entertaining and educational.” Looking ahead, Englebright said he’d hope to see the group follow through in working with the Town of Brookhaven to see what kinds of progress can be achieved in addressing road runoff issues and restoring the ecological balance of some of the most disrupted areas along the harbor. “The fact that the town is planning to dredge the basin is, in part, a response to the initiative of local citizens,” Englebright said. “That partnership is really all too rare, and it’s ideally what government should be doing. I hope the town continues to realize that this is a wonderful and promising partnership.”

File photos

Top, a view of setauket harbor. Bottom, members of the setauket harbor Task Force work alongside government officials near the water earlier this year.

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A27

Stony Brook University is tobacco-free as of January 1, 2016.

138705

Learn more at stonybrook.edu/tobaccofree Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 15100603

PAGE A28 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

Religious ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

CATHOLIC

EPISCOPAL

STONY BROOK CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY

ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Connecting to God, Each Other and the World

400 Nicolls Road, E. Setauket (631) 689–1127 • Fax (631) 689–1215

www.stonybrookchristian.com Pastor Troy Reid Weekly Schedule Sunday Worship w/nursery 10 am Kidmo Children’s Church • Ignited Youth Fellowship and Food Always to Follow Tuesday Evening Prayer: 7 pm Thursday Morning Bible Study w/Coffee & Bagels: 10 am Friday Night Experience “FNX” for Pre K-Middle School: 6:30 pm Ignite Youth Ministry: 7:30 pm Check out our website for other events and times

BYZANTINE CATHOLIC RESURRECTION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH

38 Mayflower Avenue, Smithtown NY 11787 631–759–6083 resurrectionsmithtown@gmail.com www.resurrectionsmithtown.org Fr. Jack Custer, SSL., STD., Pastor Cantor Joseph S. Durko Divine Liturgy: Sunday, 11:15am followed by fellowship in the parish hall. Holy Days: 7:00pm. See website for days and times. Faith Formation for All Ages: Sunday School (Ages 4-13), alternate Sundays at 10:00am ByzanTeens (14-18), alternate Tuesdays at 7:00pm Adult Faith Formation: Mondays at 7:00pm. PrayerAnon Prayergroup for substance addictions: Wednesdays at 7 pm See the website for current topics and schedule. The Sacraments: Baptism, Chrismation and Eucharist for infants, children and adults arranged by appointment. Sacrament of Matrimony arranged by appointment. Sacrament of Repentance: Sundays 10:50 to 11:05am and before or after all other services. All services in English. A parish of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. GERARD MAJELLA 300 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station (631) 473–2900 • Fax (631) 473–0015

www.stgmajella.org Rev. Gennaro DiSpigno, Pastor Oﬃce of Christian Formation • 928–2550 We celebrate Eucharist Saturday evening 5 pm, Sunday 7:30, 9 and 11 am Weekday Mass Monday–Friday 9 am We celebrate Baptism Third weekend of each month during any of our weekend Masses We celebrate Marriage Arrangements can be made at the church with our Pastor or Deacon We celebrate Penance Confession is celebrated on Saturdays from 4–5 pm We celebrate You! Visit Our Thrift Shop Mon. – Fri. 10 am–4 pm + Sat. 10 am–2 pm

INFANT JESUS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 110 Myrtle Ave., Port Jefferson, NY 11777 (631) 473-0165 • Fax (631) 331-8094

D irectory

www.www.infantjesus.org Reverend Patrick M. Riegger, Pastor Associates: Rev. Francis Lasrado & Rev. Rolando Ticllasuca To schedule Baptisms and Weddings, Please call the Rectory Confessions: Saturdays 12:30-1:15 pm in the Lower Church Religious Ed.: (631) 928-0447 • Parish Outreach: (631) 331-6145 Weekly Masses: 6:50 and 9 am in the Church, 12 pm in the Chapel* Weekend Masses: Saturday at 5 pm in the Church, 5:15 pm in the Chapel* Sunday at 7:30 am, 10:30 am, 12 pm, and 5 pm in the Church and at 8:30 am, 10 am, and 11:30 am (Family Mass) in the Chapel* Spanish Masses: Sunday at 8:45 am and Wednesday at 6 pm in the Church *Held at the Infant Jesus Chapel at St. Charles Hospital Religious Education: (631) 928-0447 Parish Outreach: (631) 331-6145

429 Rt. 25A, Setauket, NY 11733 Phone/Fax: (631) 941–4141

Mission Statement: In faith we come together to celebrate the Eucharist as a Parish Family; and as a Catholic community of faith, we are sent to be Christ to the world around us. Rev. James-Patrick Mannion, Pastor Rev. Daniel Opoku-Mensah, Associate Rev. Jon Fitzgerald, In Residence Weekday Masses: Monday – Saturday 8:00 am Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil 5:00 pm Sunday 8:00am, 9:30 am (family), 11:30 am (choir), 6:00 pm (Youth) Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Baptisms: Sundays at 1:30 pm (except during Lent) Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00 – 4:45 pm or by appointment Anointing Of The Sick: by request Holy Matrimony: contact the office at least 9 months before desired date

CONGREGATIONAL MT. SINAI CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai • (631) 473–1582 www.mtsinaichurchli.org “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here” Sunday Services at 10 am Sunday School and childcare oﬀered at the 10 am service and open to all infants to 8th grade. Last Sundays of the month: 10 am Welcome Sunday Service A service welcoming those with differing abilities We are an Open and Affirming Congregation.

EPISCOPAL ALL SOULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH “Our little historic church on the hill” across from the Stony Brook Duck Pond

Main Street, Stony Brook • (631) 751–0034

www.allsouls–stonybrook.org • allsoulsepiscopalchurch@verizon.net Please come and welcome our new Priests: The Rev. Dr. Richard Visconti, Priest–In–Charge The Rev. Farrell D. Graves, Priest Associate Sunday Holy Eucharist: 8 and 9:30 am Religious instruction for children follows the 9:30 am Service This is a small eclectic Episcopal congregation that has a personal touch. We welcome all regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey. Walk with us.

CAROLINE CHURCH OF BROOKHAVEN The Rev. Cn. Dr. Richard D. Visconti, Rector The Rev. Farrell Graves, Priest Associate

1 Dyke Road on the Village Green, Setauket Web site: www.carolinechurch.net Parish Office email: office@carolinechurch.net (631) 941–4245

Sunday Services: 8:00 am, 9:30 am and 11:15 am Church School/Child Care at 9:30 am Church School classes now forming. Call 941-4245 for registration Weekday Holy Eucharist’s: Thursday 12:30 pm and First Fri. of the month 7:30 pm (rotating: call Parish Oﬃce for location) Youth, Music and Service Programs oﬀered Let God walk with you as part of our family–friendly community.

To be listed in the Religious Directory, please call 751–7663

127 Barnum Ave., Port Jefferson (631) 473–0273 email: ccoffice@christchurchportjeff.org www.christchurchportjeff.org

Father Anthony DiLorenzo: Priest–In–Charge Sunday Eucharist: 8 am and 10 am/Wednesday 10 in our chapel Sunday School and Nursery at 9:30 am Our ministries: Welcome Inn on Mondays at 5:45 pm AA meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm/Prayer Group on Wednesdays at 10:30 am/Bible Study on Thursdays at 10 am. It is the mission of the people of Christ Church to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and to make his love known to all through our lives and ministry. We at Christ Church are a joyful, welcoming community. Wherever you are in your journey of life we want to be part of it.

EVANGELICAL THREE VILLAGE CHURCH Knowing Christ...Making Him Known

322 Route 25A, East Setauket • (631) 941–3670 www.3vc.org

Lead Pastor Josh Moody Sunday Worship Schedule 9:15 am:Worship Service Sunday School (Pre–K – Adult), Nursery 10:30 am: Bagel/Coﬀee Fellowship 11:00 am: Worship, Nursery, Pre–K, Cornerstone Kids (Gr. K–4) We oﬀer weekly Teen Programs, Small Groups, Women’s Bible Studies (day & evening) & Men’s Bible Study Faith Nursery School for ages 3 & 4 Join us as we celebrate 55 years of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ!

JEWISH CHABAD AT STONY BROOK “Judaism with a smile”

Future site: East side of Nicolls Rd, North of Rte 347 –Next to Fire Dept. Current location: 821 Hawkins Ave., Lake Grove

(631) 585–0521 • (800) My–Torah • www.ChabadSB.com Rabbi Chaim & Rivkie Grossbaum Rabbi Motti & Chaya Grossbaum Rabbi Sholom B. & Chanie Cohen Membership Free •Weekday, Shabbat & Holiday Services Highly acclaimed Torah Tots Preschool • Afternoon Hebrew School Camp Gan Israel • Judaica Publishing Department • Lectures and Seminars • Living Legacy Holiday Programs Jewish Learning Institute Friendship Circle for Special Needs Children • The CTeen Network N’shei Chabad Women’s Club • Cyberspace Library www.ChabadSB.com Chabad at Stony Brook University – Rabbi Adam & Esther Stein

CORAM JEWISH CENTER

Young Israel of Coram 981 Old Town Rd., Coram • (631) 698–3939 YIC.org – YoungIsraelofCoram@gmail.com

RABBI DR. MORDECAI & MARILYN GOLSHEVSKY RABBI SAM & REBECCA GOLSHEVSKY

“THE ETERNAL FLAME–THE ETERNAL LIGHT” Weekly Channel #20 at 11 am Shabbat Morning Services 9 am Free Membership. No building fund. Free Hebrew School. Bar/Bat Mitzvah Shabbat and Holiday Services followed by hot buffet. Adult Education Institute. Women’s Education Group–International Lectures and Torah Study. Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Kaballah Classes. Jewish Holiday Institute. Tutorials for all ages. FREE HEBREW SCHOOL 2015–2016 Details (631)698–3939 Member National Council of Young Israel a world–wide organization. All welcome regardless of knowledge or observance level.

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A29

Religious

D irectory

JEWISH

METHODIST

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST

NORTH SHORE JEWISH CENTER

BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP AT STONY BROOK

385 Old Town Rd., Port Jefferson Station (631) 928–3737 www.NorthShoreJewishCenter.org Rabbi Aaron Benson

33 Christian Ave/ PO2117 E. Setauket NY 11733 (631)941 3581 Rev. Gregory L. Leonard–Pastor

380 Nicolls Road • between Rte 347 & Rte 25A (631) 751–0297 • www.uufsb.org • oﬃce@uufsb.org

Rev. Margaret H. Allen

Cantor Daniel Kramer, Rabbi Emeritus Howard Hoffman Executive Director Marcie Platkin Services: Daily morning and evening minyan Friday at 8 pm; Saturday 8:45 am and one hour before sundown • Tot Shabbat Family Kehillah • Sisterhood • Men’s Club • Seniors Club • Youth Group Award–winning Religious School • Teen Community Service Program Nursery School • Mommy and Me • Preschool Summer Program Continuing Ed • Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah • Judaica Shop Thrift Shop • Kosher Catering Panel We warmly welcome you to our Jewish home. Come worship, study and enjoy being Jewish with our caring NSJC family. Member United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

TEMPLE ISAIAH (REFORM)

SETAUKET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

109 Brown’s Road, Huntington, NY 11743 631–427–9547

A warm and caring intergenerational community dedicated to learning, prayer, social action, and friendship.

Rev. Sandra B. Mantz, Pastor

Rev. G. Jude Geiger, Minister

1404 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook • (631) 751–8518 Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel Cantor Michael F. Trachtenberg Emeritus Cantor Scott Harris Rabbi Emeritus Stephen A. Karol Rabbi Emeritus Adam D. Fisher

Member Union for Reform Judaism Sabbath Services Friday 7:30 pm and Saturday 10 am Monthly Family Service • Monthly Tot Shabbat • Religious School Youth Groups • Senior Club • Adult Education • Chavurah Groups • Early AM Studies • Sisterhood • Brotherhood • PT

LUTHERAN–ELCA

Sunday Worship 10:30 am Adult Sunday School 9:30 am Lectionary Reading and Prayer Wed. 12 noon Gospel Choir Tues. 8 pm Praise Choir and Youth Choir 3rd and 4th Fri. 6:30 pm

486 Townline Road, Commack Church Office: (631)499–7310 Fax: (631) 858–0596 www.commack–umc.org • mail@commack–umc.org Rev. Linda Bates–Stepe, Pastor 160 Main Street, Corner of 25A and Main Street East Setauket • (631) 941–4167

www.setauketumc.org • SUMCNY@aol.com Sunday Worship Service & Church School 10 am 10 am Worship with Holy Communion Mary & Martha Circle (Women’s Ministry) monthly on 2nd Tuesday at noon Adult Bible Study Sunday 8 am Prayer Group and Bible Study at the Church Wednesdays 10 am

PRESBYTERIAN

Religious Education at UUFSB: Unitarian Universalism accepts wisdom from many sources and offers non-dogmatic religious education for children from 3-18 to foster ethical and spiritual development and knowledge of world religions. Classes Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. Childcare for little ones under three. Senior High Youth Group meetings Sunday evenings. Registration is ongoing. For more information: dre@uufsb.org.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF HUNTINGTON www.uufh.org

(minister@uufh.org) Starr Austin, religious educator (dreuufh@gmail.com) Whoever you are, whomever you love, wherever you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome here. Our services offer a progressive, non-creedal message with room for spiritual seekers. Services and Religious Education each Sunday at 10:30 am Youth Group, Lifespan Religious Education for Adults, Adult and Children’s Choirs Participants in the Huntington Interfaith Housing Initiative Find us on Facebook and Twitter

SETAUKET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ST. PAULS LUTHERAN CHURCH

5 Caroline Avenue ~ On the Village Green ~ (631) 941–4271 • www.setauketpresbyterian.org Email: setauketpresbyterian@verizon.net

Rev. Paul A. Downing, Pastor email: pastorpauldowning@yahoo.com • pastors cell: 347–423–3623 church website: wwwStPaulsLCPJS.org Services Sundays – 8:30 am and 10:30 am Holy Communion Bibles and Bagels 9:30 am Sunday School during 10:30 am service Wednesday Evening 7:30 pm – Holy Communion Friday Morning Power of Prayer Hour 10:30 am ~ All are Welcome ~

Join us in Worship at 9:30 am Church School (PreK-7th Grade) at 9:45 am Adult Christian Education Classes at 11 am: Service Opportunities: Open Door Ministry Open House : November 8th Furnishing homes ... Finding hope Openings for MWF Preschool 4’s program 2015–2016 Janet Craig, Director All are welcome to join this vibrant community for worship, music (voice and bell choirs), mission (local, national and international), and fellowship. Call the church office or visit our website for current information on church activities. SPC is a More Light Presbyterian Church and part of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians working toward a church as generous and just as God’s grace.

309 Patchogue Road, Port Jefferson Station (631)473–7157

(minister@uufsb.org) Sunday Service: 10:30 am

Rev. Mary Barrett Speers, Pastor Rev. Kate Jones Calone, Assistant Pastor

UNITY UNITY CHURCH OF HEALING LIGHT 203 East Pulaski Rd., Huntington Sta. (631) 385–7180 www.unityhuntingtonny.org

LUTHERAN–LCMS MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH PRESCHOOL & DAYCARE 465 Pond Path, East Setauket (631)751-1775 www.messiahny.com

Rev. Charles Bell - Pastor We welcome all to join us for worship & fellowship Sunday Worship Services 8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am Sunday School at 9:30 am NYS Certified Preschool & Day Care Program Please call for details

Rev. Saba Mchunguzi

Unity Church of Healing Light is committed to helping people unfold their Christ potential to transform their lives and build spiritual community through worship, education, prayer and service. Sunday Worship & Church School 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Night Prayer Service 7:30 p.m. Sign Language Interpreter at Sunday Service

To be listed in the Religious Directory, please call 751–7663

To Subscribe: Please Call 631.751.7744 or Subscribe online at www.tbrnewsmedia.com

PAGE A30 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

File photos

Tracey Budd holds a picture of her son at a Walk for Hope event.

Continued from page A4

gone through it to talk to, to know you’re not alone,” Littler said. “But at the same time, it’s sad that I’m not alone.” When her son relapsed after being four-and-a-half years sober, she reached out to Budd. “It takes a lot of guts to come out in the open and do this and help people,” she said. “There are a lot of hurting people out there.” She recently reached out to Longo about a friend of her son, who is a drug user, and the two were calling each other back and forth to find ways to overcome addiction. “She cared to take the time to help me,” she said. “She spent a whole day doing that with me — that’s dedication right there.” With the contacts Longo’s made with support centers and prevention agencies and Budd’s relationship with the county after creating the PSA, the two are teaming up to use their resources to form a coalition based on the Facebook page. It was also have the same name.

Hannun

It’s in its early stages, but the hope is to help spread awareness about prevention through schools. As part of a coalition, Budd said, you can also apply for grants, which she hopes will help fund the spread of their advocacy. “I felt Tracey was on the same path that I was on,” Longo said. “She is as tenacious as I am in what we’re trying to do.” Longo said that she and Budd are trying to be vigilantes and have started narcan training classes, like ones they’ve previously hosted in Miller Place and East Setauket, to continue to help fight the Island’s drug addiction problem. “I think together we’re a good team,” Budd said. “To me, you have a choice. You can either dig your head in the sand and be embarrassed that your child is an addict, or you can be proactive and say, ‘Enough of this, let’s help each other.’ When you speak to another parent that’s going through it, there’s a bond that you automatically create. In a way, I feel like my son is right there with me, helping these families. It’s very important to me, and I’m never going to stop doing it.”

Continued from page A20

where the light is, but to try to look into the dark and turn the light on,’” she said. “I thought that was very brave.” Linardic, who is now an associate professor of pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine, recalled how they were working on a compound called ceramide. Whenever they gave it to cells, the cells died. At first, they thought maybe they were doing something wrong in their experiments. Eventually, Hannun helped her understand that ceramide was activating a form of programmed cell death. “It wasn’t a mistake or a technical disaster,” Linardic said. “We had to reframe the question.” The result was something she described as “profound.” Linardic said she felt fortunate to work with Obeid, who had a similar unbiased view of the work. “It was extraordinary to have a female mentor as well,” Linardic said. She and her colleagues felt fortunate to be wel-

comed into Hannun and Obeid’s family, where they were not only offering guidance on their careers, but also were caring for their young triplets at home. Linardic, Blobe and Jayadev started just around the time the triplets were born. They were “raising three biological children and three graduate students at the same time,” said Linardic. While they have come a long way from the beginning of their careers and their family, Hannun and Obeid have kept a consistent focus on the potential clinical benefits of their research. “They get the translational aspects,” Futerman said. “When [Hannun] moved to Stony Brook to head the Cancer Center, that was one of the aims for his move, to be in a position where he can apply basic science to translational research.” Futerman said there was “no question in my mind” that Hannun and Obeid deserve recognition in the Long Island community and the scientific community. “They are considered leaders,” Futerman said. “They contribute a lot to the academic community.”

Shop Locally This Holiday Season DID YOU KNOW That A Local Purchase Can Benefit The Local Economy 3 TIMES MORE Than The Same Purchase At A Chain Retailer?

Dollars Spent At Home Stay At Home

Budd & Longo

Photo from Tracey Budd

Yusuf Hannun, left, and Lina Obeid, right, are constantly working to improve their team of dedicated researchers with the hopes of curing complicated diseases.

DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A31

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PAGE A32 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • DECEMBER 31, 2015

From Couch Bound to Beach Bound: Achieving Fitness for the First Time at 50-Plus

Debbie Martel Age: 52 Height: 5’8” Hometown: Hampton Bays, NY Weight Lost: More than 140 pounds Name:

WHY SURGERY: With weight-related diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, I realized that my life would be cut short like my dad’s was. I decided I want to stay around. HER PROGRAM: After researching my options, I chose a gastric sleeve procedure. Dr. Aurora Pryor performed it on July 5, 2012, using five little incisions with no scarring. I was in and out of surgery in an hour and a half, and I only stayed one night in the hospital. And the help I got from the entire Bariatric and Metabolic Weight Loss Center team has been outstanding. RESULTS: I am just about back to my high school weight and can wear jeans again. Even more important, I've gone from taking six medications daily for my health problems to taking none. None! BONUS: Shopping for clothes and walking on the beach are a lot more fun. And I never thought I would say this, but if I don’t exercise, I miss it! BOTTOM LINE: Having bariatric surgery is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.

Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 14061573H

138704

For more information call (631) 444-BARI (2274) or visit bariatrics.stonybrookmedicine.edu